Three Things : Most Used Social Media Apps

INSTAGRAM// I know I am slightly late with this one as I only got instagram a few months ago, but since then I have become addicted to it. At the moment I am loving all the spring collections the beauty bloggers are posting about on their Instagram's and I love looking at the Kardashian's posts and generally just lusting after their fabulous lifestyles. Don't even get me started on the filters, I really enjoy editing my posts and seeing which filters work best with different photos. Some of my favourite Instagrammer's are CHLOEHELENMILES, ELLAGRACEDENTON and KATE FROM GHOSTPARTIES.

 

TWITTER// Twitter is probably the app I have been using for the longest and in some ways it is my favourite. The reason I love twitter so much is that it is so easy to communicate with lots of bloggers, share your thoughts and get feedback. Since using twitter, I have made some amazing friends (mostly bloggers) and have noticed a huge difference in my blog traffic as I can reach a wider audience. Also if you didn't know, there are some great blogger chats that take place some evenings during the week and they are definitely great to take part in to discover new bloggers.

 

BLOGLOVIN// I'm not sure if this is really social media, but I guess it kind of it because you follow blogs and share posts. Recently the Bloglovin app now has a notification section so you can easily see you has followed your blog, liked your posts etc. I didn't like Bloglovin at first but over the past few months I have really been enjoying the app and find it is great for reading posts from the blogs that I follow.

Handbag Heroes

I do love a good What's In My Bag but I wanted to show you some of the little heroes that live in my handbag and make life easier.

 

Firstly I don't go anywhere without my sunglasses. I get really sensitive eyes and due to my allergies they often water when I am outside, so sunglasses help to hide that and shield the wind from my eyes. I usually just buy cheap Primark ones for a couple of pounds as I don't need subscription glasses and I am always losing or breaking mine so I opt for cheap and cheerful ones. For in case of an emergency I like to carry a small pack of wipes with me. You never know when something is going to need cleaning up or when you are going to need or want to wipe/refresh your hands. Keeping with refreshing yourself, my perfume bottle usually comes with me because I like to be able to spray this when I need a little boost. At the moment I am loving the white Hugo Boss perfume; I have the full size but I love the small bottle for traveling and going in my bag. My two essential beauty heroes have to be Carmex and my Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie. Whenever my lips are sore or dry I know that my Carmex will sort them out. Also Berry Smoothie is a great everyday shade that is very similar to my lips. It is great to throw on when I am out and about as it is so comfortable and moisturising on the lips. Finally I have one of my favourite things to carry in my bag which is my portable charger. For Christmas my mum gave me this portable charger and I don't know what I have done without one in my life. If you have an iPhone you will know that the battery life on these are rubbish, so a portable charger is essential if you need your phones battery to last all day.

What are your handbag heroes?

MissBeccaBeauty xo

L'Oreal True Match Foundation Review

For a while now my foundation was looking funny on skin and it just wasn't sitting right on my skin. I decided to take Amelia Liana's advise and try the L'Oreal True Match Foundation, which is supposedly a dupe for Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.

 

This foundation has a silky texture and matte & luminous finish and it feels very pleasant on the skin. It blends beautifully into the skin and I like to use the Real Techniques buffing brush to apply this. True Match has a medium coverage that can also be build up to a higher, full coverage foundation but for everyday wear (ie for school) I will just wear a medium coverage of this. For me, this foundation lasts all day during school and in the evenings I can still see the foundation on my face. Usually foundations disappear off my face during the day but this one lasts a good 7-8 hours. Packaging wise, this ticks all the boxes: it has a pump, lid, glass bottle and whilst only being £9.99, it feels so much more expensive. This  foundation does have SPF 17 which is good for protecting your skin from the sun, however does mean you might get a little bit of flashback when taking photos.

 

Have you tried the L'Oreal True Match Foundation? What are your thoughts on it? Do you have any other foundation recommendations?

