Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray Review

When I started wearing makeup I wore the bare minimum given that there wasn't a ton of options out there. I knew that I had to set my makeup with powder as my foundation used to wear off pretty quickly. These days I can confidently go out knowing that my makeup will last all day with thanks to setting sprays. Urban Decay have developed an exclusive partnership with Skindinavia in the form of their makeup setting sprays. They've been tried and tested, and came out with three setting sprays to ensure makeup lasts all day or night with weightless spray mists. There are three light-as-air and high-tech formulas; All Nighter, De-Slick and Chill.

The All Nighter spray* which I'm reviewing keeps makeup looking gorgeous and freshly applied for up to sixteen hours without fading, sinking into fine lines or melting. Studies that L'Oréal carried out showed that 78% of participants said it helped their makeup last for 16 hours. Personally, I don't tend to time my makeup application but from looking back, using the All Nighter spray my makeup lasts all day until I take my makeup off which is probably around 12-16 hours. The only touch up I need is to powder my t-zone because I have combination skin, but this is where the De-Slick spray comes in. It controls oil, keeps skin looking beautiful and deflects surface shine. 85% of the participants sad it's the longest lasting oil-control product they've ever used which is amazing results! When it comes to oil control I think it's difficult as your skincare regime plays a big part too.

The last setting spray is the Chill spray which features time-release technology to cool the surface of your makeup to help it last for up to 12 hours without setting into fine lines or smudging. In the study, 83% of participants said the Chill setting spray helped their makeup last for twelve hours without it moving or sinking into fine lines. I've never tried a cooling makeup setting spray before so it would be interesting to see how it worked in person.

Whilst you may notice that these sprays have been out for a while, they've recently repackaged the products to give them a modern vibe. They come in a black soft-touch bottle with a purple 'sprayer' and frosted white outer cap. Although the photo I've included as a comparison is a different setting spray (the All Nighter vs De-Slick), you can see how beautiful the new design is. The old bottles got dirty quickly because they were white, they didn't stand out and were needing some modernisation. 
Another great feature of these setting sprays is that you can wet your brush with one of them before you apply eyeshadow for it to increase the colour intensity and have even longer wear of it. This is because the spray is made up of a microfine mist to goes on light enough so that you can barely feel it. I've never been hugely fond of any other branded setting sprays before and after using the All Nighter spray and the De-Slick spray, I am more confident that my makeup will last without needing a powder touch up for quite a while. They're available on the Urban Decay Website for £23.50 each.

Read more

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray | Travel Size

Don't we all love travel-sized products? One product I need to take away with me, whether it's a weekend away or week abroad, is setting spray. I am one of those people who would rather invest in a setting spray to set my makeup over carrying a makeup bag around with me to touch up my face. Makeup bags are heavy and I'd rather my makeup look just as good at the end of the day than it was when I first put it on. It's already clear how much I love Urban Decay products, and they've recently released their All Nighter Setting Spray in a travel-friendly version (£10) which they've sent so I can take it with me on any future adventures. The full-sized version (118ml) comes in at £23.50 so if you want to give some a try but you're not sure which one is for you, I'd definitely recommend picking up a few travel-sized versions (30ml) first.

They've available in-store and online at Debenhams, John Lewis, House Of Fraser and on the Urban Decay website.

Post contains press samples 

Affiliate links included in this post

Read more

Current Drugstore Beauty Favourites | Guest Post

I have put together a post today of all my favourite drug store products which I have been currently reaching for on a daily basis. You can pick up all of these products from the high street, and they have been carefully picked from my ever expanding beauty stash.  I have been totally loving NYX since they have landed in Boots earlier this week. They have such a huge range of products and for such a great price. I picked up the NYX Prismatic Eye Shadow in Girl Talk a few months back and I have really been enjoying using it. I use it as an inner corner highlighting shade, it is a soft, pale pink with shimmer running through it. The pigmentation of the shadow is really good and you can use it dry, or you can spray a little bit of setting spray onto your brush to make the pigment more intense. 

