Summer Lip Edit

I'm not the biggest fan of Summer, it's too hot, I have trouble sleeping, my self confidence takes a nose dive at all the crop tops and booty shorts in the shops. The only thing I genuinely enjoy about Summer is that I can pull out some of my bold shades that don't fit in any other time of the year, oh and that it means we're one step closer to Autumn/Winter, my absolute favourite times of the year.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Amsterdam
This is one of my absolute favourite red shades. It's sits between being a blue toned red and a tomato red and compliments my fair complexion perfectly. The Soft Matte Lip Creams are very mousse like in texture and well wonderfully on the lips. They're not like other powdery matte formulas and wears comfortably on the lips for a good few hours without the need for touch ups.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso
A holy grail red I wear not just in Summer but all year round is Beso from Stila. Again it's that perfect mix of tomato red and blue toned red. It gives my complexion a perfected appearence but doesn't wash me out or make my skin look flat or lifeless. It's more of a powder matte finish than Amsterdam but still comfortable to wear and can easily be worn for a good few hours before you need to reapply. I would advise not eating anything oily or greasy when wearing this as it could end up everywhere.

Rosie For Autograph in Supermodel Kiss
Whilst we're on the topic of red's, this orange red is one of my absolute holy grail lip products. Supermodel Kiss is bright orange with red undertones that makes it suitable to be worn by all skin tones including those with paler complexions. It's satin finish that lasts all day on the lips comfortably and doesn't require any touch ups, unless you're chowing down on a burger or something equally as greasy.

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte in Siren In Scarlet
Let's just get all the reds out the way now. Siren In Scarlet is another matte red shade that leans more towards being a blue toned red than an orange red. It looks gorgeous on a multitude of skintones and won't wash out fairer complexion. It's a very creamy formula that doesn't dry lips out but still has a slightly powdery feeling to it. Because it is creamy, it can bleed or smudge if your not careful but a transparent or red lip line applied beforehand will stop any problems you may run in to.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Hot Pepper
An old favourite that I've rediscovered this Summer is Hot Pepper from Bourjois. It's a stunning orange red that really pops on both fairer and darker skintones, making it the talking point of any look. It's not a real matte but it's also not a satin finish, it's a weird hybrid that doesn't dry lips out but also doesn't budge or bleed. It's definitely one I can see myself adding to a minmal make up look to give it a boost.

Sleek Matte Me Up Liquid Lipstick in Rioja Red
This is a red that I haven't worn a lot but plan on changing this Summer. It's again a more orange based red but doesn't have that much orange that it washes out fairer complexions. It's definitely a lipstick that requires some prep but when done right, it's absolutely gorgeous. I'd highly recommend taking a lip balm with you when you wear this to combat any dryness but it certainly won't budge no matter what you eat or drink.

Make Up Revolution Pro Supreme Matte Pigment in Spiritual 
Now I know you're probably fed up of red's right now but I promise this is the last one. Red is my go to shade all year round but especially during the Summer when the sun's out. And this is the latest addition to my collection. It's again a mixture of an orange based red and a classic blue toned red, which for me is my perfect Summer red shade. This has some staying power but does require a little waiting time as it dries down. I don't advise pressing your lips together as this dries as you'll have to redo it but the wait is worth it. I found this to be a little uncomfortable to wear but a lot of that came down to lack of prep on my side. This does not budge and is a perfect budget dupe of both Stila's Beso and Kat Von D's Outlaw.

 Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong
Let's move on to the very small amount of pink shades I'll be wearing this Summer. Pink Pong from Bourjois is the perfect blue toned pink that compliments all skin tones including fairer complexions and doesn't make teeth look yellow. It's a weird formula that sits between a matte and a satin finish without the accompanying powder feeling of a matte finish. I love wearing this with minmal make up and a basic white tee and jeans.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Ole' Flamingo
Another shade from the Rouge Edition range I adore for the Summer is Ole' Flamingo. It's not a blue toned as Pink Pong but still looks stunning on a multiude of skin tones. It's got warmer undertones than Pink Pong which warms up us with fairer complexions and gives our complexions a boost even if we are covered in SPF30.

