NARS Sheer Glow

There's a lot of hype around the NARS Sheer Glow foundation, so I finally took the plunge to buy it not too long ago. Before I bought this I was a little worried about the luminous finish it had to it as I have oily/combination skin and I know that a lot of others think this and puts them off for buying/trying it but it's not at all luminous, all it does is gives the skin a healthier more glowing appearance and makes you look more radiant.

Since I've been using this I have noticed a massive difference between this and other foundations. The thing that makes this so special is that its super light on the skin but is buildable to suit what you like weather its light-medium coverage or full coverage it really can never look cakey. Its added bonus is that it has a complexion brightening formula that hydrates, smooths and makes the skin feel softer. It doesn't just stop when you take it off at night either, over time when used daily can improve your complexion to appear brighter and improve the texture of the skin.

Now I know it says its typically for normal to dry skin types but honestly it doesn't really matter, if you find your self looking a little too shiny throughout the day, its nothing like a little powder won't fix. The overall result is still the same no matter what skin type you have!
The only bad thing I can say about this product is that it doesn't come with a pump and is always sold out, but it just means sticking to pouring out the product which sucks but the foundation is worth it in the end. A word of warning, if you try and put a MAC studio fix fluid pump on it, it won't work because the top doesn't screw on and you just end up wasting product which isn't good!
Sheer glow is fast becoming my holy grail foundation that I'm picking up more and more often so I'd say its worth the purchase.

Lemon Cheesecake Recipe

 This easy lemon cheesecake recipe is so simple that it will knock your socks off at how good it tastes  and at how little time it takes to make!

To start with you are going to need:
200g Digestive Biscuits

60g Unsalted Butter

1 Lemon (zest & juice)

300g medium fat soft cheese ( I used Philadelphia) 

75g Caster Sugar

150ml Double Cream

Optional: (you can put what ever you want, but heres what I put on top of mine) 

50g White chocolate (chopped)

Zest of 1 more lemon 

Now the good thing about this cheesecake is that it only takes about half an hour to prepare but the downside is that it's a cheesecake, so we have to let it chill in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours.

Lets start...

• So to begin with you want to put the digestive biscuits into a food bag with a seal and crush them up into crumbs with a rolling pin ( for best results, try and think of someone you really don't like and that will do the trick). 
• Then get a small pan and put the butter into it and put over a low heat till all of it has melted then pour over the crushed biscuits in a bowl and mix together. Once all mixed together put into a springform cake tin and get a bottom of any glass you like and push the biscuit base down to flatten, put in the fridge for about 20 minutes to harden.
• Wash your lemon! Then grate the zest into bowl, once done cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice out of both halves into the same bowl.
• In another bowl place the soft cheese and sugar and mix together till combined, then whisk in the double cream, lemon zest and juice and whisk until its thick and creamy.
• Grab your biscuit base out of the fridge and make sure it is well and truly chilled then go ahead and pour the cheesecake mixture on top, then spread it out evenly.
• Then put the whole thing in fridge to chill for a couple of hours. 

• Now this is optional but decoration is always pretty so about an 1 hour before you take it out, this is where you can really go to town. I chose more lemon zest and chopped white chocolate to go on top. 
• Then once you've made it pretty put it back in the fridge for it all to set. 
• When you feel its had long enough in the fridge take a glass and place the tin on top, releasing the spring on the side of the tin helps you to get a cleaner getaway from the cake then take it down and your left with a cheesecake!

I hope you love this recipe as much as I do!

Deep Cleaning Brushes With Dr Bronner's Magic Soap

Cleaning your makeup brushes is something that all girls must do, even though it's not very pleasant and leaves you with not the best looking hands. But my secret to washing brushes well and speedy comes with just one product. Dr Bronner's Magic Soap can do so many things but I use it to deep clean makeup brushes. It works a treat, with all of its important oils in to keep your brushes in good condition and to help them last longer. It lathers up quite well depending on the brush and with a rinse of water the makeup build up has gone. This is definitely the best brush cleaner I have found and lasts for ages too! What more could you want?

Eyeliner Made Easy

If you struggle using a felt tip eyeliner or just haven't mastered the skill than look this way because I think I've found the answer to your problems. Here is loreal's Perfect Slim Super Liner, a liner that will help you to create a perfect look with just one swipe. This would be great for beginners as the pen does all the hard work for you!

