The Highlighter Palette You Need In Your Life

This little beauty has been my go-to highlighter for several months & even during my "blogging break" it was always on my mind to share this palette on here. The Sleek Solstice Highlighter Palette is contained within a luxe rose gold compact, making it hard to believe that it retails for under £10. The four shades are all equally as dreamy, with one cream formula, two baked powders & one silky shimmer. 

Whats In My August Makeup Bag

It's time to show you all what's been lurking inside my everyday makeup bag throughout the month of August. There are some new products & some all time favourites, rediscovering makeup items is always a good feeling!
The foundation I'm using the most is the L'Oreal Paris Nude Magique Cushion Foundation that you may recognise from my July Favourites. Another item that featured in my favourites is the Too Faced Born This Way Concealer, it's a cream formula & infused with Coconut Water that helps keep skin moisturised. I'm really enjoying the combination of the light coverage foundation & the concealer to give me extra coverage where needed. I've finally got my hands on NARS Orgasm Blush & I only wish I had picked it up sooner. It's such a beautiful warm pink with golden shimmer through it that adds a pop of colour & glow to my cheeks.
A long time favourite is the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, that I've been using on & off since I was about 15. I always find myself coming back to this stuff, it's only £4 & is one of the best powders I've tried. Another product that has remained in my makeup bag for what feels like forever is the ABH Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown. I reckon this is always going to be a staple of mine! I have however added another brow product into my routine, the Eyeko Brow Gel* this just ensures my brows don't budge at all, sometimes I end up with half brow by the end of the day otherwise. Another Eyeko item has joined my makeup bag this month, the Eye-Do Mascara*, designed by Alexa Chung herself. The brush on this is insane, which creates big, fluttery lashes for me, love it!
If I've been in an eyeshadow wearing mood I've chosen to use my Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette, which I'm ashamed to admit has been very neglected. I'm so glad I rediscovered it because I'd somehow forgotten how buttery soft & pigmented UD shadows are, it's such a beautiful taupe toned palette. And, as always I wouldn't be without liquid eyeliner, I've become obsessed with Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner. It's dual ended, with a kohl pencil at one end & the other end being the liquid liner. I mostly use the liquid liner but it's really handy having the kohl option there too if I want a more intense eye look. Wearing lipstick isn't a regular occurrence for me, although I do have an excessive amount of them so I should probably take advantage of my stash more often. On the occasions that I have wanted to wear a lip colour I've gone for Tarte's Creamy Matte Lip Paint in tbt, a neutral shade with mauve undertones.
Whats in your August makeup bag?
L x

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Eyeko Beauty Launches in M&S

Eyeko is the award-winning go-to brand for eye makeup, so when I was recently asked to meet up with them I jumped at the chance. Having only tried their Mascara & Eyeliner before I was keen to see the other products that Eyeko have to offer. Being a big fan of long lashes & cat flick liner I was excited to have a one-to-one appointment with Eyeko's head makeup artist to discover more about them & take a closer look at the products. Eyeko have recently launched counters in Marks & Spencer Beauty Hall, whenever I'm in M&S I always find myself heading to the beauty department, so I can't wait to see the new stand when I next pop in to Liverpool City Centre.

One thing that is unique to Eyeko is their no-waste squeeze mascara tubes, which is such a genius idea & one that should be rolled out by every brand! The Black Magic Mascara* has a curved brush to lift, curl & add volume to your lashes in just one coat. It has an extreme carbon black finish & a water-resistant, long lasting formula so there is no flaking or smudging. 

The Black Magic Eyeliner* is a seriously pigmented liquid liner, it's intense colour pay-off makes it effortless to use & fool-proof with its precision brush tip. The formula features widelash, a tripetide blend to aid lash growth by enhancing both length & volume by up to 3 times. A little trick we were taught by the ladies from Eyeko was that the brush tip is actually removable, it can be turned around to release more liner when you think you're running out. There you go, a handy little makeup hack for you!

I'm not much of a sporty person so wasn't really intrigued by the Eyeko Sport Waterproof Eyeliner* at first, as I just didn't think it was a necessary product for me. However when I was told it doesn't budge all day long & is sweat-proof I suddenly became interested! Long lasting products are important for me when I'm doing a full shift at work, I want my makeup to stay in place for as long as possible. Together with the Eyeko Sport Waterproof Mascara* I've got a dream team combination! Both products are 100% Water-Proof, Sweat-Proof & Smudge-Proof, with pitch black pigmentation.

I don't often use Brow Gels as the ones I've tried in the past tend to leave my brows feeling crunchy & nobody likes a crispy brow, well I don't anyway! Eyeko Brow Gel* has a small brush, shaped so it can sweep through the brows without getting the tinted gel anywhere else. It defines each individual hair to achieve a natural look, yet keeps them in place, yay for everlasting eyebrows! 

