Current Beauty Favourites

When I started this blog (previously A Yellow Brick Blog) back in 2013 I talked about make-up a lot. Probably 85% of my content was talking cosmetics whether it be favourites, hauls or a review. I lived for it and spent so much money on tying out the latest releases, top trends and recommendations from other bloggers to feed my addiction!

Over the last couple of years this has slowly faded away, not only do I not really have the budget to be buying new products every single week but I have also become a creature of habit and once I've found a few products that work for me I will use them religiosuly until they are empty!
So I wanted to share with you all some of my FAVS right now that I have been using constantly!

Stila Heaven's Hue Highlighter - Kitten
Highlighters are my thang! I have been obsessed with using highlighting products since I tried out a cream highlight from (maybe) Illamasqua  back in 2008/2009! I have bought countless different powders, liquid and creams over the last 8 or so years and this new release from Stila is up there with my favourites!
Kitten is such a classic shade from Stila and this version of the Heaven's Hue is the perfect finishing touch to any make-up look! I used to use the highlight from my Charlotte Tilbury contour kit everyday but I've now switched to use this on my cheekbones, down my nose and under my eyebrows! If you get the chance to check out the Heaven's Hue Hilighters.... do it!

Beauty Blender Sponge
Well.... I'm not too sure how I actually lived without this. I swore by using a buffing brush to put on my Facebook .... until I discovered a damp beauty blender! This is now the only way I apply my foundation and concealers, game changer!

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
This was actually an influenced purchase... I haven't had one of those in a while! I had finished my with my Age Rewind Concealer (I think that's what it's called) from Maybelline and as the Fit Me was on offer and I had seen Brittney Saunders using it in her videos I thought I would give it a go! This is the perfect 'wake up' for my skin. It brightens up my eye area and transforms my tired face immediately! Where it has been so hot recently some days I have just been wearing this without foundation to brighten my skin and get rid of any fatigue on my tired-ass face!

Make Up Forever HD Foundation
I must say this has been in my make-up collection for a long while now BUT it can only come out to play when I have a tan! The shade I have is way too dark for my natural skin colour but when I have fake tanned, this mixed with a bit of my darker True Match foundation is amazing! Such incredible coverage and perfect for a night out.... it was also my go-to for the IOW Festival earlier this month! 

Nivea Daily Express Hydration Primer
*Holy grail alert* - this is my favourite skincare product to use every single morning. Once I've washed my face in the shower and used a toner I pop on this super light primer moisturiser to melt into my skin before I start my make-up routine. It feels fab and my skin just loves it, I'm not one for thick cream on my face so this formula is perfect, plus it feels really refreshing - I highly recommend giving it a go, especially throughout the summer!

Rosie For Autograph Eyeshadow Quad - I Feel Like A Million Dollars
I'm a sucker for nudes, bronzes and general neutrals when it comes to eyeshadows. I love my Naked palette from Urban Decay but this has actually been my go-to for the last few months. The whole Rosie range is super pigmented and fantastic quality!

Blank Canvas F33 Extreme Contour Brush*
I was sent this brush to try from Black Canvas a few weeks ago and I think I've probably used it every time I put on make-up. It is the perfect brush for applying my Charlotte Tilbury contour powder, definitely an everyday product for me now!

Zoeva 317 Wing Liner Brush
The perfect brush for applying eyebrow powder. That is all.

Nip + Fab CC Cream & CC Eye Fix Review

Was I only person who thought that Nip + Fab consisted of products were purely for things like cellulite and wrinkles?! Seriously where have I been? 
Tut, tut to me and my beauty brand sterotyping!

Turns out this cheeky little brand has got a whole range of products out ranging from shower treats to skincare to make-up ... and make-up is what I'm chatting about today!

You may have spotted these recently in my Minimal Summer Make-up post - read here!

So.....BB creams/products never really took my fancy that much but... CC creams, well that is a different story! I've bought a few over the past year and have been so pleasantly surprised I'd say everytime. 

Where I'm used to wearing a high coverage foundation daily so it's a lovely feeling to wear something that still have great coverage but is lighter on the skin, especially in this hot weather!

Nip + Fab CC Cream* & CC Eye Fix*

This CC Cream has been on the top of my make-up bag for the last couple of weeks, it has literally come to my rescue in this hot and stuffy weather! (I'm not complaining - it's much nicer than rain!)

Not only does it have a 30SPF which, for me, is essential for summer but it only contains Soline & Hyaluronic acid to keep your skin super moisturised for 24 hours!

Keeping your skin hydrated is key in the summer, my skin can feel so drained of moisture after just a few hours especially when I am down the beach, so this stuff is a life-saver.

