Full Coverage, Luminous Foundation Routine

In foundations I tend to look for ones with medium to full coverage. But the problem I find is that I normally hate the finish of majority of them; way too matte, normally cling to dry areas and just don't look as nice as a lighter coverage, dewy finish foundation. And that's where specially formulated primers come into action.

Pairing a matte foundation with a dewy skin primer will give you the coverage of the foundation yet the appearance of luminous and fresh skin. My favourite for this is the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light primer. It's a white lotion with small light reflecting particles that instantly make the skin appear more awake. It absorbs really quickly and feels so lightweight and cooling on the skin, I love it. I do prefer it to the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer - this L'Oreal dupe is cheaper and just as effective.

The foundation that I love to pair the primer with is Esteé Lauder Double Wear. It is medium coverage that can be built up to a full coverage. The reason why I particularly love this pairing is because the Esteé Lauder foundation can be a little drying and, especially if you have dry skin, a radiant primer will help make any foundation in fact more comfortable to wear.

I suggest you give this primer a go, in particular if you love the Laura Mercier one and may want a cheaper alternative that's equally as good. You can pick it up for £9.99 at most stores x x x

October favourites: Beauty, fashion, music

Happy first of the month!

It's favourites time yet again! October is definitely of one of my favourite months and I'm sad to see it ending, but it also signifies and brings into realisation that christmas is just around the corner (8 weeks, precisely). I have a wide array of favourite this month in all categories; beauty, fashion, music and, of course, randoms.

Starting with beauty favourites, I've been using Laura Mercier's oil free tinted moisturiser on a near enough everyday basis. I love how lightweight the product feels on the skin and yet still covers the majority of imperfections. I would class it as medium coverage with definitely the power to create fuller coverage. It's super easy to apply and helps to keep oils at bay for the whole day. Laura Mercier definitely know how to create perfect bases and this tinted moisturiser is one of my all time favourites in general.

Near enough all the rest of my beauty faves fit in the eye category. For my most used eyeshadow combo this month I have been loving applying Mac eyeshadow All That Glitters on the lid with Quarry quite heavily packed through the crease using a 217 brush. The 217 is the perfect tool for effortlessly applying colour to the crease and I can't live without it; I'm almost contemplating purchasing another. I have found myself reaching for L'Oreal's False Lash Telescopic more than my favourite American duo.  It lengthens the lashes like you would not believe and looks exceptionally amazing on the bottom lashes.

I've been wearing this Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shade Tokyo and I really like it. The colour is a gorgeous rose pink and looks super pretty on. My only criticism is that, as they are so creamy, they don't have the best staying power and I find myself reapplying every hour or so. Annoying, but the colour is great.

- Urban Outfitters ecote motocross drape jacket, £68
- Zara checked shirt with contrasting collar, £25.99
- American Apparel corduroy circle skirt, £44
- Miss Selfridge gold trim faux leather biker jacket, £52
- American Apparel disco pants, £74

Autumn fashion basically involves layers. Now that we are transitioning into winter however I've been wearing tights with pretty much every outfit - yes, even with jeans. I get that cold. I love wearing tights with high waisted skirts, especially the American Apparel circle skirts (my favourites are burgundy and navy blue) - they come in very autumnal appropriate colours and go with almost anything. Collared shirts, in particular, look so cute tucked into skirts and very put together. This one by Zara, a tartan inspired checked shirt with contrasting white collar, is my absolute favourite. It can be simply dressed down by pairing it with dark skinny jeans or dressed up by adding leather shorts, black heels and statement jewellery.

Another go-to piece for autumn/winter has to be disco pants. For the best quality and colour range check out American Apparel (loving the cranberry colour)! Jackets are also a autumn into winter staple - not as warm as a fully lined coat, but still something for the cold weather. I love this Urban Outfitters ecote motocross drape jacket, it just looks amazing. For more warmth, faux leather jackets are a must. Pictured is a gorgeous biker jacket by Miss Selfridge which will go with almost every outfit and looks super stylish.

Music favourites!

