I’ve been
wanting to do a post like this for ages and the idea came from a post Jasmine
did with her mum ages ago but I finally got my mum talked into telling me why
she likes certain items of makeup and you might see a few familiar products
here because a few are firm favourites of mine too! Her response to why she uses
these products was mostly “it’s nice and I like it” so I’ve tried to expand a
little more on that but it’s safe to say she won’t be starting her own blog!
My mum
is a bit like me in that she won’t leave the house without her “face” on but
not like me in that she wants to try every new makeup product that’s released!
Some of these are new to her but a lot of them are tried and tested old
favourites and she really only spends money on makeup when it comes to
foundation and lipstick, everything else is more on the drugstore side of
things!
No7 Perfect Light Translucent loose powderis my mums go to powder and you might know that the
pressed version is my favourite too so you can see a pattern forming! She says
this helps keep her makeup in place though she will usually top up her T zone
when she’s home at lunchtime which is normal for her with her skin type.
My
aunt recently gave my mum the end of herBenefit Hoolabronzer which she has really been enjoying. She says this
gives a nice shade of bronze to her skin and I also gave her one of my minis to
use up as she really likes it!
For
blusher, she has been using the No7 Perfectly Bronzed Mozaic Bronzer for years and you can see there are quite
a lot of bronze tones here too! The one in the main photo is actually one I got
in a set and gave to my mum because I found it a bit much for my skin. She
already has a backup ready to go and you can see she really likes to use the
last of the product up – something I could learn from!
The NYX Eye and Eyebrow Pencil in Charcoal is
a recent buy for my mum. She wears eyeliner everyday but finds black shades too
harsh so always goes for a grey. This is easily put on and doesn’t drag though
she does experience some smudging like she does with all eyeliner because she
has watery eyes.
Another
No7 product she is a fan of is thePrecision Lips Pencil in Nudewhich keeps her lipstick from bleeding.
She only outlines her lips and doesn’t fill them in with the lip liner as she doesn’t
want to change the colour of her lipstick. I’m the opposite and always fill my
whole lip in!
Bobbi Brown Lip Colour in Brownis the only lipstick she owns (!), I
usually buy her one for Christmas but she probably goes through about two of
these a year. She likes the colour and the formula and when she gets to the end
she digs it out with a cotton bud to make sure she gets every last bit!
Benefit Gimme Brow Volumising Brow Gel in the shade 1is another newish addition to my mum’s
routine. This is a mini from a magazine but my mum loves it and I bought her
the full size for Christmas. She says it gives her eyebrows a bit of shape and
colour which she needs as she is blonde so this is easy and quick for her.
You’ll
notice there is no primer, concealer, highlighter, eyeshadow or mascara here
because my mum doesn’t use them! She is a glasses wearer with really curly
lashes so just misses the mascara step and doesn’t see the point in the others!
How am I related to her?
Also
the makeup bag is just a Estee Lauder one she uses if she’s going on holiday, a bit
like me, her makeup lives on her dressing table or in some drawers she has! Hope
you enjoyed that post and a look into someone else's makeup collection! Do you
have any of the same products as my mum?
Danielle xx
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Happy Easter Monday everyone! Product Empties part 2
is here! My last batch of empties was huge so I split in in two – read part 1 here! Hopefully normal empties service will return soon, I need to stop having
such a big gap in between! Anyway here are my recent skincare and makeup
empties!
Skincare
Caudalie Moisturising Toner
This
was the never ending toner for me! That sounds negative but it isn’t! This is a
really lovely refreshing toner that felt hydrating (I always use an alcohol
free toner) and was gentle enough to use over eyes as well as skin. Would
repurchase!
This
features constantly in my empties because it is amazing at getting waterproof
eye makeup off and it’s so gentle, my eyes never sting using this and it’s so
effective – if you wear eye makeup you need to try this! It features in this
forever repurchased post too and you guessed it I’ve already repurchased and am
using and I have a backup too!
