Wednesday 30 September 2015

September Beauty Favourites

At the start of September I went to Canada and America for 10 days which has definitely had an influence on this months favourites. I picked up a good selection of products whilst I was there and a few have already become favourites of mine. 
September Beauty Favourites
September Beauty Favourites
SKINCARE:
Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm - £20.00 - I took this mini with me as my evening cleanser and I really like it. It's a balm that has some small grains in it which cleanses the skin well leaving it feeling really smooth. It definitely felt soothing on the skin and I think it would work for most skin types. 
Superdrug Clearly Youthful Hydrating Serum - £4.89 - This is a budget option I picked up in hopes of it replacing my current serum. It's a light gel that absorbs quickly whilst feeling hydrating. I would say it is best if you have oily to combination skin that needs some hydration but nothing too heavy. For the price it's a really great product. 
September Beauty Favourites
MAKEUP:
Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation - $11.29 This was the only foundation I picked up in America after hearing great things about it. It's been the base i've worn pretty much all month as it has great coverage, feels silky on the skin and lasts really well. It really does tick all the boxes and has been great on my skin which is starting to get drier. 
September Beauty Favourites
Wet n Wild Downtown Browns Eyeshadow Palette - $6.99 - Wet n Wild always impress me when it comes to shadows and when I spotted this palette I had to have it. There's a great mix of neutrals with purple tones. I've been especially loving the top 4 shadows together. They're all creamy, pigmented and very easy to blend. 
Kat Von D Tattoo Brow Pen in Blonde - $19.00 - This was part of the Sephora favourites brow set I got and it's not normally something I would pick up as I prefer brow pencils, but i've been loving using this to fill in the ends of my brows. It gives a precise definition to the brows and the blonde shade isn't too warm so still looks natural. It's lasts really well on the brows as well. 
September Beauty Favourites
September Beauty Favourites
Covergirl Jumbo Gloss Balm - $8.40 - I'm not normally the biggest pink lover but i've been really enjoy the shade Cotton Candy and the formula of these balms. The colour is sheer but still shows up well on the lips whilst feeling creamy and balm like. I think these are great if your lips tend to be a bit dry. 
Wet n Wild Megalast Lipsticks - $1.99 - I couldn't wait to put a review of these up since they're really amazing. They're so pigmented, creamy yet matte and have been my bold lip of choice. My favourites are Cherry Picking which is a bright fuchsia colour and Purity Persimmon which is the perfect orangey red. Both look lovely on and last surprisingly well on the lips. 

So those are this months beauty favourites. I'm sure next months will still feature so American beauty bits as I continue to test out everything I bought whilst I was there. What have been some of your beauty favourites in September?

Monday 28 September 2015

September Empties!

