Tuesday 27 May 2014

Drugstore Make-Up I Need To Invest In

I'm trying to pan together the perfect (affordable) make-up kit for when I move to University for my miniscule budget. I work about 3 doors down from a Boots store, so I'm currently trying to resist the temptation to buy all of these! But these are 'Drugstore' products that either I've seen been raved about, or are new, or I've just been checking out in Boots on my lunchbreak for a while. 

Rimmel Kate Rockin’ Curves Mascara
I am a total Mascara hoarder. I cleared out my Mascara's the other day to the bare minimum for me. My bare minimum is six mascaras, ranging from Elizabeth Arden to Miss Sporty. I just love Mascara. I went into Boots today and saw this new Kate Mascara, and so far I've been a massive fan of her lipsticks for Rimmel, so I'm hoping to pick this up over the next few weeks. 

Rimmel - Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick in 030 
I've read in quite a few places that 030 is a dupe for MAC's Cyber, so I'm really excited about owning it. I already own MAC Cyber but I find it's such a difficult lipstick to wear, I have to exfoliate my lips for about two days before wearing it, use a lip liner furiously, paint it on to my lip, use a lipstick sealant, and still reapply every half hour to ensure it's not gone flaky. I love the texture of Kate's lipsticks a lot more than MAC's Cyber as well so I'm hoping this is a nicer dupe, because I so love the colour, it's perfect for Autumn, or for a night out in a Black dress with crazy hair.

Rimmel - Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick in 001
Red Lipstick is an essential item to my make-up collection, I must rock red lips at least twice a week? I tried this lipstick a while ago but it was broken when I bought it, and then I lost it somewhere in the pit of my bedroom, but from what I remember it was a lovely long lasting colour. I want to retry it just to check that's the one I was thinking about. I've been eyeing it up in Boots for a while now tho.

Revlon Super Lustrous Matte Lipstick in Nude Attitude 
This is apparently a dupe for both MAC Myth and Peachstock, two lipsticks I've been lusting after for a while. I've personally never tried Revlon lipsticks, but I've only ever heard good things about them. I'm looking for a good quality nude lipstick, as I've fallen out of love with my Seventeen Perfect Pout Just a Fling lipstick, which was my go to nude for a while. 

Revlon Super Lustrous Matte Lipstick in Smoked Peach 
This is also another MAC dupe, but this time it's a dupe for Ravishing, another 'essential' MAC Lipstick to own. I've been after a Coral lipstick for a while now, as it's a colour I've never really worn, but it looks set to be a big hit for this summer. I might end up picking these up tomorrow after work and reviewing / swatching them tomorrow evening because I'm so eager. I'll post a link at the bottom of this page for the list of MAC dupes just for anybody who may be reading (probably nobodies) interest. 

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Lips in Capella Rose Pink and Alpha Bright Red
These are a new product I noticed today in store when I went in for lunch, and I fell in love with the Capella Rose Pink shade. I didn't have time to swatch them, but I've read quite a few reviews on the Boots website and apparently they're similar to the Revlon Lip Stains, so I'm excited to try them as I'm on the hunt for a nice long lasting stain. 

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation
I've watched countless Make-Up Guru videos in which the Bourjois Serum has been ranted and raved about as being one of the best drugstore makeup's around, so I'm really excited to try this. Bourjois is a brand I've never actually tried before, I've always really stuck to the likes of Maybeline and Rimmel for Foundation purely because I know my shade, but this looks like a really nice foundation. I also like the fact it's more Gel based as I get very frustrated with very Liquid-y foundation formulas. 

SEVENTEEN Miracle Matte Foundation
I actually picked up this Foundation today, so it's not necessarily something I need to invest in, but it's something I've been wanting to try for a while now. I've been watching a lot of 'Make-Up Guru's' rant and rave about how good this is and it's a dupe for the MAC Longwear foundation, but I much prefer the price of this one to the MAC price. I'll probably write a review on it in about 3 weeks when my exams are all over.  

Sleek MakeUp Eyebrow Stylist
Sleek isn't a brand that's available in my local Boots so I might order them online now, but it's a brand that many Youtubers have been going on about that I've just not got around to trying. I have a massive thing with having perfect brow's, and as much as I love my trusty Rimmel Eyebrow pencil, I feel like I should branch out and explore the world of Eyebrow pencils (God I sound so sad.)

