February Favourites

When I posted my February Favourites Video on Saturday, I did promise that, as usual, I would write up a post on my monthly favourites too. So, without further ado, here it is!

Throughout February, I was loving.....

1. Tropic Hot Bamboo Organic Smoothing Cleanser

Cream hot cloth cleansers are my favourite way to remove all the day's grime and debris from my skin, and this one is no exception. In fact, with it being organic, vegan and cruelty free, it's shot straight to the top of my most-used cleansers list.

Review here

2. Elemis Nourishing Milk Bath

I haven't got a bath in my house at present, but as I won this in a competition, I wanted to try and make use of it somehow. Luckily, when scanning the back of the bottle I noticed that it could also be used as an intense body lotion, so I've been applying it straight onto my skin when I get out of the shower. The results have been quite fantastic - full review coming up very soon.

3. Essie Smoothies Coconut & Pineapple Hand &Body Lotion

I'm not hugely fussy when it comes to hand creams, but having now discovered one that smells like Pina Coladas, this little beaut is here to stay. I love slinging it in my handbag and whipping it out when my hands are in need, as it instantly whisks me away on holiday for a second with it's tropical scent.

4. HD Brows Brow Beater Gel

I reviewed this one last week, and if you saw that then you'll know that this has fast become a staple in my daily make-up routine. Groomed brows make all the difference.

Review here

5. MUA Pro Brow Kit

For the same reasons as above, this one is also a must-have of mine, and is a snip at just £3.50. It contains three shades, which can be mixed to find the perfect match for your brows, and the lightest can also be used to highlight under the brow. It does contain a wax too, but I pass that up in favour of Brow Beater.

Review here

6. Topshop Lips in Infrared

An oldie but goodie, I've had this one since last summer, and while I've always loved it, I do remember often wondering back then if it really suited me or not. So, when I stumbled upon it at the beginning of February and quickly whipped some on, I was pleasantly surprised and have been happily sporting it ever since. It's such a bright and zingy shade, perfect for the warmer months.

7. MUA Bronzed Perfection Bronzer

This really warms up my face, and is good for contouring too. Again, it's also a huge bargain, and will last ages because the compact is just huge.

Review here

8. Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Light Year

Last but not least, this little beaut first joined my make-up collection back in December, but it's only now that I've begun to team it with my MUA bronzer for more of a sun-kissed look that it's really come into its own. It serves as both a peachy blusher and a subtle peachy-gold highlighter at the same time, so a dusting of this on top of my cheeks and a bit of really light contouring with my bronzer and I'm sorted. I'm usually more of a  coral blush kind of girl, so this has been making a welcome change.

I hope you enjoyed having a nose into my favourites this month. What were your favourite February products?

xx

Weekend Favourites and Little Catch-up

Hi everyone, hope you've all been outside sunning yourselves, or alternatively, sipping a cool drink in the shade on this gorgeous weekend! Sunny weather must have the most made of it!

Sadly, though, I have not been able to do so myself, as I have been holed up in bed with a nasty cold all weekend, and it's showing no signs of letting up any time soon! Not best pleased about that, as besides the sunshine, I had several beauty review blogposts planned for you lovelies, but as you can imagine, I didn't really think my face was up to being photographed at the moment, and I really want to show you the products in all their glory! So, for now, I will just share my usual Weekend Favourites with you, and will press on with reviewing those goodies as soon as I am feeling better.

 To give you a taste of what to expect, I've got some L'oreal Colour Riche lipsticks, an Urban Decay Midnight Emergency palette, L'oreal Volume Million lashes mascara, Mac Mineralize blush in Dainty, and a Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart all ready to go, plus a Mac foundations comparison post, an Ebay Haul and the remaining two posts in my Favourite Hair Products series. Phew! And those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

I also just wanted to say a quick sorry for letting the frequency of my posts slip over the last few weeks. I have been having a really busy time of it, what with working more hours, moving house, and life just generally getting in the way. From now on, I hereby promise that you can expect five posts from me per week - no excuses!

So, on to my Weekend Favourites.

This week, the theme of my little selection for you is my favourite products of the moment!

So here are a few of my top picks.

Favourite Foundation or Tinted Moisturiser:

Estee Lauder Invisible Makeup in shade 2WN1.

I actually got a sample of this free in a magazine (I think it was Glamour?) a few weeks ago, and to be honest, I wasn't expecting much. Despite Estee Lauder being a high end brand, I have never really been one for tinted moisturiser type products, as though I have good skin, it does still need evening out in tone, and all the tinted moisturisers I've tried before have been disappointing (bar Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint).

