Starting Off; Makeup Tools ♥

No way is this the last ever week of #TheSoProject!! I can't honestly believe that 10 weeks have gone so quickly, and that since first signing up to do this project my knowledge has grown so much more! For the final ever time, I will be taking to you about how to apply your make up.. there are so many different ways to apply it that you are spoilt for choice on what to pick and when and how! 

First of all is the most common one which is brushes! There are so many brands out there that you could choose from and use, but my favourite has to be Real Techniques because there is something for everyone for such a great price. It would be something I would add to your wish list because they are amazing! In the below picture you can see two gold brushes, these aren't actually RT they are 'dupes' I bought this on Ebay for £3 each or you can but the whole set for £12. Just like the real ones they work perfectly! The on the left is mainly for foundation and is great for all different types! It also helps create a flawless finish on your face.. the one on the right which is pointed can be used for either blush or bronzer as it is tapered. 

The one in the pink is from the actual RT travel collection and is the multi-task brush, you are able to use this one for everything - foundation, powder, bronzer and blusher. Just like the dupe ones it works perfectly on your face and picks up just the right amount of product!

To read a full review and where to buy the gold ones check it out here. 

Find out about the pink one and where you can buy them for slightly less money click here. 

The next thing you could use is make-up sponges that are now available to buy anywhere! These are great used damp with foundation and again give you that flawless airbrushed look to your whole look. For such a great price you can achieve such a lovely look and they come in all different shapes and sizes so you are able to find the one that is the best for you to use. 

As well as using brushes and sponges for your face you need tools for your eyes to make them look amazing as well. The two black brushes in this picture are from a make up brush set I actually bought it in a set for Morrisons and haven't stopped using them since! The one at the top is a eye shadow brush which is flat so it makes it easier to really pack on that eye shadow and really bring out the vibrant colours that you want to show off. The other is a eye smudge brush that I love using to mix together colours on the eye and use it more on the crease line so that there aren't any harsh lines that make it look a little like a dolls make up. One of the best tools ever invented has to be the eye lash curler, this one from Primark is my favourite. Why? Well, it was not only cheap but also great at curling your eyelashes before you apply that lovely mascara to give you even longer looking lashes! 

TIP - heat your curler for a little while with a hair dryer to make it easier to curl them lashes!

Thank you for being with me for the past 10 weeks and I hope that you have all enjoyed these posts, and if you want to go back and read the rest then click here to find them all together! 

Starting Off; Lipgloss/Stick ♥

Woah, the second to last week for 'The So Project'..I can't believe this has gone soo quick! I have slightly cheated with this post, as I actually used this whole post on a guest blog post for someone else! However, the lip products I was going to choose for this weeks starting off would have been the exact same, so I have just tweeked the post and used the same pictures! Hope you all enjoy and let me know you fav lip products! 

First up, is my newest purchase from Revlon...this is there lip butter in 'Sorbet'. I have always heard so much about these little gems, and really wanted to try one out for myself and when I had the chance to buy one - I jumped with joy. These butters are so moisturising and feel amazing on your lips, there is also a wide range of colours some which are highly pigmented so that the colour shows on your lips and others that are sheer for those of us that aren't very daring. This one is a mix of both, and I love it to death and it smells amazing too. 

Next up, is a product that the blogger world can be blamed for! This is one of the two  Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquers that I own - this is in the shade  'Celestial'. This is such a pretty nude pink colour and is great for the night time and day time on your lips, the formula of these lip lacquers is also great because they don't feel sticky and feel very light on the lips. The brush on these however are quite frightening as they pile a lot of product on, so the best way to apply is using the underneath of the wand.

Don't you just love the drug store? One of my favourite budget brands are MUA, they basically bring out all the dupes for the high end and expensive stuff! This is one of their lipsticks, that have recently been re packaged so that the bottom circle can come off - and stores a little bit of extra product. This is in the shade 'Nectar' and is a bright, bold orange colour that goes on your lips and looks beautiful. These lipsticks last for a very long time on your lips and apply so softly. 

This is another Revlon beauty and this is one of there lip glosses in the shade 'Peony'. This is a light, beige pink colour that actually applies and looks sheer and glittery on the lips, I find that it looks great on its own and on top of other lip products especially with the products I have mentioned above. The sponge applicator is great and evenly distributes the product across your lips and leaves your lips looking great!

And finally, I have one of them staple 'I couldn't live without' lip glosses! This is a limited edition BarryM lip gloss I got from a Impulse bottle ages ago, thanks to Nicole telling me! This is a clear, glittery lip gloss that is basically sheer on you lips and on it own it looks amazing as well as it looking great on top of another colour. The only thing about using this on top of other lip colours is that it stains the applicator as it is white :( but oh well - a great product! 

L-R Sorbet, Celestial, Nectar, Peony, Unknown Name

I hope you all enjoyed this post and be sure to follow me on bloglovin' for more posts like this and visit my blog for even more deliciousness! 

