A Feel Good Playlist

It's coming up to deadline/exam season, and that can have a huge impact on your mood. If you're in need of a pick me up, my mum has created the perfect playlist for you! I've linked it here, and I hope you love it as much as I do.

Some Recent Beauty Faves

I was originally planning to do a 2018 beauty favourites post, but I ran out of time and now it is March so here are some of my recent favourites instead. None of these are paid ads, I purchased and genuinely love all of these items.

Just to give some context, here are some 'before' pictures of my skin and lips.  This will hopefully give you an idea of coverage, colours, tone and how effective many of the products I use are. Swatches have been done on my arm, which is very pale so if you are wondering about pigmentation on darker skin tones I would check the websites or read further reviews as I am not a good indication of what this will be like. If you have any further questions feel free to DM me on my instagram page (@foffieblogs).

Eyeshadow Palettes:

• Huda Beauty Sapphire Obsessions Palette.

I ordered this palette to add some colour to my makeup collection. It's very pretty, very bright, and very unique. Both the glittery and matte shades are gorgeous and very pigmented, and I am seriously considering buying a second one of these in a different colour (perhaps the ruby one?). I took to pinterest when it arrived to find 

some looks I could try with it and while my mother said I looked 'very aggressive' with it on, I thought it was really pretty. I have swatched four shades (top right, centre middle, bottom left and bottom middle) to show you the level of pigmentation these colours offer. As I have blue eyes this really highlights my natural colour, but I think it would look equally as beautiful with other eye colours. I bought mine from Feel Unique who offer it for £25 (but also have a student discount). You can find it here if you would like to try it yourself: https://www.feelunique.com/p/Huda-Beauty-Obsessions-Precious-Stones-Eyeshadow-Palette-Sapphire-10g. 

• Too Faced Gingerbread Spice Palette.

I could really have chosen any of my Too Faced Palettes for this, but most recently I have been favouring this one so that's why I put it on the list. All too faced palettes have fun and novel packaging, colours, colour names and often smells such as this one does. They also all come with a little leaflet that shows you three looks you can try to get you started which I really love. I especially loved this around Christmas. Again I have swatched four of the shades to give you an idea of the (what I think is excellent) pigmentation of these shades. To see a full review that I wrote of the Sweet Peach Palette (equally excellent, but more summery shades) here. This particular palette is no longer available, but similar ones can be purchased at Too Faced, John Lewis or Debenhams for £39. This link is for the Sweet Peach one I talked about in the review: https://www.johnlewis.com/too-faced-sweet-peach-eyeshadow-palette-multi/p3603814.

• Urban Decay Naked Cherry Palette.

I love love love this palette. An array of pinky nudes that flatter any skin tone, matte and shiny. I like that it comes with a brush (a very good one, two ended for compacting and blending colour). It's so easy to make these shades look good, almost all combinations are great. While I was slightly disappointed that it didn't smell of cherries, I could not have been happier with this palette. The paler shades are great for everyday, while the darker and more shimmery shades are fab for a night out. Again I have swatched four of the shades, but after removing previous swatches my arm was a bit sticky from the wipes so it does not do this palette justice. I bought mine in duty free in Hamburg Airport, but you can get yours from loads of places in the UK (some of which even offer student discount) if you'd like to try it. The Urban Decay official website has it for £42 here: https://www.urbandecay.co.uk/en_GB/make-up-palettes/naked-cherry-palette/ud927.html#start=2&cgid=makeup-palettes. 

• Obsession London Palette.

I won't go into too much detail for this one, because you can read my full review of it here. I will just say that it is gorgeous and very affordable. So many colours for such a small price! This one is no longer available, but you can get a similar one from the Boots website, here: https://www.boots.com/beauty/makeup/eyes/eye-palettes/obsession-be-the-game-changer-eyeshadow-palette-10257902.

Eyeshadow Singles:

• Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24hr.

I have this eyeshadow in three colours, and I love them all. This particular shade is called 'On & On Bronze' and looks great for any occasion, stays on well and is very pigmented. To read a more detailed review I wrote of it when I got it in my advent calendar, click here, and to buy one for £5.99 from Superdrug, click here.

Mascaras:

• Too Faced Better Than Sex.

If you've read any of my beauty blog posts before you will know how much I adore this mascara. It is a godsend. Gives long, thick and beautiful eyelashes. What more can I say? The photo really does not do it justice, I can't speak highly enough of it. The version pictured is the 'Better Than Birthday Sex' one, which is sadly no longer available. However, you can find the original for £19 here: https://www.toofaced.com/eye-makeup/mascara/better-than-sex-mascara/80021.html?cgid=mascara.

• Maybelline Lash Sensational.

Again I have reviewed this product before, so I won't talk too much about it. You can read the review here. However it is really an excellent and budget friendly mascara, and my love for it has grown since I wrote the review. You can buy this for £8.99 from the Superdrug website which I have linked here: https://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Eye-Makeup/Mascara/Maybelline-Lash-Sensational-Mascara-Very-Black-9-5ml/p/348705. 

