A few favourites!

Hello guys! :) 

I've seriously missed blogging, I really don't know where I've been with it all to be honest. Well firstly, I went to back to work after 10 lovely days off *groans* but nevertheless, I AM BACK. With my swish new laptop might I add! I've only had it a couple of days but it is honestly the best item I have bought! I saved and saved for the new Macbook pro, and it is finally mine! I absolutely loveeeee it. 

I have an odd blog post today, its sort of a favourites...but a mini version? I'm sure there will still be a April favourites at the end of this month! But lately, i've been trying not to divulge into new products I'm seeing and rekindle an old love with products I already have. One of these is the Urban Decay 'Naked On The Run' palette. When I bought this it was almost an impulse 'I need an urban decay palette and this will be the one' Which I kind of regret doing because I'm now lusting after the Naked Original palette but heeeey. I kept putting this palette to the back of my collection, and the reason for that was because I was buying more and more products which were so similar to the products already in this palette...So my initial thinking was "well why would I use that...when I have this?" bad habits, bad habits. ANYWAY - I've told myself I must get some use out of it and I'm loving it already! I think its so easy when you're a make up hoarder *cough, like me* to forget about good products and push items to the back of your drawer, because they're simply replaced with the newest product on the market. 

So starting with eyes, as previously stated I rekindled my love for my gorgeous palette. 

Now if you had asked me about 2 or less years ago, ever fancy wearing some eyeshadow? I would have looked at you in disgust and just shunned you. Joking, bit dramatic. But seriously, eyeshadow was never something I desired or ever wanted to wear...at all. It all sort of began when I began watching youtube videos and actually saw how nice it looked and how beautiful you can really make it. Now, I absolutely love them and I simply want them all. I'm a neutral, bronzey eyeshadow kinda gal... and this palette simply has them all. Its an eyeshadow lovers dream basically. You have colours perfect for the lid and perfect for the crease to create an amazing smokey eye. Seeing as it was quite expensive for me anyway, I have a feeling some people will be thinking..."its not that expensive to be honest" but oh well, to me its something I actually want to get use out of and make it worth the money I spent.  The colours are so well pigmented and buttery they blend like a dream. However, it does come with many other products too which just makes me think WHY ARE YOU NOT USING THIS PALETTE? I am using the Urban Decay 'Perversion' mascara that it comes with though, which I love with all my heart. Hands down one of the best mascaras I have ever used, when It runs out I sure as hell am going to purchase the full size. I also use quite frequently the '24/7 glide on eyepencil' that it comes with, its insanely pigmented and stays on all day. Now... The lipgloss that comes within this set...I don't know what it is, I just cannot get on well with them. I think its purely because any that i've ever had have always been sticky and uncomfortable to wear. I have never actually worn this on my lips when I've gone out, I've always put it on...then taken it off immediately... I quite like the colour...just not lip glosses. Finally, this palette also includes a bronzer, blush and a highlight. I'm trying to leave my Benefit Hoola Bronzer in my make up bag, but it just stares at me begging to be used. But i'm getting there. 

Carrying on with the 'would you ever wear...' theme... Eyeliner. Liquid..liner? Are you kidding? I would have laughed, now i've sat in my room infront of a mirror so many times I couldn't count, trying to do liquid liner. And it just wouldn't of worked for me. And I truly believe it now when people say 'it takes practice' my god it takes practice. Unless your a wizard and are just born with the skill. But I picked up a much talked about Liner the 'LOreal Super liner' I love this so much, I just love it. Its so easy to apply and stays on all day. Theres nothing else that I can say apart from its crazy affordable too. 

I've also been on the hunt for a new powder, I've seen this product reviewed a few places in the blogging world, but I thought I would give it a go. Its the 'Maybelline Matte Maker' in the shade 'natural beige' I love this powder, I think its my new favourite. Infact it is my new favourite. There isn't enough good things I could say about this, it pro-longs my foundation on my face but also does what it says on the tin...a mattifying powder, it doesn't fail on giving me the look I want! 

