May Favourites

May was a nice chilled month for me, I played drunken scrabble in a caravan, climbed the Malvern hills (just about), went to the Make Up For Ever launch, voted (for all the good it did) and spent a lot of time swimming. 

I don't feel ready for summer yet, I'll always be a winter baby but ho hum 7 months till Christmas ;)

For some reason all my favourites this month are on the pricier side but in my humble opinion, they are all well worth splashing the cash on. They wouldn't be my favourites if they weren't ;)

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Frozen Quartz

If I could start my makeup collection again I would just buy every single shade of these. I wear eye shadow every day but I don't have the time to be faffing around with it, which is why I love these. I literally colour my whole eyelid in, and then just blend out the edges with either a brush or my finger tip. I love how these almost have a wet look to them and guaranteed whenever I wear one of these someone will ask what my eyeshadow is. Frozen Quartz is a mauve/pink shade, which has a really pretty sparkle. Pricey but definitely worth it.

£29.00 Space NK

Oskia Micro Exfoliating Balm

I imagine this is what baby cherubs would use on their face, if baby cherubs actually existed. This is the softest, smoothest exfoliator I have ever used. Its not gritty or scrubby, and because its a balm it melts into the skin. When I rinse this off I genuinely expect to look in the mirror and see a baby staring back, my skin feels that soft. 

Again another pricey product, but I am getting to that age where I am happy to invest in skin care!

Space NK £46.00

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow in Sun Tan and Sun Light

I have been obsessed with this for the past two weeks, I have to restrain myself from covering my entire face. In the pan this looks scary, the bronzer looks really dark and slightly orange but its completely different once you apply it. The coverage is sheer, so you can build up colour gradually and you can blend the edges away to nothing, so there are no harsh lines. Paired with the highlighter, this just makes your skin glow. For me this is a summer must have.

Charlotte Tilbury £55.00 (Available July)

Dior Nude Air Serum

I love this foundation on my skin. It completely evens out my skin tone and because it dries down to an almost powder finish, it makes my skin look so smooth. Its also really easy to apply and works best when applied in sections and blended with your fingers. 

Debenhams £33.00

The Bear by Claire Cameron

I have been reading the Game of Thrones books since September, so a break was much needed. The Bear is about a family and their two young children, who are attacked by a bear on a camping trip. The story is told from the 5 year old daughters perspective and that is what makes the book. Its a really easy read, I finished it in a week and had to stop myself from blubbing on the train on a couple of occasions. Reading it from Anna's perspective makes it all the more terrifying, she refers to the bear as a black dog chewing on a bone, not realising whose bone that is. 

I will say that it did frustrate me on a couple of occasions, as the story does skip around, children do have a short attention span after all and I did have to re-read a couple of paragraphs to work out what was actually going on, compared to what Anna thought was happening but overall a really good read. 

Amazon £7.29

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.

March Favourites

There is a bit of everything in my favourites this month, makeup, hair, perfume and body care. When picking out my favourites, I'm pretty strict. There are a lot of things I have been consistently using throughout the month, but I have to really love them to include them here.

Diorskin Nude BB Creme

My favourite of all my favourites, I LOVE this BB cream. 

I finally finished my MAC Studio Fix foundation and I can't tell you how nice it has been to switch to this. This actually gives pretty decent coverage, but doesn't feel like you are wearing anything. The finish is very natural and although it provides coverage, your skin still shows through. The other reason I love this BB Cream, is because I can apply it with my fingers. 

Boots £30.00

MooGoo Fresh Cream Deodorant 

When my Mum was going through chemotherapy last year, MooGoo was a natural skincare brand that was recommended to her. She swears by the brand and I also love their moisturiser for blemish prone skin. I have wanted to switch to natural deodorants for a while, my Mum has made the change and she recommended this one to me. 

I was worried a natural deodorant wouldn't be enough and lets be honest, no one wants to smell at their desk! I started using this on weekends first to test it, before using it in the week. I would say this performs well, maybe not something I would want to be wearing on the tube in the Summer months but we will see!

MooGoo £5.90

Living Proof Satin Hair Serum 

Since having some highlights put in my hair, I noticed the ends were slightly dryer. I don't like to put a lot of product in my hair, but my Moroccanoil on its own, just wasn't cutting it. I love Living Proof products in general, so was intrigued to try their Satin hair Serum and as expected, I love it. 

I just put 1 to 2 pumps of this through the ends of my hair when its wet, and it leaves my ends looking and feeling more sleek. 

Space NK £25.00

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Pink

I've actually just finished this eyeshadow after wearing it for the whole month of March. This is so easy to apply, literally takes seconds and the colour is super flattering. Think MAC All That Glitters but in cream form.

