How To Start A Beauty Blog

I've been writing my blog now for almost 4 years. It started when I was a college student, obsessed with reading beauty and fashion blogs and watching beauty gurus on YouTube back when their subscribers digits were several figures less. I've been in love with my blog and at other times, less passionate about it. But I've learnt a lot over the year from being a clueless teenager just starting out, to understanding the industry more and what work and how to go about things.

 

I thought I'd share with you some of my best tips for how to get the best out of starting out. I didn't research much back in my start and was clueless to my content, focus and image. It can be daunting knowing where to start, but by following these simple steps you'll know how to get the best out of the experience.

 

Decide which platform you're going to use

The two main and easiest sites to use for this are Blogger and WordPress. I personally chose to use blogger as it's much easier to navigate around and use. However if you're more confident behind a keyboard then WordPress offers excellent opportunity for more personalisation if you're knowledgeable at writing code. Blogger allows you to choose your options without you having to faff around which much code at all.

 

Tools of the trade

You don't need the best kit out there to start a blog, I still don't have a load of top notch technology and I cope just fine. All you need is a desktop or laptop, you don't need a Mac. Then a camera, I use a digital camera rather than a DSLR as I find it easy to keep and travel with and provides the quality photographs I need without the hefty price tag. If you're just starting out, a phone with a good quality camera will work for now. You don't need Photoshop to edit your photos, I use a free online photo editor which is Ribbet.

 

 How things looks and navigate

You don't have to have the most fantastically designed blog for it to look great. I always find that simple is better and I like to keep mine monochrome and uncluttered. I used to code my own design but rather than spending time maintaining this I purchased one from Pipdig. Loads of sites offer templates for free or a small charge that can really give your blog a more professional look. It's important that the blog is easy to navigate around and clearly set out so your readers can easily find what they're looking for, nothing is more off putting than a blog which is visually complicated.

 

Find your focus and make your content relevant

You can have the best design out there but without the right content on your blog, you aren't going to attract an audience who genuinely want to read what you have to say. The main thing to keep in mind with blogging is that you have to be passionate about your focus. From the beginning, I decided my blog was mainly going to be based around product reviews. However, some beauty bloggers have a wider reach such as how to posts or may go half on half with fashion. You don't have to stick to what you start with but find your comfort zone, write what comes to you naturally. Originality can play a big part here, it's hard not to look at other beauty blogs for inspiration.

 

Timing and consistency

This is easily my downfall when it comes to blogging. Decide how often you're going to post, whether that's once a week or every day, and do your best to stick to it. I am terrible at going through periods where I just can't sit down and think of anything I want to write, and that's fine. The best way to beat this is to prewrite posts when you're feel motivated and creative enough, so you'll never have a shortage of content to post. Some of your readers will be subscribed to your blog or follow you through social media but others don't. Therefore consistency will help you grow and maintain your audience better as they know when to come back for new posts.

 

Social media and growing your audience

It takes years not days to build up an audience to your blog. Even after all these years, I have a small subscriber base but get a lot of views to my blog. Social media is the best way to send people to your blog. At the least you'll need to set up a Facebook page and Twitter account solely for your blog. I'd also recommend you create a Instagram account too. Get involved on Twitter, find other beauty bloggers and engage with them. Post links to your new posts and use your hashtags effectively. The community as a whole are very supportive of each other so don't be afraid to engage yourself in conversation on social media regularly.

 

These are just a few pointers to get you started. The whole process is learning from trial and error so don't be afraid to change things and keep them fresh and engaging. Create something you're proud of and have confidence in yourself.

 

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

I'm very hit or miss when it comes to eye creams in a skincare regime. At 21, it's something I want to get myself into the habit of using now so that it won't seem like so much of a chore it future years to come when it's almost a necessity. However, I do see the pros using them now, smoother application and less creasing with your under eye concealer. The cons however is the eye watering price tag for a little pot of cream which most the time leaves you dissatisfied.

