FOTN: A Friendly Birthday Tea

We went out for tea a few days ago for a friend's birthday and I managed to snap a few photos of my make up before we left so I thought I'd share! I used a couple of products that I've not used in a while 

Reckon I look a bit cross-eyed in this one?!

I used a little Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach under my eyes and blended it in with my fingers. I then dotted some Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Medium 3 on any blemishes (I have a few right now, grr!) or redness and buffed it in with my Real Techniques Buffing brush. I applied a layer of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B40 and buffed it in with the same brush. I put a little Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer under my eyes and used my fingers again to blend that in. I set everything with my Clarins Ever Matte powder in Translucent/Medium on an ELF Studio Powder brush before adding a tiny bit of NARS Laguna bronzer (I'm still learning to use this!) with a MAC 168. I used the same brush to apply MAC Warm Soul mineralize blush to the applies of my cheeks and used an Illamasqua Highlighter brush to add some of theBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer to the high points of my face.

On my eyes I used some NARS Smudgeproof Eye Shadow Base before filling in my brows with my Smashbox Brow Tech. I've lost my favourite brow brush so had to use a random small brush that I had. I then ran a little MUA Clear mascara through my brows. I applied Urban Decay's Half Baked eyeshadow on my lids and used more of the Mary Lou-Manizer on my brow bone and inner corner. I added some Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel eyeliner in Black Ink with a bent eyeliner brush (I love this sort of brush for applying liner) along my upper lash line and on the outer corner of my water line. I curled my lashes and my mascara of choice was the L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Waterproof. I applied two coats. 

I exfoliated my lips with Pow Wow lip scrub from LUSH and applied a little Nivea Milk & Honey lip balm before starting the rest of my make up. The lipstick I wore was MAC Freckletone. 

That's it! That sounds like a lot of products, doesn't it?!

Stace xx

FOTD: Smoky Coral

I bought the L'Oreal Color Infallible shadow in Magnetic Coral a few months ago and whilst it looks okay when worn alone, it looked a little 'off' or something. Today I decided to pair it with MAC Twinks and I really liked the slightly smoky effect so I thought I'd post a quick Face of the Day!

On my skin I applied some of the MUA Primer with a Real Techniques Buffing brush and then put a tiny bit of Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach under my eyes. I buffed some Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Medium over any blemishes with the same Real Techniques brush. The foundation I used is a sample of the new Urban Decay Naked foundation in the shade 7.0. I also buffed this in with the Real Techniques Buffing brush. Watch out for a review on the foundation in the next couple of weeks!  I used a little Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer in Soft Beige under my eyes; I blended that in with an Illamasqua Blending 2 brush. For blush I used MAC Warm Soul on a MAC 168 brush. 

I used my NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow base all over my lid before filling in my brows with Smashbox Brow Tech in Taupe/Soft Brown with an angled brush and combing through them with MUA clear mascara. I applied MAC Twinks in the outer V/crease of my eye with a fluffy brush before applying some of the L'Oreal Color Infallible shadow in Magnetic Coral with my finger. I used a tiny bit of TheBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer as a browbone and inner corner highlight and ran some Twinks under my lower lashes with an ELF Crease brush. I added a tiny bit of Milani Liquif'Eye pencil liner in brown before applying two coats of the waterproof L'Oreal Volume Million mascara in black to my curled lashes. 

On my lips I just applied some Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 02 Apricot Shimmer. Phew...this FOTD included a lot more products than I thought!

Stace xx

My Current Make Up Routine

I've been using almost exactly the same products every time I wear make up at the moment so I thought I'd share! I've not been feeling too adventurous, as you will see. 

Face

BeneFit POREFessional Primer 

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium 3 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B40 

Clarins Ever Matte Powder in Medium Transparent 

NARS Orgasm Blush

TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer

Eyes

Smashbox Brow Tech in Taupe/Soft Brown

MUA Clear Mascara

NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base

L'Oreal Color Infallible Eyeshadow in Sahara Treasure

Maybelline One by One Mascara in Black

It takes less than ten minutes and lasts pretty well throughout the day. In the photos I'm wearing the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Evasion. Once we've graduated and got settled into our new flat I'm going to have to make an effort to mix up my make up a bit!

If anyone has any tips on taking photos of their own face, please let me know. I was great at it when I was 16 but for some reason I'm terrible at it now!

