Christmas is here!

Today is Christmas Day so I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas! Hope you have a wonderful day whatever you're doing and enjoy all the food and festivities!

Lots of love of love, Holly x

Real Techniques Bold Metal Ultimate Set

I

am and always be a huge real techniques fan as I think the quality of their brushes are fab and I really love the desgin of the bold metals. The Bold Metals big set was recently reduced from £120 to £50 at Boots so I thought it'd be a great time to purchase it as a present for my mum as I know she has been after some.

I think you get a great selection from the range and it covers all the basics that you would need. You get there infamous powder brush and contour brush as well as their brush blush which I already own and think it's fab. The quality of the brushes are so good and they look very sophisticated and also wash really well. I think sets like these make really nice presents and I can't wait to give it to her. The brand have impressed me with everything they bring out and I'm sure they will with my mum too!

Have you bought any of their sets? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Christmas wish list.

Christmas has been everywhere for the last couple of months, but know it really is beginning to feel like Christmas. It took me a while to figure out what I really wanted, but I managed to condense my list so thought I'd share my top picks with you.

A satnav
For me this isn't a necessity however think it would be useful to have, especially if I'm starting uni next year half way across the country - I'd like to know where I'm going.

Zoeva Plaisir box
I keep harping on about how much I want to try the Cocoa Blend Palette and I'm glad I haven't bought it yet since seeing this trio. The three palettes look absolutely incredible and definitely contain the shades that I would wear on a daily basis.

Spectrum Marbelous 5 piece brush set
I'm all heart eyes for these brushes as the design looks very sleek and chic. I don't need any more brushes, but who wouldn't say no to more? I don't own any brushes like some of this in my collection, especially the very dense contour one, so it would be a nice addition to have.

Converse
I've been a converse fan for many years now and have worn down multiple pairs. I'm after the all black, low rise pair next as they look really understated, but would pull any outfit together. I've always found converse so comfy and can imagine I'll be buying pairs all throughout life.

I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x

Nars Holiday Palette!

As you may already know, I am a huge sucker for everything NARS and really love to see what they offer during the Christmas period. I quite like how their Christmas palette this year is different previous years and like how they've incorporated the 'dual intensity' factor really nicely into an entire palette.

The Give In Take Dual-Intensity Eye & Cheek Palette contains 6 eyeshadows and 3 face powders. I've bought this palette for my mum because she'd appreciate the cooler tones of the eyeshadows slightly more than myself, but nevertheless the shades are beautiful. The eyeshadows would create a perfect smoky eye and would look amazing both wet or dry. The two lighter shades would look particularly good as an inner corner highlight or just all over the lid! On first glance they are very highly pigmented and everything you expect from Nars. There isn't much fallout and the payoff is so good.

The face shades are what excite me the most. The highlighter is to die for. It is an iridescent champagne/white colour with such a lovely glow and I can't wait to see how intense it could be when wet! The bronzer/neutral blusher is different from their favourite Laguna and it's quite nice that Laguna isn't in this one. It is much lighter, but still will provide a lovely warmth and the blush is such a nice light pink shade without being too reminiscent of a candy shop!

Have you tried anything from their Christmas collection? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Winter Boots

I've been eyeing up the 'hiker' style boots for a while and when I saw this pair on the Topshop website they jumped out at me. They are a lot more bulky than I initially thought they'd be, but not bulky in a bad way. They don't make my feet look big at all and when wore over jeans or tights they look really good. I love how the suede provides a contrast to the leather rim which really promotes the 'hiker' style.

They are very sturdy and should keep me all toasty and warm throughout winter, especially as there is enough space for fluffy socks underneath. On first try the rim digs into my legs ankles ever so slightly so I think fluffy socks will be a must have with these. However they're really comfy and I can see myself wearing them a lot. They will go with many outfits and are a great alternative to converse/slip ons!

Do you own anything like this? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Real Techniques Miracle Sculpting Sponge

For me, nothing beats the original beauty blender however Real Techniques recently released some new sponges and I was intriged to see how they compare. I picked up the Miracle Sculpting Sponge and it looked fairly different from just a normal sponge with all of the different sides to it.

