June Empties || Products I've Used Up

I've finally finished up the Dr Bronner's Magic Soap of which I had it in Almond. This smelt beautifully and washed my makeup brushes up a treat! I've already moved onto my next bottle of this but this time, in Citrus. I've used up the Not Your Mother's Way To Grow Long & Strong Shampoo & Conditioner which I thoroughly enjoyed using despite it not necessarily helping my hair grow longer and stronger quickly. I've finished up another Boots Build Up Removal Shampoo which I will forever repurchase as it does the job at removing product build up. I've used up the L'Oreal Ever Riche Nourishing Intense Mask which made my hair feel silky soft after every use!

I've used up another Garnier Simply Essentials Soothing 2 in 1 Makeup Remover which helps remove my makeup within an instant without drying it out. I've finished up the Clearasil Ultra Blemish+Marks Scrub which I thoroughly enjoyed using for the days when I fancied a manual exfoliator rather than a chemical exfoliator - I've already moved onto my next tube! I've used up the Soap & Glory The Ultimelt Deep Purifying Hot Cloth Cleanser which has to be one of most skin smoothing, hydrating cleansers I've tried. I've used up The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover which is anything but gentle as it stung my eyes nearly every time that I used it! I've finished up another Pretty Perfect Twist & Out Instant Nail Varnish Remover which is the only nail varnish remover that I use. I've used up the Aveeno Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream which I much prefer when my skin is a lot more dehydrated as my skin seems to drink it right up.

I've used up another La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ which has definitely helped keep blemishes at bay as well as reduce the appearance of scarring left over from blemishes. I've finished up a tube of Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief + Whitening Toothpaste which has made such a big improvement to the sensitivity and whiteness of my teeth! I've used up another L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer which I use as both a primer to make my skin appear more radiant as well as mixing it in with my foundation to make my base more dewy. I've finished up the No7 Extreme Length Extend Mascara which I prefer the sample size brush of rather than the full size as they seperate my lashes better than the full size however it's still a good all rounder. I've finally used up my No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter which I love using as a highlighter both underneath and over my foundation to help achieve a glowy look. I haven't quite used up the Sally Hansen Double Duty Base & Top Coat as it's started to dry up however it definitely did the trick as both a base and a top coat.

I'm trying to use up my ridiculous stash of Lush products before I buy any more bubble bath/lush products so I've used up the Blackberry Bath Bomb, Bombardino Bath Bomb, Cinders Bath Bomb, Dashing Santa Bath Bomb and Golden Wonder Bath Bomb which all helped make my baths that little bit better. I've used up two packs of the Wilko Maxi Oval Cotton Wool Pads which are the only cotton wool pads that I use! And lastly, I've used up a pack of the No7 Quick Thinking Wipes for everything but removing my makeup.

Samples I've Used Up 024

It feels like my stash of samples just isn't going down which is not surprising when everybody and their nan seems to be giving me samples of everything at the moment! I'm still making a conscious effort of using samples on a daily basis however it's getting harder with the amount of full size products that I need to use up as well.

I've used up a travel sized Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water which I've already tried in full size. This stuff is absolutely brilliant for taking off makeup and I've stocked up on these handy travel sizes as they were on clearance in my local Boots! I've used up some more satchets of Lancome's Visionnaire which I've been using every single night now and I've definitely noticed a huge transformation in my skin! If this wasn't so expensive then I would buy in full size in a heart beat!

I've finished up a little miniature La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ which I use on a daily basis. This helps keep spots at bay as well as help make scars from spots disappear entirely. This is quite literally one of those skincare products that I cannot live without! I've used up Lancome's Genifique which although my skin is too young to see the full effects from, it has been working wonders especially when combined with their Visionnaire serum! Lastly, I've used up a satchet of the Nivea Sensitive Day Cream which I liked but do not love enough to buy in full size.

June Birchbox Review

I cannot believe that we are now coming towards the end of June! Where has the year gone?! Birchbox have certainly made this half of the year has gone moment a lot better as they've collaborated with French Sole to bring this months edition. There are three different designs to choose from and I went ahead and chose the From Paris With Love design as nothing really can beat some good ole' nautical! In addition to a beautifully designed box, there's a matching shoe bag which you can use for a number things and not just for storing your shoes in! Let's delve in and see what I received in this months edition..

