FOTD: Festive Edition! + OOTD (Book Cosplay)

12/07/2020


I've been experimenting more with make-up throughout 2020, partly due to my consistent Skype dates with family members and a dire need to feel normal. So, I thought it was about time to do a need FOTD post! Here's a red look that I've been loving since my husband bought me the miracle that is Maybelline's Super Stay Matte Ink on my birthday. But with the red lippy and some black eyeliner, I think it's very festive and would be a perfect affordable look over the festive season, even if you're just staying at home and taking selfies in front of the Christmas tree with your cat. In the spirit of my Bookstagram @BranchingPages I've also included a little Lou cosplay because.. why not? As I struggle with body image, I've done more of an overview but it's still fun and I hope you enjoy.

As a makeshift primer I spray some of the *Aura Cacia rose hydrosol mist over my washed face. It's cooling, smells awesome, and really makes a difference with how my concealer settles on my skin. While I still had it, I enjoyed using the Maybelline Baby Skin Primer but my favourite has been the The POREfessional by Benefit, which sucks as it has a hefty price tag that I can't always justify. For now, this mist is working. Do you have any affordable primer recommendations? I'd love to hear them! 

Now for the base. So, I hate foundation, that's no secret around these parts. I like feeling my skin breathe and I rub my face way too often to get away with a high coverage foundation. So personally, my next step is the Collection concealer which is my holy grail beauty product. I put it under my eyes, over my nose, and on any problem areas that I may have. I've tried countless other concealers and nothing comes close to the amazing results of this affordable product. Since moving, I get my mum to send me some once every 6 months of so. I love it that much.


Time for brows! Since being a teenager, I've always used powder in my brows. Partly as it was more affordable given the fact that I already had a palette that had a brow-matching color. Currently I use The Nudes palette by Maybelline. The darkest brown shade works wonderfully for my brow game but I wouldn't necessarily recommend the product. The other glittery shades leave a lot to be desired (as pictured). The pigment sucks in any other shades than the matte ones. As for the process of applying the shadow to the brow, I use a slanted sharp duel-ended Lancome brush that my Aunt-in-law gifted me. She got it free in a giftbag and, dayum. I love it. Never overlook those free brushes! 



For eyeliner, I've recently discovered an all-time favourite that's under $6. YAY! I personally adore a liquid eyeliner with a fine tip, and the Maybelline Master Precise All Day Liquid Liner ticks all these boxes. It doesn't smudge easily, has the blackest of black ink, and is really easy to apply. I've recently gone into my 5th month of using it and it's only now starting to run out. Totally worth the money. As it's counterpart, I've recently been using Mile High Club's Volume and Length Mascara. I received this in a Birchbox and it's surprisingly good! I love that the packaging is soft and 'squeezy' as I feel like it gives you the opportunity to get the most buck out of your product, the mascara itself lengthens my lashes and gives them a decent amount of 'clump'. They look fuller and fluttery. It does kinda smudge under the eyes after hours of wear, but besides waterproof mascaras, I have yet to find one that doesn't. Again, any recs? I'd love to know!



Onto my favourite part of applying my make-up, the blush and highlighter! I've been adoring this Lacome blush in Rose Liberte, it's the perfect shade of rosy pink that brings life to the cheeks. I'm guilty of sometimes applying too much color to my cheeks, but when a product is so beautiful, why not? For highlighter I've been switching between the IBY Radiant Glow Highlight and the MAC Stobe Cream. I received both in beauty boxes and they've been lasting me impeccably well, which makes me think that the full-sized is well worth the price. The MAC product is more icy than the IBY highlighter, and I think the liquid formula is easier to apply. However, I enjoy the IBY pressed highlighter for the fact that I can use it as an eyeshadow if I want more shimmer in my life. 

Time for the main part of the look, the lips. As mentioned above, this is the Maybelline's Super Stay Matte Ink in 118 Dancer. It's the perfect bright red that lasts hours and doesn't make your teeth seem yellow. I'm so impressed with the formula of this liquid lip, it doesn't make my lips feel overly dry which is a miracle given the fact that I usually have chapped lips over the Winter months. If you apply a lip liner under this, I imagine you'd be set for an entire day. I'm already looking to purchase more shades. 


The dress I'm wearing is from Amazon, I can't find the exact link as it's now broken. (I purchased the dress over 3 years ago) but if you search for 'red 50's swing dress' you'll get a few good alternatives. I adore Lou from the Me Before You book series by Jojo Moyes. She's the only fictional character that I've 100% seen myself in. So this was a really fun post to put together. 

Are there any products that you love mentioned in this? What's your favourite affordable concealer? Let me know!
*The Aura Cacia rose hydrosol mist was kindly gifted to me through Influenster! 

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