Highlighters That Are The Bomb

It wasn't until I was introduced to the incredible Charlotte Tilbury Duo - Filmstar Bronze & Glow that I became acquainted with highlighters. Seriously, how had I been missing out all that time?! Now probably one of my favourite make up products to apply and also a staple product, I would never be without a Highlighter these days.

Lets be real, who wouldn't want to have that 'I woke up like this' glow. Your skin can be as radiant as possible but adding a dusting of Highlighter your face just gives it that extra boost. I recently saw someone liken wearing Highlighter to looking like a Glazed Doughnut and I seriously enjoyed this comparison!

It seems I have become a bit of a Highlighter fiend as of late and have accumulated quite a good little collection. All my Highlighters are so great so it's hard to choose just one. The two I mainly reach for at the momenta are Mary Loumanizer from The Balm and the Make Up Revolution Baked Highlighter in the shade Golden Lights.  It would seem that Khloe Kardashian would also vouch that this highlighter is amazing as she recently featured it on her app. Unfortunately I have hit pan with my Filmstar Bronze & Glow, but I will definitely be repurchasing this in the near future. Personally, I definitely prefer a powder based Highlighter as the pigmentation and product pay off is more intense, however on a day where I want a more subtle make up day I will pick up either Benefit Girl Meets Pearl or High Beam.

I am desperate to try the Becca Champagne Pop and Opal and also the Anastia Bevereley Hills Hightlighters also as I have heard great things about these products. For the time being they will have to go onto my never ending wish list!

What Highlighter would you recommend?

Lets Talk About Gold Eyeshadow

So it's no secret that Gold/Glittery Eyeshadow is 'my thing'. I'm always wearing some form of it when sporting a bronzey smokey eye, I just feel like it really brings out my blue eyes.  I now have a bit of a collection going and thought I would just throw some recommendations out there of some of my favourites that I tend to reach for.

Now, without a doubt my all time favourite Gold Glitter is the 'pop' shade in the Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Palette. In fact, I'll go ahead and say it, the Dolce Vita Palette is my favourite Eyeshadow Palette ever (pictured below). You can just create so many different looks that take from day to night time. If I'm ever going travelling this is my go to Eyeshadow Palette because, to me it just does it all. Anyway, the Gold Shadow in the Palette is a Rusty toned Gold Glitter that just looks so beautiful in the pan, it's literally like Gold Dust. I tend to apply this product with my finger as I feel the colour pay off is better this way and looks more intense. The pigmentation on all the Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadows are amazing and all have great lasting power.

Just missing out on first place is from yet another Charlotte Tilbury Palette-  the Golden Goddess. Again, the pop shade is amazing, it is definitely more of a 'true gold' compared the other one from the Dolce Vita, and whenever I run out of my favourite this is my back up shade.

Another popular Eyeshadow Palette that I probably neglect a bit to be honest, but offers a great selection of bronze shade Eyeshadows is the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. The shade 'Half Baked' is also a lovely Gold Eyeshadow, it is a little more sutble than the other products I've mentioned but is great for day time and a great introduction shadow for somebody who has only just ventured into Eyeshadow as it's pretty much fool proof.

The newest addition to my collection is a product that has been on my wishlist for a long time and that is the MAC Pigment in Copper Sparkle. At £16 a pop, you're essentially paying for a pot of pure glitter. This pigment is so beautiful and it is definitely more of an orange toned gold, but again it looks amazing on blue eyes. I haven't experimented much with this product yet but so far so good!

If You Had To Pick One...

Morning guys so, just lately I have seen a few post's floating around the internet about 'if you had to pick one' go-to product/brand to use and I thought I'd give it a go...

Makeup brand to use…If you had asked me this question a year or so ago I would have most definitely said Benefit, however I can now comfortably say that my go-to brand these days is without a doubt, Charlotte Tilbury. I just think she gets it spot on. The products are of fantastic quality and nothing like I've seen from any other brand. The packaging is beautiful and I always feel super luxurious wearing her products. I reckon I could put together a pretty good make up look if you threw all her products at me. 

Mascara to wear…It's got the be the Benefit Roller Lash. This is probably the first mascara I have got on with properly. In the past I have flitted from one Mascara to another because I could never find the perfect one. The Roller Lash however does exactly what I need it to without causing too much smudging - a problem I face due to having spider lashes!

