25 Day’s Of Beauty: Day Sixteen

Welcome back in 25 Day’s Of Beauty.

In Day Sixteen I received a tube of the Skyn Iceland Limited Edition Minty Lip Fix. This a very thick lip balm with a minty scent that is supposed to help alleviate chapped lips during this cold and somewhat windy time of year.

This lip balm feels very nice, it has enough slip to not be overly thick and gunky on the lips but is still enough to moisturise lips. The only thing that lets this down for me is the smell, it’s too strong and I wouldn’t be able to wear this for long periods of time. I’m definitely going to give it a go to see how it works as all of my other lip balms aren’t doing much for me lately.

2018 Beauty Favourites: Skincare

 

Happy Wednesday! As I've done the last two years, I've compiled all my beauty favourites from 2018. As usual I've split into two posts, one make up related and one skincare related. Today I'm sharing all my skincare favourites from 2018 with you. As I'm writing this, I'm comparing 2018's list to 2017's list to see which products I still love and what new discoveries I made.

Cleanser 
Cleansers are the one product I'm always changing but this last year there has been one that I've always returned to. That one is the Superfacialist Vitamin C Cleansing Oil. It's a lightweight cleansing oil that breaks down even the most long wearing of bases. It doesn't leave skin feeling greasy or weighed down and can easily be used as an AM cleanse as well as a PM cleanse.

Scrub
Exfoliators and facial scrubs were something I used a lot more in the last year. I have to give an honourary mention to the Soap And Glory Scrub Your Nose In It AHA Scrub. It leaves my skin feeling super soft but the Pixi Peel And Polish is the one that I can't get enough of. It's more of a leave on scrub than a physical exfoliator. It's not a chemical exfoliatant but it still leaves skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch without stripping the skin.  

Toner
I spent most of the year knowing I was going to be talking about the Pixi Glow Tonic for my favourite toner of the year but as the year drew to a close, another toner came out of nowhere and knocked the Glow Tonic of it's top spot. The Pixi Retinol Tonic was a product I was wary of using when it first came out but now it's one I have to use everyday without fail. My skin has never looked
as good as it has since I started using this and it's Retinol formula is gentle enough to use on a daily basis but still effective enough to see results. I've already gone through the small 100ml bottle I brought to try and am making a nice dent in a full size bottle as we speak.

Facial Mist
The Liz Earle facial mist is one of my absolute holy grail products but as I've featured it in previous years favourites, I wanted to talk about a similar style product that works just as well as the Liz Earle. The B B Calm Facial Mist contains a blend of Camomile and Hyaluronic Acid to soothe, hydrate and replump skin. I went for months with the Liz Earle spray and this worked just as well with my skin, alleviating any redness I had and leaving my skin feeling soft and hydrated. And the best bit was it cost me less than the Liz Earle, which I appreciate during the summer months when all my money went on ice cream and massive bottles of water.

Facial Oil 
Now you may notice I'm skipping several catergories such as serum, day moisturiser and night moisturiser. Not only have I done it to cut down on the size of this post but also because I haven't any other favourites to the ones I mentioned in my 2017 Beauty Favourites. However I did fall in love with a facial oil this year, something my routine was missing previously. The Palmers' Skin Therapy Facial Oil is a gorgeous blend of Rosehip, Vitamin E and Cocoa Butter which works to reduce the appearence of dark marks, pigmentation, fine lines and scars left behind from blemishes. It's lightweight enough to be used on a daily basis and doesn't clog pores or leave skin feeling weighed down. I've gone through a whole bottle of this already and am already halfway through my next. I love putting this on after I've taken my make up, when my skin easily takes any product I apply.

Eye Cream
I bounce about a lot when it comes to eye cream. In fact I'm talking about one in this post but in reality am actually using a completely different one. The one I used predominantly throughout 2018 comes from Estee Lauder. Their Advanced Night Repair Supercharged Eye Cream made an incredible difference to how my eyes looked both with and without make up. It easily reduced the appearence of blue tones and dark circles, giving my under eye area a clearer, brighter look that overall made me look more awake and refreshed. A little goes a long way with this which is why this tiny pot has lasted me a long time.