On first impressions I was quite sceptical with what I'd use it for as the flat side is quite small i for applying foundation. However it expands to a decent size when it is wet and buffs in cream products really nicely. I find I get a heavier coverage using this sponge than I get with the beauty blender, but it still blends really well without leaving streaks. Also I find the smaller end is brilliant for concealer and getting in all of the small areas of the face. Its brilliant at blending out contour and I find it helps it to look really natural. It is quite a firm sponge unlike the Complexion Sponge, but is still very easy to use. I love how it's such a versatile tool with 6 different uses and I can definitely see it being used a lot!

Although this isn't a necessity it is a really nice product to own and a great alternative to the orginal sponges!

Have you tried this? I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x

Favourite beauty sites.

During my many hours of procrastination I find myself perusing many different beauty sites in awe of all the products and articles, wishing I could afford it all.

My favourite site, or at least has been this year, is defintely Beauty Bay. I think the range of products they sell definitely cater towards the market I'm in with brand such as Makeup Geek, Morphe, Dose of Colours as well as some more exotic brands. I think their delivery service is amazing and I really enjoy the whole laid back, yet sophisticated look of the site. Plus their EDITed section is amazing. Similar to Beauty Bay is Cult Beauty. To me they have really nailed the combination of amazing brands and brilliant content. I love how they focus on such niche brands, especially where skincare is concerned and the aesthetics of their site are just dreamy!

Victoria Health is a site a customer introduced to me at work and I've been hooked since. The site focuses on botanical products mainly and delivers expert advice alongside the products. They have some well known brands such as Armotherapy Associates and a lot of up and coming brands too. I've been particularly attracted to the brand 'The Ordinary' and can see myself purchasing some of their skincare in the future.

Other favourites include the Liz Earle Website which I could spend hours on looking at all the different skincare products. Sephora's website is also very good - would you expect any less from the 'mothership'? I love all the categories and think their whole 'value sets' page is brilliant: heart eyed emoji everytime!

What beuaty websites do you enjoy? I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x

The highlighter dreams are made of.

NARS has always been one of my favourite brands and their liquid highlighter in Copacabana is definitely up there with my favourite highlighters, alongside Becca Champagne pop, of course.

It's a beautiful soft pink/champagne colour with a silver reflects running through. It is incredibly pigmented, but not glittery. It has a lovely sheen to it and gives that glow from within look. It is a very creamy formula so I find it best to apply straight on top of my foundation. It doesn't interfere with my base at all, nor does it go patchy and blends in with everything really well. I find using my fingers gives it a much more intense look whereas using a sponge or a brush  helps it to blend even more so into the skin making it look slightly more natural. It dries in good time and if I layer products on top it provides the perfect base! Also unlike some highlighters I find that it doesn't emphasis pores which is always a bonus!

Have you tried any of the liquid highlighters?

I hope you enjoyed reading.

Holly x

Morphe 35O

Morphe has built up such a good reputation for itself within the beauty world, especially for the 350 palette. It's been out of stock for a very long time online however it came back in last week so I thought I'd buy it my sister as a very belated exam present.

I've had a play with it myself and can 100% confirm it is amazing. There are so shades to suit everyone and so many different looks can be created. They are extremely buttery shadows with high pigmentation and very little fall out. There are a couple of shades that are almost like foiled eyeshadows as they give off a vibrant, metallic finish and there are more than enough mattes and shimmers to please everyone.  It's such a good palette to go from day to night.

My sister is very pleased with it and I'm sure I'll be using it a lot too. It's definitely a staple!

Have you tried any Morphe eyeshadows? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Nivea Skincare

I never used to be a fan of Nivea as I found their creams to be far too thick without any hydrating properties. However since I started using their Cleansing milk a while back I've been quite impressed so thought I'd try some other bits from their range.

