Tuesday 28 May 2013

Get ready with me: spring day out♡ |Handpicked Beauty





Hey everyone,

 I filmed a quick video of me getting ready for a picnic with some friends, as it was such a beautiful day and this has been requested a lot! I've used drugstore products and it is a really natural and easy look :)
All the products I have used are linked in the information box, as well as my brother's music which he let me use in the video. I might get him to do the sibling tag with me... ;)

Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xxx


PS: everyone go enter this amazing giveaway! 

Monday 27 May 2013

Rose gold prom makeup |Handpicked Beauty



Hey everyone,
So I'm not going to prom this year, as in my school you only have one prom which is when you have finished school, and obviously I haven't yet, but i thought it would be fun to show you how I woulkd do my makeup if I was going to prom!
Also, I kind of forgot to use mascara in this tutorial as I don't use it each day but feel free to add that on to this look.
I have used soft pinks and golds because I think they are classy and pretty, as as well as being quite natural for prom. 






Products used:
Nearly Naked foundation
Rimmel Clear Complexion face powder
No.7 blush in Coral Flush
Rimmel Blush in Bronze
Maybelline Rose Gold colour tattoo eyeshadow
H&M brow pencil
Mua eyeshadow palette in Undress me too
Beauty UK eyeliner
                                                   Rimmel Apocalips in Celestial




Hope you liked this look everyone, let me know if you try it out! Are you going to prom this year? 

Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xxx


Sunday 26 May 2013

Sleek palette giveaway winner! |Handpicked Beauty

Hey everyone,

I am so excited to announce the winner of my sleek palette giveaway. For my first giveaway, I was so happy that there was over 1000 entries! I am definitely going to be doing more giveaways for you so if you didn't win don't worry :)




I have kept the Sleek Palette in a draw in my room and the temptation to stop the giveaway and have it myself has been intense...but don't worry I haven't touched it since I have taken the photos of it.
So the winner is....*drumroll*......Alessandra from Cakes, Cupcakes and Cosmetics.  Congratulations Alessandra; she has an amazing blog so definitely go check it out!

Thanks so much for entering everyone, love you all to pieces :) And happy birthday to my big brother Rob who is 19 today! :D

Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xxx

Monday 20 May 2013

Multi-tasking Monday:lipstick as blusher |Handpicked Beauty

Hey everyone,

As you all know, I am a devout believer in multi tasking products, as it undoubtedly saves money as well as time! Makeup is expensive, so whenever I find a way to use the same product instead of separate ones in my routine, I jump at the chance.

Recently I have been using lipstick as blusher, which sounds pretty weird ! However if you like cream blushes, lipsticks give the same creamy, dewy effect and they are easy to blend and use. It also looks more natural when your lips and cheeks have the same pretty tint! 



1.Use the lipstick on your lips however you want. I usually just dab it on a little for a more subtle effect, but this also works when you want to rock a full on statement lip.


2/3.  Draw some dots on your cheeks using the lipstick, in a place where you want to have a pretty blush. Don't worry if you put too much on, I either apply a little cream foundation over it to even it out or just wipe a little off using a makeup wipe.


4. Blend the dots of lipstick out using slightly warm fingertips and you have a soft rosy glow which deceivingly says you have been out in the garden :)


I love this method of creating a lovely soft glow on my cheeks, as it is super easy and affordable. Also if I have splashed out on an expensive lipstick I want to be able to use it several times! I have even been known to use shimmery lipsticks on my eyelids.

Hope you enjoyed this everyone, and if you want me to make 'multi tasking monday' a regular segment let me know!
Have you tried this?

Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xxx

Friday 17 May 2013

Maybelline the Rocket Volum' express mascara ♡ |Handpicked Beauty

Hey everyone!
So lately I have been trying out a new mascara from Maybelline called The Rocket Volum' Express.
 I have never tried a Maybelline mascara and I have heard mixed reviews so I was eager to try one out for myself!
I think mascara is an amazing way to open up your eyes, so I get so excited over buying them. :D

When I was choosing which to get, I was drawn to this one because of its bright packaging and the mascara wand was out on display which I always like as you can have a proper idea of what the product will be like.
The packaging I really like, the blue and pink stands out in my makeup drawer and I generally think it looks cool and bright! The only downside is that I keep all my mascaras standing up in a jar and it doesn't fit because the shape is a little weird.

