Makeup Essentials for Starting Uni/ Freshers

Starting University will be both the greatest and most difficult change, in your life yet as a young-adult. Whilst many of you will be worrying about what washing detergent to buy, or trying to find the cheapest non-stick pan, for now you should be looking forward to Freshers. If you're looking for the perfect reason to top-up your makeup bag, starting uni is a great excuse. Here are some makeup essentials that will help you slay university- beauty wise of course. 

FULL COVERAGE FOUNDATION & CONCEALER

If you're anyone from a typical selfie queen, to a self confessed Facebook document-er then a full coverage foundation is going to be essential, for your nights out. Think about it? All that sweat and flash photography in the clubs will not do anyone justice. Something with a durable or long-lasting selling point, will work fabulously to tame an oily appearance, and keep you looking flawless. Concealer if already isn't an essential for you, will become one. A holy grail product that will not only contribute to flawless makeup, but will help hide a multitude of sins the morning after. Those late nights and early morning seminars will catch up with you, but you'll definitely have your lecturers fooled, with a light-weight brightening concealer in your makeup bag. 

DRY SHAMPOO & MAKEUP WIPES

Say goodbye to the likelihood of waking up early, having a nice hot shower and plenty of time to get ready. If you're anything like how I was, everything will be a rush- especially in the mornings. After a night out and an early seminar start, dry shampoo will become very important to you, as will makeup wipes. It's like a cheat hair wash and facial cleanse, nothing wrong with that right?

BRIGHT LIPSTICK

This will be the perfect chance to venture out, and experiment with your makeup. You know that orange lipstick you've always thought was too daring? Go for it. A bright lippy can perk up your overall look, and add a little something extra to any outfit. The MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers come in an array of colours, particularly those that are bright. The formula is a matte finish, and might even have the durability to last on your walk of shame home. This is the perfect opportunity to come out of your shell, and be whoever you want. Why not start with your lipstick?

POWDER & LASHES

There's no denying that you'll want to look good for freshers, but taking only one pair of your favourite £7 lashes won't get you very far. If you're a constant lash user, then bulk sets of lashes will become life-savers after messy nights that involve your face on the floor- or near a toilet. Powder is of course a no-brainer and a clutch staple. It will help to set your foundation, and then touch-ups will provide coverage all night long. The MAC Studio Fix Powder is pigmented and is great for blotting.

STAY HYDRATED 

Whether this means drinking water to save your skin, or moisturising when you get the chance. All the alcohol, late nights and risque clothing in cold weather, can start to effect your complexion. Nobody likes dry patches/ cracks in their skin when putting foundation on for a night out (it's happened to the best of us). 

Current Favourites | July 2015

From the dry shampoo that delivers oomph, to the perfect brown lip duo. These favourites have very quickly worked their way into my everyday routine, and will happily remain there. July along with its' temperamental weather has overall been a delightful month. Working IMATS left me fragile on my feet, and just that bit poorer than usual. On an even higher note, the Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser (what a mouthful aye?) has been working wonders for my combination/ dry skin. The formula itself is creamy, nourishing and soothing, but then when used with the hot cloth, slightly exfoliates and removes all nasties from the skin's surface. Who would have thought it, cloth and cleanser- the dynamic duo of the skincare world. Superdrug's Naturally Radiant line is almost always on offer, but even at its' standard price it's still only £5.99 and claims to 'Awaken skins natural glow'- who wouldn't want that? Another product that has been fabulously contributing to my complexion, is the brand spanking new Makeup Forever Ultra HD Foundation. With supposed 'Invisible Cover', this foundation is as light as a feather on the skin and blends beautifully. A battle commenced when trying to get this product at IMATS, but after a lot of dedication and shuffling, I got my hands on it. The packaging is sleek, and classic of course, and the 'ultra' formulation has a medium to build-able coverage. When applied to the skin it 100% has a more natural, sheer finish in comparison to the HD Original. Great product for those of us who don't like a lot of foundation on the skin.

 Having not really been a fan of cat-eye glasses, these Topshop Sadie Cateye Sunglasses have not left my side. They're my personal Summer essential, and really frame my face well. Despite being a controversial pair for some, there's no denying that they instantly add class to any outfit. Speaking of Summer... oily hair is always a no, but with all this heat and sweat sometimes it's inevitable. The Batiste Dry Shampoo has been in every magazine, blog and favourites- and for good reason. It's not only a quick solution for those of us on a busy schedule, but is also great for adding instant volume to flat and dull hair. For hair that gets really oily really quickly, this is a can sent from heaven. For those who don't know, I am the real brown lips queen- not Kylie. A fellow friend and MUA recently recommended 'Cappucino' Lip Pencil by Rimmel, and in her words..."It's like Wonderbra for lips". The colour is brown with an ever so slight warm tone to it, making it fab for plumping your lips without all that shot glass business. It works well when used to define the natural lip line, and is perfect when married with MAC 'Taupe' Lipstick- yes, another brown. This typically creamy and pigmented lipstick by MAC, has just the right amount of warm undertone to make your lips look and feel fuller. 

Top 5 | Lush Face Masks

Buying a new face mask is like trying on new lingerie, essential and it makes you feel fab. Though when it comes to what face mask is right for you, the struggle is very real. Am I right? LUSH Face Masks are not only preservative free, but contain fresh ingredients that will have you well on your way to healthy looking skin. Take a look at these top five picks, to find the perfect mask for you!

Catastrophe Cosmetic  

Where blueberries and essential oils meets to replenish your skin. This mask has a lot of moisturizing but yet cleansing properties, that make it a gooden for all skin types- but particularly combination. There's chamomile and rose to soothe and calm the skin, accompanied with fresh blueberries, that act as an anti-oxidant. If you're on the hunt for an all-rounder, this is the pot for you. 

Love Lettuce

This tub of goodness caters to a more oilier skin type and reeks of freshness. Packed with essential oils and honey, it doesn't stop there folks. This mask not only has an outstanding five star rating, but contains bits of almond shell that work to gently exfoliate the skin, whilst still cleansing. No it doesn't have lettuce in it, no you cannot eat it. 

Cosmetic Warrior 

Vampires beware, this stuff is heavy on the garlic which helps to medicate and cleanse the skin thoroughly. Although the ingredients may seem bizarre, they work effectively to treat problematic skin. If you have sensitive, pubescent or hormonal prone break outs, this bad boy is definitely for you. Treat yourself to this antibacterial dream or tea tree, honey and even fresh egg to tighten the skin. 

Brazened Honey 

If you want amazingly clean, and glowing skin this mask is definitely one to consider. What makes this product great, is that whilst removing and applying the product, it also gently exfoliates the skin. With stimulants, anti-oxidants and fresh galore, this mask is fab for just about everyone. Moisturizing and cleansing are only a few benefits of this mask, but if you fancy getting rid of some dead skin- why not?

Oatifix

It smells like pudding and works like a treat. This exfoliating mask contains oats and banana, making it great for replenishing and hydrating dry/ sensitive skin types. The texture is a little sucky and vomit-like, but has been said to help care for Rosacea amongst other sensitive skin problems. Treat yourself, and don't let the texture be a cause of concern. It works wonders!

Japanese & Korean Skincare Haul

It's no secret that nobody does beauty and skincare like the Japanese, so for a while now I have been trying to get my hands on a few products. If you are a lover of all things cute and are looking to venture out in the world of skincare, then join me on this haul of all Asian goodness.

 Biore Men's Pore Pack (Black) (Limited Edition) £4.90

When Japanese beauty brand Kao collaborate with Biore- this is what you get. Pore Strips are often always expensive in the UK and aren't as effective. I purchased these Men's Pore Strips in the hope of trying something different, and also wanted a pore strip with a bit more behind it. This product claims to remove blackheads from both the nose and chin AND also contains a "pore tightening formulation". I'm not really sure why the sheets are black- supposedly it's easier to see the effects.

 Shiseido Senka Perfect Oil, £8.46

Shideido is the fourth largest cosmetic company in the world today, and £8.46 for 150ml of 'Perfect' oil- how could not? I read online that the Shiseido Senka Perfect range in Japan, is one of the best-selling skincare lines and takes the fancy of many of the younger generation. The packaging is adorable and durable. This product comes with a working pump and surprisingly has a thin consistency, it can be used dry to remove product from the eyes and face- including anything waterproof! So excited to try this out!

 DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, £16.05

This product is definitely one of the more 'available' and well-known Japanese products. It's a little bit more pricey than the other drugstore oils but apparently is well worth it? Like the Senka Perfect Oil, it's a oil based cleanser that is to be used dry and with such a small and natural ingredients list; I think this has potential. It again, is very thin in consistency and the packaging is very simple- almost looks like something you would get from the chemist. 

Etude House Wonder Pore Brush, £5.61

 Etude House is actually a Korean brand, more commonly known for their cute cosmetic range, so when I saw they had a skincare line called 'Wonder Pore'- I couldn't resist! This was sort of a random purchase to fill my basket but I was also on the hunt for a good facial brush. Some might say the packaging is childish but I think it's just beyond cute- only Japanese and Korean beauty brands can get away with shit like this. The facial brush itself is nothing like the abrasive Body Shop brush; it's soft on the skin and has it's own little box to prevent bacteria- thoughtful!

Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner (10 in 1), £16.05

So again with the packaging, it's just too cute right? I was very intrigued by this slightly pricey fancy toner because of the 10 in 1 factor, lets go through them shall we? 

• Balance skin's ideal pH level
• Refine skin tones
• Keep the elasticity of pores
• Remove skin surface's dead skin cells
• Cleanse pore insides with cooling effect
• Deep cleanse pores (^^ aren't these the same thing? hmmm)
• Minimize appearance of pores
• Control a large amount of sebum
• Moisturize inside and outside of skin
• Complete smooth glass-like texture (what does that even mean?)

Despite not wanting my skin to look like glass this product has had some really good to average reviews online, so I thought why not? From looking at the ingredients list it's definitely not comparable to my natural LUSH Cosmetics toner and has a very considerable amount of alcohol in it (wouldn't recommend for sensitive skin types). Mixed opinions on this product, but can't wait to try it!

Hope you all enjoy this post from me; keeping it short and sweet! Anyone that knows me, knows how obsessed I am with Japanese culture and products so I am extremely excited to be sharing this with you guys! If you have tried any of these products let me know what you think of them, or if you have any other Asian skincare/ make-up product faves comment down below!

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