GRWM: Trying New Makeup #2

Over the past six months or so since mask wearing became mandatory in New Zealand I haven’t been wearing a lot of makeup. It’s a double edged sword because I miss the chance to create and play with products before work but at the same time I don’t need to get up as early and it has made my morning routine simpler. As a result I haven’t been looking to buy new makeup but there are a few things that have caught my eye recently that I was excited by.

Authored Push Kit

Authored is Tanya Burr’s new makeup brand and I didn’t take much notice of the products at first until I started seeing some reviews and a few bloggers/YouTubers I follow sharing their thoughts on Instagram. In December I purchased the Push Kit which contains all four products the brand makes so far: tinted moisturiser, brow gel, mascara and lip balm. The idea of simple, effortless beauty drew me in and the products are good basics if you’re on the go and want something quick and easy or you want to look polished without putting on a full face.

1. Tinted Moisturiser – Shade 1 – Shade 1 is the lightest shade intended for those with light skin and neutral undertones. Not only did the shade description sound accurate for my skin tone but I figured if it was too light I can easily apply a bit of bronzer, better that than having a shade too dark. The formula is lightweight, on the runny side (I store my tube with the cap facing up) but very easy to blend into the skin and can be built up for more coverage. The product claims to give a soft matte, slightly dewy appearance and I agree, my skin looked like skin but with a healthy, natural glow. The product didn’t cling or settle into lines and other makeup applied nicely over the top.

2. Brow Gel – 1 Light Brown – I had never used a brow gel before so I had to look up how to apply one before doing my brows. Safe to say I needn’t have worried as it was very easy to apply and there was no excess product needing to be cleaned up. The colour is good, my brows are darker than my hair so it’s not hard to get a decent colour match I find. My brows still look natural which is what I like. Big thumbs up!

3. Mascara – When it comes to mascara I prefer natural bristle wands, a formula that is super black and gives length and volume. I don’t believe mascaras give an accurate representation of how they perform after one use so I tend to properly make up my mind after I’ve been using a mascara for a week or two. On first impressions this ticks the natural bristle wand, super black formula and length boxes but I would have liked more volume. Again, that may come once I’ve used it a bit more and the formula has got some air in it – I’m not disappointed by any means. The formula is on the drier side straight off the bat (which I also don’t mind) and it didn’t smudge or flake. It seems to layer nicely and not coat lashes with too much product at once. Looking forward to using this more to see if my thoughts change.

4. Lip balm – This was the product I was least excited to try but it worked out more worthwhile getting the kit and trying all products rather than buying two or three other items separately. I am pleasantly surprised by how much I like this. Normally I don’t need to wear lip balm often and my lips don’t get dry but I can see myself reaching for this to pop on around home or dabbing over top of my lipstick which is what I did for this look. The lip balm isn’t thick or sticky. I’m not a fan of cherry but the scent doesn’t bother me and disppears after a minute or two.

Max Factor Creme Bronzer – Light Gold 05

Is this bronzer still a favourite in the blogging world? I would see this everywhere a few years ago and I don’t know anyone who isn’t a fan! I’ve owned this bronzer for a year or two now but wanted to pull it out as I’ve only worn it a handful of times and it is very pretty. I’m loyal to my Body Shop bronzer as that was in my project pan last year (which was abandoned due to Covid) but this is also a winner and one I’m happy to reach for. Despite having creme in the name this is a powder bronzer and creme refers to the Max Factor range the product is from. The flecks of shimmer don’t make the face look shiny and it’s the type of bronzer that is hard to apply too much of, which is a good thing. I was doing a quick Google search whilst writing this post and I don’t know if this is available anymore. I’d urge you to get in quick if you’ve been wanting to try this in case it’s gone!

