November Beauty Haul

I've not posted a haul for quite a while but that doesn't mean I haven't been shopping. I've been totally out of the beauty blogging loop so I've not been overly inspired to buy lots of new make up; if you've tried anything new you think is worth checking out, let me know in the comments!

Lip products were my thing this month; it seems. I picked up one of the recently repackaged 17 Mirror Shine lipsticks in Beehive. I've owned this before and used it up completely because it's such an easy lipstick to wear. I like the look of the new black packaging compared with the old shiny blue tubes but it's a faff to use! It's rectangular and there's a little mirror which slides out; basically it's annoyingly difficult to close. 

I finally purchased a couple of Rimmel's Kate Moss lipsticks and I have to say I'm incredibly impressed. I have the matte lipstick in 107 and the original formula in 19. I've worn 19 a lot already because it's a great every day colour. Both shades/formulas have great staying power and feel very comfortable on the lips. I may need to pick up a few more of these!

The fourth lip product in my haul is the YSL Glossy Stain in #22. This was a bit of an impulse buy but I've been on the hunt for a dark, glossy lip colour for a wee while now and this seemed to fit the bill. I wore it today and it is a bit difficult to work with but it looks amazing. Finally I picked up a medium pencil from Illamasqua in the shade Titivate because the counter assistant was wearing it and it looked awesome on her! I've not worn this one yet so can't share my thoughts on it.

I had a £10 off voucher for LookFantastic so snapped up a bottle of OPI Live and Let Die from their Skyfall collection. It's a gorgeous dark green with gold shimmer running through it. I was really impressed with the formula of this polish too; it was almost a one-coat wonder! Earlier in the month I bought this metallic Bourjois polish in the shade 20. I love the brushes on these polishes but I'm not totally sold on this shade in particular; it's almost like a metallic version of a nude.  

I replaced a couple of my favourite base products this month; Collection's Lasting Perfection concealer in Medium 3 and NARS Sheer Glow foundation in Punjab. I use the concealer almost every time I wear make up and the foundation is my favourite for winter because it offers a bit more coverage. I've not had a bottle of Sheer Glow since spring time so I'm excited to use this again. I picked up the Illamasqua blush in S.O.P.H.I.E because I've had it on my wish list for a while. It's a bright slightly shimmery coral. I've been good and not bought a blush in a long time so I thought it was about time I tried something new. 

What did you buy this month? If you've posted a haul, leave me a link!

Stace xx

What's in my make up bag? [10-Minute Face Edition]

Hello!

I've not posted a 'what's in my make up bag?' post for a while; partly because I've not posted anything for a while and partly because I've not been organised enough to have a make up bag. I've just been reaching for the same few products over and over again but this week I've decided to give myself a few more options in the mornings. 

Lip products are one of my biggest weaknesses; I have lots of beautiful shades but find myself sticking to the same safe neutrals on a daily basis. With that in mind I've given myself three different colours this week. A bright berry pink in the form of Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush, a glossy orange YSL Glossy Stain in #6 and a neutral pink Rimmel by Kate Moss lipstick in 19. The two stains are firm favourites of mine; they're both easy to apply quickly and last amazingly well throughout the day. The Rimmel lipstick is quite new but I've been enjoying using it over the past little while so it's my neutral of choice this week; expect to see a blog post on a couple of the Kate Moss lipsticks very soon. I've also put an EOS lip balm in Tangerine in there.

I like to keep eye make up to a minimum when I'm in a rush; I can easily spend twenty minutes messing around with several different shades and liners if I have the time. I'm going to try using YSL Shocking mascara this week and I'm a tiny bit worried about it smudging, if I'm honest. If I do fancy wearing a lid colour I'll use my NARS Smudgeproof Shadow Base underneath either LUSH's Sophisticated cream eye shadow or MAC's Pro Longwear shadow in Sweet Satisfaction. I have the Lancome Le Crayon Sourcils in 030 Brun and a brow gel (not included in the photo because it looks disgusting!) for my brows. 

The most important part of my make up routine involves these four products. I've been skipping a primer recently but I've yet to use my repurchased Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro primer so I've added it to my make up bag this week. My foundation of choice is the L'Oreal True Match (I wish I could tell you which shade I have but I can't find it on the packaging anywhere). It's so quick and easy to apply; I use my fingers. For concealer I have the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Medium 3 for any blemishes or discolouration and Rimmel's Wake Me Up concealer for underneath my eyes. Drugstore base products are definitely growing on me, it seems!

I won three powder products in a Famous giveaway hosted by Cherry a while back and whilst I've used the No Shine Face Powder in The One and Only regularly, I've only used the Shining Star Shimmer Brick in Rihanna Shimmer and the First Date Blush in Scarlett a couple of times. The shimmer brick doubles as an eyeshadow palette and the blush is a gorgeous dark rose shade. I've thrown in a Dior blush in Peachy Keen because it's one of my favourite winter blushes. 

