My Classics: Things I would repurchase again and again...

After Tuesday's post about buying bans I decided to rifle through my stash and find five things I would repurchase again and again.
In no particular order;

1. Dolce and Gabbana Lipsticks

Dolce and Gabbana Lip Jewel

 This was a christmas present from my boyfriend, I dont tend to spend this much on lipsticks, so it was a very welcome gift. These are some of the most smooth and pigmented lipsticks I've used. They aren't drying and last a long time even through eating and drinking. I plan to treat myself to a full size lipstick from Harrods when I go on holiday.

2. Benefit Dandelion

This blush/finishing powder isn't for everyone, as it is quite pale, so wont show up on anything above I think a Mac NC/W 25. For me it is the perfect blusher if Im doing dramactic eyes and/or lips and I don't want the blusher to compete. As you can see the box is quite worn, will probably be needing to repurchase this pretty soon, I'm almost out!

3.Mac Blot Powder

This powder is my perfect setting powder, it doesn't give any coverage, it just mattifies. Which as I have oily skin and cycle to work is a complete necessity for me. It also doesn't oxidise, so is great if you hate the feeling of being caked in powder.

4. Mac Carbon Eyeshadow

I think most beauty fiends use a matte black shadow at some point. I don't use this everyday but I wouldn't be without it. It can be used as a liner on its own, wet or with sealing liquid, to correct mistake made with liquid or gel liner, to add depth to a smokey eye, or applied lightly and blended for an everyday look. There really are endless uses for this shadow, not its not exciting, full of sparkles or duochrome, but its practical and useful. A classic.

5. Mac Ruby Woo

Every woman has a perfect red lipstick. Ruby Woo is mine without a doubt. The right red can make your face look more alive, make your skin look bright, and your teeth whiter. I have a few red lipsticks bu this is my failsafe. If I'm going out in a hurry I'll wear this with a neutral shadow and some black liner. Also because of the texture, it does not budge, some may find the texture dryong, but it's easily solved with lipbalm.

The weekends almost here! To say I can't wait would be an understatement!

Waiting for autumn....

I don't know what it is about autumn, collections, but they always seem to grab me a little more than summer ones. It probably has something to do with the fact that plums and pinks suit my skin a lot better than bronze and coral.
Here's some promo's from the collections I've been eagerly awaiting...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these neutrals, perfect for workwear, just the kind of thing I can see myself using daily to perk my face up.

 Seroiusly lusting after the nail polish...

How cute is the honey imagery? I've been wanting Black Honey for a while but I might hold out for the duo ended version now.
What seasons do you favour? Any collections you can't wait for?

Buying bans are they ever successful?

I've been trying to stop myself from spending money on items I don't need,which after frequenting Boots, Superdrug and Debenhams on at least a weekly basis, not even including online shopping is quite a task. I've already caved a few times and bought things excusing myself because I was having a bad week, or it was limited edition, or any plausible reason I can convince myself is reason to part with the limited cash I have and should be stowing away for my trip to London in August.

How I've missed Selfridges!

No matter how much I try to tell myself that I can't afford myself I always seem to find myself happily parting with cash and walking out of the store with some product that I've convinced myself is going to work wonders on my dark circles, eyelashes, complexion. Yet somehow I have amassed a stash of this crap that I think deep down I knew wasn't going to be the miracle I was hoping for. So for the next month I'm not buying any make-up or skincare! 

Instead I'm going to try to find some hidden treasure that have been lying forgotten while I was distracted by new rubbish. Im determined to not fail this time and will be avoiding my local town centre until I go on holiday, safe in the knowledge I have enough of my essentials to last me, at least a good few months. 

I'll be doing reviews of the products I think are worth checking out as well as the one to ignore/ dismiss the hype! 

Also let me know if you've ever been successful on a spending ban!

Welcome to the scene of the crash....

