Current Favourites (July 2018)

We're in the middle of a heatwave here in England but I'm still not confident enough to leave the house without make up, so here are my current minimal beauty favourites!

First up is the L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper in Dark Brown. I've been dying my eyebrows to match my hair lately so they don't need completely filling in every day. For day to day I sweep this over my eyebrows and it keeps them in place as well as giving a hint of colour for any sparse patches. The spoole is quite small so it's easy to be accurate!

For eyeshadow I've been keeping it simple with just a quick swipe of the The Body Shop Colour Crush Eyeshadow in Bronze Bliss. This beautiful copper shade is great for Summer as well as Autumn! Super easy for hot days, especially when rushing to work.

Next is a humble face powder... The Maybelline Fit Me Powder. I recently rediscovered this product after some issues with another powder in which I was left powder-less. I went to Boots first opportunity and picked this up as it was cheap and I knew I had loved it before. Turns out, I still love the Fit Me Powder. It looks light and natural, not cakey at all, while still making the face look matte and pulled together.

Last up in this small beauty favourites is the lip products - the best bits! For everyday I go between these two lip products: the Rimmel Only 1 Matte Lipstick in 610 and the Lancome Juicy Shaker. The Juicy Shaker is a tinted lip oil so very hydrated while still adding a nice bit of colour to the lips. If I'm looking for something more pigmented the Rimmel Only 1 Matte is perfect! Matte but not drying and the colour stays on all day. I've put this lipstick on at 7am for work and it's still on at 4.30pm, despite many drinks and snacks! Two very different lip products but still me favourites.

You might see there's a theme in this favourite of 'quick and easy' - for when I'm running to work and it's 28 degrees! What are your favourites for July? I'd love to know!

Harriet

PS: I've been working really hard on my Instagram this year so I'd love for you to check it out!

Some 2018 Goals

Usually I'm rubbish with resolutions; I keep them to myself and end up failing. I'm hoping this year writing my goals down will make me more accountable. This year I want to...

Blog More
I go through phases where I blog regularly but in 2017 my posts were definitely sporadic, especially after saying repeatedly "I'm going to blog more this month". This year I'm actually going to put the effort and time in to improve my blog, including posting more regularly. I posted everyday on Instagram in 2017, so I believe I can do this if I put my mind to it!

Lose Weight
I know this is controversial but I really want to fit back in all my pretty clothes. My weight doesn't particularly effect me or get me down but I just can't bare to part with some of my favourite clothes, even though they don't fit me anymore. So the solution for this is actually lose some weight this year, that red halter dress deserves some more love.

Spend Money More Sensibly
Now I don't blow all my money in one go or anything, I ensure I have enough to pay my bills and do the things I want to do. However, I do have a tendency to 'treat myself' waaay more than I should. This year I'm going to put more thought into where my money goes, do I really need any more homeware? Do I really need another book to add to the massive 'to read' pile? And on a similar note...

Have a One In One Out Policy with Clothes
I definitely have too many clothes. As previously mentioned, quite a bit of my wardrobe no longer fits. Therefore, if I want to buy a new piece of clothing this year then something from the wardrobe must go! I haven't bought many clothes in 2017 but I am rubbish at getting rid of stuff so it all piles up and has to go somewhere.

Get A New Job
In 2018 I want to find a stable job, that I don't hate or dread going to. In 2017 I graduated and entered the big wide world where my experience with jobs wasn't that great... But this year I want to have a job I'm reasonably happy in, without much stress and a stable income (essential now I've moved out of my parents house!). I don't have any particular ambitions or dreams when it comes to my career which is why I don't need a job I completely love yet, I have no idea what I want from life yet!

I'm keeping it simple with just five broad goals this year. What goals do you hope to achieve in 2018? I'm loving reading everyone's posts on this topic!

Harriet
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(I'm really close to 1000 followers on Instagram so I would appreciate the support!)

5 Autumn Essentials

Normally I wouldn't even consider changing things up for Autumn until October but it has been so cold lately in England, even August was chilly! As a result I've changed up my everyday lipsticks and put away my summer clothes so today I thought I would share my 5 Autumn essentials with you.

Most importantly, for me, is a good book! I'm currently reading Wilde Like Me by Louise Pentland and I'm planning on reading #GirlBoss when I go on holiday in November. It's so cosy to get snuggled down with a blanket and a good book, this tends to be by the fire in my house but can also be in bed. Reading is a nice break from the internet and the perfect activity when the weather is awful. What books are you reading this Autumn?

Along similar lines, a big scarf or blanket is a must have! Pictured here is a blanket with arm holes, a bit like a kimono but big, warm and cosy. Perfect for wrapping up in when it's cold. I also use big scarves as blanket when on the go - in the car and it's chilly? Scarf on the legs!

More on the beauty side of things, a good lip balm is vital for keeping chapped lips at bay. I find this is more of an issue when it's cold outside and the awful chilly wind is in full force. Pictured here is the Nuxe Reve De Miel lip balm. A good, gentle moisturiser is also an essential for me as I have dry skin anyway and in the colder months it gets even more flaky and sensitive. I'm currently using the Avene Tolerance Cream which provides a good amount of hydration whilst also being perfect for sensitive skin. I like a calming product which isn't too fancy or complicated, this fits the bill.

Lastly, we all know it's the perfect time for darker lips! Autumn time means berry lip time, I've featured a few of my favourites here. All these lipsticks are variations on the berry shade - some brighter, some more sheer but all fabulous Autumn shades.

