Finding your skin type

A lot of people get fustrated when they cant find the right product for them (make up or skincare) or when something doesnt work for them as it does for someone else.. its all about your skin, obviously application helps too!

Which is why i wamted to write this.

 Something that may seem easy, but actuallly can be very more confusing than one might think. Although i have a beauty qualification, it is still something i found very baffling until i did some more research and took the time to actually care about it! BUT I am no means a expert or specialist.

Many types of skin and soo many types of products but which one is right for you?

Firstly if you are struggling i would suggest going to see someone (more than one actually) at a skincare counter and get their opinion. 

☆ Just because your skin may not feel dry doesn't mean it isnt dehydrated- some people mistake them for the same thing.

  Dry skin may feel rough or only come up in certain patches of flaky/scaly textures, it might look slightly more coarse than normal nd products may stick to patches. Whacking aload of cream on it isnt going to help, it helps if you use a oil or serum and a cream that is oil based to bring moisture back. When it comes to cleansing, i have found foam cleansers tend to dry your skin out more, so i would stick to a cleansing balm or something you know isnt drying.

 Dehydrated skin may mean your skin looks slightly duller and can some times be noticed if you have fine lines on your forhead from not drinking enough and staying, well... hydrated. This means you cant necerssarily use the same product as you would for dry skin, its best to use a serum and a moisturiser that is water based. 

☆ You could have a certain shine to your skin, it could sometimes be released sweat and not necessarily oily skin.

Oily skin is excess oil (excess meaning over producing natural oils) which can cause black heads and spots. Majority of people with oily skin will have open or bigger pores which causes it to clog easier sometimes causing said spots and black heads. Over cleansing your skin will not help this as your skin once its clean, has to restore the natural oils and starts to work harder the more it gets taken away.

Combination skin is probably the hardest to maintain as it requires you to balance your skin. You may sometimes be oily or some days you might have drier skin, like wise you could get an oily T-zone and the rest of your skin is dry. I find what is best is giving it products for dry skin and oily skin, so if you cleanse your skin with something oil free then your moisturiser could be oil based to balance o

ut your skin so you're hitting the right amount for each skin types.

Obviously a lot of people know when it comes to make up oil free products are normally for oily skin so you're not adding to the mass and your makeup wont go south and oil based products tend to be good for drier skin.. putting a oil free primer on oily skin is good because it normally means you've got bigger pores so a primer for oily skin tend to be oil free and mattifying whereas dry skin works better with a tackier textured, oil based primer so your makeup with press into your primer instead of your dry skin.

Again.. combination skin just means you need to combined a variation of products, so a mattifying primer with a dewy foundation or vice versa, if you really wanted to apply certain products to certain parts of your skin to counteract you skin type.

Having the right skin care routine can work wonders but what I will say is :

1. Try to switch your products up every now and then just so your skin doesn't get used to it (because that may cause problems)

2. Sometimes a simple skin routine could be what you need, why feed your skin more than it needs? When it could occasionally benefit from the minority of products on your bathroom shelf.

Again I'd like to say im not a professional, this is just what I have learnt and somethings that I find work.

If you are still intrigued about what your skin is truly like, you can always visit a few skincare counters to get a few different opinions.

Thankyou for reading.

Meg x

Prepare for party season

This one is for all you that love to party.. or just like to look fab!

Summer is creeping up on us (and the weather slowly following) and so is the season for weddings and PROM!

I nearly missed my prom mainly for the fact I couldn't find the right dress and all my school mates, parents were buying them £200 dresses.. which like a lot of people, I could not afford.

Since aging I've realised although I like to spend money on clothes, you don't need to spend a fortune to look good!

Having a Quiz clothing store in my shopping centre, I've always looked at the fab dresses in there and thought about getting one but thought they'd be waay too expensive! BUT THEY'RE NOT!

They have a huge range of party dresses for every occasion: Prom, weddings, ladies day, a night out and even a few suitable for festivals!

I am one of those people that ALWAYS gets my outfit last minute, mainly because i'm very indecisive and end up running around several different shops for multiple different styles, at Quiz i feel like its all in one place for you.. like your own wardrobe, with long, elegant floor length gowns to sparkly, glam, shorter dresses or even slightly more casual dresses, you can't really go wrong!