How wrong could I be? I used this little beauty over the space of a week and was wearing it every day, and I can honestly say that I absolutely love it. Of course, it was good luck that my sample shade was the perfect match for my skin tone. But when this goes on, it literally disappears into your skin, somehow seeming to take all the little imperfections with it! It is a really light, liquidy formula, and really doesn't feel like you've applied anything more than a moisturiser. It evens everything out and gives you a really pretty, healthy glow. I was devastated when the sample ran out, and am going to be buying myself some more immediately! When I do, I will provide you with some photographic evidence of how lovely this is, as I stupidly didn't think to take any snaps at the time!

(£27 for a full size bottle).

Favourite Mascara

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara

(£10.99)

Now, I'm not going to go into too much detail about this one, because I have a full review with demonstrative pictures coming up this week, and believe me, you need to see those pictures to see how good it is.

What I will say is that I am rarely impressed with a mascara, as I feel that they never do what they profess to, and I feel like I have found a mascara for life here. I have no need to change because this one is just great. 

I use brown for day and black for night.

Favourite Lipstick(s)

Mac Amplified in Vegas Volt

(£13.50)

Sorry, but it's going to take a lot to knock this one off my topspot. I got this back in March and I still can't get enough of the gorgeous coral shade. The formula is creamy, moisturising and long-lasting. What more could I want?

Favourite Nail Polishes

Essie Sure Shot

Essie Mint Candy Apple

A gorgeous, long wearing raspberry metallic polish with subtle flecks of blue glitter and a cute Spring pastel. I can't decide which one I like the most! 

Essie Polishes are £9.95 from Nails by Mail.

Favourite Highlighter (liquid)

Clinique Up-lighting Liquid Illuminator

(£20)

I am currently using shade 01 (Natural) mixed in with my foundation, and I love the dewy glow it gives. Liquid highlighters are so versatile, and that's what I love about this one.

Here's a swatch for you (below right). (On the left is Clinique Almost Makeup Tinted Moisturiser, which I have yet to experiment with).

I think I'll leave it there for now, as I don't want to make this post ridiculously long - so many lovely blogs for you to catch up on!

Please feel free to let me know what you'd like to see in my favourites next weekend, you are always welcome to leave suggestions in the comments box below, and I'd also love to hear your thoughts on this week's picks!

xx

Mohda Nail Polishes and Dupes!

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you've all got that Friday Feeling - I know I have. This week has been really hectic and tiring, so I am all for having a couple of days of down time. I think I've got a bit of a cold coming on, too, which is definitely not my favourite, but at least I've got some time to snuggle up at home with endless cups of tea and write a few blog posts!

The topic of today's post is my new favourite nail polish line, from Brazilian brand Mohda. Now, before you say anything, I do know that these are difficult to get hold of in the UK (I'm not sure about the US/Oz etc.), and for that reason, I have hunted down the best dupes of my favourite shades for you, so while they might not be the cheapest polishes around, you  too can play with these gorgeous hues. In the meantime, I will be keeping my eyes open for any UK suppliers and will let you know the very second I find one!

So, a bit of background for you on this fantastic brand. Mohda has been producing polishes since 2008, does not test on animals, and make it their mission to release a constant stream of new, innovative shades. 

All together, there are thirteen different lines available, including Frosted, Color and Gloss, Creamy, Creamy Look, Glitter, Lights, Lights Holographic, Pearly, Transparent , Treatment, Crackle Polish, Flecked and HD.

All Mohda's polishes are fast drying and contain Nutri-Active calcium to keep nails strong and healthy.

I can't get enough of the Hi-Definition line, and my favourite polish of all is definitely the Hi Definition Multichrome in North Pole. It is a gorgeous, gorgeous multi-tonal metallic green, so it looks different in different lights. It is really similar to Topshop's Hidden Treasure, which had had my eye on for ages before I tried Mohda. It's also a pretty good dupe for Chanel's Le Vernis in Peridot, which is handy given that Chanel varnishes come in at around £15 ($26 on their US site)! I wouldn't go as far as saying it was exactly the same, but it's a pretty good substitute.

I have been wearing this shade along with Topshop's Ice Crush, which is a pretty clear polish with silver holographic chunks in it) on my ring fingers.

Mohda Hi-Definition Multichrome in North Pole

Topshop Hidden Treasure

Chanel Le Vernis in Peridot (531)

The second shade I am currently loving is another Hi-Definition shade, this time called 'Glass'

Here it is, in all it's glory..

Mohda Hi-Definition in Glass

As you can see, it's a beautiful shimmering Magenta, not dissimilar to Essie's 'Sure Shot'. I only purchased it today and am already wearing it on my nails, admiring it every time it catches the light! Just gorgeous.

Essie Sure Shot

I really do think it's a shame that these varnishes are not readily available in the UK. In Brazil, they are a steal at around £1! That is, with the exception with the Multichromes, about £4.

However, if you do like the look of these shades then you know where you can find something very similar! If you would be like me to review any of the other Mohda shades then please let me know in the comments box.

What's your favourite nail polish?

 I hope you are all able to get out and enjoy the sunshine this weekend, if it sticks around!

xx