My blog posts have been a bit random recently, but today I wanted to talk about beauty, specifically some new make-up bits that I've found in the drugstore recently.
Bourjois Air Mat Foundation: Matte foundations are definitely the face products I reach for the most as my skin can get quite shiny throughout the day. As I love Bourjois, when I saw this new release I just had to give it a go. I chose the lightest shade which is pretty much spot on for me, and I really like the formula too. It takes a bit of blending in, but once applied it stays in place for ages. If you're a fan of the matte finish like me, I'd definitely recommend this product!
Seventeen Stay Time Concealer: I've actually repurchased this concealer recently as I absolutely love it. I don't usually buy from Seventeen but I'm definitely tempted to try more from them after liking this concealer so much. It's the perfect concealer for under the eyes and on blemishes and gives a good amount of coverage.
NYX Butter Gloss: I was super excited to see that Boots now stock NYX, and this was the first product that I've ever bought from them. I've used it a couple of times and so far I really like it - the formulation is very creamy and glossy. The shade I got is a pastel pink which I think is perfect for summer.
NYX Micro Brow Pencil: After using Soap & Glory brow products for ages, I wanted to try something a bit different and so decided to pick up one from NYX. I chose the shade Ash Brown, which is slightly darker than the brown pencil from Soap & Glory but very similar in consistency and how it applies. At £7 it's also cheaper so I might end up switching to this one now!
Rimmel Wake Me Up Mascara: I needed to pick up a new mascara and wanted an affordable one, so I decided to buy this one from Rimmel. I've never used a Rimmel mascara before, and so far I quite like it but probably not as much as my usual ones. The brush is a different shape, but also I find it doesn't do a lot for my lashes in terms of lengthening them. I'm going to let it dry out a bit first and see if I like it more then, but for now I probably wouldn't repurchase it.
What have you picked up from the drugstore recently?
Nails are probably my favourite part of make-up - as much as I love foundation, eyeliner and all that, I just love painting my nails. Because of this, nail polishes often make appearances on my blog - and today I thought I'd share with you my picks for spring and summer - the polishes that I would choose for this time of year.
Barry M Speedy Quick Dry in Pit Stop and Lap of Honour - I talked about these in a recent post so I won't ramble on too much but these are my new favourite nail polishes! Not only do I love the colours, but the formula is amazing and very quick drying - plus it comes with a really wide brush.
Max Factor Gel Shine Lacquer in Glazed Cobalt - Until recently, I hadn't tried that many Max Factor polishes but I'm actually really impressed with this range due to the shiny, gel-like finish. For the warmer months, I often wear bright blues - and I think this would be a nice evening shade.
Rimmel 60 Seconds in District-ly Come Dancing - I talk about Rimmel quite a lot on here as I love their products, and their nail polishes are no exception. Their 60 Seconds polishes are some of my favourites, and this bright green/blue is a great colour for spring/summer!
Essie in Splash of Grenadine - It's not summer without this classic Essie shade! I'm not usually one for warmer colours, but this purple is so pretty and it looks great with a tan. Also, Essie formulas are great and their brushes are wide too which makes for easy application.
Bourjois in Lavande Esquisse and Ciel Mon Vernis - I mentioned in another post how much I like Bourjois' face and lip products, but they also have some great nail offerings! I picked a couple of shades from them - a true purple and also a really pretty pale blue. I would definitely recommend trying out some of Bourjois' nail polishes as they seem quite underrated but they're amazing!
What are your favourite nail polishes for this time of year?
If it seems like I talk about Bourjois a lot on here, it's because I do! I'm not sponsored by them or anything, I honestly just love the brand - in particular their face and lip products. The Rouge Edition Velvets have been a blogger favourite for a while now, and Bourjois have also recently released a new line called Aqua Laque.
I have three of the Rouge Edition Velvets in the shades So Hap'pink, Nude-ist and Pink Pong. They have a super matte finish which I love, especially with the bright colours, as you don't want them smearing throughout the day. I tend to use a lip liner before applying any of these as I find it makes it easier, and then I dab some of the product on using my fingers. Their longevity is amazing - I've worn these on a nine hour shift at work before, and whilst they need the occasional touch up, the colour still lasts all day. So Hap'pink is one of their newer shade releases, but I actually think that Pink Pong has been my most worn colour!
I also picked up one of their new Rouge Edition Aqua Laques in the shade Feeling Reddy. These have a much glossier, more shiny finish than the others and so I was a bit unsure at first, especially as I had chosen a bright colour. Like with the Velvets, I like to apply this with my finger - although with this I prefer to use quite a small amount to give a stain rather than an opaque finish. As they're fairly watery, I find that this works better as otherwise they can be quite transferrable and so need lots of touch ups. Longevity wise, the colour lasts for quite a while but not as long as the Velvet range.