After reading this post over at Worship at the House of Blues, I was inspired to have a look through some photos I took a while ago, at an abandoned hospital.

Mac Impeccable Brow Pencil...Not so Impeccable after all

I've been using this for a while now, after deciding paying the same price for a tenth of the product with Mac's twist up brow pencils was not worth it. I'm starting to reconsider this opinion.
Ive tried using this every which way possible but nothing about the texture works for me. It is near enough impossible to create a fine line with this, even with daily sharpening, meaning I can't create the elongated brow I need after overplucking as a teenager.
When used to fill in gaps, I find it makes my brows more unruly than they were to start with. Over all I'm not very impressed with this product.
The only thing I like about it is the colour, which has enough grey in it to stop it from looking to red against my skin.
Some swatches if your still interested;

Impeccable brow pencil is priced at £11.50 and available from Mac

Review: Rimmel Flash Eyeliner in Flash Black

I've been working a lot of early mornings recently and have found my old faithful routine of gel eyeliner and a Mac 210 is becoming to time-consuming, I need my beauty sleep! So while browsing round Boots I thought I'd pick up a hopefully speedy alternative. I came across Rimmel's Flash Eyeliner and thought it would be worth a try.

Flash Eyeliner is a felt tip liner, which are often a lot easier(and quicker) to use than traditional liquid eyeliners, as the right amount of product is already in the tip, saving you from the risk of splodges of excess product ruining you eye makeup!

It has quite a long tip going down to a very fine point which makes it perfect for a variety of different liner styles, from a thin line to enhance lash thickness to a 50's style cat eye. I find I have to go over the liner with a little black eye shadow ( I like Mac Carbon) just to set it in place, but after that it lasts all day, and I mean all day; I've worked double shifts all weekend and its lasted me from 6am to 11pm, no smudging no flaking and no migrating into the crease.

I'd reccommend this to those that are scared of liquid liner, as it is much easier to use, and anyone looking for a liner to last all day in the current weather we're having!
What are your favourite ways of defining your eyes?

Too Faced Bronzing Powder in Chocolate Soleil

If pale isn't your thing in the warmer months but fake tan scares you a little bit, you should take a look at this bronzer. Priced at £22.00, for 10g and available from Boots, this bronzer was just what I was looking for this summer.

Chocolate Soleil Swatched

I like that this bronzer isn't too orange toned, as it means it doesn't look to harsh against my pale skin. Ive been using it on the high points of my face, where I would usually catch the sun (if I wasn't permanently slathered in factor 50!)

This bronzer is completely matte, which means it can be used allover for a natural tan, something that is hard to achieve with a shimmery bronzer. Ive been pairing this with either Mac Pink Swoon or Benefit Dandelion, but I think it would look great with Benefit Coralista or Bella Bamba if you have warmer skin.

Also did I mention it amells like chocolate! Yum!

Products of the Month: June

Im gonna make this a regular feature on here, if only for the fact it will stop me buying things I will never use!
Its been so hot recently I've changed my skincare and foundation routine cause my usual one wasn't really working for me.

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser in 01: I've been using this for a few weeks and I'm starting to use it everyday, as it isn't as heavy as my usual foundation of choice Double Wear. I've never been a believer in Tinted Moisturiser, thinking they would be too shiny and have not enough coverage for my oily skin. This has proved me wrong, it dries semi matte and has enough coverage for me. The colour is a touch on the warm side for me, but I'm quite liking that at present as it gives my complexion a bit of a boost.

Clinque Moisture Surge: I've been using this every morning and night on the few patches of dry skin I get as it doesn't overload the rest of my oily skin with too much moisture. I also find this tends to mattify the skin somewhat and is a great base for foundation.

The Body Shop Coconut Milk Body Lotion: Im usually way too lazy for body lotion and waiting for it too sink in, but the fact that this sinks in instantly, and comes in a spray bottle makes it perfect for me. Also the scent is gorgeous.