This liner does what it says, as in it does help you to create that perfect cat eye in seconds. The formula isn't think and wet neither drying and flaky, it has just the right formula to make it easy to apply. Its pen like body gives you maximum control and means less mistakes. A thin nib also makes it easier to get into those tricky places like the inner corner.

I found that the wear throughout the day is great, stays in its place and doesn't transfer on to the lid, unfortunately it isn't waterproof, making it easy to take off at the end of the day but it means that if you have watery eyes, it will come off very easily. For a drugstore eyeliner though I think its amazing for the price!

Urban Decay Naked On The Run

Urban Decay released their 'Naked On The Run' palette early December last year. When I saw a picture of this before it hit the shelves I was so excited and amazed at the stunner they had created. This little box of treasures is perfect for almost any girl who does their makeup on the go or goes traveling because everything is in one place. It includes nearly everything you need on a day to day basis like eyeshadow, bronzer, blusher, lipgloss, eyeliner and mascara. Also what urban decay have done is put never seen before shades in to make it all that little bit more irresistible. The colours are very natural to suit different skin types and is easy to wear everyday.

To start with eyeshadows, six new shades that are all different and are build able. (L-R)

5050 - (The colour you can hardly see in the swatch but anyway) This is a light peachy-beige shade with a pearly sheen to it. I found that this shade is very sheer hence why you can't see it in the picture but is nice for a natural brow bone highlight.

Dive - a sparkly medium rosy-coppery shade with a frosty finish.

Fix - a medium-dark warm toned brown thats a matte finish. I found that this shadow was quite powdery but with a little more effort can be blended.

Resist - a warm, golden taupe with a metallic sheen to it.

Dare - a muted, dark brown with subtle warm undertones and is a matte finish but feels satiny so easy to blend.

Stun - a rich, chocolate brown with warm undertones and a golden micro-glitter running through it. You have to be careful with this one as you do get a little fall out as it is glitter.

The lipgloss has to be one of my favourites out of the palette. Sesso is a beautiful warm-toned pink/plum shade that has a pearlescent finish to it. The formula was slightly sticky which is good because this means that it has longer lasting power. It feels really comfortable on the lips and ultra moisturising. This is also full-sized so you get more product which is a bonus!

Moving on to the bronzer, on me this medium yellowish matte tone is just about right, however on pale skin tones it might be a little orange and dark. I found that a little goes a long way with the bronzer and blush as they a super pigmented. The blush is a bright pink with strong, blue undertones and is a satin finish.

Next is this travel-size 24/7 glide on eyeliner in the colour Stag. This is a dark brown shade with subtle cooler undertones. The finish is satin so is very easy to apply and comfortable to wear and once put on stays for the rest of the day. These are very opaque with just one stroke and can built up for a strong look. 

Lastly is their perversion mascara, this is also travel-sized so is easy to carry around in your bag. In my opinion I prefer waterproof mascaras but for touching up on the go this one is perfect for giving your lashes a little help when needed.

Would you buy the Naked On The Run palette?

All Time Favorite Nail Polishes

When I'm in a nail polish rut, I always find myself coming back to these six shades. I find that these colours suit me and look good on my nails. On the left are my two most loved, they are from Maybelline and are their super stay 7 day polishes. First up is Uptown Blue, a bright pastel blue that looks amazing with a tan. Next is Pink In The Park, a baby pink that transforms your nails to look more fresh. The formula of these is like no other, it is super opaque with just two coats and lives up to its name lasting sometimes more than seven days on the nails. It doesn't stop there the brush is wide and just fits the nail making a much easier application.

Moving onto Essie, these are just the best and you can't really go wrong with them. My favourite shades are Bikini So Teeny (a sparkling cornflower blue), Lilacism (a satiny smooth lilac), Mint Candy Apple (a pastel mint) lastly, Toggle To The Top (a burgundy with cranberry shimmer). Essie's brushes aren't as good as the maybelline ones but they are still good as in the brush is wide enough to distribute the right amount of varnish for the nail, formula wise it doesn't last as long as seven days but still lasts for 3-4 days before chipping.

