January favourites 2015

It's the end of the month (unbelievably), so the perfect time to show you what my favourite products throughout the month of January have been...

The "Wet" Brush detangling brush | £8.99 | Amazon

I got this brush for Christmas, and as I’ve already done a post about it (see here), I won’t ramble on too much. I have used it every single day throughout January and I absolutely adore it. It’s the perfect companion for anyone with hair prone to tangling (read knotting like a bird’s nest) and is especially great to use straight after conditioning your hair in the shower. I would hate to be without this brush now, so it’s definitely a January favourite!

Zoeva 102 Silk Finish brush | £11.50 | BeautyBay

This was also a Christmas present, and the first Zoeva brush I’ve tried (I also got two eye brushes from Zoeva, but haven’t used them much yet). It’s the perfect size and density for really buffing in foundation, which is the finish I prefer. I would never be tempted back to the traditional ‘flat’ foundation brushes from years ago. I think I will be trying a few more brushes from the Zoeva range because so far I am very impressed.

'Snow Fairy' shower gel | Limited edition | Lush

This is one of Lush’s limited edition Christmas shower gels, in a super sweet bubble gum fragrance. I picked it up because it was the same scent as their lip scrub which I love, and I have really enjoyed using it. It’s far from grown up and sophisticated, but you have to be childish every so often! I’ve already finished a bottle but luckily have another one as back up as the next time I’ll be able to get my hands on it is next Christmas.

Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil | £10 | The Body Shop

This has been a favourite of mine for a while, but as I only recently got a new bottle in December (ie Christmas), I’ve rediscovered my love for it. It’s simply the best cleanser I’ve ever used. It easily removes all of my makeup (including eye makeup) every night in no time at all. Yes, it does leave me looking like a crazy clown/panda, but then I simply wipe away the evidence with a warm flannel. I look forward to taking my makeup off each night and this product means I get it done quickly, while still feeling pampered.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Light (intensity 1.0) | £29.50 | Boots

I bought this at the beginning of January  and I’ve really loved it. It stays on my oily skin all day (from 7am – 9pm) with little or no need to powder half way through the day. It’s a lovely coverage that can be built up in areas I need it. It doesn’t feel heavy or cakey, yet it doesn’t slide off either. I am very impressed so far! My only problem with it though, came when I wanted to wash my brush I’d been using this with. It was a nightmare! It clogs in each brush hair and I scrubbed it and rinsed it for a good 20 mins with no luck. I suppose it’s a sign that it won’t budge from my face either!

Nuxe Rieve de Miel lip moisturising stick | £5.50 | M & S

– I have had this lip balm for a while now, but in the last month I’ve been using it religiously. When the cold weather hits, my lips always get drier and this has really been helping. It’s not greasy like some lip balms and I like the stick applicator as it’s less messy than a pot. The best thing about it though, has got to be the scent. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s really fresh and natural smelling but also reminds me of aromatherapy scents.

Nspa Brightening Day Cream with SPF15 | £6 | Asda

I bought this quite a while ago when I ran out of moisturiser and happened to be shopping in Asda. It's lovely and rich, so I much prefer it in the winter months/ at night. It feels really luxurious when you massage it into the skin, even though it's so cheap! The smell reminds me of herbal high-end products and it's lovely to put on at the end of the day before getting into bed. I like moisturisers with a pump mechanism too, as you can get out as much as you want without having to 'faff' around with sticking your fingers in a pot.

Then there are a couple of things I've been loving that aren't beauty related...

Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Baker' watch | Watchshop 

Another Christmas present! (Can you see a theme here?) This was bought for me by my lovely boyfriend Curtis, and I’ve worn it alternately with my Olivia Burton watch. It’s really sleek and simple and I love the inclusion of both silver and rose gold – especially because I wear a mixture of gold and silver jewellery on a daily basis. I also love the white face, with the trademark ‘MARC’ initials making up the numbers on the dial. I have quite small wrists so unfortunately had to have quite a few of the links removed – I always feel as though I’m getting rid of money doing that!

