MY MAKE UP COLLECTION AND STORAGE

I started to really get into make up and skincare about a year and a half ago, and as I started to accumulate more and more stuff, I decided to get some sort of storage that also still looked good and went with the aesthetics of my room. These Muji storage drawers are perfect, they come in a few different shapes and sizes and they're also pretty affordable. The only downside is they do get dirty pretty quickly, but they just make everything look so organised and lovely..

So i'll just briefly go through how my storage is organised. On top of the drawers is where I keep my moisturiser, primer, some foundations and also a few skincare items. In the first drawer is where I keep a few more foundations and tinted moisturisers, and also a few concealers. Some of my favourites are the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea foundation, L'Oreal Mattifying Infallible foundation and the Rodial skin tint, they all have such radiant, smooth finishes. 

The second draw down is where I keep blushes, bronzers, and a couple of highlighters. The Balm Mary Lou Manizer is one of the best highlighters I have ever used, sadly the product itself is all smashed so I have to be super careful when I'm using it and I can't take it when I travel which is also really sad. 

The next draw down is full of cream eyeshadow pots and sticks, also a few random eyeliners are chucked in there. I loved cream eyeshadow, it looks really natural but also manages to be really pigmented. I love the Maybelline colour tattoos and also the By Terry Ombre Blackstars, but if you're looking for something more affordable definitely go for Maybelline! 

This drawer is where I keep my palettes, and there's a few single eyeshadows squeezed in there as well. I have a bit of an obsession with palettes, they all just look so pretty. The collection nude palette was SO affordable, and it's SO good. 

Another draw of palettes, they take up a lot of space! In here there is the Naked 2, Maybelline The Nudes, and a Barry M contour palette. I actually don't use the Naked 2 as much as I'd like but the shades in there are gorgeous.. 

The second from last draw is full of lipsticks. These days all I wear really are nude shades, but there are a few reds and berry shades there as well. I love the YSL babydoll Kiss & Blush, it's such a lovely formula. Also, one of my all time favourite lipsticks is the Rimmel Kate Moss in the shade 03, the perfect nude. 

The last draw is full of more lip products, mostly liquid matte lipsticks and lipliners. The Nyx Matte Lip Creams are amazing and not drying at all, also the Kat Von D liquid lipsticks are great with some amazing shades. I usually wear a lipliner everyday, the one I usually go for is Mac - Whirl, or Nyx - Nude Suede Shoes. 

To the side of the drawers, I have a small lipstick holder. Here is where I only keep my Mac lipsticks, i'm trying to build up a collection. I just think Mac lipsticks have the best formulas and the best range of colours. My favourite shades are Blankety and Velvet Teddy. 

Nope, we're not done. I also have a 'everyday make up bag' which I keep in a separate little case which I can easily grab and take travelling with me. A few of my fav things in here are the Bourjois Healthy Balance powder, Mac soft & gentle and Nars blush in Orgasm. 

Lastly.. I keep a few more of my favourite palettes to one side of my desk. Here we have the Hourglass Ambient Lighting palette, Lorac Pro palette, Anastasia Glow Kit, Cover FX contour palette, Mac build your own eyeshadow palette, Make Up Revolution contour palette and blush palette. 

So there is a glimpse into my make up collection and storage, if you have any question please feel free to comment below, or if you have any recommendations please let me know! 

NEW YORK HAUL

So when I went to New York, I obviously did a lot of shopping and I wanted to share everything that I picked up. There is stuff from Sephora, Urban Outfitters, Brandy Melville and more.. go and check it out! 

Lucy x

NEW BEAUTY PRODUCTS I'M LOVING..

So recently I have been trying out some new beauty products and i've been so eager to try all of them for such a long time now. These products are so perfect for summer and holiday season, and I have a feeling most of these may be cult products for me now..

So first let's talk about the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle. Oh my god. If you haven't tried this you need to get to your nearest Mac asap and swatch it on your hand. It's the most gorgeous glowing bronzy powder I have ever used. You can use it just on your cheekbones or dust a bit all over your face for a super glowy look. I'm so excited to use this in the summer with just a tinted moisturiser and this all over the face, this product is definitely worth the hype. 

Another exciting new purchase of mine was the Nars blusher in the shade Orgasm. I heard so many exciting things about this product and was pretty desperate to try it. When I went to swatch it in Liberty I thought it looked a bit shimmery and I didn't know if it would look too over the top, but the girl working on the counter put some on me and it just adds the most wonderful soft glow. In the pan it has touches of gold which doesn't really translate onto the skin, but again will look so beautiful in the summer. 

