My MAC Lipstick Collection

Finally our internet is back so I can write a well over due blog post! I've been somewhat of a lipstick hoarder for the past few years. Im a sucker for a MAC counter and I can spend hours swooning over the lipsticks (often picking up shades I already own) looking for the perfect new addition. I wanted to write a post about all of the MAC lipsticks I own because I think these are extremely helpful to other makeup lovers, and this may have you adding a few names to your wish list - sorry! Grab a cup of tea, we have other 50 swatches to go through here... 

Nudes

Tropical Mist, Lustre - Sheer, warm toned beige with a frosted sheen finish (limited edition) 

 Siren Song, Lustre - Sheer pale beige with a frosted sheen finish (limited edition)

Creme d'Nude, Cremesheen - Creamy pink toned beige

Altered Beige, Lustre -  Sheer peach toned beige (limited edition) 

Fleshpot, Satin - Opaque cool toned, pinky beige  

Creme Cup, Cremesheen - Creamy cool toned pink

Hue, Glaze - Semi-opaque pink nude with a creamy finish

Shy Girl, Cremesheen - Neutral coral beige with a creamy finish

Peach Blossom, Cremesheen - Neutral pink beige with a creamy finish

Japanese Maple, Cremesheen - Neutral beige with a creamy finish

Light Pinks

Pretty Please, Lustre - Sheer pale, dusty pink 

Love Long Distance, Pro Longwear Lip Creme - Sheer lavender pink with semi matte, frosted finish

Plink, Lustre - Sheer frosted pink

Fleur D’Coral, Lustre - Sheer peach toned pink (limited edition)

Love Lorn, Lustre - Sheer cool toned pink

Snob, Satin - Opaque cool toned pink 

Viva Glam Gaga, Lustre - Semi-opaque, cool toned bubblegum pink (limited edition)

 Rose Lily, Lustre - Sheer pastel pink (limited edition)

Saint Germain, Amplified - Opaque, blue toned pastel pink

Angel, Frost - Yellow toned medium pink with a frosted finish

 Hoop, Satin - Warm toned coral with a matte finish (limited edition)

Oranges

Full Speed, Sheen Supreme - Opaque, bright coral with a glossy finish

Gotta Dash, Sheen Supreme - Opaque peach with a glossy finish

Coral Bliss, Cremesheen - Opaque, pink toned coral

Sweet & Sour, Cremesheen - Warm toned peach 

Razzledazzler, Lustre - Sheer warm toned coral

Costa Chic, Frost - Orange toned coral with a frost finish

Flamingo, Lustre - Sheer warm toned pink

In a Heartbeat, Cremesheen - Creamy warm toned peach (limited edition)

Morange, Amplified - Opaque orange with a satin finish

Hot Pinks

Steady Going, Matte - Cool toned pink with a matte finish

Pink Nouveau, Satin - Opaque cool toned pink

Pink Pearl Pop, Cremesheen - Sheer blue toned medium pink

Viva Glam Nicki, Satin -  Opaque, yellow toned coral (limited edition)

Sunny Seoul, Cremesheen - Sheer warm toned pink

Pink Poodle, Glaze - Cool toned fuschia with a frost finish (limited edition)

Candy Yum Yum, Matte - Opaque, blue toned pink with a matte finish

Impassioned, Amplified - Opaque, warm toned fuchsia 

Browns

Please Me, Matte - Neutral, pink toned biege with a matte finish

Velvet Teddy, Matte - Warm toned, pink beige with a matte finish

Viva Glam Gaga 2, Amplified - Opaque, peach toned beige  (limited edition)

Casanova, Lustre - Sheer red toned brown (limited edition)

Dubonnet, Amplified - Opaque red toned brown (limited edition)

Reds and Purples

Style Surge, Mineralise Rich -  Opaque, orange coral 

Insanely It,  Sheen Supreme - Opaque, warm toned fuchsia 

Ruby Woo,  Matte - Opaque, cool toned Red with a matte finish

Viva Glam Rhianna, Forst - Opaque, neutral red with a frost finish (limited edition) 

Riri Woo, Retro Matte - Opaque, cool toned red with a matte finish (limited edition)

