Description:  

 I was staying at home and I didn’t want to use my nice make up so I thought I’d use my old stuff up and I tried a new routine and I LOVE it so now I’m converted back to all of these old products that I’ve not used for ages!

Review:

1)      First I mixed my foundation (Clinique Superblanced in Alabaster) and Mac’s Select cover up concealer. I find this foundation to thin for me. It doesn’t cover enough and it comes off to easily BUT when I mixed t with the concealer it turned into the perfect consistency and it covered all of my red skin. It’s such a soft and lightweight foundation I don’t feel like I’ve got anything on my skin at all.

2)      Next I used my Benefit Boing concealer in shade one to highlight under my eyes, down my nose and my chin. This concealer is really heavy and thick so it needs blending in well but that’s easy to do. This is the best concealer I’ve found for brightening up my face and covering spots by far. Plus a little goes a long way !

3)      On top of where I just highlighted I used Rimmel Stay matte pressed powder in translucent. This powder is really nice. It doesn’t change the colour of your foundation and it doesn’t cake up either.

4)      Over the top of my foundation I used Mac’s Select powder foundation in NC20. Using a powder foundation over foundation can come off really cakey if the foundation is really thick so I wasn’t expecting it to work well but its ideal for this light foundation and just made my skin glow.

Where to buy:

You can buy all of these products apart from Rimmel from Debenhams or House of Fraser. Rimmel you can buy from Boots or Superdrug. You can also get everything online.

Love of love xoxo

Holly

Stocking Fillers For Her

Description:  

I thought I would do a little list of possible stocking fillers for girls. I’m probably on this one but some of you may be struggling to think of ideas J

Review:

Hair and Skincare Products – It’s pretty safe to say that most women love to pamper themselves and try out new things which is why we have so many lotions and potions in the bathroom. This is a pretty safe option for stocking fillers. You can go into any Boots or Superdrug and buy hair products. Good gifts include masks, leave in conditioner, oils, hair spray, volumising moose, root lifter and shine sprays. My favourite brands for haircare are Lee Stafford, John Frieda, Tony & Guy and Tresemme. For body care try looking for body butter, moisturizer and exfoliating scrubs. I mostly buy Soap and Glory, Aveeno and Nivea. If the lady your buying for likes to use fake tan getting her a tanning mit or the preparation range from St Tropez is a really good idea.

Home decorations – Another thing we love is cute home decorations. Things like photo frames, candle holders, cushions, bed throws, little ornaments, rugs, mirrors, calendars and generally anything that makes our home or bedroom look cosy and cute. There are so many really great places to go for this like Primark, Next, House of Fraser, Debenhams,  Marks and Spencer’s and even supermarkets have really good stuff!

Fairy Lights – Girls love shiny anything bright so fairy lights are perfect. There’s so many different types so make sure you know what kind of thing the person your buying for likes. If you can’t decide go for something simple. You can pick these up almost anywhere. Primark do some nice cheap ones but most big stores with a home section will have them and supermarkets always do them as well.

Nail polish – Girls love to pain there nails so this is a great gift that doesn’t have to cost a lot. There is not wrong or right in terms of colour. If you know colours she likes stick to them or if your really stuck look for polishes that only have one of two bottles left (these will be ones other people have gone for so most likely she will like them). One of my favourite brands is Essie but other brands are Mabelline, Opi, Models own and L’Oreal.

Make-up – Most women love make up and we can never have too much. Stay away from choosing foundations unless you know what colour she is. Select a range of blushes, bronzers, eyeshades and lip products. If you’re unsure of colours go for natural tones.

Skin Care – A good skincare routine makes all the difference to good make up. Reciving a little treat of skincare products always makes me happy. You can get face washes, scrubs, lotions, toner and cleanser. Go for something that is for all skin types to be on the safe side.

Candles – Candles instantly make a room look really homely and they never fail to impress. Yankee candle is the most popular and although there a little pricey they are actually amazing so I’d really recommend them and you can get mini candles for around £1.50 which make really good stocking fillers. You can get candles almost anywhere.

Jewellery – You can’t really go wrong here. Women love to receive a little sparkle. Again go for something classic if you’re not sure what style she has. Great shops include Accesorize, Topshop and River Island.

