February Favourites

It's Monthly Favourites Time! And as I say most months where on earth did February go? This month has just flown by and as I've been so busy I hadn't really thought of my favourites. However there were a few products that I found myself reaching for every day so I thought I'd share them with you today.

My first favourite this month has been the Palmer's Rapid Moisture Spray Lotion in Coconut. Since the beginning of the year I've been trying to moisturise on a daily basis so when the weather warms up I don't have to worry that my skin doesn't look somewhat decent. And this product is just perfect for that. As it's a spray it means application is easy and you don't end up getting moisturiser everywhere like you would with a tub. I spray this on my arms every morning whilst I'm getting ready for work and before I've even finished rubbing it in, it's dried. It doesn't leave skin tacky but does leave it feeling soft and smooth, plus it smells divine. I already have a back up of this ready for when I run out.

My next favourite is the only lip product I've reached for apart from my Carmex pot this month. This Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick is absolutely stunning. It looks quite purple in the tube but when it's on the lips, it's a darker more burgundy shade. As I'm so pale I love wearing on days where I do nothing more than flawless skin and lashings of mascara. It's such a statement colour you don't need to do a lot to make it work. As it's a liquid lipstick it can be quite drying on the lips but I find a bit of lip balm underneath before you apply it works wonders. I'm so impressed by Stila's Liquid Lipsticks I'm going to pick myself up some more shades.

This month I've been trying out double cleansing. I've heard a lot about it from Caroline Hirons videos and blogs so and as she's the queen of skincare I thought I'd give it a go. And for my double cleanse this month I've been using the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. This became a favourite as soon as I used it. A soft balm that turns oilier as you work it into your skin. It leaves skin feeling super smooth and supple and my skin feels squeaky clean afterwards. As this is only a travel size I've been using it sparingly but I will definitely be purchasing a larger tub one I run out.

When it's come to looking after my body this month I've been focusing a lot on my hands. I work in a very hands on job so my hands get put through a lot every day and for a while I couldn't find anything that would help look after them. Then I stumbled across Nivea Soft Cream at work and I've never been so surpried by a product. This is one of Nivea's more genric moisturisers but it's worked wonders. I've been putting this on my hands every night before bed or whenever I've felt they've needed it and the next morning my hands feel super soft and look ten times they did before. A tube goes a long way and I've very nearly finished this one but have a couple of back ups already.

And my final beauty favourite of the month was this nail polish from Barry M. They've released a load of new spring shades in three of their different formulas and they're all to die for. However this Gelly Hi Shine Polish in Pink Lemonade has been my favourite. It's a slightly muted pastel pink that looks more brown toned in the bottle but shows up pink on the nail. One coat and you're left with a glossy opaque colour.

And that's it for my February Favourites. What were your favourites this month? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Maybelline Setting Spray

Bonus Post Time! I know another bonus post. I have so many products to review and I don't always remember about them until I've scheduled my posts for the month so I decided I'd throw in a couple of extra reviews this month so they don't get forgotten. And today's review is of the Maybelline SuperStay Setting Spray.

I became a fan of setting sprays towards the end of last year but I quickly wore out the selection the high street had to offer. Yes I managed to find one I liked but it wasn't wowing me to the point where I used it and nothing else. Then at the beginning of this year Maybelline released their setting spray and all my prayers were answered.

Unlike some other setting sprays I've tried this is a very fine mist that doesn't drench the skin when you use it. Two or three sprays does the whole face and it dries down quickly so your skin doesn't feel tacky or wet. Once it's dry your make up is literally not going to move unless you want it to. And it doesn't dry out your skin. Some of the others I've tried have dried out my skin but not this one. At the end of the day my skin still feels as hydrated as it did when I put my moisturiser on.

The packaging leaves a lot to be desired as you can't see how much you've used and you can't see if you get any settlement at the bottom like you do in the Loreal Setting Spray. I also don't like all the writing on the front as it just seems a bit too much for the front of a product. But I know you don't wear the packaging so it should count but I can't help but picky about it sometimes.

Overall I really like this Setting Spray and I can see myself picking another one up in a couple of months time. It leaves my skin feeling good, my make up stays in place longer and it doesn't drench my skin and make everything run when I apply it. Definitely a winner for me.

Have any of you tried this? What did you think? Did you like it? Or do you know of any other brands I should try? Let me know in the comments. 

Review: Rosie For Autograph Nuit Fragrance

Today I was supposed to be showing you the Rosie For Autograph Make Up Range, however due to availability issues I haven't been able to get my hands on any of it yet. So today I'd thought I'd give you my review of the Rosie For Autograph Nuit Fragrance.

