Favourites || April 2016

April has been a crazy month for me with both work and personal life. It's been a mixture of happiness and sadness and it's made me reflect on my own life. I won't go into detail but towards the end of April, I lost someone very close to me and I haven't yet bounced back from it so I've pretty much been a makeup free emotional mess recently. Before we all start getting emotional and all, let's share what products I've been loving throughout April.

I've really been upping my skincare game and trying to be more consistent with what I'm using so I've been religiously applying the No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced Serum whenever I get the chance. I find that this is the perfect serum for me as it helps keep my skin hydrated whilst preventing any signs of ageing. I will definitely be trying out more of the No7 Serums and perhaps do a comparison at a later date.

Speaking of skincare, I've been breaking out terribly with blemishes which is down to not sleeping much and emotional eating so I've been using the La Roche Pose Effacer Duo+ to help combat them. This helps to not only keep pesky blemishes at bay but also helps to prevent future ones from appearing too. I've been upping my water intake over this past month so although my skin looks more plumped, I've still been relying on trusty Hydraluron to help keep my skin hydrated for longer. This acts like a magnet with your moisturiser to help moisturise your skin deep down and my skin absolutely loves this! 

For the times when I have worn makeup, I've been wearing the Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal Foundation as this is a medium to full coverage foundation that can be built up that makes my skin appear more awake and radiant. Combined with my beloved No7 Skin Illuminator which gives a radiant look to the skin whilst still being natural and you've got yourself a match made in heaven! Speaking of No7, I've returned to using their Extreme Lash Extend Mascara that I've most definitely missed! This helps to seperate my lashes and define them whilst giving lots of length. It's quite literally one of my holy grail mascaras!

I've also returned to using the No7 Good Earth Eyeshadow Trio which contains the perfect mix of colours to take you from day to night. I tend to apply the middle shade all over the lid with the darker colour in the crease, very slightly smoking it out with the lighter shade as a brow highlighter. Whenever I wear this trio, I get lots of compliments as it just seems to go nicely with my natural eye colour. I've been suffering with dry lips as of late so I've been using various EOS Lip Balms which I have dotted around all over the place. These little spherical balms are ideal for dry, chapped lips as it contains shea butter, vitamin E and jojoba oil all packed in one handy shaped balm.

A complete miscellaneous favourite for me this month is literally one that I've only had for the last week and a half or so is the Apple Watch Sport 42mm Rose Gold with Stone Strap. Many people deem this as completely unnecessary and a waste of money which I completely agreed with at first however I want to say that it has completely changed my life. I'm definitely one of those people who is forever on their phone however since I bought this, I'm no longer checking my phone for messages/instagram/facebook as I get it all on the Apple Watch and if it's not directly aimed at myself, I simply dismiss it and carry on with whatever I'm doing. It's also been incredibly handy for work as well as I just have to look down at my watch to read messages instead of pulling out my phone every time I felt it go off.

Favourites || March 2016

March has been a whirl wind month of trying to not spend a lot of money on things that I simply do not need in a bid to save up money to move out in the next two years or so. I believe this probably explains why I've been quiet on the blogging front especially paired with how busy work has been recently. I just simply haven't had the time or the energy to write up a blog post however I'm now back! So without going on too much more, let's delve into what I've been loving during March!

I will admit that I wasn't overly bothered on the NYX Lip Lingerie Lipsticks however the day they were launched in Boots, I caved and bought two. I partially blame my work partner in crime as well as myself for looking at swatches. I picked up the shades Push Up and Lace Detail which are pretty much the same colour except Lace Detail is more of a lighter pink when compred to Push Up. I prefer to wear the two together, layering them up to create my own unique shade which I've been rocking ever since I got them. For a girl who prefers wearing MAC Creme Cup, this is most definitely out of my comfort zone however I'm rather enjoying it.

The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge will forever be my favourite tool to apply and blend my foundation with as it just blends everything out so seamless and quickly too. However, I much prefer it when it's with a brand new sponge which is exactly what I had the pleasure of using this past month. I tend to have three on rotation that I use one for a couple of days before moving onto the next which results in a deep clean every Sunday. Three on rotation may seem a little excessive however I normally stock up when they're on some sort of crazy deal and I throw them out after two to three months or so, depending on how stained they are, so I like to think that three is the magic number ;)

Now as much as I love a really defined and strong contour, there are a few times where I need to tone it down and blend it out so the Real Techniques Multi Task Brush has literally been a godsend this past month. I much prefer this particular Multi Task Brush which came in the Deluxe Gift Set that they released just before Christmas over the original Multi Task Brush which came in Sam's Picks Set as it just feels so much softer when in reality, they're both the exact same brush. It also blends everything out beautifully too so when I've applied a bit too much whilst contouring, I can simply blend it out and I'm good to go.

