June Favourites

NYX Bare With Me Prime Set Refresh Spray
My love for NYX has well & truly been rekindled with the launch of their Bare With Me Collection. I picked up a few different pieces from them last month & the first item that really impressed me is their Prime Set Refresh Spray. This multitasking spray can be used before, during & after the makeup application process. It's infused with aloe & cucumber extracts so it's ideal for sensitive skin. It primes your skin for makeup, helps your makeup to last throughout the day & adds a hit of hydration whenever you need it. You get a whopping 130ml for £10 so it's really good value for money, especially when compared to Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray & it'll keep your makeup in place just as well. I always use a spray such as this when working with powders to stop them from sitting on top of the skin. If you spritz a bit on top of your cheekbones before applying highlighter, it really makes the pigment pop & allows you to buff in the powder to perfection. One thing I don't like about this product is the spray nozzle. It seems to spurt out randomly rather than giving you a nice fine mist. I often end up with more of it on my t-shirt than on my face! I like the spray itself but I think I'll probably decant it into a different bottle.

NYX Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil
The next product I bought from the Bare With Me collection is the Tinted Skin Veil in Vanilla Nude. My skin has been pretty good lately so I wanted something really lightweight with minimal coverage for those super hot days when I don't want to wear a ton of makeup. This stuff fits the bill perfectly & works as a fantastic base when you just want to lightly even out your complexion. Like most foundations, I think it looks best when applied with a BeautyBlender but this is the kinda product you can quickly smear on with your fingers when you're in a rush to leave the house & you'll still look great. It looks very natural & allows your skin to shine through whilst covering any redness. The finish is quite matte but I think that adds to the whole natural appearance & means that it doesn't break down on the skin. It stays put for a surprisingly long time & even survived the recent heatwave. I picked up Vanilla Nude which is the lightest yellow toned shade & it's a pretty decent match. It actually has more of an olive undertone but it works well to correct any discolouration in my skin & blends in seamlessly. I just really love this product. It's so easy to use & helps you to look a bit more put together with hardly any effort. It's a lazy girl Summer staple.

Revolution Fast Base Concealer
Revolution have two foundation ranges that I really love - Conceal & Define and Fast Base. If you haven't tried the Fast Base Stick Foundation I highly recommend it. I was interested to see how its concealer counterpart performed especially as this concealer is only £3! The packaging is very similar to the Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer with the round fluffy applicator on top. This concealer provides lightweight buildable coverage & is ideal for brightening up dark circles. The formula is very creamy & easy to blend with just your fingers. You can easily pop this in your handbag for touchups throughout the day using the small cushion applicator. I really like the coverage & it delivers instant radiance with a really smooth, natural finish. This is one of the cheapest concealers I've seen in the likes Boots or Superdrug but it's actually one of the best. Think Touche Éclat but at a fraction of the price!

NYX Matte Liquid Liner
Another NYX product that I've been loving is their Matte Liquid Liner. I usually prefer felt tip pen style liners & was previously using their Epic Ink Liner. However the nib started leaking weirdly & began to dispense way too much product. The liner kept bleeding when I applied it & would sometimes run into my eye which I did not appreciate after spending an hour on my makeup! So I decided to pick this one up instead because I saw this gorgeous look by Alyssa Marie Artistry where she used this particular NYX liner. The Matte Liquid Liner comes with a fine tipped brush so you can get a really crisp line & a sharp wing. The liner is extremely pigmented & dries down to a fully opaque true matte black. It's really long lasting, doesn't smudge & doesn't make my sensitive eyes water. I thought the brush would be difficult to work with because I'm so used to felt tip liners but I've had no problems with it at all. It's a great liquid liner & I'm much happier with this product than the Epic Ink Liner.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder
I've been dying to try some products from Fenty Beauty for so long but I could never decide what to buy first. I finally got the chance to play with their products in person when they recently launched in the Trinity Leeds branch of Boots. I had originally planned on getting the foundation but the finish is way too matte for my liking. In the end I came away with the Instant Retouch Setting Powder in Butter mainly because NikkieTutorials raves about it. I've been using translucent powder for a while but I wanted something with a bit of pigment to help brighten up my dark circles. Butter is a light yellow colour so it's a great match for me & adds just a touch of colour for a flawless finish. The powder itself is so finely milled & feels silky soft on the skin. I don't think I've come across such a superfine or lightweight loose setting powder before. It literally feels as light as air. It also has a subtle sweet scent which I really like. Once applied it has a blurring effect on the skin, hiding pores & smoothing over fine lines. It sets my foundation & concealer really well whilst airbrushing my skin to perfection. The finish is matte but not cakey at all. You can reapply it throughout the day & it'll keep your skin looking fresh. I've worn it out in the blazing sun, felt sweat pouring down my forehead & my makeup hadn't budged an inch. This setting powder is everything!

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May Favourites

e.l.f. 16hr Camo Concealer
Does anyone else remember the early days of blogging when you couldn't look at a single beauty blog without seeing e.l.f. hauls everywhere? They were a bit of a novelty for a while because you could only get their products online in the UK & the prices were absurdly low. I, for one, am so grateful that they now have stands in Superdrug because they have so many new products & it's really helpful to be able to swatch everything in person. One product that immediately caught my eye was their 16hr Camo Concealer. I love anything full coverage & the shade range really impressed me because there's something for everyone whether you have cool, neutral or warm undertones. I picked up Fair Warm which is an extremely pale shade with light yellow undertones. I swatched it next to few other concealers in Superdrug & it's so much lighter than Revolution's Conceal & Define Concealer in C1. This really sold it to me because I've always wanted that highlighted undereye look without having to use a true white concealer. The 16hr Camo Concealer provides full coverage with a matte finish. The formula is quite thick but it applies smoothly & feels lightweight on the skin. It dries down really quickly so you have to work fast, preferably applying it to one area & blending it out before moving on to the next. It covers everything exceptionally well, lasts all day & definitely gives me that brightening effect. In fact it might be a little too light for my skin so I sometimes mix it with something else. I'd say that the only downside is that it can be quite drying & if you have a lot of fine lines under your eyes, this might not be the best option. But if you want something that will cover every single imperfection, this is a great concealer.

Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation
As a huge fan of Revolution's Conceal & Define Concealer, I was really looking forward to trying its foundation counterpart. I bought the shade F1 because I use the concealer in C1 & it's a great match for my skintone. My first impression was that it's basically the same as the concealer, just in a bigger bottle with a even larger doe foot applicator. After using it for the past few weeks, I'd say that's a pretty accurate assessment & I'm okay with that! This foundation provides lightweight but buildable coverage with a satin finish. I absolutely love how it looks on the skin. It hides blemishes & pigmentation whilst giving a smooth flawless finish. You can really layer it up for a truly full coverage base without it looking cakey. The formula feels creamy & comfortable to wear. I've had no issues with creasing & it doesn't emphasise any dry patches. It does last a long time on my skin but my t-zone gets noticeably oilier by the end of the day. Nothing a little powder won't fix but you might want to bear that in mind if you have very oily skin. Overall I'd have to say it's one of the best foundations I've tried in a long time. If you like the concealer, you will love this foundation.

Schwarzkopf got2b Glued Spiking Glue
This little yellow tube of hair gel is a multipurpose marvel. I originally picked this up because I saw some makeup artists using it instead of brow gel. You just get a little mascara wand, add a tiny bit of gel & brush the hairs upwards for natural looking bushy brows. I've tried it a few times now & really love the effect. If you have unruly brow hairs, this stuff will soon whip them into shape! Then I noticed some people on YouTube using it to secure lace front wigs. Now that I've sworn off the bleach I can't dye my hair fun colours anymore so I thought that wigs could be a great alternative & lace fronts give you the most realistic looking hairline. I never thought that hair gel could be used to glue wigs down but this gel is so powerful, it kinda makes sense! I also use it as a traditional hair gel in conjunction with a medium-bristled toothbrush. I mainly use it when I go to the gym because I have loads of annoying short bits near my hairline that always fall down when I put my hair in a ponytail. By brushing those bits of hair with the gel & the toothbrush, you can get really close to the scalp & they'll stay in place through even the most extreme workouts.

