A Week In Lipsticks

Today I wanted to share with you my past week in lipsticks. Lipstick for me, brings a look together and makes my face look alive. Its also the product which I experiment with the most, my base and eyes normally stay pretty much the same, but I do tend to change my lipstick up quite a lot. It also gives you an idea of the colours I've been wearing on my lips at the moment.

Monday

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector 05 - On a Monday, I don't really want anything on my lips. I didn't really wear that much makeup on Monday as I was just chilling, catching up on things and then I did a workout in the evening. So I didn't want anything to heavy on my lips, just something that gives them a gorgeous natrual glow. 

Tuesday

Mac Mehr - This is probably my most worn Mac lipstick, I just love the shade, its that 'Kylie' lipstick in my eyes, that browny/pink. Again, Tuesday I didn't have much on apart from I went to get my eyelashes and brows done and I popped into town for some shopping. So I did want a little bit of colour on my lips, but nothing to over powering.

Wednesday

No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in delicate pink - 'On Wednesdays we wear Pink!' I wore this shade a lot last spring, because it really is that perfect spring pink colour. Its very shiny, almost glossy, so it very moisturising, but does need applying every 2 hours I would say. But it really is that spring pink colour.

Thursday

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm - I have been loving this nude shade for a while now, I did quite a lot of eye makeup on this day, so I wanted something quite minimal on my lips. I love the formula of these lip creams, they are not drying at all, but do have quite good staying power.

Friday

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipsticks in 45 - This is a beautiful pinky/nude shade. Rimmel have amazing lipsticks with really great colour choices. I find they last quite a long time, even though they are not matte at all. This shade just gives a gorgeous sheen to the lips, without being too much. 

Saturday

Mac Liptensity in Doe - I love this lipstick so much! It's a new lipstick range by Mac, its very moisturising on the lips and has amazing colour pay off. Literally one swipe of this lipstick will do you for the day. Doe is a very neutral, browny/peachy lipstick, if that makes sense. Its quite similar to NYX Stockholm. 

Sunday

No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Soft Cherry - On Sundays I did actually make quite a lot of effort with my makeup, I went out for a meal and a had a day out with my boyfriend. Soft cherry is a reddy/pink shade. I think its great if you feel very conscious when you wear a red lipstick, it's a lot softer than red, so I think it's a great colour to have in my collection. 

♥

December/January Favourites 16/17

I wanted to call this post 'December and January Favourites' purely because I didn't upload a 'December Favourites' because it's the time of the year, where I post a yearly favourites. I didn't want to miss the month completely, because  in December I did find some amazing products, and I still wanted to share them with you. I do actually have more favourites for December, because I feel like December a lot happened, a lot came out and I just got caught up in all the Christmas spirit. January for me, is a stationary month, quite boring and I just have to sort my life out and clean.

The Body Shop Spiced Apple Shower Gel

I was obsessed with this scent in December, I used it everyday, EVERYDAY in December, Obsessed. It's just Christmas in a bottle. I still have a little bit left, but I don't want to use it because I know its limited edition (I THINK?!) for Christmas.

The Body Shop Spiced Apple Hand Cream

From the same range as the previous shower gel. So as well as the scent being amazing, the actual hand cream is insane. It doesn't take ages to dry, it just soaks in lovely, leaves that amazing scent and really helps to nourish my hands. I did actually go back and buy more of the hand creams in other scents. Highly recommend those.

Clinique Sonic Brush (MORE INDEPTH REVIEW COMING SOON)

I did give myself quite a big Christmas present, a few weeks before Christmas. Which I haven't really spoken or mentioned until now. But I'm not going to say too much, other than I love it, it has changed my daily routine and I'm not sure how I ever cleansed my skin without this brush. My family and friends laugh at me, because I literally don't go anywhere without this brush. My boyfriend hates it. BUT I used it on him yesterday, and now I think he' s converted. But a full review will be up in a few weeks, once I've had it a bit longer.

Urban Decay NAKED Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette

I received this as a Christmas present from my parents, if I'm honest it was on my list. They would be 'parent goals' if they knew I actually wanted this. But I am so happy and grateful that I received this. I have the original palette from Urban Decay and love it, so I knew I would love this palette. Its all matte, apart from the shade blow, which has a slight shimmer in with my eye sight. The shades I have been using the most are nude, commando and tempted. I've been running those in the crease of my eye as my transition colour.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation

For the whole of the winter period this has been my go to foundation. I would say 99.9% off the time, this foundation is the one thats been on my face. I absolutely love it, its a full coverage foundation, with a matte finish. I'm sure you would of read about my raving about this before. Its just a brilliant foundation. I am the shade NC15 for your reference.

Clinique Contouring Stick

With Christmas and New Year, I have been going out more, going for more drinks and meals and just generally dressing up a little bit more than I do on my average Saturday night. Therefore, I have been wearing a bit more makeup, so I have been using my Clinique contour stick, in the standard shade. Its such a lovely formula, its very creamy and blendable, I either use my Louise Young LY30 brush or  a Real Techniques Complexion sponge to blend it in. It creates a natural contour, or you can really build it up for something a bit more intense.

