Favourite Discoveries Of 2014

While it seems that 2014 has been the quickest year ever, I feel that I have made some great discoveries this year and there have been some products that I have been using pretty consistently throughout. Doing Christmas on a student budget doesn't exactly leave much to spare, so I haven't tried many new products through the month of December and so I thought it might be more appropriate to show some of my stand out finds from 2014, instead of my December favourites.

Xen Tan's Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe is a product that I had tried before the beginning of the year but as much as I loved the moisturising finish and olive toned colour, I just didn't feel that the tan it left behind was as dark as what I was used to. It was this year I discovered that applying this on two consecutive days, leaves you with the most perfect dark tan that lasts almost a full week. For me thats pretty amazing, as my incredibly dry skin seems to just repel tan after a couple of days, leaving me patchy with the urge to run home and scrub myself. I do think that this tan is very pricey, and for that reason I do have some others on rotation, but nothing else quite measures up. 

I have fairly sensitive skin, so never got on very well with typical 'gritty' exfoliators, but this year I have loved using chemical exfoliants on my skin. The Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner is lovely, I use this every other evening and it helps to keep my skin looking bright, feeling smooth and tackling any dry patches. 

I won't go on about this one too much as I know I have already mentioned it multiple times on here, but the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is what has been on my face for the majority of the year. The coverage can be taken from a natural wash of colour to a full coverage foundation that really does make you look healthy and glowing, and the lack of SPF and great lasting power make it perfect for evenings too.

I have never been happy with my naturally sparse, thin brows and always felt that Brow Pencil and Powder start to look un natural when you are wanting to actually alter the shape of your brow. Discovering the Anastasia DipBrow Pomade has made me so much happier with the look of my eyebrows, as with a little angled brush (MAC's 208 does it for me) you can draw on tiny individual hairs and create the look of a thicker, defined brow. The product is also waterproof so you don't have to worry about it going anywhere, or touching up throughout the day. 

The By Terry Celluarose Blush Glacés are one of the most unique products I have tried this year, and they are the blushes that I turn to whenever my skin is looking dull or lacklustre. These have a watery consistency that once blended in look like a natural flush, and the glowy finish makes you look instantly healthy. 

2014 has been the year that I have really gotten into bold lipsticks, and have been loving matte liquid lipsticks in particular. I love the formula of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets, and 01 is the red lip choice that I have reached for most over the year. Its a very flattering, slightly darkened red on me and the lasting power makes it perfect for dinner or a night out. 

The Maybelline Forever Strong Super Stay Gel Colours are in my opinion the best nail varnishes available in the drugstore, these things combine some serious staying power power with a beautiful formula and shade range, meaning I have built up quite a collection over the year. 

Lastly, a bit of a strange one thrown in - but I have been using the Rapidlash Eyelash Enhancing Serum on and off throughout 2014, and I really can see a difference in the appearance of my lashes and brows. After consistent use for a month or two my lashes look longer, thicker and healthier and I am certain my brows have slightly more going on than they used too. I think this may have gone up in price from when I purchased it a year ago but it is definitely something thats worth looking at if you are unhappy with your lashes, or possibly need to get them back in a better condition following lash extensions. 

I hope you enjoyed this little round up of my top picks from the year, I chose to do this over a full 2014 Favourites as I wanted to just show the bits that have really stood out, and for some categories such as Mascara I have chopped and changed so much throughout the year that I don't feel I could pick just one! What are your some of your favourites from this year? Let me know! 

Hangover Helpers

If your anything like me, come New Years Day you will be dragging yourself up feeling hungover, tired and Zombie like. Personally I feel that whenever I wake up after a night of drinking, my skin really tells me off by looking sallow, grey and lifeless. There are certain products I like to whip out in situations like these to help wake me up, bring some life back into my face, and prevent any break out situations that often follow a heavy night. I love using a zingy shower gel to help wake me up, the one I have been enjoying recently being the Sanctuary Spa Green Lemon & Orange Blossom Body Scrub. The gentle exfoliating particles in this are a bonus, leaving you feeling really invigorated and clean, and the lemony scent wakes me right up in the morning. 