The wand is pink (although you never see it obviously) and it is rather large. It is EXTREMELY volumising! This can be really great, but it can also be quite annoying especially if you are looking for a natural eye look. I usually just tickle my lashes with the edge of the wand to avoid too much volume for school. It says "Too fast for clumps" and it does apply very quickly. You blink and you suddenly have really long lashes! However as I mentioned in my April Favourites Video, it can get quite clumpy so I don't think that statement is true. If you are someone with very short eyelashes you would love this product!
The wand has lots of little tiny branches coming off it, and I find that these can prickle my eye when I am applying it. Does anyone else have this problem?
This mascara is so long lasting; I apply it at 7 o clock and it still looks just as nice at 10!
With the mascara

With no mascara










Overall I really like this mascara, as it can be super volumising or you can adapt the way you apply it for a more subtle look.

Hope you liked this review everyone, and don't forget my giveaway finishes on the 26th May! I can't wait to find out the winner :D

Have you tried any Maybelline mascaras?

Lots of love,
Emma-Kate xxx











Saturday 11 May 2013

Natural Skincare products for blemished/oily skin ♡ | handpickedbeauty

Hey everyone,

A few weeks ago, I was very kindly sent some products from Nelsons to review. I was definitely not expecting such amazing generosity so thankyou so much Nelsons! All of their products are packed full of beneficial ingredients to help blemished skin, so I have loved trying them all out.
This is the first post I've done about products I have been sent, but I am under no obligation to write a positive review, and I am only ever honest with you guys and I wouldn't say I love a product if I don't. :~)
Something I was extremely excited to try was their Balancing moisturiser. Formulated to help with blemishes, full of natural extracts and no bad ingredients, this is the perfect moisturiser for anyone suffering with skin problems. My skin can get quite oily especially as it is getting warmer so an oil free moisturiser is the way to go, as it isn't clogged up any pores! This is really smooth, and sinks into the skin straight away, leaving your skin soft and hydrated. It does leave your skin feeling a little tight but that feeling soon wears off. I would really recommend this!


Another thing they kindly sent me was the Bach Rescue Cream, for dry, rough or sensitive skin. Honestly, at first I thought I would never use this as it isn't the sort of product I would usually reach for. However, the winter has left parts of my skin feeling dry and irritated, so I decided to try this on the sides of my nose and on my heels after exfoliating them. I put fluffy socks on my feet, and when I woke up almost all the dryness on my face had faded and was smooth, and my feet were really soft. This claims to care for 24 hours and I agree with that, as it really is a heavy duty moisturiser! I have being using this all the time, and I think it is perfect for winter when your skin is feeling rough and dry. 




Another product I tried was the Purifying Daily Facial Wash. This also is anti-blemish care, and I was super excited to try this as I have never tried anything with seaweed in before! I have heard lot sof things about the benefits of seaweed for blemished/oily skin so I was very excited to use this. The consistency is very thin which surprised me, but it means it is so easy to get into all the nooks and crannies of your face and clean everything out. The smell is quite strong; it smells like a mixture of tea tree and the ocean. I personally quite like this but I know some people don't so it's worth mentioning. The smell doesn't linger after you have applied it though so don'y worry! This is a lovely product to use and it is full of beneficial ingredients too.


I also have been using the Pure and Clear Blemish gel. This is packed full of tea tree which is amazing for helping blemishes to heal, however the smell is very very intense. Again, it doesn't linger and I don't mind it but it could be a factor if you don't like tea tree! This works really nicely, and it was the perfect time to receive this as my skin has been breaking out lately! It dries very quickly, but it definitely reduces redness and helps to kill all the bacteria which are hiding in blemishes. I'd really recommend this, as it does the job! :D










Last but not least, I tried the Pure and Clear Facial Wipes. I'm not one for using facial wipes normally, however I am really enjoying these! They don't rub and tug on your skin as some wipes do, and as well as removing makeup they are full of lovely ingredients so they are also cleaning your skin really nicely. They remove waterproof mascara and eyeliner, so sometimes if I smudge my makeup application these are great to quickly rectify the problem. These are ideal for using before the facial wash, and I would recommend purchasing this if you like to remove your makeup quickly and efficiently. If you are wearing loads of makeup, something like Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish would be more ideal, but if you only wear a small amount these are great for getting it all off.


Hope this review was helpful :)

Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xxxxx







Wednesday 8 May 2013

The Versatile Blogger Award♡


Hey everyone!
So Katie and Mattie both nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award! Thanks so much you two, and sorry it's taken me a while to actually do the post :) Everyone go have a look at their blogs; they are both so inspiring to my own blog and have great posts!
Anyway, onto the actual award...
The Rules:

-Thank the person who nominated you
-Include a link to their blog
-Select 15 new bloggers you'd like to nominate.
-Leave a link to their pages, and comment on their latest post to let them know you've nominated them.
-Finally tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

My 7 Facts:


- I was bald until the age of 2. I wish I was joking! The photos of me as a baby are actually hilarious ;)

- I have had ice skating lessons since I was little and I LOVE them! And also I have been playing the violin for 6 years!

