You Know You Are A Beauty Blogger When...

I have been blogging now for a year and a half and in that time I have found myself doing things because I am a beauty blogger. A lot of the time I will use my blog as an excuse to buy makeup but there are other things I am guilty of doing as a result of being a beauty blogger. As a little disclaimer, I am just having a bit of fun in this post. If you don't do any of the things below, it doesn't make you any less of a beauty blogger. 

:: No matter how excited you are about a beauty product, you cannot even think about using it until you have photographed it.

:: You could happily spend hours in Boots or Superdrug swatching products and getting excited about all the new beauty launches.

:: You cringe when people say they only use face wipes to cleanse their face. You wouldn't ever take your makeup off with a face wipe because you know how bad it is for your skin.

:: Bloggers made you buy it. Come on, we are all guilty of going out and buying a beauty product just becuase your favourite blogger raved about it.

:: You spend most of your money on makeup. Forget clothes and shoes, I am always drawn to makeup counters and cannot help myself - especially when it is in pretty packaging. Every beauty bloggers weakness!

:: You makeup takes up most of the storage space in your room. Most girls are happy with a makeup bag or maybe a makeup case; but not beauty bloggers. We like to beautifully display our makeup and I take pride in my makeup collection and storage.

:: You are guilty of spending hours on eBay or online discount shops searching for the best beauty bargains. Also you scroll through page after page of beauty sale items.

:: Cleaning your makeup brushes becomes a pain but you have to do it if you want to wear makeup the next day. Alternatively you buy more brushes to avoid having to clean all the time.

:: You rarely finish a product and when you do, you feel like you should get a medal or something. Other girls will purchase something when they need it, however beauty bloggers hardly ever hit pan because there is always something else to try and review.

:: You find yourself coming up with reasons to justify buying another neutral eye shadow palette. Lets face it, there is something about neutral eye shadow palettes that keep beauty bloggers coming back for more. I think it is because they are so wearable and perfect for everyday.

Let me know if you are a beauty blogger and find yourself doing the same things as me!

I recently got Tumblr and Instagram. I'd love it if you would have a look and maybe give me a follow. Also leave your Tumblr and Instagram links for me to have a look at! 

MissBeccaBeauty xo

The Overnight Beauty Edit

When it comes to packing I am honestly the worst because I always over pack and then don't end up using everything I bring with me. Also I am that person that will pack the night before and then start throwing in extra unnecessary items at the last minuet in a panic because I think I haven't brought enough with the me. Usually these last minuets items don't get used anyway. Last weekend I went away with my family to visit friends in London and Birmingham. I decided that I was going to set myself a challenge and only bring one beauty bag with me. I was actually really surprised at how little I needed to bring and I actually use everything I brought with me (apart from the eyeliner because I just wasn't feeling eyeliner on Sunday morning!). 

To take my makeup off in the evening I brought a travel size of the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and then used the Liz Earle Instant Boost Toner, again in a miniature size. For moisturiser I had a travel size of the Nivea Refreshing Soft Moisturising Cream, which is one of my favourite moisturisers. In the morning I used the same products for my morning skincare and then had a shower using the Soap and Glory Clean On Me shower gel. 

My makeup was very simple and I brought the minimal products with me, Foundation was essential and I opted for the Rimmel Match Perfection because I have been using it practically everyday. It offers a good coverage but looks really natural and light on the skin. I don't go anywhere without my Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer as it is just amazing at covering anything. To set my base I used the Jemma Kidd Bio-Mineral Perfecting Powder, I love this for travelling because the packaging is so sturdy and I don't have to worry about the powder smashing in my makeup bag. Everyday I wear blush because it makes me looks more radiant and awake; Sleek's Rose Gold blush is one of my all time favourites and because it is so slim and compact it always comes with me in my makeup bag. I didn't bother bringing any eye shadows but I did opt for the Maybelline Master Precise Liner. However I just wasn't feeling the liquid liner look when I was doing my makeup on Sunday morning so I just stuck to my trusty Bare Minerals Lash Domination Mascara. I wanted to bring a lip product that go with my outfit for both Saturday and Sunday. Topshop Lipstick in Jewel is a pH lipstick and the colour adapts according the pH of you lips. As a result the colour on my lips is a really natural and muted bright pink. 

