2014 MAKE UP FAVOURITES

Better late than never, right?

I don't often do monthly favourites posts as I've been pretty good lately and not bought that much make up, so I end up just using the same old products over and over. For my year favourites it was a lot easier to chose products as I have only included products that were my absolute favourites to use and not necessarily just the products that I used most regularly. I haven't included make up from every category as for some like blushers, I don't particularly have a favourite.  

My first favourite is probably the best make up item that I have ever used! The Bare Minerals Ready foundation has been my favourite foundation since the start of 2014. It has the best staying power, looks very glowy, fresh and radiant on the skin, gives a great amount of coverage which can be built to a high coverage and yet doesn't look or feel heavy. I always get so many compliments when I wear this foundation. My shade right now is R250 as I've ended my relationship with fake tan, but when I did fake tan it was R330. 

The MAC Give Me Sun bronzer, is such a great bronzer as it's so pigmented that you don't need to use much at all - this is my second purchase of the bronzer and the first must have lasted me about a year and a half. It's a gorgeous warm colour, which isn't too orange but gives a really healthy and natural glow to the skin. It still works just as well on my skin now that I'm fairer as it did with tanned skin. 

As Give Me Sun is quite warm toned, I like to use Benefit's Hoola bronzer to contour. It's such a great contour shade and really makes your contour look so much more defined. 

One of my most favourite products that I discovered in 2014 was MAC's Emphasize powder. It brightens up the under eye area so well and sets the concealer. I feel like my make up looks so much more complete and flawless when I use this powder. 

I have loved Make up Geek eye shadows since before 2014 and have slowly been building up my collection. There are so many shades to choose from and many are quite unique. They have great pigmentation and blend so easily. The only annoying issue is that you have to order them from America, so customs charges are a bit off putting. 

Another Make up Geek product that I have been loving is the Immortal black gel liner. It  is so black and literally does not come off, which can be a little annoying if you're trying to be quick with removing make up but it's worth it. I've had mine I think since last February and it still works just as well and hasn't dried out at all. 

I enjoyed using the Urban Decay Chill setting spray as I do think it helps prolong your make up. It became a favourite product when I travelled to Corfu and after a very hot few hours in the sun it was so great at cooling you down and making you look pretty decent when you go to lunch. 

In 2014 I really got into using a pink toned under eye brightener to help hide dark circles and make the under eye look more awake. I tried MAC's Prep and Prime highlighter in Radiant Rose and Bare Minerals Stroke of Light in Luminous 1. Both were very good and I couldn't tell much difference, apart from that the MAC concealer lasted so much longer than the Bare Minerals, so I chose to repurchase the MAC one, plus it's also cheaper! 

A new find of 2014 was the Urban Decay's Subversion lash primer. I hate applying a lot of mascaras as many take so long to build up any length and volume. This primer helps shape the lashes and really makes them a lot longer and helps build the volume much quicker. It may seem like you're taking more time by using an extra step but it's so easy and quick to apply that it's actually a lot quicker than building up your mascara alone. 

Before the Suberverion primer was released I started using Bare Minerals Lash Domination. At first I didn't really like the mascara as it's a very big brush, with quite a wet formula, which I do like but it can be pretty messy. I didn't like the mascara as it seemed good with volume once you had carefully applied it, but it left my lashes quite stumpy and didn't do anything for the length. Once it had dried out a little I started to like it more and more. It is now my go to mascara and I hate to say it, but I'm pretty sure I used this for most of 2014 and it's only just drying out to the point where I can't get much from it. 

I think the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette is such a great little palette. I had to include it as although it looks pretty boring, it is such a handy and easy to use palette. You can get so many eye looks out of it; I love that you can do a really basic eye look if you want something natural but you can also go really heavy and dramatic too, with the amazingly pigmented black shade. I don't think you can beat a good matte smokey eye. As the palette is matte it's perfect for your eyebrows too. 

My last favourite is a little less of a favourite than the others as it wasn't something that I used often, but it was my favourite lipstick to throw on when I wanted to wear a bright lip. MAC's Lady Danger is definitely a classic favourite. I loved wearing it when I didn't want to do a heavy eye or when I was short for time and needed something to make it look like I had made a lot of make up effort, when really I had just put some lipstick on. 

And... finally we are done! I am also going to be posting my 2014 Body  product favourites, so keep an eye out for that. I hope you're all having a good start to 2015 and keeping all those new years resolutions - yeah right!

