High End Products Worth The Hype

Every social media platform I see; Youtube, Blogs, Instagram etc. I am constantly being enticed by the latest hyped up make up products that I feel I just HAVE to buy. Unfortunately, not all the products live up to the expectations but these are some of the products i'm so happy that I splurged the cash on and have been worth every penny! 

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette-

This eye shadow palette has been featured on possibly every Youtube channel i've ever watched and I was hesitant to buy it as I am so happy with my Naked Palettes but the second I got this home it became my favourite palette. It has 16 shades in it, two of which are highlight shades in a bigger pan, and a great mix of mattes and shimmers, warm and cool tones, neutral browns and more adventurous colours. This palette can be used to create literally any look; I've never had such a versatile palette that I can use for a soft eye during the day and a heavy look at night. The quality of the shadows is so good as well, they are all very pigmented and blend so well because they are so creamy. If someone asks me for a palette recommendation this is what i'll say every time.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer -

This is a fairly new release from Urban Decay but as soon as it came out everyone was raving about it, many claiming it had replaced their all time favourite Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. Having been using nothing but the Nars myself for a long time I really wanted to try this and although it was painful giving nearly £18 for what seems like so little product, I can definitely see why its had such good reviews. It does blend better than the Nars concealer as it has such a creamy formula and it lasts all day no problem, meaning its become my new every day favourite!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Whiz -

ABH is renowned for their brow products and I couldn't wait to pick one up when I went to America early this year. I have the shade medium brown which is so perfect for me as its very cool toned and it blends so well meaning there's no obvious pencil lines. I am absolutely gutted mine has almost run out as it is £16 for a new one (plus delivery as its harder to get hold of here in the UK) and I'm saving the last remnants for special occasions as no products make my brows look as good as this. Nyx do a similar product which is a fairly good dupe but the Brow Whiz is my definite holy grail brow product and I couldn't recommend it enough to anyone.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation-

Where to start on this, my favourite foundation of all time. I have tried a lot of foundation but never have I found anything that comes close to comparing to Sheer Glow. The shade is a completely perfect match for my skin (Mont Blanc) and it blends so well its hard to tell that I'm wearing foundation, yet it gives me such good coverage, hiding all my redness and discolouration and it lasts on my skin all day without clinging to dry patches. Whenever anyone mentions needing new foundation I literally shout at them that their life is incomplete without Sheer Glow, I would say its in my top five all time make up products, although the £31 price tag means i can't bring myself to use it every day as much as I would love to.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfector -

This. Highlighter. Is. Amazing. Mac 'Soft and Gentle' is just blown out of the park compared to the pigment and creaminess of Champagne Pop. Its amazing for all skin colours and I would never use anything else on a night out as it gives cheekbones to SLAY. If theres one highlighter anyone ever needs in their life its this! Worth every penny and more.

Nars Laguna Bronzer -

An absolute cult classic in the beauty world and for good reason. This bronzer is just the perfect shade that it can give a cool looking contour yet at the same time it warms up your skin but never looks orange or muddy - it is literally magical and blends like a dream. It comes in a pretty large pan and I use it every day and have barely made a dent in it so for me it was a good investment and I have rarely touched another bronzer since this. Its the perfect balance of pigmented but not so pigmented that you end up with brown circles on your cheeks and have to blend for ten minutes. I am always complimented on looking healthy when I wear Laguna which says to me this is a great product and I'm so happy I bought it.

MAC Lipsticks -

For me I literally never wear anything on my lips except Mac Lipsticks. I currently own about 17 which I know a lot but I do wear them all and they're so amazing I just can't stop buying them. These lipsticks aren't too pricey compared to some other high end brands but are definitely on par with quality. They have great staying power, especially the mattes can be relied on to last through eating, and they smell heavenly. Theres such a large colour and finish selection, they have the perfect lipstick for everyone and I would definitely recommend everyone to check them out if they haven't already (and they look very pretty on top of my dressing table). My favourite shades are 'Whirl' which is quite a dark brown matte on me, as well as 'Viva Glam 2', a fairly pale pink toned matte which is great for every day neutral looks.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what high end products I love and please let me know if there's any you think I should try,

Becca x

June Favourites

Hi everyone,

Wow it's hard to believe we're now halfway through 2016!! June has flown by for me, being a very strange month with a mix of very stressful exam times alongside some very relaxing days.

I thought I'd give a roundup of a few things I have been loving this month as I love reading these to get some inspiration and at the start of the month I made quite a few new purchases, some of which have found their way into my every day make up bag!

