Daily Makeup :: The February Edit

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in Terre Neuve / Bobbi Brown Correcter in Extra Light Bisque / Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Concealer in Light / Laura Mercer Secret Camoflage Concealer in Sc1 / Soap and Glory Archery Brow Pencil in Blonde Shell / Miss Sporty Clear Mascara (for brows) / NARS Multiple in Copacabana / NARS Blusher in Deep Throat / Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo in Everlasting Navy / Lancome Hypnose Mascara

Current Favourites #2

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser ::  you will have seen me express my love for this in a recent post. It is the perfect everyday base for me and I love it.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream :: my skin seems to be getting extra dry this year in comparison to past so I have been reaching for this hand cream which I got in my Xmas stocking. It's very thick but sinks in almost immediately leaving your hands moisturised.

MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush ::  I've almost had this brush for a year now and I still love it. Make-up artist Sam Walker recommended it when I was on a course she was teaching at London College of Fashion saying that she could never be without it and I completely understand. Paired with any base it will give it a flawless finish and I also use it to buff in concealer. Of course it has endless uses, blush, skincare etc and if it was not for the price tag I would buy a second one in a heartbeat.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Desperation ::  I've heard alot about these pencils in the past but I could never quite grasp spending £15 on just one eye pencil. I was obviously feeling weak as a couple of weeks ago I was in the Urban Decay store in Covent Garden swatching a number of colours. This one inparticular stood out to me, it's a stone grey but a much softer alternative to black which I rarely wear for I feel it comes across as too harsh on my pale skin. It stays put all day and is so easy to use. I'm already eyeing up which one I would like next...

NARS Blush in Deep Throat ::  I've had this one for a while and seems to be a colour that I always go back to and I can wear all year around. I've really been into rosy cheeks recently and this paired with the Bobbi Brown Sheer Powder Brush creates that look perfectly. They're pricey but if seen as an investment it's unlikely you'll have to purchase a replacement as they last so long. Amazing colour pigment and contrary to others opinions I actually really like the packaging.

MAC Eyeshadow in Patina :: Another product that I've had for a while but I always go back to. If I'm ever stuck in a rut on what eyeshadow colour to wear or need to be out the door quickly most of the time it will be this colour that I'll go for. A gold-toned brown which is subtle enough for everyday.

Currently On Trial

After not buying any make-up towards the end of last year I have had a couple of new additions recently that I have been trying out...

Lancome Hypnose Mascara :: I was given this as a Christmas present, which was very exciting as this is actually the first ever high end mascara that I have used (I can't quite force myself to part with £20+ when I know there are just as good offerings on the high street) but this one from Lancome has certainly showed me what I'm missing. It has gotten better with age, which after speaking to a friend of mine is apparently a 'thing' with the Lancome mascaras. It lengthens, volumises and stays in place all day. I do love it but I don't think I'd rush out to buy it again, maybe for another birthday or Christmas present?

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Desperation :: This purchase was on a complete whim. It is a steely matte grey eyeliner which is a great alternative for those who want to wear eyeliner that isn't black. It stays in place all day and I really do understand where all the hype around these eyeliners have come from. I've alreadt got my eye on another colour...

Maybelline The Eraser Concealer in Light :: when I was at make-up school one of my friends used this and I was intrigued as I had always turned a blind eye to it because of the sponge applicator. It looked a very light consistency and after seeing Vivianna Does Makeup talk about it I decided to take the plunge. With only 3 colours available I went for the light which although does suit me once buffed in is slightly too yellow. I wouldn't use this on blemishes because of the unhygenic sponge applicator but it provides a light feeling coverage for undereyes which I am pleased with.

Bobbi Brown Cool Eye Palette

I had been coveting the Bobbi Brown Cool Eye Palette ever since it was released before Christmas. So when I opened a black Bobbi Brown on Christmas morning last year it's safe to say I was excited. The shades it includes are unlike any that I already own, which was part of the reason I was so drawn to it. There are 4 matte shades and 2 metallics; one pink and one silver-grey. There are so many ways to use this palette and can easily take you from day to night. One of my favourite ways to wear it has been Pink Quartz all over the lid and then Almond in the crease.

