July Favourites

I'm sorry if this is a little repetitive because most of the products I've been loving throughout July, I'm taking on holiday and think are must haves on holiday so I've probably put most of these in my holiday make up post.
I've been loving using tinted moisturiser as my skin's not looking too bad at the moment. So I've been using Natural Collection tinted moisturiser. A lot of people don't like this but I love it. Some people say that it's just a light foundation but it's really moisturising and gives me good coverage. Another good point is that it's only £1.99.

I recently bought from MAC, a studio finish concealer in NW20. It's amazing!!! I apply it to blemishes and under my eyes with a MAC 217 brush because its really good for blending and doesn't give you that concealer ring around your blemishes that just attract more attention to them. I also love the 217 brush for eyeshadow because you can do the lid, crease, outer V and blend with it, you really can do everything with it. I you want to know more about the studio finish concealer then I have a more extensive review in another post.

I've also really been loving the MAC Lovelorn lipstick with a lustre finish. I also have another more extensive review on that so go check that one out if you want more info on that. But to get to the point, it's a pink colour that's not nude but it's not bright either, it's just right for summer

I also love my Benefit That Gal primer. Again I have a full review of that but it just gives you a really nice glow and makes your make up stay on for so long.

I'm wearing on my eyes at the moment a lot of shimmery neutrals, some individuals some palettes but the colours are centred around (not purposefully) the colours in the Collection 2000 colour intense trio in 3. Cookie Dough.

I also really like the no7 Extreme Length mascara in black and I like the waterproof one as well.

One final product is the Collection 2000 shimmer and shade which is so good for highlighting cheek bones and using as a blush because it comes in two parts. They're both really shimmery and summery and I love it!!!

Holiday products!!! - Make up

I've decided that I'm going to leave miscellaneous toiletries till last because i finally figured out today what make up I'm taking with me.

The first thing for a holiday is definitely a primer. I am currently really liking the That Gal primer from Benefit. It gives you a really nice glow. For more info on that primer, I've done a post dedicated to it I love it so much.

I also don't want to use a foundation in hot weather because I don't want make up melting off my face!! I like to use the Natural Collection tinted moisturiser because it hydrates my skin without being greasy and it gives me decent coverage for a tinted moisturiser.

Definitely take a fixing powder with you and to get rid of any unwanted shine.

A waterproof mascara is must. Mascara dribbling from you eyes really isn't a good look on the beach. The waterproof theory also applies to eyeliner but I wouldn't recommend wearing eyeliner on holiday as you want your look to be natural. If you wanted to take it but wear it just for going out at night then that would be fine.

For eyeshadow I would just take a selection of neutral eyeshadows with a black as well so you can make your neutral smokey eye more dark and intense for evening. With holiday eyeshadow, its all about being neutral and versatile.

I don't know whether this counts as make up but I'm definitely going to take eyelash curlers. When matched with mascara and a neutral eye, it gives you a really nice flirty look.

I'm taking a Collection 2000 shimmer and shade. I love this because part of it you can use for highlighting and giving your face a holiday shimmer and another part you can use as blush. It also comes in several shades so with this, you really cut down on the amount of make up you have to take.

You can take bronzer if you want to but I prefer just to let the tan I'm building up show through my tinted moisturiser but this is just personal preference.

I think on holiday, lip colour should be kept neutral and glossy with added colour for evening. I'm taking a MAC lipstick, a clear lip gloss and a couple of tinted lips glosses.

I'm going to South America tomorrow but I'm going to see if i can pre-write some posts and maybe if I get a chance write some while I'm there.

Holiday products!!! - Haircare

I know that this next instalment of my holiday products post collection is a long time coming but it's finally here. I wanted to leave make up till last because I feel I need a little longer to think about that and also I haven't decided what I'll be taking make up wise on holiday with me.

Doing these posts actually helps me get organised with what I'm going to take because it makes me think more about it.

For shampoo and conditioner I think the best option is to get a shampoo and conditioner that claims to do something like intensively repair. When I go on holiday I tend to swim, go to the beach and sunbath a lot and that's really bad for your hair. With this, also remember to wash your hair after each time you get your hair wet, like swimming in a pool or the sea.

If you're going somewhere hot I'd take some de-frizzing product like a serum or spray because humidity is not good for styling.

