Beauty Products I Can’t Live Without

We’ve all got them, our ‘go-tos’, our ‘staples’, well today I’m calling them ‘Beauty products I can’t live without’ (simply because “Beauty Products That I Really Adore But Could Probably Live Without But I Would Rather Not Imagine That Existence” isn’t the catchiest of titles, so here we are.) and I’m sharing my most used and favourite products with you all!

Basics

Obviously a primer is a a sensible staple for everyone, because without a good base, your makeup just isn’t going to last. I consider this particular primer from Makeup Revolution a staple because it’s light, does the job for your entire face, and it’s incredibly affordable.

This Stay Matte pressed powder has also become a staple for me, because it’s perfect for matte-ifying any foundation or concealer, and it works wonders for oily areas, keeping them matte for up to 12 hours!

Collection’s Illuminating Touch Concealer is the only concealer for me, it’s so easy to use, and it has the perfect amount of coverage for me, it’s definitely a medium coverage, but it can be built up or worn very sparingly.

I also can’t imagine applying my makeup with anything but a beauty blender now. I know a lot of people rave about them, and there is this insane amount of hype around them, but they really do live up to it all. Whether you like to use it wet or dry, applying your foundation with this tool makes your base look so much more flawless and ‘airbrushed’.

If I could only use one tool and absolutely no makeup, I would choose an eyelash curler, without question. I think that if you’re having a lazy day or you just don’t want to do your makeup, just curling your lashes really adds something to your eyes, making you feel and look fluttery and gorgeous.

Hair & Body

For my hair my holy grail products are this Salon Professional hairspray, and Vitapointe leave-in conditioner. This hairspray is a perfect mix between being lightweight and still having an incredible hold, and it actually smells really nice, which is rare to find in hairsprays. I also really like this leave-in conditioner because it’s perfect for smoothing dry ends and adding a sleekness and shine to straightened hair.

I’ve spoken about this body butter very recently, and it definitely lives up to the hype behind it. It’s softening and light, so it doesn’t leave you feeling greasy. Perfect for all over your entire body.

I also really like using any and all Babylips chapsticks, not only because they are highly moisturising and keep chapped lips at bay, but there are so many tinted options available now, that the possibilities are endless!

 

Lips

I thought I’d just quickly share my ‘go-to’ red and pink lip, because I feel like I’ve finally found my all time favourites. Rimmel’s Kate Moss 107 is is a perfect dark red shade, that I’ve found is suitable for all skin tones, and you know that it suits you well enough for you to wear it with confidence. I also really love this shade from Chanel, and I know it’s a lot pricier than your average drugstore lipstick, but this lipstick is definitely worth investing in because the formula is really moisturising and creamy, so it feels really nice to wear, but also, this particular shade ‘432’ is a beautiful and natural looking pink, so again it’s highly wearable.

 

Makeup

I’ve mentioned all three of these products before, so we all already know that I love them and find myself reaching for them constantly, so I’ll quickly run through them all. Collection’s Extreme 24 hour felt liner is my favourite liner on the market. The fact that I know its name without having to read it off of the product itself is telling of how often I not only use it, but talk about it. It’s everything anyone looks for in an eyeliner, and it’s only £2.99, foolproof. Maybelline’s Lash Sensational, I’ve been using this mascara for a long time now, and even recently I’ve been getting comments on how it looks like I’m wearing false eyelashes, only for me to emphasise to everyone that I really don’t have time/can’t be bothered with applying false eyelashes daily, and my look is entirely down to this mascara, I’d recommend it to everyone.

Finally, there’s the Estee Lauder All Over Face Compact, I use this compact in most of my makeup looks, because it contains everything that I need to put a look together, with a nicely pigmented bronzer, and three varying shades of blush, no matter what tone of look I’m going for, I can incorporate this palette.

---

That’s it for my beauty staples, let me know in the comments what makeup items/tools you can’t live without!

2015 Highlights

Hello everyone! It’s the start of a new year, so that of course means I’m going to talk about my favourites from the last year!

I’ve included random favourites as well as beauty favourites, but I have limited myself, because if I was going to talk about everything I loved from this past year, we’d be here until Halloween.

