Makeup To Breakup: The Inspiration

  Well, this is awkward! All that build-up in my last post and I haven't updated in weeks. I'm determined to get serious and post more often, so now you can follow my blog with Bloglovin!

Basically between now and then, I became exceedingly poor and changed the name of the blog from the ever so tacky sounding "Ohsofrivolous". I only tend to do big purchases I think are worth it, and I wanted my blog to reflect that. Also compared to other bloggers out there, I'm a novice only in it for the learning curve and the chance to blabber about things I love. Pure and simple.

So, I decided to name my little space on the internet after a punk song, so it sounds a bit more like me. "Make up to Break up" is a song by Siouxsie and the Banshees around the punk era (circa 1977) that encapsulates my old mentality towards slap and hiding my features away. Around 2010 I looked backwards into their back catalogue and it was easy to relate to lyrics like:

"Shadow conjures cheekbones
 Hides a nasal disgrace 
A disfigured atrocity
J-j-jutting out of place"

As someone with a round face, chubby cheeks and a wide nose, I welcomed Siouxsie's artistic approach towards makeup, especially contouring as it offered me a poor substitute for her perfect angular cheekbones. To help sculpt my massive cheeks I use MAC blush in Raizin, Benefit Hoola Bronzer or the Sleek contour kit in Medium depending on how dramatic I want to go.


Growing up, I wasn't that interested in cosmetics (mainly because it was near impossible to be matched up to drugstore foundations, but that's another blog post) so I looked tomboyish and awkward next to the 'girls with eyes like swimming pools'. When I reached my twenties, my confidence dipped even more to the point where I had a cake face daily.



Siouxsie Sioux in '76

 

But despite the self-loathing in her lyrics, people like Siouxsie bring hope as all that disappears when she's on stage. Known for being brash, blunt and fearless, her onstage persona here as a relatively unknown act from Bromley never fails to inspire me. Her work in the Banshees reflects this - at their first gig they played an alternative version of The Lord' Prayer after not organising a setlist.

Before the Banshees, Siouxsie was part of the Bromley Contingent, the entourage of The Sex Pistols in '76 and was part of THAT Bill Grundy interview. In the 80's, along with the music her make up really came into her own as she developed the iconic dramatic looks she became well known for. The gothic image and the darkness of the music only added to her allure and to this day she remains a punk icon. Whenever things get a bit rough or I have a crisis of confidence, I think to myself "What would Siouxsie do?"




Now I don't really wear graphic eyeliner that often, but I have learned to embrace my features more as a consequence of having 80's musicians as my heroes. I've always liked the artistic aspect of beauty and fashion, so 2013 is my year to get creative. Other examples of 80's icons include Debbie Harry for her impeccable fashion skills, Kate Bush as my eyebrow inspiration (I still give mine a tidy, but I do love a strong brow) and Robert Smith circa 1981 is my biggest star crush of all time. Just saying.

In Sickness and In Health

I have been a bit all over the place this month, mostly because I've been ill throughout most of November and it's hard to talk confidently about beauty when you look like shit. So these are the wonder products that have helped to make me look human on the rare occasions when I'd leave the house. The packaging is dented and slightly grubby in these photos, but on the bright side at least you know that they are well loved.

Weleda Skin Food - £7

Okay, the one pictured is the 30ml and the one I've linked to is twice the size, but I have no doubt you'd find a use for this during the winter months. This is like a thick salve as it helps to sooth any dry areas and cracked shin, such as elbows and knees. This may be a bit gross, but I tend to get really noticeable black marks on my nose where I've been wiping away, to the extent that someone asked me if i had intentionally burned it! This has come to the rescue as my skin just drinks it up. It doesn't have the oily residue left by other moisturisers, as Weleda is a natural brand and I will be looking to buy more from them in the future. Using this near the beginning of the month has reduced any discolouration around my nose and helps to deal with any skin irritations brought up from the cold.

