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?

 

Whats In My Handbag?

I love reading posts like this, they're a proper nosy look into what people use and carry around with them on a day to day basis. I recently bought a new bag so I thought this would be the perfect time to show you exactly what I carry around with me in my bag.

 

Tesco Handbag

 I recently bought this new bag after months of searching for one. I had in my mind what I wanted-spacious, comfortable to hold and a neutral shade. This beauty was in Tesco for just £16! The strap is long enough to carry on your shoulder comfortably and the bag itself is big enough to carry anything you want pretty much. This would also be perfect for a hand luggage bag. Inside there is the main section of the bag and then a zipped pocket on one side (this is where my phone lives) and another loose pocket on the other side.

 

 

Diary

I bought this diary in Tesco also, I fell in love with the print. It has a day-per-page view so is big enough to scribble down all my plans. I couldn't fit this in my bag before so I'm really glad I can finally carry it around with me.

 

 

Twinings Jasmine Green Tea Tea Bags

I don't drink hot drinks (I will always make an exception for hot chocolate!) however I love a cup of jasmine tea every day but, obviously, hardly anywhere I visit has a store of jasmine tea so I find it much easier just to carry these around with me for those occasions.

 

 

Pink Leather Purse

My parents picked this purse up for me from Tunisia a month or so ago. My old purse was in an awful state (full of receipts surprise surprise!) so I was very welcoming to a new purse. Plus I love the colour!

 

 

Soap & Glory Mist You Body Spray

I love this spray and I find it much lighter than perfume so I spray it on me throughout the day. This also means I don't go through hoards and hoards of perfume.

 

 

Katy Perry Killer Queen Perfume

Although I carry around a body spray that I mainly use, I do like to have the option for a perfume with me, especially if I'm going somewhere straight from work and I need a spritz of something a bit heavier. The perfume I use changes on a weekly basis (I'm planning on doing a perfume post soon) but this one by Katy Perry is one of my favourites. I won't embarrass myself or bore you by trying to explain the scent, but just know its lovely and suitable for both daytime and evening wear.

 

 

Allergy Relief Tablets

HAYFEVER *cue angry face with one sniffling nose*. Hayfever hits me every single year but this year it has been an absolute pain. I am also now taking a nasal spray but I keep putting off going to my doctor. Do you have any quick fixes for hayfever? Let me know.

 

 

Make Up Bag

This is the bag I carry around with products I need to either cover up a sudden spot, to moisturise my lips or just to spruce up my look a bit. I have a concealer, a mascara, an eye liner, a lipstick, a lip gloss, two lip balms and a mirror. Again, the contents of this bag changes on a weekly basis to make sure I make the most of all the products I have and just to keep things interesting.

 

 

Sunglasses

Summer has finally arrived so out comes the sunglasses. I picked these up from Primark for a bargain price and they are perfect for wearing on those blinding days.

 

So there we have it. Do you have any posts like these? Please leave links to them below.



May Favourites

May has absolutely flown by for me! Is it just me who thinks time goes so fast when you're living on a monthly pay check?! Anyway, I haven't got many new favourites this month as I've been testing out some new products so haven't had a chance to commit to too many products. However I have a couple that I just keep reaching for...

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation
This was my go-to foundation last summer as it sits so well on the skin when the weather is warmer and doesn't feel too heavy. I have been using this on nights out when I need my makeup to stay in place all night as it doesn't melt off. It is light coverage but my skin is in quite good condition at the minute so I can get away with using a lighter foundation.

The Body Shop Moroccan Rose Body Butter
This was in my first ever monthly favourites last year and I have been rediscovering it this month. The scent, for me, screams summer and its one of the lighter body butters that I have so absorbs really well into the skin. The only thing is I have nearly finished this tub so I'm hoping The Body Shop are still stocking this range!