It's an alternative to Lipsy, Topshop or Asos with a smaller price tag. I have been pondering through pages on their website and there is such a variety of styles of dresses and lower and higher priced dress, its practically a win win for everyone!

Check out what they got going on for your next shindig!

*This is a sponsored post.

Thank you for reading,
Meg x

To gym or not to gym?

Its time for gin... oh no wait, gym!

The majority of people dont necessarily like going to the gym or find it more of a chore.. I am one of those people!

Exercise, in any form, It is one of those things that kind of has to be done, not to lose weight but to keep healthy.

I have always been similar a weight, I yo-yo between a few pounds but nothing drastic.

Going to the gym for me is more about staying healthy and mainly to tone up; I like to keep a bit of muscle in my legs and keep the shape in my bum!

My problem is not with working out at the gym its with actually going, I have to find the motivation to actually put on layers of Lycra and find the effort to go!

When people think of the gym, they think: sweaty betty's, huffing and panting leaving all stiff which admittedly is part of it but what I actually enjoy is being able to clear my head and leave with increased energy whilst staying fit.. basically killing two birds (or three) with one stone.

Its not about losing weight or dropping dress sizes so dont pressure yourself, stick to what you are comfortable with and bring on the motivation by thinking of all the good things that is does plus I feel like I've achieved something once i've been which is fab!

Put the gin down!
I think exercise is something we should all be doing and not enough of us actually are. Just under 50% of the people I asked say they don't go to the gym because they have no motivation,  So..find what motivates YOU
, whether that be certain activities, (running, trampolining, yoga) just the fact you bought a super cute gym outfit or you love being outside!! It all helps.

Whats your fave way to excercise?
Meg x

The products that brought my healthy hair back

Although I have always had hip length hair, It's always been pretty healthy.
I get bored quite easily with my hair but then I also get bored and impatient in the process of a change.

Little back story: I've bleached my hair about three times (this being the third) and its been completely fine, might I add, either my hair couldn't take another go, or I put waay too much on, way too quick.

Lets get to the point.. my ends were dead after the ombre, they were shedding away as they had lost their elasticity.. so I cut it.
I cut it from my belly up to my boobs (ohh what a mistake, my tubby face can't handle a short cut).

If you've had both brunette and blonde hair you'll know you're hair looks much healthier, brunette.
Knowing this I went back brunette, to hide the hay until I could restore it.

Obviously what you're here for is to find out what products I've been using to give it a kiss of life.

Before I put anything on it after I cut it, I covered it in coconut oil to revive it a bit after it took a killing from chemicals!

I make sure I only wash it every other day, at most, just to get some of the natural oils back into my hair. Half of those washes I use a hair mask instead of a conditioner, my favourite is L'oreal Elvive restore mask.

I have been trying to do a few little things to help along the way but the main reason i'm writing this is because of the Tresemme Keratin Smooth shampoo and conditioner. I have always had a love hate relationship with Tresemme as I feel like they make your hair feel great but on the other side of things, they can make my hair quite greasy and heavy.. as someone with long, fine hair that was a bit of a issue because I never liked the flat look.

BUT (and a very big but) after wondering around Superdrug desperate to find something to make my hair look and feel some what normal again, I picked the Tresemme up.. mainly because I knew the brand made my hair feel soft, plus it was on offer too, so I thought it couldn't hurt to pick these up. I hadn't seen them around before, however I think that's due to them being repackaged? I'm not totally sure tho? ...

...Anyway, the first time I used this (bare in mind my hair was brittle and got really knotty) I was actually shocked and actually very happy that my hair felt great again! I could literally run my fingers through my hair with no interruption, which I've not actually been able to do properly since the bleaching. My hair was so soft, and had that newly dyed hair shine!

So as you can imagine i am very pleased to have found a product that has tamed my hair again, i've never really had much trouble with my hair until now, but i can finally straighten it with out it going bushy at the ends and finally brush it without it snapping!! I always finish my hair off after getting out the shower with Umberto Giannini Mend My Hair serum- it has been a life saver for a few years now, however i know they have changed their packaging too and can't seem to find the exact one.

Just a few products that have helped my hair and can maybe help you too!

what are your hair miracles?

Thanks for reading!

