It's that time of the month again for my review of the new Latest In Beauty edit! I'm lucky enough to be sent their boxes to review but I have bought their boxes in the past. As well as their monthly edits, they have limited edition collections available as well such as the new 2020 Beauty Resolutions Box (£28, worth over £152) which I've already reviewed on my blog.
If you're not familiar with Latest In Beauty, they release a new selection of products every month and there's a new theme each month. Unlike most subscription boxes, you can choose every single item in the box from their selection (don't worry as there are almost 150 products to choose from) with new items added everyday. You can choose the number of items in your box as well, from the 'beauty novice' box at £16, the 'beauty enthusiast' box at £22 and the 'beauty guru' box at £25 all of which are the one off boxes but you can opt for the cheaper monthly subscription instead.
*MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Chilli
Each month there are a couple of 'hall of fame' and star products and for the month of February there's an extra special 'hall of fame' product and it's a MAC lipstick! I was very excited to see a MAC Cosmetics lipstick within the selection for February as it's such a famous and coveted brand. I have a few MAC products including their lipsticks and out of the products I've tried, the eyeshadows and lipsticks are the ones worth purchasing. The shade available on Latest In Beauty is Chilli which is a beautiful brick red shade which is something I usually wouldn't buy as it isn't the most flattering in terms of the colour of your teeth; however it is such a beautiful shade!
*Hairflick Vegan Hair Vitamins
One of my favourite things about the Latest In Beauty Boxes is the wide range of items that include in their selection each month and the inclusion of products I never would have heard about otherwise, such as these vegan hair vitamins. I'm always on the look out for vegan vitamins as I don't love the taste of the ones I have been using for a while so I had to give these a go. Firstly, I love the packaging and thankfully they taste delicious! They have a 'blue raspberry' flavour which is very unusual but I love it and I will be picking up more of these vitamins in the future.
*SportFX Eyelash Curler
If you've been following my blog since last summer then you might remember that back in July I had laser eye surgery and because of that I had to throw away all of my old eye makeup as well as a few tools such as my very worn and beloved Tweezerman Eyelash Curler so I was happy to find one on Latest In Beauty as I hadn't purchased a replacement. The Tweezerman eyelash curler was fantastic and probably the best I've ever used but this one is a great second as unlike most eyelash curlers, this one fits the deep set shape of my eye really well. It doesn't pinch the skin, it is easy to use and I'd definitely recommend it.
*Erborian CC Cream
I've been a little obsessed with Japanese and Korean food and culture recently and I wanted to try more Korean beauty products too so I added the Erborian CC Cream to my box. I've heard great things about this brand but sadly this CC cream just isn't for me. It is an off white cream that when blended into the skin becomes a skin tone shade (I have the shade Clair) but it isn't hydrating or quite light enough for my skin unfortunately.
*SportFX Body Build Dry Shampoo
The final Sport FX product I wanted to try was their volumising dry shampoo which claims to be perfect for all hair types and is specifically formulated for active lifestyles. I do like this dry shampoo, it helps my hair to look a little fresher in-between washes but it isn't the best dry shampoo I've tried - I'm still on the hunt for the best so if you have any recommendations, leave them in the comments.
*Pure Essentiel Rest and Relax Air Spray
I love using room sprays, candles and diffusers, especially if they contain relaxing ingredients or scents such as lavender so I had to try this mini 'air spray'. It contains twelve essential oils and is 100% natural. The scent is very strong but I love it and I will be looking out for this brand and product in the future.
Have you tried any of these products or the Latest In Beauty boxes?
Today's post is the second and final women's gift guide that I will be posting this year! The run-up to the festive season has come by so quickly, where did the time go! It's not long now until Christmas but you still have time to buy gifts for friends and family. I hope this gift guide will give you some ideas. There's a range of gifts from eco-friendly pampering product to beauty gifts and wearables.
Let's start with one of the cutest and most festive products in today's gift guide, the Bloomtown stocking filler gift idea! How adorable is this festive giftwrapping, it is great for those like me who cannot wrap presents at all - I don't know why I can't, it's just an ability I don't have. The gift contains three minis including a soap bar, infused oil and lip balm. All of their products are natural, vegan and cruelty free; additionally Bloomtown is the UK's first palm oil-free certified company which is amazing.