Stace xx

PS - I have a blog sale going on if you're interested, almost everything is half price or less and the shipping is a flat rate so you can buy as much as you like without having to pay more for shipping!

April Empties: Skincare & Make Up

I got through a crazy amount of products this month so this is the first of two empties posts. I finally started using up all the samples I've accumulated over the past six months or so! I'm going to try and keep these posts as short as possible, I promise.

Boots Skin Tonic in Damask Rose

I like the way toners with rosewater work on my skin. I don't think this particular toner is available any more but I think I'm going to pick up the Botanics version soon.

Clarins Extra Firming Day and Night creams

These were surprisingly good. I complained a lot about receiving anti-ageing products in my Glossybox but I did enjoy using these. I won't be repurchasing them right now but I will keep them in mind when I need to use these sorts of products regularly.

Clarins Gentle Foaming cleanser

This was only a small sample so it's difficult to say how much I like it. It was okay but I don't think it was anything special.

Clarins HydraQuench lotion

This would be a great moisturiser for anyone who has dehydrated skin. I found that it was a bit greasy on my t-zone, though.

Clarins HydraQuench Intensive serum

This product feels very strange. It's much runnier than a typical serum and leaves an odd dry feeling on my hands afterwards. I did like how it made my skin feel, though.

Clinique All About Eyes Rich eye cream

This little sample pot lasted me about three months. I'm using a sample pot of the original All About Eyes right now but I think this is the one I'll repurchase as the thicker texture means that I only use a tiny amount each time.

Clinique Moisture Surge moisturiser

I enjoyed using this lightweight moisturiser. I've got another sample pot which I'm excited to use! I would consider buying the full sized product.

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector serum

I wasn't impressed with this product. It was quite expensive but I had some dark spots on my chin which I wanted to get rid of so I decided to invest. Unfortunately it ended up giving me more spots which kind of defeated the purpose! I did notice some lightening but it wasn't enough to make me repurchase. 

Estee Lauder Idealist serum

This product made my skin feel much smoother but after a couple of weeks' use I didn't notice any lasting effects.

No7 Quick Thinking wipes

These are my all time favourite face wipes. I always pick up a pack or two when I have the £5 off No7 vouchers. 

Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox mask

This is a really nice thermal mask; the colour is a bit terrifying but I do feel that it helps keep my skin clear without drying it out. I'd consider buying this again but I think I want to try something different next.

Bobbi Brown Everything mascara

This was a pretty average mascara in my opinion. It's not something I'll be buying again.

Elemis Loving Lips Quenching lip balm

 I picked this up on a whim and I was quite pleased with it. I don't know if I'd repurchase it but it's a light mint-scented balm which is surprisingly moisturising. 

Jack Black Black Tea and Blackberry lip balm 

I was excited to try this product but I've not been overly impressed. It kind of just feels like a thicker version of Vaseline and I don't think it's very nourishing. It just sort of sits on top of my lips. It does smell nice, though.

NARS Pure Radiant tinted moisturiser in St Moritz 

This is just a small sample but I like the product. I'm considering purchasing a full sized tube for my holiday but I'm unsure of which shade to go for. It smells lovely.

Revlon Grow Luscious mascara

 I reviewed this quite recently and I have mixed feelings about it. It's not something I'd repurchase.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance eye primer 

I really enjoyed using this product and this little tube lasted me over 18 months. I'm trying a new primer now but I'd highly recommend this to anyone who finds Urban Decay's primer potion to be a bit too gloopy.


Phew! Watch out for part two tomorrow!


Stace xx

This Week's Make Up Bag

I got out of the habit of posting my weekly make up bags a while back. It was because I'd sort of given up having a make up bag. I need to start some serious exam revision this week so I'm going back to having a little stash of make up to choose from in the mornings rather than several boxes full. I'm trying out some new things and trying to use some old favourites. I've stuck to warmer shades this week.

MUA BB Cream (Medium) & Primer - I'm so impressed with both these products so far. I need to test them out a little longer before posting reviews but hopefully my opinion won't change!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Soft Beige - my current concealer of choice, I reviewed it recently if you fancy scrolling down.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere sample - I just want to use this up, really.

NARS Taj Mahal - I love this blush but I don't use it often because it takes a bit of effort to make sure I don't end up looking like a clown. I will try to do a Face of the Day post when wearing this because I had someone ask me to recently.

