All Used Up #15

1. Got2b Guardian Angel Heat Protector Spray: After purchasing Tresemme for many years, I felt it was time to try a new heat protector. This smelt lovely but I preferred the finer spray of the Tresmme version. I don't think you can tell that much difference between heat protectors but this was non sticky and light on the hair so did the job nicely.

2. The Body Shop Camomile Eye & Lip Makeup Remover: A definite repurchase, I adore this stuff! It is a bi-phase liquid that you shake up to mix up the oil and is so effect and gentle at removing stubborn mascara and lip stains. It is such a good product for the money and I am looking to repurchase it as soon as possible.

3. Tropic Skincare Vitamin Toner: The spray on this was lovely and fine and the product itself was refreshing and gentle with a non offensive scent. This was great for in the morning to perk up my face and I wouldn't hesitate at repurchasing. If you are looking for something gentle and non drying, this would be a great option.

4. Soap & Glory Whipped Clean Shower Butter: One of my all time favourites from the brand and the highstreet in general. The sweet pistachio smell of this is lovely and the formula foams up so much while still being gentle and moisturising. This is a real winner for this time of year and perfect for if you are too lazy to moisturise after the shower.

5. Seventeen Skin Wow! Highlighter: Read my full review here. This is a great budget liquid highlighter which has multiple uses, but my favourite way is to mix it into foundation to add a healthy glow. This is quite pink toned and pearlescent but luckily was not too glittery on the skin. I did feel as though it made my skin more prone to oil throughout the day but overall it was a good product.

6. Una Brennan Vitamin C Cleansing Oil: As far as oil cleansers go this was alright. It removed make up well and did not leave any residue, but I did not see any brightening effects like the claims and it was really messy to use. It lasted ages which is normally a plus, but I wanted to use this faster as it was just OK. I normally love Una Brennan so this was a bit of a let down.

7. L'Oreal EverPure Hair Mask for Coloured Hair: My first foray into sulphate free hair care and I adored it! Honestly, this left my hair so soft, smooth and tangle free at such a bargain price. I liked this so much it made it into my monthly favourites last year and I would definitely repurchase.

8. Macadamia Healing Oil Spray: I've had this for years and finally used it up. I love the Macadamia range but this is not one of my favourite products. The best way to use this was on dry hair, sprayed into my palms and worked through the mid lengths to ends to smooth everything. When used on wet hair it did live up to the claims of drying it faster, but I wasn't in love with this product. Read my full review here.

9. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation: This was my go to foundation for when I was on a night out (hence the slightly darker colour match for fake tan!) It gives a real even and flawless finish, while still looking quite radiant and it stays put all night. I enjoyed using this foundation and would repurchase but it is not a holy grail for me like it is for other bloggers as I preferred wearing it for a few hours rather than all day.

10. MAC Fix+: To be honest, I still can't make up my mind if this does anything or not. It was my first try at fixing sprays so I have nothing to compare it too. The plus points were the fine mist, lockable cap for travel and that it helped to take any powdery finish away but I can't make up my mind if it actually locked my make up in place. This is also good to wet your brushes in before applying eyeshadow to make it more intense. I may go back to this and try it again but for now I am enjoying a cheaper L'Oreal version.

What have you used up recently? xxx

Review: Rimmel | Fix & Perfect Primer |

Rimmel - Fix & Perfect Primer - Boots - £6.99

If you watched this video, you may remember my first thoughts on this primer were pretty so so. In fact, normally I am not a fan of primers at all, and view them as an unnecessary extra step and layer to my make up routine on a day to day basis.

However, due to Autumn turning quickly into Winter weather-wise, central heating and pollution amongst the usual culprits, I've noticed a definite change to my skin in terms of hydration and therefore how make up sits on my skin. Having combination skin that is also dehydrated is a difficult thing to tackle. Make up started to settle in weird places, and look dry and cakey, so as well as tackling this with skincare, I decided to pull out the Rimmel Fix & Protect primer as it is much more smoothing and moisturising than other primers I have. 

Turns out this was an excellent choice as it has made such a difference not only to the look and feel of my make up but also its longevity. The reasons I love it now are why I didn't like it before funnily enough, but I guess that is because my skin is a lot different to in the summertime.

 This is very smoothing with a silicone like texture and definitely feels hydrating, yet not greasy (just). I don't see much difference worn alone, but all my foundations have looked instantly better when applied on top. Even my most matte of foundations are looking more skin like and glowy than cakey and dry. Not only does it help bases to not settle in pores or weird lines, it locks make up into place for a full working day, and gives my base a more airbrushed and even appearance.

