Current daily make-up

I last wrote about my make-up routine all the way back in July. Back then the weather was much warmer, so my routine had to fit the bill. Since then my routine has changed, not only to fit with the colder climate of winter, but also because I have constantly been finding new and exiting products to use.

After cleansing and moisturising my face, I first use a primer. The primer I am reaching for the most at the moment is Matte Veil from Illamasqua. Sadly, I have pretty oily skin so I need a good primer to mattify my face and keep my make-up on all day. This completely fits the bill.

For foundation, I use L'Oreal's True Match Foundation. My shade is N2. I use the the Real Technique's Expert Face Brush to buff in the foundation. I love the True Match foundation, as I think it makes my skin look great. To cover my dark under eye circles, I use the Illamasqua Skin Base Lift in light 2. This is a corrector and concealer in one, and really brightens the eyes.

Next I brush through my brows using the Benefit Gimme Brow. It is the only thing I have ever used for my brows and I love it! As it's a daily look, I don't like to go heavy on the eyes. I keep it simple by using the Revlon Eye Pencil in Earth Brown to give my eyes a little extra definition. I then use L'Oreal's Volume Million Lashes for my eyelashes.  

For the rest of my face, I just put a little bit of blush on my cheeks. I dab on the Illamasqua Cream Blush in Zygomatic, which just looks very natural.

To set my make-up I use both the Urban Decay De-Slick Powder and the Urban Decay DeSlick Setting Spray to minimise the oil on my face, and stop my make-up from slipping off. I finish off my look with the Pixi lip balm. Not only does it soften my lips, but it also gives a little bit of colour, and brings my look together.

What is your current make-up routine?

Spotlight: Benefit Roller Lash

If you have read my Birchbox post this month, you will know that I was excited about receiving a sample of the new Benefit Roller Lash.

I've had a hit and miss relationship with Benefit mascaras. Their Real Lash is one of my top mascaras. The Bad Girl Lash on the other hand just doesn't do it for me. So the Roller Lash could have gone either way!

What makes the Roller Lash different is the curved wand, which is designed to enable you to curl your lashes without the use of a curler. In Benefit's words, the idea is to 'hook 'n' roll'. It also comes with a really cute packaging design. I love the rose gold colour, and full size has even been made to look like a hair roller. It's so pretty.

I have been wearing this all week to get some full use out of it. To me, it is a great daytime mascara. It doesn't offer as much of a dramatic look as the Real Lash one does, but it's perfect for definition and lengthening. I can be quite picky with mascaras, but I love this one. It ticks all my boxes, and my lashes look great. After a week I'm still loving at how long they look!

It took me a while to be able to roll it over my lashes to get the curl. I still find that I, weirdly, struggle with my right eye, and end up with masacara on my eylid! But it comes off easily enough before it dries. The best bit is that I'm finding I don't have panda eyes at the end of the day, which has been something I struggle with other mascaras!

One thing I would point out is that the Roller Lash doesn't give volume, so if that is important, then this mascara is not for you.

Overall I really love it. the downside of course is the price. I'm not really sure I can justify £19.50 on a mascara. But the mascara is good enough to make me reconsider.

One year on; Birch Box disappointments

I don't like to be negative, but I think it's hard to have gone one year without some disappointing products within the Birchbox. Due to the nature of the box, not everything is going to be amazing. It's always a gamble.

There are products that I have used, and enjoyed but probably wouldn't buy again, but then there are the products that have just disappointed me. Either my face fell when I saw them in the box, or I had so much hope for them, but they just didn't rise up to my expectations. Luckily this is a short list, but I wanted to highlight the products that I just didn't like.

I would like to point out before I get into them, that these are all personal to me. Someone else could find these products perfect!

The biggest disappointment for me were the Drinkwel capules, which are designed to help you recover after a night out partying, I was actually a little annoyed at receiving these on two accounts; 1) I don't drink, so it immediately makes them redundant, and 2) I don't like the idea of taking pills for those types of things. Other people may find them perfect, but they were very, very wrong for me,

One of the other biggest disappointments was the Stila lip glaze. I was actually very excited about receiving it, as I really wanted to try something from Stila. I like the design of tube - you twist the bottom and it brings product onto the brush at the top, even though it did take a while to initially get some product out. The finish though just doesn't cut it. There is no pigment at all to the formula. It gives a gloss, but it mostly just wipes glitter onto the lips. I personally cannot see a time when I will want glittery lips. To top it off, it is very, very sticky. It just didn't work out at all.

The next ones are a very personal disappointment which I'm sure most people don't share. I have said multiple times I do not like red nail polish, and I received two in consecutive boxes - one from the OPI Coca-Cola collection and one from Lollipops. The formula may be great, but they were never ones I was interested in trying out to see how they fared in the first place. Benefit's It's Potent eye cream is another one that falls under this category. I used the eye cream prior to receiving it in the box (here), and it just doesn't work for me, as it's not gentle enough.

I think I may have been more disappointed by the Model Co lip lacquer than I would have been if it wasn't a choose-your-own product that didn't work out. Not only was there not much off a colour pay-off, but it was also too gloopy and sticky, so I couldn't really find any benefits to using it.