Shadow sticks are my go-to product when I'm short for time but still want to wear a full makeup look. Eyeko's Me & My Shadow Liners* are housed in a dual-ended stick, with one end being the product & the other a handy little brush. I usually smudge shadow sticks with my fingers in an effort to save time but then end up getting the excess product everywhere, so the brush is a life saviour! I can now blend blend blend quickly & easily. The Taupe shade I have pictured above is such a beautiful colour, it glides on & doesn't need a primer either as the Vitamin E enriched pigment adheres to the eyelids.
I bet you're all thinking how on earth are these products removed if they have the super staying power & intense pigmentation? Eyeko have their very own makeup remover, Mascara Off* which are 100% cotton wipes infused with Olive Oil, Aloe Vera & Grapefruit. By holding the wipes over your eyes for 5-10 seconds the ingredients soften the makeup to gently remove all traces of your mascara & eyeliner. 
All my new products were given to me in the amazing 'Everything Goes With Black Mascara'* bag, I'm obsessed with the Eyeko eye print & the slogan on the reverse side is so true. It's an ideal size to hold all of my makeup essentials, it will be definitely be coming along with me on my next trip!

Will you be checking out your local M&S Eyeko counter?

L x

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The Libbie Club Subscription Box

The Libbie Club is a monthly beauty subscription box in which you receive 3 full sized products for a one-off joining fee of £35. As a Libbie member you try out the products you receive, write a review on them & then hopefully influence your friends & family to give the products a go, meaning you secure next months box. 
I have combined both July & August's products in the photo as I didn't have the chance to share July's box. I thought it would be a good idea to show you though as you can see the wide range of full sized products I've received so far. In August's box I received a Nizz Cosmetics Lustre Lipstick, Indeed Labs Nanoblur & Mizon Placenta Ampoule Cream with the boxes focus being on protecting & perfecting your skin for Summer.
First up is the Mizon Placenta Ampoule Cream, a hydrating & anti-ageing cream. I have to admit the word 'Placenta' threw me off a little but after reading up on it I was relieved to see its not animal but in fact nutrient-rich plant placenta. It's used to promote skin regeneration as well as help to hide any existing lines. The Hyaluronic Acid & Trehalose help your skin to absorb & retain moisture, so my skin has been feeling super soft recently!  If you fancy trying out Mizon Placenta Ampoule Cream (50ml) then you can currently purchase it with 20% off, making it £20.40. 
Next is the Indeed Labs Nanoblur, I've been using this straight after moisturising my skin as a primer for my makeup to sit on. It has similar properties to the Mizon Cream but rather than hydrating skin it aims to smooth out the complexion & reduce the size of pores. I absolutely love this stuff, after applying it my pores are dramatically smaller in size & my skin looks & feels a lot fresher. It gives my skin a flawless appearance, giving me a much needed confidence boost. Indeed Labs Nanoblur (30ml) is available for £16.99, which is 15% off the RRP & in my opinion well worth it!
Finally, the third item in the box is the Nizz Lustre Lipstick, a beautifully soft lip product, with perfect application & a lovely creamy finish. The blend of fair trade butter, oils & waxes that they are made from nourish & protect the lips, so not only are you getting a lip colour but a lip balm too. Mocha Nude is a perfect everyday shade for me, it's highly pigmented meaning the colour pay-off is achievable in one application. These lipsticks are extremely high quality as they are vegetarian, hypo-allergenic & paraben-free - natural products are always a winner in my eyes! Pick up a Nizz Cosmetics Lustre Lipstick for £16, there are 3 pretty shades to choose from, Mocha Nude, Cashmere Nude & Rose Nude. 
There are also plenty of other discounts over on My Libbie Page, such as 30% off a Magnitone Barefaced! Cleansing Brush, go have a look & see if you fancy snapping up a deal or two!
Will you be signing up to Libbie Club or be treating yourself to any of this months products?
L x

