Current Favourites

It's soooo dark in the mornings at the moment and to take photos I need to get up a little bit earlier. I know, #firstworldproblems but does anyone else struggle with even just an extra 10mins? Anyway, I got up and took some photos, so here's a run down of some current favourites.

GoneGirl

I finished this book in around a week. It. is. amazing. I won’t give anything away, but it's a psychological thriller that constantly makes you go ‘woah, seriously?’. The characters are brilliant and each one toys with your emotions throughout. After falling in love, I decided to go and watch the film, which is so worth a watch. Rosemund Pike is incredible and it’s really true to the book, which is usually hard to achieve.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation

I have terrible skin at the moment. The sudden change in weather seems to have taken its toll and a good foundation is a total must. Answer? MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation. This is currently doing wonders to my blemished, red, bumpy skin.

UrbanDecay Naked Palette 1

I finally got this palette! Few years behind everyone else, granted. When I was in New York I took a cheeky and pricy (oops) trip to Sephora and took the plunge. I don’t actually think its overpriced at all for the quality and range of colours, so if that’s putting you off…buy it. Go on!

UrbanOutfitters Bras
Small breasted people, unite! I have a few of these little lacy numbers and not only are they really comfy, but if you have small boobs they are really flattering too. I say small because I don’t think you’d be able to contain your lady lumps if you’re blessed in that area.

What have you been loving lately?

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Currently loving...

I have been so MIA on my blog, sorry guys! It was my last week at work before my new job on Monday and everything was super hectic. Leaving somewhere is pretty stressful right? I thought I'd do a quick blog post about things I am currently loving...

These shoes. I picked these up from clarks yesterday and they are so comfy. I think it's hard to find 'stylish' and comfortable shoes that aren't really expensive or potentially owned by your mum/nan. Apparently these have been featured in Elle and Grazia, so even if your mum does get a pair you are both uber style babes.

I recently started watching Anna Jaffrey on YouTube and wanting to do everything she does because she is so stunning. Her hair and skin are amazing and in her recent videos she has been talking about going greener with her beauty products, which got me thinking...cue Google search. Top product? A jar of coconut oil. What can you use it for? Everything. Taking off make-up, cooking, moisturising, hair mask and even deodorant. If you are thinking of going greener, get this to the top of your list!

I've been making small life changes in terms of greener products because I can't part with all my gorgeous make-up yet. One of my favs at the moment is the Maybelline Colorsensational Glosses, which everyone else hearts too. My favourite will always be Stellar Berry which you can see in a FOTD post here.

Sunshine! It has been so lovely in the UK recently and my sunglasses have nabbed themselves a permanent spot in my bag...winning. Life is just better in the sunshine isn't it?

What are you loving recently? 

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October Favorites

It's the beginning of November, which of course means a bunch of new favorites! I've actually been loving quite a few new things of late, which is bad because I'm always suppose to be on a spending ban. 

17 BB Blemish Balm 
I've been using this practically all month and I really like it. It has a thicker coverage than other bb creams I have used in the past, so more like a lightweight foundation. It is quite a sticky formula, which doesn't sound like a good thing but because I have oily skin I kinda think this makes it stick a bit longer than thinner more liquidy formulas. It's also really affordable, so when your having a skint month it's a great in between before you splurge on a higher end foundation. 

Bumble & Bumble Dry Spun Thickening Spray 
I know you're all probably sick of seeing this on everyone's blogs, but hear me out because I actually thought it was a bit shit when I first got it. First off, its quite expensive for what is essentially a posh hair spray/dry shampoo and when I sprayed it in my hair it just looked a bit messy and not as big as I was expecting. However, being the trooper that I am I persevered and have now realized that if I spray it at the roots and then get a bit of a back comb on it does make my hair look a lot fuller. You have to spend a bit of time working on your hair to get it looking good and that's something I'm bad at! It's me, not you bumble and bumble. 

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder
I did a post about the new Soap & Glory purchases I made here. I decided to get a new powder because my usual Rimmel stay matte was going a little cakey. I absolutely love this powder. It's so finely milled and goes on the face like a light silky layer making it perfect for anyone who needs a little powder or a lot without it sitting on the top of your make up. Seriously impressed! 

Soap & Glory About Prime Eye Primer
Another Soap & Glory product that has really impressed me! I've been using this all month and then the other day I skipped it in my makeup routine and not joking my eyeshadow was creased and barely there. This is particularly great for cream eye shadows like my favorite Maybelline colour tattoos and the illuminating colour (shade, Bright Light) really brightens the eye area too. 

