My top five foundations...

I'm not really a collector of foundations to be honest, I tend to stick to what I like and not really change my ways, although I have collected some beauties over the past year or two. 

(L - R Body Shop All Over Face Base, Bourjois Health Mix, Revlon Photo Ready, Mac Studio Fix Fluid, Estee Lauder Double Wear)

Body Shop All Over Face Base: The one and only non liquid foundation in my top five, I used this religiously for about three years back when I was around 17/18/19. It does give a very powdery finish but I used to suffer from oily skin so this was the only product that really stayed put. I tend to reserve this if I need to apply makeup at the speed of light, but I'd never be without one in my collection. 

Bourjois Healthy Mix: Well considering I hated this when I first tried it back in the summer, I have eaten my words. I LOVE this, so natural and light, easy to blend, and although I do find I need a powder to set it I think it lasts a good 5/6 hours before I need to powder again (which is really good on my skin!)

Revlon Photo Ready: I can get past the 'shimmer particles' in this foundation because to be honest I can't even tell! This is my current every day go-to foundation, I've got it in a couple of shades (one was passed on by my Mum who wasn't really a fan) and I just reach for this every day. I don't think this necessarily needs a powder (unless I'm expecting an all day wear) and I think it gives a really flawless finish.

Mac Studio Fix Fluid: I used to swear by this and got a few of my friends on the band wagon with me, but I started to crave something a bit lighter on my skin so switched to lighter covering foundations like HM. I do still use this from time to time, and I think it's great to cover up last nights sins if you've had a particularly heavy one. I love that this is a mat foundation but I do tend to favour something a bit fresher these days.

Estee Lauder Double Wear: I don't know where to start with this, I'm officially in love. Yes I know I just said I don't like heavy foundations but a little bit of this goes a long way. I do reserve it for nights out or on days when I need a 7am - 12pm sort of coverage. I don't necessarily need a powder, although something light like Elf HD Powder is perfect with it. It goes on well, blends well, stays on all day, doesn't slip and slide, and most off all, looks gorgeous in my makeup collection.

Are any of these in your top five?

Loves

xxx

Top five eyeliners...

Next instalment in my top five series is eyeliners! I'm not a huge eyeliner hoarder, I tend to have a few and just stick to the ones I like. 

l-r Barry M Wink eyeliner felt tip, GOSH Carbon Black liquid eyeliner pen, Mac Kohl pencil in Smoulder, Soap & Glory Smoulder Kohl, Maybelline gel eyeliner pot 

Barry M Wink eyeliner felt tip: This is actually on it's last legs, but it's a REALLY thick felt pen that is so easy for beginners wanting to create a winged liner look. It dries up quite quickly and the nib on mine has gone a bit strange so it doesn't have a long shelf life, but it's really black and SO easy to use. The staying power isn't the best, but for around £5 I wouldn't complain.

GOSH Carbon Black liquid eyeliner pen: This is SO black, stays put until you get some sort of heavy duty makeup remover near it, and is quite easy to use. The nib is fine so you can create all sorts of looks really easily, the only draw back with this is it's quite watery so you really need to wipe the nib before you get going.

Mac Kohl: This used to be the love of my life. I've had about five of these, and whilst it is amazing, it's no longer my favourite kohl eyeliner. It's quite black, fairly long lasting, and you can sharpen it to quite a nice point if you wanted to use it on the lash line. It is great for smudging, however it sometimes smudges beyond all control when you get a bit warm....not ideal for sweaty night clubs or hot atmospheres. 

Soap & Glory Smoulder Kohl: This is, in the place of Mac, the new love of my life. I've done a full review on it here if you want to take a closer look. It lasts ALL DAY, no lie. I use it on the water line, it doesn't smudge or slip, it's a really intense black, and it comes with a sharpener in the lid!! The only draw back is it's quite a soft, gel consistency so impossible to sharpen to a point, not ideal if you want to use it on the lash line. For £5, all I have to say on this is GO BUY IT :)

Maybelline gel eyeliner: I use the sigma eyeliner brush with this, brilliant for the waterline and on the lash line, and creates a gorgeous winged liner if you have a steady hand. Again, seriously long lasting, really black, easy to use with a bit of practice and lasts ages! This is always on offer in Boots or Superdrug so really worth a go!

