Istanbul Holiday Haul

No holiday is complete without a little shopping. Of course I did a little bit of duty free shopping as well as buying some bits and bobs while in Istanbul. We also found Sephora at one of the malls, so I restocked on face masks and got a few goodies for friends. Here's what I picked up for myself =)

Duty Free: My first Nars blusher (Outlaw) and my favourite fragrance, Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire EDT.

Carrefour and Local shops: Colouring book full of pretty patterns, Smiley stickers, Little bowl for my desk (most likely for rings), blue woven purse and mini keychain purse.

Sephora and Sightseeing: Fibre mask discovery set, Pore clarifying mask and three bookmarks.

Handmade Turkish soaps from a local shop. (L-R Argan Oil, Tumeric and Himalyan Salt).

On the whole, I think I did pretty well and didn't overspend. The Turkish soaps are suitable for use on the face and body, so I'll be using them to cleanse my face in the mornings. Unfortunately, the summer holidays are coming to an end and now it's time to start getting prepared for work.



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Three Product Makeup Routine - Foundation, Brows and Blush.

I really should be prepping for the start of my second school placement but here I am blogging instead =)

Today's blog post is basically about how I've cut my everyday makeup routine down to three products. My aim is to (eventually) be comfortable not wearing any makeup on a daily basis but until then, these three products will suffice. With early starts and not much time to take a break during the day, I've reduced the number of products that I apply before going to uni/placement. These are the products that are essential for me.

- I'm a big mineral foundation lover, so my Bare Minerals Original Powder foundation is the first to be applied. I only buff a little onto my face, enough to even out my skin without looking heavy and cakey.
- The next step is probably the one that takes the longest and it's my brows. Thanks to a bad habit (pulling out my eyebrow hairs at random), my brows are quite sparse and need a little shaping and colour to make them slightly bolder and more 'brow-like'. I either use the Illamasqua Brow Powder (Gaze) or the Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade (Dark Brown). Honestly, it just depends on how much time I have on that particular morning, as the pomade takes a bit longer to apply for a stronger brow, whereas the powder gives a softer look and doesn't take as long.
- The final step is to add a bit of colour on my face with blusher. At the moment, I'm loving the Bourjois Little Round Pot (16 Rose Coup De Foudre), which is a soft pink with subtle golden shimmer. Seeing as I do rub my eyes quite a bit during the day, I avoid eyeliner and mascara, and only apply a lipbalm to keep my lips moisturised.

I'm actually quite happy that my everyday face only needs three products. I do like wearing make-up, but for university and school placements, the bare minimum is perfectly acceptable (as long as I don't look like I've been up all night/only just woken up/any other reason here). And that means that I can have a few extra minutes in bed. Now if only I could minimise the amount of useless stuff I carry in my bag!



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February #frootimasterclass

I had the opportunity to attend another one of Frootibeauty's masterclasses last weekend. This masterclass was quite different to the previous one and focused on this look from a recent blog post. I picked up a lot more tips and got to try a completely different eye makeup look to what I would normally go for at weddings and occasions. The use of a black base on the eye meant that the overall look was smoky and intense (compared to the smoky eye I did for the previous masterclass here). A big thank you to Safiyah for holding the masterclass (and for the goody bag at the end)! I loved it just as much as the last one and am looking forward to another one (although it won't be held for quite some time).

Here are a few pictures of the look that I created. Again the pictures were taken quite a few hours after he makeup had been applied, and I think it's stayed pretty much in place! Even though the Barry M pigment was a gold-ish colour, it somehow came out a bit more green when applied over the black pencil base (which wasn't what I was expecting, but kinda cool!). Also, the pigment sort of ended up all over the eyelid instead of just in the centre, which made it soften the look slightly.

Products I used were:
Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original)
Avon Supershock Gel Liner Pencil (over the whole eyelid and on waterline)
Urban Decay Naked Palette: Sin (highlight), Naked and Buck (mixed together for skin tone shade), Dark Horse and Hustle (blend out the black base into the crease).
Barry M Pigment (44)
Motives Little Black Dress Gel Liner
Illamasqua Brow Cake (Gaze)
No7 Extreme Length Mascara

Rest of Face: (even though you can't see it)
Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation (SB12)
Sleek Contour Kit (Medium)
Illamasqua Cream Blusher (Betray)
NYX Lip Liner (Coffee)
MAC Lipstick (Twig)

I will definitely be using this technique for future occasions (any excuse to practise) =)
What do you think of this look?