I have been really into Nyx Cosmetics at the moment, now it's so available in the UK and  Boots are getting massive counters with all of their amazing products. I have always been a bit intrigued by their brow products, and I have only ever used pencils and crayons on my brows. So I thought i'd branch out and try their tinted brow pomade. I still want to try the Anastasia Brow Pomade, but this Nyx one was only £6 and you can't really argue with that. It's a really soft consistency, and it just applies really well. The colour is pretty perfect for me and I feel like it looks a lot more natural than pencils and crayons. 

I have always wanted to try some 'loose powder' or finishing powder of some sort, so I picked up a Nyx one to give it a go with. This makes your skin look completely pore less and smooth, although the only thing I found with this is that it made my skin feel a tad dry and tight. 

Another drugstore product I have been loving is this Bourjois 'radiance reveal' concealer. It's a new release and every time I went into Boots this was sold out. I finally got my hands on it and I'm really loving it. I use it just under my eyes and I do feel that it covers any dark circles and brightens my face up and makes me look less grey and dull (which is a problem). 

A bit of a random product that I have also been loving is this Givenchy gel blush in the shade 'Rose Delicat'. A friend gave this to me as a gift that she got from a beauty sale and I've actually been really enjoying using it. I've never used any other product by Givenchy and haven't ever been that interested in it, but this adds such a natural look to your skin. You only need a minuscule amount so this product will last forever.

Lastly, another Mac product. I've heard a lot about Fix + and I really like using setting sprays so I thought i'd see what the hype is about. Sometimes if you have been wearing make up all day and you feel like your skin needs a bit of a refresh, you just spritz a bit of this all over your face and your good to go. It makes your skin look blowy and your make up look perfected. I'll definitely be repurchasing this one..


What are your favourite beauty products at the moment? 

THE LIEBSTER AWARD..

So, the lovely Maddie from the amazing blog - gemstones.wordpress.com (check it out, she's gorgeous and has the best blog!) has nominated me and some other bloggers for The Liebster Award which i'm super flattered about. The Liebster Award is given to bloggers by other bloggers, especially new bloggers just starting out and trying to grow their audience. I think it's so amazing that their is an award out their supporting smaller bloggers and helping them get more noticed in the huge world of blogging..

So there's a set of rules that must be followed..

1. You must mention and thank the blogger who nominated you for this award
2. Answer the 11 questions the blogger created in their awards post
3. Then you get to nominate some new bloggers that you feel deserve it
4. Lastly, you create 11 new questions for your nominees to answer

So, the questions that the lovely Maddie asked me are.. 

What social media platform do you spend the most time on?

It would have to be Instagram. I am completely obsessed.. I am constantly scrolling through, finding new people to follow, getting inspiration from brands, or just stalking.. 

Nate or Chuck?

Chuck. Always. 

If you could spend the day as a different person, who would it be?

This is such a difficult question. In the morning when I wake up I would choose to be Beyonce as you would look and feel amazing first thing and that would motivate me for the rest of the day. In the afternoon I would be Alessandra Steinherr, the beauty editor at Glamour because she has the coolest job ever and I would love to experience her day to day life. Then in the evening I would be Alexa Chung, because she always seems to have fun.

What is your favourite season?

My favourite season is that in-between spring and summer phase, because thats probably when it's warmest in the UK. The summer is usually a bit crap.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

That is SO hard. I tried deep fried mac 'n' cheese for the first time the other day so maybe that.. or crisps and houmous. 

Favourite lip colour?

Always a browny nude lip. My favourite at the moment is Mac - Velvet Teddy. 

What drink do you order at Starbucks?

Usually its a chai latte. But if not, just a standard latte works well for me.

What is your favourite accent?

I find the Irish accent very attractive.. oh and the Welsh accent. Or I actually really like the proper London Cockney accent. 

What has blogging taught you?

Hmm. Blogging has taught me that if you are passionate about something that it is really great to write about it and express your passion for it, however you shouldn't just expect to be a successful blogger just like that. I think it takes a long time to get anywhere, and you shouldn't just start blogging for the freebies and the thought of becoming well known in the blogging world, because you won't get very far. 

What is your favourite Disney film?

Its definitely either The Lion King or Cinderella. They are both just so good. 

If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?

I think it would be Barcelona, I've heard so many amazing things about it and I'm desperate to go and explore. 

I would like to nominate some bloggers that I think deserve it..

Nicole Coltman from www.nicolecoltman.blogspot.com

Lauren from www.intothewoodsstyle.com

Here are my questions..

1) Favourite make up brand?

2) Favourite high street store? 

3) If you could only wear one make up product for the rest of your life, what would it be?

4) If you were stuck on a desert island, what are the three items you would have with you?

