Real Techniques Bold Metal Collection - It's Love. 301 & 201

I couldn't wait to get my hands on the new Real Techniques Bold Metal Collection when it was announced. I have nearly all of their original collection so new luxe collection was a welcomed addition. The collection consists of 7 brushes which I won't go into as the Pixiwoo girls say it best here. I would easily use and love to have all of the brushes in my collection but the premium brushes do come with a premium price tag, each brush is £25 - £10.

301 Flat Contour Brush £22
This brush is seriously beautiful - there's something so stunning about the rose gold - I'm such a sucker for anything made in this tone. The handles are weighted and the bristles are seriously soft. I know I'll use this nearly everyday it makes adding some bronzer the easiest thing in the world. The bristles are really dense so you can pack on a lot of product whilst also being soft enough to blend it out. This is so different from everything in their original collection and I adore it.

201 Pointed Crease Brush £12
I've been using the crease brush in the eye starter kit or the shading brush for the dark crease shades in a smokey eye but the crease brush is a little too fat and the shading brush is better for under eye colour application I find. This pointed crease brush is perfect for that and is one of the only eye brushes I felt I needed. Again the bristles are dense and super soft the shape makes blending really easy too.

I love this range - it's a little pricier but the whole collection feels really thought through and much more premium than the originals. I love the core original collection and I do hope they continue adding to it as they're such good brushes but if you're looking for something more premium and for a more specific use I really recommend this range. On a vanity point they look absolute stunning on your dresser too :D I think I'll save a few of these for birthday and Christmas wishlists but I would love to get the tapered blush brush in my collection.

Georgina x.

Make Up Clear Out: Cheeks & Lips

Last month I posted my Make Up Clear out - Eyes & Nails collection so this is the second part of that massive clear out focusing on cheek and lip products. The cheek products consist of some ELF sticks that don't work for me - they're not very pigmented and they don't apply without either taking off whatever makeup is underneath or without looking incredibly cakey and built up. I've also thrown out some random bronzers that are way too orange for me one by a brand called W7 (not sure where I even got this one) and also the St Tropez shimmer brick which is way too shimmery for me. Lip products include an old gloopy Maybelline super stay - I did used to love this but it is way old and definitely needs to be confined to the bin. I've also thrown out a glossybox lipstick that I will never choose over other shades I have so it's gone. Also some random gloopy lipgloss, an M&S lipstick that is a very weird goldy orange shade (I was obviously having a moment that day) and again just some old shades that are way past there sell by date. 

I've loved getting rid of all this and making some room for some more products (oops) I've made a vow to avoid going mad in online sales & just in Boots in general and spend 2015 only buying stuff I really really want. I find spending £30 on one high end product I really want and have researched is much more enjoyable than spending £30 on ten things that I just stumble across in a rush and go mad for because they're so damn cheap. 

Georgina x. 

Make Up Clear Out: Eyes & Nails

 A few months ago me and Steve decided to move home back to our parents respectively in order to save the pennies for a little house of our own. Moving home has meant going from having a whole room just for me to get dressed and do my make-up in too having a little cabinet next to my bed so a huge clear out had to happen. I have to admit I'm kind of glad I did this - there was some OLD very unused stuff in the depths of my dresser. I had to throw A LOT out so I've split the posts into sections -

I seem to have had a habit of buying lots of cheapy eye products for a while - mainly ELF (a company I've now given up) the products from ELF that I bought and maybe used once or twice were a few cheap liners, mascara's and a primer - all very bluh and nothing to write home about hence why they were probably only used once or twice to begin with. I also had a huge mascara cull as I had amassed a crazy amount during the 'beauty box' phase of my life. The only one I loved was the nouveau lashes which was a lovely day wear mascara that had just dried up. The bright pink models own eyeshadow was ashamadley from my 18th birthday night out (7 years old ewwww - I disgust myself). How it had managed to remain at the back of a drawer is amazing but it obviously had to go. Finally a few bourjois eye shadows that again are very old and shouldn't still be in my collection I doubt they even still sell them. I think I had held onto them for nostalgic reasons as my 19 year old self would simply rock a dark eye using only that black eyeshadow and a bit of eyebrow highlight using just that cream shadow - haha brilliant look!

