MY FAVE FIVE: NUDE LIPSTICKS.

Lipsticks are huge business - just think of Urban Decay who released 100 shades of lipstick in their Vice Collection, and Smashbox who topped that earlier this year! I love experimenting with different colours, I love dark reds and purples as well as nudes but when it comes to wearing lipstick in public it's either a very sheer wash of colour or a nude. I'd love to be braver in terms of colour!

MAC Mehr is one of my go to colours - a pink tone, very similar to MAC Soar lip liner (to be quite honest, they're usually applied together) - I love the MAC Lipsticks though, and that's obvious even down to the fact that there are two MAC Lipsticks in my top five. I love the creamy consistency and the longevity, not to mention the sleek packaging of them . MAC Velvet Teddy is the second nude I was going to mention which is a light brown tone, I pretty much always pair this with Subculture lip liner.

Urban Decays range of lipsticks is crazy, 100 colours and a variety of finishes - I have two, and Stark Naked is a gorgeous nude shade. Stark Naked is a comfort matte, a brown toned nude that I feel would match everything and anything. I really like the consistency of the lipsticks, not too hard that you have to put a lot of pressure on to apply (yes I have come across lipsticks like that). I have the matching lip liner and they create the perfect lip combo.

Estee Lauder's Dynamic is a gorgeous pink toned lipstick, not as matte as the MAC lipsticks, yet not a satin finish either. It's a beautiful colour, and these kinds of darker, nude pink shades are my favourite to wear. Again, just like the others, it applies so easily to the lip and it's comfortable too.

Benefit Cosmetics are releasing some new lipsticks next year (keep your eyes peeled), and one of my favourites is Lusty Rose, released as part of the They're Real Big Sexy Lip Kit. These are a combined lipstick and lip liner and you can read more about them here. The minute I saw Lusty Rose I knew it would become a staple colour for me as it's so similar to the colours I already lean towards.

MORNING SKINCARE: STRIPPED BACK

Due to my use of Acnecide Benzoyl Peroxide Cream (read about that here) my morning skincare is pretty short and sweet and mainly consists of cleansing any dirt out of my skin from the night before. I'm pretty groggy in the mornings, so cleansing my face first thing really helps to wake me up. I tend to let the hot tap run for a while to warm up the water. After a night time application of Acnecide you never know what kind of mess will pop up on my face overnights so a hot flannel has become my new best friend. I lay the flannel on my skin for a while, but also use it to clean away any excess dirt from around my eyes ready to put my contact lenses in.

After laying a hot flannel on my face for a while, and gently rubbing around my eyes, I used the Decleor Aroma Cleanse which is a 3 in 1 cleansing and smoothing mousse to cleanse my entire face. This cleanser is gentle, which is usually what I need in the morning. I rinse the cleanser off, pat my face dry and then apply a light coat of Acnecide. I'm aware that a product such as this can pull any dirt and imperfection to the surface of the skin and that's not something I want to appear on my face throughout the day, so I always apply a lighter amount in the morning. Once the Acnecide Gel has dried, I apply a moisturiser - at the moment it's Benefit's Total Moisture which has Mango butter in which is great for my dry skin happening as a side effect of the medicated cream. 

That's my skin all ready and prepped for make up - or lack of if it's a day off of mine. At first applying the gel every morning and night was a bit of a chore but it's allowed me to get a real cleansing routine. 

MY FAVE FIVE: CONCEALERS.

Concealers are an absolute must have in my life right now - mainly for blemishes but also for the dark circles that come alongside this rotten cold I have at the moment. Just like my foundations, I have a few favourites and they all really do different things but I love each of them just as much and I'm not entirely sure I could choose between them.

One of my all time favourite concealers is the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer which retails at about £4.19 - one of the many reasons I love it is probably the price - a cheap concealer that actually works is always a good thing in my eyes, but also because of the versatility of the product. It's amazing both under the eye and on any blemishes. The doe foot applicator is small enough to fit right into the inside corner of the eye and brighten the entire area. Collection - well done!

Fake Up by Benefit was the first Premium concealer I ever purchased, not to mention the first Benefit product I ever purchased (look where that got me!) I love the fact that it's so hydrating - so great under the eye as the eye area is so delicate. It's great on blemishes too as it doesn't dry them out! I use the lightest shade in a 'magic v' under the eye and blend out with a brush (or my finger if I'm being quick).

MAC Pro Longwear is popular, a full coverage concealer that's great on blemishes and has amazing staying power. I used to use this when I needed a full coverage stay all day concealer when I was doing long, or double shifts. The frustrating thing with this concealer is that it's a pump as opposed to a doe foot or stick applicator - this means that sometimes it gives off too much product and once it's out it can't be put back! I've learnt that half a pump is the right amount for under my eyes and any more if I have any blemishes that I need covering.

Bourjois Radiance Reveal concealer is another high street concealer that I adore - it's a new find but it's incredible and compact so you can throw it in your bag and go! It's gorgeous and easy to blend. I love this under the eye as the shade I chose is a little light so it gives this amazing, radiant, bright under eye.

