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I.G Tut #1 | Glitter Wing Details


Hello hello, I hope you're all having a great Sunday. I know I only just introduced a brand new series yesterday, but brace yourselves for a new one, because I had another brain wave and I'm really excited to share it with you all (again). I'm not 100% sure what I will be calling this, so atm I've left it as 'I.G Tut', but watch this space haha. Now I have always enjoyed making little makeup clips for the gram, even when the video length was just 15 seconds! I would diligently sit and cut down, speed up, find music and create mini clips, which I personally loved doing and I got a great response from my followers. The chances of me ever starting my own YouTube channel are slim to none, but that doesn't mean I can't utilise one of my favourite platforms and take advantage of their newer 1 minute allowance for videos. At the same time I don't think the videos alone are very useful, so I wanted to combine my main platform (my blog),  with my second largest base I.G and write posts to go along with it. I hope my IG followers find this useful ^_^ I'll be linking products, reviews, talking about techniques and giving you mini reviews of each of the products too.


Video one - base

1. Moisturiser: Embryollise creme concentrate, is the absolute BEST. I very rarely apply anything else before I put on makeup, because it sinks into the skin so well and any foundation applied on top applies beautifully. Especially if its a heavier kind of base. I once tried to use mehron HD over a nivea moisturiser and it just took longer to blend and didn't sit as well. Embryollise does have mineral oil in it, so if your skin doesn't react well with that, perhaps avoid! Otherwise though it's well worth trying out, the best moisturiser for it's price without a doubt.

2. Corrector for under the eyes and around the mouth: I have created my own custom corrector and it was a bit of a spur of the moment thing, but it works SO well! I reviewed the L.A Girl correctors here, and in that post I said how the orange shade just does not work for me because its too strong of an orange. So I decided to try mixing the orange and yellow on the back of my hand and it worked so well! I've not cleaned out a little benefit eyecream pot, and mixed them together which'll save me a lot of time in the morning.

3. Foundation: NARS Sheer Glow in Stromboli (reviewed here) is one of the best bases EVER. I love this and because I've reviewed it already in detail, I won't into too much detail, but basically its the best medium coverage base ever, I adore it! I blended it in with a damp beauty blender, my favourite method of application, the sponge is worth the price I promise.

4. Concealer: I used the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX07 for under the eyes and to highlight of course! I've reviewed this base in full here, and this post also explains the best way to use it and to set it too. I then used the same concealer in the shade SX08 to conceal that horrid spot on my forehead - it can conceal EVERYTHING. I blended it with the same damp beauty blender of course.

5. Set and lightly bake: The Kat Von D Shade and Light palette, which I reviewed here, is my all time favourite and you can see that by how much I have hit pan! 4 shades down, just two to go haha. The shades lyric and levitation mixed together work really well under the eyes. The brush I used is the Real Techniques Setting brush, its fantastic and I need one more in my collection for sure. I then used the orange shade to set over that pesky spot, and it really helped to hide the spot. You wouldn't want to apply the yellow powder over the spot, because it would highlight it and bring it to the surface. The to 'semi-bake' I used the Kat Von D Lock It Setting Powder, which is very lightweight and doesn't appear ashy on the skin. I've not had a chance to talk about this on the blog yet, but I have to say I really like it. For the price you get a lot of product and it does look better than the Coty powder. I use the primark mini sponge for the semi-baking, it is BRILLIANT! Just make sure it's well and truly damp first.



Video two: The Rest Of The Base

1. Brows: I've been using the Colourpop brow pencil in bangin brunette, which is very very similar to the ABH Brow Wiz! I usually wear my pomade, but when I'm in a rush this pencil does an excellent job at drawing out a shape. Plus the spoolie on the other end is perfect for blending the product through - you can't go wrong for the $5 price tag. The next step is to use the essence make me brow in 3 - a total benefit dupe for less than £3! I love this for toning the brows down a little bit, but also for setting them in place and the fibres create a more realistic look too. A real must have. Also for those asking, I always order my essence products online because theres a lot more variety vs. my local store (which also isn't that local by the way).

2. Bronzer: Topshop mohawk, is my all time favourite affordable bronzer', it is the perfect colour for my skintone! I've reviewed it more here. I love using the Real Techniques multi task brush, it is a great size, and ever so slightly tapered so you can apply it at an angle if you want some definition. I use the multi task brush almost every single day, its a must have in my collection, but as far as I remember its only available as part of their sets - they need to sell some of their brushes individually I'd be picking up a lot more!

3. Contour: ABH Refil Shade in Ash Brown, which I bought on sale from beautybay for an unbelievable price of less than a fiver! Although its not one of their more popular shades, I LOVE it so much. It's not quite as grey as a typical contour shade, but it is deep enough to really add definition. For the cheeks I used the Real Techniques Contour Brush and for the nose I used the Real Techniques Flat Foundation Brush, which was actually a first but it works really well! Both of these brushes are available in this kit, which is also on sale atm.

4. Blush: NARS Torrid is one of my favourites, I have reviewed it here. The brush I used is actually an ebay Jessup one. I love it because the bristles aren't very dense and it blends products out in a more natural way - which is useful for highly pigmented products! I can't seem to find the exact brush kit I purchased, but a quick ebay search shows they've improved their kits a lot and I think its the same blush brush in this kit.

5. Highlighter: Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Sundipped, a full review for this is coming up in the next week or two - I love it! The shades are beautifully pigmented and a little stronger than the previous glow kits (although not as intense as the newest one, as far as I can tell!). The brush I used is the Morphe M501, which is AMAZING! Its a shame they've increased the price, but I have to say it's still worth it and double, because it applies highlighter better than any other I own.

6. Facial Spritz: Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe Herbs And Rosewater, reviewed here. BEST EVER. Can't speak highly enough!




Video Three: Eyes and Lips

1. Crease: MUG Dessert Sands is a gorgeous mustard shade which I LOVE for the crease! As my favourite colours to wear on the eyes are deep reds and browns, this shade of yellow blends so beautifully with them and it is one of my all time favourites. I used the Morphe M504 brush, which is fantastic for blending in any crease shade quickly and efficiently, a real go-to.

