Makeup De-Clutter // What I Got Rid Of

Recently, I de-cluttered my Makeup Stash and threw out some of my old items that I just don't like or use any more and I thought I could include them in a post to kind of give mini reasons why they didn't work for me.

Firstly, I threw out my Covergirl Exact Eyelights mascara as it had dried out. I enjoyed using this for a while as these mascaras are tailored to suit your eye colour but I just have mascaras that I prefer much more now. I also gave my sister my Rimmel Scandal Eyes Flex mascara, this was in perfectly good condition - I just don't like it. The brush is far too big for me and it results in spidery looking lashes that are just a big mess so it didn't work for me. 

I also gave my sister my Bourjois Smokey Eyes palette. These shadows just aren't very pigmented and it requires a lot of product to make a slight bit of colour which isn't generally what you are looking for with a smoky eye. This just didn't work out for me and I prefer other shadows so I gave this away. I also gave away my 17 shadow thats a purpley/pink shade. This is perfectly fine but I just will never wear that shade and its much more suited to my 10 year old sister who likes to have a play around with adventurous makeup. 

I also threw away my Soap and Glory Brow Archery as it had dried out although I have repurchased it as I really like this stuff. I got rid of a red lipgloss that is way past its use by date and gave my sister a pink Avon lipgloss as its much more her colour than it is mine. 

As for face products, I threw away an empty Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer although I have repurchased it because I love it! I also got rid of my Stila Liquid makeup Foundation and cover up stick because these are way out of date and I also am not a fan of the smell or texture in general of these. 

I threw out my Covergirl concealer (I don't know what this stuff is called as its scratched off). This was the first face product I bought years ago and although it was ok then, its just too pinky now and I have much better concealers. I also got rid off my Fresh Minerals Primer, I don't know what it is about this product but its just feels horrible and leaves a white creamy kind of sheen in places of your face. I don't know how to describe it but this stuff is just awful, my friend tried it and found it the same so I should have gotten rid of that a long time ago. 

I know I didn't get rid of much but these are just products I don't like or I had used up. 

xoxo

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The Balm Nude-Tudes Palette Review

I got this palette last week on the plane from duty free as it was £10 cheaper than usual. I have been loving it and thought it was worth doing a post about as I would definitely recommend it.

I have never tried anything from The Balm and I haven't heard much about this palette so I wasn't expecting great things... I know its wrong and just because a product isn't hyped about I shouldn't put off trying it but its just my way of thinking. Anyway, I tried this out straight away and I am so impressed. The formula of these shadows I prefer to MAC which are my go-to shadows. The colour pay-off is great, they are so pigmented however I would definitely recommend using a primer with these as thats the catch- the staying power isn't great without one. My palette came with a free mini primer and that works fine, as well as any other one you can get your hands on. 

Obviously this is a nudes palette as stated in the name but I think this is quite different to my other nude palettes. This contains a real mixture of colours from pinks to browns to reds to blacks - it's not your average nudes palette which I love as it means its great for a weekend away as you can get lots of different eye looks with this. 

Some of the colours aren't very visible in this photo on swatches but on the lid they are really pigmented. My favourite shades are Stand-offish, Sultry and Seductive. It's a mixure of mattes and sparkly shadows however I feel even some that aren't sparkly, have a kind of sheen to them so theres really only two or three mattes. Usually, I prefer mattes but this contains such wearable shades that I can look past that. 

This palette comes with a small double-sided brush, one side being angled and the other and angled fluffy brush, I personally prefer using my trusty MAC 217 but this is perfect for a quick and easy on the go makeup look.

The packaging is very sturdy with a magnet to prevent the palette from opening unintentionally. It also includes a big mirror, again perfect for travel. This palette sells at $36/£29.99 and is available online or in some stores. 

xoxo

The Balm Nude 'Tudes Palette - http://www.thebalm.com/nude-tude.html

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Worth The Hype? Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

I'm sure you'll all have heard of this mascara someway, it has got a lot of hype recently and I wanted to try it. Being very picky with mascaras, I didn't have high hopes for this product but I was pleasantly surprised.

Usually, I like to wait for mascaras to dry out more so they're no so "wet" because I generally don't like the way they look but with this one, it still manages to give lots of length and volume without the clumpy look. 

The brush is curved which allows the mascara to give a real lift to your lashes, it's amazing how it lengthens them, I was so impressed. Naturally I have long lashes and I don't like them to look any longer as then they tend to have the spidery look but this one isn't like that, it's such a great mascara. 