Nivea Powerfruit Refresh Shower Gel
This smells so good. So, so good! I don't get excited about too many shower gels to be fair, but this seriously smells amazing. When I'm sleepy and considering running away to another country so I don't have to go to work, this really wakes me up and makes me feel ready to go. It's a great smell for the autumn, especially if you have been using lots of summery scents up until now and you want something invigorating but in a comforting winter way. I don't actually know what any of that waffle means, but it smells good so buy it. 

17 Trio Eyeshadow in Enchanted Smoke
3 for 2 in Boots got me again. I was instantly drawn to this eyeshadow trio because its so unusual. It has metallic shades that remind me of those metallic pearlescent nail varnishes, but its for your eyes! (obviously) It's perfect if you want to look like you've spent a bit of time creating an eyeshadow look, but you only have 10mins to wrestle your cats and get out of the house. There's a lot of depth to the colors, I love using the pearly purple colour and then popping the dark purple in the crease for some added definition.

Spotify premium
Random fav! I signed up to this about two months ago and I think it's great. I've always had spotify, but only the free version on my laptop. I got this after my boyfriend recommend that I did when he realized my iPod was not only rocking 90s tunes, but was probably last updated when the spice girls were on tour (the first time round). I'm a busy person and it sounds silly but I don't have the time to find and download music, so this is perfect for me. You can discover new music, create playlists and download full albums all for just £10 a month. If you're a busy bee I would recommend getting spotify on your phone. 

Woah, long post! Sorry guys, hopefully it was worth a read...

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September Favorites

Hello October! Time flies when you're having fun and all that. Here's a look at what I was loving during the month of September...

Urban Decay B6 'blah blah' Prep Spray - I have been using this all month and my skin looks so much clearer, is way less oily and all my makeup stays in place! Love, love, love. See a full review here.

Diorskin Nude BB Creme - At the beginning of September I made a dangerous appointment at the Dior counter after hearing a few good reviews about this BB Creme. I like to have a lighter base option in my makeup bag as my skin doesn't tend to get too spotty (i'll wake up with a corker tomorrow now!), so a light coverage is usually good for me on a daily basis. I have the colour 002 and I have to say I am really impressed with the coverage and lasting power. I've been using for over a month now and have been really liking it. My only criticism, it's only 30ml and it costs £30.00 - we shall see how long it lasts!

Dior Powder Eyebrow Pencil - Whilst at the Dior counter, I also got this powder eyebrow pencil in Sand. I was using a random powder before, but it was definitely too dark for me and kind of had a red tone to it (oops). This is much better and it also looks more natural than the powder option I was using before. I would really recommend this particular pencil over any high street ones so you can get matched and because it's a powder based pencil it gives a more natural look than a standard pencil in my opinion.

LOreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution - First off, this is only £4.99! And, I think i got it half price - amazing. I've been using this as a cleanser in my skincare routine by placing a small amount of product onto a cotton pad to remove my makeup. It doesn't get rid of my eye makeup in 'one sweep' like they all claim, but my makeup is removed without a struggle and it's very refreshing! I have a feeling I will always have a bottle in my collection.

The Body Shop Watermelon Pasteque Body Lotion - I think Pasteque is French for Watermelon, but who knows! I don't think this is actually available at The Body Shop now for some reason, but you can't go wrong with any of their products in my mind. This is a very light moisturizer that goes into your skin super quick, so no wrestling with you clothes once it's on like Ross and those leather trousers. I like the look of the Mango Whip Body Lotion too. 

Denman Tangle Tamer - I've been using this so much, despite the dolphin print! Check out the full review here. 

Hugo Boss Jour Pour Femme - My mum got this mini version with her new perfume and it's now mine (thanks Mum). I can't describe fragrances well, but it's apparently 'an elegant floral fruity fragrance inspired by the first light of day'. Deep stuff there. It smells real good!

Monki Leopard Print Bag - Unfortunately, I don't think you can get this bag now either! I got this at the end of August and have been using it all month to brighten up my outfit. These envelope style bags are surprisingly spacious and great for both the day and evening. Check out the Monki shop here for all the new styles. 

Hope you all enjoyed reading my favorites, link yours below!

