A day at Snettisham Beach │ lipsticksandlevis

Hello everyone!

Yesterday, I went with my Mum and Dad to visit my Auntie, Uncle and cousin at a caravan they own in Snettisham. It was such a lovely day, walking the doggies along the beach and round a nature reserve. Recently, my head has been all over the place so it was lovely to get away for the day and even better to get to the beach, which I find very relaxing and calming. Here are a few snaps that I took yesterday and wanted to share with my little space on the internet!

Do you have any places that you love to go to relax? 

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5 Things: top 5 face masks │ lipsticksandlevis

Hello everyone!

So, here's the next instalment in my 'Top 5' series and as you can see from the title it's my top 5 face masks! I love to do little pamper evenings at least once a week, two if I have the time. Depending on how my skin is behaving at the time, depends on which face mask I use. I like to cater to deal with the problems that my skin is having at that time.

Soap & Glory The Fab Pore 2-in-1 mask & peel - This is one that I use whenever I'm feeling like there's a build up of blackheads, usually around my nose and on my chin. I only apply it to those areas and I leave it on for around 10-15 minutes. I love this because of the little exfoliating particles, I really feel like it gets in there and works to get rid of any blackheads.

Lush Cupcake Fresh Face Mask - I love to use this for when I have had a bad breakout, which luckily I don't get very often. I like to use it allover my face, not just on the areas of breakouts. I use it quite frequently, from when I feel and spots appearing to after they've gone to help get rid of any marks they may have left. I love the smell of this, it smells like mint chocolate! The only thing I don't like about this mask is that it is best used up before a certain date which I sometimes struggle to do.

The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask - This mask is designed for combination / oily skin which is brilliant for me as on my forehead, around my nose and on my chin is oily, whereas the rest of my skin is quite dry, especially in autumn and winter. This mask purifies, cleanses and controls excess oil, which is perfect for me. Whenever I use this mask, I know that it is doing amazing things for my skin because once it has dried, I can see dark dots where my pores are showing that it is extracting excess oil from my skin. The fact that I can see it doing something really makes me feel that it is making a difference. 

Sanctuary Deep Cleanse Facial 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask - This is possible my favourite face mask that I have tried, EVER. I love that it is a warming mask because you can feel it working on your skin. Also, it makes it easier to judge when to remove the mask as you just remove it once it has completely cooled down. Another thing I love about this mask is that it doesn't go hard and set your face, so you can carry on doing things around the house while this works it's magic. Every time I use this, it leaves my skin feeling so soft and fresh, I love it. 

Avon Clearskin Professional Liquid Extraction Strip - This isn't so much a face mask, more of a pore extracting strip in liquid form. I like to steam my face to ensure that my pores are open before I apply this because I feel like that gives better results. I then squeeze a little of this onto my finger and spread over my nose and chin. After waiting a little while the liquid will set and dry a little. This is when you can peel it off and extract those blackheads. I feel that this a lot gentler version of pore extraction strips, which I don't like to use as I feel they are quite harsh on the skin.

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A Little Lush Haul │ lipsticksandlevis

Hello everyone!

I am sorry for the lack of posts over the last week, I have not been feeling too good and have not really been in the mood to do anything or talk to anyone, but now I am back and am not going anywhere any time soon! So, yesterday was my birthday and as I didn't really want to do anything and both my Mum and Dad were also off work, we decided, with my younger brother, to go spend the day shopping because that's what I do best! I decided to treat myself to a few bits as it was my birthday and I have been saving all my money in preparation to move out. One of the shops I visited, as you can see from the title, was Lush and here is what I decided to buy..

I will start with the only product that isn't a bath bomb! The new shaving soap D'Fluff. I am currently using the Dirty Shaving Cream from Lush and absolutely love it, but I've almost run out of it. So, when I went into Lush yesterday I was planning on picking up another when I saw this. It is a relatively new product but is used for the same intentions. You smear it on the area to be shaved and simply shave as normal with your razor. It contains fresh strawberries and cocoa butter to leave you silky smooth. While in the shop, I was told that it can also double up as a body wash, which is a bonus! When I was looking at the tub in the shop and member of staff approached me and told me how good it was, and then when I went to pay for my bits, another member of staff told me that it was 'amazing' and 'leaves you're skin so soft after shaving'. That really made it a must for me to try and I can't wait to once my 'Dirty' one has all gone! I'll let you know what I think.

