Make-up and Me: My Cosmetics Rituals

Hey, the sun may not be shining and I can definitely sense the hairs on my back standing up thanks to the large draft in my window (am I ever so lucky to be writing in the bedroom most affected by the 30mph winds?), but my feel-good mood is as strong as ever this afternoon and so I only wish to spread the storm-free joy by discussing the beauty must-haves which have significantly changed my life. Forever. Yeah, I really have no desire of bringing up the not-so-pleasant conversation over whether I'll still be donning black cherry eyeliner in seventy or so years time, but right now couldn't offer me a better opportunity than to try my hand at a spectacular array of products, lifesavers and, as your bubblegum pink lips are bursting to tell me, all of the colours on a rainbow. Talking of which, I wouldn't really be surprised if my purple-lidded eyes caught sight of a rainbow any time soon thanks to the non-stop rain pounding against the window, but the mood-dampening topic of storms can be nicely pushed aside for a while...

Face

Ah yes, where would anyone be able to start in the oh-so-wonderful land of make-up with sorting out their faces? From complexion-smoothing foundations to oil-controlling primers to life-saving concealers (let's admit it; all of us have resorted to using these once or twice within a spot-tastic lifetime), it is no wonder that the beauty counters are bursting with hundreds of goodies which claim to revolutionize our make-up bags.

Believe me, I may proudly proclaim myself as a hard cookie (though I have a natural preference for the softer, deliciously chewy variety), but I probably wouldn't have been staying true to myself if I didn't almost fall into the tight clutches of products which give potential consumers the promises that they want to hear from time to time.

Like any fashion-obsessed girl, one of my main three wishes included a complexion to rival a self-titled beauty queen as I felt so insecure about my own. Without heading into blemish-prone territory, I had a million and one problems relating to my spots and so it was basically my MI5-inspired mission to place the very best products - from oil-reducing scrubs to fairly natural foundation - onto my face, otherwise World War II probably would've broken out across the easily-angered kingdom otherwise known as myself by now.

Eventually, as you'll realize with the list of fabulous products I've noted down below, I found my king in armour via a jar of mineral powder and numerous beauty sets purchased by none other than my mum, who completely understands my current rush of hormonal, blemish-splattered problems. In my opinion, the products which I apply several times a week onto my face are suited rather well to sensitive skin which, if you had ever been an unfortunate witness to my breakouts in the past, is the type which I currently have, so please don't bombard me with hate-fuelled letters should a problem arise!

Foundation: Bare Minerals Original SPF15 Foundation, £22.05, qvcuk.com
Did you just spit your sip of Diet Coke all over the floor or what?! OK, the price tag may send alarm bells ringing - just like that dreadful moment when you realize that the supermarket has run out of your favourite Ben and Jerry's ice cream - but please believe me when I say that it works like a dream, covering blemishes easily and turning your complexion into one which an international star would envy!
Anyway, the whole of Bare Mineral's range - the corporation of which remains true to nature and promises to use the most natural products available on this planet - offers a fabulous selection of great products, many of which I've tried in the past and have fallen in love with. Yet I doubt that the brand would be where it is today if it were not for the foundation which, despite its grainy-looking texture and powdery appearance, glides onto your skin easily by using the Full Flawless Face Brush from the range (£21, qvcuk.com), which prevents your face looking unpleasantly caked - a look which everyone wishes to avoid at all costs!
As many would find with foundations, it does take a while to get used to using this mineral powder, especially as it was the very first foundation of any kind that I had personally used, so I needn't be reminded of the ghastly looks I unintentionally created during my first few attempts! Plus, I always felt the need to apply some blush (Compassion, £19, is the nearest I can find to the shade I use which was obtained in a limited edition set) due to having a near-porcelain complexion, unless I had a strange urge to resemble Casper the ghost's girlfriend for Halloween or something; just one of the few pitfalls of not using bronzer.
On the subject of skin tones, I use the lightest shade available which is called Fair, but you should easily find the one best suited to your own by accessing a colour chart which offers the helpful features of models who should remotely resemble your skin colour. Until last year, I'd stuck to Fairly Light though I only truly saw the light - and brighter results - once I swapped to Fair, but you may be taken aback by the colour which would look the best on you. Trust me!
As my skin glows like never before - courtesy of the minerals which promise to not only make your skin look worthy of a Hollywood scarlet, but to nourish it - I hope that you'll see what I'm talking about by giving the whole Bare Minerals range a go. And like the saying goes, you truly pay for what you get - you only need to look at my face to realize it!

