Summer Make-up Essentials!

Hello and welcome back! For me there are 3 things which I always finding myself turning for from my make-up bag as the weather heats up. That’s why this week I thought I would share with you this year’s picks for a light, dewy foundation; a warm, matte bronzer and a dark brown eye-liner!

Linked below // £8.99

The first thing I swap once the weather turns sunnier is my foundation. Through the winter I like using more high coverage foundations and use more powder, this year I've been using the Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25 hour foundation which provides great coverage but isn't too heavy. However in the summer I like a more natural look, and therefore chose the Rimmel London Wake Me Up foundation. I love Rimmel foundations as their shade 'light porcelain' matches my skin perfectly and they're not very expensive. Their Wake Me Up foundation isn't a new release, however this is the first time I've used it and so far I'm loving it. I find I don't need to use powder to make it last and it's sheer enough that you can still see my freckles, but you can't see my dark circles or blemishes! It's also got an SPF 15 which is an added bonus.

Similar product linked below

The next product I use mostly in summer is a bronzer. I'm super fussy with bronzers as I'm pale and think it's easy with a fair skin tone to over bronze, which is why I prefer a matte bronzer which I find to look more natural than one with a shimmer. I don't use a bronzer in winter - I prefer a more grey shade - but I like one in summer to add a little warmth and create a little definition as well. The one I'm using now I've featured in past blog posts and bought around Christmas time, and that is the L'Oreal Paris Glam Bronze, in the shade 00 Blond Sun. This is a really great bronzer and is very pigmented but still blendable which means you can either go for a natural or bold look super easily. Since buying this from boots I've not been able to find it online in the same style i.e. one colour in a compact packaging with a mirror underneath, however Boots online do sell the L'Oreal Paris Glam Bronze Duo Powder which I assume is similar.

Linked below // £5.99

The final product I turn to in summer is a brown eye-liner. I do still love and use a black liquid eye-liner but on sunny days I think that using a brown eye-liner, either pencil or liquid, can just add to that summery-bronzed glow and look beautifully natural. The one I've recently purchased to try out is the Maybelline New York Master Precise liquid eye-liner in the shade forest brown, this is a super dark brown but just looks more simple and undone than a solid black and has a super fine tip to make a cat eye really easy. 

I hope you've enjoyed this post, please feel free to let me know what make-up you enjoying using in the summer months! New blog posts go up on Sundays! 

Stay Golden, Gracie xo

Eye Makeup Trilogy: Brows!

Hello and welcome back! This week is the third and final post in the eye make-up trilogy I've been doing and that means its brows time! I don’t do a great deal to my brows in the summer as I prefer and overall more natural look, however depending upon what I'm doing I switch between products. My brows are naturally in shape and require little maintenance, however they’re sparse through the arch which is where I focus on if I'm doing a fuller brow look. For more info, keep on reading!

£3.99 // £2.99 // £4.95

For a natural look - I go for the Rimmel Brow This Way tinted brow gel, this is really great to give some more colour and definition quickly and easily!

For a fuller look - I use a brow pencil, this one by Rimmel is a really great colour for me and lets me fill in my brows in the areas they're sparse without looking too drawn on

For a dramatic brow - I use the w7 brow twister, this is in the same style packaging and texture as the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow wiz but for a fraction of the price, this creates a full and more dramatic look and I use it on days when I'm feeling more brave with my brows!

I also use a clear brow gel/clear mascara to set my brows when I've used a pencil/brow twister, however mine has run out at the moment

I hope you liked my little trilogy! I use highstreet/drugstore products as they suit my student budget, let me know if you have any favourite eye make-up products you'd recommend! 

Stay Golden, Gracie xo

Eye makeup triology: Eyeliner

Hello, welcome back! This week I'm back with the second post in my trilogy series which focuses on my favourite eye-liners, one for each job and a couple of coloured ones to brighten up my make-up look!

£1.99 // £2.99 // £2.99 // £2.99 // £3.99

Black pencil liner: Collection Kohl Eye-liner, this lines the waterline and tight-line really well without fading, but also is super soft and blendable so you can use it along your lash line too.

White eye-liner: Rimmel soft Kohl Kajal liner, I use this in my waterline and my inner corner to open up the eyes making them look bigger, and making me look more awake!

Black felt tip liner: Collection extreme 24 hour felt tip liner, this is a really great liner for people – like me – who aren't very good at the classic cat eye. It’s not too thick or thin and is easy to use.

