September Favourites

Essie Aperitif

Essie is by far my favourite nail varnish brand and this month I've been loving the shade Aperitif, it's the perfect red that just works all year round and the formula lasts a lot longer on me than other polishes before chipping. I've reapplied this one over and over this month!

MUA Undressed Palette

On a day to day basis eyeshadows always tend to be the forgotten step in my makeup routine, but since I did my Autumn Makeup Bag post I've been making an attempt to experiment a bit more. I've been turning to my bargain MUA Palette in Undressed almost everyday!  Particularly the darker matte brown (top row 5th from left) and the shimmery bronze (bottom row 1st from left).

Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk

I got this in the FeelUnique sale at the end of august and loved it immediately! I did a full review of it which you can see here, it's a great cream cleanser which is super gentle on skin, smells lovely and removes every last scrap of makeup. I've been massaging it on and flanneling it off.

Coconut oil

There are a huge amount of ways in which you can use Coconut Oil which I spoke about here, but this month I've been using it as a hair treatment a lot. It's really moisturising, I just run the bottle under a hot tap, work it through my hair, leave it for half an hour then wash it out. It's been helping to get my dry and damaged hair back to a good condition!

Project Art by Nest Pineapple Mango Candle

I love burning candles on cosy autumn evenings and this month I've been loving this one, it's so warm and fruity smelling and it fills the entire room with fragrance really quickly. Unfortunately this candle was limited edition and it's really difficult to get hold of so I'm trying (and failing) not to burn it too much.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara

Step aside Diorshow Blackout, there's a new favourite in town! This is everything I could ever want in a mascara, it adds length, volume and pigment all in a few quick swipes. I'll definitely be buying this again and again.

What products have you been loving through September?

My Avon Eyeliner Collection

I knew that I had a few Avon eyeliners, but it wasn't till I got them all out to photograph that I realised quite how many! They have two main ranges of eyeliners, the Super Shock range and the Glimmerstick range.

My favourites are from the Super Shock range, they are a buttery soft gel formula in a pencil form that set when they dry, and just do not budge! They look really good blended out with a cotton bud (Q-tip) but make sure you work quickly as they dry quite fast. They also look great as a clean neat line and the colour range is brilliant with more limited edition shades coming out every now and then.

The colours I have are, (from left) Aqua Pop, a rich, vibrant peacock blue that adds a great little pop of colour to a simple look. The next one along, Flash, I bought thinking it was a plain matte nude eyeliner like the Rimmel Scandaleyes one but in fact it's a champagney pink shimmery shade that looks lovely in the inner corner as well as in the waterline. In the middle is Blackberry, a limited edition shade from last year, it's a lovely deep, shimmery, purple-brown that is my most used shade of the bunch, I'm really hoping they bring this one back before I've used mine up! The next one along is Khaki, the shade is true to it's name with a very shimmery finish, I haven't quite found a way to make this one work for me yet but I'll keep experimenting with it! The last one is Steel, a dark grey with a full on metallic finish that looks great smudged out along the top lash line, it's a great alternative for when you feel that black 'might be a bit much'. 

The other range that I want to talk about are the Glimmerstick eyeliners, they are more of a waxy, traditional eyeliner formula that come in a super convenient twist up pencil, no sharpening required. The colour range is also more traditional with shades of browns and blacks and a few very dark jewel tones. First up is night star, which is part of the 'chromes' range, as you would imagine, all the colours in this range have a chrome finish! This one is a deep, dark blue that seems to make eyes look brighter. 

The next one down is from their 'diamonds' range, in the shade Brown Glow and is the  newest edition to my collection, it's a perfect shimmery bronze. Just shimmery enough and just dark enough, it works amazingly well scribbled messily along the upper and lower lash lines and softly blended out with a finger, it adds just a hint of definition to the eyes and somehow brings a lovely warmth to the face. It also works brilliantly with a just a bold lip and a swipe of mascara. 

Ok, so the next one down isn't actually an eyeliner, it's an eyebrow pencil but as it sits within the Glimmersticks range, I thought I'd throw it in! I have the shade Soft Black, which is in fact more of a dark brown, but a very dark brown, so only go for this one if you have naturally very dark hair (unless of course your going for the Scouse-brow look!) 

Last up, back to eyeliners, of course everyone needs a true black and this one's mine. It's the shade Blackest Black from the regular Glimmerstick range and it's completely matte and very pigmented, a classic really, what more can I say?

