Holiday make-up: Almeria 2013

Hey loves!

I hope you've had a great weekend and are enjoying the sunny weather here in the UK!

So it feels like years ago now, but last week I jetted home from my summer holiday to Almeria in Spain.

During the day, I didn't wear any make up and just protected my skin with sun cream. But in the evenings, I changed up my make up look so it was slightly different to what I do normally.

I brought all this make up with me on holiday but in the end I didn't end up using it all!

I didn't want anything too drastic or heavy - just fresh, dewy skin, defined eyes and glossy lips. Here are some of the beauty looks I chose for Almeria and how I achieved them.

As you can see, my skin still shows through the make up which is I what I wanted. The other thing was that it was still quite hot in the evenings and I didn't want it melting off!

I used the same make up pretty much every day without fail - I hadn't planned to, but you know when you just like how it turned out and you want to stick with that? That's what happened!

Face:

MAC Fix+

I used this every day to prep my skin ready for foundation and primer. I just spritzed a little of this onto an ELF Studio Stipple Brush and buffed it into my skin to give it a dewy finish.

Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer

I've used this product for years now and I don't think I could ever be away from it! On a good skin day, I could probably get away with wearing this on its own without foundation but my skin is pretty troublesome so I need a lot of coverage at the moment. It really brightens your skin to give it that 'glow from within'!

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer (Fair)

I applied this under my eyes to cover any dark circles but admittedly it was a bit too light once I'd developed a tan. The colour match is much better now I'm home.

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (Medium)

This is my go-to concealer for spots and blemishes! It's a little dark for me but it blends well and really does cover up everything up. I've found it goes a bit cakey under the eyes though.

Clinique CC Cream (Light) + ELF Studio Stipple Brush

I bought this after I had a makeover at my local Clinique counter at Boots. Unfortunately it's a bit too dark for me on a regular day - the lighter shade was too light! - but it was the perfect shade once I had a tan and I loved the healthy, fresh look it created.

Benefit Powderazzi - Dallas Bronzer and Coralista Blush

I swear by Benefit's Dallas Bronzer for sculpting my cheekbones with the MAC 219 Blush Brush. I also applied Coralista onto the apples of my cheeks with the Cosmpolitan Blusher Brush.

Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator (02 Peach)

This is probably one of my all time favourite make up products! It's perfect for creating that 'just got back from holiday golden glow'.

Eyes:

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (Original)

I've found this really helps to improve the longevity of my powder and cream eyeshadows so I applied this first all over my eyelids.

Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette

I applied Naked all over my lids, Buck on the crease and Smog on the outer corners.

L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Slim

This is a fairly new addition to my make up bag but I bloody love it and wouldn't be without it now - it's perfect for creating a feline flick.

Natural Collection White Eyeliner

I used this on my lower waterline to open up my eyes and make them really pop.

Benefit They're Real Mascara

I ALWAYS come back to this mascara as it creates a false lash effect like nothing I've ever tried.

Custom MAC Palette - Omega and Charcoal Brown

I fill in my brows using MAC eyeshadows and on holiday I used a combination of Omega and Charcoal Brown with a MAC 217 Brush.

Lips:

LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub

I always make sure my lips are prepped with this to remove any flaky skin prior to applying lipstick.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef

I wore this lipgloss pretty much every day on holiday without fail as it provides a sheer wash of glossy coral colour which I just love.

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Heftiest Hibiscus (left)

I'm a little bit obsessed with this product as it can be built up depending on the coverage you want and it lasts all night.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick (right)

I think this glossy pink balm stain went perfectly with the colours in my Boohoo play suit and it made a welcome change from corals and reds which I normally wear.

Other:

Kim Kardashian Gold EDT

I've used up all of my Kim Kardashian EDT so I've moved onto Gold now which was the perfect holiday scent! But then of course I'm a bit biased...

Topshop Nails in New Wave

I was actually really impressed with the longevity of this - it lasted about 10 days even with all the chlorine in the pool etc. I used OPI Rapidry Top Coat to seal the colour.

That's it for today - don't forget to tweet me or leave a comment if you have any requests! :)

What's your holiday make up look?

