♡ JULY FAVES ♡

Every month I will be sharing the products that I have been loving and unable to live without! 

These are my faves this month!

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in "Eden" 

 

I own two Urban Decay eyeshadow primers but I have been going back to this one in the shade "Eden" which is a natural skin-coloured cream. It is the perfect base to use underneath the Bobbi Brown "Surf" Eye Palette as it provides a lovely opaque base for the shadow to glide over. It makes your shadow stay put all day long with zero creasing!

A little goes a long way with this product so if used everyday, a tube should last well over 6 months.

 I got this from Debenhams who carry a large selection of Urban Decay products.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colour in "Pink Taffy"

 

 I have talked non-stop about this Bobbi Brown limited edition sheer lip colour this month. As a newbie to coloured lip products this ticks all the non-scary lipstick boxes! Super moisturising and a beautiful sheer wash of colour over the lips that doesn't make me look like a clown! 

I literally can't put this down! I love it so much!

This Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colour is available directly at BobbiBrown.com as well as department stores. So need to get another one!
(Please don't all go and buy it as I don't want it to sell out! haha)

BlenderCleanser Brush Cleanser (wow, that's a mouthful!)

 

 I think we already know how much I love this brush cleanser from my last post but it is worth a mention again as it has been a fave this month. It really takes the hassle out of washing make-up brushes and it definitely has made it less of a chore! So much so that I use it everyday to clean my foundation brush. 

 This is one that I will be re-purchasing for years to come!

This brush cleaner is available at BeautyBay.com & Amazon.

 

Rapid Clear Treatment by Neutrogena

 

 My last fave is a skincare product that I have been using for a few months and it is a spot treatment by Neutrogena that is pretty great! 

I have oily combination skin and tend to get a few spots around my jaw line from leaning on the palm of my hands at work.

This spot treatment works really quickly at reducing redness and drying out those pesky spots so in a day or so they're gone!

 It's so good that even my mum went out and got one after I let her use mine.

This spot treatment is available in all good drug stores like Boots which is where I get EVERYTHING! Hello Boots points!

And there you have it my July Faves! 

Pop back next month to see the things that have floated my boat in August!

Thanks for reading! 

Mwah!

x Joana x

BEST MAKE-UP BRUSH CLEANSER?

During the past few months I have watched endless YouTube videos about how people clean their make-up brushes- yes this is an important issue in the world of beauty!

At first I tried the olive oil method which I did not get along with as the brushes felt oily for a long time and as someone with oily combination skin the last thing I want is more oil going anywhere near my face! Erghh!

 I then bought a brush cleanser from Clinique which I didn't mind using but found it a bit of a faff spritzing all the brushes with it.

Then I discovered the "BlenderCleanser Solid" which according to it's makers BeautyBlender is  

"the ultimate make up sponge and brush cleanser"

Big claims there but I must say that after a few uses I 100% agree with this! 

It's AMAZING!

Things I love about BlenderCleanser Solid:

Compact- it comes in a plastic container which is super easy to store and practical to pop in your make up bag when travelling.  

A little goes a long way- wet your brush under lukewarm water and gently stroke into the soap. Work into a lather using the grill that is included (this helps take all the gunk out and means you use less product!) Then rinse under water and dry off excess using kitchen towel. 

Super soft bristles- this leaves your brushes feeling really soft and most importantly super clean!

Easy to clean- just rinse the soap under some water to get rid of all the make-up that's left on it and pop back onto the dish and close until you need it again.

Is it really that good?

Well the proof is in the pudding so lets see how this cleanser works on the darkest eyeshadow that I have which is in the Naked 3 palette by Urban Decay (a cult beauty must-have!).

Topshop eye brush with a load of "Blackheart" eye shadow on it.

 

 BlenderCleanser in Action

Step 1: Rinse   Step 2: Swirl on soap   Step 3: More swirling on grill   Step 4: Rinse again & Tah dahhh sparkling clean brush!

 

Self-Cleaning

Rinse soap bar under cold water & watch all the yuckyness wash away!

 

 Before & After

Top: Dirty Brushes      Bottom: Lovely clean brushes!

