EMBRYOLISSE LAIT-CRÈME CONCENTRÉ

My skin is odd, one minute it's dry and the next it's oily. I can't win! I decided to invest in a new moisturiser as I found my old one was not doing the best of jobs. I had spotted the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré a few times but had never purchased it. There's something about french skin care that really draws me in, I don't know what it is! 

NYX - THE SKINNY MASCARA

So, I have a love-hate relationship with my bottom lashes. I love applying mascara to them, but I hate how clunky many of the mascaras are. I decided to go on the hunt for a mascara with a smaller wand to make application that little bit easier. I found that NYX offered a Skinny Mascara and so the deal was settled after falling in love with their foundation. 

SIGMA F80 - FLAT TOP KABUKI

Okay, I'm Guilty - I purchased a brush that was not made by Real Techniques. I feel like I have betrayed Sam and Nic, I have sworn by their brushes for years. I decided to give the Sigma brushes a whirl, I had heard so much about them on YouTube. I thought that if I was about to spend £16 on a brush, it would have to be one that I used daily. I chose to go for the Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki brush as I think foundation is the product I use and value the most. 

NYX HD PHOTOGENIC FOUNDATION

Okay, so I am so excited to write this review. I have been on the search for the perfect foundation - as we all are - and I think I have found it. I have been watching and reading NYX reviews for years and have longed to try their products, when I saw Feel Unique started stocking the brand, I ordered straight away. 

MAYBELINE SUPER STAY NAIL COLOUR

I know it's autumn, but baby blue is still one of my go to nail colours. I guess you could say that cold weather is coming and cold means blue so...there's definitely a link even though it says summer on the bottle. Shhhh. I don't think I have tried the Maybelline Super Stay nail colours before, I only really think of Barry M when it comes to it. I saw this colour and thought it would be a lovely addition to my collection! 

5 THINGS: BLOGGING PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Looking back at the first few posts on this blog makes me proud of how far it has come. From my writing style to photography skills, I can see how much I have grown over the years. When it comes to taking photos for your blog, everyone has their own style. However, there are a few things that everyone can do behind the scenes to make photographing products that little bit easier. Just for reference I use a Canon 600D to take my photos and soft boxes if I decide to photograph later on in the day when there is no natural light. The photos in this post are taken in natural light which I find always looks the best! So without further ado, here are my top 5 tips for blogging photography. 

1. SET THE SCENE

Before I do anything, I set up the scene for my photographs. I gather any props I need and lay everything out so that when I am taking photographs it's just a matter of placing them accordingly. I usually have a very minimal look to my photographs so I have the usual props such as flowers, a candle and maybe an ornament. My photos are predominantly white as my room is that colour - I love the minimalist look. No matter what your style of photo, it makes it so much easier to get your scene ready before you begin photographing. 

2. GRAB YOURSELF SOME LENS WIPES

These little beauties are so cheap - I purchased mine from Home Bargains. Having some form of lens wipes on hand is so important, especially when you are working with and photographing makeup. I always give my lens a wipe before using my camera whilst constantly checking throughout the shoot. There is nothing worse than cleaning everything up and popping your SD Card into the laptop, only to find out theres a massive smudge in every picture.

3. KEEP YOUR WORKSPACE CLEAN

Being a beauty blogger, I know the struggle of makeup stains and smudges. We have to photograph the products as well as the swatches and this can be a nightmare at times. Even when you don't realise - a product can leave marks anywhere. I always keep some antibacterial wipes on hand to wipe down any surfaces I am using as well as any products. I like my products to look clean in my photos so these babies are a necessity. 

4. PREPARE YOUR PRODUCTS.

Before I photograph anything I like to get my products together in one place. I don't want to be running back and forth or forget something, so this is the best way to avoid that. I often set my products out in an orderly way so that I can get photos taken quickly and efficiently. It's so annoying when you think you are finished and start editing, only to remember you have forgotten a vital product. This means you can keep your blog up to date with everything you want to write about too. 

5. LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT

If you are photographing products, it's important that they are well lit so that the product can bee seen. Although I do own soft boxes - I much prefer taking photos during the morning in natural light. I always photograph my products near a window to get a lovely bright clear finish to my photos. I can't deal with dark photos - it's just not my style and so that means making lighting a priority. 

So that's my top 5 blogging photography tips! I will be writing my next 5 tips on cameras and editing so keep looking out for that! Obviously my tips are personal and won't be to everyones tastes, however, I feel they are important things that I have learnt from watching my blog grow over the years! Let me know if you have any tips for photography! I would love to learn some more from other peoples experiences!

