Smashbox Shapematters Palette

It's no secret that I'm a makeup lover. So when I saw the Smashbox Shapematters Palette half price at Boots last week I couldn't resist! The palette comes with a brow section, face section and an eye section. The brow section consists of a wax and two brow powders (taupe and soft brown), the face section contains four powders (contour, bronzer, highlight and glow) and in the eyes section there are nine eyeshadows (vanilla, totally nude, champagne, stripped, posh, platinum, sumatra, aubergine and blackout).

I was most excited to try the face section and also all the eyeshadows because they looked beautiful wearable colours! I wasn't too crazy about the brow powders as the colours are too light for my hair colour and I also feel like I don't have as much control over the product when I'm using a powder. I was a little bit disappointed with the highlight shade as I didn't feel like it was pigmented enough, the contour and bronzer shade make a lovely colour when mixed together however when used alone the contour shade is too greyish for me and the bronzer shade is too much on the warmer side. The shimmer highlight is a light champagne colour so it's perfect for when my tans wearing off and my foundation is lighter.

What I was really impressed with was the eyeshadows! All 9 shades are absolutely beautiful! The shades are (left to right on the picture above) vanilla, totally nude, champagne, stripped, posh, platinum, sumatra, aubergine and blackout). The eyeshadows are really pigmented and there is a range of matte and shimmer shades, they blend out beautifully and I was so impressed with how longwearing they are. My favourite shades to wear together are posh and aubergine blended out with totally nude. I'll definitely still continue to play around with these eyeshadows as I think the colours are stunning. In all honesty I wish this palette was just fully complete with eyeshadows! But the eyeshadows made the palette worth buying! 

Let me know how you felt about this palette if you bought it and also if you love any other products from smashbox! See you soon!

Rebecca x

MAC Lipstick Collection

There's only one rule when it comes to MAC lipsticks and it's that you can never have too many! Whilst I dream of owning, well let's face it ALL OF THEM! I'm lucky enough to have my own little collection of my 6 holygrail lipsticks.

There are so many things RIGHT about MAC lipsticks. To start with they're long lasting and there are so many shades to choose from! (And I don't know if this is just me but I think they smell like Cadburys Mini Eggs!) No matter what makeup look you choose - there is always a beautiful MAC lipstick to pair with it! 

I have six MAC lipsticks all together but these first four are my nude colours! Going from left to right on the swatch photo above the shades are Velvet Teddy, Hue, Modesty and Creme Cup.

Velvet Teddy is a matte lipstick, very long wearing and incredibly pigmented. It's more of a brown nude than a pink nude and it is definitely one of my favourites - it makes me feel very 90s! 

Hue is the lipstick which I have used the most out of my collection. It's a glaze lipstick and although its not as pigmented as the other lipsticks, it's my go-to lipstick for a night out and looks amazing with a nude lipliner and a smokey eye! 

Modesty is a cremesheen lipstick and the only way I can describe the colour of this lipstick is kind of a "your lips but better" if that makes any sense? It's definitely a shade that can be used with any makeup which is why I use it for my everyday lipstick and I'm so glad I came across this because I know I always have this trusty shade to fall back on! The cremesheen lipsticks are really moisturising as well and they are really long wearing considering how moisturising they are! 

Last but not least of my nude lipsticks is Creme Cup! Creme Cup was the first ever lipstick I bought from MAC so this was the one that got me hooked! It's a cremesheen again so its moisturising. This is more of a pink shade but I'd include it more into my nude collection than my colours. I usually wear this lipstick with a neutral eye and pop my Dior Collagen Activ Lip Maximiser over the top. 

The last two shades of my lipstick collection are ones which I don't tend to reach for as much as my nude lipsticks. 

The first shade on the left is Relentlessly Red. It's a retro matte lipstick and I fell in love with it as soon as I swatched it in the shop! I actually went in search of a red lipstick but this one is more of a pinky red which I love because it's so bright!

The other shade is Rebel which is a perfect colour to buy if you want to start getting into dark lipsticks but you're a bit weary! I purchased this a year ago and it took me a while to use it for the first time because I didn't know what makeup look would go best with it but now that I've got that sorted a strong contour and neutral eye is what I love to use with this lipstick. I am so excited for autumn to come around again because you will not be able to get this lipstick off my face!

Let me know what your favourite shades of MAC lipstick are! Or any other brands of lipstick which you love to use in the comments! See you soon!

Rebecca x

Fake Tan Favourites

We're coming to the end of August now and it appears that my iBiza tan is slowly losing it's soul. Thankfully fake tan exists in all kinds of forms and we can take advantage of these glorious products in order to keep us glowing through till next summer.

In all honesty, I'm a bit of a fake tan junkie and it took me a LONG time to find fake tan that suited me and lasted as long as I wanted it to. My first fake tan experience was not great but I was 13 and wanted to look a little bit more sunkissed in P.E but instead of looking sunkissed I ended up looking a colour somewhere between a Wotsit and red leicester cheese - not chic. But since then I've been trying different brands of fake tan, different formulas of tan and 5 years later I think I've got the hang of fake tanning and I'd like to share with you some of my favourites! 

