Tweezerman Spring Summer Range

Last year I was a Tweezerman ambassador, which was amazing and I was generously sent a lot of wonderful Tweezerman products to try out and a couple of weeks ago I received this lovely package from the amazing people at Tweezerman which includes some of their spring/summer 2016 releases!

I LOVE Tweezerman products and I have done since well before I started my blog - I adore their mini tweezers *I have only used their tweezers for the past six or so years* and I also love the eyelash curlers which I love so much more than my expensive Shu Uemura one; additionally their brow mousse is amazing especially for unruly brows like mine.

The spring/summer range is so fun and colourful and includes some fantastic sets! I always love the cute and colourful prints Tweezerman have on their tweezers and this season is no different. I have tried some of the products, I don't need to try the tweezers as I know they are the best tweezers ever but in this package came a few unique products and ones I hadn't tried before. All of these products should be available to buy now.

*Tweezerman Moroccan Oasis Slant Tweezer (£22.95) 

How freakin' gorgeous is this print! It is inspired by moroccan bold print patterns and textiles. The tweezers are the full size version and they are award winning, obviously. There are a few other products that also have this super summery print including a mini slant tweezer and mirror duo and a nail file. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*Tweezerman Easy Finish Facial Hair Remover (£15)

I have tried the full size/other version of this facial hair remover which I liked but sadly I wasn't blown away by but I am definitely intrigued to try this one. It is incredibly compact and thin so it would be perfect for keeping in your handbag or for travelling.

*Tweezerman Curl & Go Eyelash Curler (£19)

I've already said how much I love their eyelash curlers, I have a couple and they are just perfect - so much better, in my opinion, than the cult Shu Uemura lash curler. that I have I have to admit that this device does look a little strange but it is quite compact and small so again it would be great for travelling. I've tried it a few times and once you get used to it, it works well! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Tweezerman The Birds Of A Feather Mini Slant Tweezer (£14.95)

I have a few of their mini tweezers, I love my first pair of Tweezerman tweezers which have an adorable ladybug print on them. This print is equally cute and so summery as it has toucans on them; I also love the hot pink! I cannot recommend Tweezerman tweezers enough, especially the mini tweezers - how many times have I typed tweezers in this post?! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*Tweezerman Mini Face Brush Contour Set (£34.95)

This set is definitely my favourite from the ones I received in the package as I have wanted to try the Tweezerman makeup brushes for a while. The set includes: mini pointed foundation brush, mini contour foundation brush and the cute pink blending sponge which is great for me as I hate the Primark one I'm currently using.

The contour foundation brush is perfect for applying liquid foundation and I've tried it with powder and cream contour as well and it works SO well. Both brushes are really smooth, soft and multi-use as they could both be used for foundation and contour; additionally the pointed brush could be amazing for concealer. My main problem with makeup blending sponges is that they can be too hard even when damp but this one is great! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Overall, I'm so happy with all of the products I received, especially the makeup brushes which I will get so much use out of. The prints are adorable and perfect for spring/summer. If you haven't tried anything from Tweezerman *what are you doing!*, then you definitely should! I can't recommend Tweezerman products enough! Now onto my video:

Have you tried anything from Tweezerman? What do you think of the spring/summer collection? 

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An Introduction to Tweezerman

Bloggers and Youtubers can apply to become a Tweezerman Ambassador and I was accepted! Tweezerman is a brand that I haven't tried a lot from but the couple of products I have tried, I have loved such as my two pairs of mini Tweezerman tweezers as well as the Tweezerman Brow Mousse which I raved about on my blog back in 2012 (here). 

Tweezerman has won numerous awards over the years and I can definitely recommend their products. This post is all about the wonderful kit I received featuring Tweezerman nail and brow products. Honesty as always, I have loved their products before I started my blog - click here to read my disclaimer.

The wrap kit contains: Nail Buffer, Nail Files, Cuticle Pusher, Nail Scissors, Combo Nail Clipper Set, Spoolie, Brow Mousse, Grip & Snip Cuticle Nipper, Pro Curl Lash Curler, Tweezers, Point Tweezers and a Folding Lash Comb. I was so excited when this beauty landed on my doorstep!

Firstly, I need to rave about my favourite brow gel ever, the *Tweezerman Brow Mousse (£11) which I first started using in 2011 and the one tube lasted well into 2012. The brow gel holds my brows so well but it doesn't look odd or crunchy on my brows. 

I have also tried their tweezers before (I have a ladybug print pair and a lilac pair) but I haven't tried their full size tweezers until now. The tweezers are so durable, effective and they will last for years. After using my Tweezerman tweezers, I cannot use my other basic tweezers as they just aren't as effective!

