Summer Lovin' Series - Make up part one

Oke, so today's Summer Lovin' post is going to focus on my favourite "Face" make up - foundations, bronzers, blush etc. Part two will feature my favourite products for eyes and part three will be my favourite products for lips!

Foundation:
I've switched between two foundations for the whole of summer - one liquid and one mineral, although generally I've been sticking with mineral as I prefer a lighter, more matte finish during the summer. Oddly enough, both of these products are from The Body Shop. They are:

The Body Shop Mineral Foundation in Shade 03 and The Body Shop Moisture Foundation in Shade 04. Excellent foundations that perform well every time. Neither of them are the best foundations I've ever used in my whole history of foundation use, but they both provide good day to day coverage that leaves you looking "finished" by not looking over done.

Blusher/Bronzer:
I'm becoming a blusher fiend.... it's all I ever seem to want to buy at the moment. This summer I've mostly been using:

Boots 17 Blush & Glow in Strawberry Swirl and Peaches and Cream

I've mentioned these before, but they're still one of the first things I reach for blusher wise. Excellent for giving you a healthy glow, with a wonderful highlighter to boot!

Mac Ripe Peach Blush Ombre

I picked this one up in a blog sale as it reminded me of an Estee Lauder Blusher I'd one had applied at a make up counter and fell in love with (but being 16 couldn't quite justify buying). I adore this. I tend to layer it up with a little something extra (normally one of the Blush&Glows). Lovely :)

ELF Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder

The famous "is it a Nars dupe" duo. I like to team these two with a sexy brown eye and a pop of pink lipstick (normally Soft Peony by The Body Shop). Richly pigmented, so I tend to give my brush a really good tap first!

Benefit Benetint

As I've said before, I'm fully away of how slow on the uptake I was with this - I spent years dismissing it as faffy and annoying, but now I can't get enough of this rose scented bottle of awesomeness. 

ELF Warm Bronzer

Another great multi tasker, doubling up as an eyeshadow palette when you're packing light! Great for warming up the skin - especially if your regular foundation feels a tad too light on summer tanned skin.

What are face makeup are you loving this summer?

July Favourites

I know this is coming a little early, but I'm on the husbands computer which means I can't hook up my camera. However, make sure you look out for tonights/tomorrrows (haven't decided when I'll put in the effort to sort my laptop) post on what I'm taking on holiday. Anyyyway, my current favourites are (in no particular order):

1.Benefit Benetint

Oh. My. Goodness. How did I not have this in my kit before? I love it. For a start, I love the fact that it has a gorgeous rose scent not the alcoholy scent that you can sometimes get with stains (I'm looking at you Body Shop). Also, it's just brilliant. The combination of this and either tinted moisturiser (yup, still loving the Lush Colour Supplement) or The Bosy Shop Natures Minerals means I can look half decent for work in under 3 minutes. I'm also finding that the new Lush Lip Tint (It Started with a Kiss - the red one) is a perfect pairing for this. All you need to add is a bit of mascara and maybe a flick of eyeliner if you're feeling fancy and tada - you're good to go!

2. The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Foundation in 03

I think I've mentioned this foundation before, but I probably didn't love it quite as much then as I do now. When it was a little colder, I was wearing this over tinted moisturiser, however, in the crazy humidity/heat that we have at the moment, I'm choose to just us this on it's own and it's lovely. It's a light to medium coverage, very matte, and great for when you've got fairly clear and sunkissed skin. It adds that little bit of evenness and coverage, without feeling heavy or clogging up your pores. Excellent!

3. Boots 17 Va Va Voom Mascara

I have a horrible, horrible feeling I've mentioned this tonnes before, but tough. I love this mascara. It's cheap (£5.99 I think) and more importantly, it's excellent. Buildable volume, excellent formula, intense colour, never flakes, fairly smudge proof, not over the top..... argggh, I could talk to you about this mascara all day. I honestly love it, hence why I've already convinced 3 people that they need this in their life. I'd like to advise you all to head to your nearest Boots, pick up this mascara and take it to the checkout. I think you'll thank me.

