February Favourites

Hello everyone! Hope you're all well.

Today I'm doing my February favourites and I have quite a few products to show you.

I went of a few shopping sprees as there was so many products I had on my list to try out.

Hope you enjoy!

Elegant Touch Totally Bare Oval 002

I'm just getting into long nails and I wanted to try something not as permanent as acrylic. These are perfect for

that! They look so real and natural and are so incredibly easy to apply. They come in a white/opaque colour so

it's easy to apply any nail polish you want. I applied a nude polish on top and I got so many compliments and

no one knew they were fake!

Bold Metals Collection by Real Techniques 301 Flat Contour

I bought this a month or two ago and I'm really loving it. It's the best contour brush I've used and for such a good

price. I love the look of these brushes as well and look so pretty sat on my desk!

Bold Metals Collection by Real Techniques 200 Oval Shadow

I just bought this brush and have only used it a few times but it's such a great staple brush. It blends shadow so

easily and quickly and is just a dream to use.

Maybelline Colorsensational Elixir Lip in Caramel Infused

I've finally found my perfect nude gloss! I'm quite fussy when it comes to nude lipsticks/glosses as only certain

ones suit me. This one I didn't swatch,  just picked it up and took a chance on it and I absolutely love it! It's so

natural and simple and goes with any make-up look.

Maybelline Dream Flawless Nude Foundation in Cameo

As soon as I saw the advert for this foundation, I went straight out and bought it. I just loved the sound of it. The

fact is looked natural but also gave a flawless finish. It definitely lives up to that. It's slightly dark for me but can

easily blend it in to my skin and gives my skin a flawless look with glowing skin. I really enjoy using it.

LOreal Paris Nude Magique Eau De Teint Foundation in 110 Warm Ivory

Another foundation I've been loving! This one is more natural and gives a lighter coverage. I wear it on days where

I can't be bothered to wear much make-up. It feels like you're wearing nothing on your skin and although it's liquid

it has a powder finish to it on the skin so it helps with my oily t-zone.

Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush Palette in Hot Spice

I've been wanting to try out a blush palette from Makeup Revolution for ages and every-time I went into my

local Superdrug, they were always out of stock. I finally got my hands on one. It has very warm and natural colours

in it. It has 2 baked colour 3 glittery colours and 3 matte. I'm not a fan of glitter/shimmer in blushes but you don't

notice it too much when it's actually on the skin. The colours are so pretty and I love that it gives my cheeks and

beautiful and natural look.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Night Lotion

I use this lotion every other night and it has definitely helped fade any blemishes/scars from old blemishes. It sinks

really easily into the skin and I started to see results after about a week of using it. I don't think I can be with out this

lotion any more after the results it's given me!

The Body Shop Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash

I have combination skin so I wanted a facial wash that helped with that. It helps keep my oily t-zone at bay and also

gives moisture back into the dry areas.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream

I saw a lot of god reviews on this moisturiser and wanted to try out a new one anyway. I really enjoy using it

before applying my make-up as it gives my skin moisture and sinks so quickly into the skin, so that I can apply

make-up almost instantly afterwards. The smell isn't amazing but it's not terrible. It's definitely replaced my Cetaphil!

Matalan Letter S Glass

I love anything with my initial on it and I thought this would be perfect to store my Bold Metals brushes on my desk!

Elegant Touch Totally Bare Oval nails with Revlon Checkmate nail polish

Camera: Canon EOS 700D

Photography by Sophie Ford

Thanks for reading!

Sophie X

Haul

Hello everyone! Hope you're all well.

Today I'm doing a little haul of some thing I've picked up recently. I hadn't gone to Boots

in a while so took a well needed trip! I also went into my other favourite shop TK Maxx.

TK Maxx 'Make Things Happen' Journal (Similar Here)

I like to keep positive quotes around me and on all my notebooks and journals and when I saw this in TK

Maxx I just had to have it whatever it cost. Luckily it was only around £7 anyway! I always look out for things

like this Tk Maxx as they always have great little things like this to just have on my desk and look pretty and

help put me in a good mood when I read them.