Firstly, I got a very generous sized bottle of Cowshed Gorgeous Cow Blissful Body Lotion (£20) which contans wildcrafted essential oils of ylang ylang, rose, palmarose and lavender to help evoke a happy, blissful mood whilst soothing and balancing the mind at the same time. Now, I'm not sure about you but this reminds me an awful lot of cinnamon which I detest so I'll be passing this along to a family friend who I'm sure will got a lot of use out of it.

The next item is a teeny tiny sample pot of Premae Mild Dermabrasion Face & Body Scrub (£25) which is a skin-loving vegan body scrub containing italian olive granules to help decongest, brighten and smoothe the skin whilst being gentle enough to be used on the face too! I love a good manual scrub to use on days when I'm not using a chemical exfoliator so this will definitely be getting used at the next given opportunity. As it is such a small sample pot, it would even be good for taking on holiday with too.

I was little underwhelmed when I saw a sample of Penhaligon's Iris Prima Perfume (£85) as I seem to have acquired a lot of perfume samples in a short space of time. Regardless, these are handy to have to throw into a clutch or going on holiday with as they hardly take up any room. This particular fragrance smells rather fresh yet comforting at the same time.

I'm currently in the process of stocking up on travel sized hair products for my holiday away in October so this generous sized sample of HIP Ultra Shine Shampoo (£15) is a welcome addition to my stash! This contains a blend of peppermint and eucalyptus oils to help detoxify the hair whilst boosting circulation and soothing the hair as well giving it an unbeatable shine for healthy, happy hair.

The only makeup addition to the box and an apparent Birchbox exclusive is the Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lip Stain in Poppy (£14) which is a pretty coral-pinky-red hue that stains the lips whilst moisturising them and giving the shine of a gloss. I wouldn't personally pick nor wear this shade so this will be getting passed onto a friend.

The last addition to the box and is an extra beauty bonus are the STYLondon Temporary Metallic Tattoos (£7.99) which are some beautiful, golden temporary tattoos that you can use on both nails and skin. I feel that these are a little childish for me especially considering that I've got real tattoos however I can seem them being perfect for festivals or a night out.

Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Exfoliating Pads

I will admit that I do spend more time at my other halfs than I do at home and I try to stick to the same skincare routine although sometimes it's hard, especially when you don't fancy carting round your skincare and risk leaving it there. As I don't want to spend a fortune on buying the same products but having them at the others halfs, I've instead decided to buy cheaper alternatives and one such product is the Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Exfoliating Pads.

The Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Exfoliating Pads (£4.99) are essentials 60 pads that are soaked in an exfoliating concocotion of antibacterial tea tree oil and skin calming witch hazel that helps to keep the skin clear by fighting spot-causing bacteria, unblocking pores and smoothing the skins surface.

As I don't use these consistenly, I can't really say that these have vastly improved my skin. However when I have used them, I have noticed that my skin does look slightly more smoother than before and any existing blemishes are reduced in size and redness. I would assume that if you used these consistently then you would see greater results especially if have blemish prone skin. These definitely do the trick whilst I'm inbetween my better skincare products and I'll carry on using them for the time being.

Taaj Himalaya Micellar Water

When it comes to skincare, if I like something then I buy it in bulk and this is definitely the case when it comes to the Taaj Himalaya Micellar Water as I so wish that I bought more of this when I saw it at the barganious price of £7.99 in T K Maxx last year. I will admit that I had never heard of Taaj before until Zoella mentioned it back in 2012 which I'm sure will be the case for majority of us!

The Taaj Himalaya Micellar Water (£16) is a micellar water unlike others that cleans and removes makeup and impurities all in one step, using natural water from the himalayas along with chamomile, rosemary and green tea. It quite literally cleanses, tones and soothes the skin without stripping it of it's essentials oils whilst being suitable for all skin types.

I like to use this for the bulk of my makeup whilst using a seperate makeup remover to remove my eye makeup. I take a cotton pad or two, pour out a generous amount onto the pad before sweeping it across my face which takes off majority of my makeup within one sweep, literally. Unlike other micellar waters that I've used in the past, this doesn't irritate my skin nor cause me to rub at my skin vigorously. What I like the most about this makeup remover is not how well it removes my makeup but actually the scent as it's a revitalising zesty citrus scent which is neither overpowering or weak - it's just the right amount. This truly is one of those dealbreaker products that can truly revolutonize your skincare routine like it has mine as I don't have to deal with lots of dirty cotton wool pads and irritated skin! I truly do wish that I did buy more bottles of this at the time but for now, I'll make do with the half bottle or so that I have left and truly treasure it.

Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief + Whitening Toothpaste

I'm sure that most of stick to the same toothpaste however I for one cannot stick to the same toothpaste as I like to try out different varieties until I find the one. The one being perfect for sensitive teeth whilst whitening my teeth all whilst keeping my breath fresh. I've definitely tried my fair share of toothpastes and recently, I've been using the Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief + Whitening Toothpaste.

The Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief + Whitening Toothpaste (£3.90) has been specially formulated to help block pain triggers caused by cold/hot foods by delivering instant and lasting relief whilst gently and effectively removing stains to help restore a natural white smile.

I can normally tell if my toothpaste has worked or not by drinking my work's cold water, which by the way is incredibly cold, and the majority of the time, I do not wince in pain. In conjunction with that, my teeth have been looking a lot whiter than normal despite not using a whitening strip in quite some time. Overall, this is a brilliant budget toothpaste and is one that I've already repurchased which could just mean that this is the one!

Not Your Mother's Way To Grow Long & Strong Shampoo + Conditioner

For those of you who remember, last year I went over to America to spend my birthday with my relatives and do some much needed retail therapy! I didn't particularly have a list of things in mind but rather products that I've been wanting to try for a while as well as products that work out to be a lot cheaper than in the UK as well as those that we can't easily get here. One said products is the Not Your Mother's Way To Grow Long & Strong Shampoo + Conditioner.

The Not Your Mother's Way To Grow Long & Strong Shampoo + Conditioner (£7.59/$4.74 each) is a duo that helps aid your hair to grow longer a lot faster than normal shampoos and conditioners whilst strengthening the hair and prevent breakage with an anti-breakage formula. It contains a unique blend of essential vitamins, herbs and bioactive extracts that helps promote healthier, stronger, longer hair. This duo is aimed for already existing hair as opposed to those without hair.

Unlike most duos that I've tried in the past which have a unique scent, the Not Your Mothers Way To Grow Duo has a rather sweet, fruity scent that is neither overpowering or sickly. I like to squeeze out a generous amount of the shampoo and massage it into my scalp, concentrating it mainly on the roots and mid-lengths before leaving it in for a few minutes. After I've left it in, I then like to wash it out and follow up with the conditioner, doing exactly the same but leaving it in for longer whilst I concentrate on the rest of my bath routine. Since I've started using this duo, I haven't noticed a huge amount of hair growth but I have noticed that my hair does feel slightly more stronger than before. As much as I would love to say this has worked wonders for me, it truly hasn't although that is probably down to the fact that you have to use it consistenly, going through quite a few bottles of both before seeing obvious results. I think that when I'm next in the market for a new shampoo and conditioner and I just so happen to be in the States, then I will definitely be stocking up on this duo and truly put it to the test. 

Soap & Glory The Ultimelt Deep Purifying Hot Cloth Cleanser

Out of all the different types of cleansers that I've tried, I always remain loyal to the hot cloth/cream based variety. This is not because I'm too lazy when it comes to balms or I don't like the mess when it comes to oils, it's simply because the cream based types are one of the first cleansers that I've tried and is one that works well for my dry skin. Recently, I've found myself trying out different cleansers and the one that I've been putting to the test for the past few weeks is the Soap & Glory The Ultimelt Deep Purifying Hot Cloth Cleanser.

The Soap & Glory The Ultimelt Deep Purifying Hot Cloth Cleanser (£10) is unlike any other cleanser that I've used before as the packaging is not far from being a very large toothpaste which not only makes it more easy to use but it means that you won't be wasting any product! The cleanser intself is a blend of sweet almond oil, orange oil and lavender oil with provitamin B5 which makes the scent of it very similar to the Balance Me Radiance Face Mask.

I like to squeeze out a decent sized amount and blob it onto my face before massaging it all in, concentrating on any key areas which may still have makeup on. After massaging it in and depending on how keen I am to jump into bed, I leave it on for roughly two minutes before taking a warm muslin cloth and removing it. Since using this, I've noticed that I've been having some really good skin days which I believe is down to finally using products that are better suited to my skin which definitely includes this cleanser! As I use this as both my morning cleanser and my second cleanser in the evenings, my skin hasn't been feeling stripped nor dry and instead, it feels really soft and hydrated to the touch. This is by far one of the better hot cloth cleansers that I've used and is one that I will be repurchasing for sure!

