Monthly Favourites || October 2014

Hello my lovelies!

October was a pretty crazy month for me as it included my 18th birthday *woop woop* but I've finally got around to writing my October favourites!

So let's start with make-up...

I had a slight moment in the middle of Next when I saw a tiny little NYX stand at the other end of the shop and did a quick shuffle over to it. I didn't even realise that they were selling NYX on the English high street, but obviously I picked up a few things. I had never tried NYX before but I think it's safe to say that I love their products! So the first thing I've been loving is the NYX Blush in the shade Mocha. I wanted a darker autumnal shade, and this deep pink/red shade is really perfect and super easy to blend. Obviously everyone and their dog has raved about NYX blushes on the internet, and I'm so glad I have tried one out as I now know why!

Next thing is the Soap and Glory Archery brow pencil in the shade Hot Chocolate. This is just such a good brow product - you can use it to define the edges or fill in sparse areas of your brows and it always looks great. The colour is really natural and not too red which I find some brow products to be, and paired with a good brow gel makes the perfect brow!

I've been absolutely obsessed with the Kiko Smart Lip Pencil in the shade 712 which is another Kylie Jenner-esque pink/mauve nude shade. I've been loving this lip colour for autumn, and this lip pencil has been so useful; whether I use it to define my lips or just use it all over the lips, it creates such a gorgeous 90's lip. 

I've already talked about the NYX Matte Lipstick in the shade Whipped Caviar in my most recent post (Autumn 2014 Favourite Lip Colours), but I had to put it in here too as I've literally nearly used up the whole bullet. It's another pink/mauve nude shade but it has a matte finish which is my favourite type of lip to wear. 

I've also been loving using my Real Techniques Contour Brush to apply and blend out concealer under the eyes. I don't tend to use the brush to apply contour, and so have been using it under the eyes as it has the perfect tapered end to allow super easy concealer application. The softness of the brush is also really nice and not too harsh on the sensitive skin, and it blends out the concealer really well. 

Obviously there would be a nail varnish in my favourites, and honestly autumn is my favourite time for nail varnishes as I love wearing darker colours as the weather starts to get colder. One I've been constantly reaching for is the Barry M Matte Nail Paint in the shade Black Espresso. I'm sure I've talked about it before, but I always end up going back to this formula of nail varnish as they are so quick and easy to apply, and come in a great variety of autumnal shades. 

Lastly we have the film Rock of Ages. Now you might think this is a bit random, but I'd heard loads about the musical in theatres, and couldn't resist watching given how much I love a good musical, and I have to admit that I'm hooked. I've watched the film so many times now and have actually booked tickets to go and see it in London during November! It is such a good musical made up of classic 1980s rock songs - obviously I wasn't around in the 80s but still found myself singing along to most of the songs! This is such a good film, and I'd highly recommend seeing it even if it is just for the songs!

Hope you enjoyed reading my October Favourites!

Have you tried any of these products? What are your monthly favourites?

:)

Monthly Favourites || March 2014

Hey Guys!

So apologies for not posting yesterday, I had to finish all of my art coursework, but one day late isn't the end of the world! So I thought I'd share my monthly favourites for March with you today, and I've been loving brighter shades, and it's definitely feeling warmer and more spring-like!

So the first thing I'm going to talk about isn't a beaut product, but is something that I think is essential all seasons, and that is candles! Burning various scented candles can really change your mood, and I've been absolutely loving fresh scents this month. 

I've particularly been loving my Yankee Candles in the scents Lemon Lavender and Sweet Apple. Their scents are quite obvious from the names, but I have been loving these because they are so fresh and clean smelling, perfect for spring. 

Next I think is quite an obvious one as I've raved about them not long ago in my most recent Avon Haul, and that's the Avon Gel Finish Nail Enamels.

I've been especially loving the more brighter shades, Limoncello, Orange Crush and Candy Apple. I won't ramble too much about these nail varnishes, but all you need to know is that they're such good quality for the price, and you need to try them out!

Next is my Mac Eyeshadow in the shade Satin Taupe which is a Frost formula.

The reason that I've included this is that I have actually been using it all of the time. It's such a great neutral brown/taupe shade that I've been using for really simple eye looks, just adding a bit to the crease or outer-v to create a bit of depth, but I think it's great for everyday looks.

Next is my e.l.f. Blush in the shade Peachy Keen. 

I've also been using this on a regular basis, as I feel that it gives a really nice neutral colour, which goes with practically every eye or lip look. This formula doesn't have the best staying power, however it has really good pigmentation, and for something like £4, you can't really complain. 

Next is my Real Techniques Buffing Brush, which I've been loving as a foundation brush. 

I tried it to apply my foundation a couple of weeks ago, and have used i everyday since. It applies the foundation so well and evenly, and buffs it into the skin really smoothly. It is a great brush for lots of thing really, especially powder products, and before I used it for setting powder, but at the moment, I've used it so much for foundation. 

Lastly is the Model Co Lipgloss in the shade Berry Pink.

I really love this lipgloss, as it has a really nice flavour/scent, and even though it can be quite sticky when you first apply it, it lasts really well, and for only £2 with Glamour magazine, I couldn't really resist getting them. 

So yeah these are my monthly favourites for March, hope you enjoyed it! :)

February Favourites 2014

Hey Guys!

So a few things in my favourites this month are items that I've shown in hauls or reviewed in previous posts, so I'll also link those too!