Rosie For Autograph in Rosie Lips
A deeper pink that I reach for a lot when I'm looking to tone down a look is this one from Rosie For Autograph. It's got a deeper raspberry tone to it that stops it from being too over the top but still allows it to be bold and seen. It's a satin finish that doesn't budge from the lips and easily brightens the complexion, a must have pink for anyone who finds pink a hard lip colour to wear.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Rome
Even though it's Summer and bold lips are the in thing, I still love a good neutral lip every now and again, especially when I'm wearing something more colourful. And that's where this shade from NYX comes in. It's neutral enough to not clash with anything bright but still has enough colour and warmth to make it stand out and compliment the rest of your make up. It's mousse like texture makes it a dream to wear for long periods of time but application can be a little tricky if you don't have enough product on the doe foot applicator. Time and patience is the best way to go with this product, something not all of us have but is well worth it.

 Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Patina
Another pinky neutral shade I love comes from Stila. Patina may look more brown in the tube but in fact has a deeper pink undertone to it that doesn't really show itself until it's on the lips. More of a traditional matte finish than others I've talked about but with the right prep beforehand this can look gorgeous on the lips for a good few hours without drying, peeling or flaking off.

MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in Dash
And finally my last neutral and last lipstick for this edit is another pinky nude shade that is a great budget friendly dupe for Patina. Dash is slightly darer in tone but still has that pink undertone that won't wash out fairer complexions. It again is a traditional matte finish and can feel powdery on the lips if too much is applied. It isn't one to wear out to dinner but is perfect if your nipping out to run errands or nipping to the shops and don't need to worry about reapplication. This is a gorgeous lipstick that I have worn many a time but if I were to chose, I'd have to chose Patina over this down to the wear time and feel on the lips. 

Beauty Declutter

                       

If you follow me on Instagram then you'll know this weekend that I did a massive beauty purge. I filled up an entire bag of products that I didn't want or that didn't/wouldn't work for me, that I'm working on donating to a local women's charity. However there were a few products that weren't suitable to be donated so I thought I'd share them with you before chucking them out. 

                         

There was only a couple of skincare items I'm throwing away. The first is this Clearly Youthful Resurfacing Night Serum. I loved this serum at one point but then one bottle was just full of little plastic bits that scratched my skin. And if that wasn't enough to put me off, when I looked inside these boxes, they've clearky gone off. Both bottles are yellow in colour and the product has separated in the bottles. I hadn't used this product in ages so throwing them out isn't going to create a gap in my routine at all. 

                           

The other skincare product I'm throwing out is the Nivea Express Hydration Primer. I brought this on a whim to use under my make up but it didn't work so it just went to the back of the cupboard. And now it's been sat there that long, it would be unhygienic to use, even if it did work. Again because it hasn't been a part of any of my routines, it's not a loss to get rid of it. 

                            

Going through all my old foundations made me really question what the hell I was thinking. A lot of them were empty but all of them looked a good two shades two dark for me. I can't believe I happily wore those out in public. This one I thought I could try and make work but was horribly wrong so it's got to go. This is the Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation. I remember when this first came out and how impressed by the look and feel of it on my skin. But it's clearly too dark for me (just call me Casper) and has separated in the tub, so it's bye bye to this. Let's just all be thankful that I've finally learnt how to match my foundation properly. 

                           

There are two concealers I'm getting rid of. The first is the Gosh CCC Concealer. This actually matched my skin tone but was really piss poor when it came to coverage and staying power. I never reach for it so I don't see the point of keeping it. The second is the Barry M Flawless Light Reflecting Concealer. What on Earth possessed me to buy this shade. It's clearly too dark for me and from what I remember from using it, is that it doesn't do a lot coverage wise and just sits heavily on the skin. Again it makes me feel grateful that I finally learned how to choose the right products for my skin. 

                      

Two colour Correctors I'm getting rid of come from Maxfactor. I remember ordering these especially from Boots when they were first released. I wish I'd never bothered, these are thick, heavy textured products that drag on the skin and do little to correct skins tone. These are also about three years old so I think it's best if we just parted ways. If you want a decent colour corrector, I'd recommend trying out the Collection Lasting Perfection Colour Correctors. 

