Hello....It's me...

It's me! I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to speak? ...

Ok, so I am the worst blogger in the history of the world and basically took a year off...(and then put that Adele song in your head as if it wasn't catchy enough).

Anyway..I'm back. Tomorrow I am going to post my Winter-Spring 2016 style crushes and a selection of my favourite things in the UK highstreet that match my pinterest inspo pics.

But for now I am going to fill this page with awfully cheesy inspirational quotes & a cheeky gif as a way of displaying my feelings...or sort of resolutions for feelings in the NEW YEAR.  Here we go..

....and if all the black font quotes on plain backgrounds fail there's always this button gif:

Merry New Year Peeps 

xx

Halloween Makeup Tutorial: Morticia Addams!

Hey guys,
This year I am doing loads of Halloween makeup tutorials on my relaunched youtube channel:

Today's look is Morticia Addams! Watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUGR26lvyfg

Please comment, like and subscribe for more! :)

x

My Summertime Skincare Routine

One of the main makeup related peeves people tend to ask me about is foundations "Which one will stay on all day? Which one will stop my greasy t-zone showing?? Which one will hide my dry patches??? Which one will combat my large pores????? " Well guys.. I hate to break it to you but... you have got to start from the bottom. (if you didn't sing the song in your head you are a better person then me). You can spend hundreds of pounds and buy tons of foundations but really what you need to do is tackle the skin problem in the first place! Change up your skincare routine (which I know can be scary if you are stuck in your ways!) and work out what your skin really needs, THEN go and spend your money in Boots or Sephora.. *

So with this in mind here is my current summertime skincare routine:

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MAKEUP REMOVER

The best makeup remover for all over face makeup is Bioderma - BY FAR - it is a french micellar water which thankfully has recently become available in the UK too. A Micellar water feels just like that - water - it is completely clear and scent-less, meaning it is perfect for all skins types and it removes even tough makeup. I love the stuff and am really glad that the drugstore has taken the trend and run with it too. (The Garnier version is a very good dupe and is much much cheaper so if you want to try it out I recommend getting that one!)

I use bioderma on a large cotton pad and remove all of my face makeup, I hold a cotton pad soaked in bioderma over my eyes for a few seconds to allow the formula to break up the mascara and eyeliner. 

If I am wearing a particularly tough mascara I am in love with Body Shop Camomile Cleansing oil! It is a really gentle oil that cuts through any waterproof makeup you need it too. I know using oil on your face sounds a bit gross but if you think about it like washing up dishes..(bear with me here..) if you have a really greasy pan then the best thing to cut through that is an oily washing up liquid.. oil cuts through oil! When you add water to the body shop camomile oil it foams slightly and leaves your skin feeling super clean and super soft. 

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EXFOLIATOR

I use an exfoliator once a week to clear off any dry skin and help to prevent build up in my pores. At the moment I am loving Naobay 'Moisturising Peeling' It is gentle enough to not leave my face red and irritated after I use it but has done my skin wonders. Highly recommend. 

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MOISTERISER 

I have been using the Clinique dramatically different moisturising lotion, it does what it needs to do and soaks in quickly. No complaints here but I am still on the hunt for a moisturiser that blows this one out of the water.

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FACE MASK

I use a face mask around once a week too, the one I have been using for a while is the NUXE Masque Crème Fraîche De Beauté (fancy name) the best thing about this mask is that you don't need to rinse it off! You smooth the cream all over your face, including the eyes, and let it sink in - after ten minutes you simply rub the remaining cream into the skin! I put this on just before bed and always wake up to amazing feeling skin.

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That's all for now folks!

x

* I like Nars sheer glow - brightening, redness clearing, gives a 'glowing 'complexion- perfect for combination skin... L'oreal True Match similar to sheer glow except a little dryer and cheaper... L'oreal Infallible Matte - stay-all-day matte finish but still looks glowing - perfect for oily skin... MAC face & body buildable coverage, glowing complexion that can also be used on the body (hence the name) - perfect for dry skin. 

My Summer Proof Everyday Makeup Routine

As a makeup addict my everyday routine switches up quite often and obviously I always like trying new products. It has been unusually warm for England these past few weeks so I thought I would tell you my current makeup routine that lasts through hot weather!

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SKIN

I don't use a primer everyday as it isn't good for your skin, it blocks off the pores. However if it is really hot and I want my makeup to stay put or I'm going out for the night I'll use the La Roche Posay Mattifying Pore Minimising Primer or Smashbox photo ready - both of which I highly recommend.

