My New Year's Eve Make Up

My New Year's Eve Make Up

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

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(Sorry for the giant picture of my face and the crap lighting, I also hadn't smudged my lipstick, I had a really nasty spot on my lip that would not be covered!)

Happy New Year you absolute babes! I hope you all had an amazing, and safe, New Year's Eve and are ready to take this new year head on. This years I was at a big family party at my uncle and aunty's house, and I was really overdressed but you have to make an effort at New Years' don't you? I was really happy with my make up so I thought I would share it with you lovely lot.

The Ride or Die Beauty Tag

The Ride or Die Beauty Tag

Thursday, 29 September 2016

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The Ride or Die Beauty Tag has been making the rounds on the internet for the past couple of weeks now and I figured it was high time I joined the conversation. If I lost all my make up and skin care in a freak make up catastrophe, admittedly it's unlikely, but if I did then my debit card would take a walloping, because there are just some things that would need to be replaced immediately! These are the true beauty loves of my life, the things I cannot, nay refuse, to live without. We're not messing around here.

MAC Matte Lipstick in Mehr £15.50 from MAC

Mehr is my ultimate favourite lipstick. A rosy nude with plummy undertones, it's very flattering, it looks good on everyone and it's really low maintenance, due to the amazing formula and the long lasting matte finish. It's the best lipstick ever.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - £13 from Cult Beauty

For a long time I stopped wearing liquid eyeliner, I'm not really sure why, but then I fell in love with this incredible long lasting, pigmented, waterproof babe of an eyeliner. It's perfect! It has an impossibly fine nib that makes for really clean and precise lines so it applies beautifully. It doesn't drag the lid, it doesn't skip or smudge or flake or crumble, it stays in place all day. I love it!

MAC Powder Blush in Dame - £18.50 from MAC

Dame is the first MAC product I ever bought. I got it in the MAC store in Times Square 4 years ago, and to this day I've never found a blusher I like as much. It is stunning! A cool toned pink with a satin finish, it adds a subtle, but noticeable, healthy rosy glow to the skin, and is especially flattering on pale complexions. It's pigmented, it has amazing colour pay off, it's buttery soft and smooth and it applies like a dream. It's the perfect everyday blush, and I can say that as a fact because I did wear it everyday for 3 and a half years, and now I have a new one I'll probably do it again.

L'Oréal True Match Foundation in Rose Ivory - £9.99 from Boots

I haven't found a foundation, high end or high street, to match this one. Even after it's reformulation last year it's still my favourite and has been for nearly 10 years. It gives excellent coverage, has a natural skin-like finish and is basically a good skin day in a bottle. 'Nuff said.

Urban Decay's The Naked Palette - £38.50 from Urban Decay

I love a neutral eyeshadow palette, I have a lot of them, but nothing beats the original Naked palette. It's my most used eyeshadow palette ever,  I've used it pretty much everyday for the past year and it's still going strong. I really love it, it has an amazing shade range and the shadows themselves are really blendable and buttery soft, aside from a small amount of fall out and the hideous fuzzy packaging, I really can't fault it. It is gorgeous!

Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying Mascara - £7.99 from Boots

After years and years of searching I've finally found the perfect mascara, and the best part is that it's only £7.99, well that and it is amazing! The formula is a true black, it's really long lasting but not a nightmare to remove, it doesn't flake or smudge and the curved rubber wand does everything. It lengthens, defines, volumises, separates, lifts and gives me lashes for days. You put this on and it's like BOOM! Lashes!

Beauty Blender - £16.00 from Beauty Blender

If I had to sacrifice all my make up brushes and keep only one tool for applying make up, this would be it. This humble, egg shaped sponge is a make up game changer and I would be lost without it. I have tried a ton of Beauty Blender dupes but they just don't compare. I've found them to be a lot denser and heavier, and no where near as soft or effective. The Beauty Blender is amazing, I use it every single day because it does everything. I use it for foundation, concealer, blusher, contouring, bronzer... the list goes on and on, but I particularly like it for sheering out make up where I've been a bit heavy handed and it's amazing for making everything look really natural and dewy.

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel - £29.50 from Cult Beauty

Before this miracle bottle of epicness entered my life my skin was in a sorry state indeed. From the moment I started using this my skin has been on the upswing and the acne I was suffering from, for nearly two years, has all but disappeared. If I don't use this for a couple of days I instantly see the difference in my skin. My skin doesn't feel as clean, it feels really dry and a break out is inevitable. This just seems to keep my skin really balanced so I don't break out and it feels really nice. It also removes make up quickly and easily, with minimal effort. I love it, I love it so much.

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil - £85 from Cult Beauty

Another skin care item that has helped to dramatically improve the appearance of my skin. It's a retinol oil so is excellent for treating acne and signs of ageing. I don't use Luna everyday, because another bottle will set me back £85, so I live in fear of the day I run out. But, again, if this was taken from me the first thing I would do is drop the best part of £100 on another bottle, because it is that darn good! Luna is reserved for days when my skin is congested, or breaking out, and needs a little love. I apply 2 drops of this to my face before going to sleep and wake up with a guaranteed good skin day. Obsessed!