2. Lid: ABH Blazing was then blended all UNDER the crease area, mainly on the outer part of the eyelid. I adore the shade and I'm not sure why it's not more popular to be honest! The brush I used was the Morphe M507, again another MUST have brush in my collection! It is perfect for smaller detail work and its a very unique brush in my collection, I love it for the crease and inner corner too. I then blended out the crease again with the same M504, to make it all look seamless - blending is KEY for any eyeshadow look!

3. Main Lid: ABH Henna, all over the lid with a double ended ecotools brush (reviewed here!). Tbh I wish I had applied this with my finger instead as the pigmentation would have been stronger.

4. Lower Lash Line: Using the Zoeva 238 Luxe Precise Shader reviewed here, I ran Blazing under the lower lash line.

5. Inner Corner: Taking that same brush, I popped some of MUG's Vanilla bean reviewed herein the inner corner and slightly further into the lid. This reduced the pigmentation and opened the eyes up a little too.

6. Back to the crease: Using the other end of the ecotools brush (the shader side), I roughly applied some of MUG's Wild West, which is a beautiful deep dusty purple which I LOVE for adding some depth to any look. I then blended it out with the same M504. 

7. Lower Lash Line again: Going back in with MUG's Dessert Sands, I blended it all over the lower lashline, because it looks gorgeous with the red hue of blazing, they're a match made in heaven😍. I then went over the lower lashline again with Wild West, because I felt like it needed some definition and depth!

8. Winged Liner: The Balm's Schwing Liner is a gorgeous, very pigmented, long lasting eyeliner which I have really enjoyed. I don't like the fact that the tip is fraying now, but hopefully with a pair of scissors it'll be as good as new! 

9. Glitter! Horaaaaay, the glitz part. Using the paintglow glitter me up fix gel, I applied a little on the edge of the Zoeva Winged Liner Brush, then I carefully used the brush to apply a line of it just above the wing I had created. I could have been a little more precise with this part, but once the lashes were applied it didn't look too intense! The using a double ended primark brush, I dipped my brush into the certifeye rose gold glitter and carefully patted the glitter over where I had just placed the gel. 

10. Lashes: I've not included these in my video, because I plan to write a post about it and create another mini video for IG. But the lashes I'm using are from Anaqa lashes (IG here) in the style Nour. They're VERY dramatic but really made the look appear glamorous. Also the lovely owner Doua, kindly gave my readers a discount code, so use 'Iqra10' for 10% off your order!

11. Lips: And the final step 😅, I used the Rimmel liner in tiramisu, which is a firm favourite. It's excellent for natural lip shades, as well as anything orange toned because it does lean on that side of the colour spectrum. I also really like the formula of these pencils. I then used the Huda Beauty liquid lipstick in trendsetter - another favourite of mine! Whilst it appears more orange, once it's dried down it looks deeper and very sophisticated. 



And that is finally the end haha! I hope you guys found this beneficial, I really enjoyed creating it for you, even though it took ages haha. Thanks for all the good feedback I've already had 😄



Thank-you for reading


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I.G Tut #1 | Glitter Wing Details


Hello hello, I hope you're all having a great Sunday. I know I only just introduced a brand new series yesterday, but brace yourselves for a new one, because I had another brain wave and I'm really excited to share it with you all (again). I'm not 100% sure what I will be calling this, so atm I've left it as 'I.G Tut', but watch this space haha. Now I have always enjoyed making little makeup clips for the gram, even when the video length was just 15 seconds! I would diligently sit and cut down, speed up, find music and create mini clips, which I personally loved doing and I got a great response from my followers. The chances of me ever starting my own YouTube channel are slim to none, but that doesn't mean I can't utilise one of my favourite platforms and take advantage of their newer 1 minute allowance for videos. At the same time I don't think the videos alone are very useful, so I wanted to combine my main platform (my blog),  with my second largest base I.G and write posts to go along with it. I hope my IG followers find this useful ^_^ I'll be linking products, reviews, talking about techniques and giving you mini reviews of each of the products too.

Beauty Haul | Becca & Kat Von D

becca and kat von d haul uk

Hello everybody! Today I have a haul post for you all and it will most certainly be the last one in a long while, cause I'm still about that #studentlife haha. This haul spans from August till now and I'm really excited to share it all with you.


A couple of weeks back towards the end of summer, I went to Birmingham to meet with a friend of mine, and of course I couldn't resist having a bit of a shop! It was wonderful to spend time with Hoodo and towards the end of trip I had some time alone and decided to hunt down the Birmingham Space NK store. It used to be in the bullring, however they have moved the store and its now about a 5 minute walk. Usually I'd just think, naaah I'll leave it and just sit on a bench and people watch till my train arrives. But it was SPACE NK - a store I rarely get to enter, because my nearest is in London. So I used google maps and followed the path till I got there and boy oh boy was it worth the searching and walked avec heavy bags! All the gorgeous brands that you don't find in a typical department store laid out, all the products I constantly browse through online and the best part? No pushy sales assistants 🎉 I was seriously in my element and could have spent a good couple of hours browsing. I had intended to purchase the Becca Champagne Split in Amaretto and Prosecco pop, because it sold out instantly online and I was told via twitter that it was only available in stores. However after a chat with the sales assistant there, I realised it would make a lot more sense to purchase the champagne collection palette, which I was sure would be sold out anyway!

becca champagne collection palette


The split pans cost £32 each are are available still from here. Like I said I was not expecting the palette to be around, so I was taken aback to see it there haha. The palette costs £48 and when you compare the amount of product you get in the palette (20.4g), to the amount in the split pan (7.93g), its a no brainer that if the palette is available...ya get the palette! 😋 What made me umm and ahh a little was the question...will you really use all the shades? At least by buying a split pan, you know you'll use it up, but again the value for money was just better in this case. Obviously it has been quite a few weeks since I picked this up, however if you are interested in picking up the palette, I'd recommend you check out your local store just in case. I wasn't expecting to find it, but I did so who knows ^_^.
becca champagne collection palette