Firstly I think their Cleansing Milk is really good, especially as a second cleanse. It is very gentle so not something I'd use to remove eye make up for example, but leaves my skin feeling clean and nourished. It is a creamy consistency which I really like and feel as though it melts into my skin whilst removing any last traces of makeup. The Refreshing Face Wash Gel is probably my least favourite out of the three I've discovered, however it is still pretty good. It is quite thick and takes some time to massage in to the skin and I find if I use it in the shower it can leave my skin feeling pretty tight. However it leaves my skin feeling so clean and is great for removing any mascara I have left, plus it smells good! I'm really impressed with the Gentle Exfoliating Scrub. In comparison to other scrubs it is much less abrasive and harsh to the skin and I believe the beads are slightly larger. I don't find it to be any less effective than other scrubs and my skin feels very soft after using it. It removes any dead skin without causing irritation! I love it.

Have you tried any of the Nivea skincare? I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x

Autumn Transitions.

The colder weather has been starting to make an appearnance and as the seasons change so does my makeup preference. I love bronzed skin and peachy blush all throughout the year, but there's no harm in mixing things up.

I like to keep my base quite light, yet perfected and I find that the No7 Airbrush Away Foundation gives a flawless finish, despite its longevity not being quite like some of my other foundations, like the Rimmel ones. I always wear a lot of concealer, especially at the moment as I've had quite a few breakouts! I think the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer one is amazing and that one and the Nars one are definitely my favourites for both undereye and blemishes.

More often than not I bronze using Laguna, but have been enjoying using more subtle blushes that act as both a blush and a bronze - something like Rimmel Santa Rose is perfect for this. It has a slight sheen running through it which I prefer as I hate looking matte. For a deeper shade I love Nars Dolce Vita (bottom right hand side of the palette) as the plum tones scream Autumn.

For my eyes I've been really enjoying the Revlon Colourstay Eyeshadow quad in Adventurous. I prefer to layer the shadows lightly to create a taupe-esque shade, something similar to Mac Satin Taupe. I've been looking to get more use out of my NYX Liquid Suede in Soft Spoken. It is a much deeper shade than I'd usually go for, but have receievd compliments every time I've worn it - the few occasions I have. Its a lovely Autumn shade so I defintiely need to wear it more often!

The rest of my makeup is pretty standard in the respect to corrector, highlighter, powder etc, but I've been enjoying switching everything else up! Have you got any Autumn staples in your makeup bag?

I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Sheet Masks.

 Sheet masks have always been an intriguing concept to me so I quite excited to try some.

Initially I found them to be quite fiddly and felt like I was going to rip it, but once it was on my face and I stayed still, it clung to my face. I find it very bizarre how so much moisture can be fitted into such a thin piece of material, but nonetheless they are very hydrating! They were more wet than I expected them to be and was quite surprised at how much product there seemed to be left after 20-30 minutes. As well as hydrating they were cooling too and they didn't make my face feel tight like some masks can!

I was fairly impressed with both of them, but definitely think that they are a luxury in terms of my skincare routine, simply because they are very time consuming - definitely a sunday night treat! My skin loved them both and I woke up the following morning with very soft skin. I love how you can just peel them off and not have to rinse unlike other masks too. They're just not something I see as an essential in my routine.

Have you tried them? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Current clothing list.

My wardrobe is after a switch up and I need some new bits and bobs before we head into Autumn. I have a huge wishlist so these are only a few - mainly basics because that's mainly what I need!

1. Smock Dress

I love smock dresses and how even though they are very simple, you can dress them up to make a really nice outfit. The quality of asos clothing is lovely for the price and I don't think I could go wrong with something like this.

2. Oversized Jumper.

I have so many jumpers yet feel I need more. I love the colour of this and think it'd be a little oversized so be very cosy!

3. Jeans

I find jeans very hard to shop for so usually stick to my trusted Topshop Leigh jeans. I own a pair of the white joni jeans, but think buying a darker pair would go much better with my autumn wardrobe. Plus, you can't have too many pairs of black jeans.

4. Monday T-shirt

I think this is brilliant and would go with so much in my wardrobe. Usually I'm not one for slogan tee's but this one made me laugh as soon as i saw it so I think I will be purchasing it come payday.

