HOLY GRAIL MAKEUP PRODUCTS/@sophdoesnails MADE ME BUY

Hello my little worldies! For this week's blog post I thought I would talk through my holy grail makeup products, one high end and one drug store so you could purchase either depending on your budget and some are really good dupes! Not all will be dupes, some may be similar formulas or products I use together. I will include prices and shades and for reference I have very pale, oily skin. Most of these products I bought due to YouTuber @sophdoesnails as we are similar shades & same skin type- she's amazing and you should check her out, I'll leave her link at the bottom!

Hope this post helps you find some wonderful staples for your collection, enjoy! 

First let's start with skincare: SIMPLE KIND TO SKIN MOISTURISER (£4.29), ELF UNDER EYE MOISTURISER (£4.50) & LUSH OCEAN SALT FACE AND BODY SCRUB (£8.95 OR  £15.95 depending on size of tub)

I use the lush ocean salt to take off my makeup and cleanse my face, it is a very hard scrub so works well to really cleanse the skin and remove any impurities, I wouldn't recommend using this too often as it is very heavy duty but my skin has never looked clearer or felt better, it has worked wonders for my acne prone skin! After this, I apply the simple moisturiser and the elf eye cream to bring back some moisture to my face & it makes your skin so beautifully soft. I also apply this before makeup as it helps the makeup to apply better. I have a very simple skin care routine as I don't think putting all different products on your face actually helps, keep it simple with key products and you will see a difference, skin care doesn't have to be a long & expensive process.  

PRIMER - NIVEA MEN POST SHAVE BALM (£5) 

This works really well on my oily skin, it has glycerine in it which makes your face sticky allowing the foundation to stick. It makes your make up last all day and is super cheap, its the best primer I've ever tried and I've stuck with it for over 2 years, LOVE!  

KAT VON D LOCK IT FOUNDATION - 45 LIGHT NEUTRAL (£27) VS REVLON COLOUR STAY IN 180 SAND BEIGE (£12.99) 

I am such a fan of both of these as they are very similar in formula, lasting power and coverage. They are both super full coverage foundations with a very thick consistency, although I would say the Kat von d feels heavier on the face. I have oily skin and the Kat von d does last longer throughout the day but I do have to powder in the middle of the day with both. They are both mostly matte but are also dewy and give such a beautiful finish to the skin. I wear the revlon one day to day and save the Kat von d for special occasions but sometimes mix both as it gives such a lovely finish! (Both recommended by @sophdoesnails)

URBAN DECAY NAKED CONCEALER IN FAIR NEUTRAL (£17) VS COLLECTION LASTING PERFECTION IN FAIR (£4.19) 

I have been a fan of the collection concealer for as long as I can remember, it has such amazing coverage and brightening effect but does not feel heavy on the face! It lasts well if set with powder but the urban decay does last longer as you can guess. The urban decay has slightly better coverage and brightening effect yet doesn't feel cakey. If you have the money I would invest in the urban decay one as it is incredible but the collection one is such a good dupe for the price & great for daily use! (@sophdoesnails recommendation)

KIKO RADIANT FUSION BAKED POWDER IN 01 (£12.90) VS REVLON STAY MATTE IN 001 TRANSPARENT (£3.99) 

To be honest, I do not see a difference in these powders. I have oily skin so have to powder my makeup which I touch up throughout the day and neither has better lasting powder than the other. They both make my skin matte and it feels lovely but you would not be able to tell much difference between them for the price. The stay matte has been my holy grail for a number of years which I use daily but I do love using the KIKO one for special occasions as it feels more luxurious on the skin! 

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS CONTOUR KIT IN LIGHT-MEDIUM (£39) & MUA BRONZED PERFECTION MATTE IN SUNSET TAN (£3)

I use the Mua bronzer on a daily basis to bronze up my skin but as this bronzer is slightly cool toned, it tends to give me a very subtle contour and i never feel the need to contour on a daily basis because of this. I use the Anastasia one for special occasions to properly contour my face (bottom middle shade) but the other shades in the palette are too warm toned for my skin so I generally use these two products together. The NYX blush in taupe is a good dupe for the ABH shade I use, £39 is a lot of money and that is only £6! I love the look that these two products give; the ABH palette is certainly worth investing in if you have the money, the banana powder in the palette is also beautiful and there is a lovely subtle highlighter (I'm never subtle with highlighter so I don't use it😂🙈). The mua one is amazing for everyday use if you have pale skin as it is not too orange :) (@sophdoesnails recommendation)

BARE MINERALS BLUSH IN NAUGHTY NAUGHTY (£15??) VS SLEEK BLUSH IN ROSE GOLD (£4.99) 

