Amazing Advertisers | January

Hi everyone! I hope you're all okay and are looking forward to the weekend? I'm currently curled up on my sofa feeling sorry for myself because I've been struck down with the horrible lurgy that everyone seems to be catching at the moment. I woke up this morning feeling like I'd swallowed a set of knives - not ideal. With this being said, I plan on running myself a hot bubble bath, drinking lots of tea and being utterly lazy for the rest of the evening.  

So another month has past and unlike most months where I say 'I can't believe how quick the month has gone', I'm pretty glad January is almost over. There's something about January that I just utterly despise - I don't know if its the Christmas blues, the lack of money or the prospect of having nothing to look forward to until Summer that makes it such a poopy month but either way, roll on February. February brings valentines day, starting my driving lessons (eep!) and meeting my nanna and grandad's new puppy which I couldn't be more excited about. 

Anyway, enough chit chat from me and I'll pass you over to some fabulous people who've been sat over on the right hand side of my blog for the past month. As always, they're a wonderful bunch and I'd urge all of you to go and check out their websites if you're looking for some new reading material. There's some of my personal favourites amongst this lovely lot! As always, their blogs/websites are linked in the title of their intros so be sure to stop by and say hello!

Charlotte from Lilmisschickas

Hi CoutureGirl readers, my name is Charlotte and I blog over at lilmisschickas. By day I recruit mechanics and at night I transform into a beauty blogger so I can talk all things girly. I have a serious addiction to all things Beauty and Disney and it is my lifelong ambition to try and achieve the perfect liquid line (I'm so much better now than I was two years ago when I first started blogging!) and to visit every Disney World Resort Hotel! My blog consists of all of the above with a few lifestyle & food posts and tags thrown in for good measure! 

I also have a Youtube Channel where I make videos on everything from tutorials to review to Disney vlogs and hotel walkabouts. I'd love it if you checked it out because there really is something for everybody! So if you love beauty and Disney then pop on over and say hello :)

♥

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Website - Yuko

YUKO Permanent Hair Straightening was created in Japan in 1996 by Yuko Yamashita, a passionate hair stylist and salon owner who, after witnessing as a child the happiness a haircut gave her mother and sister,decided to make other people just as happy by dedicating her life to hairdressing. Throughout her years as a stylist, Yuko was shocked to discover that only 5 out of every 100 people were happy with their hair and a staggering 75% were concerned because their curly, unruly, sleek or thick hair was not to their satisfaction. In just the same way that most people are unhappy with their bodies and would change something if they could, Yuko committed her passion to find a solution; a way of giving people the opportunity to have the hair they desired. In pursuit of this, Yuko began a project with Japanese health, sports and beauty giant Phiten to develop her own perm solution, alongside having developed a successful solution, YUKO now also has a successful and comprehensive homecare range suited to treat all hair types.

YUKO can be purchased online at www.yuko-london.com.

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Louise from Confessions of a Secret Shopper

Hi, I'm Louise and I'm a shopaholic! I'm a 28 year old mum of two from a little village just outside of Mansfield in the UK. 

Confessions of a Secret Shopper was created back in January 2012 when I was off work with back problems. (I have scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine, and though a lot of the time I don't suffer with any back pain, silly little things - like stress - can trigger it). Since starting my blog I have loved and nurtured it as if it were one of my babies and my intention is to keep on writing until the lovely people who take the time to read and comment every single day decide to stop.

On Confessions of a Secret Shopper you will find many a review, haul, collection, best and worst type of post and much more besides. I really hope you'll stick around to see what I have to offer.