The disadvantage may be that it smells a lot like paint- maybe that's just mine but it's really strong. I don't mind it because I like the smell of paint but others may disagree. This is my new favourite mascara costing just £5.99 it's super affordable and easy to get a hold of. I would 100% say this is worth the hype and definitely recommend you all to try it! 

I wanted a lashes before and after photo using this mascara but I'm so bad at taking those photos! Hopefully ill get a good one and include it in a makeup look soon. 

Xoxo

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August Favourites

It seems like August has flown by! Which is a bad thing for those of you like me who start back at school in September. Anyway, today is my August Favourites post and I have mainly beauty favourites this month so I apologise for that but I have a few others too.

I loved this colour throughout August. The formula of these OPI polishes is so nice! I have quite a few OPI polishes but they have been majorly neglected when I discovered Essie, Ciaté and Barry M Gelly Polishes. I have now decided I like the OPI polishes so much more. The formula is so easy to apply and doesn't have that kind of thick, gloopy formula that a lot of the Essie polishes can often have. I love this and this colour is called "My paprika is hotter than yours".

My next favourite is this Jargons Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer in Fair to Medium. I hate sunbathing, I just get so bored and I hate the feeling of being sticky and hot so I generally don't sit out in the sun. This is a good thing really as I'm minimising the sun damage to my skin but it also can leave me looking a little pale. I'm not overly pale but sometimes compared to my tanned family and friends, I look a little white. I'm generally not a fan of fake tan - only for special occasions, I prefer a moisturiser which has a tan included. This has to be my favourite, I apply it just once and already find myself with a natural looking glow. Its really inexpensive too.

I have always loved the OGX shampoo and conditioners - particularly their Argan & Moroccan Oil one and I have recently tried this Thick and Full Biotin & Collagen shampoo. I really do find it gives my fine hair a boost.

Obviously everybody raves about this Anastasia Brow Wiz and I have begun to love it this month. Mine is a little to red toned for my brows which is annoying but I've been able to work with it and achieve great looking brows. 

This month I purchased the MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralise Skinfinish and I love it for highlighting and also as eyeshadow. It's actually been one of my favourite eyeshadow looks this Summer. 

Another favourite has got to be the Pretty Little Liars Season 6 Finale! I know some people hated the ending but I really did like it. I thought it was clever and I actually felt really sorry for "A". 

This month I discovered Kaushal Beauty on YouTube and I have been really enjoying binge watching her videos.

xoxo

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In-Flight Beauty Essentials // What's in My Travel Beauty Bag?

Recently I did some travelling and unlike usual, where I have no plans for the day I arrive and wear minimal makeup and just look like a mess, this time I had plans when I landed after my 8 hour long haul flight. I thought I'd share my beauty essentials as it really worked to keep my skin clear and lips moisturised- my usual main two issues on a plane. 

I use this clear makeup bag to store everything as I find it more practical than those little plastic bags that always break for me. 

I always make sure to take some tablets with me (including my Kalms and calming drops) because feeling ill on a plane is not nice.  Unfortunately I was sick on the plane and had no tablets to help that! I also like to carry some Anbesol which helps with mouth ulcers which I am prone to get when I stress or am nervous- two things on a plane. I then take some hand sanitizer, loose bobbles and grips, a nail file and some mini toothbrushes because the toothpaste on the plane makes me feel sick.

I also take a mirror, a deodorant and now for my absolute skincare essentials- I have to have my water spray from Simple with me because it keeps my skin hydrated plus this time when I was feeling sick and hot and just panicking in general this really helped, especially when sprayed on the back of my neck. I also must have some lip balm, here mine is the Apple Chapstick. I took some mini wipes to freshen up too. Now the thing that really worked for me this time was I used a Cucumber packet face mask on my problem areas. I made sure it was a peel off one and waited until it was dark as it was a night flight so I didn't feel silly. It only took a few minutes and I found I didn't break out at all this flight which always happens. I also paired this with a layer of my favourite holy grail moisturiser- L'oreal Skin Perfection, I deported it into a small body shop pot though. These both helped my skin so much. 

I would also recommend to drink lots of water and keep applying lip balm very frequently throughout the flight. 

I'm not one for wearing makeup on a flight but I know some people do like to so this is what I would take if I was doing a full face makeup look. I would usually try and pack more compact products but since I was on holiday when I decided, I was limited as to which products I could use for this post. 

