Shop My Stash: MAC

These few MAC products are my must-haves that I just can't live without. I've used most of these for months, even years and they're ultimate staples in my makeup routine. There's a good mix of products for your base, eyes, lips and even a couple of my favourite brushes - I could happily use only MAC for my complete routine. So let's start with the base...

St Tropez Gradual Tan Tinted Lotion

This body lotion is like gold dust! I am a serious fake tan novice, and the thought of turning orange puts me off trying new stuff. But after hearing I Covet Thee rave about this I was up for giving it a go. I've tried one other product from St Tropez in the past, the In-Shower Gradual Tan (can you tell I'm all about that gradual tan) and I had mixed feelings. This on the other hand, I am totally in love with.

My Favourite Black Shoes

Black shoes are a staple in any wardrobe and since my feet haven't grown in years, my collection is starting to grow to a ridiculous size. I contemplated sharing all the black shoes I own but that would've been one really long and dreary post. So as a small compromise, here are a few of my favourite pairs.

Go with the Glow!

This summer has been all about the glow, and I'm fully committed to keeping it up as the seasons start to change. The days are getting shorter and darker so to keep the mood light why not amp up the glow and make it last longer. My skin is also inevitably going to get dryer and a little bit sallow - the classic case of winter face - so the more glow the better. I've been loving these products to add that little extra bronze and glow to my skin and make sure that my very faint tan lasts as long as possible.

Chanel Le Rouge Eyeshadow Palette

The new Chanel Le Rouge Collection for Fall '16 has launched and its all about 50 shades of red (ok, maybe not that many...). I picked up this gorgeous eyeshadow palette from the collection, in the shade Candeur Et Expérience. This is the first completely matte eyeshadow palette released by Chanel, and it comes with the appointment of new Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer, Lucia Pica. 

Quick & Easy Everyday Makeup

I enjoy applying my makeup and like to take my time when I do it, but sometimes the lie-in can't be avoided and I end up in a rush. Whenever I'm in that rush, these are my go-to products that I know I can trust. These few products range from high-end to drugstore and long-time favourites as well as some newer finds.

Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise

There's a new Charlotte Tilbury beauty counter in John Lewis, Cardiff and I could not be more excited! Its not a brand that's particularly that difficult to get hold of these days online, but nothing beats seeing the products in front of you with your own eyes and avoiding having to rely on swatches you've found online. Side note: The counter in Cardiff is big, beautiful and sparkly.

Benefit Ka-Brow!

Benefit's recent brow launch includes a huge selection of products suited to everyone's eyebrow needs. Arguably the largest brow launch ever and one of the biggest this year, Benefit are jumping on the eyebrow bandwagon. Brows are like fashion, the trend changes every season and Benefits extensive range caters to any trend you fancy. 

Tanya Burr: The Soft Luxe Palettes

I hadn't heard much about the new Tanya Burr Soft Luxe Collection launch until the day of the launch last week. As soon as I did hear about it I ordered the two new eyeshadow palettes straight away. I was most excited about these in the collection, I'm not really a fan of nail polish and although I did like the look of the liquid lipsticks, especially Martha Moo, the other colours weren't really up my street.

Mini MAC Haul

I've recently made a few spontaneous trips to MAC and I've picked up a few random bits and bobs. I don't usually have a plan when I go into MAC, I usually just have the urge to pick up some new makeup bits and I know I can rely on MAC not to disappoint. MAC is a great middle-of-the-road makeup brand, its not too expensive but its definitely not your drugstore budget option. I love how much is on offer, there are over 100 shades of eyeshadow and lipstick and tons of different finishes - there's something to suit everyone!

Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips - Kim K.W.

Charlotte Tilbury's Hot Lips have been so eagerly anticipated I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of them. I knew immediately I wanted the Kim Kardashian shade, Kim K.W., a pale pink nude, but there's no denying that all these shades are absolutely stunning! I've also got my eye on Super Cindy, a taupe-nude shade inspired by Cindy Crawford as well as Liv It Up, a rosey-pink shade inspired by Liv Tyler.

