The Blog Your Heart Out Tag!

Who/What encouraged you to start blogging?

Mostly reading the blogs of other people to be honest! If I hadn't fallen into reading blogs, I never would have though to start my own. No one in particular encouraged me to start, but my mum in particular has encouraged me to continue doing it, because she knows I love it, I guess :)

How did you choose what topics to blog about?

Hmm, beauty was a given really. It's one of my main interests, and something that impacts a big part of my life because of said interests. It's more the creative side I like, and I'm constantly thinking of different things I can do with makeup. More interesting things are my favourite :) I also like reading and writing, so they'll be featuring a bit on this blog once I have particular things that I want to include. 

What is something most people don't know about you?

Most people don't actually know I have this blog! Some of my friends and a few members of my family do, but no one I work with and the majority of people I know aren't aware I spend a good portion of my time writing about beauty, haha.

What three words describe your style?

What style? Haha. If it's makeup style, simple but classic. If it's clothing style... well, that's non existent. I just wear whatever's to hand if it looks like it goes together okay. So, I'll pretend the question is referring to makeup - I usually wear a bit of winged liner with a fairly neutral eye, usually a neutral face and if I'm feeling like being a bit brighter, a red lip. I'll wear that eye with any lip though.

What do you love to do when you're not blogging?

As I mentioned earlier, I like reading and writing. Spending time with friends and family, etc. I have a full time job at the moment so that takes up a fair bit of time, too! I'm pretty much obsessed with certain TV shows, and I'm known to stick music on and just sing and dance around for hours on end at any given moment. The usual! ha.

I wasn't actually tagged to do this tag (how rebellious of me to do it anyway!) so if anyone reading this feels like jumping on the wagon, consider yourself tagged and answer til the cows come home :D

Some New Things: FOTD

This isn't the slightly more refined collection post I had planned to go up next, but as it turns out my collection is somewhat less refined than I thought, and needs a little more work. Ironically, I have some "New Things" to show instead. Some of it is "the last week" kind of new, and some of it is a few months old, but it's things I haven't featured yet.

Excuse the dodgy eyeliner and washed out quality of this photo - I'm working on both! Haha. This was just before I popped out with some friends and to be honest, I ended up changing most of it as I didn't like what I'd done. I thought I'd show it anyway, though, as it is using most of the new things I wanted to talk about.

Two brands that I've really been enjoying of late are Essence and Sleek. I had a Sleek palette or two before (I now have eight, don't tell anyone!) and Essence is a brand that I've been wanting to try since hearing endless American youtubers and bloggers talking about how affordable and good quality they are. It seems curious to me that America had the brand available first, given that it's a European brand but what can you do! Something else I've been experimenting more with of late is colour - be that coloured eyeshadow or lipsticks, more of it has been finding its way on to my face.

Products Used

Base & Cheeks

Essence All About Matte Primer - Rimmel Matte BB Cream (Extra Light) - LA Girl Pro Conceal (Classic Ivory) - NYX Blush (Taupe) - Sleek Blush (Flamingo) - The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer.

Eyes & Brows

Milani Eye Primer - MAC Paint Pot (Painterly) - Sleek iDivine iCandy Palette - Rimmel Glam Eyes Liner (Black) - Essence Lash Mania Mascara - Rimmel Brow Gel (Medium Blonde)

Lips.

Lime Crime Opaque Lipstick (Geradium).

Most of these products I really really like! I have to admit I bought the Lime Crime lipstick predominantly for the packaging (who can say no to purple packaging with holographic unicorns frolicking around?) and wasn't expecting much from the actual product itself, call me frivolous! Haha, but as it happens I was pleasantly surprised. The wear time was much longer than I anticipated and the colour at full opacity is beautiful! Given that these are slightly cheaper than MAC lipsticks, I think I'll be trying a couple more of them before I foray further into the MAC lipstick ranks. The Rimmel brow gel was a total whim purchase. My Maybelline Brow Drama gel is on its last legs and I wanted to grab a new tinted one for lazy brow days (most days), not only is this the perfect colour for my brows, it's a whopping, wait for it... £2.99 and the brush is teeny tiny and not a faff at all! Favourite in the making right there.

