September Favourites - Hair, Skin & Nails

I stopped doing monthly favourites posts because I always found it difficult to pick out the products I really loved but this month it was so easy. I posted yesterday about my favourite make up items from this month but today I wanted to talk about other beauty products I've been enjoying too.

Aussie Luscious Long Leave In Conditioner

Before I started trying hair oils this product was a staple of mine and I've gone through several bottles of it in the past. When I last got my hair cut my hairdresser used a leave in conditioner spray and it reminded me about this one which had been languishing unloved in a drawer for almost a year. My hair can look really limp and flat if I use a traditional conditioner so I prefer to use something like this or a hair oil on the ends of my hair after washing it. Aussie Luscious Long leaves my hair feeling incredibly soft, much more so than any hair oils I've tried. Because it's such a fine mist it doesn't weigh my hair down or cause it to become greasy either. If you hair hair like mine, I'd definitely recommend trying this.

LUSH BB Seaweed Fresh Face Mask

This mask from LUSH doesn't look particularly nice (think huge chunks of black seaweed...) but it makes my skin feel so refreshed and lovely that I can't not mention it in this post. I got about five uses out of this pot so used it around once a week. LUSH recommend this mask for every skin type; apparently men really like it. There's nothing too irritating in there or it's not too drying/too moisturising. I've tried several of these masks from LUSH and this one is by far my favourite. 

L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream

I'm sure you can see that this product has been well loved because it's almost empty! I really don't like feet but I like them even less if they're not well looked after. I usually prefer to use a thick foot cream overnight and this product doesn't work too well in that context. However, I've been using this all month after my morning shower and because it sinks into the skin so quickly it's much more convenient. When I first tried this foot cream I was seriously underwhelmed but I've recently grown to love it. You do have to be willing to use it daily or at least every two days, though.

Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Lotion

I picked this up from FeelUnique a couple of months ago and it's since been my go-to night time moisturiser. I'm not completely taken with the almond scent but it's not too overpowering and I can live with it because the lotion does an excellent job of hydrating my skin. I'm planning to review this properly soon so watch this space!

L'Oreal Color Riche Polish in Beige Countess

It wouldn't be a favourites post without a L'Oreal Color Riche polish, would it? You all know I love these polishes but this shade is the one I've used the most; as you can probably see. It's just a typical medium nude shade that goes with pretty much everything. It's not my favourite polish in the world but I have been wearing it an awful lot this month. I used to think it was very similar to Essie's Lady Like but it's a lot more beige and therefore more flattering on me. The formula is easy to work with and I love the wide brushes on these polishes.

Let me know if you like favourites posts; I might try to do them more regularly from now on.

Stace xx

September Favourites - Make Up

I've not posted a monthly favourites for a really long time but this month I didn't rotate the products I was using as much as I usually do so I have some definite favourites. 

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat 

I held off on purchasing this for a while because I didn't need a new foundation but when my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua ran out I decided to pick this up and I'm so glad I did. The coverage is a lot better than I had expected after reading the initial reviews and I love the way it makes my skin look. This is definitely not something for a fan of heavy coverage but it is a gorgeous foundation for anyone looking for a light, buildable base. I have it in the shade B50 which is just a tiny bit too light for me right now.

YSL Glossy Stain #6

I've had this product since May; I went to the counter and demanded a lipstick to cheer me up and this is what I came home with. And it does cheer me up. It's up there in my all-time favourite lip products because I just love wearing it. If you've not tried a Glossy Stain yet (why not?!) they're mango-scented glosses which leave a stain behind on the lips once the gloss has worn off. I like to apply a couple of layers of this gorgeous orange shade because I like the deeper colour pay off I get and find it stays glossy for longer too. I've been reaching for it even more than usual this month.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush

Lip products with 'stain' in their name seem to be doing it for me just now because the other lip product I've been wearing a lot this month is this one. The colour isn't something I'd typically go for; it's a deep pink shade which can be applied lightly or more heavily depending on how dark I want it to look. It makes a nice change from the reds, oranges and nudes I usually prefer. The staying power of these balm stains is incredible and they don't feel uncomfortable or drying at all. 