5) Favourite social media platform?

6) Do you prefer online shopping or shopping in store?

7) How did you get into blogging?

8) What is your ideal holiday destination right now?

9) What do you see yourself doing in 10 years from now?

10) Do you prefer reading blogs or watching Youtube videos? 

11) If you had to choose one last supper before you die, what would it be?

Enjoy! 

ALL ABOUT NYX COSMETICS..

So Nyx have only recently been easy to get hold of in the UK.. Boots ASOS and Feel Unique now sell it online which is great. Also Selfridges have a small stand in the beauty department, but it is always ridiculously busy and they always run out of the good stuff. I was so desperate to try some of the soft matte lip creams and they really didn't disappoint. I have the shades London, Abu Dhabi and Transylvania. London and Abu Dhabi are very similar, they are both browny nudes but London is just slightly lighter. I think they are such chic, gorgeous shades that you can wear everyday. They are really comfortable on the lips and aren't too drying. Transylvania is a bit more difficult to wear but I really love wearing a dark lip, this works really well with a dark lip liner underneath however without a lip liner it is a bit patchy. 

The butter gloss in Madeline is definitely a must have! It is such a lovely neutral shade that goes with everything and it almost makes you lips look a bit plumper. The butter gloss is £5 and the matte lip creams are £5.50.. so you really can't go wrong. 

Sometimes I really struggle to find a nice but affordable bronzer. They either go on patchy or  they're too orange. However this Nyx one is the perfect natural bronzing colour which is great for during the day or even for a night out. Usually I don't wear loads of bronzer as i'm pretty pale and I don't like the overly bronzed look on me, so this just works perfectly for me. 

Lastly, I really wanted to try some finishing powder. I have watched endless tutorials on how to apply this and to get the airbrushed finished look, and this was only £8, so if it goes wrong it's not the end of the world. I'm still learning how to use this product properly, however I applied it with a wet beauty blender and patted it on after my foundation and concealer and waited for it to set for a couple of minutes, and then I took my real techniques powder brush and brushed away any excess, and it did leave my skin looking very pore less and airbrushed. Although, the only thing is that it made my skin feel a bit tight and dry. I'm definitely up for experimenting with this though! 

Overall I am really impressed with everything i've tried from Nyx and i'm definitely eager to try some more things.. definitely the contour kit and the eyebrow products. In fact I kind of want every single colour in the matte lip cream.. 

SUNNY WEEKENDS

This weekend really made me excited for spring. The sun was shining, and if you tried to ignore the slightly freezing breeze it almost felt warm. I had the most perfect Sunday, I went to the Glamour Beauty Festival at the Saatchi Gallery. I was lucky enough to get my hair done by GHD and my nails done by OPI, then went for lunch and a wander on The Kings Road. 
My outfit was super relaxed and comfy.. I paired my Urban Outfitters pinstripe culottes with a plain grey turtle neck from Primark. I added a spring/summer vibe to the outfit with my beige jacket from H&M. I love this jacket, it's such amazing quality and looks so much more expensive that it was. Then to finish the outfit off I wore my all white Adidas Superstars, I do really love these trainers, maybe the comfiest shoes I own..

Can every Sunday be like this please? 

MY SMALL MAC LIPSTICK COLLECTION..

So, like most females, I love Mac lipsticks. Their colour range is insane and I always seem to find 'the only colour I'm ever going to wear for the rest of my life' shade. If I could afford to, I would buy at new one every week. Sadly, I only have five different shades, but I feel like it's a pretty good collection with some 'must have' and interesting shades. 

From left to right, Whirl, Blankety, Stone, Velvet Teddy and Cyber. 
Whirl is a lovely matte brown finish and I find it so easy to wear. It's a typical 'Kylie Jenner' shade (I hate that saying but that really is the easiest way to describe it). It's quite a statement colour, but seems to be really flattering on my skin tone. 
Blankety was my second Mac lipstick purchase. I remember buying it and being in a rush and I was just so desperate to buy another lipstick. I thought it was going to be a lot darker than it is, but I actually have really grown to love this shade. It's an amplified finish, and it's super creamy. It's quite a light pink shade, but it's so versatile.
Stone is my most recent Mac lipstick purchase and I am completely smitten with it. It's a brown/mauve colour, that can maybe sometimes make you look dead, but I really like that 90's vibe it gives. It's also a matte finish, so really long wearing. 
The next is Velvet Teddy, which is a classic. Another great nude shade with some brown tones in it, so easy to wear and again it's matte... I love matte lipsticks.
Lastly is Cyber. My first ever Mac Lipstick. I won't lie, at the time I wasn't as into make up and I didn't know what suited me. I thought this shade was super edgy and tumblr so I bought it and hardly wore it. But now I actually really love the shade. It's pretty difficult to wear, usually i'd wear it with minimal make up to make more of a statement, and so I don't look like a drag queen. It's a satin finish, which isn't usually one of my favourites as I feel like they slide off your lips and end up all over your face. But still, the colour is beautiful. 