L'Occitane Dry Skin Shea Butter Hand Cream - £8

This was a fairly new acquisition as I've never really used hand cream regularly, but as the weather got colder I picked this up as there was so much buzz around it - and frankly it was getting a bit embarrassing pulling out my mini REN Rose Otto Lotion whilst on the Tube. This has a luxurious feel to is as the thrick formula is instantly hydrating, leaving your hands moisturised for a few hours. Definitely one for the times when you need a quick pick-me-up as the smell is divine.

Bath and Bodyworks Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel in Linen

Unfortunately, I'm not sure if you can get this scent anymore, as Bath and Bodyworks are located in the US and Canada. I can only link here where they sell a few seasonal Favourites, including Warm Vanilla Sugar which I also own and love. Back to Linen, this is such a clean, homey scent and is good when you're rushing around on public transport or maybe after blowing your nose. The gel also contains Tahitian Palm Milk so it's not as drying as other alcohol based hand gels are. So if you're within reach of a Bath and Bodyworks store, give this a sniff as it's a clean favourite (sorry) from me.

 

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm - £10

Yup, everyone raves about this, but for good reason. At first, I was skeptical and only got the £5 stick version, which needs warming up and breaking into before it can be on par with the tub version. I lost the chapstick, and I couln't go one week without cracking and getting the 15ml tub. The formula is extra nourishing and smells of milk and honey. Horrible cracked lips, begone! I was at the stage of the cold where Carmex is as useful as water, but the Nuxe lipbalm is longlasting and also helps to get rid of any dead skin. It may not be best under lipstick, but the heavy luxe packaging and thick hydrating texture more than makes up for it.

Benefit Sun Beam - £18.50

On sick days, your skin tends to look a bit dull and lifeless and this highlighter tends to be the solution when I don't want to look like I tried too hard. Yes, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz is still my favourite, maybe I'll do a side by side comparison someday. The thing is, the shade Topaz is too dark and bronzey for winter and Sun Beam offers a good compromise. I tend to use it on the tops of cheeks and over my dark circles, so the light reflective particles can give my face a subtle lift whilst hiding the lack of sleep and pale skin.

So those are my necessities for many sick days this month! Just so you know, I have changed my URL from ohsofrivolous.blogspot.com to makeuptobreakupblog.blogspot.com, just because there's no point having your own personal space on the web if it doesn't represent who you are. I hope to show more of my personality on here and I'm genuinely excited about the next post! Take care xxx

Portable Skincare 2: Eyecreams

Hello guys! Here's installment number two of my travel skincare routine. I haven't managed to finish even one eyecream yet, so unfortunately the Strivectin set remains untouched. Some may wonder why it is effectively necessary to have three of these on rotation. Some call it obsessive, but I call it a working skincare wardrobe.

L-R: Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream, Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus, REN Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel

Just for reference, these are all past magazine samples, but some have been quite generous in terms of size and I will be looking to repurchase at least one of these when these are finished.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream -  £20 full size

If I had to pick only one, this would be the main contender. The Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream is good for night time as its creamy formula sinks in effortlessly and only a small amount is needed. This gets an outing if my eyes are tired, irritated or just needs a pick me up. Having used this since June, my dark circles have significantly reduced but the fine lines still haven't shifted (apart from a laughter line above my nose which has been smoothed). The 7ml Glamour sample is still going strong, but I fully intend to purchase the full size afterwards because it's just THAT good.

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus - £39.50 full size

This is my go to for smoothing wrinkles despite it being officially marketed as a face serum. Apart from the aforementioned laughter line at the top of my nose I only have wrinkles under my eyes, so those are the only areas I can use this. After application, fine lines appear softened, but in terms of long-term use, the lines under my eyes haven't faded at all. It contains the wonder ingredient of the month, hyaluronic acid, and claims to tighten pores, help reverse UV damage and fade dark spots, so it is a good multi-tasker to have in my travel kit. But all this aside, with no permanent results this is quite average as its gel-like consistency doesn't sink well into the skin. The formula also contains a retinol compound which makes the formula drying and potentially irritable to those with sensitive skins. I'll report back when I try the Strivectin, but this only serves as a temporary measure.

