My Make Up Brushes : Beauty

I like things simple when it comes to make up brushes. I have 6 in total in which I only really use 4 on a regular basis so I thought I'd just introduce you to the brushes that I would never let leave my side and the ones I save for certain occasions. 

 5 out of 6 of my brushes are from Real Techniques and anybody that has ever used one will know that once you go RT you don't go back. So I'll just run through each brush and let you know how I use each. 

(top left) - The Real Techniques Sculpting Brush 
 I think this brush is meant to be used for contouring, but I use it for my blush. It's the perfect size for the amount I like to put on and the oval shape with the gradient bristles make it perfect for blending and avoiding that streaky look. 


(top right) - The Real Techniques Bold Metals 101 Triangle Foundation Brush 
 So this has to be my least favourite brush from my collection. I want to love it, its so beautiful with its gold wand but it just doesn't deliver the results I get from my other brushes. It's meant to be a foundation brush but I just don't get a blended finish with this at all. I also find the bristles on this brush to be a lot harder than other RT brushes I have so I find it so hard to work with. 

(middle left) - The Real Techniques Powder Brush 
 Love this brush. I moved on from my usual Kabuki brush to this brush at the start of the year and I'm so glad I did. For one, I really love the feel of the longer handle on this, all of the kabuki brushes I have had all featured really stumpy handles but I feel this RT brush gives you a bit more control over the pressure and coverage you can get with your powder. Also, the bristles are so soft on this brush, which really work for blending and keeping your powder even. I use this brush for both my powder and bronzer as I wear fake tan and they just get blended together anyway. 

(bottom right) - The Real Techniques Bold Metals 301 Flat Contour Brush
 This is the other brush I don't use all of the time and that's mainly because I just don't contour every day. I use this brush when I'm going for a more glam look, so I take my shimmery bronzer and apply it under my cheekbones in a half attempt to contour my face. I'm so lazy with that kind of thing, but it works enough for me. I like this brush because it's quite dense, so it picks up the bronzer really easily and because of the flat design you don't get sneaky amounts of bronzer on the edges that you don't want. 

(bottom left) - The Real Techniques Expert Face Brush 
 By far my favourite make up brush of all time! This is the second one I've had of this brush because I used my old one so much. I use this brush for my foundation everyday because it blends perfectly! I use the Bareminerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream and the soft bristles on this brush move it across my face effortlessly. 

NUXE Dry Oil Review : Beauty

Hey Everyone! 
 It has been a while hasn't it! I haven't looked or really even thought about my blog for a few months now and that's down to a few reasons really; 1 - I moved into my own flat which was exhausting, 2 - I got made redundant from my job (stressed'r'us) and 3 - I kind of lost motivation. I was getting so frustrated with my photos not turning out how I wanted and scheduling in time to get posts up that it just got side tracked majorly. So I'm back and feeling pretty excited to get behind my laptop and lens again! 

 My first post has to be about a product that I only just discovered this summer but I've been obsessed with since!

 The NUXE Dry Oils are not new to the beauty/skin/hair world but they are gurrrrd! I have the Golden Shimmer version in a full sized bottle and also the original that I got in my LF Beauty Box. 

First Thoughts: 'At what stage of getting dressed do I put this on?'

Can anybody tell me this? I have tried both methods, slathering it on a few minutes before getting dressed and also after. I guess it does depend what you're wearing but I've found that putting this on before any clothes are even thought about to be the best method. Also, for the shimmer version, I would only focus on areas that are going to be on show as it just makes the inside of your clothes look as crazy as Miley Cyrus' instagram. 

It's also worth noting that with the Original oil I use this on my hair before blow-drying. I don't use too much as it does tend to make it greasy but a little goes a long way so just go easy and your hair will look great for it. 

Final Thoughts: I LOVE this product! It's not something I use everyday but when I want to make my tan pop a little more than usual I dab a bit on and it just looks so nice! 

Score: 9/10

So tell me!?! What have I missed in the world of blogging? Leave your links below because I have a lot of catching up to do :)


Beka xxx

Buff

Yes - another Illasqua lipstick!

This time in the form of a creamy greige/brown shade called Buff. 

Having just dyed my hair a bit darker, I was really keen to see how this lipstick looked on. It gives you that 90's grunge feel that looks absolutely stunning! 

I can definitely see myself rocking this for a girls night out, giving a different look to my usual nude or red lipstick I always turn to. 

If you love brown lipsticks then this is definitely worth a purchase. 

Test

By now you'll know that Illamasqua is my new lipstick soulmate!