My final concealer is Benefit's Erase Paste - only a recent discovery from my work allocation, Erase Paste is a pink colour corrector that brightens and counteracts any blue or purple discolouration around the eye - that means those pesky dark circles. It's quite a thick consistency at first but after some blending it's amazing - hands down my favourite concealer for under the eye.

I love concealers! Have any of you got any favourites?

FIRST IMPRESSION: YOUNIQUE.

Whenever a new make up brand pops up, we're always pretty eager to try (at least I am) so after winning a competition through my local Younique Representative on Facebook I thought I'd write a post on my first impressions on the brand.

Admittedly, I'm not too keen on the constant social media posting, but I really liked these three shades of lipstick, Stinkin' Rich, Loaded and Upper Class - one red, one darker brown tone and a pink tone nude (my favourite). The lipsticks are amazing! Really moisturising and long lasting. The packaging is lovely and sleek too - overall I'm pretty impressed. I look forward to trying some more Younique products!

ACNECIDE: MY EXPERIENCE.

A while ago, I had a huge breakout - I'm pretty sure it was a reaction to a primer that I tried as my skin started to appear bumpy and textured after using that, however I was impatient and tried to get rid of any blemishes by over-exfoliating - twice a day to be precise. Although the exfoliator was gentle, it was far too much, especially considering you should exfoliate twice a week. I was desperate to get rid of the breakout, but it made it worse.

It got to the point where I was embarrassed of my skin - I've never been one to rely on make up. I never really like to wear masses, and I felt like I had to in order to cover everything up. My Mum dragged me to our local pharmacist and asked them to give me something for my skin - after a short examination of my face, they gave me a 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel called Acnecide.. to be quite honest I felt like I had acne.. the spots were large, red and painful and I wanted rid. I started with the gel but was advised that there is a face wash you can use alongside the cream if I didn't feel like it was working. I was also advised to strip back my skincare routine for a while - all my favourite toners and serums had to be put away for a while, and I was to use a mild cleanser twice a day. 

I found the most natural cleanser I owned - a Decleor Aroma Cleanse in the morning, and a Decleor Micellar Oil to remove make up and cleanse at night time. After cleansing both morning and night I applied a generous coat of Acnecide to the affected areas. At first it made my skin itch and feel tight, I remember one day I put it on and my entire face hurt. After a while the pain went away and my skin began to clear, almost every single day I would wake up with more spots, but they would clear up and after time became less frequent. 

I wasn't applying any form of moisturiser out of fear that it would aggravate my skin, however the Acnecide Gel started to dry my skin hugely - I've never had dry skin so I panicked and started mass applying moisturiser, morning, night and before any make up application. I use Benefit's Total Moisture as it's my favourite moisturiser and its the thickest I own. 

I'm now on my second tube of Acnecide, my skin has cleared up dramatically, but it still has a long way to go. I'm starting to slowly introduce some other skincare into my routine, one product at a time. Acnecide however, has become part of my skincare routine and probably will be for quite a while - but that's fine because I can see how much of a difference it is making.  

MY FAVE FIVE: FOUNDATIONS.

Foundation is a huge staple in someones make up bag - it can completely change the way someone looks through creating a flawless base for the beginning of your makeup. I have quite a few favourites, and they are all completely different - from dewy and brightening, to matte and full coverage. At the moment, a foundation is probably my favourite part of my make up routine, it makes me feel much more confident in covering all flaws and redness. I have many favourites but I managed to narrow it down to my five favourites.

My go to staple foundation is Estee Lauder's Double Wear. It's full coverage, and wears for hours which is exactly what I need for long days. It doesn't necessarily have a dewy finish (which is my preference over matte) however I choose to use an illuminating primer in order to create that finish. I apply this with a flat concealer brush and then blend with a beauty blender due to the fact that the bottle doesn't have a pump. A little goes a long long way with this foundation and the bottle has lasted me ages.

Another one of my favourites is Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow by Benefit Cosmetics. Hello Flawless is lightweight and hydrating. It's a buildable, breathable foundation which is one of the many things I like about it - and besides that, gives a dewy finish! Despite the finish, I'll still use a brightening primer (specifically Benefit's That Gal) to give the perfect base to start on. I like to apply this, like all foundations, with a beauty blender however it applies beautifully with a flat foundation brush or buffing brush.

Vichy Dermablend 3D Correction has made an appearance on my blog before (here) but it's great for acne/blemish prone skin. It's a full coverage foundation but definitely doesn't feel that way; it covers, smooths and improves skins texture in one application. The ingredients in this foundation unfold like a second skin, blurring imperfections and create a much more even skin tone and texture.

