I thought I’d do a quick post about my current everyday make up regime.
I mostly concentrate on my face for a day time look and aim to make my skintone look as bright and even as possible. I define my eyes a little with mascara and a flick of liquid eyeliner (when I have time!) but leave eye-shaddow mostly for special occasions.
Here’s a list of the products I am wearing:
Base: A mixture of Soap and Glory’s Catch a Wrinkle moisturiser and my Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 02 Almond.
Face: Garnier Eye Roll On Concealer (click her for full product review) Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder in 005 Silky Beige. For blush I use a mixture of Bourjois blush in 33 Lilas D’Or on the apples of my cheeks and Benefit’s Hoola lightly on my cheeks and forehead.
Eyes: Rimmel Glam Eyes liquid liner on my top and bottom lash line, flicked slightly at the outer corners and L'Oreal Telescopic mascara in Carbon Black. I also used a little of Boots Natural Collection khol pencil in Soft Brown on my eyebrows.
Lips: Benefit Lip Plump as a primer, followed by Soap and Glory’s Sexy Mother Pucker plumping gloss in Candy Floss.
A very talented and patient friend of mine often applies Eyelures individual lashes for me and I thought I would show you a couple of quick before and after pics.
The pack comes with lashes in short medium and long. Laura mostly uses the short length on me with a couple of the mediums on the outer corners.
They advertise the lashes as lasting up to three or four weeks but in reality its closer to one week, but the results if applied properly are really nice and natural looking. The pack costs around £5 and contains a tube of adhesive and eyelash remover.
The ‘long’ lashes in the pack are quite dramatic so if you think you won’t use them my tip is to use scissors to carefully trim them to the size you need, this way one pack will last at least two applications.
I really love wearing them and it’s nice to have a break from mascara for a while as once you have these on, you really don’t need it.
I recently purchased Garnier’s new Caffine Eye Roll on with a touch of concealer and it’s become one of my staple products.
My under-eyes are definitely one of my key problem areas and I like the fact this product not only conceals dark circles, but works to reduce them. I’ve heard a good way of reducing discolouration around the eye area is to tap the skin around your eyes gently with your finger tips to stimulate the circulation, and I expect the roller ball on this product works in the same way
I’ve been using the product for about two weeks now and although I haven’t noticed much of a difference in the tone of my eye area, it’s coverage as a concealer is really nice. Having previously used Benefit’s Boiing, the roll on does feel like a much lighter coverage. I like the fact you can gradually build up the coverage you need, without it looking caked on.
I would recommend it if you need something to make you look a little bit more fresh and awake. Its also a really handy product to keep in your bag for touch ups throughout the day to perk up your complexion.
My only criticisms would be firstly the price. I think £9.99 is a little much for a high-street concealer and I’m not sure how long 15ml will last considering I have to use a fair bit to build the coverage. It’s also only really suitable for your eye area as it doesn’t provide enough coverage for any serious blemishes or discolouration.
Garnier Eye Roll on comes in two shades and is available only at Boots for £9.99.
I brought some new products this weekend from Boots. They currently have a promotion whereby if you spend over £5 in store you receive a £5 No.7 and Ruby and Millie voucher. I had two so got some wipes and a sauna mask.
I always like to have a packet of facewipes handy for those nights where you just too tired or had one too many to wash your face properly. Leaving your makeup over night is unhygienic and really bad for your skin, I once heard that leaving make-up on overnight can age your face by five days!
The wipes have a 4 in 1 action as they claim to remove make-up, contain an eye make-up removing property as well as toning and moisturising so are perfect for when you’re feeling a bit lazy! They left my skin feeling really refreshed and not at all dry. I also like the fact they have a plasic lid you can snap shut to keep them from drying out.
The wipes cost £6.50 but only £1.50 with a voucher!
My second purchase was the Purifying Sauna Mask. I often buy sachets of facemasks and really like the self warming ones as they open your pores and give a deep cleanse.