Read all posts within TheSoProject here.

Starting Off; Bronzer ♥

This weeks topic is bronzer, and I am dedicated to only one bronzer that I keep on repurchasing this on and on. This for me is the perfect bronzer, you  just get emotionally attached to the love of your life..I am currently talking nonsense! This is the Sun Tint Bronzer by Natural Collection and for me is the perfect in-between foundation. It isn't too muddy looking so you don't look like you have slapped on all this bronzer, instead it has this slight hint of shimmer that just makes you look natural, glowing and bronzed. 

Application

• A large round powder brush  is best for applying bronzer fast and effectively - particularly to face and body.

• Tap the excess off so that you don't pile it all on.

• Using light circular motions  bronze the area you wish to colour. For your face, start around the hairline - including your neck - to ensure even coverage, and work your way in to the centre of your face using the colour is left on your brush. Don’t reload your brush to do the centre of your face. A graduation of tone from dark to light is the most flattering.

- Bronzer's come with different finishes – matte/semi-matte or shimmer. What you choose comes down to personal preference.

Be sure to read the other features in this series..

Skincare

Foundation

Concealer

Starting Off; Foundation ♥

Today we will be chatting about foundation. The do's the don't and my personal favourites, thesoproject is about helping you and the basics always come from the teachings and the help guides. No clue what I am on about then check out this post here to find out more.
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Picking a foundation can be so confusing what Colour? what formula?Now if you know your skin type that's a start! If you need to know what tone your skin is then check out my previous post here. No matter your age or even experience foundation is the hardest make up step of its all. (please note that these are my views, I am no way a professional and my best advice would also to go see a professional.

Coverage - If you know your skin type then the next step is the type of foundation coverage you want and would prefer. 

Sheer Coverage- a little bit of coverage almost transparent, you will be enhancing your skin with this formula of foundation and even out your skin.

Medium Coverage- this foundation will cover most of your minor imperfections on its own, this is the most common for everyday wear.

Medium to Full Coverage- Build able coverage which means that you can apply your foundation in a medium coverage and go back and cover problem areas again making it full coverage in those areas, natural yet covered. 

Full or Opaque Coverage- this is going to completely cover your skin it is the most pigmented foundation, these foundations cover heavy scarring, discolourations,are used in dramatic make up, or just the Appearance of Flawless Skin! 

Finish - This is to describe how your foundation will look when it is set and applied. 

Satin- Doesn't shine yet has a slight shimmer to it. 

Matte- Makes your skin feel like it has powder on.

Luminous- Gives you a shiny glow.

Natural- Your skin basically appears how it is without foundation, but with it on.

Types - There a so many types of foundations that are available for you these days, it is always best to test them all before picking one you prefer.

Liquid Foundation- The most common one that people use because , it blends easily, and comes in a variety of coverages.

Powder Foundation- This gives you more coverage when you build the amount up.

Creamy Foundation- Comes in different ranges of coverage and is blend-able on all skin types. 

I also have three favourites, all of different coverages and types. 

- Natural Collection Foundation - This is my everyday favourite  it gives me a medium amount of coverage that isn't too heavy for the day. It covers what it needs to as well as evening out my skin tone at the same time. It is also very affordable and great for sensitive skin like mine. 

- The Body Shop Oil Control Foundation - Do not be scared by the name, I have dry skin and this foundation works on me as well. This is more of a high coverage foundation and is perfect for an evening out or when you need that little bit more of your face covered and it hides all imperfections.

- Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse - A mousse foundation is great for light coverage and high because the amount you use can be adjusted to what look you are trying to achieve. A lot like powder you are able to build and blend as you go along to great a flawless finish to your face and make it look dewy. 

The way you apply foundation has to be down to your preference, there are so many ways these days as to what you can use, but the finish I find is always the same. 

- Sponges/ Beauty Blender - Make up sponges are the cheapest tool you can buy to blend in your foundation this and a beauty blender takes time, but you can defiantly get your foundation to be blended in nicely. 

- Brushes - Whether it be foundation brushes, stippling brushes or even an expert face brush these are the most common tool to use because it speeds up time and really helps to blend in all that product to even everything out.

-Hands - Yes, this might sound disgusting but trust me if you are ever in a hurry and need to quickly apply foundation then this is your best bet. Not only is this easy and free, you will be able to make sure that the look of your face is what it is meant to look like. 

If you want to see my favourite tools then you will have to check back soon! 

Concealer Post

Skincare Post

Starting Off; Concealer ♥

Welcome to the second week of 'TheSoProject' also know as 'The Starting Off Project'. If you missed the first week or have no clue what I am babbling on about, then do check out this post so you are in the loop with the fruit? I tried to rhyme it but, it failed -TERRIBLY!

