Now I know that from the title of this post you may have thought twice before reading it, with its cliched Nicholas Sparks kind of title. Although today I may be talking about some heartbreak, fond memories and getting my hopes up (not boy related obviously) but over my first ever foundation. I mean what else is a staple in every girls make-up bag? A foundation. Like the name implies its our first step of becoming young adults and the first step of understanding the art of makeup.  Such a naive time of our lives when our mums, grannies and aunts finally accepted we where growing up and let us paint our faces.

Back in the day when I was just a little 12/13 year old I was never allowed anything more than clear mascara and eyebrow gel, but girls where already experimenting with their Elizabeth Arden creme foundations from 11. So it made me pretty envious back then (poor 12 year old me), how those girls where allowed to make their faces 10x's browner than their neck and I wasn't. I guess now looking back I'm grateful for being forced to wait till I could actually make sense of blending and colour matching to my actual skin tone. I learned that the hard way when I used my half Indian mothers foundation to school one day (obviously once I left the house), and from the neck down I was snow white with a snooki like facial complexion. 

So when I finally hit 14 my aunt (who is like the reason I'm obsessed with all things make up and fashion) took me shopping like she always did every saturday, but this time proposed we went to the Benefit counter. At the time I thought it was her -even though she's a bare minerals lover- but it wasn't till I sat down on the chair and the girl asked me what kind of coverage I wanted. I was all like GDSUFSDKF is this for real? So ended up the girl put this amazing foundation on my face and boom I actually looked like a little princess. The coverage was amazing, it was easy to use, went well on my skin and overall just looked flawless (to 14 year old me). So 5 years later and in the black friday sales I stoated over to the Benefit section in boots and grabbed one, just to see if it was really everything I loved before. 

So I sat down in front of my huge mirror on Friday night before a gig and got ready for the first impression, 5 years later. I had no fake tan on so I figured I would wash then prep my skin with the little testers the girl in boots had given me for free. Ive always used the Porefessional and I have the regular size one but I can't complain when its for nothing. So anyway now my skin was ready I wasn't sure whether to apply it straight on or just use a brush (was honestly so nervous incase it was horrible). So it got planted straight on my face 5 lines at most and then blended out with my Make Up Revolution blending sponge.

I mean it gave coverage as I expected but it wasn't as amazing as I thought it used to be, but know I'm used to liquid foundations maybe that was the problem? It gave a dewy finish but was also quite heavy on my skin. I wore the foundation all night through alcohol inflicted activities and sweating when we were in the gig. To be fair it stayed put and never slid off my face, which was probably what spotty 14 year old me loved. Its a great foundation overall for starting off with and maybe using on nights out, but not everyday because it can feel quite heavy. 

A couple of days later I figured I could mix it up a little bit and play around with the foundation stick in ways I hadn't before, testing it for other uses. I put on my Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 hour foundation in shade 303 (thats my fake tan go to foundation, holy grail I swear) and used the Playstick as a highlight shade under my eyes, the forehead, nose and all the usual places and my MAC Studio Finish concealer in NW40 as a contour shade. Blended all that in and I'm being honest I think I've found my new christmas routine for my face. It went no where, stayed put, kept the tones and any highlight powder was stuck on there as well.

Im thinking the moral to this love story is that 14 year old just assumed this was the only level of coverage and staying power there was in the world. Then 5 years on and many foundation routines later realised that she could use the old and blend it with the new, for that ideal party coverage. Overall Benefit are a great brand for the makeup shy people, the inexperienced and the pro's, this foundation is definitely going into my memory box and staying there.  So comment below, tweet or email me to let me know what your first foundation was, I mean why not go out and buy it and see what you think now (i dare you). As always you'll find everything spoke about today linked below with the best price possible. If you have any questions or need to get a hold of me please don't hesitate to do so.  Have a great day and I'll speak to you tomorrow. 

Email: haute.bothered@gmail.com

Twitter: HauteBothered_

Instagram: Haute_Bothered

Useful Links:Benefit Playstick ,Benefit Porefessional, Benefit B.Right Triple Performing SPF Moisturiser, Rimmel Lasting Finish 25H Foundation, MAC Studio Finish Concealer, Makeup Revolution Pro Blend Sponge

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Idealistic Birthday Wishlist

I have not been shopping in almost two months; I literally want to pull my hair out and probably weave into some kind of skirt.  It’s not that I don’t have the money, but what makes it as excruciating is the fact I have to SAVE, I mean who even came up with the idea of saving (unless it’s for a pair of Louboutins or a pair of Blahniks – then it’s totally understandable). I’m not exaggerating when I say I had literally forgotten about “late night shopping” until tonight when I had to starfish out on my bed to stop me from moving. Being “prepared” for moving has hurt me where it hurts the most – my wardrobe. So all I can do until the 26^th of September is wait for the birthday shopping haul to commence, so that’s why I’ve resorted to online shopping and came up with a check-list of what to buy as soon as I’m allowed into the high street.

