FLEUR DE FORCE BEAUTY REVIEW

I have been watching/on youtube for a good couple of years now, and one of the first 'beauty gurus' I ever subscribed to was Fleur de Force. I feel like throughout the years she has only been getting better, so when she announced the release of her makeup range it's safe to say I was excited. Here are some swatches of the items I decided to try from her range.

Eyeshadow Quad in Cosmic Bronze (£7.99)

The two colors she released for her eyeshadow quads looked lovely, but I opted to go for the more bronzey one as that's what I use on a daily basis. I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth the eyeshadows were, especially the matte dark brown color. None of them are chalky at all, and the shimmers don't have too much chunk in them. I'm not the biggest fan of the top right medium brown color, but that's just because it's quite close to my coloring, so it hardly looks like theres something there. It makes a good transition color, but would be perfect if it was a tad darker. My favorite has to be the bottom left shimmery bronze/taupe. It's so beautiful all over the eyelids, and with my favorite Nars primer it stays on all day. The highlight color is also beautiful in the inner corners. I'd definitely recommend this if you are a beginner that wants to start wearing eyeshadow as the formula is easy to work with, or if you're looking for a good everyday quad.

Lipgloss in Starry Starry Night and Written in the Stars (£6.99)

I am usually not the biggest lipgloss person, but I have to say that I absolutely LOVE these. The colors are super duper pigmented, and last surprisingly well. I wore Starry Starry Night (which is a GORGEOUS color, btw) for 4-5 hours before having lunch and needing to top it up, and even then there was still some color left behind. The formula is quite thick, but in a good way, and leave your lips feeling well moisturized rather than gross and sticky. Written in the Stars is more of an everyday dusky rose than it looks in the photo above, the lighting makes it look quite peach but it's definitely not. If you were to only try out one thing from the range, I'd go for the lip-glosses for sure. 

Side note: I also got the makeup bag, which I forgot to photograph. It's also gorgeous and very well made, and I love the rose gold details and lilac interior of it.

Let me know if you've tried anything from the range, and what you're hoping to see more of. I'd love to see her expand into more variety of products such as blushes and lipsticks in the future!

EMPTIES #1

I love trying out new products all the time; however, that usually comes with the cost of having a lot of half finished products. Being a relatively new blogger, I sometimes forget and throw something out before thinking about whether to save it for a post or not. That being said, here are a few empties I've remembered to keep, and what I thought about them.

1. BOURJOIS HEALTHY MIX FOUNDATION (£9.99) 

This is EASILY my favorite drugstore foundation ever. It's basically been the foundation I've worn 90% of the time since buying it, and rivals many of my other high-end bases. I love that it has medium coverage, but still looks like skin and wears really well throughout the day. It would be my no.1 base if it weren't for these two things: I got the color 54 Beige, which is a close match but a tad dark and on the pinky side, I wish they made more yellow based shades; and although I love the finish, after a few hours I can look greasy even when I use a primer and powder. It's an easy fix, but I wish it came in slightly less dewy finish. I would definitely repurchase this again though, maybe try shade 53?

2. MAYBELLINE ERASER EYE CONCEALER (£7.99) 

Once again, a favorite. This alone with the foundation above has been by base of choice over the past year or so. It doesn't crease, lasts pretty much all day, and I love the twisting mechanism and applicator. It comes as a close second to my beloved Nars creamy concealer, but doesn't quite make it. The downfall is that I can only use this concealer for under the eyes and not for blemishes, so it's not very multi-purpose, but I'd still repurchase it nevertheless.

3. ANASTASIA BROW WIZ (£15.50) 

I know, I know, everyone and their mother has raved about this so I'm not going to go on about it for too long. Tiny nib to draw in hair-like strokes? Check. Range of colors? Check (I use Brunette). Spoolie? Check (and the best spoolie i've ever had, btw). There's not much else I need from a brow pencil. I will say that before repurchasing, I will be testing out Soap & Glory's version as many people say they're pretty much identical.

4. FIRST AID BEAUTY DEEP CLEANSER WITH RED CLAY (£18.00) 

This will be the only product in this post that I don't rave about. Did I like it? Yes. But did I love it? No. I think it did a pretty good job at cleansing my face, it didn't dry it out in any way and left my skin feeling clean. However, it didn't do anything special. My pores and oiliness remained the same throughout using it, and I found it a little difficult to wash off after massaging it into my skin (I'm still not on board with the whole use a flannel thing on the daily). If you have very oily skin it may be worth checking out I suppose, but I'd definitely recommend the mask from this range over the cleanser. Verdict? No repurchase.

I hope my opinions were somewhat helpful, and I'd love to know what you think of these products or what products you always repurchase. Leave a comment below!

