Brand Review: bareMinerals

I love doing brand reviews, I think it's good to see a collection as a whole rather than individual products. Today I'm going to be guiding you through one of my favourite brands, which is bareMinerals. I found that I own a lot of their items, and it's no wonder I gravitate to them as they are a brand which really aim to enhance your look rather than making you look like a different person all together. It's also the brand I recommend to people who are starting out with make-up, as you get quality for your money.

So to start this all off, I have to mention the cult favourite bareMinerals Matte SPF15 Mineral Foundation (£26.50/6g). I've tried both this foundation and also the Original SPF foundation, and I love both. I tend to use this as a powder, after my foundation for extra coverage because it gives a poreless matte finish. You can use this alone as a foundation, and it works well to even out the complexion.  I use this in the shade Golden Tan, which is a great match for my skin-tone.

The bareMinerals Warmth All Over Face Colour  (£20.00/1.5g) was actually my second product from the brand. This is a product I don't tend to talk about as much, although I use it so often! This is a mix between a bronzer and a blush, it's red toned and so matches well with most undertones and just acts to really warm up the face, adding both colour and definition. Another thing I like is that it leaves a satin finish, it's not shimmery or overly powdery and works so well with a variety of looks, it's my go-to blush when I am stuck on how to finish off my look.

I have two brushes from bareMinerals, the Flawless Face Brush (£19.00) and the Brighten and Hydrate Brush . bareMinerals have a great selection of brushes, and I don't normally believe you have to buy certain brushes for specific products, but bareMinerals brushes are created to work really well with their products that actually maximises application and coverage, especially with the foundations. The flawless face brush is a good example of a brush that was formulated to work with the foundation, I actually don't use that brush for anything else apart from bareMinerals products! However the Brighten and Hydrate brush is the softest brush I own and I reserve it for my Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder, because this brush just feels so luxurious that I have to use it with my most expensive powder!

bareMinerals Pop of Passion Lip-Oil Balms (£17.00/3.1g) - I feel like I've raved on and on about these lip products - full review here. They are just the most comfortable and practical thing to wear on your lips. They are a sheer lip oil, which delivers a nice amount of pigment without you having to use a mirror to apply it, also since it's an oil, it's so moisturising to wear, especially for this time of year. Also the wear time is good, and most importantly when it does wear off, it does so gracefully. I feel like sometimes the maintenance of lip products is just too much hassle, which is why it took me such a long time to delve into them, but upon discovering these, I'm so happy with my mini collection of these, I have the shades: Nude Passion, Pink Passion and Plumberry Pop.

bareMinerals The Neutral Attraction Palette (£35.00) - So as a makeup addict, I have accumulated so many eyeshadow palettes. Don't blame this one on me, it was a gift for my birthday last year. So what makes this palette any different from the rest? Simple. The colours. The selection of colours in this palette is so different from anything else I've seen on the market, having matte greys and yellows, shimmery pinks and silver. It's totally unique, and not just another palette. Also there is the addition of  two blushes, a bronzer and a highlighter, all of which can double up as eyeshadow too. So it's a diverse palette that super compact and light, and can create a variety of different looks.

I know bareMinerals has a bunch of other amazing products that I haven't tried, so I would love to know what you would recommend and if you've tried any of the products I have mentioned. All in all, bareMinerals is a brand that knows what it's doing, aiming to enhance your features and making you feel like the best version of yourself. Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin for more beauty posts!

Sephora Blotting Sheets

I am a recent convert to blotting sheets. I was blotting my face with tissue and realised that there was a specific product for what I was doing that was probably a lot more hygienic and also more effective. So after a trip to Italy, I managed to get my hands on the Sephora Blotting Sheets (€6.00/50 sheets) and if you guys aren't already in on the action, I think I need to get you hooked.

If you don't already know, blotting sheets are designed to remove the excess surface oil that your face produces, so if you are a greasy mess like me, you really need to blot and remove the layer of oil before reapplying make-up over the top. Grease and powder mixed together can lead to a cakey finish on your face, and also harden your pressed powder. I didn't realise the reason why my powder became hard was due to the transfer of the oils on my face being repeatedly patted into the powder with my applicator.

The actual product is a blotting sheet on one side and has a slight powder on the other side, I tend to blot my face first, just pressing the sheet on to all the shiny areas of my face and then use the other side if I didn't bring any powder with me. So this product actually saves you from having to lug around a powder and an applicator, so if you are low on space, then this is the product you need.