My last two favourites are from MAC. The first MAC foundation that I tried was the Studio Fix Fluid which I really liked, but once I branched out I found two that I absolutely love! The Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof is exactly that - longwearing and waterproof. I've seen that this has been used by Olympic swimmers, further confirming the fact that the foundation is highly waterproof. I like that it's in a tube that you can squeeze out and due to the full coverage of this foundation (can we tell I like my full coverage?) a little bit goes a really really long way. My second foundation from MAC is the Studio Waterweight which is water based and feels amazing on the skin. It has a dropper in the bottle which you apply directly to the face and blend. The Studio Waterweight is lightweight and buildable - reminding me ever so slightly of a fuller coverage Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow.

There are so many foundations that I love, including more from Illamasqua, Urban Decay and even high street brands such as Rimmel and Revlon, and so many more that I'd love to try! What are your favourites?

STILA ONE STEP CORRECT

Stila's One Step Correct is possibly my all time favourite primer - I rarely use an entire bottle and get a second but this one, I have! It's a tone correcting and brightening serum that instantly colour corrects, brightens and helps improve skin imperfections.

This product is a huge must in my make up bag and it's appearance always gets my friends asking what it is - it's a triple helix design including green, lavender and peach tones to colour correct the face.

• Green tones instantly neutralises redness and conceals blemishes.
• Lavender tone counteracs sallow undertones and creates a vibrant, energised look.
• Peach tone brightens, illuminates and helps diminish the appearance of sun spots and darkness.

One Step Correct also contains Stila's Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex which helps with brightening and anti-aging. The creamy formula blends perfectly into the skin, doesn't settle into pores or fine lines, making your skin look amazing, radiant and flawless!

VICHY DERMABLEND 3D CORRECTION.

I was kindly gifted some products by Vichy, one of which was their 3D Correction Foundation from the Dermablend range.  I'm a huge lover of a full coverage foundation to hide any imperfections and my lovely red rosy cheeks - I've tried a few, and I'd always wanted to try ones from Vichy as I'd heard that they were great for full coverage, and amazing on blemished skin.

3D Correction gives a flawless matte finish, and you only need the tiniest amount! The consistency is thick, but doesn't feel or look heavy on the skin which is incredible as quite often than not if a foundation has a thick consistency it appears thick on the skin. Vichy claim that the 3D Correction corrects colour and levels skin texture - they also claim that it visibly reduces the appearance of imperfections and I can safely say, after suffering from a vicious breakout, that it definitely has done so! My breakout has gone down dramatically after a few uses of 3D Correction.

I'm obsessed with this foundation - it's oil free, SPF 25, hypoallergenic and even paraben free. Lots of things that I look for in a foundation. I would 10000% recommend this to everyone, whether you have imperfections that you need to conceal or not. Full coverage and fantastic!

KYLIE JENNER LIP KIT.

The Kylie Jenner Lip Kits are growing ever popular, especially at first when there was next to no stock available. The Lip Kit consists of a liquid lipstick and a matching liner, and I love a good lip liner so this was an important part of the kit for me.

I managed to get my hands on Candy K which is a gorgeous nude colour - I was expecting a more pink nude, however it dries as a more brown toned nude which isn't a problem as I still like those kinds of colours.

Like any lip product I wear, I always use a lip balm before applying - liquid lipsticks are notoriously drying so keeping my lips hydrated is key. I also top up with a lip balm throughout the day if I feel as though my lips are drying out.

I absolutely love the formula of Candy K, although slightly drying (as with any liquid lipstick), it's long lasting and really pigmented. I also love the lip liner and frequently wear it alone! Well worth the money, although the customs charges were disappointing! I look forward to trying some more colours, hopefully a pink and a red next time!

BENEFIT CHEEKATHON PALETTE.

Benefit's Box'O Powders are infamous - long lasting, pigmented blushes in a range of colours - pinks, corals, plums, there's something to suit everyone.  Earlier this year Benefit created the Cheekathon palette, extremely similar to the palettes usually released around Christmas; Real Cheeky Party, and this years Blushin' Babe, except in this one, every single blusher is full size!

The palette consists of Coralista, Dandelion, Rockateur, Dallas and the ever popular, Hoola bronzer. I like to use Hoola to bronze up the face and any of the other colours to add a pop of colour to the cheeks - sometimes it's Rockateur, sometimes it's Coralista, and coming more into the Winter months it can be Dallas - I tend to change it up a lot.

The palette itself is worth £117 but it's sold for £44.50 - thats £8.90 a blusher.. insane value for money really. Benefit's Cheekathon palette is exclusive to House of Fraser and you can purchase it here.

VICHY DERMABLEND CORRECTIVE STICK.

I was super excited to receive the Vichy Dermablend Corrective Stick in the post as it's something I've wanted to try for a long time now. At first I was unsure whether it was a concealer or foundation - and although listed as a concealer, I'm sure it could be something you could use as both.

I like to apply mine directly to the skin around any blemishes and blend in. The formula is smooth, oil free and easy to work with. It also has an SPF 30 and claims to be waterproof, although I haven't personally tested that myself.

