April Favourites

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Midnight Cowboy
If you like glittery eye makeup looks but don't want to deal with messy pots of loose glitter then you need to try Urban Decay's Glitter Eyeliners. They do loads of cool bright colours but Midnight Cowboy is my absolute favourite. This liner is made from a clear base with yellow gold glitter particles. You can use it as an eyeliner or all over the eye for a glamourous sparkly look. I used to own this many years ago & it was part of my go-to night out makeup. I would apply gold eyeshadow all over my lid, do some thick black winged eyeliner & then go over the gold eyeshadow with the glitter liner. I just fancied recreating it so I bought a new tube & was soon reminded why I loved this eyeliner so much. It applies very smoothly & builds up well. Once applied it sets into place really quickly & lasts all night long. It's not a struggle to remove all the glitter either. These liners are such a quick & easy way to add a bit of sparkle to your eye makeup. They're so fun to use & look really pretty.

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil
Sunday Riley's Luna Oil is a ridiculously expensive skincare product but I have to say that it was worth every penny I spent on it. I've been so desperate to find something that could fix my congested forehead and have tried countless BHAs, AHAs & retinol products during my search. Most of the things I used did improve the condition of my skin & thanks to them it's rare that I get proper spots anymore. But I still had persistent closed comedones & just a couple of months of using this retinol-infused oil at bedtime has cured all of my texture issues. My pores look smaller, my skin looks smoother & feels softer, my complexion looks bright & even toned and most importantly, my forehead doesn't look like a sheet of brail! Even though my once bumpy forehead is now as smooth as a peach, Luna Oil is something that I will continue to use in my skincare routine to ensure that my skin stays looking this good. Retinol also helps to keep wrinkles at bay so even if you're not prone to blemishes I would highly recommend using this oil as a preventative measure for ageing skin.

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Pearl
Highlighters are probably my favourite makeup item & BECCA's Shimmering Skin Perfectors are some of the very best! I prefer to use powders over liquids & creams so I was keen to get my hands on their Pressed version of Pearl when it finally hit the UK a couple of months ago. Despite having pale skin I rarely go for white highlighters as they look a bit too stark on the skin for my liking. NikkieTutorials & Jeffree Star convinced me otherwise as Pearl looked so bloody fantastic on them. I still think it looks a bit too light on me but I've found that if I layer it on top of something like Anastasia's So Hollywood or theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer then it just adds a bit more oomph to those highlighters. I'm one of those people who wants their highlight to be visible from outer space so this really does the job! I adore the formula of BECCA's Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfectors. The powder feels so buttery & they almost melt into the skin for a truly stunning glow.

Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
Bronzer is something that I've avoided wearing for most of my life. I like being a pale princess & I used to consider bronzer to be one step away from fake tan. Maybe it was just that pretty much all bronzers used to be dark & super orange that put me off them but nowadays I'm not averse to warming up my complexion. I started off with Soap & Glory's fabulous Solar Powder but then I heard so many people going on about the Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer as the perfect bronzer for pale skin. This is the first Too Faced product that I've ever bought & I'm completely obsessed with it. The colour is spot on, the powder has a matte finish & it has a lovely chocolatey scent to boot. It just adds a little bit of definition to my face without looking muddy or dirty. I now use this bronzer every single day without fail & it applies beautifully with the Real Techniques Duo-fibre Face Brush.

Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover
I have been buying an awful lot of matte liquid lipsticks lately. I love how long they last on my lips & that they don't transfer when eating, drinking or kissing. When I want to remove them at the end of the day, my regular oil cleanser does the job perfectly. However I'm currently working on some swatch posts of my Jeffree Star & Kylie Cosmetics lipsticks so I needed something that would allow me to change lip colour quickly without disturbing the rest of my makeup. Micellar water does bugger all here, an oil-based makeup remover is what you need. I decided to go for the Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover & it works so well! It makes light work of removing even super dark colours with minimal staining to your lips. Of course it also works for it's intended purpose of removing waterproof eye makeup. The liquid feels very gentle on the skin & it doesn't sting my eyes either. I regularly use the Isehan Kiss Me Heroine mascaras & although I love them, they are such a nightmare to remove. Now that I have this Clarins product it's so much easier to remove them & I don't have to scrub at my eyelashes with a muslin cloth anymore!

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January Favourites

Arran Aromatics Feel Good Formulas Sea Salt Scrub*
I do love a good body scrub! I feel like a shower isn't complete without some hardcore exfoliation. I've tried so many that just did nothing at all. It seems like many brands are afraid to put some real grit in their scrubs. So I was amazed when I tried this one from Arran Aromatics. This is a lovely sea salt scrub packed full of seaweed, mint and plenty of moisturising oils. It's exfoliating & moisturising at the same time. It leaves my whole body feeling soft & fresh. I wish it had a bit more fragrance to it but otherwise it does it's job incredibly well. Full review here.

Oribe Maximista Thickening Spray
Oh Oribe, your products are so damn expensive. Sadly for my bank account, they are well worth the money. If your locks are on the thin or fine side then this thickening spray could be the answer to all your hair woes. A few spritzes of this heat-activated body builder before blowdrying is all you need for thicker, fuller, more voluminous hair. It's so light you can use it all over your hair to plump up your ends as well as your roots. This product also acts as a heat protectant spray which is a bit of a Brucey bonus! The effects seem to last in my hair for about two days. It adds so much volume & you can see a huge difference in thickness after using it. I like to combine it with a smoothing creme for big, bouncy hair that still looks sleek & healthy.

Bleach London Silver Shampoo
After my total hair disaster with one of the Bleach London dyes, the brand lost a whole lotta respect from me. I didn't really want to give them another penny of my money. I was in need of a new bottle of purple shampoo though & as I had enough Boots points for it, I figured that I may as well try out their Silver Shampoo. It is a surprisingly good shampoo that manages to knock out all the yellow tones without being too drying. All too often when I use purple shampoos I end up with purple, grey, blue or pink tones left in my hair. This one doesn't leave any kind of tint. It just gives me really bright pure white hair. My roots end up a bit yellow again after about a week so I find that I need to use it every time I wash my hair instead of every other time. There's plenty of product in the bottle though so I'd say it's very good value for money. I've tried a LOT of purple shampoos in my time as a blondie & as much as I am loath to say it, this ranks as one of the best.

