Welcome Back Haul // BeautieCollected

Well, well, well... I guess I tried and failed the first time around, but I'm back!! I'm sorry again that the gaps have been so big and unexpected. I'm trying my best now I know I have definitely got some spare time to get motivated and start to blog again. I thought what better way to settle into the game than with a quick little haul. 

It was my birthday towards the end of June and on top of getting paid, I had some money to spend, so it's safe to say I definitely splurged this week.

I ran out of my face wash, and I took this opportunity to delve into some new products and give them a try. The one I have decided to try is the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Tangerine and Lime range, and so far so good! It leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft but not totally deprived of moisture. I definitely recommend you give it a try if you're on the market for a new skincare system.

I took a quick visit to Hollister, mainly because my friend was on the hunt for some clothes, but I thought I would try their body sprays. They all smell phenomenal, the one I bought is called Solana Beach and it smells very refreshing and it lasts all day!

Then of course, Lush came into the mix. (From left to right) I bought Dragon Egg, Twilight and Sex Bomb. I also got the You've been mangoed bath melt, however I've already used that right up! I've never tried these ones although they are highly raved about. So I will let you know how I feel about them!

I've needed a sugar scrub for the longest time. Even though the new Zoella range has come out and it includes one, this one from Boots was cheaper and I really like it so far. It's from their Extracts range and it's just a basic Mango sugar scrub. It feels so delicate yet scrubs very well, however it does leave a slight residue so it may be an idea to just rinse twice afterwards!

Then this is where the splurge begins! I went on a makeup binge and thought I'd just bite the bullet and try out some well raved favorites of almost every beauty blogger and vlogger ever! However, I did need new ones of all of these so it was a good opportunity. This is the Benefit Erase Paste concealer. I'm in the lightest shade and at the counter the girl put it on me and it works wonders for under eye circles! Highly recommend this one! 

At the counter to balance out my eyes she tried a little eyeliner. She asked me about colours and how I felt about trying something new. I was open to it and she tried the purple They're Real Push-Up Liner and I loved it! The colour isn't too bright but bright enough for you to notice, and it glides on so smooth.

Following that, she applied the They're Real mascara and I was pleasantly surprised about how it made my lashes look. it separates but makes them look unbelievable! A must try on anyone's list!

I have no excuse for this, other than I wanted to try it! This is the Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation. I haven't tried this yet but I will report back ASAP!

Another impulse buy! This is the Zoella Fizz Bar, I was just on a run of bath products and I thought, why not!

For my new concealer I bought a concealer brush, this is from So Eco and it's just a domed concealer brush, then I bought an angled brush for my brows!

Finally I bought the No7 Stippling brush for my foundation, and I'm yet to see how well this works!!

So there we have it, my week of splurging shared with you all! If you have tried any of these let me know what you think and let me know any other products I should try!

Till next time! Take Care

- Katie x

Healthy Breakfast Smoothie // BeautieCollected

So with summer rapidly approaching, it seems like it is the universal time for everyone to start their healthy eating kick and fitness routines. By the title of this post you can probably tell... I have too! With the weather getting better, ever so slightly, it is perfect motivation to start adapting my lifestyle to be healthier. With that being said; lets get into the post!

I splurged on a blender when I got paid this month, because I know if anything, smoothies will be the one thing that keeps me in check. I bought the Blend-Active blender, which I can do a review on in the coming weeks if that is something you'd be interested in, it has been my holy grail item for the past week and it's made healthy eating a lot more exciting and easy!

For breakfast most mornings I've been enjoying making a smoothie, not only is it filling because of the frozen fruits, but it also is a perfect way to kick start your five a day and to help you feel energised. Now I'm no nutritionist, but I can definitely say that since I've been having smoothies, I've felt so much more motivated and brighter.

