Downsizing Your Makeup Collection: My Tips and Advice

Being a blogger that often writes about my love of beauty, cosmetics and body care, I now have quite the collection of makeup. I love makeup, and as much as I do use most of the products in my collection, there were quite a few things sitting in my drawers which were unused and hadn't seen the light of day for some while. As I don't wear a full face of make-up on a day to day basis, (and was also getting stressed from all of the clutter) i decided to go through everything I owned and down-size my collection. I have compiled a little list of things to think about when organizing and down-sizing your make-up collection.

How old is the item? There is a lot of talk about use-by-date and shelf life with makeup, there are lots of websites online which can help you when it comes to chucking old make-up away. I got rid of a lot of eyeliners and mascaras which I hadn't used in a while - you have to be careful what you're putting near your eyes! 

When was the last time you used it? I love, love, love lipsticks, but to be honest with you, I held onto a lot of mine just because I like a choice of every colour. Glittery lip balms and orange lipsticks soon found there way into the rubbish pile - I have never worn them out of the house and probably never will, so why I am I holding onto them?

What does it look like? With some products, such as nail polish, for example, you can kind-of tell by sight if it is usable or not. Products that don't really look right or the way they should; the formula has changed, the product is gloopy - will you ever use them? I thought not. 

Does it suit you? Do you like how it looks when you wear it? If not, why not donate it to a friend that would use it. I had a few concealers and foundations which didn't match my skin tone at all - so I never used them. 

Do you like a lot of make-up or do you prefer a smaller collection?

My Lipstick Collection!

Lipstick Collection!

Hi hunnis, hope you are all well. I have been wanting to post a lipstick collection for a good while now, but I have just been pretty busy I haven't had chance to get round to it until now. My collection is not huge but I would say I do have a fair few lipsticks and I definitely do not need to buy any more! The lipsticks are mainly drug store but there are a few random ones in there too. I usually go for very similar toned lipsticks as you will see, there is a fair few muted pinks! 

MAC Lipsticks - M.A.C Red, Pink Plaid

These two are the only MAC products I own as of yet, and they are fairly recent purchases. M.A.C Red (Back 2 Mac) is a pure red which I knew I instantly wanted. It has a Satin Finish and is very long lasting. I don't own any pure reds and I wanted a good quality red so it would last through out the day. Pink Plaid is a very pretty pink which I find really wearable for every day. The finish on this lipstick is Matte which is probably my favourite finish on a lipstick. It is highly pigmented and I use this a lot.

MUA Lipsticks - L-R: Shade 3, Shade 7, Shade 9, Shade 12, Shade 14

As you can see I have a little selection of MUA lipsticks, as they only cost a pound each they are so easy to pick up and try out any old colour. My favourite of all five is the nude (shade 14) which is long - lasting and a beautiful colour. Shade 3 and 12 are lipsticks I picked out when I was feeling daring and haven't used very much yet as I am not confident enough to pull off a very bright pink lip. Shades 7 and Shade 9 I use quite a lot as they are really pretty and quite moisturising on the lips for such a tiny price tag. 

Jemma Kidd Make Up School Ultimate Lipstick Duo in 11 Rita, 12 Dolly

These lipstick duos are double ended and have a balm on either side. I don't really tend to use the balm to be honest. Rita is a very pretty dark nude and Dolly is a very 'dolly pink'. I like the colours but I was not impressed with the quality - Rita pretty much snapped off when I first tried it, and both lipsticks are very thin so I find it difficult to apply from the tube.

Natural Collection Lipsticks - Coral Shimmer, Rose Bud

I used to have a lot of Natural Collection lipsticks but they seem to have disappeared! I could only find these two which are both pretty colours. Coral Shummer is a very 'Salmon' colour which I adore, I am not brave enough for matte corals so this is quite a sheer coral (but is build-able for pigmentation). Rose Bud is a lipstick I bought a while back but hasn't really been used much. I find these products to break inside the tube after a short amount of time owning them, has anyone else found that?

Rimmel - L-R: Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 03, Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 08, Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 19, Lasting Finish in 077 Asia, Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 101

I am a big fan of Rimmel Lasting Finish lippies, in particular the Kate Moss range. The ones I own are all pretty much pink/nude tones and very moisturising  My least used one is Asia, I just don't tend to reach for this colour as its quite dark on the lips and I don't think it suits me very much, but is still a very pretty colour. 03, 08 and 19 are very pigmented and last for about 4 hours on the lips.

Maxfactor Colour Elixir in 610 Angel Pink, No 7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in 40 Pink Lemonade

Angel Pink by Maxfactor is a beautiful girl-y baby pink, which I adore, it is one of my favourites. It applies so nicely to the lips and feels so moisturising, if you want to see swatches click on the link to the blog post I have written previously as there are swatches and a full review on there. Pink Lemonade by No 7 is VERY moisturising, almost feels like a lip balm once on. I haven't used this as much as I had thought I would have, as it is so sheer and seems less pigmented than when I first bought it. It is very similar to my lip colour which is why I tend not to reach for it as much.