Although all jumbled together these products aren't exactly the making of the perfect every-day makeup, they're all lovely in their own right, and I expect more than one of them will be making an appearance in a favourites post some time.

Time toooo say helloooo

I was aiming for something a little sing-song-esque for my title. I started this blog a few months ago, with a view to actually posting on a regular basis. Truth be told I've had neither the time nor the motivation to do so of late, and I've missed blogging. Following what can only be called the most massive clear out known to mankind earlier today (offer free makeup on a Facebook selling page and it'll disappear faster than you can say Abracadabra) I'm feeling freshly motivated to get back to two of my biggest passions and interests - being makeup and writing, if you weren't aware of that!

We'll not be counting this as a proper post. More a "Hello, I still exist and I will be returning with content fairly shortly" - so shortly, in fact, that I'll be throwing a post up right after this about the things that have made the cut post-makeup culling.

High End Discoveries

Until very recently, the only high end product I owned was a Porefessional sample from a beauty box. That's changed a little bit now, and I've started dipping my toes into some higher end brands to see what they have to offer. It took a fairly long time for me to get to know what sort of products I like, those I'm less keen on and to figure out exactly what works for me - hence sticking with high street stuff exclusively for so long. Knowing the sort of things that I enjoy using now, though, and having a curiosity level akin to that which killed the cat, I decided to make a few purchases.

I know some people consider all the brands above to be more "mid range" than high end, considering the likes of Chanel, YSL, Dior etc to be truly high end (they're pure luxury to me, to be honest), but these are the things I was most curious about. Particularly the Primer Potion and the MAC Lipstick (Ruby Woo, if you're wondering) - I wanted to see if the higher price tag really was justified. The verdict? So much yes. My prior eye primer had been creasing on me like nobody's business. Granted, it was only £2.50 (compared to UDPP £8 for the travel size of 6ml), but it just wasn't doing what it was supposed to, rendering it useless in my book. I can now get through 10-12 hour days with only the slightest of creasing using this, I have a primer from Milani winging its way to me, but I think the UD one may still come out on top, and if it does, it's that I'll be sticking to for the foreseeable. Ruby Woo I was rather pleased with, also. It lasted through an entire cinema and dinner date with my boyfriend, wherein copious amounts of popcorn was eaten, drinks were drunk, dinner was demolished and cheeks were kissed. By the end of the night, with a grand total of 0 reapplications, my lipstick remained intact. I was pretty darn shocked, and I still think £15 is pricey for a lipstick, but I think I'll be adding a few more of these to my collection. I'm interested to know if the quality is consistent throughout their range of different finishes.

The Stila Paint/Colour Me Pretty palette is something I was surprised I was able to get my hands on. I was under the impression it was limited edition for Christmas, but I saw it floating around the Stila site (entirely incidentally, I was looking at smudge sticks) and snapped it up as soon as I saw it was in stock. I'm so glad I did! My favourite shade in there is definitely Gerbera, and it's one I'll be purchasing the full size of before long for SURE. I haven't had enough use out of the other shades to decide whether or not I want them forever yet, except for Kitten which is sadly exclusive to this palette - but I'll more than likely want a couple of those too. My poor bank... haha.
I've also picked up MAC's Painterly Paint Pot, something which I was curious about again. I like this as a base - it's nothing revolutionary if I'm honest but I do really like it, I've taken to using it almost daily as it really improves the look of my eyeshadow. The formula is nice, and I think I'll be looking in to some more colours come payday. I also got theBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer - possibly the most hyped highlighter in the blogosphere? Probably. It's way more intense than I expected, so I think this compact may last me a lifetime, but I'm not complaining! Move aside other highlighters, you've been outglimmered.

I have a sample of the Instain Blush in Swiss Dot from theBalm also - I've yet to try it because it's just so adorable, but my curiosity about the formula will win out eventually and my brush will be a'dippin!

So, what's on my wishlist now? A few more things than my bank is happy with... oh dear.

Peach and Coral Lips.

