My Beauty Favourites

When it comes to luxury makeup, I will admit I am a hoarder. I own so much that the sheer weight of my makeup drawers has become straining for my dressing table. Makeup is addictive. Every time a new palette is released I feel an intense urge to purchase it; regardless of the fact that I know I'll either A, wear it during the "newness" hype and then discontinue using it fairly quickly. Or B, purchase the eyeshadows knowing fully well that I won't use a third of the colours in the palette, and yet, I purchase anyway. It's an innate craving for possession of newness that brands rely on for a solidified net profit. The linear approach to consumerism which is rapidly eating into finite resources.

Regardless, alike many, I cannot resit in multiple "treat yourself" mentalities and the fresh surfaces of unsullied makeup, gorgeously packaged. For lovers of cosmetics many of us love the feeling of that first makeup swatch. It can be weirdly satisfying and a temporary high that only instils the desire to further increase our collections.

In recent years, the beauty industry has boomed online through YouTube beauty tutorial's and social influencers' showcasing their mass beauty collections and incredible makeup looks to their growing platforms. Everyone has their bread and butter products that are reliable to their personal preference and skin type. Below are some of my current favourite products for both everyday and nights out.

1. Primer:

Bobbi Brown - Vitamin enriched face base:

Primer is an absolute godsend for the ground work of your complexion. I recently purchased Bobbi Brown's vitamin enriched face base (RRP £44.50). The primer is one of Bobbi's best selling products and it's not difficult to see why. The formula is beautifully - enriched with shea butter and a multitude of vitamins; that leave your skin feel instantly hydrated. The primer doubles as a day cream and base primer. I often use it as a night cream when my skin is feeling particularly dry.

Benefit Cosmetics - Porefessional primer:

I use Bobbi's' primer on days when I have a full face such as for evening looks. For everyday use my staple primer is Benefit cosmetics porefessional (RRP £29). Another best seller, Benefit have expanded the porefessional range to offer their beauty cult classic in the form of a powder and a hydrating varient. I have used their original pore minimising primer on my T- zone since I was 13 years old. I often use it on it's own without foundation of top as it works miracles for minimising pores and shiny tones.

2. Foundation:

Yves Saint Laurent - All hours foundation:

Finding a foundation that matches your skin tone and skin needs is always a challenge. Even when you find one, within a year or so it no longer matches your developing skin requirements. I prefer matt foundations to dewy. My favourite foundation for everyday use is Yves Saint Laurent's all hours foundation (RRP £35). The foundation is medium coverage, leightweight, has a SPF 20 and lasts for 24 hours. As I have combination skin I find it difficult to find a foundation that doesn't dry out my compexion or go cakey after a couple of hours. This foundation stays put all day.

Chanel - Le Teint Ultra foundation and compact powder:

I purchased this foundation from the champs - Élysées from the chanel beauty boutique. I had just ran out of my current foundation: Too faced's born this way foundation and wanted something different. Although I had spent a full year using the foundaion and found zero faults in the formula, I found that as I am so fair skinned; I was using their lightest shade, which with flash in photographs was making me look ghostly.

I purchased Chanel's Teint ultra foundation (RRP £40) which is an ultra matte foundation which has medium to full coverage. The product is designed to have an incredibly fine texture and feels very lightweight on the skin. I do however, always conceal the foundation with their le teint ultra powdered foundation (RRP £48) as I find that without it, the foundation can wear during the day and I do have to build a fair bit to get the coverage I desire. The powdered foundation however, looks flawless on it's own and has insane coverage for a powder. The compact is buildable to the coverage you want from light to medium and the palette is removable so you can replace the powder for a lower price point.

Blusher:

Bobbi Brown - French pink blusher:

The Bobbi blushers are without a doubt the most pigmented blushers I have ever used. The smallest amount is needed on your brush for a English rose complexion. I have also never hit the pan in one of their blushers either. They are long lasting , matte and have a natural finish.

Highlighter:

Benefit cosmetics - High beam highlighter:

Benefit cosmetics' high beam highlighter (RRP £15.50) is a liquid highlighter that has an applicator that resembles a nail polish. The highlight is ideal for everyday use as it's not too over-empowering. The highlight is a satin pink/silver and suits all complexions. Highlighter is one item I can never seem to get enough of. It now baffles me how I spent years without it. What did I do before? I am now that obsessed with highlighter that I pile it on for nights out. If I can't see my reflection in my face I'm not wearing enough.

Fenty Beauty - Diamond bomb highlighter:

The Fenty beauty diamond bomb highlighter (RRP £35) comes in gold and silver and is the most pigmented highlighter I've ever seen. Rhianna is the Queen of beauty inclusivity; she set forward rapid change in the cosmetic industry for shades after setting the bar at the standard it should have been at decades ago with the launch of her foundation.

