FOTD - Much Furore over Mushrooms

Hello Lovelies,

So in keeping with my desire to give my readers shock based heart attacks, I've decided to do a wee FOTD... today was the first time in a while I've had time to play about with make up, and I came up with with natural but very pretty and girly look, so I thought I'd share. My new room has the biggest window ever too and the lighting for photos is just incredible, so I felt it was only right to take advantage of it on this gorgeous autumnal day.

Face/Lips:
The Body Shop Nature's Minerals in 03
Mac Ripe Peach Blush Ombre
Bobbi Brown blush in Apricot
Barry M Lip Paint in 150 Pink Suede

Eyes:
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Furore
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Muchness (Alice BOS)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Mushroom
Avon Supershock Gel Eyeliner in Black
Avon Supershock Max Mascara in Black
Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Black Brown

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?