REN Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel - £20 full size     

A tingly treatment for puffy eyes, this REN eye gel is perfect for reducing any eyebags in the morning. It gives a cooling sensation when applied and is very effective in smoothing the area around the eye also. This gel can be hydrating when the right amount is used, as the formula absorbs well into the skin. The radiant part of the product is down to REN's natural ingredients which also in this case contains hyaluronic acid. This also helps to reduce the appearance of dark rings around my eyes if I apply it where the tops of my cheekbone meets the beginning of my eye socket. Not a lot is needed and this 3ml sample has been used every morning for at least 4 months. The full size packaging has a pump and the only gripe I have of repurcasing is that many have complained of wasting too much product.   


So that's all my travel picks, I wouldn't recommend the Clinique one but I just feel the need to use it up rather that throw it away. Please remmber that everyone's skin is different and my bad experiences shouldn't put you off something you already love. Next post in the series is face creams and moisturisers, so let me know if any favourites in the series so far have made the cut!

TK Maxx Bargains

This is a well overdue post! Most of these purchases have been made in the months of October and November, but some items will require a fair bit of rummaging through all sorts of faff. My favourite branches are at High St Kensington and the quieter suburban ones as they are less likely to be completely ransacked through.

Strivectin SD Range

As mentioned previously, I have started developing fine lines under my eyes and had heard many fine things about the Strivectin range, including the £49 price tag. Fear not, there's another way....

Yup, you read right. £18 for a set containing the Strivectin SD Instant Retexturising Scrub, Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles and Intensive Concentrate for Stretchmarks and Wrinkles. On the packaging, it claims to be an 8 week supply but frankly, this could stretch for a lot longer than just 2 months! I am waiting to finish some other skincare tidbits before I pounce on these goodies, but I am tempted to break into the Intensive Concentrate to try and help fade my stretchmarks. I have also seen sets with an antiaging serum for £24, and have heard of others finding the full size Eye Concentrate on the shelves. If you see it in your local TK Maxx, grab it while you can as this set only holds 7ml if you're in it just for the eye cream.  

TIGI Catwalk

I am known to be a bit picky when it comes to hair products. My hair is very dry and brittle, yet very thick, so most moisturising shampoos won't cut it. Some products catered to afro hair have caused problems in the past in terms of leaving residue behind or just not leaving my hair nourished enough. TIGI is a salon quality brand and I never paid much attention until I saw the reviews for the Oatmeal and Honey Conditioner. Unfortunately, this seems to be discontinued, so either online sites or TK Maxx is the way to go.

The tagline "Comfort Food For Damaged Hair" rings true as the formula is really moisturising without weighing the hair down or leaving any residue behind. Pictured above are the smaller bottles for the shampoo and conditioner. In my opinion, £7.99 and £5.99 respectively for a salon brand ain't too shabby. The massive 750ml bottles are usually £11 and last an age, so this is another moneysaving option. Instore, there were many ranges available such as the Bedhead, Foxy Curls and a few SLS free options.

Nails Inc.    

Often I come across nail polish sets but some may leave you feeling cheated , such as Essie's packaged sets of the same polish, or OPI polishes that your poor nana wouldn't be caught dead in. But the offerings from Nails Inc. have been consistently good and TK Maxx is mostly responsible for me owning 10 polishes from there. Individually, the starting price for polishes are usually £10, but I get sets of 3 for £11.99. Yes, most of the time I won't really need a new nail polish, but with prices like these it's hard not to justify it!

L-R: Hampstead Heath, Old Bond Street, Paddington 

Hampstead Heath is a classic pillar-box red, Old Bond Street is a striking bronze with microglitter, whereas Paddington is a dull grey and has wheedled into my rotation this A/W season. As a set the colours are so versatile and I honestly think if any girl woke up to this on Christmas morning, they woud not be disappointed.