Soap and Glory Lip Stick in Perfect Day, Sleek True Colour Lipstick in 775 Liqueur 

I bought the Soap and Glory lipstick on a whim, and I have got to be honest that I have only tried it once. It is very dark on the lips and I am not quite confident enough to pull it off, so this may be given to my sister. It seems a nice product but it looks a lot different on the lips than when I swatched in store before I bought it. It is a very dark pink. The sleek lipstick is my go - to every day lipstick. It lasts well, and is a muted pink which adds a touch of colour to the lips. The formula of the lipstick is good as it lasts all day and does not cause any chapping or dry lips.

Barry M Cosmetics Lip Paint in 152 Vintage Rose

This is a gorgeous colour. Sorry the photo does not do it justice, the camera I was using kind of gave up on me towards the end! This a really deep pink berry colour. I adore this. This is the first Barry M lip paint I have ever tried and I must say it is very mositurising on the lips, I definitely recommend. 

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in 30 Peach Kiss, MUA Lip Boom in Its A Situation, Barry M Lip Lacquer Crayon in No 2

These products are not exactly classed as lipsticks but I thought I would add them here anyway. The Baby Lips Lip Balm is almost like a sheer lipstick so I thought I would include it here too. It is super moisturising, albeit not the greatest lip balm, I like the sheer peach colour to it. MUA Lip Boom is a very dark red, not moisturising, leaves your lips very dry, doesn't last very long, BUT is a beautiful colour. It is a deep red/almost purple tone. The lip gloss on the other side is quite nice alone, but I wouldn't usually put it with the lipstick.

The Barry M lip crayon is a product I wouldn't normally use as I have never really used many lip crayons or pens, but I love this. It is a bright, sparkly red which lasts really well and feels very creamy on the lips. I want to get more of these!

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker in Punch Bowl, Accessorize Diamond Sparkle Lip Gloss in Shade 1 Magical, Front Cover Lipgloss Duo

These are the only lipglosses I own, so I thought I would share them here also! Sexy Mother Pucker Lipgloss - I never understood the hype for this! I cannot stand this lip gloss, it is so, so sticky! I always hear great reviews about these lip sticks but I just find this ridiculously sticky I cannot cope with it on my lips for longer than 20 seconds. The Accessorize lipgloss is the complete opposite. Its not sticky at all, gives great colour pay off and looks nice on top of all of my muted pink lipsticks! The double ended Front Cover lipgloss (I cant find the name) is quite nice, a little sticky but bearable. I prefer the light shade as it is quite sheer, the bright pink is a little gloopy and I don't use it much.

That is it! All my lipsticks, I quite like my collection I just need to be a bit more daring and try and wear the colours I am wary of.

I have left links to my blog posts on reviews for each individual lipstick if you want to see a full review, swatches and to see what they are like on the lips.If you would like to see a review of any of the other lipsticks which I haven't already reviewed, do let me know and I will do that next :)

What is your staple lip colour?

Whats In My Make Up Bag?

What's in my make up bag?



Okay so I did this post a good while back now but looking back on it it was a little rubbish to say the least and thought I would do a more updated version. I am still in the process of writing blog posts of my make up collection but it is taking a while to write up and photograph everything but I will post it all soon :)

You may notice there are no lip products in my make - up bag... as I change it up every day I usually pop in which ever I am using that day :)


I don't tend to take my make up bag out with me daily either, unless I am staying over somewhere and I need it the following day, I tend to just pop my powder, mascara and lipstick in my bag so I can just top up throughout the day if I need to.

MUA Pro Brow Eye Brow Kit

As you can see this is a little worse for wear and the writing is all rubbed off. I use this every single day (even days when I wear no other make up) as I hate my brows and always fill them in. It isn't an outstanding product but it does the job for me. The mirror is really handy and the mini tweezers included are really good.

Soap and Glory Thick And Fast Mascara

This is my current favourite mascara. I got it for Christmas in the S&G 'Best Of All' gift set. It makes my lashes look really thick and I really like it so far. I would definitely recommend it if you have very short lashes.

MUA Mosaic Blush in English Rose

I like swirling my brush around the different colours in this blush to create different looks. I will be honest in saying the colour pay off isn't excellent, as it isn't the most pigmented product in the world, but that is good for me as I have very pale skin and find most blushers way too bright. You can also double this product up as a multi - purpose item as it could be used for bronzer or high light.

Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo in 65 Pink Gold

This is a gorgeous cream eye colour. It is true to its word, it stays on all day and doesn't crease which I find a common problem with cream eye shadows. It is such a wearable colour for me on a day to day basis and is so pretty.

Soap and Glory Smoulder Kohl and Super Cat

I adore both of these eye liners. The pen is very fine and gives a precise line, and the kohl pencil gives great definition and is very black and doesn't fade throughout the day.