I've been lucky enough to try some of their products previously and loved them and I feel the same about these. I received the Avo Mint lip balm, The Woods soap bar and The Woods infused roll on oil. There are various scents to choose from but the ones I received are the Avo Mint which smells refreshingly mint as you would expect and The Woods scent which is heavenly - it's bergamot and green clay so it is very fresh, green and very Lush-like which I adore.
The scent I tried previously was The Meadow which is gorgeous but I think I might actually like The Woods even more as it's green, natural and clean but a little musky which is exactly what I want in a fragrance or in my body products. I think this set is perfect and a great trial set for someone who is new to the brand. I cannot recommend it enough, especially The Woods infused oil!
One of my favourite christmas gifts recently is from Fat Face. It's a brand that I haven't tried much from but whenever I browse their site, I always find so many clothing items and gifts that I'd love to receive! I was very kindly sent a couple of gifts, both of which are so cute and would make wonderful gifts for friends this year!
The Fat face candle trio features three mini tin candles in the scents: woodland, winter spice and frosted berries, all of which are packaged so beautifully and smell perfect for the festive season. I love the festive packaging, the range of christmassy scents and the set as a whole. The set would be great as a gift on it's own or you can split the candles into festive hamper for friends or family members.
How utterly adorable is this fox mug from Fat Face! There are so many great gift mugs on the Fat Face website but this one is the cutest available. Foxes are some of the cutest animals, we usually see some around the area we live in and they're so playful! I think a fox mug would be ideal for animal lovers or anyone who loves foxes. You could add some christmas chocolates, hot chocolate, cosy socks or even stationery to the mug to make it more of a substantial gift. You still have time to order online from Fat Face and you can also purchase in-store too.
Moving onto a great stocking filler gift idea is a very cute brush from Hair Secretz. The Hair Secrets Hair Podz Diamond Edition in pink is the ideal stocking filler for friends or teens! The detangling hair brush also features a mirror, interchangeable head (for easy cleaning) and it can easily fit in your handbag.
One of the more stand out features of the brush, as well as the unique shape and design, is that it's encrusted with a shimmering Swarovski crystal which definitely adds a luxe touch. The brush is composed of triple flexology bristles that gently detangles your hair (even my very thick and tangle prone hair). It can be used on wet or dry hair, it's perfect for on the go and would make an ideal accessory for those who commute or travel often.
Next up, a little bit more of a different gift as it's a cute tee! I'm never usually a fan of any kind of slogan t-shirts but I love this one from StyleFairy Boutique for a few reasons. The first is because the slogan itself is very simple and minimal with an easy to read font. Also the style of the t-shirt on the whole and the plain white colour makes it more of a wearable, casual t-shirt that pairs with so much, whether it's a pair of black skinny jeans or as a lounge wear top with pyjamas! I have the small size which fits me exactly as I wanted it to - not too fitted but not baggy (I'm a UK 8 for reference).
One of my biggest annoyances when it comes to t-shirt shopping is that white t-shirts are usually pretty much see-through! I don't want everyone to see my bra so I want a more opaque t-shirt and thankfully this one is. Additionally, many basic t-shirts have cap sleeves which aren't flattering on anyone, in my opinion, so I'm really happy with the longer length of the sleeves on this one. I think it would make a great basic slogan tee gift this christmas and it's currently on sale.
Another beauty item and one that is definitely a luxe item, Rubis Christmas Stars Tweezers. I tried a pair of these a year or so ago and loved them. While I do love Tweezerman tweezers, these ones are just more precise, weighty and luxe. I adore the rose gold shade as well as the cute christmas star design - anything with stars on it and I'm there! I cannot recommend them enough!
I personally love candles, they are some of my favourite gifts to receive but not everyone loves candles from a safety point of view, like my mum, so diffusers are a great alternative. This is the second diffuser from Pairfum that I've been lucky enough to try and I love both but I think that this 'orangerie blossoms' scent is my favourite of the two.
I love the almost art-deco box and bottle design so aesthetically it looks like a very fancy, luxe and unique diffuser, especially because most on the market at a reasonable or cheap price point are very generic and inexpensive looking which isn't what you want in a christmas gift. The scent diffuses well, it looks so nice in our living room and it smells musky, floral and homely, in my opinion.
