Project Pan #4: 6 Months of Makeup Empties!

Last Summer, I set myself another Project Pan target to see if I could use up 15 makeup products before the 7th January 2018 - here's how I got on!

I've been doing regular Project Pans to declutter my makeup stash for a while now (check out my previous posts here), and they've been a great way to help me rediscover forgotten favourites that have been hiding at the back of my collection. It's also a good way to save yourself some money and is a real motivator to keep you going when you're on a 'No Buy'! 

If you haven't heard of a Project Pan before, you basically pull out all the makeup that you want to use up, set a time frame, and well, use it up! You can follow the rules/goals of someone else's Project Pan (check Instagram, Youtube or Facebook groups), or simply make up your own like I did which was to use up 15 makeup products before 7th January 2018. 

I fell short of the mark by one product, but I'm still pretty pleased that I managed to use up 14! Below is everything that I finished off and whether I would repurchase them again:-

Base Products, Foundations & Concealers

• ILIA Vivid Foundation in F3 Santorini* - (review & swatches here) - This has been my go-to foundation for the past few months, especially since the weather started to turn colder as it's quite moisturising. I love the dewy, 'fresh face' finish that this foundation gives, it blends well and I would recommend it to anyone who wants buildable coverage, but doesn't want to look like they're caked in product. F3 Santorini was a great match for my olive skin and I didn't have any problems with oxidation or anything like that. It's expensive though which is the only downside! Repurchase? I would love to buy this again when I've used up some other foundations, but it's definitely a treat purchase!

• La Roche-Posay Rosaliac CC Creme SPF 30* - (review here) - I used this CC a lot during the Summer, and it's ideal for toning down and helping to cover up any redness. I found it gave me a lot more coverage than most CC style products, so it's a nice one to have in your makeup stash for those days when you don't want to wear a foundation. Repurchase? Maybe when it's Summer again as I didn't reach for it at any other time.

• Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturiser Tint SPF 30* - Another Summer favourite was this beauty from Perricone MD. I really loved this tinted moisturiser as it feels so silky soft on the skin and gives a lovely, healthy hint of colour that's perfect for 'no makeup days' and holidays. Repurchase? Yes. 

• RMS Beauty Un-Cover Up in 22* - (review & swatches here) - This little pot of multi-purpose goodness lasted for almost a year thanks to its 'a little goes a long way' formula. You can use it as a foundation or as a concealer, and it works well both ways, though I tended to use it more as a light-medium coverage base. Repurchase? Yes.

Bronzers

• Vita Liberata Trystal Self-Tanning Bronzing Minerals* (review here) - I finally used up a bronzer! This loose mineral-based bronzer from Vita Liberata contains DHA which gives you a light, buildable, gradual tan in the process, and can be used on both body and face. Gives a gorgeous, healthy-looking glow which looks great all year round. Repurchase? Yes.

Eyeliners & Eyeshadows

• Eyeko Black Magic Liquid Eyeliner (review here) - I've lost count of how many times I've repurchased this as it's one of my favourite liquid eyeliner pens. I love how easy it is to use and it has a beautiful glossy sheen to it. Stays put all day on me! Repurchase? Currently using Kat Von D, but I'm sure I'll go back to this at some point!

• Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Black Amethyst - When I don't want to wear straight up black, I found myself constantly reaching for this liner instead which comes in a gorgeous blackened-purple shade. Adds a little something different to a smokey eye and pairs incredibly well with dark brown eyes. Smudgeproof and long wearing. Repurchase? Yes.

• Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner in Black Velvet - (review here) - An old time favourite of mine, I've been using this seriously underrated Daniel Sandler eyeliner for years and must have gone through at least three or four of them. Affordable (less than a tenner), pigmented and can be used to create a wicked, thick and grungey smokey eye. Repurchase? Yes.

• ILIA Silken Shadow Stick in In Between Days* - (review here) - Oh how I enjoyed using this eyeshadow stick for about a month or so, and then it started to dry out and crumble! This shade was a pretty warm golden shimmer for everyday wear, but it needed a primer underneath to stop it from creasing on my oily lids. Repurchase? No.

Mascaras

• GOSH My Favourite Mascara* - (review here) - I'm definitely a big lash kinda gal, so natural looking mascaras never really do it for me. This was fine for casual days, but I didn't use it very often and then it dried up. Repurchase? No.

• Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara* - (review here) - Now this is my favourite mascara! I love everything about it - it makes my lashes look thicker and bigger, doesn't smudge or flake, and stays put until I want to take it off. Perfect! Repurchase? Yes.

