Zoeva Classic Brush Set

It wasn't long ago that I wrote about my favourite Real Techniques brushes and while I still love them, my sister bought me this gorgeous set of brushes from Zoeva for my birthday and I have to say it was love at first use.

The Zoeva Classic Brush Set contains 8 brushes for your face and eyes and comes in this rather sophisticated leather look clutch bag. It even has it's own dust bag that's how posh it is!

I think the brushes look super sophisticated with their black handles and I like that each brush says on it exactly what its for. The set contains the following: Luxe Highlighter Brush 105, Stippling Brush 125, Cream Cheek Brush 128, Soft Definer Brush 227, Concealer Buffer Brush 142, Crease Brush 228, Pencil Brush 230, and the Wing Liner Brush 317

I am impressed all round with these brushes but I have to say there are a few that stand out above the rest. First of all the stippling brush is amazing for applying foundation, I love the light and flawless finish it gives. the concealer buffer brush is absolutely perfect for getting concealer in every nook and cranny, its great for the around the nose area.I am also really enjoying the Lux Highlighter brush, this works perfectly with my Mac Soft and Gentle highlighter to give my cheeks the right amount of glow.

The Classic Brush set retails for £52.95 and while that does sound quite pricey it actually works out at just over £6 a brush which is a complete bargain. Zoeva also do a Rose Gold Collection and although I don't 'need' them they are beautiful and owning the classic set has just made me want them even more as I'm sure the quality is just as good.

What do you think? have you tried any brushes from Zoeva?

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My Most Used Real Techniques Brushes

Since starting my blog I have pretty much transformed the way that I apply my make up. To think I just used to apply my foundation with my fingers and eye shadows with those little spongy applicators is a bit horrifying, anyway let’s not think about those dark days and focus on what I use today.

Make up brushes can be expensive. I for one was shocked when I found that one single brush can cost at least £20 so when the Real Techniques Brushes came on the scene with great review after great review I knew these were the ones for me.  

First of all I love that they are colour coded, Yellow for complexion, Pink for finish, purple for eyes and White are the duo fibre range. They also state on them what they are for so no faffing around looking for your 578754 brush, maybe it’s just me but I just find numbers a bit off putting.

So here are my top picks:

Duo Fibre Face Brush: this feels so soft! I use this to apply my powder and set my foundation and concealer. I don’t like a heavy, cakey look so using this gives me the light coverage I require to matte my oily areas and still leaving a natural finish.

Buffing Brush: this is the most amazing brush to apply your foundation with. It effortlessly buffs your foundation evenly into the skin leaving no streaks. You are guaranteed a flawless finish with this.

Blush Brush: I've never had a brush that is shaped like this before and it seriously feels like it was made for my cheeks. I'm sure it does this for most people haha, but the angle is perfect for adding that rosy glow and is so easy to blend, it never seems to grab too much product.

Brow Brush: I used this as you would expect, to define my brows. I like how easy this brush makes it to get the desired precision looking brows.

I use these brushes on a daily basis and haven’t yet found the need to purchase higher end set.

Are you a fan of Real Techniques? What brushes do you to apply your make up?

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These Boots Are Made For Walking

Dress: Primark Bag: New Look Shoes: Duo Boots*

I feel Like since coming back from my holiday I have been a bit more confident getting my legs out, you may be looking at these photos thinking I'm still a relative of Caspar the Friendly ghost but believe me this is me with some colour! Anyway being in England you have to make the most of these sunny days when you can and today is the perfect day for a sun dress.

Wearing a pretty dress in the day makes me feel super girly so whenever I can I like to try and add in an item which gives my look of edge and I think these gorgeous ankle boots from Duo Boots do just that.

Being quite tall I don't really wear heels as much as I would like, or as much as my boyfriend would like me to but these mid chunky heels are a nice compromise and they don't have me moaning every five minutes that my feet hurt! They also make me feel a bit western and who secretly doesn't want to be a cowgirl?

