July Empties!

For the first month in a while I haven't managed to use up that many beauty products. However I did use up some things we I have to share. Expect a big empties next month because I have a good few things that are nearly on the way out!

I've found a new favourite deodorant in the Nivea Stress Protect Roll On, i'm fussy when it comes to deodorant as most seem to irritate my skin but this one doesn't and keeps me feeling fresh all day. I've finished up one of my favourite foot creams, the Soap & Glory Heel Genius. This is really moisturising yet feels light on the skin, I would purchase this again. Finally in the body products I finished the Waitrose Citrus & White Tea Foam Bath, this was okay, I liked the smell but I didn't find it did anything amazing. I don't think I would purchase this scent again.

The only skincare item i've finished is the Garnier Simply Essentials Soothing Vitamin Enriched Toner, i've mentioned this before and I really do like it. It is gentle on the skin and does the job. I always repurchase this.

I gave my makeup stash a bit of a clear out the other day and threw out some mascaras. The first being the MUA Every Lash Waterproof Mascara, this was very average, it didn't really do much and was a pain to remove. I wouldn't purchase this again. I've also finished the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara, now this one I did like, it made my lashes look really good but the formula is very wet so can be a pain to apply. For that reason I wouldn't get this again. Finally i've finished the Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara, this had a small brush for lower lashes and a big brush for upper lashes. I really liked this concept and it worked pretty well. Still not one of my favourite so I won't be repurchasing it in a hurry.

The last two makeup items i've used are the Bourjois Touche Healthy Mix concealer which I really liked, it had a decent amount of coverage yet felt light on the skin under the eyes. I would consider getting this again. The other being the Maybelline Brow Drama in Dark Blonde, this was a tinted brow gel which I liked the look of on my brows as the colour was a good match yet it felt a little crunchy sometimes and I could feel the product in my brows. I think I prefer powders and pencils so for that reason I won't be repurchasing.

So those are this months empties. Not as many this month but as I mentioned at the start next month should be a big one so keep on eye out for that. Have you used up any good products this month?

July Beauty Favourites!

I've been trying to save so money this month so I haven't actually bought too many new beauty products and I haven't been wearing too much makeup as for most of the month it's been really hot in England!

To go along with the hot weather i've been wearing shorts for most of the month so i've been doing some tanning. To prep I recently discovered the Garnier BodyTonic Sugar Scrub, this is really scrub-y without being oily so perfect to use when removing or prepping the skin for fake tanning. My new favourite tan has to be the Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan. This is quick to use compared to some tans and is pretty foul proof to use and is perfect if you have pale skin as it looks so natural and lasts for about a week. 

It was my graduation this month so I wanted something simple to wear on my nails. I decided to go with Essie Ballet Slippers which is the perfect nude pink shade, perfect for formal events, especially weddings. The heat has made my skin a little oily recently so i've been using the Bioderma Sebium Global Intensive Purifying Care which is great for helping with blemishes but also keeping the skin matte, perfect to use under makeup.

It has definitely been too hot for wearing makeup. A light base which doesn't end up melting off my face is the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream. This stuff just looks so nice on the skin and doesn't feel heavy. To get rid of my tired, hayfever eyes i've been loving the Benefit Erase Paste, amazing coverage without looking cakey under the eyes.

I've been loving peachy nudes on the lips lately. I rediscovered favourite is the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Charm which looks so nice on especially with a coral gloss over the top. For my graduation I wanted something long wearing and I settled on the Collection Cream Puff in Fairy Cake. This is a lovely shade, the perfect peachy pink shade that I think would suit a lot of people.

So those have been this months beauty favourites. Hopefully there will be some more new favourites next month. I'm still trying to not spend but you never know, some things may still catch my eye! What have been your beauty favourites this month?

The 5 Product Face

When summertime comes around I really can't be bothered going all out with my makeup, especially if it is really hot as it will no doubt end up melting off my face. Instead I stick to a light base, a few coats of mascara, something colour on the cheeks and a fairly bright lip. All in all I can manage to use 5 products and be ready to go in about 5 minutes.

I have once again gone back to the Bourjois CC Cream as my quick base. This feels light on the skin whilst making it look some what flawless, if i'm being really quick I can even skip concealer on a good skin day. 

