Drugstore Make Up: Liquid Eyeliners

Obtaining the perfect Cleopatra flick is never easy. However over the years it's been a trademark look of mine, so I thought I'd share my favourite liquid liners from the drugstore that in my experience work well for creating the perfect winged look.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Professional Liquid Liner

This was my first liquid liner and while I tried others, I always went back to this. The wand is thin and long, so it's easier to vary and build up the length and thickness of the flick, depending on the look you want to achieve. 

My only complaint is that the liner itself is not the best quality. If you wear liquid liner daily this product can irritate your lash line after a while. People with a sensitive eye area may feel a slight stinging sensation if they continually use this product. I personally don't wear liquid liner every day, but for a while I used this product all the time (I was obsessed with the flicks) and found that it irritated my lash line and outer corner of my eye. It is great for creating various looks from a thin and subtle line to big statement flicks, but if my eye area were extremely sensitive I don't think I would use this product all the time. 

Rating: 8/10

L'Oreal Superliner

I recently got into this product (after many years with my trusty Rimmel) after one of my favourite YouTubers, Shirley B.Eniang used it flawlessly in a recent Get Ready With Me video. Shirley is amazing at applying make up (shout out time) and seeing her use Superliner so easily and perfectly just made me want to try it out. I'm happy to say I was not disappointed. The wand is firmer than the Rimmel one which is good if you don't have a steady hand and/or are new to liquid eyeliner. It's great to get in the inner corner near the tear duct and generally stays put all day. However, I do need to put on a few layers and shake the tube a bit to get enough product out. Other than that, so far so fab (sorry).

Rating: 9/10

G x

My Day and Night Creams

Day

Lacura Aqua-Complete Moisturiser 

£1.99 (available at Aldi)

I've tried many moisturisers in the past, but I always go back to this one. And at only £1.99, who can blame me! It may sound too good to be true, but remember that Aldi's skincare brand Lacura produced an award winning anti-wrinkle cream that went flying off the shelves a couple of years ago. The key to Lacura's success is simplicity (and price, but mainly simplicity I promise...). It doesn't overwhelm products with overzealous chemicals and far fetched ingredients. The formula seems as 'natural' as creams can be, forming a really hydrating moisturiser and make up base for skin. 

My skin is oily to combination (with a problem T-zone, as per). Aqua-Complete is really light so it doesn't weigh down my skin- this is important when applying make up as you don't want to clog up your pores with too many layers. I even wear this cream on make-up free days, as it keeps my skin hydrated and feeling fresh without producing too much oil. 

Night

No7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream

 (£13.50, available at Boots)

Before trying to convince you that this cream is the Holy Grail of the night (after sleep, obvs), remember that it clearly states 'Normal/Oily' on the front. If you have dry skin look away now. Only joking, the No7 range has other fantastic lines and products for sensitive/dry/ageing etc skin. 

Once again, I've tried other night creams but this is my favourite. The day cream version is also good, but I'm satisfied with my Aldi cream (think about the monies too!). 

What's so great about this night cream is that it absorbs itself really easily into skin. In the past, a lot of other night creams have ended up smeared all over my pillow as opposed to my face. Youthful, plump pillows aside, the cream has a good consistency and is really hydrating. However, I do sometimes wake up with oily skin, especially around my nose - don't apply too much cream around your T-zone if like mine it's particularly oily! 

Other than that, I can't complain: it both tones and softens my skin at the same time. Night creams are generally more expensive than day creams, but luckily £13.50 isn't at all steep (unless compared to my Aldi cream!). 

Admittedly, my skin has never been particularly problematic (odd spot here and there, bit of oil, you know the usual). I've never had rough or acne prone skin thus far in life *touches wood*, therefore wouldn't be able to recommend good creams from personal experience, only from what people have told me. However, if you're not happy with your skin I would definitely give the Lacura line from Aldi a go, as unlike No7, everyone I speak to praises it and I'm yet to hear a complaint about it. 