Olay Essentials Beauty Fluid
This
featured recently in my Tannng 101 post and though I don’t actually use it on
my face it’s here because it’s a skincare item. I remember years ago someone on
YouTube (Samantha Maria I think) saying they had stopped using this because it
has mineral oil in it so I stopped using it on my face. Side note – I’m awful
at looking at ingredients so I’m sure I probably use other products with
mineral oil but this one sticks out to me. Saying that, I love the scent of
this and it’s really nostalgic to me because my mum used to use it too and mineral
oil aside, it’s a really lightweight moisturiser that is perfect for prepping
my elbows, heels and hands before tan so I have repurchased!
La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo +
I hate
this. I’ve went through so many tubes of the old version without the “+” and then
this one to see if it was any different and it does not work for my skin at
all. It was hailed as a miracle product back in the day but all it did to my
skin was make me breakout in little pimples so it sat for probably over a year
getting no use until I read somewhere that it was good for keratosis pilaris (bumps
on the back of your arms). I’ve used it up recently by doing that and it did
work well but no better in my opinion than a scrub and some Nivea cream which
is way cheaper so I will never repurchase this again!
Pixi Nourishing Sleep Mask
I don’t
think I ever wrote about this on my blog and I think it was because I never saw
amazing results with it like say the Glow Tonic. I can sometimes be a little
unfair to products like this but it did do what it said it would and left my
skin feeling nourished and plumped in the morning and never broke me out so for
that reason I will repurchase in the future.
Pixi Hydrating Milky Serum
I
really enjoyed using this serum, its lightweight, felt smoothing and absorbed
quickly. It was a pain in the arse for the last few weeks of use though and I
wish I had kept the original cap so I could have balanced it upside down
easier! I did manage to get every last drop though and will repurchase in the future!
Burt’s Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing
Cream
I’ve
went through loads of these before from different Burt’s Bees sets and this is
a really lovely cleanser. It’s not as creamy as say the Rodial Stem Cell
Superfood Cleanser but it’s still lovely to massage into the skin. I love the
scent too as it’s so refreshing but the one negative thing I would say about
this is that it can sting the eyes a bit and even when I avoid my eyes the
scent can make them stream a bit! This travel size is perfect for taking away
too so I would repurchase the travel size before a full size!
This Works In Transit Camera Close Up
I got
this in a magazine and this tiny sample lasted ages! It’s a really great all-rounder
in terms of moisturising and priming for me and I would repurchase in the future.
Skin Owl Neck+
This
was part of a GWP with Cult Beauty absolutely ages ago and I’m finally
finished! I don’t know why I keep products for ages – someone tell me they do the
same? Anyway, it’s a lovely lightweight gel that was formulated specifically
for the neck and chest because these areas don’t produce oil – who knew? I used this a lot last year before I was bridesmaid
and then forgot about it until recently – nearly a year later *facepalm*. It
feels lovely, it sinks in quickly and though I don’t have a “crêpey” neck I
think this did well to further firm it. I won’t repurchase because the full size
is £56 and I think I can just get away with moisturising those areas but if an
aging neck and décolleté is a worry of yours this all natural concentrate would
be a good shout!
Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream
Another
mini sample and one that I loved! This was more lightweight than I had imagined
which wasn’t a bad thing and was just lovely to use at night time! I will
repurchase the full size in the future!
Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips
I had
seen so much hype over this so was excited to try it but it’s one of those
super thick, sticky formulas so even though it felt good on my lips I would not
repurchase the full size.
Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
My favourite
lip balm ever, I usually have at least two of these on the go and panic if I can’t
find it! It’s a really lovely natural balm that feels soothing on the lips and the
peppermint scent is lovely! Have already repurchased and probably have about
five backups too
These
have featured in my last few empties and I also have a full post on them here
but in short the more I use these the more I fall in love with them! The Detox
Clay mask works particularly well with my oily/combo acne prone skin and I love
the results it gives! My skin
looks clearer and more balanced and it removes black heads so easily! After
using the hydrating clay mask my skin feels so hydrated and soft and ready for
the products I put on top. I’ve been getting about 4 uses out of each sachet
too so great value for money – I only use these on my face now and not my body!
Tony Moly Clear Skin Rice sheet mask
To be honest
it’s been so long since I used this, I can’t really remember much about it! As
with all sheet masks I’ve used, it’s really saturated and feels lovely and cooling
on the skin. This one promised to make dull skin look radiant and glowing and I
can’t really remember if it did or not but I felt relaxed while using it! I’ve
also just read the ingredients list and there is mineral oil in it haha!
