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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Bare Minerals 9-piece Get Started Kit

This summer was a summer for shopping! I (impulsively) picked up the 9 piece Bare Minerals Starter Kit on my way out of the UK this summer in duty free.

 

I chose to pick up the Tan set, as I had previously been matched to both the Golden Tan and Medium Tan shades. Luckily with mineral foundations I have found that I can get away with very slight shade differences if I buff and blend the foundation properly into my skin. The kit contains :

- Original spf 15 Foundation in Medium Tan (C30)

- Original spf 15 Foundation in Tan (N30)

- Tinted Mineral Veil

- Warmth All Over Face Colour

- Full Flawless Face Brush

- Flawless Application Brush

- Light Stroke Brush

- Prime Time Foundation Primer

Full Flawless Face, Light Stroke and Flawless Face brushes

 

Although the pots are smaller than the standard ones that are sold individually (1.5g - 2g in each pot in the kit and 8g for standard ones), the kit still works out better value for money, especially as there are 3 brushes and a foundation primer included. There is also a Get Started DVD in the box which is ideal if you want to perfect your application to get a flawless finish.

The kit can be bought from your nearest Bare Minerals counters and costs £49.

Have you tried the Bare Minerals foundation before?

 

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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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Estee Lauder DayWear BB Creme review

I purchased a sample of the Estee Lauder BB creme from Latest in Beauty for £1.50 (covers the cost of p&p), via text message last week and these are my thoughts after trying it out. Thankfully Latest in Beauty do take into consideration your beauty profile and they sent me the 02 Medium shade, which has a neutral-olive undertone. The BB actually stand for 'beauty benefit' rather than blemish balm, and it comes in a 5ml tube which I think would be sufficient for 3-4 uses. The creme itself smells fresh and reminds me of cucumbers, which I think fits in perfectly with the colour of the packaging.

Swatched on my wrist:

Top: straight from the tube

Bottom: Partially blended

The BB creme is easy to use, I simply dotted around my face and used my fingers to blend in. The medium shade blended perfectly to match my skintone (I'm an NW35) and applied more like a tinted moisturiser than a foundation. I did have to use a little mineral foundation on my T-zone as I prefer a matte finish, whereas the BB creme gives a more dewy finish (which you may prefer). It also contains SPF 35 which is great as the weather seems to be brightening up. As someone who wears more mineral and powder foundations rather than liquid based ones, I was quite pleased with how it felt on the skin and didn't really notice that I was wearing foundation. The coverage is also light which I prefer for everyday wear, although next time I would apply concealer to cover any blemishes.

Overall a really good product, although I'm not too keen on the price! (£32.00 for 30ml). If you would like to try a sample of the Estee Lauder DayWear BB creme then head over to the Latest in Beauty website =)




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Blog Sale! Pandora, Sleek, Barry M, H&M

Makeup which I forget that I own, and am not likely to use in the future. There's nothing wrong with the products, it's just that I have too much makeup already!

Comment on this post with your Paypal email address and which item(s) you would like. Postage is £2.00 and 25p per additional item (maximum postage is £3.00) and will be sent via recorded delivery second class. If you have any questions, comment below or email chocoholic-hijabi@hotmail.co.uk =)

Note: If you're an international reader who really wants an item (or a few) then email me and we can discuss shipping prices (as these would be based on weight and different depending on what country you are in). International parcels will be sent via a signed for service (to ensure delivery) or if you would prefer the items to be posted via standard shipping, then prices will be considerably less, but there is no guarantee (although international mail has been good so far when delivering giveaway prizes alhamdullilah!)

=)

Please Note:

• First come, first served basis =)
• Payment via Paypal only. (Paypal seems to be charging me, not sure why this is but I am not including this in the price of the items. That fee is paid by me, so you don't need to worry about it) =)
• 24 hours to pay invoice once it's been issued.
• Items will be posted once payment is received (You will be notified, and I will have proof of postage).
• No returns or refunds.
• Items are sold as seen in the images below
• Open to negotiation =)

Sleek Eye Dusts (hardly used but no sifter on the pot)
Ooh Baby!  and  Hypnotic £2.00 each  (rrp £3.05 each) Or both for £3.00

H&M fresh mint lip balm (unused) £0.50

Barry M Glossy Tube Special Edition (unused) £1
Next Sweet Mango Lip Balm (unused and sealed) £1
H&M Disney edition Creme Brulee Lip Balm (unused) £1

Sleek Chaos Palette (some colours used lightly/swatched) £5

Sleek True Colour Lipsticks (used as seen) (rrp £4.00)
£2.50 each or Three for £6 (with one p&p)
Shades: Naked (sheen), O.M.G! (sheen), Coral Reef (sheen), bare all [sold]

Sleek Pout Paints (used once/twice, still full as only a tiny amount is needed) (rrp£4.99)
£3.50 each or All three for £9 (with one p&p)
Cloud 9 (white), Peek-a-bloo (blue), Pin Up (red)

Boxed Genuine Pandora 18cm Bracelet. Fits my wrist, but is too small once I add beads. Worn once. £35 (including signed for delivery) or nearest offer =) [UK only]

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Pure Halal Beauty-Mineral foundation

[Note: Long Post]

As a mineral foundation lover, I'm trying to find one that suits me the best, and one that I know won't let me down. I'm currently using E.L.F mineral foundation in Warm, however my skintone has somehow managed to get darker and it's now a bit pale for me. As everyone seems to reference their foundation shade to MAC, I'll let you know that mine is NW35, which is also matched to Illamasqua Skin Base foundation shade 12, and Bare Minerals foundation in the shade Medium Tan.