If you are like me, someone who can't bare not putting on a base but can't stand having a melted face of foundation then you will love this!

When I first saw the shade I was a little nervous it looked slightly orange ...BUT once I had applied and blended it in it sat perfectly and gave me a smooth and radiant finish without feeling thick or heavy.

 The concealer eye fix works perfectly with it aswell.

Now this isn't an 'eye fix' that is going to cover your dark circles like a heavy duty concealer (aka Seveteen's Phwaorr Paint) but it is going to conceal them.

This clever stuff is filled with light diffusing pigments which help brighten to under eye area and also life the eye area appearance! 

Keeping with the CC cream's benefits this stuff also locks in moisture with it's special beeswax ingredient and it also has one of my fav little treats included... vitamin E!

I love the twist applicator and have really been enjoying using this alongside the CC cream for a simple everyday face!

These two are definitely top of my summer make-up list and have helped me wave goodbye to thick and heavy foundations for times when they are total unnecessary! 

The eye fix is priced at £9.95 and the CC cream - £14.95.

Have you tried anything from Nip + Fab recently? I have a huge wishlist and would love to know if you guys have been loving anything!!

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My Favourite Foundations

Foundation is something I have worn for years and years.
Since I was probably around 14/15 (holy moly that is TEN years ago) I have popped on foundation nearly everytime I've left the house. (minus those trips to the corner shop and lazy days)

I'm very lucky with my skin and have rarely had any bad cases of spots or acne but I still love the even, clear look foundation gives my face and I'm a make-up junkie so really... what do you expect?!

Over the years I have gone through bottle after bottle of the stuff and tried out more foundations than I can even think of! 
BUT I do have my favourites which I have become my holy grails and have now stuck too and hold very dearly. (please don't be discontinued!) 
I get alot of questions both online and in real life asking me what foundation I use so here are my 3 favourites which are what I wear 99.9% of the time!
Just a quick FYI..... I do like a full-coverage foundation, so if you're into more of a tinted moisturiser or BB Cream these may not be the products for you!

L'oreal True Match Foundation 

This is the foundation which made me fall in love with foundations. I have probably been using these stuff since I was about 17 or 18 (about 7 years!) and I still love it as much as when I first bought it!
 I know this is so many of your favourites too from what I've read in the #bbloggers chats on Twitter! 
It is great for everyday make-up and also heavy enough for a good old night out aswell, it has a lovely silky smooth feel and is so easy to blend in! 
Until I found the other 2 foundations featured below this was the only foundation I had used for years - mostly being too scared to try something new as I didn't think it would be as good!
I usually buy in shade N4 (although I think this is a little dark for me at the moment) - if you are just getting into foundations and want to try something I little more full coverage I highly recommend this stuff, they have a great range of shades too so hopefully there is something for everyone and it is only £9.99.

Bourjois Healthy Mix

This is a foundation that I only tried for the first time last year after seeing so much hype about it from other bloggers. (yes you girls really do influence me!)

Since trying it I haven't looked back and it has been firmly in my everyday make-up ever since!

Great coverage like the True Match foundation this stuff gives such a gorgeous glow to the skin giving you such a radiant finish - it really does live up to its 'healthy' name! This stuff has great lasting power and it is fab if, like me, you want to even out your skin tone! 

This stuff is also only £9.99 and worth every penny but doesn't have as many shades to choose from as the True Match. (With my complexion at the moment I am using the shade Vanilla) 

Mac Studio Sculpt 

Now for something slightly more pricey and actually a foundation I only wear for a night out or big occasion.

On my last day of my trip round America back in 2012 I was in New York doing some shopping and I decided to head to Mac to get a new face. (....of make-up!) 

Because I was so tanned for being in the sun in Florida for over 2 weeks none of my make-up matched my face anymore so I was actually using bronzer as a face powder so wanted to get a new foundation to match my amazing tan and this is what the lovely lady gave me!

Obviously I fell in love, such a perfect high coverage base in my opinion and this is a priced possession of mine. 

Since then obviously I have had to buy it in a couple of other shades (tan's don't last forever) and this is the stuff I use every time I go on a night out or if I want to have my make-up a little heavier. For me I couldn't wear this stuff daily as I think it's a little thick for me to have on everyday (espically at work, it seems pointless) .... and well, I could not afford to do that too!

This stuff is £25 for 40ml, but a little does go a long way and I am always happy to pay that when it is such a great product! The shade I use at the moment is NC25.

So there we have it, my favourite foundations! Have you used/do you use any of these? What are your favourites? It would take alot for me to change from these now I feel - they are perfect for me!

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