2014 Beauty Favourites Part 1: Make Up & Nails
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Top L - R: Nail Paint by Barry M in Vintage Violet, Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint by Barry M in Sugar Apple, Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Translucent Powder, Real Techniques Buffing Brush, Seventeen Phwoaar Paint in Fair, MUA eyeshadow palette in Heaven & Earth, Real Techniques Setting Brush & Benefit's They're Real Push-Up Liner. Bottom L - R: Mac Blush in Dame, L'Oreal True Match Foundation in C2 Rose Vanilla, Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in #310 Berry Much, Mac Amplified Crème Lipstick in Girl About Town & Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Olé Flamingo.
Top L-R: Soap & Glory Solar Powder, Revlon Color Stay Gel Envy in Dealer's Choice, Estée Lauder Modern Muse Eau De Parfum, Avon Advance Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan
Argan Oil, Witch Blemish Stick, L'Oreal Paris Miss Manga Mega Volume Mascara, Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in #200 Soft Beige. Bottom L-R: No7 Essential Moisture Day Cream, Model Co More Brows in Fair & Nuxe Crème Fraîche de Beauté 24HRs Soothing & Rehydrating Fresh Mask.
Top L-R: Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Base Coat, Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy in Up the Ante, Frizz Ease Daily Miracle Leave in Conditioner, Frizz Ease Extra Strength 6 Effects Serum, The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil. Bottom L-R: Quick Fix Facials Purifying Charcoal Mask, Tom Ford Black Orchid, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Hot Pepper & Soigné Botanique in Bleu Vodka.
2014 was a great year for me
make up wise. It was the year I started using bronzer and realised the true
potential of make up, which only made me love it more. First up make up and nails, you might want to grab yourself a cup of tea... maybe a
snack of some kind, because it's gonna be a long one :)
I recently crowned L’Oreal True Match my favourite
foundation and I stand by that sentiment. With decent, buildable coverage, a beautiful dewy yet matte finish (I don't understand how that works either) and a formula that sticks around it's no wonder it's my favourite.
My skin wasn't at it's best in 2014. There were breakouts, blackheads, blemishes, great big giant spots... the lot! For those days when my skin was at it's worst I reached for Seventeen's Phwoaar Paint to save the day. With a thick and creamy consistency it's perfect for covering any particularly juicy blemishes and because it's yellow toned it neutralises any redness/hyper pigmentation. It also lasts really well, particularly considering how creamy it is. I've found that it works best when applied BEFORE foundation as it blends in better this way. Unorthodox? Maybe. Does it work? Definitely.
The other concealer I was reaching for throughout 2014 was Rimmel's Wake Me Up concealer in Soft Beige. I don't have the best sleeping habits and have some serious under eye baggage going on. But this covers bags and brightens the under eye area like it ain't no thing, making me look bright eyed and bushey tailed when really I've been up all night watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The overall coverage it gives is really good, as it covers redness, hyper pigmentation and blemishes. It's a good all rounder.
Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Translucent Powder
Before 2014 I never really got powders, I had one it was okay, good, not great, but then I tried One Heck of a Blot and then I got it. One Heck of a Blot is a really light weight, finely milled translucent powder that really locks in my make up and leaves my face with a velvety smooth finish. I love it, which you could probably tell from the picture.
Bronzer/Blush:
Soap & Glory Solar Powder
I was always a bit wary of bronzer, being paler than the moon and all, but Solar Powder is fabulous. Especially for all us pale chicks. I prefer the lighter honey shade, as the warmer brown is just a tad too dark for me, but works really well when I swirl the two together. It really warms up my otherwise colourless complexion. Love it.
You'd never know it but I've had this blusher for over two years and have worn it nearly every day since. I'm not even close to hitting pan yet. I've played with a lot of new blushers this year but Dame will always be my favourite. It's the prettiest, rosy pink that transforms my complexion from Casper the Friendly Ghost to that of an english rose. It's beautiful.
Eyes:
Long lasting gel liner with a blacker than black formula that is both crease proof and incredibly easy to apply. The rubber tip makes for one of the easiest cat eye flicks ever (stamp and glide). I think it's amazing.
