KIKO Haul & Review

Hello Hello, I haven't blogged in a while and I have really missed it. So I'm gonna waste no time rambling on about that and get straight back to it. So I have yet to do a beauty haul and I am very excited to share the products that I recently bought from KIKO in Madrid (ohmygosh I love this city)

Just under a month ago I enjoyed a little city break in Madrid with my boyfriend George, we had the most amazing time eating endless amounts of paella and sipping on sangria...(more on that in a later blog post!) but for now I just want to get all excited about the make-up that I bought from KIKO, and share with you my first impressions.

As soon as I entered the store I was handed a KIKO shopping basket which got full pretty quickly, I couldn't believe how affordable everything was, (seeing as I'd never visited this store before.) I first picked up three lipsticks, George chose my favourite one in the Velvet Mat Satin Lipstick range called Dark Berry and the packaging is rose-gold and is be-a-u-tiful, perfect for winter and only cost £6.90! The other two lipsticks were from the Smart Lipstick range in the shades Natural Beige and Classic Rose. I felt that these were perfect for everyday and weren't as pigmented as the Velvet Mat lipsticks. They are ultra silky and super nourishing and only cost £3.90. So the obvious thing to do now was to chose a lip liner to go with them. Even though this brand is so afforadable, I find I'm always a little hesitant when choosing liners as I really rate the Laura Mercier lipliners as they are so smooth and genuinely prevent my lipsticks from bleeding- so I thought will anything be as good? BUT I'd have to say that the KIKO ones are a brilliant dupe in terms of texture and finish. I chose the shade Natural Pink  from the Precision range costing £4.20 and is that perfect shade of pink that you could wear with soft browns and pale nudes.

I then picked up the Luxurious Lashes Extra Volume Brush Mascara, which was on offer in Madrid so I thought I may as well give it a go. I love the size of the brush and I find that it separates my lashes well, but I for me I found that I had to build it up a lot to achieve thick lashes. So maybe this would be one to use on my bottom lashes or over the top of another mascara.

I then wondered over to the skincare section and added two face masks to my basket. My mum had previously bought me the Energy Mask, which I have nearly finished and I have loved using so I was excited to try any others they had. I chose the Hydrating and the Purifying Masks. I have since tried them both and I can't believe how great they are. The purifying one is my favourite and I've used it both morning and evening, especially if I find that I'm having a bad skin day (happens regularly.) It leaves my skin feeling smooth and helps to get rid of any blemishes. So I definitely recommend this one if you have problem skin.

One of my favourite things I picked was the Coconut Kiss Lip Balm. I'm not really a massive lip balm lover, but one of the girls showed me this one and it smelt amazing and I just had to have it. Plus the packaging is lovely too, so I find it so enjoyable to use. (ah the little things in life.)

Lastly, I was really drawn to the shade Light Hazelnut in the Power Pro Nail Lacquer range and kept walking around the store and coming back to this same nail polish. I mean it's only a nail polish, I seemed to have been deliberating over it as if it were a designer bag.... Anyway, I have worn this shade a lot since I have been back and just love it! I like polishes that have a wide brush, just makes it all that bit quicker and easier to paint my nails.

I'd love to know if you have tried any of these products and what you thought? I'd happily place an online order to try any recommendations!

Thanks for reading and I would love for you to subscribe if you like what you see! :)

Love Emily

xx

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Empties

So I've been hoarding the empty packaging and its all started to pile up so I'm eager to crack on with this 'empties' blog post so I can throw them out!

Firstly:

Fudge Uban Iced Raspberry and Vanilla Hairspray This is about the 3rd can of this hairspray that I have purchased. Although it is costly for hairspray (around £5.50) I can't describe how nice it smells! It is amazing and I certainly miss the smell when I've ran out and have to resort to using my Tresemme. Nevertheless, they have a fab range and I would consider trying more products in their range. Which brings me on to my second 'empty'....

Fudge Urban Crisp Pear and Sweet Vanilla Dry Shampoo After trying the hairspray I treated myself to the dry shampoo-which smells equally as good. The bottle lasts a long time, I don't use dry shampoo every day but it definitely refreshers my hair and leaves it feeling clean and easier to style. If you're obsessed with nice smelling haircare then I really recommend you trying these. 