 

MissBeccaBeauty xo

Current Cravings : Charlotte Tilbury, Nike & Benefit

I haven't done a wish list type post in months and whilst Christmas has come and gone, and my birthdays not until may, I have a list of things that have really caught my eye recently so I thought I would share them on my blog today. Also, in the comments, let me know what things you are currently craving!

 

SOAP AND GLORY SOLAR POWDER// I have been eyeing up this bronzer for ages as I have heard so many great reviews about it. In all honesty I don't know why I haven't picked it up yet. However you will definitely be seeing it on my blog in time for summer as being a naturally pale girl means bronzer becomes my best friend whilst faking a summer glow!

 

L'OREAL MISS MANGA MASCARA// Recently I have been wanting a change with my mascara as I am getting a bit bored of using the same one. I do really love my Bare Minerals Lash Domination but I want to mix things up a bit. When Miss Manga was first released I never bought into the hype but I am hoping this will work well on my lashes. A bonus is that this mascara is on offer at the moment, £5.99 instead of £8.99!

 

CHARLOTTE TILBURY DOLCE VITA PALETTE// This is probably the naughtiest thing that is on my current wish list. As beautiful this palette is, it is just so expensive. But how pretty would this look on my dressing table and in my collection? Uuugg, I think I am going to just have to be admiring this from a-far for the time being.

 

BENEFIT DUO : GIMMIE BROW AND THEY'RE REAL MASCARA// Yes, I know I have already included a mascara but Benefit's They're Real mascara is just the bomb. At the moment QVC have this duo of the mascara and gimmie brow for £26, which is a steal if you ask me.

 

GAIAM YOGA MAT// I am not going to speak to soon yet but this week I have really gotten into doing yoga. I find it really relaxing as well as quite rewarding after doing a couple of YouTube workout videos. However I have been struggling because I don't have a proper mat (only my carpet!) to work on.

 

NIKE PRO BRA IN PINK PUNK// As well as Yoga I have been really enjoying cycling and a good Sports bra is definitely a must as the moment because I am lacking support (if you know what I mean!). This bright coral is super motivating and I think it would look gorgeous in the summer with a (obviously, fake) tan!

 

NIKE GRAPHIC CAPRI PANTS// To go with my sports bra, these three-quarter length pants would be perfect for cycling and yoga. Nike is great quality and by investing in good workout clothes I know they will last and hopefully help to motivate me.

 

ASOS HANGRY JUMPER// Its official... I NEED this jumper in my life. I don't know what it is about my body, but if I don't eat regularly I become very moody and angry. This jumper literally sums me up and I think it is so funny!

 

MissBeccaBeauty xo

 

An Ode To Liz Earle : The Brand That Saved My Skin

I have been using Liz Earle religiously in my skincare routine for years and years and I don't think they will ever get put in a draw and forgotten about because all the products I have tried are just amazing.  The first products I tried were from the Young Skin Started Kit that included the famous cleanse and polish, the instant boost tonic spray, skin repair light moisturiser and the deep cleansing mask. When I was around 10/11 years old my skin was very full and full of blemishes but using this starter kit really helped to begin to clear up my skin. After I used up all the products I begged my mum for some full sized products because I couldn't go back to those 'face-wipe' days (*cringe*).

 

For 4 or 5 years now Liz Earle has lived on my bathroom shelf and has been used everyday. Without wanting to sound full of my self, I can honestly say that I am happy with my skin at the moment. I don't get large breakouts or big spots and it is all down to having a consistent skincare routine made up of mostly Liz Earle. I do like to use other skincare products: at the moment I am enjoy the No7 cleanser and the Superdrug Aloe Vera De Stressing Mask, but I always find myself going back to my Liz Earle products.

