High five; we made it through January! I’m so happy to see the back of it, and even though we’re celebrating the first day of February here in Cardiff with a fresh sheet of snow – it feels good knowing that we’re winging our way into Spring. Soon – we’re not quite there yet – which means a few more weeks of dark mornings, dark circles and deathly pale skin, and that means a shakeup in the ol’ makeup bag. It’s working so, so hard right now, let me tell you!
Just before Christmas I picked up a few new beauty bits and bobs from Boots and TK Maxx (if you’ve never raided their makeup section before, then oh boy, you’re in for a treat my friend) to see me through to Spring.
1. CYO “The Radiant One” Bronzing & Illuminating Compact in “Light”
Alas, my Florida tan is long gone and when I hit pan on my Body Shop Honey Bronzer I felt like it was time for a bit of a shake up. I’ve got fair skin and honestly, I’m a bit of a Bronze-aphobe (is that a thing?). Too much and I look like I’ve face-planted into a muddy puddle but at the same time, I do need something to warm up my pale skin. I picked up the CYO Bronzing and Illuminating Compact on a bit of a whim when I stepped into Boots just after Christmas and absolutely fell in love with it. It’s cheap – only a fiver – and the lighter compact is absolutely perfect for pale, cool-toned skin like mine. The bronzer is subtle but buildable, while the added highlighter adds a really lovely glow.
2. Stila Stay All Day Foundation and Concealer in Light (3)
What a TK Maxx bargain this baby was! I’m still a massive fan of the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation, but it’s a little dewy and so light and works best during spring and summer. In the winter I need a bit more coverage, so I picked up this little bottle by Stila (since it was more than half price off) and it’s been evening up my blotchy – sometimes dry – winter skin. It applies smoothly over blemishes and wrinkles, sticks with a matte finish (without drying things out) and really does stay all day. Winner!
3. Lancôme Crayon Khol
An old favourite and the only eye pencil I use. I can’t tell you how many of these I’ve got rolling around in my makeup bag that are literally just the nib. I use the until they’re unusable – tight-lining, lid-lining, smudging – this baby copes with the lot and has never once irritated my eyes in the process.
Also, shout out to the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner – it’s been my go-to for years. I picked up the version with the micro-point last time I repurchased – wondering whether it would make it any easier to create the cat-eye flick I go for day to day – but actually, I think I prefer the normal tip.
4. Stila Eyes Are the Windows Spirit Palette
Another TK Maxx steal – I couldn’t believe my luck! I absolutely love this palette; it’s got a gorgeous range of neutral, cool-toned shades with buildable colour for looks that work both during the day and at night.
5. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in “Pink in the Afternoon”
I’m so fussy when it comes to lipstick. I like cool-toned pinks (are we seeing a trend here?), long-lasting, absolutely no shimmer and they need to be moisturising – I’ve never got on with MAC’s range because they leave my lips a flaky mess. I was devastated when Revlon discontinued their Lip Butter range, but thankfully, the Super-Lustrous range is just as good. Pink in the Afternoon is that perfect “your lips but better” shade that I reach for every day. 🙂
I’m actually on the hunt for a new mascara because my Bad Gal Bang’s just not banging anymore – what’s everyone loving right now? 🙂
*This post contains affiliate links. Read more about what that means here.
The Cardiff Cwtch - Welsh Food, Fashion and Lifestyle 