I want to start today's post by saying i've been having some laptop issues recently. I spilt water on my old one and have had to get a new one, hence why there's been a slight blogging delay. I'm still hoping everything can be saved on the old one but it's not looking too great. Anyway, today I have this months empties and I was surprised I actually used up some good product since I was away for two weeks at the start of the month. 
September Empties!
September Empties!
HAIRCARE:
Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo - Starting things off with on all time favourite. I use this all the time and the tropical scent is my favourite. Repurchase? Yes. 
Herbal Essences Naked Volume Shampoo - I've had this a few times now and it's a really good shampoo. It's basic but cleans the hair well and adds volume. Great if you have fine, oily hair as it doesn't weigh it down. Repurchase? Yes.
September Empties!
BODYCARE:
LUSH Snow Fairy Shower Gel - I took this on holiday and even ended up using it when I got back. I little goes a long way and the smell is really amazing. It's not a scent I would use all the time but every now and then it's so nice. I think i'll end up picking this up when the Christmas range comes out again. Repurchase? Yes. 
Garnier Summer Body Gradual Tanner in Light - This is something I always have in and use a lot. It's moisturising, doesn't have too strong of a scent and leaves a nice colour to the skin. It's subtle but great if you are pale and want to add some warmth to your skin. Repurchase? Yes. 
September Empties!
SKINCARE:
Bioderma Crealine H2O - This is the last of my stash of Bioderma that I got in Paris. When I first started using this it was the only version. Now there are lots so I don't feel the need to get it anymore. It is a great product and works well as a first cleanse to remove makeup. Repurchase? No.
La Roche Posay Serozinc - This is another product for a while you could only get in France, now it's even in Boots which is why I don't feel bad about finishing this can. It's a really nice toner if you have oily spot prone skin. I think it works well; it doesn't instantly transform the skin but is a nice step in my routine. Repurchase? Yes. 
September Empties!
MAKEUP:
Maybelline The Collosal Go Extreme Volume Mascara - I finished this just before I went away and really enjoying using it. It has a fairly large brush but is still easy to apply and builds volume really well giving a dramatic lash look. Repurchase? Yes, but not straight away. 
Collection No Clumps Mascara - This brush is slimmer which I find makes it easier to add length and definition to the lashes. It doesn't add a lot of volume but give a defined, clump free finish. A great budget option for an everyday mascara. Repurchase? No.
Soap & Glory Archery Brow Pencil - This is my favourite brow pencil; although I am currently testing a bunch. Is a great colour for blondes as it isn't too warm toned. The pencil is fine so you can fill the brows in without looking too drawn on. It's lasts really well on the brows as well. Repurchase? Yes. 

So those are this months empties. I'm definitely still trying to clear out a bunch of products and doing empties posts really help with the motivation to do so. Have you used up any of your favourite products this month?

Saturday 26 September 2015

September Health Favourites

September was definitely going to be a hard month for me to stay on track. It was my birthday, and I was away for 2 weeks at the start of the month. I did make some smart choices whilst I was in America, however since getting back I definitely tried to step up my game again. It's not been the easiest, but I now feel like i'm eating as normal again and trying some new things. 
September Health Favourites
SNACKS:
One thing I did when I was away is I took some of my own healthy snacks which definitely helped to stop mean reaching for sugary treats all the time. I did a post on some healthy snacks but one of my favourites has been Bounce Balls. These aren't the cheapest, but taste amazing and really helps if you're having a mid afternoon slump or need an easy post workout snack. This week I made these amazing Chocolate Oat Bars. I found the recipe on Pinterest and they're healthy, vegan and super tasty. They were easy to make and I will definitely be trying some more variations in the future. 

September Health Favourites
Now that it's getting colder i'm craving a warm lunch. My favourite is cous cous with veggies, avocado and salsa. It's warming as well as being filling. This variation I added quinoa as well to up the protein as well as being a different texture. I've picked up these Nina's Savse Juices I few times when i've been out; I like the Super Blue and Super Green ones. These are cold pressed juice full of fruit and vegetables and are pretty good. I don't have juices a lot but these aren't too high on calories and are good if you need an energy boost whilst you're out. I made some great discoveries on the food shop this week, first this Peanut Hottie Peanut Butter hot drink. I was on the fence about this but it's so good and almost tastes like you're drinking peanut butter. You can have it hot or cold in a milkshake which I will definitely be trying. The other was Vanilla Almond Milk, i've heard America Youtubers/Bloggers talk about this but never seen it in the UK until now. It's pretty awesome and will be perfect in smoothies, hot drink and desserts. 

Next month i'm excited to fully get back into eating healthy and trying new recipes. The colder months can sometimes be harder to stay on track but I will be trying out some warming dishes to fill me up whilst being good for you. At the moment i'm trying to find some more healthy breakfast options which if I find some good combinations I will share some recipes. What have been your health favourites recently?

