Back to School Essentials: Makeup!

Since many of us are going back to school in the next few weeks (or have already started), I thought it would be super appropriate to start a Back to School Essentials Series!  It will focus on various aspects about "back to school",  like makeup, skincare, stationery......whether it be uni, junior school or high school, I hope you find this series super useful and gives you more ideas (and excitementt!!!) about going back to education and learning :):)


This post, it's all about makeup! When you're going back to school, makeup is not necessarily the #1 essential, but its nice to look forward to doing something in the morning.  I started wearing proper makeup to school when I was about 15, but I didn't really know what I was doing and I was just trying out different styles and kinds of products.  But now looking back, if I were a more experienced make-up guru, I would've gone for the basics-- pinks/nudes/cover ups.  Nothing too fancy and nothing too overdone-- after all, you are at school to learn and not show off your beauty skills! (And also, imagine the time you'd need to have for quick fix ups in between lessons!)

                                                             1. Mascara

With eyes, its always important to keep in mind that less is best.  Too much eye makeup may not be appropriate in some schools, but if you're looking for something that makes your eyes pop and give you some confidence, mascara and lashes is the way to go.  I've always found that a good mascara is a great investment because it has an amazing effect on your eyes and really makes your eyes stand out.  I've also chosen a waterproof mascara because you don't want your mascara melting all over the place as you're changing from class to class! Also, I've chosen Maybelline because if you're a student and on a budget, its a great place to start looking for basic mascaras that really make a difference.  Here, I've opted for:

VINYL eyelash curler

Maybelline The Falsies (waterproof) and Maybelline Colossal Volum

2. Blush

Blush is a cute way of adding colour and life into your tired, worn out complexion. If your school doesn't approve much makeup, a subtle pink shade will do the trick.  I've also shown a Illuminator from L'Oreal (with a built-in blush), which is another great way to brighten up your skin or give yourself that extra oomph factor (who says makeup needs to be for other people??) that makes you feel more confident and ready to face the multitude of tests and meetings that are waiting for you.  Here I've opted for:
                                L'Oreal Illuminating Powder in 02 Rose Radieux
                                        Bobbi Brown Blush in Nude Beach #28


                                                           3. Brushes!

With makeup, its important to have basic tools to help you apply your makeup properly and evenly all over your visage.  To keep it short and simple: here is a Body Shop Face & Body Brush and Mac 129SE blush brush.  They are versatile, not too expensive and a great long term investment.

4. Products for your Nooks & Crannies

Here, I've featured miscellaneous products (again, from Maybelline) that help perfect the nooks and crannies of one's face (;  The brow pencil and concealer fall into that category because they cover some of the most unco-operative portions of your face, ie. eyebrows and pores/spots/eyebags.  Now, here's a disclaimer: I do not have perfect eyebrows, but the brow pencil helps me pretend I do.  It comes with a brow brush, which helps me keep my ridiculous brow hairs in order (most of the time).  However, that isn't a negative review on the product; just a testament to how unruly my eyebrows can be.  This concealer is also great because although it says "Eraser Eye", it works basically everywhere else that you feel like you have blemishes.  I personally find that although its targeted for the eye area, it actually does a better job covering up spots (especially since my skin has been ridiculous in humid weather).  The only thing I'd caution about is that because the concealer comes in a sponge, sometimes it may be more hygenic to use your (CLEAN) fingers or a brush, because applying the sponge to the area that you want to cover up may cause bacteria to be stuck on the concealer (; and you definitely do not want that.......

 These products are also both from Maybelline and are, as a result, more affordable for students on a budget (:

Maybelline Brow Pencil (in blonde)

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Concealer

FINALLY, YOU NEED A CUTE PURSE to store all your products and keep them away from dirt.  Here are some super cute options for girls on the go:

This classic and chic Forever 21 pouch

This sleek & simple design from Topshop

And for those of you who are willing to open your purse strings even further...... some more super sweet options compiled by The Zoe Report 

Of course, these are all just ideas.  Feel free to use your own makeup purses, or just random purses lying around! This is a great opportunity to use the purse you bought ages ago but never had a chance to use it.  There is no wrong answer when it comes to makeup bags!

What are some of YOUR essentials? Do let me know <3 Happy learning!

Beach Day Outfit!

Necessities for a Beach Day!

Summer is coming to a quick end and hopefully everyone is out there enjoying the last few weeks (or days) of sun filled fun.  Here's a quick rundown of what I'd bring if I was on the way to a fun filled day under the soleil.