• DHC Double Protection Mascara* - (review here) - Despite enjoying this mascara and putting it into a favourites post last year, I've since changed my mind because it dried up so quickly. The formula itself is great, but I'm so disappointed to see it dry out so fast. Repurchase? No.

• PUR Fully Charged Mascara - I picked this up in a GWP and was excited to try it, but sadly this mascara was a fail for me. It flaked, smudged and just turned into a mess within hours of wearing it. Repurchase? Nope!

Lip Products

• Korres Lip Butter In Wild Rose - I didn't manage to use up any lip products this time around, but I wanted to include this tinted lip butter from Korres as it's very pigmented and can easily pass as a lip stain in my eyes! Provides a super pretty rosy red tint to the lips and feels really moisturising. Repurchase? Yes.

Have you ever done a Project Pan like this?

Have you tried any of the products that I used up?

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Winter Skincare: 3 Hydrating Serums To Rescue Your Skin

Move over thick and greasy face creams - if you're serious about keeping your skin hydrated this Winter, a high-quality serum is your BFF and there's one out there to suit every skin type.

Serums are an integral part of my skincare routine all year round, not just in the Winter months. I may skip using a spritzing toner, or I might forget to double cleanse one evening, but I will absolutely, without a doubt, apply some kind of serum. Why? Serums are the products that I see the most skincare benefits from, usually because they have more innovative formulas with ingredients that are able to penetrate the skin better than moisturisers or face oils, which can often just sit on the surface. I also love serums because they feel lighter and generally absorb quickly, yet can provide just as much hydration as a thick and heavy face cream, if not more so. 

You can buy a serum for any kind of skin concern, but I thought I'd focus on a couple of my favourite hydrating ones which are perfect to add to your Winter skincare routine. I'll chop and change between these depending on how my skin is feeling on the day, but if you're on a budget, you'll still see great results with just the one. After all, one is better than none!

Best for All Skin Types: REN Flash Hydro-Boost* (40ml, £34, link) 

Described as an 'instant plumping emulsion', REN Flash Hydro-Boost is an innovative little skincare gem that can be used by all skin types. It uses Hyaluronic Acid and Xylitol to draw extra moisture into the skin and lock it all down, so everything is kept happily hydrated for longer. Although most other serum products are runny in their consistency, this one feels like a light cream and has to be 'water charged' to work its magic e.g after applying it to your face, you add a few drops of water to your fingertips and then massage it in. At first, this sounded like an enormous faff, but trust me - it works! I tend to use this in the morning as I feel it protects my skin throughout the day, and I love how plumped up and smooth my face feels afterwards (no need to use a makeup primer!).

Best for Dry, Very Dehydrated and Sensitive Skin Types: Madara SOS Hydra Repair Intensive Serum* (30ml, £37, link)

If your skin is very dry or dehydrated, you'll get on well with this serum from Madara's specialised SOS range which has been scientifically proven to rehydrate skin and protect it from free radical damage, so it's great for anti-ageing benefits as well. Formulated with a moisturising complex that includes Hyaluronic Acid, Linseed and Rose Water, it penetrates deep down into the skin to fully restore moisture levels and increase dermal absorption. As it's very hydrating, I tend to only use this once or twice a week during cold weather to give my skin a boost in the evenings as I have combination skin, but if yours is mature, very dry, or very dehydrated, you could happily use this every day as your main serum.

Best for Oily, Acne, Combination & Normal Skin Types: Antipodes Hosanna Intensive Hydrating Serum* (25ml, £27.99, link)

Every skin type needs some level of moisture to keep it balanced, including oilier and acne-prone complexions. In fact, you may find your skin becomes even oilier if you skip things like serum or moisturiser, as it'll try to compensate for the lack of hydration by producing excess sebum, but choose a serum that's too rich and you can risk clogging pores. This is why this organic, bio-active Antipodes serum comes in handy because it's oil-free, so it feels wonderfully lightweight on the skin and absorbs within seconds. It features a whole host of plant-based extracts such as Mamaku Fern and Vinanza Gold, which are packed full of antioxidants to boost cell renewal and up the skin's collagen production by up to 72%. It's the one that I've repurchased the most often!

Skincare Tip! Where Should I Use a Serum in My Skincare Routine? Apply your chosen serum after cleansing, but before your usual moisturiser or face oil, and don't forget - a little goes a long way!

What are your favourite serums for Winter?

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New In Beauty: Limited Edition INIKA Flawless and Perfecting Makeup Brushes review

Organic Aussie brand INIKA, recently launched some very exciting new luxury makeup brushes to compliment their fantastic range of base products.

The two new INIKA brushes are very on-trend and I'm sure anyone who loves playing with makeup will adore these! They've been specially designed to flawlessly apply a range of base makeup including powders, liquids and creams, so whatever foundation format you prefer to use, there's a brush that'll work effortlessly for you. 