Website - Make a Statement

Looking fabulous doesn't have to break the bank & this is the motto of Make a Statement. We're purveyors of on trend statement jewellery to suit everyone, from everyday bling to Saturday night showstoppers! Oh, and did we mention our prices start from only £10 - say whaaaaat?! Paying over the odds to satisfy our craving for accessories makes us sad & that's why we try to make all of our pieces affordable. Take a peek & grab yourself a bargain, or come for a chat at the links below: 

Website | Twitter | Facebook
Instagram >> MakeaStatementJewellery


Holly-Rhian from The Feeble Flower

Hi there, I'm Holly-Rhian - you'll find me over at 'www.feebleflower.blogspot.com'. My Blog's based on beauty posts at the moment but I'm wanting to lead into fashion an lifestyle posts in the future, so I hope you enjoy if you stop by. You can also keep up with my ramblings on twitter @feeble_flower.

Bethany from What She Did

My name is Bethany and I am a 23 Year old blogger based in Cheshire. Whilst my main passion lies in fashion (who doesn't love a good handbag) I also love beauty and lifestyle too, because of this my posts tend to be quite eclectic giving you an insight into my views on fashion, my fave beauty buys and my fave hotspots!

Jordan from Jordan's Beautiful Life

Hey dolls! My name is Jordan and I blog over at 'Jordan's Beautiful Life'. I like to class myself as a beauty, fashion, lifestyle and motivational blogger. Although I tend to focus mainly on the beauty side of things because that's what I am naturally best at. I believe we all deserve to enjoy a beautiful and amazing life so I add some motivational and sometimes inspirational blog posts every so often. My blogging experience has been a positive one so far and I've even been featured in both Look and Now magazine as well the beauty extra page of The Sun! So, if you'd like to find out more please check out my blog and follow me on my journey! Xx

Laura from Lipstick Mysteries

I am just a normal 22 year old named Laura. I am a full time teacher with an interest in make up, fashion and anything beauty related. I started my blog as a place to write my thoughts a feelings about different products I try in my everyday life.

Anna-Maria from Topdraw Fashion

Hey Everyone!!! My name is Anna-Maria the owns we of www.topdrawfashion.com. I have always had a passion for fashion as my mum was in the wardrobe department for television and a lot of films. Its always been in my blood and always find myself on youtube watching makeup videos and shopping. 

So i decided i wasted to share this all with you guys and start my own blog, I love sharing all my fashion ideas and outfits i have bought. So come and stop by as there are lots of exciting things happening this year and can't wait to share it all with you all, I love to hear what others have to say so come by even to say Hi.

Chastity from GlitterBuzzStyle Cosmetics

I am a beauty and fashion blogger who decided to make a bigger brand out of my blog GlitterBuzzStyle. I decided to dabble in the beauty industry and produce a cosmetics line that represents a woman adding the glitz to her beauty. GlitterBuzzStyle Cosmetics formed last May with a lot of hard work, passion and excitement. For me I wanted to provided women a range of colors to be bold and effortless at any moment and pair my products with their key signature faves. The launch of this allowed me to even add a bit of fashion as well, so every month I showcase a few fashion trends that's affordable and accessible to every trendsetter around the world. If you love beauty and fashion GlitterBuzzStyle Cosmetics gives you it all.

Zoe from Zoebowx

My name is Zoe and I'm a 20 year old beauty blogger/youtuber over at zoebowx.blogspot.com / youtube.com/zoebowx93.

I am a makeup addict and a dog person. Not cats. 

My blog is my little place on the inter webs where i can voice my opinion and views. Its not updated regularly at the moment, as being a third year uni student, the pressure is on BIG time. I have only just started youtube channel and i think i like it more then blogging. I love editing, creating the videos and just everything. I hope that you come have a peek at what i get up to over on my blog and youtube channel. If you do, then you get a virtual hug from my puppies.

Take a look at my blog - zoebowx.blogspot.com

Tweet me at twitter.com/zoebowx93

Watch me on youtube - youtube.com/zoebowx93

My life in pictures on instagram.com/zoebowx

Do you follow any of these blogs? Let me know if you find some new favourites!

