5 Must have Products

These products are my must have for every day use or when I'm applying makeup. I recommend these products to everyone. Continue reading to find out my Must Have products.

• NYX dewy finish Setting Spray

This brand is new to the UK, therefore not many people may have heard of it. I purchased my NYX setting spray from NEXT clothing store when they were previously stocking them, unfortunately they do not stock this brand anymore, although BOOTS are now stocking them online and in selected stores. I love a dewy finish as I have super dry skin, so I thought id give it a go as I'd heard amazing reviews and its cheap too. When I first used it, it straight away made a difference by giving me a beautiful glow accentuating my highlight, and my makeup lasted all day long. I've worn this through all seasons and it has kept my makeup in place, even through sweating. The product has also lasted me so long, I purchased mine earlier last year and it is still going. Although i only have a tiny bit left. I will be repurchasing this as I found it amazing, they also do a mattifying finish if a dewy look isn't for you. When spraying I go in a downwards motion making sure I've sprayed my entire face, I only spray my face 3-4 times as you don't want to spray too many times and the setting spray ruin your makeup or making your mascara run.

• Original Beauty Blender

I've tried many beauty blenders from the Real techniques beauty sponge, to the W7 beauty sponge. I found that they didn't last as long and started cracking, also when I washed them after using the sponge, the foundation had already stained it. The original beauty blender looks quite small but when it is dispersed into water the sponge expands a lot therefore making it easier to apply foundation as you are covering a larger area, also the sponge is so soft helping the product blend onto the skin and give an even coverage. I also felt that contouring, powder and highlighter went on easier and didn't look cakey due to the foundation evening out my complexion. It is worth the money as I had to keep repurchasing the other beauty blenders whereas with this one it lasts so long, mine is still going strong and I got mine in January. 

• Naked 2 Palette 

I've been wanting to try this palette for so long as I heard great reviews, and it didn't let me down. I received mine as a gift from the Christmas 2014, and all my eye shadow pans are still going. None of them have ran out and i use then daily. The colour is really pigmented therefore you don't need a lot of product on the brush, i like the fact that the packaging is metal so it's prefect for travelling as none of the pans with smash and the mirror won't break. Some people do not get along with the duo sided eye shadow brush that the product comes with and in some ways i agree as you can't blend with this brush, I find it's great for patting on shadow onto the eyelid and under the brow. If you want a more defined brush the BH Cosmetics do an amazing eye brush set that comes with everything you need. 

I've gotten so many different eye looks using this palette and it doubles as a highlighter, using just the blackout colour on your lids then blending it up into the crease creates a gorgeous smoky eye. If you're not sure on what palette to buy I'd recommend to go into a store that has an Urban Decay counter such as Debenhams, so they can provide you with the best palette for your skin tone, undertone, what eye shadow look you usually go for, if you want an everyday look or evening etc. Naked original has quite dark colours, Naked 2 has browns and silvers, Naked 3 has pinks and neutral colours. 

• Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks

I love these Liquid lipsticks so much because they stay on all day, you don't need a lip liner prior to application and the colour range is gorgeous. I have iced mocha, Invasion and Ecstasy. When i first got them I wasn't sure how to use them as I didn't want to apply too much product and the lipstick not dry, therefore I wiped off the excess product on the wand and applied from the bottom centre of my lips outward tilting the wand to define my inner corners. I found the product dried quickly and didn't dry out my lips or fade throughout the day. I've tried LA Splash couture and Jeffree Star velour liquid lipsticks, but I always go back to my GC because I don't have to reapply throughout the day or worry about the colour bleeding or staining my teeth. I have done a review on this product, if you click this link it will take you to it - http://www.beautybloggercharlotte.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/gerard-cosmetics-lipstick-review.html  

• L'oreal Volume Million Lash

I love this mascara for length and thickening without all the clumpiness which you can get with other mascaras. I find that this is a dupe of the YSL Babydoll mascara as both do exactly the same and give me the same finish on my lashes, although my YSL Babydoll is older therefore it has dried out now. Therefore I'm using this mascara and i can't fault at all, you can build up the layers and it won't go clumpy, they look like false lashes too. I love spikey mascara wands as I find that the mascara doesn't clump up, the hairs are individually coated too. I use mine in a wiggling motion from the root to tip, building it up as I go along the lashes. The only fault i find is that my lashes drop the curl i first get when applying this product throughout the day, even when using my Eyeko Curling wand. 