My skin was looking a bit dull and I had a few blemishes around my forehead this weekend. Whilst it didn’t do much to reduce the blemishes, it has exfoliating beads in it and left my face feeling so soft! It makes your face feel so smooth it almost left a powdery finish to my skin so would make a really nice base for make-up.
The mask cost £9.75 for 75ml but £4.75 with the voucher.
I got this idea from Bubblegarm and have treated myself to new products recently, so here’s what I’m using at the moment.
Shampoo and Conditioner:Tres Semme 24 Hour Body shampoo and conditioner. Creightons Beautiful Brunette shampoo and conditioner.
It’s a good idea to alternate between a couple of makes so your hair doesn’t get used to one brand. The Creighton products are fantastic and cost £1 each from Poundland... really! I’ve used John Freida and TIGI’s brunette products in the past but prefer these, would highly recommend them.
Treatments: I use straighteners far more than I should so make sure I use hair masks regularly to prevent it drying out. Montagne Jeunesse do some lovely ones like Hot Miracle.
Styling products:Tres Semme products are fantastic for doing what they say on the tin. Im loving their 24 Hour Body root boosting spray and Freeze Hold hairspray.
Shower gel:Soap and Glory’s Clean Girls body wash. It smells super girly.
Body moisturiser:The Daily Smooth body butter by Soap and Glory. Nice and rich, perfect for winter and matches my shower gel.
Fake Tan:Fakebake Beyond Bronze lotion.
Make-up remover: I swear by Simple’s Moisturising Face Wash and wipes.
Foundation: As a base I apply a mixture of Nivea Visage Q10 moisturiser and Este Lauder Equalizer foundation in 02 Pale Almond. I don’t like to wear foundation alone as it can look to heavy and the moisturiser leaves a dewy look to my skin. If my complexion’s looking a bit dull I also mix in a dab of highlighter.
Powder:Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder in 005 Silky Beige
Concealer:Benefit Boiing – definitely a desert island product for me, dark circles, blemishes, this one does it all. Also Benefit Lemon Aid on my eye lids.
Blush:Bourjois blush in 33 Lilas D’Or
Bronzer:Benefit Hoola
Highlighter:Opia Face Highlighter. I used Benefit High Beam for years before I found this little gem. You can buy it in Primark for a pound and I can’t tell it apart from the Benefit version!
Eyeliner: I’ll use Rimmel Glam Eyes liquid liner for nights out but usually just stick to mascara for the daytime. I also use a little of Boots Natural Collection khol pencil in Soft Brown on my eyebrows.
Mascara:L'Oreal Telescopic in Carbon Black
Lipgloss:Benefit Lip Plump as a primer, followed by Soap and Glory’s Sexy Mother Pucker plumping gloss in Candy Floss.
Nail colour: Fairy Dust by Jessica
Scents: Chloe is my all time favourite and signature scent but for day to day I wear Juicy Couture.
Have you got any products to recommend? What can't you live without?
When a friend told me about an ‘amazing new fake tan’ which was only £3,I wasn’t convinced. As a loyal Fakebake addict I wondered if it would dry out my skin or worse turn me a Jodie Marsh shade of orange. But after my first use of St Moriz, I must admit I am a convert. My friend told me it was just like St Tropez’s tanning mouse and having used both, it’s very similar to St Tropez’s tanning mousse, without the £20 price tag.
Pro’s:
One of the benefits of using a mousse is that you can achieve a nice light golden colour which is good for fair haired girlies but may also be used more regularly to achieve a darker tan. I would definitely recommend using a couple of night in a row instead of applying double the amount. It will look more natural, even and will last longer.
It dried really quickly and felt much more comfortable to sleep in than other lotions which tend to feel sticky and leave your bed sheets in a mess!
Its £3! On a student budget that is a huge benefit. It came in the 200ml size so should last quite well too, even with my tanning habits!