L-R: Montpelier Square, Edinburgh Gate, Clifford Street

 Montpelier Square is a metallic silver, Edinburgh Gate is a chunky glitter polish with green red and silver particles, and Clifford Street is a dark purple shade with a mixture of purple and grey microglitter. I have already raved about Edinburgh Gate on here, but Montpelier Square makes an equally loud statement. You'll see swatches of these when I do my Nails inc Collection, which is otherwise comprised of magazine freebies and the odd department store purchase.

The ones that got away

I didn't buy these but other sets I have laid eyes on are from Vera Wang, Lierac and This Works (coincidentally the one Lisa Eldridge mentioned in her gift ideas video.. only it was £15)

I hope this has been somewhat helpful, take care for now xx

Portable Skincare 1: Cleansers

Since moving home, I have gotten into a routine of packing an overnight bag and staying with the bf twice a month. This is where I tend to dig out my samples and firm favourites in an attempt to save space. Most of it (along with my toothbrush) fits into this little Nick Lowe case which was originally part of the Blemish Starter Pack, a steal for a fiver at TK Maxx (More on bargains at TK Maxx at a later post).  Can you recognise any gems in there?

This four- part series will go through what I take with me on a regular basis, as well as some space-saving tips to cram in extras for any skin issues that can crop up. As the title suggests, the first will be on cleansers - yes, plural. Being stressed out, living in an unfamiliar environment, or any changes in diet can cause the skin's condition to change and like a good boy scout, you should always be prepared!

If you've read my first empties post, the L'Occitane Angelica Oil Cleanser will come as no surprise. It brightens the skin whilst having a healing effect on any irritated areas or blemishes. I sometimes get weird skin reactions when travelling and this helps significantly to calm them down. The peppermint and bark oils give it an inoffensive earthy scent which I really like and as the Travel size is highly reduced at £4 online, I will probably order another bottle before they all disappear.

The Murad Essential C-Cleanser is another gel based cleanser based on brightening the skin, but has more citric oils in the formula and works best on oily skin. I got this as a freebie in Marie Claire's September issue when my skin was less dry. It worked a treat for hydrating the skin and giving it a glow without leaving it feeling greasy. In the colder months however, it does tend to strip my skin of moisture (think grapefruit juice dry), so I gravitate more towards the L'Occitane one. It is also more expensive at £36 for 200ml, and as you need a big blob of product for your face, it will probably run out fairly quickly. If you missed out in September, you can get 45ml of product for £10 on Murad's website if you fancy giving it a go and if it happens to be in stock.

Next up will be my choice of eyecreams - again plural. However this may change as I've managed to get hold of some Strivectin SD Eye Concentrate at a reasonable price. Having heard Ruth from A Model Recommends constantly sing its praises I want to see if it'll do anything to help with the lines under my eyes.  Can you guess where I got it from?     

I'm not dead... I promise!

Well, I've been a bad blogger, haven't I? Sorry I haven't posted, it's been a mixture of not physically being able to submit anything through Blogger, moving back home and being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of beauty products I've accumulated!! I only have one face after all.

Update 1: I got my hair did! Considering that I've never been a fan of the poker straight look, I have been known to avoid the hairdressers for fear of being burned. But this time, I came out with a short bob and curled it loosely to give that messy tousled look.It probably didn't help that I'd been out in the wind and rain before I took this, it looks like I've been pulled through a hedge...

Update 2: My new makeup routine consists of mixing Revlon Colorstay in toast with YSL's Le Teint Touche Eclat, which seems to have solved the problem of using them individually. On its own, Colorstay gives full coverage,is very matte and this particular shade made my complexion look muddy. On the flipside, YSL's latest offering is very sheer and gives a dewy finish which doesn't last long on my skin. The shade B60 is my closest match despite it being too light for me (it leans more yellow than my skintone) so this compromise gives a more natural semi-matte finish. On my lips is MAC Syrup lipstick, which has become my new go-to nude.