I couldn't part with many nail varnishes but did get ready of some freebies that I've never used and know I never will. The Barry M textured polish which is horrible horrible I hate the little gritty texture o it and the finish is foul it just feels like you have dirty nails. Finally a gelly polish that I do love but I have a million coral polishes and this one leaked so it had to go as it was all icky. 

I'm surprised at how much I managed to throw out and I think I'll schedule in a huge clear out every 6 months at least to stop hoarding of products I know I'll never use and that are way past their sell by date. 

Georgina x.

Make Up Clear Out: Face & Base

My Ikea Helmer has been going strong since July in 2012 - I still love it ever so much but it has somehow become far less organised and a lot less easy to close. I realised there was a lot of product in there that was too old to use - a lot that I'd never used and probably never will and shamefully alot of products that were empty. I have three of these posts altogether splitting my entire make-up collection up.

Empties: 

I've used up L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau de Teint and it's time to just let go. I keep trying to shake one more application out of this but it's definitely empty and I need to just admit it. I will be repurchasing this when the weather warms up a bit as I really loved using it. 

Too old to use: 

Shamefully I found this No7 High Lights illuminating lotion at the back of a drawer - this huge bottle of highlighter is so so old. They don't even sell it anymore and I think it was one of the first beauty products I ever bought years and years ago. I knew it wasn't a good thing to be putting on my skin anymore and threw it away but to be fair you would never had told how old it was on application it's held up ever so well over the years. It's a massive Benefit High Beam dupe and cost something like £8 when I bought it which for such a huge amount of product was an absolute bargain. 

I'll never use again: 

There's lots of cheap products in here that I've been lured into buying over the years. I've really learnt buying cheap foundation does not work out so knew it was time to just through this lot out. MUA 'BB cream' is horribly thick for and just didn't blend into my skin. The Technic foundation oxidized quite badly on my skin and again just didn't have a nice finish or texture. The Nivea tinted moisturiser is ok for what it is but has never found it's place within my make-up routine so it was time for it to go. The technic concealer palette and primer again never found their place - I have so many more products that will always take priority over these that they just never get used. The ELF pressed powder was just orange and has never been used apart from for testing then washing straight off. Finally the maybelline and natural collection concealers just don't suit my skin tone anymore I bought these when I loved a facial fake tan but they are way to dark for my paler complexion.

It was so therapeutic going through my collection and my drawers are so much neater now it also made me rediscover some little gems that I'd forgotten about that will feature in an upcoming post.

Korres Ginger & Vitamins Foundation - Review

I'm a big fan of everything I've tried by Korres (lipbutter and showergel) so I couldn't resist throwing a few bargainous make-up items in my recent fragrance direct haul. I picked up shade LF1 for only £3.99 and didn't really have any expectations as I haven't read much at all about this foundation. 

I normally pick up medium to high coverage foundations so this is very different for me. Firstly I love the packaging of this foundation nothing better than a light plastic tube in my opinion. I apply this with either my real techniques buffing brush or just my fingers. This is super light coverage and really just evens out skintone. I find it gives a gorgeous glow to my skin and makes my complexion look really healthy. As I continue to perfect my skincare routine in time for a much lighter make-up look in the summer I know this will definitely be my foundation of choice. Highly recommend giving this a go if you like light coverage foundation especially as it's currently so cheap on Fragrance Direct. 

Winter to Spring Make Up Look

Face: Rimmel Wake Me Up (review)
Concealer: ELF Maximum Coverage Concealer
Eyes & Brows: HD Brow Kit & Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp Mascara (review)
Cheeks: ELF Contour Kit & MAC Cream Blush in So Sweet, So Easy (review)
Lipstick: MAC Please Me (review)

The sun is finally shining! I've bought out the pinks and fell back in love with Rimmel Wake Me Up again! It's the perfect drugstore summer foundation for me - brilliant coverage to take you out of the cold season and gives the skin the loveliest glow. I'm really in love with the HD brows palette in Foxy too right now - this is my second palette and has everything I need for a basic eye and brow look - I love this quad!

