My Minimal Quick Make up for Summer

With the warm weather its always a good idea to change-up your make up. You do not want to be going to all the effort of putting a full face of make-up on only for it to be melting off in the sweaty heat, its never a good look. So its really nice to pair down your make-up to help your skin to breathe and feel the benefit of the warm sunshine.

 I always look to my base first, as this should always be changed according to seasons. I have been swapping my foundation for Bourjois 123 perfect cc cream mixed with Collection BB Secrets. I know, I know why use a cc cream and bb?  Well I will tell you, the CC does the correcting, it corrects the colour in the skin and gives a light coverage, but for my skin type I found it a little dry and matts my complexion too much for a summer glow. By adding a BB cream which on its own doesn't have enough coverage, but gives the skin a beautiful fresh glow.  I have been blending this all in with my beautiful Beauty Blender. I so wanted not to like this as it is pricey and everyone waxes lyerical about it. Then I thought what kind of reviewer would I be not to try it! I gave it a go, and Im so glad I did! Its well worth every penny, the bouncy, spongey, awesomeness of it. When I first received it, it looked tiny, but once I washed it it swells 3 times its original size and then your good to go. It blends like a dream and it is up there for my must haves. I then add Nars creamy concealer under my eyes and around my nose and on any blemishes, the coverage on this is very impressive, but the only draw back is that it creases like a cheap suit under your eyes! This is my only annoyance with this product, so I let it go and carry on regardless making sure I prep my undereye well before applying.

My next step is to lock all this hardwork in. I have been using my Anastasia Beverley Hills Contour Kit again, (check my review out on this product) which I had put away when I moved away from contouring, but found a new little mix in using it. I have been using the three shades banana and vanilla to set under the eyes and then Sand just lightly under the eyes too and its give a subtle glow. Ive began moving slowly to the A/W 2015 look of flushed cheeks. Yes girls I am here to report that contouring is going to be put to bed for a while and the flushed fresh cheek glow is making a comeback. I have been popping on Mac cream blush in somthing special. Its a pretty light coral colour and then adding Becca Skin Perfector in champagne pop (see my review on this product) on the high points.

 For my eyes I have really loved using the Lorac Pro Palette. I have been keeping it minimal with using white and cream over the whole eye up to the brow bone, then in the crease nude and taupe just to shape the eye. I then curl my lashes shu umera eyelash curlers, then add Lashings of black mascara, still using  Maybelline lash sensational, (see my review on this product) its a great mascara, have you tried it yet?. I then swipe over a little lipstick, I have been using Mac lipstick in Brave, which is a pretty pinky beige and just gives a nice nude colour to your lips.

 So, there you go my take on minimal make up for the summer. Have you tried any of these products? What products have you been using this summer? I would love to hear from you.

Love Nay x

Disclaimer- I have not been paid by any products mentioned above, I just like to share.

Whats in my Make up Bag - Maggs London

I thought it would be good to share with you a summer minimal make up that I have been using while its been so warm. First, I have to introduce you too this stunner of a Make up bag from Maggs London. Hannah Maggs, the designer, has a you tube channel called The Michalaks and I have been watching her for the last three years. She is a Makeup Artist, and I used to watch her Makeup tutorials, then she had a beautiful baby boy, and changed direction with her Youtube channel, to do weekly family vlog diaries for her son to watch when he grows up. I think its a lovely memento and better than any memory box could give. Anyway, I digress, back to the Make up bag. There are eight glorious designs to choose from, all made with limited edition Liberty print material. I chose the Truly scrumptious design, just because I think make up is like sweeties, something sumptuous and delightful.
When the Make up bag arrived I was so pleased. It was wrapped beautifully in tissue paper and a personal note had been written by Hannah herself. This is what I enjoy about family run businesses, those little personal touches I feel that really make a difference to your purchase. Not only receiving a superb product, but also having that warm feeling that you have supported a family run business is a great feeling.

The bag itself is very deceiving , you think it looks small, but It reminds me of  a Mary Poppins kind of bag, in which you can fit all manner of bits and pieces in. I could even fit my Real Techniques Bold Metals 300 brush in, and thats saying something!. The bag is a quilted design and is soft and flexible in a way that I can fill it with all my everyday make up. The inside is a waterproof material which is perfect for giving a little wipe out, should you have any make up mishap. Also a little thing, but I like the invisible zip, its silly I know, but the invisible zip just gives it that added class and an individual note to it. Its sturdy to, speaking from experience when I caught my toddler ramming his cars inside the bag, and pulling the zip back and forth, to say I went hysterical would be an understatement!