I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

New palettes!

Palettes are one of my favourite items of makeup as I love the variety within them as well as the convenience. There are a few new palettes that have recently caught my eye and they look pretty amazing. 

1. Morphe 35F.

I've been on the waiting list for the 35O palette for ages, but have accepted that I won't be getting it anytime soon. However as I scrolling though Twitter I noticed this one which has the most beautiful shades. I think I prefer the look of this palette to the 35O however it also has a waiting list so it'll be a while before I get any!

2. Becca Blushed with Light. 

Blush palettes are my weakness and this one is definitely one I will be buying at some point. I really want to try some more Becca products and the colours in this palette look right up my street. 

3. Hourglass Surreal Ambient Lighting Edit. 

This looks incredible. Hourglass have created some beautiful palettes and I can imagine that this one will carry the same hype with it. I love how they have a strobing powder as well as their normal powder and think this would be such a perfect travel palette!

4. Anastasia Master Palette by Mario. 

This eyeshadow palette looks beautiful. I love the array of shades and think it's really nice that they've included a mix of dark blue and purple amongst the more neutral shades. 

What kind of palettes do you like? I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x

Molang Diary.

Seeing as I'm really into stationery at the moment I thought I'd share my latest delivery which I'm very excited about. It only arrived on Saturday morning and I'm already obsessed.

I've been looking at diaries that are more planner/journal orientated and came across the Molang Diary on Amazon and it looked perfect. I chose the white option as I wanted to keep it simple however it's inevitable that I will get pen on it or something in the future. I love the cute little drawings throughout and on the covers and especially love how you can add your own dates to each page. The layouts of each page is exactly what I was looking for and I'm hoping it will help me to stay very organised this year. There are a few checklist pages throughout also and I like how it will put everything into perspective during busy times. Also it's just the right size for me, slightly smaller than A5 i think so it won't take up too much space in my bag, but is big enough for everything to be laid out neatly.

There's not much more I can say that will describe it better than the pictures, but I am very smitten and can't wait to start using it!

I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Stationery

Chloe's post last week has inspired me to do this post. Recently I've bought a lot of stationary as I head into the final year of my A-Levels. This year I plan on being prepared and organised to the max so as to get the grades that I'm aspiring to.

I'm not going to go into masses of detail about everything as it all speaks for itself, however I am really excited about what I've picked up. My subjects are very heavily note/essay based so notepads are a must for me. I love pukka pads for class work and then I have a spare set in which I will write my notes up in neat. The Pukka Pad refill pads are amazing and I'm going to use them as huge revision books for each subject. To complete my revision I've bought about 100 pens of a variety of colours - I'm especially happy about the sharpies. I love the Stabilo fineliners and have been using them for years and the Papermate Inkjoy pens are so easy to write with. I bought 3 packs of the plain black as I'm forever losing pens and these are definitely my favourite!

I am very happy with how organised I've been so far and although I still have a few more bits and bobs to purchase I'm sure I won't be struggling once the year begins.

I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Covering dark circles.

I've struggled with my under eye circles being dark for as long as I can remember and have tried many different things to battle them. My holy grail for covering them up is Benefits Erase Paste as I have mentioned so many times before. However I've found a new combination which has been doing wonders for me and I really love the result.

I always apply concealer and corrector after foundation so once the foundation has settled I use the NYX under eye corrector in the shade medium. It is very orange and looks scary, however it neautralises the blue and purple tones really well. I blend it in as much as possible and let it dry before apply concealer. I hate things feeling tacky so will always wait. I've been mixing between the Maybelline eye eraser and the Urban Decay Naked Concealer, both of which are amazing. I generally draw a triangle shape underneath my eyes and I'm quite heavy handed as I do need a lot of concealer most days. The final step is a banana powder. Previously I've never been a fan of powders, but since I purchased the NYX banana powder my life has been changed. It really helps to lock in the concealer as well as brightening everything.

