April 2014 Favourites

Muji storage drawers

Acrylic MUJI Drawers Storage

My first favourite has to be my MUJI Storage. Yes, I know its overdone & everyone has it but I love it & I’m happy with the two pieces I bought. I went to the MUJI concession in Selfridges at The Trafford Centre & it took me ages to decide what to get, I still haven’t organised my makeup in them yet but I am working up to it. I have the 2 Drawer Narrow & Wide 5 Drawer 

My favourite makeup and skincare from April 2014

Garnier Micellar Solution – I have been using this for a couple of months now & I’ve not even used half the bottle which is great. You get a whopping 400ml and it seems like it will last a really long time. I managed to buy mine from a shop called Savers for £2.99 so stock up if you have one where you live. I like to use this to take off my eye makeup & then I sweep the cotton pad all over my face to remove a little more of my base before cleansing with my DHC Oil Cleanser or my Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm and that seems to keep my skin really clean and blemish free. I bought a bottle for my mum too and she called me to let me know how much she has been enjoying using it so we both give it the thumbs up.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Anti Shine SPF50* – I’m in love with this facial SPF, I don’t want to say too much because I have a full review coming up on the blog this week. So all I will say is this is the only facial SPF I will be using from this day forward.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara – This mascara is very black and coats each individual lash to make them look so thick & intense. Its a really long wearing mascara with no fall down throughout the day. So no Panda eyes here. I have repurchased this a couple of times now & that is unusual for me as I hardly ever repurchase makeup. Its a seriously great mascara if you have short, sparse lashes.

L’Oreal True Match Foundation in the shade Vanilla – I only bought this at the beginning of March and it is the first ever L’Oreal Foundation I’ve tried, I think I have a shade slightly too dark but I am hoping that will suit me a little better as we get into the warmer months. This is a light to medium coverage, you can still see all my (hundreds) of freckles which I like. It looks natural and wears really well, it doesn’t oxidise on me and my oily skin seems to only start looking shiny after about 6 hours wear & then I lightly dust some powder on. 21

Soap & Glory Solar Powder – This is a purchase totally influenced by the gorgeous Amy from SRSLYLOU. I have been wearing this religiously for a couple of months & all of my other bronzers are crying neglected in the drawer. This is a two-toned bronzer, I like to swirl my brush around both shades, sweep it across my forehead & down on to my cheeks that adds a little colour & glow to my very pale skin. The lighter shade has a little sheen to it & the slightly darker brown is matte. So that’s handy having 2 shades. I think this bronzer gives me a sun-kissed glow & a touch of natural colour.

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask* sample size – What a mask this is, I won this in the lovely CatherineLoves giveaway & have been savouring each use. It is quite a sticky formula & it smells so good, I apply a small amount to my face and smooth it over my skin & try to relax (generally watching YouTube videos in the bath) for about 20 minutes before taking it off with a warm flannel to reveal soft, smooth refreshed looking skin. This is a gentle but effective exfoliator which has been working wonders. Now I need to purchase the full size of this mask. Hello smooth, bright skin!

Let me know what products you have been loving or if you have tried anything from my lineup.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

In My Makeup Bag Feb 2014

Makeup Bag Edit

As a complete makeup addict I like to change up the products I have in my makeup bag on quite a regular basis, I tend to rotate on a weekly basis. If I love something it tends to stick around a little longer. Im sharing with you the products I have been using these past two weeks.

Dr Jartt Water Fuse Beauty Balm – I bought it before Christmas and have been pretty much using it since. I don’t like to wear a full coverage base as I have quite a few freckles and I like them to show through, otherwise I look like I have no features. This BB Cream gives a very fresh & glowing light coverage. It evens out my skin tone & gives coverage enough to hide the redness around my nose. So I get a lovely natural looking base, this water based BB Cream is aimed at people with more Oily Skin (like me). So if you’re looking for a lightweight base which keeps oil at bay then this is for you. I bought this when it was 1/3 off in Boots.

Soap & Glory Solar Powder – I use this to give my face a slight sun kissed look & a hint of colour. It is a bronzing duo & like to swirl my brush to pick up both shade on my brush & sweep it across my cheeks, temples and down my nose. The lighter shade has a hint of shimmer while the darker of the two is matte.

Seventeen Phwoarr PaintI have been using this to conceal blemishes and to cover the redness around my nose. It works well for both & if i remember to powder the coverage lasts a good amount of time without having to touchup. This is quite a heavy duty concealer, I warm it up in between my fingers so it is easy to blend and that seems to do the trick. Its a handy concealer to pop in your handbag and the fact it has a little mirror in is perfect for checking its still in place & for applying lipstick! I have the shade Fair.

Makeup Bag

Inika Kohl Eyeliner 05 Black Caviar* – This is a lovely intense black eyeliner, it is very creamy and great to blend out for a smokey eye.

Miss Sporty Cat’s Eye Palette in Mineral Earth – This eyeshadow quad is forever in my makeup bag, it is perfect for achieving a pretty neutral eye & the lightest shade makes a pretty inner corner highlight. I urge you to try this, it’s amazing quality and very pretty. Its small and handy for travelling.