So, there you have it.

What's in your make up bag right now? If you've posted something similar, leave me a link in the comments.

Stace xx

My Top Five: Autumn/Winter Polish Picks

I've been dying for the weather to get colder (well, it was never really particularly warm, was it?) and for the days to get shorter partly because it means I can start wearing some of my favourite polishes that perhaps aren't Spring/Summer appropriate. Apologies for the rubbish photo, my usual photography spot is out of action as I'm in the midst of packing up my life.

YSL La Laque Couture in 6 Rouge Dada 

Rouge Dada is a classic red shade; I think everyone needs something similar in their polish collection. It looks quite vibrant in the bottle and it is on the nails after two coats but I tend to add a third because I prefer the deeper red colour I get as a result. The formula of these polishes is strange; it's very light and looks a bit watery or gel-like but on the nails it looks opaque and shiny. They're really easy to use because of the nice wide brush and the short drying time. If I'm wearing a red over the next few months, it'll probably be this one. 

Chanel Le Vernis in 533 April

A polish called April in October? It doesn't make any sense. This shade came out in Chanel's Spring collection and it was a nice colour to wear during the transition from winter to spring. Now I've been enjoying it as we transition from summer to autumn. It's a muted raspberry pink shade which I think would work on a lot of skintones. It wasn't the star product from the  collection but I bought all three polishes and this is the one I've used the most. It's a nice alternative to a red without being vampy or neutral. Formula-wise it's one of the better Chanel polishes as I can easily get an opaque finish after two coats. The wear time with this one is excellent, too.

Chanel Le Vernis in 505 Particuliere 

I've just used this shade to paint my nails and I feel as though I'm falling in love with it all over again. During spring and summer if I wore a neutral shade it was something much lighter than this mushroom-taupe from Chanel but now that we're in autumn this polish will probably be on my nails at least once a week from now until February. It's one of those shades I don't have to think about; it just goes with everything. The formula is opaque in two coats and whilst I'd prefer a wider brush it's not too fiddly so I can live with it.

Color Club in Rad Nomad

This smoky purple shade has only just made it into my top five but I couldn't not include it because it's quickly becoming one of my favourite colours. Last year I would have included Revlon Perplex in this list but shimmery polishes are never my favourite so when I came across Rad Nomad it effectively replaced Perplex in my affections. I'll need to post a nail of the day post with this polish soon. My only quibble with Rad Nomad (and Color Club polishes in general, actually) is that the brush is so thin and annoying to use. 

OPI in Lincoln Park After Dark

No autumn/winter polish list would be complete without this shade, would it? Lincoln Park After Dark is a deep purple, almost black, colour with a cream finish. I wear this on my toes all year round but I only wear it on my fingers during this time of year. Again this is a shade I think everyone should own because despite being so dark it's still really versatile and works well with most outfits. I usually need three thin coats for an opaque finish but the wear time of this polish is excellent for me and the wide OPI brush is a dream to use. 

I should say that Chanel Rouge Noir would also be in this list but mine needs to be replaced. I love the dark red-black shade but I find the formula of that polish to be a bit fickle so if you have any recommendations for similar shades place leave them in the comments because I'd be interested in checking out alternatives.

What are your go-to polishes during the colder months?

Stace xx

YSL Touche Eclat Foundation

I mentioned the YSL Touche Eclat foundation in my most recent favourites post but I wanted to write a separate review about my new base of choice. I resisted picking this up for a long time because a lot of the reviews I had read said that the coverage was incredibly sheer. Whilst I do tend to prefer a light coverage foundation I got the impression that YSL's offering would be more like a tinted moisturiser. I'm pleased to say that after trying a sample my preconceptions were dismissed and once I ran out of my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua I finally purchased the YSL Touch Eclat foundation.

The packaging is nice; it feels heavy and whilst the glass bottle isn't especially travel friendly I do like being able to see how much product I've used. It also comes with a pump which dispenses just the right amount of product for one layer of foundation. I felt quite guilty for parting with £31 for the little plastic bottle of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua but the £28 price tag for the Touche Eclat foundation was a little easier to swallow, in part due to the packaging. 

We all know that it's what's on the inside that counts, right? In that respect this product doesn't disappoint either. It is a light coverage foundation but it offers slightly more than I expected. It's also very buildable; I like to add a second layer to the areas of my face which I feel need a little more coverage. I should point out that this foundation is definitely not for anyone who swears by Estee Lauder Double Wear or something similar. If you have a lot of blemishes, scarring or redness to cover you're probably not going to like this but if you just have a slightly uneven skintone and only get blemishes occasionally I'd definitely recommend giving this a try. The finish is less dewy than I expected and that's a positive for me as I do get a little oily in my t-zone. It's definitely not a matte finish either, though. If you have very oily skin and love a matte finish, I'd steer clear.