I love nail buffers/4 way nail files as they are so handy, they have all the steps you need to keep on top of your nail care with one simple product. The *Tweezerman Buff and Shine is a fantastic product, it's better than the cheaper ones I have tried and so handy  to keep in my bag or my desk. The single files are also great, they come with protective cases which I think is a great idea. 

The *Tweezerman Grip & Snip Spiral Spring Cuticle Nipper (£30) is possibly one of the most futuristic and scary beauty tools I have ever seen! I haven't done anything to my cuticles but after trying this I am glad I did even though it slightly scares me using it; although my nails/cuticles have never looked so neat. This cuticle nipper has won one of the Instil Best Beauty Buys awards for 2015!

The *Tweezerman Combo Clipper Set (£13) is also fantastic, effective and they feel heavy and very durable; as do the *Tweezerman Brow Shaping Scissors. The last product I'm going to talk about is the *Tweezerman ProCurl Lash Curler (£20.95) which I actually prefer to my Shu Uemura Lash Curler as it feels easier to hold and it fits my almond eye shape better. 

Overall, I am so impressed with the items I have tried; I already loved the brow mousse and tweezers and I had no idea that they made such a large range of nail and brow products as well as pedicure and skincare tools. Tweezerman also have a range of mens products and a pretty amazing looking range of makeup brushes!

Have you tried any products from Tweezerman? If you haven't what products would you like to try?

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Tweezerman Personalisation Service

Tweezers are a product I've used for the past ten years and for most of that time, I have been using cheap and ineffective tweezers. Since converting to my trusty Tweezerman tweezers years ago I haven't looked back and I would recommend them to everyone as they are quick, effective and the last for so long! I have four pairs now, two of which are the cute and colourful minis. 

I now have a new pair, the *Tweezerman Studio Collection Stainless Steel Slant Tweezer (£20.50, Red) which won an Allure beauty award in 2014. The tweezers come in six colours as well as plain stainless steel and each pair is hand filled for precision. 

When the postman delivered this package I was very surprised and happy to find these tweezers especially because the tweezers have my name engraved on them, not a sticker but fully engraved! Tweezerman have just launched their beauty tool personalisation service with Selfridges. They will be able to engrave names, words or symbols onto tweezers and makeup brushes for such a unique, cute personalised touch - they would make fantastic christmas gifts, yes I'm still thinking about christmas!

The service will be available in the Beauty Workshop at Selfridges London from the 31st August to 6th September; don't worry if you miss these dates as it will be back again in time for christmas between the 7th to 13th December. The service is completely FREE of charge to anyone buying a pair of Tweezerman tweezers or Tweezerman makeup brushes. 

Do you own any Tweezerman products? Will you be taking advantage of this special service for yourself or as a gift?

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Tweezerman Fall/Winter Collection

Tweezerman is definitely one of my favourite brands of 2015 so when their fall/winter collection arrived, I was SO excited (surprise PR packages are the best kind of packages!). I have been a fan of their tweezers for at least four years and I've been using their eyelash curler every time I wear makeup. 

Their new Fall/Winter collection consists of:

- LED Lighted 10x/1x Compact Mirror (£26)

- Dual Sided Pushy (£16)

- Fashion Leopard Duo (£25)

- Onyx Value Set (£26)

- Tweezerman Promaster Lash Curler 

- Petite Tweeze Set (Red)

- Glitterati Python Print Slant Tweezer

Phew, there are a lot of products and I have tried most of them so far, including the fantastic Promaster Lash Curler which is designed for deep set or almond shaped eyes so it's perfect for me and it works so well as does the original that I use every time I wear mascara. I've also been loving the Compact Mirror as it not only contains two mirrors but one is 10x so I can see ALL of my pores *yay...* and it lights up too so it would be perfect for very precise tweezing and for travelling. 

There are also a few fantastic sets in this collection such as the Onyx Value Set which contains a mirror, great grip lash curler and mini slant tweezer - it would be a perfect gift for friends or sisters, in my opinion; as would the Brow Beauty Duo as it contains a cute pair of leopard tweezers and a 10x magnifying mirror - the perfect brow duo! The last set that I think would be a perfect stocking filler is the Petite Tweeze Set which comes with a pair of slant tweezers, point tweezers and a leather case for them; the tweezers and case are shimmery red so it would be ideal as a cute christmas gift. 

Overall, I think the whole collection is fantastic, so well made and the sets would make great christmas gifts as Tweezerman products can be a little pricey so some may not spend that much on themselves but I'm sure it would be a welcome and more unusual gift. I can definitely recommend Tweezerman products as I've bought them myself and the quality is amazing. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Have you tried any products from Tweezerman? What do you think of the gorgeous fall/winter collection?

