Autumn Came Around Fast

So it's Autumn now. You may have noticed.

For a lot of people this means pumpkin spice (honestly never tasted it), artisanal coffee and knitwear. For me, and the rest of the university universe, this means the period where course introductions are all over and the deadlines begin creeping up. Days get darker; the library gets colder, and my TV intake ups by 20 hours a week, since there's no sun in the park any more.

That being said, there's really something beautiful about Autumn. A go-between to start layering clothes without loosing extremities to the cold. To darken up your makeup, whilst still clinging to the summer bronzer. To turn your abode into a candle-cave and hole up with movies, whilst that is still an optional choice. And its the last bastion of peace before the dreaded C word swaggers into view next month.

So here's a brain-dump of all the things I've been loving and will continue to love over the season, anything to stop thinking of the genetics essay I still have to write.

Leisure

GBBO

Because obviously.

Gogglebox

Yes I know its 'meta' or whatever the critics like to write, but it completes my life.

Black Mirror

I love Charlie Brooker, I used to hang on to his weekly Screenburn columns in the Guardian, although sadly these are long retired. He rarely writes for them any more actually, but I can forgive him since the last column he wrote he called David Cameron a 'toe in a suit', and I am a child. But Black Mirror is serious gold. His columns were always filled with the craziest ideas, pushing reality TV and technology to its most morbid; 'DONT FORGET THE LYRICS' always stands out for me. Its always so incredibly well-cast too.

Knitting
I took up knitting again, and I'm making myself a cable-knit scarf! I can't lie, I'm a shocking knitter. Tension all over the place, dropping stitches, forgetting what the pattern is supposed to look like. But nevertheless it's relaxing. I'm hoping if I manage to mash this scarf together I might be competent enough to make a couples of gifts. 

Makeup

The autumn makeup stereotype is obviously to go for dark burgundy tones, berry lips, rusted red eyeshadow, deep reds and browns all over the place. Normally I would be first on the bandwagon, and yet at the moment I'm just not feeling it. The look I'm loving the most at the moment is pure dewy, nude skin, as natural as possible; the 'no-makeup makeup' look. 

Base

My three favourites that I can't get enough of at the moment are Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua, Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick and Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation. None of which are really on the light side of coverage, but I have so much love for them because they wear so well throughout the day. Especially the Magic Foundation, which looks better and better as the day goes on. Also, the BB Foundation stick is absolutely perfect to take out with you, so it travels in my bag every single day.

Base Additions

The Naked Skin Concealer, as most people will probably know is really, really great. If you're in the market for a new concealer its one of the best I've ever used, second probably only to my Double Wear Concealer by Estee Lauder. The Benefit Dew The Hoola bronzer I actually got free in a magazine a while ago, but in the last two weeks ago I truly discovered it, and I'm in love! I will definitely go out and buy the full size, it's a truly beautiful bronzer that gives you such a natural dewy glow. 

The Charlotte Tilbury Face Powder is without a doubt the best powder I've ever used, and I recently discovered (late to the party as per) the Wayne Goss technique to powder your face before applying foundation: he's absolutely right. I can't explain the difference it makes to longevity, as well as the way that foundation sits on the complexion. It just makes it inexplicably better. Try it.

Also the CT Colour of Youth blusher is beautiful, and so, so dewy and healthy looking. I'm very glad I splurged on this, I was worried it would be a regretful submission to hype. But this is yet another product I love to carry with me. 

Everything Else

For my brows I've been using the CT Brow Pencil in Cara, and the Maybelline Brow Gel (I've gone through three already). I do very much like the brow pencil formulation, however it does contain a brow highlight that I'm not all that keen on. I'm also not sure I prefer it to the Smashbox Fine Brow Pencil, although it definitely lasts a lot longer. Swings and roundabouts I guess. I also just discovered the merits of brushing upwards. 

My favourite highlight right now is just Vaseline. It takes five seconds and there's no way to over-apply it! Makes your skin look extra dewy and healthy without a fake-looking sparkle on the cheeks. Its about as natural as highlight can get. 