Dry shampoos are always useful for going out after a day shopping or at the beach. I don't like the Batiste dry shampoos because I find they turn my hair white/grey so I'd go for the Toni & Guy dry shampoo, I absolutely love it!!!

If you take curling or straightening irons, the most important thing to remember is HEAT PROTECTANT. I can't stress this enough. Think how much you are damaging your hair by the amount of sun exposure and then add the heat of a curling or straightening iron. It's so bad for your hair.

You can take some styling products if you want to but just remember the weight limit on the case you can take. You don't want most of it taken up by hair products you may or may not use so just take the essentials and if you're staying in a hotel that provides a hair dryer, you don't need to take one!!

NEW SOFTLIPS GIVEAWAY!!!!

Softlips are letting me do a giveaway!!!!!

If you win, you will receive:

• lip balm with spf 20 in Vanilla, Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Mint and Wildberry
• limited edition flavours in Peach Mango and Coconut Cream
• PURE 100% Natural Organic lip balms in Pomegranate, Peppermint, Acai Berry, Chai Tea and Papaya
• PURE 100% Natural tinted lip balms with spf 15 in Shell Pink, Natural Honesty and Coral Charm
• PURE 100% Natural lip glosses with spf 15 in Shell Pink, Natural Honesty and Coral Charm
• PURE 100% Natural lip butter in Vanilla Berry
• PURE 100% Natural lip polish with Organic Coconut and Sugar

You could win all that and this is all you have to do:

1. Follow my blog
2. Post a comment to this post starting with 'Enter me softlips: '
3. After that put a message, it can be anything like a suggestion, or a request for a review or just a comment on my blog.

I will then pick a random name and the winner will be posted on this blog in about 4-6 weeks

GOOD LUCK!!

HOLIDAY PRODUCTS TIME!!!! - facial skincare

Like none of you guys know this but in about a week I will be going to South America and then after a week of being home after that I'm off to Florida. This post is going to be about the necessary products you need to take on holiday. I think this might be quite long so I might split it up into sections. Ok so that's what I'll do.

So the first facial skincare product that you will definitely need to take on holiday with you is a NON GREASY face moisturiser. All that sun is going to dry your skin out but you don't want your skin to be greasy so no heavy moisturisers like body butters.

The second thing is definitely a refreshing face wash that smells really nice. Something like the new Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit wash. I've had that for about 2 weeks now and I love it.

The third is slightly more optional but after I wash my face I like to use a toner because I like to make sure I've got all the dirt out of my face.

If you have limited space for toiletries then depending on what you consider as necessary, things like eye creams and deep wrinkle fillers are not that necessary but it depends on how long you are going for. If you have oily skin like me, I tend to use a face mask and only put it on areas that I have spots. But obviously you won't want to take another bottle of product so see if you can get one or two sachets of your favourite mask.

Also you need a sunscreen or sunblock if you're going to a sunny place. Even though some moisturisers and foundations claim to have an spf in them, I would still apply a non greasy sunscreen or sunblock just to guarantee that your face isn't going to be harmed my the UV rays. I would recommend applying an all day sunscreen like Reimann P20 sunscreen before your make up.

I don't know what my next post will be but probably holiday make up or maybe just other toiletries. Just keep checking and hopefully I'll have the next one up tomorrow.

And also keep checking my blog for details of the softlips giveaway coming soon. I've got a tonne of stuff to give away!

Benefit That Gal Primer

I promised I'd make up for missing a few days so here is today's second post!

As I mentioned in the post before, yesterday I went the cosmetics floor of House of Fraser in Manchester and I bought the Benefit That Gal primer. It's really pink in the packaging but it doesn't look pink on your face it just gives you a nice glow and it makes your skin look super smooth.

It's definitely the perfect base when putting foundation or tinted moisturiser over the top. You don't need a lot either so it will last a very long time. I don't know how well it would work as an eye primer but I will try and keep you updated.

MAC Lovelorn lipstick

I know I haven't posted for a while but I promise that I will make up for it.

So I went to Manchester on the train with my friends on Monday (it's now tuesday) and we went to House of Fraser. On the bottom floor they have tonnes of cosmetics counters including Benefit, MAC, Chanel, YSL, Bare Minerals, Shishiedo etc.

Anyway, at some point during our time on the bottom floor (which was quite a while) I went to the MAC counter and was immediately attracted to the Lovelorn lipstick with a lustre finish. I swatched it on the back of my hand and I absolutely loved it! For a while I've been mixing 2 17 lipsticks to get a medium pink colour but I've found a lipstick that can replace it. It's slightly shiny as well which is a bonus.

