June Favourites

I realise it has been an absolute age since I last wrote a post and I do apologise and thank you for being patient. Since uni exams finished it seems I haven't stopped. I spent a week in Liverpool and then since coming home for the summer I've got stuck back into working at McDonald's which has left me exhausted. However, my aim for this week is to get stuck back into the blogging because in all honesty I've missed it. I thought the best way to get back into the routine was to share some of the products I've been enjoying throughout June. 

(l-r Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover, No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream, Number 17 Mirror Shine Lipstick in Peace, L'Occitane Eau Radieuse Face Toner, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light, Number 17 Photo Flawless Skin Primer, Ciate Paint Pot in Jelly Bean)

Bourgeois Magic Nail Polish Remover

I cannot recommend this product enough - I'm not sure how I lived without it. I realise that this product has been raved about in so many beauty blogs but it totally deserves a place in my June Favourites. Long are the days where cotton wool is a necessity for removing your nail varnish. Changing my nail colour is now a joy rather than a chore and the price of this product is so reasonable. Go and get it now!

No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream for Normal/Oily Skin

I did quite a bit of research before purchasing this product. BB Creams have firmly established themselves in the UK beauty market and I was yearning to try one. However, with oily skin finding a product which doesn't make me super shiny is a hard task. After watching one of Gemma's videos where she highly recommended this BB cream I knew I should try this one. The No7 £5 vouchers also come in handy here. This product evens my skin tone and with SPF 15 is perfect for the minimal summer makeup look.

Number 17 Mirror Shine Lipstick in Peace

This is a lipstick range which I've had a love/hate relationship with. Everyone and their mother raved about Beehive however I was disappointed with the pigmentation and therefore it has become part of my neglected collection. However, I picked up Peace a couple of months ago (review here) and I've decided in June that it is the perfect summer colour. It looks a scary neon orange in the bullet however when applied to the lips it is sheer but with enough colour to brighten your face. Minimal, fresh make up with a bright sheer lip screams summertime.

L'Occitane Eau Radieuse Face Toner

Firstly, this is a fairly generous 50ml magazine sample which I always recommend as a great way to try new products without forking out the full price. Toning is a skincare step that I've always neglected but since getting this product I've enjoyed incorporating it into my skincare routine and feel that it leaves my skin bright and smooth. I'm very tempted to purchase the full size. 

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light

A firm favourite among many beauty blogger's makeup routines and I'm so glad I discovered it. This isn't a new product but will always be a firm favourite because it conceals any blemish I have without looking cakey. It is a bargain at under £5 so I would really encourage you to head to Boots/Superdrug and try it. 

17 Photo Flawless Skin Primer

I'm aware that I've included this product in a previous favourite post but I've recently rediscovered it. Prior to this I was using Benefit's Porefessional which I do love but don't feel the huge price tag is justified. This product however is under £5 and I think it performs just as well. It provides a lovely smooth base for foundation and also helps prolong the wear of my make up. 

Ciate Paint Pot in Jellybean

Another Glamour Magazine freebie but a great product none the less. I have two other Ciate Nail Varnishes and they are part of my most loved colours so I thought it was critical to pick up this brilliant pink shade with hints of purple and blue. This is great for summer and I find all Ciate shades last really well without chipping.

Wow, that turned out to be a long post and was probably quite rambly.
What have your favourites been this month? 

Beauty or non beauty leave them in the comments below. I always want to try out new things.

Have a lovely day.
H 

May Empties

It seems an absolute age since I sat down to write a blog post as I wrote a ton of scheduled posts prior to my exams. Finally my exams are over and I can focus attention in other places than my revision notes, primarily this blog. Over the last 6-8weeks I've accumulated a lot of empty products which I've saved to write a post on. I love reading 'empties' posts and it has been ages since I last wrote one so I thought now was the perfect time.

Nivea Visage Daily Essentials Oil Free Moisturising Day Cream - I love this moisturiser and will definitely be repurchasing this once I've used up some others which I have on the go. The smell is nice and not overly perfumed and it doesn't add to the oil on my face. The price is also very affordable which is an added bonus.

Original Source Almond and Black Cherry Winter Shower Gel - When I smelt this in Boots I absolutely loved the scent and thought it was perfect for the winter months however after a couple of uses I got sick of the sweetness so I was glad to finally use up this product and although this was a limited edition scent I don't think I would repurchase it.

Benefit The Porefessional - I love this primer and am using the full size version at the moment. However, I've found a number of cheaper alternatives which do the job equally well so somehow I don't think I will be repurchasing this product anytime soon. 

Tresemme Ultimate Hold Touchable Finish Hairspray - I bought this as an emergency product when I realised I'd forgotten to pack a hair spray however this is great. It kept my hair in place and didn't leave it with a crunchy feel. I would definitely purchase the full size next time. 

Caudalie Beauty Elixir - This product was stolen kindly given to me by my mother. I really wanted to love it because of all the hype it has had in the blog world since Victoria Beckham claimed it as her wonder product. Yes, it was refreshing when I used it as a facial toner but I really can't stand the smell so I won't be repurchasing it sadly. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - This is one of my essential products. I will always come back to it and even if I stray to an alternative it remains faithful. This really does a great job of keeping me shine free during the day and it is super, super affordable. 

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream - I received this product for free through a voucher system on their website and it really was a lovely product. It sank in easily into the skin and didn't leave my hands greasy which is an essential when I choose a hand cream. 

Soap & Glory Daily Smooth Body Butter - Another great smelling product from Soap & Glory and an absolute joy to use on the skin. Does a great job of moisturising the skin and I would definitely repurchase.

Hope you all have had a lovely Jubilee weekend!
H

Spring Wishlist

This Spring has seen the explosion floral and pastel trends throughout the beauty and fashion world. I've been keeping a list of items which I've been attracted to and these have been added to my wishlist. I thought I would share with you what I would love to purchase this season.

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

I think that the scallop lace top would look great with jeans and sandals but it can be dressed up too - so versatile. I would also really love the Essie polish in shade Fiji.

What are your spring favourites?

H

Revlon Lip Butter - Raspberry Pie

The U.K. release of the new Revlon Lip Butter was readily awaited and when I went into Boots at the beginning of the week there were at least 4 other girls pouring over these. I've really been looking forward to trying this product, especially after reading so many reviews because they've been out in America for quite awhile. I went for the shade Raspberry Pie mainly because I was looking for this spring trend to add to my collection.

For anyone who doesn't already know this product is meant to act like a lip balm, lip gloss and lipstick all at the same time. It glides onto the lips like a lip balm, has the shine of a lip gloss (but not the stickiness) and has the pigmentation of a lipstick. I didn't realise I would enjoy it this much. The formulation is super moisturising so no need to worry about having to get rid of dry patches. I also find it more long wearing than I was first expecting - at least 3 hours. The packaging isn't anything special but it is sturdy and I'm glad it has a flat base so it can stand up easily. Sadly, the full 20 shades have not been released in the U.K. but out of the 14 available you should definitely be able to find something that suits.

I now really want to try some other shades, like Candy Apple.
Have you picked up your lip butter? What did you think?

H

MAC Face and Body

This is super delayed but for Christmas I received MAC Face and Body Foundation as a present and I thought I would do a review having used it for a couple of months. Firstly, a massive plus for MAC foundations is the wide shade choice and I really like N3 which is the colour matched to my skin. I also feel that it is the only foundation which has truely matched my skin tone. As you can maybe see in the 2nd photo it is quite a liquidly foundation which can take quite a while to get used to. You definitely need to leave your foundation for about 5 minutes for it to set but it creates a lovely glowy finish. I know that this will definitely be a staple in my summer make up routine when I only need light coverage. Finally, another massive positive of this product is the size of it. Although it is quite pricey you get 120ml of product compared to 30ml for a standard foundation so it will last forever.

Have you tried this out?

H

Benefit POREfessionally Pretty

Diet Coke is amazing and I love it even more when they have an offer in conjunction with Benefit.

A while ago I received the POREfessionally Pretty set which comes with a full size Porefessional along with a Girl Meets Pearl and Erase Paste.

Girls Meets Pearl: For years now I've been using Benefit's Highbeam as a highlighter and I have loved it so this product had a hard job living up to my expectations. And sadly I don't think I will be repurchasing this. When I love a product I will reach for it daily and I have barely thought about this product. This will last for ages because you only need a tiny bit but I find it to be quite extreme for daily use and compared to Highbeam I don't like the application technique. Here you squeeze the product onto your finger compared to Highbeam which comes with a brush, almost like a nail varnish, which I think is much better. I also don't think this product blends in awfully well. 

Erase Paste: My Mum uses Erase Paste as a concealer so again I was expecting it to be good. Firstly, I was sent the standard colour of Medium and personally I think I would have been better suited to Fair. This product gives heavy coverage so if that is what you are looking for then definitely look at this product. Again I find it hard to blend into the skin and I'm still in love with my Collection 2000 concealer which I can get for a fraction of the price.

POREfessional: This product really is the start of the show. It is a primer which unlike others that I've tried is tinted and not pure white. Primers are such odd products and I find that I don't notice a huge difference when I'm using them but definitely notice when I forget to apply it before my foundation. I have HUGE pores on my face and this does a good job of minimising them and providing a matte base for my make up. However, I think it performs to the same standard as Number 17 Photo Flawless Primer which again can be purchased for a fraction of the price.

So on the whole a bit of a mixed bag but again if you love Benefit products then maybe look at getting this set!

Have a lovely day!

H

Modern Manicure

Nail art is flying around on the Internet at the moment so I decided I would give it a go. This look would have been so much easier if I had a black nail pen but using a normal black nail varnish also works fine, you just need a steady hand. 

First I painted my nails a base colour of Elegant Mauve by Maxfactor which is a lovely bronze/rose gold colour which I'm loving at the moment. I then taped off the top of my nails and applied Rimmel's Black Out shade and once the nails were dry I applied No 7's Stay Perfect Top Coat. Not only did I get compliments about it but this combination didn't chip for ages so I would definitely say it was long wearing.

Obviously this look could be created with a number of colours.

Which will you try? 

H

Real Techniques

Finally I caved in and got it - the stippling brush from Real Techniques and some how I'm not sure how I survived without it. It applies my foundation flawlessly and the dense, soft bristles don't leave a brush stoke at all. Previously they were quite difficult to find but now some of the larger Boots stores stock them which is such great news.  

Has anyone tried any of the other Real Techniques brushes?

H

Healthy Mix

After trawling through some Youtube reviews and blog posts I decided to purchase this foundation on the basis that I need a heavier coverage compared to my MAC Face and Body Foundation which leaves only a light coverage. Firstly, I love the smell! So fruity and makes the whole application process so much nicer. I go for shade 51 and it really is perfect for my skin at this time of the year. It blends in really well when I use my Real Techniques Stippling Brush and it doesn't leave my skin looking cakey. It also has great lasting power and I find it stays on my face for the whole day. I would really recommend it.

Have you tried this foundation?

H

Lush Haul

To celebrate handing in my dissertation last week I decided to head over to Lush and get myself some bath time goodies. Recently, I've been indulging in baths and have been having at least one a week so I thought it would be nice to try some new products.

Above is the Yuzu and Coco Bubbleroon which I think just looks like a HUGE orange macaroon. This should last about 2 baths because you can quite easily pull it apart. I've used half already and absolutely loved the smell. It also made my skin super smooth. This was £2.95.

This is the Rose Queen Ballistic which was £2.50. Again I've tried this out and although I love the smell of rose I was a bit disappointed. Firstly, I was expecting it to produce at least a few bubbles but sadly I just had a bath full of pink water. Although this smelt divine it also was crammed full of huge stems and leaves which although they smelt great I didn't fancy sharing my tub with a literal rose bush.

Above is the Butterball which was £2.40. I haven't tried this before but I think I'm going to love it. It smells so creamy and so many of my body butters are like this that I'm sure it will be great.

So a bit of a mixed bag for my recent haul but a great experience all the same. I find it so difficult deciding what to choose when I visit. The Covent Garden staff were lovely and helpful as always.

Can you recommend any LUSH products?

Have a lovely day.

H

Creme Mains

Last week I received an email which allowed me to go and collect a free 30ml hand cream sample from L'Occitane. Now this brand is obviously French and I've always considered it quite luxurious so I was more than happy to try this hand cream out. It has a 20% concentration of shea butter which guarantees that it will moisturise even the driest of hands. I'm blessed to not have overly dry skin on my hands but I'm really enjoying lathering this on, especially in the winter months. I have a hatred for any creams which don't absorb well into the skin and this is definitely not one of those. It is also a super handy size, so it is ideal to slip into your bag on the way out. The scent is very neutral and I love the packaging - reminds me of art class at school.

This retails at £7.50 generally so it was such a bargain to get this email through. 

Has anyone else tried it?
H

Origins

This week I received the small yet mighty Origins Super Spot Remover. I've been wanting to try this product out for AGES having read an absolute ton of amazing reviews and being the sort of person who suffers from occasional tough spot areas. And I'm glad to report that it does indeed work a treat. It can be a little bit stingy but it reduces redness and stops any brewing in it's tracks. Although it is a tiny 10ml bottle you only need a small amount to apply to problem areas so it will last for a long while. I'd really recommend it.

Have any of you tried this product? Thoughts?

H

VIVO

You've probably already heard/seen VIVO products around the place so this isn't a particularly up to date post. However, I was in Tesco on Friday and I picked up my first VIVO product so I thought I should give a review. VIVO is like the MUA version of makeup for supermarkets and can be purchased in any decent sized Tesco. They have a HUGE range of products from lipsticks to bronzers along with highlighters and hundreds of eyeshadow shades. The other great thing is that the products are super cheap with the majority not being over £6. Winner.

The product I picked up for £5 was the Ultimate Brow and Eye Kit which comes with a double ended angled brush and foam applicator, a setting gel and 3 shades to choose from.

