Top 5 Lip Liners

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 cosmeticsjunkieeLeave a comment

The elusive lip liner – made famous to the younger generation courtesy of the Kardashians. Lip liners were the go to product for years until all of a sudden, the Noughties came along and we forgot the effect a lip liner can have. I blame the Nineties and that horrendously dark lip liner paired with a nude lipstick trend, maybe we had enough of lip liner after that.

Working on a beauty counter I do get hit with the ‘do you really need one?’ and ‘does it really make a difference?’ questions. The answer is yes. Lip liner not only completely reforms the look of your lips cheating them into looking bigger and fuller, but also helps to keep your lipstick on without bleeding out of the lines. There are that many cosmetic products on the market now that it can be hard to know which ones are best, so I have put together a list of my die hard favourite lip liners to ensure that you are using the best.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat, £16

Home of the Pillowtalk Lip Pencil & Lipstick, Charlotte Tilbury goes straight to the top of the list for the best lip liner. The Lip Cheat formula is so creamy that it just glides onto the area of the lip, whether you have more mature skin or younger skin this lip liner will be perfect for you. With more mature skin, lip liners can pull on the lips making it uncomfortable to apply, but this texture glides on for an effortless application. My go to liners from Charlotte Tilbury are of course, the ‘Pillowtalk’ itself for the most perfect everyday pink nude and for more of a brown tone ‘Hot Gossip’ is one of my new favourites. A must for your makeup bag.

Mac Lip Pencil, £14

Mac Cosmetics are no stranger when it comes to topping beauty lists for having some of the best products on the market. Their lip liners are no exception. These are one of my favourites because no matter which colour I pick up, the formula holds up and have a truly amazing colour payoff. Usually darker plums or reds can be different formulas to master but Mac have it nailed and they are again, a must for the makeup bag. I wouldn’t be without the classic ‘Spice’, a beautiful nude perfect for a wide variety of lipsticks or my ‘Cherry’ red pencil. Cherry is thee red, my go to for that Marilyn Monroe, postbox, siren red lip colour that usually only comes out of hibernation at Christmas time. There are so many colours to choose from that it may be wise to bring the lipstick with you that you are looking to match.

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Pencil, £3.99

Creamy. Rich. Pigmented. Affordable. I really don’t need to say much more about these lip liners other than that because they are truly amazing for £3.99. To be honest, I have said for awhile that I would pay double, triple even for those lip liners. They last so well and personally I find it really difficult to find nice, affordable lip liners that don’t feel like pencils you used to write with in Primary School. I see clients look at those liners in my kit and think ‘seriously…’ but they are great! ‘Eastend Snob’ is my favourite pink liner of all time. I think it’s so difficult to find a nice pink liner that isn’t too nude or peach. If you’re looking a nice pink liner then this one is perfect for you! It’s a twist up too so saves you having to sharpen!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Lip Pencil, £18.50

One of the first high end lip liners I had ever bought, these have remained one of my favourites in my makeup bag over the last lot of years. The liners glide on easily giving precise definition giving you control without flying too far over the edge. Yes, these pencils are a little on the pricier side but they do come with a lip brush on the other end allowing you even more of a precise application. These liners last all day, even outliving the lipsticks you wear them with, so there’s no worry of them coming off! My favourite shades in this range are ‘Mauve’ and ‘Rose’ perfect nude shades that perfectly compliment every skin tone. As a Make Up Artist I always have a few of these colours in my kit.

Boots No. 7 Precision Lips Pencil, £7

I have amassed a good few of these lip liners in my time, whether it’s because I always have a No.7 voucher or it’s because they are regularly on 3 for 2 I don’t know, but I love them. Moisturising and soft, these liners are easy applied and are also long lasting. They are again a twist up style of liner but what I love is these come with a built in sharpener! No.7 Lip Pencils are super pigmented, so definitely invest if you are looking a nice strong lip colour, because they are so moisturising they work really well all over the lips which keeps you lipstick on for even longer.