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July Favourites

My favourites are pretty minimal this month, it's been a busy one not giving me much chance to try anything new really. 
My lovely friend, Becca, gifted me the Too Faced Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer which recently launched as part of their Fall 2016 collection! I have the shade 'Fair' which is a perfect match for me & my pale complexion. It blends beautifully, instantly hiding my imperfections & dark circles providing me with flawless coverage. 
The L'Oreal Paris Nude Magique Cushion Foundation has not left my face in the whole of July (obviously I've removed it before bedtime though...) it's everything I look for in a base product & more. Cushion Foundations are pretty new to the market but most people seem to be loving them & I certainly do. You literally tap your makeup brush into the 'cushion' which is a sponge filled with product & apply it to your face. The formula is very light but extremely buildable so you can easily achieve the coverage you desire. 
Antipodes Rejoice Light Facial Cream has been my go-to moisturiser of the month. It's light, sinks in quickly & has a lovely sweet Vanilla & Almond fragrance. I'm also obsessed with the packaging, so simple yet really attractive looking - especially in blog photos ;)
Tartelette Tease Clay Palette is another gift from Becca, aren't I a lucky girl! It houses six dreamy eyeshadows, ranging from a light pink to a plum with a couple of shimmer shades as well as matte ones. It's the perfect palette to pop in your travel bag as it's pocket sized & contains enough pretty shades to create a look for every occasion. 
It's a well known fact that I'm pretty damn lazy when it comes to moisturising my body. I mean I wish I wasn't but when I've just hopped out of the shower the last thing I want to be doing is freezing my butt off whilst I rub moisturiser everywhere. I received the Cowshed Wild Cow Invigorating Body Lotion in my July Libbie Box (I'll be popping up a post soon!) & I've actually become a big fan of moisturising thanks to this. It is such a refreshing lotion that as soon as I apply it I want to keep on applying it, I can't get enough of the fresh Lemongrass fragrance & the way it makes my skin feel revitalised.
And, finally I have been loving my Rose Gold Eyelash Curlers from good ol' Primark. At only £1 they're a huge bargain & an Instagrammable bargain at that! These work a treat & give my lashes a perfect curl.
What are your July Favourites?
L x 
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Rosie for Autograph Makeup

Supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has collaborated again with M&S to release her very own cosmetic collection & she has done it in the most beautiful way. Dreamy rose gold packaging, dainty floral detailing & natural shades all make for an absolutely stunning range.

I've been trying out some of the products & I'm finally ready to report back to you all, singing all of the positive praise for these beauties...

Miracle Concealer '2' - £14.00* This concealer has quite literally been a miracle worker for my under eye circles. As it's yellow toned it's great at hiding the darker tones that surround my tired eyes. It's creamy yet turns to a chalky, powder style product once it is blended in. Contained in bullet style packaging makes it travel friendly & convenient to pop in your handbag. 

Cream Blush 'Natures Blush - £14.00* This Cream Blush is a beautiful, bright, Coral shade ideal for a Summer makeup look. The cream formulation is silky soft, which turns to a powder finish on application. The pigmentation of this blusher is amazing, I was a bit heavy handed at first, expecting the product to disappear into my foundation so was very generous with the amount I used. Luckily it blends in easily, so my mishap was easily fixed & I was left with a lovely subtle pop of colour on the apple of my cheeks. A little definitely goes a long way so this pretty palette should last me a long time!

Liquid Eyeliner 'Intense Black' - £14.00* A thin felt tip style liquid eyeliner that provides precise application. I am able to draw on a line of eyeliner without any wiggly mistakes, it dries quickly so I don't get that dreaded smudged line on my eyelid either.  Its a deep black colour which is what I always opt for, I'm not a fan of dull, grey toned liquid eyeliners & it's long-lasting too so it ticks all of the boxes for me!

Cream Eyeshadow Stick 'Feline Fox' - £12.50* My favourite product out of the lot, a velvety soft eyeshadow stick in a wearable shimmery taupe brown shade. It glides across my eyelid smoothly & blends easily with both a brush or my fingers, I have been scribbling it on all over the lower part of my eyelid & then blending it out. It's crease resistant too & really comfortable to wear. It's such an easy to use eye makeup product & perfect to use if you're in a hurry as it's so effortless to apply & blends like a dream. 

Eyeshadow Quad 'Ballet Slipper' - £18.00* I would describe this quad as the perfect everyday eyeshadow palette. The four shades are great for creating a smokey eye look or just keeping it simple, there are so many options with it. My favourite way to wear this palette is to apply the brown shade all over my eyelid & then sweep the peachy, rose toned (bottom right) shadow on top. I then brush a tiny amount of the black underneath my lower lashes & use the light nude shade to highlight in the corner of my eyes. The eyeshadows are all equally as beautiful, each one with a hint of shimmer, my most-loved eyeshadow finish as they seem to be more fool-proof than matte shades. 

Lipstick 'I Love You So Much ILYSM' - £14.00* When I first took the lid of this lipstick my instant thought was wow! It's a bold pink lipstick which seems quite scary to me as they aren't my first lip colour choice but it is such a pretty colour I have given it a go anyway. The lipstick has a really creamy formula & contains Argan Oil to help nourish & hydrate your lips. 

Bronzer 'Magic Contour' - £18.00* I have finally found a bronzer that is the right shade for me, being so pale they can often look muddy on my complexion but this one is great for my fair skin. The matte powder gives me a natural, much needed, sun-kissed glow without being too harsh.