Now onto the things you will need;

• Blender
• A bottle to drink your smoothie from, unless your blender doubles as this
• weighing scales
• Small bowls or anything to weigh your ingredients in
• Water - I prefer filtered but its totally up to you
• 100g Natural yoghurt
• 100g frozen Peach
• 100g frozen Pineapple
• 1 Banana

If you aren't a fan of these fruits then by all means switch them for some you do like, however be mindful of the combinations you make, some can end up very sour!

Step 1: You'll want to measure out your ingredients, using your scales measure out 100g of any frozen fruit you have, for this I used Peach and Pineapple which I got from a can and froze myself!You'll also want to weigh out your yoghurt, you can use greek yoghurt if you want, but this natural yoghurt works just as well for me. You can also quickly tear up a banana since it doesn't need measuring.

Step 2: Preparing to blend. Once you have measured out your ingredients you can go ahead and throw them into your blender, this includes all the fruit and the yoghurt. To top it off, add some water. You can gage this on how watery you want it to be, I usually add small amounts because it's easier to add than take away!

Step 3: Blend! Pop the lid onto your blender and blend this all together till it's smooth in consistency and all the chunks of fruit are gone! Add little bits of water if your blender struggles with the fruit, it gives it a bit more help.

Step 4: Enjoy! If your blender doubles as a drinking bottle then just exchange the lids and you're good to go, or pour it into a glass or a tumbler and you're ready to enjoy your smoothie.

This is probably my favourite recipe to date as it's creamy and smooth and very filling! I usually make this around 8-9am and drink it throughout the morning and definitely keeps me going till lunch time!

If you try this out definitely let me know how it goes and if you enjoy it! You can tweet me pictures to @BeautieCBlog with the hashtag #BeautieSmoothie (use it on instagram too and I'll have a nosey!)

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy the smoothie!

Until next time, Take care,

Katie x

MIA: Where Have I Been?! // BeautieCollected

Why hello everyone! It feels very strange to be sat back behind the keyboard doing other that 140 character tweets or extensive English coursework. I'm sure the first thing you're wondering, if anything at all, is "You haven't posted since January, where have you been?!"

To cut a long story very short, I've had the most hectic few months I could have ever imagined. Not only with college and work being where I spend 99.9% of my time, but with preparation for exams and coursework deadlines getting ever so close, I thought it was best I took a break. I will admit, I did have a lack of inspiration when it came to what to write and putting effort into my blog and all the little things that needed to be done. Therefore I feel it was easier to pass it off as "needing a break", however I didn't want to be posting rushed and boring posts that nobody was really going to enjoy reading. 

Although.. I AM BACK! I have 4 more exams which will be finished over the next 2-3 weeks and after that I am absolutely free for 3 months! This means I can put a lot more effort and time into my blog and hopefully make it something I continually enjoy, rather than it developing into a chore. Posts will still be slightly sparse whilst I get back into the rhythm of prep and posting, but you can expect at least one post a week from now on! How exciting!

That brings me to my next point; What do you guys want to see on my blog? I know everyone asks this and gets either no reply or the standard "makeup" "fashion" etc. However, along with the genre of posts, I'm wondering if there is any specific posts you would like me to do? I am really getting into lifestyle and health lately, so you can definitely expect some healthy eating posts and things that have worked for me. If you have any suggestions feel free to leave them in the comments below or tweet me @BeautieCBlog

Thank you to those of you that have stuck by my blog and I hope you're as excited as I am for new posts!

Until next time, Take Care,

Katie x

"New Year, New Me" // BeautieCollected

Hello everyone! It's been a while since I posted, and as it is the new year I thought what better way to start posting to my blog again than to do a "resolutions" type post. 

The phrase "New year, new me" is one of which I never use as I personally feel that just because the clock strikes midnight and it's a new year, doesn't mean you can just change at the drop of a hat. It's something that takes time, and if you really want it, you'll get there. Also "changing" is the worst word to use to describe it, as you can't really change who you are, it's more like growing to be a better person in whatever aspect it is you want to improve yourself on!

With that being said, I'm going to tell you my resolutions for 2015 and things I hope to accomplish by the end of the year!

