My Everyday Autumn Makeup Look

The final look using the products mentioned in this post. Photo from my Instagram @Alexandraahowe

I originally wrote this post for Chloe at http://www.thechloelook.com/2014/09/guest-post-everyday-autumn-makeup-look.html but I thought I would also post it for you guys to see.
I went on a bike ride the other day and saw conkers mixed in with fallen leaves on the pathways so I’m now officially calling it Autumn. When Autumn comes along I say goodbye to bronzer and coral shades and move onto deeper pinks and a paler skin tone. 

For my base I use one of my all-time favourite products the Porefessional by Benefit, I use it all year round as it’s perfect for creating an even base and reducing the amount of oils on your skin. Then for foundation I use the MAC Face and Body Foundation (the palest shade of course) with my Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush and just apply a thin layer and buff it right into the skin. To conceal my dark circles and blemishes I use the Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer and just use my fingers to apply this. Before I set the foundation and concealer I apply Moon Beam by Benefit to my cheek bones as a soft highlight with my fingers. Using the Real Techniques Powder Brush I set the base with the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural and then finish the skin off by applying the MAC Blushbaby Sheertone Blusher with the Real Techniques Blush Brush.

For the eyes and lips I start off by filling in my brows using the HD Brows Kit with the Sigma E65 Small Angle brush, at the moment I'm using the Dark Brown shade but this varies depending on my hair colour. As a base for my eyes I use the MAC Painterly Paint Pot just with my fingers and take this write up to the brows and then to set it I use the MAC Eye Shadow in Brulé with the Sigma E40 Tapered Blending brush. For my eyeliner I use the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink with the MAC 263 brush which is a really sharp angled brush which creates the perfect winged eyeliner. To finish off the eye I use the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara which is just amazing! Trust me.

Then to finish off the entire look I use the MAC Lustre Lipstick in Plumful and just apply that from the stick, it's definitely a staple Autumn lipstick to own! 

What are your staple Autumn products?

My Favourite Mascaras

I’ve tried and tested so many different mascaras from low to high-end over the past few years with some being absolute disasters, not worth the price tag or have actually been great. 
After all those many mascaras I can finally tell you all about my top 3, they vary in prices but all do have a similar style. As I have quite long lashes I look for volume and definition in my mascaras instead of lengthening qualities. 

Currently my favourite of all is the Bobbi Brown Smoky Eyes Mascara, normally I’m not too fussed about high-end mascaras as often I can find a much cheaper alternative but this one is amazing. It has this lovely soft matte black kohl finish and gives my lashes a really nice amount of volume without getting clumpy or spidery. I already have quite long lashes so I don’t look for that in mascaras, this one just adds a touch of length without drying up and crumbling off the ends. The bristles on the wand are so soft so it doesn’t tug or pull, the application feels almost luxurious. The packaging is hardly exciting but I guess you could say it’s quite classy? They must spend most the money on the contents of the product over the packaging.

My next best is the Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara. I had heard so much praise about this product from friends and fellow bloggers that I felt like I had to try it for myself. Once I had tried it I saw why everyone was raving about it, my lashes were super volumised with no clumps. The bristles are similar to the Bobbi Brown mascara, they are nice and soft, however it is quite a chunky wand so it can be a little difficult getting into the nooks and crannies. The packaging is classy and the big bright pink ‘Lash’ in a pretty font across the tube adds a pop of colour. I’ve written a separate blog post all about this mascara here if you want to see some before and afters as well as more detail.

I rarely wear waterproof mascara as I find the other two stay put so well anyway, but if I am going to be getting particularly sweaty or wet then the Maybelline The Colossal Volum’ Express Waterproof Mascara is my must have. It gives great volume, doesn’t get clumpy and will stay put through thick and thin! The bristles are more plastic than the other two but as the formula is more of a liquid it doesn’t tug. The packaging is pretty standard, I do love the shiny blue accents though, that’s partly because I just love that shade of blue in anything!

What's your favourite mascara or are one of these 3 your favourite?

Benefit Cosmetics Gabbi's Head, London

I'm currently in the middle of a studying a short course in London at Central Saint Martins but normally London is a bit of a journey from home. I had heard about Benefit Cosmetics, Gabbi's Head in Covent Garden and I just had to go whilst it's still around and I'm actually in London.

With 2 other girls on my course we decided after our course yesterday afternoon we'd go to it for a drink and just to see how cute the place was, fair to say it was very pretty and pink. 

