Top 10 Beauty Products of 2016

HAPPY MONDAY 

2016 has honestly flown past, I know everyone says that, but really it has. I did this post last year, and it honestly feels like yesterday I wrote it, but its in fact been a year... a whole year. Anyway, I loved writing it last year, and I really like looking back on the year, looking at products that I've discovered and then putting them into one whole post of products I love. I will leave a link here for my post last year. I re-read last years post, and there has been quite a few new things which I have been loving this year and that I have discovered.

#1 Lancome Sourcils Brow Gel - Taupe 03
I just had to include this, because it really is all I have used on my brows for all of 2016. I just love this. I use a little angle brush from Zoeva and I just dip it into the pomade. Start at the tail of my brow and then just fill in the front with whatever is left on the brush.

#2 Benefit Hoola Bronzer
2016 was actually the year I purchased this bronzer. It's always been a product that I have heard of and wanted to try. However, 2016 was the year I took the plunge. Its just a great matte bronzer. I don't contour on a day to day basis. But I use this as my bronzer pretty much all over my face.. ooops.

#3 Zoeva Cocoa Blends Eyeshadow Palette
Are you bored of hearing about this yet? I got this for Christmas in 2015. I literally love it, the eyeshadows are so creamy, blendable and just fabulous colours! I have used every shade in this palette. Recently I have been reaching for more of the bronzy tones and that beautiful gold shade.

#4 Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector
I'm more of a lipstick girl, if I'm completely honest. However, when I'm wearing more of a natural makeup, or I've got quite heavy eye makeup and more recently... if my lips are much dryer, then I will go for more of a gloss. The Clarins Lip Profector, is just incredible, smells like candy and gives a gorgeous nautral colour.

#5 Sleek Highlighting Palette
I have been reaching for this highlighter the most this year, defiantly for the last 6 months. Otherwise it would be the classic Mac Soft & Gentle. However, Sleek is such an affordable brand. You get 4 shades in this palette, 3 are powders and 1 is cream. I'm more of a powder girl, but I have used the cream colour too. But my most worn shades are the bottom two, 'Subsolar and Equinox'.

#6 L'Oreal Volume Million Feline Lashes Mascara
Mascara for me is something I'm not particularly bothered about, every mascara seems to do the same for me. I do have a preference but I will just get through any mascara. BUT, I have found a mascara in the last few months of the year which I love. It makes my lashes long, curly and very black. Its from L'Oreal, which is great because its an affordable mascara. (All  L'Oreal mascaras, I love and would recommend). But the volume million feline lashes has been a favourite of mine!

#7 Chanel Vitalumia Aqua Foundation B10
I have discovered this beauty this year. It was more of a foundation that I use in the summer months, because it's a lot lighter in coverage, however you do not need much product! I love the shade, its very yellow toned, which is what I love. What I love the most about this is (well defiantly not the price) the finish, its such a skin-like natural finish.

#8 Urban Decay Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer - light/neutral
I feel like everyone went crazy for this in 2016. I use this underneath my eyes, I use the shade light/neutral however, I do think it's slightly too dark for me when I don't use fake tan. It's a light consistency, but has amazing coverage and really brightens underneath my eyes.

#9 MAC Minzeralise Skinfinish Powder
Oh my... How did I ever do my makeup without this product? I would say this is the best powder that I have ever used. I do tend to prefer loose powders for setting my eyes. But I love this pressed powder for the rest of my face. I love that it has some coverage in it too  because I feel like it makes my skin look flawless and is a great last step.

#10 NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream
It was very hard for me to pick one type of lip product (apart from the Clarins) and it was the toughest choice. So I raved about these in the earlier part of the year, they are matte but in no way drying. The colour range is amazing, the application is fab, the wearing of them is amazing, I just love these. There is only one down fall for me, and that is that there doesn't seem to be much product in the tube, it doesn't last that long until I need to get a new one. But they are very affordable!