I'm really happy with my routine at the moment and I'm thankful to look a little more awake! I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

New Moisturiser!

I get incredibly stuck in a rut with my moisturisers because I know what my skin likes and stick to it. However after finishing what seems like my 50th tube of the Garnier Moisture plus cream I thought I'd give something else a try.

I've been using the Una Brennan Superfacialist Rose Hydrating Cream and I'm really starting to like it. I was put off by the smell at first however after previously using the mask and enjoying it I thought I'd perserve. It's quite thick, but super hydrating. I have to use a light hand though because otherwise it takes a while to sink in and can leave my face feeling very tacky. I find that it needs rubbing in for longer than other moisturisers as if not it just sits there on my face. Makeup applies evenly over the top and I don't find that it slides everywhere. I find this to be a hugely important factor as past experience has taught me.

If I apply this at night by the time the morning comes around my skin feels very soft and still hydrated, but not greasy. The smell soon dies down and it hasn't caused me to break out yet. Plus it has SPF in which is always a bonus!

I'm interested to see what else this brand has to offer. Have you tried anything? 

I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Birchbox.

I've always been interested in the concept of the birch box so when I saw there was an offer on for new customers I decided to purchase one. It was 2 for the price of one so I don't think I can complain. 

I think the idea is genius and I appreciate receiving both full size and miniature sized products. It's really good value for money. 

One thing that stood out to me was the Huygens face scrub as its not too thick in consistency like some are and isn't too abrasive. I'm very excited to try the Hydraluron moisture boosting mask as I need all the hydration I can get! The Caudalie serum is intriguing as I'd love to see how it can correct my complexion. There are some other really nice bits and bobs in these boxes too, especially the Percy and Reed hairspray and LOC lip pencil. There's also a mini nails inc polish which you can't go wrong with - it's such a good brand! 

I'm really impressed by the whole concept and would definitely purchase a box again! I love how you can try brands that you wouldn't normally veer towards! It's a great way to stock up on minis as well as they're so handy for travelling! 

Have you tried something like this? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Disappointing Products.

It is very rare that I don't get along with products as I only buy products that I know I want and will like.

Bourjois chocolate bronzer has very strong reviews across the internet, however I fail to see the hype. I find the bronzer far too orange and it shows up very patchy on my skin. The highlighter is nothing special and it's quite chalky.

I received the Benefit Push Up Liner in a set and had very high hopes. The liner itself is good and jet black however it was too soft and broke and crumbled after every use!

Rimmel is my favourite drugstore brand so had high expectations when I picked up the Glam Eyes eyeshadow palette. The shades are beautiful and very me however the pigmentation is awful. To get any sort of nice look I have to really build the colour which takes up more time than I would like. 

The final product is benefit's Benetint. For me the consistency is far too thin for me to constitute as a blush and it applies very patchy. The colour is nice, but nothing special. I've tried it on my lips to and find it to make no difference to my natural lip colour. I think it's too wet and it takes too long to dry down. 

Are there any products that have disappointed you recently? I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x

My Summer Face.

In the warmer months I try to wear as little makeup as possible when I can as I hate feeling like I have too much on my face.

I will always use concealer as I have the worst under eye circles and it usually means I can get away without wearing foundation. I've been using the Rimmel Match Perfection Illuminating Concealer as I prefer something brightening as well as having good coverage. I always like to add some definition with some bronzer, especially during Summer so I use my trusty Hoola by Benefit and follow that by a blush that has a hint of shimmer as well as colour - Benefit's Sugarbomb is amazing for that.

Mascara is another must - L'oreal do some fab ones. At the moment I'm trying to use up whats left of most of mine as they're drying out so I'm definitely on the look out for a new one! To top things off I like to add a bit of highlighter to my inner corner as it really brightens my eyes up. I find Mac's Soft and Gentle to be brilliant for that.

I really enjoy the fresh faced look throughout summer and I think my skin deserves some time to breath too.

