Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts

What's in my Travel Make Up bag

23 Apr 2024

Because I live in Belfast and my office is in Coventry, I travel a lot. I come over to the office around once a month which means I am an expert at travelling light and packing my hand luggage for one night. 

some recent empties that I've repurchased

7 Apr 2021

*This post contains gifted items and affiliate links*


Since I've not really been leaving the house a lot lately, I've obviously not needed a lot of make-up but with things slowly opening up again I thought it was time to have a lil update of some of the products that I use a lot that had come to the end of their lives so I'm not caught out when I get invited out somewhere and find out I've got no foundation left! I tend to be a bit of a creature of habit when it comes to beauty items and so repurchasing faves is a bit of a recurring thing for me. I recently did a Cult Beauty order to stock up on some things that I'd recently finished or was coming to the end of and I also did a Glossier order recently too so I thought it would be fun to share a few of the things with you.

My Current Everyday Makeup Routine

9 Feb 2021

This post contains gifted items and affiliate links


I don't know about you but I honestly don't wear makeup all that often anymore. I used to wear it every single day for uni but now that I'm not leaving the house ever, essentially the only time I put makeup on is when I'm shooting content. When I was at uni I would literally put makeup on every morning for class but I have a lot less motivation now to get dressed up for Zoom calls unless they're slightly bigger events but who can really be bothered to put a full face of makeup on to go and sit in the makeshift living room office all day. But Some days even in lockdown you want to put a little bit of effort in so this is what I like to do on the days that I can actually be bothered to get properly ready.

getting that festive glow with Jolie Beauty

18 Dec 2020

*this post is in partnership with Jolie Beauty and contains gifted items*


I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas! The festive season is my absolute favourite time of year from listening to Christmas music, to singing carols both in church and actually going carolling like a Victorian street choir, to my slight obsession with Netflix original Christmas movies it’s literally the most fun time. Not to mention the fact that I get to don my favourite sweaters and cosy up with a gingerbread latte and eat some chocolates while my house is decked with fairy lights. Truly a god-tier season.

What's In My Glossybox?

9 Oct 2020

Back in my second year of uni, I decided to treat myself to a Birchbox subscription which at the time I absolutely loved. But I haven't really used a beauty box subscription service since then but when my mobile network VOXI (former partnership) decided to giveaway some codes for a free Glossybox I absolutely did not hesitate and ordered myself a special VOXI x Glossybox box. I love VOXI because not only do I get unlimited social media and video streaming use but the VOXI drops are always exciting because sometimes you can get some really exciting offers (I once got a free jar of Candy Kittens which was DIVINE) but this one I was particularly excited about and I can't wait to show you what's inside. 


How To: Super Simple Watercolour Nails

14 Aug 2020

*THIS POST CONTAINS GIFTED ITEMS*

I'm not an artist, so much so that if my life depended on me doing something arty I would probably just end up dying. I'm always so in awe of anyone who can paint or draw because I can't do either truly my childhood attempts at craft were NOT good!  That being said, I'm heading away on a bit of a staycation so I wanted to do my nails (which are normally just white or a dusty pink) and I decided to snazz them up a little and this is so easy that even I couldn't mess it up.


I used five products and decided on a pastel theme for this look but feel free to use whatever colours you want, you really can't go wrong! (These are also all OPI products but I swear I'm not always this brand loyal)


First I applied the base coat which is OPI Start to Finish. This strengthens your nails and ensures an even coverage.


Then I applied a colour for my base and I settled for a white in the form of OPI 'Let's Be Friends'. This one is from the Hello Kitty collection and I picked it up from TK Maxx. I then did another layer of this colour just to solidify it. You could also use a light nude for this as it would definitely allow the colours to pop.


It was then onto the design. I knew I wanted to do something cute and pastel for summer so I settled on three pastel shades, All OPI shades in 'Met A Boy Cute As Can Be' which is a pastel yellow from the Grease collection,  'How Does Your Zen Garden Grow'* which is a pretty sage green colour which I LOVE, and 'Rice, Rice Baby'*, a dusty pink shade both this shade and the green are from the Tokyo Collection which was gifted to me last year. As I mentioned these are just the colours I used but you can replicate this design with any colours.


Now all you need to do is using a single brush stroke apply your colour of choice to each nail to create a little watercolour style stripe. and Voila! You are done! Easy right?


If you try this make sure to let me know how you get on!