Soap and Glory Mist You Body Mist
This is a fairly new purchase. As you may or may not know, I love the classic Soap & Glory scent and so when I discovered I could carry a bottle of it around with me all day for a sneaky fix of the good stuff, well, I pretty much jumped for joy. Ok I didn't, but you get my gist. The scent is quite strong initially however quickly tones down and, as it is a mist, is very light on the skin.

Collection Sheer Loose Powder
Another new product to my collection! I find Collection is a real hit and miss for me. I love their concealer (obvs) however I can't get to grips with their mascaras which have had rave reviews! I thought I would give their loose powder a go as I was after one and this was an absolute bargain so, if it didn't work for me then no worries, but I adore it and have been using it every single day. I lightly dust the powder over my t-zone, and also use it to set my concealer. It leaves a lovely airbrushed finished to the skin and is brilliant at keeping concealer in place.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream
Ok so I have clearly been loving my base makeup this month! This is a fairly new release from Bourjois and as soon a it hit shelves I went out and got it. With colour-correcting properties and a very thin consistency, I have been loving using this for daytime wear as it hardly feels like you've got makeup on, yet makes the skin look flawless. I know CC creams have come under criticism recently and many have refused to jump on the bandwagon but I would seriously recommend giving this a go, it feels so much like a foundation but without the heaviness. Such a technical review there.

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 16
This lipsticks has always been one of my favourites as I think it is the perfect pink shade but this month I have been loving it lots and lots. Its perfect for both day and night wear, glides onto the lips like a dream due to its lovely creamy consistency and its staying power is fairly good aswell. I have been teaming this with a gloss at times too to add some extra shine.

Have you been loving any of these products? Please leave any monthly favourites links below, they're my favourite to read!

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?

October Favourites

This month has been so crazy for me! I had a week off work where I really got into writing loads of posts for my blog, and I also went on holiday to Portugal which I'm going to do a post about soon. I have been loving so many things this month, a lot of them have been new things but others are products I have rediscovered my love for.

Bourjois Primer
I bought this quite recently but I'm loving it so much. It has a similar consistency to a balm but is dryer and vanishes onto the skin on application. Its not a very big pot and I've already used quite a lot which is a bit annoying. I find using a cream-based primer to be quite greasy on my skin, and it can feel like I've already applied one layer of make up however I don't get that with this primer. I've noticed my make up lasts much longer using this!

Nivea In Shower Body Moisturiser
I know these have been out for ages but I have only just tried it. I have heard mixed reviews but I think it is down to individual taste. I can be quite lazy when it comes to body moisturising, especially in the winter when it gets cold, so this sounded like the perfect solution for me! I also have very dry arms so I was intrigued to see if this made any difference. I noticed the difference as soon as I used it, even my arms felt softer and more hydrated after just 1 use! I really love this product and have almost run out, but I will definitely be repurchasing.

Sanctuary Body Scrub
I used to buy this all the time a couple of years ago but for some reason I stopped. However I have now rediscovered my love for it! The Sanctuary Spa scent is so unique but I just love all of their products. I have needed a new exfoliator for ages so I used this as my excuse! Its really lovely and my skin feels so clean and soft after using it.

Maybelliene Baby Lips
I wasn't too sure on these to begin with, they seemed to be too hyped about. However I took Peach Punch to Portugal and it was my saviour. I have extremely dry lips in pretty much any weather so keeping them moisturised is really important for me. I really like the scent of this one, and it leaves a slight shimmer on your lips but nothing too much so its easy to wear any time.

Collection Eye Liner
I am such a coward when it comes to eye liner, I really don't like putting this too near my eyes but I wanted to create the perfect smoky eye look for my sisters 18th so I decided to take the plunge! I did try a felt-tip-style liner to start with but I found this Collection Liquid Eye Liner to be much easier to apply, and it has a thin tip which is good for using on the water line.

