Top Products of 2015

Now that we're almost a full week into 2016, I thought that I would share my favourite products from the past year. There have been so many products that have impressed me throughout the year, but I finally managed to pick my favourites.

Nars Dual Intensity Palette

If I were to only ever have one palette, this would be it. The shade Himalia and Europa are perfect for a soft and delicate everyday look, whilst everything else makes for added drama. I love that you can use it both wet and dry too. 

Revlon Lash Potion Mascara

I first picked this up in the shade Blackened Brown by mistake but I loved the way it made my lashes look. So I picked up the Black version ad loved it even more. I love that I can layer this until I'm happy and it doesn't clump together. The brush is perfect for making even the teeny tiny lashes look amazing.

Bondi Sands Everyday Tanning Milk

2015 was the year I fell in love with tanning, but this was definitely the stand out product for me! The colour is so natural, there are no orange/red tones to it and it applies so nicely. There's none of the standing around like a puppet waiting for it to dry and it makes my skin super soft. Next on my wish list is the dark mousse tan from BS!

MAC Lipstick in Whirl

So I know that everyone has featured this at some point, but how could I not?! I've been loving brown lips this year, and this has been my favourite of them all. I find that on me, it has a slight grey tinge to it which I find really flattering and only adds to the 90s vibe. It seems to sell out everywhere, but if you get the chance to get it then do because you need it in your life.

MAC Fix Plus

I had this a couple of years ago and wasn't all that thrilled with it mainly because I didn't know what to do but now this is a complete game changer. I spray this onto my Real Techniques sponge to blend out my concealer so it makes it look flawless. It's also perfect for dampening my brush befor using the above Nars palette.

NYX Liquid Suede 

I have quite a collection of these and they are perfect for a budget liquid lipstick. Now that they're sold in Boots it makes it even easier to get hold of them. The shades Vamp and Sandstorm are my absolute favourites. The formula is so soft and creamy, yet dries to a matte finish which lasts and lasts.

Urban Decay Naked Basics 2

The slightly cooler tones in this palette were just calling my name. I love to original Naked Basics, but had to get this too. Perfect for a toned down every day look, or a full on smoky eye. Being matte shades, they also make great transition/blending out shades, and of course being from Urban Decay, the formula is buttery soft.

Redken Windblown Blowdry Spray

Having thick hair, it can often look a little fake when it's been styled. This lightweight spray adds just the right amount of texture, and makes it move a lot more freely which I love. I often get asked if I've just had my hair done when I use this, which is always a massive bonus. 

MAC Blush in Mocha

I had been after a blush that I could wear for the winter months and this is it. It's such a beautiful shade that suits everyone. The shade is quite dark, but never looks too much and I find that I use this to sculpt a tiny bit too. Despite being a matte finish, it isn't dry at all but is really soft and blendable.

LA Girl Pro Conceal

I really struggle with under eye concealers that don't crease but I have found my holy grail! This brightens and covers all my dark areas under the eye and blends out like a dream. It lasts all day, and there is such a wide range of shades which means you can buy a couple for contour and highlighting.

Jo Malone Blue Agava and Cacao

Jo Malone had been on my wish list for a while, so I finally picked this one. I think this one is perfect for all year round as it has some slight citrus notes but the cacao adds some warmth and depth to it. I love that it smells totally different as the hours go on

So those are my favourites from the past year. What have been yours? Have you liked any of these products?

Winter Time Tanning

Okay, so I think it's fair to say that we are definitely in winter now. The weather has got much colder and as much as I do love the winter season, I still long for summer. All year long, I like to keep a little bit of a tan. In summer, I will more often than not be sporting a deeper tan, but in winter I do like to have more of a softer glow rather than the deep bronze shade that goes hand in hand with the summer months.

It was only when I was discussing tanning with some friends at work, when I had the idea that I would share my favourite tanning products to use for that Winter Glow. 

He-Shi Face and Body Tanning Gel - £18.50 here

This is by far and away the easiest tan to apply I'v ever used. It goes on extremely smoothly, and streak free. Out of the four in this post, this is the one that gives me the deepest tan, but is still very very natural. It dries down very quickly, so there's none of that waiting around like a puppet waiting to dress. It's not the most purse friendly tan product out there, but I guarantee it's one of the best you will try.

Little White Lie Tanning Spray - £15.00 here

If you don't like instant tans, but want something with a very quick application time, then this is the one for you. This is an invisible spray, which is super easy to apply. Just spray directly onto your skin and that's it. I like to quickly run over it with a tanning mitt just to ensure that there are no streaks or patches.

