Last Minute Beauty Gift Ideas

The Balm Nude'tude Palette
If you have a huge beauty fan in your life that doesn't already own this, I think it would make such a lovely gift. Its a little more on the pricey side costing around £30 , but if you have someone in mind that loves a nude smokey eye I think this really would make a special gift.

Superdrug Fruity Trio Strawberry & Raspberry Set
A fail safe Christmas gift is a bundle of bath and body products, especially when they are already boxed up it makes a great little gift. This fab little set* comes complete with a bath puff, shower gel and body cream, and costs just £2.50 from Superdrug and comes in a variety of different scents.

Shadow Switch
Being a beauty blogger, I am always eager to see new products on the market, especially when it comes to make-up removal and makeup brush cleansing - two tasks which I do not enjoy! I was contacted recently by a brand called Beauty Essentials who specialize in lots of different beauty products. They sent me Shadow Switch*, which is a product designed to quickly clean your eyeshadow brushes so you can use them multiple times when applying your makeup. I haven't really seen anything else on the market like this and think its a pretty nifty idea, and think it would make a pretty cool gift for a beauty fan, especially if they love a smokey eye as we all know how annoying it is when you use the same eyeshadow brush while creating a smokey eye - it can get messy!
This product is currently available to buy online from Amazon here, but will soon be available on their UK website too.

Seventeen Sparkle and Shine Lip Gloss Collection
One of my go-to budget beauty brands has always been Seventeen at Boots. In fact, I remember writing about their Dazzle Dusts in one of my first blog posts back in 2012. They always do gorgeous and really inexpensive gifts at Christmas time that could be perfect for your sister, bestie, cousin, secret santa, or anyone that loves their make-up really! This Sparkle and Shine Lip Gloss Collection* includes six pretty lip lustres; there is a selection bright pinks, nudes and corals so something to suit all and a great way for someone that perhaps wants to get into make-up can try out different colours. The lip glosses are really good quality considering the teeny tiny price ticket too.

*Includes some PR samples*

New In: Benecos Makeup Brushes

I am always on the hunt for new makeup brushes. They are probably one of my favourite beauty items to buy! I just think that if you have great tools to apply your makeup with, it can make a whole difference to the way your makeup appears. I recently picked out a few makeup brushes from Benecos; a natural beauty brand, to put to the test.

The Benecos Powder Brush (RRP £9.95) is perfect for applying setting powder, as well as doubling - up as a fairly good blush brush. The bristles on the brush are super soft and fluffy, and as the brush is large, it is great for distributing powder across the face. When I use this to apply my setting powder, I feel it gives an even and flawless finish. Overall I cant really fault this brush, I think it does a great job and is worth the price tag. I have tried other powder brushes which cost much more than this one, that don't achieve the results this brush does.

The Benecos Rouge Brush (RRP £8.95) is much smaller than the powder brush in regards to the handle size. The Rouge Brush is great to use to apply highlight, bronzer and even blusher. The brush has a slanted cut of the head, which helps to give a more accurate application of bronzer or highlighter. I love this brush to apply highlighter, as it is super soft and gives a very defined application. I would definitely recommend this brush to anyone looking for a slanted powder brush, it is brilliant for the price.

My first impressions of Benecos makeup brushes are that they are very soft; they don't shed, wash well and apply my makeup really evenly and well. I am definitely going to be trying more from the range!
Both brushes are available to buy online at Mypure.

Have you ever tried natural makeup brushes before?

Mypure Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter

*PR samples*

ECOTOOLS Bamboo Eye Enhancing Duo Brush Set

Ecotools are a well-known make-up brush brand that are environmentally friendly. As I really like the brand, I do tend to look into them first when shopping for new make-up brushes. I came across the Bamboo Eye Enhancing Duo Brush Set whilst browsing online and realized I had never seen this set before. As the brushes are double - sided, I thought this set would be a perfect go - to kit for doing my eye make-up in a rush, travelling, perfect for my make-up bag and generally some good beauty tools to add to my collection.

The set includes a shade and define brush, which is perfect for applying eyeshadow, and to add a little more detail with the define end of the brush. I have used the Ecotools shadow brush before and I really like it as it packs a lot of product on and distributes it well. The define end of the brush is good but I don't really get a lot of us out of it; it is good to know I have it if I need it though.
It also includes a blend and smudge brush, that is perfect for blending out the eyeshadow, and the smudge end of the brush is good to smudge eyeliner. The smudge end of the brush is really good and works really well. The blend end of the brush leaves your eye makeup looking blended out and soft, I am so impressed with this brush overall, as I feel it is such a reasonable price for how good this brush is alone.


