My Favourite Makeup Discoveries of 2012

Happy New Year's Eve! What have you all got planned for tonight? I'm off for a meal tonight with my best friend and our other halves, I can't wait! As we near 2013 I thought it would be the perfect time to share with you my favourite makeup discoveries of 2012 - mostly thanks to blogging! Unfortunately I won't be doing one for skincare - only because I've only just recently started branching out and trying new products, so I haven't quite made a judgement on them yet.

My absolute favourite makeup discovery has to be the Real Techniques brushes, I am in LOVE with them. I started off with the powder brush, then the blush brush (review) and was lucky enough to receive the Core Collection and Starter Set for Christmas. I want them all!!

The buffing brush has been perfect for applying another of my favourite discoveries, the Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation in Opal (review). This foundation is a god send for problem skin; it covers up spots (and dark circles) so well I only need a touch of concealer afterwards, plus it doesn't clog pores.

When I have needed concealer I've been relying on Collection (2000) Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light (review). This is such a popular concealer, basically because you get a great quality product for a bargain price. It provides brilliant coverage without going cakey.

Another product I've been regularly reaching for, especially when I'm tired, is the Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner in Nude (review). This soft, creamy eyeliner glides along my waterline effortlessly, covering redness and brightening up my sleepy eyes. 

My next three favourite makeup discoveries are all eye products - the first is the MUA Undressed Palette (review). I love this because for only £4.00 you get 12 eyeshadows in some of my favourite colours for eyes - taupe, bronze and brown. This is a must buy.

This year I also discovered gel eyeliner in the shape of Maybelline Gel Eyeliner in Brown (review). It's so much easier than I thought it would be to apply eyeliner with a brush! It's so buildable and much more long wearing than kohl eyeliner. I keep meaning to buy the black version!

To really open up my eyes I use the brilliant Benefit They're Real Mascara (review), which for me absolutely lives up to the hype. It lenghens, thickens, holds a curl, doesn't flake or smudge - in fact, it's actually a bit of a pain to get off! That's the only negative for me.

Lastly, this has also been the year I've branched out to lipsticks. The product that converted me was Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick by Kate Moss in 101 (review). I love the balmy feel of this, the matte but non-drying formula and the gorgeous dusky pink shade of 101! I'm now compiling a MAC lipstick wishlist!!

So these have been my favourite makeup discoveries of 2012! Please share with me yours - are any of the products above in your favourites list?

Beauty Bird xx

December Empties

So it's nearly the end of another month (and another year!) and so it's time for another empties post! This month I ran out of...

Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser 250ml - £19.70 (online price)

I've mentioned this product before on my blog but never done a full review, so if you'd be interested in reading one please let me know! This bottle has lasted me about 4, maybe 5, months and is one that I re-purchase time and time again. The thick clay like formula is perfect for cleansing my oily skin but not drying it out.

Re-purchase? Yes.

Garnier Fresh Essentials Refreshing Cleansing Lotion 200ml - £3.35

I've been using this to remove makeup on both my face and eyes before cleansing. It's suitable for normal to combination skin and works really well, not leaving my face greasy or dry afterwards. 

Re-purchase? I went to - but then picked up one from the Simply Essentials range instead as it was on offer!

Pro:Voke Touch of Silver Daily Maintenance Shampoo and Daily Nourish Conditioner 200ml - £2.00-£3.00 per bottle

Pro:Voke purple shampoo and conditioner are great value and fantastic quality. They help neutralise the brassiness in blonde hair and help prevent colour fading, whilst boosting moisture and shine. So they've been the perfect products for my highlighted hair!

Re-purchase? No - only because I've decided to stop having blonde highlights and embrace the darker side!

Soap and Glory Hand Food 50ml - £2.50

This mini Hand Food has been one of my handbag essentials since the colder weather hit. I think this will always be one of my favourite hand creams - I love the scent and the thick formula is so hydrating but not at all greasy. 

Re-purchase? Yes eventually - however I have a mini L'Occitane one that's next in line to use!

Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer 7.5ml - Magazine Freebie

This was such a great freebie and has lasted ages! I also cut off the top so I could use every last bit. I don't think much of it as a primer to be honest, but I love the brightening effect (it's a baby pink colour) and have been using it on my eyes under concealer. 

Purchase full size? I have a second freebie to use up yet but I don't think I'd buy the full size because of the price. Apparently Technic do a cheap dupe, so I'll probably check this out instead.

