June Favourites!

So six months of the year down, and a six month anniversary for this blog! I started this blog as a way to escape and have some me time, and if I'm honest, it's been great! And long may it continue. I didn't start all this to get the most followers or page views but if you do read my little part of the internet, a big thank you!

Ok so June favourites time! The last part of this month has been so warm so minimal makeup has been happening; because lets be honest its not about having makeup running down your face from the heat! So to neutralise all the dark circles and general discolouration I've been loving the Nip+Fab CC Eye Fix in Light. It's one of those products that does all the work for you! I normally apply it in a V shape under my eyes, around my nose, and anywhere that needs it, and then blend it out with my finger. Just remember, whatever a product is designed for, you don't have to use it for just that purpose! Think outside the box!

As it's been glorious sunshine, shock horror, in the UK, I've been reaching for all of the bronzing type products in my stash! The most used is by far the beautiful Bourjois BB Bronzing Cream 8 in 1. I've found a few different ways I like to use this - mixed in with foundation, as an all over primer before foundation, and as a cream bronzer. My favourite way has definitely been the latter. It's super easy to work with. I apply it on the back of my hand, and then using my Real Techniques contour brush I brush most of it off, and then blend it into the hollows of my cheeks and around my face in a 3 shape. I usually apply a bit more than needed, I like the bronzed look too much! Then taking the Miracle Complexion Sponge from RT I blend the heck out of it to make it look more natural and flawless! Love, love, love!

To apply the powder bronzing/contour products I've been using this month I've been using the stunning Crown Brushes C473 Pro Contour Brush that I featured in my 'Welcome Crown Brushes In To Your Life' post. It's different to all the brushes I've tried and I love it. Not much else to say about it, apart from go and pick one up! You won't regret it!

Now the summer isn't just about having that bronzed goddess look. It's always nice to have a flush of pink sneaking through that tanned glow! The No7 Natural Blush Tint Powder in Honey is my go to blush, without any question! If you want the perfect natural flush of colour, pinky/rosey tint in a pan - this blush is for you! It's very subtle, but beautiful none the less!

And as it's been hot, and yes I've been quite bad and not drunk enough water (my bad), I've been religiously applying the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. My first Origins purchase was a fantastic one! If you've not tried this, and you're late on the band wagon like I was, rush out and pick this little beauty up! Do it! Give you're skin a drink, and let it appreciate all the hydration!

What have you been enjoying this past month? Any recommendations?

May Favourites!

This month has been a true test of shopping my stash, as well as picking up some beautiful new items. Having a massive clear and sort out made me realise I either have too much, or a shocking organisation system - ie. no system at all! 

My skin has been very temperamental lately, and quite frankly doing my nut in! When having a sort out I found the Monu Soothing Hawaii Facial Treatment Oil. If you want to see my first thoughts on it check out my post here. It’s become one of my favourite things that I’ve added into my evening skincare routine for a while! It’s also one of those products that never seems to go down a lot in the bottle so I’m hoping it will last me a while; not that’s a huge deal because I will definitely repurchase it!

I feel like this months favourites is going to be a bit same-y to my latest blog posts, but what can I say, I’ve really been loving these products!
The L’Oreal The Minerals True Match Mineral Powder Foundation in Golden Ivory has pretty much been the only foundation I’ve worn this month! Again, check out a more in depth look at this beaut here. 

The Sanctuary Spa 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask has made it’s way on to my face a lot in the month of May. Those long days at work, when all you want to do when you get home is make a cup of tea, slouch on the sofa, and relax. This mask is a perfect addition to that routine. The warming feeling makes everything feel better and makes you forget about the day and helps you switch off. Do nothing for 5 minutes, wash it off, have better looking skin - win on every level! 

I’ve been on the hunt for a small, simple nose ring for a while - after I lost the one I loved in my sleep :( I was recommended a few by friends, and headed to Claire’s and picked up two delicate rings with a small ball on them. See I picked up two, I’ve learnt from losing the favourite! Not as silly as I look! 