I also bought with me a few other beauty related bits including my Sure Lasting Protection Antiperspirant which is an essential. Along with one of my Next Love Limited Edition Perfume, I love this because the bottle is small so great for in a makeup bag and also the fragrance is very floral and perfect for any occasion. 

What are your overnight beauty essentials? 

MissBeccaBeauty xo

WOMN#9 Maybelline Strong Super Stay 7 Day In Purple Reflects

Wow this is a really long name for a nail polish! I had heard quite a few people on YouTube and on blogs talking about this range of nail polishes and I was intrigued to try the range but I never got around to buying this. If you read my beauty haul the other day you will know that I picked this up for only £1.99 instead of its retail price of £4.49. 

When it comes to the colour it is absolutely perfect for Autumn and I will wear this right through Winter as well. It is a dark purple shade that is metallic which fits in nicely with this seasons trends,however it is still very wearable. The brush is a really nice wide brush which makes application a lot quicker and easier. I painted my nails with this on Thursday and took it off Tuesday night because it had begun to seriously chip. For me this is insane that a nail polish lasted this long on me because usually they chip after two or three days.  

I am already eyeing up several other shades from this range and would love it if you would let me know what shades you think I should pick up next. Also I have just updated my Tumblr and you can follow me here if you fancy a look. You can also leave your Tumblr links below as I am looking to follow some really cool accounts!

Another Beauty Haul

Who doesn't love a good beauty haul? In my local outlet a new beauty outlet shop has just opened up which for a beauty fanatic like me is both exciting and really dangerous. There were a lot of cheap brands that I haven't really heard off, but there were discounted products from brands like Rimmel, Essie and Maybelline. Also there was a whole wall full of nail polishes and I am not even joking, it felt like heaven! I have only just realised that  Anyway here is what I bought:

ESSIE PROFESSIONAL ROUTINE MINI NAIL KIT// When it comes to Essie I am a bit of a 'newb'. I haven't tried anything from Essie before because I couldn't justify paying £8.99 for a 'drugstore' nail polish. Anyway this little trio was £7.50 (cheaper than one polish) and I was able to try a mini nail polish and their base and top coat. My main reason for buying this was because I needed a new base coat and this one was the only one that they had. I will be doing a review when I have tried this out and I will let you know what I think!  

RIMMEL SCANDALEYES// I have wanted one of the Rimmel Scandaleyes for ages but I just never got around to buying it. Anyway this was reduced from £4.49 to £2.49 which I thought was a good price. These shadow sticks are super creamy, glide on smoothly and do not budge throughout the day! I did review this yesterday as I couldn't wait to talk about it so you can read that here.

MAYBELLINE DREAM NUDE AIRFOAM// I used to wear the Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid foundation and I really liked it. When I saw this was only £3.99 I had to try it. I will warn you know that if you swatch this be really careful because as the name suggests it is a foam consistency and as you press the lid down it squirts out really fast. The shade is a little dark for me but because it is a light coverage I think I can get away with it. 

MAYBELLINE SUPER STAY NAIL POLISH IN PURPLE REFLECTS// It would be a complete beauty hail without a nail polish (or three!). This was the nail polish I was most excited about because I had heard a few people mention that this nail polish was really good and that it lasted for quite a few days. I tried it as soon as I got home and I have to say I really really like it. Next week I will do a review on it for you. The colour of this is a dark metallic purple that is great for Autumn but I think I will wear this all year round! 

MAYBELLINE COLOUR SHOW NAIL POLISH IN BROCADES// I have been looking for a rose gold glitter polish for ages but just couldn't find the right one. In the bottle this looks perfect and I can't wait to try it out and see if it looks as good on the nails!

What beauty products have you purchased recently?

