Halloween Makeup: Werewolf Victim

I. Am. So. Excited. For. Halloween. No seriously, I love doing halloween makeup because it's just so much more creative and fun.

If you're a bit stuck what to do, this is a great idea for both the low-budget and last-minute since you only really need to buy liquid latex and fake blood (and even that you can make at home). Oh, I suppose old clothes would be handy too for the purpose of cutting them up and adding blood to make it look like you've been attacked. But let's concentrate on the face for now.

First, you'll want to draw out an outline of where you'll want your scratches to be, mostly to give yourself an idea, because now you're going to cover them up. With tissue and liquid latex. Layered.

Important thing to note! 
Don't get liquid latex on your eyebrows, eyelid, or general eye area because this stuff hurts when you peel it off.

When you have enough layers, let that all dry (you can speed up the process with a hairdryer on gentle heat) and then add foundation and powder to blend into your skin. This won't be perfect, but your friends will be too impressed/scared to notice that.

Next, very carefully rip the tissue/latex into lines down your face (feel free to redraw the lines if that helps) and seal the edges down with a bit more liquid latex.

Now fill in those gouges with something red, be it eyeshadow or red lipstick (I used both), and then add depth to the edges with darker colours to make it look more realistic. I would also recommend adding fake blood, but I didn't have any to hand.

For a final touch, lightly dust brown/grey eyeshadow over your face to dirty it up a bit.

For other Halloween inspiration, check out these tutorials from last year, as well as this Zombie Disney look and this Bloody Mary look.

Duochrome Smoky Eye

I decided to have another play with MAC Club eyeshadow, because I felt that my previous look using it (found here) didn't quite capture how literally beautiful this colour is. By layering Club over a blue base (I've used Nars Ubangi Eye Paint) it really brings out the different tones in the eyeshadow, shifting it between blue, green, and brown in different lighting.

It's difficult to capture on camera, but if you have this eyeshadow seriously give it a go because it makes for a really easy smoky eye by just adding MAC Satin Taupe and some matte blue eyeshadow through the crease and in the bottom lashline.

Something else I've learnt recently that makes dark smoky eyes like this look much easier; is by applying your crease colour first and blending that out, and then applying your lid colour.

If you wanted to, you could absolutely smoke this out further but I personally prefer to keep my eyeshadow mostly within my lid space - just work with your own eye shape!

Winged Eyeliner Made Easier

After my latest eyeliner purchase turned out to be a bit of a disappointment (more on that later), I found myself needing a new technique for applying winged eyeliner.

Step in the angled-brush-and-eyeshadow method. I spray some Urban Decay Complexion Prep Spray onto my MAC 208 brush, and then use it to apply matte black eyeshadow to the lashline and create a wing. It's difficult to explain in words how I make the wing shape, but there are loads of video tutorials on the internet and then it's basically practice, practice, practice.

It took me a while to find a brush that was was small enough to create just a subtle winged effect, but this MAC 208 does the job perfectly. This technique also works without the setting spray, but I find the finish to be less opaque and not as long-lasting.

Nars Makeover

Orange eyeshadow isn't really a colour I've considered wearing before. That was until I had my Nars makeover on Friday, and discovered how it could be used to really make my blues eyes pop.

Nars are currently touring a few Space NK's across the UK to launch and promote their new Dual Intensity eyeshadows. I booked my appointment and eagerly waited. 

The products used for my look were (all Nars obviously):

- Multiprotection Primer

- Sheer Matte Foundation in Mont Blanc

- Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla

- Pressed Powder in Flesh

- Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base

- Mediteranee Eyeshadow Duo

- Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Himilia

- Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Martelli

- Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara

- Brow Perfector in Caucase

- Brow Gel in Oural

- Laguna Bronzer

- The Multiple in Copacabana

- Desire Blusher

- Roman Holiday Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

The Dual Intensity eyeshadows are absolutely beautiful with a soft buttery texture. Some shades are more pigmented than others, but you can apply them wet as well as dry so the less pigmented shades become more pigmented.

The shade Himilia used on me looks so versatile, as an all-over-the-lid colour, or in brighter looks like this one, or even with a bit of black through the crease for a smoky eye. The only downside is that they are rather pricey at £21 each.

