playing with make up

Halloween is huge here! And who doesn't love to play with make up and blood and scars at any available opportunity.

A quick (not so quick, more like rammed with desperate students on a last minute costume dash) trip to Walmart to buy one of each fake blood/face paint/gungey halloween packs and $30 later (!) meant we had plenty to play with!

A lot of black eyeshadow, red liner and lips and a deep set contour provided the base make up. This was followed my almost an hour of blood and temporary tattoo application which ended up looking so realistic that when we got to the bars I was asked twice if I had got in a knife fight. 

Successful halloween night #1!

Review: Makeover Essentials

I'd never heard of this brand before my birthday but I've now acquired quite a few bits from them which I'm reasonably impressed with.

The first is a small, predominantly eye foldaway eye palette which also has 4 lip gloss colours. As I'm not a major lip gloss wearer I haven't got much use out of these, but I do like the grey-black eyeshadow shade as a liner to thicken the appearance of my upper lashes.

This is like a bronze shimmer powder with a built in brush to distribute the product but again I haven't used this much because it's not something I would wear on a daily basis. However, I don't have anything else like this which is a plus.

Another foldaway palette. This has 5 glosses, 5 eyeshadows, highlight and contour colours and 3 blushes as well as mini brushes/applicators, a mini double ended lip/eye liner and a mini mascara which is really good for bottom lashes. I use this a lot and it's really good for travelling as it covers a lot of the basics and the shades are all very wearable.

Lastly I got a brush set with a small angled brush which I use to fill in my eyebrows, a small blending brush for eyeshadow, an eyeliner brush, a lip brush, a foundation brush and a big blush brush.

I like these and I really like the case which is the perfect size for travelling as it's not too big but fits all your essentials in so you never overpack.

Have you tried anything from Makeover Essentials?

Em x

Review: P.S. I love... Volumising Mascara

Okay, so it's been more than a while.... but my lifestyle at uni means I don't really get a chance to blog and revision season is upon us. Despite this, I couldn't not share this new find. That's right for just one measly pound at Primark you can pick up this Volumising mascara and let me tell you, you won't regret it.

So the formula is a tad clumpy/on the drier side but if this is applied carefully and so that it doesn't end up all around your face, well you can see the difference for yourself. The brush has bristles which I find grab and pull your lashes more than plastic wands, meaning a better coating and I particularly like the effect it has on my lower lashes. It doesn't last a lifetime when its on and will crumble a bit if you rub your eyes too much so don't do that, but for £1 I think it does what it says, volumise!! And lengthens nicely too!

Crazy selfie time...

Other make up I'm wearing:

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

ME contour colour from their Beauty Diary kit (post on this brand to follow)

Rimmel Blush in 010 Santa Rose

and Rimmel Apocalips in 102 Nova- not worn this in ages!

Do like the Primark beauty range?

Thank you for your kind eyes on my blog, see you again soon!

Em x

thank god for make up!

Just thought I'd do a quick post, not just to show you how terrible my skin is at the minute - don't know what it is about being at home that makes it flare up, but it was never this bad at uni!! but also to show you my daily make up routine and how I manage to get my face looking half decent! Think of it as sort of a "get ready with me". I posted this on Instagram earlier too if you saw that!

Basically, to transform myself, I added some curls to my hair using just my normal straighteners that I feel may blow up at any minute, they're that old! I then used my Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer on my blemishes, Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation (this is so good, mini review in my October Favourites), Clinique High Impact Mascara (review here), NYC blush in Riverside Rose and today I tried out the Soap and Glory Marvelips which I really like the colour of and, as the first lip crayon I've used, it's really nice and so easy!

Finally, I donned my wooly hat from Primark men's section and was then ready to meet my friend Jade at the pub for drinks and a well needed catch up!

Hope you're all feeling festive by now! 

Em x

Harry's lipstick

                    

 

Some of you may have realised that I am a massive One Direction fan and I love my lipsticks so it seemed natural of me, when I found out that the two had merged, to pick up one of these exciting new things from MUA.

