Best In Beauty: Kiko Shadow Sticks

Since my boyfriend picked me up one of these shadow sticks from Kiko (I know, he's a good egg) I've been addicted. 06 (right) is the most 'me' colour in the collection, a golden bronze. I also own shade 05 (left), which is a purple taupe; I think I've seen some bloggers compare it to Misty Rock Ombre Black Star by By Terry. Then I have shade 38 which isn't so shimmery as my other two. It's more of a matte medium brown with small flecks of gold glitter running through.

Their staying power is what really makes these shadows stand out for me. Having hooded eyelids like a 60 year old, I really struggle to find creams that don't crease or transfer. These ones stay completely put once set (seriously, they last all day), but are so creamy to apply and blend. Plus, if you're a lazy gal like me, an eyeshadow that you can apply in seconds which will take you from a 2 to a solid 6 is always a winner.

The only downside to these is the lack of neutral colours in the range; I'm not one for an electric blue eyeshadow look. Kiko, if you're reading - more browns and golds please!

The Life-Changing Lush Cleanser

Back last November I posted about Lush Ultrabland Facial Cleanser and said how I was taking it upon myself to use nothing but that on my face, morning and night for a month (I also said I'd report back after the month. Apologies for the late update!). Being a beauty junkie with a desire to switch between products constantly, I found this quite the task and wasn't sure just how long I'd last. Let me tell you, it was a long old month. My skin went through several rough stages during the process, as you would expect (I'd drastically condensed my routine from a plethora of products to just a single cleanser - so my skin was more than likely shocked). However, after just a month, my skin, which began with acne on my cheeks, forehead and chin, was completely clear. Not a single spot. Before trying this, I hadn't had a morning since about the age of 12 where I didn't wake up with a new little friend on my face. I was completely stunned. I also expected my skin to be in a bad way, with the lack of moisturiser, exfoliation and what have you, but it had never felt in better condition.

Once the month was up, I gradually began introducing some key products back into my routine, noting down what I felt my skin really needed, as opposed to just using products I was using out of habit. I now have a fairly simple routine of Ultrabland, Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Moisturiser and a face mask once or twice a week. I like to use one from Lush or Origins which targets my main skin concern at the time. It's also worth noting that I do still get the odd spot (thanks hormones), Ultrabland really helps to keep them under control and stop them from coming to a head.

I honestly can't recommend this cleanser enough, and I definitely do recommend it to all my IRL friends. I took a chance on this product as a last resort on my quest for good skin and I haven't looked back since - 6 tubs later. If all this isn't enough persuasion for you, the fact that it's made by such a great company with equally as great ethics, and that it also doesn't contain any major nasties makes it a holy grail skincare staple.

The Burberry Dupe You May Already Own

When I first ordered Burberry's Wet & Dry Silk Eyeshadow in Pale Barley, it was love at very first use and it took me a week or so to realise what it was that made me love it so much. It's very similar to an eyeshadow combination I regularly wear from my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. However, this comes with the convenience of being all in one shadow. They are nowhere near identical, don't get me wrong, but the overall effect of Suspect and YDK placed on top of one another resembles the unique shade of Pale Barley. The difference shows in the finish and the tone of the eyeshadows. Pale Barley is *stares desperately at the pan to try and explain it* a really soft taupe-y medium brown with a warm gold shimmer going through it and it has an almost pearl finish to it. Whereas my Suspect/YDK concoction is more shimmery and slightly darker, yet the tone is similar. Suspect looks very similar to Pale Barley in the pan, but swatched it appears more gold (which is where the medium brown colour of YDK plays a part).

So, would I still recommend this eyeshadow if you already own the Naked 2 palette? Absolutely. I would have never spent the steep £23 if I wasn't sure that it was a really unique shade that I'd get a lot of use from. The quality is beautiful and nothing beats the feeling of using it. However, if you're wanting to get an idea of what it may look like, or simply cringe at the price, Suspect and YDK are your guys.

My 'Feel My Best' Makeup Routine

There are some days where you just need to pull out all your fancy makeup that you save for best and put your daily makeup back in the drawer. It's surprising just how much having a face of nice makeup can affect your confidence and how you feel. Am I right?

