LuxeKate: May 2017

2017

May Favourites

By Kate - 17:05:00

I feel like I say the same thing every month but I cannot believe that tomorrow will be June! This year is going so fast and I'm currently on half term and then it will be my last term in school till summer which I think is crazy as it's gone ridiculously fast!

I found it hard to get a couple of favourites for this month as I feel like I've tried so many new products and loved them all but these have to be my top favourites of this month!

♡ Miss Sporty Studio Lash The Miaoww Eye Liner Black;
I normally steer clear from eyeliner as I've never ever been able to do it and I have so many different liners in my draw, I just don't use them to go out in! But I've been experimenting recently with eye liners, trying to make it look decent with my non-existent eye liner skills. And I've been loving this eye liner from Miss Sporty, it's super easy to apply and I would definitely recommend it to any beginners of eye liner, especially if you find it hard to apply. The liner itself is super black and does last for a very long time. I love how thin and long the liner is as I can easily apply it right on my lash line and the nib is so small which makes it simple to achieve a precise look. It dries matte and isn't glossy and doesn't smudge whatsoever so I've been super impressed with this eyeliner.
Also for £2.99 this is an absolute bargain and mine hasn't seem to dry out at all so this is a definite love of the month for me.

♡ LyDia Professional Eye Shadow Brush;

I bought this brush off Amazon (or you can buy it off their website here) at the start of this month after hearing such good reviews off my sister who loved it. And I've been using this brush constantly, it is so so good and I would never expect a cheap brush to be this good! It has a long handle which is perfect to hold and the brush itself is such good quality. The bristles are so soft and are the perfect shape and size for blending eyeshadow. It makes blending your eyeshadow so effortless and ever since I've bought this I've used it every time for my eyeshadow. I'm definitely going to be buying more brushes from this brand as I'm so impressed.

I have the Real Techniques eyeshadow brushes and I would go as far to say that this brush it better quality than them and I definitely prefer it to them, which I think is a big statement considering I always use my Real Technique eye brushes and love them. I cannot say how much I love this and if you're going to buy something this June, buy this. Also for £2.35, you can't go wrong!

♡ Primark Bralettes;
I've been obsessing over these two bralettes recently, after buying one bralette from New York at the start of the year, I've been living in them as they are so comfy. And these two bralettes from Primark have been a recent purchase of mine that I've lived in all month. They are a pack of two bralettes from Primark that were £7 for two, one is white and the other is black. Primark have so many pretty bralettes in their stores at the moment and these ones have a gorgeous lace pattern on the top with a thin lining on the inside. They also have a small lace trimming at the bottom which I think looks so pretty.
I would definitely recommend these as they're so cheap and especially in the hot weather they are so practical and comfy.

♡ Sleek Divine Eyeshadow Palette - The Original;

I've owned this palette for quite a while now and it's never been a palette that I will always reach for as you can see it's got quite bright shades in that I wouldn't really wear for everyday use. However at this month, I've been practising with my makeup a lot and I thought I'd try and use some of these shades as I knew they'd always had great pigmentation. And I completely fell in love with the shades on the bottom row. They are so stunning on the eye and I think are perfect for this season as they're bright and have shimmer but are still so wearable. My two favourite shades are the two on the bottom row, second and third in from the left. They are both pink-y toned however one is more lilac-y and the other is more bronzed.
I've been loving using these lighter shades from the palette as I've been wearing lighter pink-y shades at the moment and I have no other shades like these.

♡ Harry Styles' Album;
You all probably saw this one coming but I've been absolutely in love with Harry's album. I was going to love Harry's album no matter what it was like, I mean he could have sang nursery rhymes and I would have loved it. However I was not expecting Harry's album to be so incredible! I didn't really know what to expect when I first listened to it as I knew it would be nothing like One Direction's music but I think it is such an insane album. All of his songs are so different and there is not one song that I don't like.
My favourites have to be Woman, Caroline and Only Angel but then I also love Meet Me In The Hallway and Sweet Creature, oh and Kiwi (omg). I basically love the whole album and his voice is just incredible and I think the album is just truly beautiful. Also I love how you can see how truly happy he is when he performs.
Also don't even get me started on how good his Carpool Karaoke was , I could talk about it for ages and he was rocking that Gucci floral shirt!!!

♡ Music Favourites;
Harry Style's album (of course)
Bad Liar - Selena Gomez
Malibu - Miley Cyrus
Water - New Hope Club

There's Nothing Holding Me Back - Shawn Mendes

FourFiveSeconds - Rihannah, Kayne West & Paul McCartney (such a good throwback tune)
Rollin - Calvin Harris
Rose-Coloured Boy - Paramore

What's been one of your favourites this month?
Kate Xx

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LuxeKate

Superdrug Skincare Favourites

By Kate - 17:09:00

I always seem to be trying new skincare products as with my super dry skin, I'm always trying to keep it hydrated and less textured. I've tried some of Superdrug's Vitamin E Skincare range before however I bought a couple new bits from it and I've been so impressed so I though in this post I would show my three favourites from the range.
Vitamin E is also meant to reduce wrinkles and give the skin a youthful look, and although I'm only 15 so I'm not too worried about wrinkles at the moment, I think this range would work so well for all ages.