I've been dabbling with my highlighters again and I believe I've found the perfect combination to recreate that I've spent forever highlighting and it shows look and one of the many highlighters that I use to create said look is in fact the No7 Eyeshadow in Wheatsheaf.  It's the most beautiful shimmery champagne beige that will give a wash of colour over the lids but when applied to the tops of the cheekbones, it certainly packs a punch and gives that effortless glow. Who would have thought that you could use an eyeshadow for a highlighter?!

My last favourite of the month is completely miscellaneous and childish too but it just describes me perfectly which is of course my Lotso Phone Cover that I picked up from eBay. I have a thing for phone cases that are brightly coloured because then I won't lose my phone however if I have a neutral phone cover on i.e. the phone cover from this particular Birchbox then I am constantly loosing my phone. Whilst this may not be the most acceptable phone cover to have whilst having my phone on me at work, it does make me smile constantly when I pull it out. Plus, who doesn't love Toy Story!

What products have you been loving throughout this past month?

Favourites || February 2016

Too Faced Endless Summer 16 Hour Wear Bronzer // £25 || This bronzer has seen me bronzing myself up daily as it the perfect bronzing shade that is neither too light or dark nor muddy but has a subtle hint of shimmer to turn even us pale beauties into bronzed goddesses.

No7 Velvet Lash Mascara // £13.50 || One of their newest launches by No7 and certainly one of the better mascaras I've tried. It helps build volume and length whilst defining the lashes all at once whilst having a traditional bristle brush that makes it applying it all that easier. 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette // £56 || This is definitely one of the more expensive makeup products in my stash but it's certainly one of my favourites! It contains a trio of their ambient lighting powders - two of their best selling shades and one exclusive that helps to re-create the effects of flattering light on most skin tones. My most used shade in the trio is the middle shade - Incandescent Light which is a brightening pearl shade that I use to both set my under eye concealer and as a highlighter on the tops of my cheeks as well as lightly dusted all over.

Collection Speedy Highlighter // £2.99 || This Collection offering is practically a dupe for the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter just at a fraction of the price. It's a beautiful pearl champagne ivory shade that looks natural on the skin yet still packs a punch when applied generously without looking too over the top. 

Bourjois Smokey Eyes Trio in Rose Vintage // £7.99 || One of my good friends at work is forever wearing this and I'm constantly complimenting her on her eye makeup as it just looked that good. She finally showed me what it was and I snapped it up and have been wearing it ever since. It has pearl white for highlighter, pale pink for the lid and a muted grey brown for the grease which when applied, looks beautiful on the lids. Everyone has to swatch this to see it for themselves!

Real Techniques Setting Brush & Real Techniques Contour Brush || The setting brush I use as the name suggests - to set my under eye concealer. I use this in conjunction with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette and it just sets my under eyes effortlessly. The contour brush I actually use for highlighter and it applies any highlighter beautifully to the tops of my cheek bones. I tend to mix my highlighters so this brush gets a lot of loving each day.

September Favourites

September has been such a whirlwind month and one that I've spent mostly in a sleep deprived daze. I've been so busy with work, attending conferences and training and just generally preparing for Christmas that I can't remember what a lay in feels like. With that being said, I'm actually going away on holiday this Sunday for a week to Lanzarote with my other half for our first holiday abroad and I'm too excited at the prospect of just relaxing on a beach all week long! Before I get too carried away talking about my holiday, I better share what products I've been loving throughout the month.

I've been piling on the primer this month and the No7 Instant Illusions Airbrush Away Primer is the first step to creating a flawless, radiant base. It's a silicone come cream based texture that not only creates the appearance of flawless skin but adds a little radiance to the skin to make you appear more awake. Speaking of radiance, I've been applying the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter like there's no tomorrow! I apply this both before foundation and after foundation to the tops of my cheekbones, on the bridge of my nose and under my brows to create this strobed effect that everybody seems to be following. Truthfully, I've been strobing ever since this badboy entered my life but hey ho.

