Spring Empties….

It's pretty much Summer now, right? Here's a bunch of products I used up throughout the Spring (some of these have been ongoing for quite a while!)….. and a couple of thought's on my loves and hates!

I've actually dyed my hair twice this spring, but Berry Red from the Casting Creme Gloss range has been my favourite and I'll be going back to this one next time for sure. The L'Oreal Mythic Oil is my forever holy-grail favourite… this is my second bottle of this and I've already started number 3!

Collection Lasting Perfection concealer…say no more. Love this, and I have 3 back ups ready and waiting for me. I used to love the Bobby Brown corrector for under my eyes but my Body Shop Illuminating pen in shade 1 has overtaken this as my favourite and it's a lot less likely to settle into the fine lines around the eyes.  

My Clean & Clear deep action face wash is a staple in my skincare routine and I'm already half way through my back up! I also really enjoyed the Soap and Glory Scrub Your Nose In It scrub and can see me purchasing this one down the line somewhere. Now I've heard a LOT about the REN skincare line and was excited to have the day cream to test out. You can imagine my disappointment when I hated it with a passion. I found it sticky and the smell was just unbearable. Not a winner, sorry REN!

I can't even begin to talk about how sad I am to have finished the D&G 10 perfume because it's discontinued and will always be known as 'my scent'. I have one bottle left and is getting seriously rationed! Another holy grail product that I actually haven't re-purchased yet (too many others to use up as you can imagine) is the Superdrug Vitamin E body cream. Such a bargain and sinks into the skin perfectly. 

I love reading empties posts because I think you get a really honest, true review of products so hope you guys enjoyed this!

Loves

xxx

Nail Varnish Collection Downsize…

I've noticed in recent months that my style is getting really minimal. My go-to outfit has been jeans boots and a grey t-shirt, my hair is left natural, and as long as I have lots of lashes and a bright lip I'm good to go out the door. So when I went to pick a nail varnish out of my collection recently, I was a bit overwhelmed with all my pinks, glitters, brights, nail effects etc etc etc. Don't get me wrong, I love pastels and brights and lots of colour on my nails, but I just felt I needed a real de-clutter. And by de-clutter, I mean throw all my glitter polishes in the bin. My life is too short to remove glitter nail varnish regularly. So, here's my collection post-clearout…

l-r Essie Grow Stronger base coat, Seche Vite top coat. 

Everyone needs a good base and top coat. I've been using both of these religiously for about 12 months, and I wouldn't use anything else. 

l-r Rimmel 60 Second Rita Ora collection in Pillow Talk, Lose You're Lingerie, Orgasm

These are my favourite new drugstore release by far. I adore all of the colours, plus it's in conjunction with Rita Ora, who I happen to have the biggest girl crush on. It's also worth noting that the middle shade above is a great dupe for Essie Fiji.

l-r Models Own Purple Grey, Rasberry Crush, Purple Passion, Purple Blue from the Beetle Juice collection. 

I used to have in excess of 40 Models Own polishes but I re-homed most of them with friends and threw away the ones that had gone gloopy and here's what I'm left with. The two pink colours I've kept specifically for toes especially with a tan in the summer. 

l-r Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in I Pink I Can, Midnight in NY, Mermaids Tail, All Fired Up

I love the formula and brush on these, they apply with one stroke down the nails and are almost opaque after one coat. I'd go as far as to say All Fired Up is probably my favourite nail colour. Ever. 

l-r Essie Mint Candy Apple, Fiji, Lilacism, Peach Daiquiri 

Ahhhh the classic Essie love on a blog. Who'da thought it?! I think Peach Daiquiri is quite a standard shade and wasn't too overwhelmed with it, but Lilacism is so beautiful and understated. 

l-r Sportgirl Aubergine, Collection (don't know the shade name, it's just black) Sportgirl neon pink, Gosh Lavender Love, Barry M Lychee 

These are my odds and ends that don't fit in any categories. A bit like Models Own, I threw away or re-homed most of my Barry M nail varnishes as I thought they chipped too easily but I do quite like the new Gelly formula so if you have any colour recommendations from this line I'd love to hear them!