On to the actual palette itself I've not had a lot of time to try it out properly, but upon swatching the shades they're the same gorgeous buttery formula that Becca produces. The packaging is beautiful, white and gold, with an excellent sized mirror which is always a plus. Although I was unsure about the size of the blush pans at first, they're more than enough due to how pigmented the formula is. You only need to tap your brush on the pan and you'll get enough for one use. I also already have champagne pop, it was a gift I received for my birthday this year which was another reason why I was keen on getting the split pan initially - however its such a beautiful highlighter that I know I can use it for years to come now I have two. Presseco pop, the golden highlighter, is utterly dreamworthy for warm skintones and I cannot wait to use it soon!

becca champagne collection palette


I just had to put another photo in here - as you can see you're given a clear sheet with the names on, but when I do lose this it's all good because they have the names written on the back. I'm most excited by Amaretto, which is the matte/satin blush that is more of a nude colour and reminds me of what I envisage NARS Madly would look like. However Rose Spritz is reminiscent of Sleek rose gold and NARS Orgasm, so again another shade I'm looking forwards to wearing. I'm happy to have a selection of the mineral blushes from Becca as I'm such a fan of the NARS formula, I rarely spend a lot on other blushers.



kat von d lock it powder review


Moving on to another exciting release in the U.K - horaaaay we finally have Kat Von D! It only took the U.K a couple of years to get this brand haha. I was incredibly excited to hear at the start of summer that we would be getting KVD here and I started thinking about what products I want from her line. You probably already know that I am smitten with the Shade and Light contour palette (£36) reviewed here, which has recently been re-released in a refillable packaging but for some reason that version isn't being stocked in the U.K. Yesterday I hit pan on a third shade within the palette, which is a first for me as I've never gotten through so much product! So that in itself speaks for how great the product is, which has led me to have high expectations of the brand in general. Recently Kat has released the 'lock it' setting powder (£20 for 19g), which I didn't hear too much about before the brand came to Debenhams, but the reasonable price meant I wanted to give it a go. I have been loving the Coty powder for lightly baking, so I wanted to pick up a higher end version. I really like the packaging, its sleek and pretty compacy. In terms of a difference from the drugstore one, although this is a little more yellow toned than the coty and finer milled, I haven't seen a big difference in the performance of the powders - but I shall keep you posted.

kat von d lock it creme concealer in medium 17 warm review and swatch


I was really interested to try the newly reformulated and repackaged 'lock it' creme concealer (£20), however I just have to say I hate how expensive concealers are becoming these days. 6g costing twenty quid??? Thats a joke if you ask me, when the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual skin enhancers aren't even double the price but contain a load of product and last a couple of years. This is the primary reason why I don't often spend my money on other brands for concealer, cause often they're not worth the money. Its much more beneficial picking up an expensive longer lasting product, than a £20 one which only lasts a couple of months, making it even more expensive than the product with the £35+ price tag! I hope I'm making sense here haha.

Anyway on to the actual concealer, I guess I purchased it out of complete and utter excitement that KVD was available online and I picked up the shade Medium 17 - warm. The online swatches are sparse, so I was VERY lucky to get a shade that works well for me. Its brightening and inbetween yellow and neutral. I do use a corrector first - but I do this with EVERY concealer because my dark circles are just that awful. I'd describe the coverage as medium but you could build it up a little. The formula is creamy and easy to blend, I use a damp beauty blender and its quick and easy in the morning - definitely quicker than Kevyn! For this reason I have been using it almost daily and although I would prefer a full coverage under-eye for special occasions, I'm actually okay with this for a daily basis. So far so good, but the pricing for the amount you get still bugs me...and I don't know that I love it enough to repurchase at this point.

kat von d lock it creme concealer in medium 17 warm review and swatch kat von d everlasting liquid lipstick lolita 2, bow n arrow, double dare review and swatch


Finally I picked up two more of her everlasting liquid lipsticks. I already owned Lolita and Double Dare, so I added Lolita 2 and Bow N Arrow. These cost £16 each, pretty pricy but you get a decent amount in the tube and I do enjoy the formula. By the way the swatch style I've used, is totally inspired by the beautiful beauty with charm ☺️. So far I really like lolita 2, it is a stunning orange toned mix of brown and red and I've been leaning towards this kind of shade since discovering and falling for ABH Ashton. Bow N Arrow looks VERY brown in the swatch, yet on my lips its more muted and slightly more on the nude side. Look out for a collective review of these in a couple of weeks!


What are your favourite recent purchases?



Thank-you for reading




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Beauty Haul | Becca & Kat Von D

becca and kat von d haul uk

Hello everybody! Today I have a haul post for you all and it will most certainly be the last one in a long while, cause I'm still about that #studentlife haha. This haul spans from August till now and I'm really excited to share it all with you.

May 2016 Favourites


Hello everyone, it feels so great to be writing a monthly favourites again ^_^ This month the majority of my favourites have been new purchases and there is nothing like new makeup to make me feel excited!

freedom pro studio priming water dupe smashbox priming water, blistex relief cream liquid lipstick prep


I'm going to start off with the least swoon-worthy items, but these are the products that have been helping my makeup game stay relatively strong, so they're just as important! The Freedom Priming Water (£6.00) is supposedly an exact dupe for the smashbox version, which is an unethical brand so I never had any intention of picking it up. Anyway, the freedom brand in general are known for creating cheeky dupes, I know there are mixed opinions on this but personally I think it’s great to have a brand that creates budget alternatives. I DIGRESS. This water contains a high amount of glycerin, which is also a concentrated ingredient in the much talked about Nivea post shave balm. It is the glycerin which helps the makeup stick to the skin and I find this priming water works well. I spray some on just after moisturising, let it set into the skin for 30 seconds and continue with my makeup. When I’ve finished my makeup, I spritz this over the top and my makeup lasts well.  I also love this for further dampening my beauty blender before I start blending out my concealer - it actually makes a difference to the amount of creasing under the eyes!

