August Favourites

So I realllly had to think about my monthly favourites, because to be honest, there's been so many! With the weather being so up and down, and I've had quite a busy month, which means I've been using and loving a lot of products. But I picked my essentials that I haven't been without this month to share with you. 

And here they are...

Origins Super Spot Remover

As I said, it's been a busy month, which means I've been breaking out more than usual, but this little bottle has been a saviour. You basically apply this on any blemishes or even on red areas left by blemishes and it helps to dry them out so they heal quicker. You can apply it as many times as needed, and I really do notice the difference after a couple of applications. It's pricey for a spot treatment, but the bottle lasts for ages!

Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara

I bought this mascara a few weeks ago after watching Tanya Burr (pixi2woo on You Tube) use it in a tutorial. I have quite long eyelashes anyway, but this mascara really accentuates them. The wand is perfect to work with and it doesn't clog or clump my lashes as some mascaras do. I don't think anything will beat YSL's Shocking mascara which is my all time fave, but I'm enjoying using this at the moment. 

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Now, this is certainly one of my most expensive skincare items, but I just can't be without it. I apply this nightly as part of my skincare routine before moisturising. It comes with a handy pipette and the lady on the Estee Lauder counter in Selfridges suggested 3 drops would suffice daily. I find it really helps lock in moisture, smooth and even out my skin tone. This product also helps if you have any scars or discolouration of this skin.

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre

I love this moisturiser, it is a staple favourite of mine and I don't think I'll ever change. For a while I couldn't find anywhere online that shipped this product to the UK. This product is only available for purchase in France as far as I am aware. Then I hit jackpot and found it on a website called Love Make Up, I was so excited I purchased it straight away. Their delivery was excellent, arriving the next day!! I often use this moisturiser in place of a primer. 

Elizabeth Arden's Pure Finish Bronze Powder

This bronzer is part of Elizabeth Arden's Rose Aurora make up range, in which all the products are lovely. I have this bronzer in the shade, Soft Radiance. I've really enjoyed using this bronzer this month as I've been slightly paler than usual and it gives the most gorgeous hint of colour when contouring through the cheeks. I also love the packaging to this product, it really screams premium beauty and I love my bronzers to have a mirror. 

MAC's Pressed Blot Powder

When the weather is as warm as it has been (humidity wise, obviously we've had no sunshine), this product is my saviour! I literally cannot leave the house without this on, or else a few hours later my foundation will look oily and my face will feel awful. I powder this all over my face after applying all my face make up, especially when using liquid foundations and/or cream bronzers, blushers etc. This is a sheer powder, literally just to take that shine off the skin, although I think MAC say there is a small hint of colour. Mine is in the colour Medium/Dark.

Dior Addict Ultra Gloss

I have been wearing this lipgloss so much recently. It's so pretty, and glides over so many lipstick colours. This is in the shade Negligee Pink, which is a really light pink colour. It's so glossy and the packaging is gorgeous. The only thing I'm not 100% on is the applicator which is like a little brush, and can sometimes mean you get gloss overload on your lips. Regardless of that, I am a big fan of this product.

Maybelline Baby Lips

I wasn't sure whether to include this in my monthly favourite or not as it's not available in the UK, but I had to leave it in as I love it so much. This product is basically a coloured lip balm, but it is so moisturising, smells amazing and glides on so easily. This colour is Pink Punch and is a perfect 'every day' colour. This product is perfect for dry lips and really locks in moisture while giving off a gorgeous colour. Come on Maybelline, sort it out and release these in the UK! I want to buy more! :)

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

This is definitely my 'go to' foundation at the moment for day to day wear. I normally don't use pharmacy or drugstore foundations at all, but after trying this foundation I was pleasantly surprised. It's so cheap, and I actually got it even cheaper in Savers for £4.99! Cannot believe the value. This foundation promises anti fatigue and radiant glow and I honestly think it does what it says on the tin. When I started wearing this foundation I had so many compliments on how awake and fresh my skin looked. It has a slight shimmer to it, but you can't see this once it's on the skin. It also smells amazing, (is that strange?). I have this foundation in Soft Beige and have just repurchased a new one. No doubt I'll be back to my MAC Pro Longwear for the winter months, but for now, I LOVE this! 

So that's it for my August Favourites. I tried to keep the amount of products as low as I possibly could, but there are so many more I could talk about. Have you tried any of these products, what are your thoughts?