KEVIN AUCOIN SCULPT POWDER-

After hearing this product raved about so much I was desperate to try it out, but I held out for so long because it is soooo expensive however I am really glad I finally got my hands on it. It really is the perfect contour shade as it is so cool toned. I got it in the shade medium as this was the original colour although it has now been brought out in light and dark and it suits my pale skin fine and blends in really easily. I don't know if I would say it's worth £40 for the tiny amount that you get but I definitely have been really enjoying using it. 

BECCA X JACLYN HILL CHAMPAGNE POP SHIMMERING SKIN PERFECTOR-

Another expensive purchase that I probably didn't need but was so desperate to get hold of after it being talked about so so much! I have wanted this highlighter for a really long time but it was sold out in every Sephora I visited in New York which was really disappointing. The Becca shimmering skin perfectors are insanely expensive but I do already own one and know I love the consistency, and of course who doesn't love a highlighter with their name on! It's safe to say Champagne Pop certainly lived up to expectations! The pigment of it is insane so I definitely wouldn't wear it day to day but for a night out its stunning! I literally couldn't recommend this enough it's such a dream to put on - blends perfectly, gives a shine you could see from miles away and I look forward to wearing full coverage make up so I can put this on. 

LUSH EU ROMA TONER WATER-

Sadly I have to admit that I am not the best at skin care routines, in the morning I'm always in a rush and at night it's so easy to just quickly wipe my make up off and fall into bed, therefore discovering a product like this is a life saver! This toner water is literally the best skin care product I've ever found! Sometimes I don't even use moisturiser just a few quick sprays of this and I'm good to go. I sometimes use it as a primer before make up but usually spray it on just as I'm getting into bed and I wake up with the softest, most hydrated skin I've vet had! I think this was about £7 and it was more than worth every penny. I love the smell of it; a bit like tea tree oil, and being from Lush you know it's natural products and cruelty free so an added bonus. If I was to recommend one beauty product to someone it would be this toner water as it is so quick and easy to use and makes such a big difference to my skin. 

RIHANNA ANTI -

Although this isn't a beauty favourite I couldn't not mention it; on 29th of June I went to see Rihanna in concert and it was the highlight of my month! The show was so amazing on its own but was even better as Drake came on as a guest and sang Work and One Dance. I've been a Drake fan for many years so it's safe to say a few years were shed! I would highly recommend the Anti album to anyone who loves R&B as it is by far her best album to date. My favourite song is Needed Me and I would also recomend going to see her perform live if you have the chance because she has the most amazing voice and put on such a brilliant show!

Let me know what you've been loving this month

Becca x

Top 5 Tips For A Healthy Mind

Morning everyone, 

Recently I’ve been going through quite a down patch in life, letting quite a lot of things get on top of me but after a few peaceful days away from everything in the middle of nowhere, I’ve cleared my mind and feel a lot more positive about things.

I believe that just making some small changes can have a big impact on your outlook and mindset, and so I thought today I would share a few of the steps I take to refresh my thinking and work towards a healthy and peaceful mind.

• Fresh Air: Run, walk, sit, cycle, it sounds so simple but for me going outside, especially on a cold, crisp early morning, literally cleanses my head and I can physically feel the wind carrying negative thoughts away with it as it blows past. Sometimes my head can feel quite clouded and heavy, and the fresh air really helps to relieve this pressure and I go back home feeling much lighter and able to think straight. See how you feel, sometimes I will sprint for miles as fast as I can to feel the strong rush of wind and to stop me from concentrating on anything except the rhythm of my feet on the pavement. Other times I won’t feel like running, and I have the desire to get away from all the noise and distractions, so I’ll go on a long walk in deep countryside. I am a complete city-girl at heart and thrive off the buzz and hustle, but occasionally it is so clarifying to escape it all and just wander somewhere alone with the natural surroundings.

• Read a Book: Ever since I can remember I have been an avid reader, fascinated by the way certain combinations of letters on a page can transport you to a different world, connect you with these characters that don’t even exist like they are your friends. When there are things in life that are getting too stressful or I can’t stop thinking about something, I pick up a novel. Sometimes it can take me a while to get in the mood for reading but after I persevere through the first few pages, I am soon immersed into this new story, my own troubles left behind as I explore these new people and concepts in the book. When I finally put the book down (which is usually a difficult thing to test myself away from it) I feel both relaxed and distracted, and after experiencing the story I often feel like I have a fresh perspective on my own life.

• A Green Smoothie: A few weeks ago I took part in a three day juice cleanse with my friend, and although it was a bit of a struggle to stay away from chocolate, at the end of the three days I felt like a new person. I was shocked to feel that the so-called ‘cleansing’ and ‘revitalising’ genuinely did make my whole body feel cleansed and revitalised and I had so much more energy and felt a lot happier even though i’d only done it for such a short amount of time. My favourite recipe is a cup of spinach (don’t worry you can’t taste it at all), a cucumber and a green apple. Simple, tasty, and very filling.

