May Favourites

left to right: Real Techniques Shading Brush, No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in Truffle, Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze, Maybelline The Falsies Flared Volume Express and Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer

A whole new category has appeared on the blog, and its about time! A monthly favourites post has been lingering in my mind, and now I've finally put pen to paper (or rather hands to laptop) and written one.

May's makeup is somewhat more of a simple one. No messing about within a sea of eyeshadows or array of mascaras- you could even call me speedy when it comes to getting ready! I find that a few well chosen products can really brighten up a look, and switching up my makeup on a monthly basis means its all getting used, and I can try out different things every once in awhile.

Collection 2000's lasting perfection concealer has become somewhat of a cult product in my collection, but it is often used for more than just the conventional use. The perfect dupe for a primer, I find that smoothing this over my lid before a smokey or just neutral eye can increase the longevity.

Ever since the Real Techniques Shading Brush came into my makeup bag, I've found eyeshadow application even easier. I'm not saying I was an expert without it, but I could choose a few colours to sweep over my lid (basic inner corner highlight, neutral on the lid and a dark crease) but now I don't have to worry about packing on the shadow either. It's a perfect brush for base and blending, and the RT brush will be in my bag for quite some time...

My Maybelline Colour Tattoo is a beautiful colour. Pair this bronzy and almost Rose Gold cream shadow with No7's Truffle, and you have the perfect lid. I like to apply a fair amount- not too much, not too little-but I do like to smoke it out for an appropriate occasion. Blended out with my favourite brush and I'm left with a pretty eye with subtle definition.

After hearing the raves of beauty gurus such as Tanya Burr and Missglamorazzi, I finally bought the infamous Maybelline The Falsies Flared Volum' Express. Mouthful, yes, but you should hear the name of the waterproof formula! The big brush is perfect for lash-catching (ever attempted to coat those baby eyelashes and failed? Not with this!)

My favourite Beauty Blogger/ Youtuber of the month has to be Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup- her posts are so well written! I love reading her blog and watching her vids.

My favourite TV Programme of the month has to be Drop Dead Diva, which is a girly feel good show of 4 seasons that I have been catching up on on Netflix. I love it- just the right amount of cheesy-ness and reality! I've also just started watching Covert Affairs, and when I say just I mean Just the first series! One down, one to go. 
I'm obsessed with Doctor Who. Literally, obsessed, and so when the series finale aired, I was on the edge of my seat. And it was amazing! It you haven't seen it then you are seriously missing out!


El
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New Additions

I am fairly sure that since my budget for makeup has increased (slightly) I've gone really crazy for cosmetics. Really crazy. Not all of these are strictly 'new additions' but they are mainly products that have been purchased fairly recently, give or take a few months or so. And by using the help of Polyvore, I've managed to put them in picture form. Snazzy, I know.

1//Benefit's Badgal in Plum seems to have re-entered my life 2//The much raved about Real Techniques Brush(es) have joined the cosmetics crew 3//Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Flared Mascara- and breathe- was sneakily picked up whilst doing the weekly food shop. Good ol' Sainsburys! 4//Primers aren't my priority but when I tried this little baby I couldn't resist- Benefit the POREfessional 5//I've jumped on the bandwagon to pick up another cream shadow in the form of a Maybelline Colour Tattoo 6//Benefit's multitasking Posietint cheek and lip colour is gorg!

Hope you liked this kind of post- I may do something similar with Instagrammed photos!

El
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The Perfect Pair

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze, No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in Truffle

 Ever since I purchased the popular cream eyeshadow, my Maybelline Colour Tattoo has been a go-to product. No mess, no fuss- just a quick smooth-over-the-lid and you're done. So finding a powder eyeshadow of the same/similar colour that could be used to set in it place was quite a challenge, until I came across this baby.

No7 has never really been a brand of interest to me. Yes, I'd pass the counters in Boots, perhaps take a little look, but then dismiss the product, mainly because of the price, forgetting that I had all those money-off vouchers stored away. I have a small, mainly pharmaceutical Boots on my high street that houses a small No7 stand, so after finally getting my Boots Advantage Card, I thought I'd have a look...

One particular eyeshadow caught my eye, and for one particular reason- it's likeness to the infamous Colour Tattoo. I swatched it and a 'hmm...not bad' expression appeared. And with the vouchers, it was less than a fiver. Good spot I think! 

El
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Budget Buys

left to right: Soap & Glory Lid Stuff in What's Nude, Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze, Barry M Kohl Pencils in Bronze and White, Collection [2000] Lasting Perfection Concealer

As much as I do love to splash out on cute products from the much adored brand Benefit, drugstore and highstreet brands are something that I love buying, and I think my purse appreciates it too.

Soap & Glory is a brand more commonly known for their amazing skincare and bath and body products, so I was all for trying out a piece or two from their cosmetics line. I picked up Lid Stuff in What's Nude, a palette of mainly mattes with one brown-purple shimmer. Colour pay-off isn't great, and at a tenner I probably won't buy it again, but it is fab for a subtle hint of colour-you won't be worrying about garish looking eyes with this as even the slightly more whacky colours don't come out overly bright.

After hearing many a rave and review, I just had to try the infamous Maybelline Colour Tattoos and jump on the ever-growing bandwagon of popular products. And I wasn't disappointed. In comparison to other cream eyeshadows that I have tried, I would say that it's just as good as the high end ones and even without the premium price tag, there's no compromise on quality.

Barry M is one of the cheaper brands in Boots that I tend to veer towards when out of pocket. Having heard neither a good nor bad thing about the kohl pencil liners, I picked them up for a couple of quid each. They can be easily blended into the lashes, however in the waterline they don't fare quite so well- lasting power isn't covered by the small cost of them. I do love them though, and at such a little amount of money, another one wouldn't go amiss in my make-up bag.

I love a good trip down to Boots, so I'll be keeping my eyes open for any other budget buys!

El
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