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

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

February & March 2016 Favourites

February & March 2016 Favourites

Tuesday, 29 March 2016

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I'm not gonna do that whole 'OMG where did *insert relevant month here*?!' thing that I do every month. We all know that time goes scarily fast. Even faster as you get older and as we are rapidly approaching my 25th birthday I may start freaking out little.  Sorry that was a bit of a weird tangent, let's just talk about my favourites from the last 2 months shall we?

Primark PS Concealer in Light - £0.80 from Primark

This concealer cost 80 pence and it is freaking amazing. If you've been reading me for a while you'll know how much I love Seventeen's Phwoarr Pain under eye concealer, however I've found that it can be quite waxy and feel heavy on the skin. Primark's PS Concealer is really similar except it comes in stick form. It is just as creamy, covering and long lasting as my Seventeen fave but has a less weighty texture and feels a lot lighter on the skin whilst giving the same level of coverage. I. Love. It.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation in 1C Rose Ivory - £9.99 from Boots

I'd been really reluctant to try the new formulation of L'Oreal's True Match because I am such a huge fan of the original, once I even crowned it my favouritest foundation ever. But after some umming and ahhing I decided to try it,  and then wear it throughout the majority of March. And I have to say I really like it. It's very similar to the original formulation except it feels more comfortable to wear. It still has a lovely satin finish that looks really natural on the skin but gives excellent coverage. I'll be going into more detail in a post next week, so keep your eyes peeled. All I'll say for now is that it's still my favourite high street/drug store foundation, reformulation and all.

Avon Gel Finish Nail Enamel in Moon Dust - £3.50 (on offer, usually £7.00) from Avon

The Avon Gel Finish Nail Enamels are extraordinary! They have such an amazing formulation; they apply really evenly and smoothly. They're creamy, thick yet easy to work with and opaque in only one coat, this includes the really pale shades too. Plus the wear time is amazing, with the gel shine top coat they can last up to two weeks before chipping, without the top coat you can get a good 6 days out of them. Out of all the ones I've bought so far, and it's a lot, Moon Dust is my favourite. It's a springtime appropriate pale grey and it has been gracing my nails pretty much constantly. It is gorgeous. 

Urban Decay Naked Pallet - £38.50 from Urban Decay

I have used this every day since I bought it, which annoys me a little bit because it took me so long to buy it and I love it so much. The colour pay off is amazing, there is very little fall out and the shadows are beautiful. 

Real Techniques Stippling Brush - £7.95 from Amazon

Until recently the Real Techniques Stippling Brush was probably my least used make up brush. But then I started using it to apply foundation and it was a total revelation. It doesn't absorb any product and being quite small it allows me to buff/stipple foundation into the skin really quickly, leaving a flawless airbrushed finish. I really like it, so much so that I bought another one and now have two. 

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Blush Pallet - £35.00 from Urban Decay

I picked this up in a recent High End Haul and have used it pretty much everyday since. It's so versatile and the powders are lovely, really finely milled and super pigmented. You really need to use a light touch or risk looking a bit like a clown but other than that it's amazing. 

Eve Snow London Nail Lacquer in Skyler - £14.00 from Eve Snow, currently out of stock

I'd never tried Eve Snow before until I found this in the beauty aisle at T.K. Maxx. Now I have approximately a million blue polishes, but it never hurts to add one more to the collection. That and it only £2.99, which is a massive reduction from it's original £14 price tag. Eve Snow's polishes are formulated with 3 added ingredients to really nourish the nails and are free of several toxic ingredients, including formaldehyde, that are found in other polishes. It applies beautifully, it has a thick brush that does the nail in two strokes, but not in a clumsy way, and the colour is beautiful. It lasts well on the nails and only takes two coats to achieve opacity, which is super impressive with a colour this pale. Plus the bottle is absolutely gorgeous. I will definitely be adding more to my collection.

