Glow like a Film Star

I resisted the hype around the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow compact for a while, assuming that the bronze shade would be far too dark. Upon swatching it in store, I knew it had to be mine.

I now believe the product is worth the hype. The shade isn't as orange as expected, and the highlight is subtle and beautiful. The bronze is a tad too warm to contour with but looks beautiful dusted around the edges of the face to add a hint of definition and colour to your face.

I find highlighting can be difficult on super pale skin, I don't want to look overly yellow or white on my cheeks. This highlighting shade really goes make you glow like a film star. It's not as wet looking on the skin as The Balm Mary-Loumanizer but this makes it less obvious and more subtle and sheeny.

One thing to note about the powders in the Bronze and Glow palette is that they are super butter and fine, which means that blend with ease but when you swirl your brush it does kick off some powder.

Lastly, a note on the packing, it really does feel like something a film star would have on their dresser. It certainly is Instagram-worthy!

You can see my full Charlotte Tilbury collection here. Have you tried the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow compact?

Beauty Brands I Trust

It’s quality, not quantity. I think as there are so many brands out there in the market it’s hard to gain a consumer's trust and keep them loyal. I’ve tried hundreds of different beauty products and brands over the years but some have stood the test of time. They guarantee effective and high-quality products every time.

CLARINS

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A brand I shied away from for a while, I pictured it being for older women but they have some amazing treatments for acne-prone skin. Their classics like the Beauty Flash Balm and the Gentle Exfoliator have been up for numerous beauty awards and been on millions of dressing tables worldwide. I would also thoroughly recommend their spa treatments and facials, I reviewed the Detox Shine Stopper here.

As for make-up, Clarins have a beautiful line of classic colours, suitable for all ages and ethnicities. Their summer collections are always lust-worthy too.

My recommendations: Lotus Oil, Eye Contour Gel, Instant Light Lip Balm and Gentle Exfoliator.

ESTEE LAUDER

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Close to Clarins, Estee Lauder is a brand that caters to all but seems to be aimed at older women. Their Estee Edit diffusion line looks to target the younger cosmetic users, I’m yet to try anything but the packaging is so unusual.

I’ve only tried the Advanced Night Repair Serum from their skincare line but I’d love to try more. It is on the pricer side so perhaps something I would add to birthday or Christmas lists.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess has it’s moment every summer, seriously it’s like a sunny beach holiday in a bottle. I’m eyeing up the blush, highlight and bronzer trio from this year’s collection too.

My recommendations: Advanced Night Repair Serum, Double Wear Foundation and Bronze Goddess Perfume.

ELEMIS

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I first came across Elemis products in a spa, their products offer results but have a relaxing and soothing scent, great if you want a pamper at home. The Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is THE best at removing makeup and feels like a treat to your skin when you apply it. I also adore their Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, it's so luxurious and adds an instant boost of hydration to the skin without leaving it oily.
My recommendations: Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, Apricot Toner and Frangipani and Monoi Body Cream.

ORIGINS

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If you want effective masks whatever your skin concern is, choose Origins. I have their three famous masks, Drink Up Intensive, Clear Improvements, and my favourite one of the trio, Out of Trouble, which stops breakouts in their tracks. I also adore their Eye Doctor eye cream, it keeps my eczema at bay.
My recommendations: Drink Up Intensive Mask, Clear Improvements Mask, Out of Trouble Mask and Eye Doctor.

LA ROCHE POSAY

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Hands down THE best high street brands for acne. Their lotions and potions have really helped over the years, their Effaclar Duo being my most raved about product. I would also recommend their SPF if you have oily skin, it gives a matte finish to keep oil at bay in the sun.
My recommendations: Effaclar Duo, Effaclar Mat, La Roche-Posay Anthelios AC Anti-Shine Matte Fluid with SPF 30, Serozinc and Effaclar K.

What brands to you rely on?

Artis Oval Brush Dupe Review

After finding the Beauty Blender, I swore I would never use a brush to apply foundation again. Temptation crept in as I saw Artis Brushes all over social media and Youtube, Hello October's video being the main enabler. I researched Artis Brushes and decided that the £45 price tag wasn't justifiable, so I started looking for affordable dupes and came across this one - Pro Oval Makeup Liquid Foundation Paddle Brush. 