Pixi Vitamin-C Tonic
I've really started getting into Pixi skincare lately. I loved their Retinol Tonic so much that I had to go out & get the Vitamin-C Tonic right away. Just like with retinol, it can be difficult to find vitamin C products that are effective without irritating the skin. Pixi's toners aren't the most concentrated products but they still work wonderfully. The mild formulas are suitable for all skin types & are gentle enough to use on a daily basis. Vitamin C is such an important ingredient in skincare because it helps to promote healthy collagen production whilst boosting the skin's luminosity. This toner is a fab way to supercharge your skincare routine with vitamin C. It's made from a blend of citrus extracts & ferulic acid to brighten the complexion and gently exfoliate the skin as well as protecting against free radicals. The probiotics in this brightening toner help to protect & balance the skin's barrier. The toner feels very fresh & hydrating on the skin so it's really lovely to use. It has a gorgeous sweet citrus scent that reminds me of orange sherbet. Over time this toner promises to gradually diminish signs of sun damage, fine lines, scarring & other imperfections. I've been using it every day for a whole month & I've definitely noticed a difference in my complexion. My skin tone looks much more even, my pores are less visible & my face is glowing. This toner hasn't irritated my skin at all, which is something I was slightly worried about when I first bought it. I'd highly recommend this product as a gentle brightening solution & will be repurchasing it when I run out as I love the results!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Gel
ABH brow products are my absolute fave & their Dipbrow Pomade is probably the best thing I've ever put on my eyebrows. So when they announced the arrival of their Dipbrow Gel, I knew I had to get my hands on it. The timing was perfect because every Anastasia brow product I own is in the shade Medium Brown which was looking a little ashy on me with my new hair colour. I went to the ABH counter in The Trafford Centre so that I could try out the other shades in person & ended up coming away with Dark Brown. It's a little bit deeper & warmer than Medium Brown which is exactly what I was looking for. Dipbrow Gel is basically a liquid version of Dipbrow Pomade. It's a highly pigmented brow gel with a long-lasting, waterproof formula so you can rub as much as you like, your brows won't be going anywhere. The unique formula adheres to brow hairs, creating the appearance of fullness & dries down to a seamless matte finish. It has made the process of doing my brows quicker & easier than ever before. One of the things I love most about this product is that you can dip a brow brush into the gel to add more definition or create individual brow hairs for a more realistic, natural look. It's an incredibly versatile gel & I rarely feel the need to use anything else. It might well replace every other brow product in your collection!

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April Favourites

Josh Wood Colour Renewing Shampoo For Brunette Hair Prone To Frizz
When I dyed my hair back to brown, I needed to get some new products to help maintain the colour. Being brunette is much lower maintenance than platinum blonde but when you use a darker dye over bleached hair, the blonde bits will inevitably start peeking through over time. Using the wrong kind of shampoo & conditioner can make the colour fade even quicker. To keep these chocolate tones looking fresh I picked up some of the Josh Wood Colour products specifically for brunette hair. They contain advanced UV filters to prevent fade as well as saffron & turmeric to keep brunette hair looking glossy & vibrant. The shampoo & conditioner for brunette hair prone to frizz are a dreamy duo that have made my hair look healthier than ever before. They make my hair feel really clean & soft whilst keeping frizz in check. I love how gloriously shiny my hair looks & I'll definitely be picking up some new bottles this week as I've just ran out!

Soap & Glory Bubble In Paradise Refreshing Body Wash
Soap & Glory make some fabulous shower gels with utterly gorgeous scents. I normally go for their Sugar Crush Body Wash because I love the fresh citrusy notes but a couple of months ago I couldn't find it in any Boots store for some reason. In it's absence I decided to try their Bubble In Paradise Body Wash. This product is part of their Call Of Fruity scented range which is their exotic new fragrance with mango, papaya & coconut. It's such a lovely tropical scent that completely fills the bathroom. The formula is really creamy & feels moisturising on the skin. It lathers up well so you only need to use a tiny amount & having a shower with this beaut body wash is a great way to start your day.

Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Foundation
IT Cosmetics are so annoying. They've made one of the most gorgeous looking foundations of all time & yet they refuse to fully expand the shade range. 12 shades is nowhere near comprehensive enough & when drugstore brands like Revolution manage to bring out 50 shades of foundation, it just makes IT Cosmetics seem like they don't care. So when I heard rumours that Maybelline's latest foundation was a dupe for the Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream, I went out & bought it immediately. Maybelline are yet another drugstore brand who have a very inclusive range of foundation colours & 100 Warm Ivory is a perfect match for me. I use their Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation in the same colour so I knew it would be a safe choice. The foundation has quite a liquidy formula & it feels very lightweight on the skin but it still delivers in terms of coverage. I wouldn't say it's as full coverage as they claim but it certainly does a excellent job of concealing any redness & hiding the vast majority of my skin imperfections. I love the healthy natural looking radiance it gives to my skin & the smooth satin finish. The foundation provides SPF 50 & is enriched with antioxidants to protect against pollution. This is definitely my base product of choice for this Summer. The extra sun protection is always welcome & it lasts all day long on my skin. I don't think it's a perfect dupe for the IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream because it's not as moisturising & gives more coverage but it's still a brilliant foundation.

Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturiser
I used to be really obsessed with Origins skincare products but I kinda fell out of love with them as newer brands such as The Ordinary began to emerge. One product I always meant to try is their GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturiser & I recently got this little sample bottle from a beauty box. I'm a big fan of gel formulas because they work really well for oily/combination skin types. The lightweight formula provides just the right amount of hydration & sinks in really quickly so you can get on with applying your makeup. It has a gorgeous orange sherbet scent which makes it a joy to use. If your skin is looking a little tired then I'd definitely recommend trying this moisturiser. It's fortified with panax ginseng & coffee bean to instantly energise the skin giving you a healthy looking, vibrant glow. It really perks me up in the morning & has an immediate effect on the brightness of my complexion. I never looked this good without makeup until I tried this moisturiser. For super soft radiant skin, Origins GinZing is a wonderful product.

Nu Skin Nu Colour LightShine Lip Plumping Balm in Pink Tinge
I still haven't 100% decided if I want to get lip fillers or not. I've found a fantastic aesthetic practitioner to perform the procedure but I'm just worried it won't look right on my face. Until I fully make my mind up I've been trying out different lip plumping products to achieve a similar but less permanent effect. One of my favourite products I've discovered is this Lip Plumping Balm from Nu Skin. This lip balm feels silky & deeply moisturising on the lips. Rose hip oil is one of the main ingredients so it's rich in fatty acids. These fatty acids help the lip balm to improve the elasticity & moisture levels of the skin whilst giving your lips a full & even glow. There is a slight tingle when applying the lip balm because it contains menthol which improves blood circulation. It doesn't quite give you Kylie Jenner lips but it adds a more natural plumpness. This makes it a great base for lipsticks because it gives your lips a smoother appearance, so anything you put on top will be less likely to sink into fine lines. It also looks really pretty used by itself because it tints your lips with a soft baby pink hue.

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February Favourites

Heimish All Clean Balm
Double cleansing is such an essential part of my skincare routine. I use sun protection every day regardless of whether I'm wearing makeup or not so it's the only way to ensure that everything has been properly removed before I go to sleep. It's been quite a while since I last used a cleansing balm but the more I heard about Heimish's All Clean Balm, the more I knew that I needed to give it a go. In this beautifully designed tub you get 120ml of thick, white cleansing balm & a little spatula to hygienically scoop out the perfect amount of product. All Clean Balm undergoes a three step transformation from a balm, then to an oil & finally to a cleansing milk. This allows it to get rid of every last trace of makeup without leaving any residue on the skin. The balm is really gentle & has a lovely herbal scent. It doesn't sting my eyes or blur my vision at all. It's basically a dupe for Banila Co Clean It Zero but with better ingredients, a natural fragrance & more product for your money.

Pixi Retinol Tonic
Retinol is a wonderful skincare ingredient with the power to combat both acne & wrinkles. The trouble is finding a formula that your skin can tolerate & a product that doesn't cost the earth. I normally use The Ordinary's Advanced Retinoid 2% but I fancied trying out Pixi's Retinol Tonic as their toners tend to be pretty darn good. This toner features a unique time-release retinol that helps to smooth & soften the skin alongside powerful antioxidants & botanicals to soothe sensitive skin. I do wish Pixi would tell us the percentage of retinol they use in this formula but I'm guessing it's fairly low as the toner is gentle enough to use every day without irritation. It has a faint scent of lavender & feels very refreshing on the skin so I find it really pleasant to use. The formula is quite hydrating as it hasn't dried out my skin at all & that's something you have to be careful of when introducing retinol into your skincare routine. My skin has been looking really smooth & bright lately as this toner has helped to plump up any fine lines & fade hyperpigmentation. I enjoy using this every day as a gentle retinol solution because using something hardcore can often be a mistake. If you've never tried a retinol product before then this would be a great way to start.

Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
I first heard of this product back when Kim Kardashian bleached her hair white blonde. Her hairstylist, Chris Appleton, said that Dream Coat was his secret weapon for fighting frizz & keeping her hair looking super sleek. As a result, Color Wow couldn't keep it in stock but luckily I managed to snag one of Marks & Spencer's beauty boxes with a deluxe sample bottle inside. This innovative spray coats each hair with a heat-activated waterproof shield that locks the cuticle down & seals in moisture whilst stopping humidity from wreaking havoc. It's almost like a raincoat for your hair! The product feels really lightweight & gives your hair the most incredible shine without making it look or feel greasy at all. I generally like my hair to look sleek & polished so this has been my go-to product to spritz on before a blow dry. I'm obsessed with how beautifully glossy it makes my hair look as the shine is simply unreal. I'll definitely be repurchasing this wonder hair product to protect my locks from the great British weather!

Jordana Ticia Cosmetics Lipgloss in BonBon
Recently I've found myself gravitating towards lipglosses again instead of matte lipsticks. I went off them for a while because I don't like having to touch up my makeup & my hair always gets stuck in them. It's so much easier to pop on a matte liquid lipstick & forget about it because you know it'll still be there eight hours later. But glosses just look so pretty! I love these ones from Jordana Ticia Cosmetics because unlike other lipglosses they are ultra pigmented & stay put for hours. They have a creamy texture with no tackiness & provide a high shine finish. They're also vegan, cruelty-free & have the most deliciously sweet scent. I have eight of them but BonBon is currently my favourite colour. It's such a pretty soft pink shade. The high pigmentation means that you don't have to wear a lipstick underneath but I love pairing it with one of my Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheats for some extra definition. The colour of BonBon is very close to Pillow Talk so I either use that or Supersize Me if I want something a tiny bit darker around the edges. I feel like lipgloss is coming back in a big way & these ones are some of the best I've tried!

Peaches & Cream Loose Eyeshadow Pigment in Gatsby
Peaches & Cream are a Liverpool-based beauty salon who have created their own fabulous range of makeup. Their products are extremely popular with Instagram MUAs & they are probably best known for their brilliant loose eyeshadow pigments. I actually used to be quite scared of using pigments because I tend to hate anything messy but this brand has completely changed my mind. As long as you use a good primer & the right kind of brush, pigments are really easy to use & you can create some truly spectacular looks with them. You simply can't achieve the same finish with regular eyeshadows & their loose pigments are all about the glamour. One of their most popular shades is Gatsby which is an ultra fine, pale champagne gold sparkle. It's utterly gorgeous on the eye & instantly adds a bit of gold glam to any look. I love doing a cut crease with Gatsby on the lid, the colour is incredibly versatile & goes well with so many other eyeshadows. Loose pigments might be a bit messy but they really do take your makeup to the next level.

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October Favourites

Jordana Ticia Cosmetics Base & Sparkle in Stargazer
I have well & truly fallen down the rabbit hole of Instagram beauty brands. When you start following loads of Manchester-based makeup artists you'll notice that a lot of them use products from the same few brands & one that kept popping up in some of the most glam pics I came across was Jordana Ticia Cosmetics. They mainly sell lip products but Base & Sparkle is easily their best product. I've started favouring loose pigments over pressed eyeshadows for when I want something really pretty on the lid & I am completely obsessed with this easy to use eye duo. You simply apply the metallic cream eyeshadow base onto the lid with a flat eyeshadow brush like a MAC 242 & then pat the pigment over the top. Together they create the most beautiful, high shine effect on the eyes. Base & Sparkle comes in four different shades but Stargazer is definitely my favourite out of the bunch. It's a gorgeous soft sparkling gold that instantly adds a bit of glam to any eye look.

Doll Beauty Doll Light Highlighter in Like A Diamond
Another brand that I discovered via Instagram is Doll Beauty. They are probably best known for their incredible false lashes but their highlighters are absolutely stunning! They do a couple of different shades that I often combine for a blinding effect but if I could only buy one it'd be Like A Diamond. It's a bit lighter than Shine Bright so it's better suited to my skin tone & makes my cheekbones glow like nothing else. It looks super smooth on the skin & shimmers without being glittery or highlighting texture. I find that it works best if I apply it after spritzing some MAC Fix+ over my face as this amps up the pigmentation even more & allows the powder to really melt into my skin. I've been a fan of theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer for the longest time & this is the only powder highlighter I've found that has managed to surpass it's power whilst matching the pale yellow undertone. It's such a beautiful product & if you like your highlighters on the blinding side, then this is the one for you.

The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%
We all know how much I love The Ordinary but when I tried one of their earliest Vitamin C formulations, I wasn't too impressed. It had a gritty texture which was cosmetically inelegant & made it generally unpleasant to use. They have since released various other forms of Vitamin C & I decided to take a chance on their Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%. I went through a whole bottle of their Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA & was really impressed with how quickly it faded my post-blemish scarring. By combining it with Ascorbic Acid they've created a super-charged serum that reduces the signs of aging & lightens hyperpigmentation as well as brightening & evening out the skin tone. The texture is lovely to use, there's no stickiness, greasiness or grittiness. The propanediol base makes it feel perfectly smooth on the skin but it still absorbs quickly. I starting seeing results after about a week & it's managed to lighten my scarring even faster than the Alpha Arbutin alone. My complexion looks much brighter & fresher now, I'm really happy with the way my skin looks since I started using this product every morning. This powerful combo of ingredients is pure genius & definitely worth adding to your skincare routine.

Bali Balm Lip Balm in Bergamot & Grapefruit*
Winter weather calls for a hardcore lip balm & this year my product of choice comes from Bali Balm. This luxury vegan lip balm is incredibly moisturising due to the fantastic blend of coconut oil, castor seed oil, kukui nut oil & candelilla wax. It instantly makes my lips feel soothed & hydrated which is exactly what you need at this time of year. This intensive lip treatment will shield your skin from the elements & will stay on your lips for hours. The rich formula contains active botanicals that are high in antioxidants & boast antibacterial properties. One of the best things about this lip balm is the bespoke flavour. Bergamot & Grapefruit is a wonderfully potent combination. The bergamot provides the soothing familiarity found in Earl Grey tea whilst you get bittersweet citrusy notes from the floral grapefruit. These ingredients give the lip balm a clean, crisp & fruity taste. Bali Balm are a really eco-friendly brand. Not only are their products vegan & cruelty-free, you can also send your packaging back to them for recycling once you've finished with the lip balm. Beauty products must generate a huge amount of plastic waste so it's great to find a brand that are so dedicated to minimising their environmental impact.

MAC Jamie Genevieve Lipstick
Jamie Genevieve is one of my favourite YouTubers of all time. She's such a beautiful person, inside & out. I love watching her full beat makeup tutorials as well as her weekly vlogs with Jack & Drogba. In terms of makeup Jamie is probably best known for her blinding glow, dark smokes & nude lips so it made perfect sense when she announced that her collaboration with MAC would be the ultimate nude lipstick. I went out to Selfridges in Manchester & bought it immediately. The lipstick is a medium beige with warm yellow undertones & it has a satin finish. Obviously as Jamie is really tanned it's a nude on her but it looks brown on me. I still really like the colour though as it's hard to find true beige lipsticks without any hint of pink. I love how Jamie always wears a darker lip liner & I think that her lipstick looks best with MAC Stripdown. I hope she comes out with more collabs soon as I'm pretty sure I'd buy anything she brings out. I recently picked up her Tired Girl Club t-shirt & it's one of the comfiest tops I own!

