Battle Of The Concealers♥

Oh how I love concealer, it's brilliant. Got a spot? Put some concealer on it. Got bad under eye circles? Conceal it. There's millions out there; each and every brand has multiple concealers out. I've tried multiple different ones within wearing makeup and decided to share some of my favourites.

The Highlighting Concealer

Who doesn't love a concealer which conceals and highlights? I know I do. One in particular which I love is The Body Shop Lightening Touch Pen*. I have the lightest as not only I'm pale, but because it brings light to underneath my eyes. It's an apparent dupe for the YSL Touche Eclat, but £££'s cheaper. The first time I tried it, I was amazed at how well it concealed my under eyes - I would say this is much better at concealing under eye circles rather than spots as it may draw attention to them.

A second highlighting concealer but a cheaper, more budget friendly option is the Rimmel Wake Me Up. I had heard a lot of good things about it, and when I was shopping once, Emma told me to get it as she'd tried it and l'm ever so glad I made that decision. I like the applicator as you see exactly how much you're applying. There's slight specks of glitter throughout the concealer which will act as the highlighting aspect. It's creamy so a little goes far. 

The Colour Corrector Concealer

Fortunately, I don't really have too much redness in my skin or discolouration on my face. However, spots. Often when I have spots, around it can look inflamed and red. So, what better to use than the Soap and Glory Kickass Concealer*. It has two shades to choose from, depending on what you're trying to counteract. What I particularly like about this is that it's not drying if you use it on spots; it covers them and leaves your skin looking flawless. It's also very handy that it comes with a powder at the bottom too. As well as for spots, it's great for under eyes. The two different tones vary for what under tone of darkness you're trying to cover.

The Heavy Duty Concealer

Some days, all I need is a heavy duty concealer for multi-use. One I reach for is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. This used to be my die hard conceale,. I used to swear by it. Times changes, new concealers were bought and surprise surprise, this was thrown to the back of my stash. Whilst re-organising my makeup, I rediscovered it, and it's fair to say, I remembered exactly why I loved it. It can be used for various reasons - under eyes, spots or replacement for foundation. It blends quite well, but not as well as some of the other. My only flaw with it has to be the colour range. As per usual, I get the lightest shade, but sometimes, I feel that the lightest is still too dark.

Do I have a favourite type? I really think I'd have to say highlighter concealers. Just because I have quite noticeable under eye circles, so using highlighting concealers help cover that up. They're just like a 2-in-1 product to me, so I like to grab them and use them.

What's your favourite type of concealer? Do you have a favourite concealer?

The Christmas Tag♥

It just wouldn't be Christmas on blogsallbeautyy without a Christmas tag, would it? Last year, I did two tags (view them here and here) but I thought I would wait until Christmas Eve to get into the spirit! I wouldn't let Christmas pass without doing a tag, they're incredibly fun to do!

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?

I have a few favourites, some which include Elf, Home Alone 1 and 2, and The Grinch.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Christmas morning of course!

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

Oh, that's a hard one. I don't think I have just one. I love each and every Christmas; they're all different in their own way.

4. Favourite festive food?

Ahh, apart from turkey, all the chocolate! I do like pigs in blankets, if you don't count the blankets (I don't like bacon!) My aunt also does these amazing honey glazed carrots, mmm. Also, does hot chocolate count?! I'm daft for Costa's Caramel Fudge Hot Chocolate!

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

That's impossible to choose just one. I love everything I receive and am always grateful for anything.

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

Cinnamon or spiced apple! Cannot forget Lush's Snow Fairy, can we?!

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

I have a pamper evening (read all about it here) with my sister, and we've decided that we're going to watch elf, my favourite, with a hot chocolate!

8. What tops your tree?

A gold, glittery star! For years, it used to be an angel but the body fell apart, oops.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

Most likely a dog...

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?

Basically everything. I don't think there's anything in particular that I dislike. I love everything from the advent calendar to the big day!

Now, I shall start my pamper evening! 

Have a wonderful evening, and Merry Christmas!