                              

The Rimmel Clear Complexion Pressed Powder used to be a staple in my everyday make up routine. Now though I much prefer loose powders, especially those that are transparent and can't be detected on the skin. This now has too much colour to it for me to wear. Plus for hygiene reasons, it's probably bests that this goes in the bin. 

           

                            

I'm throwing not one but three mascaras. I'm always cautious when it comes to products that come into contact with my eyes so even though I like one of these mascaras, it's for the best that chuck it out. The first is the Bourjois Volume 1 Second mascara. I remember using for the sake of using it when I first brought it but the brush was way too big and caused more mascara to land on my eyelid than my lashes. It's pretty ancient so it's for the best that it goes. The second is the Barry M Showgirl Mascara. The bristles on this particular wand are just way to spiky and I ended up poking them in my eye more times than not. And because it's been opened, I'm just going to throw it away instead of donating purely for hygiene reasons. And the last one is pretty much finished but one I'd completely forgotten about. The Pur Volume Vixen featured in a beauty advent calender one year and I absolutely loved it. I loved it that much that I used it all up but because it was so small in size, it got lost in my collection before I could feature it in an empties or just chuck it away. 

                             

Another eye product I'm throwing just to be on the cautious side is the Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner. I don't wear eye liner but I did try this product when I received it to see if it would be the product the worked for me but alas it didn't. That being said, it felt like it could be a nice product, just that didn't work for me. If it had been in an uopened cellophane wrap, I may have considered donating it but because I've opened and used it, it's just gotta go in the bin. 

                             

I remember spending ages looking for the perfect lip scrub and then finding two, that after a couple of uses just sat forgotten about in my collection. And now they've both gone off and I'm back to square one when it comes to lip scrub. The first is the Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub. This worked well on my lips but it tasted horrible and I always ended up with it in my mouth no matter hard I tried not to. The second is the Body Shop Lip Scrub. I wish this one was still okay to use (it's not) as it worked wonders on my lips, didn't taste of much and didn't end up in my mouth even after I'd wiped it off. I'll probably have to repurchase The Body Shop lip scrub as I am actually in need of one at the moment. 

                              

Two lipsticks that I'm bidding adieu to are the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 38 and the Revlon Ultra HD lipstick in Peony. Both are colours that just don't suit me, even when I've tried to mix them with other shades. Plus I've lost track of how long they've been sitting in my collection, so I don't feel comfortable donating them, even though they've barely been used. 

                                

A liquid lipstick I'm throwing away is the Loreal Infallible Lipstick in 503. It's a stunning colour, actually the kind of colour I'm looking for at the moment. But when it's held up to the light you can see that it has a shimmer run through it, that would definitely show when your wearing it. I'd have cleaned it up and donated it but when I opened it, it had started to dry out and looked like something even I wouldn't be happy to out on my lips so I wouldn't expect anyone else to either. 

                         

And the last thing I'm throwing out is something that should have gone ages ago. The Loreal Infallible Setting Mist is just a heap of crap and that's putting it nicely. It would probably have potential to be a nice product if it didn't have that white sediment that settles at the bottom no matter how much you shake it and then appears like little blobs of dried toothpaste on your face. If you're looking for a good setting spray I'd highly recommend checking out the Maybelline SuperStay Setting Spray or the Collection Primed And Ready Make Up Fixing Mist. Both lock make up into place but won't leave those horrible white dots on your skin. 

Monthly Favourites: March

                         

Welcome back to another Monthly Favourites. March has been a bit of a hit and miss month with me. I started the month fully intent on creating amazing content for you all and planned out some amazing things to do with my friends and family but by the middle of this month I lost all my enthusiasm and interest in the blog especially. So as you may have noticed I took some time off but today I'm back with my March favourites and a whole hog of ideas for April's posts as well. 