Skincare item to use…So I have dabbled in Skin care but so far haven't found any products I would consider to have 'holygrail' status. For me, a product that I find really soothes my blemish prone skin is the Lush face masks, they work wonders and really do keep spots at bay. One Face Mask that I would highly recommend is Cupcake however I am currently trying out Cosmetic Warrior, which although it doesn't smell particularly appealing as it contains tea tree oil and garlic. These ingredients supposedly help to prevent spots but I will be sure to let you know the verdict! I also swear by the Nivea Soft Refreshing Moisturizing Cream. This product cost's like £1.50 and so far has performed better than any of the moisturizers I've used in the best including. 

Highstreet store to shop from…I have to admit I go through phases. At the moment I'm loving Topshop and have been buying pretty much all my clothes from there the past 5-6 months. However I do love Zara & River Island.  Zara is a bit hit and miss, as is H & M. Sometimes I will go into their stores and want everything and other times it looks like a jumble sale.

Makeup brush brand…It's got to be Real Techniques hasn't it! I think the RT brushes are very fairly priced but also fantastic quality. They do the job efficiently, as many other beauty fanatics around the world, I'm sure will agree. I do agree in that you get what you pay for especially when it comes to brushes but I'm not one for spending £40 on a make up brush! However it seems I'm perfectly happy to spend £40 on a quad eye-shadow palette, oops!

Lipstick to wear every day…So I don't wear Lipstick on a daily basis, in fact I only really wear it on weekends to be honest. My go-to every day Lip product is for sure the Clarins Instant Lip Perfector, it adds a beauty pearly flush across the Lips without the sticky tacky effect of a Lipgloss. 

Eyeshadow palette…It's only the 6 months or so that I have started to actually use Eyeshadows, I can't believe I went all this time not wearing it, I wouldn't be without it now! I have to say it's got to be the Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Palette. This Palette is that one product can just make you feel so much better about yourself. Although there are only 4 shades in the pan you can create  looks to take you from Day to Night which I think is great!

Haircare brand to buy from…Anyone who knows me will know that hair isn't really my area of expertise so it's pretty straight forward for me, my favourite brand at the moment is Garnier - their Coconut Oil collection of Shampoo's, Conditioners and Hair Oil are my go to products at the moment. However I do really rate BedHead & Aussie as well!

Kim Kardashian's Make Up Secret: Contouring 101

Hey my lovelies so today, let's talk Contouring.

When  I think of Contouring the person who initally springs to mind is of course - Kim Kardashian. Kim has revealed this technique to be one of her top beauty secrets (not so secret anymore). Okay so if a method claims to make the face look better, more photogenic - if this is at all possible then I'm there.

Contouring is by definition 'to mould into a specific shape' or to ' mark a map or diagram'. Essentially, Contouring is mapping out your face.

You can Contour using both powder or liquid foundations, to be honest it's each to their own but I personally prefer using liquid foundation as I feel the finish is much more flawless - maybe a tad heavier amount of make up than usual but Contouring is perfect for a night out or date night etc. Powder contouring is more subtle and natural, I guess. However me and powder Highlighters just don't get along well. It doesn't sit well on the skin and can be quite drying and rather unflattering for me if I'm honest but this pretty much depends on your skin type.

If you decide to Contour your face the usual rule of thumb is to use a Powder/Foundation one/two shades darker than your natural skin tone for Contouring and a Powder/Foundation that is one shade lighter than your natural skin colour for highlighting.

The areas you need to Contour your face are where the natural shadows lie, this is usually just underneath your Cheekbones, Temples, Jaw Line & each side of your Nose. Places you usually need to Highlight are just above your Cheekbones, your Brow Bone, Forehead and down the middle of your nose. This will ensure the light falls on your face and accentuates your best features and more importantly sculpts your face just that little bit more.  Once you've mapped out your face, you need to start blending and buffing this into your face.  I know initially when you're mapping out the products on your face it all looks a little strange and you feel as though you're applying war paint - but rest assured once all the products are blended properly you will have that flawless finish.

I would recommend watching this video so you can get the gist on what the whole process looks like and the best techniques to follow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dLSy75M46o  This is a bit of a more dramatic approach but you can go as heavy or subtle as you like!

My go-to Contouring products that I usually reach for are...
1. YSL Touch Eclat Foundation in Shade B10 (their lightest shade, this is for highlighting)
2. MAC Studio Fix Fluid in Shade NC25 (for Contouring)
3. MAC Alluring Aquatic Bronzer in Refined Golden (further Contouring/Bronzing)
4. Benefit High Beam (Highlighter)

When contouring I feel it works best if you apply a primer then a light Foundation base so your skin is all one colour and then go from there. If you plan on Contouring I would also say it would be a good idea to invest in a good Foundation/Buffing Brush and a Contouring Brush - Real Techniques offer some great brushes for this at a fairly decent price and are my choice of brush!

