My Most-Used/Everyday Makeup Brushes #1 | Real Techniques, Tiger, BellaPierre, elf

So I haven't talked about brushes too much on my blog before so I thought I'd start with a simple 'My Everyday Brushes' post - I hope you enjoy.

I love makeup brushes and always like finding good deals and bargains. Real Techniques is my favourite brand as they're really affordable and made of synthetic materials (talkon?). I love them and cannot recommend them enough. This ebay seller makes dupe brushes if you're interested in those or cannot stretch to the RT ones.

Face Brushes (left, top-bottom)

Real Techniques Powder Brush - £12.99 from Boots

This is so soft and big a fluffy that it coats my face in powder in four sweeps!

Real Techniques Blush Brush - £9.99 from Boots

I love this for powder blush and bronzer as it's big enough to provide an even wash of colour without being too big so that is covers my entire cheek in patchy pink! An essential for all beginners, it can be used for powder, blush, bronzer and even highlighter!

Real Techniques Buffing Brush - Core Collection £21.99 from Boots

First I used this for foundation - now I use it for cream blush as it buffs it in naturally and leaves a really even finish.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - £9.99 from Boots

An amazing brush for foundation as it applys it naturally and evenly (3rd time, now!). The perfect brush for buffing and painting on foundations!

e.l.f studio stipple brush - £3.75 from eyeslipsface.com

This is my go-to for lighter coverage foundations/bb creams as it leaves a really dewy finish and doesn't cake my face in makeup, which is never a good look!

Real Techniques Detailer Brush - Core Collection £21.99 from Boots

I love this for pinpoint concealing - great for more natural looks and for lip colours. A real must-have brush.

Eye Brushes (left to right)

Real Techiques Base Shadow Brush - Starter Set £21.99 from Boots

This is my cheaper alternative to the MAC 217 - it is fluffy enough for blending but dense enough for packing shadow onto the lid. I love this for quick, everyday eye looks.

Bella Pierre Eyeliner Brush - £14.99 from bellapierre.co.uk

I love this for my eyebrows and for eyeshadow as eyeliner
on my upper lash line - it is very dense and easy to use for precision.

e.l.f eye crease brush - £1.50 from eyeslipsface.co.uk

This is fab for putting colour on the lower lash line - the perfect size, density and handle length for the perfect application. For £1.50 it really can't be beaten!

Bella Pierre Eyeshadow Brush - £14.99 from bellapierre.co.uk

I love this for putting colour in the crease as it fits right in there and works a treat - found mine at TKMaxx!

TIGER Flat Brush - £1.00 from Tiger Stores

For cream shadow this is great as it applys a wash of colour without it looking patchy. A great cheap brush.

TIGER Spoolie - £1.00 from Tiger Stores

A spoolie is a necessity as it combs through my unruly brows perfectly leaving them normal-looking - this one is really soft too!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post - any suggestions please email me or leave a comment below, I'll always reply!

Love, Lizzie x

Dupes for Essie Nail Polish Colours? (Lilacism and Mint Candy Apple/Absolutely Shore) | Nails from MUA

 Following the amazing response to my last post like this I thought I'd do another dupes for essie - my mission this summer is to find more dupes so if you have anything you would like me to find a dupe for then leave me a comment/send me an email!

So, as mentioned in my last post, I only own a few essie colours and these are the shades I think are similar to the shades I am trying to dupe.

MUA Lush Lilac - Essie Lilacism
MUA Pistachio Ice Cream - Essie Mint Candy Apple/Essie Absolutely Shore

 These MUA polishes are fabulous and the brushes are easy to use. Though they contain less product, the price difference justifys it - £1 compared to £7.99-£10!!!

If you have these let me know if they're dupes! I'd love to know!

Thanks for reading, remember to give me your suggestions!
Lizzie x

June 2013 Favourites

6 months down, 6 months to go!

I have one and a half weeks left until I finish school for Summer (yay - my school gets more holidays than others!) and am saving for the hols so not a ton of new faves but a few... On with the fabby products!

Makeup

 

Revlon Photoready Primer

 I've had this for ages but finally started to use it and love it! It makes my pores look tiny and my skin smooth - great for smoothing over my horrid burn on my face - not from the sun, I promise! (will not insert picture but is gross!)