A mask that is great to use the morning after is the REN Glycolatic Radiance Renewal Mask. This mask uses fruit acids to gently exfoliate your skin, leaving it feeling bright, smooth and clear. If I'm honest I don't find the consistency of this mask the most pleasant to use as it has the scent and texture of apricot jam, but nothing else does a better job of bringing the glow back, and helping my skin feel new again. Alternatively, if your skin is feeling congested and like a break out is round the corner, the Aesop Parsley Seed Mask is an old favourite that leaves skin calm and clean without feeling stripped. The Super Facialist by Úna Brennan range is really affordable and great quality, I particularly like the Vitamin C Brighten Glow Boost Skin Serum. Vitamin C is great for bringing radiance and life to your skin and this serum also contains a healthy dose of Hyaluronic Acid to keep things looking moisturised. 

The Festive Face

Personally I'm the type that wears some kind of glorified pyjama set for the majority of Christmas day - but I love doing my make up in the morning, particularly when I may have a few new bits to test out. I have been loving Cranberry tones this winter, and Sable by MAC is a gorgeous reddish brown that really brings out Green eyes.  It is beautiful blended all over the lid for a smokier effect, or in the crease with a pale lid to contrast. The festive season brings with it a lot of eating and drinking, so you really a lip colour that won't leave you worrying that its half way down your face! I am definitely a lover of matte lip colours, and particularly the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils. The shade Train Bleu might not be best if your shy of a bold lip, but the deep berry shade is perfect for dark lip lovers like me! When it comes to nails, I don't often go for a glitter as I just can't stand the hassle of removing them, but this year I will be braving it for the sake of Beyond Cozy by Essie. Somewhere between Silver and Gold, this polish is solid glitter particles, and is opaque in two coats. 

I hope you have a lovely Christmas, I will be back with a post on my favourite discoveries of 2014 in the new year! 

♥

Weekend Away Make up Bag

My boyfriend and I have just gotten back from spending the weekend in London, and I thought I would share the 'capsule' make up items that I chose to bring. I love reading these types of posts, its so interesting to see which products really make the cut when you have limited space.

My current make up bag is this Flat Scuba and leather pouch from & Other Stories. I would normally be one to bring a massive make up bag and then fill it with six lip options (for a three day trip) but this time I set myself the challenge of actually packing light. I really like the simple design of this pouch, and the easily cleanable scuba fabric.

Base wise, it has to be the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. This product just ticks all the boxes, its easily buildable, offers flawless coverage and a radiant finish... and it stays that way for a really long time.  The only issue with this one is the packaging isn't exactly travel friendly, so I de-potted enough for the trip into a old tester container. For concealer, my favourite all rounder is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. Creamy enough for under the eyes and covering enough to deal with any blemishes that may pop up.

The powder I took is the Rimmel London Stay Matte - cheap, cheerful and keeps any shine at bay.

For the eyes, the Illamasqua Neutral Palette really has it covered. It contains three matte neutrals for the daytime, while the fourth shade is a beautiful metallic bronze. All of the shades are soft and pigmented, and I also doubled up and used the black as a liner. 

The Lancome Hypnose Mascara has always been a favourite of mine as it delivers long, fluttery lashes, but can also be built up to get a really intense look.

The Contour and Highlight I chose to bring were both from Kevin Aucoin. The Sculpting Powder is a soft brown shade that somehow adds some shape to my face, and The Celestial Powder in Candlelight leaves the prettiest glow across the cheekbones. One of my most used blushes is the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Exposed, a dusky rose shade that works with any lip or eye colour. These blushes last really well on the skin and Exposed is such a versatile shade, so its perfect for a weekend away.

I love using lip pencils, they define your lip shape and are really long lasting. MAC's Spice is a dark, brownish nude that gives you that whole Kylie Jenner thing going on. I wore this alone in the day time, but it also works really well as a base for lots of other lip colours. The shade I packed for the weekend is a new purchace, Amorous by MAC. Its a gorgeous cranberry shade, that I found to be really wearable, so I know this is one I'll be getting a lot of use out of.