What products have you used up this month?

Beauty Bird xx

My Beauty Resolutions for 2013

Source: Beauty in Japan

The lovely Danniella over at Beauty in Japan did this post recently and I loved it! It also got me thinking about my beauty resolutions for 2013, which are far more likely to happen than my non-beauty ones (tone up, save more money etc etc).

Makeup

1. Achieve the perfect smokey eye. When it comes to eye makeup I would say I play it fairly safe. I generally avoid darker colour eyeshadows as in the past as I've just ended up looking like a drag queen!! Done right though I know it could look amazing for a night out.

2. Be braver with lip colours. I've only recently started wearing lipstick and I've been very envious of all those gorgeous bloggers sporting plum, berry and bright red lips. It's just a confidence thing I think!

3. Sort out my brows! I haven't been plucking them much recently in the hope that they'll grow a bit bushier, so I can get them shaped professionally for the first time! (I did them myself back in my teens and ended up with a serious case of over-plucking, oops.) I then plan to buy a brow kit to give them more definition.

Hair

1. I'm bored with my hair at the moment. In April I had it cut quite short with lots of layers but it's a lot harder to style and I can't do much with it, so I'm currently growing out my shorter layers but overall going to keep the length still fairly short. I'm almost 99% certain I'm going to abandon the bright blonde highlights I've had for years and years, and embrace the darker side! I love Kimberley Walsh's current ombre hair, so I may be brave and go for something like this.

Source

Nails

1. I definitely need to treat my nails better in 2013 and purchase some kind of nourishing/strengthening treatment. I can't seem to grow them very long without breaking them at the moment and abuse them with nail varnish pretty regularly!

So these are my beauty resolutions for 2013! In general I would also like to do some kind of makeup course next year. I've briefly looked into online courses as most college courses are in the daytime (I work full time), so I need to investigate this more. 

What are your beauty resolutions for 2013? Link me up if you decide to do this post!

Beauty Bird xx

Merry Christmas!

Source: We Heart It

Hi lovelies! I can't believe it's Christmas Eve already, who's excited?? This is just a little post to say I hope you all have an AMAZING Christmas, whoever you're with, wherever you are and whatever you do! I'm looking forward to spending time with my family, stuffing my face with food and drink and seeing everyone's faces when they open their presents. It will also be nice open my boyfriend's presents after they've been sat staring at me from under the tree for about a week haha.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?

Beauty Bird xx

Origins Christmas Bauble

After lusting after the Christmas Bauble from Origins ever since I first heard about it, I couldn't believe my luck when I won this in Flutter and Sparkle's recent giveaway! This bauble is sold exclusively by Selfridges for £6.00 and contains five mini versions of Origins' best selling skincare products.

So what does it contain?

1. Plantscription Anti-Ageing Serum 7ml
2. Plantscription Anti-Ageing Eye Treatment 5ml
3. Modern Friction Nature's Gentle Dermabrasion 5ml
4. GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream 5ml
5. Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask 7ml

I tried a GinZing eye cream years ago, not sure if this is the same one, but I haven't tried any of the others before. I'm especially looking forward to trying the Clear Improvement mask as it's meant to great for clogged pores!

Have you tried any of the products above? What's your favourite?

Beauty Bird xx

Bristol Bloggers Meetup!

Source: Wikipedia

Hey lovelies. Myself and the gorgeous Alessia from Whispers From Angels are arranging a Bristol Bloggers meetup! It doesn't matter where you're from or if you're a beauty, fashion or lifestyle blogger, or even a mixture of the three - everyone is welcome! 

Date: Saturday 23rd February 2013

Time: 11am

Place: Cabot Circus, Bristol

We are thinking of meeting at Giraffe restaurant on the top floor of Cabot's where we can have a chat and something to eat, then go shopping!!! We will also hopefully have some goodies to give away!

The main train station is Bristol Temple Meads, which is about 15 minutes away, but I've looked online and apparently regular buses run between the station and Cabot Circus. 

If you are interesting in coming please comment below with your email address, so we can keep you updated if any of the details change!

You can also contact me and Alessia on Twitter about the #bbmeetup; @beauty__bird and @lil_alessia.

We'd love to see you there!

Sasha xx

NOTD: Leopard Print

When Helen from The Lovecats Inc did these leopard print nails for a guest post, I absolutely knew I had to get them on my nails!