LOOk Beauty Mini Makeover Palette in Baby Blue Eyes

This is so handy for travel - 8 pigmented and wearable eyeshadows, 1 pretty, Nars Orgasm-esque blush and 4 lip colours for all occasions. I love this for keeping in my handbag for touch-ups and changing my look from day to night.

Would you like to see a post showing how to use this palette to do this?

Miners Bronzer Blusher Blend in Sunblushed

 This has been raved about by a few bloggers and I finally purchased it and love it for no-makeup makeup days - so easy to use and makes my cheeks look glowy. What put me off was shipping from miners.co.uk but I found it with free shipping from Amazon!

e.l.f clarifying pressed powder in Ivory

This is a lovely powder to add coverage and to mattify so flawlessly - for £1.50 you can't go wrong.

Natural Collection Pressed Powder in Neutral

 Have I raved about this enough - no! This is non cakey and really mattifying - buy it; it's only £1.99

e.l.f studio stipple brush

Whenever I've been applying foundation//bb cream//tinted moisturiser this month I've been reaching for this brush - I love it as it buffs and stipples leaving a natural finish plus it dries after washing it quickly too.

Revlon Lip Gloss in Coral Reef

This is an intense coral colour that looks gorgeous on darker skin tones but looked nice when I paired it with bare eyes and a light coverage foundation. A really lovely product.

Soap and Glory Trick and Treatment Concealer in Bright On

Featured in my 'Best Concealers for Covering Dark Circles' post, this concealer was found by my amazing mother for £2 and is ab fab - it covers whilst feeling light and not being at all cakey.

Collection Extreme Felt Tip Liner

I never really go for eyeliner in general but I've been loving a really really thin line along my upper lash line and winging it out - this stays all day and doesn't transfer which is always a bonus!

Collection Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde

I needed a new eyebrow pencil and this one does the trick - next up, Anastasia Beverly Hills!

Wilko Lash Curlers

After my crappy elf ones died on me I purchased these which are better and the rubber bits have not been dented yet - fab!

Swatches from top: blush from look palette, eyebrow pencil from collection, liquid liner from collection, lipgloss from revlon, eyeshadows from look palette

Skincare and Haircare 

 

Batiste Light and Blonde

I like this for adding volume and for lightening my blonde hair; although it may be light I found a BLACK hair in it the other day!!! Needless to say I tugged it out and have found no more since - I think my roots are scared!

Vaseline

Not for lips but for lashes and brows - I have noticed growth in just one week!

B.Pure Micellar Water

After using up the L'Oreal one (products i've used up post here) I needed a new Bioderma-dupe and this is fab at removing all makeup, even waterproof mascara!

Nip + Fab Shine Fix

A great mattifying primer - not drying on my dry skin but still minimises pores and provides a matte complexion - smells a bit like sausages, not sure whether I like or not!?

Random

 

iPads are Godsends (or Applesends) and are so useful - I am obsessed with Hay Day (named Lizzie's Farm, if you'd like to friend me!). I am only on level 13 now but am playing like nuts!

The flosser thing from Wisdom makes flossing so much easier and is green - I love it!

What are your favourites for June? Leave me a comment and I will definitely reply!!!

Love, Lizzie x

Empties/Products I've Used Up #2 | June 2013

 I have been accumulating products for months now and so my recycling box will be very pleased to know it can take these bits. 

 Tissues are a necessity and these are from boots and the 99p store.

 I use wet wipes to remove my face makeup and I love to try different ones - the No7 ones are great if you have vouchers, Botanics Brightening ones are verrry similar and the Primark ones are cheap and my holy grail!

 I am a micellar water convert and this L'Oreal one was good for refreshing and removing makeup. This Garnier makeup remover is the one I'll always use because I love it. I had a sample of the No7 one and it does not compare at all! Then my go-to toner is the simple one as it contains no alcohol so it does not dry out my skin.

 I used to love this blackhead clearing cleanser but it has began to irritate my skin so I have had to stop using it :( A past love is the tea tree range from superdrug - this scrub is great and super abrasive. The Simple Light Moisturiser is okay for when my skin is oilier but not for dyer days.

 These nose pore strips didn't do anything - pointless and painful. The No7 night cream saved my skin but is overpriced and the superdrug one does the same thing. These serum samples make my skin feel smooth and I rip them to shreds when I can't get any more out of them.

 VO5 Strong Hold hairspray is my fave as it isn't crispy but is rain-proof. I didn't really like this superdrug one and just kept it in my bag for touch-ups. Batiste is a must-have and this small size was essential on weekends away.