Meg x

xoxo

Hey Upper Eastsiders, Gossip Girl here.. oh no wait just Megan (getting a little carried away).

I like to write about things I know or love, this just happens to be both of those things, I mean the amount of times you've heard someone mention this show you're probably sick of it by now, but me? No I just love it more and more, without the risk of sounding sad. Some may see it as a cheesy programme for teens but i'll probably still be watching it in my late 20's and will definitely make my daughter watch it!

After watching several characters  that we all hate to love or love to hate (depending on who we're talking about here) for what feels like a life time, I feel like I could quote them word for word but it also makes it easier to point out from limb to limb, why I enjoy these characters so much. So here's my play by play.

IT Girl-
From first watch she's obviously the main focus and the easily adored blonde bombshell, although I agreed with this through the beginning and oh how I do still enjoy the ins and out of Serena VanderWoodsen, as time passed and the more I watch the series, the more she began to grate on me. Whether it be her arrogance or her ignorance to anyone but herself, something just doesn't quite sit right anymore. When she's good, she's good but her stubbornness can at times over shadow her humour and her kind, lively spirit.

Queen B-
A character I have grown to love the most, although she may have a sharp touch and a tad high maintenance, watching her grow changes your perception. indulging herself in schemes and missions shows the looser side to her, slightly more fun but still determined. we all know B has run her course round the triad of boys, but each relationship holds their own significance. Nate, her first love, her high school boyfriend and close long time friend. Dan, her other half (in many ways), her best friend, her savior and lastly Chuck, her partner in crime, her enemy, her love of her life and destiny.

Golden Boy- Although he makes bad decisions in the bedroom, hes a lot more intelligent than he lets on. He's full of humour, kindness and i definitely think he is underrated as people dont tend to take him seriously and take slight advantage. obviously as much as he is a lovely guy, he isn't bad to look at either!

Lonely Boy- Mr Gossip Girl himself, The brains behind the screen. I thinks its safe to say Dan goes through the biggest journey in the series. Lusting after a lovely blonde to pining over her brunette best friend, with a Georgina or two in between. Its quite clear his fate lies with S but a part of me hoped B would leave her past behind for Dan, they had their ups and downs but they just cant get enough (i just cant get enough!)and that showed as they were always there for each other and had this special connection that i dont think anyone else had, obviously Serena had a reason to be Jealous!

I'm Chuck Bass- The master of manipulation, the room full of girls. I've noticed that in the first two seasons he is full of advice for his best friend and soon to be step sister and brother, how ever after that he starts to grow up and gets more and more attached to work and very vacant. He goes through a lot of battles: his dad, Russel, Blair, his mum and uncle (which i have to say i find Jack very funny, especially towards the end.), loses a lot of people in his life and meets some interesting people along the way (can we talk about Eva?!) but there is one person that is reluctant to stay out of his life, no matter what...

There we have the main five, the reason you watch the series, the reason there was a show, played by the perfect actors/actresses. if i were to go through everyone i'd probs be here all day because theres so much to say about them all but lets leave it here. If you haven't watched Gossip Girl then where have you been and what do you do with your life?!? in all seriousness if you haven't then you should (and sorry for any spoilers) but if you have then you're probably reading this because you are just as obsessed a i am.

Thanks for reading.
Meg x

beauty tips to my younger self

• A few coats of mascara is enough, you dont need the whole tube.

• Please stick to one foundation preferably something less cakey.. you dont need Rimmel match perfection with dream matte mousse on top!!!

• Foundation lips are not a thing! No not put gloss over it!!

• Go to a salon and get your nails done for prom, dont attempt it yourself, you'll only regret and hide your hands all night!

• I appreciate you blending your foundation and not creating 'slag lines' well done but your fake tan needs to be rubbed in, please ask someone to check it is before you leave the house.

• Mattifying powder is not extra coverage, stop clogging your pores by packing it on over foundation!

• Stop running a mascara wand through your hair to create streaks... stop trying to be cool!

Yes looking back at these things makes me feel very nostalgic and... embarrassed, although my make up skills have improved, leaving these horrid habits in the past woo!

what were your teenage mishaps?

Thanks for reading.