I am much more of a skin/face girl than an eye girl. I wear very little on my eyes- most of the time not even mascara (which I am trying to change) and focus generally on my skin. So I'd start with Maybelline Fit Me concealer and apply it under my eyes and on blemishes with my Real Techniques Contour Brush. I then would use the same brush to bronze my face slightly with the Maybelline Fit Me Powder in Coconut and apply blush with my Tarte Amazonian Clay blush. 

I have to fill in my brows, it's a vital step so I would use my Anastasia Brow Wiz and then use Bourjois' Volume Glamour Ultra Curl mascara. Finally on the lips, my Baby Lips in Cherry Me.

Despite having just said all that^ in reality I only carried my concealer, eyebrow pencil and baby lips in my travel makeup bag with me.

I hope you enjoyed this post!

Xoxo

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School Essentials & What's in my School Makeup Bag?

A lot of people in the UK will be dreading reading this post as school doesn't start until September but I know in the USA a lot is schools start in August so I figured it was the perfect time to do a post about what's in my school bag/what my essentials are. 

Firstly, I always make sure I have notebooks which is what you'll need- I like to have an A4 one and a smaller one, both are very useful when in need of paper- especially notebooks that include lined and plain paper. 

I also find that keeping a plastic folder to keep loose papers in is very useful to have. The amount of times I have put a piece of homework that I'm proud of in my bag to find that it's ended up crumpled under my books- it's just handy to have folders to keep papers neat and organised. 

I also then like to have a planner. Some schools in the UK do hand out planner/journals to record homeworks and important school dates however I also like to have my own journal to record what I need to get done everyday and any plans I have. 

I also found some really useful little plastic boxes to keep record/study cards in. It just keeps them all together and this box I have organises them with plastic separators. 

Obviously a pencil case is necessary in a school bag and I'm that person that takes everything and everyone turns to to borrow a pencil. Apart from the obvious things- pens, pencils etc, I like to carry these thin highlighters which fit in my pencil case better as well as some Tipex or White Out to correct mistakes.

Finally, onto more fun items, this is the makeup bag I like to take. I take very little makeup to school as I don't like to wear lots of makeup to school. Mine contains: 

• Tissues - always necessary. 

• Plasters - these are great for new shoes blisters 

• Nail files - there's nothing more annoying than a ripped nail

• Deodorant - For obvious reasons

• Perfume - I didn't have my perfume atomizer with me which essentially is a little tube that you fill with perfume to prevent you having to take the full bottle.  

• Oil Blotting sheets - These mean I don't have to take a powder and brush, just touch up by wiping the grease off my face.

• Hair Ties and Hair Grips - the amount of times that I have had my hair down and wanted it out of my face at school

• A hair brush - My hair is the worst for knotting up and so this is an essential for me

• Hand sanitizer - I'm also that person that everybody steals hand sanitizer off of. I hate school soaps so I tend to use this instead

• Concealer - Sometimes I find that I get a really bad breakout at school from stress so I like to apply some of this to conceal it

• Lip Balm - Mg lips can get very chapped and school is the time I apply lip balm the most. 

• Tablets - For obvious reasons

xoxo

Previous Back To School Posts -
School Essentials - http://pinkcupcake7.blogspot.com/2014/01/school-essentials.html
Back To School Tag - http://pinkcupcake7.blogspot.com/2014/08/back-to-school-tag.html

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Get Ready With Me: Beach Wedding

On Monday I went to a Beach Wedding and I thought I'd do this GRWM post to show you the makeup look and routine I followed. I do have to say I forgot all about it when I was getting ready so I apologise for some of these photos being make do like the one of my outfit and some are slightly out of focus. 

Firstly, I had a shower, I washed my face with the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash in Pink Grapefruit, I don't like the scent and I'm not sure how I feel about the product itself yet. I then used the OGX Thick&Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo which I love for adding volume. 

I then shaved and washed my body with the Olay Ultra Moisture Coconut Oasis body wash. This is so lovely to the skin because it has moisturiser in it. 

Before beginning my makeup, I moisturised using my L'Oreal Skin Perfection moisturiser and then proceeded to apply my Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream all over my face with my Real Techniques Buffing brush. For the beach, I wanted a much lighter foundation and this was perfect. 

I then concealed my dark circles and redness with my Maybelline Fit Me Concealer and used the MAC Pro-longwear to conceal blemishes. I used the Real Techniques Contour Brush to do this. 

I then set my concealer with the Rimmel Stay Matte powder and a Real Techniques setting brush. 