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September Favourites

The Chemistry Brand Hyaluronic Concentrate
Hyaluronic Acid is still one of my favourite skincare ingredients & not a day goes by when I don't use a HA serum on my face. It's especially welcome around this time of year when it starts to get a bit colder outside, the heating goes on & skin dries out easier as a consequence. As someone with eczema-prone skin, my body also suffers from dry patches so it's really important for me to keep of all my skin hydrated. Despite the extremely low cost of The Ordinary's Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum, it wouldn't last very long at all if I started spreading it over my body so I decided to try out this product from one of their Deciem sister brands, The Chemistry Brand. As stated directly on the bottle, their Hyaluronic Concentrate is literally a big tub of hyaluronic acid. It comes with a pump dispenser so that you can apply liberal amounts of the stuff where it's needed. The Chemistry Brand's Hyaluronic Concentrate boasts a 99.5% pure hyaluronic acid. This high level of purity assists the delivery of actives in other products so anything you use on top of this will be able to work better as a result. You can just use it on it's own or underneath a regular moisturiser but with continued use Hyaluronic Concentrate will help skin to retain its own moisture, reducing the need for other products in the long run. Compared to the liquidy texture of the HA facial serum, this product is much more gel like in consistency. When it comes to body products I'm not a fan of anything creamy or sticky that takes ages to dry down so I really enjoy using this fast absorbing gel. I've been slapping it on whenever my skin has felt a bit irritated or dry & now everything looks so much healthier. It started working really quickly too as I saw results in less than a week. The areas I apply it to most are my hands, legs, knees & elbows but you can use it absolutely anywhere. This stuff is a godsend if you suffer from dry skin.

The Chemistry Brand Hand Chemistry
The Chemistry Brand also specialise in hand creams so I bought one in my desperate attempts to find something that would soothe the horrible eczema flareup on my right hand. They have a few different ones but I decided to go for the original Hand Chemistry. There's something rather special about this hand cream, it's easily the most effective one I've ever tried. Our hands are one of the first places to show signs of aging as we use them all the time & they get a lot of sun exposure compared to the rest of our bodies. This product was designed to combat 8 signs of hand aging simultaneously. It promises to improve the firmness, elasticity, density, evenness, brightness, texture, smoothness & hydration of your hands within 11 days. I noticed a difference right away as it visibly brightens & smooths the skin almost immediately. I love the texture of this hand cream, it absorbs quickly & almost coats your hands so they still feel soft hours after application. This cream works really well on your nails too & nourishes the cuticles whilst promoting nail growth. It has a sweet fruity scent which makes it a pleasure to use. It's also a great partner product for the Hyaluronic Concentrate. I layer them together for the ultimate hand hydrating combo. These products provide instant relief for any scaly, itchy areas & after just a few weeks my hand eczema was history! I keep a smaller tube of this stuff in my handbag at all times because nothing else compares when your hands are feeling worse for wear.

Swell Ultimate Volume Dry Shampoo
A few years ago I tried some hair products by Swell & loved the voluminous results on my fine, flat hair. My only gripe was that the products are incredibly expensive & I simply cannot afford to spend that much on shampoo. Luckily my local Boots decided to get rid of all their Swell stock & heavily reduced their entire product range. I managed to pick up a full size bottle of the Advanced Volumizing Conditioner for £8 instead of £28 as well as their Ultimate Volume Dry Shampoo for £5 instead of £20. Boots' clearance aisle is literally the best thing ever! I had never tried the dry shampoo before but I remember reading some rave reviews when it first came out. What makes this product stand out from other dry shampoos is the fantastic pump dispenser. It's not as harsh as blasting your hair with a can of Batiste but still manages to really freshen up second or third day hair. You're not left with the weird dull look or gross feeling that some dry shampoos can give you, your hair simply looks clean again. The ultra fine nozzle is very precise so you can target the roots easily & add volume exactly where you want it. Best of all, it doesn't leave any powdery residue in your hair! The Swell Ultimate Volume Dry Shampoo is brilliant for those of us with fine hair that needs a bit of lift & it's discreet enough to slip into your handbag for on the go freshness.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
I love a bit of Charlotte Tilbury & her Hollywood Flawless Filter is by far the most exciting release she's come out with. This product has completely revolutionised my foundation routine. The Hollywood Flawless Filter is basically a tinted liquid highlighter but there's one available to suit every skin colour. It gives you a soft focus, airbrushed appearance by smoothing out fine lines & texture whilst illuminating the skin. There's just so many different ways to use it & each one will leave you looking like a glowing goddess. You can use it as a primer, mixed with foundation or as a regular liquid highlighter. My preferred method of application is to sweep some over the high points of my face & then mix it in with my foundation using a Beautyblender. I'm obsessed with how radiant my base looks paired with this illuminator. It also looks stunning on completely bare skin as the flesh coloured tint does give a small amount of coverage. It subtly evens out the complexion & reduces redness for a naturally flawless look. I often use it like this with just a bit of concealer under my eyes when I want a low effort, quick base that still looks fabulous.

Makeup Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick
Makeup Revolution have been coming out with new products non-stop recently & I think that they're one of the most innovative beauty brands on the market today. Not only are their products amazing, they're also amazingly affordable & to be honest I'm struggling to keep up with the constant barrage of new stuff! I can't wait to pick up their new Conceal & Define Foundation as I'm a huge fan of the concealer but for now I'm still loving their Fast Base Foundation Stick. One of the reasons that I love their foundations & concealers is the vast shade range. All other beauty brands should take note because Revolution are one of the few brands with a truly inclusive range of colours to suit every skin tone. I have the shade F1 which is spot on for my complexion as it's pale with yellow undertones. This foundation provides medium to full coverage & it builds really well without looking cakey. Stick foundations are notoriously difficult to get right as they're often too dry & drag on the skin or too greasy & melt off your face. The Fast Base Foundation Stick formula is superb & sits right in the middle. It's so quick to draw on your face & blends out effortlessly. It doesn't highlight skin texture or cling to dry patches, it just smooths over everything & makes my skin look flawless in no time at all. The foundation feels really lightweight on the skin & provides a fresh dewy finish. Once set with powder, it lasts really well & doesn't break down on my skin. It doesn't transfer much but if I scratch my face it can come off quite easily. I normally use a Beautyblender to do my base but I actually prefer a brush for this foundation. I've been using the Real Techniques Mini Multitask Brush with it & they're the perfect team. I think it'd be a great product to pop in your bag if you do your makeup during your daily commute or need touchups throughout the day. For just £5 I didn't know what to expect from this foundation but it is unbelievably good & has only further cemented my love for Makeup Revolution.

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January Favourites

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Light Therapy Targeted Acne Spot Treatment
LED light therapy is one of the most innovative skin treatments around. It's based on the idea that coloured wavelengths of light have the ability to induce a change within the skin. Red light therapy is mainly used to stimulate collagen & elastin production whereas blue light therapy is an excellent acne solution. These treatments used to be exclusively available as part of professional facials but then Neutrogena brought out a full light therapy mask for use at home. I read loads of good reviews about the skin benefits that this mask provides but the downside was that it only works for 30 ten minute sessions. After that you have to keep buying £15 'activators' to make it work again. Considering that the mask costs £60 to begin with I decided that investing in this device would be far too expensive. A little while ago Neutrogena came out with a much smaller pen version designed for treating individual blemishes. The pen is a much more affordable device & only requires AAA batteries to work. It's very simple to use, you just have to hold the light pen up to one of your spots for two minutes & it will kill any acne causing bacteria. It also helps to reduce inflammation & speed up the skin healing process. I'm really pleased with this light therapy pen. It has definitely helped to banish unruly blemishes & prevent them from scarring my skin.

Charlotte Tilbury Brightening Youth Glow
As much as I try to resist buying new Charlotte Tilbury products, she just keeps drawing me back in! One of her latest launches is this Brightening Youth Glow primer. It's very similar to her original primer Wonderglow but it imparts more of a pearlescent sheen than a golden glow. The pearlescent pigments immediately make your skin look healthier & more luminous. It does a great job of keeping your makeup on for longer & blurring imperfections. This product also has some skincare benefits as it contains anti-aging & anti-redness ingredients to even out & brighten your complexion without makeup. I really like that it has an immediate effect on your skin as well as long term benefits. I find the texture of this primer to be a bit thicker than Wonderglow & I don't have to use as much product as a result. It makes my skin feel silky smooth & perfectly prepped for foundation. I love that I can still see the glow through my makeup which is the whole point of illuminating primers. I've been using this every day, regardless of whether I'm wearing makeup or not & I've already noticed an improvement in my skin tone. It's helped my complexion to look more even & gives me the fresh, dewy looking skin of my dreams.

Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer
Tarte Shape Tape is one of my favourite concealers of all time but I was dreading having to repurchase it. I order mine from QVC where you can only buy it alongside a makeup sponge & QVC always charge extra for delivery. It can get quite expensive & although I do think it's worth the money, I can't always afford to spend £32 on concealer! Makeup Revolution recently brought out their Conceal & Define Concealer which is basically a £4 dupe for Shape Tape & I'm a huge fan of this product. It took me quite a while to get my hands on it because my local Superdrug still haven't restocked it & they kept selling out of my colour online. Eventually I managed to buy the shade C1 which is the lightest colour available & a good colour match for Shape Tape in Fair. The shade range is truly inclusive & better than that offered by any other drugstore brand. Actually it's a lot better than the shade range offered by many high end brands too! The coverage that this concealer provides is incredible & the consistency feels a lot creamier than Shape Tape. It blends out beautifully without reducing the coverage & feels really lightweight on the skin. The concealer doesn't settle into fine lines or pores, you're just left with a really smooth perfected base. It's such a brilliant product & if you see your colour in stock, do not hesitate to buy one!