So a few weeks ago, I ordered samples of mineral foundation from Pure Halal Beauty (PHB). PHB is a UK based company that specialises in 100% natural and organic beauty products, which are free from alcohol and animal ingredients, as well as not tested on animals. They have a wide range of products available from make-up and skincare to haircare and fragrances. I love their company motto/slogan which is 'Where beauty and belief co-exist'.

I have to admit that I love sampling products. I prefer samples as it's a way to test out make-up and skincare products to see if they would be okay to use on my sensitive skin. Also, as I'm on a student budget, I'm reluctant to spend money on a product because there is always the chance that I might not like it after using it a few times (and would then be a waste of money).

I love recieving post!

Back to PHB mineral foundation samples. I love that PHB provides samples in the first place (major brownie points!) as well as mini pots if you want to try the foundation for a longer period (or as a travel product). There are a total of 8 shades to choose from, and based on the shade descriptions and images, I chose to sample Warm Beige and Deep Cinnamon. They arrived swiftly, and I was sent an email stating that they had been dispatched (IMO a sign of a good e-retailer). Once I'd opened the envelope, it was clear that Deep Cinnamon was going to be way too dark for me, but I kept hold of it just incase. Also, the Deep Cinnamon shade a little shimmery although I'm not too sure why. I swatched these on my wrist (which is quite a bit lighter than my face), and also swatched the E.L.F. mineral foundation in Warm, for comparison.

Swatched - Daylight

Swatched - with Flash

As the samples come in little bags, I tipped out a small amount into the lid of the E.L.F foundation pot, and used the E.L.F Studio Face Kabuki brush with the swirl-tap-buff method. PHB Warm Beige is actually pretty close to my skintone. Because it's a mineral foundation, it blends well onto my face and gives a light coverage (which can be built up in order to get more coverage). I love it because it's a great foundation for everyday use and is super easy to use once you get the basic technique right. I also use a tiny amount as a setting powder when wearing liquid foundation, just lightly applied over the nose and chin (to avoid shiny-ness later on in the day).

PHB Deep Cinnamon is clearly not my colour as shown in the photo's. I have a few samples of BB creams lying around and so will be mixing the mineral foundation and the BB cream together to see if I can mix up a colour that matches.

All in all, I'm quite pleased with the PHB mineral foundation in Warm Beige and after P10P is finished, I may be purchasing a full size pot. =)

If you've managed to reach the end of this post, then you'll be pleased to know that you can get 10% off your purchase at Pure Halal Beauty using the code PURE10  (excluding special offers) =)




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E.L.F Haul (and another discount code)

Remember there was a code for 50% off E.L.F cosmetics products last week? Well, an order at the value of £63.00 (£31.50 with the discount code)  is the result of a combined makeup haul between my sister and I. The order was dispatched yesterday (ordered on Sunday evening), which is to be expected as there are a lot of orders! I also recieved a text message which told me when the order was dispatched =)

Anyways, here's what I ordered! I thought I'd try out the Studio Matte Lip Colours and the eyelid primer collection, as well as reorder my mineral foundation at the same time. There will also be a giveaway, which will include E.L.F. products coming soon =)

 And here is what my sister ordered (relatively small compared to mine) =)

Also, this weekend E.L.F UK and Europe, will be having there last ever 50% code, so if you're planning to make a big order, I'd recommend you do it now. The code is LAST50 (for UK and Europe) and LAST50IT (for Italian customers). There is a minimum spend of £25 required, which works out to £12.50 (+shipping) when you apply the code. It's valid until 8am BST on Monday 19/09/2011. Happy E.L.F. shopping =)
There will of course be other offer codes in the future (but not 50%).


Let me know what are your favourite E.L.F products =)



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Favourite e.l.f Products

I've been using e.l.f (eyeslipsface) products for just under a year now, and there are always amazing offers on the facebook page which can be taken advantage of. I thought I'd share with you my favourite e.l.f products which I use almost everyday (on the days that I wear makeup anyways!). Also, many of the products are priced at £1.50, with Studio products starting at £3.50, and the Mineral products starting at £3.00. They also have a large range of brushes available in each of their categories (standard/mineral/studio) which are priced accordingly.

e.l.f studio cream liner (black), e.l.f mineral foundation (warm), e.l.f mineral lipstick (rosy raisin)

swatches

The mineral foundation is my everyday foundation. It's what I wear when I'm going to uni, when I'm just going out for a while, and even what I sometimes wear on special occasions. It has sheer/light coverage, which is great because it doesn't feel like you've applied paint to your face, and as it is a powder, it also helps reduce shine. I apply this with a face kabuki brush or the studio complexion brush (both from e.l.f).

I am a big fan of cream and gel liners, so I purchased this studio cream liner in black for a mere £3.50. The cream liner also comes with a miniature angled brush, but I use a very thin artist brush to apply cream/gel eyeliners. My cream liner seems to have dried out a tiny bit, but I can still use it to line my top lash line without it irritating my eyes.

The e.l.f mineral lipstick in Rosy Raisin is the perfect 'my lips but better' shade. I love lip colours which aren't too bright and bold (kinda boring, I know) but I prefer bright/bold eye makeup to bright lips. This is actually my first ever lipstick (I'm a complete newbie with lipsticks) seeing as I own more lipbalms, lip tints and lipglosses.

I actually bought these products quite some time ago, and the mineral foundation is nearing its final uses. I'm waiting for the next discount/free shipping code on the facebook page before I order again.

Let me know if you've tried any e.l.f products and what you think of them =)



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