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Tweezerman Smooth Facial Hair Remover

When I started my blog back in 2012, I didn't even want to photograph my face, never mind writing about facial hair removal! However, it's something we all have to deal with to some extent and it can be annoying and painful; although the new *Tweezerman Smooth Finish Facial Hair Remover (£20) might be the answer for some. 

For my brows, I've always used tweezers or wax and I always do them myself - I wouldn't trust anyone else to do them and I honestly don't understand why anyone would go to a salon and pay for it as it's so quick and easy to do at home. However, tweezing isn't the most comfortable thing to do but with the Tweezerman tweezers I use it isn't awful and waxing obviously isn't pain free either so I would definitely want a less painful opinion, if possible. 

I've been using this device for almost two weeks now and to be honest when I received it, it did look like some kind of torture device but it works in a similar way to threading. There is a spring like section in the middle which as you twist the knobs on the sides of the pink handles and move across the skin, it pulls out the hair from the root which sounds like an eye watering process but as someone who has waxed and tweezed for years, I can tell you that this is less painful. 

Yes, it isn't pain free and you can feel the slight pinch as hairs are being removed but it is no where near as painful as waxing or tweezing, in my opinion. It feels a little odd to use and it definitely takes some getting used to but after practising it is quick and easy. However one of my problems with it is that it isn't great at getting hairs from under the brow as it is too big - it is perfect for above the brows as well as other unwanted hair on the face though. Also I find that it can only really remove baby hair/lighter and thinner hair rather than darker/thicker hair which makes up most of my brows. I've tried using it at different angles and it still doesn't work for thicker/darker hair but I do find that having the skin very dry (without any moisturiser on) definitely helps the device grip the hair. 

Overall, I think the device is a less painful way of removing facial hair and even though it takes some time and practise, it is relatively quick and easy! I have found the device great for above my brows and lighter 'baby hair' else where but for between my brows and under my brows, I can't really use it and it doesn't seem to remove thicker/darker hair that well unfortunately as if it did, it would be amazing for me personally. I think this hair removal device would be perfect for those with fair/lighter/thinner hair. 

Have you tried the new Tweezerman hair remover? Have you tried threading or waxing?

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Ultimate Women's Gift Guide

I love gift guides, they've been so fun to write and I've been lucky enough to work with amazing brands this year - thank you to the lovely brands and PRs who have contributed wonderful items and gift sets to my gift guides this year! Today's gift guide is my rather long women's gift guide which contains gifts that I think would be great for a range of ages and interests, I know my friends and family would love all of these! 

*AA Essentials Skincare Rose & Pomegranate Duo (£11.88)

I've tried a range of skincare from this brand and I've loved everything but this is the first haircare set I've received. I love the packaging, it's nicely presented in a box so it would make a lovely gift. The products contain anti-oxidant rich pomegranate and rose; both products are suitable for vegans to use (on a side note, did you know that the new £5 notes actually contain animal fat!). The shampoo and conditioner both smell gorgeous and are suitable for all hair types so not only does it look like a lovely gift but it will be suitable for everyone! 

Books have become a massive part of my life this year (I know that sounds so cheesy) and I've read over 70 this year which I'm so proud of so obviously I want to gift people books this year and you really can't go wrong with a Mary Berry baking book or any useful and interesting non-fiction read. 

*Mary Berry Cook The Perfect Step by Step (£25)

The edition I have from the lovely people at DK Publishing has a free baking themed tote bag included so it would make an extra special gift (it would be great for groceries). I love Mary Berry, she's like the nations grandmother and I'm still slightly devastated about the Bake Off news. I love her cooking programmes so I knew I'd love her book - my auntie has it too and uses it all of the time. I love the recipes, they're so easy to follow and I love the cute tote bag as well. 

*Neals Yard Remedies Essential Oils (£16.99)

I love the Neals Yard skincare I've tried (I've reviewed the Deliciously Ella skincare on my blog) so I was interested to check out this book. I love using essential oils to scent my bedroom before I sleep, in diffusers and within skincare and bodycare I use so it's been interesting to find out more about essential oils. There are various recipes to try out to make ointments and more so it would be great for those who currently use essential oils or who love to make their own beauty products. 

Tweezerman has been one of my favourite brands for years, even before I started my blog so it's amazing that I get to work with them! I've tried lots of lovely products from Tweezerman and I cannot recommend their eyelash curlers, tweezers, mirrors and brow mousse enough! I've been sent some of their gorgeously sparkly new autumn/winter 2016 collection. 