TK Maxx Bon Bon Jar (Similar Here)

I've been looking for a jar like this for ages! I saw one in Debenhams for £20 and had it on my 'to buy' list. Then

I thought I'd have a look in here too as they always have good little bits like this and I found this. It was the last

one on the shelf and only for £8 so I picked it up straight away! It's exactly what I've been looking for to store

my make up sponges on my desk. It's such a pretty way to store them and keeps them all together.

TK Maxx Print 'don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle'.

I've seen a lot of cute prints on Etsy recently that are very similar to this, and I wanted to put some of them in

frames and hang them around my desk, where I blog. As I said before I like seeing positive quotes around me.

This came with the frame already and cost about £16 which, is similar price if  I bought just the print from a shop

on Etsy.

Mac Cosmetics Eyeshadow Palette/Insert/'Sable' e/s

I've decided I'm starting my Mac eye shadow palette. I've been saying I'll do it for so long and I finally just

bought it and my first shadow to go with it. I bought 'sable' as I have green/ blue eyes and this colour really

compliments green eyes, It's such an easy colour to wear as well.

Garnier Pure Avtive Micellar Cleansing Water

If you read my blog, you'll know I love Garnier's micellar water for removing my make-up. This one recently

came out from their 'pure active' range and it's specially for oily/combination skin. The other one I believe is

for all skin types. I'm excited to try it and see if it's any good or better than my other one!

Bold Metals Collection by Real Techniques 301 Flat Contour

I've been lusting over the new Bold Metals collection ever since it came out and I was so eager to try them all

out but they are more pricey than their original collection so I've limited myself to buying one brush every

month or every other month. I was most interested in the flat contour brush. From the reviews I've watched/read

everyone is recommending this one the most so I was most excited to try it. So far I love the way it looks and

feels and I hope it's as good as everyone is saying!

Dove Advanced Hair Series Oxygen Moisture Root Lift Spray

I watched Amelia Liana's January favourites video and she mentioned this root lifting spray from Dove. I usually

just use hairspray to get volume but don't like to do it If I can help it. I' wanted something less harsh, and something

that didn't make my roots greasy. I picked it up as I always love products she recommends and it was on offer. I've

used it once and it actually seems pretty good so far. I'll let you know how I get on with it though after more uses!

Garnier BB Cream + Blur in Light

This is another recommendation but from The Londoner. I wanted to be wearing something to help my skin tone

appear better but, nothing heavy. Just to wear on days I can't be bothered. Her skin always looks so beautiful and

glowy so I definitely had to buy it. So far I really like how it doesn't feel heavy and really evens out my skin tone

and texture.

(The post she mentions it)

LOreal Paris Nude Magique Eau De Teint Foundation in 110 Warm Ivory

I'm trying more foundations and BB creams at the moment and I've actually wanted to try this one for quite a

while and as it was only £6.99 in Tesco I thought I might as well! The colour actually suits me extremely well

and feels so lightweight on the skin. 

Jolen Mild Cream Bleach

This was another recommendation from Amelia Liana. I've not tried it yet but I'm hoping it's less harsh than

waxing or shaving.

Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamel in Check Mate

I wanted a new nude colour to wear with the new nails I bought and I love Revlon polish's. This one looks so

natural and pretty and suits my skin tone quite well. I've worn it almost a week and no chips! That's without a

top coat as well!!

Elegant Touch Totally Bare Stiletto & Oval

I really love long nails and wanted to get acrylics but wanted to try out a cheaper version first before I commit.

I'm totally in love. Below is a picture of what they look like on me. They look so natural and aren't too hard to

do every day tasks with. I've had one nail come off but I expected that. I work in retail so I'm doing things all

the time and they haven't come off whilst at work so not too bad for under a £5 for a pack! Plus it's 3 for 2 at Boots

at the moment.

Elegant Touch Totally Bare in Oval with Revlon 'Check Mate'

(Sorry for the the flash in the first picture!)

Camera: Canon EOS 700D

Photography by Sophie Ford

Thanks for reading!