The best way to describe this brush's shape, is like a big toothbrush. It has an oval shaped head with densly packed bristles. From watching tutorials on Youtube, I found the best way to apply foundation using this brush is to dot the product onto your face and use sweeping buffing motions to spread the foundation evenly.

I tried the oval brush with my L'Oreal Infallible foundation firstly, but also tried it with my Dior Forever foundation. It's hard to get used to the motion of sweeping rather than going in circular motions but it did seem to distrupute the product well. One thing I would say is that I don't think it applied my foundation as seamlessly, I felt I had to go over the product with a damp Beauty Blender to finish it properly.

I wouldn't choose this over my Beauty Blender for foundation but I'm keeping it in my stash to use for cream highlight and contour. Have you tried the Artis brushes or any dupes?

Wedding Guest Makeup

Wedding season is finally here! For those who don’t know, I work for a wedding venue website, so I eat, sleep and breathe weddings, every girl’s dream right?!
For those of you with a diary filled with nuptials to attend, I picked my top products that won't fail you!

BASE

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Weddings are all day affairs so a long lasting base and primer comes into play. For a high coverage which lasts all day, opt for Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, it’s perfect for oily skin and acne coverage. This base works well with the L’Oreal Infallible primer. Keep Soap and Glory’s One Heck of a Blot in your clutch back to touch up on the go.

If you’d like to achieve a fresh glowy base, I thoroughly recommend the Giorgio Armami Luminous Silk foundation. It’s a matte foundation which has a satin glow, leaving your skin look glowy and youthful. It does have SPF, so be weary of flash back on photographs.

Blush will perk up your complexion, and highlight will add that pretty sheen, the Milano Baked Blush teamed with the Balm Mary-Loumanizer is my favourite duo for this.

EYES & LIPS

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At a wedding, you need something that will look appropriate for both day and night on the eyes. I adore my Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pop eyeshadow stick in Au Revoir, it's a beautiful silver taupe which looks foiled on the eyes.

To beef up the brows and keep them in place for the day, I would recommend the new Soap and Glory Brow Fibre Gel. A dupe for Benefit's Gimme Brow, this product adds hold and colour in a flash.

Create the perfect rose hued pout with Illamasqua's Glamore in Minx, it's one of my all time favourite lipstick shades. It's creamy, comfortable on the lips and long lasting.

BODY

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Sanctuarty Spa's Wonder Body lotion is a must have for perfected pins. Unlike tanning products, this product is easy to use and looks good on everyone. It's a tinted moisturiser treat with blurring properties to make the skin look flawless.

Not forgetting perfume, as you will probably be hugging friends and family, opt for something light and floral. Jo Malone's Peony and Blush Suede is light, feminie and long lasting.

OUTFIT & ACCESSORIES

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Quiz Clothing have some beautiful going out dresses in a maxi style in their 'Get Glamourous' campaign. Maxi dresses always look great for a wedding, don't forget a pair of comfortable but stylish sandals.

My Alex Monroe Rose Gold Bee Necklace is one of my favourite jewellery pieces, it looks so pretty with any outfit.

What makeup would you wear for a wedding?

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Spring Outfit Inspiration with High Street Dupes

I get lost for hours on Pinterest, curating style inspiration boards. I've noticed some strong trends coming through so I've pulled some outfits and pieces together to keep you inspired this Spring.
I've found cheaper alternatives to designer items were possible, so grab yourself some Chanel slingback dupes and Self Portrait style items while they are still in stock.

Want to win a £500 Aldo gift card to buy yourself a new Spring shoe wardrobe to accompany these outfits and grab £25 off your next purchase? ENTER HERE

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Nude Valentino Rockstud Flats Dupe

Reading fashion blogs daily means I have an endless list of designer items on my lust list. While others like to splash their cash, I love hunting for a high street dupe.

I'd recently seen Youtubers, Josie from Fashion Mumblr and Victoria from In The Frow talk about the Valentino Rockstuds. I was on the hunting for some summer ballet pumps and while browsing in Zara, I found these nude studded ballerinas, point toe cross over flats, almost identical to the designer Valentino options.

These shoes would look perfect styled with an oversized white tee and blue jeans rolled up. I'm already planning all the summer outfits I can wear with these. 