Meg x 

Lessons I learnt when starting a blog

1. Everything is not what it seems

is one thing that circulates social media quite a bit, the fact people put themselves down a lot because their blog, instagram isn't quite as well polished as everyone else's or that their life doesn't seem so great. No ones life is perfect not even for the person themselves, Pictures are deceiving, yes they might be off at a luxe resort in Bali or be splashed across a magazine for an AD campaign but everyone has troubles: Relationships, Family, Money, Self confidence. It is all ok, no matter what your life is like, you are the only one who can make your life the way you want it.

2. A small start

Everyone has to start somewhere and unfortunately that is the bottom! Engagement isn't going to happen over night, it takes time; some longer than others. Keep at it even if you feel like you are getting no where. 

3. Social media is your best friend

Although this is quite a obvious one, it really helps! I, myself have always tried to spread the word about my blog, i can openly admit i have never pushed it hard enough. I realised this recently when i put a lot more effort in to my socials and stepped away from blogging (i am not saying drop the blog for the internet.. keep at it guys!) the time and effort i put in to engaging on instagram and twitter really proved its worth. Liking and commenting on photos, posting on blogging trains, Hashtags and retweeting others work!

4. It's ok to say NO

I agree it may be exciting getting your first collab/sponsor with brands, however don't let that stray you. It is ok to promote a brand just to get exposure in return, if you are comfortable with it, it is the best way to start getting involved with brands. Having said this once you hit the right time, the right following and the right engagement, it is acceptable to turn down things because they have not offered enough, you need to know your worth. You may be sent lots of fab thing, you might be sent nothing but make sure you are in it for the right reasons eg. compatible content, similar beliefs/interests, a brand you enjoy or something that's relevant to you! Everyone loves tea but dont go advertising a tea-tox if you blog about fashion and you're just doing it about the money or product, promoting lip plumper if you are a food blogger, if its not for you just say no! 

5. Ask for help

I dont think i need to explain this one but anything you are struggling with, near enough everyone has been there! if you dont understand ask someone: a fellow blogger, google, twitter. Express your concerns, someone will help you, even if you have run out of ideas, every blogger has been through the small struggles of, blogger or wordpress, URL, schedules. Even to this day there is a lot of things i still have no idea about, the same as some others!

Just a few things i have learnt from my small time of blogging and inevitably there is more to come!

please feel free to ask me anything or share your own lessons learnt.

Thank you for reading!

Megx 

Beauty favourites that tested time

Every month there is hundreds of new beauty products that appear on the market and dont get me wrong I LOVE testing a new product in the works BUT that doesn't mean I forget my originals.

Here I am going to be talking about my oldies but goldies because there are still some products that I cant get over that I first fell in love with.

Lets jump in with a first favourite which is a high-street foundation. Rimmel 25 hour foundation is a lovely foundation however i will openly admit it wont last all day if you are up and about all day, other than that it is a lovely thick base with lots of coverage but still lets through a  natural glow, for those who like the best of both worlds.

Obviously I couldn't write this post without including collection lasting perfection because well it was one of the first concealers I bought and I still use it now. Its thick and creamy, that's all i'm going to say about that, because you should already know!

Rimmel long lasting lip liner, firstly they are retractable which are my fave kind of liners and the creamy texture to them are lovely to apply, these are pretty much the only lip liners I buy!

Estee Lauder sumptuous infinite mascara is a high end product I will always re purchase because its rare for me to find a mascara I love! I was shocked to fall in love with this 2/3 years ago when I realised it had a thin, plastic wand (not normally ma thing) damn was I surprised,  any time my eyelashes are looking on point, I'll be wearing this.

Maybelline falsies mascara, I feel like there was no drugstore mascara before this one, it was a fave for everyone and for everyone who didn't think so, you are doing life wrong. Such a basic mascara with a wand from the heavens that made it work! Obviously i like a bristle wand so that's a plus, but it also has great staying power, the non-waterproof formula stays just as good as the waterproof ones.

Malin and Goetz lip balm, one for all you dry lip lasses. I use this still to this day, lip balm is a thing you have about 100 of and apply constantly because you think its working but more than likely its just sitting on your lips, BUT this one I can actually feel it working even after all these years, minutes after having it one my lips they feel renewed. Also no stick which is what we all want. It has a protective layer which stops it from budging off your lips the second something touches it.