♡ Superdrug Vitamin E SPF 15 Moisturising Cream;
I'm very fussy when it comes to moisturisers as I like them to be super hydrating whilst lasting for the day and I always like to be able to see a difference in my skin. And this moisturiser has ticked all the boxes for me and I think this has become my new favourite!
The moisturiser itself is quite thick and so creamy which I first thought would make it too thick and heavy for everyday wear as I prefer to use a thick moisturiser at night. However although it is thick, once massaged in, it feels super light and feels quite refreshing. This definitely soothes my skin and I've been using this every morning for the last week and my dry skin has never felt better and is for sure less dry and is more moisturised.
What I also love about it, is that it has SPF 15 in as I find it so hard to try and find a good moisturiser that has SPF without it burning a hole in my pocket. I hate wearing sun cream on my face as it literally goes through me when it goes sticky and greasy so I'll be wearing this throughout summer!

This moisturiser is only £2.99 which is such a bargain especially as you get 100ml which is quite a lot and a little does go a long way so I can imagine this to last me for a very long time.

♡ Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Boost Facial Serum;
This serum is one of the products which I've had for the longest and I'm still completely in love with it. It has definitely worked miracles for my skin as I've certainly noticed my skin has less pimples and redness and feels so much more smoother and hydrated. It's bought so much moisture to my skin and I love how the serum is so lightweight as it absorbs so quickly into my skin so it doesn't feel like it's weighing down your face.
I usually apply this serum at night and it works really well with the toning mist (which is coming up next) and I always wake up with the softest skin. The serum is directed towards normal to dry skin and it works with my super dry skin perfectly and without a doubt has improved my skin massively.
The serum also smells incredible, don't ask me what it smells like as I cannot describe smells to save my life, but the smell makes it feel refreshing and awakening and definitely draws me more towards the product. Also this serum is the most expensive out of the three but is only £3.99 which is ridiculously cheap for such a high quality product.

♡ Superdrug Vitamin E Hydrating Mist;
I've never tried anything like this before which was why I really wanted to try it. It's a toning/hydrating mist which feels just like a liquid version of the serum and I actually find this mist so useful. I tend to use it after my moisturiser as it just gives extra hydration and is so refreshing however it's also perfect for on the go. It would be the perfect thing for sleepovers or if you're travelling as you only need 3 or 4 spritz's and your done. It is so refreshing and hydrating and for on the go, I feel like if you are somewhere where you can't wash your face this is the perfect replacement.
I also love this for the warmer weather as my skin tends to get very dry in the sun so spraying this after I've been in the sun gives my skin a refresh and makes me feel more awake and is soothing. It also says on the bottle to put in the fridge for an extra refresh which I'm yet to try but I think it would be the nicest thing on a hot day and I would totally recommend this as it's already becoming a staple for me.

Will you be trying out any of this range from Superdrug?

Kate Xx

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2017

Night Routine; Skincare, Organisation & Relax

By Kate - 17:10:00

I love winding down at night and feeling relaxed as it get me ready for bed and there's nothing better than feeling cosy and feeling prepared for the next day.
I have to be organised otherwise I'll stress like there is no tomorrow so on a typical weekend night, I like to tick all these steps off my list and I can then fully relax.

♡ Skincare;
The thing that is a necessity is to start on my skincare which I love to do and I will always start by taking my makeup off. I always take my makeup off by using my Garnier Micellar Water and some Oval Cosmetic Pads from Primark which I absolutely love. The Garnier micellar water has been a favourite of mine for years now as it takes my makeup off so well whilst being refreshing and giving some moisture to my skin.
I tend to use a face mask around once a week to give my skin a boost of hydration and life so I will use the Una Brennan Super Facialist Intense Moisture Mask. This has always been a firm favourite of mine as it's super moisturising and hydrating which is perfect for my dry skin. I'll keep this on for around 10 minutes and whilst I wait I will give my body a quick moisturise.

If you read my 2017 Goals then you might remember how I wanted to try and moisturise my body more as I used to be quite lazy and could never be bothered. However now I religiously moisturise (least one of my new year resolutions worked...) and as it's getting a bit sunnier and warmer I use my Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion in Fair To Medium which is a subtle gradual tanner. I'm so pale naturally so this gives my skin a little bit of colour and glow whilst also being a great moisturiser. I use this a couple of times a week and I still look pale however it does build up after a while and I love using this as there is no chance of it looking patchy or making you look like an orange. They also offer a darker option which is great to use if you want it a tad more bronzed.