After moisturising and priming (I will do an everyday skincare routine soon too!) I go straight into foundation. At the moment I have gone back to my old faithful L'oreal True Match, this foundation is really nice and covers up any redness I have on my face. I tend to apply this with my real techniques expert face brush, I can't begin to say what a difference a good set of brushes makes to your makeup. I buff the foundation in focussing on the center of my face where most of my redness is.

Next up I am using the Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer. Although it looks yellow on first application  it does really well at brightening up under my eyes and cancelling out any darkness leftover from my lack of sleep (yeah, I struggle at that). I have already raved about this  concealer in my last post but it's so good, you should defo try it if you are in need of a new under eye concealer.

If I have any blemishes I tend to use the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer, it's a thick well covering concealer that tackles most spots well. Plus it's super cheap - CAN'T BEAT THAT.

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EYES

For eyes I am really enjoying this L'oreal eyeshadow in Little Beige Dress. This eyeshadow has such a nice finish, its almost creamy when you apply is and has a sheen to it, rather than a glitter, it's almost metallic looking! I did break mine though which makes me want to cry  little makeup addicted tears.

I am using the Benefit They're Real Mascara at the moment which is just aaaamazeballs. It's so volumising and lengthening.

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HIGHLIGHT

For highlight I am using the Jelly Pong Pong highlighter in this nice bronzey shade which makes a change from my usual cool toned highlighters, it highlights what little tan I accumulated during London's heat wave the last few weeks and gives that JLo gloooow factor. (As if.. She is a #WCW everydamnday)

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POWDERS

I am still using the body shop Honey bronzer to warm up my complexion. Because I am so pale I find it really hard to find a bronzer which defines my face but doesn't make me look really weird and like I have painted mud onto my face! This bronzer doesn't do that, it has a really light matte finish (which is *essential* in the sunshine there's nothing worse then glittery contour). I apply this with a fluffy brush which i squeeze into a thin shape and brush under my cheekbones and around my hairline to warm up my face.

I am loving this blush contraption I got in a glossy box. It's so easy to use and the pink colour is super pretty and fresh looking. The best thing about this blush is it stays on FOR AGES, even on a hot day when things get a little sweaty (tmi).

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LIPS

For Lips I am using M.A.C Creme Cup which is a subtle pinky nude shade that even us pale girls can pull off.

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That's All For Now Folks

X

UK Drugstore Makeup Haul

I think we all know what it's like, you pop into Boots to pick up one thing (A top-up of my favourite drugstore foundation) and you come out with a hefty bag of things! WOOPS! 

Here's the list of things I bought on my recent accidental drugstore haul!

Starting with the thing I went in for, my L'oreal true match foundation. I have raved about this before and despite trying a selection of other brands I still came back to this guy. I love the creamy formula, it's not too matte and not too glowy (Or shiny & sweaty looking as some can turn out!). The coverage is excellent, it evens out my skin tone and cancels out any red looking patches and blemishes meaning I have less concealing to do too.
                                                                                                                                      

Next up I finally picked up the Maybelline Instant Anti Age Rewind Concealer. I am really late to the party with this one, I have been reading about it on many beauty blogs for a while and at last I realise what the hype is about. The sponge applicator makes it super easy to apply, I use it under my eyes to brighten the area and it does a really great job. Plus its got a really light feeling formula so it doesn't crease up and end up looking wrinkly by the end of the day which is naaaaaht a good look. I am a bit freaked out by the questionable hygiene of the sponge applicator but I try and keep it as clean as poss! All in all, this is a great product and well worth a try if you are in the market for an affordable brightening under eye concealer.
                                                                                                                                    

I also picked up a lipstick from the L'oral Collection Exclusive range (Yes, the one I rave about last post!) This time I tried out one of the nude shades. After many swatches on my hand (I always leave boots with multi-coloured hands covered in makeup looking like a loon!) I decided on the shade J-Lo, this is truly a nude shade, really close to my natural lip colour with added shine. I like this lipstick and I recommend it but I am nowhere near as obsessed as I am with dear Blake.
                                                                                                                                     

And theeeeeeeen, I picked up three more shades in the Maybelline Super Stay nail polish range. I still love this polish, the formulation is fantastic, you only need a couple of coats, it dries quickly and its quite hardy.. I can keep this on for about 4 days before the ends start chipping which is pretty good in my books. I went for some more Spring-y shades in the hope that Winter will hurry away, a rosy nude and a pretty pink, plus I got a clear top-coat.
                                                                                                                                                              