 I think the bag speaks volumes in its use but also beauty, it would rival many a makeup bag put against it. Next week, I will go through what minimal make up I have been wearing.
I have you see or bought a Maggs London Make up bag? I would love to hear from you.

Love Nay x


Disclaimer- I have not been paid by any products mentioned above, I just like to share.

New make up trend- STROBING

It wasn't that long ago that I was banging on about contouring, and now we are facing a said 'New Make up trend', Strobing. This makes me laugh, as being know as a 'new trend'. Its a extreme form of highlighting people! It will probaly surprise you, that you have been doing a subtle form of this trend for ages! This is such a great look though. It makes you look radient, fresh faced and gives you that youthful glow. So, I am all over this, never fear ladies, I will take the confusion out of this new found trend and talk you through all the  products I have been using, and the techniques to achieve this look.

The key to this look is a layering of cream highlighter, then subtle powder highlighter, and then a heavy duty highlighter, just over the high points, to add that extra 'Bing'to your skin. So, first choose your cream highlighter, there is quite a few that I like. I will (check out my review on this product) try and restrain myself and stick to an old favourite, It is an oldie, but a goodie, Benefit High Beam as my cream highlighter and Mac Mineralize skin finish in Soft and Gentle (check out my review on this product)for my powder. To add that 'bing' in a few well chosen spots, Im using YASSS!! Jaclyn Hill's collaboration with Becca - Champagne pop. I literally squealed when this came through the post and proceeded to remove it from its package with such care, that you would of thought I was holding my first born child again, for the first time!!. This highlighter is a peachy, pinky, gold, a very warm colour and it packs a punch. If you want your highlighter to be seen from NASA in space, this is for you. These products are perfect to achieve this look.

After you have applied your make up to your whole face, take your cream highlighter and apply on high points of your cheeks, top of your brows, top of your cupids bow, the middle part underneath your lower lip, chin and down the bridge of your nose, blending and patting the product into the skin. Then take your first powder and go over these parts again, I am using the Real Techniques Setting brush as its precise and soft which will blend nicely, you can use any small fluffy brush for this though.

Then get a pencil brush, I am using the Crown brush C431 and Becca Champagne pop and apply underneath the brown bone, end of the nose, cupids bow, inner corner of the eyes, and on the cheek bones, and just watch them 'Pop'. I like to finish this with Mac Fixx+ which gives a dewy finish too the skin, but is perfect for when you are using this much powder on the skin to bring the skin back to life.

Mac Soft and Gentle, Benefit High Beam, Real techniques Setting brush and Crown C431 Brush

So, thats my take on 'Strobing'. Have you tried it? Or is it what i said in the outset? You have been doing a subtle version all along. Will you be dropping contouring for this trend?. I would love to know what highlighters you have been using to achive this look.

Love Nay x


Disclaimer- I have not been paid to mention any of the above products, I just like to share.

July's Hit or Miss,on Beauty and Skincare

I thought instead of doing my July Favourites, I would do a Hit or Miss for July. Here are a few beauty and skincare products, that I have been using this month. So without a further of a do here we go.

 I will start with skincare, after the sad departure of my beloved Liz Earle cleanse and polish (I ran out) and my love affair really had gone on long enough, it was about time I moved on. I decided to take Caroline Hirons advice and try two different products. First, Soap and Glory The Ultimelt deep purifying hot cloth cleanser. I am so glad I did. Its a great cleanser. From the moment you massage the grape size amount over my face and neck you are hit with a delightful smell of essential oils, lavender and orange. I found this very relaxing, yet invigorating, yet I would not use this to take your make up off with. Although, it would do the job, its just you cannot put it near your eyes to take your eye make up off, because of the essentials oils. This to me is a big downer, as I want my cleanser to just take all my make up off, but saying that it is a fantastic first cleanser. To use this first thing in the morning, is a dream, and I would prefer to have all the pro-vitamin B5 goodness, which soothes, moisturiser to help heal and regenerate the skin. The Almond oil, which is great for removing dead skin cells, impurities and brightens the skin. So if you were to use this to take your make up off with, all that goodness would go to waste, as it will not penetrate the skin as it has to break down the layers of make up first. The cloth though is rough, and needs a wash first to remove the starch build up from it, after that it was better. For the price point on this product you cannot overly grumble. Its great first cleanser for only a tenner.

