You know you're a makeup addict when a dressing table brings this much joy...

So yes, I know the Ikea Malm and a ton of Muji storage is a bit of a beauty blogger cliche, but it's a cliche for a very good reason! My collection was starting to get a bit out of hand, and I was sitting on the floor in the darkest corner of my bedroom when I was putting my makeup on so it was time for a change...

As much as I love my clear Muji draws, I love having the large draw in the Malm dresser to hide away some more of my unused makeup and keep things looking a bit tidier. 

Yes, I'm sorry, but I own One Direction One Moment. Before you hate me, just go and smell it's deliciousness! I love displaying perfume bottles on a dressing table - it's like having very useful ornaments!

My brush collection is mainly made up of Real Techniques, Sigma and Elf, and I found these pen holders in Ryman and Wilkonsons to store them all in. 

I display all my favourite lipsticks in holders like this from TK Maxx. I have another three of these further along. Yes I have a problem (see below).

So because 4 acrylic lipstick holders just isn't enough, I have an overflow box in my large draw….

And then a dedicated three draws to the glosses/ stains/ creams/ balms etc etc etc. Can anyone say lipstick addict??

I'm so happy with my new makeup corner and all of my storage….I highly recommend the the Malm dresser if you have the space for it. And even if you don't, a set of the Muji draws is a perfect way to keep makeup organised and cleanly displayed. 

How does everyone else store their makeup?

Loves

xxx

Top 13 of 2013...the makeup edition...

Top foundation has to be, without a doubt, Revlon Nearly Naked. Third bottle of this bad boy and the love affair is still continuing. 

The concealer that has kept creeping back into my life (well, makeup bag) in 2013 was the Body Shop Illuminating Touch in the shade 3. Great for achieving Kim K style cheekbones.

The only bronzer to grace my face was Benefit Hoola, which I'd probably award as my top product of all time award. Big news.

Favourite blushers go to Sleek in general but, not to be called a cheater, I'd pick Pixie Pink if I was going to single one out. 

Highlighter could only be The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer, used sparingly, for a beautiful daily glow.

For eyeshadow the only thing I regularly reach for, and my one 'take away with me everywhere' was my Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. For day looks, eye looks, and brows this was my saviour. 

I couldn't let eyeliner slip by without throwing a huge mention out to the Rimmel Scandaleyes pencils, especially in the taupe and nude shades, and my trusty Topshop liquid liner in black. 

Again, mascara is a two parter as big lashes were my favourite look of 2013. My stand out winners were Benefit They're Real and Makeup Forever Smokey Lash. 

For the nude/pink lipstick offerings I turned to the NYX matte lipsticks towards the later part of the year, but my favourite lip discovery of 2013 were hands down the Maybelline vivids, of which I own and love every single one. 

Lastly my Urban Decay de-slick setting spray has been a life saver on these hot Australian days.

Honorable mentions go to the Real Techniques brushes, Rimmel Apocolips (especially Big Bang), the Maybelline colour tattoos and the new Revlon lip glosses. Sorry, I cheated. 

What has everyone else loved in 2013??

Loves

xxx

October Favourites...

I won't go on for too long because I have a full review on it here, but The Body Shop warming mineral mask has been my life saver this month. The Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner duo in Tousle Me Softly has been my go to shower pairing for an everyday hair wash. It smells lush, leaves my hair soft but by no means lifeless, and makes it super easy to style. And for those days when I clearly haven't (but probably should have) reached for these two, the V05 Plump Me Up dry shampoo comes to my rescue. Again, it's bagged it's very own review here. 

I've got my sticky little hands on another of Lush's lip scrub offerings, this time in Popcorn. Not much to say on these as most people know or will have heard how much of a life saver these little bargain pots are. I've fallen in love with the Bourjois Happy Light foundation this month, although I do have to powder with with my Holy Grail Mac MSF Natural (I'm the shade medium plus). It lets me real skin show through while giving just enough coverage for day to day wear. Why oh why have I never owned a Mac 239 brush? Who let me get to 25 years of age without ever having one in my possession?

Benefit They're Real is back in my life (and, yes I know I'm sorry, back in my monthly favourites posts). I may have found an (almost) dupe for this from the drugstore but more on that later in the month. For lip wear, I've been dabbling in the Kate Moss matte range and in particular wearing 113, a pale nude, and 107, the infamous deep burgundy red that everyone, including myself) is going loopy for right now.