 As you can see this stuff seems to work miracles even on the dirtiest of brushes and I have been using it everyday on my foundation brushes and once a week on all my other face and eye brushes.

 

I originally picked this up at Beautybay.com but I have since found it on Amazon for a few pounds cheaper.

If you prefer a liquid cleanser this brand also does one but this solid version is much more convenient and I don't think I'll be going back to a liquid brush cleanser anytime soon! 

Thanks for reading! 

Mwah!

x Joana x

BOBBI BROWN SURF & SAND COLLECTION

During this scorcher of a week I have been reaching for Bobbi Brown's Surf & Sand collection to inject a little bit of summer into my make up look. 

I first read about this new collection a few months ago in someone's Instagram post and it instantly got me excited!

After googling for a release date I was literally checking Bobbi Brown's website everyday until one evening it was there in all it's beauty for me to purchase! Woohoo!

I died a little bit inside when I realised that the eyeshadow palette I had lusted over for weeks had sold out - sounds dramatic I know, but hey, I love make-up! The next day after frantically searching online for it I managed to order it at House of Fraser. Panic averted!

I picked up the following products from this collection:

Surf Eye Palette
Brightening Blush in Pink 2
Brightening Blush in Bronze 1
Sheer Lip Colour in Sunlit Pink 18
Sheer Lip Colour in Pink Taffy 21
Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in 24 Karat 

SURF EYE PALETTE & LONG-WEAR CREAM SHADOW STICK

Surf Eye Palette & Long-Wear Shadow Stick

This was the eye palette that I had been lusting over! Two palettes were released, one called "Sand" which consists of gorgeous subtle metallic & nude shades and the one that I got called "Surf".

The "Surf" palette has a little bit more colour in it with a gorgeous shimmery blue and green along with some gold's mixed in. It's also worth mentioning the gorgeous packaging that the palette comes in. The outside is covered in a linen type fabric which has "sandy" qualities! It's a very nice touch!

Below you can see the colours in the palette & swatches on my dodgy-looking hand:

Top L-R: Bikini Bronze Metallic Eye Shadow, Surf Sparkle Eye Shadow, Sea Foam Sparkle Eye Shadow & Oyster Sparkle Eye Shadow

 Bottom L-R: Cream Eye Shadow, Pink Quartz Eye Shadow, Sunshine Metallic Eye Shadow & Sunny Gold Metallic Eye Shadow

The colours used the most so far are the Bikini Bronze which I sweep across the whole lid and Oyster which blends nicely into the crease.

I love a good eyeshadow crayon and I couldn't resist the 24 Karat colour in this collection. It's a beautiful sparkly gold colour which stays put all day long. A summer must have as it's waterproof making it perfect for lounging around the pool or frolicking in the sea!

Long-Wear Shadow Stick

BRIGHTENING BLUSH

Bobbi Brown blushers are never a disappointment and these two colours (pink & bronze) scream summer and suit a variety of skin tones.

Brightening Blush in Pink 2 & Brightening Blush in Bronze 1

They both have 3 separate colours (a medium & light blush colour with a highlighter) that you swirl together to create the perfect sweep of colour on the cheeks. I have been using the pink one a lot this past week and it just gives a really healthy glow to the complexion. The other colour has bronze undertones and I can see myself wearing that one on holiday once I have a bit of a tan.

SHEER LIP COLOUR

I'm not going to lie, I LOVE a sheer lipstick and these Bobbi Brown ones are fast becoming my faves! The formula is super moisturising with a hint of colour that isn't too over the top- perfect for work where I don't want to look over done.

I picked up the colours Pink Taffy and Sunlit Pink which both have gorgeous gold undertones that will shimmer in the sunshine.

Pink Taffy is a coral-pink & Sunlit Pink is a Bronze Pink

My favourite is the Pink Taffy and I'm nearly half way through it! It's so pretty! *Swoon*

Yummy Pink Taffy Sheer Lip Colour

This concludes my Surf and Sand haul and below is what it looks like slapped onto my face!
A subtle everyday look :) 

This is a collection worth investing in and I might have to go and pick up another lip colour from this range as they are so wearable!