Following on from my Peachy Spring FOTD, I thought I'd put together a post showcasing my favourite corals and peaches for the lips - I've also thrown in a bright orange for good measure, but I think they're more suitable for summer (when the hot weather rolls around, I'll have a brights post heading your way!). Anyway, I think a coral of the right tone can do just enough to lift your face without being too much. Almost every lip product I'll be showing in this is a sheerer sort of offering, and they're all incredibly comfortable on the lips, something that's invaluable in things you're going to be wearing for a long time. So, if you're looking for something more peachy corally, look no further - here are six of the best.

Representing the peaches we have Barry M Lip Paint in 147 - A matte pink-leaning peach shade that lasts pretty well on the lips without drying them out. This shade can be a little difficult to wear if you're more on the pale side, so I tend to mix it with something else to get the best out of it. This is the one I've worn least out of all the ones I have, purely because I do have to combine it with something else and I'm a little bit lazy, but when I have worn it I really like how it looks, and on deeper skin tones I think it would look wonderful all by itself.

Secondly for the peaches, Bourjois Colour Boost Pencil in Peach on the Beach. This is similar in tone to the Barry M lipstick, but more glossy and ever so slightly more sheer (though this offers more opaque coverage than you'd expect from a glossy pencil). These smell a little funky, but it's not enough to put me off wearing them as you can't really smell it once it's on your lips.

I thought I'd kick of the corals with something a little more... orange. MUA Eyeliner in Bright Orange  first of all, can I just enquire as to why anyone would want a bright orange eyeliner? I'm all for colour on the eyes, but I don't think I've ever had a hankering for bright orange liner. Saying that though, regardless of the fact this liner is £1, the pigmentation is astounding. The texture is quite nice, it's not too dry and I've not found it uncomfortable to wear on the lips at all. I'd recommend this if you want a punchy, vivid orange lip - or just as a liner to make your reds more orange toned, it works nicely for that, too!

On to something a little more tame now, but no less orange. The Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Pencil in Orange Punch. This is the newest addition to my lipstick stash in the orange family, and is a testament to how much I'm willing to put up with the smell of these things. This is a pretty orange shade that I find to be very buildable. To begin with it's a sheer wash of colour across your lips, but you can build it up to get something more intense, should you so desire. It's likely to become one of my most worn lip products over spring and summer, because the colour is uplifting, and the texture so comfortable to wear. I'd absolutely recommend these pencils!

In the same sort of vein as the Bourjois pencils are the MUA Power Pouts, this one in Justify is almost the same colour as Orange Punch, but slightly more sheer. These pencils are true balms, with no staining power that I've noticed. They last well enough on the lips though, and are an utter bargain at £3. They smell like the Revlon Balm Stains, minty, but not overpowering. The scent is refreshing and doesn't irritate the lips like some menthol scented products can. The colour of this is pretty enough, but I don't find it to be as buildable as the Bourjois stick. These are still up there on my list of things I'd recommend, particularly if you're on a tight budget, or just want to try out coral shades without committing to something more expensive.

Finally, something more truly Coral. The Bourjois Rouge Edition Shine Lipstick in 1,2,3 Soleil  leans more pink than any of the other shades that I've shown, making it more of a true coral than an orange or a peach. This has a pretty balmy formula that gives a nice shine to the lips when its on, but isn't slippy enough to make it smear all over your face when you're wearing it. This is the lipstick I often pair with the Barry M Lip Paint to make it more wearable, and they combine into almost a neon peach shade which is absolutely beautiful if you want something in the same colour family that's a little more striking - try it, seriously, you won't be disappointed!

L-R Barry M Lip Paint in 147 - MUA Bright Orange Pencil - MUA Power Pout in Justify - Bourjois Peach on the Beach - Bourjois Orange Punch - Bottom Swatch, Bourjois 1,2,3 Soleil. 

Do you have any pretty coral or peach shades you particularly like? Share them with me if you do, I'm always interested in new shades :) 

FOTD | Peachy Spring.

