Urban Decay Naked Heat Look 1

Now I feel I should say that I really love using this palette with other products - it goes really well with the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette but when I review a product I think of those people who don't necessarily want a ton of palettes. What I want is to be able to do a lot of looks from barely there to really dramatic for me this palette is quite full-on even when you are trying not to be. I feel for the consumer at this price point (£39.50) I'd want a little bit more versatility.

That being said when I do wear it with other products - quite often a browner cream shadow used as a primer works well - I get lots of compliments! All products listed below as are links to any product reviews featured on this blog.

NYX HD Eye Shadow Base
Urban Decay Naked Heat
L'Oreal Perfect Slim liner
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
Origins GinZing Tinted Moisturiser
Pixi Correction Concentrate
Collection Lasting Perfection concealer
Daniel Sandler Customisable colour for cheeks 
Illamasqua Hollow Cream pigment
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
Cover FX Loose Powder
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Mac Smoulder eye kohl
Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Lip Pencil in 714
Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect Lipstick

My Reviews:
Urban Decay Naked Heat
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
Pixi Correction Concentrate
Daniel Sandler Customisable colour for cheeks 

Some links are affiliate links which means I will get a small commission if you click through and buy from them. There is no extra cost to you and if you are not comfortable with that then do feel free to open a separate window and google the product for yourself

5 Minute Heatwave Make-up

You probably know we have been having a heatwave here in the UK. I usually get cross with the term heatwave because, well it's summer, it's just summer not a heatwave, but 33 degrees celcius is pretty much as hot as the UK gets so I'll let it through this time (and even include it in the title of this video!).

It's not a glamorous look but it makes me feel less washed out and gross and like I can pick the kids up from nursery without making the other children weep with fright. This might be good if you work in an office and can't quite bear to wear foundation. It's too hot hear for me to even bother with tinted moisturiser - though I'm desperate to try the new one from Origins.

Glowy Summer Skin video

The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Protect Lotion SPF 30
Nudestix Magnetic Eye Colour in Angel
No 7 Stay Perfect Shade & Define in Cool Mink
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara
Cover FX Setting Powder
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
NARS Sun Wash Bronzer in Seaside
Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner in Nobody's Baby
La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water

Summer Glowy Skin Day to Night video

Though I don't deliberately go for a 'look' most of the time I am aware that pregnancy often makes me look tired and spotty and so when I know I am seeing people or when I am not feeling my best I do tend to try and make my skin look as glowing as possible. To hide the fact that it's actually quite dull and lumpy at the moment.

Every time I do this make-up I get told how amazing I look and that's enough for me. I also wear it all day and just add a bit more definition and highlight if I'm going out or seeing people in the evening. For this to be as natural as possible I try to use most cream/liquid products so everything can be seamlessly blended (I then whack powders on in the evening!)

The first part of this make-up is what I do in the morning. I love the Estee Lauder EE cream as it has an SPF 30 (I'm on the hunt for a great powder SPF to top up with during the day). The second part is what I add in the evening before/during/after kids bathtime. It may look that I'm adding extra highlight or blusher on top of stuff that's already there but that's just for the purposes of this video. Imagine that 10 hours have passed...

If you haven't already then please subscribe to my channel, do leave me a comment (you'll make a pregnant woman very happy... unless it's a mean one). All products are listed below (some may be affiliate links) as are links to any reviews or videos mentioned.

Louise Young Studio 54 face of the day
The Ordinary Lactic Acid review

Louise Young Eye Trio Studio 54
Collection #YourStyleYourMood
NYX HD Eyeshadow Base
L'Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim
Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
Estee Lauder EE Cream
Dr Hauschka Tinted Day Cream
Pixi Correction Concentrate
Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer
NYX Wonderstick
Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blushes in Rose Glow and Golden Glow
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Cover FX Illuminating Translucent Powder
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Dangerous
Urban Decay and Gwen Stefani Rock Steady Lip Liner
Ilia Polka Dots and Moonbeams Illuminator
Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow
Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit
MAC Smoulder
Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara

Holiday Makeup

This is a bit of a long one but having done a blog post on how to pack your wash bag (link below) I thought it might be useful to see what I took on holiday with me make-up wise. I know this is a lot more than some of you but for me this is travelling light!