Love of love xoxo

Holly

Description:

Here are some of my favorite beauty products from November! For me this month had been all about pampering and sexiness. For make-up I’ve stuck to cranberry, reds, rose gold’s and browns.

Review:

Skincare – I’ve been using the Garnier Micella cleansing water every day and I love it. It leaves your skin feeling really fresh and totally clean. It’s shocking how much make up it left of my face even after using a face wipe. This makes me feel like im actually clean!

Body – As always I’m loving the Soap and Glory Body Butter (this one is the righteous butter). It is really nourishing and lasts so long. A must have for that dry winter skin. Plus is smells delicious.

Make-up Eyes – For my eyes I’ve loved these eye shadow trios from MUA. They have three colours which are perfect for creating smokey eyes. There not amazingly pigmented but they are still great and especially for the price! £2.50 I mean I don’t even know how there making money on that.

Make-up Lips – Recently I’ve been loving two lip types, sexy red and a warm natural brown. For red lips I usually match up three colours and use a darker colour on the outer corners and a bright colour in the middle. This gives a really plump and flattering look. Sometimes lipsticks can look a bit flat so if you find your having that problem trying using a darker shade in the outer corner. For my red lip I have been using Rimmels Kate Moss lipstick in 107 as a base colour, Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in shade 304 in the corners and Macs Ruby woo in the centre. I LOVE ruby woo its such a bright and sexy colour and because it’s a matt finish it doesn’t fade. I would suggest using a lip liner because it doesn’t look right without one. For brown/nude lips I have been using MAC’s spice lip liner which is such a must have! I use a gloss over for a natural look or I add a nude lipstick for a night out.

Nails – As always false nails are top on my list when I go shopping. I have been using the Nailene pack in short square. The finish on them is really shiny and slightly round so the application is really easy. I do find not many of the nails fit but you can always file them down to the right size. A bonus is that they come with the Nailene glue which I always use anyway.

Nail polish  - Sticking with the red theme my favorite nail shades at the moment have been Essie 52 Thigh High which is a really nice dark satin red and 285 Toggle to the top which is really similar but it has glitter in (perfect for the festive period). I also really like this bright red from L’oreal in 402.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my favorites J

Love of love xoxo

Holly

Benifit Christmas Gift Set - Bronze n Dandy

Description:  

Benefit Bronze and Dandy. This Christmas gift set had a 3 ounce pot of the Hoola Bronzer and the Dandelion Blusher as well as two matching mini lip glosses.

Review:

I wasn’t sure about this when I read the online reviews from Debenhams because someone said they were really disappointed in how small it was. Well when you’re getting four products from a good company for that price what do you really expect.

The blush and bronzer pots are small but these boxes last so long that it doesn’t matter. I’ve had the original 9 ounce Hoola Bronzer for about 5 months and I’m only just hitting the pan so don’t be put off by these smaller versions. I think it’s a really great gift and also great if you want to try a few Benefit products but you’re not sure if you’re going to like it. There also a really hand size for clutch bags! The bronzer and the blush are beautiful colours that will work with every skin tone and they have a really nice amount of pigment too. The lip glosses I like but I’m not sure I would buy as separate items.

This makes a great gift or a great way to introduce some new products into your makeup collection.

Where to buy: 

Debenhams £14.85

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_123901011899_-1

Love of love xoxo

Holly

Kate Moss for Rimmel 107 Matt

Description:  

This lipstick is from the Rimmel Kate Moss collection in number 107. It’s a nice cranberry shade perfect for winter time.

Review:

I love this colour. I was hoping to get a more purple berry colour but it’s still really gorgeous. Its EXACTLY the same colour as the Rimmel Apocalips Lacquer in shade 304. The only difference is that the lip stick is a softer colour to the lacquer which goes on my darker. Using the two together you can make your lips darker in the corners to get an ombre look.

This lipstick has a creamy feel and glides on so effortlessly. It is part of her matt lipstick collection, the lipstick itself isnt matt and to be honest I wouldn’t really say the finish is matt either. It’s not really glossy but it’s not matt. You do need a lip liner with these lipsticks because without a clear line around the edge they tend to look a bit messy.  A matching lip liner would be really nice but if you’re a bit short on cash buy a liner in a shade darker to your natural lips and you can use that with almost any lip stick.

