Bibba Beauty: February 2015

Hello bloggersphere!

I thought I'd start my step-by-step posts with my everyday look (literally I wear this almost every day :p) For when I'm running around day-to-day, just going to uni, the gym and studying I don't like too many steps, and I also don't like to use make-up that is too, too expensive...because then it would run out very quickly and I'd be sad! :p You know, when you have to go outside and see a few people, but putting in effort just makes you shudder? Yeah, this is that look :) I promise it's quick and easy AND it's skin conscious! By that I mean that it take sinto consideration problem skin types. The foundation I use is perfect for most skin types; acne prone, combination, dry, sensitive, I LOVE it! Of course, if you have a very severe skin condition or suffer very badly with one of these skin types then please look into the ingredients and test the products first!! These make-up products are by NO means a cure to any skin condition, however I have found that they really don't exacerbate anything and (in MY case) they improved the overall condition of my skin, IN CONJUNCTION with my thorough skin care regime and my healthy eating and regular exercise. Sorry people, no foundation will help anything if you're not covering all of your bases, but this, as I said, is a skin conscious routine :)

To start, on moisturised skin, I apply Bourjois Healthy mix serum foundation in Vanille Clair with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (phew! What a name!)

I apply this using a few drops on the flat edge of the sponge (DAMP) and gently press/ dab the product into the areas of my skin that need the most coverage i.e. any blemishes, dark circles (although we'll come back to those) redness (around nose, chin) etc. Then for areas that don't need as much coverage I blend the product in with the rounded part of the sponge. This edge really helps to blur out pores and leave a nice blended, flawless finish.

Then on areas which still need a little help, I apply a small amount of Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer in Eclait Clair. I either dab this on with my fingers, or dip the pointed end of the miracle sponge into the product and then, gently, dab onto the area I want to conceal.

For under eyes I use Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. Tip no.1 I wish I'd known when I was younger (apart from "choose the right foundation shade for your skin dammit!) is have different concealers!! The concealer your use for blemishes should be the same colour as your foundation, whereas a concealer for under your eyes should be lighter to help eliminate dark circles and to help you appear more awake and brighten your overall complexion. Whilst this concealer is cheap it is honestly one of the best I have come across and it comes in really pale colours to help those of us who lighten up in the colder months! (me)

I use the colour Fair 1 and apply a few dots under my eye in an upside down triangle (the base of the triangle being your eye). This means that you avoid that awful half-moon effect you get when you apply concealer the way you apply eye cream. NO! You want to BLEND and this creates a fading effect and brightens and highlights instead of screaming "I have bags and circles I want to hide!"

Once my base is done I set it with Vichy translucent powder. *Gasp* yes, I did say powder and skin conscious in the same post, but bare with me! Vichy are an INCREDIBLE make-up and beauty brand who specialise in problem skin and severe skin conditions. This powder is made especially for acne prone and sensitive skin. It sets the product really well and still allows a bit of a glow to peek through :)

I apply this with a tapered brush and apply a small amount at a time to the areas I applied concealer to and areas that get a bit shiny throughout the day. For under my eye I use a sweeping action to help prevent creasing.

Base complete I move on to one of my great passions BROWS! I LOVE a strong, defined, bold, groomed brow!! I move between different products for my brows, but for every day I like this eyebrow palette from Eylure.

I use the dark brown palette and brush my brows with a brow brush, to shape them, before I fill them in with a stiff angled brush.

To keep that groomed, polished effect I set my brows with Urban Decay's Urbanbrow. I just sweep this along and style as I go. This stuff is amazing! My brows don't budge an inch and it lasts forever!

After brows I move on to contouring... Ok, ok I said simply everyday, but I always like to contour my nose, even if it's just a little bit. But this step is totally optional! To contour my nose I just make a soft line using the darkest colour in the Whitening Lightening Brow Bar To Go and then I gently blend it out to create a soft, natural contour.

As this is powder I don't always feel like I have to set it, but if you have particularly oily skin then feel free :)

Moving on to eyes, I keep them pretty bare, but blend a small amount of this same brown colour into my crease to create some quick dimension (again, an optional step). Then I get to liner!! I will do a more in depth post about how I do liner, but essentially I gently draw a line from the outer corner of my eye, as if it is following the angle of my bottom lash line. This creates a diagonal line that accentuates your natural eye. Then I join this to my lip and line to the middle of my eye where I fade the liner out. This gives me a lengthening effect. I use different liners, but right now I'm really liking Maybelline's Liner Express in Black. It's a lot of the pigment and staying power of a gel liner, but with the efficient applicator.