Of course because it is Bobbi Brown the tortoise shell packaging is absolutely beautiful with a decent sized mirror. There is also a travel size dual ended brush of the Eyeshadow brush and Eye liner brush which has made me want to buy the eyeshadow brush for my kit as I love it so much. It is limited edition but it is still available on the Bobbi Brown website.

NARS Tinted Moisturiser...you were missed

The NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser and I first met a while ago, if I had to hazard a guess I would say it was about mid 2013. It was love at first use as a self confessed light base lover this ticks all boxes that I look for. It has a light feeling but perfecting coverage, SPF 30 and as all NARS bases do a great colour range so as expected I have the lightest shade in the range 'Terre Neuve'.  I actually find that this base gets better with time, about half an hour after you apply this it has settled down and makes your skin look 'radiant' and natural. I still have to use a concealer to cover any blemishes I may have at the time but this is a skin pick-me-up in a tube that I would recommend to anyone.

But then in October last year the worst happened. I was commuting to London and one particularly dreary and bleak morning I had to get an especially early train. I packed my make-up to do it on the train and when I got to my destination in London I noticed that it was not in my make-up bag. I had left it on the train. I didn't immediately replace it as it isn't the cheapest base in the world (£31) and I knew I had other bases to fall back on. Instead I used either the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation or the Estee Lauder DayWear Tinted Moisturiser but neither quite lived up to the offering from NARS.

The NARS base made it's way back into life on the morning of Christmas Day and I am yet to be seperated from it since. I love it and I'm never letting it out of my sight again.

2014 Most Loved Beauty

Makeup

Estee Lauder DayWear Tinted Moisturiser / Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Bisque / Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in Light 01 / MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling / NARS Blush in Deep Throat / MAC Eyeshadow in Patina / Max Factor Clump Defy Mascara / MAC Lipstick in Peach Blossom / Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Espirit

Skincare

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanse and Polish / Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask / La Roche Posay Hydreane Riche

Hair

 Phytodefrisant / Moroccan Oil Light

Other

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Toilette / MAC 130 Brush / Bobbi Brown Sheer Powder Brush

Daily Makeup :: Lazy Day Edit

Estee Lauder DayWear Tinted Moisturiser / Bobbi Brown Corrector in Extra Light Bisque / Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in Light / MAC MSF in Light Plus / MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling / MUA Colour Blast Eyeshadow Tint in A Girl Like Me / Max Factor Clump Defy Mascara (not pictured)

makeup inspiration :: Burberry 2014

Add Some Sparkle

For those of us who are wary of piling on the glitter over the festive period I have discovered the perfect alternative which is easy to do and not so blindingly obvious that you're wearing a tonne of glitter on your face. By using a glitter eye shadow and placing it in the inner corners of the eyes it looks pretty, festive and simple. I have personally been using MAC 'Idol Eyes' but any glitter based shadow is perfectly acceptable.

MAC Eyeshadow in 'Idol Eyes'

makeup inspiration :: Lucia Pica

photos

I was flicking through the pages of the latest i-D magazine recently, one of my absolute favourites as the pages are bursting with creativity. One spread that really caught my eye were the five initial pictures you can see on this post which was follwed by an article on the makeup artist who had created these looks. When I saw the looks I couldn't help but think that they were amazing works of art. I love the different colours, shapes and definitions that are all brought in to achieve the finished look. The makeup artist I found was called Lucia Pica and as soon as I got home I went straight on to finding more of her work. I view her work as not just makeup, but art. On reading the article following the spread in i-D I discovered that she trained at the same makeup school which I have just finished training at myself which gave me a sense of confidence. If I am able to reach the stage of these photos then I will be extremely proud. It also shows that it is possible, albeit with a lot of hard work.