WHAT'S IN MY TRAVEL MAKE UP BAG

I don't normally use a make up bag at home and prefer to keep all of my make up in my draws, as I just have far too much for any make up bag to handle. Last week I had the dreaded task of having to decide which make up products to take with me on holiday - which honestly felt like I was choosing which child I wanted to take with me. I was also terrified that things would get broken during the journey, so it took me a lot longer than I'd like to admit to choose between my beloved eye shadows. 

I did take quite a bit more than what is photographed but these were the only products that I used. First, I used MAC's Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage for my primer as it is really hydrating and spending all day out in the sun means you can't get enough hydration to your skin. For my foundation I used Bare Minerals Ready foundation as it's so quick and easy to apply, gives great coverage but still doesn't look or feel heavy on the skin. I set my foundation with Bare Minerals Mineral Veil to control any extra shine, so I didn't look like a hot mess in the equally hot weather. I used MAC's Pro Longwear concealer under the eyes and on any imperfections. I also used MAC's Prep + Prime Highlighter in Radiant Rose under the eyes and as always MAC's Emphasize powder to set it. I used Bare Minerals Stroke of Light to highlight areas of my face, to look more glowy and summery. To bronze my face I used Bare Minerals The First Resort bronzer, there is also a highlight shade in there which I used as a blush and highlight. 

For my eyes I used MAC's Painterly Paint pot as a base. As I was on holiday I decided to experiment a bit more with some colour, so decided to bring Sleek's Del Mar Palette and managed to use the green, blue and the coral and orange shades.  I also used Urban Decay's Naked Basics palette to compliment the brighter shades and also used the dark brown and black on my brows. When I wasn't feeling too colourful I stuck with my trusty Make up Geek eyeshadows, in Peach Smoothie, Coco Bear, Creme Brule, Cosmopolitan and Mocha. For mascara, I like to bring a waterproof one as I'm one of those girls that does apply a little make up throughout the day, so waterproof is essential. I chose Maybelline's The Falsies mascara, as we all know Tanya Burr raves about it so I thought it would be a good time to try it. I liked it but I wouldn't rate it as highly as she does. 

I love a bright lip for summer but I didn't want to deal with applying lipstick and then worrying about eating and drinking at dinner, so I just used a tiny amount of Bare Minerals Go the Distance lipstick, by just dabbing it on my lips to give a slight stain of colour. 

Finally, The Urban Decay Chill setting spray came in very handy, both when setting my make up and to use just to refresh and cool me down throughout the day. 

Have you been away lately? What are your holiday make up must haves? 

SUMMER NIGHTS STYLE

I was going out with friends for the evening and decided that since I was all dressed up I might as well do a quick OOTD. I have since realised that only one or two posts down I'm wearing the same top. In the words of Kate Sanders, "Lizzie you are an outfit repeater!" (Lizzie Mcguire - you know)! I don't think it completely counts as It's only the top I'm repeating but still! 

Top : H&M

Skirt: River Island

Shoes: New Look

Watch: Fossil

 I recently bought this pretty flower skirt from River Island. I absolutely love everything in River Island at the moment. The skirt is so pretty and feminine, it is short but not too bad unless you're planning on bending over a lot, then perhaps go for something different. I had to resort to my mum taking these photos and she's probably the worst of the poor innocent souls that I force to take these kind of photos of me. It's hard enough just getting her to take a normal picture, let alone a shoe shot, so I'll just link the photo of the shoes 'here.' I think those are the right ones, but I'm pretty sure mine aren't the 'wide fit.' They're really easy to walk in and comfortable but you've still got a decent size heel when you want to dress up summer outfits a little. 

My watch is from Fossil and my nail varnish is Tanya Burr's Bright and Early, although it's looking a lot more coral in the photos. I love summer clothes but find it's always hard to dress well but still suitable and comfortable with the hot weather, so you don't look like you're just hanging at the beach. This outfit was very cool to wear, yet still looked a little dressed up. 

I kept my make up pretty simple as it was sooo hot - have I said that yet?! I went for a kind of summer appropriate smokey eye and used mostly the Make up Geek shade in Country girl, which is a warm red/brown, so not as harsh as black but still pretty and smokey. Everywhere else I packed on a lot of bronzer for that summer bronzed glow. 

 What are your favourite outfits to wear with this lovely summer weather?

