L'Oreal Infallible - Porcelain

L'Oreal True Match - 1N Ivory

Collection Lasting Perfection concealer - 1 Fair

NYX Wonder Stick - Light/Medium

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - Luminous Light

Revolution Ultra Contour Palette

MAC Eyebrow Pencil - Accentuated

L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper - Light/Medium

BY TERRY Ombre Black Star - Misty Rock

OR  Bronze Moon

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat - Pillow Talk

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick - Very Victoria

OR/AND 

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish lipstick - 03

Maybelline Colorsensational Shine Gloss - 610 Naked Star

For my base I like to mix L'Oreal Infallible - review here - and True Match - review here -  as I like the coverage - and need the paleness - of the Infallible but like to add a bit more radiance with the True Match. My new favourite product is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder as it adds such an amazing glow to my fairly dry skin. The shade I have, Luminous Light, has a slight shimmer to it, which allows it to double up as a highlighter too. It doesn't cling to any dry patches and you can touch it up as many times as you like without looking cake-y. I wouldn't recommend this for those with oily skin, as much as it could add to the shine. I also wouldn't recommend to those with very pale skin as it can make my skin look a bit darker than it really is. I'm definitely going to look into trying a different shade as they're totally worth the more luxury price tag.

My eyebrows are definitely not my best friend. I’ve tried more eyebrow products than I can count and suffered many eyebrow disasters. However, I finally feel like I’ve settled with products that work for me. A full eyebrow products test and review post coming soon.

The BY TERRY Ombre Blackstar eyeshadow sticks are possibly my favourite products in my makeup collection. They are so easy to work with and look great with anything. I definitely want to purchase more soon and I highly recommend them to anyone. I really love the way the L’Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara makes my lashes look. It’s very black and dramatic without being clumpy, although it is quite hard to just apply a small amount for a more natural look.

Recently, I’ve really been enjoying trying and experimenting with new lip products and the matte lip look - although as you can see I still can't keep away from the gloss. My new favourite lip products at the moment are from Charlotte Tilbury. Jade and I had a naughty spree in the store in Covent Garden a few weeks ago on a trip to London, the staff were so lovely and helpful and I'm so pleased with what I came away with. Although these products are matte they are still very creamy and don't dry my lips out as much as other matte lipsticks - full review here. Also, the packaging is beautiful.

What are your go to products at the moment?

~Lucy xx

“Instantly diminish the appearance of pores and all-day-shine control, 

helps hide imperfections, even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of redness. It also helps makes your make

 up last longer and, with vitamin E, leaves you good to glow.”

On a recent peruse in Boot I came across the Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Instant Perfecting Power Primer. I’m always looking for new primers as having oily skin I need all the help I can get to keep my makeup on my face. 

When I first tried this I expected it to be a silicone-like primer - which I’m not the greatest fan of, see Maybelline Baby Skin Review - but it isn’t. It’s light pink in colour and is a beautiful texture - not quite gel-like nor cream, something in-between. I like to pat it into my skin and it leaves the skin slightly tacky. 

Personally I don’t suffer with redness, however I have noticed that the pores around my nose appear smaller under my foundation with this primer, I am less oily and my makeup lasts longer. I haven’t noticed it helping to hide any imperfections but I’m not too sure how an almost clear primer can hide imperfections? 

My favourite thing about this primer though is that it doesn’t make my skin super matte. It still lets your skin have a natural, semi-matte look rather than making everything look flat and dry but still stems any further oil. Usually in a day I’d need to top up my powder two or three times but when using this primer once is enough in a eight to ten hour day.

Do you have any primer recommendations?

~ Jade x

On days where you don't have much time to worry about your makeup, you’re only going to be running errands but you don’t want to be barefaced or you just generally don’t wear a lot of makeup the five minute face is an important routine to have in your arsenal for when you need it. 

BASE | For base when you’re in a rush it’s best to keep things simple. Skip a foundation as they take a bit of work to buff into the skin and instead opt for a tinted moisturiser/BB cream/CC cream type product, these are much lighter on the skin and so take next to no time to apply. I’ve recently been enjoying using the Bourjois CC Cream - full review here. Although you could skip a base altogether.

CONCEAL | When you don’t have a lot of time a quick all-round concealer is the way to go. The Rimmel Wake Me Up is one of my all time favourite concealers as its good for under the eyes and any blemishes, it also blends into the skin quickly and easily.

