Monthly Favourites: November 2014

 

I can sense that a lot of favourites will be a bit premature this month as it seems that everyone is highly anticipating the new one to begin! I've held on for as long as I could but November is almost over which means its nearly time for my favourite month of the year and it also means its time to talk a brand new bunch of favourites! I'm so excited for December and all the festivities to really kick in. In November I didn't have many makeup favourites as my skin has been playing up lately so I've been toning down the makeup and skincare in a bid to restore it back to a happier state. However I've been really loving lots of bath and body products over the last month as you will see when I get into all of these lovelys.

 

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter.
If you caught my recent Body Shop haul you may already know that I picked up their new Glazed Apple body butter. I'm a sucker for TBS body butters, there's always one (or two) on the go in my bathroom so I was very excited to learn about their new festive collections hitting the shops with three limited edition body butters being introduced.  I never thought that the Glazed Apple scent would float my boat however I surprised myself and it was the scent I liked most - sharp but sweet - I've written a full review on this here if you want to find out more about it, but basically I've been loving it.

The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector.
Another item from TBS I have loved during November has been their Hemp hand cream. I received this as part of a gift set for free when I spent over £30 in store recently and I've been using it daily on my hands since. Even though we haven't really experienced harsh winter conditions so far yet in England, my hands are always the first tell-tale sign that my skin is becoming dry and a bit neglected. This Hemp Hand Protector is probably the least greasy feeling yet moisture giving hand cream I've ever tried. I'm not even sure if that makes sense, but basically this isn't at all sloppy and yet it makes my hands so soft and nourished. I've got a full product review coming up with this soon so stay tuned.

Lush Snow Fairy Massage Bar.
Talking of greasy feeling products links me in nicey to my next product, Snow Fairy Massage bar which is the complete opposite of the Hemp hand cream as this is extremely greasy feeling. Generally speaking I'm not really one for excessively oily products, however on saying that I have really noticed the benefits of using a massage bar. I carry quite a lot of weight in my hips/lower body which can quite often lead me to getting back ache and when applying this to my lower back it helps release some of that tension. Its also a really nice treat for when your muscles are a bit sore after working out too. The only down side I would say to this is that it isn't cheap and you don't really get a lot of uses from it - I've already had to stock up on a second one of these. This also has a glittery bit to it too which doesn't bother me too much but might not be for everyone's tastes.

 

Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel.

Another product from Lush and hands down my favourite shower product of the month was their Rose Jam shower gel. This is absolutely gorgeous, and for those of you who are familiar with the Snow Fairy shower gel but find it too sweet, Rose Jam is a milder more flowery alternative to enjoy in your showers before Christmas. I really love this rosy yet festive shower treat from Lush.

 

YSL Black Opium.

My final 'smelly' favourite of November is my most recent perfume purchase and this is Yves Saint Laurent's new release Black Opium. I've been absolutely obssessed with the gorgeous smell of Black Opium since getting it and its definitely become my latest winter fragrance, particularly for evening wear - its going to be well used with the upcoming party season. I also think that the bottle is stunning, I love the glittery packaging it looks super chic and quite festive too. Obviously describing scents is a personal thing but I've written a full review on the perfume here if you want to find out my thoughts on it.

 

Nars Luster Blusher.

My only beauty favourite of the month is Nars Luster blush, as I mentioned above my skin is acting up big time so I've been trying to limit the amount of products I'm using while I try and figure out exactly what the problem is. However on days when I think my skin is looking like it needs a bit of a healthy boost this blush has been perfect. Described as a 'sheer golden apricot' Luster gives me a nice wash of colour. I would say Luster is a subtle peach blush without those strong pinky tones that a lot of blush has, instead it does have that gold shimmer to it which looks very beautiful. This is also a really versatile shade, you can pair pretty much any lip/eye combo with it and it goes.

 

 

QOTD: What have you loved in November? Are you excited for the new month to arrive?



 

Monthly Favourites: October 2014

Here we are again with a fresh bunch of monthly favoruites! Similarly to last month I've had lots of favourite things in October with a mix of beauty products, skincare and a hair product too. I've had lots of fun experimenting with autumnal makeup looks, using new and not so new items.

MAC Coppering / MAC Brick O La.
A makeup look that I never thought I would be brave enough to pull off but absolutely loved wearing throughout October was a burnt orange eye with a bold lip. I picked up Mac's Coppering eyeshadow back in the summer, I've written a full post on it here but this month I've really had an experiment around with it for a very autumnal look using my Nars Laguna bronzer in the crease to warm the look up and a combination of a couple of shades from the Naked 3 palette which created a really gorgeous effect. Then on my lips instead of playing safe with a nude or muted down colour I've loved Brick O La from Mac which is like a gorgeous red/brown shade which actually really complimented the burnt orange eyes. If you're interested to see how it looked I instagramed a couple of pics my username is graceyblossom. I would say that this is more of an evening look but if you're brave enough to pull it off it really does look lovely and autumnal, its especially flattering for blue eyes too.

Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner.
You may see a theme occur in this month's favourites as a couple of these purchases have been enabled from my friend after our holiday where we were sharing makeup. On our holiday I borrowed Supercat eyeliner and I definitely knew I would be purchasing one for myself once I got home! Now I've long since accepted that I'm never going to be a pro at eyeliner, however Supercat has got to be one of the easiest I've used for a neat fuss-free application and I've definitely had a few 'good eyeliner' days since buying this - or at least good on my terms.

Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade.
After a long, exhausting journey I finally think that I have found the eyebrow product for me and gosh does it feel rewarding! I won't say too much as I'm in the process of writing a full review but let's just say that this has been the first brow product that seems to have ticked off every single box for me so far. Amazing product!

Redken Extreme Anti-Snap.
If you read my recent Disappointing Products post you may already know that a certain hair product really messed my hair up over the summer. After a period of bleaching my hair, choosing the wrong products and general misuse of my locks they were in a pretty bad way. Then on my holiday my friend let me try some of her Redken Extreme Anti Snap leave in conditioner and I could see and feel a noticeable difference pretty much right away. Applied to towel dried hair this makes combing your hair after a shower a doddle and the condition of the ends feels so much healthier even after just a few uses. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who's hair is in need of rescuing as its been a godsend!

Origins Drink Up Instensive Over Night Mask.
Mouthful of a name of what? Basically this litle skincare item has been another savour this month for replenshing my skin with some much needed moisture. I use this a couple of times a week - usuaully Sundays and Wednesdays and in the morning after my skin is plumper and it helps cure those nasty dry patches that you get as the weather gets colder. The smell of this is absolutely gorgeous too, its peachy and fresh so it feels like quite a treat to use.

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avacado.
This skincare product pops up everywhere on the beauty scene and I can now understand exactly why it does. I've never used an eye cream before but I knew that in the winter I'm prone to getting much drier skin and often nasty dark circles. I guessed that it was time to start looking after this part of my face as it is one of the more delicate parts and will also likely start to show signs of aging if I neglect it. This eyecream has been amazing, the skin around my eyes has never looked so healthy. I don't know if its coincidence or what but the dark circles are far less prominent, makeup applies so much easier under the eyes now and that area just generally seems to look and feel far better at the moment.

Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy in Up the Ante.
An EssieButton inspired purchase and the colour that has basically lived on my nails throughout October was Revlon's Up The Ante. I can't express how much I love this nail polish, its absolutely gorgeous - I've written a full post here if you want to hear my express my love for it some more.

 

QOTD: What have you loved in October?

 

 

Monthly Favourites: September 2014

 

Autumn is probably my favourite season and I especially love all the fall beauty trends so naturally September was going to be an exciting month for me. I've loved so many things over the last few weeks and I can imagine I will continue to love and use all of these products over the next couple of months too.

 

Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne.
I have a feeling that this new Jo Malone fragrance will be in a lot of beauty blogger's favourites this month. I actually picked this up at Gatwick on the way to my holiday last week but I knew it would be a firm favourite and have literally worn it every day since. Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt is so unique and fresh, and not normally something I would probably pick as it doesn't have any floral notes but its seriously lovely. Inspired by the English coast and days at the sea side this is the perfect fragrance for those crisp autumn days. I think that this is suitable for everyday wear but its also sophisticated enough to be dressed up or layered with another fragrance for like a night out or something.

Nars Tinted Moisturiser.
The Nars Tinted Moisturiser has well and truly made its way to holy grail status. I featured it in my recent favourite face products post and have been loving using this on a day to day basis as its not as heavy duty as a foundation so I find it lets my skin breathe a lot more. The coverage is still decent enough to stop redness showing through and you can always go in with a concealer if you want more coverage.

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Cocoa.
I mentioned all the new nail paints from Barry M in my autumn ready beauty products post and I've really enjoyed them all but my favourite has been Cocoa which is like a very dark brown, it could almost look black in some lights. I don't own any colours similar and this is just a perfect shade for the colder seasons of the year . As with all the Barry M gelly paints the formula is very shiny looking and lasts a fair while until it begins to chip.

The Body Shop Honey Bronzer.
I only own one other bronzer which is Nars Laguna and I have it in a duo with the Orgasm blush so the Honey Bronzer from TBS is actually the first bronzer I own that is just a bronzer. I've been using this non-stop since purchasing it and although I love my Laguna bronzer this does make a lovely change where its matte. I think this is going to be an ideal bronzer for me during autumn as its not as glowly in comparison to the Nars bronzer.