It was tucked away in Covent Garden upstairs in a normal pub, when we went upstairs we were surrounded by cute pink furniture. There was so much attention to detail, even all the coasters had cute quotes on them. You could get a makeover or your eyebrows done for just £5 and also 10% off their products but because we were already all made up from our course we decided not to but were very tempted.

Instead we treated ourselves to a cocktail, they were so scrumptious, all themed to be pink and came in pretty jugs and martini glasses.

The whole point of this place is to come and watch the FIFA World Cup but we didn't stay late enough for the next match, nor did we really want to stay to watch it as it's not our cup of tea! The whole concept was adorable though, making a more feminine pub for those who do want to watch the football instead of the classic rowdy pub, there was even a football table you could play with.

It's such a shame that it's not staying, I would visit every time I go to London.

If you're around or able to visit London before the end of the week, then go before it's gone!

My Skincare Routine and Products

I love to keep care of my skin and as I do tend to wear makeup on a daily basis I think its very important to make sure I remove it properly to keep my skin healthy and able to breathe! 

Almost all the products I use are under £10 each so it's a pretty affordable routine, as a student I can't afford fancy products but these do the job for me so I don't even feel the need to pay more. 

The only product here which is over £10 is the Benefit Triple Performing Emulsion but this is my one luxury I do use and always tends to be on my birthday or christmas wish list. 

I have very combination skin, I get quite dry patches around my mouth and nose but then have an oily forehead and eyelids. I don't have very spot prone skin, but I do get the occasional spot. This should give you an idea if any of these products may work for you.

My Daily Skincare Routine

1. I use the Simple Eye Makeup Remover to remove my eye makeup first, it works great with heavy and waterproof makeup, as well as being super affordable.
2. I then use my No7 Cleansing Balm in Dry/Very Dry, I gently massage it in my face and a little down my neck. With a large cotton pad I wipe that off to get rid of the majority of my makeup. This product is super moisturising without being oily and having to wait for it to sink into the skin. Quite often at Boots you get £5 off No7 skincare products which makes this product under £5!
3. After that I tone my skin using either the Botanics All Bright Toner or LUSH Tea Tree Water, I love both these products that's why I like to use them both! With the Botanics toner I apply this onto a cotton pad and then wipe across the skin but with the LUSH toner I spray this directly to my face and then wipe off with a cotton pad. These get rid of those last bits of makeup and dirt on your skin.
4. To finish off I apply the Benefit Triple Performing Emulsion lightly onto my skin, this is super refreshing and sinks into the skin much quicker than many moisturisers I've used in the past. 

My Occasional Skincare Products

If I haven't got time for all of that, for example coming in after a night out, I will quickly use my Simple Cleansing Wipes to get rid of as much makeup as possible. Then usually in the morning I'll refresh my skin properly.

I forgot to photograph this product but whenever I have a shower, this is usually every other day, I use the Freederm Exfoliating Daily Wash. I don't feel the need to use it everyday as I luckily haven't got very spot prone skin, that's why I only use it in the shower, but it helps keep away any blackheads and spots that I do occasionally get from stress and hormones flying around! 

Review: Benefit BADgal Lash Mascara

I never tend to buy mascara's that are over £10 as I've had pricey mascaras as gifts in the past and found them to be nothing special compared to high street brands. However, in Company magazine earlier this year I got a sample of the Benefit BADgal lash mascara, I remember that I loved it but once it ran out I didn't bother buying it mainly because of its price. 

The other day I was browsing over the Benefit stand and saw this little deal where you paid £1 more than the normal price and you got a travel sized one as well as the full size! Not only did I get that sweet deal but the lovely woman working at the counter also gave me a bunch of samples of some of their other products. I don't know if this deal is limited or not but if it is I would go get it now before it's gone!

Below I've posted a photo just to show you how much a difference this mascara makes to your lashes! I only had 2 thin coats on and my lashes are so much fuller and also have good length without any clumps. What else can you ask for from a mascara?

Another thing I love about this mascara is the bristles of the wand, they are so soft, I'm not a fan of the really short plastic bristles you get on some mascara wands. I much prefer the full soft bristles, I find they reduce the amount of clumps, they don't pull on my lashes as much and they have a really nice even distribution of the product onto the lashes. 

Christmas isn't far off so maybe you could ask for a Benefit gift set where they have a miniature of this mascara or you could even ask for this little set I got, I would've if I hadn't bought it myself!
What do you think of Benefit's mascaras? Let me know in the comments.