When I want my skin to look really nice, I really make an effort to amp up the dewy-ness. I like using Dior Glow Maximizer to prime my face, then I mix it in with my Diorskin Star foundation for extra glow. I conceal bags and spots with my Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I love this, but it's way too expensive to use on a daily basis, so I save this one for nice occasions. The same goes for my MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Light Boost. I'd get through one of these every fortnight if I used it on a daily basis, but used every now and then, it really brightens up my face.

To bring life back to my face, I love Benefit Hoola dusted on the high points of my face, any blush from the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette and a generous helping of The Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer. I occasionally bring out my Urban Decay Naked Illuminated highlighter and add a tiny amount to the tops of my cheek bones, but as it's so glittery, I tend to use it just on the eyes.

Although they may not be the priciest or necessarily the best eyeshadows, I can always count on my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette or my MAC quad to make me feel my best. Primed with Urban Decay's Primer Potion, of course. As an extra touch, I like to line my waterline with a nude pencil as I think this ties everything in together. I always use my Benefit Roller Lash when I want a guarantee that my eyelashes will look good. Likewise, I love the Anastasia Brow Wiz to fill in any sparse areas of my brows, as it's my fail-safe product.

For lips, when pulling out all the stops, I have to use my Tom Ford lipstick in Spanish Pink. They're my favourite lipsticks and always make me feel so fancy. I sometimes add a dab of Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector (01) into the centre of my lips to make them look more plump.

What are your favourite products to use when you really want to impress and feel your best?

Brands I Want To Try More From

Topshop: The only products I've tried from Topshop is this liner, and a couple of their base products. I'm continuously reading rave reviews about all their products, so I'm not sure what has held me back from trying more for so long. I love the look of their glow sticks and an eyeshadow palette of theirs, so I may have to try these soon.

Dior: I've raved about Diorskin Star foundation on here before, and Dior Glow Maximiser Primer is one of my all-time favourite makeup products. However, these are the only products from them I have tried. Since I love the Star foundation so much, I'd really like to try the matching concealer and see how they work together. I've also heard great things about their nail varnishes, so they might be on my 'to buy' list really soon.

NYX: I think that if NYX was more readily available in the UK, I'd be all over it. All the products I've tried from them (with the exception of the Jumbo Eye Pencils - no matter what anyone tells you about them, they crease like the devil) I've really liked. In fact, one of my all time favourite blushes is Angel by them. I'd really like to try the Taupe blush, because I've heard that it's a really great contour shade for fair skin, and I've seen a curved liquid eyeliner from them that is supposed to be amazing for creating cat eyes.

Anastasia Beverly Hills: Taupe/Ash Blonde from Anastasia is hands down the best colour I've ever found for my eyebrows. I am in love with the Brow Wiz and swear to use it for as long as it exists, and I really enjoy using the Dipbrow Pomade too. However, I'd really like to try the brow powders they do, and some of their brow gels and brushes.

Kiko: Since I'm so obsessed with the one shade of Kiko's Long-Lasting Stick Eyeshadow I own, I'd really like to try some more. I've had a little look online and they seem to have some really nice, wearable shades. I'd also like to try a few products from their Modern Tribes collection, in particular the bronzer and blusher, so I think I'm going to have to place an order soon.

Soap & Glory: With the exception of their cult favourite Archery eyebrow range and a bit of a dodgy pink highlighter, I've never really tried anything from Soap & Glory's makeup range. I've heard so many good things about a lot of their products, so when I'm next perusing Boots, I'll be sure to take a closer look of what they have to offer.

Too Faced: I own 3 products from Too Faced at the moment and I'm obsessed with all of them. Too Faced to me, are everything I hoped Benefit would be. I love the cute packaging, but Too Faced executes their products much better than Benefit. Their eyeshadows are amazing and by far my favourite formula, I love their Sweethearts blusher (despite the clunky packaging) and their Perfect Lips lip liner comes out of my collection at several times during the week. I'd love to try their bronzers since I know how popular they are, their Better Than Sex mascara constantly gets rave reviews, and I can't resist their Chocolate Bar palette that much longer. Oh, the smell!

Clinique: Clinique is a brand I briefly ventured into as an early teenager, but never touched again once my bottle of way-too-dark Anti Blemish Solutions foundation was empty. However, since the release of their Cheek Pop blushers and Lip Pop lipsticks, I've been obsessed, and it's spurred me on to try more of their offerings. If you have any recommendations, please let me know.