Sleek MakeUp Face Contour Kit
I am cursed with a shapeless face and mainly shapeless cheeks, and I'm in love with the way Cara Delevingne uses contouring. It's something I've never tried, I've always just used a light bronzer and fought with that, but this has also been raved about, I'll just need to invest in a contouring brush also. 

Sleek MakeUp i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette- Au Naturel
This has been considered a somewhat dupe for the Urban Decay naked palettes, I think it was Naked 2 it was considered most similar too but with less shimmery shades. I am a massive fan of matte eyeshadows, and this palette consists of just over half of matte shades and a few shimmery, which would be good for highlighting the brow bone etc. I think I'll look at investing in this before the Naked palettes, because as much as I love my Naked Basic's palette, that was pricey enough for me. 

So over the next month or so I'll probably invest in these, and put together a Review for each product every few days. I might go over and review some of my make-up bag essentials as well. See you guys soon! (Also, if you've bought any of these and not liked them, leave me a comment and tell me why, or if you liked them, also tell me why)

PS: The link to the MAC Dupe website is just here. A lot of it is American products as it's an American girl who wrote it but you can easily order online etc. Enjoy!

Sunday 18 May 2014

Summer Playlist

Today, I've spent the day in the Garden, studying for tomorrow's Economics exam and getting my tan on, and I was shuffling through my iTunes for some perfect summer anthems. I kind of got off of focusing on revision and spent two hours putting together the perfect 20 song playlist for my summers afternoon.

Foals - Spanish Sahara

FIDLAR - Max Can't Surf

M.I.A - Paper Planes

Sky Ferreira - Lost In My Bedroom

Babyshambles - French Dog Blues

King Charles - Lady Percy

Neon Trees - Animal

The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition

Darwin Deez - Radar Detector

Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers

London Grammar - Strong

Chvrches - Do I Wanna Know

The Cure - Love Cats (Unplugged)

NONONO - Hungry Eyes

Ella Eyre - Deeper

The Strokes - Last Nite

Tame Impala - Elephant

James Vincent McMorrow - Cavalier

Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Stole You Away

Best Coast - Boyfriend

Enjoy guys. xxx

Wednesday 14 May 2014

University essentials!!

So I started this blog and promised myself that I'd blog often and that did not turn out well. For the past few months I've been fighting my arse off for exams I sat a few weeks back in economics and law. Passing these exams would entitle me to an UNCONDITIONAL offer to my DREAM UNI.. Aberystwyth in Wales.. to study Economics....

I passed the exams. 

I am 110% going to uni in September, so now I've decided I need to make some fashion choices on what to bring, as I'll be living in a teeny tiny room and won't have much wardrobe space. I'm also going to try and reinvent myself as I said I would from the beginning of blogging. I am... I want to just look cooler. I've also lost about a stone and half since starting this blog which is great... stress is sometimes positive.

So because I'm moving 4 hours across the border, I have to (kind of) pack light, as I can't really come home much to pick up any stuff I've left behind. This involves my make-up collection too, which I've become a somewhat hoarder of now. So here I'll be talking about 20 Items I WILL be taking with me. Make-up and clothing wise. This is going to be so tricky.

Untitled #288

by geena (follow me fellow polyvore whore's!)

Closet black cocktail dress
I'm going to be an Economics student, so I'll be doing a heck of a lot of business formal meetings and presentations. I feel like a black pencil dress like this is the essential for business woman chic. It's a wardrobe essential as it can be worn dressed up business smart, dressed up with heels and a full                              face of slap for a night out, or with tights and some layering for a nice smart winter look. 

Rag Bone open knit sweater
I'm a MASSIVE fan of both monochrome, and sweaters, so this would be the perfect jumper. I'm not very capable of colour blocking on my own so I feel like this would get me style points in that department whilst I'm being perfectly lazy.

Long sleeve top
Again with a sweater, but this looks more like a casual sweater I could just throw over me after a dance class or gym session. I've been lusting for this particular jumper in a while, but it's always been sold out when I have money... boo!

Shirts top
Every girl NEEDS a plaid shirt. Nice and oversized so it can be worn as a layering piece, or over some leggings with some trainers for a nice 9am lecture. I'm manically browsing through charity shops at the moment for a similar one, to no such luck. :(

Topshop white camisole
Pretty much a wardrobe essential. I HATE my shoulders, but I find these tops are fairly flattering. I'd still always wear a jacket over it, but they are cute and again, can be dressed up or down. 