Sophie X

Products to buy in 2015

Hey everyone! Hope you're all well.

After just doing my last post about products I loved in 2014, I wanted to do a post on products I have either

been wanting to try or buy for a long time. I did a list of 10 products and I will be buying them within this year

(knowing me I'll buy it all as soon as I get paid!). Hopefully you'll be seeing these products in my monthly

favourites soon!

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

I've never owned a high end foundation before so I thought whilst I'm trying out new products this year, I will

add one in. I've had quite a few recommendations to try out this foundation. I wanted I try it for quite a while

now and it is pricey but I'm willing to invest in it if it's worth it!

Beauty Blender

I've tried every dupe of the beauty blender going but never the actual thing. I'm finally gonna give in and try

it. The dupes I've tried might be just as good and cheaper but I'll never know until I try myself!

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

As I'm getting older I'm starting to buy more anti-ageing products. I have no wrinkles now because I'm only

21 but I've alwasy been told to start early when it comes to it. I wanted to invest in a good thick eye cream and

I've heard quite a few bloggers/you tuber's say this is their favourite so I'm excited to try it!

St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse

I've never fake tanned before. Not fully anyway. I've always tried gradual lotions but never anything more

than that. I'd prefer a spray tan but I wanted to also try teaching myself to do it at home. St Tropez is quite a

well known brand and I've always heard good things from this brand.

Alpha-H Liquid Gold

This is the thing I'm most excited about trying. I wanted a new skincare product that was really good for my skin

and was also going to help with any acne. I saw a lot of really amazing reviews on this product and if it is as

amazing as people say it is then I'll be very happy! 

Real Techniques Bold Metal Brushes

I literally can't wait to try these. Most of my brushes are from real techniques and I really enjoy using them.

These are supposed to be the next step up from their original collection and I don't mind too much about

the price as long as they're worth it. They look so beautiful and and can't wait to have them all sitting on

my desk looking pretty!

Zoeva Brushes

I've wanted to try Zoeva brushes for sooo long now! I think I'm going to be asking for one of the kits for my

birthday in April as they're quite pricey!

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick

I'm a bit of a lipstick hoarder and I don't think I actually own any high end lipsticks which I'm shocked to even

say. I do really want to get quite a few MAC lipsticks. I've got a few I would like but I just think these YSL

Lipsticks are so beautiful and would be a real treat. They are very pricey but I would only buy one even once

in a while when I feel I need to treat myself! The packaging is also incredible beautiful. I can't wait to have

have a collection of them sitting on my desk!

MAC Cosmetics Pro Palette

For a long time I've said I would build up a MAC eye shadow palette and I'm still yet to actually do it but this

year I'm going to be getting all my kit together to start being able to do free lance make-up on people. A

good eye shadow palette with a range of colours will be a great little thing to put in my kit! I also want one for

myself too of course! 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz

I feel like my brow game is pretty strong at the moment. I feel like they are at their best at the moment. They

aren't perfect everyday, especially if I'm in a rush but I feel like I've been doing them for a while now and I

know what suits me. I currently use the Maybelline Brow Satin pencil which, I love. I wanted to try out

Anastasia products and they are the best for brows and I really like using a retractable pencil at the moment so

want to try out this to see if it's even better!

I do not own any of the images shown in this post.

Thanks for reading!

Sophie X

Top 10 Under £5

Hey everyone!
Today I wanted to just do a quick post on my top 10 make up products under £5 for people on
a budget. I'm gonna make it short and sweet as I've spoke about most of these products already!
Hope you enjoy!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair 4.19
I'm pretty sure most of you have seen endless people raving about this concealer. It's because it's amazing
at such a great price. I really love it for under the eyes and just concealing any blemishes on my face. It
just conceals really well and it's so affordable. I usually pick up a few when I get a new one as they
always sell out so quickly!

Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette Essential Mattes 4
I love this palette so much. If you don't wear tons of make-up like me or just like neutral matte shades then
this palette is great for you. It has 12 shades to choose from and you can do so many looks with just this
one palette. Plus the best part is it's just £4!