Would you choose the designer option or the high street alternative?

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Cream Eyeshadows for Every Budget

As much as I adore my Makeup Geek eyeshadows and my Urban Decay Naked Palettes, you just can’t beat cream eyeshadows for ease. Not all of us have an hour spare to blend 5 eyeshadows into a seamless, Instagram worthy look - queue these one wash wonders.

Sticks and pots make these products travel-friendly and enable quick application. My favourite cream eyeshadow sticks are from Kiko, these are a budget friendly dupe for the coveted By Terry Ombre Blackstars. The shade 05 Rosy Brown is an exact copy of the infamous Misty Rock colour that Youtubers love. The red burgundy shade I have is also amazing on green eyes.

I have other eyeshadow sticks from Topshop, Marc Jacobs and NV Colour Cosmetics. They offer a smokier look and are excellent for a night out makeup look. You can just draw the colour over the lid and simply blend with a fluffy crease brush, it’s just so easy. The Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pop in Au Revoir has to be my all-time favourite, it's a silver taupe which looks foiled on the lids.

Next up are my eyeshadow pots. I found a beautiful muted purple, taupe shade, numbered 03, from Kiko recently which really makes green eyes pop. MAC’s Groundwork Paint Pot is another that frames my eyes beautifully. It’s a soft matte brown which you can either wear sparingly for a soft look or smoke up to create a grunge vibe.

The lightest of the colours comes from Makeup Forever, this champagne colour in shade 13, blends wonderfully to add a sheen to your lids that looks effortless. The Chanel offering called Epatant, also sits in the shimmer category, providing an elegant greeny-grey smoked up look. The Illusion D’Ombre pots have a delightfully light mousse texture,  which means they feel weightless and blend with ease.

Cream shadows provide an effortless eyeshadow look in seconds, a must have in anyone’s makeup bag. Which brands stock your favourites?

The Best of Soap and Glory

The retro packaging and cute names drew me in, Soap and Glory has become one of my favourite high street brands. The One Heck of a Blot Powder was the first S&G product to make a home in my makeup bag. Lightweight, translucent and a shine stopper, I’ve repurchased this over and over again.



The One Heck of a Blot line also contains a primer, it’s lightweight and moisturising, but also keeps oil at bay. Its texture is more like a moisturiser, great for anyone who doesn’t want a silicone based primer. I have oily skin and this creates the perfect canvas to lay foundation on but also keeps the excess oils at bay. The One Heck of a Blot Primer and Powder are beginning and end of my routine and I switch between different foundation and concealers in between.



Speaking of concealer, if your dark circles need to be banished, opt for the Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer. An excellent dupe for the Bobbi Brown correctors and concealers. One side has a peachy toned product, created to counteract the blue and grey tones. The other has a creamy concealer which blends like a dream with a Beauty Blender. This compact has a pan of powder, which means it’s perfect for touch ups on the go. You can’t bake the under eye with this but its super light and finely milled, so it gives crease free under eyes.

Another can live without S&G product is their Archery brow product, as you can see here come in many different shapes and sizes. My all-time favourite is the super skinny one with the spoolie on the end, I have 4 backups of this in my drawers. The other alternatives include a version which has a slanted flat tip with a clear gel, another with a felt nib and their newest addition to the line the Brow Fibre Gel. This is a dupe of the Benefit Gimme Grow. I’m still mastering the technique but after seeing Charlotte Tilbury’s tutorial on Nic from Pixiwoo, I’m determined to get it down for big youthful brows.

Their Blushing Powders create a beautifully sheen on the cheeks, bringing dull skin to life. I have the shades, Love at First Blush, which has your conventional pink blush tones and Peach Party, which perks up any complexion with flattering peach tones. It’s a 'swirl your brush around, smile and apply to apples of the cheeks' kind of product. You could use some of the lighter ones as eyeshadows with a fine brush if you like multi-use products.

I'm also a lover of their Supercat Liquid Felt Tip Liner. It creates feline flicks in seconds with a super matte black finish. As far as felt tip liners go this one lasts a long time and doesn't try out quickly.

Lastly, is the Soap and Glory Sexy Motherpucker Gloss Stick, these handbag friendly mini lip crayons add a hint of colour, as well as a touch of moisture. Being a glossy formula these don’t last very long on the lips but they do leave a soft tint to the lips after.