The set is so inexpensive at just £5.99 , I think that is really good value for money considering that the brushes are good quality. I feel that this kit would be good maybe for someone just starting out in make-up as well as long time beauty lovers, as the price is so reasonable and you get two brushes which double up as four, and you have pretty much everything you need to apply your eye shadow products with just those two. I find make-up brushes can be quite expensive if I am honest; but I feel Ecotools are definitely a really good quality beauty brush brand which are easily accessible and are low in price too.
The Ecotools Bamboo Eye Enhancing Duo Brush Set is available to buy online from Mypure here.

*Post includes PR sample*

First Impressions of the Eco Tools Bronzer Brush

I am a big fan of Eco Tools Make Up Brushes. I have quite the collection now; a lot of them being firm favourites that I use everyday. I love the ethos behind Ecotools, as their make up brushes are made from recycled aluminium, bamboo and have cruelty free bristles, which as a brand makes them very enviromentally friendly.

I have been after a new bronzer brush for a while. Bronzer isn't something I use every day - I haven't found the perfect bronzer for me just yet but I really wanted to invest in a good bronzer brush for when I am wanting to add some glow and colour to my face in the Summer Months.

The Eco Tools Bronzer Brush is the perfect size for distributing the product, as it is a large brush I use it lightly when applying bronzer and the application is great.

For the time I have been using the brush, it hasn't shed at all - I must say that out of all my make - up brushes, the Eco Tools brushes are the brushes that shed the least.

I have used this brush with bronzer and I have used it as a powder brush, and it works well as a tool for both. I have found that I only need a small amount of product onto the brush as it distributes the product really well and if there is too much product on the brush, my face is covered in the product which is great for when you are using the brush to apply powder, but not bronzer. I do really like the quality of the brush and it applies powder really well. Although I don't think it is the best bronzer brush out there, I do think it is a great budget - friendly bronzer or powder brush. 

The bronzer brush is available to buy from MyPure online.

*Post includes PR sample.*

Inika Angle Brush - The Perfect Angled Eye Brush!

Firstly, apologies for the photography in todays post - it is actually quite difficult to photograph a single make - up brush with the camera I am currently using, so my photo's aren't of such a good quality as I would like them to be, but please bear with me until I soon upgrade to a better camera. I am sure you can still see the fantastic quality of the Inika Angle Brush from the photographs! You can also check out their stock photos at My Pure here.

About the Inika Angle Brush

Inika is a brand I am quite familiar with, being a natural and organic brand which doesn't cause any irritation to the skin, I really wanted to try out one of their products as I often get irritated skin. I had been hearing a lot about them through beauty reviews, so I knew when browsing My Pure's website I really wanted to try one of their make up brushes. This brush certainly does not disappoint. I opted for the Angle Brush - a multi-use brush perfect for applying eye-shadow, eye-liner and of-course, a perfect tool for filling in brows.

I have used the brush for filling in my eyebrows. It is a great tool for this, especially if you like a bold brow as it is quite a large brush which helps to create great shape. I have also used it to apply eyeliner to my lash line, by wetting the brush and using different coloured eye-shadows to create new eye liner shades. The brush is easy to use and I find it easy to apply product onto the brush. I would definitely recommend this brush for eye shadow or eye liner.

The brush feels really soft and hasn't shed which is a plus from me! As Inika is quite a well - known and slightly more expensive brand, I expected good things from this make up brush and it really does show in this case that it is well worth the money as the quality of the brush is fantastic.

More Information

The Inika Angle Brush is made from 100% man made materials and wood from sustainable forestry. You can purchase the Inika Angle brush at My Pure here. My Pure is a fantastic website if you are looking for natural and organic brands like Inika, they give greast customer service and their delivery is really quick. Their products arrive well packaged and I can't fault the service with My Pure!

