Girl's Got A Face Like Murder

Honestly, i don't envy any guy who wakes up next to me in the morning. Not because i'm completely horrendously ugly, but because for years i've managed to wear a ridiculous amount of makeup and make it look like i don't. That's the dream, right? Even i shock myself sometimes when i get up in the morning. I don't think my face looks "right" when it's naked. 

 exhibit a:

exhibit b:

The difference is astounding!

So anyway, i have recently found myself inundated with questions (on both here, tumblr, and the other many sites i use) asking me what makeup brands i use and would reccommend, and how i do my makeup. I am most definitely not a pro and would never even try to masquerade as one, i'm just a girl that started experimenting with makeup at a very young age (and boy did i experiment!) and i find these questions completely baffling because my makeup these days is about as bland as you can get!

But onwards and upwards. These are the products you will find nestling in my makeup bag...

all images@google

MAC Studio Fix fluid.

I count discovering this stuff as one of my greatest makeup moments of all time. OF ALL TIME (sorry Kanye.) But it's true. I know a lot of people find that this fluid dries their skin out and makes them break out, but i've never had a problem with it and i have dry/oily combination skin. It provides fantastic coverage, so if you've got an uneven skintone with random red patches you're in luck. Applied and blended in with a foundation brush, you cant beat it.

The great thing about using a fluid foundation is that you can either layer it for heavier coverage, or even mix a little in with a moisturizer for those days that your skin doesn't completely look like a domino's pizza (but unfortunately these days are few and far between.)

I actually have two shades, my winter and summer shade. That sounds really pretentious but it's true. I got matched at the MAC counter in the summer to NC25 which is perfect, but unfortunately i whiten up a lot in the winter and learned the hard way that using your summer foundation in december WILL make you look like a Jersey Shore Reject.

I also use the MAC Studio Fix powder comact on top to keep my skin matte and prevent stepping into oilslick territory, but that's pretty self-explanatory. 

beware the seasonal foundation trickery!

 

YSL Touche Éclat (Radiant Touch) Concealer.

If God made concealer, this would be the one. Unfortunately i've been blessed with bags bigger than Pat Butcher's under my eyes, and this stuff is the only product that succesfully hides them without it being obvious that i've got two layers of it on. I don't advocate gratituous spending on makeup, but this is totally worth the price. Dot it on, dab it in, and it's "light reflecting technology" means no one will ever know you were out 'til 4am partying with a group of Serbian engineers you met at the bar.

 

MAC Eyeshadow in CARBON. This one's a perfect all rounder, and it does what it says in the tin. It's your standard matte black eyeshadow, but it has fantastic colour payoff and when i say it's black i mean it's BLACK. It's highly pigmented, which means you don't necessarily need to pack it on. These days i rarely have time to experiment with wild makeup and prefer the classic approach, so if i've got the time i'll use Carbon for a lovely little smoky eye, which is what i used in the picture of me at the top of the post.

I also use this badboy with a tiny angled brush to fill in my eyebrows, and apply it damp for a better line on the outer corner. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but i personally hate eyebrow pencils and liquid liner would be too harsh. In fact, i highly suggest the use of eyeshadow as an eyebrow filler because it's easy precision-wise and in my opinion, looks more natural than using a pencil. And with a good base, it shouldn't smudge. Although nobody naturally has black eyebrows, so i shouldn't talk!

Collection 2000 Fast Stroke Liquid Eyeliner.

I think this is my favourite liquid eyeliner ever. It has the perfect firm felt tip style brush, doesn't smudge or melt, and at £1.99 a pop, who could complain? Liquid eyeliner is a makeup staple that no girl should be without, and this one is perfect, whether you want thin lines or bold feline flicks. Amy Winehouse take note. Although we can probably attribute the crack to her poor eye-lining skills.

This is actually the first liquid eyeliner i ever used at the tender age of 13, and its one i always come back to. Collection 2000 is Superdrug's own makeup brand, and although i wouldn't rate ALL of their line, they are continually evolving and the quality of the makeup itself for the price you pay is pretty damn good. If they ever discontinue this product, i'll probably cry.

MAC Lipstick in Russian Red.

Yes i know i am starting to sound like a broken record. I'm not a MAC fiend intentionally and i don't haul their makeup like some (let's face it, it can be pretty pricey as cosmetics for poor students go) but my key staple items just happen to be this brand! I think that says a lot about their quality.

From what you've seen of me, i almost always run about with red lipstick on. I was never a lipstick addict until i bought this baby. Its the perfect pillarbox red shade, and a pinup staple. It's actually the lipstick that burlesque queen Dita Von Teese wears every day.

 Still not convinced? Dita Von Teese is a goddess, and her style word is law. That should be enough persuasion, surely.

 

Lipcote Lipstick Sealer.

Just like you wouldn't apply lipstick without a good lipliner base, there is absolutely no point in spending time perfecting a pinup pout when it' going to run down your face or transfer onto your glass of Beaujolais Nouveau. Lipcote has been going for years, my mum used it when she was a teenager, and still does. That's devotion for you, and a testament to the qualities of Lipcote as a product. Apply a thin coat after blotting your lipstick, and it'll stay bright and as perfect as when you applied it, dreary-eyed at 6am. As a smoker and a self-confessed binge drinker, i've always got something in my mouth, and Lipcote is the only reason i don't look like Jackie Stallone by 3pm. Be wary though, apply too much and it'll leave your lips and mouth feeling as dry as sandpaper.

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara.

I know, everyone's got the mascara that they swear by, whether it's Benefit or Chanel. The truth is, i have about 8 mascara's lying around that i use on a daily basis. This is because for some reason, i ALWAYS manage to misplace it somehow. It's only the mascara that goes walkabout, and i have no idea why.

But in terms of price and quality, if i had to pick it would definitely be Bourjois Volume Clubbing. When i first bought it, my dear old mum was so impressed with how it made my lashes look that i bought her a tube. Then she gave it back to me because she absolutely detested the brush. Different strokes, different folks and all that. Admittedly, the brush is pretty big, and when taken out of the tube it is absolutely slathered in the product, the openening of the tube doesn't filter off a lot of it like most mascara tubes do. But this is exactly what i love about it. You do have to be as precise as possible so you don't end up looking like a transvestite panda, but you really can pack it on. Two layers, and your lashes are long, thick, and oh so fake looking. I adore it.

Britney Spears "Curious" Fragrance.

I am most definitely not a fan of celebrity perfumes, no matter how good they smell. The majority of money-laundering, money hungry "stars" peddling this fruity crap angers me something silly. What a scam! But this is where i'm going to shut up, because "Curious" by Britney Spears is one of my favourite fragrances ever. I think Britney is fabulous, and the crazy just makes her all the more awesome.

yesterday, showing my undeniable love for Curious...

But opinions of her aside, this stuff smells so good sometimes i just want to stockpile it, smash the bottles and bathe in it. Someone bought me a bottle of it a few christmas's ago and i've requested a bottle every year ever since. I buy a couple throughout the year too, because i use it up so quickly, and you'll always find one knocking around my bag. I'm also in love with the bottle itself, it's just too cute to refuse.

And there it is. My tip-top cosmetic products that never leave my bag. In all honesty, there's a whole bunch of other items that i use daily that i could have mentioned, but shorter is sweeter (a bit like me) and thus, stopping here seems like a good idea. What are your ultimate staple makeup items? My favourites continually change as i discover new products, and i love to hear your opinions!

Lots of love,