Updates - Failing at Blogtober, hip dysplasia and starting university

So you may have noticed that I completely failed at Blogtober, however in my defence I didn't expect four uni assignments given to me in my first two weeks. Moving to uni has been incredible. I'm going to be doing a full post on my uni experience in the near future however I did just want to mention it in this post as it has definitely played a part in my lack of posting in the second half of October. I was also hit with some pretty bad writers block which really didn't help the whole situation. However I really am hoping to get back on the blogging horse and make sure there is lots of content up over the last two months of the year. 

I would love to know what uni related content you guys would like to see as I really am excited to share my experiences. I am also going to be doing some more lifestyle content and am actually going to be putting up a post about my hip dysplasia, which I can make it into a series if you guys want to read it. Other than that there isn't much to update, I would love to know if these snappy update posts are something you would like to see continue or if I should just stick to beauty! 

Blogtober Day 14 - The best drugstore foundations for dry skin

If you hadn't realised I'm on a bit of a base kick and I have tried out so many in the last sixth months it's crazy. No if you are new here you need to know I have very very dry eczema prone skin and although it isn't sensitive if something is too matte and dry my eczema will flare up. Today I thought I would show you some of my favourite budget foundations. 

First off we have the Bourjois Healthy mix serum which is one of my of my oldest foundation loves. This one is a lot dewier than the proper foundation and I just find for me sits much nicer on the skin than the original formula. This one is incredibly dewy so not one if you are oily. The only issue I have with this foundation is the fact that it is very yellow toned which can lead it to looking a little orange of I'm not careful. 

Out of the four I would say that the No7 Lift and luminate foundation is the most satin in finish. Despite this I don't feel like it clings to any dryness and it is something I reach for when I want a slightly fuller coverage base. 

Next up we have the Maybelline dream cushion which is quite similar to the dream satin liquid however I find it's just slightly lower in coverage. Again this sits nicely on the skin not falling into any dryness. The one thing about this is again the fact that the shade is a little dark on me which means I have to be careful when and how I wear it. 

The final foundation I wanted to mention today is the Maxfactor Healthy skin harmony which is actually fairly new to my collection but I have fallen in love with it very quickly. It looks so natural on the skin and has been the perfect everyday foundation for me. Again an issue I have with two other foundations on this list is that the shade is a little dark on me. Other than that I am really loving this foundation at the moment. 

That's it for today, I would love to know what your favourite budget/drugstore foundations?

Blogtober Day 13 - Smashbox studio skin hydrating foundation

You will probably know I am currently on the hunt for a perfect foundation for my very dry skin. Today I thought I would do a review of one I have been really enjoying in the past couple of months. The Smashbox studio skin foundation is a gorgeous medium but buildable coverage with a beautiful dewy finish. This isn't overly dewy but looks and feel comfortable on my dry skin. I find it doesn't fall into any patches or my smile lines which is a problem I have with a lot of the more dewy foundations. In terms of the colour I do feel like this shade is a little too dark despite it being the lightest they do and I also find it a little bit too orange however that is really my only complaint. 

In terms of wear I think this is pretty great. Even after a good 8 hours the coverage is still the same and it only starts to sink into the dry skin on my nose at about the 7 hour mark. I'm not sure I could wear this for fifteen hours however I think that it does the perfect job for an everyday foundation. Something that doesn't bother me is the fact that it doesn't completely set down and that it does feel slightly tacky on the skin. Due to this it will transfer for the first couple of hours however as the skin pulls the moisture out of it it sets down a little more. Obviously this is something which might bother you however I don't mind. 

I absolutely love the packaging on this product I just think it is really simple and easy. Although I feel like the lid is very easy to use as it's so little. 

So that's it for today, have you given this foundation a go? 

Blogtober Day 12 - Liquid highlights from the drugstore.

Everyone is obsessed with the cover FX drops however I wasn't sure how often I would use a formula like that so I put off purchasing them especially as they aren't the most affordable thing ever. However over the past couple of weeks a lot of drugstore brands are catching up with the hype. I actually really love the way these apply and I could definitely see myself picking up the cover FX version at some point. 