I have been loving Miley Cyrus' album Bangerz which came out at the start of the month and especially the songs Maybe Your Right and Adore You. She has certainly received a negative reputation over the past few weeks, namely for her two recent music videos (you know the ones), but nevertheless the songs on her album are really well produced and executed. Definitely check my two favourites out, even if you're not particularly a fan of her. Haim's The Wire has been on repeat for this month. It's way too catchy and will get in your head and stay there for the whole day. I still love it regardless!

One of my closest friends has an obsession with the band Fall Out Boy. I never understood their obsession and wasn't a fan of their rock-esque music. Now after listening to their new album Save Rock and Roll I've completely my opinion. My favourite songs on the album are Young Volancoes and Just One Yesterday. Check out the full album here! Now it cannot be a proper music favourites without a One Direction song. Just yesterday they released Story Of My Life on iTunes and I have already played it over ten times. I'm so excited for their new album out at the end of November - hurry up!

Ok. I'll be honest. My "random" favourites this month hands down beat my fashion, beauty AND music favourites. And the collage above possibly is one of the most bizzare and unusual group of photos ever.

The first picture is of the cast of my new favourite show The Walking Dead. Quick synopsis: a group of Americans try to survive by killing zombies. Now I personally am not a fan of gore, and yes they didn't rate the show an 18 (or R in America) for no reason, but I thoroughly recommend watching an episode or two. I watched series 1, 2 and 3 in around two weeks, and now that season four has just started, I'm hooked again. I love the storyline, the characters are amazing with a good amount of British actors - Rick, the lead character, was in Love Actually, and it's so gripping. Definitely start from the first series though and I promise you'll be hooked in no time. Season four is on every Friday at 10pm on Fox.

Next is a book, The Fault In Our Stars, that I haven't been able to put down since I started reading it. I have yet to finish, but I am nearing the end, but I still think it deserves a mention in my favourites post. John Green, the author, perfectly depicts the life of a young girl suffering from cancer with heart and emotion yet with small doses of static humour and, of course, a beautiful love story intertwined. I've already cried, laughed and smiled like an absolute idiot at the pages, and I highly suggest you give it a read.

If you don't know who the boy in the third picture is then what is your life. I'm kidding, but still, Luke Friend from the current series of The X Factor is, in my opinion, the best contestant who I sincerely hope will win. He's so unique and has such an amazing voice. I'm no Simon Cowell, but it's a "yes" from me :P

Another favourites post complete, another month finished! I'm not particularly looking forward to November, but at least it means that December is getting closer. And we all love December, adios x x x

What Beauty Products Does Megan Fox Use? Skincare, Makeup Must Haves

As my what beauty products does Kim Kardashian use post was quite popular, I thought I'd continue the theme focusing on different female celebrities and what their favourite make-up products are. Next up is Megan Fox who is undeniably a beautiful woman and probably on everyones "girl crush" list. Yes, she's had a little surgery but her makeup always looks flawless and natural. Here's a rundown of her must haves.

Skincare
Megan goes by the mantra "less is more" when it comes to all things beauty. Yet as her skin struggles from acne stars, enlarged pores and the odd breakout, and being under the spotlight 24/7, her skincare routine is far from simple. She goes on regular visits to skin specialist Sonya Dakar and has the Diamond Peel Treament to help keep her skin clear. It's expensive, at $725 (yes, dollars, US only I'm afraid), but she's definitely a regular customer. She's also a Bliss skincare fan - she loves the Detoxifying Facial Toner and Steep Clean 15 Minute Facial Mask. For skin protection she uses the La Roche-Posay Anthelios AC Extreme Fluid and the Mindi Walters Vitamin C Complex, once quoted saying "this is the only product with SPF that does not irritate my skin".




Face
Yet another celebrity who adores the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation! Also Kim Kardashian's favourite, Megan also loves to use this on herself and on the red carpet as it provides good coverage which is oil-free (perfect for picture taking) and lasts all day. Expensive, but worth it. Another foundation she uses is the Chanel Waterlights Sheer Make Up Stick in Sand and Wheat. For concealer, she loves the Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer (her shade is medium beige) as it coverages everything from acne scars to blemishes to tattoos.

To set everything, she uses the Dr. Hauschka Transcluent Face Powder for all over the face and, for brightening the under eye area, Megan uses the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder in #2. She also uses this for brighten up her complexion, keeping her skin looking refreshed and healthy. Her go-to blush choice is Lorac Rose; a light coral pink.