Rosie For Autograph Nuit is the second fragrance that Rosie has released in her line. It comes packaged in a beautiful deep purple bottle with rose gold hardware, a signature of Rosie's. The bottle is quite weighty and when held to the light, you can see how much you have left.

When it comes to the fragrance itself it still contains the signature Rose Scent that Rosie had in mind when she created her debut fragrance. However this one is deeper in scent and contains notes of Jasmine and Musk. The musk can make it a little overpowering if you spray too much but a lighter hand will give a stunning scent. As the fragrance warms to your skin it lingers on your clothes and in the air and you'll be able to smell it occasionally as you wear it. It also can linger on your clothes the next day if you move them or wear them again.

This fragrance is more of an evening scent as it's slightly deeper but can be worn during the day as well. I personally found myself wearing this more than the original scent at the moment but I think it's a lot to do with the season and I know that when the weather starts warming up I'll switch back to the first scent.

My favourite thing about Rosie's Fragrances is that you get value for money. A 30ml bottle is priced at only £14 and then the next size up is 75ml for £28. If you're heavy handed with fragrance like I am then the smaller bottles won't last you that long so investing in the larger bottle is probably a better idea. But if you haven't smelt these before and you're looking for a new scent then I definitely recommend giving them a whiff when you're in Marks and Spencers soon.

Have any of you tried these fragrances? Did you like them? Let me know in the comments. 

Review: Barry M Nailcare Polishes

When Barry M announced they were bringing out a range of Nail Treatments it made complete sense. They are one of the best brands on the high street for nail polishes and if they were the same quality as their nail colours then Barry M were on to something. They released four polishes in the range. Two twice a week treatments and two nail camouflager's, all that help the condition the nails.

The first two treatments they released are the SuperMani and IronMani. Both of these are twice weekly treatments that help condition and harden the nail. They can also be used as base coats and I've never been so surprised by a product. Both of these are clear when applied to the nail and dry down like any other polish does. Once their dry you can put any nail colour on top that you'd like and it acts like a base coat to stop them staining the nail. However it's the result once you've done the rest of your manicure that surprises me. Instead of flaking and chipping like some colours do on me, partly because I'm heavy handed and partly because I work in a very hands on job, my nails are ruined within a couple of days. However when I used these my nail polish lasted a couple of days extra even though I didn't change how I treated my hands. And when they did chip it didn't ruin my nail underneath and once the polish was removed my nails still looked healthy. These could probably used as a top coat as well but for now I'm sticking to using these as a base coat.

And the other two treatment polishes they released were the Mani Masks. These are two slightly tinted polishes that condition and strengthen the nail whilst camoflauging any discolouration and giving nails a semi matte colour. They come in two shades and each one leaves a sheer colour on the nails whilst conditioning them. Out out of the four I do prefer the two strengtheners but these are good polishes if you want a bit of colour on your nails but you don't want to do a full manicure. They leave nails feeling smooth but it does chip like a normal polish and can't be used under a polish as the colour will just peel away from the nails. Definitiely not my favourite of the four.

Overall these polishes are good. The Mani Masks sound good but in use are not something I would reach for reguarly. On the other hand SuperMani and Iron Mani I use alternately when I paint my nails. I find these help to prolong my manicure and help with the condition of my nails. If I was to recommend two to buy it would be these two.

Have you tried any of these new polishes? What did you think? Which ones did you prefer? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation

At the beginning of the year Maybelline released a new foundation and I was immediately intrigued. A matte finish foundation that had a hydrating formula, how did that work. As someone who was fed up of her foundation disappearing and having that constant overly glowy finish, I thought I'd give it a go. 

There are six shades in the range and each one comes with in a squeezy tube. It's quite a thick formula and a little bit goes a long way. When I was testing this on the back of my hand I was surprised by how hydrating it felt on the skin. I've always associated matte finish foundations to be dry and powdery but this one left my skin feeling soft and hydrated yet covered. 

I chose the shade 01 Natural which is the lightest shade in the range and it's a perfect match for me. When it comes to foundations from Maybelline I tend to always make sure they match the skin on my neck instead of my face. And Natural is the perfect shade for me. 

When it comes to application I tend to use a brush to apply it as I find it applies it easier than a beauty blender or my fingers. I find that blending it with my fingers is hard work as it doesn't move easily and just sits on my fingertips instead of blending across my skin. I use an angled buffing brush to blend this is and I find that it gives a flawless finish that I don't get from other foundations. 

