Beth's Makeup Look For School - Soph and Beth Beauty ♡

As school has begun again and the dreaded alarm clock is going off, we have less time to do makeup in the mornings. I've decided that this year I'm going to limit myself of how many products I can use in the morning so that I don't get carried away and waste a lot of time. 

Some schools may have certain rules following what makeup you are aloud to wear, many of them just saying not to wear to much. So I have come up with my own makeup look that
I wear on a daily basis which isn't too cakey and is quite subtle. 

The first product that I use is my L'oreal Paris 'Nude Magique CC Cream'. I apply this product all over my face using my Real Techniques buffing brush, this brush apply's the product really well and helps it blend in to your face. When you first take some product out of the tube it comes out a light green, then once it has been blended it matches the colour of your face. This CC cream helps prevent redness in your skin which is something I suffer quite a lot with and I find that this product actually does help and it lives up to my expectations. You can buy this product in many Boots and Superdrug stores and it currently costs £9.99 at Boots. Click here to go to the Boots website to check out the product. 

The second product I apply is my 'Collection Lasting Perfection' concealer. I use this product under my eyes and on any blemishes, I also use the Real Techniques buffing brush to blend in this product. You will probably of heard of this product before so I'm not going to ramble on about it. But if you are looking at purchasing this product it is £4.19 in Boots, click here to go to the Boots website to check out the product. 

The next product I apply is my Rimmel 'Stay Matte' powder, I apply this product all over my face but mainly focus on my T-zone as I get very oily. I apply this product using my Real Techniques powder brush. I love this product and always find myself re-purchasing because I prefer it over others I have tried. This powder is currently £3.99 at Boots, click here for check out the product. 

The next product I apply to my face is my NYX 'powder blush' and I apply it using a Real Techniques blush brush. I have always wanted to try out a NYX blush and when I got this one at BeautyCon I was very pleased. Ever since I got it I have been using it and will definitely be re-purchasing when it runs out. The pigmentation is very good and it really brightens up your face. Unfortunately you can not purchase these products in Boots or Superdrug but if you want to order it online you can go on to NYX's website (click here). 

The next and final two products I use are both lip products but I don't use these products every single day. I use my Benefit 'Bene Balm' when I want to add a bit more colour in to my look and I use my Maybelline 'Baby Lips' on days where I have got dry lips. Bene Balm has been my favourite lip balm ever since I got it and is definitely worth the money, obviously Baby Lips don't live up to Bene Balm but you definitely get a good product for the price you are paying. Click here to go to Maybelline's website and click here to go to Benefit's website. 

Products from left-right, (top row)Maybelline BabyLips, L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Cream, Collection Lasting Perfection, Benefit BeneBalm, (bottom row) Rimmel Stay Matte, NYX Powder Blush.
Brushes from left-right, Real Techniques Buffing Brush, Real Techniques Blush Brush, Real Techniques Powder Brush and an eyebrow brush (bottom right). 

Overall I love all of these products and definitely recommend them!! 

(all opinions are my own and not sponsored) 

Thanks for reading! Make sure to follow us on Instagram @sophielouisaxo and @bethxkate

xoxo, 

Soph and Beth

♡

Top Five Lip Colours For Fall / Autumn - Soph and Beth Beauty ♡

As the leaves start to fall and the colder nights begin to call, out comes the jumpers and boots. Autumn is here and what is Autumn without a good lipstick?

Autumn (or Fall) is the prime time for bolder lip colours along with the warming tones of orange, brown and mustard as we walk through the falling autumn leaves. 

The AW15 season will bring us many launches within the beauty industry, including the MAC MACnificent Me Fall 2015 Collection and Clinique Pink with a Purpose Cheek Pop Blush, along with cooler nights and cups of cocoa. Over the past year I've been enjoying experimenting more with lip products and Autumn is the perfect time to try something even better and bolder.

As both my 15th Birthday and trip to New York are coming up, I will probably do an updated version of this with any new products I pick up and anything from an AW15 collection. For now, here are my top five lip colours for Autumn!

