All links in this post are affiliate links.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you will probably know that I am a drugstore girl through and through.
By that, I mean that I love nothing more than pursuing the aisles of Boots and Superdrug, looking at new products. I get giddy at a new Barry M nail polish, a new Maybelline concealer? Count me in. I spent a lot of time growing up, especially in my late teens swatching away in my local Boots, so much so, I’d often get followed by the security guard and I’d feel like shouting ‘ I JUST LIKE MAKE UP OKAY?’
But although the likes of Boots and Superdrug are still very firm favourites, I do think you cannot beat that excitement of a high end beauty product.
Buying something from the makeup counter is just, oooft so exciting! From the the expensive looking packaging, and the way you decide you’d guard this new lipstick or bronzer with your life. Okay I’m getting carried away, but I’m sure you know that feeling.
I mean I still remember some of my first ever luxury makeup buys; aged 14 I bought my first MAC eyeshadow (who did I think I was? It was bright blue though tragically.) Then when I landed my personal shopper job in 2012, I bought a Chanel nail polish to celebrate, and I still to this day, remember the excitement of those purchases.
Now, I am very lucky and fortunate to be sent samples from different brands to try out. I still get excited by every parcel, and recently I seem to have had a little influx of high end makeup, which oh my god has been like Christmas come early. Henry found it very amusing when he walked into the kitchen with a parcel that had just been delivered by Laura Mercier (well not ‘the’ Laura Mercier, it wasn’t like she’d just knocked on my door to deliver the box to me personally) and I shouted ‘SHUT UP!’ He was like ?
I know that luxury and high end makeup items are pricey, they are something you save up for, or really think about and do your research if you’re like me, and there’s nothing worse than spending £20/30/40 on a product and it being disappointing.
I’ve been trying out a lot of products recently which sounded so much better in my head, but out loud, it sounds very Billy Big Balls 😂I apologise.
And I thought I’d share some current favourites, because these are all in my humble opinion, worth the price and I am SO happy with my make up at the moment, and it’s down to these products. So settle down, hide your bank card and let’s get stuck in.
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter :
A little into lockdown 1 last year, I was quite clearly feeling a bit spendy, and made a Charlotte Tilbury order. I was very influenced by a lot of makeup videos I’d been watching, and wanted to treat myself. I was very intrigued by the Flawless filter, everyone and their dog went on about it but I couldn’t work out if it was a highlighter, primer, low coverage base or what really, but all I knew was it looked AMAZING.
I’m still not overly sure what it is, but all I know is it makes you look really nice. You know it gives you that glow of when you’re on holiday, or when you’ve just come back from a spa retreat, you look healthy and glowy.
Swear to god, I’ve been writing the word ‘glowy’ on blog posts for years, and my computer always still corrects it to ‘blowy’ that’s a whole other glow 🤣
I got this in the shade 4 which tbh I probably should have got the 3 but it does still work, it’s perfect for when I’m tanned, and I put it on underneath foundation, I find it gives me a healthy bronzed glow, when I’m having a good skin day, I wear this with a teeny bit of cc cream and concealer and voila. But it just makes my face and makeup look really nice. It’s magic in a bottle (trust me it made me look alive during the first trimester of pregnancy and the first few weeks of newborn life which was a bloody miracle.)
I’ve always wanted to find a really good under eye concealer/corrector, but was convinced it didn’t exist. However a lot of people raved about this Becca one, and I was dubious.
But this is VERY good, it really brightens those dark circles and under eye area, and when paired with a high coverage concealer (It Cosmetics under eye concealer is very good) it works like a dream. Worth the hype, and works even on sleep deprived bags 😂 the only downside is that Becca is ceasing later this year (say whattt) so this badboy will be discontinued which tbh I think is an actual tragedy. So gals, stock up on this because trust me when I say it’s the bees knees.
This CC cream is very good, it’s very clever. It’s high coverage but doesn’t look it, instead you’re left with flawless skin, a dewy/glowy finish and it lasts all day.
It doesn’t look cakey, or too much, it just looks like you’ve got really good skin. The shades are pretty awful so that goes against it, but this base is what I have been reaching for most days, it cuts time because I need little concealer afterwards and just leaves a lovely finish.
This paired with the CT Flawless filter – chef’s kiss.
My normal lashes are a bit on the pitiful side, they’re very straight, and boring, and I feel like I have to work to make them look noticeable.
I always struggle to find mascaras that actually plump them up, but I found a sample of the Charlotte Tilbury Volume lashes and was astounded at how long, and thick my lashes looked.
Now I’m a drugstore mascara girl, you know L’Oreal, Maybelline – that’s my jam, so spending £20+ on a mascara did go against my beliefs, but this in my opinion is worth it. I’ve barely worn false lashes in months (which is saying something from me) as I don’t feel I need to. If they released a waterproof version, I’d buy it for life.
I love a good highlighter, but I like it to be more subtle these days, you know I want to look fresh and glowy not like a tin man, and there’s a very fine line.
I love Becca’s pressed highlighters, champagne pop – mother may I – but I find that sometimes pressed highlighters can look a little cakey.
Their ignite highlight is bloody lovely, it comes in a massive glass tube, I feel and hope it will last till I’m 85. It just gives a gorgeous glow, I use it underneath makeup, and on top and it doesn’t go cakey or too glittery, it’s just perfect.
OBSESSED.
Now there are a few other honourable mentions to make, and I’m going to through them quickly as I have a baked potato in the oven which is almost cooked and I don’t want it burn :
Laura Mercier translucent powder – no flashback, gives a flawless finish – so good
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Bronzer – gorgeous colour, massive product, makes you look sun kissed; like you’ve just spent day on beach in the maldives
Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand – Pinkgasm-makes you look alive, gives the most lovely glow!
Nars Suede eye palette – perfect mix of smokey brown eyeshadows in a cute palette, matte and glittery shades, my perfect palette!
Let me know what products you’ve been loving lately…
I’m going to get my baked potato now, speak soon! x
All links in this post are affiliate links.