Lots of Love,

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I'm now taking bookings for March advertising spaces on my blog. If you'd like more info, you can click here or send me an email to kljohnson1990@gmail.com.

Jimmy Choo Flash London Club Perfume

Jimmy Choo Flash London Club c/o World Duty Free

When an email from World Duty Free landed in my inbox informing me that Jimmy Choo was releasing a brand new limited edition fragrance, I was very excited. As a fan of Jimmy Choo's other fragrances, I knew this one would quickly become a new favourite.

The new fragrance, 'Flash London Club' is a spin on the original Flash fragrance and this time its been designed with the glamour and excitement of London's nightlife in mind. As you can see from the packaging, this perfume is an absolute stand-out and with the glittery base and disco-ball vibe, it takes inspiration from the fluorescent glow of a London nightclub. To some it may be a bit OTT but for me personally, I love it. It looks ever so pretty sat on my dressing table and I could just stare at the beautiful bottle all day. Its clear to see a lot of work has been put into the design! Sandra Choi, Jimmy Choo's Creative Director says “We see fragrance as another accessory, we want women to feel as excited as they do when they buy a pair of shoes or a handbag.” I couldn't agree more - perfume is definitely an accessory in my eyes and my outfit definitely doesn't feel complete without a spritz of my favourite scent.

In terms of the fragrance itself, its absolutely gorgeous. I'm useless at describing scents, I'm not going to lie but I'd say its a perfect blend of sweet top notes and musky base notes. Its very feminine and sensual which I like - its uplifting with hints of citrus without being too sickly sweet. I'd say its more of an evening fragrance as its quite a powerful scent - perfect for those nights when you're dressed up and need that perfect finishing touch to get you in the party mood. However, I have worn it in the daytime too so it all comes down to person preference I guess.

"The fragrance builds like music at a party: as the glittering, fresh top notes evaporate, the true heart of the perfume beats; a magnum opus of tuberose that is unashamedly sexy and alluring."

This perfume has become a new favourite and I've worn it at every opportunity available since receiving it in the post. Its super feminine, lasts all day and looks pretty sat on my dresser! I think Jimmy Choo have captured the 'London party girl' inspiration perfectly and this will certainly be my fragrance of choice for a night on the town.

Flash London Club is available exclusively to World Duty Free until February 3rd in its tax and duty free stores at London Heathrow airport.

Do you like the look of this perfume? What's your favourite fragrance?

Lots of Love,

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January Love Me Beauty Box

Love Me Beauty Box* | £10.00 plus p&p | Link

When it comes to beauty boxes, there isn't many out there that have impressed me and I've tried my fair share. However, Love Me Beauty never disappoints me and every month, I look forward to my box of beauty treats arriving in the post. If you've never heard of LMB, its a monthly beauty box subscription with a difference. Unlike traditional beauty boxes, LMB gives you the choice of three 'menus' each month so you can pick your favourite and ensure you'll be chuffed with the items you receive. However, if there's a month when nothing takes your fancy, you can simply skip a month. I think this is such a great idea as it means you'll never be left disappointed by the contents of your box. 

Also, if you prefer the element of surprise and would rather not know what you're going to receive every month, you can simply opt for the 'mystery' box which will be full of beauty surprises. Its safe to say, Love Me Beauty have covered all bases! This month I was really excited to receive my box as I loved the look of all the products up for grabs. I chose menu three so keep reading to see what I received ...


NYX Single Eyeshadow in 'Sahara' | RRP £5.00 (Full Size)
I'm a big fan of all the NYX products I've tried so far so I'm excited to give this eyeshadow a try. Its a pretty champagne/gold shade so I think it will make a lovely base shade and it could even be used for brightening the inner corners of my eyes!




Arran Aromatics Apothecary Wheatgerm & Vitamin E Soap | £2.75 (Full Size)
I gave this soap a try as soon as I received this box and its absolutely lovely. I love the fact it contains oatmeal particles that gently exfoliate the skin as well as containing Wheatgerm and Vitamin E which cleanse and smooth the skin. A good all rounder for the bath or shower and it smells yummy too!