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Have you tried anything from the Rosie for Autograph makeup collection? If not, what would you like to try? L x

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A Cult Beauty Haul

You know when you've been eyeing up products forever, but you're trying to be good so resist buying them until one day an email pops into your inbox with a discount code? Well that happened to me. I kept finding myself on the Cult Beauty website, adding things to my basket then closing the webpage before actually checking out. Then a 15% off code came along & finally gave me the courage to hit the checkout button.
Every single time I would add the same 3 products so I gave into temptation & placed the order. First thing that went straight into the basket was the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in the shade Medium Brown (£15.00), I reckon this has been one of the most talked about beauty products in the blogosphere so I'm excited to finally have this little pot of brow goodness in my life!
A favourite from skincare guru Caroline Hirons, Pixi Glow Tonic (£18.00) is another product that is non-stop raved about. A toner that contains glycolic acid which promises to reveal new healthy skin cells whilst also hydrating, soothing & giving your complexion a natural, dewy radiance. It sounds like a miracle worker to me, I'm hoping it will reduce the scars I have from blemishes & keep other imperfections at bay. 
Aesop Pasley Seed Facial Cleansing Masque (£27.00) really appealed to me after I read the description "one can do a catch-up cheat with skin care using this Parsley Seed cleansing mask" - in fact its what sold it to me. Admittedly I get a bit lazy with skincare, especially when I've been working a lot of overtime & all I wanna do is crawl into bed rather than stand at the sink scrubbing away my makeup. The mask is said to draw out impurities but doesn't leave your skin feeling tight & provides a heap of antioxidants to perk up a dull complexion. I'll be reporting my findings soon!
Have you shopped on Cult Beauty or tried any of these before? L x

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Two MAC Makeup Brushes I Can't Live Without

The other day I was filling in my eyebrows with my MAC 266 Angled Brush when it occurred to me I hadn't really featured it on my blog, which is really surprising because I use it every single day & I'd be absolutely lost without it. My eyebrows are definitely sisters, not twins & they stress me out beyond belief basically every day but since having the 266 it's reduced my eyebrow drama slightly! I find the angled shaped bristles are the perfect size for my brows, they're quite thin at the front & the brush creates the right size strokes. It's look a little battered now, as is my 217 but with the amount of use they both get it's to be expected really! I know it can sound a bit ridiculous spending £16.50 on a single brush, but I've certainly got my money's worth by using it so much. Also, duty free is your friend when buying high end beauty products, well it is for me anyway, even if it is only a few ££ cheaper it's better than nothing! 
The second MAC Makeup brush I can't be without is the MAC 217 Blending Brush, it was my first MAC brush & also my first "expensive" makeup brush I purchased. I'd read so many rave reviews about it & because I was useless at applying eyeshadow I justified it by saying it would be a tool that would be beneficial to my makeup routine! The super fluffy bristles make eyeshadow blend like a complete dream, it's so effortless & easy to achieve seamless eyeshadow that I have no regrets buying it. In fact I'm going to pick up another one next time I'm near a MAC store so I have a back up when the other needs washing! 
Honestly, I never used to believe the all the rave reviews about these makeup brushes but after giving into the hype I can confirm they are a million times better than I expected. They've helped me become a whole lot more confident applying makeup & I always go back to them if I switch to another brush. 
Have you got either of these MAC makeup brushes?
L x

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Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation - £31.00 For the longest time I'd been dying to try out a Nars product, with Laguna Bronzer or Sheer Glow that were non-stop raved about by beauty bloggers & not being the biggest bronzer fan it seemed logical to go for the foundation. I popped it on my Christmas gift list this year & my Mum was kind enough to brave the crowds at the Trafford Centre around Christmas to go into Selfridges & purchase a bottle for me. I didn't give too much thought to the shade I'd need as I am always the palest one so my Mum asked the MUA for the lightest one & she was given 'Siberia'. For some reason I always thought 'Mont Blanc' was the palest shade available so when I read Siberia on the bottom of the bottle I did panic slightly thinking it would be too dark for me. However it is actually one of the lightest foundations I've used & suits my skin tone perfectly! It's a neutral shade with a balance of both pink & yellow undertones, which is the right colour combination for me as I don't like my foundation to look rosey but I find yellow based foundations don't suit me either.
Sheer Glow is described by Nars as a glowing, natural radiant finish foundation with sheer and build able coverage that immaculately evens skin tone & completely agree with that description. It feels lightweight yet is able to provide flawless coverage, giving my skin a much needed glow. Thanks to the Nars Complexion Brightening Formula & anti-oxidants being included in the ingredients my skin is provided with the benefits of skincare through a makeup item which is a win-win situation for me. I apply the foundation with either a brush or my hands, depending on what mood I'm in really. I mostly opt for my hands because using a brush tends to leave strokes all over my face, meaning more work to blend it & buff it in & I'm lazy! The satin texture makes my skin feel smooth & soft, with a radiant, fresh look to it. I find that a tiny bit goes a long way, I always manage to get the coverage I desire with a small amount & having used it regularly since Christmas I've still got over half the bottle left. One thing I actually really like about this foundation that others seem to be annoyed about is the fact it doesn't contain any SPF. It means I can wear it on a night out/to a family event & I don't need to worry about sporting a ghost face when I have a photograph taken! If I'm wearing it during the day I apply an SPF anyway so it's not a problem for me. 
Every single time I wear this foundation I receive compliments about my skin & I feel like I'm forever recommending it to anyone & everyone but I really do feel like it's worth the price tag! The one thing I'd change is for a pump to be included but as long as your careful it's not too bad. Next on my list to try is the new Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation but I'd also like to try a blush & one of the Velvet Matte Lip Pencils too! Oh & the Creamy Concealer! 
Have you tried Nars Sheer Glow Foundation?
L x 
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I went to Boots for one thing...

