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.

Revlon Ultra HD Lipsticks

When it comes to lip products, Revlon has been one brand that has never let me down. Their Super Lustrous Lipsticks, Colourburst Balms and their Matte counterparts are amazing and it looks like Revlon's latest offering is going to be just as good maybe even better. 

The Revlon Ultra HD Lipsticks is a stunning collection of sheen finish lipsticks with a wide shade range and sleek packaging. Each lipstick is named after a variety of flower, ranging from pale pinks and nudes to breathtaking reds and darker shades. All lipsticks are packaged in sleek silver mirrored packaging with a locking system when you wind the lipstick up or down. 

The three colours I picked up were Sweet Pea a soft pink shade perfect for spring, Peony a coral toned pink and Poinsettia a classic blue toned red. The first thing that struck me when applying these was that they have a strong floral scent which isn't horrible but definitely something you're aware of when wearing them. The two paler shades are less opaque when applied, taking a couple of coats to recreate the colour in the bullet. The red however applys opaque in one coat, sliding nicely across the lips to give even coverage. 

Once on the lips they feel balmy and moisturising with a slight sheen to the finish. As expected from a non matte lipstick they don't last all day on the lips. Sweet Pea and Peony wear of the lips quicker than Poinsettia which had a longer staying power but did wear off the lips after eating and drinking. 

If you're looking for a new spring lipstick I highly recommend you check these out. All three shades look beautiful on the lips but personally for me I'd prefer a more matte formula. Brilliant spring shades, stunning packaging and easy to throw in your handbag I can guarantee that the Revlon Ultra HD Lipsticks will be a definite spring essential for me. 

Available from Superdrug and Boots

B Energised Eye Cream

                              

In the past when it's come to eye creams, I've always thought they were a bit of a faff, surely moisturiser did it all right? Oh how wrong was I. It's been a year since I started looking more closely at my skincare routine and I can now see how important a eye cream is. 

I've tried a few different brands but only one has really impressed me and stood the test of time. The B Energised Eye Cream is just what my eyes need everyday. Called a cream but actually more of a gel formula it has transformed my eyes in a way no other product had. A small amount goes a long way; patted along my under eye area and over the lid, leaving my eyes feeling refreshed and more awake than I actually feel. 

Packed with skin loving ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid and Live Yeast Cell Extract this product is perfect for ladies who find dark circles a daily battle. The gel like formula is immediately cooling when applied, the mixture of Yeast Cell Extract and Caffeine helps plump the skin and reduce the look of dark circles, while the Hyaluronic Acid locks it into place and makes sure skin stays plump and moisturised throughout the day. It doesn't leave skin tacky which is brilliant for people who are in a rush but still want a complete skincare routine. The long term results from the B Energised Eye Cream are not immediate but the skin will feel soft and hydrated from the first day. However after a couple of weeks dark circles should look less prominent and for me the skin around my eyes was softer than anywhere else on my face. 

For anyone looking for a refreshing, revitalising eye cream I highly recommend the B Energised Eye Cream. Ophthalmically approved, suitable for sensitive skin and free from any parabens this product gives high end results with a high street price tag. 

Available now in Superdrug

My Everyday Base

When it comes to foundation I've always been picky, flitting from one to another whether it be for a different season or just to try a new release. However just before Christmas I found a base that apart from a couple of weeks where I tried a Rimmel foundation that had been raved about I haven't strayed from at all.

The Maxfactor Facefinity 3 in 1 foundation is everything I've been looking for in a base product. Even though it's a triple action product with built in primer and concealer, the Facefinity is surprisingly a thin consisitency that when applied to the skin gives a stunning sheer to medium coverage that is easily buildable without being cakey. It blends beautifully on the skin and covers any redness or blemishes easily leaving skin with a natural dewy glow. I use the shade Warm Almond which is perfect for any fair skinned ladies with a yellow undertone to their skin whereas Light Ivory the shade below is perfect for fairer skintones that have more of a pink undertone. 

Also when I picked up the foundation I managed to get my hands on the matching Facefinity primer. It is by far the best primer I have ever used, leaving my skin primed and ready for foundation but not greasy like some other primers can leave skin. You don't have to use the two together as the foundation already has the primer built in but if you want your make up to go the extra mile then this primer is for you. Most foundations even when used with a primer would disappear after a few hours but now my foundation looks almost as good as when I first applied it thanks to these two products. If you have a big event coming up or are just looking for products to prolong your daily make up then I suggest you give these a go. A little more pricey than some other popular high street foundations but well and truly worth the money. 

Have any of you tried this combo? Or do you have any other recommendations? Let me know in the comments. 

Available now from Superdrug and Boots

Review: B Makeup Brush Cleanser

When I first spotted this in Superdrug's in store magazine Dare, I made it my mission to hunt it down. Not only was it cheaper than my current brush cleaner, it came from brand I know I can trust for good quality and came in a handy spray bottle, making my accident prone self rejoice. 

