The Makeup || Casual Summer Evening Makeup

On these hot nights my standard evening makeup look which consists of winged eyeliner and a bright lip can look a bit too overdone. A much more appropriate look is a natural looking lip and a bit of smudgy eyeliner. I've constantly been wearing this look for all low key events, and I even wore it on New Years Eve and on my birthday. 

I start of by priming my face with the Nude By Nature Mineral Airbrush Primer and I contour using the MAC Select Coverup Concealer in NW40 with the Real Techniques Duo-Fibre Contour brush. The Bourjois Happy Light Foundation in shade 51 is stippled across my face using the Real Techniques Stippling brush. The MAC Studio Finish Concealer is then used for concealing. A hint of blush and shimmery highlighter, MAC Pink Swoon and MAC Soft and Gentle respectfully, is then applied to my cheeks. A dusting of the Jurlique Citrus Silk Finishing Powder finishes everything of nicely. 

Eyes are next, and I start by filling in my brows with the MAC Eyebrows in Lingering. I take the Real Techniques Duo Fibre eyeshadow brush and swirl it around in the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. I build this up quite heavily to make quite a smokey effect. Once all the edges are blended out I take an eyeliner pencil, namely the MAC Technakohl Liner in Graphblack and smudge it across the upper lash line. Next I take the same eyeliner and line both my water line and my tight line. I smudge a little into my lower lash line to get a super smokey look. I finish up with by curling my eyelashes with the Shu Uemura eyelash curlers and lashings of the Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara.
Finally lips, because I have gone for such a strong eye look, I need a subtle lip to balance everything out. My choice of late is the YSL Glossy Stain in 107, Naughty Mauve. This is the most amazing lip colour, it's nude based but it has a purple shimmer through it. It's impossible to describe with out it sounding gross. Simply put, it's the perfect nude for my lips, with out looking too brown and boring. 

X Suzy

The Skincare || Summer Skin Saviours

I am so sorry for neglecting this blog for so long. The last three weeks I had exams, and for the next week I'm on school Prac. So I won't be able to post as often as I like for the coming week!

Summer has arrived. We seemed to have missed spring altogether, which calls for a new wardrobe of lotions and potions (and clothes!) Here is my solution to all body and face skincare dramas from pale skin and dry patches.  

Firstly, the most essential lotion for summer, sunscreens. I won't go into too much detail because I've done a post on this before, and nothing's changed. HERE it is if you’re interested.

Fake tan. I have a love hate relationship with it. When done correctly, it looks amazing. But very easily, it can look like absolutely terrible. Streaky, orangey, patchy. You name it. I also hate the smell and the sticky feel of it. But never the less, I keep applying it every summer. I have found a good one though, from a favourite brand of mine, Sukin. The organic brand has a fantastic Sunless Bronzing Gel. It's not too pongy on the nose, and is not too sticky.   Also, it's not filled with chemicals like other fake tans can be. It's quite liquid-y, which makes it easy to apply and blend. Out of the tube, it looks horrifying but once massaged in, it gives the most beautiful natural looking tan.

Next up, hair removal. My preferred method is shaving. Boring right? I follow it up with a moisturiser, namely the Sukin Body Lotion. At the moment, I'm trialling a hair inhibitor serum called Inhibitif. It supposedly prevents hair regrowth in under 2 weeks. I've only been using this for about a week, so I'll keep you updated.

I've already touched on my preferred body lotion, the Sukin Body Lotion. I use this mostly on my legs, because they tend to be especially dry. On my arms and the rest of my body I like to use the Jurlique Jasmine Body Care Lotion. This is a really light yet hydrating moisturiser which is rapidly absorbed. I usually moisturise after I've given my body a good scrub with a body brush.

My face skincare is pretty much the same all year round, if I need any more moisturising, I'll slather on the Jurlique Calendula cream (I'm a bit obsessed with this product). Occasionally I might layer an oil over the top, either rose hip oil, or the one which I'm trialling at the moment: the Jurlique Balancing Oil.

By using all the lovely products above, I'm able to prep and protect my skin all summer long. What are your summer staples?

X Suzy