Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Hey Guys,  I have been getting so many people asking me what beauty products would I recommend they buy for their loved ones for Christmas so I thought I would do a quick post with some great deals on great quality products I love. All these items are available to be delivered before Christmas at the time of writing.

Anastasia Beverly Hills 6 Piece Liquid Lipstick set £34

Available here.

This full size liquid lipstick set is a complete bargain. It has a value of £120 if you bought the lipsticks separately. I love all the shades bar the blackened teal one but in all honesty even if that shade was never used it is still a total bargain! Also at the moment if you buy any lip gift sets from the ABH website you will get a free makeup bag. 

Beauty Bay Going Out Out Eyeshadow Palette £21

Available Here.

If you haven't heard of these 42 colour eyeshadow palettes from beauty bay where have you been? They were released a few months ago and the beauty community went mad because of the high quality shadows for such an affordable price. They usually retail for £30 so when I seen this one on sale for £21 I had to include it because this really is a bargain that any makeup lover would appreciate.

Real Techniques After Party Gift Set £19.99

 Available at Superdrug here.

If the person you are buying for loves makeup then you cannot go wrong by buying them some new makeup brushes. Real techniques are such an affordable brand that you can always rely on for good quality products. The limited edition After party set is a bargain at £19.99 and includes 6 brushes as well as the iconic Real techniques beauty sponge. 

Real Techniques Everyday essential set £19.99

Available at Superdrug Here. 

Another great set from Real techniques. This one includes 4 of their most popular brushes, all which are my favourites I use all the time. Also included is the miracle complexion sponge. The blush brush alone retails for roughly £10 so this is a total bargain. Look out for some amazing deals On Real techniques in Superdrug and Boots at the moment including a free Pixiwoo book or foundation brush when you spend £12.

VeeBeautyLdn Cruelty Free natural Skincare

If you have a loved one who is vegan or loves cruelty free products and you are not sure what to get them I highly recommend products from VeeBeautyLdn. I recently reviewed some products from Vee's range (you can read review here) and loved them especially the Clarifying mask which would make a perfect gift because it is suitable for all skin types.

You can shop VeeBeautyLDN products here.

Jessup 15 Piece Makeup Brush Set £19.08

Available here.

Yes I know I know even more brushes! You guys know I am a sucker for good brushes. To be fair 'what brushes are affordable and good quality?' is one of the most asked questions I get from you guys. I have reviewed these brushes from Jessups a few months ago and since then have bought myself even more and have not been disappointed. They wash far better than my Zoeva ones and do not shed at all so I highly recommend. If you search Jessup brushes on Amazon you will find a range of different sets to choose from.

Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Eyeshadow palette £39

Available Here.

Everyone has been going mad for the James Charles x Morphe palette recently and rightly so it is beautiful (not that I would know because I STILL haven't managed to get my hands on it *cries*) but I still genuinely believe the Jaclyn Hill palette is absolutely beautiful and worth every penny. It is suitable for everyone regardless of makeup abilities and has such a varied range of shades so you can create endless amounts of looks with it. Perfect gift for a makeup artist or someone who loves to create a range of different eye looks.

Morphe 9B and 9C Eyeshadow Palettes £12

9B Available here.

9C Available here.

If you are not looking to spend as much money or wanting a smaller gift these new 9 Pan palettes from Morphe are brilliant. They are perfect for travel and at just £12 for 9 good quality eyeshadows you really cannot complain. The colours in these palettes are just beautiful and I love that you can create a nice natural day time look or a full on glam evening look with each palette.

9B

9C

Glamglow Gravity Mask Set £20

Available Here.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I seen some of the deals on the Glamglow website at the moment. I have always been a fan of their facemasks but their gravity mask is definitely my all time favourite. If you want a full review just search Glamglow in the blogs search bar but in short this mask literally makes you look 10 years younger in 10 minutes. I know that sounds absolutely crazy but it really is like magic. The only off putting thing is that a jar of the mask can cos you around £50 so when I seen this set with a RRP of £51 on sale for £20 I just had to tell you guys about it. I guarantee if you buy this set for a colleague or loved one you will be in their good books all year!