Urban Decay: Other than their eyeshadow palettes and primer, their setting sprays, their Naked Skin concealer (which I love) and their Naked Illuminated highlighter (which I really don't love) I haven't tried much from Urban Decay at all. I've heard great things about their lipsticks and even greater things about their eyeliners, so they'd naturally be the first things I'd like to try. But, since I've been so impressed with their new concealer, I'd like to try more from their face range.

My Top 3 Foundations

Finding foundations is something I really struggle with and always have for as long as I can remember. As a delightful woman from a Clinique counter once told me, I have 'virtually no colour' to my skin - "I mean, seriously. You really are pale aren't you?!" Lovely. So, as you can imagine, foundations that go as pale as I am are quite hard to come by. For this reason, when I find a shade I like, in a formula that I love, I tend to stick with them like a loyal dog does to its owner.

NARS Sheer Glow: I use this in the shade Siberia, and this is my fail safe foundation. It gives the perfect amount of coverage for me, so I can use it if my skin is really bad, or if it's good and I just want that extra bit of coverage. Sometimes I do tend to find that it clings to those fine hairs or dry patches on your face, but that's easily corrected by mixing it with something that has a more moisturising formula. It's one of those formulas that look nicer the longer you leave it to set, but I do always powder over the top just to increase the wear time, as I find that isn't great if I'm having an oily day.

DiorSkin Star: This would be my absolute perfect foundation if the colour was that little bit more accurate. It is slightly too dark and more on the yellow side than I would like, but it can be corrected with a lighter concealer and taking my bronzer down my neck. This is the foundation I gravitate towards if I want to fake that I'm having a really good, glowing skin day. Wayne Goss once described it as 'the perfect selfie foundation' and I have to agree. While I wouldn't use it for flash photography as it has a high (30) SPF, it does look beautiful in your standard photographed. Mixed with Dior Glow Maximiser Primer, this is my favourite base ever.

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation: The more long-lasting sister of Sheer Glow, I was bound to love this foundation. However, only if I mix it with a moisturising, luminising product. It's far too drying for me just on its own but once you get the hang of it, it's a wonder product. It lasts all day and looks undetectable on the skin, whilst giving you a great amount of coverage. Plus, because you only need one (but I usually add a little extra) pump, it will last for absolutely ages.

Are there any foundations you think I should try? I'm always in the market for something new.

Lollyrocket Candle Co.

Lollyrocket is a local company to me, and one that I've thoroughly enjoyed supporting for a good while now. I first became familiar with them when they opened up a store in my home town, selling homewares and vintage items, along with their own natural soy wax candles. When they sold their store, I was gutted, but you can imagine my excitement when I found out that they were opening an online store selling their candles.

I recently purchased three of their 1/2lb candles from a shop in my town, but you can see a full list of stockists here. One of my pet hates with candles is that they often come in a variety of bright colours. However, because all of the candles in the Lollyrocket range are white and come in glass jar casing with a gold lid to hold in the scent, these will fit beautifully within any home. I absolutely love knowing that these candles are made using natural ingredients, and the quality definitely reflects in the product. They burn beautifully, evenly, and give off such a strong (but never over-powering) scent, and supposedly have a 40 hour burn time.

The one I'm currently burning is brown sugar & fig, but I also picked up candy floss and candy shop.
Since the scents are so unique, the only way I'm going to be able to describe them is by taking the notes descriptions from the website and put them into 'Alice' terms.

BROWN SUGAR & FIG
Lollyrocket says: top notes of fresh figs, peaches, and passion fruit followed by middle notes of 
coconut milk, vanilla orchid, jasmine, muguet, and freesia. Balanced with base notes of vanilla beans, caramel, maple sugar, fig leaves, and musk.
Alice says: Fruity, floral, fresh and sugary mixed in a bowl and poured into a candle jar. It's quite a grown-up, classy smell, but one I think everyone would like.


CANDY SHOP
Lollyrocket says: A fruity blend of cotton candy, lemon drops, caramel and raspberry jam with subtle base notes of musk.
Alice says: The most unique candle I've ever smelt. Sweet, but really fresh at the same time. Every time I smell this, it reminds me of walking into a sweet shop on the seafront and brings back so many happy childhood memories.

