A Little Update

Hello, it's the end of the month and we are doing our little favourites...together! 
 

First of all for me. I (Izzy) did finally take the plunge and gave into getting a Topshop Lipstick and I have to say I have not been disappointed. I got it in Beatnik it is a darker neutral shade of pink. It is a very creamy texture but without being heavy and sticky. Being 16 this is a pricier Lipstick at around £7.00 however I do have my eye on some more for summer especially the cute pale pinks. They are very pigmented and I have definitely found that my lips feel in a better condition as they are very moisturising. 

I do have to say that for the amount I've paid (as I ordered it) I was expecting more, there is a very small amount of product. Due to the long lasting effects of the Lipstick and the durability of the colour it is easy to over look this. 

As always the Topshop packaging is very cute and still practical. Overall I would definitely recommended them and I have to say I do understand the hype! 

In a weird way it also smells and tastes yummy, it is quite sweet and just makes it even better.  

In preparation for summer I have been trying to take better care of my hair. I, unlike Isabelle, have always had short and thin hair. So I have been searching the internet in search of an affordable shampoo and treatment that would make a difference to the condition of my hair. 

I discovered the Lee Stafford Hair Growth Protein Shampoo and Treatment. I went through 114 reviews and none had a bad word to day. 

The first thing I noticed when opening the product was the smell. It is fruity but not overpowering and it makes your hair smell fresh and sweet. It's a lovely to have fresh smelling and smooth hair and that is something that both these products provide. 

I have only been using it for a few weeks but my hair has felt softer and stronger from the first wash. I am not expecting miracles and am giving it at least a month to see any major changes. I am already so pleased as my hair just feels so much nicer and stronger. It may not be something I will re-purchase too often for the simple fact of price. The shampoo was £6.99 and the 5 minute rinse treatment was £7.99 they are both reasonable prices but I will need to make sure it is worth it of course. That is definitely something I will write about again. 

This month both of us discovered the band American Authors. I would say that they are in the indie category and are similar to Kodaline, Imagine Dragons and possibly even The 1975. There full album is being released in June but the 5 songs they have released are a very good listen!

Everyone loves a good perfume and I have fallen in love! Alien by Thierry Mugler is my definite favourite! Not only does it smell incredible it has adorable packaging. It could easily fit in a handbag without loosing the amount of product in it. It is a light smell but without being sweet or fruity. It could almost be musky but they tend to be heavier. It is hard to describe but it reminds me of a Burberry perfume. It is perfect for all occasions and works through summer and winter. I cannot get over how much I love it but I cannot describe the smell. Obviously rest it out first but I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a subtle but not understated scent for Spring. 

Whereas the perfume I (Isabelle) have been loving is the Our Moment perfume by One Direction. I didn't get this perfume just because it is by One Direction but instead for the smell. I enjoy a really sweet flowery scent that is strong but not too strong, and I have found these qualities in this perfume. Not only that but the bottle the perfume is in is really cute as well. So even if you hate One Direction, you can get the perfume and just burn the packaging!

Hope you enjoyed! Let us know what your favourites are?

Toodle-oo
Isabelle and Izzy

❣

The Tangle Teezer

Hello,

It's only a short one this week as it is half term and I am heading out to Centre Parcs for most of it. Although I wont be able to see or speak to Isabelle for 5 days which is a record  for us! By the time this is up I'll be there, yay! But...I COULDN'T not write about this! 

I'm sure you have seen these weird looking [ergonomically designed apparently] hairbrushes in a few beauty guru vlogs in the last few months. 

They are amazing.



They are called 'Tangle Teezers' and have been designed with plastic bristles that are painless to use, they also limit the damage done to hair whilst wet and stop them from being pulled straight out. 

(WARNING: Obviously as it is plastic do not use it whilst blow drying as you do run the risk of damging the brush or, if you have long hair and take longer than usual, even melting parts of it!)  

They can be used for wet and dry hair, this is a god send as I have always been told to NEVER brush wet hair but this is perfect. 

If you are unlucky and have fine hair like me then your hair will get knotty near enough straight after brushing it. I have found this problem has been totally eliminated and my hair feels so soft all day! 

The design is made to be handheld without limiting the bristles on the brush, the shape, although odd looking, means there is no problem of dropping it and damaging it. 

They have been developed to have 'memory flex' technolodgy so that you can have results that are specific to you. 

They also come in a variety of colours from Tangerine, blue with pink teeth and green.

I got mine from Boots and I think it was about £10.95 although this is a bit pricier it is definatley worth it, I would suggest it for all hair types and lengths. Enjoy! 

If you have any tips and treats for your hair let us know! 

Toodle-oo
Izzy

❣

Natural Collection

I have purchased many products from the Natural Collection so I thought I'd share my experiences. All of the products are £1.99 and can only be bought from the drug store Boots.

First of, are there concelers, both of mine in the shade fair. I use the liquid one for the summer as it is a darker shade and quicker to put on when I'm rushing down the beach, and the stick one for the rest of the year. I find that both do the job and even mange to cover my under eye darkness as well as any blemeshis or redness. For the price that they are, I will continue to buy them as they satisfy my face just fine and don't proceed to make my spots worse.

Next up is the pressed powder, which i have in the shade warm. As you can tell from the picture below, it has been well used. I put it on after my conceler or tinted moisturiser to set my make-up and matte my face. However, it doesn't stay on for a very long time. I don't know if I will buy it again in the future but I think once its gone I will go for something more expensive.

