My Teenage Makeup

I remember being around the age of 14 when I started experimenting with makeup. In school I would buy the cheapest thing going and it always ended up being the worst. Around that time I was going for colours that didn't suit my skin tone, over-applied eyeliner and used so much sickly sweet perfume I was offending people's nostrils. Nowadays I'd like to think I have my makeup collection sorted and have more of an idea on what colours suit me. 

However, it's nice to reminisce so here's what my teenage self would use when applying makeup after school hidden away from the teachers to go hang out at the bus stops with friends. Cringe.

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse
I wasn't really one to know how to use foundation properly or even apply it right so Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse was the go-to base. I particularly remember buying it in the shade 'Nude' and it had a slight yellow tinge to it. The colour did not suit me at all and I had that very obvious line on my jaw showing just how terrible the colour match was. The consistency of the mousse was very cakey however drying on my skin, I definitely will never repurchase one of these little pots.

Bourjois Bronzing Powder
I still see some beauty bloggers raving about the Bourjois Bronzing Powder and I cannot understand why. I remember rubbing my brush against the palette with so much force trying to get some colour onto it. It's honestly terrible. Yes it does smell like chocolate but why do I went my face to smell like something I eat? I remember instantly getting fed up with this and giving it to a friend who begged me for it. Waste not want not.

Bourjois Blusher
I remember buying my first Bourjois Blusher in the shade 'Rose Eclait'. I had never bought a blusher before and during the big Bourjois craze I decided to go for the little pink pot. This product, like the bronzer, was still is terrible quality and the product just wouldn't go onto my brush. So after lots of hassle with the bronzer and blusher I would head out of the house completely yellow in my dream matte mousse. 

(slaps face)

Rimmel Max Volume Flash Mascara
For mascara I always opted for Rimmel's Max Volume Flash. I remember this mascara being particularly good for volumising my lashes and must've bought about 20 of these between the ages of 14 and 17. I had completely forgotten about it until I decided to write this post and had to cast my mind back. It makes me want to go to my nearest boots at lunchtime and buy one! The brush is very big and bristly so when it dries out it does go a horrible shape and you know you definitely have to throw it away but it is cheap so I will definitely use this again.

Rimmel Soft Khol Eye Pencil
Although I never went near eyeshadow as it was just too scary to me, I did think for some reason that eyeliner was the safer option and to just apply as much as humanly possible. This was before I mastered the impossible art of applying liquid eyeliner so I would just put Rimmel's Soft Khol Eye Pencil on my lower lash line and leave it at that. I cringe to remember it.

Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy Perfume
Lastly, I would spray half a bottle of perfume before heading out the door. I used to be obsessed with Britney Spears' Midnight Fantasy which I remember being extremely fruity and particularly sweet. Everytime I smell this perfume now it takes me back to spending all day at the park drinking cans of relentless and getting super hyper. I also remember having really dark brown hair with a massive side fringe and bright pink skinny jeans.

So there's some of my teenage beauty blunders it makes me want to go through my old myspace and laugh at myself!!

Katie 

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4 Staple Lip Products Every Girl Should Own!

I love to switch up my lip colour now and again but there are always those few that you will constantly find yourself whipping out of the make up collection because you know you love them. Below are the lip products that I always find myself going back to because they're everyday colours and so versatile.


I have mentioned the Revlon Lip Butter in the colour Pink Truffle before in a previous post because I actually am obsessed with this lip butter! I use this every day at work. It is the ultimate YLBB (your lips but better, FYI) product and goes with any make up whether it be a smoky eye or contoured face plus it's super moisturising. I would recommend this to everyone.

Under Pink Truffle I usually use Rimmel's lip liner in Addiction to give a bit of extra shape and volume to my lips. The colour doesn't really work well on its own, I have tried before using just the lip liner  but it looks like I am suffering from hypothermia. It is good however to use under a nude shade.

