February 2018 Beauty Favourites

February Beauty Favourites

February Beauty Favourites

INGLOT 10 Pan Freedom System Palette

I have spoken about my love of INGLOT quite a few times and featured this palette a lot on my blog over the past couple of years, I really do use it all the time so it is only right that I keep putting it in my favourites. The shadows are fantastic quality and the range of colours and finishes is almost overwhelming, it took me ages to finally decide on the 10 shadows to put into my palette but the process was a lot of fun.

I love the palette itself, the magnetic lid which does not budge or come off in your makeup bag, and it is also actually quite slim. The pans are a very decent size and I pretty much have all of my favourite shadows with me in one cute palette. Let me know if you have tried INGLOT eyeshadows & if you have built your own palette too.

Essence Fresh & Fit Foundation

I can’t believe I haven’t spoken about this foundation sooner, I bought it whilst in Amsterdam last September (you can get it in the UK) and it has become one of my most used foundations. It’s a nice creamy consistency, it’s easy to blend and buff into your skin. I’d say it gives a nice even medium coverage, it covers imperfections and blemishes but still feels lightweight on my skin. Which is everything I look for in a base – decent coverage but that feeling that my skin can still breath!

This foundation is enriched with a complex of vitamin b3, e, pro-vitamin b5 and cranberry water, it is fantastic to see a budget-friendly foundation with such fantastic skincare benefits added to their formula. These ingredients are going to help your skin glow, look refreshed and awake.

The staying power of this foundation was for sure better when I used a primer but that is true for most foundations on my skin as I tend to get an oily t-zone. I would say this gave my skin a natural radiance and didn’t settle into my pores. It looks fresh, as the name would suggest and it’s just am easy to wear medium coverage base! I love it.

It comes packaged in a lovely glass bottle with a handy pump, the only drawback is the shade range, although I managed to find a good match for my skin tone this foundation only comes in 4 shades which isn’t so great. I hope they add more options in the future. Overall if you’re looking for a new cruelty-free, vegan foundation then I highly recommend checking out this Essence offering and it is only £5!

Essence Cosmetics Fresh and Fit Foundation

NIOD Photography Fluid Opacity 12%*

This is nothing short of liquid magic! It has been dubbed airbrush in a bottle – so what is it I hear you cry? It is a skin perfecting serum which uses refracting prism technology to even out all skin tone and gives you the most amazing natural healthy glow. It is flipping amazing.

This is a highlighter, primer and serum in one, it instantly blurs imperfections and gives a healthy dewy, even-toned radiance. Designed to create a photo-ready finish on all skin types, this complexion perfector creates a lit-from-within glow in seconds with a wide variety of light-refracting prisms, tone and hue correctors, and photo-finishing technologies.

Apply to your skin alone or under foundation to add sheer radiance and correct discolouration. It can also be mixed with other products for subtle radiance. Used under, over, or mixed with liquid foundation if you prefer more coverage.  It’s such an easy product to incorporate into your makeup routine. I haven’t ever used a product quite like this & I just can’t get across to you just how incredible it is, although I am trying.  I should do a whole post on this one product!

It is also vegan, cruelty-free and alcohol-free.

INGLOT Eyeshadow Palette Makeup

Benefit Dandelion Shy Beam Liquid Highlight

If you’re looking for a subtle more natural highlight then this is the one. It is a nude, pink semi-matte liquid highlight that gives your skin a refreshed, healthy radiance. It is easy to apply, I just use the brush to place the product on the tops of my cheeks and down the centre of my nose – it also looks pretty on your brow bones and I blend it is either with my beauty blender or just my finger. It looks pretty when the light hits it and what I really like is the fact there is no glitter or shimmer. It is a great everyday radiance booster and also looks pretty mixed with your foundation. These little Benefit liquid products last forever and are so easy to throw in your handbag, I often like to reapply throughout the day to refresh my makeup.

MUA LUXE Glow Beam Cushion Highlighter

Not quite as subtle as the Benefit highlighter, this MUA Cushion highlight offers more of a peachy – golden, warm-toned glow. The packaging is pretty although a little bulky and the puff is handy, but I just don’t reach for it. I prefer to use my beauty blender to ensure I apply it evenly. It is a liquid cushion product and I am waiting to see just how long it stays moist as I have a feeling it will dry out pretty quickly, that being said I do love using this as an evening highlight and it can look quite subtle or if you want more on an intense look you can build up the colour & effect to be more intense.

It is always nice to see affordable brands releasing on-trend products so we can all try them and Cushion makeup was certainly popular last year. Have you tried any cushion products, if so are you sold on them or think they’re too much faff.

MUA LUXE Glow Beam Liquid Highlighter

Benefit Dandelion Shy Beam Liquid Highlighter

Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner

When it comes to drugstore liquid liner Soap & Glory take the top prize, their Supercat liner ticks all of the boxes. It’s pigmented, sets down the perfect amount of product, doesn’t drag and the fine nib allows you to apply either a neat line or build it up to be more bold and thick.