So you know when you say to yourself "oh I'll just pop into Boots to grab some hair dye" and you walk out with a bag full of stuff & your purse £50 lighter!? Yep... I can't seem to restrain myself when it comes to Boots & I know thats quite a common problem with most other beauty bloggers too! I was going to blame the 3 for 2 across all makeup that lured me in & made me cave but I ended up going off course & wandered down most of the aisles, adding things to my basket along the way. 
My unexpected haul began at the makeup stands as I "suddenly" remembered that I needed a new liquid liner, which opened my eyes to the 3 for 2 offer so of course I had to take advantage! Before I knew it I had grabbed blushers, foundation, mascara & nail polish, none of which I *really* needed but decided I'd have anyway. I am actually glad I splurged on some new makeup items, makeup is one of the best kinda treats & I am loving the Max Factor Creme Puff Blushes! I also headed over to the haircare aisle in search for a new shampoo & conditioner to try out. I was pretty restrained here & opted for minis rather than full sized! I chose the Toni & Guy Cleanse Shampoo & Conditioner for dry hair along with a bottle of their Sea Salt Texturising spray which I have been obsessed with since getting my hair cut shorter!
This isn't even all of the haul but adding in deodorant, toothpaste & hair dye didn't seem to add anything to the photograph so I took them out! Are you guilty of going into Boots for one thing & coming out with a whole lot more than one item!?
L x 
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Yves Rocher Smoky Eye Makeup

Yves Rocher is a French Makeup brand that are pretty new to me, however after trying out a few of their products around Christmas I was excited to be greeted with another opportunity to give their  smoky eye products a whirl! 

Achieving a smoky eye I'm proud of is something I'm still working on, I haven't quite mastered the blending technique & figuring out what shade goes in the crease is something that I still have a mini meltdown over when I sit staring at my eyeshadows but hey, they say practice makes perfect so heres hoping! Along my journey to creating a successful smoky eye I've learnt that a primer should never be forgotten & whilst I love my Urban Decay Primer Potion it's nice to switch things up every now & again. The Fixing Eye Primer* is enriched with Camellia Oil, an ingredient which is known to soften skin, providing the primer with smoothing abilities to ensure wrinkles and fine lines are hidden. The formula is a neutral shade to help cover dark circles and create a flawless base for eyeshadow to sit on. I find it softens my eyelids, helping shadows glide on easily and effortlessly but also keeps my eye makeup in place all day long.

Most of my eyeshadows are neutral ones, browns, nudes and taupes so having the Quad Eyeshadow Palette in Deep Grey* is a much needed change. Encased in a beautiful golden compact are four shades, a pearl white, smoky grey, a blue toned grey and matte black. Each shadow is soft to touch & highly pigmented, even the white which I wasn't expecting as they can be quite chalky. If you're after a more intense look the eyeshadows can be used wet, with the shimmer shades turning metallic and the mattes becoming more dense.  The palette also has a huge mirror inside making it travel friendly & handy to pop in your handbag to use when you need to touch up your makeup. What I really love about this palette is the mini guide on the back which shows you where each shade can be used, perfect for someone like me who always gets confused!