Miss Sporty Liquid Concealer – This is another very budget friendly product, like most people I’m on the hunt for a concealer that does everything & more, sadly this isn’t my HG concealer but it is very creamy and hydrating, I have the shade Light & I use it under my eyes to brighten & make it appear that I’ve had 10 hours sleep. It does a pretty good job. I like it more than the Collection one (a lot more) as I find this blends better and is less drying. I have the shade 001 Light.

Makeup Bag

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara – This mascara makes my pathetic eyelashes look both long and thick, its a really long wearing mascara and I get no flaking throughout the day. Word of warning, don’t apply too much as your lashes will end up very crispy & spider like (unless thats your thing).

Wet n Wild Blush – Until I used this I wasn’t sure what shade suited my skin tone best & then I realised it was peach toned pinks. This Wet n Wild blush is called Pearlescent Pink and is subtle but so very pretty. It makes my complexion look alive and fresh. It gives my cheeks just enough colour. I adore it and have worn it almost everyday for a whole month. I’ve heard a few people compare this to NARS Deep Throat & I can see the resemblance. 

CarmexThe perfect winter lip balm. I go back to this time & time again.

Maybelline Brow DramaI like how this gives my eyebrows enough colour so they look neat & tidy but not overdone. This is more a day brow product as you aren’t able to get the full brow look using this. It also keeps my brows in place like a brow gel so you get colour & a setting product in one. I use my HD brow palette if I want a more dramatic brow look. I have the shade Medium Brown.

Pink leather pouch is from Zara & is meant to be a clutch bag, but I use it at a makeup bag.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

January Treats

January Treats

A few products I purchased in January.

I always like to try different makeup removers and this L’Oreal Gentle Makeup Remover Eye one was on sale in Boots for £1.99 so I thought I would give it a whirl. Let me know If you’ve tried it?

These S&G products were buy one get one half price so I picked up Glow All Out & Solar Powder these are the first face powders I have bought from S&G and I bought them after reading lovely reviews on Amy’s blog SRSLYLOU. They look gorgeous and can’t wait to use them. I don’t own that many blush / bronzers so these are a welcomed addition to my collection.

Soap & Glory Face Powders

Maybelline Brow Drama in Medium Brown – I normally use my HD Brow Palette to do my brows and I love that but I wanted to try this to see if it could be a quicker way of doing my brows. I have been using this for a week now & I really like it. Its like a mascara for your brows & gives me just enough colour & definition for day to day. Its not heavy and looks natural. So far so good. This comes in three shades Deep Blonde, Medium Brown and Dark Brown.

Maybelline Brow Drama

Collection Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Cream in Cotton Candy – I am very late to this party, I know that lots of bloggers love these. First off I noticed how good this smells, its sweet and I guess smells like cotton candy (thumbs up from me). The colour is a pretty wearable pink, and I have enjoyed wearing it, its not sticky and I would say that it isn’t overly glossy. I like the finish of it and how it wears on my lips. Now I have one I want to go back and get a few more shades. There are four shades to pick from Cotton Candy, Powder Puff, Fairy Cake and Angel Delight.

Collection Cream Puff

Have you been buying anything during January? Let me know what you have been loving.

Five Skincare Favourites Jan 2014

Skincare

Soap & Glory Pulp Friction – One of my favourite Scrubs, I love how smooth this leaves my skin, I use this mostly on my legs and they always feel silky smooth. I like the packaging of this as it’s easy to squeeze out in the shower, I like it more than a tub. I find it cleaner and more hygienic.

Botanics Radiant Youth Microdermabrasion Polish – This is a thick almost paste like product with very small exfoliating scrubby beads in. I use this once a week so remove dead skin and keep my skin feeling and looking bright and healthy. I bought this on a whim and have been pleasantly surprised. This 125ml tube is lasting forever.

Nuxe Gentle Exfoliating Gel* – This is one of the most gentle (as the name suggests) exfoliators I have used. I like to use this in the morning once or twice a week as it leaves my skin feeling unbelievably soft and healthy looking. After use it feels like I’ve used a moisturiser its that soft & smooth. The exfoliants are 100% botanical & are made up of Extracts of Lychee Seed, Nutshell Powder, they are quite fine but do a good job at removing dead skin. This is perfect at keeping the skin looking healthy and fresh. You have to try it.

balance Me Super Toning Body Wash – This is a real grown up shower gel and I love it. I have spoke about it before, but it leaves my skin so soft and hydrated. I normally go through shower gel so fast but this lasts me a good amount of time, I don’t feel the need to use loads of product, as a small about does the job. I do like to use this when I shave my legs as it’s hydrating.

Pixi Glow Tonic – almost all gone (cries). I have loved having this as part of my skincare routine and think it has helped keep my skin brighter and blemish free this winter. This is a great chemical exfoliator with Glycolic Acid. This product breaks down and removes the dead skin to keep your skin looking bright and radiant. It is alcohol free which means it doesn’t dry your skin out. This bottle has lasted me since May & I use almost daily. I saw they have changed the packaging, not a fan of the new bottle, I love the pump on mine as I get just enough product with 2 pumps and nothing it wasted. I’m going to clean out this bottle and reuse it.

I’m very happy that you’re able to buy the Pixi Glow Tonic online now – although it’s not in stock very often. I suggest that when its available you stock up. I know I will be.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.