Monthly Favourites | March

Another month has come to an end (madness!) so that can only mean one thing - its monthly favourites time! I absolutely love writing these posts and reflecting on what I've really enjoyed using for the past few weeks! There's quite a nice little selection of makeup, skincare and haircare this month so grab yourselves a cuppa and keep reading. You know me, I'm a chatterbox!

Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray | Link

The beauty world has gone mad for texturising sprays in the last few months and it seems Oribe's Dry Texturising spray kick started the trend! Now although I'd love to try the Oribe spray after hearing all the hype surrounding it, its safe to say that spending £30+ on a hair spray is something I don't intend on doing, ever. There's expensive and then there's plain ridiculous - especially when there's so many cheaper copies around like this one from Charles Worthington. I've been really enjoying using it on the ends of my hair recently to add a bit of 'oomph' and texture. Its great for someone like me who is really lazy - I don't have time to straighten or curl my hair to perfection every morning so a few spritzes of this and I'm good to go! I'll be posting my full review of it soon so keep your eyes peeled for that!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation | Link

I know, I know, I'm totally late on the bandwagon with this one. This Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation has been a blogger favourite for a couple of years now but I've only just got round to trying it. The reason for this is because I originally bought the 'Healthy Mix Serum' version and didn't get along with it at all. I realise the two are different but because I didn't like that one (the coverage was poop and it was too runny), I was always put off trying the original version. However, after admiring my cousin's skin recently and asking her what foundation she used, she told me it was healthy mix and after seeing how great it looked on her, I decided to give it another go! I'm so glad I did as let me tell you, I've been totally missing out. I won't say too much as I plan to do an in-depth post about my favourite drugstore foundations soon but what I will say is I'm really impressed with the coverage, consistency and longevity of this foundation. It definitely lives up to its name and makes my skin look really healthy - I love it!

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist* | Link

Jurlique is a brand I've only just been introducted to but I'm absolutely loving it. Everything from their amazing packaging (how cute is this glass bottle?) to their natural ingredients is spot on. I've been using the Rosewater Balancing Mist after cleansing or when my skin needs refreshing and its just lovely. I'm not usually a fan of rose scented products but this one isn't too overpowering and it works wonders at perking up my complexion and giving me some radiance.

Bourjois Beauty'full Volume Dark Khol mascara* | Link

When I first tried this mascara, I wan't convinced by it at all. I was slightly confused by the odd brush - as you can see from my photos, its quite an unusual shape. I also didn't think it did much in terms of thickening my lashes which is something I always look for in a mascara. However, since persevering with it and now its dried up a touch (I always prefer mascara when they've dried up a little), I think its fab. Although the ususual brush can be difficult to get to grips with at first, its actually really good for getting all of those little lashes you can't usually get with a standard brush. I also find it really great for my lower lashes as I can use the tip of the brush to seperate and define them. I wouldn't say this is my favourite mascara of all time but its definitely the one I've been using most this month and for that reason it deserves a mention!

Revlon Matte Balm | Elusive | Link

I recently bought a few of Revlon's new matte and lacquer balms and I've been wearing the shade Elusive, a pretty dusky pink, none stop since I bought it. What I love about this shade is that its a very wearable 'my lips but better' kind of shade. It looks great during the day with a simple eye and I can imagine it looking great in the evening too with a heavier eye look. I also love that although its a matte formula, its really hydrating and creamy - something I've never come across in a matte lip product before!

NUXE Reve De Miel Lip Balm* | Link

Another blogger favourite that I'm late on the bandwagon with is the NUXE Reve de Miel lip balm. Regarded as a holy grail lip product by many, its something I'd always wanted to try but never got round to. However, I was kindly sent it from Escentual recently, along with some other French goodies and I've been using it every day since. It has a very thick consistency so it might not be to everyone's taste but I personally love it as it hydrates my lips like nothing else! I also love that it has a matte finish as its great for popping on before my lipstick. It also smells like honey - divine! 

Rihanna 'Rogue' Perfume* | Link

Okay so I'm totally rubbish at describing perfumes - how on earth do people describe a scent in detail? For me, it either smells good or it doesn't. This Rihanna perfume is definitely on my 'smells good' list and I've been reaching for it every single day. If I were to try and summarise the scent I'd say its very sensual and sexy - not that I'd expect anything less from Rihanna! Its definitely a great evening scent as its quite strong and it has the perfect mix of sweet and musky notes. Its definitely one worth sniffing - I love it!

Have you tried any of these products? What have you been loving lately?

Lots of Love,

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Monthly Favourites | February

Hey guys! I can't believe its March already. Seriously, where on earth have the past two months gone? It only feels like five minutes ago it was Christmas and now we're almost in Spring. Crikey! I've been trying out a lot of new products this past month and I've got so much to share with you all in upcoming reviews - I've discovered some real gems recently. Here's a few of the stand outs that I've been using regularly for the past month ...