In terms of oil control, I wouldn't say it aids in anyway, but at the same time it doesn't make me any more greasy which is a win. I've totally changed my mind on this product and would urge you to try it for yourself as it is a bargain at £6.99 at Boots.

Are you for or against primers? xxx

Glam Purple Autumnal Make Up

Autumn brings brisk sunny days, crunchy leaves and burgundy and cranberry make up, which is my absolute favourite. I originally filmed a tutorial for this look, but unfortunately the lighting was terrible and it just wasn't the quality I wanted to put out. It's quite a full on look as I went heavy on the eyes and lips, so great for a night out this season.

Base

I mixed together By Terry Light Expert Click Brush Foundation in '2 Apricot Light' with  Soap & Glory Hocus Focus Liquid Highlighter to give a bright base. You can read my full review here of the foundation, but I just love the texture and how it blurs out imperfections like my pores. Covering dark circles and brightening up the eye area is quite important because the eye shadow is so dark and heavy. I used Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in '2' as a colour corrector, then blended in Maybelline The Eraser Concealer in 'Light' to conceal with a beauty blender. For any blemishes and redness Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer in '52' did a great job as it is very blendable, long lasting and good coverage. To highlight under the eyes further and down the centre of my face, I used one of my staple products - L'Oreal Lumi Magique in '1 Light'. You can read in more detail about my 3 favourite concealers mentioned here.

To set everything in place, I used an old favourite Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in 'Translucent', then added some colour back into my face by way of a light contour with Benefit Hoola Bronzer. As the rest of the make up is quite heavy, I wanted a neutral blush so used Benefit Rockateur Blush and finished with MAC Lightscapade MSF to highlight my cheekbones and centre of the face.

Eyes

I always start with brows and used my every day products - Anastasia Brow Wiz in 'Taupe' to define the shape, the lightest powder shade in the Revolution Eyebrow Shaping Kit to provide more density and colour and finally set everything in place with Maybelline Brow Drama in 'Medium Brown'.

To act as a transition shade, I used a fluffy brush to buff in a warm toned light brown shade, this time it was 'Force of Nature' from the Tartlette palette, before applying Maybelline Color Tattoo in 'Metallic Pomegranate' with my finger as a base for the eye shadows. This cream shadow is so beautiful on its own as well as a base. I used the burgundy shade from my Estée Lauder 'Rasins' palette which has a subtle shimmery finish. To my outer corner I buffed in 'Sexy' a matte burgundy shade with a MAC 217 brush and then deepened the outer corner with 'Serious' a matte black, both from The Balm Nude Tude palette. Starting from the inner corner of the lid to the middle I pressed in Bellapierre loose pigment in 'Cinnabar' that is a shimmery more pink toned cranberry colour. To finish off the look I used 'Super Mom' from the Tartlette palette to highlight my brow bone, drew a thin line on my top lash line with L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim in 'Intense Black' and used lashings of Mascara Terrybly Growth Booster by By Terry. This look is quite dramatic, so I used Eyelure Naturalite Lashes to add volume and drama to the eyes.

Lastly, my favourite product for my lips at the moment. Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in 'Shameless' provides a deep intense matte purple, without being drying as the formula is really creamy yet still very long lasting.

Do you have a favourite Autumnal make up product? xxx

November Favourites | 2014 |

Ideally this post would have been in video format due to the fact I have so many favourite products this month, but alas there has been no time in between unpacking the new house, preparing for Christmas and having a full time job. There has been a distinct lack of favourites posts on this blog for a while which is a shame as they are one of my favourite things to write about - who doesn't love harping on about their latest beauty obsession? Now I have a nice little list on my phone of what I've been loving, hopefully it will give you some ideas for Christmas presents for others (or yourself!)

001. Maybelline Brow Drama in 'Medium Brown': For someone who doesn't have much in the eyebrow department, I have really been enjoying this product since I bought it a few months ago. It's great for use on it's own on natural make up days or for using on top of pencil/powder when opting for a more polished look. The colour is a little dark and it can go a teeny bit crispy, so be sure to use sparingly. It is such a beauty bargain though and is now a staple in my every day beauty bag.

002. Real Techniques Beauty Blender: Since purchasing this I have used it every day without fail. My favourite use is for blending in my under eye concealer as it stops that area looking cakey or dry as well as minimising creasing. It looks really natural and means I haven't had to set my eye area either. It is a super cheap alternative to the Beauty Blender and is the best compared to the other ones I've tried.