Throughout the makeover, and even afterwards, there was absolutely no pressure to buy anything, but I did opt to try the Sheer Matte foundation, as my Sheer Glow has just run out (look out for a comparison post soon!). I've also ordered the Mediteranee Eyeshadow Duo and the Roman Holiday Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, which were used for my look.

As part of the event, everyone got a face chart of their look, and a little gift bag of treats. A deluxe sample of tinted moisturiser, miniature eyeliner, and the cutest miniature size of blusher in Deep Throat.

I also picked up some great tips from the makeup artist, and it seems only fair that I share the love!
- Use brown eyeliner in the waterline for a less harsh look than black
- Gently lift up the hood of the eye while applying eyeshadow to the crease
- Apply blusher in a U shape on the apples of the cheeks, for a more natural look (and avoid clown cheeks!)
- Use highlighter liberally! Cream highlighters (such as the multiple) work well, applied right across the cheekbones to the hairline
- If you have thicker brows like me, only apply brow colour through the bottom of the brow, to add definition
-Don't bother with brown or clear mascara, it's not worth the money!

There are still some dates left for this Nars event over the next week (more info here), so if you can get yourself to one of the participating stores I would highly recommend it. If not, the Dual Intensity eyeshadows are now available to buy, along with everything else by Nars. I know I have a wishlist about a mile long now...

Have You Discovered...? Mixing Lipsticks

I'm taking a different approach to this week's #HaveYouDiscovered, instead of talking about one product I've discovered, I'm going to share a technique: mixing lipsticks.

I'm sure this isn't breaking news to everyone, but it's something I never thought of until recently.

Lately I've craving the brightness of one lipstick I have, with the matte effect of another, so one day I decided to layer them up and voila! The lipsticks in particular I'm talking about? That would be Urban Decay Super Saturated Lip Colour in Crush and MAC Matte Lipstick in Please Me.

What I love about this method, is that you're effectively getting a new lipstick for free! I'm keen to try out other combinations, obviously some won't work, but I think it's a great way to get more use out of unloved lipsticks.

xxx

FOTD: MAC Club Eyeshadow & Please Me Lipstick

Today I wanted to share the makeup look I wore recently to my mum's birthday dinner. It was the perfect opportunity for me to try out a few new things I've purchased recently (latest haul here), and share them in a whole look.

Since I was going out, I used my trusty 'Flawless Base' routine before adding colour back to my cheeks with the aid of Color Combos Mineral Blusher in 02.

For eye makeup, I used MAC Club to create a quick 'cheat' smoky eye; I love the effect of this eye shadow! I did also use Urban Decay Tease in the crease to help create a seamless blend. To finish the eyes, I created a winged liner with Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Liner, and then applied Fairydrops Long and Curl Mascara to the lashes.

Finally, I applied MAC Lipstick in Please Me to complete the whole look. I didn't want to wear a bright lip, so as to keep attention to the eyes.

xxx

Nars Eye Paint: Ubangi

Hey! Did everyone have a good Christmas? I for one am STUFFED, for at least the next week... and feeling pretty lucky with my pressies! Anyway, today I'm going to share my thoughts on the recently(ish) launched Nars Eye Paint and also show you a look I've created with it!

After seeing this in a magazine back at the end of summer, and then waiting for the release date! This is my first Nars purchase and also my first 'cream eyeshadow' and I'm absolutely loving it. I got the colour Ubangi, which is BEAUTIFUL, a black based shimmery dark blue, with just a hint of purple in it. It's easy to apply (I use my ring finger), fast-drying and so so pigmented! It lasts really well without primer (I wouldn't recommend primer with this, as it actually tends to slide around more), and my only minor gripe with it is that because it dries so fast, it can be a bit trickier to blend.

And then the makeup look I've created is a blue smokey eye. This kind of reminds of a night sky, and I think it would be a perfect look for New Year's Eve! Because of how bold the eye makeup is, I've kept everything else very simple - just a bit of bronzer and highlighter, and a peachy nude lipstick (Sleek True Colour - Barely There).

Above I've shown all the products I used. I applied Nars Ubangi all over my lids, and then blended out the edges (doesn't matter too much how messy this bit is). To add definition to the look, I used all Urban Decay shadows: Blackout through the outer half of crease and the outer corner of my eye, Pistol through the whole crease, and then a touch of Rockstar just above my lashes.