 

CLEANSE AND POLISH// The hot cloth cleanse and polish was the first product that I tried from Liz Earle and since then I have used it everyday. I love how creamy and gentle this cleanser is and the smell is very subtle and comforting. To remove my makeup I apply the cleanser onto my face using my fingers and rubbing it into my makeup in circular motions. It is the absolute perfect cleanser that is amazing for all skin types and removes you makeup in a few swipes of a hot cloth. At any time I will always have two or three back ups of this because my skin cannot be without this cleanser.
INSTANT BOOST SKIN TONIC// I use this toner on a cotton wool pad after every time I cleanse my face. It basically ensures that you have removed every last trace of makeup, or cleanser from your face before moisturising. By far it is the best toner I have ever used and it is extremely refreshing on the skin. It leaves my skin feeling radiant and very very clean. At the moment I am on my third bottle of this stuff and I have a fourth ready for when I run out of this; it is honestly that amazing!

SKIN REPAIR LIGHT MOISTURISER// I use this moisturiser as the final step after cleansing and toning. The light moisturiser is actually supposed to be used if you have oily or combination skin, however I have normal skin and prefer this to the others as it is so light and refreshing. In my routine I will use this either morning or night because I find it works well to use any time of day.

EYEBRIGHT SOOTHING LOTION// I suffer from hayfever and allergies as a result I often get irritated, red and itchy eyes. Liz Earle’s Eyebright is a gorgeously soothing eye lotion that is amazing to use on your eyes when they are irritated. It is great to use in the morning as it refreshes your eyes, makes them look more awake and removes any traces of eye makeup left from the night before.
DEEP CLEANSING MASK// Sometimes I will use this as a mask but mainly I use this product to get rid of spots. When ever I get huge spots or a big breakout, I will apply a fair amount into the area around my spots, after cleansing and toning, then leave it there for 10 minuets. After I will remove it like normal with a  hot muslin cloth. I find this is one of the best ways to get rid of breakouts.

There you have it, the run down of my favourite products from the brand that saved my skin. I would love to hear your recommendation's of Liz Earle products. I realise skincare is a very personal thing as everyone has their own preferences for their skin. However I truly believe Liz Earle caters for every skin type as well as producing products that are so good and gentle for your skin.

MissBeccaBeauty xo
 

Keeping Your Blog Organised

Over the years I have learnt the hard way that blogging is a time consuming hobby that requires a lot of time and energy. As a result I have found some useful ways that help to keep me and my blog organised.

PLAN PLAN AND PLAN SOME MORE//  I find planning helps me the most because it means I know exactly what I am going to write about when I sit down at my laptop. If not, I often get frustrated by not know what to write and this has lead to bloggers block before. At the moment I have all of my posts planned up until the end of January with one or two spaces for spur of the moment posts. To plan my posts I like to use Google Calendar. I have mentioned this before and will do a full post on it if you like, but Google Calendar is linked in with you Google Account that you have for Blogger. It allows to you colour co-ordinate events in each day ( e.g. beauty, lifestyle) and you can drag and drop these events in different boxes if you change the day you want a certain post to go live.

 

WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN// Often I find that I will be in the car or just about to drift off to sleep when I suddenly come up with a great post idea. I don't want to lose of forge these ideas so I like to have something to hand to write these down.Whether it is in a notebook or on the 'notes' page on you iPhone, make sure it gets written down. Writing ideas down means that you always have a bank of posts stored somewhere where you can draw inspiration from when you have no idea what to write about.

 

SCHEDULE// I always schedule posts because I like to know they have definitely gone live. Knowing me I could think they have gone live but really I have forgotten to publish it that morning. It is safest to schedule. Especially if you only blog part time, it makes blogging a lot easier and less stressful. When I am at school I can't check to see if my post has gone live, so scheduling means I am certain it will be up on my blog.

 

WHEN YOU HAVE THE MOJO... BLOG// Some days I feel super motivated and inspired to blog, so on those days I like to sit down at my laptop and get a shed load of content written and scheduled. It means I can stay on top of my posts and then it's okay if I don't have time (or don't want to!) to blog for a few days because I have lots of content written up. Usually I write the most at the weekends because I have more time than on an evening during the week. Plus I usually feel more refreshed on Sunday morning than Thursday evening.

