The 5 Product Face

If I'm in a rush and don't have time to spend the full hour doing my makeup, these are the products I use.

I can't leave the house without a base, whether it be a tinted moisturiser or foundation. My holy grail foundation is L'Oreal True Match buffed in with a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I also add a little cream blush to bring some life back to my skin. I've been loving using the Bourjois Cream Blush in Healthy Glow as it's a gorgeous nude/peach that suits all skin tones.

For eyes, I apply loads of Benefit They're Real, another favourite of mine, on the top and bottom lashes. For eyeliner, instead of a black or brown, I'm opting for a blue! It's an Avon Supershock Gel Eyeliner in Aquapop and looks uh-may-zing smudged along the lower lash line. It's a little more exciting that a boring neutral. Finally, eyebrows are an essential. If I don't have enough time to get a powder shadow and brush, I fill them in with the Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash. I love this thing! I've had mine for nearly a year (I have the old packaging!) and it's still going strong. I'm super happy you can buy it in the UK now.

So they're my in-a-rush products. Xoxo

Scheduled post

Best of 2012

I just wanna start of by saying happy new year!

My posts will lack during January because of my exams so I thought I would do a pretty extensive blog post reviewing all my favourite products (as well as books, movies and music favourites) of 2012 today. Links are added to reviews :)

Best eyeshadows (palette): Urban Decay Naked 2
Best mascara: Rimmel Volume Flash Scandal Eyes or Clinique High Impact
Best pencil liner: Avon Supershock or MAC Stubborn Brown or Rimmel Scandal Eyes in Nude
Best liquid liner: Maybelline Master Precise
Best eyeshadow base: MAC Paint Pots
Best eye lash glue: Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive
Best eyebrow product: Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash

I'm not a lip product fan, the only lip products I use are MAC lipsticks. My favourites, and most used, during 2012 have been: Myth or Hue or Honeylove or Sunny Seoul.

Best liquid foundation: Esteé Lauder Double Wear in Fresco and Desert Beige
Best powder foundation: NARS Powder Foundation in Fiji
Best primer: Smashbox Photofinish
Best concealer: Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection in Fair
Best bronzer: NARS Laguna
Best blush: Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed
Best powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus

Best volumising product: TRESemmé Volume and Lift Mousse
Best dry shampoo: TRESemmé Instant Refresh
Best heat protector: TRESemmé Keratin Smooth
Best treatment: Moroccan Oil or Leo Bancroft Instant Sleek or Kerastase Nectar Thermique or Macadamia Oil
Best straightening balm: Redken Power Tame 16 or Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

Best self tanner: St Moriz Mousse in Dark
Best face moisturiser: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel
Best body moisturiser: Shea body butter from The Body Shop
Best hand cream: L'Occitane
Best universal cream: E45 or Sudocrem (not pictured)
Best acne/red skin treatment: Mario Badescu Control Cream

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Favourite books of the year

- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

- Unwind by Neal Shusterman

- Holy Bible (ESV)

- The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

Favourite movies (and shows) of the year

- Project X

- Ted

- Sherlock, both series

Favourite albums of the year

- Born To Die: Paradise Edition by Lana Del Rey

- Take Me Home by One Direction

- Life is Elsewhere by Little Comets

- Babel by Mumford & Sons

- Channel Orange by Frank Ocean

- What's The Story (Morning Glory)? by Oasis

So thats all of my favourite things of 2012. I hope you had an amazing year and I hope that the new year brings you happiness and lots of laughs.

Suzanna xo

Anastasia Brow Wiz

Anastasia Brow Wiz, $20/£12

My morning makeup routine is fun, especially recently due the many new products I'm in the midst of trying out. One of the products I'm exceptionally loving is the Anastasia Brow Wiz in the shade "Medium Ash".

I first heard about this pencil through the Pixiwoo videos as they seem to use it all the time. Unfortunately I couldn't find it anywhere in the UK so when I found I was in New York, I went into Sephora and luckily found it. Despite it's $20 price tag (that's just over £12) I picked it up anyway and I'm so glad I did.

"The slimmest of slim dual-ended mechanical brow pencil and brush"

The shade I got it in was perfect, not too dark yet not too light and matched my hair colour perfectly (which I think is important). It's super easy to define your eyebrows or to extend them without it looking obvious and the spooley helps blend the colour whilst grooming them. 

Overall, it's the best brow product I've ever used and when it runs out I will have to book a flight to America to pick another one up. Over exaggeration? Maybe...

Suzanna x

Beauty Haul from NYC

As promised, here is what I bought in New York! I've decided only to show you the beauty stuff and accessories (only one thing but oh well) because photographing clothes isn't exactly my forte. The clothes I did buy were some collard shirts, black leather shorts and a maroon beanie from Forever 21; a Hard Rock Cafe tee and a New York Giants jersey. Nothing that special. The rest of what I bought is, however.

Sephora was the shop that I was most excited about visiting - they have so many brands that aren't available in the UK or, if they are, they are much cheaper! Most of my mula was spent there ashamedly, yet I am very happy with everything I purchased. Reviews will be linked up below when I have written them.

Anastasia Brow Pencil, Sephora Fragrance Sampler, Marc Jacobs Daisy Rollerball, L'oreal Colour Balm, EOS Lip Balm, NARS Powder Foundation, Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, Hoola Benefit, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush, Covergirl Eyeshadow Trio, Sephora Kabuki (in black pouch), Smashbox Photofinish Primer, OCC Lip Tar, Tweezerman Eyelash Curlers, Esteé Lauder Double Wear Foundation

....

Heathrow, terminal 5 to be specific, is the best for duty free shopping. I never normally buy anything from duty free as I like to save my money for the holiday. But it was my birthday and my mum decided to treat me and buy me some new sunglasses. I fell in love with these Versace ones - the number reference on the side is "MOD 4229" if you are wondering (if you search it on google you will find several links to different stores). They are a similar style to Raybans yet I didn't want to add another pair of them to my collection so I decided to go for a new brand. The frames are much bigger than my classic Rayban wayfarers which I like.

What do you think?

So that was everything I bought minus the clothes, tourist stuff and the presents I bought for people's birthdays! All of the make-up was bought in Sephora with the exception of the Esteé Lauder Double Wear which I bought in Macy's and the L'Oreal lipstick, Covergirl eyeshadow trio and EOS lip balm which was all bought in Wallgreens. The shades purchased in Heathrow.

I'm exceptionally jealous of those who have regular access to Sephora's. I do think, however, that I would be broke if I lived near one, so it's not all bad!

Suzanna x