 I love this leave-in conditioner from Toni-and-Guy but it's discontinued *sob*! I always use this conditioning nail polish remover from Boots as it is better for my nails than others I've tried. This treatment from Tresemme's Platinum Strength line lasted me two uses and left my hair super soft and sleek. I had a sample of this Scrub of Your Life from Soap and Glory is great as it foams up and works as a body wash too! 

 I have finished a lot of mascaras - they will appear in the order of the picture. NYC Showtime is amazing and only £1.99. The Natural Collection clear mascara isn't rough in my eyebrows but holds them in place. Soap and Glory's Thick and Fast dried out super fast and did nothing for my eyelashes. This Scarlet and Crimson duo is crappity crap. MUA Mega Volume is a favourite and makes my lashes full and fluffy,. Maybelline Falsies Flared was disappointing and did nothing but clump my lashes and stink. Collection Longer Lash - like the new formulation and brush better as this is a bit wet.

Another mascara is e.l.f lengthening and defining - good for layering with other mascaras but nothing special. Collection concealers are fab and this has been scraped within an inch of its life. Another great concealer is MUA Brush On Concealer Pen - it is really brightening. My lash curler died on me and I bought a new one from Wilkinson's which is much better.

Hope this empties was helpful - be sure to leave me a comment of what you've use up... 

Love

Lizzie x

PS Any blog post requests? Please email me them or leave in a comment!

Favourite Summer Blushers 2013 | e.l.f, Fashionista, Benefit, Max Factor, MUA

As a blush addict I thought it best to do a post dedicated to my favourite blushers for summer - all but one affordable and gorgeous!

Clockwise from top left:

Fashionista Blusher in London (wrongly named in picture)

I literally screamed when I found out that Fashionista was being stocked by MUA and that their companies had joined - the whole Fashionista range is on a huge sale and the blushers are only £1.65!!! Such a pretty orangey-pink with a satin finish.

Benefit Cha Cha Tint

Can you tell I like orange? This is easy to use (just warm between fingers and dot onto cheeks) and provides a natural sheen with a tangerine tint. Samples are easy to find in kits/free gifts with points cards.

e.l.f studio blush in Peachy Keen

I used this religiously before Christmas and I still love it - almost light enough to be a highlighter, this pale peach blush looks beautiful with a tan.

MUA Cream Blush in Blossom

Though it doesn't look like much in the pan or swatched, it looks great on the cheeks without bronzer. It gives subtle structure without looking like makeup at all.

Fashionista Blush in Rose Thrill

Scarily neon but looks pretty when on the skin with pale skin especially. I love this for making my skin look more awake.

Max Factor Cream Blush in Soft Pink

With these recieving loads of hype at the mo I had to try one and I love it - so lovely and glowy. These are amazing but you don't get much product.

MUA Powder Blush in Shade 4

A standard coral shade that everyone must own - I break this one out when the weather gets hotter as it can be work on its own (ie without a base) and is bright but not neon and is matte.

What are your favourite blushers for summer?

Love Lizzie x

Weekend Haul #3 | Boots, Primark, Debenhams

 I've done it again - I went shopping. Hi, I'm Lizzie and (as well as being a concealahoic) I am a shopaholic. OMG I need a spending ban but I couldn't do it. Plus summer is coming and I'll be spending tonnes then too - seriously, I need help.

Anyway I have an excuse - hauling blog posts!!!

First up is Primark (or Primarni, if you're posh). I finally found the cut-out lace-esque dress in the coral shade that I've been hunting for ages! I have a cobalt blue one and wear it all the time plus it's only £5! Bargainous! Then I found this lovely snood with a really girly marker pen heart design - these are super comfy and great for £4. The hairbrush is a must - my hairbrush is in a disastrous state and needs to take a jump into hairbrush heaven (ie the bin). For £1.50 you can't go wrong in Primark. The blue spotty thing is a shopping bag that folds up so you can keep it in your handbag for when you have extra shopping//a primark bag threatening to break//a shop that's trying to charge you 20p for a bag when you only have a magazine - my mum has two and after stealing them on every shopping spree I thought I'd buy my own for £1.

 The real damage was done in Boots where offers were found and therefore purchses were made. The crisps are my new addiction - sea salt and black pepper is so yummy. I also need a box of tissues during hayfever season - these cute ones with a pink birds design were 2 for £1.99. Makeup remover is a must and this oil-based one from Garnier was BOGOF (buy one get one free) or £2.99 each and is fab.