Under Eye Patches
I love a good pair of under eye patches. I'm one of those people who will spend that extra hour awake to finish the chapter of a good book or another episode of the latest show I'm bingeing. However the next day, that extra hour always makes an appearence around my eyes and not a lot apart from about a week's worth of sleep will help. Or so I thought. This year I discovered the Skyn Iceland Cooling Under Eye Patches. I wasn't too sure on them as I usually only used the Rodial Dragon's Blood Under Eye Patches but now they are a contender for my favourite under eye patches of all time with the Rodial. More of a material than a bio cellulose mask, this under eye patches cool the under eye area as soon as you apply them. You can almost feel your under eye area sigh with relief when you apply them. And for the days when it's really bad, you can pop them in the fridge for five minutes to get an extra shot of cooling action.

Sheet Mask
Last year I was all about the Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Masks and I still am but in 2018 Garnier released a new style of mask that I can't get enough of. The Garnier Fresh Shot Replumping Sheet Mask is a DIY sheet mask that delivers the equivalent of a full 30ml bottle of serum with each use. The bio cellulose mask is saturated in product and never fails to leave skin feeling hydrated, plump and soft to the touch. I can't get enough of these masks and always make sure to have a good two or three in my mask basket.

Face Mask
Last year I didn't really use a lot of wash off face masks, a lot if it was because I loved using sheet masks more but a lot it was also because I was quite lazy with my skin for the best part of the year. However when I did find the energy to use a wash off face mask, the Loreal Pure Clay Blemish Rescue Mask was my go to mask. With a three clay and blue algae formula, this mask helps to keep skin clear whilst working to reduce the appearence of any dark marks left after any previous breakouts. This has been a godsend whenever I've had a breakout or a pesky mark left from a breakout that just won't disappear.

Fragrance
For fragrances I'm usually a one trick pony. Normally I rotate between the four fragrances from the Rosie For Autograph range but this year I added not one but six new fragrances to my rotation. Admittedly they're all from the same brand but each and every one of them is absolutely divine and it's extremely hard to pick a favourite. The Elizabeth and James scents are to die for. They range from light and feminine to deeper and more muskier, almost masculine, each one just a divine as the next. And my favourite part is that you can layer these scents easily amongst the range or with other scents. I particuarly like layering the Nirvana French Grey with my Rosie For Autograph Original EDP. Both are light and feminine, making them perfect for a Summer's day or even a date night.  

Marks And Spencer Beauty Advent Calender Days Six And Seven

Welcome back to Days Six and Seven in my 25 Days of Beauty Series where I show you what I get in my Marks and Spencers Advent Calender.

In Day Six's box I recieved a generous sized tube of the Philip Kingsley The Elasticizer. This is another one of those products that features in the calendar every year. And considering I've recieved it for the last two years running, I've never actually tried it. From what I can remember it's a pre shampoo treatment that's supposed to nourish hair and comes in several scents. This is the Pomergranite and Cassis scent but I have recieved the original before as well as another I can't remember. 

 And in Day Seven's box I recieved a product that is exclusive to this calendar and can't be found anywhere else. It's the Skyn Iceland Berry Lip Fix. And when I say you can't get it anywhere, I mean it. There isn't even any information about this on the M&S website. I do love a good lip balm/lip fix product so I've been wearing this today instead of my normal Palmer's lip balm. It's nice, it hasn't done anything extraordinary to my lips and feels a lot different to the type of lip balms I normally use. I will definitely continue to use this and see if it changes how my lips look and feel over a longer period of time.

Festive Skincare Saviours

 

Tis the season of joy, goodwill, good food and parties. Christmas parties, family parties, New Years Eve parties, December is the month that is filled with many a social event. And whilst it's fun and games, we all sometimes let our routines slip and it soon shows on our skin. So today I've rounded up a handful of products that will love and look after your skin throughout the festive period, without adding extra steps or extra time into your routine.

Okay so it's an obvious that there will be times during the month when you don't want to spend ten minutes stood in front of a sink meticulously taking off your make up. Wipes are the easy option for a quick make up removal but I personally can't stand how wipes make my face feel afterwards. Which where this first product comes into play. The B Stubborn Make Up Remover is the perfect no rinse make up remover that isn't going to dry our or irritate skin like a wipe would. It's bio phase formula breaks down even the toughest of make up and leaves skin feeling clean yet still soft and not stripped of it's natural oils. It works wonders on lipstick, mascara and foundation, leaving no trace behind. If wipes are your thing then you do you boo but if you're not a massive fan of wipes and want something to break down make up whilst still looking after your skin then I'd highly recommend this or something extremely similar.