I feel like I have gone on a bit and could go on even more for another few paragraphs, I could.... but I wont for your sake.

Any way I hope you enjoyed my post of products that have got me through from the start of my beauty life and will forever (hopefully) be on this list.

What beauty products have been your day ones? Mwah!

Megan
    X

Seasonal transitions

Going through the seasons there are many transitions eg. Weather, temperature, colours etc. I for one love the fashion transitions, especially when it comes to Autumn/Winter, the colours start matching the trees and the clothing starts getting thicker.

Skin gets drier, sky gets darker and the days getting colder but everything gets a little more seasonal!!

So we've established fashion is my fave thing in winter, but so is the beauty aspect of it all.. lets talk about that a bit more.

 Makeup: The lips and nails start getting darker and the eyeshadow tones start to match the leaves. I have been looking a dark red/purple eye with a nude lip and a manicure to match, to create this looking i have been using the Revolution Resurrection palette mixed with the Mac burgundy x9 palette, i pair this all with Nyx soft matte cream in the shade London.

Fashion:
Red is a big part of autumn/winter fashion this year, however i am still addicted to my mustard threads and as usual anything grey!! Most of my outfits have consisted of my mustard suede jacket but i am sure i will be converting to my faux fur coat during the colder days.

Skincare: This season i will be trading in my simple skincare routine for a routine packed full of thick moisurising products and one of my faves.. Clarins HydraQuench mask which is great for feeding the moisture back into my skin in the colder months where my skin tends to be very desert-esque.

Obviously I have to mention the chang in decor.. ALL THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

If you love winter as much as I do, give this a share!
Thankyou for reading!
Meg x

A faux tan to start the summer off

I haven't posted for a little while but I thought I would talk to you today about a fake tan.
Fake tan is definitely a hit or miss! There's so many disappointments out there that leave you with a oompa loompa glow or have that 'covered in jam' feel.
I however have found one that I am loving recently!

Superdrugs Solait tan.
They don't really have a specific name and im not 100% sure whether these are new
Or if they have just been repackaged. If you don't know Solait is Superdrugs own range of sun care and if I am totally honest I seen a photo on someones instagram and I just thought the packaging was super cute so when I went in to Superdrug to pick up a few bits, again the packaging just drew me in, I couldn't decided which formula to get but then I realised it was on buy one get one half price (wooo!) So I picked up the dark foam and the medium lotion.
I used the foam first because im slightly more used to a foam tan so I gave that one ago, first impression was the smell (IT IS NOT A FAKE TAN SMELL!!) It smells slightly tropically so that's always good. So this one is an instant then after a few hours the colour builds up, the initial colour is a tad orange because its quite dark but once I had washed it off the next morning if was such a lovely streak less colour which im really happy with.

I then tried the lotion which is also instant but this is a wash off formula so great to use for a night out or if you need a quick faux tan, I wouldn't really recommend putting this on top of another tan to darken it up... it doesn't work well, but on its own it actually works quite nicely and rubs in really well, I found it is good to use on the face because you don't use alot and it rubs in without leaving your face like a wotsit.

I am actually very surprised by the results of these tans and I am now in love especially with the foam tan, normally with own stores brands you'd think they would be a little crap but these fake tans work just as good as some bigger brand but a a quarter of the price...bonus!

Let me know whether you've tried them? I think they are going to be a gem in peoples lives!

Also if you didn't see my last video click Here.
What's your fave tan?

See you soon lovelies x

Empties // Beauty products

So i thought i would do my first Empties post, so you can see whether i've been loving these products or not. I thought this time i would do it as a video instead of a blog post, so here is my very first You Tube video. Be patient. Here.

Thanks for stopping by.
Meg x

A pamper before the party

Going out, whether that be with the boyfriend, friends or family is great but what i find is the best part of going on a night out is getting ready before hand, if anything it gets me more excited and i love feeling relaxed and refreshed. A few steps i find a must before i go out:

I tend to do my body first before my hair and face so.. First things first (im a realist) i have to jump in the shower, make sure my body is fully exfoliated with Soap and Glory's Flake away and my legs are hairless, after washing my hair i let most of it naturally dry before blow-drying.