First Time Glossier Haul

21 Jul 2020

*THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS*

I've been meaning to buy Glossier products since around 2017 (I remember even being excited when I walked passed the headquarters while on the High Line in New York) but for some reason, I always put it off! Fast forward three years and following a super stressful and busy week I decided that I wanted to treat myself so I made a little splurge and finally purchased myself some items. As a first-time Glossier buyer I had no clue what to expect other than that I'd heard good things. I decided to get both makeup items and skincare items so I could try them both out.


My Best TK Maxx Finds Ever

16 Jul 2020

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a TK Maxx lover so it's no surprise that the only shop that I've been in since lockdown restrictions have been lifted, is TK Maxx. I've been shopping in TK Maxx for years and while it can be a bit hit or miss, I've found some absolute gems throughout that time so I thought I'd just share with you some of the best of the best that I've picked up at my beloved TK Maxx over the years.


The £5(ish) foundation that you need in your life!

6 Jul 2020

*THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS*

I'll be the first to say that I love me some makeup! I just find that even putting on a little bit of makeup can really just improve your mood but while we've been stuck inside the only times I've found myself wearing makeup is for content shooting days, filming, or if I'm hanging out with friends, Other than that I'm just bare face every day which is standard because I'm always either full-face or no face - I don't do things by halves! 

However, I've recently found myself on some days gravitating towards just putting on some foundation, powder, brows, blush and a little mascara - which is still arguably a lot but it's definitely a lot less makeup than I would usually wear.

I've been using Too Faced Born This Way for years but recently I have a new love and it comes in the form of The Ordinary Colours foundation. The Ordinary are probably best known for their skincare products but they also dabble in makeup products too including this little bottle!


It looks tiny so when I first got it I was shocked but it actually lasts just as long as other bottles if not longer because the coverage you get is great so you don't need a lot of product to get good coverage. It also applies like an absolute dream, stays put all day and is so so affordable with a price point of only £5.90 which rivals some drugstore brands and this product, for the price is far superior to any drugstore alternatives!

My Favourite Eyeshadow Palettes

25 Jun 2020

THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS

In 2014 I got my first ever PROPER eyeshadow palette. I had just finished my GCSEs and the Urban Decay Naked palette was all the talk of the time and I still actively remember little 16-year-old me plodding into Debenham's with my parents to pick it out. Since then, eye shadow palettes are still my absolute favourite make up item and out of my collection, I thought I'd share with you a few of my favourites. I am by no means a makeup artist. I'm always so amazed by what people can create with makeup because I tend to stick to very plain looks but it works for me!


Tarte

Rainforest of The Sea Volume II

Literally, just look at how pretty this is! I love me a neutral colour palette and this one is just the prettiest! I love the packaging as well as the fact that all the shades are beautiful! I literally use the shade sunset, which is a light shimmery gold colour, almost every day! I also love using pearl which is a nice shimmery white on my inner corners.


Tarte

Tartelette in Bloom

Sticking with Tarte, the first Tarte palette that I got was the Tartelette in bloom palette which is yet again another neutral palette (there's a bit of a theme developing here). I'd heard so much about this palette that I knew I needed it in my life. I'll sometimes mix and match these two Tarte palettes together as this palette has a few more matte shades and slightly darker tones. On the whole I find that Tarte shadows blend so so well together and will always give you a beautiful natural look no matter which shades from the palette you pick. 



Colourpop

Zoella Brunch Date

This was a limited edition palette and is no longer available but when I heard that Zoella was doing a collaboration with Colourpop I jumped at the chance to try it out. I love a lot of the products that Zoella puts out and I'd never tried Colourpop eyeshadows before so this was the perfect opportunity (especially since they launched free UK shipping with it). I love the colour range in this palette (yes it's neutrals again) as you can see the Champagne Toast colour is well and truly GONE and even that blue shade is delightful although the last time I wore it my mum asked what I'd done to my eyes and if I was really going out like that but hey that's what I get from branching out from my neutrals I guess! This palette has definitely inspired me to pick up some more Colourpop products in the future!


ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS

Subculture

This is a bit of a rogue choice because a lot of this palette I don't actually use and the shades that I do use I don't really use very often but when I do use them - particularly the yellows, the browns and the greens - I absolutely love them. The colours are quite intense so it's definitely not every day wear for me but I love incorporating some yellow into my eye makeup looks fairly regularly and it's always good for those special occasions. It is fairly messy though as you can tell from the absolute state of my palette.