Anatomicals Rose & Jasmine Body Cleanser | RRP £3.00 (Full Size)
Although this product is essentially a shower gel that's cleverly branded as a 'body cleanser', I was still happy to see it in my box. Yes, shower gel isn't the most exciting product in the world but it is an essential and this huge bottle with last me a really long time. I think the packaging is really cool as well!


Pureology Colour Stylist Silk Bodifier
This is the product I'm most excited to see in this months box as I love using mousse in my hair and this one promises to infuse hair with volume, shine and softness. I also like the fact its designed for colour treated hair to keep it looking bright and fresh. As someone with bleached hair - its exactly what I need from a styling product!


Cosmetics a la Carte Divine Lash Mascara | RRP £23.00 (Full Size)
Receiving this product was perfect timing for me as I've actually just ran out of all of my other mascaras. I normally have a few on the go at once and they've all just come to an end - typical isn't it? This one is from Cosmetics a la Carte which is a brand I've never heard of before but considering it retails for a whopping £23.00, I'm hoping for good things. 

What did you think of this months Love Me Beauty box? Have you tried any of these products?

Lots of Love,

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What to Wear for a Winter Wedding

Fascinator - Link | Dress - George | Coat - John Lewis (how beaut?!)| Clutch - George | Shoes - Office | Watch - Olivia Burton via Topshop | Fold up shoes - Rollasole

While it may be a bit nippy outside (to say the least!), the winter doesn’t stop some people from celebrating their love for each other by having a winter wedding. In fact, Christmas and Valentine’s Day, both notoriously cold months, are incredibly popular times for lovebirds to tie the knot. With farm wedding venues becoming more popular - those which convert rustic barns into cosy winter wonderlands, there's no surprise Winter is becoming the more popular season to get hitched!  The winter may bring with it a sense of romanticism, particularly if it snows, but the logistics of finding an outfit perfect for the occasion can be a little tricky. The bride may have the outfits for the bridal party all sorted and ready to go, but what do you wear as a guest? 

The main things that you need to consider aren’t just colour, style and theme when it comes to a winter wedding. Comfort and warmth also come into the equation. Hanging around at a church waiting for the blushing bride, before making your way to the reception venue, will mean that you’ll need to wrap up warm more than you would during the summer months, so what do you wear? 

While it’s often fairly simple to choose an evening dress from George that will be perfect for a wedding, you also have to consider accessories and warmth when you’re planning to attend a winter celebration. Invest in some nice shoes and a bag, as well as a warm coat that is smart and stylish. Invest in a classic wool coat in a neutral colour that can be used again and again, or, if you’re feeling brave, bold and bright would be the way to go – be the one to brighten up the cold day, if you dare! Alternatively, you could opt to wear a fur coat (or faux fur) to ooze warmth, elegance and chic vibes. 

Keep your legs covered and warm at a winter wedding with opaque tights. Choose an evening dress or party outfit that would suit a pair of thick denier tights and you’ll look simply fabulous. As with all weddings, if you are going to be on your feet all day, consider taking two pairs of shoes with you – one pair of heels for the service and a pair of flats for when the dancing begins. There’s nothing worse than having sore feet and dealing with blisters, neither is it sensible to take your shoes off altogether because you don’t know what’s been spilt or smashed on the floor! Rollasoles are a great option, because they can be popped into your handbag with no problem at all. 

Pay attention to the theme of the wedding, if there is one, and if you’re given a hint of a dress code on your invitation, use it to your advantage so that you can style yourself to suit. Don’t feel bad about turning up in gloves and a hat if it’s particularly cold outside; take along a larger bag that you can store such things in once you’re at the reception, and store it somewhere safe until you decide to head home. 