It’s been a while since I added different favourites into these posts so…

My favourite album this month has been 1989 by Taylor Swift. It started with Blank Space and Style being guilty pleasures, then the more I heard of it I caved and bought the album! Yes I know I’ll probably get a lot of grief for that - but oh well!

I did a fair bit of clothes shopping in May so I’m sure they’ll be numerous clothing favourites in June.

What have been your favourites in May? Can you suggest any products you think I’ll love and may sneak into June’s favourites? 

April Favourites!

So April is over and it is May already! Where has the year gone! April brought some nicer weather to the UK and everything started to feel more spring like and lovely! I've been using much of the same products over the past month but there were some new items that popped into my collection that I've ended up loving, along with a few items in my stash that I've come to re-love again!

When watching one of Anna's videos (from ViviannaDoesMakeup) she mentioned the Rimmel Lasting Finish Concealer. I was intrigued and picked it up on my next trip to Boots, and I love it! I'd compare it to Benefit's Boi-ing concealer, but it's better, and much more affordable! I have the shade Porcelain and it is perfect for covering and lightening up the under eye area. It's ok for blemishes, however as it's quite thick and full coverage, its not great for spots that are dry and/or raised too much as it shows them up even more rather than trying to conceal them! But it's become a regular product in my daily makeup routine and I reckon it's there to stay for a while!

Warmer weather to me means one thing - cream products! I've had this beautiful blush in my collection for a while now but it's been perfect for the last few weeks. The Gosh Giant Blush in 02 Shy is a lovely beige/pink natural flush of colour. I take a Real Techniques contour brush and take the product from the stick then apply to my cheeks. I've found applying it straight on to the cheeks from the stick can leave things looking a bit patchy, but no issues when using a brush! I may have to pick up a few more of these!

Pinks take over from reds on the lips around this time of the year - however a red lip still makes an appearance on a Friday night! This Max Factor Intensifying Balm in Refined Rose is perfect for those sunny days where you want a slight hint of colour but nothing too much! As the name suggests, it is a rosey pink that looks perfect with nearly every makeup look! I'd recommend applying a little bit of a moisturising lip balm first - something like Nuxe Reve De Miel - just to give a bit more hydration as I've found it to be a little drying after a while.

There's nothing worse than being hot, and not wanting to ruin your makeup whilst trying to cool down! The Sanctuary Spa Pore Refining Toner came to the forefront of my stash when the sunny weather appeared. It's a spray toner that is a lovely addition to your skincare routine, but also amazing when in need of some refreshing! Spritzed all over the face, it cools everything down and makes you feel fresh!

What have your favourite products been in April?

March Favourites!

March is almost over, 2015 is going so fast! So as we roll in to April, lets look back at my favourite products from the month of March.

This month I've been trying to master my brows! I've been loving a combination of products, and discovered the perfect brow shade towards the end of this month!
To start off, I use the Soap & Glory Archery Brow Tint & Precision Shaping Pencil in Brownie Points. The thin felt tip end is perfect for adding those extra 'hairs' to sparse looking areas.

To get the perfect shape I've been using the Seventeen Brow's That Brow Kit. This kit is a perfect all in one if you're just starting to fill in your brows. It comes with a pencil, wax, powder, brush and highlight; and all within a handy compact, with a decent mirror! The wax is great for etching out that arch to die for, then follow over with the powder to create the perfect brow. However the powder is quite a rich brown - ideal for a strong brow day - not so great for a minimal makeup/natural look.
The replacement for a more natural look is the eyeshadow Tob-le-rone from my beloved Makeup Revolution Naked Chocolate palette. It's a pale taupe/brown shade that is ideal for natural looking brows! I apply the powder with the EcoTools Shade & Define Brush. This is a double ended brush, the angled end is the one for angled precision brows and liner!
On a side note - the pouch that EcoTools brushes come in is so useful! I've found it's great to keep cotton buds in when travelling - or anything you want to keep separate in your makeup bag!