003. Lush Mask of Magnaminty: The fresh face masks have always left me a little disappointed, but this mask in particular has always intrigued me with it's positive reviews. I must say, it is the best mask I have used from Lush and has actually made it into my all time favourite face masks! You get a large pot, which is freshly made but does not go off anywhere near as quick as the fresh masks and it really does work. I find this is great for both drawing out impurities as it dries quite hard but also for treating any active blemishes. In the morning after using this my spots have gone down considerably and my face feels refreshed, smooth and a lot clearer.

004. Rimmel Lip Products: This month I've discovered my love for Rimmel lipsticks. For some reason I never seem to reach for them that often even though they are such a good bargain with great formulas and amazing colour pay off. The deep pink called 'Lily Extase' is one I've had since the beginning of uni and I forgot how pretty the hue is as well as the lasting power. I've also been pairing 'Vintage Pink' which is a deep mauve and 'Black Tulip' lip liner which look so lovely together and make a long lasting but moistursing lip duo. The lip liners and Moisture Renew collection are some of my favourites from Rimmel and I will definitely be investing in some more colours.

005. Revlon Colour Stay Foundation in '110 Ivory' and Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in '1C1 Shell 15' : As I mentioned my skin has been suffering as of late so to cover those imperfections and scarring I've been opting for heavier coverage foundations. I love that both of these last a full working day - considering I put my face on at 7am and it is still pretty much in tact by 7pm in the evening I'd say it has amazing wear time. Mixed with a little bit of liquid highlighter and buffed in well, these give flawless coverage without being cakey and heavy. Out of the two Double Wear is my favourite because the satin finish really does look like skin but Colour Stay is an amazing high street dupe if you are looking for something more affordable.

006. St Ives Invigorating Body Scrub*: When thinking about this brand I've never really considered their body products but this scrub has fast turned into one of my favourites. The pot is generously filled and it has just the right amount of abrasiveness while being cushioned with a soft and creamy formula. It leaves your skin feeling super smooth and soft without feeling raw.

007. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair: This serum is a staple in my nightly skin care routine which I use around 3-4 times a week. It is great at hydrating the skin, correcting pigmentation left from blemishes and  evening skin tone. I am careful not to use it every night as otherwise it can be a bit too heavy for me but used properly and the benefits are fantastic. I'm nearly at the end of this bottle now but it has lasted me ages and I will definitely be purchasing the new version when I have run out.

008. MaxFactor Masterpiece Transform Mascara in 'BLack': When it comes to mascara, MaxFactor just seem to own it! I didn't think my beloved 2000 calorie mascara could be rivaled but after trying the newest release from MaxFactor I must say it has turned into one of my favourites. After a few weeks of use I have found it tends to flake a little towards the end of the day and it doesn't give as much volume as 2000 calorie but it gives wonderfully long, black lashes that don't clump while giving a false lash effect.

009. Soap and Glory Lid Stuff Neutral Eyeshadow Quad: This little quad is such an underrated gem of the drugstore. For £10 you get amazingly pigmented and long lasting eye shadows, it is amazing for travel and you can get a variety of looks out of it. I've been using it for over a year now and have just never got round to doing a review. My favourite shade is 'Pink T', which is perfect for an every day eye and 'Aubersheen' looks amazing as an easy all over the lid smokey eye shade. The highlighter is also non chalky and perfect for day and night.

Miscellaneous

Tartan scarf from Miss Selfridge: perfect pattern and colour and really large and soft -  so cozy!

Fleur De Force vlogs: In particular I have been loving Fleur's vlogmas. She is so down to earth and I envy how much she can pack into one day!

Ru Paul's Drag Race: Ever since we got Netflix this has been such a guilty pleasure to watch when I'm getting ready in the morning. If you love ANTM then you will love this.

George Ezra: His album is so catchy and mellow, it has been on repeat on my Spotify this month.

Salted Caramel Tea: I'm not a fan of plain green tea but this novelty twist is delicious without being overpowering. If you are into herbal teas then you should give this a go!

What have you been loving recently? xxx

All Used Up #9

Hey guys, here is my very late follow up post which accompanies the video for my empties. I've managed to use up a variety of products this time around so you can either hear or read all about them in this post :)

1. Lush 'Snow Fairy' Shower Gel: An iridescent pink shower gel that features a bubble gum and pear drop scent, this product foams up nicely and leaves your bathroom smelling gorgeous for ages afterwards. One of my favourites from Lush but only available in their Christmas collection so you will have to wait until the end of this year to get your hands on it again, sorry!

2. Vichy Normaderm Micellar Water: full review here. One of the better micellar waters I've tried, it doesn't leave any horrible residue, is paraben free and suitable for oily skin, but it is rubbish at cleaning away stubborn eye make up and didn't blow me away. I wouldn't repurchase.