This leads on to my tinted moisturiser, in the shade natural. I havent used it since the summer as the shade is too dark for me and makes me look extremely orange, so I'm going to have to go with what I can remember. Consistency is what you'd expect, its lighter then a BB cream and very runny. However it does its job and does cover up a lot and some days, I didn't even need to put on my conceler. It did make my face shiny though so I had to use a power after. I might buy this again once it runs out depending on whether I would rather go for a foundation.

I don't have much to say on the lipstick (shade sweet pea) as I never wear it purely because the colour makes my lips look silver. I do find that it stays on for a long time and is very moisturising. I will buy their lipsticks again but in a different shade.

The pigment of the eyeshadow duo did surprise me (shades mocha/latte). The dark brown stays on all day as does the white. They aren't shimmery which is just what I wanted as my No7 duo (in similar colours) is too shimmery for school. I will buy their eye shadows again.

Next is the blusher in the shade peach Melba. Both me and Izzy have them in the same colours and both agree we will buy them again. I don't wear mine much as I do have naturally flushed cheeks. There isn't much in the pot but for the price I didn't really expect much more. The colour is perfect for spring/summer seasons as it adds a natural glow.

None of these products have given me spots which is great as that is the only thing which puts me off wanting to wear make-up. I will continue to buy from Boots Natural Collection as I think most of the products are up to the same standards as other high street brands.

Isabelle

Toodle-oo

❣

Beginners Luck

HAPPY FEBRUARY!
 I just want to start off by saying that what matters is the type of person you are, no amount of makeup can change you're personality and you don't need to do it to impress others. True friends will love you for who you are. I think until your are at least 13 makeup is pointless really, but it's whatever makes you comfortable.

I think over the last 2 years I have felt very lost when it comes to makeup. I felt that I had no idea where to start or what I needed. After watching and reading many blogs, vlogs and tutorials I have finally got to grips with it. I hope this helps anyone else that felt as stuck as I did.

Starters:

>Primer

>Foundation/Base 

>Concealer 

>Blusher/Bronzer 

>Powder 

> Mascara 

>Lipstick

>Eye shadow

>Brushes and blending sponge(make sure to wash every week or every 3 uses)

 

 

So...if you have clear skin, accept for a few spots and blemishes, you DO NOT need a full blown foundation, My suggestion would be to purchase a Tinted Moisturiser or BB Cream, this gives a light moisturising coverage without clogging up your skin. I would suggest Garnier or No7. Also a bit of concealer goes a long way.  I have found that the Rimmel London Wake Me Up foundation is the best, it gives brilliant coverage and is not too expensive. I also add the True Matte Perfection Mouse Foundation in my oily t-zone as it helps to keep it under control. 

In my experience powder blush is better than cream blush as I have combination to oily skin. However if you struggle with dry skin, cream blusher is perfect! 

Corals and darker pinks are best in summer and lighter pinks in winter to give a natural glow. 

I find that a small bit of bronzer goes a long way as you do not want streaks on your cheeks and to just define your cheekbones you want it to be natural. I have only tried the MUA mosaic bronzer as it was only a few pounds however I am definitely keen to try the Sleek blusher and contour kit. 

I find that pressed powder, when over foundation, sticks in areas and I will only wear it as a light cover in summer. 

However I like to set my makeup with lose translucent powder over the top and the rest of the time just to stop shine and to make sure it stays a little more. This is just to help the primer set. If you have oily skin I would definitely recommend it as I have found it a godsend, also if you are prone to shine you may as well give it a go. 

When it comes to lipstick you do not need a lot of them-not that that has stopped me. 

If you have dry lips then obviously a moisturising balm lipstick is the way to go and maybe just stick to actual lip balms for a while. If not a matte look is always classy for a day out. I find they tend to last longer too. Corals and bright pinks and reds (much like blusher) are great for summer and darker reds and plums work well during the winter.

 

A neutral eye shadow palette is not essential but is always nice to have for an extra smoky eye. Personally, I'm not very adventurous with eye shadows and just stick with simple (and cheap) combinations. Isabelle got me a super cute eye shadow palette for my birthday from H&M and I'm very impressed! 

I do believe, however, that mascara is as essential as it gets. Without it I literally look like I'm from The Walking Dead. It opens up your eyes and makes them pop. If you want a natural look then I suggest a brown but if not then you can stick to black (or super black is you think it makes a difference). Mascara can be expensive. This is true across the board. I have tried most high-street brands and although they good they are not true to all their promises. I have found however that the MUA mascaras are much better and are only £2 or £3 which is insane value for money! 

When it comes to brushes I do not know much. I was given a Fraulin*38 set for Christmas a few years ago and they do the job. For a starter they are perfect. I do use the Primark powder brush for blusher, it has a really nice feel and is really easy to apply. There are obvious recommendations for brushes like MAC and Tom Ford but they are much more expensive. The best blending sponge is by far the Real Techniques Miracle  Complexion Sponge. It honestly does live up to the hype. 
For the basics I think all you need is a powder brush, blush brush, contour brush for bronzer, blending eye shadow brush and a blending sponge to stop steaks and patchy foundation. All depending on what you use and how often you use it, this will determine how much you are willing to pay but, as with everything, the pricier ones are of better quality.

I hope this has helped you to find cheaper alternatives for the basics. If you have any other substitutes please let us know in the comments. We all love a good bargain! 

Toodle-oo

Izzy

❣

REMEMBER: You are beautiful just as you are, makeup is supposed to enhance your features NOT cover them up :)