All of these polishes I would highly recommend and I couldn't fault them even if I wanted to. The colours are just pure perfection. What are your favourite polishes?

Why You Need To Use A Toner!

I always thought that toner was a pointless step in skincare. I didn't really see what it could do for my skin that was amazingly different than the other steps.

However, since iv'e been using the Loréal Skin Perfection Velvety-Soft Toner iv'e noticed a big difference in the appearance and texture in my sin. Not only does it feel softer and look visibly clearer it has stopped my skin from freaking out so much with the seasonal change such as colder weather.
All in all I think that toner is something that can't be skipped for me and isn't so much of a pointless step after all.

Do you use a toner in your skincare routine?

My Morning Moisturiser

This La Roche-Posay Rosaliac moisturiser has been my go to moisturiser for about 2 months now, and its safe to say I can't do my makeup without putting this on first! I know big statement right? I first heard about this when Amelia Liana was raving about it on her youtube channel, and I had to go buy it. The words hydrating and anti-redness really caught my eye and made me want it.

It has a green tint to it making it counteract the redness in your skin but don't worry this won't turn your skin green, it is very subtle but has a big effect. The other bonus to it is that it super hydrating, I love using this because I know that my foundation will go on smoothly on top of it and not stick to any dry patches that I may have. This isn't a thick moisturiser that takes forever to sink in, at first its thick and tacky but just leave it about 30 seconds to sink in and then your good to go!

Whats you're morning moisturiser?

No Concealer Creasing Here..

No doubt my concealer has trouble staying where I put it in the morning, and I'm not a big fan of touching up during the day especially concealer. So I was on the hunt to find the perfect powder that sets and also make my concealer last throughout the long day without creasing.

I found it really hard to not spend a ridiculous amount of money just on an under eye powder and I didn't want to settle for just an ordinary powder as it doesn't work as well for under the eyes. With that in mind I was looking for a yellow toned powder as I heard that the colour really makes that area brighter and make you look more awake. I was inspired by products like the Ben Nye banana powder and the banana powder from Anastasia Beverly Hills.

I finally found one that is truly perfection! The Soap & Glory Instant Retouch Pressed Powder has amazing qualities for only £12. It sets your concealer all day and is very lightweight so it doesn't cake up. With it being yellow it contributes to making you look brighter and healthier but this has to built up as a thin layer is nearly translusent but don't worry it still feels like you have nothing on. It also has a silky/satin finish to feel velvety soft, this makes other products blend seamlessly into it and looks flawlessly smooth.

I think it might not be too long before I have to buy another!

Soap&Glory's Archery Brow Pencils

I love a good defined but natural brow when it comes to it, but I don't think that I need to splurge on expensive products because my eyebrows are naturally full. Having said that I use these two products from Soap & Glory just to make them a little bit neater.

I purchased the first archery pencil to put life back into those brows, this has an ashy coloured wax pencil (T) and suits the colour of mine perfectly. I use this one if I'm in a rush and just need to fill them in quickly as it has a big nib, making it look more natural. The bottom one is Soap & Glory's new addition, this has a much thinner nib than the first and can be a dupe for the Anastasia brow wiz. The nib being so thin means that it takes more time but you can make a more defined and perfect brow with this one. As the first is an ashy colour this has a warmer tone to it and is darker.

The other ends have the same purpose but the these two ends are completely different making them more individual and fitting to peoples needs. The first one (B) has a thin felt tip nib that creates hair like strokes, mimicking actual hairs. The colour is way more warmed toned than the waxy pencil but nothing to crazy! The second one (T) has a spooly on the end which makes it easier to travel with and is so handy not having to have a separate brush to comb through. Overall I think that they are both amazing for different reasons as they have different qualities about them. 

Have you tried the Archery brow pencils yet?

The Manicure Edit

My nail history isn't the best, when I look back I used to bite my nails so short that they hurt and whenever they used to grow they would break or split so they would return to being short. After wanting long nails I would go for fake nails, the pack of hundred where you had to shape and put a hell of a lot of glue on to make them stick well. This obviously destroys your nail bed and when its time for them to come off they take layers with them making your nails soft, weak and brittle. Not very nice!