3. Yankee Candle 'Salted Caramel' Candle: I don't know how Yankee do it but they seem to encapsulate scents so well. This scent is very heavy but so delicious - think warm comforting caramel with a very sweet twist. It won't be everyone's cup of tea but I've loved using this throughout the winter months and would definitely repurchase.

4. Batiste Dry Shampoo: A regular feature in these posts, my trusty dry shampoo of choice. An absolute life saver it refreshes hair and provides volume. A regular repurchase.

5. Paul Mitchell Forever Blonde Shampoo* & Conditioner*: Full review here. The shampoo is more than just a bog standard product, it provides moisture and refreshes your colour without making it greasy. The conditioner is the perfect follow up, a half way house between a conditioner and a hair mask it provides a hit of moisture that won't weigh down your hair. A definite repurchase!

6. Dove 'Original' Antiperspirant: not much to say on this one, I do like Dove deodorants but I normally get whatever is on offer!

7. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer:  A blogger favourite, I love the coverage and the long lasting formula but I find the shade range really lets this product down and it tends to go quite ashy on me. I've repurchased this a lot before but I think I was trying to make myself like it more than I did.

8. Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer:  I originally wanted a lighter shade for under my eyes but instead I used this on my face and it was a good consistency but was quite lightweight so you have to build up the coverage gradually. It also isn't as long wearing as I would like. I wouldn't repurchase unless I could get a lighter colour for under my eyes.

9. Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner: My first foray into pen style liquid eyeliners, I loved the concept but the actual product fell short. It is quite grey and watery so needs to be built up into an opqaue line, which is a shame because at the time I bought it there was lots of hype around it. I'm trying out one by Bourjois at the moment and much prefer that.

Have you tried any of these products? xxx

October Favourites

This month's favourites features some newish purchases as well as products that I've learnt to love again after shopping my stash. 

MUA Pro-Brow Kit: After hearing a lot about various brow kits, I thought I'd switch out my regular brow pencil to try one myself and thought this would be a good place to start as it is cheap as chips. I use the lightest shade of two to fill in my brows and the wax included to set them. The powder is soft with good pigmentation and the wax is easy to work with. I really like the results that using a powder creates and have reached for this every day since I bought it. A full review post on this little kit with more details on it will be up in the near future.

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation: For the past three years I have always had a bottle of this foundation in my stash. Normally reserved for nights out, I really like the finish this foundation gives and that the coverage is buildable. Matched with the Real Techniques buffing brush I find this gives a lovely natural air brushed base with a slightly dewy finish. I usually prefer matte finishes but recently this foundation has been reached for on a near daily basis. I have the colour '100 Ivory' which is a little too dark for me at this time of year so will be picking up a lighter shade when this has run out.

Revolution Organics Freedom Glow in 'Bronzed': I posted a review of this a while back but have changed the way I use it since then. Reminiscent to the NARS multiple sticks, this is a multi use product free of any nasties. My preferred way to use it at the moment is as a cream contour as it is a darker shade than the bourjois bronzing primer which I use more for adding warmth to my complexion. It is easy to blend and build up when buffed in again with the buffing brush from Real Techniques. 

MAC Creme D'Nude Lipstick: This is a relatively new purchase too which I picked up from a recent blog sale. Although it was a bit melted, the shade had been on my wishlist for ages so I snapped it up for a bargain price. My first cremesheen finish (the other MAC lipsticks I own are amplified) this lipstick has become a staple in my every day make up. I normally stick to bright lips but I've been going through a bit of a nude moment and this is the perfect shade and consistency for every day. Buttery and nourishing, this smells just like other MAC lipsticks and has just enough shine and brown to the shade to be complimentary to my skin tone. It is perfect for day and night and is a great addition to my lipstick collection.

The Body Shop Honeymania Bubble Bath Melt: As soon as I caught wind of the Honeymania launch I knew I had to get my hands on some products. The bath melt has a really strong scent which I love - more floral with a touch of honey. The consistency looks just like honey and there is something about the pearlescent formula that makes it feel like a real decadent treat. Now the colder months are here I've been enjoying more baths and this is the perfect accompaniment

L'Oreal Lumi Magique: For ages I never understood the hype behind YSL Touche Eclat but then I realised it's purpose was for highlighting rather than concealing and saw how fab it was. The L'Oreal high street version is just as great in my opinion and I've enjoyed using it every day on the inner corners under my eyes to brighten over a colour corrector, down the bridge of my nose, on my brow bone and the cupids bow. It is subtle and natural but makes a difference to brightening your complexion and the rose gold packaging is pretty cute too.