*Rose Gold Love Story Gift Set (£34.95)

I can't get over how incredibly gorgeous this rose gold set is! It's sparkly and perfect for the festive season *and bloggers!*. The set contains a good sized makeup bag, award winning eyelash curler and tweezers which makes a fantastic gift set. I adore the eyelash curler as it fits my almond/deep set eyes perfectly (the Tweezerman eyelash curler is so much better than the famous Shu Uemura one I have) and I cannot recommend their tweezers enough. It came in a beautifully presented rose gold box so it would make a gorgeous gift for beauty lovers. 

*Merry & Bright Mini Tweezer and Mirror (£25)

Another incredible set, I adore anything sparkly during the festive season and sparkly gifts definitely make the best gifts. I've had one of these Tweezerman mirrors years ago and loved using it as it's a magnifying light up mirror so it is fantastic for precisely tweezing the brows although you do get to see how gross pores are! I love the cute, sparkly tweezer design; the set would be great for anyone but especially for travellers. 

*All That Glitters Holiday Set (£29.95)

Sticking with the glittery, sparkly theme, this final set is so festive and it's a limited edition set so snap it up while you can! I love the golden glitter, the red detailing and the cute case that would make travelling or keeping your tweezers on the go much easier and safer. I have been using Tweezerman tweezers for about eight years and I cannot recommend them enough! 

Hand creams and bodycare are safe but lovely gifts, I've bought so many hand creams for myself and others over the years and also body sets - they're safe and easy gifts for so many recipients such as friends, aunties, cousins and my mum loves any bodycare or hand cream set. Additionally as most people use products like the ones I'm featuring, they would be great as a secret santa gift. 

*Crabtree & Evelyn hand Therapy Sampler Set (£26)

The set contains six gorgeously floral hand creams including lavender, freesia, violet, lily, rosewater and jasmine. The set is worth £36 so it's great value and it looks so pretty too. The hand creams are a famous and best selling product of Crabtree and Evelyn. I've tried so many hand creams and these are lovely. I've featured the cute Crabtree and Evelyn Hand Therapy Cracker in my Stocking Fillers Gift Guide and I love it too. They have so many gorgeous and festive gift sets to choose from!

*Dermalogica Body Buffering Set (£15.50)

This next gift is also great value for money as the contents are worth £36.45 so it's a great deal - go, go, go! The set contains a conditioning body wash, body hydrating cream and a ultimate buffering cloth. The set is packaged so nicely and the products smell gorgeous. To me, the highlight of the set is the buffering cloth which is designed to buff and polish the skin leaving it feeling so silky soft and exfoliated. 

The final couple of items are more lifestyle gifts that I think will be perfect for so many recipients as who doesn't love cookies and candles! I love cookies and candles especially at this time of the year as they are VERY hygge and great for being cosy during the cold and dreary autumn/winter months. 

*Gooey Chocolate Mug Cookie Mix (£5.95)

Is there a more perfect christmas day gift that a yummy gooey chocolate cookie in a mug mix with Belgian chocolate that's ready in less than a minute...no, there isn't! The box contains four portions so it would be great to share if your feeling the christmas spirit, if not then I won't judge (I'd probably want it all for myself too!). I've tried the mug mix is it's so quick, easy and so delicious; I don't have a massive sweet tooth but one of my favourite sweet treats are definitely cookies, especially when they're warm. I know every one of my friends would love this kit as well as my sister and cousins; also the price is great so it would be great as a low budget secret santa gift. If you don't like the sound of the cookie mix (then leave my blog now), then there are other options to choose from including gluten free mixes. 

*Tangy Melon Candles (£9.95)

I love candles and I burn them so much more during the autumn and winter months than at any other time of the year so they're great christmas gifts for me. I was kindly sent a couple from Tangy Melon which are adorably packaged. I chose the #WhiteChristmas candle which is spiced apple and pumpkin scented although to me it has a sweet fruity scented rather than spicy or pumpkin notes; I also chose the #Dope candle which is heavenly and scented with lavender and rosemary. I adore this candle, the scent is gorgeous and the scent throw/dispersion is impressive as I have it burning in my office and I can smell it down the stairs! 

Phew, that was a long post! I have been lucky enough to receive some lovely gifts to feature this year and I cannot recommend them enough, especially the Tweezerman sets, mug cookie mix, the gorgeous #dope candle and the Mary Berry book although every gift would be great! 

Stay tuned for my under £15 gift guide and last minute gift guides coming soon!

What do you think of the gifts I've featured? Have you finished your christmas shopping? 

