my pamper evenings♡

It's the winter time. 

I have a love hate relationship with winter. I don't like coming and going home from school in the dark or how everything looks so dreary after Christmas. But I love wrapping up warm, the colder weather and warm and cosy days indoors. I think in the winter time I definitely need a pick me up so I try and have one of these 'pamper evenings' every week. Pamper evenings are basically where you can take a few hours out of your day (normally in the evening) to relax and have some me time. I am quite addicted to these evenings especially when I'm stressed! 

♡

The first thing I like to do is cleanse. I'm quite lazy with my skincare. I normally just use the Garnier Micellar Cleansing water. It's been a staple in a lot of peoples skincare routines for some time now. It takes off all your makeup or even when I'm not wearing makeup it gives my skin a quick clean. A cheaper UK version of the ever so loved Bioderma! 

The next thing I do is have a quick tidy up! Not the typical pamper evening ritual but I find that if my room is clear I can fully relax!

Then I run a nice hot bubble bath. Some people aren't bath people but I can't have a pamper evening without chilling in the bath first. Whilst the bath is running I light some candles. My friend Emily got me some of these tea lights for Christmas. They smell really fresh and lovely and are called 'Winter Frost' which fits the season perfectly!

Then I will pick some lush things to put in my bath! As you can see, I am keeping some of the Christmas range back as Lush Christmas products are my favourites. As you can see, Butter Bear is 'beheaded.' On this particular day, I decided to use the head of Butter Bear and a little piece of the Melting Snowman. Both contain really moisturising qualities to the skin and the scents are delicious! I have a few of these storing up as these two are my favourites. 

When I'm in the bath I love to use some Soap and Glory products as a little treat. They are more expensive than your regular shower gels so I use them sparingly! I got these two for Christmas. I like to use the Rich and Foamous Body Wash which smells so delicious. It contains almond and honey milks and oat extracts. It smells good enough to eat! Then I use the Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub which is a really exfoliating scrub. It smells like maple syrup pancakes! 

In the bath I will listen to music or read a book - anything to pass the time! I'm currently reading Girl Online - despite the controversy surrounding the book I decided to give it ago. It's very cheesy and cliche but its a really easy girly read. 

When I get out the bath I will change into some cosy pyjamas. Then, I will go up to my bedroom and turn on my fairy lights. I think fairy lights really set the mood and look really pretty. Around this point I will use a face mask. Certain face masks really irritate my skin so I decided to buy the Simple deep cleansing face mask. This is a really moisturising mask and it comes in a tube so you don't have to keep reusing the sachets of product. It also doesn't make my face go all red and blotchy which is a plus! 

Then, I will normally paint my nails whilst watching a film or some YouTube videos. I have a small TV in my room however there's no connection for TV so I will normally watch a Disney film! Some of my favourite nail polishes I have been wearing recently are from the MUA range. In my opinion, they are as good as Barry M nail polishes and are only £1 each! The mint green one is called 'Pistachio Icecream', the pastel pink is called 'Natural Days,' and the dark purple colour is called 'Moody Mink.' (pictured below)

When my nails are dry I will take myself downstairs and have a good old cup of tea with normally a bar of chocolate! 

What do you like doing on a pamper evening? Be sure to let me know in the comments!

Emily x

drugstore makeup starter kit♡

 Today I have a drugstore makeup starter kit/drugstore favourites for you!
I have neglected any makeup posts for ages so here is a very LONG beauty related post :) 

Some of you reading this may have never worn makeup previously before or some of you may just want some new beauty products to purchase!
 I started wearing makeup in Year 8 after my Mum bought me some bits and pieces for Christmas. I think makeup at this age is just experimental. The drugstore is a great place to start to help you realise what you like and what you don't like so you know when buying makeup from more expensive brands. If I'm honest, probably the most expensive makeup purchase I have made was on the real techniques core collection. I have never felt the need to buy anything from any expensive makeup brands as of yet. The drugstore is my favourite place to buy my makeup! 

Tip 1♡

When buying makeup you don't always have to go to places like Boots and Superdrug. Supermarkets usually have deals on their makeup which is usually overlooked because their 'supermarkets.' But  they stock some of my favourite brands and I have got some real bargains! 