I've tried and reviewed a couple of kits from Sensationail, the latter one I adored - the 'peel off strip gel starter kit'. I received the beautiful Raspberry Wine shade within that kit which I love but I'm so glad that I've kindly been sent the That's My Jam shade which is perfect for the festive season. If you know someone who already has a Sensationail kit then a new polish would make a great stocking filler or if they don't have a kit, you could buy one as it comes with pretty much everything you need in one easy to use package.
I've included a couple of wearables in this post but the most unusual but very practical is this five way cardigan from Kameleon Rose which would make the most ideal present for not only fashion focused individuals but those who love being cosy or for travellers as this cardigan can be made into five various shapes/styles! I haven't ever heard of clothing like this where it can be altered, buttoned up or styled in so many ways with just one item of clothing.
The cardigan is a little pricy, in my opinion but due to the variability of it, you basically get five items in one so when you look at it like that then the price is pretty reasonable. I chose the grey shade as I knew it would the shade I'd wear the most and I'm so glad I chose that colour. I also have the size small and it does fit well (I'm a UK 8 for reference) but it's a touch too long on me; however I am very petite.
You can wear the cardigan as a waterfall cardigan (as I am in the photos), as a hoodie, as a hooded cardigan and many more. Check out their website as they show all of the styles far better than I ever could. As well as being multi-use, it also has numerous interesting features including a passport pocket, non-creasing fabric, thumb holes, hand warming sleeves, a secret pocket and even more.
I think this cardigan is amazing and it would be fantastic for campers, adventurers, students or those planning lots of travelling or even a gap year in 2019 as it's so versatile and has so many useful features. They don't just have this cardigan that has an amazing multi-use ability; they also have travel pants, a travel dress, bag, top and shirt, all of which can be altered and used in numerous ways.
I'm so behind with my halloween content this year! I did hope that my first halloween look would be live on the 1st October but I've had an eczema flareup and I'm being weighed down (almost literally) by all of the christmas products I have for my gift guides! It seems that sadly christmas is taking precedence over halloween this year but today's post is finally my first halloween look of the year and you'll be glad to know that it is incredibly quick and easy!
I love halloween so I've already posted a fair few halloween looks on my blog already but for my first of 2018, I wanted to do something very simple, quick and easy but still fairly dramatic. You will need one or two specifically halloween or SFX makeup products such as a gorgeous wig and the Ben Nye nose and scar wax as well as fake blood; however, you probably already own the other products or they can be bought very cheaply.
I think there are two striking aspects of this very easy look and the first is the gorgeous turquoise blue wig from Hot Hair. I'm not a very good wig styler or wig wearer...so don't judge me too harshly but I love this one. I have tried a couple of halloween wigs in the past and they've been very cheap so naturally they were all very itchy, uncomfortable and quite thin but this one is much thicker, it's more comfortable and it isn't itchy, thankfully!
My look is a mixture between a simple mermaid inspired makeup look with glitter and a gory caught mermaid with a slash across her face were she's been hooked...it's definitely not the most original but I like combination of pretty glitter and fake blood! The shade of the wig is perfect for any kind of mermaid or fairy look this halloween. It's a great size and length which with a wig cap is fairly easy to put on although I did struggle a little with the styling of it especially as I was trying to not get fake blood in it *obviously I ended up with fake blood all on one side*. Hopefully my skin will turn to normal soon and I'll be able to create more halloween looks soon with this wig. If you're looking for a halloween wig or a new autumn style then definitely check out Hot Hair as they have an amazing range to choose from, some of which are currently 20% off including this one!
I started with my regular makeup routine with the amazing Dear Klairs Illuminating BB Cream from Koja Beauty followed by the NYX contour in Taupe and the Essence Fixing Powder. For the Next onto the brows and I filled them in with a dark blue shadow and added a light blue on top then my trusty Tweezerman brow gel.
For the face all I did was take a selection of pretty blues and purples to create areas of multicoloured and shimmery skin with a little of the Makeup Revolution Skin Kiss highlighter in Dream Kiss over the top for extra shine! I added glitter, gems and dots to those areas but in an ideal world I definitely would have used some fishnet tights stretched over the skin to create a mermaid and scaly texture as I have done previously but I couldn't find any - it would have make the look so much better!
