Makeup Shakeup #3

The warm weather is making a come back this week, so I've decided to adopt a summery theme to my makeup. Hello shimmer!

♥ Benefit Sunbeam Golden Bronze Complexion Highlighter ♥

I love using a highlighter to accentuate and I've had this sample tucked away in my stash for such a while, I thought it was about time I dug it out and put it to use. Powder highlighters are well within my comfort zone so a liquid version is something I'll have to work with. Sunbeam is gorgeous and I can't wait to use this with my foundation for a subtle glow.

♥ NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Natural ♥

I raved about these when I first got my hands on them many moons ago with my first Cherry Culture order. The NYX cream blushes were my first foray into the medium and I loved them until I discovered the Topshop cream to powder formulas which are now my absolute favourites. There's something so undeniably pretty about this shade that gives me just the right amount of subtle colour on my cheeks.

♥ MAC Melon Pigment ♥

Another product I've had for an absolute age! I remember being obsessed with this and wore it to death when it arrived. I've got a little left (these samples from Makeup Geek go a loooong way) and I think its perfect for warm weather. A shimmering eye with a complementary blue or purple eyeliner works wonders on me, which handily brings us on to my next product...

♥ Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow in Inception ♥

Unfortunately I mislaid my favourite purple gel liner so the next best thing is Inception eye shadow mixed with some Illamasqua Sealing Gel for a rich, deep violet liner. Perfect!

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Do you adapt your makeup with the weather? What's your go to look on a sunny day?

Makeup Shakeup #2

This week I have decided to let the sun and an awful lot of online shopping inspire me. Bright, rich shades and striking patterns have me lusting over colour of all forms. And lots of sunshine calls for lots of colour - eyes, lips, cheeks, nails, you name it, this week there'll be colour all over it.

This week I am rediscovering:-

♥ 17 Blush & Glow in Peachy ♥

If I'm going for a bright eye or a bright lip, I'll keep the cheeks fairly neutral and having a rummage through my ridiculous blusher collection, I unearthed this beautiful blush duo from 17. Divided into two halves, it has a lovely shimmery peachy coral blush on one side and a shimmery, dusky rose gold shade on the other. I'll swirl my duo fibre cheek brush in both colours, tap off the excess and apply on the apples of my cheeks, heading upwards towards my hairline. It gives such a natural glow to the skin. Perfect for summer.

♥ Sleek Curacuo Palette ♥

As you can probably tell, this is one of the palettes in my collection that hasn't had much use before. I bought it because it was bright and pretty. Oh and it had nice packaging. But its barely been touched. I'm determined to get lots of use out of it this summer. I'm not 100% sure I can rock bright eye shadow but if I use it in conjunction with my next product, I'll certainly be attempting coloured liner again!

♥ Illamasqua Sealing Gel ♥

I recently rediscovered this in my makeup collection - its a must for a perfectly defined, long lasting brow. However you can use this with pretty much anything for a smudge proof, waterproof finish. I'm planning on using it for some colourful liner looks.

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Are you loving colour in your makeup routine for summer?

Listening to: Bo Bruce - Before I Sleep

Makeup Shakeup #1

Applying makeup is something I enjoy doing and over time I find products I love and cannot live without, using them on a daily basis which unfortunately means that the rest of my collection doesn't get as much love as it should. Inspired by lots of you lovely ladies and your love for switching up your routine, I'm going to start a makeup shakeup - changing the products I use on a weekly basis.

This way I get to use the products that survived my mass clear out recently (stay tuned for a blog sale!) and show some old favourites some love. This week I am rediscovering:-

♥ Illamasqua Illuminator in Poised ♥

I can barely believe this has been buried within the depths of my makeup collection for so long. Poised is the most pretty highlighter I think I've ever seen or used. I've had it for almost two years now and I always come back to it as my highlighter of choice. I swatched it here so you can see how gorgeous it is! Unfortunately the Illuminators have been discontinued, having been replaced by the new Gleam cream highlighter in a compact. Personally I find the Illuminators easier to use and I'll be really sad if they don't make a comeback in the future. I'm certainly going to enjoy using it this week.

♥ Topshop Desert Sun ♥

I cannot get over how amazing quality the Topshop makeup line is. Everything I've tried has been amazing and I cannot look at the range without leaving with something every single time. Desert Sun is  marketed as a bronzer but it has a really pretty pinky coral blush on one side with a bronzer on the other and they both have a super subtle shimmer to them. Now the warmer weather has reappeared I'm looking forward to using this to give me some colour.

♥ Topshop Brighton Rock lipstick ♥

I go through phases with makeup and at the moment I'm loving a fresh base, mascara and a bright lippie. I usually go for the same one again and again but as I was rooting through my lippie drawer I rediscovered Brighton Rock which is a bright pink lippie with a lovely satin matte finish. Its gorgeous worn alone or with a slick of pink lipgloss over the top. Statement lips here I come!

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Which products are you going to be reaching for this week? Do you switch your products up on a weekly basis?

Products of the month: May 2013

♥ L'Oreal Rouge Caresse in 301 Dating Coral ♥
Superdrug were having a 3 for 2 promotion recently and quite frankly it was rude not to take full advantage of it. I was looking for an easy to wear peach lippie and I found the L'Oreal stand fully stocked for a change. After covering my hand in a gazillion swatches (hashtag bloggerprobz) I settled on Dating Coral which is a pretty peachy coral shade that's not too bright and not too boring. It gives my lips a gorgeous finish and this has become a staple in my makeup bag. It looks fab paired with the L'Oreal Glam Shine Miss Candy gloss in 701 Bubble Pink.

♥ China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat ♥

This top coat is an absolute life saver. It applies evenly to give a high gloss finish and has a super speedy drying time to leave your nails smudge free. The amount of times I've done my nails, applied this then gone out and I've never had a polish mishap! Worth every single penny.

♥ Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pretty Powerful Pink ♥

I bought this on a complete whim and at first I wasn't sure about it. Then recently I picked up an elf lip tint (see below) and instantly knew it'd look great paired with a pop of pink of the cheeks and a gorgeous combination was born. Pretty Powerful Pink gives a lovely fresh faced, natural look and its been my go cheek colour for the past couple of weeks.

♥ elf Mineral Moisturizing Lip Tint in Blush ♥

I added this to my basket in my last elf order and I have to say I really like it. It's like a mini lippie which is a winner for me - no mess! I find it hydrates whilst adding colour and a nice sheen to my lips. It has a sweet taste to it too which is a bonus.

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Which products have you been loving this month?

My perfect base

In my quest for flawless looking skin, I think I've finally stumbled across my HG base. A bold statemet I know. To put it simply ladies, I've given up on foundation. I am yet to find a foundation that is the perfect shade, the perfect finish, and has the perfect longevity. I always return to my old faithful - Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream. I first discovered this back in 2011 and have been using it pretty much religiously ever since. I did cheat on it on a few occasions with a couple of foundations, but I always find my way back to it. 

Don't get me wrong, the BB Cream isn't perfect on its own. I still need to conceal my dark circles and blemishes. I've recently been using Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in the shade Porcelain on my under-eye area and any blemishes. I think this is in the running for most amazing concealer but that's another post entirely. Once I've concealed, I apply Missha BB Cream in shade #21 Light Beige with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush. Instant perfection. My skin looks radiant and pretty much flawless. I've been skipping powder and using Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray which gives such a lovely, luminous finish whilst ensuring my makeup stays put all day.

I always purchase Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream via this seller on eBay for great prices and super quick shipping.

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Do you prefer BB cream over foundation? Have you found your perfect base? Let me know :)