April Favourites 2017

It's monthly favourites time,  I love looking back on the month and thinking about what products and things I have been loving. So lets just get straight into it...

Ted Baker Makeup Bag
This was the month where I really needed a new makeup bag, mine was very battered around, the zip had fallen off and it was just full of foundation marks. So I took a trip into Boots and found this gorgeous Ted Baker bag. The reason I love it so much, is that it honestly fits everything in! I am the type of person that will take a nude, pink and red lipstick and I will take a few different eye palettes depending on the lipstick... I am a nightmare. Also, how pretty is it? 

No7 Serum - SKINCARE
No7 launched their newest serum to their collection 'Restore and Renew Face and Neck Serum' which is for mature skin, to fade away any creepiness. I don't actually need that serum YET, but I did purchase their serum for the first signs of ageing. So far I have been using it for about 3 weeks, and I can already see improvements. Especially with my under skin spots *cry* they have really faded! 

L'Oreal Moistriser - SKINCARE
This is such a weird product and it isn't actually what I thought it was, I thought it was a serum type of product and I just threw it in my basket because it was on offer and I said to myself 'I will give it a go'. But it's actually a moisturiser, a lot like the Lancome Energy de vie. I have found it's really nice and cooling on the skin. Sinks in beautifully, a very watery texture, but I really like that. The only thing I will say, is that it is quite highly fragranced, like a lot of L'Oreals skincare. 

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara - MAKEUP
I have actually used this mascara before and I am sorry if I have mentioned it somewhere before. But I can't remember mentioning it, so I thought I would speak about it now. The reason I love this mascara is because it just seems to make my lashes look like theres lots and lots of lashes that I didn't even know I had. It's an amazing all round mascara, it gives length, volume and so much definition! 

NYX Dewy Finish Long Lasting Setting Spray - MAKEUP
Again a product I have used before and that I have repurchased this month. The reason I don't think I've mentioned this before is because back then I hadn't really tried many setting sprays, but now I have tried a few more. The NYX one is amazing for the price and the best one I've found in the drugstore. I love the actual spray on it, it doesn't just hit you in the face, its much more of a mist which is the real reason it's the best I've found. Also, it definitely makes a difference to the staying power of my makeup! 

DIOR Pure Poison EDP - FRAGRANCE 
This isn't a new launch for Dior, their newest fragrance in the poison range is 'Dior Poison Girl EDT' which is very sweet. However, I have come across pure poison  it's a very distinctive scent, strong but not too strong, floral but just incredible. I have been wearing this pretty much every day this month and I really love it! Not your typical spring fragrance, but one you NEED to go and smell! 

Alessia Cara - MUSIC
I have honestly been obsessed with this girl recently, I think her voice is amazing, I love every song she's made. I haven't really listened to anything but her! My favourite songs are 'wild things (acoustic version) and scars to your beautiful' LOVE HER

♥

Drugstore Products Worth The Hype?!

I have been looking at my makeup collection recently, and I have discovered that half of the products I slap on my face daily are drugstore/highstreet products, eg; from boots, superdrug, feelunique.com... blah blah, basically they are affordable. So I am gunna talk you through products that are affordable that are great and are just as good as high end products! These products have actually been hyped up by my friends, people of the internet and magazines. So you probably will recognise most of them and I believe they are all completely worth all the hype and praise they get!

Maybelline Colour 24hr Tattoo Cream Eyeshadows
These are essentially cream eyeshadows in a pot, which are very creamy and blendable when you apply them on your eyelid, then after you have blended them, they set. Then they just don't budge for the whole day. The way I use them is by applying them to the lid with my finger then blending them out with a blending brush, such as; Mac 217. The colours I have are: probably the most raved about shade - 35 On and on Bronze and 65 Pink Gold. They are both shimmery, but gorgeous colours. The reason I love them the most is because they are so quick and you can use them on their own or under a shadow as a base.

