2014 Favourites: Makeup & Nails

I cannot believe how quickly the year has gone by! It is now time for my yearly favourites, I will split the products up into categories such as makeup & nails, skincare, body care and fragrance. I have already published my favourite blogs of 2014 (here) and my 2014 favourite skincare (here). This year I have decided to pick a winner from each product type and a runner up otherwise this list would be even longer!

Primer (eye/face) Winner: Nars Pro Prime Eyeshadow Primer

Runner Up: Maybelline The Smoother Face Primer

Foundation Winner: Max Factor Smooth Effect Foundation

Runner Up: Max Factor Luminizer Foundation

Concealer Winner: Clinique Airbrush Concealer

Runner Up: Essence Stay All Day Concealer

Powder Winner: Essence All About Matt Fixing Powder 

Runner Up: Revlon Nearly Naked Powder

Bronzer Winner: Chanel Multi-Colour Healthy Glow (01)

Runner Up: Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer & Smashbox Baked Fusion Soft Lights

Highlighter Winner: TheBalm Mary Loumanizer 

Runner Up: Kryolan For GlossyBox Cashmere Highlighter

Contour/Blush Winner: NYX Blush (Taupe)
Runner Up: Nars Douceur Blush

Mascara Winner: Yves Rocher Sexy Plump Mascara 

Runner Up: Rimmel 100% Waterproof Mascara 

Liquid Eyeliner Winner: Essence Liquid Ink 

Runners Up: Sephora Waterproof Liquid Liner & Stila Stay All Day Liner

Lip Stain Winner: Loreal Splash Stain (Lolita)

Runner Up: Rimmel Provocalips Lip Colour, Soap & Glory Lip Lacquer & Topshop Gloss Ink

Lip Gloss Winner: Laura Mercier Lip Glace 

Runner Up: Maybelline Colour Elixir 

Eyeshadow Quad/Palette Winner: Makeup Revolution Palettes 

Runner Up: Soap & Glory 'What's Nude' Quad

Makeup Brushes Winner: Spectrum Brushes 

Runner Up: Real Techniques Brushes & Bare Minerals Face Brushes

Nails Winner: H&M Nail Polish Pot Remover 

Runners up: Revlon Parfumerie Polishes & Colorstay Top Coat

Now for a few honourable mentions for products that I have also loved during 2014 but didn't quite make the final cut:

Firstly, the Sewlomax makeup bags! I have three of them and I took one of them on holiday with me back in august and I loved using it! Also the Bare Minerals Mineral Veil, Clarins Extra Comfort Foundation and the Essence Nail Polish Corrector Pen have been fantastic long term favourites!

What are your 2014 makeup/nail favourites? Have you tried any of the products I have mentioned? 

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My Current Makeup Staples With Yves Rocher

I have been a big fan of the Yves Rocher body care, hair care and fragrances for a couple of years, since I made my first order with them. I have tried a couple of bits of their makeup - the Sexy Plump Mascara (which is pretty amazing) and one of their lipsticks; however I have wanted to try more of their makeup but as far as I know they don't have a store or counter in the UK. I picked three products and I was kindly sent them for review; honesty as always, check out the disclaimer tab for more information on my personal policy on reviewing products and working with brands (here). 

Firstly, a foundation that I have wanted to try a over two years - the *Yves Rocher Comfort Cream Foundation (100 Beige Very Fair, RRP £16.50 - currently only £9.65) which I have been using for the past couple of weeks and I have kind of fallen in love with it. The shade is a good match for me, it is quite yellow toned so it helps to cancel out the natural red/pink tone of the skin. The foundation glides on so easily, I have been applying it with my hands - mainly as I don't have any clean makeup brushes left...oops! It feels comfortable, moisturising on the skin and it leaves my skin looking even, luminous and fresh. The only negative point is that it can cling to very dry areas although exfoliators and facial oils help solve this issue. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

The next product is the *Yves Rocher Matte Compact Powder (100 Matte Very Fair, RRP £20 - currently only £10.25) which comes in a  really nice, durable compact so it would be great for travelling or on the go. The shade is fantastic for my very fair skin tone and the powder is matte although not very flat. Even though I have dry skin, my t-zone can get a little oily especially because of the central heating at this time of the year and this powder controls oil well without looking very caky or heavy. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

Last but not least is the *Yves Rocher Ultra Long Lasting Cream Eyeshadow (07 Bronze, RRP £14 - currently only £7) which is a gorgeous bronzy, taupe shade. I have been using it sparking on the lids as a wash of shadow. I have been using it with an eyeshadow primer and it lasts pretty much all of the day It is relatively easy to blend and looks gorgeous on the eyes. It can crease on me after about five/six hours without a primer, however all eyeshadows crease on me! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

Overall, I love all of the items! Together the make up a gorgeous, quick and easy autumn/winter makeup look that is radiant and simple but still sparkly and festive. I will probably have a look using these products on my instagram (@heathernixon4) and or twitter (@ofbeautyand)soon. I definitely want to try more Yves Rocher cosmetics! Here are a few of the products on my Yves Rocher wish list:

Have you tried any makeup from Yves Rocher? 

