June BBC Day 26: Best Beauty Advice You've Been Given

I've been given plenty of beauty advice in my day, often by well meaning friends and family. When I was only a little nipper, my Gran told me "Too much lipstick makes you look like a tart!!", which was hardly constructive, but definitely memorable!

As I got older, and got into secondary school, we were told by a teacher "Tinted moisturizer is more beneficial than foundation, so we will let the girls away with that if you want to have a little coverage...". Now, while I was in school, I wore absolutely NO makeup, bar maybe a little eyeliner, so that didn't apply to me!

As you guys know (since I never shut up about it) I wear very little makeup, on a day to day basis. That's because the best advice I was given was to let my skin breathe. Don't constantly clog your pores with heavy make-up, don't put on a full face for cleaning the house, and don't for the love of god, please don't go to bed with makeup on!!

The best advice I could give somebody is to remember that nothing is more beautiful than a confident smile. Even if you have to fake it, you will find yourself less bothered by how people see you, if you can even pretend to see yourself in a "I am ... and I am a beautiful princess!!" kind of light!!

You are beautiful (even if you don't believe me, I wont lie to you!)

Amy
xoxo

June BBC Day 25: Primer

Primer is one of those products some people swear by, but others avoid at all costs! I admit, I'm not taken by face primers, however, I love eye-shadow primers. Maybe its because I'm not a "Daily Face" kind of girl, maybe I just missed the boat on the whole foundation primer thing...

Eye-shadow primer is great. I have been a big fan of the No.7 Eye-shadow Primer since I was about 17, but recently, I've been loving both NYC colour's offering as well as Essence's! I will happily state that I think Essence stands up to the quality of No.7, no problem!!

Essence I<3 Stage- €3.59

As far as face-primer goes... The only one I ever tried was Rimmel and I HATED it! It made my skin feel weird and tingly, and not in the good way! It works for some of you, and that's great, its affordable and readily available, but I cant abide the stuff. If you can recommend a decent one, at a decent price, by all means, be my guest!

What is your opinion on primers? Have you any favorites? Would you try any of the ones I've mentioned?? 

Let me know!!

xoxo

Amy

June BBC Day 19: Fashion/Style Icon

Let me just state this for the record. I have little to no fashion sense when it comes to what to wear on a day-to-day basis. Normally I gravitate towards a rocker look, because its comfy not just clothes-wise, but its comfy to me in a nostalgic, warm memory kind of way.

For years, and years I have been a huge fan of the Finnish Love-Metal band HIM. Their lead singer, Ville Valo seems to have made a fine art of "dressy-causal-grunge-sexy". And yes, I'm aware that he's a dude, and I'm aware that he's in the rock scene a lot more legitimately than I, but I really don't care. I adore his style and I try to emulate it where I can.

Beaten up Converse, ripped up jeans, skinny scarves, smudged eyeliner... It's just like catnip to me! Oh, and lets not get me started on the jewelry and tattoos! Yum!

You may not like it, but you can't deny, Valo's got style!!

Next up, a more girly style icon! Lucy Hale.

I love Lucy Hale, she's what beautiful would look like if the dictionary could have pictures! She's got this kind of, dark but quirky and fun style that I find really appealing! I love the way she always looks done, but not too overdone! That's a balance I find hard to get right! I love the way she manages to look effortlessly chic in what I consider to be daring outfits!

I certainly don't think I could pull off shorts, a bright colour AND an animal print all in one look, but Lucy does it!

So, ladies, who are your style icons? Were you shocked by my choices? Have you any unusual choices when it comes to emulating someones fashion sense?

Let me know!!

xoxo,
Amy

June BBC Day 17: A Makeup Skill You Would Love To Perfect, But Struggle With

Well girls, as you know, I'm not the girl who wears a full face every day. I can do it going out, but not regularly. The last night I went out with a full face on was last November. Even on my 21st birthday, I didn't wear a full on face.

Credit: Jeddah Beauty

You see, if I put on a full face, I feel I have to contour. Amy can't contour. I just wind up looking silly. Either I use too much, and look dirty, or I use too little and you can't even see it! It's a nightmare!! I would rather just go out, looking like my usual self, than go out with no contouring, or worse still, God awful contouring!

The other thing I can't seem to nail, is that nose slimming business you see the likes of Michelle Phan at. What's the story there? I must be doing it wrong, cause I can see absolutely no difference when I try. 

Highlighting! There's another one! I can highlight the brow-bone no bother at all, but ask me to highlight a cheek-bone, and you might as well be talking to a man. A dead man, at that. 

Well, I've made myself look sufficiently inept at all things beauty, so that's it from me today! Here's to the home straight, girls!! 2 weeks til its all over... *weeps*

So what is something you are absolutely hopeless at? Is it any of my choices? Have you no idea how to do a smokey eye? Can you not apply lipliner to save your life??