EDIT: I forgot to mention what brush I used for my base as applying the Revlon Colorstay can be a bit tricky and it dries quickly on the face! I apply my foundation with the Real Techniques Stippling Brush as the duofibres allow you to work quickly whilst stippling the product onto your skin. Everyone's been raving about these brushes so I don't think another glowing review is necessarily needed, but before I bought this, I would use a standard foundarion brush and end up using too much product. The Stippling brush gives an even lightweight application without compromising on the coverage.

Update 3: There is SO much I forgot I had! After moving back into a box room, I've had to move everything into storage and it hasn't been easy. A vast amount of it is skincare from different parts of my skin journey, and makeup that I've tried, thought was so-so and cannot bring myself to throw it out. I'm trying to phase out buying so much by just using what I have, but the lack of funds hasn't stopped me compiling a list as long as my arm! Things forgotten include the Revlon Colourstay, SEVERAL nail polishes and my favourite perfume of all time Flight of Fancy by Anna Sui.

I was reminded by another favourite over at The Sunday Girl blog where the mere mention of the Bath and Bodyworks hand sanitisers made my start looking for my own collection. I have 3: Linen, Warm Vanilla Sugar and Fresh Lemon. I'll show you the Lemon one as it's the least battered of them all.

I love these as they're very dinky and handbag friendly without the horrible alcohol scent! Considering I went to America a year or two ago, it's a wonder I have any left at all...

Update 4: After umming and ahhing I decided to visit the BeautyMart at Harvey Nichols to eye up the skincare section and hoard lots of Bioderma. Unfortunately for me, they were sold out of the big bottles, so had to resort to getting the tiny one to test it out... so far so good. I was fairly restrained despite them having Weleda, Balance Me and other organic goodies in stock. As aforementioned I have more than enough skincare (but of course that doesn't stop me wanting to try more, sigh) so I only walked out with Bioderma and yet another polish. FYI, the samples you get are amazing, mine included an oil cleanser.

Whilst in there, I was complemented on my nails, do you like? The green polish is Going Incognito by Essie (pre-diffusion line) and the glittery one is a very pared down Edinburgh Gate by Nails Inc. This glitter polish is so chunky it can be passed off as a sequin mani if you layer it enough, but the combination of silver, green and red particles make it very versatile.

I have a few things planned, such as my Nails Inc Polish Collection, what's in my make-up bag and other fun stuff. Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see.

Empties #1

This should become a regular thing, as I started taking my skincare more seriously around April/May and am trying to finish the half-finished items I own before investing in any more. If you go back to my first post, I have had hyperpigmentation issues and major scarring, which has massively reduced since I began a proper regimen. My skincare overhaul included using natural products whilst avoiding things with sulphates and parabens, a feat which French brands always manage to excel at without breaking the bank. Many of these things have seriously helped to even out my complexion and prevent acne. Another post is coming on what I currently use, but these are my empties over the last few months.

Vichy Normaderm Solution Micellaire for Acne-Prone Skin -£10.50
After all the buzz over micellar waters I popped into Boots and gave this a whirl. At the time of purchase, I was wearing full coverage foundations and this made it effortless to remove. As the solution is essentially oil suspended in water, I was surprised to find it mattifying with no extra residue. Unfortunately I did find it a touch too drying around the eyes, especially when removing mascara. I am looking to purchase some bottles from other brands to see how they compare, but the Vichy range definitely deserves more attention.

L'Occitane Cleansing Gel with Organic Angelica Water and Essential Oil - £4 Travel Size
Before this, I would often be using whatever cleanser that was lurking in the family bathroom (often Simple or Neutragena Grapefruit Face wash)  without paying attention to parabens, silicones or any other nasties. This travel size bottle came free with the June issue of Glamour and having lasted 5months, I have since picked up another. L'Occitane is a well-known natural brand and this my first foray into their vast skincare range. This has really made a difference to my skin - it's now brighter and surprisingly less dry.  The essential oils in this cleanser help to maintain moisture in the skin, whilst the peppermint oil helps to ward off any breakouts.