*This post contains PR samples/items which were sent to me for consideration to review. All opinions are 100 %  honest and my own. You can view my full disclaimer policy on the contact tab above*

Eco Tools Bamboo 5 Piece Fresh and Flawless Complexion Set

Make Up Brushes from Eco Tools: The 5 Piece Fresh and Flawless Complexion Set

I absolutely love the brand Ecotools. I have quite a selection of their brushes now, and love that they are economically friendly and 100% cruelty free. EcoTools brushes are well - known for their bamboo handles, and don't even get me started on how incredibly soft the bristles are on the brushes. Today I  am reviewing their 5 Piece Fresh and Flawless Complexion Set.



The Fresh and Flawless Complexion Set* includes five fantastic make up brushes that will help to achieve a flawless make up base or complexion. Included in the set is the Flat Concealer Brush, the Buffing Concealer Brush, the Precision Foundation Brush, the Complexion Blending Brush and the Full Powder Brush. All five brushes work well with mineral, powder or liquid make - up, so it it really is ideal for anyone.
The flat concealer brush is one I already own, and really enjoy using. It is a great tool to help hide any blemishes, and also doubles up as a great eye shadow brush. The buffing concealer brush is probably my favourite brush out of the set, as it buffs in both foundation and concealer flawlessly. The precision foundation brush is a great brush also to apply foundation on to the face.  I was unsure if I would like using such a small brush to apply liquid foundation but in fact it is a brilliant tool for this. The complexion blending brush is the brush I was mostly unsure of, but have soon found through a little bit of research is great to use to buff liquid or mineral products, particularly concealer onto the skin.
The powder brush is quite a small brush to apply powder, I personally think it would make a good blush brush if applied with a very light hand.

Does Size Matter?

The brushes in this set are smaller in size to the other Ecotools brushes that I own, but that is just a plus for me as it makes it easy to fit inside my make up bag when I am out and about. As the handles are quite a lot shorter than most make up brushes in my collection, I wasn't sure I would find it difficult to use them as well as the other brushes in my collection - but fear not,  hey still work brilliantly like any other. The different colours on thes top of these brushes are a great addition, as they help to find your brush in a hurry and I think the pattern is so pretty.
The brushes are of a great quality and I haven't found them to shed in my time using them. I also find that they apply products onto the face easily and don't leave any harsh lines on the skin.

Where Can I Buy?

This Ecotools 5 piece brush set is available online at Mypure for just £11.99*. I think the price for this set is very reasonable for five make up brushes that are of a fantastic quality. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great base or face brush set. Apart from a Blush brush (although the powder brush could be used as a blush brush) it has everything you need for a flawless finish.


*This post contains PR samples/items which were sent to me for consideration to review. All opinions are 100 %  honest and my own. You can view my full disclaimer policy on the contact tab above*

Real Techniques Bargains from TK MAXX!

Hi everyone! I tweeted last week that I had spotted a few Real Techniques brush sets in my local TK Maxx. I found two sets of the Core Collection, two sets of the Starter Set and two sets of the Travel Essentials sets. All sets were priced at £14.99 in TK Maxx, which is a fantastic saving as they usually retail at a starting price of around £20.99 each at boots and Superdrug. 

I already own the Core Collection and the Starter Set so I already knew they are fantastic value for money at their RRP price anyway; so I thought I would purchase another Starter Set,and as eye brushes are something I have very few of, I thought I would make the most of the great deal. I did notice the packaging was slightly different; featuring a picture of both Sam and Nic Chapman; which I found odd as it is usually just a picture of Sam. I thought that maybe this is very old packaging/old stock that they are trying to get rid of now, and maybe that is why I found them in my TK Maxx.

Once I got home I actually compared the packaging to my first Starter Kit and noticed more differences, and also realized that one of the brushes in the TK Maxx set is completely different to the set I already had, and is in Boots and Superdrug currently. The TK Maxx set houses the Fine Liner Brush, where in the current set, is replaced by the Pixel Point Eyeliner Brush - because I already have the brush I didn't mind having a different one as I don't really use the Pixel Point brush anyway, and also found that they do sell the Fine Liner Brush on its own for £6.99.

I have included a few photographs below so that you can see the differences. If you don't mind the change in one of the brushes or that the packaging is clearly very old, I would suggest checking out your local TK Maxx as it is a great bargain!

