The ‘Starting Over’ Tag…

Top O’ the morning Beauty Buddies…

(I bet you’ve read that in a cheery Irish accent, right? *grins*)

It’s Friiiiiiiday *happy dance* and of course it’s not just any old weekend – it’s Valentines weekend ❤ Whether you’re single & ready to mingle or perfectly paired, I wish you all a loved up few days ahead whatever your plans are. I’m off tomorrow night for a VIP showing *ooo err* of the much talked about 50 Shades of Grey movie. I’ll not need any blusher that’s for sure!! Of course with the leading actor (Mr Jamie Dornan) hailing from only a few miles up the road, it’d be rude not to go and support the locals… agreed ladies? 😉

However onto today’s exciting post… I’ve been tagged by the lovely Katie over at Plus+ Beauty to take part in the rather fun and slightly stress inducing Starting Over TAG.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, here’s what it’s all about…

Oddly enough I mentioned to Katie yesterday that this would be a walk in the park for me – HOW WRONG I WAS!! Finally, after much deliberating, I thought I’d stick to my tried and tested drug-store favourites… okay there’s maybe a few luxury items thrown in; just for good measure of course!

Here’s my top 16 ‘Start Over’ picks…

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1) Real Techniques ‘Nic’s Picks’ Brush Set

Luckily my hubby has a super sharp memory! After dropping a few hints his way throughout the year I was chuffed to rip open one of my Christmas pressies to find this gorgeous set of brushes staring right back at me… my only gripe being; why haven’t I took ownership of these sooner? They’re every bit as good as the top reviews, I love them!

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2) Garnier Micellar Water

I must admit, the first few weeks of trying this I was really sitting on the fence – after reading such amazing reviews I felt like a bit of a deflated balloon particularly over the lack of smell… what can I say, I love a great scent! However one month on and I was hooked as a bottle of this wonder water sits beside my bed at all times. It’s incredibly refreshing and does an amazing job at removing even the most stubborn of make-up. If you haven’t tried it for yourself yet get out and grab a bottle… you’ll not regret it!

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3) Olay Gentle Refreshing Toner

This is a staple in my nightly make-up strip off. Not only does is smell indescribably beautiful, it pulls every last bit of grime out of my pores with minimal effort. You only need the teeniest drop of this toner to make an big impact, so the bottle will last for ages. If you haven’t checked out my Beginners Night-Time Skin Care Routine post, then do pop over to read about a few of my favourite skin care products – it’s perfect for routine newbies!

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4) Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer

Okay, I admit, primers are completely new ground for me as they’re not something I used before stumbling across the Rimmel Fix & Perfect. However this works wonders for helping my favourite foundation looking fresh and dewy all day long. No more dry patches for this gal; and for under a fiver you cannot go wrong. A great primer really does make a lasting difference.

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5) Rimmel Lasting Finish 25Hr Foundation

Without a shadow of a doubt the best foundation I’ve ever wore. If (like me) you adore full & even coverage that lasts well beyond your energy levels then look no further. Better still, check out my recent review *click here* as I rave about how blooming marvellous this little bottle of make-up magic really is.

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6) Urban Decay Eye Primer

Whatever eye-shadow palette I’m using, Urban Decay Eye-Shadow Primer Potion never fails to let me down. It puts a halt on creasing and stops premature fading by leaving your lids looking luscious all day (& night) long. Okay, its a little pricier that drug store alternatives but I promise you a tiny amount goes a looooong way.

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7) Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Have you seen the before and afters? This is one heck of an eyelash enhancer in such a cute little tube. It doesn’t leave you with huge clumps of dried up mascara but instead lengthens and separates your lashes. It’s the next best thing to wearing falsies.

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8) Revlon Creme Gloss

Okay, it might be a little tackier than I like a lip gloss to be, but this perfect-pout product really does last the duration. In fact I wore it last night to Emma’s school performance – applied at 5pm and by 9pm it was still going strong, which isn’t bad for a gloss! I adore the twist action release and the colour is perfect for my paler than pale complexion. The only issue being is that it’s pretty hard to get hold off now  *sob*

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9) MUA Bronzer

Even though this is one of the most inexpensive bronzers I’ve purchased, it’s one of the very few that consistently holds it’s tone and contour throughout the day… proving that you really don’t need to spend a fortune on high end products to get great make-up that lasts.

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10) Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette 

Okay, contradicting my last comment about spending a fortune (or at least a small one) I’ve been obsessed with the Urban Decay Naked range since my ever-so-generous hubby bought me both 1 & 3 for Christmas. I know, he’s a good’un! You can imagine my shrills of joy (that put my 9 year old to shame) when I ripped open the luxurious gold wrapping paper to be confronted with not one but two of these eye-mazing palettes. They really are worth every the extra splurge!

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11) Naked 3

I know, I know – I’m being greedy now! Sorry, it had to be done… it’s just so darn beautiful!

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12) Collection Lip Butter

Have you tried these yet? If not, you’re missing out. I bought the Vintage Rose shade late last year and since then have fell head over heels for this creamy lip treat. Not only is the colour range incredibly beautiful but they’re super moisturising too!

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13) Rimmel Stay Blushed – Pop of Pink

I’m not normally a fan of pink blusher but after buying this little tube of goodness I was seriously impressed with how a tiny dab on the apples of my cheeks really brightens up & compliments my complexion. It leaves me looking radiant, dewy and is the perfect rescue remedy for a refreshing look throughout the day!

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14) MUA Eyebrow pencil

Again another budget buy from MUA, however it’s one of the few pencils that really works well with my eyebrow shade… and I love the little brush. One of the best I’ve tried for taming & shaping my brows!

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15) MUA Liquid Liner

 I confess ladies – I’m a liquid liner addict. Thankfully it’s something I tend to be rather good at! Clearly years of practice in my teens has paid off; even if I did resemble Alice Cooper at one stage. Of all the brands I’ve tried and tested (for me) this is the ultimate product for creating effective eye-liner flicks. The brush tip is short, stiff and very well tapered which makes it super easy to control. Give it a go – for a few quid you’ll not regret it!

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16) Miss Sporty Eye Liner

Oddly enough my interest in eye-liner pencils has dwindled over the last few years, however my make-up bag wouldn’t be complete without one. For me one of the best buys is the Miss Sporty liner pencil. It’s a soft kohl which allows it to glide on with ease and is really buildable for a strong statement look. Great price, great staple product!

So there you have it, my top sixteen ‘Start Over’ essentials. I think I’ve managed to squeeeeze in as many of my everyday make-up must haves as I possibly could. It wasn’t an easy task girls, there was a lot of head scratching, wincing and groaning over this one but none the less it was a super fun tag and thanks again to the gorgeous Katie for my nomination!

Time to pass on the gauntlet…

Hayley from The Glasgow Girl

Jen from Dork Chops

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Kayla from Bambi Leigh

I challenge you 3 blogging beauties to selecting your top 16 ‘Starting Over’ products! Good luck girls 😉

Of course if you’re reading this & thinking you’d love to give it a go then I’m nominating you too… yes YOU!

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Wishing everyone a wonderful Valentines weekend & don’t forget to say hi in the comments below – you all know by now how much I love a good chatter. As always thanks for reading!

Cheerio Chums…