Thursday 24 September 2015

The Edit | Fuchsia Lips

As Summer goes into Autumn i've found that a fuchsia colour lip is the perfect transitional bright lip before reaching for the plums and deep red colours. I've now collected a few and I have four stand out option that all feel lovely on the lips and add a bright pop of colour to your makeup look. 
The Edit | Fuchsia Lips
The Edit | Fuchsia Lips
The Edit | Fuchsia Lips
Crayon style applicators have become one of my favourites when it comes to lip products. The first one I have is the Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm in Vivacious which is a lovely glossy, bright pink colour. The formula is very creamy and hydrating so perfect for when the lips get drier in the colder month. Next is a new favourite in the Covergirl Creams Jumbo Gloss Balm in Strawberry Frappe which is more of a deep pink and more of a matte formula. This also slightly stains the lips which means less re-applying needs to be done. 
The Edit | Fuchsia Lips
The Edit | Fuchsia Lips
L-R Vivacious, Strawberry Frappe, Girl About Town, Enduring Berry
The lipstick that started the obsession is MAC Girl About Town which is creamy and really pigmented. It's the classic fuchsia pink colour which really looks amazing on and I think it would suit most skintones. Finally, another new addition is the L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick in Enduring Berry which is very similar the Girl About Town but more of a creamy formula and not as bright of a colour. If you're looking for a cheaper option though, it is pretty close. 

So those are my fuchsia lip picks. I love to wear a brighter lip colour this time of year and these are definitely some favourites of mine. Do you love a bright lip? What are your favourite fuchsia lip colours?

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara - Reviewed!

Mascara was one of the products I didn't buy for a while before going to America because I knew I would want to try some new ones whilst i'm there; as I expected I picked up three and today I have a review of the first one I tried. 
Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara
Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara
The packaging definitely stands out which I like in a mascara as they're easy to find in my makeup bag. Although I don't love the colour of the writing but I can see past this if the product is good. The mascara claims to add volume with the brush with you twirl whilst applying to create the volume. I got the colour very black and it definitely is dark which helps to make the lashes stand out. I also got the waterproof formula (by accident) which I will say is a little hard to remove unless you use a separate eye makeup remover. However, I have found there to be no flaking and it holds a curl really well which makes a little more time spent removing the product worth it. 
Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara
Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara
The brush itself is wider at the end and also flexible which is meant to give a better application. The wider end definitely helps with building the volume and you can use the brush is a few different ways to make sure you get every lash. It definitely doesn't make the lashes look clumpy, even as you build the product up. Personally, i've found I reach for this when I want a more dramatic lash look as it really makes the lashes look defined with lots of volume. 

If you're near somewhere that stocks Covergirl products I would definitely recommend picking this up if you like a bolder lash look. The waterproof formula also makes your lashes look great until you remove it. 


Have you tried this? What is your favourite Covergirl mascara?

Sunday 20 September 2015

Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls

Today I have the first of my travel post from my trip to Canada and America at the start of the month. Since we saw so much i've split the trip into 3 posts. First up, Toronto and Niagara Falls. We only had a short amount of time in each but I was still really excited to visit Canada for the first time. 
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
We arrived on the Monday afternoon so after unpacking a bit and freshening up we went to explore a little. We ended up going to this really nice bar where we had some amazing burgers and sweet potato fries with a big iced tea. We had some great views of the city from our room.
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
 On our only full day in Toronto we did a little shopping in the morning then headed town to the CN Tower. Since it was our birthday's whilst we were away we ended up having a meal in the 360 restaurant as well. It felt like a real treat and included the price of actually going up the tower so was a good deal as well. 
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
The food was delicious and they even made our dessert extra special with a chocolate happy birthday. From the restaurant there was an amazing view of the whole city and as the restaurant rotated you got to see every angle of the city. 
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls

Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
We also had a browse around Toronto. It's a great place to walk around and take everything in. The people are very friendly and there's plenty of places to eat and drink. 
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
We then drove to Niagara Falls. Our hotel and a great view of the Falls and we also went on the boat trip that goes through the falls. That was really fun and we got soaked. We even saw a rainbow whilst going through the Falls. Personally, I would spend more than a day or so here as the Falls is the only thing to see. It was a great experience though and it was nice to have some down time in the evening after a busy few days in Toronto. 
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
Travel Diary | Toronto and Niagara Falls
So those were the few days we spent in Canada. It was really few and I would definitely visit again, maybe a different city or even in the colder months. After Canada we headed to New York so expect a post on that soon. Have you visit Canada, where would you recommend going?