The attention to detail and design of these brushes is also remarkable, with a quality that easily rivals most mainstream, higher-end luxury brands that I've tried. The handles are made from a black, slightly rubberised material which makes them easy to grip and comfortable to hold, whilst the cruelty-free, vegan-friendly synthetic bristles are incredibly soft and feel so luxurious on the skin.

Let's take a closer look at these beauties!

INIKA Limited Edition Perfection Powder Brush* (£27.50, link)

The first thing that struck me about this Powder Brush is that it kinda resembles something between an old-fashioned men's shaving brush and a kabuki. It's very densely packed and each individual brush fibre has been tapered to give a super smooth buffing effect. When I first used it, I thought it would be simply too big, but was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to use with both loose and pressed mineral powder foundations. The brush head has a slight angle to it, which means it picks up product and buffs it across larger surfaces of the face for a beautiful, even and flawless looking finish. 

I've also used this to apply bronzer down my neck, chest and across my shoulders with excellent results, and you could do the same with any highlighter/shimmers when you want to cover larger areas evenly and quickly. The brush comes with its own portable sliding case which is brilliant for travelling, as well as looking great on your vanity table.

INIKA Limited Edition Flawless Liquid Foundation Brush* (£23.50, link)

If you're more of a liquid/cream foundation user instead, the new Flawless Liquid Foundation Brush will help you get a smooth and selfie-ready face in a matter of minutes. There are a couple of brands that do brushes like this which feature a hollowed out centre, and they can very useful if you have areas that need extra product and coverage. Like the Powder Brush, this one also has densely packed, super soft bristles which have been individually tapered to avoid any streaking problems, yet it's flexible enough to get in and around tricky areas like the nose easily.

I love the handle on this brush as it fits nicely in my hand and helps to move the brush where it needs to be, without it ever feeling awkward or clunky. I've tried out this brush with a number of different foundations and feel that it's definitely better suited to medium and full coverage formulas as it just works the product into the skin so well and stops heavier foundations from looking cakey. You can use it with BBs and lighter coverage liquid/cream bases too, but it does soak up more product so bear this in mind as you may need to use more than you'd expect with thinner liquid formulas. The finish that this brush gives is beautiful though, and an ideal way to achieve that coveted 'your skin but better' look.

Overall thoughts?

Both of these brushes have performed really well for me, so I'd say they're worthy investments if you're looking for some new cruelty-free foundation brushes to add to your brush collection (or they're great starting ones if you currently don't have anything!). They would also be perfect for professional makeup artists as I found them very easy to clean and they're far more hygienic and environmentally friendly than using sponges.

Limited Edition INIKA Flawless and Perfecting Makeup Brushes* are available via online stockists and on counters until stocks last.

Are you a fan of INIKA?

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Happy New Year! 5 Blogging Resolutions for 2018

Hope everyone has had a good start to the New Year! I'm not usually one to write New Year's Resolutions, but this year I felt compelled to make a short list of 'blogging' ones to help me get off on the right foot in 2018.

(1) More Green Beauty posts

I'm finding myself more and more interested in Green Beauty. It has always been prominent throughout We Were Raised By Wolves ever since I started blogging, and whilst I'm not quite ready to give up some of my favourite mainstream brands (and I'll still be writing about these), I would like to do a lot more features on Green Beauty this year.

(2) Regular Foodie Friday posts

My Foodie Friday posts have been much more popular with you lovely readers than I initially thought they would be, which is amazing! I'm no master chef, but I really enjoy cooking and trying out new recipes, so this is an area that I'll definitely be developing for you guys and I hope to be doing some more food and drink product reviews as well.

(3) Striking a Better Balance with Luxury and Budget

I'm incredibly fortunate to be sent a lot of luxury products to review, many of which I would struggle to afford to buy myself on a student budget. With this in mind, I'd like to try and get the balance between how many luxury vs affordable/budget products that I feature right. I don't think I'll get a 50/50 thing going on anytime soon, but I'll be trying my best to review more affordable products in the near future.

(4) Following New Bloggers

In the past year, many of my favourite bloggers have stopped blogging or don't post as regularly anymore, which has left me with a bit of a blogger shaped hole in my feed! I'll be keeping an eye out for new bloggers to follow, so feel free to message me your favourites :)

(5) Supporting More Indie Brands

I'd like to feature more Independent brands on here, especially homegrown British ones, as I feel it's so important to support those up and coming businesses that don't have huge PR and advertising budgets to help them get the word out. However, I will still remain objective - independent doesn't always equal better - you've gotta have a good product!

Happy New Year everyone - here's to 2018!

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