Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipsticks: Pure Hollywood, Sepia and Dusty Rose | Mini Review

Anastasia Beverly Hills is a brand I'm quite fond of, although I don't own a lot of her products. I own her original contour powder palette, which I'm a huge fan of and I reviewed the contour palette here. I have always wanted to try out the liquid lipsticks and they weren't readily available in the UK (I believe they are now since Anastasia Beverly Hills launched a UK website but are out of stock), but since my trip to the New York - I managed to get my hands on a couple of shades. 

My American Beauty Wish List - See You Soon New York!

My American Beauty Wish List (click for details)

I'm so excited to finally be able to say I'm going to New York in a few days time! This dream holiday has been booked since March 2016 and I cant believe it's almost here. A while back, my siblings and I decided that we would do New York once we all finished our studies and since my younger sister  graduated her masters in December 2016, it was time we finally went. 

Of course I want to do lots of sight seeing, and we have plans to see the usual sights and more. I'm mostly excited to pig-out on the food and obviously hit Sephora, hard. My makeup rule is that if I can't get it in the UK, I'm allowed to get it and all these products are some I have had my eye on for a while. The likes of Too Faced and Marc Jacobs have been accessible to the UK for a short while but they are products I want to be able to see in person before I make the purchase. Unfortunately there are no counters near me in the UK for me to do this. I'm so excited to try out Tarte and to get my hands on the Christian Dior lip balm. I've been wanting it for so long and it is unavailable in the UK for some reason, so I'm excited to try it! 

If you've been to New York in the past, let me know which brands I should be trying out or places I definitely need to go to in New York. 

Love and kisses xo

Beauty Wish List | November 2015

Beauty Wish List | November 2015 (click for more details)

MAC Extra Dimension highlighters: 'Oh, Darling' and 'Shaft of Gold' | Anastasia Beverly Hills 'Self-Made' Eyeshadow Palette | L.A Girl Pro Conceal Concealer | Anastasia Beverly Hills 'So Hollywood' Highlighter | MAC Holiday Collection Pigments/Glitter 'Gold' | Rimmel Salon Pro Nail Polish | Clarins Pure and Radiant Mask and Pore Minimizing Serum | Artis Brush Oval 6

I'm not sure why I added the MAC highlighters since they are sold out, and I know that a lot of beauty lovers out there were p*ssed with MAC because they released the collection much earlier online, then sent an email launch a couple days after. I have seen these highlighters floating around Instagram for months and the hype was insane but I knew there was no way I could get my hands on them because I was away with work when they launched in stores, then later found out that they sold out in 15-20 minutes in both my local MAC concessions. I find it ridiculous that MAC know a product is going to sell well, and they don't supply enough for the demand as I've been told that concessions only get  a handful (and are likely to be taken by staff first). There wasn't a lot I wanted from the MAC Holiday collection but I may go ahead and pick up the gold pigment sets because I have wanted to try the glitter. 

I am forever changing my skincare routine, and at the moment I am into Clarins after seeing the beautiful StyleSuzi using the hydra-matte lotion, and so far I'm enjoying it, and looking to try more from the range. I'm a fan of Anastasia Beverly Hills products and I really want to try out 'So Hollywood' highlighter and the 'Self Made' eyeshadow palette which are both sold out, so I'm on the waiting list ready to purchase them when they come back in stock. The Artis brush is something I spied Kylie Jenner using in one of her makeup tutorial app videos (don't judge me, I don't actually have the app, I just saw it on Instagram...). They're extremely pricey and I know MAC do something similar, so I might try them out first. Basically, you can use them to buff in moisturiser and foundation, and it's meant to give you a flawless finish so I am intrigued...

Have you tried any of these brands or products?

Beauty Wish List | September 2015

Beauty Wish List | September 2015 (click for more details)

Estee Lauder Little Black Liner | Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimising Skin Refinisher | Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum | Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream | Makeup Revolution Ultra Cover and Concealer Palette | Anastasia Beverly Hills L'Orange Contour Refill | OGX coconut Water Shampoo | Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder | MAC 139 & 161 Duo Fibre Brush

My last few skincare products haven't been 'wow' for me so I am currently on the hunt to find something really, really good. At the moment I am trailing out something new and determined to see some good results - so far I am enjoying it so I will probably review them. Ester Lauder has never been a brand that I looked to for skincare but I do love the Double Wear foundation so figured I would look into the skincare. About 98% of the reviews for the skincare have been highly recommended, and my own mother actually used to use this brand so I figured it can't be that bad for the price. I will most likely be purchasing the two skincare products in my next haul, seeing as all the beauty departments have special offers that are too good to miss at the moment.... 