This is the eyeshadow palette I probably got the most use out of in 2014 and 2013 for that matter. This is my second one so that should tell you all you need to know. Made up of neutral shimmers this is my go to palette for a neutral yet smokey eye make up look. The shadows are reasonably long lasting, soft in texture and pigmented with a decent colour pay off. I'll be honest it isn't perfect, there are some fall out issues when applying and the shadows are slightly on the chalky side, but for £4 it's really good.
AKA the best mascara on the highstreet. It just does everything I could ever want from a mascara. Like a really great bra it lifts and separates, unlike a great bra it curls and volumises. The formula is fantastic, super black, doesn't smudge or flake and just gives me the best lashes. It's a staple every girl needs: a good bra and this mascara.
Model Co More Brow is a
light weight, tinted brow gel, that shapes my brows and sets them in place,
without leaving them crispy. The colour is a medium ashy brown that is the
perfect colour match for me and the application is really easy with
the tiny but effective spoolie taming my brows and distributing the
product evenly. I really like it.
Lips:
For a while this lipstick
was the only thing I could talk about and for good reason, it is, simply put, the
most beautiful lipstick I own. The colour is a beautiful blue toned fuschia with a formula that is long lasting, although it does need to be reapplied after eating/drinking. Due to it's delightfully creamy consistency it's really moisturising and feels so comfortable on the lips. It get's bonus points for smelling like vanilla! In my expansive lipstick collection this is my absolute favourite. It's all kinds of heart eyed emoji!
I've been utterly obsessed with the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets since they were released last summer. The colours are lovely and the formulas are equally so: bouncy, lightweight and only slightly drying, but the very best part is the longevity. Once it's on, it is on! It ain't going nowhere for no one. You can eat, drink, be merry and look fabulous all at the same time. No longer will I have to choose between the two, food wins hands down everytime. They're incredible.
I love
this lip pencil. I know I've talked about it so much recently but it's because
I love it so much. I won't bore you by listing it's many virtues because at
this point I'll be repeating myself. It's amazing. Trust.
Nails:
Okay I know I have ranted and raved about the fabulousness of the Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Nail Enamels until the cows came home, went to bed and told me to shut up already but in my defence they are my absolute favourite beauty
discovery of 2014. The formulation is as close to perfect as a nail enamel can
possibly be. I am obsessed with
them! And I promise this is the last time I will mention them... for now.
At first glance the Sally Hansen Maximum Growth appears to be just another base coat but you can actually see it working and that just blows my mind. It's incredible. As a recovering nail biter with incredibly weakened nails this has made such a difference. My nails are stronger and are growing quicker because of it. It's amazing.
Soigné Botanique in Bleu Vodka
It's just so pretty! The colour is the most beautiful turquoise. But the formula is the real star! It's lovely, longlasting and creamy but easily workable and the brush is easy to use making for smooth and easy application. This is the only Soigné polish I own at the moment but I will definitely be adding more to my collection.
Barry M Nail Paint in Vintage Violet & Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Sugar Apple.
I'm a huge fan of Barry M's Nail Paint, they make up at least 40% of my 300 strong nail polish collection, but these two were my absolute favourites of last year. I had Sugar Apple on my nails constantly throughout the summer because it's such a lovely colour. Then when Autumn rolled around I switched to Vintage Violet. It's such an unusual, smokey purple but it looks so pretty on the nails. Like all Barry M Nail Paints they have a great formula that is reasonably long lasting, workable and easy to apply. All that for under a fiver... bargain.
If you stuck with this post until the end then thank you :) I'm aware that it's on the longer and ramblier side of things. I had a lot of make up favourites in 2014. But what I want to know is what were your 2014 faves? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or even by dropping me an email lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, Bloglovin & pinterest.
That was the tip of the iceberg for my 2014 Beauty Faves, Part 2 will be up over the weekend. Then of course there's always the matter of my 2014 Non Beauty Faves, of which there are many, which will be up soon.
Until then
Love love love xxx
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