BBC iPlayer

I discovered the wonder that is the download function on my BBC iPlayer app this month, and train journeys haven’t been the same since. My commute to work every day is 50 mins there and 50 mins back, so entertainment in that time doesn’t go amiss. Without access to 3G/WiFi for most of the journey, being able to catch up on some TV shows that I’ve already downloaded the night before is ideal. At the moment I am obsessed with Silent Witness and I’m going to be so upset when the series finishes. And of course, I have my guilty pleasure – Eastenders.

Super Cosy microfibre tights (black) | £2.50 | Primark

I didn't take a picture of these, because let's face it - they're not the most glam are they! With the freezing cold weather that has swept the UK recently, these have been a staple in my work outfits. I wear a lot of skirts/dresses to work, and with these I am kept warm and cosy. They are very thick, so don't look the best under pretty little materials, but for when I'm opting for warmth over style (i.e. every day because of my commute to London), these are what I'm reaching for. They do go bobbly after a couple of washes, but for this price I'm really not complaining.


There we have it, a few of the things I've been loving throughout January. What have been your favourite things this month? Can you recommend me anything you think I should try?

The 'beauty scenario' tag

I was nominated by Jasmina Mujagic to complete this tag.. my nominations will be listed below!

You have to get rid of all your foundations and can only keep one high end and one drugstore,which do you keep? 

For drugstore it would have to be my L’oréal True Match foundation and for high end, I would have to say Estée Lauder Double Wear Light. If you asked me this a month ago it would have been Nars Sheer Glow, but I think the top spot has been stolen!

You go for an interview and the lady interviewing you has lipstick on her teeth. Do you approach the subject or ignore it completely?

I definitely would not be able to tell her. I know I should so that they don’t realise hours later and feel embarrassed, but I’m simply not the sort of person who's bold enough to tell someone – especially a stranger and especially an interviewer!!

You’re not feeling yourself and you need a pick-me-up lipstick, which do you go for?

It’s a toss up between ‘Pink Pong’ from the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet lip creams, or MAC's Russian Red.

You go back in time for a day to your teenage years, how would you do your hair or makeup differently?

I would make sure my foundation actually matched my skin, pay some attention to my eyebrows (I didn’t used to do them), NOT wear pale blue eye shadow and not attempt liquid liner – cos let’s face it, I was crap at it. With regards to my hair, I wouldn't straighten it within an inch of it's life. A bit of body really isn't bad!

You ask your hairdresser for a shoulder length Pixie Lott style hair cut but they hear wrong and give you a pixie cut, what do you do?

A) Smile, say thank you then leave and call your mum crying hysterically

B)Cry in the chair and things get awkward

C)Complain to the manager and demand a refund.

A – I am a sucker for this. I would never have the balls to tell someone I’m not happy with something. I get myself all worked up and chicken out. It’s not a trait I’m proud of, but I’m trying to work on it. Sadly, I’d probably just have to try and ‘work’ the pixie cut.. or wear a hat!

Your friend surprises you with a 4 day city break and you have one hour to pack, which 'do it all' palette do you pack in your makeup bag?

Definitely my NAKED 2 palette. I can do a neutral, natural day look but I can also pump it up in the evenings and go all out!

Your house has been robbed, don’t worry - everyone is safe, but your beauty stash has been raided. What product do you really hope is safe?

I think it would have to be my MAC eyeshadow quad. It's something I've spent time collecting and it would also be pretty expensive to replace!

Your friend borrows makeup and returns it in an awful condition. Do you:

A) Pretend you haven’t noticed

B) Ask them to re-purchase it

C) Secretly do it back to their makeup

Again, I’d have to say A. I avoid confrontation at all costs. I might possibly make a joke about it, and I’m sure any of my friends would own up anyway!

I would like to tag:

Cynthia

Megan

Words of Beauty

Lucy

Emma

Shelby

Alice

2014 beauty favourites

First, let me extend my apologies for the delay in this post. I'm probably the last person to be blogging about my 2014 favourites, but there we go! I must also apologise for my lack of posts over the last six months, but I actually started a new (and my first) full time job back in August, and I feel as though I have had no time whatsoever. And now, six months have gone past.. crazy!