If I ever did get the chance to work with/for Lucia Pica that would be truly amazing but for now I'll stick to aspiring towards the beauty that she has created.

Simple, Matte Eye :: inspiration from the London Underground

I'm spending a lot of my time on public transport these days, in particular the London underground. One of my favourite things about it is that there is such a wide variety of people that you pass on a day to day basis. About this time last week I was sitting on the tube pretty close to my destination when a girl got on and sat on one of the chairs opposite me. I tend to notice people's makeup and hers stood out to me for the pure simplicity of it.  She had a light matte colour across her lid and a slightly darker shade in the crease and it looked really great. It really made me want to wear that kind of look, one that is normally forgotten about or overlooked in my books. So the next day I did exactly that using the shades W.O.S and Naked 2 from my Naked Basics Palette. 

there's inspiration naround you all the time, you just have to make sure you're looking

Makeup Inspiration from Pinterest

Photos

Skin-Like Foundations

I am not a heavy coverage foundation kind of girl. If anything I don't wear foundation more than I actually do. However on the days that I do wear it I have two picks that always do me good. They give a skin-like coverage, even things out a bit but you wouldn't necessarily be able to say, yep she's definitely wearing foundation. Concealer is my best friend on the days that I go without foundation but sometimes you just want to wear makeup and these are my go-to guys.

MAC Face and Body is water based and blends into the skin so seemlessly. I always forget how much I love the finish of this until I wear it again. Whereas the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation has a touch more coverage but doesn't feel like it whatsoever, as the name would suggest it feels just like skin.

MAC Face and Body Foundation / Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation

Pretty Things

I don't know about you but I am an absolute sucker for packaging when it comes to makeup. I would much rather spend my money on high end products because they are just so pretty.There is definitely the argument that there are some good dupes on the market right now, but I still can't help being attracted to this exclusivity of the high end products.  The sleek and simple packaging is just something that I am willing to pay more for. To be honest even when I do go to high street shops I will normally walk out empty handed as I would much prefer to spend money on a more luxurious product. Call me shallow but it makes me happy. I love seeing products on my dressing table that I know I have saved for and spent time thinking about before I actually make the purchase (80 percent of the time... sometimes I'm just feeling spendy).  Also as someone who is hoping to forge a career in the world as a makeup artist I feel like I use that as an excuse to spend a bit more.

You Need These, Trust Me

I've added a few brushes to my collection over the past few years but of all of them these are the two that have stood out the most to me. If I had to pick only two brushes that I could own it would probably be these two. On days that I wear makeup I will always use these brushes as they are both so multitasking. The MAC 130 is like a slightly smaller version of the Real Techniques stippling brush and when I first bought this I didn't realise how much I would use this brush. I've used it for applying foundation, blending concealer, applying cream blush, applying cream highlight, blending away lines (the list goes on).

I've only had the Bobbi Brown Sheer Powder brush since my birthday in July but it is ah-mazing! As the title would suggest it can be used with powder products but picks up just the right amount of product in doing so. There's no cakey powder look, nor bright out there stripes of blush. It's subtle and just the way I like it.

MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush  / Bobbi Brown Sheer Powder Brush

Space NK Wishlist

I was wandering around my local town the other week and accidently stumbled into the makeup heaven that is Space NK. If I had absolutely no self restraint and limitless money I could spend a rather large fortune in there. Luckily I do have self restraint and there is certainly no large fortune around these parts so instead I added them to my wishlist which seems to be ever growing on my phone and am sharing them with you. I'm also aware that a certain festive period is just around the corner..

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon :: everyone went mad for these little beauties and I have restrained myself thus far but you can't deny that these are abolutely gorgeous and oh-so luxurious. I've got my eye on Bronze Moon and Blond Opal.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Never Say Never :: I've never properly paid much attention to these lip pencils despite the amount of love that they receive from bloggers all around. Whilst swatching the majority of the shades on the back of my hand this shade in particular stood out to me. 

