Real Techniques Blush Brush

Real Techniques Blush Brush £9.99

I desperately needed a brush to use with blush, bronzer and for contour, so Real Techniques was the first place I looked. The reason I needed this brush was to use my new Sleek palettes (reviews coming soon). I love the RT brushes as I have previously bought the Expert Face brush and fell in love with the smooth bristles. If you didn't know, the RT brushes are created by Samantha Chapman aka Pixiwoo on youtube and aren't tested on animals. Real Techniques promise to make you the expert on applying makeup, and it certainly makes me feel pretty good about how I'm applying it! I find that the first time you ever use a brush makes your makeup look perfect, and this brush is no exception. Yet this specific brush is quite large and could give too much coverage on someone with a smaller face. If I ever need a new makeup brush, I can always rely on Real Techniques brushes as the texture is really smooth, they pick up a lot of product and don't leave streak marks on your face. Quite easily the best drugstore brush brand in the UK rivaling MAC and Sigma.

Hannah x

Q & A

Thought I'd include a picture from my personal life, this is me in Bilbao last year with my school. Im on the left of the girl bending down.

This weeks British Blogger Selection theme is a Q & A, so here we go!

Why do you like blogging?

 Because it lets me be creative and share my opinions with other bloggers who will give me advice.

How did you come up with your blog name?

I went through a rigorous routine of coming up with clever blog names that played on alliteration. I was going to be 'Haute Hannah' until I realised that it had already been selected. So 'Hannah as Always' was born.

Where in the UK do you come from?

Norwich! I'm a home-grown Norfolk girl!

Favourite colour?

Mint Green or Pink.

Do you like Lana Del Ray?

...no, sorry to disappoint everyone! I only really like National Anthem slightly, not a big fan.

Hidden talents that you have?

Urm...I can street dance? I've been doing it for 8 years now.

Celebrity Crush?

Alex Pettyfer of course.

Favourite blog of all time?

LLYMLRS

Why did you join British Blog Selection?

I was interested in talking to more bloggers with the same interest as me.

Hannah x

Win £10 at ASOS

Click the image above to be directed to the competition to win £10 to spend at ASOS with Shopcade! Perfect timing for christmas and have some gorgeous pieces! I really want the coat pictured!

Hannah x

Which Mac Lipstick should be my first?

Plumful, Costa Chic, Angel, Fanfare, Creme Cup, Sunny Seoul, Hue all £15 at Mac

I'm not too crazy on the black background in the picture above but oh well. I need serious help guys, I don't know which Mac lipstick should be my first. I took my first wander into the Mac store in Norwich and got overwhelmed by the array of makeup stands. I swatched Plumful, Creme Cup and Angel on my hand and the smell of them actually drove me nutty. They smell exactly like candyfloss, yum!

I want a neutral lipstick but not too nude that it washes me out. I was thinking Plumful as it is a lustre finish and won't be too opaque for everyday wear. But Creme Cup and Hue are the found favourites among the blogosphere so I didn't know whether to swim in the mainstream and plump for them. My favourite shade in the image is Sunny Seoul (second on the right) but I think it might wash me out unless I have a tan. I feel that Costa Chic would look great in the summer next year so I nearly definitely want to purchase this lipstick next year. Fanfare is my classic favourite that I have chosen, I think it would look lovely with a black dress and a stylish up-do.

Help me! Comment if you have any advice or experiences with any of these lipsticks.

Hannah x

Sleek Face Form

Sleek Face Form in Light £9.99

Bronzer, Highlighter, Blush

As I said in my previous haul, I'd been wanting this palette for ages and it is finally in my grips. This handsize palette contains 3 equally sized pans in a matte bronzer, slightly shimmery highlighter and a peachy pink blush with gold shimmer through it. This palette is available in shades light, fair, medium and dark, the shade I bought is in light which is the second darkest. The blush in this palette is called Rose Gold and can be bought separately for £4.99, it is an almost exact dupe for Nars Orgasm.

My first impression was how gorgeous the packaging was! Its thin, black, plastic casing is nothing but fitting to the brand name and feels very sleek in your hand! The case is a matte black whilst the brand name is in a visible plastic making it stand out. Inside you'll see there is a large mirror which comes in very handy while you're on the go. The powders themselves are very pigmented but can be blended out to create a sheer look. I've never used any bronzers, highlighters or blushes before and this product was easy to get to grips with once you know how to use it. I watched a number of Youtube tutorials on how to use these 3 powders before delving in with my brushes. The brushes I used to apply these powders were my Real Techniques Expert Face brush and Blush brush. I personally think that I need the Contour brush for...um...contour as the Expert Face brush was a bit too stiff. Despite my lack of brush choice, the powders slid across my cheeks with ease and were easy to blend into eachother.