Amy,

xoxo

June BBC Day 16: Skincare Routine

I've always been about minding my skin. I've never suffered from acne, and most of the time, my skin is pretty well behaved aside from one or two small spots here and there! I don't believe, and have never believe in wearing a full face of make-up everyday. It's expensive and tough on your skin. I fully advocate going without. And I have to say, I've never bothered much with make-up and I still get told I'm attractive, beautiful (and if you're from the sticks, you'll know what it means to be called "a fine lookin' young-wan" by your elders). Going Au Natural has never stopped me meeting people, never stopped me getting male attention. While I fully understand why girls go out everyday with their face all made up, that's just not for me. I stick with my skincare routine, and that's enough for me!


When I'm in the shower I use Loréal Men Expert Pure and Matte facial scrub. It's designed to fight impurities and mattify the surface of your skin. I use two small blobs every time I get into the shower, the first to get rid of the oil on my skin, the second to get down into the pores. It never fails me!

After I finish with that, I gently run my Body Shop Facial Brush over to help increase blood-flow slightly. The bristles are soft and it just makes my skin lovely and tingly before I hop out of the shower.

After that, I run a Skin Wisdom Youth Protect wipe over my face to remove any residue that might be on my face, because the water isn't always great here at home! Then I take a little of my Elemis Softly Softly moisturiser and rub it til its all sunk in...

For my body, I've recently started using exfoliating gloves in the shower with my shower-gel, and then moisturizing with either Lush's Charity Pot, or if I need to look glowy for something, I will use my Garnier Summer Body Gradual Tanning Lotion. It's brilliant and not streaky at all. It also smells like apricots, but when you get into the shower it takes on that horrible burnt biscuit scent that we all loathe. Oh well, you can't win every round!

If I'm feeling like a treat, I'll pop this mask from the Boots Essentials range on for 3-5 minutes while I'm slathering myself in some lotion or another from the shoulders down! It's enriched with cucumber and I personally find it extremely softening and deep cleansing! It's somewhere in the €2.50/€3.00 price range, so its easy on the pocket. Also its good for using solely around the nose area if that's what you would rather. It comes in a bigger version too, so if you fall as hopelessly in love with it as I have, then you will be dying to repurchase the bigger tube, which is only a euro or so more expensive!

After I use the cucumber mask, and I've rinsed it off with barely warm water, I like to run a cotton ball with a little toner on it. Now, I'm not terribly fancy with my toner, and only that I already had the toner I have now, I'd have invested in the toner from the Boot Essentials like too. I use the Tesco Cucumber Toner to remove any leftovers from the Clay Mask, and then top it off with the Elemis moisturiser. I only use the mask 2 or 3 times a week, so this extra couple of steps just slot in pretty seamlessly to my normal regime.

So that's my very lengthy explanation of my skincare routine! Sorry if its a bit waffley or possibly a bit preachy, I got a bit caught up!

What is your skincare routine like? Do you get as involved in yours as I do in mine? What's your favorite product? Can you recommend any other masks for me to try? I would love to read your comments and suggestions down below!

Amy
xoxo

June BBC Day 7: Favorite Lip Product

This one is a toughie.



Lush Bubblegum lip scrub gets a great surface going for the application of my balms and lip colors.

For lip balm, I adore my raspberry "Balmi" which is pretty much a dupe for EOS. It's moisturising and smells divine. Carmex is another brand I advocate, though I find it leaves a residue on my lips, so I save it for night time use.

Essence Stay Matte Lip Creams are great quality for the tiny money. I adore my Silky Red shade, with Femme Fatale lipliner. Paired together, they make a beautiful true red lip for less than €4. Not too shabby, I think you'll agree!

June BBC Day 6: Disappointing Buys.

As a recent convert to the way of the red lip, I have been spending a lot of time trying to figure out what products are best for various life situations. I would be lying if I said that I loved everything I've bought. I haven't.

17 Berry Crush Lip-Stain

My most disappointing buy in recent times was the "17 Berry Crush Lip-Stain" in the reddest shade. I can't remember the name, and sadly the name isn't on the tube, so I can't clarify. It doesn't apply very well, its patchy and sticky. That wouldnt be so bad but its bitter. Bitter. I have a nervous habit of licking my lips, and the taste of it is not pleasant at all.

It's alright, and maybe it would suit others, my lips may just be awkward, but I was really disappointed and I would not repurchase it.

I am on the market for a good red lip-stain though, so I would love some recommendations!

What are you're most recent purchase regrets? Do you suffer from buyers remorse? Have you tried this lip-stain and love it?! 

Let me know, so I can avoid future regrets!

Le Grá,
Amy
xoxox

JuneBBC Day 5: Favorite Foundation...

This is another tie between two. Happily, its between two very different types of base...

For a full coverage foundation, I will nearly always opt for Loréal Infallible 16hr. Its one of the very few that is pale enough for me. Everything else makes me look orangey-yellow and just...ick! My bottle of Infallible is ridiculously dinged up and grubby, so I shall once again let Google save my picture loving hiney!

JuneBBC Day 4: Whats in my Shower?

Most days, I'm not very fancy in the shower, I mean, I am a country girl, so that should explain a lot. I know how to get in and out in under 5 minutes when the need calls for it.

On a normal day though, I use the following;

JuneBBC Day 3: Favorite Hair Product

This is SO easy!