La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo - £13
Keeping with the French skincare theme, I got this after my skin reacted badly to another product. Perfect for those with oily skin that suffer from breakouts, this is sold as a moisturiser, but could easily double up as a primer as there silicones present in the formula. Personally, I found it more effective to use it on areas prone to breakouts (such as the chin) as it can be too drying.

La Roche Posay Effaclar A.I - £9.19
This formula is more creamy and is meant to target minimal blemishes and imperfections. Effaclar A.I. is more of a corrector for any scarring left after a breakout. For me, it worked best with a hydrating moisturiser underneath as the scars healed faster. I prefer this formula to Effaclar Duo, particularly if you have sensitive skin.

Korres Pomegranate Cleansing Mask - £7 (£5.76 in old packaging from Amazon)
I bought this on a whim on Amazon, as I usually steer clear of clay masks because of the smell. But this one has a slight pomegranate scent and the clay helps to remove impurities. I put it on twice a week after exfoliating and the result is clearer skin, and the appearance of tighter pores. The only thing stopping me from repurchasing is the Origins minis currently on sale for a similar price point. I have yet to try any of their masks so I am curious, but I cannot recommend Korres enough as they are paraben, suphate and sls free.

Garnier CleanDetox Detoxifying Exfoliation Wash - £5.49
This was bought a long long time ago, and despite containing parabens, this is one of my favourite exfoliators. Containing green mint and Vitamin E, it is an invigorating scrub meant to purge the skin of any impurities. It can be a bit abrasive, so it would be best to use on wet skin. The directions on the tube say to use 'a hazelnut size blob', but I'd use much less! A little goes a long way with this one.

Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Treatment - £12
This product has been hyped up to the heavens! Some have used it twice on a spot and it disappeared within a day. I wanted to like this product so much, and despite having good results in terms of combating spots, I wouldn't repurchase this. It stings on application, and since I stopped using it, I have had less scarring on my face. I felt that I had to persevere with it as I didn't get instant results; and I suspect my skin had gotten used to it before the bottle was used up. To conclude this mini-review, don't write it off, it just didn't work for me.

REN Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream - £27 full size
Despite having the smallest of samples, this was the gift that just kept giving as I've been using it on and off for roughly 6 months. It contains an SPF and kept my skin hydrated whilst using the smallest amount. There is just one bad point and that was the texture. I can't put my finger on it, but despite it being a cream, the consistency was... slightly on the greasy side. Saying that, I am in the midst of trying the version for sensitive skins and I prefer it a lot more, the formula seems much creamier without leaving any residue on the face. I'll keep you posted.

So there are my empties over the last few months. Do you own any of the products above? Let me know if there are any similar products you recommend or if you've had a similar reaction

Forgotten Favourites Part 2

Hello again! Time for the second installment of the hidden gems I unearthed this summer. All items are very versatile and can be suited to many skintones. To be fair, most of these items would be worn during A/W season as vampy lips and contoured cheeks are what I turn to the most in the colder months.



Natural Collection Blush in Rosy Glow - £1.99

My first foray into Natural Collection, this blush is perfect to add a dusky glow to your cheeks. For me I tend to find glitterbombs and dolly pink blushes quite jarring, so the brown tones of Rosy Glow are very complementary to the skin. Natural Collection Blushes are quite pigmented, matte, and easily blend down into a natural wearable finish. Dallas for Benefit is similar but with extra shimmer, so if you're looking for a high street dupe of Dallas, then try this.




Benefit Hoola Bronzer- £10 as seen above with the Tan About Town Kit or £23.50 full size

This was the only thing salvaged from the Tan About Town Kit which also had Bad Gal Lash Mascara and Some Kinda Gorgeous Foundation Faker inside. The cool tones are great for sculpting and framing the face without looking harsh. After relying on Sleek's Contour Kit, this was a godsend as  I have yet to make a sizeable dent in it despite its dinky size! The shade may look lighter than my face powder in the pan, but it translates as much darker on the skin, and serves as a fantastic contour powder across many skintones.

