Monthly Favourites | August 2013

Why hello there September, where have you come from?! August has been a pretty uneventful month to tell you the truth, all work and no play boohoo! This month I finally came to the realisation that Pretty Little Liars is never coming back to MTV so this past week my life has gone by in an A shaped blur while I watched the whole of season 3 and after I've written this post up I'm going to start on Season 4. Joel is loving it, I don't think I've ever encouraged him to watch sport so much!

I have never been so soft or smelt so great since Vaseline Spray and Go came into my life (full review here) This little spray can of moisturiser is GENIUS! Spray it on, rub it in and off you go, it's so quick and effective I couldn't recommend it more. To say my hair is unruly is an understatement, even with a Tangle Teezer in hand and an oil treatment I dread untangling my hair after I've washed it. I first discovered these Tresemme Shots in this months Glossy Box and I am so glad that I did. Once you've shampooed you apply this mid length to roots and leave for 60 seconds to rinse off to the most silky smooth tangle free hair, the only thing wrong with this product is that it's only recommended that you use it once a week and I want my hair to feel this beautiful all the time! I've been hunting high and low for my holy grail mascara - I've tried They're Real, YSL Faux Cils, Lancome Hypnose and I've not been wowed until I got sucked into a Boots offer and came home with Loreal Volume Million Lashes Noir Excess. I can't remember the last time I've loved a mascara this much, it gives so much length and volume, the search has been called off! Eylure 117 are my go to lashes, I've re-bought these so many times and can't see that changing any time soon. I absolutely love the shape of them and they're such a lovely length and volume, the perfect party lashes that look more natural than they do TOWIE. You all know by now how I can't live without an eye liner flick and I think I've found my perfect eyeliner pen in the form of Loreal Superliner Perfect Slim. I have never had a liner that's applied so well, so black and lasted so long, I love, love, love this! Last but definitely not least is the E.l.f Brush Shampoo - I'm rubbish at finding time to wash my brushes but since I got this in my E.l.f haul my brushes have had some TLC and look as clean as the day I bought them.

I will definitely be buying these products again and again and using them if not daily on a regular basis, I love a month where you discover new products you don't know how you lived without!

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I Heart Summer!!

Image from Pinterest

I saw this tag doing the rounds and have finally got around to doing it now summer is on the way out! I have completely lost track of this week, having Monday off work has messed up my concept of days and it doesn't feel like it should be Friday tomorrow - hello again weekend!

Favourite bronzer for Summer?

I'm really not a bronzer kind of girl and if I try to look sunkissed or contoured I usually end up looking muddy but this summer I have been reaching for Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder which I haven't found too scary and it smells good enough to eat!

Favourite summer lip product?

I cannot bear lipstick when it's hot so it's been bye bye MAC and hello Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayons or Revlon lip butters. You still get a good colour pay off but not the heavy formula, perfect for summer.

Pool or beach?

I am definitely more of a pool lover, at least when you're sitting by the pool you don't get a bikini full of sand and you know there's always a bar nearby!

Must have styling product?

I use salt sprays quite a lot in the summer when I can sit in the garden and let my hair dry naturally, my most used salt spray is the Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray.

Sun bathing or fake tan?

Don't get me wrong, I really love sitting in the sun but I don't tan very well anyway so I have to have a little bit of help out of a bottle to get me to a nice colour plus that's the safest option anyway - fake tan fades but sun damage never does! 

Favourite summer drink?

If you find yourself in The Orange Tree you need to try a Rasperry Leotard, I've discovered it this summer and I am never going back it's the nicest cocktail EVER!!!! I've also drank quite a few fruity ciders in the gardens in the past few months!

Favourite summer nail polish?

Hands down it's Models Own Hedonist! The brightest coral that will ever grace your fingertips and it really enhances your tan.

Any summer traditions?

I can't say that I have any traditions really. There's always a few drunken barbecues thrown in there somewhere and me and Joel always make sure we go on a picnic to make use of the picnic basket!

Favourite summer scent?

How can I not say Summer in a bottle itself - Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess?! I have lived in this since May and I can't imagine a Summer without this smell now, I'm officially addicted.

Favourite BBQ food?

How can I choose?! I absolutely love all BBQ food!! I am partial to a burger but this year I've been obsessed with pork chops, thinking of them is making me hungry!

Favourite summer-proof product?

Everything can get a bit sticky and shiny in the summer so I would have to say my MAC Mineralize Skin finish that keeps that shine at bay!

Any summer plans?

Summer is drawing to a close now so I think I'm a bit late for Summer plans but I've still got a couple of nights out planned and me and Joel are taking a trip to London for a couple of days in September which I'm really, really excited about. Once this is all over and done with I'll be ready to welcome Autumn!

