Makeup Empties...

You all know that I love a good 'Empties' post and this time round, we've got a Makeup-themed edition on out hands. I've done something like this before here when all of my makeup (ok, maybe a slight exaggeration there) decided to run out all at once and now, with a similar situation recently occurring, it's time to run through some of my makeup items that have completely run out once again. Let's get started...

TANYA BURR COSMETICS FACE ILLUMINATOR - It's no big secret that I love Tanya Burr Cosmetics. It's fast becoming one of my favourite drugstore, affordable brands and this product is one of the many reasons why. Released as part of last year's Summer range, this face illuminator is awesome. It's technically more of a liquid highlighter-type product, but I've actually thoroughly enjoyed using it more as a illuminating, glowy face primer.

L'OREAL LUMI MAGIQUE CUSHION FOUNDATION IN '03 VANILLA' - Foundation-wise, this has actually been pretty empty for some time now but it's only recently, when having a bit of a makeup sort-out in terms of empty/near-empty products, that I rediscovered it. I loved, loved, loved this stuff last Summer when it was first launched and I kinda fancy picking up a fresh one for this year too, maybe. This is a gorgeous, light-coverage base that just slightly evens things out, but looks super-natural and really lovely and glowy too. Sometimes, I'm in the mood for a lighter base and this one is great for just that. I've defintely used it all up myself, but cushion foundations are also well-renowned for drying out eventually so of course, I am not at all surprised to see that there is nothing left of this now. Such a good drugstore base though and one I highly recommend!

SOAP AND GLORY SOLAR POWDER BRONZER - Another drugstore product I would definitely point you in the right direction of is this bronzer from Soap and Glory. This matte formula (my personal preference when it comes to bronzers) is perfect for adding some much-needed warmth, structure and dimension to your face - especially if you're of a lighter skintone like myself. The split-pan (with one lighter, honey tone and one slightly darker, chocolate colour), when mixed together, gives the ideal colour for us paler-skinned guys and gals and never, ever looks orangey. I'm currently obsessing over a new bronzer right now after fancying a switch up from my regular but I know, fo' sho', that this will be the one I come back to if in doubt.

NYX MICRO BROW PENCILS IN 'ASH BROWN' AND 'ESPRESSO' - These two, combined together, were all I was using to fill my brows in until recently when they run out, pretty much consecutively. Ain't that just how it goes, eh? While I couldn't find my perfect colour match though, the product itself certainly is pretty darn perfect. I fancied trying the whole 'micro brow pencil' format after hearing so many good things about the NYX offering and more high-end counterparts from Anastasia and I am so, so glad I did - especially this one in particular. The tin nib makes it easy to get my brows nice and bold and precise and yet still with a hair-like finish. The formula is not too dry, nor too creamy and once it's on, it lasts all day. Winner.

L'OREAL BROW ARTISTE PLUMPER IN 'MEDIUM/DARK' - To go alongside that, until recently I was using this brow gel from L'Oreal to set my brows into place. Not only that but the slight tint adds some extra colour and also the fiber-packed formula helps to beef things out - something that I especially find to be useful, having very sparse natural brows. The tiny brush makes precise application easy-peasy and while I've now switched things up for the Essence one I mentioned in this post (which I very much love too), again, I know this is one I can return to if I feel like it. It's a fail-safe, yanno?

SOAP AND GLORY SUPERCAT EYELINER - I feel like this entire post is full of some of my all-time faves as yet again, we have a makeup love of mine. Again, I'm currently using a different liquid liner which, again, I really enjoy but up until then, the one I was using every single time and loving was this one from S&G. The felt tip nib makes it easy to get a wing however you want it to be and the formula is super jet black and pigmented. It lasts all day without smudging or flaking off and while it does dry up after a while, it takes a darn long time to do so.

L'OREAL MISS BABY ROLL MASCARA IN 'BLACK' - Everyone (and I mean everyone) went absolutely cray cray for this stuff not too long ago and obviously, it wasn't long before I jumped on the bandwagon and tried it out for myself. And I am so super glad I listened up as it really is all kinds of awesome. The wet formula makes it one of the few mascaras I've tried that are great from the get-go, but even throughout using it until it completely used up/dried up it remains an awesome mascara. The brush is on the larger side of things but as long as you're careful, it's not too much of a major issue and it's well worth it for the length, thickness, volume, life and just general intense black lashes you get from it. 

MAYBELLINE LASH SENSATIONAL MASCARA IN 'BLACK' - Another mascara that has all used up (quite a while ago actually) is this one from Maybelline. I'm sure, if you've read round Dainty Ditsy for a good time now - you'll know this one. It's a classic and again, one I bought after hearing so many rave review after its release a couple of years ago. Much like the L'Oreal one, this gives a tonne of length and volume to the lashes. The brush is much easier to use and the formula is always more on the drier side - meaning you get a less intense black, thick look - but the result is more fluttery and it's worth bearing in mind that it can be easily built up - so I guess it's kinda depends what kinda look you're after. I love both and would highly recommend both too.

URBAN DECAY ALL-NIGHTER MAKEUP SETTING SPRAY - Finally - good ol' setting sprays - and kicking off with what has to be my one, all-time favourite that I am the most faithful to and will always come back to if in doubt. This is definitely not the most affordable option out there but personally, I find it to work the best in terms of setting sprays. It helps to really settle down any powders and general 'powdery' finish, make the skin look more 'skin-like' and fully locks things into place all. day. long. If I've applied a light spritzing of this after finishing my makeup, I just know it's going nowhere until I say so. Plus, even though it is more on the expensive side of things, I always find a bottle of this to actually last pretty long too.

RIMMEL #INSTA FIX AND GO SETTING SPRAY - A cheaper, drugstore alternative that I tried out a month or so ago when my UD ran out and I fancied giving something new (and more affordable) a go for a change is this one from Rimmel. The mist is less of a super-fine mist (tbh, something I find to be the main issue with a lot of drugstore sprays) but the product itself is awesome. It really helps to make my skin instantly look healthier and dewier, lock my makeup into place and the refreshing scent is a great one for waking you up in the morning too. But, the fact it's a 2-in-1 kinda set-up means it's a great one for spritzing over your face before your makeup as a primer spray too and personally, I feel like that's the way I enjoyed using it the most.