                       

Elizabeth And James Nirvana Fragrances 

My first and all time favourite of this month comes in the form of a fragrance or six. Last month my best friend Jasmin went to Washington and so kindly brought me back these Elizabeth and James Fragrance Rollerball Sets. The two trio sets contain every scent they've released so far in a travel sized miniature, perfect for trying or travelling with. Now I already knew I loved the Nirvana White but wasn't sure which of the other I'd also like. Turns out I love them all and I've been wearing them all month. Each one is cleverly unique, feminine and sophisticated in its own right. Plus they're long lasting on the skin and can even be smelt on clothing a good couple of days later. I can't pick a favourite out of the six but the ones I've worn the most have to be French Grey, Bourbon and Nirvana Black, French Grey especially as it mixes beautifully with my Rosie For Autograph Rose Gold to create a stunning feminine, classy, sexy scent that's perfect for the evening without being too heavy or musky. 

                          

Palmers Skin Therapy Face Oil With Rosehip 

My skin has been an absolute nightmare this month, with breakout after breakout appearing just as I thought my skin was getting better. As I write this apart from a couple of blemishes on my chin my skin is the best it's looked all month and it's all down to this next favourite of mine. I'd seen people raving about the Palmers Face Oil on Pinterest so decided to give it a go in hopes of reducing the appearance of any marks left behind by my blemishes. And by God has it worked a wonder or two. Lightweight and non greasy this oil absorbs easily into my skin, working not only to leave it feeling hydrated for longer but also reducing any dark marks left from my blemishes. And as I said my skin looks the best it has all month thanks to this oil. If you're struggling with blemishes, I'd highly recommend trying this oil out. 

                         

Rosie For Autograph Brow Pencil/Benefit Gimme Brow 

This month I've really gotten into filling in my brows. Usually I get them tinted and leave them until my next brow appointment but for some reason this month I've started filling them in. And I can't get over how different they look with just a little bit of pencil or tinted brow gel through them which is where my next two favourites come in. For days when I've been feeling lazy I've been loving the Benefit Gimme Brow. It gives just enough for my brows to have a bit more shape and colour but doesn't look like I've spent ages on them. And then for days when I can be bothered to make more of an effort, the Rosie For Autograph Brow Pencil has been my go to product. It is quick and easy to create a defined shape that looks natural but defined. And the spoolie on the end means you can easily brush through and remove any excess product without having to do your brows again. The only problem is because it's so soft, I've already used tons of this already and need to repurchase a new one. 

                           

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation 

An old favourite of mine that I've rediscovered my love for this month is the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation. I featured this in my favourites last year but afterwards found it didn't suit my skin aswell as I thought it did. That is until recently when I pulled out of my collection on a whim. And I've fallen in love with it all over again. It's advertised as a light coverage but I find this gives me a gorgeous medium coverage that can be easily built up to cover imperfections. And what once would have looked like a oil slick mess now looks glowy and healthy. I don't know if it's because I'm using a different powder but it wears differently to what I remember and can easily go a whole day without trasnfereing or fading. 

                           

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer 

Last month Maybelline extended the shade range in their Fit Me concealer now including a paler shade for fairer tones such as myself. So I thought I'd give it a go and it's replaced my much loved Collection Comcealer. It's so good, I've worn it everyday since I brought it as you can tell by the state of the packaging. It's a high coverage concealer that feels lightweight on the skin and doesn't oxidise throughout the day. Perfect for under the eyes as well as to cover redness and blemishes this concealer has been a godsend when it comes to making my nightmare skin look somewhat presentable on a daily basis. 

                         

Benefit They're Real Tinted Lash Primer 

Another old favourite I've rediscovered this month comes from Benefit. They're tinted lash primer was one of the first lash primers I tried and it set me off trying to find the perfect one. I thought I had with the Maybelline Lash Sensational Primer but nothing compare to Benefit's They're Real Tinted Primer. Firstly it gives lashes amazing length and volume which is only amplified when mascaras applied over top. Secondly, it conditions lashes as you wear it and doesn't cause them to droop or lose their volume as the day goes on. And thirdly because it's a brown tint instead of white, you can easily wear it on its own on no make up days to just lashes a lift. I'm nearly out of mine so I'll be hitting up a Benefit stand when I'm in town next. 

                                          

Tomb Raider

And my last favourite of them month is a movie favourite. March has been quiet for film releases but one I'd been highly anticipating is the Tomb Raider reboot. I'm a huge fan of the original Angelina Jolie films but was intrigued by what Alicia Vikander could bring to the role. And she didn't disappoint. Strong, badass and every bit as good as Angelina, Vikander brought a fresh new spin on the Tomb Raider series. It's set earlier in the life of Lara Croft's life and as a whole is the perfect origins story/prelude to the early 2000's Tomb Raider films. If you weren't sure when you saw the trailer, I'd say give it a chance, you might be surprised.

