What I Read: May

                         

Today I'm back with another What I Read to end the month. I did really well this month, I flew through three books before we'd even hit the middle of the month. But I haven't picked up a book since which makes me overdo it at the beginning of the month or if the book I've started isn't as good as I'm trying to make myself believe. 

                         

The Girl On The Train- Paula Hawkins 

The first book I sailed through was the best selling novel The Girl On The Train. I'd watched the film last year but was quite intrigued to see how the book differed from it. It centres around Rachel, a divorced alcoholic who spends her daily train journeys imagining the lives of others that she sees. When one of the women she's dreamt an imaginary life for goes missing, she tries to help but ends up being more of a hindrance. And that's all I'm going to say without spoiling it but I thoroughly enjoyed every page. Even though I had an idea of how it ended, I was still sitting up until the small hours to see if it would plan out as I thought it would. And as I said this has been made into a film which usually deviates a lot from the original book but this pretty much played out as I remember the film playing out. I highly recommend checking both out if you like a good mystery/thriller. 

                        

The Caller- Chris Carter 

This next book I finished in about three days even though it had a hundred plus chapters. I was hooked. The Caller is actually the eighth book in a series but can easily be read without reading the previous seven. It centres around a detective called Robert Hunter and his work in the Violent Crimes Department of the LAPD. The case that unfolds throughout the book revolves around a psycho who video calls the family/friends of their intended victim and forces them to play a game to see if they can save their loved one. However get a question wrong and it can all end badly very suddenly. It was highly addictive, gruesome and nail biting all at once. I couldn't put it down, I was so desperate to see who the culprit was and boy was I shocked when it was revealed. I'll definitely be going back to read the first seven in the series but I've got nothing good things to say about this book that I picked up on the off chance in Sainsburys for £1.99. 

                          

Unfiltered. No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me- Lily Collins 

And the last book I read this month is one I've been dying to read for the longest time. Lily Collins memoir Unfiltered is exactly as its described. She goes into depth about growing up, eating disorders, abusive relationships and learning to love yourself in this eye opening and humbling book. I devoured this book quicker than any other book I've ever read. Because she was so honest and upfront about her experiences in life, I found myself relating to them, having found myself in a couple myself. And as I read her no bullshit outlook on everything, I found myself understanding not only my own actions during these times but also those of the others involved. I finished this book with a lighter heart and am now aiming to live everyday to the fullest, including loving all my little quirks and differences that make me uniquely me. I highly recommend giving it a read, it's a brilliant way to start looking at things without those rose tinted glasses a lot of love to wear. 

Monthly Favourites: May

                         

Welcome back to another monthly favourites. May has been a weird month. I've not really tried out a lot of new products after my reaction last month but it does mean I've managed to rediscover a few old products that I've fallen in love with all over again.

                         

The first thing I rediscovered this month was the Nivea Creme Care Cleansing Wash. I remember buying this a little while ago and not really thinking much of it. But back at the beginning of the month when I did my massive beauty clear out, I rediscovered it and gave it one last chance. And I'm so glad I did. It's the perfect morning or second cleanse. It's lightweight, cleanses skin without stripping and it hasn't broken me out even with it's slight hint of fragrance. I've loved this for the days when I'm not wearing make up as it refreshes as it cleanses and leaves my skin feeling soft and supple to the touch. Plus it smells absolutely divine, think that classic Nivea Creme scent and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

                                                  The second rediscovery of the month again comes from my beauty declutter. I remember absolutely adoring the Gosh Foundation Drops when I first tried them but for some reason I had put them aside to gather dust. Well not anymore. The majority of the month this has been my go to base product and I can remember why I loved these so much the first time around. It's a very light texture foundation that can be built up from sheer to full coverage by just adding more drops. It matches my complexion perfectly and doesn't oxidise or break up on my face as I wear it. It almost gives skin an airbrushed finish whilst still looking like skin as contradictory as that sounds. It's definitely in my top three Summer bases.

                         

Whilst we're talking make up, a powder I've been loving this month comes from MUA. Their Ultra Fine Loose Setting Powder has really changed the longevity of my make up. It's lightweight on the skin, doesn't cake or gather in pores or lines and has stopped me turning into a sweaty looking mess as the weather's turned warmer. I love applying this both under the eye as well as anywhere else it's needed with a damp beauty blender. It not only helps keep everything in place longer but it also stops it from gathering and making it look like your base products are breaking apart on your skin. Plus it makes it a lot easier to touch up as you don't need to worry about it weighing skin down.