NARS Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Terre Neuve :: technically I have already owned this particular one but very very sadly I left it on a train a couple of weeks ago. And you know the saying you didn't know what you had until it's gone, well it's true. There's been a NARS shaped hole in my life and I really really want (need) a replacement.

NARS Blush in Douceur :: i have been hearing more and more about this shade of blush over the past few months, in particular from Jennypurr. So when I was finally able to see it in real life and swatch it I begun to understand what the fuss may be about. Of course I am yet to see it on the cheeks but hopefully if it ever appears in my collection I too will understand the hype.

Makeup For The Sake Of Wearing Makeup

During the week I wear zilch to very, very minimal makeup. So by the time the weekend comes around I am normally itching to get my creative on and apply some proper makeup. These are some of the offerings I chose to go for this past Sunday. I have truly fallen head over heels for the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation. It is exactly the right amount of coverage that I like to wear when I do wear foundation and it feels effortlessly light on the skin. Paired with one of my favourite eyeshadows, 'Patina' from MAC  all over the lid, a touch of a rosy blush from Rimmel and an oh so autumnal berry lip from Chanel. 

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation in Porcelain 0 / Rimmel Stay Blushed in Pop of Pink / MAC Eyeshadow in Patina / MAC 239 Brush / Max Factor Clump Defy Mascara / Chanel Coco Rouge Shine in Espirit 

Hues Of Berry

Like many other people, when the colder weather comes around I like to ditch the natural pink lip shades and go for more of a berry shade. Original, I know. Seeing as it's such a well-worn trend I find it really interesting to see all the different brands and lip colours that other people use to create that berry toned stain on their lips. So today I thought I would share what I like to use to follow this ever so loved trend.

The stars of the show are MAC's 'Plumful' and the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in 'Espirit'.  The Chanel offering has a slightly more pink tone and transparent application. Whereas the MAC option is slightly more purple with a more standard lipstick finish. Both can either be applied sheer patted onto the lips or full blown colour. I couldn't tell you my favourite they're both so lovely! For such a well known and well loved trend I have to say that this is one of my favourites and one that I feel comfortable in, which is sometimes not easy (I'm looking at you red-toned eyeshadow and bright blue eyeliner). 

MAC Lipstick in Plumful / Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Espirit 

Makeup Spotlight :: Rachel McAdams

All images can be found on Pinterest (link)

English Rose

As someone with pale skin all year round the term 'English Rose' is often brought up. Whenever I go to buy a new face product such as concealer or foundation I always veer towards the palest shade that they have on offer. Of course when I  was younger I initially went for what was on offer on the highstreet but I am yet to find a product that is exactly on point for my skin, they are always slightly too yellow. Over the past year or so I have been branching out and have found that high end brands offer a much more realistic and true to skin colour for skin types like myself. My two favourites are Bobbi Brown and NARS. I really dislike wearing heavy coverage foundations on a day to day basis. I honestly can't tell you the last time that I wore one. I much prefer something with a lighter coverage.My two favourites that I have found so far which are perfect matches for my skintone are the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation in 0 Porcelain and the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in Terre Neuve. And surprise surprise they are both the lightest shades on offer!

As for concealer, the same concept applies. Offerings from the high street are all slightly on the orange side, but the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Concealer in 01 Light and the NARS Pure Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly are both excellent matches for those of us destined to have ever pale skin. I also find that the blue tones under my eyes can appear more present than on other skin tones so the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Extra Light Bisque has been a blessing in disguise, something that I have worn every single day for the past 6 months.

I have grown to love being a pale skinned girl and have accepted the fact that I will never, ever have a tan. For someone who hates lying in direct sun that is probably a given anyway. I feel like it suits me and it is part of who I am.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation in 0 Porcelain / NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in Terre Neuve / Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Concealer in 01 Light / NARS Pure Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly / Bobbi Brown Corrector in Extra Light Bisque