Overall I would have to say my favourite range is definitely Super Shock, as the gel formulas are just amazing, super creamy, no drag, incredible pigment, blend well, dry and stay put! That combined with an amazing shade range. What more could you want from an eyeliner? Since trying them I definitely don't think I'll be buying any high end eyeliners anytime soon, these ones outperform all the ones that I've tried and are a fraction of the price. They are all £6.00 but are currently half price so only £3.00!

Which is your favourite of the lot?  

NOTD #9

When it comes to nail varnishes, I tend to stick to cream finishes. I hardly ever go in for metallics but I just love this one. It's Lebury Road from Nails Inc which is a metallic steel grey with a really high shine finish. It applies really smoothly and is true to colour in 1-2 coats, but you could easily get away with just one. 

I love the Nails Inc formulas, they're so long wearing, day 5 and not a single chip! I really do wish they would change their brush though, I much prefer the flat wide ones that come with the Essie and Bourjois polishes.

What have you been wearing on your nails lately?

Liebster Award

So the lovely Lexie Hatton who writes the blog Dreams Are My Reality nominated me for the Liebster award! It's an award that recognises small blogs with less than 200 followers to help promote them. 

Here are the rules:

• You must link the person who has nominated you.
• You must share eleven random facts about yourself.
• You must answer the eleven Liebster award questions given to you by the person who nominated you.
• You must pick eleven bloggers under 200 followers to be nominated for the award.
• You must come up with eleven questions for your nominees to answer.
• You must go to their blogs and tell them that they have been nominated.

Eleven random facts about me:

• I have never seen Dirty Dancing or The Wizard of Oz
• I have a degree in Fashion Design
• My goal is to one day have my own label
• My favourite Ica Cream is Haagen Daz Pralines and Cream, yummy!
• I love girly sitcoms like New Girl, The Mindy Project and 2 Broke Girls
• And slightly boyish ones like The Inbetweeners
• My favourite book is Love in the Time of Cholera
• I'm moving house soon which means I'll finally be able to get a cat!
• I strongly dislike 'Get Lucky' by Daft Punk
• I love vintage furniture and clothes
• I discovered beauty blogs by googling makeup storage solutions! 

Questions given to me:

Why did you start your blog? I've been reading beauty blogs for a while and I've always loved them. I graduated a few months ago so I thought, what better time to start?

If you could only have one beauty item for the rest of your life, what would it be? Definitely mascara, Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara to be specific.

If you had £1000, what would you rather spend it on, make-up or clothes? At the moment, probably clothes, there are a few things I have my eye on. An investment coat and bag maybe?

What are your favourite blogs to follow? So many! Essie Button, Vivianna Does Makeup, What I Heart Today, Liana Beauty, Sprinkle of Glitter, Fashion Toast, A Model Recommends, Cupcakes and Cashmere, Makeup Savvy, Milk Bubble Tea, Moments of Style and The Londoner amoung many others!

What is your favourite make-up brand? Definitely Nars, especially their blushers and multiples!

What is your all-time favourite lipstick? Brand and colour? Hmmm this is a really difficult one! My favourite was Chanel Rouge Allure in Dragon but it's since been discontinued! So it's between Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple and Avon Ultra Colour Rich Mega Impact Lipstick in Divine Wine.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? I'd love to go to Mexico City and see all the amazing art galleries.

What is your number one beauty secret/tip? Coconut Oil! You can use it in so many different ways. As a cleanser, moisturiser and hair mask!

What is your favourite clothes shop? I love pretty much anything from Zara and Cos. 

Who is your celebrity idol? I love Carine Roitfeld and Marion Cotillard for their amazing sense of style and Angelina Jolie for her all round awesomeness. 

Any advice for a new blogger? I'm a new blogger myself so I don't really have a lot of advice to give, except just be honest and blog about whatever you enjoy, that way you'll never run out of ideas. 

My Nominees:

I couldn't find 11 blogs that have less than 200 followers and I only wanted to nominate blogs that I read rather then just searching for some and adding them in, so I hope that's ok!

1. Frankie Boo
2. Makeup by Candlelight
3. British Beauty Addict
4. Daisy Dear
5. Love and Liquor
6. A Pinch of Shaz
7. Lace Lipstick and Me
8. Big Beauty Bag

My Questions to You:

1. What are your 5 'Desert Island' beauty products?

2. What is your favourite time of year?

3. Why did you start blogging?

4. What are your favourite TV shows?

5. Where do you work?

6. What is your favourite makeup brand?

7. Do you play any musical instruments?

8. Who are your favourite beauty youtubers?

9. What beauty brand do you wish was available in the UK?

10.Who do you live with?

11.What is you favourite ice cream flavour?