5 PRODUCT FACE

Although I love having my me time and applying makeup in the morning, sometimes I want a more minimal look that doesn't call for a lot of products or time. On a day where I'm rushing, don't feel like having stuff on my face, this is what I usually go for:

1. Undereye concealer

I'm not the kind of person that stays up late at all. I'm usually in bed by 10/11 and asleep by 12. For some reason though, I have really dark under eyes that no amount of sleep or hydration can fix. This can easily make me look tired/sick when I'm not so i usually like to cover those babies up. My current favorite product for this is the Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer (£7.99). It's light, doesn't crease, and has good coverage - all the things I look for. I also dot it between/around my eyebrows and down my nose as that's where I get redness. Another favorite of mine is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (£22.00), but I've run out and I'm trying to use up other ones I have around to justify my repurchase.

2. Brows

I feel (as a lot of people do) that my face looks odd if I have any kind of makeup on with no brows. Mine aren't super sparse or thin or anything, but they're quite patchy so when I'm going for a natural look I like to fill them in with a light powder to make them full but natural. This means I go for non other than my Anastasia Brow Duo (£17.00). I find a powder to work best for this as pencils or pomades can look too strong and drawn on.

3. Mascara

I love me some mascara. After lipstick, this is probably my favorite makeup product. It can seriously make you look a lot more awake and alert than you really are - something we all need in the morning. I don't have any I'm really loving right now, just alternating between what I have open to finish them up.

4. Blush

I never thought this would be in my minimal look, as although it's something I use everyday, I didn't think it essential. However, I find that a nice blush can really perk up your skin and add diminution, especially if you're looking a bit tired. With a minimal look I like to use a one with a shimmer running through it to add a nice glow to the cheeks. My go-to is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette (£56.00) as the three colors are all lovely, easy to blend and stay put.

5. Tinted balm/Sheer Lipstick/Lipgloss

My final step is always lips. No matter how minimal the look I like to have a sheer color on my lips be it from a gloss, balm or lipstick. Nothing too bright or bold though, as it can look imbalanced if the look is very minimal. Something like the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments ($22.50), Jouer Sheer Lipsticks (£18.00), or Maybelline Color Elixirs (£6.99) are great for this, but the options are endless really.

I also usually do a quick translucent powder down my T-zone to decrease oiliness throughout the day, but that's totally optional if you don't usually powder, or don't live in a super hot country like me. Let me know what some of your 5 product face essentials are, I'd love to hear.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

I'm never usually one to layer my mascaras. Most of the time I find it unnecessary as there are lots of great mascaras in the market that can give you whatever lash look you're going for, and I'm usually too lazy to add that one extra step. That being said, I have found a combo recently that I've been loving, and even thought it takes a teeny bit longer than usual, it gives me amazing lashes.

The duo I'm talking about is Max Factor's False Lash Effect Fusion Mascara (£11.99) and Soap and Glory's Thick and Fast Collagen Coat (£10.50). Both of these are very affordable drugstore mascaras that are nice on their own, but nothing special. I usually go for the max factor one when I want natural looking lashes as it's good at separation and lengthening, whereas I find the S&G one better for thick lashes. Like I said, both are good on their own but very forgettable. That is until I decided to try putting them together. I applied the Max factor one first, followed by S&G, and was I amazed. Since they both give different effects on their own, I was afraid they'd clump up together, but the complete opposite happened. One filled the 'weak spots' of the other mascara, and I had full, long, fluttery, non-clumpy lashes that didn't feel heavy on my eyes. They don't flake or smudge on me, stay put all day, and are still easy to remove with a cleanser at the end of the night.

Even if layering mascaras is not your thing, it's still not mine, I'd recommend trying out two in your stash that you think might work well together. You know what they say, sometimes two is better than one.

TOP 5 SPRING LIPSTICKS

Lip products, by far, are my favorite makeup items to buy and wear. There are so many options, with colors and finishes, I can never get enough. As we leave Winter and enter Spring, I tend to shift from deep berries and reds into all kinds of pinks. Here are some of my favorite picks for the upcoming months.

First, I have the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain (£7.99) in the shade 10 Darling (Which may have been renamed to Cherish). Revlon do some of my favorite lip crayon formulas in all kinds of finishes, thoughI like the original ones best. This is a beautiful pinky lilac color that's a little unusual, but still very flattering to wear. If you're scared of purple lipstick but want to give it a go, I think this is a great one to start with.

Next up is another Revlon product. Their Lip Butters (£7.99) are definitely in my top five favorite lipstick formulas, as they are very comfortable and hydrating, yet pack a punch of color. I love Wild Watermelon for the Spring, and it's perfectly named as I can't find any other way to describe the color than Watermelon.