However I found myself disappointed when I put it to the test. After not reading the back properly, I followed the directions; spraying several pumps onto each brush, swirling it over a clean cotton pad to remove the build up of make up. This is where it fell short in my expectations. It cleaned both of my foundation brushes to an extent (they weren't that dirty) but I found I still had to give them a go over with my No7 brush cleaner to finish the job. My powder and concealer brushes faired a lot better when I sprayed them. It only took one application and several minutes of swirling on a cotton pad to remove any build up on them. 

My first impressions of the B Makeup Brush Cleanser are not what I hoped they would be but it is a product I'm willing to perceive with. It's not the best product for cleaning the more dense brushes in a collection but if you're somebody who has a lot of eyeshadow or less compact brushes and not the time to give them a thorough cleaning then this product is ideal for you. Easy to use, great value for money with added antibacterial ingredients this product is brilliant for people short on time who want their brush collection to look as good as new. 

Available now from Superdrug

Barry M Speedy Quick Dry Polishes

When I saw that Barry M were releasing new polishes I knew that some or all of the collection would be coming home with me. Not only were they promising a speedy/ quick drying time, they were also sporting a brand new wider flatter brush, which aims for a quicker more precise application. Both of these were enough for me to be counting down the days to their release.

The range consists of 9 new shades, some neutral, some pastel but all beautiful for the upcoming spring months. It was more the muted down, somewhat neutral pastel shades that caught my attention, the slightly brighter pink shades not really doing anything for me.  

 I picked up six shades, three more muted shades and three slightly brighter shades. The three more neutral shades are called Eat My Dust a stunning grey toned cornflower blue, Road Rage a beautiful mint green and Pit Stop a gorgeous mauvey grey shade. The three brighter shades I picked up are In A Heart Beat a pinky coral colour which actually comes out a lot brighter than the bottle suggests, Pole Position which is more of a apple green than Road Rage and then Lap Of Honour which is just your standard lilac shade. 

Upon application I was impressed by the precision the flat brush gave, coating my nails in a single swipe instead of many tiny swipes. The quick drying time also lived up to expectations, my nails dry and smudge free in a few minutes. However it was the formula of the colours themselves that let these down for me. I know that when it comes to pastel shades that more coats are required but most of the shades bar Pit Stop were sheer on application. Most shades were opaque after a couple of coats but a few were still sheer and somewhat streaky on the nail. 

If you love pastel shades and have the patience to do three of four coats (they're quick dry remember) then I would say these latest release from Barry M are totally up your street. At only £3.99 a bottle, the drying time and applicator a better quality than some of the higher brands out there I would say they are definitely worth having a nosey at next time you're near a Barry M stand. 

Available now in Boots and Superdrug now 

My Go To Autumn/Winter Lipsticks

As soon as September rolled around I more than gladly packed away my Summer lipsticks and brought out the much anticipated Autumn/ Winter shades. As it's that time of year now to reach for a red or a berry tone, I thought I'd give you a peak at some of my favorites including some old loves from last year and some new finds. 

Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick 107 

This beautiful plum colour is great for day to night transitions. The long lasting non drying matte texture makes this lipstick wearable all day round. Transfer is minimal when eating and drinking, the dry texture of the lipstick itself pressing the colour onto the lips. This particular shade is stunning on everyone who wears it but I think it looks striking on anyone with a paler complexion.  It applies easily making a great product to take you from day to night or just to add a wash of colour to an outfit. 

 

 
Bourjois Rogue Edition Velvet Grand Cru
If you're looking for a long lasting formula this Autumn then these liquid lipsticks are for you. These liquid to powder lipsticks apply like a gloss but dry to a non drying matte texture, making them great for long days. If you're not used to wearing liquid lipsticks they can be tricky to apply but once you get the hang of application they leave you with a long wearing pop of colour that won't budge throughout the day. 

  Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm Standout 
I have a feeling you'll be sensing a theme by now. My third go to lipstick is another matte formula. Revlon Colourburst Balms can do no wrong in my eyes. This shade is the perfect Autumn/Winter shade and so very easy to apply. With a delicious peppermint smell, this product is another one that presses the colour onto the lips making it a stay put beauty. This stunning browny red shade looks fabulous on any skin tone and is definitely a product I'll be repeatedly reaching for. 

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick 31
This stunning pinky red shade is one of my favourite sheen finish lipsticks. Unlike some sheen/gloss finish lipsticks this colour doesn't slide off lips, the colour pressing itself onto lips. Highly pigmented this lipstick applies smoothly onto lips, the long wearing formula great for those long days at work or a night out with the girls. Just like the Matte Kate Moss lipsticks this colour looks great on any skin tone but is a fantastic stand out lip for paler complexions.

MUA Lipstick Shade 01
Another of my favourite sheen finish lipsticks, this classic red shade is perfect for any skin tone. Application straight from the bullet is easier than some, the non drying formula gliding onto lips seamlessly. This tone of red is the one shade I reach for when I want my lips to stand out. The formula doesn't dry lips out however it does transfer easily making it harder for that perfect red pout to stay in place all day. My advice would be to blot between each layer of colour to really press this shade into the lips.

I hope you all enjoyed my picks. I would love to hear what your go to Autumn/Winter Lipsticks are?
Until next time lovelies xx