• Lose Weight: Now I know this is a cliché and almost every man and his dog makes this resolution, which is fair enough however there isn't many people that stick to it, and it's one of the most common resolutions to be broken. I'm doing it personally because I need to. It will aid me in more ways that one to lose some weight and just overall become a lot more healthier with my food intake etc. So with this resolution in mind, in the close future I am hoping to post some lifestyle posts about how I'm doing and things that work for me, you can expect these to come towards the end of February as I need a bit of time to figure out what does work!
• Post More: I'm ideally wanting to get back into the swing of posting twice a week on my blog. It's going to be hard for a while as I have a lot of coursework and exam prep happening really soon. However by April I'm hoping to be on a 2 posts a week routine, sticking to the beauty and lifestyle theme I'm already on!
• Be Active: This kind of links with my first resolution of getting healthier and losing weight. I want to become more active, even if it's just meeting up with friends for a couple of hours, going out for a walk or a bike ride. Something to get me out of the house in my spare time, as right now, there isn't much of that happening!
• Learn to Drive: I'm turning 17 this year and one thing I really want to do by the end of this year is have driving lessons and *fingers crossed* pass my test! The fact I'll legally be allowed to drive a car scares me, but there is also that element where I just want to jump in and do it!
• Grow My Hair: Just before Christmas, I had my hair cut from being hip length to above my collarbones...yes I know, I almost cried. My hair was so damaged though so it needed a bit of life putting back into it. I know it's going to take more than a year to get it back to that length, however I'm hoping for it to be past my shoulders by this time next year!
• Pass My AS Levels: I'm currently studying A Levels and obviously one of my goals is to pass these to be able to go on to A2 and then make the jump from college to university in 2016!

So those are all of my resolutions I can think of just now. If I have any more I'll be sure to make a part two, if it's worth it! Let me know some of your new year's resolutions!

Take Care!

- Katie x

What's In My Makeup Bag?

I've never been one to carry a makeup bag around with me, purely because I never really carried a handbag either! But lately I've found that rather than rummaging through my collection everyday to reach for the same products, I should just put all my most used items in a makeup bag to make my life a whole lot easier! 

So this is my makeup bag, it is so tiny and I really do need to replace it but the fact that it's small means it fits in any size bag, for the most part! I bought it for £1 in a cheap shop in the UK, it's just a clear plastic makeup bag with a pink edging and pattern running across it. It fits just about anything and everything I need everyday in it!

Let's dive in, these are not in order of how I apply/wear them, it's just as I took it out!

The first thing I have is my foundation, if you follow my blog you'll know this is my favourite foundation to date! It's the Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 foundation. It covers everything and leaves a nice smooth finish to the skin. I have a review of this foundation already on my blog if you want to see a more detailed post all about it!

Next I have a clear mascara, this one I got from one of those teen magazines years ago. I use this simply to set my brows in place as it does a good job and doesn't leave them looking crispy and just tames them even more!

Then I have the Rimmel Match Perfection concealer. Although this isn't my go-to concealer any more, I keep it in my makeup bag as I like to use it to highlight areas of my face such as my cupids bow and the bridge of my nose. The coverage is also good and does help hide anything I don't want showing!

This is my favourite concealer to date, again if you follow my blog you'll know I adore this concealer! This is the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer, it really does cover everything you need it to and it makes your eyes brighter and it's just amazing. It doesn't really settle into fine lines and it's just an overall great concealer.

For my brows I use the MUA Pro-Brow Ultimate Eyebrow Kit in Dark. The shade is perfect for my brows and it doesn't smudge or wear off. This product alongside the clear mascara are a great duo and work perfectly together!

Mascara is a sensitive topic as I can never find one I am 100% happy with, although I can't say it's my all time favourite, it is the best I've used so far. This is the Maybelline Rocket Volume Mascara, I don't feel it gives my lashes much volume and they also don't look as thick as I'd like them to. If you have any recommendations please let me know!!

