EVERYDAY MAKE-UP ESSENTIALS - SHOPPING MY STASH

This is the make-up that I'm currently wearing most week days, I like to mix it up a bit on weekends or evenings out but I do like to stick to the same products that I know work for me, so that they're quick and easy to reach for in the mornings. I store my everyday makeup in my Muji drawers and I shop my stash whenever I get bored of using a product. This is what my drawer currently contains;

Face

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer, 30ml £6.99 - The main reason I wear primer is to make my foundation stay around for longer. But this formula minimises pores, mattifies my oily skin and evens out skin before applying the rest of my make-up. I have nearly finished this tube, but you get a good amount of product for the price. I have already repurchased. YSL Fusion Ink Foundation, 30ml £30.50 - This is the newest foundation from YSL, I got a 7 day sample from a counter to try it before I buy the full-size. I'm really enjoying wearing it so far, it gives you a light to medium coverage, it drys matte which is great for my oily skin but is still glowing, really natural and leaves my skin super soft. Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer, 6.8ml £7.99 - This is great for dark circles, I do find it does crease if I don't set it with powder. But the formulation really does erase tiredness. The sponge applicator isn't very hygienic but the twist tube allows you to get every last drop of product out. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, £4.19 - This is my go to concealer for hiding blemishes and redness. It lasts a while on the skin and doesn't look cakey at all. Soap & Glory Kick Ass Powder, 7g £12.00 - I then matte my skin, using this weightless and translucent powder. It's great for retouching and feels smooth on the skin. I have hit pan on this and would definitely repurchase. See my full post here.

Cheeks

Soap & Glory Love At First Blush, 7g £11.00 - I have been using this blush for ages and still haven't hit pan. It's still in the old cardboard packaging, but it gives a lovely rosy sheen on the cheeks. It has a small amount of shimmer, but it's great for everyday. 

Eyes

MAC Eyeshadows Omega & Soba, £10.00 each - I use these eyeshadows in my eyebrows to make them look as natural as possible. Benefit Gimme Brow, 3g £17.50 - I then set my eyebrows with this, it gives them a bit of definition, shapes and tints. It's long wearing, water resistant and build-able. I wouldn't be without this now. Urban Decay Primer Potion, 11ml £16.00 - I always use a base for my eyeshadows, as I have oily skin it's difficult to find shadows that don't slide down my face. This helps to make my make-up stay around the longer and prevents creasing. Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette, £22.00 - This is a great neutral matte palette which is really wearable for everyday. It's the perfect size to just pop in your bag and the shadows are creamy and blendable. I have seen that Urban Decay are releasing a second Naked Basics palette, so I'm looking forward to that. Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara, 11g £19.00 - I like a mascara with a big brush wand. This mascara is jet black, it lengthening and volumises lashes and holds a curl all day. I'm really enjoying using this at the moment.

Lips

Loreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick, £7.99 - This has to be my most wearable lip colour for everyday. It's a Loreal Caresse in the shade 101 Tempting Lilac, the formulation is so creamy and the colour is a subtle rose lilac. Sadly I'm nearly at the end of this.

Do you keep your everyday make-up separate? What are your recommendations?

BICESTER VILLAGE BEAUTY BUYS

Bicester Village is a Designer Outlet near Oxford. Its shops include; Prada, Alexander Mcqueen, Mulberry, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Vivienne Westwood and many more with up to 70% off. It is very limited when it comes to beauty, but what they do have is really good! I managed to find a few bits in The Cosmetics Company Outlet and L’Occitane. The CCO stocks many well-known brands; Clinique, Bumble & Bumble, Origins and Bobbi Brown to name a few. You will find products from past collections and all products are at discounted prices.

Firstly, I went into L’Occitane and spotted the Almond Shower Oil 500ml which was £25.00. I have tried this product before but in a smaller bottle and loved it. When I saw this 500ml bottle in a set at a bargain price, I jumped at the chance to take it home. The 500ml bottle comes with a handy pump which is much easier in the shower/bath and perfect for refilling afterwards. The scent of this range is divine, the formula comes out as an oil but once it’s mixed with water it foams up nicely. You can still smell this on your skin for ages after showering. L’Occitane is a lovely, luxurious brand to use for bath time pampering. It softens my body and I especially like to use it to shave my legs as it really nourishes my skin. I would definitely go and buy this large size bottle from Bicester at a discounted price than pay the usual £17.50 for 250ml.

The Shower Oil also came in a set with a couple of added extras to try; the Almond Foot Care and Delicious Almond Soap, obviously both with the same gorgeous scent. I’m looking forward to trying the foot cream, it seems to absorb really quickly and has a powdery finish so you can go about you’re daily life straight after using. The hand soap has a lovely floral fragrance of almond blossoms and contains crushed almond shells to gently exfoliate the skin.

Next I went into the CCO and picked up the Mac Pearlematte Face Powder in Pink Buttercream which was £15.25. This Mac face powder is so pretty I had to put it in my basket. I remember seeing this in a Mac collection last summer called the Baking Beauties Collection. As I’m quite pale, I think I will use this more of a blush highlight than all over my face.

I then spotted the Smashbox Heatwave Lip Glosses priced at £15.75. I bought the Smashbox Heatwave eye shadow palette last year and have used it many times. So when I saw the little lip glosses in a set, I thought they would be great to wear with the shadows in the summer. The lip glosses in the set are called Electic Orange, Fuchsia Flash, VIP Pink and Copper Remix and are all really wearable shades. This set is still available on the boots website for £22.50.

I have heard a lot of hype about this fragrance Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche, but have never got round to smelling it. I sprayed it on myself in the shop and had to go back for it at the end. The scent is lovely, it just smells like holiday and coconut. The size of the bottle is 100ml, so at £33.00 it was a real bargain. I probably didn’t need another perfume, but it was such a bargain that I couldn’t miss out on it.

I also picked up a Kate Spade bracelet and wash bag and also some Calvin Klein underwear. I would recommend a visit if you’re after a bargain or haven’t been before. After my Bicester shopping spree I now need a beauty spending ban, as I have a lot of products building up. But I’ve just seen that Origins have brought out a new Ginzing Face Mask – very exciting, somebody stop me!