Elf Cosmetics Review

I'd heard a lot about Elf products, mostly from our friends overseas in America. I believe in the US most Elf products are $1, which is just amazing value. In the UK our equivalent is MUA, which I'm also a big fan of. 

When Elf launched a UK website I was really excited to try the elusive products and recently have placed a couple of orders with them.

The first thing to say is that the delivery is EXCEPTIONAL! I placed my first order at 9.30pm, the next morning I had an email to say it's been dispatched and my order was with me by 9am the next day! What a fantastic service. I always thought MAC were quick, but Elf are quicker! 

So I ordered a range of products, lip glosses, brushes, concealers, lip liners, eye liners etc. I have to say overall I'm impressed. 

  

I bought a range of Elf brushes. The basic brushes are £1.50. I purchased the Blending Eye Brush, the Eye Crease Brush and the Lip Defining Brush. I was bit disappointed that upon arrival the head had come off the Lip Defining Brush, but then again, for that price, you can't complain! I also bought the Eyeshadow "C" Brush from Elf's Studio collection. This brush was £3.75 (still amazing) and much better quality than the others. I have been using this brush as my main eyeshadow brush for a while now to test it out and I really like it. It picks up any eyeshadow so easily and you can really build up the colour with this brush. The blending and crease brushes are also good, but I don't think I'll ever been converted from my Mac 217 blending brush. :)

On my first order with Elf I ordered the Plumping Lip Glaze in Fuchsia Fanatic, I liked this product so much that on my second order I bought two more! One side is a very sheer white colour which when applied feels really tingly and minty on your lips, then you apply the colour which is super glossy. After application I really felt like the product does what it says on the tin; 'plumps' my lips! They looked fuller and these glosses come in really lovely colours! All in all, for £1.50, these lip glazes are great products!

Top to Bottom: Fire Coral, Wink Pink and Fuchsia Fanatic

I also ordered 3 of the Shimmer Eye Pencils, these were also £1.50 each. I am so surprised how soft and pigmented these pencils are. They glide on gorgeously! I've only swatched these so far, but the colours are lovely and I'm sure they're going to look great when creating a bright eye look. I seriously cannot wait to try these out.

Top to Bottom: Plum Passion, Twinkle Teal and Blissful Blush

R - L: Plum Passion, Twinkle Teal and Blissful Blush

I also thought I'd try Elf's Complete Coverage Concealer palette which was £3.75. I got the Medium coloured palette which contains four colours ranging from medium tones to darker tones. When i first opened it, I was worried that the two darker tones may be a little too dark even for me, but when applied then do actually look lighter and they'll be perfect for holidays when I have a tan.

I also bought a couple of misc items to try. One of the Soothing Lip Balms in Blackcurrant (smells amazing and glides and moisturises like a dream), a double pencil sharpener, and a lip liner in Natural Blush. 

I can honestly say, for a low budget cosmetic brand, Elf are top dog! I love the products I have from them so far, but they have so many products to choose from I cannot wait to try more! So check out Elf's Website for some great products, with low prices and quick shipping! 

Have you tried Elf, and are you a massive fan like me?

August Glossybox

Yay.... Glossybox time! I absolutely love Glossybox day, it's so exciting to see whats in the box and if there's any gems you discover and want to use permanently! Last couple of boxes haven't disappointed. I must admit, I was slightly half and half on this box! Here's what was in it...

Alessandro Pro White Nail Varnish

I haven't actually tried this product yet, as I'm still wearing a nail colour but am excited to try it. I love wearing nail varnish and often find my nails 'off colour' when I come to remove it. This nail varnish promises to brighten and whiten tired nails when used regularly. I'm definitely hoping it works well! 

Lipcote Lipstick Sealer

I actually really like this product, and used to own it years and years ago. It's basically a sealant to apply after your lipstick to ensure it lasts. Now, these days i haven't felt as much of a need considering so many of my favourite lipsticks or lip stains actually stay for a long time anyway, but certainly looking forward to using this product again. 

Glossybox Lipstick

I must admit, after the Glossybox brush we received a couple of boxes ago (I had brush hairs all over my face with first use), I was sceptical! Yet I actually really love this lipstick. The colour is called Glossy Pink, and that is a spot on name. It's a lovely colour, feels really moisturising and the packaging looks really nice. Will definitely be using this soon. 

