September Newbies!

Hi guys!

September has been a really exciting month for me (not so much for my bank) because of the new pieces I have been able to add to my collection! Many of the new things I have this month have been on my wish list for a LONG time so I cannot wait to start uploading individual blog reviews, but for now I will show you what's to come.

Firstly the Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Contour Kit. I have longed for this kit as the vast amount of reviews show how amazing it is. Contouring has been a recent craze, so buying everything you need within a handy kit means spending less money and sometimes being able to skip out other steps like concealer. This cream kit is famous for its creamy blendable texture and long lasting effects, so I cannot wait to show you how I use it! My face will be contoured to perfection. 

Next is the Naked 2 basics palette by Urban Decay. These palettes are a long lasting favourite and a staple in many bloggers eye kits. The colours are super pigmented but natural looking, which is ideal for me as I don't usually wear heavy eye make up. The kits colour range is also ideal for creating stunning every day eye looks, so in the long term work out to be a worthy investment. 

My last product this month is the MAC pro longwear paint pot in soft ochre. One of my favourite bloggers always uses this as an eyeshadow base to avoid creasing and product slipping off throughout the day. I personally love the current MAC shadows I own and all of their eye ranges are of high quality, so decided to give this a go. Keep your eyes peeled for a review very soon! 

Thanks for reading and don't forget to check out my Instagram page!

Belles Beauty 

August Newbies!

Hey guys!

Thought I would do a blog update on all my latest purchases and what you can anticipate from future blogs! I have been able to sample some different brands lately and here is a sneak peak of some of my faves.

The famous Smashbox photo finish primer. Have used this a handful of times now and have loved the long lasting effect it gives my make up. Cannot wait to try it out with different foundations.

Estée Lauder double wear. I'm sure you may have heard about this amazing foundation but just in case you haven't I will be writing a full review on this soon. The coverage is flawless and it is extremely long lasting! An amazing find!

The new MAC electric cool shadows have recently caught my eye. I finally took the plunge and purchased 'in orbit'. I honestly cannot wait to try this out as the texture and finish looks and feels amazing!

Hope you are having a lovely day and keep your eyes peeled on my Instagram for updates!

Belles Beauty

Core Collection - Sleek Brow Kit

Hello!

Again I'm very sorry for the delay in blogs, been super busy lately! Fortunately I have been shopping for new products to test out and have found some new staple items for my make up bag. Check out my Instagram if you want a sneak peak of whats to come!

Today I am reviewing Sleek's eyebrow kit, a product I have been using for a while as a dupe of the famous 'brow zings' by Benefit. These kits are designed for people who prefer a more structured and defined brow, as the brushes create neat sleek lines. 

The Sleek kit includes a brow wax, powder, an angled brush, a curved brush and a set of tweezers (which alone are AMAZING). I find the angled brush ideal for applying the wax first, as its easy to create the outline of your brow and then drag the product through the rest of the brow to create the shape and then apply the powder to fill them in. For a more natural looking brow I team this product with Benefits 'gimme brow', which allowes me to comb the product through to reduce definition and evenly distribute the powder. 

I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking to invest in an eyebrow kit, as it's easy to use and creates a fantastic defined eyebrow. The tweezers included are amazing, and the compact packaging means you can use it on the go! The price of the product compared to similar kits is great, and so far I have hardly made a dent in the product after everyday use! I will be placing this prouct into my everyday make up bag. 

                         

Sleek Brow Kit - £8.50

Belles Beauty 

Make Up Tutorial - Full Coverage

Hello!

Sorry for the delay in posts, I have been very busy at university and practicing for my dance show! Luckily the show has provided me with the opportunity to test out some new products and demonstrate a look I never really go for. So here is my full face look ideal for combination skin (a little too bronzed for normal lighting).

I begin by moisterising my skin with Origins make a difference +. If you haven't already read my blog review for this product, its absolutely amazing! Great for any skin type, leaves me hydrated, dewy looking and smells fantastic! After applying this all over my face the next step is primer, I have been using benefits Porefessional, but I also love to use MAC prep and prime range or any B primer. I find Porefessional is great for creating a full face as it covers and conceals all pores and any imperfections on my face.