The newest eye product from Yves Rocher is the 100% Kajal Liner* housed in lipstick style packaging with a crayon-like bullet. With it's creamy, intensely pigmented formula it's easy to apply to both water & tight lines. And, last but not least to complete the smoky eye look lots of of Volume Vertige Mascara* should be applied! The curved brush attaches itself to your lashes It's definitley my new favourite mascara! Have you tried any makeup from Yves Rocher? L x

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Zoeva Rose Golden Brush Set

Zoeva Rose Golden Luxury Brush Set - €58/£42 Along with Real Techniques make up brushes the Zoeva Rose Golden Brush Set is one of the most raved about sets in the beauty blogging world. After reading so many reviews & lusting over them for ages I finally found them in my Christmas gift pile from Dom who had them shipped over from Germany because all the UK Stockists had sold out (extra boyfriend points to him!) My Real Techniques brushes are looking rather loved now anyway & rather than repurchasing the same ones its nice to try something new.
The Rose Golden Luxury Set is described as "Romantic Copper" which I think is such a pretty way to describe rose gold! There are eight brushes in the set which are made from high quality natural hair or synthetic taklon bristles so they can be used with cream or powder products. The brushes are housed in a clutch style bag, meaning you can chuck them in your handbag knowing they'll be travelling around safely & stylishly! 
Christmas was around four months ago now so it's fair to say I've trialled & tested these brushes a whole lot! I've used them on various products & also washed them with different soaps/shampoos so I've had lots of experience using them. My absolute favourite brush of the bunch is the 102 Silk Finish which I've been reaching for every time it comes to apply & blend my foundation. I never thought I'd move on from my RT Buffing/Expert Face brushes but the Silk Finish buffs in every foundation I use really well, it never leaves streaks across my face & because of it's dome shape it's really good for blending excess product in around my nose and hair line areas! It also works well when I apply concealer as it's not a massive brush I can get away with sweeping it under my eyes to cover my dark circles without bristles poking me! Another brush that really stands out to me is the 127 Luxe Sheer Check, I've got nothing like this in my brush collection so I've found it a saviour when it comes to using bronzers & even blushers too. The big fluffy angled bristles are the perfect size for contouring in the hollows of my cheeks & around my forehead without the product looking overloaded or cakey. Theres also a dupe of the MAC 217, known as the 227 Luxe Soft Definer it's pretty much identical & it's so handy that I now have two good quality blending brushes to use when I want to create a smokey eye. 
Have you got the Zoeva Rose Gold brushes? Which is your favourite?
L x

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March Makeup

March is the month that welcomes Spring, we see lots more daylight, blue skies & wild flowers blooming. When Spring arrives I instantly want to ditch the heavy makeup & go for a more natural look. So, with that in mind I've been opting for fresh feeling makeup, with a light base & a dewy, highlighted finish, nude lips & a subtle smokey eye. 
The foundation I've been obsessing over recently is the NYX BB Cream which for some reason I can't find on any UK websites & I purchased my tube from Next before they discontinued it in their stores. It's a super lightweight formula but surprisingly provides decent coverage, feels moisturising & makes my skin smooth. After applying my base I spritz the NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray to provide an extra 'glow' & make my skin appear fresh. Whilst it dries I move onto my eye makeup, which consists of sweeping Virgin, Sin & Sidecar from the Naked Palette over my eyelids & kinda hoping for the best. I'm no expert when it comes to doing my eye shadow, so going with the flow works well for me! I then add a couple of coats of mascara & a flick of winged liner but these rarely change so I didn't include them in the photo! On my lips I've been keeping it pretty minimal by using the No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in which is a neutral nude pink shade. Finally I use a touch of powder, the Bourjois Poudre De Riz Java Rice Loose Powder which illuminates  instead of creating a matte finish. I mostly pop it on my cheek & brow bones & use it mainly as a highlighter to complete my makeup! What makeup have you been wearing this month?
L x