MAC FACE AND BODY

I've never taken part in the MAC hype - I feel like there may be something wrong with me! I don't have millions of MAC lipsticks and I have never felt the need to try their products out. I think this is because I purchased a foundation when I was in high school and expected it to be amazing, however, it was no more impressive than my highstreet alternative. 

I recently felt the MAC urge, I felt like I wanted to embrace MAC and maybe my mind would be changed as I am now older. I needed a new foundation and I wanted something with a light coverage and long lasting power. I decided it was time to try MAC. After a lot of research I decided to go for the Face and Body foundation - the unsung hero of their foundations. I read about the amount of makeup artists that see this foundation as an essential in their kit and how it has a beautiful dewy glow - just what I was looking for. i like that they have started to sell the product in a smaller 50ml bottle - it means I don't have to commit to their 150ml. However, if you know you love this product it is wiser to purchase the 150ml as you get more for your money. 

I was so excited when the package arrived and ran upstairs to try out this foundation. On first try I noticed that the product blended in amazingly. I had read how it looks just like skin, however, I did't realise how natural it would look. Very impressed with this. In terms of coverage it is not for those looking to conceal, I would say it is more suited to those maybe trying to balance skin or for those with already clear skin. I could not wear this foundation without a concealer as it is very sheer and it really only balances my skin tone out. The product feels lightweight on the skin and doesn't feel cakey after a long day - I like that ever after university and travelling home I didn't feel like my face was under a huge mask. I chose the shade N1 - their lightest shade. I do not think this is the right shade for me as it makes me look slightly orange, however, it is fine if I blend it slightly down my neck. I think the finish of the product is beautiful and yes it gives you a healthy glow, I really enjoyed the end look. I do however feel that I can only wear this foundation when my skin is immaculate, which is rare. I wish I had perfect skin because this foundation really is a lovely product and it looks so natural. My sister has lovely skin and it suits her so well, I guess my review only represents those with acne scarring or the odd blemish. 

In conclusion I feel impressed by the MAC Face and Body, it is a nice product with a gorgeous finish. If anything I would like to test out some other foundations they have to offer maybe with a larger shade range and also a slightly higher coverage. I hope that in the future when my skin is completely healed from scarring that I can try this product again because It has so many positive attributes!

Please let me know if you have tried this product! Also let me know if you have any recommendations for what MAC foundation I should try next!

MAYBELLINE COLOR TATTOO

I had tried one of these eye shadows over a year ago, and was obsessed with it. However, I lost it and never repurchased for some reason! Recently, the Color Tattoo 24hr eyeshadows have started to crop up everywhere and so I had to go out and purchase a few. 

I decided to go for three shades - a light, medium and dark shade. On first look, these shadows are absolutely gorgeous! I love the packaging, the glass pots feel very luxury and the glass allows you to see the product. When you unscrew the lid, the product looks so lovely - I couldn't bring myself to ruin the perfect swirl of product! However, I also couldn't resist the urge to use the products so it was quickly ruined!

The lightest shade I chose was 65 - Pink Gold. This shade is beautiful and is such a lovely highlight on the skin. I often find gold on my pale skin can look too over the top and this pinky gold shade is perfect for a day to day look. I think the warm tones are perfect for autumn and it makes your eyes really stand out! The medium shade I chose was 70 - Metallic Pomegranate. This shade is literally autumn in a pot. I love burgundy and purple shades so this was the perfect choice for me. It's light enough to wear all over the lid yet dark enough to use as a contour with a lighter shade. I think this is my favourite shade by far. The darkest shade I chose was 40 - Permanent Taupe. This shade is perfect for contour and it has a beautiful matte finish. I love that it works well with all of the shades I have tried it with.

The product itself is brilliant as a shadow. There is so much to love - the longitivtiy, the colour pay off and the over all finish. The product is creamy and applies to the skin so easily - it also blends well on it's on or with other shades. I really enjoy the fact that you can apply this with a brush or with your finger. These are perfect for those who find using brushes a hassle or who simply can't be bothered. The pigmentation is amazing and lasts all day - yes, ALL DAY!! They have clearly been supplied to us by the makeup gods. You only need a tiny bit of product in terms of cost and lasting power - they are the perfect investment for every day wear.

Have you tried any of these beauties? let me know! If you have any suggestions for what shades I should buy next, let me know! 

FINALLY, A MARBLE PHONECASE!*

I have seen marble phone cases all over the internet - in fact, everything seems to be marble at the moment! I have to admit, at first I didn't see what the fuss was about, but I have definitely been dragged into this trend. When GoCustomized contacted me to try one of their personalised phone cases, I jumped at the chance! I have long needed to replace my old broken case and this was the perfect opportunity! I was excited to choose a custom design so I headed straight to Pinterest in order to find the perfect design! Pinterest is perfect for finding inspiration and designs and I'm fussy so hate trawling through the many ready made ones on the internet!