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water | Link

I've already wrote a full review of this micellar water here so I won't ramble on about it too much. Basically its my new favourite makeup remover and other than my beloved Caudalie cleansing water (I think that will always be my fave), this Garnier offering beats everything else to the top spot - yes, including Bioderma. If you're after a cheap makeup remover that does exactly what it says on the tin, look no further than this ginormous bottle of Garnier goodness.

The Vintage Cosmetics Company Eyelash Curlers* | Link

For years, the only eyelash curlers I ever used where those 99p ones from Boots or Superdrug. I never ever understood people who were willing to fork out £20 on some eyelash curlers. I always thought the more expensive ones were only more expensive because of their brand name, not because of their functionality. However, since trying these curlers from The Vintage Cosmetics Company, my opinion has changed. Although these ones aren't ridiculously overpriced at £7, they're 7x more expensive then my 99 pence Superdrug specials but they're worth every single penny. They're SO much sturdier whilst still gentle on my lashes and they curl ten times better than the cheaper versions. I can't go a day without using these now - the difference they make to my lashes is incredible!

Elf Complete Coverage Concealer Palette | Link

I think I've featured this product in a monthly favourites before but I had to give it another mention as its just so bloomin good. This was a bit of an impulse buy a few months ago when Elf were having a 50% off sale but I'm glad I got it as it really is a great little palette. It includes four concealers, all of which are different tones ranging from yellow for brightening, peach for correcting and a couple of neutral shades for standard concealing. I've been loving the second shade from the left to brighten my under eye area and the shade on the far right to conceal spots but in all honesty, I've managed to find a use for all of the shades and no matter what kind of skin crisis I'm having, this concealer kit has me covered. Considering its a cheap little palette, the concealers themselves are very pigmented, creamy and easy to blend. I suggest you all add one of these to your makeup bags!

Priori Brightening Facial Complex* | Link
I was recently sent some amazing skincare products from Courthouse Clinics (more about those in a post next week, along with a giveaway) and this Brightening Facial Complex from a brand called 'Priori' is one of them. I wasn't aware of the brand before being sent some of their products but they're almost 100% natural and really luxurious. This product is designed to even out skintone and remove any unwanted pigmentation/sun damage and as pigmentation on my face is one of my biggest concerns, I was really excited to give it a go. I've been using it religiously every day for the past few weeks and its really helped to brighten my whole complexion. It hasn't faded pigmentation as such but I don't have massive amounts to begin with and it will probably take another couple of months before I see the full benefits. I'll be writing more about this next week so I won't go on about it too much now but its a fab lightweight product thats great worn underneath makeup to give my skin a boost of radiance!

Rimmel Scandal Eyes 'Bulletproof Beige' Shadow Stick | Link

I've been using this Rimmel Scandal eyes crayon as a inner corner highlight for the past few weeks now as its the perfect champagne shade for brightening the inner corner of my eyes and helping me to look more awake at the crack of dawn. Its also very convenient to use as there's no need to mess around with makeup brushes - just dab and go. A lazy, tired girls dream - ha!

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream* | Link
I'm planning on writing a full review about this new CC cream from Bourjois very soon but what I'll say in the meantime is that this has been my base of choice throughout February and it really is as good as everyone says. I absolutely love the Bourjois 123 perfect foundation and this is just as good - lightweight on the skin, a great colour, great coverage and a beautiful radiant dewy finish. I won't say much more as you can expect a rave review coming your way very soon!

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker 'Nudist' Gloss Stick | Link

I'm not usually one for a nude lip but recently I've been enjoying wearing those 'my lips but better' kind of shades and this gloss stick from Soap & Glory is exactly that. It isn't so nude that it has that concealer lips effect and is instead a mid-tone nude with a hint of pink and even tones of peach too. Its an absolutely beautiful shade and I've been reaching for it almost daily for the past couple of weeks. The formula is very much like a balm and the consistency is sheer and glossy. Its just the perfect everyday nude lip product!

Rituals Zensation Foaming Shower Gel* | Link
I received this product in the most recent Latest in Beauty 'Glamour Beauty Edit' box and its been sat in my shower ever since. This is the second Rituals foaming shower gel I've tried and I love everything about them from the way they smell to the way they foam up and feel so luxurious on the skin. I know shower gel isn't the most exciting product but these are seriously luxurious and make my skin feel silky soft. Its such a lovely product to use in the shower and I now want to purchase a full size bottle in the 'Happy Buddah' scent.

Which products have you been loving recently? Have you tried any of these ones?

P.S - Sorry there isn't individual photos of all the products - I was having camera issues and these are the best of a bad bunch!

Lots of Love,

TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM

Monthly Favourites | January

Hey everyone! I hope you're all having a fabulous weekend so far? I can't believe we're already over a week into the month of February - where is time going? It only feels like five minutes ago it was Christmas. However, I can't say I'm complaining as January is never a particularly fun month and I'm looking forward to a few things in February so I'm welcoming it with open arms. One good thing that did come from January was getting to try lots of new beauty goodies - a mixture of things I received for Christmas and a few things I was very kindly sent. I feel like I've tried a lot of products that have impressed me lately so I was very excited to look through all the new bits I've been trying and pick my favourites for this post. It was a pretty tough choice but I managed to narrow it down to eight products that have really stood out to me throughout January and have become an essential part of my beauty routine. There's a mixture of hair, skincare, makeup and even a fragrance so keep reading to find out more ...