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Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Pastels

Barry M Rose Hip and Sugar Apple £3.99 Each

You know spring is in the air when the pastel polishes come out! I couldn’t walk past the Barry M stand without picking these too up.

Rose Hip is a super girly pink but has a more sophisticated look to it rather than a bubble gum look. I like to wear this to work as its pretty nut not too over the top.

Sugar Apple was just a must, I’m a sucker for a mint green and this just has spring written all over it.

As much as I love these I find you need a bit of patience to apply them, with Rose Hip Especially I found the polish seemed to gather around the edge my nails but with a bit of time and two coats the end look is gorgeous.

You like?

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Ren Skincare Treats

Mayflower t-Zone Control Cleansing Gel

Clarimatte Clarifying Toner

What a surprise another skincare post, what can I say it is my biggest weakness!

Ren has been on my radar for a while and due to the majority of my products running out at the same time I thought it was the perfect time to invest.

I needed a cleanser for the mornings; I usually find cleansing balms a bit too much for the morning so tend to go for gels as I find them lighter. I decided on the Mayflower t-Zone Control Cleansing Gel as this is aimed at skin prone to an oily T-zone so perfect for me. This cleanser claims to Removes dirt and dissolves excess sebum, unclogs pores and reduces the appearance of pore size. This ticks all of the boxes for me, its simple and controls my oil.

The Ren Clarimatte Clarifying Toner has had a lot of hype in the beauty world so it felt right that I hopped on the bandwagon. I like this, it didn't knock my socks off but as far as toners go it does leave my skin feeling lovely and if Caroline Hirons says its good then its good. Also I have found this on the Marks and Spencer's website for £12 rather than the usual £18! If that isn't a reason to try it then I don’t know what is.

Are you a fan of Ren? 

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Monu Essential Care Cleansing Balm

Monu Essential Care Cleansing Balm*

If you read my blog often then you will know that I am a big fan of cleansing balms. Since discovering beauty blogs my skincare routine is something that has had a huge over haul and if I was to recommend a splurge to anyone then a cleansing balm would be it.

The Monu Essential Care Cleansing Balm is the latest cleanser to be added to my collection. Monu wasn't a brand I was too familiar with but after a browse on their website and reading about their beliefs and using natural ingredients I was impressed.

First of all the balm comes in a hefty 150 gram tub which is 50 grams more than my usual balms. The packaging is simple and plastic but I like the clean white look.

It contains Apricot Kernel Oil Bergamot Essential Oil, Blackcurrant Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Jasmine Essential Oil, Rose Essential Oil and Sweet Almond Oil. Needless to say this creates a gorgeous aroma which is quite spa like.

The consistency is a lot more runny than the balms I am used to and also feels a little grainy, but once applied to my skin it melts in, removing all my make up and giving my skin the deep clean that it needs after a hard days work. I have been using this every night for the last month and I love how soft and healthy looking it leaves my skin.

The Monu Essential Care Cleansing Balm retails at £39.95 which may seem pricey but as I said earlier you do get an additional 50 grams worth of product compared to other balms so I think it is complete value for money.

Have you tried any Monu products? What’s your favourite cleanser?

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Revlon Colourburst Lacquer Balm in Whimsical

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm. £7.99

As a big fan of the Revlon Lip Butters I was super excited to get my hands on one of the new Colorburst Lacquer Balm.

After a long swatching session I finally decided to go for the colour Whimsical, which is a deep pinky purple shade. I think I'm starting to learn what colours suit me most, I always lust over nude shades but I find they make me look a bit pale and washed out so for me pinks are definitely the way forward.

I opted for Whimsical as it is perfect for a night out but also not too scary to wear in the day time. The High shine finish is spot on and I find the colour easily buildable if I'm trying to create a bit more of a bold look.

