Fresh Faced Summer Make-Up

Whilst we've all been loving the summer weather, there are days when it is SO hot that many of us feel it's completely pointless putting any make-up on, in fear the scorching sunshine will melt it all away and make you look like wax work from Madame Tussauds. I too, used to have the same fear until I realised it's all about what products you use and how you apply them. Of course, it's nice to wear minimal make-up in the hot summer months but there are occasions when you do want to make an effort and for me, today was one of them. I love this look because it's well balanced, fresh faced and it doesn't appear cakey or too much. The soft pink lip adds a summery touch whilst the eye make-up compliments the rest of the look. So, here's how I did it...

FACE

After completing my usual skin care routine and priming my skin, I began by applying a light layer of Estee Lauder Double Wear. I won't go into too much detail about this foundation as we all know how fabulous it is... The coverage, the feel, the dreamy texture but most importantly, even in the hot humid weather we've been having recently, it's not going to budge! I then concealed any imperfections and highlighted under my eyes with Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer (full review click here). Next, I used Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer (ok, so I know that's not it's official name but it looks and smells like a chocolate bar so hey ho). I contoured under my cheek bones, jaw line, forehead/ temples and dusted the apples of my cheeks with H&M Powder Blush in 'Pink Coral' (full review click here). Lastly, I set my base with Maybelline Super Stay 24Hour Powder, this is a great powder to use if you're prone to oily skin or are wishing to extend the longevity of your base... I always apply my powder last as it blends all the components together nicely and ensures everything stays in place. Finally, I highlighted my cheek bones with BarryM Illuminating Strobe Cream in 'Frosty Pink' for a fresh glow (full review click here)

EYES

Before anything else, I always apply my brow products first as once complete, it gives you a frame to work with, when applying your eye make-up. Today I used L'Oreal Paris Brow Artist Genius (full review click here) and Benefit High Brow to highlight my brow bones. I then primed my eye lids with Urban Decay Primer Potion to ensure my eye shadow doesn't fade or crease. From the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette I began by patting 'Suspect' onto my eye lids, with flat brush. I then used a large fluffy brush to blend 'Snakebite' into my crease and lastly, finished by adding a small amount of Pistol to the outer corner. To complete, I used Bourjois Liner Feutre to naturally line my upper lash line and Benefit They're Real Mascara to add length and definition. 

LIPS
To finish my look I used MAC 'Please Me', a matte, long lasting lipstick that doesn't dry out my lips or melt under the sun. This is one of my favorite lipsticks as it's so versatile and although it's quite girly it isn't toooo pink.

Neeks ☯

The Best Of: Benefit Minis!

Aloha!

In the past couple of months I've somehow accumulated, one way or another, some adorable Benefit minis!. Now I love samples, I mean LOVE! Not just because they're fun-sized versions of already fab products, which obviously makes them instantly cute... but when shopping for cosmetics we're easy swayed by the immaculately presented counter girls, flashing their high-end products in glossy packaging, without having the opportunity to try the products out properly. Now I say 'properly' because sitting in a high chair with tremendous volumes of bright lights, whilst 'Abbey' dusts too much blusher on your cheeks isn't really a legitimate trial. So, out of the samples I've found myself with, I picked my favorite five! 

They're Real! Tinted Primer

Honestly, I probably wouldn't have bought this but after receiving this sample I'm tempted... It has the same brush as the They're Real! Mascara only the liquid isn't as thick. I have the brown one as I'm quite fair, so this is perfect for lazy Sunday's and the no make-up look. It separates and lengthens lashes, giving them a feathery appearance (love!) and when day turns to night, you can use your normal mascara over the top for instant oomph and volume, without clumping! It also prevents your mascara flaking so you can wave goodbye to those annoying little black specs, that annoyingly fall onto your cheeks. 

