My Go To Make-up Products

It's July, Summer is in it's prime, which is a rarity for us English lot who don't usually experience sunshine quite this much, so you'd think whilst sweating in 28 degree weather make-up is the last thing on my mind but well, you'll be surprised!

In actual fact, because this heat doesn't allow for a lie in, I have time on my hands to pack on the layers to make me look less of a potato. I've also found a few new products I am obsessed with so I enjoy applying, even if i do look a bit extra for work.

The first product is one of the biggest hypes of this year. I wasn't 100% convinced when I read reviews that a £5 foundation could be so flawless and full coverage but this Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick is a gift from the gods. Not only is it obviously super inexpensive, It is perfect for my skin. Being Casper the ghost, I feel like most foundations only have limited shades where even the lightest can be too orange for me but having 18 shades suitable for everyone, I really have hit the jackpot. F4 is perfect for me as it's not too pasty on my skin like F1 but it's just the right colour to suit with or without a fake tan. It's so easy to apply and blends like a dream, what more could I ask?

Next up is highlight. I didn't think bargain wise, I'd find one that makes me shine bright like a diamond until I discovered this Primark beauty. The shade is Brunch Club and the glow is just right without looking like you're just sweaty. I feel like Primark has really upped their game when it comes to beauty products, the quality is amazing and at £2.50? Who needs an expensive dupe?

Recently, I've incorporated lashes into my daily routine. I know this seems very "Beauty Vlogger" of me but honestly, I love how much they make a difference to my look. I have long lashes naturally so it's more for the volume and intensity but I'm currently loving it. It doesn't even take much more effort now I've had practice and I always used to think it was an expensive craze but like everything quality isn't always pricey. Now, surprisingly my go-to lashes are only £1! Although Primark lashes are my favourite, most days I grab mine from Poundland and although the glue is shocking, pair these with Superdrug own brand lash glue and you're looking glam for a fraction of the price, not to mention they are reusable!

Finally, who doesn't love a good nude? I feel like I've been on the search for a drugstore dupe of Kylie's Candi K for so long and they've either been too light it looks like I've got foundation lips, or they're too warm toned, however, this Velvet Matte Lip Lacquer by MUA in the shade Tranquility is £3 and I am in love. It just glides onto my lips and dries perfectly without taking too much moisture away as I suffer from chapped lips, also the colour is so versatile for so many looks. So impressed.

Shop here:

Foundation Stick - Superdrug

Lip Lacquer - Superdrug

Highlighter - Primark.

Lashes - Poundland

RECREATE HER STYLE: Millie Bobby Brown

When I was 13 years old, I was struggling through year 8, adjusting to my evergrowing boobs and getting compared to Fran from Dodgeball (not even an exaggeration, I was not a looker and I had not heard of tweezers) and I'm pretty sure we were all doing that weren't we? Well, not Millie Bobby Brown. This is one 13 year old girl's life I do envy; starring in one of the biggest Netflix shows of the moment Stranger Things, being invited to every red carpet event going and rubbing shoulders with Drake! 

I have a confession to make though, I haven't watched a single episode of Stranger Things but that in itself shows how internationally known she actually is for a teenager. Also, to top it off, her red carpet style is KILLING it this year. Both at the Golden Globes and the SAG awards she has made quite an impression and eventhough I am 10 years older than the girl, she has given me the inspiration to recreate these looks. Millie is sporting bun-style 'dos at both events however vibing completely contrasting looks.

Millie's make-up is not very complex at all but her elegance at the Golden Globes was effortless. As you may or may not know, at the awards all women wore black in aid of the Times Up campaign supporting those who have come forward about sexual harrassment so she complimented the black with a winged eyeliner. I used Rimmel's Glam Eyes Liquid Liner just to frame my eyes and Rimmel's Stay Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Latte To Go mixed with L'Oreal Lip Paint in Nude-ist to create that perfect natural lip shade.

As for hair, it was quite difficult for myself to dupe this as at the moment my hair is quite short however the simplest way to create the plait effect was to seperate my hair into a half-up, half-down style and then seperate the down part into two sections. Although Millie actually has 3 plaits I just made two by simply making two seperate plaits and pinning them to the back of my head. With the rest of my hair I put into a simple high bun and that was it. Really straightforward and it would be easier if your hair is a little longer so you don't have to use a million hair grips like myself.

The SAG awards were on the weekend and I was obsessed with Millie's look, it was super girly and if you know me, I live for space buns! They just look so put together and keeps your hair out of your face, win-win. Completely the look with black bows to contrast the very pink vibes just adds that something extra. She even wore Converse for goodness sake, this girl slays.

