My Top Five: Winter Skin Essentials

Whilst I love being able to wear cosy scarves and jumpers during the cold winter months, I don't appreciate it when the climate wreaks havoc with my skin. Right now my beauty routine is limited to say the least but there are five products I find myself reaching for regularly to combat dry skin, hands and chapped lips.

Clarins Hand & Nails Treatment Cream

£19

This is my all-time favourite hand cream because it does exactly what it claims to; it moisturises my hands when the skin is feeling a bit dry and 'tight'. I love the light, slightly fruity scent and I appreciate the fact this sinks into the skin fairly quickly. I've only got a little bit left in this tube so I've been using it at night before bed. This is definitely going to be on my Christmas list. 

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant

£21.25

I posted about this wonder product recently; I'm convinced everyone needs to own a tube of this funny smelling orange balm. During the winter months I'll use it as an all over face mask before bed to keep my skin looking and feeling soft. It also works well as a lip balm or on any dry patches of skin. A little goes a very long way with this product so whilst £20+ might seem a bit steep initially, it's an investment!

The Body Shop Body Butter

£13

The body butter in the photo is from last year's Christmas collection but any scent will do; there are loads to choose from. I'd recommend going for one of the dry skin formulas because I find I need to use less product for each application. I'd fallen out of love with my body butters during the summer months but now that the cold weather has set in, the love affair has been rekindled. You can usually find selected scents on sale - I've never paid full price for a tub.

Clarins Extra-Firming Lip & Contour Gentle Exfoliator

£19

This is one of those little products that deserves more attention, I think. It's expensive for a lip scrub but it's the best one I've tried because it's so gentle but still very effective. I work a small amount into my lips before wiping it off with a tissue. I do this a couple of times a week and that, in conjunction with the next product I'm going to talk about, keeps my lips smooth and prepped for whichever lip product I fancy wearing.

NUXE Reve de Meil Lip Balm

£9.50

My first impressions of this lip balm weren't great but I've really warmed to it recently. The matte texture is a bit weird at first but I'm used to it now and I've yet to find a lip balm which stays on my lips as well as this. I put some on before going outside and it helps protect my lips from the cold weather. I also pop some on before bed. This has surprisingly become my lip balm of choice!

What are your winter skin essentials?

Stace xx

September Empties

Another month, another empties post. This month I got through quite a few products without really trying; I was surprised to see that my 'empties' bag was bursting!

I ran out of three face products this month; my primer, foundation and powder. The MUA primer was nice but the packaging was frustrating because I always ended up squeezing out too much product so I'm not sure if it's something I'd repurchase. It's good if you're on a budget, though. My beloved Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua  foundation finally ran out this month but I've moved on to the YSL Touche Eclat foundation; espect to see a review of that one soon. I will probably repurchase Vitalumiere Aqua at some point in the future. The powder I finished up was the Clarins Ever Matte. I liked it but I do think it's a bit overpriced. My Chanel Rouge Noir nail polish finally became too gloopy to use. I've been looking for a similar shade but can't find one that seems just right so if you have any recommendations please leave them in the comments. 

I used up a second pot of the Lierac Smoothing Energizing moisturiser, a small bottle of Osmo's Beber Oil treatment and a Fresh Brown Sugar fragrance sample. I enjoyed using all three of these products but I don't expect to repurchase any of them just now.

This Johnson's 24 Hour Moisture Hand Cream is a great budget buy; I used to use this all the time and it's something I always seem to go back to. The Botanics All Bright Cleansing Face Wipes were just okay and not something I'm particularly keen to use again. I got through two pots of Lush Fresh Face Masks and enjoyed using both but much preferred BB Seaweed over Brazened Honey. 

This Boots Nail Polish Remover is another go-to budget buy for me. I've tried more expensive removers but none work as well as this one for me. I reviewed the Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Body Lotion yesterday and if you read that post you'd know that I have mixed feelings about the product. I don't think I'll be repurchasing. I would, however, consider picking up another tube of the Jergens Cocoa Butter Body Lotion; partly because it smelled delicious and partly because it felt really nice on my skin.

I wasn't overly impressed with the scent of Soap & Glory's Foam Call Shower Gel when I first smelled it but it seems to smell a lot nicer in the shower. I like that it comes with a pump because I tend to be too generous with shower gel. I'm not sure if I'd buy it again immediately but it is a nice product. I used up two shampoos this month; the L'Oreal Ever Strong Reinforcing Shampoo and the John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo. I realise that it seems as though I've used a lot of shampoo this month but the L'Oreal only had a little left in it at the beginning of September and I gave some of the John Frieda to a friend to try. I have reviews of both these shampoos coming up soon. 