• L'Oréal Paris False Lash Superstar X Fiber.

I have written about this mascara many many times because I adore it. It is super lengthening, not too clumpy and again it is budget friendly. If the Better Than Sex mascara is too expensive for you, this is a pretty good dupe. You can get one for £10.99 from the Superdrug website which I have linked here: https://www.superdrug.com/L%27Oreal-Paris/L%27Oreal-False-Lash-X-Fiber-Mascara---Black/p/722037.

Eyeliners:

• Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner.

Cheap, precise and long lasting. This product makes it easy to achieve wings and won't break the bank! It also doesn't smudge easily as all too many eyeliners do. It is a plastic tip rather than a brush or pen so it's easier to make a sharp point too. Buy yours from Superdrug for £2.99 via the link I have added here: https://www.superdrug.com/Collection/Collection-Fast-Stroke-Eye-Liner-3-8g-Black-1/p/228796.

Eyebrow Pencils:

• No.7 Beautiful Eyebrow Sculpting Pencil.

I loveeeee this pencil! Again, it is a product I have written about a few times before because I think it's so great. It has a great shaped tip and effective brush for easy and great looking brows. I think it is the best brow product I have ever used. If you'd like to try it it's £8 from the Boots website which I have linked here: https://www.boots.com/no7-beautiful-eyebrow-sculpting-pencil-brown-10192560.

• Benefit Brow Contour Pro.

This is a pricey brow pencil, but it is very good. Different colours for different parts of the brow make this pencil look more natural than a lot of other pencils on the market. The small tip also makes it easy to get a precise and accurate shape. One place you can buy this from is John Lewis for £28.50, I have linked the website for this below:

https://www.johnlewis.com/benefit-brow-contour-pro/p3690024?s_kwcid=1dx39700018921587155&tmad=c&tmcampid=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5Y3kBRDwARIsAEwloL4Bovt4JxMp4AaLecI0XJuk9o6sXr3YxPAgLryyuFCIg7ZuXMbWLSgaAqJ-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds.

Skin Coverage:

• No.7 Match Made Concealer.

This is the only concealer I trust. Mine is in shade 'Cool Ivory'. It is brilliant. If you look at the before photo of my spot that I attached at the top of this blog, you will see how impressive this is. It's also very easy to blend and I like that it's not too orange or too white which I often find with concealers. It is £8 from boots, so I have linked the website here: https://www.boots.com/no7/no7-make-up/no7-shop-all-make-up/no7-match-made-concealer-10162556.

• Rimmel Match Made Concealer.

Again, this is a product I have spoken about before because I think it's great. A wide range of shades that aren't too orange or too white, buildable coverage, an affordable price and it's not too heavy on your face. I bought this in shade '001 Fair Porcelain'. For more information, check out my previous blog post about this here. To buy it for £8.29 from the Superdrug website click the link here: https://www.superdrug.com/Rimmel/Rimmel-Match-Perfection-Foundation-Fair-Porcelain/p/755505?tduid=5e9cef8484abdabd9b963d40213a2009&utm_source=tradedoubler&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=VigLink+UK.

• Rimmel Stay Matte Powder.

I often don't want to wear foundation, or when I do I would like to set it so this is great. I have it in shade '001 Transparent'. It gives a super lightweight and matte coverage in a shade that is excellent for pale people like me (however they don't really cater for darker skin tones). It's also very affordable which I always love. You can buy it for £3.99 from the boots website which I have linked here: https://www.boots.com/rimmel-stay-matte-pressed-powder-10097901?cm_mmc=bmm-_-Google+Boots+PLAs-_-(GB:Whoop!)+Boots+Shopping+-+Category+-+Beauty+-+Desktop-_-(GB:Whoop!)+Rimmel&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5Y3kBRDwARIsAEwloL4g50jNyTS9ohKLE8ZExKopEPDmbJMIrvxkBoQOkWYERzcCsGBGBb0aAsmIEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds.

• No.7 Perfectly Bronzed Mosaic Bronzer.

I love all of the No.7 bronzers. They give you a golden glow, or can be layered for a precise contour. This specific one is currently out of stock, so I have linked a similar one (the Match Made Bronzer which I also love) here: https://www.boots.com/no7-bronzer-10222995.

Brushes:

• MASQD Brushes.

I bought a set of these for 50% off in the Boots Christmas sale, and I have been very happy with them. I think they are just as good as bigger brands such as Morphe but for a much smaller price. They are excellent quality, a pretty colour and they come in a great range of shapes for different parts of your face. Sadly the set that I bought is no longer available, but again I have linked a similar one for £18 on the Boots website here: https://www.boots.com/masqd-the-finishing-set-10244069.

• Dream Beauty Box Quick Colour Change. 

