Full FOTD using mostly 2 palettes

Hi sorry it's been a while as I don't wear make up everyday. I never used to but since having the little one I have less time to experiment with make up.

Here is my recent face of the day, I'm wearing,

- Benefit oxygen wow foundation

- Benefit Hello Flawless powder

- Bobbi Brown under eye corrector

- Benefit Boi-ing concealer

- Anastasia Beverly Hills dipbrow pomade

- Benefit High Brow

- Mac all that glitters shadow all over lid

- Mac sepia shadow on the outer edge and under the eye.

- Mac Show Stopper shadow in the outer corner.

- Mac Orb shadow inner eye area and above the eye to highlight.

- Eyeko liquid eyeliner

- Mac Melba blush

- Benefit Watts Up highlighter 

- Rimmel lip liner 

- Mac Ravishing lipstick 

Sorry this was so Benefit heavy. I have the Benefit how to look the best at everything palette and I love it. I also used my Mac Rebecca Moses face palette here. I find palettes much easier to reach for these days if I'm quickly trying to put a look together. Also some of you might notice that I didn't include mascara here, that was no mistake as even though it makes your lashes look fab I find that they scratch on my glasses an leave marks. X

#FOTD with the Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita palette

This is my current favourite palette. It is so luxurious and I think the colours are just stunning but very wearable.

To get this look I am wearing:
* garnier bb cream
* benefit hello flawless powder
* anastasia dipbrow pomade
* charlotte tilbury dolce vita eyeshadow palette
* benefit bad gal smudge eye liner
* eyeko liquid eyeliner

*benefit boi-ing concealer 

* bobbi brown pink coral blusher 

* benefit they're real mascara
* charlotte tilbury confession lipstick
* charlotte tilbury lucy in the sky with diamonds lip lustre.

Have you purchased any of the Charlotte Tilbury luxury eyeshadow palettes yet and if so which is your favourite? X

How I conceal my dark under eye circles

As a new mum I don't get as much sleep as I used to. The days of a lazy lie in are now a thing of the past.
In the first few weeks I was lucky to get 2 hours interrupted and I had serious dark under eye circles, like punched in the face dark.
Anyway here is what I use to conceal them like a pro.

First off I wash my face using a cleanser that requires water to wash off. Such as my Nivea foaming facial cleanser. Wash this off with luke warm water and even splash on abit of cold afterwards. This helps to de-puff under the eye.
Moisturise as normal (that's right I don't have time to use toner lol) I use Benefits It's potent eye cream and Garnier Moisture Match gel for dull skin. Let this soak in for about 15 mins. I then start to apply my makeup starting with concealer as I don't wear a foundation.

How I conceal:
My secret weapon is Bobbi Brown's under eye corrector. I got matched to shade extra light bisque. This is a peachy corrector cream that counteracts the under eye red/purpleness. It doesn't work 100% so don't expect miracles but once you put your concealer over it you can tell the difference. I also have the matching concealer/powder duo but I prefer to use the more heavy duty Benefit Boi-ing in the shade light. I then set with a powder straight away, I use Benefit Hello Flawless. And viola I look like a normal none sleep deprived person. If only I could now keep my eyes open lol.

Casual #fotd

So here is my everyday makeup look, I am wearing the following:

* Garnier BB cream
* Benefit boi-ing concealer
* Benefit hello flawless powder
* Bobbi Brown blusher - pink coral
* Anastasia Beverley Hills dipbrow pomade
* Benefit High Brow

*Benefit most glamorous nudes eyeshadow kit
*eyeko liquid eyeliner
*Illamasqua Glamore lipstick - rosepout

I didn't mean for it to be so Benefit heavy but the products are from 2 kits one being  the How To Look The Best At Everything and the other being the World Famous Neutrals eyeshadow kit.

I would love to wear mascara but it rubs on my glasses which is super annoying. So I save it for contact lense days. 

