The Contents of my Face: My Everyday Makeup Routine

I thought I would share with you from 'The Contents of my Face' series an everyday makeup look.  Very similar to a post here but a bit more updated with a few different products...

Primer...

First up, after my morning skincare routine, I apply a primer.  I'm currently using Laura Mercier's radiance primer (an apparent favourite of the new Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle & I can see why!).  It really gives you a glowy radiant base.  You could possibly wear it on it's own.
I always feel you need a primer if you want your makeup to last all day & with this one it definitely does.

Base...

Next up, I apply a bit of peach colour corrector under my eyes from the Revolution colour corrector palette with a small concealer brush & blend with a mini real techniques eraser sponge.
Then it's foundation time!  I'm currently using L'Oreal's True Match foundation in the shade Linen. (My shades tend to vary throughout the year)  I use a Real Technique's expert face brush to buff this in.
After this, I pop some concealer under my eyes, around my nose & anywhere that needs a bit of concealing!   I tend to use my favourite Maybelline eraser eye concealer in either 'light' or 'brightener'.  I then of course blend this all in with my Real Technique's blending sponge.
Once my concealer is done, I set it with my Rimmel Insta Fix & Matte powder with a small Real Techniques setting brush.

Adding a bit of colour...

Now my base is set, it's time to brighten up my face a bit more with some bronzer, blush & highlighter. 
My current bronzer to contour my face is by Bourjois which I apply with a bronzing blusher brush by, of course, Real Techniques.
For blusher & highlighter I use a variety but my current fave is from Sleek.  It's their Face Form Contouring & Blush palette in the shade Fair.  I use a Spectrum brush for my blusher & a small Real Techniques brush for my highlighter.
I pop my highlighter on the high points of my cheekbones, a little bit on my nose, chin & cupids bow.

Brows...

For my brows, I use my favourite Hi-Impact Brows brow powder & set them with any brow gel.  My current one is by Browcote.

For everyday I tend to not use eyeshadow.  Just some black eyeliner on my waterline (I really look odd without it!).  I really love the Smokey Eye pencil by Rodial.
Then a few coats of mascara.  A real fave is by Givenchy in the colour Black Taffeta (I also love Roller Lash by Benefit!).  It is brilliant for giving both volume & length.

Lips...

Finally, a bit of lippie!  So many to choose from, but a current newbie I've been reaching for is Half n' Half by MAC.  A lovely nude.


So, that's my everyday makeup routine.  What's yours?

Bee x 

What I Bought In New York - Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, Sephora & more!

Back in 2016, I wrote a blog post about what I had bought in New York (post here) - well, guess what? I've been again & so of course, dear readers, I thought I must let you all know what I spent my hard earned dollars on!

First up, Victoria's Secret...
They had a big sale on & so I thought I would treat myself to their lovely scented papers in the fragrance Bombshell for my chest of drawers in my bedroom.  

Great for keeping your clothes smelling fresh while they are folded away.  I also purchased two gorgeous fragrance mists in the scents 'Love Spell unwrapped' & 'Dark Flora'.

Onto Bath & Body Works...
I bought a fair few things!  I purchased three shower gels -
Tahiti Island Dream
Magic in the Air

& from their aromatherapy range - Comfort (vanilla & patchouli)

Lovely!
They also had a range of sheet facemasks, so I thought I'd grab a couple of those -
Totally Tea-riffic (Teatree oil & licorice root extract)
Sea You Soon (Sea minerals & Hyaloronic acid)

I can't wait to try them out!
Finally, you can't go to Bath & Body Works without grabbing their 'pocketbacs' hand gels & of course, I got quite a few!

Obviously a trip to Sephora was definitely on the cards while I was in NY, so I stopped by there & got their own brand face masks which I loved when I bought them on my last trip.  I got the orchid eye mask, the green tea eye mask & a new red clay mask to try.

I also purchased a NARS blusher which I adore!

Onto New York's famous MACY's store & I purchased a big red apron with the famous Macy's star logo (I fancy baking a cake now!).

 I also went to their MAC counter & bought a lovely new lippie in the shade Half 'n Half - it's an amplified finish & another great nude to add to my collection! 

