Wednesday 25 February 2015

Mac Cosmetics | Prep and Prime Highlighter

MAC Prep and Prime Highlighter

Prep and Prime Light Boost

Hey lovelies, 

I am a bit of a concealer fiend and I have recently been reaching for lighter shades to highlight the high points of my face as well as covering my dark circles. One that I have been using is this Mac Prep and Prime Highlighter (£18.50) which is just amazing! It comes in four shades including Radiant Rose, Bright Forecast, Peach Lustre and the shade I bought, Light Boost.  Peach Lustre is the darkest of the four but I don’t think it is dark enough for darker skin tones which is a shame. Mac could really benefit from having a fifth and sixth shade in their line which would benefit more people.

The highlighter is in a twisty pen form meaning you just twist the end of it to get the product out. Be careful though as a lot comes out with just one turn. I normally use Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (£4.19) to cover my dark circles and any blemishes before using this highlighter as I want them to be completely covered. I normally run this just under my eyes in an upside down triangle shape and blending up to my temples and over the tops of my cheekbones. I also go down the bridge of my nose, middle of my forehead between my brows (blending up and out) and the middle of my chin. This will make those areas pop once blended out. I normally use my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (£5.99) as i feel it is the best tool for the job as it gets into the nooks and crannies of my face whilst making it look flawless. The consistency is quite sheer, it looks full coverage when you first apply it, but it isn't at all. Be mindful that it's a highlighter and not a concealer so don't try to cover blemishes as it will only make them stand out, not conceal them.

I am a contour kind of a girl so whether it be out for a lunch, a day out with friends/family or a night out, I love having a fully contoured face (not too much) and I feel this highlighter adds extra oomph! The lasting power is also pretty amazing, once it’s on and set, it ain't moving. It is pretty easy to blend out too but as I said, I find my RT sponge to be the best tool for the job.

All in all, a great little product. It’s my first venture into highlighting my face and I have to say, I’m pretty smitten with it.

Do you highlight your face?
Have you tried this product?

Have you checked out my latest post featuring My New Workout Routine
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Friday 13 February 2015

New Workout Routine

My Workout Routine - Beauty Talk With Lauren
Source
Hello guys,

After a festive break from the gym I decided to get back into the swing of things by creating a new 12 week program for myself which consists of weights, high intensity interval training (HIIT) and cardio. I plan on doing this between 4 and 6 times per week depending on how busy I am with college.

I was going to classes and swimming previously but it’s too cold now and my knees have been aching after all the classes so I decided to change it up and include more cardio and take the classes down to the bare minimum. I’ve also changed my eating habits by cutting out all snacks from my diet and focusing on three square meals per day. I normally have a carb heavy meal after the gym as I am always starving and this helps to keep me fuller for longer as well as curbing my hunger. I always have healthy lunches in college and stick to herbal teas and water throughout the day but sometimes I am partial to a cheeky McDonald's or a takeaway when Liam is home. I have cut out sugar, white carbs and fruit from my diet as I always felt bloated with them. I am missing fruit though as I love the stuff. I have also stopped having a glass of wine during the week and have cut down at the weekend, unless it’s a proper night out with friends or family. I don't believe in cutting everything bad out completely but I take it easy on the calories and just find that these little things help me. 

Warm Up: 10 minutes.
I normally go for a walk on the treadmill to warm up before starting anything strenuous, this normally lasts about 10 minutes. I start off at speed 4.5 and incline 2 before building up to speed 5.5 and an incline of 7-8 to really work my muscles and get ready for a good cardio session.

Weights: 3 sets of 10 reps.
Hip Abductor and Adductor - This works inside and outside the thighs.
Lat Pulldown - Works back, arms and shoulders.
Mid Row, Chest Supported - This is great for the back.
Leg Press - Amazing for butt and thighs
Shoulder Press - Does wonders for shoulders.
Abdominal Twist - Stomach muscles get a proper work out with this machine.
Ab work including Sit Ups with medicine ball, Plank (3 x 30 secs), Wall Slide (3 x 30 secs), Oblique Sit Ups and Roman Twists with weight.

HIIT: 10 - 15 minutes
I normally do this on the bike as it’s my favourite machine. I use the aerobic setting which indicates when you should work harder and when you should have a rest. This is great at getting your heart rate up and really working you hard. I end up sweating like a demon after so I know I have had a good workout.