Ask me at any other time of the year and I'll tell you I'm not all that in to peach makeup. I often find that corals and peaches come up far too orange against my skin which doesn't suit my generally cool complexion, but I think I've found some corally peaches now that look quite pretty, and are so fitting for spring I couldn't help but to share them.
I decided, in my infinite wisdom, to reattempt gel eyeliner this morning which utterly failed, so please excuse the questionable eyeliner. I'd also like to point out that there's more pink and warmth in my eyeshadow than the pictures are showing - I think the sun washed it out a bit too much but there's no more appropriate light in which I can capture the proper colours so this will have to do.

Products Used. 

Base.

FashionistA Mattifying Primer | Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream | NYX HD Concealer | MUR The One Concealer | NYC Translucent Loose Powder.

Eyes & Brows.

NYX Eye Base | Sleek Oh So Special Palette | MUR Essential Mattes Palette | Manhattan Pastell Pretties Eyeliner in Chic-a-Dahlia | 17 Superlash Mascara | Maybelline Gel Eyeliner | Jordana Continuous Almond Eyeshadow Pencil | MUA Power Brow | MUA Clear Mascara.

Cheeks & Lips.

MUR Cream Blush in Peach Cream | MUA Mosaic Bronzer | MUA Highlighter in Peach Lights | Bourjois Colour Boost Pencil in Orange Punch

Obviously, not all the products I used are in the image - some of them it just wasn't worth taking photos of, really, and the eyeshadow palettes are too big! I tried to keep my base pretty light, using two fairly light coverage products (the CC Cream and The One Concealer) and one with a bit more oomph to make my skin look fairly decent. Having oily skin I always use primer and powder on my skin, and a good eye base under my eyeshadows otherwise things don't last five minutes. The coloured products I kept in the peachy/coral family, for the most part, and opted for a winged liner, just because I felt like it.

I have to say, the pictures don't really show the colours I used up properly - may have to try finding a different source of light or try a different camera or something, but you get the general idea of what I was doing. Making something light and pretty-ish to suit the warmer weather.

I generally find that more warm toned colours suit deeper skin tones a bit better, though as I said earlier that might just be because I have pink undertones, but I do quite like how this came out overall. I don't find the peaches to be too overbearing, and I think it makes me look ready to get a burn  tan! 

Do you find you switch up the colours you use in your makeup when the weather gets a bit warmer? I didn't think I did, but it's pretty clear that I definitely do! 

Review | Make Up Revolution Essential Mattes Palette.

Matte eyeshadows are my favourite for everyday wear, finding decent matte eyeshadows can be something of a issue though, but this palette completely rectifies that! The packaging isn't anything astounding, just plastic casing that feels relatively sturdy to the touch. The clear window is useful in that you can tell which palette it is (I have three of these, so it comes in handy), but I do foresee it getting scratched quite easily. These palettes hold 14g of product and have a little sponge applicator tucked into them. 

As the name of the palette suggests, these eyeshadows are all matte. I find the colour range to be satisfactory for a neutral palette, but a lot of the lighter colours are quite similar, the inclusion of the purples on the end is a nice plus though, particularly for someone with a love of purple!

With regards to texture, I don't find these to be too bad! They're a little powdery, but they're certainly not the worst they could be. They apply nice and evenly, and they're easy enough to blend when on the lids.  I don't find they look muddy when blended together either. The pigmentation is nice, particularly on the darker shades. As I said, a lot of the lighter shades are quite similar, only the undertones differing very slightly - this might seem a waste to some people, but I use that sort of shade as a base, for blending out, for highlighting, plenty of uses for a light matte shade! 

As you can see, the pigmentation isn't too bad at all. Particularly for such a budget brand! The only thing I'm not too happy about is the lack of truly warm shades in this palette. I've been looking for a replacement for the warm tannish brown shade in my Sleek Oh So Special palette for a while and nothing quite fits the bill :( This is a nice palette in its own right though, and I'm really pleased with it, especially for the price.

These are available from the Make Up Revolution Store, and Superdrug online. I think they'll eventually be available in store in Superdrug, but I'm not entirely sure. These palettes cost £4 each, which is so ridiculously cheap and such good value! I'd absolutely recommend picking one of these up if you like matte neutral shades, I love mine.