Zoeva Rose Golden Luxury Brush Set

Purchasing new makeup brushes is one of my favourite things to do. I firmly believe that the brushes you use to apply your makeup are just as important in creating your desired look (if not more so) as the makeup itself. In my opinion, finding the right brushes for you can be life changing (bit dramatic I know, but I tend to get a little overexcited when discussing this). 

My go-to makeup brushes are usually either Mac or Real Techniques because I think in terms of quality and style you cannot beat them.  However, recently, I was having a look through my brushes and realised that my loyal stippling foundation brush from Real Technique - which has been by my side for over a year at least (through good skin days and bad) - was starting to look a little tired and worn. I had noticed after the last few makeup applications that the brush was starting to shed and I reluctantly decided that maybe it was time to part with it and move on (sob!).

I considered repurchasing the same brush as it had done me so well in the past, however I decided that this might be the perfect opportunity for me to treat myself (all in the name of research, of course) to a new set. My first thought was that I would head straight to Mac, however as a girl on a budget I did not think that this would be feasible so I took to the internet once again for inspiration. 

I stumbled across the Zoeva Rose Golden Luxury Brush Set and my first thoughts were about how beautiful the brushes looked. The rose gold colour on the handle is so pretty and feminine and very unique. I looked through the pictures and the descriptions of the 8 different brushes and thought that they sounded perfect. I held my breath as I looked down at the price, ready to sigh, curse my bank balance and move on, but, to my surprise, the total of the set came in at £53.50, a mere 6 pounds something per brush which, in comparison to the price of other makes, Mac for example, is a complete steal! 

A few days later, I came home from work to find a parcel sitting outside my bedroom door. I felt like a little kid at christmas as I opened it to find my beautiful brush set along with a stylish case to keep them in. Straight away I liked how compact and lightweight the brushes are, and the case was the perfect size to fit into your handbag. 

After trying them out a few times, I will now review the brushes individually:

102: Silk Finish

A perfect brush for foundation application. The bristles are super soft and dense which allows for an easily blended and flawless cover. Even after only a couple of uses, I can safely say that I have been converted from my previous favourite and cannot help but feel slightly guilty that I have moved on so quickly from my old friend. 

142: Concealer Buffer

One of my favourites in the set. The shape is just what I look for in a concealer brush and, again, it blends the product so easily into the skin rather than just move it around so that it looks cakey and thick - which has been my experience with many of my previous concealer brushes. 

110: Face Shape

Another of my favourites from the set. A larger version of the concealer brush and, repeating myself here, the softness of it is amazing. I have used it with both powder and cream bronzers to contour my face and it is hands down the best contour brush I have ever used. For someone like me, with a small face and small features, it is perfect size and does not leave you looking like you have a brown rectangle swept across the side of your face. 

106: Powder Brush

This is the only brush in the set that I have not found to be as great as the others. The softness of the brush feels lovely on your face, however there is something about it that I don't like but haven't been able to put my finger on. I think that the shape of it for applying powder or bronzer doesn't work for me personally. 

127: Luxe Sheer Cheek

A lovely brush with white hairs to add a bit of dimension to the set. I like the light hairs as it allows you to see exactly how much product is on the brush. The shape and angle of the brush is perfect for applying blush to the apples of your cheeks. 

231: Luxe Petit Crease 

My third favourite. Similar to the other brushes in the set, the size is perfect for someone with small features like myself. It blends eyeshadows into the eye crease beautifully and the unusual pointed shape allows for great application of product along the bottom lash line and inner corner of the eye. 

227: Luxe Soft Definer

Very similar to the Mac 217 (one of the essentials in my kit). Another brush that is great for blending eye shadow into the crease to add definition, however I have been predominantly using it to pack colour onto the whole eye lid which works a treat! A great multi purpose brush. 

317: Wing Liner

This brush does what it says on the tin. Fantastic for creating that winged out eye liner look. I have not tried this yet, but I also think that it could be great for filling in and defining eyebrows. 