Friday 18 September 2015

Wet N Wild Megalast Lip Color - Reviewed!

When I went to America one of my must do things was to do some beauty shopping. Wet N Wild are one of my favourite brands to check out as they're products are great and they're so affordable. I had heard good things about these lipsticks so they were near the top of my wishlist. 
Wet N Wild Megalast Lip Color
Wet N Wild Megalast Lip Color
The packaging is very basic which I can see past as they're so affordable. It is very plastic-y however does close securely so won't break in your handbag. They have a great selection of colours but the brighter shades definitely seem to be the stand outs. They're a long wearing lip colour which gives a matte to cream finish. They're just the right mix of both; creamy so they're easy to apply yet matte enough so they look bright and bold on the lips. 
Wet N Wild Megalast Lip Color
Wet N Wild Megalast Lip Color
L-R Cherry Picking, Red Velvet, Purity Persimmon
The shade I picked first was Cherry Picking which is the perfect bright pink, plumy shade. It has fuchsia tones which I love and is so vibrant yet wearable. The next shade is Red Velvet which is a pinky toned red. Finally I have Purity Persimmon which is an orange toned red; this is more of a modern red for me and really puts together a simply makeup look. All of these shades are well pigmented and last really well on the lips, even with drinking and eating. They're meant to last for 4 hours but I would say they may even last a bit longer than that. They also feel really comfortable on lips which can not always be the case with a matte formula.

For the price these are such good value and I would definitely recommend checking them out if you can get Wet N Wild products. Cherry Picking is probably my favourite but Purity Persimmon is a great, fun red shade. 


Have you tried these? What are your favourite Wet N Wild products?

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Sephora Beauty Haul

I feel like as a beauty addict a trip to America isn't complete without at least one shopping trip to Sephora. I was good and only went once, whilst in New York but I did manage to get some really nice bits. The main things I spotted were the Sephora favourites sets which I think are such a good idea and a great way to try lots of products at once. 
Sephora Beauty Haul
Sephora Luster Matte Long Wear Lip Color in Mulberry Luster
Sephora Luster Matte Long Wear Lip Color in Mulberry Luster - $16.00 - I spent a bit of time looking over the Sephora lip products section but this colour really stood out to me. It's a lovely bright berry plum colour which will be perfect for Autumn. The formula is slightly glossy so is a little tricky to apply but once it sets it lasts really well. I think a nude colour in this would be lovely. 
Sephora Favourites Brow Raising in Light/Medium
Sephora Favourites Brow Raising in Light/Medium
Sephora Favourites Brow Raising in Light/Medium - $40.00 - As a bit of a brow product addict when I spotted this I knew I had to get it. You get 5 full size brow product, a mirror and a pair of tweezers. It was such a good deal and includes the Anastasia Brow Wiz and Clear Brow Gel, Smashboz Brow Tech Gloss Stick, Kat Von D Tattoo Brow and the Benefit High Brow Pencil. I'm most excited to try the Anastasia Brow Wiz as that has been on my wishlist for a while. The set also comes in Medium/Dark if you are not blonde.
Sephora Favourites Time to Prime

Sephora Favourites Time to Prime
Sephora Favourites Time to Prime - $25.00 - One of my favourite parts of Sephora is all the minis they have near the tills. This is where I spotted this set and somehow it ended up in my bag. I love primers and this comes with the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer; something i've wanted to try for a while. The Sephora Formula X Base Coat, Urban Decay Suberversion Lash Primer, Smashbox Photo Finish Shadow Primer and the Living Proof Prime Style Extender Hair Primer. I'm not really tried a lash, lip or hair primer so i'm definitely looking forward to putting those to the test. 