Loves

xxx

April favourites….

Unsurprisingly, my April favourites is fairly lip product heavy. April also saw some resurrections from makeup favourites past…. one good thing about being on a budget is being more aware of raiding old makeup and digging into the long forgotten stash!

Bright lips have been the order of the day, particularly in shades of orange. First up is the Mac Pro Longwear lip pencil in What A Blast…I love this under almost every orange lip I wear, it makes it super long wearing and the colour so vivid. On top of this I've either been wearing my Napolian Perdis Set lipstick in Noosa. I don't actually think this is available in the UK but for any Aussie readers I have on here…..if you don't own this then WHY NOT? If I want something less matte and with a bit of sheen for the day time I'll pop on the Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in In Love With Ginger. If you saw my last post you'll see my other favourite lip colour is purple, so of course my favourite (and cheapest!) purple lipstick of the month has to be the Collection Little Mix lipstick in the shade Perrie. Lastly for lips, my neutral lip shade of choice has been the Benefit lip gloss in Sugarbomb, a beautiful pink with some shimmer running through it. 

Eye favourites have been all about the old faithfuls. You'll almost definitely have seen me talk about The Balm What's Your Type Volumising mascara over the past 18 months and it's still up there as one of the best mascara's I've ever used. I've been going back to basics on eyes with just a sweep of the Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeshadow stick in Bulletproof Beige over my eyes with loads of mascara, or a sweep of neutral shadow from my very old and very faithful Sleek Oh So Special palette. I love the pink shades in here for spring/summer, and the black is one of the best I've tried. As my eyelids are, and will forever be, particularly oily, I've re-discovered Benefit Stay Don't Stray eyelid primer which, I'll admit, I was not a fan of to start with. I still think the pump dispenser is wasteful but I've learnt that less is more with this one and I've really been loving it. 

Just a couple of face products, both from one of my favourite brands, NYX. First off is something that I'm sure has been in the last 3 months favourites and I'm almost certain everyone is fed up of hearing me harp on about; the NYX matte bronzing powder in light. And for a splash of colour I've been loving the NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Hot Pink blended (VERY lightly….this product has some serious pigment to it) into the apples of my cheeks and up lightly onto the cheekbones.

What are everyone else's favourites from April?

Loves

xxx

Everyday eye look featuring Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara..

More often than not I find myself reaching for the liquid liner to do a winged-out cat eye look which, combined with big thick lashes, I've found myself rocking on a day to day basis. Having ran out of my favourite mascara (Benefit They're Real) I reached into my stash (and trust me it's a big one) and pulled out my next mascara victim; Rimmel Lash Accelerator. 

I thought the wand seemed a little plasticky at first so wasn't intending on being too impressed but the thin want and short bristles make for perfectly defined lashes from corner to corner, and makes bottom lash application a dream. It take a lot of coats (this took about four) to reach my desired lash thickness, and a lot of time and patience, but the results are so worth it.

I used the Shu Uemura eyelash curlers first, then applied multiple coats of the Lash Accelerator mascara. I used a wash of coral eyeshadow across the lid and liner the top lash line with the Topshop liquid liner, and used Soap & Glory smoulder kohl liner in the waterline. 

Has anyone else tried and loved this mascara?

Loves

xxx

Top 13 of 2013...the makeup edition...

Top foundation has to be, without a doubt, Revlon Nearly Naked. Third bottle of this bad boy and the love affair is still continuing. 

The concealer that has kept creeping back into my life (well, makeup bag) in 2013 was the Body Shop Illuminating Touch in the shade 3. Great for achieving Kim K style cheekbones.

The only bronzer to grace my face was Benefit Hoola, which I'd probably award as my top product of all time award. Big news.

Favourite blushers go to Sleek in general but, not to be called a cheater, I'd pick Pixie Pink if I was going to single one out. 

Highlighter could only be The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer, used sparingly, for a beautiful daily glow.