Diva, Matte - Opaque, burgundy with a matte finish

Rebel, Satin - Opaque, wine shade with a satin finish

Currently Loving #1

Despite the amount of makeup I own, I tend to go through phases of graviting towards certain products. I'm not one to do 'monthly favourites' because I find that I don't discover enough new products within 4 weeks to validate one post. 2015 brings exciting adventures for me, but also a spending ban as I need to spend the next few months saving up as much as I can. I'm shopping my own collection and rediscovering old treasures and falling in love with some products all over again.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer: I never brought into the primer hype and didn't tend to invest in them. It wasn't until I jumped on the bandwagon and tried the Veil Mineral Primer I realised just how amazing this product really is. Redness of the skin is my biggest problem area, and this primer completely evens it out which cuts down the amount of tinted moisturiser I need to use. Amongst concealing redness this oil free primer combats signs of again by softening the skin, smoothing out pores, adding a youthful glow and prolonging your makeup. Trust me when I say this primer is a miracle worker, and worth every penny. I will repurchase this over and over again.

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisteriser: I couldn't put into words how much I loved this tinted moisturiser. If you have been a reader for a while you will probably have seen me raving about this product constantly. It gives you a perfect looking complexion with the added bonus of skincare qualities. It has a lightweight consistency with the perfect coverage while hydrating your skin - when I wear this I get so many compliments on how fresh and dewy my skin looks! If you haven't tried this yet, I highly recommend it.

Hourglass Ambient Palette: Hourglass blushes really are worth the hype. I have never tried a blush that is formulated like the hourglass products. They are so silky and soft which make them blend into the skin seamlessly, leaving a natural looking flush to the cheeks. They have a subtle, finely milled shimmer which prevents the shades looking dull on the skin and adds a healthy looking glow. The marbled texture through the shades means you get the perfect ratio of pigmentation to shimmer, leaving you with the perfect complexion and youthful glow. 

MAC Velvet Teddy: Im sure you have all heard of this shade since Kylie Jenner revealed this is the secret behind her famous lips. I had been after Velvet Teddy for a while, and finally managed to get my hands on it recently. I have a very large MAC lipstick collection, but I didn't have many brown-nudes so this was a nice one to add to my growing stash. Velvet Teddy is an unusual shade to explain - Its a brown nude with a pinky/mauve undertone which makes this a great everyday shade. Being matte it has a pretty good staying power and luckily it isn't as drying as Ruby Woo, which makes it very wearable. 

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow: Another cult favourite, but I had to mention this because I have been obsessed with this since Christmas. Charlotte Tilbury can do no wrong in my eyes, this is the perfect bronzing and highlighting palette. The formulation of the powders are so buttery and silky which makes blending stupidly simple. The bronze shade adds a healthy warmth to the skin, sculpting the contours of the face beautifully so slim and shape the face. The highlight shade is the perfect golden-champagne, adding a subtle radiance to the high points of the face which compliments the contour shade. Everything from this product screams perfection - from the rose gold packaging to the flawless application.

Lush Eau Roma Water: I think Lush aromatherapy waters don't get enough love from the blogosphere. Eau Roma Water is my favourite toning water, leaving my skin feeling hydrated and refreshed after every use. It has a combination of Rose Water and Lavender which helps calm redness and is gentle to the skin, leaving it soothed and hydrated. 

NARS Mie Kabuki Brush: I cannot say enough good things about this brush. It applies powder products beautifully to the skin as the dome shape helps deposit makeup evenly. It has a hand-spun black wisteria handle which adds a luxurious feel and texture to the brush while preserving it's Japanese heritage. 

Jo Malone Sea Salt and Wood Sage Cologne: I have been wearing this non stop since I purchased it back in October. I wrote a post on this body spray a few weeks ago which you can find here, and I still cannot get enough of it. Its a very easy fragrance to wear and I have been obsessed with it since day one.

NARS And God Created The Women Palette: I have been loving this palette lately, not only because its convenient, but the shades are also stunning. I have been gravitating towards a brown smokey eye a lot over the last few weeks, and this palette makes it easy to achieve. You get a mixture of matte and shimmery shades which all blend together seamlessly, leaving you with the ideal, effortless smokey eye every time. 

OCC Lip Tar Annika: I have found my ideal peachy nude lip with the shade Annika. OCC Liptars are incredible products because they last forever on the lips and they are very highly pigmented. Even after a night of cocktails and eating, my lip colour looks just as perfect as when I applied it. When you first apply the product it has a very slight menthol flavour which I find really refreshing. My favourite combination lately is to mix equal parts of Annika with Ophelia.