The base colour is Models Own Utopia, which is a gorgeous, pale greyish lilac. To be honest, it's the sort of shade that'd be easy to miss on the stand, but after seeing swatches of it online I knew I had to have it! I then used the Models Own White Nail Art Pen to create the white splodges and the same pen in black to do the bordering. It was surprisingly easy to do because the leopard print doesn't have to be neat, I think messier is better!

I think my next bit of nail art is going to have to be something Christmassy! I love the fair isle design, so I may go for that.

What nail art are you loving at the moment?

Beauty Bird xx

Guest Post - Molli: S.O.S. Beauty Regime for Troubled Skin

As a young teenager, my skin is vulnerable to spots, dryness and generally misbehaves. One moment it’ll be glowing, and the next it will resemble an ogre-like complexion. To keep on top of this, I had to devise a sort of routine. I use a selection of moisturisers and scrubs for both morning and night time to keep my skin soft and spot free, as well as drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Before I resulted to water, I would often find my skin rough and generally prone to spots, but water is a definite miracle cure for bad skin as far as I’m concerned. 

Aside from this regime, I’m no angel to sticking to crazy fruit-based and salad-orientated diets, and I’m certainly not an exercise freak. But these sorts of methods can help some people, and I admire those who do go to great lengths to keep their skin perfect. But unfortunately, I am not blessed with an effortlessly flawless complexion, so here’s what I use…

 

I tend to mix up my brands and make-up, and I have to be careful of my sensitive skin sometimes, but this is a mash up of my typical morning routine.

In the morning, I only usually need to use a moisturiser and a cleansing wipe. The moisturiser I use is Aveeno Cream, it has natural ingredients and is great at hydrating my skin. I’m not too sure how much it is, as I have it on prescription due to my eczema, but you can pick up lots of Aveeno products in Superdrug. Sometimes, if there’s been a bit of a previous-day-makeup-smudge in the night, I mop that up with a Nivea Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipe (it’s part of their ‘Daily Essentials’ range). I resorted to using these a while ago out of desperation as normal make-up removal wipes hurt my eyes and leave them red and sore. But I have grown to depend on these whimsical wonders, as they are gentle on the skin and leave a matte finish, as opposed to an oily pool. I pick them up for around £1-£2 at Tesco or Superdrug. After removing excess makeup and using the moisturiser, I have a soft base to add foundation on to. 

In the evening, I rely heavily on the God of cleansing that is Garnier. I purchased the Garnier Pure Deep Pore Wash scrub a while ago, and as it is such a big ‘squeeze-y’ bottle, it’s lasted me an age. I originally bought it from Superdrug for about £4. I love the feel of it on my skin, as it produces a tingly sensation as it clears out pores and blackheads. I don’t apply it every night religiously, but most nights I try to whack it on after a shower. It acts as sort of an exfoliator and cleanses the skin and pores really well. Also, it’s not majorly expensive, and it lasts for ages so it’s worth investing in.
 

I team this with ‘my twins’: Garnier Soothing Cleansing Lotion and Garnier Soothing Vitamin-Enriched Toner. Both are part of the Simply Essentials range and come in many different scents (e.g. rose). However, I choose the no-perfume versions because they are more delicate on the skin. Both team together to remove make up, cleanse the skin and tone it evenly. Together they were around £6 from Superdrug. I do not regret buying these at all, as they do their job effectively and leave my skin feeling amazing!

I also add, just before I settle down to bed, my Simple Rapid Action Spot Zapper. This was more a more expensive purchase, at £5 for a little roll-on gel. But it does the job well. It’s no miracle must-have, but after a few applications (or one very generous one), large spots are completely gone. I find if I add a small amount to a red, noticeable spot in the evening, it has died down by the morning. It is worth the money, and keeps large spots at bay.        

During the day, I use Superdrug Shine Control Papers. These were £2 and I wouldn’t survive a day at school without them! I tend to get quite oily skin, and my foundation doesn’t always cover it completely, so a little top up of powder from the papers during the day is great. (Also, they’re brilliant for using after P.E!) 

I’d like to thank Beauty Bird for this fabulous opportunity to do a guest post; I’ve really enjoyed the experience! And I’d love it if all of you readers could check out my blog! I hope one day mine can be as amazingly successful as Beauty Birds’!