So after taking my face mask off and moisturising, I will moisturise my face and I've recently been using the Garnier Moisture Nourish Daily Rich Moisturiser. This is quite heavy and creamy so is perfect for night time use. It works so well with the mask as it locks in the moisture in my skin and feels so soothing on my face and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth.

Next I will use my Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub which I use around once every two weeks or whenever my lips are needing a refresh and this gets rid of any dry skin that is on my lips. And after using this lip scrub, I will apply some lip balm as there is nothing I hate more than the feeling of dry lips. I always have about four different styles of lip balm on me as I'm always swapping and changing but I've been loving this Nivea Vanilla & Macadamia Lip Butter as it's super thick and creamy and definitely brings moisture to my lips whilst making them soft and smooth.

♡ Prepare For The Next Day;
I love to go to sleep knowing that I have a plan and goals for the next day as I try and make the most out of each day. I make lists on what I need and want to do the next day which can include things like 'wash makeup brushes' or 'do homework- will take 50 minutes' and this just lets me see everything that I want to do. Making lists makes me so much more productive and I manage my time so much more better when I have a plan of action for the day.
I make my daily lists in this small rectangular To-Do List from Home Bargain which is perfect for daily lists. On a weekday I tend to make a list for Monday-Friday but I always make daily lists on weekends and holidays.

♡ Tidy Room;
I'm a firm believer in 'tidy room, tidy mind' so my room tends to be quite tidy most of the time, however I always make sure my room is spick and span before I got to bed. I'm a bit of a neat freak when it comes to my room so I make sure everything is away and nothings in the wrong place or looks messy. Nothing stresses me out more than a messy room!

♡ Wind Down;
I'm always in my pyjamas's by 8 o'clock which I think is quite early and I love relaxing early on. I like to watch a TV at night, whether it's an episode of Teen Wolf or Holby City and of course it's not complete without a bag of crisps... I try and keep of my phone at night as I get headaches very easily when I'm in front of bright lights however I will sometimes quickly go on it before I go to sleep.

♡ Sleep;
I'm a girl who loves her beauty sleep and let me tell you, I am not someone you want to be around when I haven't got enough sleep! On a weekday I go to bed at around 10:30ish and I'll wake up at 6:45am. I think sleep is so important and with moisturised skin, a plan for the next day, tidy room and feeling relaxed, I can have the perfect nights sleep!

Whats an important step in your night routine?
Kate Xx

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2017

Why I Love Blogging

By Kate - 11:06:00

I feel like my blog is a part of me now, when I first started writing weekly which was around November 2016 my blog just felt impersonal and something I was just trying out. Now I feel like I've come so far with it and definitely proved myself wrong and I find it hilarious looking at my old blog posts as they are absolutely horrendous!

♡ The People;
The blogging community is actually the best, I've found some amazing people from my blog and it's gave me so much more confidence in myself. If you asked me a year ago if I would make a conversation with someone I've never talked to on Twitter then I would have laughed in your face and told you there would be no chance of that. But now I will talk to anyone and everyone on Twitter (not like weird people though (if you get me)) as everyone is so friendly and lovely!

I've made so many great friends from my blog that are the loveliest people ever and I hope that one day I would be able to go to a blogging event but that all depends on how confident I'm feeling (if I even have any confidence?).

♡ Helping People;
I really wouldn't say I'm a 'pro' at blogging however I've helped a handful of people when it comes to having a blog which really makes me feel proud and definitely boosts my confidence. At first when I saw an email from someone asking me for help on a blog I was like 'why are they asking me out of all people?!' but now I love helping people out! It definitely makes me feel proud of myself when I help someone out and I'd never thought I would help people out when it comes to blogging as most of the time I can't even figure it out myself!

♡ Improved My Writing Skills;
I've always loved writing however I've never been particularly good at it but I feel that writing on my blog quite often has meant my writing quality has improved. I never have to stop and think about what I'm writing, it just tends to flow out which is probably one of the reason why my writing is such a mess but I love sitting down and writing away. I really hope my writing will continue to improve as I read other peoples blogs and always think 'how do they write so well' and I hope one day my writing will be as good as quality.

♡ Reading Other Blogs;
As well as making friends with many other fellow bloggers, I love reading so many other peoples blogs. Before my blog I only read a couple of blogs regularly however now I read so many and I love finding new blogs and reading literally all their posts (does anyone else do that when they find a new blog, or is it just me?). Also I love finding small blogs when you can truly see how much effort they put into it and it inspires me as well when I read blogs that are much better than mine as it makes me want to try and improve as much as I can!
However the only downside is, it makes me add a lot of things to my shopping list if someone else writes a good review about it on their blog as I think I NEED it if it's a good product!