Now for the fun and messy part! I love using the Ben Nye nose and scar wax as it creates the most interesting textures to the skin like torn, mottled and scarred skin so it's great for halloween looks. You should use spirit gum with it beforehand so it sticks well but I use a combination of the tackiness of the wax and lash glue to DIY a solution - just buy spirit gum though.
I started by using the back of my tweezers to push and mould the wax to the skin where I wanted it and carried on until I got the shape that I wanted then aded lots of glue to help it stick more securely but I personally like the torn look the wax gives as it makes the look more 3D and textured. I filled in the wound with red lipstick, black eyeshadows and fake blood then blended reds and purples around the outside of the wound to give a bruised appearance.
It was a very quick and easy look to create but if I recreated it I'd definitely use fishnet tights for the scales, I'd add more to the eyes and use more fake blood, it is halloween after all. I hope you liked this quick and easy halloween look - hopefully there will be many more, if my skin behaves (fingers crossed everyone).
What do you think of this quick and easy look? Do you celebrate halloween?
Every year I create a few halloween looks within the month of October and I adore creating them as it gives me a chance to experiment with makeup, unleash my creative side and wear colour contact lenses! I haven't been able to create as many as I'd wanted to this year *cries* but I do have a couple more coming very soon!
I've already created one halloween look with the help of Vision Direct and here's the second look which is inspired by one of my favourite films, Beetlejuice. If you haven't seen it then you should on or before halloween as it's perfect for this time of the year. Beetlejuice is one of my favourite characters in the film, as well as Lydia and it was great to create a halloween makeup look inspired by him.
I used the *FreshLook Colourblends Contact Lenses in Gemstone Green (£14.99 per box) for this look as even though he doesn't have green eyes *I don't think...*, it makes the look more interesting and halloweeny. I also used a range of highstreet makeup that is easily substituted as well as a homemade SFX hack! Before we get into the tutorial, here's a list of the products I used:
Bourjois Sleep Effect Foundation in 71 The Body Shop Lightening Drops Essence Fixing Powder Eylure Brow Pencil in Dark Brown Tweezerman Brow Mousse + Eyelash Curler Eye Of Horus Brow Pencil Ciate London Wonderwand Mascara in Black Freedom House Of Glam Dolls Palette Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero Kiss Lashes Eyelash Glue Makeup Revolution Lipstick in Make Me Magnificent Cotton Wool...
This look is so quick and easy to create, it can be created using cheap products and it looks really effective, in my opinion, especially with the textured green areas and the coloured contact lenses from Vision Direct. You can take parts of this look and create something else, for example, the eye look or the textured effect I created.
Step One:
I started by applying my foundation as I normally would but then I when over it with a little of the lightening drops as Beetlejuice has pale skin on the whole. I also filled in my brows as I normally would but a little bolder and set them with brow gel.
Step Two:
Beetlejuice has random green mould or texture to his skin in places so I wanted to create that but at the time I didn't have any specific SFX makeup so I created texture with cotton wool, eyelash glue and eyeshadow. I took a small amount of eyelash glue and applied it where I wanted the texture, I then stuck the cotton wool over it with more glue and let it set before applying a range of green shades over the top to hide the white cotton wool. I think the effect turned out so well, it was easy to create and very easy to remove! Hopefully the texture is visible in the photos as in 'real life' it looked 3D and textured.
Step Three:
I used the same palette for the textured areas as I did for the eyes as it contains a range of fantastic purples, blacks and greens that are great for this look. I started with a deep purple cream shadow over the outer half of the lid and blended it into the crease, outer corner and lower lash line with a dark purple/black eyeshadow. I blended further with lighter purples into the inner half of the eyelid and under the eye; finishing off with a red/pink around the blended edges and up to the brow bone.
Step Four:
To finish the eyes, I applied black liner to the upper and lower waterlines and smudged it into the lower lash line. I used mascara on the upper and lower lashes to finish the eyes and made sure everything was blended but Beetlejuice is a very messy, unkept character so it doesn't really matter if it isn't fully blended as it will just add to the look. Lastly, I put in the green contact lenses which I love! They are very easy to put in and take out, they are just as comfortable as my regular lenses and they look so striking.