Nars Doucer Blush.
Sticking with cheek products, my favourite blush in September was a new one for me from Nars and that is Doucer. I've heard so much about this Nars blush and it really is one of those products that is a bit nothing in the pan but transforms on to the skin. Its a pale rose colour that is again matte, I really love this because its hard to over do it with this product and I think it would definitely suit all skintones. It really compliments a lot of makeup looks and it especially suits all the berry tones I've been wearing either on my eyes or lips this month.

Real Techniques Cheek Brush.
To apply my blush I have been obsessing over the new limited edition cheek brush from Real Techniques. To be honest I could have included all the new limited edition Nic's Picks set in my September favourites as they're all amazing - I've written a full post on the set here - but my favourite is probably the cheek brush. Its just the right size for applying the perfect amount of blush to the cheeks and I've been finding that this brush plus the Nars blush is simply a beautiful combination.

 

Nars Dragon Girl.

I had two favourite lip products during September and one of them was Nars Dragon Girl, I think I finally came to the conclusion that red lips really are my favourite this month - even though I love rocking so many different lip colours I feel most confident in a red. This is a gorgeous cherry red, and probably one I would opt for wearing on an everyday basis, its super long wearing thanks to its matte formula and is so easy to wear. I've written a full review here if you're interested to read more.

 

MAC Craving.

I couldn't do a September favourites post without including a berry lip coloured product - my latest and new favourite is Craving from Mac. Although I always seem to be declaring my love for red lipsticks berry colours are probably up there amongst my favourites to wear as well - I own quite a lot of berry shades. I would say that Craving is like the more opaque sister of Syrup, its a stunning pinky purple winter berry coloured lipstick. Whereas Syrup is a luster finish and not the most opaque in my collection, Craving has an amplified finish making it very creamy and comfortable to wear while still being extremely pigmented.

 

QOTD: What were your favourite products in September?



Monthly Favourites: August 2014

 

 

Today's post is going to be my August favourites, now that its the last weekend of the month and Monday brings in a brand new month and season too. I find it hard to believe that summer is almost over once again for another year. August was a bit of a funny month for me makeup wise as I didn't really purchase anything new or make any outstanding rediscoveries, and I mostly continued using all the makeup I loved in July. However I did enjoy quite a few beauty items in the month that I thought I would share in my favourites.

 

The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Body Butter and Solid Lip Balm.
The standout products from the month are part of The Body Shop's brand new Argan Oil range, I only picked up the body butter and lip oil but I can't wait to explore the collection a bit more. I've written a post talking about both the products if you want to read a more in depth review on these, which you can find here. These both smell so luxurious, and more on the nutty side I would say. I absolutely love the consistency of the body butter, its so creamy and leaves my skin feeling incredible. The lip oil has also been a life saver at keeping my lips soft and smooth, I like to use this in the evenings or before bed.

Exfoliating Gloves.
Sticking to the bath and body related products, a new one for me has been these exfoliating gloves. I picked these up from Wilko for under a pound or something ridiculously inexpensive and they have worked wonders at buffing away at my skin. I begun to notice that once my tan was a couple of days old my skin was starting to look a bit patchy and uneven in all those pesky ares (ankles, knees, elbows, you get the gist of it!) So the reason I picked these up was primarily to scrub away at those patchy areas and it certainly did a good job at smoothing the area over and preventing that uneven look in all those stubborn areas. I like these gloves because they're not too coarse but they have enough oomph to do the task at hand. Definite thumbs up for preventing that awful patchiness!

 

 John Frieda Go Blonder Shampoo (and Conditioner)

I'm pretty predictable when it comes to my hair and a shampoo/conditioner duo I have been relying on for years now is John Frieda's Sheer Blonde (I usually go for the ones with pink or purple tubes.) I had used the Go Blonder shampoo and conditioner from John Frieda about four years ago and remembered enjoying it and so I decided to give it a whirl again. You might notice as I did, the strip at the top that claims to make your hair '2 shades lighter' and I'm always up for lighter hair come summer time. This shampoo/conditioner duo has definitely made my hair look so much lighter, I've even had people ask me if my hair was a different colour since using these two products together so if you're looking to make your hair a bit lighter without a trip to the hairdresser I would recommend picking these up!

 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Gel.

Another skincare product that was a life saver in August was TBS Tea Tree Blemish Gel. My skin was acting up quite a lot and I resorted to this blemish gel each time I had a nasty spot. Not only does this gel feel really soothing on those hot angry blemishes but it also seems to tackle the inflamed area of the spot. I love how affordable it is compared to other higher end spot treatments as its under £10 and often in 3 for 2 offers as well. I've written a full review here if you are interested to find out a bit more about this product. 