Finally, the last thing on this list is another nail polish. This was the Model's Own glitter nail polish (not pictured as I gave it away ) I received back in the July box. The Model's Own nail polishes have redeemed themselves since (with a glitter one!), but this one was disappointing. The pay-off is very minimal with this one, as it is effectively just pink glitter with nothing else to it. I think it may be obvious about now that I am not a fan of glitter!

Have you tried any of these products?

One year on; best Birch Box discoveries

I have now officially received twelve Birch Boxes, and so March marks my one year Birch Box anniversary! To celebrate, I decided to take a look over what I have received throughout the year to see what my favourite discoveries have been.

Some products I have gone out and bought full size, some I plan on doing getting in future, and others I use in my everyday routine. I have liked a lot of the products in my boxes, but these are ones that have made such an impact on me that I want to rave about them.

So without further ado, let me introduce you to the products I've loved.

My first box back in March last year was a great introduction to what Birch Box was all about, and I fell in love with two products immediately; one of which I still continue to buy today. These were the Molton Brown replenishing hand cream  and the English Laundry perfume. The hand cream not only smells gorgeous, but helps my hands feel so soft, and the perfume is just the perfect scent for spring. Birch Box is also where I discovered my favourite mascara of all time; Benefit They're Real. I love how much definition it gives to my lashes, and it lasts throughout the day.

I have found some great skincare products. In the April box, I discovered the Yes to Cucumber face wipes, which are great at get rid of daily dirt without being too harsh. I like to use them when I need to refresh my face. I was introduced to the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser the month after, which is great for not only removing all make-up but gently exfoliating too. I have liked giving my face a deeper cleanse with the Cattier clay face mask. I really loved how my face felt after using it.

One of my favourite products from all the boxes I received was the Pixi lip balm which I still use every day. It has shea butter to soften the lips, and then a hint of colour! The October box was a great box, as it also introduced me to The Cool Fix, which is perfect to use after shaving the legs to get rid of any irritation.

I have received a number of nail polishes in the boxes and there have been a couple of particular stand-outs. These were the OPI Thrill of Brazil and the Model's Own Nail Polish is Amethyst, which are both sparkly and such gorgeous shades, they are so hard to resist!

One of the new, exciting brands I have discovered over the year is TheBalm. The aesthetic of their packaging is really quirky, and I love the quality of their products. They are a brand I really want to try more from, and I already have my eye on a few of their other products.

There have been some great lifestyle products throughout the year. My favourites are usually the food! Back in April I discovered Proper Corn which is a very delicious way to eat popcorn as they have such great flavours. I particularly love the very tasty vanilla and coconut flavour. I have also received Urban Fruit and most recently Chia oats, which is a healthy way to have breakfast.

Have you tried any of these products? what do you think?

Illamasqua

It seems a long time ago now, but back in January I took a trip down to London. It was a pretty cool weekend in itself - there was an amazing American-style diner - but the trip was primarily to go on my second Illamasqua make-up course.

I am really loving the courses Illamasqua put on. I'm even deciding which one to go on next! I still feel like a relative beginner to make-up, so I find having the guidance on how to apply my make-up really helpful. The course I went on this time, 'Mastering Rush Hour Make-up', was particularly great, as it gave me useful tips for doing my daily make-up quickly, as well as giving me a full work appropriate look. For example, did you know some lip colours are a no no, as they totally give the wrong impression, and stop you from being taken seriously? Interesting stuff!

Like last time, afterwards, I bought some of the products that we used in the lesson. If you want to see the products I bought after the last course I went on, the post is here. The course this time used some if those same products, like the Matte Veil and the Skin Base foundation, both of which I really love; the former in particular being a staple of my daily routine.

But this time I chose four of my favourite products from the lesson to take home with me:

Skin Base Lift; in Light 2 - Not only is this is a very creamy under eye concealer, but it also has a peach tone to it, so it doubles up as a corrector. This is great as it means putting on less product helping it look a little more natural. It's designed to compliment the Skin Base foundation, but I use it regularly without, and I still love the way it looks. It doesn't take much product, but it makes my eyes look much brighter, and I look so much more awake, even if I don't feel it!

Cream blusher; in Zygomatic - Before I discovered this product, I hadn't really used a cream blusher before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But I ended up loving it. It's a very neutral shade so once blended it looks very natural, and it blends so easily. All I do is use my fingertips, and it gives a great finish.

Sculpting Powder Duo; in Lumos and Heliopolis - This powder is designed for highlighting and contouring. The highlighter, Lumos, has a buildable shimmer to it, whereas helios is a light brown matte shade, which is perfect for creating shadows. They compliment each other perfectly. For the lesson, we also used the product as eyeshadow, so it's great for multitasking in a morning.

Lipstick; in Climax - I still don't feel ready to wear a bold lip, so I was matched up to this neutral shade. It is actually close to my own lip colour, but it's a matte finish and actually helps my lip colour look much softer and even. We paired this with a lip pencil in Fantasy (which, unfortunately, they had sold out of) and together it just brought the look together.