All in all I really like Rimmel lipsticks and would go back and buy more so you won’t be wasting your money.

Where to buy: 

You can get this from Boots or Superdrug for £5.94

Love of love xoxo

Holly

Beauty Essentials

Description:  

As part of the #30daysofbeauty challenge here are my holy grails of beauty products (I will do a make-up version but it would have been far too much for one picture) . These are the products that I use on a regular basis and I find myself restocking.

Review:

I’ll go  from top left along to the bottom line finishing with the nail polish . Some of these I have already done reviews for so I’ll leave the links to those below. J

1)      Sure Maximum Protection Deodorant –

This deodorant is absolute god send! You put it on the night before and wash it off in the morning and it claims to give you 24hour protection. I swear by this but recently it doesn’t seem to work for me. Maybe ive over used it or something. Still worth a try if your sweat a lot like me!

2)      Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions –

I use this every night before bed and it really does help to reduce my redness. I love the packaging and even though it is on the pricey side a little goes a long way.

http://hollyblythebeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/clinique-anti-blemish-solutions.html

3)      Soap and Glory Body Butter Milk –

I use this body butter every day after getting out the shower. It helps to keep my skin nourished and radiant. It is a body butter but its surprising how quickly its absorbed into the skin. I find the bottles of body butter less thick than the tubs. I prefer the pump because I don’t end up with loads of product in my nails. I’ve just run out of this (sad times) so ill be going out asap to buy another. I’ve tried a few of the variations and I love them all. The only difference really is the colour and scent.

http://hollyblythebeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/description-feellike-rubbing-shoulders.html

4)      St Mortiz Fake Tanning Mouse Medium –

This is my go to fake tan. One layer of the medium is perfect for the winter. Double up with two coats for a darker colour. I prefer a mouse application because I find it easier to apply but I know a lot of people like the lotions.

http://hollyblythebeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/st-moritz-tan-medium.html

5)      Fizz Ease shampoo John Frieda-

The John Frieda haircare range is just amazing and I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything that would be disappointing. This shampoo helps to get rid of frizz and it really makes your hair so shiny and soft. A massive recommend for those with unruley thick hair of those whose hair is getting a bit dry in this winter weather.

6)      Aussie Miracle Recharge Leave In Conditioner –

This is a leave in conditioner that you can apply to either wet or dry hair. I use this when I come out of the shower with wet hair and also after using heat styling tools. It smells incredible and it really does help to give your hair that extra bit of oomph. I think I must be on my 10^th or so bottle by now!

7)      Clearasil Exfoliator Pads –

I use one of these every morning to make sure that I have the perfect base for my foundation. It deeply unclogs pores and gets rid of any residue that’s left or been built up over night.  One side of the pad has diamond shaped ridges which can be quite hard and the other side is softer. At first I thought these were a bit tough for my skin but you soon get used to it. I follow this with a good moisturiser (or primer if you prefer) and your make up glides on so smoothly.

8)      Essie ‘Good to Go’ Top Coat –

This is the only top coat I use and I’m on my 5^th bottle. I think that says something about how good it is!  It gives a really high shine that almost looks like you have gel nails on. It doesn’t fade or chip AT ALL and it also dries really quickly so no annoying waiting about!  

Where to buy: 

You can get all of these products from boots. Everything except for the Clinique and Soap and Glory products you can get in Superdrug. You can also get the Clinique from Debenhams and House of Fraser.

Love of love xoxo

Holly

Soap and Glory 'Scrub You Nose In It' face mask and scrub in one

Description:  

This two in one face scrub and face mask is made with fruit acid helps to reduce the size of pores and give you radiant glowing skin. It also says that it helps with an oily T zone. It has a minty smell and is a green clay like texture.