So here we go with my 2015 (almagamated) favourites!BEAUTY

Urban Decay’s Naked 3 Palette | Yes, as this past year was the year I started my blog, I thus opened my eyes to the world of Urban Decay, and naturally, the famous Naked 3. I am so glad I invested in this palette because it has everything you could need in a palette, whether you’re new to makeup, or much more confident in it. These rose-gold hues really do live up to the hype, and the lasting power (when used in conjunction with Urban Decay’s primer) is unreal.

Estée Lauder All Over Face Compact | This compact is another great all-occasions-product. The bronzer is my favourite bronzer to use for contouriing and adding some dimension and colour to a base, and the variations of blusher colour are great to adapt to different looks.

Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Mascara | I tried this mascara out reasonably early in the year, and I haven’t bought another one since. It creates a false-lash look, without the mess/hassle of applying falsies!

Collection’s 24 Hour Extreme Felt Liner | As if I haven’t already spoken enough about this eyeliner. It’s my lifetime favourite, not just from 2015. You can hear plenty more about it HERE, HERE and HERE.

Rimmel Lipstick in #700 ‘Naughty Nude’ | I’ve always been after a nude colour to suit my skin tone, and holy heck have Rimmel found it. So if you are also looking for the perfect nude, and we have similar colouring, definitely check out the ‘Only 1’ range.

Maybelline Baby Lips | The best chapstick on the market. I also really like that they are available in different colours, so you can have a slight tint to your lips without having to use a lipstick as well as a chapstick.

Makeup Revolution Highlighter in ‘Pink Lights’ | This is one of the prettiest and most affordable drugstore highlighters. It looks beautiful, and you only need a light swipe of it for it to really shine.

TREATS

Dead Sea Mud Masks | I picked these up one day because they are really cheap, and you get 2 masks in a pack, so I thought I’d try them out. In fact, you can generously get 4 masks out of these 2 packs, so it’s even better value for money! These masks are perfect for a pamper night while you’re in the bath, or just a quick mask before bed. They’re very refreshing and cooling, so also suitable for all skin types.

Lush’s ‘Shoot For The Stars’ Bath Bomb | Again, perfect for a pamper night. I think my love for the sea means I have a deeper love for blue bath bombs, because it turns your bath into a gorgeous clear-blue sea colour. An the added sparkle just makes the whole thing a dream, come on.

Bluetooth Speaker | These speakers are amazing. I know they’re nothing new, but I am now old enough to be fascinated by the fact that the music is being transported through the air from my phone/laptop to this speaker. It’s also surprisingly loud in comparison to it’s size!

Nivea Sensitive Day Moisturiser | Once I’d realised the error of my ways with using Nivea’s ordinary moisturiser in my regular skincare routine (clogged pores, greasiness, makeup sliding!) I wanted to find a much lighter and gentler moisturiser to use daily. And this moisturiser is the ideal one! It’s light enough to be used regularly, and not clog your pores.

LIFE

Sparkly Shoes | 2015 was the year I widened my shoe-horizon and discovered a world outside of dolly shoes and heels, and by far, these sparkly flats are my new favourite type of shoes. They are insanely comfortable, and look fabulous, let’s not deny that.

Makeup Brushes | What with starting my blog, I saw the taboo of using the makeup sponges that come with almost every eyeshadow palette, and discovered the world of makeup brushes. This set came with 15 brushes, everything you’d need to start out with makeup, from Amazon!Scarf | This scarf is amazing. It keeps you ridiculously warm when you need it, but also doubles as a blanket during lectures. So that’s all very good, and much more than you expect from a scarf, for sure.

Backpack | My little backpack is definitely my favourite bag from 2015. It’s practical and cute. All of the compartments and pockets means that even the contents of my bag are sorted into categories, how exciting!

Space Flask | Again, perfect for when you’ve got 10am lectures and your brain likes to come through at roughly 11am. I really like this design from Paperchase, and it’s available in multiple products, I’ve actually got a matching poster because I like to rep space, it’s pretty cool after all.