5. Buxom Plumping Lip Colour in 'Eva' 

This is the only lip gloss from my top five, but is still beautiful! Unfortunately Buxom products are not available in-store in the UK anymore as the whole range is brilliant, with my other favourites including 'Lana' and 'Bambi'. This would be the perfect choice for someone who doesn't want to be too adventurous with their lip colour but still wants a darker hint. On the lips, it gives a warm, sheer glow but still has a rich colour with lengthy wear time. My only negative about this product is the fact that it has a sweet, syrup/caramel scent to it which can become a bit overpowering after time. All in all, I do love this shade as it compliments most skin tones and has a lovely, smooth texture to it without too much sparkle..well done Buxom!

4. MAC Lipstick in 'Rebel' (£15.50, MAC Cosmetics)

MAC Lipsticks are iconic, and they always will be! Every beauty-loving girl aspires to own a collection of these gems, they are just so versatile and all-around amazing. When applied correctly, 'Rebel' gives a strong, daring plum colour that looks perfect with any Autumn outfit. When I picked it up in December, I admit that I was scared to try it, but I have grown to love it and now use it even more! I recommend to use it with a lip liner; try Collection Lip Definer in Damson..a matching liner for a budget price!

3. MAC Lipstick in 'Twig' (£15.50, MAC Cosmetics)

'Twig' is a long-awaited addition to my flourishing makeup collection and by far, one of my favourites! Nude lip colours are my favourites, the combination and hints of pinks and browns create such a lovely colour. Like any MAC Lipstick, 'Twig' has a long-lasting formula to last throughout the day along with the creamy texture. This one creates more of a matte effect that 'Rebel', and goes with every look! I think it especially works well when you have heavier eyemakeup, as this colour won't draw the eye away from the masterpiece across your lids.

2. Ted Baker Lip Crayon in 'Plum'

I received this in a Ted Baker gift set for Christmas 2014..and I was pleasantly surprised! The colour does match the simple name, a deep, rich plum shade (similar to Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in 'Glastonberry'). This shade screams Autumn, along with the wonderful, smooth, sleek texture unlike any product I own. It is so easy to apply and with the correct base and amount of product used, it does last a good few hours. Unfortunately this is not sold individually, but has popped up in various gift sets over the years. 

1. Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in 'Velvet Beige 630 ' (£6.99, Boots)

Maybelline, you have done an amazing job! Usually I don't tend to purchase drugstore lip products, but this was on offer at the time and I couldn't resist. The texture is so moisturising unlike my MAC lipsticks and can easily be applied without a lipbalm or lip primer. The application is so quick and easy, a makeup beginner could master applyling lipstick within minutes. The shade is a darker nude, just slightly darker than 'Twig'. It has a bit more shimmer but overall creates a beautiful colour for Autumn. At a budget price suitable for anyone and everyone this lipstick is definitely worth adding to your beauty stash.

Thanks for reading! Make sure to follow us on Instagram @sophielouisaxo and @bethxkate

xoxo, 

Soph and Beth

♡

W7 Naked Palette Dupes - Daisy Reviews ♡

Its another dupe day! W7, British beauty brand known for creating flawless dupes of beauty cult brands including Benefit, Maybelline and Urban Decay, including the industry renowned Naked Palettes. The question is; do they even reach anywhere near the standard of the real palettes?

Eyeshadow has always been my downfall when it comes to saving money, seeing a release of a brand new palette from one of my favourite brands tends to resort in both a squeal of excitement, and an empty pocket.

In my opinion, Urban Decay and Too Faced are the leading the high end brands when it comes to eyeshadow. The buttery, soft texture of the Urban Decay shadows along with the long last pigmentation creates the perfect formula for a great eye look. The Too Faced packaging is so irresistible, along with the little fall out and gorgeous pigmentation also makes them a front runner.

At Clothes Show Live 2014 (my favourite annual event) I picked up the Urban Decay Naked 1, 2 and 3 dupes from W7 at 3 for £10! Even in my best efforts it was still hard to reach the crowded stall; thankfully a worker saw my desperation to get my hands on these palettes. I've never really tried that much from W7 (apart from a press sample parcel last year, see my Instagram, sophielouisaxo), but their products always do catch my eye in TK Maxx. 

Already being a devoted Urban Decay fan and owner of their products, I was pleasantly surprised by these. The three palettes are almost IDENTICAL to the Naked Palettes, they include very similar shades and packaging with the shades arranged in the same order. Unfortunately I wasn't impressed by the tin packaging as the lid of my In The Buff : Lightly Toasted fell off within a week. With that being said, the actual product is much 

better.