So first off we have the Makeup revolution Liquid highlights. These remind me a lot of the cover FX ones in terms of their packaging. These are a little less intense than the Barry M ones however still give the skin the most beautiful glow. The only thing I feel like is missing from this range is a paler shade even the pink is a little dark on me and although they have the unicorn shade which has a purple reflect in it I sort of wish there was a more neutral white based shade. 

So going through the shades we have Unicorn elixir which is a white base with a purple reflect and is gorgeous for if you want something different. Then we have liquid starlight which is a rose pink shade which for me is verging on being to dark. Then finally from Makeup revolution I have liquid luminous gold which is a medium gold shade which I am only going to be able to wear when I am either fake tanned or naturally tanned. 

Unicorn, Starlight, Luminous gold, At first light, Precious pearl.

Moving onto the Barry M Liquid chrome drops. For me I actually prefer the square bottles as I just find them a little easier to store. That being said for someone with not as much makeup as me this probably isn't so much of an issue. I also find the dropper is much better on these ones actually taking up the product into the pipette. I feel like texture wise these are definitely a little runnier than the MR ones so they do blend into the skin a little more naturally. I also find that even though there is less shades in this range they are more diverse.

Onto the shades I have first is Precious pearl which is a white base with a pink duo chrome running through it. This is gorgeous and I have to say is probably my favourite shade out of the five I have from these two brands. The other shade I have from Barry M is the shade at first light which is a slightly paler version of Makeup revolutions Starlight shade. In terms of a rose toned highlight this one is definitely more suited to a paler skin tone. 

Blogtober Day 11 - Collection Lip colour's

Okay let's just start off by saying this is the worst name for a lip product ever. Moving on from that today I thought I would talk about one of my favourite lip launches of this year.  At the moment all lip related launches seem to be matte. now don't get me wrong a I love a good matte lip as much as the next blogger however my very dry lips do not and sometimes they need a break. 

These lipsticks have a gorgeous sheen too them and have an incredibly comfortable moisturising feeling on the lips. I also love the shades, they are six classics which you just can't go wrong with. First off we have fudge delight which is your classic browny nude shade, then we have cherished pink which is a bright bubblegum pink, berry blush which is a berry mauvey shade and is definitely my favourite. The fourth shade is blissful peach which to me is more of an orange shade which reminds me a little of Mac morange. Then we have London red which is a more pinky toned red shade and finally we have plum diva which as the name suggests is a gorgeous plum shade. 

The bullets on these lipsticks are flat meaning that you do have to be careful when applying in order to get a precise line and I would definitely recommend a lip liner with the darker shades in order to neaten it up a little bit. As you will know if you are a regular reader I love packaging that shows the colours so this is perfect for me as I can easily pick the colour I want out of my collection. 

Thinking about lasting power I get a good 5 or 6 hours out of these which is super impressive considering the fact that they are so moisturising and comfortable. The only issue I have with them is that they aren't transfer proof however that is the nature of the formula so I can forgive that. 

So that's it for today, overall I would 100% recommend these especially for the bargain price of £2.99. I'd love to know whether you have tried these and what you thought. 

Blogtober Day 10 - Urban decay All nighter foundation.

I have heard so many good things about this foundation however I was a little concerned that on my dry skin it wouldn't sit too well. However after seeing Kathleen lights talk about it on her channel I was just too intrigued and had to give it a go. 

I have to say I'm not normally a super full coverage girl as I just find that they always look so dry on my already very dry skin. However I do love a full coverage look sometimes and I was so glad that this one worked for me. This is incredibly high coverage, now I wouldn't say I had bad skin and I am lucky enough to be out of my breakout stage so I can't comment on how this would sit on acne however this covers up redness beautifully and leaves the skin looking completely flawless. you can definitely tell you have this foundation on the skin however it doesn't feel super heavy you just know it's there. 

Shade wise I have the same shade I have in the Naked foundation which is 0.5, the lightest shade there is. I do find that although this on initial application is lighter than the Naked skin it does oxidise and I would say goes at least an entire shade darker which for casper the ghost people isn't ideal. On initial first impression I didn't notice the oxidation however once I'd worn it a couple of times and paid attention to it it became obvious. In terms of wear I find that this wears beautifully on my skin and other than on my nose (which is the driest place on my face) I don't find it clings or sinks into any dry patches. 

If you'd like to see a full wear test of the foundation don't forget to check out my latest video!  