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January Favourites

I'm so excited (& probably a little too eager!) to type up this post today, not only because it's the first monthly favourites of 2015 but because it contains products I've lusted after for so long that I finally got my hands on over Christmas which well & truly live up to the hype around them!  Lets start from the top of the photo, the first item being the Rose Gold Zoeva 102 Silk Finish brush (which is slightly out of focus, apologies but I'm still getting to grips with my shiny new camera!) I am completely obsessed with using this brush to apply my foundation. It's quite dense with a rounded head which makes blending & buffing a complete dream. It makes my foundation appear seamless & I just love it so much! In fact the whole set is amazing, so keep an eye out for a full review soon! Next is a skincare item from Soap & Glory, my favourite drugstore brand when it comes to both skincare & bath products. I picked the Fab Pore 2-in-1 Facial Pore Purifying Mask & Peel on a complete whim when I was feeling really fed up of my skin & in desperate need of a 'quick fix'. I haven't read any reviews on this but I think it deserves so much more recognition! Soap & Glory state that this is going to be your new favourite mask & it's true, it's definitely mine! I've been using it once a week to shrink my pores & improve the general appearance of my skin. It gives my skin a new lease of life, it feels a million times better, my pores are virtually invisible & my blemishes seem a lot calmer. Its £10 a pot but theres always offers on S&G stuff so I got it for about £8, it's well worth it! NARS Sheer Glow Foundation is a base product that I have wanted to try out for SO long, but I was always put off by the price tag so when my Mum offered to get it me for Christmas I jumped at the chance. Honestly, I wish I hadn't waited so long to try it! I've had so many compliments when I've been wearing it & it's completely rekindled my love with applying makeup. You know when you have those 'meh' days because your skin is looking blah & you can just tell your makeup isn't going to sit right? Well this completely transforms my skin, it's a miracle in a bottle & is definitely up there with my other fave foundation, YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat. I'm always so nervous to splurge on high end makeup incase I don't like it, but sometimes it's worth the risk!  Another product from Soap & Glory has made it's way into my January Favourites, this time something from their makeup range. I feel like I've been waiting forever to buy the Archery 2-in-1 Brow Filling Pencil & Brush, literally every time I went into my local Boots it was always out of stock... I even sneakily opened the drawer underneath the stand to see if any were hidden but to my disappointment there wasn't! Last week I ended up going over to Liverpool where I got drawn in to the huge Boots & to my delight the S&G stand was fully stocked so I grabbed the archery pencil in the shade 'Hot Chocolate' & trotted of to pay for it without even thinking twice! Even though this has only been in my life for a short while it's changed my eyebrow routine for the better, quick short strokes, a brush through with the spoolie & my brows are filled within a minute or so. The colour is a perfect match too & my brows don't seem to disintegrate throughout the day either! My most-loved fragrance of the month is Daisy Dream by Marc Jacobs. I have a couple of MJ perfumes plus some mini handbag versions so when Daisy Dream was released I knew it would eventually end up in my collection. Everything from the bottle adorned with daisies & the light, fruity, floral scent is lovely & right up my street. I've been spritzing it ever since Doms parents kindly surprised it with me (love that my "in laws" know me so well!) & I can't get enough of it! It's such a Spring/Summer kinda scent, as are most of the MJ fragrances, so it's nice to spray this when the days are dull & be reminded of the warm Summer days that are ahead of us, hopefully! I always have what seems like a 101 lip balms on the go at once & usually just grab whatever is closest to me but this month I've been choosing the Burts Bees Peppermint Beeswax Lip Balm more often than not. I find Burts Bees to be one of the most nourishing lip balms, they're filled with natural ingredients such as Coconut & Sunflower oils plus lots of vitamins & essential fatty acids to condition, soften & hydrate. The Peppermint flavour is really refreshing & tingles a little bit, which to me is a sign it's working! Tigi Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey Nourishing Shampoo* & Conditioner* have been my hair washing products of choice this month. If you've read my blog for a while you'll probably be fed up of me mentioning how dry my hair can be but seriously it's getting to the stage that it now forms dreadlocks if I don't brush it straight away after washing!! I'm forever soaking it in Moroccan Oil & using various other products that lock in moisture, whilst I still love all of the previous products I've used it's good to switch up your haircare routine every now & again! It's a nice change to have a shampoo/conditioner that doesn't have a fruity scent, the Honey & Oatmeal provide a comforting kinda smell, think breakfast & porridge & you're on the right tracks and the best thing is that the scent lingers around, I love it when you get wafts of a scent all day long! It definitely helps to tame my hair as it always feels silky soft during & after I've washed it, I hate shampoos that make your hair have that weird squeaky clean feeling whilst you're rinsing out the product. The gift pack is currently only £14.50 which is pretty good considering individually they would normally retail between £24-£30. What are your January Favourites? L x

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yves rocher beauty

Yves Rocher Flowerparty By Night 50ml - £19.00

Yves Rocher Moisturising Cream Lipstick in Rose Alba - £7.50

Yves Rocher Lash Plumping Waterproof Mascara - £9.25

Yves Rocher is a brand I've seen lots of bloggers rave about, yet I never got round to trying any products from them so it was a nice surprise being treated to a few beauty goodies from them! First up is the Flowerparty By Night perfume, contained in a midnight blue ombre bottle & adorned with a decorative flower shaped lid. With bitter almond essential oil, star anise and bourbon vanilla absolute extracts, it's a sweet, fruity & floral scented fragrance. The almond notes and spicy star anise are reminiscent of Christmas festive treats, fruit cake with its soft Marzipan & neat white icing. I've been wearing this throughout December, it's quickly become my go-to perfume, I'm a sucker for sweet scents! 
The Moisturising Cream Lipstick in the shade Rose is, to me, the perfect everyday shade. Rosy pink lipsticks are wearable at anytime of the year and whilst I usually opt for a red lip colour on Christmas Day this year I'll be sporting this pretty shade. Why? Because it's a shade I can get away with wearing whilst eating Christmas Dinner & not having to worry about lipstick stains all over my teeth and face!   The formula gets extra bonus points from me, it's a creamy texture that melts onto the lips that manages to provide moisture as well as perfect coverage in one application.
The final product I've been testing out from Yves Rocher is the Lash Plumping Mascara. I love a Mascara that I can wear for long periods of time without it smudging under my eyes, flaking away or clumping together. With it's volumizing abilities I did expect it to be thick & clumpy & whilst it is a thick formula it doesn't stick all my eyelashes together. A couple of coats of this mascara & my eyelashes look thicker & fuller without feeling crispy or heavy. 
Have you tried any products from Yves Rocher? What are your favourites?
L x