POREfessional License to Blot

I probably wouldn't purchase the full sized version as it's quite bulky and blotting papers would probably do the job just the same. Although, this sample sized anti-shine stick is handy to leave in your hand bag. If you're subject to oily skin, like myself, you'd know that it's no surprise to see a glint of shine across your T-Zone when you're half way through a hard days work or on the town with your friends. A quick touch up with this instant matifying balm is sure to keep the shine at bay. 

Puff Off!

This is my favorite sample of them all. I tend to use it when my eyes are looking tired, when I'm pampering myself or hungover. This tinted under eye gel instantly cools to de-puff eyes and 'irons out' any fine lines you may have. It's a rarity to find a product that lives up to it's claim of having instant results but in my experience, this one passed with flying colours. You can wear it on it's own, or under make-up. Personally, on my lazy days I pair this anti-puff gel with the They're Real! Tinted primer, for a fresh look.

They're Real! Push-Up Liner 

I was so pleased to receive this sample in my monthly Birchbox because I've always wanted to try this. I wear eye liner most days but after reading mixed reviews I've been hesitant to buying it. The first thing that stood out for me was it's flexible tip, something which I've not seen with other push up liners and it definitely does make application easier. It's a cross between a cream and a gel in consistency, which is perfect for smudging, if you're doing a smokey eye or even a more natural look however, I found it difficult to get a clean, slim line making flicks a little harder to achieve. 

Dream Screen

So there's an invisible, oil free sun screen that doesn't make you feel sticky or have that notorious sun screen smell! Who knew? I mean some people may feel that SPF 45 is a little excessive but personally I disagree... When it comes to looking after your skin, under the harsh rays of the sun, you can still tan even when wearing SPF. It is SO important to protect your skin from dark spots, premature aging and yes, Cancer. This instantly matifying sun screen is really designed for your face however, since most tinted moisturisers/ foundations etc. contain SPF I've been using it on visible areas of my skin such as my neck, shoulders and chest. It absorbs instantly, leaving skin super silky and protected so no excuses! 

Neeks ☯

2015 Fresh Spring Look

Aloha!

It came to my attention that I hadn't blogged in like a week but of course as a lot of you know it was my birthday so I was busy celebrating! I had a few new products I wanted to try and kinda put this together on a whim but after posting on Instagram a lot of you were asking me what products I used, so I thought it would be nice to write a make-up look for you guys. This is my favorite style of make-up to wear at the moment, as we are coming into spring, it's warm and fresh and can be worn to day to day. Not only that it's reallyyyy easy to do!

FACE

Ok so I won't drown you with endless information but after my usual prep routine I'll begin by dabbing Maybelline Instant Pore Eraser across my T-Zone. Unfortunately for me I have oily skin which is tends to come with larger pores. This is a good way of reducing the appearance and it's cheaper than some other brands; I actually wrote a comparison on this one see here. I'll then start stippling Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation, working from the center of my nose outwards (never start on one side of your face) I'm not going to preach too much about this foundation but I think it's good for a high street brand, I mean it has good coverage and lasts all day so although it doesn't magically give me flawless skin, I gotta say, it's a good one. 

I think I've almost come to the conclusion that when it comes to concealers an expensive brand won't necessarily give you the best result (psst, will be doing a post on this). Max-Factor Mastertouch Concealer has good coverage and is particularly good for people with fair skin.I found it easy to blend and it's yellow based so is good for dark circles. Lately I've been loving Bourjois Java Rice Loose Powder (another blogger made me buy it!) This is not a powder you want to buy if you're going for the matte look,  it's easy to end up using too much and end up looking like a disco ball! A light dust is all you need for that radiant look. 

I'm the kinda of person that looks ill if I don't have some form of blusher on so it's in my knowledge that Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher (Cendre de Rose Brune) and Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer are the perfect spring time combo! Trust me, I can't actually stress enough how good these products work together. I always start by applying my bronzer in 'the magic 3' (under cheek bones, temples and jawline) and then lightly dust my blusher over the apples of my cheeks, before finishing with Benefit Watt's Up!. This is a cream highlighter that's easy to use. It blends well and because it's a soft focus highlighter you can use it during the day without it being 'too much'. On the other hand, you could layer to accentuate your cheek bones even further. 