 

I decided to give the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. It seems to be in everyone's staple regime, especially during the winter where people like me suffer with dryness around the eyes. At £20 for 14ml it's not the cheapest out there but a little bit does go a long way. The packaging is very simple but sturdy plastic and travel friendly, always a bonus for me. The product itself if a very thick cream which needs to be warmed up in between your ring rings until it turns into a thinner substance. This is the correct time to apply as advised by Kiehl's. It contains avocado, beta carotene and shea butter. The cream is hydrating but sinks into the skin around the eye area well without leaving excess residue.

Overall this is one of those products I really do see the benefit from. The consistency and texture suits my oily skin well and keeps my eye make-up in place all day. It's also super soothing and replenishing enough to use after removing my make up and cleansing at night. It doesn't contain any fussy ingredients which irritate my uber sensitive eye area. This little pot is going to last me months so all in all, this should be on everyone's beauty shopping list for sure.



MAC Craving Lipstick

Some may say I'm a bit of a lipstick snob and I'll refuse to put my paws on anything that isn't high end. It's one of those products I find you really do get what you pay for. With the colder months lurking on us, it's time to give my colour palette a little vamp. I'm a big fan of reds and nudes but cannot touch anything pink as it just doesn't suit me at all. So I thought I'd dabble in a bit of plum, but nothing too scary to start with.

 

 

Craving is deep warm plum toned pink which makes it super wearable in the day time as well as for date nights. I choose it specifically for colder months, however I've come realise it's actually pretty versatile and would look just as great worn in the summer. It comes in the Amplified finish which means it's super pigmented and creamy meaning it won't dry your lips out. I also find these sorts of formulas very easy to apply without a liner or brush as they glide on so smoothly without dragging the lips. I do find it does wear off quite easily when I'm out for meals or drinking a lot throughout the day so be sure to keep it in your bag for top ups throughout the day.

When I spotted this on the MAC website, I did expect it to have more of a purple tone to it. I do find it leans towards the pink more but I still find it suits me well. It is rather opaque and glossy so I do find I need to blot it a little as glossy lips aren't really my thing. MAC lipsticks aren't the cheapest at £15.50 and going up year on year but they last forever and for the quality they are worth every penny. I feel this shade would suit paler to medium complexions most but applying it more sheer etc. could work for darker skin tones too. I'm sure this is a lipstick I'll be reaching for religiously over winter.
 



Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer

Concealer is a part of my make-up routine which I can find unessential at times. I don't particularly suffer with dark under eye circles and my full coverage foundation tends to deal with any redness or blemishes that crop up. On a shopping splurging I ended up picking it up to give it a whirl, at £22 for 7ml of product, it's not the cheapest concealer on the market. However, I've been using it everyday and it definitely deserves a good rave about so here's my findings.

 

It has a decent shade range as far as concealers go, with 8 shades available ranging from light to extra deep. My only disappointment in this department is that the lightest shade which I was matched to, Light 01, isn't the fairest of shades. However, when blended well and applied alongside my foundation, it appears seamless. It also has a sun protection of SPF 10 which is useful to sensitive parts of your face such as the nose and under the eyes.

 

It is packaged in a sleek plastic tube with a gold coated lid which is home to a doe foot applicator. I know these are controversial in terms of spreading bacteria but it's never deferred me from a product. When the lid is pulled out the tube, the perfect amount of product is sitting on the applicator to allow you to cover any imperfections on you face. It applies incredibly rich yet light when blended and doesn't sit cakey on the skin. The coverage is a firm medium yet buildable, this allows it to cover well without being too thick and settling in any lines on the face.

 

 

Even though I suffer from oily skin, it stays in place all day as it claims, it doesn't slip or budge until it's time to remove it. It's also the only concealer I can wear on any area of my face that suits it's needs; it covers any blemishes well yet is light and creamy enough to use under the eyes and around the nose where you don't want something too rich any heavy. I like to apply mine with a duo fibre brush blending lightly, it doesn't take too much work either which is a winner in the mornings. My first tube lasted me a good 5 months so although a little pricey, a little goes a long way. I'm thoroughly impressed with this concealer and can't see myself replacing it with anything else for a very long time.

 

Everything Is Changing.