I have recently been using nothing but the Real Techniques Multi-task Brush to apply my bronzer and blusher. This is part of their Travel Essentials Kit, and I wish they would bring this out on it's own as it definitely one of their best brushes. This brush picks up just the right amount of product and this means that application is super easy. I use this to apply my bronzer as a contour, and then gently add a little blush to the apples of my cheeks.  I think the drugstore has some really great foundations, but you have to be willing to dig deep into the depths of the shelves. I picked up the Rimmel Lasting Finish 25hr Foundation on a whim and didn't know anything about it. This is a medium to high coverage foundation, and I apply this using the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. The only downside to this foundation line is that the colour selection consists of only seven shades, which means it can be really difficult to find your perfect shade match. I cannot say that I have put this to the test for 25 hours, but I have for 12 hours and I can say that it does stay in place really well, and it is not drying and feels comfortable on the skin.

This Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara has been my go to mascara for the last month or two now. I have not been using anything and that does not happen often. I find that the bristles on this reach the root of the lash and really does add a great amount of volume to my lashes. The formula is quite wet so you do have to be a little careful when applying it.  I have recently repurchased this Rimmel Scandaleyes Liner and have fallen back in love with it. I wear just a little amount of eyeliner and the nib of the pen is super thin and pointed and allows you to be really precise. With eyeliner I prefer to apply just a little line and then build it up to my preferred look, and this allows you to do that perfectly. I have tried many eyeliners, drugstore and high-end and this is by far the best of the bunch. What are your current drugstore beauty favourites? You can tweet me @lucyalanaxo Lucy xoxo  

Read more

January Favourites

One of my resolutions for 2016 was to start doing monthly favourites posts to really reflect on the month and to encourage me to mix things up every month. It's the last day of the month today and I have to say it's been a bit of a weird few weeks for me both mentally and physically but I'm getting to know myself a little better and trying to be more confident in myself. One favourite I haven't photographed but has helped me a lot has been the One Line A Day book where you reflect upon your day, like a miniature diary and you do the same every day for five years. Aside from the beautiful detailing like the gold ended pages, making myself see the good and bad points of the day is starting to help me trigger what makes me anxious or can lead to a low point and attempt to change that the following day. 
I'm obviously using a lot of the makeup I received for Christmas and my favourite palette at the moment has to be the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette as the eyeshadows are so creamy and blendable. They're perfect. So perfect in fact that I need the Bon Bons palette because I have put all of my trust into Too Faced as I know they'll be just as good. As a blonde sometimes I steer away from a lot of brown shadows as I don't like looking washed out but blending Milk Chocolate, Semi-Sweet, Salted Caramel and Triple fudge into a gorgeous crease and outer v look then on the main part of the lid using White Chocolate and Marzipan to lighten the lid up really works for me. Champagne Truffle is the most beautiful highlight shade and I have high hopes for future palettes I buy from them.
I ran out of my Benefit Stay Don't Stray which is my holy grail lid primer and is the best I've ever tried, but since I'm saving for LA I thought I'd try out the Nyx HD Eye Shadow Base which although it dries almost clear therefore doesn't have the same result as the Benefit one it works just as well. My eyeliner and shadow last all day without moving around which pleased me as it's a fraction of the price with the same results. Speaking of primers, I've been loving the Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray  which is targeted at oily skinned people like myself. My makeup lasts all day and this would be so useful for clubbing but I'm yet to test it out for this purpose. 
Aside from the stunning packaging, yes I adore rose gold, I'm a new-ish fan of Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks. Last month I received the lipstick in Bitch Perfect and it's the perfect nude for me. I've loved Mac's Brave but feel like this suits my skin tone more and shows up as a true nude on my dark pink natural lip. For scents, Escada's Joyful perfume is incredible and I can't get enough of it lately. but have been using it sparingly considering when it first came out it retailed for like £40-£50 odd pounds which I definitely cannot afford to replace. It's sweet but not like a teenager's type of scent and I could wear it all the time.