If you can find the time and energy to stand in front of the sink, first of all I commend you and secondly, I suggest trying a nourishing balm or cream based cleanser. They're thicker in consistency and work better at nourishing the skin whilst simultaneously removing make up and any dirt that's built up throughout the day. My all time favourite cleansing balm has to be the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. It's thick, it easily breaks down make up but it also nourishes and leaves skin feeling super soft. Clinique's Take The Day Off Balm and Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish are also brilliant products that work in a similar way to the Emma Hardie but cost a fraction of the price. Things such as central heating, cold weather, alcohol and too much junk food can play havoc with the skin, something these products won't be able to reverse but will be able to diminish any effect it can all have on your skin.

If you've had one too many late nights this festive season, then under eye patches are going to be your best friend. These little miracle workers will help depuff, soothe and awaken tired eyes. There are so many different variations on the market but my absolutle favourites come from Skyn Iceland. They're a material/hydra gel mixture that work to soothe and depuff the under eye area. These are naturally cold when you first apply them but can also be placed in the fridget to make them even cooler. Their cooling properties help to reduce any puffiness that lack of sleep, late nights or too much processed sugar can cause. They may not do a lot to help with your dark circles but will create a smoother, hydrated canvas for the ton of concealer you may need afterwards. I always stock up at the beginning of December so I have enough to see me through any work parties, late nights wrapping and nights out with the girls.

Are the late nights catching up with you? Does your skin not look it's greatest? Don't worry my last skincare saviour will help get your skin into tip top condition once again. If you're like me and you enjoy taking your time getting ready for a night out, I highly recommend taking fifteen minutes out fo your dance party to apply a sheet mask. Sheet masks are the only kind of mask you'll need throughout the festive period. Usually made of a hydro gel or fabric combination, sheet masks give skin a quick pick me up without the need for washing off or interrupting your busy schedule. They can easily be worn as you do tasks around the house and don't require any extra steps after removal. My favourites are both from Garnier. Their De-Tiring Lavender Infused Moisture Bomb Sheet Mask and the Fresh Mix Replumping Sheet Mask are little skin wonders and have really helped my skin when I've needed something to make it look presentable. The De-Tiring mask helps to reduce the signs of fatigue whilst delivering a week's worth of hydration to skin which is slowly released over a period of time once you've removed the mask. It's perfect if your skin is looking a little dull after one too many late nights and it's lavender scent is also perfect to help you unwind after a long day. And their Fresh Mix Mask is a DIY mask in which you fold together and squeeze the essence up into a dry sheet mask, ensuring that it's as fresh as it can be when you apply it to your skin. This delivers the same amount of hydration as a 30ml bottle of serum and really works to hydrate and replump the skin whilst only taking up fifteen minutes of your day. I have these backstocked so I don't run out during the festive period as from the way I'm going, my skin's gonna need a lot of TLC this festive period.

Empties: July

It's come round to that time where I share my trash with you. Now I know a lot of you probably don't want to see what I've used up or care if I'll repurchase. But I do know a lot of you are just as nosy as I am and love seeing what beauty products people have used up.

Let's kick things off with under eye patches. And as you can see I used a lot of them. I love a good under eye patch for depuffing, hydrating, smoothing and reducing the appearence of my dark circles. And yes that is multiples of each set that I have used. My most used are the Primark Sunflower Under Eye Patches and the Soap and Glory Puffy Eye Attack Under Eye Gels. They're inexpensive and work well for me so I don't mind going through several packs (see five) reguarly. Patches such as the Rodial Dragon's Blood Under Eye Patches and the Skyn Iceland Eye Firming Gels are a little more pricey so I limit myself to how many I use. That being said I still managed to get through several packs of each because they are my absolute favourites even if they do make me wince when I repurchase them.

Another thing I clearly use in large quantities is sheet masks, so let's get them out of the way next. I'll start with another ode of love to the Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Masks. My favourite is the Lavender De-Tiring Masks but I am partial to the others in the range if I feel my skin needs it. And I also recently tried out the new Ultralift Tissue Mask. It was okay, I wasn't bowled away by it but it wasn't terrible by any means. I think I will be sticking to my Moisture Bomb Masks in the future though.

Three other sheet masks I used up were the Simple Water Boost Hydrating Tissue Mask, the PS Hydro Gel Mask and the Nip and Fab Glycolic Fix Extreme Bubble Mask. I used up a couple of the Simple masks on the days when my skin needed hydrating but not a deep burst of hydration like you get from the Moisture Bomb masks. The PS Hydrogel Mask was okay but it didn't work wonders or blow me away. For it's price point, it's good option but I'd personally pay the extra for the likes of the Garnier or the Simple. And finally the Nip and Fab is forever a favourite but because it's slightly pricier than the others I limit myself to one every now and again. This has to be one of the most fun masks I've ever used. It makes you sound like a bowl of rice kripsies whilst you look the abominable snowman. Now if that isn't reason to use this mask, I don't know what is.

And finally on the sheet mask front I used up a couple from Soap And Glory. The Pore Refining Mask and the Miracle Moisture Mask have to be my favourites from my range. They both adhere nicely to the skin, don't drip or slide about and leave behind visible results that last longer than the half an hour other masks results last. I particuarly like the Pore Refining Mask for when my skin is more hormonal and always make sure to keep a stock of them ready for Mother Nature's visit.

Whilst we're on the subject of masks, I used up two samples of wash off face masks and was highly impressed by both. The first was the Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Mask and the second was the Origins Clear Improvement Mask. Both worked wonders for deep cleansing and purifying my skin, making sure no shit was left lingering in my pores. Sure I got a couple of breakouts afterwards but I never mind because my skin always looks so clear once they've gone. They're not the cheapest deep cleansing charcoal based face mask on the market but I'd happily buy both in full size, seeing how well they worked for my skin.

It wouldn't be an empties post if I didn't have at least one bottle of my Clean And Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion in there. You all know the drill with this by now. It's my morning cleanser, has been for the last twelve years, never breaks me out or dries out my skin and really works to wake my skin up in the morning. Again countless bottles will feature in the future as until they release a product as good as this, I'll only exclusively reach for this in the mornings.

I finally finished a bottle of my Nip and Fab 6% Glycolic Fix Extreme Liquid Glow. This is my holy grail evening toner. It's 6% glycolic acid formula works to really deep clean and retexturise skin, revealing skin's glow as well as promoting heathly cell turnover. I thought I'd go through this bottle quickly but a little really goes a long way, something I'm happy about with it's near on twenty quid price tag. However I'd happily pay that and more for the way it's changed how my skin both looks and feels.

Talking of Nip and Fab, I finished two sets of their pre soaked pads. The first set I finished was the Dragon's Blood Fix Cleansing Pads and the second was the Glycolic Fix Pre Soaked Pads. To be honest I've gone off these pads since the 6% was released so I ended up using them daily just to finish them and get them out of my collection. There is nothing wrong with these pads but they just don't work with my skin anymore. I think it's become used to higher concentrations of AHA's so these were barely doing anything. However if you don't think your skin could handle a high percentage of AHA then I recommend checking them. I won't be buying them again though.

I finished not one but three different facial spritzes. The first was another bottle of my Botanics Refreshing Facial Spritz with Rosewater. I've gone through multiple bottles of this, it's one of my favourites and I'm sure you'll see more bottles in the future. The second is the B Hyaluronic Facial Spritz. Again you've seen this in empties posts before and will probably see more in the future. It's light, it's hydrating and can easily be used over make up, a brilliant factor during this heatwave the UK is enduring. And the last is the B Vitamin Facial Spritz. This is a great dupe for the Pixi Vitamin Mist, works wonders to refresh and rehydrate skin as well as working over make up to give skin that lit from within glow. I love it that much I've almost finished my second bottle already.

Two serums I finished won't come as a surprise to any of you. The first is the Loreal Hydra Genius Aloe Water. I've gone through countless bottles of this and still haven't grown bored of it. It's like a splash of water on the skin that lasts all day long and doesn't let skin loose it's plump, hydrated look. And the second is the Simply Pure Hydrating Night Serum. Again I've gone through a few of these now but it just does exactly what I want it to and I would be silly to use a different product that doesn't give the same results.

I finished another pot of my Garnier Moisture Bomb Glow Enhancer Cream. This again has been featured before, I'm halfway through another pot and I'll continue to feature it in empties in the future. It's my go to, everyday day cream, it's really light and hydrating and works perfectly under SPF or make up.

Again another product you've seen repeatedly is the Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream. I adore this stuff. It's bouncy/bounce back gel like formula really works over night to reduce any appearence of fatigue and leaves skin looking hydrated and refreshed, whilst soft and smooth to the touch.

I finished another pot of my Olay Total Effect Eye Cream. I don't usually stick to an eye cream for long and I'm starting to think that maybe it's time to try a new one. It doesn't seem to do as much for my under eye area as it used to. If any of you have recommendations for a good eye cream, leave them in the comments, I really don't know what other ones I can try.

