Makeup Brush Collection ♡

Since probably last Christmas I have managed to gather quite the collection of makeup brushes. I always apply all my makeup with brushes because I think that it leaves a nicer finish and then using your fingers and less product gets wasted.

Also just in case you were wondering the pot that I keep them in is actually a small plant pot from IKEA! They do lots of different sizes and mine is 10.5cm which I think is the smallest one.

Firstly I have the Real Techniques Core Collection. This set is the best for just starting out with makeup because they are such good quality and can be used for many different things. Starting from the front, I have the Buffing Brush. I use this with foundation and concealer and I find that it blends them really nicely. I also used to use this for powder which it was great for too. Next is the Contour Brush. This is what I usually use to apply bronzer and I sometimes use it for blusher if I want it in a precise place to contour and not just add some colour. Thirdly, I have the Pointed Foundation Brush. I must admit, out of this set this brush is the one iv used the least. I just think that when it comes to applying foundation or a BB cream etc, the buffing brush is better so this doesn't get used too much. Finally I have the Detailer Brush. I use this brush to apply eye shadow to the inner corner of my eye as it is the perfect shape for it. I have particularly loved using this with the Benefit High Beam in the inner corner of my eye.

These 3 brushes are again all Real Techniques brushes but they were not a set, these are the ones that I have bought separately. Again going front to back, I firstly have the Expert Face Brush. This brush is great for blending out concealer and perfect for doing under the eyes because of its shape. The only thing I will say about this brush that bothers me slightly, is that there are so many tightly compact hairs/brissels that it takes ages to wash! But it is a great brush aside from that. Next I have the Blush Brush. This brush is pretty self explanatory, its the best blush brush iv tried and a great domed shape to help get the blush just where you want it. I have also seen people use this as a powder brush. Lastly I have the Powder Brush which is HUGE! Its so big but that's what makes it work so well because just a few swipes and your face is powdered! This means you use less and your powder will last longer. Something I will mention about Real Techniques Brushes is the price. They aren't cheap at around £25 for a set and £10 seperatley but I think they are definitely worth the money for the quality so if your hesitant about splashing out, I would so recommend that you do.

These 2 brushes are both from Ted Baker beauty sets. The purple is from A Star Is Born and the pink is from The Great and The Gorgeous. They are fluffy brushes that I use for powder and bronzer usually. 

Theses are my eye shadow brushes. I firstly have the white one which is the Models Own Eye Shading Brush. The shape of this is perfect to contour your eye and go up to around the brow bone. Next 2 fluffy and 2 fluffy angled brushes from Ted Baker. The fluffy brushes I use a lot to apply 1 eye shadow colour across the whole of my eye lid but the angled ones I really haven't used much! These are probably for if you want to do a more precise look with multiple, maybe bold, colours to stop to much fall down but I haven't used them much at all.Then 3 Ted Baker sponge applicators which are really good to apply an eyeshadow base. I also like these because of the long handle as they are so much easier to use.

I'm not to sure what these 4 brushes are! They were in sets and are a cross between lip brushes and concealer brushes. The top 3 are Ted Baker and the bottom one is Models Prefer. I have used the silver and purple ones for concealer but I should really find out how to use them properly. 

These are just some random brushes and applicators I also keep in my brushes pot. Firstly on the top you can see I have a Natural Collection Mascara Wand that I have washed. This is great to separate eye lashes when you've used a clumpy mascara so they aren't all stuck together because if you go over it with a different mascara you'll just add to the problem. I also lots of small sponge applicators. The black ones are from Barry M Pallettes and the gold is a Chilli Pepper pallet. I don't use these much because I love the Ted Baker ones but they are handy to travel with. I also have a Clinique lip brush which I haven't used yet and a Sponge from boots which I do sometimes use to stop my t-zone looking like its caked in makeup, as it takes any excess off. Finally I have 2 Benefit brushes that I had in the Away We Glow set that Alicia got me one Christmas! The first is the brush from the Coralista Blush and applys really nicely and the second is a fluffy end brush that is nice to blend eye shadows together and a hard angled brush that I use often for eye brows and eye shadow as eye liner.

There we go! It should of taken a few hours to sort this post out but it some how managed to take a lot longer! I have 2 more planned though to keep this great streak me and Alicia have going on!

Abbie x

Favourite Lip Products ♡

Storage boxes- Next

So I own quite a lot of make up but I think my favouties have to be lip products. I have a few more than the ones I'm going to show today because I have just picked a range of my favourites to share today.

Also some of the pictures are quite bright because of the flash o my camera, believe it or not, this isn't just my bad photography skills, I did it on purpose so you can see the colours better.

Left- Right

Intense Care

Pink Punch

Cherry Me 

Peach Kiss

Hydrate

Firstly I have a collection of Maybelline Baby Lips lip balms that I know me and Alicica LOVE! They are so nice, smell AMAZING and are so long lasting! I don't think you can go wrong with any of these and I would strongly recommend them to anyone. I also think that theses would be perfect if you are just starting out with makeup because they are cheap as well. I think my 2 favourites of the 5 would have to be Cherry Me and Peach Kiss.

Left - Right

Cranberry Cream

Raspberry Rush

Rosalita

Pink-a-Boo

Next I have this Clinnique Butter Shine Lipstick Pallette. I haven't really used this much because its much easier to just reach for a Lipstick than the pallette but it does have really pretty colours in it! I think my favourites are Pink- a - boo and Rosalita. They also have really cute names which I like too.