4. Tigi Hard to Get Texturizing Paste

Since I got my hair cut all short and choppy again (ok, not that short and choppy, but still...), I've started using this. It smells incredible (like watermelon) and it's not too heavy or sticky. The texture on your hands when you melt it is a cross between a serum and a wax and it's great for giving your hair extra texture and a bit of matteness without making it look like you've shoved tonnes of product on it.

5. Cloud Nine Iron

I was given these when I went the a Cloud Nine Photo Shoot a little while ago, and I'll be honest, I hadn't given them much use. I had a good play around when I first got them, and tried to curl my hair a couple of times (which apparently I'm utterly rubbish at *sigh*) but since getting my hair cut, these are making my life happy indeed. I love the fact that you don't have to completely fry your hair to get it to be nice and straight and shiny, and I really love the fact that you have more options than just poker straight (which makes me look utterly ridiculous). Love these. Will try to do a bit of a longer post on them soon because they're fab and if you're looking for new straighteners, these are definitely what I'd recommend!

What are your July favourites?

FOTD: Relaxed gypsy goes on holiday

Hello :) Just thought I'd post a quick little FOTD. It's a combination of a visit to the Benefit counter and trying to decide what to take with me on holiday (we're sort of backpacking to Amsterdam so I want to travel light!) I couldn't find my camera. so these are just from my camera phone hence the slightly dodgy colour and blurriness.

Face:
bareMinerals Foundation in Medium Beige (I still have a bit of a sample pot left and was seeing if I like it or not, however, my skin is already itching so I think it's a no - stupid bismuth)
Benefit benetint (cheeks and lips)
Lush It Started with a Kiss Lip Tint (over the benetint)

Eyes:
Shiro Cosmetics Lance the Dragon Tamer (all over)
Superdrug MUA in 13 (all over)
The Body Shop Big and Curvy Mascara

Nothing groundbreaking, but I definiately think I'm going to take benetint on holiday with me - 2 birds with one stone :D

FOTD White Rabbit ate my stash of mushrooms

Sorry for the blog silence over the last couple of days - I've been having a bit of an emotional week as I've officially announced that I'm leaving my job (and I really love the people in my office) and I've started my new job as well! Anyway, here's a little FOTD I did using my Urban Decay Alice Palette:

Ok so the bottom picture is ridiculous, but it shows off my new hair quite nicely so just ignore the come hither look.

Face:
Lancome Adaptive Foundation in Lys Rose
ELF Mineral Lipstick in Barely Bitten
No7 Natural Radiance Highlighter (cheekbones, nose, chin)
Benefit Dandelion

Eyes:
UDPP all over
UDAP (Urban Decay Alice Palette) Drink me, Eat me (all over up to brow bone)
UDAP Muchness (all over lid)
UDAP Mushroom (outer third)
UDAP Vorpal (crease and outer v)
UDAP White Rabbit (inner corner)
NO7 Natural Radiance Highlighter (brow bone)
UD 24/7 liner in Stash (upper and lower lashlines, smudged)
UD 24/7 liner in Zero (waterlines)
Rimmel Professional Eyebrown Pencil in Black Brown
Bourjois Volume Glamour Ultra Black Mascara (2 coats)

FOTD: Rapunzel fell from grace

Sorry for the sudden flurry of posts ... I really am loving having a camera again!  Anyway, here's a quick look I did this morning before running out of the house for work. I decided to keep it quite simple, fresh and natural. Also, I apologise for the mahoosive spot on the end of my nose - I blame stress!

 

 

Face:

Lush Colour Supplements in Dark Yellow (mixed with my normal Origins moisturiser)

Benefit Dandelion

Eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Boots 17 Solo Eyeshadow in Ivory Coast (all over eye up to brown bone)

Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy (ontop of Ivory Coast, over lid only)

Fyrinnae Rapunzel had Extensions (all over lid)

Fyrinnae Fall from Grace (outer two thirds and blended)

Sleek Storm palette No. 5 (inner corner)

Sleek Storm palette No. 6 (outer V)

Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Rockstar (waterline and blended along upper and lower lashline)

Bourjois Volume Glamour Ultra Black Mascara

Lips:

The Body Shop Colourglide Lip Colour in 48 Soft Peony

Green Wing aka The Anti Valentines FOTD

So around this time of year there seems to be a lot of pretty delicate first date looks. This is not one of those looks. This is a look of deep and dramatic greens using two of my favourite Fyrinnae colours - Dragonskin and We're All Mad Here, and also the Arcane Magic Colour Mystic. Enjoy :) Also, it's really flipping sunny in York today which has made taking pictures an utter nightmare! This is the best I could do... stupid spring *grumbles*

Face:
Lancome Adaptive Liquid Foundation in 02 Lys Rose
Bourjois Blus in 95 Rose de Jaspe (apples of my cheeks)

Lancome Blush Subtil in Bronze Glow(hollow of my cheeks for a bit of contouring)

Benefit Dandelion (quick sweep across my cheekbones to brighten it all up)

Benefit High Beam (two dots on apples of cheeks and blended with fingers)

Eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy (lid and lower lashline)

Fyrinnae Dragonskin all over lid + outer 1/4 of lower lashline (short flat blending brush + very thin eyeliner brush)

Fyrinnae We're All Mad Here inner 1/3 blended over Dragonskin +lower lashline (normal blending brush + very thin eyeliner brush)

Fyrinnae Arcane Magic: Mystic crease, outer 1/3 of upper lashline and winged out (thinner normal eyeshadow brush and contour/shader brush for blending)

Sleek Storm Palette Colour 2 (2nd in on top line) brow bone and blended in (contour/shader brush)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Pencils in Zero tightliner on upper waterline and upper lashline going out to wing (blended with mini angled liner brush)

Lancome Hypnose Waterproof Mascara in 01 Black

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 004 Black Brown 

 

 Lips:

Lips:

Benefit Her Glossiness in Who Are You Wearing (bright pink)

 

And some shots to show how gorgeously complex Fyrinnae colours really are (and to show you how much better my blending is!!*proud*)

 

  

  

 See how the light has made my skin look a bizarre orangey shade in the first two eye shots?! Odd. Anyway, I'll finish this blog with a question for you dear reader - these are my current favourite Fyrinnae eyeshadows, what are yours? And if you've not used Fyrinnae yet, why not tell me what your other favourite eyeshadows are at the moment? :)

 

FOTD Blue Grey like a Persian Cat

So firstly let me start off this post by saying a very big thank you to the lovely Fyrinnae peeps for giving my little blog a mention - it was very kind and super exciting to wake up and find that a)I had 6 more followers than when I went to sleep and b)I had people from about a gazzillion countries paying me a visit! It made me super hyper all morning :) Also, please feel free to say hello and drop me some comments as I'd love to get to know more of you xx

So today's FOTD turned out (once again) nothing like I thought it would! This was partially due to using my new contour brush (more of that in my next post) - it picked up a heck of a lot more shadow than I was expecting and I discovered that people really aren't lying when they say that the Sleek palettes are heavily pigmented! Anyway, enough waffle, onto the pictures.

 

(This is the only half decent photo of my face from this morning.... stupid face refusing to look nice)

Face:
Lancome Adaptive Liquid Foundation in 02 Lys Rose
Botanics Cheek Colour in 15 Hollyhock (apples of my cheeks)
Ruby and Millie Cheeky Colour in Beige 80 (hollow of my cheeks for a bit of contouring)

Benefit Dandelion (quick sweep across my cheekbones to brighten it all up)

Eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Sleek Storm Palette Colour 1 (1st on top line - shimmery beige) all over lids and up to brow bone (blending brush)

Urban Decay Gunmetal from Books of Shadows Vol 2 across out 3/4 of lid + blended (blending brush)

Sleek Storm Palette Colour 8 (2nd on bottom line - deep navy blue shimmer) on crease and outer 1/4 of lid + blended (contour brush)

Sleek Storm Palette Colour 4 (4th on to line - shimmery dark gold) inner corner (contour brush)

Lancome Hypnose Waterproof Mascara in 01 Black

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 004 Black Brown

Lips:

Benefit Her Glossiness in Who Are You Wearing (bright pink)

And some eye shots: