September Favorites

September Favorites

September has literally flown by, the evenings have got shorter and the nights longer but thankfully the weather has remained friendly. This month I have not been using a lot of new products but of course I have found a few favorite products to pamper myself with. Without further ado I shall begin sharing what I believe are “Great Little Finds”!

Perfume – Addict 2 by Dior

This is one of my all time favorite perfume. No matter what perfume I am drawn towards I always return to this perfume. I simply love it. The scent is really floral with strong hint musk and a hint of fruits. The scent really does linger but is in no way strong or of-putting. It is feminine, fresh and I find it uplifting maybe because I tend to wear it so much I holds memories. Overall it I simply love this perfume and recommend any one who likes a fresh light scent that has a hint of summer to it to try this perfume.

Have a look here !

Lipstick – Shy Girl by MAC

I have been going through a real lipstick phase and I always find it difficult to find a lipstick that can be worn every day, has staying power and looks delicate yet polished (if that makes sense!!). While tiding my make up collection recently I stumbled across this little gem. This Lipstick is part of the Crème Sheen collection. This lipstick is a nude shade with tones of peachy pink. It is really warm neural colour that I find can be worn with a lot of different make up looks. It brightens up your make up look no matter how subtle your look or it can act as a warm nude teamed with a dramatic smoky eye. I have two of these lipsticks, one almost gone and a new one ready to use so that is testimony in itself as to how much I use it. My lips always feel moisturized when I am wearing it and the colour and light gloss does have staying power as it lasts hours. A very popular shade by MAC means that it can sometimes be difficult to find but defiantly worth the effort to find.

Have a look here!

Makeup Brushes - MAC – NO 217

Slowly over the last few years I have been building up my makeup brush collection. I like different brushes from different brands like Real Techniques and Benefit but one of my most used brushes and most favourite brushes is this one the 217 by MAC. This is a blending brush for the application of eye shadow. It is a large fluffy brush with white soft bristles. It is a little dense which only adds to its effectiveness. It allows you to have perfect control over the blending of eye shadows meaning you can achieve the perfect look that you want to achieve. I really like using this brush and recommend it as part of your make up brush collection.

Have a look here

Eye shadows – Rimmel’s Scandal eyes Shadow Sticks

I am really new to using these eye shadow sticks by Rimmel but I have to say I am so glad to have tried them. I recently purchased two shades Bad Girl Bronze and Bulletproof Beige and have used them so much.

Bad Girl Bronze is a rich brown shade that is so easily worn. Bulletproof Beige is a delicate nude shade that adds a nice sheen and is perfect to act as a high lighter for the brow bone. These eye shadows are really pigmented and rich. The application is really smooth as the product is soft but also easy to apply with precision. Both shades have shine and look very rich. One element of this product that I really like its blend-ability, I like to mix shades and this product allows for this. I look forward to trying more shades.

Have a look here

Bath Time – Bath and Shower Gels by Treacle Moon

I found these little delights while doing my weekly shop in Tesco a few months ago and I have grown to love them. These bath and shower gels smell amazing and leave the skin feeling soft and smooth. My favorites are the mango, the lavender and the melon. These products smell exactly like mango (fruity and fresh), lavender (relaxing and rich) and melon (fresh and light). Each bottle is 500 mls so they last ages, priced really reasonably and lots of variety to choose from. One little element of each product that I like is the little poem written on each bottle. Each variety has a different poem and there is just something really nice about each poem. I have included a photo of each poem I hope you can read them and enjoy them as much as I do. These products have taught me that luxury does not have to come with a hefty price tag.

Have a look here 


September Dis-Likes

I have one major dislike this month, Clinques Clarifying Lotion from the 3 step programme. I was looking forward to trying this range but I was very disappointed. I found the clarifying lotion to be really harsh and very potent. I had a reaction to it (in the form of breakouts) and felt as if it striped my skin. I stopped using it after two weeks and am still trying to reverse the harshness my skin experienced. I am sure this three step system is by cliques is excellent for some users it just did not suit my skin.