If you thought that was enough highlighter, I've been dusting the Bourjois Java Rice Powder all over my face this month not just to set my makeup but rather to create the appearance of a glow from within. This powder doesn't create that dreaded disco ball effect when used with a really light hand but instead it creates a beautiful radiant glow that instantly makes you look like you've had a really good sleep. The brush that I tend to use with this is the Real Techniques Fan Brush that is from the Sculpting Set which picks up just the right product to dust all over the face. To coincide with a radiant base, I've been embracing coppery, taupe bronzed eyes so I've been using the MaxFactor Excess Shimmer in Copper to the lid which adds an instant wash of colour which you can either leave how it is or apply an eyeshadow over the top to enhance the colour.

Lastly, I've been using the Nails Inc Kensington Church Street Nail Varnish over every nail varnish I've used this past month to create a beautiful snow flake effect on my nails which looks both effortless and chic at the same time. I tend to layer this over darker nails to get the full effect but it also looks just as good over paler colours too.

August Favourites

Another month has passed us by and boy did it go quickly! Like most months, I spent it working and catching up on my sleep and I may or may not have bought my first christmas gift! For August, I stuck to what I know makeup wise with a few new additions that are fast becoming my all time favourite products, so let's see what I've been loving this month..

Just like in previous months, I've been going hard on the radiant front and making sure that both my skin and makeup is extra dewy and the only main product that I've been reaching for to achieve said radiance is the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water. I use this both before and after my makeup to not only create the perfect base but to set the whole look off too! Pictured above is my brand spanking second bottle of this which is only a matter of time until I start using as I'm going through my first bottle rather quickly!

Next up is a new addition to my makeup brush collection which is the Estee Lauder Blending Shadow Brush which makes blending out any smokey eye look a breeze thanks to its tapered shape and light, wooden handle. My beloved NARS Laguna Bronzer has seen a lot of love recently, so much so that I've started to hit pan on this bad boy! At first, I was sat on the fence about this bronzer but I've definitely warmed up to it and use it daily to both contour my cheeks and add some much needed colour. It's only a matter of time until this shatters completely and will need replacing but I'm hoping that won't happen until November time.

At this current moment of time, I'm not wearing any nail varnish however when I have worn nail varnish, I've been reaching for Essie's Saltwater Happy which is a beautiful sand washed, pale denim blue shade that is a part of the new Summer 2015 collection. Whilst I'm pretty sure I own a colour similar if not identical to this, nothing beats the formula of Essie nail varnishes and I will continue to rock this throughout the Autumn months.

I've been slathering my lips religously in the EOS Lipbalm in Pomegranate Raspberry that I've been using for well over a year now! I adore the formulation of EOS lip balms and have quite a few dotted around the house and in various handbags as they are definitely my favourite lip balms which are finally now available in Boots! Lastly, I've been rocking my MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup all month that is a pale pink shade that suits all skin tones without being too bright and overpowering. I'm actually trying to use this up entirely so that I can start using my brand new backup of it so I'm hoping that I finish it up real soon!

July Favourites

Another month has come and gone and I honestly feel like this year is well and truly flying by! July has been another whirlwind of a month and has been filled with lots of impulse buys so I definitely need to start saving up again! I've mainly stuck to products that I know work wonders for me so let's delve into which products I've been loving this month..

I've really been committing to really radiant, dewy skin and as I've been working my butt off at work - literally; I've been reaching for the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water to not only create a radiant base but also to set my makeup too. This has well and truly transformed the way I apply my makeup and will remain to be a staple product in my makeup routine.

To go alongside my radiant skin, I've been bronzing myself up to look as if I've been abroad instead of spending ten minutes dusting it all over and the only bronzer that I've been using is the Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Airbrushing Bronzer in Light Bronzer. I'm not entirely sure where they got the airbrushing idea from as I wouldn't necessarily say that this gives an airbrushed finish however it does go on very nicely and lasts for hours on the skin. As it's such a light bronzer, you can easily build it up to achieve the desired bronzed effect.

Just like last month, I've been really enjoying filling in my brows so I've been using both the MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering to fill in any sparse looking areas whilst using the Benefit Gimme Brow over it to even out the colour and make my brows look that little bit thicker. These two together are literally the dream team and is one that I don't want to break up any time soon yet.

