July Favourites / Makeup Routine

Bonjour, lovelies!

It’s that time of the month… again. So here we go with my favourite products of July!

This month I decided to present them in the order that I do my makeup, and in the end, I’ve also got some non-makeup products that I’ve been loving.

This is my finished look using all or most of the products featured in this post.

Skin Preparation

First off, clean and scrub your face to remove all the dirt and residues and then put the moisture back on your face with a moisturiser.

1. Soap & Glory Scrub Your Nose In It

My first Soap & Glory purchase and I absolutely love it. Even though it clearly tells you to “scrub your nose in it”, I use it on my entire face. The description of the product says that it helps refine large pores and prevent blemishes, which it does brilliantly! It also tells you to leave it for 3 minutes longer on your skin to get an oil-absorbing, brightening, pore cleaning mask. If you want a clean and purified skin, I definitely recommend this!

2. Clarins HydraQuench Cream Normal to Dry Skin

I decided to include this in my July favourites because I still haven’t done a proper review on this product, although I’ve been using this moisturiser for about a year now. It is very gentle on the skin and it doesn’t make my face look greasy or sticky, and it also absorbs pretty quickly. Definitely a 5 stars moisturiser for me!

Foundation, Concealer and Powder

Use foundation or tinted moisturiser to even up your skin, followed by concealer on any dark circles under your eyes and blemishes. To finish it off, apply pressed powder or translucent powder to remove the extra shine, especially on the T zone, and to mattify your skin.

1. Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation n. 53

I have done an in depth review of this foundation, so if you want to know what I think about it, CLICK HERE to read my review.

2. Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer n. 53

This concealer was also present on my June Favourites post, and my views about it remain the same. Best concealer I’ve ever used!

3. Makeup Academy Pressed Powder Shade 2

A very light powder that does the job and won’t hurt your bank account balance. :)

Blush and Brush

Add a healthy glow to your face by applying a blush on the apples of your cheeks. If you want, apply some bronzer on the hollows of your cheeks to contour and create some definition.

1. MAC Sheertone Blush in Peaches

An all time favourite of mine that I’ve been revisiting lately and loving it, especially since it’s summer and  peachy tones go well on me when I’m tanned.

2. No.7 Powder Blush Brush

This brush is great for applying blush, bronzer or powder. It is soft and slightly tapered and I recommend this 100%. It’s not just a great budget option, it is an amazing brush even compared to the more expensive brands such as MAC.

Illuminator and Eyeshadows

Apply illuminator on the top of your cheeks, blending it upwards towards your hairline and this will catch the light brilliantly! Next, apply eyeshadows on your eyelids and play around with colours as you wish. Make sure to blend everything very well so there are no harsh lines showing!

1. ELF All Over Color Stick in Golden Peach

Lovely peachy colour illuminator than can be used on the eyes, lips and cheeks. My favourite use for this is on my cheeks because it gives me an amazing glow, yet still subtle and appropriate for my skin colour.

2. MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe

The colour payoff on this eyeshadow is amazing, as most of MAC eyeshadows are. You can pretty much change your makeup from day to night with just this eyeshadow and if I had to choose only one eyeshadow to take with me, this would be the one!

3. MAC Quad Eyeshadows in Kid, Naked Lunch, Ricepaper and Charcoal Brown

I call this my “neutral palette” and I can use all of these colours together, combined or on their own.

4. Barry M Dazzle Dust Shade 39

I love this pigment, especially if I want to add just a touch of sparkle! The colour is so pretty and I’m definitely going back to buy some more of these Dazzle Dusts.

Eyeliner and Mascara

To define your eyes, line them with pencil, liquid or gel eyeliner and then apply mascara on top and bottom lashes to finish off the eyes.

1. Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer Shade Aqua Sparkle

This baby has the most amazing aqua colour I’ve ever seen! I’ve been getting so many compliments whenever I wear this and it doesn’t smudge at all. It goes really well with brown eyes and it has definitely earned a spot in my makeup bag.

2. Maybelline The Falsies Volum’ Express Waterproof Mascara in Black

One word define this mascara: UNBELIEVABLE! No clumps, long and volumised eyelashes. What more can I ask for?! Stay tunned for an in depth review.

Lip Products

Last but not least, apply a lip balm, lip stick or lip gloss on your luscious lips!

1. Fanta Lip Smacker

The child inside me begged to include this lip balm in my favourites, so I obliged her. A little Primark find that I cannot stop using, either because of the amazing taste or because it’s just so much fun to have a mini-Fanta tube in my handbag! I can’t really say much about the quality, but for a lip balm, it does the job and it’s adorable.

2. ELF Lip Stain in First Date

Bright lips were never my “thing”, but since I’ve started blogging and experimenting with different products, I’ve been in the mood to break my boundaries and try things I wouldn’t normally try, and this lip stain is one of these “I’ll give it a go” products. Turns out that I really love this bright pink colour and I’ve been wearing it for a pop of colour with neutral eye makeup and basic clothes. Love this and definitely recommend it!

Nail Varnish

1. ELF Nail Polish in Passion Pink

I’ve only used this once, but I was impressed with the pretty bright pink with golden shimmer colour that this turned out to be! I can feel a NOTD post coming up featuring Passion Pink. :)

Hair Product

1. INDOLA Innova Shine Spray Finish

I was kindly sent this product by the guys at Immediate PR to participate in a challenge set by INDOLA. I had to recreate a hairstyle from their look book, and I can’t tell you how much I’m in love with this shine spray. You use this on your hair after you finish styling it to make it look shiny and glossy, and OMG, this passes the test with flying colours!

That’s it, guys! I hope you all liked it and found it somewhat useful. Leave me a comment below with your thoughts and views :)