April Favourites

Since I've been making a conscious effort to use up more makeup, I feel like my monthly favourites are becoming more and more boring, but I never want to include things that I haven't consistently used all month. 

This month its a bit of a mixture of old favourites and new discoveries. 

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel 

Ahh the infamous Bronze Universel, one of those cult beauty blogger items. This is a cream bronzer which is notoriously tricky to work with. Half the battle is finding the right brush to use with it. Personally I really like the Real Techniques Blush Brush, its synthetic so perfect for cream products and   not too dense. Applied right, this gives such a beautiful, healthy bronzed glow. 

MAC Mineralize Blush in New Romance

From a rediscovery to a new discovery. I really do love the MAC Mineralize blushes, as they act as a blusher and a highlight in one. New Romance is a pretty peach colour, perfect for Summer. 

Word of caution with these blushers though, a little goes a long way. 

Essie Nail Polish in Stones 'n Roses

I mentioned this polish in my last post, so I won't bore you all again but safe to say I have been loving this 60's style peach colour.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre

A trip to Boots these days is becoming more and more dangerous. They have started stocking more new and cult brands, that its now almost impossible to just go in for one thing. I have heard a lot about this moisturiser, so when I spotted it in Boots I decided to try it. 

When it comes to moisturisers I tend to be very picky, as I hate anything that feels too heavy. This feels light but hydrating on the skin and isn't at all greasy. I can't say I have noticed any skincare benefits yet, but at the moment I am just enjoying using this.

Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon in Champagne Diamonds

I have a bit of an obsession with cream eyeshadow sticks and out of all the ones I've tries, these Charlotte Tilbury ones are easily the most glittery. Champagne Diamonds is a gold colour with actual visible chunks of glitter. I prefer the By Terry Ombre Blackstar's to these but I do love how sparkly these look on the eyes.

Pretty in Peach

There is a definite peachy theme going on in my makeup bag right now. I don't know if its the warmer weather or the fact I ended up in a YouTube black hole and found myself watching JLo music videos from 2000….'think I wanna drive your Benz I don't' ;)

I thought I would share some of my current favourite peach shades, just in case you are having a JLo moment too.

Blushers

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

Milani is an American brand but you can buy it on Amazon if you live in the UK like me. You don't need much of this as its super shimmery but paired with a tan I love it. I am wearing it in this FOTD post if you want to see it 'in action'.

MAC Mineralize Blush in New Romance

This blush was the result of going into MAC on my lunch break #sorrynotsorry

These Mineralize blushes are so pretty because they act as a highlight and a blush in one. New Romance is a beautiful shimmery peach, pure Jlo right there! Its very similar to Luminoso but I actually prefer this as it has a little more pink it. 

MAC Powder Blush in Peaches

An oldie but a goodie, unlike New Romance, Peaches is completely matte. You can see it in my FOTD post here but this has long been one of my all time favourite blushers.

MAC Cremeblend Blush in Something Special

MAC cream blushes are perfect for people that don't really like cream blushes. They aren't really wet or sticky and dry down to an almost powder finish. If you want to try a cream blush but are a bit scared, I would recommend these. Something Special is such an easy shade to wear everyday, goes with anything. I have it on, in this post.

Left to right: Luminoso, New Romance, Peaches and Something Special

Left to right Stones 'n Roses and Not Just a Pretty Face

Nails

Essie Stones 'n Roses and Essie Not Just a Pretty Face

I've become a bit boring with my nail polish choices recently and have been just sticking to these two colours.

 Stones 'n Roses is a really pretty soft coral, it's a real 60s colour but I just love it.

Not Just a Pretty Face is my favourite 'nude' colour. Slightly peachy but just gives your nails a real healthy glow. I have already got through almost half the bottle!

Lips

Clinique Pop Lip Colour and Primer in Melon Pop

I love these new Pop lipsticks by Clinique. They are really creamy, richly pigmented and come in an amazing wearable selection of colours. Melon Pop is a peachy nude, which is really flattering. I think this will be my go to summer colour.

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy

This was my other sneaky MAC purchase and its actually a repurchase. I am a matte lipstick fiend and Kinda Sexy is a matte peach toned nude. I have got a Face of the Day post coming with this, so you can see what it looks like on. 

BareMinerals Pop of Passion Lip Oil-Balm in Peach Passion

I am obsessed with this lip balm. It feels so nice on the lips, really nourishing and moisturising. This is a big statement but this may just be the best tinted lip balm I have tried! 