Avon Ultra Colour Lip Crayon in Raspberry Rush - £5.00 from Avon

Berry lips are my jam! They're my favourite lips to wear all year round, and this spring time appropriate offering from Avon has become a firm favourite (I went a bit mad with an Avon Haul read it here) It's a lovely colour, a rich pink, with a satin finish and a creamy but wearable formula. It's not the most long lasting but it applies nicely. I really like it. 

DW Home Richly Scented Candle in White Rose -  £6.99, Unavailable online but may be available in store at T.K. Maxx

I found this candle in T.K. Maxx for £6.99 and just had to have it. It smells BEAUTIFUL! I'm not usually a fan of rose scene, sometimes they can be a bit grannyish and sickly. This is the complete opposite of that. It's really fresh and floral. It's quite subtle but noticeable. I've been burning it constantly because it smells like springtime. It also burns really evenly, which I find is an important quality in a candle. I love it. 

Finding Neverland Original Cast Recording - £8.99 from iTunes

So you might know this, you might not, but Musicals are pretty much my favouritest thing ever. Have been since I was about 13. If I could sing constantly then I think I would be a significantly happier person. My current musical obsession is the original cast recording of Finding Neverland. It's lovely and features some amazing people: Laura Michelle Kelly, Matthew Morrison & Kelsey Grammar to name but a few. My favourite tracks are All That Matters & Circus of your Mind. If your a musical fan it's definitely worth listening too. 

Jenna Marbles and Jenna & Julien's Podcast

Sometimes I feel like I am super behind the times. Relevancy is kind of everything these days and sometimes I feel like I have my finger right on the pulse and I know EVERYTHING. And then I discover someone like Jenna Marbles, who has been a YouTube sensation for years, and then I realise that I've barely scratched the surface. Like I said Jenna has been around for years but I came across her videos maybe two weeks ago, and already I'm sporting a major girl crush. Firstly because her videos are brilliant and really funny. Secondly because she's very relatable and honest and has the magical rainbow hair of a mermaid/unicorn, which gives me hair goals for days! I've been binge watching her videos and she is awesome. I also really like the podcast she does with her boyfriend Julien Solomita it's really funny and clever.  Love her.

Buzzfeed's The Try Guys

Again The Try Guys have been around forever. I had seen a couple of their videos, my favourite is The Try Guys Try Wedding Dresses, but recently I've really got into their videos and may have watched all 57 in one sitting. They're hilarious and utterly ridiculous and clever and cool and stupid and all that good stuff. I really like them, but Eugene's my fave.

What were you loving throughout February & March? Let me know in the comments 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.

September 2015 Favourites

September 2015 Favourites

Sunday, 18 October 2015

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What with my dissertation being due in and being ill, September flew by in a stress filled blur. I'm so glad it's over! Now I can get to the very serious business of enjoying October. Who doesn't love Autumn? With it's crisp, cool mornings, the leaves changing colour and hot chocolate with marshmallows. It's my favourite time of year (read more about that here) but enough about that. Let's talk about my very, very late September favourites shall we?

MAC Matte Lipstick in D is for Danger - £15.50 from MAC 

During the dissertation madness I went a bit OTT on the MAC website (haul post to follow) and, somehow, D for Danger found it's merry way into my basket. A  rich berry shade that looks stunning on, is long lasting and absolutely perfect for this time of year, it has quickly become my go to for berry lips, and we all know how much I love a berry lip! The formula does tend towards the drier side of things but it sticks around for hours without needing to be re-applied and is just all kinds of beautiful.

L'Oreal La Palette Nude in Rose - £14.99 from Boots

I was super excited when this was released last year and I think I used it maybe once before it was relegated to the back of the make up drawer in favour of other, more neutral, pallets. But recently I've found myself reaching for it more and more. And I think it's due to the two matte, lilac-y, pink-y, brown shades (on the right in the first picture) and the dusky lilac (centre in the second)

These are a total departure from the silvery, taupey bronzes that I rock on a pretty much daily basis; but they just look so pretty and subtle on the lid. The shadows themselves are lovely: buttery soft, easy to blend and nicely pigmented, with no creasing on the lid. I can see myself getting a lot more use out of this pallet. It's rather fabulous. 