Review:

I LOVE this I use it whenever my skins feeling a bit drab, probably about once a month but you can use it often and it doesn’t mess up your skin. It really does do what it says. My skin is left fresh and glowing, I look generally more alive and my pores especially around my nose are so much smaller. This is my go to skincare treatment in the winter. It really helps to get rid of winter blue skin. It also provides a really good base for your foundation, so if your finding your makeup is looking a bit cakey give this a go. Depending on how much you use the tube lasts for ages. The packaging has recently changed to white and blue so look out for it! I think I prefer the new packaging because it’s a bit more grown up and glamourous. I haven’t got a bad word to say about it. Im wondering if there is ever going to be a day when there is something bad to say about Soap and Glory. All in all I would 100% recommend this!

Where to buy: 

http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory%C2%99-Scrub-Your-Nose-In-It%C2%99-Special-Pore-Refining-Formula-AHA-Facial-Scrub_1364174/  - £9

Love of love xoxo

Holly

30 Days of Beauty - Foundations

So if you follow me on Instagram you will know that im currently doing the 30 Days of Beauty challenge. Everyday a new picture is uploaded with product info and the ones that I think need a little more explanation I will the do a review for on here. If you haven’t had a look at my Instagram search for hollyblythebeauty and check it out.

Description/ Review

These are the three foundations that I use on a regular basis. Each one for a different reason. From left to right …

1)      Mac Studio Fix Fluid – This is my go to foundation. I love a medium to high coverage foundation and this doesn’t disappoint. The consistency is liquid but as it dries it goes sticky so I suggest doing each part of your face at a time if you’re a slow worker. It’s really easy to use and blends in really well too and it has spf 15 which is a massive bonus. I usually put my concealer underneath as I find it gives me a better result, you can apply it n top but make sure to tap it on rather than rub because as the foundation is sticky as it dries if you rub it just won’t blend in. I personally prefer to use my fingers with this because brushes seem to make it goes streaky but this could be my crappy brush (im getting a new one asap) I would suggest using a stippling brush instead of the traditional foundation brush. The finish is pretty matt and with pouder is so flawless and airbrushed. I remember the first time I wore it and my friend said I looked like I came out of a magazine. The wear on this is amazing! I don’t have to touch it up all day (maybe a little powder but hardly ever) and because im super lazy with make up that suits me perfectly. finally I would say that this is ideally for someone who wants a good covererage, I think it would suit most skin types (im oily to dry) but it might mess with dry skin and if you have lots of spots or are prone to break outs maybe mix this with another foundation or only use it at weekends.

2)      Next is Cliniques Superbalanced Makeup Tint. This is the foundation I use when I’m not tanned and when I know I have time to touch it up during the day. I use alablaster which is literally perfect for any of you pale people that find even the lightest foundation is still the wrong colour. This was my favourite foundation before I discovered Mac and it will always have a special place in my heart. It’s a liquid consistency and thinner than the Mac with a medium to light coverage but it’s very buildable. I would say it works best with a brush but you can still use your fingers. The finish is dewy but I find it needs a setting powder because it shifts pretty easily. This is such a good foundation if you want a minimal look as it always looks so natural and it feels super lightweight. It’s not for oily skin, I mean it says oil free but because it doesn’t stay put for more than 5 hour ish I wouldn’t recommend it if you have oily skin. You have to touch this foundation up and it doesn’t stand very well I the heat which are the only two negatives that I have to say.

3)      The final foundation is L’Oreal true match. This foundation I use when im at home for the day or not doing anything special and I don’t want to waste my expensive stuff. I know A LOT of people rave about this foundation so it’s defiantly worth a try but to be honest I don’t love it. This is a light to medium foundation but it can be built up so easily. It’s a liquid but it dries kind of powdery. I haven’t got a decent brush at the moment but I can imagine it going on so much better with a brush than fingers. The durability is pretty good, not as great as the Mac but as long as im not doing anything strenuous it stays put (again I use a powder with it). I think it’s the idea foundation to have as a back up. I wouldn’t advise this to dry skin types because of the powdery finish.


Where to buy:

1) Debenhams, House of Fraser £21.50

2) Boots, Debenhams, House of Fraser £22.50

3) Boots/Superdrug £9.99

Lots of love xoxo

Holly 

St Moritz Tan - Medium

Review:

I love this fake tan, it’s my go to tan at the moment and it’s especially good for the winter. It’s a mouse application but it comes in other forms, it dries fast, leaves no steaks, instantly bronzes you and is suitable for all skin types.