Have you tried any Illamasqua products?

London Haul

Last month I went to down to London for the day. I went particularly for an Illamasqua make-up lesson. It was called 'Skin Realism', which involved learning what products we could use to keep our skin looking flawless. It was a really good evening, and I picked up some useful tips. However, it did mean that I spent a lot of money in the shop afterwards. I did some shopping earlier in the day too, but, thanks to some unexpected happenings, I ended up with only a hour or two to get some shopping done. I headed to Oxford Street to buy clothes and make-up. I ended up in Kiko, as I've been yearning for some of their Daring Game collection forever. I also bought a couple of pieces from Forever 21, but this post is all about the make-up.

Kiko Top Pairs Blush - It's fair to say that I was sold by the packaging on this. I absolutely love the look so much, it is so gorgeous. After spending probably more time than I should have trying to decide which one I wanted, I settled on '01' in the shades Desert Sand and Rose Coral. they're really beautiful shades. I haven't tried them out as yet, as I didn't want to ruin them for the pictures, but I'm really excited about using them.

Kiko Eyelash curler - I didn't go in particularly looking for the eyelash curler. Mine broke that morning, and so I needed a new one. I completely forgot about it until I saw them on the shelf, whilst I was in the queue. It was good value, and it's good quality so I'm glad I picked it up.

Illamasqua Matte Veil - I was sold on this as soon as I was told it would keep my skin looking matte. I do have oily skin, so I'm consistently trying to find things that can combat it. I think this is great as it keeps my skin matte a lot longer. It doesn't last all day but I can definitely see the difference,

Illamasqua Cream Pigment - This is the cream we used for contouring during the course, It is in the shade 'hollow', which is very matte and perfect for contouring. I never contoured my face before, but I think I am definitely going to start as it really looked great,

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation - I went to the course knowing that I would want to pick up their foundation, and I did. It has a decent coverage, but still looks natural. I love the way it looks. This came with a tube of white skin base mixer. It's mixd with the foundation to help brighten up the complexion.

Have you tried any of these products? Did you like them?

September Birch Box

It's that time again, when a Birch Box is pushed through my letterbox, and I excitedly open it for my little surprises. This is already my seventh one. Time has gone so quickly!

This month the theme is Happy Days, in which Birch Box are concentrating on creating memories, after having to go back to school after the summer. I like this month's theme a lot, It's such a lovely idea to create memories to remember summer by. I also love the look of the box. It's a beautiful blue and pink, with some really cool designs on. They should make their boxes artsy every month. It's much better than the usual boring cardboard. 

Here's what I received in September's box:

Agave Healing Oil Treatment - This is oil helps to de-frizz the hair and generally make it silky and smooth. The idea is to simply work a small amount through damp hair. I'm looking forward to using this one as my hair can get pretty frizzy, and hopefully this will help to make it look smoother.

Korres Citrus Showergel - For a moment I thought this was the body milk I received a few months back, as the packaging is exactly the same. Luckily it's not. This time it's showergel, and oddly, this is the one I'm most excited about, simply because I adore the scent. This will be a great one to keep for the next time I go away.

Premae Mild Dermabrasion Face & Body Scrub - This is a gentle body scrub that is made from olive granules! Apparently it's also gentle enough for the face. The tub also says it's excellent for use after hair removal. I'm a little dubious, so I want to use after shaving my legs to be sure! 

Benefit It's Potent! Eye cream - I have had a sample of this before when I purchased the Benefit skincare pack. The issue I had with it then was that it was a little irritable on my eyes. It stung a little. It's still the same now, so I think I wil be giving this one away.

ModelCo Lip Lacquer - This is a product that we had sight of beforehand, as we were able to pick from a selection which product we wanted to receive. I chose this lip laquer in the shade Morocco. I'll be honest, it's not what I was expecting. I was expecting something more like Rimmel's Apocalips, but this is really just a sheer lip gloss. In fact, I can't see any colour pay-off at all, but I did choose one that was close to my lip tone so it would look more natural. It's also a little too gloopy and sticky for my taste, but it does give a great shine. So far, I'm not really that impressed, which is a little disappointing.

Birchbox Happy Days Photo Clip - We had a lot of these types of photo holders growing up. It's a simple thing but I like it. I think I mostly like the colour. It's such a lovely blue.

Urban Fruit Smashing Strawberry - I already know I love Urban Fruit so I was very happy to see this. These are delicious strawberry pieces. I'm looking forward to snacking on these.

What do you like the look of?

Benefit V.I.P. Spree

I often like to walk through Boots on my way home from work, and spend some time browsing around the make-up. Weirdly, I find it relaxing. On one of these trips, I decided to pick up a mini size of Benefit's They're Real Mascara, and sitting next to it was this little Benefit VIP Spree pack. After a short moment of deliberation, obviously I bought it...

There are three sample size products in the pack; High Beam, Bad Gal Lashes and Sugarbomb lipgloss. It also comes with a voucher for £10 off when you spend over £25 on Boots.com, as well as a voucher for a free makeover at any Boots Benefit counter.All for £9.95.