I am loving the Anastasia dipbrow stuff it is amazing! I am now converted from powder. Sorry Benefit Brow Zings. X

Shopping My Stash - My Spring Favourites

So now that it's Spring and the cold sun is shining I have decided to switch my makeup rotation around a bit to get me in the mood for Spring/Summer.
I've seen a lot of new makeup releases doing the rounds lately but while they are all very pretty I've delved into my stash to see what pretty pieces that I already have.
1. Benefit World Famous Neutrals - This eyeshadow set never gets old! the colours are beautifully pigmented and very longwearing. It is perfect for daily casual makeup or glamorous evening looks. See my full review and swatches here

2. Too Faced Summer Eyes - This is a great way of introducing abit of colour into my look without being scared. I am never one to wear bright crazy coloured eyeshadow but here you get 3 looks and Too Faced include a how too to achieve a gorgeous summer look. See my full review, swatches and a tutorial here

3. Benefit Hervana Blusher - This is my second favourite Benefit Blusher after Coralista and it is a gorgeous light pink and it smells just heavenly seriously it smells so good you need to sniff it. You also get a good quality application brush with it that isn't too small so I do use it. There is just something special about swirling your brush around to mix the colours for a pretty pink flush. See my full review here

4. Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish No 16 - again this is just a perfect choice for a everyday wearable pink lip that gives you that Spring/Summer vibe. I was obsessed with Coral everything last summer and I still am but I am currently trying to change it up abit and head towards the more pinkish rose hues. More info here

Let me know what your Spring/Summer picks are by linking to your blog below as my favourite way to discover makeup is by reading blogs :-) x

Benefit How To Look The Best At Everything Kit - Light

So in the few years that I have been into Benefit I've never really wanted this kit. I'd read quite a few reviews that said the light shade in this kit was far too dark and orangey so not to bother, so I always stayed away.
My skin is light but by no means the fairest out there and I have had the full size Hello Flawless Powder in Ivory before which I really liked until I dropped it and it crumbled into ashes :-( I've also tried both Boi-ing concealers in the various concealer kits before and already have the full size in the light shade. So why did I want this you ask? Well for a few reasons I'm currently 6 months pregnant and want a quick way to get ready and have everything just there in one kit, also I love the Porefessional and mine has ran out. I've also heard that they have changed this kit to make the shades actually light? I don't know 100% but now this kit contains ivory colours where before I think it was Champagne.

I do have a very nice and expensive Lancome foundation but I don't wear foundation daily and it seems like a lot of faffing about that I can't be bothered with right now.
So I bought this kit of my 27th birthday last week and my first thoughts where that it's small. Very small! but you do get a good few products for the £25.50 price tag. Also just look how cute the packaging is, can we just take a moment to admire it please. It looks just like a little book how cute!

Anyway now that I have been using this for a week or so i am in awe of it as it is perfect for my skin and it's quick and easy. Most importantly I don't find it too dark or orange and it gives me a very natural look. The finish is not full coverage I'd say light-medium which I am happy with. The foundation is SPF 25 and is very comfortable to wear. I definitely will buy the full size Porefessional and Oxygen Wow when these run out. I also already loved the Boi-ing concealer as it is so heavy duty and covers so well. Here you get shades 1 and 2 so I like to use them both together as 1 alone can look abit too light for me if I have my photo taken with a flash on I'm like whoa too light.
This kit is definitely worth the money and I love it all apart from the powder brush that is too small and thin to do anything.

Inside this kit you get:
- Porefessional 7.5ml
- Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation in Ivory 7ml
- Boi-ing 1 & 2 at 1.5g each
- Hello Flawless in Ivory 4g.

This kit comes in light, medium or deep shades and if you have overlooked it before like me then I recommend having a rethink to see if it suits your needs now. X

My Birthday Wishlist - I'm 27 Next Week

So I'm 27 next week eek! and seeing as I'm nearly 6 months pregnant I haven't bought myself anything apart from 'essential' maternity clothes in a while :-P  All my wishlists are now 100% made up of things for the baby as babies need so many things and most are expensive and if I've not been buying those items then it's been things to decorate the nursery. But as it's my birthday I feel like I deserve something just for me personally which is still hard to do 100% without feeling guilty. So here goes:

Zara Office Mini City Bag - Grey £29.99
I remember wanting this in black ages ago but somehow I forgot about it but now it has come back to the forefront of my mind. It is simple and stunning. I love being organised and having a pocket for everything so this is what I want!

