This month like many others I've done a little splurging on beauty products and have a few new additions to welcome into the crowd. From some new spring cheek products to a heavy duty SPF and even a perfume I vowed never to purchase, here's what's made it into my shopping basket.
I'm pretty sure I could count on less than one hand the amount of lower end 'drugstore' foundations that I actually get along with. I'm no snob when it comes to make up but premium brands are always the ones I turn to with confidence for a flawless base.
01. Costa and Doughnuts for Breakfast | 02. If it were bookshops vs. beauty halls I'm pretty sure books would win every time | 03. A mini BB Surf Spray, adorable! | 04. Some seriously holographic heels in Next | 05. Daisy Cupcakes from
After nearly a week of consecutive sun (touch wood) I think we can safely say Spring has arrived! The beauty wardrobe deserves a seasonal revamp and the first port of call for me is always nails. Ten little fragments of colour that give noting but hope for warmer weather. The big dilemma however is pastels or brights? I've picked five of my favourites in each category that will definitely be adorning my nails over the coming weeks.
The Lip Crayon seems to be the height of popularity at the moment with brands bringing them out left right and center. From the glossy to the matte, well pigmented to sheer formulas there seems to be one to suit every preference and in the absolute sea of these lip products I've picked out three of my favourites.
This year I've managed to find some absolute gems of the beauty world, and although it was proabably the hardest blogging related decision I've ever had to make, I've come up with twelve (I thought that was quite fitting..) of the very best products from 2012. Enjoy!
I've never written a hair related post before, but a lot of people asked how I did this topknot style which featured in a few videos some months ago. It really is the simplest thing, but I've made a short video of me actually going through the hairstyle step by step if you want to see that here.
Basically all you need to do is tie your hair up in a high pony tail and plait that into a fishtail braid all the way to the end. Then just simply twist the braid around the top of your head so it forms a circle shape and pin into place. Voila!
Garnier Ambre Solaire Golden Protect Lotion SPF 30: Although this is a bit of an irrelevant favourite now as I doubt we'll be getting any sun until next year I really enjoyed using this on holiday at the beginning of the month. It gives the skin a subtle shimmering glow that makes your tan (or lack of in my case) look all the better.
L'Oreal Kids Sweet Pear Tangle Tamer: A bit of a random favourite but this stuff really works! It reduces brushing time by half and smells absolutely divine. Bringing back all those childhood memories!
Lush Big Sea Salt Shampoo: This shampoo is literally made up of gritty chunks of salt that dissolve into the hair while the product laters up, giving the scalp a nice bit of exfoliation and also leaving an amazing amount of volume and bounce.
Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation: This appeared in my lasts months favourites but I can't help it, I'm in love. I haven't even reached for another foundation since the bringing of August which for someone with a stash like mine is a very big deal! Beautiful full coverage whilst still feeling soft and lightweight on the skin and leaving a gorgeous glow.
Collection Cream Puff In Fairy Cake: I don't really wear a lot on my lips other than reds but recently I've been getting a bit more into colour. I love the formula of these and wish they did more than five colours! They apply like a lipgloss but with a matte texture and give that same amount of colour as a lipstick. This colour is a warm coral toned pink which I've been wearing practically everyday.
Maybelline Colour Sensation Lipstick in Pleasure Me Red: I'm starting to get into those deep Autumn reds and this one has proven to be my favourite so far. I'm surprised at the quality actually as it's only Maybelline but it's so pigmented and extra moisturising.
MAC Harmony Blush: My go to brozing/contour colour at the minute. It's perfect for those with fair skins like me as it's quite a cool toned taupe colour but still gives that warm look without being orange at all.
Maybelline Colour Tattoo Eyeshadow in Eternal Gold: I bought this back when the Colour Tattoo eyeshadows were quite big but forgot about it almost right away. I took it on holiday with me though for a quick and easy eyeshadow that would stay on well in the heat but I've been using it all month too. I love using this on it's own with just a few coats of mascara for a natural but brightened eye.
Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil: I've been loving this new dry oil spray from Garnier which leaves my skin feeling so plumped up and nourished, great for the cold winter months when my skin becomes unbearably dehydrated!
Lush King of Skin Body Butter: Another body product I've been using religiously. This is a solid body butter that you rub into your skin (like a bar of soap) after a bath or shower before you dry yourself off. It smoothes on to the skin so quickly and is a really easy way of getting an intense body treatment without having to rub in a lotion then waddle waiting for it to dry for ten minutes. Just apply, pat dry and you're done with this one.
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Rose and Lavender Special Edition: My all time favourite cleanser has had a make over. I wasn't sure I wanted to buy this as I love the original so much but I'm glad I did. The scent isn't too different, it's still very herbal and botanical, but you can really smell the lavender in it, something which I don't usually like at all. I've found though that combined with the Rose fragrance makes it very refreshing and calming.
Prada Candy Eau de Parfum: This is the only perfume I've found myself reaching for this month. It's sweet but warm and makes feel oh-so cosy when I wear it.
I'm really starting to miss my dark hair. I took my first venture into home dying a few months ago using this from L'Oreal and loved it to begin with. Its a shame all I have are these awful photobooths to show you. It ended up a lot darker than the colour on the box, and washed me out a little so I was thinking of jumping on the band wagon and ombreing that bad boy. After a few weeks though it really started to fade away quickly and in a month it was completely gone. (Is it just me or do other people picture Antonio Bandaras in a mask, swooshing around when someone says Ombre? ... No?) Now, considering I haven't had my hair cut professionally for years, its in pretty poor condition, so I'm putting it down to that. Ever since asking for a trim and being given a bob cut against my will, I've stayed away from the scissor wielders who just can't grasp my 'vision' and refuse to let me leave untill my hairs been straightened to within an inch of it's life. Then again, am I better off alone in the bathroom with a pair of kitchen scissors making a mess? Probably not.
I absolutley adore Ashlee Simpson's Ombre taken to the extreme. It isn't likely that I'd be able to pull it off strolling around town though, and I don't know how I'd justify all that bleach, but its something I know I'm going to end up doing.
This is the point where my boyfriend rolls his eyes and gestures to a bottle of peroxide cleaner under the sink with a knowing look. I don't think I'm quite at the point of melting my hair off to get the 'Drew Barrymore', thankfully. Then again, if it went wrong I could always buy a wig.
