The Holiest Of Holy Grails

Makeup and Beauty: My Favourites

Happy Saturday evening, beauts. I hope you've all had a bearable week. It's been a weird one for me as my grandad has just had a brain operation, so there's lots going on in the house at the moment. I've just been paying extra attention to my wellbeing and its wants/needs, which is apparently just lots of attention from my forever-suffering boyfriend and long, peaceful walks around the nature reserve at the back of my house. Ben and I enjoyed a lovely picnic by the lake yesterday, which is something we haven't done in a while. I found that helped me to restore some peace. Anyway, that's my lil' summary over; let's get on with what I actually want to talk to you guys about today.

I'll be honest, I don't particularly know where this sudden urge to buy every new makeup product that's released has come from. It probably doesn't help that I'm stuck inside and my only means of entertainment is to ensure I've always got a parcel delivery to be excited for. Seems healthy, doesn't it? I've also been spending a lot of time on Instagram, copiously scrolling through makeup tutorials for fuck knows how many hours a day. You call it a waste of time - I call it research. In any case, I've watched way too many tutorials and I've found myself at the stage of just trying all of these makeup techniques out and hoping for the best.

If you know me well, you will know that I am obsessed with Jeffree Star, his Pomeranians, his pinball machines and his incredible makeup line. Over the last couple of years, I've accumulated a decent chunk of his collection, all of which are products I adore and honestly would rather be tortured in a chamber than go without them. So, long story short, my makeup storage is overflowing and my bank account is sparse... Regardless of this, I'm gonna keep going because I have no self control when there's new product releases on my Instagram feed jumping out at me screaming "Hey! You need me in your life". It's not my fault, I am not guilty...

I've always been the creative type, and I love the boost of confidence I get once I've got my full beat on. It's almost like a different persona enters my body; I know I look good when I'm set with a hawt smokey eye and shimmering highlight. I also think it's a sick way to express your emotions, your own personal style and authenticity.

For the love of it all, I'm really excited to share these absolute gems with you. These products that I'm about to mention are the holiest of holy grails; I would undoubtedly be horrified if suddenly their stocks disappeared off the face of the planet. I cannot stress this enough - I REFUSE to live without them.

1. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Mattifying Primer

First thing's first, we need a boss primer that doesn't take any shit from anyone. Ya girl's been blessed with oily and acne-prone skin, so it's been a heck of a journey to try and find just the right base for my foundation. I needed a miracle; something that would smoothen texture, control oil and minimise enlarged pores. Then I found the Pro Filt'r Mattifying Primer by Fenty Beauty and honestly, I cannot thank Rihanna enough for being the brains behind this insane product. It does everything I need and keeps your face looking killer all fucking day, I'm telling you. It's on the higher end of high street so a little steep at £24, but I purchased my first bottle of it in December last year and I have only just had to repurchase it! Not to mention the boujee frosted glass packaging... ugh, just gorgeous. Honestly worth getting if you have oily and textured skin like me, and you need something to keep that skin under control to help your makeup in looking banging ALL day, honey.

2. Jeffree Star Cosmetics Magic Star Concealer (shade C5)

I'll be honest, when Jeffree first released this I was hesitant to buy it purely for the fact that I was so used to spending like, £4 on concealer. She's a pricey bitch, but I don't think I can ever go back. It's the best £21 I've spent on a makeup product. The packaging is divine and makes you feel like you're holding a magic wand when you apply it; I live for it, d'know about you? This baddie is FULL coverage, nobody will ever know how little sleep you got last night. It blends like butter and brightens up the under-eye effortlessly. It's a wizard at highlighting other parts of the face, too. I haven't bought any darker shades yet as I'm a bit sceptical about cream contouring (I'm still not great at precision so I'm scared it'll turn out looking like I've been shat on or something). I bought two units of this concealer around 3 or 4 weeks ago and haven't ran out of the first one yet, and I'm hoping my money will stretch a little while longer 'til I have to open the second one. I don't want to think about spending this much on concealer for a long time if I can avoid it! Nonetheless, it sure is worth it.

3. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation (shade 150)

Let's get real for a moment; I'm actually shook by how far foundation formulas have come?! I think back to the days of my Dream Matte Mousse which was prominently darker than my neck, and I'd get up extra early to get to school and meet my friends in the bathroom. We'd all have our pots of it and would slather it over our faces, lips n' all, before entering our first lesson of the day looking like absolute trash. I'll never forgive my mum for not telling me what a load of shite I looked like, haha. Anyway, those days are far gone. It took me a while to delve into buying a higher end foundation, 'cause at the time I didn't have a stable income and didn't want to commit to repurchasing it if I fell in love. Well, I bit the bullet, and I am definitely poorer. However, my skin has never looked so flawless and glowing. The Pro Filt'r Soft Matte foundation is honestly a game changer if you have oily skin. I found it so hard to find a formula that controls oil yet doesn't make you look cakey or dry. It's also medium to full coverage but I find it so easy to build coverage in problem areas, without it looking like I've got too much on my face. I am so so thankful to have found this! I truly think it's worth £27 of my money, any day.

4. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Setting Powder (shade Lavender)

I know, I know... another Fenty Beauty product. I've got to say they are killing the game for me. This setting powder is utterly gorge. It sets concealer perfectly, and it would probably take a hard knocking to the head for this bitch to crack. At £24, this is the most expensive setting powder I've ever purchased, but again I can definitely see where my money's been spent. She is seamless, silky and smells like parma violets - so so delicious! The finish is a major upgrade to the chalky, powdery finish you can get from some cheaper competitors. It's nice to have a powder that literally melts into the concealer and sets it to perfection. Love it.

5. Me, Myself and Mmmmitchell Pressed Pigment Palette

It's only been in the last year that I've really invested in decent eyeshadows, as before I wasn't the type to do anything crazy on my eyelids. A contoured crease, a bit of shimmer and some mascara did me good back then. I don't really know why, but I've really started getting into playing around with some more daring colours these days. I've been determined to master more intricate eyeshadow styles such as your classic cut crease and that bastarding, fiddly as fuck halo-eye. This palette has definitely helped me experiment with colour, as the formula of these shadows is absolutely insaaane! The colour payoff is blinding, they blend beautifully like butter and there's very little fallout that comes off the brush during application. Oh, I also forgot to mention the sick video tape concept of the palette packaging, which also includes a huge magnetic mirror that separates the two sides of the palette. For 30 quid that sounds like pure perfection to me! I can't live without this palette, and you can't make me.

6. Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick 

(shades Leo and Celebrity Skin)

Some swatches for reference 

I've saved the best 'til last, because I am well and truly OBSESSED with these lipsticks. I bought my first Velour Liquid Lipstick around a couple of years ago, and since then the collection has just been growing. I live for the non transferable, kiss proof formula, and the vibrancy of the colours is not compromised at all. If you buy a neon pink, bitch you are getting a bright-ass neon pink. My all-time favourite shades are Celebrity Skin and Leo; I pair either of these with pretty much every makeup look I create, unless I'm feeling like a fancy bitch and wanna turn heads with something a little more... riskay. An expensive addiction to say the least at £16 a pop, but I honestly can't wear any other lipstick and probably won't until I die.

You'll be pleased to know that the majority of these products are vegan, and everything I've listed is of course cruelty-free! No animal deserves to be harmed for our luxuries, in any case. Not even for the sake of beauty, no siree.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this week's post and you've gained something from it in some sort of way. I know I told you not to trust me in my last post, but I promise you can trust me on this one! ;)

I'd love to know if you decided to take the plunge and purchase any of these fabulous products, which I gently encourage you to do so! Let me know how ya get on! I hope everyone is staying safe and sane. I'm looking forward to a chilled Saturday eve attending a Zoom quiz night with my wonderful friends from college. The dress code is neon, so I better get this look on the go.


Best,


Layla x