Christmas Wish List

I always love the Christmas season, but for some reason I'm feeling extra excited this year. I still live very close to home, but I'm really looking forward to going home for Christmas and getting in some much needed relaxation, eating olives and cheese and drinking lots of wine... healthy.  
I thought I would put together a little post about some of the things I'm lusting after this year, although this is only a fraction of the items I would love to find under the tree.

I have been absolutely loving lip pencils for a while now, they are great for defining your lip shape and I love to use them all over for long lasting, matte colour. Pillow Talk Lip Cheat by Charlotte Tilbury looks like a perfect every day, pinky nude.

Jo Malone is one of my favourite brands, and their English Pear and Freesia Candle is gorgeous. Its a fresh, fruity scent that would be a perfect bedroom candle as its not at all overpowering.

The Caudalie Divine Oil is my all time favourite body oil, mostly because of the beautiful fragrance. So obviously when I saw that Caudalie was releasing the Parfum Divine De Caudalie, it went straight on my wish list. Its a lovely woody, spa like scent without being too much.

I already own the original Glam Glow face mask, but my skin has not been on top form recently and I have heard great things about the skin clearing effects of the Glam Glow Super Mud. Not sure I can quite justify buying this before I have used up the original, but if its a gift then its ok... right!?

I received a Whistles clutch as a gift last year, and it has honestly come with me everywhere ever since. I keep mine in my handbag filled with my phone, money, keys and other essentials and its a great way to keep everything together. Then for nights out or just a trip to the shops I can just grab it knowing it has everything I need. As a result mine is looking quite beaten up, and this White Small Stingray Clutch looks like it could be a beautiful replacement.

The By Terry Cellularose Blush Glace is one of my favourite blush formulas, they may be pricey but nothing gives a more natural, lit from within colour. Frozen Petal is a bright reddish pink that looks like it could deliver the perfect winter flush.

Whats on your Christmas list this year? Let me know in the comments!

November

This month has seen some much colder weather, dreary rainy days, and the worst break out my skin has had ever.

I normally have pretty clear skin, maybe the odd blemish here and there but have always counted myself lucky I don't really have to be aware which products I'm using on my face in case one causes a break out. Well about halfway through the month, my skin turned a little bit crazy. I'm not too sure if it was caused by a product (was it you L'Oreal True Match?!) or if it is hormonal or stress related but the product that has been really helping to clear up my skin is the La Roche Posay Effeclar Duo [+].  I'm sure you've heard of this product as its had a lot of online attention, and I have owned a tube before, but until now I've never quite understood how amazing this treatment is. Its a really light
cream/serum texture and feels cooling and refreshing on the skin. I have been using this both morning and night and have found it actually makes a lovely base for make up. After the first few days of use, my skin felt calmer, clearer and all my blemishes were significantly reduced. My skin is now returning to normal, so i'm one very happy and relieved girl!

As much as I love my balm cleansers, my skin felt so congested that I wanted something more refreshing. I dug out my old tube of Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, a cleanser that was much loved by pretty much everyone in the beauty community a few years ago. I used this for years before I got hooked on balm cleansers, and I've now really remembered why. The texture is creamy and feels moisturising on your skin, but leaves your skin feeling so clean and really soothed. It also contains Eucalyptus which is anti bacterial, great for when your skins playing up. 

Although this blog is fairly new, I think I've made it pretty clear that I love a highlighted, dewy looking completion. MAC Soft and Gentle Mineralise Skinfinish is a highlight powder I've used for years, and seems to have a pan that just keeps on giving. It's the most perfect champagne colour that is neither too peach or pink, and while there are no big chunks of glitter, its not too subtle either. I've been reaching for it loads this month as because of its neutral tone it looks amazing paired with any blush shade. 

The lip product that I have been reaching for all month is the Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Canvas.  When I have the time I love to define my lip shape with liner, and due to the thick matte texture and flexible applicator, this product allows you to create that sharp, defined look without having to use a pencil. It really is the perfect slap on and go product for me, as the matte formula also has great staying power. I have the shade Canvas, a rosy nude that naturally accentuates your lips. 

