June Favourites

 Yay its monthly favourites time again! I'm not completely sure why this makes me so happy, possibly because I've been using makeup a bit differently recently (i.e. minimalist) and have rediscovered my love for some great products. Anyway, lets crack on....

 

 

Nina Perfume

 

This perfume is my ultimate summer scent. I am the worst person at describing scents so I won't embarrass myself or bore you by trying to, but its a lovely fresh scent that I use year after year. I have almost ran out of this bottle so I may have to make a little trip to Boots.

 

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Grapefruit and Greenberry

 

I love the Barry M Gelly nail paints as they are super shiny and are long lasting compared to other gel-like formulas. I have a few in my collection but this month I have been loving these two shades. I have been wearing Greenberry (a bright, mint shade) on my toe nails as it looks lovely with a bit of a tan and some sandals; and then I have been wearing Grapefruit (a bright, candy pink shade) on my finger nails. Both shades look great with a tan and are just perfect for the summer. P.S. keep an eye out for my Top 5 Summer Bright Nails coming soon.

 

Benefit Coralista Blush

 

I think I may have mentioned this in a previous favourites, but I have been loving it this month. Its only a sample size (yes I'm too stingy to buy the full size) but it has been lasting me ages. Its a beautiful peachy rose gold shade which looks perfect in the summer as it also doubles up as a highlighter so catches the sun on your cheek bones.

 

 

Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Lotion

 

I burnt a few weeks ago so my skin has been craving some moisture and this has definitely ticked that box. It smells of chocolate (funnily enough) and is just ultra creamy and smooth, and doesn't leave the skin feeling sticky or greasy. It has been a dream to use and has been very kind to my sun-exposed skin (naughty, I know).

 

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

 

This is a bit of an old favourite but I have rediscovered it this month. During the warmer months in the daytime I don't like to wear a foundation as I find it too hot on the skin, so I have been using this beauty just to conceal any areas that need it. I have also been using it on my cheekbones and down the centre of my nose as, due to the light reflecting particles, it can work as a subtle highlight well.

 

 

L'Oreal Ever Riche Perfect Elixir

 

This is something I have had for ages but I've only just started using it. It did the blog and YouTube rounds quite a few months ago. It is effectively a spray on hair mask that you spray onto wet hair after conditioning, leave for 5 minutes or so, and then wash off. It leaves your hair feeling so soft, much more than any other hair mask I have used. Also, because it is a spray form, it doesn't weigh the hair down at all. I'll be popping a review up soon.

 

 

Topshop Magic Liner

 

This is my first Topshop makeup product and I'm in love. It is just a felt-tip style eye liner but its just brilliant. The nib is the perfect size, it doesn't dry up whilst your using it like some liners, and it lasts for ages without any smudging. What more can you ask for? And its super cheap! I am definitely going to try more of Topshop makeup so leave any recommendations below.

 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

 

A Micellar water is a staple in my cleansing routine and I have tried a few recently but this is definitely the best. The bottle (I have had troubles with the packaging of some Micellar waters) is great because it allows you to not put too much of the product onto the cotton wool, it removes all makeup easily and leaves the skin feeling fresh and clean. A winner for me!

 

So there we have it, a few gems that I have found and rediscovered this month!

 

What have been your monthly favourites?

 

Barry M Silk in Pearl

 This collection of 'Silk' polishes was released a couple of months ago. The polishes come in a range of pastel shades and are of a matte finish with a slight pearly sheen to it. I picked up the shade Pearl as I don't have any white polishes and I find white can tend to look a bit tacky with just a matte finish.

 

Like most Barry M polishes, this polish is easy to apply, with a not-to-watery consistency and quick drying time. I also found with this polish that it only required one coat to achieve the opaque look however I usually apply two coats to prevent chips etc. anyway. The finish is exactly what the bottle promises and is unlike anything I have worn on my nails before. Do I like it? Well I'm not sure about that really. I'm not sure if its the shade that doesn't work for me or the odd finish, but for some reason I can't take to this polish very well. I also find with this type of finish it can look very similar to polishes aimed at the older generation which, although looks lovely, isn't really the look I am going for.

