Recent Beauty Haulin'

It has been a while since I have bought a load of new make-up, skin care or general bath and body products, as I have recently been going through a phase of clothes shopping rather than anything else, whoops! I have lost a little bit of weight since New Year, so I have been enjoying buying new clothes - but fear not, I have still managed to squeeze in a little bit of beauty shopping here and there! Who doesn't love a haul?

I've wanted to try out a new foundation for a few Weeks, so with the aid of another beauty blogger (oh hey Clare) I picked out the Loreal True Match Foundation. I have only tried it once but it seems to be pretty good so far.
I also picked up a Collection lipstick which I definitely didn't need, but I just love a nude lip at the minute, so I couldn't resist!

I'm not hugely into skin care but I had ran out of my micellar water, so I repurchased the Garnier Make-up Remover and Soap and Glory Facial Wash. I have repurchased the Garnier Make-up Remover multiple times and it such a good product.

I also picked up a few other essentials including the Loreal Elvive Dry Shampoo, (which is incredible, definitely recommend) Dove Nourishing Oil Carer Conditioner, Boots Anti - Perspirant, N Spa Fragrance Body Mist in Clementine, Palmolive Strawberry Touch Body Butter Shower Cream, and a Superdrug Semi- Permanent Hair Dye.

What have you bought recently?

2015 Make Up Favourites

I haven't written a favourite's post in a while, so as we have just seen in the New Year I couldn't think of anything more fitting than writing my round up of all of my favourite beauty products from the last Year. I scuttled around the house collecting all my favourites; and I managed to choose one eye shadow product, one mascara, one base product and two lip products. 

First up we have my most reached for eye shadow palette, which is the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. I use this palette most days. I find it perfect for just an every day look but also a great palette to have as you can create so many different looks with it. The mascara I have enjoyed using the most has been the Clinique High Impact Mascara. This gives good length and thickens the lashes, without looking clumpy. I am quite fussy when it comes to mascara but this is a great every day mascara. I couldn't decide on just one lip product so I had to include two; the first being Soap and Glory's A Great Kisser Lip Balm. I'm not sure if S&G still stock this, as I haven't been able to find it, so I am guessing not. This is a really nice lip balm which gives a little shimmer to the lips, keeps them coated and smells of peaches. I use this on top of matte lipsticks to give a more glossy look. I have a back up tin of this, I am so glad as it doesn't look like I will be able to buy it again! Anyone that has known me for a while knows I have always been a big fan of Cheryl's makeup looks. I bought the L'oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Exclusive Nudes in Cheryl's Nude in hope that I could recreate her lovely nude lip; unfortunately I did not transform into Cheryl overnight (!) but this lipstick is a beautiful nude and one I have reached for the most this Year.

I tried the Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation for the first time this Year, and I really love it. After being a huge fan of Rimmels Match Perfection foundation for as long as I can remember, it is great to see they stock another good foundation which is a good match for my skin tone and gives a good medium coverage. 

What are you favourite beauty products from 2015? Any recommendations to share?

July Beauty Favourites

Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup for Face and Body

I have been using this product as a foundation for the past few Months, and I really love it. I use it sparingly as I feel I don't need to use a lot, and it blends so easily into my skin and looks flawless. Its a great match for my skin tone and I'd definitely repurchase this again. Although it has a hefty price tag, it is perfect for when I have those 'bad skin days'.

Clinique Take The  Day  Off  Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips

This has to be one of the best products I have tried for removing eye make-up. It is incredibly gentle and in my opinion, removes around 95% of my eye make-up, even waterproof mascara. I use it just for removing eye make-up mainly, but it is also a generally good make-up remover. 

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Nourishing Lip Balm*

I have been using this every evening for a good while now. I apply a layer of product to my lips before bed, and I believe it really does work. My lips feel soft, hydrated and moisturised on a Morning, and I rarely have chapped or sore lips. 

Sanex Roll On Zero% Extra Effective

Only recently have I began using roll-on deodorants again, after discovering how much I prefer them to a spray anti-antiperspirant. This is a really good one, which leaves me feeling fresh and clean for a long time. I have irritated skin, so a deodorant without any chemicals like this one is a must for me. The scent is pleasant and I've found Sanex to be one of the best brands I have come across for roll-on deodorant.

Maxfactor Colour Elixir Lipstick in English Rose

This shade is a beautiful rose pink; a shade I find perfect to wear any time of the day, and anytime of the year. The lipstick is well pigmented and has a great colour pay-off, doesn't bleed and lasts a good few hours without need of reapplication. As-well as lasting on the lips, it feels very creamy and I have found it be one of those lipsticks that are just so easy to wear.

Have you tried any of these products? What are your favourite products this Month?