For my only more expensive option, I've chosen Mac's See Sheer (£15.50). I usually find peaches and colors a bit difficult to wear as they can wash me out, but this one lovely and compliments my skin tone well. I picked this shade up through their back to Mac program which I wrote about here.

Back to drugstore, I have this Burt's Bees lip crayon ($9.00) in Hawaiian Smolder. I got this when I was in the US because I love their lip balms, but have never seen or tried any colored ones. I'm not sure if they've made their way over to the UK yet or not, but if they have they're definitely worth a try. It feels exactly like applying one of their lip balms, but you get a nice wash of color that can be layered up to quite an opaque finish, or swept on to stay sheer. Of course, the one I picked up is a nice everyday pink, but i definitely need to get my hands on some more colors.

Finally I have a gorgeous bright pink Maybelline Color Elixir (£6.99) in the color Hibiscus Haven. I'm not the biggest lipgloss fan, but recently I've been loving this formula. It's super pigmented and hydrating, and leaves behind a wash of color once the gloss has faded. It's quite thick, which I don't mind as it increases the longevity, and has a really nice doe foot applicator. I definitely recommend picking up one of these colors even if you're not a lipgloss lover.

Let me know what some of you're favorite lip products are for Spring in the comments below!

ONE WASH WONDER

         I think eyeshadows are slightly addictive. I mean, who am I kidding, makeup in general is addictive - but there's something about eyeshadow and when you start wearing it on a regular basis, you kind of don't want to go without it. That being said, I've managed to keep my eyeshadow collection in check and I don't have TOO many lying around, and those that I do have are in palette form. I only own two single eyeshadows, and they're both from Rimmel. I'm generally not a huge fan of drugstore eyeshadows as the formulas can be very chalky and hard to work with, especially if you're a n00b like me, however I find the Rimmel ones to be quite good, especially if you're just starting out.

         Rimmel's Smokey Quartz (£4.49) was one of the first eyeshadows I ever bought, and it's still one I use regularly. It's a beautiful bronze with a taupe shimmer running through it that's perfect for everyday. The shimmer isn't too chunky, and I think the color will look great on both warmer and cooler skin tones. I also find that it's one of those eyeshadows that kind changes color a bit as you blend it, so I don't need to add anything in the crease as it defines itself. I love using this when I don't want to think too much about my eyeshadow but still want something there. I can't wear any eyeshadows (at all) without a primer since my eyelids are an oily mess, so I can't attest to it's wear time without, but with a primer it lasts all day on me. I also like to layer it over the Maybelline 24hr color tattoo in Bad to the Bronze/On and On Bronze to add a bit more oomph to the color. Just blend some brown eyeliner into the lashes, add tons of mascara, and there you go a quick and easy eye look.

Let me know what some of your favorite one wash wonders are, or what your favorite drugstore brands are for eyeshadow :)

LOVING LATELY #1

So I realize I haven't done any favorites on my blog so far, but given that I'm only posting once a week at the moment I don't think monthly favorites will be a thing. That being said, I do want to share some of the things i've been loving over the past few months.

BEAUTY

I have been obsessed with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (£9.99). I have the shade 54 Beige and I think it's a good match for me, but maybe a teeny bit too dark. I  wanted to pick up 53 Light Beige, but they didn't have it in stock, so next time I'll see if I can get that and hopefully it'll be a better match. I've also been liking the Kiko foundation I mentioned in my last post. I do get a bit shiny when I wear it, but I think it's because I've been using a very hydrating moisturizer in the mornings, so I'm going to switch to a less intense one and see how it goes.

Ever since I started really using my Lorac Pro ($42.00) palette 3 weeks ago, I haven't picked up any other eyeshadow since. The colors are neutral, but still so beautiful and diverse that you can create many different looks with it. They blend like a dream and I just can't get enough. Some of my favorite combos are Pewter all over the lid with Mauve in the crease, or Lt. Bornze all over with Taupe in the crease - both with Nude as an inner corner highlight - beautiful! I definitely understand the hype around this palette.

Next we have brows. I'm never exclusively a powder/pencil/pomade kind of gal as I rotate between them frequently, and will switch it up depending on the kind of look I'm going for. Over the past few weeks I have definitely been reaching for my Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Dark Brown (£17.00) over the others as it's so quick and easy to use, especially when you're overdue for an eyebrow threading.

The final makeup product I've been reaching for a lot is the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Berry ($22.50). It's very nourishing and comfortable to wear, and gives enough color to make it look like you have something on. It's definitely going to be a handbag staple for a while.
The last two beauty related items I've been obsessed with are the Kiko Nail Lacquer in 511 Metallic Mercury Purple (£3.90) which lasts a good week with minimal chipping (score!) and the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product ($18.00) which tames frizz and keeps my curly hair super soft.