 

I think this one is very much down to individual taste as the finish is quite different to any of the other offerings out there. I might pick up another shade just to give it a fair chance however I don't think Pearl will be gracing my fingernails much in the next few months.

 

Have you tried any of the Silk range from Barry M? I would love to know your thoughts! 

Huge Beauty Haul

So....I went shopping. To be fair to me, I haven't been shopping in a really long time and although I got quite a lot of stuff I actually didn't spend that much money. I went to Boots, Superdrug and Topshop and got a few things that I've been eyeing up for a while and a few others just because why not?!

So first of all I hit Boots and although I could have picked up a whole hoard of things, I was actually quite well behaved. So the first few thing I got were some tanning products. Now that summer is upon us I want to give my skin that sun kissed glow that we all spend the winter months dreaming of. Lucky for me Boots had some money off deals across the tanning section including the Dove Summer Glow Gradual Tan Body Moisturiser. I like gradual tans although they do take a lot of upkeep. I usual go for the Garnier Summer Body gradual tan but I'm mixing things up a bit and giving this one a go as its had excellent reviews. Another product that had money off is the Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan Matte in Medium. This is a new release from Rimmel (they've had a bit of a relaunch for their Sun Shimmer range) and, again, I've heard pretty good things about this product in particular (not so much about some of their others) so thought I would give this a go too.
I don't actually own a tanning mitt so thought it wise to invest in one and picked up the Boots own Soltan one as its a bit cheaper than some of the others.

The next thing I got was the Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser and this is something I have wanted forever but have been waiting for it to be on offer and, hurrah, it finally was! This is a body moisturiser in an aerosol form so you can just spray it on and you're done. For me this will be perfect for summer as I find thick body moisturisers take an absolute age to absorb into the skin, plus I'm a bit lazy when it comes to moisturising (although I'm getting much better!).

The last couple of things I got in Boots were some makeup items. First up is the Barry M Matte nail paint in Copa Cobana. Barry M have released some new additions to their Matte range (which I absolutely love fyi) and there are some gorgeous colours. This a bright, coral shade which I am planning on using mainly on my toes to give them a bright splash of colour.

The last thing I picked up were three of the Revlon Shadowlinks. I have been after these ever since they started circling the Blogosphere-I think they are a genius inventon. In every eye shadow palette I get there is always a shade I will never wear or a shade I don't like however with these you build up you're own palette and can continue adding to it. I picked up three shades- Petal, Candy and Plum. Petal is a satin finish, peachy cream shade which I think will be lovely as a highlighter. Candy is a pale bubblegum pink shade with a pearl finish which is lovely for simple everyday makeup. Plum is a deep matte, purple shade which will be great for contouring the eye.

So next I went to Topshop. I have to say,I never venture into Topshop, ever. And on this occasion I only went in with one thing in mind, to check out their makeup stand. I wasn't too sure what I wanted to purchase but I knew I wanted to try something from their beauty range. After swatching some of their many lipsticks and blushes, I decided to go for their Magic Liner as this is one of their standout products that I have heard a lot about. It is in a felt-tip pen form and although I have a few of these, I'm eager to see what Topshop makeup is like so I'm quite excited to give this a go.

Finally, I ventured into Superdrug and, again, I had one thing in mind that I wanted to buy. This is something I have wanted ever since their namesake announced it in her Vlogmas series and I have heard nothing but amazing things about this product. That, of course, is the Tanya Burr lip glosses. She also has a range of nail polishes but I'm more interested in the glosses. Firstly, an amazing shade range and it took me ages to decide what shade to go for. In the end I picked up Picnic In The Park as I think that is a shade I will get a lot of wear out of. I'm so excited to try this lipgloss and I'm pretty sure the next time I'm in town (that's the store nearest to me to stock the Tanya Burr range) I will be picking up another couple of shades.

So there we go! I'm going to be reviewing some of these products so keep an eye out if you're interested, and I'm also thinking of doing a mini series on tanning at some point this month.

Have you done any shopping lately? Leave any links to haul posts/videos below!

