Top 6 Facial Cleansing Wipes

Hello everyone!

Today's post is about this MASSIVE essential. Who hasn't used this stuff at least once? There are SO many different kinds and brands, and they are getting better and better. Sadly, they still aren't ideal to use everyday :( As a disclaimer, you guys need to know that they do NOT remove all the makeup on your face, no matter what the packaging says. Plus, the chemicals they use inside to keep them moist can be seriously irritating on your skin. For these reasons, you should probably only leave them for emergencies or days when you just don't feel like it, or even just to remove the "excess" makeup from your face and then going ahead and washing your face properly to make sure that it is actually free of makeup. I want you guys to know these things so you can look after your skin the way you should. 

| BURT'S BEES | Natural Facial Cleansing Towelettes

I think Burt's Bees is one of the best brands out there. They claim to be 100% natural, and you can feel it, unlike many other brands that claim the same. With these wipes, I've had really nice results. They don't irritate my skin, they do make it clean, but like I mentioned before, wipes don't remove everything. I would definitely recommend these if you have sensitive skin because they are super gentle thanks to the Cotton Extract they contain.

They retail for $9.99 and you get 30. Available at Priceline and here

| SIMPLE | Cleansing Facial Wipes

These are also very good. Simple in general is a very good brand for sensitive skin. I got these for the first time a couple of months ago and I really liked them because they were very gentle with my skin. They are not awesome for removing mascara, especially if it's waterproof (which I use all the time), but that's ok because you should end up going with something else over it anyway.

These are normally $7.49 for 25 of them and are available at Priceline and here

| OLE HENRIKSEN | So Nurturing Cleansing Cloths

I remember I got these the first time from Sephora, because they had them in the mini size version when I was going to the checkout, and I'd heard really good things about the brand. I loved how awesome they smelled, and more importantly, how hydrating they were. In this case, I could definitely feel the difference between drugstore and non-drugstore. They are a bit more pricey than the others featured here, but in my opinion, they are certainly worth it. Very hydrating, very soothing and very gentle.

They are $22 for a 30 pack and you can find them at Sephora and here

 

| NEUTROGENA | Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes, Night Calming

I LOVE Neutrogena. I feel like it goes really, really well with my skin, and their wipes are no exception. I feel like these, without being harsh on my skin or irritating it, are the ones that remove waterproof mascara the best. I haven't tried the other variety, but I went with the night ones because I never remove my makeup during the day, so it made sense for me to get the ones that were meant to be more soothing and hydrating. I definitely recommend these as well, especially if you're a waterproof mascara kinda gal.

They are $7.99 for a 25 pack and you can get them at Priceline and here

| THE BODY SHOP | Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wipes

I love tea tree oil! I think it's one of the BEST ingredients for spots. I actually have a spot treatment which is awesome for SOS situations when you need THAT annoying blemish to just go away, and it's the ingredient that's worked the best for me. I actually used these wipes when my skin was a bit more troubled and had some blemishes, and it was really nice, because they were gentle and soothing and at the same time took care of the acne, so it's like 2 products in 1. Very recommended for acne prone, oily and sensitive skin.

You can get these at The Body Shop or here for $9.

| SEPHORA COLLECTION | Rose Cleansing Wipes

First of all, I LOVE the smell of these. It's like a very sweet and delicious kinda rose smell, different to the typical rose. I also love how the package comes with a little lid, because that keeps the stuff inside a lot better than the adhesive. These are sadly not as gentle as the ones mentioned above, but they are quite hydrating. They definitely don't dry out my skin but it gets a bit more red than with others. Again, they don't totally cleanse your skin, but they are certainly a good option, especially if you love this smell as much as I do.

These are $10 and you can find them at Sephora or here

Hope you enjoyed this post! Thanks for reading me, xo

*Disclaimer: All these opinions are my own. I wasn't paid by any of these brands or anyone to share this. I just genuinely think these are the best face wipes.*

My Real Techniques Brush Essentials

Hello everyone!

Today I wanna tell you about some of my favourite brushes. I use them EVERY SINGLE TIME I do my makeup, so I figured they deserved a special mention. I really love the fact that they are significantly cheaper than a lot of other options out there, but just because they are more affordable doesn't mean that they compromise on quality, because guys, these are some of the best brushes I've ever owned. The bristles are incredibly soft, good quality and they do an amazing job at buffing and blending your makeup. Plus they are cruelty free, so the bristles are synthetic and no gorgeous animals were harmed in the process. So if you wanna know which ones are essential to me, just keep on reading!

| BASE | Buffing Brush

This brush is the one I always use for my foundation. It is incredibly soft and does an amazing job at buffing (duh!). It makes my foundation look smooth and seamless. It is also very easy to clean and it's not the kind of brush that loses half their bristles the first time you wash them (I have actually never had that problem with any of the Real Techniques brushes). I got it a while ago as part of a set that I can't remember the name of, but you can get it as part of the Core Collection, which includes 3 other brushes.