For eyeshadow the only thing I regularly reach for, and my one 'take away with me everywhere' was my Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. For day looks, eye looks, and brows this was my saviour. 

I couldn't let eyeliner slip by without throwing a huge mention out to the Rimmel Scandaleyes pencils, especially in the taupe and nude shades, and my trusty Topshop liquid liner in black. 

Again, mascara is a two parter as big lashes were my favourite look of 2013. My stand out winners were Benefit They're Real and Makeup Forever Smokey Lash. 

For the nude/pink lipstick offerings I turned to the NYX matte lipsticks towards the later part of the year, but my favourite lip discovery of 2013 were hands down the Maybelline vivids, of which I own and love every single one. 

Lastly my Urban Decay de-slick setting spray has been a life saver on these hot Australian days.

Honorable mentions go to the Real Techniques brushes, Rimmel Apocolips (especially Big Bang), the Maybelline colour tattoos and the new Revlon lip glosses. Sorry, I cheated. 

What has everyone else loved in 2013??

Loves

xxx

What's on my lips #2...

Sticking with the purple theme from he last What's on my lips post that I did, this time I'm loving a more muted offering from the colour family. 

   

Firstly can I say how excited I am to try the new Rimmel Moisture Renew lipsticks as these are some of my favourite high street lipstick's ever! Vintage Pink is a mauve lilac pink hybrid and looks great with a  very light, neutral eye as the lipstick can look a bit heavy and dark if it's applied heavy handedly!

What has everyone else been loving on their lips this week?

Loves

xxx

October Favourites...

I won't go on for too long because I have a full review on it here, but The Body Shop warming mineral mask has been my life saver this month. The Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner duo in Tousle Me Softly has been my go to shower pairing for an everyday hair wash. It smells lush, leaves my hair soft but by no means lifeless, and makes it super easy to style. And for those days when I clearly haven't (but probably should have) reached for these two, the V05 Plump Me Up dry shampoo comes to my rescue. Again, it's bagged it's very own review here. 

I've got my sticky little hands on another of Lush's lip scrub offerings, this time in Popcorn. Not much to say on these as most people know or will have heard how much of a life saver these little bargain pots are. I've fallen in love with the Bourjois Happy Light foundation this month, although I do have to powder with with my Holy Grail Mac MSF Natural (I'm the shade medium plus). It lets me real skin show through while giving just enough coverage for day to day wear. Why oh why have I never owned a Mac 239 brush? Who let me get to 25 years of age without ever having one in my possession?

Benefit They're Real is back in my life (and, yes I know I'm sorry, back in my monthly favourites posts). I may have found an (almost) dupe for this from the drugstore but more on that later in the month. For lip wear, I've been dabbling in the Kate Moss matte range and in particular wearing 113, a pale nude, and 107, the infamous deep burgundy red that everyone, including myself) is going loopy for right now.

And, finally, what would a favourites post be without a product from The Balm? Mary Lou-manizer is everything I need a highlight to be. It lasts (for hours), gives a subtle shine to the desired areas (with the right brush and a very light hand) and comes in the cutest packaging ever.

What are everyone else's October favourites?

Loves

xxx

Rimmel Scandaleyes eye shadow stick....

This thing is an absolute beauty. I'm a black kohl liner girl through and through, and I love applying it to my upper and lower lash line then smudging out for a grungy undone eye. I find some liners do this better than others, and with a standard kohl pencil it can take some work to achieve the look I'm going for. I bought this hoping for smokey, grungy, messy results with minimal effort and it delivers all that and more. First, the colour...

left - solid colour, right - smudged out

Dark black with an iridescent shimmer under light (although not that noticeable on the eye) it glides on super easy, smudges controllably, then stays put once set. I've heard that these things can crease on the lid but I don't have the problem using them the way I do as it's just a quick line on the upper and lower lash line. I then smudge with a pencil brush, neaten up the edges with a cotton bud where needed then go. Instant rock chick, grunge, super model on a night out, eyes. 