 

MAC Cherry Lip Pencil.

If you caught my last post all about red lips you will have seen this product from Mac pop up. Cherry lip pencil has probably been my favourite beauty product of the month and is such a great lip pencil to help achieve a gorgeous red lip, which I have been obsessed with lately. The colour is such a classy and sophisticated shade of red that I can imagine would look amazing on virtually every skin tone. This is very matte in its formula and helps your lipstick last for absolutely ages. If you're looking for a red lip pencil then this is the one for you!

 

QOTD: What were your favourites in August? Are you sad to see the summer go?



Monthly Favourites | July 2014

Picking my July favourites was super easy this month as there were so many stand out things that I have been completely obsessed with! A couple of things you may notice popped up in my recent Selfridges haul I'll leave the link in case you fancy checking that post out. But now lets get on to those favourites!

YSL Rosy Coral Lipstick.
I thought I'd start with my two most cherished, rather luxurious favourites this month and one of them is my first ever YSL lipstick. I've written a full review of this lipstick here but basically this is the one lipstick that has been on my lips throughout the entire month of July. It is so stunning, so summery and it feels kind of special to own such a beautiful high end lipstick. I would definitely recommend this lipstick to the brighter pinky coral lovers out there as this will not disappoint.

Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Cologne.
My second luxurious item that I have adored this month is from Jo Malone. You may have heard me say before on my blog how I obssess over perfume and fragrances, its my next biggest 'thing' after lipstick and well discovering Jo Malone in July has probably just about changed my life. I know that's slightly dramatic but there is something about this brand that is so special and indulgent, and well I love a bit of indulgence so there you go... English Pear and Freesia is like nothing I've smelt before, I'm not going to dictate the notes to you as you can find them easily online but it's very uncomplicated in the way it smells how it says it should. There is a fruity sweetness from the pear intertwined with that floral rush from the freesia. Its so beautiful and I will for sure be buying the 100ml version when this is finished.

EcoTools Blush Brush.
I was sorting out my bedroom a little while ago and I came across this brush from EcoTools which I bought ages ago and had completely forgotten about. I've been using this brush instead of my Real Techniques one ever since and I really like how it applies blush. As you can see its a fairly large brush for blusher to be honest but it really works. Its similar to the RT blush brush in the sense that it is very soft to the touch but I think that the difference in the shape of the bristles gives for a really lovely application of product. With a light hand this distributes the blush in a really effortless and natural way while still making it look as though you are wearing a little bit of product on your cheeks. I also like the way the handle feels which I think is made from bamboo.

MAC Woodwinked Eyeshadow.
As you can see I'm half way towards filling my second MAC quad, on the bottom left there is Woodwinked my latest shadow from Mac and its easily become one of my favourites already. In the pan it looks kind of brown I'd say but its actually a very beautiful bronzy golden colour which has been so, so perfect for summer makeup looks. My go to look lately has been this on my eyes with the YSL lipstick and together they look amazing, definitely love that pairing.

VO5 Plump It Up Dry Backcombing Spray.
Now you will rarely see hair products in favourites posts or probably at all on my blog as I am the laziest, low key girl with my hair ever - I am so clueless when it comes to hair and styling. (Definitely a result of being spoilt as a child as my mum always used to do my hair in beautiful plaits and pig-tails and now I'm bloody useless with it.) which is why I find this product so handy. It's very straight forward I simply spray this into the roots to add some volume and lift to my hair, I don't use it to backcomb as the tin suggest. This has the same effect as a dry shampoo without the nasty white tinge and awful smell and I've just found it a nice addition to give my hair a bit of texture with minimal styling required!

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Lotion SPF 15.
With the weather once and for all improving and becoming considerably nicer here in England I thought it was time to invest in a moisturiser with a bit of SPF to protect my face. I got this Moisture lotion from TBS in a 3 for 2 deal and I've really liked using it: its lightweight, non-greasy but still gives my skin that moisture it needs all the while giving me some protection from sun damage as it does contain SPF 15. Plus it hasn't broke me out like some moisturisers seem to so that's always a bonus.

Maybelline Super Stay Gel Colour in Berry Stain.
If you read my recent Manicure Monday post you may be surprised to see this in my favourites this month as I was quite let down from the Maybelline super stay line of gel nail colours. The hype around these being really long lasting sucked me in and sadly left me rather disappointed, I certainly don't get the 7 day wear time it's meant to give however I do still like the way they look when they are on and this shade in Berry Stain is simply gorgeous. The colour reminds me of summer berries and I've got lots of clothes in similar colours so it seems to go well with a lot of what I wear.

What were your favourites in July? 

