Monthly Favourites: April

                          

Happy May! Today I'm back with my April Favourites and it's going to be a quick one as I only have four beauty favourites and one non beauty favourite to share with you. So let's get started. 

                           

My first favourite and only skincare favourite is the newly released B Vitamin Facial Spray. It's very reminiscent of the Pixi Vitamin Wake Up Mist that I liked but never repurchased. It contains a mixture of Vitamin C, Caffeine and Cucumber extract which all work in conjunction with each other to refresh and awaken skin whilst giving it a healthy glow. It's the perfect morning facial mist but also works well if you're in need of a skin pick me up halfway through the day. I've loved applying this in with my primers to give my skin a boost and have reached for it whenever I'm home doing a quick change before heading out with Jasmin. It's lightweight, doesn't disrupt make up and even though it's scented, it hasn't given me any issues and my skin looks better every time I use it. 

                           

The first of two make up favourites this month is the Make Up Revolution Gast Base Foundation Stick. Before this I had never tried a stick foundation but after having such brilliant results with this, I'm eager to try more. This is a medium to buildable full coverage foundation that covers a multitude of sins whilst still allowing skin to look and feel like skin. It lasts all day long and doesn't break down if your skin becomes oily throughout the day. This has been my go to base this month and paired with my next favourite, it gives me a flawless, long lasting base. 

                        

And the product that works wonders alongside the Fast Base Foundation stick is Make Up Revolution's Conceal And Define Concealer. This isn't an exact dupe of the Tarte Shape Tape but is a pretty good affordable dupe. It's perfect for use under the eyes as well as covering things such as redness and blemishes. I have it in the shade C1 and it's perfect for brightening under the eyes but not appearing too heavy or cakey. Even if I find another foundation to use, I'll still be reaching for this. It's even replaced my beloved Maybelline The Eraser Eye Concealer. 

                           

And my last "beauty" favourite is something has saved my skin and stopped me from wanting to wear a paper bag in public. Last weekend I used an Exfoliator that I wasn't keen on but hadn't had any problems with. Until the day after I'd used it. My skin was left angry, red as a beetroot and covered in tons upon tons of tiny little bumps. Too say I was pissed is an understatement. I tried putting aloe vera feel on it but it didn't help, in fact it just dried my skin out more. So I reached for the trusty pot of Sudocrem we keep in our house. I wore a thick mask like layer for a whole day and couldn't get over the difference it made to my skin. The redness died down but the bumps remained. I could happily live with that and highly recommend trying this if you ever have a bad reaction to anything. The rest I've left down to Glycolic Acid and I can happily say that my skin is back to its normal self. 

                              

And my only non beauty favourite of the month is a music favourite. After a break, Carrie Underwood is back with a new single. I was a little apprehensive as I thought she couldn't top any of the songs from her Storyteller album but she has outdone herself this time. Her new single Cry Pretty is a powerful song packed full of power notes that Underwood hits flawlessly and the underlying message is relatable to all who listen to it. If Cry Pretty is anything to go by, her recently announced upcoming album due for release in September is going to be her best work to date. If you hsvent listened to Cry Pretty then I highly recommend you do. 

Monthly Favourites: April

I know I say this nearly every month but where has time gone. April seems to have flown by. Though it may have something to do with the week and a half I spent fighting the worst viral infection possible that I've lost some time this month. However that hasn't stopped me from finding a few favourites this month, including a couple of non beauty favourites.

Rosie For Autograph Sheer Finish Complexion Enhancer
One of my most used products this month has to be the Rosie For Autograph Sheer Finish Complexion Enhancer. It's BB Cream/Moisturiser hybrid formula is breathable but covering and adds a healthy glow to the skin whilst letting look and feel like skin. Applied with fingertips, this has been my go to base for the month and came in handy a lot when I was ill.

Loreal Color Riche Matte Lipstick in Brick Vintage
Most of this month I've been wearing my Rosie For Autograph Lipsticks but when I haven't been wearing them I've only been wearing one other lipstick. And that lipstick comes from Loreal. It's one of their Color Riche Matte Lipsticks that were rereleased earlier this year. Not only have they reformulated these lipsticks but have also added more shades all of which are stunning. I have the shade Brick Vintage which is a stunning orange red shade that can be worn no matter the season and look gorgeous. Their velvet matte finish is beyond comfortable and they're non transferable coverage means I haven't had to worry about unnecessary touch ups.

Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz
April has been a good month for skincare. I've found so many amazing new skincare products and haven't been able to stop using them. The first is this Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz, a fine spray mist that soothes and revitalises skin. It's very comparable to the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer but doesn't ease or sooth redness as much as the Liz Earle. I've enjoyed using this in the evenings after I've taken my make up off to rid my skin of the tightness or dryness that cleansing sometimes leaves behind.

Loreal Hydra Genius Liquid Care Aloe Water
The second is the latest skincare release from Loreal. A part of their well reviewed Hydra Genius range, this water based serum has blown every other serum I own out of the water. Containing nothing more than Aloe Water and Hyaluronic Acid this gives skin an instantaneous moisture boost whilst helping skin retain moisture to slowly release later when skin needs it the most. It's very lightweight and watery in texture but sinks beautifully into skin and leaves skin feeling hydrated, soothed and soft to the touch. A full review of this will be coming soon.

Garnier SkinActive Rose Water Toner 
Garnier have recently revamped their SkinActive skincare range and released a whole host of products. I have most of these new releases as they really caught my eye but by far my favourite has been their Rose Water Toner. Perfect for when my skin is feeling more sensitive than normal this really leaves my skin feeling soothed and refreshed. Perfect for after clay based masks or make up removal this has been loving my skin as much as my skin's been loving it.

Fast and Furious 8
A non beauty favourite I've loved this month is Fast and Furious 8. I've been a fan of the series since I was thirteen and have made it my job to go and see every new film when it's released. And this past weekend I went to see Fast 8 with my best friend Jasmin. And we thoroughly enjoyed it, there were plenty of laughs, brilliantly choreagraphed car scenes as well as fight scenes. Plus you had the added bonus of new cast members Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren and Scott Eastwood that brought their own little something to the film. Also saw the return of Luke Evans in this film which promptly caused me and Jasmin to lose our shit as we weren't expecting that.

The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey/Desolation of Smaug
Another movie series I've been enjoying this month is The Hobbit. I'm a fan of the Lord of The Rings films but never got round to watching The Hobbit films. That was until Easter Weekend when there was nothing good on the telly. And I'm so glad I dug the DVD's out. Now I know that they're not to everyone's taste but if you like more sci-fi/fantasy based films then I'd highly recommend giving them a watch.

April Favourites

 

Welcome to another Monthly Favourites. I honestly don't know where April went? Seriously one moment I'm posting my March Favourites and the next thing I know it's time to gather my April Favourites. So let's jump into it.

My first favourite this month is a product I've used on and off since Decemeber but have only started enjoying it properly this month. It's the Pixi Glow Tonic. Now I know it's a cult product but I'm usually slow to catch onto them. I'd tried this at the beginning of the year and wasn't too keen but now I've had a skincare shake up I've started to really love it. Containing Glycolic Acid, Ginseng and Aloe Vera this doesn't just tone and exfoliate my skin, it refreshes and gives it the pick me up it needs. I use this after I've taken my make up off to make sure my skin feels as fresh as possible before going in with the rest of my routine. I'm definitely going to be buying a full sized bottle of this when it runs out.

Up next is another skincare product. I've already feautred this in a favourites and done a full review but I can't help but feature it again. As I said I've done a skincare shake up and I've fallen in love with this moisturiser all over again. It's the Garnier Miracle Wake Me Up Moisturiser. A very mousse like consistency this moisturiser instantly wakes up the skin whilst simultaneously smoothing the skin upon application. It also soothes skin if you've used an exfoliator or treatment that's a bit too harsh. I love slapping this on my face after I've taking my make up off. It helps seal in my serum and makes gives my skin that mositure boost it occasionally needs.

Whilst we're on the topic of skincare let's talk about a new product I've been loving this month. This is the Nivea Creme Cleansing Face Wash the newest face wash from Nivea. This has the classic Nivea scent as well as the skin caring ingredients of the classic range. It's very creamy in consistency and is very gentle to apply to the skin. It cleanses the skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth to the touch. As it's so gentle on the skin it's suitable for even sensitive skin and more than likely won't break you out. I'm definitely going to be giving the cleansing lotion a go as well and a full review will be coming soon. 

Now for the only lipstick I'm featuring this month. Honestly I've only had this a couple of weeks but I fell in love with it the moment I put this on my lips. It's the Rosie For Autograph lipstick in Silk Rose. It's more brown than Lady Rose which is very mauve in tone but it still looks nice on the lips. It's a good brown toned lipstick for people with fairer skintones. It's not a matte lipstick but it's not overly shiny or glossy looking. Ultra buttery to apply this lipstick and the others in the range are long wearing on the lips but not overly drying either. I'm definitely going to be getting a lot of wear out of this and the other shades I've picked up.