As I’ve mentioned now that I’m back to buying makeup, liquid lipsticks are my new best friends. However they do dry out the lips no matter how light the formula, so using the Blistex Relief Cream (£2.65) at night as a lip mask has been making all the difference. I wake up with soft plump lips and without this gem of a product, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the Liquid Lipsticks I own! It’s also one of the first products I spoke about on my blog back in 2013, which shows it has stood the test of time.

Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Lipstick in Everything Nice the balm liquid lipstick in committed


Talking about Liquid Lipsticks, the two that have been floating my boat in May are offerings from Gerard Cosmetics and The Balm. I reviewed the Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Lipstick in Everything Nice (£9.50) here, which is a beautiful muted orange toned nude colour. When I say orange, I mean it in the most flattering way and there is just a tiny hint. It’s also one of the only shades I like to wear alone, as most ‘nude’ shades just look a little off on me.  I won't waffle on too much as I have a whole review up already, but great shade and an awesome formula!

The most recent addition to my LL stash is The Balm’s Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting liquid lipstick in Committed (£13.50) which I first saw on Katy's snap months ago. This is another everyday kind of shade, although its more pink than I usually go for. It's probably the only sort of colour that I think is appropriate for work from my collection of LLs so far...and the formula is AMAZING. It has an odd cooling effect on the lips and a vanilla scent, dries down fairly quickly and lasts well throughout the day. It does fade in the inner part of the lips after eating oily food, but the fact that this formula doesn't dry my lips out much at all means it's landed a spot in my favourites.

coty airspun loose powder, kat von d shade and light palette, la girl pro conceal HD concealer in pure beige



The Coty airspun powder loose powder in translucent ($8.99) has been a firm favourite this month, as has the technique known as 'baking'. Only I don't like to leave the powder on for too long, or else it just looks a little too matte and feels a lot drier than it needs to be. I own the NARS loose powder too, however I much prefer the Coty one for baking, its affordable and does the job well. Plus it really is translucent, at first it looks a little too light but it ends up almost undetectable. There is a LOT less creasing under the eyes and the oily areas are kept under control too! Couldn't ask for a whole lot more really ^_^

The L.A Girl Pro HD Concealer in Pure Beige (£5.00) is my perfect match and I have been using it a tonne this month thanks to those pesky blemishes on my face. The formula of this concealer, as well as the extensive shade range, is what has me coming back to it time and time again!

And finally on the powder front, back to an oldie but an absolute goodie the Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette ($46.00) has been popping up all over my social media accounts because I can't stop adoring it, the love for this runs DEEP. I use every single shade, although the yellow shade is clearly the most frequently tapped into. If I only have 5 minutes to do my makeup, this palette is one of the only things I reach for because I can set, bronze, contour and eyeshadow my face in a matter of minutes.

becca champagne pop highlighter UK Topshop mohawk bronzer


YES THAT IS CHAMPAGNE POP *squeals* one of the best birthday presents I have ever received in my whole entire life (thank-you Ayesha🙊). I finally have the most coveted highlighter on this planet and it is absolutely stunning, no other highlight has been on my face since I received this beauty. The only thing I want to note is, if you have texture on your face, this does highlight them, so either go in with a light hand or wait for the 'poured'/ cream version to be released in the UK. I'm definitely planning on getting my hands on the liquid version and I'm thrilled that its permanent.

The bronzer that I have not been able to put down this month is Topshop's Mohawk (£9.00). I've had it for a while, but always opted for highend bronzers and totally overlooked this gem in my stash! It's a couple of shades deeper then my skintone, so not too red nor grey toned. Just the perfect bronzer shade which warms my complexion up beautifully! I typically do the '3' bronzer motion on the sides of my face and dust some on my nose, which gives me a lovely warmth to my face. It also blends really nicely, resulting in an actually natural look - I am smitten!

morphe M330, morphe M139, Illamasqua Ore pigment


As you may know, I've picked up quite a few Morphe eyeshadow brushes lately, however the two that have been most used are the M330 and the M139. The first M330 Blending Crease brush (£4.95) is a brilliant blending brush, for that transition shade, for merging colours together and for everything in between. Its basic but very much an essential and priced at less than a fiver, I need a couple more! The M139 Tapered Crease Blender Brush (£2.50)  is just as amazing, especially if you have a smaller lid space. This brush is like the little sister to the M330 and I love how its half the price too ^_^ another brush that I need to restock on, it's wonderful for the crease too!

A product I've had in my stash for a couple of years now, which I always whip out for every special occasion is the Illamasqua pigment in 'Ore' (£17.00). It is very hard to describe but I'll have a go...a bronzy/gold with flecks of silver and a tiny hint of khaki. Google the shade and you'll hopefully see what I mean from the swatches available online. Anyway I adore this pigment, it's very versatile depending on what colour base you apply underneath and how you apply it too. For my 21st birthday I did a smokey eye, with this packed all over the lid and I was obsessed with how it turned out. It's a pricy little investment, but so worth it for how it adds a gorgeous touch to my eye makeup.






Those are all my favourites of May! Have you tried any of these products?


Thank-you for reading





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May 2016 Favourites


Hello everyone, it feels so great to be writing a monthly favourites again ^_^ This month the majority of my favourites have been new purchases and there is nothing like new makeup to make me feel excited!

My 21st Birthday Sephora Haul!

sephora birthday haul beauty insider 2016 ordering to the UK

Hello everybody! Today is my 21st Birthday 🎉 And it's becoming a bit of a tradition to treat myself to one Sephora order a year, in my birthday month. Ordering from Sephora is expensive without a doubt, customs, taxes and shipping in total probably cost me around £36! So now you know why it's more of an annual treat haha. Having said that, like I said last year the way I see it is £36 is a lot cheaper than a ticket to America and hotel costs SOOOO I think all in all, although its a splurge it's rather justifiable ;D. Before we get into this haul, I'd just like to apologise for the lack of consistency with these photos, I was getting brave and shooting in RAW mode...this was my first try and some of them didn't quite come out as I had hoped. ANYWAYS, on to the good stuff!