Like I said earlier, I love marble, so I opted for a marble design. I am also a huge fan of pastels so combining the two is perfect for me! I used their website design tool to chose and position my phone case and then completed the order. There is an option to use one of their own designs or you can also upload anything from a photo to art work. You can also add text onto the cases too which would be nice if you were creating a gift for someone, you also have the option to choose a matte finish or a gloss finish. 

When the phone arrived it was packaged in a bubble wrap envelope which is nice as our postman seems to shove things through the letter box! The phone case fits the phone perfectly and gives it a sturdy feel, I also think it gives me more grip of the phone. I am happy with how the design came out, however, I would say that my design on the computer looked much more vibrant and I preferred it that way! I really like how the phone feels personalised and gives you the opportunity to get your creative juices flowing! The case looks sleek and I absolutely love it! I was previously considering doing a diy marble phone case - however, this is much more professional looking! 

With Christmas coming up, this is the perfect gift for either friends, family or yourself! Hey, you've gotta treat yourself sometimes. If you fancy designing your own iPhone case click here, and let me know what designs you go for!

*Although this product was gifted to me, all opinions remain my own

I JUST LOVE IT: GIFT GUIDE*

So Christmas is right around the corner, wow, where has this year gone? When a company called "I Just Love It" got in touch with me to review some of their products, I jumped at the chance. I have been wanting to create a non-beauty Christmas Gift guide for a long time now and this was the perfect opportunity. I was kindly given the opportunity to choose some items off the website to review and I am so happy with the choices I made. 

I wanted to choose a range of different products to represent different personalities and people. It an be so hard to choose gifts for everyone as people can have such different tastes. I like how I can visit one website and find such a wide range of choice and make one order, instead of millions! So without further-ado, here are the gifts I have chosen!

1. Personalised Silver Plated Vintage Teaspoon £18.99

For the tea fanatics out there such as myself, this is the perfect gift. I love cute tableware and this is lovely because you can personalise it to say whatever you want it to. I decided to go for a good old saying, however, this would be so sweet with someones name or even a special date! The vintage feel of the gift is really nice and makes me feel all fuzzy inside! 

2. Deer Wash Bag £15.99

So I was accidentally sent the stag version of this wash bag instead of the deer. However, I don't mind either way! I love the rustic feel of the colour scheme and the illustration! The size is perfect and would be a good gift for those who travel a lot or who simply have lot's of cosmetics to store! If you're in a couple, both the stag and deer versions of this wash bag would be a nice matching gift! I can fit everything I need when staying over night which is a relief, because I always take way too much!

3. Monogrammed Black Handle Mug £9.99

So if you read my blog you will know that I am OBSESSED with monochrome. My bedroom is monochrome, my clothing is usually monochrome, it's my go to style. When I saw this mug I thought it looked so sleek and simplistic, I love the font and the minimalist design. Because I hoard mugs and cups, I decided to put my mug to use as a brush holder. It looks so lovely on my desk and it keeps my brushes nice and organised! 

4. Personalised Fragrance Candle £22.99

Candles are one of my favourite gifts to both give and receive. I love candles and how they can make a room feel cosy and snug. I love the fact you can personalise this, it looks very chic and again fits in with the minimalist theme I tend to go for. Because of the simplicity, this would be ideal for either males or females and would be a lovely touch for a home. There are two candles in a pack so this is really nice if you tend to burn candles like there's no tomorrow!

5. Grow Me Be Happy Seed Kit £3.99

When I saw this seed kit it made me smile so much! I love quirky gifts like this, they are a nice change from the more traditional gifts. The packaging looks so uplifting and made me feel all positive when I saw it! I intend to use this with my younger sister as she is creative like myself. I think this is a nice gift for any age group, it's something you can watch grow and develop! Fingers crossed I remember to look after it as my mind is like a sieve. 

I loved every item I received, the quality is brilliant and the gifts look so thoughtful. When Christmas shopping, I always like to make my gifts personal to those who I am buying for as I love seeing the expression on their faces when opening. I think ijustloveit.co.uk allow you to buy for personality and take in the relationship you share with others, rather than just opting for a generic gift. 

Let me know if you like any of the items I went for and if you would be happy if you received them!

* ijustloveit.co.uk kindly sent my a voucher code in order to purchase these products, however, all opinions remain my own and I carefully selected products to fit my post.