Coloured felt tip liner: Collection extreme 24 hour liner, no 3, blue. I love using a coloured liner on days when I feel like injecting more colour into my look, by using a felt tip liner it’s easy and lasts all day.

Coloured eye crayon: Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer in Emerald Sparkle, no 250. I usually apply this under my eye and use a brush to smudge it out, this eye liner is a soft crayon like consistency but is also waterproof so lasts all day.

I hope you liked this post, next week I'm going to post the third and final post all about eyebrows! 

Stay Golden, Gracie xo

Eye Makeup Trilogy: Mascara

Hello, welcome back! This week I've decided to do something a little bit different, focusing on my favourite part of my make-up routine: eyes!

For me make-up is all about the eyes and I love how the dramaticness of your eye make-up can affect your whole look. I've made this into a trilogy of posts each focussing on one element of my eye make-up collection, first up is mascara, followed by eye-liner and then brows! I'm going to do a full eye shadow collection post later on in the month too.

I hope you enjoy and let’s get started!

£19.50 // £7.99 // £7.49 // £4.99

The prices for these are all for the full size versions from Boots.com and are correct when this gets posted

For length: I opt for the Benefit Roller Lash, I got this sample from Elle magazine and I really love it, however the full size is expensive for what I usually pay.

For volume: Maybelline Rocket Volum' express is my favourite, I find that you can't build this without it getting clumpy, however it's great for thickening your lashes.

My Favourite: Rimmel Kate Rockin' Curves, I love this mascara! It's a really great all round mascara for everyday but can also be layered up to create a dramatic evening look.

Great for everyday: Rimmel Extra Super Lash is a great mascara to give a casual everyday look, it has a curved brush which gives a natural curled look.

I hope you enjoyed a peek at my current favourite mascaras, let me know what yours are below and come back next week for a look at my favourite eye-liners!

Stay golden! Gracie xo

My Star Product of the month!

Hello all and welcome back! As a new feature on this blog I am going to bring you a blog a month featuring one product- could be beauty, skincare or haircare- which has really shone out to me and made me fall in love with it!

The star product for February is a skincare item available from not only Boots and Superdrug but also at quite a few supermarkets as well! It's the Garnier Micellar water! I've repurchased this product 4 times now and absolutely couldn't live without it! It costs roughly £5 (can be £4.95/99 depending on the shop) and if you keep your eye out it's also frequently on offer.

This product is great at removing eye make up as well as cleansing your skin, it doesn't leave your face feeling at all sticky and dries really quickly. If I am wearing make up, I remove that  all with a cleansing oil and then go in with a cotton wool pad and micellar water to make sure all my eye make up is off and give my skin a final cleanse prior to moisturising. 

However, on days where I am wearing no make up I simply wipe a cotton wool pad of this across my face and then moisturise once its dry! My skin type is mainly dry except my forehead which can get oily. Therefore I find it best for me to use as few products/ washes as possible works best for keeping my skin clear and healthy.

I hope you like this new feature, do let me know if you have a new favourite product! I will also be posting a monthly favourites so I can share with you things such as my favourite clothing items or a recipe I've been loving for the month!

As always, hope you're all having a great week, stay golden! 

Gracie xo

My Winter Favourites!

Hello all, welcome back!

I rarely try out new products when it comes to my skincare, especially in Winter, mostly because I have dry sensitive skin and unless I've read lots of reviews I won't go near it! With this in mind I thought I'd share my winter favourites, these are things which I automatically turn to as soon as the weather starts getting cold!

From left - right:

Vaseline petroleum jelly cocoa - available from Boots/Superdrug as well as most supermarkets

Nivea Creme - £3.56 from Boots

Nivea express hydration primer - £4.99 from Boots

Real techniques buffing brush - part of the core collection, £21.99 from Boots

As you can see my winter skincare and makeup is all about keeping as much moisture in my skin as possible! The Vaseline and the Nivea creme I use on a night, they both work wonders on dry skin however are better used when you can leave them to soak in, not when you're about to put foundation on! 

I don't always wear face makeup in winter. However, when I am wearing makeup I use the Nivea hydration primer, although this is a primer and not a moisturiser I find it works really well at moisturising the skin enough to create a lovely base for make-up and keeps it on well throughout the day. I usually use a sensitive skin moisturiser, such as the ASDA Young Skin matte moisturiser or the ALDI Q10 dry & sensitive day cream with SPF 15.