Eyes
For brows, she loves the Chanel Crayon Sourcils Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in the shade Soft Brown. For many red carpet looks, make up artists have also used the Lorac Take a Brow Wax Kit in Brunette for a more defined, fuller look. Megan loves to smudge the MAC Smolder Eye Kohl on the top and bottom lashes to create a more messy look. For a softer liner, MAC Omega is her favourite choice.  She recently said in an interview how she likes to use two mascaras for the different brushes. First she uses the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill as "the thin brush means you can get into the base of your lashes", followed by the L'Oreal Voluminous on top to lengthen. On the red carpet, the most used duo is the Max Factor 2000 Calorie Straight Brush Mascara in Rich Black topped with some MAC Individual Lashes.

Lips
Megan's lipstick changes whenever her look does: from red-toned oranges with a neutral face and eye look, to deep wine reds with a smokey eye. To prep for whatever shade she uses the Dr. Hauschka Lip Care Stick followed by the Chanel Le Crayon Lèvres Precision Lip Definer in Natural. Her staple deep red lipstick is Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani in 400. For an orange, MAC Morange is a staple. Her dark, berry shade of choice is the Dior Addict Lip Color in Decadent Plum and for a true blue based red use the Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Lipcolor in Absolute Rouge.

Like I said in my Kim post, obviously she uses many different products - these are just reoccurring products I've seen she has mentioned in interviews, forums etc over and over again. Next week: Kylie Jenner!

Full list of products: Sonya Dakar diamond peel treatment, Bliss Detoxifying Facial Toner, Bliss Steep Clean 15 Minute Facial Mask, La Roche-Posay Anthelios AC Extreme Fluid, Mindi Walters Vitamin C Complex, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation, Chanel Waterlights Sheer Makeup Stick in sand and wheat, Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in medium beige, Dr. Hauschka Translucent face powder, Laura Mercier Secret Brightening powder in #2, Lorac Rose blush, Chanel Crayon Sourcils sculpting eyebrow pencil in soft brown, Lorac Take a Brow wax kit in brunette, MAC Eye Kohl in smolder, MAC eyeshadow in omega, Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill mascara, L'Oreal Voluminous mascara, MAC individual lashes, Dr. Hauschka Lip Care Stick, Chanel Le Crayon Lévres Precision Lip Definer in natural, Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani in 400, MAC Lipstick in morange, Dior Addict Lip Color in decadent plum, Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge lipcolor in absolute rouge

September Favourites: Makeup, A/W Fashion, Music and Randoms!

Firstly, I can't believe it's October 1st. It's literally my favourite month with midterm coming up then halloween and my birthday. This year has gone so insanely fast. Secondly, writing favourites posts are always fun. Especially when I have products I've been truly loving. This month I have several beauty favourites as well my autumn/winter fashion picks, music obsessions and just some general favourites so, let's get started...

 Let me first of start by apologising that two of my seven favourites aren't available in the UK. I'm sorry.

You're probably sick of me talking about this, but it deserves another mention - Covergirl Lash Blast Volume mascara. This has definitely become a holy grail mascara of mine - it creates length, volume giving full looking lashes without the clumpy appearance. Please come to the UK.

Another favourite that needs to be bought over to the UK are the Wet n Wild Lip Colors. So cheap, yet so pigmented and come in the best variety of colours, from nudes to pinks to reds. I can't get enough of the four I own, they're so good. My current favourite has been "Spotlight Red", a bright, blue based red. I can see this being a constant favourite when we get into the winter season. It's very comparable to Russian Red by MAC, but notably cheaper...

Quarry eyeshadow by MAC is one of those shades that looks incredibly boring in the pan, but a must have nonetheless. It's the perfect transition, and crease, colour - especially if you have brown eyes as it has a slight purple undertone to it. I love using this shade smudged along the lower lash line to give warmth and some colour. It's more subtle that a black or brown, yet still really pretty for an everyday look.

My foundation favourite this month has been L'Oreal Lumi Magique (I have shade W3). I can't gush about it enough, click here for my full review for my full thoughts and stuff.