Monthly Favourites: November

I say this every month but literally where has the month gone. It's nearly December and I haven't even got half of my Christmas shopping done. The panic is starting to set in a little if I'm honest. This month there isn't a lot of new favourites or a lot of favourites in general. For some reason I just haven't been using or discovering a lot of new products this month.

A lot of my favourites this month are old favourites that I've fallen in love with again. The first of these is Pixi's Glow Tonic. This has been my go to toner for the month and it's really changed both how my skin looks and feels. A lot of it's down to the 5% Glycolic Acid in it's formula that has helped my skin, making my skin look brighter and feel softer to the touch. And I've been using it everyday instead of every now and again and I think that's why it's been working so well with my skin. In fact I'm nearly out and need to pick up another one up soon.

Another oldie but a goodie is the Emma Hardie Morninga Cleansing Balm. I go through phases of using it and then stopping because I only had travel sized pots beforehand. Now though I have three 50ml pots waiting for me when I have finished this one. I love this product, it just works wonders on my skin, especially now it's Winter. Rich, thick and nourishing, this is my favourite second cleanse at the moment as it just does so much for my skin. If you've never tried it before I highly suggest you do, you won't regret it.

From one end of the price spectrum to another. To go alongside with my Emma Hardie, my favourite inital cleanse/make up remover has been from Loreal. Their Extraordinary Facial Cleansing Oil has been my go to intial cleanse. Lightweight, non greasy and non pore blocking, this cleansing oil breaks down make up, including mascara without stinging or leaving a film behind. This paired with my Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm is like a match made in heaven. Together my skin feels squeaky clean but not stripped and the combination of the ingredients have left my skin glowing, clean and soft.

The only make up favourite I have this month is the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation. I picked this up at the beginning of the month after a few weeks of debating if I really needed it. And I'm so glad I picked it up. Amazing coverage, gorgeous glowy finish and brilliant staying power, this foundation I've been wearing this month. Usually Bourjois base products have a tendency to oxidise on my skin but this doesn't do that and looks flawless a good eight hours after I've applied it. Because it's more of a glowy finish I do need to powder a little more but that's not really a big issue for me.

This month I turned 25! And as my birthday present my bestest friend/soul sister Jasmin brought tickets for us to go and see Mamma Mia. I didn't have any idea where we'd be sitting, I just went by what Jasmin said. On the night we went for dinner and headed to Oxford and that's when I for once in my life was a little speechless. We were seven rows from the front. SEVEN ROWS! It made me a little emotional and left me a little speechless at the same time. Mamma Mia was amazing, I found myself laughing, singing and even at the end dancing. If you've ever thought of going, do it. It's an amazing night out and I can't quite believe that Jasmin did something like this for my birthday.

The other non beauty favourite I've been loving this month is the reboot of Strike Back. Retribution is a brand new cast for a ten part series which kicked off with a bang. Now I didn't think this was going to amount to much as I didn't think they could top the original series with Philip Winchester and Sullivan Stapleton. But they're on a good start to do so. Four episodes have aired so far and each one has been bigger and better than the last. It's also set up the rest of the series nicely and I can't wait to see how it plays out. Warren Brown and Dan MacPherson are brilliant as Mac and Wyatt and have the same style banter as seen before with Winchester and Stapleton but it's the women of the team that I'm loving the most. Roxanne Mckee and Alin Sumarwata are absolutely amazing as Reynolds and Novin. Strong, badass yet still human and hilarious, the pair are my favourites of the show. And it's one of the reasons why Strike Back is one of my favourite shows even if it's not the typical kind of show you'd expect me to watch.

New In: November

Okay so this post isn't what I had scheduled but I wasn't feeling that post and was a little stuck on ideas. And then an idea for a series which I will start properly next year. Now I know New In posts and videos aren't a new or groundbreaking idea but I think it'll be a good way to share what's new in stores alongside letting you know if I'll be purchasing them or not. Today's post is a trial, I'd love some feedback whether you liked this or not and if you'd like to see more next year.