Favourite Base Products

Over the past few years I have swapped and switched the base products I use day to day. After a lot of searching, I have finally found a routine I am content with. I don't feel like I have to wear foundation every day, but when I do, I .like a medium coverage. I have a lot of red blemishes which I like to cover, but I also have freckles on my cheeks; they particularly like to show up in the warmer Months, which I don't mind showing off. I find Mac's Mineralize Foundation a perfect coverage for Summer, as it covers and evens out my complexion without looking too cake-y. For the rest of the year I opt for Rimmel's Match Perfection Foundation, which is a medium coverage liquid foundation that is a perfect colour match for my very pale skin. It blends really well, doesn't wear off quickly, and gives my face that healthy glow. The main brush I use to apply both of these foundations to the skin is the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. I like it how applies both cream and liquid foundation so evenly and gives a flawless finish.
I usually apply concealer both before and after applying foundation, and the two I reach for most are Maybelline's Fit Me Concealer and Mac's Mineralize Concealer. They both work well at covering red blemishes and indents to the skin. I have used both in attempt to hide my dark circles and they do an adequate job. I tend to apply these concealers straight from the wand, and blending into the skin lightly using my fingers. I can't quite pull off a dewy finish, so tend to pop on a little pressed powder, like this Collection Pressed Powder on top of my base to help it hold and give a more matte finish, using the Real Techniques Powder Brush. The brush is thick and large, making it easy to quickly press powder onto the foundation. The powder is very affordable and lasts a good few hours.

What products do you reach for most for a flawless base?

My 5 Favourite Beauty Products of 2013

Top 5 Beauty Products of 2013

This is up a little later than I hoped it would be, but Happy New Year lovelies I hope it is a good one for you. I have seen so many of these 2013 favourite posts flying around the blogging world, I really enjoy reading them and seeing what everyone else has been adoring in the year of 2013! Here is my little list, I have narrowed it down to just five products I feel are worth mentioning. 

MUA Pro - Brow Eye Brow Kit: I love filling in my eye brows, and this little kit has been my ultimate sidekick of 2013. Infact, I think it is my favourite product of the entire year! It comes complete with mini tweezers, (which are fantastic by the way!), a brush and 3 powders for your brows, along with the wax. I use this product every single day as I find it to be the best brow kit I have come across so far; I even prefer it to the HD Brows Brow Kit! It is so affordable and such good quality, I cant recommend it enough. 

Available at Superdrug for £3.50

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation: This foundation is a great match for my skin tone. I use Light Porcelain which is the perfect colour for my pale skin. I am super pale and find it very hard to find a foundation that doesn't look too dark or orange. This blends perfectly and gives a great medium cover finish. I have repurchased this about 5 times this year, it certainly is the best foundation I have come across so far. 

Available at Superdrug for £6.99

Mac Powder Blush in Well Dressed (Satin): I was so excited to try this blush, as it is my first MAC blusher. The colour is very subtle and natural, it is quite pigmented. I find using the Real Techniques Blush Brush the perfect tool for applying this. It is the most beautiful pale pink which really suits my skin tone, I have worn it so much in 2013 it quickly became my favourite. 

Available at Mac for £18

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy 50ml EDP: I must be honest and say this is my first Juicy Couture perfume, and I bought it quite later on in the year, but I instantly fell in love with the heavenly scent and has fast knocked off all my other favourite perfumes. I find the scent very sweet and a little fruity, it lasts well all day. I cant wait to try out other Juicy Couture scents.  

Available at Debenhams for £47

MUA Undress Me Too Eye shadow Palette: As you can see this palette is very well loved. I use this every day, I have hit pan on my most used shades. It is the perfect neutral eye shadow palette and is so affordable at only £4, the quality of the shadows is pretty amazing for the price, and all of the eye shadows bar one, are super pigmented and last all day. 

Available at Superdrug for £4

What were your top 5 of 2013?

Mac Mineralize Foundation

Mac Mineralize Foundation

SPF 15

I often have trouble picking a foundation to suit my skin tone, as I am so very pale I find it very difficult to find a foundation that does not make me look orange. About 8 Months ago I decided I would purchase a Mac foundation. The make up artist recommended this very product, and having applying it on for me I wasn't so sure. I am used to using liquid foundations and I was scared a cream based foundation would be a little too thick and look cakey. I found it a little difficult to use the first few times I applied it to my face at home, but the Real Techniques Buffing Brush is a great tool for this.

I was expecting much more coverage from a Mac foundation, this particular foundation gives a Medium coverage. If you are looking for a heavy coverage, this one is probably not for you. I have oily skin so I was worried this would go a little patchy throughout the day, but it works great with a bit of powder to keep it in place. I use this foundation most days, but if I am after a heavier coverage, I mix a little liquid foundation with this to make it more of a cover up. I think this foundation is great for every day wear. It gives the illusion that you aren't wearing any make up, but hides most blemishes. It does make my skin feel a glowing and look soft.