---

THAT’S IT! Phew, well done everyone for making it through that, it was certainly a recount of an entire year if ever there was one. Again, I’m going to soppily thank you all for reading this lil site, it means a lot to me. At the end of this month, Organicbynerve is going to be turning 1, and I can’t wait to celebrate that with every one of you!

The Best Eyeliner Available?

Hey guys, today I thought I’d talk to you about arguably one of my favourite products of all time, Collection’s Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner.

I’ve been completely obsessed with this product since I first tried it out 4 months ago.We’ve all been there, you’re out and about, and catch a glimpse of your reflection in a shiny surface. And you’re greeted by your makeup looking anything but “on fleek”. On a particularly rainy day in July I had one of these moments. I had been caught by the rain, and my eyeliner had faded and my wings had smudged; it was not a pretty sight. And of course this happened on one of the rare days I had ventured out without my makeup bag to hand.

So in an attempt to quickly rectify the situation, I wandered into Boots looking for a cheap eyeliner that I could use to touch up my makeup for the day. I only wanted something cheap so that I didn’t feel bad if it wasn’t outstanding, and I never used it again.

So of course I went to the Collection stand, and saw this felt tip eyeliner there, for only £2.99, so I didn’t hesitate with buying it. I quickly ran into the toilets and touched up my eyeliner, and didn’t think about it again for the rest of the day.But then day after day, I found myself packing away my existing eyeliners, and reaching for this one more and more. I now cannot imagine trying anything else.

This eyeliner is slim and sleek, so it feels really nice to use, as it’s not bulky and difficult to manoeuvre. The pen itself is nicely sized, and not thick, so it’s very easy to do a very thin, sleek cat eye, or you can build up a much thicker line, there’s no need to slim the line out because the pen is too thick. It’s also a pointed tip, which I feel is so important for eyeliner, because a slanted tip can make application difficult and messy.

This eyeliner also lasts so much longer than any eyeliner I have ever tried. In fact, I’m still using the original one that caused me to fall in love! Finally, there’s the price, for the quality and durability of this product, I can’t believe that it’s one of the cheapest felt liners on the market.

In fact, I once tested this eyeliner against the YSL felt liner, and the YSL one faded and came off completely when I went swimming, but the Collection one stayed put and exactly as I’d applied it, until I removed it with makeup remover!

Talking like this feels like I’m recounting my first love, I just really can’t believe my luck with absent-mindedly picking up this liner, absolutely loving it, and all of these incredible pros that come along with it. I honestly haven’t found something I don’t like about it yet.

---

That’s it for this post! I hope you guys enjoyed it, do you have a holy grail makeup item? Let me know in the comments! See me talk more about my Makeup Bag Staples HERE.

Autumn Beauty Essentials

Hey guys! Today I thought I’d take you through my autumn beauty essentials, from every plum berry and shimmer-based eyeshadow, without further adieu, here are some of the products that I recommend for any Fall/autumn look!Lips

Obviously any deep red, plum or berry lipstick is what everyone flocks to, and recommends to everyone. I am no different, because I adore these shades too! But I also love nude colours for this time of year, as it can work beautifully with a statement or smokey eye look. Some of my lipstick favourites are Kate Moss for Rimmel in #107, Collection’s “Aubergine Kiss”, and Rimmel’s “Naughty Nude”. I would also recommend the corresponding lipliners with these lipsticks, as the almost double the lasting power, and ensure your lipstick stays put all day long, and doesn’t spread. I also love deep lipglosses such as Rimmel’s Vinyl gloss and Salvation lip lacquers.

Skin

While the sun may go into hiding for the autumn and winter months, your tan and contouring certainly doesn’t need to! A BB cream, or your regular foundation, a concealer and of course, bronzing is the ultimate essential for these autumnal/winter months, even if you don’t commit to any other A/W trends!Eyes

Now is the perfect time to embrace gorgeously smokey eyes, shimmer and golds. I love the All About The Eyes palette, and the Heaven & Earth palette, because they include all of the necessary shades for just a shimmery gold eye, and a smokey eye! They are also both excellent stand-ins for many shades in the Naked 3 palette.