Cardio: 30 minutes
I normally stay on the bike for my cardio session and change the setting to Rolling Hills. I leave it at level five and keep my reps per minute between 75 & 90. This is the most boring bit of the work out to be honest as I end up losing focus and want to do something else but I pop on the TV and find a show I like, normally this is Frasier or Everyone Loves Raymond in the morning, Charmed mid-morning or The Chase if its later in the evening. That way, I forget about the workout and it’s over quicker as my focus has shifted.


I keep hydrated throughout the day by drinking roughly three litres of water, a lot of herbal teas and maybe a diet coke if I feel like one.  I drink this amount as I want to replenish the water I have lost through working out as I sweat so much and end up with a sore head due to dehydration. So there we have it, this is what I have been doing so far. I obviously haven’t seen any results yet apart from clearer skin due to all the water but it’s a new routine so fingers crossed I see some difference at the end of the twelve weeks.  

Have you checked out my latest post featuring A New Burberry Purchase
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Wednesday 11 February 2015

Burberry | Effortless Liquid Eyeliner


Burberry Effortless Liquid Eyeliner

Eyeliner

Burberry Effortless Liquid Eyeliner Swatches



Hello guys,

As you know I picked up this Burberry Effortless Liquid Eyeliner (£23) in a recent haul. I had been eyeing it up for a while and finally took the leap. I just love the packaging and I love the fact that a gorgeous booklet filled with pictures of Kate and Cara was thrown in too as I love these girls. A ribbon was also included which was doused in their fragrance My Burberry (£52 to £75) which is stunning. I will need to pick up a bottle soon.

I haven’t tried a lot of high end eyeliners as I love drugstore varieties but I decided to try Burberry's one to see how good it was. It’s a felt tip liner which I haven’t used before and it is the blackest black shade. The way I have been using this is on its side by dabbing along my lash line as if you use it like a felt tip it pulls on the eye which isn’t a nice feeling. The tip is ok for creating a flick but I’m not wowed by this eyeliner. I feel like it will dry out quickly which isn’t ideal for that hefty price tag.  

I have found myself going over the liner with my trusty NYC Liquid Liner (£5.51) as it does a much better job for when I want a thicker line and a first class wing. However, the lasting power is great, even when I was trying to remove, I had to go in with a fair amount of makeup remover before going back in with my cleanser. I also liked the fact that it didn’t smudge throughout the day and there was no seeping at the corners of my eyes like some liners do.

Once this has dried up, I wouldn’t buy again as it’s not for me. It may work for you but I am used to my NYC liner which does a far better job in my opinion.

Have you tried any of the Burberry line?

Do you like felt tip liners?

Have you checked out my latest post featuring My Winter Skincare Saviours
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Monday 9 February 2015

Skincare Saviours | My Winter Products

Skincare Saviours My Winter Products

Hello lovely`s,


I decided to put together a post featuring my full winter skincare routine. As we all know, the harsh weather really does a number on our skin and I know that I need to add moisture back in, hydration and any products that will give me beautifully glowing skin. All things I lose in winter.  I have stopped using my Magnitone every night as my skin was really sore so it was time to cut it down from every night to a few times per week. It’s still a fantastic cleansing brush but I don’t think I need it every night. 


Cleansers

Cleansing
This is the most important step for me. I always double cleanse meaning I take all of my make up off with a micellar water and cotton pads before washing the rest of with a cleanser and then working in an exfoliator to remove dead skin and really clean my face. This ensure that all the trapped dirt from that day will have been removed. I am using two different cleansers at the moment, the Alpha H Balancing Cleanser with Aloe Vera (£25) to remove my makeup after micellar water stage and then Yes to Carrots Exfoliating Cleanser (£6.99) to clean my face. 


Balance Hyaluronic 554 Youth Serum

Serum
I picked up the Balance Hyaluronic 554 YouthSerum (£3.99) from my local B&M a few weeks ago and I have to say I am loving it. This has really given my skin the love and attention it needs. It feels like water and sinks in perfectly without leaving a residue on my skin.


Face Oils

Oils
I use oils in the morning and at night under and over my moisturiser. If I wear makeup then I don't bother with oil as a last step as my makeup slips right off my face. If I have a no makeup day then I apply the oils as normal to make sure I am getting as much goodness into my skin as possible.

I picked up Bio Oil (from £8.99) as I wanted it to help with scarring as I ran out of my Alpha H. This has been great, it has removed my faded scars and I am still working on my cystic scars from hormonal acne along my jawline. This is great for dehydrated/dry skin. As a last step I finish off my skincare routine with the Caudalie Divine Oil for an extra hit of moisture and luxury. 