This product is described as "will add contour and definition to frame eyes perfectly for a professional look"

I've only been using this since Friday but I'm really enjoying it, especially for the price. I have been mixing the 2nd and 3rd shade together as neither suit my eyebrows alone. I doubt I will be using the lightest shade on my brows but it could definitely work as a neutral eyeshadow base. The shadows are easy to apply and are surprisingly pigmented for the price and I love the gel that comes with this kit. It is tiny which makes it ideal for carrying around so that those wandering hairs can quickly be put back in their place.

If you haven't already checked out VIVO then I would really recommend doing so.
The quality is impressive.
Over and Out

H

Vit E

Over the last couple of weeks I've been using a new moisturiser both in the morning and in the evening. I'm a firm believer that anything Vitamin E is a product worth buying - I've definitely found this with my Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser from Superdrug and I've found it with this cream too. I have oily skin and I need a moisturizer which does not leave my skin feeling greasy or shiny. This cream has really worked. It is a great base for my makeup and it sorts out any dry areas around my nose, which I find I get every winter. I use this after I have cleansed in the morning and evening along with pre/post make up. Having used this for the last couple of weeks I've found that my skin is now consistently smooth and I'd really recommend this product. You can pick it up in The Body Shop for £9. I've also noticed that The Body Shop do a specific Vitamin E Night Cream which I really would like to to try so that I can compare the results. 

Does anyone have any other Vitamin E products to rave about?

H

Cheeky Chops

I love those £5 off No.7 vouchers which Boots are constantly handing out.

This was my most recent purchase, a lovely coral pink nail varnish in the shade of Cheeky Chops.

This polish is highly pigmented and leaves a glossy finish.

It was also a great bargain at just £2 after using the discount.

Hope you have a lovely evening.

Sampling

Over the last couple of months there has been a slight obsession with beauty box samples such as Glossybox. This scheme sends out a box full of samples of beauty items, hair care of make-up for the monthly price of around £10.

I think this idea sounds brilliant but living on a student budget I couldn't justify spending that much a month.

However, I have found an alternative which only costs a £1, which I think is pretty good value.

This scheme is called Latest in Beauty and the idea is that you can try products you wouldn't necessarily have heard about, before you decide to buy them.

An issue some of the other boxes have had is that the products have been totally random and this has sometimes resulted in disappointment. 

With this box you can pick which samples you want to receive from different categories and that way there shouldn't be an nasty surprises.

I got 2 tiny foundation samples in this box and I used one of them this morning and I was really impressed. 

Really great coverage and it gave such a flawless appearance that I felt I didn't need to wear anything else on my face.

It was also a great colour match on my pale skin.

This hand cream smells amazing, I love lavender and it absorbs really well into the skin.

I haven't used these samples yet but I'm excited to try this 3 step process.

As a side note, my lovely sister and her friend Jess came down to London for a day of shopping on Friday, it was lovely to see them:

Hope you have all had a lovely weekend.

Getting into the festivities

I've been reading a lot of blogs recently and everyone seems to be getting into the Christmas spirit through their beauty products, esp their nails.

So my challenge today after removing my chipped red nail varnish was to find a shade which reflected this time of year.

With the nights drawing in by almost 4pm I feel that some glitter is essential to brighten any bad moods.

I'm currently on a nail varnish ban so I had to use a pretty old Barry M gold shade which I have had since I was at school, i.e. since forever. 

Gold just resembles Christmas so I thought this was the perfect choice.

It is quite a thin polish so this took about 3/4 coats to get the level of shimmer I wanted.

It would be the perfect nail varnish for layering over another colour, maybe a deep purple or red.

Does anyone else have any favourite festive shades? 

Have a lovely Wednesday.

Trio

I have been slightly uncreative in what I thought I should post about today so I thought I would show you 3 of my favourite everyday make up essentials - all from Benefit.

Lemon Aid, High Beam and Dandelion

As shown by this picture I have had this product for AGES and it is coming to the end of its life.
This product is a blush which is a beautiful pink which is really subtle when used on the cheeks - I love it and definitely use it most days. 

You also get great value for money - it takes forever to use up!

Particularly great in the Winter when you need that extra colour in your cheeks. 

High Beam is a highlighter which you generally use on your cheek bones/top of eyelids just to add some contours to your face. 

Another great product which I have had for ages. 

Great for those days when you just need to give your face a little more definition or just to add some glow.

This Lemon Aid product is an eyelid primer and is a creamy yellow colour. 

This is a fairly new addition to my make up routine but it is really good at getting rid of unsightly veins or blemishes on your eyelids.

Only a tiny bit of product is needed because it is so creamy so this should also last a while - however I've found that it doesn't prevent creasing if eyeshadow is applied after using this primer.

It is much better to use this on its own. 

Does anyone have any thoughts on these products? Or any other favourites?

Hope you have a lovely Sunday.