                         

The only lip product I've been loving this month comes from Maybelline. It's another shade of their SuperStay Matte Inks, possibly one of my favourite lip formulas on the market at the moment. The shade is Seductress and it's a nude that would look almost like I was wearing concealer on my lips but there's a hidden warmth that you don't see until you apply it that stops it from looking like that. And that warmth means it suits my fairer complexion well but I can imagine it looking beautiful on medium to deeper skin tones as well. It has matte in the title but doesn't dry down to the standard powder matte texture. It keeps an almost tacky feeling but it doesn't transfer or dry the lips while still keeping a highly pigmented, saturated colour.

                         

A hair product I've been loving this month comes from the new Loreal Dream Lengths range. Their No Haircut Cream has really helped how the lengths and ends of my hair look and feel. It contains a range of ingredients including Caster Oil to help smooth, strengthen and nourish the look of the lengths and ends of my hair. It also claims to help with the appearence of split ends but I still believe a good hair cut is the only way to deal with those. However it's changed how my hair looks and feels which in turn has helped when it's come to styling it and for that I'm grateful as I was getting ready to just chop it all off but now whilst I still need a trim, I don't want to go for a drastic chop that I'd ultimately regret.

At the beginning of the month I went to watch what was possibly my favourite film of the year so far. Avengers Infinity War was finally released and I couldn't wait to see it. However I did not comprehend how shook I was going to be when I left the cinema and I don't use that term lightly. I was that shook that the bag of snacks I had with me went uneaten as I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. I'm not going to go into vivid detail as I know pretty much everyone has seen the movie but I am going to say from the get go I was on the edge of my seat, covering my face with whatever was closest, sweatshirt, hand, even my best friends hand. We were shocked by what we'd watched and both can't wait to see what Avengers 4 has to offer when it's released next year. What I will say though is that I've never known a cinema screen so quiet as the film finished and we waited for the important post credit scenes.

 And my last favourite is one I never expected to like but now I'm hooked. During the last weeks of April and the beginning of May I tried several different milk options to go in with my coffee to see if it would help stop me getting headaches whenever I drank it. However both oat milk and soya milk didn't agree with me so I thought I'd just have to stick with dairy and limit myself to the amount I drank. Until I was watching an Allana Davison vlog and she was drinking this very delicious looking dairy free coffee. And it was the Califia XX Espresson Cold Brew Coffee With Almond Milk. I thought why not give it a go and I'm so glad I did. Not only does this not upset my stomach but it tastes delicious, gives me a good old caffeine boost but without the headaches. Sure it's a little pricey for coffee but it's worth it when I drink it two/three days in a row and now get a pounding headache afterwards. The mocha variation is just as delicious as well and I currently have two bottles chilling in my fridge.

Recipe: Nutella Cupcakes

       

At the weekend I attempted to make Nutella Marshmallow Fudge and it failed on an epic scale. But I had two hundred grams of melted Nutella to use and whilst it was tempting to just eat, I tried something different in hopes of it working. And by golly didn't it work. These cupcakes are light, moist, full flavoured and just melt in the mouth. 

Ingredients 

- 200g Nutella, melted 

- 100g Caster Sugar

- 100g Butter/Stork 

- 100g Self Raising Flour 

- 2 Eggs 

Method

1- Pre heat your oven to 180C. Line a 12 hole muffin/cupcake tin with paper cases. 

2- Melt the Nutella in a Bain-Marie over a low heat. It always sounds tempting to turn the temperature up to get your Nutella/Chocolate to melt quicker but in fact it's only increasing its likeliness to burn. When it comes to melting ingredients, slow and steady is the best way to go. 

3- Once it's completely melted, refrain from eating it and leave to one side to cool to room temperature. 

4- Into your mixing bowl place the sugar and the butter and beat until creamy and pale. 

5- Then add in one egg at a time alongside a spoonful of flour and beat until completely combined. I always advise having a rubber/silicone spatula to hand to scrape around the sides, ensuring everything is completely combined into the mix. 

6- Once both eggs are beaten in, add the rest of the flour and fold gently into the mixture. Again take your spatula intermittently and scrape around the edges so everything is combined and nothing is clinging to the sides of the bowl. 

7- When everything is completely combined take your now cooled Nutella and pour into the mixture. Then beat until it's completely incorporated and the mixture is a lovely chocolately brown shade. 

8- Spoon into paper cases. I find using a ice cream scoop is perfect for getting an even amount of mixture in each case. This mixture can also make more than your standard dozen so have a spare cupcake tin ready if you still have mixture left over. 

9- Pop into the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. 

10- Once cooked, leave them in the tin to cool for five minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. I do advise enjoying them warm though as the Nutella comes through even more and they just melt in the mouth.  