I would love to know what your favourite lip liners are, or whether you even use lip liners.

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Top 5 Blushers

September 5, 2018 cosmeticsjunkiee8 Comments

The beauty world has become so obsessed with highlighters and bronzers that
we have forgotten about one very important part of our makeup routine – the
blush. I have always loved blush and if I am honest, probably have loved it a little
too much in the past. When I was 15 I definitely had that Aunt Sally look nailed.
Fast-forward a few years and a practice in application I finally see what the fuss
was all about.

Before I begin listing my favourite blushers let’s talk about what it does for your
face. Blusher has the power to actually brighten and lift your face and is the
perfect finish to create a beautiful makeup look. Blusher is classy and enhances a
real, natural face shape as opposed to ‘look at my natural sunken in cheekbones’
a la Kim K. As nice as that look can be, when done right, there’s something about
a blush that makes all the difference.

When I look for blushers I tend to buy fairly versatile shades that suit a variety of
skin tones so that I can keep them in my kit to suit everyone. Whatever your
preference be it matte or shimmery, there is always something out there to suit
you.

MAC ‘Melba’ Powder Blush, £19.50

I have always loved MAC’s blushers as their formula is perfectly creamy and they have an amazing variety of shades. My most used shade is by far Melba and as it is a beautiful soft coral peach shade this blusher beautifully compliments a huge variety of skin tones. It is super pigmented so just use a little each time you are using it. With no shimmer it’s great for all skin types and ages and is a staple in my Make Up Kit giving a the skin a perfect glow.

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NARS Blush ‘Orgasm’, £24

This blusher shouldn’t need any introduction as if you are familiar with blushes at all, you should have tried this one. If you haven’t, what are you doing? You owe it to yourself to try the blush that permanently tops the list as one of the best blushers on the market. An iconic blusher that gives natural, healthy looking colour without looking too heavy and again, you only need a light application to give a beautiful colour.

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Milani Baked Blush ‘Luminoso’, £10

These blushers are unreal and for £10 they are such a good quality! It’s very hard to pick just one shade that I like from this range as I use them all and love them all. As I tend to go for more coral colours with blush I tend to use ‘Luminoso’ the most. Baked on Italian terracotta the powder is so finely milled that it delivers a smooth and silky application.

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Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic ‘Ecstasy’, £30

Charlotte’s range of blushers are my absolute favourite. They scream luxury and everyone needs a little luxury in their make up bag! Currently there are 6 powder shades to choose from and again, sorry I like the coral shades so my favourite is the shade ‘Ecstasy’ but there are colours to suit everyone. I love having a glow from my blusher and with Light Flex Technology these blushers capture and reflect light again leaving your skin with a beautiful soft sheen.

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Bare Minerals Gen Nude Powder Blush ‘Pretty In Pink’, £22

Seriously blendable and buildable blushers this range from Bare Minerals is a staple in my own routine and in my makeup kit. I’ve collected a few shades since they have launched however, I use ‘Pretty In Pink’ most often, a beautiful subtle pink shade and ‘Bellini Brunch’ which is a beautiful peach shade. The formula is so creamy and glides on to the skin effortlessly without catching and giving the skin texture giving the skin a soft focus effect.

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What blushers do you like, or do you even use blusher at all? I would love to hear your favourites.

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Top 5 Pencil Eyeliners

April 4, 2018April 3, 2019 cosmeticsjunkieeLeave a comment

You might read this title of this and go, ‘Really? But surely everyone has a black eyeliner…’ While yes, this is true let’s face it, there’s always something wrong with the black eyeliners that we own.

For years I suffered with black smudges because I just assumed that’s what happened when you wore a kohl liner. I dreaded peeking into my compact mirror to see my inner corners bleeding liner. Fast forward a few years and I uncovered a select few eyeliner pencils that are my go to that don’t cause any of these annoying problems. Why suffer when your eyeliner can stay perfect all day long?