April Favourites

Tresemme Cleanse & Replenish Cleansing Shampoo
I think Tresemme is a great brand, whenever I see their products on offer I end up buying something from their line. I have been using this shampoo now for a few weeks and I just love it! Its a deep cleansing shampoo but is gentle enough for regular use. The shampoo lathers up quite a lot so not too much of the product is needed, and the shampoo feels like its really cleaning your hair and getting rid of all of the dirt and product build up. It alo has a refreshing, salon-like scent, and come in this huge bottle! I have really enjoyed using this and am a bit sad that its almost empty.

Soap and Glory Lip Balm in Juicy Peach
This is the first product I own from Soap & Glory's cosmetic range and I am smitten. The balm is very sticky so if you don't like that then this isn't for you. The sent is very fruity and fresh without being too sickly like some peach scented lip products. In terms of keeping the lips moisturised, this actually does a really good job and seems to last an absolute age on the lips which is just great! They have a small range of lip balms so im thinking of adding another to my collection.

Collection Work The Colour Eyeshadow Pencil in Vintage Blush and Vanilla Sky
I got these last year when eyeshadow pencils were all the rage and they slowly worked their way to the back of my makeup collection to be forgotton about until I stumbled across them at the beginning of the month. I have been using these mainly for a highlight as I find them quite tricky to blend, but the pink shade (Vintage Blush) is lovely all over the lid too as it gives a beautiful shimmery effect.

No 7 Lipstick in Classic Rose
I have not stopped wearing this lipstick this month! A beautiful, matte lipstickwhich stays put for hours. The lipstick is also super pigmented and has a gorgeous creamy consistency making it easy to apply. I think this shade is such a perfect spring shade and looks lovely both during the day and at night.

Tea Tree Witch Hazel Peel Off Face Mask
I really like this brand (see my review of their Blemish Stick here) and this face mask has only increased my love for it. The facemask is very sticky and gel like on application, and then dries on the face. Once dry, you can peel the mask off (such satisfaction!) and then use some warm water to just rinse any remainders off. If you suffer from large pores then this is the product for you. Not only does it reduce the appearance of pores, it leaves the skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth, more so than any other face mask I have used. I find myself continually reaching for this.

Rita Ora for Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish in Lose Your Lingerie
If you haven't heard of Rita Ora's Rimmel collection then where have you been hiding?! Rita Ora collaborated with Rimmel to create a line of nail polishes and lip stains. I picked up a couple of the nail polishes and have been wearing this shade ever since. This is a beautiful effervescent pastel pink which is the perfect pastel Spring shade. As the name suggests, the polish dries ever so quickly which is great if, like me, waiting for nail polish to dry is like waiting for rain in a drought. There are some really cool shades in Rita's collection si might try a few of the brighter shades out soon.

Maybelline The Colossal Volume Extreme Mascara
This has been a longstanding favourite mascara of mine for some time but I have been using it almost every day for the last month. The wand is thick but doesn't make application difficult and creates amazing full lashes. Some people have said they find this mascara quite messy and smudgy but I don't seem to have that problem, I just love the look that it creates.

What have been your favourites this month? Do you love any of these products as much as me?

Gel Nail Polishes

 

Gel manicures are my favourite treat to have at the beauty salon. They look incredibly polished without looking too fake which is great, and there is always a great range of shades to choose from. In the salon, a UV light is used to treat the polishes aswell as specially formulated gel polishes to create that ultra glossy look.

In recent months, beauty brands have been releasing their own takes on gel manicures by bringing out gel-like formula polishes. I have collected a small collection of these polishes that I thought I would show you.

Collection Lasting Gel Colour
These polishes are an absolute bargain and are pretty great polishes. They apply very evenly and dry quickly, and their staying power is impressive too. The only thing is that the shade range available isn't very wide and Collection doesn't seem to be releasing anymore at the moment which is a bit of a disappointment.

Models Own Hyper Gel
Me and Models Own have a love/hate relationship, and unfortunately this polish really disappointed me. The formula is very thin, difficult to achieve an even finish and takes quite a while to dry. I have done a full review which you can see here.

Bourjois So Laque!
Again, the shade range isn't fantastic with this collection but, as far as I know, they are supposedly releasing a few more shades during the Spring/Summer months. These polishes I picked up as part of a set so I don't know how much they are individually, however Bourjois is quite an average-priced brand so I cant imagine them being overly expensive. They are quite easy to apply and the finish is beautiful, however these polishes take an absolute age to dry so, if you are as impatient as me, then these probably aren't for you!

