December Favourites

I like most people love reading monthly favourite posts - It gives me a chance to see what products people have been loving recently and why. This may be the reason why I have a very long wishlist as I've been seeing too many products that I'm wanting which other people have said that they've loved.

I'm finally back to using a toner and I've really been loving Boots Botanics Organic Face Rosewater Toner. This cleanses and tones my skin whilst leaving it not feeling stripped of my skins essential oils. When I first started using this, I thought that it was breaking me out when actually it wasn't and now I love using this! It contains only five ingredients, four of which are all organic so I know that its leaving my skin feeling and looking good.

I'm a lipstick addict although I must admit that I don't wear it enough despite buying a new lipstick often. I've found myself layering Collection 2000 Volume Sensation Lipstick in 13 Satin Bow over VIVO Lipstick in Barely There which leaves my lips with a really nice silky pink colour to them. I'm not a fan of bright, noticeable lips so this combination is a really good everyday nude lip almost. I make sure that I always apply a lipbalm before applying a lipstick so throughout December, I've been slathering Lacura's Lip Balm nonstop. It was featured in last months favourites as well purely because its a good base for lipstick as well as making sure that they stay moisturised throughout the day.

I've rediscovered my love for Benefit IT Stick after finding a sharpener to sharpen it. It's the perfect under eye concealer as it really brightens up the eye area as well as concealing any blemishes or dark bags under the eyes. I'm not sure if you can still get this so it might be worth checking out your local Benefit counter or just doing a google search. After finishing a foundation this month, I've found myself going back to Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation which has been giving me skin a nice glow to it. This provides just enough coverage to conceal blemishes and any skin imperfections as well as giving my skin a nice dewy look to it.

What product/s have you been loving throughout December?

Beauty Blog Link Love

Summer shares which products have been her favourite throughout December over on Beauty on a Budget.

Are you wanting to get into lip liners? Luce shares her two cents on Topshops' Lip Liners.

Gemma lets you know what its like to have an early Christmas at University and shares what gifts she got.

It's bargains galore over at Sophie Said as she shares her boxing day sales haul.

Jacquina shares what she wore on Christmas Day along with very cute cat, Timone!

Any Peter James fans will be delighted as Claudia shares what she got for Christmas which includes a BIG set of his books.

Paula shares her two cents on Collection 2000's Lasting Colour Lipstick in Sweet Tart and how she is a sucker for pink lipsticks.

Are you still after a Winter Inspired Nail Design? Then look no further than at Annes' latest post where her nails look very wintery indeed!

Coco has added another vampy lipstick to her collection in the form of Kat Von D's Lipstick in Rosary.

Phoebe has learnt a lot throughout 2012 and has compiled beauty tips and tricks which we all should start doing.

Boxing Day Sales Haul

I rarely venture out after Christmas to hit the sales as I like most people, prefer doing it in the comfort of my own home. Last year, I spent quite a fair bit on the sales but this year not so much. Liam dragged me out of the house a couple of days ago to hit the sales as I had some Christmas money and a gift card which needing spending!

I've had a few vouchers laying around for Boots which all expire on Monday and I thought that I better use up some of them. I've been after a detanging spray for a few weeks now and seeing as I had a 75p off Aussie voucher, I thought that it would be rude not to pick up an Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner which not only conditions my hair, it also detangles it as well! The smell of this is to die for just like with the rest of the Aussie range. I've been eyeing up 17's Nudist Peach lipstick for a while and just had to pick it up (and to get 100 bonus points as well!) It's described as a natural peachy shade but as the 17 Shine On Lipsticks have been repackaged, I'm not sure if this lipstick has been reformulated or not.

As I had a joy card for The Body Shop (TBS) I knew I needed to get something from there. Sadly, it was only worth £3 and I didn't really need anymore facial buffers so I thought I would pick up their Facial Loofah Pads and give those a whirl. Each TBS puts together little gift sets of stock especially for the boxing day sales (or a few days after Boxing Day in our case) and Liam treated me to a Tea Tree giftset which includes me all time favourite Tea Tree Pore Minimiser, Tea Tree Facial Wash and a toner to match which came up to £12.50 which is definitely a bargain in my eyes as I always think that TBS is way over priced. However, I've now come to realise that the items in each gift set are three for two which still is pretty good going.

