CHARLOTTE LOUISE

If you know me you will know I loooooove to wear lots of make up! Don't get me wrong, some days its nice to be make up free but I personally don't leave the house until I have a perfectly contoured face!

ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR.
This is my ultimate fave mainly because I have used it for years and always get that airbrushed look especially when I use my trusty Beauty Blender! (which is possibly the best thing I have ever used! I don't know what I would do without one now, so if i do say so myself...INVEST) This is my every day go to foundation and I wear the shade 3C2 Pebble, even though I wear this of a daytime it has always been a winner when I go out as well!

M.A.C STUDIO SCULPT.
This foundation was one of the very first I ever purchased when I was about 16! I wear the colour NC30. Of course this is probably the 125th one I've had since then (I take all my empties back and get a free lipstick with 'Back to MAC' - The best deal everrrrrrrrr) This is quite a thick yet creamy foundation and really does give you full coverage for a night out, HOWEVER, I have recently suffered with quite oily skin and unfortunately this foundation doesn't do me any favours any longer! I look ridiculously oily on pictures and the make up seems to disappear off my face within a matter of hours when I wear this now!
I do still use the M.A.C STUDIO FINISH CONCEALER in NC25 as this is a clay like texture and is great for covering up red blotches or VILE spots that you just don't want to see on a Saturday night!

NARS ALL DAY LUMINOUS WEIGHTLESS FOUNDATION.
Ahhhhhhh my new baby! This was my first purchase for 2016, I have been dying to buy this for a while now and finally got my hands on it! And yes, it really is what it says on the bottle... luminous and weightless! This is my 'going out' foundation therefore I purchased it in a darker shade as I love a good tan and will always pile it on when I go out. So this shade is Vallauris  (even the name just sounds amazing!) At first I was sceptical as its quite a watery foundation compared to others I have but OH MY GOODNESS this glides across my face like never before! I only need a small amount which I apply with my M.A.C Foundation Brush and then go over with my Beauty Blender to blend it all in. I also bought the NARS CREAMY CONCEALER in Custard mainly to use as a highlighter underneath my eyes and on all my lighter points I either use my MINI BEAUTY BLENDER or my ECOTOOL UNDER EYE CONCEALER BRUSH to blend in. Both of these NARS products are amazing and leave me feeling flawless when I leave the house! What more can you ask for right!?

CHARLOTTE TILBURY MAGIC FOUNDATION.
Now, I've had a few ups and downs with this but now I really do love it! I got this for christmas as a little stocking filler in a MEDIUM 5 and I was delighted as its something I've wanted to buy for a while. I used it a few times and then realised about 3-4 hours after applying it, I would look like I had no make up on! However after realising (I should have been blonde!) it was actually the primer I was using that wasn't agreeing with the foundation! Primers are so important in my make up regime as they do really help to keep my make up on however, I do have certain ones I use for certain foundations! I have 3 primers I use; STILA ONE STEP CORRECTOR SERUM, RIMMEL LASTING FINISH PRIMER & NIVEA POST SHAVE BALM (all amaaaaazing!!!) So as long as I use my Rimmel Primer with this particular foundation my skin has that lovely dewy look.

VICHY DERMABLEND FLUID CORRECTIVE FOUNDATION.
This I use for when I want that ultimate full coverage where my make up will stay on for days if I left it! Its in the shade 35 SAND and I use this underneath my main foundation when I go out. If I know I'm out for the whole night and I want my make up to stay in place with out needing that touch up time in the toilets then I use this! Its a great foundation to build up and especially with my NARS foundation!

PIXI ILLUMINATION TINT & CONCEAL.
This I use on holiday or in the summer time when you don't want that 'look how much make up she's got on' look and is in the shade No.2 'BARE GLOW'! It is a perfect tinted moisturiser that goes on so smoothly across my face especially when I use my REAL TECHNIQUES BRUSH
The best thing about this little beauty is it comes with a concealer stick on the end which is perfect for them massive spots you need to cover!

If anyone has any other foundations they love let me know as I'm on the hunt for more fabulous products!

SHOWER TIME!? Who doesn't love the sound of a nice hot shower or bath to wash the day away? Personally I look forward to this time of day as its the only 'me' time I get at the moment whilst juggling uni, work, the gym and seeing my boyfriend, family and friends! Along with trying my very hardest to control my diabetes at the same time! It all gets a bit much at times and I just love to wind down by taking a long bath or shower followed by moisturising my body, cleansing my face and of course sorting out this frizz bomb I call hair... So, I've put together my faaaaave products to use to make me feel like a queen again after a tough day!