First up is High Beam, and it's safe to say I have fallen in love with the product. It comes with a little brush which makes it really easy to apply. All I do it is dot some on my cheekbones, blend it in and it looks great. It gives the skin a really beautiful shimmer, and it's not ridiculously obvious. I also use it on my cupid's bow, down the bridge of my nose and under the arches of my eyebrow to highlight my face.

Next is the Bad Gal Lashes. The wand has thick bristles, and is geared more towards achieved voluminous lashes. It's not my favourite type of mascara, so I'm not blown over by it, To be honest, I can't see any difference in what I'd get for a cheaper product. I also found it smudged throughout the day more that the They're Real one does. It's not bad, but I won't be purchasing a full size.

Finally is the Sugabomb lipgloss. The first thing I noticed is that the gloss is scented, and I'm really not fond of it. Getting over that though, it applies really smoothly on the lips and made them feel moist and smooth for ages, without being overly sticky. I would describe it as a shimmery, mauve-pink shade. It would be nice, if I could get over the scent.

Have you tried any of these products?

Primer vs. Primer

A couple of months ago, I got accosted by a lady from the Benefit counter, who offered me an impromptu make-over. It was here that I discovered some of my favourite products.

One of these was the Benefit Porefessional. I fell in love with it straight away. It mattifies, smooths and blurs my face; everything I want it to do. I love the consistency of the product, as it just glides on so easily. It seems perfect. Unfortunately, it does have one, quite big, downside, and that is the price. At £24.50, it may not be feasible to purchase it every few months.

Because of this I have been out looking for a possible dupe. One which is much kinder on my bank balance. I like really into primers which blur. Because I've got oily skin and large pores, they suit me the most.

One that I have tried is the L'oreal Blur Cream. As soon as I used the product I was a bit dubious. It just sort of spluttered out of the tube. I'm not sure if I just a had a dud tube, or if it just does that anyway. Needless to say, that didn't impress me. The cream itself is light and smooths easily onto the skin, but it doesn't have that mattifying texture, which is something I'm looking for. It's certainly not a bad product, but it doesn't have the effect I desire. Though at £9.99. I shouldn't grumble.

The most recent addition to my collection in The Body Shop Instablur. And I do like this one, a lot. It was a little a bit of a surprise at first, as the product is clear and looks a little gel-like. Despite this, it actually has a nice texture on the skin. It blurs my pores and imperfections, and, importantly, it is mattifying. I think it is certainly a contender for my favourite primer, and at £14, it's a much more justifiable.

What is your favourite primer?

Some things I bought

This month I tried to save up a little bit more. Unfortunately it didn't quite work. Although I didn't buy as many beauty products as usual, I made up for it in clothes. But that will be a post for another day.

I spent some time this month wandering around Boots, scouring the make-up and skincare. My local Boots has started to stock some Sleek products, and this made me decide to buy some products by brands I've not purchased from before.

Like I mentioned, I really wanted to try something from Sleek. I decided upon this Gloss Me lipgloss in the shade Angel Falls. To be honest, I am undecided about the product. The formula is sheer and moist on the lips, but quite sticky. Also, the applicator makes it difficult to apply. It is a lovely colour though and I don't even mind the glitter as much as I thought I would. I think I need to give this one a few tries before making up my mind.

Secondly, I bought a NYX jumbo eye pencil in Yogurt. I have wandered into Next a few times, staring at the small display, trying to decide what to buy. I mainly bought this to use on my waterline and in the corner of my eye to brighten it up a little. I love the formula as it just glides on so smoothly. I'm not sure if I got the right shade for what I wanted, so I might end up using it for my eyelids. Either way, I really love the product.

I also decided I wanted to try an Essie nail polish. I've never used anything by Essie before, but I've heard a lot of good things about them. I picked the colour Naughty Nautical, and it is such a beautiful shade. I call it a mermaid colour, as it's a gorgeous turquoise shade, with some sparkles thrown in for good measure. I am wearing it this week and it still looks great. It's also super easy to apply. I managed to do it with minimal mess and it dried quite quickly. I think I will be buying more of their products.

Next up I bought a Maybelline Master Shape eye pencil in soft brown. I've been trying to get my brow technique down recently. The majority of the tutorials I found, I didn't think were suitable. I don't need to shape my eyebrows, as I think they have decent shape, but I just wanted to define them. I found a really nice tutorial that I thought would suit me, and so now I think my eyebrows are really beginning to look great. This pencil was a good price and makes a good addition to my make-up collection. It's really soft and blends in well.

I received the Molton Brown Replenishing Hand Cream in my first ever Birch Box and I fell in love with it then. I finally decided to just go for it, and purchase it in a full size. I bought it in Rhubarb and Rose, which just smells divine. It sinks so easily into the skin and leaves them smooth with no stickiness. I'm loving using this on a daily basis.

Lastly, I picked up a mini Benefit collection from boots. I went to repurchase the Benefit They're Real mascara, and sitting next to it was this Benefit VIP Spree which includes sample products of the High Beam, Bad Gal lashes and Sugarbomb lipgloss. I won't go into detail on these as I plan to do a separate post on all of this in the future, but they are a mixed a bag. I particularly love the High Beam though as it gives such a beautiful glow.