Again, make-up wise was pretty simple with just glittery shadow on the lids, chizzled cheeks and a pink lip. Although I don't have a silver glitter shadow I just used the Princess shade in Jeffree Starr's Beauty Killer Palette along with a white shadow to make it less pink and for cheeks I use the Kate Moss Sculpting Palette. Finally I completed the look with Maybelline's Colour Sensational Lipstick in Smoky Rose.

I surprisingly had so much fun recreating these red carpet looks and may make this a trend when I am really vibing someone's style. I really hope you liked it too. 

Until next time.

Katie x

Entering 2018 Confidently.

Hey boos,

What a busy end of the year I had and definitely one year to put behind me. 2017 was a rollercoaster that by the end I was contemplating just jumping off before it finished it's course. But after 2 weeks off to relax at home with my family celebrating a very delayed Christmas, things are definitely beginning to look up. I've cut ties with anything toxic jeopardising my happiness, my progression in my job is just about to start and my best friend is one step close to moving up and working alongside me in the very near future. Let's just pray this level of positivity remains eh?

Along with positivity is confidence and 2018 is the time where I'm putting this into practice alot more and bringing back the Katie Pook that at 21 thought she could conquer the world. In 2 weeks I'm turning 23 and it's perfect opportunity to adjust back into that mindset and set myself up for the future. There's no better time than the present!

First things first I want to feel more comfortable in my own skin. I aim to take more selfies and post to Instagram daily. It may came across self-obsessed and vain and appearance isn't the key to confidence but it's 2018, social media is at it's prime and yes, I may be completely hung up on it but I'm only human and honestly It has (so far) made a difference.

Completely contrasting the heavily filtered, fake reality of Instagram, I have also taken a break from the gruelling chore of make-up and allowing my skin to breathe. Now, in the past the thought of channeling my bare-face in public without a hint of concealer freaked me out however, in a roundabout way it is evidently improving my skin with the help of moisturiser to keep my face hydrated. Again, this may not seem a big deal to many but after suffering from chickenpox 22 years late last year, noticable scars were left and my confidence plummeted, but just like everything else, it is part of who I am and it's my chance to embrace it.

Anyway enough self-love for one day. Let's make 2018 a year to remember, who's with me??

REVIEW | Lasting Finish 25 Hour Breathable Foundation

I have waited so long to do a review of this but honestly, I've not been near a drugstore to pick it up until I completely ran out of it's sister product Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation. Anyway since this has been my Holy Grail product since about 18 years old (as I've noted a thousand times before) It was time to test this out, finally!

Now, let's get down to what the foundation states:

"Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Breathable Foundation is a lightweight skin perfecting foundation with medium coverage. Breathable skin technology that moisturises for up to 25hr. With SPF 20"

Sounds promising, however as I am such a advocate for full coverage foundation, I was a little apprehensive as to how well I was going to get on with it and whether it will cover to my desire.

I always get Rimmel foundations in 100 Ivory as I am Casper the Ghost's sister and even that is still dark for me! I must admit when I opened the lid I was pleasantly surprised (and a little excited) about the applicator. It's a stick with a sponge end which is the complete contrast to original which is just a pump with no applicator. 

I suppose you can apply this directly to the skin however I decided to dab a few swabs onto my blending sponge and applied it that way and honestly as I first I wasn't convinced. It felt so lightweight like I wasn't covering any blemishes it literally just felt like a moisturiser however when I actually looked at my complexion I was proven wrong. Admittedly it's buildable so I did need to apply more product until I was comfortable but I couldn't fault it and like I said, how it felt against my skin, it didn't feel caked on yet looked almost flawless.

It also worked well with the rest of my make-up routine (you can read about what products I use here) blending together lovely. So, honestly if you're looking for a light-medium coverage more moisturising foundation that doesn't feel caked on your skin, this is an amazing alternative to the original product by Rimmel.

However, I am a sucker for full coverage so it's not a complete replacement just yet!     

Love, Pook x

DRESSES FOR £1?! | ISawItFirst

Do you ever wake up in the morning after a nice little sleep and a miracle has happened? Well that's exactly what happened on Tuesday. Well, okay I know I'm being super extra but seeing an email saying I could get clothes for £1 was a blessing when I'm struggling to maintain money this side of Christmas.

Now, normally when I get emails or notifications of crazy sales like this, I just think, oh it's just the last of their summer crap, or something that is a serious fashion faux pas but I always look, because y'know, just incase and I'm nosey. 

I Saw It First is genuinely my go-to online store now. I first discovered it back in July when literally every social influencer was raving about it and usually when that happens I click their link and that's as far as it goes but something was different about this site, I had a good feeling and that day I did spend about £70 on a few outfits just to test it and it's been my favourite since. It's affordable, efficient and friendly and the quality is decent!