H M long short sleeve shirt
Being an economics student you kind of need a 'go to' shirt. I love love thin horizontal stripes, they kind of remind me of the shirts my dad would wear to work. It would look so cute semi tucked into a pencil skirt for a business-chic look. 

Alexander Wang biker jacket
I AM DESPERATELY HUNTING FOR A JACKET LIKE THIS IN CHARITY SHOPS AT THE MOMENT. I love Leather Jackets, I own 4 leather jackets and they never seem to be enough. Mine are all quite snug fitting, I want a massive oversized one so I can layer up - Wales is cold you know! 

Oasis beige jacket
Camel never goes out of trend... fact. Blazer's kind of pull an outfit together, I'm an advocate for this cause. A Camel blazer seems like a really 'classy' look, and I think that's the look I may go for whilst at uni. 

American Eagle Outfitters ripped jeans
When mastering this set I didn't realise these were ripped jeans.. but still. Classic darkish blue denim jeans, again a wardrobe essential. I have thighs that could kill a man so I feel that darker denim slims them down a bit more and makes me look less mutant and more human. Because the town I'm going                        to for uni is overrun by pubs, this would pull together a nice outfit for a pub drinking session rather                        than the tight mini-dresses people seem to fancy.

American Eagle Outfitters clothing
Black Skinny Jeans are my wardrobe essential. I currently wear the Joni Jeans by Topshop in Black and I'm so in love with them, so ideally I'd just bring them to uni, but I couldn't be bothered to search for them through my items. Black Jeans are the essential to life.

Pieces slim fit pants
Leggings are another essential, for me anyway. I'm a gym bunny, and a lazy person as well (what a contradiction) so these are the PERRRFECT item that can look very nice with a long oversized shirt, or very laid back with a massive hoody, some dirty old trainers and a 'do not talk to me' expression.

Peplum skirt
Business-chic. If Kim Kardashian can rock these with her thighs, I think mine can look fairly okay in a bodycon skirt. I find they look really sexy without being provocative, as long as they aren't too tight and showing every unsightly bulge on your body.

Asos sneaker
These are so in fashion right now and I love them. I tried on the Topshop pair and they are so comfy. Plus, slip on shoes are excellent, I hate spending about ten minutes loosening and tightening my converse laces. I love you Chucks, but you do not make for a quick exit. (I'm a hi-top girl!)

Topshop patent leather slingback shoes
I have huge feet, (Size 6) so I'll probably chicken out of buying these due to the pointed toe, but they are adorable for a presentation or even for a night out. I love the sling back look, and the patent leather just adds to an outfit. Am I weird in loving patent leather over matte leather or?

H&M ankle booties
I will be living in West Wales.. by the Sea, so I think boots are an essential. Chelsea boots are what I see as a 'posh girls' boot, but they're actually very comfortable and can be worn in many ways, not just horse riding. 

Rochas black leather purse
No matter what style you have, every girl needs a black tote. Perfect for chucking all your essentials in, big enough to chuck a few terrifyingly massive textbooks in, yet stylish enough to not make you want to hide at the thought of someone seeing you lugging it about. The only downside would be                          the tiny straps, but that can be worked around or fixed. Still prowling for one a la charity shops. 

Green scarve
Scarves can make or break an outfit. Tartan is my favorite print, ever I think? (Except Hounds tooth) so these go so well together. Tied onto a bag or wrapped around your neck, they replace the fiddly-ness of necklaces.

Laura Mercier eyeshadow brush
If I wear eyeshadows, I only ever wear nude shades, so this Laura Mercier set seems perfect for me. It could also double up as eyebrow powder due to me being blessed (more like cursed) with naturally dark eyebrows. Kind of like a 2 in 1 room saving product. But I have my NAKED Basics palette for                           this purpose.

Urban Decay beauty product
I swear by this stuff. It's quite a light formula, and it has a fairly light coverage, but it looks beautiful and covers up the flaws in my skin. I have very patchy red skin on my cheeks, well not patchy but you can understand. When I'm wearing this you would not notice. Only downside is the price,                                   rebuying it each month. If anybody knows any cheaper solutions let me know!