As long as you don’t end up wearing the same colour as the bridesmaids (and of course you need to avoid winter white) - any style of outfit you choose will look fabulous. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t look chic and glamorous; the outfit will just require a little more planning, and another layer or two, that’s all!

What would you wear for a winter wedding? Are you attending any weddings soon?

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*Sponsored post

My New Obsession | Dirty Looks HK Hair Extensions

You know when you try something new and think 'how have I only just discovered this?' and 'how did I live without it?' (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration but you see where I'm going with this). Well, this is exactly how I feel about my amazing new hair extensions from Dirty Looks - the best hair extensions I have EVER used and coming from a girl who has tried a lot, that's a bold statement.

I was contacted by Dirty Looks a little while ago and they asked me if I'd like to try some of their products and as they sell lots of fab hair care as well as HK & Bobby Glam hair extensions, I jumped at the chance. I asked them if it was possible to try the HK 'quad' weft as I was really intreigued by the concept and I'd never tried anything like it before.They informed me they didn't have any of the quad wefts available in my shade but they did have the full head set which includes the quad weft so that's the one they sent me. Its safe to say that since I received these extensions in the post, I haven't sotpped rabbiting on about them to anyone who will listen. Keep reading to find out why I love them so much ...

Packaging
As I'm sure you all know by now, I'm a sucker for pretty packaging. In my opinion, the packaging of a product can make or break it because if it isn't well presented, it isn't appealing. Luckily, Dirty Looks have got it spot on with their packaging and the cute purple box definitely gets the thumbs up from me. I also love that they give you a test piece of hair inside the box to ensure the colour matches before opening the main section of the set. That means if they don't match, you can send them back and get a full refund which is something a lot of hair extension brands don't offer.


Colour
From what I can see on the Dirty Looks website, there's currently 21 colour choices to choose from and unless you've got bright red or pink hair, you should find it fairly easy to match your hair with one of the shades. I also love that they have a few highlighted options as that's great for us ladies that have multi-tonal hair. The shade I was matched with was 'Paparazzi Highlights' (love the name) and its a perfect match for my hair colour - its a light blonde but has slightly darker/golden blonde bits running through it, just like my own hair does. As the shade blends seamlessly into my own hair, they look completely natural too which is a massive bonus.

Length
As my natural hair is pretty long anyway (its usually the same length as 20" extensions), I went for the 20-22" length to ensure they'd be the same length or just a touch longer than my natural hair. This was the perfect length for me as they're just a teeny bit longer than my own hair meaning when I have them in, there's no harsh lines between my real hair and the extensions and instead they work to thicken my hair up and create tonnes of volume which is what I wear extensions for in the first place. Perfect!

Wefts & Clips
The full set of extensions comes with ten wefts of hair in total, one of those being the quad weft which is essentially four wefts sewn together. When you look at it like that, you're actually getting 13 wefts of hair in total and that's the most I've ever come across from a full head of hair extensions. The other wefts included in the set are a mix of 3, 2 and 1 clip pieces and these are ideal for popping in at the sides or for generally adding more volume (not that you need it as the quad weft is thick enough - but I'll talk about that later). I'd also like the mention that the clips feel very secure and when I've clipped the extensions in, (I tend to lightly backcomb the area I'll be placing the clip) they don't move for the rest of the day/night until I take them out. Another thing I was really impressed with is that each weft is labelled and there's a guide available on the Dirty Looks website that tells you where each weft should be placed on the head. I've added it below so you can see - I think this is a great touch and its really handy if you're a hair extension novice!