Have you ever tried either of these products? What did you think of them?
The other week I picked up a few make-up items from Bourjois - two being new releases and one being a repurchase. So today I thought I'd share them with you and let you know my first impressions.
Colour Band - These eye crayons are a new release from Bourjois and I've been really excited to try them out. It took me ages to pick a shade but in the end I went for Rose Fauviste which is a pretty champagne-pink that reminds me of MAC All That Glitters. On first application, they're very smooth and pigmented and the crayon applicator is really easy to use. I have quite oily eyelids so I'll always use a base underneath, but over that I find that this looks really pretty and makes for a nice, everyday eye look.
Colour Boost - The Colour Boost lip crayons aren't that new to Bourjois, but as far as I'm aware this is one of their newer shade releases, called Pinking of It. Now normally I'm not someone who reaches for bold lip colours, but if I do then it's always pink, and this bright fuschia really jumped out at me. Like their other Colour Boosts, this gives a glossy finish and has a pretty good staying time but does need a few touch ups if you eat or drink. I absolutely love the shade and have been wearing it quite a bit - now I really want to pick up their new nude one too.
Liner Pinceau - Lastly is my repurchase! This is one of my favourite liners ever - I prefer liquid formulas because I find them easier to apply and they don't try out quickly like felt tips. The brush is super thin meaning you can easily get a thin or thick line, and it stays in place all day. I just generally think this is an amazing liner and would recommend trying it if you haven't already.
What's your favourite Bourjois product? Have you tried any of these?
One of my favourite types of make-up products to use is highlighter - and I especially like to use it during the winter when my skin can look a bit dull and dehydrated. I really like how it adds glow and warmth to the face - it can completely change your make-up look when used correctly! Today I wanted to share with you my favourite highlighter picks, with each one being a slightly different formula.
Loose powder - Bourjois Java Rice Powder
I'm a huge fan of Bourjois, especially their face products, and this one is no exception. I love the old-fashioned packaging, and the highlighter itself is stunning too. It's slightly pink toned and very shimmery, so a little goes a long way, and it just adds a gorgeous sheen to the skin without being too in-your-face. It has a perfumed scent which might not be to everyone's taste, but personally I like it!
Powder - MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle
I've had this product for years now but I refuse to part with it - it's lasted me ages and I'm determined to eventually hit pan on it! It's still a powder formula but in a pressed form, which makes life a little bit easier if you can't be bothered to put in too much effort in the morning. It's somewhere in between a highlighter and bronzer, giving a warm champagne glow to the skin. I love it so much that I use it pretty much every day now, and I'd definitely recommend giving it a go if you haven't already!
Cream - No 7 Instant Radiance
This is probably my favourite highlighter out of the bunch, and the only reason I don't use it as often as my MAC one is sheer laziness - cream formulas take a bit more effort to work into the skin, however the effect it gives is definitely worth the time. I find the best way to apply this is with my fingers, as using it straight from the bullet can sometimes rub away my foundation. Being a cream formula, it has great pigmentation and gives a shimmery gold highlight to the face.
Have you tried any of these products? If not, what highlighter would you recommend?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
(Disclaimer: I don't any of the above photos.)
As it's coming up to Christmas, I wanted to share my take on a gift guide. All the products I've included are under £20 and so would make great stocking fillers or presents on their own.
The first thing I chose was this cute gift set from Soap & Glory. Their sugar crush sent is really popular, and it's also handy that it comes in a pretty box too! This is available at Boots at the moment and is part of their 3 for 2 deal on Christmas gift sets - such a good offer! Next is the Mug Cakes book which I think would be perfect for baking lovers, or even someone who doesn't really know how to cook and would enjoy some simple recipes like these. I've also chosen a couple of beauty baubles which would be good for stocking filers.
Next are a couple of nail products - I personally think these are great gifts for girls like me who are obsessed with nail polish! The first is a stunning velvet polish from Urban Outfitters, or - if they're a bit short on time - then this Elegant Touch set would be perfect instead. I also like these slipper socks from Urban Outfitters - they're adorable but still affordable too. And lastly is a set of Bourjois' Colour Boosts. Considering the price of each individual product, this set is great value for money - and perfect for any beauty lover.
What do you think of these gift ideas?
Recently I've picked up a few new make-up items from the drugstore, and so I thought I'd share some of my favourites with you today.