I'm already excited about Bobbi Brown's next limited edition collection!

Bobbi Brown Surf and Sand

Thanks for reading! 

x Joana x

EVERYDAY MAKE-UP

Putting on make-up is one of my favourite things to do and I find that it relaxes me and makes me feel a bit better about all the 5.50am starts!  

I tend to do the same make-up look everyday and only change eye shadows, blushers and lip products every now and again depending on my mood and the outfit that I have planned  for that particular day. 

Below are all the products I use to create one of my everyday make-up looks. 

BASE

My base consists entirely of Estée Lauder products which I have been using for the past two weeks.

 I start off by applying Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup which I am in love with despite only using it for a short amount of time! I use shade Intensity 1.0 and after I have applied this all over my face with a foundation brush I use Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer in shade 01 Light to mask my dark circles and any red bits that don't get covered by the Foundation. 

I set the foundation using Double Wear Stay-in-Place Powder Makeup in shade 1N2 / ECRU 12. I buff this into my t-zone giving me a flawless shine-free finish. 

All these products have SPF10 built in and they have helped my oily combination skin look amazing! 

I wish I had bought these products years ago and they are already things I can't live without! 

L-R: Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup, Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer,
Double Wear Stay-in-Place Powder Makeup

EYES 

My eyes are one of my best features so I try to make the most of them.  I start off  by applying Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion in the shade Sin which is a gorgeous metallic champagne colour. This stuff is great as it keeps eye shadows in place all day long with no creasing!

Next I line my lower lash line using Sephora's Contour Eye Pencil in Shade 07 Girl Talk. 

T-B: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Sin, Sephora Jumbo Liner, Sephora Contour Eye Pencil

I'm currently using the Natural Eyes Palette by Too Faced which is prefect for subtle day time look.

Too Faced Natural Eyes

I apply the shade 'Silk Teddy' as my base shadow and then put the shade 'Push-Up' along the crease making sure that it is all well blended.

Inside the Natural Eyes Palette

After blending in the crease colour I take Sephora's Jumbo Liner in shade 20 Beige Glitter and sweep it along my upper lash line and the inner corners of my eyes for a sparkly finish. 

EYE PENCIL & SHADOW SWATCHES

L-R: Sephora Contour Eye Pencil in 07 Girl Talk , Sephora Jumbo Liner in 20 Beige Glitter & Too Faced Natural Eyes-  Silk Teddy & Push-Up

After curling my eye lashes I apply lashings of mascara and my favourite for the past 3 years has been Benefit's They're Real. It's seriously the best mascara I've ever had and I hope they never discontinue it!

 For my lower lashes I use Clinique's bottom lash mascara in shade 01 Black. 

I normally apply 2 coats of mascara and I let the first coat dry, re-curl the lashes and then apply the second coat.

T-B: Benefit They're Real & Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

EYEBROWS

 Too keep my unruly brows in place I use Too Face's Brow Envy Kit, using the powder to fill in any sparse areas and comb them into shape using the spooly included.

Too Faced Brow Envy

L-R: Benefit Gimme Brow & Too Faced Brow Envy

 I then use Benefit's Gimme Brow in shade Medium/Deep to set my brows into shape. 

CHEEKS

I finish off my face by adding a bit of Too Faced Sweethearts Blusher in 'Candy Glow' and I also apply a little bit of Benefit Watt's Up highlighter under my brow bone and along my cheek bone.

L-R: Benefit Watt's Up & Too Faced Sweethearts Blush

Too Faced Sweethearts Blush in Candy Glow

LIPS

I'm not one for mental lip colours and I tend to stick to neutral shades. My current obsession is Topshop's Sheer Lips in shade 'Honky Dory'. It's a beautiful shimmery pinky-brown nude that really enhances your natural lip colour. This was my first Topshop lip product and so far I'm impressed and will definitely be re-purchasing!

Topshop Sheer Lips in Hunky Dory

HUNKY DORY SWATCH

FINAL LOOK

Base & Eyes

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed my first post! 

x Joana x