Another product which has been previously mentioned on my blog, the Rimmel Soft Kohl Eyeliner Pencil. I don't use this product too often but it is perfect for smudging along the lash line for a smokey look. This is my go-to product for those type of looks!

I don't wear this lipstick often but I keep it in as an option. This is the Collection Duluxe lipstick in 01 Prohibition. It's a great deep pink/berry colour for winter and adds to any natural makeup look for a pop of colour! I would definitely recommend this as an affordable lipstick.

I've moved away from loving the baby lips products by Maybelline. However I keep this one in my makeup bag just incase I forget a lip balm and I need to hydrate my lips before applying lipstick. The product is good but I'm not a huge fan anymore.

This is my all time favourite lipstick, I always wear this lipstick if I want just a subtle but still nude lip. This is the Kate Moss by Rimmel lipstick in the shade 08. It's a perfect deep peach colour (if that makes sense). I definitely recommend everyone has it in their collection, I can't get enough of it!

A lipstick which I carry that is also from Kate Moss by Rimmel is the lipstick in the shade 107. It is similar to the one I mentioned earlier by Collection, however this one is matte and is a lot darker. The lasting power is amazing and with a lip liner underneath it, it really completes a look.

I cannot stress to you guys enough how much I love this gel liner. This is the Maybelline EyeStudio Lasting Drama 24hr Gel Eyeliner. The brush it comes with really helps create the perfect winged look and it lasts for hours and hours! Really cannot get enough of this product!

Finally, although it doesn't fit in my makeup bag, it always sits right beside it. This is my beloved MUA Heaven and Earth palette. I do use other eyeshadows on a regular basis to switch up my look, however I've noticed that when I'm in a rush I always reach for this as my go-to palette.

So here are all the products I have in my makeup bag! I hope you enjoyed this insight into my most used products. Let me know what your favourite go-to products are and your opinions on any I have shared with you.

Don't forget you can follow me on bloglovin' and twitter (@kxtiecollected)

Take Care!

- Katie x

Favourite Winter Founadation // BeautieCollected

I've been such a slacker with my blog lately, which I do apologise for! Everything has cropped up and I haven't had time to sit and prepare or write any posts for you guys. However, I'm going to try my best to upload more frequently for you guys! So let me know any posts you'd like to see!

For the longest time I have struggled to find the perfect foundation for winter, because it's so cold so my skin gets even more dry that usual and it's just one hot mess! Although I think I've cracked my problem and found the perfect long lasting foundation and concealer combo for this winter!

Starting off with foundation, I featured this in my latest haul post, this is the Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation. This foundation leaves your face looking almost perfectly smooth (and yes I do suffer from acne at times) and it really evens out the complexion. I find that if I use a powder I end up looking slightly too matte and powdery as this finish is middle of the road between matte and natural. I would recommend only using a powder if you really need to.

For application, I use my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. It leaves the perfect finish for this foundation!

Concealer wise, I don't like anything too heavy, especially in winter. A current LOVE of mine right now is the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer. It helps brighten your under-eyes without it seeming too heavy or cakey! One issue I do have, is after a full day's wear (9am-5pm typically) it seems to lightly find it's way into my fine lines under my eyes. However, overall I would put up with that as the positives totally outweigh the negatives. 

To apply this, I use the tip of my miracle complexion sponge to help me get into the very corner of my eye and blend it in well!

On their own they work fabulously! But together they are a miracle-working match made in heaven! I definitely recommend you try out these products and let me know how you feel about them!

Also let me know what posts you would like to see! There will definitely be more frequent posts from here on out!

Take care!

- Katie x

Welcoming Winter Haul // BeautieCollected

So as winter is well on it's way, I decided this was the perfect excuse to go shopping to revamp my daily makeup...and because I wanted a seemingly valid excuse to shop! So I took advantage of Superdrug's 3 for 2 offer and dived straight into the makeup section without batting an eyelid! I also stopped by Boots quickly for a couple of bits! So here's a little winter haul for you all!