SPF is a big part of my skincare routine but whilst it's been extra hot over here in the UK, I've been extra diligent about it. So I've gone through another Hawaiian Tropic Air Soft Face SPF30 and am already halfway through another. This is lightweight enough to be layered under make up but doesn't clog pores or weigh skin down. It's oil free and fragrance free making it suitable for all skin types.

I am a strong believer of not using wipes on your face but I do manage to go through quite a lot of wipes and my favourite are the Garnier Micellar Oil Infushed Wipes. These are my go to's for when I need to remove any lipstick of any kind, especially the long lasting liquid lipsticks that other wipes don't touch. These don't break me out, don't leave a horrible oily residue around my mouth and are the only wipes I trust for removing lipstick or lip swatches.

I have a few make up empties this time around including empties of my two go to everyday primers. I'm not going to go into too much detail as you've seen them featured before. The Barry M Hydro Fix Primer Water and the Maybelline SuperStay Primer are the best primer duo I've ever used and I've gone through countless bottles of both. Usually there are more of each but due to the heatwave I've been wearing make up less often, so I haven't gone through as many.

I finished two base products since my last empties, the first being the Rosie For Autograph Sheer Finish Complexion Enhancer and the second the Make Up Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer. The Rosie For Autograph is my go to light coverage, barely there base product on those days when I want a little something but not a full medium coverage foundation. It's a stunning base that really lets skin look like skin whilst giving it a healthy lit from within glow. The Conceal And Define however is a lot more coverage and feels heavier on the skin. It's perfect for covering blemishes and brightening the under eye area, however I would only advise wearing it when your wearing a heavier coverage foundation as it takes away from the no make up, make up look that lighter bases give.

I've actually finished a mascara. That is unheard of from me. The Maybelline Total Temptation Mascara has been one of my go to mascaras since it's release earlier this year. It's natural bristle brush and coconut oil enriched formula have really worked to give my lashes volume, length and definition whilst leaving them conditioned and stronger. I've already got another tube of this open and I can gurantee you'll be seeing more of these in empties in the future.

I was lucky to recieve a sample pack of the Body Shop's newly release Body Yoghurts. I've used two of the three and I absolutely love them. They're lightweight yet ultra hydrating, they sink into skin immediately and smell absolutely divine. Out of the two I'd probably buy the British Rose in full size but I'd also love to try the Coconut Body Yoghurt if they ever have it in stock.

And last but not least I finished two bottles of perfume. Again this is unheard of for me as I have tons of bottles of perfume and never stay loyal to one but somehow I've managed to finish two. The first is the Christina Aguilera By Night scent. I used to wear this years ago and found a little bit left in a bottle tucked in dark corner of my wardrobe. It still smelt okay so I just kept wearing it whenever I went to work. It's musky but feminine and has a slightly sexy edge to it that boosts my self confidence whenever I wear it. The second is an all time favourite of mine and I've gone through many a bottle. The Rosie For Autograph Nuit is again that musky, deeper scent that is suited more for the evening wear but boosts my self confidence whenever I wear it. I love it that much I'm already halfway through my next bottle.

Haul: New Releases and More

First off I would like to apologise for the lack of posts this week. A mixture of not feeling a hundred percent and some family issues meant that I lacked the drive to post. However I'm feeling better now and normal posting will resume on Monday. But as I was putting away some purchases I made today I realised that my New In Box was brimming with bits I'd picked up over the last few weeks. So I thought I'd bung them all into one giant haul for you today, not only so you can see what new releases there are but also to make up for the lack of posts last week.

Let's start with skincare. Loreal has released a new range called Fine Flowers. It contains Rose and Jasmine extracts and is designed for dry to sensitive skin. There are two cleansers, a toner and face wipes in the range. I picked up one of the cleansers. This isn't like most cleansers, instead of washing it off over a sink with a flannel you use a cotton pad to rub it into and remove from the skin. I'm not usually a big fan of these types of cleansers but this one sounded a lot different to others on the market so I picked one up to try.

Recently I've been trying out different cleansing balms to see which work best. High Street Beauty Brands don't offer as many choices as higher end brands so I was pleased to see Sanctuary offering their own version of a balm. This supposed to warm as you rub it into the skin and help purify the skin whilst removing make up and daily dirt and grime. This is a very hard balm that takes some working into the skin but it does remove all signs of make up in one use.

I'm a big fan of facial mists so when I saw that Garnier was releasing one I knew I had to pick one up. It's a part of their Moisture Bomb range and contains Hyaluronic Acid and Pomegranate Extract to hydrate the skin whilst simultaneously protecting the skin. So far I'm on the fence about this product but definitely need to use it more to get a real feel for it.