Current Nail Picks

Apart from a good old Coral or Orangey red shade, I much prefer Autumn/Winters colour palette. I've noticed there are some lovely nail colours around in the drugstore at the moment and the formulas are pretty great too. Starting off with the Maybelline Super Stay 7 days Gel Colour in Nude Rose. 

The Super Stay Polishes are one of my all time favourite nail colours, they really do last a week and have a great range of pretty, wearable colours. This shade in particular is a gorgeous muted rose shade, perfect if you want to wear colour but are not a fan of brights.

 Next up is the Rimmel Lasting Finish Nail Polish in Get in While its Hot. I applied this when I had just done my weekly tan routine, and fell in love. It really is a 'tan' beige colour so it looks like the perfect nude on a tanned complexion. I think this is a really original shade as it is a much darker nude than many you see available. I know it is as long lasting as its name suggests, as it was still my nails at the end of the week when my tan was fading away. I did remove it at this point though as this shade is not nearly as flattering when your pale!

 The Maybelline Colour Show Polishes really are a steal at just £2.99. They have loads of lovely shades including 'Downtown Red' which is a pretty darkened red that I have been wearing non stop recently!

 And finally, the most expensive of these offerings is 'Sole Mate' by Essie. A gorgeous deep Plum, I love the vampy, wintery look this creates. This varnish also has an amazing shine to it, so you could go without a top coat if you wanted. 

October

The second the clocks go back I suddenly start feeling all autumnal and that definitely shows in the products I've been reaching for this month. Once the weather gets colder I immediately notice a change in my skin and really have to step up the moisture if I want to stop things getting chapped and dry. Every winter I end up reaching for the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant. This multi purpose balm has you pretty much sorted for lips, elbows, cuticles and any other dry bits you can think of. After just one use it already begins to restore sore lips, and this tube has lasted me forever! 

As for my hair, it needs extra moisture and attention all year round, due to the excessive straightening I put it through daily... I know its bad. A product I've been loving recently is the Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair. Containing Quinoa protein, its aimed to prevent damage and work towards getting your hair in a better condition. I rub a pea size amount through the ends of my hair when wet, and I've seen an improvement in the amount of breakage going on. It also smells all lovely and spa like, so feels like a treat to use. 

I love a dark lip in winter, and I've gone straight back to a favourite from last year; Starry Eyed Lasting Finish Lipstick by Rimmel. I find it sits in the middle of being purple and red toned, which makes it a flattering shade on a lot of skin tones. I also love to dab this on lightly for daytime which creates a really pretty berry stain that lasts for hours. The formula of this lipstick is great, creamy and almost matte (my favourite) but not drying on the lips at all. 

To warm up my skin tone I've been reaching for a M.A.C Mineralise Blush in Warm Soul. A gorgeous golden peach shade, I have been blending this down my cheekbones and onto the apples for a subtle bronzy glow. The Mineralise Blushers are great as there isn't really any need for a highlight, but this also looks lovely in the evening with a bit of M.A.C Soft and Gentle for extra sheen. 

Lastly this month I've been getting use out of a gift I received a while ago, the Aromatherapy Associates Relax Eye Mask. Not going to lie I do feel like the price of this mask is slightly ridiculous, but I have a serious curtain problem at the moment and this has been helping me get my weekend 

lie ins! The lavender inside the mask smells great, and with the tie strap and soft velvety fabric this is definitely the most comfortable (and luxurious) eye mask I've ever used! 

The Winter Glow Givers

Winter is coming and for me I know that means saying hello to a dull, grey, ghoulish complexion. I love dewy skin all year round, I feel a glow can really make you look so much more alive, even if your wearing barely any make up. So I thought I would share some of my favourite products for helping your skin to look radiant through the colder months. Two of these products are more of a primer type thing, where as the other two I would call a typical cream highlighter formula. Though personally, I would use most of these products over or under make up. 