I thought it would only be right to have my first blog post of 2015 as a look back at my favourite beauty products that I used last year. I did consider listing one item from each category, but this way I feel is more honest as I have had to whittle it down to only the best products.

Let's get into the products..

Soap and Glory Archery brow tint & precision shaping pencil in 'Love is Blonde'
First up, my eyebrow saviour – for the girl whose eyebrows grow like no one else’s. I’m not being dramatic here, they literally do grow in a different direction – ie. upwards instead of along. This felt pen/wax pencil hybrid was first discovered at the end of 2013 (I think) and I’ve been through 3 since! I originally loved the pen, and my only complaint was that it seemed to dry out/flatten the nib quite quickly, but it was worth it! I have had such a struggle over the years to find something that works with my eyebrows – both the texture and the colour! I’m naturally blonde but my eyebrows are quite dark, so it’s a matter of finding a dark blonde that isn’t too red toned – enter ‘Love is Blonde’. Later last year however, I discovered that I actually liked the wax end which is quite hard – something I like as waxy textures tend to clog my thick brows (eurgh). Luckily, I hadn’t thrown away all my old dried up pens (hoarder alert!) so I could go back and use all the wax ends.

Urban Decay NAKED 2 palette
Now onto a palette – not exactly original I know, but there is a reason for the hype – it’s gorgeous. I excitedly went into Debenhams looking to buy one of the NAKED palettes, but was torn between number 1 and 2. The pink tones of number 3 didn’t really appeal to me. The assistant in the shop said that the tones of number 2 would suit my complexion better, and as the packaging of number 1 was bound to get dirty in all of 10 minutes, I agreed and happily purchased this one. I love it. Every single night out or special occasion without fail, this has been on my eyes. I love all the shades, but the biggest dents have been made in my standout shades, which are 'Half Baked', 'Snakebite' and 'Busted'. They’re nearly all shimmer shades (bar two), but I do like that in my evening makeup. These shadows are even more gorgeous when you apply them with a damp brush, giving them a foiled appearance. I have definitely got my money’s worth for this palette and I honestly don’t see myself rushing to buy another one anytime soon.

Maybelline Fit Me concealer in 15 'Fair'
This was my concealer of choice last year. I tried quite a few, both drugstore and high end, but I kept going back to this one. It’s got great coverage, but also looks good under the eyes and never goes cakey on me. I personally felt that the colour range was a bit strange – opinions please? I originally bought number 10, but this was slightly too tanned for me. Then I found number 15 and it seemed to be lighter! Am I going mad, or is that right? Very confusing when the number system doesn’t match the norm, but I’ll forgive them as I love the product. At just £5.99 I would definitely recommend giving it a try!

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 03 'Hot Pepper' and 06 'Pink Pong'
These lip creams came out last year in a variety of shades, of which I have two. The description ‘velvet’ is very apt as that is exactly what they feel like on the lips, but bizarrely they also feel like a nourishing lip balm. The texture is one of the very best formulas I’ve tried and with this price, you can’t go wrong! I haven’t tried any of the nudes and I’m not really tempted, as with matte finishes like these, I’m more of a bold lover. I do have my eye on the darker red shade, but I think the two I already have have got it covered. They’re really comfortable to wear and last well on me, so they’re definitely a favourite for 2014. I wore the pink shade a lot over summer and it looks gorgeous with a simple winged liner and tanned skin! It’s very rare for me to find a formula I like, especially in velvet/matte finishes, so Bourjois have done a great job with these in my opinion.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
This is the first and only product I have tried from Kiehl’s, bought impulsively in the Florida airport in duty free. The price, as expected, was rather more enticing than it is here! I am tempted to try more from them now, and once my current face cream has run out, I think I’ll be trying something from the Kiehl’s line. This bottle is going to last me for-e-ver! I use it a few times a week (more now that it’s winter time) and it looks like it’s hardly been used! I use a small drop each time, as my skin is quite oily naturally, and it covers my entire face. I can’t say that I’ve woken up and been shocked at my appearance because it’s changed/improved so dramatically over night, but I do really like the product and it’s certainly keeping my skin well-nourished and moisturised now the temperature has dropped.

