AUTUMN FAVOURITES 2012

Here is my top four beauty items I've loved using during the autumn months;

1. Real Techniques Stippling Brush - Yes, believe the hype! This is my daily foundation brush now which I use to apply my tinted moisturiser in the mornings. It gives a flawless finish and works well either with a heavy or light foundation, depending on how much coverage you're looking for. I got mine in Boots for about £12.99 which, for a brush this good, is great value for money. I like the sleek design and the pink colour which makes it stand out amongst my other brushes. It also had a flat bottom so you can stand them upright - if you want to. I also realised that it can be a multi-use brush and is compatible with a lot of products from face primers to cream blushes; so defiantly make sure you snag one of these soon.

2. Laura Mercier Blusher Brush - I bought this a few years ago and thought I had lost it. That was until I was packing up my room to move house and discovered it under my bed! I was so happy as this was quite an expensive brush and longed to feel its super soft bristles again. This is the best blusher brush in the world! I know that's quite a bold statement however, when it comes to blusher brushes, I've been around the block (if you know what I mean) SEVERAL times and know what works! Invest in this and you will not be disappointed, it just blends out cheek colour so beautifully and looks so natural - giving a true beauty from within look.

3. Primark Foundation and Concealer Brush - I payed £1 for this. £1! The cheapest makeup brush I've ever got therefore, technically, making it the most impressive brush. It does the job. I had practically zero expectations when I purchased this at the tills - impulse buy - however when I used it, with my MaxFactor Lasting Performance Foundation, I found that it blended well without much need for touchups. If you are new to makeup then this is a definite must have item. Such a great bargain and let's not forget that it has a concealer brush on the other end, which also works great at perfecting small areas of the face.

4. Bioderma Crealine H2O - The cult Parisian product. This is the one every makeup artist in the world speaks of! You will never find a beauty Editors bathroom without it. So, the big question is, "is it worth the hype?", and the answer is - OUI! To take your makeup off, just squirt a bit onto a cotton pad and wipe off. It works brilliantly on the eye area as it is so gentle and, for that removal, place the cotton pad over the eye and hold for about 30 seconds, then gently slide off. I think one of the min problems with this product is how hard it is to find at a reasonable price outside of France. The markup is pretty steep for this and with P&P you are looking at paying about three times the original price. I bought a couple of small, tester/travel sized bottles from ebay for £6 all in, so, if you're looking to sample this for the first time then online is the way to go. I must warn you though, once you start you won't be able to stop. If I come across the UK versions of this which work just as well, then I will do a post on it.

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BEST PRODUCTS FOR A CAT EYES EFFECT

If you are wanting to achieve that full-flutter eye lash, with a strong flicked eyeliner, then these are the products to use.

1. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Blackest Black - Divine. DIVINE. I just adore this mascara! I have been using it since I was at high school - in the days where I would sneakily put some on, but then get sent to the Head Teachers office to remove it (I went to a full uniform school) - and I have repurchased it time and time again. What can I say? It just works really well. The brush is small enough to get to the roots of all the lashes and you can either wear one coat or build, both looks great. If you want a full, sexy feline look, then I would suggest a couple of coats for more BAM!

2. Barry M Liquid Eyeliner in No.1 - This was my first Barry M purchase and, as it was so inexpensive, I was a little doubtful - silly me! - but fear not, it's a brilliant eyeliner. It has one of those little balls inside meaning you have to shake it up when you want to use it and it gets the liquid nice and runny then it will apply like a dream. The small pointy tip brush reminds me of a felt-tip pen and the hand is long enough to give you some leeway when applying. It goes on wet but dries very quickly so you shouldn't have to worry about smudging.

3. Maybelline Eye Studio 'Lasting Drama' Gel Eyeliner in 01 Intense Black - If liquid liners are not your thing then let me introduce you to it's sister, eyeliner gel. This stuff is gaining more popularity recently and seems to be coming "back into fashion" - even my mum told me that's what her and her girlfriends would wear to discos in the seventies - which is fabulous news. If I'm honest, I prefer the gel as I find I have less mistakes when applying and is earlier to build up with. Maybelline gives you a brush with this product, so for £5.99 you get two items of impressive quality. Even Lisa Eldridge was saying how impressed she was with the brush-head, it has quite a unique shape which allows you to do different styles. Of course when using eyeliners I always rely on having Q-Tips at the ready to correct any mistakes. I'll be the first to admit that when I started out using liner, I was diabolical! However, as they say, "practice makes perfect!"

4. Yves Rocher 'Luminelle' Mascara Ultra-Volume in Noir - This is a bit of a wildcard cosmetic. I got this from my mum who went on a massive haul from an Yves Rocher brochure that came to our house a few months ago. I had never heard much about this brand or their cosmetics but thought I'd give the mascara a go. I'm glad I did as this one is so precise when applied and gives a much bolder finish than my other mascaras. It has quite a fat brush which will help perfect that 'cat-eye' look you're going for. Honestly, it's probably one of the closest finishes that could be like having on false eyelashes. It's THAT GOOD! Probably not for a natural, daytime look though; but for a night on the town this is perfection in a tube! You will defiantly want to flutter your lashes at the guys when you have this look complete.

BEST OF BENEFIT

These three products are, for now, my favourite items from Benefit. The brand has become legendary for producing great quality cosmetics which have stand-out packaging and names. Most of Benefits collection has themes which focus around the 1950s - 1970s housewives generation, therefore making them fun and playful. These are definite investment pieces and they have great gift sets to purchase which gives you a few smaller sized versions of their best-selling products.

1. Benefit benetint - This is a great product as it lasts for AGES! You only need the littlest amount to blend on the apples of your cheeks and then blend. It leaves a flushed finish which gives a nice overall feel - I mean, let's face it, who doesn't want to have that cute, rosy glow to brighten up these darker days?

From the Benefit website;

"Our original rose-tinted stain is kiss-proof, see-through colour for lips & cheeks that lasts for hours. Naturally sheer & sexy on all complexions...it’s innocent yet provocative.

Originally created for an exotic dancer in the 1970s, benetint has soared to cult fave status. It's loved by celebs, makeup artists and gals around the world. It's the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle!"

2. Benefit Hoola - This bronzer is a life saver for super-pale girls such as myself. Using the SMALLEST amount on your face brush, you gently sweep the product in a figure of "3" shape on each side of your face; starting at the temples, down under the cheekbones then finishing under the jawline. This will contour the face perfectly if used correctly - I had to do it several times to master the right technique!


From the Benefit website;

"Dust this soft bronze powder over your complexion for a healthy, natural looking "tan" year-round. No tanning bed necessary! Complete with soft, natural-bristle cheek brush. It's pure colour - no sparkle and no shine!"

3. Benefit BADgal Lash Mascara - Probably my second favourite mascara (Maybelline Great Lash being no.1) - I have a travel sized one with me at all times and it's great for touch-ups and has a nice, fat applicator. This mascara gives great volume without leaving those dreaded clumps.


From the Benefit website;

"Sexy, sultry, pure unadulterated black mascara for full, voluminous lashes. It's as BAD as you want to be! Famously big, bodacious brush coats lashes with our super black formula."