The first is the M.A.C Strobe Cream. This is a product which used to be talked about frequently online, but I haven't really heard anyone mention it in years. It has always remained one of my favourites, a creamy formula which feels moisturising on the skin and leaves an amazing dewy glow. This product really is a multi-tasker, you can use it under, over or mixed in to your base and it never fails to inject some life into your skin! A great cheaper alternative is Hocus Focus by Soap and Glory. Personally I find this a more subtle illuminator, which makes it great for day time. I can imagine this would look lovely on darker skins, as it has a more golden tone to the highlight. Soap and Glory products are reasonably priced and really easy to get hold of in Boots stores too. 

Next up is the NARS Multiple in Copacabana. This is a cream highlighter which is really pretty dabbed onto the tops of the cheekbones, it has a slight shimmer to it that makes it the perfect highlighter for evenings. This product is the only one out of the four that I wouldn't recommend using under your base, as you don't want any shimmer to travel to unwanted parts of your face whilst applying your foundation! 

I have repurchaced the M.A.C Cream Colour Base in Pearl so many times, it is such a perfect all round highlighter for my skin tone. I use this in so many ways... under or over my foundation, mixed with cream blushers, or even as an eye base. The formula is creamy and easily blended, and I find the end finish I get much more natural than a powder highlight. 

Xen Tan Round-Up

As a long term tanning addict I have tried and tested quite a few over the years. I wear tan pretty much all the time, and Xen Tan is a brand I've loved for a while now. I find them to be the most long lasting on my horribly dry skin, and love the natural colour they give.

So lets start with possibly the most hyped up tan of all time.. the Xen Tan Dark Lotion Absolute Luxe. A quick note about this product is that I don't actually find it to be all that dark. After one layer, I'm left with a natural glow, so normally I would use this for two consecutive days to get to the colour I want. This product also doesn't really have a guide colour, on my pale skin tone it shows up slightly, but on anyone darker than me you really wouldn't be able to see where you have applied, which may be a worry for some! Aside from that, due to its luxurious and moisturising formula, I find this the most long lasting tan that I've tried.

The second product I've tried from Xen Tan is their original Dark Lotion Weekly Self Tan. This is a really great all rounder, it leaves you with a lovely olive toned tan, feels moisturising on the skin, and I think you get a good amount of product for your money. I also really like the packaging of this tan, it may not be as fancy but the pump is really practical as it helps you use an even amount of product round your body.

The most recent addition is the Xen Tan Moroccan Tan.  From first application I fell in love with the seriously dark colour of this product. I love a really really deep tan, and this pulls that off on my pale skin with out looking too orange or un natural. The formula is more of a gel consistency as opposed to the other two which are true lotions, but due to the Argan Oil enriched formula, the Moroccan tan still feels moisturising.

Its worth mentioning that all of the Xen Tan products smell lovely too, Absolute Luxe and Dark Lotion have a warm marzipan sort of scent, while Moroccan tan smells of coconut and holidays!

Price wise, none of these tans are the cheapest, I find the pricing is on par with the likes of St Tropez, but I think Xen Tans range of products perform much better.

Thanks for reading, and if you have any other suggestions of tans that I would like then please comment below, I'm always looking for an excuse to spend money!

THE FAVOURITES - September

September has been an incredibly hectic month for me, what with moving out and starting University. For this reason, I have been reaching for trusty old products that I know work for me. I've seen a lot of people starting to fully embrace autumn with berry shades but personally I'm clinging on to Summer for as long as I can, so its still all radiant skin and nude nails over here I'm afraid!

Base wise, whats been slapped on my skin for most of this month is the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. Nothing perfects and evens out my skin tone like this gem, and whilst not as dewy as some of my other favourite foundations, this formula has a velvety, lit from within radiance that nothing else quite compares too. Add that to the fact it is long lasting and contains no SPF, and you've got your perfect day to night foundation.

I rediscovered my Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer at the beginning of the month, and it is all I've been using to conceal. I find this works best mixed with a little moisturiser, which is great as it allows you to control how much coverage you need for the area.