Finally, onto tools! As my skin gets more sensitive in the winter I don't like wearing lots of makeup, hence why I turn away from my beauty blender and towards my buffing brush!
Although I love my beauty blender, for day to day makeup in the winter months I prefer a lighter coverage and by using the buffing brush I still get all the coverage I need without feeling as though I'm wearing a full face of makeup. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing my winter favourites, please leave any skincare recommendations in the comments!
Unfortunately my laptop has broken and after being sent for repair twice, PC World have deemed it unfixable, this means I'll be without one for sometime (not sure how long) but will post updates from my iPad so you guys know when I'll be back posting. Hopefully it'll be as soon as after New Year, I restart university on the 11th so fingers crossed it'll be not too long after that! Sorry for being a bit absent in the last few months, having a broken laptop has been not at all helpful but 2015 should be a better year!
Hope you all have a great time over the next few weeks, whatever holiday you celebrate!

Stay golden! Gracie xo 

Morning routine!

Today I'm bringing you my morning routine, this is what I do from washing my face through to makeup on an ordinary day!

Skin care (L-R):

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Blackhead Eliminating Cleansing Lotion

Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Gel Wash 150ml

Young Skin Matt finish moisturiser - ASDA, £1

NIVEA® Daily Essentials Express Hydration Primer Dry & Sensitive Skin 50ml

Makeup (L-R):

Estee Lauder pure colour palette

Dainty Doll eye-shadow base - Frankie's Girl - see Dainty Doll website for stockists

Happy Booster™ Glow & Mood Boosting Illuminating Bronzing Veil - £8.95 - Physicians Formula online

Collection Colour Lash Mascara - £1.99 - boots.com

Rimmel Clear Complexion Transparent powder - £3.99 - boots.com

W7 In The Buff palettes - £9.99 - w7 cosmetics online

Seventeen Doll'd up mascara - £6.29 - boots.com

Collection extreme 24hr felt tip liner - £2.99 - boots.com

w7 brow twister - £4.95 - w7 cosmetics online

Estee Lauder palette

Rimmel 25 hour lasting finish foundation - £7.99 - boots.com

Seventeen stay time concealer - £4.49 - boots.com

Elegant touch eye-shadow brush

Lash and Brow groomer - unsure of brand 

Eco Tools travel size eye shading brush

Eco Tools travel size concealer bush 

(both part of the 5 piece brush set available from boots.com)

Beauty Sponge - TKMaxx - £4.99

Eyelash curlers - TKMaxx - £2.99

Angled contour brush - TKMaxx

Powder brush - TKMaxx

Hope you liked seeing what I use in my morning routine, most of these products are available from Boots (where I buy most of my makeup) however when they're not I've tried to say where they're from so you guys can try them out for yourselves! Stay Golden, Gracie xo

TKMaxx & Homesense mini haul!

Hello all, welcome back!

Recently a huge TKaMaxx and Homesense store opened at the retail park closest to me and I am so excited about it. TKMaxx (or TJMaxx I think in other countries) is one of my favourite shops, no matter what you're looking for you can always get really great unique items at TKMaxx, usually with great discounts. I love going especially for the beauty section, this time especially the make-up was stunning, they had Chanel, Burberry and tonnes of Shiseido make up with huge discounts, if you're looking for high end makeup with money off it's the place to look first. I ended up picking up a couple of bits and thought I'd share them with you. First up: beauty blender.

TKMaxx - £4.99

 Those of you who read my last blog will know that I have been wanting a beauty blender for some time now. This one is super soft and has a domed base (great for applying makeup to larger areas) as well as a pointed tip (great for round the nose and under eyes). I soak this in water, squeeze out the excess and then take foundation from my hand and blend it all over using the sponge, I find this makes the foundation blend really evenly into the skin and gives a great finish.

TKMaxx - £2.99

I was long over due a new pair of eyelash curlers, mine were getting grubby beyond cleaning and since I'd had them for years a new pair was needed! These have really nice silicone handles which gives good grip and also have a rubber pad on the the curved section which gives a more gradual curl on your eyelashes.

TKMaxx - £4.99

This pug jewelry case was the final thing I bought from TKMaxx and is by far the cutest! Before moving to uni I had my jewelry on a set of pretty hooks on my wall, unfortunately I can't have those at uni so until I get some stick on hooks I needed another option. Inside there is a large and a small compartment with space for three rings. However, I keep all my earrings in here, I find that earrings are a difficult thing to store (suggestions?) and this keeps them all safe!