Next I like to gradually build a layer foundation as it provides a base for my contouring products (which do double up as a concealer). If you find that you have red circles or any discoloration in your skin you may want to apply a little concealer first to ensure these areas are covered before this step. I have been using Estee Lauder double wear as the coverage is full and the look is flawless every time. I apply this with a stippling brush all over my face to ensure maximum coverage without any streaks. Now I can start to apply a little concealer where needed, this is usually under my eyes, around my nose and on any blemishes I want to cover. I apply this with a brush or applicator wand and then dab them with my finger until blended in. This technique doesn't waste any product and again ensures maximum coverage.

At this point I fill in my brows, I have been using Benefit's 'Gimme Brow'. Its simple and easy to use and looks beautiful on newly groomed brows! Many products use a brush to outline your brow which creates a sharp edge, this wand applicator allows you to simply comb through your brows for a more natural look. 

After the base is completed you can start to contour and highlight.I have been using the Smashbox contour sticks which have amazing coverage and blend in to create a flawless lifted look. I use the highlighting stick under my eyes, down the centre of my nose, on my chin, cuspids bow and across the lower half of my forehead. I then take the contour stick to carve out the sides of my nose, around my hairline and in my cheekbones to create definition. You can use the bronzing stick to blend this contour, creating a more natural look, but under the dramatic stage lighting I didn't do this. To set this I have used Benefit's Hoola bronser and MAC's loose powder. I simply dab these onto my face with a stippling brush and then blend with a powder brush to ensure nothing will move!

Blush is next, and again I have used a product featured on a previous blog review, the famous Sleek Rose Gold blush. I use real technique's blush brush and lightly build this on the apples of my cheeks and drag a little bro duct towards my hairline. You can then add a little powder highlighter over this is you want. MUA's powder highlighter is fantastic for adding a little sparkle, or alternatively Benefit's 'Watts up' for a champagne shimmer. 

For my eyes I have only used two products! MAC's eye shadow in 'All that Glitters' is my favorite eye shadow. It looks very natural on my skin and adds a beautiful shimmer to my eyes. I apply this in my crease and then blend out. Next I apply Benefit's High Beam Highlighter on my brow bone and bland this down to meet where my eye shadow ends. This product is also very shimmery, so they compliment each over and look very natural and glamorous. The lashes used are from the naturals range of Ardell. They are super easy to apply and come with glue which lasted throughout the night under intense lighting.

Finally I use lip products to finish the look. Here I needed a bright red lip to last throughout the night. I firstly used MAC lip prep + prime to prepare my lips, then I used MACs Riri Woo lipstick. This bright red covers the lips and can be followed up with Topshops Velvet Lips in 'Velveteen Ribbon'. I applied a little Rimmel clear gloss over this also to finish the look and add a little shine. Finally a few sprays of MAC's Fix it to ensure the look will last! I hope you like the finished look!

Product List:

Origins Make a Difference + Moisteriser
Benefits Porefessional
Estee Lauder Double Wear in Ecru
Collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer Shade 1
Benefits Gimme Brow
Smashbox Contour sticks
Benefits Hoola Bronzer
MACs prep + prime transparent finishing powder
Sleeks Blush in Rose Gold
MAC eyesadow pot 'All that Glitters'
Benefit's High Beam
MUA's Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter
Ardell Lashes
MACs Riri Woo Lipstick
Topshops Velvet Lips in Velveteen Ribbon
Rimmel Gloss
MACs Fix it Prep + Prime

Belles Beauty

Sleek's Rose Gold Blush

Hello!

Hope everyone has been enjoying a glimpse of sun if you had any this weekend. I have again decided to focus on a staple product within my collection, a must have in my eyes.

One of my previous blog posts has given you a glimpse of my favourite blush palette, again a Sleek product. Their 'Pink Lemonade' blush palette is super pigmented and perfect for a cheeky pink summer glow which is very similar to their Rose Gold blush. This product has to be my favourite blush of 2015, and has been used throughout the winter, spring and summer so far and is still an all time favourite.

