Birthday Beauty Treats

Thursday 9th March marked my 23rd birthday. I don't want this post to come across as braggy in any way, like a 'look at all of these wonderful gifts, I'm so spoilt' type of post. However, I received a few beauty-related gifts that I am so excited about, and whilst I throw myself into trying each and every one of them out, I wanted to give you guys an insight into what will probably be making its way onto this site in more detail soon. Kind of like a 'these are super pretty, here's a glimpse into what's to come' post, rather than a brag as to how many gifts I received. Anyway, my friends and family clearly know me far too well, as most things I got were beauty items that I've been lusting over for a while. Here are a few things the beauty addict in me is jumping up and down about...

Neutrogena CC Cream: The Lightweight Base That's Perfect For Everyday Wear

When I moved house back in December, I had a huge clear out of all of the rubbish I have accumulated in Brighton over the past four years. Old uni fancy dress wear was chucked, outdated accessories left behind, and an overhaul of my make-up collection ensued. Having a make-up addiction, a mum that hands everything down and a beauty blogger cousin means that my collection of beauty goodies can get quite large and needs clearing out regularly; most things don't see light as I stick to my tried and tested favourites, meaning I often miss some absolute gems that are hidden in my stash. One of these gems is the Neutrogena Visibly Clear CC Cream. I would not think of this brand if I wanted a base product, as it's definitely a company better known for their face washes! However, my judgement was wrong and I've now been wearing this almost every day for the past month!

Vegan Beauty: Inika Primer & Liquid Foundation

A while ago, I started a feature on vegan beauty (you can read all the posts so far here), and after taking a short break over Christmas, I'm back with loads of great products I want to share with you cruelty-free fans! First up is this Pure Primer and Liquid Foundation combo from Australian brand, Inika. Selling all kinds of beauty products, the ten year old brand ships worldwide and has a long list of credentials under its belt. This week, I'm putting their primer and liquid foundation to the test in order to show that vegan, organic products does not necessarily mean a compromise on quality.

Are Blending Sponges Really The Best Thing In Beauty?

If you ever watch any beauty tutorials online, you'll notice that almost every guru uses the infamous beauty blender sponge to apply their foundation, concealer and contouring make-up. The little egg-shaped miracle tool is supposed to change the way you apply your base forever, with many beauty brands bringing out their own version of the cult product. Dampen with a bit of water to see the tool expand and simply blend in the roughly applied foundation using lots of small dabbing motions and you are supposedly left with the most flawless-looking skin known to man. While there sure is plenty of hype around the product and blending technique, is it really worth dabbling in this new form of make-up application?

The 5 Products That I Just Can't Live Without

It used to be a regular question thrown about in Twitter chats amongst beauty bloggers; if you were stranded on a desert island, which beauty product would you take with you? For most (including myself), it would be extremely difficult to narrow it down to just one product. However, while I'm a sucker for buying into all the new make-up launches under the sun, I still have my set few products which I always end up returning to. It's these products, the ones that you find yourself re-purchasing over and over again, which are the ones you'll find that you just cannot live without. Here are the five products that I never want to see leaving my side...

If I Was Rich... My High-End Beauty Wish-List

It seems to be the story of my life at the moment; dreaming about all the things I could treat myself to...if I had money. I wander around the counters of Boots and Debenhams swooning over new launches, tried classics and pretty packaging, wishing they were on my dressing table, yet leaving with nothing but yearning for some extra cash to splash out on some high-end treats with. There are a few products which I have been eyeing up for a while now, so I thought I'd compile a quick post of all those beauty goodies that I've been daydreaming about. Maybe one day....*sigh*

Love In The Make-Up Aisle: How Clarins Everlasting Foundation Melted My Heart

Recently, I've been getting a bit bored of using the same couple of foundations all the time. While I will always love Bourjois Healthy Mix (who doesn't?!), I just had a real urge to shake up my base a bit and try something new. Having been given some House of Fraser vouchers for my 21st birthday a few months ago, saving them up for a special purchase, I couldn't resist indulging at the Clarins counter after previously trying little sachets of their everlasting foundation. Result: I think I've found my one true love.

Old Favourites! 3 Products I've Rediscovered And Am Loving

Hands up; who is guilty of constantly buying into new beauty launches without making the most of the products you have in your stash already? I know I am, which is why I've recently started making the effort to sort through my make-up, chuck away all the old stuff, and dig out some treasures that I'd completely forgotten about. And OHMYGAWD there are so many! I never realised I owned so many beauty products until I started this mammoth task! Anyway, I digress; these three are products I used to use so much but have gotten lost amongst all my new shiny purchases. Sometimes, we need to take the time to realise what we already have instead of running out to buy the latest Benefit launch!

Clinique Superbalanced Foundation

I have used Clinique's Line Smoothing concealer for a few years now, and keep going back because I simply love the light, creamy formula combined with the good, even coverage. Seeing as I'm such a fan of this Clinique product, I thought I'd venture into their foundation range. As I chatted to the Clinique sales assistant in High Wycombe House of Fraser, I filled out a quick skin questionnaire and it was decided the Superbalanced foundation would be the perfect fit for me.

Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua Foundation

Being a student, I've never really splashed out on high end beauty products, preferring to discover the pick of the high street pack. I'm a firm believer that you can get some real gems in the likes of Superdrug and Boots which do the same job, if not better, than the revered luxury brands. Wanting to put this to the test, I popped into my nearest House of Fraser and walked over the the Chanel counter.

No7 Intelligent Colour Foundation

There are only a few beauty products which I religiously re-purchase, and this No7 Intelligent Colour foundation is one of them. A beauty staple in my make-up bag, this is the perfect everyday wear foundation for those who do not seek a particularly heavy coverage. As some of you might know, I'm a massive fan of No7 products. No7 is a brand which pioneers the latest beauty science whilst still being incredibly accessible and affordable. This foundation is another reason why I just keep going back to Boots.

Benefit: The Big Easy

Benefit are one of my all-time favourite beauty brands, so when I heard they were bringing out their new foundation, the Big Easy, I jumped for joy. My skin is fairly clear, apart from the occasional spot, so I'm not particularly suited to thick, heavy foundations. Not only do they feel too much for my skin, I also don't particularly suit the 'caked-on' look. I'm a huge fan on No7's 'Intelligent Colour' foundation, which I will hopefully review soon, as it mattes my quite oily skin, so I thought the Big Easy 'Bigger than BB' would be perfect.

ColorTrend Crush

Recently I've been getting a lot of products from Avon; since they've revamped their image and improved the quality of their products they've been at the core of my make-up regime. Their make-up and nail products are very reasonably priced- probably under priced for the quality you get- and with university less than 4 weeks away now, these Avon goodies are almost a must-have for those wanting to beauty-budget.