NARS Blush in Madly

This has been my blush of choice for months now. I know it doesn't look like much in the pan but on the cheeks it gives just enough colour to give you a healthy glow. It has a matte/satin finish so it doesn't provide the same sheen that you'd get from something like Luster (another hot favourite of mine) but I think that works better on my slightly oily skin. Since it's not a really in-your-face blush shade it's so easy to apply in a hurry. 

Lancome Le Crayon Sourcils in 030 Brun

Okay, so I lost my favourite brow brush back in August and had been using a different one with my usual brow powder of choice but it just wasn't the same so I decided to try a pencil. I'd heard some good things about the Lancome one and picked it up at the beginning of September. It's a good colour for me and I've been enjoying using it. It's easy to subtly fill in my brows with, which I like. I found my brow brush last weekend (in a suitcase!) but I've not felt inclined to go back to using my brow powder so I think I've been converted!

What were your favourite products this month? If you have a post, link it in the comments!

Stace xx

Current High Street/Drugstore Favourites

I had quite a few requests recently to do more posts about drugstore or high street make up so I thought it was about time I did a drugstore favourites post. Regular readers will know that I try to keep my stash under control so I don't have a favourite drugstore item from each category; like foundation, for example. I also don't consider a product a 'favourite' unless I use regularly so there are only ten items in this post. Of course I do enjoy other products from the high street but these are my top picks right now.

MUA Primer 

This is a great basic primer; it makes foundation application much smoother. It's not particularly heavy duty in terms of controlling oil and prolonging wear but it's a nice product and I've been using this every day recently. 

Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer

I bought this on a whim alongside the foundation and to be honest, I wasn't expecting much. However, I was pleasantly surprised and I've been using this almost daily under my eyes. It's a lot lighter than the other concealer I use so it's nicer for the under eye area.

Collection Lasting Perfection concealer

What beauty blogger worth their salt doesn't have this in their stash? I know it can be a little drying and the shade range is somewhat limited but this stuff is great on blemishes and discolouration. This is my third tube and it's on its way out - I have another waiting in the wings, of course!

MUA Clear mascara

I'm embarrassed to even show you this but I use it as a brow gel; either by itself or over the Smashbox Brow Tech. It's only £1 and again, it's something I use every day.

L'Oreal Color Infallible shadow in Sahara Treasure

I reveiwed this a couple of days ago. It's a great neutral shimmery shade that's easy to work with. It's one of the few high street eyeshadows that has managed to impress me.

MUA Out There Plumping lip glosses

I have this in the shade Buff which is a nice neutral colour. I've also tried a couple of brighter shades which were really pigmented. It does make my lips tingle a bit but it's not painful (for me, at least). 

Revlon Super Lustrous lip glosses

The shade pictured is Nude Lustre which is my most used Super Lustrous gloss but I find the formula to be pretty consistent across the board with these and would recommend most shades. They're not sticky at all and I like the packaging.

Revlon Super Lustrous lipsticks

This is one of my favourite drugstore lipstick formulas. In fact, if you discount the two I'm about to talk about, it's my favourite 'traditional' lipstick formula from the drugstore. They're pigmented and quite long-lasting without being drying.

Revlon lip butters

I had to include these. I'm almost out of my favourite shade, Fig Jam (sadly a US exclusive!) which is saying something. These are sheer but buildable and feel very comfortable on the lips. The one down side is that they're not particularly hydrating so don't really live up to the 'lip butter' claim in my opinion.  The shade pictured is Tutti Frutti. 

L'Oreal Rouge Caresse lipsticks

These are similar to the Revlon lip butters in that they're sheer lipsticks but they feel a lot lighter on the lips. I find them to be a touch drying but they do smell nice. I have a couple of these and find myself reaching for them quite often.  

What are your favourite drugstore/high street products?

