Casey Hanna

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Sigma Brush Review

This year I went to IMATS London and I managed to get my hands on the full size Sigma Essential Brush Kit. I got them for a discounted price of around £90. The set includes the Large Powder F30, Large Contour F40, Duo Fibre F50, Foundation F60, Concealer F70, Large Shader E60, Eye Shading E55, Medium Angled Shading E70, Tapered Blending E40, Pencil E30, Eyeliner E05 and the Small Angle E65. They also came with a case, which would be good for traveling.

Here are some of my favourites:

Duo Fibre F50 and the Foundation F60 - These brushes are my staples for applying foundation. I never really liked the look of the paintbrush look a like foundation brushes before, but since getting this kit the F60 is perfect for those days where I want lighter coverage.

Concealer F70 - I use this daily to apply my Bobbie Brown corrector under my eyes.

Small Angle E65 - This is essential for when I use the Sleek brow kit.

Eye Shading E55, Tapered Blending E40 and the Pencil E30 - These are my favourites for when I do eye makeup.

Each brush is super soft, densely packed and perfect in size. I have washed them a lot and I haven't experienced a single shed hair. They are great quality all round. Whether you are wanting to invest in some new brushes or you're looking for some brushes to start off your makeup kit, I would highly recommend these. They make my makeup look flawless.

I would rate these brushes a 5/5.

I hope you found this review helpful. If you would like to know anything else about these brushes you can ask me in the comments or send me a tweet! Thanks x

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5 Quick Tips on Being Organised

Tidy space, tidy mind!

My room is often a hot mess.. but a tidy space means a tidy mind. You'll find you can work much better in a clean and tidy space. It will also save time on looking for things like your door keys and uni ID pass when you're rushing out the door in the morning!

Calendars and diaries.

Me and diaries don't get along. I find I will use them for a week or two and then they're never touched. So I found printing out a monthly calendar (from ICAL) has worked better for me. I don't know about you, but when I can see the whole month and don't have to flick through pages of a diary, I can keep on top of things much better!

To do lists.

There is nothing worse than not being able to finish everything that's on your to do list for that day. So make sure what you set out to do is realistic. So don't forget to leave time for short breaks in between!

Deadlines.

As you take on each task give yourself a deadline. Procrastinating won't happen if you know you have to finish a task within a certain amount of time.

Me time.

As much as we all live busy lifestyles with many commitments, it's so important to have some 'me time'. It's what keeps us sane! Whether you choose to blog, nap or veg out in front of the telly (or youtube), take a day of the week to just DO YOU!

I have been feeling a little bit stressed about going back to uni, having a job and keeping up with blogging as much as I would like to. So I have thought about changes I could implement to make this year as successful and positive as possible. I hope this post has helped you in some way, or just gave you a little reminder of how to be organised!

It's still a work in progress for me. Do you have anything else to add? :)

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My Updated Skin Care Routine

My T-Zone is very oily and I have been suffering with blemishes on my cheeks for months. I know my blemishes are hormonal, so there is not much I can do apart from try not to aggravate the skin too much. I have come up with a new skin care routine, very different to the last one I shared with you. It's working for me at the moment, so I thought it was time for an update!

1. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water- I put some of this onto a cotton pad and swipe off all of my makeup.

2. Simple Cleansing Wipes- I then like to follow up with a cleansing wipe to ensure all my makeup has been removed.

3. Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser- After rinsing my face with warm water (to open my pores), I take two pumps of this cleanser and use my fingers to cleanse my face. Once I'm done, I blot my face dry with a towel.

4. Zineryt- Since I am struggling with blemishes on my cheeks, the doctors have prescribed me with this treatment. I just dab it onto the effected areas of my skin and wait for it to soak in. (If you would like to know more about this, let me know!)

5. Boots Botanics Hydrating Eye Cream 80% Organic- I take a small pea sized amount and use my ring finger and gently tap it into my under eye area. An eye cream is optional, but it's an extra step I personally like to take.

6. First Aid Beauty Daily Face Cream (Oil Free)- I use one pump of this for my whole face. It's perfect for my oily skin. I featured it in my August Favourites.

7. Aloe Vera Gel- I like to pop this over the top of any blemishes I have. It really helps to clear them up and doesn't dry out my skin. So if you haven't tried this already, I would definitely recommend it.

(I do steps 3-6 in the morning and at night)

My favourite exfoliator is the Origins Modern Friction. I love the way it feels on my skin and it makes it super smooth. When I use this, I use it instead of my Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser. I like to follow up with a clay mask because they are perfect for oily skin. My favourite is the Origins Clear Improvements. However sometimes I like to experiment with new masks. Recently I have been trying out the Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask. I usually take these steps once or twice a week, depending when my skin needs it!

If you're struggling with your skin too, I hope this helped! Maybe we can exchange tips in the comments?

Thanks for reading! See you soon :)

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Confidence and #BLFW

Bloggers Love Fashion Week was approaching and I was SO excited. My first blogger event! I kept thinking about what I could possibly wear and what it would be like. However, the night before the event I suddenly got really nervous. So nervous that I started to consider not going. At the same time, I knew if I didn't go I would probably regret it.

The next morning I was still anticipating whether I should go or not. Then all of a sudden something in me said "You have to go. Just go." and so I did. I ended up being an hour late. I'm late for EVERYTHING! But better late than never though.. right?

I had a little look around and then I bumped into Zeena (also from Blogging Gals) and Sam. After speaking to them on twitter, itt was so nice to see them in real life. It was also a relief to see some familiar faces. As I got talking to people I started to feel so much more comfortable and I was really pleased I went. It was so much less scarier than I originally thought it would be. Everyone in the blogging community is lovely.

Me and Sam

The Fashion Show

We watched the fashion show and I attempted to take some photographs. I say attempted because almost every single one turned out to be a blur. After that we had a look at the brands that were there and spoke to each other. It was a cool experience to meet some like minded people.

I guess the purpose of this post isn't just to tell you what a lovely time I had, it's also to encourage you to give new things a go. By going to this event by myself, I feel like I have achieved something on a more personal level. Take yourself out of your comfort zone and you will gain some confidence!

I hope you liked this post even though it's slightly different. Thanks for reading!

P.S. A big thanks to Bloggers Love for organising this event!

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