A brow pomade was a big step for me so a gel was definitely something novel, that being said this little wonder is so fantastic, easy to control and you barely have to use any so don't let the tiny tube deceive you! There's a great range of colours available and the gel is a thick enough consistency that means it doesn't squeeze out uncontrollably at the slightest touch, but it's not so thick that it's impossible to get out. I would say with this that you need to have a good angled brush to apply it with (my favourite is down below) and to make sure you don't layer it up because it can go clumpy/flaky as it dries very quickly, so speed is of the essence in applying it. It's one of those products that I was unsure about at first but once I got in the groove with how to make it work for me, it's hard to want to use anything else, especially when the staying power is beyond incredible; brows on fleek all day. 

I bought this on impulse because I wanted lush brows quickly & easily for the days I'm not feeling so great and boy does this product deliver on that, which is great when I don't want to commit to using the gel. The only downside of this is that you can't control how much product comes out (and it's quite a lot so use with caution) but it's so easy to apply, goes on velvety smooth and surprisingly considering it's only a powder, it does not budge. At all. My favourite combo lately is to use this to roughly fill in my brows, and then to use the gel to sharpen the top and bottom lines. Such a winner for me and again the staying power is phenomenal. 

EcoTools Angled Brush

What are your holy grail brow products? I always like to try new things (as long as they're cruelty-free)!

Stay curious

Follow me on Bloglovin'

Today I wanted to share with you my make-up brush collection; it's taken me a long time to find what brushes work well for me and suit the make-up I choose to wear so why not give it a little love?! Now I don't often use brushes for the purpose they're marketed for but there's nothing wrong with that at all, everyone's facial structure is different and it's about making things work for you! However, because of this I'll be sharing what I use each brush for instead of what they're 'meant' for (plus the fact I can't remember their original uses as most came in mixed sets rather than individual purchases, whoops!)

Face Brushes

1. The biggest of the oval brushes is of course the one I use for applying foundation, don't get me wrong I adore the effect this brush gives in smoothing and blending my foundation but it was super tricky to get my head around working at first, it's such a transition from a normal brush. I've accidentally whacked and flicked myself plenty of times with this brush but it's still my fave!
2. In contrast to the previous brush this contour brush works so easily at sweeping that contour line on and blending around your forehead. I only had powder bronzer to use but have bought a cream contour stick which I think the brush will work much better with
3. This little lovely is for blending my concealer, it's the perfect size for working it in around your eyes and the creases either side of your nose. I know a lot of people typically use this size for popping on liquid lipsticks and that sort of thing
4. I love using this stumpy little brush for my highlight and have done for a while, sweeping highlight on with a delicate fan brush just isn't something that works for me so patting it on with this over my strobe cream works like a charm & sets everything in place without smooshing it everywhere (very professional description!)
5. I find it hilarious how huge this brush looks in comparison to the others but that's what makes it a great powder brush, even though I rarely sweep powder over my whole face I have the option to do so quickly & efficiently! Usually I'll just sweep it over my eye area and nose, anywhere I know is likely to get more greasy than the rest of my face

Eye Brushes

1. Typically I use this brush for applying eyeshadow just on my eyelid and no further up, it's a really solid shape that allows you to pat & load the pigment on
2. Albeit this was classed as an angled eyeliner brush I use it for doing my brows as it helps to give the best shape and manoeuvrability needed for getting my brows 'on fleek' 
3. I love this angled fluffy brush for using on my brow bone, whether it's popping on a neutral shade or a highlight, it sweeps through that part of my eye with ease
4. I use this little brush for putting eyeshadow underneath my bottom lash line, it's perfect for this because it's solid enough to get a good line but also fluffy enough to blend out shadow so it's not too harsh looking
5. This one is my eye crease brush, it's a great shape for starting at your outer corner; I usually wiggle in small circles then sweep it in and out of the crease to darken things up
6. This chubby brush is great for darkening above the crease of your eye if you're into that, alternatively it's also useful as a clean 'blending out' brush

Spare Brushes

1. I loved this Body Shop brush for a long time until I got given the ones I'm currently using, it's a fabulous foundation brush and gives a really smooth, airbrushed finish. It's such a surprisingly soft brush too so it's really pleasant and easy to use, I would highly recommend it if you're into round foundation brushes or looking for a change!
2. This is a contour brush and shockingly I actually used to use it for that purpose too, it's perfect for getting the right shaped contour and fluffy enough to blend it out so you don't end up with a harsh line
3. I've used this one for absolutely all sorts, from concealer to highlighter to eyeshadow, its a really handy multi-purpose brush!
4. I bought this brush for its original purpose which was to blend in concealer and soon got bored of using it for that so instead if I'm wanting to wear quite a dark eyeshadow in my outer corner/crease I use this instead to get a more 'pinpointed' look that doesn't blend out as much
5. Another like my small under eye brush, great for shadow and for highlighting your inner corner, I just like spares okay?
6. This new little cutie came in my Makeup Revolution advent calendar and the only thing I've used it for as yet is as an eyeshadow brush