I also used the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Ransom, which is a bright purple, as an alternative to black eyeliner on my bottom lashline. And then to complete the eyes, my usual mascara combo: Benefit They're Real and Clinique Bottom Lash.

And finally, a close-up of the look!

Have you tried Nars Eye Paint? Would you wear this? 

xxx

PS. Don't forget to enter my 50 follower giveaway here!

Bloody Mary Makeup

Hey! Just a quick post today, as I wanted to share the makeup I did for a fancy dress bar crawl I went on last night. The theme was drinks and cocktails, so I went as Bloody Mary (a cocktail I actually love anyway).

I kept the outfit simple: a red skater dress (only a fiver from Primark!), black waist belt, suspender tights and black ankle boots. But for the makeup, I made a little more effort and went for a 'I've cried so much my eyes bled' look (I wouldn't recommend it for everyday!).

To create the look, I first primed all around my eyes with Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, then liberally applied MAC Cranberry all the way up to my brows, and quite far below the eyes. I then used Urban Decay Blackout blended across my brows and down into the Cranberry, and also down the sides of my nose for a hollowed look.

With a black eyeliner, I added details above my brows for a sad expression, and lined my waterline and lashline (all the way to the inner corners of my eyes). I applied mascara to my top and bottom lashes, and then dripped fake blood down my face.

While waiting for that to dry, I applied concealer to my lips (I don't own a nude lipstick - blogger fail) as I didn't want to detract attention from the eye makeup, and I back-combed my hair for a messed up effect.

What do you think? Would you wear this for maybe Halloween next year?

xxx

Kevyn Aucoin Makeover

Hey! Today's post is all about a Kevyn Aucoin makeover I had last week at Space NK.

Kevyn Aucoin is a brand I hadn't previously heard of, but while I was in Space NK the other weekend, I read a sign saying one of their makeup artists would be visiting for one day and offering complimentary makeovers, so of course I said sign me up!

So this is the look Beki gave me! Sorry for the bad lighting, I forgot how dark it would be when the clocks went back...

When I arrived, I was offered a complimentary glass of champagne (making me feel pampered already!) and we discussed what kind of look I wanted to go for. Since I was planning on going out that evening, we opted for a glamorous look.

She started with  a combination of the Sensual Skin Tinted Balm (£38 here) and Sensual Skin Enhancer (£38 here) as a base. These gave a very natural finish to my skin, which I liked but would usually prefer a higher coverage for a night look.

For my eyes, I had a jade smokey eye (which has photographed greyer unfortunately) using Eye Pencil Primatif (£21 here) in Defining green all over the lid and blended into the lower lash line, and then Black Matte Eyeshadow (£24 here) and Loose Shimmer Shadow (£23 here) in Jade lightly dusted over the centre of the lid for depth and definition. Finally for my lashes, she used the Essential Mascara (£26 here).

Then it was onto blusher and bronzer, to add definition to my face. Beki contoured my cheekbones first using the Celestial Bronzing Veil (£38 here) in Tropical Days. The blusher was a cream one in the shade Liquifuschia, which looks terrifying in the pan but applies lovely (she also applied it to my lips, I love a good multi-tasking product!). I can't find it online so I have a feeling it may have been discontinued, but potentially still available at some counters? And to complete the look, a light dusting of the Celestial Powder (£34.50 here) in Candlelight, across the tops of my cheekbones and down the centre of my face using the Large Fan brush (£48 here).

I mention this brush particularly, because I basically fell in love with it. The shape is just so different to anything I had seen before, and had what I swear are the world's softest bristles. I can imagine applying powder with the to be an absolute dream.

Apparently all of Kevyn Aucoin's brushes are handmade so I guess this explains the hefty price tag, but I still simply can't justify so much on one brush! And so I'm on the lookout for a dupe; maybe this one by Laura Mercier, or this one by Smashbox - but I'll have to see what their bristles are like first!

I managed to restrain myself from making an extravagant (and expensive bankrupting) purchase, but I definitely picked up a few new makeup tips!

Have you ever tried Kevyn Aucoin?

xxx

Halloween Costume & Makeup (Not for the Faint Hearted)

Hey! So Halloween was a couple of days ago and I thought I'd share with you what I went as! I know a couple of weeks ago I shared some simple makeup tutorials, but for my own costume I opted for something a bit more extravagant!