Got 2 Be Tame and Shine Styling Oil  Now I have naturally curly hair, so whenever I add heat to my hair, whether it's straightening, curling or blowdrying my hair will always be left with frizzy bits (despite the endless amounts of heat protecting sprays etc) So after I've styled my hair I always use one pump of this serum just to tame any flyways and to calm the frizz especially near my parting. It's very affordable and one pump goes a long way. I always see really pricey serums and wonder if they're any better... so please let me know in the comments if you recommend any?

Laura Mercier Almond and Coconut Souffle Cream This stuff is the best! I have blogged about this before and I will definitely continue to blog about this product in the future. This is in fact the medium size from a gift set which I have just emptied, I didn't want to open my full size one and watch it all disappear too fast. (I need to get a life) But sadly this one is now all gone so I'm onto my large one. They cost £45 but I don't think you can get a greater smell and texture than Laura Mercier's body souffle collection. 

Bobbi Brown BB Cream  I have used this BB cream as my base literally all summer. I don't remember the last time I wore a foundation. I prefer the texture and finish off this to anything else right now. I guess come the winter months I will go back to my foundations, but this is just enough coverage for the summer and blends really nicely. I sometimes add a little bit of Laura Mercier's Smooth Finish Foundation Powder on top as I do get dreadfully shiny, especially at work. But for now this is my go to in the mornings and if you want something fairly lightweight with great cover then give this a go!

Let me know what you've been loving in October so far and what you would buy again in the comments below.


Love Emily x

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Have a look at my favourite's post: http://downemilylane.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/july-beauty-favourites.html

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My Desk Space

I am so SO excited that we have a brand spanking new iMac. I. Am. In. Love. I now have a desk space, and I am loving it and I wanted to share it with you. I love decorating my home and putting my own stamp on it, so having the iMac meant a new desk, a new lamp..... new desk stuff? ;) Well basically an excuse to go home shopping!

I feel like a workspace is very personal and everyones is different. For me, I don't like clutter (don't look under my bed) but I feel my workspace needs to be kept clear for me to have an incentive to work.

This is hopefully the space where I can write some great blog posts and hopefully my blog will continue to grow. Here I have my favourite Jo Malone candle and just a big chunky vase of flowers. Simple and clean, leaving me with enough space to have my notebook open for me to scribble down any ideas that I have for future posts!

Let me know in the comments of what you would like to see here on my blog.

Thanks for reading


Love Emily x

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In Flight Essentials

Tomorrow I'm off to Majorca for 3 days with my beautiful mum and sister! *so excited* We've never been away just the three of us before so I'm looking forward to some family time in the sun! I thought I'd just do a little blog post on my in flight essentials when travelling, as every time I fly I always think of something else that I would need/ be useful.

So first up is Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream. This miracle cream is brilliant to use on my lips as I find they can get very dry when flying, so this is a must.

Sticking with the skincare, I've opted for one of my all time favourite skincare products by Liz Earle, it's there travel size Instant Boost Tonic Spritzer, which is the perfect size for my bag, as we all know that liquids have to be below 100ml. So yay for mini's!

Although I really do not like to take my make-up off with face wipes (Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish all the way!) but face wipes are a quick and convenient way just to freshen up on the plane.

Pain killers are a MUST. When me and George travelled to Tunisia we both  had killer headaches and our heads felt like they were gonna pop ( a bit over the top) but still, deffo recommend some pain killers.

I find that the clear makeup bags are the best when travelling- you can see everything, which makes it easier to find things, plus when going through security/customs you can just lift out the clear bag with all your liquids in. Bobs your uncle.

Technology- I add some films onto my Ipad Mini and take that with me, especially if the flight is longer than 2 hours- gotta kill some time- so may as well watch a film! Also my phone, to listen to my holiday playlist!

I definitely recommend a book when travelling, I enjoy reading on planes and I know I mentioned this book in my Egypt blog post, but I literally have about 4 chapters left and I SOOOO need to finish reading this book. So that can be done on the flight. Brill.