What have you enjoyed using recently? xxx

The Weekend Face #1

As you may or may not know, Matt and I met at Uni but he has since graduated and got a big boy job in London, meaning our relationship has gone from seeing each other every day to every weekend. We are quite lucky its not too far to travel, however I am an appalling packer and find it virtually impossible to pack light. I've been making a conscious effort therefore to try and squeeze down my make up bag for the weekend and plan ahead (although I am still terrible at this!) Among making my case a little lighter (the amount of skincare I take is not ok) trying to condense my make up bag has lead to me using well loved things I had forgotten about again and mixing up my make up routine. So I thought it might be interesting to show you what I take as a mini series on the weekends I go down to visit, but leaving out the standard staples as that would get boring!

Lets start with the base. I chose Healthy Mix as it gives light to medium coverage, which is buildable and also helps to perk up and hydrate my skin in this horrible weather (review soon) with the usual culprits of Benefit's Erasepaste for under eyes and Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer for any redness or blemishes. My new powder of choice - Rimmel's Stay Matte - was put to the test to set my foundation and keep oil at bay, but I'm not seeing much difference between this and my previous 17 Miracle Matte powder. Finally a dusting of 'London' from my Fashionista palette (amazing for travel) along my cheekbones combined a blush and highlight in one.

For my eyes, I chose to go for a natural look and began by lining the waterline with Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl in 'Nude' and swept 'Naked' from my Urban Decay Naked palette all over the lid. This palette is amazing for travel as it has shades for every occasion so I take it with me everywhere as you can probably see from the battered packaging! I took 'Virgin' also from this palette as my brow highlight and used Bourjois Intuitive eyeliner to deepen my lash line - still not too sure on this one but a review will be coming soon. Lastly, lashings of my two favourite mascaras completed this look. 

For lips I took two lipsticks - Kate Moss for Rimmel 107, an amazing deep red which I have been obsessed with recently and wear for both the evening or day and Barry M lip paint in '101' - a milky nude shade. As my eyes were pared down I either went for a bright pop of red or combined both of these together in the style of Lisa Eldridge to brighten up 101 which can be a bit dead by itself.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend! Let me know what you think of these products xxx

The Poorly Face

Recently I've been under the weather like most people around this time of year and so havn't been up to putting on a full face of make up. However, when illness strikes I like to use more subtle make up to make me look a little less sick, which in turn makes me feel a bit better.

To start off I apply Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm in 'bronzed' all over my face and blend in well with a stippling brush. This gives a healthy, natural glow which contains moisturising oils such as coconut and jojoba, and aloe vera to sooth and condition, perfect for dehydrated skin and dry areas such as round the nose. I then applied Benefit's Erase Paste in 1 and Lasting Perfection Concealer by Collection  in 1 to cover up any other redness and dark circles. To perk up  my complexion a little more, I blended some Hocus Focus by Soap and Glory onto my cheek bones and places that would naturally catch the light.

For my eyes I used a tiny bit of the new Rimmel Scandal Eyes waterproof kohl liner in 'Nude' on my water line to brighten them up and defined my brows with a little of a Rimmel eyebrow pencil in 'Hazel'. I didn't tend to wear mascara but on the days when I felt it was needed, a few coats of L'Oreal Million Lashes was suffice.  Lastly, I lightly lined my lips in the perfect shade for my natural lip colour - 'Eastend Snob', another Rimmel product, this time their Exaggerate Full Colour lip liner. I then blended this all over my lips to give them some natural definition.

What make up do you wear when feeling under the weather? xxx

All Used Up #3

As you can see, this time around I have loads of empties! I've been really pleased with myself using up my odds and sods so I can kind of justify spending money on new things :) I best get on with it otherwise this post is going to be ridiculously long!

Garnier Body Intensive 7 day Moisturiser in Mango: This version is for dry skin, which I suffer from especially on my legs. I really enjoyed using this as it is lightweight but still nourishing. I used this a lot over the summer and have just repurchased a bottle in the Shea butter version for extra dry skin for the upcoming cold months. They are normally on offer too which is a plus.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush: Love Batiste and couldn't live without dry shampoo, there is always one in my stocks!

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Enhancing Conditioner: Hair care products always seem to last me an age so I was pleased to finally use this up. It's nice enough but I didn't see a massive difference to my hair or highlights so probably wouldn't repurchase.