I tried it on on the train back and I fell in love with it even more. It looks so pretty on its own or with gloss over the top and its so smooth and glides on so well.

I would definitely recommend this lipstick for your first MAC lipstick, this is mine and I can't even say how much I adore the colour.

I bought some other products as well but I'll write about those in other posts.

Just so everyone's prepared, there will probably be a giveaway in the next few weeks so keep checking my blog for announcements.

My new MAC studio finish concealer!!!

I went to the Trafford Centre with my family a few days ago and went to the MAC counter in Selfridges. I desperately needed a new concealer and I thought where else to get a better concealer than MAC.

I went to the MAC counter and they were so helpful and suggested that I should use the studio finish concealer because the studio sculpt is more for dry skin and I have oily skin. She demonstrated several of the concealers on me with a 217 brush and I absolutely loved the finish it gave me. My mum and even my dad were very impressed with how helpful the artists were, how little they had to use and how well it worked.

I have been using my MAC studio finish in NW20 for a few days now and I can honestly say that this is the BEST concealer I have ever used and the 217 brush works for so many things.

I use the 217 brush for concealer, eyeshadow application for lid, crease and blending. I can use it for almost everything and for £14.50, not a bad price for such a good quality brush that is so soft. The concealer is £12.50 which is quite reasonable considering how little you have to use and how long it will last.

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Comment and suggest below :)

Carmex Moisturising lip Balm

I bought the Carmex moisturising lip balm a few days ago because my blistex was running out and I really like it. It smells really nice if not a bit synthetic and sweet.

I apply it all the time and it's really making my lips super soft. It has a really nice thick consistency and goes on really smooth. I have the one in the tube not in the little jar but I doubt it makes much difference I just don't like to get my fingers messy.

I also really like this lip balm because it has spf 15 and I didn't even buy it for that it's just an added bonus. I really like the spf 15 because you don't have to worry about your lips burning or anything because it's got that covered.

It's in a really handy size to just chuck in your purse or bag so I love that. I would give it a 9/10 just because the smell is a bit too synthetic and sweet.

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Love you all!! xx

17 mirror shine on lipsticks

Hi guys,

I'm really sorry I didn't post again yesterday but I've been really busy but I promise to keep up to date more now.

I first saw these lipsticks when I was shopping with my mum in Boots and they were new and on 3 for 2. My mum got me 3 in the shades bee hive, purple haze and hollywood. I really like all of the shades and I've also tried some combinations which I really like.

I would have to say that I'm not as keen on the purple haze as I am on hollywood and bee hive but I still like it. At first when you apply it, you don't seem to get much shine but after about 2 minutes it gets shinier and I think that's probably because it needs to warm on your lips.

My favourite combination is applying bee hive on first and then applying hollywood over the top because it gives that sheer pink glossy look that's really in this summer.

The only down side to these fabulous lipsticks is that because they are very soft because they are glossy, they are much more likely to break off than regular lipsticks. My advice would be not to wind up too much, only about 1cm or if it does break off, then use a lip brush with the lipstick.

No7 Extreme Length Mascara

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I didn't write a post yesterday, I was very busy. I've got two of these mascaras for my birthday, one in black and one in sapphire and I love them. They give (hence the name) extreme length and make you look like you have false lashes. The wand is really long and thin and looks more like a lash comb than a mascara wand but that's what gives you the definition.

The only place where I say this mascara would be lacking is volume. It still gives pretty decent volume but not a lot. If I was going to a party or going out somewhere I'd probably use my BADgal mascara but for school this is really nice because it gives you length, definition and a hint of added volume.

I really like the metallics collection but I have only tried the sapphire one but I think that one and the black one probably set the tone for the standard that the green one will be. I think the green one is called emerald but I'm not sure. I would say this was more of a mascara for day wear than night but its such a good mascara that I really recommend it.

I would give his mascara a 9/10 because it lacks slightly in volume.

Remember to follow me on youtube: hannahbeautyful and twitter: hannah_beauty. Also suggest anything that you want me to write about like products you want me to review

Fit Flops

Hi everyone,

About a year ago, my mum bought me a pair of black fit flops for my birthday which at the time I thought were really novel because they claimed to tone your legs and bum. At first they irritated between my big toe and the one next to that one but that went away as I wore them more. I think the material just needed softening. I wore them everywhere for a couple of months in summer but I stopped wearing them in winter as you would.