MAC Please Me Matte Lipstick - Review

I adore MAC lipsticks so when I see a cheeky giveaway for one I can't resist entering. I was lucky enough to win a lipstick of my choice from the lovely Paige's blog competition a little while ago. It was super hard to choose a shade but in the end I went for 'Please Me' in a matte finish. I love matte lipsticks so that bit wasn't hard I especially like MAC's formula I don't find them to be drying at all. Please Me is described as muted rosy toned pink which I think sums it up perfectly. It's a lovely middle ground pink that is perfect for everyday wear. I adore it and I'm so glad it's now in my collection. I feel a little MAC order happening soon as there are so many gorgeous shades I want in my collection - would love any recommendations! 

No 7 - Instant Radiance Highlighter

No 7 Instant Highlighter and the Pop and Glow cream blush sticks have been popping up everywhere recently. After a little haircare binge in boots I got a £3 off No7 make-up voucher so thought it was about time I worked out what all the fuss was about. I decided on the highlighter stick simply because I have far less highlighting products than I do blush. I swatched the blush sticks in store and would have found it hard to pick just one shade too - classic rose and mango sorbet are stunning and so so pigmented. 

However swatching the highlighter in store made me fall in love a little. It's super creamy and has a lovely soft gold illuminating quality that adds a natural glow to the skin. It blends out really well and is perfect to add some shimmer to cheekbones. I love how compact it is and how super easy it is to apply and use. I know I put off buying the blushers on this occasion but I'm sure they'll end up in my basket some time soon as they look too pretty to pass up. 

  

Valentines Make-Up Look

Base: L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint (review) ELF Concealer Quad Brows: Maybelline Brow Drama (review) HD Brows Palette Eyes: Origins Ginzing Eyeshadow (review) & Smashbox Waterproof Gel Liner & L'Oreal Super Liner (review)  HD Brows Palette Bronzer: ELF Bronzer Quad Highlighter: Topshop in Sunbeam (review) Lipstick: Yves Rocher Moisturising Cream Lipstick in Red 

I'm not huge into valentines day but it is a nice excuse to get some lovely steaks in and watch a movie whilst drinking bubbly wine (literally any excuse). We have picked up an MnS dine in and I have a couple of bottles of fizz in the fridge - perfect evening in for me! Although we're just staying in it's a nice excuse to pop on some red lipstick and a bit of a smoky eye. I have a habit of coming in straight from work and taking off all traces of make-up and putting something comfy on so I'm going to try and make a little effort for a romantic evening. I hope you all have a perfect day/ evening whatever you're up too weather it be with friends or lovers.

Everyday Make-Up February - 2014

Base: L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint (review) Brows: Maybelline Brow Drama (review) Eyes: Origins Ginzing Eyeshadow (review) & Smashbox Waterproof Gel Liner & L'Oreal Super Liner (review) Bronzer: ELF Bronzer Quad Highlighter: Topshop in Sunbeam (review) Lipstick: Kate Moss for Rimmel Shade 110 (review) 

I'm trying to save my pennies at the moment so doing things that cost nothing at the weekend is my new hobby. However walks with the boy and prepping the weeks food isn't all that glamorous so a bright lip is adding that to my life. I'm so fed up of the constant rain and cold weather but a slick of this lipstick brightens up any day. Having a movie night in is much more fun when you've paired your PJ's with a bright red lip. I'm not sure why but it is.

Holy Grail Mascara - Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp

Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp Mascara - £18

I received a small sample of this in a Glossybox months ago and I adored it. It was a product I definitely took for granted as when I tried other mascara's in my collection nothing else compared. It has a lovely thick brush with a slight curve into the middle which makes applying it an absolute dream. I find this mascara adds length and curve to my lashes without ever making them clumpy. I love the natural volume this mascara gives - it really is everything I want in a mascara. 

The name is a little strange - I'm not sure if it's been translated literally from French or Yves Rocher think of pulp a little differently to the apple mush it brings to my mind. Either way I still love this mascara! This is my second one and I will be repurchasing as long as they keep making it. It's often on buy one get one free at Yves Rocher and if you order they often send catalogues and emails with codes for HUGE discounts or even free products. I actually got this one free as it's marked down as my 'favorite product' so just had to pay the small amount for delivery. I always pick up a few extra bits when I make an order and I'd highly recommend the brand as everything I've tried has been amazing. Including some skincare and haircare (more posts to come).

Beauty buys before I'm 25 - Quarter century wishlist.

