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I love blog posts or videos on this sorta thing as I love a good bargain! However, I'm genuinely terrible at making decisions. So ranking each product in order has been hard. I'm pretty happy with it now- quick read on before I change my mind again ha! Let's count down from 10 to 1. 

10) Bourjois BB Bronzing Cream- £9.99
This was the first product to be featured in my Hidden Gem Series- the products that you don't reach for everyday, can often be overshadowed, but when you properly think about them, you realise how good they actually are. That is the perfect way to describe this. I love it because it's multi-use; I use it to cream contour, to darken light foundations and as a BB cream when i'm on my summer holibobs! 

9) Sleek Highlighting Palette- Solstice- £9.99
This also just manages to make it in the under £10 category. With 3 powders and 1 cream, this is a beautiful highlighting palette that'll make you glow. And I mean glow!

8) Revolution Flawless Matte 2 Palette- £8
The newest addition to my collection in this list and I know I've spoken about this a fair few times on the blog already, but at £8 for 32 good quality shadows, it just had to be included. The eyeshadows are pigmented, blend easily and the palette has a huge mirror. You can find my full review >>here<<

7) Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Duo
Before the Huda Beauty palette came into my life, this bronze eyeshadow was my lil love. I wrote a post (The Bronze Eyeshadow Showdown) back in 2015 about my fave bronze eyeshadows, where I featured this. I classed it as my ultimate fave due to being pigmented, easy to blend and not creasing. It's not as high up in my list as it would be, since I don't wear it so much anymore. But for my first uni years, I would regularly just wear this for a night out- a sweep of colour and lashings of mascara- and be good to go. This is making me want to wear it again! (It does seem to be that old that I can't find a link to it anywhere, soz!) 

6) Sleek Face Contour Kit - £6.99
I've had this palette in my collection for several years now, hence the battered packaging- I should probably get a new one! But this is a really good contour / bronzer which is not too brown, red or orange. The highlighter is beautiful too and is so pigmented you only need to dip your brush in.  

5) Rimmel London Kate Nude Lipsticks- £5.50
I love several of the Kate Moss lipsticks. 107 used to be my absolute fave of all time, i've stopped wearing it so much now (i still love the shade) and have instead been reaching for 42 from the nude collection. It is perfect for a night out since it's so easy to wear and goes with just about any makeup look.


1) Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer- £4.19
This just had to be number one. The only concealer I know will cover everything and the only concealer I must have in my makeup collection at all times. Is there anything more that needs to be said?

We're quickly heading towards summer where bases get a little lighter, lipsticks get a little brighter and I go a little heavy on the bronzer! I've picked out a few makeup items that'll serve you well through this transition period from spring to summer. Talking of summer- let's have a good one please?


It all starts with the base and generally something lighter, with less coverage is my go-to. But first of all this gal needs primer, makeup seems to just disappear from my face so anything that claims to help it last longer, i'm down for. The PUR Correcting Primer Illuminate & Glow does what it says on the bottle- gives the face a natural radiance but also gives a little bit of colour. So if you've got great skin that doesn't need much coverage or your heading to the beach and just want a lil something something' on your face, this could be your guy. 

When my skin is behaving better in the summer months I love the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation. It's definitely a light coverage but it just makes your skin look like skin, which I looove. I also like mixing my foundations so if i'm ever having a bad skin day (i.e quite a lot), I mix it with one of my heavier duty foundations. Overall this is a lovely light foundation perfect for the Summer months (and has a nice smell!).


Spring/summer is when I bring out the cream products. You just can't go wrong with a cream blush when you want your cheeks giving off that rosy, flushed vibe. The Stila Convertible Cream Colours are so pigmented you need the tiniest amount. It's easy to apply, blends in smoothly and doesn't rub your foundation off underneath. It also doubles up as a quick and easy lip tint. I love the shade peach blossom for a peachy glow to the cheeks.

