My Drugstore Beauty Favourites

I've been obsessed with Youtube KathleenLights lately and became inspired by her Drugstore'
 and High End favourites video so I've decided to write a blog post letting you know mine.

Base

My favourite foundation at the minute has to be Max Factor Face Finity Three In One and I use this almost every day. It's full coverage, and is a primer, concealer and foundation in one and saves me a lot of time in the morning. Another favourite is the Bourjois Healthy Mix but I've ran out of this.

Like most people, I love the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. I have two tubes on the go at the minute and it covers all spots and dark circles. This is £3.99.

I don't really have a favourite low end primer, but I've been trying out the NYX Angel Veil and I like how it makes my skin feel.

I don't tend to wear much powder, but I love the Rimmel Stay Matte.

Face

The Max Factor Creme Puff Blush are my favourite blushes, and I love the shade Lovely Pink. E.L.F's blush in the shade Candid Coral is also stunning and my go-to Spring/Summer blush.

I love the No 7 highlighter; I dab it on my cheek bones and blend it in with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

The low-end bronzer I use the most is NYX Taupe.

Eyes

I don't really use low end eye primers as eye primers tend to last ages, therefore I'd rather just buy a high end one. However, the Instablur from The Body Shop is very good.

My favourite budget eye shadow palettes and the ones from Sleek. There are so many to choose from and I have three, however, I think my favourite is the Garden of Eden palette with it's smokey greens and purples.

The best low end mascara I've ever tried is the Bourjois Two Seconde mascara; everyone raves about this one. It manages to separate, lengthen and add volume to my lashes.

It's hard to pick one favourite eyeliner, because there are so many different types. The Soap & Glory Smoulder Kohls are incredible; especially the brown one. The best felt liner is the Loreal .
I don't really use liquid liners, but I've not found one that beats the NYC liquid liner.

Lips

Of course, you all know my favourite lip glosses and the butter glosses from NYX. I wrote a review on them here. My favourite shade is Peach Cobbler.

The Rimmel Lasting Finish lipsticks are amazing. I use the shade 'Asia' a lot, which is the perfect dupe for MAC's Brave.

I don't wear lip liners everyday, but the ones I most enjoy using are the Essence Lip Liners. I especially love the shade 'Satin Mauve.'

What are you favourite 'drug store' products? 

Sunday Ramblings // 2

I've not written a 'rambling' post in while. I thought it could have been something I did weekly, but to be honest, my life is just not interesting. I spend most of my time at work, and the rest of my time watching Gossip Girl or reading.

I think in my last post, I spoke about how happy I was for Spring. Today the weather is glorious, and I want nothing more to be able to sit outside with a blanker (it's not that warm yet) and read a good book. However, at the minute, my garden is a pile of mud with pieces of fence everywhere.

We're currently preparing our garden to be turfed, and we're hoping it will be done next weekend. But then we still have to wait a couple of months whilst the turf sets. If anyone would like to see a garden 'before and after' post, please let me know, because although it's time consuming, we're really enjoying preparing our garden for summer.

I recently posted on twitter that I wanted to blog everyday in April, and as you can see, that hasn't happened. I will do it one day, but it's the fact I have to write and take photos for 7 blog posts in one weekend. Although there is still some sunlight when I finish work at 5 now, so perhaps it will happen next month?

Tanya Burr Eye Shadow Palettes // Review

Eyeshadow Quads are my favourite type of palettes. There's something so easy about them; you typically get an all over lid shade, a crease shade, a highlight and a colour that could be used as eyeliner. And more often then not, they're all designed to work together.

Tanya Burr isn't my favourite Youtube out there, but I do like her make up tutorials. I've already reviewed one of her lipglosses, and I own a couple of her polishes. As soon as I saw her palettes, I knew I wanted to try them.

The first palette I bought was Galaxy. All the palettes come in a stiff cardboard packaging, with a large heart shaped mirror. Apart from the fact the outside packaging can get a little grubby with fingerprints, I really have no complaints about it; it feels sturdy and I think it would be suitable for travelling.

I really like the Galaxy palette; it reminds me of shades you'd find in Urban Decay's Naked Smoky, which I do not own. Snowflake is a sparkly white shade, which I use mainly for an inner corner highlight. Moonlight and Stormy Sky are my favourite shades; Moonlight is a pale grey, whilst Stormy Sky is a dusky purple shade. Starry Night isn't a shade I use too often, as it's dark grey and sparkly but it's still very pretty. 

I really like the quality of the shadows and I don't notice much difference between these and my MAC shadows. 

I bought the Hollywood palette a few weeks after Galaxy, as I liked Galaxy so much. Nude Delight is a perfect all over lid shade. However, I love wearing Gold Coin all over the lid,with Book Worm blended into the crease. Enchantment looks absolutely stunning in the pan, however, it's the most dissapointing shade. The fall out is terrible and it does not build up at all. 

Overall, I love these palettes and use them on quite a regular basis. At only £6, they're a steal. I hope she brings out more palettes. Have you tried any Tanya Burr cosmetics?

Take A Peek Inside My Living Room

I'm no interior designer, but when me and husband moved into our first home back in November, I knew exactly how I wanted the house to look. Lucky for us, the house needed completely redecorating before we moved in and the landlord allowed us to choose colours and flooring to our taste.

I'm proud of how our home has turned out and I wanted to show you all a little peek of some of the things we have in our living room.