 

Obviously as Harry is my favourite, but also because since I've been wearing my glasses more I've wanted to wear more red lipsticks to look classy I chose Be Mine from the Kiss You collection and I don't think the packaging looks too shabby! I love the fact that it is signed underneath the bullet cap but the actual lipstick itself is embossed in 'x's and 'o's which I thought was such an unexpected detail for a £3 lipstick.

 

That's another thing, I don't think I've ever paid less than a fiver for a lipstick so the fact that this is less than that and a complete novelty thing is amazing!

 

 It's quite sheer at first but can be quickly built up to fuller coverage and I actually really like it!

 

Have you tried any of the One Direction range at MUA? What did you think of it?

 

Em x

 

 

October Favourites!

I missed September favourites with the move to uni so despite being busy (or lazy) this month, I'm determined to get my October favourites done!!

 

Firstly, is my frequently raved about Bioderma which you can now get from Amazon (although it seems a bit of a rip off). This seems to feature in most of my favourites but I have completely relied on this since being at uni, especially after nights out when you really can't be bothered to take your make up off but don't want to feel guilty and horrible in the morning. Can't praise this enough and I literally would go specifically to France to get more of it if I had to.

 

Next is a foundation that I found a sample of in the magazine that they give out at uni and loved so much I went and took all the samples out of the magazine pile the next day. I still have a lot of these samples left but I thought I ought to buy the real thing. Rimmel's Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation is what I imagine Revlon Colorstay to be like although I haven't tried it and it's half the price. It's a very thick, creamy formula that works really well with oily skin because it completely mattifies it and lasts all day/night. I would say it's probably a high-medium coverage which is good for me as I have awful skin but you really don't need too much.

 

I have also been trying Schwarzkopf's Gliss Liquid Silk Leave-in Conditioner which I use every time I was my hair now, after getting out of the shower and before I use heat protectant to blow dry. I'm not quite sure what it actually does but my hair feels particularly nice after using it so I don't dare stop just yet!

 

Lastly is Benefit's Sugarbomb Blush. This is just the nicest colour ever for my complexion and I really like how you can swirl the four colours around to create slightly different shades. This is my first ever Benefit product and I really want to try more of them. It's perfect for both night and day and isn't too chirpy for the winter months.

 

What are your favourites this month? I'm very much looking forward to it getting colder although the walk to uni will not be nice!

 

Em x

Halloween!!!

 

I've never really made much of a big deal of Halloween back home, but here everyone goes mental for it, particularly for nights out! We celebrated Halloween on Tuesday and Thursday this week going all out, so I thought I'd show you what I went as.

 

The first night out was not really planned so a quick trip to town was required to pick up some face paints and make up and I wore all black.

 

 

We all went for a similar theme! And just as a side note, Lola Lo's is my favourite place to go, so if you're ever in Reading for a night out definitely check it out!

 

Make up wise, I used white face paint all over (although you can't really tell because I'm that pale anyway!), then black face paint to contour and on my eyes to make my skin look sunken and zombie-like and then used red eyeshadow underneath my eyes. I did my eyebrows as normal using MAC's omega- this is so exciting by the way, I now have a MAC palette and am in the process of filling it up!! and then I did standard red lips using Rimmel's Kate Moss 107.

 

 

I was also a cat/leopard on one of the nights. I don't have an ootd shot

unfortunately but I wore a leopard print skirt from Primark and a plain black vest top tucked in. I also wore grey knee high socks pulled down and my grey heeled chelsea boots which are soooo comfy!! And obviously my £1 cat ears!

 

Make up this time was pretty standard, I think I used Rimmel's Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation, Benefit's Sugarbomb Blush, MAC's woodwinked on my eyes along with lots of NYC's High Definition Felt Tip Eyeliner which I also used for my nose and whiskers, Maybelline The Falsies mascara and I think it was the Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle.

 

What did you go as for Halloween and did you have a good night? Must start planning for next year so I want to know what you went as this year!!