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These days there are so many concealers out there, that you are spoilt for choice to say the least! There are a few things you should take into consideration when buying and choosing your concealer shade - this is my concealer guide 101. And then I will tell you a few of my personal favourites all from the drug store! 

To cover or correct?

When choosing a concealer I would always start with a shade that is lighter than your foundation - not your skin tone. Just like when picking foundation you should always be aware of the colour words such as "beige" (pink undertones), "cool" (pink), "warm" (yellow/olive undertones), "neutral," etc.

If dark under eye circles are your main problem then you need to go with the warm shades of concealer.If you are using concealer for blemishes or dark spots, find one that is a shade lighter than your foundation and in the same undertone.

I have two hand down 'holy grail' concealers, and without them I wouldn't be able to last very long. Both are liquid concealers as I think that they are much better and easy to blend as well as find your true match. 

This was my first 'guess and go' concealer as I ordered it online, praying that the shade would be perfect for me and not highlight the wrong areas or even not cover the blemishes and circles I wanted it to. This is the Maybelline 'Pure Cover Mineral' concealer in the shade Rose Beige, which is a very light weigh , medium coverage - creamy liquid concealer. I find that this is the best for covering those nasty dark under eye circles and I am someone who has dark pigmentation under my eyes and with this they just appear lighter. 

I bought mine from Fragrance Direct , who now stock a different shade to what I have but there is a choice of two shades on Cheap Smells.

If you are familiar with the youtube/blogger worlds then there is a 99.9% chance you have heard of this concealer. I seem to always get sucked into the things that get raved about constantly and this angel of a concealer has been something I have had my eye on for a while. One day I hopped into Superdrug and swatched the shade 'Medium' and well...fell in love. Even though the shade range isn't great the concealer may match just about everyone and I can safely and truthfully say that after trying and testing it out - it lives up to the hype. This concealer can cover your blemishes up with the tiniest of little amounts, because of its creamy and smooth consistency you can really blend it in well so that every inch of a horrible spot is covered. I don't know how I have managed without this concealer in my life.

Application

As far as applying concealer goes, there are several different ways. You can straight up apply if from the tube,wand or even stick and put it where desired and then use your ring finger to blend it by patting very gently. Or even apply using a brush, taking the product off with a brush and then blending with a concealer brush. It is really up to you and what you feel most comfortable with. 

I hope this helped with any worries on concealer that you have had, and if there are any more questions or even suggestions then do leave a comment below or even contact me! 

Be sure to read the other features in this series..

Starting Off; Skincare ♥

FINALLY!  Hello earthlings, today is the start of the 'TheSoProject' also know as 'The Starting Off Project'. Over the next 10 weeks, every Tuesday my self and loads of other bloggers will be posting everything that teens/ make up newbies need to know when starting off with make up. Everything from skincare to make up brushes, I have loved beauty related stuff for a while now and I wish when I first started going into the whole make up thing; there was a guide for me to read. So... here I am now helping you lot out there! To find out more about this project check out Steph's post (the mastermind behind all of this) over on here blog here. 
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Writing this skincare post seems perfect for me at the moment, as I suffer from regular (mainly hormonal) breakouts on certain parts of my face a lot! August was a month that I set my self a goal to do whatever I can to clear most of it up. Just putting random face masks, and spot treatments on for one night won't instantly make a difference. It is always best to set your self a skincare routine; this doesn't have to be expensive nor does it have to be time consuming. Just remember that it is all worth it in the end.

There is such a wide range and variety of skin care brands and products out there that can really help your skin to begin to clear up. One of the brands I love is Clean & Clear, I found this moisturiser in my local poundshop once a upon a time, and little did I know that it would become my best friend. I now religiously use this every night before going to bed to help with my acne, it feels very light - so you can also use it in the morning and it helps to combat and fight against those nasty spot and tightens up your pores. A small sizes amount of this goes very far! 

Next up is my holy grail skincare brand - Simple. This brand makes everything to suit your skin so that nothing makes it go funny, these wipes are my new discovery as they are exfoliating wipes. One side has a rough texture and the other is a smooth side to polish your face. I find that taking your make up off at night is the best feeling ever and these wipes make the job easier for you and leaves your skin feeling clean and fresh! Make sure that you always take your make up off before you sleep, your skin needs time to breathe. 

My final skincare newbie, is from the brand 'Witch' there products contain witch hazel which is a flower that is extracted into a substance so that it can be used in products to combat acne. There are several products in this range,and I really want to get my hands on them all as this beauty has really made a difference to my skin. The blemish stick is a solid gel stick that pops up like an ice lolly and allows you to rub it on the affected area and leaves no marks just a cool feeling. 

I have found sticking to the same products for some time and doing it all regularly can really help you out. There is also help available where you can ask the professionals about your skin, whether this be a skin specialist / doctor or even these online advice questionnaires, where you answer questions and they find out about your skin type and what can help. Read the other posts through out the 10 weeks