So the first I'll do the beauty products. This first product I have reviewed (here) and it's the Sleek Face Form Contouring And Blush Palette in the shade Fair 372.

Since reviewing this product, I've been using all three shades everyday. It is basically a matte, bronzing/contouring shade, a shimmery, cream highlighter, and a pink blush with a gold shimmer. All three of these are so great, especially when they are used together, and as I've said in my review, it really has been my go-to face palette. 

Next is the Avon Nailwear Pro+ Opal Top Coat, which made an appearance in one of my recent 'Avon's Arrived' posts (here). 

I really love this nail varnish at the minute because it looks good on so many base colours. When you apply it over a colour, it dries to a matte finish but with really fine shimmer, hence the 'opal' name, since I guess it makes it sort of pearly. But yeah it dries really quickly and is so easy to wear.

Next is a product that I've definitely raved about over winter (here), and I still feel that I can just about get away with darker lipstick shades.

It's the Body Shop Colour Crush Lipstick in the shade 125 Crazy Sexy Crimson. This is basically my perfect, deep red winter lipstick shade, and I've been wearing it loads, so obviously I had to put it in the monthly favourites. All of the Body Shop Colour Crush lipstick range are so good. They have good lasting power and are very moisturising, and also are quite balmy which makes them perfect for the colder days!

Last for beauty is the e.l.f. Maximum Coverage Concealer in the shade D34 Porcelain.

I showed this in my most recent e.l.f. Haul (here) and I've literally used it everyday. It is a very high coverage concealer, perfect for blemishes and dark circles, and I find it covers all imperfections on my skin so well. It does tend to crease after maybe like 5-6 hours, but that is expected really for more of a high coverage concealer. But yeah this is a really good concealer, and it's so cheap so you can't really go wrong. 

Next is a fragrance that is my absolute favourite perfume! It is the Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb perfume.

It is a very strong, slightly floral-musky scent, which I love to wear in the evenings, and I've been wearing it a lot for family get-togethers and nights out. It is definitely not (for me personally) a day time fragrance, but it is so nice to wear at night, and it's really strong and even after a few hours, you can still smell it really well. 

Lastly is Company Magazine.

I've had a Company subscription for maybe two years now, and I just think it's the best fashion and beauty magazine. This month's feature was with Zoella, and they always have good content and interviews (no gossip columns which I don't tend to read very often), and I just thought I'd put this in because I realised that I was actually looking forward for it to drop through my letterbox!

So yeah, these are my February 2014 Favourites!

Have you tried any of these products?

January Favourites 2014!

Hey Guys!

So it's been a long time since I've done a favourites post, so these are a few things over January and the Christmas period.

As you can see there are four beauty products, one music-related item, and my cat sleeping! So lets begin!

First is my MAC Eye shadow in the shade Jest which is a Frost shade.

I have already put this in my Christmas Presents Post, and it had to make an appearance here, because I've basically been wearing it everyday since! It is a really pretty light pink/taupe shimmery shade, perfect for all over the lid. I use it with a neutral brown or matte brown through the crease, and it just makes a really nice look for everyday, or even night time if you were to add a more dramatic, smokey eye. Obviously it is from an extremely good brand, and therefore lasts really well and applies really smoothly, and overall I just really love this product, and will definitely be buying more mac eye shadows!

Next is my Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner 24HR and I just have the shade 01 Black.

This is a really good quality gel eyeliner, and as you can see from the photo, I use it most days. I wouldn't necessarily agree that it lasts for 24 hours, but it definitely has some staying power. I have eyelids that rub onto the top of my lids, so I usually expect some rubbing throughout the day, but I just find that this is the best product I've tried so far. It's so easy to apply, and I use a thin angled brush to prevent getting really thick lines (even though some mornings I literally can't concentrate), but it gives a really intense black line and is just generally a really good quality product.

Next is a brush that I've been loving which is the No.7 Eye Shadow & Contour Brush.

I guess that this brush us a dupe for the MAC 217 Blending brush because it's a very similar medium-sized, fluffy brush. It's perfect for blending into the crease and generally blending out eye shadow, and I've just really liked using it because it is also really soft, and so doesn't take much effort to create a seamless look. So yeah huge thumbs up for this product!

Next is a product which was also in my Christmas Presents post, and that is the Body Shop Born Lippy Pomegranate Lip Balm.

This is by far my favourite flavour lip balm from The Body Shop, and the reason I tend to use these is because they actually work! Some lip balms or salves that I get don't moisturise my lips at all, and can even make them drier, and I just find that these lip balms are really nourishing and smoothing. I apply a layer at night before I go to bed, and I can still feel it working when I wake up in the morning. So yeah, if you're looking for a really decent lip balm definitely get this one, and there is loads of different flavours to chose from, so there is definitely one for everyone!

Lastly isn't beauty related, but I thought that I'd have to put it in because I've literally had it on repeat since Christmas Day. It's James Arthur (CD) by James Arthur.

Obviously he has made this album as a result of winner the X-Factor last year, and I just really love his music. The songs that I have been loving in particular are 'Suicide' and 'Roses'. All of the songs generally under the title of 'Pop music', but I would say that some of the songs don't fit into that since they are really unique, and I find that I can listen to it all of the time; when I'm getting ready, when I'm on the bus and when I'm working. So yeah been loving this CD, and is definitely a great CD to actually own on hard copy!