I am obsessed with this concealer and I've used it every day since I received it - I like a full coverage concealer and am used to the likes of Benefit Boiing, or MAC Pro Longwear concealers and I can safely say that this has been replacing those for a while. This is one of Vichy's bestsellers and I can certainly see why.

ESTEE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR.

So many women swear by Advanced Night Repair. The ladies from the Estee Lauder counter at work swear by Advanced Night Repair and I can certainly see why! 

At the moment, I won't lie, my skin is absolutely atrocious. Something unknown has caused my skin to break out horrifically and I'm absolutely heartbroken as I was just building a brilliant friendship with my skin and now I feel like I've been betrayed. I'd used Advanced Night Repair before and loved it, however that was only a sample and that sample is long gone. I got myself another sample, just to make sure I love it as much as I did the first time, and I do. 

Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair is advertised as an anti-aging serum, it's also advertised as something that gives you more beautiful looking skin every day - and that's something that I need most at this moment in time. It basically maximises the power of your skin's natural nighttime renewal and has been tried, tested and proven on over 500 women - that's really something!

I've been using it for a while now, and I can already see a difference! My skin looks smoother, more hydrated, and stronger - I can tell that it's repairing itself from my monster breakout! It's also been making my skin appear a lot less dry which is amazing as that's never something I'd really struggled with until lately, and it's really helping with that which is great.

The regular size bottles have a dropper so that you can apply a few drops to your fingertips and then apply to the face, but the travel size ones have a normal bottle so I've been pouring a small amount into my hands and then applying straight to my face. I love it - it's oil free, and fragrance free and it's amazing!

URBAN DECAY PRIMER POTION.

I can get quite oily eyelids so an eyelid primer is an absolute must for me. I've tried loads including Avon, and Benefit (although I love Benefit's Air Patrol) but the Urban Decay Primer Potion is my favourite by far. It's quite a thick consistency and allows the eyeshadow to completely stick to my eyelid without budging all day. 

I chose mine in the shade Original which dries invisibly however they do have different shades including Minor Sin which is a champagne shimmer, Eden which is completely mattifying and one specifically for Anti Aging so again, just like their setting sprays there really is something for everyone. 

There's not a lot to say on this one, besides the fact that it's the best eyelid primer I've ever used. Keeps my eyeshadow on all day with minimal creasing - just what I like! 

What are your favourite eyelid primers?

URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHTER SETTING SPRAY

A setting spray is a staple in my every day make up - my skin tends to soak up my make up so I like to set it as much as I can without losing the effect of my makeup. Sometimes I find that using a powder to set (baking especially) can really make my skin look matte, and sometimes even dry, and that's not something I like as I usually go for a dewier, more natural finish.

The Urban Decay setting sprays are notoriously good, I've used others - from ELF, Avon and Freedom Cosmetics but none of them seem to do it as well as Urban Decay do! They have a few to choose from, including one for oilier skin so there really is something for everyone. I use the All Nighter Setting Spray which is suitable for all skin types and as at the moment mine is combination, it seems to be the best choice for me.

The All Nighter Setting Spray is a weightless mist that allows your makeup to look gorgeous for up to 16 hours! This is great way to stop the makeup melting, or settling into fine lines, and it definitely stops my face absorbing the makeup to the extent it usually does. Before application, just give the bottle a quick shake and then mist 2-4 times in a X and T formation.

I absolutely love this! It makes a huge difference to my makeup so I've started using it on an almost daily basis! Have you tried any setting sprays? Let me know what you thought!

URBAN DECAY BLACKMAIL LIPSTICK PALETTE.

The Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks have been hugely popular so I was eager to see which colours they would put in their limited edition Vice Palette. There are twelve shades to choose from and they are such a huge variety - I can imagine it was difficult to narrow it down from the 100 shades that Urban Decay released earlier this year.

The palette includes some dark colours, bold and bright colours and versatile neutrals (something I lean more towards). Something I really like about the palette is that not only have they given a variety of colours, they've also given a variety of finishes - including cream, matte, mega matte and shimmer. They've got dark shades like Blackmail and Firebird, bright shades such as EZ and 714, neutrals like Vanished, 1993 and Ex-Girlfriend and those to experiment with such as Big Bang and Conspiracy.. I'm eager to try them all! 

The palette also comes with a great retractable lip brush which I'm also really looking forward to trying as I love trying out new brushes - hopefully this is one that I'll love! I haven't even tried this palette although I have tried a couple of shades from the Vice Collection and those are great so I'm eager to try some new shades!

I'm super excited to use this palette - what are your favourite colours from the Urban Decay Vice Collection?

CLARINS FEED 10.

I've always been a very charitable person - always finding ways to raise money for charity or do generous things that can make a difference to someones life, even through simple acts of kindness. When I saw Clarins Feed 10 Gift with Purpose, there wasn't a doubt that crossed my mind that I had to have it. 

Clarins had collaborated with FEED Projects around the world to fight the worldwide childhood hunger epidemic - each set funding 10 school meals for children in poverty stricken countries throughout the UN Food Programme. 