I hope you're all having a beautiful short week and if you do this tag then send me your link so I can have a nose!

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E.l.f Cream Brush in Heartbreaker

  

 

E.l.f, Heartbreaker Cream Blush £5.85

This cream blush was part of my E.l.f haul from a few weeks a go, they have so many nice shades to choose from but naturally I went for the peachiest I could. The first thing that struck me about this is the packaging - it's bloody massive!! I would not like to drop this on myself as it's quite heavy, this definitely bulks out your make up bag.

I was quite suprised that this 'cream' blush definitely isn't creamy, it's more of a spongey mousse and I did struggle with the texture a little bit when applying because you get a few lumps and bumps but they're easy enough to blend out. A little goes a long way (believe me, I learnt the hard way - clown cheeks anyone?!) and although it does look quite bright and scary in the packaging once it's all blended out it's a lot more wearable. I really like this blusher but I won't be going back for another shade, it took a while for me to get the hang of the formula and there is a fine line between the right amount and too much but for under a tenner you can't go wrong! 

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Midweek Wish List #12

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1. I am a complete contouring novice and the Sleek contouring kit has been recommended to me as a fool proof way to get model like cheek bones. It contains a bronzer, blush and highlighter so saves you some space in your make up bag too!

2. I've never tried anything by Lime Crime before mostly because they're not easy to get hold of being an American brand but I've seen a few reviews popping up on UK blogs thanks to Cute Cosmetics and Cocktail Cosmetics. Babette has only recently been released and is a peachy shade so naturally it's right up my street!

3. Coconut is possibly my favourite smell ever followed closely by vanilla so this fragrance mist being a combination of the two is a little bit of scent heaven for me! I already have enough perfumes (in fact, is that even possible?!) but I'm after something a little lighter and refreshing to see me through the rest of the summer and I'm pretty sure this is it.

4. Oh la la indeed! For £8 you can't go wrong with a Topshop lipstick and I've had my eye on this one for a while now.

5. I know I'm a bit late to the party with this one but ever since I saw a swatch of Nude Velvet over on Rosychicc I've needed it in my life! 

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Vaseline Spray & Go in Cocoa Radiant

 

Vaseline, Spray & Go £4.99

I have a confession to make... I am rubbish at moisturizing. I hardly have time to drag myself in the shower in the mornings let alone faff around waiting for moisturizer to dry so I can get dressed - I will always choose an extra few minutes in bed! So I'm calling all lazy moisturizers to let you know that your prayers have been answered and Vaseline Spray and go is for you.

I've been after this wonderful little can for a while now and have only come across it in Boots so far. There's three different 'flavours' - Essential Moisture, Cocoa Radiant and Aloe fresh. I don't think there's anything out like this at the minute and I was worried that it wouldn't live up to the hype and end up a little gimmicky but that was definitely not the case! It literally couldn't be easier all you do is spray all over and then rub in and you're ready to get dressed and go. I don't think you could spray and skip the rubbing in part so it's not quite spray and go but it's still a lot quicker and easier than other moisturizers. I was left feeling baby soft and smelling gorgeous. I can see myself getting through this quite rapidly but there is no doubt that there's a repurchase on the cards!

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MAC Pink Rebel Lustre Drops

  

 

 

MAC, Pink Rebel Lustre Drops £18.00

I never bothered with highlighters until a few months ago but now I've caught the glowy skinned bug! Lustre Drops come in two shades which are Pink Rebel and Sun Rush although there was a limited edition shade in the Rihanna collection which is long gone now! These are described as liquid bronzers but I would say that Pink Rebel is definitely more highlighter than bronzer. This is such a beautiful pearly pink colour with a hint of gold - it reminds me of a liquid version of NARS Orgasm in a way - and is meant to add a bit of radiance to wherever you want to apply it.

You don't need to use too much of this little beauty to get the desired effect and I really like the squeezy glitter glue-esque bottle it comes in, it's so easy to control how much product comes out and if you get a little squeeze happy its easy enough to suck back up. This can be used anywhere you want to add a nice pearly highlight although when I tried this on my brow bones I didn't think it looked right as it is quite pink on my skintone. You can also mix it in with your foundation or moisturizer for an all over dewy finish. This is the perfect tool to fake that eating right, sleeping right glow even if you've just had a Mcdonalds and have been up all night!