CANDY FLOSS
Lollyrocket says: A delicious, sweet blend of fresh strawberry and French vanilla.

Alice says: The warm smell of candy floss but without the strong, sweet sugar. This makes it a little bit more fresh and more bearable for sweet scent haters. 


Lollyrocket 1/2lb candles are individually priced at £8, but using the code 'giveme3' on their website, you can get 3 for the amazing price of £20. I love knowing that my hard earned money is going to an independent, local company who invest a huge amount of time to the quality of the products and not to a large corporation. I've now got my eye on some of their other 1/2lb candle scents, and I'm desperate to try their new 1lb boxed candles. Every single one smells insane. I'll never buy another Yankee Candle again. 

The Body Moisturiser That Actually Works

I'm going to put this out there and say that Lush Vanilla Dee-Lite Body Lotion is the best moisturiser my skin has ever been lucky enough to have slathered on it.

I'm not someone with dry skin at all, but my skin just seems to reject every body butter I've ever put on it. The only other product I've ever used that did anything near to what this does for my skin is coconut oil. However, I just couldn't tolerate the smell of it, and I think that's a really important factor with something you're going to apply to your whole body daily.

Since I'm a big fan of Lush products (their use of natural ingredients is really important to me and my sensitive skin), and I love vanilla scents, Vanilla Dee-Lite was an obvious choice for me. Not only does it smell absolutely insane, it contains ingredients that my skin seems to absolutely love. The combination of kiwi fruits, cocoa butter, illipe butter, coconut oil and tamanu oil means that it has amazing moisturising powers, but is really light on the skin and sinks in after just a few minutes. The only thing I would change is the packaging. Because you rub the product in with your hand, it doesn't take long for the bottle to get really slippy and difficult to use. I would much prefer that it came in a tub, but nothing good ever came without its faults.

If you have dry or irritated skin, I can't sing Lush Vanilla Dee-Lite's praises enough. Do you have any recommendations for good moisturising body products?

The Beauty Product I'll Never Run Out Of

Everyone has a signature scent. One that all their loved ones recognise them by and are remembered of when they smell it elsewhere. For example, Stella by Stella McCartney is my mum's signature scent. Naughty Alice by Vivienne Westwood is my nan's favourite scent. Well, Black by Zara is mine. Thank goodness I've found a perfume I love that's cheap and cheerful too.

Zara Black is a really inexpensive perfume, but amazing quality. The scent really does linger all day. Right from when it was released, I started purchasing this. So, I now have all the old editions of the packaging, all new sizes they've released and I'm not even ashamed to say I have my own little back stock of it in my beauty drawers. The thing that concerns me the most is that they'll discontinue it and I'll be left to settle for a perfume I don't like nearly as much. For that reason, I have about 4 boxes of the stuff laying around, 2 bottles at my boyfriend's house and a couple of bottles hanging around in my bag. It's safe to say I won't be running out of this for a while.

Are there any beauty products you stock up on and panic buy? It can't just be me, no?...

Go For Bronze

I'm a pale girl. There's absolutely no beating around the bush with that one. Bronzer is my best friend and the makeup product I rely on the most to make me look like a normal human being. However, it isn't just a warm toned powder I love to brighten up my complexion; I also love bronze makeup shades that bring my face to life. These are some of my favourite products that make me look a little bit more tanned, whether I've got bronzer swept across my face or not.

FACE: I always rely on warmer toned products to give life to my face. My favourites for this are Mac MSF in Soft & Gentle, Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Nude Mauve and the discontinued Nars Douceur blush. They're not too muddy looking on the face, but help to sculpt and give a natural flushed glow.

EYES: There are four bronze products I love on my eyes to warm things up slightly and surprisingly, they're all really affordable. For cream bases, I use Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze or Kiko Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick in 06. Then, my go-to shadow for making my eyes warmer is Rimmel Scandaleyes Mono Eyeshadow in Smoky Quartz and if I fancy a bronze liner look, I love Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Bronze.

LIPS: With lipsticks, I don't ever wear anything to brown because they simply don't suit my complexion. However, these are some lip shades that I've found, that are just brown enough and don't make your face look too sunken, they warm up the face instead. Clinique Pop Lip Colour Primer in Beige Pop is my favourite, but Maybelline's Colour Sensational Lipstick in Tantalising Taupe is a drugstore favourite. I like putting a dab of Maybelline Colour Elixir in Caramel Infused in the centre of my lips with these products, to make my lips look more pouty.