Random Favourites

Today I'm going to be doing a pretty random non-beauty favourites type post. As I've already mentioned quite a few times before I love favourites and obviously I have favourite things that aren't always beauty related and there have been quite a lot of random little bits and bobs I've been loving lately that I thought I'd share.

EssieButton.
I'm going to start off with the inspiration for this post and it was actually from EssieButton with her semi recent non-beauty favourites video. I absolutely love Estee's Youtube channels so I had to feature her as one of my favourites in this post. I find her main channel videos very informative - like in particular her brand focus videos are really useful, I usually end up jotting a few of her recommendations down, and her sense of humour is definitely on my wave length! Plus I loved #VLUNE on her second channel where she was doing regular vlogs throughout the month of June so I'll leave a link to that here but I'm pretty sure you're all already subscribers!
 

Hand Blender.
I recently invested in a hand blender as I've been really into making smoothies in the last few weeks. This isn't a fancy brand or anything it was one of the cheapest ones I could find in the supermarket - I got change from a tenner!  But I've been using this virtually every day since to blend my fruit into a nice smooth mixture ready for a smoothie and it just does the job really nicely. Plus when you're finished you haven't got to wash up one of those huge like conventional smoothie makers you just wash the detachable end with the blades so I love how its low maintenence too.

Alpro Almond Milk.
Fitting in nicely with the subject of smoothies, almond milk is something I've been umming and ahhing about trying for absolutely ages now but I finally decided to go for it. I've been loving it as an alternative to traditional cow's milk which is what we usually opt for in our house. I find that the almond milk has a subtly nutty flavour which is nice alone but particularly when used with my porridge in the mornings or in my smoothies. I'll definitely continue to purchase this again.



Paper Straws.
To drink my smoothies I've been using these adorable pink and white paper straws. The straws are a brand called Eddingtons but I've just been picking mine up from the local garden centre. Obviously these are not an essential item but I've been loving them none the less!

Heart Shaped Dish.
Another cute foodie item I've been loving recently has been this heart shaped dish, which again I picked up from the garden centre for a few pounds but I'm pretty sure Tesco and places like that sell similar things. This is perfect to use for a side of fruit with my breakfast in the morning or for light snacks in the afternoon. You could probably use it on your dressing table for displaying small jewellery or something as well if you so wanted.

Nike Pro Sportsbra.
I'm always guilty of buying way too many new gym clothes as the summer months roll around as I just think the bright releases especially from Nike are so cool. I'm especially obsessed with this Nike Pro Sportsbra as its rather eye catching and there are lots of colours you can mix this bra up with. The drifit material is also amazing for locking up sweat which ultimately leaves you much more comfortable. Unlike some sportsbras I've had over the years there is minimal bouncing and jiggling up and down with this, girls you know what I'm saying here, nobody wants that happening in the midst of a workout.

 

Aladdin Water Bottle.

 I've really been making an effort to drink water in the last few months (I aim for about 2.0L a day if I can) and this has been made a lot nicer with this Aladdin bottle. I far prefer drinking out of this than your average plastic water bottle bottle, plus this is BPA free so there aren't any harmful nasties in the material.  This is the 0.6L size, but I also have the smaller 0.35L to take out on the go with me as its more handy to travel around with a smaller one. I keep this 0.6L bottle constantly filled up with water in the fridge so I can grab cold water whenever I can, as there is nothing worse than warm water.

 

The Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul.

The book I am currently reading is this one by Deborah Rodriguez called 'The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul'. I used to be constantly reading books but in the last five or so years I really neglected the habbit, so I made a promise to myself to get back into reading regularly again, and this book has been really nice at easing me back into it. The story is really easy to follow and the variety of different characters keep it interesting. I wouldn't say that this book is a 'can't put it down' type of book but it has been nice to pick up each evening and read a couple of pages from.

 

 What non-beauty favourites have you been enjoying recently?

 

 

 

Monthly Favourites: June 2014

It honestly feels like two seconds ago I was writing my May favourites I can't believe June is over already! The summers going fast! Here's what made the cut to my favourite beauty products during the last month. It was a good one for me for beauty faves, starting with a couple of bath and body favourites.

Soap & Glory Scrub of Your Life.
I had a couple of well loved bath and body related items in June and one of which was my all time favourite scrub from S&G which is the Scrub of Your Life. I really like this as I think its affordable, has a nice clean smell and really exfoliates those areas that need a bit more welly to smooth out nice and evenly. I've gone through quite a few of these over the years including the mini travel size versions too so this isnt a new discovery however I do tend to grab it more often during the warmer months when my skins out on show a bit more and want it looking its best.

