July Favourites.

Sorry this post is late! I've been so off my blogging game recently - ugh!

I just feel I've been so busy doing everything else in life that I've kind of neglected my blog, partly because I've had no time and partly because I've just been so unsatisfied with it. I'm now on a work vacay so I'm hoping to get it back up to scratch.

Ok, on to the favourites.

My first favourite of July comes in the form of Maybelline's Classic Volume Express Waterproof Mascara (£4.99). I've been using this stuff non-stop this month as it gives me long, full looking lashes with zero clumpiness. And it's cheaper than your average drugstore mascara - winner.

Second up has, of course, been my Fullips (£6.99). I've been obsessed with this thing since I got it and it really does offer an impressive temporary fix to smaller lips. I got the medium size and it works perfectly - see this post here for more details and results.

So I went into LUSH not long ago to pick up a birthday present and came out £30 poorer on items that I'd bought for myself - I did get the birthday present though so I gave myself a pat on the back. I picked up this, the Tea Tree Water (£4.25 for 100g). I've incorporated this into my skincare routine and my skin's been loving it. It reduces the size of blemishes overnight and keeps them at bay too. I plan to pick up the bigger bottle next time I'm in-store.

Lastly is the Real Techniques Bold Metals Flat Contour Brush (£22.00). I've been meaning to pick this bad boy up ever since the line was released but alas, bills got in the way. I finally managed to get my hands on it and it's now the only brush I use for contour. It really gives a clean, angled look to the cheekbones without making it look muddy or dirty. I love it, it's well worth the steep(er) price tag.

I promise, promise, to attempt to get back to doing regular posts in the next few weeks. Sorry again for being crappy.

Lauren

xo

A mini Drugstore Haul...

Naturally, I found myself wandering into Boots the other day and decided to pick up a few new things. I only originally went in for the Nailene Petite Square Falsies (£8.49) and ended up coming out with a few more bits.

I love the Nailene nails, they're my favourite whenever I want to wear false ones. They're completely plain so you can paint them whichever colour you wish and they're actually small enough to fit my nails. I mainly wear false nails because my natural nails are atrocious (working in retail for the past 5 years has completely ruined them) and these just make them look neater. Not to mention, my nail polish doesn't chip. They're small enough that when applied correctly, they can actually pass for real nails.

I also picked up the Maybelline Classic Volume Express Waterproof Mascara (£4.99). I actually picked this up because I was in need of a new mascara and this was only £4.99, it's rare to see a drugstore mascara under £8 - especially from Maybelline. So far, I'm liking it.

I also picked up the Barry M Speedy Quick Dry polish in Pit Stop (£3.99). I loved the shade when I saw it on Jasmine's Instagram so thank you Jasmine for introducing me to this one, I love it. I'd describe it as a greige (a mix between beige and grey) and a really good non-confrontational nude.

To complete my mini shop I picked up the Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Spot Wand (£3.59). A day and night treatment for zits that gives immediate action along with helping heal the blemish. I picked this up because I'd ran out of tea tree oil and I don't like not having some sort of spot treatment on hand - I feel like I'm tempting fate a bit.

I'm actually really impressed with all my purchases and I'd recommend any of them if you were ever looking to spend a few pennies.

Lauren

xo 

March Favourites.

What's worrying is by the time I write next month's favourites I'll have turned 22 - where does the time go?!

This year is flying by way too fast for my liking and I've got so much to do - especially come Summer! ARGH!

Anyway, enough of my rant and onto my March Favourites.

First up has been the Loreal Infallible 24hr Matte Foundation (£6.99). I've really gotten along with this product in recent weeks and it's been my go-to as far as bases go. It's a decent enough colour match (though I am thinking of picking up 10 Porcelain as well) and I've never had a foundation actually keep my face matte for as long as this one does. I love it and it's not even that expensive. 