What new products have you tried this month?

That's a Wrap

A few weeks ago, a girl I know turned up with incredibly colourful nails. They were were covered in rainbow stripes, and looked really brilliant. When I complimented them she told me they were nail wraps.

I'd never considered trying nail wraps before. To be honest, I've never been too adventurous with my nails. I prefer to slap on a good coat of colour and I'm ready to go. But after seeing how nice hers were I decided to give it a go and headed to my local Boots to find some to try.

There wasn't actually a great deal of choice in my local Boots, and it's even one of the larger stores. I ended up choosing the Umberto Giannini Talons in After Dark Lace (£7 here - though the ones I picked up were reduced to about £4.49). I quite like the lace effect so thought these would be really cute and look inconspicuous enough for my first go.

The application of them was really difficult.

The instructions advise that you cut them to the correct size and then apply them. However, I could not work out how to cut them to size before putting them on. I do not have enough hands to be able to hold it in place and trim it. I am sure I am missing a trick here somewhere. I ended up applying them, and then trimming them to size. I don't think it looked too bad. One of the problems I did find was that the wraps were slightly too small. I don't have big hands at all but the biggest wrap was just slightly too small for my thumb so there is a tiny gap.

I do like the way they look, and it is nice not to be breathing in fumes whilst doing my nails. I hoped they would be more long lasting than they have turned out to be. I applied them Sunday evening and by yesterday they were peeling from the top, as you can see in the picture.

So the verdict is that I like them and I'm willing to give them a further go. Though I think I should research how to apply them properly first!

Have you tried nail wraps?

August Birch Box

It's August! And it's Birch Box time!

This month, Birch Box is focussing on getting away from it all, travelling away to far flung destinations complete with sandy beaches and palm trees. They've packed a box full of travelling essentials to help us through the holiday season.

I do think it might be bit late for this theme. We seem to have hit autumn here in Britain, and I'm sure most people have gone on their travels by now. But it is most certainly not a bad little box. I've not been enthused by it as much as I have with previous boxes, but I am still loving my little surprises every month and there are still some great products included.

One particular exciting thing about this month's box is that instead of the usual fabric bag, all the goodies around in this very cute plastic pouch, which will be great for taking travelling with. Even if you're not going away, it will be very useful for everyday make-up.

 So, included in this month is:

Dead Sea Spa Magik Refreshing Bath Shower Gel - I don't really feel like I have much to say about this one, as really it's just another bath/shower gel. I think the scent is lovely. It smells fresh, like the sea. It's a great product to take away on holiday, but other that that, it doesn't seem very special. I do like that the gel is blue though.

Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect - This is a leave-in conditioning spray which helps protect against heat and sun damage. As I've got naturally curly hair, any products I use are to help define them and I find it hard to pull away from that. I think this will be great for anyone with straight hair. In fact I've given it to my sister as it's perfect for her. It's just not for me.

Supergoop! Daily Correct SPF 35 CC Cream - Finally something I am looking forward to. I've never used a CC cream before, and this one looks a good one to start giving it a go! It's a light cream to even out the skin tone, and I particularly love that it has SPF 35. I don't normally see foundations with sun protection that high. My one concern is that my sample came in the shade light/medium but it seems incredibly dark. Hopefully it'll blend in well and look great.

Vasanti Brightenup! Enzymatic Face Rejuvanator - This is a facial exfoliator and sounds great. It's definitely one I'm excited to try. The packaging tells me it's enriched with papaya, micro-crytals and aloe. The grains are very small with I find feels better on the skin as it's not too rough. I think this will be great all year round especially in the colder months to perk up the skin.

Wild About Beauty Powder Eyeshadow - I was a little disappointed by this one at first. I don't really wear eyeshadow, so I thought this was going to be another one to give away. However, upon opening, I fell in love immediately. The colour is absolutely gorgeous. It's a bronzy-copper sort of shade which is perfect for summer and it has a beautiful shimmer to it. I'm planing on using this over my lid or to define my crease. It is the shade that may encourage me to use eyeshadow more often!

The Proposal by Tasmina Terry - As a lifestyle extra this month we received the first chapter of a summer read. It is a romantic novel 'which spans 1950s London and present day NYC'. I must admit that this does not interest me at all. As you can probably tell from this post, I don't really read romantic novels. Not only that, but after skimming through and seeing mentions of people playing polo, drinking champagne and generally being high-fliers, I don't think it's a book I can relate to. To cut a long story short - I'm going to give this one a miss. It's really not my thing. But if it is your thing, then it may be worth giving it a go.

Which products sound good to you?

Camp Kit

I am going camping for a week soon, and it is important to me to keep my skincare routine up. The trip I'm going on is most certainly not glamping. Although it won't be completely roughing it, I don't know what the facilities will be like.

To help anyone else in this position, I have put together a few ideas of the sorts of things I take on camping trips.

