My top 5 nude glosses

I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to nude glosses because I always convince myself that they "go with everything" which they in fact do but why I have at least 10 is a mystery! Anyway, within this collection I have go to colours which never fail me when I need a hint of colour on the lips but nothing too strong or distracting if i'm wearing a smokey eye or casual outfit. I have chosen my top 5 lipglosses in no particular order based on how often I repurchase them, wear them and the versatility of them.

L-R/ bottom to top in all photos:

1. MAC Lustreglass "Love Nectar" is a shimmery peach gloss perfect on its own or as I tend to use it on top of lipsticks. It is the most sheer of my top picks therefore is ideal for giving a matte nude lipstick a gloss finish. The shimmer finish is subtle enough for daytime but I love pairing this with a dark smokey eye for nights out on top of one of my favourite MAC lipsticks "Shy girl"

2. MAC Pro Longwear "Persistant Peach" is a long wearing highly pigmented peach gloss. This colour has the strongest colour of the 5 but I still put it within the nude gloss family because the peach is punchy yet the non shimmer finish is subtle. I tend to wear this alone because it has enough depth to be worn onto the lip without lipstick underneath. The long wear formula is hard to find with glosses so this is a great one for evenings out without having to top up every 10 minutes!

3. Illamasqua "Intimacy" is a true nude with a slight hint of soft pinky peach. This gloss truly goes with any makeup and is perfect for pairing with a dark smokey eye. Again this colour is pigmented and contains no shimmer so can be worn alone without a liner or lipstick however for nights out I like to give it more depth by wearing MAC "Kinda Sexy" matte lipstick underneath for the ultimate true nude lip.

4. Tom Ford "Tawny Pink" is a dusky nude pink with a slight shimmer finish. This a great day time gloss because its so comfortable on the lips and is highly pigmented. The packaging is luxurious, the colour is unique and even as the most expensive of the 5 by far I would still repurchase.

5. MAC Cremesheen gloss "Double Happiness" is a pearl finish gloss which glides on smoothly and really saturates the lips. The cream formula means that the colour is pigmented whilst still being comfortable on drier lips. I use this one in the daytime mainly as the soft nude pink is a lovely addition to natural skin and a soft brown smokey eye.

Am I missing any of your favourites from my collection?

x

Kit wish list!

As a makeup artist I love treating myself to the latest in makeup and skincare but I also have to treat my professional makeup kit to the best products to use on clients. I am always on the hunt for products which are space saving and high quality to use when freelancing and thought I would share my current kit wish list with you. The list of products are available from cocktail cosmetics or love makeup, two of my favourite make up artist brand sites both with fantastic service!

1. Z Palette Pro £19.95 www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

I have been looking into getting these for a while because any brand refills can be placed into them and this pro size is even deeper to fit brushes too! They would be a real space saver in my already too large kit and would allow me to mix and match shadow and blush refill brands. The fact that it is a magnetic palette assures me that my products would be safe whilst travelling or on set.

2. The Brush Guard £5 www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk 

These brush protectors would be fantastic whilst travelling with my kit because no matter how much I wrap up my brushes in either a brush roll or brush belt there is always the risk of the hairs getting disturbed or bent. There are different packs available including a variety back for different brush sizes or foundation only to keep larger brushes safe and clean.

3.Yaby cosmetics blush pan refill £9.95 www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

Yaby cosmetics is a vegan friendly brand who do a wide range of eyeshadow, concealer, foundation and blush refills which would be ideal for slotting into the z palette. I have been particularly enticed by the blush colours which are a great price and include a fantastic variety of colours for the fairest to the deepest skin tones. The textures are buildable and non streaky.

4. Sigma 5 kabuki brush set £64.95 www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

I already own a small collection of Sigma brushes and the quality and price have always impressed me. I have had my current brushes for many years which assures me that they are worth having in my professional kit. These set of kabuki brushes would be great for working with different product textures (liquid, cream, powder) and the shapes and styles mean that a variety of effects can be produced. I find that different face shapes, skin types suit different brushes so these would be a useful addition to my brush collection. I may have to purchases for my personal collection too!

5. RCMA Colour process foundation palette £55.00 www.love-makeup.co.uk 

This palette has been highly acclaimed by makeup artists including Wayne Goss as a great texture and selection of tones. At £55 it is an investment but the variety of tones in one palette and the great size means that it would save a lot of space in my kit. I like the fact that creams can be used sheer with a damp sponge but can be built up to full coverage too. Liquid foundations are more often used and I tend to use them on myself but I am keen to try more cream products as they seem that bit more versatile!