Maybelline Color Show Brocades Nail Polish in Knitted Gold
I never used to be a huge fan of glitter polishes but they're such a foolproof way of creating some cool nail art. Who doesn't like to spend hours staring at their sparkly nails?! I recently fell in love with the amazing range of top coats from the Maybelline Color Show collection. Brocades was the name of their limited edition Christmas polishes & I'm obsessed with this beautiful glittery colour. Knitted Gold is a clear base packed full of golden shimmer particles. It also contains two sizes of pink hex glitter. It looks incredible as it shines in the light. The combination of gold & pink gives a gorgeous glittery rose gold glow to your nails. Full review here.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer
There's been tons of blogger hype about these lip balms for years & I am probably the last person to jump on the bandwagon. I finally got round to buying one of them a couple of months ago & I ended up with a beautiful baby pink shade called Rose Shimmer. This Lip Perfector is very moisturising & isn't sticky at all. It contains shea butter, wild mango & vitamin E to nourish and repair the lips. The gel formula makes your lips look plumper & feel kissably soft. I absolutely love it! Full review here.

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Clarins All About Lips Gift Set

Clarins All About Lips Gift Set - £18

Clarins are one of my favourite skincare brands but I cannot recall ever trying any of their makeup before. Weird right? Personally I've always assumed that their cosmetics line was aimed towards the more mature lady so I've never really bothered looking at their makeup range. I've heard lots of praise for their lip products though so when I spotted this cute little set of miniature lipsticks, lip glosses & lip balms complete with an adorable makeup bag, I snapped it up immediately. I bought this a few months ago during one of those epic Boots events where you spend £50 & get 1200 Boots points in return. Clarins also had a GWP offer when you bought two products so it would've been silly not to. This is actually one of their Christmas sets so apologies for posting about something limited edition again! I thought I'd share the Clarins prettyness anyway because each of the items is part of their main collection so you can still buy all the products individually. The set contains a 2.5ml sample of Gloss Prodige, a 5ml tube of Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector, a 7ml tube of Colour Quench Lip Balm & a 1.5g Rouge Eclat Lipstick.


Clarins Gloss Prodige in 04 Candy
Gloss Prodige is a highly pigmented, high-shine gloss with radiance-boosting pearls. It has some small glitter particles but they're not gritty at all. The shade Candy is deep plummy pink & I think it looks really gorgeous. The gloss is infused with raspberry oil to nourish & hydrate your lips. It also contains hyaluronic acid to plump up your lips. It has a gel formula so it does seem to last longer than a lot of other lip glosses. My favourite thing about this product is the scent. It smells absolutely incredible! The combo of blackberry & liquorice reminds me of sweeties & Ribena. Yummy stuff.


Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 01 Rose Shimmer
The main reason I decided to buy this kit was so I could finally try out one of the Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors. A full size one of these costs £17 so I figured I'd just spend an extra quid and get four products for the price of one. I've seen countless bloggers proclaiming their love for this lip balm so I'm not quite sure why I've waited this long to try it. This glossy pink lip balm might not look like anything special but it's so lovely. It's very moisturising & not sticky at all. It also makes your lips look slightly plumper. Rose Shimmer is just the sweetest baby pink shade. I finally get the hype!


Clarins Colour Quench Lip Balm in 02 Peach Nectar
I'm not normally one for glittery or frosty lip products but I like this Colour Quench Lip Balm a lot more than I thought I would. Peach Nectar is a beautiful peachy colour with lots of golden flecks. It kinda reminds me of the NARS Orgasm lipgloss but this one is a lot shinier. Despite it's super glossy appearance this is classed as a lip balm because it really smooths & moisturises the lips. It feels very comfortable to wear & this one isn't sticky either. This balm also has a sweet cherry scent & flavour. It's delish!


Clarins Rouge Eclat Lipstick in 13 Woodrose
Isn't that just the teeny tiniest little lippie you've ever seen? It's like something you'd get with a doll styling head! In the photo at the top of this post you can see how it looks wound up to the top. You don't get much of this lipstick in this set because a full size one will set you back £18.50. I can see why though. The formula is really rich and provides a soft & smooth satin finish. It contains Clarins' Nutri-Youth Complex to help create fuller, younger-looking lips with every use. It feels very silky & moisturising on the lips. It lasts quite a long time too although I did have to reapply after eating. The shade Woodrose is a pretty rosy red that would be very flattering on a lot of skin tones.

I couldn't be happier with my little lip set. These gift sets are a great way to try out lots of different products & it was much better value than just getting a single Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector. To be honest I'll probably never need to repurchase a full sized one. I can't believe I've avoided Clarins makeup until now. Let me know which other Clarins makeup products you rate!

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Moisturiser Medley

Alpha-H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+ / Clarins HydraQuench Lotion SPF 15
HealGel Face* / Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins

The key to a good skincare routine is consistency. However it is still important to make sure you're using the right products for the right occasion. I'm quite content to use the same cleanser & toner everyday but something I always switch up is my moisturiser. My skin needs something different during the day, during the night & in different seasons. With my combination skin type it can be tricky to find something that will balance everything out & still give me all the hydration I need. Here's a roundup of four tried & tested products that my skin really loves:

I'm sure everyone knows the virtues of using AHAs & BHAs by now but they also make your skin more sensitive to sun. I use lactic acid, glycolic acid & retinol on a regular basis so I always make sure I wear some sun protection during the day. I've yet to find a separate SPF product that doesn't smell, give me a white cast, feel greasy or break me out so I prefer to use a moisturiser that already contains SPF. My favourite one has to be the Alpha-H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+. I mainly wear this one during the Summer. It's quite a thick white cream but it absorbs very quickly & feels very light on the skin. It hydrates my face perfectly & sits nicely under makeup. The high SPF is ideal for my pale skin & it lacks all the things I hate about other sun protection products. It is also a UVA/UVB broad spectrum sunscreen so with this you can be sure that your skin is fully protected.