Radox Moisture Shower Therapy: I normally get shower gels when they are on offer in the supermarket just like this one. I've tried it before and liked it as it has a nice scent and helps to moisturise my skin. It's not the most luxurious of shower gels but it does the job so I would repurchase.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Asia Straight Shampoo: The packaging is lovely and the actual product is quite nice too. I never notice a massive difference with straightening shampoos so I wouldn't repurchase this but other bits from the range such as the Gliss Liquid Silk Gloss range are really good for a great price. You can normally pick this up for a bargain at home bargains too.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish: I wax lyrical about this all the time - it is amazing and a definite repurchase! I used this bottle up quite a while ago but have already got another bottle on the go. Read my detailed review here.

Garnier Ultra Dry Mineral Deodorant: This had a great smell, did the job and I liked the packaging. Not much more to say about a deodorant apart from I would repurchase.

Rimmel Perfect Match Foundation: The first make up product I've used up in a long time! I really enjoyed this foundation and think it is perfect for long days as it stays put and gives a lovely finish so perfect for nights out or a meal. I would say it is medium to full coverage with a satin like finish. A definite repurchase.

Clinique Take the Day Off Make up remover (travel size): A little of this goes a long way and it is one of the most effective eye make up removers I've used. The only downside is the oily residue, however I would still repurchase. 

Origins Clear Improvements Mask: Origins is such an amazing brand and I can't fault any of their products that I've tried. This mask really did the job of decongesting my skin as well as helping to mattify it. It may be pricey but this is definitely on my shopping list.

Origins Drink Up Mask (sample): The smell of this is amazing and it hydrated my skin really well. I just purchased the Drink Up Intensive mask for winter and am loving it so far. I recommend this to everyone.

Nivea Daily Essentials Cleansing Wipes: I use wipes to take off the excess of my make up before cleansing, not as an actual way to clean my face. These were good at getting off a lot of the excess and stayed wet for ages which can sometimes be a let down with other wipes. I've moved onto cleansing waters now but these were good as far as wipes go.

I love... Mango Face Mask: I received this in a Joliebox and thought it would be great to hydrate my skin due to being 'moisturising and reviving'. It is a peel off mask which I think is always a fun novelty and was looking forward to using it. However, it was ridiculously gloopy and stringy so was really hard to apply and once it was time to  peel it off it really hurt (like pulling off a plaster) and made my face sting after. I absolutely hated this and it made the fun and relaxing treat of a face mask into a nightmare.

Vo5 Hot Oil Moisture Soak Elixir: I've been using Hot Oils for years so when the in shower version came out I was sold! This is used as a pre-shampoo treatment and always leaves my hair nourished and soft. It is one of my favourite hair oils and as it is relatively cheap too I recommend for everyone to try it. The only downside is the application is a bit tricky.

I tried to be short and sweet with all the items so hopefully it wasn't too long for you to read! Have you tried any of these products? What products have you used up recently? xxx

October Favourites

Once again the lighting is horrendous and I'm struggling to take any decent photos for upcoming posts! On the plus side the festive season is creeping up on us and I bloody love it! I love everything about Autumn and Winter and am so excited to get ready for Christmas. The only downside is the ridiculous amount of work and deadlines I have for Uni around this time of year :( Now lets get on with this month's favourites...

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Kohl in 'Nude': A budget dupe for Mac's Chromographic pencil, this perks up my eyes when applied to the waterline. I've used it nearly every single day and it helps to make me look more awake on cold mornings.

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes in 'Extra Black': This makes my lashes look so nice with just one coat and gives a really natural looking definition and volume. I like to use it by itself when I'm having a 'no makeup' makeup day.

Lip butter in 'Raspberry Pie' and Topshop's 'Brighton Rock': Both these colours have been on my lips pretty much all month as I love bright lips at the moment and think that 'Raspberry pie' especially is a lovely colour for Autumn. You can see reviews for both here and here.

Christmas candles: I have quite a few more than the one pictured to represent them all. I love the smell of Autumn/Christmas candles and they have really got me into the festive spirit :)

Aussie Dual Personality Curl and Shine mousse: This is a new purchase of mine and I love it. My hair has a natural wave and this mousse boosts and holds this wave for longer. Unlike other curling mousses it doesn't leave your hair crunchy but instead leaves it lovely and soft. Expect a full review of this soon.

St Moriz Fake Tan Mousse: A different type of mousse now, this time for my body! I don't tend to fake tan on a daily basis but this is great for nights out. I prefer this type of formulation as it is easy to blend and the product leaves a lovely natural tan - I've never looked streaky or orange when I've used this.

Glitter nail varnishes: This is just a few from my collection that I've been wearing recently and loving. I like to layer them on top of other base colours to inject some sparkle into the darker days. Plus I just love glitter!