I've tried applying this with my fingers and that works nicely but I prefer to use my Real Techniques Buffing Brush as I find I get a bit more coverage that way. The product melts into the skin quickly so application is a breeze. I get a decent amount of wear from this foundation; around 6-8 hours. I usually powder through my t-zone but find that if I want to add another layer of foundation later in the day I can easily do that without making my skin look caked in foundation. 

The YSL Touche Eclat foundation is available in twenty two shades across a spectrum of undertones. I have B50 which is from the neutral range. I believe there should be a shade to suit almost everyone. 

Have  you tried YSL's latest foundation? 

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

YSL Shocking Mascara & Cream Eyeliner

Over the past few weeks I've been trying out a couple of YSL products; Shocking mascara* and a cream liner. Despite being a huge fan of other YSL products, I'd never tried any eye make up from the brand. 

The mascara is something that's been on my wish list for a long time so I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to use it. At £23 it's one of the most expensive mascaras I've tried. The price tag is definitely reflected in the luxurious, heavy golden packaging. The product itself is very heavily scented, so much so that I can smell it throughout the day when I'm wearing the mascara. I have quite sensitive eyes so the scent concerned me at first but after using it I suffered no adverse effects. Shocking is marketed as a volumising mascara which gives lashes a 'false lash effect'. If you're like me and normally apply a couple of coats of mascara there's no need to with Shocking because one coat gives a crazy amount of volume. I found that when I added a second coat my lashes started to clump together and look a little spidery; probably because the formula is quite wet. Despite the fact this mascara leaves a lot of product on the lashes I didn't experience a lot of smudging which is unusual for me. 

The brush is on the larger side but it's not as difficult to use as something like Dior's Diorshow or BeneFit's Bad Gal. It is a traditional brush with bristles and its strange shape supposedly helps distribute the product more effectively. I did find it a tiny bit cumbersome to use the first couple of times, though. If you're a fan of voluminous lashes and don't want to spend a long time applying several coats of mascara, Shocking is definitely worth a look. 

The Cream Liner* comes in a dinky glass jar with a golden lid. It's priced at £22.00 and I have the shade 01 Pure Black. I've been comparing this with my long-standing favourite black gel liner from Bobbi Brown and I have to say, I like them both equally. The YSL black is slightly less intense but texture-wise it's creamier and I find that makes it easier to apply. I've tried the cream liner on my waterline and it holds up well; I get around four hours of wear before it starts to fade. On my upper lashline I find it wears well too. I get a tiny bit of transfer or smudging but I think that has more to do with my watery eyes than the product itself. I don't have anything negative to say about this liner; it does exactly what it claims to. Admittedly there are probably cheaper alternatives on the market but I don't think £22 is too unreasonable given that only a very small amount is needed for each application. The cream liner shade range looks really nice and I've got my eye on a few more of these!

The mascara and cream liner can be purchased from Harrods online or in store and from other stockists.

Have you tried either of these products? What did you think of them?

Stace xx

*PR Samples

Wishlist Wednesday: I Need A Job!

So, the job hunt has officially begun and naturally Boyfriend and I have been talking about the things we need (read: want) for our new flat that we can't afford until we're both working. Naturally, I've got a  wish lit a mile long of products that are just too expensive for me to justify buying right now. Here are a few examples:

Image from Esteelauder.com

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

£58 for 50ml

I've heard mixed reviews on this product so I really want to try a sample first. This product has been on my wish list for a long time but the price keeps putting me off buying it. Have any of you tried it?

Image from clarisonic.co.uk

Clarisonic Mia

£120

I've been debating buying a Clarisonic for so long but I'm terrified of the 'purge' phase as my skin's looking pretty good right now. I'm a big fan of exfoliation (does that sound as strange as it does in my head?) so this is something I should probably try at some point.

Image from yslbeauty.co.uk

YSL Le Teint Eclat Foundation 

£28

I might end up picking this up with my Boots points if I can because I'm dying to try a sample and if I like it, I can see myself buying the full size. I'm almost out of my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua which is £3 more expensive. I've been really enjoying sheer/light coverage foundations recently.

Image from johnlewis.com

Dolce & Gabbana The One EDP

£54 for 50ml

This is my all-time favourite perfume and I've not owned a bottle of it for a while. My current pricey perfume (Prada Candy) is on it's way out so I'm planning on replacing it with this.

Image from beautybay.com

Babyliss Pro Porcelain Conical Wand 

£23.95

I've been contemplating buying one of these ever since my hair become too long to use my old curling tongs on but I keep talking myself out of it because I don't know if I'd use it much and I'm terrified of burning my face or fingers!

If you own any of these products, let me know what you think of them!