Which Soap and Glory products have you tried?

The Perfect Blending Brush Collection

Brushes do all the hard work for you, blending and buffing in products with minimal effort. I have MAC, Sigma and Real Techniques are already in my collection and these face and eyeshadow brushes from Crown, are new additions.

My latest obsession with brushes is blending, I want every edge to be smoothed and flawless, not just for eyeshadow but also for contour and face products. Introducing these brushes and their uses will hopefully help you create your own perfect buffing and blending set.

FACE - SS022 Jumbo Powder, C473 Pro Contour, C405 Contour Blush, C406 Large Duo Fibre Face

The hairs in the Jumbo Powder brush are soft but compact, meaning I can pick up powder easily from the pan and the softness helps it blend into my skin effortlessly. Can you tell I love this brush?

The Pro Contour is ideal for that defined contour for a night out. The flat edge packs the product onto the skin and you can use the Large Duo Fibre or Contour Blush to blend away any harsh lines. These brushes would also work wonderfully with cream contouring.

I particularly like the Duo Fibre brush for bronzer, it's fluffy bristles and loose shape help to dust the product onto the face without going overboard. One for those afraid of too much or too orange bronzer, it's hard to apply too much with this.

EYES - SS027 Deluxe Blending Crease, C441 Pro Blending Crease, C420 Angle Shader,C433 Pro Blending Fluff, BK36 Angle Stippler 

If you are looking for some MAC brush dupes then snatch up the Pro Blending Fluff, a dupe for the 217 and Pro Blending Crease, a copy of the 224 and the Deluxe Blending Crease is similar to the 231. The quality of the brushes is good for the price, the only difference I can tell is the MAC ones are slightly more dense and the handles are stiffer.

The two angled brushes, Shader and Stippler have worked surprisingly well for blending concealer under the eyes and cream contour on the nose. The small brush heads and the angle work well in these curves of the face. They help blend the product into the skin until you look flawless.

I have noticed a slight fall out of bristles but this normally happens until their first wash in my experience. Crown brushes are affordable so you can fill your stash or makeup kit up on a budget. Have you tried Crown brushes?

*PR samples

Quarter 1 Beauty Report

April means that Quarter 1 in the business calendar is over, in work it's a time to reflect on how projects have gone and plan for Quarter 2. Don't worry I won't be baffling you with any charts or graphs, but I wanted to show the new products which I have added in to my routine in the last 3 months. You can see which products I use on a daily basis here.

Dior Forever Foundation
You will have seen me rave about this in a previous post and I also have filmed a demo and review on my Youtube channel. From first use I was hooked to the Dior Forever Foundation, it's matte without being too flat or cakey.

YSL Black Opium Perfume
I bought this some time last year, but I've recently brought it out from my collection again as an everyday perfume. It's sexy and sweet, unlike anything else I have in my collection.

Ardell Demi Wispies False Lashes
Youtubers rave about these false lashes, I've always stuck to Eyelure lashes, but these are just as good. They aren't over the top and the winged out edges elongate the eyes.

Superdrug Glycolic Overnight Peel
My skin has been in desperate needs of a pick me up lately. The winter weather has made it so dull and lifeless, cue the Overnight Peel. It's not a harsh product, it just refreshes the top layers of skin, revealing radiant skin underneath.

Nails Inc Nail Polish in Uptown
This nail polish has been my go to as since the start of the year. It's a very flattering pink which suits my skin tone perfectly. I've had so many compliments while wearing this. The Nails Inc formula is incredibly long lasting and gives a glossy, polished finish.

Origins Eye Doctor Eye Cream
Even though my skin is oily I have really dry eyes. Nothing seemed to help boost the moisture levels until I found the Origins Eye Doctor. I was reluctant to hand over the cash for this but it's well worth the money. It's a thick cream but it doesn't disturb your concealer and leaves the area hydrated and soothed.

Charles Worthington Texturising Spray
I like having textured curls when I go out, this spray adds grit without weighing the hair down or leaving it feeling crispy. I will repurchase this time and time again.

Essence Princess Lash Mascara
This incredibly affordable mascara has been well loved. It adds volume and length to the lashes quickly and doesn't smudge.

What have you added to your routine since the start of the year?