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February Beauty Favourites 2015

Another month, another favourites post! This month I have discovered some amazing new products that I have kindly been sent, products I've bought myself and some re-discoveries. My February favourites are a mixture of makeup, tools, skincare, body care and deodorants. 

Makeup: First up, an unusual product, the Smashbox Primer Water which I have been testing for a few weeks. It is the only primer that has ever wowed me! It you have dry, combination or dull skin then you definitely need to give this primer/setting spray a try. Another makeup favourite is my new Kiko Cosmetics Clic Eyeshadow Palette which I made myself and the palette and shadows were all on sale! Kiko eyeshadows are so pigmented, smooth and easy to blend with minimal fall down. I will have a full review of the palette on my blog soon. My final makeup favourite is a re-discovery, the Loreal Brow Artist Pencil which I already have in a lighter/warmer shade but I received the Dark Brunette shade in February's My Little Box and I LOVE it. 

Beauty tools: Now onto beauty tools, two of which are from one of my favourite brow brands, Tweezerman. The Tweezerman Eyelash Curlers are in my opinion, so much better than the Shu Uemura ones that I have. The Tweezerman Curler fits my eye shape so well, reaching all of the lashes from the inner to the outer corner easily without pinching the skin - amazing! I've also been loving the Tweezerman Tweezers which I've been a fan of for years, they are just so effective. The last beauty tool favourite is the Crown Brushes SS021 which is perfect for blending eyeshadow or concealer - I just wish the numbers were printed into the handles!

Body + Skincare: I have two body care product favourites this month, the first is a re-discovery, the Thea Super Nourish Body Butter which is so moisturising but it doesn't irritate my skin at all and it absorbs very quickly - I definitely want to try more of their body products. The second body product is rather expensive, it is the La Vanilla Vanilla Lemon Deodorant which is £10...yes, and I have bought another since! They are all natural, they smell incredible and they don't contain aluminium which is the main reason I wanted to switch to natural deodorants. As they are an American product they are expensive and until now they haven't been available at all in the UK - they are sold on Net-A-Porter. 

Onto skincare, a new product I have been testing out is the Antipodes Hosanna Serum which I have completely fallen in love with; it is so hydrating and plumping! Full review, here. My penultimate favourite is the Elemental Herbology Cell Plumping Hydrator SPF8 which I have had in my skincare drawer for a while but I have only just started using it - it leaves my skin hydrated and so glowing! Last but not least a new mask, the Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Rose Face Mask which is only a magazine sample but I have managed to get five full uses out of it. It is so hydrating, my skin drinks this mask up so quickly and it doesn't irritate my skin. 

I also have a couple of honourable mentions such as the Yes! Nurse Hand Cream which I am still loving along with the FAME Vanilla and Coffee scrub - I'm using it so much, it is wearing down quite quickly. There are all of my favourites and honourable mentions for February!

What have been your favourite beauty products for February?

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A-Z Of My Favourite Beauty Brands!

A is for: Avene - one of the first french skincare brands I tried and I find their gentle cleanser to be amazing when my eczema breaks out!

B is for: Benefit and Bourjois - great foundations, nice packaging, widely available.

C is for: Caudalie! I adore Caudalie as none of their skincare products irritate my skin. I also love the brand Clarisonic and I do love my Clarisonic Mia.

D is for: Dior! I have been hooked on Dior since I bought my first Dior Mascara (Diorshow waterproof) and I have since bought a couple of large Dior travel exclusive palettes. Also Dove has to be included here as it is one of my favourite body/bath brands.

E is for: Eucerin - I love their 10% urea lotion for when my skin gets flaky and very dry and of course I have to metion ELF here as they make some great, cheap makeup although there are some awful products too.

F is for:.....

G is for: GHD - I have a pair of GHD straighteners which I used to use a lot but I prefer to embrace the curls, although they are the best straighteners I have used and the GHD Opulence Hair Mask is fantastic.

H is for:.....

I is for: Illamasqua - a great brand that produces high quality (and slightly quirky) products; I love the Illamasqua Light Liquid Foundation in the shade LF120 which is the only match for my paler than paler skin right now!

J is for:.....

K is for: Kiko, since I spent 40 euros in one Kiko store (in about ten minutes) I have been addicted to the brand Kiko - it is an Italian brand but they do ship to the UK - I love their lip pencils, eye shadows, nail polish etc.

L is for: Lush, of course! I adore Lush - I have a Lush draw...

 (L'Occitane and Lancome have to be included here too)

M is for: MAC, I have quite a few things from MAC on my beauty wish list and I only have few things from MAC but I love my MAC Moisture Cover Concealer (shade NW15).