                                                              ________________________________

 

Thank you very much to Molli for her brilliant guest post and for her lovely comments! I was really honoured when Molli contacted me about doing this guest post as she's aspiring to be a journalist and was looking for different ways of gaining writing experience. I think you'll agree she's definitely got a flair for writing! She's just started up a blog of her own, which you can view here.

What's your current beauty regime?

Beauty Bird xx

Review: Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick by Kate Moss in 101

I haven't long branched into the world of lipstick, my only other one being from MUA Cosmetics. I bought the Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick by Kate after reading lots of good reviews on it and just really falling in love with this shade 101. Plus at only £5.49, I thought if I don't like it in the end then at least I hadn't spent too much! As it turns out, I LOVE it! 

101 is a gorgeous pink shade, which is slightly dusky and stops it being too bubblegum. I think it's very wearable and would work for day or night. I like the fact that it's matte, though it does have a very slight sheen.

This lippie has a nice sweet scent to it too, which you wouldn't expect, though I just can't place my finger on what the scent actually is! The formula feels a little balmy and doesn't dry out my lips at all. The colour lasts around a few hours, being an inexperienced lipstick wearer I'm not sure how good this is compared to others though.

The Verdict

I think this is a great high street lipstick - great quality, great price! I know I'll be getting a lot of use out of this. The shade range isn't massive but all the colours are gorgeous.

Have you tried any of the Lasting Finish Matte range by Kate? What's your current favourite lippie?

Beauty Bird xx

Battle of the Rose Lip Balms - Figs and Rouge vs. Balance Me

I got my hands on the Balance Me Rose Otto Intensive Lip Salve when it was free with Glamour back in the summer, and was lucky enough to win the Figs and Rouge Rambling Rose Lip, Face and Body Balm in a Twitter giveaway. But who wins for me in the battle of the rose lip balms? Let the battle commence!

Ingredients

Both lip balms are petroleum free and contain natural ingredients. Figs and Rouge is 100% natural and organic, certified by the Organic Soil Association. 100% of Balance Me's ingredients are derived from natural origins. Overall Figs and Rouge contains significantly less ingredients than Balance Me. 

WINNER: Figs and Rouge

Packaging

The Figs and Rouge lip balm comes in a tin with a cute, vintage design, whereas Balance Me comes in a squeezy tube with a simple and modern design. I'm personally a sucker for cute and vintage!

WINNER: Figs and Rouge

Formula & Application

Figs and Rouge is a solid yet soft formula that you need to apply with your finger. It really melts into my lips, making them feel instantly hydrated. Balance Me has a similar formula but can be applied with the applicator, meaning it is more hygenic. I find that this product feels like it sits on your lips for a lot longer before absorbing and to me, it feels a little greasy. However it does hydrate my lips just as wonderfully as Figs and Rouge.

WINNER: Formula - Figs and Rouge / Application - Balance Me

Flavour/Scent

Obviously they are both rose scented/flavoured, but Figs and Rouge is a lot more subtle. It took me a little while to get used to the Balance Me scent as it is very strong and very different from the popular sweet, fruity scents of many lip balms.

WINNER: Figs and Rouge

Price & Size

The Figs and Rouge lip balms are £4.99 for an 8ml tin, whereas Balance Me is £12.00 for a 10ml tube. Obviously you get more product with Balance Me, but I'm not sure I could part with £12.00 for a lip balm! Figs and Rouge is much more affordable.

WINNER: Figs and Rouge

So the overall winner is clearly Figs and Rouge Rambling Rose Lip Balm! I really do like both of these products don't get me wrong, but Figs and Rouge seems to edge it on almost every one! It can also be used on face and body according to the tin, though I haven't yet used it on these areas. I think the two main winning points for me is the formula and the price.

Have you tried either of these lip products? Which is your favourite?

Beauty Bird xx

The Body Shop Joy Card with Glamour

Hi lovelies! I thought I'd pop up a quick post about the freebie with the latest edition of Glamour! I picked this up at the weekend as inside is a Joy Card for The Body Shop, which is worth either £3.00, £15.00 or £100.00. All you have to do is take the card into your local store and they'll tell you what it's worth!

I haven't taken mine in yet, but I have my eye on The Body Shop Lightening Touch Pen after Evelyn from We Were Raised By Wolves mentioned it on her blog as a high street dupe for YSL Touche Eclat.