Let's Talk: Acid Toners

                         

Using a toner isn't the most important part of a skincare routine but it can be very beneficial to your skin. Most toners are designed to balance out your skin's PH level as well as help to alleviate any tight, dry or irritated feeling skin may have after cleansing. Now you may think all toners work the same and to a degree they do but when you include an acid into the ingredients, it completely changes the way a toner acts on your skin.

Most acid toners are AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) based and work to not only balance skin but to also retexturise, refresh and revitalise skin to leave it looking brighter and feeling softer and smoother to the touch. They're the most commonly found acid based toners on the market with the two most commonly found AHA's being Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid. Both of these AHA's work to loosen the bond between dead skin cells and new skin cells so that when you exfoliate with a face scrub they come away easier and reveal healthy, glowing skin. 

Now you may think that only certain skin types can use an acid based toner but in fact all skin types can use them. A lot of brands have either different variations of toner or focus on producing one AHA based toned that is catered to be more effective for a particular skin type but also works with other skin types as well. And yes I'm even talking about those of you with sensitive skin types. 

The trick if you have sensitive skin is to start with a low percentage of acid in your toner. It's less likely to cause irritation and is an easy way to see if skin agrees with acid based products. A low percentage acid is around two percent and the highest you can find in most brands is five percent but occasionally a few brands will go up to a maximum of ten percent. And the best way to see if your skin agrees with acid based products is to start with something with a two/low percent acid and slowly build your way up to five percent or higher if your skin doesn't flare up or breakout. 

Glycolic Acid is the most commonly found acid in acid based toners but again it doesn't agree with everyone. Especially those with sensitive skin which is where Lactic Acid comes into play. Lactic Acid works exactly the same way as Glycolic Acid but tends to be slightly gentler and is less irritating for those with sensitive/reactive skins. It's slightly harder to find a Lactic Acid based toner and you may find you have to pay a bit more but it'll be worth it when your skin is glowing, smooth and breakout free. 

Top Tips

- Start low and work your way up, giving your skin a chance to get used to the AHA's.

- Wear SPF. Both Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid can make skin more sensitive to the sun so SPF is a must. I recommend a minimum of a SPF30 to protect skin. 

- Try budget friendly version first and if they work then purchase a higher end toner. 

- Sensitive skins are more likely to agree with Lactic Acid whilst others are more likely to agree with Glycolic Acid. 

- Start off using a toner two to three times a week to let skin get used to it. If your skin agrees with the toner then build it up to once a day or every other day. 

- Acid toners are a type of exfoliant so overdoing it can cause irritation. Don't use a scrub and an acid toner in conjunction with each other. Try a gentler toner or a face mist after using a scrub to nourish/hydrate skin. 

                        

Product Recommendations 

- Naturally Radiant 5% Glycolic Toner £5.99- Perfect starter toner. 5% Glycolic Acid. Infused with Kiwi Extract and Horse Chestnut aswell. Suitable for sensitive skins. Suitable for everyday use. 

- Nip & Fab 6% Glycolic Liquid Glow £19.95- Mainly suitable for those who are used to acid based toners. Higher percentage of Glycolic Acid. Not advised for those with extremely sensitive skins. Advised to be used two to three times a week. But can be used everyday if skin is used to high percentages of AHA's. 

- Pixi Glow Tonic £18- 5% Glycolic formula alongside Aloe Vera and Ginseng. Can be used everday. Suitable for sensitive skins. Soothes and brightens as it works. One of the best selling acid based toners. Can be used in conjunction with other acid based products without being too abrasive.
- Optimum Glycolic Cleansing Pads £9.99- Pre soaked pad. Low percentage of Glycolic Acid. Perfect to travel with. Suitable for most skin types. Can be used every day without irritation.
- Nip & Fab Glycolic Fix Extreme Night Pads £14.95- 5% Glycolic Formula. Suitable for all skin types. Sensitive skins are advised to use these a maximum of three times a week. Pre soaked pad. Perfect for travel. Also contains Lactic, Mandelic and Salicylic Acid. Best for those who's skin is used to AHA's.
- Naturally Radiant Glycolic Cleansing Pads £5.99- Pre soaked pad. Perfect for travel. Budget friendly. Contain a low percentage of Glycolic Acid alongside Aloe Vera and Pro Vitamin B5. Good product to get skin used to an AHA. Can be used everyday.

Review: B Vitamin Mist

                         

Face mists are becoming a big part of people's skincare routines. And for good reason too. However finding a decent budget friendly facial mist is harder than you'd expect. There are some really good versions from Botanics, Liz Earle and Pixi but my favourite has to be the latest release from B.