Makeup Revolution Amazing Lipstick in Lady 1
I love experimenting with lip colours and I love the fact that these lipsticks from Makeup Revolution are
just £1! make it so affordable to do that! They have great pigmentation and a great range of colours in their
collection. My favourite shade is this bright red shade called 'Lady'.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge 4.24
This is the only way I apply my liquid foundation and I don't think I will ever go back to using a brush.
I have dry skin so using a damp sponge to apply my foundation really leaves my face looking dewy and
flawless. If your on a budget but really want a beauty blender then I suggest you try this sponge from
Real Techniques as it does the same job but only costs a percentage of the price the beauty blender is.

Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara 4.99
I love filling in my brows. They just frame my face a lot more and to keep them in place all day,
I use this tinted brow mascara. I prefer to use a tinted mascara as it feels in any sparse bits you
may have missed.

Maybelline Eye Studio Master Shape Brow 2.99
I usually fill in my brows usually a an angled brush and an 'Faint' eye shadow from Urban Decay. Sometimes
I like to switch it up and use this brow pencil from Maybelline. What I love is that it has the pencil one side
and a spoole the other. I think its important to brush your brows out in between doing them as it makes
them look more natural.

Barry M Hi Shine Gel Effect Nail Polish 3.99
Barry M nail polish's are amazing. They have an incredible range of shades and I love the fact they're so
inexpensive. They range from about £2.99-£3.99. My favourite shade from this range is 'Lychee'.

Rimmel Clear Complexion Transparent Powder 3.99
I don't use powder too much as I have quite dry skin. I do get an oily t-zone every so often and when I do,
I use this transparent powder from Rimmel. It doesn't change the colour of your face as just gives you a
nice matte finish. It's also great for setting your concealer.

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lipliner  2.99
I've only just recently got into lip liners and I'm already addicted. They make your lipstick stay longer and I
love the fact you can also just wear them as an overall shade. It's perfect because they are matte and have
much better staying power then lipsticks and you don't have to worry about it transferring too easily!

Wilko Premium Eye Make Up Smudger Brush 3 
Recently when I was in Wilkinson's, I noticed they've completely redone their beauty department. They
now do these make-up brushes (which look almost identical to Real Techniques). I noticed this 'smudger
brush' and though it would be a great blending brush. It works perfectly and I'm still so shocked it was only £3!


Photography by Sophie Ford
Thanks for reading!

September Favourites

Hello everyone :)

It's time for another favourites today and I'm so excited that it's now Winter!

I can't wait to get out all my jumpers and coats!

I've actually already bought 2 coats already (whoops!)

One of them is actually one of my favourites this month!

Hope you Enjoy!

Macadamia Natural Oil Travel Set

I really wanted to try out the Macadamia Oil brand as I've heard so many good things about them, but didn't

want to commit to the big bottles as they can be quite expensive. I thought getting this little travel kit

would be best to try out a bunch of their products. I've used up the shampoo and conditioner already

and am definitely buying the full size bottles! It leaves your hair feeling truly nourished and in great

condition My favourite is the hair oil. It smells incredible! It doesn't make it greasy at all and lasts ages.

My other favourite is the hair mask. It recommends you only use it once a week as it's quite intense.

They are very pricey but I found them on Amazon for much cheaper! So definitely have a look on there!

Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette Essential Mattes

I love my Urban Decay Naked Palette's but if you are on a budget I definitely recommend the palette's from

Makeup Revolution. They range from about £4-£8 and the colours are amazing. There's so many different

palette's and colours to choose from as well. The pigmintation in these palette's are great. For £4, I honestly

didn't expect much from it. But was happily surprised to find out how good these palette's really are.

Eylure Dybrow Brown

Seeing as my hair colour is now dark, I wanted to tint my eyebrows darker also. For the days I want to just not

wear make-up my eyebrows look a bit better when they are a darker. this kit is perfect for doing just that. I did

my research before hand and found that this was the best selling at home kit. It was around £7.50 and says

it lasts up to 6 weeks each time you do it and I still have loads of product left so definitely a great investment!