 Every birthday and Christmas, my Auntie Miranda always gives me a £20 National Book Gift Card which can be spent in any book store. I always eagerly await the arrival of these as I love choosing which new books to get. After reading The Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan last year, I was surprised to see a Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe which made its way into my basket straight away. The book cover illustration looks absolutely stunning and I cant wait to read it! I'm a big fan of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding so there was no way that I was leaving W H Smiths without Tales of the Gypsy Dressmaker by Thelma Madine. It tells you of her journey of the ups and downs and how she got to where she is today. I started this book the minute I got back to Liams' and I've now sadly finished it *sad face*. I was on the lookout of Chloe Simms' autobiography but sadly I couldn't find it so instead I got Sam Faiers' autobiography which goes into great detail of her life before TOWIE and what's it like in between filming TOWIE.

 Readers who have been following my blog right from the very start will know what my hair has been like and my struggle to get it to its natural state. After doing some research, I believe that my hair follicles are lacking in Iron so I definitely marched into Holland & Barrett to get myself some iron tablets. Luckily, these two were the last ones in stock and they were half price as well! Bonus!

What did you pick up in the Boxing Day Sales?

What I got for Christmas 2012

After being well and truly spoilt for my 18th this year, I didn't ask for too much - I just dropped subtle hints here and there about things that I wanted as well as quite a lot that I didn't need. Like always, my Dad and Rebecca well and truly surprised me with what they got me as well as what my friends got me too. So a big massive thankyou goes out to everybody who got me something, especially to my three best blogging friends who I'm so glad to have met! <3 I would just like to apologise for the crappy quality of pictures - they were taken throughout Christmas Day and wanted to take them quickly!

 On Christmas Eve I went round to Liams' sisters, Nick, for Secret Santa. Last year, I missed out on it as I only just been part of the family for five minutes but this year I was included. We all agreed on a £30 limit and I asked for two of everything which was mainly skincare. Unforunately, my secret Santa couldn't get me a few things on my list but they definitely did well! After running out of the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Gentle Exfoliating Wash a few months ago, I was so glad to see two of these! This has to be the best face wash I've tried which does the trick. I love Superdrugs' Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser so I was glad that I have another backup of this as this is quite literally my HG item! One of things that my Secret Santa couldn't get was Re-Gen Cream (see here for my review of it) so instead he got me two lots of Bio-Oil was is practilly the same thing but in oil version which I'm going to see how it works in the next few weeks. I'm forever in fluffy so I was so excited to see these festive socks from Peacocks which have got fluffy lining inside! They haven't left my feet since! Lastly, my secret santa knows me well enough to know that I have a sweet tooth so he got me two tubes of Buttons which sadly lasted five minutes :( 

 The first presents I opened on Christmas Day were from Jessie, Sophie and Sophia and I squeeled with delight at every present I opened. Sophia got me a travel mug filled with goodies including minitures of Aussie 3 Minute Miracle, Benefit The Porefessional and Benefit Cha Cha Tint. There was even a Yankee Candle Wax Tart in Hot Cider which I've started burning! I seriously cannot wait to start using this mug as it will be just perfect for any upcoming blogger meet ups that I'd be attending in 2013. Sophie surprised me with Beauty by Lauren Conrad which I've been wanting for absolutely ages! I've been reading snippets here and there and I must say, it's a book that every beauty blogger needs! She also got the most gorgeous blue moustache necklace from Kukee and a Kelly Brook nail varnish in a deep pink shade. Lastly, Jessie surprised me the most with a MAC Lipstick! She obviously took note from when I said that I've always wanted one but could never quite afford one. She got me Creme Cup which has been on my wishlist for quite a while and I can't wait to start wearing it! She also must have known how much I love Vanilla Coke and got me a lip smacker in it which brings back memories of America everytime I use/smell it.

For the past year, I've been wearing my River Island UGGs non stop and I've been hinting that I need a new pair so I'm so glad that Dad and Rebecca got me a new pair. They last me for about a year so cost per wear is pretty good going! As I got a Kindle for my birthday, they both realised that I would need a case so they got me a leopard print one which I adore to pieces! It is so sturdy and is bound to last a life time. In March, I had lost my trusty tweezers and have been using a rather crappy pair ever since so I was so happy to see some Mister Mascara Pointed Tweezers as I cannot use slanted for the life of me! There is a running joke in the family, that I can't use a can opener and I always fail at opening cans so they got me a electronic one for my bottom drawer which will definitely be getting used daily for when I move out. I'm always on the look out for new skincare items so I was happy to see a sample of Estee Lauder Cream Cleanser. I'm nearing the end of my TBS Tea Tree Pore Minimiser, so I was glad to see a backup of this as well as two facial buffers as I've been needing a new one for a few weeks now. Lastly, they got me a BB Cream from TBS as I've been wanting to try this one out for ages and I can now finally say I own it!

For my main present, Dad and Rebecca got me a Storage Ladder which I had seen in Brogan Tate xo's Room Tour and my hinting had paid off! This fits perfectly by my door and stores all my skincare, hair stuff and other bits and bobs that I want on it. It even matches all the other furniture in my room which is a bonus!