Bobbi Brown £20.00

Elie Saab Resort Collection Eau de Toilette

I pretty much religiously stick to one perfume which is Bobbi Brown's Almost Bare, but I am prepared to make an exception for this. I am a sucker for fresh, summer scents and this perfume from Elie Saab smells like a holiday in a bottle. With sweet fig, mandarin, cedar and amber, I can already tell this will be my scent of choice for the summer. Plus the bottle is beautiful! 

John Lewis £47.00

January Favourites

There is only one item of makeup in my favourites this month, which for me has to be some sort of record! 

As I mentioned in my last post, I am in the process of trying to use up and finish a lot of my makeup, so I'm currently using a lot of my not so favourite products. 

I do still have some noteworthy items worth sharing though and its made me take notice of all the other beauty products I have been loving which I don't usually acknowledge, because I'm so focused on makeup, makeup, makeup! 

Lush Dark Angels Cleanser

This was a recommendation from my friend Chloe. I'm not a massive fan of Lush, probably because I don't have a bath in my house, but when it comes to beauty recommendations I trust her!

This is an exfoliating cleanser which contains powdered charcoal, rhassoul mud (no clue!) avocado and rosewood oil. This is quite an abrasive exfoliator, so its definitely not one you would want to use on a daily basis but I love using it in the shower after cleansing. It looks like mud both in the pot and when you apply it to your face but don't let that put you off! I love that it leaves my skin feeling really clean without that horrible stripped feeling. Its good for those days where you have worn a lot of makeup or are just feeling particularly grubby!

Available from Lush £6.75

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in 'Boy'

Can you believe that out of my 106 lipsticks, I only own one Chanel lipstick? Don't worry though, I wont be giving myself a pat on the back for that 'achievement' anytime soon! As I try and whittle down my lipsticks, I have been going through my collection, picking out my most used ones and trying to finish them first. Chanel Boy was one of my favourites back in the day but I had forgotten about it along the way and its sat in my makeup drawer unloved for too long. 

The Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks are very sheer and just give a hint of colour. They feel really moisturising and have a glossy finish but this does mean that they don't last very long and you do have to reapply several times throughout the day. 

I am so happy I dug this out of my makeup drawer!

Available from Debenhams £25.00

Living Proof Prime Style Extender Spray

I am a big, big fan of the Living Proof haircare range. I originally discovered it a couple of years ago in America and was most definitely lured in by the advertisements with Jennifer Aniston. When it comes to hair care I am extremely low maintenance, I don't even own a hairdryer and I love anything that makes life easier. 

I loved Living Proof's original Prime Style Extender so was intrigued to see if the spray bottle made any difference. This is designed to help your hair hold its style and stay cleaner for longer. 

I actually think I prefer the original tube packaging to the spray. I felt I noticed more of a difference with my 'style' lasting longer and I felt like I had more control over where I applied it. I still enjoyed this but out of the two I do prefer the original.

Available from Space NK £18.00

Topshop Nail Polish in 'En Pointe'

I noticed this colour on my friend Sop's nails, made a mental note to buy it and its pretty much all I've worn on my nails all month long. I have just been removing this when it chips and repainting, which is unheard of for me!

En Pointe is a very nude colour, I call it my skin colour but I love it because its opaque. As I get older I find myself gravitating more towards nude colours but they have be opaque, sheer nail polish makes me shudder! 

Available from Topshop £5.00

Sigma Blending E25 Eyeshadow brush in Copper

The day I discovered the MAC 217 eyeshadow brush is the day my eyeshadow application changed for the better! I love that brush, it applies and blends your eyeshadow at the same time, whats not to love?!

This is Sigma's version of that brush and I already had a couple but because I use them everyday I  thought I would get a couple more. Also the fact that I found these rose gold ones on Amazon, may have slightly influenced my purchasing decision! 

I really recommend Sigma's eye brushes, cheaper than MAC but practically identical. However I do not recommend their face brushes. I've have a couple and had to throw them all away because they shed hairs so badly. 

Available from Amazon £14.95

Diptyque Noisetier Candle

I love Diptyque candles, they fill the room with scent like nothing else and I have an obsession with collecting the empty jars. They are definitely pricey but feel like such a special treat when you burn them. I like to ask for one at Christmas or on my birthday and my Sister picked me the Noisetier scent for Christmas. I'm terrible at not really branching out when it comes to candle scents but I'm so happy she picked this because it smells amazing, very warming and woody with a hint of spice. 

Available from Space NK £40.00

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!

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!