Huda Beauty Rose Quartz Palette

Cool tones work better on me and they are what I gravitate towards most often. This is my first Huda Beauty product and I purchased a kit from Feel Unique also containing a zip around case, three eye brushes and a Silk Balm as a birthday present to myself. The day after the palette arrived I knew I wanted to play with it immediately. All of the shades are beautiful and for the first look I went for something rather simple and classic. I applied Radiate as a base shadow, used Precious to deepen the crease, went in with Energized on my finger and applied it all over the lid and placed Love Stone in the inner corner.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick – 08 Pink In Confidence

I purchased this lipstick last year and had always wanted to try this formula, I’d heard many good things about how comfortable it is and how easy the shades are to wear. Pink In Confidence is a relatively neutral rosy pink with a subtle hit of colour. I am fair skinned and it looks pretty natural on me so it wouldn’t be the best for those with darker skin tones. I love bold, bright lip colours but wanted something on the neutral side from this formula as it is very soft and shiny and a bold colour would get messy. The lipstick is very balm-like without being thick and goopy and is super easy to apply. If you have dry lips this formula works well. The formula won’t have the longest wear time but it does wear evenly and will give you a decent number of hours before needing to reapply.

Other makeup used:

  • Clinique Dramatically Different moisturiser
  • Maybelline Pore Minimizing Primer
  • L’Oreal More Than Concealer – 323 Fawn
  • Urban Decay Primer Potion
  • MAC Double Gleam highlighter
  • Max Factor Creme Puff blush – 10 Nude Mauve
  • Pixi Rose Glow mist

The Finished Look

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of the finished look?

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GRWM: Luxurious Makeup Look

I am lucky enough to have some really beautiful makeup products that aren’t exactly on the lower end of the price spectrum. Before I purchase a product I always look up reviews and do my research, especially if I’m considering parting with a substantial amount of money. I definitely feel comfortable splurging in some areas and saving money in others. I know what works for my skin and how I want my makeup to turn out.

I wanted to be a little boujee and create a look using as many luxury products as possible. I didn’t doubt for a minute the look would come together well and I’m so pleased with it!

Products listed in order of application:

Products marked with an * means I didn’t have a luxury alternative

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive*

2. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – I sampled this primer last year and fell in love with it straight away. I purchased a full size during lockdown. It makes my skin feel silky smooth and foundation applies beautifully over the top. A little goes a long way as this spreads really easily over the skin. It feels moisturising but it’s not at all greasy.

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel*

4. YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Radiance Awakening Foundation in B10 Porcelain – This is as close to a holy grail foundation that I have discovered so far. The shade is such a perfect match for my skin – it’s the right amount of warm and cool and like the primer, a little goes a long way. One layer is enough and the consistency of the foundation is light but blendable. Product is very easy to move around the face. This foundation makes your skin look like skin but enhances it and gives a dewy, healthy glow. I’m so impressed every time I wear it!

5. MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW10 – This concealer blends nicely on top of the YSL foundation. It can be layered up and covers redness and spots well. This can sink into lines if my skin is feeling dry but using a good primer and foundation combats that. Studio Finish also feels lightweight and doesn’t clog my skin or make me oily.

6. Rimmel Match Perfection Translucent Setting Powder*

7. Milani Eyeshadow Primer*

8. xoBeauty Heaps of Sweets Palette – This palette cost around $55 (NZD) which compared to lots of other palettes on the market isn’t expensive. Ever since trying xoBeauty a couple of years ago I have been impressed with the price points of products in relation to quality. I tend to use drugstore eyeshadow palettes as I don’t have any high end ones but this is a good in-between. I went for a cool toned eye look, I used the shade Vanilla (light neutral that leans purple) as a base shadow all over the lid, Brownie (chocolate brown) to deepen up the crease and Cupcake (shimmery taupe) for a wash of shimmer.

9. YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils The Curler Mascara – I have been using this little mini since the end of February and it has lasted well! This has a rubber wand which I’m not usually a fan of but this mascara is really pleasant to use. The formula has stayed the same since it’s been open and it gives a bit of length and volume which I love. (Technically this mini wasn’t expensive as I got it as part of a set but if I purchased a full size it would be the priciest mascara in my collection).