Before I start, there is a difference between eye pencils and kohl pencils. I thought I would mention this as every time I talk about this with people their face is blank. Without going into the science and ingredients an eye pencil is harder and a kohl pencil is a softer material. Therefore a pencil is great for liner but a kohl is better for smudgier, smokier eyes. Personally I prefer kohl pencils as when I want to have winged liner I use a gel or a liquid.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, £15.50

I can always count on this eyeliner when I am in a rush and need a smoky eye, FAST. With it’s seriously soft tip it doesn’t drag on the eye allowing colour to glide on effortlessly. A highly moisturising pencil with Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E and Cottonseed Oil allows for creamy, easy application. Once the pencil is applied however, it stays in place all day without the need to check up on it.

An impressive range of colours will have you weak at the knees the next time you visit the counter, Perversion however is the nicest black shade I have ever seen.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil, £18.50

Similar to the 24/7 Glide On, Estee Lauder’s pencil is an extremely creamy and versatile eyeliner perfect for eyelids and waterline. In addition to 12 hours wear it is water resistant allowing it to stay in your water line all day making it the go to for days where you are going from office to party. The colour in this liner doesn’t smudge out unless you use the smudger allowing for precise application. This pencil sets very quickly so I wouldn’t recommend using as the base for a smokey eye unless you are working very quickly. That being said as it sets so quickly there is no fear of it transferring to your upper eyelid.

Again, a wide range of colours to choose from with Onyx as the black. Might I suggest Burgundy Suede (used in blog picture) as it’s such a beautiful colour and one of my go to eyeliners for clients makeups.

The Body Shop Smokey Eye Definer, £9

For something a little more defined instead of something smudgier look no further than this pencil from The Body Shop. The formula glides on and doesn’t catch or pull on your eyelids and gives a perfect line every time. You can of course smudge it out if you wish as it comes with a smudger on the other end but is great without. This liner is excellent for those that want and eyeliner look but without the dramatic effect as a subtle look is easier achieved with this liner.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua XL, £16

This pencil is The Notebook-proof. You could go swimming, have a crying session, have drink thrown over you or simply wash you hair and this eye pencil will not move. Definitely on the thicker, creamier side of eye pencils so perhaps not for those looking something natural but this pencil is ideal for someone who is constantly smoking out your waterline. It blends effortlessly but once that sucker has set it isn’t coming off until it is pried off with your cleanser.

Coming in a variety of finishes from Matte, Diamond, Satin, Metallic and Iridescent there is definitely a finish and colour that will take your fancy. This is a Saturday Night out kinda eyeliner…

Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajaal Eye Liner Pencil, £2.99

There are very few drug store eye liner pencils that I would trust but this one from Rimmel has made the cut into the Top 5. I burn through quite a lot of eye liner and that can wreak havoc on my bank balance so for sheer price alone this pencil is amazing. I use this shade Jet Black constantly when I am using it as the base for a smokey eye. I run it all over the eye and blend the life out of it with my Mac 217 Brush creating a beautiful, easy smokey eye. On it’s own for actual liner purposes it has a tendency to bleed out a little on my eye, this isn’t a big deal so I don’t care but as a base for a smokey eye it’s the one.

So there you have it, a list of my favourite eye pencils that I use for wings, smudgy eye and smokey eyes. Have you used any of these or do you use one that I need to try – let me know!

You can find my other Top 5 Posts HERE

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Top 5 Primers For Dry Skin

March 30, 2018April 3, 2019 cosmeticsjunkiee3 Comments

Whether you agree with the need for a primer or not, I personally think they were one of the greatest products to come to light out of the recent make up boom. For those of you that know me, my skin is drier and at the minute the texture of my skin has been playing up. While there are certain things that only switching up a skincare regime can fix, a primer gives a little short term help to fixing those issues.