At this price I think you should buy one for you as well as a friend.

Last but not least this one will not come as a surprise to you....

Superdrug Vitamin E Skincare Range

Available Here. Prices vary.

If you have came into contact with me at all recently whether in person or via social media then there is a good chance I have raved about the Vitamin E skincare range from Superdrug. As I am still working on a full review I wont bore you here with it also but please just trust me....if you buy these products for your loved ones they will be seriously chuffed. This range seems to work wonders for everyone regardless of skin type or age and the best things is it is so affordable. I have bought the range for a couple of friends for Christmas and it was roughly £20 for all items needed for a good basic skin care routine.

I hope this post has given you some ideas on what to buy your loved ones. Remember if you ever have any questions on products feel free to give me a message and I will do what I can to help you!

Id love to know what Beauty Gifts you have asked for this Christmas let me know down below!

Thirtyandmakeupmad

xx

*All pictures bar VeeBeautyLDN and Vitamin E skincare which are my own are from websites linked*

Cruelty Free, Chemical Free Skincare

 You guys regularly ask me to try out more Cruelty free, natural skincare and makeup brands so I was pleased when Vee from VeeBeautyLdn contacted me to ask me to try out some of her products. All VeeBeautyLdn products are cruelty free and contain 100% natural ingredients, all sourced within the UK.

When Vee contacted me I was dubious whether I would actually be able to try the products myself because of my numerous allergies and sensitive skin. Most natural brands contain some kind of nuts especially coconut which I am severely allergic to. I browsed the website and was really pleased to see all products had a full ingredient list and although many did contain nuts of some kind there were three items that didn't, the Clay mask, Hair & Scalp Nourishing Oil and Rose gold elixir.

Clarifying Clay Mask £16.95 Available here

I was excited to use this mask because I am obsessed with the Loreal Clay mask, turns out I love this mask way more than the Loreal one as does my teenage daughter. Both of us hate the way the loreal one feels so tight on the skin when drying but the VeeBeautyLdn one doesn't do that. It still dries down properly and does a great job of unblocking pores and giving a good deep cleanse, just without that tight uncomfortable feeling. It also washes off really easy if you just place a hot face clothe over you face to let it melt then just wipe away. All other clay masks I have tried have required me to really rub at my skin to get it off which I hate doing because my skin is so sensitive. Its also not great for your skin to have to really scrub a product off so I am super pleased I found this mask.

Hair & Scalp Nourishing Treatment £18.95 Avaliable Here

I don't have a lot to say about this product at the moment as I got it for my daughter who suffers with alopecia and she is still testing it out to see if it helps with hair growth. What I can say now is a small amount rubbed through the ends of your hair makes it look so shiny and healthy so will definitely be continuing to use this myself even if my daughter doesn't find it helpful.

Rose Gold Elixir £22.95 Available here

Beauty oils are massively on trend in the beauty community at the moment. It seems nearly every brand is bringing one out. I love a good oil  for my extremely dry skin, especially in this super cold weather in Scotland. If you have read the blog for a while you will know my eyes are extremely sensitive and I have had problems with lots of different facial oils in the past irritating my eyes even though I never put oils anywhere near them. Thankfully I am completely fine with this one, it does not irritate my eyes at all. I either use it before I go to bed to hydrate my skin over night or put a drop in my foundation to give a nice dewy look. As the brand prides itself on being all natural this oil along with the others I have talked about have no added perfumes or artificial scents, meaning they are less likely to irritate sensitive skin. I will admit the first time I used the oil my face went extremely red and I was worried I was allergic, Until I discovered you are only supposed to use a couple of drops  (I used a massive handful oops- lesson learnt)

I've said it in a previous post but I am really loving discovering indie brands at the moment. The quality of product and packaging from VeeBeautyLdn would cost a bomb from a highend brand so its a big thumbs up from me. 

If you give any products from VeebeautyLdn a go please let me know I'd love to hear your thoughts!