Bobbi Brown has started to draw my interest in with their makeup products, and keen to try out the skincare so a moisturiser is always one of the best ones to go for, first. The Laura Mercier secret brightening powder is out of stock EVERYWHERE. I am after shade 2, which is the slightly yellow shade and I am desperate to get my hands on it but I believe it has been discontinued. If anyone knows where I can get my hands on it - please get in touch with me!

My Highlight and Contour Routine feat. Smashbox, MAC and Kevyn Aucoin

Contouring and highlighting is a must in my everyday makeup routine. Powder for everyday but if I'm going out or have a special occasion, I double the effort with both cream and powder contouring products. I wanted to share my favourite contouring and highlighting products, my application tools and my best tips to achieve a flawless base.

By all means, I am not an expert or a professional and I am still learning to perfect my featured contour look. I know my face shape, and I know the best ways to contour and highlight the dimensions of my face. Of course everyone has different preferences and different face shapes, so what I like to use and what works for me might not work for everyone. It's just my personal preferences and my time in testing products that best work for me and my face shape

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer [Light] | MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter [Light Boost] | Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Sticks [Contour + Bronze]

Highlight the high panes of the face (bridge of the nose, centre of the forehead, chin, cupids bow and cheekbones/under the eyes). I use maybelline concealer first then brush the MAC pen on top, being especially generous on the under eye section and nose. Using the contour shade (cool brown) from the Smashbox pencils, I line the outer forehead, underneath the cheekbones, jawline and the sides of my nose (optional). Then use the bronze shade (slightly warmer brown) top of the contour lines of the cheek and forehead. 

Beauty Blender | NARS Ita Brush | MAC 137 Sculpted Pointed Brush | MAC 167SE Brush

I first use the beauty blender to blend out the highlighter and then the natural fibres of the NARS Ita brush effortlessly blends the contour, bronze and highlight colours together. Using the MAC 137 brush and Kevyn Aucoin sculpting powder, I go over the cream contour and chisel the colour into the hollows of my cheekbones and the temples of my forehead. I then go in with the MAC 167SE brush with the Smashbox Suntan Matte bronzer and warm up the rest of my face. To set and 'bake' the highlighted sections, I use my damp beauty blender to generously apply MAC set powder and keep this on until I have finished the rest of my face/eye makeup.

Smashbox Bronze Lights Bronzer [Suntan Matte] | Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder [Medium] | MAC Set Powder [Invisible] 

MAC Studio Fix Fluid [NC25] | Soap & Glory Archery Pencil [Hot Chocolate] | MAC Pressed Pigments [Deeply Dashing + Blonde Streak] | Urban Decay Eyeshadows [Riff + Beware] | Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner [Waterproof Black] | MAC Zoom Fast Lash Mascara | MAC Chromographic Pencil [NW25/NC30] | Ardell Demi Wispies | Sleek Blusher [Rose Gold] | Topshop Glow Pot [Gleam] | Kiko Lip Liner [712] | MAC Lip Liner [Cork] MAC Lipstick [Velvet Teddy]

This is not an everyday look for me - this is a look I only do for special occasions and on the weekends. I do contour everyday but I skip the cream contouring and 'baking' method, and use the powders only. I love having a full-face of makeup and experimenting with contouring and highlighting. It's definitely something that is a personal preference and not everyone is a fan, but I do enjoy the process of this method.

My other personal favourite contouring and highlighting products are:

Contour Powders

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

Anasazis Beverly Hills Contour Kit 

Contour Creams

MAC Pro Sculptung Cream - Pure Sculpture

Highlighting Powders

MAC Soft and Gentle

MAC Accentutate shaping powder

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit (also for contour)

Highlighting Creams

Topshop Glow Polished

MAC Cream Colour Base - Hush

What are your favourite contouring and highlighting products?

Anastasia Beverly Hills | Contour Kit | Review

Contouring and highlighting has become a huge craze lately - whether you like it done very naturally with a bit of bronzer or done very heavy with creams and powders. There has been some controversy with professional make-up artists stating that contour and highlighting is 'not a good look' or 'drawing lines' on the face is not necessary but, in my opinion, each to their own. I think contouring and highlighting can bring out the most beautiful features on your face. That's why I decided to review this extremely coveted beauty product - the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in the shade 'Light/Medium'.