I've been really trying to use up my beloved MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup not to just finish it but because I truly love the colour! It's such a beautiful pale pink yet that looks so natural yet flattering on my skin and is one of my must used lipsticks. 

June Favourites

I cannot believe how fast this year is going! It feels like only yesterday we were unwrapping our presents and eating our body weight in roast turkey and roast potatoes! June has been such a whirlwind of a month for me as it feels like I've spent majority of the month at home which I know is definitely not the case with the exception of last week of course.. Let's delve into what products I've been loving and reaching for this month!

First up, who can tell which eyeshadow shades I've been loving from the No7 Mini Eye Palette? I'll give you a clue, it's the only shades with noticeable marks in them! The No7 Mini Eye Palette has literally been the only eyeshadow palette that I've been reaching for and in particular, the mink shade, taupe-ish shade and the dark brown shade. These three combined make the ultimate smokey eye look which I've been rocking practically every day this month.

To go hand in hand with my smokey eye look, I've been really into filling my brows and making sure that they look as defined as possible without looking too much so I've been reaching for the MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering to fill in any sparse looking areas, whilst using the Benefit Gimme Brow on top to finish it all off. These two together are quite literally the dream team and one that I don't want to break up just yet.

I've been making sure to keep my skin in tip top condition by using various products together, one of which is good old trusty Hydraluron. Hydraluron helps to increase the skins hydration from below the surface with high quality hyaluronic acid that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Essentially, it acts like a magnet with your moisturiser to help hold in moisture. I've been using this for what feels like forever and I will forever continue to use this.

As I'm wanting to ensure that I get the best out of my skin, I've been reaching for a few more serums than normal in particular the No7 Youthful Eye Serum of which I've been using a sample for the past month or so. Just like Hydraluron, this also contains hyaluronic acid as well as vitamin C to help revitalise and brighten up the eye area to give it a more youthful appearance. Whilst I still may be slightly too young for wrinkles, I have noticed that my eye area looks more hydrated and fuller than normal which is definitely all thanks to this!

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.

April Favourites

April has been one of those months where my skincare has taken a back seat in the sense that I haven't been cleansing my face as much as I'd care to admit and as a result, my skin hasn't broken out but instead it has become rather dull. So to counteract that, I've been upping the radiance stakes and dug out an old favourite whilst experimenting more with my eye makeup.

For the second month running, Hydraluron has well and truly been pushed aside to make way for Lacura Aqua-Complete Multi Intensive Serum. Despite it being exactly the same as it's more expensive counterpart, there is just something about its watery goodness that makes my skin feel and look more hydrated. I'm actually nearly all out of my bottle so a repurchase is definitely on the cards!

I've definitely found my signature eye look which is a combination of two key shades from the No7 Mini Eye Palette which sadly can no longer be purchased. I love applying the two well loved shades on the top row as a base with the chocolatey brown shade in the corner on the bottom row in the crease. These three shades together truly make the perfect smokey eye which I just cannot get enough of! In order to apply my crease colour, I've been using a pointed eyeshadow brush from eBay which blends the colour out seamlessly so that there are no harsh lines. I've washed it a dozen times and I've had no shedding which for the price, is a definite bargain!

I've been reaching for an old favourite to help create the appearance of more radiant, highlighted skin which has been the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter. It's a big chubby stick crayon that you simply draw onto the skin and then blend out using either your fingers or brushes. I prefer to apply this before applying foundation and apply it again after applying foundation which helps achieve the desired look that I'm after.

The last product that I've been loving thoroughout April has been my beloved MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup which one of my blogging friends, Jessie, bought for me back in 2012 which was my first ever MAC lipstick. Creme Cup is one of those pale pink shades that just seems to suit everone and finishes any makeup look. It has become one of my go to lipsticks as of late and is one that I will definitely be repurchasing in the next few weeks!

March Favourites

March has been one of those months where I've truly felt content despite all the drama at work and the constant changing of the weather. I've spent the month truly embracing spring and as such my favourites reflect that - hydrated skin with a lot of bronzey goodness!

Regardless of how much I declare my love for Hydraluron, the Lacura Aqua-Complete Multi Intensive Serum will be the one that stole my heart - it's watery goodness quenches my skins thirst and makes my moisturiser sink in that little but further. Combine the two together and you've got yourself a very hydrating, moistursing sinking duo! I've secretly been having an affair on my oils with the Nuxe Nuxellence Detox which has completely transformed my skin. I liken it to the Lancome Visionnaire albeit in a more nourishing, thicker consistency which actually shows results the very next morning! Despite taking the oathe of "I must test this for six weeks to see if my skin agrees with it before repurchasing" that us beauty bloggers were sworn to, I've already bought the full size after Escentual were having such a good deal on it.

