The Beauty Graveyard

 I have my next set of products ready for the beauty graveyard, with every last bit scraped out, and their containers in the recycling here's what I have used up recently.

La Roche Posay Effaclar K - Not to be confused with the Effaclar K Duo which everyone seems to be raving out! This product is designed to help oily skin and prevent break outs. You can use it in the morning and at night, underneath your usual moisturiser. I couldn't stand the smell of this and I have to be honest and say I didn't really notice a difference when using it. I am definitely guilty of expecting miracles from skincare, especially skincare that has been hyped up on YouTube and Beauty Blogs. Don't buy this expecting to never get a spot again!

La Roche Posay Hydreane Legere - Another disappointing La Roche Posay product for me and the saddest thing is I loved this moisturiser initially! I picked this up on a whim in boots as I wanted an extra hydrating moisturiser. When I first started using it, I was seriously impressed. It was very hydrating and felt lovely on my skin but one day it completely changed. I put it on and it kind of broke up on my skin, you when you moisturise and little bits flake off? Well it did that and I tried to put my makeup on top like usual but it was so bad I had to completely wipe my face and start all over again. When I used a different moisturiser it didn't happen and I have never had that before. A few days later I tried it again and the same thing happened, luckily I had already used most of the product and just used the rest of it at night, but for this reason I would not buy this again.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - A cult beauty product, originally designed for horses hoofs! Its always good to have a tube of this in your bag or on your bedside table. I use it on my elbows, feet, cuticles, lips and even hands if they feel particularly dry. I already have another tube ready and waiting!

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm - Another hugely popular beauty blogger item. This is a cleansing balm, spread all over your face with a bit of warm water and remove with a face cloth, basically! This does feel very luxurious on the skin and I would say it removes waterproof mascara better than the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish but I cant say I was wowed by it. One thing I didn't like is the pot, when you get down to the bottom evey time you put your hand in you get a load of it under your nails *gag* I wouldn't go out of my way to repurchase this again.

VO5 Revive Me Daily Conditioner - This is another product that I initially loved and ended up hating. My friend had been using a VO5 shampoo and conditioner and her hair was so shiny that I immediately went out and bought it. Initially it wowed me, my hair felt so clean and shiny and I was thrilled because its an absolute bargain. After a while I noticed it started leaving a residue in my hair, both the shampoo and the conditioner. My hair never felt clean and even though I had just washed it, it was like their was still product in it. Both my friends who were using it had the same problem and we have all stopped using it. I just have some of the shampoo left to use up and then sadly I will not be repurchasing. Such a shame as I loved it so much initially.

Lush Big Shampoo - I have expressed my love for Lush's Big shampoo before. I love the smell of it and how clean my hair feels after using it. Can't say the same for the conditioner, when I bought this the assistant gave me a sample of the solid conditioner to try and I wouldn't be lying if I said its the worst thing I have ever used in my hair. I was sceptical about it being in a bar to begin with but I couldn't get it to lather at all and just ended up with big chunks of it in my hair that wouldn't wash out and I ended up having to brush them out....AWFUL!

E45 Lotion ****- My favourite body moisturiser, I seem to get through one of these about once a month. Although I am on the lookout for a natural body moisturiser so things could be changing!

Gucci Guilty perfume - I got through 3 perfumes recently which I thought was pretty impressive! This one didn't wow me, to me it smells quite generic and I cant really think of much else to say on this!

Lancome Genefique Yeux Eye Cream - I swear this eye cream evaporated! Its a weird consistency, kind of like a mousse and every time I opened the jar it seemed to shrink. For that reason alone I wouldn't recommend it, its expensive and I have never got through an eye cream so quickly.

OPI Acetone Free Polish Remover * - This is a really good nail polish remover but the smell is so strong that I cant deal with it anymore. Its a shame as it removes polish really quickly and doesn't dry out my nails but it was getting to the point where I was having to wash my hands immediately after using it because the smell was that strong. I have now gone back to my trusty Zoya Remove +

Essie Nourish Me Basecoat - I would highly recommend Nourish Me for a basecoat, I definitely think it helped improve the condition of my nails, my nail polish rarely chipped and I never got any staining even when using green or yellow polishes.

MAC Lingering ** - I have lost count of how many of these eyebrow pencils I have got through. A really amazing product and a great universal colour. For reference I have got my 3 best friends using this and they have red, purple and auburn hair! And I have very dark brown hair, so it really is a universal colour.

Lush American Cream Conditioner - As I have said previously I am not a Lush fan but I do love their Big shampoo. I decided to venture out and try a few more of Lush's shampoos and conditioners and they have all left me extremely disappointed. The consistency of American Cream is extremely thin, for me to feel any benefit I felt I had to use half the bottle and I don't have particularly damaged hair. I found it puzzling that on the bottle it mentions the smell and how it lingers in your hair, I really don't think this smelled much at all. To me it smelt like a glass that might of had a strawberry milkshake in it about a week ago and if I couldn't smell much in the bottle I definitely couldn't smell anything in my hair. Too thin, smelt like nothing and didn't condition my hair....rubbish. I ended up using it to shave my legs!