Really easy to do as well!

Neutrogena Spot Stress Control 3in1 Cleansing Lotion

I really am loving this cleansing lotion. I usually put it on a cotton pad and swipe it all over my face just after

I've cleansed morning and night. I don;t have terrible acne but I do get spots and more so when I'm stressed.

I feel like this has helped calm my skin and stop so many spots popping up when I'm stressed.

Wilko Premium Eye Make Up Smudger

I'm really impressed with this little make-up brush. Only £3 from Wilko! It's a great little brush to use for

smudging out my shadow. They have a whole range of brushed and after using this I definitely would like to

try out more from the range. If you can't afford MAC brushes then they have a great little collection of brushes

and you can't really go wrong with these sorts of prices!

Missguided Coco Leather Shearling Jacket

I am sooo in love with my new jacket. I've wanted one of these styles of jackets for so long but could never

find one at an affordable price. This one I got from Missguided for £42ish. It's originally £50 but I got a 15%

discount. They always have discounts and promotions going on which is always really helpful! It's so cosy

and warm and goes with almost anything. The only annoying thing is that the fleece bit inside does leaves

lots of bits on anything you wear so I  try not to wear black underneath. It'll go after a few uses of wearing it though!

Collective Haul

Hey guys!

I've got a haul for you today as recently I've been shopping because I wanted to try out a few new products.

Plus there's some usual purchases in there I've picked up recently.

Enjoy!

Batiste Dry Shampoo Cherry

I needed to pick up a new dry shampoo so just got the usual one I buy as it was on offer. But, a few days

later when I was looking around Boots I saw that they now sell Aussie dry shampoo. Aussie is probably my

favourite hair care brand just because they do an amazing job for such a good price. You can't beat them in

my opinion! They had a few different types in their range but I recently coloured my hair brunette ,(I had a

little accident when trying to go lighter and it didn't really work) so I opted for the Aussie Miracle Dry

Shampoo Colour Mate. The point of this one I think is to use dry shampoo instead of washing your

hair so much, so that you keep your colour more vibrant for longer. I typically try and wash my hair

every 3 days anyway as it's not good to wash your hair too often. So far I really like this one! Smells

okay, not amazing but I can live with it. I have quite high hopes for this so we'll see how I get on!

Aveeno Skin Relief Lotion

Next up, I got another one of my usual moisturisers as well. This is the only one I use on my body as

I have quite dry skin and some moisturisers can irritate it and this one never fails me!

Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser & Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser

I wanted to try some new skincare bits so I picked up these two. I've only used them a few times and

so far I'm not really impressed. The Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser left my skin incredible dry, my lips

chapped and just didn't feel that nice on the skin. I have mostly dry skin anyway but I'm always prone

to spots. This just dried my face out completely and it took me a good 3-4 days to get it back to normal.

I haven't used it since so that's quite disappointing. My boyfriend however is spot prone and had oily

skin so I've passed them onto him to use and I feel they will suit his skin type better than mine. The

Charcoal Cleanser seems okay. It doesn't dry me out quite like the other one but I still don't see a

difference in my skin. I've also given this one to him. I think I need something much more gentle on my skin.

Herbal Essences Smooth Sensation Shampoo & Conditioner

I love the old Herbal Essences! Who doesn't? I've always heard bad things about them but it hasn't

really stopped me using them as I personally feel like they aren't bad for my hair. I'll usually only buy

these if Aussie aren't on offer or if these are really cheap. They're just nice to use as they remind me of

when I was little and they smell amazing. (I couldn't find the link to the shampoo :( but they'll have it in stores!)

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair

Topped up on my favourite concealer! You know how much I love this, so I wont ramble

on about it! Bought 2 of them as I go through them so quickly and they're almost always sold out.

Probably because it's so good!

Garnier Caffeine Eye Roll On

I thought I'd try this as I saw it was on offer and I've heard good things about it in the past. So far,

I like it. It's nice to use and feels refreshing. I wouldn't say I've seen a massive difference. It just feels

nice and refreshing is all.