St Tropez Instant Tan Wash Off Face and Body Lotion Medium/Dark - £10.00 here 

When I'm in a hurry, or there are some spontaneous Christmas outings, this is the one I reach for. It's instant colour and quick drying time means I can get my glow on in next to no time. One thing with instant tans is that they often get patchy if you'r caught in the rain or they transfer onto clothes. However, with this one despite being medium/dark, you get a very soft tan, which stays put even in the wintery showers. 

Bondi Sands Everyday Tanning Milk - £11.99 here

My most used has to be this offering from Bondi Sands. Keeping soft skin in winter can be difficult due to the harsh weather and central heating, so using this gradual tanner which is moisturiser based helps to combat that. It includes cocoa butter which smells divine and is a god send for my skin. The tan that it gives is very natural, which is what I love about this tan.

Do you still enjoy to tan in the winter time? Which is your favourite?

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Beauty Things I'm Bad At

Since starting this blog my beauty skills have come on leaps and bounds, as I'm sure most other bloggers have. However, there are still plenty of things that I'm pretty terrible at. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to get myself to do these things. Maybe sharing them with you all will help me get better at them. A girl can dream! So here are the beauty things I'm bad at.

1. Looking after my cuticles.

I'll keep up to them for a few weeks and then I just leave them. Then I wonder why my manicures never look nice. No mater how much my mum tells me off for not looking after them, I will never learn.

2. Self Tanning.

Those bloody streaks! Even if a formula promises to be streak free I can guarantee it will streak on me. No amount of body scrub and moisturiser will sort me out.

3. Maintaining my brows.

I have to admit, I have got better at this but I'm still not great. I love how my brows look after getting them shaped but I just cannot pluck them myself! They grow so quickly too that I need to be able to learn to do this.

4.Sticking to my cleansing routine.

I cleanse every single day, but I did get into the habit of double cleansing most days ans using a plethora of products. However, I keep forgetting that second cleanse and my skin doesn't look great for it.

5. Washing my makeup brushes.

I do this once a week too, but I should probably do it more. I never do a daily clean using a daily brush shampoo and with the ones that are available now. It would literally take me an extra two minutes.

6. Sleeping on damp hair.

I know, I know, Slap wrists! I just can't get out of this habit. I have such thick, long hair and it takes so long to dry it properly! Need. To. Stop.

7. Not wearing lipliner.

This is something that I always forget! I know it's not a major deal but I wish I could remember as when I do, my lipstick looks ten times better!

8. Drinking water.

This is something that I'm determined to get better at! I never really drink water never mind getting the recommended daily amount. When I do drink it I feel so much better so it is something that I need to make sure I do.

9. Pedicures.

I hate doing pedicures. I just find it such a chore, and a bit of a pain to be honest. I'm hoping that I can sort this out before summer comes around and the pretty shoes are a must.

10. Sharpening liners.

Again, I know that this isn't a major deal but it is something that I do a hell of a lot! I will literally wear an eyeliner down to nothing to the point where the creamiest of liners is dragging across my eye/lips. Not good! It also means that a lot of my liners go unloved because I can never be bothered to sharpen them.

So there are the beauty things I'm bad at. I'm hoping that by writing this post I will have some motivation to get my act into gear and change some of this! Maybe I will do a follow up post in a few months to see if I have improved. 

What are your worst beauty habits?

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October Favourites

October was such an amazing month for me! I was away in Mexico for two weeks which was just an incredible holiday and I'll be sharing a post all about it with you soon. Due to my holiday, some of my favourites might seem a little strange for this time of year, but they were perfect for whilst I was in the sweltering heat! So, here are my favourite products for October...

Can I just apologize for the terribleness of this photo? The bad weather is making taking photos near on impossible, and this was the best of a bad bunch! 

Hawaiian Tropic Body Butter After Sun:

This was an absolute god send on holiday. My skin gets so dry when I've been out in the sun so I used to apply this everywhere and make sure that skin was nourished. The after sun element in it was a lovely touch as it soothed my skin after a day of sun and meant that I wasn't uncomfortable.

Bourjois Bronzing BB Cream:

Since getting a little tan, my foundation has been far to light and my skin hasn't needed much coverage at all. I've been applying this really lightly with Real Techniques Buffing Brush, and I love the finish that it gives. It looks so natural, and it's gel consistency blends effortlessly into my skin. Win!

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle:

I'm pretty sure that most people have heard of this, but long story short, it's the most perfect highlighter that has ever graced the beauty world! It looks beautifully natural and is one of those suit all shades! This hasn't been out of my makeup bag for a good few weeks now!

Rimmel Scandaleyes eye crayon in Bad Girl Bronze:

Everyone loves a product that does it all. This eye crayon gives me everything I look for in an eye colour. I love bronze shades and have been wearing them all month! This can be used as an all over colour, a liner or as a base. Add lashing of black mascara and you have a fool proof smokey eye.