EYES/ BROWS

I pretty much always have the same routine with my brows. I always use Rimmel Professional Eye Brow Pencil (Hazel) as it's the closest shade to my natural colour. I'll then seal my brows with L'Oreal Paris Perfection Brow Artist Plumper (Blonde for a long lasting finish (nothing worse than getting home from work and realising you've rubbed half your eye brow off) I love this because you can wear it on it's own for a more natural look. 

Firstly before I apply any sort of eye shadow I will apply the legendary Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original), this is the one product I know 100% will never let me down! It makes your eye shadow more vibrant and will keep it on for hours with no creasing! I then chose a few shades from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette . With a flat brush I patted Verve onto my lids and then blended Pistol into my crease, with a large fluffy brush. Lastly I used Booty Call to highlight the arch of my brows and inner corner of my eyes. I love this combo, it's almost impossible to get wrong and due tot he light shades and shimmer, your eyes will appear bigger. 

I then lined my upper lash line with Bourjois Intuitive Liner (Ultra black), I was sold by the 'easy application' factor but personally I think this it's the sort of eye liner you need to practice with. Saying that, once you have the knack of it, it's easy to create ultra thin or dramatic lines, plus flicks are a doddle! To finish off I applied Max Factor False Lash Effect 24 Hour Mascara (Black). Now I've been using the original version for 6 years but this one has great staying power! The only down side is it's ridiculously difficult to get off! (I mean not being funny but I didn't take the whole 24 hour thing literally) Saying that it defines each lash and adds length and volume for that 'fluttery' look. 

LIPS

For this look I used Max-Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick (Star Dust Pink). It's a subtle pink nude that adds a young fresh element. It's also infused with shea and aloe butters, which keep lips plump and hydrated. I actually got this for free in a promotion but probably would have ended up buying it otherwise.. it's effortlessly applied and fits any skin tone. 

Neeks x

Benefit POREfessional VS Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

Ding ding ding! It's the undefeated Benefit POREfessional VS the new Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser. I have to say I've gotta take my hat off to Maybelline for taking on the all time primer champion; so I bought it with the mindset that even if it's not that great they deffo get brownie points for trying. Let the battle commence!

First up it's Benefit's POREfessional, the UK's no.1 best selling facial primer. Now there is no doubt that it's a great product and a definite must have in most make-up bags but at £24.50 is there a cheaper alternative? Maybelline's Baby Skin is just £7.99 so if this is in fact just as good (if not better) then it's a no brainer, I have to try it! 

POREfessional is a nude coloured balm with a velvety texture. Personally I have large pores around my T-zone and find that dabbing the POREfessional over these areas helps minimize the appearance of large pores IF I then apply my usual foundation over it.  On the other hand Baby Skin is a clear gel, slightly thicker than POREfessional, but a pea-sized amount is enough to cover my whole face. It also seems to make a huge difference even without applying make-up over the top. It makes my skin a lot softer, supple and even a bit more glowy, as well as minimizing my pores (oooh looks like Maybelline is in the lead).

Now here's the bit I'm umming and arring about. A great feature of the POREfessional is that I can dab it over those problem areas throughout the day without running the risk of smudging my make-up. Now the Baby Skin doesn't work as well when applied over make-up however, when I caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I found that even after a long shift at work I didn't actually need to apply anymore. 

Okay so I think I've made my decision *deep breaths* although you can't deny Benefit's POREfessional is a great product, not trying to be negative, but I really don't think it's worth £24.50. I think I expected it to be this amazing product that was sent down from the heavens and would magically bless me with angel like skin but when it fell on my lap I was a bit dissapointed. Now that I've introduced Maybelline's Baby Skin into my life and know what an affordable £7.99 bottle of wonders can do I don't think I'll be buying the POREfessional again. 