Overall, I love the look and I don't know why I haven't tried to create a Beetlejuice look before now as it's so quick and easy to create - the main items you'll need include a palette with purples, blacks and greens in it as well as your usual makeup and cotton wool, eyelash glue and coloured contacts, the latter is optional but it looks amazing with the contact lenses.
What do you think of this halloween look? Have you watched Beetlejuice?
For the past few years I have been creating Halloween looks every October and this year is no different, although I am going to be posting less than usual. I've already posted my first Halloween look of 2017 which was a very simple skull look featuring items from Johnny Loves Rosie. Today's post is all about how to create this simple but effective galaxy/space inspired Halloween make up look!
Today's post is in collaboration with Vision Direct who kindly sent me some coloured contact lenses to use for a couple of halloween looks, the second of which will be live next week! I have the *FreshLook Coloured Contact Lenses (£14.99 per box and there are two lenses per pack). I used the shade Amethyst which is a gorgeous purple shade but obviously you don't have to use the shades that I have used as there are 12 to choose from so any will be perfect for Halloween, depending on what look you’re trying to create.
They do look obvious close up but from a distance as they blend/enhance your natural eye colour, they don’t look incredibly visible, especially this purple shade. They are monthly lenses so they can be used for 30 consecutive days but then they have to be thrown away – they are just like my normal contact lenses. You can use them for cosmetic/fancy dress purposes or as prescription, every day lenses. They have a high water content which means that your eyes will stay hydrated and they will be comfortable for as long as you need to wear them but remember you can’t sleep with them in!
I have been wearing contact lenses for the past seven or eight years so they're very easy for me to put in and take out but if it's your first time using contact lenses then you will need time to practice. I don't find these any different to my regular contacts when putting them in, taking them out or the feel of them as they are comfortable and easy to use. I applied the lenses after creating the look but then I wore them all day and they were just as comfortable and clear as my regular contact lenses. Just a quick note, if you are going to be re-using these lenses then make sure you put them in a contact lens case filled with contact lens solution/saline solution – not water! Also don’t wash them in water, always saline solution!
Before we get into the step-by-step tutorial, let's list all of the products are used. Obviously you don’t need to use the exact products I used but anything similar will work fine - also use whatever shades you want!
Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation Glossier Stretch Concealer Essence Fixing Powder TheBalm Schwing Liquid Liner Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero Eylure Brow Pencil in Dark Brown Eye Of Horus Brow Pencil Kiss Lash Couture Lashes (67750) Ciate London Wonderwand Mascara in Black Tweezerman Brow Mousse Makeup Revolution House Of Glam Dolls Palette Dolly Wink Eyelash Glue Eye Of Horus Ancient Pewter Liquid Metals Liner Makeup Revolution Lipstick in Make Me Magnificent The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Drops - Lightening AHB Cosmetics Highlighter Palette Crown Brushes/Tweezerman Tweezers
The first few steps is the easiest part as I just created my base as I normally do with the amazing Bourjois foundation, the new Glossier concealer and the essence fixing powder. I also added a quick coat of the Ciate mascara and I did my brows as I do everyday. I didn't really know what I wanted to do with the eyes, so I just created a simple wing and applied the black pencil eyeliner to the waterline all around my eyes and connected it in the outer corner to the wing which I think tuned out well with the rest of the look as I think a smokey eye wouldn't have looked right.
For the next part it would be best to tie up your hair as we are going to apply the eyeshadows right up to the hairline and into it a little bit. I started with the darkest colours as I wanted them to be around the edges of the face and then for it to gradually become lighter towards the centre of the face. I used blacks and navy shades around the edges of the face and hairline to create depth and shadow. I then blended in slightly lighter shades of blue and purple closer to the centre of the face. I also added in some lighter blues pinks and purples around the blue shade so it didn't look so one-dimensional. I looked on Pinterest for inspiration photos.
When you have a well blended patchwork of shades that you're happy with for your galaxy, take whatever eyeliner you want and start to create dots aka stars over the top of the eyeshadow. As well as the eyeliner I also used The Body Shop shade adjusting drops in the lightning shade to add more brighter white stars to the look which really stood out so I’d definitely recommend using an opaque white foundation or white eyeliner for the stars.