Urban Decay

Naked Heat

Bringing it full circle and all the way back to the Urban Decay Naked palette but in this case it's the Naked Heat palette. Oh boy, this palette. This purchase spawned from me spending too much time in duty-free in a busy travel spell and then as soon as I got home I knew that I needed it in my life. This is by far my most used palette during the autumn and winter months and I just adore all the red shades so much. I also love the brushes that come with Urban Decay palettes which isn't something that I can say about other palettes.


So there we have it. Do you have a favourite eye shadow palette? There are definitely a few others that I can't wait to get my hands on!

Getting My Glam On with Magnetic SL

25 Apr 2020

*THIS POST CONTAINS GIFTED ITEMS*

I love makeup and I love experimenting with different looks and products. I am by no means a makeup artist like I really don't know what I'm doing when it comes to makeup I just do what works for me. One thing I am loving about quarantine is not wearing makeup every day and just letting my skin breathe! Because I don't want to fully stop wearing makeup I've started a thing I like to call: Unnecessarily Glam Saturdays (or UGS for short). UGS started by accident when I decided to have an isolation self photoshoot and proceeded to this past Saturday when I received these Magnetic lashes from Magnetic SL and just HAD to try them out.


I am really not normally a lashes kind of person. My lashes are so long anyway that putting false ones on kind of defeats the purpose. I had originally intended on using these ones for my final year formal but it was cancelled due to the coronavirus so when they arrived in the post I was determined to put them to good use!


The lovely people over at Magnetic SL were so kind as to send me over two different kits, The Eyeliner kit in natural (pictured) and the three magnet kit in Light Russian which I haven't tried out yet. The natural lashes are definitely more wearable for everyday use and I'm definitely going to save the other set for the next big event I have to attend (hopefully our formal that got postponed).

The fun thing about these lashes is that they don't need glue which eliminates the messiest and most difficult part of applying lashes making it a much more accessible activity. I used the eyeliner kit which features a magnetic eyeliner which the lashes stick to with ease. As I say I'm not an avid user of false lashes so I can't really comment on how they compare to other lashes on the market but I loved these. I forgot I had them on and then when it came to removing them they were easy to take off without them feeling like they were going to fall off for the duration of the day. The eyeliner also very easily came off using my usual makeup remover.


As well as being cruelty-free the lashes are also waterproof and reusable so if you are a person who is super into their glam makeup and loves a set of false lashes I'd say that these are a really great investment. If you're interested you can use the code BEAUTY30 to get 30% off your order at magneticsl.com!

tarte mystery bag: unboxing

28 Oct 2019

I'm a simple girl, I see makeup sales, I buy makeup. It's a vicious circle but a few weeks back tarte had a sale on and I definitely DID THE THING! The mystery bag (which cost me the grand total of £40) was purchased and on its way to me.

I've been slacking a lot on the old blog posting front lately because I'm so busy with uni so here's a rundown of what I got in my mystery bag along with some first impression reviews.



Mystery BAG
as it's a mystery bag, everything came along with a cute little makeup pouch which says 'never not busy' on the front which is the absolute TRUTH of a final year university student.


Stay Spray (Sample) 
I'm a die-hard Urban Decay all nighter setting spray type of gal so I was intrigued to see how this one compared. They're very different consistencies. The Tarte spray is a lot more liquidy than the urban decay spray which is an interesting change. It keeps my makeup on well though! I've just come home from a whole day at uni and it's still on my face!



Kitten Liner 
I was actually on the lookout for a new eyeliner and this one works so so well, it has the right applicator and just glides on very nicely. BIG FAN. Also, it has a little kitten head on the lid so what's not to love!

Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara 
It's nice, but it's not my favourite mascara I've ever used (hi too faced better than sex). It's lengthening, which as someone with naturally long lashes anyway, I don't really need so that's most likely why it didn't click with me. I did like it better on my lower lashes on my top lashes though. A good masacara, and in super cute packaging, but just not for me!


Tarteist Lip Paint 
Okay so if you know me you know that I love me some lipstick and ordinarily I'd go for a solid lipstick as supposed to a liquid lipstick but this liquid lipstick is EVERYTHING! I have the shade front row which is a really pretty dark mauve shade, which is one of my favourite lip colours! It goes on like a dream and is super long-lasting! A BIG WIN!


Rainforest of the Sea Palette Volume II 
When I pulled this out of the package I DIED! I've wanted this palette for so long I was STOKED. It's so pretty!! The colours are all neutrals and it's kind of similar to the tartelette in bloom which I already have but it's different enough to merit its own palette. It's not super-duper pigmented but I like that as it allows you to build up colours and keep it as natural as you want which is perfect for me for going to university.


