April Beauty Favourites

I know I write this every month but I cannot believe that another month has gone by - where is 2015 going! I have a mix of favourites for april including quite a lot of new makeup finds as well as fragrance and bodycare. Jurlique, Yves Rocher, Bourjois, Essence, Benefit, Library of Fragrance and Urban Decay have been my favourite brands this month!

Let's start with my favourite topic, makeup! I received the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette this month and it is the first naked palette I've owned *shock horror* and I've been loving it even thought I thought it would be too pink toned but it's perfect for spring. Another new makeup find is the Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder which is one of the best setting powders I've tried, for once the rave reviews are actually right! I've been using it with the fan brush from the new Real Techniques Sculpting Set (the contour brush is great from this set too). 

Another new product to my makeup collection is the Essence Maximum Length Mascara which I was meant to use in my Essence Day to Night Blogger Challenge (here) but I completely forgot to use it! The mascara gives so much length, it is so black and it makes my lashes look fluttery and long. Onto brows, I have been using the Benefit Gimme Brow much more this month as I've loved the lighter, less bold brow look this month. 

Onto skincare and I have two gorgeous products from Jurlique which not only look so fancy and luxe but they are lovely to use. First up, the Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus Revitalising Gel Lotion and the Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist; both products smell lovely, they are effective and don't irritate my skin. I particularly love the balancing mist as a hydrating spray before applying makeup and to refresh my skin throughout the day. I will have a full review of these products on my blog this week!

Last but not least, I have a bodycare favourite from Yves Rocher which has been in a favourites post before! The Yves Rocher Silky Cream is one of my favourite body lotions, it smells incredible and it leaves my skin SO smooth/soft. The final favourite for April is The Library of Fragrance Baby Powder Cologne, it does smell like sweet baby powder/talc which I have been loving as a linen spray. I have recently been loving the The Library of Fragrance Thunderstorm Cologne too which is very fresh and it smell like freshly cut grass to me. Both colognes are definitely more long lasting than all of the other Library of Fragrance colognes I've tried. 

What have been your beauty favourites for the month of April? Do you own any of these products, if so do you love them as much as I do?

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Essence Day to Night Challenge

Essence is one of my favourite cheaper makeup brands since they launched in the UK back in July last year (I was very kindly invited to the launch in manchester which was amazing and I received a gigantic bag of goodies to try - best blogger event ever!). I have been challenged to create a day to night look using only Essence products as as few products as possible...as with my previous Essence challenge I did cheat a little bit!

Here is my first look, the day time look which features a shimmery nude eyeshadow, glossy pink lips, light coverage and a tonne of mascara for a bright eyed, fresh look!

Firstly, I used the Essence CC Clear & Correct Cream in the shade Natural which I believe is the lightest shade - I had to use it VERY sparingly as it is far too dark for my pale skin tone. To add coverage and to match my skin better, I cheated and used the Essence Stay All Day Concealer in 10 Natural Beige which matches my skin pretty perfectly. It's a shame that the concealers are light enough but Essence don't made foundations/CC creams in lighter shades. 

Next up the eyes, I used an Essence product that I hadn't tried before, the Essence 3D Eyeshadow in 08 Irrisistable Vanilla Latte. I used the creamy shade all over the lid, brow bone and inner corner for a light wash of shimmer and it really brightens the eyes. For mascara I used the Essence Get Big Lashes Volume Curl Mascara in Black which is amazing for definition and length, in my opinion. For brows I actually used the Essence Long-lasting Eye Pencil in 02 Hot Chocolate which is matte and when used very lightly, can be great as a brow pencil - just brush through otherwise it will look crazy!

To finish the look I used the Essence lipstick in 44 Almost Famous. You could use this shade as a creamy blush if you wanted. You could also set the makeup with the incredibly amazing Essence Fixing Powder which I will always re-purchase. Now onto my night look using the same five/six products from Essence. 

This look is great if you already have your day makeup on and you need a couple of products to transform your look quickly and easily. To change up the day look, I used the Essence Long-lasting Eye Pencil in 02 Hot Chocolate to line the lower and upper lash lines as well as the lower waterline for definition. Blend with a brush or your fingers. To finish the eyes, I add more shimmer with the peachy shade from the Essence 3D Eyeshadow. 

To finish the look I add more of the Essence Lipstick in 44 Almost Famous which is a pretty pinky red shade. It is quite glossy and it is perfect for spring/summer. Again you could top up with the Essence Fixing Powder. 

Overall, I love Essence products, they are amazing especially for the price! You can easily create a couple of day and night looks with only five/six products. I would have loved to add more products such as brow gel and contouring but you can easily create a day or night look with so few products. You can buy Essence products from select Wilkinsons stores and on the Wilkinsons website. 

What do you think of the day and night look I created? What are your favourite products from Essence? 

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