At the beginning of the month I repurchased one of my old favourite Mascaras, the 'Yves Saint Laurent Luxurious Mascara Shocking Volume' (and breathe...). I find this is one of those Mascaras which gets better with time, as it starts off a bit on the wet side for me, but once its dried out slightly its incredible at giving dramatic length and volume to my seriously lacking eyelashes. You can apply with care for a more natural, fluttery look, or go all out for a false lash effect.

There is one polish which hasn't left my nails for most of the month, and that is 'Glints of Glinda' by O.P.I. It is the perfect nude, with a high shine jelly consistency, which leaves your nails looking really neat and polished, with no real effort involved.

And finally, we have the Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in 'The Golden Goddess'. I have been travelling a lot between home and university, and this palette has been so useful for creating neutral looks for both day and night. The shadows are all buttery in texture and really well pigmented, even the glitter shade has minimal fallout and is perfect for the evening. As with the whole Charlotte Tilbury range, the packaging is gorgeous, and really compact too.

 Hopefully next month there should be a favourites post packed with new products, as I'm getting the chance to try lots of new things through my course, which is very exciting!

THE REVIEW - By Terry Cellularose Blush Glace in Rose Melba

I picked up this blush a while ago when I had a Space NK gift card to spend. I was apprehensive due to the cost, but the texture, packaging, fragrance, and basically everything drew me in. I love By Terry as a brand, and find their products always perform brilliantly. This blush is no exception, I chose the shade Rose Melba which is a brightened pale pink with a gold sheen, which appears almost neon in the jar. The texture is like a watery jelly, which once blended in with your fingers creates the most natural, lit from within glow that I have found with any cheek product. Due to the watery consistency, it looks like the colour is coming from under your skin, and they leave a dewy finish on the cheeks. I find this lasts most of the day on me, and fades naturally with my foundation. I would love to try the other two colours, next on the list being 'Frozen Petal' which is more of a rosy shade.

By Terry Cellularose Blush Glace in Rose Melba

Basic skincare routine

I love reading about skincare just as much as make up, so I thought I'd share my skincare routine. I have never had particularly spot phone skin, but do suffer with the odd blemish and blocked pores, and my skin is quite sensitive. I would say my main problem is redness and unevenness, and my skin looking dull and feeling dehydrated. I have a lot of extra oils, serums, lotions and potions that I use in conjunction with these products, but these are the bare bones of my daily routine.

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil +  Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel  

The first product I use is the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, which I would describe as much more of a balm cleanser than a gel. It melts into the skin, is great for doing a quick facial massage to get some blood flowing, and makes my skin look really alive and glowy. It leaves my face feeling really clean with no oily residue, and smells of roses which is an amazing bonus. I use this cleanser in the morning, and as my second cleanse at night. To remove my make up in the evening I love The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil. Its a lightweight oil, which feels moisturizing and soothing on the skin, whilst really getting in there to easily remove every trace of make up. I haven't found another product that removes my make up as well as this does, and at this price, why would I be looking?

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner

In the evening I use an exfoliating toner such as the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. I use this after cleansing at night, and it does a great job of brightening and evening out my skin tone. I feel like it helps keep blemishes at bay, and I feel it keep my skin looking more clear and radiant. Its like a more gentle version of the Alpha H Liquid Gold (more on that in another post) and is gentle enough to use every evening. In general I prefer acid exfoliators to gritty ones as my skin is quite sensitive, and they tend to bring out the redness in my skin rather than evening things out.

Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream + Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream

As for moisturizers, I have been using the Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Face Cream and the Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream for about 6 months now, and I love them both. Antipodes is an all natural brand and these products don't make any big claims apart from to nourish and moisturize the skin, but I prefer to target my skins specific problems using serums, masks and oils, and keep my moisturizers very basic. The day cream has a strong smell of vanilla, which I know may be off putting for some people, but I love it, and I find it doesn't linger once its on the skin. It feels very thick and nourishing which is great for my dehydrated skin, but still works well under make up. The Avocado night cream has a much more subtle scent, and feels really soothing and smooth when you apply it. When I wake up in the morning I find my skin has really drunk it up, and is feeling really soft and plumped out.