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - £13 from Beauty Bay

I forgot to put this in the photo! Argh! Anyway... let's get past it. I love Mario Badescu's skincare in general, the Rosewater Facial Spray is another firm favourite of mine, but this is definitely one a hero product and my favourite item of skin care ever! Because it actually works! When my skin was at its very worst I was using this every night to reduce the appearance of spots and cystic acne. You pop this on any spots before you go to sleep and then in the morning it's worked it's magic, and the appearance of spots is significantly reduced, if not gone completely. It's amazing.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown - £15 from Cult Beauty

We all have one eyebrow that is perfect and one that's letting the team down, and we all have a favourite brow product to fix this. ABH's Dipbrow Pomade is mine, it's brilliant. It's a waxy mousse that shapes and defines my brows and covers any sparseness while still looking really natural. I use it every single day and you only need the tiniest little bit to get perfect brows, so it lasts ages too. Love it.

So there were definitely a few more products than I thought, I've added it all up and I would need a spare £261.98 just in case all my faves go missing... eeep.

What are your Ride or Die Beauty favourites? Let me know by commenting below - I always reply so check back -, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

What's In Their Make Up Bag? #2: Jade P

What's In Their Make Up Bag? #2: Jade P

Tuesday, 13 September 2016

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Last weekend me, my cousin Gemma (read her WITMUB here) and her beautiful baby boy piled into her car to go and visit my cousin and aunty, Gemma's mum and sister, in Lowestoft for a weekend by the sea. We had a really nice time catching up with everyone, eating good food and doing a spot of shopping. And while I was there I couldn't resist having a good old snoop through Jade's make up bag. Before we get properly started though I thought I'd provide some context for you lovely people. So Jade is my cousin, she's 17 months younger than me and she's also one of my closest friends. In our misspent youth, when we used to go clubbing and stumble home in the early hours of the morning, we used to spend hours getting ready together - she puts false lashes on like a boss and she doesn't even need them! -  and that would probably be the best part of the night, that and ending the night dancing to the Baywatch theme. Anywho here's whats in her make up bag. 

Max Factor Lasting Performance Long Lasting Foundation in 106 Natural Beige - £9.99 from Boots

I love this foundation! I do try other foundations but I always come back to this one. It's my favourite. It's really comfortable to wear, it lasts all day and looks nice on. The colour is a really good match for my skin as well.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 040 Soft Beige - £5.49 (currently 2 for £10) from Boots

I love this concealer! I like to use this under my eyes to brighten everything up, because it doesn't crease but it has enough coverage that I can use it over the rest of my face too.

Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder in 006 Warm Beige - £3.99 (currently 2 for £10) from Boots

Rimmel is my favourite brand, they're so good but so affordable! This powder is really soft and has nice coverage. It keeps my make up in place without looking heavy and it's cheap too. 

Bourjois Délice de Poudre Gold Bronzing Powder in 51 - £7.99 (currently buy 1 get 1 half price) from Boots

This bronzer smells incredible! Just like chocolate! It's very warm but not orange and you really don't need to use a lot to get a sun kissed look. I haven't had it long and it's already one of my favourite things. I use it everyday. 

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara - £7.99 from Boots

I love Maybelline mascaras, the Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara is another favourite of mine, but the Lash Sensational is the one I'm using at the moment. It makes my lashes look really long and defined, L: She doesn't need it, her and Gem have got ridiculously long lashes! it also gives them loads of volume and stays on all day. It doesn't flake or anything. I love it! 

Lorac Pro 2 Eyeshadow Palette - £40.20 from Amazon

Honestly I'm not really a massive make up person - L: She's really not, she once described the Urban Decay Naked palette as expensive crayons! - but I really love this palette. My sister, Gem, gave it to me and I really like using it. It's got a ton of colours, they're all really pretty and they apply nicely. I don't tend to use eye shadow a lot, unless Gem does my eyes, but when I do this is the palette I use. 

Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Limited Edition Lipstick in 01 Red Nose Red - £5.49 (currently 2 for £10) from Boots

This is my favourite lipstick to wear on a night out. It's a classic red that looks really glamorous on. It's quite glossy but is pigmented and lasts quite well. 

What's in your make up bag? Any recommendations? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

4 High Street Contour Kits You Need

4 High Street Contour Kits You Need

Sunday, 11 September 2016

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It used to be that contouring was not something the normal girl did. Contouring was used for editorial make up or by Drag Queens and Kardashians. But in the last 5 years or so contouring has entered the mainstream consciousness and we're all at it. Even me! And it has to be said I'm really not very good at it, BUT there are some tried and tested products that even I can't mess up with, and they're all from the high street!