Read more

George Party Tips & OOTD

We all attend those winter parties that needs planning and prep to make the evening go well. Whether it be a meal out, or a night on the town, having your outfit planned is key. It usually takes me a while to figure out what to wear and what accessories to match with it. With Christmas and New Years coming up, I planned to go with a festive coloured dress that will look gorgeous with a bit of glam but was still comfortable. There's nothing worse that wearing a full sequined dress and your arms being scratched from them! For me, I make sure my bag is prepped with bits to make my night go smoothly. If I'm going on a night out type of party I always bring a thin pair of flats with me and keep them tucked away in a clutch bag. When you're on your feet for hours, even with a bit of alcohol, the pain of wearing heels has the potential to ruin your night. Having a pair of flats to hand lets you enjoy the rest of your night without stumbling around because you can't walk properly anymore. Alongside flats, I usually take a lipstick to top up, a baby deodorant (just in case) and a tiny purse just for money. As much as I can say I can be trusted with my cards after a few drinks, I really can't. I've blocked my own pin in Subway after a night out and it was embarrassing and annoying as I couldn't use my card again until it was unblocked. Having a small purse for notes and coins doesn't give you the option to be a bit spendy. Makeup prep is key too. I always prime before I apply my makeup as I have oily skin, but using a setting spray after finishing your makeup makes it last that bit longer. I use an Urban Decay de-slick for oily skin which really keeps your makeup from sliding all over your face. Along with face primer, eye primer is key too. We all like to add a bit of glitter or a smokey eye when it comes to New Years parties and I couldn't live without my eye primer from Benefit. To finish the look off I apply a highlighter to add a bit of shimmer.

I do love a bit of shopping, so when George at Asda challenged me to find a party outfit for under £70 I gave it my best shot. It didn't all go to plan, as the coat I wanted went out of stock in the black, then went out of stock in my size in the burgundy which is definitely too big for me but I love it anyway. After trying the dress on after panic worrying whether I'd even fit into a 14, I could have dropped to a 12 which pleased me quite a bit thanks Asda! I thought these cute heels could go well with any outfit, with or without tights. I opted to wear tights purely for the reason that it feels about -12 degrees in Liverpool at the moment and it took a bit of guts to stand outside without a coat on, let alone with bare legs. The detail on the dress is stunning. I love wearing necklaces but they do tend to drive me mad and I take them off after a few hours, but with this mini necklace attached to the dress, it doesn't scratch around your neck and is just enough glitz for my liking. The cute pompom bag was an added extra and since my Christmas night out is actually to a meal this year, I went with a small handbag that would fit enough in it. I actually opted out of wearing the original belt I ordered as it turned out it was a bit too chunky to wear with the dress because of the necklace attached but is lovely nonetheless.  I paired my look with my Mac lipstick in Hang Up as it is a burgandy colour and looked nice and festive! Not that you can tell much from the photos (hooded eye gal probs) I had copper eyeshadow on in the form of Mac's Amber Lights and one of the bronzer/highlighters from Makeup Revolution's Highlighter palettes. If it had been a night out I would have opted for a smokey eye, a black leather jacket and slightly higher heels, but I'm very pleased with my outfit! I wouldn't have worn a belt but my chest is definitely not in proportion with the rest of my body but it would look lovely without the belt too.
*This post contains PR smaples

Read more

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick Samples

If you're a regular reader of mine you'll already now that Urban Decay is one of my favourite brands. What you'll also notice is that I've never actually tried any of their lip products. I have my fair share of eye products including my much loved De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray that I use daily during the summer months. I've recently been trying to figure out how many lipsticks I actually own, and counted over 40 bullets and 30 liquid lipsticks and there is quite an obvious trend with the colours I've picked up in the past two years. Variety. I'm a person who doesn't exclusively enjoy one shade or finish of lipstick - I love them all.