Blogtober Day 9 - Maybelline super stay matte ink

Matte liquid lipsticks are everywhere at the moment, these aren't the first liquid lipstick from Maybelline. They already have a duel sided one with a balm on one end. They also have a more mousse like formula, these are somewhere in the middle they are almost a slightly gloss like formula however once they are on the lips they set down to a matte formula. I have to say these are one of the strangest formulas of liquid lip I have tried but I have been really been enjoying them. they aren't the most hydrating formula and do slightly pick up on any dryness. However as long as the lips are prepped well there isn't a problem. 

05,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50

When pressing the lips together they do feel slightly tacky however are still transfer proof and I don't have a problem with hair sticking to them or anything like that. I feel like for a new launch the shade range is pretty good. I have all ten shades and they range from a really beautiful pinky nude to a super deep berry red.  I love the fact that the packaging shows the shade super clearly which for me as I have a huge collection is super useful. The doe foot applicator has a dip in the middle which holds product meaning that you have the perfect amount of product to do the lips. 

The one negative about these is the fact that the darker shades do need a little bit of work. I find the product is just a little easier to work with when it is warmed up slightly so that avoids any streakiness. 

I would love to know if you have given these a go and what you think if them. 

Blogtober Day 8 - My favourite concealers for Dry skin

I love concealer, in fact I may even be a little obsessed with finding the perfect concealer for my very dry skin. Today I thought I would share my favourites with you. 

Rimmel Match perfection - Out of all of these concealers this one offers the least coverage out of the six. It works so gorgeous under the eyes and sits really well without falling into the creases under the eyes. This one is very comfortable to wear and for me is the perfect everyday concealer. 

Nars Radiant creamy - This one is the driest out of all of them however it still sits comfortably and doesn't fall into any dryness. This one definitely offers a higher coverage than the Rimmel one. As this one is a little drier I wouldn't put it anywhere around my nose as it would be a little too dry however for under my eyes this one is lovely. 

Mac Prolongwear - This one is the highest coverage out of the six it works beautifully anywhere on the skin and has a little dew to it so for me it's perfect as I love my dewy skinned looks. Even though this is dewy and creamy it doesn't move about or crease under the eyes. The only thing about this one is that I hate the packaging a lot like everyone else as the pump is just so hard to manage. 

NYX HD - This one is like a slightly more hydrating version of the creamy concealer which means that it is perfect for all over the face. out of all of the drugstore concealers I have tried this one is definitely my favourite and is one I would recommend to everyone no matter what their budget is. 

Urban Decay Naked skin - This is one of the most talked about concealers in the blogging world and for good reason. It offers a good amount of coverage but looks incredibly natural on the skin. I also love the foundation in this line too and together they make the most gorgeous pairing. I love wearing this again on the everyday. 

Clarins Instant - This is one of the most under hyped concealers ever. It is so lightweight but offers the most gorgeous high coverage. I find this one works anywhere on the face and you could even wear it as foundation if you wanted too. This is another one perfect for everyday. 

Blogtober Day 7 - The best drugstore mascara

Oh this mascara has certainly done it's rounds recently and I have to say it is one of the best I have ever tried. I'm personally not the biggest fan of volumising mascaras I tend to prefer ones which length and add definition to my lashes. I also tend to prefer a natural bristle brush as I find it does a better job of separating the lashes. I feel like this mascara is just the perfect combination of all those things. Not only does it do all this with one coat I also find I can build it up a good extra couple of coats and it doesn't start making the lashes clump. The other thing I have an issue with when it comes to mascaras is the fact that they end up half way down my face by the end of the day. This one I find although not completely waterproof is a good 95% meaning I would basically have to spray myself directly in the eyes with water or watch the notebook to get it to move. 

Overall I just think this is the perfect mascara for both the daytime and more glam wear as it just makes the lashes look so beautiful. I'd love to know what your opinions on this product are. 

Blogtober Day 6 - Five favourites - Essence

Essence is one of my all time favourite super budget brands. Today I thought I would carry on with my five favourites series and talk about all my favourites from the brand. Essence are super duper budget however despite the low price I do find myself incorporating their products into my everyday routine. 