Lastly is a big soft sleeveless cardy, I'v worn this one a few times when travelling, and it's ideal. I can wrap it around me if I'm chilly, use it as a pillow, and when I land if the weathers nice- it's sleeveless so I won't be melting!

I hope that you found this useful if you are planning to catch the last of the summer sun. Be sure to leave a comment of anything that you'd recommend for me.


Love Emily x

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September Wishlist

So here's to my first wishlist and they are so fun to make! I have seen so many things that have constantly been catching my eye lately and I make a mental note to add them to my wishlist!

1) Brown Soft Tote With Fringing £35 (although it definitely looks grey!) I love the size and shape of this bag, plus I am loving fringing bags at the moment. This seems like the perfect bag for a flight and for coming into autumn/winter.

2) Khaki Cleated Sole Sling Back Sandals £35 I need these shoes. They look so dainty and cute, and I think they will look great with a dress or with jeans as well. Plus they come in black too if you'd prefer.

3) Joules Yellow Rain Coat £79.95 I want need this jacket so much! I'm sure I used to have one like this when I was little- but nevertheless I will still wear this now. Its cool and practical and I'm sure I will get a lot of wear out of this as it is always raining over here. Love it.

4) Chanel Chance Eau Vive £79  I first smelt this fragrance when I was wondering through duty free when I was going to Egypt. I sprayed it on my neck and wrists and I could smell it throughout my whole 5 hour flight and on my clothes when I arrived. It smells so fresh and I think its one that could be worn in the day and in the night also. So every time I spray this now it reminds me of my travels, which I quite like! :)

5) Thomas Sabo Rosegold  Watch £225  So I have had my eye on this watch since two summer's ago, and I still love it! My sister lead me into the Thomas Sabo store in Bristol and showed it me, and I just fell in love. You know I love rose gold, so that's already top marks in my eyes, but it's the perfect face size on my wrist. It's stylish and dainty and I am determined to make it mine!

6)  Black Denim Dungarees Topshop £48 These look so comfy and will look great with trainers or sandals in the summer time. I think denim items are so versatile and you can get a lot of wear out of them. I am seeing these a lot in stores at the moment and I think come autumn time they will need to find a way into my wardrobe.

7) Zoeva 104 Buffer Brush $14.80 I love the look of Zoeva brushes, and although I have never owned any of my own, I long for the day that I do! (cringe but true) I love the size and shape of this brush and it looks like it will be a good one for foundation too!

8) Samsung Mini Compact System Mint Green Camera £199  Now I am not an expert when it comes to cameras- so this could be rubbish for all  I know- but I love the colour! Is that a big enough reason to have this on my wishlist? Meh. This would be so handy for taking photos for my blog and when I'm out and about on my little city breaks.


I hope that you liked this post, let me know what you'll add to your wishlist.

Love Emily x

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What I've Bought For The Home Lately

Hello! I thought I'd share a few little homey items that I've recently bought for my flat with you all. Now I love clothes shopping don't get me wrong, but since moving into my first flat with my boyfriend in March, I have noticed that I've been choosing to go to homeware stores instead of clothing! I absolutely love buying new little bits for the flat, and I feel that it's these things that can really make your house a home. ( Ugh a cliché that I really didn't want to use) But anyway, I thought I'd share with you what I've bought recently and give you a little insight into my home style and taste and hopefully you'll feel inspired...

I wouldn't know what to describe my taste as really, I like a combination of styles including shabby-shic, country, cottage and coastal with a few modern items thrown in there too. So basically I guess my style is eclectic! 

The glass bell-shaped jar with the rope handle is from Dunelm costing £3.99, which at first I didn't know what to put in it, but I knew I just had to have it and I would soon find a use for it. I love Dunelm it literally sells everything imaginable for the home, from décor to furniture to kitchen appliances. The cream mirror and the giant lantern are from HomeSense. The mirror cost around £30 and the lantern was £15 which I have in my living room. I love the detail and the shape of the mirror and feel that it just makes a feature of your wall. I wish that I lived closer to a HomeSense I think I'd be in there all the time. My giant lantern is probably my favourite 'homey' item I have in the house and I love a good candle- you can never have too many! It sits by my nest of shabby tables and I like the contrast of styles I have in my flat. The beautiful shabby-esc clock is from a gorgeous little shop in Weymouth called Bibi's Boutique, I picked it up for £8! What an absolute bargain. I love finding one off pieces in little boutique stores like this one. I find it so exciting discovering little shops like this one and seeing what they have to offer me. 