So I've decided it's probably time to write a post on what's been going on lately as my presence on my blog and channel has been limited lately. I've been going through some huge changes in my life recently and just haven't really had the time to sit down and relax and lose myself in all this.

 

So university didn't go as I planned at all, from the beginning I became very depressed, alone and anxious and instead of getting stuck into my studies; locked myself in my room and distanced myself from everyone and everything. By Christmas I'd decided it really wasn't for me and planned not to return in the new year. Unfortunately, I did a lot better than I had thought I would in my exams which motivated me to continue my course. However, in this time I also lost my grandma. After a few weeks I fell back into my 'I really don't care anymore' outlook and in this time my grandad also became very ill and sadly also passed away on my 21st birthday. During this time I accepted a job offer in my university town and I think if it wasn't for that, I would have completely lost all hope in my life.

 

The weeks after all this made me realise I needed to reassess my life, my attitude towards things and what I really wanted. I spent as little time at home as possible as I knew I really needed to gain some independence. I was very unhappy and let this heavily affect my relationship as things weren't perfect already. I decided to end things with my long-term fiancé and concentrate on getting back on track with university and sorting myself out financially. With everything that had already occurred, this was a very sad time for me and I genuinely can't remember much of that time as it was too painful to not just delete this memory from my mind.

 

So where has all this left me? With a lot of full time working over summer, a failed first year at university with LOADS of retakes and still in the pittance of my overdraft. I'm not quite sure what I'm planning to do with my life in the near future but I've battled my anxiety and depression demons fiercely and feel more adult and able to deal with difficult situations than I've ever been and I couldn't be prouder of myself. Sorry if you've been waiting for me to post things, I've had a few messages asking where I've been. Just bare with me, I plan to come back bigger and better than ever.

 

Thanks for your patience and support, I love you all.
 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

I'm definitely late on my new beauty lust, but bear with me. Because if like me you haven't felt the need the indulge in Hoola yet then you most certainly need to. I'm a huge fan of a non-orange toned matte bronzer to create a subtle everyday contour on my face. I've been using the Soap and Glory Solar Powder over the past year which is excellent but fancied splurging on a high end product.

The Hoola bronzer is one of Benefit's boxed products. The packaging consists of a very sturdy card with a flap lid which secures down well. Inside contains 8g of the product and on the inside roof of the lid, a small mirror for on the go touch ups. Although fancy packaging looks great, nothing beats something you can throw in your handbag, or luggage if you travel often, and not have to worry about getting dirty or cracking. It also comes with a small flat contour brush with a pale blue wooden handle and soft natural hair white bristles. However, you can't get much control with such a small brush and I prefer to use my Real Techniques Bold Metals contour brush instead.

The product itself is a completely matte, shimmer-free bronzer. It can be used to add a touch of bronze to areas of your face as well as perform a subtle contour. I wouldn't stop there with the uses, as the colour isn't orange toned, you could use it to fill in your brows as well as create a nude eye look as an eyeshadow. Because of the colour, it works well for almost everyone from the palest to darker skintones. The powder itself is very silky with a minimal amount of fall out and lasts well on the face all day without much need for touch ups. The pigmentation is great but as the powder is very light, it can be applied sheerly for a small hint of colour or built up and applied more heavily for a darker pay off.

Although £23 is a little pricey for an everyday bronzer, I'm sure it'll last forever like the other Benefit boxed products and therefore I don't mind shelling out the every pennies for something so long lasting.

July Wishlist #01

 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

 