Sadly being an oily skinned girl means I can't skip the powder, especially in Summer. My old favourite is the Seventeen Pressed Powder because it just works. Not too cakey, slight coverage and keeps things in place and oils at bay. I cheat product which is great when in a rush in the Maybelline Dream Sun Bronzing Powder with Blush. I've mentioned this a lot lately but it's so easy to use. The light bronzer gives a subtle contour and the blush adds a pop of colour and glow to the cheeks.

I'm not as prone to reach for eyeshadow when i'm in a rush, instead I find a few coats of the Max Factor False Lash Effect does the job. This is the waterproof version which i've been loving whilst my allergies have been bad. To finish things off I love the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Peach Club. This is long wearing, easy to apply and adds a lovely peachy colour to the lips.

So that's my go to 5 product face at the moment. I would love to know what are you're go to products when you're in a rush or are going for a more simple makeup look.

Shopping The Stash #3

I've mentioned that i'm trying to save some pennies so spending on beauty products is currently off limits. I posted on Instagram that I gave things a bit of a clear out and whilst throwing some things away that we're definitely past their best I found some old favourites which i've added back into rotation.

 

I did manage to throw out some base products which had got a little funky I found on old favourite in the Bourjois Happy Light Foundation. This is nice and light on the skin yet packs a good amount of coverage and a decent wear time. The shade range is a bit rubbish; shade 50 is a little dark on me but is perfect of i've been fake tanning. When it's been too hot to get a decent nights sleep the Benefit Erase Paste is always handy. This is a high coverage under eye concealer which covers amazingly yet doesn't cake up under the eyes. I always love cream blushes in Summer so the Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in Coral Reef has been dug out. This is a bright coral shade which sheers out lovely on the cheeks to add a nice amount of colour. 

I seem to be a bit of an eyeliner hoarder. To go along with trying to make my eyes look less tired the MAC Eyeliner in I Get No Kick has been something i've reached for. I believe this was limited edition but it's a nice pearly pink shade which I use on the water line to brighten things up. Something I loved when I bought it but have forgotten about is the Rimmel ScandalEyes Eye Shadow Stick in Bad Girl Bronze. This is a bronze pencil which I either use as a liner or blended all over the lip. It is waterproof so wears really well. 

For lips i've been loving this peachy combo. First I apply the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Charm on the lips and then pop a bit of the Barry M Lip Gloss in Shade 11. I've found this wears surprisingly well since the Revlon balm is a stain and then I just top up with the gloss when needed.

So those are some rediscovered favourites which I dug out when I went shopping in my stash. I think this is a great thing to do if you're trying to save some money since you forget what products you used to love. Have you found any old favourites recently?

What's In My Bag - Graduation Edition

So I mentioned in my last post that it was my graduation on Friday. I thought it would be good to do a post on what I took with me in my bag for touch ups throughout the day. Now that it's after the event I can also tell you what I used the most. 

The bag itself is a recently purchase from New Look. For a small bag you can fit a good amount of things in it, also the long strap is detachable and there's a small wrist strap so it can be used as a clutch as well. The bag was only £8.99 yet has some lovely detailing on it. 

For makeup I took my favourite powder which is the Seventeen Pressed Powder and the Real Techniques Blush Brush to apply it. This has a mirror which is really handy. I did end up using this after graduation before going out for a meal to reduce the shine. I also brought my Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer which I used in the morning but didn't end up using during the day. Something I did use was the Caudalie Beauty Elixir which was so nice to refresh the skin as I was filling a little warm by the afternoon. I also brought the lip products I was wearing, the Collection Cream Puff in Fairy Cake and the Bourjois Colour Burst in Orange Punch. I only ended up popping a bit of the Bourjois crayon on as they both last fairly well.

That's all the beauty bits I took with me. I also made sure I had some plaster with me in case my shoes started to rub. I used a couple of these but my shoes ended up being surprisingly comfortable. Something I definitely used was the hair grips, not in my hair but to help keep the hat and gown in place! If you're graduating I would definitely recommend having spare grips with you. 

So that's everything I had in my bag for graduation. I also had my phone to take pictures with but I wanted to keep things light. What products to you bring with you when you're going out for a long day?

The Graduate

On Friday I officially graduated with a degree in Behavioural Sciences. Three years of hard work, long days spend typing away at essays and countless trips to the library have finally paid off. I thought it would be nice to share some pictures from the day as well as what I wore and makeup I used on the day.