You can find the set here

| BASE | Sculpting Brush

This one is good for a lot of things. I use it sometimes for foundation as well, but I usually end up going back to the Buffing Brush for that, so I end up using this one for bronzer or blush. It's especially good for cream products, but since I don't really do Kim K contouring all the time, and don't really use cream bronzers or stuff, I use it with my powder products and it works really well too. I think this one is definitely one of those multitasking brushes that are definitely worth the price (even though in this case it's not a high one), so it's particularly good if you're getting started or don't wanna spend a lot on brushes.

I got this one as part of the Sculpting Set, which you can find here

| CONCEALER | Setting Brush

Another multitasking one. I use this one for my concealer when I'm not using my fingers, but also for setting small areas, such as under my eyes, because it's the perfect size and texture to do the job. I also love using it to set the areas that need a bit more concealing (i.e. imperfections, pimples...) It definitely has very soft bristles that hold the perfect amount of product. 

It is available here

 

| CONTOURING | Contour Brush

This one is pretty straight-forward. Like I said before, I don't usually do super dramatic contouring, but this brush is really good for bronzer and blush. I even use it for highlighting sometimes, and I like it because it applies the right amount of product, so it's perfect for blush and bronzer because it lets you build up the product (unless you're using a SUPER pigmented one), so it's ideal because you don't end up with way too much and needing to take it off. Of course, with highlighter it's a whole different story, because more is more in this case haha.

This one came in the same set as the Buffing Brush.

| HIGHLIGHTING | Fan Brush

Of course, I don't know about you guys, but whenever I see this kind of brush, it screams highlighter at me. You can also use it to dust off any excess powder or under your eyes after you've made a bit of a mess with your eyeshadow. But honestly, I NEVER use it for that. I simply use this one for highlighting, because it applies the right amount of product and gives you a nice glow. Plus, it makes me feel fancy when using it. I don't know, there's something about the shape that is just uber cool.

This one came in the same set as the Sculpting Brush.

| EYES/LIPS | Detailer Brush

This tiny little brush is perfect for those very precise tasks, like your eyes or lips. I love the size because it allows you to get into any small areas, so it's also perfect for doing some concealing. Lisa Eldridge (one of my favourite makeup artists) does this thing called "pin-point concealing" and this brush is perfect for that. This is basically a technique to cover any blemishes, and it works really well, because using such a small brush is the best way to conceal those spots. It is definitely a lot more precise and easy than using just your fingers.

This one is also a part of the Core Collection.

Hope you enjoyed this post! Thanks for reading me, xo

*Disclaimer: All these opinions are my own. I wasn't paid by Real Techniques or anyone to share this. I just genuinely think these brushes are an amazing option.*

Eyeshadow Palettes Worth The Hype

Hello everyone!

In today's post, I'll be talking all about eyeshadow palettes. There are so many new ones out there, and some that are such awesome quality: they are pigmented, longlasting, easy to blend... And there's also a lot of palettes with warmer tones, and those gorgeous metallic finishes which I love. So I'll be telling you which ones are actually worth the hype in my opinion, just keep on reading!

| NYX | Ultimate Shadow Palette

This is the ultimate eyeshadow palette (ha ha, very funny). No, but seriously, for only $29.95 you get 16 high quality eyeshadows in gorgeous shades. This particular one is in "Smokey & Highlight" and it has some beautiful warm shades, as well as cool and neutrals, and some gorgeous shimmery finishes. I think it's just perfect to have in your essentials bag, because you can create so many different looks with it, for a very affordable price.

You can find it here (Priceline)

| COLOURPOP | Yes, Please!

Honestly, I think ANY eyeshadow by Colourpop could be featured in this post, because they are all so pigmented and beautiful, and so affordable. It's like you're getting high-end eyeshadows for a drugstore price. In this palette, you get 12 eyeshadows, both matte and shimmery, and they're all about that golden glow. The only negative is that because they are SO good and so affordable, they sell out crazily fast, so if you really want one, you should probably sign up with them to get email alerts when they're back in stock. 