Rimmel Kate Sculpting Palette in 002 Coral Glow & 003 Golden Bronze - £6.99  (currently 2 for £10 on Rimmel products) from Boots

Rimmel's Kate Sculpting Palette is a super handy palette that contains a blush, highlight and contour shade. The palettes are housed in pretty, but cheap, rose gold packaging and come in two shades, three in the US you lucky devils!, 002 Coral Glow and 003 Golden Bronze. 003 Golden Bronze is warmer in tone and designed for darker skin tones, but actually works surprisingly well on paler skin tones too, I can even use it on my ghostlike complexion with no problems. The highlighter is a cool toned gold with a fine glitter running through it, the blush is a shimmery golden peach in the same vein as Nars Orgasm, and the contour is a warm matte brown. 002 Coral Glow is the lighter of the two, and more suited to my pasty skin tone, the contour shade is ashier than 003, a lighter honey tone that can double as a bronzer. The blush is a coral pink with a slight sheen to it and the highlighter is a pale champagne shimmer that adds a beautiful radiance to the skin. Despite the slightly naff packaging the overall quality is excellent. The powders themselves are blendable, soft and pigmented, with excellent colour pay off and wear time. I've been showing these palettes a lot of love lately, they're really nice.

Maybelline Master Sculpt Contouring Palette in 01 Light Medium - £6.99 (currently buy 1 get 1 half price on Maybelline products) from Boots

I've been a huge fan of this nifty little contour kit since it's release last year. The powders are smooth, silky, pigmented, easy to blend and the shades are a perfect match for my pale, verging on pasty, skin. The grey/ashy tone of the contour creates natural looking shadows on the skin, without looking muddy, allowing me to carve fairly realistic looking cheekbones into my moon face. But it's actually the highlighter that's the real star of the show! A pale ivory with a subtle golden shimmer running through it, it adds the most beautiful, natural looking radiant glow to the skin. I'm now onto my second pan of the stuff and I still love it. 

Sleek Make Up Cream Contour Kit in Light 095 - £10.99 from (currently 2 for £12 on Sleek products) from Boots

I picked this up in a recent Sleek Haul (read more here) and I have to say this palette is the ultimate in drugstore contouring. It's amazing! A high street dupe for the now cult Anastasia Beverley Hill's Contour Kit, Sleek's cream offering is something very special indeed. Made up of six shades: two highlighters, a concealer and three contouring shades, there is something for everyone and every contour look you could ever want to achieve. The palette is available in Light, Medium and Dark. I have the Light palette as my skin is very fair, - read deathly pale - and it works really well for me. The creams themselves are flawless! Velvety, blendable and well pigmented. They apply beautifully, without moving any of the make up underneath and sit really nicely on the skin. With  a palette like this you have so many options but personally, I like to pack on the colour with the Real Techniques Contour Brush and blend out with a Beauty Blender for a more natural look. I love this palette a lot, and tend to use it more when I'm going out and need something that will last a long time,  or want my contour to be a bit more dramatic.

L'Oréal Infallible Sculpt Contouring Palette in Light/Medium - £9.99 (currently 3 for 2 on L'Oréal products) from Boots

I've raved about this contour kit from L'Oréal in a previous post (read more here) and it really does have a special place in my heart. I might even go so far as to say it's my favourite contouring product - but it does have some stiff competition! - it's that good! I've used it so much you can see the dent I've made in it! The most natural of the bunch, the cream to powder formulation is on point, combining the wear time of a powder and the finish of a cream. The formula is smooth, blends seamlessly into the skin and looks awesome! I have the shade Light/Medium, which I'll be the first to admit does look quite scary and dark in the pan, but it's cool toned so once it's applied it looks natural and shadow-like on the skin. The highlighter is very subtle and I've not had a ton of use out of it to be honest. Even so I love this contour palette and if I could only have one this would be it.

What are your favourite contouring products? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

What's in My Travel Make Up Bag?

What's in My Travel Make Up Bag?

Saturday, 3 September 2016

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l-r: Look Good Feel Better Blending Brush, Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush, RT Angled Highlighter Brush, RT Duo-Fibre Face Brush, RT Brow Brush, Unbranded Flat Eyeshadow Brush, Unbranded Concealer Brush, RT Stippling Brush & RT Multi

When it comes to packing make up I am a maximalist, more is more! In my mind it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it - having said that even I was shocked when I realised I took 10 make up brushes, plus a beauty blender away with me! - Anyway it turns out I didn't really need it, because I ended up wearing make up maybe twice in the week I was away. Other than suncream, I use the La Roche Posay 50 +Antihelios XL just fyi, I really didn't put much on my face. Even though I didn't use it very much I still thought you guys might like a peek inside my travel make up bag.

Becca Backlight Priming Filter - £32 from Space NK

I'm really glad I took this away with me because I ended up using it the most out of everything, to make the most of my *ahem* tan. I've found that the best way to apply it is by dotting it on to the skin and then blending out with a beauty blender. It gives some serious glow! It adds a really beautiful luminescence to the skin without highlighting pores and imperfections. Some days I even wore this as my base with just a bit of concealer and it worked really well. I have a new found appreciation for this stuff. It's gorgeous.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in Ivory - £9.99 from Boots

I actually took two foundations with me, this and Maybelline's Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation but I really didn't need to, as the CC Cream was more than enough, and I barely touched the stuff anyway. I'll go ahead and say that Bourjois's 123 Perfect CC Cream is the ideal foundation to take away with you, especially if you're off to sunnier climes, as the coverage is there but it is very light weight. It doesn't feel heavy or thick on the skin at all and applies beautifully, plus it's packaged in a plastic squeezy tube making it very travel friendly. To be honest all the same things could be said about the Maybelline foundation but I used the CC Cream more.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair & Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 10 Fair - £4.19/£5.99 from Boots here and here

