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NYC haul!

Well I should probably start by apologising. This time I have really left it a long time, like absolutely ages. But in my defence I have been very busy lately, with my AS exams taking up a large proportion of my time, and then just a very busy summer doing lots and lots of exciting things, to name a few, I went to see coldplay, went up to Wimbledon to see the Tennis and have only just arrived back from a gorgeous 16 day holiday in New York and Connecticut that I went on with my family and boyfriend.

It's safe to say that I saved up a lot of money before going on holiday, making sure I was very harsh on myself for the majority of the summer, meaning I could have as much money as possible for New York because... SEPHORA!?!? I managed to do alright, and had about $400 for my trip, which of course is all gone now, but in its place I have some amazing products and bits and bobs which I am dying to share with you!

SEPHORA
This makeup heaven has to be up there with my favourite shops, even though I have only ever been in 3. As you know, lots of makeup that you can buy in Sephora in America, is not easily available to purchase in England, so I obviously grabbed this opportunity with both hands and went a bit mad. I am also aware that some of the things I bought in Sephora, can be bought in the UK, but the majority of it is cheaper, so I went with it anyway.

I have never really been that happy with my skin, not because of acne or spots, but because my skin is very uneven, with red/blue patches across my face. Also I have quite an uneven texture, which when it comes to foundations, has always been an issue. To top it off, I have quite oily skin, which means that it takes me bloody ages to find a foundation that I can put on in the morning and will still be there when I go to take my makeup off at night. After finding my perfect foundation a couple months ago (Estēe Lauder double wear) I came to the conclusion that I also wanted something with less coverage, that I could easily use on a daily basis, and something sheer enough that you could still see my natural skin underneath. After researching into it, I found the Urban Decay one and done foundation, which is a mix between a sheer foundation/BB cream/tinted moisturiser. After buying it, I was slightly weary about whether or not it would last all day, but to my absolute amazement, it does. It's pretty mad, but it really does, and I absolutely love it. It works well with my beauty blender and evens out my skin without looking cakey af.

Onto the beauty blender, well not really much to say. I had the real techniques miracle complexion sponge, which worked, but it just wasn't perfect. With the beauty blender, however, my makeup goes on EXTRA flawlessly and just looks amazing everytime. Couldn't recommend more, even if its not the cheapest thing in the world.

Liquid lipsticks ar something which i am rather obsessed with. Around easter time, I got two Kat Von D liquid lipsticks, and since then I have built up my collection. They last so much longer and look so much better than normal lipsticks; you will probably never catch me buying a Mac lipstick again. In NYC I picked up two of the tarteist lip paints which are just wow. The pigmentation is ridiculous and even though they don't dry completely matte to the touch, they seem to last through anything. I got two from the new naughty nudes collection and am obsessed. I also picked up another Kat Von D one in a bright red as it was something a bit more daring and exciting. This does dry completely matt and does not transfer AT ALL. love love love.

For christmas, I got what I thought was the Laura Mercier Translucent setting powder. After looking into it, it turns out that I actually got the universal setting powder, which is a smaller pot, and doesn't work as well. So I decided to get the right stuff this time, and I love it and completely understand why it is raved about as much as it is. I use this to bake and just set my face lightly and it keeps me shine free all day, even in the 100 degrees New York heat (Which was absolute torture by the way).

I have never been very good at mascara. In the sense that I will use a mascara for years, and never be bothered to spend money on getting a good one. After reading countless reviews on the tasteist mascara by tarte, I just had to get it. For one, the packaging is beaut, but the mascara itself is just even better. It lasts amazingly and volumes AND lengthens your lashes, so in reality, what more could you want?

Concealer, I find, is so bloody expensive. Like you don't get that much but you pay ridiculous amounts for the stuff. Saying this, however, I will buy it because having oily skin, means I need a good concealer, and after 4 tubes of the Urban Decay naked skin concealer finished, I decided to branch out and try something a bit different. I am very glad I did because the born this way concealer is everything I had heard it to be, creamy, full coverage and long lasting. I got the lightest shade to highlight my face with and it works a treat. I will 100% be repurchasing this when I sadly come to the end of the bottle. Oh and also, the applicator is very good, which is always a plus.