Collection Eyes Uncovered Eyeshadow Palettes 
These palettes really compare to high end palettes for me, they are around £4 and they are worth every penny. They are creamy, blendable, easy to apply and the shades are lovely and wearable. I find in the drugstore you get palettes and then the colours are like blue, pink, yellow, green and theres about one neutral shade in there, that I would actually wear. I think theres about 4 variations of these palettes, I own two which are: the nude palette and the nude rose palette. I would say I use the nude palette more, and the first two shades I have actually hit pan on! The nude rose palette I love the orange shade in this, it's such a unique shade and I have never seen a shade like this in the drugstore!

Soap & Glory Solarpowder Bronzer
If you have been here a while, you will know I love this product. It's my favourite bronzer EVER, I love Benefits Hoola as well, but I would say this tops it. I have gone through 2 of these bronzers, and I actually broke this one the other day *cries* but I still dip my brush in and try to use it without getting powder everywhere! Its just the perfect shade, theres two shades in this bronzer, one has got shimmer in and is lighter (I think its supposed to be the highligher shade - but it's a gorgeous tone) and then theres a matte more bronzer shade. I normally just swirl my brush in both and apply it to the cheek bones.

Collection Lasting Perfection concealer
Again, if you have been reading for a while you will be skipping this one, probably. I rave about this all the time, and so does everyone else! I won't ramble for long, but this is a very high coverage concealer, I use it for blemishes, not under the eyes because it's too thick. But any blemishes or redness, use this and say goodbye.

Loreal True Match Foundation - shade 1N Ivory 
I have recently loved this foundation, purely because of the colour I have found the perfect shade, and I have very pale skin so it's hard to find the perfect shade that is light enough, especially in the drugstore. The consistency is very lightweight, watery and blendable. If you like Lancome foundations, you will probably like the L'Oreal ones, give them a try, they are much more affordable!

Maybelline Eye Eraser Concealer
This is a dream to apply, its got a sponge applicator, which is a bit ming but also, its a lovely way to apply the concealer. I use this one under the eyes, because it's very creamy and gets rid of any darkness straight away. It really lifts my under eyes and makes me feel a lot more awake. Fake sleep with this concealer.

L'Oreal Paris Superliner Perfect Slim Liquid liner 
I was very late to the band wagon with this one, everyone raves about this eyeliner. So I finally jumped on, and purchased it. I am pretty crap with liner, I can never make them even and the lines just get bigger and bigger, until it looks hideous and I get a makeup wipe and remove it all. This liner makes lining my eyes and creating a flick a lot easier, this is because the nib is very small and bendy so you can create a line that is small and close to the lashes. It really has made liner possible for me.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams
Since NYX has launched in Boots stores, I have been obsessed. NYX is a very fun brand, its got lots of products which are very 'in' at the moment, like liquid lipsticks, contouring palettes and so on. However, I find some liquid lipsticks very sticky, they don't set right on my lips and they just clump up, does anyone else get this?! But these, OH MY GOODNESS they are amazing, they are so creamy so they don't dry your lips out, but they stay in place for a very long time. The colour range is amazing, they do some gorgeous nudes. I have 4 of them, I'm obsessed. The shades I have are; Cannes (MY FAVE) Stockholm, Istanbul and Ibiza. All gorgeous shades and I reach for these A LOT.

Real Techniques Complexion Sponges
I was very sceptical when these sponges came out, because I have always either used my fingers or a brush for my complexion. I always thought a sponge would just soak up my product and wouldn't apply right on my face. However, I tried one and I was pleasantly surprised, I always spray some fixing spray on the sponge and then apply the foundation and concealer with it. They are basically amazing for blending out any cream products. With your fingers or a brush you sometimes get marks or lines where the foundation hasn't blended probably, well buy one of these and say goodbye to those. It just blends everything in amazingly and I would recommend these more than anything else in this post!! GO GO GO (just laughing about the picture, literally looks like two eggs)!!