Nails

And finally, and this is a lot coming from me: dark colours are in. Reds, purples, greens, oranges, any hue that is deep and dark is perfect for this time of year. I’ve also recently discovered the Maybelline Colour Show in #232 “Rose Chic”, and I’ve never fallen in love with a nail varnish quite so quickly. It’s like painting rose gold directly onto your nails, is there anything better? I think not.

---

That’s it for my autumn/fall beauty essentials post, I hope you guys enjoyed it, if you did, be sure to let me know in the comments and give it a lil ‘like’, also let me know in the comments what your Fall essentials are when it comes to makeup.

Victoria Secret-Inspired Halloween Makeup Tutorial

Hey guys! As it’s Halloween tomorrow, I thought it would be only fitting to squeeze one last Halloween themed makeup post in!

So I went for a look that I have been wanting to do for a long time now, a Victoria Secret Angel-inspired makeup look.Check out my video below to see how I achieved this look!

---

And that’s it for my Halloween themed posts for this year! I hope you guys enjoyed this series, let me know if you did in the comments, and if you’d like more themed series’ in the future. (For example, Blogmas anyone?)

The Ultimate Guide To Eyeliner

 You read that right my friend. Today I’m going to take you through my ultimate guide to eyeliner. From liquid, to gel, I’m breaking down my personal favourites, and what I’d recommend based on your confidence applying it. Gel Eyeliner | This eyeliner is my least favourite. Simply because personally, I feel it takes to long to apply. I don’t usually have the patience to keep reapplying it to a slanted brush, and layering it to get a true absolute black. However, this eyeliner is great for beginners because you can’t really go wrong with it. From exactly where you’re applying it, to how much you are putting on, it’s all determined by you. Using a slanted brush usually means that applying it is super easy, as you really have to brush it on, it isn’t like liquid where it has the possibility of going everywhere. Pencil Eyeliner | I personally rate this type of eyeliner just about gel eyeliner. This is because application is easy, again, great for people who aren’t overly confident when it comes to eyeliner. However, it doesn’t give the effect that I like to go for, which as I’ve mentioned, is an absolute black. Pencil eyeliner can tend to look a little grey, and because it’s a pencil, it drags along your lash line, meaning the line isn’t always straight, it can appear jagged. Another downfall to some pencil eyeliners is that they need to be sharpened in order for them to work properly. This is an added piece of work that I’d rather not have to do, unless absolutely necessary. Of course, this means I favour the Collection pencil eyeliner over the Makeup Academy one, because more modern pencil eyeliners actually come in a twist applicator, meaning you never have to sharpen it, like the older actual pencils. Felt Eyeliner | Hands down, my favourite type of eyeliner. All problems that you may encounter with eyeliner, are non existent with felt liner. As the applicator is like a felt tip pen, it doesn’t move freely, meaning you apply the eyeliner exactly where you want it. You never have to sharpen it. All you have to remember is to store it out of direct sunlight. Which is a no-brainer when it comes to makeup anyway.

Just for a quick review within the felt eyeliner world, the Rimmel London Scandaleyes Felt Liner is a more affordable eyeliner, but unfortunately it does last a maximum of a month before drying out, no matter how careful you are to put the lid back on and store it sensibly. Application is super quick and easy, and this eyeliner is actually the one that opened my eyes to the fabulous world of felt eyeliners.

The Maybelline eyeliner is a lot more expensive. It does last a little bit longer than the Rimmel one, but unfortunately I haven’t gotten along with it because the applicator is exactly like a felt marker; it’s slanted. This made application very difficult for me as I’d try to use the pointed end, but the slant would sometimes transfer a smudge of eyeliner onto my lid. Therefore I would not repurchase this item. Liquid Eyeliner | This eyeliner is incredible. It has excellent staying power, and is the absolute black that I like to go for. However, I would only recommend this eyeliner to someone who is absolutely confident with applying eyeliner, as the applicator is just tiny bristles that move very freely. But this also means that you can determine the thickness of your line because you can build it up.