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask*
Winter weather really takes it's toll on my skin & my lips end up suffering most of all. Sleeping masks are a fantastic way to give your skin an intense hit of hydration so I was really excited to try out this Lip Sleeping Mask from Laneige. This thick & creamy lip balm is packed full of ingredients that literally wrap your lips with moisture. It's enriched with hyaluronic acid & a special berry complex to gently remove dead skin cells overnight, leaving behind a softer, smoother & fuller looking pout. I can still feel the mask on my lips when I wake up in the morning & it has helped to keep my lips feeling soft in the long run. It comes with a cute little applicator which is both hygienic & fun to use. You can also wear this mask during the day as an intensive lip treatment. It's a great base for lipstick & stops my lips from getting dry when I'm walking out in the cold. The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask has single-handedly saved my sore, chapped lips & I can't recommend this product enough if the cold weather is ruining your lips too.




Makeup Geek In The Nude Eyeshadow Palette
Even though they've been slightly overshadowed by cheaper brands such as Morphe & Colourpop, I still love Makeup Geek eyeshadows. Their mattes are intensely pigmented yet blend like a dream & their foiled shadows are just pure eye candy. As soon as I saw this palette I knew that I would get a lot of use out of it. In fact it's the only eyeshadow palette I've reached for all month. There's such a gorgeous collection of warm browns & neutral shades in this palette. My favourite combo is to use So Pale as a base, Buffed as a transition shade, Tan Lines to define the crease, Cabin Fever to add some more depth to the eye & finally In The Spotlight all over the lid. The makeup world is currently flooded with neutral eyeshadow palettes but this is one of the prettiest around with the ideal ratio of matte & shimmery shadows. I can honestly see myself hitting pan on every single colour!

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Favourite Products Of 2017

Skincare
CosRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser / The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 / The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% / The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution / Bravura London Azulene Moisturiser

I have never felt happier with my skincare routine than I do right now. I always start off with CosRX's Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser. This lightly foaming tea tree scented gel is the ideal way to prepare my skin for the rest of my routine. The low pH level is optimal for cleaning the skin & reducing acne causing bacteria. It feels really gentle yet refreshing & doesn't strip my skin of moisture. The Ordinary are easily my favourite brand of the year. I deeply appreciate their transparency when it comes to the formulation of their products. So few brands are willing to tell you vital facts about their products such as the pH level or the percentage of acid present. I've loved trying out so many of their products but there are three that really stood out to me. Their Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is one of the cheapest & best hydrating serums I've ever tried. It's every bit as good as the Sarah Chapman Intense Hydrating Booster that used to cost me £60 per bottle. The Ordinary are also brilliant when it comes to giving us higher concentrations of ingredients than other brands. Caudalie are well known for their use of resveratrol but The Ordinary's Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% is far more potent than any of their products. The anti-aging properties of this serum are phenomenal. It gives me such a healthy looking glow & has helped to diminish fine lines. The AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution has quite honestly changed my life. I've struggled with congested, acne-prone skin for years & it turns out that this high strength chemical peel was all that I really needed. It unclogs pores, fades acne scarring & makes your skin feel unbelievably soft. This might just be my favourite skincare product of all time. Before The Ordinary launched I used to buy most of my skincare from Bravura London & I would still recommend their acids if you're just getting started with chemical exfoliants. Their Azulene Moisturiser continues to be my favourite way to finish off my skincare routine. This lightweight blue cream is packed with calming botanical ingredients that help to soothe & heal the skin. It's the perfect match for my combination skin type as it hydrates without clogging pores.

Body Products
Chloé EDP / Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb EDP / Viktor & Rolf BONBON Spring Summer EDT
L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil / Soap & Glory Spritz Me Quick Hydrating Moisture Mist

Chloé & Flowerbomb have been my signature scents for years. They're the only perfumes that I continually repurchase because I feel like these two fragrances fit my personality & style so well. Another more recent favourite is Viktor & Rolf's BONBON. I have the Spring Summer version which is lighter & fruitier than the original perfume. This glorious blend of sparkling citrus, juicy peach & syrupy caramel is simply irresistible. The pink bow shaped bottle is a stunning addition to my dressing table too! My favourite product to shave with is L'Occitane's Almond Shower Oil. This luxurious shower oil gently lathers to thoroughly cleanse your skin without drying it out whatsoever. The consistency of this oil allows even the cheapest of razors to glide effortlessly across your limbs & it helps you to get a much closer shave as a result. After showering I like to use a lightweight moisturising spray like Spritz Me Quick from Soap & Glory. The nozzle dispenses a super fine mist of body lotion that absorbs in a flash. It has that classic Soap & Glory scent and leaves my skin feeling really soft, smooth & perfectly moisturised all day long.

Haircare
Bleach London Smoky Shampoo / Maria Nila Colour Refresh / Kérastase Ciment Thermique
Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil / Bumble & Bumble Brilliantine

Bleach London's Smoky Shampoo is unlike any other silver shampoo I've tried before. This unique colour blend helps you to achieve a deeper, ashier tone with minimal effort. Sometimes I want an even stronger grey colour & one of the quickest ways to get that look at home is by mixing a bit of this Black Colour Refresh hair mask from Maria Nila with my regular conditioner. It makes my hair feel amazingly soft & instantly transforms brassy yellow hair into a gorgeous gunmetal colour. I've been using Ciment Thermique for years as it's one of the best treatments for damaged hair. This heat-protecting blowdry cream strengthens your hair from within, reducing breakage whilst adding shine. I use it every single time I wash my hair along with a few pumps of the Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil. This combo keeps my hair looking & feeling much healthier than it should do after all this bleach. Another Bumble & Bumble product that I love for styling my hair is their Brilliantine. It smooths down flyaways whilst adding just the right amount of hold & definition along with plenty of shine.

Base
BECCA Backlight Priming Filter / NARS Sheer Glow Foundation / Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer / Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder

Before I apply my foundation I like to get my skin glowing & the best way to do that is with an illuminating primer. The Backlight Priming Filter from BECCA gives you that flawless 'lit from within' look that we all desire. It immediately perks up the skin whilst creating an enviably smooth & dewy canvas for your makeup. Rimmel & Maybelline really impressed me with their latest foundation launches but I always end up going back to NARS Sheer Glow. The buildable coverage & radiant finish are everything I want in a foundation, not to mention that Siberia is the best colour match I've ever found. Tarte Shape Tape is such a fantastic full coverage concealer. It works wonders on dark circles, blemishes & pigmentation without looking cakey or creasing throughout the day. I also really enjoy using the Soft Matte Complete Concealer from NARS. It provides high coverage with a soft-focus blurring effect so it excels at hiding blemishes. It's also my go-to choice for carving out my eyebrows & creating a cut crease eye look. One of the crown jewels in Charlotte Tilbury's makeup range has to be her Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder. The powder is so silky & finely milled. It feels exceptionally lightweight yet manages to keep shine at bay without making my skin look dry. I'm completely in love with it's soft-focus finish that blurs texture & makes my pores disappear!

Eyes
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara / Kat Von D Tattoo Liner / Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow
Essence The Cushion Eyeliner / Laneige Eyebrow Cushion-Cara

Better Than Sex is one of the best selling mascaras in the world and with good reason! Look no further if you want a mascara that gives your lashes tons of length & volume whilst holding a curl all day long. The curvaceous wand fans out my lashes beautifully for a flirtatious wispy effect. Kat Von D's Tattoo Liner in Trooper is my weapon of choice for razor sharp eyeliner. The extremely fine nib allows the liner to glide on smoothly & creates a really precise wing. The liquid liner itself is highly pigmented, long lasting & doesn't transfer to my upper eyelid. Stila have stolen my heart with their utterly fantastic Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows. They're so much easier to use than regular glitter & are the ultimate way to add a bit of sparkle to your eye makeup. I love cushion cosmetics & I'm glad that so many brands are embracing this innovative Korean technology. Essence's Cushion Eyeliner is extremely pigmented & combines the ease of a gel formulation with the finish of liquid liner. Plus it only costs £3! Another cushion product that I've fallen in love with is this Eyebrow Cushion-Cara from Laneige. The liquid inside this two toned cushion is great for drawing on individual hair strokes as well as filling in your entire brow. This product makes it easier than ever to get that soft gradient fade at the front of your brows whilst making the tails super sharp & defined.