I spend most of a pool holiday with no make-up on but when we go out I put a little on. I take a few things that I am trying out and the everything else either has to be running out, easy to replace or a mult-tasker.

As always if you haven't already then please subscribe to my channel.

All products are listed below - I've put an * next to ones mentioned or shown that aren't actually used in this video. If you see a product that you like you can always check out the directory on the blog (link below) to see a full review. If there isn't one and you'd like to see it then send me a message!

Blog product directory
How to Pack your Wash Bag

Em-J Brush roll (personal which I don't think she makes anymore)
The Makeup Armoury Canvas Pouch
Rosie for Autograph Cream Eye Shadow Stick (Sparkle & Magic shown)
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (in Iced Mocha and Yoghurt)*
NYX HD Eye Shadow Base*
Accessorize Palette from years ago
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit
L'Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim
MAC Smoulder Eye Kohl*
Lancome Artliner*
Urban Decay Perversion mascara
Dr Jart Premium BB Cream*
Clarins Wrinkle Control SPF50*
Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation
Bobbi Brown Corrector in light bisque
Laura Mercier Caviar Eyeliner in Midnight*
Maybelline Better Skin Concealer
Kiko Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush in 02 Golden Peach
Daniel Sandler Waterbrush
NYX Wonder stick
Louise Young Blusher (in Mae and Dolly)
Cover FX Illuminating Setting Powder
Dior Rouge Baume in Lili
Louise Young Lip trio in Enigma*
MUD Lipstick in Lucky*
MAC lip pencil in Whirl
Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Lip Pencil in 714
Ilia Tinted Lip Balm in Nobody's Baby

Brushes:
Real Techniques Blush Brush
Daniel Sandler Waterbrush
Eco Tools Define*
Real Techniques Contour Brush
Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
Louise Young LY16
Crown Brush BK38 Round Crease
Eco Microblending
Louise Young LY19
Laura Mercier Smokey Liner *
Eco Tools Angled Crease
Real Techniques Brow
Real Techniques Base shadow
Real Techniques shading brush
Eco Tools Spoolie
Louise Young LY16*
Bobbi Brown Lip Brush
Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Face of the Day 27th April 2017

The light's a bit off in this video - sorry about that it's the crazy English spring weather and the fact that I have to set up and film in the brief moments when I am child-free and the builders are not drilling right, next, to, my, head.

I've been loving eye shadow sticks at the moment (more on that to follow) but one that I get almost scared of using is the Colour Chameleon from Charlotte Tilbury because in my head, Bronze Garnet is incredibly orange. It's not. Every time I use it I'm reminded of what a great product this is and how annoying Tilbury is with her cleverness.

All products and reviews are linked below. If you haven't already then do go and subscribe to my channel and now you can sign-up to get a monthly email from me with everything that has been on the blog for that month.

Reviews:
Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon
Lancome Hypnose Drama
Pixi Correction concentrate 

Products:
Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon (bronzed garnet)
L'Oreal Perfect Slim Liner
Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Liner
Laura Mercier Smokey Liner Brush
Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara
MAC Smoulder eye liner
Origins Make a Difference plus +
Joan Collins Ten Effects Skin Treats Spray
Daniel Sandler Invisible Radiance Foundation
Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer
Pixi Correction Concentrate
Cover FX Translucent Powder
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
Ilia Multistick in Tenderly
Louise Young Blusher in Coop
Daniel Sandler Radiant Glow Illuminating Powder
MAC Lip Pencil in Soar
Dior Baume Rouge in Lili
Maybelline Brow Drama
Hourglass Diffused Light Powder

Face of the Day - 7th April 2017

It's rare for me to do the same make-up every day. However, for the past couple of weeks with illness, pregnancy, building works and various other things I kept reaching for the Louise Young eye trios as they are so quick to use and work so beautifully. So that's the main feature of this face of the day.

I had moisturised with my Clarins SPF50 Anti-Wrinkle cream beforehand - which I suspect may not be helping with my skin at the moment. However it works well under make-up if you give it time to settle in and sometimes I like a high SPF on my face. I also don't do anything to my brows in this because I filmed a brow video straight after which will be up in the next couple of weeks as part of a new series.

