Dry Skin - A look at some products and my advice

Hii :)


I thought I would talk about my skin in this post.
I suffer from extremely bad dry skin, and applying makeup can end up being an awful mess because my skin is dry, flaky and makes my makeup cakey and broken up. I find that I get the dryness mainly on my cheeks, chin and a little on my forehead but that aren't isn't usually too bad.


Having dry skin can be upsetting, it's annoying, and lowers your confidence because you're always aware of the dryness and patchiness of your face. BUT I think with the right products, you can stop hating your skin and learn to love it.


To help me I've found that you need to exfoliate often. 

 

I've used the Clinique "7 Day scrub" and the Soap&Glory "Scrub Your Nose In It" scrub. The Clinique is designed to use either every day for 7 days or once every 7 days, depending on your skin and the way you plan to use the product. I tried both ways and found that using it every day wasn't brilliant. It literally is just liquidy sugar and feels quite harsh on your skin if you're using it often. I did love the way it made my skin feel at first but using it daily seems too much in my opinion.
With the Soap&Glory, you don't get this because it is tiny particles that you can hardly feel on your skin, so you don't get that horrible sand papering your skin feel when you use it. A plus with it also is that it doubles up as a face mask, and is so minty and really lovely to leave on as you wash your hair and body. When you've left it on as a face mask, your skin feels so fresh and I often find myself feeling how soft my skin feels after using it that I didn't get with the Clinique scrub.

 


For a moisturiser, I used the Eucerin Dry Skin Relief cream on my dry spots after I've had a shower and in the mornings. This is like a milky consistency and sinks right into the skin. I love this because you can't feel it on, it isn't oily and it leaves your skin smooth. I find that this combats the dryness and helps a lot.

I also started using the Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser after reading on a beauty blog that people often get mixed up with dry and dehydrated skin. I took the small test and still wasn't sure if my skin was actually dry, so bought this product anyway just to see. 

It is a creamy consistency, yet unlike the Eucerin, takes a while to sink into the skin. I find that as I apply this before my makeup, I'm waiting 5 minutes after application to start putting on makeup so I know that it is no longer sitting on my skin and doing nothing to the dryness. Once sank in though, it does help and I feel that this is a great product. But I can't honestly say it's better than the Eucerin. This is mainly because of the waiting time to actually get into the skin, and after using both for a number of weeks, I noticed a huge difference in my skin when using the Eucerin than Simple. 

The key I've found to tackle dry skin is:

• Make sure you drink lots of water to keep your skin hydrated and healthy
• Test and use a face scrub that you love. You need to remove that excess dry skin from your face to notice a difference.
• Use a good moisturiser. Sometimes investing in something that is slightly pricey could do a lot for your skin, but that isn't to say you might not find a cheap product. If it works for you, then use it.
• Also make sure you actually use the moisturiser. If you need to apply it more than once throughout the day and then when you go to bed.

I hope that this post was informative for you, and I hope it helps anyone out with dry skin complaints!

All images used in this post have been taken from www.boots.com

Blue Winged Tutorial

Hi everyone :)
Another tutorial!
This time I decided to go with a blue and silver look. 


Okay, let's go!
I started by priming my lids (I'm using Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden) and blended all over with my finger. I then applied NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk on my lids, inner corner and under my eyebrow, this part doesn't have to be too neat so don't worry. Again I'm blending out with my finger.  
I'm now taking my Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencil in Binge, and drawing myself an winged shape from my inner corner, a little above my crease and then down onto my bottom lash.

Again no way does this need to be neat, we're just making our shape at the moment. I'm now using the same pencil, colour in that shape we just created. You should have something that looks like this below (and yes, it more than likely will look messy and awful, don't fret! This is just a base)

I'm now taking an eyeshadow brush, and going for the silver colour, applying this all over the blue winged we have just created, patting it on rather than brushing to get more coverage.

I'm then taking a small angled brush, and picking up a dark blue, go over the top of the winged eye, blending out the edges as you go. 
The best way to do this is to apply the eyeshadow and then push up slightly with the brush. Now taking a fluffy eyeshadow brush and blend blend blend.

I'm now taking a the other side of the eyeshadow brush, and using a white or a creamy coloured shadow, apply this under the eyebrows as a highlight.
Moving onto the bottom lid, I'm taking the Urban Decay Pencil in Binge and apply this into my waterline and also on my lashes. Take the angled brush and use the same blue eyeshadow to cover, taking it up into the wing again to make a line. Take the same white/cream highlight colour and apply this directly under the line aswell.

