June Favourites

This month has definitely been a month of hair care. Since getting my hair permed (find out exactly what I had done here), I've been loving hair care! Something that was a chore before as I couldn't be particularly adventurous.

The Favourites

Silk Extra Moisturizing Activator
This is what my hairdressers told me that I needed to keep my curls looking defined. I don't usually like being sold things from the hair dressers as usually you can find it elsewhere for cheaper but I was in a postsalon daze. She was right however. The one day I didn't use it, I looked like a poodle who had got caught in the rain! It keeps my hair tamed and under control. Frustratingly I can't find anywhere else that stocks this other than my hair dressers and American stockists (I don't usually like using American ones because of the whole customs malarkey but it's so much cheaper in dollars- ugh)

Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion
My German friend gave this to me when she couldn't take it on her flight home. It's always sad to see friends leave. I benefited this time however as I'd never tried this body lotion. You can see from the almost empty bottle, my skin has been drinking it up and with the classic S&G scent, it was a instant winner. This body lotion is quite thick but it still rubs into the skin quickly. There's nothing worse than having a full body workout trying to get rid of white cream marks, is there?

Garnier Ultimate Blends The Sleek Restorer 1 Minute Treatment
My hair dresser recommended that I use shampoo and conditioner aimed at sleek and smooth hair so when I saw this on offer in Boots, I knew I had to get me some. I also picked up the corresponding shampoo and conditioner which I also love but this 1 minute treatment just wowed me. The smell is incredible and my hair felt noticeably more smooth and soft even after being left on for a short amount of time.

TRESemme Platinum Strength Leave In Conditioner
I've mentioned this before so I won't go on but this is my favourite type of leave in conditioner. It's a cream formula as opposed to the sprays. I never feel like the liquid sprays do anything and having such thick hair means that my hair can take it without being weighed down. After using this, my hairdresser commented about how repaired my hair looked which I put down to this product.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum
I had to have at least one makeup item in here! You can see a full review here but I returned to it being my everyday foundation this month. It's light, a perfect colour match and a Real Techniques buffing brush makes easy work of it!

Lastly, how cute is that little hair scrunchie! I picked it up from Primark with a matching headband. I love the bright floral print and now my hair is a little more controlled, it means I don't have to cut out my hair accessories!

What have you been loving this month?

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FOTD featuring Clinique Chubby Stick in Pudgy Peony

I do not know what possessed me to take a picture on my less than becoming moss green carpet?! I was obviously having a moment of madness! As said in this post, FOTDs have never been my forte. I just don't know how to take a good picture of myself. I also like to tilt my head to an almost 90 degree angle, what's up with that?!

My craziness aside, I really like this look. I think it really reflects my style. Very simple and quick and easy to do. I filled in my brows on this day with the MUA Undress Me Too palette (a mixture of the brown and he black) which I never normally do. Everyone goes on about brows all the time but I just don't know if I like it on myself. What do you think? It does shape them and pull together a look but I feel too done, somehow. Maybe it's the colour; slightly;too dark?

My lip colour of choice has been my go-to recently. It's the Clinique Chubby Stick in Pudgy Peony and definitely the star of this FOTD. I'm still loving the chubby stick/ pencil lip colour thaaang. They're just so easy to glide on for an effortless lip colour. If you haven't realised, I like my make up as low maintenance as possible!

The rest of the products are nothing that you haven't seen on AG before.

Base
17 Photo Ready Primer in the T-zone to reduce shine. Rimmel Lasting Finish foundation with a little bit of Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer for concealing. Finally a light dusting of Rimmel Match Perfection powder (this is the powder I mentioned in this post!)

Eyes
Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze swiped across the lids. A thin line of Soap and Glory SuperCat Liner to define the eyes and thicken the lash line. A swiping of Bourjois Paris Volume Glamour Max Holidays Mascara (what a random mix of words!)
MUA Undress Me Too palette for brows

Lips 
Clinique Chubby Stick in Pudgy Peony
(the link is to Boots Chubby Stick stocking as I can't find a direct link- sorry!)

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Face of the Day| Drugstore

Berry smoothie to go with my berry lips!

I thought I'd share another FOTD with you today, if not simply to prove that I do wear other make up other than brown matte shadows (not that I stray too far..)

Recently my skin has been on the verge of a break out so most days I've gone without a base to give my skin a chance to recover and rebalance. I've realised that I have a real liking for concealer and am constantly flitting in between. The one I'm currently using is the Collection Illuminating Touch concealer for under my eyes. I've got quite bad dark circles and this has a peachy tone that cancels that out. I use my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent to set it as it does have a tendency to crease if I over do it.

For eyes, I kept it simple and used my MUA Undress Me Too palette. I've been trying to experiment with this palette and try and get some more every day looks out of it. The shimmer shades are definitely the better pigmented ones though and sometimes I feel as if I've over done it and look like I'm  going on a night out instead of just to university.

On this day, I used Reveal on the lid and Obsessed (my favourite crease colour) and I think I acheived the every day look! I then put a little bit of eye liner to thicken my lashline and mascara.