Moving onto the eyes, I primed them with the MAC Painterly Paint Pot and then blended MAC Mythology eyeshadow all over my lid which was a lovely shimmery pink. I then used my finger to pat on the MAC Soft and Gentle Mineralise Skinfinish in the centre of my lid and brow bone. I love using this as an eyeshadow in the centre of my lid. I used a MAC 217 brush to blend the eyeshadow.

I then went back to my skin and used the Maybelline Fit Me powder in Coconut to bronze up my face and did this with the Real Techniques Blush Brush.

I then applied MAC's Cremeblend Blush in Ladyblush to my cheeks with the Real Techniques Multi Task Brush and applied the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed over the top. I find layering a cream and powder blush can really help with the staying power which is just what I needed for a hot day on the beach.

I then highlighted my cheekbones and cupids bow with MAC's Soft & Gentle Mineralise Skinfinish. I used a Real Techniques brush for this but I'm not sure on the name.

Going back to the eyes, I used Bourjois' Volume Glamour Ultra Curl mascara which is my favourite. I applied lots of this to my top lashes and left the bottom ones bare. I then moved onto my eyebrows and used Anastasia Brow Wiz to naturally fill them in and Benefit's Gimme brow to set them.

As for lips, I used a Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait. 

I then decided I wanted a little more glow to my cheeks so I used the Wet N Wild Reserve Your Cabana "Bronzer" with a Real Techniques Setting Brush. 

Finally, I set my makeup with MAC's Fix+.

I then dried my hair and left it how it was. I used the Impulse Deodorant and The Body Shop Indian Night Jasmine perfume.

As for Jewellery, I wore my Michael Kors Watch, some feather coral earrings, two Pandora Rings and my Lokai Bracelet. 

Finally, this is my dress from Hollister.

xoxo

1

How to: Edit Photos & Create An Instagram Theme

I always enjoy watching videos and reading posts about editing photos because I think with the amount of social media used today, it's something all of us do. I wanted to show you the way I like to edit my photos and possible Instagram "Themes".

Apps

Firstly, these are my photography apps. I have Rookie which I use a lot for blogging photos because it allows me to both edit the colour and add text if needed in one app. Then VSCO Cam is the editing app I think pretty much everybody uses, I use this for my Instagram photos. I use Facetune for some editing because it's great for whitening out backgrounds and adjusting details and things like that. Squaregram is what I use for borders. Layout is a collage app and Instazz is another way of getting a border. 

Editing

Going into VSCO Cam, once you have imported your chosen photo into your library, you can begin to edit it. I am using this one I took of a palm tree in Sarasota as an example. Firstly I didn't actually select a filter, I just chose to edit it myself. 

I began by changing the exposure to +3 which just lightened the whole photo, adding a light wash over it all. I then upped the saturation to +4, this is my favourite part because I love my instagram to be very bright and this makes all colours in the photo instantly pop.

I then sharpened it to +5 and increased the contrast to +3 which just kind of adds dimension to the photo. 

Finally, I altered the highlights by +9. 

An alternative way you could alter the photo if you want a darker, evening vibe is to then lower the exposure to -3 which will just do this to the picture:

Moving onto the next photo I'm going to edit, this one I took at sunset which I loved because of the colours of the sky but with a bit of editing, you can really get amazing sky photos.

Firstly I chose the C1/Vibrant filter and added it to +6. I often use this filter at this level because it works well with the photos I like. 

I then adjusted the exposure by -3 and added the contrast to +3. Already the colours are beginning to get brighter and stand out more. 

Next I upped the saturation to +4 and sharpened it to +7 so I didn't lose the quality of the photo. 

I increased the highlights to +7 and lowered the temperature because I wanted the blues and purples to pop more. I lowered it to -3 which did the job great. 

By playing around with it, you can get great photos but every picture is different, you just have to play around. 

Themes

Onto themes, my instagram are now all square photos with a border around them and I love the way it looks but there are so many different ways you can go with themes. 

Here I used Squaregram and just altered it by clicking on the little box along the bottom twice. 

Some people like there to be no white and just completely filling the instagram square that it allows for the photo everytime. If you have an image like the one above that just can't fit into a square but still want no white border, Instazz is an app that allows the background/border to be the photo but blurred. 

You can adjust the 'blurriness' of the photo to your liking. 

Below I have done some examples. Some people like a full box like the first two rows. Then the next row is a white border but square photo. The next are all the same size strips. and then the next two are portrait strips all the same size. 

The the final two rows are with a blurred image background using Instazz. 

I hope you enjoyed this post! Leave your instagrams below and I'll check those out. 

xoxo

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