24 Hour Felt Tip Liner | My holy grail. The best of the best. Never will I invest in another. Everyone in the eyeliner game should be aware of this product. It’s a reasonably thin applicator, meaning again that you can build your line up, or keep it very fine and simple. It has lasted me 2 months so far, and shows no signs of drying up. It’s thin and amazing to use. IT has an incredible lasting power, and even lasted longer than a YSL liner when I went swimming! Can you tell I love this product? Well I do. And on top of all of those amazing reasons, it’s £3. That’s a really competitive price compared to all other eyeliners, and in my opinion it’s the best out there. Whether you’re an eyeliner pro, or you want to apply eyeliner for the first time ever; THIS IS THE ONE FOR YOU.

---

And that’s it! I hope this guide helped you out, let me know if you’ve found an eyeliner that you’d never repurchase, or your own holy grail!

Autumnal Date Night Makeup

That’s right, it’s nearing autumn now, which can only mean that berry and golden tones are creeping their way back into our makeup looks!

So today I decided to put together an autumnal look that you could wear out in those delightful autumn evenings!

I started out by brushing and filling in my brows, then covering my lids with Trick from the Naked 3 palette. After that, I put Mugshot in the outer crease, then Factory on the very bottom of the outer corner. Once I had finished all of that, I put a dab of Strange in the inner corners, just to brighten up the eyes and cancel out any darkness that might have collected there.

Next I did my favourite makeup addition of all time, a cat eye. I used my Collection Extreme Felt Liner to do line along the top of my upper lash line, and then did a little wing. Then I curled my lashes and added Maybelline’s Lash Sensational mascara.

Now to make this look very fit for autumn, I used my favourite autumnal lipstick, Rimmel’s Kate Moss lipstick in 107.

---

And you’re done! I hope you guys enjoyed this look, let me know if you give it a go!

What are your favourite makeup colours for autumn?

Makeup Bag Staples

For those of us that like to wear makeup, we can quickly see that there are certain products we like to keep at hand throughout the day. So today I’m sharing with you guys my favourite makeup bag staples.

First things first, obviously a compact is a really handy thing to have in your makeup bag, otherwise carrying any additional products is entirely useless. I like to have a double compact, meaning there is a regular mirror and a magnified side.

The next staple is a moisturiser. If you suffer from dry skin, then it really helps to improve it if you regularly moisturise throughout the day. It also helps your makeup sit better on your skin, and give it a much higher lasting power.

For me, I also like to always have a pair of tweezers on me, if not for any last minute brow checks for yourself, then it’s always handy to lend to a friend if they are in need.

Naturally after tweezers, the next product is whatever you use for filling in your brows. I use a brow pencil, as it’s handy and easily portable.

A further product that I can’t even imagine leaving the house without is a chapstick. I’ve been obsessed with Babylips since I first picked up one to try out. Lately I picked up this lightly tinted one to add a little bit of colour to the lips, while also moisturising them.

Next I also like to have a natural lip look ready in my makeup bag, so I like to carry a pink lipliner along with a corresponding lipstick. My favourites are Rimmel’s Exagerrate lipliner in ‘Eastend Snob’ and Lancôme’s L’absolu Rouge in #06 ‘Rose Nu’ which I have previously spoken about in my favourites.

Finally, for the eyes I also like to always have a neutral eye look handy in my makeup bag, so I’ll always have a neutral toned eyeshadow palette on me, lately I’ve been loving Makeup Academy’s Heaven & Earth eyeshadow palette, as it covers a lot of neutral and pretty looks.

I can’t leave out eyeliner, so I’ve always got a felt liner on me, and once again recently I stumbled upon Collection’s Extreme 24 hour eyeliner, and it hasn’t left my side since. I also like to have my mascara on me just in case I need to touch it up during the day.

Obviously there are certain other tools that are always good to have handy, for me it’s an eyelash curler, travel brush, a hair tie and some bobby pins.

---

That’s it for today! What products can you guys not leave the house without? Let me know in the comments!

July Favourites

Well here we are guys and dolls, another two months has passed and that can only mean one thing; another favourites! Don’t worry, I’m not going to talk about how fast the time has gone and how I really cannot believe it’s August already. I’m thinking it for sure, but I shan’t mention it. Ok let’s get right into what things and products I’ve been loving this past month!

