Charlotte Tilbury Luxurious Eyeshadow Palette in The Golden Goddess

Yet another Charlotte Tilbury post today, is it clear that it's one of my favourite brands? I do want to keep my content varied but if I love something then I want to talk about it, even if I think that a brand has been popping up a lot in recent posts.

 palette in The Golden Goddess is my latest favourite, containing four buttery shadows - a pale champagne, cool brownish taupe, warm bronze and a dark brown glitter. Something I love is that this palette contains both warm and cool shades, which makes it really versatile. The greyish taupe shadow reminds me a lot of Burberry's Pale Barley in the way its perfect to use as a wash of colour all over the lid for daytime, while the bronze works beautifully in the crease or can be built up to an intense smoky eye at night. The glitter is subtle, but adds a very pretty depth to the look when patted over the top. All of the shadows have great colour payoff and although they are all shimmery there is minimal fallout.

This has been my go to for a couple of weeks now, I do have a couple of other Charlotte Tilbury palettes which I love equally but the versatility of these neutral shades in such a compact, easy to travel with palette has had me reaching for this every day. Have you tried any of Charlotte Tilbury's Luxurious Eyeshadow Palettes? Let me know! 

Chocolate Hazelnut Quinoa Granola

I know I never usually post anything food related on this blog, but I'm completely addicted to this granola recently and just had to share it. It's adapted from a recipe on the wonderful food blog My New Roots, but where as the main ingredients in the original are buckwheat and oats, here I've used puffed quinoa and a lot less oats as I'm not too crazy about them. When puffed, quinoa reminds me a lot of puffed rice so you could call this a Coco Pop's alternative, except it doesn't turn into a soggy mush, tastes like Nutella and is a whole lot better for you. If you want it to be even nuttier, then hazelnut butter is a great addition and I occasionally melt a few squares of dark chocolate into the mix if I want it to be extra indulgent. Some of the ingredients can be hard to find but I tend to do a big online order every couple of months of all the health foody bits I use - I like this site. It's definitely not the cheapest thing to make but is surprisingly filling and very high in protein thanks to the quinoa, I like to enjoy a small bowl with milk or as a topping for yoghurt with fruit. 

Makes 8 cups

Ingredients:
3 cups puffed quinoa
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup /125g hazelnuts
¼ cup chia seeds
½ tsp. fine grain sea salt
¼ cup coconut sugar
1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
¼ cup of cacao nibs
½ cup cocoa powder

Optional:
1 tablespoon of hazelnut butter
¼ bar of dark chocolate                                                          

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius
2. In a large bowl combine quinoa, oats, chia seeds and coconut sugar. Pulse nuts in a food processor until roughly chopped and add them to the mix.
3. In a small saucepan over low-medium heat, melt coconut oil. Add honey or maple syrup, vanilla, salt and cocoa powder. Whisk to combine until smooth.
2. Pour liquid ingredients over dry and mix together.
3. Spread mixture out in an even layer on a lined baking sheet and press down with a spoon to compact. Bake for 15-20 minutes, checking it every 5 minutes or so. Remove from oven, flip granola in large chunks, and place back in oven to bake for another 10 minutes, stirring every 3-4 minutes until toasted and fragrant. Check the granola is done by trying a hazelnut, it should taste nicely roasted. 

I warn you, you will find yourself craving this morning, noon and night. It makes a great breakfast as the combination of quinoa and oats keep you full for hours, but is equally nice as an afternoon snack when you crave something chocolatey and sweet. Leave a comment below if you make this letting me know how it went!

Clarins Instant Concealer

For a long time I was searching for the perfect do it all concealer. Collection's Lasting Perfection had me sorted for blemishes but could look dry and cakey under my eyes, yet I need a good amount of coverage to conceal the darkness and veins I have in that area. The Clarins Instant Concealer is definitely the best of both worlds. 

I've been using this for about the last year now, but think I have yet to mention it on here. This concealer is very lightweight and fluid in texture yet packs a good amount of pigmentation, making it perfect for covering dark circles and veins under the eyes. It feels incredibly hydrating on the skin and blends out easily, leaving the under eye area looking fresh and bright. While some under eye concealers that offer great coverage look wrong in texture when applied, this meshes perfectly with my foundation and doesn't settle into any lines or crease around the eye. For me, what sets this apart from the rest is that it does a pretty good job at covering redness and blemishes too. The moisturising formula covers the blemish without clinging to any dry patches and with the help of a little powder, it lasts for most of the day. 