Okay so I am unsure if the bare minerals blush is still available to buy as I managed to pick it up in TK-Maxx for £5 but this is a beautiful bronzy/peach coloured blush with golden reflects which looks stunning with a bronze makeup look! The sleek one is not a dupe of the BM one but is a dupe of NARS-orgasm blush and it is stunning. It is a beautiful pink with golden reflects which gives the cheek a lovely flush of colour! Both are stunning on pale skin and last all day, I would recommend both for how they apply to the skin and they double up as a subtle highlighter due to the golden reflects if you are in a rush! (@sophdoesnails recommendation)

MAC MINERALISE SKINFINISH IN SOFT AND GENTLE (£23) VS NEW LOOK BAKED FACE POWDER IN GOLDEN GLOW (£7.99)

Some people may think £8 for a drug store highlighter is a little steep but it is an exact dupe of mac soft and gentle. Actually, I would say the new look one is a much more blinding highlight and is much prettier, however is a slightly lighter gold on the skin. I have stuck by mac soft and gentle for 3 years as it was my first ever highlighter but the new look one is my new favourite and I have not re-purchased the mac one! Both are stunning on the skin and if you have wanted to try soft and gentle then certainly try the new look one as it is an exact dupe and it's beautiful! Save your money! (@sophdoesnails recommendation)

ILLAMASQUA BROW CAKE IN THUNDER (£18) & W7 QUEEN OF BROWS BROW GEL IN BROWN (£5.95)

I use these two together as they work really well! The illamasqua brow cake is a super pigmented brown powder which i apply with an angled brush. This powder has been my go to brow product for the last two years, I have not found anything else (drug store or high end) which matches my brows so perfectly and gives such a natural looking brow! I use the W7 gel on top which has a very small wand so perfectly combs the brows, tints them and keeps them in place all day, such a good combo! 

MORPHE 35C PALETTE (£24) VS MORPHE 35O FAKE FROM EBAY (£10) 

Okay so something different, I purchased the 35C palette over a year ago as I wanted to add some colour to my makeup. This palette is absolutely beautiful and the colours come out on the eye exactly as they look in the palette, some aren't as pigmented as others but they blend beautifully and are buildable; I adore this palette! I then watched a @sophdoesnails video where she talked about a fake morphe palette from eBay so thought I would try one. I bought the 35O palette and honestly cannot tell the difference. Again some are more pigmented than others but they all blend beautifully and apply in the same way as the real one, I would recommend buying the one off eBay to try if you do not want to spend £24. No other palettes I have live up to these two and are key staples in my collection! 

EYES: NYX FACE AND BODY GLITTERS IN GOLD & ROSE (£6), SOAP AND GLORY SUPERCAT SKINNY LINER & MAYBELLINE LASH SENSATIONAL MASCARA (£8.99)

Grouped these three together as I do not have a high end product of which is similar to these but all are holy grail products in my collection. The NYX glitters are absolutely stunning on the eye and such a good price! You have to purchase the glitter primer (£8) to allow the glitter to stick but they are so beautiful and really take your makeup to another level, they can also be used on other parts of the face or body for festivals or other events! They are incredible for the price and are certainly worth having in your collection as they come in a number of stunning colours!

@sophdoesnails recommended the soap and glory liner, she is the queen of winged liner so I had to buy it and it didn't disappoint. It is super black and the skinny version has a really fine nib which makes it much easier to create a really precise line. I've had this for months and it hasn't dried out, It's amazing! 

Maybelline have incredible mascaras but this one is on another level, I have never owned a mascara like it- it creates volume, length and drama all in one, people have asked if I am wearing falsies! You HAVE to try this one, its amazing! (Get the normal version not waterproof as that one isn't as good). Another @sophdoesnails recommendation😂 

LASHES: DUO LASH GLUE (£5) & ARDELL WISPIES (£4) OR PRIMARK FULL LOOK LASHES (£1) 

When it comes to lashes, I love very long wispy lashes which are very fluttery and both lashes mentioned do just that. I generally reach for the Primark ones as they are cheaper but they do need a bit of mascara and more time to get them right. For more special occasions I reach for the ardell ones which are very similar in style but both apply just as good and last just as long, they give a very similar effect and you can't really tell the difference once on the eye. To apply properly you need the duo lash glue, this makes applying lashes so simple and means they last all day; I've always had trouble with lashes until I purchased this glue, you have to buy it if you wear lashes regularly as it's amazing! 