The Gift with Purpose contains the Moisture Rich Body Lotion, Relax Bath & Shower Concentrate, Gentle Facial Exfoliator, Hydra Quench Cream Mask and Hand & Nail Treatment - I'm obsessed with a few of these which was another reason for me to get this, but more importantly for the children that it could help around the world.

The Gift with Purpose has ended now, but hopefully seeing this could inspire you to do something good for your community, or just for someone who needs it.

URBAN DECAY B6 PREP SPRAY.

Earlier this year I fell in love with a priming water and at first I thought that the Urban Decay B6 Prep Spray was just like that.. how wrong I was. Think of the B6 as the last step of your skincare and the first step of your makeup. 

The B6 Prep Spray is infused with all the good vitamins that your skin needs, including Vitamin B6, as well as being formulated to absorb oil, minimise the appearance of pores, reduce redness and prep your face ready for make up. There's also a bit of Vitamin E which provides antioxidants, and willow bark which is rich in salicylic acid (amazing for blemishes) and aids cell turnover. I give the bottle a good shake and spray all over my face - exactly the same way you would use a priming water or setting spray - and then get on with the rest of my make up.

Urban Decay claim that their B6 Prep Spray reduces oil and surface shine, as well as creating more radiant skin with less blemishes and redness. Over 72% of users could see a difference in their skins overall appearance - they must be doing something right. 

I haven't been using the the B6 Prep Spray for long but I've already noticed differences in my blemishes and the longevity of my make up. A product that I would never have looked to use on my own but I'm glad I was pointed its way!

URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHTER FOUNDATION.

Urban Decay are an amazing make up brand that I've been trying a lot of recently. Growing up, it was really the only premium make up name that I knew as my cousin was always using their products! Lately, their new All Nighter Foundation has become a staple in my make up bag. Usually, I was using Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation as it was high coverage and stayed all day - so I was eager to try the All Nighter when I heard that it was supposed to be a rival for the Double Wear.

The All Nighter is a water based, waterproof formula that provides a full coverage that lasts all day. When I first tried the foundation it was a tiny sample pot and I was not expecting the coverage it gave at first - I used a Real Techniques Buffing Brush, lightly flicked it into the pot and it covered my whole face! Blown away!

The All Nighter has an insane amount of pigment - it's not advertised as a buildable foundation because it's simply not! A little goes a long way and thats the way I like it! Be warned though, the foundation can run a little dark once dry so I would go for a shade lighter than you usually wear to be on the safe side.

I like to wear mine with a little concealer under the eye, some powder around the nose where I get the shiniest and a load of All Nighter Setting Spray to finish the look. I would 100% recommend this foundation to anyone (in fact I already have been).

Have you tried the All Nighter Foundation yet? What do you think?

MY ENGAGEMENT STORY.

Disclaimer: We both absolutely HATE this picture.. we're also stood on the wrong side of each other..

On 31st October last year, Simon and I got engaged after three years together. We met at university and we were basically inseparable from the day that we met. Crazy to think that it's almost been a year since we got engaged really! It's gone really fast - honestly feels like just yesterday. 

So on the 31st October we went to a ladies night at a beautiful hotel - there were lots of people there, and a few members of Simon's family. I spent ages picking out a dress as it was an evening dress occasion - Mum came with me and we spent ages looking in our local Debenhams at dresses - I thought I found the one I wanted to wear until we looked on the sale rail and there was one size twelve evening dress - it was beautiful, navy blue and embellished, and much more 'expensive' looking than the one I'd chosen from Quiz. I tried it on and it was an absolute perfect fit - so basically fate that I needed to have this dress. So on the day of the ladies night, my friend came round to do my hair as I'm pretty rubbish at hair, and I did my make up at home before leaving to get changed at Simon's house. All ready, we bundled in the taxi and off we went to the hotel. 

I remember being stood there rather awkwardly, not really knowing many people in the room. Those I knew were chatting away to other people they knew. Simon came over and asked if I wanted to go for a walk - I thought he was being a gentlemen as I thought he could sense I was feeling awkward. Off we went.

We explored the hotel - Simon asked me what my favourite number was and I replied 22 - thinking after three years he would know that. So we wandered to room 22 and he opened the door. For those of you who don't know Simon, he's a smooth talker and amazing at getting what he wants - I thought he'd convinced the concierge to give him a key.. little did I know! I refused to enter the room, thinking that he'd stolen the key, once he'd convinced me to enter the room, he opened the wardrobe to show me that I had clothes there to stay the night.. 

We walked to the back of the room where there was a huge sliding door overlooking a beautiful lake. Si asked me to step outside but I had a feeling I'd fall over and end up in the lake. He continued to stay behind me which I thought was suspicious, When I turned round to see what he was doing, he was getting on one knee! Absolutely crazy! At that moment it was such a blur, I've since had to ask Si what he said (awkward) - apparently he said 'I think I'm supposed to get on one knee now' and then some lovey stuff which I won't divulge - he isn't one to be soppy in public, hence why it was a very private proposal, which I am also very happy about. 