Then the fun starts...

I bought this St Tropez bronzing mitt as it was cheap at £2.99 and will prevent streaking when I decide to break out Dove Summer Glow for my holidays.

A rave from Amelia Liana. Lily Pebbles and Anna (Vivianna) is the Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Pink. I love this as it is creamy and still sticky so stays put on lips and cheeks - a gorgeous colour too for £6.99.

Then a repurchase is the Natural Collection Pressed Powder in Neutral - the best powder as it doesn't ever look cakey and doesn't add too much colour plus it's only £1.99 but I got it for 99p on a buy one get one half off deal on cosmetics.

The last two bits are from Nip+Fab (which I always assumed was just for celulite creams?). I found these in Debenhams on about 75% off so that made them about £2.00 each - bargains! The two things were the Clean Fix Oil and the Shine Fix primer-esque cream - both look really cool and I can't wait to try them!

Thanks for reading and please follow my blog if you enjoyed it - there's a bloglovin link on the left.

What have you bought recently? What do you want to try? What's on your wishlist?

Love Lizzie x 

PS: Thank you for the amazing response to my 'Dupes for essie nail colours' post - would you like another?

Best Under Eye/Dark Circle Correcting Concealers from the Drugstore -Boots and Superdrug | L'Oreal, Soap and Glory, MUA, e.l.f, 2true

 

 Hi, I'm Lizzie and I am a Concealaholic. I have a drawer full of them. And as a sufferer of dark circles, I like to try out a lot of concealers to cover them - these are a few of my favourites.

Soap and Glory Trick and Treatment in Bright On - £9.00

A recent find but I've already fallen in love; it is a yellow toned corrector and it really makes my undereye circles disappear, plus it has some kind of technology that helps to treat dark circles so I feel like I'm helping my skin when I use it.

2true 3-in-1 Concealer in Light 1 - £1.99

This provides the coverage of Collection Lasting Perfection but is not half as cakey and lasts as long. It is fabby on blemishes too and can be found in Superdrug.

e.l.f Tone Correcting Concealer in Rosy Beige - £1.50

A well-loved concealer, this one looks super-natural and even though the coverage isn't amazing it can be built up and lasts all day.

Make Up Academy Pro Base Conceal and Brighten Kit in Porcelain Beige - £3.50

These concealers (+ cream highlight) are so fabulous and creamy and correcting I cannot explain but I'll try. They never crease on me, look flawless and blend amazingly. I love these and need them in my life. I'm already hitting pan on the two concealer shades - oops x

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Highlighting Concealer in 1 Light - £8.49

This is super brightening and works so much better than the mayebelline one. It is not cakey at all and blends perfectly. The shades are all really neutral and the brush is really soft so doesn't irritate my eyes - amaze!

Swatches (from left then below): Soap and Glory, 2true, e.l.f, L'Oreal, MUA

I hope this blog post was helpful in your journey to find the perfect holy grail concealer - if you have any recommendations please leave them as a comment or send me an email to lizzielovesfudge@hotmail.co.uk

Best Tinted Lip Balms | Soap and Glory, Nivea, Sleek, Miss Sporty, Burt's Bees

 As a big fan of natural, no-makeup makeup, I naturally love tinted lip balms as they add a hint of colour and still moisturising the lips anyway.

So here are a few of my favourites, ranging in price and pigmentation.

 First up is the Sleek Makeup Pout Polish SPF15 in the shade 'Frosting'. I love this because it is only £4.49, is super moisturising and the colour is a gorgeous lilac. A downside is that it is in a little pot so you have to use your finger/a lip brush but I can work around that.

 Next are the Miss Sporty Dr Balms in the shades Gossip Kiss and Honeymoon Kiss (an orange and a bright pink). These can probably be compared to the Maybelline Baby Lips as they are more like lipbalms with a bit of moisturisation added. Good smelling and a lovely colour selection.

 The Nivea Soft Rose lipbalm has a very light hint of pink pearl but is very moisturising and leaves my lips soft - great for school.

 Then comes the Soap and Glory Mighty Mouth which is a tingling minty lip gloss that leaves my lips hydrated with a glossy finish.

 Last are the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balms that I have in the shades Red Dahlia and Hibiscus (red dahlia being a brown/red and hibiscus an orangey coral). These are really moisturising and leave a really saturated colour on the lips - they do whiff a bit of sweat but it can be got over.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post - what are your favourite tinted lip balms/lip balms in general?