At about 1.30pm today I opened my door to see this cute little purple package. It contained 24 of the Vice Lipstick (£15.00) samples and a bag of lipstick sweets. I really enjoy trying out sample sized versions of products, especially when you get to see nearly a quarter of the whole lipstick range. That's right, the Vice Lipstick collection contains 100 shades featured 6 indulgent finishes. The shades range from bold brights, nudes, subtle and dark colours. They have such a huge assortment, featuring more finishes than they made previously. These include Mega Matte, Comfort Matte, Cream, Metallized, Sheer and Sheer Shimmer.  Now if I was stood in front of the Urban Decay counter I would be lost for words, spending hours trying to pick out which shades to try.

Every shade is designed to go on smoothly, be super-creamy due to the Pigment Infusion System, have colour that lasts and encourage long-lasting moisture. This is down to a few key ingredients such as aloe vera, jojoba, avocado and babassu oils, illipe butter and vitamins C and E that help nourish the lips and leave them feeling better than before. The individual packaging of the bullets has even been modernised, with the image of a shotgun shell left in your mind. With debossed lettering and a gold base, not only the lipstick screams luxury. To go with the Vice Lipsticks, there are 50 Lip Pencils (£13.50) to lock in your lipstick and prime the lips. Now from using their 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencil in Legend, I know the formula will be easy to apply and creamy in texture.

Out of the 24 shades in this sample pack,  my favourite shades from just looking at them are Pandemonium, Jilted, Firebird, Disturbed, Snitch, Conspiracy, Rapture and ZZ. I'm so happy that there are six different finishes as it means each lipstick can be worn for different occasions or even depending on what the weather is like. I have trust in Urban Decay that even the Mega Matte shades won't be drying on the lips, leaving my lipstick in place all day. I can't wait to play around with the shades to get a feel for them and create new makeup looks with my Urban Decay palettes and there will be a lot of looks given that I have at least 5 palettes. And of course, I'll be looking at Ruby Rose for inspiration.

Read more

Urban Decay Halloween Party Kit

There are two things I love in life, makeup and Halloween. When I received a surprise party kit box from Urban Decay yesterday it made me so happy, because I love sharing their products over on this blog and creating new Halloween makeup looks too. Urban Decay have came up with three Halloween makeup ideas to inspire you to look spooky with their products this year. You can give guests the 'kiss of death' with their Vice lipsticks and take eyes to another dimension with the new Razor Sharp Liners.

The first look is the classic cracked doll makeup look. Starting off with their Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion on the eye area, you can apply any eyeshadows you like, whether it be dramatic and bold or a pretty in pink doll look. To line the lids you can use the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils which I absolutely love and must recommend to anyone looking for a black eyeliner that will actually stay on all day. You can also use this to draw in the cracks and then go over it with the new Perversion Razor Sharp Liquid Eyeliner so they look more realistic. For the lips, the Double Team Vice Lipstick would look so pretty in the center of the lips.

For a 'Unicorn Tears' inspired look, apply Cosmic Moondust Eyeshadow on the lids of your eyes, dust the Aura Naked Illuminated over your skin for a glowy complextion and really emphasise your lashes with the Perversion Mascara. To create the illusion of unicorn tears, apply the Razor Sharp Liquid Eyeliner in Junkshow, Goldrush and Chaos under the eyes and on the cheeks. If you apply some the of the shadows from the Moondust palette on top of the 'tears' they were will be extra sparkly. For an intense, bold lip, apply the Crash Vice Lipstick on the lips and you could apply the Element shade from the Moondust palette on top for more shimmer.

