Makeup Favourites 2015

Every year, I read every single 'Best Of ...' post I can find at the end of the year; if someone has included a product in a round up of things from their entire year it's got to be pretty impressive! I haven't done this sort of post since 2013, but I have found so many incredible products this year that I just had to write one!  Over the next few days I'm planning to post a little 2015 review post to round up everything else I've loved this year, but for today I'm focusing on make up!

What I Got For Christmas 2015

After seeing endless tweets about 'what I got for Christmas' posts and enjoying the few I have read so far, I thought I'd write another one of my own (if you fancy a peek at last year's post click here).  Obviously, I'm not posting this to brag, and I've just chosen to share a few of my gorgeous gifts, as some of them are more personal and I'd rather keep to myself.

Nyx Cosmetics

Firstly, hope you all had a brilliant Christmas!  Now that the big day is over, I'm sure I'm not the only one who needs to be a bit tighter with spending, so for now - bye bye high end beauty splurges! Thankfully, this brilliant brand has recently arrived at Boots online and the high quality products matched with the low prices meant I don't need to completely tighten my purse strings just yet.

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to write a quick post wishing your all a happy Christmas, and regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I hope you have a wonderful day!

Festive Party Beauty

I'm pretty sure that festive makeup is my ultimate favourite type of look to create.  I love piling the glitter onto my eyelids, going overboard with a highlighter and painting my lips with my favourite shades.  What better time is there to put festive beauty into action than a Christmas party?! I created this look two weeks ago for my work Christmas do, and I can imagine I'll be doing something pretty similar on Christmas day.

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Eye Shadow Palette

First things first - I've broken up for Christmas! Woohooo! The run-up to Christmas in a Primary School is pretty stressful, so these two weeks off are being welcomed with open arms! I'm heading home to Wales to spend the holidays with my family and I can't wait to spend some time with everyone.

At the start of December I was celebrating some good news at the same time as the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette was released, which I had been eyeing up on instagram, so I bought myself a little celebratory present (here).

I am a big Urban Decay palette fan - I adore the original Naked palette and the Naked Basics palette, and I also own a build-your-own palette with a few hand-picked shades in.  Their pigmentation and formulation have never let me down before, so I had pretty high hopes for this palette.
 
Even before I opened the packaging I was in love - look how beautiful the box is! I actually still have it and I'm still keeping the palette inside it; I can't bring myself to put the box in the bin!

The palette itself is completely different to any of the Naked palettes; the fifteen shadows are in round pans in a 5x3 layout which is shown on the lid of the palette with a monochrome pattern.  I love how it's different to the Naked style of a line of rectangular pans to show that it's clearly designed by someone else.  I adore the tarnished gold accents on the palette which make it feel luxurious and high end.  In a nutshell: it's beautiful.

Admittedly, when it comes to eye shadow I'm not particularly brave.  I go for the usual neutral shades and once in a blue moon I'll break out of my comfort zone and try something different before going straight back to my beloved browns and golds.  Because of this, the UDxGwen palette is perfect for me - most of the shades are neutral; they range from a matte cream to a shimmery gold to a matte black and pretty much everything in between.  There's a variety of sparkle, glitter and matte shades which are perfect for every occassion.  Then, to mix up the shades a bit, there is a super shimmery barbie pink and bright blue for days when you're feeling brave.

I have to admit, I love all of the shades, but these are four of my favourites.  The top swatch is Baby; a shimmery peachy champagne shade.  Punk is a matte deep chocolate brown with a hint of purple which is so different to any other dark shades I own - perfect for a smokey eye. The gorgeous gold shimmey shade is 1987; the ultimate festive colour.  I also adore Pop - it isn't very pigmented but it's a pale champagne shade with pink, gold and silver shimmer and glitter running through it.  The name of this shade is ideal, because adding a dab of glitter to the center of my lid really makes my eyes pop!

In a nutshell, I adore this.  I honestly think this might have shot to the top of my favourite palettes list, this is the only palette I've bought home with me this Christmas, and I'm usually attached to my Naked palette in the festive season!

Eye Shadow Application: Wet vs Dry

For years I only ever applied eye shadow using a dry brush.  It never even crossed my mind to try using a damp brush until a few months ago, and now I find myself wetting my brush before applying quite often.

Original Source Skin Quench Moisturising Oil Spray

The Original Source Skin Quench oil claims to be a quick drying moisturising oil spray which should leave your skin feeling quenched, nourished and revitalised.  For the last few weeks I've been spritzing this over my legs after a shower and hoping for the best.

Autumn Beauty Favourites

In my opinion, once December 1st rolls around, autumn is over and winter starts.  It seems to instantly get colder, scraping frost from my windscreen is a daily job and glittery sparkly goodness is in.  I'm usually more of a summer girl, but I really enjoyed autumn this year.  These are the beauty bits I couldn't get enough of over the last few months.

Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market

Two weeks ago, my parents came down to visit Rob and I in Portsmouth for the weekend and to start getting into the Christmas spirit.  What better way is there to start feeling festive than spending Sunday wandering around a Christmas market?! We jumped in the car and headed to Winchester cathedral for the day.

A MAC Base

Although I've been a bit of a make-up addict for a good few years, and I've tried my fair few base products (read my All About That Base post here), until now I had tried very little from MAC.  Apart from a concealer and MSFN, I was a bit of a newbie so armed with a discount code, I popped the MAC Matchmaster Foundation and the MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation in my basket.

Christmas Wishlist

With Christmas only a few weeks away, I can help but keep adding things to my seemingly endless wishlist, especially with everyone else's wishlists popping up all over my Bloglovin' feed.  This year, this is what I'm hoping to find under my tree!

Every Day Eye Makeup

Lately every time I have more that two minutes to put my makeup on, I find myself going for the same eye products.  I  am loving a soft brown smokey liner with layers of lashes.

Things to do on a Sunday

Working full time means you start to really appreciate every second of the weekends.  I like to fit in a mixture of getting out and about and lazing around in my flat.

How I Cover Acne Scars

Since I was 11, I've had acne.  It started with some under-the-skin blemishes which were painful and sore, progressed to a stage where I didn't want to leave the house, and now I'm working on a skincare routine that works to keep it in check.  Unfortunately, I'm left with red, unsightly scars across my cheeks and chin, so have the task of disguising them as much as possible.

i Italian Restaurant

After visiting i a few weeks after moving to Portsmouth, Rob and I talk about it so often.  The atmosphere was brilliant, the food was to die for and we both really enjoyed an excellent night.  A few weeks ago we couldn't put it off any longer, and this time I took my camera with me.

Urban Decay Afterglow Powder Blush in Video

In case you haven't noticed yet, I can't stop buying products from Urban Decay.  Everything I've bought lately has really impressed me, which only makes me want to buy more. It's a vicious circle.

I didn't have a nude blusher in my collection, and I wanted something matte to pair with a vampy lip.  After a bit of research, the Urban Decay Afterglow powder blush in Video found it's way into my basket and I've used it every day since.

I love the packaging.  It's completely different to anything I have from other brands, the huge sticker on the back makes the shade really clear, and it feels really sturdy.  There isn't a mirror inside, which doesn't really bother me, but it's something to consider.

When it comes to the shade, I'm thrilled.  Video is described as a "soft nude" by Urban Decay.  It's a warm toned rosy brown which is so easy to wear.  It pairs beautifully with any lip/eye look, and the matte finish means I can pile on as much Mary Loumanizer as I fancy.

There is a tiny bit of fall out in the pan, but it doesn't look at all chalky or cakey on the skin, and it blends like a dream.  The colour is long lasting and doesn't seem to dull at all as you wear it.

I am over the moon with this little purchase, and I am finding myself reaching for it every single day lately.  It's perfect for every occasion; ideal paired with neutral makeup for an every day look or makes my skin look healthy when partnered with a bold eye/lip.

A Few Bits From Lush

For a long time, I wasn't a big fan of baths.  I didn't enjoy laying in the rapidly cooling water doing nothing, but since graduating and beginning a 'real' job, I'd do anything to help relax and de-stress.  Since falling back in love with having a bath, I can't get enough of Lush.  I can't even walk past the door without being dragged in.  These are the bits I picked up on my latest visit.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer vs Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Flawless Wear Concealer

Is it me or is this the longest post title ever?!  For months I wondered whether or not to give the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer a shot, I've been loyal to Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Concealer for over a year now, but I finally decided it was worth a try.  Now that I've tried both, I thought I'd compare the two for anyone having a similar dilemma.

Neutral Beauty

I was never much of a nude make-up girl,  I was all about the pink blusher, bright lips and black eye liner.  Over the course of this year, everything has changed - I love a good neutral shade and I'm beginning to already find some favourites.

Azzuro Italian Restaurant

A few weeks ago Rob and I fancied a spontaneous date night, and we were craving some Italian food so we headed down to Gunwharf Quays to go to Azzuro.

Putting Oils on Oily Skin

You wouldn't believe me if I told you how long I avoided putting anything remotely oily on my skin.  I have super oily skin so I've always been very cautious of making it oilier.  I've become a bit braver over the last year or so, and have found a few oil-based products which actually work for my skin.

A Perfect Night In

c

After a long week of work there's nothing I want more than a relaxing pamper night to de-stress and re-charge.  These are my top tips for a perfect night in.