What do you think of my favourites? What are your favourites this month? xxx

Review: Rimmel Vinyl Max Lipgloss

Top: Addictive, Bottom: Dazzle // £5.49 each at Boots

On a recent shopping trip I picked these up on a whim from Superdrug. I'm running out of my current light pink gloss from Avon and was looking for a replacement when I saw these. I ended up buying a hot pink too because the colour was gorgeous and if I bought a second I got a free eyeliner (I love a deal!)

I really like the packaging although it might not be to everyone's taste. It is a chunky tube with a huge doe foot applicator which I think is meant to represent the 'max' aspect of the product and was quite a surprise when I pulled it out the tube! The brush is meant to enable you to apply the product in one quick swipe, although I think it takes a bit more precision than that with such a large applicator. The actual formula is very pigmented, glossy and sparkly which is a big plus point and is very long wearing on the lips - this is probably due to the very sticky and thick nature of the gloss which I know a lot of people probably wouldn't be a fan of. I'm not the biggest fan of the stickiness but for some reason it still hasn't put me off the product. I've used them alone and on top of lipsticks and like the finish both times. A little product goes a long way and due to the size of the tubes I reckon these will last me quite a long time, making them good value for money.

Although it has aspects which might not be to everyone's taste, I've actually really enjoyed using these glosses and think they are great for the day or a night out, providing intense gloss, pigment and longevity.

Have you tried these before? xxx

In The Nude

Swatched L-R: Revlon lipbutter in 'Creme Brulee' - Topshop lipstick in 'Nevada' - Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick in '03'

Every beauty blogger knows that within the sphere of 'beauty' there is always one slight obsession  they have with a particular section whether it be skincare, haircare, bodycare etc... mine is make up at the moment and in particular I can't get enough of lipsticks! Over the summer I expanded my stash quite a lot and with the new additions came these three nudes. 

Before purchasing these lip products I didn't actually own any nudes instead mainly opting for pinks and reds. This all changed though after buying the first of my nudes which was Rimmel's '03' in a blog sale. In relation to the other nudes I have this is the darkest and its great for pulling together an evening/more sophisticated look. I like to wear it if I'm going out for a meal (see this post) or sometimes in the day with a gloss over the top. It is in the 'lasting finish' range by Kate Moss and I can verify it does last a good while on the lips without being drying.

I purchased the shade 'Creme Brulee' around the time the blogging world seemed obsessed with Revlon lipbutters. I've already done a review on what I thought of the actual product (here) so I won't go into too much detail about the formulation. The colour is a browny-nude which is quite sheer and glossy due to the nature of the lipbutters. I really like this and it is great for every day use when I don't want to look too 'done' or if I have heavy make up elsewhere it tones it down a bit and balances out my face. It's really easy to wear so if you are new to nudes I would suggest checking this out.

The final lipstick of the bunch is 'Nevada' which I think just takes first place as my favourite overall. It is a really pretty light shade which can be perfect for day time with just one swipe or layered up for more intensity. It isn't the most universal shade however as its not suitable for all skintones the way 'creme brulee' is more inclined as it is quite pale. If you would like a more detailed opinion then I reviewed it here in a post about my Topshop lipstick collection.

Do you have any favourite nude lipsticks? Have you tried any of the ones mentioned? xxx

OOTD: Little Black Dinner Dress

A couple of nights ago my boyfriend and I went out for dinner and drinks to celebrate some good news on our last night in Birmingham before heading down to Exeter. This is quite a simple outfit as it wasn't ultra dressy, but still was girly and suitable for the occasion. I love LBDs just because they are so easy to accessorize and you can wear them in so many different ways, especially this skater dress as it would be great for the day time too. I've also been waiting for an excuse to wear my new gold cuff  necklace which I have been wearing soo much ever since I purchased it. It's been such a great buy as it goes with smart or casual outfits. 

* Black Skater Dress from Topshop

* Shoes from Carvela 

* Tights from M&S

* Clutch bag from a friend

* Bracelet and Earrings from Forever 21

* Gold Cuff Necklace from H&M

*Friendship Bracelet from Turkey

I love wearing black as it means I can really diversify how I do my make up each time I wear the outfit as you can wear literally any colour. I chose to go with purple eyes and my nude Rimmel lipstick. I left my hair naturally wavy/curly underneath and added some curls on top.

L-R: 'Grifter' by UD, True Colour Eyeshadow in 'Midnight Plum' by Avon, Mac Pigment in 'Violet'

More true colour of Avon eyeshadow than first picture.