L'occitane Make Up Bag £6
I love the smallish size of these and they come in lots of pretty designs. I plan to use it in my Zara bag to store all my beauty essentials to keep my bag organised and tidy. You can pick them up on eBay for approximately £6

Benefit How To Look The Best At Everything Kit - Light £25.50
At the moment I haven't been bothering with make up but now that I am starting to feel like my normal self again I realise that the whole pregnancy glow thing is a myth and my skin isn't looking to great. This will help to cover any blemishes and help me fake some nice skin.

Burts Bees Mama Bee - Leg and Foot Cream £12.99
I love Burts Bees alot and I remember that they used to have a Mama Bee gift set but I can't find it but this is the product that I would most like to try from the range. I remember the coconut foot moisturiser being my favourite ever so I would like to give this ago.

Pink Linings Yummy Mummy Changing Bag £79.99
Yes this isn't 100% for me and is abit of a cheat item but I really want to indulge on it. I know that it is expensive and that I already have a nice Cosatto changing bag to match my pram but just look how beautiful it is. It also comes with a nappy changing matt and has lots of inside pockets and special storage areas for everything baby related. I am a sucker for bag organisation and this is just so pretty. It comes in loads of gorgeous designs but I love this Bee one best. I would feel proud to carry this bag around and as a first time mum I feel that this bag would be a great help.

My top 3 favourite blushers

Here are my top 3 favourite blushers that I am currently reaching for -

3. Benefit Hervana £23.50 for 8g
I love this blusher as it is perfumed it smells gorgeous, it also comes with a handy angled good quality brush and mirror. I love how all the colours are swirled together to give this soft light pink colour. Also if you wanted to you could use the colours individually as eyeshadows. It does take a bit of building up to get a decent amount of colour but I'm definitely enjoying using this blusher.

2. The Balm Instain - Swiss Dot £18 for 5.5g
This is the most pigmented blush that I've ever had. I apply it with a stipple brush as it picks up a minimal amount of product which is enough. I love how so little of this goes along way. It is a gorgeous peach colour and it lasts all day. Even though it's a powder blush it is a stain and even after a long day I need some good make up remover to make it budge.

1. Bobbi Brown - Pink Coral 31 £19 for 3.7g 
This is from the Bobbi Brown chocolate collection and it is the most gorgeous blusher colour ever. I am coral obsessed at the moment but I love how this is more on the pink side of coral it is just what I've been looking for. This is the matte version as I believe it also comes in shimmer but matte is more to my taste.

So that's my top 3 blushers for the moment. I use my Elf Stipple brush or my Real Techniques blusher brush to apply them depending on how pigmented I want them.
What do you think of my picks and do we share any of the same favourites?

Swatch picture from left to right is: Bobbi Brown Pink Coral, Benefit Hervana and then The Balm Instain Swiss Dot.

Jodie x

Hard and expensive lesson learned with concealers

So I've learned a hard and expensive lesson when it comes to choosing my shade of concealer. For years I've always thought of myself as pale seeing as I keep out of the sun and don't get a tan. So thinking that I was pale I always bought the palest or one of the paler toned concealers. As a shade lighter than my actual area will brighten the area right? Wrong.

The past year I have used Benefits Boi-ing concealer in light, Fake Up in fair, erase paste in shade 01. Then Nars Radiant Creamy in Chantilly all these together add up to a small fortune not to mention others that I will have tried. All along I was buying the wrong shade for me. I knew straight away that the Nars Chantilly was too light but my main problem was buying offline! It only really became apparent looking back at photos of myself taken at weddings etc that my concealer was far too light for myself.
I have now learned that it is important to buy your concealer from the make up counter and to get matched up to a shade by a professional.

Knowing this I got myself down to Bobbi Brown in Selfridge's at The Trafford Centre. I went with minimal make up, wearing no concealer made me feel like a zombie in such a crowded place but I persevered. I have quite dark under eye circles and knew that I'd need the corrector as well as a concealer.
I got matched up to the corrector shade light biscuit and the concealer due in warm ivory.
When she applied them I instantly looked more awake and alive. The corrector is a important step for my skin as it neutralised the darkness of the circles and then using the concealer is step 2. Last of all it gets set with the powder.
It is a expensive price to pay at £42 for buying the wrong concealers but now that I've found the one I can buy it offline as much as I like.
The shades that she matched me with are both the 3rd lightest that they do so not the first or second lightest shades which I would have bought and wasted my money on.