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in 'Painterly'
I also bought this when I was in Florida, in the Mall. I had put off buying it for a while because in all honesty, it’s a rather boring product. It doesn’t show up so who’s going to notice? I will forgive it that though, as I have used it every single day I have worn make up (which is most days). My eyelids are a little bit veiny so this perfectly smooths them out and makes them appear even. It also acts as an excellent base for any eyeshadow I put on top of it, stopping the dreaded creasing that happens ALL THE TIME. The colour perfectly matches my skin tone and I only need a tiny bit each time. I’ve been using this non-stop since June and I have barely made a dent! It’s definitely worth getting, even if it is a bit boring! I store mine upside down as I’ve heard this helps to stop it drying out(?)

L'oréal True Match foundation in N1 'Ivory' and R2 C2 'Rose Vanilla'
I bought this foundation quite early on in the year, then it began to get a lot of coverage from beauty YouTubers and bloggers during the summer months. I have two shades that are suitable for both my pale winter skin and tanned summer skin, but sometimes I just mix the two. It’s a really liquid texture, making it very easy to blend but still maintaining a good level of coverage. My skin isn’t horrendous but I constantly have the odd spot or six, so I like a medium coverage foundation. I think the texture is the thing I like most about this product, and for the price, you can’t go wrong. I only ever use just less than a pump and this covers my whole face with just the right amount of coverage. It sits really naturally on my skin and I wore it for the majority of the year on and off!

Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce texturising spray
I owe this discovery entirely to Amelia Liana. There is so much hype surrounding the Oribe texturizing spray, but I refuse to spend £50 on a hairspray – no matter how good. So when Amelia raved about this one, I was straight into my local Boots and bought it on a two for £8 deal – result! I’ve been repurchasing it ever since. My hair is naturally thick, but because of that it can sometimes get a little weighed down. This adds a nice bit of grit and also a bit of hold, without making it feel gross (I’m looking at you Batiste XXL volume dry shampoo!). My hair sits just below shoulder length and I usually wear it with loose curls at the ends for that Fearne Cotton (I wish) look. This just adds that little bit of extra oomph and I love it. I don’t think I’d ever be tempted by the Oribe version! It’s particularly good on newly washed hair to stop it looking too clean and flat.

Sephora PRO Crease brush '10'
Last but not least (congratulations if you’ve made it this far), is the softest brush I own. I bought this one in America too - my first visit to a Sephora, so as you can imagine it was a lonnnnng shopping trip! I remember this being quite expensive, especially in comparison to my usual Real Techniques brushes, but my goodness it's lovely. I use it most days to really blend out whatever matte brown I've put in my crease and it's perfect for this purpose. I never really apply shadow with it, but simply to blend out it is ideal. Sometimes I find myself just sweeping this across my lids (read: entire face) because it simply is that soft. Highly recommend and well worth the price.


Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed looking back over 2014 with me. Please comment below some of your favourites and if I haven't used them before, I'd love to try them out!

I will try and make more of an effort to update this site more regularly, but my boyfriend and I are in the process of buying a house at the moment so it's all going to get quite hectic very soon!

Liebster Award

I'm ashamed to say I was nominated by Jasmina Mujagic back in August, but I never got a notification so didn't have a clue! I'm still so new to this blogging stuff. So apologies for my hideous delay.

So the rules for this award are:

Make sure to link back to the blogger(s) that nominated you.

Answer all of the questions provided from blogger that nominated you.

Nominate 11 bloggers of your choice, who have under 200 followers.

Create 11 questions of your own, for the bloggers you nominate to answer. 

LET'S DO THIS!

What is your go-to makeup look for a special occasion?

I would do a smokey eye using my NAKED 2 palette, winged eyeliner, bronzed skin and a bold lip.

Whats your fave season, Summer or Winter?

Summer. I cannot stand having to wear 16 layers and the rain.