MissBeccaBeauty xo

Owing Your Bed Head

I was recently contacted by a mattress company called Casper and was asked to share my tips on bed head and how to prevent it. They are running a project called 'Own Your Bed Head' and are seeking advise from beauty bloggers on how to manage bed head because lets face it; even the most comfortable and advanced memory foam mattress cannot prevent the dreaded bed head each morning. For my fellow thick haired girls out there, you will know that when you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror you are greeted by the sight of out of control bed head. Over the years I have tried and tested many ways to reduce and manage bed head - some have worked and some haven't. So as well as helping out Casper, I thought it would be a great to share with you my tips! 

WASH AND DRY THE NIGHT BEFORE// I like washing my hair on an evening, not just to help my bed head because also I would rather have 20 minuets longer sleep in the morning. Then the most important thing is the make sure your hair is fully dry before you go to sleep. If you go to bed with damp hair, when you wake up it will have dried as bed head and will be really hard to brush through and tame. 

USE THE WET BRUSH// The Wet Brush is designed to get rid of any tangles, knots or kinks in your hair and you use it when you hair is wet, like the name suggests. You can also use it again in the morning as an ordinary brush and it de-tangles hair quickly and painlessly. 

TURN THE HEAT UP// When my bed head is really bad I like to use heat on my hair. Usually I will curl my hair because even if my hair is a complete mess, the heat will control my hair and keep it like that all day. I like curling my hair because you can't tell what's bed head and what has been curled! If I haven't got time to curl all my hair (because lets face it, in a morning I haven't got time to be curling my hair for 20 minuets!) I will put my hair up in a messy high pony tail and then curl stand of hair in the pony tail to give it an effortlessly chic 'curly, yet messy look', well at least that's what I aim for- although sometimes it can look a bit like a birds nest. In which case it all gets pulled up into a bun!  

HAIRSPRAY & BOBBIE PINS// Always use hairspray to prevent the bed head returning during the day, especially if you have curled or straightened your hair as this will help the head to control the bed head for longer. Also bobbie pins will be come your best friend they help to hold and keep any stray or wild bits down.

If you want to see more on how I stay my hair on a day to do basis, along with photos of the hairs styles I described you can view my Three Lazy Hairstyles here! 

MissBeccaBeauty xo

Sweep & Go Eye Products

Products that you can just sweep on quickly and then be good to go can save so much time in the morning. When I am getting ready I would much rather use one quick product on my eyes than the spend ages blending 3 or 4 different shadows together. Here are my top picks to sweep on your lids and go!

RIMMEL SCANDALEYES IN BOOTLEG BROWN// This is a really recently purchase but because I loved it so much I had to retake the photos for this post so I could include it. The Rimmel Scandaleyes pencils have been on my wish list for so long because they just seemed like a great products that you could quickly sweep on in the morning and then be good to go. And I was absolutely right when I tried it out. Not only does it apply really smoothly and quickly but it also stays in place all day. I am interested to try some more shades so if you have any recommendation then let me know. 

L'OREAL COLOUR INFALIABLE MATTE COCONUT SHAKE// The L'Oreal Colour Infaliables have been raved about for a long time and I actually found these for £1 in my local pound-land and picked up three different shades. For those of you who don't know, pound shops sometimes have great beauty products from brands like Rimmel and L'Oreal so it is always worth a look when you pass one. This one is actually a matte finish and I love to either wear this as a base for eye-shadow or on it's own just to even out the colour on my lids.

L'OREAL CHROME SHINE SHADOW IN BROWN LAME// As you can tell I like L'Oreal eye shadows. This one often comes away with me in my travel makeup bag because it is a small single shadow and the colour is a shimmery golden brown with gold flecks running through. It looks really pretty on the eyes because you can wear it as a natural wash of colour or you can build up the intensity. 

MAYBELLINE COLOUR TATTOO IN ON AND ON BRONZE// I think this is every bloggers cult sweep and go product as you literally just sweep it on with you fingers and it will last all day without having to worry about touching up throughout the day or it creasing on you. If you haven't tried this I would recommend this above anything else as it is just amazing, I thinking of trying the Pomegranate shade- but let me know which is you favourite colour tattoo shade! 