What spring/summer makeup is complete without the signature coral/orange lipstick. Here's three to pick from depending on how bright and daring you wanna go. For the brightest of brightest shades you can't go wrong with Topshop's Lipstick in Infrared. This looks amazing in the summer with a tan, glowy skin and just mascara on the eyes. If you don't wanna rock the full on orange lip, the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in No.12 is a good pick. It still has that orange vibe, but has a much more red undertone, making it less 'out there'. Finally, for a sheerer, glossier and much more coral lip look, the Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick in No.03 is the one for you. 

What are your spring to summer makeup picks?

Where do I start? I haven't written a blog post in such a long time. *Edit- I wrote this a few months ago then forgot to post, doh!* I've been so busy with life and working that this little space went to the back of my brain and just wasn't a priority. I want to get back into the swing of things though and that starts now! So i'm going to ease myself back into it with an updated everyday makeup routine. This is the makeup I've generally been wearing everyday for work, so it needs to be quick and easy! I don't have the time (or effort) to be spending ages on my makeup at 7 in the morning!

Natural, healthy looking makeup has been my go-to recently, partly due to duller looking skin from the colder weather and therefore shown below are the products i've been using to help achieve this, including a couple of creams! Its pretty quick and so is perfect for mornings before school/ college/ work.

Base:
Nars Sheer Glow- Mont Blanc
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer- Fair 1
Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Face:
Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder
Stilla Convertible Colour- Peach Blossom
Benefit High Beam

Eyes and Brows:
Soap & Glory Archery 2 in 1 Brow Filling Pencil & Brush- Blondeshell
Urban Decay Naked Palette- Virgin swept all over the lid
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

Lips:
Nars Audacious Lipstick- Anita (patted in to give a softer colour)

I received a 30% off beauty email from ASOS in my lecture and i knew exactly what i would be doing when i got back. I had to constrain myself from spending all of my student loan but you've got to make the most of a sale, right?!

Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip and Cheek Cream- Peach Blossom
I've wanted to try this for ages after hearing very good reviews but I've never got around to actually buying it. First of all i love the packaging, its small, cute and pretty. I think the shade works for all year round but will be especially good in Spring and Summer. On first glance it also seems to be really pigmented and blends like a dream, why didn't i get my hands on one sooner?!

Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder
I only ever really use the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder and i've been wanting to try something different for a while. I love the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundations and so i thought this would be good to try, especially as it apparently still leaves a glow to the skin which i'm liking at the minute.

Bourjois Gold Bronzing Powder
I actually bought the wrong bronzer here and i'm gutted! I meant to buy the matte version so i could contour with it as well but bought the shimmery one by mistake and i'm not the biggest fan of shimmery bronzers. It still smells amazing and blends really nicely and i'll probably make good use of it in the summer but for now its going to the back of my makeup collection. 

Rimmel Kate Moss Nude Collection Lipstick- 43
I love nude lips and i love the Kate Moss Rimmel lipsticks and so what is not to love about this? I did actually buy a shade darker than i wanted but i still love it and i'm definitely going to get good wear out of it. I'd say it is a brown peachy shade which would definitely suit a lot of skin tones. Rimmel and Kate Moss just seem to smash it when it comes to lipsticks and they are such a good price, definitely one of my favourites!

As much as i wish i could, i cant go out with zero makeup on; my brows just need some attention! and besides, doing my makeup is something i really enjoy. However there are days when i can't be bothered to slap on a load of makeup, especially in the summer. Recently, my skin has been behaving quite well and with inspiration from Lisa Eldridge, i've stripped back my makeup and i love the results!




 Much to my surprise i've been loving the look of my skin with no foundation, opting first for primer (Rimmel Lasting Finish Primer) to slightly even my skin tone and help everything last and then concealer (Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer- Fair 1) on any blemishes, redness and under my eyes. I also like to add another concealer (Rimmel Wake Me Up Anti- Fatigue Effect + Radiant Glow Concealer) under my eyes to add extra coverage to my awfully blue under eyes and brighten things up there, especially due to skipping foundation. I recently bought the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and i've been liking blending in my concealer with this. Got to powder to set this in place (Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder - 001 Transparent) and that is base done in under two minutes!

I know I'm a broken record but Rimmel is my favourite drugstore/ high street brand. I think they keep on bringing it with really good products at such good prices. As i seem to mention Rimmel in almost every post recently, i thought it was only right to show my Rimmel collection. I don't own loads from Rimmel, but what i do own i use all the time and love!
                     