Blotting sheets are designed to blot on the go, and so they are super travel friendly, having packaging that dispenses sheets like a tissue box, which is super convenient. It's also super thin in design and also very compact so it's easy to add in your daily handbag and even in a tiny clutch. For the price, I think this is a great product which helps eliminate residual oil on your face and also ensures non-cakey makeup for when you are reapplying! I highly recommend investing in one if you are one to carry products around with you!

I would love to know if you've tried blotting sheets. If you have, be sure to leave me a comment telling me what your favourite one is! Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin for more beauty posts!

How To: Curl Eyelashes So They Last All Day

So today I am going to share one of my biggest beauty secrets, it's something I do everyday when I get ready, and it honestly works. If you are like me and have the straightest lashes the world has ever seen, or if after curling your lashes they drop miserably, then I really want you to try this. I'll show you my top tip and my current routine to get the best out of your eyelashes!

Okay, so before we start I want to explain the benefits of having a good eyelash curler. For maximum results, your eyelash curler should be metal, and needs to fit the shape of your eye nicely. My eyelash curlers are from Shu Uemera, they were a gift from my friend Sakura in 2014 and I still use them. They retail for £20 and it are worth the investment as they get used every day because it performs so well. 

So here is the secret: I heat up my eyelash curlers with my hairdryer for a few seconds. I actually get my eyelash curlers piping hot and wait for them to cool down enough so they won't burn my eyes. So I will place them either on wrist or lightly on my lips to test if it's safe to place on my eyes, as those two areas are super sensitive to heat. Once I've safely tested them I will proceed to curl my eyelashes, angling the curlers toward the crease of my eyes, instead of parallel to my face. I find that this gives them a little more lasting time and I usually hold my eyelashes for a good 20 seconds. Once that is done, I will get a mascara that has a thin and waterproof formula, so this is where my L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara(£9.99/9ml) comes into play. This mascara has a great separating wand so I can capture all the lashes that I have curled and just puts enough product on my lashes to hold the curl in place while not weighing them down. You can really see how battered this mascara is, I've had it for almost a year and the drier the formula, the better as it has less chance of being weighed down!

So at this point, your eyelashes are nicely curled, and mascaraed up, however it's only just a light layer that has dried down. You can leave it here if you are short on time, and just prefer this look, which is what I do most days. This is the point where I will add in another mascara, if I want really thick, black lashes. For this I have been using the L'Oreal Mega Volume Collagene Mascara (£9.99/10ml), as it really works to add volume the lashes, adding thickness and length, which gives my eyes extra depth and intensity. I love using this duo, as I get lashes that are my own, but the much better version that lasts all day!

I would love to know if you have tried this, or are going to try this, because it's just my ride or die when it comes to eyelashes! What's your favourite eyelash product? Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin for more beauty posts!

2 Affordable Everyday Nude Lips

I'm not a major lip product person. I've found it super difficult to find what works for me, and it's only recently I've began to delve a little more into what actually suits me. I suit neutral browny pinks, with either a shimmer or glossy finish. I really don't suit matte, unless I am wearing super high-coverage foundation, which I don't tend to go for anymore on the daily. In the past month I have found not one but two of my everyday go-to lip products which are both from Italian origins incidentally!

Kiko Milano Pencil Lip Gloss (£3.90)

I love Kiko, I find that it is one of the few stores that actually sell more quality items on the high-street for an affordable price. This find is no exception as it delivers on every aspect. The pigmentation is great, it's not too intense that you have to use a mirror to apply it, but it is also noticeable when you have it on. It has a cream finish which lasts a good few hours and I find that it is so comfortable on the lips and keeps them moisturised too, which is good for these colder months. Another aspect that sold me on this product is that it doesn't leave any residue on the lips once it's faded away, which is always a plus. The colour is a pinky nude with a hint of shimmer, which is not chunky and just adds some depth to the lips. I am just in love with this product, I have been using it religiously and have been taking it with me because it's so travel friendly. Kiko has a selection of shades, the one I use in is in shade 11!