To finish the look, I did the teeniest weeniest bit of contouring (I'm trying to get back into it) and slicked on some Bourjois Colour Boost in Plum Russian. I still love this for an every day not too vampy lip.

What have you worn today? I've had a bit of bloggers block recently so any recommended tags or post requests would be most welcome!

(P.S. Please excuse my hair! It just wasn't doing what I wanted so I eventually gave in battling it and left it)

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Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum review

First time in a while I haven't had a post scheduled, starting to slip eh?

If you saw this post- LINK- then you may have seen I picked up this foundation. I'd been eyeing this up for a while and finally decided to chuck it in my basket when Bourjois had a gift with purchase going on. I'm going to say from the get go, I like this foundation but I got it at the wrong time. Being in mid winter, my skin has been dry and more blemish prone than usual and the lighter coverage of this foundation hasn't suited that. It also doesn't help that in my rush to get it, I got a shade too dark for my pale winter complexion. I think this will be perfect in summer when the sun has cleared my skin up and the colour will match but right now... not so much.

I don't think it lasts for 16 hours as claimed. I'd get home some days and parts of my face would look patchy. However I do agree with the radiance boosting. I have very lacklustre skin and this foundation is able to just perk it up somewhat. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum is light coverage (but it can be built up) and easily blendable (handy in my case when some serious blending into the neck is needed!)

Overall a thumbs up on the radiance side of it. This is the first foundation I've tried with that sort of thing in it and I really liked it. This will be the first foundation I reach for when I go on holiday! For reference my shade is number 56 Hale Clair.

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Bourjois 3D Effet- Rouge Democratic & Christmas FOTD

I wanted this to be a 'What I Got For Christmas' post but I've still got a few presents left at home to open so I'll leave you in suspense for now...

 

 

 

If you caught my Bourjois haul (see HERE), this lipgloss was in the gift box I got with my purchases. It definitely is my perfect red! I've realised as much as I want to rock the red lip; a true red lipstick doesn't suit me. This is the perfect compromise. A red gloss that can be built up into an almost opaque colour. The colour is lovely and being a gloss makes it less 'serious' than a red lip.I wore this on Christmas day and it was just a dream to wear. None of the usual lipgloss stickiness (quite balmy in fact! Just as it claims) and it wore for about two hours. I have to commend it on the two hours without the amount I was eating! Believe me it was a lot! I'm still stuffed!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I've popped in a little Christmas selfie  to show you the gloss in action.

Buy here- LINK

 

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Bourjois Colour Boost- Plum Russian

 

If you saw this wishlist (see post-here) and then this haul (see post- here), you will have seen that I had been a bit naughty and picked up the Bourjois Colour Boost in Plum Russian.

I had a feeling that I might love this balmy, high pigmented lip product and I was right. The picture above shows Plum Russian at its sheerest but it can be built up to a deep plum colour. The balmy texture of it means that it can be worn in the day without looking too vampy but deep enough to be worn at night. It claims to last for 10 hours but I'd say more like six with eating and drinking. What I like to do to make it last longer is to layer it over a plum lipstick. My lipstick of choice is Beauty UK lipstick in Plumalicious. 

I absolutely love this for a quick swipe of lip colour that isn't too high maintenance. Have you tried any Colour Boosts? I love lip crayons for easy lip colour.

 

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Bourjois Haul!

After doing a bit of Christmas shopping, I decided to treat myself. Naughty, I know. I'd heard that Bourjois were giving a free gift with a purchase of £15 plus so I took advantage of that in the name of the blog! It just so happened that something from my wishlist (see post- here) magically appeared in my basket. Bonus!

 

  Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum

I've been eyeing up this foundation for a while and finally bit the bullet. I wasn't really sure about the difference between this and the plain Healthy Mix (if you could help in the comments, that would be most appreciated!) but in the end Bourjois made the call for me as only the Serum was in my shade. I got Dark Bronze 58 but I think I could have actually got away with 56. As I go so pale in winter, I don't mind adding a bit more colour to my face, just got to spend a bit more time blending it into my neck!

Bourjois Colour Boost- 06 Plum Russian

I've wanted this since it came out so it was the first thing I picked up to round me up to my £15. As much as I hate winter, I never want Spring to roll around as I want to wear this forever! It's a gorgeous deep, you guessed it, plum colour but as it's a balm, it doesn't look too vampy or heavy. It suits my skin tone perfectly

In the free gift...

Bourjois Volume Glamour Max Holidays Mascara

Bourjois Smoky Eyes- 01 Gris Dandy

Bourjois Effet 3D Gloss Volume and Shine Elixir- 06 Rouge Democratic

This seems to be my perfect red on first appearance

Bourjois So Laque!- Rouge Escarpin 24

Have you tried any of these? What's your verdict? I would ask for recommendations but my bank balance isn't allowing me too :(

 

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September favourites

I haven't written a favourites post since May! (If you're interested, it's here). I'm a bad blogger, I know! Anyway, here are some products and a couple of random things that I have been loving this month.