My new years resolution was to stop spending so much money on beauty bits I don't really want and to actually invest each month in the more high end bits I've had my eye on for ages. I turn 25 in July which I know isn't old or anything but a quarter of a century feels a little like a milestone that I want to be prepared for. I want some gorgeous items in my collection whilst also starting to save and pay off the little debts I have. I've chosen 6 of the top products on my list as I can easily buy one of these each month before my 25th birthday.  Since investing in some lipstick storage I've really wanted something beautiful to make my collection a little more inspiring. I don't think there is any make-up packaging prettier than the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick which has left this on my wishlist for quite sometime and this year I promise to actually buy it. 

My quest for the perfect skin continues and I've had Alpha H Liquid Gold on my wishlist since it broke onto the market ages ago and I still haven't bought it. I think this will definitely have to be February's buy as I've wanted it for ages and I'm not sure why I don't own it yet! Following on from this dream skin care product I am lusting after two powders Kevin Aucoin Sculpting Powder & Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder I've read so many amazing reviews of both of these products and the pictures of people's makeup whilst wearing them is just flawless so I can't wait to get them. I also really want to put together a small Jouer palette as their blush, bronzers & highlighters all look so flawless too.

Nars Blush - I'm not sure how I haven't actually bought one of these. I've spent endless hours swatching in stores but somehow never walked away with one. They are also my go to birthday presents for friends as the luxe packaging and amazing pigmentation means friends are always happy but I've never treated myself - this year I will! Finally I'm going to pick up a Becca Beach Tint - I received the shade watermelon so long ago in a Glossybox and I absolutely love it. It's the perfect handbag and summer product which can be used on lips and cheeks. I want a brighter shade to play with this summer I think this will be one of the buys nearer July and I can't wait to get it!

I guess this post is a little reminder of the bits I really want and hopefully I can do something in July to make sure I've ticked them off. I'm also saving for a special handbag I've wanted forever - this year is the year of making purchases that mean something and not to buy into all the hype and end up with drawers busting open with products I never use. *fingers crossed* I stick to it!

 

January's Face - 2014

Base: Benefit Porefessional (review) Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (review) Concealer: Seventeen Phwoarr Paint (review) Brows: Maybelline Brow Drama (review) Eyes: Origins GinZing Creme Eyeshadow (review) Smashbox Waterproof Gel Liner  Benefit They're Real Mascara (review) Lips: Becca Cheek & Lip Tint, Maybelline Babylips Cheeks: ELF Bronzer, Bourjois Cream Blush (review)

I'm fast running out of my HG Laura Mercier Foundation and with payday a few weeks away still I'm trying to use some of my other favorite bases in the mean time. I really enjoy using the Bourjois healthy mix serum foundation I think it's the perfect base for colder days, especially as I have it in such a light shade which is matching my current skin tone perfectly (shade 51). I had a massive clear out of my makeup collection recently and at the back of the drawer I found the Becca cheek and lip tint I've really fallen back in love with it and am determind to remember it and purchase it in a lovely spring summer shade - it's so versatile and with a slick of baby lips on top it's the perfect hint of colour for everyday January.

Something Different #1 - Purple Eyeshadow

I think as a whole the make-up I use is ever so safe. I stick mainly with peach blushes, brown/ nude eyeshadows and every now and again rock a bold lip. However when I was digging through my make-up collection I found lots of fun bits that I just never use so thought it was time to give them a go and start a new series where at least once a month I try something different. 

My brother got me some ELF products for my birthday in July and this eyeshadow came as one of their freebies with the order. It's a bright purple eyeshadow in shade passion. The shadows are only £3.75 and come in lovely matte black packaging with a little mirror in the lid. This colour is well out of my comfort zone as it is just so bright. It's super pigmented and you only need a small amount to get a really bright look. I also used shade villian from my sleek ultra matte dark palette in the crease of my eye and to frame the line around my eye a little more. 

I do think the ELF product is a little bright and its almost fancy dress territory it is that purple. However I've been using more shades from the Sleek palette other than the usual paper bag (dark brown) & dune (soft cream) that I usually go for. 

I won't be rocking a bright purple eye anytime soon but it did make me realise mixing up dark tones other than brown and black does make for a more interesting eye - and it just makes a morning doing my make-up a little more interesting. 

