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I kind of strictly stuck to the concealer in the Catrice line, I'm not sure why as if the concealer was great, chances are the other base products are too. Correct! This foundation is gorgeous, great coverage while still looking natural, and although I never use primer (ever), Joanna Cooper recommended wearing the Ten!sational Primer from the same range underneath it for an even better glow. Catrice is pretty hard to find online apart from on the Catrice website (linked above), but check out your local pharmacy as lots of pharmacies tend to have Catrice make up stands!

Another stellar staple in the concealer department for undereye brightening - it is amazing - and it claims to have anti-aging qualities... not sure how true this is but as a concealer, it does the trick.

I am not a big fan of powder in general - I use it very sparingly as I love to have a glow to my skin. I use it generally in the centre of my face - my T-zone, around the nose and the chin, leaving the glow pretty much everywhere else. It does the trick and definitely mattifies.

This is THE most beautiful palette you could imagine. I use this on my eyes and cheeks pretty much every day. This would suit all skin tones and I absolutely love wearing it on my eyes. It is one of the few powder highlighters that doesn't just sit on top of the skin in a harsh line, but almost blends in like a cream and gives that lit from within look. Another I love but have run out of is the RMS Living Luminiser which is a gorgeous cream formula.

You may be noticing a running theme here - I love cream products. These cloud paints are amazing - the colour pay off is immense so a little goes a long way and they last forever. Even if you apply too much, they are so so easy to blend out - either with your fingers or a beauty blender I find are the best ways to apply. Can also be used on the eyes and lips. You can also buy a set of two of them together if you can't choose!

I was shocked to love this blush as much as I do - it is a random one that I got in work when a brand sent in some products. I had never heard of the brand - and hadn't since - but if I can find a link to it I will include, if not, I will link something similar. It is so long-lasting and glowy without being glittering or shimmery, and gives a gorgeous, healthy peach glow to the apples of the cheeks. I often use it on my eyes too as a shadow as I love that look when all the aspects of your make up tie in together. Blot on a matte peach lipstick and you're good to go!

Eyes:

I bought this palette in the Charlotte Tillbury Black Friday sale and it's safe to say I have used it EVERY single day since. It is so gorgeous and has all my favourite warm tones, along with the perfect shimmer formulas that give that wet look to your lids when applied with your finger. As you can see by the appearance of the two darker browns, I tend to use these as eyeliner - just spray a setting spray (I use this Revlon one) in a corner of the shadow, get a thin liner brush and just mix the two shades together to make a paste, using that to apply as your liner. *chef's kiss*

I use brown liner every day rather than black, and I have tried my fair share of them. I used a Rimmel one for years but what I have found it that some (SOME) of the cheaper liners aren't creamy enough and tend to tug your lid when you're applying them, and let's be real the last thing we need are wrinkly eyelids at a time like this. As the name suggests, this liner glides right on and blends so easily and lasts all day. I hear the NYX liner has a similar formula so that is next on my list to try!

This was one of those rush-of-blood-to-the-head, lockdown #1, cheering myself up purchases - and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! I saw Rosie Huntington-Whiteley use this on her YouTube channel and I purchased it immediately. It is SO gorgeous, a browney tone with a shimmer of gold through it, is a pencil but again applies like a dream - so creamy and smooth - and comes with a buffer on the other end which is the perfect tool to blend out any liner. I have run out of this and am trying to convince myself that I don't need to re-purchase a €28 liner but I don't think I have the willpower to resist, to be perfectly honest. 

I am not one for expensive mascaras, never have been, because I use them every single day and cannot justify using up €50 worth of mascara in two months. NOPE. No. I also find so many cheaper mascaras so amazing that there is no need to justify an expensive one! This is gorgeous, makes your lashes look so long and luscious - no clumping - and layers like a dream.

Another amazing, affordable option, this has the same functionality as the slightly pricey ByTerry one, but for €9.95! You can twist the end of the wand depending on what look you're trying to achieve - I often start with the 'volumise' step and then use the 'lengthen' on top. You truly cannot go wrong with this mascara, and your wallet will thank you for it. Another brand you can find it quite a few pharmacies (now that Penneys is closed) as well as in the link above!

Granted I wouldn't have purchased such an expensive lip balm myself, but I got it as a gift at Christmas, and now that I have used it, I will definitely repurchase when I run out. It is such a nice formula, not sticky, smells delicious and - let's face it - the packaging is to die for. 

A cheaper alternative, also amazing and very similar formula. You can use this on cuticles, dry spots, as an eye gloss, the possibilities are endless! Don't live life with a shitty lip balm, your lips deserve better!

I always apply a balm right before I start my make up, so by the time I get to my lips, they are lovely and soft and ready for lipstick.

I have worn these lipsticks pretty much exclusively since they came out a few years ago, and I cannot fault them. They are matte but not drying, long-lasting and are the perfect pinky-nude shades for my skin tone. There are some gorgeous nude shades in the range for darker skin tones, like the shade 'Birkin Brown' which I think has been re-named to 'So 90s'. Divine!

I do love a brown liner, and have been known to go a little Shania Twain in this department, however this is the perfect match for any pinkey-nude lipstick like the two above.

A much more affordable option and a truer brown is this liner from Rimmel that I have used for years and always does the trick. They appear to have upgraded the packaging since I last purchased, so excuse my battered version.

I was never much of a gloss girl, until of course, Rihanna brought out lipglosses and everyone pretty much became a gloss girl. This makes your lips look LUSCIOUS, for lack of a better word. Isn't sticky, doesn't dry with that gross white cast left behind, and this is a universal shade that will look stunning on literally anyone. ADORE. I am dying to get my hands on her new shades like this brown one (Shania Twain-esque, oui).

Et voila! These are my tried and true make up faves that I use every day. Let me know if you have any amazing finds that I need to try (twist my arm) or if you use any of these and love them too! 

Thank you for reading as always,

10. Charlotte Tillbury Matte Revolution lipstick in 'Very Victoria' & Lip Cheat lip liner in 'iconic nude'.

I am absolutely obsessed with this lip combination. Very different to the aforementioned lipsticks - this is definitely a true brown shade, however it is light and most definitely wearable. I think this looks amazing with absolutely any look and can be worn day and night. I have worn this combination almost every day for the last couple of weeks - I would definitely recommend getting your paws on these! (All swatches applied to my - pale, non-tanned - arm, obviously look slightly different on the lips depending on the natural shade of your lips).

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