No 7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser - No longer available but No 7 do have a very similar Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser for £9.95 at Boots

This cleanser is amazing! I mentioned it a few weeks back in my Weekly Round Up (read it here) and I'm still loving it. I love that it's a hot cloth cleanser. Lying back and resting a hot muslin cloth on my face is just sooooooooo relaaaaaaxing. It feels so luxurious and pampering to just sit back and let the hot cloth work it's magic for 5 minutes.  It thoroughly cleanses the skin whilst still being really gentle, and being hypo-allergenic it's even suitable for those of us with sensitive skin. I really like it.

Real Techniques Duo-Fibre Face Brush - as part of the Nic's Picks Collection, £23.37 from Amazon

I'm actually a big of the entire collection (expect a full review soon) but have been reaching for the Duo-Fibre face brush on a daily basis. It is a dream for applying powder products without looking cakey, it just makes for a really nice light-weight application for a flawless finish. Personally,  I love it for bronzer and contouring because it doesn't pick up too much pigment, so I can really build up ny contour/bronzer when applying, but it's almost impossible to go over the top. Well done Pixiwoo! You've done it again! 

Les Misérables - booking information available here

Me, my brother & sister surprised my mum by taking her to see Les Mis as part of her birthday present, and it was incredible! I'd seen it before but it was so  amazing to see it again. Especially because I knew how much my mum wanted to see it and how excited she was. It was incredible the first time I saw it, but it was even better the second time around. I love it, it's such an amazing show. And yes before you ask I spent most of the show in tears, because of course I did!

Sorry this is so late, for some reason I thought I'd already posted this, but obviously not. What were your September Favourites? She asks halfway through October! Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - and pinterest for updates.

Love love love xxx

FOTD Everyday Simple Summer Makeup

FOTD Everyday Simple Summer Makeup

Tuesday, 21 July 2015

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Hey Guys! I hope everyone's having a good week so far. Today I thought I'd tell you guys about the make up look I've been obsessed with lately. I've been wearing it pretty much everyday because I seriously love it. It's really pretty and summery and quite glowy as well which I really like. It's so simple to do and it's not too heavy either. I don't know about you but the last thing I want in the heat is loads of make up or really heavy formulas so this is perfect for me for everyday, which is good because that's how much I've been wearing it.

To start off I use the L'Oreal Paris Infallible Mattifying Base, which I love, to keep things nice and shine-free and to lock my make up in place. I then apply Rimmel's Lasting Finish Nude Foundation in Ivory with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. This foundation is A-MAY-ZING , one of my drugstore faves, it gives a nice amount of coverage without being heavy on the skin or looking cakey in anyway and has a beautiful dewy/satin-y finish that I am obsessed with. To warm up my pallid complexion and carve out my non-existent cheekbones I use the Lord + Berry bronzer in Sienna which is a matte, light chocolate brown that looks really natural and pretty on. I then use my old favourite Mac blusher in Dame to add a flush of rosy pink to my cheeks. To highlight I use another old favourite of mine: Kryolan for Glossybox's Cream Highlighter in Cashmere, it's a really beautiful, pale gold highlighter that blends into the skin seamlessly while making my skin look really fresh and dewy. I just pop a bit under the arches of my brows, on the tops of my cheekbones, down the centre of my nose and on my cupids bow. Normally I love Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade in Medium Brown on my brows but for this look I just give them a quick brush with a spoolie and leave them to it, which works pretty well surprisingly. On my eyes I use Rimmel's Scandaleyes Eyeshadow stick in 011 Bluffing, a really pretty, silvery-bronze, which I apply all over the lid and under the lash line before blending it out with a fingertip. I then use the eyeliner from Primark's P.S. Love range, which is actually really nice; creamy, pigmented and long lasting, to tightline and fill in the waterline. I never fill in the entire waterline as this makes my eyes look quite small and piggy, instead I go from the centre of my eye to the outer corner as this makes my eyes look bigger. I finish the look with lashings of Maybelline's Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara and a slick of Mac's Girl About Town, my favourite lipstick ever, on my lips, and that's all there is to it!