Kat Von D everlasting liquid lipstick in lolita and double dare



So starting off with two liquid lipsticks that I've had my eye on for AGES, and these are probably the most talked about and most loved liquid lipsticks of all time: Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks in Lolita and Double Dare ($20.00 - £13.70). I was extremely excited for Lolita of course, which is described as a chestnut rose. It looks like the most gorgeous mauvey rose shade for medium skintones and I am super excited to try it today. I also purchased Double Dare, which came highly recommend by the lovely Jasmine and is described as 'cocoa blush'. It's pretty much a stunning medium muted pink shade and I think I'll get a lot of wear out of it. I was also planning on purchasing the shade Bow N Arrow which is a nude colour, but then I decided to try out a couple of different formulas and if I love these two, I'll place another order and pick it up next year.

Anastasia Beverly Hills liquid lipstick in ashton, sephora collection cream lip stain in 13 Marvellous Mauve
 Talking about other formulas, I simply HAD to purchase at least one of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid lipsticks ($20.00 - £13.70) and as the new shades were new to Sephora, a lot of them were out of stock. I did want to purchase at least one of the pink nude shades and if I like this formula, I'll be purchasing those in the future. However another shade which stood out to me, after watching at least 10 swatch videos, was Ashton. On the Sephora site, it is described as a mid-toned yellow brown, however based on swatches I would call it more of a deeper nude shade, with orange undertones. Actually it does kind of remind me of everything nice (reviewed here) which is a shade I adore, so I'm looking forwards to trying Ashton out! The packaging of the ABH liquid lipsticks are so lovely and luxe too.

The final liquid lipstick formula I purchased is the Sephora collection cream lip stain in 13 - Marvellous Mauve ($14.00 - £9.59). I have seen this doing the rounds on YouTube for months now and after a bit of research, I saw this shade is an almost exact dupe for Stila's Patina! This is £6 cheaper, plus its a whole different formula, so I was very excited to pick it up and give it a go. By the way, I haven't included swatches in this post because I plan to review each and every product individually - but I will be doing comparison swatches and the likes when I get around to writing those posts.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Fawn, Sienna and Peach Sorbet single eyeshadows

Anastasia Beverly Hills Fawn, Sienna and Peach Sorbet single eyeshadows
 So you probably know that I have become pretty smitten with single eyeshadows, and the concept of creating my own palette! Being a regular YouTube watcher (have I mentioned that already??), ABH shadows are used so often and recommended a lot. It was really hard to settle on which shades I wanted, because initially I thought I'd be able to get a quad for free to hold them in, BUT FOR SOME REASON SEPHORA DOESN'T SHIP THE CARDBOARD/PLASTIC QUAD PACKAGING TO THE UK -_- It's really not a huge deal, it's just a bit frustrating because I understand why they can't ship nail polishes...but packaging for a quad?? Eh. Anyway what made choosing these shades a little easier was I already had the majority of my MUG shadows, so I could kind of see which shades were missing in my palette - as this whole single shadow palette will be my go-to for years to come!

The first shade I decided to go for was Sienna - described as an earth brown. I picked this over morocco, though it was a very close call. I think what helped me decide in the end was literally googling eyeshadow looks with each shade name, and thinking about which ones I could actually see myself using. First impressions are that this is in the same colour family as Cocoa Bear from MUG, which is one of my ultimate favourites!  Peach Sorbet - is described as a metallic sultry rose champagne. I chose it mainly because Katy (Lustrelux) loves this shade, plus I needed a bright pop of colour in my palette, for an intense inner-corner highlight or simply all over the lid. The final shade I purchased was Fawn - described as a neutral olive. I wouldn't quite agree with this description, it's more of a brown and again it's used and recommended so much on YT that I couldn't resist adding to my already pretty extensive collection of neutrals! The ABH shadows are a bit of a splurge, they're $12.00 - £8.22, so they're just a little more expensive than the MUG foiled shadows. Based on the price, of course I have high expectations and I'll be posting reviews for these three shadows separately by the way, as they are more pricey.

Tarte tartelette in bloom palette and tarte CC cream medium tan

AND WE HAVE MORE EYESHADOWS. Lemme explain okay, hear me out - I know I said I've gone off palettes since the decision to create my own using single shadows, but since this beauty was released months ago I was completely smitten. The Tartelette In Bloom Palette ($45.00 - £30.00) is actually available in the UK, from QVC however it was out of stock for a couple of weeks prior to my order so I decided to pick it up from Sephora instead. This is the second version of their palette, the first one was all matte and it didn't really appeal to me. Especially as a LOT of reviews were not so great, so although I was instantly drawn to the in bloom palette, I was kind of glad I was on my spending ban so I could wait and read reviews for this one. I've not come across any negative reviews myself, and although it was smaller than I expected, I am OVER THE MOON. The pigmentation of the shades are stunning, the formula is creamy and I just can't stop admiring this beauty! I couldn't have designed a more beautiful palette myself, from the outer packaging, to the large mirror, to the range of lights to darks with that gorgeous redish shade - yes Tarte, you did SO GOOD.

I've also had my eye on the Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector ($24.00 - £16.43) for a while now. I am all about the salmon coloured correctors, I've tried a couple but I'm yet to find one that ticks all my boxes. First impressions are that the shade I purchased - Medium-Tan is probably going to be near perfect, I'm not so sure about the coverage or formula, but I shall be reviewing it soon along with the concealer I picked up LAST year!

Sephora birthday gift 2016









And finally one of the funnest things about ordering from Sephora in your birthday month, is the beauty insider birthday gift! Last year it was two decent sized NARS pencils, which I loved. This year they give you a skincare option and a makeup option. Of course, when I saw it was Marc Jacobs, I picked this - a mini lipstick and a pencil eyeliner. Do excuse the quality of this photo (RAW gone wrong🙄), but I'll be doing a post on this very soon to give y'all my two pennies. Regardless though, its a great perk and a lovely free gift from a very luxury brand.

