Five in Five #1

I've finally come to the realisation that I have far too much make-up, and due to this I've decided I should really stop buying anymore. Which is great for my bank balance, but not so great when trying to think of new and creative ideas for a blog that's main focus is beauty. There are only so many times I can tell you about my favourite products, however I thought I'd start a series where I show you five products, and challenge myself to describe them in five words.

Ready, set, go!

Nars Multiple in South Beach - Glowy, sunkissed, Millie Mack cheekbones.

Real Techniques Contour Brush - Brush with hundreds of uses.

Dior Skin Nude BB Creme - Best thing since sliced bread.

Benefits Hervana Blush - Smells good enough to eat.

No7 BB Lips - Everyday esstential item must have.

Laura

I Should Really Use You More

Believe it or not, there are some products in my stash that I love, but just don't end up using them. As much as I love these products, for some reason or another they just stay tucked away and don't get the use they deserve.

Mac Powersurge Eyeliner - This is a lovely golden eyeliner that looks lovely on the waterline or as a shadow, but for some reason I just neglect it. I think for me this is just a summer product and I'm also scared to use it.

Dior Amber Diamond - This is my 'special occassion' highlighter reserved for, well, special occasions. I really need to start wearing it more regularly though as it's so pretty and gives a gorgeous golden glow.

Urban Decay Naked Two - I wanted this palette so much, but I just don't really reach for it. Part of me thinks it's much too shimmery for me, but I really need to mess about with it a bit more.

Nars Eyeshadow Duo - I love this eyeshadow duo, and used to wear it a lot, however when I do my make-up now I just tend to grab a crayon of some sort as I find it more convenient.

MAC Cosmo Lipstick - For some reason I just ever find myself reaching for this colour. I think it's my 'sophisticated' lipstick, but rarely find myself in sophisticated-esque style situations.

Bare Minerals Original Foundation - I loved this foundation and used to use it regularly, but for me the Dior Nude BB Cream is just so perfect I rarely use anything else.

&Other Stories Cire Red blusher - This is pretty much MACs Frankly Scarlett. The tiniest tap of a brush is needed or else you look like coco the clown, but it gives the cheek the perfect flush.

What products should you use more?

Laura

FOTD: Let It Glow

Another Frozen reference, I know. Sorry for not being sorry; it just fit so well. For someone who was always scared she looked really shiny and believed a face full of powder was the best way to hide everything and keep things hidden all day, over the last year I've defintiely gravitated toward a glowly look.

To get the base off to the right start I began with the Bourjois Happy Light primer to get my skin all ready for my base which here is the Bourjois CC Cream as I wanted to give it a test, but to be honest, though it's more expensive I much prefer the Dior BB Cream, it lasts better throughout the day and adds an extra glow.

Before powdering with my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder, which is the peferfect powder to set make-up but leave you with a glow, I worked in my Jemma Kid Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Cream which is sadly discountined but I say pick up Topshops Glow Cream Highlighter for the same effect. Once that is worked in with the base I like to apply my cream blush, which just so happened to be my Nars Multiple in Portofino.

Eyes and lips I kept quite simple. Eyes was a MAC staple Naked Lunch which deposits a slight colour with a nice shimmer to boot and lips was a your lips but nicer/better colour from No7 BB Lips in Coral Rush.

What are your glowy skin staples?

Laura xoxo

Back to Bronze

Spring and summer definitely send a signal to my make-up caves and call upon the bronze heroes to stand to attention. Winter's a great time to give the berry coloured items some loving, but if there is one thing that works throughout summer it is definitely the bronze!

For a nice simple bronze cheek offering I definitely suggest you pick up the Nars Multiple in South Beach. The perfect consistency to just blob onto your face and gently blend it. It has a slight shimmer running through it which means it catches the sun perfectly and leaves you feeling ever so glowy and bronzed. However, if matte is more your thing thang than I definitely suggest Benefit's Hoola. It isn't too orange, but definitely has a darkness too it that many other bronzers don't have. It's the perfect contour or all over 'I've tanned' colour. Finally for cheeks, if you're a pale person who just wants a bit of colour, without looking like they've rolled in Wotsits I highly recommend the Clarins Bronzing Duo in Light. I've harped on about this product plenty but seriously, I love it. 

For eyes cream bases seem to be the way forward for me, simple and fuss free which means you have more time to enjoy the limited sunshine. A quick wash of bronze that isn't too dark and really compliments a tan has to the Bad to the Bronze from Maybelline Colour Tattoo. It gives a lovely wash to your eye that isn't overpowering but still compliments any tan perfectly. If you want something a little darker, this pencil from Rimmel Scandaleyes is your guy. The perfect rusty bronze colour in my opinion. I prefer it a little blended as it can look a bit OTT on me, but if you like warm colours I think you'll love it. Finally, for a bit of liner Powersurge by MAC is your guy. I seriously love this liner, it works as a shadow too. What more could you want?

What are your favourite bronze products?

Laura xoxo

Spring Fling: Cheeks

I decided I wanted to do a little spring series here on the old blog. I do love me a little series every now and again and the changing of the seasons allows the perfect opportunity. I'm going to start my series focusing on cheek products, tomorrow eyes and then Thursday will finish with cheeks.