 And for my last favourite I couldn't just decide on one shade so I chose four. These are the Barry M Coconut Infusion Nail Paints. These are infused with coconut oil and water to hydrate the nail as you wear them. And I love them. My favourite shades are Tiki Hut, Flamingo, Bikini and Laguna. I was worried that the brighter shades would stain my nails as you're advised to go without a base coat but they didn't and my nails look a lot better than before I started wearing these. They have nice thick brushes that make it easier to apply and they dry nearly as quickly as the Speedy Quick Dry Range.

So that's it for my April Favourites. What were your favourites this month? Were any of them the same as mine? Let me know in the comments.

April Favourites

My very first post on this blog was a favourites post. They've always been my favourite posts to read and videos to watch on YouTube. So I've decided that I would start posting my top 5 Favourite Products each month. This month is all about skincare, new products I've tried and loved and old products that I've fallen back in love with. 

Garnier Moisture+ Restore Night Cream 

This product has been my biggest find this month. Originally I picked this up because it was half price and I'd confused it with another new Garnier release. That mistake has been a brilliant one for my skin though. Unlike a normal night cream this one is a gel formula which is ultra-hydrating and cooling on the skin. Designed to help skin regenerate overnight, it's packed with loads of skin loving ingredients that leave skin feeling replenished and revitalised. And I have to say it works. I team it daily with my night serum and every morning I've woken up to super smooth and hydrated skin. It literally works wonder that well that I've also started using it in the morning as well. It doesn't leave skin tacky and provides a perfect base for my make-up. 

Vitamin E Refreshing Toning Mist

I've never really understood the use of a toning mist before but have used one for months on end. However this month I've really come to understand and love them. Towards the end of March and the beginning of this month I had the flu and it really took its toll on my skin. Nothing seemed to take away the horrid dry feeling that covered my skin. Until I used this product. It's so quick and easy to use, I found my spritzing my face 2-3 times a day revelling in the hydrated feeling it left. And even now I'm back to full health I still find myself reaching for this constantly. Whether it's first thing in the morning or after I've done a face mask I spritz myself a couple of times and feel not only refreshed but hydrated as well. It has no nasty perfume and is suitable for sensitive skin making it a brilliant first go for anyone looking for a toning mist to try. 

 

L'Oreal Absolute Eye & Lip Make Up Remover

This product I brought on a recommendation from a customer and I'm so glad I tried it. It looks like any other duo-phase make up remover but actually works better than any other on the market. It removes eye make-up seamlessly and is gentle on the eyes but without the oily feeling some eye make-up removers have. It also removes any lipstick perfectly being a normal formula or one of those ultra-long lasting ones. The oil in the formula is super gentle on the skin and doesn't leave skin feeling greasy afterwards while the lotion in it leaves skin soft and hydrated. Most duo-phase eye make-up removers leave my skin feeling greasy and my under eye area feeling dry but this one leaves my skin feeling soft and in need of less eye cream than normal. 

 

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water

When it comes to Micellar Waters it's alway been a bit hit and miss for me. Usually they break me out within the first couple of uses but this new release from Simple has yet to do that. I use it as a second cleanse/toner in my night time routine to catch any stray make up that is still lingering on my skin. A few swipes of a doused cotton pad over my face leaves my skin feeling clean and ready for the next step in my night time routine. However that isn't the only reason I like it so much. Unlike some cleansing waters I've tried before this one doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped and begging for moisture. So far I haven't had any breaks out since using this so would highly recommend this to anyone with sensitive skin. 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Honey 

This is the one and only make up product this month that I've constantly used. Being ill meant that my lips took the toll as well as my skin. However this product was a saviour and let me rock a spring lip while trying to get my lips back to a normal state. Highly pigmented, long wearing and moisturising on the lips I've been throwing it on over lip balm with no worries of reapplying or flaky dry lips. It's a stunning rosy pink shade perfect for the beautiful spring days we've been having and has brightened up any make up look I've worn. Even when I got better I still reached for this and it now has a permanent spot in my handbag so I can apply or reapply whenever I want.

What products have you been loving this month? Have any of you tried any of these? Or do you have any recommendations? Let me know, I love reading and hearing other people's favourites.