I also bought another lipstick from Milani, while in a Walgreens store (love that shop - you can buy everything there!), in the shade 86 Tropical Nude.  Now I know I've just said I had just purchased a nude but this was more of a peachy coral tone.  Perfect for this summer (hurry up sun!).

Lastly, a bit of fashion...
I went in Old Navy in Times Square & bought some lovely silver studs, a NY tee & two pairs of I think the best jeans I have ever bought!   They are from the curvy range, both in slightly different shades & one in the straight style & another in skinny.  Both so comfortable, look great & a bargain price too! Couldn't ask for more!

Other than a few souvenirs, I think that's about it & I'm really pleased with my purchases!

I had such a lovely time in New York.  Not just for the retail therapy, but it's such a wonderful & interesting place to visit.

I can't wait to go again one day!

Bee x

How to Rock a Red Lip This Party Season....if you are pale!

It's the party season & it seems the vital makeup accessory is the red lip, however, if you are fair-haired & on the pale side, like myself, how do you wear it?  If you have the confidence of Gwen Stefani or the hollywood glamour of Marilyn Monroe then fine, but for something that could take you from office to cocktail bar, you need to get the colour just right. 

And, I think I've found it! 

It comes in the form of 'Pretty Boy' by MAC.  It is a very wearable cremesheen formula - perfect for these winter months where your lips need as much moisture as possible.  The red colour does have orange & pink tones in the bullet but once applied comes across as a classic red which can be built up from sheer to a more solid colour. 

This lipstick is ideal for pale skin with it being so buildable.  It is so easy to apply & wear that you can get away without wearing lip liner; it doesn't bleed - It definitely won't make you look like you have been scoffing jam doughnuts!! (smeared jam is NOT a good look!)

Perfect! 

A wonderful red lip which gives stunning results day or night! (oh, & it lasts....it took me ages to remove when I swatched it for this post!)

Head over to MAC now & check it out - you will be party ready in no time! 

Whats your ideal party makeup?  I'd love to know! 

Bee x 
  

MY JUNE FAVOURITES!

June has disappeared & we are into July!  But, before last month becomes a distant memory, I will share with you my 'June Joys'! 

Here goes!

Summer MAC Lippie...

Since 2016 has been the year of purchasing MAC products for me, of course, I must mention a new favourite lippie.  It's the shade Flamingo!  

It's a lustre finish so quite sheer when applied, (don't be put off by how bright it looks in the bullet) but you can build it up.  It's a true summery shade, a lovely corally pink & feels very comfortable on the lips. 

Bronzing Goodness from Bourjois...

I've used this bronzer for quite a while now, but I'd given it a bit of a break & tried other brands.  But, of course, I've eventually succumbed & repurchased this.  It's perfect!  It's the Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder.  My shade is no. 51 & is perfect for my skin tone.  I love the chocolate bar packaging & obviously the gorgeous chocolate smell! Delicious!! 

In my opinion, it is one of the best bronzers on the market.  Definitely check it out & the other varieties in the range.  It's affordable & one you will be reaching for all this summer! 


Mermaid Brushes...

As you will probably know, I am a huge fan of the Real Techniques brushes, but there is another brand that has caught my eye!  Spectrum!   They are beautiful! 

I received a blusher brush in a beauty box, started using it & absolutely loved it.  A perfect shape to add a pop of colour to your cheeks & super soft.

I recently went to the Beauty UK show (I'm a mobile beauty therapist by day!) & Spectrum had a stand there.  So, I thought I'd try out their eyeshadow brushes & wasn't disappointed. They are so soft, perfect for applying & blending & just so pretty in perfect mermaid colours! (If you buy a set of brushes, they come in a cute seashell bag!) 

I have A06, A08 & A18 (so far!)

They are just really lovely brushes & a great price too. Great value for money.  

Kipling Bags...

So, over recent years, I've built up a bit of a collection of Kipling bags.  Not many purchased by me though!   Most have been given to me by my auntie & my mum!  The latest one was again given to me by my wonderful mum & I adore it! (Thanks again mum if you are reading!)

