What's In My Makeup Bag

I love reading these type of posts so I thought I'd give it a go. I considered calling it 'my everyday make-up routine' but then again my everyday make up routine consists of these products which live happily in my cactus print make-up bag (that I loveee). So yeah, here's my stash of things that I use on a day to day basis  a.k.a 'tings dat I put on me face'... you get the idea. 

Hope you enjoy!

Skin

L'oreal Studio Secrets Primer

Georgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in shade 4

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 1 (Fair)

Mac Mineralize Skin-finish Natural in Light Plus

Body Shop Honey Bronzer in shade 3

Blush

Mac Melba

Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Pink

Eyes

Urban Decay Naked 2 palette

Soap & Glory Supercat liquid Eye-liner pen

Soap & Glory Archery brow tint and pencil in Brownie Points

Gosh Double Precision Mascara 

(although I've now switched this out for L'oreal Volume Million Lashes in Extra Black as it just works better for me)

Lips

Mac Fast Play

Mac See Sheer

Brushes

Buffing brush and contour brush from Real Techniques Core Collection 

Real Techniques Powder Brush

Real Techniques Blush Brush

The Body Shop Foundation Brush

Real Techniques eye brushes from Starter Set

These are my go-to products at the moment for the ol' face, what are yours?

Thanks for reading,

Kelly T x

L'oreal Studio Secrets Primer: A Review

Hi guys, thought I'd do a review of this primer from L'Oreal today which has been a make-up essential of mine for years now; I don't go without it. It has gradually risen in price as the years go on but I would still say it's worth it. I've tried other primers including Benefit Porefessional and Smashbox Photoready Primer which I did like and enjoy using, but for me nothing compares to this L'oreal one and I always go back to it.

Description

L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer gives a velvet touch.

          The L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer has a beautifully smooth texture and is effective at disguising wrinkles and pores. It gives a matte look and a silky finish.

The L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer is pleasant and easy to apply and it leaves no greasy residue. Used alone or under foundation, this primer is the perfect a base.

As far as primers go, this one does the job delightfully and does everything it says on the tin. It really does have a velvety touch that blends like a dream into the skin and leaves it looking and feeling softer and perfected without leaving the greasy residue I've experienced from other primers I've tried. I use it as a base for my foundation and I really notice the difference when I don't use it; it won't stay looking as flawless for as long and my make-up won't blend into the skin as well as it does when I use this.

This pimer comes in at a tad pricey £14 but you get a fair amount of product in the pot and you only need to use a little to cover the whole face. I only have to repurchase once in a blue moon. I'm really surprised I don't hear more great things about this product floating around, as for me it's an essential step in my everyday make-up routine.

Have you tried this primer? What do you think of it?

Thanks for reading,

Kelly T x

Summer Haul

Hi guys! I thought I'd share with you some things I've picked up recently as we transition from spring to summer. There's a mix of home-ware, fashion and music; hope you enjoy!

H&M 

Marble Print Ceramic Plate

Marble Print Pine Candle

Copper Metal Bowl

My wishlist of stuff from H&M home is forever growing; their stuff is on point. I had to restrain myself when I came to make a purchase and just picked up a few items (although I could have easily got about 20 different things). I'm really impressed with H&M at the moment and am loving these marble and copper purchases.

Pull & Bear

Cactus Print Clutch

When I saw this clutch I just knew I had to have it, I mean come on...it's cactus print! I love the colours on this clutch and the pop of colour with the yellow. It's advertised as a clutch but I actually use this as a make-up bag and have been loving it! It's a perfect size to throw in your bag and find it fits just the right amount in. I can pack all my essentials easily. 

River Island

White Cold Shoulder Top

This was an impulse buy when I popped into River Island recently and I love it. It's a really flattering cut on and I find it's great to pair with both jeans and skirts, either dressed up or down; it's such a versatile piece. It's a great alternative to a basic white tee, with the lovely off the shoulder style and the low back detail. They have it in other colours too but I opted for the white, although I am tempted pick it up in the black as-well.

Topshop

MOTO Denim Mini Skirt

This denim skirt I picked up from Topshop recently has quickly become a wardrobe staple. It's so easy to style and goes well with a lot of other pieces I have. I'm really impressed with this skirt, it fits lovely and is flattering on. I've worn this both on a night out, to a fancy dinner and also to work.It's great for many occasions and I love that about it.

Monki

V-Neck Stripe Tee

Stripey. Check. Oversized. Check. This Monki tee is one of my favourite things I've picked up in a while. It's really well made, with lovely material that makes it hang nicely on the body. The slits up the side make it that extra bit floaty which I love.  I can see myself wearing this a hell-uv-a-lot this summer. I've been styling it up with ripped jeans and sunnies for that casual but chic look.