I've had this can of Boots Firm Hold Hairspray sitting around for quite a while but I've been wearing my hair up a lot more recently and was reaching for it to tame flyaways. I don't think it's a particularly good hairspray but it did the job for me. The Tresemme Volumising Dry Shampoo is one of my all-time favourite hair products and one I posted about recently. I've already purchased another can! LUSH Rub Rub Rub is another product I reviewed positively recently. I still can't believe how much I loved the scent and it was a really effective exfoliator. I was given Prada Candy last Christmas and whilst I liked it initially I did get a bit bored of it so I'm quite pleased to have finished it up. There's just something about it that isn't right. I wish I could explain it!

So, those are my September empties. Did you use up many products this month?

Stace xx

FOTN: A Friendly Birthday Tea

We went out for tea a few days ago for a friend's birthday and I managed to snap a few photos of my make up before we left so I thought I'd share! I used a couple of products that I've not used in a while 

Reckon I look a bit cross-eyed in this one?!

I used a little Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach under my eyes and blended it in with my fingers. I then dotted some Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Medium 3 on any blemishes (I have a few right now, grr!) or redness and buffed it in with my Real Techniques Buffing brush. I applied a layer of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B40 and buffed it in with the same brush. I put a little Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer under my eyes and used my fingers again to blend that in. I set everything with my Clarins Ever Matte powder in Translucent/Medium on an ELF Studio Powder brush before adding a tiny bit of NARS Laguna bronzer (I'm still learning to use this!) with a MAC 168. I used the same brush to apply MAC Warm Soul mineralize blush to the applies of my cheeks and used an Illamasqua Highlighter brush to add some of theBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer to the high points of my face.

On my eyes I used some NARS Smudgeproof Eye Shadow Base before filling in my brows with my Smashbox Brow Tech. I've lost my favourite brow brush so had to use a random small brush that I had. I then ran a little MUA Clear mascara through my brows. I applied Urban Decay's Half Baked eyeshadow on my lids and used more of the Mary Lou-Manizer on my brow bone and inner corner. I added some Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel eyeliner in Black Ink with a bent eyeliner brush (I love this sort of brush for applying liner) along my upper lash line and on the outer corner of my water line. I curled my lashes and my mascara of choice was the L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Waterproof. I applied two coats. 

I exfoliated my lips with Pow Wow lip scrub from LUSH and applied a little Nivea Milk & Honey lip balm before starting the rest of my make up. The lipstick I wore was MAC Freckletone. 

That's it! That sounds like a lot of products, doesn't it?!

Stace xx

July Empties

If you've read any of my previous empties posts you'll think this one pales in comparison; it definitely wasn't my month for using up lots of products! 

The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Butter

I love this body butter, the scent might not be for everyone as it is a bit sickly but I like it. I tend to use this particular body butter more on drier areas such as my elbows and knees.

The Body Shop Africa Spa Hand & Foot Butter

I've already repurchased this; it's an excellent foot cream. I can't imagine using it as a hand cream, though.

The Body Shop Dewberry Shower Gel

Can you tell that I'm a fan of products from The Body Shop? This isn't my favourite scent but it's nice. Raspberry Ripple is my favourite scent from this range.

Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalising Gel Body Oil

This isn't technically an empty but I just can't bring myself to use it any more. It's horrendously greasy and takes forever and a day to sink into my skin no matter how little I use so it has to go!

Dr Bronner's Lavender Hand Sanitizing Spray

I'm going to be honest and say that I didn't love the scent of this but it was quite handy to use. I kept it by my bed in the hope that the lavender scent would help me get to sleep more easily.

Cuticura Citrus Hand Hygiene Gel

This is a bit big for my handbag so I kept it by my make up/skincare to use if I needed to. It's a good budget product to have around.

Bath & Body Works Fresh Picked Pairs Pocket Bacs

This smells absolutely delicious; I'm sad that I've used it all up. If I ever make it to the States, I'm going to buy hundreds of these Pocket Bacs because they're great for my handbag.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturising Hand Treatment

This is another product that I've not technically used up. It's very moisturising and sinks in quickly, which is great but it absolutely stinks!

L'Occitaine Shea Butter Hand Cream

I bought the smaller sized tube of this to pop in my bag and I've been impressed by it. It's definitely up there with my other favourite hand creams.