Whats your favorite makeup brand?

This is a tough one as I definitely use a wide range of brands, depending on what product I like at that moment. Possibly L'oréal though? It's good quality, but still affordable and I'm always drawn to their stand in Boots.

Whats your reason for starting a blog?

I love makeup and watching beauty YouTubers/reading beauty blogs. I was getting quite bored at uni as my course only had 4 hours contact time a week(!), so my boyfriend suggested I try it out for a hobby. I'll be the first one to admit I've failed to be consistent and it's not exactly inundated with viewers, but I still enjoy writing posts when I do and it's nice to look back at it every so often. For me it's never really been about getting feedback from hundreds of readers, but it's nice to have something like this to do.

You see Leonardo Di-Caprio casually walking down the street, what do you do?

I can be quite socially awkward at times so I probably wouldn't approach. Maybe try to sneak a pic without him looking and then spend the rest of my life regretting not talking to him :'(

If there was one makeup look you had to stick with for the rest of your days, what would it be?

A slight brown definition to the crease of my lids, a eyeliner flick, pink cheeks and a pinky/peach lip. Very simple, but I love this look.

Whats your biggest pet peeve?

Loud eaters. Especially chewing gum. And ESPECIALLY on the train. As if the commute isn't bad enough each day, without having to listen to someone munch their crisps or click their chewing gum.. Ahhhh!

Who is your inspiration?

Lauren Conrad. God I love that girl. 

Celebrity Crush?

Gerard Butler. Need I say more?

Whats your favorite TV Show?

I think I would have to say that it's still Prison Break. I don't think I've watched anything since that has had me so gripped the whole way through. I re-watch it once a year and honestly, it never bores me.

Who's your fave Friends Character?

Ross - he is just so cute and geeky - some of the stuff he comes out with reminds me of myself! A little bit awkward, but in a funny way!

I now nominate...
Georgia

Caitlin

Jasmine

Sarah

Georgie

Lucy

Catrin

Renée

Cynthia

Klaudia

Molly

And here are my questions for you...

1. If you could be an animal, what would you be?

2. If you could only wear one lip product for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

3. You are in a hurry and can only do foundation OR eyebrows, which do you choose?

4. Your bag has been stolen, which item in there would you be most upset to lose?

5. What's the best book you've ever read?

6. What are your favourite style/make of jeans?

7. Heels or flats?

8. If you could have any celebrity's hair, whose would you have?

9. Neutral or bold lip?

10. Favourite shop in the world - could be clothing, beauty, jewellery, stationary..

11. Favourite sweet/chocolate?

Big thanks for my nomination and sorry again for the delay - I hope it still counts! Please comment below once you've posted your answers if you do - I'd love to see what your answers are!

Manicure Monday: Maybelline Super Stay in 'Hot Salsa'

So I've decided to start a post (possibly weekly) to show off my latest nail varnish choices. Then it came to me.. 'Manicure Monday'!! I'm not entirely sure if this has been done before (I'll be most disappointed if it has, but I was proud of my idea nonetheless). Here it goes...

I present to you, the Maybelline Forever Strong Super Stay Gel Nail Color 7 Days in 'Hot Salsa' | £4.49. Well, that was a mouthful! I'll start by saying that this is the first one of these formulas that I have tried, and my verdict? A-ma-zing! As soon as I started to apply this, I knew it would be good. It's so smooth and non-streaky, plus the brush is the perfect thickness. The colour is gorgeous, but more of a coral/pink than red as it often appears in photos. It looks amazing on short squared-ish nails and I can't stop staring at my fingers with it on! It's super glossy and so far, the lasting power is impressive! (No chips for ??? days) I do have my usual base coat and top coat on, but some other formulas still chip regardless! I loved it so much that I put it on my toes too (I'll spare you a photo of that), and it looks equally as gorgeous. Really compliments my ever dwindling tan, but in general is just a very flattering shade.

Just in case it hasn't come across very well in this post.. I LOVE this varnish! I actually bought another shade while they were on 3 for 2 in Boots (when is there NOT a deal like that in Boots?!) so I am very excited to try the other one out (no doubt it will appear in a post soon).