The only real issue for me is the price, at £21.50 its pretty expensive for a concealer - but I can't deny my love for it and you do get a generous 15ml of product in the tube. I have the shade 01 which is a pale yellowy beige, perfect for if you like your concealer to have a slight highlighting quality. It's just the best all rounder for travel or throwing in your bag, I can't believe I haven't mentioned this sooner! Have you tried the Clarins Instant Concealer? Or can anyone (please) recommend a cheaper alternative that does the same job? Let me know!

Two Cream Bronzers: The Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel & The Bourjois Paris Bronzing Primer

When I feel like my skin is looking completely pale and lifeless, I reach for a cream bronzer over a powder. I love the way they buff into the skin and how you can really build them up without looking powdery. There are two I use regularly, a budget option from Bourjois and of course, the infamous Soleil Tan De Chanel.  

The latter must be the most talked about bronzing product of all time, the internet hype about this a few years back (when it was called Bronze Universal) was crazy! The packaging is beautiful although majorly flawed in the fact that this attracts brush hairs like nothing else and theres not really a lot you can do about it. This does bother me but yet didn't put me off repurchasing after polishing my first pot off. The product inside is a warm, medium bronze shade with a creamy consistency. I like the fact you can swirl your brush in this without picking up too much product and so you can slowly build the colour up on your face. I know a lot of people used to contour with this, but personally it's too warm of a colour for me, but might work on someone with a deeper skin tone. My first pot lasted me what seemed like forever, so for such a lovely product that I get a ton of use out of I can justify the cost. 

I originally bought this Bourjois Paris Bronzing Primer as a lot of people were saying it was a great dupe for the Soleil Tan de Chanel despite being marketed as a primer. For this reason the the product is far more mousse like and thinner in texture so if using as a bronzer you really only need a tiny amount on your brush. Personally I love to use this both ways - as a primer it works beautifully to warm up the face and smooth over pores, but delivers the same magical smoothing finish when applied on top of make up. I would agree that it's very similar in tone to Chanel's offering which to me looks scarily warm in the pot but blends out beautifully to deliver natural colour. 

Have you tried either of these options or do you have a different recommendation? Let me know in the comments! 

Three Face Oils To Try: Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial, Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Overnight Detox Oil & the Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil

I think face oils have to be my favourite step in my skin care routine, I love how silky and luxurious they feel when applied and as someone with dehydrated skin, I really need the extra moisture. However, using oils as part of your routine definitely isn't limited to dry/dehydrated skin types, oily skins actually benefit from the extra hydration, causing them to stop over producing oil which helps to reduce breakouts and any oiliness throughout the day. 

My first pick is the Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil. Aimed at dehydrated skin types, this dreamy scented oil contains pure plant extracts of Rosewood, Patchouli, Hazelnut Oil and of course Blue Orchid. I apply this as the last step before my moisturiser in the evenings and wake up to soothed and hydrated skin. Rosewood contains antibacterial properties making this oil the perfect choice for anyone with dehydrated skin that still suffers from acne or the occasional breakout. 

Next up is the Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial. This oil/serum hybrid must be the best known product from the line, and with good reason. The light textured oil is a wonderful all rounder, hydrating, plumping, brightening - it really is a facial in a bottle. This one also smells incredible, scented with Jasmine, Frangipani, Rose and Tuberose its a treat to apply in the evenings. 

Lastly, designed with overworked skin in mind is the Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Overnight Detox Oil. Perfect for anyone exposed to a lot of UV light or pollution, this oil works to detoxify, purify and soothe. Personally, I wouldn't say I'm exposed to a great deal of pollution or UV light (no more than the usual amount anyway) but I love using this oil for any times my skin feels congested, rough in texture and generally unhappy. 

What are your face oil recommendations? Personally I'd love to try something from Sunday Riley's line but funnily enough I'm just not in the position to drop £85 pounds on a skincare product right now (or ever). Are they really worth it!? Let me know your thoughts! 

February Beauty Wishlist

February Beauty Wishlist by laynaduggan featuring hourglass cosmetics

As my wanting knows no limits and I'm constantly scrolling through the likes of Cult Beauty and Space NK or reading one of many very enabling beauty blogs, I've decided to make these wish lists a monthly thing. This one has turned out a bit on the luxury (and unrealistic) side, but these are the bits that have been repeatedly catching my eye lately.

1. As a lover of both the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders and Blushers, obviously I'm dying to get my hands on their highlighting equivalent. The Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders are the latest addition to Hourglass's impressive line up and I'm lusting after Euphoric Light, which looks like the perfect pinky beige illuminator to suit most complexions.