♡ I've Learnt So Many New Skills;
When I started my blog I was constantly watching YouTube videos to try and figure out what I was trying to do and my I.T skills are pretty non-existent so I was pretty hopeless however I feel like I've learnt a lot of skills when it comes to my blog. I recently changed the whole layout of my blog which I'm very happy with however when I was trying that I was so scared that it wouldn't work and I was just 'experimenting' so if it went wrong, I would have been screwed. Fortunately it worked perfectly which makes a change for me but I would never have thought I'd be editing code and html (whatever it's called) for my blog as I have no clue what it all means.

♡ Gained Confidence;
I have no confidence whatsoever however my blog has definitely given me a boost and although I'm still the shy person I'll always be, I feel like my blog has given me some confidence. I've lost a lot of my confidence in the last year or two and I've become more of a quieter person in my opinion but sometimes I feel like I lead a double life on my blog. Sounds cringey but I feel like I can be myself on my blog as only my close family know about my blog and I feel like I'm not being judged as if my friends found out about my blog, I'd feel really judged and not as comfortable. But yeah, got a bit off track but I definitely think I've gained more confidence in myself and I am proud of myself.
However I'm still working on getting some more confidence so I can go out more to take some outfit shots as my drive doesn't really hit the mark...

♡ Organisation;

My blog has definitely made me more organised and manage my time a bit better. I'm still not amazing as I often realise that I've forgot to take blog photos for a post that is going up the next day however I would have never imagined I'd be posting twice a week, every week as although it doesn't seem a lot, I think it can be quite hard especially when you have a busy week. Also I'm trying to become more organised with my blog as I don't want to have to stop posting when it comes to my exams so I'm going to try and prepare as many blog posts as I can for the future.

♡ It Gives Me Something To Look Forward To;

There's nothing I love more than writing blog posts as I feel like I could write for hours about anything and everything and although my blog pictures are not very good, I love taking them as I like messing around with lighting and seeing what works best. I love brainstorming ideas for my blog as I try and get a range of posts on my blog and I love when I have a new idea and I tend to get way too excited about a post that I look forward to writing.

I don't know what I used to do without my blog as now when I have free time, I'll go straight to my blog and I do that automatically now. I always try and do my homework as quick as possible so I can spend longer on my blog and writing more posts.

Why do you love blogging?
Kate Xx

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2017

5 Favourite Drugstore Bronzers

By Kate - 17:32:00

Bronzer is one of my favourite makeup products, as it completes my face when wearing makeup as it gives my face some colour, glow and hence from the name, makes me look bronzed. I always wear bronzer, whether it's a minimal makeup look or full on glam look also with me being very pale and not a big fan of fake tan, I always reach for my bronzer.
In this post I've contained my top 5 favourite bronzers which are all perfect for this season to achieve a tanned, bronzed look as well as two shades are perfect for contouring.

E.L.F Studio Bronzer 'Golden';
This has been the bronzer that I've been most reaching for recently as it's glowy and is quite shimmery. It has four sections in the bronzer which is why I love this bronzer so much because they all blend together so well to give a natural bronze. There is two bronzy shades, a pinky toned bronze and a very light shade with a bronze tone and they couldn't be a better combination. Although there is a range of four colours they all have a gorgeous golden bronze undertone. I also love how it has the four sections as you can focus it on one shade depending on how bronzed you want your look.
It does look quite shimmery in the palette however when swatched or applied it has a gorgeous glow and gives a flawless radiant look to your cheeks.

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer 'Light';
I feel like I've mentioned this many times on my blog but as it's so incredible I'm going to mention it again! I absolutely love this, it's a definite favourite of mine as it has the most gorgeous formula that I've ever used. It's a mix between cream and powder which gives it such a rich and cream formula with a super soft texture. In the pan it feels so creamy however when applied it has more of a powder feel to it and blends so easily like a powder. Also as it's so smooth it feels moisturising and glides onto the skin smoothly because of the creamy texture.
When applied it gives a radiant glow and does have quite a glowy undertone to it which makes it so suited for summer and spring.
I love the packaging of this as well as it reminds me of the Caribbean as it looks so tropical and it smells incredible! Every time I open it, I have to smell it as it smells as it reminds me of summer and coconuts, honestly I wish all bronzers smell this good! It also has a mirror inside which is super useful and is quite big and clear so is perfect for on the go.

Rimmel Match Perfection Bronzer 001;
This bronzer is definitely coming to it's end now so I'm on the hunt for a dupe of it as it's not sold on Rimmel counters anymore (cry). It's pretty hard to see as I've hit pan very badly however it use to have a circle of blue powder in the middle, a lighter bronzer and then the darker bronzer (original product here). However the shades mixed together give a gorgeous healthy glow and although it's quite pigmented, it looks super natural and suits my skin tone so well. It gives a tanned look and the blue powder that use to be in the centre of the pan gave a natural bronzed look.
The powder itself is super smooth and glides onto the skin and I'll be using this until it's all gone!

