Thursday 30 August 2018

2018 Beauty Finds

I am always up for trying new things, especially when it comes to beauty products. I have discovered so many this year, but I've picked the best of the bunch and packed them into one blog post. Enjoy!


Maybelline Super Stay 24H Full Coverage Foundation
This has been one of the best discoveries this year. Not only is it very affordable, it's full coverage, comes in a decent range of shades, and stays put all day. I use the shade Sun Beige, and you can see it in action in many of my photos in my 'Look Book' tab. I do find I have to be careful when blending this out on my skin, as it sets quite quickly and there is a risk of finding uneven, patchy looking areas if you're not careful. However, I have gone through so many bottles of this stuff and I don't intend to stop any time soon.

Bare Minerals Bare Skin Perfecting Veil
This is a reasonably new discovery of mine, but I have been using it pretty much none stop recently. It's like a pressed powder, but totally undetectable on the skin. I use it during the day to blot away shine and it doesn't leave me looking cakey or dry. I have the shade medium and it has become a handbag essential.


Nip + Fab Smooth Viper Venom Micro Blur Fix
I found this primer on a random trip to T.K. Maxx a few months ago, and I've been using it everyday ever since. It smells amazing, and provides a smooth, matte base ready for my foundation. According to the label it usually costs £19.95 but I'm sure I only paid £3.99, so keep an eye out in your local T.K Maxx.

Rimmel Stay Satin Liquid Lipstick
I have been obsessed with these recently. They are quite new, and I originally only purchased one in the shade 'As If!', which is brown nude, then I returned to Boots and bought the pinky nude colour called 'Sike'. The formula of these is amazing for being a cheaper brand, and they don't feel drying at all. They are even more moisturising than my favourite ColourPop Ultra Satin liquid lipsticks. I usually just put a bit of lip liner underneath and layer these on. I am so in love with the shades too because there are so many variations of nude, and we all know Rachael loves a nude lip.


OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner
I have been a huge fan of OGX shampoo and conditioner for some time now, but this argan oil conditioner is probably my favourite. The ends of my hair can become quite dry from constant heat styling so this smooths, detangles, and only has to be left in my hair for around 3 minutes which is so convenient. It also smells delicious.



Youth Lab Daily Cleanser 
This is my second tube of this cleanser for combination, oily skin. I love that it's a 200ml product, and it lasts me a lot longer than many other brands. It smells like melon and feels really refreshing, especially in the morning. It doesn't dry out my skin and removes make up and general dirt really easily. The only thing I dislike is that it was quite hard to get hold of this tube, as I ended up having to buy it from the Boots website and pay delivery which worked out quite expensive. However, I do love it so I didn't mind too much.

Vintage Cosmetic Company Make Up Melts
I was kindly sent a box of these make up removing cloths by the Vintage Cosmetic Company, and now I refuse to use a normal face cloth now. These are capable of removing make up with just water, however I still use my cleanser. They are super soft and feel really gentle on my skin. You can see the make up they remove too which I find quite satisfying. They leave my face so clean and fresh, and I cannot recommend them enough.


ColourPop Powder Eyeshadows
I have been a ColourPop fan for a long time, and their powder eye shadows have to be one of my favourite products. They are such high quality, offer amazing pigment, and they come in so many different shades. 2018 has been the year of the blue eye shadow for me, and it was all because of the shades called 'Backstage' & 'Formation'.  I had so many compliments when I wore these, and I find they really make my brown eyes stand out.



Lime Crime Venus XL
This palette is most definitely the best I have ever purchased. There isn't a shade in it that I wouldn't use, and there's the potential to create so many different eye looks. All the colours complement each other so well, and it even comes with a decent sized mirror, which makes it ideal for travelling. I have taken it on a couple of trips as it can be used for both easy daytime eye shadow looks, and super smokey evening eyes. It is well worth the money, and I have used it constantly since I bought it back in March.

Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara
This mascara promises volume without the clumps, however I find it does a better job at lengthening my rather short lashes. I also think it performs better once the product in the tube has dried out slightly, as it's quite a wet formula. I do love it though, especially on my bottom lashes as it really coats them well and makes them look super dramatic.


