CROCHET PROJECT / WEEK ONE

Most posts you'll see on Olivia Rose's are all beauty based but this is about to change. More lifestyle posts will come along with my crochet project! I learnt how to crochet last year and I really want to get back into it now that winter is round the corner. This is just an introductory post to my project but there are many more posts to come regarding my crochet journey, including patterns, creations, inspirations and much more! Seeing as I do only post twice a week at the moment, these sorts of posts may be popping up on your feed around every fortnight or so.

 

I know crochet isn't for everyone but I really hope you enjoy these posts!

Thanks for reading,

Olivia

MAC CENTRIC BASE

Sorting through my make up collection on the weekend got me thinking about not only the products I use most regularly but also the brands. I've found that I have a lot of MAC stuff - particularly base products - I think it's because its not too expensive. Don't get me wrong I always have to justify splurging £20 on a foundation from MAC but it's nowhere near spending £30+ on one from brands such as Nars or Illamasqua. I thought I would just put together a little post to show you some of my fave face products from MAC.

As far as primers go it has to be Strobe Cream (£24.50), it packs a punch and will leave your face hydrated and glowy. I particularly like this in the winter months as I feel my skin gets a little drier so this nifty little product helps to instantly perk it up, no matter what foundation I put over the top. You can also mix this in with your foundation or use it post- foundation by dabbing it on the high points of your face. Another quite glowy product is the famous Face and Body Foundation (£22). This particular one took me a while to get used to as it has such an odd consistency! I've resorted to putting it on with a damp beauty sponge as I feel on my skin I get the best finish, but please do let me know how you guys apply it! I tend to use this foundation for events when I know there will be flash photography as it has no SPF so you won't get the dreaded flash back! A thing to watch out for with this foundation is that it is very dark - I have the lightests one yet I can only really pull it off after bathing in self tan. Pro Longwear Concealer (£17.50) is very much a cult product in the beauty world. It gives a great coverage and it is amazing for highlighting under the eyes if you get a few shades lighter. You also get tons of product with this one - always a bonus! Talking about highlighting under the eyes, I recently purchased the Shaping Powder in Emphasise (£16) which I use very sparingly under my eyes to brighten them. It's got a tiny bit of shimmer so you do sometimes have to use a light hand. It's also great for highlighting other areas of the face and as an eyeshadow. The Studio Fix Powder(£22) is hands down the best setting powder for your foundation!! I use it every day (I've even hit pan..) and can't imagine using anything else. I personally don't think it adds that much coverage but rather just helps to smooth everything over. Last but not least, Lightscapade Mineralise Skin Finish (£24) is one of the first high end products I ever bought! About 2 years on and I'm still loving it. I like to use it with Mary Loumanizer from The Balm to get my highlight poppin. However, it can be used on its own for a slight glow from within.

What are your favourite products from MAC?

 

Olivia

SKIN PREP: NIGHT OUT/EVENT/PARTY

It's that time of year again!

 

As we are moving into the Christmas season (I've already got my advent calendar..) I've got a few events lined up for this month and the next so I thought I would show you how I prep my skin before getting my cake on.

 

First up is my moisturiser which is the Garnier Essentials Hydrating Day Care (£4.39). I use this everyday and find it sinks into my skin really nicely whilst still hydrating my skin. If my skin is feeling a little dry I may use the Origins Drink Up Overnight Mask(£23) (not pictured) the night before. I then go in with the Nivea For Men After Shave Balm (£5.35) as a primer. NikkieTutorials raves about this all the time as it has glycerine as the main ingredient which makes make up stick to it. Around my eyes I go in with a mini sample of the Origins GinZing Eye Cream (£20) which is really hydrating and refreshing. I find this helps under eyes from looking dry when I apply my concealer. To give my skin a dewy look I put MAC Strobe Cream (£24.50) on the highest points of my face including my cheekbones, centre of the forehead and the bridge of my nose. This just helps to give that glow from within look and prevents my skin from looking too matte/flat. The Benefit Porefessional (£24.50) is great for applying to the t-zone and under the eyes as it helps to smooth out by problem areas whilst preventing my concealer from creasing. I'm not sure if it aids the longevity of my make up as I'm still trialling it!

 

Have you tried any of these products? What is your #1 product for prepping the skin?