Quality of the hair
Okay, I can't even stress how amazing the quality of this hair is. Seriously, I could sit here all day and talk about how amazed I am by these extensions and its definitely the quality of them that's won me over. I have to comment on the thickeness of them firstly as they're the thickest extensions I've ever come across and for me, thickening my hair is the reason I wear extensions. However, if you wear extensions for both length and thickness, these are perfect both as the thickness they provide from top to bottom prevents them from looking thin at the ends which is one of the main problems I had when wearing extensions for length in the past. The 20-22" set I received contain 180 grams of human remy hair which is just insane considering most full head extensions I've bought in the past only contain between 100-120 grams. I apologise for the crappy before/after photos above as I realise there doesn't look that much difference between the two due to my natural hair being the same length but trust me, in reality, these make my hair a LOT thicker. I hope you can see how much volume they add to my hair in the photos at the top of the post. 

Styling
As these extensions are made from 100% human remy hair, they can be styled and washed exactly the same as your natural hair. Since receiving my set before Christmas, I've worn them on countless occasions and they're still as good as new. They're exceptionally soft and silky, shiny and so easy to style. My straighteners glide through them with ease and I've experienced no pulling or tugging whatsoever. I've also noticed that they don't seem to 'shed' like lots of other extensions I've tried in the past do. Even after repeated wear, they've remained just as thick as the first day I wore them. I can't fault them one bit.

The star of the show - The HK Quad Weft 
I have to dedicate a section of this post to the quad weft as its totally revolutionised doing my hair and I'm so god damn impressed by it. As I mentioned earlier, the quad weft is four wefts of hair sewn together onto a mesh strip allowing more hair to be worn with fewer clips. That means it will add lots of volume to the hair without the need to add lots of separate wefts and clips which can often feel heavy and bulky on the head. Instead, it feels really light and weightless in my hair considering how thick it is and what I love about it is that it takes a matter of seconds to clip it but totally transforms my hair. I've been wearing it a LOT, even during the day which is unheard of for me as I never normally have the time to clip extensions in on a daily basis. However, with the quad weft, its so quick and easy that I find myself putting it in whenever I want to wear my hair down so it looks much thicker. I also think the quality of the hair is incredible and the hair is thick from top to bottom which is something I've not found with other hair extensions. I've actually bought another quad weft from Dirty Looks since they first sent me the full set as I fell in love with it that much that I wanted another one. As the title of this post states, these extensions are definitely my new obsession. I can't rave about this hair piece enough and its made doing my hair for a night out so much easier. I would always curl my hair before receiving these extensions as I thought they looked more natural but with the quad weft, I can pop it in, straighten my hair and I'm good to go. Its nice to know that I can now wear my hair is various styles and it will look very natural and full regardless.


Price
These extensions aren't the cheapest I've come across but they also aren't the most expensive either and for the quality, they're worth every penny. The full set currently retails for anything between £87.50 and £142.50 depending on which length you go for. However, Dirty Looks currently have a discount across all of the full head sets so you could snap a set up here for anywhere between £69.99 and £124.50. If that's still too pricey, I can't recommend the quad weft enough if you're after some extra thickness. Its currently available for £26.20 here instead of £32.75 and let me tell you, for that price, its too good not to try! Can you tell I'm a fan?

I know lots of you wanted to know about these extensions after seeing various instagram photos of me wearing them so I hope its helped and given you all the information you might need if you're thinking of getting yourself some. A few people have already bought the quad weft after seeing my photos and I've had countless messages saying how impressed they are so is nice to know its not just me who is completely blow away by these extensions! I can't imagine anything else beating them if I'm honest and I'll continue to repurchase them for the foreseeable future.

Have you ever tried Dirty Look HK hair extensions? You can find their fab website, which stocks a range of hair goodies, here.

Lots of Love,

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My Favourite Skincare Products of 2013

When it came to looking through my skincare stash and thinking about the products I discovered and loved using in 2013, there was quite a lot. A few years ago, the only thing my skin saw was face wipes and a cheap moisturiser but over the past couple of years, my love for skincare products has somewhat spiralled out of control. I now have a whole drawer dedicated to skincare and I could quite happily browse the skincare isles of Boots for hours without getting bored. Long gone are the days of face wipes and these days I like to treat my skin to a proper routine that involves a thorough cleanse, tone (okay, I don't do this all the time), moisturise. I even like to throw in serums, face masks and even oils from time to time. Check me out with my fancy pants routine! Here's a selection of said products that I've been loving throughout the year 2013 and products I'll no doubt continue to love throughout 2014 ...