Benefit Gimme Brow vs Urban Decay Brow Tamer

I am a huge fan of Benefit Gimme Brow, but when I started to come to the end of the tube at the same time as Urban Decay released their Brow Tamer I couldn't help trying something new.  Rather than reviewing the Brow Tamer on it's own, I thought I'd compare the two eye brow mascaras side-by-side.

Gin and Olive Bar and Restaurant

Six months ago a cute new bar and restaurant opened on our road, and last weekend Rob and I finally got around to popping in to the Gin and Olive (website).  Although we only had a few drinks, they serve food here too (and by looking at the menu, it sounds pretty good). It's completely different to anywhere else I've visited in Southsea, but I loved it.

Favourite Makeup Brushes

I'm a firm believer that no matter how good your makeup is, if you're using rubbish tools to apply it, it will never look it's best.  A good makeup brush is key to applying makeup flawlessly and blending products smoothly.  I've built up a little collection of brushes, and these are my favourites.

Skincare for Oily Acne-Prone Skin

I have oily, acne-prone skin, and I'm forever searching for the right products to use on my face morning and evening.  At the moment my skin seems pretty happy and I'm finally happy with my little routine.  My aims are to make sure my skin is clean without being stripped, hydrated without increasing sebum production and I want to treat breakouts and fade acne scars without drying out my skin.

Tips for a Better Night's Sleep

When my alarm is set for early in the morning to get me up for work, I can't help wanting to make the most of every second my eyes are shut.  I can't stand those nights where I'm left tossing and turning until the early hours of the morning, so I've found a few tips and tricks to make sure I get a good night's sleep.

Origins Clear Improvement Face Mask

You know there's always that one product that sits in your wishlist but you never get around to buying? This is that product for me.  I honestly think it was on a list in my phone for three years, but I never purchased it until now.  The Origins Clear Improvement mask is a charcoal mask targeted at clearing out pores which I've read is pretty impressive on oily skin.  Last month I came across this little pack of 4 sachets of mask for £5 on Feel Unique and I couldn't resist giving it a shot.

Born Pretty Store Make Up

As a beauty lover, I am always looking for high-quality make up without paying extortionate prices.  When Born Pretty Store (here) contacted me to try out some of their products, how could I turn them down?!

Abergavenny Food Festival

A few weeks ago, Rob and I jumped in the car after work on Friday and headed home for a weekend with our families.  After a TV and chinese night at my parents' on Friday night and a loooong lay-in on Saturday morning, my family and I headed to Abergavenny to wander around the stalls in the food festival.

Shopping my Stash for Autumn

I've put off admitting it for as long as I can, but summer is finally here and it's time to embrace autumn.  As much as I love cosy blankets, cute shoe boots and warm scarves, I am a summer girl through and through so I can't help dragging out the peachy pinks and shimmery bronzers as long as possible.  I'm just about ready so switch up my makeup bag to reflect the season, so I've dug through my stash to find my autumn favourites.

Getting Organised

Since returning to work at the start of September after six weeks off for the summer holidays, I've had to get myself organised again to keep on top of work, blogging and general life admin.

Adding Dimension

Thanks to acne-prone/acne scarred skin, I like quite a bit of coverage in my foundation to cover my imperfections.  I feel so much more confident when my blemishes and scars are covered, but it often makes my skin look flat and mask-like, which means there's even less dimension to my face than my natural football head look.  These are the products I use to add a bit of warmth, dimension and shape back into my complexion.

Loch Fyne

I'm keeping this one short and sweet - I love this place.

Loch Fyne is a Seafood and Grill restaurant in Gunwarf Quays.  I've been there twice now, and they have yet to disappoint.

Everyday Base

Lately everyday I'm finding myself reaching for the same base regardless of what I'm doing or where I'm going.  I love both of these foundations on their own, but together they're a bit of a dream team.

The Perfect Lipstick

Surely I'm not the only one who's spent hours looking for the perfect red, or the perfect nude, or the perfect shade of lipstick.  After years of searching, I think I have quite a few perfects in my collection.

Langland Brasserie

At the end of August my sister was celebrating her 20th birthday so we headed to a brilliant little brasserie right by the sea for some delicious food.  The view from the restaurant is perfect; you can see right along Langland bay.  Unfortunately it was tipping down while we were there, so it wasn't the beautiful picturesque sea view they had for most of the summer, but there's something about being right by the beach that puts a smile on ym face come rain or shine.

Summer Scents

I am one of those people who likes to have different perfumes for different seasons.  In the warmer weather I like a light, fresh, fruity and floral smells, but I like something woodier and earthier when it's a bit chillier.  This summer (if you could even call it that in the UK!) I had a few go-to smells which I reached for every single day.