If you haven't already then please subscribe to my channel and leave me a comment either here or there! All products are listed below as are any previous reviews, videos, posts mentioned.

Basic Brush kit blog post

Clarins SPF50 Anti-wrinkle cream
Louise Young Eye Trios (Festival and Studio 54)
NYX HD Eye Base
Louise Young LY19 brush 
Real Techniques Shading Brush
Crown Brush Crease Brush
L'Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim
MAC Smoulder Eye Kohl
Louise Young LY16 Brush
Elizabeth Arden Double Density Mascara
Daniel Sandler Invisible Radiance Foundation and Concealer
Charlotte Tilbury Retoucher
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Laura Mercier Camoflague Powder Brush
Eco Tools Micro Blending Brush 
Cover FX Translucent Powder 
Louise Young LY13 Brush
Ilia Multistick in Tenderly
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush and Mood Exposure
Ilia Illuminator in Sway
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light 
NYX Gloss in 22 Natural

Subtle Blue Liner Video

At the end of 2015 Urban Decay released the Gwen Stefani palette which I loved from the get go but has been one of the most requested how-to videos I've had. A lot of you have bought this but find you are using the same colours over and over so I've come up with a few looks using some of the more unusual colours in the palette.

If you don't have this palette but have a tricky blue that you want to use then go for it! All products used are listed below

If you haven't already then please subscribe to my channel!




Make A Difference +
By Terry Touche Veloutee concealer
Gwen Stefani Urban Decay Palette
Louise Young LY19 brush
Real Techniques Starter Set
MAC Eye Kohl Smoulder
Urban Decay Peversion Mascara
Dr Hauschka Tinted Day Cream
Estee Lauder EE Cream
Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
Cover FX Loose Powder
Laura Mercier Camouflage Powder Brush
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Rose Glow
Daniel Sandler Waterbrush
Maybelline Brow Drama in Medium Brown
Hourglass Ambient Light Powder in Diffused Light
Eyeko Fat Brush Mascara

Cover FX Custom Infusion Drops

I have a confession to make. I have been using, and liking these for months, but wasn't going to review because they just feel like a gimicky product that I shouldn't like. But then I remembered why I started this blog in the first place so here's the review.

Years and years ago Benefit made Talk to the Tan which was a sort of weird instant tan thing that I used to add to my winter foundation to warm it up or to my moisturiser to make a tinted moisturiser. A little went a long way. When I went to re-buy it they no longer did it anymore and I could never understand why it hadn't taken off. In fact why were there not more products to help you change the foundations and moisturisers you already own? One of the complaints I hear most is people spending money on a foundation only to find it is the wrong colour or texture when they've used it themselves at home. Why are there not more things available to solve this problem? Well Cover FX have both sorted, (more on the Custom Cover drops later) I've been trying out the Hydration (Type F + Neroli) and Radiance (Type C + Lemongrass) Custom Infusion Drops for quite some time and having been pretty dismissive of them at first I now use them by choice, not just because I'm testing them out.

Face of the Day 20th November 2013 - Friday Video

So the reason I set up a YouTube channel was to film my make-up everyday... I've not succeeded in that yet. I WILL but for now here's Wednesday 20th November 2013.

Products used:

Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturiser in Ivory
Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in No 13
Urban Decay Naked
L'Oreal Perfect Slim Liner in Black
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 3
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Yves Saint Laurent Babydoll Mascara in Black
MUA 3 in 1 Contour Pen
Real Techniques Brushes
Daniel Sandler Blending Brush
Cover FX Translucent Setting Powder
Benefit Sugarbomb
Sleek Makeup Face Form in Light

Make-Up I took on Holiday - Friday Video

I usually take about three bags of make-up on holiday with me to cover every possible eventuality... no I don't know either, but this year I took one. Yes one. Here's what was in it...

Subtle Contour for Jo - Friday Video

My friend Jo is getting married and although she is doing her own make-up on the day I've been helping her chose what products to use. One of the products I recommended is Hollow by Illamasqua as a contour. I wasn't able to see her to show her how to use it beforehand so I did a video. Because it's so specific and I needed to film it and get it posted as soon as possible it's a bit longer than normal but hopefully helpful!