Rediscovering past obsessions is always nice. I used to use the NARS Powder Foundation all the damn time when I first bought it. Then it kind of got forgotten about. Now I've been reaching for it more, I remember how much I love using it. It's perfect to use either on top of liquid foundation to set everything and give extra coverage, or to use on it's own. For what it is, it's lightweight and doesn't look cakey. Pricey, but 100% worth it.

Gotta include Baby Lips! I love the shade Pink Punch, it smells heavenly and looks so nice on; really subtle.

Nordic rose cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Floral print kimono: Miss Guided
Burgundy and black camis: Topshop
Animal print cropped jumper: Urban Outfitters
High waisted jeans: New Look

Deciding my favourite clothing items of the month is easy: cropped jumpers, high waisted jeans, kimonos, plain cami tops and oversized cardigans.

Autumn weather in England is extremely bipolar; one minute it's raining and freezing, then the next it's warm and you just wanna take all your clothes off! For this I love wearing layers. I start with just a plain cami - easy to wear and come in so many colours. Then I throw on a baggy, oversized cardigan. I've been loving the ones from Urban Outfitters; they're thick, warm and some in some really lovely patterns. I then just throw on either high waisted shorts (plus tights!), or opt for some high waisted jeans. My most used are by New Look, especially the black and dark navy ones.

When the weather is more on the warm side, I've been really into kimonos. Miss Guided offers some really affordable yet super flattering varieties, plus I've seem them crop up on Asos and in stores. Pictured above is my favourite, black with green, blue and cream coloured flowers. I also love wearing cropped jumpers as they look amazing with high waisted jeans/shorts. Again, Urban Outfitters is the place to look for them.

I'm thinking about doing more posts dedicated to seasonal fashion picks. What do you think?







23 by Mike Will Made-It
It's probably the most catchiest song ever. The day I bought it on iTunes I played it 32 times in a row, yep, that addictive. It's featuring Miley Cyrus (who I love, but may not be everyones cup of tea), Wiz Khalifa and some person who I've never heard of in the likes of Juicy J. Seriously, what kind of name is that?

Wings by Birdy
This is such a cute, melancholic song that you need to listen to if you haven't already. Birdy has such a gorgeous voice for a 17 year old, and I love the video for this song too, it's very medieval.

Diana by One Direction
This song was leaked a few weeks back so I pray that you can still find it somewhere online. If not, then mark November 25th in your diary as thats the release of their new album. Anyway, the song Diana is supposed to be written for the fans who have suffered from depression or suicide. When you listen to the words it's really quite sad, but the song as a whole is really catchy and has some great hooks in it. Love!

Burn by Ellie Goulding
Yeah it's an old song, but I've been going through an Ellie phase and this is one of my definite favourites of hers. It's totally different to my regular style of music (to be honest, all of these songs I've mentioned are completely polar opposite to my usual style which is alternative/rock) but I just find myself listening to this all the time!

Yay for the random favourites!

First is iOS7 (for all you Apple users). At first I thought it was really childish but now I actually quite like it. It's simple to use and, I know it's stupid, but I love how the background colour is incorporated into the button colour and tab background, if you know what I mean (see pic!). And have you all seen the new iPhone in gold? *wants*

This past month the X Factor has been my guilty pleasure, it's pretty embarrassing. Well it's not as bad as my mum who downloaded the bloody app on her iPad. Nevertheless, I always watch on the weekends when I can. Team Shaz!

Ok a weird favourite this month is a YouTube channel that you've *probably* all heard of called SourceFed. A group of super likeable hosts post five videos a day each with current news stories. Yeah it may sound boring, but they present them with humour but actually convey important messages to keep us up to date with current affairs. They're short videos (3 mins on average) which make them perfect to quickly view if you don't have enough time to sit down and watch the full length news programmes.

Favourites completed! I really enjoyed writing this months post. Hope you did, too. Have an amazing October :)

PS, who's already downloaded their "countdown to Christmas" phone app? I have! 91 days to go...

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Light Infusing Foundation Review

L'Oreal foundations are definitely my favourite. I love their True Match and now after trying the Lumi Magique it has also become another holy grail foundation of mine.

Compared to the True Match, the Lumi Magique is basically the opposite in finish. True Match gives an almost matte finish whilst Lumi Magique gives a satin, and more dewy, finish. And I love it.