And that is the end of my birthday haul from Sephora! I feel very blessed to have so much beautiful new makeup to play with and I cannot wait to share these things in more detail with you all ^_^



Thank-you for reading



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My 21st Birthday Sephora Haul!

sephora birthday haul beauty insider 2016 ordering to the UK

Hello everybody! Today is my 21st Birthday 🎉 And it's becoming a bit of a tradition to treat myself to one Sephora order a year, in my birthday month. Ordering from Sephora is expensive without a doubt, customs, taxes and shipping in total probably cost me around £36! So now you know why it's more of an annual treat haha. Having said that, like I said last year the way I see it is £36 is a lot cheaper than a ticket to America and hotel costs SOOOO I think all in all, although its a splurge it's rather justifiable ;D. Before we get into this haul, I'd just like to apologise for the lack of consistency with these photos, I was getting brave and shooting in RAW mode...this was my first try and some of them didn't quite come out as I had hoped. ANYWAYS, on to the good stuff!

2015 Beauty Favourites!



Hello everyone! I know I’m a little bit late with this annual beauty favourites..but at least you’ve finally caught up on everyone else’s and you’re ready for the final one on your feed..am I right?! hehe.  I didn’t get exactly 15 products, but these are the items that I found myself reaching for over and over throughout the year. I have a feeling this is going to be a fairly long post, so lets begin..




The base

1. Currently my all time favourite foundation for when I want skin that looks great, as well as something that lasts a good amount of time is by far the NARS Sheer Glow (£31.00). I purchased it late in 2014 and its been my go-to whenever I need my skin to look real good, without a lot of effort. Its pretty yellow toned and photographs really well. Personally its a little heavier than I gravitate towards on a daily basis, but anytime I’m going to an event or my skin is playing up, a dollop of this with my trusty beauty blender has me covered. A thorough review will certainly be coming up soon!

2. My absolute favourite daily base is the Make Up For Ever Face & Body (£27.00) which definitely took a while to figure out, but its the most natural, glowy, long-lasting base I own. I love how buildable the coverage is, without looking cakey in the slightest. It’s also super easy to apply and blend with my fingers and it takes me under a minute to have it applied and good to go, which is perfect for busy mornings. It’s got a unique gel-like formula and is a cross between satin and dewy. I wish it were a little more yellow in tone but aside from that I am loving it!

3. The most expensive, yet most revolutionary addition to my makeup collection in 2015 was by far the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer (£36.50). This stuff is insanely pigmented and has many uses, with my favourite being as a highlighter and concealer. You really need to stick to the rule ‘a little goes a long way’ as you only need a tiny bit to achieve a flawless under-eye! I have two shades, SX08 which is a good match to my skintone and SX06 which is a couple of shades lighter, so mixed with SX08 its perfection for everyday. The formula is luxuriously creamy and it has seriously changed my makeup game for the better. My favourite way to blend this out is with this mini beauty blender dupe and I really cannot be without these!

**Honorary mention: the Rimmel Lasting Finish concealer in 3 (£5.49) which I have mentioned a couple of times on my blog! It is the only drugstore concealer which actually brightens and corrects my under-eyes pretty well. So many times I have used just this and a tinted moisturiser and I have been good to go, its a great 3-minute makeup essential of mine, but it also works well under other concealers too!**



The Powders

4. After a great experience at the Harrods Charlotte Tilbury counter this summer, I picked up the Air-Brush Flawless Finish Skin-Perfecting Micro-Powder (£33.00) because the MUA used it on my under-eyes and I was in awe at how smooth and literally flawless they looked! Recently my skintype has shifted from normal/dry to normal/combo and sometimes I find my T-zone getting a little bit oily throughout the day. Although this is a finishing powder, I find a light dusting instantly removes shine without removing glow. It is finely milled, has a light coverage and doesn’t look cakey at all. Also this powder beautifully erases the signs of my visible pores around my nose, which is why it is literally the key to success - and I don’t use that phrase lightly! Pricy? yes, but 1000% worth it and I will be repurchasing when I hit pan ^_^



5. The Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator (£21.00) is one of the most gorgeous golden highlighters I have ever seen. Despite the disappointing packaging for a high-end product, the product really makes up for it. With a fan brush I get a light application and that works well for everyday. With a more dense brush, such as the Sigma Tapered Highlight brush or the Real Techniques Setting Brush I can achieve the perfect highlighted look, with cheekbones glowing like no other. I love that it has no sparkly bits in it and the fact that its a true golden shade means it compliments my olive skin-tone perfectly. I have my top 3 golden highlights post coming soon, so keep an eye out!

6. Blush wise I really struggled not to include NARS Deep Throat because I’ve used it so often this year too, but I went for the NARS Blush in Torrid (£23.00) instead. This is a shade that looks so gorgeous against my olive skintone and I love how its not a flat matte blush. The subtle gold shimmer looks so beautiful on the apples on my cheeks and the hybrid colour of pink/peach is perfect all year around. The formula of NARS blushers tick all the boxes for me, super long lasting, easy to blend and you only need a little each time - loooove them!

2015 makeup favourites


The Palettes

7. Picking out an eyeshadow favourite was kind of tough, because my palette collection grew even more in 2015, but if I had to talk to you about my most reached for palette its the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (£39.00). I got this for my 20th birthday and it was heart-eyed emojis everywhere! The salted caramel shade is one I reach for at least four times a week and I love the range of browns too. To be totally honest I’m a bit disappointed with the large matte cream shade because I just expected it to be more pigmented. Aside from that though its a stunning neutrals palette and IT SMELLS LIKE CHOCOLATE NOM NOM NOM

8. The Kat Von D Shade & Light Contour Kit ($46 - £30) is THE BEST CONTOUR KIT EVER. Especially for medium skintones, because we finally have a contour kit which has 6 shades that are all useable and they have such a beautifully creamy formula. Pigmented? check. Easily blendable? check. Long lasting on the skin? Check. I mean what else could I ask for?? Well..okay if I’m being super picky, I wish the yellow shade was larger, but regardless I’m going to be repurchasing the shade and light this summer because I genuinely have never fallen so hard for a palette! It’s also SO multitask-able! I could literally take a concealer (Kevyn Aucoin OFC) and an eyeliner and this one palette away with me for a trip and I’d be sorted..its THAT good.