I like to use the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer to cover my under eye baggage, as it is such a light shade and really brightens the whole under eye area. You do have to be careful though because it has a really creamy formula so does tend to crease if not set with powder. It's very covering and stopped me looking completely knackered on the days that I could be bothered to apply it. I took the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer as a more of a multipurpose concealer, as it has good coverage but is not as heavy as the Collection one. I used this all over my face to cover any blemishes or redness and it works a treat.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying Mascara - £7.99 from Boots

I've been using this mascara, pretty much constantly, over the past year and I have reached the conclusion that it's my favourite mascara ever. So when I was packing my make up bag this was the first thing to go in. The curved rubber brush gives me really long, defined, voluminous lashes, the formula is a true black and isn't a total bitch to remove and, in my opinion, it's pretty much perfect.

MAC Burgundy Times Nine Eyeshadow Palette - £25 from MAC

This tiny little gem of a palette is incredible. It is so travel friendly because it's so tiny, but contains a whopping nine mini eyeshadows. The shadows themselves are pigmented, as soft as butter and blend beautifully. It's also amazingly versatile, with everything from deep plum shades to mauve toned neutrals and even a pale gold-y peach. I mostly just used Honey Lust - the peachy gold - as a wash of colour all over the lid, just to give my lids a little somethin' somethin', but it has everything you need for a burgundy smokey eye. It's lovely. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Hot Pepper - £8.99 from Boots 

For bold lips there is nothing better, high end or high street, than Bourjois's Rouge Edition Velvet Liquid Lipsticks. I won't bore with you the details because I have so many times before. Hot Pepper is my go to red for an evening out because it stays in place for hours, the formula is bouncy and gel like so is super comfortable to wear and it has incredible pigmentation. They even stay in place when eating or drinking. I didn't wear it once while I was away but it is still one of my absolute favourite liquid lips. I have nearly the whole collection, but Hot Pepper is a firm favourite. 

L'Oréal Privee Color Riche Lipstick in Julianne's Nude - £6.99 from Superdrug

Again this is another old favourite of mine and I have gone on and on about it's pinky, rosy nude awesomeness more times than I could shake a stick at it. But it is amazing, so I'll just bore you with the deats one more time. It is the most amazing, effortless nude lipstick, and even though I hate the phrase your lips but better that is the best way to describe it. It smells amazing and it's incredibly moisturising, this does mean that it does need to be reapplied a few times throughout the course of the day but nothing major. I really love it and I wore it loads on holiday.

Still Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - £13.00 from Boots

I really don't know why I took this on holiday, because I didn't use it once. No one wants to faff around trying to get their wings even when it's so hot outside now do they? Having said that this is my absolute favourite liquid liner, and if I had chose to rock some feline flicks by the pool then this would have more than held up to the challenge. It's very pigmented, it's waterproof and stays in place for hours, it isn't a nightmare to remove and the nib is impossibly fine, giving really clean and precise application. I love it, I just didn't use it.

Primark PS Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in Black - £1.00 from Primark

A black pencil eyeliner for me is a make up bag staple, I like to use it to tightline and fill in my waterline when I'm wearing smokey eyes or winged liner, and Primark's eyeliner pencils are surprisingly good quality for such a low price point. It's not waxy but blends nicely, is well pigmented and stays in place a decent amount of time. But once again this is not something I used while I was away. It was way too hot for eyeliner.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown - £15.00 from Cultbeauty

There was no way that I would be going on holiday without my eyebrows. Although to be honest I probably could've got by without it because I'm quite lucky with my eyebrows, they're a decent shape but are quite sparse in places. Anastasia's Dipbrow is my favourite brow product as it is so easy to use. Even I can shape and fill in my brows without any problems. It's great.

Rimmel Kate Sculpting Palette in 002 Coral Glow -£6.99 from Boots

Rimmel's Sculpting Palette contains a contour, blush and highlighter, making it another nifty little palette that's perfect for travelling. The powders are soft, finely milled, well pigmented and creamy in texture. It has a really nice shade range that is ideal for sun bronzed skin, which sadly I don't have, luckily it works really well for us pasty peeps too! The contour is quite a pale honey tone that doubles as a bronzer, the blush is a matte coral that looks super pretty on and the highlighter is a light chamgagne-y colour that leaves a subtle shimmer on the cheekbones. Overall I am a big fan of this palette. It's really nice.

Beauty Blender - £16.00 from Beautybay

My love affair with this insanely awesome make up sponge continues. I use this for everything! To apply my foundation and concealer, to sheer out anything that looks cake-y, to blend in my blusher and contour. It's awesome and it is multi-use, which makes the £16 price tag a little bit easier to bear. The two times I did wear make up this was what I used to apply it, making the 10 (!) make up brushes I packed basically useless.

I'm not gonna go into too much detail with the make up brushes, otherwise you'll be here all night. I took the Look Good Feel Better Blending Brush, the Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush, the RT Angled Highlighter Brush, the RT Duo-Fibre Face Brush, the RT Brow Brush, an unbranded Flat Eyeshadow Brush, an unbranded Concealer Brush, the RT Stippling Brush & the RT Multi-Task Brush... phew that's a lot of Real Techniques brushes! I didn't use them very much at all. I do tend to apply the majority of my make up with these brushes and then blend it into the skin with the beauty blender because I find that that's what works best for me.

