YSL: The Stand Outs

YSL is one of those brands that I used to admire from afar. The packaging is to die for and the products wow me every time I try something new, but the price tag meant that a purchase was a special occasion. Over the last few months I have been lucky enough to try out a few more of their products and I have been so impressed with that I have tried so far. 

I was tempted into buying a lipstick earlier this year, and I have been addicted to YSL products ever since. Each time I would walk past a YSL counter I would be lured in by the beautiful packaging and the huge range of products. Of course it doesn't take much to convince me so every time would walk away with a new purchase. Not so good for the bank account, but I tell myself that its an investment.

I have been loving the Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation over the last few weeks, it's unlike any of my usual day to day foundations. It gives my skin that perfect, flawless finish whilst looking natural and radiant. This foundation will make you glow, which of course, is more than okay with me. Your skin looks healthy, hydrated and bright without feeling heavy or cakey. This foundation works like a dream with the original Touch Eclat, it brightens my under eye circles without creasing, leaving my skin looking flawless and as if I am glowing from within.

The lipsticks from YSL are the biggest stand out for my by far. The colour range never fails to impress me and they always seem to have the exact colour I covet. The formulas are beautiful! They are non drying and long lasting with a gorgeous finish that can't compare to any other lipstick I own. These lipsticks have a very luxurious feel to them with the stunning gold packaging and the rich, velvety formulas.

The mascaras have become a staple in my daily makeup routine. They are so quick and easy to use as they do all of the things you want a good mascara to do. My lashes look instantly longer, defined, separated and volumized from the first coat, a rare quality to find in a mascara. The Baby Doll mascara is definitely a favourite of mine because of the length and separation it gives my lashes, which is perfect for every day wear. 

On The Daily

I've been keeping things very simple over the last few weeks. In fact, most days I haven't been wearing makeup to work. I have been so happy with my skin lately I haven't felt the need to wear a lot of makeup, but on the days I do i've been loving this combination. 

Chanel Vitalumiere foundation has been great during the summer months as it is so light and hydrating on the skin. It gives me a subtle glow without making me look oily and keeps my skin looking fresh and healthy throughout the day. I've been skipping concealer and going straight for blush, the one in the Bobbi Brown Hot Cocoa palette to be exact. It is a beautiful peachy pink colour that is very brightening and helps my skin look healthy and youthful. I have also been wearing these eye shadows most days as they are easy to wear and very easy to blend! The shades are perfect for everyday wear as they mostly are neutral, matte shades. I love this palette because I am able to get many different eye looks and its perfect to take away with me when I travel. I've been keeping things simple with a chocolate-brown eyeliner pencil from Bobbi Brown and a few coats of YSL Baby Doll mascara. Most days I either do a subtle wing or smudge the pencil into my lash line. To finish everything off I apply my favourite lipstick, Spain Pink by Tom Ford. 

The Perfect Spring Lipstick

I think I've found spring in a lipstick. 

I rarely allow myself to browse the YSL beauty counters due to my bank balance (or lack of), but occasionally I let myself indulge a little. While my sister and I were walking past a YSL counter a particular lipstick caught my eye. I had never previously owned a YSL lipstick, and my teeny tiny bank account was not about to let me add one to my collection any time soon. I swatched the lipstick on the back and fell a little bit in love with the perfect coral shade. My heart broke a little as I reluctantly put the lipstick back down on the counter, but not before my sister told me she would treat me to it as an engagement present. I have a sneaking suspicion she wanted the lipstick too, be regardless, top sister points go to her. 

My top Christmas lipsticks

MAC Impassioned, Lime Crime Coquette, YSL Rouge Volupte Nude Beige, MAC Ruby Woo

Christmas is right around the corner, I have been so busy the past week I haven't been able to relax once. Monday was a night with the girls, Wednesday was dinner and a movie and two christmas parties back to back. All of us are doing last minuet christmas shopping, wrapping countless presents and trying to find the time to get dolled up for a Christmas party is the last thing on our minds. 

Luckily there is a quick fix out there, a product that within 10 seconds it makes us appear to have our lives together... lipstick. Lipstick can completely transform your daily makeup into a go-to party look. Whenever I am in a rush to get out of the house and have to look presentable, I throw on whatever lipstick I can find first, and i'm good to go. I could sit here for hours and go on and on about what lipsticks you could wear with what makeup looks and which ones are my favourites, but no one really has the time. So instead I have decided to throw a post together including my favourite lipsticks for the holiday season. 

