RIDE OR DIE TAG

MAKEUP INVESTMENTS

Makeup, skincare, haircare, nailcare... jeez the list goes on and our poor bank accounts are proof of just how much money we spend grooming ourselves! Yes, I am guilty, guilty of overspending for majority of my life. I sometimes wonder how much I've spent over the years (hundreds, maybe thousands? AHH) but......well there is no point worrying now, the damage is done and I'm the first to admit that I am a self confessed beauty junkie/shopaholic/advertisers dream. But so what, makeup makes me happy. The cost of it though, does not. 

I often find myself fighting with myself whether to buy certain products, especially if it's a rather pricey product. I never used to be like this though. I used to buy ANYTHING and unfortunately learned the hard way, that just because something is expensive, doesn't necessarily mean it works or that its a good product. How annoying is it when you fork out all your hard earned cash on a product that doesn't live up to expectations? Nowadays I'll browse online to see if there is any cheaper dupes/alternative products but sometimes, they can be a waste of money too!

SO I thought I'd share a list of my 'holy grail/ride or die' (worth the money) products to show that some products ARE worth spending a little bit extra. Call it an investment ;-)

1. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray- £22

Everyone needs a setting spray in their life and this is my number 1 I always reach for. It sets all the powders down on my face and it makes my makeup last all night. I never need to reapply my makeup on nights out. 

2. Chanel Tan De Soleil Universal Bronzer - £32

One of the most natural bronzers I own. It gives such a gorgeous colour pay off as though you'd been away in the sun. The tiniest bit goes a long way so definitely worth the investment. I use mine with a Sigma F88 kabuki brush and it blends like a dream!

3. Nars Sheer Glow Foundation - £31

I'm all about the matte full coverage foundation and this is photoshop in a bottle. My skin looks flawless when I wear this foundation and I find myself reaching for this more than any other foundation I own. I love it that much I have 3 shades!!

4. Becca Cosmetics & Jaclyn Hill - Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfecter - £32

I'm not really sure what we did before highlighting became the phenomenon it is now - how dull and flat would our skin look?! I own a couple of higlighters yet I reach for this every single time. It's the perfect champagne gold shade that just compliments any makeup look I create. So pigmented and gorgeous - worth every penny!

5. Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette- £38

I kid you not, I've had this palette for 3 or 4 years and look how untouched it looks yet I use it nearly every time I go out! Such a good variety of colours and they are all super pigmented. £38 is amazing value for money when you get 12 eyeshadows. I can't believe it has lasted me as long as it has - another product definitely worth investing in. 

6. Beauty Blender - £16

Again, what did we do before beauty sponges? Beauty Blender were the first to come out with the idea of dampening a sponge then applying your makeup with it, sounds a bit odd but it actually works so well. I've never had such flawless looking makeup before. There are so many brands that have brought dupes of the sponge out but I've had this beauty blender a good while now and it's going strong. I've tried other sponges that once you wash them, they fall apart!! So £16 may seem a bit steep for a sponge but I think it's definitely worth an investment. 

7. Laura Mercier Translucent Powder - £29

This is a must-have product for any beauty addict who loves a flawless finish. 

I use it mainly for setting concealer under my eyes or areas on my face which are likely to crease. It's a finely milled powder so it doesn't cake under the eyes or stick to any dry patches on my face. A little goes a long way as well so again, another product that is great value for money!!

When you're thinking about buying makeup from the drugstore/supermarket, remember this: you get what you pay for. Usually when you pay more for makeup, you're paying for a number of things: a reputable brand name, the packaging, pigmentation and quality. 

I hope this blogpost helps you if you are undecided making your next makeup purchase!

What are your ride or die products? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading

xo

SEBAMED FOR BABIES

BABY SKINCARE

All babies are different but 1 thing they all have in common is that their skin is extremely sensitive, especially in the first few weeks from birth as their skin has not yet managed to build up a protective layer to fight off any bacteria, irritants etc. It's important you keep their skin hydrated and moisturised by using products made especially for babies.