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makeup revolution the one blush sticks

Makeup Revolution The One Blush Sticks* - £5.00 As I mentioned in my 'New Beauty Bits' post last week, Makeup Revolution have released a new range of blushers which I've been testing out & it's now time to share my findings! The collection consists of eight shades in two different shades matte & bold and the packaging is even designed to reflect the finish of the product... so matte black plastic packaging for all four matte shades & black shiny plastic packaging for the four shimmer/bold shades. They're multi-use too, meaning they aren't just to be applied to your cheeks but work as a lip product as well! 

The Matte swatches from left to right are: Matte Dream, Matte Pink, Matte Rush & Matte Malibu.

Matte Dream is a very pale pink whilst Matte Pink is a Barbie kinda pink shade with cool blue undertones. Matte Rush is a bright coral colour & Matte Malibu is a warm brown/terracotta shade. Malibu is probably the shade that is the most unwearable for me, as it appears quite muddy on my pale complexion but it would work well on darker skin tones. Matte Dream & Pink are both really pretty shades, with Dream being perfect if you're wanting a little flush of colour/highlight & Pink if you want a pop of colour on your cheeks. Rush, although it looks really bold when swatched is a really flattering blush colour & is also the only colour I'd actually wear on my lips. Whilst all of the colours could be worn on the lips they aren't really my cup of tea when it comes to lipstick shades but I've been wearing more coral/orange/peach tones on my lips since discovering they suit me! Even though these are a matte formula they still have a creamy consistency & apply really smoothly using either a stippling brush or a blusher brush for a less intense look.

Swatches from left to right are: Dream, Pink, Rush & Malibu. (Sorry I really struggled to get Dream to show up well on these photos!) Dream is definitely a highlighter shade, with it's pearly shimmer finish it sits well on the brow or cheek bone. Pink is a blue toned pink but isn't as pigmented as it's matte sister, meaning it is more wearable. My favourite shade from the whole bunch is Rush, being rose gold I loved it instantly anyway & it reminded me of one of my favourite blushers 'Sleek - Rose Gold' which in turn is a dupe of the famous 'Nars - Orgasm'. Whilst I was doing research for this post I discovered that these blush sticks are actually pretty good dupes for the Nars Multiples & in fact Rush is pretty much identical to the Orgasm shade again.  I know I'd rather be paying £5 instead of £30 any way! Again, Malibu is no good for my pale skin but for tanned or darker skin tones I can see it being a great contour product. This formula is really creamy, soft & again applies well with either a stippling or blusher brush depending on what kind of look you what to go for. 
I think these little blush sticks are absolute bargains, especially when you compare them to the Nars Multiples. Priced at only £5 for a push up 2-in-1 blush/lip product combo they're the perfect makeup item to pop in your handbag too! With two formulas and eight shades to choose from their is definitely something for everyone! If you haven't already then I'd highly recommend heading over to your local Superdrug to check out the Makeup Revolution stand, they're becoming one of my favourite drugstore brands with so many incredible products at really affordable prices.
Which is your favourite shade?
L x

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bourjois rouge edition velvet lipstick | grand cru

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick 'Grand Cru' - £8.99
Bourjois are a brand that I find myself going back to more & more recently, with their Rice Powder being in my top drugstore powders & the Chocolate Bronzer being the first bronzer to ever touch my pale cheeks I've got a lot of trust in the brand when it comes to trying out new products! They seem to be my main go to brand when it comes to bases & I haven't really dipped into any of their lip product offerings until there was recently a 3 for 2 which provided me with the perfect opportunity. I already had a Bourjois foundation & powder in my basket so it made sense to choose a lipstick & try something new & this is when I welcomed the Rough Edition Velvet lipstick in the shade 'Grand Cru' into my life. 
I'm all about the berry tones when it comes to lip products so when I noticed it on the shelves I knew it was the shade for me. When applied it's definitely more of a pink toned berry colour rather than the usual purple hues found in berry shades but in my opinion this just makes it more wearable as purple lipsticks can sometimes be a bit harsh for an everyday makeup look! It can be built up though to create a stronger, more vampy appearance. It goes on as though it is a lip gloss yet has the same staying power as a matte lipstick but manages to avoid that dry feeling matte products can have. It's the smoothest, softest lip product I've ever worn & I can see why Bourjois popped the word Velvet into it's name!
Have you tried any of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks?
L x

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