A few months ago I said to myself that I want healthy, strong nails that were just long enough to go over the tip of my finger. It was a long time before they could actually even grow because of all the damage they had suffered. All this time I have maintained my nails and they are back to how they should be with this routine. I have tested these products for quite a long time and have really noticed the difference.

First things first I remove my nail polish with the Cutex Moisture Guard or the Strengthening remover, this gets off the chipped old polish while also protecting nails from breaking and over time making nails whiter.

Next I file my nails with a 4 way buffer, using all 4 steps ensures that you have shiny smooth nails before you begin. I go for the squoval look because I think it looks the nicest. Then I apply either the Sally Hansen gel cuticle remover or the cuticle eraser and balm, both work the same but the eraser and balm moisturise cuticles and is less messy but if you have overgrown cuticles then I would go in with the gel as this is more 'heavy duty'.

This next step is what helped my nails to grow strong and healthy so listen up all you nail biters! I go in with the Bert's Bees Lemon Cuticle Cream to protect and moisturise the cuticles. Then I use the Mavala Scientifique Nail Hardener. This is basically a treatment for the nails that soaks in really fast, but make sure you have something protecting your cuticles like vaseline because this stuff stings! After that I wash my hands to get off any oils that might bubble under the polish if not taken off.

Applying a base coat means that the surface of the nail evens out making a more even application of the colour polish that goes on top, I love Sally Hansen's Double Duty base coat because it dries super fast and is really shiny.

The fun bit, colour! My recent favourites are the Maybelline Super Stay polishes in the shades: Pink In The Park(L) and Uptown Blue(M) and also Essie's in Bikini So Teeny(R).

Time to apply a top coat. After about 2 coats of coloured polish I put Seche Vite top coat on top for quick drying and hi-shine results. Wait for it to dry (a good 10 minutes) to ensure no mess ups! After that your done, I always go in with a hand cream to moisturise my hands and to get rid of that nail polish remover smell.

What are you manicure favourites?

Clarins Fix' Make-Up

Now I am all for long-lasting make-up when it comes to a special occasion or a long day ahead and a setting spray is the way forward. Whilst wandering around the counters in boots I spotted this on the clarins stand. A refreshing mist that sets your make-up while prolonging its hold. It also provides an instant cooling effect once on the skin and makes you feel fresh and clean after a hot day. Not only does it refresh and hold it also moisturises and hydrates your skin without making your foundation look dewy which I know is what people don't like in these sorts of sprays and altogether puts them off form buying it.

The smell is the classic clarins smell but fresher, so it shouldn't irritate the skin with a strong fragrance as it very subtle. This product is a real luxury as the price suggests, but what your getting inside the bottle is worth every penny, and who doesn't like the chic, matte and slim look it has to offer.

Will I buy it again? I'd only buy it if I couldn't find anything else better, but if I were you I would go with MAC's Fix+ as its cheaper and probably works just as well.

Have you tried any make-up setting sprays?

Real Techniques Duo-Fiber Brush Set

I am a massive fan of the Real Techniques brushes but when this set came out I wasn't set on buying them. After a long time debating I finally splurged on the white handled duo-fiber brushes. Having these brushes for some time now I've realised that I use them a lot more then I thought I would.

The 3 piece set is amazing quality and they do really well to distribute the product without going on too thick and cakey. If you're looking for a lightweight application then you're reading the right post.

First in the set is the Duo-Fiber Face Brush (T). This is reasonably sized brush as it fits into all of those tricky spaces on the face such as under the eyes. I like to use this for powder as it brushes a light even layer of powder onto the face. You could use this brush for all powdered products and even liquids and creams for an airbrushed finish.

In the middle we have the Duo-Fiber Eye Brush. This is handy for blending, I sometimes use this for blending eye shadows together or for buffing in my concealer under the eyes or on blemishes. Again the duo-fiber bristles give an airbrush finish so I especially love using this for concealer.

Lastly is the Duo-Fiber Contour Brush (B), I use this for pretty much the same things as the face brush but the smaller size means more accuracy in those harder to get places, and like the name suggests it is very good for that all important contour. The thin small bristles fit perfectly under the cheekbones and blend for a natural look.

Have you tried the Duo-Fiber brushes for Real Techniques?