The shabby coasters were a gift from my dad from a little boutique store in Dartmouth, which I just love! Coasters may seem like a boring thing to share with you, but they just look so pretty in my flat and I love this kind of style. The floral jug is from TkMaxx costing £2.99, jugs are a great and alternative way for holding flowers or utensils and they're far more exciting than a vase. The letter 'E' is from an independent store in Weymouth, although I am sure I have seen this print before somewhere else, but you can pick up alphabet letters from a range of different home stores and online too! I bought a 'G' too and think that they are such a simple way of decorating your home, I have put mine on my living room windowsill along with some candles and photo frames. The orange and white 'art deco' candle was bought as a two-pack from Ikea which cost around £3 and they smell like fresh oranges- even better!

So I hope that you enjoyed reading about my homey items and it has helped those of you who are looking of ways to make your house more homey. Check out HomeSense, Dunelm, TkMaxx and Ikea, they all have some really affordable pieces and a range of different styles. 

Please leave a comment of your favourite home stores, I would love to be inspired and take a trip!

Thanks for reading, 

Love Emily x

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July Beauty Favourites

I can't believe it's August already! I feel like I've blinked and missed July! Well even though it's a bit late I still wanted to share with you my first ever monthly favourites- and these are products that I'm positive will crop up in future favourite posts because I LOVE them!

So let's start with my favourite skincare item at the moment which is Liz Earle's Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer. I am just so in love with this product, this is probably around my 3rd or 4th bottle of the stuff and I will continue to purchase this. So it's basically a toner in a spray form which I find so much more enjoyable and refreshing to use than an ordinary toner. I took this on holiday with me to Egypt and kept it in the fridge! I use this product when I wake up to literally wake me up in the morning, and again in the evening after I've cleansed to leave my skin feeling hydrated and refreshed before I apply my moisturiser. 10/10 from me and it doesn't break the bank either - £14.75.

Moving on to some Laura Mercier favourites and there are three that I am currently loving. They have recently launched a 'Tarte Au Citron' range in addition to the other bath and body scents they do. Although I am not keen on the Tarte Au Citron body cream I do happen to really like the body wash in that particular scent. Its so zesty and a little goes a long way with this product which is good as it has a costly price tag for a body wash- £31. BUT it smells sooooo good and doesn't leave any residue on the skin. 

Laura Mercier's Almond and Coconut range have over taken their Ambre Vanille range for me. I am just loving their body butter at the moment. I have it in the Souffle Creme as well, but I've found with the body butter it absorbs into my skin a lot quicker and you don't have to use as much. This scent literally lingers on my skin all day and then I can smell it again in the morning on my pyjamas which I love. (It's cheaper too- £27)

The gorgeous bronzey glowing illuminator you see in the picture is again one of my favourites from Laura Mercier. This product is called 'Indiscretion' which was also known as 'Spellbound' in a previous Laura Mercier collection if you think that you have seen it before. But this product literally flew off the shelves and I can so see why. This illuminating hybrid product has the most beautiful soft rose gold shimmer and a high pigment which provides buildable long-wearing colour. I use it with the Real Techniques buffing brush and apply it across my cheek bones and down the bridge of my nose. It doesn't look glittery on the skin which I love. This brush is amazing I really rate the Real Techniques brushes, they are very affordable and really do the job well. I love how dense this brush is.

Well seeing as though it's summer it wouldn't be right if I didn't include Chanel's Bronze Universal and their mini kabuki brush in my faves. I love the combination of these two products together, This product gives you a natural sunkissed look and I love a good cream-gel bronzer in the summer, I don't like to overload my skin with loads of powdery products in the summertime as I like to have a dewy finish ;) Oh and this product lasts an absolute lifetime as well, what more could you want?