Would you try this look? If you do let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also tag me on any instagram or facebook pics of your version of this look, also give me a cheeky follow ;) and check out my bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - and pinterest to keep updated.

Love love love xxx

April Favourites 2015

April Favourites 2015

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

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Okay I don't want to panic anyone but it's May. I'm not even sure how that's possible but  it's May! We're over a third of the way through the year people! Where on earth does the time go?! 

Now that the mad May panic is over let's talk about April shall we?April is my favourite month! It (usually) has Easter, the days are finally getting longer and warmer and most importantly it's my birthday month! I was utterly spoilt and got some fabulous beauty bits (read more about that here) but enough about that. Let's talk favourites. 

Haymarket by Nails Inc 

Spring has finally sprung here in the UK and that means pastels! I have been utterly obsessed with this gorgeous mint blue. It's one of those shades where you don't know if it's green or if it's blue but it's so beautiful that it doesn't even matter. I am so in love with the colour that I've been taking it off to put it straight back on again. It is so beautiful and because it's Nails Inc the formulas good too! I love it. 

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque  

I am so obsessed with this mask (read more about that here), it is my go to mask for when my skin is looking crap (which is a way more regular occurrence than I care to admit) because it is awesome. It's a bright green clay mask that smells and kinda looks a bit like toothpaste but works wonders. It's as close to perfect as a clay mask can get. It's ridiculously cheap, it clears up any superficial blackheads, dries out whiteheads and leaves the skin looking so much clearer. The only thing I will say is that it does take some time to work it's magic, but it's so worth it. Just whack it on and leave it for half an hour and voila better skin. Obsessed!

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 

Honestly I've never been a major fan of micellar waters, they're okay I guess, but I've found that some of them can be quite drying. I have super sensitive skin that tends to lean towards the drier side of things so I normally prefer a cream cleanser because they're more moisturising. But this one seems to be designed for us sensitive skinned lasses and removes all my make up really gently without causing any irritation or dryness.  It's super affordable and lasts a really long time, 1 x 400 ml bottle works out to be about 200 uses so it's really good value too. It's just a really nice and effective cleanser. 

Real Techniques Expert Facebrush 

When I first got this brush I didn't like it very much, I thought that it gave really patchy coverage and it was just a bit meh but lately I've been absolutely loving it. I think I didn't like it initially because I'd been using it with the wrong formulas, but lately I've cracked it and my poor beloved Real Techniques Buffing Brush has been left all alone and lonely.  It just applies so easily, blending in effortlessly and when used with the right formula leaves a flawless base. Love it. 

Barry M Speedy Quick Dry in Road Rage

I have been obsessed with this gorgeous mint blue offering from Barry M's latest collection (read my review here). The colour is beautiful, the formula is awesome: thick, creamy and dries in seconds and the new brush is amazing too. On the days where I haven't been wearing Haymarket  I've been wearing this.  It's just so pretty. 

Glass Sweetie Jar by Tesco 

I have been buying so much homeware stuff lately. It's become quite the obsession. I think it's because I've recently moved back to my mum's and I'm already anticipating moving out again. I'll be honest it's not been the easiest of transitions. I spend a lot of time at my mum's anyway but still it's quite an adjustment being here full time. Anyway I spotted this pretty glass jar in the kitchen section of my local Tesco and I just couldn't resist adding it to my basket. It now lives in pride of place on my bedside table because I've been keeping cotton pads in it and I just think it looks so pretty. The best part though was the price, only cost me £4! Which is such a bargain. Loving it. 