Being a bad make up lover, I got a tad lazy with highlight. I've recently put it back into my weekend make up routine and I'd forgotten how much I'd loved it! I'm back in-love with my Make Up revolution 'Baked Highlighter' in the shade 'Peach Lights'. 

And  finally, I've been on the hunt for a new body scrub and I've found a holy grail. Its the Soap and Glory 'Pulp Friction' Firstly, this smells incredible. There are no words. But it leaves your skin so smooth and flakey-skin free. I also use this on my face sometimes, which I know isn't the desired use. But wow this product is incredible! 

Have you got any early April favourites? I'd love to know :) 

Love, Lauren xx

Whats in my make up bag ♥

Hello, hope you're all well :)
I haven't posted since the 3rd of February! I'm super annoyed about that, but by being in a full time job, doing coursework and applying to Universities it is hard to find spare time to breathe! By making this blog I wanted to write about my passions for make up and just general things I experience. I decided that 2015 would be a year of challenges and opportunities so I'm going to try really hard to fit in blog posts. I even bought a notebook to write all my blog ideas...I'm so useless!
ANYWAY- back to whats in my make up bag :)

Okay, so I've wanted a  Victoria Secret makeup bag for ages now, I finally purchased one when I ventured to London with my best friend in December *insert cute photo below*

So i'll start with concealer - After reading loads of reviews about this concealer I purchased this around December 2014 I think and I love it! Its the Rimmel London 'Wake me up' Concealer

This concealer provides a lot of coverage for under the eyes and is great for making your eyes look much brighter and awake. I have the shade Ivory which is lighter than my foundation to give that highlighted look, Its also super affordable?

Following on from concealer, next up is foundation! Now if anyone knows me at all, they know I'm obsessed with MAC foundations. I origianlly began the obsession with the MAC prolong-wear foundation, but then was persuaded by MAC studio fix by their lovely make up artists doing my make up for prom :) Now, MAC make up isn't the cheapest thing around but it sure is worth the money. Depending on your skin type depends on which one will probably suit you better, the studio fix provides medium to full coverage and is super easy to blend. A foundation I will always reach for above all others :) 

Next up is bronzer... For a while, I had no idea what bronzer even was or even how to apply it. But after talking with friends and watching hundreds and hundreds of make up tutorials on YouTube it is a staple in my make up bag. I never do my make up without it! What must I have looked like before...probably a ghost. The Benefit Hoola bronzer is my go to bronzer each day, I think it could suit any skin tone and is so easy to blend onto the skin. 

I recently purchased a set of Zoeva make up brushes which I have heard so so many great things about! And let me just say, they do not disappoint. I bought the Rose Golden Luxury Set - I have never come across such beautiful brushes in my life! Plus, they're rose gold, so how can you not love them? The brushes are so soft and apply the make up so so well! It makes the price so reasonable, I would recommend them to anyone! I don't take the whole set of brushes with me in my make up bag, but majority of them are taken..just minus about two? haha. Also included in my brushes for my make up bag are Mac 217 and Mac 266 Brushes, I use the Mac 217 for blending eye shadow in my crease and the Mac 266 for filling in my eyebrows.

The Make Up Revolution Flawless Ultra 32 Shade Palette - This palette is incredible, it has 32 amazing shades which you can create any look with! Its also £8 which is an amazing price, for so many shadows which are really pigmented and easy to blend. I use this palette to create most of my eye looks as it has so many to choose from all in one palette :)

Make Up Revolution Eyebrow Focus & Fix Kit - This little eyebrow kit is wonderful for someone just starting filling in their eyebrows (which was me only about a month ago haha) I've watched so many tutorials on how to fill in eyebrows, but the thought of doing my own absolutely terrified me. But I finally went for it and bought this palette, it was super cheap but so good? It contains 3 brow powders which are perfect for whatever your brow colour, and it comes with a wax which you can set your eyebrows in place. Plus, its only 2.50? and I use the Mac 266 brush to fill in my eyebrows with this palette. It also comes with a mini set of tweezers and a mini applicator for the wax. (I've lost the tweezers hence why they aren't in the photo haha)

Now onto Lashes! I recently bought the Urban Decay "On The Run" Palette, and included in it was the Urban Decay 'Perversion' Mascara - I got a mini version of the mascara within the palette but before even getting the mascara I'd already heard loads of good things about it.  The mascara really lengthens  my lashes and separates them, it adds so much volume and makes my lashes look great! Would recommend it to anyone looking for a new mascara!