That was everything I took away with me, and so much of it was unnecessary... oh well.

What make up do you take away with you? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

My Top 8 Lip Products from the High Street

My Top 8 Lip Products from the High Street

Sunday, 28 August 2016

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l - r: L'Oréal Privee Color Riche Lipstick in Julianne's Perfect Nude, Revlon Color Burst Balm Stain in Honey, Primark PS... Velvet Matte Lipstick Crayon in Nude, Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lipstick in Pommie Girl, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Olé Flamingo and Hot Pepper, Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Red Essential 

I love lipstick! So much so that I couldn't limit myself to just the 5, instead you're being treated to a Top 8 you lucky things! When it comes to lipstick I prefer my finishes matte, the formulas liquid and the pigmentation bold, on point and long lasting to boot. Every now and then, however, I like to shake things up a bit with more sheer formulas or pinky nude tones. So this is more of a comprehensive lip wardrobe from the high street, with everything from the sheerest nudes to the deepest berry shades. Enjoy!

L'Oréal Privee Color Riche Lipstick in Julianne's Perfect Nude - £6.99 from Superdrug

This isn't just Julianne's perfect nude, it's mine too! I'm not normally one for nude lipstick, bright matte bolds are way more my thing,  but this is dreamy!  It's not a nude nude, it's a really pretty, rosy pink with a moisturising formula and a sheer finish. It has decent colour pay off and it smells amazing, just like parma violets. It isn't the most long wearing of beasts, and it doesn't tend to stick around for long if food or drink is involved, but it is the most beautiful nude pink that I've come across. I'm on my third tube of the stuff and I completely love it.

Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain in Honey - £7.99 from Boots

Revlon's ColorBurst Balm Stains are perfect for low maintenance glossy lips, as they're a hybrid between a lip gloss and a super moisturising lip balm. Personally I think they're the perfect lip crayon to chuck in your bag for easy on the go application. I have quite a few from the range but Honey is my absolute favourite for everyday. The colour is a lovely mauve toned dusky pink and it has nice pigmentation, so it can be worn really sheer for something quite subtle or can be built up for more of a medium coverage. It also smells like peppermint and feels really cooling on the lips. It's always in my handbag.

Primark PS... Velvet Matte Lipstick Crayon in Nude - £2.00 from Primark

At just £2.00, from good ol' Primark,  this lip crayon is the cheapest offering on the table. Normally I would find such a low price tag off putting but this is really good. Like really, really good. It's a  lovely peachy nude with a matte finish and a good formula. It's buttery, reasonably long lasting and applies like an absolute dream. Primark's make up line is a bit hit and a miss but there are definitely some gems hidden away in there, and this one of them.

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lipstick in Pommie Girl - £9.00 from Boots

One of my absolute favourite lipsticks is Soap & Glory's Super Colour Fabulipstick Matte Lipstick in Pom Pom which was, annoyingly, discontinued a while back... luckily S&G have since released Pommie Girl, which is identical. It's a deep pink with plummy undertones that looks absolutely stunning on. It's matte in finish,  and does tend towards the drier side of things, however I've found that applying lip balm about 15 minutes beforehand solves this problem. It lasts ages, it's beautiful and that dreamy packaging though! I'm so glad they didn't get rid of it completely. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Olé Flamingo! and Hot Pepper - £8.99 from Boots

I've sung the praises of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets time and time again. They are the best liquid lipsticks on the high street, and my liquid lip of choice for a night on the town. They're pigmented, super comfortable to wear and last hours. They rarely need touching up and, though I've never tested it I definitely think they could last a full 24 hours, although I don't why you'd ever need them too. I love these lipsticks.

Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Red Essential - £4.99 from Boots

Maybelline's Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils are right up there with some of my very favourite lipsticks. A pretty spot on dupe for Nars' Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, the formula is matte yet creamy and comfortable to wear and it is insanely long lasting. Red Essential is a classic blue toned red - every lip wardrobe needs one! - and it's beautiful.

Rimmel Kate Matte Lipstick in #107 - £5.49 from Boots

Rimmel's #107 is a high street classic! It looks intimidating in the bullet but it's actually a super wearable deep purple with just a hint of red in it. It has a matte finish and seriously incredible longevity. It lasts hours! It rarely needs touching up, only after eating and barely even then. When autumn, my favourite season, rolls around this is the only lipstick to grace my lips because it's the perfect autumnal berry shade and one of my absolute favourite lipsticks.

What's your favourite high street lipstick? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

My Top 5 Concealers from the High Street

My Top 5 Concealers from the High Street

Tuesday, 9 August 2016

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l-r: Primark PS Concealer, Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, L'Oréal True Match Concealer, Seventeen Phwoarr Paint & Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. 

Concealer is one of my favourite products, if you get the right one, it will cover what you want covered, without caking or bunching up, while still allowing the skin to breath. To be honest it's a tall order to find a really good concealer, and even harder to find one with a reasonable price tag. Luckily I've done all the hard work for you. Here's my Top 5 Concealers from the High Street. Enjoy!