Looking forward to reading your answers!

Objects of Desire - Diptyque Classic Coffret

Diptyque Classic Coffret

Skincare Routine - Masks and Treatments

So today's post is part 3 of my 3 part skincare posts. If you missed Morning Skincare Routine and Evening Skincare Routine then make sure you check them out!

I don't use my masks nearly as often as I should but now while writing this post, I've decided to make an attempt to use them more! 

Onsen - Daily Choice Peel

This one is an exfoliating treatment rather than a mask but the great thing is it doesn't contain any particles at all, so it isn't harsh and doesn't irritate the skin. It's a gel formula that you massage into dry skin and let the enzymes get to work, you then continue massaging it in and the dry skin just rubs off! It's quite a strange (and gross) experience the first time you try it but it works so well you soon get used to it. It leaves skin feeling really soft and fresh.

The Body Shop - Vitamin E Sink In Moisture Mask

This is a brilliant mask, I usually put it on in the evening instead of a night cream and just leave it to do its thing over night. It goes on clear so apart from a bit of a sheen it doesn't even look like I'm wearing a mask. It leaves skin feeling soft and plumped up and keeps and dry patches at bay. Plus it's a light jelly like consistency so it doesn't clog pores like some ricer formulas do.

Sephora - Gentle Exfoliator Cleansing Cream

So as the name suggests this is actually a cream cleanser, but as it can't be used around the eye area and it contains skin smoothing AHAs I use it as a mask instead. I find that way I'm giving the ingredients a chance to work. I leave it on for about 10 minutes and then wipe it off with a warm, damp flannel. It's really moisturising as well as exfoliating so it leaves skin feeling soft and nourished. 

Dr. Brandt - Detoxygen Experience Oxygenating Experience

This one is a great quick fix for tired and dull skin, or if you just want your skin to look more radiant. It's great to use  just before a night out or big even as the effects are immediate and it doesn't leave any redness. I try to save this one for special occasions and it's nearly finished! I'm dreading the day I run out! It's a two step process, the first is in the top, it's a foam formula that you apply over the skin without rubbing it in and let it do it's thing. It makes little bubbling noises and slowly all the bubbles pop, you then rinse it off, pat skin dry and apply the second step. The detoxifying creme concentrate that's in a little pot at the bottom, and it leaves skin glowing. I bought it to use before my wedding and I'm so glad I did!

Avon - Clearskin Professional Liquid Extraction Strip

This is the newest mask in my little collection and I haven't been using it long enough to decide how well it works. It's a sticky gel that you apply on your T-zone or anywhere your prone to getting blackheads, give it 15 minutes to dry and then peel it off. It claims to remove blackheads and unclog pores as it's peeled off so I'll have to let you know how I get on with it!

What are your favourite Face Masks?

Evening Skincare Routine

So yesterday I did a post all about my morning skincare routine, and today is all about my evening skincare routine. 

Cleanse

To start with I use my trusty coconut oil, I massage one pump into the skin and it completely breaks down all makeup. I then wipe it all away with a warm, damp flannel. (I did a full post on  the uses of coconut oil which you can see here)

I then go in for a second cleanse with Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk (full review here) to get my skin feeling really clean and soft. I use it in the same way as the coconut oil, massage on, warm flannel off.


Tone

I then spray the Sephora Softening Facial Mist over my face. It's barely scented at all so it's nice and relaxing last thing at night. It also gives skin a bit of a moisture boost and it means that my Caudalie Beauty Elixir lasts a bit longer!

  

Serum

As a serum I've been trying out Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, which I got a few very generous samples of when I bought my Ultra Facial Moisturiser Sunscreen. So far I absolutely love it! It's a runny oil consistency and it smells amazing as it contains lavender oil, a few tiny drops massaged into skin at night means I wake up to soft plumped  up skin come morning. The great thing about this is you need so little that it lasts such a long time. 

Eyes

As an eye cream I've been using Clarins 'Special' Eye Contour Balm for a while now and I absolutely love it. Again, you only need the tiniest amount so this tube will last me forever, I got it almost a year ago and I've barely made a dent in it! It's super moisturising which is great for me as I can sometimes get dry skin around the eye area, particularly in the colder months. If my eyes are feeling particularly dry then I use it in the daytime as well.

Moisturise

As a night cream I've been using Clarins HydraQuench Cream for Normal to Dry Skin, it isn't specifically a night cream but it's been working really well for me. It's a medium formula (not too light, not too rich) and sinks into the skin fairly quickly. I got it as a gift with purchase but I'll definitely be purchasing it when it's finished, possibly to use as a day cream! 