Real Techniques 201 Pointed Crease: I have been after a brush like this for ages. I wanted a crease brush that would allow a more precise application, and the 201 brush is perfect for this because its very sturdy. The brush feels very luxurious to use and the weighted, silver plated handle allows  for more control. 

 Another lengthy post and I apologise for that! If you managed to make it to the end let me know what products you have been loving lately. 

Christian Louboutin Nail Lacquer: Rouge Louboutin

Lovers of the famous black and red stiletto, this ones for you. Finally there is a nail lacquer to perfectly match the soles of your favourite pair of heels, Rouge Louboutin.

If you own a pair of Louboutins, then you know the frustration of trying to find the perfect red to match the eye catching sole of these statement shoes. Luckily the hunt is over as Christian Louboutin launched a range of nail polish, not only the shade of their signature red, but in a wide array of 30 shades. 

The packaging is unique and absolutely stunning. The bottles are inspired by the famous 8 inch Ballerina Ultima heel which makes it too pretty for storage, so I have my collection out for decoration. I was worried that the long cap would make application more difficult, but the weight made it surprisingly easy for me. The colour is spot on to the signature Louboutin red with a very opaque, high shine finish which gives the polish a luxurious, gel like feel. The longevity for a Lacquer is rather impressive as well. Considering most polish on me chips with 24 hours, this shade lasted nearly 5 days without needing touch ups. 

Definitely a luxurious product, and one worth saving up for if you're in the mood to treat yourself. Im intrigued to see what Christian Louboutin come up with next. The perfect red lipstick perhaps?

Charlotte Tilbury The Golden Goddess Palette

I received the most amazing birthday gift from my best friend. She moved all the way to Norwich in October, but luckily for me, she came back home to visit for my birthday weekend. An evening drinking copious amounts of wine with her would have been enough of a present for me, so when she handed me a beautifully wrapped purple box I was speechless. The girl knows her makeup (she is a fellow makeup artist after all), but she thoroughly spoiled me with this palette. 

The Golden Goddess palette was the first Charlotte Tilbury makeup product I had ever owned. The shades are so perfect I almost didn't want to swatch them! The palette comes with four neutral shades that I think are ideal for everyday wear. I like the mixture of tones within the palette, you receive a champagne highlight, a cool toned taupe, a warm toned copper and a warm toned brown which means you're going to get a wide range of versatile looks. 

I was also very impressed with the lasting power of these shadows, they have lasted 10 + hours on me, which is almost unheard of as I have oily eyelids. This is definitely a luxurious product, but worth the splurge as the quality of these shadows are very high. 

P..S - This is a perfect day to night palette! If you are going out after work, throw this into your handbag so you can update your makeup at your desk before you leave. 

Bumble & Bumble Prêt-à-Powder

When it comes to beauty, makeup is definitely my strong point. I'm not overly into hair or hair products; I have my favourite brands and I stick religiously to what I know, so I don't tend to try anything new very often. Two years ago I had to cut my hair off to my shoulders thanks to over bleaching and heat damage. Now its in good condition and at a decent length I have become very overprotective with my hair, so I am very reluctant to try new products. However, Bumble & Bumble is one of the very few hair brands that I trust as their product's work wonders. 

I have used several hair powders and dry shampoos in the past, but most of them tend to make my hair look greasy and lifeless so I tend to steer clear of them. After hearing about Prêt-à-Powder I was instantly intrigued and I decided to give it a try. I had high hopes for the product that claimed to be equal parts dry shampoo, style extender and volume enhancer as I have thick, flat hair that needs a lot of help in the volume department. Usually texturising sprays and powders leave it looking heavy and  messy, but Prêt-à-Powder left me pleasantly surprised! The actual product is very finely milled and so light that it feels weightless in my hair, while giving it the slight lift and volume it needs. My roots look instantly perked up without and horrible, sticky residue left behind. As it is equal parts dry shampoo, and it is so light, I can use this for a few days in a row before I need to wash my hair again. As I like to blow dry my hair most of the time, this is perfect to keeping my hair style intact while giving it a little refresh. Prêt-à-Powder, you've earned your permanent place in my hair care routine. 

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. 