Again, as a little disclaimer - Liquid Foundation works best for me but may not for you. I know there are some fab Contour Palettes out there both High Street & Luxury. If you're looking for a  more affordable option the Bourjois set if fab. Luxury palettes that I've heard other people rave about are the Tom Ford Shade & Illuminating Cream and the Filmstar Bronze & Glow by Charlotte Tilbury.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review

                     

One product I'm always swapping about with in my make up routine is definitely - Foundation. I mean I will stick to one product for a while and be a loyal buyer of it - that is until I find another 'holy grail' one. For example I always always used to wear MAC Studio Fix, then I moved onto YSL Touche Elcait Foundation & then I decided to try the Estee Lauder Double Wear.

All of these Foundations I have used is because they have all had fantastic reviews from bloggers and Youtubers and The overall verdict? - all three of them foundations are brilliant but all very different.

Now Double Wear is a very thick foundation so you only need a little bit to cover the whole of your face. I would say it it definitely a medium to heavy coverage. The good thing about this foundation is that it is build-able so if you have patchy areas you can just pop some more foundation on them problem areas and make it lighter on the areas you want to enhance. I am pleased to say this foundation is a stayer, it doesn't move! With my YSL one it was brilliant because it was so light on your skin and you felt as though you weren't wearing much make up BUT I did have to use my MAC Fix+ Setting Spray to keep it in place. However, with the Double Wear I haven't felt the need to put any spray on because it just stays where it is. The only time I would is if I'm off on a night out but that's because you want your make up to look perfect and you tend to wear your make up heavier on a night out.

I got colour tested upon purchasing this product and she said my perfect match was 1CO Shell so that's what I went for, which from what I can gather is one of their palest shades as surprisingly I pretty much resemble Casper the friendly ghost - sigh. They do this foundation in a large variety of shades so there is something for everyone. 

Just to let y'all know - my skin is very pale with pinky undertones and I do get the occasional breakouts. My skin is either really clear or really horrid, no in between but this foundation works through all my 'phases'.

                              

I also didn't realise until writing up this post that the foundation is an SPF 10 which is also a bonus as it is kind to your skin on sunny days!  

The only problem I have with double wear is that the bottle doesn't have a nozzle so you have to pour it onto your Foundation brush which isn't ideal and it comes out very quick so be careful not too pour out too much product that is my only advice!

All in all a fantastic foundation that I would totally recommend - a little pricey (£28.50) but I would say it is worth it. Well done Estee Lauder Double it's a 9/10 for you!

January Haul/Wanelo

Being the MAC obsessive that I am, I was more than impressed when my sister bought me this MAC Bronzer ( shade - Golden). Before receiving this I had been getting by on some bronzer I had owned for years on end, so this felt like a god send and I was extremely grateful. I'd definitely recommend this product as it really is worth it and gives your cheeks great definition. It works especially well, when used with the MAC Mineral Brush (as shown in the top right) - which is also another gift I received and now entirely depend on. 

If any of you know me, you will know that I have been slumming it with an awful scruffy purse for quite some time now and this weekend I just thought, you know - enough is enough. Time for a new addition. Therefore I popped into River Island and picked up this little beauty. At 10 swarzee (pounds) I cannot complain. Its pretty and it does the job. Again, if my previous posts are anything to go by, you will know that I have been desperate to get my hands on some spiked Jeffrey Cambells. Unfortunately these aren't the real thing *sigh* poor people problems, I know. However this almost exact replicate are good enough for me. 

I recently came across this new social networking platform for all you other fashionistas out there. Its amazing! I'm addicted already. Its an app called 'Wanelo'. God only knows how you pronounce it, but anyway you should seriously download it. The stream of products are available to buy at just one click and you can get some lovely unique stuff on here and some great quirky gifts! Follow me :-) - @larzxo

I was more than delighted when my friend bought me these for my birthday. I'm already a big fan of the pink and blue bottles - but honestly this Jelly Belly Very Cherry drink is something else. It tastes amazzzzzzzing. 

This is one of the presents that my boyfriend bought me from Eric Vintage in Newcastle. Obviously 'BEST' is my new favourite brand. There is also a shop in Leeds! I love love love it.

City stop!