Catrice Cosmetics Beautifying Lip Smoother (€4.99)

While I was in Italy two weeks ago, I spotted this product in an Italian cosmetics shop. It called to me because it looked like a dupe for the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfecter, which retails for £18.00. I have to say, it appears like a really good dupe! It's light on the lips without being sticky, and you can actually see the colour pigment. It adds a sheen to the lips, rather than a gloss, which makes this product sophisticated and very wearable for any occasion. I personally like to line and fill in my lips with a lip liner and then go in with this gloss as a finishing touch. I love the applicator too, it's a sponge which evenly apply's the product and just feels really nice! All in all, this product is really nice, for touch ups and even for finishing a look off, it's easy and just something I have been reaching for lately!

Lately, I feel like my commitment to my lips has improved due to these two products. I would highly recommend them as they both add something to the lips without being too high maintenance or too over the top. 

I would love to know if you have tried any of these products and what lip products you use on the daily! 

Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin for beauty related posts, I usually have a new post every week however, I am thinking of increasing it to two posts a week!

My Trip to Verona and Venice 2016

Last week I spent the week in  Italy with my mom. It was a spontaneous trip and it went by so fast. While I was in Italy, I spent most of the time exploring around Verona and spent just one day in Venice and I just fell in love. I love to take pictures and show you guys my experience of the places I travel to, so cue the pictures of Verona and Venice...

Verona Arena

Juliet's Balcony, Verona 

Castelvecchio, Verona 

Park in Padua, Italy

Venice, Italy

Doge's Palace, Venice

St Marks Basilica, Venice

Bridge of Sighs, Venice

I hope you guys enjoyed this mini snapshot of my trip to Verona and Venice. I have also done collages of my trips to Milan, Paris and also India! Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin for beauty related posts! I would also love to know what parts of the world you would recommend going to! I love to travel and I need some more ideas of where to go next!

CaseApp Collaboration and Giveaway!*

It's no secret that I love my phone and with every great phone there also has to be a case. I don't know about you guys but I'm super clumsy when it comes to my phone. So when CaseApp contacted me to design my own case, I was totally excited to just create something that was just quintessentially me.

CaseApp is a brand that enables you to design your own case whether it be for your phone or laptop.

Surprisingly, the design process was super simple, you can choose which generation iPhone or Samsung phone you have and then customise the blank phone template however you like. There is opportunity to add photos, emoji's and text to truly try to make your case unique to you.

However my major worry was about the quality of the product once it came. If the colours and designs would be the same, if the material was longstanding and if it just looked decent. Once I saw my product, I was elated. Literally, every box was ticked. The colour was exactly like I had picked, the design was the right proportions and it fits snugly on my phone. I'm just impressed that the quality is great. In terms of price, it is £19 for a customised case with a £3 delivery charge, which I think is a good price for a product that will last a long time. The delivery was super speedy, arriving a week after I had made my order, and it fit through my letterbox which was really convenient for me! 

All in all, I'm super impressed with this company, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to create their own bespoke phone case. Since I believe in this product so much, I am hosting a giveaway for one winner to receive a free CaseApp case of their own design! 

To enter: 

1) Follow my blog on Bloglovin

2) Leave a comment with your Bloglovin name/blog and your contact details.

3) Follow me on Instagram

This giveaway will end 19/12/2016. Good luck! I will leave some more designs I made for inspiration! 

* This post contains a PR sample. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 Autumnal Beauty Picks

Autumn is now in full swing and I find myself drawn towards my more red/purple toned makeup products. Lately, I have been so into switching up my makeup on a everyday basis, so I'm excited to show you guys the main products I have been reaching for...

One of my favourite palettes that I own is my M.A.C Burgundy Times Nine Palette (£30.00/0.8g). I just love the mix of neutral and bold colours which makes it perfect for both day and night looks. The purple and burgundy tones are just what I want for this season, I find they warm up my complexion while still adding depth and intensity. This is a great investment product if you want to try more M.A.C shadows for the least amount of money, I've had this palette for a year now and I still haven't made a dent in it! 

The Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Lipstick in the shade 'Bois de Rose 272' (£23.50/4.2ml) is a product which works with any type of makeup look. It's a pink toned brown which is lovely for all skin types and just finishes a look without being too overpowering, especially if you are not a massive fan of bolder, brighter colours. This is a product I pick up regularly because of the colour and also the cream finish which feels super moisturising on the lips and so is perfect for these colder months! 