Con’s:
It’s not difficult to apply, but because it dries so quickly you have to be fast rubbing it in or it will dry unevenly. My tip is to apply to small areas at a time, top half of your arm, bottom half etc. It takes a little longer but makes for a expertly even tan.
There’s no getting away from it, it is more of an orange colour than Fakebake which I particualy noticed on my face, tan snobs should perhaps steer clear. For the rest of my body however I was really happy with it. It’s fantastic for using on your legs as its cheap, super quick and to be honest I don’t really mind what colour my legs are so long as they’re not white!
Over all verdict:
Tan perfectionists may not love St Moriz, but the £3 price tag (along with it’s other benefits) is certainly enough to wean me off the expensive stuff for now. Easy to apply, comfortable to sleep in, a nice golden colour and change for a fiver!
"I believe it is better to be looked over than it is to be overlooked" Mae West
Who doesn’t want to look like Girls Aloud? Anyone?
Well high-street favourite Eylure is offering one step closer with their new range of false eyelashes designed by Girls Aloud.
Cheryl, Nadine, Kimberly, Nicola and Sarah all have a design each. I tried Sarah’s for a night out and Kimberly’s for a wedding...
Eylure – Sarah
Sarah’s design is the second most dramatic of the range, Cheryl’s being the biggest of course, so were perfect for a night out. The lashes have a spiky look to them and are designed to add volume as well as length.
To apply, I held the middle tip of the lashes whilst using the applicator inside the glue tube to add the adhesive along the lash line. I then quickly applied it to my eyelid securing it first in the middle then gently pressing down either end. You want to apply the false lashes as close to your natural eyelash roots as possible without it actually being glued to your natural lash. If you do this then you risk pulling out your natural lashes when you remove them at the end of the night.
Me in the Sarah lashes
Pros:
Applying false eyelashes yourself is difficult but the Sarah lashes are fairly thick making them easier to apply. They don’t bend as much as thinner versions.
I found the lashes lasted really well on a night out, they felt secure but were still easy to remove at the end of the night
I love the look of these eyelashes. With dark eye shadow they really accentuated my eyes and gave a brilliant party look.
Cons:
Because the lashes are thick and dramatic they have to be applied properly. It is easy to notice if one is slightly to the left, lower down etc. Give yourself an extra ten minutes for application.
Eylure – Kimberly
These lashes are just as long as but less thick so were perfect for a day time look. They are slightly longer at the outer corners which give a nice natural look. I wore them with natural eyeshadow and liquid eye liner which I also flicked out at the outer edges. I like to wear liquid eye liner with false eyelashes as it covers up the join line nicely.
Me and my sister in the Kimberly lashes
Pros:
These also stayed on really well considering they were on for about ten hours.
They were looked and felt quite natural. Some lashes can feel quite heavy and are difficult to get used to but these felt light.
Cons:
I found these ones difficult to apply, they were long and quite bendy so took a few attempts to get right.
Top tips
Dont sleep in them! Pretty obvious but after a night out you must remember this. It will do your eyes no good and one will probably come off half way though the night and attach itself to your top lip giving you a nice suprise in the morning. Possibly!
Be realistic. Big eyelashes are lovely but choose ones you think will suit you. If you are blonde or wear all of your hair away from your face, big dark lashes can look very fake and over the top. My sister who is blonde tried the Sarah lashes and just didn’t feel comfortable in them. Steer clear of dramatic styles like Cheryl and Sarah’s.
Try not to add mascara. They often look better without it and you won’t be able to reuse them as easily.
Reuse. I would say if you look after your falsies they will last a good four applications. Gently use eye make up remover and cotton wool to remove and dried up mascara or liner you may have applied to them and keep them in their box in between uses. You will also need to GENTLY pick off some off the glue from previous applications to keep them looking fresh.
Where to buy
Girls Aloud eylure lashes are available individually at Boots. Alternatively ASOS sells all five in a pack for £20 saving you a fiver!