10. MAC Double Gleam Extra Dimension Skinfinish – This highlighter literally melts into the skin. A little goes a long way and it gives the skin such a beautiful gleam. The cream-powder formula is flattering and doesn’t accentuate pores. This shade is versatile and one I see myself reaching for a lot as it will go with everything!

11. MAC Warm Soul – I was opting for a rosy-nude lip and knew this blush would be perfect on the cheeks to accompany it. Warm Soul is one of MAC’s Mineralize blushes so it has a baked formula and a gorgeous speckled marble effect that translates onto the skin. Like the highlighter, this blush is such a versatile shade and the combination of this and Double Gleam is a winner.

12. MAC Fix+ Magic Radiance – After setting my base with powder I knew a few sprays of this would re-hydrate the skin and make it look lovely and glowy again. Magic Radiance is even more hydrating than the regular Fix+ and it is packed with Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and essential oils which are all great for the skin. This smells amazing too!

13. Estée Lauder Pure Colour Envy – Intense Nude – A work colleague gave me this lipstick as it wasn’t the right shade for her and it was the inspiration behind creating this luxury look. Estée Lauder is a brand I haven’t tried before. The bullet is navy and gold with a magnetic closure – it feels satisfying when the lid snaps back into place. Intense Nude is number 130 in the Pure Envy range and it is described as a moderately warm-toned light plum. This shade isn’t a true nude as it has hints of pink, brown and red but it is one of those shades that is a great everyday colour. The scent is lovely and the lipstick glides over the lips like butter. It’s incredibly comfortable to wear.

The Finished Look:

Close up of my eye makeup using xoBeauty’s Heaps of Sweets palette. Also wearing “The Romantic” lashes by xoBeauty.


Do you own any luxury makeup products?

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GRWM: New Makeup + First Impressions

I haven’t done a get ready with me or shared a makeup look in a while and there’s a couple of newer products in my collection that I want to talk about. I thought it would be fun to create a look with them and share my first impressions. With the majority of the other products I have tried to use ones that I don’t reach for on a regular basis.

Products marked with *** are newer to my collection.

BASE

Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive – A good everyday moisturiser that is inexpensive, contains SPF and does the job.

BECCA First Light Priming Filter *** – I have only used this a handful of times so far but it feels lovely and lightweight on the skin and blends in very easily. Makeup sits nicely on top and this is a product I see myself really enjoying.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream in Fair – I am really enjoying this CC Cream. A good shade match, easy to blend, longwearing, comfortable on the skin and covers my redness well. I urge you to try this if you’ve been on the fence. I picked up my tube from Sephora which is smaller and cheaper than the full size but a good way to sample the product.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW10 – This concealer pairs well with the IT Cosmetics CC Cream and isn’t drying when used in conjunction with hydrating foundations.

Rimmel Match Perfection Translucent Powder – With the warm weather lately this powder has helped to stop excess shine. I tend to only reach for powder in summer or if my base makeup looks too glowy.

eyes

Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – This pencil is still all I use to fill in my brows. The red tones go with the red in my hair and my brows never look overdone.

Milani Eyeshadow Primer *** – I didn’t realise this eyeshadow primer didn’t have a brush on applicator and is a squeezy tube. Product seems easy to blend on to the eyelids and the eyeshadows I wore on top applied well. I need to continue using this for a while before I can decide whether or not I’m a fan but I’m not disappointed after the first use.

Zoella x Colourpop Brunch Date Palette – Brunch Date is such a beautiful palette and it is the palette I have selected for my one palette, one month challenge for March. This palette gives me autumn vibes and is packed full of neutrals with pops of colour and shimmers. I used Maple Syrup all over the lid, Extra Slice to deepen the crease and applied Pancakes Please across the centre with my finger.

YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils The Curler Mascara *** – I purchased a four piece set of YSL minis in order to sample Black Opium towards the end of 2019 and this mascara was also in the set. I prefer to only have one mascara open at a time so I waited until my previous mascara was finished before trying this. I was curious to see how I’d find the mini size as I’ve only used full sized tubes before but application wasn’t any harder as the wand is full size. I was surprised by the shape of the wand and a little shocked as to how it manages to fit in the tube (image of the wand below). The wand is long and curved and has two sides of bristles designed to give lashes a full, lifted look. Upon first application the mascara definitely gave me length and product applied easily, the formula isn’t too wet or too dry and I’m looking forward to using this more.

Cheeks & Lips

BECCA Moonstone Shimmering Skin Perfector *** – This highlighter came in the same set as the First Light Priming Filter. Moonstone is a light gold and sits somewhere between theBalm’s Mary-Lou Manzier and BECCA’s Opal, of which I own both. This shade is very natural on the skin but can be built up if desired. The glow BECCA highlighters give is super pretty. The mini size lasts ages too!

Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in 10 Nude Mauve *** – I believe blush is one of those products you don’t need to own a lot of if you have a few good staple shades. Baby pinks don’t work for my skin so I tend to be drawn to more dusty, mauve pinks or peachy pinks. Nude Mauve is a stunning brown-pink mauve that is subtle but still gives my cheeks some oomph. This blush can really be layered up to sculpt and highlight the cheeks.

xoBeauty Liquid Lipstick – Aroha – Aroha is a beautiful muted deep plum but a shade I haven’t worn much since purchasing it. I thought this colour would be perfect for this look as I went for simple colours on the eyes and cheeks and I’m sure you all know how much I love a bold lip!


What do you think of this look? Have you tried any new makeup recently?

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GRWM: Girls Dinner

On Monday I went out to dinner with some of the girls from work. If you saw my post on Instagram earlier in the week you may be aware I was worried about the dinner. Social situations make me nervous and not being a very adventurous eater magnifies the nerves. Evenings out aren’t something I do as I don’t usually have company and part of me feels like I don’t deserve it. I knew I wanted to go because I felt grateful to be included and it was a big deal for me. I made everything out to be worse in my head than it was but when you worry so much it’s a natural instinct. If a similar situation arises again I will be less nervous which is a positive.

Not only was I nervous about the food/dinner – I stepped out of my comfort zone with my outfit. The restaurant had a dress code so it meant I had to get a little glammed up. I wore a dress AND heels and wanted to do nice makeup. This look features some newer products in my collection and products I’ve been reaching for a lot recently.

(Products have been categorised and listed in order of application under each category).

Base

  • MAC Strobe Cream – Pinklite – I applied this kind of like a primer and to give my skin more glow. I wanted this look to be soft and dewy.
  • Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 100 Fair – One of my favourite foundations that I’ve tried to date; good coverage and a satin finish.
  • Collection Lasting Perfect Concealer  – 1 Fair – The pigmentation and creamy consistency pairs so well with the Max Factor foundation. I had a bit of redness I wanted to cover up and also I wanted my skin to look glowy and this concealer isn’t as matte as my MAC one.
  • The Body Shop Strawberry Smoothing Face Mist – This smells good, feels lovely on the skin and keeps makeup looking fresh. This was the last product applied before my lip colour.

Cheeks/Eyes

  • Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – Used this to fill in my brows.
  • Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder – Light – I hadn’t used this for a few weeks and I missed it. Often in the morning when I’m getting ready for work I skip contouring as I’m short on time but I do really enjoy how this product looks.
  • Urban Decay Primer Potion – This little 5ml sample has lasted me over a year and is still going strong.
  • The Body Shop Honey Bronzer  – 01 Light Matte – This was dusted over the tops of my cheekbones, down my nose and across my chin. I also applied this in my crease as my transition shade.
  • BECCA – Royal Glow – I used my ring finger to apply this highlighter all over my eyelids as a base shadow and used it to highlight my cheeks as well.
  • Zoella x Colourpop Supernova Shadow in Bellini – Bellini is a high-impact, ultra glittery shadow with a metallic rose gold base. This shadow is so easy to use, I swipe product onto my finger from the applicator and transfer it to my eyelid. Product dries quickly and lasts all day, this shade looks a foiled shadow when set.
  • L’Oreal Paradise Extatic Mascara – This is starting to dry out and I feel like I haven’t had it open very long. It definitely doesn’t seem as long lasting as the tube of Lash Paradise I had. I’m not ready to let go of this mascara just yet as the dark, thick fluttery lashes it gives are so pretty.
  • MAC – Warm Soul – I wanted a hint of colour on the cheeks and I knew the highlighter and strobe cream would give the glow factor so I went for this light pink-beige blush. It gives a lovely natural flush.