Another autumnal product that I have been obsessed with is my M.A.C Mineralised Blush  in the shade 'Love Joy' (£22.00/3.2g). I picked this product up ages ago and I had forgotten why I had even bought it until a few months ago when I rediscovered it. This blush is amazing, firstly the colour is lovely, it's a red toned blush with super fine particles of shimmer. The shimmer actually adds to the formula of the blush, making the product smooth and even in texture, rather than being super powdery and dry on the face. So for this season, I like that this blush enhances the radiance and health of my skin by the colour and the formula. If you haven't tried this formula of blushes, I would highly recommend it!

My last autumnal beauty pick is the BarryM Daylight Curing Nail Paint (£4.99/10ml) in the shade 'Dark Side of the Shroom'. I love love love this product. It is one of my most used polishes because the colour is just so wearable, as it is a lovely mauve colour and it holds that balance of being a fun colour while also looking sophisticated. I think that this shade really compliments my tanned skin-tone and I even wear it on my toenails! BarryM has a great formula and for the price, I would absolutely recommend this to all of you as you can't go wrong! 

So that was a quick roundup of my top 4 Autumnal Beauty Picks. I have to say I reach for these products so often in these past few weeks. For me, they just nail the autumnal feel and they are all awesome products. 

I would love to know if you have tried any of these and what your beauty picks are in the comments below. 

Be sure to subscribe to my blog on Bloglovin' to keep up to date with my next post!

Review: Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil

I've been super into skincare lately, and I really wanted to share a product that I think will be great for everyone. Pai is a British skincare brand that creates skincare with good ingredients, while also leaving out the nasty's that might irritate skin. I got the chance to try a sample of the Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate oil and I'm just in love with this product..

The Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil  (£22.00/30ml) is an overnight facial oil that restores balance in all skin types. It just leaves your skin looking better the next day, sorting out any issues you might have had the day before. It leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturised. I can still feel the residue of the oil on my face the morning after which I like, knowing it's still working it's magic. 

I love this product because it just rejuvenates my skin. I can be quite harsh with my skin, using Glycolic Acid and Retinols on a daily basis and so the days where I want my skin to breathe but still not breakout, I apply the Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil and it just gives my skin a break...

Rosehip Oil can help with dry skin, blemishes and scars overtime. It's one product that does a multitude of things and just keeps your skin in tip top condition. If I had to compare it to another product, I would compare it to Kiehl's Midnight Recovery, and this product is 1/3 of of the price. The only issue you will find with it is the smell. It has a strong fragrance, it reminds me of mustard oil, so if you aren't too fond of that then you probably won't like the smell of this. I like that they haven't tried to change the natural smell though, and if it's good for my skin, I will literally put up with anything! It's also a yellow colour, which is unusual but understandable since it's an oil! It doesn't stain my face nor my pillows which is always a good thing!

The packaging of this product is also super cute, in the sample it's fool proof and makes sure you don't get too much product or have any spills. The original packaging is great too, having a dropper system which allows you to be precise with your application. All in all, I really like this product because I can tell I've used it the morning after. If you are looking for a miracle product, then this won't be it, it's not going to get rid of scars or wrinkles. It will help the overall appearance of your skin though, reducing the issues you may have slowly over time.
Have you tried this product, if so what did you think? If not, then tell me what skincare product you think I should try!

Be sure to subscribe to my blog on Bloglovin' to keep up to date with my next post!

Review: Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil

I consider myself the queen of cleansing oils. It's my favourite form of make-up removal and I love testing out anything I can get my hands on. My Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Balm abruptly finished a few days ago and I had seen adverts that Simple had started to come out with a cleansing oil and so there really was no choice of what new oil I needed to try next...

The Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil (£6.99/125ml) is a good product. I like the slim packaging, which makes it awesome for travel. But most importantly the formula does what it says, it removes makeup with ease and so I think this is a good drugstore cleansing oil. The formula of the oil is thinner than others I have tried, and so if you are scared of trying oils to cleanse your skin, then this would be a good one to start with as you don't get that super greasy feeling. The only issue with having a thinner formula is that you find that you have to use slightly more product as you want to be able to massage your skin without tugging. However it's only a drop or two more that makes that difference, so it's not exactly a deal breaker for me. 

What I like about this product is the fact it's from Simple, it only contains 9 ingredients which include Pure Grape Seed Oil, which has Vitamin E and so is good at reducing the appearance of pigmentation marks, and also Sunflower Oil which contains Vitamin A, providing protection through retaining moisture in the skin. So this oil is filled with natural oils and minerals, becoming an actual skincare product with additional benefits. So taking the time to really massage this into the face might actually be more beneficial than just removing make-up.