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 10 - £5.99 from Boots

Maybelline's Fit Me concealer is probably my favourite concealer. It gives the best natural looking medium to high coverage. It doesn't crease or cake but applies smoothly and blends flawlessly into the skin. I've gone through three tubes of the stuff now and I love it more and more with each application. It's a really, really good concealer.

Primark PS Concealer in Light - £0.80 from Primark

This concealer is epic. It's very similar to Seventeen's Phwoarr Paint, which is another favourite, in the fact that they are both very creamy and incredibly covering but this one's not quite as high coverage, feels lighter and allows the skin to breathe. It's one of my favourites for this very reason and at 80p, yep it really does cost less than a pound, it's an absolute steal.

L'Oréal True Match Concealer in Natural Beige - £6.99 from Boots

This is very similar to Maybelline's Fit Me concealer as it gives really good, natural looking coverage. It's very creamy but long lasting and blends seamlessly into the skin, leaving behind a flawless finish. I really like it, it's a really good concealer that does a little bit of everything: covers, conceals, highlights, all that good stuff! 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair - £4.19 from Boots

Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer is a cult classic among UK beauty bloggers, and for good reason, it is seriously good stuff. It covers everything! It blends beautifully and it is so long-lasting. Now it does have the tendency to cake if you use too much and it can crease if you don't set it, but these are minor issues which the longevity and flawless high coverage more than make up for. I like to use Fair, the lightest shade, to highlight my under eye area and then use Cool Medium on any blemishes or redness. It is so awesome. 

Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Heavy Duty Under Eye Concealer

Designed to conceal under eye baggage and dark circles this creamy concealer from Seventeen is a firm favourite of mine and one of my most used products, I think I'm on my fourth pan now. It has a creamy, waxy consistency that needs to be warmed between the fingers before use, once it's been worked into the skin it provides flawless coverage. I even use it to cover particularly juicy spots. It is quite thick so I prefer to use it before applying my foundation, as I've found this gives the most natural finish. Love it.

What's your favourite concealer? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

My Top 5 Foundations from the High Street

My Top 5 Foundations from the High Street

Tuesday, 2 August 2016

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l-r: Soap & Glory One Heck of  a Blot Foundation, Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream, L'Oréal True Match Foundation, Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Powerless Foundation and Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Foundation. 

Foundation is literally called foundation because it is the base on which we build our entire face! So to say foundation is important is a huge understatement. Luckily, for those of us on a budget, when it comes to foundation the high street does it really well. Really, really well. It was quite hard narrowing my top picks down to just the 5, I can see a Top 10 post coming up in the future, but for now lovely people here are my top 5 high street/drug store foundations.

L'Oréal Paris True Match Foundation in Rose Ivory - £9.99 from Boots

L'Oréal's True Match is my absolute favourite foundation. I've talked about this stuff so much, but it's because I love it so much! This foundation, even after it's reformulation, is amazing. It's my go to foundation for a night out because it is long lasting, has a beautifully natural, your skin but better kind of finish and it gives excellent, non-cakey coverage. If you're just getting in to make up, than this foundation, in my opinion, is the best on the high street, plus it has a really good shade range and a reasonable price point. I love it so much. 

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in Ivory- £9.99 from Boots

I bought this for the express purpose of testing it out for this post and honestly, I didn't have a lot of faith in it. I usually avoid CC Creams like the plague, because they just don't have the coverage I need BUT this one does. It is very lightweight, but gives medium coverage that can be built up in to something more full without feeling heavy,  and it still allows the skin to breath. It's become one of my favourite foundations, especially for summertime, because it feels absolutely gorgeous on the skin. The formula is lovely too, combining skin care benefits with the coverage of foundation. It contains 3 pigments to colour correct the skin, Apricot: to cover dark circles and hide signs of fatigue, Green: for redness and White: to brighten. It has a  very liquid-y formula, that buffs flawlessly into the skin in seconds, and it comes in a squeezy tube making it ideal for travelling. For something I had no faith in I am incredibly impressed. Love it, seriously love it. 

Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation in 105 - £5.99 from Boots

Again, this is another recent purchase but it's so good that it's already been a favourite. It's a matte foundation that has a really gorgeous luminosity to it, it looks very fresh on the skin, and it's also quite hydrating and has excellent wear time. I've even worn it to the gym - Sidenote: I don't usually wear make up to the gym but my new personal trainer is incredibly handsome, so I have to make an effort! Obviously! - and it still looked good after I'd worked out. I've been using it so much because it's awesome!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Foundation in Ivory - £7.99 from Boots

This one is an oldie but a goodie. I love Rimmel foundations - shout out to Match Perfection, which is also amazing! - The Lasting Finish Nude Foundation just pips it to the post due to it's natural, dewy finish, medium coverage and  longevity on the skin. It lasts a really long time, and it looks good too. It covers what needs to be covered, whilst still looking really natural on the skin and adds a decent amount of dewiness without being too in your face. Definitely give this one a try, because at £7.99 it's an absolute steal.  