When I was in London last, I picked up the Bourjois Colorband 2-in-1 Eyeshadow & Liner in Brun Dadaïste. Cream eyeshadow sticks make application so quick and easy, and these shadows blend so well! If you want a coppery wash of colour all over the eye, possibly with some smudgy liner close to the lash line, this is the product for you! Love it!

The next product I've put off buying for a while, not knowing if I'd get on with it. But I definitely do! It's the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. This is the first makeup sponge that I've ever used, I've always used my hands or brushes! RT have done it again though! It has different sections of the sponge for separate areas of the face - all work amazingly! I've been using it damp, yet to try it dry but I'll give it a go. Since purchasing this I've not picked up a base brush at all! Gives a natural finish that is flawless!

I think I've mentioned before I'm not a huge foundation wearer. Normally I'd just wear concealer, maybe a CC cream to even everything out. But this month I picked up the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation in 52 Vanilla. I spotted it on a trip to Boots and thought I'd give it a go. It's changed the way I look at foundations! It's lightweight, but buildable. Gives an instant lift to the skin, getting rid of tired looking skin! Vanilla is a perfect match for me and looks flawless when applied with the RT Miracle Complexion Sponge. Thank you Bourjois for restoring my faith in foundation!

What have your favourite products been in March? Any new picks?

February Favourites!

So the shortest month is over, and it's March already...where has the year gone!! This month was one of new products as well as shopping my stash. I'd recommend looking through your stash every month to see what gems you can find that you've forgotten about!
Fairly late on in the month, I picked up the Beauty UK Ultimate Contour Palette. I was looking for a cream contour, and for £4.99, it's a great product! The first couple of times I used this, I applied it with the Real Techniques pointed foundation brush, this placed the product with precision but when buffed out didn't give an even finish. I swapped it out for the contour brush, taking a little bit of the product at a time and building it up for a more natural look. The formula is cream to powder so the natural look is easy to achieve!
As mentioned in my January favourites, the Makeup Revolution I Love Makeup Naked Chocolate palette was a firm favourite all the way through February too! It is back in stock, so get it quick before it goes away again!
I've been trying to be kinder to my hair this month, so I've been washing it less frequently but with better products! To keep it looking fresh between washes I've been using the Batiste Dry Shampoo - Medium & Brunette. It's the same great Batiste formula but with a hint of colour, no more ashy hair fails!
The next one is a tried and trusted favourite for me, but this was definitely proven when I ran out of it, and it sucked! It's the Sure Maximum Protection Deodorant Cream Confidence. It's the only deodorant I've tried that is still very much there after a tough day at work, love it! 
When I first picked up the Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm, I loved it from first use. It has become a staple in my everyday routine, and I definitely won't be leaving the house without it! I've had a problem with dry lips for a while and could never find anything that really sorted the issue, it's extinct now with this little beaut in my collection!
This month I found an amazing product in my stash that I didn't even realise I had! It was the Nuxe Masque Crème Fraîche de Beuté. Nuxe have done it again! I had some random dry, red patches crop up on my cheek and wasn't too happy about it! This mask, applied twice (and sometimes more) a week, took the issue and tamed it drastically! It's a soothing and rehydrating mask; you apply it all over the face, leave for 10 minutes and then massage what's left into the skin. I use it at night, just before bed, and in the morning my face feels much more relaxed and set for the day!
My last favourite is the top I picked up from New Look. It's by the brand Blue Vanilla, and it's not something I would normally pick up. Picked it up, tried it on, bought it. Enough said!

What were your favourite products in February? Any suggestions that could become my March favourites?!

January Favourites!