Gingerbread Latte Instant coffee drinks

Winter time is that time of the year where you just want a nice hot drink. I have been using the Nescafe Gingerbread latte instant drinks. These are just perfect for me, I really stocked up on them in December because I knew they would be a limited edition for the Christmas time. All I do is put the powder in a cup, add hot water and stir, then you leave it for around 30/45 seconds and stir again and it goes all creamy and tasty. SIDE NOTE - Costa Honeycomb lattes were just my addiction when I was Christmas shopping. 

 Bondi Sands Gradual Tan

In January, I don't know if you are the same as me, but I just feel a bit down and gloomy. Christmas is over, we've got the Christmas blues and you just want to get out of the cold weather and feel a bit more glowy, but you don't want to make too much effort. So this is where I have been using Bondi, their gradual tan, this is just fab. I apply it all over the top part of my body and let it sink in over night and then I wake up in the morning and I'm a lot more tanned. But it's not like fake tan, its just a gradual healthy glow. Its got the most insane coconut smell as well, its gorgeous.

Barbour jacket

My main present for Christmas was a Barbour jacket off my parents and boyfriend. I literally haven't taken it off this month. I wear it every time I leave the house. It keeps me super warm, its very stylish and I don't think it will go out of fashion. It's a very timeless piece. I got the classic olive green Beadnell wax Barbour jacket. It's got two studded vents at the back, two normal front pockets and then above those front pockets are slanted pockets which are just the most useful pockets ever! Love, love, love! 

Cowshed shampoo and conditioner

I have been using a new shampoo and conditioner from Cowshed in January, I picked it up in T.K.Maxx which if you didn't know if fab for getting great finds in the beauty section. They do loads of different brands, like Cowshed, Bed head and bumble and bumble. This is a smoothing shampoo and conditioner. Its got lavender in, so its great to use at night so it relaxes you before you sleep. The conditioner can be used as a normal conditioner, or it can be used as a treatment if you leave it on longer. Personally I wash my hair, apply the conditioner, leave it on whilst I cleanse my face and body then rinse.

I feel like this is the most favourites I have ever wrote about before in a post, but it was two months in one. So what do you expect? Hope you had a fabulous first month to 2017, and we've only got 11 more, until 2018... haha, sorry, it had to be done. 

♥

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.

 ♥

A Few Treats To Myself, From Myself

I basically live no where near a MAC store, which sucks as MAC is a brand which I love, and has loads of different colours, and just loads of pretty amazing products! So whenever I order from MAC, I do normally order a few things at a time, just because it would be a waste paying delivery for one item. (this is how I justify things to myself).

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC15

So the first item is the reason I needed to make this order. I changed my room around a few months back now, for my birthday. I got new furniture and gave the walls a few fresh coats of paint. So all of my things that were in my room previously, got moved into a spare room. Whilst this happened, my MAC foundation, got lost. I don't know how, I don't know where, and I was gutted. It had to be one of my more expensive foundations, it couldn't be a natural collection one for £1.99, it had to be one of my faves, TYPICAL! It is a foundation which I love, and I used to use quite a lot. Its got amazing coverage, so you don't need to use a lot of this product at a time. I have done a whole review on this foundation, where I tell you all my thoughts possible, so click here to read that one! Luckily my old one, was coming to its last few days, but still I have searched my whole house from top to bottom, and I can't find it. So I am very very happy that Studio Fix is back in my life!

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural - Light

Next is a product which I have wanted for ages, I always go online and have a look at it, and never end up purchasing it, until NOW... It's not the most exciting product, well not for the majority of you reading this, but it is quite exciting to me, because I'm a sad 20 year old gal. MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural (light) is a product which I have always been confused about, because I have soft and gentle, and that is a highlighter, and I was always confused, if this is a face powder, setting powder, highlighter, does it have coverage? I just didn't know. But I think it's a setting powder, which does have a light/medium coverage, which is what I hoped. But I will report back to you.

MAC Pigment in Tan

MAC Pigment in Tan, again is a product which I have always wanted. Maybe not this particular colour, but I've always wanted to try a MAC pigment, purely because I love eyeshadow and I have heard great things about the pigments. This colour was hard to see what it was like online, but I had a google around, and I really liked swatches and pictures that I saw of this colour. In person, I think it will be gorgeous for fall/autumn. I would describe it as, a rose gold colour. Its browny, come orange, honestly looks gorgeous! I can imagine it making blue eyes pop, I have blue eyes, so I bloody hope so! 

Also, I did order this order from Debenhams and not MAC, purely for one reason... I wanted to kill two birds with one stone. I wanted to try something from Kat Von D, as its not available in the UK on Debenhams website! SUPER EXCITING. So I thought Debenhams do MAC also, so I basically was onto a win, win situation. 