Now, back to this £1 malarkey. After scrolling through the first few pieces, I realised this was the real deal man, like it wasn't just summer sale, there were £30 price tags reduced to £1 which is very rare, I know it's Black Friday week but this was crazy. They smartly however, put a 2 items per transaction limit to prevent greedy buggers like myself nabbing the whole lot so in the end I settled for these 2 gorgeous dresses, retailing originally at £20 and £25.

  

I was a little bit excited as party season is very soon approaching (not that I have any to go to) so used this as an acceptable excuse to buy metallic pieces. C'mon it's CHRISTMAS!! And besides if for whatever reason I hated them, it cost me less than a bottle of Coke!

First up I tried on this Rose Gold Metallic Dress and it's not actually from the I Saw It First brand which I kind of knew straight away, it wasn't the usual quality I expected and the metallic material reminded me of a turkey wrapped in foil but when I put it on it actually looked nice. The material doesn't really give much wriggle room and you have to tie up the straps yourself to avoid any malfunction which is super risky but I styled it with my oversized denim jacket from Boohoo to make it a little bit more me to dress it down and I do really like it. It's definitely a Christmas dress when you're feeling a bit extra (which is me all the time) or can be used for fancy dress but I do see myself wearing this to a few parties.

Now onto the second dress, which on the model I didn't think much of I mean I liked it but the way it was styled with metallic silver thigh high boots didn't leave the best first impression. When I took it out the parcel I was instantly inlove; the material was such good quality and wasn't rough like some glitter style dresses and it was stretchy and fit like a glove. This is how I know it was the I Saw It First brand. Because of the low-back you can't wear a bra with it and as someone with alot of boobage I usually feel so conscious about this but I felt so secure and you can't see any nips which is an added bonus. This dress is definitely more my style out of the two and so comfortable, I cannot wait to wear this to a birthday party I'm going to next week and completely blag around the fact it cost me a freakin' £1!

If I'm 100% honest, I don't think I would pay full price for either dress as they both aren't usually something that would catch my eye or I would go for amongst other styles, but I am definitely very satisfied with my purchases and I definitely recommend you all to check out I Saw It First if you haven't already, especially with Black Friday around the corner, get yourself some bargains! 

Website: http://www.isawitfirst.com
Twitter:@isawitfirst
Instagram: isawitfirst
Snapchat: isawitfirst_com


(Please note: the £1 sale was over before I uploaded this post. This is not an Ad, just myself and my honest opinions on a brand I love)

Love, Pook x

Winter Beauty Killer | Make-up Routine

Hello lovelies,

I don't know about you but when it comes to this time of year, in between snuggling in my pajamas most of the time with the heating on and a good cuppa, I always find the motivation to look more "glam". Maybe it's because Winter is known for awards season and just parties in general dazzling yourself in sparkles and it being more acceptable than ever, I just enjoy sitting down and actually putting my face on and making an effort in an attempt to brighten up this gloomy weather.

That in mind, I thought I'd share my favourite make-up routine and what products I use to achieve this look.

First of all, let's start with eyes. I always find it so much easier to do eye make-up first that way I can be as messy as I want and wipe away any mistakes without worrying about my foundation ruining. Common sense really. Although it's a complete contrast colour to the festive season, I thought applying pink shadow would just add a bit of light softness to the usual bold trend of winter make-up. I used the Beauty Killer Palette by Jeffery Starr which is full of vibrant colours usually suitable for summer however I use this all year around. I took the shade Princess as a base colour (it's actually a pale pink, excuse the brightness ruining the colours!) then I apply a little bit Star Power, which is a vibrant pink ever so slightly to deepen the colour to get more of a subtle Barbie shade.

If you struggle with eyeliner like me, Glam Eyes by Rimmel London is perfect for dummies because of it's precision applicator it even makes my attempt look somewhat decent! I then finish off with Miss Manga Mega Volume Mascara from L'oreal Paris, because my eyelashes are naturally long but light, this mascara just thickens them up giving that falsh lash effect.

Now time for base and I've used the Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation by Rimmel on and off for years. It's just my Holy Grail product, I need full coverage that takes me through some gruelling shifts and this has never failed to impress me since I was about 18. They've actually brought out a "breathable" version this year which is more of a medium coverage that I'm looking forward to trying out for days I don't need much warpaint! Now for concealer, I used a mixture of Natural Collection's Liquid Concealer and a Cover-Stick. This one is from Poundland and is actually better than most coversticks I've used. Together they attack any dark circles or blemishes I have and actually covers my Chicken Pox scars above my lip instead of sinking into them. I then set it all with a Pressed Powder which is also from Poundland, it doesn't cake up at all and it's a bargain!

Last but not least a little bit of contouring. For this I cheat and just use Rimmel Kate Moss Sculpting Palette which does the work for you and tells you what goes where. (I often wonder how I'm a girl) it just accentuates my high cheekbones and stops me looking like a potato. I finish off with the Undress Your Skin Powder Highlighter from MUA which is so pigmented it's crazy for it's price! 