Even though this a matte finish I do find I still need to touch up my powder throughout the day. I'm not sure if this a flaw from the formula or if its my skin but I do find that to be the only downfall with this foundation. 

Overall I really like this foundation and I'm sure if it keeps working how it is now then I'll be repurchasing a new tube soon. If you're like me and didn't think a matte foundation would work for you then I'd suggest trying this foundation out. Sure the colour range could do with some work but if I know Maybelline they'll soon be releasing other shades like they have done with the rest of the Dream Range. 

Have any of you tried this foundation? What did you think? Do you have any other foundation recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara

Bonus post time! I've got so much stuff in my new in box that I want to talk about I've decided that every now and again I'm going to throw in a bonus review post on Saturdays. Today's bonus post is a review of the new Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara. I've seen so much hype about this lately, I thought today would be the perfect time to review it.

The first thing that really drew me to this mascara was the brush. It claims to be made up of many tiny cup shaped bristles that work to push lashes upwards and help maintain that volumised look. However when I look at it closely I can't see these cup shaped bristles. I see a plastic wand with very far and few between bristles. There is no curve to the want but it's slightly tapered end means it still fits nicely to the contour of the eye.

When I first tried this I hated it. It left my eyes clumped together and there was no volumised fluttery effect, just six very black lashes. And the formula itself was way to wet, I sneezed a good ten minutes after applying it and I had to clean my under eye area with a cotton bud. However I found this with the Lash Sensational that they released last year, but once I let it dry out a bit it was perfect and I use that quite reguarly now.

This is a good mascara but only if you have the time and patience to work with it. A very light hand can product a volumised clump free look that stays in place all day. However if you're like me and are a bit heavy handed with your mascara this could take some time to get perfect.

Overall this mascara isn't the worst on the market but it isn't going to meet everyone's expectations. If you've got the time and patience or you just like your lashes to look like they do in the advertising campaign then this is definitely for you. If you don't like the look then this mascara is definitely not for you, maybe try the new Revlon mascaras that were released a few weeks back.

Have any of you tried this? What do you think? Do you like it? Or do you have any recommendations? Let me know in the comments. 

Valentines Make Up Look

Love is in the air, everywhere you look around. Well it was yesterday. Happy Valentine's Day whether you had plans with your other half or just spent it with someone who means a lot to me. Personally I spent it with one of my favourite women in the world, my mumma. And as it was Valentine's I thought I'd spruce myself up even if it was just for my mum. So today I thought I'd show you what make up I did for Sunday.

After doing my morning routine which you can see here, I go in with my Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation. This is my favourite foundation at the moment. It is a matte finish but it's not like your standard matte finish formula. This foundation is a gel formula that makes it more hydrating on the skin and makes it wearable for people who don't have oily skin. I pop this on the back of my hand and then use my H&M Angled Buffing Brush to apply it to my face. I use my buffing brush to apply and blend in the first layer of foundation. Then I take my Makeup Revolution F103 brush to make sure everything is evenly blended and there's no cakey patches on my skin.

Once my foundation is completely blended in I go in with concealer. First off I go in with my Maybelline The Eraser Eye concealer to cover my dark circles. I love the sponge tipped applicator on this product and as you can see I'm nearly out of this. I take my Beauty Blender and use the more pointed end to blend this in under my eyes. I find using a beauty blender makes my concealer last longer and it doesn't crease. Then for my under eye highlight I go in with my Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in a triangle under my eyes and onto my cheeks. Then I take my Beauty Blender again and blend it in. I like doing an undereye highlight as it makes me look more awake.

Next up is powder. I take my MUA Skin Define Hydro Powder and swirl my big B Powder Brush in it. Once I've tapped off the excess I swirl this all over my face, paying close attention to the centre of my face. Then I take my Real Techniques Contour Brush and swirl in my powder before bopping along my under eye are to set my concealer. I repeat this on the other eye and then down my nose if my intial sweep of powder hasn't helped.

Moving onto the eyes, I take my Primark Eye Lash Curlers and curl my lashes. I curl one eye at a time as I find my curl drops if I do both at the same time. Then I go in with my Pur Volume Vixen Mascara. I got this in my Advent Calender and absolutely love it. It has a very straight brush with widely spaced bristles that catch and coat each individual lash without letting it get clumpy or spidery looking. I pop a couple of layers of this onto my eyes and I'm given an amazing volumised look that is clump free yet good looking.