Other likes this month:

• ¬  September means the return of good T.V shows like Homelands and Revenge……roll on the lazy chilly nights of the couch watching t.v
• ¬  Scarves – I love scarves and this time of the year is perfect for a large chiffon scarf to keep you cosy
• ¬  Herbal tea – I love Twingings Sleep Tea. This tea is a combination of camomile, lavender and vanilla with a hint of honey for sweetness. It is naturally caffeine free so it is perfect for a little down time before bedtime.

September has been a busy month but a good month too. I hope you try one or two (or all ) of my favourite products from September and I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

As always I shall ask you to leave a comment below telling me what you have been enjoying using this month as I love to hear about them and of course I love to try new products.

Xoxo 

MAC Temperature Rising Collection 2013

O.K by now it is really clear that I am a massive fan of all things MAC. I am also a great fan of the bronzers and highlighters so you can imagine my excitement when I heard of the summer 2013 MAC Collection Temperature Rising. The theme of this collection is heat, summer, and bronzed skin; pink both light and dark, beige and a little sparkle. The complete range offers:

·         Lipsticks

·         Lipglass

·         PowerChrome Eye Pencil

·         Bare My Soul Eyeshadow Quad

·         Temperature Rising Eyeshadow Quad

·         Powder Blush

·         Pro Longware Bronzer

·         Strobe Liquid

·         Bronzing Oil

·         Brush - 167SE Face Blender

·         Nail Lacquer

All products come in limited edition packaging -a coffee / chocolate brown colour with Matt to velvety finish.

All of the products in this range really fulfil so many of my favourite makeup looks it was genuinely difficult to decide what to purchase. Difficult or not I managed to decide on a few items!

Strobe Liquid Lotion

As I mentioned a few times I love a good highlighter and this is a new type of highlighter for me. This liquid acts as a fabulous illuminator on the skin; it defuses the light and add’s shimmer to the skin while removing any signs of imperfections or uneven skin texture. It goes on to the skin really smoothly and spreads very evenly. It I have only used it twice since purchase and I LIKE IT! I used it on my cheek bones and dotted a little along my collar bone and top of my cleavage – it gave a lovely shimmer. Like a lot of MAC products a little goes a long way. I am genuinely looking forward to using this product over the summer.

Bronzing Powder

Each year I purchase a MAC Bronzer and use every last bit of it. I usually purchase the matt non shimmer bronzer (usually called nude on board) but this year I purchased the bronzer with a touch of glitter/shimmer titled “Refined Golden”. This bronzer is lightly frosted with gives a golden delicate finish. It has a natural finish that is not too sharp, can be built upon for a stronger look. I have used it to lift my make up look by adding a little colour or to intensive my tan (when I have faked it up!). In my opinion a MAC bronzer is tough to beat!

Powder Blush

This collection  offers 2 warm shades which again I found hard to choose between. I settled on “hot nights”. This shade is a mid-term berry pink that is so rich and warm. It appears a little dark in the packaging but once applied it is so nice and not at all harsh. Like all MAC blush it is long wearing, can be built up for richer tones and highly pigmented. I love this shade matched to the lipstick choice below.

Lipstick

(Feel My Pulse)

As a nice companion to the blush above I chose the Crème sheen Lipstick in Feel My Pulse. This shade of lippy is so difficult to describe, seeing it on is really required. Officially it is described as a vivid magenta violet. To me it is like a dark rich berry shade with dark pink undertones. The crème sheen texture leaves the lips soft and I find it really moisturising on the lips. The colour is long lasting and has softness to it rather than a shimmer. This is my favourite lippy at the moment.

  

(Altered Beige)

This lipstick is of the Lustre variety meaning that is gives a fabulous sheen to the lips. The shade is very delicate and light. It is creamy yellow beige that, in my opinion, would suit almost all skin tones. I intend to wear this lipstick as day wear primarily but also as night wear for a makeup look that focuses on eyes and lashes.  This is the perfect lipstick to have as staple in your handbag.

                                             

 I honestly could have bought and used all the products in this range as I simply loved them all. Unfortunately the purse strings so not allow for such treats but I am delighted with my choices. May the sun begin to shine and the summer days roll on but I have to admit even if it rains I will be sun kissed and bronzed thanks my faithful friend that is MAC.        

XOXO 

                                                                                     

April Favourites

April Favourite Time 

This month has been filled with the hope a seasons changing, a day or two of sun and a lot of pampering sessions. For this reason my favourites are a mixture of body care products, skin care and beauty. The months always fly by so fast but each month I like to try at least one new product so that is always fun! Without further ado I will proceed with the products I have been really enjoying using this month. I hope you enjoy this post and find one or two products you would like to try yourself!!

1.  Rituals Body Cream – Magic Touch Organic Cherry and Rice Milk.

INFO

I first received a sample of this body cream in a recent Glossy Box. I loved it so much I spent a long time looking for a full size. It is a body cream unlike most I have tried. It is super rich, whipped and velvety and really creamy. This product is so easy to apply; even though it is super rich it glides over the skin. It has such a luxurious feel even to touch and leaves the skin feeling extremely soft. The skin seems to drink this body cream in meaning that it has excellent moistening qualities also. It contains anti oxidants, vitamin E and other ingredients that work to strengthen your skin. Another important fact is that it smells absolutely amazing. I am so glad I spent so long looking for this a full size of this product as it is my favourite body lotion/cream – the best I have used! Defiantly recommend any one who enjoys body products to try these products.  

2.  Michael Todd Toner – Blue Green Algae Toner.

INFO

I had been experiencing an increasing number of break-outs; I had tried and tested quite a few different skin care products in an attempt to combat this problem. In my pursuit of a solution I watched and read a few reviews of this product and simply had to try it myself and I am so glad I did! This toner is excellent. This toner is anti-bacterial which first off can’t but help to clear up problem skin, oily patches and similar skin problems. It even smells so cleansing with hints of lavender and Birchwood. It is packed with vitamins, minerals and amino acids and has aloe Vera to sooth the skin and leaves it refreshed. Honestly I cannot say enough good things about this toner; my skin has cleared up completely since I started using it. I have repurchases it twice and I will continue to use it. I have recently ordered a few more items from the Michael Todd range and I look forward to their arrival as I hope they will be as good as this toner.

3.  Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle Treatment.

INFO

I have been using this product for well over two years now and I find it amazing. I use it for a few purposes. First off I use it to keep my nails strengthened, to help them grow strong and keep them in good condition. I also use this product as a top coat and it is excellent. So I apply this product as a base coat for the strengthening purposes, then apply my colour and to finish it off I apply it as a top coat. My nails do not chip, they last for 4 to 5 days (if I don’t get tired of the colour and want a new polish). It is rich in formula so you only need one thin coat meaning the product really lasts. It also gives the nail a really shinny finish. This product is a great investment for any gal who loves nail care.

4.  Kerastase - Elixir Ultime for Colour Treated Hair

INFO

This is another product I have been using for months - since Christmas to be exact! Every time I use this product (which is every time I was my hair) I am reminded why I love it so much. It smells amazing; it leaves your hair so super soft and packs your hair with lots of vitamins and active ingredients that protects colour in colour treated hair. It adds shine and radiance. It has so many uses. It can be used as a pre cleanse before washing, it can be applied to shampooed hair to add shine and fabulous fragrance and after shampooing and blow drying to smooth and give extra shine. It adds a little nourishment to your hair every time you use it.  I only use one or two pumps so a little goes a long way with this product. It is a great hair product that I will again continue to use.

5.    Mac Eyeshadow in Sketch and Mac Pigment in Rose

INFO (rose pigment)

INFO(sketch)

Traditionally I have always been swayed towards a brown eye shadow look or a smoky look. Seeing as the season is changing I wanted to change up my look a little so with this in mind I went on the hunt for a new shade. The result is sketch!  It belongs to the velvet collection and it is a burgundy with a delicate red shimmer. I wanted a lighter shade to blend for a day to night wear. It is fabulous! I love to add a touch of the rose pigment, blend and instantly the result is a pink/burgundy smoky eye for night ware and the rose pigment is fabulous for day wear especially if blended with a light pale pink. The rose pigment has a delicate shimmer. I am really enjoying experimenting with this these shadows.