What did you get for Christmas? Did you get really spoilt? 

Leave your links to your posts on what you got as I would love to have a nosy!

Beauty Blog Link Love

Have you got dry/damaged hair? Well Mel from Mirror on the Wall talks about her haircare hits and misses for dry/damaged hair.

Drinking heavily the night before can leave your skin looking a little worse for wear in the morning so Charlie has shared her beauty regime for when she gets a hangover which will sure come in handy over the next two weeks.

Chloe shares a few products that she's been loving lately and suprisingly, there are only three lip products!

There are so many different perfumes being released each month and Lizzie shares her favourite one by far, Fairy Dance by Anna Sui which comes in the most cutest bottle ever!

If you're stuck on what to give that beauty obsessed friend of yours for Christmas, then why not make a DIY Glossy Box as shown by Kia which will be sure to put a smile on her face.

After sticking with Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer for a long time, Tereza has finally found the best concealer ever which sadly is being discontinued..

Danielle has been putting Lee Stafford For Hair That Never Grows Past A Certain Length Hair Growth Treatment to the test for a month and is back with some rather interesting results.

Ever wondered why your hands get so dry during winter? Well Victoria has shared a few tips to keep your hands and nails in tip top shape this winter.

 
Victoria from Victoria's Vintage shares her latest additions to her ever growing shabby chic decor collection.

Sophia shares She Said Beautys' last ever beauty box and her thoughts on the final beauty box.

Repurchase Wishlist

Repurchase Wishlist

 Like many beauty bloggers, I have quite a few products that I simply couldn't live without. And in the last few days, I've realised that I'm going to have repurchase practilly all of them by February time at the very latest. So this is my Repurchase Wishlist!

I've fallen back in love with Superdrugs' Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream and as of late, I've been using it as both my morning and night time moisturiser. It's exactly what my skin needs now that we're in the colder months and I reckon that I've only got about two to three more uses before I run out of it completely. I think I will have to take Superdrug up on their 2 for £3.99 offer and stock up on this! Remember the hype surrounding Tresemme's Keratin range a few months back? I only bought the mask and its completely changed the way my hair looks and feels. I use it as a daily conditioner instead of a weekly treatment as my hair is so dry and dull that its the only thing that seems to be liking at the moment.

Back when I was in America in July/August, Walmart was selling Sally Hansen Insta-Dri for only $3.99 and I bought a bottle purely because it was cheap on chips on the exchange rate compared to the £5.99 pricetag here. I should have really bought a few more bottles back with me as it makes the whole drying nails process a lot damn quicker. Re-Gen Cream is a moisturiser that I like to use when my blemishes get pretty bad as it helps get rid of them quickly and those pesky scars that the blemishes leave behind!  Technically, I don't need to repurchase Salon System Individual Lashes Ultra as I around three and a half packs remaining but I go through them so quickly that they never seem to last long enough! These have been my eyelashes for the last two years and I can't see myself buying any other brand/type as these are just perfect for my eyes.

I used to love Rimmels' Stay Matte Powder until I rediscovered Collection 2000 Sheer Loose Powder at the back of my drawer. It has since been discontinued and relaunched in new packaging/colour but it's just the perfect powder for setting my makeup that I may just consider buying the new type. Lastly, my holy grail of a primer; The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser. I've been using this badboy since August and I definitely think it's the best primer I've used. It makes my makeup last longer, look fresher for longer and it also doubles up as spot fighting treatment. 

What products are on your repurchase wishlist?

November Favourites

There is something about reading monthly favourites posts that just makes me want to buy everything. I've found so many new things, some of which I've bought and the rest I've added to my never ending wishlist purely from reading monthly favourites posts. For me, November was a month of home comforts and being make-up free for two weeks hence why there are only two beauty related items.

I'm not sure about you but the minute it gets slightly cold outside, I stick my onesie on and start bringing out all my winter beauty essentials. The first product that I take out is always a foot cream and this year it's in the form of Avon's Foot Works Pomegranate Chocolate Moisturising Foot Cream. To say that this smells good is an understatement - it honestly has to be the best smelling foot cream I've smelt! It smells that good that I just want to eat it all up! I apply this at night before I go to bed and when I wake up, my feet feel a lot softer than they did the night before. It takes a while to sink into the skin but it leaves your feet feeling so moisturised that it's definitely worth the few extra minutes of rubbing it in.