Then I coat my lashes in L'Oreal's Telescopic in extra-black.

Moving on to the rest of the face now. Depending on ym mood, and how much time I have, this step changes. First I apply blush on the apples of my cheeks, if you don't know where these are, just smile and with a SMALL amount of product and buff into the skin, up to your cheekbones (the idea is that you can't see where your blush stars and ends). Then I give my face a little colour and shimmer at the same time (multi-tasking to be quick ;) ) with some bronzer, which I apply to my cheekbones, my temples and down my neck. You do NOT need a lot of either of these. Believe me, lesson No 2 I wish I could tell me younger self, less is more! Start with a small amount on the brush and then buff it on, adding small amounts at a time until you have the desired effect. I switch up my blushers and bronzers a lot. Depending on lip colour, eye make-up, outfit, mood, weather, season I chop and change. At the moment I am really liking MUA's blush in Bon Bon and Revolution's baked bronzer in Golden Days. Occasionally I also blend in some of this gorgeous Milani baked blush in Luminoso. It's such a lovely colour that it can really deepen the dimension of your blush and the colour in your face, or simply compliment a pretty, glowy, peachy look on its own.

Last, but certainly not least, LIPS. For my go-to lip I tend to use a variety of liners and then blot a small amount of a nude lipstick or even just Carmex on to prevent chapping in this wonderful English winter we're having. One liner I'm particularly loving right now for a really quick, statement nude/ brown lip is this one by Milani called Spice.

And that's it!!!! Yes it might feel like 100 steps, but so many of them can be cut out and once you get to know it I promise it only takes me about 15 minutes, fully done! It's so easy to mix and match some of these steps with your favourites too! Instead of my liner you can sub in your favourite eye shadow, or instead of my blush and bronzer you can go for your must-have blush and your favourite highlighter, or use your go-to lipstick or gloss in place of the liner :) The possibilities are endless!!

Happy playing people! Links to products below :)

Lots of love,

Bibba

Don't look back, you're not going that way.

Hello everyone! My name is Elizabeth (or Bibba for short) and this is my first ever blog post!! *fan fare*

I just wanted to take this time to introduce myself a bit and let you know a little bit about what I'll be blogging about and the kind of stuff you can expect from me! :)

First of all I am 21, I live in England and I am a student. I am originally from Essex (please don't run away I'm not like that I swear! :p) but I am at University in Kent.

As you can see from my photo, I have brown hair, blue eyes and I'm a mix of nationalities. I am part Jamaican, part Spanish and the rest is English haha!

I love sort and exercise and keeping active! I used to do every kind of extra-curricular sport you can imagine and have trouble sitting still for too long haha! Currently I am not a member of any sports teams (because I hurt my back) but that doesn't mean I'm not active! Oh no, no, no, I love the gym! Before I hurt my back I loved to lift weights and the squat rack was my best friend. Now I'm a bit of a cardio bunny, but I get my bodyweight work in when I feel I can! I also love healthy eating and, due to a tonne of intolerances, have become at home with inventing new and interesting ways to re-create tasty favourites with healthier substitutes. Let me know if you're interested in recipes!

I'm seriously passionate about all things fashion and beauty! As you can probably guess from my domain name, I LOVE beauty and am so interested in how it evolves with fashion and seasons and love to try and bring catwalk trends into my highstreet style :) I'll be posting a lot of make up tutorials on here so keep an eye out! And if there are any looks you'd like me to post about please don't hesitate to let me know!! Personally, I'm a big fan of cat eye liner and incorporate a little flick into most of my everyday looks, but I also enjoy playing around with my make-up and experimenting with new trends and ideas!

Being a 21 year old girl/woman (who knows when that transition is finally made!) I have learnt a lot about appearance, self-image and self-confidence. I will be sharing be key make-up and beauty dos and don'ts on here, as well as little tips that I WISH I could tell my 13 year old self!

So there you have it!...kinda :p A little bit about me and my interests! If there's anything else you'd like to know or like to see then please don't hesitate to ask!

Lots of love!

Bibba

In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.

Bibba Beauty

Friday, 27 February 2015

My everyday look - whilst being skin conscious!

Make-Up looks

Hey!!