Bourjois 1 Seconde Gel
Bear in mind my thoughts on my other Bourjois nail polishes, and you can understand my enthusiasm for this polish. Probably one of my favourites in my collection- a lovely bright summer shade, amazingly quick dry time and the staying power is pretty great too.

17 Supreme Shine
I don't think these are still available to buy, however the last time I checked 17 had released a new range of gel-formula polishes. The turquoise blue is another with great staying power however the formula is pretty thin making even application quite difficult.

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine
Probably the most high profile of the gel-like formula polishes, every beauty blogger has either heard or owns the collection! What I love about these polishes is the shade range-I have yet to find a polish range with such a great selection in terms of shades. I'm not a massive fan of the formula and these polishes never seem to last ages on my nails however I love the finish of these, especially with a bright shade.

Rimmel Salon Pro
These polishes are great! I don't know if I can find a fault with them actually! They have an excellent shade range, application is made incredibly easy with their wide stroke brush, and the drying time is super quick! They also last quite a while on my nails without chips! Out of all of these polishes, I am definitely going to pick up a few more of these!

Have you got any polishes you can recommend to achieve a glossy manicure? Or have you been disappointed with any of the products I love? Please let me know!

Collective Beauty Haul

Ok so I thought I would show you all some of the products I have collected over the last couple of months that have been sat in my 'blogging box' waiting to be put to use.

Garnier Miceller Cleansing Water

I love using miceller water to remove makeup, it suits my skin really well and is super easy to use. I have seen this Garnier one pop up on a few blogs so, as I was on offer, decided to pick it up and have a go.

Seventeen Solo eye shadow in Regal

The Seventeen solo eye shadows are actually pretty good quality considering their price, and they have a great shade range. I have a few neutral shades from their collection but decided to try this more dramatic shade.

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

A blogger and YouTuber favourite! I have been wanting to try this foundation for ages now and I have finally added it to my collection. I will report back with how I get on.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream

This is a recent release from Bourjois, I wouldn't normally be too bothered with CC creams however as this was relatively cheap and it was on offer I thought why not?! CC creams are designed to correct the appearance of your skin by targeting red areas and tired looking skin. I have been suffering a bit with my skin recently so I'm hoping this will be a good base to try.

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

For some reason my pores recently have been awful! They have been really visible and large, and it has really been bothering me. I spoke to a few other beauty bloggers who recommend trying this. Again, this has had a lot of press recently and is part of the Maybelliene 'Baby' collection. I love their Baby Lips products so I'm hoping this will be a winner too.

NYC Palette in NY Tribute

I love the NYC palette's. I already have Fashion Bootcamp (see my review here) but these shades are so pretty and Spring-perfect that I knew it had to be added to my collection. These palettes are ridiculously cheap aswell.

Models Own Hyper Gel in Coral Glaze

Me and Models Own have such an on/off relationship so I wasn't overly sure about trying this polish out. Their Hyper Gel nail varnishes are designed to have the finish of a gel manicure and the shade range is beautiful. I thought I would give Model's Own one last chance so it all depends on this polish, not too much pressure hey!

L'Oreal Studio Line #TXT Volume Supersizing Spray

This has been another beauty blogger favourite of late, and although I'm not into super massive hair, I do like some texture, especially when I have curled my hair. Plus this spray is stupidly cheap compared to other texturizing sprays (yes I'm talking about the infamous Oribe) so I think its worth giving a go.

So there we are, a classic beauty blogger beauty haul!

Has anyone else tried any of these products? I would love to know what you think!

Models Own Hyper Gel in Coral Glaze

I have a love/hate relationship with Models Own. After first trying their polishes last summer, I wasn't very impressed. I found the formula very thin and difficult to achieve an even application. However, I had another shot with a polish from their Velvet Goth collection in the Autumn and I was really impressed. So when this collection hit the shelves this year, I thought I would give them a go.