KEEP TALKING THOSE PHOTOS// When the lighting is just right and your have your background all set up then take as many photos as you can. Taking photos in bulk makes your life so much easier as when you want to sit down and write you already have the photos ready to go. I appreciate this Winter light is awful but at the weekend I would recommend taking all the photos you need for the week.

What do you do to keep you and your blog organised?

MissBeccaBeauty xo

New Year Means New Makeup...?

What better way to kick of the new year with some new makeup? The other week I went shopping with my bestest friend and picked up some new beauty bits to try out. I had needed a new foundation and liquid liner but then also found a few other bits that took my fancy. Also I was so excited when I saw the KiKo shop. I went shopping in KiKo when I was in Italy but didn't realise they had a store near me.

 

L'OREAL TRUE MATCH FOUNDATION N1// I have used this foundation a couple of times since purchasing it and so far I am enjoying using it. The colour match perfect for my skin tone and I like that it has SPF in it because it is always important to protect your skin from the sun. From what I have used so far I would say this is a medium coverage but definitely buildable. Because it is a perfect colour match I can also just use it in the places that I need it, on less makeup days, for a more natural look.

 

L'OREAL SUPER LINER PERFECT SLIM// I needed a new eyeliner and was going to purchase the Maybelline Master Precise but seen as L'Oreal had a three for two I opted for this one. I prefer felt tip liners as I find I have better control with them and I had heard lots of good things about the L'Oreal liners. I have used this a couple of times and it lasts really well as well as being very very black which is always good.

 

L'OREAL COLOR RICHE JULIANNE'S NUDE// I had been eyeing these lipsticks up for a long time and after reading lots of reviews and looking at swatches of the range and decided Julianne's nude would be the best match for me. It is a pink toned nude that is very flattering for my pale skin tone as well as being moisturising and comfortable to wear. Expect a full review soon!

 

KIKO LONG LASTING STICK EYESHADOW 07// For ages now I have wanted to try these as they so convenient and easy to use. The shade range is amazing, there is something for everyone. In the end I opted for the shade 07 which is a champagne taupe that reminds me of MACs all that glitters. I will definitely be getting more from this range soon.

 

KIKO LUSCIOUS PUNK SATIN LIPSTICK 01// In Kiko that had a sale stand of collections that were reduced. I picked this up on a whim and am so glad I did. The shade is a perfect brown nude for my lips and I am not joking when I say it is like applying Vaseline to my lips, it is so moisturising. As well as that the packaging is so fab and sophisticated.

 

What beauty products have you picked up recently for the new year?

MissBeccaBeauty xo

The Playlist : January

I thought it was time that I started another feature here on MissBeccaBeauty and what better than it being about one of my passions (other than beauty!)... music. When I switch my laptop on the Spotify app pops up straight away so I always find myself pressing play on what whatever playlist I am currently loving. I thought it would be a good idea to share with you the music I am listening to each month as I love to read about what music other people are listening too. So heres the music I have been playing every time I am on my laptop...

 

UPTOWN FUNK BY MARK RONSON AND BRUNO MARS : Who doesn't have this song stuck in their head all the time? It has a great 'old-school' vibe to it that makes me want to get up and dance along.

SOMETHING I NEED BY BEN HEANOW : I'm not a massive X Factor fan and wasn't too bothered who won but this song sounds amazing sung by Ben and it is one that I know all the words too and love to belt out in my room!

LIPS ARE MOVING BY MEGHAN TRAINOR : I loved her 'All About That Bass' song and you will be pleased to know she is not a one trick pony. This song has a catchy beat like her debut song and I would love to listen to more from her.

JEALOUS BY LABRINTH : My only ballad this month but is a real tear jerker. All that is on this track is literally a piano and Labrinth's voice and let me just say he has an amazing raw voice that I could listen to all day.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ED SHEERAN : At the moment I am loving Ed's whole album but Photograph is one of my favourites and I am sure you will see more of his songs creeping up in future playlists.