Buxom True Nude Lip Foundation in Au Naturel

This is very similar to Kinda Sexy, just a bit darker. These are only available from Sephora but I'm planning on picking some more up when I go back to the States at the end of the year. I love matte lips and these are like the perfect matte nude wardrobe…I need every shade.

Left to right: Melon Pop, Kinda Sexy, Peach Passion and Au Naturel

Eyes

NARS Outer Limits Shimmer Eyeshadow

This eyeshadow is all my makeup dreams bought to life. It is genuinely the most beautiful eyeshadow I have ever seen. A peach with pink glitter, although I am slightly concerned that the glitter is an overspray (why do makeup companies do that!) This is part of NARS Christopher Kane collection, so grab it while you can!

Bourjois Colorband 2-in-1 Eyeshadow and Liner in Rose Fauviste

You know how much I love a cream shadow stick but I can't say I am a massive fan of these Bourjois ones. These are a little dry for me and I don't love how this colour looks on its own, but with the NARS eyeshadow layered over the top I love it! 

Outer Limits 

Rose Fauviste

Rose Fauviste with Outer Limits over the top

August Favourites

This past month I have loved a lot of makeup and I had a hard job editing it all down for this months favourites post. With my Sisters Wedding, August was a heavy makeup month. I'm looking forward to rediscovering a lot of my old makeup favourites now we are changing seasons, Rimmel 107 lipstick I'm thinking of you! I am off on my Summer holidays next week though, so I will have to wait a little while longer for those berry tones!

MAC Eyeshadows - All That Glitters, Woodwinked, Mulch, Romp and Grain

Me and my MAC Palettes have an on, off relationship. I forget about them for months, then rediscover them and fall back in love all over again. As you can see from the massive hole, All That Glitters is by far my favourite. Its just fool proof, slap it all over your lid and you are good to go. Grain is a new discovery, I like it because its very subtle and doesn't really look like eyeshadow once its applied. Woodwinked is a lovely gold for Summer, Romp is slightly darker and more bronzy, I like to wear both of these alone. My current favourite combination however is All That Glitters all over the lid, with Mulch in the crease. 

Now I make the inevitable promise not to neglect my MAC eyeshadows again!

Tarte Lights Camera Flashes Mascara and Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

This Tarte mascara is amazing, it gives tons of volume, length and separation. The only downside is that its only available in America (sad face). It also has some pretty impressive staying power and does not budge, even through a 45 minute aqua aerobic session!

I find that mascaras always tend to smudge on my lower lashes, so I finally decided to try Clinique's Bottom Lash Mascara. Although I was initially sceptical, I am now fully sold on this tube of awesomeness. First the brush is teeny tiny so you can get to all the individual lashes, without getting blobs of mascara on your face. It also lasts all day with zero smudging whatsoever. I know a mascara purely for your bottom lashes is a little excessive but trust me this is worth it.

OPI Original Nail Envy Nail Strengthener and Deborah Lippmann Stronger Nail Polish

I have been using OPI's Nail Envy as a base coat when I paint my nails and I have noticed an overall improvement in the strength of my nails. Less breaking, less peeling and all round healthier nails.

My tolerance for glitter polish is low. Sure it looks pretty but there's nothing pretty about scrubbing your fingers raw trying to get the stuff off. The struggle is real but its worth it for some glitters like Deborah Lippmann's Stronger. When this stuff catches the light the sparkle is insane. I wore this on my toes for my Sisters wedding and really regretted not wearing it on my fingers too!

MooGoo Blemish Cleansing Moisturiser and L'Oreal Lumi Magique Light Infusing Foundation

My beloved Kate Somerville Goat Milk moisturiser ran out but have no fear, MooGoo is here! I have mentioned MooGoo on my blog before, they are a natural skincare brand from Australia who started when they developed their cow udder cream for humans! This is their Blemish Cleansing Moisturiser and I honestly think it makes a massive difference to keeping my skin clear. If you are into natural and organic products I highly recommend checking MooGoo out. 

I have raved about the L'Oreal Lumi Magique foundation a lot I know, but I just cant help myself. Whenever I wear this I love how my skin looks. Its light, so doesn't feel or look heavy and it just gives the most beautiful glow. Its possibly my second favourite foundation behind Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and that's saying a lot. I have the teeniest, tiniest amount left in this bottle and it will be a sad day when its finally finished.

Anastasia Contour Kit and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light

I have this contour kit alone to thank for giving me some cheekbones this past month. I have done a full review here if you want to read more.

