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 :)

  

A Few Lipstick Reviews

Something I cannot help but love is lipsticks. After watching countless Youtubers and reading blogs I fell in love with the cute colours. Although my collection is small it is growing. They aren't the cheapest things for a sixteen year old and a baby pink and dark red is definitely missing from my collection. 

My favourite at the moment has got to be the NV Chunky Crayon in Plum. I got this from Boohoo.com on a whim to get a free dilivery deal as it was only a few pounds off. I didn't have very high expectations but it does last all day however it may need reapplying if you are going out to eat. It has a nice matte feel but doesn't dry out your lips. It is really pigmented and for what you are paying there is a lot in the stick as you do not need to use much at a time. 

I am also a really big fan of Rimmel products in general and especially their lipsticks. I love long lasting lipsticks as you do not have to waste it constantly reapplying so when they brought out their 'Lasting Finish Lipstick' I could not wait to try it. I have it in 058. It is a rose pink with a slight shimmer. It can dry out your lips if you do not use chapsticks and lip balms in between. It lasts quite a while but if i'm out for a lo0ng time I do find myself having to reapply it. They are around £8.00, this is a bit more expensive for a high-street brand but it a perfect alternative to more expensive options.

I cannot resist a bright coral in summer so the Maybelline COLOURsensational was ideal. The vibrant colours last all day. I have Coral Tonic(422) its is a bright pinky-coral. It has a moisturizing rich colour and tastes amazing, although, I cannot put my finger on what it is. The casing is really cute and it is definitely my go to lipstick in summer.  It is around the same price as the Rimmel lipsticks.

The Collection 2000 lipsticks are alright, i'm not the biggest fan, the colour does not last long but is okay for a quick trip out. The Volume Sensation tends to dry out my lips. I have it in Tea Rose(12) it is a slightly pink-brown. I also have the Deluxe colour in Prohibition (01).  This is a nice red-pink and I would definitely suggest this as a cheaper option as they were both around £3.00. 

I know some people have hundreds of lipsticks but I am hoping to try and get a bigger range of colours throughout the year to help give you all an idea for cheaper lipsticks that are still a good quality.

(Rimmel Drop Of Sherry, NV Colour Plumb, Maybelline Coral Tonic, Collection 2000 Tea Rose, Collection Deluxe Prohibition)

I am also very keen to try the Topshop lipsticks in pink. They have also been recommended and all of their cosmetics are of an unexpectedly good quality for a high-street shop. 

What lipsticks would you recommend? Whether they are designer or high-street let us know in the comments below. 

Toodle-oo
Izzy

❣