Maybelline Master Sculpt 01;
Now going onto the two more 'contour' shades, I love this bronze shade from the Master Sculpt as it works perfectly to sculpt and under your cheekbones as the matte powder is perfect for contouring and giving a bronze look for everyday.
The formula of this bronzer is super creamy and smooth and has the perfect pigment. I have the lightest one which is just the right shade for me as any darker wouldn't be usable! The powder is also super blendable, which makes it perfect for everyday as you can blend it out so well.
Although it is a contour shade, I think it also does double up to make a great bronzer. Taking it on my big blush brush and swirling it around on my cheeks gives such a gorgeous tanned look. It's a tad darker than my other bronzers which is perfect for when I'm tanned in summer and I love how it's matte as I don't own too many matte bronzers. This is such a bargain of a price as well of £8 which I think is well worth the money as it has a contour and highlight shade as well as a mirror and brush.

Seventeen Define & Conquer Contour Kit;
This palette has always been a staple for me as I love the matte powders it has as they're so creamy and soft and are a dream to apply. The shade of this bronzer shade is more suited to contouring as the matte powder is perfect to sculpt out your cheekbones as it's super blendable and has the perfect pigment. The shade isn't 'muddy' at all and is the perfect neutral bronze with a very slight orange undertone.
The bronzer shade is so pigmented which means I don't need that much as I'm so pale but it's a dream to blend so overall gives a natural contour look. I don't use this shade as much to bronze with but on the odd occasion I do and like the Maybelline one, it's the perfect matte shade.

What is your favourite bronzer?
Kate Xx

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2017

How To Style; Vans Old Skool & Band Tee

By Kate - 11:01:00

For this look I've focused it on a statement top and paired it with my new obsession, which are my Vans which I've been desperate to do a post on since I bought them! This outfit is super simple which is why I love it as it makes the top and shoes stand out and are the main focus.
It's perfect to wear everyday as it's comfy, stylish and suits any everyday occasion.

For this look I've worn my Topshop Jamie Jeans which are in a dark vintage blue shade. I love wearing my blue jeans with these shoes as I think they suit each other so well and although black shoes suit anything and everything, they suit blue so well!
As this outfit is super casual, I've kept it simple by pairing it with this Band Tee Style Top from H&M which I'm in love with. It's a dark grey shade with a white print on which has quite an edgy look to it. I left this hanging over my jeans which gave a casual look and gives the whole outfit a simple but edgy look. I love the band tee trend however I felt stupid if I was to buy an actual band tee as I don't really listen to The Rolling Stones or any bands like that so unless they were like One Direction tee's, I wasn't going to get a proper one. However when I saw this top in H&M, I knew it would be perfect for an 'edgy' top as it reminded me of the band tee style tops.
Although this top keeps the look simple the top isn't that subtle so gives more interest to the outfit because of the big design on the top.

I also wore my Faux Suede Biker Jacket from Missguided (read more about it here) to finish off this look which finishes off the whole outfit and keeps you the perfect temperature.
And of course on my feet I'm wearing my Vans Old Skool Trainers in black which are super comfortable and work well with the simple and quite dark coloured outfit.

I always love treating myself to a new pair of shoes for spring as I love having a pair of shoes that can be worn with any outfit. Whether it's jeans, shorts or a dress I always seem to just throw on a pair of canvas shoes, hence why my white converse aren't so white anymore!
However this season after months of debating whether I actually needed a new pair of shoes, I treated myself to the Vans Old Skool Trainers in black which I have been living in recently. I got them at the end of March and I know I'll be wearing them constantly this spring and summer. They are so easy to wear as the go with any outfit, whether it's a causal look with jeans, a comfy look with leggings or giving a dressy outfit a day-to-day feel.

This look is super simple which makes it perfect for everyday wear and I love how the top looks so effortless with the tight jeans and the black shoes.
For £50 I do think these shoes are definitely worth every penny as they have a leather lining inside which means they haven't rubbed whatsoever. And after a couple of wears are so comfortable which is why I've been wearing them 24/7 and will carry on to this spring and summer!

What are your favourite shoes for this season, and how do you style them?
Kate Xx

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2017

Natural Nude Lips For Everyday

By Kate - 17:15:00

As you probably all know, I love a nude lip whether it's a classic creamy lipstick, liquid lipstick or gloss. And these have been my top favourites recently so I though I'd share them with you as they are all super affordable and look stunning for this season.