I've been embracing the bronze goddess look for the best part of March so I've been swirling my brushes in NARS Laguna and applying generously all over to achieve a healthy bronzed look. I will admit and say that this still does break me out although not quite as much as before *touch wood* so I can easily wear it for a week straight before slathering myself in all my blemish busting potions. In conjunction with said bronzer, I've been dusting the tops of my cheeks with the No7 Radiant Spheres Highlighter which sadly you can no longer get your mitts on. It's the perfect golden, glittery highlighter that instantly finishes any look which is down to it's mixture of three different shades. I like to sweep this a few times on the tops of my cheeks to get an intense highlighted finish which goes ever so well with my bronzed, chisled cheeks.

Thoroughout March, I've been playing about with eyeshadow and I've now found myself religiously reaching for the No7 Mini Eye Palette which again was limited edition and can no longer be bought. My two favourite shades from the palette is the Mink shade (First row, second shade) and the Brown shade (Bottom row, first shade) which when applied together, creates the most subtle smokey eye look which compliments my eyes nicely. Lastly, I've been applying the No7 Lash Impact Mascara daily which gives intense length and volume whilst defining the lashes to create the appearance of false lashes. I like to really spend my time whilst applying this as I find that the longer I take to ensure that every lash is coated, the better the effect will be.

February Favourites

Throughout February, I've found myself reaching more and more for Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation and using it on a regular basis. Many people claim that it is too cakey/full on for them but I personally find that once mixed in with a few other products, it is the perfect full coverage foundation for me! One of those said products is the No7 Skin Illuminator Radiance Boosting Beauty Fluid of which I have a deluxe sized sample of. It's the most beautiful, shimmery bronze fluid which is essentially like the Revlon Photoready Skinlight Face Illuminators just more shimmery. This helps make any foundation more dewy/radiant and it doesn't alter the colour at all. I'm really tempted to purchase this in full size!

One mascara that I've been truly loving throughout February is a sample of the No7 Lash Impact Mascara which helps give false lash effect lashes within a few coats. I actually prefer this mixed with another mascara as it gives incredible volume and definition and just makes the lashes look more fluttery but without the spidery look. Another makeup product that I've been loving which has been giving my pale face a little bit of colour ever since I've discovered it is the Lord & Berry Bronzer in Sienna which I've been using on a daily basis. It's literally the perfect bronzer for us pale faced beauties! It's one of those natural shades that you could sweep all over the face for a natural sunkissed look or apply heavily on the contours of the cheeks for a very chiselled look.

The last product that I've been loving throughout February is the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask which I've been using more as a night time moisturiser than an overnight face mask purely because I love what it does for my skin. It helps keep my skin hydrated and plumped up without feeling heavy on the skin.

January Favourites

Thoroughout January, I've found myself falling back in love with the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner which removes any impurities and dead skin cells and helps reveal soft, smooth and brighter looking skin all in one sweep. I reserve this for the evenings as that is when I like to really spend my time doing my skincare routine and I like to ensure that I go over my skin a few times with this to get the full effect. The only other skincare product that I've been loving throughout January is the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ which I now mainly use every other morning to avoid my skin getting used to it. It's a blemish busting cream which helps heal extisting breakouts as well as prevent any new ones as well as helping to combat redness, minimise blackheads, reduces red marks and scarring as well as helping with any oil. I find that a little goes a long way with this so it's definitely good value for money.

A repeated apperance from NARS Laguna Bronzer definitely means that it's now love as it would now appear that I've overcome my breaking out issue after a few days of using which now means that I can wear it all week long! It's the perfect bronzer to contour with as it's not quite matte so it has a slight sheen to it which looks beautiful when the light hits the cheeks. I love this so much now that I've turned my back on my beloved NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny! The only brush that I've been using with the Laguna Bronzer is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush which is the ideal shape to contour with. It gets right into the hollows of my cheeks and blends it out beautifully so that no harsh lines are left - I urge everybody to try this brush to contour with as you won't regret it! The last product that I've been loving throughout January is the Maybelline Colour Elixir in Petal Pusher which hasn't been featured on the blog until now! This is literally the perfect lipgloss to add a slight wash of colour and gloss without feeling sticky or tacky on the lips. I never used to be a lipgloss fan until now so I'm determined to try more from the lineup.