I love the practicality of Kipling bags.  They have really wearable fabric, so I never have to worry about getting my bag wet or dirty, as you can wash them.  Kipling always have lots of pockets for all your essentials, come in a range of colours, have sturdy zips (they originally did luggage, & still do, so the zips are brilliant!) & are just excellent! 

The bag my mum gifted me is the 'Deena' & perfect for everyday.  It's in black, so goes with everything & again has lots of pockets for your phone, purse, sunglasses & makeup.  It's a cross-body style too, so very comfortable to wear. Great for travelling.

If you have never tried Kipling bags before, definitely check them out.  There is a style for everyone's taste - find them on their website (kipling.com), QVC or their own store & some independent stores stock them too. 


New coffee...

I was after a new coffee for my cafetiere, so in my local Morrisons I spied some Taylors of Harrogate coffee.  I was sure I'd tried theirs before but I'd never purchased it myself.  

I decided to go for their Brasilia version.  It's a 'lively' flavour (as it says on the packaging!), a medium to rich roast with a slight chocolatey flavour & is delicious!

 

Definitely one to repurchase. 

Right, that's my favourites for the month of June - so I'm off to grab another cuppa! 

Bee x 

The Contents of my Face: My Daily Makeup Routine (Or 'Dash Out the Door' Look!)

So, you go to bed with good intentions; you will wake up early, so you can spend more time on your makeup, right?  And what happens?  You either oversleep or spend too much time checking the internet or eating breakfast!

I seem to do all of the above!  Therefore, I thought I would share my makeup routine if I'm dashing off to work.  I must say it varies slightly depending on what products I use, but I've managed to get it down to 11 minutes - & that is quick for me! 

So, here goes...

After my skincare, I apply my base.  Currently its a BB cream instead of foundation, as for day to day & for work I generally prefer a lighter base during these summer months.  So, at the moment I'm using Dead Sea Spa Magik Diamond Range Beauty Balm in Natural with an SPF of 15.  I apply this with my Real Techniques stippling brush & buff it in. 

Then, I apply & blend in my NYX dark circle concealer (sometimes I do this before my base) with my fingers under my eyes to hide my horrendous dark circles & scar by my left eye.  I sometimes also add & blend in some of my Maybelline Eraser Eye concealer too. 

I then run some mineral powder under my eyes to set my concealer in place.  My current fave is by Primark! (see why here)

Next, I mattify my face with good old Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder in 001 Transparent (have used this since forever!) with my Real Techniques powder brush.

To brighten up my face a bit, I use various bronzers, but my current favourite is Bourjois bronzing powder in 51.  Perfect for contouring my cheeks & giving me a general glow.  I use, of course, (you guessed!) a fabulous Real Techniques brush to apply this.

For adding a bit of colour to my cheeks I apply a lovely blusher with (currently!) a different brush other than the wonderful Real Techniques - a very pretty brush by Spectrum!  My favourite blush (& now of all time!) & the one I tend to use more often than not is by NARS.  I received it in a beauty box & absolutely loved it, so I will definitely be purchasing a full size version.  I honestly think I won't ever need another blush....ever!!   And I'm sure you have guessed which one!!   

For highlight, I tend to use Golden Lights by Makeup Revolution, which I pop on the top of my cheekbones & under my brow bone. (see my review of this product here)  

Now, as I say, this is a 'dash out the door' look, so I don't spend much time on my eyes, but to make them look alive (other than concealer!), I firstly apply my Hi-Impact Brows brow powder to my eyebrows (I use the lighter shade), then set them with my clear Rimmel Brow This Way brow gel (which is looking truly disgusting right now!).

After that, I skip eyeshadow (no time!) & apply black eyeliner to my inner waterline & smudge.  I usually use Barry M's kohl liner.  My eyeliner I guess, is my signature look & my security blanket - I'm not 'me' if I'm not wearing it!

In the inner corner of my eyes I apply a little white eyeliner by Rimmel.  This is a trick I learnt years ago (you can use nude if you prefer) - it makes you look wide awake! And it definitely does! 