Lizzie x

Weekend Haul | Barnado's, Poundland, WHSmith and Superdrug

I know it's not the weekend (sob x) but I wanted to show you a few bits I bought last weekend from a few places.

 

I picked up this super adorable card in a charity shop near me - Barnado's to be exact. It was only 79 pence - bargain! - and will come in handy for summer birthdays.

In poundland I found a dew bargains - these Kleenex Facial Towlette have been in the 99p store too so are they being discontinued? I picked up a couple of boxes because they cleanse a lot deeper than a cotton pad. I also picked up this Beauty Formulas Cooling Mist which is basically just de-ionised water in a spray can but was much cheaper than ones from evian and avene but is super refreshing on hot days - I keep it in my school bag. I also bought these 3 toothbrushes from Wisdom as we're planning a few summer trips and I always need a new toothbrush when I go on holiday otherwise packing gets a bit awkward - packing carry-on luggage post is being planned at the mo. I also bought a boring one but an essential - cotton buds. I use these for clearing up makeup mistakes, nail polish removal and, obviously, cleaning out my ears (ewwww!).

 

A great deal this month if you're in the UK is Marie Claire Magazine for £3.80. A advert-filled mag but the free gifts are great! Two ciate nail polishes - cookies and cream and caviar pearls - plus Oral B Pro Expert All Around Protection toothpaste sample and John Frieda Everlasting Blonde shampoo and conditioner samples! Fabby!

+++ John Lewis' free magazine contains a sample of the NUDE Perfect Cleansing Oil - pick yours up in a John Lewis today!

 

 

Then in Superdrug I purchased the B. Micellar Water on the recommendation of LauraLovesBeauty and I have to say it is so much more cleansing than the L'Oreal one and is a great quick fix. Then a bargainous £6 palette is this Look Beauty Mini Makeover Palette - great for travel, this compact palette similar to the Khroma Kardazzles contains 4 lip colours, 8 eyeshadows and 1 blush! Amazing! It comes in 3 shades for different eye colours and the pigmentation is fabulous! Then lastly I picked up a Dove Summer Glow in the light/medium shade to add a bit of colour to my snow-white legs for the shorts season.

I hope you enjoyed reading and follow this blog via bloglovin to the right.

PS Do you like these short weekend hauls more regularly (ie every other week) or larger hauls less regularly (ie once every two months)? Let me know in a comment and I'll be sure to reply and check out your blog.

Nightime/Evening Skincare Routine + BONUS Treatments and Masks | June/Summer 2013

 And it's here... the evening skincare post - I hope you enjoy!

 

 Step 1 is removing my makeup and I use wipes to remove most of my face - I love the Primark pink ones and the No7 ones but I'll use whatever. For my waterproof mascara I use the Garnier 2 in 1 remover - it's normally half-blue half-clear but I've used most of it up.

 

Next I cleanse my skin with one of 3 things - if I have a lot of active breakouts I use Soap and Glory's Peaches and Clean that I am 100% obsessed with - try it... please! If my skin is dryer than normal I use the No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser that leaves my skin really moisturised and soft. If I'm having a good skin day I use my StIves Blemish Fighting Scrub as it keeps acne at bay and leaves my skin exfoliated.

 

After cleansing I tone with this micellar water from L'Oreal - it removes any extra makeup and doesn't leave my skin tight or stripped. I like it but next to try is the one from B.

 

 If I'm feeling fancy I'll apply a little of this serum from No7 around my eyes - it isn't essential but acts like a primer for my moisturiser.

 For moisturiser I take my Superdrug Naturally Radiant Renewing Night Cream that smells like Grandmas and plants but I like it. It leaves my skin soft and hydrated.

 For eye cream I use the same one I use in the mornings from Boots - amazing.

 Then for masks - I use a variety of masks, usually sachets from Superdrug or Montagne Jeunesse. My favourites are the Superdrug Cucumber Peel Off Mask (not shown) and the Fruit Sorbet Peel Off Mask (also not shown).

However, I like the masks shown too - the Avon Blackhead one is a good quick fix and the Simple one is very moisturising.

I hope you enjoyed this post - be sure to check out my ones on makeup (reviews etc) and subscribe via google friend connect, bloglovin' and emal.

Speak Soon,

Lizzie x