The Mini Make Up Haul

Morning Guys,

So it seems over the past month or so I have accumulated quite a few new additions to my make up collection. This little haul combines a variety of brands, all of which I am pretty loyal too - so I had high expectations for a lot of the products you will see featured in this haul. Now this isn't necessarily an depth review of the products I've purchased, more just a mini review and to show you what I've got really!

So let's start off with perhaps the most coveted cosmetic product at the moment, yep I'm talking about the famous Kylie Jenner Lip Liner - the MAC Soar Lip Liner. I will be talking about this amazing product in more depth in a few posts time. However, I will say it has made a firm place in my make up collection and is now one of my most reached for lip products.

Whilst we're still on the topic of MAC, I also picked up the Pro Long Wear Foundation after hearing many praises of the product. MAC claim this Foundation lasts 16 hours and has a medium sheer coverage. It also has SPF protection which is a bonus. Now I've tried out tonnes of foundations and I was a little unsure about what to expect with this one. However I was actually really pleasantly surprised with how much I like it! It has quite matte finish but not to the extent of Estee Lauder Double Wear. You can still see your skin shine through but you can build the foundation up to a fairly hefty coverage if you want to. I find that when I wear the foundation my make up lasts pretty much all day - which is a rarity for me as my face tends to eat all my foundation up by dinner time. This has fast become one of my favourite foundations and  I would definitely recommend it. The one thing I would note is that you have to work with the product quickly as it dries up pretty fast. The Pro Long Wear Foundation also has a pump which automatically makes it go up in the rankings compared to Studio Fix.

After being on the hunt for the perfect Powder for quite some time and reading Anna @ Vivianna Does Make Up bigging up the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder, I thought I'd better give it a go. I have combination skin so in some places my skin is dry and in others it gets quite oily, so essentially  I just needed a powder to stop my nose, forehead and chin being so shiny. This Powder is great, it does what is says on the tin without having that dreaded cakey appearance that some Powders have tendency to do. Again, I can't fault MAC on this one.

Next up is the Clarins Instant Light  Natural Lip Perfector in shade 02. Now you're probably sick to death of me talking about this product but I am literally obsessed. Due to mine & my sisters terrible habits of Clarins Hauling, I appear to have got quite the collection of miniatures of this product, which have fast become a handbag staple. I have the majority of the shades but my most favoured shade is by far 02 'Apricot Shimmer' and I was gutted when I lost it a few weeks ago. Feeling withdrawal symptoms from the product I designed to bite the bullet and buy a full size. I felt like £18 was quite expensive for a product that sits between 'Lip Gloss' and 'Lip Balm' but the mere fact the product lasts so long and on the assumption I pretty much knew I would get my use out of it, I just went for it. I've not looked back since!

Whilst on my little spree for converting mini products into full size, I also went ahead and bought the Benefit Roller Lash in full size. My sample version had pretty much ran it's course and I just knew the product worked. I've used it every day since I've bought it. It's so volumizing and lengthening without getting flakey. I love it.

Now the last product I didn't actually purchase, I did a bit of a swap with one of my friends. I had bought the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation a few weeks ago after seeing raving reviews, expecting to love it. Turns out I hate it, it doesn't do anything for my skin. The only positive comment I will make is that the colour match of the product was perfect for me. However this is a story for another day! Anyway, my friend had just bought the Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Perfectly Nude Foundation and she wasn't a fan so we did a bit of a swap. Now initially I thought this shade would be way too dark but it's actually quite cool toned and works into my skin really well. I love this Foundation because it's got a decent coverage but is fairly dewy. I also find it really Hydrating and would definitely recommend it.

My Daily Make Up Routine

Morning guys! So today I thought I would share with you all - my daily make up routine. This is my quick fix, instant dewiness look that I tend to go for on week days or a lazy Sunday.

On week days, waking up at 6:30 and throwing a full face of make up on is not my idea of fun, but I could never leave the house without doing so, as much as  I loathe the task whilst half asleep! These are fool proof products I tend to grab to create the illusion of a super happy bright eyed Lara  - even if I really don't feel that way. Sometimes I mix up products, because well it's boring to use the exact same products on your face every day but these are my most reached for products.

So first off I start off by washing my face and then patting it dry with a warm flannel, then of course  I grab my moisturizer and whilst I'm letting that soak into my skin I brush my teeth, sort my hair out etc.

Next up I add the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - this is my secret weapon. It is instant radiance in a bottle and it sits well under make up. For the base my usual choice is the YSL Touche Eclat Foundation in shade B10. This Foundation is one of those 'my skin but better' products, it doesn't cover up your actual skin but just enhances it. It doesn't conceal all of your blemishes but it makes them less obvious and red. I love this Foundation because it is just so easy to apply and blend! I usually use the Real Techniques Buffing Brush but I must admit that recently I've been favouring the Beauty Blender (which I got just before Christmas).