I didn't really see that much of a difference in the appearance of my legs or bum and I still don't. I think that they are probably the most comfortable pair of flip flops I have ever worn once I had worn in the material. I don't think that people should buy the fit flops just for the fact that they claim to tone your legs and bum because I don't think they do that that much. If you're looking for a really comfortable and practical pair of flip flops then go for the fit flops every time. Also I think they've brought out a line for the winter which is great.

Make up Wipes vs. Make up Remover

Hi everyone,

Im going to make this a quick one because I feel that I've been boring you with the long posts I've been doing lately so I'll try not to bore you in this one.

I have Tea Tree make up wipes because I love Tea Tree and I've tried loads of them and none of them seem to remove make up as much as using remover on a cotton pad or ball. I must admit I still use them because they're convenient but if I've been wearing a lot of make up or I had broken out and didn't want to block pores anymore or I just wanted to make sure I got all my make up off then I'd go for the less convenient option of make up remover.

I also think that make up remover on a cotton pad is better for getting hard to remover things like eyeliner off because it grips to the base of the eyelashes. Make up remover on a cotton ball or pad doesn't dry out like wipes tend to.

Washing Hair

Hi everyone,

So I was in the shower this morning and thinking what I was going to write about tonight and then I just thought to myself how good my hair was feeling and how easy to manage it had been lately. So then I thought that I would explain the many importances of washing your hair frequently.

The first obvious point is the way it looks. Because I'm still a teenager, my hair gets quite oily fairly quickly and that's not attractive. But even if you have dry hair, the longest I think someone should leave between washes is 2 days. If you leave it longer than that then your hair will start to look dirty and be more difficult to clean when you do wash it.

That brings me onto my next point. Dirty hair is always much more difficult to manage. To use an example, I once left my hair for 3 days without washing it (I know - gross) and when I did wash it, I had to shampoo like three times and I had to use a lot of conditioner. Due to the oil that occurs naturally in my hair, when it accumulated over the 3 days, the shampoo just wouldn't lather that much because a lot of the water just ran off my hair. It will also take longer to clean when you do clean it as the shampoo will have a harder job.

I'm not suggesting that you wash your hair like twice a day because that wouldn't be good for your hair either. Eventually it will wash out all of the natural oils in your hair that makes it shine and it would turn your hair dull and unattractive. You need to strike the right balance between washing it too much and too little depending on the type of hair you have.

Another point is that most of the time, when you wash your hair, you wash your body as well so it encourages you to be clean and fresh.

Just one last thing that's not really a point related too much to this post but to have your hair in the best condition, then you really need to pick a shampoo and conditioner that is for your hair type. Like if you have dry hair then pick out a moisturising shampoo and conditioner and use a moisture treatment maybe once a week. And for oily hair use a balancing shampoo and conditioner.

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Current Favourite Moisturisers

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to do this post on my current favourite moisturisers because I have used loads of moisturisers and finally found some really nice ones that work really well with my skin. I have one that is a body moisturiser and not a face moisturiser but I'll say more about that later.

The first face moisturiser I really like at the moment is Superdrug's Tea Tree Moisturiser. I really like it because it, to an extent, stops break outs and keeps my skin from drying out from the acne/spot treatments. I know that Superdrug products are not available in America so the alternative to this that I would recommend is Africa's Best Organics Shea Butter and Tea Tree Moisturiser. It's available at Walgreens for $3.99 I think.

The second face moisturiser that I really like is the Olay non-greasy beauty fluid. It's really light but moisturises my skin really well. Its also very reasonably priced although I can't remember the exact price I think 200ml was about £3.50. I don't know if this particular product is available in America but if you're trying to find a similar product, then make sure that it's a non-greasy moisturiser.

My final moisturiser that I love is one that I got from Florida when I went on holiday last year and I'm so glad that I brought a huge one back with me because it's not available in the UK. It's called Eucerin Daily Replenishing Lotion. It feels slightly greasy on the skin which is why you should NEVER use it on your face but it's great for body moisturising. My mum is a doctor and also uses it and she says that the only one that comes even close to it in the UK has to be prescribed by a doctor.