-I make cards and sell them for £1 to friends and family, it's just a hobby and I love doing it! They aren't very good but they're fun to make and I am trying to save up money

-I once cracked my chin open from jumping in the swimming pool and missing! 

-I've been to Egypt twice, and I would love to again but I can't as it is too hot and I burn to a crisp

- I am a neat freak. It can be really good as my room is spotless, but can also be bad especially when my friends are sleeping over and I find myself having to get up as I can't cope with having their mess on my floor ;) 

-I have an enormous phobia of wasps, which is quite a sensitive issue with me as it has affected by life in so many ways and I am in the process of trying to get rid of it


I Tag:    

http://firsttherewasfashion.blogspot.co.uk

http://littlerdbw.blogspot.co.uk

http://funsizebeauty.blogspot.ca


Hope you enjoyed this post everyone :) 

Lots of love
Emma-Kate
xxx

Sunday 5 May 2013

April Favourites!♡



Hey everyone,


Hope you all had an amazing april! (alliteration right thereee ;)) I loved April and I have loved some products too throughout the month so I thought I'd show you! :) It was requested by a lot of people on my Sleek Giveaway.
Sorry this has taken so long to go up, I experienced basically  every possible problem when uploading it-7 hours of uploading to have no sound. So sorry about that but I figured it was better late then never. Let me know if you like the video, and I love getting requests as it means I know what videos to do next!
Also 100 followers......thankyou so much!

Lots of love,

Emma-Kate xxx


Thursday 2 May 2013

Drugstore Skincare demo video!

Hey everyone,
So there are some drugstore skincare products I love and use a lot so I thought I would quickly show you guys! They are different to the ones I spoke about yesterday. I filmed this a while ago but I still love the products :)

This is filmed on my Apple iMac not my camera, so let me know about the quality and sorry it's a bit dark! 

Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xxx



Wednesday 1 May 2013

My Favourite Drugstore Skincare Products!


Hey everyone, 
Today I thought I'd show you some of my favourite drugstore skincare products, which are super affordable yet leave my skin feeling clean and happy! The ones I have reviewed are linked in their name :) 

Olay Gentle cleansing milk: This cleanser is super gentle so is perfect for sensitive skin, it removes mascara and foundation really well. It's never broken me out and is great if your skin is dehydrated or blemished as it's so soothing! I use this and then use a toner to remove all the excess. 
(The one I have linked has different packaging but is more or less the same product)
Price: £2.24

Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser: As I have raved about before, this moisturiser is great for oily skins as it moisturisers without creating any excess sebum which can clog your pores. It's a perfect base for makeup, and they also have a dry skin version which I use in Winter or if my skin is dehydrated :)
Price:£3.79

Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Facial Scrub: This face exfoliater gently removes dead skin cells and unclogs pores, without drying the skin out and over-exfoliating it. The fresh grapefruit scent helps to wake me up in the morning, and this brightens my complexion amazingly well!
Price:£4.49

Clean and Clear fast action spot clearing gel: This spot remover is a gem! I use it every time I get a blemish before bed and in the morning the redness has died down significantly and the spot isn't so puffy. I then use it until it goes completely (about 2 days). This works amazingly and I would really recommend it!
Price: Couldn't find the exact price but I'm pretty sure it's around £4

Bodyshop Night and Day moisturiser: I won't go into too much detail as I already have reviewed these moisturisers, but they are both so hydrating and amazing! They leave my skin so soft and smooth...ahhh :)
Price: £10 and £11

Clean and Clear blackhead removing facial scrub: I've used this facial scrub for a few years now, and I must be on my 6th tube or something crazy! If you suffer from clogged pores and blackheads, I would definitely recommend it as it gently removes dirt, dead skin and excess oil which has been on your face all day. It removes every trace of dirt from the skin and also brightens the complexion! The little micro beads unclog the pores and after a few days use, the majority of my blackheads are gone or at least greatly reduced. I can't rave about this enough, it is AMAZING! 
Price: £3.99

Simple Kind to skin soothing facial toner: I have used this toner before and I recently repurchased it and I was so impressed with it. It tightens the pores, removes any last traces of makeup and cleans the skin so nicely. It isn't too harsh as some toners unfortunately are, and it doesn't sting or irritate the skin in any way. I love the fact it doesn't sting the eyes as it means it is perfect to use to remove stubborn mascara!
Price: £2.99

Hope you liked this post! and don't forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't already!

Lots of love,
Emma-Kate
xx