NARS Favourites

NARS is one of my favourite makeup brands to use both on myself and in my professional kit. I recently applied for their pro makeup discount too and with 40% off I will certainly be filling my kit with more of their amazing products. I already have some must haves in my own personal collection and thought I would share them with you!

The prices, packaging and quality reflect their prices and I believe they are 100% products worth investing in. Not only do they last a long time but the colours and pigments are fantastic. 

Left to Right Top to Bottom: Mekong eyeshadow £18, Silk Road eyeshadow duo £25, Albatross highlighter £21.50, Laguna bronzing powder £26, St Moriz tinted moisturiser £28, Chelsea Girls lip lacquer £17.50, Ginger Radiant creamy concealer £21, Stromboli Sheer Glow foundation £30.50.

Mekong eyeshadow is a beautiful shimmery deep brown with different coloured sparkles running through it. It is gorgeous packed onto the lid for a dark smokey eye or used in the crease to create a classic smokey eye with a lighter colour on the lid. I love it because it is so much more interesting than my other brown shades and is much more glamorous for a night out. The pigment in this eyeshadow is so high that you barely need to touch it to get a good strength of colour.

Silk Road eyeshadow duo is another favourite because the two shades are so wearable for day and yet when used within a smokey eye for evening create the most stunning sheen on the lid. I use the two colours in several variations but I love to highlight under the brow bone with the lighter colour then wear a wash of the darker colour all over the lid. For a more natural look I wear the lighter shade on the lid, with the darker as a soft crease colour. If you like neutrals and are looking for something with a sheen but not glittery this is a must have.

Chelsea girls lip lacquer is a very popular lip product because it truly is the perfect nude! The texture is somewhere between a balm, gloss and lipstick and goes onto the lips so smoothly providing a good amount of colour. If I am wearing a smokey eye I love to wear this as an understated lip colour which compliments any makeup look! It has a peachy undertone and looks incredible with a tan! I will definitely buy this again and am hoping to try more lacquers from the range.

Albatross highlighter is a stunning gold based highlighter which gives an incredible luminosity to the skin. I love to use this for nights out because it photographs beautifully and the cheek bones literally pop. It is very light so can look a little too much when I fake tan so I tend to wear this for evenings rather than day time.

Laguna bronzing powder is a cult classic because the tone is perfect for contouring, with enough warmth in it to look like a tan but not too red to wear below the cheekbone. I like to dust this on my temples, cheeks, nose, anywhere I want to look bronzed! I have almost run out so will definitely be repurchasing soon!

Pure radiant tinted moisturizer in St Moritz is the best tinted moisturiser I have ever used. It gives a surprisingly good amount of coverage, I would say better than some light coverage foundations I have tried. And yet it retains a completely natural skin look. Spf 30 means its ideal for everyday protection and the skin looks flawless after one application. I have been wearing this instead of foundation in the day which is a big change for a girl who usually wear medium to full coverage but it really does provide all the cover I need and I like to add concealer on any red areas or blemishes. I will be adding these to my professional kit.

Radiant creamy concealer in Ginger is another new skin must have. I use this to touch up areas that the tinted moisturiser hasn't quite covered and again it has a beautiful skin like texture. It is perfect for under eyes too ( just needs to be set with powder). This colour is perfect for me with a good mixture of yellow and pink tones it suits me with or without tan. I will be buying these for my kit too!

Last but not least is one of my all time favourite foundations Sheer Glow in the colour Stromboli. This shade is perfect for nc30 skin, tanned with a yellow undertone. This foundation is anything but sheer with medium to full coverage and provides the most gorgeous glow to the skin. It is not shiny be any means but simply improves the radiance of the skin but without compromising on coverage. I adore this foundation and wear it on most evenings out because it also has incredible staying powder. I own this in shade Barcelona too which is my summer shade. I will continue to repurchase and repurchase! 

What are your NARS favourites?

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La Luxe mink lashes

I ordered these lashes from the website http://www.laluxelashes.com after seeing them on twitter used by makeup artist Krystal Dawn on Jessica Wright TOWIE. Her lashes always look incredible so I knew I had to get my mitts on these lashes. The lashes are cruelty free and incredible quality. I had excellent customer service from the brand who told me about their discount for Makeup artists at a fantastic 40%! 

There are 6 styles of lashes in the collection although I have just seen on their twitter that more styles will be launching soon which is very exciting! I ordered 3 of the styles: Hey Doll, Natural Flirt and Rock Chick and I will definitely be ordering more soon.

The packaging is simple yet luxurious. A piece of pink ribbon neatly lifts the lash tray from the box and adds a lovely extra touch. The lashes themselves look and feel amazing. You really can see why the price point is higher than some other lash brands because these can be used again and again and still retain their shape and texture. The strip on the lashes is robust but not too thick that it doesn't mould well to the shape of the eye lid.

