MY CURRENT MAKEUP ESSENTIALS

As soon as winter comes along, I find my entire makeup routine changes. Bring back the summer, when my makeup routine was minimal, quick and out the door! Although I find that I have to put in more effort on my makeup application during the winter months, I have discovered life savers that make it easier and add that much-needed life and radiance back into my skin and I will share them with you :)

- Benefit The Porfessional primer is one of those products that I love but put to one side during the summer months. It wasn't until recently where my skin was misbehaving and my foundation wasn't sitting right that I dug it out and rekindled my love for it. Not only do my pores look 1000% smaller, but I also find that it adds that much-needed moisture and suppleness back into my skin. Although it does have the obvious silicone, silky texture, the plus point is that it’s oil free and doesn't break out my sensitive skin, unlike some other primers I have tried. 

- Porefessional also makes my current favourite foundation L’oreal True Match last for ages too! I have been wearing this foundation for a month straight and have absolutely been loving everything about it. Now, I still adore my Bourjour Healthy Mix but I feel like True Match foundation is longer lasting. It has a wonderfully velvety texture which is a dream to blend onto my face in no time at all using my Morphe M439 brush. It provides flawless coverage and I would confidently say you can build it up to a full coverage. I find that it’s a perfect winter foundation due to the radiance and silky texture it has. It also keeps any unsightly dry patches at bay too! 

This foundation adds life to my winter skin!

- To add some colour back onto my face after applying my foundation, I like to use my favourite bronzer of all time ‘Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess’. I departed with this treasure for a while as I misplaced it in my room (makeup hoarder problems), So I went out and bought the Estée Edit bronzer as I trusted the brand. I enjoyed that bronzer as it did give me a gorgeous healthy glow, but I was still fixated on my Bronze Goddess and knew I needed it back in my life. I believe my neighbours on the other side of the road heard the sequel I made when I finally found it in my house! There is nothing that beats the colour it provides, as it’s not too brown or red, and is incredibly easy to blend, merging beautifully on the skin making it appear like you’ve just been on holiday :)

My ride or die bronzer

- No makeup look is complete without a good ol’ highlight and I have discovered not one but two must haves for this winter. One that I love to grab when I’m in a rush is the Maybelline Master Strobing stick. Now, I have never gravitated towards liquid highlighters but there’s something about the golden, nude glow that when I swatched it, it made me buy it. Holy Moses am I glad I did! This little stick makes you look like you have natural Victoria Secret Model Skin in 60 seconds. I find the most effective way to apply this product is with a flat foundation brush as it really emphasises the gorgeous nude glow without it looking too shimmery!

- If I really want to make my highlight pop then I go ahead and dust my new favourite highlight Laura Geller Guilded Honey at the top of my cheekbones. It’s perfect on its own or on top of other highlighters such as the Master Sculpt and another one of my faves, the classic MAC Soft & Gentle. I adore the fact that it’s so finely milled yet extremely pigmented providing a gorgeous glow. It’s hard not to want to smear this all over your face, although I also tend to dust this at the bottom of my brow bone and in my inner tear duct to open up my eyes. It took me a lifetime to get hold of it as it was always out of stock but it was worth the relentless hunting. 

Must have highlighters

Last but not least, let us talk about brows. Yes, of course, you want to get your highlight on fleek, but you also want your brow game to be strong right!?...Oh Instagram, what have you done to my vocabulary? Although I’m loving my ‘Anastasia Beverely Hills Dip Brow Pomade’, it can sometimes be time-consuming to apply. An inexpensive wonder product I've discovered is the Maybelline Brow Satin. It is duo sided containing a pencil and a powder. I hardly use the powder but I am amazed by the pencil. Not only is it the perfect colour for me but it has a precise and waxy pencil, making it easy to draw on your brows. I would advise using a light hand as it is super pigmented and for £5.99, you can’t really go wrong, right?!

I’d love to hear what your current favourites are and what winter wonders you’ve discovered? 