NON BEAUTY

This may seem very random, but my two non beauty items that I've been obsessed with lately are a pair of sport leggings, and some Quay sunglasses. I got these leggings from adidas a couple of months ago (can't find a link to them online) but I love the bright colors and they're super comfortable. Also, the print doesn't stretch out when you wear them which is a big plus in my book. They also came in a blue/green color which I want to keep an eye out for because the fit is just so nice.

Finally, my last favorite are these White Quay Invador Cat-Eye Sunglasses (£27.00). They're so cute and funky without being over the top, and I get compliments whenever I wear them. They're also quite inexpensive for relatively good quality, and in general I think Quay make awesome sunglasses.

Let me know some of the things you've been loving lately in the comments below, I'd love to hear. x

KIKO HAUL + REVIEW

While I was in Barcelona last week, I stumbled across a Kiko store. And of course being my makeup obsessed self, along with four other girls, we had to stop and take a look around (twice). I tried my best to resist the urge to swatch and buy everything, but still came out with a good range of products.

The main thing I wanted to look at going in was their Universal Fit Hydrating Foundation (£6.90). After hearing Lily Pebbles rave about it so much I wanted to try it out myself. I'm glad to say I was not disappointed. I usually have trouble finding foundations with the right undertones in the drug store (I'm quite yellow/olive), but I tried the color 06 Creamy Beige which turned out to be a perfect match for me. I have been wearing it everyday since and I can't get enough. It's light, but covers enough, and doesn't over greasify my combination skin. All of that AND it's inexpensive price? I don't know what could be better.

After perusing around the store I found a few more bits and bobs I wanted to try out. I REALLY wanted their Ace of Diamonds lipstick in the shade 27, but they didn't carry that line, so I opted for their Luscious Cream Creamy Lipstick (£6.90) in 515 Orchid instead. It's a lovely purply pink mauve shade that's very comfortable to wear. Next I got two of their Generation Next Crystal Eyeliners (£6.90) in 02 Technological Brown and 05 Hefty Sapphire. They swatched so vibrantly and all the colors were so beautiful I had to restrain myself to two only. I also took a look at their skincare range and was intrigued by their Mat Fluid Moisturiser (£11.90) so I picked one up to give it a go.

The next day we went into the store again as some of my friends wanted a few more things, so although I wasn't planning it I made a few more purchases. What caught my eye was something I'd missed the first time around - their colored mascaras range. They looked SO vibrant, and I've been on the hunt for a blue one after seeing a specific makeup look, so I got one Super Color Mascara (£5.90) in 07 Sky Blue. It's one of the only mascaras i've tried that's actually true to color once applied - so if you have dark hair like me and want a color that shows up, I definitely suggest giving these a go. And finally, I picked up two of their Nail Lacquers (3.90). I've been like a magpie to shiny things recently, especially when it comes to nailpolishes, so naturally the two I picked up are 511 Metallic Mercury Purple, and 530 Pearly Blue Peacock. I have yet to try them, but my friend has and she says they last a good week without chipping.

Let me know what you've tried from Kiko, and your opinions on their products in general, I'd love to read.

NINETIES NUDE LIP

Maybelline Lip Liner in Velvet Beige (£3.99)
Wet'n'Wild Lipstick in Think Pink (£2.30)

As you all may have noticed, the whole 90s nude lip has been a big thing lately thanks to celebs like Kylie Jenner. If you've been trying to find your perfect shade but have had no luck, or don't want to splurge on a Mac lippy, I may have found the solution for you. Ultimately, nude's can be more on the pink, brown, or concealer-y side depending on personal preference and what you think suits your skin tone more. 

I found my perfect 90s combo by mixing a more browny nude lip liner, with a pale pink lipstick. I wasn't trying to find this combo in particular, but on my last trip to the US I bought this Wet'n'Wild lipstick thinking it would be a nice light pink shade, but it ended up looking WAY too pale and weird on me. Instead of throwing it away, I rummaged through my stash to see what I could mix it with to tone down the pale-ness, when I saw that Maybelline lip liner and thought I'd give it a go. Lo and behold I found my perfect nude lip. 

I usually fill in my whole lip with the liner, then go on top with the lipstick, and then blend it out with my fingers a bit. Both formulas are quite matte, but still quite creamy to apply and comfortable to wear. What I love about this is it's totally customizable. You can apply more of the browny lip liner, or more of the pinky lipstick depending on what you're feeling that day.

I'd love to know if any of you guys try out this combo, or if you've found another color or combo that works for you.

WHAT'S IN MY TRAVEL MAKEUP BAG

I'm heading off to Spain for 5 nights with my Uni, so I thought I'd show you guys what I'll be packing in my travel makeup bag in the hopes that I won't overpack. These are some of my favorites blog posts/videos to read/watch probably because I'm just a little nosy. But anyway, here's what I'm taking.