I use Garnier ultimate blends body lotion all over my body before tanning or if i want something thicker i use Soap and Glory's righteous butter especially on my elbows, knees, hands and feet where tan tends to stick a bit more. I tend to use Bondi sands Foam Tan but i sometimes substitute it for St Moritz medium foam rubbing in circular motions with a tanning mitt excluding my face.
 After the majority of my body is dry and the tan has set in, i make sure my toenails are painted, even if im not wearing sandals or peep toes it still makes me feel a bit more put together when my tootsies are painted and it saves me doing it another day.

 If needed i'll wax my eyebrows and upper lip before cleansing my face with my Liz Earle cleanse and polish and then finish my cleansing routine which you can see here. I then apply a gradual tan to my face like the dove face and body Dermaspa summer revived mainly because its a tinted lotion so it works alot better on the face.

  My go to hair style when i go out is big curls, i do love big curl and i create this look really simply with my Nicky Clarke heated rollers and i just leave them in until the rest of me is completely ready and they have fully cooled down.
Lastly i'll do my makeup and after I've done everything i'll do my nails, sometimes i'll just paint them or have acrylics depends what i'm feeling.

I love the feeling of getting all made up it really puts me in the mood to go out and just lifts my spirits, a spritz of perfume and im ready to go.

What extra bits do you do before you go out?
Meg x

daily cleansing routine

My skincare routine I do on a daily basis when I am not too tired and just grab a face wipe!

First steps first i always take my make up off before i cleanse just to make sure its all off and feel extra refreshed, the product i go to for that is, surprise surprise, the Garnier Micellar water, i am currently stocked up on this product for the next few months, the bottle lasts a while so its not one that you have to spend loads on every few weeks, if like me, you find this is your staple product them they also do a 700 ml that i tend to stock up on also the travel size fr times im not at home.

 I find this product completely refreshes my face, I wouldn't say it 100% cleans my skin but i can happily go to bed just using this product as it does a very god job! Its very refreshing and very gentle on your skin, another great point is it actually takes your eye makeup off (even waterproof!).

I then go in with cleanser, which i am currently using Liz Earle cleanse and polish. I have used this product for a very long time because it does the job, i wouldn't say its amazing but its lovely and creamy which keeps your skin moisturised and soft but definitely greasy, i like the fact it kinda strips your skin in good way without it feeling dry, that's how clean you feel!

Most days i will use one of my two favourite exfoliators depending on what im feeling. I have loved them both for a long time and i think I've got to the point where i am very comfortable with them at the moment so i haven't recently branched out. They are both very cleansing and leave your skin feeling super soft. The Garnier Pure Active Blackhead scrub is a harsher scrub so i tend to use this when i need a skin detox, whereas the Garnier Pure Active 3-in-1, so its a mask, scrub and wash in one but i only really use it as a scrub, its clay based so i find its quite gentle and the beads are quite fine.

After all of that i use the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer which i have only recently used for the past few months, its a great product to use during my makeup routine to spritz on my beauty blender as i go also when im finished to keep that radiant look on my skin. If you are anything like me and hate the feeling of your makeup drying through out the or starting to feel a tad uncomfortable then this mist is great for refreshing your skin and hydrating it.

Megan x

Take some time

Time is such an important thing, i mean if you think about it 365 days for a year is barely anything.
We all know it goes fast but i don't think we actually realise when we are sat scrolling through Facebook and instagram and all of a sudden an hour has past by, or when you realise its Monday again and all you've done is work all week.
  Obviously in a ideal life we'd have a job we love so it doesn't feel like work, with enough time to spend with friends and family but still have enough time to do all the things we've longed to do.

I think I need to stop wasting time and start making the most of it.
Starting your day early, i find really helps, its not something we all want to do and its not stopping you from having a lie in but if you have started your day early and spent it well until the evening when you finally get home or get to sit down it can really elongate your day and you will feel like you've crammed so much in one day when really you've just spent the day busy instead of watching Loose Women and Jeremy Kyle.

Planning in advance can make a world of difference, whether its weeks or days it helps bring to your attention how much time you have or when you're free, Although planning is a very good idea i am definitely one for spontaneity, even if you can't quite afford to board a plane to anywhere in the world, or drop everything you have to do that day to get in the car and drive away, one thing i find that's kinda fun to do is plan to get up early one morning, get ready and leave the house, get in car or start walking whether this be on your own, a friend or partner and just pick somewhere, anywhere where you've wanted to go or something that you've wanted to do for a while.