As I've mentioned, there are a lot more steps involved in my skin care routine, and I will probably do a couple more posts on my favourite masks and other treatments that do most of the hard work!

The Haul - SEPHORA

I've just gotten back from a trip to Barcelona, and while I was there I couldn't resist stopping into Sephora to pick up some things. European Sephora doesn't carry nearly as many brands as the US stores, but it does stock some brands such as Make Up For Ever which are very hard to get hold of in the UK. 

Make Up For Ever Invisible Cover HD Foundation

The first item I picked up is the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation. I did try this years ago a trip to New York, but due to the unnatural lighting in the store I picked up the complete wrong shade. Why do they do that?! I do remember really liking the finish of this though, it feels light on the skin, and has a glow to it while remaining fairly matte. After factoring in the lack of SPF, this means that this foundation is perfect for a night out, or any occasion where there will be lots of flash photography and you want your skin to look flawless!

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 02 Classic Beige

I'd heard other beauty bloggers talking about the Sephora Cream Lip Stains, claiming they were the best of the bunch when it came to this sudden wave of matte cream lip products. I definitely favor a matte lip and I've tried both Hourglass and Bourjous' offerings, so I had to give this one a go. I chose 02 which is a dark pinkish brown shade, as I'm loving the whole Kylie Jenner inspired cappuccino lip trend that's going on at the moment. It's a great every day lip shade for when I want to look slightly more polished. As for the formula, these have the same pigmentation and lasting power as competitors from other brands, but I find them much less dying on the lips. The only downside is the shade range is pretty limited, but there was a true red and a lovely watermelon shade tempting me! 

Formula X in Radical

As if I need more nail polish, but I couldn't resist picking up one of Sephora's new(ish) Formula X nail varnishes. These polishes are supposed to be seriously long lasting and as I am the proud owner of acrylic ruined nails, nail varnish normally doesn't last too well on me. I chose the shade Radical which is a pinky lilac, but with a hint of a grey tone in there somewhere which keeps everything looking slightly more neutral and less barbie. The formula of this polish really is lovely, it applies really evenly and is opaque in two coats. I also found it has a shiny, almost gel like finish, and even without a top coat the lasting power is amazing. I'm now wishing I'd picked up more shades!

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche

La Roche Posay Toleriane Riche 40ml 

All through my teenage years I've been quite lucky in the way that my skins never done anything too extreme. By extreme I mean acne, or eczema and Its never been overly sensitive to which products I use. My main problems were always unevenness and redness, and how pale and dull my skin looked without any foundation to even things out. But in the last year I've had to pay quite a lot more attention to my skincare routine, as I've started getting the odd breakout, and most recently some pretty severe dry patches on my face.

I woke up one morning with a bumpy rash covering my eyelids and the surrounding area, which through the day turned dry, sore, red and itchy. As I'm sure you can imagine, it really was very painful as the skin of your eyelids is so thin and sensitive anyway. I own a couple of products from La Roche Posay and they are definitely one of my favorite affordable skin care brands. I particularly love how focused they are on targeting problems like sensitivity, break outs etc. I picked up this up in Boots, after hearing that the Toleriane range was good for sensitive, angry skin. What can I say, its worked miracles. I slathered this on every chance I got, and within two days my painful rash was no where to be seen. The redness was compleatly deminished and I had normal, non scaly looking eyelids again. Thank god for that. The consistency of this is a thick cream, and it felt soothing and almost cooling the second I applied it. Due to the thick consistency, I wouldn't reccomend using it all over your face under make up, but for my eyelids it worked just fine. Definitely one to keep in your stash for those times when your skin just has an absolute mare! 