Thank you so much for reading, don't forget to add your email on the right hand side on my blog. This will just notify you when I post a new blog post! xxxxx

♥

August Favourites 2016

August has been a whirlwind of a month, it just has flown by, I've done so much and it just has been the best! I started off the month with a spontaneous trip to Dublin, Ireland (I promise I am working on some posts - they will be here in the next few weeks)! I have had a weekend in Bath, had my hair all cut off and styled and I just ended the month with a nightout with all my friends for the August Bank Holiday!! Anyway, thats why I haven't been posting on here too much, *slap wrists* sorry guys.

BASE: FOUNDATION
I have quite a few makeup products in this months favourites, and quite a few base products well 4, is that a lot? I guess so for one months favourites. Its been quite hot on and off for the July and August in the UK. When I say hot, that horrible sticky, sweaty hot when all you want to do is pray that the sky bursts with rain. Anyway, I have been mixing two foundation products together, one to be Estee Lauder BB Cream and the other to be my much raved about foundation Chanel Vitalumia Aqua Foundation. Both are light/medium coverages, but I just find mixed together gives a gorgeous coverage and dewy base. It's just what I have been reaching for this whole month. I do like to switch up my foundations depending on the colour of my skin, hense why most months there is a foundation in the monthly favourites. Basically I love these foundations, and together they are very expensive, but I would say if I had to pick one, my favourite would be the Chanel Vitalumia Aqua Foundation, its just gorgeous, feels so lightweight but has such buildable coverage, I don't think you could go overboard with this one.

BASE: CONTOUR
I have then been trying to find my cheekbones with the Clinique Chubby Contour Stick I got this product back in April, and I did like it, but I just thought it was one of those products I wouldn't use much. However, I have been loving cream bronzer/contour this month in particular. It looks so scary in the stick, but it blends like a dream... seriously. Also, it doesn't give anything too dramatic, it looks very natural and is a lovely colour.

BASE: CONCEALER
The concealer I have been loving this month is an oldie, well it's not too old, but it's one I have never really stopped loving, its just one I forget about and I don't really rave about enough. The Maybelline Anti-Age Eye Eraser, I just absolutely love this, you twist it from the bottom and then product comes out from the top of the sponge. It makes the skin so flawless, I use it under my eyes and a little bit on my forehead and chin.

Bondi Sands Dark Tan Moose
I go in stages with tanning, some times I just cannot be bothered and I embrace my paleness, and other times I just want to be a confident bronze goddess. This month was the later. My favourite all time tan was the St. Tropez Express Tan, WAS. I think that I prefer the Bondi Sands one more, for a few reasons, mainly the colour is super natural, it is more of an olive tan than an orange one. Even though I love the way I apply the St. Tropez and I do like the colour and I have done a whole blogpost dedicated to it, so click here to read! Bondi is just much more natural and I do like the smell. It's easy to apply and I think its a fall proof tan, if you are new to tanning or are just a tan junky, try this!

Soap and Glory Exfoliating Gloves
Basically I have discovered these because of the previous paragraph. When you tan, you need to exfoliate because you need a clean smooth surface for the tan to be applied. So I picked these gloves up from Boots and they are so easy to use. I just put them on both of my hands and squeeze some shower gel in them and rub them over my body to exfoliate.

Chanel Coco Mademosielle Shower Gel
This is probably the most expensive shower gel I am ever going to talk about. Retailing at £34, it is ridiculous, but such a luxury. Its great for someone who loves Chanel fragrance, and especially the popular Chanel Mademoiselle. Chanel Mademoiselle is just my signature scent, I love it. Whenever I smell it I just get reminded of so many beautiful memories. It really is gorgeous, it is a slightly floral, but very feminine scent. Anyway the shower gel, oh my... I love it! I only use this in the morning and only a tiny little bit, for obvious reasons. But its great for layering the scent, so the fragrance lasts longer. I would keep this in mind for Christmas, if someone likes Chanel fragrances, and you don't want to spend too much on them, or you always get them the fragrance and you want an alternative.