On a separate note this post is a little milestone as it is my 100th blog post! Thank you to everyone who follows, reads and comments :-)

Will you be picking up Glamour this month? Do you have your eye on anything from The Body Shop at the moment?

Beauty Bird xx

Real Techniques Blush Brush

I know there are a million and one reviews about Real Techniques brushes, but I'm a bit late to the fan club after only buying my first Real Techniques brush - the powder brush - a few months ago in a blog sale. I had the blush brush on my Christmas list, but I fell victim to the buy one beauty product get another half price in Boots recently - whoops!

The Real Techniques blush brush is designed to "contour and define cheeks for flawlessly blended, high definition results". It has an aluminium handle with hand cut, 100% cruelty free synthetic taklon bristles. It costs £9.99.

The bristles are sooooo soft and feel lovely on the skin. It makes blusher really easy to apply and it does blend really well. As the brush is rounded rather than flat you can also choose to use just the tip of the brush for a thinner line - it would be good for contouring with bronzer for example.

I'm glad I bought this brush, I much prefer it to the Jane Iredale fan brush I used before. I can't wait to add some more Real Techniques brushes to my collection, fingers crossed that Santa brings me the Core Collection and Starter Set for eyes!

What's your favourite Real Techniques brush?

Beauty Bird xx

NOTD: Cosmic Girl

I am in love with this nail varnish combo! I used George Quick Dry Nail Varnish in Boom with Models Own Ibiza Mix over the top. Ibiza Mix is such a gorgeous glitter varnish, containing lots of different size glitter particles in a range of colours - yellow, blue, green, orange, pink. I can't wait to try it over some other colours!

What are you wearing on your nails at the moment? 

Beauty Bird xx

November Empties

I used up quite a mixture of products this month! So here's what I ran out of...

Superdrug Nourishing Nail Polish Remover 200ml - £1.39

I've had this for ages - I'm guilty of picking my nail varnish off half the time instead of removing it properly! :s It's an okay product and it does the job, though with a bit of effort sometimes!

Re-purchase? No - I've bought a Cutex one to try instead.

Lush Cinders Bath Bomb - £2.25

I blogged about this recently here and it was my first ever Lush bath bomb! I'd recommend giving it a go because it's quite Christmassy; it contains cinamon leaf oil, sweet orange oil and popping candy! The smell is gorgeous.

Re-purchase? I would - but not right now as there's lots of other Lush bath bombs I want to try!

Cover FX Natural FX Water Based Liquid Foundation SPF15 - £37.00

I've been using this for about 6 months and have loved using it because it's a foundation and concealer in one, providing moderate coverage for acne, dark circles etc. It's also non-comedogenic, so doesn't aggravate spot prone skin. There's a great range of shades to choose from, but it is very expensive! Full review here.

Re-purchase? No - I've discovered Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation, which is a similar product but at over half the price.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19

This a fab bargain buy and provides great coverage of dark circles and blemishes without going cakey. If you haven't tried it yet then I recommend that you do! Full review here.

Re-purchase? Yes I already have.

Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Powder Refill - from £25.50

Thankfully with this you only have to buy the compact once and then can just re-purchase the refill, as this is an expensive product just for the refill! I love it though because it's pressed minerals and so doesn't clog pores, finishing off my foundation and concealer nicely. If you can recommend a cheaper pressed mineral powder please let me know!

Re-purchase? Yes I already have.

Amie Spring Clean Cooling Clay Mask (Sample) - FREE

I got about two uses out of this sachet, but from that I didn't really notice any difference to my skin. It felt nice and didn't dry out my skin, but that's all I can say really! I think you need to try the full size to make a proper judgement.

Purchase full size? No - I just didn't fall in love with this! I want to try Origins Out of Trouble mask next.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair for Eyes - £36.00

I've tried a lot of eye creams over the years and this is the only one that's really made a noticeable improvement to me in terms of texture, hydration and intensity of my dark circles. It's not a miracle worker but it does help! This pot lasted about six months. Full review here.

Re-purchase? Yes, once I've done all my Christmas shopping! I'm using a REN eye gel sample for now.

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets - £2.99

This pack contains 50 sheets and it has been a lifesaver for absorbing oil through the day, without removing makeup. It's now a staple in my handbag! Full review here.

Re-purchase? Yes I already have - I found them in Asda for £1.50!

What empties did you have this month? Do you use any of the above products?

Beauty Bird xx