The product applies easily and adds moisture to my lips as it contains shea, mango and cocoa butter; it also has a slight peppermint scent which I wasn't expecting but it does add a nice fresh feeling.

The matte balms are at the top of my list to try next!

Have you tried any of these?  What shade is your favourite?

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Urban Decay Naked Basics

Urban Decay Naked Basics

I feel like the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette was made for me.  Eye shadow is not something that I use daily as with work I like to try and keep my make up as natural looking as possible. Don’t get me wrong I own many a gorgeous eye shadow palette but sometimes I feel these can look a bit to OTT for daytime wear.

Cue the Naked Basics palette, a pocket sized version on the infamous Urban Decay Naked palettes but filled with 6 neutral matte shades. I love how small this palette is it’s so convenient for travel and the mirror inside is a great size.

As with all of my experiences with Urban Decay eye shadows the quality is second to none. The pigmentation is very strong and the colour true to pan, they also blend beautifully for that flawless finish.

My favourites include Venus and Faint. Venus is the most perfect highlighter colour which I love to use on my brow bone. This shade does have a slight shimmer to it so it’s also lovely for the inner corner of your eyes. Faint I have actually been using for my brows! The mid tone brown colour fills in my brows so they look defined yet still natural.

If mattes are your thing or you are looking for something a little bit friendlier for everyday wear then I cannot recommend this enough.

Do you have this palette? What eye shadow do you reach for on a daily basis?

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Benefit Bad Gal Mascara

Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara

I received the Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara for Christmas, I've been meaning to write this review for a while and I think the reason I kept putting it off is because I had hoped that I would come to love it.

I’m going to get straight to the point and say I’m a bit disappointed with this product, not to be a negative Nelly but with brands like Benefit I always have really high hoped but unfortunately this mascara has left me a little underwhelmed.

First of all I find the brush way too big, far too much product comes out when you full the brush but yet I still find it quite difficult to transfer onto my eye lashes. When I finally get my desired look I actually think my lashes look flirty and fluttery, I think the photo here shows them off quite nicely. However this doesn't last I find that within a couple of hours the product has rubbed off under my eyes leaving me all panda like! Not a good look when going for coffee with the girls.

There is really no comparison between this and Benefits ‘They’re Real’ mascara, the quality is miles apart.

Bad Gal Lash retails for £17.50 and to be honest there are mascaras on the high street that do a better job especially if you are looking for volume.

Sorry Benefit this one is just not for me.

Have you tried this? What’s your favourite mascara?

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I Heart...Origins

Make a Difference Plus Rejuvenating Moisturiser ♥ Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask ♥ Make A difference Treatment Lotion ♥ Ginzing Eye Cream

Origins are one of those brands that were on my wish list for a very long time and for one reason or another I ended up not purchasing. Now I'm kicking myself for putting it off for so long!

Initially I was looking for a new moisturiser but the lovely assistant in Boots nudged me in the right direction to buy a set and to make it even better I had enough points on my Boots card to pay with, everyone loves a freebie!

♥ First up is the Make a Difference Plus Rejuvenating Moisturiser, and to be honest this is everything that I want in a moisturiser and more. I think the key word here is Rejuvenate because that’s exactly what it does. The moisturiser is recommended for combination dry skin and can be used both morning and night, when applying this skin feels instantly hydrated and the feeling lasts throughout the day. Alone this comes in at a hefty £34 a tub but if you are looking for a bit of luxury I would definitely recommend this.

♥ The Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is the product that so many bloggers recommended to me and I can now say I am firmly on the bandwagon for this product. It smells amazing quite like peaches or passion fruit; I can’t quite decide which one but it’s still lovely. You apply this to your skin after your evening routine and leave it on overnight and then wake up with super soft skin. It really is one of my favourite products at the moment.

♥ The Treatment lotion complements the moisturiser perfectly. Toner is the step in my skincare routine that I usually ‘forget’ but when something leaves your skin feeling so fresh it’s hard to leave it out!