*This is not a paid post but the products mentioned were sent to me in PR*

Thirtyandmakeupmad

xx

Lets Talk about Makeup - Lewis Hannah MUA

Hey Guys! I'm back today with another interview in the Lets talk about makeup series. Today's interview is courtesy of 14 year old Makeup artist Lewis Hannah from Glasgow. I came across Lewis on Facebook and immediately loved his passion and creativity and I'm sure you guys will love him too. What/Who Started your interest in Makeup? I’ve always dabbled in my mums makeup when she was out I was not influenced by anyone to start i just loved itI got my first technic 9 colour pallete for £1.50 & started playing with my flat brush

Who are your Inspiration's in the industry? Id definitely say Jamie Genevieve She’s such a big inspiration to me & i hope i can inspire someone as much as she inspired me

Although some of the best MUA’s in the industry are men there still seems to be some discrimination against male artists especially from certain brands. Is this something you have came across? Have all your friends and family been supportive?Definitely i have came across homophobic behaviour. I’ve been bullied for makeup but i’d say im a very resilient person so this makes me want to be who i am even more soall my family and friends have been so supportive , If anyone is negative, they’re not who i thought they were...

What are your career goals? To Be a successful makeup artist & youtuber & for my story to inspire The public.

What 3 products could you not live without? 3 Products i couldn’t do makeup without is - Mac studio fix nc30 ( you can see me wear this foundation in EVERY pic i post. I go through it like water

Plouise base in shade 2

Mac mineralise skin finish in dark deep.

If you could only use one makeup brand forever what brand would it be? Definitely Mac. I’ve always walked past mac stores when i was wee and dreaming of buying it & To be able to use it for my kit for my lovely clients

What the best makeup hack you have learnt? Using tape for Eyeliner & sharp shadow . it’s helped me so much to get that sharp liner!

Whats your opinion on Self taught artists vs Accredited artists? I feel like self taught Muas are just as good, but the title “ qualified mua” puts clients at ease so they know they’re going to a “professional“
But id say self taught muas makeup for the lack of qualification for the shit hot makeup skills. people like to kiss up to qualified muas but they forget some of the biggest muas,  Plouise herself is self taught. If you were to give one piece of advice to someone who wants to publish their work on social media but is afraid what would you say? I’d say do it & be you on social media. People are always going to be unhappy no matter what you do, so defo suit yourself & Pop ur tutorials on youtube , instagram & do a live on facebook & kill Don't forget to go and follow Lewis (all links below).

You can follow Lewis via the following links - Instagram Facebook Twitter Coming up next - Superdrug Vitamin E Skincare review!!

Thirtyandmakeupmad

xx

Indie Brands I have fallen in love with.

If you have been a reader of the blog for a while you will know I have always strongly believed when it comes to buying makeup, eyeshadows is where you need to spend your money to get good quality, long lasting, pigmented products. Recently I have had that theory blown put of the window by two amazing Indie brands.

Before we start lets get one thing straight. This is not a paid post. Neither brands I am going to talk about have paid me. I have been send some PR, but that was after I had been buying products for myself and have continued to do so. I know most of you wouldn't expect me to prove myself but I know with all the drama in the beauty community at the moment you guys don't know who to trust. All I can say is if I am paid to review a product I love, believe you me you will know about it because I will be shouting it from the roof tops because that's the dream right?. 

If you follow me on social media it will not be a surprise to you that the two brands I am talking about today are Olivia Belle beauty & Linsey Douglas MUA,s own brand.

Linsey Douglas MUA

I first came across Linsey Douglas on Plouise's Takeover group a few months ago. People were raving about her pigments and glitters that start at just £1. I was really sceptical but thought for the price it was worth buying some to try out. When I received them I could not believe the quality for such a low price point and immediately ordered more.

I've since tried out her eyeshadows in the Limited edition Candy palette and have been blown away with how pigmented they are and how easy to blend. I have just ordered her second eye shadow palette which is all matte bright shades!! I cannot wait to get my hands on it and show you guys what looks I create with it. (You can have a look and buy Linseys new palette here for £25)

Linsey also sells beautiful Liquid lipsticks for £5! Yes £5. They are really pigmented and not drying at all which I love. She has also today gave a sneak peek on social media of new bullet lipsticks she is releasing soon. Exciting!