 I used to opt for more of a subtle contour to add a little bronze and definition to my face but at the minute I'm loving the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in shade Pink Quartz to just pop onto  my cheeks. It adds such as gorgeous shimmer and glow to the cheeks and works really well with the YSL Foundation & Beauty Flash Balm. I apply the Shimmer Brick with the Real Techniques Blush Brush - a fairly recent purchase that I am obsessed with!

To conceal those tired eyes and correct any discoloration under my eyes, I use the Revlon Color Stay Concealer in the lightest shade. As I think I've mentioned before, Concealer never used to be my thing for this product made me really see the reason why some people can't live without it - for me it's not a huge necessity because  I don't have really bad bags under my eyes but I definitely see the benefits of it and the Concealer really does highlight and brighten the under eye area.

I then apply my Benefit Gimme Brow (which I forgot to add to the picture, ooops!) and either the Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara or the Benefit They're Real Mascara depending on what mood I'm in. The Soap & Glory Mascara requires minimal effort and literally takes seconds to apply. The Benefit Mascara does take a lot more time and working but the finished result is worth the effort because it gives your lashes so much length and volume!

The last thing I do once I'm showered, dressed and ready to head out the door is to apply my Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in either the shades Candy or Petal Shimmer as they're is so pretty on the lips but isn't sticky or uncomfortable to wear.

What products do you use on a daily basis?

A Winter Evening - Date Night Make Up

Hey my lovelies, welcome to day 3 of BLOGMAS!

Today I wanted to share with you my currently most favored make up look for a date night. You guys know I like to step things up in the make up department when the weekend arrives, however even more so when it comes to date night. I never like to be overly fussy with my eyeshadows,  lets be honest, I'm not the biggest expert when it comes to the old smokey eye and blending the crease kinda thing. I feel though that a little shimmer and a strong brow is the way to go for a date night - nothing too extravagent but something that looks just that little bit more special.

So let's talk through the look... First things first though, I actually forgot to feature the focal part of the look on the photograph above and that is the Loreal Lumi Magique Foundation. You guys know that when it comes to the base I'm all about the luxury brands - YSL Touche Eclat, Double Wear, Studio Fix etc - you know the drill. Just recently I've been loving the YSL Touche Eclat Foundation more than ever but the other day I actually ran out so instead I opted for the Loreal Foundation. My mum uses it everyday and swears by it so I gave it a try. It is very similiar to the YSL Foundation - the finish is light on the skin, dewy and radiant. However you do need to use more product than you would the YSL one which is a shame but it's definitely a Foundation I would suggest investing in, it's only £10.99 and is pretty much a dupe for the YSL Touche Eclat Foundation apart from the amount of formula required. I actually mixed the Loreal Foundation with a pump of my YSL Rose Gold Primer (which I'm in love with) to add a bit more shimmer to my face and just brighten it up that little bit.

Moving onto the brows - I used the Benefit Gimme Brow in the Dark Shade to tint my eyebrows and add a bit of volume to them. I then went in with the wax part of the Benefit Browzings and filled in the gaps where my eyebrows are a little sparse! After that I then went over again with my Gimme Brow just to make the look a bit more natural and to set my brows in place.

For my lashes, on this occasion I decided to go for the Clarins Be Long Mascara - this is a travel mini that I received as a Gift With Purchase. I love this Mascara, it really lengthens your lashes but still looks very natural.

At the minute I am just obsessed with Golden/Bronze Shimmery Eyeshadow, you've gotta love a bit of Gold! I think this is a really simple but effective look to go for, it doesn't require any faffing but looks super glam. I went for the Kiko Water Eyeshadow in the shade Champagne 200 that I actually bought when I was in Milan. I just popped this all over my lid until the crease and then blended it out a bit to give a subtle effect. I also applied the product near my tear duct as I just think it looks super pretty! I am in love with this Eyeshadow - if you're a fan of the Naked Palettes this will be right up your street. It's also very long lasting and pretty much stays put all evening.

On my cheeks I just popped on my MAC Alluring Aquatic Bronzer  in the shade Refined Golden for a little sun kissed glow. I didn't go too hard on the Bronzer as I didn't want a sculpted contoured look, I just wanted to add a little colour to my face.

Last but not least, on my lips I used the Clarins Lip Perfector in shade - Petal Shimmer. I just love this Gloss as it's not sticky and in your face, it just adds a sheeny pink wash to your lips and works really well with the golden eyeshadow.

I hope you liked this post! Let me know what your favourite Date Night make up products are!