Apply some black eyeliner on the lid, and also some mascara, and false eyelashes if you wish (I really need to get myself some quick!)

Apply your foundation, and concealer under the eyes and anywhere else. I'm powdering my face with MAC Studio Fix on my t-zone, nose, and chin.
For blush I'm using Urban Decay cream blush in Fetish. 


On the lips I'm going to use Rimmel Lipstick in 200 Latino and a Lancome Juicy tube in Fraise (I think!)

Tadahh, the finished look:

I really hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Funky Pink and Purple Eye Makeup Tutorial

Hii :)
I decided to post up a tutorial for a look I was thinking of doing using my new products from the Glossybox I got today. Read my review of it here.


These are the products I used:

But you can use anything you fancy, or atleast have had hand.

Okay, so let's get started!
You want to start off by priming your lid, I'm using Urban Decay Primer Potion (that I got with my NAKED palette), but you use whatever you like best. I placed a little of this on each lid, and blend with my ring finger. 
I then took my NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk, placing it all over the lid as my shadow base. 
I also put it under my eyebrows and also in my tearduct, to brighten up my eyes, again blending with my ring finger.

Taking an eyeshadow brush (I used one from Avon), I picked up the pink eyeshadow from the Blink+Go palette and placed it in the middle of my lids. 

Using the other side of the brush, I picked up the purple eyshadow from the palette and appled to the outer corners of my eye, blending into the crease. I took an angled brush, using the purple eyeshadow making myself a flick from the top of the crease down on the bottom lash.

With the angled brush, I took the pink and place that on the bottom lash, directly under the pink on the top lash. 

I then took a clean eyeshadow brush (Again another of the same from Avon) and picked up the white/silver colour in the palette, applying this to the inner corner of my eye, making sure to cover the empty top lid, where the tearduct is and the bottom lash. 

I then used a black eyeshadow (from my beautyUK palette) with an angled brush (but you can use your favourite black liquid liner or gel liner) and lined my top lashes. I used a black eyeliner to line my waterline. 

Add a ton of your favourite black mascara (I used Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara) or even add some big false lashes (I don't have any at the mo, boo!) to finish off the eyes. You could also go ahead and fill in your eyebrows too if you would like.

Apply your foundation (I used Bourjois healthy mix serum), conceal under your eyes (I just use a benefit foundation stick because I like the coverage and apply it with my ring fingers) and on any other blemishes that need a cover (I usually conceal on the top of my nose and on my nostrils, plus on any red patches and cheeky spots)


Apply a nice light pink blush to the cheeks (I'm using the light pink from my Blink+Go Palette)


Apply some lipgloss (I'm using Cargo Lipgloss in Paris, from my glossybox), I think a pinky colour would be perfect with this look.

Use a bit of powder to stop any shine and to seal in your foundation (I used MAC Studio Fix)


And tadahh, here is the finish look:

I really hope you enjoyed this, and I'm hoping to make a lot more of these in the near future!

GlossyBox Review

Hii :)
Today I was so excited. I received my first ever GlossyBox squeee. 
I'd been going on and on about them because I'd heard so many good reviews about them, and there is so much hype surrounding the whole beauty boxes at the moment, I just HAD to try it myself. So Sophie decided to buy me a subscription for my birthday, I was SO happy!

My first impression of the box is that it comes packaged lovely. It arrived in a cardboard box, which had Glossybox adverts on it. It comes as a box in a box, which I like. I was delighted to see that I had recieved the limited edition christmas box, with the beautiful red "glossy" box (lives up to it's name) opening it up, there were 2 leaflets about from the company, and the products inside were wrapped up in a piece of tissue paper, with a sticker with the company logo on. It had a little black ribbon bowed around this. It looked so beautiful and elegant, and I was excited to see what was underneath!!

In the box, I got:
Blink+Go Eyeshadow and Blush Palette
Cargo Cosmetics Classic Lip Gloss in Paris
Deborah Lippman Nail Varnish in Razzle Dazzle with a Stripped to Go sachet
Nip+Fab Spot Fix
Rituals Foaming Shower Gel in Hammam Delight: Eucalyptus and Rosemary

Blink+Go Eyeshadows

Blink+Go Blushes

Blink+Go Eyeshadow Swatches

I'm actually quite impressed with these products, and they were different than I expected. I'm glad I get to have a try of the shower gel as I'm always interested in new scents. I love how some shower gels made you feel clean and refreshed after a shower, and I'm excited to see if this does just that.