That's all I got from TKMaxx, it's my favourite shop to go in and having it so close is amazing! I hope you enjoyed this super mini haul, I'll be back on Sunday!!

Stay golden! Gracie xo

My Make Up Wishlist

Hello all, welcome back!

In today's blog I'm going to share with you all my makeup wishlist, these are things that have really caught my eye, either because that type of item is missing from my collection or just because it's a product which has really shone out to me. Please comment with your own wishlists or let me know if you have tried anything on mine.

Starting with the face:

Boots, £5.99 / image from boots.com

Seventeen is a brand which is pretty new to me, however everything I've had from there so far has been of really great quality and price, the packaging is cute too! One product especially really jumped out to me last time I was in Boots and that's their Define & Conquer kit, this is made up of a highlight powder and a contour powder and comes in a choice of two shades to best suit your skin. I have really pale skin and therefore finding an affordable contour kit which isn't too dark is difficult, however this one really hits the spot.

Next up, eyes:

£7.99, sleekmakeup.com / image also sleekmakeup.com

I have two main eye shadow palettes in my collection, both neutral with a range of mattes and shimmer, this is great for an everyday look but now that autumn is in and my wardrobe is a bit more boring than usual I really want to experiment more with colour in my makeup. This is why I've included the Sleek i-Divine eye shadow palette in Ultra Matte V2. As you can see this palette includes many neutral beige and browns but also has the great pop of colour in the form of a few purples, blues and green. My eyes are a murky green colour which means that the colours in this palette would really help the nicer green tones pop, the slightly duller shades are also a great way to incorporate colour into a simple makeup look.

Lips:

£7.99 Superdrug / image from superdrug.com

I don't often wear a solid lipstick, even though I love the look, because usually when I go out I'll be eating or drinking and having to reapply is too much hassle for me! Therefore I prefer either a tinted lip balm or a stain and that's where my next product comes in. The Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon, this is a sheer lip product which gives great colour payoff and is also incredibly moisturising. 

Tool:

Boots £5.99 / image from boots.com

I'm probably the only beauty blogger out there not to own a single Real Techniques brush, I know, it's pretty tragic. However up until now I've not really experimented enough to need many kinds of the same brush, finally now I'm working on building up my collection and Real Techniques is where I would like to start. Their Miracle Complexion sponge looks really great, the pointed edge to help apply your make up in awkward areas and the flat and domed edge for a perfect finish. I just can't say enough good things about it, I've watched many a Youtuber apply their makeup with a damp beauty sponge and now it's at the top of my make up brush list!   

That is a rundown of my current make-up wishlist, hopefully I'll be ticking some things off my list soon! Once again, thank-you for reading, follow me on Twitter (@iprefergracie) and Instagram (forevergracie).

Stay golden! Gracie xo

Edinburgh shopping Haul!

Hello all, welcome back!

Yesterday I had a very busy day shopping in Edinburgh and thought I would share with you what I picked up! This haul will be very mixed and span across a couple of different shops, so here we go!

Minnie Mouse slipper socks, various designs, Primark, £4

One of the shops I went into while on Princes Street was Primark. Usually on a Saturday I would avoid Primark as best as possible as it gets really super busy, however I was in desperate need of new slippers and I'm so glad I went in. I used to have these 'slipper socks' in plain red with Minnie Mouse on the toe and these tartan ones are such an adorable purchase to highlight my recent move to Musselburgh. 

Plastic cup with straw, Primark, £2,50

 This next buy has been on my wishlist for ages. These cups recently became a new must have item and are a plastic version of the oh-so-famous fast food cups.

Burgundy finger-less gloves, Tiger, £1

The next shop I went into was Tiger, before moving to uni I'd never been into one as there aren't any near me and I'm so excited I've now found it. For those of you who also haven't got a nearby Tiger it sells a whole range of items - toys, food, stationery - for really great prices. I couldn't resist these gloves as they're such a great autumn colour and mean that I can still operate my phone etc. without having to take off my gloves.

Large black basket,Tiger £3; cotton wool pads,Primark, £1

The final item I got from Tiger is this large black woven basket. This basket is something I've been after for ages as I hate the look of bottles and tubes just stood on shelves or counters, my room looks so much more neat and tidy now with everything tucked away. Using baskets and boxes is also a great way to create more space.