BASE

As Spain is quite cold at the moment, and my combo skin tends to get more dry bits in the winter, I'm taking one of my favorite hydrating-but-not-greasy bases with me - the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (£9.99). I have the shade 54 as 53 was sold out, so it's a tad darker than my color, but with some blending it looks fine. To go along with that, I'm taking my Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer for under my eyes (£7.99), and the MUFE Full Cover Concealer (£21.00) incase any pesky spots come up. To set all of that down, I'm taking my favorite Soap & Glory's One Heck of a Blot powder (£12.00). I also popped in my mini Benefit Porefessional sample for a primer.

FACE 

I don't wear any bronzer on a daily basis, so I skipped that product, however I do like to give my face some shape with a bit of contour. For that I'm taking the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow (£49.00) which I'm still 'borrowing' from my mom (She hasn't asked for it back yet - shhh). The contour and highlight shades are both gorgeous, as I'm sure you've already heard from every other blogger who's raved about it since it's release. For blush I was going to take my beloved Sleek Pomegranate, but it is quite a strong color, so I opted for a more my more natural Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Blushing Bride (£17.00), which I've only bought recently and need to start using some more. 

EYES

For eyes I wanted to take a thin palette that I can use for any type of look, so of course i opted for the Lorac Pro Palette (£28.00). I've only used it a few times since purchasing it in December, but the colors are so blendable and lovely I'm sure i'll be addicted to it after this trip. Along with eyeshadow, I'm taking my Kat Von D  Tattoo liner (£13.00) which is a dream to work with, a black Topshop Kohl for tight lining (£4.00), and the Tarte Gifted Mascara (£14.00). And of course not to forget my beloved Anastasia Brow Wiz (£15.50) to fill in those sparse areas. It's so skinny and perfect for travel. 

LIPS

My favorite category. I always find this impossibly hard to narrow down and end up taking WAY too many options, but I got it down to 3 this time. First my Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey (£7.99) which is a lovely everyday shade. Second, another Revlon Balm Stain in the Matte formula in the shade Shameless for a dark lip option, and finally Topshop's appropriately named Red Lippy (£8.00) for, you guessed it, a red option. I also popped in the Mac lip liner in Cherry (£12.50) as the Topshop lipstick can be a bit slippy and hard to apply neatly. 

I'm sorry a lot of these products can only be found in the US, but I picked up a lot of new stuff when I was on holiday and I'm still excited to be using them all. I hope you enjoyed having a look through my makeup bag, I'd love to know what are some of your essential travel makeup items.

CREAM ON

I'm not usually one to go for glow enhancing products, as I have combo skin and things can sometimes look a bit TOO shiny. However, I do have a few cream products that I love but don't get enough use out of, so I thought I'd share them with you as I try to include them into my makeup routine more.

1. Cream Blushes

To be honest, before trying out cream blushes, I thought I'd HATE them. In my mind they were these slippery products that wouldn't last more than an hour or two on my skin. However, after making my first purchase I'm glad to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The two I love are: Topshop's Head Over Heels (£7.00), a lovely coral color that has a cream to powder finish (I know that can sound like a weird concept, but believe me if you swatch this you'll understand; and & Other Stories' True Bias Fuschia (£12.00), a gorgeous bright pink that instantly wakes up your face without having any glitter in it - although this one is definitely more of a true cream finish. Both are swatched below, both full on and blended out.

Left to Right: Watt's Up, Head Over Heels, True Bias Fuschia 

2. Cream Highlighters

I never used any kind of highlighters before this past year, let alone CREAM highlighters. However, ever since getting into them I often find that my makeup look is missing that last step without some sheen on my (non existent) cheekbones. While I was in the US I used some Sephora points on a mini sample size of Benefit's Watt's Up (£24.50) to see what all the hype is about, and I'm am so glad that i did. It blends out beautifully and gives such a glow to the face, i caught myself doing a double take at the mirror to admire the effect it gave. If you haven't tried any cream highlighters before, i'd definitely recommend checking this out, and since you only need a tiny bit at a time it's well worth the price.

I'd love to hear what are some of your favorite glow enhancing products for your skin types, and whether you think I should check anything out.

BITE BEAUTY

Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick, $24.00

I think i'm addicted to Bite. Lipstick has always been my all time favorite makeup product to purchase and use, so when i heard about this brand i was very intrigued. Bite is an all natural lip care company that makes their lipsticks with ingredients good enough to eat (literally). Their products use organic, food-grade ingredients and are packed with nourishing and restorative ingredients beeswax, Argan oil, Manuka honey, and Shea butter. Now all of this is nice and good on paper, but how do the products actually perform? Awesome, in my opinion.