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot All Day Liquid to Powder Foundation in Cool Sand - £12.00 from Boots

This offering from Soap & Glory is another recent purchase that has become a firm favourite of mine, and earned it's place on my dressing table. It's a liquid to powder foundation meaning that it has amazing longevity. As the name suggests, it stays in place all day! No movement, no patchiness, nothing. Once it's on, it's on for the long haul. Again it's a matte foundation, I do love mattes! Now a lot of matte foundations have the tendency to be flat and mask-like once applied, but this actually looks really bright and radiant on the skin, and it gives amazing coverage. The only complaint I have is that the shade range is limited to 4 shades, so there is not really much in there for those with darker skin tones. I fall between Fair Enough and Cool Sand, the two lightest shades, with Cool Sand being just a tad too dark for me, although it's not nearly as dark as it looks in the picture. Having said that I think it's a really good foundation, especially if you have normal to oily skin. If you have really, really dry skin then you should probably steer clear because it will dry you out further. Personally I have sensitive skin which can get quite dry, especially this time of year, and I haven't had any problems with it so far. It's just a really nice, high coverage foundation. Love it.

What are your favourite drugstore foundations? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

June Favourites 2016

June Favourites 2016

Thursday, 7 July 2016

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We're now more than halfway through the year. How on Earth has that happened? I know, I know I do this every month, but seriously though! Anyway let's talk June Favourites shall we? Be warned I had a lot, so things will be getting long and rambly.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - £13.00 from Boots

I'm so glad this eyeliner came into my life, via the box of joy that was Anna & Lily's Cult Beauty Box, because it's incredible. It has a fine nib that makes for really clean and precise application. Plus it has an amazing formula. Oh. Em. Gee! This stuff is seriously good: blacker than black, waterproof, long lasting and not a pain in the ass to remove! It's a fantastic all rounder, that makes winging my eyeliner an absolute breeze. I'm obsessed with it.

Primark PS Velvet Matte Lipstick Crayon in Nude - £2.00 from Primark

I've said it before, and I'll probably/definitely say it again, Primark's make up range is super impressive for such a low price point. This lip crayon is another gem in their collection. The formulation is creamy and buttery soft, it applies effortlessly and it doesn't dry out the lips at all. It also has really good colour pay off and the colour itself is so nice! It's a tawny, pinky nude that's similar in tone to MAC's Mehr, which is a firm favourite of mine, and at only £2.00 it's a total bargain.

Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation - £5.99 from Boots

I'll be doing drugstore/high street week on my blog in the next couple of weeks or so, and have been testing out a ton of new foundations from the high street to prepare. This one has really stood out for me. I've been reaching for it on an every other daily basis, because it's a really nice foundation, with great coverage and a nice finish, matte but with a fresh, lit from within radiance to it. I like it a lot.

Simple Micellar Water - £3.00 for 200ml from Tesco

For a long time I was an avid user of Garnier's Micellar Water, but I was really put off after noticing that it had a nasty chemical smell to it. I'd heard universally good things about Simple's offering so I thought it was definitely worth a try. It was, because it's the best micellar water that I've come across. It leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed and removes all traces of make up absolutely effortlessly. Love. It.

Real Techniques Multi-Task Brush - part of the Travel Essentials Kit £11.51 from Amazon

Most of my make up brushes are Real Techniques because they're amazing quality, affordable and stand the test of time. Thinking about it I might have pretty much the entire core collection, although don't quote me on it. The Multi-Task brush is one I've had for a while but only recently used, and of course I love it. It's a large fluffy brush designed specifically to be used with powder products. Personally I love using it for blusher, as it is just the right size for my chubby cheeks, but it's also really good for setting powder or bronzer. Like all RT brushes it washes really nicely, is cruelty free, super soft, and like all the RT brushes I've tried before it, I love it.

Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain in 001 Honey - £7.99 from Boots

I've been loving nude lips this month, I always tend towards nudes in the summer time because they're so effortless to wear but still give your lips a little somethin' somethin'. This is a repurchase, I first had it a couple of years ago, used it all up, and then forgot all about it. Then I got it in an awesome free gift with purchase from Revlon, and fell completely back in love with it. It applies beautifully, is nicely pigmented, smells like peppermint and feels lovely on the lips, really moisturising, it also has really good staying power. Despite the fact that it's a balm, it doesn't have a lot of slip to it. Despit

La Roche Posay Anthelios XL 50+ Ultra-Light Fluid - £12.37 from Boots

I raved about La Roche Posay's Anthelios facial sunscreen in a recent blog post (read more about it here) and I have become completely obsessed with it. I've been using it religiously, slapping it on my face and neck before putting my make up on to protect my pasty english skin from the sun. It feels lovely to apply, it is actually quite cooling on the skin and ties down to a really matte finish, making it a perfect base for make up

Bullet Journaling

I'm the type of person who can't keep a diary. I love the idea of having a diary to organise my life in, and I always start off really well, but then I get distracted and don't stick to it. Honestly I'm not really organised enough for one. Bullet Journaling is kind of like organisation for the disorganised. Like most of my obsessions this one started on youtube. After watching a ton of BuJo videos, heads up they're super addictive and really satisfying to watch,  I really wanted to start one for myself. What I love about it is how versatile it is. I've been getting down all the things I need to do and I've also been trying to keep track of all my good and bad habits and my finances and stuff like that. It's very much like a diary but better, unlike a diary if there's something else I want to add into my journal all I have to do is the turn the page and make a note of it in the index. I think it's a brilliant system, especially for people like me. Since setting mine up I've found myself being more organised in my day to day life and more motivated to work through my to do list. Plus I'm really enjoying decorating it, that's the best bit.

