The Repurchase Register

 As much as I love trying new things, there are some products that I just cannot go without. Even if I've got something else on the go at the same time, It seems these trusty long term favourites just keep getting repurchased as I think I would feel a little uneasy if they weren't around.
Starting off with a very quick mention to the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation which I feel like I have already mentioned on here 1000 times. All with good reason though as this has it all, medium but buildable coverage, staying power and that glowy from within thing happens without the need to be dewy. Best night out foundation ever.
Next is the product that changed my eyebrows... the Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade. I've touched on this in a post before, but essentially it is a gel liner type affair but for your brows. No pencil/gel/powder has ever been able to transform my sparse, pathetic little hairs into a naturally full looking set of eyebrows that stay all night but after a bit of practice with this and an angled brush - I promise you will never look back.
Before writing this post, I had never really thought about this mascara as an essential but I've come to realise that I must be on my fourth tube by now. I love long, fluttery lashes but I also love thick dramatic lashes and Benefit's They're Real has the ability to achieve both. The formula is wonderfully long lasting for a non waterproof mascara, and the brush... the brush! I'm not usually a fan of plastic wands but I even find myself cleaning this one down once the product is empty and keeping it on hand as a spoolie.
I'm incredibly picky with lip balms, a slick of Vaseline just will not cut it for me and always seems to dry my lips out more. I'm on my second tub of the Nuxe Réve De Miel, which is protective, nourishing, matte + smells of sherbet lemons (huge bonus).
Lastly, Queen of all balm cleansers and one of the most talked about products ever - is the Emma Hardy Moringa Cleansing Balm. Nothing else takes off my make up quite as easily (even my beloved Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel stings my eyes a little!) or leaves my skin feeling quite as soft, calm and nourished.

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! 

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.

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!