MissBeccaBeauty xo

Three Things: Autumn Loves

We are well and truly in the middle of Autumn and this year I have fully embraced the season. I have bought my Winter Coat, got the seasonal candles at the ready and I am enjoying wearing all my warm and cosy clothes on really cold days. 

AUTUMN LEAVES// When the leaves begin to fall I think that streets look so pretty. On the street where I live there are a couple of big trees and from the end of August the leaves start to turn colours. I love all the colours in Autumn; especially the colours of the leaves: reds, oranges and dark yellows. Also who doesn't love feeling like a 5 year old walking through the leaves and jumping on big piles just to hear the crunching sound coming from your feet!

SCARFS AND BOOTS// Because I live in the UK I find I can get away with wearing scarfs all year round. In summer I wear thinner ones that are brightly coloured - but they still add a bit of warmth for when it's cooler. However in Autumn I get to bring out my big knitted and tartan scarfs. As my wardrobe is fairly plain I like patterned or colourful scarfs which is also a really good way of making your staple wardrobe look autumnal. From around October I literally live in Boots (the shoes, not the shop. Although I wouldn't mind living in the beauty ales on Boots!) . I have a brown pair and two black pairs that will see me through nicely this year! 

COMFY CLOTHES AND BLANKETS// Finally, in Autumn I become obsessed with blankets and comfy clothes. Literally as soon as I get home from school the uniform comes off and the comfy clothes go on. By comfy clothes I mean cosy leggings, big knit jumpers or if I'm feeling particularity cold the Christmas pyjama bottoms come on. Also on an evening there is nothing better than snuggling up in front of the TV with the fire on and all wrapped up in a warm blanket. 

What are your Autumn loves?

MissBeccaBeauty xo

WOMN #9 Barry M Almond

In my post about my Autumn nail polishes I included this nail polish from Barry M. I saw this in Anna's post where she duped this for Nails Inc Porchester Square. This nail polish is a really classic polish that I think every girl needs as a staple in her nail polish collection. As much as I love my dark purples, greens and burgundys in Autumn this nail polish is a nice change and something a lot more natural for the colder months.

Like all Barry M Gelly polishes this has high gloss the formula is really thick. The colour of this a grey toned nude and on me I find that it has a slight purple undertone which is very flattering. The longevity is average and by day 3 I need to be painting my nails again!

What are your favourite Barry M Gelly nail polishes?

MissBeccaBeauty xo

Sunday Style: Layering For Autumn

I am back with another Sunday Style post today, I really enjoyed planning and writing my other one (which you can read here!) so wanted to do an autumn style post. Like everyone else, layering is my favourite trend in Autumn and here are 4 outfits I have put together.

OUTFIT ONE// 
New Look Fashion Union Grey Mottled Ripped Knee Skinny Jeans £24.00
TopShop Patchwork Cable Cardigan £48 
New Look Black Crew Neck Long Sleeve Top £4.99
New Look Tan Faux Shearling Cuff Lace Up Block Heel Boots £29.99
River Island Red Tartan Blanket Scarf £15

OUTFIT TWO//
New Look Yellow Bobble Stitch Zip Back Jumper £19.99
New Look Yellow Grid Check Toggle Front Blanket Wrap £19.99
TopShop Ripped Blue Leigh Jeans £40
New Look Brown Low Block Heel Chelsea Boots £24.99
H&M Braided Headband £4.99

OUTFIT THREE//
TopShop Moto Black Baxter Jeans £40.00
New Look Tall Green Check Turn Up Sleeve Boyfriend Shirt £19.99
H&M Cable-knit Jumper £19.99
New Look Burgundy Contrast Split Side Chelsea Shoe Boots £24.99
H&M Cable-knit Hat £7.99 

OUTFIT FOUR//
New Look Monochrome Stripe Crepe 3/4 Sleeve Top £9.99
River Island Black Oversized Cardigan £45.00
TopShop Scallop Front Shorts £32.99 (sold out fortunately)
New Look Black 120 Denier Tights £4.99
River Island Black Block Heel Chelsea Boots £38

Which is your favourite outfit? How do you like to layer outfits in Autumn?