DISAPOINTING PRODUCTS

¬  Normaderm Active Concentrate

This product is used as a spot treatment. It is said to reduce sudden local breakouts and soothe discomforts. Of all the products I purchased this is my least favourite and if I am being really honest I do not find it very effective. You apply a small amount on to the affected area. I found the consistency of the product made it hard to use. It sits on the skin and does not seem to melt or soak in at all. It is also blue in colour so as you can imagine its messy when it falls off your face and onto your clothes! So not one for me!

Hope you found one or two products you would like to try and if you have any fav's you would like to share just leave a comment below. Thanks for reading my post. 

Have a lovely weekend. 

 XOXO 

Blushers I am liking at the minute

Blush or are you just happy to see me!

Blushers I am liking at the minute

Blusher should be every girl’s friend, it allows us to add a hint of colour, a glow of health and achieve an all round girly complexion. To find the perfect blush is a difficult task but like so many other products it is simply a case of trial and error until you finds the shade and texture you adore. I have tried and test many different blushers and have narrowed down a few to share with you.

MAC Dainty Mineralizse Blush

This is a coral based pink blush that seems to compliment so many skin tones (I have tried it on a few friends). It is a pink shade that is natural looking. It is pigmented and like mush of the mineralized range from the texture is soft and light and this results in the staying power of this blush being not so great. There are tiny flecks of multicoloured shimmer that adds to the attractiveness of the blush on the skin. It applies well to the skin, I don’t find it patchy and it blends really well. This shade is a permanent colour in this collection and rightly so it is a really great colour for the spring/summer. 

NYX PB06 Peach

Info click here

Like many NYX products the shade title is a little misleading. This blush is, in my opinion, by no means peach in the conventional fruit shade use of the word. Instead it is a delicate rich shade of pink. Its texture is that of a pressed powder but it is not flaky or powdery. It gives a natural glow. I find that I do need to reapply this product at least once during the day as it seems to fade but when it is first applied it is pigmented provides a good pop of colour for the cheeks. I find this product perfect for a natural nearly there makeup look. Again the shade is really fresh and bright meaning it is perfect for spring. Also I have to add the quality of NYX cosmetics I have used is very good and priced very modestly (Price: £5.50 / €6.49) therefore it is a brand I intend of trying more of!

NARS Orgasm Blusher

There is not a lot I can say about this blusher that has not been said before. It is truly a cult favourite. I find that it is highly pigmented, has staying power, is not cakey or flaky (always be careful how you apply! I like to use the term “dollied” if I am over doing the blusher!) This blusher is to be used for glam looks. I do not find it natural looking more of a blush to use for a serious pop of colour. It is also best used on tanned or bronzed skin as it does provide great colour coverage but can look too much on pale skin tones. It is a pink colour with a hint of peach and fabulous gold touch. A little goes a long way so it is defiantly worth the cost as it will remain in your makeup collection for ages. 

Info click here

MAC Prolong Wear Blush in Eternal Sun

This blush is a move away from the previous mentioned blushes which seemed to centre on pink tones. Instead this blush is more of a peach/bronzed rich colour. It is a really warm shade that compliments most skin tones. It is a deep rich colour that is highly pigmented therefore needs to be applied gently. It is light weight and glides onto the skin like a dream and one big bonus as the name implies is that it is long wearing and does not need to be reapplied during the day. On application it gives provides a really nice glow but can be built upon for more dramatic looks. This shade is a permanent shade in the collection. 

Info click here

Sleeks Blush by 3 in LACE (Crochet, Guipure and Chantilly)

info

On opening this blush I was a little taken aback by the intensity of the colours inside. They did not look like the blushes I had ordered but I was nicely surprised after my initial shock. They are rich and pigmented but they are also very pretty on the skin. My favourite has to be Guipure; it is a warm bronzed shade with gold shimmer through it. I find myself reaching for these blushers more and more and I have to say for the price they are a great buy.

Blusher really does add a little something special to the face and an overall makeup look so finding the right shade for you is of importance. Do you have a favourite shade at the moment? Please leave a comment and share your experiences with me I really love to hear your suggestions.

Hope you are having a lovely day where ever you are and thanks for taking the time to read my post.