6. Something Bright Yaby Preset Palette £82.00 www.love-makeup.co.uk

Another Yaby product I have had my eye on is the preset Something Bright palette. This palette not only includes vibrant colours but also some must have neutrals and I cannot see how I would need any other palette on a job! Such a wide selection of shades would be great on a photoshoot where many looks are being created during the day. The palette is refillable and magnetic, a dream for a makeup artist!

What are your kit must haves which I should add to my wish list?

x

IMATS Haul!

I was lucky enough to be working on the MAC Pro stand at IMATS this year and my first trip there didn't disappoint! There were so many exciting events and demos going on and even though I didn't see  everything the atmosphere was electric! 

I spent most of my lunch breaks browsing the stands looking for new goodies to purchase and had my heart set on two brands in particular Hakuhodo brushes and Make up forever. I have been after Hakuhodo brushes after hearing rave reviews from makeup artists who claim the quality is second to none so despite the hefty price tag I was eager to buy a few brushes from them. Makeup forever is pretty hard to get hold of in the UK so when I knew they were going to be at the show I knew I had to purchase some of the infamous HD foundation. I decided to go for two colours depending on whether I am going au natural or wearing self tan.

Here are some photos from the Saturday!

The body painting was incredible!

Unfortunately I didn't manage to get many photos as I was working till the end of the day!

So here is what I bought:

Make up forever HD foundation in #127 and #140

Great packaging!

Hakuhodo purchases

An angled buffing brush for liquid foundation, a precise gel liner brush and the wooden handle travel set!

The quality is incredible

Too beautiful to use!

For a brush addict like me these were such exciting purchases. I am constantly trying new foundations too so I am so pleased to have finally got my hands on MUFE HD.

I have already tried the foundation and am in love so will post a review soon but as for the brushes I cannot bring myself to use them yet but will be taking the travel kit on holiday so will report back after then!

What did you buy at IMATS?

x

My new blog!

Hi everyone!

I have recently decided to create a new blog and become a much more active blogger. I have neglected my blogging a bit recently due to work but am going to dedicate more time to writing about what I love! My new blog has been designed by Gina Faria a friend and fellow beauty blogger/MUA and I am so pleased with the result! Everything from the name to the layout reflects my passion for beauty and makeup and I cannot wait to start writing again. 

Please follow me via GFC and find me on Bloglovin here:

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Hayley x

Current top 5 moisturisers

I am always trying new products so my favourites are always changing but there a special few products that always seem to hold their place in my collection and get repurchased. I thought I would share my current favourite moisturisers with you because there are so many choices on the market it can be tough to make a decision! I have normal/combination skin with few breakouts so these products are based on my skin type and experience.

The chosen 5!

Xen tan face tanner luxe

Dermalogica Skin smoothing cream

Khiels midnight recovery concentrate

Embryolisse lait creme concentre

Ren Bio Retinoid anti-ageing cream

These first three are more suitable for daytime use and I mainly use these in the morning before makeup.

I am a tanaholic so the Xen tan is perfect for giving a subtle healthy tan in the morning and does a great job of moisturising the skin too. A lot of facial tanners can be lacking in enough colour for me but this one has a real golden finish which looks great alone or underneath makeup.

The Dermalogica skin smoothing cream is great for combination skin and truly does make the skin feel smoother and softer. I tend to use this on my days off or before bed because it is a little bit too much under makeup for my shiny t zone. It has no distinct smell so would be great for people who don't like strong perfumed products. 

Embryolisse is a makeup artist must have because it sinks into skin quickly and provides a great base for makeup. I first heard about this product through Pixiwoo and have loved it ever since! It is hydrating but feels super light on the skin and has a lovely creamy texture. A must have for under makeup!

My last two favourites I use only at night time. The first is a sample from REN of their bio retinoid anti ageing cream. I have yet to invest in this cream purely because I don't feel I need anti ageing products just yet (although not far off!) but for anyone looking for a luxurious moisturiser is a lovely product. It smells great as most REN products do and I love putting a layer on my skin before bed for a nighttime treat.

Kiehls midnight recovery concentrate is as the name would suggest to be used at night only. This is a recent discovery for me and I adore it! It can be worn alone or under moisturiser for a more hydrating treatment. It contains beautiful smelling oils and natural ingredients and glides onto skin like a dream. I would highly recommend this when you want your skin to look better by morning but haven't got time for a facial!

I have also just invested in a brand new skincare regime so will blog about that soon! 

x

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Holiday wish list

I have officially booked my summer holiday which means the holiday shopping can commence! I am off to Portugal in July and will no doubt NEED an entire new summer wardrobe to take with me ;)

As an online shopping addict I am always on the hunt for new goodies so I thought I would share my current holiday wishlist with you!