Now that the weather is getting colder which results in dry, sallow skin, I prefer wearing foundations with a much lighter formulation that provides a more dewy, fresh appearance. Lumi Magique provides medium, yet very easily buildable, coverage that looks fresh and alive. I definitely agree with the "as if lit-from-within" statement on the bottle. It looks really pretty. It's super blendable, really lightweight and you can easily build it up for more coverage.

This foundation wears really well throughout the day, better than True Match - I apply it at 7am and it's still going strong by the time I finish college at 3pm which is impressive. I sometimes do powder midday but other times I just leave it to wear through - it looks just as good, if not better, by the time I get back home. It's still dewy, but not oily looking and definitely not at all cakey.

However, one thing I don't like is their shade range. It's bad. The Lumi Magique offers 7 shades (compared to 22 in the True Match range, can I mention!) which are really bizarrely labelled - I have shade W3 which is the lightest "warm" undertone shade they offer. Luckily, it's my regular shade in the True Match, yet this could be a problem for others with different undertones. Hopefully they'll expand their range as the product gets more press.

I genuinally think this has become a new favourite foundation of mine. I've been wearing it non stop and it has replaced my True Match in my everyday makeup routine for a few weeks now...

New Beauty and Skincare Purchases

As I've just started college, I've been spending most of my money on new clothes. I've just realised how easier it was in high school when we had to wear a set uniform everyday. Deciding what to wear each morning has proven to be a struggle! Nevertheless, I still treat myself to some new beauty products now and then - mostly when I run out of things, though. I went to Boots the other day and picked up three new things and a repurchase.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique light infusing foundation
Now that the weather is becoming increasingly colder, I've been looking for the perfect dewy finish foundation. I thought I'd start my search with the "sister" of my favourite ever foundation L'Oreal True Match. It's meant to provide flawless coverage whilst still looking fresh and skin-like.

Collection Cream Puffs in "cotton candy" and "powder puff"
These just looked too pretty to pass up. I love the NYX soft matte lip creams but you can't get them in stores here, and these looked fairly similar. I picked up a light nude and a gorgeous rose shade. Apparently they smell like sugar frosting so I'm excited to try these out.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch concealer
This is my repurchase of the four - I love using this over my under eye concealer. It just brightens the area up without making it look cakey. It's definitely worth the money.

I also picked up two new skincare bits. Both are repurchases, and both I use on a daily basis.

REN Clearcalm3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser
My favourite cleanser ever! It removes all traces of makeup, freshens up the skin, moisturises, deep cleans and just is a wonderful product. It's targeted at blemish prone skin but I think this will work for anyone, regardless of skin type. On average, it lasts me around five months which, for £18, isn't bad.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution
I've repurchased this five times now - it's getting a bit ridiculous. Thank goodness it isn't expensive otherwise I'd be in trouble. I use this to remove all makeup - eyes and face - before going in with my cleanser. It's refreshing, lightweight and does what it says on the bottle. You can't go wrong, really...

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

May Beauty Favourites

Happy June 1st! I love this day for many reasons: it's a sign that we're already half way through the year and that summer is approaching, school is nearly over (2 weeks left for me) and it's also my parents wedding anniversary! 29 years today which is so crazy! Anyway...

I only ever do monthly beauty favourites when I actually have favourite products to talk about, normally they're just the same as any other month so I rarely do them, but this month I have a lot of top picks!

Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer, Essie #Tart Deco, Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch, L'oreal True Match #W3, NYX #Sweetheart, Benefit They're Real, MAC Lip Liner #Saunter, MAC #Creme D'Nude

Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer
Best primer hands down! I've only just recently bought this and I'm already in love. Before I was using the Smashbox Photo Finish which was good as a primer but bad for my skin. It broke my out every time I used it so I stopped using primers for a while. On a whim I picked up the Laura Mercier one, in oil free, and I noticed the difference immediately. It contains no silicone which I think is what broke my out before and is so lightweight and refreshing as it's a cream product. I just love it and 100% recommend it to anyone needing a new primer or in the market to try a new one.