Has anyone else used any other colour in these pencils?

Loves

xxx

June favourites...

Urban Decay naked basics

Makeover Essentials bronzing face powder (read my review here)

Benefit Fake Up concealer

VO5 dry texturising spray (read my review here)

Bioderma (erm WOW how have I only just purchased this little beauty??!!)

Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm (probably the only lip balm I'll ever buy ever again)

VO5 miracle oil concentrate hair oil

Benefit Porefessional (I desperately need a new tube of this I'm squeezing the very last bit out now!)

Rimmel Apocolips in Stellar

Maybelline Master Precise liquid liner

What has everyone else been loving this month?

Loves

xxx

Back to England just in time for a Bank Holiday....

You call this summer? While most of England is making the most of the bright orange thing in the sky peeking through the clouds, I'm rugged up in leggings boots and jumpers still. I'm definitely not in Australia anymore!

So I got back four days ago, and have managed to go shopping, then go shopping, go shopping again, and drink a fair amount of vodka with the girls. I also squeezed in a Harvester, a Nando's, a Starbucks and two Costa's. Clearly got my priorities right. 

Dress: Primark

Jacket: Topshop

Bag: Australia market

Belt: New Look (one of my new buys)

Hair: natural if you can believe it!

Just one of my mini hauls from the past few days, I popped into Boots to use up some of the points Mum had accumulated over the past 12 months, and was clearly craving eyelashes! Got to love 3 for 2. Also picked up the Bumble and Bumble texturising (un)dressing cream, Soap and Glory Flake Away (hello holy grail product and oh how I have missed you), a new Barry M lippy, the final Rimmel Apocolips for my collection in Luna, a Rimmel Scandalise eye crayon, Seche Vite, and finally Benefit Fake Up which I can honestly say is INcredible.

Then of course there was the obligatory reunion night out in the home town - 

Top: Supre (Australian)

Bracelets: ASOS

Heels: Step In Style

So this is officially me saying HI I'm back. And seeing as I'm going to Birmingham shopping (again) tomorrow, I'll see you next time with a haul!

Loves

xxx

Face of the day....

Not normally one for eyeshadow, I donned my (limited collection) of Mac shadows and tried out a bit of a golden/purple smokey eye for mine and my Ty's 6 month anniversary meal (altogether now....ahhhhhh).

Dress - Jay Jays (Australian)

Foundation - Revlon photo ready

Concealer - Benefit erase paste

Brows - Rimmel eyebrow pencil

Eyes - Mac shadows Retrospeck, Sketch and Cognac, L'Oreal HIP colour truth cream eyeliner

Lashes - Cover Girl Clump Crusher

Blush - Mac Well drressed

Highlighter - Essence Circus Circus in It's Magic

Lips - Chi Chi in Shake that booty and Revlon gloss in Glitz and Glam

 

I'd love to start a Mac palette one day, any suggestions of some first basic colours to get me started would be much appreciated...

Loves

xxx

March monthly empties....

Another good month for empties!

Products I re-purchased: I had a back up of the Botanics eye make-up remover, I'm a big big fan of this stuff. I also had a back up of my deodorant and Vitamin E moisturiser like every month. I re-purchased my Rimmel tan too - this is just a night out staple to give my legs a bit of colour! I actually finished a foundation this month which I was thrilled with! And even though I've got quite a stash of foundations sitting in a draw, I went back to Bourjois and re-purchased healthy mix which is quite something considering I hated it when I first bought it!

Products I've changed: You might be able to see the tiny stub of a Mac Kohl eyeliner pencil in Smoulder on the right hand side of the pic...this is my fourth re-purchase of this and sadly my last. I've got a spare sat in my draw and I will use it up when the occasion suits but it's definitely no longer my favourite kohl pencil, it's been blown out of the water by the Soap and Glory pencil which I did a review on here. Also, as much as I loved the Witch primer, I've recently purchased the new Revlon photo ready primer which I'll be doing a review on soon and so far I'm loving. 