What other eyeliners does everyone else love?

Loves

xxx

Top 5 eyeshadows...

Hey lovelies, sorry I've been quiet on here this week, I've had a bit of a mad one! I'm not really an eyeshadow fan, but there are one or two I do reach for when I'm in the mood...

Urban Decay Roach: This is gorgeous all over the lid then smoked out to create a subtle daytime look, or heavily in the crease with huge false lashes for something a bit more dramatic at night

The Body Shop shimmer cube in Honeycomb: I LOVE this shade, I've used it daily for months and it's hardly gone down. Just damp an eyeshadow brush and sweep it through the colour then over the lid. These will definitely be coming to Oz with me!

Not so much a shadow, but Mac Paint Pot in Bare Study is an everyday base colour, either by itself or as a base for a pale smokey eye at night. Pain Pots are fast becoming one of my favourite collectable Mac items! 

Back to Urban Decay, and of course the trusty Naked Palette! Hustle is an incredible purply brown that I smudge across the outer corner over the top of Bar Study as a staple night out look. 

Yet again UD, and this time Sin from the Naked palette. Another colour that I love as an all over colour wash for the lid, or as a base for a pink smokey eye!

Do any of these make your top 5?

Loves

xxx

Top five blushers....

I have TOO much love for blush! 

Top l-r: Mac Fleur Power, Vivo (colour's rubbed off I don't know the shade!)

Bottom l-r: The BodyShop Petal, MeMeMe Coral, Topshop Head Over Heels

Mac Fleur Power was my first ever Mac blusher and the only one I've hit pan on and had to re-purchase. EVER! MeMeMe in coral is a really summer shade and I only really wear that with a tan but as soon as 'summer' hits us again this will be back in my everyday makeup bag. Everyone knows how amazing Topshop blushers are, no need for me to go into that! If you haven't tried a Vivo baked blush I suggest you do so NOW, one of my best finds of 2011. And The Body Shop blush has a highlighter built in it so need I say more?!?!

Would any of these make it into your top 5? If not, what would??

Loves

xxx

Top five highlighters....

I recently had a bit of a sort out of my makeup and discovered a LOT of products I didn't realise I had, and decided to sort out the good from the bad, so here comes a series of 'Top 5' products in my collection, this time it's going to be highlighters. 

(l -r  Sleek Contour Kit, Me Me Me Beat the Blues, Body Shop Baked Bronzer in light)

(l-r Famous by Sue Moxley in pale pink, Vivo highlighter)

I tend to swap and change between these five at the moment, my current favourite is the Famous by Sue Moxley one, I think this was originally supposed to be a blush but as you can see from the swatches underneath, it's far too light for that on my skin tone. 

The Sleek contour kit is quite a harsh highlight, but it's my favourite for a night out. 

Me Me Me Beat the Blues is an amazing dupe of Benefit High Beam and I love it under my brow bone to really highlight my eyes. 

Again, the Body Shop bronzer was initially supposed to be a bronzer but I bought the light version by accident and discovered it made a gorgeous highlight, although maybe more of a summery bronze highlight than one for the winter months. 

Finally, my latest discovery is the Vivo highlight, which for the price (I think it was around £6) and the size of the tube, is amazing value for money and such a gorgeous shimmery cream highlight with a subtle gold/pink shimmer.

(l -r Sleek Contour Kit, Me Me Me Beat the Blues, Body Shop Baked Bronzer in light)

(l r Famous by Sue Moxley in pale pink, Vivo highlighter)

What are your favourite highlighters?

Loves

xxx