YSL Rouge Volupte in 1 Nude Beige

YSL Nude Beige is a pink toned nude with high shine and a very silky finish. It applies so smoothly and has surprisingly long lasting power considering its formula. I like this shade because it complements a bronzed smokey eye look beautifully. Personally I like nude pinks with a bronzed look as I think its the prettiest and adds a subtle colour to the look. This is a great lipstick for when you are on the go, as it a has a glossy finish and its moisturising you don't need to carry several lip products around with you.

Lime Crime Coquette 

Coquette is my perfect nude lipstick, its doesn't wash me out too much, but tones down the colour of my lips to accompany an intense smokey eye. This time of year I really like to darken up my eye looks now and then and create a super intense smokey eye (especially for New Years Eve). Whenever I wear dark eye makeup I like to wear a nude lipstick, as I have darker lips naturally I like to use a product that will lighten my lip shade, but not add too much colour. 

MAC Impassioned

Impassioned is a great shade for adding a pop of colour to your makeup look. If I am in a rush, I love to use hot pink shades to brighten up a makeup look. Pairing a bright lip with a natural eye is a great way to add fun and colour to your makeup without going over board. If you are someone who doesn't like to wear a lot of colour on your eyes, a bright lipstick will tie your makeup together and It makes you look like you have made more of an effort.

MAC Ruby Woo

Of course I couldn't complete this post without adding a perfect Christmas red. Ruby Woo is my newest favourite lipstick, a cool toned red with a matte finish. Classic eye looks go perfectly with red lipstick, my favourite is a neutral eye with winged eyeliner. This shade works great with my skin tone and because of the cool tones, it actually makes my teeth look a little whiter. 

FOTD - Shimmery Pink Eye Makeup

 

My typical everyday makeup is a basic neutral eye, mascara and luminous skin with a light coverage. I don't tend to do different makeup looks unless I am going out or if its a special occasion but today I felt like mixing things up a bit. I have these beautiful Bobbi Brown palettes and cream eyeshadows that don't get used very much, however today I felt like I needed a change from my day-to-day routine and I felt inspired by these colours. I wanted to completely change up my routine so I started with some Chanel skincare, starting with the Chanel Eau Doucher Cleansing Water Balance and followed with the Hydramax + Active Serum and Bobbi Brown hydrating eye cream to moisturise my skin. We are transitioning from Summer to Autumn (Fall for you American readers) and my skin is feeling the effects of the weather change so it needed a hydrating base.

I started with my new Luminous Moisturising Treatment Foundation from Bobbi Brown. Today was my first day using it and I found it very moisturising, it felt more like a tinted moisturising than a foundation with great coverage, but it does has lavender scent so it might not be great for those with sensitive skin. I then used my Bobbi Brown corrector and added colour to my face by using Nars Laguna Brozner, Nars Orgasm Blush and MAC Soft and Gentle Mineralise Skin Finish.

The eyes were the most exciting part of this makeup look, I used Bobbi Brown's Long-Wear cream shadow in Bone all over from the lid as a base and followed with Long-Wear cream shadow in the shade Ballet Pink on the eye lid. To make the pink more opaque and add intensity to the look I applied Ballet Pink Sparkle Eye Shadow over the top of the cream shadow base and lightly dusted Caramel Eye Shadow through the crease as a transition colour. I finished the look with a thin line of eyeliner by Lancome, a few coats of YSL's Shocking Mascara and lastly YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in shade 13. 

Sadly I couldn't get a good quality picture of the eye makeup because my DSLR camera broke a few weeks ago and I am stuck using a digital camera for now - and of course the battery died before I could get a decent picture. The picture doesn't do the eye shadow any justice in the slightest but it is such a pretty shade. If you are near a Bobbi Brown counter swatch this colour, you'll probably have to buy it there and then. 

Malaga Haul

I have recently got back from a trip to Malaga and I may have possibly brought a few makeup products ... Okay, I brought a lot! Malaga is surprisingly good for shopping, I did not expect to come back with this many products and I managed to get my hands on a lot of things I've wanted to try for a long time. A little tip for anyone who is travelling to Malaga in the future, there is a huge department store right next to the train station which has every brand you could possibly ask for. They have a counter for High end brands and lower end brands, so there is something for everyone. Its called 'Court De Anglaise' (The spelling maybe wrong but the store is easily found) and you can save 10% off all of your purchases if you have your British passport on you. Don't ask me how my mother found this out - she can find a deal no matter where she is! So I managed to get a little discount on a lot of the makeup I brought, I am I very happy girl! 