Their Vitamin Mist is packed full of Caffeine, Vitamin C and Cucumber to refresh, awaken, revitalise and soothe the skin. It doesn't contain a lot else apart from Allantonin which helps to soothe and revitalise skin but that's it. It can be used any time of the day as a quick skin pick me up, including over make up to boost your look as well as refresh your skin. It's great if you've got work and then drinks with the girls afterwards without the chance to really touch up your make up. Just a couple of spritzs of this and your skin is good to go without the worry of your foundation breaking down, brows rubbing off or mascara sliding down your cheeks.

I really like to use this as part of my morning routine as it just gives my skin a bit of a wake up effect. It's a fine mist that feels lightweight on the skin so it won't block pores or leave skin feeling weighed down. It sinks into skin quickly and easily works under your serum and moisturiser. However I've also loved spritzing over the top of make up to give it a quick boost after it's been on a few hours. And with a high amount of caffeine in the ingredients, it really helps to reduce the appearance of fatigue and redness without disrupting or ruining your make up. I've nearly gone through a whole bottle already and I'm quite liberal with how much I spray when I use it. One bottle is going to last you a while but at only £7.99 a bottle it's not going to break the bank if you do happen to go through it quicker than expected.

Overall if I was too advise you to try a facial mist this Spring/Summer, I'd advise you to try this one. It's a lot like the Pixi Vitamin Mist but you get more product for a half the price and whilst the Pixi was nice, I never felt like it was doing a lot for my skin. This on the other hand feels like it's actually doing something for my skin, it seems to have lost the tired pallor to it and any signs of fatigue seem to be reduced once I've used this. It all may just be psychological but I still recommend you try this facial mist out when you next see it in your local Superdrug.

Review: Revlon Prep, Set, Refresh Mist

                           

Setting sprays are becoming a popular trend amongst high street brands. The big three (Rimmel, Maybelline and Loreal) have released their own take on the setting spray alongside smaller brands such as Collection and Barry M. So it was about time that Revlon jumped onto the trend and released their own. And like with so many high street setting sprays, this had the potential to be great but unfortunately fell flat. 

Revlon have kept it very simple with no bold claims of being packed full of vitamins or other skincare based ingredients like other brands do. However when you look at it online or in stores, it just doesn't have enough of a description to persuade me as a consumer to buy it. Obviously I did buy it but that was out of curiosity more than anything.The packaging is sleek and minimalistic which is something I've come to expect from Revlon as a brand but it's also lacking that something that a lot of other products have which make them really jump off the shelves and appeal to our ever inquisitive manner.

Advertised as a three in one, do it all micro mist, the Prep, Set, Refresh Mist is supposed to work as your primer, setting spray and refreshing/hydrating mist. Unfortunately it does none of these things for me which is a shame but it seemed like it was a very promising product when I tested it in the shop. What I thought would be a fine evenly distributed mist is in fact a fine mist that shoots where it wants onto your face which can easily disrupt make up and leaves skin feeling sticky to the touch. 

It has potential as a primer because of the tacky finish it leaves behind which would work well to adhere any base products to the skin but that's about it. I tried it as both a setting spray and a refreshing pick me up and it did not end well. I found I had to go back in with a dampened beauty blender to try and blend out the patches where it had disrupted my make up. If you're looking for a spray primer that helps the longevity of your foundation, then this could potentially be right up your street. But if you're looking for a setting spray I'd say give this a miss and go for either the Maybelline SuperStay Setting Spray, the Collection Primed and Ready Make Up Fixing Mist or even the B Vitamin Facial Mist. All three work really well, don't disrupt make up and don't leave skin feeling tacky or uncomfortable.        

ASOS Wishlist

I love to spend hours browsing on ASOS but have surprisingly never made an order. However on a recent window shopping expedition I found quite a few bits that caught my eye and made it onto my To Buy/ASOS Wishlist. And with that I thought I could share with you what has recently caught my eye on ASOS and what I'm likely to buy in the upcoming weeks to update my Spring/Summer wardrobe.

ASOS 90s Metal Round Sunglasses In Gold £12
The first thing on my wishlist is a pair of sunglasses. I've been looking for ages for a pair of dupes for the gold framed Ray Bans that everybody seems to own. And I've finally found some on ASOS. These aren't an exact dupe but they are the closest that I can that actually have a rounded frame and no overly reflective lenses. Their lenses aren't as dark as the Ray Bans pair but for £12 you don't mind if they're not an exact dupe. Think I'll have to add these to my sunglasses collection sooner rather than later.