I'm working towards one day filling up my lipstick holder with loads more beautiful Mac lipsticks.. but that may take a while. Maybe I'll do the same post in a year and see how many more I've managed to collect...

Whats your favourite shade? 

MY WORKSTATION..

So, in the past year I decided I wanted/needed to completely refresh my room. There were things lying around from when I was about 13 and it all just needed to change. I decided to paint all the walls white, as then it was a blank canvas and I could adapt it how I wanted it. My favourite little spot in my room has to be my workstation, it has taken a while to complete, but it is finally done and I couldn't be happier with it. I received a few prints for my birthday and christmas, and it adds the final touch to my room. 

I'm in love with all of my prints. They all are relevant to my life.. are an inspiration from something or I have wanted for a long time. It took a while for me to organise and decide how I wanted them to sit and the order they were going to be in, but I'm so happy with the overall look. I love the minimalist look, but I didn't want it to be overally minimalist, it needed to have my own personal touch to it. I may add some more prints to the wall, but for the moment i'm pretty happy with how it is.. What do you think?

Perfume Illustration print - http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/rosshiers/product/love-potion-no-9-print

Procaffeinating print - was from notonthehighstreet.com but currently sold out! 

Prada Marfa print - https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/242487486/modern-painting-prada-marfa-gossip-girl?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=prada%20marfa&ref=sc_gallery_1&plkey=450ec35d57616ea78e9b5ff9c26eb5062012a8c9:242487486

Eyeliner print - couldn't find exact one, but similar - http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/teamhen/product/eyeliner-wings-quote-art-mounted-print

Smile but don't take any crap print - this is a postcard from paper chase. 

JO MALONE TREATS..

I was lucky enough to get some Jo Malone bits for Christmas this year and this excites me a lot. I have lusted over Jo Malone for about 2 years now, but their perfumes definitely aren't affordable and I couldn't justify treating myself and spending that much. 

I received the Wood Sage and Sea Salt set, which include the 40ml perfume, a body and hand wash, and a body cream. They smell incredible. I would describe the scent as fresh, slightly masculine and it reminds me of the seaside. I am in love with the products. I've been wearing the perfume for the first time today, and i've been able to smell it on myself all day. This was such a lovely, luxury gift that I was so grateful to receive and I would definitely recommend buying this as a gift for someone, I feel that any girl would love this!

Jo Malone have so many gorgeous, different scents that I love. I also adore the Peony and Blush Suede, Pomegranate Noir and Dark Amber and Ginger Lily... They are so different from anything i've smelt before, and I love that about the brand. I recommend going to the nearest Jo Malone store and smelling everything in sight! 

KIEHLS MEET UP HAUL..

So as I mentioned in my last blog post, I went to a meet up with Hello October and I Covet Thee at the Kiehls store in Regent Street. I've always wanted to try some Kiehls skincare, and it was the perfect time to purchase a few things as they were offering 20% off! 

As I got to speak to a dermatologist at the event, it really helped me understand what products would help my skin and what my skin type really is. 

The first product I purchased was the hydro-plumping re-texturising serum concentrate. It's really great for adding moisture to your skin. It is supposed to minimise pores and smooth your skin from any fine lines and impurities. It's a really strange consistency, it's more like a gel and it sinks into the skin really quickly. I put it on morning and night before I moisturise and so far i'm really enjoying using it.

I also purchased the Midnight Recovery Concentrate. I've heard a lot about this product and I love using oil on my skin so I thought i'd give it a go. I put this on after my serum and before my moisturiser, and only at night. As the dermatologist said, your skin does all of its repairing and recovery at night. Using the product will even your skin out and ensure that it looks clearer and glowing. I really love the smell of this product, it smells kind of herbal and mediciney (is that even a word?!) and really feels like it's fixing my skin.

Lastly, I purchased the Blue Herbal Spot Treatment. The dermatologist said that everyone should have one of these in their skincare cupboard. It's a gel consistency and it really stings when you put it on a spot... But I kind of like that because I feel like it's doing something good! 

Additionally, we also got a mini goodie bag to take away with us which was amazing. In the goodie bag were travel sizes of the Ultra Facial Moisturiser (which is amazing and i'm definitely going to buy the full size!), The Ultimate Strength Hand Salve and The Nourishing Body Moisturiser. 