Zoella Girl Online Book 
This book was bought for me last Christmas, and its just been sat on my bedroom table, waiting to get read... and this month was the month! I haven't read a novel for quite a long time, and I really enjoyed just having such a page turner again. Its really got me into reading, I just missed the way a book can make your imagination run wild! I don't want to send any spoilers out, but its about a girl Penny, who has a blog called 'Girl Online' and she seems to be struggling with being a teenage girl, and ends up going to New York through the family business and in New York actually meets the love of her life... Noah. But Noah has a secret, which could break them?! I literally cannot wait to go to Waterstones and purchase the next Girl Online... ON TOUR!

♥

Disappointing Products #1

If I'm completely honest with you, I rarely get any products that I am disappointed with because I like to research, read blog posts, reviews, watch videos, I think you get the idea... However, there are some products which some people love and I thought 'oh yes, I like the sound of that!' and then purchased it, and ended up hating it. So heres some of those products here...

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Eyeshadows 
These are so stunning, and I used them probably once, and I was impressed they are very pigmented, easy to blend and this is the product that I would call 'buttery' yes, that blogger saying, I've done it. But they are so buttery, that they actually break and crack to the point where you can't really use them anymore. I firstly picked up the shade nude 206 and I used it and it cracked. I loved the pigmentation and the eyeshadow so much, I just thought it was a one off and I must of dropped it or it got crushed in my makeup bag. So I decided to try another shade, so I went for matte 107 (I hope these are the shade names) and literally the same thing happened again, it cracked, broke and just crumbled everywhere. Whilst taking these pictures, my hands are just full of crumbled eyeshadow. Which is just a shame because the eyeshadows I was impressed with, but the formula and how they last just aren't good, and I wouldn't recommend buying these.

Maybelline the Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara 
Theres a couple of reasons why I don't like this mascara; 1; the packaging just looks so cheap, and I just don't like the red and pink together. Also I thought there was two ends, but there actually is just the one. 2; The brush, it's a plastic brush (which I don't get on with normally anyway) but this just holds loads of product. 3; The way it makes my lashes, they just look ridiculous, all clumped together, literally into one lash. I like the other falsies mascara from Maybelline, and on a whole volume and that 'clumpy' lash look is what I love, but this was just too much and I didn't get on with it at all.

Models Own Eyelash Curler 
Out of all these products, I think this is the one which I hate the most. I have only ever tried this from Models Own, but I have heard great things about their nail varnishes. However, this eyelash curler, just isn't the one. I picked it up, because I had heard using an eyelash curler helps with the curl, keeps the lashes looking upright and beaut. This one, actually doesn't grip the lashes, looks really cheap and at one point some of my eyelashes came out. This is when I just threw it in a box and thought I will have to write a 'disappointing products post' so this eyelash curler is the reason this post is made.

No7 Beautiful Skin Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover 
This isn't the worst product, but I did find myself thinking 'is that it'. I just found it didn't really do much, I applied some product onto a cotton pad, and swept it over my eyes to remove my eye makeup. But it didn't really do anything, and it took quite a while to remove the makeup. I think this is because it is oil-free, and there is another version of this product, which looks more blue and is really good. So I would recommend using that instead of this. I do still use this product, just over my face to remove a bit of makeup as I don't really just want to throw it away.

Real-Techniques Bold Metals Brush - 301
This brush is for contour I believe. I purchased it when the bold metals collection came out, and I was just getting into contouring (I'm still not very good). But I just find this brush a bit too dense, and like the product doesn't blend very well. However, I do love Real-Techniques, they are my favourite brush brands and this is the only brush I haven't got on with. I will still keep it though, because of the gorgeous packaging (it just sits in with my brushes and looks pretty - lame).