Chantecaille Just Skin

As I write this post I am sat on a Spanish mountain, over 1000 feet up from civilisation overlooking the most breath taking view. Funnily enough, I'm on the same mountain where I started this blog a year ago. Im currently sat in a bikini, tanning as I type and I haven't worn makeup for three days - I could get used to this. 

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick VS 17 Instant Glow

When it comes to high end vs low end beauty products, the high end brands normally come out on top.

I hate to admit it, I tend to buy higher end products most of the time. I prefer the luxurious packaging and the longevity, but the price tag can really talk a toll on your bank balance. My Fiancé looks at me in disbelief when he see's the price of some of the products I want to buy. When you are trying to save money, lets face it, high end makeup is off limits. 

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lip Gloss in Hypnotist

I had been coveting this lipgloss for weeks. It was well worth the wait.

As a fellow beauty lover im sure you follow a ton of beauty instagramers just like me. The only problem with that is it makes me want to buy everything I see. I saw a very popular beauty youtuber Lauren Curtis post a photo of this lip gloss months ago, and ever since I have been on the hunt for it. I scoured every Bare Minerals counter, hoping that on the off chance I would eventually find one to call me own. And it just so happens that I managed to get my little paws on one.

Lets Talk About Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown never seems to go wrong.

There aren't many brands that out there where I can create an entire full face of makeup using exclusively their products, but Bobbi Brown is definitely an exception. 

I have been so impressed by pretty much everything I have tried from Bobbi Brown, from the formula of their foundations, the pigmentation of their blushes to their incredible shimmer bricks - There is quality in every single product.  

Benefit Posiebalm

Benefit have seriously upped their game lately.

I have been a huge fan of their recent releases. You cannot go wrong with They're Real Mascara, Porefessional or the Big Easy BB cream. Their packaging has to be my favourite out of the higher end brands and the products have a lovely quality about them. 

Bobbi Brown Hot Cocoa Palette

When I heard of the Hot Cocoa palette a few months back I wanted it right away.

Bobbi Brown have created some incredible palettes, and this one was absolutely perfect for me. Sadly they were only available in Nordstrom for a limited amount of time, so I gave up my hopes of owning the Hot Cocoa palette.

Bare Minerals The First Resort

Is summer here yet?

If you're like me, you're probably starting to get a little impatient with the lead up to Summer. I swear these next few weeks go the slowest, knowing that just around the corner are warmer evenings, BBQ's and the chance to finally get a tan! 

If the anticipation for that bronzed glow after a day in the sun is getting a little to much, I got you covered. Bare Minerals have released their latest collection, The First Resort. A stunning three piece collection offering a bronzer, a fan brush and a lipgloss - all just for £34. Yup, you read that correctly, all that for just Thirty. Four. Pounds. What are you doing still reading this post?! Go on, click this link to check it out. You might as well add in the Faux Tan Gradual Glow Sunless Tanner and get free delivery while you're at it. Just Saying. 

Go on, I'll wait here for you.

Perfect Pigments for Spring

I don't know about you, but I'm officially in spring mode. 

Sunnier days and lighter evenings are finally here, and i'm loving every second of it. Lately I have been ditching the earth toned eye shadows for brighter pigments. I have fully embraced coloured eye shadows and I have been thoroughly enjoying experimenting with different looks. I have swapped champagne for pinks and browns for blue/green hues. I used to be terrified of using colour on my eyes, but over the last few weeks I have ventured out of my comfort zone and started using my brighter shadows that were forgotten about in the back of my makeup draws. MAC eye shadows have found a permanent place in my everyday makeup routine, especially their pigments!

The Bronzing Bases

The weather outside is beautiful today, and I'm in the mood for summer.

There is nothing I love more than a bronzed base during the summer months. Using a bronzing base means I can keep my foundation light, but it looks as if my skin is glowing from within. I have chosen my top three products that give me a natural sun kissed glow. I typically use these either as a primer, or I mix them with my foundation to give me a deeper tan. 

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate Review

This has to be my holy grail product in my nighttime skin care routine. 

I was introduced to Kiehls back in December last year during my trip to New York. I had always admired Kiehls from afar, I hadn't heard much about their products so I never got around to trying out the line - and I am kicking myself for not trying them out sooner. This is a must have product. 

