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 :)

  

January Favourites

It's nearing the end of the month so we thought we would do a post, at the end of each month, together reviewing the things we have loved! It can be anything from beauty to music. 

First it is BEAUTY!

I have purchased the Wake Me Up Rimmel Foundation in True Ivory 103.

I was a bit worried as it looks orange in the bottle but it is a perfect match. I have medium skin with rosy patches and it covers really well. If you are prone too oily skin then make sure to cleanse and moisturise your face to first or it will gather around those areas and leave shiny and orange patches.  It has SPF 15 and is very light weight so for days out in spring and summer it will be perfect. 

It is very long lasting and for £6.99 from Boots it is a massive bargain!

I also decided to try the Bourjois Paris Colour Boost chubby crayon. It claims to be waterproof and that it will last up to 10 hours. I'm not sure that is 100% true but it definitely lasts a lot longer than my other lipsticks. The colour is so vibrant but without being too in-your-face. I got 2 quite summery colours but they are still good for winter as they are very moisturising. This is perfect as I suffer with very bad dry lips. I got 04 Peach On The Beach, this is a light baby pink. I couldn't resist trying the coral Orange Punch it isn't too bright but is definitely going to be perfect for summer! They are on special offer at Boots so go get them whilst you can as they are a bit more expensive at around £7.50.

When it comes to hair care Isabelle and I are very fussy. We struggle to get our hair properly volume-ed.  Most products leave my hair feeling all knotty and powered. I decided to purchase the Lóréal Paris Studio Line Txt Volumizing Super Spray. It was only like £3.00 in Superdrug and oh my what a bargain. It does everything it claims too. It leaves my hair properly volumised without having to back-comb it which is not good for it at all. The can is so big i've had it for over a month now, using it nearly every day, and I am no where near finished. If you worry about flat hair then you definitely need this product in your life!

*Passes laptop to Isabelle*

My top favourite  is the Blistex Daily Lip Conditioner, which i personally think is amazing. When i use it i can actually feel it healing my lips and it smells amazing. It gives your lips a really great cool, tingling feeling when you put it on. It also works great anywhere on my face if i have dry patches, making them feel a lot smoother just overnight. Priced at £2.99 from Boots it is quite pricey for the size of the tub, but definitely worth it.

Next up is my Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine nail paint in the shade Blueberry. I first thought that i would try them out as i had seen them recommended on YouTube, saying that they lasted a lot longer than normal nail paint. I then took it to the test but didn't find it that amazing. I guess that it did last a few days longer but you definitely need to put a base coat on underneath. I mainly like it so much because it is the perfect colour for this winter-y season. And from Superdrug it is a great price of  £3.99. 

BODY BUTTERS!

The Soap and Glory Righteous Butter is my [Isabelle] all time favourite moisturiser. It's non-greasy, moisturising and smells so good! Unlike some other Soap and Glory products, I find it is really non-greasy which is really good as it means i don't have to worry about my skin being greasy. It also lasts a really long time. Just one splodge can last the whole leg. The smell is so amazing, even Izzy agrees! For the 50ml tub it is £2.50, and it lasts for a long time, so it's not a bad price.

In my stocking this year I [Izzy] got the yummiest body butter! It is the Pink Macaroon Body Butter from H&M. I don't know how much it was as Santa doesn't leave prices on things, obviously. It can leave your skin a little greasy if you use too much. The packaging is so cute and there is a lot in there, especially since you don't need much! It smells incredible. Neither me or Isabelle can work out what it smells like; it is a kind of fresh fruity smell without being too overpowering or strong. 

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

Toodle-oo
Isabelle and Izzy

❣