From left to right: Pepper, Musk, Zivoli, Vigne, Date, Fig

I first tried them when my cousin went to the US for holiday, i asked her to pick up a shade for me to try. Safe to say I was very surprised and thankful when she came back with three. She got me the two nude shades (Musk and Pepper) and the deep red (Zivoli) from the Luminous Creme Lipstick range, and I was in love the moment I tried one on. They are creamy and extremely pigmented, while still being very comfortable to wear. I found that they last pretty well on me, a good few hours at least, and leave a light stain when the glossyness has worn off. They also have a sweet-ish smell and taste (anybody else?) which I love.

When I went to the US during my winter break i knew i had to pick up at least one more color, and their Agave lip mask which I had heard great things about. I decided to go for a pink (Vigne) as i wear that color quite a lot. I also wanted to try out one of their lip crayons, but i indulged on too many other items i let it pass for this time around. However, the Sephora isle of doom got me (you know what i'm talking about ladies) and i popped one more double ended lipstick in my basket - i mean, two in one AND mini sized? How could I say no? My mom and sister also picked up some other shades and finishes themselves, so i can always borrow theirs to try out.

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask, $26.00

Sorry for a bit of a rambly post. Let me know if you've tried out of any Bite's products and what you think of them, I'd love to hear x

TOP 3 BRUSHES

The only thing that doesn't make it into my makeup obsessed self is the need to hoard makeup brushes - THANK GOD! I think if you have one brush that's good for the task that's all you really need. I mean what will you do with 20 foundation brushes, use them as a stand for your beauty blender? So here are my top three picks from my little brush collection that i couldn't go without.

CONTOUR BRUSH

Real Techniques Dup Fiber Contour Brush (Part of Duo Fiber Collection), £13.05

I love me a light contour on a day to day basis. I have quite a round face, so I think adding in a contour really helps bring out my non existent cheek bones and help slim out my slightly crooked nose. I used to be scared of having two lines down my cheeks and for it to be WAY too obvious, but this brush makes it almost impossible to do. It doesn't pick up too much product, which I like because I can just add more if i feel like I need it, and keep building 'till I'm happy. It's also a great size to fit in the hollows of your cheeks, temples, or down the sides of your nose. No weird streaks with this lovely brush.

BLUSH BRUSH

Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek (Part of Rose Golden Luxury Set), €58.00

I wear blush everyday I put makeup on, without fail. I feel like my face looks too dead and flat if I don't add some color onto them cheeks. This is by far my favorite Zoeva brush too. First of all, it's rose gold..enough said. Secondly, it is SO soft and fluffy i keep wanting to just sweep it across my face for no reason. I think it picks up the perfect amount of product, and makes it so easy to blend out the color if you pick up a bit too much. The only downside is that it might stain a little because the bristles are white (mine is a teeny bit pink), but that really doesn't bother me at all. 

EYESHADOW BRUSH

Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush (Part of Starter Set), £11.74 GBP

Now this is one brush department where I probably need a few more essentials, but this brush has made me lazy about going out to get them. I use this to pack shadow onto the lid, add a color into the crease, and blend out. I find it does a great job for all three, and i don't really have any others for comparison. I like that it's fluffy and the hairs aren't too short so it's really easy to use, especially if you're just starting out with eyeshadow. I think the next one I need is the MAC 217, yes? Soon.

Let me know what some of your favorite brushes are, and if I really NEED anything :)

Happy new year!

BACK TO MAC

In case you haven't heard, Mac has a recycling program called Back to Mac, where if you've used up 6 of their products you can empty them out and exchange them for a free lipstick. Now i'm not one that generally needs enabling when it comes to lipstick purchases, but after my mom dug up some of her super retro lipsticks, along with two that i had finished up (Hug Me and Mocha) i knew it was a back to mac opportunity waiting to happen.

Mac Lustre Lipstick in See Sheer, £15.50

I have a couple of Mac lipsticks on my list to try out, but i ended up going with See Sheer. It's a beautiful coral shade that's both a bit pink and orange, but not too much of either. They only orange shades i have in my stash are SUPER orange, so this is a nice alternative if i'm feeling like rocking that color but not a bold lip. It's in the Lustre formula, which means it's not super opaque, but adds a nice wash of color and is quite moisturizing.

Next on my list to try are Brick-O-La and Syrup. Let me know what some of your favorite Mac lipsticks are and if i should add any to my list.