Hair Donut
I have only tried a hair donut once but after watching a few tutorials about getting a 'messy bun' I thought I would give it a go. I used this most days on my holiday as my hair didn't like the dry climate or the water over there, so I could just scrape back my hair and use this. Its so easy to do and the results are great. You can go for a messy bun which is what I prefer, or you could make it much neater and tight (although that would give me such a headache!).

MUA Undress Me 2 Palette
I'm so obsessed with palettes at the moment. I recently reviewed Barry M's eye shadow palette (click here) and wasn't too impressed so when I saw this in Superdrug I had to have it. I took this on holiday and I used it every single day. You can create so many looks from all the different shades. I'm going to do a full review soon with swatches but I had to mention it here as I can't stop using this.

No 7 Eye Make Up Blending Brush
I treated myself to a No 7 eye makeup kit and got this brush with it. I have heard that it is a dupe for a MAC brush but I wouldn't know, all I know is its great. I have another blending brush but this one is so much softer and blends eye shadow perfectly. I've used it to perfect my smoky eye and just for every day blending, I might buy another one to have because as you can see, this one has got rather dirty already and needs a good wash!

Taylor Swift Enchanted Wonderstruck
I've had this perfume for ages and I really loved it when I first got it but, as you do, I used it too much and started to really dislike the smell. However I have rediscovered my love for it! I'm not very good at describing scents but I find this one is wearable during the day as it is quite light but could also be used in the evening, very universal. The bottle is a tad on the tacky side but the little charms are quite cute.

Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish in Blue Eyed Girl
I know its autumn and the typical autumnal nail would be a lovely berry or red shade, but there's something about this blue that I love! Its not too bright but has such a lovely glossy finish to it and can brighten up any outfit really.

So there we have it, another monthly favourites! I'm also posting a non-beauty favourites in a couple of days so be sure to check that out :)

Has anyone else been loving these products? Or any recommendations?

September Favourites

This month has gone by so quickly, I swear time goes faster when you're living on a monthly income! This month I have bought quite a few new products that I have been loving, and have also rediscovered some old gems. So lets get started...

Nivea Lip Balm
I bought this in Poundland a couple of weks ago (see my haul here) and this month I've been using it daily on my lips to keep them moisturised. I find a lot of lip balms and lip products such as Carmex leave my lips very dry after a couple of weeks but I have yet to find the same problem with this product.

Just Pink by Next
I'm quite fussy when it comes to perfume, especially the more expensive ones but every now and then I like to try something. This is quite a heavy scent and it reminds me of Euphoria by Calvin Klein a little bit. I would call it quite a 'grown up' perfume and definitely one for an evening. I've worn this out in the local pubs and out for food and it lasts ages.

Bourjois Vintage Rose Palette
This is another of my new purchases. I never really go for coloured eye shadow, I normally stick to greys and bronze shades but these colours are so gorgeous that I could not resist! I use the light shade for highlighting the brow bone and for the inner corners, the medium shade for the lid and then the dark shade in the crease and then blend with the medium shade on the lid. Its a really lovely palette and one that can be worn when the weather is changing as it suits end-of-summer and Autumn clothing.

Tangle Teezer
I am so so so happy that I decided to buy this, I'm actually a little gutted I waited so long! I've done a full review of it here but all in all its a lovely brush to use especially with long, damp hair. I've been using this every day, and where my hair used to be quite greasy I've noticed it been a lot better since using this brush so a big thumbs up!

Wella Reflections Oil
Another new purchase and another product that I have fully reviewed (click here) but I have loved using this product. It has a gorgeous smell to it, after using it for a few weeks my hair already feels softer and thicker, and I just think it has helped improve the overall condition of my hair.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer
I have rediscovered this concealer this month. I have been suffering with quite dark eye circles and although my Lasting Perfection Concealer is very good when it comes to coverage, this concealer just makes my under eye area look much brighter and more awake.

So there we have it! I love discovering new little gems and also rediscovering old favourites, I always have my staple items that I can't live without but its nice to change to different products every now and then.

Has anyone else been loving any of these products? What are your monthly faves? Leave links below.