I am ashamed to admit it but I have been cheating on my Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powder with this Hourglass Powder. Since using it on my Sister for her wedding day its become my new favourite highlighter. This is more subtle than the Kevyn Aucoin highlighter, with no shimmer detectable at all but it just gives this amazing glow to your skin.

It might be a bit quiet on the blogging front when I am away next week but usual service will resume shortly!

Nude Nails

At the moment I am in a nail polish funk, I own an obscene amount of the stuff but for some reason I am just bored of every colour. Maybe too much variety is a bad thing, or maybe I need to invent a new colour, I just don't know. 

Due to my indecisive state, I have just been wearing different shades of natural/nude polish and I thought I would share some of my current favourites with you.

I have my friend Nat to thank for getting me hooked on these L'oreal Colour Riche Nail polishes. There are so many on trend shades to chose from and the quality is really good. If you are looking for a nice nude polish they have so many different shades to suit every skin tone. My current favourite is Boudoir Rose, which I had to buy after seeing it on Nat! I really recommend these and you can pick them up from Boots for £4.99 each.

L'oreal Colour Riche in Boudoir Rose 204

L'oreal Colour Riche in Beige Countess 104

My next favourite is a very popular Essie polish, Fiji. This is a a very white toned baby pink, its very girly and I get a lot of people asking what my nail polish is when I wear it. Its actually more pink toned than it looks in the picture below. If Fiji is too pink for you and you prefer a peachy nude, then Orly's Prelude to a Kiss would be my recommendation.

Essie Fiji

Orly Prelude to a Kiss

And lastly I have two from OPI, the first I'm not going to lie I did want it purely for the name alone. My Vampire is Buff is a yellow toned cream, which sounds like it would look horrible but I actually think it looks really cool on the nails and is a change from a traditional white. The second is from OPI's new Brazil collection, Don't Bossa Nova Me Around. I would describe this as a murky baby pink, it looks a bit more sophisticated on the nails than Essie's Fiji.

OPI My Vampire is Buff

OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around

Its Sunday evening so that can only mean one thing, nail painting time. After my weeks of nude nails I am considering venturing further down the colour spectrum but lets not be too hasty!

New In

I have been a bad beauty blogger recently and tried lots of new, pretty things, but not shared any of them on here! I thought the easiest way to rectify this, would be to smush all these products into one massive post and as I am very much a visual person, I have included a bonus Face of the Day wearing these beauties!

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

I just ran out of my last bottle of Bioderma and my lovely friend Chloe recommended this as an alternative. I do love the L'oreal Micellar Water but the Garnier one is double the size and about half the price (as Kevin Bacon would say, no brainer). I do have a theory that all Micella Waters are essentially the same and the Garnier version works a treat. The only thing I have noticed is, that it doesn't remove mascara as quickly but I really cant complain.

If you have never tried using Micellar Water to remove your makeup before, I highly recommend giving it a go. I really struggle to use face wipes, as they make my face and eyes sting and leave my face looking red and blotchy. Micellar Water's are so gentle and remove all my makeup with no stinging at all!

Models Own Polish for Tans in Beach Bag

Models Own released a line of neon nail polishes which are designed to "instantly highlight golden skin". FYI, there is no crazy new formula here, they are just neon nail polishes. 

Beach Bag is a pale neon coral colour. I do love the colour and have no doubt it would really emphasise a tan, but I was not impressed with the formula of this polish. It was very thick and gloopy, like all neons it drys matte so you need a top coat, but I noticed after a few days my nails were looking matte again and my top coat had almost disappeared. 

In summary lovely colour, crappy formula.

Clinique Chubby Stick in Whooping Watermelon

I am very late to the Chubby Stick bandwagon, but my friend Nat had the most amazing lipstick on and when I asked her what it was, she told me it was one of these. That particular shade was Heftiest Hibiscus, which I feel needs its own dedicated post and since then I have added Whooping Watermelon to the collection (even the lady on the Clinique counter chuckled at the name). This is a very sheer pink,  which just adds a little something, something to your everyday makeup.

L'oreal Miss Manga Mascara in Waterproof

I really loved L'oreal's Miss Manga mascara so when I heard they were releasing it in a waterproof formula, I practically ran to Boots. I have done a full review of this mascara here and the waterproof formula is just as good.

Anastasia DipBrow Pomade in Chocolate

When it comes to brows I stick to what I like (yes I am talking about my beloved Hourglass pencil) however these new DipBrow's by Anastasia intrigued me and I wanted to give them a try. 