[1] Kurt Geiger never fail to have me lusting over a pair of heels. So when I spotted these nude suede Hattie heels, they've gone straight on my KG wishlist. They're perfect for summer to wear with jeans and casual tops. [2] Now I have my Mulberry and a Ted Baker or two, I've found myself eyeing up Michael Kors bags. I came across this blush shade of the staple bag which would team perfectly with the Hattie heels. [3] Viktor and Rolf have never brought out a fragrance I haven't liked, Flowerbomb used to be my staple before I couldn't justify the price tag as a student. Their more recent launch of Bon Bon is something different, very sweet and candy like yet beautiful and long lasting. [4] So I've literally just brought myself a Ted Baker make up pouch to keep in my Mulberry but I still can't resist this Mulberry one in metallic mushroom goat. It's so unusual but stunning, at almost £200 though I think it might be a wish a lot longer. [5] Dolly Bow Bow aka Kate Murrane launched her own jewellery line a few years ago. I've never really had a gander before but she does the most beautiful statement necklaces which have always been a love of mine. This pink piece is definitely my favourite. [6] Is it really possible to own enough white/black blouses? They go with almost everything. This pretty sleeveless embellished collar one will probably find it's way into my online basket soon.

 

 

What's on your wishlist for July?

 

Sparkle With Emily

I've always been a big fan of personalising my gadgets and accessories. I'm also a massive girly girl so being faced with owning something plain and generic looking just isn't my taste. One night, after what was probably hours of Instagram nosing and lurking, I managed to stumble across and interesting page. Before my eyes were squares and squares of little images which hosted a range of different designs of Fiat 500 key covers, phone cases, tablet cases etc. I'm more than aware that 'blinging' things up isn't new and there's many people out there doing it as a part time business but the level of precision and the uniqueness in the designs was like nothing I had ever seen before.

 

 

After a few minutes nosing, I knew for certain that I needed a Fiat 500 key cover in my life. My current plain black one was boring and slightly broken already. After sending Emily an email and a brief description of what I wanted (you can choose absolutely anything you like) she gave me a quote including delivery cost and I went ahead with the order. The price is very reasonable for the final product, I paid using my PayPal which was quick and safe. She told me she would send me an email when she had completed my key cover and then it would take a week for my order to completely dry and then she would send it to me first class delivery so it would arrive within the next 1-2 days.

 

 

The key cover arrived around 2 weeks after I ordered and came with instructions on how to fit the key cover and a little bag of spare rhinestones should any fall off (which I haven't experienced yet). After having my first key cover a few months I decided to order a new one as I'd be lusting over so many other designs which I preferred more. The key cover arrived and I loved it even more, it's super sparkly and sturdy and looks lovely against my fur pom pom keyring. After a few weeks the gold centre of one of my daisy did fall off (my keys do experience quite a battering in and out my bags). I contacted Emily straight away and she offered to replace my daisies free of charge and send it back to me with my current order of a phone case and key cap.

 

 

After loving my key covers so much, when I got a new HTC One Mini 2 and couldn't find a decent phone case, I contacted Emily and she told me she'd be able to do one for me. I decided to have the same design as my key cover but with a gold Vivienne Westwood orb and also ordered a matching key cap. I received my order today as well as my repaired key cover which was perfect and I can't even see where it's been repaired! I absolutely love everything and Emily was such a pleasure to commute with and was extremely helpful with any questions I had.

 

 

Sparkle with Emily creates handmade to order sparkle crystallised phone cases, Fiat 500 key covers, converse, tablet cases, key caps and anything else you desire to be blinged (within reason). She is based in Staffordshire in the UK but ships internationally and will give you an individual quote depending on your shipping location. Emily creates a variety of designs which you can browse on her Instagram, Facebook and website. You can create your own design or choose one she has previously created. She is super accommodating and such a talented lady.

 

 

If you're interested, give her an email at sparklewithemily@hotmail.com.

 

Dove Oxygen Moisture Haircare Range

When we think Dove, we think soap, bath foam, shower gel, you catch the drift? I love Dove as a brand, they have an excellent ethos and they're products are affordable and good quality. Lately I've been dabbling in their hair care ranges, more recently the Oxygen Moisture range which is part of their recently rebranded premium hair care.

 

The range consists of a shampoo, conditioner, deep treatment and a root lift spray. It prices between £5.99-£6.99 although I managed to pick up the whole range half price in Tesco.