Moisturisers

Moisturisers 
I have been using my Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream (£70) in the morning as it is such a luxurious cream that helps promote luminous skin. It smells phenomenal and leaves my skin feeling beautiful. I will wear this on no makeup days and apply Bio Oil under it and Caudalie oil over the top but if I am going to wear makeup, I only apply this moisturiser. At night, after I have applied my Bio Oil, I will normally throw on some Sudocrem Skin Care Cream (£1.99) or Nivea Crème (£3.56) as these are thick and soothing creams. I love how soft these leave my skin and I also love how they absorb. The Nivea Crème does take a while to sink in but if you are anything like me and take off your make up at 5pm then this will have sunk in nicely by the time you go to bed.

Facemasks

Masks 
I love facemasks and I need to have multiple ones on rotation. In the winter, I use these more frequently as my skin needs some extra TLC. I use Mask of Magnaminty (from £5.50), which exfoliates and leaves your skin looking very healthy, Sanctuary Spa Thermal Detox Mask (£10) which detoxes your skin and draws out impurities and Una Brennan Intense Moisture Mask (£8.99) which adds a burst of hydration back into your skin. 


Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid

Intense Treatments 
I use this Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10% Toning Complex (£27) at night time only. I will double cleanse and then apply this and leave it at that stage. This tingles a little once applied but my skin looks incredible in the morning. 


Nivea Lip Butter

Lips
Can’t forget about the lips can we? The only product I have been using recently is the Nivea Lip Butter in Blueberry Blush (£2.25). I love the scent, how hydrated and soft my lips feel and also the price. It feels too luxurious to have such a low price tag but it works.

So there we have it guys, this is my skincare saviours for winter. I am loving how these leave my skin looking and feeling throughout these colder months. If you have dry skin or oily skin like myself, then I would recommend the oils, the masks and the serum as they offer so much for the skin. 

What is in your winter routine?
Have you tried any of these products before?

Have you checked out my latest post featuring Mac Honeylove
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Saturday 7 February 2015

MAC Honeylove Lipstick

MAC Honeylove

MAC Honeylove Lipstick

Honeylove Lipstick

Honeylove Swatches



Hi guys, 

As you know, I picked this up in a recent haul and I couldn't be happier. It is becoming my favourite lipstick of all time. I usually wear it on its on, but sometimes I add a coat of Maybelline Lip Elixir to add a nice sheen and make my lips seem bigger. Honeylove (£15) is a gorgeous matte nude shade with a tiny hit of pink throughout it. It’s the perfect shade when you want a fresh look or you want a deep dark smokey eye and a nude lip. As I say, its matte so it will stay on your lips for quite a while.

I have been lining my lips with Mac Lip Liner in Stripdown (£12.50), filling my lips with Honeylove and then giving it a little glossy love with my lip elixir and I have to say, I love the look it creates. I think this would be amazing on most skin tones but I especially love it on bronzed skin.

Have you tried this shade?
What else should I be trying?

Have you checked out my latest post featuring Another Lush Haul?
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Friday 6 February 2015

Another Lush Haul

Lush Haul

Hello guys, 

I think you all know by now that I am a bit of a bath fiend, especially in the winter so when I got paid I instantly went into Lush and admittedly, went a little crazy! I have a slight problem when it comes to bath products, I have a wall rack in my bathroom, every corner of my bath, under my bathroom sink, my shower room and half of my bedroom covered with bath products. Anyway, enough of my Lush addiction and more about what I bought this time. What spending ban!  

I decided to buy Mask of Magnaminty face mask (from £5.50) again as I loved it the first time round. I will have a review up as soon as I have used this again so I can refresh my memory on what was so great about it. What other facemasks would you recommend as I haven’t tried a lot and would like something else when this is finished. I also picked up a lot of bath bombs including Sakura (£3.35) Phoenix Rising (£3.35) Rose Queen (£2.75) Blackberry Bath Bomb (£3.25) and Fizzbanger (£3.35). I have tried all of these before apart from Phoenix Rising and Sakura but I’m sure they will just as good as some of my all time favourites.

I then picked up some exclusive bubble bars including Karma (£3.25) and Happy which is now sold out. I wouldn't recommend Happy anyway as it didn't really float my boat, the scent just wasn't there and it didn't wow me. It’s unusual for me to dislike a lush product but I didn’t love this. I haven’t used Karma yet, but the scent is delicious.

Have you checked out my latest post featuring My January Favourites?
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