Have an amazing New Year! I'm wishing you a lovely healthy, successful and just all around incredible year, roll on 2017! 

♥

5 Bases: I Always Go Back To

For me, foundation is the most important part of my makeup. Its the part that I feel like if I get it right, then the rest of my makeup follows. So I'm going to talk you through 5 foundation bases which are my absolute favourites! 

MAC Studio Fix Fluid 

Lets start with probably my most all time favourite. If I had to choose one foundation forever, it would be this one. This foundation just makes my skin look amazing, and flawless. I do have three bottles of this stuff, because I'm just too scared to run out. I did actually loose this foundation a couple of months back, and thats when I actually realised I couldn't live without it. So I purchased another one, then found the one I lost. The shade I use is NC15, however, I do have another shade which is more pink toned, so really not my shade, but I do sometimes use it, and mix it in with another foundation. But NC15 is just the best shade match for me. I could ramble on about this foundation forever, but its a full coverage and a matte finish. It's incredible. 

Estee Lauder Daywear BB cream

This is the lightest coverage foundation/BB cream in this post. But its amazing, I just it more in the summer months, however I do use it in the colder months too but just if I want more of a natural look, and I'm not really doing much, I reach for this one. Sometimes I do mix it with another foundation, which is coming soon... 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua 

This is the foundation that I mix in with the BB cream, together they just make the perfect shade and give a lovely dewy natural finish. Vitalumiere Aqua, just makes your skin look perfect but it doesn't have a lot of coverage, its a light to medium I would say. It's amazing packaging to travel with. Its expensive, but its Chanel at the end of the day, and it really is incredible. 

No7 Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation 

No7 is a brand that makes foundation easy, they  have a machine which matches your skin tone to the right shade. I am the shade calico, which is a perfect shade for me when I have no fake tan on. I use this foundation more in the summer months, because it is a lighter coverage. But its really light on the skin, and is a very natural finish. 

No7 Stay Perfect Superlight and Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, are very simular in packaging and in formula. I would say for me, the Chanel is more pigmented, so you don't need as much of it. But I didn't really notice until I was taking these pictures, how similar they actually are! Obviously the No7 foundation is a fraction of the price, so I would say try that one first, see if you like it, then you could try the Chanel one. 

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hours

Okay, so I think its fair to say I love my highend foundations, but I couldn't leave this one out. I would say this is just my go to drugstore foundation. Rimmel foundations on a whole are very good (apart from my recent review) *sad face*. This is a very full coverage, but its not matte, its more of a satin finish. Its really easy to blend, the colour match isn't too bad, however, it is extremely hard to match yourself in the drugstore. It's a very nice foundation, and excellent for the money.

 ♥

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!

♥

June Favourites 2016

Cannot believe that its now JULY!! Where on earth is the time going... anyway, heres some of the products I have been in love with this month.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation - I have never owned a foundation from Chanel before, or any makeup item if I'm honest. However, Mademosielle is just my all time favourite scent. I will be writing a more in-depth review on this foundation, but if you want a very luxury product which is amazing, very light-weight but can be built up to a light/medium coverage, you will love this product as much as me. I would say I do prefer more heavy coverage foundations like Mac Studio Fix, but this foundation is perfect for summer, it lets the skin breathe and is a water based foundation, so you need to shake it before application. I use the shade B10, which is the palest shade, I will just bronze my skin up for when I do (hopefully) get a summer tan!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer - I just want to say that I really don't like the foundation from this range, its way to full coverage and heavy for me, even though I just said I am more drawn to full coverage foundations, double wear just didn't agree with me, and every time I wore it I got breakouts *cry*. On the other hand, I adore this concealer, it has got a high coverage, but when worn with the Chanel foundation, its perfect because I just apply this were I need more coverage. I think this would be great for a day were you don't want much makeup on, and will skip foundation because this is a great product for coverage where you need it. (I am shade - 1C light cool)

Benefit Hoola - I'm sure I've mentioned this in a recent favourites, (I can't remember, sorry my bad). But I really love this bronzer, its got amazing pigmentation and just is the perfect bronzer shade, can be used on the high points of the face to give a natural bronze or is the right shade to use more in the contour of the face. Can't not mention the packaging, its super cute!!