Next onto Powders - For a long time I used MAC Mineralize Skin finish to set my foundation, but then I purchased Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed powder. I love both these powders, they provide a lot of coverage and create a lovely matte look :) So sometimes i'll use the Rimmel powder, and then other days i'll use the MAC powder, so I like to keep both in my bag just incase! :) 

I don't always wear this within my normal make up routine, I only usually do it for a special occasion or if I have loads of time to just doss about and do my make up haha :) It is the Urban Decay Super-Saturated Ultra Intese Cream Eyeliner (possibly the longest name for a product I have ever come across haha!) Before I bought this product, I tried using liquid eyeliners and I just could not hack them. No matter how many times I practiced, me and liquid eyeliners just aren't friends. So I tried this cream eyeliner, and I found it was so so much easier to apply with a brush! I would definitely reccomend it to anyone who struggles with liquid eyeliner. I apply this product with either The Real Techniques Sillicone Liner brush or the Zoeva Wing Liner brush.

Carrying on with eyeliner, for Christmas I was bought the Body Shop Carbon Eye definer - I love using this product as eyeliner, its so easy to apply and creates a much softer look than liquid or gel eyeliner and also a lot less messy haha :) I also recommend this product to anyone struggling with eyeliner as an alternative, or to change your usual eye look for something different.

I hope you enjoyed this post and maybe found some new products to buy for your make up bag

Urban Decay "On The Run" Palette

So for a while now I've had my eyes on this palette. My first ever one from the Urban Decay 'Naked' collection, so for me this was super important to then consider the other palettes. I've already purchased a Urban Decay gel eyeliner as my first ever product from this brand, and let me just say it did not disappoint (going way off subject there!) Anyway, back to this palette! The palette comes in the most gorgeous packaging which I for one don't want to throw away (infact I haven't...its still in my draw happily) The palette has a beautiful big mirror which is PERFECT for travelling, its got all you need in one palette?! It includes...

1. A mini "Perversion Mascara" - I've always wanted to try this product as I've heard amazing reviews, having this come within this palette is amazing! It allowed me to try the product in a mini version - and totally persuade me to buy the full size version! Its one of my new favourite mascara's, it has quite a large applicator which is good for creating full fat lashes. However, it also separates my eyelashes like nothing before!! It creates fuller fatter lashes, but also separates them at the same time! Its now one of my all time must haves! 
2. Full size Naked lip gloss in the shade "Sesso" - Okay, I've never been one for lipgloss purely for my long hair which just doesn't mix well with typical windy British weather. But this colour is beautiful, it's a rosy pink which enhances your natural lip colour. I'm not sure if i'll use this product as much as the others in this palette, but I sure will give it a try! 
3. A mini "24/7 glide on eye pencil" in the colour "Stag" - I have discovered a holy grail in this palette! I cannot express how much I LOVE this eye pencil!! It is so easy to apply and the staying power is incredible! Its a super pigmented eye pencil which gives the most amazing dark look, perfect with a smokey eye! I wouldn't be able to recommend this product enough to anyone! You don't have to keep reapplying over the same line if you were creating a 'wing liner' look, one glide and your totally set! love love love.
4. 6 brand new eyeshadows in the shades "Dive, Fix, Resist, Dare and Stun" - Included in this palette are six new shadows which are perfect for a natural or smoky look! The 6th shade is an allover shade but can also be used on the cheeks as a highlight (a double duo!) The shadows are extremely pigmented and are super easy to apply! So many choices and so many looks can be created! 
5. Blusher and Bronzer - Finally, this palette includes a beautiful pink blusher which is perfect for every skin tone. The colour is simply gorgeous and looks beautiful on the skin. It applies so well onto the skin and just gives such a fresh glow to the cheeks. And for the bronzer, it is a very matte bronzer which is good for contouring the cheekbones. It goes extremely well with the blusher for an allover bronzed look.  

x - x - x