Lastly is my current perfume fave which is 'Princess' by Vera Wang. I picked this 100ml bottle up for really cheap as there was some discount day or something so I wasn't hoping for a miracle- but I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I do. It's a very soft fruity-floral fragrance with a hint of vanilla and pink guava -YUM. I just find it perfect for everyday as it's not too overpowering. 

So there you have it. My July faves!

What have you been loving in July? Let me know in the comments.

Love Emily x

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Laura Mercier Rose Creme and Rose Oil Review

Okay okay, I know I am a bit late to the party with these two products as they have been out for some time now, but I promised myself that I would do a blog post on these products as I can't speak more highly of them. I have been using both the oil and the creme for over 6 months now, and I have noticed a great difference in the texture and appearance of my skin. The cream feels soft as you apply it to your skin and is easily absorbed into the skin without making it feel greasy.

So first things first let me just tell you a little bit about my skin before I used these wonderful products. My skin was oily and was uneven in texture, and wasn't as soft as I would have liked it to have been. So I started using Laura Mercier Infusion De Rose Nourishing Creme and Oil, and now my skin feels noticeably softer (yay!) and I am definitely less oily now as the Creme balances out the water levels in the skin and leaves it feeling hydrated. The key ingredients are sunflower, safflower, soybean, rose-hip and macadamia-seed oils (which help to moisturize) my skin feels rejuvenated and glowy and I love it!

I love the packaging for both of these products too, especially the rose gold lid (as I'm a tad obsessed with rose gold things) the Creme jar is plastic and easy to open and apply without the faff of a flip-top lid.

Rose Creme- £55, Rose Oil- £42.50

I started by using both the oil and the cream as part of my morning and evening routine, - which did not work for me. However, I stopped using the oil in the morning as I felt my skin did not need it, and it only left it feeling too 'oily' before I was to apply my make-up. So in the morning I would just cleanse my skin and then use the Nourishing Creme which I felt was a much better base when applied on its own. I felt that this left my skin feeling well moisturised and soft to touch. I have genuinely noticed a difference over time with this product too as I've purchased my second jar of the wonderful stuff. 

So onto my night time routine: I would cleanse, tone and then apply one drop of the Laura Mercier Infusion De Rose Nourishing Oil in the palm of my hands and then gently massage it into my face. It is fast-absorbing and it left my skin with a nice healthy glow which I liked. I lastly applied the Nourishing Creme, and although I have never been hugely into the scent of roses,I find that both the oil and cream leave a scent that lingers just faint enough for me to enjoy the smell. Which brings me to another selling point of these products- why not try it on your hair and nails? I may be crazy putting £42.50 face oil into my hair but trust me it is brilliant at taming those flyaways! 

So all in all, wonderful products that I would hugely recommend. They can be used in conjunction with your normal moisturisers or as an 'add on' if you'd rather. If you are not overly dry then put a drop of the oil with the cream and then massage it into your face. I would definitely re-purchase these products when I run out- which I hope isn't too soon as the only down side is they do come with a costly price tag- which to be honest I think is well worth it to have nice soft and glowing skin! 

Let me know what you think of these products and if you have tried them?

Love, Emily x

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Egypt | The Best Holiday Ever

I really need to get back on track with my blogging, I have been slacking these past few months and it is not good! However, what better what for me to get back into it then to do a little blog post about my most recent holiday to Egypt! YAY!

In June myself and my boyfriend George went to Sharm El Sheikh in Egpyt for a week. This was a week filled with sunbathing, chilling in the pool, eating (huge amounts) of delicious foods and snorkelling! We had such a good holiday and it was so much fun to be away for George's Birthday too. The weather was around 42 degrees whilst we were there and it was HOT, I don't remember the last time I felt that kind of heat, but it was lovely and despite always being covered in freckles I'd like to think that I got myself quite a nice little tan whilst I was away. (she hopes)

We stayed at a fab hotel called Sharm Plaza, which wasn't too far from the airport or to any entertainment spots such as Soho Square. The hotel had 6 pools and 6 Al A Carte Restaurants, which was a great way for us to try all different types of food. There was an Italian, Lebonese... you name it. It was great. We had a huge balcony that overlooked a lagoon pool where we chilled by nearly every single day, and quite literally the biggest bed I've ever slept on. We had everything we needed and I was like a child on Christmas Day when entering the room. 