• Clean, White Bedding: Another very simple action, something that often people do without even thinking about it. Yet I find not much compares to the feeling of bright clean sheets; climbing into the fresh bedding literally makes me feel fresh and clean and white and like I'm starting a new chapter. Sometimes when you're having dark thoughts in your head its good to fill your day with light objects to try and raise your mood.  

• Making Plans: My final tip, and perhaps the most important, is to make exciting plans for the future. Whether its something big like a summer holiday, or something as small as having your favourite food for dinner the next day, having something to look forward to is the best way to take your mind off things and acts like a goal or reward that you can work towards.

I hope reading this post can help someone to feel a bit happier by reading it because I'm definitely feeling in a much better place right now, especially since relaunching my blog. 

Becca x

REVIEW - Rosie for Autograph Rosebud Highlighter

As a self-confessed copper/rose gold addict, I was immediately drawn to the beautiful packaging of the new make up range brought out by Marks and Spencer’s cosmetic line Autograph in collaboration with one of my favourite models Rosie Huntington-Whitely and so naturally I couldn’t wait to try out some of the products.

I was not at all disappointed when I saw the collection!! Rather than your standard make up range brought out by someone famous that usually isn’t that great, this collection actually works with some of the newer trends such as cream contour sticks (similar to Tarte The Sculptor) and cream eye shadow sticks (like the By Terry Ombre Black Stars). 

The packaging is a very similar colour and style to Charlotte Tilbury, providing a luxury feel to the range. The price range is not bad at all, although out of drugstore pricing, cheaper than say Mac, with lipsticks retailing at £14 and eye shadow quads at £18.

Although I swatched many of the products, all which felt creamy, pigmented and high quality, a student budget doesn’t allow for a huge splurge so I decided to pick up the Rosebud Highlighter because a girl can never have too many highlighters!

This highlighter is so different to any I have; rather than a pressed powder in a pan its loose in a pot with a netting over the top to stop too much coming out into the top section which is extremely helpful. Its a very fine powder which I love and in addition to the consistency I also don’t own any highlighters that have a very slight pale pink tone like this does. Its an absolutely beautiful colour!

I use a Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek brush to apply this product to the tops of my cheekbones and the fact its such a fine powder means it glides on to my face so evenly and provides an all over sheen, not looking the slightest bit powdery. 

The pigment of this highlighter is quite sheer, definitely more of a day-to-day look rather than for special occasions. I reach for this product nearly every morning when I’m doing my make up as I love the subtle sheen it provides and the colour is perfect for my pale skin tone. 

The highlighter was £18, which admittedly is a lot of money, but I think its worth every penny as it does look and feel like a high quality product and, (as I tell myself at every make up counter), a highlighter is a long-term investment as I genuinely have never even been close to hitting pan on a highlight and I don’t see myself running out of this one any time soon. 

(with -top- and without -bottom- camera flash on)

So to give a quick summary, I 100% recommend this highlighter as its a beautiful product in beautiful packaging and its an absolute staple in my collection. 

Let me know if you’ve tried it and what your thoughts are!

Becca x

New York Haul and First Impressions

Last week I was lucky enough to go on the trip of my dreams to New York with my friends for a long weekend. Along with the usual sites I couldn't wait to see, I was so excited to finally have the chance to visit Sephora for the first time and it's safe to say it definitely exceeded expectations. The huge selection of all my favourite brands along with the cleverly placed travel sized products at the till left me with a much heavier suitcase and a much lower bank balance! 

Since I've arrived back in the UK I've trialled all the products that I bought so I could give a mini review for all of them instead of just showing what I bought.

I firstly headed for the NARS counter as I had already planned to buy this foundation after hearing it talked about for so long and never having tried it myself. I think NARS offer a really good selection of colours and I find this shade a great match for my skin. The website describes this as having "sheer and build able coverage" and I would agree with this as I often find one layer is quite thin and I build it up with a few more layers however it does blend in very nicely. It leaves a dewy and glowing finish without looking oily so overall I am very pleased with this purchase and it has become my new every day foundation.

Although I could stare at the stunning NARS packaging all day, I couldn't justify spending more money on it when prices were similar to the UK so I next went to the Becca counter, a highly anticipated experience as I was dying to own make up products with my name on. Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, the Jaclyn Hill Champagne pop highlighter was out of stock in every Sephora we visited, however I did get my hands on the Moonstone Shimmering Skin Perfecter. This highlighter has the most beautiful, creamy consistency and the pale gold/pearl type colour is perfect for my skin tone and I adore the simple and almost industrial style packaging, I find it so elegant and could gaze at it for hours. 