What products were you loving during January?

November Favourites

Throughout November, I've found myself using an oldie but goodie in the form of NARS Laguna Bronzer which I still have mixed feelings about which is partially down to the fact that I can only wear it for a few days straight before it breaks me out. It's infamous across the blogging world as the perfect bronzer to contour with and I do agree with that although sometimes it can come aross as looking a little patchy and muddy especially when not having a good skin day. Regardless of what it does to my skin, I love how it looks on the skin and I will continue to use it for a few days a week at a time atleast.

As I've been running about all over the place at work, I've needed a base that will last so I've been using the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation every day almost. I use the shade Bone which matches me perfectly and when mixed in with Bourjois Radiance Reveal Healthy Mix Foundation and Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator in Pink Light, it creates the perfect full coverage dewy base without looking cakey or overdone. A little definitely goes a long way and despite having just over half a bottle left, I may or may not have treated myself to a new bottle as an early christmas present. In order to apply my foundation, I've been looking no further than the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge which makes applying foundation a breeeze, as you simply bounce it on the skin to blend and buff it in. I personally have three on the go at the moment as I use one for two days straight before moving onto a clean one with a futher three in backup to be used in six months time.

As double wear is quite a full coverage foundation, my skin has been looking a little dry especially when teamed up with central heating at home, the cold winter air outside and the constant aircon at work which means that I can never win. In order to combat the dryness and to keep my skin in tip top shape, I've been using Hydraluron constantly which I'm currently on my fifth tube of as I cannot get enough of the stuff! It acts like a magnet with your moisturiser and helps draw it deeper down in your skin to keep it hydrated and when used twice a day, your skin will appear plumper in no time. As well as my skin looking a little dry, my lips have been looking and feeling worse for wear so I've been applying an eos lipbalm multiple times a day which has been helping to keep my lips moisturiser. I currently have five on the go, all in different locations, as I seriously cannot get enough of them and I made sure that I stocked up on lots of different scents whilst out in America.

October Favourites

October has been a very busy month as I've found myself landing a promotion at work (whilst still having to do my old role alongside it) which whilst I can't complain about it, it's meant that my workload has increased meaning that I haven't had a lot of time to blog. Although saying that, I have been spending an awful amount of time on Hay Day recently.. With all that being said, I thought I better share what I've been loving throughout October.

I've found myself switching up a few brushes and I've discovered the the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush is a brilliant brush to contour with due to it it's wide, stiff and defined shape. As always, I've been contouring my face with the NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny which I'm very slowly starting to hit pan on! This is the perfect bronzer for any pale face beauty as it doesn't look orange or muddy on the skin.

I've been reaching for the Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls Highlighter in Translucent Pearl to add some much needed glow to my face. A light hand is key to this as I have been known to go in rather heavy handed which has resulted in many discoball distasters. As I don't like wearing mascara on my bottom lashes these days, I've been defining them slightly by using the middle shade from the No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Trio in Good Earth. The shade itself is a beautiful bronzey taupe shade with a hint of rose gold which finishes any eye look.

My last favourite of the month is actually an app which I've been using every time I go to bed called Sleep Cycle. It's a intelligent alarm clock that analyzes your sleep and wakes you up when you're in the lightest sleep phase. It monitors your movement whilst you sleep which in turn tells you your sleep quality, how long you were in bed, how often you were in a light/deep sleep. I personally find it quite helpful as I've realised certain factors cause me to have a light sleep whereas other things help me have a deep, fulfilled sleep.

September Favourites

As the nights are getting darker and a lot more cold, I've found myself suffering with extremely dry lips so I've been reaching for the EOS Medicated Tangerine Lip Balm on an almost hourly basis. As this is medicated, it feels slightly dried out when you're applying it but I assure you that it does do the trick. I've noticed that since using this, my dry lips have almost vanished completely and I don't suffer that dreaded burning sensation with it like you do with Carmex. 

Seeing as my role at work is changing and I'm now starting earlier, I've found myself needing more coverage especially on my dark circles and blemishes so I've been using the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer and the Seventeen Stay Time Concealer whenever I apply my makeup. The Maybelline offering instantly highlights and conceals my dark circles whilst the Seventeen offering conceals all my scarring and blemishes. These two are fast becoming my favourite concealers of all time.