Vera Valenti - L'ombre a Paupiere Magarita

This particular item is what was really disappointing for me. As soon as I saw this product, it reminded me of something I used to buy from the market when I was 11. It looks really cheap and although the eyeshadow colours are OK, they aren't very pigmented making them incredibly hard to apply. Not a fan if I'm honest, bit disappointing. 

All for Eve for the Eve Appeal Balm

I think this product is actually quite nice, it is quite compact with a little mirror and is really moisturising and easy to apply. The thing I'm not sure about; the smell! It's hit or miss, a lot of people may love it while to me it smells a bit 'off'.  Saying that, I think it's great that they raise funds and awareness for gynaecological cancer. Any products that are supporting charities are great products in my opinion. This has been in my handbag since Glossy day! :)

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

This is definitely the winning product for me, hands down! I've never been a fan of oil based cleansers, always preferring cream based, but this truly has me hooked. Just one application removed all my make up (including all mascara traces) leaving me feeling really refreshed! Love it! And this size is perfect for travelling. I'm going away for work next week and this will be perfect! No more carrying make up removers, cleansers etc etc. Just this, then a good toner and moisturiser! Perfect! Definitely my fave item!

So all in all, a mostly positive box for me this month. What did you get in yours? I'm disappointed i didn't get the imPress nails though like some did. Did you get the same items as me?

Mini Mac Haul

 We all have those days where we're like "OMG, I need to shop and buy some pretty things to make me feel better", well I seem to have these days regularly! *Sorry bank balance!* :/ So here's just a couple of things I bought from Mac recently on a lonely dinner hour!

MAC's Pro Eye Makeup Remover

My eyes are so sensitive that the most important part of my skincare routine is removing my make up as gently as possible. This eye makeup remover certainly does the trick. You only have to dab the littlest amount on to a cotton pad, sweep it across your eye and the hardest part is done. I love this remover, however, something has just arrived in my Glossybox this month which could compete... keep posted to hear more on that one! :)

MAC Eyeshadow Pro Palette Refill Pan

MAC eyeshadows are my absolute top 'go-to' eyeshadows for any occasion. Most are sooo pigmented and give a lovely colour on the eye. They are so blendable and the colour choices are simply gorgeous! I am building up my palette at the moment but I mostly stick to brown and neutral colours as that's what suits me best. Here I went for a dark brown called 'Smut', which blends gorgeously with with 'Satin Taupe' from MAC, and 'Star Violet' which is a brighter colour allowing you to vamp up the lips also. I like to wear Illamasqua's Wanton lipstick with it!

Left to Right: Star Violet and Smut

Left to Right: Star Violet and Smut (sorry, this pic doesn't show the colours very well!)

MAC Lipstick

I love MAC lipsticks, and literally haven't stopped wearing this colour since I got it. It's called Chatterbox and is such a gorgeous bright pink colour and perfect for a night out, meal out etc etc. It's one of MAC's amplified lipsticks, so it literally stays on allll night! I think this lipstick will be a staple fave throughout the rest of summer and for my holidays for me. 

Anyone else gone a bit crazy on online purchases? Please tell me I'm not the only one abusing my bank account! :) More soon! 

My Saviour Lip Trio

So if you have been reading my past posts you will know I have incredibly dry lips and have to moisturise quite regularly. Luckily for me, I have found a special little trio which works really well for me! A lip scrub from Lush, NUXE lip balm and a lip butter by Korres.

Left to Right, Lush Lip Scrub in Bubblegum, Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine and NUXE Reve de Miel Lip Balm

Lush Lip Scrub

We all hate having chapped lips and so did I until I found this little gem! I love visiting the Lush store anyway as the staff are always super friendly and helpful and i just adore their products. I came across this while shopping and decided to give it a try. Wow-wee is it amazing! You get a little bit on your finger and gently rub all along your lips. The lip scrub exfoliates and removes all dead skin, leaving your lips refreshed and ready for action. The other thing I love is the smell, OMG, it's amazing, and the best bit is you get to lick off the product after you've scrubbed and it tastes gorgeous like sweets! All in all, this is going to be a staple favourite of mine for a long time and fingers crossed it never gets discontinued!!!