I literally cannot help myself. The sale has been pretty amazing this year and I nabbed this beauty for only £9.80!

Test is an absolutely beautiful nudey/pink lipstick from Illamasqua and It rivals that of Climax in how much I love it. It's creamy with a slight matte finish that I can't get enough of. 

I just don't see lipsticks getting better than these. I know that's a big statement to make, but when you find a brand that really works for you it's difficult to imagine that any will beat it. 

What do you think? 

True Love with NYX

Can you tell that I love lipsticks yet?

I've really liked NYX as a brand for a while now after trying out another of their lipsticks at the Pro Beauty event in Manchester a few years ago. So it came as no surprise that when these landed in my hand I was going to find them irresistible too. 

Yes, another gift from Elliot (he obviously knows me well) this trio of True Love Butter Lipsticks is ideal for those days where you don't want to go overboard with your make up but still want to feel like you've made an effort. As for the 'butter' element of these lipsticks, they're super creamy, glide on and show no sign of ever drying out my lips when I wear them all day at work. 

Really impressed by this little set and it's perfect for somebody you know that has a love for all things lipstick.

Lightly Toasted

Love the Naked palettes?

Then you are going to fall head over heels for this beauty! At nearly a 5th of the cost, this W7 In The Buff Lightly Toasted palette provides you with a full range of 12 shades that bring you various finishes including matte and metallic that you can mix and match to suit the occasion.

How gorgeous are all of these shades? And as for the pigment, they look fab on and blend effortlessly. 

I've got my eye on some of the other palettes now from W7 as well as looking to trying some of the other various products they make.

Have you ever tried this palette before? What were your thoughts?

Madame La La

I watch a lot of American TV and as such, I think I now must have an unrealistic view when it comes to a good tan. Especially for a British girl who gets all of 3 days of sun in a year. 

So when I heard of tan that looks to emulate that LA glow that we all crave, I had to give it a go. 

Madame La La is a self tan mousse that contains Coco Water and Aloe that work to hydrate your skin whilst tanning. Promising for a 'deep golden colour in 3 hours' I was so excited to see the results. It also contains a quick dry DD tan Perfector (Dynamic Do all) formula that ensures for an innovative colour that customises to your own skin tone - no wotsit tan for me thanks! 

I followed the instructions and left this on for 10 hours to make sure I got the best results. 

So what do you think?

I am more than impressed and will be swapping out my St Moriz for Madame La La every time now. 

Benefit Rollerlash Review

With March's edition of Elle we've been treated something more than just a freebie. You'll find the brand new and Rollerlash from Benefit and it's yours to try exclusively when you buy this issue. 

 This mascara has a curved wand, making it perfect for reaching every lash and giving it a curl. As expected with a Benefit mascara, there's no clumping either and it doesn't take long for some serious volume to be added too. 

Honestly, I'd give this mascara a 9 out of 10. It's definitely just as good as the They're Real mascara and the cute travel size you get in the magazine makes it very easy to throw in my make up bag. 

So what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy while you can!

The Lash Edit - London

I have loved false lashes for a very long time now and I have become quite familiar with the process of putting them on. Going from the first Girls Aloud collection, wearing my Cheryl's to every night out, I have since then branched out and wear a wide variety of lashes. Including this gorgeous London trio I got given to me as a stocking filler from Elliot this Christmas. 

I love how different the three styles are, with the top set being perfect for date night when you want a bit more dazzle, the middle set that are perfect for adding a bit more glam to your day and the bottom set that I love wearing for those days where I really want my eyes to stand out. 

As with almost all Eylure lashes, they fit my eyes perfectly and with the glue that's provided, go on so easily too. I tend to use tweezers when putting on my lashes as it really helps stick them down. 

I have my eye on the Paris set next as those styles really appeal to me too. 

Have you tried any of these lashes yet? 

Fallen From The Lipstick Tree

Charlotte Tilbury is a brand that every blogger around has tried and raved about, so it was about time I got my hands on her products and where better to start than with her KISSING lipsticks. 

This is another gift that Elliot got me for Christmas and you honestly wouldn't believe how small this is when you look at it only. However, it's true what they say, good things do come in small packages. With three Mini Lipstick Charms containing So Marilyn (a luscious red), Penelope Pink (subtle matte  nude) and Bitch Perfect (a rosy nude). 

All three of these lipsticks are well worth a try and their size makes them perfect for popping in even the smallest bag, ready to be shown off to the world. 

My first impressions of Charlotte Tilbury are very good and this most definitely won't be my last purchase. 

What do you think should be my next beauty buy from CT?