Revlon Matte Balms : My Picks

The Revlon Matte Balms have been around for quite a while now and all of the shades look amazing but the ones that have caught my eye and are absolutely loving are Elusive(T) and Sultry(B). These crayon chubby sticks are perfect for on the go as they are easy to apply but have great colour payoff and are so creamy with shea, mango and coconut butter that they nourish you lips as well as being matte. So velvety that they glide on with no hassle, leaving you with a matte look. No sharpener needed here neither with retractable properties that make life easier when in a rush. It leaves your lips with a minty fragrance that feels cooling as soon as it is applied.

First is the shade Elusive(T), the perfect pink rose shade but without the barbie look it is slightly darker and that looks good on just about anyone. It's a mix between cool tone and warm tone so it doesn't wash you out like a standard cool tone pink would.

Next is the shade Sultry(B), this is my favourite out of the two. This is a beautiful rosy brown colour with hints of berry. It is a dark colour on me but really suits my skin tone and every other skin tone too. Its still suitable to wear for everyday and throughout the evening. Sultry is really pigmented with just one swipe it is opaque on the lips and stays on for quite a while.

The packaging isn't cheap looking, as the same finish as the lipstick the packaging has a smooth matte finish and looks impressive for a drugstore product. These retail for about £7.99, so an absolute steal.

Have you tried these chubby sticks by revlon?

Solar Powder

Over the past 3 months I have been continuously using this as my bronzer. I find it hard to find a good bronzer in the drugstore that is just the right shade and mostly matte. The Soap & Glory's Solar Powder has been around for a long time but somehow I was reluctant to buy it even though all the hype. When I first tried it I was a little sceptical about the pink overlay that was over the upraised letters but I wiped that away and the pinkness was gone.

The bronzer itself presents two shades one dark and matte and the other light with a little shimmer running through it. The two shades swirled together create the perfect sun kissed look as it's not too dark and looks very natural on the skin. The powder is really creamy making it an easy to blend product. I apply this under my cheekbones, on my temples then down my neck in a number 3 shape, to bronze up my skin. Although my love for this product it is slightly let down by the packaging as its cardboard making it very breakable and not purse friendly. But that doesn't stop me from using it as the product inside is fantastic quality.

Have you tried any Soap & Glory products?

Deep Sleeper

After not getting much sleep recently I was grabbing this to help me switch off and sleep. Before I bought this I was convinced that these sorts of sprays were gimmicky and didn't actually work, but was I wrong, yes! The first time I used this I sprayed it on my pillows to hopefully send me to sleep quickly and it did. As the product says 'deep sleep' I can say that my nights sleep was a long and peaceful one. The second my head hit that pillow and inhaled the calming oils of lavender, vetivert and wild camomile I was fast asleep.

In the past I have tried a few others but I found that the scent was too strong and made me even more awake but with thisworks spray Ive found that the scent isn't too overpowering but just enough to calm you down and relax. As an added bonus it also makes your pillows and duvet smell really good and fresh!

Need a good nights sleep? Try this! - here 

Origins GinZing Cleanser

The Origins Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser has become my new favourite thing. With its 2 in 1 scrub cleanser it's a must have for when in a rush. The jojoba and carnauba wax gently exfoliates to help unclog those pores. Although it's still a scrub it's very gentle on the skin and doesn't leave it feeling raw and looking red. This would be a perfect scrub for those of you that have sensitive skin because it doesn't irritate the surface but does enough to get deep down into those pesky pores. After using this my skin instantly feels smoother, brighter and squeaky clean. I love to use this in the morning as the oils include grapefruit, lemon and spearmint; meaning that it perks you up for the day to come and makes you feel fresh. Using this in the morning also means that any makeup left on the skin comes out leaving clean skin to moisturise.

Have you tried any of the GinZing range yet?

My MAC Lipstick Collection

Now I know I don't have that many but you have to start somewhere right? I started collecting Mac lipsticks when I went to New York back in february. Since then I can honestly tell you I am absolutely obsessed with them. I only have 5 but I will hopefully collect more in the future. Let me tell you all about them.

First we have Hue, this is an all round perfect lipstick, it can be worn with a natural look or a more dramatic one. This is a nude but not one that matches the colour of your foundation and makes you look half dead this is more of a sheer colour that doesn't block out the natural colour of your lips but can be built up for an opaque look, it has subtle tones of pinks which makes it the 'your lips but better' shade. With it being a glaze finish it has a very nice gloss to it but nothing too over the top.

