Early Morning Saviours

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Lotion, Pixi Glow Tinkerbell Fairy Dust & Givenchy Magic Kajal Nude

Late nights and early starts, I'm sure you've all been there before! It's not a routine I tend to favour however should that situation occur I rely on a couple of items to help me fake looking as though I've had that extra couple of hours in bed. All about bringing light to the eyes, highlighting them and making everything appear wider and more doll like. 

First up, As I wake up I'll reach over to my bedside table, soak a couple of cotton pads in Liz Earle Eye Brightener and leave them on my eyes for a good 5 minutes. They are really cooling, soothing and reduce puffiness by miles. My eyes thank me immensely for dousing them with this stuff in the mornings - it's lovely!

A couple of simple steps I like to add to my routine, just to aid my face in looking a little less drained are simply dabbing a light shimmery eyeshadow into the tear duct of my eyes. Pixi Fairy Dust being my favourite product to do this thanks to the sponge applicator that allows a simple dot to be placed and blended with ease. This is usually followed by lining my lower water line with some sort of nude liner. Givenchy Magic Kajal Nude is basically just a fancier less pigmented version of Pixi Eye Bright Liner (post here), which I also adore. Nude liners help cancel out any redness in the eyes, help them appear wider and all in all help make me look more alive!

What do you use in the early mornings?

My Makeup: The 16 Hour Day

My student days of lounging around, revising and essay writing are over for summer and it's time for work, and a holiday of course but that's a little later! I absolutely love having a routine, something I know happens on a daily basis and is a regular procedure. Something I can't quite work out is my makeup routine for these long days, I'm applying my makeup half asleep at around 7am and most likely won't be returning home till around 9. Which means around fourteen hours of makeup staying power is needed! 

I honestly don't think there's products out there, or complexion ones at least, that last perfectly for fourteen hours. As I was experimenting around this week dabbling in my different primers, foundations and setting sprays I think I found a pretty good combination. I'll of course keep you updated on my routine in upcoming posts too      

Skin

- I don't have the oiliest of skins, I'm around the combination mark but I do like to apply a mattifying primer. Givenchy Mister Matt being my one of choice followed by my foundation, Chantecaille Just Skin, which I set with a pretty full on powder Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder. (Wow, that is one high end combination but it seems to be working so far! Like I said, I'll keep you updated)

- For concealing my bags I've been using Dr Perricone No Concealer Concealer as it has SPF 35 so is fantastic for day time! More on this later...

- I then go on to apply some cheek colour, which at 7am I'm not so fussy about so I've been slapping on whatever I reach for first, a bright awakening colour like Mac Peaches. 

- I then finish off spraying my face with Urban Decay De Slick Spray to set all the foundation and powder

Eyes

- I only apply a couple of products, mainly because that's all I have time for! Did I mention it's early? Just Mac Paint Pot in Painterly to even out the lid a wash of a neutral eyeshadow and an Avon Supershock Gel Liner in Blackberry which I messily blend out with my fingers. 

- For mascara I've been trying to finish up by L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara which is a lovely day time option as it doesn't budge. 

What are your tricks for getting makeup to last all day?

NEW! Givenchy Poudre Croisere Healthy Glow Powder

Part of Givenchy's new limited edition summer collection is a new bronzer, Poudre Croisere Healthy Glow Powder which is described as a talc-free bronzer made of baked gel (fancy no?) This will make even the shimmery bronzer haters (me) convert! A lovely light bronzer with a slight shimmer that gives a glow to the skin...perfect for summer! Compared to other bronzers it actually manages to look like skin rather than sitting on top of it, probably because the particles are so fine. Think of the bronzer version of the Dior Amber Diamond but with much smaller glitter particles and overall a less thick in texture. Available in 4 shades and swatched below is shade two. This and shade 1 would be perfect for all fair skinned girls that are looking for a bronzer but scared of looking like an orange oompa loompa as it's really light and very buildable.

Givenchy Poudre Croisere Healthy Glow Powder Shade 2 

Givenchy Poudre Croisere Healthy Glow Powder Shade 2 Swatch

For an all over bronzey glow swirl a kabuki brush (below) in the product and buff into your skin, on top of foundation. Or just use with a bronzing cheek brush to add some colour on the cheeks! Stay clear if you're a contouring girl as you don't want to be using a bronzer with shimmer!

Givenchy Poudre Croisere Healthy Glow Powder is £32.50 and available at Harrods and other department stores that stock Givenchy like Debenhams