Laura Mercier Moisturising Foundation
MAC Paint Pot in Painterly
MAC Pigment in Aurura
L'Oreal Perfect Slim liner
Laura Mercier Caviar Liner
Eyeko Fat Brush Mascara
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
Cover FX Setting Powder
Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow
Sugarbomb by Benefit
Real Techniques Brushes

Blue Liner - Friday Video

I always wear black eyeliner so the other day I was brave and went for blue instead... You don't have to use as many blues as I did and it's also a great look for those of you who hate using brushes most of this can be done without.

Products used:

NARS Sheer Glow in Santa Fey
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 03
Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in 13
Sleek Oh So Special Palette
Zao Pearly Eye Shadow in 104
Eyeko Skinny Liner in Navy Blue
Barry M Supersoft Pencil in No 4
Inika pencil in 08 Peacock Blue
Rimmel Scadal'eyes
Cover FX Setting Powder in Light
Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow
Maybelline Dreamtouch Blush
Lancome L'absolu rouge in 66
Real Techniques brushes

Cover FX Skin Prep

There seem to be quite a few primers coming out on the high street at the moment (some of which I'm in the process of trying out) and I love that there are more reasonably priced products on offer. However, I think some products are worth spending a bit of money on and a great primer is one of those things. I'm a huge fan of Laura Mercier's Foundation Primer and it has a regular place in my professional kit but it has some competition.

Cover FX do three primers but the Skin Prep is the most versatile. Incredibly matifying I think this would be a great alternative primer for those with oily skin, it really smooths the skin and provides a lovely base for foundation. I've also found that you need less of your foundation because this primer optimises coverage to make it go much further. You can use it as an anti-ageing serum as it helps reduce the sign of fine lines (which I've yet to see... I don't have that many yet) and does reduce pores.

I've tried a lot of primers and this really does make a visible difference and is even lovely on it's own with a bit of concealer where necessary. My only problem with it is the price - £44 for 30ml is a lot of money even for a product as good as this. I'm going to keep it in my pro-kit with the Laura Mercier (a more reasonable £28 and nearly as good) to use as and when I need it and, if you have money to spend, this is a great product but I'm wondering how much better it will be compared to the cheaper alternatives appearing on the high street. I'll have to let you know.

Everyday Lana del Ray Inspired - Friday Video

I really loved this look in Vogue (March 2012) - it's not dissimilar to how I often do my makeup anyway but with a bit of a pinky twist. I've left the lashes off to make this more everyday wearable but this look would look great with Eyelure intense lashes or any corner lashes you can find. So this isn't a tutorial on how to do the makeup exactly... this is just the picture that inspired it...

Products used:

Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream
Chanel Vitalumier Aqua foundation (in 10 beige)
Sleek Makeup Eye Palette in Oh So Special
Marks and Spencer Limited Collection Bronzing powder (in Light)
Prestige Cosmetics liquid liner (in black)
DiorShow Extase Mascara (in black)
Bobbi Brown Corrector (in Light Bisque)
Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer (in 03 Medium)
MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy
MAC blush in Pink Swoon
Cover FX translucent setting powder
No 7 Lip Pencil (in Nude)
MAC tinted lip conditioner in Petting Pink

Nail Varnish is Pillar Box Red by Butter London

Cover FX Translucent Setting Powder

I had the nicest make-over with Penny at Cover FX in Harvey Nichols and loved the products she used. For one reason or another I haven't got any to try out at home until now and one of the things I have been trying is the Translucent setting powder which I still love. It's not cheap at £29 an not very manageable in terms of size and packaging but really sets foundation fantastically without being at all heavy and actually leaves the skin feeling incredibly smooth.

I've been using this with a brush or just lightly dusting it over my foundation with my hands and I really like it. It allows just enough shine through so that the skin looks naturally healthy. I'm struggling a bit with the Cover FX foundation I'm trying out at the moment but as far as the powder goes I'm just loving it and really recommend going and checking them out if you've never heard of them before. They have some amazing products - I'm desperate to try their brightening primer next. Penelope at the Harvey Nichols counter does wonderful makeovers if you want a treat xx