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March beauty favorites

As my brother just put it "It's like we've just gone straight from Winter to Summer and skipped spring" HELLO SUNSHINE! As the sun made an appearance, I took the opportunity to use my new camera (still practicing) and catch some rays - let's jump into it...

There have been quite a few beauty favorites I have been loving in March, so I will keep them as short and sweet as possible:

Lady Million Perfume by Paco Rabanne
It just smells so good. It's like the right mix of girly and edgy and it lasts really well. I mentioned before that two of my friends from uni Jess & Fran used to wear this all the time, so it reminds me of them and good times at University which makes me instantly happy. Does anyone else have fragrances that you go back to because of their nostalgic qualities? or just me creepily smelling my friends...

Max Factor Smooth Effect Foundation - Buff Beige
Always in my make up bag as its great for when I don't have much of a tan and need something a little more subtle. It has quite a matte finish I think, so it's good if you have oily or combo skin types. Only downside, its pretty small so I get through it quite quickly as it's not a very heavy coverage. It's only £7 ish though and if you shop in Boots every week like me you get money off and vouchers all the time anyways.

Benefit Erase Paste - No 1 Fair
I've only had six hours sleep can you tell? oh no you can't my friend. Still loving this, click here for more deets as I have over talked it already!

Topshop Ooh La La LipstickI mentioned this here and here as it's a recent purchase. It's so summery and just the right shade of coral that isn't too in your face - perfect for daytime and nights out!

MeMeMe Fat Cat Mascara
I got this mascara in a Glossybox a while ago, but only just needed to use it and I have to say I was really impressed. I was coming to the end of my mascara and thought it would be good to take a new one with me to Berlin. I was worried that I would regret taking a mascara I haven't used before in case I was disappointed, but I have to say this mascara made my lashes look super long and it didn't need a thousand coats to do so. It also managed to withstand the snow in Berlin sticking to my lashes without running a single bit - thumbs up.

The Body Shop Almond Hand & Nail Cream
Purchased a while back now and still going strong. Really love this cream as it dries really quick and hydrates my skin so well. I have hands like a lizard from being in Berlin at the moment so this is getting even more use than normal.

Real Techniques Stippling brush
Made it into the March favs as well as February's. No need to explain this to my fellow bloggers, but it's a great brush. Sturdy, no loose hairs, compact and leaves your foundation flawless - totes recommend.

The Body Shop Eye Shadow Blending Brush
A #TreatTuesday treat, this brush blends your eye shadow incredibly well. The bristles are super soft and it's a really good size. I use this all the time, especially when my smoky eye has gone a bit smoky face and I need to blend it all together.

Lee Stafford Hair Treatment
If you read my blog already or follow me on Twitter then you will know that I long for long locks. I bought this on one of my many #TreatTuesday 's and have been using it as much as possible to keep my blonde hair looking as fresh as possible. I definitely think it's helped with the ends of my hair especially and it also smells really good. I don't think I will be tripping over my hair anytime soon, but I am glad I chose to try this out.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair
More of a life long fav this one as I have used it for a long time now. I really rate this stuff because my hair is so knotty and has the ability to break hairbrushes if it's in a real tangle. My Grandma actually told me about this a while back and I have to say my hairbrush glides through every time I use it AND it's only £1.99 from Superdrug or Savers.

Phew! Those are my March Favorites, leave me links for yours as I will need to explore some new stuff this month of course :)

 My cat was pretty interested in what I was doing...

 

Until she realised you couldn't eat it. Catching some rays was a better plan!

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February Favorites: Top 5

(Ok, so this is a bit late, but...) Oh hiya March! Don't know about you, but I can't believe it is March already! Christmas was so long ago now - crazy. I thought I would recap on February and highlight the products which I have been full on l-o-v-i-n-g.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush - £11.99
I got this brush on one of my many #TreatTuesday's after hearing great things about this brand and this brush in particular. I know sometimes when everyone is loving something it's a bit annoying because you do start to think "Is everyone just copying everyone else?", but I don't think you can really jump on a 'brush bandwagon' can you? Is that a thing? Anyway, bandwagon or not I can honestly say this brush does make your foundation look flawless as it blends so well. Also, I think it's amazing how none of the bristles come out whilst you swirl and buff your foundation - recommend!

The Body Shop Seaweed Skincare Gift Bag - £10
Another #TreatTuesday gift to my self (naughty) was this skincare gift set from The Body Shop. I cannot recommend this set enough, it was only £10 and my skin feels glorious (trying some new adjectives out haha). My skin smells and feels so clean after using this set and the night serum (recommended for normal-oily skin) seems to reduce the oiliness I tend to get a bit of now and again.