The Bronzer - Okay, so this isn't necessarily a 'spring fling' as I love this product all year round, however everyone needs a bronze glow and there is no better product for it than this. There's a load of different intensities in the Clarins Bronzing Duo so you should find a shade that suits your skin tone perfectly. The shimmer in it is simple and subtle and can rarely be seen.

The Bronze Glow - Ah Nars South Beach is what started my multiple craze. I love this product, plus it's Millie Mackintosh approved. I love using this as a bronzer, highlighter and contour. It really is a multi use product and this is the perfect spring/summer shade.

The Cream Cheek - This Bourjois Cream Blush in 03 is a great spring shade as it is has just the right amount of pink to coral ratio to make it a great transitional colour. The cream formula is makes the whole dewy sunkissed look great and means it applies seamlessly. 

The Powder Blush - MAC Dainty blush is a mineralise finish which means it has a hell'uva lota glitter in it, but it's milled enough to not make it look like you've face planted a vat of glitter. For me spring says pink, and you can't get a prettier pink colour, that truly comes off pink, in a good way!

The Luxury Item- Everybody loves a bit of luxury in their life. This Chanel Blush is the perfect peachy pink colour that blends in well to your skin and gives you that perfect springs day flush. Plus, it's Chanel, beautiful enough just to look at.

What are your spring fling blushes?

Laura xoxo 

Review: Nars Duo in Madrague

If anyone tells me how the heck you say this, I will be more than grateful! Anyway, I was kindly bought this for my birthday by my best friends (they let me choose bless them!) and today I'm sharing it with you.

This is very much a nude duo. No shimmer, pure matte and pure subtle colours. Something I thought would be perfect for travelling as I love a good subtle eye for day to day. (I don't travel that much though, but ah well.)

The quality of these products are what you would expect from Nars. The pick up and blend extremely well, and last the usual amount of time on my oily eyes. Obviously longer if I prime. I would say though, I have quite dark, almost orange eyes, which mean colours tend to go more orange toned on me if I don't even them out first.

For me this duo ticks all the boxes, subtle, easy to use and compact.

What do you think?

Laura xoxo

Review: Nars Eyeshadow in Cordura

When I was buying my new Multiple (review) this little guy caught my eye, and well the rest is history. I've never really owned a Nars eyeshadow, as they are rather pricey, this guy set my back £24 (i think) so very much a luxury/I have no control purchase. I love golden brown smokey eyes, and think this would be perfect if you travel (not that I do, but ah well,) as it will save you a lot of space.

This is has pictured orange toned, but it's not in real life, I assure you, it is more golden, than tangoed.

I used this on my friend on a night out a couple of weeks ago, and she loved it too.

The pigmentation, and formula of these eyeshadows are amazing, they blow MAC out of the window.

However...

NARS//Gilded Gold//NARS//Luster

If you own the Stila, Natural Eyes palette, and you are on a budget, I would say give this item a miss, as they are very similar to Gilded Gold and Luster.

I should (hopefully) have an exciting (to me) post of a way I've worn this coming up, so if you need a bit more temptation, then keep your eyes peeled!

Laura xoxo

Review: Nars The Multiple in Portofino

In case my constant raving about my Nars Multiple in South Beach, (review) didn't give it away, I was extremely impressed with it. So, I decided, why not get another one, and here we go. I really wanted one that would give me a 'lit from within' look, or a one that makes me look like I've been on a nice evening stroll.

As you can see, Portofino is a gorgeous coral pink colour. What I love about this is that you can really build it up (left) or really blend it out (right.) Like South Beach, this multiple contains a lot of shimmer, which gives a gorgeous glowy effect when on the cheeks.

As you can see it does give a very much I've just stepped out into the Winter chill look to the cheeks, which is one I really like.

I am yet to try it on the lips, but will let you know when I do.

What do you think?

Laura xoxo


P.S Just thought I'd share, I am loving this eyeshadow atm, it is MAC's All That Glitters, well worth the hype :)

Nars The Multiple: South Beach

A few weeks ago, I saw Corrie, tweet Millie Mackintosh to ask what she had worn on her cheeks at a launch of some kind, and Millie actually replied, saying she had used this product, the Nars Multiple in South Beach. So, when wondering through Selfridges the other day I went and looked at the Multiple sticks, and this was the first one I picked up, I think that my friends, is fate.

This is actually the first Nars Product I've ever bought, and I am not disappointed. I love the packaging, however it has gotten dirty rather quickly, but it just looks so sleek and pretty in my little basket.

South Beach is a a peachy bronzey colour with a fair bit of shimmer in it. I've never thought of getting a Multiple before, but I actually really love this. It is so creamy, which makes it a dream to use and blend.

As it is a peachy colour, it works well as a blush/contour and a highlight. I tend to just use it on it's own, and I love that is just so quick to throw on, but looks so gorgeous and put together.

I like to apply it straight from the bullet then blend it in with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush.

'scuse the Rudolph  nose, I had woman flu.

I also realised, I should've moved my hair, sorry!

I actually wore it whilst browsing some make-up counters, and a MUA actually asked my what I had on my cheeks. That's when I knew I had a keeper.

I really love this product, it is a firm favourite now, and I will definitely be re-purchasing again and again, I can't speak highly enough of it.

Have you tried this? What do you think?

Laura xoxo