Personally I always prefer a mouse application, I just feel like it goes on more smoothly and there is less opportunity to miss parts of the skin, but each to their own! The mouse is nice and lightweight, always apply with a mit. Be sure to shake the bottle before use to make sure the tanning liquid is even distributed. This tan comes out a bronzed colour which makes application much easier and also means you can wash it off sooner although I’d recommend doing it before bed and washing it off the next morning. Its not really a colour you can get away with during daylight (until you’ve washed the top residue off).

I use the medium instead of the dark (even tho I love a dark tan). I did use the dark but I find the medium fades more evenly and reduces the chances of patches. So I just layer up when I want a darker colour.

Where to buy: 

Boots,Superdrug, Asda, £4.99 (varies place to place)

Love of love xoxo

Holly

Body Shop Vanilla Spray

Description:  

Body Shop Vanilla Sprays!

Review:

So here I have two of the body sprays from the Body Shop. On the left we have the ‘Madagascan vanilla flower fragrance mist’ and on the right ‘vanilla body mist’. I’m so obsessed with anything and everything vanilla so when I discovered these I was so so happy!

The body mist (right) is a really light all over body spray with a hint of vanilla. It smells beautiful but it fades really quickly.

The fragrance spray (left) is as the name suggests a fragrance and is more like a perfume so the scent is much much stronger. This lasts on the skin and clothes for ages and one bottle will easily last me several months. People always ask me what I’m wearing when I have this on and they're always surprised that it doesn't cost more! (so am I but don’t tell the body shop that).

Overall I would suggest going for the fragrance mist over the body mist because you get more for your money and they last literally all day. They also do loads of other scents and they do a range to match their body butter collection too!

Where to buy: 

The body shop £12 ish

Lots of love xoxo

Holly 

Simple, Sexy , Subtle ...

This look is a simple and minimal look thats still sexy but dead easy to achieve. 

 First I used Macs Pro Longwear conceler in NW20. I always find this goes on much better under the foundation than on the top because its quite sticky. Then I used the Mac Studio Fix foundation in NC20. Top this off with Collection 2000 powder to set. I used Benifit hoola bronzer under my cheakbones, down my nose, under lip and in the temples. Finally for blush I used Macs Spring Sheen.

Eyes:

Max factor kohl eyeliner in the waterline both top and bottom. Then I have dragged the same pencil along the upper lash line and smudged this out.( you can either use a finger or brush but I find foam works great) top off with mascara , I've chosen mac plush lash in black.

Lips:

Lip liner from  Mac (pro longwear collection) in dervish topped with any frosted natural pink. The lipstick I I used is from maybeline but I don't know what colour.

Lots of love xoxo

Holly 

Maybelline Forever Strong 'Cool grey'

Description:  

Maybelline Forever Strong in Cloudy Grey

Review:

Other than Essie these are my favourite nail varnishes. The brush is a good size, the colours are always really nice and their good value for money.  I love this grey colour for the winter. It’s still warm despite being a grey and it’s a great colour to use in nail art too! Always apply a top coat because this polish does tend to chip after a few days otherwise.

Where to buy:

 Boots/Superdrug £4.49

Lots of love xoxo

Holly 

Body Shop Vit E Day Creme

Description

" Our bestselling daily moisturiser hydrates skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth.

·         Hydrates and protects

·         Light and easily absorbed

·         Leaves skin soft and healthy-looking "

 Review

It is no surprise to me that this is a best seller. I use this every morning as a primer for my foundation. Its silky soft has really minimal smell and leaves my  pores filled. It dries reasonably fast and doesn't leave a greasy residue so its perfect for all skin types including oily or oily/dry (thats my skin type). I am now almost finished with my 5th tub! and I wont hesitate to buy another. A little also goes along way so for the price its great value.I have tried a few other things from this range and there equally as good.

Where to buy?

Body shop £11

http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/shop-by-range/vitamin-e/vitamin-e-moisture-cream.aspx

Lots of love xoxo

 Holly