-The Face-

The important part for my face is keeping it clean from all the dirt and impurities that have built up during the day. If we're honest, the facilities aren't always great, so I've tried to find a routine that will combat that. I always take face wipes as these are great as a quick fix to get the initial dirt of my face. I love these Yes To wipes as they are thick and gentle on the skin. The Liz Earle Hot Cleanser is brilliant for a camp as it all it takes is some hot water and a cloth and your face feels great. As I'm going on a week long camp I'm taking a big bottle of cleanser that I can use in the same way. Cotton wool pads are brilliant to use. Finally I use moisturiser and eye cream to really take care of my skin.

-The Make-Up-

As you can see, I keep my make-up very minimal, and I only really use it if we're going out into civilisation. I use the Bobbi Brown Creamy Corrector and the Collection Long Lasting Concealers as my dark circles and blemishes are the areas I'm most concious about, so I like to try and cover these up. I find this to be a great combination. I only use them on areas that need it. If I'm feeling bold I will use some mascara, but mostly I don't bother. I will always use lip balm however, as being in the great outdoors isn't the best for my lips. I love the Carmex lip balms as they work well for me.

-The Hair-

If you are lucky to have showers at your campsite, then keeping your hair and body clean is a must. I use general shampoo and conditioner. Normally, whatever good travel sizes I can find. I also use something that can help my curls look decent in between washes, and this Aussie Curl Definition Serum is brilliant. If you don't have showers or are not washing your hair for a few days, then dry shampoo is the best thing ever, as it keeps your hair looking fresh for days. I use the Batiste Dry Shampoo. It's the only one I've used, but it works for me so I keep going back!

-The Body-

Ahe deodorant is a must as who wants to be smelly on camp! I use a stick deodorant as it's the easiest and I really like this Nivea Invisible. The body wash is just a cheap one I bought from Primark, but it does the job, and that's the main thing. If I  am going away for a long time in the summer then I will want to shave my legs. I use a disposable razor and a travel size shave gel. To lock in the moisture after shaving I use a body lotion or milk. There are two pictured here as I couldn't decide which one to take!

-The Rest-

Obviously a tooth brush and tooth paste is important. I saw this travel toothbrush in Boots, and I love it as it folds away being compact and protecting the head. Another important thing is Sun cream. I use face and body sun cream. This Boots Soltan Once sun cream is fantastic as it lasts 8 hours! I use the La Roche-Posay Anthelios cream for my face which works great, and doesn't leave my face sticky. Hand cream is important as being outdoors all day can really dry your hands. The L'Occitane hand creams are my favourites. One important thing to take is hand santitiser, as it's a quick way to keep your hands fresh and stop any cross-contamination. Finally, there are two other good things to take which aren't pictured as I bought them afterwards. Bug spray is brilliant as no one wants to be eaten alive, and I always make sure I take painkillers just in case a end up with a headache.

Is there anything extra you would take?

Summer Make-Up

For summer, I think it's important to have make-up which is simple and light enough to combat the heat. It's not a great feeling be suffocated by make-up or having it melt! I also like to make sure I have something that can last the day with minimal touch-ups. As I spend all my time at work, and can't really get away with spending my day in the toilets perfecting my make-up!

So I have come up with a simple routine. This is what works for me. I've tried to keep it as simple as possible but with still looking great.

To prime my face I like to use Benefit's Porefessional (£24.50, Feel Unique), as it gives helps give a smooth base to the skin and helps keep my face looking matte. This has pretty much become a everyday staple. As a foundation, I use Garnier BB cream (£9.99, Boots). It's such a light base, that it's perfect for summer. I find it gives a nice radiance to my skin too. It's always good to have a healthy looking glow in summer.

To conceal dark circles I use my secret weapon: Bobbi Brown Creamy Corrector in light peach (£19.00, HOF). I love this so much as it just drastically changes my look and brightens up my entire face. I have recently hit pan on it which I'm quite sad about. On top of that, I sometimes use the Bobbi Brown concealer but I have found myself going back to the ever popular Collection Long Lasting Perfection concealers (£4.19, Boots). I stopped using them for a while when they changed the shades but I've started with them again, working them slightly differently which I love the results of. I use Cool Medium (2) under my eyes as it is lighter than my natural shade and brightens the area perfectly. I also use it down the bridge of my nose and to cover the red around my nose which brightens my entire face. I then go in with the warm medium (3) shade to tackle any spots and blemishes. It's a darker shade so it works to not highlight the spots. I then set all my face with Soap & Glory's One Heck of a Blot (£12, Boots), taking particular attention around my eyes.

I like to keep my make-up very simple daily, so I only use the Benefit Gimme Brow (£17.50, Feel Unique) on my eyebrows to really define them. I then curl my eyelashes and use the Soap & Glory Thick and Fast Mascara (£10.00, Boots) to really make my lashes stand out. I pair this with the Maybelline Great Lash (£4.99, Boots) for the bottom lashes. This combo really makes my lashes go BAM!

On my cheeks I use the Clinique Cheek Pop (£16.50, HOF) in the shade peach pop. The blush really is long lasting and makes my cheeks look bright and summery. I finally dab Benefit's Watt's Up (£24.50, Feel Unique) on my cheek bones, my cupid bow and the arch on my eyebrow to really highlight these areas when they catch the light.