LIPS

  • L’Oreal – 302 Bois De Rose – I mentioned in my August Favourites I wanted to do a makeup look for the blog with this lipstick and here it is! It’s a great shade for everyday wear and I knew I’d be eating so wanted something that would fade gradually. This shade gives me MAC Syrup vibes, this is a satin finish and more pink but super pretty!

The Final Look:


Let me know what you think of this makeup look! What type of look do you go for if you’re going out?

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GRWM: Mexican Quiz Night

At the end of May I went to a Mexican themed quiz night with four work colleagues. We didn’t have to dress up but I knew I wanted to do bright, glowy makeup and incorporate colourful flowers into the look. The week prior to quiz night I purchased a headband with coloured flowers attached and it topped my makeup off beautifully. I kept my outfit simple wearing black pants and a black top and a black and white striped blanket wrap over top to look like a poncho. I absolutely adored the makeup I did and I hinted in a previous post about recreating the look and sharing it on the blog – I had a few requests to do so.

(Products have been categorised and listed in order of application under each cateogry).

Base

  • Simple Radiance Brightening Moisturiser – At the moment I’m working on finishing up this travel sized moisturiser from Simple. This particular moisturiser is lovely on my dry skin and it would be great if this was more readily available in New Zealand and came in a full size.
  • Max Factor Smoothing Miracle Primer – Smoothing and moisturising, a pea sized amount of product is all that’s needed.
  • Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 100 Fair – My favourite foundation that I’ve tried to date, good coverage and a satin finish.
  • Collection Lasting Perfect Concealer  – 1 Fair – The concealer that works best for me! The pigmentation and creamy consistency pairs so well with the Max Factor foundation.
  • The Body Shop Strawberry Smoothing Face Mist – Not only does this smell good but it feels lovely on the skin and it keeps my makeup looking smooth and soft. This was the last product applied before my lip colour.

Cheeks

  • Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder – Light – I wanted my cheeks to look sculpted and chiseled, this shade is a perfect match for fair skin such as mine.
  • The Body Shop Honey Bronzer  – 01 Light Matte – This was dusted over the tops of my cheekbones, down my nose and across my chin. I also applied this all over my eyelids to set the eye primer and act as a base shade.
  • Dainty Doll Blush – 004 You Are My Sunshine – A dupe for NARS Orgasm. I need such a small amount of this blush as it is very pigmented but it gives a lovely flush to the cheeks. I applied this with a big fluffy brush and really concentrated application between my highlighter and contour.
  • BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed – Opal – I have always been a fan of this highlighter but over the past few weeks I’ve been having a real moment with it! The glow it gives in combination with the blush makes my skin look super glowy and healthy and the formula is like butter.

Eyes

  • Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – Used this to fill in my brows.
  • Urban Decay Primer Potion – This really does make a difference to the longevity of my eye makeup.
  • Colourpop Sol Palette – OOO was applied through the crease and lightly over my eyelids before using my ring finger to apply Floaties all over.
  • MAC Melon Pigment – Melon was applied over top of Floaties to add extra sparkle and to tie the orange tones from the Sol palette in with the peachy-gold blush.
  • L’Oreal Paradise Extatic Mascara – I tried Lash Paradise last year and loved it! I picked up Paradise Extatic (The European/NZ version) to compare the two and so far so good. Lashes appear dark and fluttery and the mascara provides good coverage in one coat but I still apply two!