I love gel like polishes, the finish is so beautiful and classy and they normally last quite a few days without chipping. I have quite a few gel like polishes in my collection (thinking about doing a collective post about them all soon) but I thought one more wouldn't hurt, and this colour really caught my eye! Its perfect for the summer months, and is unlike any shade I already own.

Firstly, I really don't like the Models Own brushes, I find them very thin and with such a large lid, it can be hard to have full control over the brush. This formula seems slightly thicker than my previous experiences with the brand, however still very thin and runny, making application quite difficult. The polish takes quite a while to dry, but that is expected with gel like polishes. The polish did seem to last a good couple of days on my nails, however I really didn't like the finish. Due to difficult application, the polish was very uneven on my nails which did make them look tacky and isn't the look I was going for.

So overall, I really was not impressed with this polish. I would say its a big disappointment but I haven't had the greatest experience with this brand before. I think im going to stay away from Models Own polishes for quite a while now, I need to learn from my mistakes.

Has anyone else had the same issues? Or have you had the complete opposite thoughts?

Birthday Haul

 

On 20th March I turned 22 (cue Taylor Swift). I had a lovely few days around my birthday (possible birthday celebration post to come) and received some lovely gifts. I thought I would show you all what I got, not to show off but just because I'm a nosy parker myself and hauls are my favourite posts.

Make Up Haul
I received a little bit of cash from my grandparents and used some of that to treat myself to a few things in Boots, they had 3 for 2 on which meant I got a couple of extra things for free. I'm planning on reviewing most of the products so this will just be a quick run through. So, I picked up the Seventeen cheek stamp in Stare Struck, the Sleek matte lip cream in Party Pink, the Seventeen shimmer brick in Pink Bronze, two of the Rita Ora for Rimmel nail polishes in Lose Your Lingerie and Oragasm, one of the Barry M silk paints in Pearl, a Soap and Glory lip balm in Juicy Peach, a Seventeen solo eye shadow in Ivory Coast, and a nude Rimmel Scandaleyes eye liner.

Soap and Glory Birthday Box
I received this from my brother and sister, who know I love Soap and Glory. The box includes my favourite shower gel which is Clean On Me, a tub of the Righteous Butter (another fave) and a loofa.

Ted Baker Nail set and Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance
I received the Ted Baker nail set from my brother and sister also. The set includes two new shades-a candy pink called Sweet on You, and a pink glitter paint called Champagne Sundays. I got the Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance spray from a friend who knows I have just discovered the brand. The spray is a lightweight conditioning spray which is designed for weak and distressed hair, perfect for my tangled hair!

Marshmallows and Sekonda Watch
I got both of these gifts from my mum and step dad. The Marshmallows are just a little treat they know I love, but the watch is my absolute favourite present. Its a gorgeous rose gold, and has rose gold pearls and gem encrusted pearls connected to the face of the watch, and then a rose gold chain. The watch also comes with a beautiful bracelet, I haven't taken off the two since I got them.

I had an absolutely lovely day and I'm very lucky to have such wonderful people in my life who helped me celebrate and bought me such lovely gifts.

Top 5 Spring Nail Polishes

So as we step into Spring, the colours I decide to wear tend to change, and my general style because a lot brighter and my palette more pastel. I have quite a lot of pastel polishes however I thought I would show you my top 5 polishes that I think are perfect for spring time.

Rimmel 60 Seconds Rose Libertine

These polishes are pretty great-they dry super quick and leave a lovely glossy finish so are perfect in a rush. This is a rose pink that applys much lighter than it looks in the bottle. This colour is very subtle and is workable with lots of other shades, and is great from transitioning from daytime to nighttime without any hassle.

L'Oreal Colour Riche in Opera Ballerina

This is probably the palest polish I own, but I think it is the perfect nude as it has a classy feel to it. It is slighty pink toned however has the most beautiful glossy finish to it. I love this polish for wearing everyday as I can get away with it at work (naughty) yet still looks polished for everyday.

Barry My Nail Paint in Peach Melba

As the name suggests, this is a beautiful peach shade and, as with most Barry M paints, is quick drying and long lasting. For me, this is such a fresh colour and is perfect for the warmer months. This is quite a subtle colour and works well for most occasions.

