March Favourites...

So with me being in London studying at the beauty and makeup academy, I've barely worn makeup and it's been such a chaotic few weeks living out of a suitcase! Which leaves my favourites a bit sparse this month but here we go anyway…

The hype around the L'Oreal Elvive Fibreology shampoo and conditioners is extremely well deserved. I am lucky enough to have naturally very thick hair to start with but this just makes my natural curls so thick and full which means much less time wielding a pair of straighteners. In my attempt to find a more readily available Bioderma alternative I have really started to love the Garnier Micellar water, and I've even decanted it into a smaller bottle for my kit to use on clients! Putting makeup on, taking it off, putting it on again, and then taking it off. While I was at the academy we were practicing on each other and my skin really suffered, so I turned to the duo of the St Ives apricot scrub followed by a long standing favourite, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, only this time it's the new improved '+' version. I don't know what's changed exactly, but it still works just the same so thats fine by me!

My base has been all about Nars this month, and on the rare occasion I've done my own makeup I've gone for the classic Nars Sheer Glow and Nars Creamy concealer paring which I have reviews on here and here. Another well hyped product has been the L'Oreal Miss Manga mascara which I wasn't expecting to love quite as much as I do…it's super thickening and makes my lashes look so black and full! My Nan bought me the Body Shop Illuminator in pink when I got back from Australia and it's such a perfect pinky shade as a blush or on the tops of the cheekbones for a glow in the evenings. 

Finally my favourite lip offering this month is my newest addition to my ever growing lipstick collection - Mac Pure Zen. It's a peachy nude shade and perfect for the sunny weather we've been having these past few weeks!

What's everyone been loving this month?

Loves

xxx

Smart/Casual OOTD….

Shirt - H&M

Jeans - Vero Moda

Boots - Office

Necklace - Dorothy Perkins

Watch - Jag

Leather Jacket - Mango

Bag - River Island

Road tested one of the Revlon Matte Balms here, in Elusive, the pinky shade that everyone seems to be going crazy for. I know this sounds so cliched but never has a matte lip products felt so moisturising and creamy on the lips. It shouldn't work, but it so does. Will be purchasing more very soon so any recommendations are welcome!

Loves

xxx

Nars Creamy Concealer review...

Well, the clue is in the name with this one! This is so creamy but blends super easily it sinks into the skin/foundation effortlessly - I use the Real Techniques contour brush. It's very full coverage so perfect for scarring and blemishes, and under the eyes on most occasions. I do find that blended over full coverage foundations (Double Wear, I'm looking at you) I see that after a couple of hours wear this has creased under my eyes. Sign of getting old, I'm screaming at myself in the mirror!!

I'm in the shade Vanilla which is slightly lighter than my skin tone so really highlights my under eyes whilst not being too light to cover anything else on the face by blending in with whatever foundation I'm wearing.

 Comparing it to my trusty Collection Lasting Perfection, I'd say this is a less dry consistency which I prefer, and blends a little easier but when it comes to staying power there isn't much between them. 

In conclusion, I think this bad boy will forever be a part of my makeup bag.

Loves

xx

Lip lovers....read this....

Lashes, lips, and brows is my go-to makeup look, and I think I probably have enough lip products to rival my local Boots. Oh the perils of being a beauty blogger....

So when on holiday recently and I saw a load of Sephora products in a shop (the owner was American and imported Buxom, Tarte, Sephora etc...joy!) I was instantly drawn to this lip set...

Yes you're right I DON'T need any more lip products but with the likes of Bite, Tarte, Kat Von D and Buxom in here that aren't readily available in the UK, I was carrying this out of the shop looking like the cat that got the cream. 

First are the nudes...

Swatches l-r: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Dolce, Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Nylon Nude, Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Bare Naked, Buxom Full On Lip Cream in White Russian.

I love the consistency of the Stila liquid lipstick but HATE the colour on me so this will go straight into my pro kit. The Smashbox lipstick is a full size and I know I'll get loads of wear out of it, and I'm so in love with wearing the Laura Mercier gloss over the top of it. The standout in the nude section is the Buxom lip cream....Americans I'm so jealous that you can just pick these up easily...so creamy, make my lips tingle but in a great, fresh way, and last crazily long for a gloss!

Next the pinks...