In order to inject some glow back into my stress ridden/lack of sleep face, I've been mixing the Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator in Pink Light in with my foundation to create a dewy glow to my base. I much prefer mixing this in with my foundation rather than using it as a highlighter as the effect it gives is a lot more natural whilst creating the appearance of perfect skin. I know that I shouldn't be using Sudocrem on blemishes but I just can't help myself especially when any blemishes that I do pop this onto are reduced with size and redness come morning.

August Favourites

Do you have a favourite clothing item that you wear constantly that it's practically falling apart? I'm like that with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge except I have three and one of which I will have to either chuck or replace. I use this everyday without fail when I'm applying makeup as it's the only tool I've used to apply my base with for the last few months. It's kicking the Real Techniques Buffing Brushs' butt - literally. As I'm currently suffering with the mother of all breakouts, I've found myself relying more and more on the Seventeen Stay Time 18 Hour Concealer which I've been applying to anything that needs concealing. It's got buildable coverage, feels light weight and does the job ever so well. Seventeen have a limited colour range so I find that Extra Fair is the perfect match for me albeit being too light in certain lightings.

As well as concealing the mother of all breakouts, I've been arming myself with the Nip + Fab Gycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads to help combat them. These are soaked in a mixture of gycolic acid, hyaluronic acid and blue daisy which not only helps with blemishes but it resurfaces the skin whilst moisturising and soothing the skin. I've noticed a huge improvement in my skin and I think its partially down to using these bad boys. I've even been recommending them to anybody and everybody who listens and quite a few people who have bought them after my recommendation are now having better skin days.

I've found myself favouring a nude-ish lip throughout August so I've been applying MAC Creme Cup almost religiously and toning it down slightly with a dab of concealer to create the perfect milky, pink nude that suits my pale complexion. I've noticed that I've almost used it all up so a repurchase is most definitely needed.

What products have you been loving throughout August?

July Favourites

Just like many beauty bloggers, I seem to have too many foundations so in a bid to use a few up, I've been mixing a few together. My favoured duo has been the Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal mixed with the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation. These two together gives the perfect dewy finish with the right amount of coverage which has made me question why I hate the Laura Mercier offering so much especially when I've been receiving so many compliments on my base. Will a repurchase be in the near future?

As we all love a little dewiness, I've been using the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer as both a primer and a highlighter which gives off the most perfect amount of lit from within glow which has resulted in me stocking up on a few on a recent offer. In order to apply all three products, I've been using the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge which has made my foundation brushes bite the dust, literally. I use this to apply all my base products and the finish it gives makes me question why I even bother buying foundation brushes when I can buy a few more of these.

It's been getting a little warm in the UK recently so I've been upping my hydrating and as well as ensuring I drink more water than normal, I'm making a conscious effort to use Hydraluron  to keep my skin hydrated. This is quite literally the best thing since sliced bread as it increases your skin hydration due to it containing pure hyaluronic acid that can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water and essentially acts like a magnet with your moisturiser of choice. My last favourite of the month has been La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ which has been helping with my sudden breakout from all these sugary treats I've been letting myself have. It helps heal existing blemishes whilst preventing new ones all whilst treating existing scarring. Which makes this the perfect product to have especially when you suffer with acne/blemishes.

June Favourites

June has been a whirlwind month as I've spent the majority of it on holiday with being in America then heading up to Yorkshire a few days after I got back with a bit of shopping thrown in inbetween. As it's been such a fast pace month, I've been reaching for a few handful of products that are quick and easy to apply.

The La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ is a hyped up product within the beauty blogger community that I couldn't imagine my skincare routine without. The original version broke me out whereas the new and improved + version appears to be getting rid of blemishes entirely as well as removing stubborn blemish marks as well. Granted that it does take a few short months for some marks to disappear completely but with every product, it does take time to see the full benefits. I've recently stocked up on this so I'm all good until next year.

Another product that I couldn't imagine my skincare routine without is Hydraluron which should really have Caroline Hirons' face on it with the amount of times she sings its praises. Hydraluron is essentially a moisture boosting facial serum that contains the purest form of hyaluronic acid which can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water. It basically acts as a magnet and helps moisturise your skin deep down. I use this both morning and night before I apply my moisturiser and I find that it just somehow makes my skin look more hydrated.