Kingsley Ryan Sterling Silver Moon And Stars Stud Earrings Set £10
If you follow me on Instagram you may know I have multiple lobe piercings alongside a dozen other ear piercings. And usually I find it difficult to find earring that would look nicer in my second, third or fourth hole. However ASOS seem to be onto a winner with a lot of their earrings and this trio set is the first of a few that I've got in my wishlist. This trio are all made of Sterling Silver and all look small enough to sit comfortable in a standard lobe piercing as well as higher up in the ear. And £10 for all three isn't bad when you can sometimes pay that or more for just one pair on its own.

Kingsley Ryan Sterling Silver 14mm Wire Wrap Earrings £7 
Whilst we're subject of the perfect earring for higher up the ear, I absolutely adore these Kingsley Ryan Wire Hoops. They're a 14mm diameter which isn't as big as it sounds and would make them sit perfectly in my second or third hole. And the little design along the hoop would just add a little something to my otherwise boring ears. And for Sterling Silver I don't mind paying a little extra as I know they're going to both last and not irritate my ears.

ASOS Hand Stud Earrings £4
The next pair of earrings that caught my eye was this pair of hand shaped studs. These are the kind of stand out stud I like to wear in my first lobe hole as they draw the attention down from my other more prominent piercings. These are more likely a gold plated metal than anything else so are likely to lose their colour and tarnish quickly, but for £4 you can't expect a lot more and these are just quirky enough for my taste.

ASOS DESIGN Sterling Silver Scorpion Stud Earrings £8
Now these are not going to be to everyone's taste but I loved them as soon as I saw them. These Sterling Silver Scorpion earrings are again the sort of thing I'd pop into my first hole to break up the row of studs I normally wear. Again their Sterling Silver so you're guaranteed a lot of wear out of these without irritation and being a Scorpio, I thought they would suit me perfectly.

ASOS DESIGN Felon Leather Flat Sandals £16
Every Spring/Summer I say I'm going to buy some new sandals and I never do. But this year I'm determined to not only buy some new sandals but to step out of my comfort zone slightly. And that's when I found this gorgeous pair of Leopard print sandals. What I liked the most about them apart from the design is that they have no toe post so no worries of rubbing but also that they were a thin strap so they don't look to heavy or clunky on the feet. I can already picture these paired with some shorts and a white t-shirt for that perfect casual summer look.

ASOS FIBBING Studded Flat Sandals £14
When I saw this next pair of sandals I very nearly brought them right there and then but somehow managed to stop myself. But worry not, these will be mine very soon. They're a very similar design to the previous pair with a thin strap and no toe post but these are black studded whereas the other pair were leopard print. Again these paired with shorts and a t-shirt of some kind (I'm thinking a band tee of some kind) would be the perfect casual comfy summer look.

ASOS DESIGN Flattered Wide Fit Leather Plaited T-Bar Flat Sandals £18
And the last pair of sandals I've got my eye are these gorgeous tan plaited style sandals. The front of them is giving me slight YSL slider vibes but these are an actual sandal. With a intricate plaited detail that curls around the foot and holds onto the back, these show of the inner foot without being like a flip flop or slider. And the tan shade would work perfectly with a host of colours. I think that once I've added these to my collection, these will become my holy grail Summer sandal.

GRWM: Night Out At Strictly

                                          

On Saturday me and my mumma went to The Hexagon to watch Strictly Come Dancing professionals Ian Waite and Oti Mabuse's show Rhythm Of The Night. I had spent ages putting together an outfit and make up look but had to make a couple of last minute changes due to the fact that the one day we wanted it to be nice, it started pouring with rain as we got ready. However it didn't take away from the night and we had a fantastic time. So today I'm sharing with you all the products that I used to create this look as well as a couple of pieces I used to accessorise my outfit. 

                           

Primer

I spent all of Saturday fighting a headache from hell but it didn't stop me prepping my skin before we went out. For that I used the Garnier Moisture Bomb Rebalancing Tissue Mask followed by the Rodial Dragon's Blood Under Eye Patches. It gave me the perfect canvas for make up and I was totally surprised with how good my skin looked. To start my base I went in with my age old favourite primer duo. I spritzed my face generously with the Barry M Hydro Fix Primer Water and followed it up with the Maybelline SuperStay Primer. The pair leave my skin feeling ultra hydrated but leave a tackiness behind that just adheres my foundation to my skin. 

                           

Colour Corrector 

Even with the assistance of the Rodial Under Eye Patches, I still felt that my under eye area needed something more. So I dotted some of the Collection Lasting Perfection Colour Corrector in Lemon where it was darkest and blended it out with my finger. I find using my finger the best for products like this as it can really warm the product up which makes it blend into the skin better than if you blended it in with a brush. 