These are little pots of tinted brow mousse, which claim to be waterproof and smudge proof. You need to apply this with a brush to your brows, a brush isn't included but any angled brush will do (I have been using the MAC 263). 

If you are someone that likes a really defined brow, you will love this stuff as you can really sculpt some serious brows with it. For me this is a bit of a faff to do on a daily basis but I have enjoyed using it for nights out, to give my brows a bit more drama. The only thing that is a bit rubbish is the shade range. There are 5 shades available, ranging from blonde to ebony, but there isn't a light brown. I opted for Chocolate but ideally would have preferred a slightly lighter colour. 

These are available exclusively in the UK from Cult Beauty.

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream

I have my Mum to thank for getting this baby back in my life. Sadly you can only get this in the US but if you are heading that way, or are lucky enough to live there, then you need to try this moisturiser. Its hydrating, light and helps keep my skin clear from blemishes. Love it!

Dior Diorskin Nude Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder in Rose 001

This was what I would consider a "naughty purchase". I really didn't need it, but it was just too pretty to leave! This is like a more pigmented version of my beloved Milani powder and gives a pretty pink, highlighted glow to your cheeks. I can already tell this is going to me my go to blusher for the next few months.

Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Tailor Made Bronzing Powder in Naturel Brunettes 03

Another guilty purchase but one I have been resisting for a long time! Guerlain Bronzers are the ultimate luxury but they are also some of the most natural looking bronzers available. I love how this has 4 different colours which you can either pick and choose from, or blend together. There are 6 different shades available and Guerlain have made it easy for you to find your perfect shade by naming them by different hair colours. 

I regret nothing!

Bobbi Brown Tinted Lip Balm in Pink Raspberry

I have a lip balm addiction and these limited edition balms were calling me. I love how they are in the traditional lip balm tube but just slightly sleeker and sturdier. These are surprisingly pigmented and give you the same colour as a sheer lipstick would. Pink Raspberry is a very me colour, a natural pink toned nude. These feel really lovely and moisturising on the lips, my only complaint would be that the colour doesn't last long enough. Overall though, I would really recommend these and it looks like they are already selling out fast!

Don't say I don't deliver on my promises ;) because here I am, wearing it all. There are definitely some products in here which I know will become my new staples, particularly the Dior blush, Guerlain bronzer and Bobbi Brown lip balm!

Foundation: Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation mixed with Nars Illuminator in Copacabana

Concealer: Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer and Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage

Bronzer: Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Tailor Made Bronzer in Naturel Brunettes

Blusher: Dior Nude Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder in Rose

Powder: Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot

Eyebrows: Anastasia DipBrow Pomade in Chocolate

Eyes: MAC Tan Pigment and L'oreal Miss Manga Waterproof Mascara

Lips: Bobbi Brown Tinted Lip Balm in Pink Raspberry

Repurchases

There are a select few beauty products that I wouldn't want to be without and buy over and over again. The annoying thing is, they all have a tendency to run out at the same time. As I have just had a restock, I thought what better time to show you my tried and tested staples.

Bobbi Brown Almost Bare Perfume

My signature perfume. I imagine this is what you would smell like if you had just been in Richard Branson's outdoor shower, on that flippin' amazing desert island he owns. Trust me, it's that good!

This is always in my handbag.

My Eyebrow Essentials: Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Soft Brunette and Illamasqua Brow and Lash Gel

The perfect brow duo! The Hourglass pencil gives me full but soft looking brows and the Illamasqua gel keeps things looking natural and defines each individual hair.

Bumble and Bumble Surf Shampoo and Conditioner

I discovered this on holiday last year and it has quickly become my favourite shampoo and conditioner.  Being a greasy hair sufferer (mmm nice) I am always looking for shampoo's that leave my hair squeaky clean and don't weigh it down at all. This stuff leaves my hair exactly how I like it, clean and bouncy, plus anything that gives my naturally straight hair some waves is a winner in my eyes.

Zoya Remove +

I can honestly say that I cant remember the last time my nails didn't have some form of nail polish on them. I paint them so much, that if use any old cheap remover I'm worried they might just fall off! Zoya Remove + has been my favourite for years because it doesn't dry my nails out at all and helps my nail polish last longer. If you are wondering where to buy this in the UK, I buy mine from Amazon.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo +

The most recent addition to my repurchase list but you can guarantee its going to stay there for a long time. I have talked about this a lot recently so I won't bleat on, but if you have spotty, problematic skin you need to try this!