HAPPY BY PHARRELL WILLIAMS : This has been in everyone of my playlists since the summer. It is an absolute 'feel-good' classic that I will never get sick off. It makes me feel so HAPPY!

NEVER MET YOU BY TOM LAW : Tom is a YouTuber I discovered last year and this original song is from his EP. Seriously you need to give him a listen on YouTube or Spotify because he is amazing. This song is about a girl he has fallen in love with over the internet but has never met her as they live opposite ends of the world.

STEAL MY GIRL BY ONE DIRECTION : I have decided that no matter how scruffy and old-men-ish One Direction look at the moment, I will always have a soft spot for their songs because they are really good songs to sing along to when it comes on the radio.

 

You can listen to my January Playlist here. What songs are on you playlist (or stuck in you head!) this month?

 

MissBeccaBeauty xo

 

2014 Skincare Favourites

In the past year I have really gotten into skincare and have found a great routine that works well. Therefore I wanted to share with you my favourite skincare picks from 2014  

 

BIODERMA// When you are wearing stubborn eye makeup that just won't budge, this bad boy is the one to use. It removes even the toughest of liquid eyeliners and mascaras as well as feeling really gentle and nourishing on the skin. It was a really struggle to track this down, while I was in France earlier in 2014, but I am so glad that I finally managed too. Sometimes I will use this in the morning all over my fave with a cotton pad when I am in a rush and don't want to bother with a cleanser.

 

LIZ EARLE CLEANSE AND POLISH// Talking of cleanser, my favourite cleanser in 2014, and probably since 2010, has been Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. It is just the Queen of all cleansers and whilst I have other cleansers that I like, nothing is as good as this. I tend to use this most in the evening when I am taking my makeup off and I massage it into the skin before using a hot cloth to remove it.

 

LIZ EARLE INSTANT BOOST SKIN TONIC// Like the name suggests, it really helps to boost my complexion after in the morning and also gets rid of any more makeup off my face after cleansing. This toner is really gentle and I use this every single day.

 

ELEMIS SKIN GLOW EXFOLIATING FACE WASH// I regularly like to use an exfoliator and this one from Elemis is my favourite. There is no strong smell and even though it is a scrub my face never feels sore of sensitive after using it. The grains in the scrub are quite small and are easy to remove with a  cloth. Some exfoliators I have used in the past have had huge grains and they are impossible to remove off you face.

 

ALEO VERA DE-STRESSING FACE MASK// Before this year I had never really used face masks as I was worried they would break me out and the ones I was interested in were very expensive. However I read a couple of reviews on this mask and at £2.59 it is a bargain. It is super clarifying and my face feels very clean after using it. I mainly just enjoy the whole putting on a mask and waiting for it to do it's thing when I am having a pamper night.

 

WITCH ANTI-BLEMISH SKIN CLEARING PRIMER// I wear primer everyday because if I don't makeup just slides off my face by lunch time. This primer is silicone based which I like because it is so easy to blend in. This is so moisturising on my skin that if I don't apply a moisturiser in the morning my skin still feels really nourished.

 

What have been your skincare favourites of 2014?

 

MissBeccaBeauty xo

2014 Makeup Favourites

We've come to that time of year where I look back at all the products I have used this year and I have been dying to share with you the products that I have enjoyed using most in 2014. This year I have discovered so many new beauty products that I have fallen in love with. If you have been reading my blog for a long time then I am sure non of these products will come as a surprise that they made it into my 2014 Makeup Favourites.