Have any of you made the same mistake as me? Or think you could be currently guilty of it? Put your concealer down and get down to your local department store and get matched up properly.

Jodie x

Shopping my stash

So it's that time of the month again where my wages have run out and payday seems like so far away, the only thing to do right now is to put my wish list's to one side and to shop my stash.

Here are some products that I've owned a while that i may have forgotten about or that I fell out of love with it for some reason. Today I have rooted through my products and rediscovered some gems. Here are my finds:

Burt's Bees Hand Salve
I love this brand of products and I disregarded this hand salve early on as it is abit too greasy for my liking. If you can get over than though it is a great little hand moisturiser and this is a little travel size version which is handy for handbags.

Nuxe Micellar Cleansing Water
I didn't use this when I first got it as I've had the L'Oréal and Bioderma ones on the go but this is so delicate and feminine. This one is made with rose petals and it smells gorgeous. It reminds me of summer. Also it works really well at removing my make up so i can't wait to get more use out of this.

Bourjois Cream Blush 02
Is it me or do these cream blushes not feel like a cream at all? Mine feel more like a powder but anyway I still love them. I have shades 01 and 02 and they are so pretty but I feel like I do need to build them up quite a bit with my stipple brush to get a decent amount of colour.

Benefit Peek a Bright Eye's Kit
This is my go to kit on a lazy day as it gives a nice polished eye look. I really should use this more as the shadows are lovely and pigmented and give a gorgeous overall eye look.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick 15 Corail Intuitive
These lipsticks are still my favourite ever but I've been using my 14 Corail in Touch more as it is a deeper coral colour. This one is perfect for everyday wear as it just gives that my lips but better appearance. They smell so fruity and delicious and feel so luxurious on the lips. I really want more shades in these but for now I need to use these more to justify the price that I paid for them.

Bourjois Colour Boost Lipstick Peach on the Beach
I'm not too keen on the smell of this as it seems abit plastic-y and I'm disappointed that all the writing on my Bourjois packaging rubs off after a few months adding to the cheap feel. I do like the colour of this though as it's nice and pink on the lips but it isn't too drastic for day wear. 

Benefit Coralista Lipgloss 

This smells really good and gives a nice subtle colour and shine. It lasts for decent amount of time and most importantly it isn't sticky. There's nothing worse than walking outside for a gust of wind to blow your nicely clean styled hair into your lipgloss leaving it a gloopy sticky mess.

Benefit Bad Gal Waterproof Liner
I'm usually more of a liquid liner gal but if I fancy abit of kohl then I always use this. This has a handy smudger on the end to help smoke it out for a sexy eye look. Unlike most kohl liners this is waterproof so no under eye mess. That is reason I stopped using kohl in the first place as my eyes can be sensitive and water in the wind etc and that would leave me with smudged eyeliner all smudged into my concealer under my eye but with this being waterproof it means I don't look like a panda by dinner time.

Lancome Travel Size Lipstick Nu Rose 06
This is a cute little lipstick that is perfect for Autumn due to its berry like colour. But for us pal gals it doesn't look to dark as dark berry lipsticks scare me a little. This helps you go for the berry trend but in a good way. It also smells gorgeous and is long lasting. Due to it being a popular one you can pick up this travel size version for cheap too to test the waters.

Lipstick swatches from left to right are - YSL Rouge Volupte, Bourjois Colour Boost, Lancome nu Rose and then Benefit Coralista gloss. 

Make up swatches from left to right are - Benefit eyebright, Bourjois blusher, Benefits Peek a Bright Eye's base, pearly pink shadow and then the brown contour shadow. 

So there you go that's my rediscoveries for the time being. Have you been shopping your stash recently and what gems have you found?
Jodie x

My current go to products

I have a lot of favourite products which changes from week to week but here is what I'm currently reaching for:

 

Bioderma Hydrabio Light Cream £14 buy here
This feels really nice and soothing on my skin and it soaks in immediately, something which Is a must have quality in a cream for me. I like to pat this in rather than rub but it is quickly becoming a favourite for me.

Bioderma Sensibio Eye Contour Gel £14 buy here
This is perfect for the sensitive under eye area. I have noticed that it helps to brighten up my dark
circles which a lot of creams claim to do but don't. I love how a little bit of this goes a long way.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24hr Foundation 010 £24.75 buy here

This is my favourite foundation ever! I feels so nice on the skin and sets like a powder but doesn't look cakey at all. This has such great coverage you can get away without using concealer or a primer. Even though this is pricey you definitely get what you pay for. It also smells gorgeous and isn't too thick I couldn't rate this enough.