Head & Shoulders Citrus Fresh Shampoo

I always go back to this product when my scalp is playing up. It works well on my grease-prone hair and isn't irritating at all.

Clarins Water Purify One Step Cleanser

This is a decent cleansing water but I do think there are other similar products that are cheaper. 

Lierac Energizing Soothing Cream Sample

This has been my most used moisturiser recently and I've really enjoyed using it. 

Thierry Mugler Angel EDT Sample

I love the scent of this perfume, it reminds me of my granny because that's why she wears. 

BeneFit PoreFessional Primer Sample

I got this free with a magazine and it lasted me a good month or so. PoreFessional is one of my favourite primers.

Comfort Zone Renight Recover Cream Sample

It feels like forever since I finished up this sample. It's very thick so I can't see myself wanting to purchase the full size. 

Burberry Body EDP Sample

I've had so many samples of this perfume, it's ridiculous! It's just okay to be honest.

That's it! Let me know if you used up many products this month in the comments.

Stace xx

FOTD: Smoky Coral

I bought the L'Oreal Color Infallible shadow in Magnetic Coral a few months ago and whilst it looks okay when worn alone, it looked a little 'off' or something. Today I decided to pair it with MAC Twinks and I really liked the slightly smoky effect so I thought I'd post a quick Face of the Day!

On my skin I applied some of the MUA Primer with a Real Techniques Buffing brush and then put a tiny bit of Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach under my eyes. I buffed some Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Medium over any blemishes with the same Real Techniques brush. The foundation I used is a sample of the new Urban Decay Naked foundation in the shade 7.0. I also buffed this in with the Real Techniques Buffing brush. Watch out for a review on the foundation in the next couple of weeks!  I used a little Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer in Soft Beige under my eyes; I blended that in with an Illamasqua Blending 2 brush. For blush I used MAC Warm Soul on a MAC 168 brush. 

I used my NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow base all over my lid before filling in my brows with Smashbox Brow Tech in Taupe/Soft Brown with an angled brush and combing through them with MUA clear mascara. I applied MAC Twinks in the outer V/crease of my eye with a fluffy brush before applying some of the L'Oreal Color Infallible shadow in Magnetic Coral with my finger. I used a tiny bit of TheBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer as a browbone and inner corner highlight and ran some Twinks under my lower lashes with an ELF Crease brush. I added a tiny bit of Milani Liquif'Eye pencil liner in brown before applying two coats of the waterproof L'Oreal Volume Million mascara in black to my curled lashes. 

On my lips I just applied some Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 02 Apricot Shimmer. Phew...this FOTD included a lot more products than I thought!

Stace xx

My Current Make Up Routine

I've been using almost exactly the same products every time I wear make up at the moment so I thought I'd share! I've not been feeling too adventurous, as you will see. 

Face

BeneFit POREFessional Primer 

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium 3 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B40 

Clarins Ever Matte Powder in Medium Transparent 

NARS Orgasm Blush

TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer

Eyes

Smashbox Brow Tech in Taupe/Soft Brown

MUA Clear Mascara

NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base

L'Oreal Color Infallible Eyeshadow in Sahara Treasure

Maybelline One by One Mascara in Black

It takes less than ten minutes and lasts pretty well throughout the day. In the photos I'm wearing the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Evasion. Once we've graduated and got settled into our new flat I'm going to have to make an effort to mix up my make up a bit!

If anyone has any tips on taking photos of their own face, please let me know. I was great at it when I was 16 but for some reason I'm terrible at it now!

Stace xx

PS - I have a blog sale going on if you're interested, almost everything is half price or less and the shipping is a flat rate so you can buy as much as you like without having to pay more for shipping!

Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector in 01 Rose Shimmer

I've noticed that these gorgeous Clarins lip products are popping up on blogs and in YouTube videos quite a bit recently and I'm glad they're getting a bit of attention because I think they're great. I've had the Apricot Shimmer shade for almost a year now and I picked up the Rose Shimmer around Christmas  time. I've only been using it in the past six weeks or so but it's quickly becoming one of my most reached for lip products.

These balm-gloss hybrids smell delicious; almost like caramel or something but they're not sickly at all. The applicator is a sort of foam doe-foot on the end of the tube which deposits the product nicely. The texture of this product will appeal to anyone who, like me, isn't a fan of sticky lip products. It's so creamy, light and hydrating. I can see why these are called 'lip perfectors' as I think they really do make my lips look 'perfect' in a natural sort of way. The colour is sheer when worn alone but it's great for pulling a look together and making you look a little more polished. I like using this over my Sleek Eau La La liner in Red Sky Night (which is a pink shade) too.