Favourite Micellar Cleansing Water: Caudalie Cleansing Water

I didn't have a bottle of this at hand to photograph but it definitely deserves a mention as my favourite cleansing water of 2013. I must have repurchased it at least five times. Its so gentle on the skin, smells amazing and removes my makeup nicely. I like to use this as a 'pre-cleanse' before one of the other cleansers I'll talk about next. The reason I like to do this is because it ensures that every single scrap of my makeup has been removed and that my skin has had a thoroughly good cleanse. I also love it for lazy days when I haven't been wearing any makeup but want to refresh my skin. Its so soothing and smells delicious! Read my full review here.

Favourite Cleansing Oils: NUDE Cleansing Oil & Melvita Milky Cleansing Oil*

Cleansing oils are my favourite skincare discovery of 2013 and I can't imagine not using them to clean my face anymore. Once upon a time, the words oil and skincare in the same sentence would have made me screw my face up in horror. As someone with combination skin and a t-zone prone to oil, the thought of adding more oil to my face was always a no-no. However, I've actually discovered that cleansing oils aren't greasy at all and instead calm, soothe and balance my skin. My two favourites that I always reach for are the NUDE Cleansing Oil (full review here) and the Melvita Milky Cleansing Oil as I find them both very gentle on my skin, very soothing and very effective. They both remove makeup excellently (even stubborn mascara) and leave my skin feeling nourished and plump. I also love how I can smooth these cleansers onto my dry skin and massage it around until all of my makeup has melted - in a weird way, its very satisfying!

Favourite Cleansing Balm: Balance Me Cleanse & Smooth Face Balm*

As I said above, along with oils, using a balm is another method of cleaning that I've fallen in love with and the Balance Me Cleanse & Smooth face balm is an absolute beauty. Its a natural oil-based balm that contains anti-oxidant Arctic cloudberry and gently polishing oatmeal and I can't rave about it enough. I love the fact this is a dual-purpose product as it not only cleanses my skin but as the name would suggest, it also smooths it thanks to the oatmeal particles. I could write a whole post on this stuff so I might stop here and do a full review instead as there's sooo much I could say! Keep posted for that.

Favourite Moisturisers: Loreal Skin Perfection, Vichy Idealia* & Garnier Moisture Match Illuminating Light Lotion

Moisturiser is one part of my skincare routine that I never miss. I have to admit, if I'm having a lazy day, doing a double cleanse or adding serum isn't high on my priorities. However, with moisturiser, I don't feel right doing my makeup or going to bed without popping one on first. Over the past twelve months, I've built up quite the collection of moisturisers and the three above are the ones I've found myself reaching for the most. The Loreal Skin Perfection moisturiser is great to apply in the mornings before makeup as I find it really smooths my skin out and almost blurs blemishes and pores. I'm not sure if that's the aim of the product but its definitely a plus point. 

The Vichy Idealia moisturiser is one I can't get enough of and I like to use this morning or night as it feels so luxurious on my skin. The pale pink cream smells utterly divine, hydrates my skin well and gives me a lovely glow. As soon as I've applied this moisturiser, I feel like my whole complexion looks more awake, smooth and radiant. I love it!

Finally, the Garnier Moisture Match moisturiser deserves a mention as this is an amazing one to try if you're on a budget. This cute yellow tube is like a bottle of sunshine for the skin and much like the Vichy Idealia, it instantly awakens my face and gives me a healthy glow. Its another one that smells incredible too. I wouldn't say this is the most hydrating of the bunch but if you're after a lightweight moisturiser that works well underneath makeup and adds a healthy dewy look to your skin, this is the one to go for!