N is for: Nars; I love my Nars Velvet Lip Pencil in the shade Dolce Vita, my Nars Pro-Prime Eyelid Primer, my Nars Bellissima Eyeshadow Duo and my Nars Bronzer in the shade, you guessed it, Laguna!

O is for: Original Source - they make great (and great smelling) shower gels that are so cheap!

P is for: Prada, in particular their Prada Infusion D'Iris which is my joint favourite perfume of all time - along with L'Occitane Cherry Blossom.

Q is for:.....

R is for: Rimmel, the essential brand for secondary school girls - all of my friends had Rimmel makeup while at secondary school and I still use some of their products now such as the Stay Matte Powder.

S is for: Simple - I have been using Simple skincare products for at least three years now and I will continue to use them - some products are amazing but others can irritate my skin (Soap & Glory also have to be included in this one!)

T is for: Tweezerman; I have three items from Tweezerman that I adore. Firstly, the amazing Tweezerman Browmousse which is the only product that keeps my brows from being mistaken as a jungle. The other two product are the 10x magnification mirror which is great for tweezing and the Tweezerman Tweezers themselves (mine have ladybugs on!)

U is for:.....

V is for: Vichy - the Vichy 3 in 1 Calming Cleansing Micellar Solution - it is just as amazing as Bioderma, in my opinion.

W is for: Wella - in particular their Clear Scalp Mask which is the only product I have used that gets rid of dandruff completely!

X is for:.....

Y is for: Yves Rocher; they make gorgeous bath, body and fragrance products! Although I wish the products were more available in the UK. I also love my YSL Parisienne perfume.

Z is for:.....

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2012 Favourites: Make up!

This is my round up of the makeup products that I have been loving this year! This post is a little bit late as I have been busy with Christmas, boxing day, new year and meeting up with family and friends – hopefully this post will be useful…it may not be if I’m writing it!

 Firstly, primers!

There are two stand out primers for me this year – one for the face, the other for eyes. The first primer is….The Body Shop Moisturise it Primer! I bought this primer early last year and I have been using it on and off all year. I had trouble with my foundation looking fresh throughout the day, especially as my skin really dry so foundation can sometimes make me look a bit tired if they have worn off throughout the day. However this primer really helps to keep my foundation looking fresher and it helps improve the longevity of my foundations. My favourite eye primer for 2012 is…Nars Smudge proof Eyeshadows Primer. I find that 99% of eyeshadows crease on me but this primer really helps to keep them as crease free as possible throughout the day.

On to foundation

The foundation that I have loved throughout the summer months and into the beginning of autumn is…Illamasqua Light Liquid Foundation (shade LF120). I love this foundation for the warmer months, it applies well, it has natural coverage, it looks good on the skin and it has the most gorgeous radiant (not greasy) finish! Although while this foundation was great during July, August, September I do not like this foundation for the colder months as it can make my skin look a bit dry and it can cling to dry/flaky patches which I get in the colder months. I don’t really have a favourite foundation for the winter months as I have been trying various foundations but my recent favourite foundation has to be the Anti-age foundation from Kiko.

Is there a perfect foundation brush?

Yes! I discovered the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush this year and I love it! The brush is really reasonably priced, it has incredibly smooth/soft bristles, it applies and blends foundation really well and because of the paddle like shape of the bristles it allows me to apply foundation really quickly and easily. This foundation brush works for a lot of my foundation, but not all, and it washes well too. (The Dr Bronner Magic Liquid Soap is great for washing brushes).

Let’s talk concealer…

I am a woman on a mission which unfortunately is not over! I have not found my perfect concealer this year, although I have tried many, so the hunt goes on. But one concealer has been my favourite this year, but it is by no means perfect, is the…MAC Select Moisture cover Concealer (shade NW15). I have been using this concealer for about five months or so and I have been using it on blemishes, redness, pores and under my eyes. This is one of the very few concealers that it moisturising/smoothing enough for me to use under my eyes. The concealer has good coverage (although it definitely doesn’t completely cover my dark circles), it applies/blends well and it matches my skin tone too. But this concealer can cake under my eyes and on blemishes if I use too much for if I use too much powder on top – this concealer can also cake under my eyes sometimes as well. Overall, my favourite concealer this year but it is definitely not perfect and my hunt for perfect concealer match carries on.

To bronze or not to bronze, that is the question

I’m not really a bronzer kind of girl as I am really pale but I tried Benefits Hoola Bronzer this year and I also tried the ELF Cool Bronzer this year and I love both – but I love the…ELF bronzer more! I bought the ELF bronzer on a whim and it has become a staple in my makeup routine. The bronzer is split into quarters – a white section, a reddish brown section, an ashy brown and a dusty rose blush section. I use the white and ashy brown sections the most – I use them for contouring as they are smooth, matte and blend easily. I do like benefit’s Hoola bronzer (I have a mini version and a full size version) but I prefer the much cheaper ELF Cool Bronzer.