The Body Shop InstaBlur Primer - I wasn't sure whether The Body Shop counted as drugstore, but I wouldn't class it as high end so I suppose it does! I've never been a massive primer user, however this one has completely converted me. At first, it comes out as a weird clear paste but when you apply it - it then turns into a silky smooth primer. Since using this, I have noticed a huge difference in the longevity of my make-up, meaning I no longer have to powder during the day which is amazing for me. The only thing I will say is my skin has been breaking out a little recently, and this is the only new face product that I've been using - it's nothing major but just a small warning for those of you with sensitive skin!
Revlon Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon - This is my most recent purchase out of the four products, and I absolutely love it. I sometimes find it hard to wear lipsticks as they don't always suit me, but this one is so easy to wear - I wear it pretty much every day now! It's the perfect nude/pink colour - a 'your lips but better' shade.
Maybelline Colour Tattoo Leather Effect - These have been everywhere recently, and I can definitely see why - they're great! I was always a big fan of the original Colour Tattoos but I also really like these Leather Effect ones too. I picked up the shade Creamy Beige, which is a lovely everyday colour by itself or a good base to layer over too.
Bourjois Liner Pinceau - I've actually owned this for quite a while now - it was one of the products that Bourjois gave to me after I did work experience with them. At first, I just put it to one side as I never really wore eyeliner, but since having discovered the appeal of liquid/felt tip liner, I've become completely obsessed with it! It has a super thin brush which makes for easy application, and it sets really quickly as well which means it stays in place all day.
What are your favourite new products from the drugstore? Have you tried any of these?
As we're in Autumn now, I thought I would show you my favourite eye shadows for this time of year. I don't really wear that much in summer due to the hot weather, but in winter I definitely do, and as you can see - I love bronze!
Firstly, I like to start with a cream eye shadow as a base because I can get quite oily eyelids which means powder on its own doesn't last very long. My favourite would definitely be the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze - it's such a pretty brown colour and it lasts for ages too. If I want something with a bit less colour, I will go for the Bourjois Colour Edition, which is also a really nice base.
To go on top of this, I've really been loving bronzed colours, especially warmer, gold-toned shades. I have a couple of options from Bourjois - their single eye shadow in 54 is stunning and super pigmented, and I also love their trio in Rosé Twisté which comes with a brown and a smokey purple, as well as a liner. Lastly is an eye shadow that I received in a Wantable box* recently, and it's from MUD - a brand that I hadn't tried before. However, I absolutely adore this shade called Bronzed - it's a warm gold colour and it's also very pigmented!
What is your favourite autumn eye look?
For today's post, I wanted to share with you my 'miracle products' - these are generally products which have a bit of a different concept to them and are slightly unusual, but that work really well and usually save time too.
Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser - I'm pretty sure I've talked about this before, but I absolutely love this moisturiser! Moisturising can be a bit of a chore for me, but this product completely takes out all of the work because it's so easy to use. I have the Aloe Vera scent which is lovely, and now I really want to try the other ones too.
Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover - This is such a blogger favourite, and again it takes all the work out of removing nail polish. I also love how it doesn't smell like normal nail polish remover either, it smells fruity which is great! It's super quick and easy to use, and overall I think it's an amazing product.
L'Oreal Skin Perfection Velvety-Soft Toner - I'm definitely someone who likes to switch up my skincare routine a lot, and recently I've been trying out this toner. When I first got it, I wasn't too sure if I liked it because it has a gel-like consistency which I've never seen before, however it actually makes your skin feel really soft, and it's great at removing make-up.
Tresemme Keratin Smooth Treatment - Lastly is a hair product. I always go on about how my hair is unruly, frizzy and annoyingly curly, and how I'm always on the look out for ways to tame it. If you have similar hair to me, then I would definitely recommend this treatment. You apply a few pumps of it on damp hair and then blow dry (and straighten if possible) to activate it. I find it drastically reduces my frizz and makes my hair feel a lot softer and smoother - amazing!
What are your 'miracle products'? Have you tried any of these?
I've been meaning to do a giveaway ever since I hit 600 followers on Bloglovin - and finally, here it is! It's just a small one to say thank you to everyone who reads/comments/follows my blog - I appreciate all of you and it makes me really happy reading all of the lovely comments that you leave. Anyway, onto the giveaway...