Swatches (Top to bottom);

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick
Mac Patent Polish Lip Pencil
Kiko Smooth Temptation
NYX Lip Lingerie
Buxom Lip Cream
NYX Butter Gloss
MUA Lip Liner

♡ Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick '42';
The Kate Moss Lipstick collections have always been a favourite of mine and this lipstick is from the nude collection by Kate Moss, and I love this! First off the packaging is gorgeous, unlike the ordinary Kate Moss lipsticks, it has baby pink packaging with silver and white details. And it opens up to such a gorgeous nude. The lipstick itself looks like your typical nude however when applied it's more of a peachy, pinky nude shade which is stunning.
And like all Kate Moss lipsticks, the formula is second to none. They are so so creamy and smooth and also feel super moisturising when on. I wouldn't say it's that long lasting however for the time it lasts for isn't too bad for a super creamy lipstick.

♡ Mac Patent Polish Lip Pencil 'It's Really Me';

You probably saw this one coming as this is my all time favourite lip product, I just love it and will never get enough of it.
The formula is insane, it's unbelievably creamy on the lips and to apply and has such a gorgeous sheen to it which lasts for such a long time. It's so easy to apply and the lip product itself lasts for ages, I'm always reaching for this as nothing I have compares to it! If you're ever wondering whats on my lips, I can guarantee it will be this!
The shade is the perfect nude with a slight peachy tone to it however on the lips just looks like the perfect nude that everyone needs.
These Patent Polish Lip Pencils definitely do not get enough hype as they should do and I would love to try some more shades of this as well considering I love it so much!

♡ Kiko Smooth Temptation Lipstick 01;

This lip product from Kiko has always been a love of mine based on it's formula as it's one of the smoothest lip products I've ever applied.

The thin shape of it makes it so easy to apply to any lip shape and the creamy, luxurious texture makes it so comfortable to wear all day long.

The shade is the lightest out of the collection and is a true nude which looks stunning on and I'm sure would suit most skin tones very well. All of the shades in this collection are so pigmented as well, the colour pay off is insane! They are also super comfortable to wear which I think is down to how creamy and buttery they are and they don't dry my lips out one bit.

♡ NYX Lip Lingerie 'Bedtime Flirt';
I absolutely love the NYX Lip Lingerie collection as they have so many gorgeous shades and the formula's are gorgeous. They don't dry my lips out at all and don't feel that drying on and I'm not that much of a matte person however I do really like these.
The formula is quite mousse-like which glides smoothly onto the lips and only takes a second to turn matte. They are also so creamy when applies and when dry still feel smooth. The applicators are thin and long which makes it easy to apply around your lips.
This shade is super pigmented and applies evenly to the lips. This shade is 'Bedtime Flirt' which is a dark pinky nude but does look lighter when applied on the lips. I also love pairing this with my NYX Butter Gloss as it's makes the perfect combo!
They have lots of shades and have also just bought out many more new shades which are more colourful and have a bigger range of tones perfect for all skin tones.

♡ Buxom Lip Cream Dolly;
I feel like I've mentioned this many times on my blog, but I cannot say enough about how much I love this! Everyone needs a Buxom Lip Cream in their life!
I absolutely adore the formula of this gloss, the gloss makes your lips tingle when you apply it which I feel like my lips look a bit plumper. Also it's not sticky whatsoever and feels so smooth and glossy on. This lip cream is very long lasting as well, especially for a gloss and the tingling sensation does last for a long time (not in a bad way though!).
This shade is the perfect shade for me as it's a dark nude with a pink tone to it, and is super pigmented which I think is perfect for this season as when applied it looks light and gives the perfect amount of colour. I love wearing glosses in the spring and summer as I always tend to go for a more natural makeup looks so I feel like a gloss just completes the natural, glowy look for the brighter seasons.

♡ NYX Butter Gloss 'Tiramisu';
I love the NYX glosses so much, they are the perfect formula and are are a bargain of £5 which I think is so well priced for such high quality.
The shade of this is called 'Tiramisu' which is a gorgeous natural nude with a very slight pinky undertone. I wear this all the time for a natural sheen whilst giving a subtle amount of colour on my lips. I love the formula of this gloss as well, it isn't sticky at all and does last for quite a long amount of time. The gloss has medium coverage which makes it perfect for natural and daily wear.
The gloss which like the name, is so buttery and smooth and does keep my lips moisturised when I wear it. The applicator is the perfect shape and size and the bottle is the perfect handbag size so is perfect for on the go.
Also it smells incredible as well, it has a sweet scent which I love!

♡ MUA Lip Liner 'Caramel Nougat';
This is one of my all time fave lip liners and is an absolute bargain of £1! It's the perfect nude shade and goes perfectly with my favourite lip products. I love using this super natural lip liner as it's subtle but does make a difference in my lips. It's very creamy and soft to apply and glides on easily. This shade is also super pigmented especially for a light intensity shade. I also find this really long lasting and also works great under lip products to increase the wear time.
It's also super easy to sharpen from the built in sharpener in the lid which is my favourite think considering it always seems to go blunt when I have no sharpener on me!