So the first month of the new year has flown past, and it's time to recap on my favourites of January!
The end of the month saw the Makeup Revolution I Love Makeup Naked Palette land on my doormat, and I fell in love. It's a beautiful neutrals palette with a good mix of warm and cool toned shadows. It has become a staple in my makeup bag in a very short period of time!
A few weeks ago I did a First Thoughts on the Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Purifying Cleansing Wash. Since then, it's taken up a well deserved place in my morning and evening skincare routine. It leaves my skin feeling so fresh and clean, perfect for a morning pick me up or an evening of relaxing!
I've heard a lot of raving reviews about Maybelline mascaras, so on one of my many trips to Boots in January (oops), I picked up the The Falsies Volum' Express Mascara in Black. It has a spoon brush wand which is different to any other mascara I've used in the past; but I like it! It's supposed to give lashes a false lash effect, like the name suggests. I agree to a certain level, it gives length and volume without any clumping, not too sure its quite as extreme as false lashes though; but still a great mascara!
A product I've mentioned a couple of times on my Instagram is the Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow in 25 Bronze. It's one of the best cream shadows I've tried! When you try a new product and you apply waayyyy too much on the first go, you know things are going to by good; those 'a little goes a long way' products are always a winner in my book! The colour was the go to bronze I was looking for, so well done Max Factor!

As this is my first monthly favourites I was thinking of extra things I could add in to make sure it wasn't just a makeup favourites! So my favourite YouTuber of the month was Suzie from HelloOctoberxo. January saw more vlogs and regular updates pop up on her channel, that were watched intently by me to pick up some tips and tricks and new products I should try!
My favourite blog of the month was viviannadoesmakeup.com! Her daily dose of beauty, fashion, fitness, is a combination of all the things you want to read. Anna will always be a blog favourite!

 

Check these two lovely ladies out!

An extra little favourite is the diary I picked up from paperblanks. I got the 12 Month, Week at a time planner, in the style Safavid Ultra. One of my goals for 2015 was to take more time for myself, and do things for me. This blog was one of those things, and a diary was the perfect way to keep me going and push me forward! The one I picked up has a week view on the left hand page, and a lined notes page on the right. Perfect for all those post ideas!

Favourite Lip Products

Lipstick to me completes a Weekend Face. It took me a while to find a lipstick that works for me and had staying power! Gone are the days of smearing lipstick across your face by accident!
My fool-proof lipsticks of choice are the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets. I can't fault them at all! They're the perfect liquid lipstick!

To make these apply smoothly, I prime my lips with the Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub. This gently gets rid of any dry, rough skin on my lips and leaves them feeling smooth. It has a slight tingly feeling from the peppermint oil in it, which means you can feel it working! It also tastes amazing! If you like mint chocolate, or anything mint, you need this in your life asap! The Rodial Stemcell Super-Food Glam Balm Lip follows the scrub to make sure my lips are as hydrated as possible, as the lipsticks are a matte formula. I make sure to do this before I start the rest of my makeup so that it's had time to sink in properly!

I have the shades Nude-ist, Personne ne Rouge!, Grand Cru and Ole Flamingo! Nude-ist is a beautiful your lips but better shade. The pink undertone lifts an everyday simple makeup look! Personne ne Rouge is your classic red! It's my go to Friday night lipstick! Grand Cru is more of a deep red, the perfect berry shade for the colder months! The only thing with this colour is you have to apply a few more layers to get the deep red as solid as possible; not sure if the formula is slightly different, seems to take a bit more work! Ole Flamingo is my least worn out of the four. I'm a red or natural lip girl, the bright pink that is Ole Flamingo is a bit out of my comfort zone; maybe in the summer it will get more use!
The packaging feels sturdy and more high-end, even though they are a drugstore product. They come with a doe foot applicator which makes it super easy to get the perfect cupids bow shape and neat edges! They do have quite a distinct smell, but that really doesn't bother me! They apply so beautifully, just like velvet.
I normally apply one layer, lightly blot, and apply a second layer on top to make sure they stay strong all night long. They barely need touching up even after eating and drinking! Like I said - fool-proof!

Beautiful shades, formula, finish, staying power, and only £8.99! Perfect!