I decided I wanted to be something a bit different, and after finding inspiration online, I went for being a zombie Disney princess! The question then was: which one? Being brunette narrowed down my options and I chose Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Personally I think that works out perfect, because I told my 'backstory' of how the 'real' ending was just that I got attacked by the Beast, instead of the happy ending we've all seen in the Disney film!

Anyway, here's the whole look:

And here's a close up of the makeup:

Ouch. The makeup took just under 3 hours in total, and I used this (and this) video on Youtube as inspiration.

I had a house party on Halloween night, and it was quite funny watching peoples reactions as I opened the door! That said, I hope I haven't traumatised anyone! (Or scared away any of you lovely readers, I promise my face will be back to normal next time!)

What did you do for Halloween?

xxx

Halloween Makeup Tutorials: #bloggoween

Hey! As you may have guessed, today's post is all about Halloween and I'd like to share two makeup tutorials with you - one scary, one not-so, but both are really easy and use hardly any products! This is part of a series I'm taking part in along with other bloggers: #bloggoween. Hopefully this give you some ideas with plenty of time for Halloween this year.

So, without any further waffle: onto the tutorials!

Sugar Skull

First, cover your eyebrows and apply concealer to your lips, then draw large circles around each eye, and fill in with a colour of your choice. Re-outline with a thicker line and draw petals around the edges. For the mouth, draw a fake smile extending from the corners of your mouth, and draw small vertical lines across this. Add a cobweb effect across your forehead, and complete with a black nose.

This look would be great with a floral crown if you still have one around from summer festivals, or simply a rose tucked behind the ear! If you were feeling fancy; you could add glitter or rhinestones to the petals around the eyes, or if like me you prefer to be scary at Halloween; you could zombify this look with some white contacts and some grey contouring - you could even add some fake blood if you want!

Killer Clown

Start with a white base, cover your brows, then draw an outline of an oversize mouth and fill in the teeth. Outline this with a red lipstick, and finish the edges with a black eyeliner. For the eyes, use a black eyeliner to draw a cross over one eye then smudge out. Use black eyeshadow to continue smudging out the shape, and apply messily all over the other lid. Finally, use red lipstick to add a red nose and black eyeliner for eyebrows.

All you'd really need to make this work is a red clown wig, but if you wanted some extra horror - fake blood wouldn't go amiss!

Hope you found some inspiration here!

xxx

EOTD: MAC Cranberry

 Hey! I mentioned in my last post that this season I want to experiment with plum and berry coloured eyeshadows, so today I'm doing just that!

I've incorporated MAC's Cranberry into my normal gold smokey eye, and I really think it adds a new dimension to the whole look and brings out the hazel in my eyes.

I used the Naked 2 palette as well as MAC Cranberry and applied as follows: Half-Baked in the inner corner, Cranberry over most of the lid, YDK and Chopper blended through the crease and Busted in the outer corner. I also added a little extra Cranberry at the end with my ring finger to help make the colour stand out a little more. 

All that's left to do then is eyeliner and mascara! I think this look would be great for day or night, and would suit all eye colours. 

Would you wear this?

xxx

Back to University; OOTN & EOTN

Hey! So I'm back at university this week, ready to start year 3 of my degree (nope, not final year I'm on a 4 year course). But more than that, I'm ready to catch up with friends, get dressed up and enjoy some nights out again!

And on that note, I thought I'd share something I'm definitely planning on wearing at some point in the near future; clothes and makeup.

Quite often at uni, you end up going out pretty last minute and don't really have time to do all this, but on a night which was planned and I had time, this is something I would absolutely wear.

This polka-dot bodycon dress was a bargain in the River Island sale at just £10, and although you can't see, I've accessorised with glittery gold shoes and also this balloon elephant necklace. 

For makeup, I've kept the focus on the eyes with a bold and classic grey smokey eye and I've also lightly filled in my brows. The rest of the makeup is kept very simple so as not to look like I fell face first into my makeup collection.

For my hair, I really would need some time to do this (my hair is both long and thick, so takes ages to curl) but I wanted to keep the outfit fun, and I felt curls would fit best.

xxx

Beauty Haul & Urban Decay Makeover!