The first place I went was Superdrug, I've been having a lot of issues with my skincare lately! My old skincare routine, which was my first ever post, isn't really working for me with regards to the products I'm cleaning my face with as I keep breaking out when I've used them! So I thought I'd take advantage of a buy one get one free offer and try some Clearasil products! I haven't really seen Clearasil being raved about among the beauty community, but what I have heard of it has been good, plus I have used other Clearasil products before! So I thought I'd pick this one up!

This is the Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Gel Wash! It washes my face perfectly and leaves it smooth and soft. It also helps get any makeup left overs off if you haven't been able to remove it beforehand! As an acne sufferer, I would definitely recommend this to someone who also suffers, as well as to anyone that wanted to to try something new!

My biggest purchase came from Boots, which was this... the Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream perfume! I haven't had a new perfume in a long time so I thought I'd bite the bullet and get myself the small size of a popular one just to try it out. It is safe to say I really do like the scent of this perfume and it's lasting time is incredible! You do not need a lot at all and it stays all day!

To pair up with the gel wash, I picked up these Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Pads. I use these in the morning and evening after washing my face just to get rid of anything the face wash may have left behind. When using this I wouldn't recommend going to close to the under-eye circle area, as the 'fumes' from the product do tend to rise to the eye and can sting a little, but it won't hurt you!

I'm really bad when it comes to eyeshadow, I always need more and more, even if I have bought one two days ago I always need more! This is the MUA Undress Me Too palette!

 The colour range is amazing, how they all stay pretty neutral but the shimmer helps make them stand out and makes them unique to just your average nude palette! Having the black shade helps deepen any look, as with a light hand, it can look amazing at any time of the day!

The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge has been on my shopping list for a while but I have always put it off as I thought 'I already have a makeup brush, it won't even make a difference'... Believe me, it does! Anyone that hasn't used a good quality makeup sponge should definitely invest in this one! It leaves my foundation looking flawless and eliminates the streaks from using brushes!

My brows are a daily struggle, I thought I'd buy a cheap but cheerful brow palette just to help me in my morning battles.

I got this MUA Pro-Brow palette in Dark as my hair is naturally dark, and it comes with a mini brush and tweezers. I love using the mini brush for my brows as it is dense and helps get them done fast! I would definitely recommend this to someone that needs a good but cheap brow palette

This foundation has quickly become my favourite, no questions asked. This is the Max Factor FaceFinity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation. I finish of this foundation is perfect, it smooths out the skin leaving it look soft and helps even out the tone of the skin. The coverage is definitely on the higher end but is not cakey at all (if you apply it right - I use my sponge to apply this). I can't recommend this foundation enough!

I finally caved and picked up the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer. This concealer is perfect for blemishes and under-eye circles, pairing this with the Max Factor foundation, they create the dream team! The coverage isn't cakey at all but it gets the job done! I highly recommend this product!

I think many people would agree that this lipstick is a winter classic, it's the Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in the shade 107. It's a wonderful plum colour, however it does come out more red on the lips! This is definitely complementary on deeper and olive skin tones. But it would also look fabulous on a paler skin tone. I was told on several occasions on twitter chats that this is a must have for winter and I have been living with it on ever since! 

Another 'caving in' purchase! I needed to change up my mascara as my old one was way too old to use and became dry and clumpy very fast!

This is the Maybelline Rocket Volume Mascara, at first I thought this was too clumpy and wet with regards to its consistency, however I left it for a couple of days and after that it was perfect for me to use! I love the wand this mascara comes with also, as it doesn't load too much product on at one and you can really comb through the lashes! I definitely notice a difference with the volume of my lashes, this is also a perfect mascara for someone who likes a natural effect as you can build it up or leave it with one coat!

So there we have it, my welcoming winder haul! It doesn't seem like much looking at it now, but then I thought I'd bought out the whole shop! Let me know what your favourite winter products are and what you thing of the ones in this post if you have used them before!

Take Care!

- Katie x