MissBeccaBeauty xo

Autumn Nail Polishes 2014

Autumn is here! I did warn you there were going to be a lot of Autumn posts on my blog and today I want to share with you my favourite Autumn nail polishes. If you have read my blog for a while you will know I love painting my nails and each season I share with you my favourite polishes for that season. 

BARRY M HI-SHINE GELLY IN ALMOND// Barry M completely 'nail' (See what I did there!) it when it comes to their Gelly range- the formula is so thick and glossy. I saw that Anna from ViviannaDoesMakeup duped this for the Nails Inc Porchester Square, which I have been lusting after for ages, so I next time I was in Boots I picked it up. The colour is presents without being too in your face and it looks so chic and pretty with every outfit. I class this as a nude polish as it looks quite grey with purple undertones on my nails. 

SALLY HANSON COMPLETE MANICURE POLISH IN PLUM LUCK// Sally Hanson isn't a brand that I own a lot from but it was the colour that drew me too it. It is a true purple plum colour that is one of those classic autumnal colours that really gets me in the autumnal mood!

NO7 GEL LOOK SHINE POLISH IN NEPTUNE//  No 7 gel polishes are honestly amazing. I reviewed another shade from the range last week and this one is just as good. I do love a good grey polish in Autumn because I find that if I am wearing lots of red clothes and scarfs then purple, burgundy or green nails can just look a bit too much. This colour is like a pencil grey shade and is surprisingly quite flattering. I would recommend having a look in Boots at this nail polish range because there are some fab colours and the formula is just amazing! 

RENUNAIL TRIPLE STRENGTH IN BLACK PLUM*// I reviewed a different shade, here, from this Renunail range a couple of weeks ago and the formula has great ingredients which are designed to help strengthen your nails. The shade it's self is a really dark plum colour that has a slight brown undertone. Colours like this are great for Autumn and I really like colours like this on my toes. 

REVLON NAIL ENAMEL IN EMARLD CITY// I've this nail polish on my nails for the past couple of days and I really like it. Metallic polishes are all in this season but in honesty I am not the biggest fan of them. However this one is a gorgeous dark green shade that is subtly metallic so I find it is a lot more wearable. Also I think it reminds me of Christmas trees when I wear it!

MissBeccaBeauty xo

Sunday Morning Routine

Happy Sunday! Sunday's are one of my favourite days of the week because it is the only chance that I get during the week to have a lie in. I have a little routine that I like to do on a Sunday morning so I thought I would share it with you! 

LIE IN// On a lazy Sunday I like to sleep in until around 9:00am or 10:00am and then my favourite thing to do is stay in bed for ages watching YouTube videos. Does anyone else do this? 

AN ENGLISH BREAKFAST// I don't have a cooked English breakfast every but Sundays are the best when I start my day with a fry up. My favourite English breakfast combo is sausage, scrambled egg, beans, mushroom and toast. Usually with this I like to have a cup of tea and some juice. 

BLOGS, YOUTUBE & MAGAZINES// After breakfast it is time for some serious blog reading. On a day to day basis I don't get much time to just sit and read other blogs but on my lazy Sunday's it is one of the first things I do. Then I catch up with even more YouTube videos and read a couple of magazine. At the moment I am enjoying Cosmopolitan and Glamour - I used to read Company all the time but it is so sad that they have stopped producing hard copy magazines. Digital magazines are just not the same: you can't rip out your favourite photos, you don't get that glossy shine and you can't use them in blog photos (such a blogger thing to say... sorry!). 