Favourite Face Masks: Origins Clear Improvement & Drink Up 10 Minute Mask

I tried a lot of face masks in 2013 and although there was many I enjoyed using, these two masks from Origins have been my most reached for. Whenever my skin is feeling clogged and congested, I'll reach for Clear Improvement and if my skin is feeling dry, Drink Up comes to the rescue. I'm not going to bore you with a full description of these as I've done a full post on three of Origins face masks, including these two, here. All I will say is that these are highly effective masks and do exactly what they say on the tubes - clear the skin of impurities and quench skins thirst. I can't recommend them enough!

These next few products are some extra skincare treats that I like to incorporate into my routine from time to time depending on my skins needs ...

Favourite Serum: Vichy Idealia Life Serum*

The Vichy Idealia Life Serum is the perfect partner for the Idealia moisturiser and I love using them together to give my skin a healthy glow. I don't use the serum every day (even though I do need to start doing this) but on the days I do use it, I can definitely notice the difference in the appearance of my skin. It generally looks a lot smoother, more plump and more radiant. Read my full review here.

Favourite Facial Tanner: Clarins Liquid Bronze Self-Tanning*

I wasn't sure whether this product would be classed as skincare (probably not) but it deserves a mention anyway as this is the product I always reach for if my face is looking a bit pasty and I want to bronze things up a touch. Before using this product, I would use regular fake tan on my face and it would always end up looking disastrous. It would cling to any dry patches like nothing else and it would always break me out! However, since using this product, facial tanning is a doddle. Its a gradual tanner so I have to apply it for a few nights before I see any difference in colour but after its developed over a few days, it leaves my skin looking naturally sunkissed, like I've been away for a week in the sun. It also makes my skin look so much better when I'm not wearing makeup. A bit of colour makes me look so much healthier! Read my full review here.

Favourite Toner: Nourish Cooling Toning Mist

This product was an absolute life saver for me in the Summer months as its so refreshing and cooling on my skin. When I was on holiday last Summer, this was my go-to product for cooling down and soothing any sunburn on my face, neck and chest. I'm not sure whether it actually tones my skin as I've never been a big believer in the benefits of toner but in terms of refreshing my skin, this product is a dream. I find myself spritzing this over my face before moisturising as I feel like it prepares my skin nicely for moisturiser and I even use it after applying my makeup to give my skin a fresh and dewy finish!

Favourite Face Oil: Balance Me Radiance Face Oil*

Much like cleansing oils, face oil is a product I never thought I'd use as I imagined it would make my oily t-zone even oilier but I was completely wrong and since receiving this Balance Me Radiance face oil in 2013, my opinion has totally changed. I don't use this every night (mainly due to laziness) but on the nights I do use it, my skin feels so hydrated, plump and soft the following morning. I've also found this product fabulous for reducing the appearance of blemishes and I love that its full of natural ingredients. I'm hoping to start using this on a more regular basis as I imagine it would totally transform my skin after regular and consistent use. 

Favourite Lip Balm: Apivita Blackcurrant Lip Care*

I was introduced to the skincare brand Apivita in 2013 and I was highly impressed with their products, particuarly this amazing lip balm. From the first day I slicked this onto my lips, I've been in love with it and I use it every day, morning and night. It has a delicious Blackcurrant scent which I absolutely love and the formula is so hydrating. It contains  olive oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, avocado oil, castor oil, jojoba esters and blackcurrant oil which all work together amazingly at softening and hydrating my lips. As soon as I apply this product, my lips love it and they instantly feel smooth. I also like that it leaves a light wash of colour on my lips too and I often find myself wearing this for work instead of a lipstick or gloss. For only £5, I can't recommend this little beauty enough!

Phew, well done if you got to the end of this mammoth post! That's a lot of skincare to discuss. I told you there was lots of products I've been loving!

What were your favourite skincare products of 2013?

Lots of Love,

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