ST TROPEZ MOUSSE

St Tropez Mousse is definitely one of my favourite fake tans, I used this tan for at least 3 years and still use it from time to time now. Because the product is a mousse it glides on to the skin perfectly and I love how the colour of it isn't that dirty greenish colour. I apply it with the St Tropez tanning mitt and work from my feet up to my neck, I usually have to apply two coats to get the desired colour I want but the second layer applies over the first layer really nicely and doesn't go patchy which is always a bonus. I don't fake tan my face as most days I'm wearing a full coverage foundation so I don't feel the need to however, I always make sure that the colour of my foundation matches my fake tan. 

GARNIER GRADUAL TAN

If you prefer a gradual tan I would definitely recommend the Garnier Gradual tan, the shade I use is dark but they do a light shade also if you prefer a subtle glow rather than a deep tan. This is the only tan that I have found that doesnt make my knuckles and wrists 5 shades darker than the rest of my body, whenever I use it I'm so impressed that the colour doesn't clump into my knuckles and inbetween my fingers like other fake tans do. Another benefit of this fake tan is that not only is it super moisturising but it smells like apricots! Although I do think the smell does wear off quite quickly and you do soon smell like biscuits. The colour for me is a little bit too on the orange side as personally I prefer a more olive undertone in my fake tan but as a cheaper alternative to the rest of these fake tans - this ones a winner. 

XEN TAN DARK LOTION

Okay so this is the real deal, Xen Tan Dark Lotion is the ultimate fake tan for me. I cannot rave about this product enough from the colour to the smell, everything about this fake tan is fabulous. If like me you prefer a fake tan with an olive undertone then this is the product for you, because it's a lotion its really moisturising but it has a dark guide colour so that you know where you've missed out! One coat is all I need for the colour that I want and again I do apply it with the St Tropez tanning mitt working from feet up to my neck. The fake tan smells like cherry almonds and everytime I use it I get a craving for cherry bakewells! (Mr Kipling, come through), if you don't like this smell Xen Tan also do a similar tan called Moroccan Tan which smells like coconuts (really reminds me of being on holiday!). This fake tan never fails to disappoint me, I tend to fake tan on a night time before I go to sleep and when I wake up in the morning I'm instantly in a good mood because of the wonderful results I have from this product. 

Let me know what your favourite fake tan product is and why you love it in the comments! See you soon!

Rebecca x

July Favourites

July is drawing to an end! Let's hope that August brings us some sunshine in the UK! The past couple of weeks of rain are starting to make me feel like summer is coming to a close, and honestly I'm not ready for summer to be over yet! However, despite the drizzle, there have been a few perks for me this month and they come in the glorious form of makeup products! So here are a few products which I have been obsessed with this July!

My first July favourite is the NARS Bronzer in the shade Laguna. We're in the middle of summer and I don't know about you guys but for me this month it's all about that bronzed glow! In the past I have shied away from any bronzers which aren't matte (I was a Benefit Hoola addict for 3 years) however, whilst flicking through Instagram and Youtube I realised how many people love this bronzer and I was dying to get my hands on it! I was kind of put off by the description as it was described to have a golden shimmer in it, but nevertheless I took the plunge and I certainly have not regretted it! For me, the bronzer isn't shimmery at all when applied, it looks matte but I can definitely see the gold flecks in the product itself. It blends easily and I've been using it every day since it was delivered to me (I think my other bronzers are feeling kind of neglected). I use the bronzer to sculpt out my cheekbones and then blend it into my temples to give my face structure and definition. All in all this is a beautiful product, and lets be honest the packaging of NARS products is just as wonderful as what's inside as well!

My second favourite product of the month is the MAC Burgundy Times Nine Palette. Purchasing this palette for me was so exciting as usually I tend to wear very neutral coloured eyeshadows (I'm a sucker for a good Urban Decay Naked palette) but as much as I love the nude eyes - we all need a bit of colour in our lives! The palette contains 9 eyeshadow colours (they aren't full sized ones but they're a good size anyway!) which have a few bronze/brown shades and then some purple/burgundy shades as well. Going from left to right (swatch picture above) the shades are Honey Lust, Poppyseed, Quarry, Antiqued, Embark, #Noir, Haux, Star Violet and Sketch. I didn't know where to begin with all these shades to play with! The shades which I have been using the most in this palette are Antiqued and Embark (these two shades look amazing next to each other for a bronzed smokey eye) but I think my favourite shades are Star Violet and Sketch blended out with Quarry. Because I have green eyes the purple shades (especially Sketch!) really make my eye colour pop! I've been using this palette so much since I bought it and I would 100% recommend it to anyone thinking about purchasing it as you won't be disappointed. 