BRANDY MELVILLE
This is a brand I have spoken about multiple times on here, and obviously it originates in America so there were plenty around. I started off in one in the centre of New York and bought these two tops. They are pretty basic but very effective. I love them a lot. With jeans, shorts, skirts, whatever, they look lovely, so I just had to get them! They are also reasonably cheap, at $15, about £12, it really isn't that extortionate for the quality of the clothes. When we moved onto Connecticut to stay with my Grandpa, I found out that there was another store in their actual town which was just AMAZING. So obviously I couldn't resist going back. I ended up buying something a bit different, a jacket (more for autumn/winter) but I just thought it was gorgeous, and decided to go for it. For the price again ($55) its pretty good, considering the quality and the thickness of the material and just how nice the product fits. I will definitely be getting a lot of wear out of this jacket and cannot wait to start wearing it!

URBAN OUTFITTERS
UO is a shop I adore, but simply can't afford. The clothes and accessories they have are completely on trend and look amazing, yet I just don't have the money to buy lots from there. I did however spot a flannel shirt I loved, and thought again, it was something I wasn't really used to wearing. I decided I wanted to mix up my style a bit and wear things a bit different, so I went for it and bought it. I also love the colours on the shirt and think there are multiple ways I can wear it, making it a very versatile product.

NIKE
One thing I lack a lot of, are shoes. I just have very few pairs, and the pairs I have a pretty basic. I really wanted some nike shoes a couple years ago, and when I saw a huge Nike shop in the town I had to go in. Jamie and I looked around and finally I tried on a lot of pairs. I knew I didn't want anything too extreme, just something nice that I could wear on a daily basis. My other excuse for spending $106 on shoes, was that my plan this year is to start going to the gym. Anyone that knows me, knows I am extremely lazy and don't do much, if any physical exercise which is seriously bad, so to motivate me to start going to the gym, I decided to buy the shoes... (that is some serious girl logic right there). Either way, I adore these shoes. They're like walking on pillows and seem to go pretty nice with all my clothes, so I do not regret buying these at all, even though I did more or less spend my entire life savings on them :)

There you go, here are the things I bought on my trip away, Im sorry for the long wait, but it just has been so busy! I hope you enjoyed it, and will be back again soon.

with love,

Becks x

Lorac Mega Pro 2 palette review

After a couple of months of lots of work and stress, I am back today with possibly one of my most exciting posts to date. For Christmas, I was lucky enough to receive the "Lorac Mega Pro 2' palette. Oh my goodness.

When I first set my eyes on this beauty of a palette back in September, on Ulta's Instagram account, I immediately fell in love with it, and started thinking about how it would ever be possible for my to get it. Obviously Lorac is purely an American brand and shipping from America is bloody expensive. In the end, my amazing Grandparents brought me one over from America as my Christmas present, and I was just speechless when I opened it. It was everything I was thinking it was going to be, but far, far more.

The palette is 2X the size of the original Lorac 1 and 2 palettes, with 32 gorgeous eyeshadows. The formulation of these shadows are something I have never experienced before. They honestly melt like butter when you touch them, and the pigmentation is out of this world. You need so little of the product to build up a colour, and they blend like an absolute dream. Blend-ability of eyeshadows is key for me, as it means you get a much more flawless, diffused eyeshadow look, as opposed to a blocky, uneven one. Also it means it's much softer on the delicate skin of your lids, because you don't have to blend for as long.

In the palette you get 16 matte shadows, and then 16 shimmer shadows. The velvety-smooth shadows, have been infused with soothing botanicals, which allows the shadows to be used wet or dry, meaning you can shade, shadow, line and define your eyes all with these eyeshadows.

Lets talk about the packaging, as even though it doesn't affect the brilliance of the product or not, the packaging, in my mind, will either make me love or hate a product. And for this product, I absolutely 100% LOVE it. It is super slim and can easily fit into many makeup bags, without taking up too much room, making it super easy for travel. You also get a huge mirror, which is every makeup lovers dream in a palette, as it means you can literally use it to do your makeup when on the go. When I was reading reviews on the product before I actually received it, many people said that the packaging was annoying because all the shadows make the interior and exterior dirty, but for me, this really isn't an issue. Yes, the inside and the front isn't completely shiny clean, but it doesn't affect the quality of the products, and in my opinion, I prefer it, as it makes the product look loved and used.

I thought I should quickly talk about using the colours wet and dry, as it was something I'd never really tried before getting this palette. For Christmas, I also received Mac Fix+ spray, which I started spraying on my brushes to apply the shimmer shades. And oh my lord was that a good idea. The shadows are perfectly pigmented on their own, but with the Fix+ they go from one level of amazing to another. The pigmentation becomes absolutely solid and ridiculously shimmery, which when used with one colour over the entire lid, is extremely flattering. This isn't saying that you have to buy Fix+ wen you get this palette, as it works as well with a small amount of water on the brush, but definitely wearing them wet, makes a world of a difference.