I have used an insane variety of primers in my time and while some work great for a few months, inevitably most stop working at what they did at the start. The list below are the ones that have stuck by my side and done the job they claimed to do. I use these on myself and I trust them enough to use them on clients whose skin is drier also.

What is primer? A make up primer is a product that you apply before your foundation (or you can mix with foundation!) to allow for a longer lasting finish. Not only do primers keep your make up on for longer, but primers typically make your face look smoother and can have other benefits too like hydrating, mattifying, smoothing, etc. Primers take a little pressure of your foundation and if anything, you’ll probably need less foundation than if you don’t use one. So there’s that!

Marc Jacobs Undercover Perfecting Coconut Face Primer, £32

I will never forget the first time I bought this as I had read somewhere that this primer was all the rage and I wanted nothing more than to bury my face in it as I am obsessed with anything coconut scented. I scrambled and saved every extra penny I could as at this point I was at university, a poor student. Eventually, I bought the primer and upon the first usage my face almost sighed with relief as it was cooling. If I am going to an event, or know that I need to look like utmost best then this is the primer I use as any foundation I have sits beautifully on top.

The primer hydrates and nourishes thanks to the coconut infused formula including cold pressed coconut water, juice and pulp that forms a natural, vitamin rich barrier between your skin and your makeup. My skin feels fresh and natural, all day.

Make Up For Ever Nourishing Primer, £25.50

Make Up For Ever have a vast range of primers that cater to each and every skin type and I find myself bouncing between the Nourishing Primer and the Hydrating Primer. Where the Hydrating Primer hydrates (shocking) the nourishing primer just goes that extra mile and has a richer, creamier texture which I prefer. The Nourishing Primer feeds skin, repairing and hydrating all day while anti oxidants actually help to prevent from the elements. As if that’s not enough, the primer restores elasticity and revitalizes skin creating a more even textured, flawless finish.

Today for example, as I said my skin was feeling a little more textured and so this is the primer I have used today. My make up has been on my hours now and you can’t tell, my skin still looks and feels seriously smooth.

Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow, £38.50

Before you gasp at the price, give me a minute! This primer is multi functional and contains an amazing blend of ingredients that can make all the different to your beautiful face! I bought this originally as a primer but after a few uses started wearing this on it’s own also. I am off on holidays soon and this will be firmly packed in my make up bag for daily wear!

I absolutely love a glowy finish on my skin but it can be hard to get a product that will give you that finish that lasts longer than 2 hours. That’s why I am so glad I took the plunge with this product because my make up stays on forever – hey, if it’s good enough for Jamie Genevieve then it’s good enough for me – SEE HERE Jamie Genevieve Night Out GRWM

*NOTE* This is what I am wearing in this picture for this post

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – Hydrating, £30

Yes, yes Laura Mercier are so much more than their loose powder. I like this primer because all the others I have mentioned are on the thicker side and sometimes it’s nice to have products on your face that are a little thinner, especially for days where you don’t want to wear a lot of make up. Again, it hydrates and leaves the skin nice and glowy while multi tasking to help minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines and imperfections.

I notice that as my make up wears, my make up can tend to settles into lines on my forehead but when I use this primer that doesn’t happen! So a bonus if any of you struggle to keep foundation out of any little crevices!

Estee Lauder The Illuminator, £26

The thing I love about this primer is that it is designed for use on top of your make up as well as a primer underneath. It’ll always be in my kit for events and make ups that require a lot of photography as it photographs beautifully. Not only that but it really makes your skin feel fresh and awake, so if your skin is feeling very lacklustre and needs waking up then this would be the primer for you. It’s the only primer that I would probably mix with any foundation to thin out as it doesn’t separate on the skin.

It hydrates, smoothes and illuminates giving you that Hollywood glamorous glow and is one that you can depend on to make your skin look flawless all day long.

Let me know if you have used any of my favourites or if you have a Primer that you absolutely adore and think I need to try out.

