What's On My Face // No. 1

On a day to day basis I like to keep my makeup fairly simple. I love a natural and fresh face, which is a look I am always trying to perfect. Since buying the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, I feel as though I have found the perfect base for my face. Even though this is a high end foundation, I love wearing it on a daily basis, as my skin feels radiant and glowing. Who doesn't love that!

I like to keep my eyes quite natural and always apply a soft kohl eyeliner or liquid eyeliner to the upper lash line. Today I chose the Hema Kohl Pencil, along with the Models Prefer Infinite Colour Shadow Pencil. I recently purchased this pencil as a quick alternative to apply eyeshadow. It is easy to apply, with a simple swipe of the pencil and the look is complete. This is perfect when I am in a rush in the morning (happens a lot!).

To finish my face, I always use the Mac Studio Fix powder to set my face and apply an extra touch of coverage to my t-zone. This is also great for touch ups throughout the day. On my lips I popped on a BareMinerals gloss to bring some life to my lips!

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation // Mont Blanc

MAC Studio Fix Powder // NC30

Hema Kohl Pencil // Black 21

Models Prefer Infinite Colour Shadow Pencil // Down to Earth

BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lip Gloss // Smooth Talker

Have you used any of these products?

E x

Study Beauty Essentials

University exams are taking over my life at the moment, making it very hard to have a social life! All i want to do is get dressed up and go out somewhere fancy, instead of sitting in trackies and a hoodie with my hair in a bun at home. The woes of a university student trying her best!

I have put together this post to give some tips on the essential beauty items when studying. I keep these items on my desk so I can use them throughout the day. Our skin and body definitely need some extra love during exam time and here are my tips while studying...

The Body Shop // Japanese Cherry Blossom Hand & Nail Cream

A hand cream is absolutely crucial during study time. We use our hands for everything (highlighting, drawing mind maps, typing...oh how wonderful!) and it is important to keep them moisturised. My hands typically dry out, especially in the cold, so keeping them hydrated is my number one priority! This Body Shop cream smells delicious aswell.

Trilogy // Eye Contour Cream

I have blogged about this product in my Everyday Essentials and it really is a god-send. Late nights and staring at a computer screen for long periods of time definitely takes it toll on your face. My eyes often become strained and tired, so having an eye cream really boosts my eyes. It helps to smooth those lines under the eyes and reduce puffiness. It is really refreshing and definitely makes a difference to those nasty bags under my eyes

H&M // Tea and Mint Chocolate Lip Balm

My lips are always drying out, so I always have a lip balm handy to pop on whenever I get a chance. This product isn't one I would recommend as a 'must have' product for lips, but I just love the smell. The minty chocolate smell is delicious and it almost makes me want to eat it. But i love popping this on while I am studying, mostly because the smell makes me feel happy!

Extra Tips

I always have a bottle of water next to me so I can take regular drinks. Water is so important and it really is a key to unlocking great skin, energy and numerous other health benefits. I struggle drinking the recommended amount of water per day, but I always try!

Try and eat lots of healthy snacks throughout the day, like fruit and nuts.

Make sure you take regular breaks to stretch out your body and rest your eyes. Sitting in front of a computer for too long can be very boring but also not great for your health. I always like to schedule my breaks and get some fresh air.

What beauty essentials do you use while studying?

E xx

Flawless Foundation

I have finally found a foundation that I am pretty content with. Finding the perfect foundation is never an easy task. You have find the perfect shade for your skin, decide on the type of coverage you want (light, medium or full) and the type of finish is provides (sheer, matte etc.) I have tried a fair few drugstore foundations and have never really found one that sits nicely on my face, as most products tend to cake or dry out my face. But here it is, my Holy Grail of foundations! Nars Sheer Glow is the newest addition to my collection and I can say that I am fairly impressed. I have read a lot of reviews about Sheer Glow and I did my research before I committed to buy it. 

I got the colour 'Mont Blanc', which was the perfect tone for my skin. It is basically a perfect match for my face, which gives it a natural finish. I always prefer a more natural finish that blends well on my face. The coverage is great, as it gives a sheer finish but is also buildable to provide a more full coverage. It definitely leaves my skin looking luminous and radiant, with an added bonus of evening out my skin tone and hiding any redness on my face. Even my boyfriend said that my face looked brighter!

I would definitely say that the Sheer Glow is suited more towards normal to dry skin types, as it does provide a radiant glow on the face. I am all about 'my skin but better' looks and this has really hit the mark for me. I would definitely recommend this, and I think it will be a firm staple in my makeup collection for a long time.

I apply my Nars Sheer Glow with a MAC 187 foundation brush.

What is your favourite foundation?

E x

Weekly Favourites

I can't believe it is already June! Before I have a freak out about how fast the year is going, here is my weekly favourites. I recently went on a little shopping trip and thought I better pick up some new items to add to my collection. 

Blackmores // Nails, Hair & Skin Vitamins

Rimmel //Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Nova

Rimmel // Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Big Bang

Max Factor // Lipstick in Star Dust Pink

Rimmel // 60 Seconds Nail Polish in How Do You Lilac It?

Rimmel // Lasting Finish Nail Polish in Black Cherries

Boe Beauty // Cushioned Nail Shapers

I have had this gorgeous colour on my nails on for 4 days now and they are still in perfect condition and are yet to chip. I was impressed at how fast the polish dried on my nails and it lived up to the fast drying claims (I am very impatient!). I love this lilac colour and it would suit most people.

My nails have always been quite weak and prone to breakage, so I thought it was time I took some vitamins to help. These vitamins claim 'stronger nails from 12 weeks' which I hope is true! It also supports healthy hair and skin, which is a bonus. I will report back in 12 weeks and let you know if my nails have improved!

I absolutely love the shades of the Rimmel Apocalips lip lacquers. I took forever to decide which colour I wanted but I settled on these two. They are highly pigmented and give such a lovely burst of colour on the lips. I am impressed by the formula, as they still give a nice shine to the lips. The Nova shade is great for everyday wear, while Big Bang would be great for a bold lip on an evening out.

The Max Factor lipstick is also a lovely nude/pink shade. I got this because I wanted a natural lipstick that would have the effect of 'my lips but better'. The lipstick is really moisturising and long lasting. It is also great for just dabbing on the lips to create a subtle colour. 

What are some of your weekly favourites and have you used any of these products?

E x