Quick and Easy Smokey Eye.

I am a major fan of an intense smokey eye look however I'm not so fond of the time it takes to achieve, so when I found this quick and easy way of creating a similar look I figured I may aswell share it - so here goes! 

For any smokey eye I use an eye primer and for this look I used the Urban Decay Primer Potion as it locks the shadows in place for long wear! I then reached for my Clinique gel liner in Black Honey but you can use any shade of gel liner which is the main thing I love about this look, the same steps can be used in any colour, a black gel can create a gorgeous smokey eye in the same way as I have done this look and is great for the holiday season. However the Black Honey shade is this beautiful purple toned brown with gold running through it - I pat this on and keep adding layers to create as much intensity as I want I then blend the edges with a fluffy brush so theres no harsh lines. 

For the second step I used a similar toned shadow and placed this over the top, this helps set the gel liner and again add more intensity. For my look I used the mid brown shade in the Morning Java palette from Clinique which has that similar purple undertone running through. To add abit more depth I then picked up a small amount of the darkest shade in the palette and placed this on the outer corner and blended the excess into the crease. I then took the same two colour on a small shader brush and took it under the eye to bring it all together! 

To finish I used lots of mascara and right now I keep reaching for the Max Factor Velvet Volume mascara which does exactly what it says on the tin, I have also found it really extends my lashes whilst leaving them feeling soft rather than others that can feel stiff and uncomfortable on the eyes. 

I'm really enjoying wearing this look at the moment and will definitely be trying it in different colours to see how many different looks I can achieve (stay tuned!) I hope you enjoyed this post - I read every comment and will reply to any questions! 

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Current Loves.

Each month I like to try and mix up my make-up routine and this month I have decided to give a couple of newer products in my collection a go. The Dior BB Creme has been a favourite base of mine for a while, and is one I often reach for on days off, as it's so lightweight but gives great coverage. I have tried out one of the new Eyes to Hypnotise by Charlotte Tilbury, I got it in The Huntress which is the bronzey shade that works beautifully with the Dolce Vita palette- it also came with a liner in the shade Amber Haze which again is a bronze, lovely for the winter season. Another newbie to my collection is the Kiko Moon Dust face powder in Mysterious Pink which is my perfect blush, it's a neutral/warm toned pink marbled with a subtle gold glow, this looks gorgeous when it hits the light and saves time in your routine as you dont have to use a highlighter on top! Lastly, it has to be a berry lip and these Lip Pops from Clinique are perfect as the primer infused formula allows them to wear longer and more evenly which is great with darker shades, my favourite at the moment is Berry Pop however Rebel Pop is on my list next!

Thanks for reading, I read every comment and will reply to any questions!

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Clinique Chubby Eyeshadow Sticks: Review.

For a girl that is makeup obsessed I can often be in the mood for getting out several palettes and 10 blending brushes to achieve a new eye look however I also have a bit of a lazy side that calls for something with less maitenance yet still gives a polished look and I think I have found the answer. 

Every brand these days seems to have come out with eyeshadow sticks and I have tried a fair few yet there is one brand that really stood out in terms of the ease of application and blendability and they are the Chubby Sticks for Eyes from Clinique. What I love about these is the way you can go from a sheer wash of colour to a much bolder statement without taking half an hour and arm ache from all the blending. These also prove to be great bases for pigments or for sheerer eyeshadows if you want to add more depth. 

L-R: Biggest Blossom..Ample Amber..Whopping Willow..Fuller Fudge..Oversized Orchid..Lavish Lilac.

Out of the six shades I own, Biggest Blossom and Ample Amber are my favourite shades both leaning towards the rose gold/copper tone that I love. Whopping Willow would be great for anyone who loves Sumptuous Olive by Mac as it has similar tones within it and is a perfect shade for the Autumn season. Fuller Fudge is one I had to pick up - a rich brown with hints of barely there gold, I've used this on its own for a quick smokey eye. Finally the purples, I find myself reaching for purples alot so it seemed logical to try these out, Lavish Lilac is more of a mauve tone and would look lovely with greys while Oversized Orchid is more vibrant and a shade I lean more towards in the summer months. 

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to play around with eyeshadows I would definitely recommend giving these a go - there is a decent range of shades all of which have great pigmentation, I do think they could do with adding a matte black as I think alot of people would get use out of that shade. 

Thanks for reading, I read all the comments and will reply to any questions! 

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Skincare Update.

In the past couple of months I have completely updated my skincare regime, as mentioned in my previous post about the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish (here) I have had a bit of a rough patch with my skin so although I tend to stay away from trying new products as I have sensitive skin and often get a reaction I decided to take the chance and try something new. 

As I have sensitive skin I decided to try brands that are more gentle on the skin, I changed my cleanser to LE Clease & Polish which also duos as my makeup remover. I then tried the Origins GinZing moisturizer which smells amazing, like fresh oranges - which I love first thing in the morning. The formula is lightweight and has a gel-like texture that I prefer to the thicker creams, it sinks into the skin quickly and provides a hydrated base for makeup. 

For under the eyes I do prefer a more intense moistuizer so I decided to try the Clinique All About Eyes Rich. This is a thicker cream that does take a little longer to sink in but is completely worth it if you get drier skin around the eyes - I've also found this to help my concealer blend more evenly and wear longer throughout the day. 

Let me know of any skincare favourites you would recommend in the comments, I read every one and will answer any questions - Thanks for reading! 

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The Autumn Edit.

