Products I Cannot Live Without

Makeup is Transformative

It can completely change your outlook on life, give you more confidence or just be some fun.

Whether you feel as though you need to make up or whether you just like the way it makes up feel put together, makeup can be part of any women's life routine.

For me, I have my whole face down to around 15 minutes, which I think is pretty impressive seeing as I do the works (foundation,blush,eyeliner).

Today I thought I'd put together some recommendations into what are some of my ride or die products.

The way I choose these products is by looking at what I picked up the most in the last year (so this rules out any products I have gotten recently, even if I am in LOVE with them) and that I have repeatedly purchased.

There is also a mixture of high end and drug store purchases, so let's get this started.

Face

Primer:
She Pure, Magic Primer
I grabbed this on a shopping session with my friend Jess who recommended this to me. She said it was just like the Benefit Porefessional Primer which I love but find it extremely priced for what it is. She was so totally right this primer has the exact same consistency and look as the Benefit one, as well as keeps my makeup on my face the whole day and smoothes out any imperfections on my skin. Overall pretty great product for the $11.89 is costs from LoveMyMakeUp.

Foundation:

Rimmel London, Match Perfection

I love this foundation, its the perfect consistency, goes on easily and last all day. I had been using an another Rimmel foundation when a friend recommended this one to me, saying that it was a dupe for Estee Lauders Double Wear which I loved but its a little on the pricier side, as well as I, found mine oxidised quite quickly, making me orange. On the plus side, the foundation also has SPF 18 and is mattifying without the dullness.  It doesn't cost a pretty penny either, retailing for between $15-22. I'll definitely be picking up another bottle when this one runs out!

Concealer: 

Collection, Lasting Perfection Ultimate

Wear Concealer

Believe it or not, I picked up this concealer without knowing how amazing it was. Late 2014 I needed a concealer and was walking through the supermarket when I spotted the collection stand on sale and grabbed one. Little did I know how incredible this concealer was. It's creamy, blendable and comes in a huge range of shades. I use the colour fair as its just a tad lighter than my skin tone and is perfect for highlighting under my eyes. This is also a personal favourite of Youtuber Zoella, so score! It's also another steal at $14.99. This is my third repurchase of this concealer and I'll be back for more.

Powder: 

Rimmel London, Stay Matte Long Lasting Transparent Pressed Powder

Another Rimmel product (this may be a reacquiring theme in this post), this powder is great because it's one the only matte powders that I've tried that doesn't make me look cakey or cling to any dry spots on my face. It also lasts for ages and is transparent so it sits really well on top of your foundation. Retailing for around $16.50.

Blusher:

ELF Baked Blush in Peachy Keen

This blush is the perfect light pink colour to wash over your cheeks. It gives you a nice flush of colour with a little bit of shimmer, but not like you threw glitter on your face. The fact that the blush is baked and is marbled in with a little bit of bronzer means in goes on the face easily and can be blended easily as well, making it completely flawless. I love ELF products in general because of how well they are made and how affordable they are. this blush retails for around $10.

Bronzer: 

Bourjois Paris, Bronzing Powder

I had heard so much about this bronzer that I knew I had to try it. Not only does it smell deliciously like chocolate and is packaged so cutely but it is actually amazing. It's the perfect shade for contouring as it is matte, not too dark and is again really blendable  (couldn't use that word any more if I tried) I can't say anything bad about this product and now that I've hit pan, I definitely need to repurchase and its only around $18 from ASOS

Highlighter: 

Mac, Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle

The first of the "high end" products in this list. Another product I had heard so much about and knew I had to try. Though I did umm and ahh about it for so long because of the price but I finally caved and I'm so glad I did! This gorgeous champagne is just the right amount of shimmer for a subtle highlight. I have been complimented multiple times on how good my highlighter looks when I'm wearing this. So I guess it was a good purchase then. This product is sold for $65 (I think)

       
Setting Spray:
LA Girl, PRO Setting Spray
I have gone through way to many bottles of this stuff, it is literally the best. I cannot say enough about how much I love the brand LA Girl in general but this spray takes the cake. It keeps my makeup looking flawless all day while also keeping it almost on the edge of dewy and matte (I'm not a fan of overly matte or dewy finishes). It last ages and actually works, so for the $11.99 or so it cost from LoveMyMakeUp it's definitely worth being added to your shopping list.



Eyes

                 Eyebrows: 

Rimmel London, Professional Eyebrow Pencil 

I am so in love with this eyebrow pencil and I have tried so many eyebrow pencils, let me tell you. But this one takes the cake for me, it comes in a dark enough shade for my brows, has almost a wax consistency so it easy to shade in your brows and lasts forever. I don't really have anything else to say about it because it's just that good. It's also another affordable product retailing between $9-13.

Eye Shadow: 

Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette in Soul

The second high-end product in this post, the last as well. I got this palette while I was away in Wellington with money I got as an early birthday present and I do not regret this purchase for a minute.  All the colours are amazing and so pigmented. I'm a girl who loves her browns and gold which is palette provide generously in 12 beautiful colours. My favourites being the well known Kitten (a shimmery champagne) and Character ( a dark brown speckled with gold). For the price $78 that's around $6.50 per eyeshadow, so really it totally worth it. Also, the packaging is gorgeous.

Eye Liner: 
NYX, Gel Liner and Smudger in Jet Black

I'm new to the whole gel liner thing but I have to say I'm loving the effect. It gives a sleek and neat looking, giving me a nice line that enhances my eyes. I still haven't mastered the cat eye with it but otherwise I love it and the staying power is amazing. Give it a go yourself for around $22.

Mascara: 
Rimmel London, Extra 3D Lash in Extreme Black

I got this mascara free with a gift set from Rimmel, you know the one get after a spending a certain amount. Normally these products aren't always the best right? But holy crap this stuff is amazing. it lengthens and separates my lashes like no other mascara I have. It reminds me of Benefit They're Real but this stuff is a whole lot cheaper, retailing around $15-18.

Lips

I couldn't choose just one lip colour and don't branch out a lot in terms of matte or glossy so I choose one gloss and one lipstick.

LA Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss in Fleur

I love these matte glosses so much, I own way too many of them. They stay on forever, aren't too drying and are super pigmented. I would recommend any colour from the collection but for me personally I love Fleur. To me it's the perfect near nude shade. Like it's not completely a nude shade that its blends with my skin tone but because it has undertones of brown or pink it give its this perfect colour. I like to refer to it as my Hollywood Bombshell lip colour as it reminds me of something Marylin Monroe or Lauren Bacall would wear as it's not completely nude but it's not red. It's indescribable. Also super affordable at $9.09 from LoveMyMakeUp so got get you some!

Rimmel London, Lasting Finish By Kate Moss in 107

Yet another Zoella referral (I'm a little obsessed) . I would watch so many of videos and wonder about the amazing lipstick she was wearing so I trawled through her old blog posts till I found one on lipsticks in which she mentioned this one. Rimmel 107 is the perfect mixture of red, burgundy and purple. It's another matte one that has amazing staying power and is a perfect winter lip if ever I saw one. Another bargain as well between $10.50-$16.

Okay, so there it is, my recommendation of products I just cannot live without and will always need in my life. 

I hope you might have discovered something you haven't tried before or that this post has triggered a memory of a product hidden away in your makeup collection that you must try again.

What are your Ride or Die products? Let me know in the comments bellow

Love Louise xo

"If your feeling low, don't despair. The sun has a sinking spell every night, But it comes back up every morning."

Dolly Parton