LIQUID LIPSTICKS: YAY OR NAY?

Anyone who knows me will know it's very rare to see me without lipstick! Although I have a relatively small collection, I tend to stick to one colour until I get bored of it. I never thought anything would replace my trusty Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 107 until the NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick walked into my life!

I spontaneously bought it after debating it for about two months and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made! *ok, that sounds a bit dramatic but new makeup REALLY excites me* 😅.  Now I LOVE a good red lip and even though some people say it's not appropriate for everyday wear, it's what I feel most comfortable in!

The shade "Cherry Skies" is very similar to Rimmel's 107 but I think it's 100% better! Obviously the colour will differ on everyone but for someone that has an Asian skin tone like me, Cherry Skies is a deep burgundy colour.

The two are around the same price bracket however the pigmentation of the NYX Liquid Lipstick just wins purely for the pigmentation which is essential if you eat 24/7 like me - this stuff does not budge! I'm really impressed with the staying power and I reckon you could get at least 6-8 hours wear out of it which is pretty incredible for only £6.50! I love that the formula isn't majorly sticky, thick or gloopy which is what I was expecting. As for the wand, I'm not it's number one fan and if NYX were to make one improvement on this product, I would say this is the area they need to look into but I'm willing to overlook it due to the fact the actual liquid lipstick is AMAZING!

What I would say is that liquid lipsticks are a bit like winged eyeliner in the sense that practise makes perfect!

THREE TIPS FOR APPLICATION:
1.  USE A LIP SCRUB - THIS GETS RID OF ANY DEAD SKIN
2.  USE A LIP LINER - IT MAKES THE WHOLE APPLICATION PROCESS A LOT EASIER
3.  TWO COATS MAXIMUM - TO AVOID FLAKY LIPS

Overall, I can't fault this product! It's comfortable on the lips without making them feel dry, a little goes a long way and there's a colour for pretty much anyone!

Perfect for party season or even if you're looking for new item to put on your Christmas list, then I totally recommend this product! 

X 

My Current Skincare Routine | November 2016

I think we can all relate to repeatedly putting our alarm on snooze about 300 times before we actually get out of bed and the last thing you want to do is take part in any strenuous activity at 6am. That is why I have came up with a skincare routine that uses a handful of products and can be achieved within 10 minutes!

STEP 1: Finding a face wash that doesn't aggravate my skin can be a bit of a challenge. However, I was surprised to find that the face wash that I would be using for the next 6 months would be one from the supermarket! I think that supermarket own brands sometimes get overlooked so I would definitely recommend going into your local and checking what they have! The one that caught my eye was the Sainsbury's Facial Wash with Vitamin E - now I've looked online but it seems as though they've discontinued it *inserts heartbreak emoji here*. Anyway, I squeeze out a decent sized amount of the product which is kind of like a gel texture and lather it onto my face.

STEP 2: A couple of months ago, I decided to invest in a cleansing brush but I didn't want to spend a fortune on the likes of a Clarisonic. Instead, I opted for a cheaper alternative; the No 7 Beautiful Cleansing Brush - costing around £25. It has two speed settings depending on what kind of cleanse you want. I like to work the brush in circular motions around my soapy face for about 30 seconds, anything longer leaves my skin feeling quite dry and tight.

STEPS 3 & 4: Something I've recently started doing is mixing The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil with my moisturisers. As mentioned in previous blog posts, I have acne prone skin and since using this product, I've noticed my complexion clear up quite quickly! 

I like to alternate between moisturisers depending on what I'm doing on the day. If I'm not going anywhere, I tend to go for my La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo. I've been using this for over a year ever since I saw Chloe Miles rave about it! The Effaclar Duo helps to control shine and fade blemishes. Again, it's another gel like formula which can be quite drying on the skin and that's why I add a couple of drops of the tea tree oil in for an added boost of moisture!

For the days where I have a bit more human interaction, I use the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion. The recent cold weather has left my skin looking a bit dull and this product is perfect! It's light, non-greasy and sinks right into the skin leaving me with a fresh, glowy look. A little goes a long way and I like to use this before I prime my face - it creates the perfect base for applying my makeup. 

STEP 5: Last but not least in my routine is an eye cream. I'm 20 years old but I look about 12 which is definitely going to work in my favour once I reach the age of 50 🙂.  An eye cream is something that I have only recently introduced into my routine but it has made such a difference! I've used cheaper alternatives but nothing compares to The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream. I apply this twice a day and it helps to reduce the bags around my eyes  *you know what it's like being a student - pulling all-nighters to get sh*t done* and brightens my under eyes too. 