Every beauty addict will probably have a MAC Ruby Woo lipstick in their collection. I finally got my own at Christmas when my boyfriend treated me to it! It is the staple red lipstick. It suits every skin tone and is a matte shade which I love. I always find myself reaching for this when getting ready on a night out or even if I'm feeling cheeky I'll wear it to work. I don't usually apply lip liner when wearing red lipstick but I am quite clumsy and so scared that I'll smudge it or end up looking like a clown, I do want to make it my mission to apply bright colours flawlessly.

Another lipstick I have been loving is Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine in 07 Rose Infinite. The colour is quite similar to the Revlon Lip Butter but this is definitely more of an indulgent lip product. I also got this for Christmas from my boyfriend who went beauty mad on me. Its a very warm colour perfect for Autumn/Winter and is very sheer. I love using it if I'm going for the Kylie Jenner look.



Swatches Below in order I have mentioned them in...

What are your go to lip shades?

Katie 

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My Bath Essentials

I do love a good bath. It's amazing to come in at the end of the day from work, run the hot water and throw in a bath bomb and just let the stress float away. Add a glass of wine to the equation and I don't think there is anything better. As I am quite an anxious person, these stress relieving baths before a night out or in the morning really do me a world of good and put me in the best of moods.
Below are some of my bath essentials I use, these do change from time to time but I have been using these products a lot in the last few months.

First off, I always light a candle in the bath just for the ambience and to get the spa-like feel. I got this one in Primark recently, its coconut and vanilla scented which reminds me of the smells of holiday. If it's night time I'll light a few small ones and place them around the bathroom and turn the light off to properly relax and unwind.

I love the use the Radox Sleep Easy if I'm having a bath before bed time. It helps to unwind and the Chamomile and Jasmine scent is really soothing. I tend not to pick up a bottle of bubble bath and usually opt for a Lush bubble bar, but this bottle was for just £1 in Tesco and thought it would be nice to have one on the side for the evening. It's also not drying on the skin which I find with some bottled bubble baths.

I also love using Soap & Glory's Flake Away for a good scrub once my skin has had a good soak. Exfoliating is always important but I only use it twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells. This one just smells amazing and many beauty bloggers RAVE about this product and its number 1 in their best sellers!

I always use a hair conditioning mask in the bath too as they are difficult to use in the shower as I leave them on for about 15 minutes. I always change what hair mask I use when they run out so this time I opted for the John Frieda Frizz Ease. I have a lot of the hair products from the Frizz Ease range as I suffer terribly from frizzy hair and it is nice to use products all from the same range with the same scent. This product does overuse packing as the container is quite chunky and the pot inside that holds the product is definitely smaller than the outside product. But all in all this product does work!

I am still using my Lush Hot Toddy shower gel, I bought 2 of these in the Boxing Day sales and as its getting to summer now the scent is quite inappropriate as it is very festive but it reminds me of Christmas and I just love the cinnamon, glittery bubbles it makes. However, I do want to repurchase Happy Hippy for a fresher summer scent.


Last but not least is my Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner. We use conditioner on our hair to make it silky and soft so why don't we do that on our bodies as well? That's exactly why Lush made this product. It's ingredients include cocoa butter, cupuacu butter, almond oil and argan oils all of which are known for their nourishing properties and is lightly rose scented. I like to use it for shaving as its a good replacement for gel or foam products.

I then love to stick my Ipad on the side with Netflix loaded (with the towel in case of any accidental splashes). I have just finished binge watching Orange is the New Black which I thought was hilarious and I'm now onto Suits. I'm usually not keen on programmes about lawyers or crime but I really liked Suits from the Pilot and so I have a new series to binge watch, yay!

My top tip is to make sure you grab a beverage for your bath, it could be a glass of Cabernet sauvignon or a cup of tea and just sink into the bubbles and relax!

What are your bath essentials?

Happy Bathing!

Katie

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