 

First let's start with the shampoo, out of it's bottle it's a blue gel consistency. It smells pleasant enough, very fresh and ocean like (if that's a correct term to use). I used an average amount in my palm, lathered it up and worked it through my long locks. I found it slightly difficult to get it to lather up but managed to crack it eventually. When rinsing I found it left my hair feeling squeaky clean, almost the same results as using a clarifying shampoo. Although I have fine, weightless hair, it tends to get very dry and this isn't the kind of shampoo I lean towards using in case I dry my hair out and cause excess damage. However, it's a great product to use once or twice a week if like me you use a lot of products in your hair to get rid of excess residue and give it a thorough cleanse. I've also read claims that it causes dyed hair to run colour badly so I wouldn't recommend this for those of you with dyed or dry brittle hair.

 

 

After shampooing, I went on to use the conditioner. It carried the same scent as the shampoo, very refreshing. The consistency was slightly unusual compared to other conditioners I've used. It was much lighter and less dense, more runny. I personally like to use quite thick heavy conditioners on the ends of my hair so found myself having to use quite a lot of this to build up the desired amount of product in my hair to nourish it enough. Because the shampoo is so light, I didn't have a problem using this even on my roots and experienced no change in how greasy my hair became from after washing it. I left it on for a few minutes whilst I washed the rest of my body and then rinsed out.

Once a week a more intense treatment is highly preferable. After shampooing the slathered on the soufflé formula treatment onto my hair and left it on for 5 minutes to do it's thing. Unlike any other hair masque I've used, it is light and spongy. My hair didn't feel slightly coated and highly hydrated like it would with other hair masques, in fact I didn't see much difference using this to the regular conditioner. The amount of product in the jar is a small 200ml and will probably only last you around 4 uses for those of you with longer hair like mine. The only positive thing I have to pick up on is how lovely it smells (but s does the rest of the range).

 

 Finally the cherry on the icing, the root lift spray. I used the lightweight formula by spraying it onto the roots on damp freshly washed hair. I used around 15 sprays although you can use more or less depending on the level of volume you want to achieve. However, I wouldn't recommend going too overboard as it will leave your hair feeling crispy and sticky. I then massage the formula into my scalp using my fingertips and the proceed to blow-dry my hair using a round barrel brush, concentrating on lifting the roots. It smells gorgeous and helps create a great amount of volume to my hair. I also found that my hair was less greasy the next day as opposed to not using the product. I have nothing but good things to say about this and it has become a staple part of my hair care routine.

I have very mixed feelings towards the range, I hated the shampoo and treatment, found the conditioner very mediocre but loved the root lift spray and have used it everyday since trying it. I have found many positive reviews on the range but believe it is targeted to a very specific hair type. I have fine flat hair myself, however, it is quite damaged due to the amount of heat I use on it daily and the long length too. I feel the range would suit those with short to shoulder length, limp hair that becomes greasy quickly.


Have you tried the Dove Oxygen Moisture range, what were your results?
 

March Wishlist #01

With my 21st birthday being in March, my wishlist may appear more high-end/luxury as I obviously have more pricey wants as it only happens once after all!

 

 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

 

[1] My number one priority on my 21st birthday wishlist is a Mulberry. I've wanted a Mulberry now for years but with their hefty price tag, it's something I'd have to save up months or even a year for. I'm not sure which one I want yet but I have my eye on a black Bayswater and will be making a trip to Bicester Village soon so keep posted! [2] The perfect birthday dress is always a must on milestones, This beautiful, elegant but stylish lace bodycon tunic will look stunning paired with black stilettos and a black clutch. It'll be suitable for both meals and parties. [3] Christian Louboutin do the most wonderful high heels ever imagined. Yet my choice will always be the class, sophisticated Pigalle in patent black 100mm. I'd absolute kill to own a pair of these someday soon even though I'd be scared to wear the red on the soles down! [4] Benefits newest release comes in the form of the Roller Lash mascara. Exclusively released in March's issue of Elle as a sample. The super-curling and lifting mascara looks very promising and I can't wait to give it a whirl. [5] I'm dying to get my other ear pierced very soon and they'll need some lovely new earring to finally fill the holes. These little Tiffany hearts are so simple but stunning and will match my Tiffany pendant necklace perfectly.

 

 

What's on your wishlist for March?

 



Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Ever since Bioderma rocked the beauty world, micellar waters have been a big thing. Gone are the days of faffing with make-up wipes and creamy cleansers that left our skin feeling tacky and gave us a host of blemishes in the morning. With Bioderma being such an expensive, pain in the bum to get hold of, the UK market has seen it's fair share of competitors jumping on the gap in the market. I decided to give Garnier's offering a whirl and here are my thoughts.

 

 

The micellar water is hosted in a generous 400ml bottle which claims to give you 200 uses of product. I wouldn't say that's too accurate and you will go through a couple of soaked cotton pads to remove a face of make-up. Although it lasted me a good few months with everyday use. The bottle is plastic with a flip cap to prevent leaking, I carry mine around in suitcases weekly to and from university and have yet to experience any spillage despite getting bashed about! So how does it work? Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water contains micelles which act like magnets, gently lifting away makeup and impurities from the skin, without the need to rub or rinse.  The formula is suitable for the face, eye area and lips, has no perfume making it suitable for sensitive skin; although more recently they have developed an additional combination and sensitive formula. It retails at £4.99, although it's almost always on offer in most supermarkets and drugstores.

 

 

The product works a dream, even with my daily war paint, a few cotton pads soaked in this gets almost everything off. The formula feels soothing and refreshing on the face, it's hard to believe this isn't just wiping water on your face. It has a slight scent to it that I'm not the biggest fan of, although it's nothing too strong to bother anyone. It doesn't irritate my sensitive skin or cause me to breakout even without cleansing afterwards. This has quickly become my go to make-up remover for those nights where you just don't have the energy to do the whole cleansing routine at the sink but don't want to undergo the dreaded sleeping in your make-up sin. However, on a daily basis I like to also freshen things up a little more by using a facial wash after just to make sure absolutely everything is removed. My first bottle lasted me around 3 months using it everyday and I'm into my second bottle now. A repurchase from me means definitely gets the seal of approval from me and has become part of my staple skincare routine.

 

 

Which micellar water has won over your cleansing routine?

 

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara

Mascara is easily my favourite piece of make-up. If I could only have one type of make-up for the rest of my life, it would definitely be mascara. A good mascara can completely transform and frame your eyes but the right amount and the right type is different for everyone and can make things tricky. Therefore I'm always on the hunt for a new one, to see what's better in the market. Recently I've been trying out the L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara.

 

 

The mascara comes in four shades; brown, black, extra black and waterproof black. Here I'll be reviewing the black version. It retails for £10.99 in most drugstores. The tube holds a generous 10ml of product which is always pleasing when you wear lashes of mascara daily. The packaging is a gold and black tube, simple but practical in shape and size.

 

 

The mascara wand itself is made out of tiny plastic spikey bristles. L'oreal call the brush 'The Millionizer Brush' which has a multitude of bristles which separate lashes for a fanned-out effect. The Excess Wiper removes excess mascara so that it doesn't overload the lashes and leave clumps. The elastomer applicator is ultra flexible with both long and short bristles to coat each lash evenly from root to tip. I'd say the brush is a medium size which I work with well, too little can take too long to apply and too big can cause mishaps and clean ups.

 

 

The mascara applies lightly due to the filter hole being quite small so one coat will give you naturally fuller looking feathery lashes. However you can also layer up coats to achieve a more dramatic effect. I prefer to use 2 coats on my top and bottom lashes for perfect everyday fuller looking lashes.

 

Overall this is has become a firm favourite in my mascara collection. The brush makes sure clumping isn't an issue at all, the tube seems to hold product well and I haven't experienced the product drying up at all even after several weeks of use. I did however that the mascara worked better once it had been used for a few days first, it can be quite runny and once the tube has been exposed to air through pumping the wand, it does thicken up a little and apply like a dream. I experienced very little fall out throughout the day compared to most other mascaras and no smudging at all despite it not being a waterproof mascara. It still looked as good as it did at the end of the day as it did when it was applied in the morning. Oh and it removes fairly easily too, impressive.

 

 

What are your favourite mascaras from the drugstore?

 

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

I'm very loyal to my foundation choices and when I finally find something that works with my skin type, I stick to it for months on end. Recently having returned to university, my funds are a little lower than when working full time and when my beloved Clinique foundation came to and end, I thought I'd try out a drugstore alternative. The last time this happened I think I was about 16, so I obviously felt very lost amongst the make-up shelves.

 

Having tried Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation and being left feeling like my face resembled a Edward Cullen in the sun, I was reluctant to try the little glass bottle with the blue top sitting next to it that everyone raves about so much. Rimmel Match Perfection foundation is a light perfecting radiance foundation, promising dewy, traceless coverage which adapts to your skin tone under any light. I usually stay clear from anything remotely dewy and stick to matte formulas as my skin is super oily and most foundations slide after a few hours.

Let's start with the packaging. The little glass bottle gives it a high end feel and is nice and sturdy too. Once you've removed the blue plastic top you are greeted by a lovely blue pump which disperses the foundation easily and mess-free (glorious!) It doesn't look too shabby for drugstore and I'm happy to have it sit on my dressing table. The product comes in the standard 30ml offering and for £6.99, it's reasonably priced, I should expect this to last me a good few months too!

The foundation itself is quite a runny consistency but a little goes a long way, one and a half pumps is enough to cover my whole face. I found it a little sheer on first application but after using it again I found it could be built up to a medium coverage too. I've been lucky enough to have some good skin days recently so it's looked pretty good so far although if you suffer from irritated blemishes often, I probably wouldn't recommend this unless you're armed with a heavy duty concealer too. It applies so easy and effortlessly with or without a brush, it really is seamless and so much easier to work with than other foundations. It is quite a dewy foundation and being oily skinned, I had to powder quite a bit. It also has an SPF of 18 which is a bonus as my moisturiser doesn't have any in it. My shade is 100 ivory which I feel is perfect for me, this is the second lightest shade of the 10.

 

Overall I really do like this foundation, it obviously isn't a match for some high end alternatives but for those on a budget with dry/combination skin, I'd say this was perfect for you. Not the worst foundation for us oily girls as long as your armed with a powder throughout the day although it did last a good 8 hours on a night out recently so it won't be left at the bottom of my make-up bag anytime soon.


Have you tried Rimmel Match Perfection yet?
 

My Burberry

 

Every year for Christmas I dabble in a new fragrance on my wish list. This year's choice was actually my Mom's, after she came home from a shopping trip with a sample of this stuff, I was in love. Without even seeing the price tag or the hype around the stunning and iconic Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss campaign, I already wanted it.

 

 

 

Let's start with the price tag, it's pretty hefty. At £65 for a 50ml bottle it gets put on the 'I love this stuff but will treat it like gold dust and never be able to repurchase it myself' shelf. However, being a Eau de Parfum makes it much more intense and long lasting meaning a few sprays will see you through the whole day and still be sitting happily on your skin in full song by the end of it. It is very beautiful combination of floral with a warm earthiness. Inspired by the classic Burberry trench coat and it's heritage of British design and craftsmanship, it's designed based on the scents of a London garden after rain. The scent is described as a grand floral with an expected edge. I prefer to wear the fragrance on special occasions due to it being pricey and quite dense but I'd happily say it's suitable for any age and time of day.

 

Top Notes: Sweet Pea, Bergamot

Heart Notes: Geranium, Golden Quince, Freesia

Base Notes: Patchouli Rain-Tipped Damask, Centifolia Roses.

 

 

The bottle is also beautiful, very simple but classic and tasteful. The bottle itself resembles the Burberry trench perfectly. The little square glass bottle is hosted with gold lettering and a gold spritzer is classic yet effective. The hand tied, taupe English woven gabardine and bottle horn finish cap represent the fabric and buttons on the Burberry trench. Overall everything about the design, scent and aim of the fragrance is perfect and completely representative of the brand. This has quickly became my favourite all time scent and I'm forever receiving complements when wearing it.

 

 

Have you had the pleasure of catching a whiff of the iconic My Burberry fragrance?