Concealer: Bare Minerals SPF20 Concealer, £19, www.bareminerals.co.uk
Unlike the foundation which has become somewhat of my everyday beauty staple, the need to apply concealer only arises on a rare occasion where nobody on this planet should see my spots, highlighting the problematic area like a glowing stick for the world to witness. And this concealer by the wonderful Bare Minerals (the only make-up brand which I feel confident to use on my face and disaster zones) simply does the job by covering the troublesome spots brilliantly and soothing my fears over a person with remarkably clear eyesight catching a glimpse of it in the light, all within a tinier-than-you'd-expect jar.
Before using it, I wasn't aware of the highly well-known fact that you needn't apply mountain-high amounts of it due to a miniscule amount being needed, so you can only imagine my cake-tastic appearance afterwards - and bronzed glow radiating from my skin! My only slight criticism is that I wish a lighter shade could be available because the current colour closely suited to my porcelain tone does look rather dark, and it definitely shows if I accidently apply one grain too many; resembling an over-tanned member of The Only Way is Essex cast couldn't be further away from my desired appearance!
Anyway, I always know that I can rely upon the Bare Minerals range as both the public and the beauty industry - one of which has been famously renowned for the worrying usage of dangerous preservations and cancer-associated parabens - appreciate its natural style, which defines the person I am within a single sweep of pure concealer. Perhaps it works a little too well if I no longer have enough spots to hide - thankfully!

Eyes 

Eyes, eyes, eyes... Don't they just define beauty a whole lot better than any other area on our faces? Ever since I received a free eyeliner in a fashion magazine at the age of eleven, I've always loved applying cosmetics around this area because one can truly transform their style within the stroke of a pen or sweep of a shimmery eye shadow. Although my eyes are easily defined on a daily basis, I still doubt that I stand any possibility of gaining a career as a make-up artist out of my five-minute schedule of cosmetics fun in the eerily bright morning - looking back at my recently-taken pictures of messily-applied liquid eyeliner confirms the oh-so-real truth! Still, I love my eyes nonetheless and always feel ready to face the day once this special area has been made up, adding a hidden strength to my tasks du jour like nothing else can...

Eyeliner: Mally 10 Piece Starlight Eyeliner Collection, £35.52, qvcuk.com
Despite only receiving the eye-popping collection less than a fortnight ago, it needn't be said twice that I've absolutely fallen in love with the dazzling array of colours, which range from a lid-enhancing pearly pink to a classic jet-black - exactly what an eyeliner-loving teenager like myself had in mind!
As I'd felt relatively drawn towards darker shades since I first started to experiment with make-up, this collection - eight of which feature nighttime-suited colours, minus the two used as highlighters - instantly stood out towards me, plus the formula by this American brand attracted me because it is strongly declared as bulletproof. And as I struggle to take the make-up off my lids in the evening, I've truly discovered the meaning of the word! Another positive about the eyeliners is that they are self-sharpening, which have certainly put my tedious days of breaking kohl eyeliners to an end; the soft creaminess also prevents you tugging harshly against the tender skin, a problem of which I've commonly experienced with cheaper, wider known brands in the past.
For those of you who are not familiar with Mally, let me explain; Mally was created by the famous make-up artist Mally Roncal, who lives and works in her native New York. From Jennifer Lopez to Beyonce, Mally has worked with numerous famous stars and is now focusing on her brand, which has won countless awards for its long-lasting formula along with a loyal legion of consumers across the world. Having since given these eyeliners a go, I'm proud to say that I've become a Mally fan as I've never used any eyeliners like hers - and why should I try any others now that I've found the ones which previously only resided in my dreams? Personal favourites within the collection include Smoky Taupe (a taupey brown which smudges like a smoky dream), Midnight (a timeless chic black), Starshine (a dazzling silver) and Black Cherry, a subtle purple which I've applied onto my eyelids today.
I feel immensely glad that I bought these eyeliners because right now I would've definitely regretted it as I already couldn't imagine living without them - like eyeliners themselves!