What do use in your evening skincare routine?

Morning Skincare Routine

So I thought it was about time that I shared with you my skincare routine! I never used to pay much attention to skincare but in the last few years I've been getting into it more and my skin has improved greatly. I've decided to split it into 3 posts over the next 3 days, Morning Skincare Routine, Evening Skincare Routine and Masks and Treatments. So here's the first!


Cleanse

For the last couple of weeks I've been using the Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk and I absolutely love it (you can see my full review on it here). I use 1 pump, massage it into my face and remove it with a warm, damp flannel. It leaves my skin clean and super soft.


Tone

Yep, you guessed it, more Caudalie. This time it's their cult product, Beauty Elixir. A couple of spritzes really wakes up the complexion, making it look more radiant and giving it a boost of hydration. Plus it smells amazing, the scent of it first thing in the morning really wakes me up.


Serum

For my morning serum, I've been using the Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase (full review here). I find it works really well in the morning because it gives skin a good boost of moisture, enough to last the whole day while still leaving skin with a natural finish. I prefer to reserve richer serums and facial oils for the evenings. 


Eyes

Now I'd be lying to you if I said I use this everyday. I often forget and when I'm in a rush this is usually the step to get missed out. But with eyes being the the first area to show signs of ageing, I feel I should use it more now or I'll regret it later! It's the Clinique All About Eyes eye cream which I got in a gift with purchase. It claims to reduce circles and puffs which I'm not sure if it really does yet but it certainly moisturises the eye area. 


Moisturise and Protect

To moisturise my skin and protect it from the sun (essential if you have any kind of pigmentation or uneven skin tone) I've been using Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 (full review here). It's a great 2 in 1 as it contains good protection from the sun as well as providing the skin with enough moisture. It also leaves skin with a nice finish, no white cast or greasy residue in sight. 


What products do you use in your skincare routine?

Review - Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Lotion

When it comes to Caudalie, most people automatically think Beauty Elixir or even maybe Divine Oil, but in fact Caudalie make a huge number of amazing products, I've never tried a single thing that I don't like! 

I recently bought the Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Lotion when they had their sale on. I just picked up the smallest size because my skin can sometimes be a bit sensitive and react to new products. Well it's safe to say I needn't have worried! This stuff is amazing, it's so calming and soothing on the skin and it leaves it feeling really clean and super soft. 

It comes with a pump top which I love, I wish everything came with a pump top, it would make things so much quicker and easier! I use 1 pump in the mornings and two in the evening to get all my makeup off. I simply massage it into dry skin till it's broken up all my makeup, waterproof mascara included. Then wipe it off with a warm, damp flannel. Although the instructions say to remove it with cotton pads, I find this way works best for me. It leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and plumped up, what more could you ask for in a cleanser? I then follow it with my usual toner, serum and moisturiser. 


When mine runs out I'll definitely be buying it again, it seems to be yet another Caudalie product I can't do without! It comes in 3 different sizes which is quite handy if you fancy trying it out in a small size before parting with the cash for the bigger sizes. Its comes in 100ml, 200ml and 400ml all of which you can get at feelunique. 

NOTD #8

When it comes to nail varnishes, Chanel make such amazing colours but unfortunately their formula leaves a lot to be desired. This colour is pretty special, it's called Paradoxal and it's a lovely  two tone grey-purple. I've never seen this colour by any other brand which is why I bought this one, it's my one and only Chanel Nail Varnish. I haven't worn it much lately but I remember from back when I got it the formula did chip quite quickly, something I've heard time and time again about Chanel nail varnishes. A shame really as it's such an expensive and reputable brand who you don't expect to be such a let down! I much prefer Essie Nail Varnishes, and they're half the price!

Skinted or Minted? Autumn/Winter Coats

Skinted

Black Biker 

Olive Wool and Leather

Royal Blue Long Biker

Print with Faux Fur Collar

Grey Double Breasted

Forest Green Contrast

Minted

Pastel Pink

Black Collarless

Purple Double Breasted

Black Crepe

Khaki Oversized Collar

Long Black Biker

Review - Simple Moisture Boost Hydro Mist

When it comes to facial spritzes, nothing comes even remotely close to my beloved Caudalie Beauty Elixir, but I thought I'd try and branch out in an attempt to find a cheaper alternative. I came across this one back before I went off on holiday when I wanted a small facial spray that wasn't in an aerosol and therefore aeroplane friendly. It's the Simple Kind To Skin Moisture Boost Hydro Mist. 