 

Em x

Autumn Wishlist: Beauty

 

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR in On and On Bronze | MAC Custom Palette Eye Shadow x 15 | Revlon Colorstay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin in Ivory | Real Techniques Starter Set | Alpha H Liquid Gold

 

With every new season, I find myself lusting after many new products. As I'm hoping to be off to uni this month (still waiting to see if I can have accommodation in halls- stress), a whole lot of new stuff needs to be bought, including make up and clothes- fashion wishlist coming soon, so these are some of things I want for Autumn/Uni.

 

I loooove my Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe and it is a perfect neutral/Autumn colour but everyone has On and On Bronze and it's such a wearable colour so I really want to try this in the Autumn.

 

Secondly, and probably the thing I want the most out of everything, is my own MAC palette. I'm sure you all know that you can build your own palettes to include colours that you like and will wear but it is a very long and expensive process. I'm sure everyone has had the dream to own one of these babies. The colours I'd choose are listed below the palette which I was able to select on the MAC website so if you want to pretend to live the dream, definitely check that out!

 

The Revlon Colorstay Foundation is something I've wanted for a while but recently, I've noticed more and more people talking about it and it seems as though it is a sign for me to get it. I like a foundation with good coverage as you know I have troubled skin that has had to deal with horrible spots for many years and I've heard such good things about it. If you have tried this, do let me know what you think, it's slightly more expensive than a normal foundation that I would go for so I want to make sure I'll definitely like it before I buy it.

 

My relationship with Real Techniques brushes, I feel, will be an everlasting one and as I'm getting more and more into eye make up, the starter set is definitely on my wishlist. I like how each brush has a specific purpose but you can still use them for whatever you like too as they're so versatile. Such good brushes and I highly recommend trying them if you want to kick start your brush collection.

 

Finally, I still want to try Alpha H Liquid Gold. I'm not sure if many people use this anymore but about a year ago this was one of the most hyped up products on the internet and the idea that something could make a difference to my skin so quickly is something I'm very interested in. I still haven't found anything that will sort my skin out, despite my love for the Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel range, but I think my skin must have just got used to it a bit as it's not working as well anymore. So, I'm after some Alpha H and anything else you can recommend to me?!

 

What's on your Autumn wishlist??

Florida Haul

Haha, this photo looks so distorted from the angle, but I'm back from Florida and before I fill you in on what we did for the rest of our time there following on from this post, I thought I'd do a haul.

I didn't end up buying any clothes or souvenirs from Florida as I couldn't find any that I liked and souvenir-wise, I was happy with just photos- however, I did want to build my make up collection partly because the exchange rates mean that make up is so much cheaper in America. So I got some make up.............

 

First, I bought these from Walmart. I'd wanted the Real Techniques Core Collection for ages, but thought I'd wait til America to get it slightly cheaper. However, they only had the 2.0 version which comes without the detailers brush and the case/stand. I must say I was a bit disappointed, but the remaining three brushes are the ones I would have used most anyway and I guess I can let the stand go. I also decided I needed some waterproof mascaras for any water parks/water rides at the theme parks in Florida. I picked up Revlon's Lash Potion in black and Maybelline The Falsies Waterproof mascara in brown/black. I then wanted both a Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle and a Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo in Tough as Taupe. I actually picked this shade up by accident as I wanted the bronze one, but I still like this one. I don't think I paid more than $5 for each item except the brush set!

 

At a later date, I picked up this NYC Cheek Glow in Riverside Rose as I'm still just getting into make up and wanted to try out an inexpensive blush- this was $2.
The eyeliner I got free with a magazine from Heathrow!

 

I also tracked down a couple of MAC stores as you may have gathered. From the one in the Florida Mall, I bought a cremesheen lipstick in Crème Cup as I know a lot of people have it and it's very easy to wear.

And then from the Orlando Premium Outlets I got an eyeshadow in Woodwinked and another lipstick called Kinda Sexy in a matte finish.

 

I did plan on more MAC purchases at the airport in New York but $16 for an eyeshadow was too much but I bought my other one for $10.50!