The Body Shop Raspberry Body Butter.
From an old love from S&G to a new love from The Body Shop - this has actually been one of the standouts of the month for me and it is the Raspberry Body Butter. You may have caught my full post on it  here as I've already expressed my love for this product, this is honestly the most perfect summer scented body moisturiser... if you love raspberry scent as much as I do that is? I'm already close to using it all up. This may well be limited edition so if you're interested get to a Body Shop asap!

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan Light Matte.
I never expected to be featuring a tanning product in a favourites post, let alone on my blog at all as I've not really been that girl who fake tans --ever. But I succumbed after trying on a dress in Miss Selfridge and the sight of these two milk bottles sticking out had me trotting off to Boots in a flash. I wanted to start off in the world of tanning products with something relatively inexpensive (and that washed off) as I didn't want to pay out for something that I wasn't sure I would like or use again so ended up trying this from Rimmel. Expect a full review on my thoughts in the next couple of days but it certainly has the thumbs up from me.

Benefit Sun Beam.
Sticking with the theme of glowy shimmery skin another favourite in June was Benefit's Sun Beam. I picked this up from eBay in the mini size and I absolutely love it as a highlighter, it creates the loveliest golden sun kissed glisten to your face that is so spot on for the summer months. I kind of wished I had been brave enough to buy the full size version now but I will probably repurchase it next summer as I can just use this one up in the upcoming months. In case you didn't know this is a liquid highlighter that is supposed to be dotted to the cheeks or brow bones and then blended out. Its easy to use while still creating a gorgeous golden hue to the skin.

See By Chloe Pefume.
My perfume choice of the month was the ever so lovely See By Chloe. This fragrance somehow manages to be fresh, youthful, florally and still remain quite sophisticated at the same time. I've written a full review on this perfume here.

Barry M Gelly Paint in Pink Punch.
Another Barry M Gelly paint to scrape its way into a favourites post this month was this gorgeous shade called Pink Punch. This is almost a neon pink where its so vivid and eye catchingly bright. This has been on my nails and toe nails virtually the whole month of June. I really like the name too as it just reminds me of an exotic and colourful summery bowl of punch.

MAC Sharon Osbourne Peaches and Cream.
Sorry to feature limited edition items in a favourites but this blush was too gorgeous to not feature. I was so excited to pick this up at my local Mac counter earlier in June. This is such an incredibly pretty product in my favourite blush colour of  pink/peach tones however it really does feature a sort of creaminess that reminds me exactly of strawberries and cream. Its such a beautiful blush.

MAC Morange.
Behold one of my all time favourite Mac lipsticks, Morange. I could sing this lipsticks praises all day long so be ready to be bored. I absolutely love this lipstick. Morange is an amplified lipstick therefore yes that colour in the bullet there, that bright, in your face orange will transfer over to your lips with pretty much one application. Morange is one of the most vivid, bright and fun to wear lipsticks in my collection. Its such a feel good lipstick that is guaranteed to get you a few compliments as it just brightens your entire face up and makes you look so vibrant and summery. What I like about Morange is you can pull this off day or night (if you're brave enough to) as I wore this on my birthday during the day but its also statement enough to wear as an evening lipstick, its so stunning seriously. I think everyone should own at least one out there lipstick like Morange in their collection.

And there we have it my rather bright and fun bunch of June Favourites - what did you love in the last month?

Montly Favourites | May 2014

 

 

Hello June! I can't believe how fast this year has gone already! Its time to check out a fresh bunch of monthly favourites, here's what I've been loving lately:

 

Chloe Eau De Parfum.

 My newly discovered signature scent is the beautifully chic Chloe Eau De Parfum. I wore this non stop throughout the month of May and definitely think that this has already earned holy grail status. Its just a perfect scent and looks wonderful on my dressing table too. I wrote a more in depth review on Chloe here if you're interested to learn more.

  

The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist.
So far there hasn't been an item I've tried from The Body Shop Vitamin E range that I'm not smitten with. But I can tell that this face mist from The Body Shop is going to be especially handy over the warmer, summer months as it aims to 'instantly refresh and moisutrise.' I've been using this loads in a variety of ways over the last month: simply as a lovely light spritz of moisture (plus it smells incredible) I do this with either a face of makeup to set it or just on my naked face, this was also amazing sprayed on my face after a few hours in the sun, it has that 'after sun' effect and was just so soothing, plus you may have seen this stippling brush trick that is achieved with this face mist. I would highly recommend this!

MAC Naked Lunch Eyeshadow.
My eyeshadow choice for May was Naked Lunch from Mac. I bloody love this eyeshadow so much. I was trying to describe it but was struggling to (I've attached a swatch below for a visual reference.) Its quite shimmery, I don't know what type it is as I'm not quite as knowledgable on my Mac eyeshadows compared to my lipsticks. You know how people describe nude lipsticks as a 'my lips but better' well on me this eyeshadow kind of has a similar 'my eyelids but better' kind of impact - although it looks like you're wearing eyeshadow its very understated and neutral. Bit of a failed description there but you get the picture haha.