MAC Rebel Lipstick - £14

  Rebel was the first MAC lipstick I ever bought! Vampy yet girlie, this raspberry pink shade is the perfect shade for autumn. For those with lighter skintones, it can be the more wearable of the dark lipsticks as it is less in your face. It is a satin finish, so it is non-drying and wears quite well on the lips.

Dior Rouge Hypnotic Lipstick in Hypnotic Red - £25

Let's be frank, this is quite pricey for what it is. I was pretty much obsessed with the Dior Addict scent that coincidentally is carried in these lipsticks. It is a luscious deep berry shade with high shine. Patted on the lips it comes off as almost brown, but slightly layered you can achieve the perfect wine lip. If you don't particularly care for Dior, you can get a similar effect using Revlon's Black Cherry.

L-R: MAC Rebel, Dior Rouge Hypnotic Red and Revlon Black Cherry

 As you can see, the shade is quite similar between thr Dior and the Revlon, only Black Cherry is less sheer and offers a more opaque satin finish. The swatch for the Dior would have been neater if I hadn't broken the bullet in the process. Cue me running around to remember how to fix it with a candle lighter. Despite my heavy-handed ineptitude, the moral of the story remains the same - don't forget to go through your collection every once in a while, as you may find some hidden gems.

Forgotten Favourites Part 1

Firstly, apologies for not uploading any posts for a while. My skin and hot weather do not get on, so I haven't been wearing much make-up over the month of August. But during a much needed clearout, I rediscovered a few old gems from my stash. Some have really helped during the summer to keep the oil at bay whilst wearing a full face of slap, whereas some are more suited to the transition into Winter for those forward thinking lasses out there. Enjoy!

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC50



Not to be confused with the Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, this powder gives a matte look to the skin over foundation, or worn alone on a good skin day. Ironically, the MAC store in Canada that I visited made this exact mistake when I wanted the Powder Plus on holiday and I got this instead. Let's just call it a lucky accident.



Inside compact (and a glimpse of my camera in the mirror!)

 

The shade NC50 is perfect if you are yellow-toned like me but want to look less orange. I find that NC45 foundations tend to show up incredibly orange on my skin, and as I'm somewhere in the middle between the shades Dark and Deep Dark in MAC's MSF Natural powders, this is a great way to avoid the 'tangoed' look. The powder is very fine and is specially formulated to deal with oily skin as it leaves a very matte finish. The only downside is that it tends to cling to dry areas when used on its own, but on top of a tinted moisturiser it looks incredibly natural and gives a medium coverage. I can't find this on MAC's website, but if they have discontinued this I may have to start using it very sparingly...

Witch Anti-Blemish Skin Clearing Primer- £6.99

I bought this initially when I wasn't sure if primers actually made a real difference to my skin. This was the first one I bought and since then, I have tried out some pricier ones that managed to let my make-up slip faster than usual ( Benefit's The Porefessional, anyone?) Until I dug it up 3 weeks ago, I had genuinely forgotten how soft and moisturising it feels when I apply it. It has the same silicone finish as the Porefessional, but with a creamier consistency and witch hazel to soothe any irritations or spots that may be lurking. I found in the hot weather that it lengthened the wear times of dewy foundations and no touch ups were needed. For oilier skinned girls, this is a must-have in your collection.

Sleek Original Palette - £7.99

Keeping with the "drugstore" theme, this palette contains everything needed for anyone wanting to get adventurous with colour. Mixing neutrals with the colours on the bottom row act as a great combination for daytime to make your eyes pop - supersubtle pink eyeshadow is meant to be a beauty trend this season. For night-time, the top colours are very appropriate for creating an intense smoky eye. There can be some fallout as all the eyeshadows are glittery, but despite this I do see myself using this religiously now I know where it is! The copper and olive tones are my favourite shades.

MUA Eyeliner in Intense Black and Eyeshadow in 01 Black- £1 each 

What I'm going to say next doesn't just apply to these two items from MUA but the majority of the range: The pigmentation and staying power of their products are phenomenal, especially considering the low pice point. I do often tear up when I'm lining my waterline or my tightline, but the Intense Eyeliner still doesn't budge. They also do a range of lipliners and lipsticks for £1 which I also must look ninto as I've heard such great things. I use the two together to create a really intense smoky eye and they blend exceptionally well.