EYE SHADOW LOOK MAC CLUB & MAKEUP GEEK | FOTD

I'm sure I'm not the only one, but I buy all these different eye shadow palettes and then end up rarely ever using them. If you've read my Prom make up post, you wont believe what I'm about to say next, but Club eye shadow by MAC is one of those neglected eye shadows. If you have read the prom post, you'll know that I also used it on my sister for her prom, however this make up look was from the same day and while we were debating which shadows to use for her she said she liked mine and just wanted that, so there you go Club, neglected for ages and then used twice in one day!

I've never been a natural eye kinda girl and prefer something more intense, smoky or subtly colourful, so on a whim I paired the eye shadow with an orange shade from the Sleek Del Mar palette - oh how daring of me! I like how it turned out, definitely not for your usual everyday look but it would work well for a night out or summer festival kind of look. I used warm shades through the crease and added a tiny bit of the orange from under the eye to join it into the look more.

Details:

Primer: MAC Pre + Prime Skin Base Visage (review here)
Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum
Concealer and Under Eye: Collection Lasting Comcealer, MAC Highlighter in Radiant Rose, MAC Emphasize powder
Powder: Bourjois Healthy Mix powder
Bronzer: MAC Give Me Sun
Blush: MAC Peaches
Contour: Benefit Hoola
Highlighter: MAC Soft and Gentle

Eye Base: MAC Painterly and Quite Natural Paint Pot
Eye Shadow: MAC Club and Carbon, Make up Geek: Peacock, Peach Smoothie, Creme Brule, Cocoa Bear (crease) Sleek Del Mar Orange eye shadow (lower lash line)
Eye Liner: Immortal Gel Liner, Make up Geek
Mascara: L'oreal False Lash Flutter
Lashes: Ardell Demi Whispies
Brows: Espresso Eye Shadow MAC and Maybelline Brow Drama


I really like how this eye look turned out and it's made me excited to try out more colours and be more adventurous. What are your favourite more daring eye shadows?

HANNAH'S PROM OUTFIT AND MAKE UP

Yesterday (30th June), was my sister, Hannah's sixth form prom. I did her make up for her, but she refused to do anything with her hair as she didn't want to look "too done up," It's prom! but okay Hannah... It's funny how different sixth form prom seems to be from your end of school year 11 prom, where most girls are wearing huge dresses, curls and tiara's etc. I didn't go to my sixth form prom as I was on holiday, but it seemed like a pretty good night that I wish I had gone to, so I was glad Hannah went to hers. 

Make up

She told me that she wanted something on the darker side, so not the traditional pretty prom, glittery gold make up. We chose to use MAC's Club eyeshadow, as it's so pretty yet also kind of grungy/dark pretty. The photos really do not do it justice.  I used MAC's Painterly paint pot and then Quite natural on the lid to help intensify the Club shadow. In the crease I used Make up Geek's Peach Smoothie, Creme Brule and Cocoa Bear, to give the eye some warmth and definition. The warm red/orange shades were also a nice contrast with the green and blue in Club. I also used Make up Geek's Immortal Gel liner and Lancome star mascara, with individual eyelure lashes, which looked amazing with her already naturally long voluminous lashes, Gosh some people are just sickening aren't they?! For her brows I used Charcoal Brown Eye shadow by MAC.

For her complexion, I used Bare Minerals Brightening Primer, Bare Minerals Ready foundation, Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer and MAC's Prep and Prime Highlighter in Radiant Rose to brighten up under the eyes. I set this with MAC's Emphasize powder. To conceal any imperfections I used MAC's Studio Fix Concealer. For Powder I used Bare Minerals Mineral Veil, MAC's Give Me Sun to bronze and contour and Benefit's Coralista and Hervana blush mixed together. To highlight I used MAC's Soft and Gentle. For her lips she kept it simple and low maintenance, with Benefit's Coralista gloss, as they were eating a meal at prom and no one has time to touch up! 

Outfit

Her dress is from a concession within Topshop, you can find it here still in stock. It was £35, which is pretty reasonable for a Topshop dress and especially for prom. It has gorgeous gold glitter running underneath the floral pattern which looked so pretty in the sun light.  Her shoes were from New Look, but a while ago so probably are not longer available. Her nail varnish is Tanya Burr, New York Night, she chose a dark colour to keep with her "I don't want to look too pretty for prom" look. 

she is the worst person to take photos of as she hates having them taken so much, but I managed to get a few good ones, where she actually looks pretty happy and not like she wants to kill someone. 

Has anyone else got a prom this year? If you do I hope you have a great night!