My Travel Make Up bag

Something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time is to make YouTube videos. I love blogging and I’ve been doing it for years but it’s been neglected in recent months. I’ve found myself more and more wanting to actually talk about beauty and the things that I love, to the point where I will describe my skincare routine to myself in the mirror while I’m doing it.

Beauty Basics: Tweezers

There are several beauty basics that are essential to my routine and over the next few months I want to share them with you. First up are are piece of vital kit to any bushy browed lady like myself – tweezers.
When I was approximately 12 puberty hit and my brows ‘blossomed’ into a bushy mess. Not the good Cara Delevigne kind, but the sort of brow which is relatively thin all over aside from the great tufts of hair between my eyes that form the dreaded mono-brow.

Lush’s Angels on Bare Skin

I’m now onto my third or fourth tub of this lovely scrub so I thought it was about time I mention it.
I was recently looking for a new exfoliator to try, just because I wanted to switch things up a bit, but then I came across this petition concerning tiny plastic particles in scrubs which are polluting the ocean. So I decided I’d stick with my tried and tested, wonderfully natural exfoliator from Lush.

No7 Blend & Contour brush

A blending brush is an essential to any eyeshade lover. A good one will beautifully buff out, smoothly blend eye shadow and quickly apply a wash of colour in a pinch. The Mac 217 is a prime example, the cult favourite blending brush, but at £18, it isn’t for everyone.

The Best of Autumn Winter 2014 Beauty Trends

Gucci, Versace Roshas and Diane Von Furstenberg

Clockwise: Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armarni, Gucci and Michael Kors

Clockwise: Burberry Prorsum, Diane Von Furstenberg, Versace and Valentino

Now that fashion week is over, I took a look back at the AW14 beauty trends and selected a few favourites that are suitable to try out at home.

Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush

The Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush was all over the beauty blogs in the summer and I wasn’t one to be left out so I picked up the shade Soft Pink.

I’ve been using this now for well over half a year and it’s something I read for everyday. The formula is creamy, it feels buttery but not greasy. It blends well and can be applied quickly with fingertips. It is well pigmented; not too scary to warrant an emergency foundation covered buffing brush, but with enough colour that even after six months use I’ve hardly made a dent.

The lasting power could be better, but I find that all blushes fade quickly on me. Although the packaging is simple, it’s very convenient. Small and light, perfect for your handbag as you don’t need a brush to apply on the go.

It’s a lovely blush and if it’s sitting in the back of your collection, or you fancy picking it up from boots (there’s a 3 for 2 offer on – what are you waiting for!) then it’s a perfect rosy shade for spring.

You can buy the Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush for £6.99 from Boots and Superdrug, or for £5.03 from Amazon.

L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution

There has been quite a lot of hype about L'Oreals Micellar offering in the past few months and since I stocked up on another two bottles of the stuff a few days ago (two for £5 in Superdrug!) I thought it was about time that I wrote about it.

Now the only other Micellar water I've tried is this one from Etat Pur, which I enjoyed but wasn't wowed by. I've not tried Bioderma, but I have spent approximately 5/6 nights a week for the last six or seven years taking off my make up so I can confidently say that this is a brilliant make up remover.

The water feels, well, like water on your skin, very gentle and soothing. Instantly refreshing but somehow magically it takes off all traces of my make up in a few swipes. Now I don't wear waterproof mascara but I have read that it comes off very easily.

In my cleansing routine I count this as a half/full cleanse depending on how thorough I want to be. Followed by a cleansing balm or cream (or two) all traces of make up are thoroughly removed and my skin feels lovely and clean.

Overall I absolutely love using this cleaner, it's so refreshing in the evening (especially after a long day) and makes removing my make up an easy task. My only complaint is that I get through it at a ridiculous speed.

I often see this on offer so scout around if you want to pick one up. They are currently available for 1/3rd off in Boots and Superdrug or for £4.99 full price.