HOLIDAY BEAUTY ESSENTIALS

When you read this post, I'll be on holiday, hopefully basking in the sun and catching a nice tan to show off when I go back to sixth form, and of course that means it is warranted a dedicated post to the beauty products coming in my bag this year.

Of course, this is honestly in nearly all holiday posts I do, but it is the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF50, a facial SPF I have used for the past year and a half above any others. Although my family don't tend to be as bothered about the world of skincare, I much prefer to buy myself a bottle of this to prevent breakouts and get a much more facially targeted protective base. The Burts Bees Lip Balm might be coming with me if I don't get the chance to get an SPF lip balm before we go away, but this will do if not, because I genuinely cannot stand the feeling of burnt lips. I don't think I've ever been sunburnt apart from on my lips, and I plan to keep it that way whilst minimising the latter too.

I've also got the Bourjois Bronzing Primer because my face is always slightly paler than the rest of my body when tanned, so this'll help even everything out for that. The last base item is the Benefit High Beam mini - not only the best for travelling, but also a super glowy and natural looking highlighter that'll look so nice in the evenings with a light base and some mascara, and the Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Paint in Golden Bronze - something a little more gold than I would usually go for but with a tan (you see how I've actually factored in a tan to each item?!)

Of course, I thought it'd be nice to have the option of a bright lip, and I chose the Wet n Wild Lipstick in Purty Persimmon. I mainly chose this because it is seriously long wearing - we are talking 8 hours or so, and I'll probably be eating at an almost constant rate on holiday, and paired with the summery coral red shade, this is the perfect option to take with me. On the theme of colour, I've also got the Illamasqua Nail Lacquer in Lament, a nearing neon pink but not too stand out, and one that'll be coveted on the fingers and toes this holiday.

What are your holiday essentials?

I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH COLOUR

 Jacket: Select

Top: New Look

Jeans: New Look

Bag: Primark

Shoes: River Island

Sunglasses: Primark

Earrings: H&M

Just a few outfit pictures I begged my sister into taking for me before I went into town the other weekend - a really simple all black look with some leopard slip ons and the Rimmel Kate 107 Matte Lipstick to spice things up a little. Perhaps not the best for the unforeseen sunshine but I struggled with the jacket on to maintain the look... The things I do for an outfit. Although maybe not to everyone's' tastes, I actually really like the clashing leopard and snake prints in the bag and shoes. 

SOAP AND GLORY GLOSS STICKS

Recently in Boots I was browsing the Soap and Glory stand and noticed that there were no longer the full size Sexy Mother Pucker balms and in their place were these Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks in mini sizes and new shades and of course I couldn't resist, especially on a buy one get one half price I'm surprised I'm not writing about the whole collection. I don't know whether it was just my particular store that didn't hold both the full and mini sizes or whether the bigger ones are gone for good, but I thought I'd draw up a comparison post nonetheless.

I picked up Nudist and Pinkaboo, and I already have Nudist from the original formula, however this one is definitely a different shade entirely and does stick to a more brown/neutral nude rather than the peachy hue the original has. Pinkaboo is a medium pink and although nothing stand out, something I thought would become a staple in my collection.

I think what I've noticed with these in comparison to the original formula is that they are a little less thick. I often found the original to be quite heavy feeling and although it still stands as one of my favourite lip products, I do like that these are slightly more lightweight, and a little bit closer to a 'gloss' formula. These are now £3.50, and although you don't get quite as much product, I'm near enough yet to finish any of the lip products I own, so not only is this perfect for handbag size it also helps me get through it a little better than other ones I'd pay more for.

Generally, although there isn't too much difference to the original, I really like the concept of these and I'll be taking them on holiday with me in my carry on as they are just the best size. I especially love wearing these with a matte strong lip liner just to give more of a youthful appearance to my look, and I kind of want to pick up the rest of the range, in particular Purple Rain as it draws closer to dark lip season.

CURRENT SKINCARE ROUTINE

My skincare routine has had a little bit of a change around recently - mainly because I have been taken off my prescribed skin solution so its more or less a battle of keeping breakouts at bay, and as most bloggers would, I thought it was worth sharing. I seem to have streamlined things a lot more than I would usually which deserves some credibility.

The Garnier Micellar Water has become a favourite again for the first step of the routine, because it just gets makeup off really quickly, which is a key part of my criteria. The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil has been a firm element of my routine for a very long time now, and I'm yet to find anything to replace it. The only problem I have is that it's hard to travel with - I can't take the entire bottle but it also seems to leak if I empty it into a smaller bottle? Nonetheless, it's a staple in my routine.

In the mornings, I'd then follow up the cleansing with the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo +, and although I'm not entirely sure how much it does for me, it's more so what it doesn't do when I stop using it. And it acts as a good base for makeup alongside my moisturiser. In the evenings I'd most likely follow up my cleansing with the Boots Botanics All Bright Radiance Concentrate Serum - a lightweight, glow giving serum that is a rather decent price too.

Then, whether morning or night I'll follow this with the Botanics All Bright Night Cream as I find it suitable for night for enough nourishment, and in the morning too for a light slick of hydration as it seems to create a lovely base for makeup. I don't like the day cream versions in this range as they contain SPF and I prefer to apply my own SPF and they seem to make my face look a little paler because of the SPF anyway.

I'm thinking I'll be sticking to this routine for quite some time now as these products all seem to go hand in hand rather well.

AN ODE TO COLOUR TATTOS

If there is one thing that rules my makeup collection, it's my vast collection of cream shadows, from MAC to Smashbox, but more commonly, the Maybelline Colour Tattoos - a drugstore alternative and some of the best I've found to date.

On and On Bronze stands as my favourite for the 'one sweep wonder' eye look I tend to go for on pretty much every day with school or work, to maximise the amount of time I get in my bed. It's a shimmery, mid brown/bronze that just looks incredible however you wear it - I like to put it down to magic. Permanent Taupe still stands as my brow product of choice since I pretty much praised it a long while back as my new budget breakthrough as a gel brow product, and I still love it just as much. It is ashy and long wearing, and literally looks amazing even when my brows need a tweeze.

Pink gold is perhaps a less used one, maybe because I'm a little scared that my green eyes won't go with the pretty pink shimmer hue and instead will leave me looking like I've got an infection, but if I'm feeling brave I will reach for it here and there. Another less used one is the Leather Effect Chocolate Suede, a deep smoky brown which I only use for serious occasions because quite frankly in natural light I can't quite rock a smokey eye. Then there is Timeless Black, an offering I tend to go for as a gel liner substitute, as the colour is so jet black and it is pretty malleable on the lid to get a good wing, although saying that if you were more daring than I am you could go for a major smokey eye with this as your intense base.

What colour tattoos have you tried, and do they live up to the hype that many (including myself) have created?