So how is it? Pretty good actually, especially considering the price. It feels nice and refreshing on the skin, perks it up, adds a bit of radiance and dewiness and stops makeup from looking too cakey. Another thing I like about it is that it doesn't have too strong a scent, so it's great for anytime of day. I usually carry it around in my handbag for when I need a quick spritz. 

Will I buy it again? Possibly, it's certainly no Caudalie Beauty Elixir though! That one wins hands down every time!

Have you tried any facial mists?

Review - Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase

I'm a bit of a newbee when it comes to skin serums, I haven't tried very many, but that doesn't mean I haven't come across 1 or 2 that I like!

Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase is one of them, it's perfect for mornings because it's super moisturising but doesn't leave the skin looking at all oily or greasy (thanks to the Hyaluronic Acid and Omega 3s). It just sinks straight in and doesn't look like you put anything on while still keeping your skin moisturised all day. It's a Bi-Phase serum so it separates into two layers in the bottle and you need to give it a good shake first. I then use either one or two pumps, depending on how dry my skin is feeling and massage it in before moisturiser. You can use it at night as well if you want too but I prefer to use something richer like an oil. 

Clarins describes it as 'An intensive light yet deeply comforting bi-phase serum with the power to rescue seriously dehydrated skin.', and I think I'd have to agree with them on that, in the colder months my skin starts to get very dry and sensitive and a few pesky patches of eczema aren't unheard of, this really does keep them at bay.

Mine is a mini sized version that came as a free gift with purchase, but at 41.00 for the full sized bottle, it certainly isn't cheap. If you have pretty normal or slightly dry skin, you don't really need this, but if you do suffer from dry skin and hate the super oily finish that all dry/sensitive products leave you with, then I would definitely recommend this. I would definitely buy this again, but maybe use it just when I need it rather than everyday so that it lasts a bit longer!

Have you tried any skin serums before? What are your favourites?

Project Art by Nest Fragrances Candles

There are a few things that I find really warming and cozy on  miserable autumn evenings, hot chocolate, knitted blankets, jumpers, TV and of course candles! I'm really loving these ones at the moment, they're the Project Art by Nest Fragrances candles in Pineapple Mango and Orange Kumquat. Their scents, as you can imagine,  are really fruity and burning one for a mere 20 minutes fills the entire house with their amazing scent that lingers for hours afterwards. They are also absolutely huge and contain an amazing 250 hours of burning time! These were unfortunately limited edition a while ago so they are quite difficult to get hold of, but if you can find one on Ebay, they're definitely worth snapping up. Mine were from TK Maxx so I'm always on the look out for more of them in there! I hear there's a Mint Leaves and Lime one!

What are your favourite candles?

The Many Uses of Coconut Oil

Oils may be relatively new in the beauty industry over here, but in India women have been using good old fashioned coconut oil in their beauty routines for centuries. If you have really sensitive, reactive skin coconut oil is a really great alternative to products laden with chemicals. As well as that it's a great alternative if you're on a budget as a lot of cheaper brands are full of nasties like mineral oil. 

Hair

I thought I'd start with hair as that's what most people use it for. It's great as a treatment, massage a generous amount into the scalp and through the hair section by section and leave it in as long as you can, overnight if possible. Then wash it out in the morning, you may need to shampoo twice depending on your shampoo but I can guarantee it's definitely worth it. I try to do it as often as possible, almost every time I wash it as my hair is currently in a terrible state from dying, blowdrying and straightening! I really moisturises dry hair and strengthens weak, brittle hair that's prone to breaking. 

Face 

Want to try one of those expensive oil cleansers but can't bare to part with the cash? Coconut oil is your answer, it works amazingly well and costs hardly anything. Massage a 10p sized blob into your dry, fully made up face and the oil completely breaks down all makeup and grime, including waterproof mascara! Then run a flannel under hot water, wring it out and wipe it all off. It leaves your skin feeling amazingly soft and is so much better for your skin than anything that foams. A couple of drops massaged into skin last thing at night works well as an overnight facial oil treatment. You wake up to super plumped up, soft skin in the morning.

Body

In terms of body, it's a great multi use product. Put it onto any dry skin or dry patches but just remember that a little goes a long way, you don't want to be sliding all over the place! 

I put my coconut oil into a bottle with a pump and leave it by the sink, that way it stays liquid from the warmth and it makes it really convenient to use and saves lots of time. I even sometimes add in a few drops of essential oil like lavender to scent it. 

You can get regular coconut oil here, or if you fancy a special treat you can get organic coconut oil here!

Are there any other uses that you can think of?