Tom Ford Violet Blonde Perfume - Oh Tom how I love you. I really enjoyed this perfume, if you are a fan of Black Orchid but want something different try Violent Blonde. I have made this bottle last me a year and half but I decided to finally use it up as its definitely a Winter scent and I didn't want to leave it unloved as we venture into Spring.

Jack Wills English Velvet Perfume * - I told you I got through a lot of perfume this month! I used to love this perfume but hadn't had it in years. I finally got another bottle for Christmas and fell in love with it all over again. I tend to like quite heavy, more masculine perfumes so its nice to have this one which is a bit lighter and more appropriate for the day. I got through it very quickly and have already repurchased another bottle!

Estee Lauder Daywear Plus Multi Protection Tinted Moisturiser - This is a really great tinted moisturiser, Laura Mercier, Estee Lauder and Chantecaille they are the best brands for tinted moisturisers. I think this is the second or third bottle I have got through and I'm sure I will repurchase this in the future.

* Indicate how many times a product has been featured in my Beauty Graveyard posts.

March Favourites

I am very selective when it comes to selecting products for my monthly favourites, which is why I don't always do a favourites post every single month. March however was pretty easy for me, as I have used the same products all month long. If you read this post then you will already have seen some of these products and yes I am still watching Prison Break, (Season 2 now!)

The foundation I have been religiously using is Lancome's Teint Miracle. I got this a while ago but I am a fickle being and was soon onto my next foundation. Now I have given this a good road test and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. I love the finish of Teint Miracle, its dewy without being shiny and lasts all day on me when paired with my Urban Decay De Slick. Far better lasting power then Chanel foundations.

Stila Convertible Colour in Poppy has been my multi functional product of the month. I have used this beautiful red shade as a blush all month long and as a lip stain. I love multi functional products, they make life so much easier, I would recommend wearing a lip balm over the top of this though as it can be quite drying. I definitely want to try more of the Stila Convertible Colours now and recently picked up Gladiola so will make sure to review that baby soon!
To apply Poppy I have been using the Real Techniques Stippling Brush, there's a reason everyone loves the Real Technique brushes!

I know I featured MAC's Lingering in last months favourites, but if it 'aint broke don't fix it'. The best eyebrow pencil (in my opinion!)

I have used MAC's Pro longwear eye shadow in 'The One To Watch' all month long. I love this colour, I slap it all over my lid and under my bottom lashes with a fluffy eyeshadow brush. I like that its quite a grungy, 90s colours but muted enough to wear in the day. I have been pairing this with MAC's 'Ricepaper' eye shadow, which I use in the inner corner and as a highlighter on the rest of my face. I told you I like my multi functional products!

This year I have discovered some really great mascaras and MAC's Opulash was a rediscovery for me. I normally always have to buy waterproof mascara as otherwise I end up with panda eyes by about 4pm but Opulash lasts on me all day and I mean all day! It also gives some pretty dramatic results, I love this so much that I just ordered 2 more in the limited edition Betty and Veronica packaging (sorry, not sorry!) Also on a side note, Opulash is around about the £14.00 mark and my beloved L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic is £10.99. £3.00 difference, it shocks me how much a 'drugstore' mascara is these days.

Underneath my Opulash I have been wearing the Dior Diorshow Maximiser. Now this isn't an essential but I really think it helps my mascara last and gives more dramatic results.

Finally my last favourite is a nail polish. I wore this nail polish for the majority of last summer but it had been neglected throughout Winter until now. This is the brightest, shiniest red nail polish EVER and trust me I have a lot of red nail polish! May I present to you.......OPI's Red Light's Ahead, Where. My all time favourite red nail polish and possible my all time favourite nail polish in general. If like me, you don't like blue reds then you must listen to me and get this. Its just the best orange/red and whenever I wear this I get a lot of compliments on my nails, with people asking if its Shellac. I have tried to wean myself of it this week but I'm reaching for the nail polish remover as we speak!

Sheer Red Lips

I cannot wear your typical 'nude lip'. Colours like MAC's Myth, Creme De Nude and god forbid Fleshpot are strict no no's for me. Honestly, they make me look like the life has been drained out of me! For a long time I really envied people who could rock a smoky eye and a nude lip but now I wouldn't swap my sheer red lips for anything.

