Decluttering my Makeup Basket

I have this basket on top of my beauty chest of drawers, and it's supposed to hold my most used makeup (with the rest going in the top drawer). This just makes things easier to find and saves time in the morning. However, over time, more and more products are added to it, making it a cluttered mess! If I buy a new product, it'll end up in the basket. If I take something out of the top drawer, it'll end up in the basket. And yes, even hair ties end up in the basket.  So, after being strict with myself and having a good sort out, what has made the cut? 

No lip products have because they live in a lipstick container next to the basket. 

My MUA Cover & Conceal Concealer has, as well as a tube of Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer for blemishes. On a side note, how rubbish is the packaging of this? It's a new tube, and yet the black writing has already rubbed off! 

My chosen powder is The Body Shop's All-in-One Face Base in 02 because it gives a little coverage and a silky, matte finish. 

Moving on to cheek products (I'm going through this in the order I do my makeup!). I've decided to have NYX's Cream Blush in Natural in there, as well as two Dainty Doll Powder Blushes in You Are My Sunshine and Money Talks. You Are My Sunshine is a pinky peach with golden shimmer (it looks nothing like it does in the photo), and Money Talks is a cool toned brown. It's shimmery, so I don't use it as a bronzer, but it's a nice alternative shade for blush. 

ELF's Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light has also made the cut, which is no surprise! It's all I use on my brows. 

For lining my lower lash line, I've chosen a few products. NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Iced Mocha is very well loved, as you can see! And I've also chosen Maybelline's Colour Tattoos in On & On Bronze and Permanent Taupe. Permanent Taupe is matte, so I use this when I'm not in the mood for shimmer. 

I've chosen Rimmel's Scandaleyes Eyeliner in Nude for when I wish to line my waterline. I don't do this every day because it hasn't lasted well the last few times I've used it, but it's supposed to make your eyes appear bigger and brighter, and I'm all for that! 

Then, when I have the patience, I'll use L'Oreal's Perfect Slim Super Liner. I'm too lazy to use it on a day to day basis, though! 

Lastly, Maybelline's The Rocket Mascara is my current everyday mascara. I think I ended up with 6 in my basket! And although I used them all, I've decided to use one up at a time.

Do you keep your everyday makeup separate from the rest? If so, do you slowly add other products to the mix so it gradually becomes cluttered like mine?

Summer Makeup Routine - Reviews and Swatches

The weather has clearly had an effect on my makeup choices, and without realising, I've changed my taupes and berries for bronzes and peaches! So, here's what I've been wearing over the last month or so:

I've been starting off using my MUA Cover & Conceal Concealer in Fair. I've actually been using this for about 6 months, and for £1.50, think it's pretty good! It has a light to medium coverage, and a dewy finish.

I've then been using my Look Beauty Mattify Me Powder to control any shine. I'm not fussy when it comes to powders; this is just the one I'm using up at the moment!

For brows, I use my trusty ELF Eyebrow Kit in Medium. In the Winter, I use the wax because it's darker, but in the Summer, I use the powder, which is lighter and warmer in tone.

To add some definition to my lower lash line, I've been using Maybelline's Colour Tattoo Eyeshadow in On and On Bronze. When it's colder, I tend to gravitate towards taupes and dark browns, but I've been loving this for the warmer months. 

Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Nude is what I've been using on my waterline. This just brightens and makes my eyes appear bigger.

Then, I've been using my new favourite mascara - Maybelline's Rocket. I love every Maybelline mascara I've tried, and this is no exception. It does everything a mascara should without clumping a single bit. Great stuff.

I've used the flash for this photo so you can see the shades better! I like to change up my blush a little, and these are the three I've been using the most recently. 

NYX's Cream Blush in Natural is an all time favourite, whatever the weather. 

Dainty Doll's Powder Blush in You Are My Sunshine is a peachy pink with fine gold shimmer running through it (super pretty), 

and MUA's Lolly Powder Blush has been my go to orange blusher. 

Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar in Juicy Peach, Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Peach on the Beach, Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Fuchsia-ristic, MUA Power Pout in Justify, Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in Coral Tonic, Collection (2000) Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Cream in Fairy Cake, and Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Pink Blossom.

Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar in Juicy Peach, Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Peach on the Beach, Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Fuchsia-ristic, MUA Power Pout in Justify, Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in Coral Tonic, Collection (2000) Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Cream in Fairy Cake, and Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Pink Blossom.

As you can see, I change my lip products up a lot more frequently! And you can also see I'm going through a peach/coral phase. How pretty are they all? I'm going to have some individual posts on a few of these because they deserve some attention!



So, that's the makeup I'm currently wearing. I have swatches of the blushes, Colour Tattoo, and Scandaleyes eyeliner on my blog already, so just search for them in the search bar to your left :)

Blush Comparison: Dainty Doll You Are My Sunshine and Sleek Rose Gold

Flash: Dainty Doll You Are My Sunshine, Sleek Rose Gold

Flash: Dainty Doll You Are My Sunshine, Sleek Rose Gold

Natural light: Dainty Doll You Are My Sunshine, Sleek Rose Gold

When my Fragrance Direct order arrived and I opened Dainty Doll's You Are My Sunshine powder blush, I realised how similar it was to Sleek's Rose Gold. In the pans, You Are My Sunshine looks more pink than Rose Gold, but when swatched, Rose Gold leans pinker. However, once blended out, they're very similar. Dainty Doll's offering usually retails for £13.50, but it's currently just £1.99 on Fragrance Direct. Sleek's blushes are £4.49, and can be bought in Superdrug and Boots, so are more easily available. Rose Gold is more pigmented than You Are My Sunshine, but the latter is silkier. At the moment, I prefer the Dainty Doll blush, but that could be because it's a new product to me. Both blushes are so beautiful, though.

Do you own either of these blushes? And have you ordered any Dainty Doll products from Fragrance Direct yet?

Dainty Doll on Fragrance Direct

Top row: Cream blushes in Billion Dollar Babies 003, Paper Roses 001 and Orange County Girl 002

Bottom row: Powder blushes in Money Talks 003, My Girl 002 and You Are My Sunshine 004

Powder blushes in Money Talks 003, My Girl 002 and You Are My Sunshine 004, cream blushes in Billion Dollar Babies 003, Paper Roses 001 and Orange County Girl 002

 I was browsing Fragrance Direct at the weekend when I came across some Dainty Doll cosmetics. After a quick search on Twitter and Google, other bloggers found them on the website a couple of weeks ago, but I had completely missed the mentions! I was expecting to find ugly shades that couldn't be flogged anywhere else, but was pleasantly surprised when I looked at the cream and powder blushes, which were selling for just £1.99 each. I ended up buying 6 of the shades, oops! But all of these came to less than one would originally cost. Also, none of the other products interested me. I don't wear foundation or eyeshadow, and the lipstick shades didn't appeal to me. And, although all 6 are labelled as blushes, I'm going to use one of the creams and one of the powders as bronzers. When opening them, I noticed that each shade of the creams matches with one of the powders, so I can set them, ensuring they last all day. My first impressions are good. I love the colours, and the powder blushes are soft and pigmented. The cream blushes aren't as creamy or pigmented as my NYX ones, but neither are the other cream blushes I own. Their pigmentation isn't bad though, and can easily be built up. Some may see this as a good thing because you're less likely to give yourself clown cheeks!



Have you ordered any Dainty Doll bargains from Fragrance Direct?