A repurchase that I had to make comes in the form of my holy grail eye cream. I received a sample of the Skyn Iceland Icelandic Eye Cream. This is one of the best eye creams I've ever tried. It's significantly reduced the look of my dark circles, any puffiness and any signs of ageing that there was. No other eye cream has wowed me as much as this one has and even though it's price tag makes me cry ever so slightly it's so well worth it. Plus I received a sample pack of their Cooling Gels with any purchase which itself was worth £10.

Some face mask repurchases I've made are the Boots Ingredients Sheet Masks. These are very lightweight sheet masks that stay in place and work wonders for the skin. I picked up another of the Super Hyaluronic mask and the Rooibos mask. And then I picked up another of the Garnier Repairing Honey Mask. I tried this for the first time this week and absolutely loved it. It left my skin feeling super soft and nourished, plus I didn't have to fanny about with washing it off.

Another repurchase comes in the form of the Maybelline SuperStay Primer. I brought this when it first came out and instantly fell in love with it. It's very liquidy in consistency, easy to apply, leaves skin feeling velvety soft and tacky to grab onto any base product you put on over top. I've used this everyday since I brought it and am not surprised that I've run out of it.

A lot of brands are bringing out their own versions of Colour Corrector products but none of them have caught my eye like the Barry M Colour Correcting Wands. There are three in the collection but I only picked up the two that my skin need. The yellow shade helps eradicate dark circles, something I occasionally need help with and the green helps reduce the appearance of redness, something I need most days. They're very thin in consistency and blend out nicely so I'm assuming they will sit nicely under base products. And because I spent over £8 on Barry M I received the Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit for free. I've never contoured before but now I have this kit I may give it a go.

 A foundation that I instantly fell in love with is this Loreal Infallible Total Cover Foundation. It's lightweight in feel, high in coverage and matte in finish. It claims to be able to cover tattoos and extreme cases of redness. And most of it's claims are true. I'm seriously in love with this foundation. It covers my redness, doesn't look cakey on the skin, doesn't feel pore clogging and lasts all day long. And the best bit it's the third of the price of my once favourite Dior Star Foundation.

I picked up another of my Collection Pressed Powders. I go through this quicker than any other product but I don't mind as it only cost £2. But don't think it's bad quality because of it's price tag. It's lightweight, natural on the skin and doesn't oxidise on the skin like some pressed powders do.
I also brought a MUA Transparent Pressed Setting Powder to try. I'm not sure if I'm going to enjoy it because it's even whiter than my Collection Powder. However I will get back to you once I've given it a fair trial.

All that is left is lip products and as usual with me there is a lot of them. To start I brought these two liquid lipsticks from Barry M. They've recently released three limited edition Lip Kits, each very similar to the Kylie Lip Kits, containing a lip liner and coinciding liquid lipstick. And then they've released five liquid lipsticks which are permanent. I of course picked up the red shade and from swatching them on the back of my hand, I'm impressed. Very liquidy and lightweight, these dry down but don't feel dry or uncomfortable on the lips.

I took a trip to London this week and popped into a little beauty shop that caught my attention. I'm very glad I went in as they stocked Milani as well as other American brands. They had the Amore Matte Lip Creams and of course I had to buy one. I brought the shade Precious which is a stunning pink nude shade. I could have gone for the red but it swatched slightly patchy on the back of my hand. I'm looking forward to wearing this as I'm really having a nude lip moment.

Even though I haven't been wearing a lot of red lipsticks I've still picked some up. This gorgeous off red shade from Loreal is not only perfect for now but also perfect for the upcoming warmer months. It's a part of the new matte lipstick collection from Loreal and swatches beautifully. I'm not to keen on the Loreal lipstick scent but it's something I can easily overlook that when it looks so good on the lips.

And finally I've picked up quite a few new bits from the new Rosie For Autograph releases. She's released three new lipstick shades (pictured) and five lip liner shades. I only picked up on lip liner as it was the only one that swatched nicely out of them all. It's in the shade Silk which works well with quite a few of her existing lipstick shades. I've thoroughly enjoyed wearing this under her shade Silk Rose for a stunning nude lip.
The three new lipstick shades are stunning. From left to right you have Sour Grapes, Rosie Lips and Vintage Rouge. Rosie Lips is the shade I'm most excited to wear as it has an interesting mauve tone to it and I think it'll look stunning on a multitude of skintones.