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer 01 Light £15.75 buy here
This is my joint favourite concealer. It works amazing under the eyes or on blemishes. It has very good coverage and doesn't look cakey. This is one that I repurchase over and over again.

Art Deco Eyeshadow Base Primer £8.00 buy here

This is without a doubt the best eye shadow primer that i have ever used. It smells good and feels silky and smooth on the eyelid not sticky at all. The best thing about this product is the actual results that it gives as you can see a big diference in your eyeshadow pigmentation when using this. I did a test just on my hand and the results where astonishing. I will share it with you in more detail very soon.

Benefit Badgal Lash Mascara £15.75 buy here

I do prefer the Benefit They're Real mascara as that gives you more length but i prefer this one for volume and everyday where. I feel like the brush is really good at seperating the lashes. I feel like the They're Real mascara gets so much hype that this one gets left out and this is a great mascara in it's own right.

The Balm Nude Tude Palette £26 buy here
You can get so many looks with this palette and I love how all the shadows are gorgeously pigmented. It's good how you get a selection of matte and shimmer shadows.
I like to use the black shadow as a eye liner, as it is so pigmented it works better than some of my kohl pencils. The formula is nice and smooth so these glide onto the eyelids and the brush is good quality too.

Mac Ravishing Lipstick £15 buy here
This is my go to Mac lipstick, I love the creamsheen formula and this colour works well for day or evening wear. Also it smells good enough to eat.

Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick 111 Kiss of Life £5.49 buy here
I was very impressed with this lipstick as the quality knocks some of of its high end competitors out of the water!
The pigmentation is amazing as well as the smell. The packaging obviously isn't YSL standard but it's not bad for a drugstore lipstick. I now definitely want more shades in this.

Benefit Watts Up Highlighter £22.05 buy here
This is still my highlighter of choice. It goes on effortlessly with a stipple brush and it is very long lasting. The packaging is a big winner in my eyes too.
It is a classic champagne colour which leaves your complexion beaming in a good way.

The Balm Instain blusher Swiss Dot £18 buy here
I have mentioned this before but I'm still reaching for this blusher on a daily basis. It is just so good. The pigmentation and long wearing formula is a winner. I need more shades in this. Also it will last forever as a little goes a long way with The Balm. I've been using this for at least a month and I've not even made a dint in it.

 

Also last but not least is Company magazine £2.50, this is my favourite magazine and the latest issue is new out. This is probably the only magazine that I read from cover to cover throughly.

What products are you reaching for on a daily basis and are any the same as me?
Jodie x

 

What's in my bag...

Right now I have the stunning Ted Baker Suno bag which is current season. You may recognise this from a couple of my wishlist posts one you can see here
Inside it I have the following:

 

Ted Baker Rocksy Purse - Pink
I've had this since earlier in the year and I'm still in love with it. Usually I get bored with bags and purses pretty quick but there is something about Ted Baker style and quality that I love. full post here

 

Notebook
This is to store all my blogging ideas and wishlists.
more info here 

 

Burts Bees Lipbalm
This is a lovey peppermint scent which keeps my lips feeling soft and fresh throughout the day.

 

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick - 1 Le Rouge
This is my newest addition to my YSL lipstick family and what gal can't be without a classic bright red lipstick on hand.

 

Mac Creamsheen Lipstick - Ravishing
This tends to be my everyday lipstick and it's my favourite Mac shade.

 

Benefit Boi-ing concealer - 01
I like to carry this with me at all times incase of any eye make up mistakes that might occur throughout the day. Depending what eyeliner I wear I find its usually the kohl pencils that says smudge under the eye so I like to keep this with me to refresh under my eyes. full review here

 

Optrex Rehydrating Eye Drops
As I wear contact lenses my eyes can get pretty dry if I have had them in a full day or if it's a hot day so I like to use these to refresh my eyes. more info here

 

Nuxe Reve De Miel Handcream
This is my favourite hand cream, I know I've talked about it a lot lately but it's just so good. It soaks in instantaneously and leave my hands nice and soft without feeling greasy. It so smells amazing so win win. i got it in a travel set of mini items to try, you can see them all here

 

Paris Hilton perfume vials
These are quite cheap to buy as it's a old perfume now but I still love it's fresh feminine scent.