Love,

Sophia

xo

 

May 2013 empties: Lush, The Body Shop, No7, Aussie, Moroccanoil

Hey loves!

I hope you're having a great day so far :-)

Here are the beauty products I used up in May...

As you can see, it's mainly skincare and haircare products this month - I go through them SO quickly!

Skincare:

Nivea Visage Extra Gentle Eye Make-up Remover

This was actually pretty effective at removing my eye make-up! I've tried so many, from Simple to Clarins, but I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a cheap drugstore one.

Botanics All Bright Cleansing Toner

My lovely YouTuber friend Vi (The Sparkleicious) recommended this to me and I was really impressed with it! I can't say I noticed a massive difference in the brightness of my skin but it left it feeling really fresh and nourished without being too tight.

No7 Heavenly Hydration Mask

This is one of my ALL TIME favourite beauty products and I'm honestly GUTTED that I've used it all up! I used it overnight to give my skin a moisture boost and it was lovely and soft when I woke up. My skin is oily/combination and I didn't find it was too rich at all - plus it smelt amazing! Definitely pick one up if you have a £5 off voucher for Boots.

Lush Enzymion Facial Moisturiser

I went through a phase of using only Lush products on my skin because they're all organic but for some reason I stopped using this! I reacquainted myself with it recently and it's just perfect for summer. It smells like fresh oranges and gives my skin just the right amount of moisture. My only qualm with it is that it doesn't have SPF in it which is why I may not re-purchase.

The Body Shop Seaweed Deep Cleansing Facial Wash

My love for this range of skincare started when I was at uni and I have to say, I've been pretty loyal to it ever since! The tea tree range at The Body Shop is a little too drying for my skin I've found, whereas this is just right. It leaves your skin feeling really soft and clean afterwards!

Hair:

Aussie Mega Shampoo and Conditioner

I've used this Aussie Mega range on and off since I was about 13, I just can't get enough of it! The scent is just delicious.. I can't explain it but give it a whiff when you're next in Boots or Superdrug and you'll see what I mean! If your hair is a couple of days old and you want something that leaves your hair feeling like it's had a good, deep clean right down to the roots then this is for you.

Nioxin Intensive Treatment*

As you probably know, I like to use an intensive conditioner every time I wash my hair and this has been my masque du jour for the past month. It's thick and creamy and really works to penetrate hair right from the root. I would definitely recommend this, but it's a bit pricey.

Percy Reed Hair Mask*

I popped this in my travel beauty bag for May for when I was staying at a friend's house but I wasn't that impressed with it and I probably wouldn't re-purchase.

Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner

Not sure why I didn't finish the shampoo this month as well - I probably finished it yonks ago and decided to finish off the conditioner in May. The Moroccanoil range certainly lives up to the hype, it smells amazing and leaves hair feeling soft and silky! At the moment though, my hair is highlighted so I prefer to use a shampoo and conditioner specific for blondes so I might not re-purchase for a while.

Kim Kardashian perfume

I'm rubbish at describing scents but if you're a fan of Kim or the Kardashians, definitely give this a whirl the next time you're in Boots or Superdrug! I think I prefer her Gold scent more though.

What did you use up this month?

Love,

Sophia

xo

*PR samples

 

Holiday style: Almeria 2013

Happy Sunday ladies! 

I hope you're having a wonderfully relaxing day wherever you are and whatever you're doing :-) 

This week, I returned home from a brilliant family holiday to Almeria in southern Spain. It was my first holiday abroad for three years so of course I made the most of it - spending most of my time on the sun lounger! 

 Obviously during the day it was bikini weather but in the evenings my family and I dressed up for dinner - and cocktails! Here are the outfits I wore at night:

Outfit one:

Maxi dress - Primark

Excuse my lack of tan on the first day! Maxi dresses are normally too long for my petite 5'1" frame but this one was just the right length, even with flats. I nearly styled it with a gold choker necklace but in the end I opted for minimal accessories instead.

Outfit two:

Cut-out dress - Primark

Gladiator sandals - Primark

I fell in love with this dress when I spotted it on the hanger in my local Primarni! You'll see I'm a big fan of the aztec print trend this year as I've got a couple of different looks with the print. I styled the dress with black sandals to draw the look together with the black accents in the dress - and I thought the sandals looked fierce!