L-R: Collection Glam Crystals in 'Shake it Up' and Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipstick in 03

What do you think of this outfit and make up? xxx

Blog Sale Goodies

I have been sooo excited for this package to arrive since I bought some item's off Maisey's blog sale and luckily I didn't have to wait long to receive it :) It was my first ever purchase from a blog sale and most of the items I had bought were ones that I had been wanting to try for a while and others were just because they were a bargain! I think blog sales are such a good idea as they enable the seller to declutter their beauty/make up collection but instead of wasting the products they get given to buyers who really want the products and will get good use out of them for a fab price. I thought the way they were packaged in an old glossy box was a really nice surprise and made it feel like a lovely treat :)

I will give a quick run down of the products I bought but much like my other hauls I will give proper detailed reviews of these products once I've had a few weeks test run to give them a fair analysis.

17 BB Cream in Light: I already have a BB cream by Garnier which I really love, but I have wanted to trial a few others to determine a favourite. This one really appealed to me as it is relatively cheap, has SPF 25 in it and also claims to have oil control too. I'm really hoping I get on with this one as it sounds really good.

Soap and Glory Hand Food: This has been something I've been wanting to try as I love hand creams and I also love Soap and Glory products. So far I've used it once and it smells delicious, just like their Flake Away scrub which I love. So far, so good!

17 Miracle Matte Foundation in Fair: My go to foundation is Maybelline's Dream Matt Mousse as it is great for my combination/oily skin and has a light coverage, so to top that will be pretty hard! I have been using it for a while now though so thought I would give this a go as an alternative. I also really like that this product has an added SPF in it so it will be interesting to see how I get on with it. Normally during the day I  have been using a BB cream so will test this some time soon!

L-R: Cupcake & Raspberry Pie

Revlon Lip Butters in Cupcake and Raspberry Pie: These are one of the products I've been meaning to test out and both the colours are ones I have been interested in purchasing, along with Tutti Frutti. I love the packaging and the cute names of the colours and upon swatching I really like the pigmentation which is brighter than I thought it would be. I have tried on Cupcake and really like it but haven't been able to test out how long wearing they are yet. The only let down is that I thought they would be a little larger in size.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 03: For a while now I have been wanting to test out a nude coloured lipstick and this is my first purchase of one. I am a fan of Rimmel's lipsticks as I think they are a nice formula and have lovely pigmentation, so I am excited to test this out. It is a bit of a darker shade of nude than I would have normally bought but you never know I may love it!

Sephora Anti-Shine Primer: After already owning 2 other primers, this probably doesn't seem like a necessity but I have been looking for a primer that can help me keeping matte and I haven't fallen in love with the primers I already have so it will be exciting to test this one out. I really like Sephora products too, so I hope this won't let me down. 

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer: This is a product I'm glad I managed to buy in a small quantity as it will save me splashing out on a full size one and potentially not liking it. I have read mixed reviews on this and I know  it didn't do a thing for Miss Budget Beauty but for others it has worked really well, so I wanted to see if it would do anything for me.

Benefit Thrrrob Powder: I love Benefit powders simply because of the packaging, the smell and the fact they last forever! I have owned many different kinds over the years but I have never purchased Thrrrob and thought I would try it for a bargain price. It is a really pretty pink, a bit darker than Dandelion and as I like pink blushes this should suit me well.

So that's everything! Thanks again to Maisey for the super quick delivery and lovely presentation :) Have any of you tried these products and what are your thoughts on them? xxx

OOTD: Rosy's Leaving Do

Hey guys,

As you know, it was my friend's leaving party over the weekend and so thought the outfit I wore for that would be a perfect first outfit post. I wanted to be dressed up for the occasion but also have a summery feel to my outfit (and I wanted to wear the new dress I bought for holiday!) Unfortunately, I couldn't wear heels in the end as planned because I sprained my ankle a few weeks ago and it hasn't fully recovered yet! And I didn't have time to paint my nails to match either :( But will be doing a post on NOTD soon!

Ring and Charm bracelet both Tiffany

Forever 21 earrings

What I wore

* Dress by Missguided

* Nude Heels by New Look

* Blueberry nail varnish by Barry M

* Bag from a friend

* Earrings by Forever 21

* Ring and charm bracelet by Tiffany

I would really recommend Forever 21 for affordable jewelry - they have an amazing selection at good prices.

What the outfit looked like on:

Cardigan from Primark

How I did my hair:

Messy dressing table from getting ready!

    The makeup I wore:

L-R: Maybelline Roller Colour in Twiring Taupe, Urban Decay in Midnight Cowboy and Mac in Deep Truth

                                     

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Blush

On crutches after spraining my ankle!

       xxx