This is a liner that would allow even the most self-confessed eyeliner novice to create the perfect winged liner. The nib gives you full control and isn’t too firm so you can create smooth lines without having to keep going over the same spot which often leads to the product bleeding into fine lines and getting very messy. This is one product everyone needs in their makeup bag (although I am sure most of you already own it). It’s pigmented, easy to use and long wearing.

Soap & Glory Gloss Stick in Nudist

Lip crayons are my goto lip product of choice, I find them so easy to use and this Soap and Glory one is a stunning everyday shade. It is in the colour Nudist and it enhances your lip colour giving them a pretty glossy finish. It’s a natural, subtle shade which has been living in my handbag – I apply it even when I’m wearing no other makeup, it makes me feel somewhat put together. Not only do they give your lips a subtle wash of colour but the formula is also very moisturising, oh & they smell so good too – I think it is a vanilla scent.

Current Makeup Favourites

Real Techniques PowderBleu Soft Complexion Brush*

I mostly use this brush for applying powder foundation but it also works well for blush too. This Soft Complexion Brush has a small, dense head which makes buffing in the powder so much more effective. I also love the long slim handle which feels nice in your hand makes applying my makeup really easy. This collection is stunning and incredible quality, it looks and feels luxurious and that deep blue colour is gorgeous and makes me want to use them all the time.

Let me know what you have been loving this past month & if you’ve discovered anything new that I need to try. I am on the hunt for a new mascara, I’d love it if you’d leave me suggestions in the comments.

Shopping My Makeup Stash February 2017

Shopping My Makeup Stash Feb 2017

Shopping My-Makeup Stash Feb 17

Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm in amp’d up apple 

I am 100% on board with the Clinique Chubby Sticks, they’re effortless and so easy to use. This is one of their cheek chubby sticks and it is in the most beautiful rosy pink shade. This gives a pretty healthy flush of colour. I find this doesn’t last too long on my skin but I do have quite oily skin so that might play a part. This does apply and blend really well and I adore the shade. I am looking forward to wearing this more as we head towards Spring.

Tarte Tarteist Mascara

I have a few mascaras on rotation at the moment and this one from Tarte is my favourite for giving definition and length to my lashes. It is a great everyday mascara and really holds a curl. If you prefer your lashes to look more dramatic and full this isn’t for you. This coats every individual lash and is intense black. I have enjoyed all 3 of the Tarte mascaras I have tried and I want to give their foundations a go next. If you have recomendations of Tarte products I would love to hear them.

Rimmel Kate Lipstick in Boho Nude*

I haven’t been wearing very adventurous makeup so far this year & I’ve been enjoying the low key, natural look. This lippie is one of the 6 nude shades released by Rimmel to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Kate Moss and Rimmel London’s beauty collaboration, this Boho Nude is perfect for my current mood, it is a very easy to wear true soft brown nude. This is one of those lipsticks you can keep in your handbag because it would look great for any occasion, it is easy to apply and feels creamy smooth on your lips. It doesn’t have the greatest staying power but I don’t mind having to reapply throughout the day. I love the rose gold packaging too.

Stila Smudge Stick Liner in Moray

I have these smudge stick liners in an array of colours and to be honest I like them all but there is just something so pretty about this moray shade. It is a stunning olive green with a very subtle hint of sparkle. These are waterproof and have some serious staying power. It adds a little pop of colour to your eye look without being in your face and it is often nice to wear something other than your usual black eyeliner.

YSL Touche Eclat Le Teint Foundation

YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation in B30 Almond*

I have been applying this new YSL foundation with The Body Shop Buffing Brush and I think they’re the perfect duo. This applies beautifully and wears well throughout the day. It has a medium coverage and gives my skin a healthy radiance which I like. I also think that this looks better throughout the day and its lightweight formula means it doesn’t look or feel heavy.

It contains Vitamin E which protects against free radicals and also has SPF 22 to provide sun protection. I was a little worried to try this at first as I have heard YSL foundations often break people out but I didn’t have any problems at all. I have the shade B30 Almond and it is a great match for me, this foundation is available in 19 shades and YSL have great Touche Éclat Shade Finder so you can chose your ideal match.

INGLOT Eyeshadow Palette

I made this 10 pan freedom palette a couple of years ago in the INGLOT store in Amsterdam. I still love all the colours I chose but I just haven’t been using it much these past few months. INGLOT eyeshadows are amongst the best I have ever used, high-end quality with a purse friendly price tag. If you get the chance to visit a store (i know there isn’t too many) you have to make your own palette. They have a huge selection of shades, finishes and textures, I’m excited to start using them again.

bareMinerals Foundation

I have totally fallen back in love with mineral foundation, I forgot just how pretty and natural the coverage looks. It feels lightweight on the skin and you can build up the coverage if you wish. I also use this as a setting powder on top of a liquid foundation if I want that full coverage look and this powder leaves your skin looking so silky smooth and flawless. If you haven’t tried a mineral foundation before I highly recommend this one, it comes in 20 shade options and has SPF15.

Shopping My Makeup Stash Feb 2017

Shopping My Makeup Stash Swatches

Clinique Chubby Stick / Rimmel Boho Nude / Inglot Eyeshadows 407 / 452 / 405

*PR SAMPLE