Cheek Products
Jeffree Star Cosmetics Skin Frost / Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops / Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder / Charlotte Tilbury Cheek To Chic Blusher in Love Glow

I'm only happy when my highlighter shines brighter than the sun. Jeffree Star's Skin Frosts are some of the most blinding, pigmented highlighters around & nothing makes my skin beam more than Ice Cold. This icy white shade works so well on pale skin. If I want my highlight to look even more metallic then I layer it over Cover FX's Custom Enhancer Drops in Celestial. These drops look like liquid metal on the skin & deliver a truly dazzling glow. There was a time when I never used bronzer but I just can't do my makeup without it now. Too Faced's Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer warms up my complexion & adds some soft definition to my face without being too orange or dark. Kevyn Aucoin's The Sculpting Powder in Light is my holy grail contour product. The colour is absolutely spot on for my skintone & the powder blends like a dream so it's ideal for nose contouring too. I'm a sucker for peachy pink blush shades & Charlotte Tilbury's Love Glow is one of the most beautiful blushers I've come across. There's a subtle golden shimmer running through it which provides a luminous finish & makes your cheeks glow in the most wonderful way.

Lip Products
Glossier Birthday Balm Dotcom / Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk
Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colour in Pink Blink / Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick in Mannequin
Jouer Long-Wear Lip Topper in Skinny Dip

Glossier's Balm Dotcom rightly deserves the high praise it gets as a lip balm. I have the Birthday edition which has a delicious cake flavour & subtle shimmery particles. It keeps my lips well hydrated & acts as a lovely base for other lip products. Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk lip liner is such a fantastic everyday lip colour & I jumped at the chance to buy it in lipstick form. Matte Revolution is my all time favourite bullet lipstick formula & I wear this dreamy nude pink all the time. I'm still a huge fan of liquid lipsticks & Rimmel really surprised me with their brilliant Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colours. Pink Blink has a permanent home in my handbag because I love this colour so much! I honestly think that the quality is on par with Jeffree Star's Velour Liquid Lipsticks. I've had to try my hardest not to buy any more of his lipsticks because I already own 25 of them! My last Jeffree purchase included Mannequin which has fast become one of my most worn shades. It's darker than I'm Nude but lighter than Celebrity Skin & the colour suits me better than any other nude lipstick. I recently picked up one of Jouer's Long-Wear Lip Toppers & I can't recommend them enough! Skinny Dip is a stunning golden nude gloss with the feel of a lip balm. It can transform any matte lipstick by adding a hint of golden iridescence which makes your lips look fuller, plumper & extremely kissable.

Palettes
Makeup Revolution Ultra Eye Contour Light & Shade Palette / Makeup Revolution Golden Sugar Blush Palette
Charlotte Tilbury Instant Eye Palette / Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette
Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette

2017 was the year that I finally got round to trying some products from Makeup Revolution. Their palettes are exceptionally good value for money & the quality is brilliant. Makeup Revolution's Kat Von D Shade & Light dupe is now one of my most used eyeshadow palettes & I'm obsessed with the gorgeous shimmery shades in the Golden Sugar Blush Palette. It's well worth buying for that white & gold highlighter pan alone! Charlotte Tilbury's eyeshadow quads are to die for so I was very excited to hear that she was coming out with a much larger eyeshadow palette. The Desk & Date sections of the Instant Eye Palette are insanely beautiful. I learned to love warm toned eyeshadows & the Modern Renaissance palette has played a huge part in that. Everything about this palette is simply wonderful. The Morphe x Jaclyn Hill palette is hands down the best palette of 2017. The range of colours is incredible & these eyeshadows almost blend themselves. Everyone should own this palette. Jaclyn absolutely nailed it!

Nail Products
OPI Nail Envy / OPI Avoplex / NAF! Cherry Pie Cuticle Oil Pen / Essie Need A Vacation / Mavala Mavadry Top Coat

After making the mistake of picking off a gel manicure, my main objective was to get my nails back to optimum health. The combination of OPI Nail Envy & Avoplex is simply unbeatable. One helps to strengthen the nails & the other helps to condition them. They're a match made in heaven for healthy nails. Since discovering Avoplex I've become obsessed with applying cuticle oil all day every day. These handbag friendly cuticle oil pens from NAF! don't just help your nails to grow longer & stronger, they come in a fab range of scents too. Cherry Pie is my favourite but I love love love them all! These days I generally prefer getting gel manicures but when I do paint my nails at home I almost always use Essie polishes. Need A Vacation is the most perfect bubblegum pink colour. The main reason I prefer gels now is because you don't have to wait ages for them to dry. I'm considering getting my own LED lamp & a gel top coat but for now Mavala Mavadry is the next best thing. Your nails are touchable after a couple of seconds & fully dry within a matter of minutes. It doesn't make your polish peel or shrink & gives them a wet look finish.

Tools
FOREO Luna Mini 2 / Yu Ling Jade Facial Roller / The Vamp Stamp VaVaVoom Stamp
Lash Star Lash Applicator Tool / Morphe M510 Brush

Even though mine is currently broken, the FOREO Luna Mini 2 is one of the best beauty tools I've ever purchased. It allows your cleanser to work better which keeps congestion at bay and leaves my skin feeling really soft & smooth. The T-Sonic vibrations give your face a lovely mini massage every time you use it to boost circulation & make your complexion glow. When your face is feeling tired you can't beat a quick massage with a jade roller. It feels instantly cooling on the skin & helps to eliminate puffiness. I've been perfecting my eyeliner flicks for years but even I sometimes struggle to get my wings looking even. The VaVaVoom Stamp is a really useful tool if you need a little extra help to get your eyeliner on fleek. Don't bother buying their ink though, Essence's £3 Cushion Eyeliner is literally the exact same thing. Learning to apply false eyelashes can be another fairly difficult beauty task. I hate using regular tweezers to put them on because I'm forever paranoid about stabbing myself in the eyeball. This beautiful gold lash applicator from Lash Star makes the whole thing so much easier & helps to seamlessly blend your own eyelashes with the falsies. The Morphe M510 brush is my favourite way to apply highlighter. This brush really packs on the pigment for a truly blinding highlight. It's the perfect size & shape to get your whole face glowing to the gods!

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November Favourites

Glossier Boy Brow in Brown
Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade has been my go-to brow product for the past three years. However I've recently started using two new things that have completely changed the way I do my eyebrows. The first one is Glossier's Boy Brow. These kind of tinted brow gels are nothing new; ABH, Benefit & Essence all do really good ones. There's just something about Glossier's offering that makes it stand out from the rest. The colour is great, it's a deep ashy brown without a hint of red. The hold is really impressive & keeps my brow hairs in place all day long, which is something lacking from other tinted brow gels. The brush is tiny so it coats the individual hairs well & you're less likely to blob product on your skin. It's so quick & easy to use, giving your brows just the right amount of definition. Of course it works best if you already have a good eyebrow shape but overall it's a great product for beefing up your brows without making them look unnatural.

Laneige Eyebrow Cushion-Cara in Two-Tone Grey
The other eyebrow product I've been loving is Laneige's Eyebrow Cushion-Cara. I recently saw people using Iconic London's eyebrow cushion on YouTube & as with most cushion type products I knew that there would be a cheaper Korean alternative. I ordered it off eBay & immediately fell in love with this product. Inside this tiny compact you get two different brow colours contained within a cushion sponge & an eyebrow brush with a spoolie on the other end. I never normally use brushes that come with makeup but this brush is great quality. It picks up the liquid inside the cushion & applies the product with extreme precision. You can easily draw on individual hair strokes with it as well as filling in your entire brow. The liquid is highly pigmented but blends out really well so you can get that beautiful gradient fade at the front of your brows whilst making the tails super sharp & defined. The pigment tends to stick to the skin rather than the eyebrow hairs so that's why I like to use it in conjunction with Boy Brow. I would definitely recommend trying out one of these new eyebrow cushions, they are simply incredible!