LAZY, QUICK SKINCARE// On a Sunday I like to laze around and I can't be bothered to do a big full on routine. So on lazy mornings I just stick to three essential products: usually I use a cleanser every day but on a Sunday I like to give my face a nice refreshing scrub with the Elemis Fresh Skin Exfoliating Face Wash. I find this really brightens up my complexion and leaves it feeling squeaky clean. Then I use the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic; like the name suggests it really helps to boost my complexion after a long week and also gets rid of any more dirt off my face. Finally I moisturise ready for some makeup. If you want to see my full skincare routine - click here to have a read. 

FRESH FACED MAKEUP// On a Sunday the last thing I want to do is spend half an hour doing a full face of makeup. I have five trusty products that I go back to. For a base I use the Benefit Big Easy, which is a really light foundation/ tinted moisturiser that has a very matte and powdered finish. As the months are getting colder it is nice to have a light matte base to wear instead of a really dewy tinted moisturiser for summer. I pop a bit of the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer under my eyes and then add lashings of the Bare Minerals Lash Dominations mascara. To add a healthy glow I use the New CID Blush in Coral Crush, which is super glowing and radiant. Finally I sweep on a bit of the Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in Notting Hill Nude. 

PLAYLIST// At the moment I am currently loving listening to: Sam Smith I'm not the only one, All About That Bass, Tom Law Never Met You, Ed Sheeran Sing and Taylor Swift Shake It Off. 

What is in our Sunday Morning Routine?

MissBeccaBeauty xo

The Autumn Edit

For me autumnal makeup is all about the purples. Purple nails, purple lipstick and a purple blush (I know... how adventurous!). I have found a couple gems that I will be wearing lots this season. Usually I will pick one feature to emphasise: for example I will go for either a bold eye, bold cheek or a bold lip.

NAILS// All year round the colours on my nails change depending on the season but I think Autumnal colours might be my favourite kind of shades to go for. Personally I love to go down the Purple, dark green and berry tone polishes as they scream out Autumn to me. This Autumn I am loving the Sally Hanson Complete Manicure Polish in Plum Luck which is a really deep plum purple shade and Revlon Nail Enamel in Emerald City which is a metallic dark green. Metallic are all in this season and whilst I am not a huge fan of metallic, I can definitely see myself wearing this a lot!

EYES// I find myself wearing more shimmery shadows on my eyes around this time of year. There is something about a deep smokey, shimmery makeup look that I really like. L'Oreal do some amazing single eyeshadows and one I always find myself going back to is the L'Oreal Chrome Shadow in Brown Lame. I sweep this all over the lid and then I am good to go. In Autumn because I am like shimmery lids, I prefer to use a pencil liner as it looks a lot softer on the eyes. If I read my September Favourites (if you missed it you can read it here!) you will know that all throughout September I loved using the Benefit Bad Gal Waterproof black pencil liner. It stays put all day and still defines my eyes whilst looking a lot softer.

BLUSH// Along with purple toned nail polishes I love purple toned blushes because they give a warm flushed look to my face. The Laura Geller Baked Impressions Blush in Bouquet is quite a dark pink brown blush with strong purple undertones. Because it is so dark it also contours my face slightly which means I don't have to wear bronzer with this. I try to stay away from bronzer during Autumn as I find it just doesn't suit the season and looks best in the summer.

LIPS// I am going to admit that dark lipsticks scare me; I honestly don't know how to wear them or what to pair them with. Having said that I do have two lipsticks that I love to wear at this time of year. For me dark nude lipsticks are the way to go. Rimmel Lasting Finish Kate Moss lipstick in 07 is a dark nude brown lipstick with a slight orange undertone. It reminds me of the Kylie Jenner lip that everyone is loving at the moment. This lipstick has a velvety finish and is quite understated which means I can pair it with either a shimmery eye-shadow or a strong dark purple blush. Finally I have an MUA Lipstick in shade 2 (such an imaginative name!!) and I know MUA are not the most luxurious brand but it was this gorgeous purple shade that drew me in. It hasn't got the best staying power but for £1 it's great. I use this as stain and find that it looks really pretty and autumnal.

What is in your Autumn makeup edit?

MissBeccaBeauty xo