Brows, Brows, Brows

My favourite brow product for this year, and for the past two or three years, is the….Tweezerman Browmousse which unfortunately kicked the bucket a couple of months ago which was a very sad moment as I had been using the same tube for nearly three years – it seemed like it was never ending…until it ended…I adore the Tweezerman brow mousse, it is the only brow gel that can tame my brows all day! I also adore the Tweezerman Teezers, I have a mini pair in a cute ladybird print (in the garden). Another favourite brow product is the…MAC Eyebrow pencil in the shade Lingering. I love and hate this brow pencil - I love that it is so quick/easy to use, the shade is great for my brows and it looks really natural although the pencil is in a black tube so you can’t see how much you have left until you run out and the pencil is quite expensive, in my opinion.

It’s all about the eyes

My favourite eyeshadow quad of 2012 is the…Soap & Glory Lid Stuff Eyeshadow Quad in the shade ‘What’s nude’. I adore this quad, the colours are great for every day, three of the shades are matte and they apply like a dream. I use the top two shades (vanilla and pink T) as all over the lid shades, I use the shade Mudhoney for my eyebrows and I use the shade Aubersheen less often but it is great for using at the outer corner or lower lashes for definition.

Another eye shadow favourite I have been loving in 2012 is the…Nars Eyeshadow Duo in the shade ‘Bellissima’. Bellissima contains a shimmery white shade and a dark matte grey. I use the white shade to highlight my brow bone and inner corner and the dark grey shade to define my upper and lower lash lines – I can also use the dark grey shade as a brow powder.

The last two eye product favourites of 2012 include the new Rimmel Scandaleyes waterproof kohl kajal eyeliner in the shade ‘004 taupe’. The shade is gorgeous; I use it to line my upper and lower lash line for very quick and easy definition. The eyeliner applies really smoothly and it is very creamy. The last eye product favourite is a brush from Illamasqua and it is the Illamasqua eye blending (2) brush. The brush is incredibly soft, smooth and is blends eyeshadow like a dream – the brush is really big so I also use it to apply powder to small areas.

Onto the lips!

I have a couple of lip balm favourites for 2012; the first is the Rodial Glam Balm which I only use at night as I kind of night treatment as it is very hydrating. It also smells really nice (like roses) and it leaves my lips really smooth, soft and moisturised (but it is quite expensive). The next lip balm favourite is the Nuxe Reve de miel lip balm stick which I really like but I do prefer the Caudalie Lip balm but I used it up a couple of months ago.

I have two lip stick favourites for 2012; the first is my Avon Extra lasting Lipsticks. I have the shades ‘totally twig’, ‘Cappuccino’ and ‘rose crème’ and I love all of the shades. The lipstick applies so smoothly and they are really soft/creamy. The longevity of these lipsticks is just as good as my MAC lipsticks! My last makeup favourite for 2012 is my Nars Velvet Matte Lip pencil in the shade ‘Dolce Vita’ which is a gorgeous natural English rosy red shade. The pencil applies so smoothly, it looks gorgeous on the lips and the longevity is good too – the Nars velvet matte lip pencil in the shade ‘Bahamas’ is on my wish list for 2013!

What were your 2012 makeup favourites?

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Pebble Grey Mirror + Everyday Makeup Routine

Applying my makeup at this time of the year is becoming increasingly difficult because of the lack of natural light - I always apply my makeup in my office next to the window so I get as much natural light as possible but with the dark mornings and gloomy or snowy days, it's not the best conditions to apply my makeup. In comes the Pebble Grey Illuminated Mirror:

*Pebble Grey Sara Magnifying Vanity Mirror (£84.49)

I've wanted to try a magnifying, illuminated mirror for so long; I've had compact mirrors that were illuminated but I can't apply my makeup like that unless it's on the go. The mirror is main powered, there's no set up process and it has a 3x magnification side as well as an LED illuminated ring (almost like a ring light). The LEDs are energy saving but they are still really bright; the combination of the light and magnification means that I can see my skin in all it's close up grossness...

I've been using the mirror every day since I received it and I couldn't imagine doing my makeup during the dark autumn and winter months without it. I mainly use the non-magnified side with the light on to apply my makeup and I use the magnified side for my brows. The only negatives for about mirror is that it's a little pricy and the cord could be a teeny bit longer but other than that I couldn't recommend it enough and I've been using it constantly!

