I’ll begin by repeating what I tacked onto the end of yesterday’s post several hours after posting it on the off-chance anyone would like to take me up on the offer! One of my Twitter chums was kind enough to nominate me for the Cosmo blog awards! I’ve been going less than 2 months, so obviously this is both a massive honour and totally surprising, but if you feel inclined to do the same the link is here http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/blogs/cosmopolitan-blog-awards-2011/cosmo-blog-awards-2011 and I classify as a ‘new fashion blog’.
Right, down to business.
So, I dig makeup. I look ok without it, but I’d never dream of going to work/for a social encounter/on a night out minus a carefully-constructed face. For me, makeup (in moderation) is just another pleasant part of the whole glamourous aesthetic I enjoy with my clothes and accessories. I do not believe that wearing makeup is a sign of insecurity or that not wearing it is a sign of laziness. So! Let’s have a wee look inside my makeup bag…
The basics:
Bourjois Healthy Mix in Beige Clair – This is my dream foundation. I never used to repurchase a foundation, either because it wasn’t quite right or because it was astronomically expensive. This, however, is perfect. Drugstore price, amazing finish. It’s the perfect colour for my skin and does what it says on the bottle, which is to give me a ‘perfectly glowing complexion & toned skin’. It’s so good that when I was living in Montréal where you can’t get it at all, I used to get my mother to bring me supplies when she came to visit me.
ELF foundation brush – I apply it with this. Probably not the best tool for the job but it was super cheap and gets it done, so I’m not complaining.
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara in Intense Black – Another amazing find, I just went into Pharmaprix (the main drugstore chain in Montréal) and picked the mascara whose claims most appealed to me. Such a good job I chose this one, I can’t believe how well it works for the price. I naturally have quite a lot of dark eyelashes, so the only thing I really use mascara for is length. Curl, volume, blackness are all pretty secondary to me, as long as they’re looooong. And this does exactly that.
Nars blusher in Orgasm – It’s expensive, yes, but it’s a total classic. I think the word ‘classic’ is massively overused, but in this case it’s justified. It’s one of the most famous beauty products ever invented and by far one of the most beloved. I totally see why. It’s the most universally flattering shade I can imagine, and it has just the right amount of sheen so you don’t feel like you’re wearing glitter on your cheeks. In hard economic times I replaced it with Models Own blusher in Warm Glow, which is a pretty good dupe, but this is always my #1.
MAC 129SE brush – I apply blusher and bronzer with this brush, which I’ve had for years and years and years. It’s perfect, it’s amazing and it definitely provides justification for spending money on good brushes. Picks up exactly the right amount of product, distributes it evenly.
Benefit Erase Paste in Medium – I use this under-eye concealer to brighten up my under-eye area. It’s great and works well.
Benefit Brow Zings – The pièce de résistance in my beauty repertoire. My eyebrows are important to me (could you guess???), and since I bought this, they have just made my life SO MUCH BETTER. Without Brow Zings on, my face feels incomplete, or at least underused. If you want eyebrows, I implore you to invest in Brow Zings.
Tweezerman tweezers – I know some products get hyped to death (Nars blusher, l’Oréal Elnett hairspray, Seche Vite, Shu Uemura eyelash curlers, YSL Touche Éclat etc) but it’s usually for a reason. I will never buy another brand of tweezers, so great is my love for my Tweezermans. I use the regular slant ones, and my word they are wonderful. So precise, so fast.
The fun bits:
L-R : Snob, Lady Danger, Rebel
MAC lipsticks – I’ve figured out there are only about 3 colours of lipstick I need. Snob, Lady Danger and Rebel. Their durability is amazing and the strong pigmentation means I get the result I want in one swipe with no messin’. I know most people favour other reds from MAC’s collection like Ruby Woo or Russian Red, but I like the orange tones in Lady Danger because they brighten up my face in a pretty, sunny, 1960s-ish way.
Topshop Crayon in Sunshower – My love for this is endless. I can’t believe a product so perfect exists, and that one day it will come to an end. Topshop Crayons are unbelievably good and every season there’s a shade that tempts me. Last summer I got a silver and gold, and the gold is perfection. Even silly boys who never notice anything, let alone makeup, comment on how nice it is. It’s so easy to use and lasts really well, and it highlights how greeny-gold my eyes are.
Costume National Pop Collection perfume – When I left InStyle I got given a whole load of beauty products for which I’m massively grateful. Amongst them was this, a Costume National eau de parfum that is just gorgeous. It is described thus: top notes are grapefruit, blackcurrant and raspberry; middle notes are jasmine and rose; base notes are patchouli, cashmeran and amber. All I know is, it’s a lovely mix of floral and spice that I’m looking forward to wearing all summer and that I’m really grateful InStyle gave me!
If you like Brow Zings you should try Elf's eyebrow kit, it's the one I use and it's awesome and 10 times cheaper! A lot of reviews online say they are very very similar as well.
I haven't tried the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation but have tried most of their others, but so many people have given it a good review I think I will have to give it a go in the future!
Gah I am turning into a makeup fiend. I wish healthy mix had worked for me, it made me break out like crazy and after two weeks of spot filled woe I gave up and gave it to my little sister. Raging cos I had bought the matching concealer as well.
Must try the orgasm blush, I have some ELF studio blushes ordered which are supposed to be good dupes. I must look into browzings as well since I just use a pencil. I have that topshop crayon as well, it's magical isn't it? But yes, limited edition I hate that! x
Great post I need to try some of these products though
new follower x
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Love this post! I 'm in need of some new foundation, I might try yours out. x hivenn p.s enter my giveaway?
Brow-Zing also changed my life! It is incredible!!