Boho Berry - on youtube here

This is the youtube channel that got me into Bullet Journaling. Kara's bullet journals are planning and organisational works of art. I can sit and watch her videos for hours, like I said they are so addictive and really satisfying to watch. I've also been really enjoying Carrie Crista's videos for the same reason. Definitely check them out.

Orange is the New Black streaming on Netflix

Okay can we talk about how incredibly sad and current this series was? It was intense but mind blowing and I sobbed, real tears, throughout the the last two episodes, and then for like an hour after. Season 4 was funny, sweet, heartwarming/heartbreaking, devastating and completely addictive. I watched it in 3 days. If you haven't watched this season, or any seasons, of OINTB then you need to get on it now! You won't regret it. Seriously, go!

Absolutely Fabulous streaming on Netflix

I can't wait to see the Ab Fab movie, I'm so excited that I've been re-watching the entire series on Netflix. I haven't watched it in so long that it's like I'm watching it with fresh eyes. I forgot how hysterically funny and ridiculous it is, and how much I love it, and I really do love it. In the words of Edina Monsoon it's fabulous! Sweetie darling! 

Tina Turner - Tina Live Tour CD/DVD £9.99 from Amazon

When it comes to female solo artists Tina Turner is simply the best (tehehe). Seriously though she is amazing. I bought my Dad the CD/DVD of her 2009 Tina Live concert in Holland for Father's Day, and it is so good that after watching it with him, I had to buy it for myself. I love Tina T for 3 reasons. 1. She doesn't have any songs I don't like. 2. She's just amazing in general and 3.  She was in her late 60's when she did the Tina Live tour and she was incredible! She was singing and dancing and throwing herself round the stage like a woman half her age, and she was 68! If that isn't life goals then I don't know what is! I've been listening to the cd pretty much on repeat for the entire month because it is so good! So good! My favourite songs, if you're interested, are: What You Get is What You See, Be Tender with Me Baby, We Don't Need Another Hero & obvs I love the classics like Simply the Best, Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits & all the others that make me dance around, singing along and thinking YAAAS QUEEN!

What are your June Favourites? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

What's In Their Make Up Bag? #1: Gemma

What's In Their Make Up Bag? #1: Gemma

Tuesday, 21 June 2016

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As part of a new series I've been having a peek in to the make up bags of my nearest and dearest and sharing what I found there with you lovely lot. So I thought the best person to start with was my cousin/mate and fellow beauty addict Gemma. Me and Gemma are only 9 months apart, but we're completely different. She's a new mum to one of the most beautiful babies to ever exist, I'm so immature I might as well be a baby myself. One thing we do have in common though is a pretty serious, and spendy, beauty habit and a complete inability to say no when it comes to eyeshadow palettes. And seriously though her make up collection puts mine to shame, she has more eyeshadow palettes than you could shake a stick at. Speaking of...

MAC Warm Neutral x 15 Eyeshadow Palette - £49.50 from MAC

 I love eyeshadow palettes, my newest one is always my favourite until I get another one. This is my current favourite. It has everything I need to create a bold, warm smokey eye and something more subtle. The shadows are soft and have really nice colour pay off. There isn't a lot of fall out and the shade range is perfect. It's gorgeous. 


Lauren: I recently bought this palette and I agree it's A-MAY-Zing! Read more about it here

MAC Prep & Prime Fix + - £17.00 for 100ml from MAC

I rarely use the Prep & Prime spray to set my face, but it is awesome for setting eye make up! I like to spray it on to my brush, before dipping into eyeshadow, because it makes the colours brighter and more vibrant, and makes my eyeshadow last ages. 

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Box Painterly - £16.00 from MAC

Another MAC product, I love MAC, - Lauren: She really does! - Painterly is the best eyeshadow primer. Seriously, it is the best thing to prime the lids with, I use it everytime I go out. I still use Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion but only if doing my eyes for the fun of it. If I'm going out I always use Painterly, a swipe of this across my eyelids and my smokey eye isn't going anywhere.

George Precision Felt Tip Liner £2.00 in-store from Asda

I picked this up on a whim in Asda, and I was really impressed. It has a fine felt tip and a decent formula. It's really pigmented and it lasts a really long time. 

Natural Collection Pressed Powder Warm £1.99 from Boots

For years I used Rimmel's Lasting Finish  Powder, but I ran out and when I went to get more in Boots and, they had run out. I picked this one up instead. I actually prefer it to Rimmel Lasting Finish powder, it's a lovely colour match and has a light, soft texture, and it's really cheap. 

Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying Mascara - £7.99 from Boots

I have very long eyelashes - Lauren: She does! I'm so jealous - and I love Maybelline's Lash Sensational to add volume to my lashes. It has a really good formula, and the rubber brush does a bit of everything; lengthens, defines and volumises. It's really good. 

What's in your make up bag? Any recommendations for me? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.