Outfit three:

Lime vest - ASOS

Aztec-print maxi skirt - Primark

I literally am obsessed with neon this season so this was one of my favourite outfits. Monochrome is massive for SS13 so I knew I had to have this aztec-print skirt as it ticks two trend boxes in one! The lime green vest added a pop of colour to an otherwise all black and white look.

 Outfit four:

White vest - Primark

Coral maxi skirt (with belt) - Primark

The coral skirt isn't as loose as it looks in the pictures - it was just really windy that night! This maxi has been one of my wardrobe staples this season because it brightens up any outfit and is perfect for any occasion, whether it's lounging in the park or going for afternoon tea. It even matches the sky!

Outfit five:

Floral one-shouldered playsuit - Boohoo*

Tan sandals - New Look

Tan belt - Dorothy Perkins

I did a massive Boohoo haul just before my holiday and I bought this stylish playsuit as well as a beach kaftan. I'm a little bit partial to the floral trend - let's just say I wear it over and over again every summer! I styled this pretty playsuit with tan accessories for a laid-back look.

Outfit six:

White vest - as before

Printed shorts - Pacha for River Island

Tan sandals - as before

I skipped most of the Pacha for River Island collection as it was all a little too skimpy for my liking - plus it was ridiculously expensive - but these shorts caught my eye due to the quirky print. They were great to have on holiday with me as I could wear them by the pool or dress them up for dinner as in the picture above. 

Bring on the next holiday! :-)

What's your signature holiday style? Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter now.

Love,

Sophia

xo

June 2013 beauty empties: L'Oreal, Simple Skincare, The Body Shop, Johnson's, Imperial Leather

Hey loves!

Hope you're well and enjoying your summer :-) Here are the beauty products I used up in June - I'm doing well but I still have a squillion un-opened bottles in my room *sigh*

Skincare:

Johnson's Fragrance Free Face Wipes

I went through a phase of using face wipes to remove my make up when really I should have been sensible and used Micellar water or a hot cloth cleanser. When I am lazy and use face wipes, these are one of my favourites as they're nice and moist and remove every trace.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion

I get quite problem skin and I found the tea tree in this helped to soothe it and calm any redness/irritation. Id definitely recommend The Body Shop tea tree range if you have blemish-prone skin like me.

Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make-Up Remover

This is one of my all-time favourite eye make-up removers and it's such a bargain. I would say it's on a par with the Clarins Gentle one which is another one of my faves. Definitely pick one up if you get a chance!

L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim

I used to be obsessed with the Rimmel Exaggerate liquid liner, then I loved the Soap & Glory Supercat one, but now I think I've found my holy grail! If you're like me and bloody useless at applying liquid eyeliner then this is for you, it's fool-proof.

Body:

Soltan Protect & Tan SPF30 Lotion*

As you may remember from my holiday beauty blog, I used this up when I travelled to Almeria in Spain with my family. I honestly cannot rave about this enough, it protected my fair skin from the sun but allowed it to develop a natural tan at the same time.

Imperial Leather Japanese Spa Shower Gel*

This lathered up nicely and smelt sweet and creamy - there's not much else to say about a shower gel really, is there?

Hair:

Healthy Sexy Hair Conditioning Treatment*

This was OK but I probably wouldn't re-purchase. Not a lot came out of the tube and I prefer hair masques to be in a pot so I can scoop them out, like the L'Oreal ones.

L'Oreal Elnett Supreme Hold Very Volume Hairspray

As I'm sure you probably know, this is my holy grail hairspray and I go back to it time after time. I also re-purchase these mini bottles whenever I see them because they're not always available! I recommend you do the same...

The Body Shop Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray

I first started using this a couple of years ago and recently received it as a gift for my birthday and started using it again. I have to say I think it's one of my favourite ever products - it smells great (like blueberry muffins!), leaves hair soft and silky and perhaps most importantly, lasts bloody ages! I'd recommend this in an instant.

What did you use up this month?

Let me know in the comments or send me your links!

Love,

Sophia

xo

*PR samples