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Primark Autumn/Winter 2013

Who can beat a bit of Primark?! I love summer and all the floaty dresses, denim shorts and camis in every colour but there comes a point when Summer isn't that Summery any more and has overstayed its welcome and all you want to do is layer up with snuggly cardigans, scarfs, hats and ankle boots. I am extremely guilty of using a new season as an excuse to go on a major shopping spree and Primark is always my first port of call when I want to stock up my wardrobe. After seeing all the Autumn/Winter previews of what Primark has to offer this year I'm about ready to kick summer out and embrace the cold! There's a lot of big slouchy coats and statement jackets going on, I'm definitely going to keep my eye out for a jacket as my wardrobe is definitely lacking in that respect, I have my ever faithful green Topshop coat for when the weather is bitterly cold but nothing much for that annoying in between period. There's also a hell of an ankle boot collection which are a staple for my winter wardrobe and I wear to death, my pick of the lot are these cut out ones with gold detailing and a bit of a heel, I really hope I can get my hands on these as they already feature in a lot of my mental winter outfits! There's a lot of pink and grey popping up which I'm loving because as boring as it is grey is one of my favourite colours to wear. In terms of accessories, the jewellery is big, chunky and decadent which is perfect as we are approaching that sparkly time of the year. Let the Primark hauling begin!! 

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August Glossybox 2013

Glossybox, £10 plus p&p

How is it Glossybox time of the month again? I'm sure I only got the last one a couple of weeks ago, how time flies when you're having fun! After last months Summer themed box my faith had been restored in Glossybox and I was excited to see what they'd do this month...only to be a little bit disappointed, boohoo! The theme of the box was highfliers and the contents are from all over the world to keep you looking groomed and glamorous on your Summer travels. I did open the box this month and think 'is this it?!' but with travel in mind the dinkier the better!

Emite Make Up Eyelash Curlers

I do use an eyelash curler every single day but I can't say that it's the most exciting part of applying my make plus I'd only recently received eyelash curlers in a Birchbox. £20 these little black and red babies would set you back, £20! That is in the realm of the holy grail Shu Uemura eyelash curlers price range so I am expecting big things from these.

TRESemme Platinum Strength 60 Second Treatment Shot

I must have been living under a rock (or at least not stepped foot into a Boots) for a while because I have never seen this before in my life and if I had I would have definitely have purchased! Firstly I can't resist anything that claims to repair damaged hair and secondly it is so cute and tiny!! Like Joel always says - I am a marketers dream!

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Noir

I feel exactly the same as any of you fellow Glossy subscribers when I see a perfume sample in my box, grrr!!! This actually smells quite nice very berryish and I've chucked it in my bag probably to be never seen again but if I do come across it I'll have a spritz!

Oceane Essential Make Up Remover Pen

This is hands down the best thing in the box for me, for a girl that swears by a flick of eyeliner everyday if I'm not on the ball in the mornings it can be a disaster and rubbing away one little flick can cause a hell of a lot of make up damage! I think this is going to save me a lot of time and frustration on those mornings when I'm still half asleep and I'm dangerous with an eyeliner pen.

Jelly Pong Pong 2-in-1 Eyeliner and Shadow

You've got more chance of me going all 50 Shades of Grey adventurous than getting more adventurous than a flick of black eyeliner, a bit of neutral eyeshadow and fluttery black lashes so this metallic khaki green pencil eyeliner is not for me!

So this months box didn't have me jumping for joy but to be fair I'm going to use 4/5 products that I received so I need to quit complaining!

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Topshop Cream Blush in Head Over Heels

 

 

 

 

Topshop Cream Blush, Head Over Heels £6.00

Topshop makeup can you do any wrong?! The prices, the packaging, the products, it's no wonder my bank balance is seriously suffering! I only popped this in my online basket to make up my order so I could get free delivery and boy oh boy am I glad my hatred for paying delivery made this happen.

Head Over Heels is a cream to powder blush that in the pan looks a strong pink - not what I was signing up for - but once swatched the true colour comes through and it's a delicate pink based peach. Like I would with any cream based blusher I apply with my fingers first and then blend it in with the Real Techniques Stippling brush. I found that it does take a bit of building up to get a noticeable colour pay off but then again if you're looking for a really natural flush or you're not overly confident with a cream blush this could be the perfect starting point for you! Because this dries to a powder finish it would be ideal for oily skin, it still gives you a nice radiant looking glow without making you shiny.

For the price I don't think this will be my last Topshop blusher and if you need to make up your order to hit the free delivery mark this is the direction I'd point you in! 

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Midweek Wish List #11

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1. I love the warm weather as much as the next person but it plays havoc with my face! I definitely need some sort of coverage but foundation can be a bit too heavy when it's humid so that's where BB creams step in. I've seen so many good Dr Jart reviews around and really want to give it a try!