These are available wherever Clarins is sold and are priced at £16 which sounds pretty steep but I've had one of mine for a year and use it all the time but it's still almost half full.

Stace xx

May Empties

Hello!

I'm getting much better at holding on to the products I use up over the month; I've started keeping a bag on the back of our bedroom door and just putting empty products in there when I'm done. I got through a decent amount of stuff this month although most of these products were things that were already partly used before this month - I didn't go through three full hand sanitizers in four weeks!

Make Up For Ever HD Primer

This was just okay - I won't be repurchasing as I've tried better primers.

NARS Sheer Glow in Santa Fe

I'm glad I used this up as it's much too light for me now! I actually wore it for the last time on the flight. I'll probably pick up another bottle of Sheer Glow at some point but for now I have several other foundations on the go.

Lancome Hypnose Drama sample

I liked this but the wand is an odd shape that I find a little difficult to work with and it's so heavily scented which is off-putting too. I'm unsure if I'll buy the full size.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Compact in B30 sample

I only really used this to review it and I don't imagine I'll ever be spending £39 on the full size.

Clinique Super Balm in Root Beer mini

I've got several of these minis and they're so handy for handbags. They're really moisturising and I think they're pretty underrated in the online beauty community. This shade was my favourite; it's a nude-brown colour but it's pretty sheer on the lips.

17 Mirror Shine in Beehive

This was another of the products in my little lipstick challenge so I've managed to use up two of the five now. I liked this product but I'm not a fan of the packaging/scent so I don't think I'll be hunting down another.

L'Oreal Telescopic in Black

This was a nice mascara which gave me a serious amount of length but I find it to be a bit too clumpy for me so I'm not sure if I'll buy another. I think L'Oreal mascaras seem so expensive for what they are too.

Boots Nail Polish Remover

This is hands down my favourite nail polish remover and it helps that it's super cheap! I've tried others and I keep going back to this one.

3 Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitizers

These are such handy little products - there's usually one in my handbag. I wish we could get Bath & Body Works here in the UK; my bank balance is probably glad there isn't, though.

Seche Vite Top Coat

This is just too gloopy to use now. I hate when that happens because one day it's perfectly usable and then overnight it becomes stringy and thick and a pain in the behind. Gaaah!

No7 Quick Thinking Face Wipes

There will usually be a pack of these in my empties posts because they're my favourite face wipes and I always stock up on them when there are some No7 £5 off vouchers going around. 

The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion

I can't rave enough about this face scrub! This is probably the sixth or seventh tube I've owned. I started using it about four years ago and I just keep going back to it. I've done a full review of this if you're interested in checking it out.

Boots Cucumber Eye Make Up Remover Gel

This is a cheap and cheerful eye make up remover which feels lovely and soothing. It's not the best if you wear a lot of eye make up or stubborn waterproof mascaras.

Clinique All About Eyes sample

I've been really impressed with the two All About Eyes samples I've tried. I was using the rich version at night and this during the day but since I used up the rich I was using this both day and night. I think if I do repurchase I'll probably go for the rich formula as I've already found a cheaper daytime eye cream that I like and I think I need the thicker formula at night.

Clinique Rinse Off Foaming Cleanser sample

Don't get this in your eyes! It stings so badly. Other than that, this is a pretty nice cleanser which left my skin feeling squeaky clean. I used this every other day to remove my make up.

SKII Skin Signature sample

I got this in the Harrods Glossybox and I have to say it's one the best products I've received in those boxes. It left my skin feeling nicely hydrated without any greasiness. This stuff is way out of my price range right now, sadly!

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturiser sample

I used this as a night cream and it's nice for that. It is very thick though.

Clarins Extra-Comfort Toning Lotion sample

This toner is so strange - it feels like something between a gel and a liquid. I just used it because I'm out of toner but I don't think I'll be buying the full size any time soon.

Clarins Hydra-Matte Lotion sample

I used this on days when I was feeling a bit oily and it was okay in my t-zone but not moisturising enough on the rest of my face. If you have oily skin this could be a nice daytime moisturiser in the summer.

Caudalie SOS Thirst Quenching Serum sample

This was another Glossybox sample and it's just okay. I've used the moisturiser from this range and loved it so I was a bit disappointed that I didn't like this. It just made my skin produce too much oil so I could only use it at night. It's very runny so I think I ended up wasting quite a bit of it. The tube was only about 20% full anyway!