Dr Bronner's Magic Soap

When I first started using makeup brushes, I didn't know what to clean them with. After a little research, I discovered that most beauty bloggers opted for baby shampoo which not only cleaned the brushes but kept them soft too so of course, I jumped on that bandwagon. Whilst they did do the job, I felt that they weren't making my brushes as clean as I wanted them which I when I discovered Dr Bronner's Magic Soap.

Dr Bronner's Magic Soap (£8.99) is one of those mystical products that you can use for a variety of things and not just washing your makeup brushes such as; a body wash, handwash, household cleaner, laundry cleaner and even brushing your teeth with! Unlike most mystical products that come only in one scent, Dr Bronner's Magic Soap comes in a variety of scents of which come in different sizes. The one pictured above is Almond which I have the 473ml size.

When I first started using Dr Bronner's Magic Soap to wash my makeup brushes with, I didn't realise that you had to dilute it with water as I was just swirling my brushes into the liquid straight up which has probably done more harm than good. Nowadays, I tend to pour a decent amount into a mug before diluting it with warm water in which I swirl my brushes into it. Whilst it doesn't remove all the makeup without one go, it does remove the bulk of it and after a few dunks, it removes literally all traces whilst leaving them almond scented. Whilst it does do the trick, I sometimes like to follow it up with some hand wash just to get the brushes really soft again as whilst the magic soap does clean them up really well, it doesn't always leave them soft to the touch. Whilst this may seem like a pricey investment for your makeup brushes, it is most definitely one that you need to invest in as one bottle will easily last you the best part of five months and that's with washing your brushes every week!

(HINT: Whilst Feel Unique is still good value for money, you can often find these in your local T K Maxx store for about £3 less, so it might be worth checking out your local stores before buying them from Feel Unique!)

Superdrug Haul 005

When news hit that Real Techniques had brought out a new set of brushes, everybody and their nan went crazy for them including myself. However, I resisted buying them as at the time I thought that I didn't need them. With that being said, whilst in York's Superdrug just about to pay for some items, I saw that they were on special offer and I picked a set up despite the fact that I didn't need them. Included are three brushes - the Sculpting Brush, the Setting Brush and the Fan Brush of which all three I'll find a use for.

After reading rave reviews of the Clearly Youthful Retexturising Glycolic Peel Off Mask and being compared to the likes of REN's Glycolic Active Mask, I definitely had to pick it up especially when it had money off it! I also picked up the Clearly Youthful Resurfacing Night Serum and Clearly Youthful Hydrating Day Serum as I need to vary up my skincare some more.

Lastly, I picked up the B. Sweet Popping Candy Highlighting Serum which you can use in a multitude of ways including as a highlighting serum, primer and highlighter. I think I'll use it as both a primer and mix it in with my foundation to get a really dewy, radiant effect.

MAC Haul 002

I think it's fair to say that I did quite a lot of damage at the MAC counter in York. So much so that I definitely do agree with what everyone says - they only give you a massive bag when you've spent a lot which is what I walked out with half hour later. I knew exactly what I wanted and the sales assistant was most than happy to get the items that I wanted for me.

I decided to get a new foundation that I can mix in with my other MAC Foundation to get the desired coverage. However, when I bought my other foundation (Mineralize Moisture SPF15 Foundation in in NC20) I clearly was tanned as it's a little more darker than what I normally use although I can still get away with it. This time around, I settled on NC15 which the sales assistant agreed was a better match for me which I opted to get in the Studio Sculpt Foundation which I wanted last year. I also decided to repurchase their Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade as I'm going through it at an alarming pace as well as pick up Soft & Gentle to find out what all the fuss is about. 

I went a little crazy and picked up four eye brow pencils in Lingering as truth be told, I much prefer the service in York than in my local one and I don't visit a MAC counter that often and I don't want to pay postage. One pencil easily lasts me a little over three months so I have atleast a years supply. As I've been using Creme Cup a lot recently, I decided to repurchase it as well as get another lipstick in the Cremesheen family in the shade Pure Zen which I've had on my wishlist for quite a while as it's a nice nude shade.