Anyway, I'm a big big fan of all the products and definitely would purchase again even though it left me a little out of pocket I think it was worth it! Here's the finished look I did using all of my new products.


I also filmed a first impressions video if you want to take a look at that!




Have you used any Tarte products before? Let me know your thoughts!

I dyed my hair pink

21 Jul 2019

... or at least I tried to.

 Every summer I always say, 'This is the year that I dye my hair pink', and every year without fail, I don't. Until this year.

 Stargazer Cosmetics sent me over some of their Yummy Colour 4 colour hair strips (these ones) to try out so I thought that it was as good an opportunity as any to seize control of my dreams of pink hair for summer. I opted to use the pastel pack as I wanted a lighter shade of pink.


I enlisted the help of my friend who regularly dyes her hair and we sat in my room following all the instructions and everything appeared to be going well. You can even see from this photo that the pink was taking to my hair.


However, that was when the fun stopped. On the box, it says that the dye was supposed to last 5-15 washes depending on colouring. I hadn't pre-lightened my hair and that may have been the issue but as soon as I stepped in the shower after leaving it on my hair for longer than the allotted time. It all washed out IMMEDIATELY! I had to wave goodbye to my dreams of pink summer hair. I still have a couple of brighter colours left so I may have to try again but for right now I'm afraid I have to give this dye a thumbs down :( 

 I'm sad because I love the concept and I really wanted to love them but unfortunately they just didn't work for me! 

 Have you dyed your hair before? If so what colour and how did you like having funky hair?

Bringing My Nails into Summer with OPI

17 Jun 2019

I was never a big nail polish person as a teenager, while everyone was out doing their elaborate nail art and getting gel nails and the whole shebang I was always just there with my natural nails looking all plain, but that's how I liked it. Once  I actually did start wearing nail polish, I was still very much rooted in my baby pink (big up to Essie Ballet Slippers). Even now I'm not the most dramatic with my nail choices very much staying with my tried and tested formula of baby pink, white and baby yellow (occasionally chucking in a darker colour every so often) so when Influenster got in touch and wanted to send me some colours from OPI's Tokyo Collection I JUMPED at the chance to shake up my monotonous nail life with something a little more exciting!
 The colours I got sent were 'How Does Your Zen Garden Grow' (pictured) which is a beautiful pistachio green colour, 'Rice Rice Baby' which is the loveliest pink colour and I'm so excited to use this one this summer, and 'All Your Dreams In Vending Machines' which is a bright shimmery pink and definitely VERY out of my nail comfort zone so I'm not entirely sure how much wear out of this one! I also got sent the Start to Finish Treatment, which is a base coat, top coat, and strengthener all in one AKA your new manicure best friend!
I've used OPI products before (hello 'Met a Boy Cute as Can Be' my absolute favourite nail colour ever) and they are long lasting, go on really smoothly, great colour pay off and there is such a good selection of colours to choose from. I definitely recommend checking out the whole Tokyo Collection here because there are so many cute shades!

3 Products That I Can't Give Up

3 Jun 2019

I was a late bloomer, I always get taken aback when I walk by 12-year-olds with a full face of makeup on, I didn't start wearing makeup until I was 15 and even at that I literally just wore eyeliner and concealer. I bought my first proper eyeshadow palette when I was 16 after my GCSEs (Urban Decay Naked for all the OGs out there) and since then it's been a bittersweet love affair with makeup, and too this day, eyeshadow remains my absolute favourite beauty product, remember your roots, my friends! My makeup tastes have changed a lot over the years but there are always those products that you keep coming back to no matter how many times you try to change it up. 

 Anyway on that note, here are the 3 products that I can't seem to stop buying again and again and again!



Rimmel Stay Matte
This is the true OG powder of OG powders and the one that I'm probably most ashamed to admit I still use. I tried to make the switch to loose powders which I did love using but inevitable as soon as I use them up I go straight back to my Rimmel Stay Matte ways even though I know deep down that it's probably not a good product, I'm still gonna use it anyway. Sue me!

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
I originally intended to purchase this as a one-off 'Treat Yoself' purchase but I'm currently on my 4th bottle! I initially planned to revert back to drugstore foundations but my skin just did not thank me for it at all so I'm back to my beloved, Born This Way, slightly pricey but worth it in my humble opinion (I use the shade Snow if anyone was interested!)