Bravura London First Cleanse Oil
I always double cleanse at night to make sure I get rid of every trace of sunscreen & makeup. Oil cleansers are my preferred method of makeup removal & I've been using Bravura's First Cleanse Oil for about a year now. I rarely repurchase skincare but I picked up a new bottle in their Black Friday sale as I've been so pleased this product. The packaging is beautiful & it comes with a free pump for ease of use. The cleanser is made up from a blend of safflower seed, coconut, avocado, chamomile, lavender & rosemary leaf oils with added Vitamin E. It has a lovely scent & feels really luxurious on the skin. It attracts all the dirt on my face & washes off easily leaving my skin feeling super soft & clean. It even works well on waterproof mascara & doesn't make my eyes sting at all. Some cleansing oils can leave a weird film on my eyes which makes me feel like I'm going blind but this stuff is completely fine to use on the eye area. This cleanser does a wonderful job of cleaning my face & has also helped to improve the condition of my skin. It's especially good when it comes to dealing with the sebaceous filaments on my nose & balancing oil production.

Bleach London Smoky Shampoo
Getting my roots done is the bane of my life. I haven't been bothered to go to the hairdressers since our holiday got cancelled this Summer so I'm currently rocking six months worth of regrowth. Not only are my dark roots massive but the blonde parts have been looking rather brassy too. It's a real mess! I've used Bleach London's shampoos before & they're actually really effective when you need to quickly refresh your colour. I decided to get their new Smoky Shampoo instead of the Silver one I usually buy & I'm so happy with the result. The Silver Shampoo brightens up blonde & grey hair whilst removing yellow tones but this one almost darkens it, giving it a deeper, ashier tone. My brassy yellow barnet has been transformed into a beautiful smoky grey with minimal effort. I love how it looks & no longer feel quite so desperate to get my hair done professionally. There is a hint of purple running through it & this shampoo definitely seems like it would turn your hair properly purple if you were to use it too often or leave it on too long but if you stick to using it every other wash you should be fine. Just like the Silver Shampoo it can also be quite drying so make sure you follow it up with a hefty dose of conditioner!



Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette
As much as I love watching beauty gurus on YouTube, I have never bought any of their merch or collabs with cosmetics companies. Neither have I bought any Morphe eyeshadow palettes before despite my love for their brushes. That all changed when I purchased Morphe's much-anticipated Jaclyn Hill palette. I love Jaclyn, I think she's great at teaching eyeshadow techniques & I've personally learned a lot from watching her videos. She seems really sweet & always looks flawless. Morphe eyeshadows can be very divisive but I saw how hard she worked on this palette, perfecting the colours & formulas over a two year period so I knew it was gonna be well worth the investment. I spent a couple of hours in a queue on Beauty Bay & the palette was mine the very next day! There are a couple of minor things I don't like about this palette, the typography makes me want to cry & I wish it wasn't made out of cardboard but the actual eyeshadows are utterly dreamy. The colours are rich, highly pigmented & look even more beautiful in real life. It's full of warm eyeshadows but there's also some gorgeous jewel tones that really make it stand out from other Morphe palettes. It's really versatile & you can create so many different looks with it. I'm so impressed with the quality of the eyeshadows. The mattes are creamy & almost blend themselves! The shimmers are absolutely stunning, I'm a big fan of the purple at the bottom & the pinks at the top. This palette is easily one of my favourite purchases this year. I honestly can't recommend it enough & if you see it in stock on Beauty Bay, don't hesitate to pick one up!

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October Favourites

The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%
My latest purchase from The Ordinary has fast become one of my all time favourites. Resveratrol & Ferulic Acid are two highly potent antioxidants with anti-aging properties. These particular ingredients help to boost the efficacy of Vitamin C & sun protection so they work really well with the rest of my skincare routine. They are suspended in propanediol which has quite an oily texture but it doesn't feel greasy on the skin. Since I started using this serum every morning my skin has looked so fresh & youthful. It gives me such a healthy looking glow & has helped to refine the texture of my skin. I have less congestion, my pores look much tighter & my fine lines are diminished. It sits really well underneath my makeup & gives my base a super smooth, radiant looking finish.

Glossier Birthday Balm Dotcom
When I heard that Glossier were coming to the UK, I actually wasn't that excited. To be honest I think a lot of their products are overhyped & overpriced but FOMO led to me ordering a few things just to see what all the fuss was about. One item I knew I had to try was their Balm Dotcom. It was a tough choice between all the different tints & flavours but in the end I went for the Birthday variety. I read that it had been made in collaboration with Christina Tosi who owns Momofuku Milk Bar. I love watching her on Masterchef USA & have always wanted to try one of her cakes. A trip to New York isn't on the cards anytime soon so I settled for this cake flavoured lip balm. The texture is nice & thick so it feels really moisturising on the lips. This one also has some shimmery particles in it which makes your lips look really pretty. I love the scent & taste of it and the holographic packaging is super cute too!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Breathable Foundation in Light Porcelain*
I received this product in my latest VoxBox from Influenster. In the past I've struggled to find good drugstore foundations but recently both Maybelline & Rimmel have been knocking it out of the park. This is the new Breathable version of Rimmel's Lasting Finish Foundation. It provides long lasting medium coverage in a lightweight, hydrating formula. I was sent the shade Light Porcelain which is slightly too pink toned for my skin but used together with the more yellow toned concealer, I can make it work. I really love the huge applicator wand as it makes it so quick & easy to put on your foundation. The coverage is very nice & it evens out my skintone well. It gives my skin a smooth flawless finish without looking like a mask. It doesn't cling to dry patches & never looks cakey no matter how much you apply. I was really impressed with the wear time as one of the main reasons I tend to go for more expensive foundations is that they last longer on my skin. This stuff looked just as good at the end of the day as it did in the morning. I highly recommend checking it out if you can find a colour match.

Soap & Glory Spritz Me Quick Hydrating Moisture Mist
I'm quite happy to dedicate time to doing my facial skincare routine but the same cannot be said for my body. I hate moisturising after a shower & can never be bothered to wait around for a cream to absorb before getting dressed. That's why I love lightweight moisturising sprays like this one from Soap & Glory. Spritz Me Quick sprays your skin with a super fine mist of body lotion. It's easy to apply & quick to sink in so it's perfect if you're in a rush. You can spray it from every angle to reach all those areas you can't normally get to. It smells absolutely gorgeous as it has that classic Soap & Glory scent which lingers on your skin for hours. It's a beautiful blend of rose & bergamot and I can't get enough of it. This lovely product leaves my skin feeling really soft, smooth & hydrated all day long.



Charlotte Tilbury Instant Eye Palette
Charlotte Tilbury has some kind of strange power over me. I've spent hundreds of pounds on her makeup range & I told myself I wasn't going to buy this palette but I did it anyway. I just love her products so much! Anyway the eyeshadows in this palette are truly stunning. You get four different trios with a Prime, Enhance & Smoke shade to create four different eyeshadow looks. My favourites are the Desk Eye & Date Eye sections. I'd say that it's a great palette for beginners or for those who don't want to do complicated eye looks. You could easily just sweep one of these colours over your eyelids & you'd be good to go. However I do have a few issues with this palette. It's not quite as pigmented as her eyeshadow quads. The shimmers are incredibly pretty but some need a little help from MAC Fix+ to actually show up on the eye. I don't think it was worth the whopping £60 price tag, especially when the first shade in the palette has literally no pigment whatsoever, but for some reason I love it all the same!

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August Favourites

Dermasuri Rice Milk Brightening Face Exfoliator
My mum knows all about my addiction to trying out new exfoliating products & she kindly bought me a couple of Dermasuri products for my birthday. This gommage style gel gently creates rolls when massaged onto damp skin. These rolls lift away dead skin cells, polishing the skin & leaving it feeling baby soft. It's a very similar product to the Ginvera Green Tea Exfoliating Marvel Gel but it uses rice milk as the key ingredient instead of green tea. Rice milk has been used for centuries in Japan. The enzymes in rice milk have brightening properties & it's a beauty secret of the Geisha to keep their skin smooth underneath their heavy makeup. This exfoliator also features hyaluronic acid & vitamin E to keep the skin hydrated & nourished. The gel is so gentle on the skin but it still manages to remove all those dead skin cells. It's fascinating to see & rolling them off your face is incredibly satisfying! If you want to move away from using face scrubs but your skin is too sensitive for acids then this would be a brilliant alternative.