It can make a world of difference making the most of your time and stop worrying about the little things.

Meg x

classic neautrals

Classic nude spring shades

A few neutral shades to give your look a freshly polished look. Sometimes its
great to pair them with a bold outfit instead of having colour in every aspect of your
outfit.

Nails Inc - Uptown £13.50

Revlon Colourstay gel envy 535 Perfect Pair £6.99

Nails Inc - Alexa Cashmere £13.50

Rimmel Salon Pro 237 Soul Session £4.49

Nails Inc - Basil Street £13.50

Seventeen Gel Colour Mocha-Tini £3.99

A red lip for everyone

A red lip, although can be very daunting to wear its also a great staple all year round, I honestly prefer to wear them in spring time, just coming out of winter when everywhere just gets that bit brighter but not quite hot enough for your peaches and hot pinks.

I think a touch of rouge on your lips can bring such a fresh look to your face especially paired with a subtle glowy make up base. No matter who you are everyone can rock a red lip, you've just got to find your perfect match.. there is no harm in experimenting.

Here's a few red's im going to throw your way to spice up a plain face.

I always think to start of a bold shade you definitely need to line your lips and maybe fill them in before you apply your lipstick.
  There is so many shades of red and finding the best true red for you can be hard.

If you are after more of a Parisian vibe Bourjois' Rouge Edition Velvet red-volution and hot pepper are great ones to try. A post box red goes really well with tanned skin but also can work with lighter tones for some of us pale girls.
 However if you are in to more of a cool toned red, i really like L'oreal Blakes red, its one of my favourites its super smooth and has a lovely scent.
Not to mention all the red lipsticks Mac have such as Lady danger, Redrock and obviously Rubywoo.

After applying, although its not a must i sometimes apply concealer around my lipstick to neaten up the line, red is a very vibrant colour so having that smeared across your face can look a little like your a bit to early for Halloween but with a good lip liner you wont necessarily need to.

Eye shadow pencils

Eye shadows are probably one of my favourite make up products, the world of make up has expanded so much recently that there is so many different forms of each product out there including eye shadows eg. cream, pigments, pencil/crayon, liquid and of course your bog standard powder eye shadow which have extremely upped their game too!

But im talking to you about Eye shadow crayons, which i do love but some times i forget i have. They work great as a base ready for other eye shadows on top or alot of the time i just use one on its own if i just want quite a simple look as its super quick and easy and doesn't take alot of blending.

It is all about finding one that is going to last on your lid and not to make you look like you have wrinkly eye lids. I have tried the Revlon colour stay pencils in the past but i found they weren't very pigmented and i found they were quite harsh on my eyes as they weren't very creamy, saying that i think they might have been discontinued.

These ones i have here have all worked very well for me and ticked all the right boxes:
  They last a very long time on your eye with out creasing, extremely easy to apply and blend down to the smooth texture so its not going to drag on your skin plus they don't loose any of their pigmentation once blended or throughout the day.

Kiko Long Lasting Eye shadow Stick: Probably one of my favourites. They kind of remind me of the By Terry Ombre black-stars because they have a very similar formula and are both retractable however Kiko's version is a fraction of the price.

Nyx jumbo eye pencil: I love the range of colours that Nyx have i don't think they last quite as long as the other both on your eye and they actual pencil itself as i don't think you can roll it up or sharpener it which is the only down fall really else they would be a very good shout!

Rimmel Scandaleyes shadow stick: They don't have as many colours but the ones they do have are lovely paired with another colour to create your look. They aren't as buttery as the others but its not a massive issue as they are still quite smooth saying that they still hold a lot of colour and they won't budge.

Thanks for reading
 Meg x

Battle of the Palettes

I suddenly realised the other day that i have consumed quite a lot of eye shadow palettes over the years, there was quite alot more there than i had thought, i think that is when i was certain that eye shadows are definitely my favourite to collect.

 Although i have a variety or high end and high street palettes, i also have my most used which are clearly my favourites.

I think from these pictures my eye shadow preference is pretty clear as most of them, if not all of them contain: neutrals, browns, bronze, copper, gold, dusty pinks and burgundy shades, mainly because these tones contrast best with my blue eyes (probably why im attracted to them so much) colour wheels don't lie.