Stace xx

Holiday Preparation: My Favourite Body Products

Any of my regular readers will know I went on holiday at the end of May. I had planned on doing a post like this before going away but just didn't get around to it but I thought it'd still be useful since most people probably haven't gone on a summer holiday yet!

I use quite a lot of body care products on a regular basis anyway but before going away I try to incorporate a number of products which leave my skin looking smooth, even and perhaps a little more firm.

I seem to be a big fan of Garnier at the moment! It's not a brand I've ever really paid much attention to but the Body Tonic Sugar Scrub was recommended by Kelly so I picked it up and the corresponding body lotion. I loved the scrub instantly; it exfoliates nicely and smells great. I think this is my fourth tube! The one pictured is actually a new one since I used up the previous one before I went away. 

The body lotion is marketed as a firming lotion and I have to say, I think it works pretty well. It's not as effective as another product I'll get to in a minute but when I use it every day over a period of time there is a noticeable difference (well, my boyfriend notices without me telling him I've been using it!) 

The other Garnier product I'd been using was the Intensive 7 Day body lotion in Honey which is targeted at those with sensitive skin. I've tried a few other scents in this range and I think Honey is my favourite; it's not very overpowering. The product itself is quite lightweight and sinks in quickly yet leaves my skin feeling hydrated. It's a huge departure from my favourite Body Shop body butters but I really rate these lotions.

I used a couple of other firming creams which I only use occasionally. The Sit Tight cream from Soap & Glory is excellent, it really works on any bumpy areas on the thighs. It feels incredibly tingly and warm so be aware of that before trying it! I used this for a week before going away. I used a Nip+Fab Tummy Fix gel on my tummy area too but I don't think it was as effective although I guess the texture of the skin there is very different. It also tingles but not as much at the Sit Tight. If you're wanting something that's a great quick fix, go for the Sit Tight.

Now we get to my favourite topic, feet. I'm kidding, I hate feet. I don't like my own feet, I don't like other peoples' feet...eugh! I use a foot file after I shower and always use cotton socks after applying a foot cream but I've really struggled to find a foot cream that works well. Until I found this little gem from The Body Shop. It's the Honey & Beeswax Hand & Foot Butter and it was recommended by Estee. It seems expensive for a little tub of foot cream but if you've struggled to find anything that works I'd definitely tell you to give this a go. I've used it a lot already and still have about 2/3s left. 

So those are the products I used, I hope that was helpful!

Stace xx

November Five Favourites

I'm sorry this is a bit late - I had an essay deadline which I was freaking out about. I didn't have to think too much about my favourites this month, I've been using these five products constantly and I've already reviewed four of the five! I went for very simple make up throughout November - I'm going to have to amp it up now for the festive season!

Rimmel Match Perfection Fix & Perfect Pro Primer

This is such a nice primer, I've been using it almost every day this month. It's a great price, too. I did a review on it here.

NARS Orgasm Blush

I only tried this for the first time a couple of months ago. I'd tried some blushes which were supposed to be dupes of this shade and hated them (Sleek Rose Gold, I'm mostly talking about you) so I was surprised that I liked this. It's quite subtle on me and it just makes me look a bit more fresh faced. The shimmer isn't too offensive either.

BeneFit They're Real Mascara

This is definitely the mascara of the moment for me. I've been disappointed by the pricier mascaras I've tried in the past so I was sceptical about this one. One coat gives me nice lashes for day looks and a second gives them a bit more drama. I've reviewed it here if you want to have a closer look!

Bobbi Brown Corrector 

I've grown very attached to this - I use it almost every day under whichever under eye concealer I want to use and it really works for me. I didn't use it for a couple of days and I noticed a difference. I've done a full review of this too, here.

17 Wild Metallics Cream Shadow in Wild Nude

I've used this so much this month I'm already noticing a dip! It's so easy to apply and doesn't crease on me. The colour goes with most lip/cheek combinations, too. Again, I've already reviewed this on the blog here.

What were your favourites in November? 

Stace xx

Tag: Holy Grail Products!