This palette is absolutely jam packed full of colours that can be used from subtle everyday makeup looks, to full-on night out ones. I more or less use a shadow from this palette in every single makeup look I do, as they are all so versatile and with the right combination of shadows, can create some glamorous and elegant eye makeup looks. I have many favourite shadows from this incredible selection, so I'm going to tell you a couple of my favourites, and how I incorporate them into my makeup.

1. My first favourite has to be 'Goji' as I have no other shadow in my collection like it. It works well with shades like 'Cabernet' and 'Tangerine' for a really autumnal look. I love to pair those three together, with 'Tangerine' across the entire crease, 'Cabernet' in the outer crease and 'Goji' coming in across half the lid, as I think it really gives a nice warm look to the eyes. I then like to take 'Gold leaf' and put it across the rest of the lid, and then blend all together. This is one of my favourite looks with the palette, and I am constantly waring it everyday to make any outfit look slightly more 'dressed up'.

2. Another favourite of mine, is 'Blue quartz'. Wow. This colour is just gorgeous, and can be the focus of many makeup looks. I like to use 'Tawny' and 'Cabernet' in the crease, and also 'Goji' just in the outer corner, and then 'Bue quartz' and 'Gunmetal' over the lid, and it gives a gorgeous pop of blue, making any look that little bit more interesting.

3. My last favourite is 'Prosecco' and this really works with any look, with any colour combo. I place this across the entire lid, and boom. The makeup look is 10X more elegant and interesting.

So there you have it, my thoughts on the Lorac Mega Pro 2 palette! If you couldn't already tell, I absolutely adore it, and I wouldn't say it was far off being my favourite ever makeup product in my collection. I will be back soon my lovelies, but for now...

lots of love
Becky xX

Le Grand Château

December is finally upon us, and Christmas is coming up ridiculously soon. As the year comes to a close, I have a little bit more time to focus on things other than work, including my beloved blog. I am 100% aware I have been slacking recently and I really am sorry, as I always forget how much I enjoy sharing my makeup tips and products with all of you. Over the christmas period, look forward to more posts, more pictures and just in general, more makeup!

Last week, my auntie came over from Dubai to see the family before christmas, and with her, she brought along my families christmas presents. As the exchange between my family and my aunties gifts tends to be a big thing, we decided to be cheeky and open our presents from her a little bit early. I was not complaining however, as what I got was just amazing and so generous.

Le Grand Château by Too Faced had been on my christmas list for as long as I remember, and when I opened it up, I was super excited. As I hadn't previously had anything from Too faced, I was even more eager to try out these new products. If you haven't already seen, Le Grand Château comes with three palettes, each with six gorgeous eyeshadows and either a blush or a bronzer. You also get a deluxe sized Better than sex mascara, which is said to be one of the most incredible mascaras out there.

As I haven't had this for very long, I haven't had a chance to fully play around with the set, and test out everything, but as far as first impressions go, it is good. VERY good.

The eyeshadows are buttery, blendable, and honestly some of the most pigmented shadows I have ever used. Then the blushes are plain gorgeous and the bronzer? Out of this world.

The last thing I have to say about this set, is the packaging. Woah. Too Faced have seriously out done themselves, as the product design is just incredible. The 'Château' the set comes in is so gorgeous, I have it out on my mantel piece as it feels so festive and fits in to the christmassy theme of my room at the moment.

I already know this set is going to be a hit, and I will definitely be getting some good usage out of everything in here.

Enjoy a selection of swatches and photos of the set, and remember that this is the perfect gift for any lover of makeup this Christmas!

Kiko Milano haul

If you are a regular reader here on beckysbeautyblog, you may know that I have recently been in Sardinia, and on the way home, we stopped off at a huge shopping centre, where they had a Kiko store. Two years previousy, we were doing exactly the same thing, and being only 14 and not really into makeup, I walked straight past the store without giving it a second glance. But this time, being the makeup lover that I am, I honestly could not resist to go in and spend the well saved holiday euros I had kept from my grandparents.

If you don’t know what Kiko is, its basically a brand that is half way between drugstore makeup an high end makeup. The quality of their products are more high end, but the price is most definitely drugstore, or even cheaper. As it is Italian, they have lots all over Europe, and also have some in London, although I am waiting to go and pick up some more goodies next weekend. Before shopping in store, it’s safe to say that I did ALOT of research before purchasing anything because I wanted to make sure I was buying the right stuff. After reading endless reviews and watching hundreds of videos, I had a mental list of the items I wanted to pick up.