For the lips I just used the same black eyeliner that are used on the waterline all over my lips; I then used the Makeup Revolution purple shimmery lipstick over the top which gave a glittery effect and complimented the shades already used on the rest of the face. Keeping the shimmery lipstick mostly to the centre of the lips gave it an almost ombre look. You could just use a black or purple lipstick for this rather than a combination of the two or an eyeliner.
We are onto the final few steps! I cut up some false lashes and applied a few of them to the middle and outer corners of my own lashes and applied some more mascara over the top. I then put in the amethyst contact lenses from Vision Direct which were so easy to put in, they were just like my normal contact lenses. I think they really add to the look and would be perfect for Halloween! If you're not comfortable with contact lenses then don't worry are these so easy to put in and take out but you will need to practice.
Here's a quick guide on how I put in my contact lenses - I wash my hands then place the contact lens on my middle finger so it looks like a little clear bowl and tilt my head down and place the contact lens on my eye - try not to blink. You really don’t need to pull your eye open to put contact lenses in! Whenever I see someone who doesn’t usually wear contact lenses (aka. halloween looks on Youtube) trying to put them in, they always make it seem so incredibly dramatic and painful but it isn’t at all if you do it correctly!
What do you think of this halloween look? Have you tried coloured contact lenses?
Sadly I'm back home in Manchester instead of cruising down the stunning fjords of Norway *cries* but todays post is all about the products I took with me and what I actually used. It also contains some of my August beauty favourites too! I think a lot of us, especially beauty bloggers, always take too much on holiday and I'm no exception but I do think that I was restrained this time round...or maybe not.
Let's start with some of my favourite skincare from holiday and while I've been back home! My current favourite moisturiser is the Antipodes Rejoice Light Moisturiser which is very moisturising and nourishing so it was perfect for chilly Norway. Even though it was chilly, I still used SPF and my go to is this mini Mimtika SPF that I received in a LookFantastic box a few months ago. A number of products I've been loving in the couple of weeks since I came back include: La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water, Rodial SPF Day Cream and the RapidBrow Eyebrow Serum.
Next up a few perfumes that I've been using constantly in rotation! I only took the Ghost Sweetheart Forever perfume on holiday with me as it is a large bottle and I didn't want to weigh my bag down even more as it was SO heavy! I reviewed the Ghost perfume on the Really Ree website if you want more information.
I'm also loving the Yves Rocher Evidence perfume which is a great autumn fragrance as well as my all time favourite perfume which is Prada Infusion D'Iris - it is heaven in a bottle and for me it is so nostalgic. If you haven't tried any of these then you should definitely give them a sniff if you can.
Now onto some of my beauty essentials including tools, brushes and one of the best primers I've ever used. We all love Real Techniques and I received this adorable candy striped set a while ago and I have been using them constantly since then so I obviously took them to Norway with me. My favourite brush from the set has to be the contour brush!
Sticking with the beauty tools, I needed to take my Tweezerman Tweezers with me as they are so effective, tiny and adorably cute. This pair is from the spring/summer range 2016 but you might still be able to get them online somewhere.
Lastly, the primer which is the fantastic Too Faced Hangover Primer! I have been using this primer for over a year and it's still going strong as you only need a tiny amount. It doesn't irritate my skin, it helps keep my makeup in place all day and it doesn't have a silicone feel *can I get a hallelujah*.
A few more essentials and haircare products that I took on holiday with me so let's get the boring one out of the way. I only use the Sure Maximum Protection Deodorant as it's so effective and I'd definitely recommend it. Another essential is a detangling brush especially as my hair is long, thick and prone is the worst tangles. This is the finishing brush from Tangle Teezer but all of their brushes are fantastic.
The final haircare item is the Colab Dry Shampoo which is the ONLY dry shampoo that actually works on my dark hair. It is a miracle in a bottle as it dramatically reduces the oily and greasy look/feel, it doesn't leave my hair heavy or matte and it doesn't add a white or grey cast to my hair!
The final items in todays post are the products I used the most while on holiday *apart from my Bourjois Sleep Effect Foundation that I forgot to photograph...*. For the makeup, I've been loving the whole Eylure brow range, they've become my go-to products as well as my Tweezerman rose gold eyelash curler and the Real Techniques foundation sponge for foundation/powder.