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Coming up soon I'll be doing a blog on Products I regret purchasing. 

Charlotte x

Beauty Hacks

This is a follow up from my last post about beauty hacks, hope they help you.

1. Baking is a complete new concept to all makeup lovers, Kim kardashian's makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic introduced us all to this new technique he had been doing for years to give Kim that photo ready, flawless finish makeup look. Now all you need to do is to dip your damp beauty blender into a loose powder and dab onto the face to set the foundation underneath the eyes to the cheekbones, nose, center forehead and chin. This is to be done before contouring and highlighting but after foundation and concealer application. To allow the product to 'bake' on your skin leave it for 5-10 mins, in the mean time you could fill in your brows or do your lips etc. Once the product has finished 'Baking' brush off the excess powder with a fluffy powder brush, I use Crown brushes Powder Brush its so soft and only brushes off the unwanted product left on the skin. The powders that are best for doing this technique are RMCA no Colour powder, Laura Mercier loose setting powder, and Ben NYE banana powder. I recommend them all they all have really different coverage, but baking generally gives a full coverage.
2. Sun cream. This is an essential product for everyday use, as sun damaging is a big factor to premature ageing to the skin. No matter what the weather is like outside or if you're staying in all day, harmful UV rays get through the clouds and through the windows onto your delicate skin and mutate the cells, damaging them, drying out your skin and causing premature wrinkling. In the worst case scenario, being over exposed to the sun can cause skin cancer which is life threatening if not diagnosed quickly. Also wearing sunglasses when driving or when you're going for a walk etc. will also protect your eyes, which are extremely sensitive to the sun. 
3. Coconut oil is a huge hype at the moment, and i can really see why as this natural source has so many beneficial factors such as, eye makeup remover, Hair conditioner, body moisturiser, lip balm, conditioner for eyelashes and brows to help the growth, and many more. Buying a big tub of this golden wonder will change your skin care and hair care routine. It is also super cheap too. The Tiana Extra Virgin Coconut Oil   as this coconut oil is not cold pressed therefore contains all the important nutrients for your health, skin care and haircare. 
4. Serums are important to everyone's skin care no matter what skin type you are. It is to be dabbed onto the skin prior to moisturiser, it is a lot more thinner and less creamy than most other moisturisers, as this product is to be for hydrating the new skin cells deep down in the epidermis therefore when the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin are exfoliated off you have beautiful radiant healthy skin. Many people see a different straight away from using a serum weather that be the texture of their skin softening or the way there makeup looks glowing. I find it makes my makeup easier to remove as your skin isn't trying to absorb the foundation as it is already hydrated by the serum. This product is to be used all year round, it is a myth to only use this in the summer. This serum Manuka Doctor ApiClear skin treatment is great for your skin and contains many beneficial properties for your skin. 
5. Priming the face for foundation is very important, it will change the way your foundation will go on, how long your makeup will stay and how the overall finish of your makeup will look. Wash your face using either an exfoliator or foam wash, Check out my previous Beauty hacks blog post if you're unsure on how many times to exfoliate. After tone your face, and moisturise with the appropriate cream prior to makeup application. You will need a lightweight and brightening moisturiser before foundation. Do not use a night cream or a thick heavy cream as your makeup will not stay on your skin and will slip and slid all over the place. I highly recommend the Aloe Vera day cream from The Body Shop, at first I had a tester of this product and loved the way it gave my makeup a glowing finish, therefore I purchased the full size, also this product has a lot if vitamins and great ingredients which is going to benefit your skin. No matter what skin type you are, it is also suitable for sensitive skin. Also the Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion is amazing, it is also lightweight and smells amazing, it makes it really easy to apply foundation too, this product contains SPF 15 and is oil free. Therefore if you feel your skin becomes oily throughout the day this product many prevent the sebum going to the surface of the skin. 