Michael Kors Selma bag  

I have been lusting after this bag for a few months and this orange colour would be perfect for the summer season! It also comes in a beautiful emerald green which would be stunning alongside a tan. I love the shape and size of the bag which has enough room for everyday essentials (and alot of makeup) but doesn't look bulky. The short handles and long strap allow for both everyday and travel use. This is definitely top of my wishlist and I am considering putting aside money each week and putting a spending ban on beauty products in order to invest in this £315 beauty before I go away.

Bikinis

My favourite site at the moment for bikini browsing is ASOS who have a wide range of separate pieces which is ideal as I am much large on top than on bottom! They do a variety of swimwear for bust DD+ and this nautical bikini is one of my favourites! I am looking into buying 2 or 3 bikinis to add to my collection and will try to get different styles and colours to match different outfits I will be wearing in Portugal. I usually opt for bikinis over swimsuits for tanning reasons but need to get the summer diet going if I hope to look anything even close to this by July! I have also been looking at Victoria's secret bikinis however I believe only the underwear not swimwear is available in the UK :( 

In Transit No Traces - This Works

I am so happy to see a travel friendly range from skincare brand This Works! I have already invested in their primer/moisturiser/mask combo (review coming soon) and love the style and quality of the products. These makeup removing pads seem like a great way to remove makeup without leaving the skin feeling dry or being too harsh like most makeup wipes are. At £17 they are much pricier than makeup wipes however I would be happy to pay this for a product that cleanses, brightens and calms sensitivity. I love cleansing properly and removing all dirt and grime so I would probably use these as a pre cleansing step to take the initial layer of makeup off then cleanse with a balm/oil based cleanser to get that deep clean feel. It contains 60 pads which would be more than enough for my 11 night holiday.

Diptyque Philosykos Eau de Toilette

I fell in love with this fragrance about 4 years ago and yet I have never purchased it. It is more pricey than most perfumes I usually buy at £70/100ml and yet is probably much less than the amount I spend on makeup a week and so I have decided that this year I will try and invest! I love the scent, with notes of fig in it it truly smells like summer and is the cult fragrance by Diptyque. I love many of their perfumes but this one just has the edge for me. The perfume description online talks about the scent of Greek islands and warm sun which for me sums it up perfectly. 

Dermalogica travel kit Normal/Oily

I love trying new skincare products and am always finding new favourites but there will always be at least one Dermalogica product in my skincare routine! I always make sure that I have their products in my collection just in case I don't get on with a new cleanser! I like the fact that their products do what they say they will do and for someone who wear alot of makeup to work I can trust the brand to give me that clean skin feeling at the end of the day. For that reason I would like to buy the travel kit for my holiday so that I have my favourite essentials with me! I have normal to combination skin to the normal/oily kit would be best for me in the summer months. It includes two of my all times favourites, special cleansing gel and multi active toner. This means I won't have to pack all my full size favourites and this will fit into my suitcase no problem!

What are your holiday must haves?

x

Tan Time!

So as you may well know I am a total fake tan addict. As a naturally fairly pasty individual I am constantly on the hunt for the best fake tan in order to give me a healthy glow so when the people from www.tanland.co.uk offered to send me some tanning essentials I couldn't say no ;)

I promptly received a package containing lots of goodies including fake tan mitt, exfoliating mitt, headband and Fake Bake original lotion which is one tan I have never used!

I have heard rave reviews about fake tan original so I was keen to give it a try. What first shocked me about the product was the odd smell, for me it is far too strong so I would only use this for the great colour it gives. The second shock was the very dark guide colour but when washed off it gives a lovely natural golden glow and would be perfect for first time tanners or those of you who prefer a natural look. I am used to using much darker tans so for me this was best after two applications! 

The stand out products for me were the accessories themselves. The tanning mitt feels secure and good quality with a lovely smooth application side. The exfoliation mitt is a must have for all tanners because it removes all traces of old tan without feeling uncomfortable on skin. I simple used my shower gel with the mitt to scrub away the old before putting on the new! The headband is also fantastic for stopping tan from getting into the hair, being blonde I find this especially annoying so this is a neccessity for me! 

The tan land site offers free delivery in the UK which for me is a massive thumbs up and they stock a variety of well known brands including Xen Tan (one of my all times favourites) and tans I am very keen to try such as Makebelieve and He-shi. I will be using up my current collection of tans then placing an order to try these soon :)

What are your favourite tans?

x

www.tanland.co.uk