Autumn Makeup Updates: Dark Nude Lipsticks

5 Products for a Simple Summer Makeup Routine

FOTD: Trying New Things #3

If you're anything like me then you'll love to experiment with new makeup. Each month I get the opportunity to try quite a lot of new makeup and it's always really fun to choose some of my favourite new discoveries to share with you. So today I've gathered together four new makeup products that I've been trying out this month and shared my thoughts on each of them. 

Docteur Renaud Apricot BB Eyes* | rrp £14.50

I'm always looking for natural beauty products that I can swap into my everyday makeup routine. Docteur Rendaud's Apricot BB Eyes is a colour correcting product that helps disguise the appearance of undereye circles. It only comes in one "universal" shade which is a light, slightly peachy-pink shade. It has a very thick consistency that makes it a little bit difficult to blend if you draw it straight onto your undereye area. I prefer to draw some on one of my fingers, rub two of my fingers together to warm up the product and then I pat it onto my skin. I find that the heat from my fingers really helps to make the product more blendable. It does a good job of colour correcting and really changes the appearance of my under eyes, but it isn't a straight up concealer so I'd definitely couple this with a light concealer for maximum coverage. However, if you have very dark, blue or purple toned bags under your eyes then this will definitely make a noticeable improvement. Docteur Renaud's BB Eye Cream isn't available online, but can be ordered from Skin Evolution by calling this number: 01452 864574

Glo & Ray Fumo Silky Eyebrow Pencil* | rrp £5.50

I started using Glo & Ray's Eyebrow Pencil in the shade Terra Brown earlier this month and it has pretty much been love at first application. It marries together so many good qualities - the product itself is really pigmented but when you apply it gently it creates really natural looking hair-like strokes. Once you've applied it, the product sets down and then doesn't budge throughout the day. For the price I really don't think you could find a better brow pencil!

Claudia Louch Compact Pressed Powder* | rrp £52.50

This pressed powder from Claudia Louch is one of those products that I didn't know I needed but now I've tried it I just couldn't go back! It's a talc-free powder that's pigmented enough that you can actually use it as a mineral foundation. The powder is incredibly finely milled and just glides onto the skin leaving behind a matte base. It doesn't give very high coverage, but it does create a more even and smooth canvas upon which you can apply other products. Personally, I'm not a massive fan of mineral foundations so I like using this powder to add extra coverage to specific areas of my face. It works really well to set your undereye concealer and add a little bit of brightening coverage. I also like using it across my t-zone as it not only mattifies but also helps to blur the appearance of my pores and imperfections. It's definitely an expensive investment, but if you're a fan of powder foundations or are looking for a really high-quality talc-free powder then this is definitely a good option to consider.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink* | rrp £17.50

I featured Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge in Pale Pink in a post earlier this month but I promised that I'd show what it looks like when used on my lips. As you can see in my photos below, it's a really pretty and wearable everyday shade and because the formula is so creamy it works really well on the lips. It doesn't last for ages and ages but because there's a big mirror inside the lid it's really easy to reapply - and it doubles up as a handy compact mirror.

What new makeup have you tried this month?

Fragrance Direct Beauty Haul

Once upon a time Fragrance Direct was a place where I only really went to bulk buy discounted Essie nail polishes. Although Essie polishes are still available online for just £2.49, Fragrance Direct has really grown and changed as a beauty shopping destination since I first started shopping there - and it's now about so much more than nail polish.

This revelation happened quite recently when Fragrance Direct got in touch with me and asked if I'd like to pick a couple of products from their website to try out. I went onto the site and started seriously browsing and what I realised was that Fragrance Direct now stock some pretty heavy hitters in the beauty world, everything from Mac Lipsticks to Kerastase (one of my favourite haircare brands). Although everything on the website still comes at a discounted price - because discounted prices are still Fragrance Direct's forté - you can now find everything from your affordable nail polishes and high street branded makeup to the much coveted high-end beauty brands. 

I decided to take advantage of Fragrance Direct's kind offer in order to try out a couple of products from Bobbi Brown - a brand I haven't tried before, and which Fragrance Direct stock at a discounted price of approximately 10-15%. It might not seem like a lot but it's a couple of pounds of saving that you can spend picking up a new Opi or Orly Nail Polish.

Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Pink Brownie

available from Fragrance Direct for £17.00*

I'd describe Bobbi Brown's Pink Brownie as a dark, brown-toned pink. It's definitely got a bit of a dark and mature vibe compared to the paler, pink nudes that I usually opt for, but it's actually surprisingly easy to wear. I love how this lipstick looks with very, very minimal eyemakeup and a sheer foundation. When I wear it like this my lips become the main focus of my makeup despite still looking very natural - it's a great, sophisticated lipstick option for anyone who's a bit nervous about wearing bright lip colours. The lipstick applies really easily because it has quite a creamy formula and the slightly exaggerated curve at the top of the lipstick bullet fits my lips really well. On the lips it has a cross between a creamsheen and a satin finish (creamy and slightly glossy but that feels just slightly matte). I think it's a wonderful formula and I love, love, love the packaging! It's a very classic bullet design that really reminds me of Chanel's packaging, it's a lovely one to whip out of your handbag for touch ups. Overall, I think that the quality of the product and packging definitely justifies the price - especially if you can find a colour that you really like, and Fragrance Direct stock quite a few very wearable shades.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Cheeks and Lips in Powder Pink (06) 

available online from Fragrance Direct for £17.50*

Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge in Powder Pink doesn't look that pink in the pan, but when it's swatched on the back of my hand you can see that it sheers out into a gorgeous sheen-y pink. It's quite easy to apply to your cheeks - I just use my fingers, tapping the colour onto my skin gently - and because of the sheer formula it's easy to build up a colour that you're happy with. The formula of the product is definitely creamy but it's quite thin and light - very different from the Stila Convertible Colours and Illamasqua Cream Blushes that I regualarly reach for. It doesn't dry down to a powder finish which makes it very nice to use on the lips as well as the cheeks, and on the lips it looks like a pale brown-toned pink. Unlike most of my other cream dual purpose products, I think Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge has a very well considered formula that does actually work on both the cheeks and the lips. However, because it works so well on the lips, I do find that it benefits from a dusting of powder when used as a cream blush as this infinitely aids the blush's staying power. I love the shade, the formula and the functionality (it's a fantastic product for travelling with - two products in one plus a nicely sized mirror) so I'd definitely repurchase it and I'll certinaly be looking into getting another shade! You can see what "Powder Pink" looks like on my cheeks in the photo below.

Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge is my favourite out of the pair of products that I chose, but both are really high quality makeup items that I'm very happy to have in my makeup collection. Fragrance Direct is a great place to shop for all sorts of makeup and I've already been back on the website sussing out if there are any other bits and bobs I should pick up for myself for spring and summer makeup looks. 

Have you tried any Bobbi Brown makeup before? 

And do you ever shop on Fragrance Direct?

FOTD: Playing With New Makeup #2

As a beauty blogger I get the opportuity to try out quite a lot of new products each month but I'm not a big fan of featurng review and review of individual products. Last month I started a post series that I'm hoping to continue throughout the year where I put together a makeup look featuring some of the new makeup I was most excited about that month. Along with a photo of the finished look, I'll also be sharing a review of each of the new products, sharing my overall thoughts after using them throughout the month. This way I get to talk about lots of new makeup and you can see all the products in action! 

Claudia Louch Natural Skin Clinic Flawless Finish Liquid Face Make Up in Cool Neutral

RRP £52.50*

Claudia Louch Natural Skin Clinic Flawless Finish Liquid Face Makeup offers a medium coverage makeup base that's 94% natural and non-comedogenic. I find that it offers excellent coverage without feeling too heavy on the skin, and it actually still maintains a slightly dewy finish which I find more flattering than a completely matte foundation. The lasting power is also excellent - I can wear this from morning until evening without any problems whatsoever - and on my combination skin it doesn't cling to dry patches or emphasise my oily t-zone. It really is a very good foundation and more than lives up to its high-end pricetag. It's also really nice to see that it doesn't contain harsh chemicals, fragrance or parabens. All in all, it reminds me that sometimes you really do get what you pay for. So if you're after a medium coverage foundation that will wear really well and doesn't contain harmful ingredients, I would definitely check this one out. The shade "Cool Neutral" is definitely more of my summer foundation shade but it works okay on my skin so long as I bronze up (which I did using Nars' Matte Multiple in Altai). 