I have gone a little bit into skin care although I will be posting a blog soon of a more in depth skin care routine for each skin type. Starting with the most common Combination which is well known as an oily T-Zone and normal/dry cheeks. Although combination could be any skin type combined. Example oily cheeks, and eyelids although dry forehead and nose. 

Charlotte x 

Beauty hacks

I thought I'd share some of my tips and tricks with you about nails, hair, makeup and skincare. Enjoy reading.

1. When painting your nails weather it be base coat or a colour coat always 'Cap' your nail varnish, this is done a lot when applying gel polish but doing this with regular varnish prevents chipping and peeling, also giving your polish a professional finish.
2. If you want a crisp defined eyeshadow look or would love to get a flawless contour, taping underneath your eye will give you an amazing line, lining the tape up with the arch of your brow angling it up the side. So the tape will go up along the end of the brow and onto the temple. Also this can be used to get a perfect symmetrical eyeliner wing. Contouring tape will aid not going outside of where you want to highlight/contour. Hudabeauty has an amazing video about contouring using tape. 
3. Cleaning up the brow after finishing filling them in will give a gorgeous shape and a beautiful finish, get s concealer brush preferably small and dab a bit of foundation into it, start at the front of underneath the brow and glide toward the tail of the brow lining the eyebrow as you go. Doing this will make a world of difference and if you go wrong filling in your eyebrows this will correct it making it the shape you desire.
4. If your unsure on how to apply Matte Lipstick, start by wiping off the excess product leaving you with enough product for the bottom lip. Deposit most of the product onto the largest area e.g. Lower centre lip. After press your lips together then if you need to get more product to apply onto the upper lip, over lining if you need to. Which I find really easy with Matte lipsticks. 
5. Not really a tip or trick but, exfoliating 2 a week brightens the skin, gives a deep cleanse of the pores and stimulates grow of new skin cells, also removing the dead cells from the top layer of the skin. Giving you that radiant glow. 
6. Double cleansing is super important as it makes sure that all your makeup is removed and not clogging up the pores. Toning the face doesn't remove your makeup as most people think it does, it removes the excess cleanser and impurities still on the skin also closing the pores, so when it comes to applying your moisturiser the skin is hydrated rather than the pores becoming clogged from the cream. 
7. Many combination/oily skin types feel that using any skincare products that contain oils is a big no, but cleansers containing oils draws out the excess oils from your skin. Therefore toning the skin removes the dirt and sebum that is sitting on the skin. Clarins do an amazing cleansing oil, you can double cleanse with this as I said previously or you can use it as a pre cleanser then afterward use a different cleanser. If your not sure on how to apply a cleanser put a pea size amount onto the palm of your hand then apply onto the face massaging it in, after get a warm cloth or flannel to remove the product along with the makeup. 
8. Always damped your beauty blender before using therefore it won't soak up the makeup it will apply the makeup, also wash it after every use and be careful to let it dry in a cool dry place, not in your makeup bag as it will get mouldy as it won't be able to dry out fully. 
9. When having a manicure you may notice that they apply nail varnish remover onto the nail plate prior to putting the base coat on, which is called 'Squeaking' it removes any dirt, oils and nail varnish. It also prevents bubbling/peeling/chipping. 
10. If you feel your creamy product has dried out then apply one to two drops of beauty oil to soften the product, restoring it to its creamy self. - I've heard dipbrow pomade does this after a while, I haven't experienced it though. 

That's all my tips for today, thank you for reading. Look out for another 10 beauty hacks that I'll be posting later this month.
 Charlotte x