Beauty: Long Lasting Makeup for Teachers in the Middle East

As mentioned previously, I'm a teacher. A teacher who LOVES make up I might add. So I thought it may be useful to blog about the make up products I use on a daily basis when I am at work. I literally do not have any time to reapply my make up throughout the day, let alone any breaks! Since I have lived in Oman, I have switched up some of my make up products to make sure whilst my skin is comfortable, it also lasts throughout the day.

So what do I use?

I will list the products below in order of how I apply them and what they are used for.

#1. Skindinavia Primer Spray - After I have applied my skincare, I will lightly spritz my skin with this to prepare my skin for my make up application.

#2. MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Peach Lustre - I use this to colour correct underneath my eyes and any other dark areas of hyperpigmentation on my skin.

#3. MAC ProLongwear Concealer in NC35 - I lightly dab concealer on top of the colour correct areas.

#4. Garnier BB Cream OR Bobbi Brown BB Cream in Medium - I then apply a small peas sized amount all over my face and neck. Then I go back with the MAC concealer to make sure my base is flawless.

#5. MAC Master Concealer in 8.5 - I use a Morphe  brush and mark my cheek contour.

#6. Benefit Watts Up Cream Highlighter - I swipe this on my cheek bones and bridge of my nose and blend into my skin.

#7. Max Factor Soft Touch Cream Blush in Soft Copper - I LOVE cream blush for a more natural and glowy appearance. I use the small e.l.f. stippling brush and tap this onto my cheeks and blend in with my contour.

#8. Jouer Rose Gold Powder Highlighter - I use the Zoeva #134 brush to apply this on top of t he cream highlight. It's such a natural highlight, I love it!

#9. IsaDora Liquid Eyeliner in Black/Brown - I apply this to the top of my eyes.

#10. Eyeliner pencil  - I haven't listed a brand as I use loads and it depends on what colour I am feeling that day! But I apply this on my lower lash line.

#11. L'O'real Feline Mascara - this is a dupe for the Benefit Rollerlash mascara. It lifts and curls your lashes so well. I apply a few coats to the top and bottom of my lashes.

#12. NYX Mahogany Lipliner  - Again it depends on what colour I am feeling that day but more recently I have been wearing this combination.

#13. Rimmel Only Matte Lipstick in 700 ( Trendsetter) - I am not a fan of this alone and this works well with Mahogany and Mauve Squad to give a muted nude-mauve lip colour that goes with pretty much every look.

#14. Smashbox Mauve Squad Liquid Lipstick - I layer this over the lipstick and it is GORGEOUS!

#15. Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray - I spritz this over my makeup a few times to ensure it is set and lasts all day. I can vouch that it does last all day. However if I wear MAC Kohl, that eyeliner does tend to smudge. So I usually opt for Sephora, L.A Girl or Urban Decay eyeliners.

Sometimes I may apply RCMA powder to define my contour more but if I am honest it is quite rare on a school day! I do pack a mini Skindinavia Finishing spray with me but I never use it...I don't need to, but also I don't have time. I also pack my lipsticks but again very, very rarely top it up unless I am heading out after school.

I have to say that the Skindinavia sprays are a life saver here in Oman, they work so well! I am constantly repurchasing them as they make a huge difference to the longevity of my makeup. Also, I don't use foundation or anything that is thick on my face as my skin does not agree with it and also it is not good for this climate. I prefer to apply a face of natural looking makeup.

I hope you found this useful. Which products do you use to keep you makeup long lasting on your face?

Love Sara x

Products I'm diggin' at the mo'...

I was reading through some beauty blogs earlier and saw this on MeLoveMakeup's Beauty blog and I thought it would be a quick but cool blog to do.

Face
*Cleanser: Neutrogena Invigorating Face Wash
*Toner: Rosewater (bought from supermarket and transferred to a Muji spritzer bottle)
*Cream/moisturizer: Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturiser and Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser in Sand
*Facial mask: I alternate between The Body Shop Blue Corn Deep Cleansing Mask and Soap and Glory The Fab Pore Facial Peel
*Exfoliator: Neutrogena Invigorating Facial Scrub
*Make-up remover: Neutrogena Oil Free Makeup Remover

Body
*Shower gels/soaps: Imperial Leather Body Wash in Cotton Extract and Oat Milk
*Body lotions/creams: Johnsons 24hr Radiance
*Anticellulite/firming treatment: The Body Shop- Body Focus Cellulite Serum and Toning Massage Oil
*Body exfoliator: The Body Shop - Round Body Brush
*Hand cream: Johnson's 24hr
*Lip balm or lip treatment: Palmer's Cocoa Butter/Blistex Relief Cream
*Perfume: Ralph Lauren Romance/Sundus Arabian Perfume Oil/Arabian Oud Perfume Oil - 1000 Flowers

Hair
*Shampoo/conditioner: Superdrug Henna and Chestnut
*Mask or other treatments: Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Rejuvenating Masque/Body Shop Monoi Oil

Make-up
*Foundation/Tinted Moisturiser: Laura Mercier Foundation Primer and Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser in Sand
*Blush: Nars Madly
*Lipstick/lipgloss: Rimmel Nude Delight or Rimmel Foxy with Barry M Glossy Tube No4
*Eyeshadow: Body Shop Shimmer Cubes Palette 06
*Mascara: Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara
*Eyeliner: Shu Uemura Painting Liner in M Black

I have been using all of these more or less within the past 6 months with some alternatives ( depending on my mood/outfit) :)

I hope you enjoyed reading...