In The Buff : Lightly Toasted = Naked Palette

A lovely mix of 12 warm and neutral shades, both matte and shimmer creates an ideal budget palette that can create an array of both day and night looks. Even though the shadows are almost identical bar a few shades, the packaging is the only difference as its not suede/velvety like the Naked Palette. The pigmentation is stronger in some shades than others, especially 'Delilah' and 'Di Di'. 'Magic' and 'Toasted' are the most identical. There are a few shades that don't match compared to Naked, but for such a good price you can't go wrong.

In The Buff = Naked 2

This palette is probably the most popular with beauty bloggers as it includes some beautiful shades, including my personal favourite 'Camel'. In The Buff has some very similar shades compared to Naked 2, and if used with an eye primer (I used Tarte CC Cream Base Eye Primer) the palette can result in a lovely, long wear look. It includes a small applicator, with one small brush end and a sponge applicator end. This palette again includes warmer tones, perfect for olive complexions, but can be worn by anyone!

In The Nude = Naked 3

Naked 3 is known for its lighter, rose and pink toned shades perfect for fair to light complexions but I love it for lighter looks or summer time. I have found that with this palette you have to use a lot more product on the eye unlike the first two palettes, but I still think it was worth the little price. The packaging is undifferentiated from Naked 3, but comparing £38 to under £10 this is a perfect gift or something to add to a makeup geek's collection.

PROS: Pocket - friendly price, great dupe, good pigmentation

CONS: Tin packaging, product fall out, grainier texture 

Overall, I would recommend these palettes to someone who is looking to spend a little less, try these out before buying the Naked Palette(s) or an eyeshadow beginner.

They are available from Amazon, eBay, discount beauty stores/outlets and websites or the W7 website here.

Thanks for reading! Make sure to follow us on Instagram @sophielouisaxo and @bethxkate

xoxo,

Soph and Beth

♡

 

Batiste Stylist Range - Daisy Reviews♡

Batiste, the nation's hair hero found in handbags, bedrooms and bathrooms galore. With a brand new range of products hitting the shelves, I could not resist trying them out!

Batiste is a brand that I have always been loyal to. When my hair is looking tired, or I'm attempting to squeeze an extra few hours (or a day) in without washing my hair, a spray of dry shampoo really gives an oomph (along with an amazing scent!) 

Known for their award winning line of dry shampoos and plumping powder, Batiste have taken their products to the next level with their brand new Batiste Stylist range; a line of six products fit for all types of hair. The packaging and design now appears to be more sophisticated, yet still sassy. The line still features the ever bright, eye catching patterns staying true to the roots of the brand's vision. The newly released range includes: Smooth It Frizz Tamer, Oomph My Locks XXL Plumping Powder and XXL Volume Spray, Hold Me Hairspray, Texture Me Texturising Spray and Shield My Lock Heat + Shine Spray.

For the past week I have been trying out the XXL Volume Spray and Heat + Shine Spray.

Shield My Lock Heat + Shine Spray - 

Press Release - 'Keeps your locks looking hot without the heat damage with our 2 in 1 heat protection and shine spray. Shielding against heat up to 230 degress your locks will stay protected against even the hot styling tools'

For the past year, I've been obsessed with the Garnier The Sleek Resister Oil (coconut oil) for heat protection but after using this multiple times I may have changed my mind. What I much prefer about this is the fact that I can just lightly spray over my hair instead of spreading oil along the ends, usually resulting in sticky fingers! A few squirts before straightening resulted in soft, silky hair which is much more than I expected. Easy and effective, this is one product that I'm likely to go back and back to again, well done Batiste! 

Oomph My Locks XXL Volume Spray - 

Press release - 'Take your hair to new heights with this instant backcomb in a bottle. (---) Infused with Keratin and Inca Inchi Oil known to help strengthen and care so your big do stays healthy too.'

At first I was a bit hesitant about trying this as the Heavenly Volume Dry Shampoo really dried out my hair. Having excessively thick hair I had to be weary of the amount of product I was using so I didn't end up with a lion's mane! I was very happy to see that this product is definitely an improvement; my hair didn't feel dry and lifeless but still had a lift of volume. However, this did act well against my hair when I used it to add some height to a pony tail; the little extra I needed for my look. I wouldn't say this is my favourite product I've tried, you do get a lift of volume but not as advertised. I would consider purchasing, but would head straight to the rest of the range first.