 

Thanks for reading,

Liv

ORIGINS MASK MARVELS GIFT SET

The Origins Mask Marvels Set (£30) is a great Christmas present for anyone and everyone (including yourself). The gift set contains Clear Improvement Active charcoal mask, Out of Trouble 10 minute mask, Ginzing  Refreshing face mask, Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask.

There is a great range of products in the set so it really caters for everyone, from those with dull and dry skin to those that lie on the oiler side of the spectrum. I personally have been enjoying using all of the masks despite my very dry skin! A gift set containing mini products also gives a great opportunity to try out a bunch of new products without burning a hole in your pocket. With all of the masks, a little goes a very long way so you really are getting your money's worth with these bad boys! My personal favourites so far include the Clear Improvements Active Charcoal mask and the Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask.

The set costs £30 which works out at £7.50 per mini mask (which contains 50ml) saving you £16 if you were to buy the mini masks separately. I'd pick one up quickly though as I can imagine they will be very popular!

Thanks for reading,

Liv

SLEEK BIRTHDAY SUIT MATTE ME LIP CREAM

 

SLEEK BIRTHDAY SUIT MATTE ME LIP CREAM - £4.99

 

After browsing (more like stalking - I was about 9 weeks deep) Kylie Jenner's instagram I knew I needed some sort of matte, nude liquid lipstick. I didn't want to get Soar or Whirl from MAC as I wasn't sure how they would look on my awfully pale skin (I currently resemble the ghost emoji) so whilst I was in Boots one day I stumbled across this beauty. The Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream in Birthday Suit is a beautiful nudey pink shade that comes in under a fiver - bargain!! The texture of this lip cream is great and it doesn't go patchy when layering it up. It is a little drying on the lips but that's easily solved with a bit o' balm underneath. I particularly like wearing this on a night out as it doesn't require any top ups and it holds up even after a few drinks (even if you don't... ;)). Sleek have 5 other shades of this formula which I shall definitely be having a look at next time I'm in Boots. I have spied a beautiful a beautiful purple which would be great for this time of year!

 

Thanks for reading,

Liv

 

BIRTHDAY BITS

 

Hello again,

 

I turned 18 in September and my lovely friends (and boyfriend!) got me a few make up bits as a prezzie! I am in love with all of the items I received so I thought I would share them with you all. I've also had a good month to trial most of these products so I'm pretty certain on my opinion on them.

 

First up is Mary Loumanizer from TheBalm and oh my gosh NikkieTutorials was so right about this highlighter being all kinds of beautiful. I was a tiny bit sceptical about the warm undertone it has due to the golden shimmer running through it but it actually really compliments my skin tone and looks great over bronzer too! It also works great as an eye shadow - for a really quick and simple eye look I have been blending this on my lid and the inner corner to really brighten up my eyes and make me look more awake. My friends also got me the Bobbi Brown Bronzer which is equally as beautiful as Mary Lou. Its just the right shade - not too orange but not too muddy! Its also very pigmented meaning you only need a light hand to become a bronzed goddess. A new concealer has been on my wishlist for a long time and the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer really is amazing. The shade, coverage and finish are all perfect. Its a pretty full coverage concealer and it doesn't seem to crease too much on me either! I especially love the applicator on this concealer as its a really interesting take on the doe foot applicator on most other concealers. I have also been using the Benefit Porefessional Primer under my foundation to even out the texture of my skin. It certainly makes my pores look smaller but I'm not convinced it makes my make up last longer. Last but not least is one of the most IG famous brow products, Dip Brow Pomade from Anastasia Beverly Hills. This is a lovely product as its pigmented but not too dark as although I love my Illamasqua Thunder Brow Cake its just a little too dark for everyday. The Dip Brow is quite easy to use once you get the hang of it but my main tip would be to take off the excess on the back of your hand!

 

I hope you're all having a lovely day.. and if you're not remember its Friday tomorrow!

 

Liv

HALLOWEEN

 

Hey guys!

I know Halloween is over now but I just thought I would share with you my last minute Halloween costume that I wore to a house party on Saturday night. If you couldn't tell already, I went as a clown! I got the inspiration from one of Chrisspy's latest videos and I was very pleased with how it turned out.

 

I hope you all had a safe and fun Halloween... we can now start looking forward to Christmas!! (too soon?)

 

Liv