Benefit Most Glamorous Nudes Ever Eyeshadow Kit Review

Benefits World Famous Neutrals palettes have been out a few months now and there are 3 to choose from.

I went for the Most Glamorous Nudes palette as this looks like the one that I'd get the most use out of.
Unlike other eyeshadow palettes that I have this has a mixture of both cream and powder shadows and they look gorgeous alone or together.
Benefit give you instructions on how to use this kit for a glamorous day or evening look. My favourite is the day look as it is so versatile and stunning.
I am wearing this day look in my video so please let me know what you think.

To see swatches and to find out what I think about this palette please watch my video :-) x

August empties

Here is what I have recently ran out of this month, some of these I will repurchase and some I won't.

Tresemme Smooth Salon Silk Shampoo & Conditioner
I love Tresemme now I've found the right type for my hair. Years ago I tried the moisturising one and it made my hair greasy and it put me off the brand, but I just realised that my hair didn't need moisturising.
Anyway I use the smooth collection and it works really well on my hair. It leaves it silky smooth and shiny. It helps me get my straight and glossy look. I have repurchased these as I have been using the same duo for about a year now and before that I used the coloured hair one.

Sanctuary Spa Body Wash
I got this in a set for Christmas and I have only recently rediscovered it. I really like the Sanctuary Spa stuff and I enjoyed using this body wash. The scent is nice and it leaves my skin feeling clean and soft. Some washed leave my skin feeling dry and unnoureshed but this didn't. I won't be repurchasing this as I prefer other body washes but I might in the future.

Nivea Smooth Nourishing Hand Moisturiser
This didn't soak in very quick and it left my hands feeling greasy for a while after using it. I won't buy this again. I am now hooked on the Nuxe Reve De Miel handcream which is amazing.

Simple Eye Make Up Remover
This is one of the better high street make up removers that I have found. I didn't think much of the Nivea one that I tried. I like the L'Oréal Micellar one too. I might repurchasing this in the future if I'm after a cheap make up remover but not at the moment as I'm using my Bioderma.

Tresemme Platinum Strength Shot
I got this in my August Glossybox and I used it straight away. To be honest I didn't notice any difference to my hair at all so I won't repurchase this.

Benefit Facial Polish Scrub
This is only a travel size but I didn't think much of it. I find facial scrubs too harsh for my skin and this was no different. I wouldn't buy it.

Have you tried any of these products and what did you think of it?

Jodie x

My current favourites - Early August

Here is what I've been reaching for most this month:

Benefit Boi-ing concealer - nothing covers my dark under eye circles like this stuff. It has the best coverage that I've found in a concealer but it isn't too thick or cakey.
£21.50 Here

Nuxe Reve De Miel - I never thought a good hand cream would make such a big impact on me but I have fell head over heels for this stuff! This hand and cuticle cream is absorbed instantly and leaves my hands feeling soft and refreshed and not to mention smelling good enough to eat. This isn't greasy at all like all the other hand creams that I've tried.
£10 Here

The Balm Instain Blush in Swiss Dot - This blush has been a big game changer for me I've already been a Benefit Coralista kind of girl but I might even love this just as much. It is amazing and it's so pigmented and longwearing not to mention pretty. I love this.
£21.50 Here
Benefit Porefessional - I've nearly ran out of this oh no! It's my favourite primer and most days I wear it alone, who needs a bb cream with this wonder. It really does smooth out my complexion and hide my pores. It leaves my complexion looking natural too. It feels so soft and silky I will definitely have to repurchase this one.
£24.50 Here
Elf Stipple Brush - This is my must have brush as I use it for so much. I use it to apply my cream blushers. I currently use it to apply my very pigmented The Balm Instain blusher as a normal brush applies too much product. I also use it to apply my Benefit Watts Up highlighter. Everyone needs a stipple brush in there life.
£3.75 Here
L'Oréal Paris 3 in 1 Micellar Solution - This is my current make up remover of choice as it does the job so effortlessly. I've never used the Bioderma one but I know that bloggers say that this is closest alternative and I really like this. It moves my make up fast but also feels gentle on my skin.
£3.33 Here
Burts Bee's Lipbalm - I've recently been using this daily and I've noticed that my lips do feel in better condition. It leaves them feeling softer and more hydrated.
£3.69 Here

Beware of fake make up on ebay especially Benefit

Today I am going to advise you on how to avoid fake make up on ebay. Ebay and Amazon are saturated with fake make up and it's so harmful to our skin. It is also bad on the brands as if we use the fake product and think that's it's rubbish we won't try the real one.