                             

Foundation 

Normally on nights out I would reach for a high coverage foundation but because I'd spent the last week really looking after my skin so it looked as good as possible, I could reach for something a little more medium coverage. And for that I chose the Rosie For Autograph Amazing Skin Secret Foundation. It's a medium coverage foundation that covers but still looks healthy and skin like. I only applied a thin layer and bopped it in with a damp beauty blender and whilst this normally looks good on my skin, this time it looked even better and I couldn't believe it.

                             

Concealer

Now it's concealer time and three may seem like a lot to use at once but this trio of concealers have changed how my under eye area looks without appearing too heavy or cakey. I start with a thin layer of the Maybelline The Eraser Eye Concealer. Then I dot two-three small dots of the Make Up Revolution Conceal And Define Concealer over top. And the last thing I add before I blend it all out is a triangle of the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. Then finally I blend them all out with my damp beauty blender and whilst it sounds like it will sit heavily on the skin, it in fact doesn't. It leaves my under eye area looking flawless but not weighed down and because I used a beauty blender to blend it out, any excess product was soaked up so only what I needed was actually blended out. Sounds like a lot but worth it for now it makes my under eye area look. 

                           

Powder

There are times I don't like setting my base because it can sometimes make my make up look heavy but because I wanted it to last the whole evening I set everything with a loose powder. And my favourite loose powder of the moment is the MUA Ultra-Fine Loose Setting Powder. I popped a generous amount into the cap and dabbed my damp beauty blender into it; I don't know why it took me so long to cotton onto this, and pressed it gently under the eyes. Not only does it help stop creasing, it also stops my under eye area from looking too powdery. I then again used my beauty blender to set the rest of my face and I seriously can not get over how good it sets my make up and how well it works with pretty much all my base products. 

                          

Brows 

Now can I just ask you to excuse how untidy and unruly my brows look. Me and my brow girl had to rearrange my appointment. As you read this, I'll either be counting down the hours to my appointment or will be staring at my freshly waxed and tinted brows in every reflective surface in the house. However they were looking a bit sparse so I went in with a little bit of the Benefit Gimme Brow to add a slight tint and to brush them into some sort of shape. 

                            

Lashes 

For my lashes I wanted them to look big, voluminous and defined but not clumpy or weighed down in product. So to start with I curled my lashes a couple of times do my lashes really had some lift to them. I then primed them so that the curl and definition would last with a coat of the Lash Sensational Lash Primer. Then for mascara I went in with one I rediscovered recently and have fallen in love with all over again. One coat of the Maxfactor Clump Defy Mascara is enough to give lashes everything I want them to have. Curled, defined, voluminous, this mascara works wonders and even after a good eight hours later, my lashes still hadn't drooped. To say I was sad to remove my make up Saturday night is an understatement. 

                            

Lips 

Now I originally planned on wearing a rather bright pair of shoes and for the longest time I was stuck on what lip colour to pair with it. Until I swatched the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink in Seductress. And then it was neutral lips all the way. I started off with the MUA Lip Liner in Caramel to even out my lips and create a defined edge for the lip colour. I then applied a thin coat of the SuperStay Matte Ink and let that dry down as much as it was going to. I chose this particular product because we went out to eat before hand and I knew that it wouldn't transfer or disappear completely. And it didn't. However I found I did need to dab a little bit of the Rosie For Autograph Lipstick in Lady Rose over the top to even everything out, both before we left and after we ate. However my lip still looked flawless when I got home and I again wished that we had been out for longer. 

                            

Shoes 

Now I did just say that I had brought a pair of brightly coloured shoes to wear and these certainly aren't those. The shoes I originally planned on wearing were a beautiful pair of lemon open toe sandals with a block heel. However as we were getting ready, it started to rain and I was forced to rethink my shoe choice. So going off the hardware off my bag, I went for these Primark boots which remind me a lot of the Chloe boots that every seemed to be wearing during the Autumn. These had a small heel which was perfect for the evening and paired with my slightly monochromatic outfit, they went well. 

                           

Bag 

I had a perfectly good bag for nights out but when I saw this in Primark I just had to buy it. It's a very structured small box bag that has a slight Chanel vibe to it. It has a flick switch opening and a long handle with gold chain hardware. It was just enough to hold a small purse with some cash in it, my lipstick and a compact mirror. It only cost a tenner and I know I'm going to get a lot more wear out of it before the years out. 

