How I Photograph And Edit My Blog Photos

(The Difference After Each Photo has been edited is crazy!) 

I always get lots of emails, and comments asking about my photos so I thought that I would write a post entailing my photos and hopefully help some of you or give you some inspiration!

So after planning out my posts for the week (sometimes the month) ahead, on the weekend I will begin to set up my lights and backgrounds. I have three studio lights (which I purchased here) which were an expensive purchase however ever since I bought these I feel like my photos have improved tremendously! They were such a good purchase, and in the future I will be looking at buying more! i love them! I will then lay out my white cloth background on the floor, with a white acrylic card to make sure the background is completely white and increase the reflections. From there I begin to take out all the items that I'm going to photograph and lay them out into piles. I take out my photo book which is pictured above, and in that book I have magazine pages that I have ripped out, and that way when I'm going to take a photo I can select a background really easily. Whenever my mum has read elle magazine, I will go through and rip out all the pretty pages and put it in my book! (Which is slightly overflowing now!) From then I just place the chosen page on the acrylic, and place the items across the page. I take about 50 photos for each item that I'm looking to take. After I have taken all of the photos for the posts, I will upload them to my computer. Normally this process takes about 4-5 hours, so I do the rest of the work in the following days.

When I have some spare time on my hands, I will begin to go through all of the photos and immediately delete photos that I don't like, until I end up with a few for each post. I will then use the website fotor which is such a good website for editing. It's really easy to understand and operate, typically I will crop a photo and increase the exposure and saturation of photos. I highly highly recommend this website, for somebody with absolutely no editing experience it took me minutes to understand it! I edit all photos for each post and put them onto my post, and choose the best one or two! 

So thats my process, for my blog photos! I hope you were able to understand this, and found it useful!

If You Buy One Bronzer This Summer

So this is part of another series I'm starting called 'if you buy one thing this summer" and each category will have a specific product such as a contour, bronzer, foundation, etc. I hope you enjoy it!

I've had this bronzer for three years now, and previously I didn't like this at all. However, recently I've been wearing this a lot and I completely love it! Its quickly become my favourite bronzer, as with the likes of women across the nation. Its been voted the number one bronzer for a number of years now!
The brush it comes with allows you to apply a quick dusting of the bronzer across the face ever so easily and allows it to look ever so natural. I apply it across my hairline, cheekbones and a light dusting on the nose bronzes your complexion in such an effortless manner. However, I would recommend that your very light handed with this otherwise it can come across quite "muddy." It has a slight grey undertone so with a further righthand you are also able to contour with this (as it is a completely matte product) as long as you blend it very carefully to rectify any harsh lines. I do believe this is a versatile shade that can be used by any two extremes - light or dark complexions. The packaging is very compact, sturdy and despite it being thrown around in my bag its hasn't broken (yet!) and with a quick wipe down it looks brand new!

Have you tried this bronzer? Whats your go to summer bronzer?

Beauty Products Not Worth The Hype #2

I don't tend to write posts like this, because I find that my opinion on products changes fairly frequently because as my skills improve I find ways that make products better/easier to use and therefore my opinions change. I also find that as I grow older the 'look' I go for, the products that I lean for change too. But having accumulated my fair share of regretful products, I thought that I would write about them today!