NYX Glosses

When I think of lip gloss, memories come flooding back of me as a kid layering it on like there was no tomorrow. But since then I’ve strayed away and haven’t worn it in years. Since discovering MAC lipsticks I’ve stayed true and haven’t bothered layering gloss on top. Nowadays, when I’m wearing a full face of makeup or even just the bare basics I tend to stick to lip balm – I can’t really be bothered with the lipstick upkeep throughout the day. Now that lipstick is proving to be a bit too high-maintenance, I thought why not dabble in the lip gloss department again.

Clinique Chubby Lash - Black Honey

Ok... first off lets discuss this beautiful packaging - obviously its what's inside that counts but you can't deny that this is one sleek looking mascara. The shiny metal packaging gives this mascara a bit of weight, making it feel a little more luxurious (even though the price tag won't damage your bank balance too much). As well as being beautiful this packaging is also practical - the cap clicks to make sure that its properly shut, meaning the mascara won't dry out quickly.

Sanctuary Skincare

Recently I've been trying out a few Sanctuary Spa skincare bits, and trying to incorporate them into my skincare routine. I've moved on from the face wipes that I used to use daily when I was younger and I've really started taking my skincare seriously. There's a recent post all about my daily skincare routine here, but I've been using these Sanctuary bits every now and then.

Summer Haul '16

Over the last few weeks I've been slowly collecting a few bits and bobs, so I thought I'd stick them all together in a mish-mash haul. It's mostly beauty bits, with a few added extras.

My Handbag Essentials

I picked up this little blue pouch on a holiday in France a few years ago and it comes with me every day. I use this for my go-to everyday essentials. I thought I'd run through what I keep with me daily, besides my wallet, phone and keys.

My Cluse Watch

My Cluse watch was probably the most expensive purchase I've made, but I definitely think its my best. I hadn't worn a watch for over 5 years, and I kinda felt like that was a shame. I had one of those moments where I realised whenever I needed to check the time, I'd always check my phone. The thought of relying on my phone for the time as well as tons of other things made me want to have a little freedom from it. I've started to have time without my phone during the day and its a great feeling, very peaceful.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist (First Impression)

A quick post about the Body Shop Face Mist I picked up recently from the Vitamin E range. The Body Shop have so many great ranges but my favourite is definitely Vitamin E, I've been using it for years. A few other Vitamin E products were mentioned in my recent Skincare Routine post.

Makeup Brushes Part II: My Eye Brushes

I have to admit, I love makeup brushes and I'm a short-term hoarder. I don't have that big of a collection, but I'm slowly starting to by more; the RMK Face Colour Brush is next on my wishlist. This is the second part of my collection, you can see the first part all about my Face Brushes here.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Vs. Max Factor Creme Puff Blush

Let's admit, even by just looking at the picture it's pretty clear to see that both the Hourglass and Max Factor blushers are similar. The only thing that really differentiates them is the price. The Max Factor Creme Puff Blush retails for £8.99 and is available in 6 shades, whereas the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushers go for £28 a pop, sometimes more, and come in 7 beautiful shades. I have the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit (which is still available here) which has 2 blush shades, 'Luminous Flush' and 'Mood Exposure' also known as the bacon blush.

Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette

The original Tarte Tartelette palette has gathered quite a cult following since it's release, and since its slightly easier to get hold of in the UK these days (available on QVC occasionally) I thought I'd throw my opinion into the mix - better late than never!

Battle of the Bronzers: Part 2

High-End or Drugstore?

In the first part of my little two-part bronzer battle I debated over Liquid or Powder and came to the conclusion that my favourite formula was the creams and liquids, especially the new L'Oreal Glam Bronze Cushion Soleil. In this post I'll be debating whether I would splash out or save my pennies.