I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x

Hair Care

I've never really had serious problems or concerns with my hair, however I really enjoy looking after it and using new products. Working at Boots I get to see and browse a lot and I must say my shampoo/conditioner/masks collection is getting pretty big. I really enjoy using deep cleansing and hydrating products as I love the feeling of squeaky clean hair whilst knowing it isn't feeling stripped. I went through a'stage of my hair going very greasy after about 4 hours since being washed and I found the Loreal Extraordinary Oil range really helped!

I have a huge obsession with the Garnier Ultimate Blend range and believe I've tried almost all of the different types - the Marvellous Transformer being my absolute favorite. The Sleek Restorer is a close second and their leave in conditioner/mask is unreal. My hair feels so nourished after. Other favourites include the Mark Hill, John Frieda and L'oreal Elvive ranges.

As you can tell none of the brands are particularly expensive, but I don't think that to achieve healthy hair they need to be. Do you have a favourite hair care product?

I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x

Nyx Haul

Nyx is a brand that has only recently launched in the UK and I really wanted to pick up some bits. I haven't tried these thoroughly yet, but upon first look and swatches I think they're going to become some of my favourites. 

I picked up the Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm and Zurich. Stockholm is a nude and Zurich is a peachy nude. They are meant to dry down to a co,poetry matte finish without leaving the lips looking dry or feeling uncomfortable. The third lip product was the Liquid Suede Lip in Soft Spoken. It is a very dark nude with more of a mauve undertone. 

I purchased the Dark Circle Eraser in the shade medium as I'm always on the look out for something to hide my blue bags. To go along side at I bought the refill powder I'm the shade Cream which is essentially a banana powder so I can brighten under my eyes. 

I purchased a couple of things that aren't NYX also. I picked up 2 more of the Instant Eye Erasers because I think they are amazing. The shade light is a really nice match for me and it gives excellent coverage. The last thing I bought was a mini Garnier Micellar Water because I find it really effective as a first cleanse to remove my makeup. 

Have you bought anything recently or tried anything from NYX? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

My Favourite Bloggers

I love reading and I love reading blogs. I find it very therapeutic and I am always interested to see who's written what post.

ViviannaDoesMakeup
She is probably by favourite blogger of all time. The variety within her posts is great and she's so informative. The pictures are stunning and I'm in serious ore of her makeup/legging collection.

Lily Pebbles
The second of the duo. I appreciate how down to earth she is and I think it really shines through in her posts. They're very innovative and I always enjoy reading them.

InTheFrow
Victoria is just stunning as is everything about her blog. Her wardrobe is to die for and her attention to detail is impeccable.

Vintag3r0se
Chloe's posts are always fab and I must be one of the first to read every time she puts up a new post. Her photography skills are unreal and her posts are always great!

Who are your favourite bloggers? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Current wishlist

Charlotte tilbury magic foundation 

I love foundation and have heard nothing but amazing views on this one. It sounds like it has a fuller coverage than I'm used to, but it would be great for long days. 

NYX stroke of genius palette

This is really intriguing for me and I'm very interested to see how the different colours work. I love fresh glowy makeup and so this would be perfect. 

ZOEVA Nude Spectrum Palette

I don't need another eyeshadow palette however the colours in here are gorgeous. Apparently the texture and longevity is also great so I can wait to add this to my collection. 

NARS Audacious Mascara

I've used this a couple of times from a sample and it is amazing. Usually I'm not fussy with mascaras and aren't loyal to any however I reckon this one will be different. If creates such long, voluminous lashes without looking too clumpy. 

MUFE pro bronze

It's definitely that time of year where buying more bronzer is acceptable. I've heard this is very sheer, but can be built up which for me is perfect. 

What is on your wishlish currently? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

No7 Quick Thinking Wipes

Face wipes aren't something that I'd consider a necessity in my routine however I think they're really handy when you're short for time or just need to feel a little refreshed if you already have no makeup on. 

From the ones I've tried, the no7 ones are by far the best. 