I'm excited to try out the eyeshadow palette, the colours looks so pretty together, and I'm sure you can get yourself a good few looks from it. 


Overall, I'm really happy with my first experience of Glossybox and I hope to carry on my subscription, but being a poor student, money is often tight but I'm sure I'll be able to find myself a £10 from somewhere!

My Hairdying Adventure

Hii :)
So it's that time again for me to dye my hair. My hair is in desperate need, my roots are showing alot and it just makes my hair look so dull!
I usually dye my hair when my roots start to embarress me and pretty much when I generally can be bothered. I currently have red hair with a strip of orange at the front.

I've had a few different colours throughout the years: Red/Brown, blonde, pink, blackblue, blue, purple, red and orange.

I love people who have the confidence to have wacky hair colours, and just like make up, it shapes who you are as a person, pretty much for other people.

I know that you shouldn't make yourself look good for other people, but half the time when you're walking down the street, I atleast worry what people think when they look at me. Looking good and feeling great shapes what people see about you.

That girl you know who has bright green hair you think is loud and out there, but the girl with the mousy brown hair is really quite. That's the way I see it anyway.

I thought I'd do a post about what I use to get my hair the colour it is.

I use Schwarzkopf Live Color XXL in 35 Real Red over all my hair. I bleach a part of it using Jerome Russell Bblonde, using the blue Powder bleach highlift for light to dark brown hair and the purple cream peroxide. I go over this after it's been washed out with La Rich'e Directions in Mandarin.

I'd advise if you haven't coloured or bleached your hair before to do a test patch on your forearm or behind your ear before you start, just to be on the safe side. Having a reaction to hairdye can be quite nasty and it's better to be safe than sorry!

I'd also get someone to help you the first time you dye your hair, as it can be tricky to get it all over your hair!

My Big Fat Haul

Hii :)

Yes, I went on another spending spree but I do still have money left from christmas and my birthday, so it's allowed (honest!)
I'm showing you the items I got from previous shopping trips (from hauls here and here) and also a few extra's that I treated myself to today.

Over the past week, I've bought myself...

Bourjois healthy mix serum

2 BeautyUK Eyeshadow Palettes

2 MUA Eyeshadows

Bourjois Effet 3D

Urban Decay Naked Palette

NARS Blusher in Orgasm

Lancome Juicy Tubes Gift Set

MAC Studio Fix Powder

3 MAC Brushes (129, 217 and 266)

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain in Frenzy

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk (From Ebay as they don't sell this near me, boo!)

Today I got the Smashbox mascara and the Revlon Lipstain. I also recieved the NYX pencil through the post. The spending and hauls will stop now because I don't like to over endulge myself on beauty products. You end up having so much stuff you're totally lost with what to do with it all and what looks you should do. Also keep your eyes peeled for reviews on their products as I'm interested in seeing if they live up to the hype.
I'm really excited to try all these out, and create some fun tutorials for you all!

What's in my Makeup Bag: My every day makeup

I have 1 make up look that I usually use every day just because it's easy and effortless. It doesn't take too long and if I'm rushing out the door, I don't have the time to apply anything too jazzy.

Makeup bag is from Primark

Here is what I use:

These are the products I generally use on a day-to-day basis.

Face:

I start of with moisturising my skin with Simple hydrating light moisturiser, I have really dry skin so this helps with making sure my skin doesn't clump with the makeup. I then apply my Maybelline SuperStay 24H (in 005 Light Beige) foundation with my fingers, and then conceal under my eyes, on my nose and other other bits that need covering with Maybelline SuperStay 24H Concealer (in 2 Light/Beige clair). I then use Benefit Playstick (not sure what colour) to go over any other spots that need a bit extra coverage.

Eyes

I then prime my eyes with Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (in Eden) which covers up any discolouration on my lids, and keeps my eyes nice and bright! For eyeshadow I use my Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo (in Victorian Rose, I only use the shimmery pink colour as you can tell from the broken bit, sorry!) with a small pencil brush. I line my waterline and sometimes my top lid with Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer (in 261 Noir) then add a coat or 2 of Rimmel 100% Waterproof Mascara. to finish.

To finish off

I set my makeup with Collection 2000 Sheer Loose Power (in 2 Translucent) and a powser brush from Avon. Depending how I'm feeling I apply Urban Decay Blush (in Fetish) on my cheeks using the other side of my powder brush (I know that's terrible, I need to invest in a good blusher brush!!) and apply a slick of Aloe Vera Vaseline to my lips to keep them looking fresh and soft.

So there is my every day make up look, I hope you liked it!