Lips

  •  NYX Cosmic Metals Lip Cream – Fuchsia Fusion – My favourite shade of lip colour to wear and all the glitz and glam I needed!

The Final Look:


What do you think of this makeup look? Have you created any looks recently that you can’t get enough of, if so what products did you use?

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Autumn Makeup Look

Browns and neutrals are go to colours for my eye makeup most days but I appreciate them even more in autumn! Since I started this blog nearly five years ago my makeup skills and knowledge have improved so much. I definitely have preferred methods and know what I like makeup wise but for this eye look I strayed a little from my norm and I am so happy with how it came out – I can’t wait to recreate it again!

When I create the majority of these makeup looks for the blog I know how I want them to come out and the kind of tones I want to use. I actually created a couple of different eye looks I thought would turn out to be autumnal before settling on this as a clear winner. The others either had too much bronze or not enough depth of colour in the crease.

Products listed in order of application:

I thought I would stray away from doing a big list of the products I used to create this look like I normally do as most of the time my base products are the same.

My current go to day moisturiser is Olay’s Complete UV Sensitive Lotion. I let my moisturiser sit for about 10-15 minutes and then I go in with primer, at the moment I’m using Max Factor’s Smooth Miracle Primer. I then fill in my brows with Rimmel’s Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel. I’m very much enjoying using Max Factor’s Lasting Performance Foundation day to day instead of just for special occasions. It is my favourite type of coverage and formula wise it holds up well throughout the day. I apply one layer all over my face and additional product to areas I get redness – around my nose and chin. MAC’s StudioFinish Concealer comes next before applying Urban Decay’s Primer Potion to my eyelids. While I let the eyeshadow primer sit I go in with contour and bronzer. Kevyn Aucoin’s Sculpting Powder in Light is perfect for my skin tone and The Body Shop Honey Bronzer gets dusted over my cheekbones, chin, around my nose and on the temples. Sometimes I also apply highlighter before doing my eye makeup and on this occasion I did and used Soft & Gentle from MAC.

The ‘original’ side of The Remix Palette.

After my face is prepped and done I move onto eyes. I pulled out The Remix Palette from Shaaanxo and all the shades I used are from the ‘original’ side of the palette which contains a mixture of nine neutral shimmers and mattes. First I applied Buttercup (warm matte custard yellow) all over the lid. I used a combination of Terracotta (warm matte brown) and Silhouette (charcoal matte) in the crease. Terracotta is a lovely shade to add depth and with Silhouette I focused it more on the outer V and outer third of my eyelids. I wanted a dark smoky element and this shade gave it. To finish the look I patted Avocado (blue-brown duochrome) onto the lid with my ring finger and applied a few light layers to build up the colour and duochrome effect.

I applied two coats of Tanya Burr’s Selfie Lash Mascara. MAC’s Velvet Teddy was my lipstick of choice and I finished off by spritzing The Body Shop’s Strawberry Smoothing Face Mist to set everything in place.

The Finished Look:

What products do you associate with autumn? What do you think of this look?

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GRWM: Trying New Makeup

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had some new makeup arrive and I wanted to create a look with the items. Two products from MAC feature as well as the Cocoa Blend voyager palette from Zoeva. Zoeva is a brand that I haven’t tried before but other bloggers always talk about how nice their eyeshadows are and I wanted to try them for myself!

Products listed in order of application:

Products with (N) are new items.

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive – I’ve been using this as my day moisturiser for the past few months and it feels very lightweight and smooth on the skin. I don’t have any complaints and I haven’t noticed more breakouts than usual. I’m very lucky being dry skinned that I don’t get a lot of acne. This contains SPF but doesn’t have a strong sunscreen smell.

2. Makeup Revolution Ultra Face Base Primer – Now that I’ve finished the Vitamin C face mist from The Body Shop I can focus on using up this primer. The more I use this primer the more I like it and realise it does keep my makeup in place longer and makes my makeup apply nicer.

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – You know the drill with this. Been using it for a couple of years now and it makes my brows look natural whilst filling them in slightly. I’ve got thick, dark brows so I don’t need to do much.

4. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain – Earlier in the year I was stuck in a rut with this foundation and how thick the formula felt to apply and felt on my skin. The primer helps this foundation apply more easily and one layer of this works better than two. I always add more coverage with concealer and bronze up if my face looks pale.

5. MAC StudioFinish Concealer in NW10 – This concealer is really good shade wise for me and I like the coverage it gives and the fact you can layer it if you need. You may only need a small amount on a spot but you may need a bit more to cover redness and I find it covers redness well. I apply concealer around my nose and chin where I get natural redness and sometimes I’ll use any excess on my finger on the inner corner of my eyes to brighten or on the eyelids as an eye primer.

6. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – I’ve been loving using this bronzer almost like a powder lately. I apply it to my cheeks, my chin, my nose, the sides of my forehead and in a ‘w’ shape around my nose and eyes. I tend to reach for my setting powder more in summer when it’s hot but because I have dry skin I don’t want it to look cakey in winter and I find sweeping the bronzer lightly sets everything and adds a light golden colour at the same time.

7. Zoeva Cocoa Blend Voyager Palette (N) – This is a mini six pan palette of the original 10 pan Cocoa Blend palette by Zoeva. The shades included are Bitter Start (matte white), Substitute For Love (matte light brown), Freshly Toasted (matte red-brown), Pure Ganache (bronze-gold shimmer), Warm Notes (cranberry shimmer) and Subtle Blend (bronze shimmer). There’s base shades, transition shades and shimmers meaning you can create a simple look or a glamorous one. Every shade in this palette is pigmented and the feel of the shadows is lovely and smooth. They swatch and apply the same to the eyes as they look in the pan. The small size means this palette will be great for travel and it’s so cute! I don’t mind the small pan size because realistically it means if I love this palette enough to use all of the shadows up it’s a good thing.

For this look I used Bitter Start as a base shade, Substitute For Love in the crease and Subtle Blend as a shimmer topper all over the lid.

8. L’Oreal Lash Paradise Voluminous Mascara – I’m still loving this mascara! The formula is starting to dry out more now and I’d say I’m not far from finishing it but it has been such a pleasant product to use. I can rely on it to make my lashes look the same each day and it definitely makes my lashes look fluttery and voluminous.

9. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle (N) – Only days after I ordered Soft & Gentle I read a blog post from Rachael about products she regrets buying and this is one of them. In the comments she explained that it would be better suited to people with a lighter skintone than her which reassured me because I am very fair. Safe to say this product is beautiful and I love it! I don’t find the shimmer too much. I prefer a subtle highlight and the gilded peach bronze colour isn’t too warm for me either. I’ve also worn this product all over my face a bit like a powder and it looked lovely. I see this becoming a product I reach for everyday and use all the time.

10. MAC Hug Me (N) – Pictures online make this lipstick look sheerer than it is. Pretty much how a shade looks in the bullet is how it will apply on me. Hug Me is a lustre finish, which is one of my personal favourites, and means it is very comfortable to wear and has a little bit of shine without slip. This lipstick is described by MAC as a ‘flesh pink’ but I don’t quite agree with that. It’s more of a brown-pink and it’s a really gorgeous everyday colour that I see myself wearing a lot.

The Finished Look:


Have you tried any of these products and what do you think of this look? Have you purchased any new makeup lately?

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GRWM: One Year Work Anniversary!

GRWM One Year AnniversaryLast Wednesday, (May 4th to be exact!) it was a whole year since I started my job and because it was such a milestone I wanted to celebrate by wearing a mix of my old and current makeup favourites. I remember I did a FOTD post about the makeup I wore on my first day of work and it’s crazy to think how far I’ve come since then, work-wise and makeup-wise. Originally, the job was only for two months but I was asked if I wanted to stay on and of course I said yes! I have learnt so much in the past twelve months and everyday I’m still thankful to have been given a chance.