I love a good holiday read. I was reading Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins. Highly recommend, I couldn't put it down.

If you have never heard of or seen how amazing the coral is in Egypt- it is simply beautiful and I really urge you to go snorkelling there if ever you're planing to go to Sharm El Sheikh. On George's birthday we had the pleasure of going on a little boat cruise which lead us around an island to various different snorkelling spots. This is me getting urged to jump in the sea by this crazy Egyptian photographer who was very snap happy. 

Here we are jumping in the sea, It was such an amazing thing to do and my favourite day of the holiday. George took his GoPro with him, so we were able to film everything we saw whilst we were out snorkelling together. They're so perfect to take with you on holiday, as they can hold such amazing and funny memories. George put the footage from our last holiday into a short film which I think is a really great idea as we can watch back our little holiday film and show our family and friends our holiday too.

This was at Soho Square, which is the award-winning entertainment centre of Sharm El Sheikh. It has restaurants, bars, shops and dancing fountains! It's definitely worth a visit. 

Just generally walking around the resort and the area was one of my favourite parts of the holiday, besides great food, sun and a great boyfriend to share it all with, everything looked so beautiful (especially at night!)

It was nice to lie out on the sun beds with a drink after dinner and just look at the beautiful views and listen to the sound of the sea. Everything can look so much more beautiful at night. I would definitely go back to this resort, I really enjoyed my time here and there was so much to do. I am now writing this blog post with post-holiday blues and I really wish that I could be back there. I can't wait for our next summer holiday away together.

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Love Emily x

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Liz Earle Skincare Routine

I have been wanting to do a blogpost about these miracle products for ages now, I love that I have finally found skincare products that work for me and that won't break the bank too. Finding the perfect skincare routine is hard and I have tried so many products over the years, but I finally think I have hit the jackpot with these beauties!

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser: £14.00

I had never used any Liz Earle products before I was recommended the Hot Cloth Cleanser and now I am completely converted. I love this product! I found that my previous cleansing routine wasn't deep enough, I'd still feel like I had make-up left on, and my skin wasn't feeling as smooth and soft as I'd hoped for. Two of my friends had actually recommended this cleanser to me and I finally listened and tried it and LOVED it! You can use this cleanser on your eyes and face if you don't want to use an additional eye make-up remover. So you basically use one pump of the cleanser and massage it into your skin going over your eyes if need be. Then, phase two is the 'polishing'. Polish off the cream using the muslin cloth to gently cleanse away your make-up and any dead skin cells, which will leave your skin feeling soft, radiant and refreshed. This product has really helped with any spots or blemishes that I have had, it is just beautiful I love it!

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic : £14.75

After using the Hot Cloth Cleanser, I then tried their toner, again I was recommended by my beautiful friend Lee-Ann (click here to visit her blog) to try this product. This toner comes in two forms: the tonic or the spritzer. I have the spritzer as it is SO enjoyable to use and just a few sprays leaves your skin feeling instantly refreshed. I also like to use this after I've showered as sometimes my face can feel a little tight. It will definitely be coming along with me on my summer holiday this year.

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator: £15.75

This exfoliator is lovely, it gently buffs away dead skin cells and helps my skin to feel smoother and clearer. It's important to not over exfoliate as this can lead to breakouts so I tend to use this product around once a week. I find that after I've exfoliated that my make-up goes on so much smoother... it's a definite favourite of mine.

Let me know your skincare routine and any other Liz Earle products that you'd recommend. Please subscribe and share! xx

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My Make-up Bag Favourites

So I've become a little obsessed with make-up since working on a make-up counter, and although I do like to change my make-up products up a lot (as everyone loves trying out something new)...There are several items that have been great staples of mine for a few months now, so I thought I'd share them with you!

My make-up bag: This was a Christmas present from my dad, from Will Bees Bespoke, in Salcombe, which sells a range of Liberty products. He had it made to have my initials on it too- soooo lovely! I find it such a perfect size to fit in the make-up that I need for the day, and it also fits my brushes in nicely too.