The highlighter can also be applied to the body for evening looks. Little product is needed on the brush to create dazzling highlight. The diamond dusted highlighter is truly mesmorizing and is promoted as giving "3D sparkle to face and body".

Mascara:

Benefit Cosmetics - Roller Lash Mascara:

When it comes to mascara I am incredibly loyal. I have been using roller lash for several years for many reasons. Firstly, as I have naturally long lashes and distichiasis I find that volume mascara brushes clump my lashes together whereas plastic brushes separate and lengthen them. The most remarkable aspect to the Roller lash is the curved brush which curls the lashes. The unique design inspiration was derived from Velcro hair rollers, so the concept it that the mascara clings to the lashes to curl them.

Eyeliner:

Benefit cosmetics - they're real push-up gel eyeliner:

They're real push-up gel eyeliner (RRP £20.00) is an absolute godsend for anyone who struggles with winged eyeliner. If like me, your liner often ends up looking like sisters instead of twins then I would highly recommend the push up liner. The liner has an angled tip to achieve flawless flicks and glides on seamlessly.

Lipstick:

Chanel - Rouge allure velvet:

My current favourite lipstick shade is 62 libre in Chanel's rouge allure velvet collection. As always with Chanel, their product design in seamlessly chic and timeless. The lipstick case features a sleek black and gold design with a push up mechanism; sealed with their globally recognisable double C. The lipstick is a super pigmented matte in a cocao brown.

Urban Decay - Vice Lipsticks:

Since their launch in 2016; the Vice lipsticks (RRP £15.50) have gained mass popularity. The vices are available in 6 variants in 100 shades. Personally, I favour the comfort matte lipsticks to the mega matte as they have a creamy finish, leaving the lips hydrated as appose to dry as some mattes tend to do. My most used shade is uptight as a everyday lipstick; I'm a dupe for nudes - uptight is a very flattering nude that compliments both browns and golds due to its warm base.

Givenchy - intredit lipsticks:

The Givenchy interdit lipsticks (RRP £26.50) are satin based, highly pigmented long-wear lipsticks that do not move or fade all day. Infused with black rose oil for moisturising qualities these lipsticks are divine and available in 24 shades that range from pinks and nudes to brilliant reds. My personal favourite is shade 13 which was originally released with the re-launch of the l'intredit fragrance and can be seen modelled on actress and activist Rooney Mara. I was given this shade as part of the launch promotion through work and I will admit that at first I found the red a lot brighter than I would usually be drawn to. However, without fail, every time I wear it I get compliments. It draws attention and deserves recognition. I also adore the ribboned packaging - the lipsticks look stunning on top of my dresser.

Liquid Lipsticks:

Too Faced - Melted matte:

I find myself grabbing one of these beauties almost every day lately. I am very particular when it comes to liquid lipsticks as I find many appear to crack in the bottles, dry out the lips or feel thick upon application. The too faced liquid lipsticks however (RRP £20.00) are lightweight and durable. They seriously do not shift. I have been out for cocktails and not even needed a top up throughout the evening they're THAT good. The only downfall? the shades available are very limited and several of the shades are practically the same.

Lip gloss:

Mac - lip glass lip gloss:

I couldn't not include the OGs. I have been wearing mac dazzle glasses since year 8. My love for these beauties started way back in 2009. Over a decade later and I still find myself purchasing them. Though, I'll admit it has been a few years since I avidly wore them. Lip gloss is making a triumphant return within the beauty industry. I have seldom worn it in years and honestly forgot how fabulous it looks on top of lipstick. A glossy finish in seriously underrated. Going outside on a windy day whilst wearing gloss however, is not. The Mac lip glasses (RRP £16.00) were once the epitome of cool girl. They are on my favourite list for pure nostalgia alone. If you didn't have one of these sticking out of your top blazer pocket accompanied by a BaByliss baby lips lip balm then who are you really? These glosses are highly pigmented, full of glitter and shine and available in a variety of lush shades.

Givenchy - intredit lip gloss:

These glosses are the cool older sister to the interdit lipsticks and thus, look fabulous alone or accompanied over the top of a lipstick shade. The lip glosses all plump the lips and create three dimensional tones through their iridescent glitter.

Eyeshadow:

Too Faced Natural lust palette:

This beautiful limited edition palette is the second edition palette after the natural love launch. The Natural lust palette (RRP £52) contains 30 shades in a combination of shimmer and mattes. This palette contains all nudes apart from one brilliant blue. The palette is my current favourite due to it's remarkable versatility. The shades are highly pigmented and dimensional; offering a plethora of buildable looks both for evening and everyday.