Next, the three bath bombs which are possibly the products that Lush is most known for.Every bath need a Lush bath bomb! Firstly I repurchased an old favourite of mine, which is probably my favourite Lush product ever. Now that's a big statement! It's Twilight bath bomb. I love to use this after a stressful day to help me relax. It contains lavender, a soothing, mind-clearing and calming fragrance. It never fails to calm me down. It's also like a show in your bath, going in pink and ending in a deep bluey purple with shimmers. It's just gorgeous. Secondly, Honey Bee, one that I have not tried before. This bath bomb contains honey, aloe vera and rhassoul mud. The honey to soothe and retain moisture, the cooling aloe vera and the rhassoul mud to cleanse, condition and soften the skin. I'm definitely looking forward to putting this one in my bath! Finally, Dragons Egg. Another one that I haven't tried before, but I always like to experiment with new bath bombs. This apparently has a very uplifting and citrusy scent and turns your bath a lovely golden colour. Another one that I can't wait to try out in the bath! I'm popping these straight into my basket of bath time treats ready for me to try out and use! 

If you want to try any of these products or see what else they have to offer just click here.

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5 things: top five drugstore bases │ lipsticksandlevis

Hello everyone!

Today, I am continuing my Top Five series with a top five drugstore bases. There is a mixture of both foundations and BB creams as my make-up collection isn't as extensive as some beauty bloggers as I haven't been doing this for long, although I still have a fair amount!

Starting on the left is Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation. I love this foundation for days when I'm feeling ill and have to make a bit of effort, because it has little particles in it that give an anti-fatigue effect and radiant glow. It's also perfect for summer for the same reasons and it also has and SPF of 15. Next is another foundation from Rimmel, the Match Perfection Foundation. I love how lightweight this foundation is, but it's buildable too so can be anywhere between light coverage and medium coverage, depending on what you like. This is another foundation that gives your skin a radiance, but I would say not as much as the Wake Me Up. This also has SPF, but this time slightly higher at 18. The Body Shop All-in-One BB Cream is definitely my favourite at the moment and the one that I almost always reach for when I am wearing a base. This is a colour-adapting tinted cream, so it comes out almost white like a cream but when you apply it, there are little pods of colour within the cream that burst to give you a colour that also adapts to your skin tone. I think it's genius! When I was on holiday in Mallorca recently, this was all I used as a base as I could continue to use it throughout the holiday as I became more tanned. I bought the Bourjois Happy Light Foundation after hearing so much good stuff about it on youtube and reading amazing things on countless blogs. I am so pleased that I caved into all of these recommendations and bought it. This is yet another foundation that claims to perfect skin and give you a luminous and flawless complexion. I really feel that it does that and again, it has a very light but buildable coverage. Last but not least is the Maybelline Dream Pure 8-in-1 BB Cream. This claims to: conceal imperfections, help protect against the appearance of blemishes, its oil-free so non-greasy, minimises the appearance of pores, clarifies the look of skin, conceals redness, hydrates and smooths and compliments skin tone. Now, I'm no too sure about the complementing the skin tone or the protecting against the appearance of blemishes, but the rest I totally agree with! I went through a phase of probably two months where this was the only base that I wore. As I don't get too many spots (touch wood!) I am more likely to be wearing a light BB cream or tinted moisturiser than a full coverage foundation, so this is one that I reach for a lot and would highly recommend!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation - available here

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation - available here

The Body Shop All-in-One BB Cream - available here

Bourjois Happy Light Foundation - available here

Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream - available here

July Favourites │ lipsticksandlevis

Hello everyone!

Today, I am coming at you with my July favourites! There aren't too many make-up and beauty bits this month because I have been ill for most of it and so haven't been wearing make-up that often and I am saving to move out so I have been cutting back on buying new make-up and beauty things. 

Sanctuary Deep Cleanse Facial 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask - available here

This has been a skin saviour since the day that I first tried it, and it just continues to be. As I've been ill for a lot of July, my skin had just become as groggy as I felt. This really helped to unclog my pores and purify my skin and just made it feel amazing afterwards! I feel that this will be one of those products that I just cannot ever live without. Amazing.

Tanya Burr Lipgloss in Afternoon Tea - available here

The shade of this lipgloss is just to die for, the perfect peachy pink for my skin tone and such a gorgeous colour for summer. On the days, this past month, that I did actually wear make-up this was pretty much the only lip product that I was reaching for. The lasting power of this lip gloss is so good and the pigmentation, even better! Due to loving this so much, I am definitely going to get some more for Tanya Burr's range. 