When I'm not putting Vaseline on my lips too I've really enjoyed the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme in Athens and the Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick in 43. Both very similar nudes, but with different textures. I love the look of the NYX lipstick, but honestly, several times I've bitten my lip, in what is a very bad habit and; yep, I've eaten it. And I'm not crazy about how it dries either. 

Clothing

Jumpers, suede, cashmere, merino, wool, and a muted, warm-toned colour palette. My trench coat came back out and I'm starting to layer up with scarves, long sleeve t's and boots. I also just got my thick oversized wool trousers back out which is very exciting, and I'm wearing my knitted wool socks, lovingly handmade my auntie, snuggled inside my Ugg slippers!

Yes to this time of year after all.

Xxxx

A Charlotte Tilbury Face

So it's been a while... Over a year actually. But hey, ho. 

I have a new (very expensive) brand obsession, probably like most beauty lovers do at the moment. It is of course; Charlotte Tilbury. The woman can do nothing wrong! I have found myself continuously drawn to her website at least weekly for the last few months, adding things to my basket, and then balking at the price and losing my nerve. But then John Lewis did the 10% off thing for Black Friday... And I went a bit mental. 

I picked up several things to add to my collection (it is my unashamed goal to one day own everything), and now I have the makings of one of her 10 iconic looks: The Golden Goddess. 

Now, I am no Golden Goddess, that's for sure. But a girl can dream, and the look she created in her video was just so lovely, how could I resist? Maybe I really will look like that?! Alas, I have not become Adriana Lima, but the products are so beautiful anyway that I can forgive that. 

Wonderglow Primer

This is such a great primer! CT herself says that you could even wear it alone on bare skin. Pah, well we can dream, can't we? Its finish is golden but not glittery... It's hard to describe the effect really... It's just... Glowy. I really like it, I might even stretch to buying the full-size when my free travel version has run out.

Light Wonder Foundation - Shade 2

I've never bought a 'dewy' foundation before, and this is definitely dewy. When I first applied it I was practically luminous, but after a couple of minutes it settles down and starts to look more realistic. I really like the way it makes my skin look - mainly healthy. It doesn't give very much coverage but it blends well with my Estee Lauder DW concealer so I can get rid of my undesirables. I apply it with a damp makeup sponge, because it's easier to layer it this way. Most of my brushes eat the product and leave none left for my face. 

The Golden Goddess Palette

This is some kind of beautiful; the colours just blend together seamlessly, making an almost ombre effect without even trying. I found the Pop shade to be best applied with the fingers as it has some heavy duty glitter to it, but the rest are silky smooth and just glide onto the eyelid. 

What I especially loved about this palette is that the darker colours aren't so dark that it is easy to overdo it. They build beautifully to get a deeper colour payoff, but you don't immediately give yourself the panda eye trying to do your lower lid. 

The prime and enhance shades are especially beautiful to use during the day and are not so shimmery to look overdone. The prime shade it a bit yellow to wear on it's own, so I wouldn't without combining it with one of the other shades. But I found it to be very understatedly beautiful when applied with a light hand. 

I'm sorry, but can we just take a second to look at it! It's so pretty...

It should be noted that actual colour payoff looks far less yellow/orange than they do here, but getting that damn natural light in winter, ey? 

Lip Cheat Lipliner in Pillow Talk

I've had many compliments on this; applied gently it can really make your lips look extra special. Slightly fuller without looking fake. It makes a great combination with the Stoned Rose lipstick too. 

K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Stoned Rose

My God. I have barely taken this off, I literally carry it everywhere! I take it to the library for God's sake! I had some reservations about this shade, but once I put it on I was sold. It's not totally natural looking but it's not too much either, it's a lovely middle-ground, casual shade that I can wear with both heavy eye makeup and no eye makeup and it still looks great. 