 Benefit Hoola Bronzer
This is the big one, is there a person alive who doesn't use Hoola bronzer, this was actually the first bronzer I ever used, I got a full sized one in a gift set I bought on the ferry after Christmas for £15, A BARGAIN, and it lasted me for years, then I got a free sample in my Birchbox and it's lasted me another year so basically this is the first time I've actually had to replace it but once you go Hoola, you never go back, and boy have I tried but here we are again.

What are your Holy Grail beauty products that you keep on buying again and again? I'd love to find some new products!

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Tan Review

1 Jun 2018

It's Summer, my dudes! I'm officially finished with University for the year and now the sun is shining brightly in Northern Ireland, so that means it's time to embrace the summer sun, especially since we've had such a run of insane weather lately (literally 20 degrees may not seem that warm to you but in Northern Ireland it's the equivalent to actually being on the sun) but maybe it's not quite time for the population of Northern Ireland to embrace my pasty white skin! Well, how great is it that there's a cure for that and it comes in the form of self-tanner (what a shock I know). I'm not a big fan of self-tanning but it's mainly just because I'm far too lazy to maintain it because I genuinely do love the self-love and appreciation that comes from looking just a little bit more bronzed and glowy than usual. So that's why I was super excited when Influenster sent me a whole load of self-tanning products from Rimmel London to try-out for free!

I'm blonde, and I'm so blonde that I'm almost ginger so I can't get away with a super dark tan without it looking really off. Here's a funny sorry about that: I was at work and a man I'd never met was trying to explain to someone who didn't speak English that my tan was fake so if that's not a punch in the gut about how pasty and white you're expected to be then I don't know what is! Anyway after that little tangent back to the main reason we're here, Self-tan and particularly the Sunshimmer Self Tan Mousse from Rimmel London. I haven't gotten round to using the other products yet (which are Sunshimmer Self Tan Lotion With Chia Oil and Sunshimmer Instant Tan Matte Water Resistant) but when I love the mousse so much why would I bother! I'm not a serial tanner by any means if and tan and I were a tv show we'd probably be Sherlock, only releasing episodes at special occasions every couple of years, but recently since receiving this tan I've become a little bit obsessed. In fairness the first time I applied it, it was a shoddy job, it definitely wasn't even and my hands were definitely darker than everywhere else on my body but that is no fault of the tan, that's purely me being lazy and not wanting to get a mitt. The second time was much better and I can base this review of that. 

I love the mousse the most because it comes out like a foam and when tanning is such a monotonous task who wouldn't want to inject a little bit of fun into it with foam am I right! It also goes on super smoothly and gives an even coverage (provided you apply it correctly that is oops), It has good colour payoff which s brown as supposed to orange so you're not at risk of looking too much like Donald Trump. It doesn't have the typical fake tan smell either so your noses will be safe as well. I think that just about covers it, I've attached some photos below of my failed first attempt so you can see that even if it doesn't exactly go to plan you won't look awful! Have fun being your best-tanned selves and I also promise to post more in the not so distant future because this has been an embarassingly long break!

Love, Alice


Everyday Spring Makeup Look

30 Mar 2017

Spring is almost upon us, so it's almost time to say goodbye, arrivederci, adios, au revoir to all of the deep wintery shades and hello to the bright vibrant tones that spring brings. With that in mind, I thought I'd talk about some of my favourite makeup products for the spring season.


In this look I used, Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation in the shade 010 Beige Porcelaine, Maybelline The Eraser Eye concealer, Rimmel Stay Matte powder, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Revolution Beyond Radiance highlighter, Barry M Get Up And Glow blush, Elizabeth Arden eyeshadow, Ted Baker Brilliance of Beauty eyeshadow, Maybelline Master Precise eyeliner, Soap And Glory Thick and Fast mascara, Soap and Glory Archery eyebrow pencil, MAC Russian Red matte lipstick. (links provided for everything except discontinued products)

While I struggle to part with my beloved red lipstick when spring comes I like your brighten up my eyes with some more vibrant colours rather than the nudes and browns that I use in winter so in this case, I've used a bright rose gold shade to add a pop of colour. I also like looking fresh and glowy because it helps you look more alive and alert which is perfect for spring with the rebirth of new life it's really the rebirth of colour into my makeup using brightly coloured and we'll pigmented blushes works well also. I typically use a lot of pink shades in spring eve though this look doest show it :')

top: new look, jacket: zara




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