Usually I use them to remove the bulk of my makeup before going in with a second cleanser. They're extremely gentle on the skin and do a good job of removing a lot of the makeup. They leave my skin feeling very refreshed! They're fairly good at removing the majority of my eye makeup too, however I do have mascara left on my lashes normally. Unlike some other wipes they have a plastic lid which prevents them from drying out. T

They're definitely something if repurchase and are very convenient for something quick and effect to use. 

I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Going Out.

Now exams are over I'm going to try to go out more, especially during the evenings as I have a tendency to be a real home bunny. There are a few things I really want to do within the next 2 months or so.

1) Bowling. I love it, but have not been for years. I'd be interested to see if I have any skill with it or just be with rubbish. Either way it's a laugh.
2) Restaurants. Sounds boring, but there are lots I have yet to tick off my list!
3) Picnics. My sixth form is next to a huge park and we plan to go and have lots of picnic and play games when the weather is nice during our frees. It combines my two of my fav things - sun and food, so why not.
4) Go to the zoo. I love animals and it generally is just such a great day out!

What are your favourite things to do? I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x

RT Sculpting Brush

I've had my eye on this for a quite a while after seeing many youtubers use it and rave about it so decided to pick it up.

It's a very dense brush and has quite short hairs, which is different to other sculpting brushes I own. I use it primarily for foundation and it is so good. It buffs products into the skin really well and helps to achieve a really flawless base. I find that it is a good shape to get into the nooks and crannies of the face and so is very good for buffing in concealer too.

I've used it for blush and bronzer also, however I prefer it for foundation. Its really good for blending in any harsh lines with my blush however I find that if I apply blush with it, it takes a little more work than it would do applying blush with a fluffier brush. However for bronzer it is really good. It blends it out seamlessly as well as creating shadows in the hollows of the face very well.

It's my new fav brush at the moment and has definitely made my love for Real Technqiues re-surface.

Have you tried this brush? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

5 Beauty Essentials.

For this post I thought I would talk about my top 5 beauty essentials.

1) For me moisturiser is an absolute must have regardless of whether I'm wearing makeup. My favourite is the Garnier Moisture Nourish Daily Rich Moisturiser because it is so hydrating, yet not greasy.

2) Concealer is one of the only things that helps me look remotely awake and it is much easier to just wear concealer on a lazy day than foundation too. I love the Nars concealer which I spoke about here.

3) Anyone who knows me knows that I am a massive blush lover as it really perks up my face and makes me look healthy.  The Rimmel Lasting Finish range is amazing and although the colour 'live pink' looks really vibrant in the pan, it applies to be a lovely light pink flush of colour.

4) A brush. I couldn't apply a full face of makeup without a brush. My absolute fav is the Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face Brush as it blends in product so seamlessly.

5) Finally, mascara. I find that no look isn't complete without a coat of mascara, The L'oreal range is fantastic, especially the Volume Million So Couture Lashes. 

What are your favourite products? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Skincare!

I'm always changing my routine when it comes to skincare and it is very rare that I use the same products for more than a week or two before switching to something else in my stash. However, recently my skin has been particularly bad so I wanted to try and be consistent. There are three items that I've really been enjoying using and they've really helped my skin.

Until I bought the Nivea Double Effect Eye Make Up Remover I never used a separate product to remove my makeup, but it is a life changer! It is very gentle however not quite as quick as the advert suggests. I do have to rub at my eyes a little bit, but that doesn't bother me. It removes all traces of mascara and leaves my eyes squeaky clean.

Staying with Nivea, I've been using their Sensitive Cleansing Milk as my second cleanser and it is lovely. I wouldn't use it primarily to get my makeup off as when I've tried I feel like it hasn't deeply cleansed my skin or removed all of my makeup however for a morning/second cleanse it is lovely and gentle and doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped.

Finally I've been making a conscious effort to exfoliate a few times a week and have been using the Clean and Clear Blackhead Clearing Daily Scrub. It is a physical exfoliator which I really like, yet it is't too abrasive on my skin. In terms of removing blackheads I can't vouch for it and say that it is amazing however it does a great job of making my skin feel thoroughly clean and refreshed.

Have you tried any of these? Are there any other products from these brands I should try?

I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x