Summer Glow Makeup Look

For ages I have been wanting to a makeup tutorial type post because I love doing makeup so much but I rarely get the chance to do other people's. So when me and my sister had a BBQ to go to this weekend we took advantage of the opportunity and the lovely summer weather to create a fresh summer glow. Here is how I created this look below.

I started off by applying Garniers illuminating light lotion to Cara's face. This moisturiser is brilliant to use when creating a 'glowing' look as it has built in light reflecting pearls. It is also fast absorbing so you can apply primer straight over the top. 
I used Benefit's The POREfessional to minimise pores and create a soft blendable base for Rimmel's Wake me Up Foundation in the shade 'Classic Beige' to go over. I used the real techniques face blender brush to apply the foundation and kept buffing it in circular motions to eliminate any streaks or patches and make the base look flawless. Then I used the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer to cover any dark spots or blemishes and a the collection concealer to brighten under the eyes. Along with the concealer I applied Benefit's High Beam by dotting it along the cheekbones, down the bridge of Cara's nose and on her cupid's bow, I blended this all in using a beauty blender. 
I then went onto contouring using Soleil Tan De Chanel which is a brilliant bronzing makeup base. I used a real techniques face blender brush for this too as it just has the right shape to get into the hollows of the cheeks. The easiest way to contour, I find, is sucking your cheeks in like a fish to pinpoint exactly where the dark shade needs to go. I also applied this base under the jawline and on the temples in the shape of the number 3.
I then set this all with Rimmel's  Stay Matte Powder using a large powder brush.

To add more colour and definition to her eyebrows I used Urban Decay's Naked Basics Palette eyeshadow in 'Faint'. Using an angled brush I gently applied this eyeshadow in strokes to create a more defined and arched look and also filled in gaps. I always like to use Brow This Way Styling Gel to keep them in place while maintaining thickness.

As Cara has quite small eyelids we thought it would be better to go for one block colour, I used Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in the shade 'Pink Gold' for a dewy and shimmery look without being too heavy on the eyes, I applied this with my ring finger and simply blended it using a MAC 217 brush.
To keep the eyes simple I applied a very thin layer of eyeliner along her top lash line using Revlon Colourstay Liquid Eye Pen and then applied Lancome's Grandoise mascara for long fluttery eyelashes. I have raved about this mascara in a previous post you can read here. It is honestly the best mascara I have ever used and people always comment on how long it makes your lashes look.

For the cheeks we went for Max Factor's Creme Puff Blush in the shade 'Seductive Pink' for a slight pink glow and using a Real Techniques Contouring Brush I applied some of NARS' Laguna Bronzer into the hollows of her cheeks for a more defined cheekbone. To add extra golden glow I finished off with Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick in Copper Diamond. This was part of the Christmas collection so you can't buy it any more. But this gave such a gorgeous, bright, summer glow to Cara's face.

We finished off the whole look with L'Oreal's Colour Riche Extraordinaire in 'Molto Mauve'. This is a pink/nude creamy lip gloss, I wouldn't say it is very Mauve but it does have some dark tone to it. The colour just suited the look and eyeshadow perfectly, it's very simple and I didn't want anything to be dramatic and to just really let the golden glow speak for itself.


Below are some pictures I took and some from the BBQ later during the day.

Katie 

x

Top 5 Lip Products of 2014!!

Yes, sadly another year has passed and sadly I've had to make new resolutions that I am finding ever so difficult to stick to!! (Dry January is a killer!)However to reminisce over the past year I wanted to write a post on my most used (and favourite if that's not obvious?) lip products of 2014.

1. Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter- 001 Pink Truffle

Behold, the first of the 5 shades, this definitely the most used product out of all 5. I had never used Revlon products before I tried this lip butter and to be honest wasn't quite so into the other colours in the range (sorry Revlon!) as I found them very shimmery. But don't get me wrong this one REALLY caught my attention. It's not shimmery at all which is a bonus for me and the texture is very creamy and literally melts onto my skin. 

The colour seems to just be perfect for my skin tone and this is definitely an everyday go-to  lip colour that I would be comfortable wearing with just basic make up for a very sheer, sophisticated look.

I told my sister to try this and now she is also hooked on this colour. I would tell anyone to do the same!

 2. Mac-Satin - Pink Nouveau

Now this colour may remind some of Nicki Minaj in one of her music videos, but this colour is just so gorgeous and pretty in summer with a winged eyeliner look. No eye shadow is necessary when wearing this colour as it is such a (what I call) loud colour.

It was really quite daring for me to try this colour in the first place but the pictures below do not do it justice!

Its very matte but also creamy so isn't drying at all on my lips which I have found previously with some other matte lipsticks.

I got so much wear out of this last summer so thought it must feature in my top 5.

3. Tanya Burr Cosmetics- Picnic in the Park

Buying this product was very special for me. I have been a HUGE fan and follower of Tanya Burr for a while now so when she announced that she was releasing a Lip  gloss and Nail polish line I was over the moon!

Picnic in the Park was actually the first lip gloss I bought from her collection (I have gone onto to buy another 6  or 7 or 10!)

It was perfect for spring and summer especially with the smell of strawberry laces, I was just in heaven when I was wearing this. It is very sheer and dewy and goes with all light shimmery eye shadows and light pink blusher and I will carry on wearing this as I feel it goes with many different make up looks! Well done Tanya!!



 4. Rimmel - Lasting Finish by Kate- 107

I know that this lipstick has been on the shelves a while now and I bought this quite a while ago (which might be gross come to think of it) but it has been a staple for those wintery days out in the snow or the Autumn walks through the park as the leaves are turning shades of orange and red.

This is a popular lipstick with Zoella and I know she wears this a lot and I completely understand why! This shade does not budge ALL DAY.

I can put this on in the morning and not have to worry about it smudging or wearing off as it is such a rich shade of dark berries and highly pigmented it will not budge. I wouldn't wear this is more sunny seasons but it is perfect with a cosy scarf wrapped around your neck and Pumpkin spice latte in hand!

5. Chanel Rouge Allure - Pirate 99

This was a actually Christmas present from my mum last year. As I don't have the kind of budget to be able to treat myself on the reg to such high end products I usually end up asking for make up from my boyfriend and family for my birthday or at Christmas. Last year when my mum asked I said to her I really just want a Classic red Chanel colour. And boy did she deliver.

This shade is just such a deep but not dark red if that makes sense? It is not orangey at all which I love in a red lippy and the packaging is just gorgeous too! I always feel so grown up when applying this lipstick!

This one is very special to me so I tend to wear it on special occasions only much like my Coco Chanel Noir perfume.

This is just such a special lipstick to me, I just wish I had more excuses to wear it!

(My cat obviously agrees as she just had to join in the photo fun!)

That basically rounds them all up!

I have given so much love to these lip products the past year I cannot praise them enough. If anyone is reading this and can (or wants to)  recommend any other good Lip products for fair skin like mine please do let me know I'd love to hear from you! :)

Bye for now!!

Katie xoxo