MY CURRENT MAKEUP ESSENTIALS

As soon as winter comes along, I find my entire makeup routine changes. Bring back the summer, when my makeup routine was minimal, quick and out the door! Although I find that I have to put in more effort on my makeup application during the winter months, I have discovered life savers that make it easier and add that much-needed life and radiance back into my skin and I will share them with you :)

- Benefit The Porfessional primer is one of those products that I love but put to one side during the summer months. It wasn't until recently where my skin was misbehaving and my foundation wasn't sitting right that I dug it out and rekindled my love for it. Not only do my pores look 1000% smaller, but I also find that it adds that much-needed moisture and suppleness back into my skin. Although it does have the obvious silicone, silky texture, the plus point is that it’s oil free and doesn't break out my sensitive skin, unlike some other primers I have tried. 

- Porefessional also makes my current favourite foundation L’oreal True Match last for ages too! I have been wearing this foundation for a month straight and have absolutely been loving everything about it. Now, I still adore my Bourjour Healthy Mix but I feel like True Match foundation is longer lasting. It has a wonderfully velvety texture which is a dream to blend onto my face in no time at all using my Morphe M439 brush. It provides flawless coverage and I would confidently say you can build it up to a full coverage. I find that it’s a perfect winter foundation due to the radiance and silky texture it has. It also keeps any unsightly dry patches at bay too! 

This foundation adds life to my winter skin!

- To add some colour back onto my face after applying my foundation, I like to use my favourite bronzer of all time ‘Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess’. I departed with this treasure for a while as I misplaced it in my room (makeup hoarder problems), So I went out and bought the Estée Edit bronzer as I trusted the brand. I enjoyed that bronzer as it did give me a gorgeous healthy glow, but I was still fixated on my Bronze Goddess and knew I needed it back in my life. I believe my neighbours on the other side of the road heard the sequel I made when I finally found it in my house! There is nothing that beats the colour it provides, as it’s not too brown or red, and is incredibly easy to blend, merging beautifully on the skin making it appear like you’ve just been on holiday :)

My ride or die bronzer

- No makeup look is complete without a good ol’ highlight and I have discovered not one but two must haves for this winter. One that I love to grab when I’m in a rush is the Maybelline Master Strobing stick. Now, I have never gravitated towards liquid highlighters but there’s something about the golden, nude glow that when I swatched it, it made me buy it. Holy Moses am I glad I did! This little stick makes you look like you have natural Victoria Secret Model Skin in 60 seconds. I find the most effective way to apply this product is with a flat foundation brush as it really emphasises the gorgeous nude glow without it looking too shimmery!

- If I really want to make my highlight pop then I go ahead and dust my new favourite highlight Laura Geller Guilded Honey at the top of my cheekbones. It’s perfect on its own or on top of other highlighters such as the Master Sculpt and another one of my faves, the classic MAC Soft & Gentle. I adore the fact that it’s so finely milled yet extremely pigmented providing a gorgeous glow. It’s hard not to want to smear this all over your face, although I also tend to dust this at the bottom of my brow bone and in my inner tear duct to open up my eyes. It took me a lifetime to get hold of it as it was always out of stock but it was worth the relentless hunting. 

Must have highlighters

Last but not least, let us talk about brows. Yes, of course, you want to get your highlight on fleek, but you also want your brow game to be strong right!?...Oh Instagram, what have you done to my vocabulary? Although I’m loving my ‘Anastasia Beverely Hills Dip Brow Pomade’, it can sometimes be time-consuming to apply. An inexpensive wonder product I've discovered is the Maybelline Brow Satin. It is duo sided containing a pencil and a powder. I hardly use the powder but I am amazed by the pencil. Not only is it the perfect colour for me but it has a precise and waxy pencil, making it easy to draw on your brows. I would advise using a light hand as it is super pigmented and for £5.99, you can’t really go wrong, right?!

I’d love to hear what your current favourites are and what winter wonders you’ve discovered? 

OPI Breakfast At Tiffany's The Classics 10 Mini Nail Lacquer Pack

Who is excited that Xmas is fast approaching? Now, I wouldn’t say that it's my favourite time of year (call me bah humbug!) but I must admit that I don't mind the gift exchanging part of it. Who doesn't like receiving gifts?! 