Talking Is Hard

Walk The Moon

Last but certainly not least I picked up this marvellous creation, physical copy and everything, which is finally out in the UK. I could go on about how much I love it for quite some time but I'll try and keep it short and sweet; just listen to it. It's such a feel good album that will make you want to dance. It's the album of the summer...the whole year for me, which is saying something. It's not often I find an album where I love each song equally, but here it is!

Thanks for reading

Kelly T x

May Favourites

I bloody love this film! I had heard really great things about it so I thought I'd give it a watch and I'm so glad I did. It's one of the best films I've watched in a while. I thought both performances from Teller and Simmons were great and they bounced really well off each other. The soundtrack is delightful and there's just some absolutely brilliant moments. Never has a film made me want to prove everyone who doubts me wrong more. It has taught me to never give up no matter what; I found it really quite inspiring and surprisingly exhilarating... talk about creating tension (that ending though; so good). I'd definitely recommend checking it out! 

I bought this lovely duster jacket from New Look in May and I've been wearing it non stop ever since. It's a light jacket that makes it much more spring/summer appropriate; it's so easy to chuck on. I really love the length of this jacket and find that it's really great at making any outfit look put together. It also goes with everything and has quickly become a wardrobe staple.

I've had this for a while now and have tested it out enough to know I love it. It's a lovely creamy texture that blends like a dream into a fresh flush on the cheeks. I've been using the real techniques contour brush to blend it in and find this is a fab combo. It blends it into the cheeks giving it a lovely natural finish (don't be scared by the bright colour in the pot; it's a really love colour on and gives the cheeks a healthy glow. I have the colour 'soft pink'.

These Rouge Edition Velvet liquid lipsticks from Bourjois are da bomb (yes...that's right, I went there). I've been seriously loving these at the moment. I thought I'd jump on the liquid lipstick bandwagon to see what all the fuss is about and I'm definitely not disappointed. I have two colours at the moment; peach club and nude-ist (photographed here) and I really like them both, although I tend to reach for nude-ist more often as an everyday colour. The lipsticks are super pigmented and only need one coat (score). They're also super easy to apply; as the name suggests they go on the lips as an almost liquid formula and dry completely matte (the velvety-ness disappears once the lipstick has dried in my opinion) which I love personally. Best of all, these lipsticks are super long lasting; more than any drug-store lipstick I've tried.These come in at very reasonable £8.99 too. I just love 'em.

Up there at the top of my faves list this May is this Catastrophe Cosmetic face mask from Lush. As I work across from a Lush store I often find myself strolling around it when on my breaks. I'd seen this a couple of times and was intrigued, really wanting to give it a try. I was somewhat sceptical at first; as Lush products are so heavily scented I was slightly concerned it would break me out or I'd have a bad reaction to it but my skin has actually done the complete opposite. Since I've been using this I've noticed an improvement in my skin fo' sure, particularly the morning after using it the night before. The first time I used it I found my skin felt really soft after; nice and refreshed. I also noticed reduced redness of the skin. Then the day after I found my make-up applied much smoother and lasted much longer throughout the day. I applied my make-up in the early morning and found that it still looked in the same condition when I returned and needed no re-powdering throughout the day. It also smells really lovely (like blueberries) and is really relaxing when applied. Overall I'm very impressed and would repurchase.

I've had this for quite a while but it got forgotten as I was using my MAC mineralize skin-finish natural (which I also love) but I rediscovered this bourjois powder throughout May and have been enjoying it. As far as drug-store powders go I think it's great, especially if you're after a light powder; this is finely milled and doesn't even feel like you are wearing anything. It's not at all cakey and gives the skin a lovely radiant glow.

I've loved WALK THE MOON for a long while now but I'm giving them an honorary mention this month as recently they've been pretty much all I've been listening to, which is rare for me. WALK THE MOON are just absolute pros at creating songs that are super catchy and that you just can't help dancing to. I think I'm listening to them more in anticipation of their new album which comes out in June in the UK (which I have been loving) but also because their songs just never fail to make me happy. It's really helping with revision (even if I do end up having a little dance break now and again). They make such good hilarious music videos too, deffo check them out if you fancy. I don't even have fave songs to recommend because I love them all; old stuff, new stuff... all the stuff. They're yet to make a song I don't like. So yeah, cheers for being great WALK THE MOON.

(went off on a bit of a fan-girl essay there,sorry!)

Last but not least are these beauties. I'm rather fussy when it comes to sunglasses as I find it hard to get a shape that suits me but I love these; the shape, the blue lens, everything. I'm chuffed with this purchase and know I'll be sporting these all summer. I haven't had all to many opportunities to wear them yet as apparently the UK still thinks it's winter, but when it has been sunny they've been a staple. I do have a similar round pair but find the lenses to be just a little too small, whereas these are a perfect size. Also what I love the most is that they were only £3 from eBay. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality to for the price.

What are your monthly favourites?

Thanks for reading,
KellyT x