(From Tiger I also bought 20 kitchen sponges in various colours for £1 and 5 orange wire coat hangers for £1)

Seventeen Doll'd Up mascara, £6.29; Seventeen concealer £4.49; Vaseline rosy lips £2.07. All from Boots

The final shop I went into was Boots (surprise, surprise), firstly I headed to the Seventeen booth as they are currently running a 3 for 2 offer on all of their products. Here I bought the Seventeen Doll'd Up mascara in black along with the Seventeen up to 18 hour stay time concealer in Extra Fair (as well as a gel nail polish for my flatmate). In return for letting her have my 3rd item in the 3 for 2, my flatmate bought me the Vaseline lip therapy + SPF 15 in rosy lips. This provides great protection against SPF as well as making them soft and providing a rosy tint. This lip balm isn't as tinted as the Nivea rosy lips however it's great for a healthy everyday hint of pink. 

That is all for my Edinburgh haul! I love going shopping in Edinburgh as there are so many places to go and everywhere is smothered in history and beautiful buildings. I'll be back on Wednesday with a review of the book We Were Liars by E Lockhart. 

Hope you enjoyed seeing my recent purchases, as always you can find me at twitter (@iprefergracie) & Instagram (forevergracie).

See you next time, stay golden!
Gracie xo

mini haul

Hello all, welcome back!

Today I am going to share with you a few bits I've picked up recently when I've been out and about. I will admit it, it's mostly shoes, however there are one or two other pieces you might be interested in.

HOME

Spiderman tissues, Tesco, £1.20

I always like having a box of tissues in my bedroom and when I saw these I knew I had to have them. Usually I just buy the second cheapest tissues (sometimes the cheap ones can be just too thin for me) and these happened to be them! They had all sorts of designs but as a Spiderman lover myself they were too cool not to have.

Houndstooth cushion, Tesco, £2.50 (on clearance)

This cushion is something which caught my attention immediately, I just adore it. My ultimate home decor style is monochrome with one key colour, therefore this cushion ticked all the boxes - though you can't see it, the edging on this is a bright yellow.

Make-up

Maybelline Great Lash mascara - waterproof, Tesco, £5

When I have a long day ahead of me I like to have a waterproof mascara so that I can be sure that by lunch I'm not looking like a panda. Hence why I bought this, if you read one of my first blogs you would see the Blackest Black Great Lash featuring as one of my favourite everyday mascaras. It's not dramatic but adds enough length and volume to make me look more awake. This waterproof version however didn't live up to expectations, I had this on yesterday for a freshers week pub march and after 5 hours of wear I had black circles under my eyes and looked like I'd fallen asleep in my makeup, not good!

SHOES

Black leather riding boots, La Redoute, £52 (in sale)

I bought these boots in August ready for going to university, I knew that once I started living off my student loan I wouldn't be able to treat myself and got a bargain in the sales! La Redoute is an online shop which sells French style clothing for a range of prices, sometimes you get a bargain and other times it's more of a splurge, but no matter what you get it's always amazing quality and something no-one else has. I think that an item such as black leather boots is one worth spending money on, they're such a classic and a total Autumn/Winter staple for me.

Green ankle boots, £8 and black slip ons £4, both Primark

I know that some people can be snobby about the quality of Primark but for someone like me who always changes their mind, being able to pick up shoes for less than £10 is a godsend. I needed a new pair of casual shoes to replace my high-top trainers which have sadly come to the end of their life and these slip on shoes are perfect. They go with anything and are comfy enough to go long distances in, plus for only £4 (reduced) they were a steal! Next up my ankle boots, these are faux suede lace up boots which were available in a range of colours. I have a tendency to wear lots of grey and black in the winter and therefore got them in green to add a burst of jewel toned colour - right on trend for Autumn winter.

That's it for my recent purchases, I hope you enjoyed this mini haul! To keep up to date with all things me follow me on instagram (forevergracie) and Twitter (@iprefergracie). I'll be back with more on Wednesday, until then, stay golden!

Gracie xo

Monthly favourites: August

Hello everyone and welcome to my August favourites!

Image from google images

This month I've been really getting into skincare, moreso than anything else! This said, I do have a couple of non-skincare favourites which I'm sure you'll enjoy, so let's get started!