During the Winter I don't feel the need to wear such a high sun protection factor so I switch to the Clarins HydraQuench Lotion SPF 15. I think the HydraQuench range is intended to be used in countries with high temperatures but SPF 15 isn't enough for me when I'm spending hours in the sun. It's other intended use is for people with dehydrated skin. People tend to think they need to use something really rich when the weather turns colder but this stuff contains hyaluronic acid so you get lots of hydration packed into a light lotion. The moisturiser I have is for anyone with normal to combination skin but there's a different HydraQuench product available for every skin type. I'd highly recommend checking them out if you have dehydrated skin.

HealGel Face is an all-rounder moisturiser. You can use it during the day or at night & I often do both. Like the HydraQuench Lotion this moisturiser contains hyaluronic acid so if you use one of those you no longer need to buy Hydraluron. I tend to use this during the day if I don't need to leave the house. I use my Hourglass primer on top if I end up going out to add some sun protection. This always makes my skin feel incredible & gives it a nice matte appearance. This is another really light lotion that absorbs instantly but it also deeply hydrates & nourishes my skin. HealGel Face smooths & plumps up my face beautifully due to it's many anti-ageing properties. It also helps to reduce redness, scarring & irritation. Magic in a bottle basically!

My favourite ever night cream is Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins. It has the most amazing consistency & it really melts into your skin. As the name suggests it's packed full of vitamins & minerals to feed your skin with. It works to slough away dead skin cells overnight so you wake up looking refreshed & ready to start the day. I like to mix it with some Trilogy Rosehip Oil for an even more intense hit of hydration. Massaging that combo onto my face at night ensures I wake up with brighter, softer, healthier looking skin. What could be better?

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October Favourites

HealGel Eye
It's so easy to forget about using an eye cream because sometimes you can't ever be sure that it's having a positive effect. I think that this is the only eye product that has actually made a lasting visible difference to my under eye area. It's a hydrating gel featuring arnica & hyaluronic acid. It feels very refreshing & manages to effectively reduce puffiness as well as discolouration. It also provides a smooth canvas for my concealer by firming up that whole area. It's great for both day & night so you're definitely getting your money's worth. I'm actually remembering to use an eye product every day without fail now because this really works! Full review here.

Estelle & Thild Lily Detox Mask
I don't really have large pores but I still can't get enough of this face mask! The product is a thick yellow cream that never sets on the face. It uses lactic acid & natural bentonite clay to remove every trace of gunk from your skin. It gets to work in just 5 minutes & it has such a noticeable effect on pores & blemishes. It reduces inflammtion & gives the skin a matte airbrushed appearance. It makes my skin feel so lovely & soft too. Anyone with oily or blemish-prone skin should give this a go. It is fantastic! Estelle & Thild are definitely a skincare brand to keep your eye on. Full review here.

Clarins HydraQuench Lotion SPF 15
I recently finished off my tub of Origins Make A Difference Plus+ Rejuvenating Moisturiser. As much as I loved that moisturiser, I felt like trying something new. I use lots of acids on my face so SPF is now an everyday must-have. I decided to go for this Clarins offering and I have to say I really love this moisturiser! The HydraQuench range is ideal for anyone with dehydrated skin. The products feature an exclusive hyaluronic acid complex that replenishes the skin's moisture levels & reduces future moisture loss. There's a different version for every skin type & this one is for people with normal to combination skin. It's a thin white lotion that absorbs very quickly and leaves my face feeling perfectly balanced. It also uses katafray bark, pomegranate extract & alpine willow herb to limit dehydration, tighten pores and regulate shine & sebum production. My makeup sits so nicely on top of this & I no longer need to use Hydraluron because this already contains hyaluronic acid. I've never found a better day moisturiser for combination skin & I thoroughly recommend trying this product.

Vosene Shampoo
I needed a strong clarifying shampoo to help fade my blue hair disaster and this has been working really well for me. It has a slightly odd menthol scent which isn't entirely pleasant but you can't smell it on your hair at all. It uses salicylic acid to cleanse the scalp & hair so it's working to strip the dye as well as excess oils. Therefore you do need a good conditioner afterwards or you'll end up with a dry wreck on your head. I'd recommend this to fade your hair colour rather than a bleach bath though, it's far less damaging.

Organic Surge 2-Minute Moisture Mask
To counteract the effects of the Vosene shampoo I've been relying on this Organic Surge hair mask. This lovely thick mask uses coconut oil & plant extracts to restore the condition of your hair & give it an intense hit of hydration. I love how soft, shiny & silky it makes my hair. Plus it gets to work incredibly quickly. It's about 1000x better than Aussie 3 Minute Miracle, that stuff never did anything for my hair even when it wasn't bleached! My hair loves this mask so it's currently on 'forever repurchase' status. Full review here.

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April Favourites

Real Techniques Kabuki Brush
I own pretty much all the Real Techniques brushes now but the Kabuki Brush was missing from my collection. I prefer this to the huge Powder Brush as it is a much better size & shape for powdering the skin. The bristles feel really silky & it works well with both mineral foundation & setting powders. It's a joy to use as it's just so soft and simply glides over my face without disturbing my foundation or blusher. The design of this brush is pretty cool as you can also flip it out so it almost resembles a fan brush. I love using my Louise Young Super Fan Brush for contouring so this is like a more travel friendly version of that one & much cheaper too!

Superfacialist By Una Brennan Rose Miracle Makeover Facial Oil
This is hands down one of the best cleansers I've ever used. I really like all the Superfacialist cleansers I bought but this one stands out as it hydrates, cleans off makeup & clears out blocked pores. I love the rose scent & it isn't overpowering at all. I look forward to cleaning my face with this day and night. It feels so good massaging this into my face before washing it off with a muslin cloth. I think it's really helped clear up my recent breakout. The only problem with this product is that I seem to be going through the bottle rather quickly! I'll definitely have to stock up while it's still on offer in Boots. Read more about some of the brilliant Superfacialist cleansers here.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo
I bought this product quite a few months ago when there was just tons of hype around it. I still get acne at 24 years old so I'm willing to try anything that is heralded as a brilliant spot treatment. It didn't really do anything for me so I just shoved it to the back of my skincare drawer and forgot about it. I recently had an awful reaction to a REN exfoliating product which resulted in a million spots all over my face. I figured I would give it another go as my skin was in such a sorry state & I'm so glad I did. The rest of my skincare routine helped to clear up my face but this product in particular has unclogged a lot of the red spots on my cheeks. My skin feels a lot smoother & I've had less new spots since I started using it again. I think there is some confusion as to how to use this treatment but what I do is apply it only on the congested areas of my face before moisturising at night. This method seems to be working rather well as Effaclar Duo is definitely not moisturising enough for my skin on it's own. I know a lot of people have differing opinions about this product. Some people say it's ruined their skin, others say it's saved it and for some it does nothing at all. So it's definitely one you need to try out for yourself.

Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil
I have well and truly been loving face oils this month! I've spoken about this oil a few times now but I haven't been using it for a few months. It feels so lovely to massage this into your face at night, very soothing & calming. The blend of rosewood, geranium & lotus oils in it smells divine too. This is a great choice for anyone with combination/oily yet dehydrated skin as it balances the natural oils in your skin as well as unclogging pores. I've found it also helps with scarring & redness. Think I need to try the Trilogy Rosehip oil next as treatment oils are definitely my fave thing at the moment.

Maybelline Ceramic Blue Forever Strong Professional Nail Polish
This gorgeous pastel blue has been gracing my fingers a lot lately. It's such a nice colour and has a really subtle yet pretty baby blue shimmer running through it. It has also lasted surprisingly well on my nails! I've never tried any Maybelline polishes before but colour me impressed. If the Forever Strong polishes live up to their name then it's helping to strengthen my nails too so it's win win with this product.

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What's In My Makeup Bag?

I store all of my makeup collection in some acrylic drawers from Homebase but I keep the stuff I tend to wear on a daily basis inside my makeup bag. I bought this from MAC a few years ago & it's still going strong. It is the signature medium rectangle bag. It's a good size as it can hold a lot of stuff and has a separate pocket to keep my brushes in. I tend to keep far too many things in here as I like to have a little bit of choice when it comes to what I'm gonna use that day. I would clear some of the products out but I just like too many things! Anyway here's a little peak at some of my most used makeup products.

Dr Jart+ Water Fuse BB Cream / Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation / Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
By Terry Touche Veloutee / Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer / Bobbi Brown Creamy Corrector
Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer

I keep a couple of different base products in my bag to use depending on how my skin is behaving & how much time I have to get ready. If I have time I prefer to use the Laura Mercier Silk Creme applied with a Beautyblender. If I'm running late a blob of the Dr Jart BB cream mixed with a tiny dot of the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer helps to even out my skin and hide some of my blemishes & scarring. The BB cream alone is far too dark & sheer for me so adding the Sensual Skin Enhancer lightens it up & adds a bit more coverage. I use a few different concealers but tend to just go for some of the Bobbi Brown Creamy Corrector under my eyes most days.

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer / Illamasqua Naked Rose Blusher / NARS Deep Throat Blusher / theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer / MAC Omega Eyeshadow / Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

As well as the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer I also keep the Clarins Instant Smooth one in my bag. The Clarins primer is better if I want to hide my pores & smooth over my skin so I use this one more often. I love blushers & have tons in my collection but the ones I've been using most are NARS Deep Throat & Illamasqua Naked Rose. They're both nice peachy pinks that add a much needed burst of colour to my complexion. My go-to highlighter is theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer, I recommend this product for anyone who wants a highly metallic sheen to their skin. It's one of the most pigmented I've tried & really makes my skin glow. I use the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette every day as it's a great selection of neutral colours that are ideal for day or night. If I fancy using a powder to fill in my eyebrows I opt between the shade Naked2 from this palette and MAC's Omega eyeshadow.

Givenchy Noir Couture Mascara* / MAC Clear Brow Set / NUXE Reve De Miel Lip Balm / Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara / Benefit They're Real Mascara / MAC Fling Eye Brow Pencil / Anastasia Granite Tinted Brow Gel / Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara / Beaute Girlina Weightless Lip Creme / L'Oreal Carbon Gloss Superliner / Revlon Strawberry Shortcake Lip Butter / Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion / MAC NC15/NW20 Pencil
LORAC Front Of The Line Pro Eyeliner / SUQQU Eyebrow Liquid Pen

I have four mascaras in here which is probably overkill! At the minute I like to layer the last dregs of my Lancome Doll Eyes mascara with Benefit They're Real mascara and then use the Clinique mascara on my bottom lashes to stop them smudging. I didn't really like They're Real to begin with but it's starting to get better as it dries out a bit. Still clinging on to the Lancome one though! There's some more eye brow products here depending on how I want them to look. I love brushing on some of the Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel when I don't have time to fill them in properly. I have lip products galore but I tend to go for the Beaute Lip Creme or Revlon Lip Butter as I do love a nice pink lip. I use the L'Oreal Superliner to do my regular cat flick but the LORAC one is amazing for really thin lines. I use this to fill in any tiny gaps, neaten the end of the flick & sometimes I draw on bottom lashes with it a la Twiggy. And I can't go a day without using my MAC NC15/NW20 pencil on my lower lash line to brighten up my eyes.

Real Techniques Buffing Brush / Real Techniques Contour Brush x2 / Real Techniques Setting Brush / Sigma Tapered Highlighter Brush / Real Techniques Brow Brush / Laura Mercier Double Ended Eye Brow Brush / MAC 239 Brush / MAC 222 Brush / MAC 219 Brush / MAC 227 Brush / Tweezerman Tweezers / Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

I keep a few essential brushes in here but often dip into my brush pots when I'm getting ready. I typically apply foundation with a Beautyblender (but I keep that in a separate jar) or the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. I always keep two of the Contour Brushes in here - one for blending concealer & one for applying blusher. I use the setting brush with some loose powder to set under my eyes and the Sigma brush to apply highlighter. There's two angled brushes in here but they're quite different, the Real Techniques one is better for lining my eyes with black eyeshadow & the Laura Mercier one is my favourite eye brow brush. The bristles are a lot stiffer so it works a lot better. I also keep several eyeshadow brushes in here but I probably use the MAC 219 the most as I like to apply some brown eyeshadow under my eyes with it. Finally I have my tweezers & eyelash curlers, total essentials for me & you can't get better than Tweezerman & Shu Uemura.