 My second skincare product recommendation from Caroline Hirons is the The Body Shop Drops Of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask. This is one of the weirdest mask I have used. Its texture which has been described as like a memory foam mattress! This gel like substance binds together, and you need to use a spatula to scoop out what you need. You apply the product on your face and neck massaging it into the skin and let it absorb. At this point it feels almost sticky and tight on the skin, but as it settles down it absorbs slowly, so you may need to find something to do while you wait. I go and brush my teeth. After about 10-15 minutes you are good to go and ready to hit the sack for some well earned rest, while your face mask works hard to provide you with the following benefits that you will feel in the morning. your skin feels bouncier, smoother, refreshed, recharged and renewed. The main ingredient it has in it Edelweiss stem cells. Now, not to bore you all but I will touch on this briefly. Stem cells from plants are the newest anti-aging ingredients. Plants stem cells have the ability to be immortal! They play a key role in tissue development, regeneration and cellular renewal. Who doesn't want a bit of that on your skin!. Particularly with the Edelweiss stem cell, it is a tiny flower which grows in Switzerland and is able to grow in extremely harsh conditions (freezing temperatures, hardly any water). This is an exciting product, and from what I have just said, I am scratching the surface on what this particular plant can do. So far, I am really pleased with the results, and look forward to the coming months on how this product will improve my skin even further.

My Last skincare product is No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Advance Serum which tackles the first signs of ageing, from the age of thirty onwards. Although I still cannot believe I am in that bracket, I have come to realise that I must succumb to a more intense skincare routine, if I want to avoid wrinkles. I adore this serum, it hydrates your skin as soon as it touches your face, and you can just feel it doing good things. I have put this on day and night for the last month, and so far I have no complaints, and I don't think this is a one hit wonder. For a budget serum, I think its worth a whirl, if you are looking for a serum which is packed with Matrixyl 3000, which is shown in high concentration levels to improve elasticity, and that No7 claim if used over a period of time, will improve signs of ageing. Which is clinically proven that products that are packed with sunscreens, retinol, and l-ascorbic acid (active form of vitamin c) if used over a period of time will improve signs of ageing. So its a win,win situation.

 First of my beauty is Rimmel london Rita Ora nail polishes in Bestival Blue. The colour is so pretty and it only took two coats to build the colour intensity. I have got into a habit lately, of not putting a topcoat on, as I think it chips the same if you have it on or not. With this nail polish though, I was highly impressed, it did not chip until day 3 of wearing it! I am astounded with this, I have more expensive polishes which chip the next day. So, I strongly recommend giving this a go.

 Lets talk about Loreal Infallible Mega Lipgloss/Matt. I picked up these two shades, The bigger the better in the Matt and Mafia in the gloss. The Matt, I do not like. The colour is stunning, great pigmentation, but when it dries, it settles in your lines around the mouth and kind of cracks a bit. I wore it out on a night out and when I reapplied it, it just drags along the lip and just looked a hot mess! I wiped it off in the end, bit it still lingered around my lips, until I removed it with some micellar water when I returned home. The Gloss on the other hand is beautiful. The colour is rich and strong. It goes on like a dream, and is not sticky. If anything it is very moisturising and gives your whole make up a lift with its glossy, glamorous feel.

 My second L'oreal purchase is the Brow Artist Genius Kit. I was in the market for a new brow kit/pencil, and really wanted to find a budget alternative to my Anastasia Beverly Hills dipbrow. I really like the packaging to this, its a cute compact with a coloured wax, same colored shadow, tweezers, a angled brush one end with a spoolie at the other end and a nice mirror. Great bits and bobs, but unfortunately that's where it ends for me. I picked up the light to medium,which would normally be o.k, but for me its far to warm. It caters for the very light blonde who have a warmer toned brow, rather than darker blonde, where you would need a cooler toned shadow. I checked the medium to dark, but that looked far to dark for me. The wax pigmentation was poor, you could'nt add any 'hairs' with this, it would just be suitable for combing through the brows to keep them in place. Its a shame, I really wanted to like this product because the gadgets that come with it are good. This is only my opinion, have a try yourself and let me know.
 
My last beauty product is the Maybelline Lash Sensational lash multiplying mascara. I am always on the hunt for a great budget mascara, and I have found one here. The mascara itself does exactly what is says, lashes look visibly multiplied and fuller, my only bug bear with this, is the wand is plastic, which I do not like, and kind of gloops your lashes together, so I have to comb my lashes through afterwards, but for the price point you cannot complain. Great mascara, Love it.

These are my Hits and Misses for July. What have you liked this month? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear from you.


Love Nay x


Disclaimer- I have not been paid to advertise any of the products mentioned above, I just like to share.