Overall I am really impressed with the range, both the packaging and the product have proved that Batiste is more than a bottle of pick-me-up dry shampoo! The new visuals and branding are excellent, along with a fantastic and affordable range of products to make both you and your hair look and feel good.

Remember to share your summer styles on social media with #BatisteStylist.

Batiste Stylist Range is out now and exclusive to Boots, with products starting at £3.99.

Thanks for reading! Make sure to follow us on Instagram @sophielouisaxo and @bethxkate

xoxo,

Soph and Beth

♡

*This post includes press samples

Beth's Skincare Favourites - Soph & Beth Beauty ♡

Throughout all of the different seasons we need to keep our skin looking healthy and glowing. Your skin is very important and if you wear makeup you need to remove it properly, leaving your skin to feel amazing.

Depending on what type of skin you have will usually depend on what skincare products you will use. The different skin types are normal, oily, dry and sensitive but some people can have a combination. There are some web pages online which you can read about all of the different skin types and figure out which is most like yours, which will also help you when buying skincare products that are perfect for your skin. 

I have brought together some of my recent favourite skincare products, they are as follows... 

(from left to right) 'Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish', 'Soap and Glory Face Soap and Clarity', 'Garnier Moisture Matte' 

 Liz Ealre's 'Cleanse & Polish' hot cloth cleanser has really made a difference to my skin. I was given this product at BeautyCon London and haven't stopped using it since and will definitely be re-purchasing when its all gone. You pump the product in to your hand and then gently rub it on to your dry skin, then you put some slightly hot water on to the pure muslin cloth (which comes with the product) and rub that all over your face until the product is all off. You can pick this product up online from Liz Earle's website click here to visit the website or they also have a stand in most Boots shops. 

Soap and Glory's 'Face Soap and Clarity' is a 3 in 1 daily detox, vitamin c facial wash. For this you squeeze a small amount of product in to your hands and then apply all over your face, after applying wash off all of the product using some slightly hot water and a flannel if needed. To finish off the routine use eye cream, moisturiser and spot treatment if you need to. This can be found on the Soap and Glory website or in Boots shops and supermarkets, click here for the website. 

Garnier's 'Moisture Matte' is perfect to use after both products listed above as it finishes off both routines. Garnier do many different types of this moisturizer for all of the different types of skins, mine is in the green bottle and its for combination to oily skin. This product is oil-free which means that you aren't putting any more oil on to your face.  You apply this product morning and evening to give you the best results and smoother skin. This product can be found on Garnier's website, in many different supermarkets or in Boots and Superdrug. Click here for Garnier's website. 

(from left to right) 'Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water', 'Simple eye makeup remover'

If you want an easier way to remove makeup without having to use face washes both of these products make it alot faster. One of the hardest makeup products to remove is mascara, the Simple 'kind to eyes, eye makeup remover' makes is much easier to get off, you simply apply some of the product to a cotton pad and wipe over your closed eyes. 

The Garnier 'Micellar Cleansing Water' helps to remove all face makeup whilst cleansing and soothing at the same time. This product comes with 400ml which means you get 200 uses out of it! Its perfect for those days when you don't have much time to take your makeup off. Usually if people are in a rush they would just use a makeup wipe but that isn't helping your skin and you are still leaving product on your face, this product takes the same amount of time as using a makeup wipe and is much better for your skin. Click here for the link to 'Simple's' website and here for 'Garnier's' website. 

Thanks for reading! Make sure to follow us on instagram @sophielouisaxo & @bethxkate

xoxo, 

Soph and Beth

♡

The Youtube Industry Today - Soph and Beth Beauty ♡

February 14 2005, the day Youtube was born. Fast-forward 10 years later and Youtubers are at the top of the rise of the Youtube platform phenomenon. From blogging to books, travelling to touring, there is no stopping these social media stars!

Ever since the first video was posted (entitled 'Me at the Zoo', 19 seconds long), Youtube has grown globally and successfully reaching 3 billion unique users DAILY. Youtube is something that is so easy and is accessible to anyone, some people see it as a 'video library' containing anything and everything you want to watch. This success has formed careers for online creators, known as vloggers and youtubers. The friendly, now famous faces of stars such as Zoe Sugg ('Zoella') and Alfie Deyes ('PointlessBlog') are starting to be plastered over magazines and advertisements. 