This is where I started to go even more crazy as I wanted to get some eyeshadows so Shroom, Woodwinked, All That Glitters, Satin Taupe and Honey Lust were all no brainers after a heavy swatching session. Jest and Vapour I picked up from York's CCO instead of from MAC themselves but I'm including them anyway. To store all these eyeshadows, I bought Pro Palette Large as well as the 15 insert which you have to buy seperately. I also got two paint pots in Bare Study and Painterly which have been on my wishlist forever and I can use as either a base shade/primer over my lids.

I also picked up a pigment in Vanilla as again I've wanted it for ages and it will last me forever and lastly, I picked up a 217 Brush which isn't pictured as I wanted to see if it lives up to the hype of being the eyeshadow brush to have.

Boots Haul 019

Back in March, I mentioned that I won't be doing any more big splurges until my birthday and low and behold, that time has come around. Instead of doing one splurge, I've done three albeit one of them is rather small in comparison. I've decided to rename this week splurge week as that is all you'll be reading this week from me apart from on Sunday where it'll be a review.

Whenever I go to York, I love walking into town by myself and go into every store that takes my fancy. In particular, I love the Boots that they have as it has every single brand there possible with advisors at my disposable. My first port of call was the Origins counter as I was after two things in particular - the Make A Difference Night Cream and Make A Difference Plus Treatment Lotion. The Make A Difference Night Cream is an overnight hydrating repair cream which helps lock in moisture overnight to give radiant, awaken skin come morning. The Make A Difference Plus Treatment Lotion is leaning more towards a refreshing toner than anything else because it feels both hydrating and moisturising at the same time which you can use both morning and night.

After browsing the self selection area for quite some time, I walked away with an Essie Nail Varnish in Blossom Dandy which I've been wanting ever since I saw it on ThatsHeart's Instragram. It's one of those minty green come pastel blue shades that looks different in lighting. Whilst finding said shade, I got approached by a Benefit Consultant who gave me a mini lesson in all things Benefit and after spending half an hour with her, I walked away with both Browzings and Gimme Brow. I truly didn't need any more eyebrow products but she had applied them on me and I must admit, my brows never looked better!

As mentioned in my previous post, in order to get the free No7 gift with purchase you have to purchase two cosmetics. So I decided to pick up two nail varnishes as you can never have enough nail varnishes! The first one being Rose Gold which as the name suggests, is a beautiful rose gold shade which I can't wait to start wearing and the other being Grapefruit which is very similar to Essie's Cute As A Button in the sense of being a bright pink-ish red colour.

Free No7 GWP

Out of all the free gifts with purchases, the No7 ones are by far some of my favourites! They always have atleast one of my favourite products included in each gift and I've even discovered a few new products from their gifts. They seem to do the same offer every two or three months where you have to purchase two cosmetics in order to get the free gift. This time around, No7 have decided to do a Summer Beauty Bag seeing as Summer is just around the corner and in order to receieve this gift, I walked away with two nail varnishes which will be featured in my next post..

Included in their brightly coloured bag is a sample size of their Extreme Length Waterproof Mascara which is one of my favourite mascaras. It helps define each lash whilst adding incredible length to give the appearance of false lashes whilst coating them in a waterproof seal that will not budge or flake off. Also included in a full size High Shine Lip Gloss in Tangerine Twist which smells suprisingly fruity and which you do need to apply a few times to get the full effect.

To combat the hot sun, No7 have included a sample of their Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Facial Sun Protection SPF15 which is no where near enough high sun protection for the likes of Greece but is passable for our typical British Summer Sun. Unlike most facial sun protections, this doesn't feel sticky or greasy after application albeit feeling a little thick when applying. Lastly, they've included a Stay Perfect Eyeshadow which is the middle shade from the Good Earth Trio which is by far one of my most used eyeshadow colours! It's a beautiful shimmery bronzey taupe shade which looks good either by itself or in a smokey eye.

Latest In Beauty Heart FM Beauty Essentials Box Review

It's not very often that I buy particular beauty boxes based on their collaboration unless it's products that I would generally use. When I saw that Latest In Beauty had teamed up with Heart FM to bring out the Heart FM Beauty Essentials Box, I couldn't check out fast enough! Boasting an incredible thirteen products of which three are full size with the rest generous sample sizes, I'm surprised that they could even fit the lid on with everything packaged up inside. There's a good mix of brands and products so without futher ado, let's delve into the contents..