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Top 5 Bronzers

March 2, 2018April 3, 2019 cosmeticsjunkiee4 Comments

As one of those poor, unfortunate pale folk I rely on a bronzer to give me that gorgeous bronzed glow. Due to the fact that I am naturally silver skinned I think this is why bronzers are my favourite beauty product and I have an entire drawer dedicated to them. This will probably be the hardest thing to narrow down to just 5 as I love so many but now as I sit staring at my drawer of bronzers, there are very few that I view as my die hard, desert island bronzers. From drug store to high end, read on for my favourite bronzers!

Nars Laguna Bronzing Powder, £29

With the amount of bloggers and celebrities that love this bronzer you can bet your ass this is the first bronzer I ever bought. It was considerably cheaper when I bought it for the first time, but I’d say I am easily on my 8th or 9th Laguna bronzer. When I was younger I was obsessed with NARS packaging, I had been so used to drug store packaging and I hadn’t seen anything as sleek and sexy as this. I then proceeded to buy lots of others shades but I always came back to Laguna.

The bronzer itself gives the perfect summery glow which makes it a necessity for the make up bag for the upcoming months. Embedded with a golden shimmer it’s definitely a bronzer for someone who wants a stronger finish to give an all over warmth. The powder is finely milled to give a sheer affect while filling in lines and pores giving an effortlessly smooth finish. The shimmer is very subtle so nothing like a highlighter, just enough to give your skin a healthy glow.

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder, £14

This is the bronzer that I use probably the most often to the day purely because of the price point. The make up in The Body Shop are probably one of the only items to not have gone up and up in price in recent years. It gives a very natural finish which is desired for a day time look. Not only is it beautiful on the face but comes in great shades for the eyes too, making it a perfect addition to your make up collection especially if you bring your bag out and about with you. I love products that are multi purpose!

The bronzer itself is more on the subtle side so if you are looking for something that will give you a strong colour might I suggest something with a little more pigment, or just build up the colour. The bronzer is shimmer free, allowing it to be used for contouring also if that takes your fancy. Not only is the bronzer amazeballs, but it contains Community Trade Honey and comes in 5 shades with a shade light enough for my silvery complexion making it my go to day time bronzer.

Soleil Tan De Chanel, £40

As I have mentioned I am a pale, silvery skinned gal but when I get my tan on I prefer to wear a little less make up. When I am in this beautiful, tanned state my go to make up product, never mind bronzer is the Chanel cream gel bronzer. It is such a gorgeous formula and can be used on it’s own just to enhance the glow or under on on top of makeup.

When I first saved up to buy this foundation I was terrified to use it because I was intimidated by a cream product. All I had known was powder bronzers and this was a total revelation. I found it was easier to use when you dab on tiny amounts and blend as you go rather than applying all over and trying to blend it all out.

Rimmel Natural Bronzer, £5.99

Obviously, a Rimmel product will feature – y’all know I love the smell of these products! Smell aside, this bronzer never ceases to amaze me at how brilliantly pigmented it is. It’s called Natural but to be honest I use this as my night out bronzer as the shades are more on the warmer side and give off a lot of pigment. It’s a waterproof bronzer with velvety soft texture that glides beautifully onto the skin.

There is quick a bit of kick back when I use this product but I don’t really care about that so much as it all stays in the container and can be used again, so not like I am wasting anything – I just always make sure to tap off the excess so as not to cover my whole face in bronzer! That is not a cute look.

Make Up For Ever, Pro Bronze Fusion, £28.50

I have spoken about this bronzer already in my Make Up For Ever Favourite Products blog so if you want more details on it you can check it out there. This is another one of those bronzers similar to The Body Shop’s Honey Bronze that requires building up. You don’t have to build them up, obviously you can leave them as they are for a fab subtle glow!