 

Finally, as a complete surprise, Alex bought me some real Ray Bans from the Florida Mall! I had no idea he was going to, and I didn't approve of him spending that much on me, but they're so nice!

 

A successful trip's shopping I think!

What do you buy when you're on holiday? Also, if you have any other MAC purchase suggestions, let me know! Always keen to expand my collection!

 

July Favourites

Cuticura Hand Hygiene Gel | Johnson's Baby Shampoo | Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Night Gel

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder | Rimmel Profressional Eyebrow Pencil | Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Spot Wand

It's that time again! This month has flown by so here are some products I've been loving using or have just been plain essential throughout the heat wave that has been July!

Hand gel has been a complete necessity to me this month. As I've mentioned before, I went on a music tour to France at the start of the month which meant 16 hours on a bus/ferry to get there so this came in very useful on my travels.

I picked the baby shampoo up the other day at a 99p shop (sorry couldn't find a link) and I use this to wash my make up brushes with. It's gentle enough for a baby's hair so it's gentle enough for brushes, right? This just works really well to clean and condition the brushes, bit boring but if you want a post on how I clean my make up brushes let me know.

I have already posted a rave review on the Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel products here, but they have continued to perform for the rest of the month you'll be pleased to know and I took them on my long haul flight to America to keep my skin calm.

Rimmel must be my favourite make brand at the minute (although I did pick their Lasting Finish 25hr Foundation the other day which I'm not such a fan of). I have an everlasting love with the Stay Matte Powder, especially in heat that we've been experiencing recently, to keep foundation in place and to hide the shine. I have been using the eyebrow pencil for over a year now though and although eyebrow pencils aren't such a cult product in the beauty world, it's just so easy to do with pencil rather than powder.

The last thing I've been loving are my "Ray Bans". I picked these up in Turkey last year so they are genuine fakes and I am going to get some real ones one day but I wear them all the time, they go with everything and I really like the tortoise shell design- it's just something a bit different.

So there are my monthly favourites, I'd love to know what you've been loving this month and hear any recommendations of yours.

Also feel free to follow me on twitter @emilaaarblog.

Haul #2

As I've already mentioned, I went away on a music tour to France last week and while we were busy performing a lot of the time, the one thing I was desperate to do while I was there was go to a French pharmacy and stock up on their world famous skincare. Another thing I've been wanting to do for ages is go to  a car boot sale. I've never been before (that I can remember) so the day before I went away, my boyfriend and I went to the biggest one in our area and I managed to find a couple of make up stalls- one being my beloved Mac.

So I bought 2 lipsticks at the car boot sale, one from Avon in Noble Nude which retails for £8.50 and I got it for £2- yay! It's a really nice orange-toned nude with pink shimmer and good colour pay off. I also got Mac Milan Mode for £5 which I was super pleased with since they've now gone up to £15 at Mac counters and it is a nice true pink, not too bright, not too shimmery. It's quite sheer but can be built up I really like this one.

In France, I went to every pharmacy I saw, a lot of them were closed but I did manage to get some Bioderma- must be the only person who hasn't tried it yet!

I got 2 big bottles and one smaller one which I'll probably take to Florida when I go. I just thought it was really cute and I know I'll use it.

I also got a couple of things from La Roche-Posay.

I know you can get this in some of the larger Boots and I've had my eye on these two products for a while now and decided to wait until I was in France because I thought they might be cheaper. I can't remember how much it ended up being but I don't think it was much different to the prices here. I got the Effaclar Duo to use as a spot treatment all over my skin and to use as a make up base and I also picked up the Effaclar A.I. to use as a targeted spot treatment as I've read such good reviews on both of these.

The last thing I bought (aside from lots of pain au chocolats) was the Caudalie Beauty Elixir.

I wanted this to set my make up before using powder, particularly for when it's really hot and also to use when my skin feels in need of refreshing. I only got a 30ml since that's all I could find but  I'm still keen to try it out along with everything else I bought.

I'm planning on reviewing some of these products separately once I've tried them out properly, have you used any of these yet? How did you get on?

Hope you're all having a lovely summer.