So, going left from right, we have Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Luxemburg which is the brightest shade of the bunch. Next is the Revlon Matte Balm in Sultry, a great everyday shade and the Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Truffle which isn't as pink as the swatch! Lastly, the Charlotte Tiblury Matte Revolution lipstick in Bond Girl is a classic, deep Autumn shade. What are your favourite Autumn lipsticks?

I'd love to know your Autumn essentials!

Harriet x
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Affordable High Street Nudes

I never used to be a nude girl, I didn't think they suited me at all and always stuck to bright colours. Recently I've realised brown-toned nudes suit me, rather than those that are more pinky or cool toned, and now I've fallen in love! So here are a few of my favourite, affordable nude lipsticks from the high street

Going left to right - first up we have the Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream (£6) in the shade Stockholm. This is a classic, every man and his dog has a soft matte lip cream in their collection. This is one of the few more cool toned nudes I own but I still like how it looks.

Next is the Rimmel The One Lipstick (£6.99) in the shade 610 High Flyer, which you can see is quite pink compared to the others. I tend to wear this lipstick to work and find the neutral pink brightens up my face.

In the most gorgeous rose gold packaging is the Revolution Renaissance Lipstick (£4) in the shade Greatest. Now in the pictures this looks rose toned and in the bullet it looks brown but on the lips it is actually quite a neutral nude shade, which is nothing like the shade on the Tam Beauty website. Definitely check out swatches online to get an idea of the true colour! If I have a panic and don't know what lipstick to wear this is usually the one I reach for.

Again in pretty packaging, the Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick (£6.49) in the shade 56 Boho Nude. This is the most brown toned in this selection which really shows up on my lips. The formula is light weight and glossy but not super pigmented, which is why I can imagine on some people this shade might not show up, but on me I love it!

Lastly, the Tanya Burr Lipstick (£6.99) in Pink Cococa. Again, this looks different in the pictures and in the bullet than it does on the lips. In these pictures this lipstick looks quite deep and rosy and in the bullet looks like a lovely warm brown, however, when swatched this colour is warm pink with a hint of brown. As I said I prefer warm browns (which I thought this would be when I bought it!) I still ended up loving this colour! The pink is not really bright or pale so therefore looks nice on the lips. The formula of this is similar to the Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick, light weight and glossy.

I would love your suggestions of some affordable nude lipsticks, I can't get enough of them!

Harriet x
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A Very Late ColourPop Haul

Now this is going up MONTHS late but hey, better late than never right? One weekend ColourPop were doing free international shipping so I decided to finally get my hands on some of the KathleenLights collaborations as she is one of my favourite YouTubers. A little tip - I also split these into a few different orders to avoid custom charges.

First up we have the Aquarius trio which includes the Aquarius ultra satin lip, Aquarius ultra glossy lip and the Aquarius 2 ultra matte lip. The satin version is definitely my favourite but I also get a lot of use out of Aquarius 2, which is more cool toned than the original. I personally think I prefer the satin formula as it feel less drying on the lips, however the matte formula is by no means super drying and is still comfortable.

Next up I chose the Where The Light Is collection (of course!). These eyeshadows are simply beautiful, warm toned neutrals are definitely my go to colours. I have never experienced anything like the ColourPop formula, they have a slightly creamy feel but are still a powder shadow. This formula works well with the sparkly and metallic shades but I'm still learning how best to use the matte shades - any tips are welcome! The colours all work well together and you can make a range of different looks, from simple to dramatic. I can't wait to use the Blaze shade on a night out!

I also picked up the single eyeshadow in Weenie, which is a gorgeous rose gold, however I forgot to include it in these pictures!

Lastly I picked up the ultra satin lip in November which is also a KathleenLights collaboration. This shade is a pretty, bright mid-toned pink. Not too pale but also not super bright or neon. I really enjoy wearing this shade for a natural, feminine look and tend to gravitate towards it if I'm unsure what colour to wear. The shade on the right is Frick N Frack which I bought on a whim as it took my fancy.  This comes out much darker on my lips than I expected and is a sort of burgundy tone, not quite as red as it looks in the tube or swatched.

I am dying to get my hands on more lip and eyeshadow colours but the custom and shipping charges scare me! What are your ColourPop reccomendations?

Harriet x

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Make Up For Dry Skin

An alternative title for this post could be 'my everyday base routine' as these are the products I tend to wear everyday. I have dry skin and these products work really well together on my face without looking cakey or making my face look like it's flaking off which is a constant struggle with some foundations. As dry skin seems to be more of a problem in the colder months I thought this would be a useful post for lots of people!

The most important product in this selection, to me, is the Real Techniques Beauty Complexion Sponge. If you have dry skin this sponge is a must! It applies any foundation in a really even way without causing the skin to become irritated or flaky. I like to use the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation for everyday as it evens out my skin tone without being too heavy or thick. This makes it a great match (see what I did there?) for dry skin as well as having a more natural finish instead of matte.

Next up is concealer! Another Rimmel product, the Wake Me Up concealer provides good coverage for undereye darkness without going into fine lines or looking cakey which I often struggle with under the eyes. Dry skin under the eyes can be quite noticeable and feel tight or flaky so it's important to find a concealer that works well with your skin

The Maybelline Fit Me powder is my current favourite as it is very silky and soft, blending in with foundation and the skin instead of leaving a powdery finish. I also find this is great for touch ups on the go because it doesn't look cakey or obvious.

And for a bit of glow (or natural sheen in the case of dry skin) I like the Freedom Pro Highlight in Ambient as it gives a nice, subtle highlight that isn't in your face or super glittery. I've heard some people even like to use it all over the face as a setting powder!

What are your favourite make up products for dry skin? I would love to hear your reccomendations!

Harriet x
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