The only issue I have had with this cleanser was the packaging, when I first opened it, the lid broke slightly. I can still close the bottle without it leaking, but it's more fragile now. It could easily break, and so I am super careful with it. I wish it was a bit more stronger, or if it had a pump, however the latter would mean it wouldn't be as travel friendly. If you choose to purchase this then be careful when you are trying to pry it open the first time! 

All in all, I really like this product, the formula is great and it has a lot of benefits for the skin. I think it's a good product to come out at this time of the year, our skin needs those extra benefits and hydration because of the cooler weather. It's affordable and even more affordable when it's discounted - I got this for half the price at Superdrug. If it wasn't for the fact my lid broke the first time I opened it, I would be super super impressed, but it's not a massive deal and I don't know if I got the bad one out of a good bunch or if I'm just super heavy handed!

What do you think of the Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil? Is it something you want to try or have already used? Let me know in the comments below! Be sure to subscribe to my blog on Bloglovin' to keep up to date with my next post!

5 Tips: How To Wear Less Make-up!

Am I the only one who wants to start to wear less make-up? Day to day, is the highlight and contour really necessary? Sometimes, in retrospect, it makes me a bit uncomfortable, knowing I have totally glammed up to run an errand, or to go for a walk in the park. Believe me, it has happened to me so many times. 

So today, my only errand was to go and post a letter, and I was about to sit in my usual make-up spot, on the floor next to my full length mirror, and I just knew that I would spend 10 minutes applying my makeup for a 2 minute errand. So I decided to fudge it, I stuck on my clothes, grabbed my sunglasses and headed out bare faced. Just arriving back from my trip, I wanted to write, and give you guys some tips on how to ditch the Instagram face for day to day life.

1) Do your make-up last - When you are getting dressed, leave the make-up for last because once your hair and clothes are put together, you'll realise that you can skip a bunch of steps in your routine  and still look put together, an even complexion is more important to me than highlighting, and adding some brow gel might be good enough when you are in a rush! This is what really put me in perspective today, just knowing I would be out of the house for just two minutes doesn't qualify for me to waste my time nor my products.

2)  Feature Focus - A good way to not wear as much make-up is to focus your attention on the thing you want to be happy with. Personally, I like to focus on my face and brows, my face because I have a bit of hyper-pigmentation, and my brows because they are so light and sparse. As long as those two features are dealt with, I feel much more confident to go about my day, and it only takes me 5 minutes. If you are a lip person, you can generally leave out eye makeup as your lips will be the statement piece and so you don't have to really bother wasting too much time on something that doesn't need to be done!

3) Go sheer - Another way to wear less, is to keep perhaps the same amount of products, but to opt for more natural and lighter finishes. So I am a major high coverage foundation gal, and I recently bought the Dior Forever Foundation, which is more of a medium finish, and I already feel like I am accepting my natural skin more and more. I eventually want to get to the stage where I am wearing a tinted moisturiser, because I think it's good for your skin to breathe, and just not be caked in layers of foundation! You could also go sheer in terms of lipstick, or wear brown eyeliner instead of black, apply brow gel to tame the brows rather than going for the Instagram brow. 

4) No time like the present - Like I said earlier, today I decided to fudge it and just head outside with no make-up. You might be like me and think 'I'll try it tomorrow', however the hard truth is that tomorrow never comes, the future becomes our present and so the things you wanted to do just never end up happening. That's why you should start straight away, perhaps give a think about the make-up you want to wear today and get it out ready, give yourself a time limit to get ready. When I am in a rush, I always wear less because you don't want to waste time. If I have time, I will literally sit down and apply green eyeliner and contour for a walk in the park so, if you give yourself only 5 minutes to get ready then stick with it and learn to enjoy wearing less. 

5) It takes time... I know this seems to contrast a tad  what I said before but it takes time to accept going outside with a face of two products rather than 7. The more you do it, the easier it will become, so if you want to wear less make-up or none at all, you need to be consistent and learn to love it. What happens is that you think that people will notice that you aren't as done up however, those same people will have changed something about themselves that they think you will notice. People are introspective for the most part, and usually don't notice what you've spent all day fretting about!

I would love to know if you are considering wearing less, or beginning to wear more, so leave me a comment below telling me your current make-up mood! All the photos above were taken from my Instagram! So if you like them then be sure to follow me on there, and as always please subscribe to my blog on Bloglovin' to keep up to date with my next post!