                            

Fragrance 

And just before we left I doused my self in several perfumes which when mixed make the perfect combination. The first I went in with is the Rosie For Autograph Rose Gold EDP. It has a warmth to it that grows as the perfume warms on your skin. It's stunning on its own but when paired with both the Elizabeth And James Nirvana Black and Nirvana Bourbon becomes even better. They have a slightly more masculine scent to them that when mixed with warmth of Rose Gold, gives it a sensuality that makes me feel like a strong confident, good smelling woman.

Make Up Shake Up

                           

A couple of weeks ago I had a massive beauty purge. A lot of it was in a condition to donate whilst some of it just had to be thrown away. And whilst I was in the midst of going through everything, I discovered some old favourites which I once loved but hadn't used in a while. So for the last few days I've been switching out a few of my regular products with some I'd rediscovered and I thought I'd share the results with you. 

                             

I didn't discover any old primers so I just used my normal duo of the Barry M Hydro Fix Primer Water and the Maybelline SuperStay Primer. I did though find the Barry M Flawless Colour Correcting Wands. I remember trying these when they were first released and I wasn't initially impressed, much preferring the Collection Lasting Perfection Colour Correctors. And again when I used these; lemon under the eye and green on any redness, I wasn't impressed again. The lemon did a little to brighten my under eye area but some of the blue tones still showed under my eyes. The green corrector was too thin in consistency to do anything for my redness and with this mini heatwave we're experiencing, it was also pointless as my redness just shined through soon afterwards. 

                     

I found quite a few different foundations but only one still matched my complexion. And I'm so glad I found this out as I've fallen in love with it all over again. The Gosh Foundation Drops were a key staple in my routine but then I found another foundation I loved more and they were forgotten about. However this is now going into my daily rotation of base products as it has just wowed me. It's a buildable foundation which can either be quite light in finish or built up to a heavier coverage without going cakey or powdery on the skin. The shade 002 matches my complexion perfectly and doesn't oxidise on my skin, even in this warmth. I bopped it in with a damp beauty blender which not only helped keep a good level of coverage but also gave it a more natural, flawless look that just can't be acquired with a brush. 

                           

I didn't find any different concealer so that I could use so for my under eyes and any excess redness I wanted covered I just went in with my normal combination of the Make Up Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer and the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. I did find another powder to try however and I wasn't exactly bowled over by it. The MUA Skin Define Hydro Powder claims to hydrate skin whilst locking make up in place but in fact it just sits heavily on the skin and ruins what was a lovely looking foundation. I tried applying it both with a beauty blender and a brush and found that nothing could make this powder work with my skin. Plus it's slight yellow undertone gave my skin a warmth that I wasn't too pleased with. 

                           

For lashes I rediscovered an old favourite lash primer and a mascara that was still sat in its plastic. I loved the Barry M Lash Saver Lash Primer but then I discovered the Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Primer. I can remember why I liked it, it gave my lashes volume and lift that doesn't droop no matter how hot it is outside. Plus it contains a complex of ingredients that helps lashes grow, something my lashes could do with. Then I don't remember getting this mascara but at some point I did. The Maxfactor Clump Defy mascara is amazing, it's plastic bristle brush is curved to follow the contour of the eye and catches each individual lash to give them both length and volume. Now I'm not sure if it's the mascara or if it's the lash primer but my lashes haven't looked this good in a while and I think it's all down to this combo. 

                             

Now my lips aren't anything new but I thought I'd share it with you anyway. I lined my lips with the Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Liner in Dusty Rose. I then filled my lips in with the Maybelljne SuperStay Matte Ink in Seductress. Now when I swatched Seductress in the shop, it looked a bit darker than it actually appeared on my lips. So I just added a touch of my Rosie For Autograph lipstick in Silk Cami to even everything out amd darken it ever so slightly. I really like both the Matte Ink and the Rosie For Autograph lipstick as they last all day long but aren't drying or uncomfortable. 

                          

Whilst I was decluttering/organising my beauty products I discovered a bottle of the Make Up Revolution Amazing Make Up Fixing Spray. From what I can remember, I wasn't a big fan of it. And again I'm not sure if I like this or not but I'm also not sure if that's because of the powder I used underneath. I'm going to try it with my normal loose setting powder and see if everything sits better, if not then it's bye bye to it. 

Overall I quite liked how this look turned out. I definitely won't be reaching for the colour Correctors or the powder again but the lash combo and the foundation I'll be adding into my daily rotation of products. The setting spray I'm going to try with a few different base products and powders to see if it's actually a decent product or if it just doesn't agree with certain products used beforehand. Keep your eyes peeled because if I continue to like them they may feature in a favourites post at some point. 