When walking in to the shop, I didn’t know where to go first! Almost every surface is covered in makeup, from bright orange lipsticks to the darkest nail varnishes. They have it all. Its like being in a sweet shop, but instead its makeup, all in gorgeous packaging and with very appealing price tags. The prices in pounds and euros seem to be the same (so in Sardinia, the lipsticks were €6.90, and in Britain, they seem to be £6.90 also) but for the purposes of this blog, I’ll give all prices in £s.

I took my little basket and headed over to the lipstick wall. All I can say is, wow. They have almost every finish of lipstick that you could imagine, in a whole range of colours. After my previous research, I knew that the finish I wanted was 'Velvet mat’ as creamy lipsticks look slightly ridiculous on me, so matte is definitely more my style.

I picked up two of these lipsticks in the shades:

601 - A gorgeous neutral brown, perfect for everyday wear.

602 - A lovely pinky nude, with a hint of mauve, again, good for school and to wear on a daily basis.

Both £6.90

Whist I was among all the lip products, I found the lip liners, which had been one of my priorities to buy. As at home, I knew I mainly had pink toned lip liners, I decided that I needed to be slightly more daring, and went for some darker shades as well as a liner to match the newly bought lipsticks.

I got my hands on two of the ‘Smart lip pencils’ in the shades:

710 - A deep purple, a perfect match for Mac ‘Amorous’.

706 - A bright red, amazing for overlining the lips, and a great match to Mac ‘Ruby Woo’.

£1.20 each

And also the precision lip liner in the shade:

302 - a brown undertoned pinky nude, to go with the new lippys.

£4.20 each

Next, I wandered on over to the eyeshadow stand, and oh my goodness, it was like a rainbow! Kiko have many, many different styles and colours and finishes of eyeshadow, so it took an extremely long time, as the eyeshadow addict that I am, to choose the perfect colour. In the end I settled for one of the normal single eyeshadows, and then two of the Infinity eyeshadows, which are supposed to be for the ‘palette clics system’, but I just preferred the colours, and they have a small plastic lid which is very handy. Also as they are so thin because they are just in the pan, it saves a lot of room, making it super duper easy to store.

The Infinity shades I picked up, were:

210 - an ever so slightly shimmery warm brown, with small flecks of gold.

236 - a more full-on pale rose gold shimmer shade, perfect for highlighting the brow bone and inner corner.

Both £2.80

And the normal, highly pigmented eyeshadow in the shade:

133 - A deep reddy-brown shimmer, with red and gold flecks.

£1.40 each

I finally headed over to the nail varnishes, and whilst in the process of looking at products that were a must, I read that you shouldn't leave Kiko without one of their nail varnishes! As I didn’t have tonnes of money left at this point, I opted for their original nail lacquer (I think?) as it was very cheap, and the colour choice was beyond belief!

The lacquers I grabbed, were in the shades:

320 - A very dusty, mauvey neutral colour, great for everyday use.

365 - A more muted pink shade, again, not too bold, so perfect for everyone to use.

£1.00 each

As I headed over to the counter to pay, The lady picked out the blusher I had chosen, which was just one of the original ones, and told me that the new, limited edition, Rebel Romantic ‘Bouncy blush’ was much better, as they had a different feel to them. After feeling it, it had a very interesting consistency, which wasn't mousse or cream, but not really powder either. It’s a very difficult texture to describe, and the language barrier between me and the lady, made her explaining how to use it, very difficult. In the end, I decided to try it instead of the plain powder blush, and see if it really is any good.

The lady helped me with the colour, and in the end we went for:

02 adorable pink - A brightish pink, with a subtle gold shimmer, making it gorgeous with a gold eye and bold lip.

£9.90 each

And that was it! I also persuaded my mum and little sister to explore the Kiko store, and they both ended up buying the tinted lip balms, one of the eye liners, and A LOT of nail varnish, so between the three of us, we have about 8 of them. From what they’ve told me, they have been enjoying the products as well, so overall, I am getting a very good vibe form Kiko!

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in the store, although I am excited and also interested to see the difference between the London shop and the Sardinian shop, to see if they have the same, wide range of products. I’ll make sure to do some reviews on all the items I love, so you can see a more in depth post about the individual product, with swatches and whether it gets a thumbs up or thumbs down form me. Make sure you follow me on Twitter and Instagram so you can see when my new posts are up, and also see what I get up to every day! Until next time my lovelies..

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