I wore the "Hey doll" lashes which are the smallest of the three to dinner and had so many compliments on them! I wore the "Rock Chick" much longer lashes on a night out and they looked incredible with a strong dark smokey eye.

At £19.99-£22.99 these lashes are an investment but if you are a makeup artist or lash addict they are definitely worth getting! 

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BLOG SALE!

Hi everyone! So I have decided to sell some of my wares because they don't fit or because I simply don't have the space! I have lots of goodies to sell but thought I would upload a first batch to keep it organised. If you are interested in purchasing any of the items please leave your name and email address below with the item you would like and I will contact you to confirm your purchase and exchange details. 

Please note that I am giving everything a guide price but would be willing to negotiate on prices! Would like to have items paid for via Paypal

XL blonde Bun Ring from Sleep Rollers (no packaging) never used RRP £10  

£5 

Topshop petite size 8 lace pink/nude dress - Used but in good condition

£15 

Scarves - Cream (unknown where purchased) Beige (Topshop) Used but in good condition 

£5 each or £8 for both

Genuine UGG Australia bag - Used twice in great condition

£40 

 Next petite size 6 coat (would fit a small 8 too) - Used but in good condition

£15

River island dress with belt size 8 -Used but in good condition

£15

River island blue chunky knit jumper size 8 - Used but in good condition 

£10

Topshop flower print shorts size 10 - Worn once 

£20

Topshop petite size 8 black leopard cami - Used but in good condition

£10

Topshop petite size 8 brown leopard cami - Used but in good condition

£10

Junk food "Neverland" T shirt size small (will fit 6/8) - Used but in good condition

£10

Tommy Hilfiger Jumper size XS (6/8) - Used few times but in good condition 

£10

2 pairs of NYX Cosmetics lashes 

£5 for both

Hayley x

Blog sale perhaps?

I have been thinking about doing a blog sale for a while as I have lots of beauty/fashion items which I simply don't use or have room for so I wondered if anyone would be interested in one?

FOR SALE

I am selling my Bobbi Brown Luxury makeup trunk (RRP £200) never used and in great condition. Would love to find it a good home where it can be used and enjoyed. Looking for £100 ono but offers will be considered!

If you are interested in either this product or a potential blog sale of other items please comment below!

Battle of the Balms

Cleansing balms really are the word on the street at the moment when it comes to skincare. I used to be a cream/gel wash kinda gal until skincare guru Caroline Hirons explained that balms are much more effective in removing traces of makeup and grime and as a heavy makeup wearer I knew that I had to invest in a balm immediately!

I always use Bioderma to take off my makeup before cleansing as I like to feel that I have removed the top layer of muck before getting into cleansing. It is a great product for quick makeup removal particularly for makeup artists!

 If I am wearing particularly strong make up I will also use Dermalogica Pre cleanse, an oil based cleanser to be used on dry skin to break down product on the skin before you even reach for your cleanser. I love this product because it doesn't leave any oily residue behind and is suitable for all skin types including oily. If you wear a lot of makeup you NEED Pre-cleanse.

Back to the balms and there are lots of brands now doing cleansing balms but I have tried out 3 of these and will be letting you know how I feel about each of them.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face balm 100ml £34 - www.feelunique.com

The first balm I ever tried was Emma Hardie. This balm has become a cult favourite with beauty bloggers and I bought mine on the recommendation from fellow skincare addicts. When I found out that Caroline Hirons loves it too I knew it would be a worthwhile addition to my ever growing skincare collection.

I like the smell because it smells clean but not too overpowering. I find that its great for removing all traces of makeup. It comes with a great cloth too and can be used around eye area without stinging.
The only negative I found is that I don't particularly like the packaging style and my lid broke but I have heard that the packaging has been changed since I bought mine. It is a good starting balm for those of you who have never tried one!

Elemis Pro Collagen cleansing balm 105g £39.50 - www.feelunique.com

The next balm I tried was Elemis pro collagen balm. There was a real buzz around this product as the Elemis pro collagen range is widely known for its great anti ageing effects on the skin and even though I am only 27 I believe in getting in there early with anti ageing and many skincare therapists ive spoken to have said that early 20's at least is ideal to be starting to prevent ageing on skin.

This product looks and feels luxurious on the skin. It has a real pamper spa feel to it so was lovely to use at the end of the day. However I did not enjoy the smell and when I used this anywhere near the eye area it made them sting or water. I would recommend this for someone with slightly drier skin as it feels rich on the skin.

Elemental Herbology Purify & Soothe Facial cleansing balm 75ml £30 - www.feelunique.com

Lastly I wanted to try the purify and soothe balm from Elemental Herbology. This brand isn't as widely known but fellow skincare addicts will know that this brand graces the shelves of Space NK (my mecca) and has some popular products such cell food serum which are becoming cult favourites.