Twas The Night Before Christmas♥

When it's one more sleep until Christmas, what's my ultimate favourite thing to do? Have a super indulgent pamper evening. And what's better to do than going all out? I thought it'd be fun to share with you what I intend to do on Christmas Eve to prepare for the big day, aka, Christmas Day.

If I'm wearing any makeup that day, the first thing I need to do is remove makeup. I use Garnier's Micellar Water, it's one of the best makeup removers I've found and removes my makeup quickly.

In all seriousness, what's a pamper evening without a bath? Especially a bubble bath, extremely bubbly. I start off with Lush's Candy Mountain Bubble Bar - I crumble some off underneath running water. For extra bubbles, I use the Ted Baker Bath Foam. This combination works well!

I've chosen out three of my favourite shower gels. Two of which are mega-famous. My first choice is Soap and Glory's Clean On Me Shower Gel. This stuff smells gorgeous! It has a built in body lotion which is sure to leave your skin feeling super soft. My second is Lush's Snow Fairy. Almost everyone and their mother has either heard or tried this! It reminds me of bubblegum and is so sweet. Finally, Mandara Spa's Exotic Escape Shower Cream*. This smells very tropical and is rather creamy too.

Of personal choice, I will wash my hair, using whatever shampoo - I'm not fussy. Continuing with the hair washing, I follow up with Lee Stafford's Argan Oil Deep Nourishing Treatment*. This hair mask leaves my hair in incredible condition. It looks shiny and feels as though I've just stepped out of a hair dressers. I love nothing more than a good body scrub, and Kiss' Exfoliating Body Scrub* has been one of my favourites lately. It's not too harsh but leaves your skin exfoliated well. It also smells delicious. As well as a hair mask, you got to follow the rest of the mask trend. My choice is 7th Heaven's Cucumber Peel Off Face Mask. Cucumber is a good ingredient for your skin so this mask is ideal. I love peel off masks therefore, I adore this.

Skincare is vital to me, and has been lately. First up, Skin Therapy's Facial Scrub is a serious gem. It's less than £1 and is great for gentle facial exfoliation. Cleansers have been fantastic lately with my skin, and I've been loving Nu Skin's Creamy Cleansing Lotion*. This smells divine, and my skin feels utterly luxurious after using it. For toner, I'm not fussy with expensive ones, yet I've been reaching for Wilko's Skin Therapy Toner*. It's just the perfect way to finish off your skincare. Finally, I use Timebomb Skincare's Complexion Cocktail*. It's fantastic to use in the morning but it makes your skin feel amazing and look instantly brighter.

Got to moisturise! Timebomb Skincare's Powerball Intensive Moisturiser* is highly moisturising. It's particularly good in Winter as my skin tends to lack hydration. If I feel like having a little extra hydration, Timebomb Skincare Youth Juice Secret Oil* is the one. A little bit goes a long way and my skin basically drinks it up.

To finish off everything, I use Lee Stafford's Argan Oil Ultra Hydration Lotion*. I use a small amount just on the ends of my hair after I've blow dried it as it tends to get dry. It just gives some hydration to my hair. In Winter, I often suffer with dry hands and my one miracle has to be Soap and Glory's Hand Food. Not only does it smell beautiful (marshmallows, coconut..) but it works well. Using it multiple times a day for a few days and you notice a vast improvement. I hate nothing more than my lips being dry or chapped, but Ted Baker's Pink Lip Balm helps hundreds. It smells like chocolate but it's worth it. It isn't greasy either.

And that concludes my pamper evening. Continuing on, I'll usually paint my nails, drink some hot chocolate and watch elf with my sister. Sometimes, I'll pop some rollers in overnight for some curly hair on Christmas Day.

What do you do on Christmas Eve?

A Christmas Day or New Years Makeup Look♥*

Christmas and New Year only happens once a year. We have to wait a whole year for them to happen and they're gone in a flash. Since they're such special occasions, I like to take the time to do my makeup nicely and enjoy doing it without the necessary rush. I like to trial makeup looks before the day because that way then, I have a half idea of what I'm aiming for. I've been playing around with my makeup and came up with a look which is ideal for the occasions.