9. Finally the most glorious face palette from any of the holiday picks of 2015, the NARS One Shocking Moment Cheek Studio Palette (£45) is absolutely *struggles to find the right words here* AH-MAAAZING. Four gorgeous NARS blushes (and you already know how I feel about those!), a large sized Laguna and a pretty neat contour and highlight duo. I love all the blush shades and I adore mixing and matching them up. The laguna bronzer in this has a bit of a more shimmer on the skin, which I didn’t pick up at first and to be honest it’s a bit annoying, but it’s only really noticeable when you’re really close to me face - so all is not lost! Again I reviewed it in full, which I’ll link below, but this is limited edition so I suggest you pick it up sooner rather than risking it for later because this is a STEAL.

2015 beauty favourites


& the other stuff

10. Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara (£19.50) has been my absolute favourite throughout 2015, because it really does everything I want a mascara to do. I do always use another mascara first, but this is like the amplifier of any mascara and whenever I do two layers of this (seldom, but still) I always get questions on what I’m mascara I’m using and that has to be a good sign! I also feel like this mascara doesn’t dry out too quickly AND I don’t have to wait for it to not be dry enough either.

**Honorary mention: Essence I heart extreme volume mascara (£2.80) is so great at adding volume with very little effort. I normally use this stuff as the base for They’re Real and of course I will be repurchasing, which is something I rarely say when it comes to mascara**

11. Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Get Lucky ($5.00) is one of my most used shadows EVER. Its a one swipe wonder type of deal, because I love me some gold shadow and used lightly it works so well for everyday. I also adore the fact that you can pack it on for a more intense look AND also how it applies so beautifully with my fingers - no brush required! Although shipping prices are ridiculous from colourpop to the UK, I will simply have to place another order this summer for some more of these types of shades that aren’t matte because the formula is GORGEOUS. I want coppers, bronzes and different shades of golds (oh and OFC those liquid lipsticks!).

12. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Chocolate (£15.00) is actually a repeat product from last year, which says it all to be honest! I have been trying different brow kits, brow pencils etc. but I always come back to this pot of good stuff. Now I have a matching brush duo I feel like I can achieve great looking brows with very little effort. Also I just want to point out that this is the exact same pot that I purchased in 2014, so it is incredible value for money! I’m shocked mine hasn’t dried out (but I’m always careful when it comes to closing the lid tightly and ASAP..so maybe that’s why??).#

13. My bronzer of the year, although Ihave so many that I love, is the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in medium/deep (£25.00) which I gave the HG status to! Not only does it smell amazing, but its fantastic for both contouring and warming up the face and THAT is hard to find in bronzers! It lasts a long time on the skin, blends so smoothly, you get a decent amount of product and the packaging is so pretty! I adore Laguna and Hoola, but if I only had to pick one from these three it’s going to be the chocolate soleil one for sure.

14. The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal mini size (£34.00) has been in my makeup collection since summer of 2014 (from a wonderful Space NK goodybag), but I only actually opened it in the last three months and I am obsessed! It is THE MOST gorgeous liquid highlighter I have ever used, better than mememe and better than benefit. A tiny bit goes a long way and it literally gives you that lit from within look. I’ve worn it under makeup, over makeup and mixed with bases and I’ve loved each way I tried it. Its a light, peachy tone but still very highlighting and it works well with my medium skintone. I don’t think I’ll be needing to actually purchase the full size of opal anytime soon, but I want to swatch moonstone because it looks more golden and we all know that’s right up my street! I will definitely be doing an indepth review on this soon.

15. My favourite lip product has by far been the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bahama (£19.00) which has such an amazing formula, matte but not drying and super easy to apply and go. I love everything about this, from the packaging to the colour which works well for me for everyday! Read more on this in my review (linked below).

16. Finally, the lipliners of the year for me were by far the Make Up For Ever Aqua Lipliners in 2C and 3C (£13.00) long lasting, beautiful shades and the BEST formula of lip liners ever. The people at MUFE HQ hit the nail on the head by creating a lip pencil which is just firm enough to actually define the lips, but creamy enough to fill them in without drying them out! It’s also the only formula that really lets me get away with slightly over lining my lips and it looking totally legit, what is not to love? ^_^


LINKS FOR REVIEWS:



PHEW! WAHOO, WE GOT TO THE END. I feel exactly like Dumbledore right now xD It took me a good couple of days to finish this post because I have been so busy, but also whenever I write one of these mammoth posts it does take an age (especially finding and including the links!).

Also I just wanted to address the fact that the majority of my favourites were high end this year..which came as a bit of a surprise to me when I was editing the photos to be honest! The way I picked these products was literally thinking..hmm which *insert type of product* really stood out to me? and whichever it was, I then put into my yearly favourites list. That is not to say that I haven’t loved high-street products, as my monthly favourites will show you - but I added a lot of high end products to my collection this year and they have really stood out to me. You may notice a theme in these favourites, a lot of these things I’ve praised for being long-lasting and that is a huge reason why I’ll really love a product, if it lasts well without much effort I’m happy!

So with that being said I hope that this collection of favourites can help you to decide on if you want to treat yourself, or add any of these items to a wishlist ^_^ be sure to check out the reviews, linked above as you’ll get a lot more information of each thing there.

 Also I didn’t want to add more than one of each thing, because this post would have been stupidly long, but if any of you do want me to do a specific drugstore favourites of the year, let me know and I’ll have one up for you!


Please let me know if you’ve written one of these posts, with a link to your blog - I’m getting behind on blog reading but I want to take out a whole evening and catchup, whilst making notes! ^_^


Thank-you for reading ♥


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2015 Beauty Favourites!



Hello everyone! I know I’m a little bit late with this annual beauty favourites..but at least you’ve finally caught up on everyone else’s and you’re ready for the final one on your feed..am I right?! hehe.  I didn’t get exactly 15 products, but these are the items that I found myself reaching for over and over throughout the year. I have a feeling this is going to be a fairly long post, so lets begin..