Maybelline's Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser is a light-weight clear gel with a velevty texture. It fills in pores and fine lines and makes your skin look smooth aswell as feel baby soft, it didn't make my skin oily and kept my make-up on all day. Maybelline I have been converted! 

POREfessional VS Baby Skin Pore Eraser! What's your verdict?  

Neeks x 

NYE Make-Up Look & Tips

Aloha!

New years eve is right round the corner so I thought I'd do a nice and easy make-up look for the occasion. First of all please excuse the bad lighting! The sun is still setting early and I didn't have a chance to do it this morning. This post will mainly be focusing on the eye make-up but feel free to ask anything about the rest of the look. You can easily make this look your own  by adding extra eye liner, changing the lipstick or adding a glam pair of falsies!

 First of all remember to prime prime prime! For me NYE is one of the biggest nights of the year so keeping my eye make-up from smudging and creasing is essential. I used Urban Decay's Primer Potion (Original) and the eye shadow is from Urban Decay's Naked Palette 3. I used 'Darkside' on the lid, 'Blackheart' on the outer corners and 'strange' to highlight under the brows, with a dash on the inner corners and center to brighten those eyes. A lick my trusty Maxfactor False Lash Effect Mascara and you're good to go!

Smudge some black eye liner for a deeper, smokier look. I personally recommend Maybelline's 24h Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Liner because it glides on like a dream, easy to smudge and lasts forever (just make sure you have a good eye make-up remover). And on the night I'll probs wack on a good pair of falsies for that extra glam factor. 

I find it's best to keep the skin quite glowy, trying to force the matte effect can result in patchy-ness throughout the night. I always use a high-coverage foundation when going out, with some powder and a light bronzer. Urban Decay's All Nighter setting spray is also good for keeping your foundation from melting in the humidity of the party air. If in doubt pop a compact powder in your clutch bag.

I love this eye shadow combo, I think the colours really compliment each other and would go with pretty much any party outfit or complexion. I used one of my favorite lipsticks L'Oreal Color Riche (240 Plum Passion) with a pinky blusher to balance it out and of course, the famous Benefit High Beam on the cheek bones and under the brows to add that extra bit of zing in photos! It catches the light to give a subtle shimmer but won't make you look like an extra disco ball!

Hope you like this look and have a very happy new year! 

What look are you going for NYE?

Neeks x

Redheads & Royalty

Aloha!

It's that time of the year again where I'm impatiently waiting for the arrival of Christmas festivities but I've promised myself I won't talk or blog about it until December! However, I have been throwing myself into my uni project 'Redheads & Royalty'.

Without beating around the bush we had to create 2 contemporary Elizabethan images. The first image needed to be a design that I created for myself and another student applied it on me. The second design will be designed by someone else for me to create on them. So this is my design, enjoy! 

The Elizabethan elements are my red hair and fair skin, with pink blush Sleek 3 Blush Palette- Pumpkin (squash). I also embraced my fair brows and put a contemporary spin on Elizabethan red lipstick by adding plum shades from Kate Moss Lasting Finish(004) and L-Oreal Color Riche (240). The large hair rolls were inspired by the shapes of Elizabethan wigs and the crimped bottom layers were my interpretation of an old technique known as 'frizzing'. The modernised eye make-up was applied with 'sidecar' and 'toasted' from the Urban Decay Naked Palette 1 Other key products include Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation (shell) Benefit Highbeam Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner (black) and MaxFactor False Lash Effect Mascara (black).

 So there you have it! My contemporary version of Queen Elizabeth 1st. I really hope you like this post and find it useful, I will be uploading my next image next week when I've completed it.

What are your favorite elements of Elizabethan hair & make-up? Let me know!  

Neeks x