LIPS: 

RED- HELEN E LIP CRAYON IN RED CARPET (£4) & MUA VELVET LIP LAQUER IN RECKLESS (£3) VS MAKE UP FOREVER LIPSTICK SHADE 21 (£21) 

NUDE- MAKE UP REVOLUTION ROSE GOLD LIPSTICK IN CHAUFFER (£3) VS MAC VELVET TEDDY (£16) 

PINK MAUVE- KYLIE LIP KIT IN EXPOSED ($29) VS KAT VON D LIQUID LIPSTICK IN LOLITA (£17) 

Alot of lipsticks here to talk about but I couldn't decide on my favourite so here goes: 

Red- this lip crayon is beautiful, its such a vibrant red, it's not drying at all and is really easy to apply, you could wear this alone as it is super pigmented and lasts all day but the mua liquid lipstick is beautiful over the top. The mua lip laquers are amazing, I have all different colours as they are super pigmented, last all day, they are not drying but dry down fully matte and the colours are stunning- this red is incredible! 

The make up forever lipstick is a new find of mine, it has a slight shimmer and does not dry matte but is a beautiful colour. However, the combo above is much longer lasting and more vibrant- when you look at the price difference I would stick with drug store on this one! 

Nude- exciting dupe for you here! Mac velvet teddy has been my go to lipstick for years (you can tell by the photo) as it's such a perfect nude, has a creamy texture so isn't drying and matches all looks- however this doesn't last very long on me so i wanted to find this colour but long lasting.....in comes make up revolution with the shade chauffeur!!! This lipstick is the exact same colour as velvet teddy, again it's creamy so isn't drying but lasts all day on the lips and it's only £3!! You need this one in your collection, save yourself nearly £15 and get that one! (@sophdoesnails recommendation)

Pink mauve- not exactly a high end vs drugstore but still a big difference in price. The Kylie lip kit in exposed is a lovely mauve pink shade, it looks extremely pale in the tube and I was very worried as I am super pale but this dries down much darker to a lovely pinky-nude which is absolutely stunning. It applies really well, both the pencil & liquid lipstick are creamy in texture so are not drying and last all day. The only issue is custom charges- it makes for a very expensive lipstick but if you can get your hands on it then it's worth trying! 

The kat von d liquid lipstick in Lolita is a classic- it's the most popular shade in the collection and is well loved by alot of people and I now understand why. The formula of it has to be the nicest liquid lipstick formula I have ever tried, its so beautifully creamy, it's not drying, lasts all day and just looks stunning on the lips, they are so worth paying that little extra and this colour is so unique, never seen a colour like it! You have to try this one if ever you have the money, you will not regret it! (@sophdoesnails recommendation)

BRUSHES- SPECTRUM COLLECTION (£70+), REAL TECHNIQUES (£20 PER SET) & BEAUTY BLENDER (£5) BH COSMETICS 16 PC SET (£15) AND ISABELLA SCOTT 3 PC (£5) 

I was so lucky to get the spectrum brushes for my 20th birthday after admiring them for so long and although they are expensive they are totally worth the investment- they have become my holy grail brushes as they just make my make up apply so much better than any other brushes I have tried, not only do they look incredible but they are such soft brushes and work extremely well. Key brushes: A00 for powder, A07/ A13 for packing eye shadow/glitter onto the lid, A14 for eyebrows & B06 for blending eyeshadow into my crease. (@sophdoesnails recommendation)

I use these in conjunction with my real techniques brushes which I have loved for over a year now, all the brushes work so well and are staples in my collection, I don't know what id do without these brushes! Their beauty blender is also my holy grail, I've tried lots of beauty blenders but I have always come back to this one, it blends beautifully and does not pick up too much product, you have to try it! Key brushes: buffing brush for foundation (Used with beauty blender), multi task brush for bronzer/blush, contour brush for contour, duo fibre contour brush for highlighter and domed shadow brush for blending eyeshadow. 

I managed to pick up the BH cosmetics and isabella Scott ones in TK-Maxx. The brushes don't have numbers/names so I have attached pictures above, I use the isabella Scott ones (black & rose gold) for packing on shadow/glitter & carving out eye eyebrows, I use the BH cosmetics one to apply cream contour before I blend with beauty blender and the black and blue one is a 'studio' one that you can find in Superdrug which I use for blending eyeshadow. All of these are super cheap to buy but work really well!  

Thanks for reading, hope you have enjoyed and don't forget to subscribe & follow me on social media if you want to hear more from me & get notified when I upload a new blog post!

Hope you are all having a fabulous Sunday, speak to you soon!

Lots of love, Lois❤ 

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/lo_beaaaar/ Twitter- https://twitter.com/Lo_bear97 Snapchat- LoisHowardx    

Sophdoesnails YouTube - https://youtu.be/86T-HnukrfY  

All her social media is : @sophdoesnails