Another thing I look forward to when Xmas is approaching is that department stores tend to launch interesting and unique beauty events, which include quirky little gift sets at very reasonable prices. A new launch that has got me pretty excited is the new ‘OPI Breakfast At Tiffany’s collection’. I love getting manicures, but at times when I am too busy to pop into a salon I tend to pamper myself by doing my own nails and my favourite range of nail polishes has to be OPI. I was kindly gifted the ‘OPI Breakfast At Tiffany's The Classics 10 Mini Nail Lacquer Pack’ which I am now obsessed with and wanted to write a mini review as I think it would make a perfect gift for a beauty fanatic like me :)

The reason why I adore this little gift set so much is that you can see that a lot of time and thought has gone through to put together the colour selection and design the packaging. As you can see, the design of this particular gift sets packaging is classy and understated. I love the fact that it has an image of Audrey Hepburn as she is definitely an iconic beauty figure and fits perfectly with the ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ theme. Another cool thing about the packaging is that that the box is divided into a light (top) and dark (bottom) nail sets, which easily slide out of the box without any drama. No fiddling around or trying to rip out the varnishes. 

Super Wearable Light Set

Gorgeous Rich Dark Set

The pack itself contains ten of OPI’s most classic nail varnishes. It has five traditional light colours (Alpine Snow, Bubble Bath, Tickle My France-y, Suzi Nails New Orleans, Madam President). And, five iconic darker autumnal and wintery shades (Big Apple Red, Malaga Wine, Squeaker of the House, CIA=Colour is Awesome and Lincoln Park After Dark). The names are pretty awesome, right? So fun and inventive and I love the fact they are stated on the box below the varnishes as well, just in case you want to go ahead and buy the full size:)

I have always been a massive fan of OPI nail varnishes and own a few of the full-sized bottles which are included in this little gift set! My personal favourites are  ‘Alpine Snow’ which is gorgeously fresh and pristine white shade, ‘Big Apple Red’ which is a real classic and classy brick red and ‘Tickle My France-y’, a unique neutral pinkish nude. I see OPI as a luxury nail brand as the varnishes are always available when you go in for a manicure and pedicure, which also gives them that ‘treat yourself vibe’ for when you want to do our own nails at home.

A few of my favourites:)

As I’ve been getting my nails done professionally recently, OPI nail varnish lacquers are all I’ve been wearing for the last few months. They are formulated to be chip resistant and definitely do last a good 10 days on my gel acrylics which gives me one less thing to worry about. They are also amazingly pigmented which makes it effortless to apply. Although OPI nail varnishes are on the pricier side, I feel they are worth every penny as you can buy something a quarter of the price, which doesn’t have half the pigment or lasting power they have. I don’t know about you girls, but I know I don’t have the patience to keep reapplying my nail vanish!


I usually find the issue with some nail packs is that you tend to wear only some of the colours and the rest get completely ignored. However, there isn’t a single colour that I would ditch in this pack, as the shades are super wearable and perfect for all seasons or occasions. As OPI is such an iconic well-known luxury nail brand, this kit will make the perfect gift for someone who is into all things beauty. 

Wearing Tickle My France-Y

It will also give anyone who is a beginner to OPI nail varnishes a perfect chance to play around with the classic and wearable colour selection. Even though they are minis they are still a good size, and you can get several applications from them. To be honest, I somewhat prefer mini nail varnishes in general, as I barely ever finish a full nail varnish.

This gift set currently retails at £25.46 which I feel is fantastic value for money as an original nail varnish usually retails to around £10-£13! You are getting ten of OPI’s classic shades which will provide you with several applications along with quality nail varnish. Gift set available at John Lewis! This will make a perfect Xmas gift for a friend, sister, sister-in-law or even just to treat yourself :) The rest of the range is also stunning and have nice little gift sets which will make someone happy this Xmas. See the range on the John Lewis site here!

What's your favourite OPI nail varnish? 

MY TOP 3 NUDE MATTE LIQUID LIPSTICKS

So, as I've mentioned in my last blog post (my top 4 MAC lipsticks), I am a serious lipstick fiend and lipsticks are something I shamelessly own a lot more of than any other makeup item. 

I remember back when glossy lips used to be the big beauty craze, the glossier, the better!  I remember buying the whole collection of the 'Rimmel Lipglosses' to create the perfect lustrous pout…oh, how things have changed. Now, it's all about the matte lips which, I must admit, I do prefer and what better way to create it than with a matte liquid lipstick. 