I decided to include three nail polishes (you know I'm obsessed) - I picked up one of the new Barry M autumn/winter shades in Chilli, plus a couple from Bourjois as I absolutely love their formulas and thick brushes. Lastly, which is probably the most exciting thing, I've included one of the new Maybelline Elixirs in the shade Rose Redefined. I figured it was a safe colour that most people would like to win, and as it's new I'm hoping that most of you don't own it yet either! Just a few giveaway rules before you enter - this is open to people that live in the UK only (shipping nail polishes abroad is way too much fuss) and make sure you're over 16/have your parents' permission so that you can give me your address.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
So today I wanted to share some of my favourite make-up finds from the drugstore! These are all fairly new to me, although a couple are old favourites too!
Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara: This is one of my more recent purchases, and so far I'm really liking this mascara. I love the brush as it's super long and thin which means it's very lengthening, which I prefer. If I want more volume though, I'll sometimes mix it with my Max Factor False Lash Effect masara, and then I get the best of both worlds.
Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover: This is such a blogger favourite so I was so excited to try it, and it definitely didn't disappoint! I hate taking off my nail polish because it takes so long and can get a bit messy, but this makes it so much easier!
Rimmel Stay Matte powder: This powder is definitely an old favourite for me - I've been using it for years, but I feel like I hardly ever mention it. If I don't powder, then my make-up is practically gone by midday, so using this helps it stay on for longer and get rid of any excess oil.
No 7 Perfectly Bronzed Dual bronzer: I mentioned this briefly in my last haul, and I've been testing it out since then. So far, I really like it - I like to take a big powder brush and swirl the two shades together before applying it down the sides of my face. I just find that it gives a nice, natural glow to my skin without looking muddy or orange.
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat: Again, this is another old favourite that I've recently repurchased. As a bit of a nail polish addict, I honestly couldn't be without this top coat! After applying it to my nails, they are literally dry to the touch within a minute - such a life saver.
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Nudist: And lastly, this is a new find for me. I've wanted to try these ever since they came out, but I was a bit scared of the bold shades. I do actually own Pink Pong as well, but I'm still a bit wary of actually wearing it out, whereas this nude shade is perfect for me. I love the silky matte finish, and the colour is more up my street.
What are you currently loving from the drugstore?
If you follow me on Twitter, then you may know by now that last week I did some work experience at the make-up brand, Bourjois. I honestly feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to work at one of my favourite brands, and I wanted to share it with all of you. Like my last work experience post, I've split it into a few key questions.
How did you go about getting this work experience?
I met one of the lovely PR ladies at a Company magazine event and then emailed her a couple of months later to see if they had any vacancies. I was pretty shocked, but very pleased, when they said yes!
Daily tasks?
Generally, I helped take care of their Instagram, put together presentations on various topics, organise send outs and just other basic tasks that needed doing.
Did you enjoy it, and was it worth doing?
100%! It was definitely my favourite work experience that I've done - the people were so nice, it was such a lovely environment to be in and as it was at one of my favourite make-up brands, it just made it all even better. It's honestly left me with no doubts about wanting to work in PR!
Is it worth doing work experience before university?
For me, yes! I think with something like PR, they really look more at the experience you've had than your grades and so it's important to have something to talk about. And also, doing work experience definitely helps you find out whether you actually like that particular industry, as it can be hard to decide to study something completely new when you've never had any experience in it.
Hopefully this post helped some of you who are trying to find work experience, or if you're not and you enjoyed it anyway, then that's great too! Let me know if you've done anything similar in the comments.
As we're well into May now, I thought it was the perfect time to do my Spring and Summer nail polish picks for this year. I'm sure I don't have to say it anymore - I am obsessed with nail polish! I will happily go out and buy tons of nail polishes even though I already have a whole box full in my bathroom (my parents and friends often comment on how I definitely don't need any more, but it still doesn't stop me). Anyway, I gathered up my favourites of the bunch that I think are great for this time of year.
Barry M - I have a few picks from Barry M that I love. Firstly, their Gelly Nail Paints - of course I couldn't miss these out! As you can probably tell, I love blues, so I chose Huckleberry (an off-white pale blue) and Guava (a bright turquoise). I was also recently given one of their new Silk ones in Heather from a friend, which I think is really pretty.
Rimmel - The Rita Ora collection from Rimmel is amazing - I have two shades from it already but want to pick up more. My friend gave me Lose Your Lingerie - a pretty pink nude - and I also went and picked up Breakfast in Bed, which is a gorgeous mint green. I adore pastels in general and think they're perfect for the warmer months.
Sinful Colours - If you're looking for something a bit brighter, I love the Sinful Colours nail polish in 920. It's a super neon pink (the picture doesn't do it justice), and although can be a little hard to apply, if you put in the extra effort then it looks stunning - especially with a tan.