FIRST IMPRESSION: HOURGLASS AMBIENT BLUSH PALETTE

When the Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders were released I wasn't too excited to run out and try them. I've never been big on highlight-y products because of my combo-oily skin, and so I never gave in to that hype. My sister does swear by them though, so I can always borrow hers to try out. Anyway that's not what i'm getting at today. When Hourglass started releasing their Ambient Lighting Blushes is when I got excited, as blushes are definitely more up my street. I'd go into Space NK to swatch them, but I found the lighting made the colors look weird and I couldn't decide if I really loved them or not. Fast forward a few months and people start talking about a limited edition Ambient Lighting Blush Palette and I think yes, this is it, this is what I need *cough*want*cough*. So of course to feed my online shopping addiction, I pre-order the palette on Space NK the moment it's available, and it finally arrived on my doorstep this week. 

Hourglass Ambient Blush Palette, £56.00

I've only used it a couple of times so far, but I'm pretty impressed. First of all the packaging is so cute. I love that you get three different shades, one of which is exclusive to the palette, and each color is mixed with a different traditional Ambient Lighting powder. I don't mind the fact that you don't get the full sized amount of each product, as I personally have yet to hit pan on a blush. There's Luminous Flush, a gorgeous rose color; Incandescent Electra, a glowy peach (exclusive); and Mood Exposure, a soft plum. I can't decide on which is my favorite, or if I even have one, but I'm pretty sure I'll be leaning toward Mood Exposure the most these next few months. This palette is also great for traveling as the three shades have you set for any kind of look, and the mixture of the Ambient Lighting powders within them means you don't really need a highlighter.

I'd love to know if you've tried any of the Ambient Lighting powders or blushes and what you think of them, or if you recommend I try any other Hourglass products.

REVLON COLORSTAY MOISTURE STAIN REVIEW

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Lip Stain, £7.99

There have been a lot of mixed reviews on these lip products, but I have to jump on the 'love' bandwagon. I was interested in trying them out because I generally love Revlon lip products anyway, and the promise of moisture, shine AND longevity was that one last push I needed.

First of all, I love the packaging. The cube is a teeny bit chunky, but they sit next to each other so perfectly that it doesn't really bother me at all. The actual applicator is also a good size, with a tapered end to help you get the perfect application around the corners and cupids bow. Now on to the actual product. The formula has a bit of a weird texture that's kind of thick and watery, but it smoothes on to the lips so easily you barely notice. On first application it might look a bit patchy, but just rub your lips together a bit and put on a second coat and voila - smooth, opaque and lovely. I have the two shades Barcelona Nights and Shanghai Sizzle, and I found no difference in the formula between them. After the first application I found I was good to go for a few hours before the shine faded, and even when it did I was left with a lovely non-drying stain. The color selection is also gorgeous, with 12 shades there's bound to be something for everyone. 

So all in all this is a definite hit for me. Let me know what you guys thought of this product, or if you had issues with any of the colors. I might need to pick up India Intrigue sometime soon, I love that purple-y undertone…

SLEEK BLUSH IN POMEGRANATE

I am generally a big blush fan. After evening my skin out with a good foundation and concealer, i always feel like a little more color needs to be brought back into the face, and more often than not I go for a blush over a bronzer. I never thought i would  be too picky on which color i use since i apply it with a light hand, but i found that i actually switch it up quite a lot depending on what i'm doing with the rest of my makeup. My favorite blush for autumn/winter time in general is Sleek's Pomegranate. 

Sleek Blush in Pomegranate, £4.49

Although we don't get a lot of cooler weather here in Dubai, i still like to imagine it's autumn right now. Sleek in general do the best blushes on the high street. You get quite a lot of product, and they're so pigmented you only ever need the slightest amount. They also do some great trios with a variety of shades, very compact and perfect for traveling. 

Back to Pomegranate though. I got this blush a little over year ago, and i remember being pretty much obsessed with it last autumn/winter too. It's a deep raspberry color with a bit of shimmer running through it, and it blends like a dream. I think this color will work great with all skin tones, but it really packs a punch, so if you're on the lighter side make sure to use a VERY light hand when applying it. 

The shimmer in it helps perk up the complexion, and i think the color looks amazing with a bold berry or red lip - I love pairing it with Mac's Rebel. I'm also very impressed that this color doesn't fade away throughout the day like most blushes. I wore it for a whole day (almost 12 hours) this week, and it was still visibly there come night time; there was no fading or weird patching . All in all, i really have nothing bad to say about this baby.

What are some of your favorite all time blushes? I'd love to know x

PRIME TIME (EYELID EDITION)

I have very oily eyelids. There's no other way going about it. If you've never thought about it or don't have any problems with eyeshadow, this may seem really strange, but i'm sure there are many of you out there who know exactly how i feel. Eyeshadows crease on me like crazy. No matter what formula or brand i use, within a few hours most of it will have smudged or collected in my crease in a weird and very unattractive fashion. But i have good news, as today i come with a solution.

NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, £19.50

 I decided to try out the Nars eyeshadow primer after hearing youtuber Ingrid (Missglamorazzi) rave about it so much. I had tried other alternatives such as Urban Decay's Primer Potion, which helped but didn't completely eliminate creasing, so i wasn't TOO hopeful about this. I'm glad to say i was completely wrong.

Using the doe foot applicator, i smush (yes, that's a word) what comes out onto both lids, and use my fingers to blend it all out. It has no color or strange texture, and sinks into the skin almost immediately leaving no weird wetness or anything behind. From there you can just go ahead and apply your eyeshadow/eyeliner etc. the way you usually do. For me this totally eliminates any creasing and unwanted blending of any sort, and also helps the color of the eyeshadows appear more vibrant. My eye makeup looks exactly the same after 12 hours as it did when i first applied it, which are better results than i could have ever asked for. I've also come to using it even if i don't have any eyeshadow or liner on, to avoid an oily pool collection (gross) on my lids.

 If you haven't tried this primer out, i highly recommend it. If you have, let me know what you think, and i'd love to hear some other favorites of yours. My new mission is to find a drugstore dupe for this NARS one.

ODE TO LIQUID LINER

I have never been much of a eyeliner person, let alone liquid liner. No matter how hard i tried, i could never get the hang of it. The wings were wonky, or one was always too thick, and it just made my eyes look like two completely different shapes. For that reason, i left it alone and stuck to tons of mascara instead. Recently however, as i've been getting more into applying simple eyeshadow on a semi daily basis, i kept feeling like my look was missing something: eyeliner. So i decided to try again.

What i realized was gel liner was NOT for me. I can never get the right amount onto my brush, it dries out in a weird way, and overall requires too much faffing about. I like it to be quick, simple, and comfortable. So i ventured into the liquid liner department. Dangerous territory, but once you find the right product it's magic. And oh did i find the right product.

Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye liner in Intense Black, £13.00

Oh Stila. Stila, stila, stila. So many people have talked about this product before, i don't know why i waited so long to give it a go and denied myself years of perfect cat eyed liquid liner. I have to admit, the perfect wings don't magically appear everyday day, but this liner has definitely made it SO much easier. 

First of all, it's in pen form, which i personally think is the easiest since we can all write and have been doing so for years, so holding this is very natural. Second, the felt-tip nib is the perfect firmness and length. It's not so hard that it pokes your eye out, but rather keeps its shape while still bending along with your movement. It also doesn't go all weird and fuzzy, or become too soft after constant use. And finally, the formula itself is just great. It's jet black on it's own or on top of eyeshadow, and

as the name suggests it stays on ALL day. Even in hot, sweaty, sticky weather it does not budge (i've had a wing smudge halfway down my face before - definitely NOT attractive). So for the moment, this is my favorite product. I've been wearing it all throughout summer, and see myself doing so into the autumn and winter months.

Let me know what's your favorite liquid liner, and which one i should try next. On my list is the Soap & Glory Supercat liner.

THE BEST MATTE LIPSTICK AROUND?

I struggle to find a Matte lipstick formula that i like. Most of them are too drying and stripping on my lips, no matter what lip balm i use beforehand. I've tried out some blogger favorites such as the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, and although the colors are beautiful, they just don't work for me without some kind of balm underneath - defeating the matte purpose. So whenever i see something new on the market, i'm interested to see how it would work for me.

The other day i was taking a look around Liberty's beauty hall, when i came across this new brand i've never heard of or seen before: Surratt. I had a chat with the salesman on the counter, and he explained to me that this brand was started by the famous makeup artist Troy Surratt, and is exclusive to Liberty London. Troy believes in using the highest quality ingredients for his makeup, so he started manufacturing his products in Japan. Of course i looked around and swatched many things, but i was most interested in the Matte Automatique Lip Crayons (£24).

Aside from the beautifully sleek packaging, the salesman assured me that these matte formulas are non drying and i wouldn't feel them on my lips at all. So much so, that he said when Mr Surratt himself tested them out, he cried because the formulas were so perfect. Now if that hasn't sold you, i don't know what will. I gave in, and purchased one in the color 4 Megalomane, which is a classic, slightly blue undertoned, standout red.

I tried it on the very next day, and was extremely pleased with the result. It does exactly what it says on the tin: matte finish, long lasting, and non-drying. I'm not sure about the 'not feeling it on your lips' thing, as i was very aware of having it on, but then again, i'm not sure i'll ever find one that i don't feel at all. Alas, i am still not prepared to call this my most favorite matte lipstick EVER, but its definitely rekindled my hope for the perfect formula.

What are some of your favorites? I'd love to hear why, and maybe test them out for myself.