Summer Sun

As I mentioned recently I went on a lovely trip to Thailand and I was determined (once in my life) not to over-pack.

This meant that my make-up had to be reduced to a smaller number of products which could stand the test of the heat.

(In no particular order)
- Mini YSL Babydoll mascara -Clinque Bottom Lash mascara - Mac Studio Fix Powder - Collection concealor - Benefit Browzings - Maybelline colour tattoos in Taupe and On & On Bronze - Rimmel Scandaleyes gel eyeliner in black & bronze - Rimmel Apocolips in Big Bang & Apocoliptic - Max Factor creme blush in Soft Pink - Rimmel blush Pink Blush - Boujours bronzer - Mac Mineralise Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle

I never bother to take foundation with me on holiday as my skin has a tendency to go a little bumpy sometimes due to the heat/sweat/suntan lotion concoction and I don't like to add another thing on top to worsen my pores. However, just because I may be tanned doesn't mean I don't need a little bit of coverage so I often take my Mac Studio Fix powder which at any other point of the year is far too dark for me (tip: never get matched when you're tanned)

Bronzer is a biiiigggg holiday essential, but my Nars Laguna has recently cracked and I didn't want to risk any more damage in-flight so decided to try out Boujours's infamous offering. I did quite like the colour of this, but I just wish it had less glitter particles in it.

Speaking of bronze, I pretty much wore Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in On & On Bronze every night, applied with my finger and then blended with a soft brush to give a little definition in the crease. Add lashings of YSL Babydoll Mascara and black eyeliner and we're almost good to go.

Some nights when I had a more dressed-down outfit (or just felt like it) I added a lip colour but the thing about Thailand is everybody is so dressed down that you don't want to take it that step too far.

What are your holiday essentials?

Becs x

Wednesday What

Most people have an everyday make-up look. I don't like to go too wild with mine at work because of two reasons; one it saves that precious 20 minutes extra in bed, and two it means on a weekend/time off I feel more special about my look.

Alas, here are the products which help me get from Monday-Friday without showing too many signs of exhaustion.

 

 Browzings, Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer, Collection concealer,  Revlon Colourburst in Strawberry, Mac Coffee eyeliner, Mac Soft & Gentle Mineralise Skin Finish, Mac Studio Fix Fluid (NC37), Nars Laguna, Lancome Hypnose mascara, Nars Torrid blush, Rimmel Stay Matte powder. Real techniques core collection brushes.

  

I don't always choose to wear eyeliner, be it black or brown but on days when I'm feeling particularly tired (like today) I feel it helps to hide a multitude of sins. I know that Mac foundations have a really bad reputation in the beauty blogging/vlogging world but for me it doesn't dry out my skin and manages to give me enough coverage without looking at all cakey or over done. I'm always nervous about trying new foundations because in my opinion its the main thing that needs to be just right with make-up, everything else can be fixed but if your base isn't good the look is always going to be flawed. I find that NC37 manages to suit my skin when I'm a little more tanned in the summer too, but I have a slightly darker foundation powder that I use to help in these months. 

On my eyes I usually go for a sweep of neutral eyeshadow just to give me a bit of a lift, but here to save even more time I've swiped Laguna and Soft & Gentle across my lids, and then lined with coffee both on the top and waterline. 

I've just gone for a lipgloss that has a hint of coral to bring a bit of sunshine to my day despite there being a look of snow in the sky. 

Becs x

Resolute resolutions

This is the year.

It is! No, seriously. This is the year I am going to blog. Having thought about it for approximately three years, (in which I have potentially missed the buzz-boat) this is the year that I will contineously update this very blog. Resolution number one.

Number two is nothing new but it is something that I will remain committed to throughout the year and that is looking after my skin. I have always always always taken my make-up off before going to bed, and because of dry patches on my face I've moisturised since I was about 12. However, it wasn't until about two years ago when I reached my twenties that I decided I really needed to up my game in skincare. I'd been using cheap face wipes, a reasonably penny-pinching face scrub/wash and a bargain bucket moisturiser which had served their purpose well, but I thought if I wanted to stand any chance of leaving this decade of my life with my skin half as good as it was entering - then I'd better do something about it.
Alas, I turned to the holy grail of Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. My, my what a relevation that was. On my first use I used a make-up wipe before applying the cream cleanser as I didnt want to dirty my muslin cloth and then followed the two-step process - amazed at how much make-up was still remaining on my face. All these years I'd spent thinking that a face-wipe had done the job made me thank my guardian skin-angel that I had not ever suffered a bad-bout of acne. That is the only thing I can think of that must have kept my pores unblocked as the wipes certainly were not!
Soon after I added the Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser into the mix, but I found that this was a little too rich for daywear as it didnt mix too well with my foundation. However, it made the perfect night cream with a pot lasting me nearly six months. So the quest was on for a day moisturiser, and thankfully last Christmas I found it in the form of Lancome's Hydra Zen Neurocalm. Using a small amount I found that it was thin enough to not make my make-up feel heavy or greasy, but also thick enough to actually do what it says on the tub - moisturise. I think this year I dabble into the world of serums and face masks, just to give it a little boost every now and again.

And finally, number three is to continue to travel. Last year I was fortunate enough to go to my second home of Newcastle on numerous occasions, Prague, Rhodes, London, Northumberland and Leeds for lots of holidays and weekends away. This year I plan to do more of the same, with my first trip to Newcastle already planned for two weeks time. On my wishlist are - Budapest, Dubai, New York, Marrakech and Vegas. Whether I will go to any of these we shall see.

Until next time (which there most certainly will be, next Sunday. I promise)

Becs x