What is your favourite nude lip product?
Kate Xx

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Lifestyle

How To Have A Productive Morning

By Kate - 17:01:00

I've been having more 'productive' mornings than usual lately, most mornings I wouldn't have done anything be 12pm however now I'm getting lots of jobs done in the morning which makes me feel good and productive and determined to do more!

I think having a productive morning means the rest of my day is productive as if I do nothing in the morning my afternoon tends to follow the same pattern. So I'm sharing my tips on how to have a successful morning!

♡ Set Your Alarm;

I always set my alarm just because on the odd occasion I can over sleep for ages and I always feel once I've wasted my morning, my day just ends up being a lazy mess! I'm an early bird anyway so most days I do wake up before my alarm but I always set my alarm just in case!

I think waking up at a specific time is one of the best ways to be productive as that way you can plan your morning and I always feel even more tired when I have a longer sleep. Also I like to wake up at around the same time most days as the I feel like my body clock is use to it and doesn't feel as much as a hardship getting up early. It says it takes 21 days to make a habit so setting your alarm early is something you can easily get used to. Most mornings I wake up at around 8am which is quite late for me as I used to always be up and ready to go at 7am which is way too early for me now!

♡ Avoid Your Phone;

I'm sure we can all agree that once we start checking up on our social media in the morning, it's like 2 hours later and you're still in the same position. I used to do this all the time, I'd wake up and start watching some YouTube and before I knew it, it would be lunchtime. Most mornings I will wake up and go down for breakfast and while I eat I check my social medias which only takes me a couple of minutes.

Since not lying in bed on my phone for hours in the morning, I've noticed a big difference in how much I can get done in the morning. And I don't even miss going on my phone as most of the time I'd be watching pointless videos or getting side tracked on Twitter.

♡ Exercise;

By exercise I don't mean going on a hours run at 9am, but I love doing yoga in the mornings or in the nicer weather I love skipping which I just do in my drive. I love doing 10 minutes of yoga in the morning and I always watch Yoga By Adriene on YouTube as she has loads of videos depending on what type of yoga you want to do. Whether you want to watch for beginners, focus on certain body parts or for weight loss. I tend to do some yoga on a Sunday morning and I'll just watch a 10 minute video.

If you have a busy day ahead I think doing 10 minutes of exercise is perfect as it wakes you up and makes you feel ready for the day, especially as yoga is super calming. And it gives your body a stretch and wake up after you've been sleep for a while.

♡ Eat Breakfast;

I've never once skipped breakfast and it utterly confuses me when I hear of people skipping breakfast. I absolutely love breakfast and I always make sure I eat a decent breakfast to start my day.

Being honest, my breakfasts are pretty boring, most mornings I'll have muesli or granola and the odd day I'll treat myself to Coco Pops because I'm basically still a 7 year old... But breakfast doesn't have to be anything fancy like avocado on toast (which I personally think is disgusting lol) just as long as you're having a decent sized breakfast that can fuel the start of your day. Also your body looses sugar when you're sleeping so it's important to regain your energy in the morning.

I always have eat a good breakfast in the morning which will last me to lunch so it stops me snacking in between, as once I start snacking in between meals, I'm unstoppable (especially when it comes to chocolate digestives...).

♡ Stay Hydrated;

Drinking plenty of water is key to every morning as it keeps me hydrated and after drinking water in the morning it makes me feel awake and ready to go. I always put a slice of lemon in my water which I love the taste of but also has great health benefits. I put a lemon in my water bottle everyday and have done for the past two year, which was not for the health benefits but just because I prefer the taste more! But slicing a lemon in your water feels refreshing but drinking it in the morning re-hydrates your body also I love drinking a mug of hot water and lemon in the morning which is just as good.

♡ Make A List & Set Daily Goals;

I love making lists. firstly it gives me a great excuse to buy some cute note pads as well as it makes me feel super productive ticking jobs off. Also if you have a busy day ahead you can feel more organised by having all your jobs wrote down which can let you manage your time to fit everything in. I sometimes like to write my to-do lists the night before so then I can get up and go and then you have a clear plan of what you need and are going to do.

On the weekends I like to make daily to-do lists but for the days when I've got a couple of jobs to do throughout the weekend, I like to make a to-do list for the weekend or sometimes the whole week.

However always make sure our to-do lists are sensible and things you will actually be able to achieve in that day as otherwise if you end the day with a couple of jobs not ticked off then that could leave you feeling even less productive and successful.

♡ Get The Worst Out Of The Way;

I always put off things that I don't want to do, whether it's homework, revision or just a boring job that needs doing so on a productive day I will always tick them off first. I procrastinate so much but I'e started to get the worst jobs out of the way first, usually I'll do my homework in the morning and then once it's all done I can write some posts or just chill and watch a film. However if you do have a day full of important jobs then I'd always get the worst out of the way first.