My thoughts on these palettes and which is my most used 'go to' palette.. let the battle commence!

  My first palette that i bought was the Urban Decay Naked palette, the first out of the bunch and a very well known palette at that, it may of been my first but some how i sometimes  seem to forget i have it or when creating a look i have other similar shades i prefer to use, hence why it isn't as used as much as it probably should be; saying that i do still use it alot. Containing 12 compatible shades it is very easy to create a simple or more glam look using just a couple of these creamy matte and shimmer shades.

One of the most recent ones i have got bought for Christmas from my mumma, I knew as soon as i saw it i wanted it, being as its a Christmas limited edition im glad i have it, here's why: Ten beautiful shades in which some i don't own anything like, My main reason for falling for this Soap and Glory 'The perfect Ten' palette is down to the third shade Twinkle Belles, a gorgeous champagne shade full of shimmer, perfect to sweep over the lid or to use in a cut crease. This is most likely my second most used palette as of yet.

Another palette which i treasure, because i find it to be such a glamorous palette is the Smash Box Full Exposure palette with 7 Matte and 7 glittery shades. I adore all of the glitter shades; as you probably would too if you've seen them. It has a mixture of bronze tones and smoky shades in both shimmer and matte form to create natural or more extravagant looks. Although the pros are very high, i do find these shadows don't apply as well as some others but the brush it contains does work very well alongside them.

Lastly, I'll admit my favourite palette, the Revolution Ultra Flawless palette, containing 32 unique shades, of which a majority are shimmer shades, great for a more captivating look. Despite being a high street palette it is definitely up there with some of the best ones i have tried, it is a well loved palette... by me anyway, for many reasons; the variety of shades being one (alot of them being the colours i tend to go for) but maybe not a best friend to those who love bright/neon colours or a cooler smoky look, each shade contains great pigmentation without having to coat it over your lids multiple times and the texture is lovely as they are still very buttery and smooth in spite of the fact they do crease a little bit they are still great to use. You can't really go wrong for £8, i highly recommend checking it out, they also have a matte version if that is more your thing! both including a huge mirror.

  What is your winning palette?

Meg x

Products Youtube made me buy / Beauty

I don't normally give in to all the beauty hypes that everyone seems to obsess over unless i instantly get hooked as soon as i see it.
There is a few products that i wasn't too fussed about getting hold of but eventually gave in and here are my thoughts.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish: A very raved about product but they were not wrong in doing so, also a product i have wanted for a very long time but never got round to buying it. Its a lovely lightweight cream cleanser, it definitely does its job and worth the buy but i do have a few other cleansers i may reach for first however i don't regret buying it as it does leave my skin feeling super soft.

One product that i think everyone has tried at least once as it had such a good turn out for a smaller high street brand. Collection Lasting perfection Concealer, for me since they released that concealer their make up game got that little bit stronger and started bringing out some other really good products. Personally i think its a really good coverage but it doesn't look cakey or crease loads paired with the right powder, the best thing is they even have a pale enough shade for my skin which is normally quite hard to find in a concealer.

On to another concealer that I'm not all to impressed with is Maybelline Eraser Eye concealer, firstly they have very limited shades so unless you're a shade nude or light (meaning the tiniest bit lighter than nude, not light) then you might want to try a different concealer. I have shade light which is a little bit darker than my foundation.. so not really light enough for us ivory chicks. It also has a medium coverage but i don't find it does an awful lot for me.

Urban Decay all nighter setting spray was one hyped up product.. although i kind of went along with this one because i hadn't really heard any bad reviews plus the primer potions work fab, so i thought this might work just as well. Being quite excited when i bought it, it disappointed me as i didn't see a massive different, maybe i used it wrong or something but this product didn't quite do the trick for me. Hence why it isn't in this photo as i gave it away.

Lastly a highlight brighter than the moon, one everyone, their friends and their friends dogs were talking about, even now after its been out for a while. I do to agree with all those people that it is a lovely highlight, maybe a little too powdery for me but it lasts ages and the iridescent glow it gives also lasts all day, it is definitely one of my favourite highlighter, it is quite handy to take with you too as it has quite a big mirror and is very slim.