Online stars such as Tyler Oakley, Connor Franta, Tanya Burr, Fleur De Force, Bethany Mota and Louise Pentland (sprinkleofglitter) have been making their earnings through various length videos following their daily/weekly schedule. Since gaining an online following, some stars have multiple channels for vlogs or gaming. All of this success has led to Youtubers releasing merchandise and makeup, going on various tours and most recently bringing out their own books. All these projects have created a new online industry founded by the most popular Youtubers.  

Beth's collection of Youtube books. (from left; The Glam Guide, Fleur DeForce, Love Tanya, Tanya Burr, Girl Online, Zoe Sugg, The Pointless Book, Alfie Deyes, A Work In Progress, Connor Franta and Life With A Sprinkle Of Glitter, Louise Pentland).

Over the past year publishers have been working with Youtubers to release their own books. From novels by the likes of Zoe Sugg to beauty books by Louise Pentland and Fleur de Force, a personal memoir by Connor Franta to a light hearted creative DIY by Alfie Deyes. The genre range has been as wide as the variety of Youtube channels. The best selling book smash doesn't end there. Later this year the highly anticipated 'Binge' by Tyler Oakley and 'The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire' by Youtube duo Dan Howell (danisnotonfire) and Phil Lester (AmazingPhil) both being released in August. 

Beyond books, Youtubers have started to release products such as their own fragrances. (Above; Bethany Mota for Aerpostale Fragrance and Blissful Mistful, Zoella Beauty range @ Superdrug). Various vloggers have taken another path, for example Jim Chapman has brought out his own range of stationary items for budding bloggers, called 'James & Friends'. Many of these stars have only been posting videos for a few years, with videos becoming higher quality as the years go by. Without their subscribers and fans, most of them would be working in an average working environment as at the end of the day, they are normal people who chose to start talking to a camera with a bit of editing here and there. 

The production line is not the only industry that has taken interest in Youtubers. Film and music producers have included stars in their work, with Brit Joe Sugg and fellow vlogger Caspar Lee partaking in the lastest Spongebob animated movie. Sponsorship is also a big deal with the likes of Coca Cola and Starbucks paying large sums for advertising in videos, or even beauty companies paying just to have their brand or product mentioned in one short video!

As Youtube continues to grow along with its army of Youtubers and fans, we see development in society trends and technology daily, who knows what could happen next?

                              Happy 10 years of Youtube, here's to the next 10!

Thanks for reading! Make sure to follow us on instagram @sophielouisaxo & @bethxkate

xoxo, 

Soph and Beth

♡

Flash Sticks (French Beginners) - Daisy Reviews♡

Languages are such an important skill to have, for communication and understanding. Whether they are used for education, jobs or daily life, learning another language can help use with so many things.

The lovely people at Flash Sticks were kind enough to send us a pack of one of their great products. Flash Sticks aim to help learning a new language in a multitude of ways, with 8 languages available. (English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Mandarin & British Sign Language)

Each pack contains 100 unique words, that come with pronunciations & the colour of each indicates whether the word is a masculine noun, feminine noun or another word type.  The packs also come in three skill levels; Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced so they are definitely suitable for all education levels.

*(Sorry for the very poor photo quality, due to our rooms being redone the cameras had to be stored away, so we had to use our iPhones!)*

As I have been learning French as part of the KS3 curriculum for almost three years now, I knew almost all the verbs in the Beginner pack. However, Beth has been learning German so we could use these Flashsticks to provide her with some basic vocabulary. 

I'm also taking French for GCSE next year, so using these has helped me to brush up on basic skills and spelling, and also pronunciation with the free Flashsticks app, available from the App Store. The app contains short pronunciation videos for single words, taught and spoken by a professional language tutor. As seen in the photo below, all you have to do is scan your chosen Flashstick and the video will appear. This app can easily help with preparation for speaking examinations, or to help with the ability to speak the language with confidence.

What I love about the product is that you can stick them anywhere you want, on the fridge, on a wall, on a door or even match up the word on the Flashstick to the object, e.g la chaussure = shoe so stick it on a shoe! This makes the product more fun and versatile compared to your normal flash card. The colour coding and pictures also make the product more appealing and easier to remember the term.

We will be doing a series of Instagram posts and blogs about how we get on with our Flashsticks packs, so stay updated! You can order your own pack of Flashsticks here from just only £4.99.

Thanks for reading! Make sure to follow us on Instagram: @sophielouisaxo & @bethxkate

xoxo, 

Soph & Beth 

♡