These are my top 3 lipsticks. First I have the Natural Collection Moisture Shine Lipstick in Raspberry. Natural Collection Lipsticks are really cheap so again good if you are just starting a make up collection. I saw a YouTube video as well where someone said this was a really good dupe for a Mac lipstick just a LOT cheaper! Then I have a Models Prefer lipstick. You used to be able to get Models Prefer in Boots but I don't think you can now so I'm not sure where you would get this (maybe eBay?) anymore but its definitely worth a try if you see it anywhere! Mine is the colour Sheer Rose. Lastly is my most favourite lip stick EVER! Its the slightly more pricey  Estee Lauder lipstick in 82 Palace pink. Its such a pretty pink shade but I don't think you can buy it anymore so I need to see if they do a similar one now because this is so nice! All 3 of these lipsticks are really long lasting as well so I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

Next I have 2 Benefit products. I firstly have my favourite sticky, lip gloss which is Life On The A List. Its a really pretty light pink which is very shimmery. I personally don't think that it is an everyday lip gloss because its so shimmery, but it is perfect for a party or going somewhere fancy! Secondly i have the Posie Tint. This is a cheek and lip tint but I dint use it on my cheeks as I cant seem to get it just right. It is so nice as a base for other lip colours as its a 'your lips but better' kind of colour that honestly lasts almost all day! You can eat and drink and although the colour you put on top will probably come off this certainly wont! Its so nice and definitely something ill buy again. 

Theres only 1 thing i dislike about Ted Baker lip crayons, they don't have names! So I cant refer to one specifically with a name but ill give it a go! First is a beautiful pink that is lovely in the summer and so is the slightly more orange toned one. Lastly is the middle dark ready brown shade? This is PERFECT for autumn! I cant wait to wear it in the autumn as I got it for Christmas so haven't had chance yet.

Here I have 3 more products that I couldn't really categorize so I just decided to put them all together. First is the Tanya Burr lip gloss in the shade First Date. It is such a pretty, light, milky pink colour that has such a lovely almost shimmery matt effect. The colour is a bit light for me but I just add a darker pink on top that makes it look nicer. Hopefully with a tan this will look lovely though! Next is a lip gloss that I have had for ages and I think its from the super marker Morrisons beauty bits they have at christmas. Its called Boudoir Beauty and is in the shade Ruby Riot. Its a shimmer pink gloss that I actually wore over my Estee Lauder lipstick for prom. It is also really long lasting , at prom I didn't top it up once, which is obviously great! Lastly I have a shimmery almost metallic effect Barry M lip crayon in the shade 5 which I think is called Ballet Slipper or something like that? It is a bit strange on its own but perfect over a lipstick like the Estee Lauder or Natural Collection one for a party or night out. 

Finally I have 3 products that I have used a lot! The Lancome Juicy Tube in Disco Melon WHICH IS THE GREATEST SMELLING THING EVER! That is a nice natural looking gloss as it basically goes on clear not the orange colour that it looks. Then 2 soap and glory products. Smooch opertor ehich I use every night before bed and its partner in crime A Great Kisser which is a coconut smelling (yum) glittery lip gloss that is very good for your lips along with Smooch Operator.

Finally this post is done! I started around 12 this afternoon and its now 7pm and I have to go to dance! My camera and laptop just hate me today! But at least its done. 

Abbie x

Super Simple Makeup ♡

As I may have mentioned in a previous post I have horribly dry but oily and spot prone skin. But recently I think I have found a skin care routine that is actually working (touch wood) so I haven't been wearing much makeup purely because for the fist time in what feels like forever I actually don't need to! So this is makeup I'v been wearing to school and because I do a lot of dance this is the makeup that I always wear for that regardless of what my skin decides its doing because it always stays put. 

First I put concealer under my eyes, on any redness and on spots and blemishes. I use the much loved Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer because it has great coverage, isn't heavy at all and stays all day. I set that with the Avon Colour Trend Translucent Powder which is my favourite because its translucent so doesn't make your face look powdery and helps keep the concealer in place. Even when I'm just dancing I do like to fill in my eyebrows because they never look very full unless I'v just had them threaded. I use the Models Prefer Eyebrow Pencil and I literally fill in as little as possible or else it takes a while for me to get them even. For school I do also run my clear mascara through my brows to keep them neat. For my eyes I only wear mascara. I love the Models Own Hi-Definer Lashed-Up Volumiser Mascara in black because it reminds me of my favourite Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara which I do wear sometimes but the Models Own one is just as good and a lot cheaper! WIN! I only use that on my top lashes and I use the Avon Crystal Clear Mascara (I know it doesn't look clear but sometimes I use it over black mascara so that's why) on my bottom lashes. This prevents any mascara getting under your eyes through out the day and is a great thing to do if your going to be doing any exercise. Lastly I just use a Maybeline BabyLips lip balm on my lips. My favourite at the minute is the shimmery Peach Kiss but I also love Pink Punch. 

I know we keep saying it but now all our exams for the year are done fingers crossed me and Alicia can post more regularly and I cant wait to start Christmas posts! I might do a skin care post next because as I mentioned I actually found one that works!

Abbie x