Bourjois - Another blue, what a surprise! I adore the Bourjois nail polish in 26, it's one that I always get complimented on and it looks great all year round, especially in Summer. I also love the Bourjois brushes and formulas in general so I'd definitely recommend having a look at their nail polishes.
Models Own - Lastly is something a little different, the Models Own polish in Magpie. For some reason I really like speckled nails - I just think they look so pretty and they're a bit more interesting than plain nails. I picked up the green one but I like all of the shades on offer!
What are your picks for Spring and Summer?
Today I wanted to share with you my new favourite base along with a brush that I've been using a lot recently. You may have seen that Bourjois brought out a new CC cream with three pigments for different colour corrections. Bourjois is one of my favourite brands for foundations and bases - they literally never go wrong - so I immediately headed over to Boots and picked it up.
I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and I absolutely love it. The colour isn't a perfect match, but it's close enough - I've been mixing it with my L'Oreal True Match foundation that is slightly too light for me and then it's pretty much spot on. When you apply it, it goes on so smoothly and feels very light and airy, and it's also very hydrating which is great as my skin is often dry. I've been applying it with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and honestly the two are a perfect match! I find that the brush isn't suited to applying all of my foundations, but with this it works really well. I find the best way to use it is by applying thin layers and slowly building up the coverage, rather than lathering it on all at once. Overall, I'm loving this combination and can definitely see myself using it for a long time.
What's your current favourite foundation/base?
I am slowly becoming a bit of a foundation lover, as it's definitely one of my favourite things to buy when I go make-up shopping. Because of this, I decided it was time to compare some of the foundations I have purchased from the drugstore.
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum: This is definitely a solid foundation favourite of mine. I would say it has light-medium coverage that's buildable, and is suitable for most skin types as it glides over my dry patches but also doesn't leave me looking oily. I wish I'd got a shade lighter and then perhaps this foundation would be perfect, but that's just my fault!
L'Oreal True Match: This is my most recent foundation purchase, but it's quickly working its way to the top! Again, I'm awful at picking shades (or maybe I'm just too lazy), so this is on the lighter side for me, but the finish is just gorgeous - it's somewhere in between matte and dewy. The coverage is perfect too, I would say it's medium. Overall, it's an amazing foundation and I'd definitely recommend it.
Bourjois Happy Light: This is also a fairly recent purchase, although I have had it for long enough to fully test it out. The shade I picked was the lightest but it's still on the dark side for me, which is a bit annoying. Finish wise, it's quite similar to the L'Oreal but maybe slightly more on the matte side. It also doesn't do as well with my dry patches as some of the others, but I think it would be perfect for oilier skin.
Rimmel Wake Me Up: This is my oldest foundation purchase, and perhaps one of the most disappointing! I know so many people love it, and I did too - until it broke me out. In every other way, I really liked this foundation, especially the gorgeous dewy finish it gave, but my skin just didn't agree with it so I had to stop using it. If you have sensitive skin like me, I would recommend approaching this with caution but it's definitely worth giving a go!
What's your favourite drugstore foundation?
As you probably know, I'm a bit of a nail polish addict, and so I thought now was the perfect time to share my Autumn and Winter nail polish picks with you!
Barry M Gelly in Blue Grape: I find the Gelly Nail Paints to be a bit hit and miss, however I do really like this one. Blues are my go-to nail colours, and this one is a gorgeous dark royal blue - perfect for Winter!
Barry M in Boots: This was a recent secret santa gift but I already love it! I've been looking for a silver glitter for a while now and this one is perfect and also lasts for ages.
Bourjois So Laque in Bleu Fabuleux and Noir de Chine: For me, Bourjois nail polishes have the best brushes I've ever tried. They're really thick so it doesn't take a lot of effort to apply the polish, and I also really like the formulas too. I picked a really pretty blue and also a black, which is a staple at this time of year.
Barry M in Berry Cosmo: This is again another recent present, but I've tried it out already and love it! It's a dark purpley red which is great for the festive season, and I definitely want to pick up more shades like this now.
Rimmel Precious Stones in Diamond Dust: If you love glitter, then this polish is for you! I'm definitely a glitter girl myself, so when I was given this I was super excited to try it out. It gives a much higher coverage than the Barry M one, so I like to wear this just on its own.
L'Oreal in Blue Reef: I've mentioned this a couple of times now but I just can't stop wearing it! It's a beautiful blue-green colour, but it isn't bright at all so it's perfect for Autumn and Winter.
Revlon in Charming: It took me a while to get into the lilac nails trend - for some reason I just didn't think it suited me. But now, after buying and trying out a few different lilacs, I actually really like it and this Revlon one is definitely my favourite.
What are your favourite nail polishes of the moment?