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March Favourites

Pepta-Bright
As I'm such a big fan of Hydraluron, which is also made by Indeed Labs, I had to try out their latest product. Pepta-Bright is a creamy textured serum which helps to brighten my skintone & has been really effective at reducing scarring. I hate the freckles & brown spots on my face and this has helped to lighten them a tiny bit. Hopefully over time they will fade a lot more because then I wouldn't need to wear a high coverage foundation. It also boosts skin hydration & radiance. I apply this, then Hydraluron, followed by my moisturiser. This product goes well with the Clarins toner to give your skin maximum brightness & clarity.

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner
This lovely toner is also a chemical exfoliant so using this every night has made my skin feel so much softer & smoother. I have a real problem with bumps under my skin and other than Alpha-H Liquid Gold, this is the only product that has managed to shift them. As the name suggests it is incredibly gentle so this would make a great alternative to Liquid Gold for anyone with sensitive skin. Read my full review here.

Neal & Wolf Harmony Intensive Care Treatment
This intensive conditioner is one of the best I've ever tried. I've shelled out for products double the price of this one that were far less effective. Kerastase, I'm looking at you. It really improves the appearance and feel of my hair. Whenever I've used this my hair is instantly transformed from looking dry and damaged to healthy and shiny. The difference it makes to my hair is just incredible. Its so nice to not have my hair looking like a heavily bleached dry mess for once!

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
I've suffered with eczema since I was a baby. I've managed to control my symptoms a lot through watching my diet, changing my shower gel and using various oils & creams. But nothing was working on the patches on my elbows until I tried La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume. It offers instant relief to any itch and adds some much needed moisture to the area. This is a multipurpose soothing balm which is suitable for very sensitive skin so you can use it on dry lips, rashes, minor burns or even as a face cream. This is a brilliant product for anyone with dry skin anywhere on their face or body.

Illamasqua Scarce Nail Varnish
This gorgeous speckled pink hasn't left my nails all month. Its the perfect polish for Easter and as with all Illamasqua nail varnishes the formula & quality are impeccable. Check out my nail swatches of this shade here.

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Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner - £25

I know you're all probably bored of me banging on about Alpha-H Liquid Gold by now but it has been my skin saviour for almost a year. Sadly I have to say that it doesn't quite give me the same results anymore. Theres still a visible difference every time I use it but nothing compared to what it did when I first tried it out. Maybe its because I only use it once a week but I guess my skin has just become used to the product. A few of the closed comedones on my cheeks & forehead have begun to make a very unwelcome reappearance and while my skin is otherwise 'good' now (touch wood!), those horrible flesh coloured bumps still get me down. Ideally I wish I could use Liquid Gold every night to sort them out but I'm sure that overdosing on such a high percentage of glycolic acid would just make my skin very red & sensitive. I've even heard of people whose skin has become blistered and raw after their first use of Liquid Gold so I don't want to risk that happening to me. But I think I may have found a safer alternative & its widely available in Boots & department stores across the country - Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner.

It works in a similar way to Liquid Gold in that it is also a chemical exfoliant. As the name suggests you use this product as a toner. After cleansing apply a generous amount to a cotton pad and wipe it all over your face & neck. You then have to wait a couple of minutes before continuing with the rest of your skincare routine but afterwards you can apply whatever serum, eye cream, moisturiser etc. that you normally use. The instructions say to only use it once or twice a week, the same amount as Liquid Gold, but this is so mild on the skin that you can actually use it as a daily product. Its so much gentler on the skin than physical exfoliants yet more potent at the same time.

I've been using it almost every night before applying Hydraluron, Alpha-H Absolute Eye Complex & Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins. It has significantly reduced the amount of closed comedones on my face and leaves my skin feeling really soft & smooth. No adverse effects whatsoever, not even the slightest sting or tingle. You won't see an immediate visual difference like with Liquid Gold but over a couple of weeks you'll start to notice what a difference it makes to the texture of your skin. Clarins say that the main ingredients are tamarind extract which eliminates impurities & dead skin cells and white nettle extract which tightens pores but it also contains glycolic, salicylic & tartaric acid. These AHAs and BHAs help to treat existing blemishes as well as prevent new ones from appearing. It has also helped to reduce the scars left from old spots so my skin looks brighter & clearer in general. Just don't forget to wear sun protection during the day as the glycolic acid will make you more sensitive to the sun. If you've tried Liquid Gold and found it to be too harsh or you're too scared to try something so powerful then this is a brilliant & more readily available alternative for people with sensitive skin.

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Favourite Products Of 2012

My monthly favourite posts are probably the ones I enjoy writing the most. Lots of you have told me that they're the ones you enjoy reading the most too. So today I bring you my yearly roundup of the products that I've loved using. It was really difficult to narrow the list down this year. There were so many new things that I tried & that have quickly become an essential part of my beauty regime. I'm surprised to see what things have changed & whats stayed the same from my last yearly favourites post. One thing's for sure, 2012 was a very expensive year in beauty!

Skincare
Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift & Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm / Alpha-H Liquid Gold
REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask / Hydraluron / Caudalie Beauty Elixir / Bioderma Créaline H2O

I definitely spent the most amount of money on new skincare products. I fell in love with this Emma Hardie cleanser from the moment I tried it. It removes makeup like nothing else & leaves your skin feeling so soft. I'm sure you could tell that Liquid Gold would be on my list. This glycolic acid based chemical exfoliant is something of a miracle potion for me. It resurfaces your skin getting rid of blemishes, fine lines & reducing scarring. Hands down, it is my favourite product of the year. The REN Invisible Pores is such a wonderful clay face mask. It draws out all the impurities in my skin & tightens every pore. Hydraluron is my favourite product for injecting a quick hit of moisture to the skin as its basically a super power up serum for your moisturiser. It rehydrates skin & helps keep spots at bay. I still love the Caudalie Beauty Elixir and spray it on my face twice a day. Its just so refreshing on the skin & I couldn't go without it now. Bioderma is the best thing you can use if you're feeling too lazy to actually wash your face. It just dissolves makeup so well & doesn't irritate my skin or eyes whatsoever.