GRWM Work Makeup ProductsProducts listed in order of application:

  • Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser
  • Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer
  • Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil – 002 Hazel
  • Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation – 081 Fair Ivory
  • Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 01 Fair
  • Rimmel Match Perfection Loose Powder – Translucent
  • Maybelline ‘The Nudes’
  • Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow – Copper
  • Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara
  • Dainty Doll Cream Blush 003 – Billion Dollar Babies
  • BYS Lipstick – Fuchsia Surprise

Eyes TitleWork GRWM Eye LookI applied the two shades indicated above all over my lids before going in with Max Factor’s Excess Shimmer eyeshadow pot in the shade Copper. I wanted something simple yet striking on my lids as I was making my lips the feature and I generally accentuate one or the other.

Work GRWM Maybelline and Max Factor

End ResultGRWM Work MakeupI’ve mentioned before that Fuchsia Surprise by BYS is hands down my favourite lipstick of all time. The colour, texture and pigmentation are outstanding and I always feel fearless when I wear this shade!


Wearing a face full of my favourite products was the perfect way to mark my one year anniversary. What makeup items do you turn to for a special occasion?

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Get Ready With Me: Weekend Glam

Get Ready With Me: Weekend GlamHi everyone! Hope you all had a lovely weekend! This was one of the first weekends in a while that I’ve felt I’ve been able to relax and haven’t had anything crop up or on the go. I had been looking forward to this weekend for a long time, ever since Ellie Goulding announced the release date of her third album ‘Delirium’. While I was getting ready to go into town I came up with the idea to do a little OOTD/FOTD/Get Ready With Me post as well as sharing the rest of my weekend with you. Enjoy!

Outfit of the Day

Saturday's OutfitPants: Black leggings

Top: Cream t-shirt with black shoulder detailing

Shoes: Holster sandals in Pewter

Face of the Day

Saturday's MakeupInstead of just listing the products like I normally do, I thought I would give a step by step guide to how I did my face.

1) Using Garnier’s Micellar Water (not pictured) I cleansed my skin before applying Simple’s  Light Hydrating Moisturiser.

2) After 20 minutes I patted Rimmel’s Fix & Perfect Primer in the shade 001 into my skin.

3) Next I applied my eyeshadow using Maybelline’s ‘The Nudes’ palette.

Weekend Glam Eye LookI used the two taupe shades in the top right hand corner and the black shade to line my crease.

Eye Makeup Close Up4) Moving onto my base. I used Rimmel’s Match Perfection Foundation in 081 Fair Ivory and Maybelline’s Fit Me Concealer in 15 Fair.

5) For mascara I opted for my trusty Rimmel ScandalEyes Lycra Flex. This mascara gives my lashes a lovely curl that lasts all day.

6) Time for blush. Dainty Doll’s You Are My Sunshine is a lovely rose-gold and I apply this by swirling my ring fingers in the compact then rubbing them both together to get an even amount of product. I lightly dab the blush on to the tops of my cheeks in a circular motion.

7) You all know lips are my favourite part of my makeup routine and for this look I tried something new. I patted Revlon’s Tutti Frutti Lip Butter into my lips to get a light wash of colour then layered L.A. Colors’ Glossin Go lip gloss in Sherbet (not pictured) on top to give my lips shine. The result, a luscious peach lip!

Selfie Fun!All made up and ready to go!

The first stop for mum and I in town was lunch. The two of us shared a strawberry thickshake and some hot chips.

LunchAfter lunch the time had finally come to buy Ellie’s CD; what this whole trip was about.

DeliriumI couldn’t resist playing the album as soon as I got home and I suspect it will be a real grower. Ellie is one of those artists who I know I will love pretty much everything she does and her music always makes me feel happy and excited when I listen to it. I can still remember the day I purchased her first album and how I would listen to it literally every day.


There’s not much else to report really. Sunday involved me sleeping in and not getting up until rather late *ahem 12:30pm* and catching up on blogging and getting this week’s posts written up for you. I hope you enjoyed this post and do let me know what you did with your weekend!

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