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?

NYC SUNNY BRONZER

Being quite fair skinned (until a holiday or the sun comes out - then I tan sooo easily, which I guess is rather lucky) and a fake-tan fearer, I try to get the faux glow going on with the help of bronzer, and my collection is pretty much brimming. Nars Laguna is 100% my favourite, but as I have hit pan on that I've gone back to the trusty NYC Sunny Bronzer. 

What I love about this is that it is extremely budget, I got it in the USA for the equivalent of about £1.50, which is a total bargain, and you get quite a decent amount (and a mirror) for that price. For me, the colour is a little too intense on pale skin, so the Real Techniques Duo Fibre brush comes in rather handy to get a light amount, however when I'm tanned, this is a pretty good colour, and I find it looks best when I've already got some colour in me.

It's almost totally matte, which is what I love, as although it is becoming more popular among drugstore brands, finding a matte bronzer used to be extremely difficult on a budget. I still wouldn't use this for contour and the colour is still a bit too orange for that on my skin, but it might work well on others.

If you can get your hands on this, I totally recommend it, as it doesn't break the bank either, and try out your preference with it. At the moment for me, it's a light handed affair, but I'm hoping as the sun comes out a can pick up a brush that's a little more dense....

SEASONAL EYE COLOURS

It's that time again where the dark lips and dark eyes come around, and I swear I love it more and more each year. I'm a huge fan of a dark lip (recommendations please) but sometimes my natural eye makeup takes control and I feel like I need to shift the dark colours to my lids for a change, so I've devised a group of colours I think are a nice way to ease into things.

The first is Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow in Gemstone. It's fairly subtle, as blended out of the lid it gives a bronze-mauve/reddish tone and I really enjoy it for quick looks when I can't be bothered but want my look to be rather sultry. The other cream is the Maybelline Leather Colour Tattoo in Chocolate Suede which is a rich bronzed brown which I really need to come to terms with using without looking like I've rubbed my eyes too hard. It sets to a semi matte finish with a little shimmer mimicking that leather look, so it's hard to make the blending look good with it being such a dark colour.

As for powder, I find these need a little more work, but you really cannot beat the finished look. The first is KIKO 137 which is a strong red tone, which everyone was going mad for with the likes of Cranberry from MAC last year. I wanted to ease into it at a cheaper price and last year this was one of my favourites to wear on weekends with minimal makeup elsewhere. Finally is MAC Woodwinked; a gold, bronze, copper blend that slapped on the lid and buffed out gives a sheen of warmth that just reminds me of autumn leaves - how poetic, but there is some serious love for these shadows, and I've already cracked them out this year.

BRONZING UP

It would seem that we are all getting tired of the horrendous British weather now, and most of us are hoping for spring and summer to hurry up (I am more excited about the clothes shopping to be fair), and as a result of this I have been craving the bronzed look more often.

Before, I used to be a bit scared of bronzers, purely because I am so pale, but I have found some products that have been working for me without any orange tinge.

For a bronzing base, (I do want to get my hands on Bourjois' offering), the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Bronzing Primer has been doing pretty well for me. This adds a hint of tint, and makes your skin look healthy, while also smoothing out the skin.

Too Faced are also the brand in which one of my favourite bronzers has come from, which is the Poolside Primping Sun Bunny Bronzer, and this is slightly shimmery, but translates on the skin to something more sheeny. Watch out to not be too heavy handed with this one, as things can get a little overpowering at times.

A new addition to my collection is the Sheer Cover Sun-Kissed Bronzing Minerals in Light*, which is a trio of colours in one pan, starting light, and making its way to something darker. The middle shade is slightly more shimmery than the others, but the outer two still have a touch of sheen as well. This is a really natural looking one and I have been enjoying using this daily just around my cheeks and temples.

The final product is one that I talk about quite a lot here, but one which I am unsure of where it is available from. The Milani Sunset Duos in 01 Sunset City  is a duo that makes its way into my MUJI drawers almost weekly when I change things up. The blush is stunning, as is the bronzer alone, but when you swirl the two, and just put it on the cheeks, we have a gorgeous bronzey blush.

You obviously need a brush to apply your product, and the one in question is the Sheer Cover Bronzer/Blush Brush*, which is an angled brush which isn't too dense so you don't have any issues of your products looking heavy handed. I must also add that I love the 'packaging', a dark wood handle, with dark bristles - an instant 10/10 from me.

My next bronzer on the wishlist, The Body Shop Honey Bronzer... Oh Estée, you are an enabler and a half...