I have bought my fair share of matte liquid lipsticks to create that perfect Kylie pout, and I don't know why but I gravitate more towards nude tone brown liquid lipsticks as I feel there is something cool about a matte nude brown lipstick. However, I do tend to form a quick decision whether or not a liquid lipstick will make it into my handbag after the very first application. I am happy to share my top 3 liquid lipsticks which I’m sure every makeup lover NEEDS! 

NYX SOFT MATTE CREAM ‘ABU DHABI’

Let us start with the most affordable one :) I remember squealing with excitement when I first saw that NXY Cosmetics hit the shelves in Boots. I excitedly ran to my nearest Boots store and picked up a couple of shades of the matte NYX Lip Creams, as I’d heard excellent things about them and wanted to see what the hype was all about. I bought ‘Cannes’ and ‘Abu Dhabi’, which I prefer as I’ve mentioned I’m a nude tone kinda gal :)

I would describe this lip cream to be a hybrid between a lipgloss and a lipstick which dries to a matte finish. The texture feels incredibly lightweight compared to the other two (which I will talk about) to the point where it feels like I'm wearing nothing on my lips. When first applied, it feels glossy and velvety which feels gentle and moisturising on the lips. It dries to a matte finish after around 5-10 minutes and can last for up to 3 hours on your lips, not too shabby considering it costs around £5.99. 

However, I wouldn't say that it is extremely pigmented and you do need to apply two coats for a good colour payoff, and it also feels slightly runny. I don’t think this is particularly a bad thing as I feel it is perfect for everyday wear and adore the velvet texture and muted down brown nude of this lip cream. Buy here!

'ABU DHABI' soft nude brown

KAT VON D EVERLASTING LIQUID LIPSTICK ‘BOW & ARROW'

I have never come across a name so fitting for a product. This liquid lipstick seems like it does last forever and ever! You can drink, eat, kiss and it will not budge! Now, I’m not complaining as I tend to reach for this liquid lipstick when I know I'm going to be out all day and need a foolproof lipstick that I don't need to keep reapplying. 

Unlike the NYX matte cream, this has a much thicker consistency, and you can certainly feel it on your lips once applied. I find this incredibly easy to work with due to the defined dofer applicator which allows you to apply a precise coat without you looking like you’ve strangely overdrawn your lips. 

It feels creamy on your lips when you use it but quickly 

dries matte, within a couple of minutes without it feeling too drying. I do recommend that you use a lip balm underneath this lipstick to avoid it clinging onto any dry patches. I would say this can last up to 5-6 hours without any need for reapplication, which is pretty incredible right?

The colour of this liquid lipstick is extremely unique, and some bloggers have described it as looking more pink toned on them, but I find it to be a true gorgeous nude brown with slight hints of red undertones. I can best describe this shade as what a lovechild of MAC Whirl and MAC Velvet Teddy would look like. 

My favourite thing about this lipstick, besides the gorgeously unique colour, is the pigmentation. I feel like I only need one application for it to give an amazing colour payoff which makes it worth the price tag :) I will be for sure picking up more KVD shades for winter and love the quirky, distinct packaging too. Buy here!

'BOW N ARROW' rich nude brown 

JEFFREE STAR LIQUID LIPSTICK ‘CELEBRITY SKIN’

This liquid lipstick is my newest purchase and completely 'blew me out of the water'. This little gem is amazing!!! If I can fill up the whole page with heart eye emoji’s, then I would :) Besides the fact that this particular shade is always out of stock and took me forever to get a hold of, I am in love with everything about it. It has a light, creamy texture and feels quite wet when first applied on the lips, which makes it all the easier to apply and fix any mistakes. It dries down matte within seconds, similarly to the KVD lipstick, and a little goes a long way as it is super pigmented!

This colour is another one that looks different on everyone. It is supposed to be a ‘soft nude brown’ but again can look pinkish on some people. I find it to be a true retro nude brown on me which gives it that ever so famous 90’s feel which will be a massive trend this season. It also does not budge once applied and has lasted for a good 6 hours on me, even when I’ve been eating and drinking. For a liquid lipstick that dries quickly, this feels extremely comfortable on the lips giving them an almost velvety feel. It does not dry out your lips or flake, which makes it an excellent base to reapply. 