Simple Water Boost Skin Quench Sleeping Cream £6.99
 If you remember a little while back I reviewed the Simple Water Boost Hydrating Booster. And I absolutely loved it. And now they've released a Skin Quench Sleeping Cream to the range. Packed full of the same ingredients as the rest of the Water Boost range, this new sleeping cream is designed to hydrate skin and remove signs of fatigue and dehydration as you sleep. I have a pot of this ready to try once I've finished up my Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream, I'm intrigued to see the difference between the two. The full review/comparison won't be up until the new year probably but if you like the concept of this product I highly recommend checking it out.

No7 Instant Results Revitalising Hydrogel Eye Masks £15
 No7 have released Eye Masks and they look amazing. These hydrogel eye masks claim to fit seamlessly to the under area. Soaked in Vitamin E and Vitamin C, these eye masks are designed to reduce the appearence of dark circles whilst promoting healthy looking skin under the eyes. These are a little pricey at £15 but you do recieve five in a box which will keep you going for a while and will save you a little money at the same time. I'm defintely going to be picking up a pack of these when I'm in Boots next as I'm a big fan of an under eye patch and think these could actually work on my under eye area.

CYO Lifeproof Long Lasting Foundation £7.50
This next product was one I didn't even know exsisted until I saw it on the Boots website. I'm assuming CYO is a new brand that's been launched in Boots recently. From what I've seen it's a budget friendly make up brand that has something for everyone, including this Lifeproof Long Lasting Foundation. It's advertised as a long wear medium coverage foundation that can last up to twenty four hours without looking cakey and still feeling lightweight on the skin. There are fifteen shades available but they only really cater towards very fair skintones up to a medium/deep skintone. There are no deeper shades, the darkest shade they offer is 115 which looks like it would cater for the very end scale of medium tones but no deeper than that. A little disappointing considering the amount of fairer tones they. Would I try it? I'm not sure, I have several foundations I'm very happy with at the moment so I think this would be a miss but maybe in the future when I'm looking to try something new.

Bourjois Metallic Lip Cream £8.99
A newly released lip offering that caught my eye comes from Bourjois. They've joined the other brands in releasing their own Metallic Lip Cream.There are eight shades in the range including a red, a silver and a deeper grey shade. I've swatched them in store and whilst they are pigmented and swatch beautifully, there is something about them that I'm not that keen on. I think it's because they don't dry down at all which to mean spells trouble. I much prefer the Barry M Metallic Matte Me Up Lip Kits or the new Loreal Merry Metallic Lip Paints.

No7 Matte Liquid Lips £10
The last new release that's caught my eye is the No7 Matte Liquid Lips. These look ultra pigmented and easy to apply with their standard doe foot applicator. Advertised as a long wearing yet comfortable and pigmented colour, these liquid lipsticks sound like they could be right up my street. The only downfall is that there is only six shades and whilst a couple of them appeal to me, I have a feeling that the colour won't be a true match to that shown on the Boots website. I will be giving them a swatch though when I'm in Boots next so watch this space to see if any come home with me. 

Declutter: Make Up

Back in June I started redoing my bedroom, moving furniture, purchasing new pieces and purging through god knows how many things I didn't need or want anymore. And the one I've been holding on to for longer than others is my make up and skincare. But alas it can not stay and I thought that I'd give you look at what I'm going to be getting rid of either because I don't want it anymore or because it's run out or gone out of date.

I thought I'd be throwing away more primers than this as I've been on a bit of a primer journey but there are only three. The first I'm getting rid of is the Miss Sporty Insta Glow Primer. This is horrendous. A pale peach shade this doesn't prime skin, allow foundation to apply nicely over top and contains glitter particles that cling and highlight the wrong areas of the face. The next is the PUR Correcting Primer. This was actually an okay primer but it's too silicone based for my skin type and didn't allow any base product to sit nicely over top. And the last primer I'm throwing away is the Maxfactor Facefinity Primer. It's a nice primer but it's been in my collection way to long and needs to be thrown away.