 The key to flawless looking makeup is by having good skincare. Using the Nu Skin Moisture Restore Day* is a great way to start. It leaves your skin feeling hydrated and smooth. One pump is all that necessary. By using this, the rest of my face makeup applies like a dream.

Primer, good old primer. What did I ever do before I found primer, especially this one! Soap and Glory are famous for their makeup range and have hit it out with their One Heck Of A Blot Primer*. It claims to keep your skin matte, banish out any oil and make your pores appear smaller. Your pores don't look as noticeable with foundation on; your skin does look matte when this is first applied and it does banish oil for a couple of hours - it would last longer but I have severely oily skin so my makeup starts to slip and slide but this does help keep your makeup last longer.

 Moving onto eyes (we shall return to face makeup later - it's to prevent fallout on your beautifully perfected makeup!) Starting off with the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Creamy Beige as a base. It works as a primer but also the shadows will show up better as they have something to stick to. For eyeshadow, the Seventeen Easy on the Eye Palette in The Big Smoke* is perfect. It has 8 eyeshadows, 3 cream shadows and an eye primer, as well as a double ended brush (yes, brush, not an applicator or sponge!)

Top row left to right- Twilight Blue, Cocoa Brown, Smoky Marble, Wild Khaki, Cool Aluminium and Illuminated Bronze.
Bottom row left to right - Onyx Black, Slate Grey, Cloudy Lilac, Warm Ivory, Pink Flush and Eye Primer. 

Starting with Cloudy Lilac, I take it all over my lid for a wash of colour. Blended on top of that, I take Slate Grey. For my crease, I like to blend a little Onyx Black, followed by Twilight Blue then also Cocoa Brown and that's the eye look complete. It's basically a quick, simple smokey eye.

For a more dramatic finish to the eye look, I love to have winged liner! My go-to is Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner Pen. It's easy to use, quick and is proper black - so no watery or weak liner! The tip of it is very thin making it easy to control and use.  The W7 Absolute Lashes Mascara* has been ideal for this look. It adds volume to the lashes but gives a lot of length taking your lashes to a whole new level. The wand is long, thin and straight so catches every lash in sight.

An optional step if you feel your lashes aren't bold enough could be by using the Threads Charleston Lashes*. These are natural looking but not too over the top and would suit the eye look well.

 For an all over even finish, the Cover FX Natural Finish Oil Free Foundation* has to be the one. It has super high coverage yet isn't cakey AT all; it's a hero in disguise! It leaves my skin looking like my own yet evens out all the redness. For extra coverage, I've been loving the Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer*. If the name isn't convincing enough, what will be? There's two shades to choose from, depending what you're trying to counteract. To ensure all your face makeup stays in place, the good old Rimmel Stay Matte is a favourite. As you can see, I've hit major pan - I shall need to repurchase another one (again) soon.

Brows brows brows, and what you gonna do about them? You're going to use the Seventeen Brows That! Brow Kit* because it's simply magnificent. There's a brow wax, brow powder, highlighter powder, mini brush and mini pencil - it's compacted with everything you could possibly ever need for your brows. My brows are forever on fleek with this super kit.

 A popular, raved and famous product, is the Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit*. I'm perhaps one of the most unskilled amateurs regarding contouring, however, this kit has changed that. The contour shade is just right shade to contour for us pale girls - it's not too orange nor muddy. I used to use the Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Native non-stop. For months, it was in the backseat but I've recently rediscovered my love for it. I'm obviously using my trusty theBalm Mary Lou Manizer Luminizer. I'm not going to babble on too long about it because I wrote a post on it here. It's gorgeous and perfect for highlighting my pale little face.

My first lipstick choice is Seventeen Stay Pout Lipstick in Saintly*. When this first came to me, worried thoughts came to mind about whether or not I'd suit it, but course I gave it a bash. Turns out it's a beautiful, effortless, pearly-pink nude lipstick. It looks elegant and classy. It goes hand in hand with this makeup look since the eye look is quite intense.

