RT Sculpting Brush

I've had my eye on this for a quite a while after seeing many youtubers use it and rave about it so decided to pick it up.

It's a very dense brush and has quite short hairs, which is different to other sculpting brushes I own. I use it primarily for foundation and it is so good. It buffs products into the skin really well and helps to achieve a really flawless base. I find that it is a good shape to get into the nooks and crannies of the face and so is very good for buffing in concealer too.

I've used it for blush and bronzer also, however I prefer it for foundation. Its really good for blending in any harsh lines with my blush however I find that if I apply blush with it, it takes a little more work than it would do applying blush with a fluffier brush. However for bronzer it is really good. It blends it out seamlessly as well as creating shadows in the hollows of the face very well.

It's my new fav brush at the moment and has definitely made my love for Real Technqiues re-surface.

Have you tried this brush? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

5 Beauty Essentials.

For this post I thought I would talk about my top 5 beauty essentials.

1) For me moisturiser is an absolute must have regardless of whether I'm wearing makeup. My favourite is the Garnier Moisture Nourish Daily Rich Moisturiser because it is so hydrating, yet not greasy.

2) Concealer is one of the only things that helps me look remotely awake and it is much easier to just wear concealer on a lazy day than foundation too. I love the Nars concealer which I spoke about here.

3) Anyone who knows me knows that I am a massive blush lover as it really perks up my face and makes me look healthy.  The Rimmel Lasting Finish range is amazing and although the colour 'live pink' looks really vibrant in the pan, it applies to be a lovely light pink flush of colour.

4) A brush. I couldn't apply a full face of makeup without a brush. My absolute fav is the Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face Brush as it blends in product so seamlessly.

5) Finally, mascara. I find that no look isn't complete without a coat of mascara, The L'oreal range is fantastic, especially the Volume Million So Couture Lashes. 

What are your favourite products? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

Skincare!

I'm always changing my routine when it comes to skincare and it is very rare that I use the same products for more than a week or two before switching to something else in my stash. However, recently my skin has been particularly bad so I wanted to try and be consistent. There are three items that I've really been enjoying using and they've really helped my skin.

Until I bought the Nivea Double Effect Eye Make Up Remover I never used a separate product to remove my makeup, but it is a life changer! It is very gentle however not quite as quick as the advert suggests. I do have to rub at my eyes a little bit, but that doesn't bother me. It removes all traces of mascara and leaves my eyes squeaky clean.

Staying with Nivea, I've been using their Sensitive Cleansing Milk as my second cleanser and it is lovely. I wouldn't use it primarily to get my makeup off as when I've tried I feel like it hasn't deeply cleansed my skin or removed all of my makeup however for a morning/second cleanse it is lovely and gentle and doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped.

Finally I've been making a conscious effort to exfoliate a few times a week and have been using the Clean and Clear Blackhead Clearing Daily Scrub. It is a physical exfoliator which I really like, yet it is't too abrasive on my skin. In terms of removing blackheads I can't vouch for it and say that it is amazing however it does a great job of making my skin feel thoroughly clean and refreshed.

Have you tried any of these? Are there any other products from these brands I should try?

I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x

UD Primer Potion

I have never been a loyal face primer kind of girl however I am definitely loyal to eye primer. My eyeshadow doesn't last as long nor does it look as good without it.

I have tried the notorious MAC paintpot as a primer however it just isn't as good as my Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original. It is quite thin and consistency and the doe foot applicator deposits the perfect amount. It blends really well and really even outs my lids without looking like I have anything there. In turns of longevity it is so amazing. Eyeshadow applies seamlessly to my lids and lasts for at least 8 hours, if not more, however it is rare that I wear makeup for longer than that. It really improves the vibrancy of my eyeshadow and helps everything blend together. I really love it and can't see myself wanting to try any other primer.

Have you tried it? I hope you enjoyed reading,
Holly x

Adidas Stan Smiths.

Ever since I received the Adidas Stan Smith trainers I have been obsessed. They're the comfiest thing ever and go with almost every outfit. They fit so well and didn't need breaking in at all. For what they are they are surprisingly durable and I could walk for miles in them without them hurting. They do require some cleaning from time to time because they are white and get dirty very easily! I also love the pop of green.

I am now obsessed with all the addidas shoes and have my eyes set on the Original Superstars and also the Los Angeles designs. Along with my new love for Adidas shoes I am now all heart eyes for the Nike Roshe Runs, but I'm sure I can wait until another date for them!

Trainers are having a huge moment at the minute and they all look different depending on the outfit. What do you think of the trend?

I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

My Everyday Brushes

Following on from last weeks post I thought I'd share the collective of brushes that I've been using. I don't usually pay attention to what brush I use for things like eyeshadow or cheek products however I've noticed I've been using mostly all the same throughout the last couple of weeks.

As mentioned last week I love using my Zoeva Stippling Brush  for foundation. For any concealer or correcter products I always use my trusty Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face Brush. On the occasions that I wear powder, I'll use a fluffy brush like the Elizabeth Arden Cheek Brush (with gold hardware). If I feel adventurous and want to contour I use a tapered brush like the Zoeva Cream Cheek Brush  as it's perfect for carving out my cheeks.  For bronzer and blusher I use the Elizabeth Arden Brush again and for highligher I use the black tapered brush from Avon.

I don't use an excessive amount of brushes for my eyes on a daily basis and usually flip between the Real Techniques Shader Brush or my Mac 217, If I want to spend more time on my eyes I'll use the Mac 217 primarily in the crease as its so good for blending shadow out. To add a little definition to my eyes I use my Morphe Angled Brush and use a black shadow as an eyeliner really subtly. I've really been enjoying this combination of brushes lately.

What's your favourite brush? I hope you enjoyed reading, 

Holly x

Zoeva Stippling Brush

Recently I've been enjoying using my Zoeva Stippling brush to apply my foundation and have been really enjoying the finish. As we're getting into slightly warmer weather I prefer to wear less on my skin and not feel as though I'm being weighed down by product. I've found by using a stippling brush I can sheer out some of my favourite foundations and wear less, without compromising coverage.

Personally I dislike the 'dabbing' method that the stippling is meant for as I feel that the product just sits on the skin and isn't fully blended. I prefer to use it in circular motions as I would if I was using a buffing brush as it provides much more of an even coverage. I love that the brush is duo fibre as it prevents me going over board with product and helps me to achieve a fresh, natural finish, yet also somewhat airbrushed.

Have you tried applying foundation with a stippling brush? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x