Collection 2000 Hot Looks Fast Dry in Dynasty

This is a perfect pastel shade, a lovely light lilac that has a slightly glossy finish to it. I actually picked this up in a pound shop so I don't know if its still available in stores but there are plenty of similar shades. I think this shade works well for all seasons as it is so versatile.

Bourjois So Laque Glossy in 04 Amande Defile

The pastel green is perfect for Spring as it has a lovely fresh feel to it and is a bit different to other shades I would normally wear, however this nail polish takes an absolute age to dry but does leave a lovely glossy finish, as the name suggests.

I'm very excited about Spring arriving, everything seems so much happier and jollyier (don't thnk that's a word but I'll work with it).

I would love to know your recommendations for Spring time polishes!

January 2014 Favourites

I have been so busy the last couple of weeks, I can't believe I have only just got round to doing my January favourites! Lots of exciting things happening though, just not enough hours in the day! Anyway here is what I have been loving in January...

 

 

Herbal Essences Classics

I love Herbal Essences so when I heard they were going to re-release some of their classic products I got just a little bit excted. I went out straight away to get my hands on their classic conditioner, I think I would say its my all time favourite hair product. It has such a classic Herbal Essences scent and no other conditioner leaves my har this soft. I have been loving using this again.

Soap and Glory Shower Gel

I bought this a few months ago and use it almost every day. The first thing I love about it is how far the product goes! This shower wash has the Soap and Glory scent that I absolutely love and I feel so clean after using this.

Benefit Coralista Blush

I got this sample a few months ago but have only just started using it. I've never tried a Benefit blush so was quite eager to give it a go. The shade is a peachy coral shade which I love, the blush is amazingly pigmented so lasts ages! I'm almost running out of this sample however I have already convinced myself to purchase the full size.

Seventeen Eye Shadows

I picked these single shadows up just before Christmas as I was after a couple of good neutrals that I could use. I know they look extremely similar but Rose Quartz has a slight pink tone to it whereas Statuesque is more of a bronze hued neutral. This eye shadows are so easy to work with and blend, I've been wearing them nearly every day!

 

NYX Xtreme Lip Cream

They have recently started selling NYX in selected Next stores across the country, and as NYX is a brand I have wanted to try for a while I had to pick up a few bits including this lip cream. I love this product so much, it has become my favourite lip product I own. The lip cream is effectively a lacquer, similar to Rimmel Apocalips, but I find it to be much more pigmented and slightly more of a matte finish than the Apocalips. This lip cream also lasts ages which is another bonus!

 

Natural Collection Lipstick in Cranberry

I don't own many Natural Collection products but their Moisture Shine lipsticks are lovely so when I saw this beautiful cranberry shade I had to give it a go. Whereas the pigmentation isn't as great as other lip products, I love how easily this glides onto the lips and how it doesn't cling to any dry areas. I have been wearing this lip shade most days in January as I find it is perfect for this time of year.

 

Lush Popcorn Scrub

I have recently done a full review of this product that you can see here. However in brief, this is an exfoliator for your lips to help reduce dry areas. It has a delicious buttery taste to it and is fantastic at smoothing the skin on the lips. I have been using this most days before I apply lip balm and/or lipstick and I find the lips feel so much smoother and products are much easier to apply after using this.

 

Pro Strong Nail Strengthener

I got this as part of a set for Christmas, I do believe it was available on QVC. This product is a liquid nail strengthener that dries almost instantly. I have been applying this underneath OPI Nail Envy anytime I paint my nails and it has made such a difference! My nails are much more stronger, and the peeling that I used to get has almost completely disappeared!

 

Collection Jesy's Eye Shadow

Little Mix released a make up range for Collection based on their individual make up looks a few months ago. I loved the look of these loose eye shadow however this copper shade was the only one I thought I would get use of. This eye shadow is a beautiful copper shade that has a shimmer finish to it. As it is loose, it is extremely easy to apply and to work with, and the colour can be built up depending on the look you are trying to create. I have been using this a lot just with a champagne shade or as part of a bronze smoky eye.