From first application I fell in love with the Midnight Recovery Concentrate, and now I'm at my last few drops of this magical stuff, I'm trying to use every last drop of it. It has latest me such a long time. I have used this religiously every single night and I still have a few weeks worth of applications left. You can use this product sparingly, you only need a few drops and it feels so luxurious when you put it on. It feels like silk when you massage it into the skin and it sinks in within seconds, so you aren't left with that slick, greasy feeling when you get into bed.  It claims to leave you with younger looking skin by the morning - while I'm in my early twenties I can't really comment on whether that is true or not as I still have relatively young skin, but it has done a fantastic job of plumping up any fine lines on my face, and it does leave me with a youthful, radiant glow in the morning and my skin feels really moisturised and nourished. Its mostly made with all natural ingredients, its free from parabens and the bottle and plastic dropper are both made with recycled materials which I think is great news, and it makes me even more inclined to repurchase the product again. I love using more natural products on my skin as I have seen a huge difference in its overall radiance and texture since using this product. 

It does slightly break my heart to have to splash out £36 on a new bottle, but if you're going to invest in anything, at least invest in your skin and a good skin care regime. Kiehls is such a fantastic brand and I have been blown away by the Midnight Recovery Concentrate and I can't wait to get my hands on more products from the brand.

Revlon ColorBurst Matte & Lacquer Balms

I was so excited to see the new Revlon ColorBurst Matte & Lacquer balms in my local Target when I was in the states. As I need to start saving up as much money as I possibly can over the next few months, I am starting to look for drugstore alternatives to add to my makeup collection. I knew Revlon lip products were all ready raved about, but I hadn't tried any for myself until I picked up their new collection.

The colour range is beautiful! They have 10 Matte shade and 10 glossy shades in a range of colours so you're bound to find at least one to suit you. I picked up two of the matte shades and two of the lacquer shades to try out and after loving each of these balms i've got my eye on a few more. 

From the Matte collection I picked up Elusive, a muted hot pink and Mischievous, a bright, cool toned orange. Im not one to usually go for Matte lip products as I find they can be very drying on my already dry lips, but the formula of these are very unexpected. They are surprisingly creamy and moisturising for a 'Matte' product, they aren't drying at all and definitely act more as a balm. They are made with a mixture of Shea, Coconut and Mango butters which are nourishing for your lips, which is great for me as mine always seem to be chapped! They are extremely pigmented and easy to apply, the colour is opaque enough that in one swipe I have the perfect amount of colour on my lips, and the subtle minty flavour feels nice and refreshing. The staying power is pretty good as well, they seem to have a tint like finish which makes them appear to last longer than a typical lip balm. I find after eating or drinking I need a touch up, but I find that with most high end lipsticks anyway, so that doesn't bother me at all. 

From the Lacquer collection I got the shades Demure, a light rosy pink and Coquette, a medium pink. As I seem to be liking gloss a lot more recently I decided to give these to shades a try, and of course I love them! They have the same moisturising qualities and the Matte balms have they have the same nourishing butters in the formulas, but these have a different texture to the matte balms. They are creamier and of course, a lot glossier than Elusive and Mischievous, but surprisingly for a gloss, just as pigmented. They have a high shine finish that is long lasting and the same mint flavour, but are in no way sticky in a typical gloss. I find these slightly more moisturising than the matte blame, but thats probably down the glossy finish. At first glance in the stick, they appear to have tiny glitters in them, but don't let that put you off, once they have been applied you can't see them. They are absolutely beautiful shades and I am tempted to try some of the darker colours on offer.

L to R - Elusive, Coquette, Mischievous, Demure

Have you tried the new ColourBurst Balms from Revlon? Which ones are your favourites?

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The Dream Duo For Irritated Skin

A few months ago my skin had a horrible reaction to some new skin care. There aren't many down sides to being a beauty obsessive, but when you skin can be slightly sensitive at times it can be a real pain. The texture of my skin felt disgusting and makeup would enhance it and it would make base products look thick and cakey. Annoyingly I don't know the exact product or ingredient it was that caused my skin to react, but to prevent it getting worse I sent the whole range back to the company for a refund - I still had to pay for the shipping and re-stocking fee, which annoyed me a lot actually, but at least I got all of my money back.