Body
My body is a sensitive little thing! Can't really use anything to disrupt the pH balance in my skin! Due to my diabetes sometimes being a little more out of control than I would like (I can't say no to anything!!!!) I am more prone to infections (probably something I shouldn't talk about on my blog but hey ho some things have to be explained, especially when I haven't got all these fruity, amazing shower gels from Lush or Soap & Glory on here to rave about!) but anyway, I usually use Sanex Zero as my body wash as its soap free and is the best for my skin however, I have just started using the Nivea shower creme called 'Sensitive' with natural chamomile exact. This soap free formula is perfect as its more of a glossy cream texture than a shower gel and leaves my skin feeling amaaaazing when I get out the shower! I apply this with my trusty bright pink 'Shower Puff' I just can't understand why people just use their hands to wash with as these shower puffs really help shower gels to lather up so you only need a small amount! Both bought from Boots; Nivea Shower Creme on offer for £1.83 & Shower Puff £1.98

The Old Pins
I made the mistake a few weeks ago when I bought disposable razors to shave my legs...I've known since I was younger this isn't the best option for me as I never get a clean, smooth finish with them, used one a couple of weeks before christmas and came out of the shower with numerous shaving spots just before a night out! Greaaaaaaaaat! So unfortunately for my boyfriend or anyone else who has had the unfortunate pleasure of seeing or feeling my legs since has had to feel a forest growing as Ive had to leave my legs to heal before shaving them again! So when I got paid I went and treated myself to a new Gillette Venus razor. I got the 'Olay' edition which has 2 two Olay moisture bars on the top and bottom of the 5 blade razor. This was £11.53 from Boots. Great investment as they last for ages and really do leave my legs feeling silky smooth.

Hair
I was once a fan of Herbal Essences until I came to my senses and realised I should be looking after my hair much more than I was. I would simply shampoo and condition my hair, dry it and then straighten it. No wonder my hair used to look dull and straw like! I did my research mainly reading other peoples blogs or magazines and started to sample all kinds until I found the perfect hair routine.
I will wash my hair with either TONI&GUY cleanse and nourish for normal hair both £6.49 each from Boots, at first I was a bit reluctant to spend so much on shampoo and conditioner but then realised £13 every month is nothing when I have silky soft locks at the end of it! OR I use my new absolute favourite products from Lush ever!!! The shampoo bar in 'Honey I Washed My Hair' for £5.95 and 'American Cream' conditioner for £4.75. Again I was sceptical about using a bar of shampoo!? I thought this would be quite awkward and fussy to use but actually its so simple I simply wet my hair rub it on the top and ends of my hair and then use my hands to rub it all in, the prouduct lathers up like you wouldn't believe and is packed with honey, sweet wild oranges and bergamot oils making it full of moisture to keep my locks smooth. I was extremely impressed when the Lush employee told me the bar lasts for 80 washes... 80 WASHES!? for £5.95? well i'll take 10! As for the conditioner this 'strawberry vanilla milkshake' smell is divine! Double strength and extra creamy so you don't need a lot!
In-between shampooing and conditioning I use the Lee Stafford 'CoCo LoCo'  hair mask which is £5.99 from Boots to keep my hair healthy and silky for days! I use an egg sized scoop and massage into the ends and up through to the scalp and leave for 5 minutes and then wash it off. The coconut oil is what gives it that amazing smell (as you can see I love products that smell unreal for my hair...making up for the fact I can't use them on my body I suppose!)

The Aftermath
After my heavenly shower or bath I use Soap & Gloary 'The Righteous Butter Body Lotion' £10 from Boots just to keep that moisture locked into my skin which has an amazing antioxidant formula including Shea Butter, Almond Oil, Aloe Vera, Glycerin, Rosehip Seed and Vitamin E. My skin has never looked healthier!
For my hair depending on what look I'm going for...if its the straight look I use Lee Stafford Poker Straight Shine Serum which is £7.99 from Boots. I use a heat defence spray then blast my hair with my hair dryer then straighten it using my trusty GHD's and then I rub this serum into my hands and comb through my hair. Works wonders for us frizzy haired gals!
If I'm going for the curly or tousled look I use the John Frieda 'Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray' for £5.89. This really does give the textured, tousled look to my hair and stops it from frizzing up in the windy or rainy weather!

If anyone has any other hair tips or tricks they love I would love to know as I always love to try new products!