Trying Charlotte Tilbury for the first time

I've always wanted to try Charlotte Tilbury, but could never justify the price to my bank balance. Everything is just so beautiful! So imagine my glee when I discovered that I'd won Corrie's blogerversary giveaway!

I spent a while umming and ahhing over what to buy, even popping into the Covent Garden store to take a look. In the end I picked three matte lipsticks. They're the product that I've always coveted, so why not get three? That's not overkill, right?

Revisiting Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

Those three words that simultaneously bring fear and nostalgia to our hearts - Dream Matte Mousse. A true ghost of make-up past. I started 2018 by brainstorming social posts and perusing make-up counters for new products. But then I found myself thinking - what about the old classics?

I used Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse longer than I'd care to admit. It was one of the first "proper" foundations that I had and I think it was still in my rotation of foundations up until the age of 20. I'm a lazy gal; I like products that are quick to apply.

And so, all these years later, I decided to give it another shot. Enjoy a selection of close up shots of my face, in all its peach-fuzz glory!

Primark's Brush Cleansing Pad vs Real Techniques' Brush Cleansing Palette

Washing makeup brushes is perhaps my least favourite chore. On Sundays, I'll put some washing on, do some cleaning, tidy up the house then finally relax. Come Monday morning I go to get ready for work and realise that I forgot to wash them and have to use a manky buffer brush to put my foundation on. Urgh.

For a long time I washed my brushes by hand, until finally investing in the Reach Techniques palette when I spotted it going cheap in TK Maxx. It was definitely a game changer, even though it didn't motivate me to wash them more often.

I was shopping in Primark recently, and impulsively picked up a PS Makeup Brush Cleaning Pad whilst queuing for the till. It was only £1.50 so I thought, why not?

So, here's my comparison of the two. Is the budget option better?

The Body Shop Back to School Feel Good Box Unboxing and Review

The Body Shop is my go-to store for many of my beauty items, but it's very rare that I'll step off the beaten path and try something new. Last month I ended up taking advantage of one of their great online offers and needed another item to hit the spend threshold, so I impulsively added their Feel Good Box to my basket. Take a peek at what I found inside...

Six Foundations for Pale Skin

Foundation is probably the most difficult type of makeup out there - it's so difficult to get the colour right. I have enough issues, being white as a sheet, but I definitely feel for people with darker skin tones because it must be even more difficult to find a match!

This post is one for the people with white skin. The type of skin that rarely sees sunlight (thank you, British climate), and when it does needs lashings of factor 50...

Urban Decay Solstice Eyeshadow Review (+ Swatches)

I'm not usually one for buying single eyeshadows, but this one was too unusual to pass by! For my birthday I received a voucher for John Lewis. I was putting through a rather boring order of new towels so decided to throw in something for myself. It's unlike anything I have in my collection so I was excited for it to arrive!

Barry M Haul

A few weeks ago I popped into Superdrug and had a quick mooch down the makeup aisles. I didn't really need anything, but was in the mood to try something new. All of the products ended up being from Barry M, so I thought I'd do a little haul post!

My First Ever Colourpop Haul

It feels like a bit of a bloggers' right of passage to do a Colourpop haul. For so many years I've seen reviews of their products but never bothered buying anything. I think the fact that it's a US-based company put me off. I just didn't want the faff of shipping and customs. Until the weekend before my birthday when they had free international shipping. So I decided to treat myself.

For my first ever purchase I got a pack of 4 eyeshadows and 3 of their liquid lipsticks. I also received two mini liquid lips as a gift with purchase, so I got to try a selection of shades...

Blue Lagoon Silica Mud Mask Review

It's been a few months now since I went to Iceland. It's not uncommon knowledge that it's a pricey country; not exactly the place to pick up a bag of souvenirs. I bought two things for myself while we were there - a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt and this mud mask. It's the most expensive beauty item I've ever bought. In The Blue Lagoon gift shop (and its store in the centre of Reykjavik) it retails for around £80. I got mine in duty free at Keflavik airport for closer to £60. Was it worth it?

My High End Eyeshadow Palettes

I think my favourite type of makeup product is eyeshadow. It's something that I didn't really use for many years - I was more of a liquid eyeliner on its own kind of gal - but since I entered my 20s it became a firm favourite. And not just because it's beautiful to look at!

