Everyday Makeup 4

Face: Shu Uemura UV Underbase BB Mousse in BB Beige, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light, MAC Blush in Fleur Power, Collection 2000 Lastin Perfection Concealer in shade 1, Light

Eyes: MAC Paintpot in Rubenesque, MAC Eyeshadow in Mulch, MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack, Maybelline the one by one mascara in Black.

Brows: MAC Eyeshadow in Omega

Lips: Balmi Raspberry Lipbalm

Nailed: French Gradient with Tutorial

Today I decided to do something a little bit different with my nails. I like the classic french manicure but I sometimes think it can look a little bit too prefect, and I know a lot of people think it can look tacky (though personally I like it!). This look is softer and is inherently easier than doing your own french manicure as well!

The steps are really very easy, but I'll go through them anyway. You're going to need a nude nail polish, I used Maybelline Everstrong in Ivory Rose (£4.09, here), a base coat, I used Save the Nail Repair and Rescue Base coat as my nails are quite weak (£7.50, here), a french white polish, I'm using Collection 2000 French Manicure in French White (£2.99, availbile from Boots and Superdrug, but irritatingly not online) and a topcoat. I'm using Seche Vite Dry Fast Topcoat (£10.50, here), a nail file and/or buffer, a makeup sponge and some sort of non-porus surface, I just use old packaging.

The first step is to prep your nails. File them into a shape you like, and then I always use a nail buffer to give a smoother finish, but you could skip this. Apply your base coat.

 Apply your nude polish, using enough coats for it to be opaque, though if your nail line shows it doesn't matter too much.

Once that is completely dry, you need to pour out a little bit of your nude polish onto the plastic. Dip the edge of your sponge into it and then dab it off on a clean part of the plastic. If the sponge is too wet you wont get a nice gradient, just a harsh white patch, so this bit is important! Start to stipple the sponge onto the tips of your nails. concentrate on getting a subtle wash of colour at this stage, and dont worry if your tips aren't completely white yet. Once you have done this on all 10 fingers, you can go back and use the sponge just on the very ends of your nails to make the tips fully white. Apply your topcoat and you're good to go!

Using a matte topcoat can make the gradient even more fuzzy and soft looking, it's a really pretty effect.

What's in My Travel Makeup Bag?

I did a post on this last year, shortly before I went to Turkey with my family. At the time I wrote that I wouldn't be bringing any makeup with me on my subsequent trip to Uganda, which is something I later regretted.  My general makeup routine has changed quite a lot in the past year too, so I wanted to do an updated post on what I will be taking with me to Uganda when I set off this evening.

Much of my everyday makeup routine is made up of MAC products, and though I actually only have ten MAC makeup items and three brushes, most of them were carefully chosen to be part of my daily routine, so that I get maximum use out of them.

Face products: Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation SPF15 in shade 0, Porcelain. (£29, here), MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in shade NC15 (£19.50, here), MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light (£20.50, here), MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade, from the Reel Sexy collection (£21.50, here), MAC Blush in shade Fleur Power (£17.50, here), Benefit High Beam (£18.50, here), Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in shade 1, Fair (£4.19, here)

Eye products: MAC Paintpot in Rubenesque (£14.50, here), Maybelline Colour Tattoo eyeshadow in On and On Bronze (£4.99, here), MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack (£14.00, here), Sleek i-Divine palette in Au Naturel (£6.49, here), Maybelline Volum' Express The One By One Mascara in Black (£8.49, here)

I haven't pictured any lip products as I haven't quite decided which ones I'm taking, but I will definitely be taking some of my Revlon Lip Butters. (£5.99, here)

Recent Empties

I have never done a post like this before, but I'm always interested to see what other bloggers are using or have used up, and whether they would repurchase or not, so here goes!

First up is my Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 in shade 0, Porcelain (£29, here). when I first bought this foundation I was delighted simply because I had found a foundation that was pale enough to be a true match. However, it really wasn't all that appropriate for my skintype (as mentioned in my foundation routine post, here) and was transferring and smudging in my T-zone area after only a couple of hours wear. I began using it as a base for apowde foundation, which was marginally more successful and so I have used it up. I would not repurchase this formulation again but I would definitely purchase another formula from the same brand, as i think they are great quality and you can't fault the shade range.

Next is my Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in shade 1, light. (£4.19, here) As you might know this is my asolute HG concealer and I already have a new one on standby.

The nail polish remover is something of a staple for me and I buy it regularly. This particular one actually came from Poundland and was really great because it had a flip-top cap with a very small opening, which meant that you didnt loose anywhere near as much through evaporation when it was open, and it was easy to open with one hand (great for when using the foil method of removing glitters!) unfortunately I havent been able to get another bottle of this from Poundland, but I have managed to track some down on Amazon, for the princely sum of £4.38! It's not as good value as Poundland, but it's still a very effective nail plish remover. You can find it here.

MAC Brush Cleanser (£8.50, here). This was my first bottle and I already have a backup ready to take it's place (actually I've had it for weeks!) it lasted much longer than I expected and I've found it really effective.

Lastly is this little sample-sized pot of Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream (Full size £9.00, here)  by The Body Shop. I got this in a little sample set with 3 other products from the seaweed line ages ago, and only recently got around to trying it. I LOVE this, it moisturised my skin without leaving it oily, and contains dimethicone so it also makes a great primer. The little pot also lasted quite a while but it's now completely exhausted. Unfortunately this has been out of stock in the five, yes FIVE stores I have been to, and is out of stock online too! Please, The Body Shop, get this back in stock!! I need it in my life!