Finally the last thing of note is the Str-Vectin eye cream. This stuff is INCREDIBLE! I got it in a GlossyBox ages ago and literally can't praise it highly enough, apart from the hefty £45 price tag so unfortunatly have had to settle for a cheaper alternative. One day though, I'll definitely be re-buying this! 

Anyone else had a successful empties month?

Loves

xxx

Weekly review...Rimmel Vinyl Max lipgloss...

I'm not usually a lipgloss fan but I tried one or two of the Rimmel Vinyl glosses and really like them. Then as I was browsing the makeup in Boots today and spotted Rimmel Vinyl Max.... 

I picked the colour 131 Dazzle, a real bright, blue toned pink with a blue glitter running through it. 

(excuse the lipstick swatches I couldn't wash them off!)

I'm not sure how well you can tell on these pictures but it is the FATTEST lipgloss tube ever....

The applicator on the left is the regular Vinyl Gloss lipgloss, and is the same size as a regular lipgloss applicator. The one on the right is form the huge Vinyl Max lipgloss, it literally is massive! One stroke of this and your lips are totally glossed. It smells gorgeous, isn't sticky, gives a great wash of colour and looks gorgeous over a barbie pink lipstick.

Anybody else tried the Vinyl Max glosses?

Loves

xxx

So I did a bit of shopping....

Yes I know I'm on a shopping ban, but to be honest I was bored of being good....

Now I'm no fool, I know the Lee Stafford hair growth treatment isn't going to give me bum length locks any time soon, but I needed a new hair treatment and this seems to get pretty good reviews so why not! I also picked up Rimmel Stay Mat pressed powder. Controversially, I don't really like Mac MSF natural that much. I gave it a good 4 month trial and I don't think it does, well, anything to my skin. This was highly recommended and so far I'm impressed!

Casual through and through, I spotted this red shiny body warmer in Republic for £10 and had to have it. With my bright blue skinny jeans and a black hoody under it's been brilliant! I 'needed' (complete lie, I have far too many pairs already) some new denim shorts that were between low-rise and high waisted. Topshop did the job for a bargain of £28 for these. 

Then I had a bit of a t-shirt (surprise surprise) spree online at Miss Selfridge. Grey vest, long navy and white striped body con dress/top and a Love Rocks short t-shirt. 

I wore these shorts last night, so an OOTD is coming up soon!

Loves

xxx

Current obsessions...

I'm so in love with lots of things right now....

Mythic Oil: My hair has grown so much over the last few months, and I think it's probably a combo of not using much heat on it, and using this most days...it makes my hair feel so healthy!

Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick in 03: I think I've worn this nearly ever day since I bought it, amazing colour and staying power, a really perfect nude without giving a 'foundation lip' effect.

The Body Shop Eye reviver duo: This is packed full of vitamin c to make your skin really bright and refreshed, I use this every morning (the under eye radiance cream and cooling all round eye roll on) before my makeup to keep my eyes sparkling and make my concealer stay on all day.

Vivo blush: I have NO idea what colour this is as it's worn off the back, but it's a gorgeous subtle shimmery pink that I've been using so much recently to perk up my tired winter skin, I want to get all the shades in these blushes they're so good for the money!

Office boots: I've been looking for some boots like this for AGES and finally found some in Office (of course) a few weeks ago, these have been moulded to my feet ever since!

Multi-coloured nails: I haven't had all my nails the same colour for months, this is much more fun!

T-shirts: This is only a small collection of my t-shirts, I cannot stop buying them! I'm really not a shirt or 'pretty' top sort of girl, if I could live in t-shirts and denim shorts all my life I would!

Estee Lauder Double Wear: This is a bit of a cheat as I've only worn this once, but the obsession part comes from looking at it's beautiful-ness (real word, honest) on my makeup shelf, I can't wait to start using it more!

One Day: I CANNOT put this down, I'm so near the end and am dying to know how it ends. I'm definitely going to have to watch the film as soon as I've read the rest of this!

What are your current obsessions?

Loves

xxx