One thing that all of you need to remember is that the face moisturisers that I've recommended suit my skin which is quite oily and may not moisturise your skin very well if you have dry skin. For people with dry skin I'd recommend a bit more research and always a good place to look for make up and skincare advice is a youtube channel called juicystar07.

Nose Strips

I have recently started using Superdrug's Tea Tree Nose Strip and they work so well. According to the packaging, there is something in the way that the strip bonds to the skin that sticks to skin impurities. The packaging also says that the anti-bacterial quality of Tea Tree helps to relieve pore blockages.

I really do think this is true. I use this product about once or twice a week and I could see a difference from the first time I used it. It removed all of my blackheads and cleared my spots in just the 10-15 mins it was on.

They are really easy to use. I dampen my face to make the strip stick to my face and the apply the strip to my face. I then just got on with what I had to do any I just forget about it. It also doesn't do your skin any harm if you leave it on too long. The only thing that I would recommend with this product is that you use a face wash, cleanser or toner after using the strip to get rid of any sticky adhesive that may be still on your face.

I'm well aware that Superdrug products are not available in America but for UK residents, these particular strips cost £2-£3. For America's residents, I'd recommend the Biore range of Cleansing Pore Strips.

Boujois Petit Guide de Style Perfect Harmony Shadow and Contour

Wow that was a long name. I'm going to make this one quick because I don't have a lot of time.

I think the idea of having both the eyeshadow and contour is a good idea for beginners so if your a teenager or have only just started using or experimenting with make up then this is great. I was given this product for Christmas a year or two ago and at first I really liked it because I really had no idea about contouring my eyes or anything. Now that I'm older and have more make up skills, I find this less useful.

I have this product in 12 Coquette Rosette. I really like the pink shad because it's quite natural but pink enough if you get what I mean and the purple contouring shadow really goes with it. They bland really well and is perfect when you're a beginner.

I really like the packaging because it's got a small mirror on the inside cover of the book-like packaging. It comes with a double ended applicator, one end for the base shadow and the other for the contouring shadow. Another great aspect of this product for beginners is that it has a picture guide to show people exactly how to use the product.

I would have to say that the usability of this product depends totally on what level of skill and experience you have with make up but overall I would give this product a 7/10.

If anyone has any suggestions for posts or wants me to do a review on a particular product please leave a comment.

Favourite Beauty Products

In this post, I'm going to share with you guys what my absolute favourite beauty products are. These products I trust so much to take care of my skin and to make me generally look good.

1. First of all, I can't live without my Blistex lip conditioning lip balm. I carry it around with me everywhere and I apply it between 5 and 10 times a day.
2. During the Summer months, I use a daily sunscreen on my face underneath my make up. I like to use Reimann P20 once a day sunscreen because it's not too oily and it allows my face to tan easily without burning.
3. I really like to use pressed powder to give me a matte look. At the moment I'm using Miss Sporty Stay Matte pressed powder.
4. I have 2 favourite mascaras. The first is Benefit Bad Gal Lash when I want lots of volume for say the weekend but when I want a more natural look, I like to use Maybelline Define-a-lash.
5. I'm really liking the Rimmel Dream Match foundation at the moment because it lasts all day and it matches my skin tone.
6. I have 2 moisturisers that I really like. The first is my tea tree moisturiser and the second is my Olay Beauty Fluid.

I have quite oily skin so the face and skin products I like for oily skin but if you have dry skin then I would just recommend trying samples of products and seeing what works best for you.

Intro to my blog!

Hi fellow make up addicts,

My name is Hannah and I am absolutely obsessed with cosmetics, skincare, body care, haircare etc. I'm creating this blog so that I can tell you guys what I think of certain products, give tutorials and generally share information on the topics stated above. Hopefully I will start doing some youtube videos soon so you'll be able to follow me on there aswell.

So first I'll tell you a bit about me. As I've already said, my name is Hannah, I'm 16 and I live in England. My make up obsession first started probably when I was 14 and my make up collection has grown since then. I mostly use drug-store products just because I live in a slightly more rural part of England so I don't have a lot of access to cities that would have shops that sell products like MAC, NARS and NYX. I go on holiday a lot to the USA so I have a little access to those products.

I don't like wasting money on things that aren't worth what I paid for them so I will probably talk about a product's value for money a lot but that's just me and it's what i do. Even though I want value for money, if I think something's worth investing in like a good foundation then I will spend the money.

I hope to give everyone some good advice in this blog and I hope you enjoy!