This will make you super productive as once you get it over with you can look forward to the easier jobs and you won't be dreading it all day.

How do you have a productive morning?

Kate Xx

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5 Comments

2017

Everyday Spring Makeup Look

By Kate - 17:00:00

I love spring makeup as I always tend to go for a neutral, glowy look and keep it natural compared to winter where I would go quite heavy as I was always wrapped up in a roll neck and scarf!
I've tried to keep this look really simple, although it doesn't look it with all the products I seem to use, and I've kept the eyes super simple with coverage perfect for everyday.

I'm starting with my Nivea Express Hydration Primer which also featured in my April Favourites. I love this as it keeps my makeup on for so much longer and gives my skin hydration and makes it feel awake under my makeup. I applied this with my fingers after my moisturiser.
I then apply my Freedom Pro HD Longwear Corrector Green on the red areas on m face which are mostly on my cheeks, This concealer has made such a big difference in my makeup and I would definitely recommend colour correcting if you have areas that need more coverage than your average concealer and not looking cakey. This isn't a necessity however with a light coverage base, it makes such a big difference.

For foundation, I'm using my Miss Sporty Foundation Stick which was also included in my April Favourites and I love using this foundation as it's perfect for everyday. I did a one layer all over my face and then built it up on my cheeks with another layer and blended it all in with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush.
I then took my Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 'Fair 01' which I've been loving recently, and I use this under my eyes by applying a triangle under each eye. I used my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to blend this in.

To set my base in place, I'm using my Technic Colour Correcting Powder which is my favourite loose powder. This gives coverage whilst keeping your makeup in place and not looking cake-y. I take this all over my face and then with a smaller brush packed it underneath my eyes for extra coverage.

Moving onto contouring (when I say 'contouring' it's basically just a bit of bronzer, nothing intense!), I'm taking my Seventeen Define and Conquer and I'm using the bronzer shade which I'm taking on my Ecotools Angled Blush Brush. I really lightly apply this underneath my cheekbones to give a little bit more definition and shape.
I then take the highlighting powder from the same palette and and apply this to areas on my face where I want to highlight, which is on my cheekbones, forehead, nose and under my eyes. I love using this powder as it gives subtle highlighting as it's only a matte powder but I do notice a difference when using it.

To bronze up my face I'm taking my trusty Rimmel Match Perfection Bronzer which you can see I've hit pan on this quite badly however it's my all time fave bronzer as it gives a natural bronze and suits my skin tone so well. I take this on my big blush brush and swirl it around my cheeks, jaw and top of my forehead.

And for highlighter I'm using my E.L.F Illuminating Palette and I'm using the shade which is on the top right corner in the palette and is a light pearly shade. I love this palette as all the shades are gorgeous and are all quite subtle so are perfect for everyday use. Also E.L.F is coming to Superdrug and it actually comes available online tomorrow so I'm very excited for that as I love E.L.F.

For blush, I'm just taking my Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in 'Paaarty' which I apply really lightly on my cheeks for some colour and glow. This has to be my favourite blush as I love the pinky nude shade and it's suited for everyday as it's subtle and natural, this was also included in my Must Have Spring Blushes.

Moving onto eye, for eyeshadow I'm using these two shade from Natural Collection Duo Eyeshadow in 'Mink/Sable' and I'm taking the purple toned shade in my crease and blended it out in my outer v and I then took the highlight shade in the inner section of my eye. This eyeshadow is super simple and looks so natural but also does give definition to your eye.
And of course after curling my lashes, I'm taking my Maybelline Lash Sensation Mascara on my top and bottom lashes. I will forever love this and although I hate my eyelashes, this does give them volume and length and makes them look 100x better!

For my brows I'm keeping it simple and just using my L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper in Light/Medium which gives my brows some volume and colour and also keeps them in place all day long. I love using this as it makes my brows suitable for everyday and is so much quicker than using powder on my brows.

To finish of this look, I'm taking my Rimmel Color Sensational Nudes Lipstick in 'Pink Fling' which is a gorgeous pink shade with a slight mauvy undertone. I love this lipstick as it's so smooth and feels super balmy on the lips. I did apply this quite lightly as applying it heavily is quite pink which doesn't suit me that well and can be a bit too much for everyday.

I love this look and is what I reach for if I need a simple look for everyday use, it makes me look presentable and looks like I've actually made an effort but this look is super quick. It takes me around 10 minutes to do and lasts all day long also it's perfect for this season as with a glowy base and natural eyes and pink lips, it looks bright and awake.

What's your everyday makeup look like?
Kate Xx

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6 Comments

May Favourites

Superdrug Skincare Favourites

Night Routine; Skincare, Organisation & Relax

Why I Love Blogging

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How To Style; Vans Old Skool & Band Tee

Natural Nude Lips For Everyday

How To Have A Productive Morning

Everyday Spring Makeup Look

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