It took me a while to find the perfect dress. I knew there was going to be blue in the robes so I wanted something that matched. The dress I ended up wearing was a surprise find in Dorothy Perkins, I normally don't wear pink but this shade really caught my eye. I love the fit of the dress and the detailing at the bottom. Since it was a long day with lots of standing and sitting I opted for flats instead of heels. These were from Next and I love how smart they look. For accessories the bracelet and necklace are matching present from my Mum. I was only allowed to take two people so my Mum and brother came, and although the day was fairly long it was so lovely to celebrate with them and my friends. It still hasn't really hit that I won't be going back in September to go to lectures!

Makeup wise I wanted to keep things simple. I wanted my base to be long wearing with no SPF due to lots of pictures being taken. I used the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer which is amazing for controlling oil. Foundation I went for the Bourjois Radiance Healthy Mix, this has no SPF, good coverage and looks fairly natural on the skin. Eyes I did then slightly smokey but nothing too crazy and opted for a waterproof mascara in case things got a bit emotional. Since it's Summer and wanted a peachy lip so I used the Collection Cream Puff in Fairy Cake since it is long wearing with the Bourjois Colour Boost in Orange Punch over the top. Cheeks I wanted to be a little glowly so I used this beautiful No7 highlighter which is one of my favourites but was sadly limited edition. For blush I went with my favourite NARS Deep Throat as I always love how it looks on.

All in all I had an amazing day with friends and family. It was too hot which definitely helped to keep my makeup in place. I'll be doing another post on what I took in my bag on the day for touch ups. Let me know if you are/have graduated this year and let me know what is your favourite long wearing makeup products?

Faking That Summer Glow

As someone who is fairly pale and doesn't tan that easily, instead I go a lovely shade of red, I most likely have to get my Summer glow from a bottle. After trying a good amount of products I have come up with a little routine which works pretty well.

Exfoliating is a must if you don't want your tan to look patchy. A recent find is the Sanctuary Spa Salt Scrub which is really scrubby leaving the skin super soft which helps your tan look it's best. 

Since I am fair skinned I find gradual tanners are the best way to go, they're easy to use and don't leave your looking too bronzed (orange). My favourite is definitely the Garnier Summer Body Moisturising Lotion which I have gone through countless bottles of. It's moisturising, doesn't smell bad and leaves you with a natural looking glow to the skin. The Light shade is perfect for fair skin, I sometimes apply the dark version on my legs since they tend to be paler than my arms. I new find is the Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan. I am definitely not a master in fake tan but this one is surprisingly easy to use and doesn't leave you looking super dark. The colour; if left for an hour is similar to the Garnier gradual tanner and doesn't feel too drying even though it is a mouse. I can see myself reaching for this a lot this Summer even though the waiting around can be a bit annoying it is definitely worth it for the results.

I personally like to use a separate tanner on my face. I haven't tried too many but I do love the Garnier 1 Week Glow Tinted Self Tan for Face. I apply this on an evening after my skincare routine; swopping my normal oil for a serum so it doesn't break the tan down. This is really easy to apply, you can put a small amount on for a light hint of colour or more for a more noticeable results. Either way it still looks natural on the skin and hasn't broke me out. 

So those are my current go to product that I reach for in order to make sure my skin doesn't look as pasty when I opt to wear shorts. I also become a little obsessed with tanning in Summer so feel free to share your favourite tanning products. 

Revisiting All Things Coral

So last year I did a post about how I was obsessed with all things coral. That obsession calmed down in the colder months but now the sun has come out it is back in full force. Today I thought I would share some of my current favourite coral makeup items.

The cheeks are one of my favourite places to sport some coral. An old favourite is the Stila Convertible Color in Gladiola, this is a cream blush which can be worn on the cheeks and lips and has the perfect mix of pink on orange tones to it. A new favourite which I can't get enough of is the Maybelline Dream Sun Bronzing Powder and Blush, this blush is definitely more pink toned so a good option if you don't want something too orange but still adds some lovely glow and colour to the skin. 

The eyes isn't normally a place where I go for something coral but this Revlon Shadowlinks Eyeshadow in Melon is fairly subtle and when applied in the crease can add some colour to a neutral eye look. For the lips I can't get enough of the Bourjois Colour Burst in Orange Punch, this feels moisturising and is long wearing whilst leaving a glossy coral colour to the lips. 