Once I had stopped using the skin care it was time to get my skin back to some sort of normality. It felt very tight and uncomfortable so I wanted something that was soothing, moisturising and most importantly gentle on my skin. This meant I didn't use any products with harsh chemicals in them to prevent more irritation. My absolute saviours for the week where my Ultrabland cleanser and my Origins Drink-Up Intensive mask. These two working together was an absolute dream and within a week my skin was back to normal. I've raved enough about the Origins mask so I won't keep going on about it, but you can read my review on it here. 

These were the only two products I used on my skin for the entire week, with the exception a little makeup now and then for work but I kept everything to the bare minimum. I cleansed my skin every morning and night with Lush's Ultrabland cleanser to add moisture to my skin and soothe the irritation. This product has Beeswax and Rose cream to soften the skin, its a very natural product and it works like a dream. It was a very waxy texture and a bit of a strange, but if you can look past that you will see a huge difference in your skin. You simply massage this onto your dry face and use a warm muslin cloth or flannel to wipe it off. This stuff works! I don't know exactly what ingredient it was that helped bring my skin back to normal, but it did the trick. I used this is conjunction with the Origins Drink - Up intensive face mask every night to give my skin a seriously good moisturising. Every morning I saw an improvement in my skin, it gave my skin enough moisture throughout the day so I didn't have to load my skin up with extra products. 

If your skin is acting up or you have a reaction, I suggest finding your dream team of products to help soothe your skin and bring it back to normality. Keep it simple, natural and if you can, to the bare minimum. Im so glad i've found products that work for my skin, so the next time I have a reaction to something I know exactly which products I am reaching for.

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I Told Myself I Wouldn't Buy It

Some weeks my bloglovin feed is full of my favourite bloggers raving about the same products. To me, its very obvious when PR companies have sent out new products launches to be reviewed because every other blogger will write about that same product in the space of a few weeks. I think this is great because we get a good mix of views and opinions and we can decide for ourselves if its something we would like to spend (or splurge) our heard earned money on. 

Sometimes I come across a few products that I think are way to over hyped in the blogosphere/youtubeland and I tell myself 'I won't buy that' or 'I don't need that' or even 'Theres no way thats worth the money'. To often I say these things to myself and find myself purchasing said products and writing my own blog post about them... Just like this one. 

I had heard so much hype around the Smashbox Full Exposure Palette, but it never really crossed my mind to buy it, let alone swatch the shadows myself. This mainly comes down to the fact that I already own too many neutral eye palettes and I didn't think this would live up to the ones I already had in my collection. It wasn't until my sister told me to go and have a look at it when I realised how beautiful the eye shadows were. It has the perfect mix of cool and warm toned matte shades, the shimmer shadows were surprisingly pigmented and the formulas were smooth like butter - I even loved the free miniature mascara that came with the palette! I have worn this pretty much every day since I purchased it, the warm toned matte shadows are my go-to and the shimmer shades are perfect for an even look. I had never tried any Smashbox products before I picked up this palette and I am definitely going to try out some more from the brand as this has impressed me so much. 

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders have been raved about non stop over the last few months. This was definitely one of the products I told myself I definitely would not purchase as they are pretty expensive, and I thought to myself is a powder really that good? I didn't give the powders that much thought until I came across (two of my favourites) Alix's & Rhian's youtube videos, where they both mentioned the Ambient Lighting powders. I was so intrigued the next day I went to Sephora and decided to take a look for myself. I flinched at the price tag when I realised that were $45 a pop, but I swatched the powders and I instantly knew I needed one of them. They are so soft in texture and leave a subtle, luminous glow on the skin. I decided to go for the Diffused light powder to brighten and highlight under my eyes and other areas of my face, and now I am a complete hourglass convert. They set my under eye concealer beautifully, it helps prevent creasing and helps brighten any dark areas on my face. I am waiting until I get back to the UK and land myself a job to try out the blushes and lip glosses after hearing rave reviews. 

I've recently found out that the brand doesn't test any of their products on animals, which is a huge plus for me as I am trying to move away from brands that do test on animals and find cruelty free alternatives. Even though this product is definitely on the pricey side, its completely worth it.  