MAC Soft & Gentle MSF - I've been neglecting this recently so I've dug it out again. It makes a really pretty eyeshadow too.

MAC Peaches - One of my all time favourite blushes!

Clarins Ever Matte Face Powder - This has replaced my MSF Natural as my every day powder. It's much lighter but still offers a little coverage. I'm quite heavy handed with it but it never looks cakey and it does control oil pretty well.

Urban Decay Naked Palette - Do I need to explain this one? This is another product I've been neglecting a lot so I'm hoping to get back into using it more often. 

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner in Black Ink - I've had this for a really long time and it's still as creamy as when I first bought it. I do want to use it up soon-ish, though.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance - This is another product I've had for such a long time. It's running out right now so hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to try a new eyeshadow primer. This is my favourite right now but I've not tried the NARS base, yet!

Clinique High Impact Mascara - I got this little sample in a gift with purchase and since I'm on a bit of a mascara rampage right now, I thought it wouldn't do any harm to try another. I've bought this in full size a few times in the past but I've not used it in about two years.

MAC Teddy Eye Kohl - Okay, so I only own this because my cat is called Teddy and I can't resist anything with his name...but I do like the colour. I don't find the staying power to be too great, though.

Smashbox Brow Tech in Soft Brown/Taupe - I used this for my brows all the time until last summer when I stopped for some reason. It's a really nice brow product for natural, groomed looking brows.

MUA Love Hearts Lip Balm in Great Lips - This is another new product to me. It's a nude shade and smells delicious.

MUA Lipstick in Shade 16 Nectar - I can't wait to try this out - the orange/peach shade is right up my street.

17 Mirror Shine in Beehive - This is one of my most loved lipsticks; it's subtle and glossy.

Jack Black Lip Balm - This didn't live up to the hype for me at all. It's just okay so I'm working on using it up.

Clinique Super Balm in Rootbeer - This is on it's last legs right now so I'm hoping to finish it up this week.

Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector in 02 - I always seem to have this in my make up bag, it's one of my favourite make up products, ever.

Stace xx

Weekly Make Up: Pink?!

I decided to go for slightly cooler toned products this week so stuck to pink blushes rather than my usual peachy tones. However, looking at the swatches...I might not be branching out as much as I thought! As a highlighter I've got my favourite, TheBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer and for blush I'm going to be using Dior's Strawberry Sorbet or NARS Orgasm. 

 L-R: TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer, Dior Strawberry Sorbet, NARS Orgasm

For my eyes I've dug out my Urban Decay Naked2 palette and a couple of the Maybelline Color Tattoo cream shadows in Tough As Taupe and Audacious Asphalt. For liners I've got the Soap & Glory Supercat black liner which I didn't use last week (oops!) and my usual Milani Liquif'Eye in Black. I'm trying to use up my Bobbi Brown Everything mascara before it dries up so I've opted for that mascara this week.

For my base, I'll be using the Clarins Ever Matte foundation (although I do have a sample of Clinique's Even Better which I've been loving too!) I've got my Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach and Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer in Medium 3. My setting powder is the Clarins Ever Matte in 02 Tranparent Medium. This has been working really well for me as a setting powder - it may have overtaken my MAC MSF Natural!

For primer, I'll be using my trusty Too Faced Shadow Insurance on my eyes and I've gone for Clarins Beauty Flash Balm for my face. I had mixed feelings about this product when I first used it but I've been really enjoying it for the past week or so. Expect a review soon!

For lips I've included a Jack Black lip balm in Black Tea and Blackberry, a 17 Mirror Shine lipstick in Beehive, a Clinique Superbalm mini in Currant, my Red Dwarf Pro Longwear lipstick from MAC and MAC Chatterbox. I have a feeling that this week is going to be all about the lips!

 L-R: 17 Beehive, MAC Red Dwarf, MAC Chatterbox

C'est tout!