Another waterproof wonder from Make Up For Ever makes this another perfect one for your Summer collection. Not only that, but the Pro Bronze Range caters to those who want matte and/or luminous finish. The first colour I got was the shade 20M which was a matte finish but I have since updated my collection to include the 35I shade for a far warmer, illuminating finish.

That brings us to the end of my Top 5 Bronzers even though this list could have gone on to include about 15 more. These however, are truly my everyday go to bronzers that I use all the time. Let me know if you have used any of these bronzers yourself or if there is a bronzer out there that is your absolute fave – maybe I haven’t tried it yet!

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Amy xo

Top 5 Concealers

March 1, 2018April 3, 2019 cosmeticsjunkiee2 Comments

Alas, the one beauty item that everyone and I do mean everyone is after. Much like the perfect foundation it can be extremely hard to find. What about settling into wrinkles? What about giving you wrinkles you don’t even have? What about colour correcting? What about lighter or darker?

Concealers are the one item that I really do my research on. I obsess over YouTube videos, Instagram posts and online reviews to determine which one that I go for. Like my Top 5 Foundations post, I don’t think it’s possible to have just one concealer that works above the rest. Similar to how I have a few foundations, I have a few concealers that I like for different reasons. With that in mind, considering I have done a fair bit of research I have compiled a list of my Top 5 Concealer picks.

Mac Cosmetics Pro Longwear, £18.50

One of the first ‘grown up’ products I ever bought was this Pro Longwear Concealer. At first I hated it. I actually detested it and £18.50 was a lot of money for me when I was younger to spend on a concealer. Anyway, it turns out that 3 pumps of a concealer in a shade that was wrongly sold to you makes your under eyes look like that of a wrinkly old lady. After heading to YouTube to find out how to apply it, aside from being 3 shades too dark, it quickly became my favourite product.

The concealer itself is a fluid consistency, offering medium to full matte coverage for up to 15 hours. I now apply it with a beauty blender or a small concealer brush, not my old dirty foundation brush. It applies like a dream, and gives me enough coverage without sitting in any creases under my eyes. Even though the concealer sets matte, it definitely needs set with a powder. I haven’t come across a concealer for the under eye that doesn’t need set with a powder.

I keep this for my night out makeups as it’s a little full coverage for every day. If you’re someone who likes the natural look, then I would stay away from this one but for long lasting, great coverage it’s spot on.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer £19.50

This is a perfectly weightless concealer hides even the most stubborn of flaws meanwhile giving a radiant, luminous, demi-matte finish. Not as heavy as the Mac Pro Longwear Concealer, this is perfect for those who prefer a slightly lighter finish. When I wear this concealer it melts effortlessly into any foundation I wear it without lifting on the skin or separating against the foundation.

It works no matter how it’s applied, which makes it a winner in my books. It also sits beautifully even after hours of wear and comes in 14 shades. I love the applicator of this concealer as it seems to apply to exactly what you need under the eye without the fear of placing too much. That being said, even if you do put down too much it blends out beautifully and can be layered for a fuller look if desired.

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer, £21.50

This concealer. Is the DADDY. You know when your period is attacking you and your face breaks out all over the show and nothing short of a scarf over your face will cover the spots? Yeah, well now we have this concealer. It can cover everything and the beauty of it is you need so little of it. A little really does go a long way. Aside from all the usual great things about a concealer, this comes in the size 15ml. Compared to 9ml of Mac Pro Longwear and Urban Decay’s 5ml you’ll find that for the price of this concealer you definitely get more bang for you buck.

Price aside, the foundation is a little on the thicker side but allows for more multi purpose use. When I want to wear a lighter coverage foundation but it doesn’t cover all the little marks or blemishes I will always go in with Full Cover to give me a flawless look. I have used it before when on holidays too so is a perfect one to add to the holiday make up bag as is waterproof.