I definitely have a lot of coral polishes in my stash but a favourite I always go back to is the Rimmel 60 Seconds Polish in Coralicious. It's a lovely fun, bright colour that is perfect for Summer.

So those are my current coral favourites. No doubt I will be finding some more throughout Summer. What are your favourite coral products?

Summer Nails

I noticed I hadn't done a nail themed post in a while so I thought I might as well share with you all my favourite summer nail polishes. I tend to go back to the same kind of colours each Summer; normally something coral, pastel or bright blue. 

First up Rimmel Salon Pro in Summer Orange is a big favourite of mine, it wears so well. I can sometimes get nearly 2 weeks without it chipping, also the colour is so beautiful. Essie Cute As A Button is the perfect pink for me as it has some coral tones to it and isn't too bright. Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Papaya is my go to pastel coral shade, plus the formula of these are great because the wear time is great. I normally save glitters for Winter but sometimes you can't beat a bit of glitter in Summer. Essie A Cut Above is a favourite because I love anything rose gold and it's a chunky glitter so looks amazing over a nude and pastel shade. Another Barry M Gelly Hi Shine I love is Sugar Apple, this was from the pastel range they did in Spring but I love it just as much in Summer as I will wear anything mint all year round. Finally the bright blue I mentioned at the start, Bourjois So Laque! Ultra Shine Bleu Fabuleux, this is a lovely bright electric blue colour which looks best in the warmer months. 

So those are the polishes i've been reaching for this Summer. I've definitely been reaching for the reds and corals more but something mint is always there for good measure. What are your favourite polishes this Summer?

Week In Pictures #8

Today I thought I would do a non-beauty post/week in pictures with some things i've been up to recently. My graduation is next Friday which i'm definitely looking forward. Now that i've finished University i've started looking for a job but i've also been enjoying having some free time for the first time in a while. 

Something i've been doing is i've gotten back into cooking. One of my favourite things to make is courgette spaghetti. It's really easy to do and is a great way to replace carbs in a meal. I've been surprised how full it makes me as well. Baking wise it's been all about healthy cookies and 4 ingredient healthy macaroons. Both of these have coconut in them which has been another love of mine. Strawberries are in season at the moment so i've been having the with berries and greek yogurt with chia seeds in the morning. To keep things healthy i've got back into green smoothies, this one was made from lots of spinach, mango, cucumber, banana and a bit of lemon juice, so good.

The Tour De France came through Yorkshire last week which has been a big deal with months of preparation. It came through our local town so we headed down to watch and it was a really fun afternoon, so many people came out so the atmosphere was really good. It's been sunny the past few days so i've enjoyed taking him on walks. Afterwards Rufus is pretty tired as you can see from the top right picture! The other day he was fast asleep, snoring, with is tongue out! I finished reading Gone Girl which I would definitely recommend, I didn't see how it was going to end and was hooked for most of the book. I'm definitely excited for the movie to come out in October. My skin has been a tad spotty so i've gone back to using some old favourites; Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturiser and Origins Out Of Trouble Mask. Both amazing and have really helped to calm things down.

TV SHOWS:
I've been watching a lot of Catfish The TV Show, some episodes are definitely better than others but it is seriously easy watching when I just want to relax. I've also started season 2 of Hemlock Grove which just came back to Netflix. I loved the first season, everything in season 2 feels bigger and more intense which I love. I'm 3 episodes in and already hooked again.  

So that's what has been going on recently. I've tried to slow down on the spending recently and i've done a good job, i've surprised myself. I've been rediscovering products and using things up which again i'm proud about. Since I haven't made any purchases recently let me know what beauty purchases you've made to make up for it! 

Budget Beauty Finds #2

So i'm back with another post on some recent budget beauty finds. These are all makeup finds but I haven't included everything so will no doubt be doing another post soon. I'm strictly trying not to spend money right now so finding some great budget finds is definitely good. 

Max Factor Facefinity All Day Primer - £10.99 - So this is my oldest find out the bunch and i've mentioned it a few times already. Most long wearing primers tend to feel weird on the skin for me but this one is different; it almost feels like a serum on the skin. It has an SPF 20 and makes makeup stay in place all day and keep oils at bay. It's definitely one of the best drugstore primers i've tried. 