I saw this tag a while ago on Georgia's blog and decided to give it a go! So here's a list of my all-time favourite or "holy grail" products for each category...

Shampoo:  Aussie Luscious Long Shampoo is the best I've tried recently - I don't really have a HG shampoo.

Condtioner:  I don't use one - they weigh my hair down too much.

Styling products: Aussie Luscious Long Leave in Conditioner, VO5 Miracle Concentrate Elixir (review)

Shower Gel: No7 Blissful Body Wash. (overview)

Body moisturiser: Body Shop Body Butters - most scents! (overview)

Deodrant: Mitchum Advanced Control - the spray, not the roll on

Fake Tan: I never use one!

Cleanser: Clinique Mild Liquid Facial Soap

Toner: Boots Botanics Skin Brightening Toner

Serum: Clinique Turnaround

Facial Moisturisers:  Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre - I've just ran out of this, unfortunately (moisturiser overview)

Exfoliator: Soap & Glory Pulp Friction

Primer: Rimmel Match Perfection Fix & Perfect Pro or Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Foundation: Make Up Forever HD Foundation or Neutrogena Healthy Skin (review)

Foundation brush: I usually use my fingers but I do like the Real Techniques Stippling Brush with some foundations (overview)

Concealer: Either Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection or Estee Lauder Double Wear - they're very similar

Powder: MAC MSF Natural

Blusher: This is tough but my two most used are MAC Warm Soul and NARS Luster. (both shown here)

Bronzer: I don't use one - I've never found one that I like or got the hang of applying it nicely.

Highlighter: Powder highlighter - MAC Soft & Gentle, cream highlighter - BeneFit Watt's Up - it's a new find but I love it!

Eyeshadow base: Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Eyeshadows: Hmm...from MAC I like Satin Taupe and Patina. I like most of the neutral Wet'n'Wild and Sleek shadows, too. I love my Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Illusoire a lot as well.

Eyebrows: Smashbox Brow Tech in Taupe/Soft Brown or any cheap clear mascara

Eyeliner: Pencil - Milani Liquif'Eye or NYX Slide On, Gel - Bobbi Brown

Mascara: BeneFit They're Real 

Lipstick: MAC Slimshine in Bare

Lipgloss: Revlon Super Lustrous in Nude Lustre

Nail Colour: If you've read this blog for any length of time you'd know there's no way I could choose one nail colour! Chanel's Rouge Noir (here) would come very close to being my favourite, though. It's probably my most used. 

Perfume: Dolce & Gabbana The One or Vivienne Westwood Naughty Alice...both of which I need to ask Santa for!

I hope that was interesting; it definitely got me thinking about all the products I use which I should rave about more on this blog - expect lots more reviews in the next few weeks! 

I tag everyone who wants to do this tag - let me know if you do, I'd love to check it out!

Stace xx

October: Five Favourites and A Couple of Regrets

Swatches - Milani Liquif'Eye Pencils in Brown and Black, Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Illusoire, MAC Bare Slimshine, MAC Warm Soul

1 - Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Make Up in 60 Natural Beige

I love this foundation right now. The shade is perfect for me (NC30) and the coverage is light/medium so it doesn't feel heavy or look cakey. I've got about half of the bottle left so I'm going to have to hunt down a lovely US lady who can get me some more! I don't want to be without this foundation and that says a lot since I'm usually dying to try something new.

2 - MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush

This is such a nice blush. It's my perfect everyday blush as it goes with whatever eye or lip make up I go for. It just warms up my cheeks and adds a little sheen. It's not too glittery, either.

3 - Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Illusoire

This is definitely the eye shadow I've been using most. I don't know if it's because it was so expensive that I feel the need to use it all the time or if it's down to the fact the texture is so nice and easy to work with. Either way, it's a firm favourite!

4 - MAC Bare Slimshine

I know this is a discontinued product so I probably shouldn't mention it but I can't pretend it's not a favourite. It's a nice nude-pink shade which looks really nice with most looks. I love how glossy it looks and it's very easy to apply.