I think everyone's favourite look you could create with these products it the Mean Girls classic 'I'm a Mouse, Duh!' look. This is the easiest look as you could do your makeup as normal, and for me I'd start out with the Urban Decay All Nighter Liquid Foundation and the Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluids to give the perfect base. I'd use some of the warm shadows from the Naked Ultimate Basics Palette (click here for a chance to win one!) and use my all time favourite lash duo, Subversion Primer and Perversion Mascara. To bronze up the skin you should use the Bronzed Beached Bronzer, apply the Perversion Vice lipstick to the lips and finish off the look with the main part - the mouse effects. To draw on the nose and whiskers it's advised that you use the Perversion Razor Sharp Liquid Eyeliner and set the face with the De-Slick setting spray. 

Which look would you choose this Halloween?

Read more

Blogger Mail #2

I'm really enjoying writing these posts to give an insight into what I'll be posting about in the upcoming weeks. As a beauty blogger first, most of the items that come through the postbox are makeup and skincare related, but on occasion, there are a few other things in the mix.
A brand I have wanted to try out for ages was Nip + Fab, being a successful skincare brand who have branched out into makeup which was a big hit throughout the beauty community. I received the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads to try out for my combination skin, and the Nip + Fab Contour Palette in the light shade for my fair skin.
Kat Von D is a brand I'm so excited to be working with. They're a brand I really admire and was over the moon to receive the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks from the Nude Collection and the Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette.
I've been toying with dying my hair some different colours lately and will be attempting to create a peachy-pink do, ready for the summer. I'll be using the L'Oréal Colorista Washout Colours in Dirty Pink and Peach.
Everyone knows I love Urban Decay, and I was sent the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray in the handy travel sized edition, although I have reviewed the full size too. Not featured in the photos above; I'm reviewing the May Glossybox and the Cosmo edition of the Latest In Beauty Box. If you enjoyed this post make sure you check out my first blogger mail post.

Read more

Maybelline Brow Drama Pomade Crayons

Last month Maybelline kindly sent me the new Brow Drama Pomade Crayons (£5.99)* to try out. As you will know I have blonde hair and blonde brows so I have to fully draw on my eyebrows every day. I've tried tinting them but I'm never happy with the result. Depending on what makeup I'm wearing that day I do change the colour of my brows. The Pomade Crayons come in four colours: Blonde, Soft Brown, Deep Brown and Auburn. I don't have the Auburn shade here as it is way too warm for my brows, but I've tried all three shades so can report back on the finish. Maybelline know how important a well-formed arch is as your brows frame your face, so having a good product to hand is vital. The pigmented formula helps your fill in your brows easily as it has a creamy texture. It's a wax pomade and lasts all day with setting spray or a brow gel on top.

I prefer the Soft Brown shade as it isn't too warm to give you that awkward ginger tone to your brows when you're not looking for it. The Blonde shade is lovely when I'm wearing 'no makeup makeup' or just filling them in to go on errands. I've used the Dark Brown shade lightly but that defeats the point when the Soft Brown looks perfect. Having a thick handle means the product is easy to use and you fill in your brows so much quicker than using a thin pencil. I brush through my brows after applying it to even it out and I'm ready to go. If you wanted to use a brush to apply it, like you would with a lipstick in some scenarios it also works well.

Read more

YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation Review

Over the years I've gone from having one foundation that seemed to match my skin, to trying out a fair few to see which ones actually work with my skin. As someone who has had problem since the age of 12, I used to think that applying as much foundation as possible would do the trick to conceal my flaws and help me feel confident. Since then, I've tried out different coverage foundations from high street to high end brands and seem to have found a few items that suit my skin. This is where the YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation £33.50* comes into play.

When applied with the YSL Touche Éclat Blur Primer (£29.50 for full size)* underneath they're a match made in heaven. Before going in depth about the foundation I'll provide a bit of information about the mini primer itself. It's a blurring and illuminating gel-based primer that makes visible pores reduce instantly, the texture of the skin is incredibly smooth, and with someone who prefers matte finishes, it allows just enough luminosity without making me look oily.