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder - available here

This is probably my favourite ever bronzer, so you will understand why it is in my July favourites. Recently, when doing my make-up, probably for the last few months, this is the only product that has stayed constant throughout. I reach for it every single time I am applying make-up. As the shade of the bronzer is quite light, it is perfect for applying in summer and through into winter too. It is the perfect contour colour as it is matte and also perfect for subtly bronzing up my face. 

The Body Shop Body Mist in Vineyard Peach - available here

I own two of the body mists from The Body Shop. They are perfect for a quick spritz through out the day and come in so many fragrances, all the typical Body Shop ones. The Vineyard Peach scent,  however, has been my absolute favourite because it is such a lovely summery scent that I have worn it almost every day for the last two months. It is so light and fresh and I have had lots of people asking 'What perfume are you wearing?' while wearing this. Absolute summer staple.

Another two favourites that I just couldn't not mention are two TV series that I watched on Netflix. American Horror Story and Orange is the New Black. I started off watching American Horror Story and was instantly hooked. I would watch three or four episodes in a row if I had the time. Literally, whenever I could watch it, I was. I was just as obsessed with Orange is the New Black and I can't recommend them to you enough! They were both brilliant and I am waiting and waiting for the third series of both of them to appear on Netflix! I have just started to watch Breaking Bad so we'll see how that one goes! 

My most used make-up brushes │ lipsticksandlevis

Hello everyone!

So, here I am again with another post that's a little bit different and I'm hoping helpful, to someone out there. My most used make-up brushes. I love make-up brushes and I am beginning to build up quite the collection, but these are some of my ultimate favourites that I use every time I apply my make-up. Excuse the state of my brushes, I wasn't going to wash them just for the purpose of taking pictures and it shows that they are well loved!

From left to right.

Real Techniques Base Shadow brush - available here - I love using this for many things, mainly applying eye shadow all over the lid as the name suggests, but I also find it great for smoking out an eye look and applying a touch of colour just under the lower lash line. It is small enough to fit and fluffy so it keeps the look smoky and subtle, and even for days when my ultimate blending brush is in real need of a wash, I use this! Absolutely love it!

Zoeva 227/ luxe soft definer brush - available here - Zoeva are one of my favourite brands for brushes so when I saw this Rose Golden collection I just couldn't resist. I do have a post here about the whole collection with a few of them mentioned again in this post. This is my ultimate blending brush, the perfect size with the perfect shape and so soft! I use it mainly for blending but when I'm feeling lazy I just dust a bit of shadow over my lid with this and it is perfectly blended straight away!

Fan brush - I have no idea of the brand of this brush or where you can find this exact one, but most make-up brush brands have an alternative to this so they won't be difficult to find. I use this brush for one thing and one thing only, highlighting. I love highlighting, especially with powder and this makes it so much easier and also more precise. The thin fan shape make it easy to sweep your chosen highlight across the tops of your cheek bones or down the bridge of your nose in one simple movement without apply too much product.

Real Techniques Blush Brush - available here - This to me is one of those brushes that I find myself using for so many different things, applying powder all over my face, applying blush, setting concealer and mostly applying bronzer. It is the perfect shape to apply bronzer all over the face, my absolute favourite make-up brush that I own!

Zoeva 127 Luxe Sheer Cheek - available here - This brush is again from the Zoeva Rose Golden collection. The shape and size of this brush makes it perfect for applying a pop of colour to the apples of your cheeks. Just as with any other Zoeva brush that I own, it is so soft and luxurious and makes applying your blush an absolute pleasure.

Zoeva 317 Wing Liner Brush - available here - Another from the Zoeva Rose Golden Collection! I use this brush for lining the upper lash line and smoking out any shadow that lines the upper lash line. The main purpose I use this brush for it to fill in my eyebrows when I am using powder. It is the perfect shape for it and as it is tiny it gives you a lot more control and precision. 

Zoeva 142 Concealer Buffer Brush - available here - Again, a brush from the Rose Golden Collection by Zoeva. This brush does exactly what it says on the tin and that is what I love to use it for, buffing in concealer. I prefer to use this on concealer around my face, for example, around my nose, on my forehead, chin etc. I prefer to use it on my face rather than under my eyes because it is quite a sturdy and firm brush and I like to be gentle on the skin under my eyes. For buffing in concealer, the domed shape makes it perfect and so easy to work with. The small size makes it good for getting into the little nooks and crannies like around your nose. 

Speak to you soon,

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