The first product is the Nars Light Reflecting Setting Powder, which I bought in America two years ago. This powder is designed to mimic the appearance of somebody being in dim light in order to create a reflective touch to the skin - very similar to Hourglass. However, this powder is nothing more of a translucent setting powder with large specks of glitter. I used the powder a few times and was in shock to see that I hit pan despite never using it more than a dozen times! It did not increase the longevity of my makeup, and instead made me look slightly like a disco ball! The Laura Mercier Powder Foundation had been on my list for a very long time, and I was really lucky to have my sister buy it for me a few weeks back. The first thing I noticed was its lack of coverage despite building layers, it made my pores far more noticeable than usual and it also had large chunks of glitter that made my face look very very shiny (despite having dry skin!) The Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow Palette was one of the most 'splurgiest' items I own, and perhaps my biggest regret. The bronzer shade is far to muddy and glittery for use, and the highlighter shade is too gold for my pale skin. To me, it lacks longevity and pigment too so all in all it has become a product that remains unused in my draw and shall remain in my draws until I find somebody to pass it on to. (And when I can part with that gorgeous packaging!). The Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara  was a most definite blogger induced purchase. This mascara made my lashes very voluminous, long, but stick together and become very clumpy and flaky, and the latter immediately put me off. The final is the Nars Tinted Moisturiser - another blogger induced purchase. I found it to be very cakey and heavy on the skin. It didn't work with the oils on my nose, and the dry patches around my cheeks. Despite it being a tinted moisturiser it didn't look at all natural on my skin, and each day I tried it I couldn't wait to take it off. 

Those are my disappointing products but I'd love to hear about them in the comments! I'd also be very thankful if you could leave any requests for blog posts in the comments below! Also I'd really appreciate it if you guys could leave some high end beauty suggestions as to what I should buy in sephora, as Im travelling to America in two weeks and compiling my list right now! 

Drugstore Alternative #4 - Clinique Chubby Sticks

Its been quite the while since I've done a drugstore alternative post, and these comparative posts are some of my favourite to write, but super hard to find! 

I was going through my makeup collection a few days ago and realised how similar both these products are, the colours aren't complete matches but the formulas are very similar! The Clinique Chubby Stick is a lipstick in a crayon format, allowing the drawing and filling of the lips to be very precise and makes application far easier due to the shape of the tip. However, due to this it can be very time consuming and an even application is difficult which means feathering/bleeding is a common occurrence and can be very drying at times. Where as the baby lips are far more moisturising and leave a smooth and even application across the lips. They are also far easier to apply, but preciseness around the cupids bow can be difficult. There not as long lasting, so reapplication throughout the day is a need be! The pigmentation is much stronger and intense in the Clinique Chubby Sticks, and far more long lasting. The Maybelline Baby Lips are £2.99 and available here, although the pigmentation isn't quite as good, they are much cheaper and as long as you reapply throughout the day you'll be set!

Verdict: SAVE 

The Two Lightweight Foundations for Summer!

Summer is a season of sunkissed, dewy skin and lightweight formulas and these two fit the match perfectly. So since, the UK is reaching unbeliably summer temperature highs I thought that I would speak of the two foundations that are making an appearance in my make up routine.

The Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (4) is the newest addition to my ever growing collection. It's the most natural and versatile foundations I've tried. Its offers medium coverage that is easily buildable and easily sheered out. It applies so beautifully and is completely undetectable on the skin. It takes slightly longer to blend out due to the formula but nothing that a beauty blender or flat top kabuki cant take care off. It leaves a radiant satin texture on the skin, that feels silky soft. You can build up in areas where you want fuller coverage and completely sheer it out where you want little to no foundation. You cannot feel this at all despite its high coverage. Where as the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (10 Beige) has a far more liquid consistency and needs to be shaken well before use. It is far quicker to apply and offers light to medium coverage. It is easily blendable and feels completely weightless, and once again completely undectable - but is slightly more invisible than the Giorgio Foundation. It is strongly scented but not so that it causes irritation to the skin. Neither of which have caused breakouts or irritation to my skin, and both last throughout a 10 hour day, sweatproof and oil proof. These are my absolute favourite foundations, for days where I want to go more natrual and dewy I go for the CHANEL option and on days where I want a higher coverage with a satin finish I'll go for the Giorgio Armani option. Sadly, both of them are prett expensive but both only require a very small amount and have lasted me ages and provide such beautiful finishes and flawless skin that I feel like they are both worth the hefty price tag! 