Of course Makeup Revolution would make it into my monthly favourites - and a Happy 1st Birthday to them too - it seems I can't go a favourites post without including something from them. This month I've obviously been loving their Viper Mascara (£3.00) - excellent at adding volume, separation and length whilst maintaining a curl. Their One Blush Stick in Matte Malibu (£5.00) has been my contour colour choice recently - blends well, creates a lovely definition and works on even pale skintones.

Next up is probably a strange choice for a monthly favourite but my Hair Donut (£1.99) has been a saviour this month. I don't usually wear my hair up often but my roots have gotten so bad recently that I've been left with no choice but to shove it up into a bobble. They've been a godsend at making my hair look half decent on not-so-decent days. Praise the Lord I'm getting my hair done on Wednesday. 

Last - but by no means least - has been my T.V. (or Netflix) favourite and that's obviously Pretty Little Liars. Apologies if you follow me on twitter (if you don't, you should) since that's all I've been tweeting about recently - I've just found out who -A is and I was full on freaking out. I have major love for this show and I highly recommend it if you're looking for something new to watch - and my girl crush is Ashley Benson so you know...

Join me next month in celebrating my 22nd birthday - though no doubt I'll do a separate post for that. 

Thanks for reading.

Lauren 

xo

My Current Face.

So recently I've been back on the foundation hype and it's because I've fell in love with the new Loreal Infallible 24hr-Matte foundation. From what I've heard and read, this base has been a bit of a marmite product - you either love it or you hate it. I love it. It's probably the best foundation I've used that has actually kept my skin looking matte for more than a couple of hours - and I'm so pleased it's come from the drugstore. I'll definitely be picking up the primer version of this at some point. 

Until I pick that up I've been using The Body Shop's Instablur to keep my makeup in place and my oily skin at bay. I do love this primer but it is a pain to apply, especially when it literally crumbles...argh. It's good at keeping me shine-free throughout the day though so I can't complain too much. A new concealer love of mine has been the Rimmel Match Perfection 2 in 1 Concealer and Highlighter. It works well for covering redness, blemishes and bringing light to my face. 

Since hitting pan considerably on my Bourjois Healthy Balance powder and always forgetting to pick up another, I've been using the Rimmel Stay Matte powder - not as good as the Bourjois one but it does the job well enough.

To add colour back into my complexion, contour has come to me in the form of Benefit's Hoola. I just love this bronzer for contouring, it blends well and gives me the Cara Delevingne cheekbones I so crave. Makeup Revolution's Vivid Blush Lacquer in Rush has been my blush of choice lately, I like to apply it with a small stippling brush and the tiniest amount gives a lovely flush to the cheeks. For adding a sheen it's been nothing but Makeup Revolution's Radiant Light in Exhale - a gorgeous, pearly highlighter that adds illumination and radiance to the face. 

For eyes and eyebrows, Urban Decay's Naked Basics Palette has been my go-to for both. The Shade Naked 2 is the perfect ashy brown for a blonde girl's brows and it also makes for an everyday matte brown eye. However, I've majorly hit pan on it now and I'm pretty sure Urban Decay don't do it as a single eyeshadow. Boo. 

Of course, Makeup Revolution's Viper Mascara has been my mascara of the moment. I love this product and I'm so happy it's only £3.00. Countless re-purchases will be made for this. 

I've only just realised after coming to the end of this post that I didn't include a lip option - idiot. I've mainly been wearing lip balm as my lips have been as dry as the Sahara in recent weeks - in the words of Summer Roberts...ew. Oh, I do love The O.C.

Lauren

xo

Top 5 of the Moment.

Another day, another 'Top 5 of the moment' post here at The Beauty Ideal. Just a quick paragraph or two dedicating my love to my most grabbed products in recent weeks. 

Firstly, I've been getting back into using BB creams on an everyday basis rather than a heavy foundation. Even though I still love foundation, I don't really want to be slapping it on my face for a four hour shift at work. It's a waste of product and it's just not worth it. 