The rest is history and of course I said yes - after some excited phonecalls and calling my parents (who knew all about it, and were the phantom provider of my clothes for the next day) we left the hotel room and entered the dinner hall, where I was announced as Simon's fiancee. The night was such a blur and I'd relive it over and over again if I could. Turns out everyone knew but me - I'd even seen the confirmation email of the order of my ring! 

Crazy to think that in two years we'll be married.. Here's to counting down!

MY CURRENT EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE.

I'm a huge fan of changing up my skincare routine - probably a little bit too often but I think that there are so many amazing skincare products out there that I can never decide which ones to use! My skin is extremely fussy and at 23 years old I'm still trying to find the perfect skincare routine for me - I am really enjoying my current routine, although this weekend I used a product which has caused a huge breakout and change in my skins texture so at the moment I'm fighting to get it back to normal!

So the first thing I usually do is remove my eye make up - I do this separately because I wear quite stubborn mascara (and sometimes eyeliner) and I find it much more gentler on the eyes to use a seperate remover first - at the moment I'm using the Clarins Eye Make Up Remover which is a biphase cleanser (oil and water duo) which you have to shake to activate. These are my favourite kinds of eye make up remover as I feel the combination of oil and water help to remove the most stubborn of products. I apply this on a cotton pad and just work into the eyelashes gently to remove. I've also tried eye make up removers from The Body Shop, Vichy, La Roche Posay which I think are all great too!

My next step is my actual cleanser and at the moment (and for a couple of months) has been the Decleor Micellar Oil. Micellar products are a huge thing at the moment and I never really noticed a difference when I was using a micellar water however the minute I started using the Micellar Oil I noticed a dramatic difference in the texture of my skin and I absolutely loved it! I started with a sample size and made my way to the Decleor counter the second the sample ran out! I use a couple of pumps in the palm of my hand and work it into the skin - this acts as a make up remover and kick starts your circulation to boost the skins radiance - I then use some water to turn the oil into a cleansing milk and further cleanse deep into my skin.

I then follow with the Benefit Refined Finish Facial Polish which is a facial exfoliant - I use this a couple of times a week just to get rid of any dead skin cells. The Refined Finish contains natural clay and seaweed extract which really helps to purify the skin.A great thing about this product is that you can lather up and leave it on as a mask - a real two in one! Once I've used this, I use the Decleor Micellar Oil again just to clear my skin of any excess microbeads that are left on the surface of the skin.

Once I've done a second cleanse - I pat my face dry and use the La Roche Posay Serozinc which is a spray on zinc sulphate toner. This is designed for oily, blemish prone skin and the way I like to apply is just to spray my entire face and leave to sink into the skin. If I get spray happy, I'll pat away any excess with a dry towel. When used religiously, I really see results from this - I'm not particularly oily but I am extremely blemish prone and that's the side to my skin that I absolutely hate so I love finding products that are aimed at blemish prone skin that actually work!

After toner, I use a serum. I find serum such a luxurious product to use and to be completely honest I didn't need to test many before I found one that I loved - I've tried serums from Decleor, Bare Minerals, Benefit and the Nip + Fab Dragons Blood Fix is by far my favourite. I've been using this for months and I'm on my second bottle now! I just apply two pumps to my fingertips and rub into the skin, leaving to sink in. This contains hyaluronic acid which leaves the skin hydrated and plump, velvet flower which enhances moisture and dragons blood which comforts and restores through hydration. A serum allows any moisturiser to penetrate deeper into the skin and really supercharges your skincare and I really feel the effects of this one!

A night cream I've absolutely fallen head over heels in love with is the Decleor Aromessence Neroli Hydrating Night Balm. This balm works at night to maintain the balance and radiance of tired looking skin. I apply the tiniest amount as I find the scent can be particularly potent at first (I'm not used to all of these natural products and a lot that I have tried have been heavily fragranced) although I have found that the scent does have an impact on my sleep. It contains essential oils of Basil to purify and heal the skin, Neroli to soften and Camomile to prevent the appearance of dark spots and to calm the skin. It also contains Tonka Bean to boost micro-circulation, and a combination of plant oils including avocado, hazelnut and beeswax which helps hydrate and repair the skin. The Night Balm is 100% natural - the product itself is quite a thick consistency, and you do have to wash off in the morning however it leaves you with the most amazing radiant complexion in the morning!

I follow up with my current eye cream which is the Nip + Fab Viper Venom Eye Fix which you can read about here - I also use a little bit of the Witch Blemish Stick on my blemishes (yes, Witch Hazel is an astringent so it is drying on the skin but it works for me and has worked for me for years and years) to really help calm redness or dry them out ready to disappear for the next morning.

Skincare is hugely important for me and I'm still fighting to find my perfect routine which leaves me with perfect, glowing, hydrated, clear skin - so far natural skincare is a winner for me! It's a long long battle - not only do you need good skincare but a pretty good diet and lots of water!