Soap & Glory Pulp Friction Scrub

This was a repurchase for me - it's a great scrub and I like that it's foaming as it meant I used a lot less.

Garnier Body Tonic Sugar Scrub

This is my favourite scrub - it leaves my skin feeling and looking so much better than any other scrub ever has. I've got another tube waiting in the wings!

Superdrug Dry Shampoo

My favourite dry shampoo is from Tresemme but I only buy it when it's on offer because I go through it so quickly. This was a stand in product but it worked pretty well and I will probably buy it again if I needed to. It's much nicer than Batiste which leaves my hair looking white and feeling clumpy.

Ayuuri Natural Coconut Body Wash

This was in the last Glossybox I received and it's okay - it's very moisturising which I appreciate. I wasn't a big fan of the coconut scent, though.

The Body Shop Fuzzy Peach Shower Gel

This stuff is a no-brainer - I love the scent!

Nip & Fab Dry Leg Fix

I bought this from Buyapowa a long time ago and wasn't overly impressed. It's just alright and I probably won't repurchase it.

I'm sorry this post is so long, I just don't like mentioning products without forcing my opinion on you! If you want any more information on the products please let me know and I'll link you to a review if I've done one or just let you know more of what I thought in the comments.

Stace xx

April Empties: Skincare & Make Up

I got through a crazy amount of products this month so this is the first of two empties posts. I finally started using up all the samples I've accumulated over the past six months or so! I'm going to try and keep these posts as short as possible, I promise.

Boots Skin Tonic in Damask Rose

I like the way toners with rosewater work on my skin. I don't think this particular toner is available any more but I think I'm going to pick up the Botanics version soon.

Clarins Extra Firming Day and Night creams

These were surprisingly good. I complained a lot about receiving anti-ageing products in my Glossybox but I did enjoy using these. I won't be repurchasing them right now but I will keep them in mind when I need to use these sorts of products regularly.

Clarins Gentle Foaming cleanser

This was only a small sample so it's difficult to say how much I like it. It was okay but I don't think it was anything special.

Clarins HydraQuench lotion

This would be a great moisturiser for anyone who has dehydrated skin. I found that it was a bit greasy on my t-zone, though.

Clarins HydraQuench Intensive serum

This product feels very strange. It's much runnier than a typical serum and leaves an odd dry feeling on my hands afterwards. I did like how it made my skin feel, though.

Clinique All About Eyes Rich eye cream

This little sample pot lasted me about three months. I'm using a sample pot of the original All About Eyes right now but I think this is the one I'll repurchase as the thicker texture means that I only use a tiny amount each time.

Clinique Moisture Surge moisturiser

I enjoyed using this lightweight moisturiser. I've got another sample pot which I'm excited to use! I would consider buying the full sized product.

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector serum

I wasn't impressed with this product. It was quite expensive but I had some dark spots on my chin which I wanted to get rid of so I decided to invest. Unfortunately it ended up giving me more spots which kind of defeated the purpose! I did notice some lightening but it wasn't enough to make me repurchase. 

Estee Lauder Idealist serum

This product made my skin feel much smoother but after a couple of weeks' use I didn't notice any lasting effects.

No7 Quick Thinking wipes

These are my all time favourite face wipes. I always pick up a pack or two when I have the £5 off No7 vouchers. 

Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox mask

This is a really nice thermal mask; the colour is a bit terrifying but I do feel that it helps keep my skin clear without drying it out. I'd consider buying this again but I think I want to try something different next.

Bobbi Brown Everything mascara

This was a pretty average mascara in my opinion. It's not something I'll be buying again.

Elemis Loving Lips Quenching lip balm

 I picked this up on a whim and I was quite pleased with it. I don't know if I'd repurchase it but it's a light mint-scented balm which is surprisingly moisturising. 

Jack Black Black Tea and Blackberry lip balm 

I was excited to try this product but I've not been overly impressed. It kind of just feels like a thicker version of Vaseline and I don't think it's very nourishing. It just sort of sits on top of my lips. It does smell nice, though.

NARS Pure Radiant tinted moisturiser in St Moritz 

This is just a small sample but I like the product. I'm considering purchasing a full sized tube for my holiday but I'm unsure of which shade to go for. It smells lovely.

Revlon Grow Luscious mascara

 I reviewed this quite recently and I have mixed feelings about it. It's not something I'd repurchase.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance eye primer 

I really enjoyed using this product and this little tube lasted me over 18 months. I'm trying a new primer now but I'd highly recommend this to anyone who finds Urban Decay's primer potion to be a bit too gloopy.