So those are the beauty bits I picked up from Sephora. I think I was pretty restraint and have still come home with lots of new things to try. Have you picked up anything from Sephora lately, or having anything on your wishlist?

Monday 14 September 2015

Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Mask - Reviewed!

Although my skin can definitely be more on the oily side it is also dehydrated so I like to use moisture mask to help balance my skin. I've noticed that i've been getting some dryness on my cheeks and around my nose plus I wanted something to use on the plane to stop my skin from drying out. I had heard good things about this and since it was so affordable and decided to give it a go. 
Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Mask
Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Mask
The packaging is nice and basic; it's a blue squeezy tube. I like the packaging as it's easy to dispense the product and is more hygienic than a tub. The product itself claims to protect and hydrate the skin to make the skin look firmer. It is marketed as an anti ageing product, however I would ignore that and see it has a hydrating mask if you have dehydrated skin. 
Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Mask
Superdrug Vitamin E Moisture Mask
The product itself is a gel, cream hybrid so doesn't feel heavy on the skin. Although it is hydrating it doesn't feel greasy or thick. It doesn't have much of a scent too it which I like and you can help a generous amount with it still feeling nice on the skin. After using this my skin felt soft, a lot less dry and more hydrated. It's so light you could definitely use it a few nights in a row; which I have done, if you skin is particularly dry and it really makes a difference. This is also great to use on a long flight to stop the air con from drying your skin out. For the price this is a great product and is another product from the Superdrug own brand range that has impressed me. 


Have you tried this? What is your favourite moisture mask?

Saturday 12 September 2015

Healthy Shop Bought Snacks

Snacking is one of the areas where it's easy to make some unhealthy choices. To avoid this, I tend to make healthy snacks at home myself so I know what is going in them. Sometimes though, you don't have time to make something, or you're out and need a snack. I put together some of my favourite, healthier choices to snack on and I thought I would share them. 
Healthy Shop Bought Snacks
POPCORN:
There are a bunch of healthy popcorn variations out now which is great. I love this smaller bags as they're portioned out which helps to stop you overindulging. My favourite is the ProperCorn Sweet Coconut & Vanilla which taste so amazing. This is a great snack to have whilst watching a movie and there's lots of flavours to choose from but this is definitely my favourite. 
Healthy Shop Bought Snacks
RICE CAKES:
Rice cakes can be unhealthy so you have to be careful which brand you go for. Kallo are a great brand and their ingredients are good and they do lots of different flavours. I like the plain ones when i'm home as I can add my own toppings. These Belgian Dark Chocolate with Orange Pieces are so good, they almost taste like a chocolate orange but I lot better for you. 
Healthy Shop Bought Snacks
BARS:
Bars again can be a hard one to work out. These are some of my favourite brands. 9 Bar do great bars full of seeds and these Indulge ones are a great option of you are used to snacking on a chocolate bar in the afternoon. Trek bars are also great if you're having an energy slump, or are out walking a lot and need a boost. Nakd bars are sold in a lot of places now and they have so many flavours. They're basically nuts and dates with some natural flavourings. One of my favourites is Cashew Cookie which tastes almost as good as a cookie. 
Healthy Shop Bought Snacks
Nakd have also brought out these nibbles recently which I find are even more filling than the bars. You can use them as a snack or on top of a pudding. Salted Caramel is my favourite but the coconut one is also great. 
Healthy Shop Bought Snacks
Finally I have Bounce Energy Balls. I love these but they are a bit of the pricey side so they're something I don't get all the time. They do make a great post workout snack, or if you are out all day. The Cacao Mint is amazing of you're a mint chocolate chip fan. I also have to coconut one which i'm yet to try but i'm sure it will be great.

So those are some healthy snacks that are great if you need to pick something up on the go. They're also more transportable than fruit or home made energy balls which are my normal go to snack. What are some of your favourite healthy shop bought snacks?