• Lasting Finish 25 Hour foundation- This is my least favourite product from my Rimmel collection and my least favourite of the 3 foundations i own from them. I found it didn't last particularly well despite the name and that was the reason i bought it in the first place. It gave alright coverage but it clung to any dry patches i had. Saying that, i have nearly finished the bottle and i do have friends that have liked it. Price= £7.99.
• Wake Me Up Foundation- This one needs no introduction. Everyone seems to have tried this and this is my second bottle of this foundation, an indication for me that it must be good. However, i much prefer this for the spring/ summer months as when i used it for the first time in a while in early December, i found it to feel very tacky on my face and it made me want to claw my makeup off (weird i know). I just really didn't like the feel on my skin. However, in the summer i loved this and used it everyday so i just think its not suited to my skin in the winter and I'm looking forward to hopefully loving it again in a couple of months. Price= £8.99.
• Match Perfection Foundation- This is my newest Rimmel addition and my current everyday foundation. It gives a light coverage that is very buildable and gives a natural finish with a light glow in places. Price= £6.99.
• Stay Matte Pressed Powder- A lightweight powder that does the job but doesn't leave the skin looking cakey. I have this powder in 001 Transparent and 002 Pink Blossom for when I'm having a bad skin day and need an extra bit of coverage in places. Price= £3.99.
• Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick- I have the shade 002 Bulletproof Beige and it is a really gorgeous champagne colour that is super smooth and pigmented and lasts all day. I definitely want to get more shades of this! Price= £4.49.
• Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal- 005 nude. I use this on days when i want to open and brighten my eyes and it does a really good job. Price= £3.99.
• Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil- 061 Jet Black. This is just a normal black eyeliner which is pigmented, long lasting and can also be smudged out for a softer or smokier look. Price= £2.99.
• Apocalips Lip Lacquer- I have two shades of these and they are Luna and Big Bang and they are both beautiful! These are another of Rimmel's products which have been hyped up so much and they do live up to it although i don't use them as much as i should, especially Big Bang. The new colours that have been brought out have also caught my eye and I'm looking forward to getting my little hands on them. Price= £6.49.
• Kate Moss Lipsticks- 03, 12, 107. I absolutely love these. They are my favourite Rimmel product and i just cant speak highly enough about them. I love all 3 shades that i have and 107 is my all time favourite lipstick, it just looks great with anything and everything. The only teensy weensy criticism is the lack of a colour name on the packaging. Price= £5.49.

I definitely want to add to my Rimmel collection with the new stay matte foundation particularly catching my eye. Good quality, cheap makeup, that matches or even beats some high end products. What more do you want?!

First of all, i am sorry for not posting in what seems like forever. I have been super busy (and stressed) with sixth form and personal statement shenanigans and when i have had the time to sit down and write a post, writers block has come over me. This may be down to putting myself on a makeup and clothes shopping ban, which trust me, has been hard!
But today, i am here, bringing you my top 3 winter lipsticks that are bold and beautiful. 

1) The first, my ultimate favourite and most used lipstick, step up Rimmel London Lasting Finish By Kate Moss Lipstick- 107. I seem to find myself reaching for this all the time, i sometimes even have to tell myself to put it down and wear something different for a change. I don't think there's many people that haven't heard of it, its a perfect darker red that can be worn day and night and would suit all skin colours.


2) The next of my favourite winter lipsticks is Mac Rebel which is a satin finish and to me just oozes winter and Christmas. It's a purple with fuchsia running through it that can be worn bold with just one swipe, or sheered out with your finger for more of a deep pink.



3) Yves Rocher Moisturising Cream Lipstick - 106 Mauve is the last on my top 3 picks. In the tube, it looks a dull, uninteresting and unflattering shade but on the lips it gives a slightly 'vampy' look that's for perfect for the colder months. Its a sort of brown mauve, with plum running through it which feels really creamy on the lips, to help keep chapped lips firmly away.

Left to right: Yves Rocher, Mac, Rimmel The camera is making all the swatches look more pink than they actually are, sorry!