January Favourites!

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

 

I don't usually do monthly favourite posts but this month I've been loving so many great products I couldn't help but want to share! Having my birthday (January 4th) and Christmas so close together meant discovering products I wouldn't have bought myself but now can't see myself living without! 

I have lived in these Topshop 'Joni' jeans since purchasing them as a spur of the moment buy recently. I needed something that I could get away with at work but could also be dressed up. I hadn't ever tried anything high-waisted before and comfort plays a big part in my mood but these are super soft and stretchy. At £36 they aren't the cheapest jeans out there but are definitely worth it in my opinion. I'm looking forward to pairing them with a crop top when the weather warms up and jumping on that wagon! I'm usually pretty awful at remembering to accessorise my outfits, its normally just throw on and go however these rings have been put on everyday. I picked these 3 sterling silver ring up in the Accessorize sale after Christmas as part of a set. They can be worn stacked as a 3 or spread across your fingers as you wish and love how dainty they look. 

I've had the Origins 'Out of trouble' mask for a good while now that I try and apply on a weekly basis but with post Christmas skin from eating far too much chocolate this has been used a lot more! A 10 minute clay mask (that when my skin is awful I leave on for a good 30 minutes!) that'll help clear up problem skin. I mentioned it in my 'Best of 2013 - Skincare' post if you fancy reading more and have recently written full reviews of Benefits 'They're Real' mascara and the MUA 'Heaven and Earth' palette       which you can read here. 

The perfect nude in my opinion, MAC's 'Hue' is a subtle pinky nude that compliments my skin tone and looks great with a dark, smokey eye. 'Hue' is a glaze finish which is super moisturising and glossy looking on the lips. I've been making an attempt to use my MAC lipsticks more this month even though it makes me sad to see them coming to an end! I have been looking to expand my blush collection so this blush in 'Macaron' from The Body Shop made a welcome addition. I usually gravitate towards deeper, plum toned blushes so this had me stepping out of my comfort zone. I don't think these body shop blushes have the greatest formulas but I have been really enjoying wearing this colour, a lighter pinky peach. 

My go to brushes are Real Techniques so its no surprise another one of their brushes has made it into a favourites post. I don't use this brush for my eyebrows as most would but to apply eyeshadow as an eyeliner to define my eyes. I am horrible at liquid eyeliner but luckily eyeshadow is much more forgiving! The angle of the brush makes it easy to apply and picks up the perfect amount of product. I like to use a deep brown from either my Naked palette or MUA's palette as its a lot less harsh than black.  

I'm going to do a more in depth review of Benefits much talked about 'Porefessional' which FYI  is love. I have always skipped the primer stage but now I actually look forward to applying it so stay tuned for that one shortly! Lastly my Martha Stewart journal from Staples couldn't not be in this post. I got it for Christmas and have actually only started writing in it these past few days as I've been so scared to ruin it! I'm using it as my blogging notebook so any post ideas will be jotted down in this beautiful book. I hadn't seen the range before but for all you stationary enthusiasts out there its worth a peek, you won't leave empty handed! 

Phew that was a long one! I hope you enjoyed having a nosey at my favourites this month and have had a great Monday! What have your favourites been?! :) 

Benefit 'Groovy kinda love' kit

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

Besides owning the 'They're Real' mascara that I recently talked about (and am loving even more since using it this week!) in a previous post, I haven't tried out much else from Benefit, shocking I know!

The 'Groovy kinda love' palette from Benefit contains a sample size of the Porefessional, Benetint and They're Real mascara, four eye-shadows in 'tickle my ivory' 'guilt-y pleasure' 'shimmer down' and 'kiss me, I'm tipsy' a duo blush in 'Dandelion' and 'Bella Bambi' a mini blush brush and a double ended applicator for applying the eye shadows. Although I haven't and won't use the applicator it's a nice extra if you just want to take the kit somewhere without anything else.

The four eye-shadows are extremely pigmented and are in great wearable shades for a neutral lover like myself. The kit also comes with a 'how to' guide for applying the shadows if you need any inspiration! My favourite shade has got to be 'Shimmer down' a gorgeous deep, golden brown that'll compliment any look and I'm loving the addition of a white in 'Tickle my ivory.'

A miniature 'They're Real' mascara has come in super handy to keep in my handbag for touch ups throughout the day and I can see it being great for travelling too. I've never tried any Benefit blushes but heard great things so getting to try two was very exciting! I prefer to use a big fluffy brush to apply them than the brush it came with that I swirl around both to create a sweep of pinky shimmer as I found 'Dandelion' slightly too pale to show up on my skin tone. I have found them extremely soft and easy to blend just like my favourite MAC blush. 

My favourite product from the whole kit, without a doubt is the miniature Porefessional. Benefits Porefessional has been raved about all over the web in recent months and I can see why. I don't usually use a primer but I actually look forward to putting this on. A light brown coloured product that looks naked on the skin that smoothes my face creating the perfect base for my foundation. I've really noticed the difference it has made to how my foundation looks throughout the day and its lasting power, I know ill be purchasing the full size as soon as this runs out! 

Kits like these are such great ideas as it gives you a chance to try multiple miniture products without having for fork out a fortune so you can find your favourites! 

Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara

        

        

         

        

        

Benefits 'They're real' mascara had huge hype surrounding its release over two years ago that has only grown over the years. I did give it a try when it was released and had mixed opinions but never repurchased until now! Ever on the quest for the perfect mascara that'll give me length and volume I wanted to give this another go.

The 'They're real' mascara has a plastic wand that is covered in small spikes to cover and coat every single lash. The custom domed tip of the wand is designed to reach those tiny, fustrating inner and outer corner lashes that really does its job. I like my mascara to be ultra black which this certainly is and love how it dries just as glossy as it applies. It gives the perfect balance of length and volume that I look for with minimum effort and can be easily built up. I do find the formula very wet and sticky which is what I felt the first time I tried it. I do find removing it tricker than all my other mascaras but I almost find that a good point as even though its not waterproof I know it wont end up down my face! 

Although I have found the same little niggles as with using it the first time around the positives do out weigh the negatives and as long as I don't rub my eyelashes into one giant sticky eyelash this shall stay in my make up bag!

Have you tried Benefits 'They're real?' I recently was gifted a couple of Benefit mini sets that I cannot wait to sha with you all, they are so great for trying out the brands best products! 

Current Favourites #2

      

      

      

     

      

      

      

      

      

It's that time again when there's a whole new bunch of products I've been reaching for and loving! I'm awful at sticking with things which is why there won't be monthly favourites here (for now anyway!) but current favourites as and when! Meet my favourites...

Korres Lip Butter in 'Pomegranate'

When I saw these a while back in my local Waitrose I let out a little squeal of excitement. I'd heard so many good things about the brand and couldn't resist picking up a little something whilst on an introductory offer. The lip butters are described as a 'buttery lip balm' not unlike the Revlon lip butters in a pot form. Pomegranate is a bright pinky coral that sinks into the lips leaving them moisturised and soft avoiding any of that sticky feeling. For a tinted lip balm the pigmentation and colour pay off is great and the smell is delicious! 

The Body Shop 'Vitamin C daily moisturiser' 

I'm a huge fan of the Vitamin C range at the body shop but really got into this Summer when looking for a moisturiser that contained an SPF. Not only does this moisturiser and in fact the whole range smell like oranges but its great for counteracting dull looking, fatigued skin. It is so fresh smelling I like to use it on those dark, early mornings to awaken my senses as a base for my foundation. I'm so sad I've nearly run out! 

Urban Decay Vol 2 palette 

Urban Decay have hands down some of the best eye shadows and this palette just proves that! I'm a neutrals girl through and through which I why the others have barely been touched but the ones I do use makes it worth carrying around with me. These neutral shadows make a great change to my favourite naked palette. I've especially been loving 'Sellout' all over the lid and 'YDK' in my crease. 'Sellout' is the perfect warm toned champagne colour unlike any in the naked palette that I'm considering buying it as a single shadow before I run out here! 

Benefit 'Erase Paste' 

A complete impulse purchase here when I was in the mood to shop that has become a staple in my make up bag. It's great for under my eyes or to cover imperfections as it doesn't crease or settle but I do find it works a lot better applied with the warmth of my fingers than a brush as it is a thick consistency. I would class it as a heavy duty, full coverage concealor  but as long as you ensure you blend it well you'll have no problems. 

Skinetica

Skinetica is a product I'd never heard of before receiving it in my SWbloggers meet up goodie bag. To be honest I didn't have high hopes for it at first and I'm not keen on the plastic packaging but the product itself is a real winner. This year we've all learnt the importance of toners in our skin care regime  and how much of a staple they should be. Skinetica says this product combines 3 functions in 1 to act as an anti-blemish skincare treatment, a super toner and a base to make up foundation. Once I have cleansed I apply some Skinetica to a cotton pad and sweep over my face. It's one of those products I can feel almost working instantly and know its doing good!

L'oreal Micellar Water 

I'm not going to ramble on about this one for long as I've recently posted a in depth review on here but it's defiantly giving Bioderma a run for its money. I honestly think if you put the 2 in clear bottles I wouldn't be able to tell the difference! My only gripe...the damn bottle! I find it almost impossible to pout any out onto a cotton bad without spilling it down myself, surely this is a design fault and not me just being clumsy?! 

Real Techniques 'Contour brush'  

Real Techniques are the brushes of the moment and I for one use multiple in my everyday make up routine. I have been especially loving the 'Contour' brush recently for applying my bronzer as a contour to give my face more definition and also for applying more precise blush on the apples of my cheeks. The tapered shape makes it great for angling it under my cheek bones and the fact it is slightly pointed means its great for precision. 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua 

Lastly my beloved Chanel 'Vitalumiere Aqua,' again I have already spoken about this in more depth in a previous post but I couldn't not include it. Do you have foundations that you only use for special occasions because the thought of them running out is terrifying? This is mine. I'm quite surprised at just how much i like this one seeing as I almost always wear high coverage foundations but it can be built up and the colour is just spot on. I feel so grown up when i use it I can see being repurchased over and over just to have in my collection! 

That's all folks! Have you tried any of these products?