5 - Milani Liquif'Eye Pencils in Black and Brown

These eyeliners are brilliant. They're so creamy and glide on so easily. The pigmentation is great and the staying power is very good. I don't use any other eye liner pencils any more! 

I have a couple of regrets this month too: Neutrogena skincare!

I picked up the Visibly Clear 2-in-1 Face Wash & Mask and the Visibly Clear Hydrating Spot Treatment a while ago just to have in case I had any breakouts. I get a lot of breakouts on my chin and this month was no different, so I tried out these two products. I'd used the face wash/mask before and thought it had broken me out but I was testing a lot of things around that time so couldn't be sure. However, this time I'm 100% sure this made my breakout worse. I only used it as a mask on areas where I had spots. The spot gel isn't much better, I was getting new spots daily and it was horrible. Now I have a lot of marks on my chin from the whole experience! I'm really unimpressed.

Have you had any favourites this month? Share!

Stace xx

August Favourites!

Unlike last month, I have been reaching for the same products over and over again in August so I thought I'd share them with you!

Origins VitaZing

I've been using this pretty much every single day. I find that it does even out my skin tone a bit so if I'm not going anywhere, I'll just wear this. I also find I need less foundation when I'm wearing this and that it's a good base because it's not too greasy.

Carmex

I do love my EOS lip balms but I'm using Carmex a lot this month. I think I'm addicted to the tingly feeling!

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B40

I've been using this a lot, particularly for nights out - I've done a full review on it here.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin in Natural Beige

This is another new foundation and I really like this for daytime (partly because it's a lot cheaper than the Chanel!). It's a touch too light for me just now but will be great come autumn and winter! I will probably review this soon :)

Milani HD Concealer in 03 Medium Honey

I love this! It's so lightweight but still covers well. I blend it in with my MAC 224 and it looks very nice.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Shadow Pencil in Rehab

This is so quick and easy to use. I find it doesn't crease on me even when I just use it alone, which is great! 

MAC Bare Slimshine, MAC Shy Girl & Barry M Toffee Lipgloss

I've pretty much been using one or more of these three every day this month. All of my brightly coloured lipsticks must be feeling neglected!

Do you have any favourite products from the month of August? Tell me about them in the comments!

Stace xx

I Was Going To Do A July Favourites Post But...

I looked through my stash to see what I'd been using the most and there weren't a lot of things I've been using all the time. Due to running out foundations and trying one which broke me out I've been chopping and changing the foundation, concealer and powder I've been using. I've been reaching for all sorts of different eyeshadows and lip products too so I can't really choose definite favourites. 

Instead I thought I'd tell you about the two sorts of products I've been using almost every day; cream blush and cream/gel eyeliner.

Cream Blush:

L-R: Sonia Kashuk Creme Blush in Petal, Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Dixie

NYC Blushable Creme Stick in South St Seashell

Swatches: SK Petal, Illamasqua Dixie, NYC South St Seashell

I've been applying all three of these with my E.L.F. Studio Powder brush. Now, I bought a MAC 188 to use with cream blush and I do use it with my Rich Coral Cream Colour Base from MAC but when I tried to use it with these three, it wasn't picking up the right amount of colour or distributing it evenly. I didn't know what to do - I'd tried applying the blushes with my fingers (or directly to my face with the NYC) and it didn't look great. I either put on too much or rubbed it in to the point where it was barely visible. I had a look at my brushes and thought I'd give the E.L.F. a go - I have two of these, one which I used to use for foundation and one that I use occasionally for powder blush. I just dot the brush on the top of the product (or rub some of the NYC on top of the brush) and dab it on to my face. Then I blend it out. And it looks great! I've not touched a powder blush for a while now thanks to finally working out how to use cream blushes! 

The Sonia Kashuk blush dries down to a slightly more powdery finish than the Illamasaqua. The NYC leaves quite a nice sheen. I couldn't choose a favourite out of these three!