Barry M Basecoat Topcoat and Nail Hardener// Sinful Colors in 24/7

There is a review scheduled for both of these polishes soon so I won't say too much about them here. The Barry M base coat has been helping to give a much more smooth application to my polish, but I haven't been using it for long enough to comment on the nail hardening qualities of it. I just hope it is true as my nails are currently in a state (sad times). The Sinful Colors (so hard not to put the 'u' in there!) in 24/7 is a neon matte shade which I have been loving. Definitely not seasonal but I'm feeling daring!!

Quick Fix Facials Mega Moisture Gel Mask// Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Bronze

Again a full review to come on this Quick Fix face mask but this has been really helping me through these colder weeks. My skin gets extremely dry at the hint of any cold and this has Hyraluronic acid in it, which is meant to help your skin retain moisture better. I wouldn't say that it has had any long term effects on my skin, but as the name says, I believe it's meant to be a "quick fix". Eeeee, I've hit pan on something! I go very pale in the autumn/winter and this bronzer has been helping me fool people that I don't. I've been giving foundation more of a miss than not recently and a bit of concealer under the eyes and some of this bronzer swept over the face and I'm out the door. You can see a full review of the Rimmel bronzer here

MUA PowerPout in Brokenhearted// Bourjois lipstick in Sweet Kiss 51

I've raved about these two in separate posts (MUA- here, Bourjois- here) so you can check those out but since I've been back at uni, I've wanted some lip colour back in my life. My products of choice have been these two for an easy, every day look and I've been loving them.

Yankee Candle in Sweet Pea// Midi rings from Primark

 Finally a few random favourites. I bought a gorgeous candle holder from Asda (it looks like a flower opening and you put the candle in the middle) and needed some tea light candles to go in it. I can't bear to part with the cash to buy a full sized Yankee candle but these little ones were only a pound (!) so I picked a couple up. Usually I'm straight for the vanilla scents but my mum encouraged me to go for something different so I got the sweet pea. It has a lovely fresh fragrance and really does fill the room. Next to the candle are some midi rings that I picked up at the end of this month. Since I saw the Persian Babe on YouTube with them, I really wanted some so I got two packs from Primark. One set had two of each metal, gold, silver, rose gold and the dark grey metal. The other had a plain silver band, the spring like ring (pictured) and a silver one with the infinity symbol on it (pictured). I just think they make your hand look dainty! A mean feat for my man hands!!

Despite this being a suuuper long post, I can't write it without mentioning Pretty Little Liars! OMG am I addicted, I only started recently and have already almost caught up! It keeps you on your toes that's for sure! Definitely check it out!!

What products have you been loving this month? I'd love some TV show recommendations!

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Bourjois Lipstick Review

Hey guys!

Here is the comparative lipstick review I promised of the Bourjois lipsticks! I thought I'd make this post a little different and have 4 sections. The sections are formulation, colour, packaging and price.

Formulation:

The formulation of both lipsticks is really nice. They're both highly pigmented and aren't drying. I do find with the Rouge Edition Fuschia Graffiti 07 though, that if you don't have a balm on underneath it, it tends to settle into the creases of the lips, unlike Sweet Kiss.

Top: Sweet Kiss Bottom: Fuchsia Graffiti

Colour:

I love the colour of both these lipsticks! Sweet Kiss is more on the purpley pink side, with a "my lips but better" feel. Fuschia Graffiti is a bright pop of pink with blue undertones which give it a shimmery look without actual shimmer.

Top: Sweet Kiss Bottom: Fuchsia Graffiti

Packaging:

I really dislike the packaging of Sweet Kiss. It has a slide up button which pops the lid off. This looks cheap and it also means that the lid sometimes comes off in your handbag. Not ideal! On the other hand, I love the packaging of Fuschia Graffiti, I think it looks really sleek and elegant in a simple way.

Price:

I'm unable to tell you the price of Sweet Kiss as it was a gift, however I purchased Fuschia Graffiti in my local Superdrug for £7.99. I think for a lipstick, this is quite affordable, but it is at the higher end of drugstore lipstick

Let me know what you thought of these lipsticks or any others and how you liked the layout of this post

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New Lipstick on the Scene

Hey!

I have only very recently become a lipstick fan. I was always more of a 'slick of vaseline and you're good to go' girl but I have been lured!

A couple of years ago, my Nana bought me a lipstick for Christmas (I know it has probably expired, oops but I love it too much to part with) and it was promptly thrown in a draw, never to be looked at again. Until one night I was going out and fancied a lick of colour, I pulled out the lipstick (which was Bourjois Sweet Kiss) and never looked back.

Sweet Kiss

I will admit to never putting much pressure on this lipstick and always diluting the colour down with vaseline at first but I slowly became more confident. This was when my eye began to stray to new shades and I spotted the Bourjois Rouge Edition lipsticks. Fuschia Graffiti 07 immediately caught my eye, and my room mate can vouch for me when I say that every time we went to town, I would drag her into Superdrug to drool over it.

Fuchsia Graffiti

Finally after about a month of swatching my hand every time I was in a mile vicinity of this lipstick, I have it in my possession and it has quite overshadowed my beloved first. I'm sorry!

What are your lipstick favourites? Recommendations most welcome!

Review of both lipsticks and comparisons to come

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