This balm comes in tube which I find is a handier size and more hygenic than the tub versions. The packaging has nice high end feel to it. I like the smell of this product too and the texture is comfortable yet lush. The product can feel slightly too rich for when my skin is a little more oily but I would say for normal to combination it is ideal.

For me, each of the balm has its own selling point but at the end of the day it may just come down to how my skin is looking or feeling. For the summer months I would probably be using the Emma Hardie , for when my skin is drier in winter I may find myself switching to the elemental herbology whilst the Elemis balm will be ideal when I want to plump the skin and really target ageing issues.

If I had to pick an all round winner it would be Elemental Herbology because I know that when I use that product it will result in the removal of all makeup and grime, will leave no residue behind and leaves me with that truly clean skin feeling but I am keen to try more cleansing balms on the market.

Which is your favourite balm and why?

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Skincare tag!

Hi guys! I have been tagged by the gorgeous Harriet from http://byooteeblog.blogspot.co.uk to do this mini skincare quiz! I love doing tags and finding out what others peoples favourites are! 

I am tagging some of you to do it too! 

Gina - London Beauty Bug

Vicky - Beauty Blogging Brunette

Lauren - Lauren Rose Makeup

Zoe - Zoe Newlove

Nikki - Beauty ya Bish

Describe your skin care routine in 5 words

Pre cleanse, cleanse, tone, moisturise

What's your skin type?

Normal/combination. I rarely suffer with breakouts and they are usually hormonal.

Top blemish zapper?

Origins Super spot remover is fab for drying them out and clearing them up quicker but generally mine are hormonal so sometimes nothing can help! 

Face wipes, yay or nay?

nay!!! I am a true believer of Caroline Hiron's (skincare guru) philosophy that face wipes should only be used on 3 occasions: Fanny's, flights and festivals! I use Bioderma makeup remover at the very least but try to do a full skincare routine every morning and night.

Toner, yay or nay?

Yay! I have always been a fan of spritz toners such as a Dermalogica Multi active toner or Liz Earle skin boost but have recently ventured into the world of exfoliation toner such as Clarins brightening toner. I use the stronger brightener toner for when my skin needs a little extra help but use my spritz toner every day.

High-end skin care or high-end make up?

This is a tough call! I am a bit of a beauty snob I must admit that I very rarely use a drugstore product and always like to spend a bit more because when it comes to putting products onto my face I believe that quality is key. If I had to choose I would pick high end makeup purely because as a makeup artist, makeup is my true love!

What's the most unusual skincare product you've tried?

I haven't tried anything unusual yet! But I am keen to try Kate Somerville goat cream which certainly has an unusual name!

Tell us your top skincare tip?

Always remove makeup at night! If I ever forget to I get spots come up immediately the day after! 

x

Charlotte Tilbury Makeup

One of the most exciting launches of the year for makeup artists and beauty addicts, this collection has blown my mind! I couldn't make it to the launch at Selfridges so when I got home from work on the launch day I quickly logged on to Charlotte's own website www.charlottetilbury.com and placed an order. I initially added almost every item to my shopping bag but after taking a moment to control myself I ended up purchasing 5 items.

I decided that I wanted to try at least 2 of the lipsticks (well a girl can never have too many colours right?) and the eyeshadow palettes looked incredibly luxurious so I had to go for the vintage vamp, a selection of warm gold/plum tones perfect for my blonde hair and green eyes. I also had to have a brush as they are my true makeup addiction so the powder sculpt brush with its tapered end was a must have for a contour and highlight fan. This purchase therefore meant that the sculpt and glow compact was destined to be purchased too with a contour and highlight colour within one palette.

The Vintage Vamp luxury eye palette - £38

Filmstar Bronze & Glow - £49

Kissing Lipsticks - £23 each 

Beautiful vintage style packaging!

The perfect sculpt and highlight kit

The Vintage Vamp palette contains my favourite gold and plum tones 

Kissing Lipsticks are enriched with a breakthrough secret ingredient The Kissing tree!

Top: Velvet underground ( purple undertoned pink)

Bottom: Coachella coral ( pinky coral)

Powder & Sculpt brush - £35

Perfect shape for contouring or highlighting as it fits right into the hollows of cheek or on top of cheekbones

It's all in the detail!

These were my first purchases from the range but next time I go to London I will no doubt be buying more. I have my eye on the liquid liner and mascara in particular. The reason I will be buying more from the range is because it does exactly what you want it to do. Because Charlotte is a makeup artist herself she seems to have understood the need of makeup artists to have products which look the part, don't cost a small fortune and work perfectly on the skin. 

I think that for a high end brand the prices are spot on. £38 for a 4 shadow palette with luxurious packaging and incredible pigment is worth every penny in my opinion.

I have really fallen in love with this range and would encourage anyone who truly loves makeup so invest in a least one piece from the collection.

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