I hope you like this new feature and that maybe you'll be tempted to try this formula, because I was seriously impressed, and think you might be too! Have you already tried any from this range? Please let me know by leaving a comment!

Mini Boots Haul

I was in town last week and had a little bit of money to spend from my Graduation present (result!!), so naturally I 'popped' into Boots. After about half an hour, my boyfriend sighing loudly, and numerous swatches on the back of my hand, I was walking out clutching a back of goodies. I'm never happier than when I am perusing the aisles of Boots - it's one of my favourite stores. These are the things I picked up, I'll do a general overview now and once I've had a few weeks to trial them all, you can expect some more in depth swatches and reviews.

Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray | Currently £4.66 (was £6.99)
This is the only repurchase of the bunch, my third bottle of the stuff! After reading copious reviews of the Oribe Dry Texturising spray, I'll admit I was interested, but with the whooping £39 price tag, I just could not justify buying it. I have naturally thick, wavy hair, but sometimes it can look a little bit limp, so something like this is perfect for adding a bit of body. Now I haven't tried the Oribe one, but I have tried a couple of others, such as Vo5, and this one is definitely the best. It's like a texturising spray and a finishing hairspray in one, adding a little bit of grit to make lank hair a bit more 'oomf-y'. I love this spray and I will continue to buy it, especially as it's so often on a special offer in Boots! I've recently had my hair chopped into a long bob and this is just perfect for making it look tousled and a bit messy (but in the right way).

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in 'Elusive 205' | £7.99 (bought on 'buy 1 get 2nd half price' offer)
This is the item I took the longest to decide over. I was stood at the Revlon stand for ages swatching a few shades over and over, holding them up to my lips, and asking my boyfriend to pick one! I even did 'ip-dip-doo' at one point! I settled on this colour because I always go for brights and I felt a nudey-pink would be a nice addition to my collection. I can't believe I haven't tried any of these matte balms yet! I have a few of the original formulas, but this is the first of the mattes. I will give it a trial and update you with my thoughts towards it in the next few weeks. I only hope the formula isn't too drying 'cos I HATE crusty lips!!

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in 'Miami Fever 035' | £7.99 (bought on 'buy 1 get 2nd half price' offer)
I was so excited to find these on the shelves while I was browsing, I didn't think they were out til later in August!! I was going to pick up a few, but after reading a mixed bunch of reviews, I thought I'd play it safe and stick to one to trial. Again, I will upload a full review with swatches soon once I've had a chance to trial it out. The colour is a really pretty orange-toned bright red that's perfect for the summer. I haven't actually tried it out yet, but can I just say that the packaging is gorrrrrgeous! So sleek and looks much more expensive than a 'drugstore' product.

Maybelline New Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser | £7.99 (bought on '3 for 2' offer)
Another product that has been out for ages but I still haven't got round to trying it. I suffer with oily skin (although since changing up my skincare routine it is definitely improving), so anything that claims to mattify the skin while also filling in pores is promising in my eyes! I do have some pores on my nose so I'm interested to see how this lives up to its claims.

Maybelline Forever Strong Super Stay Gel Nail Colour in 'Hot Salsa 490' and 'Mint for Life 615' | £4.49 each (bought on '3 for 2' offer)
Entirely influenced by Amelia Liana, I picked up Hot Salsa, thinking it was a bright red shade, but in the flesh it's actually quite a bright pink/coral. They were on a deal, so of course I had to pick up another one .. it would be rude not to!! I'm always on the search for the perfect mint green, but I always find that they're too green for me! This one looks like a perfect really pale mint, so I will report back with swatches and my thoughts on the formula (spoiler: I LOVE IT!)

So there you have it, my mini Boots haul described within an inch of its life! I couldn't resist not including this photo of my little puppy Mac, who was very intrigued by my outdoor photography session. Luckily he didn't pick up any of the items! I'm sure he had his eye on the nail varnish for himself!! I just love how curly the fur on his ears is!!