Anti Haul

As a blogger and a beauty junkie, I'm always on the hunt for the next best thing and with new releases being launched every month, it's hard to define what you actually need to try or what your trying because it's the product of the moment. And at the moment there are a few products I've heard a lot about or am/was thinking of investing in but after a little bit more research, I'm wondering if they're actually worth it. Some of these product I've really wanted to try but what's really put me off is that the brands that make them are hiking up prices and some aren't just a couple of quid. One is nearly a tenner more expensive now and for those who like a bit of luxury but also have to stick to a budget, it's just not feasible to spend the equivalent of a month's food shop on a skincare product.

Loreal Revitalift Laser Renew Anti-Ageing Glycolic Peel Pads £22.49
The first is one I so nearly caved and brought when I first saw them advertised on the Boots website.I am a big fan of any kind of pre soaked glycolic pad. It's my go to choice of acid for exfoliating, retexturising and brightening my skin. It wasn't the 9.6% Glycolic Complex which to be honest I'm doubting it actually has that put me off. What put me off was that you were paying nearly £23 for only 30 pads, which you use daily. Now I know I have some more high end skincare in my collection but honestly £23 a month is not something I could add to my budget, especially I can pay between £8 and £15 for the Nip and Fab pre soaked pads for double the amount of pads and that I know are going to work on my skin. Plus my friend Lauren tried them and says she regrets paying out for them as they've done nothing but dry her skin out.

Lancome Advanced Genifique Hydrogel Melting Mask £16.50
Now this next one I'm a little on the shelf about, especially after reading a few reviews and a piece in a Sunday supplement about it. Lancome have released a hydrogel sheet mask which instantly caught my attention because I love sheet masks and I especially love hydro gel sheet masks. What put me off initially was the price tag for something that would sit on my for face for fifteen/twenty minutes max. However upon reading more about this particular mask, I'm still really intrigued to try it and may just part with some hard earned cash for one. I know this kind of defeats the idea of a anti-haul but it wasn't until I'd started this post did I read a review and go back to sitting on the fence.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm £47
Now if you've read my blog before you'll know this is one of my ride or die products so you may be shocked to see it in an anti haul post. However it's become a product I don't think I'll be repurchasing in the future due to a price hike which has seen it rise to nearly £50 a pot. And it's a shame, I love this product. It's one of my go to Autumn/Winter cleanser and really works to give my skin a boost when necessary. But to pay £47 for a 100g pot to just wash off my face, with the packaging cracking halfway through use just isn't cool with me. Now it may seem like I'm only worried about paying out when it comes to these products but in reality not all of us can afford to buy an expensive cleanser, alongside an expensive moisturiser, serum and eye cream, without the added cost of masks. And nowadays you can get really brilliant products that work for your skin but at a fraction of the price. In the future I may cave and buy another pot but for now I'm just going to use the travel sized pots I have in my collection and ration them until my skin really needs it.

 Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser With Natural Neroli £42
The Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser With Natural Neroli is a product I received in a goodie bag from a Liz Earle once and I instantly fell in love with it. For my skin it's the perfect Autumn/Winter moisturiser and really helps to hydrate and brighten my skin without weighing it down. And for a while I was quite on board with purchasing a full sized tub. However when I saw the price had jumped and was now £42 a pot, I just couldn't fathom spending that amount of money on a moisturiser when my trusty £7.99 moisturiser from Garnier works just aswell. Now I know that a lot of people believe that you have to pay that little bit extra to get a product that really works but sometimes; especially nowadays, you can easily find similar products that work just as well for a fraction of the price which means the left over money that you've saved can go towards that holiday you had planned or a good day out with family or friends. Maybe if they sold smaller pots I'd be tempted considering it's more of a seasonal product for me but until then I think I'll stick with my Garnier. 

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair £55
Now my final product is one I'm a little torn about. Not because it's a terrible product (it's fantastic) but because it's similar to another I've tried and I'm not sure which ones worth saving my Boots points for. The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Complex is a cult beauty product and I can totally understand the hype. It's worked wonders for my skin when it's been at it's worst but then so has the Lancome Advanced Genifique Concentrate and I'm uncertain of which to purchase the full size of. Or if I should bother to purchase either and save my Boots points for something extra nice for my mum for Christmas this year. As I said they both help my skin when it's at it's worst which as I've gotten older is a lot less, which essentially seems like I'm saving points for something that would barely be used and would probably end up going off, which to me is a waste. If you've tried either then please let me know in the comments if I should continue saving my points and which one I should get, if I get any at all.