 

MAC Springsheen and Nars Orgasm.

 My two blush choices in May were very similar and these were from Mac and Nars, I was obviously in a very pinky/peachy blush mood. Both blushes give your cheeks a really pretty flush of colour - I have no idea where the inspiration for the name Orgasm came from... Yes we're looking at you Nars! As you can see from the swatches below, Springsheen from Mac leans more peachy whereas Orgasm leans ever so slightly pinky but there isn't really a lot in it to be honest. They are pretty good dupes for each other as they are not disimilar in colour or finish, both are shimmery so you don't want to go mad with a highlighter when you wear these or it could look a bit much. But I've pretty much alternated these two blushes all month, opting for Springsheen for a more peachy look and Orgasm for that pinker finish.

 

Above swatches taken in natural daylight

 

Burts Bee's Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegrante Oil.
Burts Bee's have to be one of my favourites for lip balms. Annoyingly I misplaced my beloved mango one so I recently replaced it and decided to try the replenishing balm with pomegrante, and although its not a patch on the mango one scent wise it still does the same excellent job at nourishing my lips when they are on the dry side. It sort of reminds me of the smell of original Chapstick but a little fruiter.

BarryM Gelly Paint in Passion Fruit.
I have been obsessed with painting my nails (and toenails too) with this from BarryM. I love the gelly paint range from BarryM and own way too many colours already and Passion Fruit is like a perfect red/pink that looks so glossy and vibrant. Plus you get a good few days wear before chipping starts to occur which is always a bonus! I hate it when some polishes chip after mere hours...

What did you love in May?

Monthly Favourites | April 2014

Hello and here we are again for another monthly favourites, writing these posts has well and truly emphasised just how quickly the months seem to fly by - I can't believe that its May! Here are a few beauty favourites that I have been loving during April.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette.
So late on the Naked 3 bandwagon here I know, but I had been lusting on this since I learnt about it and if you caught my recent beauty haul you may have noticed that I finally gave in to those rose golden hues. I have absolutely loved this palette and have reached for it at every opportunity. The one plus side of waiting a few months to get this is that there are now hundreds of Naked 3 looks on YouTube and various beauty blogs to really get inspired by and have a go at recreating. The amount of looks you can create from this palette are unbelievable. If you haven't got this palette yet I strongly suggest doing so! You won't regret it.

Benefit High Brow.
When I bought High Brow from Benefit I knew I was going to like it, but I didn't really imagine I would like it as much as I do. This has been another item that I have grabbed virtually every single day since purchasing it as it has an array of useful purposes. Firstly its great for creating the illusion of a more arched eye brow, you simply mimic the arch underneath your brow with this and then blend it in - I find a fluffy eyebrow brush works best. Instantly you're left with a more precise looking brow as it defines the area so well. This is also works really well on the eyelid underneath eyeshadow (particularly been doing this with my Naked 3) to produce a lighter look, plus putting this on the inner corner really brightens your eyes up too. You can also highlight your cupids bow area with this pencil.

MAC Up The Amp.
A little while ago a certain Mac lipstick called Heroine was introduced to the permanent line and the bloggersphere went crazy for it. Heroine was everywhere I looked, and while I can fully admire its beauty I somehow wasn't in a hurry to add it to my collection... just yet. It did however prompt me to go and dig out the purple lipstick from Mac that I already owned and that is Up The Amp. I've found this is actually a pretty appropriate shade for Spring: a lighter more pink purple in comparison to Heroine, its creamy on the lips yet still long wearing and I find that this is very wearable despite having a bit of an 'out there' kind of vibe to it. Plus this looks great on the fairer skin tones like mine.

Soap & Glory Orangeasm Body Wash.
The body wash that has certain invigorated my morning showers this month is unquestionably Orangeasm (first impressions review here.) While this release created a lot of hype there has inevitably been some disappointment too with lots of people saying it doesn't smell 'orangey enough.' While I'll admit its not on the same level as The Body Shop's Satsuma shower gel which flat out smells of yummy oranges - Orangeasm has that zingy Soap & Glory aroma to it that you can just instantly recognise. Plus this is so creamy and moisturising you can't fully judge it until you try it out in the shower.

The Body Shop Honey & Oat Mask.

This Honey and Oat mask from The Body Shop is a recent purchase that I can't get enough of. I've been using it every other day and have been really pleased with the results. I won't say too much more - expect a full review shortly!

What were your favourites in April?