I hope this post has helped you, if you are/were going to buy any of these products. Like I said at the start the majority of the products I buy I love and use on a daily basis, these are just a few of the products I haven't liked or got on with. Please do let me know in the comments if I am using any of these products wrong, or if you love any of these! Also, a tiny disclaimer... All of the brands in this post, I have nothing against them and I have loved pretty much everything else from them, apart from Models Own because I never have tried anything else from them. But I really want some of their nail polishes!!

♥

February Favourites

I just need to take a moment, one moment, because we are in MARCH?! MARCH.

I will give you chance to shut your mouth... however, February has been an ok month, not much to report on really. I've just been working my but off, to try and get myself back financially from the Christmas splurge. I do have some very exciting news, which is that I am treating myself to a brand new car, which is arriving on March 1st and I am so so so excited ekjnsjhbkjz :):).

Anyway, to the favourites, there are a few products this month which I have discovered and a few products from the big shop I did from Boots last month. In these blog posts I will just be doing beauty favourites, so no random favourites really, unless you really wanna know the personal random stuff.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Base

I have been loving the dewy/glowy look recently, because my skin has got drier over winter, I just love having a  dewy base. This primer comes out a white shade and blends in beautifully. I apply it just under the eyes, forehead, cheeks and chin (pretty much everywhere) I really adds to the gorgeous glowy skin. Also, I don't really know of a product from the drugstore that is an illuminating base, most of them seem to be matte or just pore erasers.

Maybelline Baby Lips Balm & Blush (innocent peach 01)

This is a great product, if you are lazy and like multi-use products. For me, I am lazy but I am yet to try it as a blush. But it is great as a balm for the lips. I apply it with my skincare so that my lips are all nourished and ready for the lipstick application.

Garnier Ultimate Blends 1 minute treatment

This is apparently new (it says on the bottle) but I know the ultimate blends has been out for a few months now, I have tried the red tubs of shampoo and conditioner, and if I'm honest I wasn't completely blow away, it was just a normal conditioner. So I got this treatment because it was from a different range. It is for damaged to dry hair, and just nourishes the hair. I only apply this on the ends of the hair, every time I wash it, which is every other day or every 3 days. I wouldn't recommend using this every day if you do wash your hair every day. But it smells gorgeous too, its got avocado and shea butter in.

Lush Herbalism Face & Body Cleanser

I used to have this product when I was about 15, because I got recommended it from a lady in Lush, I used to have really oily and spotty skin. I remember this helped a lot. So I was browsing Lush and I picked it up again, all those years later. I wouldn't say I've got particularly spotty skin now, but I just like the fact it feels like its doing good when I apply it to my face. I would say I use it once a week and a heads up it does make the skin go green and messy. All I do to apply the product is get about a 2 pence worth amount in my hand and apply a dash of warm water, then mix it together in my hand so it turns into a liquid and apply on my face. Wash off with warm water again. You do look a bit like the hulk, but its totally worth it.

Blanx White shock toothpaste

I know I said no random favourites, but to me this had to go in. Also, its not really random its just a tiny bit random. But this toothpaste is honestly amazing, it really does whiten your teeth. I saw results from the first time I used it and so did other people. You just use it as a normal toothpaste (well I did). It's about £5-00 too, so it's not overly expensive. So if you are looking for a new whitening tooth paste, give this one a go.

Theres my favourites for the month of February, hope you had a lovely month... and bring on the sunny weather (please) !!

♥

10 Top Makeup Products of 2015

WELCOME TO 2016 - how weird is that?!
2015 has created some amazing moments and also some amazing products! I thought I would write about some of the products that I have either discovered or rediscovered, but most importantly that I love. These are the products that I have been using the most this year, and that have probably appeared in a post I did back in September, my favourite products.