The blush is buildable, which sounds obvious as all blushes ultimately are, but I find this product looks amazing when applied lightly and then can be touched up or layered throughout the day. It adds a subtle but super cute sparkle to any look and brightens the face. As the product is super pigmented only a little is needed, which means the product should last ages. I haven't even made a dent and have been using this regularly, which is an added bonus for my bank balance. 

The colour seems to suit my pale NC15 completion perfectly throughout the winter, and also adds a beautiful glimmer to tanned skin in the summer. I find no need to add extra highlighter on my cheek bones as the product covers this also. The product is commonly known as a dupe for the popular 'Nars Orgasm blush', at a fraction of the price. Overall the product is extremely well priced, packaged well and delivers a beautiful, lasting glow to the face. Definetly worth a purchase!

(I have tried to capture how beautiful the colour is! Still doesn't do it justice!) 

Sleek blush shade rose gold - £4.49

Happy shopping!

Belles Beauty 

MUA Lipstick

Hello everyone!

Been posting all about my latest purchases recently so thought I would share a product that I have had for a long time instead! I am a big fan of a nude lipstick, and although I do own many red shades that I dare to wear sometimes I am generally very plain Jane. I tend to find a product I like, use it for ages and ages and then move on to my next love.

Currently MUA's lipstick in shade 11 is that product. I have owned so so many of these and at £1 it's a a amazing product! The formula is creamy and looks fantastic. It lasts throughout that day only needing a little reapplication every now and again, and the colour suits me so well. The packaging is plain but looks really good, as they haven't tried to be too fancy or experimental, sticking with a black and silver theme. I love that you can see the lipstick colour at the end of the tube also, which unlike other brands makes it easy to find the shade your after.

They only list their colour shades with numbers which i suppose keeps the purchasing of the product simple, and it's easy to find your shade at the counter. I highly recommend all of their lipstick range as they are so cheap but so durable. 

MUA lipstick Shade 11- £1 (amazing!)

Belles Beauty 

Smashbox Contour Stick Trio

Hello guys!

I seem to be making a habit of buying products I don't need and falling in love with them, which is excellent for my love of make up but not good with my bank balance! My latest find is Smashbox's contour stick trio. With the latest craze in achieving the ultimate Kim K highlighted to perfection look I have also been on the search for a new product to use other than lighter shades of concealer which can prove difficult when blending the whole look together.

Overall these contour sticks are amazing and have gone above and beyond my expectations. I have read many reviews about them and snapped at the chance to try them out at the bluewater Smashbox counter, along with all the other products I could get my hands on! The make up specialist on hand was so so helpful, spending over an hour testing the products on me, colour matching, showing me how to contour and where and everything else. She gave me samples of the Smashbox foundations, primers and told me to go home and experiment before I made the purchase which is something I would always recommend. I simply loved the look of the contouring she had done and had to buy them to try them myself.

The kit includes three sticks; a highlighter stick, contour stick and a bronzer stick. There is also a sharpener included and an information leaflet on where to best apply each product to suit your face shape. I don't think I will ever know what shape face I have but it's fairly similar for each one, and after being given a demonstration at the counter I didn't need this. 

I have been apply this product after primer and foundation as they provide amazing coverage also so I feel no need to use concealer. They blend so so amazingly, simply using your foundation brush or a buffing brush smooths the product out and looks amazing. I tend to apply a little at a time and add as and where needed. The highlighter stick doesn't crease under the eyes and looks natural and glowing on my face. The contour stick doesn't go muddy or patchy around the hairline or on my cheekbones which is a problem I had with powdered kits. The bronzer is an added bonus for giving yourself a summer glow, or even blending the product in if your slightly paler. 

I personally use a MAC Foundation and concealer in shade NC15 so thought the one colour range available may be too dark for me, but they really do match any skin type and blend so easily to give a flawless look.

So, if your feeling like a splurge and want to indulge in the latest contour craze I would seriously consider giving these a go! Well worth the investment as they live up to their expectations.

Smashbox Contour Stick Trio - £35

Remember to keep an eye on my Instagram page!

Belles Beauty