VICHY PORE PURIFYING CLAY MASK.

I was recently contacted by Vichy who wanted know if I would like to try one of their new Mineral face masks! I love a face mask - especially when my skin is suffering and desperately needs a fix so I jumped at the chance! I love Vichy products - they are great for my blemish prone skin!

There are three masks in the collection - the Double Glow Peeling Mask, the Pore Purifying Clay Mask and the Quenching Mineral Mask. All three of them include the famous Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water which contains 15 beneficial Volcanic minerals and is recognised for its remarkable soothing and fortifying properties. The Mineral Masks contain super charged minerals taken from Earth, Water and Rock.  Whatever your skin type or dilemma may be - there's a mask out there for you!

I chose the Pore Purifying Clay Mask. I've tried loads of gel masks but not that many clay ones which is why I was particularly drawn to this one. It's formulated with two types of white clay and of course the Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water. It's aim is to immediately unclog pores and purify oily skin leaving the skin feeling calm, balanced and soft. Now I'm not particularly oily, but I do suffer with clogged pores that often lead to blemishes. This one has Kaolins and Bentonite Clays which help to absorb impurities which I have a lot of at the moment - another major factor in my choosing of this mask.

It also contains:

• Aloe Vera - To soothe and hydrate the skin.
• Allantoin - Extracted from the roots of the perennial comfrey plant to soothe damaged, fragile skin.
• Remineralizing Thermal Water - Reinforces the skins natural moisture barrier, giving it time to regenerate and rebalance.

So I applied mine with a brush - I tend to use a flat foundation brush as these are perfect for applying face masks. Avoiding the eye area, I applied all over my face really focusing on my cheeks as these are currently my problem areas. I left it to dry for five minutes and then washed off using a warm face cloth. 

As clay masks go - this is my favourite one I've tried. I find that some others can leave your face feeling particularly dry and tight, which isn't what I'm looking for - this one left my face feeling hydrated and soft, not to mention my current breakouts looked a lot calmer! 

I absolutely love Vichy products and have a bit of a list to try. You can grab this one at Boots for £14. Have you tried any Vichy products? What are your favourites?

NIP + FAB VIPER VENOM MICRO BLUR FIX.

Anyone that knows me should know of my love for Nip + Fab skincare, but I've recently discovered something new of theirs, the Viper Venom Micro Blur Fix which is essentially a primer. It's one of Kylie Jenner's favourites and anything that's okay for her is definitely okay for me! I absolutely love the scent, and the texture of this product!

I use my hands to apply this, starting in the centre of the face and working outwards. The Viper Venom Micro Blur Fix contains Aesthetic Enhancing Polymers which give a soft focus effect to the skin, and help to reduce the effects of oily skin. It also contains Syn-ake Dipeptides which smooth the skins surface, and Liftonin which reduces the visual appearance of pores - this formula completely changes the appearance of the skin in one application.

I'm not usually a fan of a matte finish, or even a fan of primers that smooth the appearance of the skin but there's definitely something about this product that makes me love it. After application I've even noticed a certain sticky texture to my skin which means that it's really going to make my makeup stick to my face and it does!

This primer has definitely changed my opinion and I'm looking forward to using the entire bottle! Anyone else a Nip + Fab fan? I couldn't live without it!

BENEFIT COSMETICS: BIG EASY MULTI-BALANCING COMPLEXION PERFECTOR.

I recently received the Benefit Cosmetics Big Easy Multi-Balancing Complexion Perfector. I went for shade 4 which is Medium, but this comes in shades 1-6 so it's suitable for a large variety of skin tones.

So the Big Easy is SPF 35 PA +++ (For those who are unaware PA +++ provides good UVA protection - it is the strongest grade of UVA protection available - which is great!) and contains ingredients known to help balance moisture and control oil - the perfect balance! The liquid to powder formula is lightweight and comfortable to wear, whilst providing an amazing coverage - BB creams are notoriously lightweight, and this usually means a light coverage too - however the Big Easy provides more than a light coverage and that's one of the many things that makes it so popular.

I like to moisturise and prime before using mine - be aware that it dries to a powder finish so there's no need to powder after application - you can apply with a brush, sponge or even your fingers!

I've been trying a few BB creams through the Summer months and the Big Easy is amongst my favourites. Does anyone have any recommendations of ones that they have been loving?

NIP + FAB DRAGONS BLOOD HYALURONIC SHOT.

When I first saw that Nip + Fab were bringing out a facial oil I knew I had to try it - I think it's the word 'hyaluronic', it gets me excited! When I saw it was a Superdrug exclusive I began scouring every Superdrug I passed, to no avail. I couldn't find it anywhere and I had to have it! When I finally got it, I was so excited to use it - so excited I took it on holiday with me!