First off we have the camouflage concealer which is one of the best super high coverage drugstore concealers I've tried. Even though it is quite thick it sits really nicely under my eyes and doesn't fall into any dry patches on my skin. It offers some serious coverage and the shade I own is perfect for my super pale skin which I find is a big problem with some super budget concealers. 

The matt blushes are my all time favourite super budget blushes, they are the most beautiful soft formula and they blend on the skin like an absolute dream. they look so beautiful and natural. I also love the satin touch blushes, the only difference with those os that they have a slight sheen in them. 

The Luminous bronzer is the most perfect glowy bronzer for paler skins it hasn't got too much orange in it but it stills adds that bronzy glow to the skin without being ashy. This did have a little overspray over it however it wasn't overly shimmery. I also like the fact that this has a slightly lighter shade in the middle as it means you can choose to an extent how dark it it. 

The volume stylist mascara is one of the best budget mascaras I have tried coming a close second after the L'oreal paradise mascara. It does a really nice job of adding some length and volume to the lashes without making them super clumpy which is a problem I have with a lot of other really low budget mascaras. 

Finally we have the Matt matt matt lipsticks which are beautifully creamy, comfortable satin finish lipsticks. These remind me of the Mac matte formulas (the good ones). Over the range they have a good amount of shades and I really hope they bring out some more shades. I will be putting up a full review of these so keep an eye out. 

Blogtober Day 5 - Indeed labs - Hydraluron and Nanoblur

Hydraluron* and Nanoblur*

I've been meaning to try the indeed labs range for such a long time now so when I was offered the opportunity to give some products a go I jumped at the chance. They sent over both their Hydraluron* which is a super intense hydrating serum and the Nanoblur* which really subtly blurs pores without feeling silicone like on the skin. I've actually been using this one as a primer as it just creates the perfect base for makeup on my dry skin as it both smooths and adds a little hydration. 

I've been reaching for hydralauron at night as it is incredibly hydrating however in no way is it greasy at all. Even though this packs a serious punch moisture wise I feel like it would work for any skin type as it is super lightweight. I feel like this definitely deals with dehydration of the skin rather than the actual dryness however combined with my usual serum and moisturiser it has done an incredible job of making my Sahara dry skin just a little more manageable. 

Nanoblur as I mentioned above is something I've been reaching for as a primer. I find it really helps to make pores appear reduced without the silicone feeling which I know some people really hate. Due to this one helping to improve signs of ageing it also offers a nice amount of hydration. I don't find this prolongs the wear of makeup however I just thing in general is helps it to sit better and also stops my skin drinking it up. 

I'd love to know what you have tried from Indeed?

Blogtober Day 4 - Armani Luminous silk - is it worth the hype?

Everyone loves this foundation, I genuinely don't think I've ever heard anything bad said about it and I expected to really love it however I have to say I wasn't half as impressed as I thought I would be. I don't hate it but I don't love it the way I expected too. 

First off the packaging is so gorgeous, it feels really luxe with the frosted glass and the bootle feels super heavy. I also love the fact it has a pump, far too many super luxe foundations don't have pumps so I really like the fact that this one does. I have the shade 2 which is the lightest shade which was available on Feel unique and although it is a little too yellow in tone for me I find that I can get it to work as long as it is blended nicely down the neck. 

Overall I expected this to be at least a medium coverage verging on high however I found that this was just too sheer. I like a sheer coverage foundation however paired with the fact that the formula is a little drier I just don't like the combination with the sheer coverage. I think the main reason I wasn't impressed with it was the fact that it doesn't look a whole lot luminous on my skin. I like a really dewy, really glowy foundation so for me I just find it a little too dry. I was super surprised by this as so many people love this foundation and I have heard so many people with dry skin talk about it so much. 

I feel like it is more of a satin formula rather than something which is really luminous which is what I expected from it initially. I do like this foundation for times when I am being super good with my skincare routine and my skin is more hydrated than normal however it isn't something I'm going to be reaching for on a regular basis like so many others. I feel like the YSL touche éclat foundation is very like what I expected the formula of this to be. 

Overall I think if you haven't got super duper dry skin you will really love this however I think for me my skin is just too dry. I would love to know what you think of this foundation. 