Kat Von D Liquid lipstick - Lolita (original 1) 

This lipstick is the only product which I have tried (apart from my repurchase of foundation) and I literally slapped it on my lips about 2 seconds before starting this post. I can already tell you that I love it, and its going to be a staple everyday shade for me. It's that gorgeous shade I love, a MAC Mehr kind of shade. I obviously can't report back on staying power, because I have literally just popped it on. But the formula was easily applied, and seems really lovely.

Swatches; Tan Pigment and Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita 1 

 ♥

July Favourites 2016

Firstly I am so sorry that this post is going up late, I had a very busy end to July and start to August! July was a lovely month for me, I turned 20, booked a trip to Ireland, hung out with friends more and chilled in the British sun (it was actually quite hot in England - SHOCKED!!) Here we go though,a favourites  better late than never...

Rimmel London Rita Ora Nail Polish - 300 Glaston-Berry
I have been on the hunt for the perfect coral shade of nail polish for quite a long time now, and I found it in July! It's a Rimmel Rita Ora shade - 300 Glaston-berry, its a gorgeous coral shade, good name, its the perfect coral, not too pink, not too red but also not too orange. It was about £3 so good value too. The other reason I love this nail polish is because it actually stays on my nails. Most nail polishes I apply stay on for about a day and then actually peel off, in a layer... so weird, does anyone else get this?! But I find this Rimmel polish doesn't do this, it does last me about 4/5 days (which is amazing for me)!!

Giorgio Armani Si
I have been loving this fragrance this month! Normally I stick to my fragrances, either Chanel Mademoiselle, Alien or Mark Jacobs Decandance, but this month I have been loving Si! I do quite like sweet scents, but I also like them quite strong or woody. Si is a fragrance which I find lingers around on me a while, the bottle is beautiful and I just love the smell of this! I was walking to work one day this month, and I applied this fragrance before I left the house, and I got the most amazing whiffed of this scent! It's also perfect for a wedding... Si means Yes in Italian, and it's also got a gold ring on the bottle!! SO CUTE.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation 
I tried this when it was the old bottle and formula, and I didn't get the right shade, which is quite  ironic, haha. But I thought I would try the foundation again, in the right shade, and also because everyone always raves about it and I agree. It's a great everyday foundation, it hasn't broke me out, its the perfect shade for me and I am quite a pale gal, so it's hard to find the right shade. I use the shade Ivory - 1N for you people who are wondering. It gives a medium coverage I would say, is a very watery formula, but blends in lovely.

MAC Extended Play Lash Mascara
I have been loving this mascara for a few months now, but I like to change up my mascara and make sure I do actually like one, by missing it (if that makes sense?! - Probably not). But I love this because of the brush, it's a skinny brush but the bristles aren't plastic. Because the brush is small, the mascara doesn't go all over your face, it's perfect for getting the lashes in the corner and also on the bottom. I believe the mascara is waterproof, but I haven't had any trouble getting it off, or it watering all down my face.

Toni and Guy Texturising Spray 
I have tried many sea salt sprays, texturising sprays, volumising.. you name it, I've tried it. But late July I got my hair cut (post coming soon) and I needed a little bit more texture in it, because I've now got layers. So I thought I would try this, and I love it. It doesn't leave your hair feeling crunchy, and it doesn't look like you've got product in it. It just looks like its got a little bit more texture, the layers are more defined and the hair just looks like theres more volume.

♥

M.A.C Warm Neutral Eyeshadow Palette

This is a product which I drool over every time I go to Mac or I'm on their website. I obsess over any palette really, but this one is special because its got Mac eyeshadows in which I would say, are my favourite eyeshadows. Yes, I love the Urban Decay Naked Palettes, Zoeva Cocoa Blends and Sleek eyeshadows but Mac is just a cult classic staple.

Theres two options with these x15 palettes from Mac, you can either buy the black case and filler, which I believe is £10 for the case and £2.50 for the fillers. Then you have the option to fill your palette up with all the great shades, the pan fill shades you need are £10 each! It gives you your chance to put your own spin on the palette, you can choose what you like, and make it unique to you. Or, you can do what I did... Theres custom eyeshadow palettes, they are £60 for 15 eyeshadows, plus the case (shown in pictures). I think there are two custom palettes 'warm neutral' or 'cool neutral' I picked the warm neutral because I do just love a good bronze, orange toned eyeshadow that makes my blue eyes pop!

With the way I did it, just buying the palette, it's not as fun but you get shades you might not of even picked yourself and end up loving them! Of course, it could be the other way around too. It saves a lot of money though! I've just totted up, how much it would be starting from scratch... ready?! £162.50! Or I paid £60 for the pre-selected palette!

Shades in my palette;

Hey, Warm breeze, Gingersnap, Dark brew, Dance in the dark
Brule, Vanilla extract, Honey lust, Amber lights, Saddle
Lemon tart, Creative copper, Butterfudge, Divine decadence, Unwind 

Some of these shades, you might not of ever heard of, thats because they aren't in the permanent range at Mac. So the pre-made palettes do have shades you can't get singly.

What's your favourite Mac shade?

♥