Last of all I picked up my favourite pen-style eyeliner from the drugstore, the L'oreal Super Liner. It has a super thin nib meaning you can get a nice thin line and flick. Application is really smooth and easy too. It's not the blackest of eyeliners, if you really want a super black finish I always recommend using a gel pot and a brush.
                                                                                                                                        

That's all for now folks

xx

PS ..LUCKILY I PRE WROTE THIS  as being the smart girl i am I fell over and fractured my elbow yesterday!! Due to this painful & mightily uncomfortable experience blog posts  may be a bit less wordy for the next couple of weeks - (it has taken me about 20 mins to even type this sentence in haha) 

Insta-Catch Up

Here's my Instagram Catch up, in timeline form. A way to show you what I have been up to the last few months!.....

Find me on instagram @dusk_williams

That's all for now folks! 

xxx

My Top Five Red Lipsticks

Well hello there,

It's been a while! The past three months have been full of ups and downs & new ideas & failed plans.... that is my only excuse for my lack of presence on this part of the internet.

As some of you may know I am (as well as an avid fashion blogging fan) a working freelance makeup artist, and as of next week, I am now solely focussing on my career as a freelance makeup artist. However I have decided I wouldn't like to let my blog fall to the wayside as I really love writing about what trends and clothes I am liking. But, from now on you will be seeing 'Makeup & Beauty' posts coming up a lot more frequently as that is my main interest and I would like to incorporate it more! I hope you enjoy the posts as much as I enjoy writing them!
                                                                                                                                                           

OK, Lets kick off 2015 (Happy New Year BTW) with my favourite thing out of all makeup products LIPSTICK! And to be precise my most worn colour, RED! I thought I would start out my beauty posts with my top 5 red lipsticks... Now wearing red lipstick isn't for the faint of heart and I know some people find it pretty intimidating but once you get the right shade for you, you'll get used to wearing it and realise how it can make you feel pretty darn BADASS.

NUMERO UNO:
M.A.C - Russian Red

MAC is an amazing brand when it comes to lipstick, their colour selection is insane and most of the time their formula is good too. My favourite red from MAC is Russian Red, the colour is slightly darker than your classic pillar box red and the finish is matte (which is how I like all my red lipsticks - you'll find that in almost all of the following).

NUMERO DOS:
Bourjois - Rouge Edition Velvet - Hot Pepper

The Rouge Edition Velvet Lip lacquers are a bit of a marmite product, I've read many bloggers who absolutely love the formulation and others who hate it and find it dry. I LOVE it.. The texture is initially similar to a highly pigmented gloss and it smooths on well, with a creamy texture, and the colour pay off is really nice. It then dries to a matte finish without feeling crackly which some matte lip stains can. The colour range is so beautiful ( I also LOVE the pink shade Pink Pong) and hot pepper is the perfect orange toned red, good for hot summer days.

NUMERO TRES:
M.A.C - Lady Danger 

The second MAC colour to feature in my top five is Lady Danger, along the same lines as hot pepper colour wise, lady danger is a bright orange toned red. If I had to pick a red lipstick for poison Ivy to wear it would be this colour, its amazing. I don't need to talk about the formulation as I already have but the colour is just amazeballs seriously.

NUMERO QUATRO:
Rimmel Apocalips - Big Bang

The only exception to my matte lip rule is Big Bang by Rimmel.. this lip lacquer has a very creamy, exceeeedingly pigmented and shiny formula. When I say pigmented I mean,like, insane.. this is a tricky product to apply as one slip would show due to the bright in-your-face colour however the payoff is worth it.. carrying on the cartoon character reference route.. this is the lipstick Jessica Rabbit would wear.. suuuper sexy.

NUMERO CINCO:
L'oreal - Collection Exclusive - Blake 

Ok so.. I don't want to sound dramatic but..I think I've found 'The One'. I have always been on the hunt for the perfect classic red lip. Until recently... when a lipstick came into my life and sauntered it's way straight to the top of my list.. The L'oreal Collection Exclusive Pure Red lipstick 'Blake' (aka Blake Lively - Gossip Girl's absolute beaut and Ryan Reynolds' Bae). ...In terms of 'pillar box red' I have always loved the shade Ruby Woo by MAC but I can't STAND the dry-as-a-crayon texture. Blake's lipstick has the exact same 'blue toned', 'teeth whitening' red shade without the dryness OR the £15 price tag (£6.99 Boots). Well ladies and gents, I think she might be 'The One' . 

That's all for now folks...

xxx