Since we are in Winter, I clearly chose my staple Seventeen Stay Pout Lipstick in Rule Breaker*. It's a stunning berry colour which is seriously opaque - talk about pigmentation! It's long lasting and has quite a matte finish to it but isn't drying.

To complete my makeup, I used my usual brushes - the Real Techniques Core Collection and Real Techniques Eye Starter Kit. Alongside, I use the Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush and the W7 Power Puff Face Blender.

And behold, the finished look; one with the berry lip and one with the nude lip! I never managed to get too many snaps due to lack of lighting, thanks Winter.

Have you got your Christmas or New Years makeup look sorted?

*PR Samples

Top Picks For Winter Lip Colours || Collab♥

Lip products are one of my favourite products. It fascinates me how one lipstick can change up an entire look. Winter is my favourite season for lip colours - give me a berry, red, plum or purple and I'm happy. Bold makeup is more "acceptable" in this season and I love nothing more than being adventurous when it comes to my makeup.

Back in June, Kirsty and I decided to collab on our Summer Lip Colours and it was only right to do a Winter Lip Colours post too. I've managed to narrow it down to 5 lip products, all available from the drugstore.

Starting with the most natural, nude colour in my picks is the Seventeen Lip Crayon. Usually, I wouldn't pick a lip crayon but I have been loving this lately. It's oh-so smoothing and creamy on the lips so as you could imagine, it glides on your lips no bother. It's the perfect product to quickly finish off any makeup look - dramatic or natural. I cannot even tell you how many times I reach for this product! It leaves a nice and natural finish to the lips. It gives a glossy look with a little bit of colour. This product could be used any time of year but would be great during Winter when you're focusing on your eye makeup.

I love red lipsticks, they just scream Christmas time at me. The Revlon Colourstay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Trendsetter is most definitely one of the best I've found. In the tube, it looks deep red however, once applied, it does have a hint of a berry undertone in it. The staying power of this is immense - I went to Costa once (I'm a Costa gal!) and it was still on! It's really creamy so beware, it may melt a little if in heat. I would class this as more of a lipstain than a lipstick due to it's staying power. To sum it up in four words would be: festive, classy yet gorgeous.

Bargain lipsticks seem to make their way into my stash. The MUA Lipstick in Shade 2 is one of them. In the tube, it looks an intimidating purple. When applied to the lips, it's nowhere near as dark nor scary. It's a bit more sheer which makes it wearable for daytime, but it's not transparent - it does give off colour. It's an easy colour to apply as it's not high demanding as it isn't as bold as some other colours, meaning, it's easy to apply when on the go. Since it isn't as bold, it goes well with multiple different looks.

Yet another purple, but this time it's Makeup Revolution #LipHug in I Wasn't Mixed Up. This is a brighter, bolder purple than the previous. These are incredibly creamy and glide on. Since they're more noticeable than the previous, these do require a little bit more precision and assistance when applying. When on the lips, they give off a glossy finish which looks fantastic. When I first got this, I was unsure to how this would work and whether I'd like it. Turns out it's one of my top picks for this season. Paired with a simple eye look, this lip colour looks ace.

Finally, keeping my favourite until last, is the Seventeen Stay Pout Lipstick in Rule Breaker. If you follow me on Twitter, you'll have seen me raving about this lippy! The formula, the packaging, the colour, everything. Need a berry coloured lipstick? Get this. It's the one! I find this looks better on top of a lipliner as it's bold, it needs to be perfect - no dodgy application is wanted! It's perhaps the most pigmented of the bunch and the most "out there". The staying power is impressive - it lasts for hours before needing topped back up. To me, it's basically Winter in a tube - it's this season summed up into one lipstick. I can assure you that I received lots of complements on this when I wore it one day - it was loved by others and not just me! The formula of these lipsticks are one of my favourites - I own more than this one now!

As I mentioned above, this is a collab with Kirsty as we have collaborated before, both share a love for makeup plus, we literally talk all the time, so what better than collaborating with one of my favourites?!

Have you tried any of these lipsticks? What are your top picks?