2. This is definitely not the first time I've talked about Pixi skincare on the blog this year (see here or here) and this time I'm after their Glow Mud Cleanser. While I usually stick to balmy textures when it comes to washing my face, 'A deep pore cleansing mud that gently exfoliates while purifying for radiant skin' sounds unlike anything I have in my routine and perfect to target hormonal or hungover skin.

3. It seems everyone has been talking about the Chanel Les Beiges Foundation since it's release last month and while I have heard mixed reviews, the claims of radiant yet buildable coverage and a dewy finish sound like a perfect summer foundation in the making. The main issue people seem to be having with this is the staying power (the common downfall of all beautifully dewy foundations) but as most bases seem to last pretty well on my dehydrated skin, I'm definitely willing to give this a go.

4. By Terry's products are about as luxurious as they come and their Cellularose Blush Glacé's have to be the most beautifully formulated gel blushers I've tried. Rose Scented and cooling when stippled onto the skin, these blushers look intimidating in the pot but sheer out to the most naturally dewy flush. The latest shade in the range is Ice Dream, a gorgeous rose gold, designed as a multi tasking product that can be used as a blush, highlight or subtle bronzer depending on your skin tone.

5. I absolutely love facial mists, so when I saw Kate from Kate La Vie raving about this Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist it instantly went on the want list. This is actually marketed as a spray on serum, promising soothing hydration and radiant, dewy skin. Sadly this is only available in the US, unless a sneaky Sephora online order is made..

6. Lastly, is this Jade Facial Roller from Yu Ling Rollers. I've been after one of these rollers for a while, I love a bit of facial massage and think it would be such a relaxing addition to my evening routine. This one in particular is a total luxury and there are much more affordable options available, but its definitely fun to dream! 

January Favourites - Ft The Balm, Pixi, Peter Thomas Roth, Embryolisse and Seventeen

I literally cannot believe that January is already over, this month has gone incredibly quick as I've been out of my usual routine. I had a very extended Christmas break that gave me the opportunity to focus on my blog after a long, crazy, deadline stress induced gap. As I've been home a lot of the time, I've kept my make up this month very simple and have been spending more time on my skincare - apart from the addition of a great new budget mascara and a blush that I think I've worn almost every day.

The blush in question would be Frat Boy by The Balm, a medium coral pink with a subtle gold shimmer running through it. The blush is wonderfully soft in texture and well pigmented without being powdery. This creates such a healthy, natural looking flush on me when lightly dusted across the cheeks that I found myself reaching for it every day as it makes you look so radiant and lovely (something you need when it's mid January and the rain just never stops).

Seventeen is a brand that I never really pay to much attention to, but after seeing a glowing YouTube review of their Falsifeye HD Mascara I quickly picked one up. With its thin plastic brush (something I'm not usually that keen on) this mascara really reminds me of one of my all time favourites - Benefit's They're Real. More lengthening than volumizing, the formula beautifully extends, defines and separates my lashes. It's easily buildable if your after a fuller and more dramatic effect but is perfect for every day, especially if like me you hate spending too much on a mascara as they tend to need replacing regularly.

On to skincare, I just couldn't write this favourites post without mentioning the Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist. I've already mentioned this recently here, but as it has worked it's way into my daily routine this definitely has to be considered a favourite. This light, hydrating and delicately fragranced mist is perfect as a lunchtime make up refresher, or as it contains Hyaluronic Acid, an extra moisturising step in your routine.

I also discovered a new moisturiser this month in the form of cult classic Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentré. I never like to spend to much on fancy moisturisers, preferring to keep it simple and leave all the hard work to serums or oils. Boasted as a hero product by lots of celebrity and industry fans, this cream's light yet hydrating formula instantly soaks into the skin, leaving it plumped and calm. When used in the morning, it's velvety texture works perfectly to prep the skin for make up and I think I've noticed a positive effect on the staying power of my base.

Lastly is the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask. As someone that loves a bit of instant gratification, I have a definite weakness for masks - in particular ones that deliver such noticeable results after the first use like this one does. Containing 'nature derived pumpkin enzymes' and a good dose of AHA's, this mask does a wonderful job at working through those dead skin cells to reveal smoother, evener and more radiant skin. The mask also contains Aluminum Oxide crystals that you could use for a bit of scrubbing action, but I prefer to just smooth this on and let the acids work their magic. Definitely not for the sensitive skinned, I find this is slightly on the more painful side of that tingly feeling associated with chemical exfoliants. My skin is a little red after use, but it's totally worth it for the instant results and the incredible pumpkin pie scent.

A serious resolution for this year is to try and keep posting twice a week (should be Mondays and Sundays) and not to let life/uni stress get in the way too much. Have you tried any of the products in this post? Let me know what your favourites this month have been in the comments!