I've been loving Maybelline's Dream Pure BB Cream (£6.99) recently for a light base. It stays well, covers redness and even contains 2% Salicylic Acid to help combat blemishes. I've been getting some good mileage out of this recently. 

To help that stay put for a little bit longer - and to help combat my oiliness - Rimmel's Fix & Perfect Pro Primer (£6.99) has been my go-to. I used to use this all the time and stopped because I found The Body Shop's Instablur, however this one's much cheaper and works in pretty much the same way. A good one to have in your collection I'd say.

A couple of bits from Makeup Revolution have (obviously) made their way into my Top 5. I love Makeup Revolution - amazing quality products at ridiculously affordable prices. Their One blush Stick in Matte Malibu (£5.00) has been my contour of choice since I bought it a few weeks ago. It's creamy, easy to blend and actually looks good on even pale skintones. The Viper Mascara (£3.00) has also been an everyday staple since I bought it - it adds separation, volume and length to my lashes whilst simultaneously holding a curl throughout the day, all for £3.00!

Lastly has been my Soap & Glory Glow All Out (£11.00). This creates the perfect sheen on your cheekbones and anywhere else you want to put it - it looks especially captivating as an inner corner highlight. Not the cheapest of drugstore highlighters but more than worth it's price. 

I've been loving the drugstore recently if you can't already tell. I truly think they're bringing it recently when it comes to new product releases and the quality of those products. Yes, not everything is mind-blowingly great but it's definitely better than a couple of years back.

Lauren

xo

The Budget Mascara that works wonders...

When I was browsing the Makeup Revolution site and came across this, I added it to my basket without thinking much of it. Yes, I'd heard some good reviews about it but I honestly didn't expect a mascara that costs £3.00 - £3.00! - to be that much good. 

I've fallen head over heels for this. 

The Viper Mascara adds volume and length to my naturally crappy lashes, and separates them without a hitch. One of my favourite - yet surprising - things about it is that it holds a curl without being a waterproof formula. I usually only buy waterproof mascaras because of their curl-holding abilities, however this one works like a dream and it's nice to have curly lashes at the end of the day and still be able to get it off without effort. 

It doesn't flake off and it doesn't transfer onto my under eye area which is a massive pet peeve of mine when it comes to mascaras. I'm actually intrigued as to the other mascaras that Makeup Revolution has to offer. 

It's possible one of the best £3.00's I've ever spent.

Lauren

xo

Trialling - new bits from Makeup Revolution.

It seems like nowadays I'm making weekly orders on the Makeup Revolution website, the brand is definitely starting to become an addiction of mine. They're always bringing out new products (I've currently got my eye on the Black Velvet palette - it looks amazeballs) and the quality of the stuff they produce is just amazing for the prices they charge. Seriously though, a whole palette of 16 creamy, highly pigmented shadows for £7.99 - mental!

So I found myself browsing their site last week (story of my life) and I finally picked up the One Blush Stick in Matte Malibu. I've had my eye on this product for quite some time and I never added it to my basket for reasons unknown. I used it this morning and I'm truly impressed - it blends beautifully into the skin and is actually a good shade match for pale skintones. I'm currently in love with it. 

Secondly I picked up The Viper mascara, another product I'd heard rave reviews about. I'm so happy that I picked this up, it's quickly become my new favourite mascara. It's blacker than black, catches all of my lashes and adds length, volume and separation. The best part? it holds a curl brilliantly and it's not even waterproof. Oh yeah, and it's £3.00, 3 bloody pounds! 

Lastly, I added their Lip Lava in Forgiven  to my basket. I'll be honest and say I'm not crazy about the colour, it looks quite peachy on me and I'm not usually a fan of peach lips on my skintone, but the formula is beautiful. I'm tempted to pick up all the shades of these just because the formula's that great and for £2.99, I'm not going to grumble.

Makeup Revolution is fast becoming my favourite drugstore brand and come payday, no doubt I'll be ordering another shedload of products from their website - Black Velvet palette, I'm coming for you. 

Lauren

xo