Moisturisers and creams are a tricky nail to hit -experimenting with make up and skincare products is always great fun, but when it comes to day and night staples, if it ain't broke, do not even try to think about attempting to fix it. Just joking....but seriously, you only get one skin and once you have the winning formula, hold onto it. It can change over time, but jumping from one cream to the next won't have the same effects as sticking to a loyal brand. 

G x 

New Balances

I've been contemplating getting a pair of New Balance trainers for a while but kept putting it off as I'm so used to Nike trainers. However I eventually decided to give them a go - I really liked their simple design as it means they can go with a lot of different styles and outfits. They're not 'statement trainers' like Air Maxes, so they're fairly adaptable and versatile.

I know that the New Balance 574s are really popular, but I chose to go for the 373 pair in Navy, £49.99. Their shape is more feminine and they're extremely lightweight and comfortable! They're also cheap as far a trainers go - the 373s are around £50, and the 574s around £60-70. 

I find that I wear them everywhere and not as a conscious choice but because they're so easy to throw on and dash out the house with if you're in a rush. They're great for sightseeing with too, as I can walk around in them for hours and not get sore feet or blisters. 

Since I bought mine I feel like I've noticed EVERYONE wearing NBs in and around London -they look great on guys and gals alike. There are some cool colour combos as well, including blue and orange, pink and grey, green and purple etc. I can't wait to see this trend during our (hopefully) sunny summer, I can picture NBs as festival and rave trainers. 

G x

City Chic

I recently took a short trip to Turin and Milan in Italy. The weather was really sunny and fairly warm, but it wasn't hot enough to walk around in short sleeves. You know those in-between periods, where you're not quite sure what to wear?

I'm happy that I made the wise decision of bringing three items in particular:

Trench Jacket - not as long as the coat version (so we can avoid Sherlock Holmes-type looks), this was perfect as it was really light so I didn't get too hot walking around, the material protected me from the rain, and it was easy to fold up and chuck in my bag when the weather got hotter. I bought mine in a vintage shop but I've found a great replica here. 

Black Jeggings - ASOS Rivington High Waist Denim Jeggings in Clean Black at £25 to be precise. I normally avoid jeggings like the plague as I find that they lose their elasticity after a while and just become baggy and unflattering. However, I've had this ASOS pair for quite some time now and they are (arguably) my favourite trousers. They're stylish, they're comfortable, they can be worn during the daytime or for nights out, and most importantly, they're black. What more could a girl want?

Heeled Boots - Obviously it's impossible to sightsee in scraping stilettos, but I don't like wearing flat shoes all the time as I don't think it's great for my posture and Italian streets are quite cobblestoned and uneven, so I can feel every nook and cranny beneath my feet. These MAMBO Fur Lined Lace Up Boots from Topshop were amazing. The heel is about 3 inches and chunky so it doesn't exert too much pressure. Additionally, the sole is gripped similarly to Doc Martens and the boot itself takes the shape of a Converse. Like the trousers, these were great day to night shoes and I found them the perfect pair of shoes to balance style and comfort! At only £36, I'd buy them again - Topshop also sell the platform version for those who like a bit of chunk in their step!

The first picture below is of me by the River Po, where I just happened to be wearing all three items! The other pictures further down are of myself in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, where the weather was a bit colder and I teamed the look with a scarf and light knit. 

(Apparently it's good luck to put your heel on the lion's balls and turn three times, so when in Milan...)

G x

Seven Dials London

I went to lunch in Covent Garden with a friend yesterday, when we stumbled across a fashion event in the area. It was the Spring Shopping Festival where shops including Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Bare Minerals and Benefit were offering 20% off all items in store. 

Additionally, there were lots of food stores and free Pimms, ice cream and popcorn! The event lasted from 12-5pm, and I managed to take some pictures despite the hoards of shoppers and sipping Pimms ;)  

The event was organised by Seven Dials London (check out the free tote bag they gave out below!), so be sure to check their website for similar events in the future. 

G x

Second Hand Secrets

I was rummaging in my local charity shop the other day when I stumbled across this beauty. I couldn't resist buying it as I knew it would go with a lot of items in my wardrobe. It's a metal clutch, with a hard box-like shape similar to a jewellery box. I love the engraving and detailing as it reminds me of the 1920's glamour. 