There is fake make up from all the popular brands about especially Mac but today I am going to concentrate on Benefit. I have bought so many fake items on eBay and it's such a let down. They are not even all cheap. Anyway here is my advise for ebay shopping.

* check what other items the seller has for sale - if they are all new make up products I would be wary especially if they have a lot of the same brand. I will only buy a Benefit make up product from a seller if it is the only item of that brand for sale, just go with your instinct on this.
* Make sure they don't have a quantity of that one item if it's a buy it now - this is the same as above really but if it's a buy it now it can tell you how many of that item they have or have sold. Stay away.

* Read the description - especially with the box o Powder blushers the fake say no brush. A real new one is always sold with a brush. These don't have a brush because they are fake. The fake brushes are bad quality and will give away the fakeness straight away so they don't include them.
Also if they mention any damage to the packaging beware. Another good one is they say factory seconds or store closing down. There is no such thing as Benefit factory seconds so that's BS right there. The store closing down could be legit but it would ring alarm bells for me.

* Obvious but check the feedback - if they are selling fakes they may have some bad feedback but usually they don't as people don't know that they are getting fakes.

* If the price is too good to be true then it usually isn't real - if the item is half the RRP then nope sorry it's not real.

So you've now received the item and your unsure if it's real, you need to give it the once over to spot if it is genuine or not.

Check the packaging quality - it's often the small detail that can give it away is the pan straight in the kit, is there any spelling mistakes (especially in the booklet), is there any gaps on the packaging that look wring where the card is folded? Does it feel cheap? Does it have a magnetic closure?

Check the codes on the item as the batch code on the item should match the batch code on the box.

Does it smell of chemicals? Benefit products always smell nice or neutral if it smells chemically then it's fake.

Another of Benefit items have a peel away sticker to reveal the ingredients, on benefit products it peels away very neatly on a fake it either won't peel at all or it will rip off.

The Benefit Smokin Eyes kit has a big indicator to tell if it's fake! the initial give away is the way that the stripes inside run as on the real one the stripe pattern is vertical in a fake one it is horizontal. Check the brush quality as fake brushes look very scruffy and are terrible quality.

Here is a list of what fake Benefit products are doing the rounds:

Smokin Eyes kit
Box o powders - all colours
Mini travel size blushers
All travel size items porefessional etc
Boi-ing
Make up brushes - all
Brow zings
Big beautiful eyes
Confessions of a Concealerholic
Realness of concealness
Hello Flawless powder - refills don't exist
High beam
Lemon Aid
Perfect 10 set (set on 10 minis)
Lipgloss - full size and travel size
Porefessional
Bad Gal mascara
They're Real mascara

I'm not saying don't buy these products on ebay or amazon I'm just saying please be very careful as a very high percentage are fake. If you think it's fake do some research online of how to spot the difference between real and fake. Report the eBay seller and claim your refund.
Be wise ladies x

My wishlist for August

Here are the items that I really want to buy and I will be pining over through August. Hopefully I will be able to afford to buy at least 1 or 2 items from this wishlist.

1. Urban Decay Smoked Palette
I have wanting this for a few months now but it's never took priority until now. This palette looks absolutely gorgeous and even though it's called smoked and aims to give you the best smokey eyes, you don't have to use it to have smokey eyes. I feel like I will have so many options with this palette and I can't wait to try out lots of new looks with it.

2. Nars Creamy Concealer - Chantilly
I have wanted to try this concealer after reading so many raving reviews about it on lots of blogs. It always looks amazing in action and I hope it works for me.

3. Benefit Coralista blusher
This is my favourite blusher, I get a lot of complements on it when I wear it. I discovered it in my Powda Wowza palette but now I can see the bottom of the pan and I'm panicking that it will run out anyway now so I need to repurchase pronto.