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Illamasqua Sale Haul

Clearly I've spent quite a bit over the past month and this coming month I'm on a (sorta) spending ban. I love Illamsqua products, even more so when they are on sale! I got these two blushers for a total of £15. That's less than the full price for one and with free delivery. Win!

I use my Illamasqua Betray cream blusher almost everyday so I picked up another one in the shade Seduce. It's a warm rose shade with a dewy finish. I also got my first Illamasqua powder blusher in the shade Hussy, which is a matt finish candy pink colour.

Illamasqua blushers are super pigmented so I use a light hand and then soften it a little more with Bare Minerals foundation or MAC Prep and Prime pressed powder (so it gives a flushed look). 

Have you tried Illamasqua blushers before? Any other shades you'd recommend?

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October Empties

Fewer empties this month than last month, however I haven't bought much either so maybe that's why! (If I buy more, then I feel like I have to use up more products). Anyway, Psychology aside, here are the products that have been used up this month.

Dabur Amla Hair Oil - I use this as a conditioning treatment before I wash my hair. A more detailed hair care blog post will be coming up soon, so keep an eye out for that! Unfortunately, amla oil has a really strong smell so I'll most likely be switching to almond or coconut oil (but will be repurchasing this as a backup plan) =)

Sure Women Clear Diamond Deodrant - Pretty standard deodrant that doesn't leave white marks and smells quite nice. I bought this when it was on offer as I'm not too fussy about what deodrants I use, as long as they work =)

No7 Extreme Length Mascara (travel size) - I picked this up in Boots Clearance ages ago and I'm actually quite fond of this mascara. I don't wear mascara on a regular basis, mostly because I am constantly rubbing my eyes, and also because really long lashes and glasses don't mix well! This mascara is perfect for lengthening the lashes without being too over the top. Some might say that that might not be 'extreme length' but it's enough for me! The wand also manages to define each lash and a few coats of the mascara doesn''t leave you with clumpy eyelashes. Once I get through the rest of my mascara collection (both full and travel size) I shall be purchasing this one. Hopefully with the help of a No7 voucher =)

Natural Collection Blusher in Sugar Plum - This is a repurchase which has also been finished! I love the natural collection blushers as they are super cheap (£1.99) and have enough colour to give a natural looking blush. Also they are matte (no shimmer or glitter whatsoever) which I am a big fan of! Will also be repurchasing this (after I've made use of a few of my other blushers) =)


Not as many empties as last month, but still a fair few. What have you been using this month?




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June Beauty Products Haul

With P10P currently going on, I seem to be finishing (or nearing the end of) quite a few of the products I would consider essentials. The two main ones being the Lush Ultrabalm and Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. I repurchased both of these over the past couple of weeks and also treated myself to a very belated post exam (and ready to graduate) present. The present being the Illamasqua cream blusher in the shade Betray. This is my first cream blusher, and Illamasqua was the brand recommended to me (and the shade was chosen by their very helpful staff at the store in Beak Street). Swatches of the blusher are to come in another blog post =)

Whilst in John Lewis, I got colour matched for the YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation and recieved a 7 day sample to try out (in the shade B70, if anyone is wondering). I also got colour matched for the Nars Sheer Glow foundation (matched to Syracuse). The only question is which one do I go for? Or should I purchase something else, seeing as I'm quite happy with the foundations that I am currently using. The YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks seem to have caught my eye too, the shades 3 (Ultimate Beige) and 23 (Luscious Pink) in particular =)


Any suggestions or recommendations? Put them in the comments below =)



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Make up Travel Bag Take II

So, I did a post about products in my travel make up bag at the beginning of February, however the weather has changed completely since then and so has the make up (kind of) which I will be taking with me to another wedding. I've decided to wear the abaya that was featured in HFW Nov 2011-Day 5 and will be keeping my make up quite simple (hopefully).