Foundation: MAC Mineralize Skin Finish (shade nw20) I have found that my skin type varies a lot since working on counter, one moment I am fairly oily, the next I am dry- which is a nightmare. But currently my skin is fairly dry and so I gave this foundation a go and it is beautiful! The finish is quite dewy and gives your skin a really nice natural finish. I would say the coverage is buildable and I like mine best when applied with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

However..... the Benefit Playstick is an old favourite of mine, and I have started to use this again just to touch up with throughout the day. It's so handy to have in your make-up bag and gives an instant fresh and dewy finish to the skin. I would highly recommend if you like the security of carrying a foundation around with you for quick top ups! Thumbs up to Benefit for that one.

Bronzer: Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder (No.1) Ohmygosh ohmygosh this is my favourite bronzer ever! And you can see from the picture as well that it has practically ran out-but I just had to share it. It comes in four different shades, 1 being the lightest one, which I think is amazing as you can get a bronzer that is right for your skin tone and not end up looking really muddy with one that it shades too dark! It gives a kind of  'holiday glow' to the skin without it being full of shimmer. I use this to bronze/contour my cheeks and to add colour to my forehead.

Highlighter/Powder: MAC Perfect Topping. This is a limited edition highlighter which I purchased around a month or two ago and I love it. I literally use it everyday to highlight my cheekbones- or if I'm feeling daring I use it all over my face to set my foundation with. It creates such a nice glow to the skin without it looking really shimmery. Also the colours are flattering to my skin tone, I always think that pink tones look nicer on a fairer skin.

Mascara: Lancome Grandiose. Now I've been one of those people who will only believe that their mascara is the best and nothing can ever beat it.... until I gave in and tried a new mascara. This one has been in my life since November and it is still going strong! I can't believe how long it has lasted me, and it doesn't seem to be drying out. What I love about this mascara is the brush. Although at first I thought it looked a bit weird and thought the bend would annoy me, well actually the bend is designed to work with the shape of your face, which makes it a lot easier to apply mascara corner-to-corner and root-tip. It helps to separate, thicken and lengthen my lashes without the need to apply loads of coats. It really is worth the price and I'm now in my 4th month of using this which is complete madness!

Lipstick: MAC Modesty. This is my go to lipstick and anybody who knows me knows that I probably wear this too much and need to find a new favourite- but I just can't seem to detach myself!  The shade is perfect, it just goes with everything. I love the feel and texture of this lipstick range, it doesn't dry your lips out which is great. But if you want a nudey-pink then this is the shade I assure you ;) I will definitely be re-purchasing this when it runs out soon.

Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder. I have always been one of those people who hates products in loose form- it just seemed like so much hassle! However I have been converted. This powder has great staying powder and doesn't look really chalky on the skin. I apply the powder with a velour puff after I have done my foundation, bronzer/blusher etc, this way you are setting all of your make-up in place. In the past I used to set my foundation first with powder and then apply the rest, but why would you set your make-up and then apply more? Just doesn't make sense. This powder is translucent which is great, as it will not alter the colour of your foundation. It also contains talc which is more suitable for a combination or oily skin type as it will help to keep your makeup on for longer. Brilliant product.

Primer: Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer. Now there are many different primers, and there will be one out there to suit your skin type. There are oil free, hydrating and radiance primers just to name a few. You can also find ones that are water based or silicone based. I much prefer the water based ones, as these do not feel greasy on my skin and it doesn't feel like I've got anything on (which I like) Primers create a nice even base and are designed to help your foundation last longer. What I like about the Laura Mercier one is that it is water based and you can find one suitable to your skin type, so you know that it will work for you.

Eyebrows: Giorgio Amarni Eye and Brow Maestro. I'll finish with eyebrows as I am madly obsessed with eyebrow products and have tried a lot, but nothing comes close to this one! The 4-in-1 eye perfecter is a brow shaper, eye liner, hair root touch up and contour. It is waterproof and gives a 100% natural finish which is amazing, as there's nothing worse than really obviously drawn on eyebrows. I apply mine with an angled brush so I can get a good shape and also fill in the areas that you need to.

Eye and Brow Maestro in shade 04 Ambre

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Emily x

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