Blogtober Day 3 - September favourites

It's been a while since I've written a proper favourites post however I've decided to scrap my monthly makeup posts as I felt like they were getting a little too repetitive as I have a bad habit of sticking to the same base products and brow products all the time. I just feel like these kind of posts are just going to be a much better representation of what I'm really loving. I am actually switching it up even more as I'm also going to include any lifestyle and fashion favourites in too!

Starting off with lifestyle and fashion we have this gorgeous scarf from new look. I already have a big blanket scarf however it has much deeper more typical autumn colours where as I just liked that this one is a little different and I do love anything baby pink. I think this was also only around the fifteen pound mark so nice and affordable for a really lovely quality scarf. My other lifestyle type favourite this month has to be uni. I just feel like I have settled in so easily and don't get me wrong I miss home like mad but I also love being here. I am going to be doing a full post on my first month at uni so make sure you keep an eye out for that one.

So first off we have Paw paw balm, this is just the best for basically any dryness however over this month I have been slathering it all over my lips and it has been an absolute saviour, this one has no tint in it so just adds a little sheen to the lips. Moving onto makeup I have been loving the YSL Touche eclat foundation. it is the most beautiful medium coverage with a dewy finish and I just think it is perfect for my dry skin type. The only issue I have with it is that the colour is a little off however paired with a couple of lightening drops it's not an issue.

Everyone loves the Maybelline Eraser eye however I always found it too dark, however I managed to find a tube of the brightener shade in my local Superdrug and I am so happy. This is a very pink toned shade which works perfectly on my skin tone. The main reason I love this concealer is that it is so comfortable under the eyes and doesn't fall into the dry patches which is a huge problem I have with drier concealer formulas. 

Finally I have a couple of products for the eyes, the first is the Essence Metal shock shadow in Stars and stories which is just a stunning rose gold shade which almost looks slightly glossy on the lids yet doesn't move at all. I have even tested it on a night out and it stayed firmly on my lids. Then finally we have the Anastasia Subculture palette. I know this isn't the easiest thing to work with however if you have seen my review you will know that now I am used to working with the formula of the shadows I actually really enjoy it. The shadows are crazy pigmented and I personally find they blend really nicely both on top of a primer and without.

So that's it for this months favourites, I'd love to know what you have been loving recently. 

Blogtober Day 2 - Violet Voss Holy grail palette

Oh my days this is a palette legitimately actually sent from the heavens, you probably all know that I am a warm toned shadow girl (Isn't everyone these days). This is one of those palettes that just has everything you need. Not only does it have the warm tones it also has the pink tones and some more basic neutrals. It has three textures, your basic mattes which are super creamy and bendable with minimal kick up, satin shadows which again are incredibly beautiful and then you have the super metallics which are just incredible. They're incredibly buttery and are perfect for things like Halo eyes. 

Overall the formula of these is super consistent and there are no dud's in the palette which I feel is something which happens far too often in shadow palettes. I'm not the biggest fan of the cardboard packaging however it is a fairly sturdy cardboard and does have a nice strong magnet which is a big issue I have with palettes with this type of packaging. It also has a huge mirror which is super handy especially if I am doing my makeup away from my dressing table.

Moving onto the shades...

Crystal - A slightly shimmery cream shade.

Ploof - A light slightly purple pink shimmer.

Thanks a latte - A completely matte cream.

Transition - A warm toned matte brown.

Hashtag - A true medium orange shade.

Awesome sauce - An orange toned pale golden shade.

Bestie - A matte slightly more neutral brown than transition.

Toffee - An incredible gold metallic shade.

Chill - A more neutral toned gold.

Top two rows from left to right. 

How u doin - A shimmery medium red toned copper.

Bat my eyes - A classic neutral chocolate brown shimmer.

Cool beans - A cool toned slightly golden taupe shade.

R U Kitten me - A orange toned brown which is slightly deeper than Transition.

So Jelly - A duo chrome pinky, peachy gold.

On fleek - A medium cranberry shimmer with an almost orange duo chrome.

Bottom two rows from left to right. 

Brownie points - A classic deep matte brown with a slight warm tone.

Teddy bear - A very dark very red toned brown.

Glamping - Similar to Teddy but shimmery.

Cranberry Splash - A much deeper cranberry shade than on fleek with less orange.

Wine N dine - A pinky red matte shade. 