For my second post of the day it's just a quick one! I recently realised that I had subconciously changed my everyday makeup due to the new season without even really noticing, these are products that aren't the classic bold berrys but are the more soft warm tones that brighten the skin up. 

As I have a large Mac palette and a quad I tend to swap the quad round with whichever are my most used shades at the current time and recently those have been Paradisco, Mythology, Coppering and Antiqued all of which fall into the orange/rust kind of tones which are perfect for this time of year. 

In terms of face products I tend to change up my blush shades and in this case I have been picking up Clinique's blush in Ginger Pop which again is a rich deep orange/bronze shade, I also used this in the summer with golds so this is a all year round kind of colour. On top of that if im feeling like I want more of a glow I use the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar - again the orange shade but with more pink that adds a natural glow to the skin. 

Finally for lips and for this I tend to change up on a daily basis but I have been putting the Charlotte Tilbury lipgloss in Ibiza Nights over basically everything aswell as on its own, the gloss adds a sheer wash of nude with gold that enhances the lips when the lights hits them - absolutely stunning! 

Let me know of any Autumn staples that are worth picking up in the comments below, I read every one and will reply to any questions - Thanks for reading! 

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Clinique Lip Pop & Primers

For a girl that has an obsession with lip products these new releases from Clinique were definitely on my list, it just came down to choosing a shade, or in this case two. This new range are not only super hydrating but with the primer within it helps smooth out your lips and gives them an even surface for a wash of colour that are perfect for the summer months. Within the range there is a colour to suit everyone but for typical me I chose a nude and a coral, both of which have been used constantly since I got my hands on them. 

The two shades I picked up are Melon Pop and Nude Pop, the melon shade shows up more pink on camera but is a true coral, this would be perfect with a bronze toned look and brightens up the face. The nude is a mauve/pink tone and is a true 'your lips but better' shade, I've used this over Charlotte Tilbury's Pillowtalk lip liner, it keeps my lips hydrated and enhances the longevity. 

I would recommend these to anyone, they are a sheer formula so they are great for just a hint of colour on their own or look great when layered on something else. They make matte formulas more comfortable for anyone with dry lips but dont make them look super glossy. These are well worth a try especially for a quick and easy makeup look. 

Please leave any comments below, I will reply to any questions! 

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In a Rush Make-up.

As much as I love trying out different make-up looks and really experimenting, my daily life wont allow me to do it all the time therefore I have my quick and easy routine that takes no more than 10 minutes and is just enough for days when you need to run out to the shops or simply dont have much time. 

As a quick side note I also use my Mac SF Natural in Medium Plus and a matte cream eyeshadow but completely forgot to put them in the photo! 

For base I use the Estee Lauder Daywear Sheer Tint Moisturiser this is two steps in one so it moisturises and primes my face while also adding a sheer cover of colour that is very light coverage but enough to even out skintone and brighten the skin. 

I then use my Time Balm Concealer by The Balm, this is a high coverage concealer and will cover anything! I use it everyday no matter what make-up I'm wearing, I use it under my eyes and on any blemishes as although it is high coverage it doesn't feel heavy on my skin. 

My eyebrow routine never changes so I use Mac's Brun to fill them in and then brush through them lightly with the L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper, I've done this routine for a while now so it doesn't take a long time at all but just using the L'Oreal product would be enough if your not too fussed about filling in your brows. 

As mentioned at the start of the post I will occasionally use a matte cream eyeshadow (usually UD Foxy) simply just because I prefer the way it looks. I then just add abit of mascara, at the moment I'm loving Lancome's Hypnose it really lengthens my lashes but still leaves them looking natural which is great for an everyday look. 

To add a touch of colour to my face I use my Estee Lauder blush is Peach Passion, this is a really pretty peach with a subtle gold shimmer that when applied to the face gives that 'inner glow' effect that just makes you look healthy. 

Finally for lips I use a chubby stick, I dont really stick to a particular one but one that I'll leave in my handbag is Clinique's Chubby Stick in Curviest Caramel, which is a warm toned nude and adds enough colour so you dont look ill with minimal make-up. Another shade I use is Peach on the Beach by Bourjois from their chubby stick range. 

Thanks for reading, thats my quick and easy routine, let me know if you have any go to products that make getting ready quicker - I read every comment and will reply to any questions

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Little Splurge..

Okkk so I think it's fair to say I've done quite a bit of shopping recently and a quick visit to Debenhams ended up with me purchasing these three things above. I initially went to have a look around at Christmas gifts and see what the general offers were but when I walked past the Bobbi Brown counter I had to stop and just stare at the beautiful holiday collection; I obviously ended picking something up and since there were some bonus points to get to I persuaded myself (didnt take much) to grab a couple of other things too. 

I picked up the Clinique duo set at the beginning of the store and couldn't believe it was only £10, inside is two of their Chubby Sticks, one of the originals in the shade Chunky Cherry and then an Intense one in the shade Curviest Caramel; both are beautiful shades and seasonally appropriate. 

Then I got to the Bobbi Brown counter and gazed at their new collection until deciding on the Mini Eye Palette, this contains eight eyeshadows with a complete mix of formulas that are perfect for Christmas. The packaging is beautiful and so compact that its perfect to put in your handbag for touch ups and even going from a daytime neutral look to a glamorous evening look. The last item I bought was the pot lip balm that is very similar to the Dior Creme de Rose, I wanted to give this a try as I get really dry lips especially in the winter and love all my other products from Bobbi Brown so I thought I may aswell give it a go! 

So thats it for my little haul, I'll hopefully be doing reviews on these soon! 

Please leave any comments below, I read every one and will answer any questions

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