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation♡

When you first start wearing makeup I don't think foundation is a necessity unless you feel like you want to wear it. I started wearing a little bit of foundation about 3 months after I discovered makeup. I still don't wear foundation on a regular basis and when I do wear it I only put a little bit on. Rimmel Match Perfection is by far my favourite foundation that I've tried. It has light to medium coverage and is great for my super pale skin because the lightest shade is definitely a "pale" shade. Its also a light perfecting radiance foundation so it gives a subtle glow. I know the Rimmel Wake Me Up has the same effect but is packed with shimmer so I don't wear that one on a regular basis. It also has SPF 18 so it can protect you from the sun too! The price really ranges - I have bought it for £5 before so it really depends. Superdrug sells it for £6.99. 

Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer♡

Primer is something that you apply after your moisturiser to help your makeup stay on all day. I have seen the difference since purchasing this in the Autumn. The baby skin is a light gel consistency and is said to blur your pores as well as keeping your makeup on. I haven't yet tried it on a hot summers day yet though! I didn't always wear primer, especially when I first started wearing makeup but if you like wearing foundation once you've tried it - it might be a worthy investment. 

This unfortunately is quite expensive at £8 but as I said before, supermarkets always have some bargains. I got mine for £6. 

Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer♡

You have probably heard every blogger and YouTuber talk about this concealer so I won't bore you! It's by far my favourite drugstore concealer - its high coverage, lasts a long time, perfect for dark undereye circles, blemishes, redness etc, its perfect for pale skin tones as the shade is actually "pale" and its so CHEAP. I have tried my fair share of awful drugstore concealers and this is by far my favourite. It retails for £4.19.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder♡

The Stay Matte powder is my favourite pressed powder. I have tried some awful powders including one that turned my face a lovely orange colour. Some people say that this powder makes them look "cakey." Personally, I have never experienced that! I have probably gone through about 4 of these compacts. I use the shade transparent because it doesn't add any colour or coverage. It says it gives natural shine control for up to 5 hours, creates a matte finish and minimises pores. This retails for £3.99. 

Tip 2♡

When buying foundation and concealer don't test the product on your hand. Swatch it on the side of your face or neck and go into natural light to see if it matches your skin tone. Ask a friend for their opinion! 

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder♡

Cheek products are probably one of my favourite things to buy as regards to makeup. You can really experiment with colours and shades. Bronzer is something that I don't really wear on an everyday basis. I prefer to wear it in the Summer. The NYC bronzer is a matte bronzer so you won't look shimmery at all and it never looks orangey. The compact is complete with a mirror so its another bonus if your carrying it around. Obviously, theres probably better bronzers out there but if you've never tried bronzer theres no point spending a small fortune on one! My sister has the Bojours chocolate bronzer and really likes it so thats another one you could look into. This however retails for £1.99! 

Sleek blushes♡

I LOVE Sleek. It's one of my favourite brands and they make the best blushes. The two that I own are Rose Gold (pictured below) and Suede. The blushes are so pigmented, they look lovely on the cheeks and have a range of colours to choose from. The packaging is so sleek (pardon the pun) and comes with a good sized mirror in the compact. The blushes can add a subtle wash of colour or can be built up on the apples of the cheeks. They are £4.99 each from Superdrug. 

MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter♡

Highlighter is a glittery shimmery powder that you can put on the tops of the cheeks, under the brow bone, down the nose and on the cupids bow. It adds a healthy glowing look to your skin. Definitely not a necessity but a nice edition. This MUA highlighter retails for £3. The one I have is the pink one, I think they have brought out a gold one too!

I have done a full review on this highlighter here 

When I first started wearing eyeshadow I just wanted a light natural wash of colour and nothing too OTT. I've picked a few of my personal favourite eyeshadows. 

Collection Work The Colour Eye Shadow Pencil♡

These collection eye pencils are basically cream eye shadow in a stick form. The colour I have is 'vintage blush' which is a light pink with fine silver shimmers in it. These eye pencils make a really light base and are really quick and easy. Apply lightly and blend with your ring finger to create an all-over eye shadow look. The pencils are really creamy, easy to apply and come in a range of neutral colours. 

Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoos♡ 

These bad boys are for a little more of a dramatic look. I never wear these on an everyday basis. In my opinion, these are a lot more heavy then the eyeshadow pencils. They are the same concept but are contained in a pot. The two shades I own are 'On and On Bronze' on the left and 'Permanent Taupe,' on the right. On and On Bronze is the one I wear the most often and is the most well-known. I take a little bit on my finger and blend with a brush all over the eyelid. Permanent Taupe is a deep grey/brown shade which I don't really wear often because it is such a dark shade. I think these are perfect for an evening meal or a party. They do a range of different bolds and neutrals and retail for £4.99.

MUA Undress Me Too pallets♡

MUA is sometimes overlooked but their eyeshadow pallets are one of my favourites. This Undress Me Too pallet is meant to be a dupe for the Naked 2 pallet. I bought my first one of these in March 2013 and its a little wrecked! I got my pristine new one (pictured below) for Christmas.

 It has 12 different shades - a mix of browns, golds and cool greys. I use the shade 'Lavish' on my eyebrows (Top, No.5). These pallets are so versatile and there are many pallets to choose from now. This one is £4!

Barry M ShowGirl: Extra Volume Black Mascara♡

This is a new Christmas edition to my makeup collection but it has been on my wish list since it came out and its certainly lived up to my expectations.  It's a really voluminous mascara and your lashes look really big and long. 1 coat gives you more of a simple subtle look but more coats gives you more of a bold night time look. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous and this retails for £4.99. They also have a lengthening mascara in the silver packaging. 

Rimmel Extra Super Lash Lengthening Mascara♡

This is not a well-known mascara but I have had this for a year and absolutely love it. It lengthens your lashes and looks natural. I have the colour brown/black so it definitely appears more subtle. This would be a nice alternative if you want to create a 'no makeup makeup look.' This retails for £4.99 as well. 

Collection Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner♡

When I first started wearing makeup, eyeliner, especially liquid eyeliner was not even on my level. I have the worst hand-eye coordination so I waited until Summer of this year to "attempt" to wear it. It's not an easy task I have to admit! The first liquid liner I bought for myself was this one. It's perfect for beginners because its really easy to use. The line can be made thick or thin depending on how you like to wear your eyeliner. This retails for £2.99 which is such a bargain!

Now for my favourite part LIPSTICK! There are a ton of lovely lip products in the drugstore. After taking this photo I soon realised that I didn't pick anything that was super cheap. If you are looking for really inexpensive good quality lipsticks and glosses MUA is a good place to look. The majority of the lipsticks I first bought (which aren't in my collection anymore) were from MUA. It was a nice way for me to experiment with bright colours and nude colours and if they didn't suit me I only spent £1 which is such a good price! The prices of these lipsticks pictured are the higher price of drugstore lipsticks BUT well worth the money paid and are a nice little treat for yourself! 

Topshop Lipstick in Pillow Talk♡

Topshop isn't considered to be a 'drugstore' store but we sometimes glance over high street stores who have bought out there own makeup lines. It's quite ironic that I don't buy clothes from Topshop but I will splurge on one of there lipsticks! For me the prices of these lipsticks are quite expensive but you do get what you pay for. The packaging first of all, is so pretty. The tin packaging keeps the lipstick cold. The shade is a light barbie pink. If I had more time I would of probably picked a better shade but when I was buying this I was in a central London Topshop and a very scary security guard was hovering over me. I felt really under pressure so I picked one that I had heard of before. I am not used to security guards in shops! If I were to go back I would of picked a better colour! They retail for £8 each. 

Revlon Colour Burst Laquer Balm in Demure♡

This is a new Christmas addition to my collection but I have not stopped wearing this since I received this. It's one of my favourites! It's a lovely nude pink shade with a lot of shimmer so it looks like a frost on the lips. The packaging again, is so gorgeous. It's like a chubby stick crayon so it's precise when you apply it. It feels very glossy on the lips. It kind of feels like a cross between a lip gloss and a lipstick. These retail for £7.99. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie♡

This is a golden oldie in my collection. The revlon lip butters have a lovely creamy texture to them. This colour is a lovely berry pink with some subtle shimmer running through. Again, the packaging is so pretty - the lid has a quilted effect to it. The only thing I would say, is it is quite messy especially around the lipstick tube. Definitely, one of my all-time favourites though. It retails for £7.99 as well. 

Let me know your drugstore favourites or weather you have done a similar post♡

Emily x