Gosh Soft 'n' Shine in Barbie: A very pretty semi sheer wash of pink for lazy mornings.

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer: A brown toned, matte bronzer, that is surprisingly wearable on pale skin, but also very buildable for olive, and darker skin guys and gals. As well as being a great bronzer it works very well as a contour.

No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara: My only No7 voucher purchase recently, I've been using this mascara alot recently as I've recently fallen out with my Maxfactor Masterpiece. It doesn't flake or smudge on me and I love the brush, it stops me ever getting clumps, something I can't stand.

Mac 209, Muji Cleansing Oil, and swatches of Barbie, Moisture Surge 01, and Chocolate Soleil

Mac 209: I use this small domed face brush for everything. If I could only have one face brush it would be this one. I use it too buff in foundation seamlessly, to contour and for blusher. It really is the perfect multi-tasker. 

Muji Cleansing Oil: This stuff is amazing, I purchased it after reading this  review over at Lipglossiping, and haven't regretted it. It doesn't contain any mineral oils and is extremely good value. Im favouring it at the moment as it gets every last scarp of make-up and sunscreen off. I follow it with either Lancome's Baume Eclat or Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish.

How was your Monday? We're one day closer to the weekend!

FOTD: A King with No Crown...

As promised here's a Gaga themed look, this is somewhere between the "Telephone" make-up and the "Judas" make-up, I decided not to put liquid liner under the eyes (doesn't really suit me). Enjoy...

Not sure why I look so serious..

Products used:
Face: Clinque Moisture Surge Tined Moisturiser in 01, Estee Lauder Double Wear in Shell (as concealer), Benefit Erase Paste in 01

Eyes: UDPP, Mac Blanc Type, Wedge and White Frost, Rimmel Flash Eyeliner in Flash Black, Benefit Bad Gal Liner, Lancome Hypnose, Mac Brow Pencil in Taupe.

Lips: Mac Currant, Mac Ruby Woo, Mac Hang Up.

Make Up Icons: Lady Gaga

Gaga at the CFDA Awards

Well Im sure I don't have to tell you who she is,and Im sure I'm one of many who have looked to Lady Gaga for inspiration when I've been stuck in a neutrals rut. More than just being a fashion icon, I find her to be a very empowering figurehead for women, one of the truly independent fashion minds in music. Sure, we don't all like her clothes (Meat dress, I'm looking at you) but it's definately not the expected, which after seeing a billion and one identikit red carpet outfits I find very refreshing!

Expect a Lady Gaga themed FOTD, later this week! Who are your Make up Icons?

Review: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Make Up

I've been using this foundation for about 2 months now, I wanted to give it a real test-drive before writing a review, as I often LOVE foundations when I first buy them and then realise they don't really work for me. What first attracted me to this foundation was the shade range, I have very pale, pink toned skin and nearly everything I try turns orange on me, I found 1C1 to be a perfect match ( something I find very difficult to come across).

I been using this pretty much religiously since I bought it, It offers the coverage I need, covering any blemishes and redness, and staying on all day at work. I would recommend this for normal - oily skin types, those with dryer skin would want to ensure they're skin is well moisturised as it can highlight dry patches due to the matte finish.
Now for the much dreaded, on my part, "no other make up on, argh my face feels naked shot"...

Just foundation, no concealer (please excuse the dark circles!)

Due to the heavy coverage I find it necessary to wear blusher and highlighter just to stop my skin looking so flat, but other than that I'm very happy  other this foundation.

Packaging wise I have one complaint, there's no pump- meaning I have wasted a LOT of product, but I'm willing to let it slide for now....

You can find Double Wear at any Estee Lauder stockist, priced at £25.50 for 30ml.

Apologies

I have completed failed at blogging recently, as Ive had a lot on my plate, and bouts of bad skin have ruined any attemped FOTDs. I will be posting shortly, namely with my current (almost HG) foundation.
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