1. Get a cute outfit-- something floral and flowy.  I always opt for bright colours when it comes to dresses.  Whether its just a beach/hot day hang out by the hotel bar or by the pool, you need something that you can either use as a cover up for a bikini or just a cute sun dress.  This dress was bought on holiday, but here are some other options that are similar to bright sundresses:

Plain sundresses as featured on Teen Vogue
Printed sundress from Next! -- Love how this one comes in two colours.  I'd personally go with the orange for a sunnier vibe
On a slightly more expensive note, this Lara dress is the perfect evening beach outfit, in case you were at a resort/cruise and they were having a formal night or something of the like.  The plunging neckline and low back add to the allure of the print.  Also, the length and diamond-like quality of the dress adds a whole lot of glamour to a flowy and fun skirt.
If you're opting for a shorter dress but still floral and formal, this Next option may be for you! Match it with a cute beaded bag, nude heels/sandals for a night out by the sea and you're good to go (:

2. Purse: Victoria's Secret -- you always need a small fun purse to bring out and carry some necessities for a day out.  This is the perfect purse to bring for a day out all the way till an event in the evening, and because its black, it matches with so many outfits! Another one of my faves for a bag is a beaded purse-- like this one on Etsy.

3. Fragrance: Daisy by Marc Jacobs. The bottle design already has a huge flower-- its basically asking to be used in the summer time! Other favourite scents are: Princess by Vera Wang (because it basically smells like a field of flowers) and Daisy Dream by Marc Jacobs. See a whole list of summer fragrances (by Glamour 2012) that I also 100% approve of ;) 

4. Makeup: L'Oreal Lumi Magique, Maybelline Sun Dream, Mac Viva Glam, Mac Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15.  Aside from the importance of looking bronzed and fresh during your hang out, its also important to be safely protected from the sun! This lip conditioner is a great way for your lips to stay hydrated, while adding a bit of colour and solar protection.  (The lipstick is just if you're going for a darker lip during the evening)

One thing that I haven't featured here that's also SUPER important is SUNSCREEN.  You need to be protected wherever you are, or else run the risk of getting skin cancer. Here's a list from Allure about some of the best sunscreens.  This list was published in 2013, but I revisited it a few times this year and during the spring when I was getting ready for summer. My personal favourites are the Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid SPF 50 and the Kiehls Activated Sun Protector SPF 50.  They're both liquid based and eventhough they're SPF 50 the consistency of both are not thick and creamy, and they have as little of a fragrance as possible.  The lightness of the cream is always useful for a hot day when you want as little as possible on your skin.  Plus SPF 50 is very helpful in the sun because you want to stay protected for as long as possible!

What are some of your favourites? (: 

July (Beauty) Favourites!

Beauty
Maybelline Dream Sun Triple-Bronzing Powder
I actually got this awhile back, but this has been almost an "always-use" everytime I'm going out during the summer months. You don't have to use a lot to get a really sun-kissed look and there are 3 shades so you can either use them as individual shades or combined to get a more golden-brown shade. It's also great for contouring and highlighting since the lighter shades can double as both a bronzer and something else (; --- Cheating whoops... Definitely recommend for anything from a night out to a day out.





Jack Wills Gold Nailvarnish
This was also a Christmas gift from awhile back but I've only recently started using it during the summer. Because its gold and my skin tends to not be as tan as I want it to, its never really matched my skintone during summer. LUCKILY FOR MEEE this summer I've been slightly more tan so I've been able to use this pretty colour especially on my toenails to highlight the tan shades. I also really like the gold because its not a very commonly used colour for nails, yet it matches with a lot of outfits and doesn't stand out while still being an interesting colour. This has effectively changed a lot of my nail colour choices as after I was gifted this I've been on a hunt for odd colours.

Clinique Almost Makeup SPF 15
This is great. Not only is it not thick and allows your skin to breathe, but because its not actually a foundation, it isn't intended to make your skin colour change or act as a base for makeup and so you don't have to worry about blending or it melting off in the heat. It has minerals and elements in it that help keep your skin looking presentable but also that help protect your face from the UV rays, which is helpful if you're going to be out and about in the summer for longer periods of time. This is something I've had for long long time and recently digged up again, so the product formula may have changed or the packaging may look slightly different, but I would expect the effects to be the same.

What are some of your favourites? Do share!

Look forward to Fashion Favourites tomorrow!