And here is the finished look. (Note: My lip colour is Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Lipstick in shade Plum This Show)

Until next time, my loves.

How Natural Is Your Natural Look?

I was sat at home the other morning contemplating what make-up look to wear, it was a day I was working so I didn't want heavy coverage and a full face so decided to go with Natural/wearable/easy to do. Perfect. 

However, when it came to doing my makeup it actually dawned on me when I was pulling out different products I was going to use that there is actually more effort to my natural look than I originally thought. So how natural really is my natural look? 

Here's the evidence of products I use on a daily basis: 

                         

So much for the I just woke up and glided out of bed effect. There are so many products nowadays encouraging this toned down look that we don't realise the amount of makeup we are applying just to get that impression of "we've haven't even tried" because the majority of us are too scared to go out bare-faced the real way. 

It's definitely a confidence issue, there was a period of time I did really look after my skin that I felt brave enough to ditch the makeup and go out without the slightest hint of foundation but with my redness, dark under eyes and blemishes there was no way in hell I would now.

The make-up remover test was also a revelation when I had to almost use two wipes just to get this understated look off my mug. 

Is it really worth it? 
Wouldn't it be more worthwhile to do a full face instead?

Oops. 

Well to be honest I love dolling up and toning down so for me it's not that much of an issue but I wanted to share with everyone what an eye opener this was for me. 

Yeah, I'd probably save a hell of a lot of make-up if I just braved it but what's the point if you're insecure and uncomfortable? The power of makeup is certainly too hard to resist nowadays. 

So, how natural is your natural look then girls?

Katie x

Hello, Avon Calling.

There is honestly no happy medium with me when it comes to skincare; I either don't use anything and get breakouts and rough skin or I decide to try every beauty product out there to cure it. I think you can already guess I'm in the middle of the latter stage so I have a few reviews coming up but todays post is about AVON.

I highly recommend Avon to anyone. If you've been living under a rock it's basically a beauty catalogue where normal everyday people become representatives to try and sell their products. The prices are ridiculous, everything is so affordable and every issue they have a new bunch of offers on, loads of gift sets and the quality is so good. For example what I'm about to talk about was 4 products for £5 (Absolute bargain!) Honestly, it's incredible. I personally haven't had any reason to complain, they're brilliant. Although I do wish I didn't have to wait a week for it to arrive and wish they didn't discontinue some of my favourite products!

Avon Care: Royal Jelly Face Cream For Very Dry Skin. 100ml.

Okay, so I wouldn't say my skin is that dry but the more suitable option for me was in Cocoa Butter and the smell of coconut just reeks and completely puts me off anything that includes it; shampoo, creams, food, ice tea. Yuck! Anyway I chose Royal Jelly. As I haven't used a cream in a long time I can already tell the difference in my skin, it's so much more hydrated and glowy like girls my age should have! FYI it's smells amazing.

Avon Care: Royal Jelly Hand Cream. 100ml.

I mean it only makes sense for me to go all out and purchase the hand cream in the same formula and scent. I've always been quite funny about my hands because I've always thought they were wrinkly and not very feminine and soft compared to my friends so there is no harm trying cream to see if it makes a difference. At first I wasn't sure, it made my hands felt a bit greasy but it's actually softened them and personally can see/feel a difference which is all that matters! Plus working next to a hospital I need something to keep those unwanted germs away!

The last 2 products I bought in the offer was:

Avon Naturals Hair Care Winter Nourishment Shampoo + Conditioner. 250ml (each)

Now, at the best of times my hair is very fussy with what products I use but even more so now I've cut my hair short, I'm much more paranoid about keeping it in a good condition. My hair mood changes and becomes victim to extreme weather conditions and with the wind and rain approaching I need something to protect it. Before even applying the products I tell you now it is the most amazing smelling shampoo and conditioner ever. The Vanilla and Pear scent is far from overpowering but it also doesnt have the after smell of soap and chemicals you usually get, it definitely reminds me of the colder months, I love it! I also love the condition my hair was left in without having to use half a bottle to make it at least that little bit smooth.

Avon products are generally my Holy Grail, because as I've said before I'm not a fan of spending extortionate amounts on products that aren't always worth it. I buy most of my lipsticks from there and can be on par with MAC for half the price, the nail polishes are instant dry and generally only need one coat usually costing from £3? How can you say no ey? Every issue there's at least one thing I want and I will rave to anyone who asks.

Happy Bargain shopping!

Just a pointer, Avon offers and prices do vary every issue but eventhough these were 4 products for £5 even seperately you can buy them all half price in Brochure 17. (Oct 2015) for under a tenner!

                                      

All of these opinions are my own, and I am not an Avon rep.

Katie x