OFRA Rodeo Drive Highlighter
OFRA are known for their pigmented highlighters, and Rodeo Drive is no different. It's a golden, champagne shade and melts onto the skin seamlessly. This one is the mini although it has lasted me a good few months, so if you're unsure of whether this shade would suit you, buying the mini is a good place to start.

So there we have it! The best of my 2018 (so far) beauty finds. I'm sure I am yet to discover more fantastic products, so if you have any in mind feel free to share them with me.

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Monday 20 August 2018

Products I Can't Leave The House Without

My handbag, like many handbags, is a deep cave full of mystery. I try to clear it out on a regular basis, because between M&S sandwich receipts, biscuit wrappers, old cinema tickets, and scrunched up tissues, I can never find what I actually need.

I am pretty sure I counted at least 18 nude lipsticks in there once, no wonder I get a sore shoulder. Anyway, I thought I'd share with you all the absolute essential products that I cannot leave the house without. I don't necessarily use them everyday, but I like knowing I have them with me just in case.


Bare Minerals Gen Nude Lipgloss in Forbidden
This is my all time favourite lipgloss. I have used about four tubes since I discovered its existence and it is safe to say I am obsessed. It's the most amazing pinky nude colour that goes with every eye look, whether dramatic or understated. I love it.

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer Shade 3
This is the old packaging of Boi-ing, which just shows you how little you need. This is a great tan shade, and I really only carry it because my nose tends to run at the most inconvenient of times, and this is so easy to tap on when my make up has been rubbed off with a tissue.

Bourjois Smokey Eye Pencil in Brown
It is a bit pointless sharing this one as it was discontinued some time ago, but this is the best kohl pencil for fixing my watery eyes. I only have a small stump of this left, and it's so soft and great at covering the annoying circle of doom that appears when your eye waters and ruins your eyeshadow on your outer corner. It also has a brush on the end that makes it so easy to blend out. I am heartbroken that they decided to get rid of it, and frankly I haven't found anything like it. Sad. Very, very sad.

The Balm Sexy Mama Anti-Shine Translucent Powder
I am an oily skinned being, so a pressed powder is a must. I tried so many and a lot of them left me looking too matte, or quite cakey. However, this one is fantastic, blots away excess shine, and doesn't sit on the skin looking chalky. It isn't a miracle worker, as I become oily again later in the day, but it really does help take down shine and the cardboard packaging makes it sturdy, but light enough to carry around.

Model Co Illusion Lip Enhancing & Priming Liner
A lip liner makes it so easy to fake fuller lips, and this Model Co pencil is the perfect shade to pair with any lipstick or gloss. It's slightly deeper than my natural lip colour, and blends in with most of the shades I wear... Which is 98% of the time just a variation of the nude colour I wore the day before.

Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush
There's not much to say about this brush only that it's the perfect density for topping up powder during the day. Also, the fact it's retractable means it's easily flung into your bag without worrying about damaging the bristles, and it looks pretty too.

CYO Blotting Papers
Being from the oily side of the skin community, I like to be prepared for the inevitable. These blotting papers come in a small plastic box complete with mirror and sponge, so you can stick a paper to the sponge and blot away until your greasy heart is content. I usually use the NYX blotting papers, but I thought I'd give these a try, and they are pretty much the same. You could probably make your own blotting papers by cutting up small squares from your grandmother's greaseproof paper she uses to bake, but having them cut and ready for use is much more convenient.

Travalo Perfume Atomiser
If you don't fancy carting about your full sized bottle, this little gadget is the answer to your perfume prayers. It's a small tube, about the size of a lipstick, that you can fill with your favourite scent. So handy for on the go, and they come in so many different colours. Really handy for taking on holiday too!

So there we go! As I mentioned earlier, I do also carry around quite a few nude toned lipsticks just in case I fancy changing my lip colour... However, the products listed above are those that I feel lost without if they get left behind, and I feel like they're a cosmetic security blanket that help me through the day no matter what I come up against. Do you have any trusted make up products? Feel free to share in the comments below!

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