For foundation/base products I have a lot to dispose of. A lot of them are BB Creams because they are the one base product I buy with high hopes and always end up bitterly disappointed. All the BB Creams you see are going because they don't match me. Either they come out of the tube darker than expected or they come out the same shade as my skin but oxidise horribly on my skin after a while. The B BB Cream is one of the better ones but it still doesn't look good after a few hours. The Loreal Nude Eau De Teint is a stunning lightweight foundation but is now too dark for me as I've stopped sunbathing a few years ago and am embracing the pale. The Maybelline Better Skin used to match my skin beautifully but it's been in my collection for a few years now and is now too pink toned for my yellow undertone skin. The Maxfactor Facefinity Foundation is just really old now and is too gross to put anywhere near my face. It's a lovely foundation and perfect for those who enjoy a light to medium coverage. And the same stands for the Bourjois CC Cream. I love this stuff and how it leaves my skin looking but it's been open way too long and I don't think it's sanitary to put anywhere near my face.

I don't do colour correcting so having these four MUA Pro Base Colour Correcting Creams sat gathering dust in my collection is a waste. I have literally only swatched these on the back of my hand and then put them in a draw and forgotten about them. Don't worry though, these aren't going in the bin, I'm going to offer them to my friends and family first to see if anyone wants them. And then I'm ridding myself of the Barry M Light Reflecting Concealer. I've had this for too long and it doesn't look very good in the tube. It's lightweight, light reflecting and doesn't contain a ton of glitter so I'm sad to see this go but for hygiene reasons I think it' best.

Powder time and there are just a few I'm getting rid of. Ones such as the MUA Pro Base Powder, Collection Sheer Loose Powder and the Boujois Healthy Balance are going because they've been sitting in my collection for far too long. The MUA Pressed Powder and the Maybelline Matte Maker are not horrendous powders but on my fairer skin it can oxidise on my skin. The Healthy Balance is a good powder but does have a tendency to shatter if dropped and when it gets to the end of it's life it can break easily which is why I'm throwing it away now before it ends up all over my carpet.

I did a cull of my setting sprays a little while ago but missed this one from MUA. It's nice but it doesn't wow me, unlike the Maybelline SuperStay Setting Spray or the Collection Fixing Mist. It has a lightweight spray that doesn't mess up make up or leave those horrid white dots everywhere like some setting sprays can. It's budget friendly as well but that said there are still better ones on the market that don't cost much more.

Before I started getting my eyebrows tinted I used to fill them in and one of my favourite products was the Sleek Eyebrow Pencil. Now though I don't need it and had actually forgotten that this was sitting in the bottom of my collection. The spoolie on the end is gross to look at and whilst there is still some pencil left I think it's been too long for me to finish it off without it being gross and highly unsanitary.

Mascara is something I have a tendency to hoard. For example I have about five on the go right now and will probably end up buying another one when I'm shopping this weekend. However there are six I will be saying goodbye because their either disappointing or they've dried up and need replacing. The Loreal Miss Manga Punky, Revlon Volume+Length and the Rimmel Scandaleyes Xtreme are going because they are just awful. The brushes leave a lot to be desired and the formula's aren't much better. The Barry M Showgirl Volume, Loreal Volume Million Lashes Feline and Rimmel Wonder'Full are brilliant and definitely on my repurchase list. They all have excellent brushes and their formula's whilst aren't the best of the best, they are some of the better ones on the market. They've all unfortunately dried up but I managed to get a really good amount of use out of each of them, something which is surprising considering how many mascaras I can have on the go at once.

Out of everything in this declutter there are only a few products I'd happily repurchase or even think about repurchasing. Out of the bases I'd happily repurchase the Bourjois CC Cream and the Maxfactor Facefinity, both have good coverage and give a skin like finish whilst still covering where it needs to. If they still sold the Loreal Eau De Teint I'd probably repurchase it but in a lighter shade as it's coverage and feel were amazing on the skin. Apart from that I'd probably only repurchase the three mascaras that I used to the point of drying out. All three do amazing things to my lashes and when they were usuable I found myself reaching for them constantly. Apart from those particular products I don't think I'd buy any of the others again. They didn't work for me but that doesn't mean that they won't work for you though, make up is always about personal preference.