The star product by far is a full size Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail Varnish in Hyde Park Palace (£14) which is a pale, stoney grey which would look good all year round but I'll be saving it exclusively to start wearing in Autumn. The next star product in my books is a full size Wild About Beauty Eyeshadow in Becca (£13) which is a beautiful coppery bronze shade which would look good sweeped all across the eyelid or in a bronzey smokey eye. Another makeup addition is two satchets of bareMinerals Complexion Rescue (£26) which is their new tinted hydrating gel cream. Two shades were included; Vanilla and Natural and I reckon Vanilla looks like a perfect match for me.

Moving onto skincare and included is a travel sized Philosophy Purity Cleanser (£28.50) which I'll looking forward to trying out despite it's mixed reviews. They've also thrown in a full size Amie Morning Light Hydrating Daily Moisturiser (£4.95) which is both skin friendly and made from natural extracts without costing the earth. I'm glad to see a sample of Vichy Idealia Life Serum (£31) included as I have quite a few of these now to give it a good trial run! This helps make your skin look more radiant and fresh with a more even skin tone so I'm excited to see how this compares to Lancome Visionnaire which costs the earth.

I've tried the Balance Me Radiance Face Mask (£18) before and I enjoyed it quite a lot so I'm glad to have another sample of this in my life. It's one of those masks with exfoliating beads that you leave on for 10 minutes and then wipe off which helps to exfoliate the skin to reveal brighter, more radiant skin. Heart FM have truly thought of everything as they've also included a generous sample of Green People Sun Lotion SPF15 with Tan Accelerator (£14.30) which is ideal for us Brits as we don't see enough sun. I love a good hand cream so the Le Couvent des Minimes Cloisters Hand Cream (£3) is a welcome addition! It's rose and berry scented so I'm hoping that will smell good enough to eat.

I never seem to have enough travel sized shampoos and conditioners unless you count satchets so the Dove Youthful Vitality Duo (£5.99 each) will definitely be coming with me on my next trip away! I haven't had anything about Kneipp Herbal Bath Back Comfort Devils Claw (£9.95) before but it definitely intrigues me as it's meant to be soothing and relaxing for the back, shoulders and neck. I'm not exactly sure of when I'll be able to put the Skyn Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels (£25 for 8 packs) to good use as I don't suffer with puffy eyes but I'm sure that these will be very soothing on the eye area. Lastly, Heart FM have thrown in a cute heart shaped face cloth that expands in water which as a kid, I always loved watching.

As this box is priced at £15 + P+P and is worth over £70, it's incredibly good value and will be getting a lot of love from me!

 

May Favourites

May has been such a whirlwind month for me - what with all the travelling over the country seeing family, work and not to mention my 21st birthday. I've even been extremely naughty and treated myself to a new tattoo and did lots of shopping so I will most definitely be spending the next few months on a shopping ban in order to save up to move out.

As mentioned, I treated myself to a new tattoo which is very personal to me and without going into too many details, it's the signature of the Uncle whom I never got to meet. Many tattooist's recommend you using Bepanthen on new ink so I've been slathering my new tattoo in it for the best part of May in order to make sure that it heals nicely. So there is no surprise that this has been one of my favourites.For the third month running, my love affair for Hydraluron has most definitely been replaced with the Lacura Aqua-Complete Multi Intensive Serum. Despite it doing the exact same thing, the Lacura offering feels more hydrating and nourishing on the skin and I often layer the two together to get a real hydrating effect.

There's no denying that I love a good highlighter so I've been reaching for the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter religiously in order to highlight all areas of my face. It's the perfect champagne come candlelit ivory shade which looks both flattering and natural on the skin without being too overpowering. I've actually almost finished my one so a repurchase is definitely on the cards! I tend to switch between bronzers and sometimes apply two together to chisel and define my cheekbones. However recently, I've found myself reaching more for the NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny which gives a more natural finish to the skin. I apply quite a lot to the countours of my face and around my temple to create a sunkissed look whilst giving my pale skin some much needed colour. I've actually finally hit pan on this pan so it's only a question of time until I need to buy a new one.In order to apply said bronzer, I've been turning my back on the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and instead reaching more for the Real Techniques Multi Tasking Brush. This applies product in a more wider area and helps buff product out better which makes it look more natural on the skin.