It's their first light infused primer that blurs pores and fine lines, helps your makeup last longer and even the look of your skin tone. YSL claim that it allows light to 'diffuse through optimally' as it uses advanced technology to create a perfect canvas. The gold flecks are pretty although they don't appear in the foundation as the bottle is so tiny and I don't yet have a macro lens. Regardless, it contains four nourishing oils and provides comfort to the skin and leaves it feeling hydrated and soft. You can apply it to the face to wear on its own but since the YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation was in my hands, I have tested it out underneath and can tell you that it has the staying power it claims. My skin has never felt so soft and when this little bottle runs out I'll for sure be heading to my closest YSL counter to pick up the full sized bottle.

It's a full coverage foundation that's available in 22 shades, that's weightless on the skin but provides staying power to help it last all day long. I chose the shade BD10 as I'm fair skinned and it matched incredibly well using their shade matcher online. I've heard a lot of great things about this product, given that its a best-selling product from YSL but also in the beauty community who have a lot of positive things to say about it. The 'magic light-reflecting formula' is the signature element in the Touche Éclat concealer pen and now the foundation, to provide radiance to your complexion. An improved version of the 2012 foundation, it creates a fresh-faced look, making you appear like you've had your eight hours beauty sleep and are refreshed for the day.

Last year, YSL introduced the new generation of the Touche Éclat foundation with an advanced formula that has the power to create the illusion of energised skin and a flawless complexion. It's now infused with an "Anti-Fatigue Complex" to banish under-eye shadows and dispel dullness due to the Ruscus Extract which helps combat visible signs of fatigue, boosts micro-circulation and soothes the skin. 

The foundation is so easy to blend and feels like you're applying a CC cream. I'm a big fan of full coverage foundations, like the Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation but this feels lighter on the skin. This foundation arrived a week ago and I've worn it every day since so feel like I can give my thoughts confidently now. I'm yet to try it without the Blur Primer but they seem like such a dream team and I'm so deeply in love with the combination. Even the packaging screams luxury and it's taken a proud place on top of my makeup storage too. At the age of 23 I unfortunately still have blemishes from time to time, pigmentation on my cheeks and an oily t-zone and this foundation is the closest solution to perfect that I've found yet. I still apply my Nars Creamy Concealer on my nose so that the product stays in place past 10 hours wear and powder on top with my Mac Select Sheer Powder to set in place. As I do have combination skin I usually apply a setting spray but the YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation has worn well with and without.
If you liked this post, make sure to check out my YSL Black Opium EDT and Black Opium EDP review out!

Read more

Huge American Makeup Haul

So I returned from Los Angeles a few months ago and spent a lot of time editing the vlogs but I can finally show you what I bought from Ulta, CVS and Sephora whilst I was over there. Cue a warning now that I did spend way more than 1. I anticipated and 2. that most people do, partially because we won the trip over there. You may have seen on Twitter back in September that Soletrader and Adidas hosted a competition to win a 7 nights stay I won and got to bring along my boyfriend Andy who you may know as he's also a blogger.

This is the terrible photo I took in the hotel that I had to include as it was the only full photo of everything I picked up for myself. The reason behind this is, including the delays in my blog, is that my memory card broke not long after I came back and I lost everything. All my photos that weren't already copied onto the laptop, upcoming brand collaborations and photos of family. Gone. Two people looked at the card and nothing could be done so it had to be reformatted and here we are today. You may notice products such as the Makeup Eraser, Beauty Blender, ABH contour palette and many other products that will all have individual posts up as soon as possible.

 Nyx Lip Lingerie in Lace Detail, Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Color in Addiction and Passion, Too Faced Melted Matte in Feelin' Myself and Drop Dead Red, Nyx Soft Matte Lip Creams in Manilla, Seoul and Moscow, Too Faced Melted Chocolate in Chocolate Milkshake.