X

First Impressions & Why I Ditched the Make-up Wipes!

Up until the last few months is when I would say that I've properly got into a skin care routine. Like everyone else, I thought it was too much effort and even though I've probably tried every skin care product under the sun, I couldn't possibly tell you what they are actually used for *oops*. So when I heard on the grapevine that we shouldn't be using wipes to take off our makeup, I was like what the hell am I suppose to use now???

Either way I followed the crowd and decided to use a Clinique cream cleanser that my Mum had sitting in her bedroom. I had no idea what I was doing of course but I didn't let that faze me. I moisturised the product into my fully caked foundation face and used a flannel soaked in warm water to remove the makeup and VOILA! (that's French for there it is - in case you didn't know).

THAT'S WHEN I WAS CONVERTED

Ever since that day, I have used a wipe probably once or twice! (obviously this is only acceptable behaviour when you've had a night out and you really cba to do your full routine). I've notice that my skin feels so much softer, cleaner and smoother whereas the wipes felt harsh and raw on my sensitive, acne-prone face. 

I've now been on the hunt for other cleansers that are more budget friendly than my Clinique one and I recently saw an advert for the Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Oil. I'd never tried anything from that brand before but after seeing such positive reviews from Louise Pentland and Tanya Burr, I just knew that I had to jump on the bandwagon. 

I picked it up on offer at Superdrug for only £3.45 which was an absolute bargain. With no artificial perfumes or colours and loaded with multi-vitamins, it claims to "dissolve make-up with no greasy residue". So I gave it a go last night...

You apply a couple of drops to your hands, then massage gently over your face and rinse thoroughly with warm water. Pretty straightforward stuff and it didn't disappoint! THIS PRODUCT IS AMAZING! It's quick, easy and feels amazing on your skin - I was really impressed! All my make-up had melted away, leaving me with a squeaky clean yet hydrated appearance. 

As with any other make-up remover, I went in with my final step of the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water to get rid of any lasting traces of foundation, mascara, etc. 

24 hours on and I've woken up with no new breakouts which is a plus for me!

I'm giving it 5 stars:

• student budget friendly 
• it does exactly what it says on the tin
• suitable for all skin types

X

My Favourite Concealers

If you've been a long term sufferer of acne like me then you will understand the struggle of finding a concealer that doesn't emphasise your spots or make it look cakey. Thankfully, my acne seems to be clearing up after years of having terrible skin, I have finally found three concealers that work for me. 

It's probably best to mention that I have combination skin before I go any further with this post - so what works for me, may not work for you! :) 

First up is the Sleek Correct and Conceal Palette. As the name suggests, the palette contains a concealer, corrector and a setting powder. I find using the lightest shade on any blemishes before I apply my foundation works best for me. I tend to avoid the darker shade but every now and then, I use it to contour my face. The setting powder contains an SPF of 15 and I actually find that this doubles up as the perfect neutral eyeshadow shade. 

The consistency of this product is quite light so this is ideal if you're after a very natural, no makeup look! Available at Superdrug and Boots. 

Next up is a cult classic amongst YouTubers and bloggers. It's the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. I use this every single day without fail and it never lets me down. I love using this concealer under my eyes and to highlight my nose, I then set it with a good translucent powder and I'm pretty much good to go. This is also an ideal product if you've had a breakout because it covers just about any spot!

If I'm going somewhere like a party for example and I want a higher coverage base, then I use this concealer in a shade darker before I apply my foundation and it works brilliantly!

Available at Superdrug and Boots. 

Last but not least is the Primark PS... Pro Longwear CC Concealer. This is my go to concealer as it does exactly what it says on the tin. Don't let the colour of this concealer alarm you. Long-wearing, yes it is! It is the cheapest product in this post at only £2.50 but it certainly delivers. I was apprehensive about trying Primark's makeup range and just like everyone else, I jumped to conclusions and thought it would be really sh*t - how wrong was I??? 

Acne scarring takes months (even years) to get rid of yet this concealer covers it in just one swipe! The green corrector is ideal for masking redness - I don't know how I've survived so long without a corrector because it makes all the difference in how your makeup looks! It's not too light but it's thick enough to last an entire day. 

Available at Primark. 

X