These were my favourite products for bronzing up my face, with no bronzer, fake tan or sun in sight. What are your favourite products for warming up your complexion?

The Best, Most Unexpected Primer Ever

As I mentioned in my previous post on long-lasting makeup, I've found that primer extends the wear time of my foundation and base makeup dramatically. I was quite content with my Max Factor Facefinity Primer and the effects it had on my makeup application. However, this very quickly changed as soon as I discovered Nivea for Men's Sensitive Post Shave Balm.

Whilst watching a NikkieTutorials video one day, I was stunned when she pulled this out and said she was going to use it to prime her face. However, it all became clear when she explained that the second most used ingredient in the balm is glycerin. Glycerin is known in the makeup industry for adhering any makeup placed on top to it, and helps to maintain the outer barrier of the skin and prevent dryness or scaling - things that are guaranteed to make your foundation wear off faster.

There's no getting away from the fact that this product smells 'manly'. It's a man's product. However, when applied to the skin, it blends in really effortlessly and the smell disappears after just a couple of minutes. Not only is it great for helping to create a bullet proof base, but it also soothes any skin irritation you may have too. At such a small price (I paid the full price of £5.35, but it is regularly on offer), you'd be silly not to give it a go.

My Long-Lasting Hero Products

I'm that girl who will apply a decent face of makeup in the morning and by lunch time, I'll stare into the mirror to see cakey skin, creased eyeshadow and a patchy lip. As I'm sure you'll agree, this is never pleasant. However, as I've suffered with it for years, it's meant that I've tested a whole host of products that have helped keep it at bay. I recently visited Disneyland Paris (blog post coming very soon!), and really put these products to the ultimate long-lasting test. I applied them at 7am, and by the time the fireworks finished at 11:30pm, my makeup was still in place.

KIKO LONG-LASTING STICK EYESHADOW (06):
I am such a fan of these eyeshadow sticks from Kiko. I can't sing their praises enough. Simply apply over the lid like a crayon, and blend out the edges with a clean finger or brush. Because of how long-lasting they are, you have a few seconds playing time with them until they're completely dry, so I usually apply one eye at a time for this reason. Once they're set, they're not going anywhere.

TOO FACED PERFECT LIPS LIP LINER (Perfect Nude):
I'm a big nude lip wearer and very rarely venture out into the typical long-lasting brighter colours. However, I've found the only way of wearing a nude lip without having to reapply regularly, is by wearing a nude liner all over the lip. I love the creamy formula and colour of this Too Faced one, but any neutral liner will do the job.

MAX FACTOR FACEFINITY ALL DAY PRIMER:
I've found that primer makes a massive difference to the wear-time of your foundation, and this one from Max Factor is great for the price. It's got SPF 20 in it, so great for general everyday wear, and contains silicone so creates a smooth surface barrier between your skin and your foundation. The real selling point of this for me is that it never alters the finish of my foundation, which is unusual for a primer of this kind.

NARS ALL DAY LUMINOUS WEIGHTLESS FOUNDATION:
I won't beat around the bush with this one. It is a faff and a half to apply, but if you can get the application right, and find a way to get it to work for you, it is a really great long-lasting foundation. I have quite dehydrated skin, so applied on its own, this foundation clings to every dry patch on my face. However, if I mix it with a drop of something more moisturising (I like mixing it with No7 Instant Illusions Rapid Radiance Balm for an illuminating finish), it tends to look much better. You do get a more lightweight coverage this way, but I like that you can have a long-lasting, fresh base.

AVON MAKEUP SETTING SPRAY:
I've been a big fan of the Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray for a long time, but this one from Avon blows that out of the water for me. I don't know what's in this stuff, but I've noticed such a massive difference in how my foundation wears when I apply this over the top. It leaves your skin looking luminous, but really dries your makeup down. I'm in love with it. (Ps. It's also currently on sale for £2.50, so go and stock up while you can)

Do you have any tips to keep your makeup lasting all day?

Makeup Inspiration #1: Elizabeth Olsen

Since I'm constantly browsing Pinterest for makeup inspiration and looks, I thought it would be a nice idea to every so often share my favourites and make it a feature on my blog.