September Favourites 2015

september beauty favourites the blushing giraffe

Hello ladies, I hope you’re all doing well. I missed out my favourites of August, because most of them were the products that I put into my travel makeup bag post. This month I have a bunch to share with you, a couple of new things and some older rediscoveries so lets get started.


dior star foundation 31, too faced born this way foundation in warm beige, kevyn aucoin sensual skin enhancer sx06, charotte tilbury flawless airbrushed powder. Base wise the month of September was focused on flawless. As briefly mentioned in my Aug/Sept catchup post here I had a lot of wedding events going on and so my key needs from my foundations were to cover well and not flash back in photos. The DiorSkin Star Foundation is one of my all time favourite foundations, it helps me to achieve beautiful looking skin, with a little glow and great lasting power. It does have SPF but it still looks lovely in photos...idk how but hey! The other foundation which has been floating my boat is a brand new one - the Too Faced Born This Way in Warm Beige. I picked this up with a gift voucher and used it on myself and my mum for two weddings, verdict? we both loved it. Phenomenal coverage, yet light on the skin and nothing too matte or dewy, a happy medium! The only slight issue was selecting the right shade, for me this is a tad dark - nothing a bit of highlighting can’t fix but I think I would have been good with natural beige too...or perhaps a mix, but who has $60 to spend on mixing foundations -.- Anyways it’s not too much of a difference and you can’t tell anyway thanks to my hijab.

diorskin star foundation in 31, too faced born this way foundation in warm beige, kevyn aucoin sensual skin enhancer, charlotte tilbury flawless airburshed powder in medium

 My absolute favourite concealer and highlighter in one has been the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX06 it is highly pigmented, creamy and brightens like no other. I’m still working on how to stop it creasing as much, but the rest of it works so well that I don’t mind TOO much. Also the Charlotte Tilbury flawless airbrushed powder in medium is ALL that it’s cracked out to be. Honestly this powder is glorious, a little goes a long way and despite the lack of more colours this one is a good match. I once got home after an eight hour day and powdered half my face...I kid you not it was like fresh makeup. Incredible. I have normal/dehydrated skin so powder isn’t part of my everyday routine but a light dusting of this when I need my makeup to last longer is perfect.

kat von d contour shade and light palette and benefit hoola bronzer


The Kat Von D Shade and Light palette is something I’m still in awe of (despite managing to create a dent in the middle contour shade -_-). I love how versatile it is and how I can set, brighten, contour and bronze my face using use this one palette - I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, it is PERFECT! On the rare days I didn’t pick the palette up I rediscovered Benefit’s Hoola which is one of my all time favourite bronzers. I didn’t think it would work so well for my medium skintone but I’ve found it’s so great for warming my face up AND adding a nice contour line with the awesome brush included. I tend to reach for this when I’m doing a 4 product face as it’s quick and easy to use and makes a huge difference. If you haven’t found your perfect matte bronzer and you have light-medium skin check out hoola!

benefit they're real mascara, topshop magic liner engraved, anastasia beverly hills brow brush duo 12


Moving on to the brows, a brush mentioned in my recent haul has totally changed my brow game. I know, a pretty dramatic statement to make but I’m not even kidding the Anastasia Beverly Hills Large Synthetic Duo Brow Brush #12 is worth every penny. I don’t know what it is about the shape, but it works better than any other slanted brush I’ve used in the past and I find it so easy to shape and add more to my sparse brows with the Dipbrow pomade. Plus dat spoolie. Yaaaaaas. I have been loving the Topshop Magic Liner in Engraved it’s super black and the nib makes it SO easy to draw a great cat eye. I’ve switched my liner shape up since using this pen, my wings are more elongated and I’m really enjoying them like that! Finally my favourite Mascara of the past for weeks, yes I ACTUALLY have a mascara in my faves! Is the Benefit They’re Real, I got the full sized version ages ago when it was really discounted and only opened it up for the weddings - this is such a good thickening mascara. Yes it’s a pain to remove but it makes such a huge difference, especially when used with a bit more of a lengthening formula underneath. Pricy but worth it!

September favourites sleek matte me birthday suit, barry m matte me up lip crayon 3, rimmel 1000 kisses lip liner tiramisu
September favourites sleek matte me birthday suit, barry m matte me up lip crayon 3, rimmel 1000 kisses lip liner tiramisu
The lip products that I’ve been reaching for are all from the highstreet! Sleek’s Matte Me in Birthday Suit used alone or with a deeper lip liner has been one of my favourite lip looks to go for. It’s a mauvey/nude shade and I think it is so flattering on medium skintones. Plus it doesn’t budge for ages so it’s great for a long day, because I’m rubbish at remembering to touch up. Moving on to a very new product to in stash, the Barry M Matte Me in 3 which I picked up online on a whim, not knowing what to expect. It’s a chunky crayon type of product with a beautifully creamy consistency which feels SO comfortable on the lips and provides a good wash of colour in one swipe. This shade is definitely a MLBB for me, surprise surprise and I find it perfect for when I’m in a rush! I have been LOVING lipliners in the past few months, but the one that stands out the most is the Rimmel 1000 kisses lipliner in Tiramisu. For some reason this doesn’t get enough love on the blogosphere, it’s a beautiful nude shade which isn’t too pink. It’s a mix of brown and peach and it’s the lipliner I’ll go for when I want fuller looking lips without that obvious over-lined look. It creates believable pouty lips and for the small price tag the quality is phenomenal. Highly recommend you check out the whole line!

pixi by petra makeup fixing mist and una brennan vitamin c+ cleansing oil

 Finally on to the skincare bits, firstly we have the Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist which is brilliant - an ethical alternative to the UD one FINALLY! It kept out makeup up flawlessly throughout all the wedding events, the countless hugs and kisses with family members and the humid conditions. It also refreshes and hydrates the skin which is always nice when it’s a hot and icky day. The Una Brennan Vitamin C Cleansing Oil has been a favourite for months - it’s the only product that actually makes me excited for take my makeup off and I am obsessed. A little oil gentle massaged onto the skin breaks down the majority of my makeup and it leaves my skin feeling so hydrated! It is brightening and I can’t imagine my night time routine without it.

And those are my favourites from the last month and a bit! Right now back to my Uni reading (which I’m really enjoying right now!).

Reviews from this post:


What were your favourites from the month of September?



Thank-you for reading ♥