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?! :) 

Best of 2013 | Make up

       

       

           

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

To kick off my 'Best of 2013' posts I wanted to start with my favourite category, make up! A little round  up of the products I have loved and used most this past year.

Foundation is my weak spot so you shouldn't be surprised that two have made it here. A high end pick that saw me through Spring and Summer being YSL's 'Touché Éclat' that helped me to achieve a dewy, Summer glow whilst offering medium coverage and smelt delicious! This'll be brought back out as soon as the Sun starts shining in 2014! The second, Rimmel's 'Stay Matte Mousse' although a newer purchase in my make up bag, still one that hasn't left it from October and will be brought with me into the new year. At just £5.99 a tube and readily available in most Boots and Superdrugs there's no worry of wasting it just to wear to work like with high end foundations. It's staying power rivals that of Estée Lauders 'Double Wear' and the colour match works for me spot on. 

I know a Naked Palette will appear in most yearly favourites but for me nothing came close. A neutral eye lovers must have palette that contains 12 super pigmented, blend-able, long lasting shades with a mix of shimmers and mattes. Compact enough to travel with to easily create subtle everyday looks to a deep, dark smokey eye. My most used shades this year have been 'Sin' for all over the lid and 'Smog' blended into the crease. I think the Naked 2 and 3 palettes are going to be New Year purchases! 

Chanel's 'Tan de Soilel' had to have a place here as my most luxurious product purchased. Having never tried a cream bronzer before this I didn't know what to expect but found myself reaching for it everyday in the warmer months. It's creamy texture allows it to glide evenly over the skin enhancing a signs of a tan and adding bronze radiance. I found wearing it alone on holiday whilst I had a tan worked great at evening out my skin tone without having to apply foundation. I still pull it out now for special occasions although I'm worried about using it up! The packaging as you would assume from Channel is truly stunning and I can see myself repurchasing again and again just to have in my collection. If you wanted to try something similar without splashing out on this the Bourjois 'Bronzing Primer' is a great drugstore dupe for a fraction of the price. 

Being a girl of routine I sometimes find it hard to stay away from products I know just work which is why this Mac blush in 'Pinch Me' is so well used. My fail safe blush that I must've worn at least 300 days this year couldn't not be featured. If I'm ever in doubt, in a rush or just want to look like me this will be on my cheeks. 'Pinch Me' is a sheertone, matte blush from Macs permanent range. This terracotta coloured blush doesn't look much in the pan but once applied really compliments any skin tone adding to your natural flush. Application is defiantly the key to achieving a natural look with this one as it is very pigmented so a light hand and blending may be needed. I can't believe I haven't picked up any more of the sheertone blushes, another to add to my list!  

The final product I have included had to be a lip product. I'm rarely seen without something on my lips whether it be a lipstick, gloss or even just a balm. I hate the feeling of dry lips so you'll find at least 5 different options in my bag at all times! Choosing a lip product was by far the hardest task throughout all the Best of posts. I had to go with my favourite that has been applied throughout the year and never been bored of, the Clarins 'Instant Lip Perfector' in 01. It's a gloss like texture which is in no way sticky yet stays on the lips and gives off a sheer sweep of colour. I'm a huge fan of the applicator these have, it's so soft on my lips I can just sit there reapplying and reapplying! Great for when you are on the go or in a hurry to make you look polished and put together. I'm so impressed with how long my mini version has lasted me, as soon as it runs out ill be picking up a full size.

And that's it for my Best of 2013 Make Up products, let me know if you've tried any of these products or if you have any recommendations I should try from products you have loved this year! 

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?