Sweet Peas | These guys have really been thriving in our garden lately, and that means there’s always plenty in the house! They are really gorgeous colours, and they are one of my favourite scents.

Collection’s Extreme Felt tip Eyeliner | This product is insane. I bought it one day just to have it in my bag, but from using it, I’ve been obsessed ever since, and I haven’t been using any other eyeliner since. Recently I even tested it against the YSL felt tip eyeliner, and the Collection one lasted longer and even stayed on in water.

All About The Eyes Palette | When I’ve been having a bit more time to do my makeup I’ve been loving adding an orange toned gold to my eyes, as I feel it really brings out the blue of them. This palette is also amazing for creating a smoky eye effect, so for me it’s a perfect day-to-night palette.

Lancôme’s L’absolu Rouge in #06 ‘Rose Nu’ | This lipstick brings out the pink of the lips, while still keeping your whole look natural. I’ve been loving it for a long time now, but especially this month when I’ve been wearing slightly more on my eyes, I want a lipstick that’s lightweight and lightly pigmented, so altogether it isn’t too much.

Salon Professional Ultra Hold Hairspray | I’ve mentioned this hairspray before, but I’ve never stopped loving it. I’ve particularly been using it recently because these amazing summer days are lovely, but a gust of wind can really ruin a hairstyle, so I’ve been using this for securing my style so it’s weather-proof.

---

That’s it for my July Favourites! What have you guys been loving this past month? Let me know!

May Favourites

Over the past two months I’ve been trying out some new products, and returning to some of my previous favourites, so I’ve gathered them all together to share with you today!Fairy Lights | I’ve been searching for new fairy lights ever since I encountered a bit of a problem with my last ones… (heated up… melted things…) and I’ve been without any for quite a while, so this month after finding these at a very good price, I grabbed them, and can confidently say they are much safer and a perfect addition to my room.
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Eyeliner | I recently ran out of my trusty Rimmel London Professional Liquid Liner, and when I went shopping for a new one, I thought I’d try out something new, and I absolutely fell in love. I can get along just fine with a liquid liner, but this felt tip makes everything so much quicker. I adore it.

Lush Karma Bubble Bar | I have previously mentioned all of the reasons I love this bubble bar in my Lush Haul, and I have been continuing to repurchase and love it this month. I’m so glad I was enticed by the gorgeous orange colour, because it really is a relaxing and luxurious addition to my bath.

Yankee Candle ‘Soft Cotton’ | This one needs even less explanation. It’s my favourite scent, in a trusty little candle. Perfect to have in any place, in any room.

Moon Necklace | A few weeks ago, while at the All Things Vintage & Lovely event in Plymouth, I saw this gorgeous necklace at one of the stalls. At first I resisted, but I knew when I revisited the stall that it was meant for me, and was assured that it was “very you”, so I grabbed it before someone else saw it. Rimmel London ‘Lose Your Lingerie’ #203 | I prefer lighter colours on my nails, so in order to change it up from plain white all of the time, I occasionally go for a very light hint of pink, and this shade is just perfect.

Baby Lips Dr. Rescue | This month I gave into the hype and picked up a Baby Lips lip balm, I admit I just chose a plain one to give it a go, but it turns out a chose one with menthol in it, so it is even better for your lips! I’ve been addicted to it ever since buying it.

Nivea 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water | A little while ago I had a bad reaction to makeup removal wipes, so I’ve had to be extra careful with how I remove my makeup, simply sticking to water and a face wash. But this month I was determined to find something good for my skin that I could use. After finally discovering this product, I cannot sing its praises enough. It’s unscented and contains absolutely no alcohol, so it’s perfect for those of us with sensitive skin. And as it’s 3 in 1, if you don’t have the time or energy in the evening for a full blown skincare routine, this is the perfect product as it removes makeup, cleanses and moisturises – something which no other products do. 

Beyonce Heat | And finally, this month I wanted to change up my perfume, so I went back to my trusty Beyonce ‘Heat’. It always reminds me of summer and you instantly get a Beyonce vibe when you use it, so what more reason do you need to love this scent?!

---

There are all of the things I’ve been loving these past months, have you rediscovered a product you used to love? Let me know in the comments below!