Skincare

As summer draws to a close I've been trying to update my skincare routine ready for autumn. My skin type is dry, however in extreme heat or cold it leans towards very dry, therefore as we've had some days this summer which have been super hot my skin has been suffering and these products have really been helping out!

No7 cleansing balm, Boots £9.50/ Boots foaming facial wash £3.59/ Garnier Micellar water, Boots £4.99

The first product I have been loving is the No7 Beautiful Skin cleansing balm, this is for dry/very dry skin which is indicated by the lilac coloured lid (there's also pink and green for normal/dry and normal/oily skin). This is the first product I have used by No7 for my skin and although I would say it's more of a lotion than a balm, it does work very well at removing makeup; I apply this directly to my face and then use a face cloth and warm water to remove it. The only flaw I would say with this product is that it's not as amazing at removing waterproof mascara as my previous cleanser was, (Ponds Cold Cream, £4.99, Boots), but as I prefer to use an eye makeup remover as well as a skin cleanser that's not a problem for me. 

The next product is the Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel foaming facial wash. I bought this to keep my skin clear after suffering badly with spots earlier in the summer and it has been amazing at keeping my skin completely blemish free. I use this every morning; apply to my wet face and then remove with a facial sponge/muslin cloth, I also use this to wash my face after removing my make-up. For only £4 this is a great budget product from Boots and I'm hoping to try more of the Boots Tea Tree range in the future.

My third product has been a favourite for 2/3 months now and it's the Garnier Micellar cleansing water. At £4.99 this is great value for money and is a lot easier to get your hands on than other famous Micellar waters such as Bioderma. This product leaves your skin feeling clean and refreshed, it also dries on your skin without feeling sticky or heavy. This bottle is a 400ml bottle which has lasted me roughly three months!!

Clearasil rapid action wash, Boots £5.79/ Glorious Mud facial mask Bodycare

These next two products have again been favourites for the past couple of months however because of the nature of them I have not been using them daily. On the left is the Clearasil rapid action gel wash, this product contains Salicylic acid which dries out spots. There are mixed reviews for this product however I found that it worked quickly to reduce the redness and size of spots, making them less visible and less painful. It is suggested that you use this morning and evening but I found that it left my skin dry if I did so, therefore just used it on certain areas when I first woke-up. I would definitely recommend using this if you suffer from spots, however be aware that Salicylic acid doesn't suit everyone's skin. Next up is the Glorious Mud deep cleansing facial mask, I bought this on a whim from Bodycare (unknown price, sorry!) as I love using face masks. As I suffer from dry, sometimes flakey skin, I find clay masks help to brighten my skin and improve its appearance. This one instantly makes my skin brighter and I apply it onto freshly washed skin, usually just my T-zone, fortnightly.

Music

My music favourite this month has been Iggy Azalea, everything about her I am obsessed with! I love her unique style and the fact that she makes the most of her curvy figure. Songs by her which I've been listening are Fancy ft Charli XCX (above) and Work.

Television

I don't often sit down and watch TV on a night time however this month saw the return of The Great British Bake Off, I absolutely love baking and this season I have become particularly addicted. Sue Perkins is one of my favourite presenters and alongside Mel, they make the show incredibly funny. Add the lovely Mary Berry and a strict judge in the form of Paul Hollywood and I am gripped!

Website

My favourite website to browse is Pinterest. I first made an account when Louise (from SprinkleofGlitter) started talking about her obsession for it in a video and it truly is addictive. If you don't know about Pinterest the idea is that it's a giant, virtual pinboard. You make an account and create 'boards' of your interests, some of my boards are 'home decor' 'comedy' and of course one for makeup! Then you can browse through categories of images and pin things you like your boards. Once I started pinning I couldn't stop! 

Random

My final and most random favourite is a drink; Lucozade Caribbean Crush. I'm unsure whether or not this is released just for summer (I sadly expect that it is) however I am completely obsessed. Whenever I can, I buy a bottle and it has been completely over taking my usual choice of coke. If you've never tried it, it's a tropical lucozade and is one of two tropical flavours currently on sale. 

That's that for my August favourites, hopefully you've enjoyed this post. Let me know what you think of my favourites, what have you been loving this month? Stay golden!

Gracie xo

My everyday makeup!

Hello again, thanks for visiting! I thought that today I would take the opportunity to share with you the makeup I wear on a regular day. On a normal day around the house I don't usually wear makeup as I suffer from dry skin and prefer to give it a break, however when I go out I like to wear a 'my skin but better' type look. This is very natural but covers up any imperfections and adds a bit of colour to my ghostly complexion.