These are my go-to products for brush washing and they get my brushes squeaky clean! I first got into Dr. Bronner's after becoming cruelty-free and having noticed them often when I was browsing the bath & beauty section in TK Maxx. What's great about castile soap is that it has a tonne of uses aside from washing make-up brushes; I use it in the shower as body wash, you can use it as a household cleaner, a shampoo, a laundry detergent, a pet shampoo and loads of other things! So naturally it's exceedingly good value for money especially since at most you need to just add a few drops to a large amount of water because it's so concentrated and lathers up a treat, a little goes a seriously long way. Another thing I love is that it's super eco-friendly and ethical, "their soaps are certified by the USDA as organic and by IMO as FairTrade. They do not contain SLS. Pure Castile soaps are made from vegetable oils and do not contain any synthetic detergents." Even better, they come in lots of scrummy different scents such as lavender and rose.

The pink brush pad was another recent purchase by my Mum which she gave to me and it basically acts like an old-fashioned wash board that people used to scrub clothes on. It helps get right into the brush without roughing it up too much and gives me piece of mind that my brushes are actually getting fully cleaned, you simply use the suction cup to stick it to your sink and wash away! Both of these products help to make sure my brushes come out as new each time I wash them and I think that also says a lot about the quality of the brushes I use, they don't get frayed/frizzy, they don't shed and they don't come out looking worn.

Products shown:

EcoTools Starter Set

EcoTools Essential Eye Set

EcoTools Correcting Concealer Brush

Real Techniques Core Collection

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

The Body Shop Fresh Nude Foundation Brush

Dr. Bronner's Hemp Green Tea Castile Soap

Primark PS...Pro Brushes

Primark PS...Pro Make-up Brush Cleaner Pad

Makeup Revolution Advent Calendar Brush

What's your go-to brand for brushes and cleaner? I'd love to know your thoughts & any cruelty-free recommendations!

Stay curious

L'oreal True Match Minerals Foundation in Golden Ivory

As I'm currently on a quest for healthier skin and using products which don't irritate I decided that despite worrying about coverage for my acne, I wanted to try a mineral foundation. I was sceptical having had no success in the past, but being a Helen Anderson fan and seeing this as her go-to foundation and the coverage it gave I decided to bite the bullet and purchase it.

At £14.99 I was pretty much praying that this was good, and I mean really good because to me that's a lot to pay for a foundation, especially if it doesn't do anything spectacular. Luckily my gamble paid off. Despite this being powder-based the coverage is fantastic, it conceals spots and dark circles phenomenally and isn't cakey nor does it dry your skin out. It's easy to apply, feels fresh and light and lasts throughout the day. Also as I'm very pale I have struggled greatly in the past to find foundations pale enough so I was worried this might be a tad orange, and although at first you can see orange pigment as it goes on, once blended into your skin it really does adapt to the correct skin tone match. On top of this it gives a really natural, almost 'glowy' look that makes a great base for the rest of your make-up; I've personally found that eyeshadow and blush seem to go on much better, last longer and look nicer. Finally, my skin seems to have reacted better to this than any other foundation in that it simply hasn't reacted. My acne/pores haven't become irritated and this foundation seems to help keep my skin calm. I honestly think that despite the cost this foundation is worth every penny and let's face it, no foundation is really cheap any more, so if you're looking for good coverage but with a mineral base that's much better for your skin I would highly recommend this. 

MUA Power Pout Lipstick in Irreplaceable

This was actually something my Mum picked up for me purely because it was pink and tonally I was changing up a lot of my make-up colours due to dyeing my hair lilac.

Boots Essentials Curling Tong & Brush Hair Styler

After getting my hair cut short I found that the other hair curlers I have weren't giving the effect or particular curl I was after. I didn't really want to splash out too much money on yet another hair curler and in my search for good value I came across this.

I was after bouncy, ringlet curls and this is exactly what it gives. Plus there's also a brush attachment so you can use this as a hot styler to add volume; this isn't something I've tried yet but I'm looking forward to doing so and judging by the curls it gives I'm imagining it does the job for volume too. There's only one heat setting but personally that doesn't bother me, its hot enough to get the job done but not damage your hair (make sure you're using heat protect product though!) and it heats up really fast. It's also simple to use, has a decent length cord which also swivels, so no tangled cord ever again! What I also like is that your hair doesn't trap or catch and tangle onto any other part of this curler, which has happened to me when using previous curlers despite how hard I tried to make sure it didn't happen. Want to know the best part? This curler and hot brush is just £9.99! Unbelievable. Quite honestly even if this broke within a couple of months I wouldn't even mind and I would still re-purchase. So for bouncy, gorgeous curls that keep their shape and an amazing value-for-money curler, I would definitely recommend this one from Boots!

Allura Tangle Attack

I came across this purely by chance having popped into Poundland for some cheap essentials (as you do). I always like to check out the jewellery and hair things because I've found some great bargains in the past and it paid off again. Wondering what these cute coloured things were I found on inspection that they were a Tangle Teezer dupe. Naturally for a quid I chucked one in my basket figuring it was worth a try since I'd not yet invested in the 'true brand'.

