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). 

Poundland Make-up Gallery Review

So, if you're not Tyra Banks or the best paid Youtuber then cheap make-up is always a must. After a week of being unimpressively poor; Poundland became my second home and whilst roaming the hair and beauty/ tacky jewellery aisle, I found their brand spanking new cosmetic range. They have everything- lipsticks, nail varnishes, foundations and powders, blushes, bronzers etc. I selected a few bits and gave them a two week trial before reviewing them for you now. I chose products that I could sporadically incorporate into my everyday make-up routine and shucks, did they fit in.

(left to right) 'Sand' & 'Natural Beige'.

Hide & Chic Concealer, £1
Let's start with the concealers. They read "Hide and Chic" which is just fabulous in itself. It replicates those Miss Sporty type concealers that you used to buy as a teen and if we were to really dig into this product, you would understand that concealers like this are fairly unhygienic on reapplication but this product does have very nice coverage, blend-able consistency considering it's a cream product and if you are looking for the perfect shade for under the eyes. 'Natural Beige' is your bae. Talking of shades, there are very few complexion shades in this range- four to be exact, and they are all for light skin tones. I found that the Make-up Gallery range not only lacks in variation of shades but the longevity of this product isn't the best and although the coverage is fab, I do find myself needing to re-apply the concealer. My overall verdict which will pretty much be the same for every product in this range is... It's a £1 so you honestly cannot complain.

(left to right) 'Honey Beige' & 'Natural Beige'.

Smoothly Does It Pressed Powder, £1

With both Youtubers, Vogue and Cosmo raving about this product I needed to try out more than one shade. I've found that when you use a brush with this light to medium coverage powder, there is a lot of brush fall out and powdery smoke BUT if you use a powder puff, this product is a dream to work with. It mattifies the skin with a little coverage and isn't cakey or heavy on the skin. Again, the shade thing is an issue, there are again only four for this product- and they are all light. It doesn't quite compare to my holy grail MAC Studio Fix Plus Powder Foundation, but it does have potential to be a purse staple for blotting throughout the day. £1? You can't beat it guys. 

(left to right) 'Coral Rose', 'Candyfloss' & 'Spice'.

Feeling Blush Blusher, £1

Okay I'm gonna try and not get too emotional about these because I have actually fallen in love. They have the perfect amount of pigmentation that gives you such a natural glow and they come in four very complimentary shades. They all have a matte finish apart from 'Coral Rose', which has a very subtle frost one when swatched. Guys, these blushes aren't quite as pigmented as your standard MAC blush but are actually a very similar finish to the Benefit Box Blushes- possibly a dupe? They are only 1 squid, you have nothing to loose in the hope of rosey cheeks and a natural glow. If you are going to try at least one of the products then I would say it has to be these!

Never-Ending Story Lengthening Mascara, £1
I read online that at the Poundland Make-up Gallery Launch, they claimed to have designed this cosmetic range in order for it to exceed and compete with other affordable drugstore brands such as Maybelline and Rimmel, however this mascara has left them completely defeated. Okay, so yes it's a £1 and you can actually tell this from using the product. With a standard fibre mascara wand, this product exceeds it potential in packaging but it's downfall is the formula. When first opening this product it was about as dry as a nun's vagina. I dipped and shaked in the hope of finding more product- nothing. Upon application my lashes were left limp and lifeless- yes lifeless. Such a shame because the packaging is fab but definitely a miss on this product!

These are only a few of many products in this range and with the exception of one mishap, overall I'm sending you all some positive feedback. I'm actually quite late on the band wagon for this, but as always, I wanted to give you guys my true opinions after actually using the products for a while. I just think that these are definitely worth a try and for only a £1, come on guys?

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