Phew! Watch out for part two tomorrow!


Stace xx

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

I've been meaning to write a blog post about this product for the longest time. I bought it back before Christmas and I always use it if I'm going somewhere special or if I just want to perk up my skin. It's one of those products I always want to have in my collection.

I bought this on a whim because I'd read so many rave reviews about it but I wasn't sure how it would work on my oilier skin. I didn't know if it was supposed to be a moisturiser or a primer or something in between. Considering its price tag of £28, it was definitely an impulse buy. 

I know the price can be off putting so I thought it would be useful to let you all know how I use my Beauty Flash Balm and why I love it. 

The instructions say to apply it in sweeping motions over a clean face before make up. Don't be tempted to rub it in too much! I only use a little (see the above photo) and I apply my foundation immediately. I find that my skin instantly looks brighter without looking shimmery or greasy. It leaves a nice fresh feeling on my skin. I don't find that Beauty Flash Balm extends the wear of my foundation or that it controls oil but I don't find that it reduces wear time or increases oiliness either. 

It's so difficult to describe how this product works! It's one of those things you have to try for yourself  to see if you like it or not. I think one of the biggest mistakes people make when using this is rubbing it into their skin too much. It feels a bit unnatural to apply a cream product without buffing it in so that's probably why. I have combination skin but this product is recommended for all skin types. Basically, if you think your skin is looking a little dull and tired it might be worth giving Beauty Flash Balm a go. 

If you've tried it, please let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Stace xx

Ps - I'm sorry for the lack of posts! I had two important exams yesterday. 

This Week's Make Up Bag

I got out of the habit of posting my weekly make up bags a while back. It was because I'd sort of given up having a make up bag. I need to start some serious exam revision this week so I'm going back to having a little stash of make up to choose from in the mornings rather than several boxes full. I'm trying out some new things and trying to use some old favourites. I've stuck to warmer shades this week.

MUA BB Cream (Medium) & Primer - I'm so impressed with both these products so far. I need to test them out a little longer before posting reviews but hopefully my opinion won't change!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Soft Beige - my current concealer of choice, I reviewed it recently if you fancy scrolling down.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere sample - I just want to use this up, really.

NARS Taj Mahal - I love this blush but I don't use it often because it takes a bit of effort to make sure I don't end up looking like a clown. I will try to do a Face of the Day post when wearing this because I had someone ask me to recently.

MAC Soft & Gentle MSF - I've been neglecting this recently so I've dug it out again. It makes a really pretty eyeshadow too.

MAC Peaches - One of my all time favourite blushes!

Clarins Ever Matte Face Powder - This has replaced my MSF Natural as my every day powder. It's much lighter but still offers a little coverage. I'm quite heavy handed with it but it never looks cakey and it does control oil pretty well.

Urban Decay Naked Palette - Do I need to explain this one? This is another product I've been neglecting a lot so I'm hoping to get back into using it more often. 

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner in Black Ink - I've had this for a really long time and it's still as creamy as when I first bought it. I do want to use it up soon-ish, though.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance - This is another product I've had for such a long time. It's running out right now so hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to try a new eyeshadow primer. This is my favourite right now but I've not tried the NARS base, yet!

Clinique High Impact Mascara - I got this little sample in a gift with purchase and since I'm on a bit of a mascara rampage right now, I thought it wouldn't do any harm to try another. I've bought this in full size a few times in the past but I've not used it in about two years.

MAC Teddy Eye Kohl - Okay, so I only own this because my cat is called Teddy and I can't resist anything with his name...but I do like the colour. I don't find the staying power to be too great, though.

Smashbox Brow Tech in Soft Brown/Taupe - I used this for my brows all the time until last summer when I stopped for some reason. It's a really nice brow product for natural, groomed looking brows.

MUA Love Hearts Lip Balm in Great Lips - This is another new product to me. It's a nude shade and smells delicious.

MUA Lipstick in Shade 16 Nectar - I can't wait to try this out - the orange/peach shade is right up my street.

17 Mirror Shine in Beehive - This is one of my most loved lipsticks; it's subtle and glossy.

Jack Black Lip Balm - This didn't live up to the hype for me at all. It's just okay so I'm working on using it up.

Clinique Super Balm in Rootbeer - This is on it's last legs right now so I'm hoping to finish it up this week.

Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector in 02 - I always seem to have this in my make up bag, it's one of my favourite make up products, ever.

Stace xx