Everyday Make-Up August 2013

Base: L'Oreal CC Cream (review) 

Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (review) 

Concealer: Natural Collection Cover Up Stick (review) 

Brows: Smashbox Brow Trio (review) 

Eyeliner: L'Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim (review coming soon) 

Eyeshadow: Mix of Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in On and On Bronze and Eternal Pink 

Mascara: Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp (review coming soon) 

Blusher: Bourjois Cream Blush in Healthy Glow (review) 

Lipstick: Bourjois Shine Lipstick in shade 20 (review)

Currently Loving

L'Oreal Micellar solution was on the blog just a few days ago but it's been a staple in my skin care for over a month now so I had to include it. Equally the Dermalogica Clean Start Welcome Matte moisturiser (review) has become HG for me I've been using it religiously since buying the full size and touch wood haven't had a single large break out. Following better skin days means less makeup and the Dr Jart water fuse BB cream has been my go to base. (review) It's perfect for these almost sunny days and also for the unnatural air of a large office. It's giving me the perfect coverage with only the need for small dabs of concealer. 

I've had the Charles Worthington Mussed Up texture spray for over a year now (review) and it's kind of fallen in amongst a basket full of hair products. However my hair's gotten pretty limp recently and this has really helped bring some life to it. It saves having to use heat stylers in the morning for volume and just gives it that little umph. I've also been loving the Body Shop detangling radiance rainforest spray (review) it's a lovely smelling spray that spritzed on after washing really gives the hair moisture and shine - I love this stuff. 

Finally I've also been going back to an old favourite - Collection 2000 Cream Puff in shade Fair Cake (review). I wish they'd bring out more shades of this lip formula as it's perfectly velvety to apply has a lovely matte finish and really good lasting power. 

Georgina x

Revlon Nearly Naked 150 Nude

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation £8.99 Boots 

I bought Revlon Nearly Naked partly because of the many raving reviews (sucker for the hype) I've read about it and secondly because I was in the market for a lighter summer time finish. At first I was a little disappointed this didn't come with a pump - I'd much rather pay a little more to have the ease of a pump dispenser. However dispite that I've fallen a little in love with this foundation. Shade 150 blends effortlessly into my skin tone and is a dream to apply. It gives a finish that is somewhere between matte and dewy and is the perfect 'no make-up' look foundation. 

It lasts reasonably well and see's out the 9-5 day with only a few concealer touch ups needed on blemishes and red marks - applying powder does help see out the day a little more of course. It evens out the skin tone but still lets the natural pigmentation of your skin show through which gives a lovely finish for the summer. Overall I'm super impressed with this high street foundation the shade is perfect for me and the finish is just what I'm after. Revlon as a brand has really impressed me recently I often skip past their offerings as they've always had a bit of a mumsy brand image in my opinoin (probably because I always rembember my mum's make-up bag being full of Revlon) which is maybe a sign that the quality really is there. So glad I gave this foundation a go - I do still wish it had a pump as I find I end up wasting a lot of product because too much goes onto my hand for application however I am getting used to it and I will get over it. Saying that though if they did begin a release with a pump I would be super excited. 

With Love, Georgina x

MUA Nectar - What colour is it?

I don't often venture into Superdrug all that often and when I do I always end up spending a few pounds on MUA products. I always have the problem at lipstick stands working out which shades I already own - I have too many lipsticks. However I only have a few MUA lipsticks and I new I didn't own the bright coral shade I swatched called Nectar - Shade 16. I came home and checked what shades I did actually own and was obviously pretty annoyed with myself at buying the exact same shade as one I already owned. 

The Necat shade 16 I picked up today is a bright orange toned coral. The one I already owned is a lighter more nude toned coral. Exact same packaging and shade number. Surely if you're going to release a new shade you'd give it a new name and shade number. They are not even close in shade as you can see above. Although initially annoyed that I bought the same shade I'm glad they don't match as I love both shades. The one I bought today glides on well like all MUA lipsticks and is the night out handbag accompaniment as you won't mind losing it for just £1. The downside to this lipstick is that it doesn't last very long but for the price you can't really complain. 

As happy as I am about it not being the same shade that I own attempting to replace either of this will be so hard - it also makes my standard do I own this shade debate even harder! Has anyone else found this with any MUA shades?

With love, Georgina x