 

Babyliss Curling Wand

I bought this in the Boxing Day sales as I have been after a curling wand for ages and this was an absolute bargain at £10! Its extremely easy to use, it has 10 different levels of heat although I tend to use the highest as my hair is so thick and long. I've been using this on sections of my hair to curl the whole head, or just picking individual sections to create a bit more of a relaxed, surf look. The curls last for ages and most of the time last into the following day with a little help of some good hairspray.

 

So there we have it, I didn't realise quite how many products I have been loving until I went to compile this post!

 

Has anyone else tried any of these products?

 

 

December Favourites

December has been a month full of parties, and therefore, lots and lots of make up and beauty products have been used. In fact, I found it difficult to narrow down to just these products. Anyway, lets get started.
 

Simple Eye Make Up Remover

With all these different party looks, I've found some eye make up removers just haven't been good enough, they either sting like mad, or require a lot of wrist action (!) and I just cannot be doing with that. I love Simple products, and this product has joined many of their others in my favourite skin care list. Its very soothing and only takes a couple of swipes to remove all the eye make up, fantastic!

 

Katy Perry Killer Queen Eau De Toilette
I am probably the worst person in the world at descriing scents so instead I am just going to explain why I like this perfume so much. Firstly, although the packaging is a tad on the tacky side, I love it! Its very similar to the Loverdose by Diesel bottle in the shape. This perfume is my favourite type of perfume, in that it is perfect for wearing in the day or evening as it has a sophisticated yet light feel to it. I have been wearing it practically non stop since I bought it after receiving a sample in a glossybox. I'm a fan of celeb perfumes anyway, but this doesn't feel quite so 'cheap' as some of the others out there. 
 

No 7 Smokey Eye Liner Brush
I got this brush in a No 7 gift set a while ago. I instantly liked this brush but, because of the current party season, I have been using it all the time to perfect the smokey eye look! Its great at creating a smudged smoky eye liner, or for using a shadow to line the eye. The No 7 brushes are great, I would recommend them anyway, but this brush is like none I have used before and I would definitely recommend if you like heavier or smokier eye make up!

OPI Nail Envy

My nails have been absolutely awful for the last few months and everytime I took to twitter to seek advice, I was constantly having Nail Envy suggested to me. And I can completely see why. The idea is that you apply this every day so it strengthens your nails to prevent them from breaking/chipping/splitting. I didn't think it would be quite as good as it actually is. I have a few friends who have the same problems as me so I will definitely be recommending this to them! In the space of 2 weeks using this, my nails are unrecognisable from their previous state. I've loved having stronger nails again.

Seventeen Mirror Shine Lipstick in Beehive

I posted a make up haul (see here) where I picked up this little beauty, and I absolutely love it. It is the perfect nude and has a lovely glossy finish to it. Its great to wear either in the day with simple make up, or with heavy eye makeup on an evening. The only downside is the naff packaging (it has a compact mirror inside) however I can very quickly forget that issue when using this lipstick. I would say it is a good dupe for Mac Hue in case anyone is interested.

 

Maxfactor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Murano

I don't own many Maxfactor products, I just tend to skip past their stand. However I found this little gem hidden away in my blush collection and I've discovered a new found love for it. Its the perfect berry shade to give your cheeks that innocent flush of having been outside. The blush is very pigmented so hardly any is needed, and the consistency is easy to blend and work with. I have just been using my fingers, as I find a brush picks up to much of the product and then I end up with extremely rosy cheeks!

 

Collection Cream Puff Lip Cream in Fairy Cake

Out of all my favourites, this has been my number 1! I picked this up as it reminded me of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream and I wanted to see how they compare and, I have to say, I think this is a lovely product. It is described as a velvety soft matte finish lip cream which is exactly what it is, without being overly drying. The colour is subtle yet beautiful and works well with lots of other shades. If you are looking to try a matte lip product, I would definitely recommend these!

 

Emite Make Up Micronized Eye Shadow

I received this a couple of months ago in a glossy box and have recently been using it. Its a lovely pale, gold shimmery shade and is beautiful to use as a highlighter. I've also been loving using it all over the lid and teamed with a black eye liner flick, it has a classy finish to it. The eye shadow is very well pigmented and is very blendable, so all in all a lovely little eye shadow!

 

 What have you been loving this party season?