I was extremely excited when I received my train tickets yesterday morning for when I go to Newcastle next weekend to stay with my boyfriend. A lot of my family live up there too although I don't think I will have time to go and visit them. Nether the less, I'm looking forward to spending time with Kyle and having a wander around Newcastle. As part of my media fashion magazine project I need to do some photoshoots, so it's more than likely I will force Kyle to take part in this. (I'll post photos next weekend).

The other day it was my late nannys birthday so we thought it would be a nice idea to set off a Chinese lantern as a mark of respect and celebration of her life! I also stayed at my dads last night so got to see Biscuit (our puppy!) he's so cute. Also I thought I'd share a selfie with you all. However, I do apologise for my lack of make up; I look like a little mouse! I'm desperately hoping it snows tonight, purely because it never does in my town and because I can just spend hours watching it fall out of my living room window. xo

MAC Lipstick Giveaway

Yes its exactly what it says on the title! When I reach 150 followers (which is hopefully asap) I thought I'd give a little something back to my  readers. This is how it works:  leave a comment below just stating you would like to enter then once I reach 150 followers - I will then give a number to every person who enters and pick out of a hat. That way its fair! Then of course the winner will win a brand new MAC Lipstick in the shade 'Saint Germain'. Obviously addresses and further details will be needed once the winner is announced! (product is shown below) Good luck and spread the word :-)

It's because I'm green isn't it?

Yes the title of this post is from The Grinch in case you were wondering. I thought it was rather appropriate for the image I've posted, god knows what possessed me to wear all green, reckon I'm turning into a Scrooge this year or something. Anyhow, as usual today I wasn't feeling particularly girly; therefore I threw on some Nike Blazers, the all famous Topshop 'Geek' top and my sacred Ragged Priest coat, along with some leggings.

I'm desperate to go shopping however I am lacking funds due to buying Christmas presents. However I'm not complaining because I enjoy buying people presents and seeing their face when they unwrap it. I had a bit of a splurge on ASOS tonight though and managed to buy most of my boyfriends' presents so it has been a rather successful/productive evening.

Other than that, my day has been consumed by studying, reading Kardashian Konfidential (I would highly recommend) and watching American TV on E! Such an interesting life I lead. Hope you're all well my lovelies! xo

What i've been up to...

 Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been extremely busy working etc... So I thought I'd just tell all you pretty people what I've been up to recently!!!! The other week I bought a new coat (as shown in the picture) which I bought from the Ragged Priest. I previously wrote a post about the brand because I'm a massive fan of it so I was really excited to buy this coat as it is going to play a staple part in my wardrobe over winter. I love this style of it, the fur makes it so cosy and of course the studs and sewn on denim just give it that extra edge...I've had loads of people comment on the coat thinking that I'd customized it my self because they thought it looked really cool!

The puppy in the photo is called Biscuit, he is such a cutie! We bought him for my dad as a Christmas/Birthday present as he had been hassling us for ages saying that he wanted a puppy so we took it up for him as a suprise. He is such a lovely dog with sooooo much energy. (Credits for me for thinking of the cute name for him :-D).

Obviously last weekend was Halloween weekend, well its actually today but still. I worked in a Bar/Club and we threw our Halloween Party on Saturday in which everybody dressed up. I decided to go as a Zombie Bride!

Then today I have been panning my way through that pile of books as I am currently in the midst of researching for my extended project that I'm doing. To some of you it may look tedious, but I love reading so it wasn't a chore at all; in fact it was quite therapeutic, as well as educational! It also reminded me how much I had been abandoning the books on my shelf and that I really should start reading on more of a regular basis again. Anyways, I hope you all had a good weekend and managed to get dressed up as a freak - I did and thoroughly enjoyed the process. :-) Hit me with your comments, love hearing from you all!!!! xo

Lipstick shout!

 Tomorrow I'm off shopping to spend a small fortune, my main aim to begin with was to buy the items I listed in my previous post, however when applying my make up this morning I noticed my favourite MAC lipstick was running out *sobs*...So I've decided I'm going to invest in maybe one or two new lipsticks. I currently have: Russian Red, Nicki Viva Glam (which i never wear because it doesn't suit me at all) and of course my favourite - Lady Gaga Viva Glam - The one which is running out.

I really want to purchase another pale pink lipstick because I think it suits me best, however i want this lipstick to have a different finish to what I normally have. Does anybody have any colour suggestions or names of MAC lipsticks they would recommend? I'd be really grateful. Obviously I will post a photo of all the items i purchase on my little outing!!!