 

My eye makeup has switched up the most throughout the year as it the part of my makeup routine that I like to experiment with most. At the beginning of the year I was in love with the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze. I have lost count of the amount of times I have spoken about this on my blog but it really is amazing. It is a bronze cream eyeshadow which lasts all day and is an amazing base for shadow as well.  In recent months I have been wearing the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette a lot. The matte shades are really pigmented and creamy which results in the shadows being very easy to blend and work with. Whenever I go away on holiday or for a weekend break, I always pack this palette because it is so slim and compact as well as having a huge mirror. There has been one stand out eyeliner for me which is the Maybelline Master Precise. I bought this in the summer and have used it pretty much every day, it is so long wearing and never smudges which is saying something as my eyes are prone to watering everyday. Everyday for the past few months I have worn the Bare Minerals Lash Domination mascara without fail. The other day I couldn't find my lash domination mascara and when I used a different one I didn't recognise myself in the mirror because my lashes looked so short and thin compared to the long voluminous lashes my lash domination gives!

My favourite blush this year has been the Sleek Rose Gold Blush. The shade is very pretty the slight gold shimmer running through complements my complexion. Because it is so compact and small this is the blush I reach for the most when I am traveling and bring makeup with me. Now onto lips. before this year I was never a big lip product lover. I wore the odd lip product, however in 2014 I found some real gems that I have fallen in love with. The first is Soap and Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in the shade Nudist. All of this range is amazing but the shade Nudist is my favourite and I love how glossy the finish is on my lips. My other lipstick favourite for 2014 is Topshops Jewel Lip Tint. In the tube this looks like a super bright orange, but this lipstick reacts with the natural pH in your lips and then leaves the post natural pink colour on my lips which I find works with any makeup look. So when I am stuck on what lip colour to go for, I usually end up wearing this. Into the mix I also wanted to include my favourite makeup brush of the year which has been... (drum roll please!!!) Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I think they should rename this 'The-Does-Everything-On-Your-Face-Brush' because I am not kidding I can do my whole makeup routine (minus eye makeup) with this one brush: foundation, concealer, powder, blush and bronzer. I got the core collection last year which includes this brush and I can safely say that every time I applied makeup in 2014 it was with this brush.

Now onto my favourite nail polishes. This was the hardest category to refine because I have so many nail polish favourites but I managed to get it down to three and I did this by which polishes I have worn the most. First is Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in the shade Almond which is my favourite nude from 2014 as this is always the polish I reached for when I wanted something subtle and discrete on my nails. Actually the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine range is one of my favourite ranges that I discovered in 2014 and I want to try more from the collection this year. In October I discovered the Maybelline SuperStay Gel Nail Color range and my favourite shade Purple Reflects. This shade is a gorgeous metallic purple that I have worn so much since I bought it. Finally my favourite nail polish this year has been Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Posh Pink which is the most flattering pink polish I have ever found and I just love the formula of this and the colour.

What are your 2014 makeup favourites?

MissBeccaBeauty xo 

A new year, A new start

Hello 2015.  2014 was a rollercoaster year: really high highs and really low lows. But I have learnt a lot from the events this year including that 'everything happens for a reason' and 'things can only get better'. I really can't believe that another has passed, I feel like it was only yesterday that I was  Today is the start of a brand new year and I am so excited for everything that I going to happen in 2015. I am going to see Taylor Swift in concert with my best friend in June and words cannot describe how excited I am (eeekkkkk!). I'm not going be doing new year resolutions this year because I don't like the pressure of committing to them, however I have three goals for 2015.

 

1. DO MORE OF WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY// In 2014 I found myself doing things that didn't make me happy because I felt like I had to. This year I want to be able to say no to the things that I don't enjoy and choose to do things that really make me happy.

 

2. CREATE A SCRAPBOOK RECORDING MY FAVOURITE MEMORIES OF THE YEAR// I am always taking photos of things that happen but I never print them off, they just stay on my phone or laptop. So I wanted to create a scrapbook to record all of my memories throughout 2015. I have already bought my scrapbook however I am still waiting on the washi tape that I ordered before I can start scrapbooking.

 

3. MAKE HEALTHIER DECISIONS// I am not saying I am going to go on a diet because, lets face it, I won't be able to stick to it. However I think it would be nice if I decided to make healthier decisions such as eating nuts or pitta bread as a snack rather than crisps or chocolate.

What are you new years resolutions/ goals for 2015?

MissBeccaBeauty xo