I was lucky enough to be sent some Sebamed baby products to try out on my little one. I didn't even know they did a skincare range for babies so I was super excited. I've always raved about Sebamed products and I know how extremely gentle they are on my skin so I felt confident on using them on my baby. 

www.sebamed.co.uk

Why choose Sebamed over the other leading baby brands? 

Sebamed products have been developed with the same pH level as healthy skin (pH5.5) making them suitable for the whole family to use. Normal soaps, when used with water, have a pH level between 8 and 12 which can affect the skins defence against irritants and dehydration. The products are cruelty-free, ultra-mild and hypoallergenic (unlikely to cause an allergic reaction).

I've used all the products on Harry now for around 3 weeks and I can honestly say they are great and I love every single one. The products smell incredible! Not a strong medicinal smell that might irritate the skin but a really soft "baby powder" smell. Each product left Harry's skin like velvet, so soft to touch but thoroughly cleansed and fresh. I'd been using a few other baby brands on Harry before I was sent the Sebamed products and I can honestly say his skin has never been so soft. 

My favourite product was the lotion. It just sunk into Harry's skin so easily, no need to rub vigorously. It didn't leave a tacky or sticky layer which is a huge thing for me as Harry hates being naked and it's always a rush to get his clothes on quickly before a screaming match occurs!! 

Emma, thank you so much for allowing me to try them out on Harry. I still can't believe I didn't know there was a range designed specifically for babies!! 

If you want to try out any Sebamed products, they are currently offering 20% off when you sign up to their newsletter and free delivery when you spend £20. The products are so reasonably priced anyway but when your a mama getting very little maternity pay, every little helps!! 

Lots of love to my fellow mamas - you are all truly amazing!

SIX PLUS COSMETICS

AFFORDABLE MAKEUP BRUSHES 

I never really understood the importance of good makeup brushes until a few years ago and to think I've been wearing makeup since I was 13 (I am now 27), it's safe to say I was a little late at realising their importance. You can buy the best makeup products in the world but if you don't have the right tools - the finish is not going to be nearly as good as it could be. 

Choosing the right brushes can be hard, as most brushes are versatile and can be used for more than 1 purpose. i.e. just because a brush is called a blush brush, you don't need to use it solely for blush purposes. You may prefer to use it for bronzer or even a powder brush. There are no rules, just what works best for you - trial and error really.

So why choose a certain brand over all the other brands in the market? Well, my makeup brush collection has grown over the years and I own a number of different brands: Sigma, Crown Brush, Real Techniques and Zoeva. All are very similar in quality and in price. 

I was kindly sent the Royal Golden Collection from Six Plus Cosmetics in exchange for my honest review. The set contains 11 synthetic brushes which have wooden handles and aluminium ferrules. Each set contains:

1. Powder brush
2. Foundation brush
3. Blush brush  
4. Contour brush 
5. Small blush brush 
6. Highlight brush 
7. Blending brush  
8. Eyeshadow brush 
9. Concealer brush 
10. Angled eyeliner brush  
11.Eyebrow brush 

So if you are a beginner or are looking to build up your brush collection without breaking the bank then you seriously need think about purchasing the Royal Golden Collection from Six Plus Cosmetics. For £28.99 you get 11 brushes which is incredible value for money. They also come packaged in a leather carry case along with brush guards, ensuring the longevity of the brushes and will be great for travelling with. They look good, work well and are incredibly amazing value for money. I am yet to find another brand that offer quality brushes at this price, offering free delivery and a LIFETIME GUARANTEE! Seriously.... what more could you want??

However you do need to have an Amazon account to purchase the brushes: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SIXPLUS-Golden-Quality-Professional-Makeup/dp/B01GZT3XO4

#sixpluscosmeticsuk #sixpluscosmeticsfr #sixpluscosmeticsde #sixplus #sixplusbrushes 

I hope this review helped if you were thinking of purchasing some new makeup brushes!

Thanks for reading
xo