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream and Magic Eye Rescue
Some
more sachet samples I can’t really remember using – I’m so helpful aren’t I! Both
felt nice but it’s hard to know what you think with only a sample you can get a
few uses out of so I wouldn’t repurchase!
Makeup
L’Oréal Infallible Fixing Mist
I loved this when I first got it but I found the longer I had it the less well it
worked for me and to be honest I probably had it longer than the 12 month
expiry on the back! It did extend the wear of my makeup when I first got it but
the mist wasn’t that fine and you really had to shake it up or you would be
left with white dots all over your face ruining your good work so I wouldn’t
repurchase!
SEVENTEEN Stay Time Pressed Powder in Fair
I
liked this powder when I first got it and thought it did help my makeup stay
put but I don’t like the fact it’s not translucent and I find it can look a
little patchy. It also hasn’t been working well recently and although there is
still a little bit of powder left I just don’t want to use it! Won’t
repurchase! The SEVENTEEN Miracle Matte loose powder is much better!
L’Oréal Brow Artist Plumper in Translucent
This
lasted me ages and I really liked it! It has a tiny wand and set my brows well
without making them crispy. I don’t really understand the plumping bit but that’s
not what I was looking for so I would repurchase!
Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 06
I got
this in a gift set I got in the sale last Christmas so it’s lasted forever even
though it’s a mini! It feels hydrating and long lasting and 06 is a lovely nude
shade that I use to top up during the day and for a bit of colour! Would
repurchase if I saw in the sale again.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in 2 Fair
This
is the second sample I’ve had of this foundation and I find I can get three
good uses out of it! Fair is a great match for my skin when I haven’t tanned and
the foundation is really lovely – it’s not quite as full coverage as I would like
so I wouldn’t purchase a full size but it has a lovely finish and I might try a
darker shade if I can pick a sample again!
Skincare
and makeup empties done! I think I need to set a date in the diary to remind
myself to do these before they get too out of hand! Do you see any of your favourites
here?
*denotes
a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.
Danielle xx
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on
Highlighters
are a funny thing to me, with my oily skin I tend to shy away from them or skip
them completely when I’m doing my makeup because I’m paranoid they will draw
attention to me (ironic since this is one of the reasons most people wear them,
no?). I remember doing my makeup for my friend’s wedding a few years ago and
thinking I’ll add a little highlighter, what can go wrong, fast forward a few
hours and I notice glitter that has dropped down my cheeks and gathered under
my eyes (ABH Sand from the contour kit by the way) and I think I made a
conscious decision then not to bother with that step. (I think I was probably
the only person that noticed the fall out and I cleared it up pretty quick with
a powder brush by the way!)
Since
then, I’ve always been extra careful with highlighter, I only use a tiny amount
and the highlighters I own all come in palettes with the only full size coming
as a free gift! So, when I was sent these two Vincent Longo highlighters I knew
I was going to be pushed firmly out of my makeup comfort zone and you know
what, I’m loving it!
I have
previously reviewed Vincent Longo Cosmetics on my blog here but very briefly,
the brand was founded in 1995 and is known for its luxurious, high performance
formulas as well as creativity and award winning products. One of my favourite
products from them is their Water Canvas Crème to Powder blush which featured
again in my Five Products I’m Loving post back in January so I was excited to
give the Vincent Longo Water Canvas Highlighter in Mermaid Muse* (RRP £32) a try.
The crème
to powder formula is quite possibly the most unique formula in makeup I’ve ever
come across and it feels absolutely beautiful on the skin! It’s moist with the
formula containing 75% Microwater – a natural seaweed polymer - pure pigment,
Vitamin E and silica. In the pan this looks like a peachy blush shade but when
on the skin it transforms into a translucent sheer but buildable skin shimmer
that promises to give a refreshing wash of luminous colour and sparkle which it
certainly does! This is a little too sparkly for me for daily wear but I’ve
been enjoying experimenting with it and can vouch for how long lasting it is
and it won’t migrate or cause fall out. The packaging is airtight so keep it
moist so make sure you close it properly after use!