I have lusted after a lot of high end eyeshadow palettes in my time, but I've only ever purchased three - the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette, Stila's Eyes Are The Window in Spirit, and my custom MAC x15 palette (more details of which can be found here).

Why I haven't gone "Cruelty Free"

Cruelty Free is a big deal in the beauty blogging community. It's something that I've often considered doing, but have never gone through with.

I've been sitting on this post for a few months and annoyingly the Daily Mail, of all people, actually published an article to this effect a few weeks ago. They even used the source I have used - Ethical Consumer Magazine. My parents have had a subscription to this Manchester-based magazine for years so I'm very familiar with the publication. Ethical Consumer is well known for its ethical matrix, where it looks at companies' attitudes to the environment, animals, people and politics. Ethical Consumer don't tend to publish their recent ethical scores online, and I don't want to get in trouble by posting a scan of my copy, but I will list a few scores from the list in this post (and you can view more on their website).

When I saw the table of scores, it settled my opinion on Cruelty Free beauty. Of course I'm anti-animal testing for cosmetics, but it isn't where my priorities lie when buying a product...

MAC Fleur de Force Unboxing and Review

It's not often that I'll buy into a "blogger product", I'm often very tempted by products that my favourite bloggers put out but I don't think I've bought anything yet. But as soon as Fleur announced she was collaborating with MAC, you bet I had the date down in my calendar!

My Perfume Collection

I love buying perfume. I don't really think I'm a one scent kind of gal, and I'm always trying out testers when I'm in Boots/Debenhams/John Lewis etc.

I feel like I'm always hunting for that 'perfect scent' that'll become my one perfume, but until then I'll just keep collecting...

My MAC x15 Palette

I did it, I completed my MAC Palette! Just over a year ago I wrote a post marking the beginning of this quest as I tried to make my perfect palette. I thought it'd take a lot longer, but I think too many trips to the MAC counter tempted me!

Life Lately #1

When I wrote about my New Year's Resolutions I didn't really mention my resolutions blog-wise, however I did start the year enthusiastic to get more posts published that I could be proud of (both content and visuals). January may be the month of new beginnings but it's not exactly kind to us bloggers when it comes to photos - especially when the sun has set and it's pitch black before you even finish work! Nevertheless, I thought I'd put together a little post with what I've been up to and a few new products that I have in my life...

All of these photos were kind of improvised whilst at Kris' house - I used an ASOS box and some tissue paper that came with a cardigan as my backdrop and Kris as my glamorous assistant with the lighting. A little tricky to compose, but I think the photos came out okay!

A purple haul? A few pre-Christmas treats

I try to resist buying myself things near to Christmas, out of fear that I'll accidentally buy something that someone was planning to get me. However, a few things seem to end up in my basket throughout December...

What I got for Christmas 2016!

As with last year's post, my 'what I got for Christmas' posts will always come with a slight delay as I tend to spend Christmas with my Mum/Stepdad's family and New Year with my Dad so get staggered presents.

I love reading these kinds of posts because I'm so nosy! Obviously I'm not here trying to brag, but I'm writing this assuming that you're nosy too!

An Hourglass Dupe? Makeup Revolution Beyond Radiance Review (+ swatches)

I always see people post photos of Hourglass powders and they just look so beautiful, but way out of my price range. I think if I spent that much on a powder/blush I'd feel guilty forever. I love a good dupe, so popped over to the Makeup Revolution counter in Superdrug!

Toni and Guy Fluid Metal Styler Unboxing and Review

I impulsively bought the Toni and Guy Fluid Metal Styler hair straighteners because they were on an Amazon Prime Deal for £24.99. With an RRP £90, it was hard to resist! These were limited edition last Christmas, but are still available online on their website and in Boots.

B. Makeup Brush Cleansing Wipes

I picked up the B. Makeup Brush Cleansing Wipes randomly in Superdrug ages ago - I hadn't seen them before and sort of impulsively threw them in my basket. I am lazy AF when it comes to washing makeup brushes (as I'm sure many of you are) so thought this would be a good alternative to taking my whole brush collection into the bathroom to wash them.