 Awake  (Limeleaf and Grapefruit) Reed Diffuser  by Tesco

This is another Tesco find, they've been really upping their game lately! I've always been a bit wary of reed diffusers for 2 reasons. 1. I am the clumsiest person in the whole entire world and I'd definitely knock it over and 2. when I do  knock it over (it's inevitable) then the oil would definitely stain something but more importantly it's quite harmful to animals and I have a dog who I adore and I'd never want him to get hurt, especially over something so avoidable. Having said that I realised that my concerns can all be avoided. I only have to make sure that  the diffuser is kept well out of the way, which it is.  So once I'd accepted this I just had to pick this one up. Again it was ridiculously cheap - only £3! Whoop Whoop! - and has the most incredible scent! It's citrus based, and is so refreshing and zingy, I just love it. It completely fills my room  with this beautiful fragrance yet isn't overpowering at all. Not only does it smell incredible  but the bottle it comes in is really sleek and pretty too. I love it. 

Millie Marotta's Animal Kingdom

Those of you who read this post will know that I, and the rest of the world, have been having a bit of a moment with adult colouring books lately. Colouring in is so relaxing and just ridiculously fun. This book is so lovely to colour in. It's beautifully illustrated and I can just lose myself for hours in it. 

What are your April Favourites? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check me out on instagram, facebook, bloglovin & pinterest for daily updates. 

I hope you guys are having a lovely week. I'll be back on Thursday.

Until then...

Love love love xxx

2014 Beauty Favourites Part 3: Fragrance & Tools

2014 Beauty Favourites Part 3: Fragrance & Tools

Friday, 30 January 2015

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Why hello there! And welcome to the third and final part of my 2014 Beauty Favourites! These part few weeks have been hectic and stressful, which is why blog posts have been thin on the ground but I am back now, for the foreseeable future anyway. So without further ado let me tell you all about my favourite scents and tools from last year. 

Fragrance: 

Tom Ford Black Orchid 

Tom Ford Black Orchid is one of my more recent beauty discoveries but it's one I have been completely obsessed with. It is the perfect winter scent, it's warm, spicy and actually quite sexy. And it's really long lasting.  I love it. 

Modern Muse by Estée Lauder 

Modern Muse is my current fave, I've been wearing it pretty much constantly since I got it because it's beautiful. It's really light and feminine, floral yet wood-y but just so, so lovely.

Tools: 

Top: Real Tehniques Buffing Brush, Real Techniques Setting Brush

I went through a bit of a Real Techniques obsession last summer, I basically replaced my entire make up brush collection with Real Techniques brushes. These two bad boys are my favourites.  

The Real Techniques Buffing Brush is SENSATIONAL, and I  do not say that lightly. This has completely upped my make up game and changed the way I apply foundation. It is marvellous! It buffs foundation into the skin so easily and leaves a flawless almost airbrushed finish.  It's my favourite make up brush.

I actually use the setting brush for concealer because it is so perfect for that. My skin has been awful so I've been using concealer by the bucketload and this brush has just been awesome. It blends concealer into the skin seamlessly, leaves a a lovely finish on the skin and is the perfect size for covering blemishes (of which there have been many) and dark under eye circles. 

What were you favourite scents/tools from last year? Comment below, tell me on twitter or drop me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com, also have a look at my instagram, facebook, BlogLovin & pinterest. 

I'm catching up this week so I'll be back tomorrow. Have a good night and I'll see you then!

Love love love xxx

Pay Day Haul #1

Pay Day Haul #1

Friday, 15 August 2014

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So as you can see this is not Friday I'm in Love #9 and the reasons for that are 1. I've had a migraine this week that has really knocked me through a loop. 2. I had so many loves this week from stuff I've bought recently and haven't actually mentioned yet. So I thought I would do another Haul Post. I get paid weekly and the last couple of weekends I've been feeling particularly spendy (oops!) so I thought I'd share with you all the things I've bought...

Benefit's They're Real Push-Up Liner 

I bought this last week and I have raved about it since. I actually wrote a review about this last week (you can read it here) 

No 7 Beautiful Skin Deep Pore Purifier

I thought I was buying a serum when I picked this up last week so I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's kind of like a scrub and has a super funky tip that exfoliates the skin. I haven't tested it out yet but it looks so fun 

Bourjois Velvet Rouge in Olé Flamingo

This has been on my wish list for some time so when pay day rolled around I made a beeline for it. The colour is highly pigmented and beautiful and the formula is incredible. Once it's on, IT's ON! Wild horses couldn't tear it away -Rolling Stones reference yay!- I can't wait to add more to my collection. 