Sleek Matte Me in Fandango Purple:

Matte lips are having a bit of a moment and these are certainly my favourite matte lip products. Fandango purple has been my go to for a while now as it's such a stunning colour and there really is nothing like it on the market at the minute. Easy stand out lips in just one swipe, thanks to it's amazing formula.

Swarzkopf Osis+ Shape Shifter:

I've been having a hair disaster for a while now (something that I will go into in another post), and I haven't been able to use many products. This one thought has been just about the only one that I can use. I have extremely thick hair and this is the only product that will add texture to my hair and give an acceptable "just got out of bed" look.

So those are my favourite products for October. I'm going to try and remember to do a favourites post every month. What have been your favourite products recently?

Top 10 Under £10: The Summer Edition

I really enjoy posts which show a bloggers top products, although they're not very healthy for my banck balance! I thought that today I would show you my top 10 products under £10 that are my favourites for the summer season.

Here are my Top 10...

1: Sleek Snapshots Palette:

This palette, which is part of Sleek's permanent collection, has the greatest range of shadows for summer. It has a few neutrals for a really simple eye, and some fabulous bright shades for a more exotic look. I love to wear the neutral shades with a tiny bit of the bright shades on my lower lashline for a flash of colour.

Buy here for £7.99

2: Bourjois Bronzing BB Cream:

I'm all over the bronzing products this year, and this has to be one of my favourites. It's more like a gel than a cream and is perfect for adding to your regular base product and adding a little more warmth.

Buy here for £9.99

3: Amazing Shine Lashes:

I love these lashes! They feel so lightweight and natural on my lids so are perfect for those nights out in the summer when it's warmer than expected. However, these can be hard to find but I have found them in most fancy dress shops and markets.

Buy here for £1.99

4: MUA Powder Blush in Lolly:

This is a lovely candy orange shade and is one of those that will suit all skin tones. It looks lovely with bronzer and is so natural on the skin. This blush also helps to achieve a natural looking contour which is an added bonus!

Buy here for £1.00

5: 17 Wild Metallics Cream:

I have this in the shade Wilde Nude and Wild Bronze, both of which are beautiful neutral shades. These are both really natural looking and look really subtle on the eye. They also withstand the heat despite being a cream product.

Buy here for £3.99

6: Maybelline Colour Sensation Vivids in Fuchsia Flash: 

Who doesn't love a neon pink lipstick? The formula of these lipsticks is so creamy and long lasting that they make into my top 10 for that reason alone. The colour of this one is so ridiculously bright that it just screams summer. The neon pink goes extremely well with a tan and looks lovely on most skin tones.

Buy here for £7.19

7: Kiko long Lasting Lipliner in 714 Pink Iguana:

This liner goes extremely well with the aforementioned lipstick. It makes my lips look full, and perfectly proportioned. The colour is also one that you can wear alone and it looks like you are wearing a matte lipstick.

Buy here for £2.50

8: Rimmel Scandaleyes Liner in Nude:

Every blogger and their mum has this liner. I think black is far too harsh for the warmer months so this is my go to shade in summer. It really helps to make my eyes look awake, and it helps to combat the redness that comes with hayfever.

Buy here for £3.99

9: Palmer's Natural Bronze Lotion:

Until I go on my holidays in October, a false tan will have to do due to not having any outside space at my flat. Although my review of this wasn't a rave one, I have since found that this is the easiest tan to apply and one of the most natural looking. 

Buy here for £5.35

10: No7 Hair Protecting Spritz:

Anyone who has coloured hair needs this in their life! It's a beautiful lightweight protecting oil which shades your hair from the UV rays. It is also waterproof, so if your going on holiday this is perfect as you can still use it around the pool and on the beach.

Buy here for £6.50

So that has been my Top 10 under £10 for summer. I would love to know if you use any of these products, or what your summer essentials are?

Bourjois Maxi Delight Bronzer

Hello! What a lovely summers day we are having! I hope that you're all enjoying the blue skies and have waved a firm goodbye to the dark gloomy grey skies that we are so used to! So as I've said before, out comes the sun and out comes the bronzer! Here is another product that I'm sure you will enjoy...

A few days ago, I shared with you the amazing Bronzing Primer from Bourjois which I've been loving so far, but this next product has taken top spot in my daily routine. If like me, you love a good bronzing routine then this is the perfect bronzing powder for you. 

The Maxi Delight Bronzer is a deep tan shade with tiny flecks of golden shimmer running through it. When I first saw this in store and on a few blogs, I instantly dismissed it as I thought it was too dark for my medium skin tone. How wrong was I? On a recent trip to Boots, I took a quick swatch of this and was surprised by how well it matched my skin. The deep tones actually looked very natural and the golden flecks added a nice glow without looking like I was at an Under 18's club night in 2006 and had gone a bit wild with the shimmer spray (ashamedly, I'm guilty of this). 