Next up is a product that I've been using an awful lot throughout November and it's Lacura's Lip Balm. I'm not sure why but I feel that when I've been using a lip balm for about three days straight, I feel used to it and have to use it instead of a different one as the texture doesn't feel right. I tend to slather this on my lips quite a few times a day despite it not leaving my lips feeling properly moisturised, it definitely leaves them feeling kissable. There's not much more I can say on it apart from that its got SPF 6 which is okay for a lip balm during the cold months.

Lastly, I've been lighting my wax burner practilly every day to burn Yankee Candle Wax Tart in Bahama Breeze. I've had this since April and I've definitely got a fair few more months worth of burning to go. This has made me feel really peaceful and not as stressed these past few weeks and I just love burning it, especially at night time. The scent of this isn't as overpowering as it used to be but I can definitely smell it faintly. I've started burning my big jar of Yankee Candle's Sparkling Snow and these two when burning together, smells like Christmas on Holiday.

What have been your favourite products throughout November?

November Empties

I think it's safe to say that November was a month of finishing a fair few of my favourite products *sadface*

Remember my trip to America? Well my Grandma had bought me Bed Head Tigi Shampoo and the matching conditioner and I'm so glad that I've now finished the shampoo! At first, I did feel like it was helping my hair and it made very soft but towards the end, it just didn't have the same effect like it did. I may consider repurchasing it in the near future but for the time being, I'm happy with what I'm currently using. I finally finished my trio of Aussie products; Aussie Mega Shampoo and Aussie Mega Conditioner have seriously changed the way I wash my hair - they helped my hair feel squeeky clean and left no build up. I enjoyed using this duo together and I can't wait to get my hands on these bad boys again! When I teamed those two products up with Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor, my hair couldn't thank me enough. This helped keep my hair from feeling not as damaged and I would definitely repurchase this. The Organix Macadamia Oil is quite literally a god send (I've reviewed this bad boy here) I used this everytime after I've washed my hair and it made it feel so soft and just full of life again. I'm so glad that I have a backup of this! I guess I'm not alone when I say that I use Johnsons Baby Shampoo to wash my makeup brushes with. It leaves them clean, soft and with no build up at all. I will continue to repurchase this time and time again.

My deodrant of choice since January has been Lynx for Her, this is my second can and it lasts so long even with everyday use! The scent is alright and it does do the job but I can't see myself repurchasing this as I'm getting quite bored of it. I don't think there is any need to explain as to why I've used up Femfresh - it does the job and that's all you need to know. A few months ago, everybody was getting caught up in the hype of the Superdrug Hot Cloth Cleanser and I'm so glad that I bought into it! The idea is that you massage this onto your skin and then with the muslin cloth, you get it soaked in hot water, wring it out and put it on your face. It leaves your skin feeling so soft and moisturised whilst knowing that it's leaving your skin cleansed. The scent of this is absolutely divine and I know that I'm getting some more of this for Christmas. I would most definitely repurchase this time and time again. I've been trying to use up as many bath products as possible, so I'm glad that I've finally used up the Sweet Treats Shower Cream in Strawberry Sundae. It didn't do much for my skin but it did leave my arms smelling good and moisturised. I also used up the Sweet Treats Body Scrub in Creamy Marshmallow. Let me just say that the scent of this was heavenly! I really enjoyed using this although I wouldn't say that it was much of a body scrub, more like a shower gel which smelt really good.

There are two products that will always appear in my every monthly empties and those are the Salon System Individual Lashes Ultra. These are my eyelashes of choice and I can't see myself ever being without these in my life. They're natural looking so they don't look too overdone but they're just right to look like you've made an effort. I will always repurchase these! Another product are the Lacura 3 in 1 Facial Cleansing Wipes, I use these for a wide variety of things and I always have loads of these in backup. They're quick, cheap and easy to use - what more could you ask for? I've finally finished up a foundation! The Collection 2000 Light Diffusing Foundation has been in my drawers for ages and it's taken forver and a day to use up. This colour was definitely not suited for my skin colour (as I stole it from my mum) but I definitely liked the light/medium coverage that it gave. I wouldn't repurchase this as I have far too many foundations to use up at the moment. The Biore Pore Perfect Face Strip and Nose Strips have been something that I've been meaning to use up. I don't feel that they did anything for my skin in removing clogged up pores and blackheads but they're a beauty treatment that we all have to endure at some point. Lastly, I've used up some Allura Cotton Pads. I have packs and packs of these in my room and there are only so many cotton pads you can use in a day! I find that the texture of these vary from pack to pack - some can just fall apart with some slight moisture whilst others feel like a decent cotton pad. However, they do the job at cleansing/toning/removing makeup so I can't complain.

Phew! 19 products later and they're all finished with! Don't you just love the feeling of using up products? If you've done any November Empties posts, please link them down below as I would love to see what you've used up.