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 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.
This month's favourites are short and sweet. I've been sticking to what I know and keeping it pretty simple in all areas of beauty. From a bright lip to some seriously Spring orientated products, here are my picks from the month!
I've been making an effort to simplify my skincare down to a handful of great products that I know work for me as apposed to the masses of lotions and potions I usually choose between. It's been tough, but I've whittled it down to some real gems and have found a good core routine that my skin is really enjoying. I still like to supplement this with different products here and there and sometimes swap a few things around, but here's an insight into what's currently on my scaled-down skincare shelf.
An update on my daily makeup routine has been well overdue for a while now. My most reached for products have changed quite a lot and I think my whole approach to the everyday face has too. I've been weening myself off thick black cat-liner for the last few months in favour of a fresher eye look and have been getting into thinning out my base with a squirt of BB Cream to make things a whole lot more glowing and natural. I've actually filmed a tutorial (a rare sighting indeed) on the look which you can see below!
It's becoming clear these days that I can't say no to an offer, so when recently pursuing the shelves of Boots and stumbling across that oh so beautiful sight of a 'three for two' sign hovering above the cosmetics, all else left my mind and I headed straight for it.
I do like a bit of luxury when it comes to makeup and don't think I'd ever desert the premium brands (sorry bank balance) but there's something fun and exciting about the lesser expensive 'drugstore' brands, always full of bright colours, regularly updated lines and of course, much more reasonable prices.
Yes, I know, it's that time again! My most used products this month have been a small but worthy bunch, from lip scrubs to hairspray with some fake tan thrown in for good measure, click here to see this month's offering on the favourites front.
Last week I filmed a MAC Eyeshadow Collection and decided to turn it into a little two-part series buy showing you the lipsticks I own from the brand too. I've always had a bit of a love affair with MAC Lipsticks, but surprisingly can count the amount I own on one hand. If you would however, like to see me rambling on about them with a few swatches thrown into the mix, click here to see the video!
This Céline inspired eBay purchase has recently come into my life and it's love. I've been lusting after the original for a long, long time but some how I don't think I'll quite be able to afford that in my lifetime! I didn't think there was a better excuse than a new bag to do another What's in my Bag Video - one of my favourite things to watch on YouTube, and hopefully now, yours too! Click here to see everything I carry around on a daily basis and believe me, it's jam packed!
I'm not a particularly massive MAC user, but over the last few years I've built up quite a nice little collection of products, the bulk of these being eyeshadows. Well pigmented, long lasting and part of an intense colour range, they really are some of my favourites. Here's a little nosy into my collection!
The day of love is upon us and this year I thought I'd show you a quick whizz through the make up I'll be wearing. I went with my usual base of the killer Laura Mercier combo; Oil Free Primer and Silk Creme Foundation, but jazzed it up a bit with a chocolate smokey eye courtesy of Bourjois's Bronze Shadow and the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette. Top off with some dewey looking cheeks and a bright pink lip (could there be a more appropriate colour?) and you've got yourself one Valentines make up look.
Darren got back at 4 am this morning from a trip to Finland to see the Northern Lights (most jealous person ever right here) so as he's currently zonked out in bed I'm not sure if we're going out or staying in. I'm seeing either a Jamie's Italian or a rather large Chinese in the distance.. Either way I'm sure we'll have a lovely time and I hope wherever you are, who ever you're with, you're having a great day too!
Somehow January has managed to come and go in what seems like the space of a week and not all of my not-quite-resolutions-but-things-I-wanted-to-do have been kept up unfortunately. A rather important one however was to be more consistent on the blog front and stick to things for more than a few weeks! And thus, my soon to be very regular (I promise) monthly favourites. Although it's been over before you can say 'Naked palette', January has definitely brought some fab new beauty products to the table and I'll be sharing my top picks with you right here!
Considering the current weather situation here in the UK at the moment, I could't think of a better video to share with you than my Winter Beauty Essentials. These are all the products that I could't be without on those cold, dull days!
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!
So it's that time of year again when the glitter and alcohol come out in equal parts as we ring in the New Year. I know this video is coming to you a little late but if there's anyone struggling for ideas hopefully you can get a some last minute inspiration from what I'll be wearing tonight. I hope everyone has an amazing time, whatever you might be up to and I'll see you all next year!
I know my last haul video was pretty much only two weeks ago, but I can't seem to help myself these days and I've got another splurge to share with you! This one's a little more fashion related so I hope it'll tide you over until I can get off my lazy bum and actually do an outfit post for the first time in months!
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!
Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser: This is still one of my favourite cleansers to use when I find I'm getting a breakout or a few blemishes. It's not harsh or drying like the majority of products targeted at acne and especially when used with my Clarisonic I find this clears up my skin in no time at all.
Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser: This moisturiser had been forgotten about in the back of a draw for too long but after recently rediscovering it I've found it's the perfect balance between a light moisturiser that wont become oily on my combination skin and one that hydrates too. And really, who could say no to anything from Liz Earle?
Clinique Super City Block SPF 40: This has been a constant in my skincare regime for the last few months. I like to use a high SPF even if it isn't remotely sunny as those nasty UV rays are still out there! Usually the higher the factor, the thicker the product is but as this is oil free it glides on so smoothly and gives the perfect base for make up.
Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask: My go to mask at the moment. Although my skin can be oily, I still find I get dryness so I like to use hydrating products every now and then. Every time I wake up after using this my skin feels plumped and glowing. You can also read a full review of this here!
L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil: The concept of shower oils is lovely. They begin as a rich silky oil that turns into a creamy milk as soon as it touches water. I had to buy this after seeing Anna raving about it for so long and I'm very glad I did as it leaves my skin silky soft without even having to moisturise.
The Body Shop Chocomania Body Scrub: A product from quite possibly the best smelling range The Body Shop have to offer. Think melted chocolate, and then some. Not only does this smell amazing but its also a lovely scrub.
Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation: I'm becoming quite obsessed with Laura Mercier bases. This is without doubt my favourite foundation at the moment and for a foundation addict like myself just the fact that I've used this pretty much non-stop since buying it should say enough! It gives such a beautiful, flawless coverage and smooths over any pore, big or small. Its literally like buffing silk into your skin. Everyone needs to try a sample of this right away!
Benefit Dallas Powder: This has probably been my most used cheek product all month mostly down to how convenient it is. The colour is perfect to be used as blusher and bronzer in one and it really does last all day on my super blusher absorbent cheeks.
Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent Powder: I think I'm even shocked myself that a powder has made it into a list of favourites. Overly matte skin is probably my biggest make up hate but after seeing so many people go on about how nice this actually was this inner bandwagon-jumper in me had to try it and I was actually really surprised. I still don't use a lot but it sets my make up perfectly without being cakey or drying at all.
Essie Bikini so Teeny and Fear & Desire: Its very rare for me to take off a nail varnish only to put the same on back on again and these two from Essie's newest collection haven't left my fingertips all month!
Chloé Eau de Parfum: The only fragrance I've been wearing recently. Such a unique smell that I just can't get enough of.