Haircare
Moroccanoil / Percy & Reed Finishing Polish / Kerastase Ciment Thermique / Redken Real Control Overnight Treat
Bumble & Bumble Texture Hair (Un) Dressing Creme / Denman Dressing Out Hairbrush

I use Moroccanoil every time I wash my hair & it has definitely helped with its overall condition. I really like the Percy & Reed Finishing Polish as it gives my hairstyle great hold & successfully tames my frizz without weighing down my hair. Nothing beats Ciment Thermique when it comes to heat protection. It also makes your hair softer & has a lovely grapefruit scent. The Redken Overnight Treat is my favourite leave in product as you really do wake up with better looking hair. Bumble & Bumble products are amazing, I only wish they weren't quite so expensive. One thing from them that you should definitely splurge on is this Hair (Un) Dressing Creme. A tiny blob of this stuff ran through your roots before blow drying will give you just the right amount of texture & volume. To give my roots even more volume I use this Dressing Out brush. It is the best backcombing brush ever & can even be used to brush through wigs & hair extensions.

Base
Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer / Bobbi Brown Corrector / Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray / theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer / Laura Mercier Mineral Powder
Illamasqua Translucent Loose Setting Powder

Clarins Instant Smooth is my new favourite primer. It gives you such a flawless base & basically airbrushes out your pores. Nothing manages to cover my hideous dark circles quite like my Bobbi Brown Corrector. It really brightens up the under eye area and makes you look a lot more awake. For most of 2012 I stuck with Estee Lauder Double Wear because I do love the coverage & staying power. Then Estee Lauder did something stupid & got rid of their palest shade. Enter Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation. Soft Ivory is such a perfect colour for me. You only need the tiniest blob for flawless skin and I find I don't need to use concealer on my blemishes when I use this foundation. I love the Urban Decay Setting Spray as it keeps your face in place all day & stops powder from looking powdery. I have a ridiculous obsession with highlighters and I couldn't stop myself from buying new ones in my search for the perfect glow. Look no further, theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer is the ultimate highlighter! I bought this back in May and haven't used or purchased another one since. I use this every single day as nothing else can deliver such a powerful shine. For days when I'm running late I go for a quick bit of concealer under my eyes and a good dusting of this Laura Mercier Mineral Powder. It has great coverage & gives a natural glow. I'd recommend this one over the pressed mineral powder as the pressed ones give a more matte finish. My favourite product for setting my makeup & taking away shine from my t-zone is this Illamasqua powder. I'm paranoid about my mascara running & concealer creasing under my eyes. This powder sets them perfectly & doesn't look cakey at all.

Eyes
Lancome Doll Eyes Mascara / L'Oreal Carbon Gloss Superliner / Anastasia Granite Tinted Brow Gel
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara / Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette / MAC NC15/NW20 Pencil
Maybelline On And On Bronze Colour Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow / MAC Omega Eyeshadow

My mascara & eyeliner choices are the same as last year. I just love this combo for long, thick, voluminous lashes & that perfect black flick. Anastasia are a brand I've been excited to try for a while & their Tinted Brow Gel certainly didn't disappoint. This is such a great product for when you need your brows done fast. Something I've used for a long time is the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara. The tiny brush is fab for getting all those little bottom lashes & as it is a tubing mascara you don't have to worry about it running. The Naked 2 palette really is the best eyeshadow palette I own with shades & textures for all occasions. My eyes don't look right if I forget to use my MAC NC15/NW20 eye pencil. It really opens them up and takes away any redness. I've bought quite a few cream eyeshadows this year but Maybelline's On And On Bronze tops the list. Its such a nice colour & works well on its own as well as under other eye shadows without any creasing. At the beginning of last year I was using the HD Brows palette but I found the shades were just too dark & it was easy to overdo it. Omega is the perfect eyebrow colour. Its dark enough to match my eyebrow hairs & cool enough to look right with my blonde hair.

Blusher
Stila Petunia Convertible Colour / Illamasqua Sophie / NARS Deep Throat

I adore the Stila Convertible Colours! I used to be quite wary of cream blushers but the formula of these is just spot on. All the colours are gorgeous but Petunia is the one I reach for most. Its a bright rosy pink & looks fab on both cheeks & lips. I love love love Illamasqua's blushers & this is one of their newer shimmer blushers. Sophie is such a gorgeous bright golden coral colour and adds a nice bit of warmth to my complexion. NARS Deep Throat is a colour I reach for on an everyday basis. Its just the perfect colour for me & I can't get enough of it. This is actually the only NARS blusher I own, I'd love to get my hands on Douceur next.

Lip Products
NUXE Reve De Miel Lip Balm / Revlon Strawberry Shortcake Lip Butter
Revlon Rendezvous Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain / Look Beauty Citrus Kick Double Hit Lip
MAC Subculture Lip Pencil

The only lip balm capable of saving my lips from death this year has been this lovely NUXE one. I really like the pot & the stick but the pot definitely wins when you need an intense hit of moisture as its a bit thicker. I'd never tried any Revlon products before this year & I truly loved their two very hyped products - the Lip Butters & Balm Stains. Strawberry Shortcake is a lovely everyday pink whereas Rendezvous is sexy orange number. I also really like the Look Beauty Double Hit Lips. One end is a lipstick & the other is a lipgloss. Citrus Kick is another orange but it turns into a very pretty coral when it combines with the natural pink of my lips. The scent is absolutely delicious too. MAC's Subculture lip pencil is great nudey pink shade for emphasising the shape of your lips. It works well under a variety of lip colours & gives you super pouty lips.

Nail Polishes
Essie Cute As A Button / Essie Lilacism / Essie Fiji / Models Own Disco Inferno / Louise Gray For Topshop Junk Yard

I've been loving Essie polishes this year. The new brush makes them so easy to apply & they dry fairly quickly. They don't chip much either with a good coat of Seche Vite on top. Lilacism is probably my favourite one as I just love purple colours! I've also gotten into glitter polishes this year. The whole Models Own Mirrorball collection was amazing but as a gold lover Disco Inferno is the one I reach for most often. This Louise Gray for Topshop glitter nail polish is so stunning & I can't stop staring at my nails whenever I wear it.

Tools
Real Techniques Brushes / Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers / Tweezerman Tweezers

Most of my makeup brush collection has been replaced with Real Techniques brushes since they launched in the UK. I think they're amazing quality with super soft bristles that dry quickly after washing & don't shed at all. My makeup looks so much better since I invested in some of these. I use these three on a daily basis. I apply my foundation using the Buffing Brush, my blusher using the Contour Brush and loose powder with the setting brush. I can't recommend these enough and wish these were around before I wasted loads of money on overhyped MAC brushes which used to just shed all over my face. I use these Shu Uemura eyelash curlers every day without fail. They make my lashes look so much better & open up my eyes. They make such a difference. I've used these tweezers for years as you can pluck out the tiniest hairs with them. They last forever so they're definitely worth the investment.