There is currently only one shade available, 02 for olive and deep skin tones. This is where I was a little dubious about buying it, but after testing I just thought "What the heck?!". I like to apply this with my Real Techniques Blush Brush, and lightly dust it all over my face after the  rest of my make up is complete. This makes me look really healthy and glowing, which is what we all like in the summer. Applied with a light hand this bronzer can still be perfect for those paler skin tones to myself, and would add a lovely warmth to those with darker skin tones. Definitely an all rounder.

As with all Bourjois bronzing products this does have a scent to it. I have seen people say that this is the same as chocolate bronzer that Bourjois is famous for. However, I have to say, I think that this is more tropical as I find it leans slightly towards a Coconut scent, which I really enjoy.

I would definitely recommend this as that perfect summer product, and it is one that I will definitely be taking on my holidays later on this year. 

This is available from both Boots and Superdrugs for £8.99 but is currently on offer in Boots for £6.99

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Bourjois Bronzing Primer Review

If you're anything like me then as soon as May hits, the tanning and bronzing products come out. The only place I don't apply my fake tan is to my face as I'm worried about it clogging up my pores and settling into fine lines. The new Bourjois summer collection includes its fair share of different bronzing products that I'm sure will quickly become staples in many a makeup bag.

The Bourjois Bronzing Primer is small pot of brilliance for all of those who like to be falsely sunkissed, A hybrid between a mousse and gel like texture, it's no surprise that this has been compared to the famous Soleil Tan De Chanel, except a lot smaller but with a more affordable price tag. This product has been designed to give your face a subtle glow, which is suitable for all skin tones. 

The formula of this primer is unlike any other product I've ever tried. It's so lightweight that it really feels like you have a bare face. You can wear this alone or under your foundation/BB Cream. When worn alone it really does look like an instant tan, really subtle and a lovely bronze shade. I wore this under my BB Cream all over my face and I looked like I had a really healthy glow, something which I find quite hard to achieve. In the pot, this do look really scary, I'm going to admit. However, you only need the slightest amount for a pigmentation, that can be blended out to be as sheer as you desire, so even those will pale skin tones. However, I do think that if you are super pale, this may look a little too stark, and may lean a little orange. For reference, I'm a MAC NW20 and find this is a nice shade for me. Like I say, it does apply rather dark and strong but there are no issues with blending and it can be a sheer or as strong as you like, without the fear of getting tide marks.

At the minute this is only available in the one shade but I'm not sure if I think that there is a need for Bourjois to release more shades. I think I should also point out the scent that this has. Having never tried a bronzing product from Bourjois before this, I noticed a lot of people had mentioned the synthetic chocolate scent, but I have to say I quite like it. I did have a sniff of their Chocolate Bronzer but this smells different to me. I think it has more a coconut fragrance, one that most associate with holidays, but I can understand why some might not like this, although it isn't detectable once applied to the skin.

This is available from Boots and Superdrugs for £9.99, although Boots have it on offer at the minute for £6.99.

Palmers Natural Bronze Lotion

Now that we are well into the year, I like to start applying tanning products so that I can look like I've been blessed by the sun gods and achieved a nice natural colour. Also, I'm not going on holiday until October this year so I don't want to spend the entire summer (if we ever get any sun that lasts longer than two days) being really ghostly. 

The most recent addition to my collection of tanning products is the Palmers Natural Bronze Lotion. I normally use mousse products and go for a medium shade when picking my chosen sun in a bottle, however this is completely different as it is a cream and only comes in one available shade. So, it's safe to say that I was a little sceptical about trying this, but at the same time I was looking forward to being bronzed.

Palmer's describe this as a gradual tanning moisturiser that builds and maintains a natural looking tan. Is it Gradual? No. As usual I exfoliated in the shower then applied my regular body moisturiser on those pesky areas (ankles, elbows, wrists) and let that sink in. Then I applied this all over as I would a normal moisturiser and kindly asked my boyfriend to do my back. All was fine. Unlike mousse tanners, there was no tell tale sign that tan had been applied to it was hard to tell if there was any streaks or patches. Waking up the next morning, wow was I tanned. I wasn't expecting quite as strong a colour from a gradual tanner. The shade was as though I had applied my regular St. Moriz Tanner in Medium at least 4 times.

Overall, I do like this tanner but I don't love it. It was quick and easy to apply, and streak free which is also a bonus. I'm pretty sure there are better gradual tanners out there but for the bargain price of this you can't go wrong. I would suggest applying this with a tanning mitt though as it does leave a nice layer of patchy tan on your hands even after washing them but the signature cocoa butter smell makes this delicious.

Available from both Boots and Superdrug for £5.49 (prices vary online eBay and Amazon)