And, finally, what would a favourites post be without a product from The Balm? Mary Lou-manizer is everything I need a highlight to be. It lasts (for hours), gives a subtle shine to the desired areas (with the right brush and a very light hand) and comes in the cutest packaging ever.

What are everyone else's October favourites?

Loves

xxx

Cool combo's....

I love it when I find two makeup items that just 'work' together.

Sleek blusher Pixie Pink and Elf stippling brush. I love how this brush applies really strong bold blushes that need a light hand when applying. 

Bourjois health mix serum and Sigma angled flat top kabuki. This brush makes the foundation go on like silk, with minimum effort. Hardly any blending needed, great when I'm in a rush.

Revlon lip butter in Strawberry Shortcake and Chanel lipgloss in 148. The lip butter is fairly glossy as it is, but with this lipgloss over the top it stays put for hours and gives it a real sparkly party look.

Anyone else got any great combo's?

Loves

xxx

My dresser and ever expanding lipstick collection....

Moving in with a boyfriend is tough. Add to the mix the fact he lives with two other boys, and you can start to picture how I live from day to day. My only sanctuary comes from my little bit of heaven my boyfriend allowed me....my chest of drawers. As an organisational OCD wierdo I'm still re-arranging and organising everything but I'm quite happy with how they look so far...

 

 

 

I may have purchased one or two *cough* new lipsticks since these pictures were taken too....ooops!

Loves

xxx

Forget me not....

I've been having a bit of a new year clear out and was hunting through all my makeup, skincare etc I found a few things that I think I need to find replacements for. These products have served me fine for the past year or so, but they don't blow me away, and I think I can certainly improve on them!

Simple eye make up remover stings like a bitch and never really gets rid of all my waterproof mascara; I think I can do better. I also fancy a new liquid eyeliner that a novice like me can use without ballsing it up. The main thing though is brushes. I use my eyebrow brush everyday but it's starting to shed (it was only a pound and I have given it a bit of a battering over the months!) and I really want a decent contouring brush because...well...I don't have one!

If any of you have any suggestions for things I could try as replacements I'd love to know!

Are there any products you're looking to replace/upgrade in 2012?

Loves

xxx

Weekly review....Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman....

Hey lovelies....time for another weekly review, and I wasn't sure what to actually write about this week as I've been really good at saving my money and hardly bought anything recently! I didn't even buy anything from duty free on holiday....shock horror!

Suddenly it came to me, what better thing for a make-up brush fearing beauty hoarder (I just don't understand then!?!) to review than the new brushes they bought a few weeks ago and now couldn't live without?

I never really know what all these brushes are for...I tend to stick to a foundation brush, blusher/powder brush, angled brush for my eyebrows, a couple of eyeshadow brushes and a gel eyeliner brush. That's it, I travel quite light really, I usually quite like to use my fingers when applying makeup. However I had heard a lot about these on various youtube channels and they did seem quite multi-functional, so I decided to get them. They're the Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman and cost about £10 each. I bought the stippling brush and powder brush, and literally have used them every day I've had them including on holiday.

(sorry they're a bit mucky, I'm waiting for my brush cleaner to arrive from Elf!!)

Both of these have synthetic bristles, with the stippling brush having dual fibre bristles which I tend to find stippling brushes need to have to give a totally flawless finish. They're both so soft, even after a lot of product build up. 

They have a real chunky feel when you're using them, and really professional. I use the stippling brush to apply my Mac studio fix fluid, and I used it for my Garnier BB cream while I was on holiday. I got a flawless finish every time, much better than my Mac flat foundation brush. I've mainly been using my powder brush to apply a light dusting of my Topshop bronzer to contour my face and just bring a bit of colour to my face. It's also good for blusher but only if it's a light colour that's easy to blend because it's such a huge brush it does get a bit out of hand sometimes!

Coming from someone that just likes a basic, easy to use, no fuss brush, I'd say these are perfect. I would never go back to a normal flat foundation brush after this, and I can't wait to build up my Samantha Chapman collection up a bit more....eyeshadow brushes next!!

Have anyone used these and loved them too?

Would you recommend any other brushes from her range?

Loves

xxx