Next up is lips. And I know red lips are my thing and that red is the colour that's most associated with Valentine's Day but I thought I'd switch it up and go with something different. So I'm going with my Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lip Colour in Pink Pong. This is one of the original formulas of the Rouge Edition Velvet's and it's brilliant. This is a bright blue toned pink that makes teeth look ultra white and stops you looking like Barbie. A doe foot applicator makes application easy and one coat leaves lips with a bright opaque colour.

Once everything is in place I spritz a bit of my Maybelline Superstay Setting Spray and my make up is complete. If you're wondering how good setting sprays are then I'll tell you. Setting Sprays help keep your make up in place longer, keep skin feeling more hydrated and stops any powders you're wearing from looking overly cakey. This Maybelline spray is one of the best I've tried but a full review is coming up soon.

So that's it for my Valentine's Make Up Look. I hope you had a good Valentine's and I love to see any make up looks you wore for the occasion.

Updated Evening Skincare Routine

Last week I showed you my updated morning skincare routine so today I'd thought I'd show you my updated evening skincare routine. As with my morning routine, I've been playing around with products to find the best combination that works for me.

First thing I do to get my evening routine started is remove my make up. For a long time I would use a micellar water to remove my make up but then I discovered the Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean Cleansing Milk. I haven't taken my make up off any other way since. A pleasently smelling milk formula that melts make up away and can even be used on the eyes. I'm already halfway through my second bottle and can guarantee I'll be buying another one when this one runs out. It leaves skin feeling clean and revitalised but it may not be suitable for those with extremely sensitive skin.

And if I feel like I need to cleanse again then I go in with my Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. This leaves my skin feeling heavenly and I'm going to be so sad when I finish this tub. This is a thick formula that turns into a milky oil when water is added. It removes all traces of make up easily, smells divine and leaves skin feeling brilliant afterwards. Not exactly budget friendly but when it works as well as it does I don't mind.

After my face is thoroughly cleasned, I move onto the rest of my routine. Once a week I use one of these Nip and Fab Extreme Glycolic Fix Night Pads to give my skin a deep exfoliation. These pads contain 5% Glycolic Acid, Salicyclic Acid and Lactic Acid and are used to help loosen and remove any dead skin cells on the face. These are not suitable for any one with extremely sensitive skin as they do leave skin feeling tingly after use. However I love this for a quick acid fix in the middle of the week to give my skin some sort of exfoliation. I'm definitely going to pick up another tub of these when they run out.

Then it's on to serum. I go in with the first of two serums once I've done my exfoliation. The first one I use is the Clearly Youthful Retexturising Night Serum. This is a very thin formula that works to give skin that much needed boost at the end of the day. I go through this stuff so quickly as the pippet applicator makes it hard to judge how much you're using. I've gone through so many bottles of this already and I'll probably go through a dozen more this year alone.

And the second serum I use is the Simply Pure Hydrating Serum. This contains a mix of Salicylic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid to boost skins moisture levels and fight any blemish creating bacteria your skin has. I pop two pumps of this all over my face and pat it in. If my skin is feeling particuarly dehydrated then you can feel this disappearing into the skin before you've even finished applying it. I like how moisturised and soft my skin feels after I use this and I can always add a pump of this to my morning serum to give it that extra boost.

The final product in my routine is the Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream. I absolutely love this cream and don't know what I'd without it. A thick bouncy formula, this acts like a mask on the skin and works whilst you sleep. In the morning skin looks revitalised, refreshed and feels ultra soft and moisturised. I've already gone through a pot of this and whilst it's pricey for the high street, it definitely is worth it's money. I already have a back of this as I don't want to go without it.

So that's it for my Nightime Routine. What's your Routine? Do you use any of the same products as me? Let me know in the comments.

Sunday Skincare Pampering Routine/Top Products

Every Sunday I give my skin the day off. Gone are the layers of foundation and lipstick and in it's place is my bare faced skin that needs a bit of a pamper. So today which I know isn't Sunday, I'm going to take you through the products I use to give my skin that end of week boost it needs.

 First I start off by washing my face. I always make sure I cleanse the night before but to make sure I haven't missed anything I start my Sunday by washing my face. I swap between the Olay Anti Wrinkle Exfoliating Face Wash and the Simple Age Resisting Face Wash. These are the only two washes I actually see a difference with. The Olay wash has tiny little beads in the formula that buff away any dead skin when you massage it into your skin and it works brilliantly. After every wash my face feels smoother, softer and ready for whatever I plan for my skin next. The Simple wash is infused with Green Tea and is slightly gentler on the skin. It's perfect if you're not keen on using exfoliating products but still want your skin to feel clean.