♥ The Ginsing Eye Cream wasn't actually part of the set but I was lucky enough to pick it up in a blog sale. This is hands down the best eye cream I've ever had. Usually with eye creams if I don’t see instant results I will toss it aside, but this has little flecks of shimmer that help to really brighten up your eyes, it works wonders for early mornings!

So a very positive review today, origins definitely has my seal of approval!

Do you like Origins? Are there any products that you would recommend I try next?

Happy Friday every one and have a good weekend!

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Smooch Purple Haze

Purple Haze Eye Duo*

When it comes to eye shadows I'm usually a neutrals kind of girl but sometimes a hint of sparkle in the pan is all it take to win me over.

Smooch isn't a brand I'm too familiar so I was really excited to try this. The first thing I noticed which I'm sure everyone else did looking at the pictures is the very Nars-esque packaging, It's pretty much exactly the same, even down to the textured matte finish.

Purple Haze is a lovely duo of metallic mauves. Purple isn't really my go to but I this duo is subtle enough to create a gorgeous smokey eye without looking too bold. The lighter colour is my favourite as I think it makes a great highlighter for the, it also looks great in the inner corner of your eyes. The pigmentation is good, I tend to use my Bare minerals Prime Time Primer as base and this holds the shadow in place as long as I need it.

Overall, I am impressed and I am interested to see what other colours they have to offer yes I'm talking neutrals again. I've tried to have a stalk on their website but it currently says 'coming soon' so I will need to keep my eyes peeled.

Have you tried anything from Smooch yet?

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Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Bobbing for Baubles & Set In Stones

So I'm not sure if its someones sole job at Essie to sit and think up cute names for nail polishes but whoever it seem to get it right every time.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is a lovely little set that I got for Christmas which contains 2 beautiful polishes.

Bobbing for Baubles is a deep sophisticated sapphire colour, it leaves the most beautiful shine which I think looks really elegant. I love navy, its such a classic colour that's perfect for everyday wear, not too outrageous for work but still really grabs your attention.

For that added sparkle Set In Stones takes your nails from classic day time to night time glamour. I'm a big fan of glitter especially for a night out, I usually just like to do one nail to make it stand out more. As with all glitter polishes removing it is the bane of my life...maybe that's another reason I only wear it on one finger?? 

Anyway moaning aside I think this is another fabulous duo from Essie that will be seeing a lot of my nails in the near future.

Whats your favourite Essie colour?

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And I've Given In To The Hype...Again

It always happens; you see so many rave reviews about a product that you have to have it in your life. My spending ban was going so well but this weekend just gone I felt like I needed a little pick me up so a trip to Boots happened.

I've been so busy at work recently that the whole Bourjois Happy Light hype had managed to get passed me it wasn't until I saw a picture of the new range on Instagram that it really grabbed my attention. I was so happy that in the little Boots where I live stocked the primers so I opted for the Luminous Serum Primer to give my skin a little pick me up and I have to say so far so good! It keeps my made up in place and gives my skin a nice glow and at the moment its only £6.99 so it would have just been rude not too.

The Maybelline Baby Lips hype really did not excite me. To me they just seemed like a lip balm with bright tacky packaging. However after seeing swatches over on Pearls and Poodles I was a bit more intrigued. So I finally caved and o my goodness I wish I had bought them earlier! The colours are gorgeous and it really does leave my lips super soft, it does need reapplying throughout the day but for £2.99 that’s to be expected and to be honest I enjoy reapplying it, they taste nice too!

The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is actually a repurchase, I can’t remember how long ago it was when I gave into this hype but I haven’t tried any other concealer since. It’s amazing at covering blemishes and lasts all day. I won’t harp on too much about this as I'm sure you have all seen countless reviews but seriously if you haven’t tried this…why not?!

What have you been buying lately? Do you give into blogger hype easily?

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