Swatches l-r: Too Faced La Creme Colour Drenched Lip Cream in Marshmallow Bunny, Smashbox Lip Gloss in Pout, Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Never Say Never, Kat Von D Everlasting Love Liquid Lipstick in Backstage Bambi

Two full size products here, the Bare Minerals lipstick which I love the consistency of, and the Two Faced lipstick which is probably my favourite product in the whole set; my perfect shade by far (and super cute name). The Kat Von D liquid lipstick is a great colour but Hello cheap packaging! The colour of the Smashbox gloss isn't really that wearable but maybe over a darker lipstick I can work with it!

Anyone for some reds...

Swatches l-r: Kat Von D Foiled Love Lipstick in Adora, Hourglass Opaque ROuge Liquid Lipstick in Icon, Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Natural N45, Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Pomegranate

Firstly I hated the MUF lipstick, which actually snapped off when I did this swatch. Also wasn't a fan of the Kat Von D lipstick, it's very frosty which is not my style at all. I think the Bite lip crayon is a full size and I love that I've been able to try this, so pigmented and lasts ages! I've wanted to try the Opaque Rouge for SO long so I'm really happy I got a mini sample in here, love the shade and will definitely pick some more of these up!

Lastly, darker pinks...

Swatches l-r: Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12 Hour Lipstick in Inspired, OCC Lip Tar in Strumpet, Buxom Full Bodied Lipstick in Menace, Stila Colour Balm Lipstick in Sonya.

OK so I'm just a little bit (OK a LOT) in love with this Tarte lipstick. The formula, the colour, the lasting power...just wow. Another full size product from OCC, the first thing I've tried from them and probably the longest lasting lip product I've ever applied. The Buxom lipstick is creamy and a gorgeous colour and I'll get lots of wear out of this when I get back to wintery England! The Stila lipstick is OK, don't love it but I'm sure I'll wear it!

Such a great sample box, I got to try so many products I'd never tried but really wanted to, plus 5 full sized products!

What do you guys think?

Loves

xxx

Byron and Nimbin holiday....

So in my last few weeks in Australia I'm trying to tick a few things off the 'to see' list, the first of which was Byron. Me and Ty took a trip down for 2 nights and I loved the place so much!! Warning...this post is very picture heavy!

First night - Dress - Trade Secret

Belt - New Look

Watch - Jag at Myer

Sandals - Aldo

Watching the surfers at The Pass, an iconic Australian surfing spot

We walked all the way round (via the most eastern point of Australia!) to the lighthouse....what a treck! Views were worth it though...

Looking back over Byron Bay

Happy we've reached the top!!

Our last night in Byron.

Dress - Supre

Boots - ASOS

Necklace - Lovisa

Watch - as above

The last few shots were from our trip to Nimbin....what an interesting little place! If you've not heard of it, I'll let you google it for yourself and see what its all about...

Such an amazing trip, had the best time and ate the best food!! Next trip...Melbourne!

Loves

xxx

Nars Adelaide Illuminator review...

Swatched and blended out

You know when you're having your makeup done and it's really distracting because the lady (or gentleman!) doing it is wearing something gorgeous on their face and you just want to ask them what it is? I recently went to get colour matched for Nars Sheer Glow and the lovely girl doing the honours had what I can only describe as pure magic on her cheeks. It was, as the title of this post suggests, the Nars Illuminator in Adelaide, which I believe is part the Final Cut Collection. 

Its a lilac toned bright pink with a silver shimmer running through it, which makes it really wearable as an everyday shade blended onto the cheeks and up onto the cheek bones. It really brightens my complexion and I think it would really suit most skin tones. 

I've also found it a really great product to pop on underneath a powder blush. It gives matte pink blushers a bit of life, and also makes them last a lot longer so perfect for a night out or if you prefer a brighter cheek.

This probably won't be the last Nars Illuminator I'll be adding to my collection! What do you think?

Loves

xxx

Who wants to go for frozen yogurt...neon OOTD....

I love this top....it really shows off a tan, and the sunshine yellow can't help to put me in a great mood!

Coconut frozen yogurt with fresh strawberries, watermelon, and granola. Hashtag yummy. 

A few shots at Mooloolaba. I need to pinch myself daily....asif I live here. Best make the most of it before I come home to drizzly cold UK at the end of the month!

Shorts - Miss Shop at Myer

Boots - ASOS

Watch - Jag at Myer

Bag - Australian Market 

Top - Trade Secret

Sunglasses - RayBan 

Loves

xxx