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer

Primers are something I consider to be an essential step in makeup application. Anything that can help my makeup to look better & last longer is welcome in my collection. After reading several glowing reviews on this Clarins product I decided it was something I needed to try out for myself & I certainly wasn't disappointed with the results! I've written in depth before about some of my favourite primers but this is now the one that I find myself reaching for on a daily basis.

Instant Smooth is a pink silicone based primer that helps to give the illusion of flawless base. Don't worry, it becomes clear once applied on your skin! Theres a primer out there for everyone depending on your personal skin & makeup concerns. This product is a brilliant one to try if large pores are a problem for you. It fills in fine lines & pores with such ease. I tried it on the back of my hand when I was in Boots and was amazed at how it made even the tiny hair follicle pores disappear instantly. Naturally it works even better on your face! It comes with a tiny spatula so you can scoop out the product but I find that using my fingers works better or I end up with too much product on my face. One of the best things about this primer is how little of it you need for a flawless finish. It makes my pores look airbrushed without makeup & it feels wonderful on the skin, like velvet. Its so light and my makeup glides over this product. It makes my foundation last a lot longer, especially in the t-zone area which is where my combination skin is oiliest. I like to use it under my eyes too which helps to stop my concealer from creasing. Its also lovely to use over drier areas. The skin around my nose gets a bit dry & flakey when I have a cold but Instant Smooth really helps to minimise this. Its the perfect primer for anyone with combination skin. My skin type is slightly blemish prone & whereas other silicone based primers have broken me out in the past, this one has only helped the appearance of my skin.

The other primers I would consider to give a similar finish to this one are my other two favourites - Benefit's The Porefessional and Philosophy's The Present. However in my opinion Clarins Instant Smooth is actually better than the both of them. The Porefessional feels a touch greasier on my skin and isn't very cost effective. The Present is probably equal to Instant Smooth in terms of how it makes my skin look & feel and the effect it has on my makeup. However The Present is quite a thick primer and you have to wait for it to settle on your skin for a minute before applying your makeup. With Instant Smooth the results are, well, instant. You only need to use a tiny amount and you can get on with applying your makeup right away. I highly recommend getting this primer because it will last you such a long time & will make your foundation look truly flawless.

Daily Skincare Routine

Following a bad experience from trying the new YSL foundation I've had a bit of a skincare shakeup to cure my heavily blemished skin. The result is that I'm currently really happy with my skin's texture and appearance. I thought I'd share the products that I've recently been using and loving. For reference my skin type is combination with an oily t-zone & dryer cheeks, prone to blemishes and slightly dehydrated.

Morning
REN Mayblossom T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel, Caudalie Beauty Elixir,
Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum, Alpha-H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+

In the mornings I try to keep the products down to a minimum. Partly because I don't have much time to get ready and partly because I'm gonna pile a ton of makeup on top of my face anyway. A good cleanser is probably the most important step and at the moment I adore this gel cleanser from REN. Its meant for combination to oily skin types and does a brilliant job of balancing out your skin without stripping it. It helps to unclog my pores and leaves my skin looking clearer and brighter. It foams up just the right amount. I sometimes use this with my Clarisonic but it works just as well without it. I then give my face a generous spritz of Caudalie Beauty Elixir. I'm sure everyone has heard about what a fab skin refresher this is and I love how it works on my skin. I've gone through three big bottles of this now and its something I couldn't live without. A recent addition is the Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching serum. I tried a sample of this in a Glossybox and really liked it. When I went for my facial last month I was told that my skin was a bit dehydrated so I decided to purchase the full size one and its definitely helped to replenish my skin. I finish off with two small pumps of my Alpha-H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+. Its perfect for my skin type and gives me the high sun protection that my skin so desperately needed.

Makeup Removal
Bioderma Créaline H2O, Boots Botanics Face Soothing Cleansing Balm

What I use to remove my makeup depends on how lazy I'm feeling. If I want something quick and easy then Bioderma is the way to go. A few cotton pads full of this will remove every trace of makeup on my face with ease, even when I've piled on the mascara. Sometimes I feel like my face needs a more thorough clean so I remove a bit of my eye makeup with Bioderma and then I use this Botanics cleansing balm. I really like this balm as massaging this into my face feels wonderful. I use a Liz Earle muslin cloth to remove it from my face and it leaves my skin feeling really smooth and does a fab job of cleaning out my congested areas. Sadly Boots have just relaunched their Botanics range and the ingredient list of this product has now changed. I have no idea if the new cleansing balm is as good as this one but I sure hope so. I fell out of love with Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish as I felt it wasn't really doing anything for my skin anymore. This balm was better, cheaper and made my skin so much nicer. Perhaps because this is more akin to the Eve Lom cleansing balm that Liz Earle tried to emulate long ago.

Night
REN ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser, Caudalie Beauty Elixir, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré,
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil, Alpha-H Liquid Gold

At night is when your skin your skin repairs itself so this is when its most important to provide it with some TLC. I begin with another REN cleanser in the form of the ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser. This range of REN products is meant for blemish prone skin so it helps to clean out any impurities in your skin, shrink pores and clear up blemishes. Its really creamy and relaxing to massage in. It definitely helps to soften and calm my skin. Its so refreshing to find a skincare range for blemished skin that doesn't strip your skin or leave your face feeling tight. I either remove it using my Clarisonic or a Liz Earle muslin cloth. I then treat my face to some more Caudalie Beauty Elixir. I rotate the next few products throughout the week. Most nights I use some of my Embryolisse moisturiser with a few drops of Advanced Night Repair mixed in. I tend to use the Clarins Lotus Oil once or twice a week to give my skin an extra boost of moisture. This oil is suitable for combination or oily skin so you don't have to worry about this product breaking you out at all. Twice a week I use my holy grail skin product - Alpha-H Liquid Gold. I've raved about this product enough but this is just so good at clearing up any spots you have (including those that lie deep under the skin such as closed comedones), brightening your complexion and reducing scarring.