No 7 Pop & Glow Cream Blush in Watermelon 

Stick Cream Blushes are having something of a moment lately and I thought I would give this little lovely a try. Whilst it does look violently red in the pictures it's actually a really pretty pink. I've never used a cream blush before so I'll have to let you know, but so far so good. 

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation in 53 Light Beige

I've heard some really good things about this foundation - which is why I bought it :) - It gives light but buildable coverage, which is perfect for the sweaty summer months. It's really long lasting and the formula is lovely. New summer favourite right here.

Soap & Glory's Love at First Blush

How gorgeous is that?! I haven't used it yet because I don't want to spoil something so beautiful but I will keep you posted. Peach Party is next on my list because this is super gorge. 

No 7 Beautiful Skin Rapid Spot Rescue 

Blackheads and spots are the bane of my existence. I bought this as it promises to reduce appearance and redness within 2 hours. I haven't had any major spots (Thank God) to test this out on. But I will keep you posted for any future blackouts. 

Ciate - Mini Mani Month Calendar

L-R: Snowglobe, Boudoir, Amazing Gracie, Silver (Caviar Metallic Pearls), Hoopla & Sugar Plum

 L-R: Main Stage, Midnight in Manhattan (Caviar Pearls), Candy Floss, Pillow Fight, Pepperminty & Gold (Caviar Metallic Pearls).

 L-R: Encore, Ivory Queen, Twinkle Toes (Glitter), Chinchilla, Members Only & Tweed & Tails.

L-R: Dallas Dolly (Sequins), Starlet, Fit for a Queen, Hopscotch, Cupid's Arrow (Caviar Pearls) & Playdate. 

I picked this up in T.K. Maxx for the bargain price of £19.99 (it retails at £52.) I didn't realise at the time that it was actually an advent calendar, I thought about saving it for Christmas but knew that I would've long since forgotten about it by then. Plus I'm far too impatient to wait another 3 months and 28 days before I could play with it so I opened it (in order of course, I'm impatient, not an animal!). It had some really lovely colours and even had some bottles of caviar beads, sequins and glitter. I'm so happy I bought it. 

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I am going through something of a Real Techniques obsession at the moment and thought I would add the Miracle Complexion Sponge to my growing collection. I haven't tried it yet but will keep you posted. 

The Champions Collection by Nails Inc 

L-R: Royal Botanical Gardens, Draycott Terracce, Hampton Court Palace Gardens, Belgravia Gardens & Westbourne Grove.

I'm guessing from the name and the packaging this collection was inspired by London 2012 which is perhaps the reason why it only cost me £7. I'm a huge Nails Inc fan so this was a no brainer. I've never had any problems with the formula and the colours are quite lovely and perfect for summer.

#GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso

I got this on the recommendation of a friend. I hadn't really heard of Nasty Gal or Sophia Amoruso but my friend really raved about the book so I thought I would give it a go. I've only read the timeline at the beginning of the book but I can already see that Sophia Amoruso is my kind of lady and I can't wait to get started. 

Real Techniques Starter Set

L-R Accent, Eyeliner, Deluxe Crease, Base Shadow and Eyebrow Brush

The Deluxe Crease and Base Shadow brushes were 2 of my loves last week (read it here). They are really nice. Overall the brushes are great but those two are my faves. 

Season 1 of The Mindy Project & Season 2 of New Girl

I love The Mindy Project. I love New Girl. So these were a no brainer. I'm looking forward to a long, lazy (preferably rainy) Sunday where I can binge watch them in my jamas. 

Looking back I have bought absolutely loads. I have a shopping problem. This will be the last of the Haul posts for a while because I need to save up for my masters degree. I say that but I know what I'm like and spending will happen. 

What did you think? Have you tried any of this stuff? Let me know on twitter or comment below. Also check me out on facebook, BlogLovin, instagram & pinterest. Have a happy weekend.

Love love love xxx