Elizabeth Arden Lash Extending Mascara - In the summer days I prefer to have my lashes looking natural and separated, and this mascara is perfect for this. I use two coats, it gives amazing length and definition. Perfect for everyday and is just probably the best mascara I've found for separation.

NYX butter gloss - I have two versions of this product, one is 'INTENSE' and the other is just... normal!? I really like these because they just leave such a gorgeous gloss on the lips, which isn't sticky it just looks so pretty. I would say theres only one downfall with these and thats, that they don't really last too long. But at the end of the day, it's a lipgloss, they won't last for hours and hours. However, glosses are much easier to apply, so carrying it in your handbag and applying on the go works for me! Shades - Intense; chocolate crepe (90s deep shade) butter gloss normal; Peaches and cream, gorgeous pure summer pink. Love NYX shade names!

♥

3 Perfect Female Fragrances for Valentines Gifts

Personally for me, I am not a huge fan of Valentines day this is because I think that everyday you should show that you love someone not just one day of the year. This doesn't mean I expect a bunch of flowers every single day, even though that does sound nice.

Anyway, if you are a guy reading this then *high five* to you for reading a girls blog... But seriously, heres three fragrances which I love and would be perfect for Valentines day. I think fragrance is such a lovely gift, because it's a personal option for the recipient. I know that it's hard for someone to pick some fragrances for the opposite sex, you don't know where to start, you don't know if they will like it and you just don't want to waste your money on something. (Tip - if you do buy someone a fragrance and you really aren't sure if they will like it, don't let them open the packaging, just go into a shop with them and test it with the tester - on the skin. Then if they don't like it, you can return it).

Chanel Coco Mademosielle EDP

This fragrance is just my favourite smell in the entire world, I don't know anyone that doesn't like the smell of this, it's just gorgeous. Chanel is such a luxury brand, and you know when you buy Chanel you are getting quality and your loved one will love you for it!

It comes in three different sizes:

30ml - £49
50ml - £68
100ml - £96

Top Notes: Orange, Mandarin Orange, Orange Blosson and Beragmot
Middle Notes: Mimosa, Jasmine, Turkish Rose and Ylang-Ylang
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Patchouli, Opoponax, Vanilla, Vetiver and White Musk

Marc Jacobs Decadence EDP

This is a new fragrance, I think that its very different to Marc Jacobs normal floral fragrances such as daisy. This is a bit more woody to me, and I prefer it a lot. Marc Jacobs is known for his fine fragrances, they are very popular and very beautiful.

It comes in three different sizes:

30ml - £48.50
50ml - £59
100ml - £86

Notes: Italian Plum, Saffron and Iris, Bulgarian Rose, Sambac jasmine and Orris Root

The bottle design is inspired by one of Marc Jacobs iconic bags.

Paco Rabanne Olympia EDP

This was launched in August 2015. It represents the female version of Paco Rabanne Invictus for men. This perfume just reminds me of an angel or something gorgeous like that, jus the bottle and the packaging of the box. I believe you can't go wrong with this fragrances.

It comes in three different sizes:

30ml - £40
50ml - £54
80ml - £59.50

Top Notes: Sparkling Green Mandarin, Aquatic Notes of Water Jasmine and Fiery Ginger Lily
Middle Notes: Salted Vanilla
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Cashmere and Ambergris


I hope this helped you, or you found it interesting to find out what is actually in these fragrances with all the different notes. Hope you have a lovely Valentines day, even if you are happy and single on the sofa with a fat takeaway - enjoy! Lots & lots of love ♥♥♥♥♥

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