Monthly Favourites | March 2014

Hello I hope that you're all doing well. It's already time for another favourites post. Before I begin rambling on about all the products I just wanted to remind any of you that didn't catch my last post that I'm actually away on a course training for the next fortnight. Therefore my blogging schedule will be reduced to once maybe twice a week just while I'm away. I have a few posts set to publish and then all shall resume to normal, I also plan on doing a little update once I return too. Now onto those favourites!

Benefit The Porefessional.
The first product I want to talk about as one of my March favourites is The Porefessional primer from Benefit. Now I have actually owned this for a good few months but I have only really noticed the huge difference it makes in the last few weeks. I was on the fence about this for a little while (looking back I don't think I was applying enough product) it got to the point that it this ended up at the back of my Muji drawer and forgotten about. However now its spring and those highlighters, shimmery blushes and so on are in full swing I noticed that my pores were emphasised much more when my skin underneath wasn't primed.  I dug out the Porefessional from its neglected hiding place, and let me just say it definitely wont be hibernating again any time soon! This translucent balm smooths my skin so nicely and does fill in pores pretty well therefore creating the ideal base for my makeup. I've read that you only need to use a small amount but I found far better results when I wasn't quite so stingey.

Urban Decay Naked Basic Palette.
My eyeshadow choices for the month couldn't be any different to each other. Enter Naked Basics from Urban Decay - if you caught my recent Spring beauty haul you may have noticed that this palette made its way into my life and I'm so glad that it did. I have been absolutely loving some of these matte eyeshadows  to create really neutral yet very pretty eye looks especially when Venus, on the far left is used on the inner corner. I think that the reason that I've been particularly enjoying this palette is because I've mostly been saving the shimmer for elsewhere on my face and the eye looks that this palette allow for can tone things back down and still keep things remaining very natural looking.

MAC All That Glitters Eyeshadow.
However for days that I was craving a pop of colour to my eyes I opted for what is probably one of, if not my favourite eyeshadow from Mac (it was also the first one I got too.) All That Glitters has been perfect in March for a hit of peachy shimmer on my eyes on the days that I didn't fancy those matte shades from UD. I just love this eyeshadow for so many reasons but ultimately it allows me to be very lazy, I literally spray my eyeshadow brush with some makeup setting spray as discussed in this post, sweep it in the pan and the colour transfers beautifully straight onto the eyelid and I can just leave it at that.

Real Techniques Powder Brush.
This powder brush has made such a difference to my makeup routine every morning, it is super soft and the size enables you to quickly distribute powder across your face effortlessly. I've been using
this with my bareMinerals touch up veil to set any makeup and also with my bronzer, which really quickly adds colour and life back to your face which I find so effective. I didn't really think that this was a brush that I needed, but it was only the 3 for 2 in Boots that prompted me to get it and turns out that this is oh so practical and as most RT are, its multipurpose which is another bonus.

Real Tecnhiques Retractable Lipstick Brush.
Possibly the cutest brush that you could own and a mircale worker when applying high maitenence lipsticks, or for quick touch ups throughout the day. I've already written a full review on this brush here.

MAC MSF Stereo Rose.
Stereo Rose from Mac has been my baby this month - seriously I can't sing its praises enough. Actually I think that an honourable mention goes out to all the pieces I picked up from Mac's Fantasy Of Flowers collection this month, as not one piece has left me disappointed - you can see exactly what I picked up in this post. But in particular I have loved Stereo Rose a lot in March, it gives my skin the prettiest, warm peachy glow that just seems to catch the light revealling a truly radiant finish to the face. I actually find that this lasts a good while on the skin too which is always a bonus, I'm so glad that I managed to get my hands on this limited edition skin finish.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream.
This CC cream from Bourjois has been everywhere on the bloggersphere in the last few weeks and I just had to see what all the fuss was about. The first few times I wore this I couldn't really get the hype which is understandable given that I've never owned any type of BB/CC cream before. However on the third or so attempt at applying this I must have got used to it a bit more and I finally learnt to love it. This gave me a medium coverage and the cream itself felt more like a liquid than what you would call a cream but otherwise it made the colouration in my skin even, and was extremely comfortable to wear.



MAC Costa Chic.
Costa Chic has been my most grabbed lipstick in March and boy was I happy to see this make an appearance in my life. I purchased this back in the autumn because I just couldn't resist its beauty, however it didn't really get much use as this just isn't the lipstick for those later months of the year. Costa Chic is the most beautiful hybrid of coral and peach with just a touch of golden shimmer due to the frost finish. This lipstick brightens up your entire face, and is just one of those that makes you feel good when you wear it. I would say that this is a great option if you're not brave enough to go for a full on orange, this is not exactly a statement lipstick yet it is still very beautiful.

What did you love in March?