I pretty much wear a sheer red lip everyday, I know for some people a red lip might seem too bright for everyday, even if it is sheer but I love the colour and warmth it gives my face. Last year I did a post on how I have been embracing a more natural look and I am so happy I made that change. I still love makeup just as much as I always have, but I have embraced my features and colourings instead of covering them up. Now I like to keep my eye makeup minimal but wear bright blushes and lip colours. I actually can't even remember the last time I wore eyeliner which is quite a miracle for someone who used to wear a winged eyeliner every single day.

Anyway onto the lips!

So my sheer red lips are quite an obsession and I have accumulated a nice little collection. If I want something more subtle or my lips are feeling dry I like to use a red tinted lip balm like Benefit's Benetint. I have just bought a new one of these as my other one was on its last legs, this is definitely a favourite for me. Elizabeth Arden's Lip Protectant in Berry is another great tinted balm, but for some reason I always forget I have this!

If I want a brighter red I use Revlon's Lip Butter in Candy Apple. I love Revlon's Lip Butters and have decided I would pick one of these over a MAC lipstick any day. My newest addition to the collection is Burberry's Lip Mist in Rosy Red which I am wearing in the picture below. I love this lipstick and really want to try more of Burberry's Lip Mists. 

Most recently though I have been using Stila's Convertible Lip and Cheek Colour in Poppy. This is quite pigmented so you only need a little bit and I tend to wear my Benetint lip balm over it, as it can be quite drying.

In the winter I tend to reach for a darker, more cherry red. Clinique's Almost Lipstick in the cult shade Black Honey is perfect for this and feels lovely on your lips. Miners Tin O Tint in Cherry and Korres Wild Rose are two great cherry stained lip balms which I love equally.

So if like me you too don't suit a nude lip then I encourage you to explore your inner English Rose ;)

A Week In Nails Part 4

After my rather girly nail polish choices last week, I am back in more "me" colours! These Week in Nails post's are really making me venture deeper in my nail polish collection then I normally would. For me that's a good thing as I have an obscene amount of nail polish (secret shame) and I tend to reach for the same shades and leave others neglected.

Nails Inc "Baker Street" is a brilliant, bright electric blue. I love this colour and it graced my nails a lot last year. I'm not normally a big fan of Nails Inc as I do think they are overpriced, but Baker Street is definitely worth the money.

Next we have an oldie but a goodie, Revlon's "Minted". I have said it before but Revlon's nail polishes are amazing, they last for ages both on the nails and in shelf life. I must have had Minted for about 4 years and its still good as new. Minted is the perfect colour for Spring, a really pretty mint green. The only thing is I'm starting to think mint green really doesn't suit my skin tone, but I wont give up just yet!

And lastly we have Zoya's "Caitlin" this is a new eBay purchase and I love it. I would describe it as a dusky blue, mixed with a bit of purple and grey....hmmm! Zoya is quite hard to get over here in the UK but its fast becoming one of my favourite nail polish brands.

Bare Minerals Loud & Clear Berry Remix Lip Sheer

Meet the new lip product from Bare Minerals, Loud & Clear Lip Sheer. I haven't tried many things from Bare Minerals but these peaked my interest as I'm an absolute sucker for sheer lipsticks.

There are three colours available and I picked the darkest, "Berry Remix" I was hoping this would be along the lines of Clinique's Black Honey but I have to say I'm not very impressed.

Now I know these are meant to be sheer, but there's sheer and then there's sheer! As I said I got the darkest colour and there's hardly any pigment in it at all. If you have particularly pigmented lips you won't get any colour pay of at all, it will just look like a lip balm. A very expensive lip balm at £15.00!

Like I said I love sheer lipsticks but you have to have the balance of colour and shine, otherwise like I said you may as well just stick with a pot of vaselline for 99p!

 

The other unpleasant surprise was the smell, if you don't like strong scents be warned! This smells exactly like one of The Body Shop's scents, I think it's the orange one. I hate strongly scented lip products, your lips are far too close to your nose to have to put up with that all day. I also think the strong, artificial smell makes the Lip Sheers feel like a very cheap product, when in reality at £15.00 they are anything but.

If you were thinking of trying one of these, I really would save your money I know I have been left disappointed *sad face*

Face of the Day with Stila Poppy

I am terrible for finding a makeup look I love, then about two weeks later I find myself changing all my products round and forgetting about my previous routine entirely. I think its because I am so easily influenced when it comes to makeup. One minute I'm looking at pictures of Kat Von D ready to bust out the Estee Lauder Double Wear, the bright red lipstick and my blackest of eye shadows. The next I'm admiring Emma Watson's barely there, girl next door look and using double the amount of products to try and look as natural as possible!

Now my routine has changed again and my inspiration is quite unique! I know I am about eight years behind, but I have just discovered Prison Break.....don't laugh! I am a little embarrassed to say it out loud myself but I am obsessed and just finished season one! (Next I'll be telling you about this really great show about a plane crash on an island).