The bag itself is surprisingly big and can fit all my night out essentials. I can imagine wearing this with a flowing chiffon dress or a plunging tailored jumpsuit. 

It's hard to find an exact replica but I've linked some clutches with a similar style below. 

Lucy Gem Frame Clutch, £49

Vintage Orchid Blossom Print Clutch, £35

House Of Harlow 1960 Jude Clutch, £182

It's always worth giving charity shops a quick peek - sometimes you'll find utter rubbish, but as well as this bag a few months ago I found a gorgeous MaxMara coat in a north London charity shop!

Good areas in London for charity shops:

Highgate/Hampstead - on the pricier end of second hand clothing, but they do have great staple items and designer pieces. 

Shoreditch/Dalston- known as 'vintage shops', in true east London style these have quirky one-off pieces and cute accessories. 

Brixton/Clapham - For an eclectic mix of high street and high end at fantastic prices. 

G x 

Natural Beauty Look

This look is quite simple, however the key tool is highlighting. Sorry if any explanations are confusing, but I've linked a YouTube video and all the products if you want to research them further. 

1) Firstly I moisturised my face with Lacura Aqua-Complete Moisturiser. This item needs a special mention - it is £1.99 from Aldi (also available at some online retailers) and is truly the best and cheapest moisturiser I have ever used. It's light, refreshing and does the trick - I haven't met anyone who has a bad thing to say about it. Even though I used tinted moisturiser for this look, I feel like it never quite has the same effect as a regular moisturiser so I do both. 

2) I applied Nivea Daily Essentials Tinted Moisturiser using the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge - there is no place this sponge can't reach (on your face, of course)! I put the moisturiser on the back of my hand first, as it is much easier to control and spread. 

3) I then apply Garnier Roll On Anti-Dark Circles under my eyes and leave it to sit for a few minutes before I blend it in. I find that when I blend it straight away, it doesn't cover my dark circles as well. While I'm waiting for it to set, I do my eyebrows using Beauty UK Hi-Brow Kit - it comes with wax to set the brow powder in place so I don't have to worry about my brows travelling across my face over the course of the day. 

4) I carefully dab the under eye roll on with the make up sponge. I curl my lashes using the Cosmopolitan Maximum Effect Lash Curler and apply Barry M White Kohl Pencil to my eye line to make my eyes seem more awake. 

5) From the Sleek Au Naturel Eye-shadow Palette, I use the Taupe shade (the sparkly beige shade, top right) and blend it in using the Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush. To see all the shades from the palette see my earlier post. Don't go over the brow bone, otherwise the look will be too dramatic. With the Pixel-Point Eyeliner Brush I apply Mineral Earth (bottom row, 3rd from right) just above my lash line. It's a substitute for eye liner, so just apply it like liquid liner. Nougat (a white shade top left) looks great blended into the tear duct for a bright-eyed look. I blended it all in with a Shading Brush. 

6)I applied Benefit They're Real Mascara in a zig-zag movement on my top lashes. In order to keep the look more natural, don't re-insert the wand in the tube to do the lower lashes.

7)  I then ran YSL Touche Eclat in shade 2 down the middle of my nose, just underneath my eyebrows, below my mouth and under my eye. The Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush is great for contouring - I applied MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Bronzer in Give Me Sun! down each side of my nose and kept going until both sides joined at the tip of my nose. Then I sucked my cheeks in (pout!) and drew a line cross my cheeks. I did the same with my temples, my hairline and jawline. Carli Bybel has a great tutorial on this technique. 

8) Blend blend blend! I blended my cheeks using the Retractable Kabuki Brush. As for everything else, I use the Stippling Brush. Yes, I do love me some Real Techniques. Using their Blush Brush, I applied Sleek Blush By 3 in Pink Lemonade to my cheeks to give a rosy glow. 

9) To set the look in place, I dusted my face with MAC Studio Fix Powder in NW20 with the RT Powder Brush. 

10) Oh, and I put Vaseline Lip Therapy on my lips. Never forget the Vaseline. 

G x