Sleek Palette in Au Naturel 601

I use this palette most days and find the shadows have great colour pay - off and last well too. The colours are all natural, brown and cream tones which blend out really nicely. I also use this palette on my eyebrows too, it has a great selection of natural colours.

Collection Pressed Powder in 18 Ivory

I repurchase this product all the time! It doesn't last a great amount of time but it is a decent powder for me, and  I have found it is one of the only high street powder which matches my skin tone. I have used it for years and still love it now.

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain

I recently bought this and so far so good! It is a great match to my skin tone and gives a great finish. The only thing that annoys me about it is that it is in a glass bottle, which often gets knocked about in my make up bag.

 Collection Primed and Ready Primer

I bought this just a few months back and it does the job, not perfect but good value for the price and it is nearly finihsed now, I have another primer ready and waiting to test out once it is gone.

No 7 Cheek Colour in 22 Candy Pink

This is my favourite blush to date, it looks really natural and gives my skin a healthy flush of colour, I use it a lot more than the MUA Mosaic Blush but occasionally use them together.

Stila Illuminating Concealer in Fair 03

This has almost finished, boo. It has been a decent concealer but doesn't hide my dark circles very well, I think I will try out the infamous collection 2000 concealer instead next time.

What is your holy grail product for your make up bag? Mine is eye liner!

Make Up Collection Part One: Lip Balms

Hi lovelies, I am going to do a series of blog posts on my make-up collection, as it has been requested. As I haven't got a humongous collection, I thought I would split it into sections.

As you can see, this is the lip balm collection post. Most people would wonder why on earth you have a collection of lip balms? But I am a self-confessed lip balm hoarder and tend to pick up lip balms everywhere I go. 

The storage I use to store the majority of my make-up is a desk organiser from WH Smith. This is a single draw which stores the majority of my lip balms. I do have a few random lip balms on-top of these hiding in my room somewhere, but I can't find them!

Firstly, I have three Nivea Pearly Shine lip balms. These are one of my favourite lip balms, as they are slightly pink tinted, and are really affordable and they smell lovely. I have another of these in my handbag also, I am a little obsessed! I also have the Nivea Essential Care lip balm, which is a clear, standard lip balm. I get my Nivea lip balms from Superdrug and Boots, but I have seen the Essential Care lip balm in Poundland, so very inexpensive.

Next, I have the blogger's holy grail lip balms. They are raved about a lot on beauty blogs, and I must admit they are a love of mine too. I have used Carmex for years, and this Cherry flavoured lip balm is no exception. It smells and tastes just like cherries, is very moisturising on the lips, and also has SPF 15 which is good in the Summer months. I am not the biggest fan of the tube applicator, and much prefer the tub, but I couldn't find the Cherry carmex in tub form when I brought it.

As well as Carmex, I have the well loved Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula. I am not the biggest fan of the consistentancy, as I find it a little 'bitty' - but it is very moisturising.

You can get these products from most Grocery Stores and Drugstores.

These two little cuties were feautured on my blog recently, which you can see here. They are lovely little lip balms which are slightly scented, which I picked up from Home Bargains for a bargainalicious price tag of 49p each! 

Here are the two current tub lip balms I have, which are Superdrug's Little Pink Tin (which I obviously brought for the colour pink :D) and The I love... Strawberries & Milkshake Glossy Lip Balm. 

I have a love//hate relationship with these tins. They are basically Superdrug's own 'Vaseline' tubs. I love that it is SPF 15, and love that it can be used on skin and hair, but my only hate is that I can never open the tin!! 

I keep it at home with the tin constantly open, because I had it for about 3 months without being able to get into it.

I'll be honest, I only brought the second tub because of the gorgeous scent! It is surprisingly absolutely lovely on the lips too, and looks great with or without lipstick. I picked mine up from Superdrug, but I am sure you can get these products from Grocery Stores and other drugstores.

I think every girl loves a Lip Smackers lip balm, and with Primark, Topshop and Claires Accessories selling them from as little as £1 each, there is more reason to pick one up at the counter. I have the original Coca Cola lip balm, along with Fanta Orange and Sprite. They are slightly scented, and do just the job for the price. The Fanta balm, especially tastes very sweet and tangy! I've noticed they have started selling the Dr Pepper lip balm which I am yet to try! They also sell different varieties of Coca Cola and Fanta flavours such as cherry and vanilla, and have also started selling sets of lip balms and lip glosses in these 'drink' flavours, so I'm sure I will pick some up soon.

My lovely mother brought me this set of 5 'sweetie' lip balms a while back, which you can see above. They are all very scented and just lovely to have in your bag, my favourite is the Refreshers lip balm, it reminds me of being at School! I'm not sure where you can pick these up from as they were a gift, I'm afraid.

A lot of people don't understand why I get so excited with lip balms, and I'm not sure why either, I just love them. I know my collection may seem small to some, or way too much to others, but lip balms are an essential item I use several times daily, so I do get good use out of them, and they don't really break the bank.

What is your favourite lip balm?

What lip balm would you suggest me trying?

xxxxxxx