Simple Kind To Skin Facial Cleansing Wipes

Can never be without these babies! They're the best facial wipes of all time!

Honestly.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I wanted to pick up another one of these as my other one's getting a bit grubby. Since buying this

I've not applied my foundation any other way!

Nivea Pearl Beauty Gentle Care 48h Anti Perspirant Deodorant

I wanted to try out different types of deodorant and I came across this one as it was on offer. (can never

say no to a good offer!)  I liked it so much I even put it in my monthly favourite. So I went out a

bought a few just to make sure I was stocked up!

New York Cult Recipes Book

This book was bought quite a few week back but I really wanted to include it as I really love the recipes

in it. I do wish there was a few more recipes in there but overall it's just a really cool recipe book and

the recipes look amazing. By the way, none of these recipes are healthy, apart from one recipe for green

juice. So don't expect any healthy options in there lol.

TK Maxx Gold Decorative Plate (Similar Here)

I really wanted more decorative items for my room and my desk and when I saw this on offer in TK Maxx

for £5 I couldn't say no. I really love the gold on the white. It just looks really chic and pretty. I wanted to

originally put all my purfume bottles on there but now I'm thinking to put all my regular skincare bits on

there. I'm torn! We'll see how it ends up but for now, it's a pretty little decoration.

TK Maxx Purse

Another bargain in TK Maxx is this purse. £5! I've literally been looking for a new purse for almost a year!

My old one was from Primark and I just got so sick of having the same boring one. Any other one I wanted

was way too expensive, I always love looking at the bags and purses in TK Maxx. But I just love that place

in general. It's just a nude coloured purse with all the card space and things I need, because I have a lot

of cards. It's getting a bit ridiculous I even had to double/triple them up. The brand on the front says

'New Design' but I have no idea of that brand and nothing came up on Google that I could find so sorry!

Photography by Sophie Ford

Thanks for reading!

Sophie x

June Favourites

Hey guys!

It's the beginning of July (crazy!) which means it's time to share my June favourites with you.

I haven't really tried out any new products through June so I haven't got many favourites this month,

but I did pop into Boots and Superdrug recently to get some products I've been wanting to try out so

hopefully I'll have a bit more to show you next month!

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Excess Mascara

This was something I bought a little while back, I just never opened it for some reason. But I found it going

through all my make-up s thought I'd start finally using it and I am SO glad I did. It's definitely my new

favourite mascara. I don't like my lashes to look too fake. I like them to look quite natural and this mascara

is perfect for that. It doesn't clump, it's not gloopy and it doesn't dry out in a week, which is something

that annoys me about a lot of mascaras.

Garnier Pure Active Purifying Toner

This is a toner I use quite regularly. It's for spot prone skin (which mine is) and it helps dry out the spot

without drying out your whole face!

Real Techniques Blush Brush

I've had this brush for quite a long time now. I've always used it for blush as it is a blush brush.

But recently, I've started using it for bronzer and I'm really liking the outcome. I usually use the

big powder brush for bronzer but I feel this one is just a lot better for bronzer.

Nivea Pearl Beauty Gentle Care 48h Anti-Perspirant Deodorant

This is a bit of a random one but  but I just wanted to mention it as I've seen a lot of people talking

about stick deodorants recently and want to share my thoughts. I usually use spray deodorants as

I never really thought of using stick ones. But I wanted to switch it up and try something different so

I picked up this one and I'm instantly converted! I don't think I'll ever use a spray deodorant again. This feels

like it's actually working and keeping my under arms moisturised as well as I feel like some other

deodorants can leave it feeling quite dry. Really recommend trying something like this if you haven't before.

Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion (Fair to Medium)

I know I featured this in my last favourites but I do REALLY love it. It gives a lovely glow and looks

very natural. It's pretty much idiot proof as well. It doesn't leave streaks or patches (as long as you

apply it evenly). I'm just really happy with this purchase and loved it so much I wanted to show it

to you twice!