I then add a quick sweep of mascara.  At the moment I'm using a sample of Givenchy's  Noir Couture Volume Mascara in Black Taffeta (it's lovely by the way!).

Last, but by no means least, I grab a tinted lip balm or lipstick.  It could be anything!  Today, it was 'Modesty' by MAC.

And that's it!   

It may sound a lot, but it honestly takes me just a few minutes.

What do you use to make yourself look presentable if you only have minutes to spare?  I'd love to know! 

Bee x 

My April Favourites!

It's a new month, so I thought I would let you all know what I loved in April!

Keeping Fresh...

The first of my favourites for the month of April is a anti-perspirant!  It is the Maximum Protection one by Sure.  The current scent I'm using is Sport Strength.  They have other scents in the collection which all smell really lovely.

It is a solid formula which you twist up twice & then apply.  It does advise you to use it twice a day, but I feel it is enough to use once per day & keeps you feeling fresh all day, everyday!

I think this is the best anti-perspirant I've ever used & I highly recommend it. 

A great quirky place to eat...

Next up is a new restaurant discovery.  I've heard about this place before & it really intrigued me.  It's a restaurant called 'Bills'.  

As regular readers of my blog will know, I am gluten, wheat & dairy (cows milk only) intolerant & eating out can be somewhat of a pain.  So, you can imagine my relief when I found out that Bills does some great alternatives to your 'run of the mill' restaurants.

They do have some different dishes, with a variety of funky salads, gluten free bread, breakfasts....& amazing cocktails too! The only downer for me is a lack of desserts.  Yes, they do have gluten free ones but not dairy free.  I do sadly find this very common in many restaurants, but I guess, on the up side, its better for my waistline!!

If theres a Bills near you, go check it out.  I've not quite worked out the theme yet, but the vibe is definitely a bit quirky, with great furnishings & a little shop too, so you can take a bit of Bills home with you. 

My next favourites for the month are all about makeup.....

Better Lashes...

I have a love-hate relationship with my eyelashes!  Sometimes they look great & long.  Other times, they look clumpy & short!  I do find though, since using this new product they have looked a lot better.

So, its all down to 'They're Real' Tinted Primer by Benefit, which I received in a beauty box.

The colour is mink brown & is perfect to use either on its own or under mascara. 

It does seem to really lengthen my lashes & make my eyes look more awake!

I currently use it everyday before applying my mascara & I find that I don't need to put mascara on my bottom lashes as this primer already gives a good enough effect.

If you have never used a primer on your lashes before, I would strongly recommend trying it - I'm sure you will be impressed with the difference it makes!

A New Lip Colour...

So, I popped into Kiko a few weeks ago.  I fancied a new lipstick & wanted something that looked a bit brighter & not what I normally wear.  I had in my head that I wanted a coral/peachy colour.

Anyway, I ended up with colour number 902 in the 'Smart' lipstick range - my favourite range by Kiko & such great value for money! (see my review here)

Now, its not as peachy when applying it, as compared to the bullet.  It's probably more pinky (it's called 'pastel pink' on the website & looks more pinky there than in real life), but I love it.

It's a really nice summery colour (wishing I was somewhere hot right now!) & a lovely creamy consistency.

So, as you can tell, I came away rather pleased & it didn't cost much at all! Bargain!

My First 2 MAC Items...

As the title says, I've finally purchased two MAC products & I've been loving them!

They are a lipstick in the shade 'Modesty' & a lip liner in the shade 'Soar'.

The lipstick is a cremesheen, which is perfect for me as I have such dry lips, so I need something which is very moisturising.  The shade 'Modesty' is a lovely nudey pink which you can wear with everything. 

Of course, with my lipliner, I had to purchase the shade 'Soar'.  The shade everyone seems to love!  And I can understand.  It's a nice pinky 'lip' colour & again, seems to go with everything - with most lipsticks, or on it's own.  It is also very comfortable on your lips, soft & easy to apply.

Overall, very pleased with my MAC products.  Theres a few more added to my list now....best get saving!

So, thats what I loved in April.  What products did you love last month?  I'd love to know!

Bee x