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Makeup Collection: Liner & Mascara!

Here is the final part of my makeup collection (I think) and it is my mascaras, cream eyeshadow sticks, brow products and eyeliners (gel, liquid, kohl and pencil). Enjoy!

Mascara: My mascara collection is not very big as I don't wear it all of the time and I only buy waterproof mascara if I can. Although my favourite mascara is not waterproof, it is the Yves rocher sexy plump mascara which I adore! If I could only ever have one mascara it would be that beauty! I also have the Clinique High Impact Waterproof mascara which I do not like (and I haven't had it for very long, for me anyway, and the writing it nearly completely worn off). 

Eyeshadow sticks: I have a few eyeshadow stick type products as I like the efficiency of them but they can crease on me very quickly. But I do love the Kiko long lasting stick eyeshadow and the Laura mercier caviar stick (LOVE). But there are one that crease badly on me such as the Barry M eyeshadow pencil. 

Pencil liners: I have quite a lot of eyeliners, I don't know why I keep buying them! My favourite eyeliners include: Illamasqua fat pencil in the shade Fickle - it is gorgeous on the lower lash line. I also love the Rimmel scandaleyes pencil in the shade Taupe which is also gorgeous on the lash lines to define the eyes naturally. I also like the Eyeko, Urban Decay and Dior liners too. Also I find the Pixi liners to be amazing, especially the pigmentation and creaminess.  

Eyeliners: I have a couple of gel liners, including the clinique brush on cream liner and that one has to be my favourite - I have had it for longer than I probably should and it has not dried out! Love it. In terms of liquid liner I did really like the Max Factor glide and define liner but it has run out. I do like the ELF liquid liners though and they are super cheap. 

Brow products: I love to define my brows and I have a few brow pencils and gels. I love the Tweezerman browmousse but it ran out a while ago and I love been trying out alternatives as the Tweezerman one is around £10. The Gosh brow gel is quite good. As for pencils, I love the MAC brow pencil in the shade 'lingering' for my dark brown ashy brows and I also like the Gosh brow pen/marker too. 

That is the final part of my makeup collection, there have been a few new additions since I published these blog posts (oops!). To see the other makeup collection blog posts just use the search bar on the right hand side of the page! x

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Late March Favourites

Here are the products I have been loving through out the month of march and into April. I haven't done a favourites post in a while as I have been trying out a lot of new products and I haven't been sticking to the same products - but these four have just been constantly in use through out march and April.

1. Bioderma Ultra Soothing Cream: I bought two products from Bioderma a couple of months ago now and one of them as worked its way into my everyday skincare routine. I have been using this facial moisturiser from Bioderma for the past month and I love it. It is a moisturiser for irritated, very dry sensitive skin which describes my skin almost exactly. The moisturiser is 100ml and I have used up about a quarter (or just over) in a month. Love this product, I will write a full review as soon as I can. 

2. Yves Rocher Sexy Plump Mascara: A long standing favourite of mine, I have had this sample longer than anyone should probably but I just love it! This has to be my favourite mascara of all time (I also love the Diorshow waterproof mascara but it is quite expensive). This makes my lashes look volumised, defined and lengthened but natural and gorgeous!

3. Benefit Fake Up Concealer: I received this half way through March (I won it in a Debenhams competition) and I really like it - although it is not without its faults. The shade is great, it applies nicely (when applied in a certain way) and it doesn't really look caky - full review soon. 

4. Cosmopolitan Beauty Sponge: My last favourite of this month has to be my Cosmopolitan Beauty Foundation Sponge which I have been buying for years (maybe three years now). I have been using this sponge to apply my foundation all of this month as my skin has been super super dry and flaky because of an eczema break out and this sponge (when damp) is the only way I can apply foundation when my eczema flares up. I don't know what I would do without this product! 

What are your monthly favourites? 

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