Essie #Tart Deco
One of my favourite summer nail polishes, it's such a nice coral colour which looks uh-may-zing with a tan! Boots normally do these on a 3 for 2 offer or something so check them out! I also love Mint Candy Apple which is a bright mint green.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer
It's the best concealer/highlighter hybrid I've tried. It doesn't crease under the eyes, it covers up dark circles and also acts as a really nice highlighter on the cheekbone. It's super cheap as well (only around £7) and lasts forever. I'm not even half way through mine and I've been using it everyday since I bought it around two months ago. I have shade 2.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation
My favourite foundation of the moment. It's a medium coverage but can be built up for a more full coverage - it's quite thin in consistency meaning it feels lightweight and doesn't cake up. It applies really nicely over the Laura Mercier foundation primer and it's what I've been using everyday - I'm already on my second bottle. They bottle doesn't last that long however but for £10 I don't mind repurchasing. I'm in the shade W3 normally but when I tan I'm a W6, even W7.

NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss #Sweetheart
I love NYX lip glosses - they come in so many shades and are not sticky. Unfortunately they don't have the best staying powder, some are better than others. This month I've been wearing Sweetheart over the top of Creme D'Nude by MAC and it looks so nice. It's a shimmery pink nude shade.

MAC Lipstick #Creme D'Nude
This has been my most used lipstick of the month. Creme D'Nude is a peachy nude shade that is very smooth and has a gloss-like appearance. It's really creamy, hence why it's a cremesheen. For a nude it's really easy to wear, probably the easiest one I have. It's one of my favourite lipsticks ever and I've been particularly using it a lot this month.

MAC Lip Liner #Saunter
I hate putting limited edition products in favourites posts but I do believe you can get this on the House of Fraser website still. It's the perfect nude lipliner which can be used as a lip pencil as it's so opaque. It does cling to fine lines and dry areas so make sure you exfoliate and add loads of lip balm before. I like using this with Myth lipstick (practically the same colour) and then adding a pink gloss over the top like Sweetheart by NYX or even a Rimmel Apocalips lip laquer.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara
I got this with a magazine as a sample and I'm in love! It's marketed as the best mascara and the UK's most popular with 10 being sold every minute or something like that, so I always thought it was fake. So when it came with my favourite magazine as a sample I thought I'd give it a go and I'm so glad I did. It lengths the lashes perfectly and makes them look false, it doesn't give much volume which is what I'm normally used to but I can deal with that as it's so good. I'm really tempted to buy the full size even though it's nearly £20 and they run out so quickly! Ugh decisions...

Anyway they're my favourites, I hope you have a great forthcoming month!

xx

Spring drugstore beauty haul

I love drugstore shopping! You can buy several things for the price of one high end product. It's good if you just want to trial a certain colour before splashing on a good quality version (despite most high street brands are on par with high end brands nowadays!). I thought I'd just show the stuff I bought from Boots and Superdrug as I haven't bought that much high end makeup this week.

I picked up a new foundation, L'Oreal True Match in the shade W3 for no reason. I'm perfactly happy with Revlon Colorstay and Esteé Lauder DW, but whatever. I got two Barry M Nail Paints, one in "Blueberry" and the other in "Strawberry" - I think you can guess which ones which :) As for lip products, I picked up three Revlon Matte Lipsticks in "Nude Attitude", "Smoked Peach" and "Stormy Pink" as Nicole Guerriero (aka my favourite YouTube guru) raves about them. I also got a Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in "Nude Eclipse". I went into Superdrug and bought two of their blushes: "Suede" (another Nicole rave product) and "Pixie Pink". Boots need to start stocking Sleek, asap. I also got one of those Tangle Teasers, but forgot to photograph it.

Here are some more pictures!

Left-right: Suede and Pixie Pink

Left to right: Strawberry and Blueberry (obvs)

Have a great week,

Suzanna xoxo

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

Gold Series ghd Max Styler and the Remington Pearl Wand Review

My friends were a bit confused when I told them I bought a straightener - not a usual conversation topic but my friend Vanisha is a huge beauty fan. I have naturally straight hair so I didn't think I needed to buy one. Yet my hair is extremely thick and no matter how many products I had tried to tame it down, nothing worked. Three months ago, just after I finished some exams, my dad said he'd treat me to a present: I asked for the Gold Series ghd Max Styler. There are three options: mini, classic and max. It's all personal preference really and I wanted the biggest one possible. I ordered it from the website and it came the next day with free delivery. I paid £120 for them but currently they are on sale for £99!