A product that has been featured in a few of these posts now is the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer and rightly so as it's the primer to use if you desire dewy skin. I apply this all over before applying foundation then dotting it on the tops of my cheeks for a really dewy effect. I've received so many compliments from people asking me what I've used and they always seem really surprised when I say that it's all down to this badboy. Another product that I've been using which gives similar effects is the Revlon Photoready Skinlights in Pink Light. Unlike the L'Oreal offering, I mix this in with my foundation which gives a certain glow to any base. I've been reaching for this every time I've worn makeup and it's definitely one of those must have products to have in your beauty stash.

The last product that I've been reaching for during June has been the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent. As the days are now getting warmer, I'm finding that using a primer alone is not enough to make my makeup last so I've been loving dusting this all over. I've also found that if you apply your primer and then set it with a powder before applying foundation, it makes your base last a lot longer which is what I've been trialling the past few days. 

May Favourites

May has been a busy month for me as I've been hastily preparing my skin, ready for America. I've been using a whole host of products but there are only three stand out products that have truly helped. The first being Lush Mask Of Magnaminty which is an exfoliating face mask which helps fight any blemishes and return your skin to tip top condition. I've been using this mainly on a daily basis for the past few weeks and I've noticed such a huge difference with my skin! It has improved my skin texture and has truly helped prevent any promising blemishes. Another face mask I've been using in conjunction is the Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2-in-1 Wash & Mask. In the past, I've used this solely as a face wash but nowadays I just use it as a face mask as I find it more effective. As it is rather creamy in texture, it dries within minutes of applying and I notice that any existing blemishes are calmed down and any redness is reduced. The last stand out skincare product is Esteé Lauder Advanced Night Repair II which I've been using sample sizes of for past two weeks or so. I apply this last in my skincare routine at night as a serum/moisturiser and I've noticed that my skin appears more radiant come morning. 

I've turned my back on the majority of my face brushes in favour of using the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. This sponge has completely transformed the way I apply makeup and it achieves such a flawless look every time I use it. I use it primarily with foundation as it blends it out so beautifully. I adore it that much that I own two of it. Just like with last month, I've been loving using the L'oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer as it gives makes my skin look more awake and radiant. I've been using this both as a primer and as a highlighter and I just love the way it makes my skin look. The last product I've been loving throughout May has been the NYC Sunny Bronzer which although I declared as the worst bronzer ever when I first used it, I've found myself reaching for it more as it's become one of my favourites. Its one of those bronzers that applies beautifully and doesn't look muddy/dirty on the skin. I've used this every time I've worn makeup and still haven't made a noticeable dent in it yet!

What products have you been loving throughout May?

 

April Beauty Favourites

I've been getting a lot of compliments on what I use to highlight with and every single time, it has been the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter. This creates the perfect candlelit champagne, ivory highlightness which looks beautiful when sweeped across the tops of the cheek bones. Another product that I use in combination with that is the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer which has been the only primer I've used for the past few months! It comes out as a white-ish liquid which has a sheen to it when you look at it in the light but when put onto the skin and massaged in, it creates the perfect radiant from within look that we seem to spend forever creating. I'm not too sure if it does help make my makeup last longer but it certainly does boost my radiance levels for sure.

I've been experimenting with different concealers for under the eyes this month and I've fallen back in love with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer. It's a little thicker than the foundation which does mean that it creases like hell under the eyes but I cannot fault the coverage. This helps covers the entire dark circles as well as highlights the area which creates the appearance that I've had a lot of sleep.  

I've been dabbling with a few bronzers this month including the NARS Laguna Bronzer which I'm still not liking but the one that I've been going back to is the NYC Sunny Bronzer. This is the perfect bronze shade which doesn't look orange or muddy on the skin and as a bonus, it's matte. I'm finding it to be very pigmented now which makes me really want to re-write my review of it as I declared it one of the worst bronzers ever which is certainly not the case now..

The last product I've been loving this month is the Soap & Glory Breakfast Scrub which smells exactly like golden syrup banana pancakes! Despite it not being edible, this has certainly with chicken skin across my arms and has definitely helped make them smoother which is all down to it's thick, gritty consistency. I personally prefer taking a small dallop and massage it over damp skin and really work it in to get the full effect.

What products have you been loving throughout April?