Here's a list of my favourite home ware shops and the places were we bought most of our stuff from:

-TK Maxx
-Ikea
-H&M
-Asda
-Zara Home
-Tiger
-Urban Outfitters
-Shabby Chic Shops
-Charity Shops
-Craft Fairs

Did you like this post? Would you like to see more 'Peek inside...' posts?

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Sunday Ramblings

I'm slowly getting back into my blogging routine again; it's something I really enjoy doing, but I find it hard to find the time. I've decided to do a little bit more of 'lifestyle' blogging, which is really hard, as I'm at work most of the time, or at home, watching Netflix or reading.

However, I've decided to give it a little go, because somebody might find my ramblings interesting.

This week has felt very 'Spring Like' as as soon as I get that feeling, I have to urge to chuck all of my junk away and try to invent a more organised, healthy version of myself.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before on my blog, but I've been on a diet since January. Although, at this point, I don't think I can call it a diet, because I really feel like these changes will last a life time. I've lost between 10 lbs to a stone (I didn't weigh myself until after a couple of weeks of dieting,) I used to eat so unhealthily, which made me feel like crap all of the time. And although in the last couple of weeks, I have indulged in the odd takeaway, I know it will never get to the point it was before. I want to lose another half a stone to be at my 'target'.

However, I want a couple of strict weeks again, to just get myself back on track.

I had a huge clear out of my make up on Saturday. I own so much I know that I will never use; whether it's old make up palettes I bought before replacing them with high end alternatives (Makeup Revolution Iconic 3, I'm looking at you.) or makeup I received in Glossy Boxes or goody bags from events that are just not my taste/ colour. I felt obliged to keep them, but I know they will be at least used when given to my mum or sister.

I want to do a wardrobe clear out too, but I think I'm going to focus on that next weekend.

Now the nights are lasting longer, I think I'm going to start going on walks in the evening. I get stressed really easily, so at least a nice stroll in the evening will help clear my head.

Lastly, I wanted to mention that I want to start writing again. By this, I mean fiction writing. I studied Creative Writing at University, and I want to one day publish a book (even if it doesn't do very well haha.) I bought a little notebook from TK Maxx to jot down my ideas. I also received a Planner from the Hull Bloggers meet, which I will definitely be using to keep me organised.

Well, that's my first Sunday rambles post over with. How has your week been? Have you been getting the 'Spring feeling' yet?

Kiko Campus Idol Collection*

I recently attended another Hull blogger meet up in which I received four different products from the new Campus Idol Collection from Kiko.

I've tried Kiko make-up previously, buying it from the Bristol shop. However, I get quite overwhelmed walking in as there is so much to choose from! But knowing the quality of the products I already owned, I was excited to try out stuff from their new range.

The design of the products is inspired by American Universities, and they are supposed to create a 'vivacious, rather sassy cheerleader transformed into a true leader with an ironic, casual look when she steps into an urban setting' look, whatever that means. 

I received the campus Idol Face Brush and I can honestly say that I have nothing like this in my collection. It can be used for loose or pressed powders, but due too the sheer size of the brush, I think I'm going to use it to lightly bronze my face. This brush retails for £14.90. 

I also received the Pump It Up Volume and Curl Mascara which retails at £6.20. I haven't used this yet, due to the short expiry dates on mascaras, but I've never tried a Kiko mascara so I'm very curious. I do find the packaging quite bulky compared to some of my other mascaras, but now I'm just being picky. 

Lastly, I received two lip products. To be honest, I think I'm going to give these away, as although I'm sure they're lovely products, they're just not the right colours for me. 

The first one is the Urban Sheen Lipgloss, and I received it in the shade Soft Hydrangea. This retails at £3.40. It's a pretty peachy coral, but it barely shows up on my lips. I would not have said this is a lip gloss, instead a sheer lipstick. I'd love to try another shade of this, maybe 'Fiery Poppy.' 

Lastly, I received the Double Match Lipstick and Lip Liner which retails at £5.50. I got this in the shade Cool Rose and I straight away knew that this would be too light for me. Although I'm pale, my lips are dark and I suit more brown nudes than peachy nudes. It's a shame because in the tube, the colour looks stunning. I really like the concept of this, with the lip liner at one end, and the lipstick at the other. However, the texture was just a bit too creamy for my liking and I think it would end up all over my teeth and chin. I much prefer my Vivid Colour Lipstick Pencil. 

Have you tried any of the new Kiko range? 

*Received in a Goody Bag

Hull Blogger March Meet

I was lucky enough to grab a last minute place to the Hull Bloggers March Meet. Unlike the August meet which was more of an event, this meet up was a lovely meal and catch up with 20 local bloggers.

The meet up took place at Al Porto and I ordered the winter salad which was delicious. There was so much chicken on my plate!

Events can be daunting and I was lucky enough to be surrounded by some familiar faces, but the organisers had written out some questions for us all to ask each other. It was interesting to learn why others had started blogging and what bloggers they follow. 

Of course, no Hull Blogger event is complete without an amazing goody bag. Here are some of the lovely products we were treated too.

I want to thank the organisers (twitter @HBHullBloggers) and a special shout out to Kat (@kjw130384) who couldn't make it as she was ill. I look forward to the next event. 

Check back in tomorrow for the first review of some of the products I received in the goody bag.