Put in this way, I haven't stopped using them since. I know it's bad to use heat in your hair everyday even if you use heat protectant, but I just love the way it looks. I don't use heat on my hair on the weekend, but I do during the week. The ghds are amazing. It takes roughly 15 minutes to straighten all of my hair. Now that might seem like a lot, but my previous straighteners would take me over half an hour and the results were never as good as they are with the ghds. They help tame down frizz and make your hair feel extremely light weight. Overall, if you have the money to splurge on a new hair styling tool, I would definitely recommend the ghd range. Perfection.

Two weeks ago I got bored of straight hair and just simply wanted a change. Therefore, the next day I went out about bought the Remington Pearl Wand for £24.99 in Boots. I had read some extremely good reviews and thought I would share my own opinion. Being someone who has never owned a curling iron before, I didn't have that high of expectations yet I did know I wanted something that latest and didn't take that long to provide results. This wand is perfect for those who want effortless curls that are really quick to do. It takes around 6 minutes for me to curl all of my hair. It doesn't weigh my hair down and, from my experience, seem to last all day. Definitely worth the money in my opinion.

I thought I would just end the post there, but then I decided to include some of my favourite hair care products. I have done one of these before, but I thought I would show some new favourites of mine!

Best heat protectant: TRESemmé Heat Defence

Best frizz controler: Moroccanoil

Best hairspray: LO'real Elnett and Wella Shockwaves (not pictured)

Best straightening serum: Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

Xoxo

L'Oreal Mega Volume Collagene 24hr Mascara

L'Oreal Mega Volume Collagene 24hr, £9.99

On my recent shopping trip (haul here) I picked up the new L'Oreal Mega Volume Collagene 24hr mascara for £9.99 at Superdrug. The website says that it had a mega brush, a unique "collagen enriched formula" and creates an amplified lash impact.

Have a look for yourself...

The first thing I noticed when applying it, was the crazy length it gave. I have small eyes and I found this a problem for me as it kept touching my eyelid which isn't good. It also deposited a lot of colour there as you can see in the first image. Normally, I go for more thickening mascaras rather than lengthening mascaras; yet I didn't know this before purchasing. I chose the colour Extra Black as I love really black mascaras and you could really tell the difference compared to a regular black mascara. Despite the length being an issue, I love the volume that it gives. My only issue is that I found it clumps a lot. From the first picture, you can see that some of the lashes practically stick together. To overcome this, try using a spoolie - or even a clean mascara wand - to separate the lashes.

Overall, I do think it's worth the £9.99 yet I don't think I would repurchase.

Have a great week!

Suzanna x

Fashion and beauty haul

I am so sorry about the lack of posts this week! I've just had so many exams and have had to use my free time revising like crazy. Now that they are over until late June, I thought I'd do as many posts as I can starting off with a major haul. I went to Guildford today and they one of the best shopping complex's I know. I went to Urban Outfitters, DKNY,House of Fraser (department store), Boots and a really awesome American candy store which I am in love with. Let's start...

From department store House of Fraser, I got a Clinique High Impact mascara and a new Clinique "Take The Day Off" makeup remover. This is my third one in two months - not good. But it is the best. In Boots I got two Essie nail polishes; one in Mint Candy Apple (mint colour, obviously) and the other in Tart Deco (light coral). I got some essentials including a Nivea deodorant and a Nivea lip balm. I also picked up LO'real's new mascara called Mega Volume Collagene 24hr which is said to be amazing! My old eye lash curler broke, so I picked up a new one, and finally I got the Dove Summer Glow moisturiser with a subtle self tanner. I can't wait to review it for you.

And because I spent over £30 on Clinique products, I got a free gift which is pretty awesome! In the pretty makeup bag I got a lipstick, an eyeshadow duo, a sample of a Clinique mascara, a corrector pen, deep comfort hand cream and a rinse-off foaming cleanser. Sweet!