Next we have Chatterbox, this is a real pink shade. On me I find that it has warm tones but on some it can have cold tones. Anyway it has a real barbie feel to it without being a cold neon, think more natural barbie. As this is an amplified finish what you see is what you'll get, its very opaque with just one layer and lasts really well on the lips. I find that no mac lipsticks are drying on me but if you have dry prone lips than amplified probably isn't the best as sometimes the lipstick can sink into cracked or chapped lips. None the less I find it to be quite creamy.

Next is Plumful, this is a gorgeous shade and will look chic and classy on just about anyone. This lipstick goes on like butter with the lustre finish it is very creamy but not as glossy as you would expect. The shade is very warm with pink and lavender undertones in it which makes it a wearable plum colour. I find that this lipstick is suitable for the whole year round too which is a bonus.

On the slightly more vampy darker side is Rebel, this is probably one of the darkest lipsticks I own but I absolutely love it. As this is a satin finish it has similar effects to a matte finish but a lot more moisturising on the lips. I find that this stays on for a long time and when it does wear away it doesn't leave that dreaded line around your lips.  The shade is a dark plum colour that has no red tones in what so ever so it looks almost black in some lights.

Lastly is Vegas Volt, this is a new addition to my collection, and I have to say its probably one of my favourites. Again this is an amplified finish so it goes on very opaque. It's not drying and overall it's a beautiful shade, with warm tones it makes the coral/orange colour pop. If you're going for a golden goddess look this would be the perfect shade to pair it with.

I think that mac lipsticks are totally worth the money and come on they just smell so darn good!

What are your favourite mac lipsticks?

The Fuchsia Lip

For a bold lip that isn't just a red I always look for those brighter pink shades.  I have found a few that are different in many ways, and all last exceptionally well on the lips. These three drugstore bargains are just what I was looking for.

To start off with is the Loréal Glam Matte gloss in Coral Denimista (middle). To me this is the perfect shade, it's a mix between fuchsia and coral giving just the right warmth. Now I was a bit confused how this gloss/matte hybrid would work but after trying it out I was amazed at the effect it gave. It goes on very smoothly without streaks and leaves your lips feeling velvety smooth while hydrating your lips with a thick gloss. Although this is technically a gloss, it isn't sticky one bit.

Very similar to the loréal glam matte is the Sleek matte lipstick in Heartbreaker (bottom). This is my favourite out of the three because it is truly matte but at the same time it's very creamy because of its vitamin e enriched formula, this means it isn't drying on the lips at all. The colour is bright and opaque with just one layer.

On the more colder shade side is the MaxFactor Colour Elixir stick in Vibrant Pink 15 (top). This has a water-based formula making it glossy but not sticky and also is light-weight on the lips. With this pen applicator you can build up intensity easily. The formula is waterproof and is a real pain to get off, which means lasting really well. It also means that the colour fades away gradually and you don't get those lines lining your lips when the colour in the middle has gone.

What is your go to bold lip colour?

Body Shop's Aloe Eye Cream

After recently using the Yesto cucumbers soothing face wipes to remove my eye makeup I realised that they had left the skin around my eyes red and irritated. Even when I touched the skin it was painful let alone having makeup around that area.

In search of an eye cream that wouldn't irritate it more, I looked into The Body Shop, knowing that they had an aloe vera range that didn't have any fragrances, colour or alcohol in, only organic and natural products. With that in mind I picked up the Aloe Eye Defence.

This was just what I needed, as the face wipes had made the skin very sensitive and rough, this did just the trick. As well as being soothing and moisturising it also said that it would reinforce the skin's natural shield. Within about four applications I noticed that the skin around my eyes were as good as new, there was no puffiness, redness or irritation and the pain was gone. I find that the best way to apply it for best results is to put a small dot on the fingertip for each eye than gently pat into the skin. Avoid dragging the skin as this isn't very gentle for the irritated surface and dragging also creates wrinkles faster. Do this every morning and evening for faster results.

This eye cream is also suitable for contact wearers.

Have you got sensitive skin around your eyes? Then try this! - Click here.