Battle of the Bronzers: Part 1

Liquid or Powder?

There used to be just your average powder bronzer - different shades and formulas but always in a pan. But recently there's been a huge surge of liquid and cream bronzers appearing on the market. That's not to say you couldn't get your hands on a cream bronzer, e.g. the Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel seems like it's been around for donkeys years; but there was no hope of finding a decent one in the drugstore.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick

Bobbi Brown has a huge selection of foundations and an even bigger range of shades, claiming they’ll work for everyone. Us pale girls know the struggles of finding the perfect foundation so Bobbi Brown’s claims are pretty appealing. After a lot of research and pondering I picked up the Stick Foundation in the shade Alabaster (the lightest shade).

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams

There’s no doubting that everyone and their dog has heard of these, and there’s still a huge hype surrounding them. I completely fell for the hype, and I have to say I completely agree with it. So let’s start from picking them. There is a serious lack of NYX counters in the UK, so it makes it quite difficult to choose your shades. I had a look at images of swatches online, and I found that YouTube reviews with swatches were really helpful. My favourite is Kathleen Lights video.

Giorgio Armani Maestro Glow Fusion Foundation

This is a relatively new foundation to me, and was only launched in February. I picked this up after hearing Inthefrow talk about it briefly in one of her videos - the essential oils in the formula appealed to me massively. Reviews were a little difficult to come across, but after giving this a quick swatch on the back of my hand I decided to just give it a go; I was too intrigued not to.

LUFKIN Coffee

According to the website, the name LUFKIN originates from ‘love’ – very fitting to the small coffee shop based on King’s Road in Pontcanna, Cardiff.

My MAC Lipstick Collection

Every girl needs at least one MAC lipstick! So many colours and finishes to choose from, there's something for everyone. I've currently got 6 in my very teeny collection but they're so addictive; not so expensive that you could just go pick one up whenever the wind takes you but it still feels like a nice treat.

My Make Up Brushes (Face)

I've got a real love for make-up brushes, I don't think I'll ever have too many. The only thing that's off-putting about them is the time it takes to clean them, no one enjoys that chore. I will say that I still love every brush I've bought and still use them all.

First Impressions: Nip & Fab Glycolic Fix Serum

A quick first thought’s post on a new addition to my skincare routine. Since I’ve run out of my previous serum I thought I’d try something new, just for a change. So I picked up the Nip & Fab Glycolic Serum after a bit of hunting and deliberating.

Marc Jacobs Under(cover) Perfecting Coconut Face Primer

My lovely flatmate picked this up for me from New York when she visited recently, and after using it for a little bit I’ve got a bit more of an idea of what I think. I didn’t realise that this was available in the UK but I found it the other day on the Harrods site. Taking into consideration the exchange rate and taxes I think I managed to get this for a £1 cheaper from the U.S.

March Favourites

March didn’t hang about and we’re already a quarter of the way through 2016. Crazy! I’ve spent the first half of the month at university and the second half at home – two very different lifestyles. Here are a few of my favourite things to round off the month.

Current Skincare Routine

Recently I’ve really got into my skincare and pay a lot more attention to what my skin needs. I used to spend all my time and money on amazing makeup but then I realised no matter how good it is, if it doesn’t have a good base to sit on it won’t ever look good.

What I've Learnt So Far...

I know I’m only 19 and I’ve still got a lot to learn, but there are a few things I’ve learnt over the past few years and I thought there’s no harm in sharing. I’m not really one for sticking to New Year Resolutions, I’ll happily make them and feel really proud of myself for trying to make a difference but by the second week of January they’re all but forgotten. So instead I thought I’d reminisce in the hopes it will have a positive effect in the future.

Blogging Blues

I haven’t written on my blog since September, it’s been a long time and things have been quite hectic. I just seemed to lose my mojo, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write about or if I’d have enough to write a whole post.