It's US$16 and you can find it here (Colourpop website)

| URBAN DECAY | Naked Heat

Same here, I would feature ANY of the Naked palettes, because you guys know that I'm a huge fan of them. You can achieve so many different looks with this palette too, and the shadows are absolutely beautiful. Some are dark, some are neutral, but definitely what matters here is the HEAT! The metallic shades are awesome quality, and it's unfortunately not as affordable as the 2 palettes featured above, but it's worth it. They blend really well, they are pigmented and very versatile.

It retails for $83 and is available here (Mecca)

| ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS | Modern Renaissance Palette

This one is everyone's Holy Grail, and I can totally see why. Still on the warmer side, but a lot more romantic and pink toned than the others mentioned above, it is very versatile as well. The shadows are highly pigmented and very easy to blend, they almost have like a "creamy" formula, which makes them a pleasure to work with. You get ultra-matte, metallic and satin finishes, so you can create many different looks.
It is $75 and available here (Sephora)

| SLEEK | i-Divine Palette in Vintage Romance

Another one that gives you so much bang for your buck. I am a big fan of Sleek! I actually got my first palette from them last year for my birthday and I was SO impressed with the quality of the shadows. They are quite pigmented and easily blendable. I don't get a lot of fallout, but I make sure I tap off the excess from my brush before touching my eyelids. This palette has some beautiful warm shades, a lot of glitter and a lot of colours you can play with.

It is $19.95 and you can find it here (Target)

Hope you enjoyed this post! Thanks for reading me, xo

*Disclaimer: All these opinions are my own. I wasn't paid by any of the brands featured above or anyone to share this. I just genuinely think these palettes are worth the hype.*

My Favourite Eyebrow Combo

Hello everyone!

I feel like I've FINALLY found the products that go best with me and leave my eyebrows exactly the way I want them. Some of them I've been using for ages, and some of them are fairly new, but live up to my expectations. I hope you guys wanna know what they are and why they have become my favourite combination, because that's what I'll be sharing today.

| STEP 1 | Tweezing

So first things first, getting rid of any stray hairs. I'm lucky to have quite defined eyebrows, so I don't really have to work on their shape - I just pluck the hairs that are out of place. When doing this, I make sure that I don't overpluck them. In my opinion, it's better to have a few extra hairs than a few hairs missing. My mum didn't let me touch my eyebrows as a teenager, and I'm so thankful for that now, because I understand how important they are and how much they frame your face, so you wanna be careful with the hairs you're removing. The best part about this is that my favourite tweezers were only $3 for a pack of 2. I particularly like this "pointy" kind, because it doesn't miss ANY hairs. I've had expensive tweezers before, but these cheaper ones have worked even better for me. I got them from Forever 21 a couple of years ago. 

You can find a similar set here

| STEP 2 | Filling in

This is another step that I'm careful about in a way. I like my eyebrows to be defined but not fake. It is VERY easy to cross that thin line, so you wanna be really light-handed. In my case, I like using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade. I've had it for years and it still works perfectly for me! So because this is such a creamy product, I like to dip my brush into it, and then take a lot of the product off on the back of my hand (it's always easier to build up than to take off). Then I start drawing little lines that look like hair, filling in any gaps, and also drawing a very soft line on the lower part of my eyebrow to frame and define. I wanna make them look fuller but still like hair, because I don't want it to look obvious (it can be our little secret! ;) )

Available here

| STEP 3 | Setting

This is what I'm the most OCD about, because I like every. single. hair to be in place, and I found the gel that does it and keeps them perfect all day. It doesn't make your hairs feel like a rock, but it's strong enough to keep everything where it should be. That gel is the Control Freak Eyebrow Gel by NYX, which I featured in my August Favourites (which you can read here), because it only took about 2 uses to realize how much I love it and how it needs to be in my essentials all the time. It is also very affordable ($9.95) so I can't see anything wrong with it. 

You can get it here

| STEP 4 | Concealing

Ok, this step is not something I do ALL the time, because it is a bit too much for everyday, but it definitely makes a difference when you wanna look a bit more polished (clubbing, special events...), as it gives you that extra bit of definition, correcting mistakes, brightening up the area and sharpening up the lines. If I am doing this, I use the Concealer by Anastasia Beverly Hills, because it is creamy and blendable, which makes it ideal in my opinion for that purpose, plus the shade I have is that little bit lighter, which helps a lot with highlighting. 

You can find it here

Hope you enjoyed this post! Thanks for reading me, xo

*Disclaimer: All these opinions are my own. I wasn't paid by any of the brands featured above or anyone to share this. These are just genuinely my favourite eyebrow products.*