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The Review - CLARINS RADIANCE PLUS GOLDEN GLOW BOOSTER

Clarins Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster

I picked this up on a whim in Debenhams when I had a £5 off voucher. I'd heard good things from other beauty bloggers, and as much as I love the glow that the Clarins liquid bronze gives me, I do find it hard to fit into my routine. Before your face oil? After your moisturiser? It all gets a little bit confusing, and can feel like your just sanwiching one too many products onto your skin. Thats where this comes in.. A tiny little bottle of concentrated tan, you just add up to three drops to your regular moisturiser. Sorted. You wake up with the same subtle glow that the liquid bronze gives you, and you can leave it at that if you want. The great thing about this is you can taylor it to suit you. Personally I add three drops every other night, to keep my pale skin looking a little less lifeless. Although its a tiny little thing, you use such a small anount of product that I actually think this would last a while. Beats the liquid bronze for me, and I'd definitely repurchace. 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light

The hype around these powders when they were released was ridiculous, especially on blogs + YouTube. I have never been much of a setting powder girl, having dry skin, and favoring dewy foundation finishes. I have tried a few setting powders over the years, but I just found they would ruin the glow my foundation gave and leave me looking dull. So naturally these powders really really excited me. Hourglass claims 'Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light'.  And if that means add a gorgeous glow and soft focus finish then right they are. I got my hands on the shade 'Diffused Light' back in November last year, and what can I say? Its the best setting powder ever. The powder itself is slightly yellow toned and fairly translucent, so I think it could be suitable for most skin tones. It just leaves your skin with the most beautiful glow, keeps your make up on all day (although I can't vouch for oily skins) and helps cancel out redness, without a hint of a powdery finish. I'm in love. Hourglass have just released a collection of 'Ambient Lighting Blushes' to accompany the powders, and I couldn't be more excited to get my hands on them. Go buy go buy go buy! 

              

                £38.00 at SpaceNK

Current wants/needs

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush-

As a huuuge lover of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders, (Diffused light is my daily setting powder of choice) I am so excited to give these a go. I have been experimenting with darker more plummy blush shades recently, and actually really loving it, so I'm being drawn to this shade at the moment! Heartbreakingly these aren't available in the UK just yet, but when they are, I'm sure to be picking one up! 

Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhanser-

I've heard so many people rave about this super pigmented product, it sounds so versitaile, from being used as a concealer to mixed with moisturiser to create a sheer foundation type formula, or even used in a lighter shade than your skin tone as a Kim K style highlighter. I think I've put off getting this little gem for long enough, so when I do, I'll write up a review about wether or not it lives up to my high expectations! 

Nars Blush in Sin-

Again with the plummy blush shades here! My head is clearly still stuck in winter, but I've heard great things about this blush, and think it would look gorgeous on a pale skin tone, if I can stay away from the fake tan for long enough! 

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Native- 

I have to say I can't really explain myself with this one, I just see another pretty neutral shade to add to my collection and I waaant. Simple as that. Although I love the look of the creamy formula and pinky nude shade with this baby in particular. 

Clinique Neutral Territory 2 Palette-

The packaging of this palette is so sleek and gorgeous, far nicer to look at and travel friendly than any of the Naked Palettes! The colours in this palette look stunning, and I love the inclusion of the red toned brown, it really pulls the palette together and gives it originality but at the same time remains wearable, and could be easily paired with any of the other shadows. 

By Terry Baume de Rose- 

I have been lusting after this balm for years. As if the fragrence, packaging, and look on the lips weren't enough (yes, excessive use every time I enter a SpaceNK has happened) apparently this is also a winner when It comes actually nourishing your lips, which is a nessessity for me as I have seeerious problems with dry chapped lips. I just love everything about this balm, but will It be enough for me to part with £38 real pounds of my hard earned dolla? We'll see! 

Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser- 

I had a sample of this knocking around for ages, but as a girl that is a teeeny bit scared of anything with less coverage than the YSL Touche eclat foundation, I didn't think this was for me. Then I woke up on one of those magical 'good skin days' and thought I'd give this stuff a go. Wow. This product is called illuminating for a reason. The finish is gorgeous, it gives that convincing lit from within glow that everyone is searching for, without looking oily at all. With a dab of concealer, I find the coverage to be perfect. Bronzer looks better over this, all my blushes look better over this, I need to buy this now. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed-

I love a good contour, and this blush looks like the perfect shade to accompany a contoured cheek, as well as being a great neutral shade to pair with a bold lip or smokey eye.