no.1 top 5; make-up

my first top five has got to be dedicated to make-up. my make-up collection is practically endless, there is never a product i dont want to try out. my staples are foundation, concealer, powder, highlighter and lipstick. i'm far from being all about the eyes, apart from when it comes to lashes. much more than mascara and my eyes look far too drag so simplicity is key to me when it comes to eyes.
but when it comes to everything else i am a crazy make-up hoarder. over the years i have tried nearly every single foundation out there as well as nearly every shade of blush and highlighter. and as for lipsticks and glosses, my collection seems infinite. i am a self-confessed lipstick whore, from dark berry shades to barbie pinks.

so to try and limit my favourite products to just 5 was a ridiculously hard challenge, but i decided on the following 5 because i know i wear each practically everyday and without them my make-up routine would feel upsettingly wrong!

1.) top place goes to my favourite and loyal foundation companion - diorskin forever - shade 03

there are numerous reasons as to why this is my preferred foundation. first of all, i believe that with foundation - money matters - this is not the case with all make-up, because often cheap lipsticks etc are the best but with foundation i rarely like to settle for the cheaper brands.
dior forever is quite a runny foundation which makes application remarkably smooth, it is also fairly light which means there is no horrible pore-clogging. it is best applied with a soft foundation brush but also goes on perfectly with a sponge, finger application doesn't work so well because it is so liquidy. the colour is also perfect for me, it suits my normal skin tone as well as adapting to my skin tone if ive managed to get a little sunkissed. the smell is also so pretty, it doesnt have any biscuity smell to it, it is a crazily fresh smelling foundation and the smell lasts throughout the majority of the day which may sound strange but adds a nice touch to your overall finish. to sum up this foundation, it gets top marks on all fronts - good application, good shade and good overall finish (no streaks and no clogging) - it creates a pretty and fresh glow without being too heavy but also gives just enough coverage (day and night which is also a plus)

2.) my second product is perhaps a little mundane, it is a simple powder - max-factor creme puff - noveau beige however, it is the simplicity of this product which i love. it is a definite staple, every good make-up bag needs a good powder!

the reasons for needing a good powder are pretty obvious - firstly, a powder is the essential tool to ensure your make-up stays in place for longer than a few hours and this max-factor gem definitely does just that. after applying both foundation and concealer i dust this over my face and neck with a large blusher brush (works better than general powder brush) and this makes my make-up base both matte as well as giving it an added layer of protection. secondly, i love a powder which offers just a little bit of colour, i rarely use a transparent powder (dont paticularly see the need). this particular powder gives a pretty honey colour and adds to the under-colours of my foundation. overall, it is a basic but a very essential basic which lives up to all the powder expectations you could think of!

3.) again, my number 3 is a basic for me but also one i couldnt live without - no.7 stick concealer - 03 fair. i adore this concealer, this is one particular product that have i continued to stick to throughout the years. i have dabbled with clinique and ysl concealers but even though they are somewhat pricier, nothing can beat this little no.7 beauty.

there isn't much you can particularly say about a concealer. in general i think concealers are quite personal products, as i barely know any girl who uses the same one. for me, this concealer works because it isn't liquid. liquid concealer just slides over my foundation and makes it look much heavier and clogged up which is never a favoured look. this stick concealer works both because the colour blends nicley into my foundation giving it a barely there look but also concealing any spots, imperfections or dark areas. it is just a basic product, non-scented and light, which offers just enough coverage. it is also perfect because i use fair whenever i'm at home and switch to medium whenever i'm away, both shades work brilliantly and it is rare find a product in which all shades can adapt to your skin tone.

(stopped for a chocolate break)

4.) ...my number 4 is a product which is fairly new to the market, but i eagerly anticpated its arrival for months. sunbeam highlighter by benefit is one of the most exciting products ive purchased in a long time. i have become a slight addict to it (which happens with most benefit products) and it is a highlighter i urge every girl to try out.

i only purchased this product about 3 weeks ago just before i jetted off on holiday and my initial plan was that it would be a special occasion highlighter used for nights out to enhance my tan. which it is, i used this every night on holiday no fail and it was just the most beautiful highlighter i have ever used. it is golden but not orange, its more metallic than sparkly and the combination of colours within the product create the most gorgeous glow. i use it more under my eyes, on the tips of my cheekbones and on my browline rather than all across my cheekbone. it is a proper summer essential, which adds to your overall finish immensely. it creates a healthy, glowing shimmer without being overpowering, which also makes it perfect for daywear as well as night-time (although i tend to add more at night to give a bit more of a pop). in general, i cannot sing the praises of this little pot of gold enough. i adore it and it will definitely become an essential in my make up bag from now on. i highly recommend.

5.) my final place had to go to a lipstick, because i literally have over 50. maybe more. a worrying amount anyway...
choosing which lipstick to put into the top 5 was far too difficult. but i eventually decided, the lipstick i wear the most and continue to purchase is MAC satin finish lipstick - pink noveau

in general, MAC lipsticks are pretty hard not to love. they are by far the most pigmented lipsticks i own meaning the colour is always pretty bold, which i like (hate nothing worse than a lipstick which looks a beautiful colour and then goes on and looks like a balm or just looks like nothing...). this particular lipstick is one of my favourites because overall pink shades are my favoured lip colour and this one is not too bright but also not too light. it is quite close to a barbie pink but i prefer to think of it as a candy pink. it is a pretty colour which you can wear in the day but also in the night (i often put a bit of gloss over it at night - normally GOSH eclat & brilliance - 03). another plus with MAC lipsticks is the smell, it is a little bit biscuity, but in a good way...
overall, it is just that one lipstick i can rely on, its safe but colourful. its a risk-free lipstick which i think would suit pretty much every girl, which is what puts it in my top5.

this top5 is just a little tiny snippet into my make-up collection, the products are perhaps basics but without the basics your make-up routine would never work.

there will be much, much more to come but i hope you have enjoyed this initial post.
many, many kisses.
lucyx