Left is current packaging, right is the set from TK Maxx 

Favourite Base Products

Over the past few years I have swapped and switched the base products I use day to day. After a lot of searching, I have finally found a routine I am content with. I don't feel like I have to wear foundation every day, but when I do, I .like a medium coverage. I have a lot of red blemishes which I like to cover, but I also have freckles on my cheeks; they particularly like to show up in the warmer Months, which I don't mind showing off. I find Mac's Mineralize Foundation a perfect coverage for Summer, as it covers and evens out my complexion without looking too cake-y. For the rest of the year I opt for Rimmel's Match Perfection Foundation, which is a medium coverage liquid foundation that is a perfect colour match for my very pale skin. It blends really well, doesn't wear off quickly, and gives my face that healthy glow. The main brush I use to apply both of these foundations to the skin is the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. I like it how applies both cream and liquid foundation so evenly and gives a flawless finish.
I usually apply concealer both before and after applying foundation, and the two I reach for most are Maybelline's Fit Me Concealer and Mac's Mineralize Concealer. They both work well at covering red blemishes and indents to the skin. I have used both in attempt to hide my dark circles and they do an adequate job. I tend to apply these concealers straight from the wand, and blending into the skin lightly using my fingers. I can't quite pull off a dewy finish, so tend to pop on a little pressed powder, like this Collection Pressed Powder on top of my base to help it hold and give a more matte finish, using the Real Techniques Powder Brush. The brush is thick and large, making it easy to quickly press powder onto the foundation. The powder is very affordable and lasts a good few hours.

What products do you reach for most for a flawless base?

My Eyebrow Routine

How I Do My Eyebrows

Anyone that knows me well enough knows how obsessive I cn get with my eye brows. I like them to look nicely shaped and filled in. My eyebrows are something that I take pride in. Some may mock, but I just really like them to look neat and tidy, as naturally they are sparse and messy.

Once a fortnight (or whenever I feel they need doing) I wax my eyebrows using waxing strips especially designed for eyebrows, which are from Superdrug. The packs are really inexpensive and easy to use. They are readily shaped in short strips so they fit nicely underneath the brow.

 Between waxes, I pluck any stray hairs if I need to, but I try to keep this to a minimum as I can get quite obsessive and end up with none (!). I use slanted tweezers which I have had for years, I have no idea where they are from.

To style and fill in my brows I use a few different products and tools. I use an eyebrow brush to brush the hair the way I want it to sit (which I forgot to include in the photograph below, but we all know what they look like!). Next, I use w7's Style Eyes, which is effectively just a eyelash wand with a wet gel which helps to shape the brow. I use this before any other product so the hairs stay in place and it is easier to use.

I then use a thin, angled eyebrow brush from MUA Proffesional to apply the products. I use MUA Pro - Brow shadow (the darkest shade) firstly to fill my brows in, and then go over with a Real Techniques angled eye brush with Mac's Brun Eyeshadow. To finish, I use the wax included in the MUA Pro brow set to set my eyebrows. Thats it.

I know some people find it strange I use a fair few products on 'just eyebrows' - but it takes me less than five minutes to do. I always try to follow my eye brows natural shape, and I try my best not to go over the top with them, but I do really like doing them myself. I used to get them waxed at a Salon every two Months, but I just find it more convenient to do it at home now. My eyebrows are something I do every day - I can happily go for weeks without wearing any other make up, aslong as my brows are tidy and filled in.

What make - up is essential for you everyday?

Real Techniques Blush Brush

Real Techniques Blush Brush

By Samantha Chapman

I am pretty sure you have all heard of Samantha Chapman's (part of Youtube Beauty Girl duo pixiwoo) amazing line of Make Up Brushes. I have only recently made a purchase for one though, and that being the Blush Brush.

All Real Techniques brushes have synthetic bristles so they are super soft on the skin. I don't know about you, but I cannot stand a blush or powder brush where the bristles are hard and harsh on the face, so it feels like it drags on your skin. This brush makes applying blusher really easy as the bristles are hand - cut which ensures the perfect finish. 

As you can see the brush is quite a large brush, which I like as I can use it to add cheek colour quickly and easily in just one go. I find it applies blusher very evenly, and would even use it for bronzing if used very lightly. I am sure it could be used for highlighting, contouring, and powder too - so an all rounder multi - tasker!

I have washed the brush twice now and it has dried quite quickly, with no bristle - loss and still feels really soft.

The brush stands alone with a flat bottom, which is great for storage or travelling!

You can purchase this Blush Brush from Boots.

Have you tried any Real Techniques Brushes?

xx