I adore Yes To Carrots Shampoo and Conditioner. There's no contest on this one. I cannot verbalize how wonderful they are, all round perfection just about covers it, but it doesn't do it justice either. They're almost all natural, paraben free, last for ages (I've had mine well over a month and used a quarter of them) which makes them excellent value for money, they smell divine and leave your hair nourished, shiny and squeaky clean. And come on, they are labelled "Nourishing Shampoo" and "Pampering Conditioner"... That's never going to be a bad thing, is it?

Yes To Carrot Shampoo and Conditioner

Take this from me. You NEED to try these. They will completely convert you. 

I promise, you won't be disappointed!!!

Le Grá,

Amy,

xoxo

June BBC Day 2: Favorite Brush

Brushes aren't a big deal to me like they are to some other bloggers. I know plenty of people who are loyal to Real Techniques, Eco Tools, MAC, even the H+M Brushes. I'm not pushed either way. I will use what does the job, brands are irrelevant. With that said, I have been lusting over the fluffy Real Techniques blush brush, and the Eco-Tools starter kit, but I tell myself I have brushes, I don't need to invest...yet!

My favorite brush right now is a tie between my H&M Kabuki brush, that I use for blush, and my Essence (gasp!) eye-shadow pencil brush...

H&M Kabuki Brush
Essence Pencil Eye-Shadow Brush

The H&M brush is a bit on the rough side, but not so bad that I wouldn't recommend it to others. It's coarseness is not off-putting, rather, it is comforting to a degree. Its a tough little brush. I've had it a long time. Its been through a lot. Its a great little brush, and it applies blush well... When I wear blush, that is!

My Essence pencil brush is amazing, its small, delicate and oh so soft! Not bad for €3.50, eh? I use it to blend a smokey eye when I'm going out. It's small and precise, and very very good at its job! Cannot recommend this particular brush highly enough. Budget beauty tools don't have to be crap anymore, with companies like Essence cornering a gap in the market. Definitely worth a look, ladies!

Le Grá,
Amy,
xoxo

June BBC Day 1: Favorite Eyeliner

Thanks, Google!!
Bourjois Khol&Contour 16h

Eyeliner has to be one of the things I've tried and tested over the years. I had the quintessential "rocker" phase, so this is going to be so easy to decide, though it could be considered cheating because rather than a favorite product, its a favorite brand...

Bourjois. Once it's made by Bourjois, I'll have it, thank you!

Khol and Contour 16h pencil liner in Ultra Black. For your waterline, this cant be beaten since it's the blackest black around. Two swipes, and this baby is opaque!

You know its well loved when its so beaten up and grotty that you have to source a picture from Google. You honestly can't even read the writing on my stubby little pencil anymore. In fact, I've had my one for so long, the writing has changed from gold to white.

Talk about a product that lasts, eh?

June Beauty Blog Challenge

I think its fair to say I'm not exactly consistent in my posting habits. I can post for 3 consecutive days, and then leave you guys sitting for a week or even a fortnight. So I'm going to challenge myself during the month of June, by attempting Girl Friday's June Beauty Blog Challenge! The aim of this is to help bloggers get used to regular posting, and you can even use the hashtag #JuneBBC on Twitter to help other challenge-takers (?) find you and keep up with your progress... It's multi platform and extremely inclusive...

Photo Credit: Girl Fridays Beauty Blog
(link above)

I hope a wee short post every day will help me to do a few things...

• It will hopefully make me cut out on the waffle, I'm a bit long-winded as you guys may or may not know. Its a problem.
• It will get me used to regular posting. 
• It will definitely take me out of my comfort zone and that is something I am very up for trying!

The June Beauty Blog Challenge will cover the following;

1. Favourite eyeliner
2. Favourite brush
3. Favourite hair product
4. What’s in your shower/bath
5. Favourite foundation
6. Disappointing buys
7. Favourite lip product
8. Beauty Wishlist
9. Most recent beauty buy
10. Favourite nail polish
11. A bargain buy you’d recommend
12. An item you have bought because of blogs/vlogs
13. Makeup look you’d love to recreate
14. Favourite mascara
15. Favourite online shop
16. Skincare routine
17. Makeup skill you would love to perfect but struggle with
18. Favourite makeup brand
19. Who is your fashion/style icon
20. Favourite ‘high end’ product
21. Favourite nail look/nail art
22. 5 of your favourite beauty bloggers
23. What’s my face worth
24. Alternative use for an item you have – e.g. lipstick as blusher.
25. Primer – do you use it? Eyes, face etc
26. Best beauty advice you have been given
27. Biggest fashion mistake you have made
28. Favourite cheek product
29. 5 of your favourite beauty vloggers/YouTube videos
30. Recent empties / Reflecting on #JuneBBC

When I add a new post for the June BBC, I'll put the link in the list above, so hopefully by the end I'll have 30 live links! :D

Reading the list now, I can see some of these will be harder than others, what with being unable to pick a favorite nail polish, and all... But the challenge will make it exciting and fun.

Anyways, I hope you all are looking forward to this as much as I am, and I hope you hop on over to Girl Friday's blog and join in with all the fun!! 

Le Grá,

Amy, 

xo