Another cruelty free (and vegan) purchase, I had heard a lot about the Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil products, it wasn't so much I didn't want to try out the brand, it was mainly the fact they aren't easily accessible in the UK and I didn't want to pay for the shipping and customs on top of the $48 price tag! While I was inline at Sephora (buying the Smashbox palette funnily enough) I saw that they had a miniature version of the full size oil for sale at $16. It was the last one left, so I saw it as fate and decided to purchase it and try it out. Surely enough, on my next visit to Sephora I purchased the full sized, along with a few more Josie Maran products to try out. The Argon oil is a multipurpose oil that you can use on your skin, your hair, on dry cuticles - pretty much everywhere! I like to use this on my face in the morning as my daily moisturiser, as well on the ends of my hair when its wet. The idea of using an oil on my face was a weird concept as I assumed it would make my skin oily, but it quickly absorbs into my skin leaving it moisturised throughout the day and it doesn't effect my makeup application. I don't know how this is going to work on my skin during the summer, but in the winter has been perfect for fixing my awfully dry skin. 

This product not only works wonders for my skin, its 100% cruelty free, vegan and free from Parabens, GMOS, Sulfates, Synthetic nasties and all of that horrible stuff. There is a light version of the Argan Oil which I will probably end up using the summer as this may be a little heavy for the hotter months, but so far I have been loving this and it has been a real saviour for my skin after a harsh winter. 

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Lets talk about Tinted Moisturisers

When it comes to my everyday makeup, I will pick tinted moisturisers over liquid foundation any day. I love a full coverage look for a special occasion, but day-to-day I like to have naturally luminous looking skin with my freckles showing through. For me personally, a flawless face doesn't suit me all that well, I like to have a few imperfections showing through and I hate feeling like I'm wearing a mask. Honestly, I just prefer the way my skin looks when I'm wearing a tinted moisturiser most days.  Tinted moisturisers are the perfect balance for me between the right amount of coverage and a light constancy. Having a base for my makeup that evens out my skin tone, adds a slight glow and gives my skin added moister, for me, is an ideal product. I have found that there is definitely a big different between drugstore & high end tinted moisturisers, in my experience drug store products don't give me the right amount of coverage and I don't particularly like the consistency compared to the high end products I have tried. I would definitely prefer to spend a little more on a tinted moisturiser and have better results.

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser

Definitely on the pricey side at $42, but the Nars tinted moisturiser has to be my all time favourite. I will repurchase this again and again with out thinking about the price because I love it that much. It gives me the perfect coverage, just enough to cover up my redness and even out my skin tone, but it lets my freckles show through. It has a very natural, dewy finish and it feels incredibly light on the skin. Another thing I really like about this product is that its so quick and easy to apply, it works great with a brush or beauty blender, but strangely for me, I like to use my fingers to apply this - and I typically hate to use my fingers to apply makeup. Its so easy to blend and gives such a beautiful finish that lasts all day. Enough raving now, the bottom line is, you need this product. 

Dr Jart + Platinum BB Cream 

Technically this product is a BB cream and not a tinted moisturiser, but in my eyes it doesn't matter if its called a BB, CC (apparently theres a DD cream now?!) they all do the same thing - for the sake of this post, today its a tinted moisturiser. I really like the Dr Jart + range, I have used the Dr Jart + Water Fuse Beauty Balm as well as the Platinum products, I have been impressed by both. Although they have a thicker constancy to most tinted moisturisers, I have found that Dr Jart + products work really well in the summer. They work well to control the oils on my face, they have long lasting wear, they feel light on the skin, and they have the added SPF 30, which is a really nice bonus. They are very easy to get a hold of in the UK as they are stocked in Boots stores and I'm pretty sure that Sephora stocks Dr Jart + products. Prices range from £18-£24 with a variety of products aimed for different skin types and ages, so there is something for everyone. 

Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12 - Hour Primer

I have been using the Tarte BB Tinted Treatment for nearly a year now and I was surprised at how much I liked this product. I normally don't buy into the whole '12 hour wear' or 'treatment' aspect of a product, as most brands use it as an advertising ploy, but Tarte products really do live up to the names on their packaging. Technically a BB cream and technically a primer, I like to use this on its own most days. As it is a primer it has a silicone like consistency, like most primers, but I like the way it feels on my skin. It smooths out the texture of my skin, covers any redness or blemishes and it lasts all day long. If I want a fuller coverage I will use this under a foundation as a primer, with its coverage it helps me use less product and I have found that it does pro-long the wear of my foundation. This is a great multipurpose product in that aspect, it works as a great tinted moisturiser for day to day wear, but also doubles as my favourite primer.