Mascara: Bare Minerals Flawless Definition Mascara, £17, www.bareminerals.co.uk
Once again, Bare Minerals come to rescue where make-up asks a gaping question: how do I find a mascara which guarantees long-lasting results without sacrificing on natural, allergy-free ingredients? Needless to say, I headed towards my mineral-loving friends and have never looked back, extending the length of my medium-length lashes as of when the need for it arises.
Personally, I don't use mascara every day because I already wear eyeliner all the time, so usually it's either one or the other unless a special occasion comes up, but this doesn't mean that I'm willing use to use any cheap brand - I couldn't be further from the truth! At least I'm never faced with the possibility of being knocked out from an additive-addled formula whenever I open the Bare Minerals mascara as, despite its similar appearance to fellow not-so-natural rival brands, it still remains as natural and true to nature as one could hope for one of make-up's most chemically-associated product - has anyone truly considered the commonly-found risks in the usage of Revitalash yet?
Within one brush, my eyelashes look longer and strongly resemble a pair of false eyelashes which you can buy in a beauty shop - without running the risk of getting an allergic reaction from the foul-stenched glue! OK, I haven't always been entirely natural when it comes to mascara as I couldn't resist trying a free Benefits mascara as a magazine freebie once, but the results never pleased me as much as the Flawless Definition one by Bare Minerals.
Sure, mascara might not be on top of my desperately-needed beauty products, but it definitely serves its purposes when needed - and Bare Minerals counts all of the boxes whilst avoiding the need to sacrifice on naturally good quality!

Lips

There is only one single word which defines my love of lips, which exaggerate my naturally plump smackeroonies (sorry, the online thesaurus didn't offer any better suggestions) and add a pop of uplifting colour: lipstick.
Erase all memories of gloopy lip gloss and recently-washed hair sticking to my glued-tight lips onto a windy day; only lipstick deserves a place in my prestigious Beauty Wall of Frame, standing beside eyeliner, mineral foundation and a light covering of cheek-enhancing blush like the Oscar winner it truly is.
If it wasn't for my lips, I question whether I would have ever displayed any kind of interest in make-up at all because it was where all of it started when I purchased my very first collection of lip glosses - which, as you correctly predicted, were produced by Bare Minerals - at the age of eleven, receiving the very best introduction to cosmetics as one could ever hope.
Unlike the other formulas I was unfortunately destined to try (and later chuck into my ancient Bratz-themed bin), the Bare Mineral glosses were moisturizing and never felt sticky, purely keeping my lips in check with a hint of oh-so-natural colour. Literally, that summer was all but defined by those lip glosses as I applied them in inch-thick layers every single day until I reached the end of the bottles and eventually threw them away, which signalled my still-lost of interest in lip glosses as I moved further towards lipstick.
OK, my very first experience with lip sticks may be one which I'd prefer not to remember (the so-called 'natural' ones I picked up in Boots were a pain to apply onto my lips because almost no colour came out; even a rock-solid lollypop was deemed softer than those cheap lipsticks), but it didn't take any time until I'd settled upon a brand which offered my desired look without breaking the bank: Rimmel London.
As I write this down, even I question the reasons for which I'm more fascinated in saving my pennies towards my regular usage of lipstick than making a sacrifice or two relating to my fairly expensive foundation or concealer, both of which are certainly at least £10 too much for a plain majority of people.
Unlike the tiny amounts of foundation and concealer I apply onto my face once or twice a week, I use varying shades of lipstick every day without thinking twice about it and, frankly, my lips are not as sensitive as the rest of my face, which has a tendency to break out ever so easily. Besides, why should I spend £20 or more for a self-proclaimed 'decent' lipstick by a designer brand if I can still obtain the same results with a cheaper item? What with the amount of products I've tried over the years, I've learnt the ability to sense cheap ingredients within a five-mile radius - and I couldn't appreciate make-up more than ever!
Unsurprisingly, I do use lipsticks by other brands from time to time, such as Maybelline Colour Sensational in Sweet Pink, which has so far been the only nude pink best suited to a porcelain skin tone (today's shade, if you wish to know), and I've happily taken to the creamy texture of ybf's range of lipsticks, two of which I received in a discontinued collection around a year ago. But mainly I stick to Rimmel because I know where I stand with them - long-lasting results, fabulous colour and moisturized lips. The praise is endless!
Also, I love nothing more than playing with lip colour as it truly gives me pile loads of rainbow-paletted joy - who can deny the rush of pleasure racing through your veins at the sight of your bright smile in a mirror? Of late, I've been wearing an eye-popping red shade from the Kate Moss collection at Rimmel, giving me a Parisian-inspired look which a French-learning speaker like myself rather appreciates!
From the dark plums commonly worn by teen singer Lorde to au naturel nudes, lipstick truly is fun to wear and that's why I always need more of it - at a pocket-friendly price!

So, that is all I can say about my beauty-related passions; whether I'm in the mood to go as natural as possible by donning a layer of frosty pink lipstick and a slick of black mascara or release my inner beauty queen via dark eyeliner and enviable foundation, I think that I've got it covered with make-up. And hey, don't we all have our little beauty secrets?