Vincent Longo La Bella Luce Highlighter in Flora* (RRP £24.50) on the other hand is
something I can fully get on board with and it’s officially my favourite
highlighter! It is everything I didn’t know I needed on my face and I’m going
overboard because I love it! La Bella Luce means “beautiful light” in Italian
and that’s really what this highlighter is. It’s a very finely milled powder in
a beautiful marbled pan. Flora is a pearlescent pink that suits my skin tone
perfectly whether I have tan on or not and it’s easily buildable depending on
how much glow you want! Ethereal, candlelit and luminescent are also words that
are in the description of this product online and I could not agree more, this
gives me exactly the right amount of sheen every time I use it and it just adds
a little somethin’ somethin’ to my face! I also love the packaging; it’s a
sleek black magnetic compact with a mirror inside so perfect for travelling
with. I think I’ve finally got over my highlighter fear with this one! Trust
me, you need it!
I found it impossible to capture these properly in my swatches but I’ve
added them in any way to give you a guide! The first photo on the left shows
finger swatches of Mermaid Muse and Flora, the middle photo shows a finger swatch
of Mermaid Muse then a brush swatch using the Real Techniques duo fibre contour
brush and finally the last photo is a finger swatch of Flora then a diffused brush
swatch using a Morphe B8 fan brush.
Vincent
Longo Cosmetics are available at Cult Beauty, Feel Unique, ASOS, Beauty Expert,
Look Fantastic and HQ Hair!
Have
you tried Vincent Longo Cosmetics before? Let me know what your favourite
highlighter is in your collection!
*denotes
a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own. See my full
disclosure here.
Danielle xx
If you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me
on
Latest in Beauty are my favourite beauty box service, they continually come out with collaborations
with the likes of Glamour magazine and Origins and also offer a subscription
service! I’ve never subscribed to the likes of Birchbox or Glossybox before because
I don’t like the fact you don’t know what you’re getting each month but with
Latest in Beauty you choose exactly what you want to receive each month - brands range from Rimmel and MUA to Nuxe and Omorovicza! Now I certainly
don’t need any more beauty products but I was tipped over the edge this time
when I saw what had been added to the website when Sal at Umm Baby Beauty
showed her last box over on Instagram! She is one of my favourite bloggers and you should all follow her immediately if you aren't already!
TheJurlique Rosewater Balancing Mistwas
theproduct that did it for me – I have
wanted to try the brand for the longest time but the products aren’t cheap and
I was unsure if the rose scent would be too much for me. I’ve only used this a
couple of times since I got it but the scent is very gentle and the mist feels
really refreshing!
You
will see a continuing theme here as all the rest of the products I went for are
from brands I have tried nothing or very little from. Next up is the Ole Henrickson Sheer Transformation Facial Crème to help fade skin discoloration and retexturise the skin, NUDE Skincare Rescue Oil to smooth skin and refine texture (can you tell I have
a thing for products that promise to do this?!) and Purity Made Simple 3 in 1 Cleanser which I thought would be nice to use in the morning
with my Foreo Luna.
I also
picked out a Nanshy Kabuki Brushbecause
I haven’t used one in years preferring my Real Techniques blush brush for
bronzing but I wanted to try the brand and the Elemis British Botanical Body Cream as I wanted a change from my
usual Soap and Glory or Nivea creams!
So
that was my build your own box! Lots of new products to try and I’m sure you
will see them pop up here or on my Instagram soon! It also came in a makeup bag
which I wasn’t expecting and I know that when I bought a one off box for my
aunt at Christmas you had to buy this separately if you wanted it (£4) so I’m
not entirely sure if this just comes the first time you sign up to the
subscription but I’m assuming so!
I went
with the 9 product subscription but they also offer a 3 product or 6 product
box. As
well as the subscription service you can buy a box at any time as a one off buy
though it’s slightly more expensive. To subscribe to the three product box its
£9 per month with free delivery or £16 one off plus £3.95 delivery. Six
products are £15 or £22 plus delivery and the nine product box (my personal
favourite) is £18 or £25 plus delivery. You can see why I went with the nine
product subscription though I will cancel it before next month or downgrade it
depending on what’s new in to pick from!
Have
you tried the Latest in Beauty subscription box?
Danielle xx
If you want to keep up to date with my posts, don’t forget to follow me
on