This thing is amazing! You need this in your life. It makes swapping colours when you're doing your eyeshadow so much easier. It is essentially just a sponge that you wipe your brushes on but it's so handy and lightweight for travelling with it. It also comes with a silicone pad for washing your brushes with. The set of the silicone pad and quick changing box can be found on Amazon for £9.99 through the link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Make-Up-Sets-Kits/Makeup-Brush-Cleaner-Dream-Beauty/B01FG1HJWY.

Lips:

• Avon Mark Lipstick.

I have this in a few different shades, and I've seen other beauty bloggers write about this product too. It's really really good, smooth, long lasting and beautiful colours. It feels lovely and lightweight which makes me happy because all too often lipstick is uncomfortable. This one in particular is called 'blushing beauty'. If you want to try it, it's £8 from the link here: https://www.avon.uk.com/product/301-315-414-7101/make-up/lips/lipsticks/mark-epic-lipstick-with-built-in-primer.

• MAC Matte.

This is my favourite lipstick of all time (along with the Smashbox Be Legendary which I've spoken about before but haven't written about today as it is very similar to this one). It is a beautiful and long lasting nude. It is also one of the only matte lipsticks I know of which don't make your lips feel dry. Buy yours for £17.50 from the MAC website which I have linked below, or from many other locations such as lookfantastic and ASOS.  https://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/13854/310/products/makeup/lips/lipstick/matte-lipstick.

• Too Faced Pretty Rich Rich and Dazzling Lipgloss.

This gloss is lovely and glittery, lightweight, again a gorgeous nude, great for any occasion and it's not too sticky. It's quite a pricey lipgloss but it's definitely worth it. I have this in shade 'social butterfly', and if you go in to the store they'll help you find the right shade for you. If you want to get it online it's £19 from the link here: https://www.toofaced.com/search/?q=pretty%20rich.

Other:

• Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray.

We've all seen the tweets about this product, and none of them are exaggerating. It is awesome. You can do anything with this product on and your makeup will not budge. Mine is the travel size, which is great for on the go but I plan on buying the full size one to keep in my house as well. I honestly can't speak highly enough of this spray it is fantastic. This small one is £10 but I have linked the full size version for £24 on the Urban Decay website here: https://www.urbandecay.co.uk/en_GB/setting-sprays/all-nighter/ud803.html#start=1&cgid=bestseller.

• No.7 Radiant Results Revitalising Micellar Cleansing Water.

This is my favourite cleanser, although I love all of the No.7 cleansers and makeup removers. It's light and refreshing, great value for money and it is very effective for removing all kinds of makeup. The foaming version is also good, but not as effective for eye makeup remover. I have written more extensive reviews and even done a youtube video on it which you can find here. If you want to buy this, it is £8.50 from the link here: https://www.no7beauty.com/uk/skincare/cleansers-toners/radiant-results-revitalising-micellar-cleansing-water.

• The Body Shop Mango Body Yoghurt.

If you're looking for a moisturising lotion, this is excellent. It smells insanely good, and a little goes a long way. It isn't sticky like a typical body butter, it's much smoother and absorbs quicker. I always feel like my skin is far less dry after applying this and I get to spend the rest of the day smelling gorgeously of mangoes. Make sure to only use a little at first if you have sensitive skin, as you may have problems with it. However, my skin is pretty sensitive and it has been fine for me. If you want to try this, you can find it on the Body Shop website for £8.50 from the link here: https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/body/body-yogurts/mango-body-yogurt/p/p002803.

If you do decide to try any of these products, I hope you love them as much as I do! Feel free to leave me a comment if there's any other great products you think I should try.

WUKA

This is not an ad, just a product I love! This is just a really short post, but it's worth reading more into these pants if you're interested in them. If you have a period, then you know how annoying many of the sanitary products on the market can be. Not to mention the plastic in many of them is bad for the planet. If you want a comfortable, long term solution then check out WUKA (Wake Up Kick Ass) on their website https://wuka.co.uk. They are expensive, but think of the monthly savings on towels/tampons in the future! I have six pairs and my mum does too and we both think they're brilliant. I hope you love them as much as I do.

Zoella x Colourpop Brunch Date Palette

*This is not a paid ad! I just like this product!*

I ordered the Zoella x Colourpop Brunch Date Palette on the day it launched and it came quite quickly considering it was imported from America. I luckily got free delivery so the palette was mid priced (£17). Be aware that taxes aren't added until you're choosing your payment options on the website though!

The packaging is very cute, and the shades all have sweet brunch related names such as 'Pancakes Please' and 'Sunny Side Up'. But as well as those fun novelties, this palette has many other things going for it. First of all, the shades are very wearable. Brown, pink, matte and sparkly nudes and one bright blue one for if you're feeling brave enough to add a splash of colour. This means it is easy for beginners and experienced makeup enthusiasts alike to create beautiful looks for any occasion. The mattes and more subtle nudes for everyday, and the blue and glitter for going out. Plus, they're super pigmented and easy to blend. Overall I'd give this palette an 8/10. It's fab, but doesn't quite match up to the likes of my Too Faced and Urban Decay equivalents (although you'd hope not considering the price difference). If you want one of your own, you can find it here.