The price point isn't too bad either, and I would say it’s mid-range for a good liquid lipstick. I might be bold enough to say that this JS liquid lipstick is my favourite that I’ve tried so far and I do plan on gradually growing my collection, as they are worth every penny and have exceeded any expectations I had! Buy here!

'CELEBRITY SKIN' muted retro nude brown

What’s your favourite matte liquid lipstick and what do you recommend? 

MY TOP 4 MAC LIPSTICKS

Out of any makeup product, lipsticks are definitely my weakness, and I certainly own a lot more lipsticks than any other makeup item. In my opinion, a good lipstick is a finishing touch to my makeup. A well-done smoky eye is just not complete without a complementing lipstick. The thing I love most about lipstick is that you can be as expressive and experimental as you want and in some cases, you can even let your lipstick do the talking over your outfit. And, what better time to experiment with a range of lipsticks than near Christmas…right? 

Now, I have tried many lipsticks from different brands, some on the pricier side, and others that are more affordable, and I must say that MAC lipsticks are worth the extra buck :). I usually put a lot of thought into which shade I'm going to purchase, due to the price-tag, but can always be sure that the quality, longevity and pigmentation won’t let me down, which is why I'm more than happy to invest :) 

I have accumulated a little collection over the years, which gives me great joy. However, I tend to reach for the same four shades over any others, as I feel they go with any makeup look and are extremely wearable. 

Russian Red 

Firstly, I just love the name ‘Russian Red” as I feel it is as fierce as this lipstick! I would say that this is a true brick red shade with a slight blue undertone which makes it that bit more wearable for the day as well as night. I tend to reach for this if I’m going on a night out and fancy a true matte red lipstick, which I know, will last well and suit any outfit. This lipstick is a MUST HAVE if you're a lover of red matte lipstick:) Buy here!

'Russian Red'

Mehr

The colour of this lipstick is beautifully unique, as I have not come across such a shade before. MAC describes it as being a ‘dirty blue pink’ which I can agree with, but I also feel it has hues of purple and plummy undertones that add to its uniqueness. I am not a pink lipstick kind of girl, as I don't feel they suit my olive skin tone, but there is something about this shade that complements my complexion and brightens up my face. I also believe that the fact that it's a matte lipstick intensifies the colour and I get asked what I’m wearing on my lips every time I wear this beauty! Buy here!

'Mehr'

Velvet Teddy 

I believe every makeup lover and their dog, owns this iconic MAC shade! I remember when the demand for this lipstick exploded as soon as Kylie Jenner's lips did (sorry I couldn't help it). The need to recreate that perfect nude/brown pout was at the top of every beauty lover's list and this lipstick is apparently the one that Kylie Jenner used at the time. After managing to get my hands on Velvet Teddy finally, after being out of stock for ages, it has not left my handbag and is probably my most worn MAC lipstick. It has a matte finish, and MAC describes it as being a ‘deep tone beige’, although I feel it has more of a browny nude tone. I also Love to mix this lipstick with ‘Mehr’ or place any nude brown liquid lipstick on top of this lipstick to add to the lasting power. Buy here! 

'Velvet Teddy'

Shy Girl 

As the name would suggest, this is an understated, neutral ‘coral beige’ lipstick. I remember back when I only every used to wear peachy nudes and was a massive fan of the MAC ‘Japanese Maple’ lipstick until I bought this lipstick which took over! I feel that this lipstick is extremely versatile as it is great as an everyday colour, I tend to reach for it when I go to work. It also works well for nights when I wear a black/grey smokey eye and want to go for a neutral lip as it complements a darker eye. 

Another use for the lipstick is to mix this with other lipsticks to neutralise the colour or pat it on top of other lipsticks to add an easy ombre effect. This shade is another definite MUST for makeup lovers who love experimenting with lipsticks. Buy here!

'Shy Girl'

If you are on the fence about buying a MAC lipstick due to the price, then I would advise buying a shade that is closest to what you wear on an everyday basis. That way you get use out of it, so you feel you're getting your money’s worth :) I honestly feel that the distinct formula and lasting power of these lipsticks outweigh the price. 

What's your favourite MAC lipstick?