Stace xx

Weekly Make Up: Something Old, Something New

Face

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Clarins Ever Matte Foundation in 109 Wheat

Clarins Ever Matte Mineral Powder Compact in 02 Transparent Medium

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in 3 Medium

Eyes

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara in Black

Milani Liquif'Eye Liners in Black and Brown

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Maybelline Colour Tattoo Shadows in Bold Gold and Bad To The Bronze

Bobbi Brown in Sepia Ink

Chanel Eyeshadow in Beige Lame

Cosmetics A La Carte Brow Ink in Taupe

MUA Clear Mascara 

Soap & Glory Supercat Liner in Black

Cheeks

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer Highlight Powder

NARS Blush in Luster

Lips

Stila Lip Glaze in Apricot

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Gothic

Estee Lauder Pure Colour Lip Gloss in Electric Cherry

Soap & Glory Lipstick in Naked Beige

NARS Lipstick in Honolulu Honey

Elemis Fresh Skin Loving Lips Lip Quenching Balm

I went for a mixture of old favourites and new products I want to try out this week - I've been enjoying it so far! I'm sorry this post is so late!

Stace xx

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation

I've had this foundation for a year or so and it's on its last legs right now so I thought it was about time I  reviewed it. I have a love-hate relationship with this product. I bought it after trying a sample (which I loved.) I'm in the shade Warm Beige which is my winter shade. It's somewhere between an NC25 and NC30 in MAC terms, I think. 

Bobbi Brown says:

"A truly modern foundation that offers invisible, weightless coverage that looks like skin, not makeup. This long-wearing formula evens tone, minimises the appearance of pores, conceals imperfections, and offers broad spectrum UV protection. Its hydrating technology leaves skin feeling cushioned, comfortable, and clean. Ideal for combination, normal and normal to dry skins."

This is quite a watery foundation. It's not quite as watery as something like MAC Face & Body, though. I apply mine either with my fingers or with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush. I do need to use a couple of layers because the finish of this foundation is quite sheer. I do feel that I use a lot more product compared with other foundations I use. 

This feels very light on the skin, which I like. I can't stand foundations which look and feel like I'm wearing a mask. The finish is dewy, which normally isn't a problem for me as I often favour a dewier finish but...just look at the picture below! (Check out the disgusted facial expression!)

This is me wearing the foundation with nothing on top. As you can see, the coverage is light and the finish is very dewy. I've been using this foundation constantly for about a month now because I'm trying to use it up and I think it's made my skin more oily, which is annoying. My skin is usually normal/combination but it's never truly oily.

This combination of oilier skin and the dewy foundation is where my feelings of hatred towards this product come in! It just slides off my skin and gathers around my nose/mouth...it looks horrible. I've been setting it with my MAC MSF Natural because I like how that powder looks on my skin but it doesn't control the horrendous amount of oil. 

So, to clarify! I like this foundation; it's easy to apply, nice if you want something sheer but buildable and it doesn't look cakey. However, this is definitely not for someone with oily skin or an oily T-zone as it seems to exacerbate the problem. I don't find this product to be long wearing or that it improves the look of my pores, as the description suggests. I won't be buying this again as I have other foundations which work a lot better for my skin right now. 

Stace xx

Tag: 42 Beauty Questions II

Next up, make up:

11) What foundation do you use?
I'm currently using NARS Sheer Glow but I also enjoy Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua and Make Up Forever HD. I've got a Bobbi Brown Skin foundation to use up, too.

12) How about concealer?
I have quite a few of those as well. I'm using Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection right now but I also like Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer and Bobbi Brown Corrector and Creamy Concealer.

13) Do you know your undertone colour?
I'm a little yellow toned - think NC in MAC.

14) What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I just received some recently, actually. I've never used them. I prefer natural lashes with mascara.

15) Did you know you were supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
Yep, and I do.

16) What brand of mascara do you use?

Mostly BeneFit's They're Real but I'm also using L'Oreal Telescopic and Bobbi Brown Everything at the moment. They're Real is on its last legs.

17) Sephora or Mac?
MAC...We don't have Sephora in the UK, unfortunately.

18) Do you have a Mac Pro card?
Nope.

19) What makeup tools do you use in makeup application?
I use brushes for most things.

20) Do you use makeup base/primer for the eyes?
Yes, I always use Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

21) For the face?
I usually use one. At the moment I'm using MUFE HD primer. It's just okay.

22) What is your favourite eyeshadow? Colour or shade?
I tend to stick to neutral shades - usually something in the 'taupe' family. I like Patina from MAC and the lid shades in both Urban Decay Naked palettes.

23) Do you use pencil or liquid liner?
I mostly use pencil liner (Milani Liquif'Eye). I'd use a gel liner over a liquid liner any day.

24) How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
Umm...not very often? I've had more accidents with a mascara wand than an eye liner pencil.