Unfortunately I forgot to swatch the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks but they'll be up in a separate post soon anyway so don't forget to look out for that one. These swatches don't include other lipsticks I bought that are not of the liquid persuasion or the Sephora Cream Lip Stain but you can see another version of the product here. Although it's been a few months since I bought these products, I've still not had the guts to wear Nyx Soft Matte Cream in Moscow as I'm a bit conscious of wearing blue lipstick outside. I have an older post on all the other Nyx liquid lipsticks including swatches if you want to jump on the bandwagon like I did, no shame!

I've spoken in depth about the beautiful Tartelette In Bloom palette before, and if you've read my review you'll know how much I love this palette. Partially for the packaging and also due to the quality of the eyeshadows too. This was one of the items that I had planned to buy since I found out that we were going to America, so it doesn't half feel good to have it in my hands and to be using it almost everyday. They're just so blendable and it makes me want to try a ton more of beauty items from Tarte.

Spring and Summer Lipsticks posts which features Estée Edit Mattified Lipstick in On Point and Tom Ford Ulta-Rich Lip Color in Les Mepris

From all of the lip products combined, you can tell I didn't opt for just one colour. I tried to pick products that vary in colour and finish because I already have plenty of light pink and nude shades. Obviously you can't have too many lipsticks but you get the gist. I was so happy when I went into the fourth Sephora and saw the Tom Ford stand and picked up one of the lipsticks. I picked a pretty coral colour as there were only around six to choose from but I'm so glad because it goes so well with blonde hair, a tan and my blue eyes. To be honest I only picked up the Estée Edit lipstick because the news had only broken out in the blogging community about a week or two prior to my trip so I needed to pick something up.

I had heard about the mini Hourglass and Becca highlighters before so when I could pick up the travel sized versions for a fraction of the price of the full sized I went straight for them. I say this all the time but it's true, I barely hit pan on things unless it's face powders so it would have been a waste of money to buy larger sized items. From Target, I picked up the Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls for around $14 and it's one of the best highlighters I've used so far. I didn't realise until I was messing around with the packaging but underneath it has a little brush and mirror which is so adorable. Finally, I spent a long time thinking about a blusher I wanted to pick up and settled for the Too Faced Love Flush in How Deep Is Your Love. I've been using it almost daily and barely made a dent in the product and the pressed image in the pan is barely even smudged.

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit was also on the list of items to pick up as I knew the Nyx and Kat Von D alternatives were out there but having heard so many good things about the ABH version I went for this one. I know a bunch of bloggers raving about the cream contour version but having combination skin I knew it wasn't a good idea to invest that much money into something I wasn't sure would work on me. I also picked up the Brow Wiz as I've been using the Soap and Glory alternative and needed something that would last a little longer.

I actually picked up three primers whilst I was away, including the Stila One Step Correct, Too Faced Hangover Primer and the Nyx Angel Veil Primer. They're all fantastic primers and I'm having trouble deciding which one is my favourite. I chose the Nyx one as it's a supposed dupe of the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer which I am yet to try. The Stila primer is amazing at evening your skin tone out, whether it be dark circles under the eyes, pigmentation issues or red spots. The Hangover primer is amazing for combination skin and makes my makeup stay on for so long. Even with using my Urban Decay De Slick Setting Spray it lasts an amazing amount of time. Now that I've tried them out I'm starting to use them for different days (or nights) out.

The item I least expected to pick up was the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam as by this point I'd already picked up three powder highlighters and one mini liquid version that came with the Becca highlighter. I was not about to spent nearly £40 on four highlighters but I swatched it on a whim, maybe hoping it would be rubbish so I could justify picking something else up. It was the most pigmented highlighter palette I've swatched. It made my decision hard but Andy was insistent that I should pick up items that I wouldn't normally go for since I'd saved up for a while. This is my go to highlighter palette, with my most used shade being Crushed Pearl as it's the lightest shade. It works so well with eyeshadows too, especially in the inner corner.

Keep your eyes peeled for my other beauty posts!

Read more