On first application, the bronzer is very shocking but once it is blended out it is hardly noticable. The highlighter doesn't create an oily dew on the face but makes it seem glowy, especially on the cheek bones and nose. My favourite powder in the pan is the blush as it makes me feel so much more girly when I wear it. There is something about the blush that makes me feel more confident, I'm not sure why! I may even venture out to buy the blush individually for the affordable price of just under £5! You cannot go wrong with this palette, it is simple yet affordable for most people and eases you into the more advanced application of makeup.

Sorry for the long review! I can't stop talking today!

Hannah x

Christmas Wish List

Rose Gold Casio Watch from The Watch Hut £34
Sleek Blush in Rose Gold £4.99
Dorothy Perkins Chelsea Boots £25
Mac Lipstick in Plumful £15
Dorothy Perkins Petite Dress £18

I thought I'd make a quick post about what I'd like for christmas. As my birthday is 9 days before christmas (it's the 16th just for all you maths goonies), I would prefer to have some of these products on my birthday (such as the watch, it's gorgeous isn't it!!). The Watch is from an online shop called The Watch Hut, I seriously recommend buying from their shop as it has fantastic customer feedback and they retail so many beautiful watches! You may have seen from previous posts that I have the Sleek Face Form palette in light. The palette contains the Rose Gold blush, and I like it so much that I would love to have it individually so it is easier to take around with me. Chelsea boots have been on my wishlist for a long time now and I really quite want some before I go to Clothes Show LIVE on the 7th of December! I thought the dress would look lovely with the boots and a leather jacket. Actually, come to think of it, everything in the image would look lovely together! I made my own outfit without even realising it, clever me!

What do you want for christmas?

Hannah x

The Sunshine Award

I am so grateful that I have been nominated by Sarah for the Sunshine Award! The award goes to bloggers who are "positive and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere". I am very happy that I have inspired some of my readers, that's amazing!

Here are the rules: 

Share 11 facts about yourself, answer the 11 questions set by your nominating blogger, nominate 11 bloggers yourself, post 11 questions for your nominees and let them know that you've nominated them!

11 facts about me!

1- I am a Creative Media Production Student.

2- I have way over 100 nail polishes in my possession.

3- I have already thought of which University courses I would like to do, and I'm now choosing my college options.

4- I am applying to do Graphics, Classic Civilisation, Media and English Literature A levels.

5- I am going to Clothes Show LIVE in a months time!

6- I really want a pug but my mum is allergic to long haired animals.

7- When I was younger, I used to want to be a Marine Biologist.

8- My favourite makeup brands are Sleek and Rimmel.

9- My most favourite nail polish ever is Hedonist by Models Own.

10- I am a crazed fan of Example and I have seen him twice...and cried both times like a 4 year old.

11- I love going to gigs, I have seen Example (like I just said haha!), Enter Shikari, Blue, Pigeon Detectives, Gabrielle Aplin and I'm seeing Peace and Drenge next month!

Questions asked by Sarah:

Name three things you can't live without: My iPhone, my sister-like friend Jess, and any nail polish!

What's the best piece of advice you've recieved?: To not put too much pressure on myself.

What would your last meal be?: Crispy shredded beef and egg fried rice, or Chicken Carbonara.

What are your favourite types of Blog posts to read?: Reviews and Editorials.

Why did you start blogging?: Because I want a future in Fashion Journalism and I enjoy writing.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?: New Zealand! Because I've always wanted to go there due to my continuous stalking of Nayders07 on youtube! The scenery seems so beautiful there, and who doesn't love the accent?

What's the best present you've ever recieved?: Clothes Show tickets! Or my iPhone of course.

Describe yourself in three words: Bubbly, talkative and clumsy.

What has been your favourite holiday?: Last year when I went to Spain with the school! I wish I could relive every day of that week all over again.

If you could live in any other time in history, when would it be?: 1960's so I could see The Beatles.

I nominate:

Asia, Joanne, Lucie, Maxine, Ava, Tasha, Sophie, Rosie, Laura, Becky, Gemma.

My 11 Questions are:

1- What is your favourite song at the moment?

2- Do you go to a lot of gigs?

3- Do you prefer Topshop or River Island?

4- Where is your favourite holiday destination and why?

5- What colour is your bedroom (in the least creepy way)?

6- Where is the most interesting place you've ever been?

7- If you could change your name, what would you change it to?

8- What is a beauty product that you couldn't live without?

9- Do you have a mad obsession?

10- To-may-to or To-mah-to?

11- What are/did you studying?

Make sure to comment your responses so I can check them out!

Hannah x