Stace xx

Wishlist Wednesday: Nail Polishes

Nails Inc Wellington Square & Porchester Square

YSL Beige Leger & Rose Abstrait

Dior Waterlily


Stace xx

Wishlist Wednesday: Lip Products

YSL Glossy Stain in Shade 9 Rouge Laque

Since trying (and loving) my first Glossy Stain, this one is the next shade on my hit list. 

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Sari Dore

I tried to pick this up a few weeks ago only to be told it was being discontinued! It's a bright orange shade and I need it. Really, I do!

MAC Lipstick in Lady Danger

Another orange/red shade on my wishlist. There's a theme here! I've been meaning to pick this up for ages and I have some empties to Back 2 MAC so this might be what I end up going for.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm

How could I not include this?! I've been wanting to try it ever since it was first mentioned because it sounds great. FeelUnique had 10% or 15% off skincare a while back and I went to order it but it was out of stock...until the offer was over. Suspicious!

Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet

This is a lip butter shade that Revlon decided not to bring to the UK. I'm not entirely sure why because this was one of the most popular shades in the US when these launched. I also want Creamsicle and another Fig Jam (which I'm almost out of). Revlon, please bring the full range to the UK!

Do you have any lip products on your wish list?

Stace xx

YSL La Laque Couture in 6 Rouge Dada

This is the other product I picked up at the YSL counter recently. I'd never heard anything about their nail polishes before and since I already have a few nail polish brands which I'm pretty loyal to, I was reluctant to try it. However, after swatching it, I changed my mind. 

The formula looks really thin and watery which was off-putting as I'm not a fan of sheer polishes but it's not sheer when applied. Because it's of the thin formula and wider brush it glides on to the nails so easily. I applied two coats and it's completely opaque. I can't say anything about the wear time just yet but that's not usually an issue for me since I change my polish so often.

(apologies for the slightly messy nails...I got a bit over excited about this post!)

The packaging is gorgeous and the shade Rouge Dada is a great classic red. These are not cheap at £18 each (link) so I'm glad I went for a really wearable shade. 

Have you tried any of these?

Stace xx

Ps - I should add that the staff at the YSL counter in Debenhams on Glasgow's Argyle Street are lovely!

YSL Glossy Stain in 6 Camel Croisiere

I finally cracked and picked up one of the hyped YSL Glossy Stains. I popped into town a few days ago for no particular reason and ended up at the YSL counter in Debenhams talking to Fred Letailleur, YSL's European make up artist. 

I told him I needed a lipstick to cheer myself up and we decided on this peachy orange Glossy Stain in shade 6 - Camel Croisiere. I had previously tried a darker, brighter orange shade but I thought it was too similar to some lipsticks I already have and not a colour I'd wear all the time. 

I've not stopped wearing this since I bought it. I'm sure you've already read lots of reviews so I'm not sure I have anything new to say. The formula of this product is so odd. It feels just like a gloss when it's first applied but within ten seconds it feels very gloopy and tacky. Around twenty seconds later it dries down a bit but still looks very glossy. I find it's best to apply a couple of layers but because this is a more subtle shade it's more low maintenance than some of the more bold colours. I can reapply on the go very easily if I need to. 

The packaging is pretty but I'm not completely sold on the black and and gold; I'd prefer if it was all one colour, I think. I like that I can see how much product I've used. The applicator looks strange but works well with this product. It's very wide, thin and flexible with a pointed tip. 

I think I'm going to have to pick up a more vibrant shade next! They are priced at £22.50 (link)

Have you tried these? Let me know what you think!

 Stace xx

Pre-Christmas Haul - Prada, Elemis, Seche Vite, Clarins, YSL

I've just got back from being at home (apologies that one of my posts went up with no photos - I obviously didn't save it properly!). I made a small ASOS order whilst I was gone so it was here waiting for me along with something I bought from Buyapowa. I also picked up a couple more things from Duty Free on my way back. Here goes!

ASOS

ASOS always seems to have discounted beauty products and at the moment they have 25% off several brands. I've never tried Elemis products before but I've been wanting to try their skincare for younger skin since it launched. I don't need any cleansers or moisturisers right now so I picked up their FreshSkin Make Up Away face wipes and Loving Lips Quenching Lip Balm. I also picked up a Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.

Buyapowa

This is my first purchase from Buyapowa.com (it's a co-buy website here in the UK). I think I paid £14 for this YSL Touche Eclat in shade 1 and I believe the RRP is £21.

Duty Free

I've been wanting Prada's new perfume, Candy, for a while now so I decided to buy it on my trip back to Glasgow. I also spotted this duo of Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors in the shades 01 and 02. I already have 02 and love it. The duo was great value at only £19 but it is a travel exclusive.




Have you picked up anything nice recently or are you being good and only buying Christmas presents?


Stace xx