While I've been loving the Antipodes moisturiser, I've been switching it up with the Nivea Sensitive Moisturiser too. Lastly, for skincare is the famous Bioderma H2O Sensibio and I have this cute tiny version which is perfect for travelling! I managed to take some of these photos just before going which I'm glad I did as I now only have a tiny amount of Bioderma left. I've actually bought at least three full size bottles of Bioderma over the past few years.
Last but not least a couple of fantastic, long-lasting lip products include the amazing Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita which is pretty much a little stub now! I also love TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Liquid Lipstick in Reliable.
Have you tried any of these products? What beauty products have you been loving recently? What are your travel go-to products?
Yes, this post is quite late but I've had a bit of an unproductive start to the year..oops. I love reading end of the year favourites posts rather than monthly favourites as you know the products included are consistently effective and worth buying! I've published my end of year favourites for the past couple of years which you can look back on. Today's post is all about the beauty products I've loved throughout 2016 and a few honourable mentions too because I can't just choose a reasonable amount of products...
Skincare
My favourite skincare brand over the past couple of years is definitely Antipodes! I've tried quite a few of their products and I have been extremely impressed with every single product which is a bit of a miracle as my skin is dry, sensitive and eczema prone so it's one of the worst skin types to have and it makes finding effective but gentle and natural products very difficult. However, Antipodes is a wonderful brand and I'd recommend any product from Antipodes but I've particularly loved the Manuka Honey Day Cream the most this year!
Another fantastic natural brand that has impressed me in 2016 is Supermood which is a natural skincare brand based in Finland. I was lucky enough to try a range of their products back in March and I've loved both of the serums since. I used up the gorgeous Beauty Sleep Serum a few months ago and now I'm using the Egoboost Serum - both are so effective, natural and they don't irritate my skin at all. I definitely want to try more from this brand!
Bodycare & Haircare
It's well known and kind of inevitable that Lush is one of my favourite brands and it has been since well before I started my blog back in 2012. I've tried so many of their bath bombs and I adore the skincare that I've tried; while in college my whole skincare routine consisted of Lush and my skin was fantastic so I'm definitely going to have to start using their products again. Anyway, tangent over, I have been using the Silky Dusting Powder consistently for the past four or so months and I've remembered why I loved it so much years ago - the scent is so nostalgic to me. It's amazing as a scented talcum powder for the skin but I've also been using it to sprinkle over bed linen too.
Another bodycare product that I have loved in 2016 is the Mama Mio Liquid Yoga Bath Soak which I reviewed fully in 2015 and I've been using it very sparingly since. If you have tense muscles or sore muscles then you need this bath soak, it's one of the most effective bath soaks I've ever used and it came in so handy while learning to drive last year. After a stressful day of driving for over five hours, having a bath with this product helped SO much.
The only haircare product is the Moroccan Oil Dark Tones Dry Shampoo which is surprising as I have hated drys shampoos for the longest time but luckily I've found two that work really well. The most effective dry shampoo for my hair is this one from Moroccan Oil (I love Moroccan Oil products!). It mattifies my hair, absorbs oil and makes my hair look quite frankly amazing even when I haven't washed it for three days. It also makes my hair so soft and smooth too unlike most dry shampoos which leave my hair feeling weighed down, tacky or built up with product.
Makeup
Now onto the most exciting part, makeup! I've loved two fixing powders in 2016, the amazing and super inexpensive Essence Fixing Powder which I cannot recommend enough and the equally fantastic Vichy Setting Powder - if you want your makeup to last all day without looking cakey then check these out.
Speaking of long lasting makeup, the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita has been a favourite of mine for about two years and it has become a product that I'll definitely repurchase in the future as the natural rosey red shade is my perfect everyday shade, it lasts almost all day even through eating and it feels very comfortable on the lips. I need more shades now!
Well, it seems like I loved relaxing products in 2016 as well as long lasting makeup and the Too Faced Hangover Primer has been a favourite since starting driving lessons back in the spring last year. The primer doesn't irritate my skin, it feels so lightweight and it helps my makeup last all day - what more could you ask for!
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:
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?
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
I'm a university graduate, coffee drinker and beauty, book, lifestyle and fashion blogger from little old England - posts marked with an (*) contain products sent for review or sponsored posts Read More >>