Last but not least is my third favourite makeup product of the month which is the Dior Addict Lip Maximiser Collagen Activ. Personally, I am not a lipgloss person. I've never really liked how sticky lipglosses feel on my lips and plus when you've got long hair like mine lipgloss suddenly becomes a hair magnet and there is nothing more frustrating than having hair attached to your face! (Long haired girls do you feel my pain?) however, I purchased this as I heard it was a good treatment for the lips as well as a lip maximiser! And thank the Dior God's because I have finally found a non-sticky, non-gloopy and moisturising lipgloss! THANK YOU DIOR! I often find myself reaching for this after I've applied a nude pink lipliner all over my lips and I love the neutral look the combination has when I have a smokey eye! Or even a neutral eye! I've never really used lip maximisers because I've never come across one that works for me! Eventually I gave up and accepted that I must simply repel lip maximisers, but this is a miracle product and gives me a natural plump whilst moisturising too which is why it's one of my favourite products for this month!

So those are my favourite products for July! Let me know in the comments what your favourite beauty or makeup products are this month or if you've used any of the products I chose and what you thought of them! See you soon!

Rebecca x

Skincare Routine

We all love to think we've had a skincare routine for years, but for me I'd say that until a year and a half ago my skincare routine was rather part time! But now I can't even think about beginning my day or going to sleep without my rituals.

My morning skincare routine is slightly different to my night one, only because I prefer a richer moisturiser for my face whilst I sleep.

 I start my morning by using the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, I purchased this about 3 months ago so it is fairly new to my skincare routine but since using it twice daily I have noticed a big improvement in the condition of my skin! The smell is fresh and clean so it's great for waking you up in the morning (yes, even on Mondays!) and because it is a cream cleanser my skin feels well moisturised afterwards as well!

After cleansing I always reach for my Clinique Clarifying Lotion (I use number 2 for dry/combination skin). I found out about this product a few years ago by sneaking it off my mum and I've been in love with it ever since! It really does take away all the dirt and cleanser residue off my face and I never feel like my skin is properly clean until I've used it (honestly you'd be surprised what this product gets out of your skin when you think it's clean! Gross - but trust me on this one).

When my skin is squeaky clean I use Benefit 'It's Potent' Eye Cream. I never really thought that using an eye cream would make a difference however a year ago I realised that with all the eyeshadow brushes I shove into my sockets maybe I should give the skin around my eyes a little TLC too! This eye cream has cocoa butter in it so it's super moisturising however the best thing about it is that the product absorbs quickly into the skin - perfect for someone like me who likes to get their face on and attack the day with full force! By the time I come round to putting my makeup on the eyecream has soaked into my skin and doesn't interfere with the way my makeup sets around my eyes, love it!

 I then use my Lush Skin Drink moisturiser (I used to use Skin's Shangri La which was beautiful but a little too rich for under my makeup) I love how Lush products are made from fresh ingredients - it makes me feel so much better knowing that what I'm using on my skin is made from natural products! 

So that pretty much concludes my morning skincare routine so I'll move on to my nightime routine...

My nightime skincare routine isn't that much different to my morning routine, the only difference being is that instead of using my Skindrink moisturiser I use Bio-oil instead. So after I've taken my makeup off with the Liz Earle Cleanse&Polish I use Bio-oil on my skin before I sleep because it's richer than a cream so when I wake up in the morning my skin feels so silky and I know that the oil has been working it's magic whilst I've been catching my Z's. Since using Bio-oil I've noticed that my skintone has become a lot more even and although I don't use Bio-oil for scarring or stretch marks which is its primary purpose, I LOVE it for moisturising my face at night! 

Those are the products I use on my face every single day. However, two or three times a week I do like to use an exfoliator to get rid of any dead skin cells to keep my skin in tip-top shape! My favourite exfoliator currently is the Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream which is heavenly! Also, if my skin is having a bit of a bad day and needs a little pick me up I always reach for a face mask! I've been loving the Quick Fix Facial Purifying Charcoal Mask recently! I usually just apply it to my T-zone as this is my problem area and leave it to set before washing it off. 

SO! That finally concludes my skincare routine, I'll be sure to update you if I stumble upon any miracle products! Let me know in the comments what your favourite skincare products are! See you soon!

Rebecca x

My First Blog Post

Good afternoon! Here I am writing my first blog post - something I never thought I'd be doing a year ago! Because it's my first post I thought I'd tell you a little bit about myself and what you can expect from this blog!

First of all, as you've probably guessed my name is Rebecca, I live in the incredibly drizzly United Kingdom and I am 18 years old. I am a makeup hoader/addict/enthusiast whatever you want to call it and I am an aspiring makeup artist and soon I shall be studying to become a fully qualified makeup artist (exciting!) 

When I'm not messing with makeup or got my face in the pages of my latest read I'm either working, spending time with family and friends and I'm also quite partial to a night out with my girls! (A hobby which if I say so myself I excell at). 

So, I think that I've droned on about myself enough now so I'll let you know why I started this blog and what you can expect to be reading. Okay so, I started this blog for a few reasons one of them is that this summer I have had A LOT of spare time on my hands due to finishing my last year of sixth form and I thought what better way to keep myself busy than to let my creative juices flow and set up and write on my own blog. The second reason I started this blog is my passion for anything makeup or beauty related! I love talking about makeup and beauty, I love trying new products and I love sharing my favourite products with anyone and everyone who will listen! 

Aside from my blog you can find me on instagram, twitter and pinterest for other updates on what's going on. See you soon!

Rebecca x