I'd love to hear about your reccomdations for summer foundations/bases in the comments below! And I'd love to hear your suggestions and post requests! By the way my two friends are getting really close to hitting 1000 subscribers and I'd love if you guys could head over and subscribe to their wonderful beauty channel here.

My MAC Palette

 (Left to Right: Club, Tempting, Da Bling, Sweet Lust, Nylon, Amber Lights, Bronze, Antiqued, Sable, All That Glitters, Brown Down, Brown Script, Texture, Malt, Blanc Type) 

Ever since I became really interested in makeup, MAC was the brand that I was drawn to for quite the while and a completed MAC palette made an entrance to every wish list that I wrote, and every make up dream I had. Last Christmas I was lucky enough to receive the palette and a few shadows to go with it and a year later it was completed! Ive had the completed palette for six months now and it might just be the most 'prized possession' I own. (But frankly, that's most likely due to the sheer cost of this thing...)

I had five spaces left and I noticed I would either buy colours that were incredibly similar or go to buy shades I previously owned. I took my palette with me to MAC and spoke to one of the lovely ladies and explained that I had five spaces that I wanted to fill and I only wear neutral shades but wanted some shades slightly out of my comfort zone and unlike any others that I already owned. She helped me to pick shades that would suit my eye colour and that I wouldn't have chosen otherwise (such as Club, and Brown Script ) and they became some of the shades I wear most, so I would most definitely recommend taking your palette and asking for some advice.

My most used shades are Bronze which is a gorgeous deep brown with shimmer and undertones of bronze and gold, and club which is a green shimmer shade that has purple metallic undertones and looks different on all skin tones (and also looks AMAZING when used wet ) it's a shade that I would have normally steered far away from but is now my absolute favourite of the bunch and a firm recommendation! My other most used shades include, Sable, Texture, Brown Script and Brown Down. It is a super expensive palette to buy, however its something that proves to be really useful and used super often and if you're not sure about a twelve pan palette then a quad or a duo would be a great start! The quality and pigmentation is amazing and the lasting power is the best of the ones I've tried!

I hope I give you some inspiration as towards some shades and I would love to hear your recommendations in the comments below, as I am thinking of getting a quad next as theres a huge range of colours I'd love to try but I'm not quite sure about the commitment to a twelve pan palette and it's (lovely) price!

Three Inexpensive Skincare* Favourites for Summer

(These products have been sent to me, however all opinions expressed are genuine and products I would completely recommend and purchase myself!)

For me, skin care is my primary concern and I'm quite happy to spend more on skincare if I get the results, but this means that I never get to try skincare products from brands that are readily available at lower prices. But recently I have found three inexpensive products that are most definitely ones to call home about!

Recently, my skin has been breaking out super badly and I have tried so many products in order to try and banish my break outs but nothing has worked! Until now! Neutrogena Clear Spot Clearing Facial Wash* is the only product that I have tried that I notice an improvement within minutes! It reduces the appearance of blemishes, and manages to clear break outs within a day or two - far quicker than any other treatments I have tried. For me this has become an irreplaceable product that I shall continue to repurchase!

Normally, my skin is very dry but during summer my t-zone has a mind of its own and is super oily! I  prefer a dewy base during the summer months, but recently that has been out of the question. The Clean and Clear Advantage Oil Control Cream Wash* instantly mattifies skin, so I include this in my morning and evening skincare routine. This prolongs the wear of my makeup, and extends the amount of time in which I have to blot/powder. Definitely a recommendation during this season!

The final product that has made its way into my skincare routine, is the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control Wash*. It prevents and reduces breakouts and begins to work immediately. The clarity of my skin has improved drastically since using this product, and since then I haven't broken out at all! Its a gentle product that I would recommend to all skin types.

All of these products are inexpensive and readily available, and something I would recommend to all skin types, and are most definitely products that are worth a phone call home. I am super sorry about the delay of this post, I have had so many exams recently and my camera cable was broken but I am trying to get back to my normal update schedule; I'm super sorry!