In case there was any doubt, here's a swatch.

Recently I used these two items combined with MAC's duochrome Club eyeshadow (brown/green) patted over it, followed by Embark (matte dark brown) to soften any outside edges. Including the infamous Carbon, this has to be the best matte black I've ever tried. FACT.

Along with a slew of planned posts, I have a part 2 coming up which involves more cheek and lip products, but this just goes to show how many great products eventually get unused and forgotten about. Are you guilty of this? Have you used any of these items when shopping your stash?

 

 Candice xx

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector - Holy Grail Product?

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Travel size in Topaz- £10

Yes, you read correctly, this is easily the best highlighing product I've ever tried - and I've tried a lot! I have heard many established bloggers rave about Becca highlighting products, particularly in the shade Pearl, but I couldn't find any online swatches for Topaz on darker skintones. I took a gamble and ordered the travel size, which for some reason is only available through Zuneta in this shade.

It is the most gorgeous golden shade - subtle yet illuminating. I dot it on the tops of my cheekbones and browbone, creating a C shape around the eye for a more natural highlight. But the Shimmering Skin Pefector has many uses as you could apply it on its own as a base, or mix it with your foundation. It boasts many skin benefits such as spf 20 and is packed with lots of antioxidants, making it suitable as a tinted moisturizer. But if you wanted to get the full size, it has a hefty price tag at £33 for 50ml. The travel size only has 15ml of product and I would probably repurchase the bigger bottle, but frankly how much highlighter does a person need?

Edit: I have since made a comparison to Benefit's Highbeam with better swatches - link here

What are your favourite highlighters? Any recommendations?

Candice xx

NOTD- Nails Inc's Bluebell

Have you ever been against the idea that absolutely any colour can be worn on the nails? I used to reject this theory, only wearing black, purples and dark greens as I knew they worked well for me.  After slowly coming round to the effect of neon orange on my nails earlier this year, I'm trying to buck the trend - albeit with little baby steps. Throughout spring and summer I've been tempted by pastel blue shades that I feel are far too stark to work for my skintone (Topshop's Pool Party and Essie's Absolutely Shore spring to mind). Luckily, I managed to get my perfect blue shade thanks to a freebie in June's Instyle magazine.

Nails Inc's Bluebell is a tad purple toned, but still looks bright enough on its own to be considered a true blue pastel shade.  To get the purple to show up more, I layered the polish on top of Essie's Chinchilly, which despite its hyped status, is itching to get more use as it looks extremely muddy next to my golden toned skin. I always use Sally Hansen's Double Duty as base and top coat as it makes my polish super durable, sometimes lasting a whole week without chipping! This has been one of my favourite nail colours this summer and I think I've found the perfect combination for a low maintenance girl like me.

I always recommend Nails Inc polishes as they are long lasting and I have always been impressed by their formulas. What are your manicure must haves? Have you been making the most of the magazine freebies this season?

It's only me..

As my first post, this should probably give an idea of what this blog should be all about. Firstly, my name is Candice and I have a current obsession with skincare and make-up. But this isn't set in stone. I only really got into beauty around 2 or 3 years back when my sister bought me my first foundation that truly matched my skintone (Mac Studio Fix in NC45 if anyone's interested). Even then, I wasn't as into it as I am now, but in my teens and twenties I've been the bare face tomboy as well as the made-up insecure wreck. Only in the last year I have reached a balance I am happy with and felt able to write about it on the internet.

So on the surface, this blog is about beauty and life, but the main thing here is not to take things too seriously! Looking forward to sharing my favourite products and tips - some of these have played a massive part in clearing up my skin. Since January, I started a new skincare regime which put an end to major scarring and hyper-pigmentation that I've had for yonks. Stay tuned for more posts, I might even show my face next time!  

Candice xx