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! 

September Wants/Needs

September Want List by laynaduggan featuring H&M

As Summer turns into Autumn I seem to find myself wanting to buy everything... so here is a very condensed version of my current wants!

1. Tom Ford has to be one of the most luxurious cosmetic lines out there and if you can stomach the price, his products are absolutely beautiful. I saw Suzie from hellooctober use this Cream and Powder eye colour in Naked Bronze in a get ready with me video and fell in love. The bronze cream shadow looks so silky and pigmented, then becoming wonderfully sheeny once you add the gold powder. If only it wasn't £46.00 and sold out! 

2. I've been looking for the perfect Silk Shirt for months now and have possibly found it in this pale grey Topshop offering. I particularily love the oversized fit, front pockets and cropped sleeves. 

3. I realise this is the second cream eyeshadow mentioned in this post but there always seems to be a shade in the By Terry Ombre Blackstar formula that I'm after. I've been wearing a lot more shimmery eye looks lately and find myself needing a Champagne coloured cream shadow to use as a base. Blond Opal looks the perfect shade and I love the longevity of this formula. 

4. Baies is apparently Diptyque's best selling Candle which means obviously I'm keen to try. With notes of Rose and Blackcurrant, the description reminds me slightly of my favourite Cassis scent by the White Company, so I'm pretty sure I would love this one.

5. I'm still not over the whole Marble thing and luckily for me H&M home has just released some very pretty bits including bowls, plates and even a chopping board. Dangerously close to when I move into my new flat. My favourite piece has to be this rectangular dish which would be perfect for keeping jewellery. 

6. My obsession with hammered silver continues and I'm still mourning the loss of the sold out Whistles earrings that I had my heart set on. Very similar are these Nest Teardrop Earrings, although they are far, far out of my price range. If anyone knows of any cheaper alternatives please let me know! 

7. I'm pretty sure Topshop did a cardigan identical to this one last A/W, which I loved but never got round to purchasing. Sadly this one is now completely sold out, but I'm hoping they restock soon as its not quite Coat weather yet but its definitely not Summer anymore either!

8. Lastly these amazing cut out Zara Boots. I very nearly bought these in store about a month ago, but  talked myself out of it as the heel is to high to be practical for every day (for me anyway) and last years heeled Chelsea Boots are doing me fine for now. Although I'm sure when my loan comes in in a few weeks it will be a different story entirely...

Handbag Heroes

First of all, please excuse the beaten up look of most of these products. As you can see from the title, these trusty essentials spend a lot of time knocking around in the depths of my normally huge handbags. I do usually try to keep what I fill those bags with to a minimum, which doesn't involve bringing my whole make up bag with me so here are the the products that I nearly always have a place for, be it for their multitasking abilities or wearable colour.
Starting with one of my most used lip products ever - a M.A.C Lipstick in the shade Honey Love. I can't remember if this has been mentioned on here before, but its a slightly warm toned, matte nude. Which really doesn't sound all that special, but it is. The thick creaminess of the formula seems to have the ability to make your lips look full and flawless, and the shade has proven wearable with any make up look.
Annoyingly, all my favourite foundations seem to be housed in beautiful, but impractical glass packaging. For this reason I don't often bring them out with me, so this Maybelline The Eraser Concealer fills in when I'm on the go. The medium, radiant coverage is just enough to top up those dark circles throughout the day or to take the edge off a bright red blemish.
The By Terry Cellularose Blush Glacé's are beautiful, glowing gel blushers that I find also work well on the lips. The shade Frozen Petal is the best at perking up tired, dull looking skin when your out and about and creating a moisturised sheen of colour for the lips.
I always carry perfume with me, as I like to smell the fragrance on myself so I do tend to top up through the day. Stella by Stella McCartney is a floral scent with a top note of Rose, but still smells really fresh and light. I love this tiny little 30ml as its perfect to throw in your handbag.

Disappointing Products

I'll start this post off by saying that I am definitely not an impulse buyer.  I spend so much time reading blog reviews to make sure that what I'm buying is worth the money/right for me etc etc that it actually really surprises me when I end up not liking something. That said, it is other bloggers 'Disappointing products' or 'Product Regret' posts that have most likely saved me from too many let downs, so I thought that I should share a few of mine. Obviously this is very much down to personal preference and these products aren't necessarily bad products as I most likely purchased them after hearing someone give them a glowing review - I'm just sharing why they haven't worked for me.
If there is one thing I hate, its spending money on expensive tanning products that aren't good quality. I'd heard so many good things about the he-shi Express Liquid Tan, but after application I found the 'Medium' shade to be very, very pale in colour. After one use it looked almost as though I had just used a gradual tanner! I added another coat the next day and was more satisfied with the colour, but for a tan that doesn't wow me this is just far too much hassle. On top of that, I found this product extremely drying on my skin, and noticed that when it started to fade I was left looking very patchy and strange. This might work better for someone who's after a much paler look, or who doesn't have skin that leans towards the dry side.
Normally I love Bourjois as a brand, but I really didn't get on with their Healthy Mix Foundation or Concealer. I had tried the original version of the foundation and I remember really liking it, so I picked it up again recently in the new packaging. I think the product must have been re formulated as although I like the initial finish, the foundation didn't hold up for two seconds on my skin (which is not oily).  I do on the other hand really like their Healthy Mix Serum foundation so would 100 percent recommend that over the original. As far as the concealer goes, I like the light, glowy coverage it gives but it made the skin around my eyes very red and sore. I did enjoy using it before my reaction, but I wouldn't class myself as someone with very sensitive skin and I have never reacted to a product in that way before so I would say if you ever have any sensitivity issues definitely give this one a miss!
Next up is a product I'm not quite ready to write off just yet, partly due to the price and partly because  I just think it could look so, so pretty if I could only make it work for me! I'm speaking about the much internet loved ByTerry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock. When swatched, this sheeny, pinky brown shade looks stunning but once I put it on my lid, something just doesn't work. It seems that when I try to blend it out, the product sheers out a lot and I end up with shimmer everywhere. I'm open to any suggestions about these because as I said, its a beautiful shade so please let me know in the comments if you have any tips!
The last product is another of those sad ones that you really like using but your skin just doesn't get along well with. I've only ever had good experiences with Origins skincare in the past, but every time I try to use their VitaZing, its followed by a breakout. VitaZing is one of those interesting 'adapts to your skin tone' moisturisers, it really is great for giving just a hint of glow on no make up days, or as a morning moisturiser as it contains SPF. This is one I would definitely try for yourself, I wish I could love this but I think after the fourth desperate attempt to use this resulting in a break out its time to give it away.

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! 

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!

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