Maybelline Dream Sun Bronzing Powder with Blush - £6.49 - I mentioned this in this months favourites because i've been wearing it so much. It's perfect for Summer as it's a 2 in 1 product and adds a lovely glow to the skin. The bronzer isn't too dark so it's perfect for pale skin girls and it wears nicely. 
The Body Shop Honey Bronzer - £13.00 - A lot of people were raving about this recently and I can see why. It is definitely one of the best matte, natural looking bronzers and it comes in a range of shades including very light ones (I have 02) so again perfect if you have pale skin. The powder is finely milled and applies so nicely onto the skin. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Gel Liner in Brown - £6.99 - I will be the first to say I am rubbish at applying eyeliner. When I discovered this it was a game changer. I apply this on the tight line and outer parts of the eye and it gives great definition whilst looking natural but best of all since it's waterproof it doesn't budge all day. It is also available in black and emerald. 
Collection Cream Puff in Fairy Cake - £2.99 - I thought I would end on a real budget find. Matte lips are really popular at the moment and this is the cheapest, long wearing option i've found. These have a lovely creamy texture yet set matte; without being drying, and last for around 5-6 hours. Fairy Cake is a lovely peach shade perfect for Summer. 

So those are some of my favourite recent budget beauty finds. You can make them even more budget friendly if you take advantage of any offers on such as 3 for 2 which makes them even better value for money. Have you discovered any budget finds recently?

The Spotty Skin Saviors

At the age of 21 my acne prone skin finally seems to have calmed down a little; I definitely still have some of scars but I don't get as many acne breakouts as I used to. However saying that ever now and things just get a bit spotty and these are the products I tend to reach for to calm things down. 

I think masks are a great way to help fix things and these two are my favourites. The first is the Origins Out Of Trouble which is amazing. It really helps to take the inflammation down and get rid of the pain some spots give. I tend to put this directly onto breakouts where as if I want something to apply all over the face I reach for the Super Facialist By Una Brennan Pore Purifying Clay Mask which is a good all rounder to control oil and just deeply cleanse the skin without being drying.

I tip I would say if you are breaking out is keep things basic, stick to products you know work and do over apply products because it will just make things worse. A basic moisturiser I always reach for is the Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturiser, this is cheap yet keeps oils at bay and helps to make spots go that bit quicker. I apply this all over the face and directly onto the breakouts. A new favourite which not only helps get rid of the breakouts but helps to make sure you're not left with a horrible scar is the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+]. This really does help; both of these aren't drying on the skin either.  

There's not many spot treatments that I use. I tend to prefer to make sure my skin is cleansed and then use the moisturisers I mentioned above. One I do like is the Freederm Fast Track Spot Gel, this doesn't really dry the spot out which I like as it doesn't leave you with dry skin yet helps to make things go quicker. Something that I think really helps is face oil which may seem odd but oils helps to keep things balanced and doesn't leave you with dry skin around the blemish. The Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil is a great one. Rosehip oil is especially good for blemished skin as it helps with scarring as well as active breakouts.

So those are some products and tips I have for when things get a bit spotty. As I mentioned my main thing is to keep things simple, ease off from trying out too many new products until things calm down. What are some of your favourite products to use to help get rid of pesky blemishes?

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick - Reviewed!

So most people by now will have seen many a rave about these. I can sometimes be a bit skeptical when I hear so many good things about a product but I have to say this one deserves all of it. 

First off I love the packing, it so simple and clean looking with each shade having corresponding coloured lids. This is especially good if you have more than one, which is probably going to happen since they're so good. They claim to provide bold, matte, long lasting colour for up to 24 hours. No I think 24 hours could be a stretch but I will say when I apply these first thing in the morning I can still see the colour on my lips at the end of the day, even after eating and drinking. I wore the pink shade all day in London the recently and it was still there at around 7 o'clock when I got home.

Ole Flamingo! is the perfect hot fuchsia pink, this one is really bright but surprisingly easy to wear. It finishes off an makeup look really well, I love this most when I wearing not that much on the eyes. Peach Club isn't as in your face yet is still fairly bright; it's the perfect peach shade that is great to wear in the daytime. To say these are matte they are definitely not drying on the lips, they apply like a cream finish yet set to be matte. I can barely feel it on my lips when I wear these. 

I seriously having nothing bad to say about these. Both these shades have become my favourite lip products to wear because the shades are lovely and are so foul proof to wear.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick retail for £8.99.

Have you tried these? What is your favourite long wearing lip product?