Blogtober Day 1 - Mac Lipstick collection

So I'm going to attempt to do a post every day this month so we will see how that goes, however today I thought I would kick it all off with a Mac lipstick collection as who doesn't love them! So without further ado lets get on with the post. 

Yash - Matte - A orange toned matte nude shade, this one is pretty pale however I love the way it looks both with a deeper liner or a light liner underneath.

Creme Cup - Cremesheen - A very pale pink nude shade, for me this one just doesn't look good and also makes my teeth look super yellow. 

Fleur de force - Cremesheen - This is pretty much my perfect nude shade, it's a perfect browny nude and with it being a creme sheen it is incredibly comfortable. 

Modesty - Cremesheen - This is a much more pinky toned nude, again it's another brilliant everyday nude shade. 

Viva Glam V - Lustre - I'm not one for shimmery lipsticks however this one just looks so beautiful on the lips. It's a gorgeous very sheer pinky nude.

Whirl - Matte - Everyone seems to love this shade, it is a deeper nude shade and I have to say I find I don't really use this enough. I'm not quite sure what it is I just find it doesn't look half as good on me as it does on so many others. 

Brave - Satin - This is another pinky nude (Can you sense a theme) This one is a little sheerer and a little deeper and has a gorgeous slightly glossy finish. 

Twig - Satin - This one is actually very similar to Brave just a little deeper and a bit more orange toned meaning it would definitely be the one to go for if you didn't want something too pink. 

Mehr - Matte - Possibly the pinkest out of all the nude shades this one is one of my all time favourite lipsticks. It has a super comfortable matte finish and in my opinion is just perfect for everyday. 

Syrup - Lustre - This is most definitely a my lips but better colour (I hate that phrase) but in this case it's true. This just adds some gloss to my lips and makes them look super plump and hydrated. 

Amorous - Satin - Moving onto the more berry shades, this is a beautiful berry nude shade which is perfect for this transition into autumn makeup.

Brick O La - Amplified - This was one of the first Mac lipsticks I feel in love with and I still love it to this day. It's a gorgeous terracotta shade again perfect for this time of year. 

Morange - Amplified - This is the most intense bright orange, what I love about this one is that it isn't a matte shade as in the summer I tend to prefer a hydrating lip, meaning this is both the perfect summer colour and the perfect summer formula. 

Lady danger - Matte - This one is a cult classic, an orange toned matte red which again is one I get a lot of use out of in the summer.

Chilli - Matte - This is more of an autumnal red shade as it is much deeper however it does still have a slight orange tone to it. 

Up the Amp - Amplified - This is a shade I don't wear often but I absolutely love every time I do wear it. It's a gorgeous bright purple shade which I very pigmented and perfect for a pop of colour. 

Breathing fire - Matte - This is a bright barbie pink shade with a matte finish and there isn't a whole lot more to say.

Rebel - Satin - This is such a classic lip shade, on me it looks a little more pink however on some people it is a lot deeper. I think this one really depends on what skin tone you have to what shade it is. 

Diva - Matte - A red toned berry shade which is a gorgeous winter shade, this is one of the more drying matte lipsticks from Mac. 

Sin - Matte - This one is very similar to Diva however it is a little more brown toned and has a little less purple in it. I also find the formula of this one is a touch less drying however I do still love both of them. 

Antique velvet - Matte - A very red toned brown shade, it isn't actually one I've had the chance to wear much yet however it's a gorgeous shade and I can see myself getting a lot of wear out of it again in the autumn months. 

Viva Glam Arianna Grande - Cremesheen - I love the shade of this one but I absolutely despise the fact that it is a cremesheen finish. It smudges all over the face and just doesn't look great but the colour is stunning so I do wear it from time to time when I know I'm not going to be eating or drinking or anything like that.

Stone - Matte - This is a browny griege shade and again is not one I often reach for. I find the griege on my very pale skin just makes me look a bit dead so it's one I only tend to wear when I have a lot of bronzer on.

Matte royal - Matte - The final shade is this gorgeous royal blue which I wear a lot more than you think I would. I love a blue lip and I find this one works nicely on it's own but also looks fab as a base for NYX's Jet set liquid suede. 

So that's it for today, I would love to know what your favourite Mac shades are and what you have on your Wishlist!