The Body Shop 4-Colour Eye Palette - Smoky Moonstone - £14
Another Body Shop purchase made on the same #TreatTuesday as above. This eye palette is gorgeous and I've been using it all month. The colours mean you can create a subtle smokey eye for the daytime or something a bit more glamorous for the evening. I like it when there's a product that can achieve a great look without you having to drag 10+ products around with you.

Benefit Erase Paste - Fair/shade 1 - £19.50
I've done a full review of this here so I will keep this short. Basically, I love this little pot of brightening concealer. If you've had a tiring week and used this then you honestly wouldn't know because this pot of goodness makes you look wide awake. If you do buy it though, don't look at the spatula thing like I did and think 'yes, you're handy, but I don't need you' because when you get through the pot a little further it gets stuck up your nail if you use your finger, so you deffo need a concealer brush.

Rituals 'Magic Touch' - £5 70ml & £15 200ml
I got this magic cream in my December Glossybox (here) and despite it being a small size it lasted right through til mid February. I wont go on about it too much as I have mentioned it in the Glossybox post, but the cream smells incredible and the fact that it dries at the speed of light makes it perfect. Definitely repurchasing this one, I think you can get it from House of Fraser - another #TreatTuesday maybe?

What were you guys l-o-v-i-n-g (it's really hard to spell correctly when you do that dash thing!) this February or what are you loving (screw the dash thing) now we are in March? (I am fashionably late rifght?!)

Ps. I just wrote an article for London Beauty Hub on my 'Top five make-up essentials for Spring 2013', so check that out here. Also if you want to you can follow me or whatevs via these: Instagram | Twitter | WIHT (I have just joined lookbook, but no outfits yet! I'll keep you posted)

My Top 5 beauty products of 2012!

Happy New Year beautiful people! Hope you all had a great evening and have started 2013 positively. I stayed in with my best friend, drank champagne, ate a lot of chocolate and watched 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' (eek kim is preggers!) which was really good fun.

I thought I would start 2013 by letting you all know which beauty products I loved over the year 2012. I have tried to narrow it down to a 'Top 5', I would love to know if you agree or if you've been thinking about trying any of these out. They are in no particular order, as I love them all - enjoy!

Quick little doodle for this post

My favorites

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
I love this primer. I got it for my birthday in April and it has literally just ran out, so for £28approx it's totally worth the money. They do different versions for all skin types, which you can check out at House of Fraser here As you can see, they all have really good reviews which I think reflect the quality of this brand and product. I have slightly oily skin and find applying a moisturizer can cause my makeup to look shiny or come off too easily, this is perfect for keeping it put and giving your skin the moisture it needs.

The Body Shop Baked to Last Bronzer: Warm Glow
As well as being a fan of their brushes this bronzer glides onto the skin without looking caked on. It is a great bronze if you have blonde or light hair as it doesn't make you look really orange and its ethically and naturally produced - bonus! It claims to last 8 hours and I think it lasts even longer than that, a great buy at £16. There are a few other positive reviews over at their site here.

Rimmel Clear Complexion Powder: Transparent
This will be a clear favorite of mine every single year! It is an absolute bargain at £3.99 from boots, it lasts a long time and keeps my makeup looking shine free and fresh. I use this one or the Stay Matte Pressed Powder (here) I think they are basically the same, its just the Stay Matte one tends to sell out of the translucent colour a lot of the time.

Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour: Orange Blossom
I only started to use the Laura Mercier range in 2012 and this is another favorite of mine. The colour is really warming and different from others that I have used. Again, I think its a great colour if you have blonde or light hair as its not too orange or barbie pink (it would look great on everyone though). Its £20.50 from House of Fraser here Like the primer its still going strong from April and I use this one every day pretty much.

The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Lip Butter
This is a life/lip saver! I don't really like wearing Vaseline or lip glosses as they look quite shiny, so if you are like me these lip butters are perfect. This one gives a really nice shimmer/nude effect on the lips and because its grapefruit it doesn't taste too great, so you don't lick it all off! It's £4 here and lasts forever, so I would definitely say give it a go.

If you drop by and have any new year/best of 2012 post then leave a link as I would love to have a read!

Happy New Year (My friend Lauren and I)

Ps. You can keep up with me on Twitter @Emmylouisejane