Maybelline Age Rewind Eye Concealer Nude, £8.99

If you have tired eyes then this is the perfect concealer for you. This concealer does more than just cover up your eyes because it’s enriched with Goji Berry and the formula cares for the eye area that suffers most from a hectic social life and lack of sleep. So if your main concerns are fine lines and wrinkles this is spot on however, you are restricted in your shades as there are only two colours.

I normally don’t like spongy applicators as I find them gross but it’s worth it for this product. I use this concealer the most much like in one of my last posts talking about how I use L’Oreal True Match Foundation as my throw it on foundation, this is my everyday throw it on concealer. I find that as well as not sitting in my lines it brightens under the eye giving me a more youthful appearance. If you are looking for something with a little bit of a better shade range then I would suggest Maybelline Fit Me Concealer as there are 6 shades to choose from.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer, £6.49

If any of you know me then you’ll know that I love the smell of Rimmel products, that may be the reason that I like this concealer so much but hey ho. Another anti-fatigue concealer similar to Maybelline’s but on the fuller coverage side. Containing peptides and a vitamin moisturising complex this concealer will hydrate under the eye as well as concealing.

There’s not much to say about this concealer other than if you are shopping on a budget and want excellent quality for money then hello, you found it! It doesn’t crease, I think that’s down to the consistency of the liquid as it’s on the creamier side. Not only that, but it brightens under the eyes while hydrating. On me, it doesn’t all day but gets me through a shift at work which is all that really matters!

You might be surprised to find that the Tarte’s Shape Tape, Nars Creamy Concealer and the YSL’s Touch Eclat of the world are not in this list. The reason they are not in this list is because as nice as they are and as hyped up as they are that’s exactly why they aren’t in this list. HYPE. Don’t always just believe what you see on Instagram and YouTube, do your research. Nars for example, all I read about was that the Creamy Concealer was the best thing ever since sliced bread but in reality I found the concealer was dry, hard to blend and at only 6ml to me, not worth the money. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice and did the job but didn’t live up to the hype.

So there you have it, my Top 5 Concealers, click the links below to read my other Top 5’s.

Top 5 Foundations

Top 5 Highlighters

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Top 5 Highlighters

February 20, 2018April 3, 2019 cosmeticsjunkiee10 Comments

Whether you like your glow subtle and daytime appropriate or whether you like your glow to be seen from the International Space Station then you have come to the right place. Highlighters are probably the item of makeup that I have tried and tested the most considering it’s the most requested item when working on clients. Dewy, wet, beaming, luminous, radiant, glowing and gleaming are the words people want to hear when someone is talking about their skin and that’s arguably all down to highlighter. You might love it or hate it but there is no doubt that adding a little pop of highlight can make all the difference.

Of course, highlighting in the make up industry has been around for decades upon decades and this glow hasn’t only come around in recent years. However, as everyone is now a mooah all the tricks and tips of the trade have leaked out for anyone and everyone to use.

With so many highlighters available from so many different brands it can be hard to truly find the best one for you. With that in mind I have compiled a list of my personal Top 5 Highlighters so if you are in highlighter limbo and have no idea which highlighter to go for, or you simply want to add another to your collection then scroll down for more!

Mac Cosmetics Extra Dimension Skinfinish £25.50
More specifically the shade Oh, Darling. If you are a regular viewer on my Instagram or even on my YouTube channel you might know that this highlighter is probably my most used item, let alone highlighter. I get carried away and honestly out it everywhere. The highlighter itself is one of the most stunning sights. I myself prefer anything warm toned so that’s why I tend to reach for this baby a lot considering the gorgeous, golden glow it leaves on your skin. If you are after that perfectly wet, sexy sweaty skin then this is the highlighter for you. I do find that the brush you use is important for this one as it is such a strong colour I find it best using a fan brush like the Make Up For Ever Fan Brush 120 (£21.50) as it doesn’t apply too much product causing the tin man look.