Cheek to Chic Blusher in Ecstasy

You really need a light hand with this. When I first got it I applied it with the same liberal manner that I do my Benefit blushes, and I looked ridiculous. However with a lighter touch, this is a very flattering colour, with a subtle shimmer to give you a pretty glow. I think I still slightly prefer my Benefit Sugarbomb blush, but that's safely trapped within the Christmas palette, ergo, I think this is the blush I'll take travelling with me. 

So here is my whole face... I'm just about to head to the library.

 

I feel like CT products are investments, and they certainly feel like luxuries. But if you feel good taking them out of your makeup bag, and enjoy the end result, then I'd rather have that than 1000 cheaper products I'm not sure about. I know what I would buy again and what I wouldn't (Cheek to chic blusher) but that's all part of the makeup experience. ...But anyway, now I have to go and explain to my boyfriend why I can't afford to eat this month... 

...Winter Makeup Look... Super-Berry

Instagram has just been made available on Windows phones! I've been dying to try it out, so I thought I'd use it to take pictures of a makeup look I've been living in recently...

My orange towel looking casual there...

I think this look is not too much over the top but still quite glamorous. This is what I used for it...

My Benefit Sugarbomb blusher is really ready to die now, but I can still scrape the remnants from the bottom before I have to get a new one. The poor thing has worked hard for me these last two years, it's earn't it's retirement. 

Powder: Rimmel London Stay Matte - Translucent, cheap and cheerful powder. Great at keeping oily skin at bay.

Mascara: No.7 Intense Volume - A water-based mascara with a very thin formula, perfect for when you want to give your lashes a very natural boost. I never feel like I'm wearing heavy mascara with this and it doesn't make my eyes sore after a long day.

Primer: E.L.F. Mineral Infused Primer - Reviewed here.

Eyeshadow: Benefit World Famous Neutrals - Eyenessa's Most Glamorous Nudes Ever (colours used: It's Complicated all over lids and on inner corners, and Call my Buff on the brow bone.) Reviewed here.

Natural Collection Solo Eyeshadow in Crushed Walnut - A nice matte brown, great for contouring.

Eyebrows: Topshop Brows Pencil in Brown - A great brunette match, at least for me. This pencil is HUGE, I'd be sharpening this for days before it ran out.

Lips: Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 107 - A matte berry/purple... lovelovelove! 

I also forgot to put the foundation I used in the picture; it was Estee Lauder Double Wear.

Xxxx

P.S. For anyone interested... I GOT THE JOB!!! (See two posts below...)

Maybelline Fit Me Anti-Shine Stick Review

I know I promised this review about a week ago, and apologies for that, but I've been busy visiting the boyf up in Leicester! You know it takes over 8 hours for me to get there from Plymouth?! Sheer commitment.

Anyway...

Maybelline Says: "Our first gel stick foundation with an anti-shine core. Fresh gel foundation blends to a natural matte finish. Lightweight powders in the anti-shine core instantly dissolve excess oil."

I got shade 115 - Ivory 

To begin with, the texture us not what you would expect. I thought it would be quite thick and creamy, and although it feels like this when you first apply it, the consistency then becomes a lot more powdery and quite lightweight.

Coverage - I would say light/medium. It's not very thick and although buildable it doesn't do that much for dark circles/redness. Concealer sits quite nicely on top of this so that's not really a problem and it evens skin tone moderately well. It blends well both with a brush and with your fingers so it's quite good to apply on the go.

Staying Power - Not too bad! The consistency is such that you don't really need to set it with powder (although I do from sheer habit) and it doesn't tend to move around your face or settle into fine lines. I do really have to recommend a primer under this though - it's quite drying.

Packaging - I really like this packaging, it's simple and very easy to apply! You don't have to get it all over the back of your hand like other foundations. The black case is very simple and looks great.

Price - £8.99 To be honest, I can't see this lasting all that long as there isn't really that much in it, so I don't really think the value for money is very spectacular.

Overall - I love the stick application, it's great on the go and is wonderful to take travelling because you don't need a brush to get good results from it. However, it's quite dry and the coverage isn't really what I go for. I think I'd give this a 3.8/5.