2. I haven't even had a smell of this yet but how can you resist that bottle?! This is meant to be a sweet summery scent and I can't wait to have a spritz next time I'm in Boots.

3. My T zone has been quite oily lately and this deep cleansing mask is meant to draw out impurities and leave skin calm and balanced. It's not for everyday use which is better for me because even if I start with the best intentions it's not going to happen but even I can manage 15 minutes twice a week for beautiful skin!

4. Creme Cup is one of the best selling MAC lipsticks and I have no idea how I've overlooked this beautiful natural pink shade for so long, I'm just waiting for the next Debenhams beauty discount code to come along before I place my order but until then I'll be looking wistfully at swatches!

5. I swatched this Topshop powder highlighter in Crescent Moon when I was in store but I'd bought enough already so left it behind - BIG MISTAKE! It's not available on the website but hopefully I haven't missed out completely because it is gorgeous.

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Real Techniques Duo-Fiber Collection

Real Techniques, Duo-Fiber Collection £23.99

Although the products I use on a day to day basis switch and change the brushes that I use to apply them don't! The majority of my brush collection is made up of Real Techniques and they work beautifully for me, I can't imagine using another brand of brushes and I think the feeling may be mutual around the blogging world. This limited edition set (available for one year only) is Samantha Chapman's latest offering of brush sets, it's made up of three brushes - a face brush, contour brush and eye brush. There's a very different colour scheme going on with these three, they're all sleek and monochrome which I really like. The handles are light and comfortable to hold and as with all Real Techniques brushes the bristles are synthetic (not to mention SO soft) and cruelty free. The bristles are a lot sparser than we're used to with other Real Techniques brushes which is to enable a lighter application for a more natural look - perfect for us heavy handed girls! 

Duo-Fiber Face Brush

This is the brush that I thought I'd get the most use out of but actually I've used it the least! I've been using this to apply my Illmasqua powder blusher because it's so pigmented and this picks up just the right amount of product so you don't get the clown cheek effect but I've found with any other blusher it doesn't quite pick up enough. Only in the past couple of days have I been using this brush a bit more since I've started using my E.l.f mineral eyeshadow in Elegant as a highlighter so I've been using this to sweep it over my cheek bones. 

Duo-Fiber Contour Brush 

Contouring can go one of two ways - Kardashianesque cheekbones or a muddy looking face and I've never ended up looking like Kim after one of my attempts. The fact that you can't pick up too much product with this brush makes it fail proof, it impossible to go straight in for the kill and instead you build up the colour until you've reached your desired effect!

Duo-Fiber Eye Brush

I like a nice and neutral eye and try to keep it as simple as possible so I'm probably not the best informed person to make a judgement on this brush. I've been using this with my new E.l.f mineral eyeshadows again (I can't get enough of those things!) and to add a little bit of colour to the crease.

All of the above brushes can be used with powder, cream or liquid formulas, the perfect little multitaskers! I'm so glad I added these to my collection and if you feel like you need some duo-fiberness in your life these have popped up over on Fragrance Direct for £21.99.

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Look Beauty Haul!

What's this, two hauls in the same week?! That can only mean one thing - pay day has finally come around! Although even if I hadn't have been paid I would have been powerless to resist the offer that popped into my inbox last weekend. Everything half price and 3 free Pout Stains if you spent £20, Look Beauty say no more you had me at half price and my debit card is at the ready!

Perk Me Up Primer - Make Me Blush Blusher in Pinch - Nail Pop in Fluro

Anything that promises to make me look bright eyed and bushy tailed I will happily put to the test and I'm fed up of living off primer samples because I haven't got around to buying a new one so this is a welcome addition to my daily routine. I've read so many good things about Look Beauty blushers and tried to steer away from my usually peachy colours when choosing this so I went for Pinch which is a dusky pink shade. Fluro is a bright orange based coral which couldn't be more perfect for this time of year, I've already got it on my toes and need to make the most of showing it off before I have to store my sandals away again!

Loud Lips in Hyper Melon - Lip Smoothie - Loud Lips in Tangerine Cream

I've been after Tangerine Cream for absolutely ages but my Superdrug doesn't stock Look Beauty and every time I've actually been somewhere that does I haven't bought it for some reason or another but now it's mine! Along with that shade I ordered Hyper Melon which is a super bright orangey red. Now I have these new lipsticks I need lips that are in tip top condition so I also ordered a Lip Smoothie to scrub away any imperfections!

Pout Stain

And here are my three little freebies! I've never used any of these felt tip lip pens before but I've got a good selection to choose from now so I'll give them a whirl and see how it goes!

This isn't the first time that Look Beauty have done half price off everything and they usually do it in store as well as online so keep your beady little eyes peeled!

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