However, since I have got home and been using it, I have to say I am slightly disappointed in the pigmentation of this highlighter. I do use it most days when I'm creating a natural look in a hurry however I wouldn't reach for it if I was doing an evening look as the shimmer pay off just isn't anything like others such as Mary-Loumanizer, which is such a shame considering the price. 

The counter I was most excited to visit was Anastasia Beverly Hills as her much talked about products are difficult to get hold of here in England. And of course, no-one can visit ABH without picking up some brow products. Before I went I already knew I wanted dip-brow, I just had to choose a colour. Medium brown was my favourite as it is very ashy toned and I have a severe phobia of anything remotely warm toned on my brows that could make them look ginger. I already own the Mac 208 but I decided I would pick up a new brow brush to use specially with the dip-brow, so I chose the ABH 12 brush as it was the only one left in stock. It has a sharper angle than the Mac 208 and I find it a great brush, especially as it has a spooley on the end - something that should be a legal requirement with every brush!

I have tried to use the Dip-brow quite a few times but I am just not getting on well with it at all. It's such a hyped up product so I was beyond excited to finally own it however I find it very hard to work with, once I draw a line its difficult to blend it and overall it makes my brows look too dark and thick so I only really use it now on nights out. I also purchased the Brow Whiz in the same colour which I absolutely adore as it is the perfect shade and so easy to blend. Its earned a place in my every day make up bag!

While at the ABH counter I thought why not go all out and get a contour kit as well. I was back and forth with cream vs. powder and ended up getting a cream contour kit in the shade light. I do really like this product as it blends easily and the colours suit my skin tone however I don't use it so often, only on special occasions due to the time it takes and the quite strong contour it creates, so in hindsight I do wish I had got the powder kit, yet I do still really like this.

Next I headed for the Urban Decay section, as a keen lover of the Naked palettes I really wanted to get my hands on the eye primer, which I chose in the shade original. I'm so happy I bought this as it's so creamy and my eye shadow does not budge the whole day. I came home from Parklike Festival after a 12 hour day of dancing in torrential rain and honestly my eyeshadow looked like it had just been put on -  I cannot rave about this primer enough.

Of course, what Sephora trip would be complete without a few impulse buys of travel minis at the till. I picked up the Urban Decay Setting Spray and I do see why this has such great reviews; when I spray this on my make up literally does not budge. I also picked up the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water and although I am not sure if this product does work or is just a bit of a gimmick, it does leave my skin feeling hydrated so I do like to spritz a bit on just before I apply my foundation.

After Sephora we did also head to a few other make-up shops (as well as visiting many more Sephoras) and one of the things I picked up was Mac Velvet Teddy. I was so hesitant to buy this as it was actually my second one as I lost my first on a night out a few weeks ago *cries*. I was debating it but then realised I cannot live without this staple nude brown so I parted with my $15 as it is a much cheaper price than at home in the UK and I knew I'd end up buying it at some point.

The world and his wife owns Velvet Teddy but I would say it is very much worth the hype. It dries completely matte which I love and lasts on your lips for hours but at the same time is very moisturising. The colour suits so many skin types; for me it looks like a darker nude and so perfect for autumn and evenings but on darker tones its a perfect every day nude.

I hope you enjoyed reading what I bought in New York. I had such a good trip and was so excited to share with you what I bought. Much love.

Becca x

Zoeva Spectrum Palettes Review

Hi everyone, a very exciting parcel arrived in the post from me this morning so I thought I'd share with you my first impressions.The Spectrum collection has recently been launched by Zoeva and I was very excited to get my hands on some of the new products as I am a dedicated user of the high quality brushes that they sell but was yet to try any of their make up products.

Despite being posted from Germany where the brand is based, my package arrived in just three days and was beautifully presented in a branded box with tissue paper inside. The palettes themselves have gorgeous black packaging with rose gold writing on them and the size of the pans are relatively big. 

I opened the nude spectrum first and was pleasantly surprised at the variety of colours in it. There are four shades of brown; three shimmers and one matte and they're all fairly warm toned. I think the colours are the perfect combination for a bronzer palette that can be used all year round and for the creamy, pigmented quality, the price of just £14.80 is very reasonable.

I chose to order the coral blush palette rather than the 'Pink Spectrum' as I prefer more neutral colours for a blush and the picture on the website showed the coral colours to look quite subtle, but when I opened the palette I was shocked to see quite vibrant pinks. Just like the nude palette, it contains abroad range of shades and offers both shimmer and matte, however the blushes are quite highly pigmented so I am unsure if I will using the brighter pinks.

I used the Zoeva 127 Luxe Sheer Cheek brush with these palettes as it is a very soft brush that blends products like a dream! Overall I am very impressed with the quality of the palettes, although slightly different in real life to the pictures on the website, so hopefully I will be putting in another Zoeva order very soon :)

Becca x