On her website Linsey also offers a monthly Glitter and Pigment subscription service, meaning you can collect her products for a reduced price and also limited edition products. More details can be found here.

You Can find Linsey here - 

Facebook

Facebook Beauty group

Instagram

Website

Wearing Linsey Douglas Lucky Pigment on eyes.

Linsey Douglas Candy Palette.

Linsey Douglas Ltd Edition Candy Palette

Linsey Douglas Ltd Edition Candy Palette

A Selection of Pigments and Glitters from Linsey Douglas.

I have a discount code for Linsey Douglas products. It is 'AUTUMN20' Please note this is not an affiliate code so I make no money from you using it. It is just to save you guys some cash :)

Olivia Belle Beauty

Olivia Belle Beauty is owned by the lovely Leanne. I came across her brand via Linsey's Facebook beauty group. People were raving about her eyeshadows and lashes so when she started a subscription service where you can pay to be send a mixture of her products for a discounted price I thought I would give it a go. The subscription includes different products every month and the price differs depending on what products are included. To buy, you have to go to her website and buy each month. I love this because it gives you the option to miss a month or two if money is tight. You also have no idea what products you will be receiving which is so exciting for a makeup lover like myself, especially when she includes limited edition products.

In recent weeks I have been using Olivia Belle lashes, eyeshadows and gel liners constantly and love them all. I am particularly in love with the 'Chelsea' lashes. I struggle putting lashes on and these really were the easiest lashes I have ever worked with. I have reused the same pair numerous times (Too stingey to open a new pair) and as you can see from pictures below they still look like new. I am also totally converted to white liner after using the white Gel liner. Every time I have tried nude or white liners in the past it just hasn't stayed in my water line and wasn't very pigmented so looked like I have no liner on. You can see in the pictures below this liner is really pigmented and also doesn't budge throughout the day. It also comes off really easy when you are removing your makeup at the end of the day which I was glad about because I hate having to really rub at my eyes to remove makeup.

The eyeshadows I have tried from Olivia Belle are in palettes, although they do single pans also. I was literally blown away when I received the Subscription palette (shown in pictures below). Those warm red, orange & yellow tones are right up my street. If I could create a palette it would look exactly like this one. Although swatches I have included aren't brilliant (my daughter done these!) you can see just how pigmented they are with just one swipe. You can also see from the unedited pictures of the looks I have created using this palette just how beautiful these shades look on the eyes.

You can see in pictures below and on social media some other products I have bought from Olivia Belle but I am saving these to include in a giveaway for you guys so will talk about them nearer the time.

Like Linsey, Leanne is expanding her brand with lots of new exciting products in the works. I am so excited to see what is to come.

Olivia Belle White & Purple gel Liners.

Olivia Belle Sassy Lashes.

Olivia Belle Subscription Palette swatches.

Olivia Belle Sassy lashes & Subscription Palette

Olivia Belle Gel liners, Mystery Palette & liquid highlight.

Wearing Olivia Belle Chelsea Lashes

Wearing Olivia Belle Chelsea Lashes and subscription palette on eyes.

You Can find Olivia Belle Beauty here - 

Facebook

Facebook Beauty Group 

If you join The Olivia belle VIP group you get access to a 25% discount code for members only!

Instagram

Website

Overall, I have nothing bad to say about these brands. What really makes both of them stand out from the thousands of other brands is the fact both Linsey & Leanne go out of their way to support not only each other but hundreds of other mua's and brands via their beauty groups. It is very rare you will see a makeup brand (or any brand in fact) support and promote another brand selling the same products. 

Let me know if you guys buy anything from these lovely ladies and their amazing brands and what you think! Nothing better than #womensupportingwomen. Lots of products from both brands will be included in my Christmas Giveaway!

Also please let me know if there are any other indie brands you think I should check out! I think its time smaller brands got the recognition they deserve.

Love you all <3

Thirtyandmakeupmad

xx