Korres Lip Butter

For a day to day lip balm with a hint of colour, you can't beat the range from Korres. I normally wear the colour Jasmine, as pictured, which has a very light tint of pink in it but you can get many colours with varied pigmentations. This lip balm has a buttery finish, glides on so easily and gives a lovely shine to the lips. They have shea butter in them, which i simply love in any product and this really helps hydrate the lips. Using this after the lip scrub is just the perfect combination. Again with this, i love the smell. It reminds me of strawberry and cream Chupa Chup lollies! Mmmm! :)

NUXE Reve de Miel Lip Balm

Now the NUXE lip balm, in my opinion is definitely the most effective. However the consistency is a lot thicker than other lip balms, so for that simple fact I prefer to wear this at night. I apply it after my nightly skin care regime and when i wake up in the morning the balm is still there and my lips feel refreshed and moisturised. I have worn this in the day before, but not when I plan on wearing a lipstick or lipgloss as well that day. It's slightly more expensive than other lip balms rocking in at the £9.50 mark, but you do get 15g worth of product, so I think it's well worth it! I use it every day and not hit the bottom yet.

Left to Right, Lush Lip Scrub in Bubblegum, Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine and the NUXE Reve de Miel

So that is my daily lip care routine and it's working really well for me at the moment. I've been wearing so many more lipsticks and glosses due to the excellent condition of my lips. What balms do you use? I might be swayed to try it out! :)

Illamasqua Sale

I'm a BIIIG fan of Illamasqua, so was very excited when I got an email to say there was a sale on with up to 60% off products! Wow! There were products starting from just £5, then ranging upwards. After a looong time browsing all the make up, then adding, removing, then re-adding several items from my basket, I finally made my purchase. 

I bought 2 sheer lipglosses, a lipstick and a pencil. Illamasqua also sent me a sample of their perfume 'Freak' which I thought was a nice touch as you don't often get that with an order. I have to also give some praise; I had to get in touch with Illamasqua customer service before my delivery arrived and they were amazing, incredibly helpful. Just what you want from a beauty brand. I was also lucky enough to be given a £5 voucher off Illamasqua for entering a Glossybox competition, so all in all, very impressed with the website service. I normally purchase Illamasqua products from department stores. 

Left to Right, Sheer Lipgloss in Rouse and Electrify, Lipstick in Wanton and Fat Pencil in Perverse

 As you can probably see, I'm a fan of my 'pinky' colours and that's the theme I went with for this particular order. The lipglosses are incredibly sheer but do give a lovely tint of colour, perfect for day wear, over a lipstick or just when you want that very natural glossy look. I wore the lipstick while wearing MAC's Star Violet eyeshadow as the main colour on my eyes and got a lot of people saying they really complimented each other. I bought the pencil mainly to use on the eye, even though Illamasqua do say you can use it as a highlighter as well, I'm yet to try this product but I LOVE the colour. 

Left to Right, Sheer Lipgloss in Rouse and Electrify, Lipstick in Wanton

So all in all, very happy with my mini Illamasqua sale purchase. As I say, I don't normally purchase a lot of make up online as the colours never look the same, but I love the colours I bought. Are you a fan of Illamasqua? Let me know your favourite products! :)

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

Phew... a mouthful of a name right? But I had to write about these little beauties as I'm just in love with them at the moment! Following so soon after the Revlon lip butters (which i also looove), these lip products are another great release. They are very similar to the Clinique Chubby Sticks, apart from a whole lot more affordable. Try £7.99 versus £16! I have 3 colours in these balm stains, Lovesick, Darling and Cherish.



Top to Bottom, Lovesick, Darling and Cherish.



I'm not a big fan of other lip stains that are more like felt tip pens, which is why I love these so much. They are so creamy when you apply them, and actually really moisturising. I have quite dry lips but found these to be a dream. The balm lasts for a couple of hours but the colour lasts all night. I always reapply just to get that balmy texture, but you really don't need to. The darker colour Lovesick would actually only come off after a LOT of scrubbing!



Left to Right, Lovesick, Darling and Cherish.

I purchased mine from Boots where they currently have them on offer for £5.99! Bargain! Although they are currently out of stock on the website at the moment so you may be best visiting your local store.

Left to Right, Lovesick, Darling and Cherish.

They come in 12 different shades and you do get plenty of product for your cash. These are a big recommendation from me, I can't stop using them! Anybody else tried these and have a thought or two on them?