October Favourites

I hate to start a favourites post with a cliche, but I really can't believe october is over already! Christmas will be here before we know it and I am in no way prepared! But then, that's what november is for! Anyway, on with the favourites!

The first thing I've been loving and using no end of this month is the Palmers Coco Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil (Full review here). When the weather turns colder, my skin really starts to suffer, so I've been slathering this on post bath/shower to keep skin soft and hydrated. 

Next is Yardley London Peony Body Spray, if you're thinking, Isn't Yardley for grannies? I'll forgive you, because I thought the same. Then I spotted this and because I love the scent of peonies, I thought I'd give it a try. I'm so glad I did because I love it. I believe they make an Eau De Toilette as well which I'm planning on tracking down.

My Avon 8 in 1 Eye Palette in In the Nudes has been used non stop this month, I did a full review with swatches earlier on in the month which you can see here. It contains a selection of matte and shimmery neutral shades housed in a compact the same size as my iPhone, perfect for traveling. The formula is really good too, very pigmented and buttery soft!

Next is the Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder which I've been using constantly since my beloved (and discontinued) Chanel bronzer breathed it's last. It's the perfect shade, brown enough to add definition and ever so slightly orangey, just enough to warm up your face without leaving you looking like an Oompa Lumpa.

I've been being rather brave recently and rocking a dark berry lip, see it in action here. My lipstick of choice has been Avon Mega Impact Lipstick in Divine Wine, which suits my skin tone really well, looking autumnal rather that gothic. It has a smooth formula which lasts really well on the lips.

Last but not least I've been piling on The Body Shop Mango Lip Butter during the evenings and at night, the extremely nourishing formula helps to counteract the dryness which often goes hand in hand with wearing dark, long lasting lip colours. 

What products have you been loving this month?

What's in my Makeup Bag?

I've recently changed up what's in my everyday makeup bag so I thought I'd share what I've been using. Base starts with L'Oreal Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer and MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NC45, both of which I mentioned in my Project Use Up post. The foundation is a bit on the matte and heavy side for my liking at the moment so I've been mixing it with a bit of my daily moisturiser. 

To bring a bit of warmth to the skin I dust on Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder, and pat in a bit of Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in Flushed. I've also been reaching for Benefit Sun Beam, my favourite highlighter at the moment which gives skin a soft glow. 

For eyes I've mostly been keeping things pretty simple, a swipe of Avon SuperShock Eyeliner in Black, which is completely foolproof, and a quick curl and swipe of mascara on the lashes. For days when I want to put in a bit more effort, I've been using my Avon 8 in 1 eye palette in In The Nudes, which has some lovely neutral shades that I've been experimenting with. 

For lips I've been using Clinique Almost Lipstick in Luscious Honey, which is a tinted balm that leaves lips with a subtle stain or Avon Ultra Colour Rich Mega Impact Lipstick in Divine Wine (see it in action here) for when I want full on colour!

Also in my makeup bag I have Avon Glimmersticks Brow Definer in Soft Black, Sephora Eyelash Curlers and Avon SuperExtend Extreme Mascara. 

What's in your Makeup Bag?

FOTD #1

I've always loved reading Face of the Day posts but never felt quite brave enough to do one. Today I felt a bit brave so I said, why not? bit the bullet, and went for it! I thought for my first one I'd keep it simple and show you a look I've been wearing a lot lately. It's my version of an autumnal look with berry lips and cheeks.  

So here's what I used! I started with L'Oreal's Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer which I spoke a bit about in my Project Use Up post. It takes a bit of working in with fingers but smoothes out the skin and makes makeup last all day. 

I then worked The Body Shop's Extra Virgin Minerals Cream Compact Foundation in 408 Rose Caramel into my skin using a Real Techniques Buffing Brush, this foundation is quite thick so I always remove any excess from the brush first. It gives a good finish and moisturises dry skin.

Next I hid dark under eye circles using the tiniest bit of MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC45, a little goes a long way with this concealer so use it sparingly under the eyes, too much and it will just crease. I apply it with the Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush, which is perfect because you can really get into the corner under the eye where most of the darkness is. 

I then dusted on some of Benefit's Dallas Blusher onto cheeks and into the cheekbone hollows, it's a dusky plum colour so it really brightens up the face as well as bringing out cheekbones. I then added a bit of Sephora Highlighting Compact Powder in Golden onto the tops of cheekbones and along the centre on the nose, all using the Eco Tools Blusher Brush and that's face done!

I kept eyes simple by filling in any sparse areas of my brows in with Avon Glimmerstick Brow Definer in Soft Black. I then added a touch of the highlighter to my brow bone using the Sephora 27 Pro Blending Brush, put on a quick swipe of Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense in 01 Intense Black and lashings of Avon Superextend Extreme Mascara. 

To complete the look I applied Avon Ultra Colour Rich Mega Impact Lipstick in Divine Wine. I'm really loving this colour at the moment, I've been wearing it constantly as the formula is really comfortable to wear and it has good lasting power! 

What do you think of this look?

Autumn Makeup Bag

When the seasons change I like to switch it up a little, it's so easy to get stuck in a makeup rut and doing this makes me remember forgotten products that I love! Throughout most of the summer I've been going for pinks and peaches on the lips and cheeks, a swipe of mascara and dewy skin, so for autumn I thought I'd step it up a notch! Eyeshadows in warm neutrals and golds for day and deep chocolate browns for the evenings.  

First up is MUA Undressed Eyeshadow Palette, this is my favourite budget buy, 12 amazing colours in fantastically pigmented soft formulas for just 4.00! I love all the colours from this palette so this will be my autumn go to.

When I want something super shimmery and luxurious  I'll be reaching for my Yves Saint Laurent Ombres 5 Lumieres (5 Colour Harmony For Eyes) in Shade 3 Tawny. I've had this palette for a really long time and I love it, but because it lives at the back of my makeup stash it often gets forgotten, well not any more! The rusty-gold colour (bottom left) is great for the day time, very autumnal indeed, and the deep brown (top right) creates a perfect smoky eye on its own.

Dallas from Benefit is a lovely 'dusty sunset plum powder' that is perfect for the colder months, it's a suits-all shade that looks particularly good on darker skin tones. Think of it as a cross between bronzer and blusher, I apply it just a bit lower than where I would apply a normal blusher, in the hollows of the cheekbones and a bit above. It contours and brightens up the face and makes you look like you've just come back from a brisk walk through the fallen autumn leaves (If you actually have then even better!)

For lips I'll be going for warm reds and berry hues. Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Candy Apple is a favourite that works well all year round but especially well in between seasons.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is one I discovered by accident, this is a smaller sized version which came in a gift set of 4 last christmas. I much prefer the packaging on these compared to the regular full sized ones which are just plain silver rather than the colour of the product. It's a balm stain type product, it leaves the lips feeling moisturised and comfortable with just a subtle hint of colour. I promise you it's not as scary as it looks in the bullet!

Benefit Ultra Plush Gloss in Bella Bamba is super glossy with the tiniest touch of colour. If you're looking for full on colour then this isn't for you but I find it works really well with a smoky eye. It's super sheer and a nice alternative to the nude/peachy lip I'd usually pair it with. 

I tend to forgo eyeliner in the summer so this is a nice one to ease me back in gently! It's Avon Glimmerstick Diamonds Eyeliner in Brown Glow, a soft, warm brown with coppery undertones that lasts really well and doesn't smudge. 

Swatches: From left, Avon Glimmerstick Diamonds Eyeliner in Brown Glow, Benefit Ultra Plush Gloss in Bella Bamba, Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey and Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Candy Apple.

What are your favourite products for autumn?