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 

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 

It's the end of the month.....it's JANUARY FAVOURITES TIME!

Wow! It's the end of January & we've really settled into 2016.....& with that, I thought I would let you know what things I've been enjoying in this new year & new month.....

A new scent...

Now, we all love a Yankee candle, don't we? They have such an amazing range of scents.  I can't resist smelling every single one when I enter a store selling these.  So, recently I just had to treat myself to a new one!
It may be a festive fragrance but I think 'Snowflake Cookie' can be burned at any time of the year.  With it's vanilla sugary scent, I find it really comforting.  The only problem I find is, it can sometimes make you feel hungry! I'm burning it right now as I type this.  I'm glad I purchased the large size, so this irresistable fragrance will be filling my living room for some time....
Right, off to grab a biscuit.....!!

Smart technology at your fingertips...

Fancy some clothing with 'smart technology'? Well, I think I've found it! No, it's not a top that makes you invisible! It's touch screen gloves from Primark! And whats even better, they only cost me £1!
Oh & yes, they work.
Theres no sign of the weather getting much warmer at the moment & as I've said before in another post (Get Happy!), I suffer from dry hands, so I do like to keep them warm, but I am slightly addicted to my iPhone! Gloves & iPhones don't always mix! But now, Primark have come up with something that works for both!
And I love them. 
They have special stitching on your thumb & index finger on both gloves & work perfectly when using a touch screen.
And I love them so much that I have 2 pairs! One in black & one in burgundy!

 

A true match...

So, this month I've been wearing the lovely 'L'oreal Paris True Match' foundation.  I've found it to be really easy to blend & feels lovely on my skin.
I'm pretty pale & originally thought I would need 'Rose Ivory' thinking I was a bit of an english rose type tone, but soon realised even that was a bit pale for me & that really I have slight yellow undertones to my skin (& no, it's not jaundice!), so I thought I'd pick up the 'golden ivory' to warm me up a bit but without being too dark & it really did work!
It evened out my skintone & made me look less 'corpse like' & more 'alive'!
I may try out their matching powder next & see how that applies.  Always up for trying something new!

Tools of the trade...

Well, these had to be in my favourites, didn't they?  If you have never tried any of the 'Real Techniques' brushes before, then you really should!  They are great value for money & your makeup looks 10 times better than if you applied with anything else.
With my foundation, I had always used my fingers, but since trying 'Real Techniques' I have used their brushes - their 'Foundation', 'Expert Face' & 'Stippling' all do amazing jobs & vary the look depending on how much coverage you want.
I could talk for ages on the virtues of their brushes but I won't.  I'm challenging you to purchase any one of their range & you can see for yourself.  I promise you, you won't be disappointed!

A man from Memphis...

So, I must admit, I'm a bit of a fan of a certain guy called Elvis.  I've grown up with his music - mainly through the influence of my mum!
I remember one day, when I was a child, my mum sat me down to watch a film with her called 'Blue Hawaii'.  It was her favourite.  It starred a man with a slick black quiff, high cheekbones & a beautiful smile.  He intrigued me. 
And then I heard him sing.
And the rest is history.
So, this month it will come of no surprise, that my last favourite is 'If I can Dream: Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra'.
As I've heard many an Elvis track, I didn't think it would be that different. 
But it was.
It's classic Elvis but with a brand new orchestral accompaniment.  It makes the songs sound fresh & new....as if they were just recorded yesterday.
And I'm sure it will win new fans around the world.
It's definitely worth a listen, tracks in particular 'If I Can Dream' & 'Burning Love'.
It's enough to make a King proud....

 

So, thats what I've enjoyed this month....
How about you?

Bee x