Peace out

Look Of The Day: Smoky

Heya Girlies...

Well I was practising bellydancing earlier and thought I would experiment with a smoky look before shimmying away :P
I usually like to wear neutral colours on my eyelid and then line my bottom lashline with a coloured eyeshadow/liner. I used a combination of products from a range of brands to come up with this look. It actually reminds me of Kim Kardashian's smoky eyes look.




Makeup products used: ( No primer used as I forgot to prep my eyelids before application)

Face:

*Body Shop Nature's Minerals Foundation in 04 and 05

*Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in No 2

*Body Nature's Minerals Blush in Golden Terracotta


Eyes:

* Body Shop Minerals Eye Shadow in Molten Brown

* Barry M Dazzle Dust in 27 (Gold Iridescent)

* Hashmi Kajal Liner in Black

* Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara


Lips:


* Dermalogica Climate Control Lip Treatment

* No 7 Lipliner in Nude

* Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight

* Barry M LipGloss Tube in 004




I hope you like the look and I am looking forward to experimenting with more colours. Apologies if the photo's aren't that great I had to use photobooth!

Peace and love,

My Makeup Routine.

Hey my lovelies,
Sorry for such a delayed post things have been quite busy with starting a second job...
This post will be discussing my current makeup routine - products that I love using at the moment!

So after I have carried out my cleanse, tone and moisturise ritual I apply:



LM Oil Free Foundation Primer (please not I do not wear foundation...ever). A MUA in Selfridges tried this product on me when she was matching me to a TM and I just loved how flawless and smooth my skin looked. I apply a pea sized amount to my face to moisturise and allow it to sink in.



MAC Moisturecover Concealer NW25 - I use this for underneath my eyes as I find that it is light enough and provides an excellent eye brightening effect.



MAC Select Concealer NC42 - I will dab this on any marks or blemishes and it really does provide excellent coverage.



LM Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser in Sand - The consistency of this TM is in between thin/thick. I personally think it is just right as with other TM's I have found them to be too light and of an ashy tone. I absolutely love the coverage it provides as well as how flawless my skin looks after application. (Also I have had this TM for almost a year and use it everyday and I am just coming to the end now!)



Kryolan Translucent Powder - I used to work in a makeup boutique in Covent Garden, 'B Never Too busy To Be Beautiful' and my colleague recommended me Kryolan aka Charles Fox Shop behind London Transport Museum. I usually swirl my face powder brush into the lid and tap of the excess powder which is enough to set the TM. It's light, colourless and sets the TM beautifully resulting in a radiant finish.



MAC Paint Pot in Painterly - When I ran out of my UDPP I decided I wanted to see what all the hype was about MAC Paintpots - Painterly in particular being a 'fab' eye primer. I have to say I do like it. It does keep my eyeshadow looking fresh all day but I have had for just over 6 months and it seems like it's going a little dry.



MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque - I LOVE this colour. It's so pretty and really compliments my skin tone which is fair-medium. I apply this with my finger as I find that I can blend it easily than with a brush, the application can be patchy.




Shu Uemura Drawing Liner in Black - Another product I highly rate. It is super smooth and a really intense black which glides on beautifully. I apply this with a fine tipped eyeliner brush I bought from the GOSH range in Superdrug.



Body Shop Eyelash Curler - I HAVE to curl my lashes and I really notice the difference when I don't. I can't compare as I have only used the Body Shop Eyelash Curler but it really is worth the investment :)



UD Big Fatty Mascara - I have been reaching out for this mascara at the moment. It delivers great colour, volume and curls wonderfully. I was a bit hmmm... about this mascara at first but I figured that it was how I applied it. Technique is so important!



UD 24/7 Glide On Eyeliner - Depending on my mood/outfit I'll reach for an UD 24/7 Glide on Eyeliner usually in a bright colour but lately I have been using Zero.



Nars Blush in Madly - This has definetly been my staple blusher for the past year. It is such a lovely colour - pinky brown and brightens up my complexion without a doubt. I love my blusher!!






Rimmel Lipstick in Foxy or Nude Delight - Again depending on my makeup/outfit I have been reaching for Rimmel's Lipstick in Foxy quite a bit and I love it. Especially if my eye makeup is neutral - a slick of Foxy looks lovely. If I wear colours on my eyes then I tend to use Nude Delight which is gorgeous!

I am so glad I have finally gotten around to completing this post. These are the products that I have been using pretty much for the past year. I do use other products in my makeup collection too but these are the ones I reach for mainly. Although I do have a feeling that now that colder months are here I will be changing my makeup routine - will keep you all posted though :)

*Please note that all photo's have been taken from google as I can't find my camera lead :( Hopefully will turn up soon!*

Peace and love,