Hey! I had planned for this weekend's post to be a wishlist, but then I went shopping and sort of bought half the things on it... so instead I thought I'd write a haul post. I also had the opportunity for a complimentary makeover at the Urban Decay counter, and you can't really say no to that!

I really like what the makeup artist did, and both the lip crayon and foundation she used are on my new wishlist! Products used (all Urban Decay): Naked Skin Foundation, Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in 'Spandex', 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in 'LSD' (I think), Super Saturated Lip Colour in 'Punch Drunk' and the Naked Flushed palette.

The items I actually bought from the Urban Decay counter were the new b6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray and a lip colour in 'Apocalypse'. I've wanted to try the prep spray since I saw it on their Instagram, but at that time it was only available in America! And the lip colour is a perfect vampy berry red which I've fancied for this Autumn as an alternative to MAC's Rebel; since I know the formula of these lip colours are ace!

I also popped into boots and took advantage of their 'Buy one get 2nd half price' offer, and got a new foundation brush, top and base coats from Essie, and Rimmel's Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 107. Three of these were sort of a necessity - my current foundation brush isn't doing such a good job any more, and I'm running out of base/top coat - plus the lippy because I really do want to brave a darker lip this season!

I've also got a few other things to try out: including a new face mask, concealer, volume boosting spray (which smells soo good - exactly like strawberries and cream!), and a bronze glitter nail varnish. Not pictured is MAC's Eyeshadow in 'Cranberry' - but I also bought this recently; my first MAC purchase!

Finally, you can also see a couple of magazine freebies here: the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer from Instyle, and Bumble and Bumble's Thickening Hairspray from Elle.

And those are intended to be the last beauty things I buy for a while, as I'm about to embark on another spending ban - this time a joint one! I'm not sure I need to, but they are a fun challenge and it's nice to think you're doing it with other people! If you'd like to join in too; the details are here.

What have you bought recently?

xxx

OOTN: Japanese Geisha Costume & Review of Illamasqua Cream Foundation

Hey! Today's post is sort of multi-tasking, I wanted to share the costume and makeup I wore for a party last night, and also review the Illamasqua foundation used! It also seems appropriate with Halloween not too far away... this is definitely a costume which could be zombie-fied!

So it was my friends 18th yesterday and she was having an 'Around the World' themed party. (Funny story; she had the same venue and DJ as I had at mine 2 years ago! Good taste obviously) I personally love costume/theme parties and after spotting a kimono on eBay for a bargain price of about £4, I decided I would be a Japanese Geisha!

The kimono itself was a teeny bit short at the back, so I wore a plain black skirt underneath and I swapped the white ribbon belt which came with it because it looked a bit naff.

The makeup itself was actually pretty simple, but for some reason did take me an hour! (I'm blaming those pesky false eyelashes) I applied a base of Illamasqua Cream Foundation in 110, then filled in my brows to emphasize them a bit more, some blush blended on my temples, a simple cat-eye flick with some liquid eyeliner and applied some false lashes and mascara, and finally red lipstick just in the centre of my lips.

You may also notice I've re-ombré-ed my hair - bright red to go with the outfit. This was such a simple (and cheap) costume to put together but I got a lot of compliments for it.

Okay, onto a more detailed review of the foundation!

I knew I would want my makeup to last, and not irritate my skin so I decided to purchase some proper white foundation instead of regular face paint. Also I remember doing a friends makeup to look like the Joker last Halloween and the white face paint being really thin and un-pigmented if that makes sense? So I immediately thought of Illamasqua as they're known for their more theatrical makeup. Lucky for me, at the time I was looking they had a 50% sale on! So this foundation is still available here for £23, but I managed to get mine for just £7.50 - bargain!

The consistency of this is nice, and is definitely pigmented! I applied this with my Real Techniques Stippling brush, and while I got good coverage, I'm disappointed to say it did not last well. Even with my trusty Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray, which usually makes everything stay on my face all day/night! I found I had to re-apply my foundation a couple of times through the night, which isn't really ideal.

I might try this again at some point using the sponge which came with it to apply the foundation, and see if that makes any difference - but I generally prefer to use brushes for my makeup. On a positive note though, I have to commend Illamasqua for their fancy packaging - I really felt like I was opening something special! Even if it does seem like a rather large box for just one item!