My lazy girls guide to using St Tropez Gradual Tanning in the shower

So I recently posted a picture of the St Tropez gradual tan in shower on my Instagram account, and was interested on how it would work for me, as I had heard so many mixed reviews on this product. The first thing that puts me off is the three minute wait while you are in the shower. The first time I used this, the three minute wait felt like an age!. Who really has an extra three minutes to stand there while the tanning properties do their work??  Not one to be beaten, I thought I could not be the only one with this dilemma. I have put together a lazy girls guide to having a very well organized and productive shower.

First, I always wash my hair, normally twice with TIGI Hair Reborn Awaking range or the orange one as I like to call it. I then will massage the TIGI Hair Reborn Awaking conditioner, which will be rebuilding my protein levels within my hairs cortex and adding strength and vitality, what more can you ask for??. Then I comb through the mid length to ends with a large tooth comb, while the conditioner does its thing, I wash my body with Imperial Leather Skinkind Hydrating body wash. I never used to give it much thought about what body wash I used, with having five people in the house, it would go down so quickly, but I was finding that my skin was so dry and parched after a shower, that I was slathering so much moisturiser to counter act the dryness. Then it occurred to me maybe I should try a more moisturising wash and since then it has halved my use of body moisturisers. I then use a body scrub, I have been using Botantics Mediterranean eden invigorating body scrub over my body, but concentrating mostly on knees and elbows. I then shave anywhere that needs it. (unfortunately I threw out the Botantics body scrub, because I had finished it and I thought I had taken a photo, but I hadn't argh!)

My last part which utilizes the time best is now. I turn the shower off, apply the St Tropez Gradual Tan over my body in circular motions to get a more even coverage, wash your palms and then comes the waiting zzzz, but now you can scrub your face, no not any more. I use Clinque 7 day scrub cream as you can tissue this off, then apply your face mask, at the moment I have been using Aromatherapy Hydrating Rose face mask, I applied this over my face and neck. I got this as a free sample, but when you read the write up about this product, it is packed with so much goodness, you can even place the product around your eyes, which I have never been able to do with a mask.. This is a very moisturising, rehydrating mask, and brings life back to your skin. By this time two minutes have gone by. Then give your hair another comb through to really work the last parts of your conditioner and Bam! Three minutes is up and you can now rinse everything off!

So this is how I have been using the St Tropez gradual tan in the shower. Once I had this down it didn't feel like a long time and I was really pleased with the initial results. Its gives a wonderful glow, with no offensive tan smell, and gave a nice subtle colour to my English rose skin. If you want a darker tone just use it every time you shower and it builds perfectly over time. I would recommend this product if you are new to tanning, it was so simple to use and it the results were very pleasing. I wanted to show a picture but every time I edited it, the tan didn't show enough on camera, because I am SO white, but if I had used it a few more times, it would of shown much more.

Have you used this product yet? What do you think? I would love to hear your comments.

Love Nay x

Disclaimer- I have not been paid to mention any products above, I just like to share.

May Favourites

Its that time of the month where I blab on about things I have been enjoying in the month of May. So here we go!.

 My first beauty product I have been loving, is the Botantics Radiance Balm from Boots. Its very creamy and luxurious, and your skin feels like silk when applied. It acts as a brightener to the skin. I put this on after I have cleansed and moisturised, but before I put any make up on. It has the plant Hibiscus in it which is natures own brightness booster with a slight pink hue to it. I have been using this for about 8 weeks now and I love how it gives such a natural glow to the skin and just adds that extra va va voom to how your make up looks.

My next product is the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC cream. As we are approaching the summer months I wanted to wear something lighter on my skin than foundation. This is the answer. It has the three main colour corrective every girl needs. Apricot for anti-fatigue, Green for anti-redness and White for anti-dark spots. It covers really well, but it still gives that 'skin like' appearance. The bonus is, it also has SPF 15 in it, which is a great start in protecting your skin every day. With this great product broke my old faithful concealer out, Select Cover-Up Concealer by MAC. This one is an oldie, but a goody.  I find this concealer is light and creamy, great for under the eyes, but will also cover any blemishes, scarring, and redness. BUT, this is a big but, beware!. Work quickly, blending this bad boy in as it dries in seconds and once it has, it can look cakey and gives that dragging effect when trying to blend out. Together, with the cc cream its a marriage made. Also for the face, I have been using Nars Illuminator in Copacabana. Well what can I say, but oo la la, Mr Francois Nars has done it again! It is the most creamy, blendable, beautiful gleam to the skin. This is not for the fainthearted and if you are looking for a gleam that even NASA can see from their space station this is the ONE.