Quite honestly now I don't see the point in buying a branded one, as this does everything I want it to and seems to accomplish exactly what a Tangle Teezer claims to at a fraction of the cost (Paying for the brand you're looking at £10-12). Naturally they're not as aesthetically pleasing as Tangle Teezers but to me personally that doesn't matter, I'm more interested in value for money and the product doing what it's meant to. As you can tell I'm happy with this product as I bought another and there's also a blue colour available which I'm probably going to get. Personally I think this is a brilliant dupe and excellent value for money, it gets tangles out effortlessly with barely any pain or tugging on your hair and doesn't rip all your hair out. I also find that it can help to add volume and shine to your hair if you brush through using a zig-zag motion. Overall a fantastic product and excellent value for money!

Hey cats!

Here's a quick Outfit Of The Day of what I wore on my first trip into Manchester since September!

Hey cats!

Yes that is a mouthful, but I can't contain my excitement. As an acne sufferer I've gotten used to using full coverage cakey make-up and lashing on much more than I probably need. Since I've started college again which includes a very early start, I don't exactly have the time in the morning to put on a full face of make-up, nor do I have the sleep to lose. So I've been on a search piecing together a perfect little kit of products that can get me feeling much more confident in much less time, and eureka! Now don't get me wrong, it isn't at all anywhere near having a 'full face' on, but I find it better than tackling a long day completely bare faced on only five hours sleep. I also have options where I can build up how much product I use depending on how much time I have in the morning.

If you have a tad extra time the MUA bronzer (find here) is great to pop on as it's like a blusher and a bronzer in one, giving you a nice, healthy glow. Another product worth mentioning is Magic Minerals (find here) because it's great to put on over foundation, it looks natural but gives that extra bit of coverage. It's also fab to use if you literally have only two minutes, just blend this on using the brush provided and it smooths and evens out any imperfections. Plus it's a nice size to pop in your handbag in case you need a top up! Lastly, if you prefer a darker more striking brow above anything else, MUA do a great brow mascara (find here), just slick it on and let it dry or for even more definition add a coat of shadow too.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on any of the products mentioned or what your go-to products are!

After over-bleaching and a perming disaster killing my hair a few years ago I've been scared to go back to blonde despite really wanting to. But I found this and gave it a go and I'm really glad I did. It's super easy to use and comes with everything you need to bleach your hair at home, you just mix up all the sachets and away you go. What put me at ease with this product is it urges you to do a strand test to see if the dye breaks your hair or not, which I think is great. Only downside is these dyes don't always go far, at the time I had collarbone length hair and two packs of this only just covered all of my hair. But in my opinion they're worth it because it's quite a gentle bleach and leaves your hair shiny and soft after using which I haven't found with any other bleach.

With being quite petite both in height (5ft) and build (size 6-8) it's never really been my thing to want high leg boots, mainly because they either make me look even smaller or they don't fit properly around my leg and I'm not a fan of it being baggy. However, the weather here has been horrendous and I was finding that I didn't really have monsoon weather appropriate shoes. Cue these little beauties from Asda. A lot of my purchases are whims, they tend to jump out at me from nowhere. I saw these and liked them because they were leather upper and looked more like a biker boot. I tried them and they fit my tiny size 3's like a glove! They are so so sooo comfy! Really warm, really weatherproof and not at any point of me wearing them have they rubbed or hurt my feet, and they fit great around the calf. What I love is that they are such a versatile boot, they go with dresses, skirts, shorts, jeans, you name it; they find a way to mesh wonderfully into any outfit. They also do a tan version which I may have to consider going forward into Spring.

I've got a bit of a thing for coconut lately and these are both just divine, not to mention amazing value. They both smell absolutely fantastic, coconut-y but not sickly, I just feel like I'm on a tropical island when I use these. They're also great quality, the shampoo lathers up beautifully leaving your hair squeaky clean and the conditioner makes your hair silky soft. Did I mention they both leave your hair smelling amazing too? Like a tropical goddess. Also, if you're a fan of dyeing your hair all the colours of the rainbow, the conditioner is great to use as a mixer with dyes (E.g Directions by La Riche) if you want to tone down a bright colour to a more pastel shade. Last point to mention is that neither product is tested on animals.

As you may be able to tell with the inclusion of a home bleaching kit, I am indeed battling with being blonde. The main goal is to eventually go white/silver and this is such a helpful product. I've used this in the past when I'd previously been bleach blonde and it really does banish the brassiness after one use! I like to use a range of their products because I think they all compliment each other well. Naturally because its a toner if you leave it in for longer than it states, or just use this as your shampoo every time you wash your hair, it really makes the difference on that quest for silver hair. Already after just under a months use I can see silvery/lilac tones shimmering through. So if you're looking to have lovely blonde locks without the yellow streaks, or if you're on a journey for silver hair without using dye I highly recommend this shampoo!

Here's to a Happy February!

Hey cats!

I get up early and start early, having college from 9am - 2.30pm. Lets face it, no one really wants to put that much effort in do they? I know I don't, since I only usually get about four or five hours sleep. This is something I would typically wear for a casual day at college, enjoy!