But anyway, I have fallen in love with the character Dr Sara Tancredi's make up! I love it, its so warm, that's the best way I can think of describing it. Think Bella in New Moon! Her cheeks and lips have that flushed look, and there's a hint of a bronzed/coppery eyeshadow which looks like it could just be a shadow, but its just the right amount and colour to make her eyes really stand out. I mean, I'm sure if I was that close to Wentworth Miller I would have that warm flushed look too, but I'm not so I have to make do with what Ive got! 

I start off by spritzing Urban Decay De Slick all over my face. This is a makeup setting spray which you spray before and after your makeup, this stuff really works. I'm no longer scared to look in the mirror mid afternoon and find all my makeup has magically disappeared from the centre of my face!

For foundation I have been loving Lancome's Teint Miracle (for some reason I cannot say this without putting on a terrible Jamaican accent!) This is is a really beautiful foundation which gives a lovely glow to the skin. A grown up "glow" mind, not shimmery. Rimmel's Wake Me Up foundation would be its obnoxious bratty little sister.

Powder Wise I stuck to my beloved Laura Mercier Mineral Powder, this shade is Real Sand which is lighter then natural beige, better for these endless Winter months!

My bronzer, is Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, I swear its the never ending bronzer. I just cant seem to finish it!

Then we have my star product, Stila's Convertible Colour in "Poppy". Stila's Convertible Colours can be used on the lips and cheeks and I used Poppy for both. Poppy is a gorgeous sheer red which is perfect for my "warm, flushed, I'm standing next to Wentworth Miller look" I really love it as a blush and I like that on my lips it leaves a natural looking stain. If you like Benefit's Benetint but hate the fact its like a paint thinner and removes any makeup underneath it, then try this I'm sure you will love it too! One thing though, if you are wearing this on your lips make sure you put on a lip balm first, as with most multi functional lip/cheek products this can be quite drying on the lips. I just used the first lip balm which came to hand, The Body Shops Shea Lip Butter.

As it was Monday morning, I made sure I used a truck load of the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Concealer under my eyes, love this stuff for brightening up the face!

Finally for face I finish off with a good dousing of Mac Fix + this is a life saver if you have over powdered. 

If it ain't broke don't fix it, is a motto that I strongly believe in, so for brows I stuck with MAC's Lingering and Illamasqua's brow gel.

For eyeshadow I used a pro longwear eyeshadow from MAC in the colour "One To Watch". This was another rediscovery that Ive had a while but I dug out as it was perfect for my "look". Its a very warm tan colour, there is some shimmer in it, but its very natural and once its on the eyes you cant notice it, which I like. I also used MAC's "Ricepaper" for my tear duct highlight and used what was left on my brush to go along the brow bone. One of my pet peeves is a bright, white shimmering brow bone, so go easy ladies! I also used Ricepaper as a highlight on my face and I have to say its something I will be doing more often!

Then finally, the most important step of all....mascara! I used Dior's Diorshow Maximiser, which is like a primer for your lashes. I was dubious of this at first but I really have noticed a difference when I use this, my lashes seem longer and also my mascara seems to stay on longer. 

I just have to say how impressed I have been with MAC's Opulash. This is the Bad Bad Black version from the Archie's Girls collection but it is in their permanent line. I normally always have to wear waterproof mascara but this stuff lasts on me all day, does not smudge at all and its not even waterproof! I have to confess to even sleeping in this and when I woke up the next day, still hadn't smudged. This Friday I put it through its biggest test, a wisdom tooth removal! One breakdown and lots of tears later, I was expecting a panda eyed massacre but no, not a smudge in sight! Its true love!

So now I just need to find something to occupy myself with until my Prison Break box set arrives from eBay......I wonder if its dispatched yet  hmmmmmmm *refreshes emails*

A Week In Nails Part 3

My nail colour choices this week were particularly girly, which is unlike me but you know what they say, a change is as good as a rest ;)

First up, OPI's "Panda-Monium Pink" (I do love the OPI names!) In this picture it looks very pink but in real life its actually more of a pinky purple shade. If you like OPI's Mod About You but find it too stark on the nails or just don't have the patience to work with that streaky m***** f***** then I would recommend this colour as a more grown up option. 

I only have two colours to show you this week, slacking I know! I finished the week with another one of the Barry M Gelly's, this time in "Prickly Pear". Now I am going to confess being a little bit disappointed in this colour. After the brightness of Green Berry I was expecting an equally bright pastel purple (along the lines of Illamasqua's "Jo'mina" which I love) but alas it was not to be. Now I'm not saying this isn't a pretty colour, it is a very nice pastel purple but there is nothing special about it. I didn't find it particularly shiny either, so if you already have a pastel purple colour in your collection you do not need this one. Dont pretend I didnt warn you, fellow nail polish hoarders!