The Zoeva Rose Golden Luxury Set has been everything that I was expecting and hoping for in a brush set and more. I have decided to keep this set for myself, rather than add it to my professional kit because of how much I love it and I cannot wait to try out more of the products that Zoeva has to offer. 

Finishing this blog post a very happy bunny! Here is a selfie of me after my first makeup application using the set.

I hope this review has been helpful and thank you for reading! 

Becki x 

Links: 

http://www.love-makeup.co.uk/zoeva-rose-golden-luxury-brush-p-6023.html

Stepping up my skincare

Stepping up my skincare

As a young adult/teenager, I somehow managed to skip that awkward phase of “teen acne” or the skin problems that I had heard about so frequently from my peers. Disclaimer: this is not me showing off or claiming that I have never had a spot or blemish; however, I have never really experienced issues with my skin, which has had an influence on my past skincare (or lack of).

I have always been very cynical of the latest skincare products, which, in my eyes, generally cost an arm and a leg and are very cleverly marketed despite the lack of proof that they actually work. I used to swear by a splash of cold water in the morning and the evening — admittedly, this was due to a combination of laziness and the fact that I have very sensitive skin that cannot handle any harsh ingredients. As I have gotten older, however, I have noticed a big change in the way my skin looks.

I used to believe that my skin type was extremely dry, however after studying at The Academy of Makeup in Glasgow (I have provided the link to the website below), I learnt all about different skin types and came to the realisation that I had been buying the wrong products for my skin, which is, in fact, dehydrated/combination. The reason I now know this is because my skin has red, dry patches — the cheek area in particular — and, at times, an oily t-zone, which is a typical sign of a dehydrated/combination skin type.

This, and the fact that I have started to notice acne on my forehead and little white bumps underneath my eyes, prompted me to want to try and do something about it and rethink my skincare regime. I have never been one to splash out on moisturisers and face washes, partly because I've never found a skin product that I’m crazy about, however my changing skin has given me an excuse to go on a hunt for one. 

After undertaking my daily YouTube beauty blogger binge, I stumbled upon a review on the Zoella channel (link below) of the Clinique Moisture Surge day cream. The pot boasts “extended thirst relief”, which drew me in immediately as my dry skin seemed to be crying out for a drink. I read a number of different reviews and, by the end of the afternoon, my bank account was £32 lighter and a pot was winging its way to me courtesy of next day delivery. 

I started using this product religiously and, even after a few days, I could already see a difference. It has a gel-like consistency and this proved far more refreshing than other cream based moisturisers. My skin felt considerably softer, looked a lot less dry and I was getting more comments about how awake and fresh I looked during the day at work (without a scrap of make up on may I add!). 

A single negative, if you can call it that, was that I found by the time I got home from work, my skin looked as if I had spend the last 7.5 hours cooped up in an office (which I had). I sought the advice of a friend, who recommended the clinique hydration spray. She said that one or two sprays throughout the day would add a little boost of hydration and life to my skin. Looking back on this advice after purchasing the spray, she is a genius!!! 

I genuinely believe that I have found a skin care regime that works for me right now, without going overboard (which I think can often happen). I guess that myself, like everyone else, is looking for the miracle cure for problems such as dry skin, spots and under eye bags. I’ve still not found my skincare miracle, but this product comes close. For now, i’m having fun (and spending probably more money that I should) continuing my search for that magic product.  

Thank you for reading and please look out for my blog post next week where I will be reviewing my new, very exciting purchase: a shiny new Zoeva Brush set. 

Becki x

Links:

http://www.theacademyofmakeup.com

http://www.clinique.co.uk/product/1687/5089/Skin-Care/Moisturisers/Moisture-Surge-Extended-Thirst-Relief/All-Skin-Types/index.tmpl

https://www.youtube.com/user/zoella280390