The Nip + Fab Dragons Blood Hyaluronic Shot is designed to rescue thirsty, dehydrated skin. It's an intense moisture concentrate which you can apply directly to the skin as an overnight treatment or you can mix a couple of drops with your daily moisturiser to give that extra shot of hydration. I've used mine both ways, and I think I definitely favour applying directly to the skin as I feel that it gives my skin the hydration it needs after a long day at work - I really like to pamper my skin in the evening as I wear a lot of make up during the day.

I love the texture of this product and it's rapidly becoming one of my favourite Nip + Fab products - I think it's safe to say I'm obsessed, especially with the Dragons Blood range (the serum is my favourite) - using Dragons Blood comforts and restores hydration in the skin, but it also makes me sound like I'm from Game of Thrones or something similar.

If you haven't tried this yet then dig through six Superdrugs until you find it like I did. Then let me know what you think. 

*Small Disclaimer - you can find this in a few other places, however Superdrug has the best price*

WHAT'S IN MY HOLIDAY MAKE UP BAG?

A  holiday make up bag is probably one of the hardest but most fun to pack - not only do you have to take the hotter climate into account, you have to pack enough to last and create as many different looks as necessary. I tried to pack a compact make up bag, and of course, being the over packer that I am, I packed far too much and didn't use half of it!

For a base, I used the Nip + Fab Viper Venom Micro Blur Fix - a mattifying gel primer which smooths the skin - I fell in love with this so look out for a post on this soon! Of course I packed a foundation but never ended up using it - so I used the Vichy Normaderm BB Cream - again something I'd never used but utterly fell in love with. I only used a small amount for the first few days as I ended up getting a lot browner than anticipated. Eventually I was only using the Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer - definitely a lot better than I expected. I only used this under the eyes to brighten and blended with a Beauty Blender.

I packed my Benefit Cheekathon Palette to use for blusher and bronzer - this palette is incredible and holds five full size blushers including the infamous Hoola bronzer, Dallas, Dandelion, Coralista and Rockateur. I usually religiously apply Hoola as a transition shade through the crease so this was a must have for me to take with me. My choices of blusher varied from night to night but most nights I used Rockateur or Coralista as they complimented my ever growing suntan the most.

For highlighter there was one choice only and that was the Urban Decay Naked Illuminated in Luminous - I saw it and utterly fell in love, and the gorgeous glittery highlighter is a must for any holiday. It's amazing on the cheekbones and collarbones too!

I mainly focused on eye make up as I wasn't wearing a lot of base due to the fact it wasn't particularly necessary - I packed a couple of Clinique Pop Shadows - Cream Pop and Petal Pop which are two beautiful shimmery shades, one gold tone and one pink tone. I also packed two palettes - one used more than the other and they were the Maybelline Nudes Palettes. I used the darker matte shades to create smokey eye looks each evening. I even used cool tone shades which I never usually do - I'm much more of a brown shadow girl! I lined my upper lids using Benefit's They're Real Push Up Liner as it's a highly pigmented black liner that doesn't smudge, and of course because I wasn't wearing a lot of make up the liner really helped to finish the look. I finished by curling my eyelashes and applied a generous coating of the L'Oreal False Lash Sculpt Mascara which I was apprehensive to try but it's one of the best drugstore mascaras I've ever tried.

Brows really help to frame the face and I've been using Benefit's Ka-Brow! which is 24 hour waterproof wear so perfect for those warm summer nights abroad - I set with Benefit's Ready Set Brow and used Benefit's High Brow (again, there really is nowhere else to go for brow product) to carve out the brow and highlight the browbone.

Finishing off with lip product, I hardly used any and packed loads. I used the Kylie Cosmetics Candy K Lipliner, and the Kylie Cosmetics Lipgloss in So Cute as I love that browny nude colouring. I also used Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lipliner in Pillow Talk as it's a gorgeous natural pink colour.

Admittedly, I'd packed a lot more than this but hardly used it - it's definitely a learning curve packing your holiday make up - I think I just got over excited!

What are your holiday make up must haves?

BENEFIT COSMETICS: DANDELION DEW

I've wanted Benefit's Dandelion Dew for donkeys years. Ok - slight exaggeration but I've wanted it for a long time and as it's an online exclusive it was the first product in my basket when it came to work's A/W Allocation.

I've been really getting into blusher lately - I never really got into them as I always though they would accentuate my chubby cheeks. The Dandelion range from Benefit Cosmetics is absolutely perfect for me as it's a a baby pink so it's not too bright on my cheeks yet still gives a gorgeous pop of colour. The Dandelion Dew is a sheer baby pink liquid formula - the texture is so soft and radiant it gives a gorgeous glow too!

This liquid formula is beautiful and lightweight - I apply mine with a beauty blender but you could apply with your fingertips or a buffing brush. It's definitely buildable too so if you wanted more of a pink cheek glow then just build it up. Overall I love the look this product gives - the Benefit Box O'Powder Blushers are famous - this one is definitely underrated!

I'm absolutely in love with the packaging - I don't think I've ever loved a product's packaging more! 

Have you tried Benefit's blusher range? What's your favourite?