Theres some other bits and bobs I use once a week such as masks & spot treatments but those will be coming up soon in separate posts. I hope this helps some of you with combination skin as it can be difficult to find the right products for this skintype.

May Favourites

Alpha-H Liquid Gold
This stuff has been working absolute wonders on my face. I did a full review of this the other day and despite the high price this is something I can see myself using for years to come. The effects are practically immediate which really sets it apart from most skincare products. It has certainly helped to keep my blemishes at bay and leaves the rest of my face feeling soft and smooth. My face also looks positively radiant. If like me you suffer from closed comedones (those annoying little bumps under the skin that no blemish treatment seems to shift) then this product is a bit of a godsend. I can't sing its praises highly enough!

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
I recently ran out of my Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish as well as my Philosophy Purity Cleanser and to purchase either of these I have to order them online or hop on a train. So I had a look through my local Boots to see if there were any cleansers I liked the look of. I actually found this in the pharmacy section rather than the skin care section but I'm glad I spotted it as its something I've always wanted to try. Cetaphil is a cleanser that you hear a lot about mainly because its so basic & gentle on the skin. Since I've started using my Alpha-H Liquid Gold I've not really felt the need for a fancy cleanser as that product seems to be doing all of the hard work for me. I wouldn't say that Cetaphil is brilliant at taking off makeup but I use this in the morning and after using my Bioderma at night so thats not really a great concern of mine. A lot of acne sufferers use this product because its really good for sensitive skin. Theres no fragrance in it at all. Its a kind of gel formula that you can either just apply to your face and tissue off or wash off. Like all cleansers you should actually use this on your face while its still dry. It doesn't foam up at all but I still think it works nicely with the Clarisonic Mia (I just wet the brush head after massaging the product into my skin). Whichever way you use this it leaves your skin simply feeling clean, fresh & supple. It does contain parabens which isn't brilliant but for the price I really quite like this cleanser.

Origins GinZing Eye Cream
This eye cream is the best one I've ever used. It contains light reflecting particles that help to brighten the under eye area. A lot of eye creams claim to reduce dark circles but this is the only one I've found that actually lives up to the claim. The effects are not really a solution to the dark circle problem but it works more as a temporary pick me up for your eyes. Its especially great to use in the morning because it brightens your eye before you apply your concealer meaning that you don't need to use as much makeup in that area. I have pretty bad dark circles so its really nice being able to just use a light concealer rather than a full coverage one. Its brilliant at keeping your eye area hydrated so I use this morning and night. It also de-puffs your eyes and feels very cooling on that area. My hayfever has just started playing up and I've found that this does help to stop your eyes feeling quite so dreadful.

Clarins Lotus Treatment Oil
I bought this mainly because I needed to buy a second Clarins item to get a ton of gift with purchase samples & 1000 Boots points but I am absolutely loving this facial oil. I know a lot of people can be funny about putting more oil on their face especially if they already have oily skin but this oil is specially formulated for oily or combination skin. Therefore it actually works to balance the amount of oil that your skin will naturally produce and help to stop spots. They also do two other facial oils for dehydrated and dry skin but I have combination skin so I went for this one. It contains Clarins exclusive blend of rosewood, geranium & lotus oils which smell incredible. Its really calming to massage this into your skin before bed and whenever I wake up after using this my skin feels beautifully plump & smooth, not greasy at all.

Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream For Face SPF50+
I spent a couple of weeks last month researching facial sunscreens because this summer I am determined to keep my freckly face under control. The moisturiser I've been using lately (Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré) doesn't contain any SPF so I bought this to use on top of it to protect my pale skin. Theres a lot of moisturisers out there that already contain SPF but they tend to only go up to factor 30 and I need a lot more protection. This is a really nice sunscreen because it doesn't leave any white cast to your skin and actually smells quite nice. I was tempted by the La Roche Posay and No.7 facial sunscreens but they smelled horrible. The lady at the Clarins counter told me that if you're using this as an everyday sun protection product you should wear your normal moisturiser underneath but I found that my face felt a bit too greasy after that. So I've just been using this product instead and used alone it does a great job of hydrating your face without making it super greasy. It might not be ideal for someone with really oily skin but I've found that as soon as you apply your foundation the greasiness goes away anyway. Since discovering the wondrousness of Alpha-H products I'm tempted to buy their Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+ when this runs out because thats two products I want in one. Plus its important to wear sun protection all year round which is something I've failed to do in the past & its doubly important if like me you've been fiddling about with glycolic acid products recently!




MAC Powersurge Eye Kohl
Since we've had this recent heatwave I've been trying to wear less eye makeup because it does tend to melt onto my face. My hayfever has also been flaring up a bit so if I do rub my itchy eyes, my black liquid liner and mascara go absolutely everywhere. So I've been wearing this golden bronzey eyeliner smudged over my top and bottom lashes to give them some definition without looking too harsh. The good thing about smudged eyeliner is that if it does get a bit messed up as the day goes on, it looks intentional haha. I'm not too keen on loads of black kohl liner on my waterline because it does make my piggy eyes look even smaller than usual. This colour is a gorgeous alternative that also highlights the green in my hazel eyes.

theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
Another month, another highlighter it seems! I just can't get enough of this champagne coloured powder highlighter. The shimmer in this is comparable to that of MAC Soft & Gentle MSF but its perhaps a touch more metallic. The colour is more golden than the peachyness of Soft & Gentle and I think it looks really nice on my skintone. I know that Christine of Temptalia is a big fan of this product and if its good enough for her, then its good enough for me!



Alpro Almond Milk
I've never really been too fond of cows milk. I don't put milk in my tea or eat loads of cheese or yoghurt but I have it on my cereal every morning. When I do buy cows milk I always go for Cravendale because they filter it loads so it contains less bacteria. In the past I've tried soy milk (vom!) as well as rice milk & oat milk but recently I saw that Alpro have started selling almond milk. This seems to be the healthiest out of all the faux milk products as it contains less calories, less fat, more vitamins and more fibre. I know a lot of people have been wanting to go dairy-free after watching Barbara's video about how it has helped her skin so this is a good milk alternative to buy. It tastes amazing and even though its more expensive than normal milk (at about £1.50 a carton!) I'm definitely going to be buying this from now on. My new addiction is having this warm with golden syrup flavour Weetabix, nom!