I sound like some kind of wild animal. 

So basically everything I’m about to tag in this post is what I would idealistically love for my birthday, but the probability of me getting it (even though it is my 18^th birthday) is pretty slim. Most of these items are affordable, so if its payday for you lucky dolls today you may want to check some of it out.

I'll get the big ones out the way first shall I?

1. I have been admiring the Christian Louboutin Differa heels for sometime, spotted on the 'Vanity Fairs- Best Dressed Editors Picks' Claudia Adaszewska lately in black. These shoes are literally like gold dust and i would see them as a "vintage" Louboutin initially launched in 2001. The last i was aware they where retailing for £790 on net-a-porter, but since have been discontinued (see what i mean about the probability being low) ive attached of the gold ones im lusting over and praying the birthday fairy is extra loving this year.

2. The next thing i would like would probably be most bloggers and journalists essential, the 'MacBook Pro 13" with Retina' i have no idea what any of that means, I just knows its good for what i do and i want it even if the fairy refuses (chances are i'll probably save up and get this eventually). It currently retails at 4GB for £949, while other places do offer promotional offers during the freshers times eg. PC World offering £100 cash back after any purchase over £599- not bad eh.

3. Okay so onto a treat for both myself and all you shoe lovers. Are you ready to witness the forefront in affordable couture amazing beatuful magnificent footwear, not only are they fabulous and flawless but they are constantly offer flash sales of upto 50% off when you subscribe- visit Kandee Shoes (dont thank me when you do, thank Mr Kandee). The Prices range from £100 to £400, but the quality is dear i say it to that of the standards of the luxury brands CL *wink* *wink* My Top 3 would easily be Skittlez, Glacier and (my most favourite carrie bradshaw heel) FROSTING. Seriously girls check them out, youll bever regret it, get on board with my kandee obssesion.

4. My Second Last Item is a recent release from M.A.C, this product means we no longer need to fork out £110 to complete a custom MAC eyeshadow palette but only £65. As a brunette I always tend to go for more natural tones (and as i currently dont own mac eye products) when i saw this product i started having palpitations, available in both cool and warm tones our favourite make up brand has premade us a 15 pan nuetral palette for a fraction of the cost. So i have to have it and so do you, if your starting out on MAC this palette features both limited edition colours and colours which are available to buy in store at £10 per eyeshadow. With a wide variety of matte and frosting pigmentation, from olives to plum, golds to silvers the possibilities with these palettes are endless. An investment i plan on making myself if need be, warm personally is my favourite but check out some tutorials and swatches on Youtube to judge for yourself.

5. Okay so these last products I've never really got round to buying but absolutely adore, love and drool over. Its the Real Technique brushes, after my long lasting relationship with my stipple brush i always said i would pick up the Sams Pick Collection along with the Essential Eye Kit but unfortunately i haven't got em yet. I have been spying on All Beauty and after comparing lots of prices for these brushes found this to be the cheapest by a mile; Sam Picks (which is limited edition) Retails at £26 while the Eyeshadow Brushes cost only £13.50- whilst most drug stores expect £21. These brushes are long lasting and durable, they not only give a flawless fish but are completly reliable to have almost no fall out.

Regardless of what i get on my birthday, which i will be sure to share, im just going to be super greatful for everything and actually being able to spend time with my family and thankful i got anything. Though imma turn up when it comes to going into town with my gurlsss (lol feel so sassy when i say that). Just as a disclaimer this is probably not what i will recieve on my birthday just a shortned version on what i would LOVE to happen if pigs flew and i was in a parallel universe. Going to be 18 though, and aslong as i get a fancy glass with the numbers '1' and '8' on im coool with life. Can't wait to be deemed as an adult by most people who dont know me, YAAAY.

Anyway hope you guys enjoyed this blog post and be sure to check out some of the things above, even email me your wishlists and any suggestions of what you would like to see featured on here. Im thinking a shoe supplier blog post soon, shoes Shoes SHOES.

Love Naomi xoxo

Email: haute.bothered@gmail.com

Twitter: HauteBothered_

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