The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
After testing out a million different actives from The Ordinary I decided to buy a few more of their hydrating products. I really like Trilogy's Rosehip Oil but the cost has increased quite a bit over the past few years. The Ordinary's Rose Hip Seed Oil is about half the price & yet it manages to do exactly the same thing. Funny that! Rosehip oil is truly wonderful stuff. This lightweight facial oil is rich in linoleic acid, linolenic acid & provitamin A. Like most oils it helps to moisturise the skin but it is especially good for those with acne-prone or oily skin types. I use it underneath my moisturiser at night & it really helps to combat scarring, fine lines & blemishes. It brightens & evens out my complexion whilst keeping it well hydrated. It can also be used to treat stretch marks & wrinkles. I'd definitely recommend picking up a bottle of this oil, it's yet another triumph for The Ordinary.

NYX Total Control Drop Foundation in Pale
Despite being a huge fan of NYX Cosmetics, I'd never actually tried any of their foundations before. I started seeing so many people using this foundation on YouTube & the whole custom coverage thing really intrigued me. The consistency of this foundation is very thin & watery but the coverage can be built up as you continue to add more drops to your face. It's very buildable & blends like a dream, giving my skin a flawless finish. I ordered this online so I didn't get the chance to swatch it first & the shade Pale is actually a bit too light for me! The colour might not be quite right but it has a really nice pale yellow undertone much like NARS Siberia. I was previously using NYX's Pro Foundation Mixer in White to lighten up any foundations that were too dark for me but I now prefer to mix in a bit of the Total Control Drop Foundation. It lightens, adds more coverage & corrects the undertone so it's perfect for creating a custom foundation that I love.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk
I seldom buy traditional lipstick bullets anymore but I will always make an exception for Charlotte Tilbury. Her Lip Cheat lip liner in Pillow Talk is one of my favourite lip products of all time. It goes well with so many lipstick colours & also looks gorgeous worn on it's own. When I heard that she was turning the shade into one of her Matte Revolution lipsticks I knew I had to get my hands on it. This medium nude pink is the ultimate MLBB everyday lip colour. It matches the colour of my lips exactly making it easy to fake a fuller pout. I love the Matte Revolution formula which is matte but not flat; lightweight & hydrating. I don't find the lipstick to be as long lasting as the lip liner but the two products pair together beautifully. They're a must-have duo for anyone who likes nude pinks.

Bluebird Tea Co. Earl Grey Crème Solid Perfume
I am still obsessed with Bluebird Tea Co's delicious tea blends. In fact I have a whole kitchen cupboard filled with their tea bags & loose leaf teas! Earl Grey Crème is one of my absolute favourites & I repurchase it constantly. Their award-winning blend of classic Earl Grey tea with creamy vanilla is truly delightful & I love to indulge in a cup of this to get me through the mid-afternoon slump. When I placed my most recent order I noticed that they had started selling solid perfumes inspired by some of their most popular teas. I simply had to add the Earl Grey Crème one to my shopping cart! Although it doesn't actually smell like tea, the solid perfume is still beautifully fragranced. The scent has been influenced by the tea, rather than being a exact replica of it's aroma. The blend of vanilla & citrusy bergamot is wonderfully fresh & zingy. It's packed full of natural essential oils, balms & butters and was created in collaboration with Flowery Whiff. It feels quite moisturising & lasts a really long time on the skin. Basically if you like zesty citrus scents, you'll love this solid perfume!

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July Favourites

Iconic London Original Illuminator
I am obsessed with the Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops. The high shine metallic finish is everything I want in a highlighter. The main downside to them is that they are very expensive. I have them in the light pink shade Celestial but as I have a lot of yellow in my skin I wanted to try them in a slightly warmer colour. Instead of buying another bottle from Cover FX I decided to go for Iconic London's Original Illuminator as they recently had a £10 discount code on their website. The consistency of the Iconic London Illuminator is a bit thinner & the texture is slightly oilier which actually makes it a lot easier to apply & blend out. You still have to work quickly but it's a lot more forgiving. The sheen is just as intense & the glow it gives my skin is breathtaking. The colour isn't quite right for me though. If you look at my face from the side on you just see this blinding highlight but if you look at my face from the front it looks like a dark orange stripe. I can get away with it by blending it out really well & using a white powder highlight on top but it's something to bear in mind if you aren't a tanned goddess like the girls you see using it on Instagram. I still love it & use it despite the orange base because it really does look that good from the side. I just wish one of these companies would come out with a metallic liquid highlight in the exact same colour as theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer because that would be sheer perfection.

L'Oreal Paradise Extatic Mascara
This highly anticipated mascara has finally made it's way over here & despite being slightly different to the American version, I really love it! It lacks the pretty pink packaging of the American Lash Paradise Mascara and L'Oreal UK have added castor oil to the formula for smoother application & to keep your lashes feeling soft. Before buying it I had heard rumours that it was a dupe for Too Faced's Better Than Sex Mascara. The wands do look very similar but personally I think that Better Than Sex is a slightly superior mascara. It curls & fans out my lashes in a really pretty fashion which is something that Paradise Extatic doesn't do. Apart from that issue the Paradise mascara does give my lashes tons of length & volume. Some people have said that one coat is enough for them but I like my mascara to look a bit clumpy so I prefer to use two coats. It clumps up in a nice way so you look like you have thicker, fuller lashes not gross spider legs. My lashes are left looking intensely black & defined. It doesn't transfer or flake on me throughout the day & the addition of castor oil means that it's helping to nourish my lashes too. When it comes to mascara, L'Oreal is my favourite drugstore brand & the Paradise Extatic Mascara certainly doesn't disappoint.

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colour in Pink Blink*
I recently signed up for Influenster who sent me some of the new Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colours from Rimmel in one of their complimentary VoxBoxes. I think their website is a great way to try out new products & share your thoughts with fellow beauty lovers. Anyway I have amassed quite the collection of matte liquid lipsticks, Jeffree Star's being my all time favourite formula. One thing I think his lip collection is lacking in is natural pink shades. He comes out with a lot of nudes & crazy colours but every pink I have from him is either very light or very dark. There are fifteen liquid lip colours available from Rimmel, I received five & four of them are gorgeous everyday pinks so I couldn't be more grateful to add these to my makeup stash. My favourite colour at the minute is 200 - Pink Blink. This gorgeous warm toned rosy pink is the perfect MLBB shade. In terms of formula they are almost as good as my Jeffree Star ones. They last such a long time on my lips without any smearing & only fade from the middle of my lips if I eat a big meal. The consistency is quite thin so they are slightly streaky. However the colour is buildable & they layer well without cracking. They are very comfortable to wear & don't dry out my lips. Overall the quality is top notch & these are easily the best drugstore matte liquid lipsticks I've tried.

NAF! Cherry Pie Cuticle Oil Pen
NAF! Salon in Glasgow create some of the coolest nail art around. I love checking out their Instagram for nail inspo & if I lived in Scotland I would visit there in a heartbeat. For those of us who don't live anywhere nearby they also have an online shop where you can purchase some of the items they sell in the salon. The owner of NAF! actually used to own DIY Nails who specialised in water activated nail decals & I featured them on here a few times. She still sells some nailcals on NAF! Stuff but the star products now are definitely the scented cuticle oils. I picked up a few of these as I'm trying to look after my nails more & my cuticles often look worse for wear. I normally use OPI Avoplex but I wanted something more portable that I could chuck in my handbag & the idea of scented cuticle oils was too cute to resist. They were developed by the nail technicians at NAF! & they use these on all the clients in the salon. The cocktail collection smells incredible but my favourite is the Cherry Pie Cuticle Oil Pen. It smells exactly like maraschino cherries & the blend of Vitamin E with Jojoba Oil really helps to nourish your nails.

LQ Liquid Health Supplements Skin, Hair & Nails*
I reviewed these liquid collagen supplements a little while ago after finishing a one month trial of the product. As you need to continue taking the supplement in order to get the best results, Sparkle PR very kindly sent me another month's supply! I'm just finishing off the last few bottles now but the effects have definitely been more noticeable this time around. My skin is looking pretty fantastic if I do say so myself! It looks & feels plumper, I have hardly any fine lines & any blemishes I get are healing in record time. My hair feels stronger & I've had minimal breakage. Bleached hair is generally very fragile & I've really struggled with breakage in the past so I'm glad to see that these collagen drinks are doing my hair good. During the first month's trial I didn't notice a difference in my nails but they're growing like crazy right now & only one has broken in this whole month. I've also noticed that my nails have fewer white spots which may well be down to taking these supplements as I haven't changed the rest of my diet at all. LQ's Skin, Hair & Nails is still working really well for me & if you're looking for a supplement to accompany all your other beauty regimes I'd highly recommend giving these little drinks a go.

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