I'm not sure if it's to do with the fact that her sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley are two of my favourite people EVER (6 year old Alice never did let that obsession go), or the fact that we have very similar taste in makeup, but I'm so obsessed with Elizabeth Olsen. I always think she looks so stunning and her makeup always looks so put together.

It seems to me as if she has a very set taste in her makeup. She either goes for very little blusher, or quite a lot of blusher. Not too much bronzer and she certainly isn't one for contouring. Groomed but still soft eyebrows. Either a brown toned pink lipstick, or a nude pink lip. Something quite red toned bronze or gold on the eyes. Rarely any liner, but plenty of mascara. I really want to try and recreate some of these looks on myself as they're all so natural and would be great for every day.

Whose makeup inspires you?

Bedside Beauty

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a lazy mare at times. I like to take my makeup off and cleanse pretty much as soon as I get in the house, so then I'm ready to just do the rest of my skincare routine at night. However, I often leave it a little too long and end up laying in bed slapping serum on my face. This is why I like to keep most of my current skincare products by my bedside, so I'm fully prepared for those 'I-can't-be-bothered-to-move-I'm-already-warm-and-cosy' moments.

I wanted a tray that was big enough to hold plenty of products, but not so big that I'm tempted to overfill it and clutter my bedside table up. This handmade one is from Oliver Bonas, and since I'm addicted to all things copper at the minute, I'm a little bit in love.

On to products, I keep my trusty REN Clarifying Toner and some cotton pads to apply it by my side at all times. This toner mildly exfoliates so is really nice for everyday use to encourage glowing skin.
I then use my favourite serum, Advanced Night Repair by Estée Lauder which I've spoken about on here before and follow up with REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream. This is really good for use in the day but due to the cold weather in the UK at the moment, my skin is getting really dry and I'm in the market for a new, slightly more hydrating moisturiser for night. So, if you have any recommendations please comment or tweet me!

Night time is where I like to do most of my lip pampering, so I have a little arsenal of products by my bedside to enable me to do so. I recently invested in a new Lush lip scrub and went for their new Valentine's Day offering. I'm not too keen on this one (the little hearts inside may be cute but really are annoying!), so I'd probably opt for one of their permanent ones if you're looking for one. I then have my favourite Nuxe Reve De Miel lip balm which I slather on before bed. For a little more intense hydration I use Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream. This is a great product if you can stand the smell! It's a great multipurpose product which is why I like to keep it beside my bed so much. I use it on my facial eczema, my elbows, my hands, my eyebrows and any really dry areas over my body.

What are some of your favourite skincare products for night time? Anything I need to be checking out?

The Prettiest Palette Of Them All

Okay, I'll admit it. I had a weak moment. After a good couple of months of talking myself out of buying the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette because I 'didn't need any more blushers', I bought three more blushers. I have an excuse though... Ish. Whenever a product is limited edition, it always draws me in, I just can't explain it. You know that old saying, you always want what you can't have? It's like that. So, when browsing Space NK's website and I saw it was no longer on there, I went onto Liberty (the only place I could find it stocked, so hurry!) and made a massive impulse buy. Absolutely no regrets whatsoever here. It's b e a u tiful. Not to mention the gold mirrored packaging. Swoon.

It includes the three most amazing shades, Luminous Flush / Incandescent Electra and Mood Exposure. They all look absolutely beautiful on the skin and because they're veined with the brand's Ambient Lighting Powders, they look so natural and luminous swept across the cheeks. Fun fact for you, they actually make a really nice colour when mixed altogether (yes, I had a bit of a mad moment when I first got it and couldn't decide what colour I wanted to use. We've all been there).

I know it's pricey, but I genuinely do think of it as an investment as they're powders so if you keep your brushes clean will last a good few years and are colours that you can wear with most makeup looks. My favourite shade is Incandescent Electra which is the only limited edition shade from the palette, but all the rest are from the permanent line, which I'm dying to try more of. Grab one while you can, your cheeks will thank you for it!

The Best Things In Life Aren't Always Free

When it comes to spending money, when I want to be, I can be really quite restrained. However, if you mention the latest luxury makeup release to me, my heart goes all into a flutter and that self-restraint goes straight out the window and into the pockets of a major department store. Now of course, this may seem like a bit of a shallow premise for a blog post. But hear me out. Of course, I don't think that the best things in life have to cost the earth. In fact, I'm a firm believer that one of the best things in life is waking up before your alarm and realising you still have hours left to sleep, but that's something for another day. What I'm talking about are some of my absolute favourite makeup products, and despite them costing the earth, they really do have a special place in my makeup loving heart.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve stopped needlessly spending money on drugstore makeup (except a few items – this girl ain’t spendin £20+ on a brow gel, nu uhh) and invested my money into more high end products. Putting my face on in the mornings is my favourite part of the day, and ultimately, my day is improved and I feel much better if I’m using nice products. Here are some of my favourite high end picks, for a day when you just want to indulge.

NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER (£22):

I was really hoping that this would be a one-time purchase. £5 more for a lot less product than my previous love, MAC Prolongwear Concealer, I was just curious to give it a go and see what all the hype was about. If only I’d known just how much I’d fall in love with it. It matches my foundation shade perfectly, which is something I really struggle with being even paler than NW10 in MAC (I know. Bronzer is my best friend) and the consistency is something NARS described perfectly in the name. It’s radiant, so never looks cakey but is just so creamy and a dream to blend. I prefer it under the eyes but it’s fine over blemishes too.

NARS SHEER GLOW FOUNDATION (£31):

The reason I fell in love with this initially was because it was the only foundation I’ve ever found to match my skin tone. Despite being really pale, I actually have quite a yellow undertone, which not a lot of brands cater for. This, however, is perfect. It has just the right amount of yellow in it without making me look like I’m coming down with a stomach bug. Not only that, the formula and coverage of it is lovely. It was actually the formula that converted me from a strictly matte gal, to a full on glowy fiend. I even mix it most days with NARS’ Copacabana Illuminator for a fresher, healthier look. The only downside is that it does have a tendency to cling to dry patches, but this is rarely a problem for me. Just bear it in mind though if you do get dry skin.

ESTÉE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR (£69):

Although my skin still isn’t perfect (who doesn’t get breakouts?), going from having full-blown acne to the occasional spot, I attribute a lot of that to this product. I changed my skincare routine up quite a bit this year. No more overloading my skin with really hyped up, stripping products and focusing more on gentle skincare that wouldn’t make my sensitive skin flare up. This was the serum I chose to put into my routine, and I really do think it’s made the world of difference. It contains hyaluronic acid that makes any moisturiser you put on over it work 100 times better, and because of that it’s like having 12 hours sleep and 2 litres of water in a bottle. And above all of that good stuff, it has the most fun pipette dispenser, which makes it the best skincare product to apply ever. Enough said.

NUXE REVE DE MIEL LIP BALM (£9.50):

Now this certainly isn’t bank breaking, but it’s not your standard tin of Vaseline either. Coming in at just under £10 a pot, it’s worth each and every penny. The only part of my skin that really gets dry and sore are my lips, and this completely sorts out every problem with one application. I’m not too sure of the ingredients except honey, but I think they’ve been sent from the heavens above or something like that. If you’re in the market for a new lip balm, don’t go wasting your money on a tin of those amazing smelling Nivea lip butters that sit on your lips and give you no benefit whatsoever, get a tub of this.

CHANEL CREAM BLUSH (£28):

I wrote a post on mine quite a while ago, but these are just one of the nicest formulas of any cream product I’ve tried. My skin tends to play up with cream products and I struggle to find any that work on me, but this is a blusher I’ve recommended to people time and time again, whether they are a cream product lover or not. It feels like velvet to the touch and is blended out so easily but lasts all day. In terms of cream blushers, I would definitely say it’s one of the best. But, as with all Chanel products, they don’t come cheap.

TOM FORD LIPSTICK (£37):
As I said, having dry lips means that wearing lipstick can often be a faff, as after a few hours my lips are even drier than when the lipstick was applied. This is one of the only exceptions I’ve found where the colour lasts a long time and continually moisturises my lips throughout the day. It’s not one of those lipsticks I’d apply on a ‘wasted makeup day’ (you know what I’m talking about) because of the hefty price tag, but I’m already eyeing up a few more shades despite this, so I think that’s a sign of a good product to me.

What are some of your favourite high end products? As if I need any more persuading to spend my money!