BROWS | The quickest way to fill in your brows is with a pencil as faffing around with powders or pomades takes far too long when you’re strapped for time. I love the Soap & Glory Archery Brow Tint & Pencil, the pencil side is waxy so sets your brows as well as fills them in and the pen side creates a natural looking brow as you can create individual looking hairs.

EYES | If you’re in a rush there’s no time to mess around with shadows or liner so just a good coat of mascara will see you through - don’t forget to curl those cases though. My mascara of the moment has been the Maybelline Lash Sensational - full review here.

CHEEKS | Forget about contour and bronzers and instead just opt for a cream blush. It’s quick and easy but adds a youthful and fresh look to the face. The Bourjois Cream Blush in 01 Nude Velvet is a beautiful coral shade which will suit most skin tones.

LIPS | For lips just opt for a lip balm, no one has time for to worry about a red lip in a hurry.

What are you 5 minute makeup go-to’s?

~ Jade xx

The smell of biscuits is definitely on the horizon. With summer being in full swing many of us will be wanting that glowing bronze goddess tan and instead of sitting in the sun for hours on end to achieve a natural tan - as this is incredibly damaging to our skin, always wear suncream - will want to fake it. There’s a few different ways to do this and a few paramount steps to take in order to achieve the best, natural looking, fake tan you can so here are my top tips.

Exfoliate | To prevent tan clinging to any dry skin be sure to exfoliate everywhere you’ll be tanning, legs, arms, chest, the lot. Pay special attention to places like the knees, elbows and ankles as tan tends to especially gather in these areas. Great body scrubs out there include Soap & Glory Scrub ‘Em And Leave ‘Em & The Breakfast Scrub and the Sanctuary Salt Scrub is a great exfoliating and moisturising scrub too.

Moisturise | Moisturising is paramount to achieving a smooth, streak free tan. Not only is moisturising your skin generally good for smoothing everything out and looking after your limbs it will prevent any unwanted patchy tan. I like to use an after sun rather than an actual body moisturiser as they tend to be lighter in formula so sink into the skin faster but still give heavy hydration. Clarins After Sun Gel Ultra-Soothing is a lovely after sun as is the Garnier After Sun, for a more affordable option.

Barrier | The step a lot of people forget is to barrier off places that don’t need tan or tan easily gathers. If you’re using an instant tan this step can be skipped but if you’re using a fake tan that will be sticking around for at least a week this step is essential. To do this use Vaseline - petroleum jelly - and apply to the ankles, heels, knees - front and back -, elbows - front and back -, collar bones, wrists, under arms and around your hair line.

Tan | To apply fake tan always use a mitt. Whether its instant tan, a mouse, lotion, whatever your preferred tan is always, always, always use a mitt. Using a mitt will mean the tan is easily worked into the skin, is streak free and evenly applied but also that your hands aren’t left stained a lovely shade of orange. Apply a little at a time instead of going in with a massive dollop and not be able to blend it in. Work in sections so the tan doesn’t start drying before you’ve finished working it in and only use the excess left on the mitt to brush over the tops of your hands and feet. Great self-tanners include the St Tropez Bronzing Mouse, the St Tropez Express Tan Mousse and Xen-Tan Deep Bronze Luxe. Great instant tanners include the Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan, the Fake Bake Bronzer Instant Tan Lotion and the Clarins Instant Smoothing Self Tan for the face. The Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body is a great alternative for those of use who are scared of fake tan but still want the bronzed goddess look or add even more shimmer on top of your tan.

Do you have any tanning tips?

~ Jade xx

I’ve recently started to use fake tan and have been loving it. 

The St Tropez Bronzing Mousse formula is streak free, easy to apply and long lasting.

Before I fake tan I always exfoliate and the Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub gets the job done, 

smells really good and leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated as it contains Shea butter.

The Boots Botanics Mattifying Gel Cream is the perfect daily moisturiser for anyone with oily skin. It’s budget friendly, 

hydrating and due to the gel formula it leaves skin matte enough that theres no need for a primer.

For targeted spot treatment I’ve recently been using the Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil. I put a small amount onto a 

cotton pad and dab onto any active acne. It’s effective, natural and cruelty free, what’s not to like?

I’ve been going back to old favourites recently and the shades ‘Naked’ & ‘Sidecar’ from the original Urban Decay Naked Palette

are my current favourite eyeshadows. I use naked in the crease and sidecar all over the lid - to avoid the chunks of glitter

 from sidecar going everywhere I suggest putting your crease colour on before your lid colour.

What are your current favourites?

~ Jade xx