The mirror looks sleek and expensive on my desk and it so quick and easy to use on a daily basis. As well as the mirror I've been using a lot of the same products consistently over the past two months as my skin can be so dry and eczema prone during the colder months so I have a range of products that are failsafe items I can use everyday.

First up for my base, I don't usually use or stick to a primer but I can't stop using the Too Faced Hangover Primer. I have been using the Clarins Extra Comfort Foundation which is a perfect shade match, it blends easily and it is great on my dry skin (unless it's super dry and flaky, gross). I've been setting my makeup with either the Vichy Setting Powder or the Essence Fixing Powder for most of the year and I love both powders - I can't recommend them enough.

For brows, I use the Eylure Brow Pomade in Mid Brown which is a product I wasn't initially impressed with but after some practice, it has become my favourite brow product ever as it makes my brows to defined and fuller while remaining natural. However, if I'm just staying home then I'll use the Eylure Brow Amplifier. My tweezers and eyelash curler of choice for the past week or so has been the gorgeous Tweezerman rose gold offerings *heart eyes emoji*.

My mascaras of choice over the past few months have either been the Essence All Eyes On Me Waterproof Mascara, the Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara or the Tom Ford Extreme Mascara - all of which are fantastic!

Lastly for lips, I've been loving the Makeup Revolution Lip Balms and the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita recently and I can't recommend them both enough especially if you have dry lip, which I tend to have all year round *lucky me* but more so at this time of the year. Also I've been loving the NYX Lingerie in Bedtime Flirt which is a gorgeous 90's nude shade. Oh and the brush I've been using the most have been the Ecotools Powder Brush and the amazing Tweezerman Contour Brush.

What products have you been loving recently? Do you have an illuminated/magnified mirror? 

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January Beauty Favourites

I can't believe we are already one month into 2015! Now it is time for my January beauty favourites! I haven't published a beauty favourites post for a while however you can check out my November/December favourites on Laura's blog which you can check out, here. I have a lot of favourites this month, from nail polish, brow serum and brushes to shampoo, foundation and cologne. 

Firstly, the makeup! I made a small order on Wilkinsons in December and three of the products I picked up are in my January favourites: the Maybelline Color Drama (Nude Perfection), Maybelline Color Tattoo (Creamy Beige) and the Essence Fixing Powder, the latter has been a favourite for months! 

Another makeup favourite is a re-discovery from 2011/2012, the Tweezerman Brow Mousse which I received in a kit as I am a Tweezerman ambassador; I am so glad I have it in my makeup collection again as it is the best brow gel out there! My final makeup favourite is a new purchase, the Burberry Fresh Glow Foundation (No.11 Porcelain) which has become one of my favourite foundations of all time; it is fantastic for normal/dry skin and leaves my skin looking plumped, radiant and glowing but not greasy.

My favourite makeup brushes this month have been the Crown Brushes SS019 which is an amazing powder brush and the second is the Crown Brushes SS021. Both of which are inexpensive and high quality as well as being cruelty free which is always a plus in my opinion.

I have only been using one nail polish all month and it has been the gorgeous RMK polish in the shade EX20 which is a beige grey shade and I LOVE it. It is very similar to Porchester Square from Nails Inc but it is matte. The longevity isn't great (I need to find a good matte top coat) but it's a lovely polish, not just because of the shade but the brush and the formula of the polish to apply as well. 

Now onto a kind of skincare favourite, the Librow eyebrow enhancing serum, yes, it does sound odd but I've been using it for a couple of months now and I am noticing a massive difference in terms of new hairs growing, sparse patches are being filled in and I don't need to use nearly as much brow powder - the full review will be live at the end of February. 

My penultimate favourite is a shampoo I won last year, the Kerastase Bain Satin 1 Shampoo - it's one of the best shampoos I have ever used. It makes so hair incredibly smooth, soft and manageable as well as less frizzy and so nourished. I cannot say enough good things about this shampoo; I will be buying a bottle when this one runs out. A similar shampoo is the Loreal Everriche and as Kerastate is owned by Loreal, we can assume that the products are going to be similar. 

Lastly, a fragrance favourite, this month it has to be the amazing The Library Of Fragrance Lavender Cologne which I was kindly sent a couple of months ago and I've been using it non-stop. I adore the scent of lavender so this fragrance was always going to be perfect for me! I've even been spraying it near my pillow at night to help me sleep as I find the scent of lavender to be so relaxing! I only have about 30% left, I will definitely be picking up another bottle or if you have any lavender fragrance recommendations please leave them in the comments below. 

What have been your favourite beauty products for January? Have you tried any of the products I've featured? 

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