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink

RRP £18.00*

I recieved this Gel Eyeliner from Bobbi Brown as part of a giveaway win at the end of 2014 but I've only recently started using it. I expected a lot from this eyeliner as it has almost cult status with so many people - including some of my favourite bloggers. What I found was that it was indeed much better than the gel eyeliners I've tried from Boots and Superdrug before, but it didn't blow other eyeliners I've tried before out of the water. It's a very easy to use product - you dip your brush into the pot and then draw along your lashline. I use a Real Techniques Eyeliner Brush and find that it gives an even colour and application and doesn't smudge once it's dried down. It doesn't give a very harsh looking black line - which is both good and bad. I quite like striking black eyeliner, but I found that Bobbi Brown's Gel Eyeliner is better for a more smudged into the lashes effect. When I did try and make a thicker, bolder line I found that because I have hooded eyelids the product would transfer onto my upper eyelid. Overall, I think it's a good gel eyeliner but for me it isn't a "holy grail" find. I actually prefer using my W7 Liquid Eyeliner Pot which is incredibly affordable and gives me that intense black line I like, with amazing staying power to boot. 

Esteé Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara

RRP £23.00*

At first I was head over heels in love with this mascara as it really does give lashes a serious dose of volume. However, what it doesn't do so well is hold a curl and I find that after I curl my lashes this mascara just doesn't make my eyes look as wide as I would like. In my opinion it's going to be a toss up between whether you like length and lift or whether you want in-your-face volume. I'm definitely going to be reaching for this mascara whenever I want a bolder, heavier looking eye, but on a day-to-day basis I prefer soemthing more fluttery.

Illamasqua Matte Lipstick in Sangers

RRP £18.50

I was so excited to try out another Matte Liptick from Illamasqua as I simply love the one I already own - Magnetism. What I found was that Sangers isn't as matte as Magnetism, which initially I thought was a shame as I assumed that it would affect it's staying power. However, Sangers is a gorgeous red shade and because it isn't totally "retro-matte" it has a creaminess to the formula that makes it a bit easier to apply from the bullet. The colour applies opaque and stays opaque, and I actually don't notice much fading for hours after application, it's a brilliant long-lasting lipstick. I think Sangers is a marriage between Illamasqua's super-matte and satin lipstick finishes, which in my opinion gives it the best of everything! I'd definitely recommend it.

If you enjoyed this post then do check out last month's FOTD. I'd love to know if you've tried any of these makeup products before and if you liked them. And if you have any recommendations about what you'd like me try and review next month then please do leave them in the comments.

New Additions: High End Makeup

I've been a very lucky girl this month and everything pictured in this post is the result of me winning two separate blog giveaways. I don't think I've ever seen so many "big name" brands together in one place… and all of these products are a first for me! This is my first Mac Eyeshadow Palette* (housing Satin Taupe, Brun, Star Violet and Nylon), my first Nars Dual Intensity Eyeshadow* (Giove), my first Kevin Aucoin Creamy Glow Blush* (Liquifuschia), my first Chanel Lipstick* and my first Bobbi Brown Gel Liner*. And as if this couldn't get any better, I actually also forgot to include a Laura Mercier Lipgloss* which is just beautiful too. Honestly, it isn't even Christmas and I've already been totally spoilt by the generosity of others. I haven't shared these in order to brag but as they will all be making appearances on my blog soon I wanted to make you aware that these aren't press samples that I've been sent for review, but that I haven't bought them with my own money either. So, with that in mind, if you'd like to see any reviews, swatches, comparisons, FOTDs, or anything like that, then do let me know. If I had bought any of these for myself then I'd have done copious research first, so I know how helpful honest and thorough reviews can be when it comes to deciding what's worth spending your money on! 

Have you added any luxury beauty bits into your routine recently?