2. Sleek Solstice Palette, £9.99

Before I even begin – this is the BEST highlighter for the price of it. So if you are someone on a budget and looking a little more bang for your buck I am telling you look no further. Congratulations, you have found the perfect highlighter. My jaw hit the floor the very first time I used this palette, I couldn’t believe a highlighter that cost me less than £10 was this good. Price aside, the highlighter itself is unbelievable. Now, inside this palette there are 3 powder shades (two baked and one shimmer) and one cream shade. I’ll be honest when I say that I have never touched the cream one, only by accident when I have been getting ready in a rush but I use the powder shades nearly every day. It’s an extremely strong palette so it’s not for the faint hearted! If you only like a light bit of highlighter please do just take a small amount as I have known myself on occasion to go totally overboard. There are not many drugstore products other than foundations that I repurchase because there are so many out there to try, but I am on my fourth solstice palette. I also love the packaging – that’s what sold it to me in the first place!

3. Estée Lauder Victoria Beckham Modern Mercury, £55

I may be being biased considering my love for former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and her outstanding line with Estée Lauder but this highlighter certainly had to appear i my Top 5. The second I got it I ripped through the packaging and I nearly wept and how beautiful it was, I was almost scared to ruin the beauty of it. I got over myself pretty quickly, grabbed my Illamasqua Highlighter Buffing Brush (£26) and delicately placed this beautiful creamy powder on my cheekbones. It was love at first sight! I keep this highlighter for when I don’t want my cheeks to be so wet looking, it’s is perfect for those of you who like to keep it a little more on the ‘natural’ side while still looking gorgeously glowy. As I wrote this I got so excited about it that I ran upstairs just to check on it, make sure it was safe, swatched it and came back down… obsessed much?

4. Iconic London Illuminator Shine, £30

I used to hate cream or liquid illuminators. Ladies and Gents, that was before Iconic launched their illuminators. I’ll be honest, I haven’t quite nailed the application like some of the beauty gurus on Instagram and YouTube – how to they look so attractive dripping it down their face?! – but, I am quite happy throwing it all over my face any way I want. I love this product for two reasons… it is fantastic as a primer underneath your foundation as it creates a serious glorious shine through your foundation. Not only that, but it’s beautiful on top of your foundation – even over powder. It’s the only liquid highlighter I have come across that does not lift or disturb ANY foundation that lies underneath. There’s nothing worse than spending ages bouncing your foundation in to your skin to then use something that lifts your hard earned work. It comes in a few shades, I use ‘Original‘ and have ‘Glow‘ if I am using it to darken foundation or use as a bronzer. When adding on top of your foundation, might I suggest using a beauty blender if you have one as it sits beautifully on the skin. I use the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Make Up Sponge (£5.99).

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5. Make Up For Ever Artist Face Color H102/H106, £18

The thing I like about these highlighters more than anything are their compactibility and ease of use. The Artist Face Color collection are magnetic and so can be swapped and changed into different pans and carriers, as a Make Up Artist this is extremely handy for heading to and from events, clients, etc. Not only are they then refillable but the product itself is beautiful! They have a vast range of highlighters, matte and shimmery to blushers and bronzers and contour shades that can be placed and made into a palette of their own. Focusing on just the highlighters, they are extremely buttery and so blendable that it doesn’t require a lot of work. My favourite colour is H106, again a warm golden colour, and it’s the only highlighter I have that looks like skin. All the others have that obvious highlighter look but this one in daylight looks like it could really be my skin that’s glowing. Even the Victoria Beckham highlighter has that hint of glitter that lets slide that it’s a highlighter whereas the Make Up For Ever is so smooth that it looks like skin.

The list could go on however, these are the highlighters that I use on a near daily basis and are worth bringing into your own make up bag. If you have any other highlighters that you think I might not have tried please send me a message as of course, I would love to try them! If you have used any of the highlighters I have mentioned send me a message as well and let me know what you think!

Til next time,

Amy xo

Amy Savage

Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Blog

Tag: top 5

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