Soap and Glory Solar Powder

This is honestly the best bronzer that I have ever used, and I adore it. As you can see 'I've hit pan' haha and another one is currently on the list to purchase. I have quite pale skin, and the bronzer shade is just perfect, its not too orange, but then at the same time its not too cool either. Solar powder comes with the bronzer shade and also a highlighter shade. I swirl my blusher brush in both shades and then apply on my cheeks. Its so quick and I love the effect.

Maybelline Anti-Age Eraser eye Concealer 

When this product came out this year, there was so much hype and so many great reviews on this product. I normally avoid products that have so much hype, but with this one I jumped on the band wagon and purchased it. It's so incredible, it hides dark circles and makes you look awake. Also, I love the applicator, its a foam sponge, which soaks up so much product and makes it so easy to apply. However, the shade range of this product isn't fabulous, but I use the shade light and it works for me.

Lancome Grandiose Mascara

I discovered this a year ago now, last January and I still love this product. Mascara is a very personal aspect of makeup, but this mascara is just makes my lashes look how I love them to look. It gives volume, length and definition all at the same time. It obviously is a high end product, but for me it is worth the money because I love the effect it gives.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

Yes, another mascara.. haha. As much as I love the Lancome mascara, I couldn't write this post and not include this one. I discovered this mascara only a few months ago, back in early September. But this is another product that had a lot of hype and is totally worth the hype. I use the waterproof version in this mascara, which is why it does justify having two mascaras in this post. I love this mascara so much because it does really keep my lashes looking long and curled all day.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation 

This is defiantly my foundation of the year, its a very full coverage foundation, with a matte finish. It lasts all day on me, the colour match is perfect for my pale skin. If you want to see my full review on this foundation click here.

Soap and Glory Brow Archery 

This is a brow product that I have been using every day for my brows this year. I think it's honestly amazing, it makes filling in my brows so much easier and I actually enjoy doing my brows when using this. There are different versions of this product, but the one that I love has a pencil one end and then the pen the other. The pen is the bit I use the most, I outline my brows with the pen (sometimes fill in with the pencil or something else... coming up very soon). The thought of a pen did scare me at first, but it really makes life easy.

MAC Omega eyeshadow

This is the product I use alongside the Soap and Glory Brow Archery. I use omega to fill in my brows once I have used the pen side of the brow archery. Omega is a perfect brow shade for blonde haired gals, its matte so no shinny eyebrows (lol) and just works perfectly for me.

MAC Soft & Gentle skinfinish 

This stuff is pure amazingness, it's just a gorgeous highlighter, which is so pigmented and shimmery. If you like a subtle highlight, this really isn't for you. I use this everyday all over my face pretty much, haha. I think it just looks gorgeous, and I have been especially loving this in the winter months, because my skin has got dryer so I like my skin to look a lot more illuminated and dewy. It's also gorgeous as an eyeshadow, so in the corner of the eyes to make them pop.

No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick - Loganberry 

I have a few of these lipsticks from the range, and really do last all day, they are a matte finish but not drying at all. Loganberry is the shade which is just my perfect pinky/berry colour, everytime I wear this shade, I get asked what it is and get complimented on it. I have even got through a whole one of these lipsticks this year, so I purchased another loganberry. Honestly it's an incredible colour and formula.

Estee Lauder Pure Colour Envy Lipstick - Impulsive 210

I've also done a full post on this particular lipstick this year too, here it is. But this lipstick is just a lovely gorgeous pink colour, so moisturising and a perfect colour for if you just want something on your lips to make them look gorgeous.

So in a nutshell, there has been a lot of products which I have been loving this year, but these are just 10 of them because I didn't want to bore you and then these 10 products mean more because I really do love them. I wanted to just include some of the beauty products that I have been loving this year, because shortly in the next few months you will see a skincare routine, so you will have to wait for that. If you do try out any of these products, please comment below or if I have missed any, please tell me!

(nails - No7 deep wine.)

HAPPY 2016 

♥