Foundation: Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow spf 25 PA+++ (Hazelnut) [sample size]
                          Bare Minerals Original spf 15 foundation (medium tan) [sample size]
Concealer: Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection (Shade 4 Deep)
Blusher: Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks (Rosey Glow)
Lips: Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick (250 Glamourous Pink)
          NYX Lip pencil (Coffee)
          Sleek Pout Polish (Frosting)
Eyeshadow Primer: E.L.F Studio Eye Primer & Liner Sealer
Eyeshadow: Sleek Monaco Palette
                          Sleek Storm Palette
                          M&S Per Una Aubergine eye colour trio
Eyeliner: E.L.F Studio Gel Liner (Black)
                   Urban Decay 24/7 liner (Underground)
                   E.L.F Shimmer Eyeliner pencil (Plum Passion)
Mascara: No7 Extreme Length [sample size]
Brows: Sleek Brow Kit (Dark)

Extra's: E.L.F Studio Makeup Mist and Set Spray, E.L.F Eyelash Curler
Brushes: E.L.F Studio 11 piece brush kit and Studio Kabuki, No7 eye shadow brushes (from a brush set), Artist brush (used with gel eyeliner).

Hopefully I'll be able to take some pictures of my outfit and makeup. Also, we're going out to eat on the Saturday night, as the wedding is on the Sunday, so I'll have two OOTD's =)




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Bourjois Swatches

Swatches of the Bourjois products that I purchased at the Bourjois pop up boutique.

Left to Right:

Kohl & Contour shadow & light pencil (13 Brun & Caramel)

Felt-tip Liner (Ultra Black)

Blusher (74 Rose Ambre)

Blusher (85 Sienne)

Sweet Kiss Lipstick (11 Rose Innocence)

Effect 3D Lipgloss (03 Brun Rose)

Personal favourites are the Kohl & Contour pencil-love using the caramel (gold) shade for lining the waterline- and the blusher in 74 Rose Ambre. Seems like I have a thing for browns and pinks =)

 

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Bourjois Pop-up Shop

[note:picture heavy post]

The Bourjois pop-up shop was set up in Shoreditch from the 16th to the 20th February. I found out that it was still open for one more day on Sunday night and via twitter, arranged to meet up with the lovely Numera, Saman, Aalia, Abeer, Safiyah and Sharmin on Monday. (click on the names for links to their blogs!)

  

Luckily I arrived in good time and met up with Sharmin and Aalia outside the venue, before going up to the top floor. As we were one of the first 50 people, we received a goody bag as we walked in. The layout of the room was actually pretty cool and there were two columns which had been set up with shelves displaying the products for us to swatch. Each column had the exact same products so it was less likely that all of us would crowd around in one area. Bourjois were also offering manicures, makeovers, body art and hair styling (which I didn't get done but it was fun to watch others). I loved the displays that were covering the shelves, and they even had the actual products stored in giant jars where our list of products would be bagged, ready for the till.

Column of products

Variety of Eyeliners

Blushers

 So Laque! nail polishes

Offers

 Cute display =)

 The store - Giant Jars and Trays full of Bourjois products

Goody Bag goodies!

My purchases: 

Kohl & Contour shadow & light (13 Brun & Caramel) 

Felt-tip Liner (Ultra Black)

Blush (74 Rose Ambre and 85 Sienne)

Sweet Kiss Lipstick (11 Rose Innocence)

Effect 3D Lipgloss (03 Brun Rose)

So Laque Nail Laquer (27 Beige Glamour)

I managed to pick up a few things for myself as the bargains were too good to pass up (4 items for £14). Although not all the Bourjois products were available, I still bought a fair few products (7 in total). Will be looking forward to trying the blushers as well as the eyeliners. As you can probably tell from the lip colours and the nail polish, I love dusky nude pinks, and treated myself to a few unnecessary but pretty products. I also (hopefully) managed to stay out of the camera spotlight, as T4 were filming during the afternoon.

Hopefully I will be getting a lot of use from the products that I bought (can you believe that these are my first Bourjois products-a nice little collection I have here to get started) =)

Did anyone else manage to go to the Bourjois pop up shop? Let me know in the comments below =)



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