To set it all in place I use Urban Decay's De-Slick (£20, HOF) setting spray which keeps me going most of the day.

What is the staple of your summer make-up?

July Birch Box

It's time for another Birch Box! The theme for July is Sun, Sea & Sand, and the Birch Box team are helping for a summer away by suggesting products for taking away on holiday.

This is most is not the best box I've received, and it's quite hit and miss if I'm honest. It was always going to be hard to keep up the level of the last one. I am however, looking forward to using a couple of products in this box.

So here is what I received:

Benefit Porefessional - I was disappointed that this appeared in my box to be honest. Now I love the Porefessional, it is one of my favourite products and I use it daily; and that is the exact reason I was disappointed. For me Birch Box is about finding new products to love. I'm sure for anyone who has never used the Porefessional then it will be a great surprise as the product is great. I guess it means it will keep me going a little longer.

Whish Body Butter - This is in a lovely subtle lavender scent. I've used it once but it doesn't seemed to have lasted very long. I love the scent and it sinks into the skin beautifully. However, it did seem to leave my skin slightly sticky. Not one I am bothered about purchasing in the future.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream - Now this is one I am looking forward to using as it sounds so good and couldn't turn up at a better time. I have been looking for a good eye cream now that I have finished my Bobbi Brown sample.It's light on the skin and doesn't make my skin sting which is always a bonus. It says it brightens the eye area and keeps wrinkles at bay, so I have high hopes for this.

Laqa & Co Lip Lube pencil - So after I'd stopped giggling at the name, I could assess this one. I got mine in the colour Menatour which is a very purple shade. I'm not sure I'd ever wear this out in public for that reason... I know it's a trend for this season, and purple is my favourite colour, but it's just not so keen with it on my lips. I'm very much a neutral gal so it' not really my shade. It does feel really nice on the lips though, so we'll see. I could change my mind! It won't be the first time.

Models Own Nail Polish - This one came in the shade Magenta Divine which is a pink glitter shade, and if there is one thing I don't like it's glitter. I think I just have memories of it getting everywhere and having glitter all over my face. Glitter polish itself reminds me of being 14 and getting this type of polish free with magazines. I don't think I'll wear this one at all as it's really not me. I'm more likely to give it away to my niece.

Finally, the lifestyle extra is the Filosofille 4-sided nail buffer, which looks so cute!It doesn't seem very sturdy but does look like it'll get the job done. It's a nice little extra thins month. These things always come in handy.

Which product do you like the look of?

A little Haul

Unfortunately, the few days after payday often means a shopping trip. It's great for me, but terrible for my bank balance. But it gives me chance to pick up things that I've had my eye on for a while.

This month I got busy with my credit card and bought some nice things. First off is Aussie Dual Personality Curl Definition and Soft Feel Serum (products need shorter names). I bought this on a recommendation, as I am constantly looking for something light to keep my curls defined and soft.Especially as after I nights sleep I wake with them all flattened. Hopefully this will rejuvenate my curls in a morning.

Next up is the Urban Decay De-Slick Make-up Setting Spray. I purchased the travel size to give it a go. For a travel size I think it's a good amount. I have used it a couple of times and so far I'm not sure about it. Working 8 hours a day means at the end of my shift my make-up is slipping off. I wanted to find something that would keep my make-up in place all day. I think I need to use it a bit longer to see for sure.

Next is the Ecotools Six Piece Essential Eye Set. I generally don't do eye make-up. Some mascara is good enough for me., but I recently purchased a Make-up Revolution Eye Palette (Girls On Film) and so I wanted to try out more. Obviously to do that I need the right tools.

And this brings me onto my next pick which is Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion, which, again, I used so I could try out some eye colour and thought this would be perfect to help it last. It seems like one that a lot of people use, so I thought it'd be the best one to give a go.

I wanted to find a summery blush so I decided to pick up the Clinique Cheek Pop blush in Peach Pop. I have heard really good things about this blush so I wanted to give it a try myself. I absolutely love the bright colour. Pop is definitely the right name for it!

Finally I bought two things to help me touch up my make-up on the go. I bought a Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush as well as a The Vintage Cosmetic Company Make-up bag. The make-up bag was too cute to pass up. I do find myself just throwing all my make-up in the bottom of my bag, so having something to keep them organised it great. I absolutely love the brush. I think it's such a neat idea as you can make the brush any size you want. I bought it to use as a powder brush for when I need to powder my nose, but I love that it's so versatile.

Bourjois 1 seconde Mascara

I am on the hunt for the perfect mascara. It must give me good looking lashes, not run too much and not break the bank. So when I saw the 1 Seconde Mascara by Bourjois in Boots, I thought it looked perfect and had to give it a try.

There were two things that drew me to it; the big 'No Clumps' sign, and the weird looking bristles. They are something to behold. The wand is covered in alternating spiky bristles and little ball-shaped bristles. I love the packaging. It is silver and shiny. It is prone to fingermarks though, so I had to rub them off occasionally. It is also very light. It shocked me when I picked it up as it feels like there's nothing in it!