L'Oreal Paris True Match Foundation (N2 Vanilla)

This foundation is very highly talked about. I can see exactly why! This particular shade I usually
only wear when I'm more tanned and recently I have been because of the good weather. I really
love the coverage it gives and how flawless it looks. I think I'm going to go and purchase one a few shades
lighter just so I can use it all year round because I have really been loving this foundation a lot recently.
Plus it's inexpensive and L'Oreal usually have offers on.

Photography by Sophie Ford
Thanks for reading!
Sophie X

My Everyday Make-up Routine

Hey guys, hope you're doing well.

Today I'm going to show you what products I use for my everyday make-up routine.

Hi Sam :)

Firstly I start with a freshly cleansed face. I apply my favourite face moisturiser, Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion.
Then I apply Revlon PhotoReady Foundation in Shell over my whole face with a damp Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge.
Once that's all evenly applied. I put some Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair underneath
my eyes and over any blemishes. I then blend again with my
Real Techniques Sponge. 

Then I brush out my eyebrows with my Tweezerman for Benefit Retractable Brow Brush.
Using a MAC 266 small Angle Brush I dip it into the shade 'Faint' in my Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
which I fill my eyebrows in with. I then brush through them again with my Brow Brush to get rid of any
harsh lines and make them look more natural. On top I put on Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting
Mascara in Medium Brown to keep them in place.

I pop on some of my favourite drugstore mascara, Maybelline The Volum Express Falsies Flared Mascara.
Lastly, I don't always put blush on but if I feel I need a little colour in my cheeks I will swipe a bit of
Mac Powder Blush in Melba over my cheeks with a Real Techniques Blush Brush.

Photography by Sam Clare

Thanks for reading!

Sophie x

How I Take Care of my Make-up Brushes

Hey guys, hope you're all well.

Today I'm going to be talking about how I take care of my make-up brushes.

When you start getting into make-up, it's hard enough to know what make-up brush you need for what,

let alone knowing how to properly take care of them and get as much use out of them as possible.

So, I'm going to show you how I keep my brushes in tip top condition!

Cleanse your brushes after every use.

Every time you use your make-up brushes, bacteria from your face transfers to your brush. To ensure
you're not putting that bacteria right back onto your skin the next day you need to cleanse your
brush, so it's clean, bacteria free and ready for your next use. I use MAC's brush cleanser. I just put
some of the cleanser onto a bit of kitchen towel and swirl my brush around and voilà!

Deep clean your brushes once a week.

Now I know this is quite a dreaded task. I often forget to do it. It's terrible, I know! But really, you should
be washing them once a week. I usually try to do it on a Sunday whilst doing a face mask or something. 
 use Johnson's baby shampoo to clean my brushes as it's gentle and leaves them very soft. I just pop
some in a small bowl then swirl my brushes around in the bowl. Once they've all been done, I'll run them
all under lukewarm water. It can't be cold or hot. It has to be lukewarm or you may risk damaging your
brushes. Also, as you rinse them out remember to face the brush downwards so the water runs down
the brush. Don't ever hold your brush up with the water running into the brush, otherwise you can
damage the glue inside holding it together, which will then fall out and ruin the brush. Once you're properly
rinsed out all of the shampoo, shape your brushes to their original shape, then leave to dry flat on a
clean flannel or kitchen towel.

Blending Sponge.

For anyone who owns one. I usually just rinse it under lukewarm water. Then, I cover it with baby
shampoo and work it into the sponge. Leave it for about a minute. Then rinse it out until I'm satisfied
it's clean and leave it to dry with the rest of my brushes. You should really be washing this after every use.
This is just so you keep it looking new and clean and to prevent bacteria build up.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER.

NEVER wash your brushes in cold or hot water. Only lukewarm.
ALWAYS wash your brushes downwards to avoid damaging your brush.

ALWAYS dry your brushes lying flat to avoid any excess water running down into the brush whilst drying.

(If possible dry facing downwards without the brush end touching anything, otherwise that is the shape it will dry in.)
NEVER soak them in water. This will again make it easy for the water to get into the glue holding your brush together.

NEVER use heat to dry your brushes. Leave them to dry naturally.

Photography by Sam Clare

Thanks for reading!

Sophie x