After I've washed my face it's time to go in with a face mask. Usually on a Sunday I go in with a deep cleansing mask that will help clear any crap out of my skin and leaving it ready for the week ahead. My favourite go to mask is the Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask. It's a charcoal based mask that heats on the skin when you apply it. The combination of the heat and the charcoal helps to draw out any impurities in the skin and leaving feeling softer and smoother. The results I get from this mask are amazing and my skin seriously thanks me everytime I use this. However if I can't get my hands on the Sanctuary mask I go for my second most used mask. It's the Superdrug Purifying Witch Hazel Mask. Containing a mix of Salicylic Acid and Witch Hazel, this is another mask that works to draw out any impurites you may have lurking in your skin to help give you a clearer, glowy complexion. And if all else fails I use the Simple Deep Cleansing Face Mask. As you've guessed it's another deep cleansing, crap clearing mask but this one isn't as harsh on the skin as the others can be. Perfect for people who want to give their skin that deep cleanse but have sensitive skin.

Then if I'm not looking for that deep cleanse and want to really exfoliate my skin, I skip all three of those masks and go for the Superdrug Exfoliating Superberry Mask. This contains a mixture of berries seeds which works to revitalise and exfoliate the skin as you work it into your skin. Not one for those that have extremely sensitive skin. Once washed off this leaves skin feeling smooth, soft and texture free.

And then it's time for acid. No, not that kind of acid. Glycolic Acid, I meant Glycolic Acid. This Retexturising Peel Off Mask from Clearly Youthful is perfect for everyone. If you're just starting out with Glycolic Acid or you're an old hand at it, then this mask is right up your street. A clear liquid that is barely visible on the skin dries down to a tacky peeling mask on the skin. Once it's all peeled off (it takes a while) your skin is left feeling texture free, pore refined and as soft as a baby's bum. Not one for everyday use but once a week as a extra treat for the skin is fine. I love this as my skin does so much better after I've used this. Plus this is a brilliant high street product if you've been looking for a Glycolic product but didn't want to pay the earth.

Once all of that is done and washed off I go in with my morning skincare routine which you can find here.

So that's my top products for my Sunday Skincare Pampering Routine. Do you have a Routine you do on a Sunday? Have you got any product recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments.

Updated Morning Skincare Routine

For a while now I've been playing around with my skincare routine and finally I've found a morning routine that suits my skin perfectly.

To cleanse my skin in the morning I use the Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion for Sensitive Skin. I've been using this for close to a decade and nothing else seems to cleanse my skin as well as this does. As you can see it's a bright blue liquid that doesn't transfer onto the skin and it clears away any grime that may have accumulated overnight. It is can be pretty strong but I like that as it gives me that bit of a wake me up.

Then I move onto to Toning. And for that I go with my Vitamin E Refreshing Toning Mist. I love this toning mist for adding some extra moisture to my skin straight after cleansing and as a quick pick me up. This one has barely any fragrance and doesn't leave skin feeling uber wet but you can go a bit over the top with it. However it's not a bad thing in my opinion as it is more beneficial for the skin.

Next up is serum and my go to holy grail serum is the Clearly Youthful Hydrating Day Serum. I've lost count of how many bottles of this I've gone through since I started using this last year. It gives skin a brilliant moisture boost and helps create a perfect base for make up. This can also be used in the evening and when I've run out of my evening serum I pop this under my night moisturiser. I've written a full review of this and the entire range here.

Then it's on to moisturiser and I have two that I rotate between depending on what I feel my skin needs. The first one is the Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser, I use this most days over the top of my serum and together they create a perfect base for make up. As you can probably tell I'm very big on making sure my skin is hydrated. This is very light and little bit goes a long way and my skin feels smooth, soft and hydrated for the whole day.

And on days when I'm not wearing make up or feel my skin needs that little something extra I go in with the Garnier Miracle Wake Up Cream. This is very cooling and awakening on the skin and leaves sin feeling soft whilst locking any moisture you've put in there already. I love slapping this on on a sunday after my face mask routine and it leaves my skin feeling so nice. I wrote a full review here if you want to know more about it.

Finally it's on to eye cream and I think I may have found my holy grail eye cream. The Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream is a godsend to anyone who has to fight dark circles everyday. With a blurring effect to the under eye, this cream not only reduces the look of dark circles but moisturises and perks up the under eye area. I slather it all over my under eye area and my eye lids. I've written a full review of this over here.

And that's it. Once my skincare is done I go and brush my teeth and let it sink into my skin before applying my make up and getting on with the rest of my day.

What's your skincare routine? Do you have any products you can't live without? Let me know in the comments.