25) What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
Normally, I can't stand them. I own one which I received in a beauty box. It's nice but I don't think I'll be buying any more.

26) Do you use mineral makeup?
Nope.

27) What is your favourite lipstick?
I have to choose one?! My favourite nude shade right now is MAC's Lush Amber, which was limited addition. My favourite bold lipstick is probably Viva Glam I from MAC.

28) How about lipgloss?
Revlon's Nude Lustre Super Lustrous or Clarins Apricot Shimmer Instant Light Lip Perfector are my two favourites. I like the formula of NYX Mega Shine and Estee Lauder Pure Color glosses too, though.

29) What is your favourite blush to use?
Argh! It's so hard to choose. My all-time favourites are MAC Warm Soul and Dior Peachy Keen. I also love MAC Peaches and NARS Gina right now.

30) Do you buy your makeup on Ebay?
No, I don't really buy anything from EBay to be honest.

31) Do you like drugstore makeup?
As with any brand/price point, I like some of what the drugstore has to offer. My problem with cheaper make up is that I tend to buy three of everything! Revlon is my favourite drugstore brand available in the UK, particularly for lip products.

32) Do you go to CCO's? Cosmetic Company Outlet?
I think I went to one years ago but it's closed now. I don't think there are any near me.

33) Did you ever consider taking makeup classes?

Not really. I just watch lots of YouTube videos instead!

34) Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
I wouldn't say so, no. I've managed to find brushes which help me apply my make up quickly and neatly. Certain eyeliners and lipsticks are a bit messy sometimes and it is possible to be a bit heavy handed with blush but I try to stick to the 'start off with a little, you can always add more' mantra.

35) Name a makeup crime that you hate?
Really fake looking eyebrows bother me - I can't stop looking at them! Bold eyes and lips together is also too much for me. Obvious contour 'stripes' look silly, too.

36) Do you like colourful shades of makeup (lipstick or eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
I generally stick to neutrals. I do like brighter lip colours from time to time, though.

37) Which celebrity always has great makeup?
I think women like Catherine Zeta Jones, Sienna Miller and Kate Moss always have nice make up. I like the crazy looks Katy Perry wears - I think they really suit her.

38)If you could leave the house using just ONE makeup item, what would you use?
ONE?! Are you serious? I guess I'd go for a lip balm.

39) Could you leave the house without any makeup on?
Yeah, I pop to Tesco or the Post Office all the time with no make up on but I've been in a routine this year where I put make up on every morning so unless I'm having an off day, I'm always wearing make up when I leave the house.

40) Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
I have some hyper pigmentation on my chin and I get really bad dark circles so I use make up to cover those. I think I look okay with no make up on but I prefer the even skin tone I get when wearing foundation and concealer.

41) In your opinion what is the BEST makeup line?
There are lots of great brands out there. I'd say MAC is the best in terms of their colour range. I like Chanel for a bit of luxury and Revlon is my favourite budget brand. It would be really boring to stick to just one brand, though!

42) What do you think of makeup?
I think it serves two purposes. First it can be used to enhance features and cover problem areas for a bit of a confidence boost. Secondly, it is a creative outlet which allows you to experiment with different colours and formulas to find out what you like best. It can also become a rather expensive habit...

...and on that note, that is all!

Stace xx

 

Ps - I tag anyone who wants to do this! Please link me to your post - I'd love to check it out!

An All-Over-The-Place Tin of Make Up!

This week's make up is a bit all over the place! I've still not got a lot of time in the mornings to get ready so I'm trying to keep it simple but I've got a few new lip products I want to try out so I've tried to choose products which cover all bases.

Lips:

Dior Lip Polish in 001

MAC Cut A Caper Lipstick 

(picked this up from a blog sale after wanting it for ages!)

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

MAC Quad with Satin Taupe, Patina, Woodwinked & Twinks

Eyes:

MAC Teddy Eye Kohl

Cosmetics A La Carte Brow Ink in Taupe

MUA Clear Mascara (which is no longer clear! Yuck!)

Milani Liquif'Eye in Black

MAC Vintage Selection Paint Pot

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara

Face:

MAC Redhead MSF

MAC MSF Natural in Medium Plus

NARS Orgasm

MUFE HD Primer

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection in Medium 3

Chanel Perfection Lumiere in B30 sample

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation in 3.5 Warm Beige

Stace xx