Nars Illuminator in copacabana

 Staying with the face, the last two products, Maybelline The Eraser Eye. Not much to say about this. Its o.k, for under the eyes its light, creamy blends o.k. But im not bowled over by it. I am quite demanding when it comes to a concealer and this is....o.k. So not a favourite, but I would not rule it out if you were thinking of giving it a try. On the cheeks I have pulled out a favourite from last year, my Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for lips and cheek in the shade Calypso Coral. Beautiful bright peach, blends beautifully and can be sheered out to not such an intense colour. Great for lips and cheeks. On my eyelids I have been going for a grunge look, just because I have been super busy and its the quickest eye make up technique to do in a hurry. I have been wearing NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Knight. Its a khaki green colour with gold flecks in it and I have blending this out with a little bronzer all around the eye and BAM! you are good to go. Last but not least, is the Rimmel London Kate Moss Lipstick in 03. Its a caramel, pinky, nude tone lipstick.  Not a massive fan of the smell, but can live with it for the price of these lipsticks.

Top-NYX Knight Jumbo Pencil Middle-Bobbi Brown Calypso Coral Bottom-Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick 03

Onto nails now, I have been loving the Barry M Quick Dry Nail Polishes. My collection is growing at a steady pace and I like the colour pay off and they last a while using a base coat. I have found that not to use a topcoat with these as they chip more, but when I did not use it, they just faded at the tips. Colours I have are TL-Pitstop, TR- Full Throttle, BL-Eat my dust, BR-Need for speed.

Lulu Guinness Continental wallet croco print leather in mink

This is my little moment where you were in the right place at the right time. I was in TK Maxx where I was picking up a Grobag for my 17 month old and I spotted the above out of the corner my eye. A  lulu guinness continental wallet croco print leather in mink. I got an amazing discount which makes me love it even more. My last favourite for this month and sadly I have needed to wear this more than I have wanted to for May, my bright yellow rain mack from Primark. It has rained so much in Lancashire, GB which is not normal for this time of year, so I was glad of this purchase.

So there are my favourites for May. What have you been loving this month? Is there any products or items of clothing that you might think I would like to try? I would love to hear from you.

Love Nay x


Disclaimer- I have not been paid to advertise any products mentioned above, I just like to share.

My penchant for Pinstripes

 I think it is fair to say I have taken quite a shine to Pinstripes. Its been more of a recent thing as I have only recently loss most of my baby weight from last year. As I carry most of my weight 'up top', I always kept away from stripes in general. Anything that enlarges an area more than needs to be, gets a big fat cross in my book. I have always loved the Briton look, but recently stripes have got thinner and this opens up this style to a bigger audience. These have been my three top tops! (the striped top with the peter pan collar, ran in the wash and was completely ruined,,so unfortunately I couldn't take any more pictures of it.)

New look White pinstripe grandad collar roll sleeve shirt
This shirt is such a great all rounder. the fabric is incredibly soft and I like the way it hangs on the body. I wear this with overalls (dungarees),black shorts,denim shorts,black jeans and a pencil skirt. I can wear this tucked in for a more formal look or pulled out over jeans and shorts for a casual feel.

  New look White pinstripe Bardot Neck 3/4 Sleeve
My next choice is a cute Bardot style top. This is abit of a risk taker for me, as I am practical and I can imagine this being an annoying top if you are chasing a toddler around all day, and it constantly rides up. I thought I would save this top to wear when I have those precious moments when I am without my little darlings, The top has this elasticated line around the neck line and it does stay put as long as you don't gesture wildly. So when I wear this, I make sure I am disciplined with my hand movements. So you may being saying to yourself "why are you wearing it then", well I can tell you it is worth the struggle. It is a breathable fabric and a very cool feeling to it which makes it perfect for summer. It is very versatile top and can be worn for formal and casual, which works for me.

My last piece is a striped tee from H&M. I could not find this on their website, but if you have ever been on H&M's website you will know what I mean. This is a lovely tee and has washed really well. I love wearing this as it is a great staple to have in your wardrobe. I am sure there will be plenty more popping up in our leading brands.

So these are my three pinstripe tops. Lets not beat around the bush here, I know three is not that many, but for me it is HUGE. I never buy the same thing in two different colours just because I like it, as I love having variety in my wardrobe. So what piece of clothing have you enjoyed wearing lately? Are stripes your thing? I would love to hear from you.

Love Nay x

Disclaimer- I have not been paid to mention any products above, I just like to share.