Estee Lauder palette; unknown price

This Estee Lauder palette was given to me as a gift and so unfortunately I don't know the prices. However, as you can see in the photo it contains two of the EL tender blushes in Rosewood (top) and Pink Kiss (bottom), it then has three of the EL signature silky eyeshadow duos in the colours (L-R) Ginger, Mocha and Plum Sugar, and finally at the bottom are three of the brands long lasting lipsticks in the shades Hot Kiss, Rose Tea and Pink Parfait.

All of the products in this palette are really good quality and I use this daily, especially as it has a mirror which is the full size of the palette. The three eye shadows which are marked with a star are the
three which I use most, the top two are great for adding a wash of colour to the lid and the darker of the mocha duo is a lovely brown shade, perfect for adding definition to the crease.

W7 In The Buff palette - £9.95

The next palette I use on a daily basis is the w7 In The Buff palette, this has 12 shadows (mixture of matte and shimmer) which are all neutral and this is all you need to create an everyday nude eye. This palette was first noticed because of its similarity to the Urban Decay Naked palettes at a fraction of the price. I am probably one of the only beauty bloggers not to own a single Naked palette, however I don't need one when I have this.
In the photo I have marked the 4 colours I use most, these are: buff, sand, dust and silk. Usually I will take 'sand' all over the lid with either dust or silk in the crease, I then finish off with buff under the brow bone and in the corner of my eye as a highlighter.

Boots, £2.99/ unknown/ Dainty Doll online/ Boots, £4.99/£1.99

Next up is the rest of my eye makeup, I like to keep my makeup bright and illuminated and therefore don't often go for an eyeliner. However, if you're interested in what eyeliners I'm currently using let me know in the comments! Starting with eyebrows, I use two different products to shade in my dreaded brows, firstly I use the Rimmel London Professional Eyebrow Pencil in shade 002 Hazel. This is a great pencil for quick application, however sometimes I do need to warm it up with a hair dryer first to get it started. The other product I use is the w7 Brow Twister in brown, this is slightly too dark for me to use all over my brows as my hair is still bleached from the sun (my hair is dark brown with a ginger undertone) and therefore I am using a combination of both to match as best I can as my hair darkens through autumn and winter. I use the Collection colour lash in clear to set my brows. The next product I use is the Dainty Doll eyeshadow base, this range was brought out by Nicola Roberts (of Girls Aloud) and is designed for pale faced girls in mind. This base is a cream consistency and like most is a creamy white colour, because of its cream consistency it works really well to hold eyeshadows without creasing all day long. If I'm going out either all day or on a night I also sometimes use this under my eyes to create a illuminating base for my concealer to keep it in place. Finally on my eyes I use the Maybelline New York Great Lash mascara in 'Blackest Black'. This mascara is a great for a day to day natural look and works well to separate lashes and adds thickness.

Boots £7.99/£4.19/£4.19/unknown

Personally, my base is the most boring part of my makeup routine, partly because it takes the most time and effort. This makeup doesn't create a truly flawless look but it does help to brighten and lift my skin, the first product I use is the Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25 hour foundation in the shade 010 light porcelain. This shade is perfect for my skin and therefore Rimmel is my go-to brand for foundation, I love the way it makes my skin look and how it isn't too heavy, despite its supposed 25 hour wear - I can vouch for 10 hours. The other products I use are all by Collection, another of my go-to high street brands. Firstly, the pressed powder in Ivory, this is a great powder for setting either full makeup or concealer on its own and adds a tiny bit of coverage itself. Next is probably the beauty bloggers favourite concealer, the Collection lasting perfection 16 hour wear, I use the lightest shade 'fair' and find it works well on scarring, blemishes and dark circles. The last product is blusher, as I am very fair skinned (and also have natural redness in my cheeks) blush is something which I trial all the time, this one by Collection is in the colour Bashful and is a lovely bright rose pink with a slight shimmer, I use this faintly to add a slight spot of colour and brighten my face.

Fianlly! We're at the end! I hope you enjoyed reading about my everyday makeup and that you'll come back on Wednesday, I have been very kindly nominated for the Leibster Awards so come to see who I nominate then. I hope you're having a great week, please feel free to comment your thoughts on the products I have been talking about. Stay golden!

Grace xo