So overall i'm so happy with the products that I purchased. If you have sensitive, spot prone but slightly dry skin like mine.. then these products are definitely worth giving a go. Please feel free to ask any questions to have about the products! Have you tried any Kiehls products? What are your favourites? 

KIEHLS MEET UP WITH ICOVETTHEE AND HELLO OCTOBER..

I was lucky enough to win tickets to meet two of my favourite beauty bloggers I Covet Thee and Hello October. It was so overwhelming and exciting, and I felt so lucky to be able to attend the event. They both came across so down to earth and relatable, which is obviously why I love to watch their videos..

It felt so surreal actually meeting them in person. As I watch their daily vlogs and beauty videos so frequently, it already felt like I knew them and they were so friendly and exactly as I thought they would be. It was also so amazing for the event to be held at Kiehls. I have been interested in the brand for a while, and have always been eager to try some of their skincare. I got a real insight into the brand at the event last night, and got the chance to speak to a dermatologist which was so helpful and really helped me understand what my skin needed. I ended up splurging on some skincare, but that all will be coming in a blog post very soon.. so keep your eyes peeled..

NOVEMBER FAVOURITES..

So, my November favourites are finally up. I've been a bit rubbish with blog posts over the past two weeks because of uni work, my part time job and general life.. sorry! But i'm back to normal now and I will be posting at least twice a week..

I found it quite difficult to think of my favourite items this month as i've been so distracted by my uni work, but i've managed to cut it down to 6 products that i've constantly been using and loving over November.

So, first of all I knew I had to include the Kate Moss Rimmel Lipstick in shade 45.. it is such a gorgeous nude, with slight a brown undertone. I prefer my nudes to be slightly more brown as they suit my skin tone more than pinky nudes. It's such a creamy, comfortable consistency and for £5.49 you really can't go wrong..

I've been wearing this Rimmel lipliner in cappuccino underneath the Kate Moss lipstick constantly because it adds more staying power and even more of a brown undertone to your lips. The lipliner is definitely one to rival Mac lipliners.. they are so smooth and easy to apply. Also, they are only £3.99! If you scroll down to the bottom of this post there is a picture of me wearing this lip combo so you can get an idea of what they look like..

So i've really been loving drugstore make up at the moment as my next favourite is the Maybelline colour tattoo cream eyeshadow in the shade 'On and on bronze'. These things are bloody amazing.. they are so quick and easy, you can literally swipe some of the product on your lid and your good to go.. Another of my favourite shades in this product is 'Creamy beige'. Definitely check these ones out.

Moving on from make up, I actually have a favourite deodorant this month. I've heard a lot about Mitchum and I thought i'd give it a go. The scent is really lovely, it's not an artificial smell but more fresh and soapy. The lasting power of this deodorant is amazing, it lasts all day which is obviously a plus..
Additionally, another scent i've been loving is The Body Shop White Musk. This scent really reminds me of my early teens. I think it's because I used to have it when I was about 12/13. I really love soft, musky smells and it's such a great everyday perfume.

Lastly.. The cactus. I just love them. They add such a cool, minimal look to a room. I now have two in my room, and two succulents. It's getting a tad excessive. You don't really need to look after them, and they don't die easily. Whats not to love?

Wearing the Rimmel lipliner in cappuccino and the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in shade 45! 

MY THREE FAVOURITE AUTUMN LIPSTICKS..

Autumn is probably my favourite season.. (okay maybe second to Summer?!).. especially when it comes to make up looks. I love darker lipsticks, smokey eye looks and plum coloured blushers. I've somehow managed to narrow my favourite autumn lipsticks down to 3. These are the lipsticks that are my 'go-tos' in the autumn winter time.. and I shall explain more if you keep reading .. 

So.. Mac - Whirl. What a beautiful shade. I have loved the lipliner version of this for a while, and I have fallen in love with the lipstick. It's a dark brown rosy colour and it looks so gorgeous on. It's so perfect for just during the day, but I can also wear it for a night out too. If you have never swatched this .. go to your nearest Mac now and do it! 

Obviously I had to include a berry shade in my fav lipsticks collection! To be honest, I prefer to wear nudes and neutral colours on my lips. But, if I had to choose one of my favourite berry shades.. it would be this Topshop lipstick in 'The Damned'. It looks so much darker in the tube, but it's actually a really lovely raspberry, plum shade on the lips. Really lovely texture, and so affordable too. 

Lastly, I had to go for Maybelline - Coffee Craze. This is such a lovely soft brown shade, and so easy to wear. I really love Maybelline lipsticks, they're super affordable and one of my favourite drugstore brands.