Herbal Essances 'Bee Strong' Conditioner | Link

If you read my blog regularly, I'm sure you've heard me mention that my hair gets really tanged after washing it and no conditioners, not even high-end ones, can tame it. However, after Nicole Scherzingers pretty face tempted me to try the Herbal Essances 'Bee Strong' conditioner, I can now confirm that I've found one that actually detangles my hair and leaves it silky soft. The Honey & Apricot extracts also make my hair smell utterly amazing and the price just can't be beaten either. For a whopping 400ml bottle, this conditioner costs less than £4. I think I'm going to buy the whole range next time to see how everything works together - the intensive mask in particular has me intrigued! 

Benefit Porefessional Shine Vanishing Pro Powder* | Link

Before Christmas, Benefit released a loose powder to accompany their bestselling Porefessional primer (which I'll be talking about next) and I've really enjoyed using it ever since. At first I thought it would just be a bog standard loose powder in fancy packaging but I was totally wrong and this is definitely one of the best, if not the absolute best powder I've ever tried. As someone with an oily t-zone, its really important for me to set my foundation with a powder to reduce the chance of looking like an oil slick halfway through the day (nice thought for you all there). With this help of this powder, my face stays shine free for the majority of the day and it also blurs imperfections and creates a smooth, shine-free flawless finish. I wrote a full review on it here if you want to know more. The only downside of this one for me is the steep price tag!

Benefit Porefessional Primer | Link

Continuing with the Benefit Porefessional theme, another product I've been loving lately is Benefit's original Porefessional primer. My lovely other half bought me this as a Christmas present and I've been loving using it beneath my foundation ever since. I'd read lots of good reviews about this and its totally lived up to them - it smooths the texture of my skin, reduces  the appearance of pores and imperfections and just generally makes my makeup look better. I'm not sure if it helps my makeup last longer than it normally would but that's not the reason I wanted to try it anyway. I mainly wanted it for its smoothing and 'pore-blurring' effect and it does that brilliantly! I'll post a full review on this soon.

L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Hand Cream* | Link

I've grown really fond of L'Occitane products recently after being sent some of their hand creams to try and also receiving a skincare gift set from my dad for Christmas. I think all of their products are exceptionally luxurious and really high quality so although they're pricey, you get what you pay for. I never used to get the hype surrounding hand creams but recently, I've become utterly obsessed with them and rarely leave the house without one stashed in my handbag. This Cherry Blosson hand cream from L'Occitane has been at the top of my hand cream list recently as the non-sticky formula is perfect when I'm in a rush and the Cherry scent is just incredible. I can't stop slathering it all over my hands and I'm definitely going to repurchase when it runs out - the 30ml tube is perfect handbag size!

Origins Gin Zing Moisturiser | Link

I'm planning on posting my full review of this product within the next few days so I won't say too much about it other than its been my day time moisturiser of choice ever since I received it as a gift for Christmas. Its light, oil-free, brightening and refreshing on my skin and I can't get enough of it. I love the bright orange packaging too and just to top it off, it smells like fresh oranges! Divine!

Jimmy Choo Flash London Club Perfume* | Link (on sale at Debenhams)

This new fragrance from Jimmy Choo has been my go-to scent this month and every time I spot the beautifully designed bottle on my dressing table, I have to give myself a spritz with me. Its such a lovely fragrance and really versatile too - it has a mix of musky and citrus scents so its a good all rounder and can be worn day or night. I always feel very sophisticated wearing it and the scent lasts for a long time too. I wrote a post all about it here if you fancy having a read!

Rimmel 'As You Want Victoria' Moisturise Renew Lipstick | Link (on sale at ASOS)

If you read my blog regularly, you'll probably know that I'm pretty obsessed with wearing berry pink shades on my lips. I find its the perfect shade for my complexion and every time I'm wearing it, I feel ten times more confident! The latest lipstick to be added to my berry pink line up is this Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in the shade 'As you want Victoria'. Again, I got this as a Christmas present and I was so excited to give it a try as I'd heard nothing but good things about the moisture renew range. All of the good things I'd heard were completely true as this is a stunning lipstick. Intensely pigmented, moisturising and glossy - its perfect! I'll post a full review of this beauty with more photos and swatches soon!

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish | Link

I recently wrote a full review on this product so I'm not going to repeat myself  as you can find out why I love it so much here but to summarise, its the perfect highlighter for creating that dewy healthy look. I apply it to my cheekbones, down the centre of my nose and a light dusting on my forehead every day and it finishes my makeup off perfectly. Its definitely one of my makeup bag staples and something everyone needs to try!

Which products have you been loving lately? Have you tried any of these ones?

Lots of Love,

TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM