10 essential makeup must-haves

Like food, air and water, makeup is a basic necessity, although knowing exactly what to buy out of the hundreds of products on offer can make shopping more of a pain than pleasure. Make things a little easier with this list of essential beauty must-haves and a few of my favourite products.

BB cream

Also known as a multi-tasking miracle in a tube, BB cream is a foundation, moisturiser, primer and toner in one. Offering buildable coverage that not only hides blemishes but also treats them, this double-duty dream cream is the ultimate beauty-bag staple.

Try: Garnier Skin Perfector All-In-One BB Cream - £9.99

Red lipstick

Just one swipe of a classic red lippy can transform a look from boardroom to bar creating the ultimate confidence boost. With a shade to match every skin tone and a colour to suit every taste – just like a signature scent, every girl should own one.

Try: L'Oréal Paris Color Riche Collection Pure Reds - £6.99

Bronzer

A good bronzer can contour, define and instantly warm up your face. Use it to add definition by brushing into the hollows of cheeks or add a touch of shimmer by applying to the nose, cheekbones and forehead for that just-back-from-holiday glow.

Try:  Barry M After Glow Bronzer - £5.69

Lengthening mascara

Long, luscious lashes are the desire of every lady therefore investing in a good-quality mascara is key. Just a few coats can make a huge impact and emphasise eyes making them look big, bright and beautiful – just like the person behind them.

Try: Benefit They're Real Mascara - £19.50

Eyebrow kit

Eyebrows frame the face, balance features and define your eyes, so it’s important to get them right. The secret to achieving great brows is to highlight the bone directly underneath before filling in hairs with a pencil or powder which is slightly darker than your natural hair colour.

Try: Sleek Makeup Brow Kit - £8.49

Micellar water

Once a well-kept secret of the French, this cleanser, toner and make-up-remover in-one is the ultimate solution to gorgeous, glowing skin. Using tiny particles to melt away dirt and impurities, micellar water is a much gentler alternative to harsh face wipes and makeup removers.

Try: Garnier Cleansing Micellar Water - £4.99

Moisturiser

Beauty starts at the base and there’s no product more effective than a good face cream. For optimal results use both a day and night cream and choose products that are best suited to your skin-type. For day choose a cream with added SPF which provides that all-important UV protection and at night an ultra-hydrating lotion will see you waking with super-nourished skin each morning.

Try: Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF30 - £14.00

Dry shampoo

For days when you’re short on time this light-weight powder formula is a hair-care saviour. Effectively absorbing excess oil, dirt and odor, dry shampoo is a quick and easy way to clean hair and leave it looking fresh without even getting wet.

Try: Batiste Floral & Flirty Dry Shampoo - £2.99

Concealer
Whether you're looking to hide under-eye circles, small blemishes or that annoying red pimple, concealer is the answer. A true beauty hero when it comes to disguising imperfections and signs of a late night, this little gem is a makeup-bag must.
Try: Seventeen Phwoarr Paint - £4.99

Eyeliner

A simple flick of liner in the corner of each eye can completely transform a look and make you feel 100 times sexier in seconds. Invest in an easy-to-use liquid liner pen to create the perfect cat-eye in seconds.

Try: L'Oréal Paris Super Liner - £6.49

August

After a wet, washed-out August bank holiday weekend it feels as though summer is officially over. September 1st marks the start of Autumn and I can't help but feel as though we've been robbed of a proper summer.

Weather aside August has been pretty fun and I've been enjoying spending time back home. I decided to go for the chop and had my hair cut into a lob (long bob) which has taken some getting used to - but was definitely a much needed change.

The past month has consisted of lots of catch up with friends and family, doing a carboot sale, looking after Ralph (the little monster) and enjoying the sunshine we have had with plenty of walks, chilling in the garden and a going to a mini local festival.

Its now only a matter of weeks before I'll be heading back to Nottingham to start my second year of uni (seriously where have the holidays gone?!) so I'll definitely be making the most of my free time before the hard work commences.

What did you get up to in August? Any last minute summer holidays planned?

Holly xx

Here's a few pics from the last month...

New hair

#ELLEinspire

Catching the rays

Buddah

Beautiful garden flowers

Cheeky Ralph

Lillies

#LoveLife

Dining al fresco

Parklife

Peachy nails

BBQ time

Lazy afternoon

Chilling with pups

Mmm chocolate

Pretty flowers

I can see a rainbow (-:

For more pics follow me on Instagram @misshollyamber

Inecto Naturals Coconut range

I was recently contacted by Inecto to try out their newly-launched Naturals Coconut range.

Inecto are a British beauty brand who focus on 100% natural beauty using only sustainably sourced ingredients and organic oils. 

All of their products are vegetarian and vegan friendly, and are never tested on animals.

The Naturals Coconut range includes products for both the hair and body which aim to smooth, nourish, cleanse and add shine while indulging your senses in the delicious scent of natural coconut oil.

Very Smoothing Coconut Body Oil

Being a lover of all things coconut I couldn't wait to try out the Very Smoothing body oil. 

The fact that Inecto products are made using all natural ingredients that are not tested on animals is an added bonus - I am always keen to use products made using good quality, ethically sourced ingredients when possible.

The Very Smoothing body oil did not disappoint. Its sweet, nutty scent is utterly delicious and left my skin smelling good enough to eat! Unlike some coconut flavoured products which can smell highly synthetic and more like an air freshener than the actual fruit - this oil is the opposite and smells rich and decadent just as a coconut should.

The oil absorbed instantly and wasn't at all greasy which meant I could get dressed more or less straight away. My skin felt soft and nourished after use and was left with a healthy glow which made me look and feel instantly better.

Hello Hydration Coconut Hair Treatment

I usually wash my hair 1-2 times a week and always use an intense conditioning treatment on the ends. It gets dry and knotty very easily so I find that products specifically for dry/damaged hair work best for me.

The Hello Hydration conditioner is the perfect consistency - not too thick but not too runny - the texture is nice and creamy and a small amount goes a long way so I can imagine one bottle will last a while. 

The scent is just as delicious as the oil and made my showering time all the more enjoyable. I left the treatment on for 4 minutes before rinsing, then applied the hair oil when my hair was 70% dry before finishing with a hairdryer.

My hair had fewer tangles after using the treatment which made styling quicker and much less of a chore.

Divine Shine Coconut Hair Oil

I am always wary when using oil as my hair can get greasy easily. I started off using a small amount of the Divine Shine oil and applied it through the mid-lengths and ends of my hair when it was damp before blow drying and styling.

I tend to let my hair air dry around 70% then finish with a hair dryer and use a smoothing product to avoid it being too frizzy. This oil delivered a similar result to the OGX Keratin treatment I usually use and left my hair looking sleek and frizz free, and not weighed down or greasy.

The oil is dispersed using a small pump which makes applying very easy and prevents too much coming out at once, which can often be a problem. The scent is almost identical to the conditioning treatment and body oil, so again smells absolutely delicious -I could still smell it a few hours later.

Once dry my hair was beautifully soft and nourished, and both the oil and conditioning treatment delivered their promises and left my hair smoother, softer and more manageable after use.

I would definitely recommend both products to those with fine/normal hair like myself, who require products that nourish and de-frizz without weighing it down.


Have you tried any products from the Inecto range? Which are your favourites?

Holly xx



*PR Samples