XOXO

Raise that Eyebrow!!

As I suggested in my New Season Post HERE  eyebrows are really on trend at the moment. Personally I have always been a massive fan of eyebrows. From the very first time that I had my brows shaped, their upkeep and appearance became top priority in my beauty routine. I also learnt at a young age that my talent for shaping, tweezing or waxing my own brows was literally nonexistent and for this reason I have always left this element of my eyebrow routine to the professionals.

I do however love my brows to be well presented and maintained. I always think that good brows literally shape the face. I have dark brown hair with a little ombre scattered throughout the ends so I like to go for a rich brown brow. I have found a few products which I love to use on my brows; I alternate between these products depending on the desired look.

•   MAC Deep Brunette Veluxe Brow Liner Crayon Sourcils

CLICK HERE for Info

This a quick fix for the brows. It is a soft texture pencil that matches my shade perfectly. It fills and shapes the brows. The formula is matt and a powdery rather than a wax texture. It applies really easily and has a good degree of pigmentation which means that it colours well. It also has good staying powder (stays put all day) but is also easily removed with eye makeup remover. One really good aspect of this product is that it has a handy little brow brush on the opposite side that helps to shape and define the brows a little more. This product comes in 5 shades so am sure the whole issue of finding a shade that suits you is not so difficult.

One little negative of using this product is that it wears down rather fast and I found that you need to have sharpener on hand.

Over all I enjoy using this product and it is just a great every day quick solution for brows.

• Eyebrow Sculptor By Tom Ford in Espresso

I have been a fan of this product for some time and have included it in my favourites – click here  to have a look.  

This product has a brow brush on one end and a shaped wax like applicator on the opposite end. The applicator is slanted meaning that application can be really precise as it goes from thin to fatter. The colour is I originally chose was chestnut but this was a little too light for me so I am now using espresso.  This is a good product but it is a little expensive and you need to apply a few coats to get my desired look.

• MAC Eyebrow Crayon in Spiked
  

This was my very first eye brow product and I have continued to repurchase it again and again because it is just a really good product and is the perfect shade for me. It provides the perfect tool for filling in, shading and colouring the brows. It needs no sharpeners and it is really long lasting. Available in 6 shades this product is a staple item in my makeup bag.

Want Info then Click Here

•    Benefits Brow Zings Brow Shaping Kit

For lots of info Click Here  

I had read a lot about this product and had been between minds about purchasing it for ages and finally decided to give in to my inner shopper.

This kit contains:

§  pigmented wax for shaping

§  natural-shaded powder for setting

§  discreet tweezers

§  hard angle brush

§  blending brush

§  mirror

Benefit suggests that you have everything you need to create perfect clean brows.

Once you get used to using all the products in this kit am sure it does provide you with all the tools to create your perfect brow look. The pigmented wax is easy to apply and the colour was ok (it has a little too much of a red hue for me to be totally in love with it). The natural shaded powder is good and easy to use. I don’t generally use the tweezers, as I mentioned I leave that whole process to the professional. I find the blending brush a little small so I use an angled brush. I tend to use this product if I have time to be careful and precise. It did take me a few tries (a fair few) to get the hang of this product. If I am being totally honest I like this product but I don’t love it. I do use it but not too often.

•  MAC Palette
  

Last but certainly not least is my MAC Palette. I put this palette together myself and I use it most days either for brows or for eyes. I am a real lover of naturals, matt shades and blending and this palette contains all the shades I find perfect for these tasks.

The palette contains (top left to bottom right)

-          Omega

-          Espresso

-          Embark

-          Wedge

I use a MAC (OK yes I am a good fan of MAC) 263 angled brush for brow application. I love espresso or a tiny bit of embark to fill in and add a dept to the colour and I like wedge to add a little tone. Really I just love to mess around and try different combination of the colours to achieve my desired brow look.

These are all the products I have tried to create my desired brow look. I have loved some and liked others. I hope you find this post helpful and maybe you too will find a product you will come to love.

Do you have any suggestions on brow products? Any products you love or you hate? Please leave a comment below.

XOXO

P.S don’t forget my competition  CLICK HERE