I don't think I've been put off buying other products from Illamasqua though, I've quite got my eye on a glow-in-the-dark nail top coat they do!

xxx

EOTD: Coloured Smokey Eyes

Hey! Recently I've been experimenting with bolder night looks; partly for a change from my standard daytime neutral/gold eye, and partly because my Urban Decay NYC Palette has gorgeous colours in, but has been so unloved!

So these are what I came up with, and by no means were these first attempts!

left: green smokey eye | right: blue smokey eye

My eyes are a strange mix of blue/green with hazel in the very centre which look different depending on light/ what I'm wearing/ what day of week it is (probably)... the list goes on. But anyway, I thought I'd try and intentionally bring out these colours in my eyes with respective eyeshadow colours. I'm not sure I really achieved this, I think they've just ended up being a greeny-brown in both versions. Ah well.

So for the first look, I have used the greens of the Urban Decay NYC Palette (Kush in the middle, Loaded in the outer third) and a gold colour (Maui Wowie) for the inner third. I have reflected this in my lash line too. I've tried to 'wing out' the look too, so it's more prominent even when my eyes are open.

For the second look, I've used a combination of blues and purples, for a peacock-y smoked eye (or so I like to think). The purple doesn't show up too well in these photos, but the colours I used were: Haight all over the lid, then a mix of Radium and Rockstar through the crease. Below the eye is Haight again, with Radium in the outer corner.

To finish both looks, is a flick of black eyeliner (along the top lashline and in the bottom waterline), and a good black mascara for top and bottom lashes. I would definitely recommend Clinique's Bottom Lash Mascara, especially if you have pesky long bottom lashes and tend to end up with panda eyes!

I definitely think I could replicate these looks, and hopefully you can too! My tips would be to practice first, and have a decent blending brush or two. I'm glad I've found some use for these bright (and slightly intimidating) colours, and my Urban Decay NYC Palette is now depotted into a Unii Palette, but more on that another day!

Would you wear this sort of makeup for a night out?

xxx

Everyday Face

Hey! Today I though I'd share with you the products I've been using pretty much every day, to create a simple, natural makeup look.

I'm pretty lazy, so on a morning, the more time I get to stay in bed the better. If I can keep makeup time down to a minimum - great! I think it only takes me about 5-10 minutes to do my makeup on a morning and on a side note, I've been using sleep-in rollers for my hair so that saves time too!

It's very natural makeup as I mentioned before; I would say this is like 'my-face-but-better'. If I'm in a rush (read: pressed snooze too many times) then I might skip any combination of blusher, face powder, brow gel and eyeshadow, but I just can't leave the house without mascara!

The products I use are as follows: 

Base: Clinique Stay-Matte Oil-Free Foundation, Rimmel Clear Complexion Transparent Powder

Eyes: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Urban decay Naked 2 Palette, Seventeen Doll'd Up Mascara in Brown/Black, Natural Collection Lash Care Mascara in Clear (using as brow gel)

Cheeks & Lips: Benefit Coralista Blusher, Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick in 016

You might notice that I haven't listed any concealer, that's because my skin has been behaving itself recently and I haven't really needed it as much, only on days where I have mad under-eye dark circles! I have however forgotten to include the primer I've been using, which is Benefit's Porefessional -  great for pores but I'm not sure it actually makes my makeup last any longer. Other than that, my base is pretty simple, foundation (full review soon) and a quick dusting of powder for an extra flawless look.

For eyes, I tend to gravitate towards my Naked 2 palette purely because the colours are all so wearable for everyday and it means I can subtly switch up my look day-to-day. I always apply an eyeshadow primer (this is the only one I've ever used, you know what they say; if it ain't broke don't fix it!) otherwise my eyeshadow would crease for sure. No eyeliner for daytime, and a brown mascara to keep it natural. Finally, a quick sweep of 'brow gel' to keep my eyebrows in place, and for £1.99 this clear mascara does the job just fine.

As final touches, I apply a touch of coral blusher to the apples of my cheeks and this has the perfect pigmentation and blendability (yep, that's a word now) for me. I've only recently started bothering with blusher, but it really does make a difference! Last step is a lipstick, in a summery pink, which isn't as bright as I normally go for but this is for work after all!

What makeup do you reach for everyday?

xxx