The application of it works nicely. It makes my lashes look bold and long which is the main thing for a mascara. The 'no clumps' claim is a bit misleading, as there is definitely clumpage (did I just make that up?). It straightens out with a brush, but when it's claimed there will be no clumps, it's expected to be so.

So far so good, but it was really let down by the wear time. I purchased the waterproof version, and I still found I had panda eyes by the end of the day. I do find that mascara generally runs for me, but this is one of the worst.

At £9.99 it's not a bad price, but it's a shame that it runs so much or I would probably use it more.

Birch Box June 2014

It's that time of the month again when I receive my little surprises through the post.

This month, Birch Box have jumped into the World Cup theme and have produced a Brazil and beyond inspired box. The pouch that it came in is particularly cute. It is green with yellow text and just looks so apt. Each product this month is either in, or represents a different country. I don't care for football at all, but I have to admit I love this.

Without further ado, here is the contents of this month's box:

Beauty Blender - This is something I  have seen quite a lot around the internet. It seems to be the favourite of a lot of bloggers. I've never really looked twice at it before as I don't usually like sponges, but I am looking forward to see how this works out. I especially like how it comes with a solid soap to enable to clean it easily.

Yves Rocher Sheer Botanical Lipstick - I think calling this a lipstick is not quite right. I received mine in the shade Litchi but the colour pay-off in this is barely noticeable. It does make the lips glossier and it gives a tint to the lips. This is also supposed to moisturise the lips, and I definitely agree with that. It felts soft on my lips and I think I'll definitely be wearing this more as a tinted lipbalm, rather than a lipstick.

OPI Nail Lacquer - This is from OPI's Brazilian Collection. I can't find a name to the shade, but it's a lovely shimmery, pink/red shade. Now, as I mentioned before, I'm not really a fan of red or pink nail shades but my mum convinced me this will look good, so I'm going to give it a try.

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion - This is a lovely moisturiser, but nothing I'm excited about. It's made using natural and organic products and it sinks well into the skin. The formula is quite thick, and it has a lemon scent that is a little odd. It doesn't seem a stand-out to other moisturisers on the market so I don't think I'd buy a full sized product, but I will continue to use this one up.

Embryolisse Lait-creme Concentre - This is a deeper moisturiser and it looks like it'll be a good one for dry skin. The sample of this is quite small, but as my skin seems to be the complete opposite of dry, I may end up giving this one away.

Brazil Inspired-Keyring - This is a little bit of fun in the box. I love the colours. It's just very cute.
I may be hanging my keys on this over the World Cup period.

It was a good box this month. It certainly wasn't as exciting as last month's, but I still enjoyed it.

Steam Cream

I bought Steam Cream on a whim. As usual, I was suckered in by the cute packaging, so I just had to try it. But this is a bit different to other creams in the market, as it is made using steam. I don't know all the details, but their website states that all the natural ingredients are fused together using steam, and this makes for a lighter and more absorbent cream. It sounds exciting!

I have been using the cream for the past few weeks and I am liking it so far. I use it as a night cream for my face, but it is versatile enough to use anywhere. After about three weeks, I am still using the product off the lid of the tin, so this really does last.

I really love how light the cream is on my skin. I don't find it sticky or anything like that, I find it rubs in really well and feels really good on the skin.

The one thing that is a off-putting for me is the smell. It is a natural, creamy smell, but for me it is too strong and not a scent I like.

Like I said, it was the packaging that drew me to it. There are so many different styles of tin. I got mine in Ume Ni Uguisu, as it's so pretty. The tin is even reusable for trinkets afterwards.

The test for me is whether I would repurchase it again. I think I would buy this again. It makes a great addition to my bedside table.

Garnier BB Cream

Last month I went to look for a new base for my face. With the weather getting warmer I wanted to find something that would be light and easy to wear. I was looking primarily for tinted moisturiser, but I saw the Garnier BB cream and, remembering somewhere in the back of my mind that I'd heard good things, I decided to purchase it.

The particular product in the range I purchased was the Skin Perfector for combination to oily skin in light (which costs £9.99). It claims to do a number of things, these being: Anti-shine, blurs pores and imperfections, evens tones and boosts glow, moisturises and has SPF 20 UV protection.

That's a lot for a little bottle to do!

The one that really stuck out to me is that I find that it does even the skin tone and boosts glow. That is the main thing I love about the product as well as it's lightweight, silky, moisturising texture which glides on my skin very easily. I use my fingers to apply it over a primer. At the moment I am using Benefits Porefessional or L'Oreal's Blur. For me, this seems to be the most effective way of getting an even coverage.

I really do love how my skin looks afterwards, but I wouldn't say it was is anti-shine as i still feel like my skin has shine after using it. I also don't find that it lasts the entire day. Long-lasting is important to me as I spend over 8 hours in an office everyday.

It does however, give my skin a gorgeous glow. It is light so it doesn't have an amazing coverage, but it is buildable and it is great for just giving me an even tone so I can even wear it on it's own, and then cover up my blemishes and dark circles with concealers.

Since I've bought it I've not used any other base or foundation on my skin, and I'll probably use it all summer.