There was also a DNKY Jeans store so I picked up this khaki denim jacket for a really amazing price. Normally they are pretty expensive so I'm very happy with this. They only had a size XS in stock, but I tried it on and it fits perfectly - I'm a size 8 so I didn't think it would fit!

I went into my favourite clothing store ever, Urban Outfitters! I didn't take a picture of the stuff I got because it's all packaged nicely and it would take a while to get nice photos, so I'll just list them. I was in need of a new school bag as the one I got from Egypt last summer had broken completely. I saw a really gorgeous black bag (£49) and knew I had to get it. Plus, it fits A4 folders in which is a must! I got two aztec style t-shirts (both £28 each which is pretty hefty) and a cross shaped necklace for £8. 

Wouldn't it be great if Primark and Urban Outfitters could switch price tags?

Lastly, I went to an American candy store that sells, not just candy, but everything! I saw loads of condiments, drinks, cereals, food (mind you, they did look disgusting) and rows and rows of sweets and chocolate. Being a major peanut butter fan I got some peanut butter M&Ms as well as Reece's peanut butter cups (not in picture). My mum also got this Oh Henry fudge bar.

So, thats it for today! I hope you liked this. If you want me to review any of the products shown let me know in a comment. And again, I'm sorry for the lack of posts!

Suzanna xoxo

Ps. I'm so sad One Tree Hill has ended. I've got the theme song stuck in my head! Listen here.

(A rather late) April favourites!

1. Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman powder brush
2. MAC 129
3. Colgate Wisp mini portable brushes (life saver!)
4. Nails Inc nail polish in Tate*
5. Moroccan Oil
6. LO'real gel eyeliner
7. Garnier Anti-Puff Roll On*
8. NARS bronzer in Laguna
9. Avon Supershock Gel Liner in Black
10. MAC brow set in Clear
11. Revon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake
12. MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study
13. Clinique Anti-Blemish moisturiser*
14. Moov Massage Cream*
15. MAC Blot Film
16. Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder

★ 

Non-beauty favourites
- The song Payphone by Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa. To me, it's the best song I have heard this year, I absolutely love it. I've never really liked Maroon 5 before, but I do now!
What do you think of the song?  Have a listen here!
- Instagram for iPhone. It's the best app there is.
- Magazines! My favourites this month have been Company and Elle.
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Yes, it's one of those books everyone hates because they've studied it at school and yes, I am studying it at a school but I really like the story!
- My YMCMB grey hoodie. It's perfect for lounging which is what I love to do.

That's it! I hope you all have a wonderful May :)

Suzanna xoxo

The new L'Oréal EverPure and EverSleek hair expertise range

I was in Boots the other day and was looking for a new heat protectant as my trust Tresemme one has completely ran out. Browsing the isles I came across the new LO'réal Paris' Hair Expertise line with shampoos, conditioners, serums and hair protectants.

I decided to give the EverSleek Smoothing Mist Heat Protectant a go. On the bottle it says that it's for "frizzy, overworked hair". I don't particually have frizzy hair (and if I do, I would use my Moroccan oil) but I do have overworked hair.

First of all, I love the smell it gives. It's very nice, but if you don't like the smell it vanishes completely within a few seconds. Secondly, and most importantly, it works well as a hair protectant. So, how do you know when it does work? Sometimes - and especially after blowdrying your hair - when you straighten your hair (I don't want to say it, but) smoke comes off the appliance. If this hasn't happened then you either have found your perfect heat protectant or you don't straighten your hair as much. Note that I straighten my hair every day. Bad, I know. Anyway! After using the EverSleek heat protectant, I have found that it doesn't do it anymore which is awesome.

Another great thing about this product is that it claims to double as a smoothing mist to control frizz. I can't say whether this works or not as I use many other products on my hair, but it seems legit.

I also picked up the EverPure Colour Care Protective Mist for my mum, who dyes her hair every four weeks. So far, she says she hasn't noticed a difference but it's much harder to tell a difference on coloured hair I presume.

Overall, I think it works really well. My normal hair care routine has changed since my old post, I might do an updated one. But, let me just say that the heat protectant, my Paul Mitchell super skinny serum and Moroccan oil are the dream team - I recommend them all.

If you want to try it, it's £6.99 here!

Suzanna xoxo

Ps. Have a great weekend!