4. Real Techniques Core Collection face brushes
I have a good set of eye brushes which are my Too Faced ones but I see so many bloggers who swear by these brushes only. So seeing as I need some proper face brushes anyway I would love to try these out.

5. Lush Lip Scrub Mint Julips
I am loving matte lipstick at the moment but I'm finding that the downside to it as it settles in every crack and makes dry lips look even worse. So I'm hoping this will solve all my problems.

What is on your current wishlist and have you tried any off mine and what did you think?

Jodie x

My favourite Benefit eye palettes

I love the whole concept of Benefits eye palettes as you get a whole complete look from the one palette alone. Here are my favourites:

1. Most glamourous nudes, this is amazing for a day or night look. I will be rocking this for my upcoming summer weddings as the colours go with any outfit. The colours also have serious staying power.

2. Peek a Bright Eye's, this was my favourite ever eye pallette for a while and even though it has been replaced now it still holds a special place in my heart. This is such a quick look to do with instant wow factor results. It is perfect for day wear and I love how you get some eye bright in there too.

3. Smokin Eyes, this is a seriously sexy palette the only problem I have with this is that I don't wear it enough! The shadow shades and pigments are to die for and the highlight shadow is the best I've come across. It's a bonus you get make up to do your eyebrows to. This is definitely a must have.

What's your favourite Benefit eye palette?

Jodie x

What's inside my travel make up bag this month...

So I like to carry abit of makeup around with me inside my main handbag for any touch ups or disasters. It gives me something less to worry about if I know I am prepared for almost anything.
The products on this bag to vary from week to week sometimes so I hope to make this a regular topic.

So here is what I am currently carrying with me:

1. Bourjois colour boost lipstick crayon in peach on the beach
This has quickly become one of my favourite items as I just love the colour of this as it is perfect for daytime. The colour lasts really well and apart from bring waterproof it is SPF 15 so I will be rocking this on my lips most of the summer.

2. Benefit fake up concealer in light
This isn't my favourite concealer but I like the pretty packaging and it's nice and compact for any midday touch ups over my other concealer.

3. Benefit eye bright stick
I don't use this everyday but sometimes if I feel that I need that extra something or I'm looking abit tired this tends to perk me up. I just use it in the inner corner of the eyes, under the brow and them 3 cat flicks at the outer corner of the eyes and then blend and voila I'm awake.

4. Bourjois cream blush in 01
I am so happy that I now own this blusher in 01 and 02 I love them both so much. I like to carry the 01 blush around with me as it's so small and compact but it also includes a mirror which is good as in usually leave this by my desk with a lipgloss for emergencies. This gives just the right amount of colour for soft flushed cheeks.

5. W7 go west matte lipstick in candy pink
This is another new one but it gives a great pigmented pop of colour to my lips on days when I'm feeling colourful. I'm abit obsessed with these matte lipsticks and this colour is my favourite. They are super cheap are approx £2.50 each so I am constantly raving about this product.

6. Burts Bees lip balm
I have never tried Burts Bees before but I have read a lot of good reviews on blogs. I really want to try one of the sample starter kits to test out more of the skincare range. This has a nice and fresh feeling on the lips with a peppermint flavour.

7. Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder
I am not going to bore you rambling about how much I love this again but I cannot be without it so it stays with me 24/7. Just take my word for it that's it's good and that you need it in your life.

8. Optrex eye drops for tired eyes
I'm not going to repeat myself with this one either but as a contact lens wearer the heat dries out my eyes so bad that it hurts. This helps to refresh and lubricate them throughout the day.

9. Benefit beautiful bermuda betty bag
For me this is just the perfect little size to keep all my travel bits in. It's nice and small but still roomy. It is square shaped so I can struggle to fit some long full sized lip glosses in.

What are you daily travel essentials that you couldn't be without?
Jodie x

Benefit Rockateur Box o Powder due for release September 2013

So as I am a huge Benefit fan I squealed with delight at the thought of a new Powder Blusher as powder blushes are my favourite.

This one is called Rockateur and is a rose gold blush, it is due for release in September 2013 and I can't wait to see swatches of this beauty.
I hope I can wear it as my immediate thought was that it might not suit my fair skin but I can't wait to find out. This will be £23.50 and will be out just in time to make my Christmas list.

Jodie x