I have no idea where to start with this post, so lets just start with mascaras as they are my favourite makeup product. I had been eyeing up the Yves Saint Laurent Shocking mascara for a few months now after reading many reviews on it and figured it was time to see for myself just how good this mascara is - and its okay. Its not brilliant, but its a nice mascara. I like products that do what they say on the tin and it definitely does what its advertised for, its a volumising mascara which it does a good job at. The formula is very black and has a wet constancy, it also has a hint of fragrance which is noticeable at first  but if that is something that usually bothers you then keep this in mind if you buy this product. 

I also picked up the Dior Show mascara after remembering this used to be a huge favourite of mine when I was younger. Again this mascara has a wet formula which I find harder to work with as it clumps my lashes up easily, but once this product dries up a little I know i'm going to enjoy it a lot more. These products paired together do a lovely job. I have to wait in between applications for each coat to dry, but together these mascaras give my lashes volume and length which is a combination I am loving lately.

I'm pretty sure I was at the MAC cosmetics counter for at least an hour touching and trying everything in sight. I am a huge fan of MAC but there isn't a counter near me, so when I do come across one its a huge treat for me. I knew I wanted the strobe cream as I have seen various youtubers and bloggers rave about this stuff but sadly they where out of stock. However the sales girl told me that the Strobe liquid lotion is pretty much the same thing so I brought that instead and it is beautiful! Its much lighter constancy than the strobe cream and I am much happier with this product because I don't use it as skincare. Instead I mix a few pumps with my foundation and it gives my skin the most gorgeous dewy glow which I am loving. 

I didn't intend on buying the Prep and Prime translucent setting powder and I am so grateful that I did. This powder helps to set my foundation all day long AND it stops my under eye concealer from creasing. Well it doesn't stop every tiny crease from appearing but this is a miracle product for me because I used to hate my concealer creasing. 

(l-r) Morange, Candy Yum Yum, Sunny Seoul, Pure Zen, Pink Nouveau

I also picked up 1 or 2 lipsticks from MAC. Okay I brought 5. But I couldn't help myself, i'm obsessed with lipsticks at the moment. I walked up to the counter knowing two shades I definitely wanted but a few others caught my eye and I have to take them home with me. I have wanted Morange for the longest time and finally had the chance to try it on. Its the most pigmented, fluorescent orange I have ever tried and its amazing. I am a sucker for an orange lipstick, so this is was a no brainer for me. I also knew I wanted to buy Pure Zen as I needed a nude shade but the popular shades from MAC like Myth and Hue just make me look washed out. Pure Zen is more of a pinky nude, so its the perfect shade for me. I use this if I am wearing a heavier eye makeup look and I pair it with other lipsticks to tone them down. 

Candy Yum-Yum was a colour I never thought I would wear, I quickly assumed it wouldn't suit me and moved on to the other shades. I kept going back to this colour, 'uming' and 'ahhing' over it until I decided to try it on. To my surprise this colour actually suited me and its now one of my favourite lipsticks! I also picked up Sunny Seoul and Pink Nouveau as I needed a few more 'day time' pinks in my collection. 

I needed to re-purchase a MAC mineralise skin finish and also some eye shadows. Omega and Brule are staple colours I think every makeup lover should have in their collection. They are pretty versatile shades that can be used on their on, together for a natural look or with any eye shadow combination with Brule as a highlight and Omega in the crease. I also use Omega to fill in my eyebrows which shows how many different ways you can use these shadows. I also picked up Mulch as its a colour I haven't owned yet.

 Probably my favourite purchase from Malaga is The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer highlighter. I'll review this product in a separate post as it is my new favourite highlighter and I can't stop raving about it. I had never seen this brand in England and I have heard so much about this highlighter from youtubers but I hadn't been able to get my hands on it. When I walked into a tiny pharmacy and spotted this I freaked out, a few other customers stared at me and gave me weird looks, but I was just so happy to finally add this to my collection. 

I know i'm pretty late on the bandwagon with these but I finally brought some Real Techniques brushes. I have quite a few Sigma brushes already in my collection from my makeup course I completed a few weeks ago, and I love them. I didn't think I needed anymore but after every other beauty blogger raving about these I thought it was time to find out for myself just how good these brushes are. And they are fantastic. I don't know why I waited so long for to buy these, I was so impressed that when I got back to England I brought more! I still love my Sigma brushes, but if you want high quality brushes but don't want to break the bank, then these are perfect for you. The quality of the makeup brush you use makes such a difference to the overall application. I have used these everyday since I purchased them and I am very impressed so far.