Cream/Gel Liners:

L-R: Bobbi Brown Sepia Ink Long Wear Cream Liner, Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Cream Liners for Brown Eyes (brown, black, purple)

BB Sepia Ink, PF Brown

PF Black, PF Purple

Sephora Bent Liner Brush

L-R: PF Purple, PF Black, PF Brown, BB Sepia Ink

I did a post recently about how much I love Bobbi Brown gel liners and Sepia Ink was the one I used most this month. I received the Physicians Formula trio in a swap with a lovely girl on Makeupalley this month and I think these are great quality! I love the purple on my brown eyes and I think the brown shade is very similar to Sepia Ink. They don't wear as long as the Bobbi Brown liners but they still last a good 6 hours on my eyes (this is good for me!) and are pretty good on the waterline too.

The brush is really what has made me gravitate towards these liners. It was a random addition to a blog sale purchase but it has made applying gel liners so easy! I tried a similar one from E.L.F. and it was rubbish. I don't think this one is anything special and I'm sure there are loads of similar versions here in the UK. You seriously need one in your collection!

So...are you a fan of cream blushes and liners? What are your favourites?

Stace xx

June Favourites!

Lips - L'Oreal HiP Jelly Balm in Savory
I have several of these HiP Jelly Balms (watch out for a review and swatches) and I love them! This shade is my favourite at the moment because I've been reaching for anything which is a coral or peach shade. It's not particularly pigmented but it is very glossy and pretty long lasting.


Eyes - NYX Eyeshadow in Nutmeg
I've been reaching for this a lot as I think it looks great with a lot of different colours of eyeliner. I've been experimenting with various gel and liquid liners and this is my go to shade when I do that. I find it very similar to my Urban Decay eyeshadow in Underground which is also a favourite neutral of mine.


Face - MAC Lustre Drops in Sun Rush
I picked this up in a blog sale as I wasn't sure about paying full price in case I didn't use it much but I will definitely be buying more! I mix a little with my foundation and it gives my NC30/35 skin a lovely glow. It's not glittery or too frosty so I can wear it in the daytime without it looking too crazy!


Cheeks - MAC Cream Colour Base in Rich Coral
I love this colour. I apply it with a MAC 188 and it doesn't look anywhere near as crazy as it does in the pot! The texture of this CCB is nice too, I find that some of the frostier ones are a bit firmer but this one is very creamy. I've tried it on my lips too and I like the colour but find it a bit too drying when used that way.


Skincare - Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre
I managed to get my hands on this after hearing all the hype. I tried not to get too excited in case it didn't work for me. My skin is normal/combination at the moment; I get quite dry cheeks. I use this every night and sometimes in the mornings (if I'm not using Origins Vita-Zing) and I've noticed a pretty substantial improvement in the texture and condition of my skin. I still get occasional breakouts but no more than before I used this.


Bodycare - The Body Shop Body Butter in Wild Cherry
I love Body Butters - they're pretty much the only body moisturiser I use and I like this one for summer as it has a lighter texture compared with other Body Butters I've tried. I also got an amazing deal on a set of four recently. In their sale the Body Butters were reduced to £6.00 and they had a 'buy three, get one free' offer which meant I could get four of them for £18. In addition to that, I had a £5 off voucher (from InStyle magazine) and my 10% discount so I paid a measly £11.70 for all four! Bargain.


Hair - Lush 'New' Shampoo Bar 
This is supposed to promote new hair growth and it smells like cinnamon. I haven't really noticed a lot of new growth but it has really helped my hair by keeping it from getting greasy as quickly. I don't have to wash it as much when using this shampoo. 


Nails - Chanel Rouge Noir
I know this is not a summery shade at all and I'm a total nail polish fiend so you'd think I'd be able to have a more exciting favourite but I always find myself reaching for this and wear it on both my fingers and toes so it's a firm favourite with me!


Random Favourite - Teddy, my five month old Maine Coon! 
We've had him for almost six weeks now and he's amazing. He's super sweet and very snuggly! He's always very interested in what I'm doing (and you can see from the photo at the top that he managed to get a bit of his fluffy tail in there!)

What are your June favourites?

Stace xx