Weekend Wishlist

Structured Blazer  -  Baroque Body  -  L'oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Excess Mascara  -  Suedette Bag  -  Playsuit  -  Sleeveless Parka  -  Khaki Jeans  -  Bee Prepared Daily Defence Immune Support  -  Camo Make-up Bag  -  Glitter Peplum  -  Clarins Vital Light Skin Illuminators Collection  -  Lace Maxi  -  GlamGlow Mud Mask - Special Edition  -  Pinstud Boots

It's all about the khaki this winter, whether we are talking clothing, make-up or accessories, so a pair of warm skinnies to mix and match is going to be a staple piece in my wardrobe. I also can't get enough of layering so this cosy sleeveless parka is an essential and would look great thrown on over all manner of knitwear (I've already got my eye on several hundred woolly jumpers!). When I want to dress things up a bit, the structured blazer will be perfect and can easily take a look from day tonight, as it's suitable for work as well as wine.

Add to these key pieces yet another pair of studded boots and just one more peplum and my winter wardrobe will be looking close to perfect, in my eyes. It's just a shame this is only a wishlist and not my actual shopping bag!

I am keen to pick up the UnBEElievable BEE Prepared Daily Defence Immune Support in order to ward of winter colds, as it's all natural and contains all sorts of goodies such as bee propolis, black elderberry, olive leaf and beta glucans. I usually pick up every bug going in the winter, so I need all the help I can get!

Skin could always do with that bit of extra pampering in the colder months, and with GlamGlow bringing out a special edition of their fantastic mud mask for Breast Cancer Awareness, it would be rude not to. Granted, I don't really need any more face masks, but it would be rude not to when it's all in the name of a good cause. I'm also hoping to grab the Clarins Vital Light Skin Illuminators Collection and provide my skin with that extra bit of glow for the festive season. My skin tends to be a bit dull in the winter so it can do with all the help it can get.

Lastly, I am beyond keen to get my hands on the new L'oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Excess Mascara (phew, long name). The normal version is my all-time favourite mascara and I use it on a daily basis, so I'm really excited to try this ramped-up version and see how it performs.

I'm so glad to be finally feeling up to blogging again after a rough week. I've been spending some time with the in-laws, who have been feeding me cake (they know me so well) and the hubby has been looking after me too, so I am feeling lots better and ready to face the world again! This weekend I am planning on chilling out, with a pamper session on the cards tonight. It's been a while since I could actually be bothered as I haven't been interested in anything for a couple of weeks, so it's long overdue and I'm going to enjoy tring out some of my newest products.

What's on your wishlist this week?

Do you have anything exciting planned for the weekend?

xx

Every Day Makeup

Recently, I've found that I've changed up my daily beauty routine a little bit. I've been experimenting more with primers and serums, which if I'm honest, were products I didn't really see the point in before, being a skeptic and not really believing they'd make much of a difference. However, as it turns out, I was wrong, and as a result, have been able to change some of the other products I was using too. I've found myself wanting to go for a really basic, natural look for the warmer months, and I like that this gives me more scope for creating a more dramatic look for a night out, rather than just feeling that I look the same all the time.

 Read on for details of my current face of the moment.

L'oreal Youth Code Luminise Super Serum

Now, I don't often say this about a product, and I certainly didn't think I'd be saying this about a serum. But this stuff is absolutely amazing! I was sent several samples in the post, and wasn't particularly excited about trying them, but one morning, when I had woken up looking particularly tired and...well...rough, I decided to slap some on to give my skin a little boost. The serum claims to 'even and illuminate',  and it really does do just that. I was amazed to see how well it had evened out my skin tone and even almost felt that I could go makeup free (I say almost because my puffy, dark-circled eyes would not allow for it). Seriously, really impressed, and no, no one has paid me to say this. I have been using it on a daily basis ever since (each sample allows for about four or five applications) and am eager to get my hands on a full-size version of the product before I run out.

Benefit The Porefessional

I don't really suffer from enlarged pores just yet (thank goodness), but recently I have found that my T-zone has suddenly become oily, causing my makeup to slide off my face. As you can imagine, this did not make for a very good look come the end of the day, and, tired of glancing in the mirror and wanting to cry (I've always had good skin!) I decided to give this stuff a go and see if it would help with that. I really think that it does, as it mattifies the area, provides a good base for my makeup and seems to keep things as they should be for that bit longer. Hurrah.

Benefit Erase Paste in Shade No.2

I somehow forgot to include this in the collective photo, but make no mistake, I can't live without this thanks to my dark circles and puffy morning eyes. It's the best concealer I've tried, and I've been using it daily for about a year now. It doesn't work miracles though, so I'm still on the lookout for something that does!

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup in 2WN1

I had tried a couple of samples of this about six months ago and really liked it, so recently I caved and bought it. I was gutted when I first applied it only to find that my skin just didn't look how I had remembered with it on, and I actually took it off and put on my usual Revlon Photoready instead, and this product was left sitting on my shelf for a couple of weeks. But then, after trying out the L'oreal Youth Code Super Serum for the first time, I felt confident enough to try popping on my Invisible Fluid again, and I wasn't disappointed. The two of them have been my favourite combo ever since. Invisible Fluid is pretty sheer, so I would only recommend wearing it either in the summer or if you are blessed with an even skin tone, but if you can relate to neither of these then the serum is your friend and you can pretty much wear it any time :)

L'oreal Glam Bronze Duo in Blonde

I love this bronzer. You can see in the picture that I've got mere crumbs left, but I'm making the most of them! This is a lovely matte bronzer (no shimmer) made up of two different shades (one light, one dark) and together they combine to make the perfect shade for contouring and adding a bit of colour for my skin tone. As you know, I'm not actually blonde, but I do have quite naturally pale skin - not milky white, but very light - so this is just right for me. I actually much prefer this to Benefit Hoola and will definitely be re-stocking soon.

Benefit Posie Tint

I have been pretty much obsessed with the Benefit Coralista blush since I got it, and had therefore neglected this little Posie Tint sample size, which I got my hands on at the same time. But over the past couple of weeks I have been really enjoying using this on my cheeks for a really pretty, dewy, rosie glow.

Mac Mineralise Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle

This is one of those products that everyone raves about, and yet it has always been 'just ok' for me.   I quite liked it, but then it was nothing special. But somehow, now that I'm using it along with Posie Tint, it has really grown on me, and the 'healthy glow' effect it gives seems to be far greater, so I am finally finding that I really want to put this on each day rather than having to remind myself to use some just because I've got it and I don't want it to have been a waste of money. I'm really happy that I've now found a way to make it work for me.

Topshop Eyes Kohl Liner 

I've been enjoying using this liner in place of my usual black or brown. It's a really deep, dark blue and I usually use it just on the outer corners of my lower lash line, or sometimes along my top lash line too if I fancy something different - it really depends on my mood.

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara in Brown

My all-time favourite mascara, and still going strong. Read my review  here.

Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie

Resurrecting the Lip Butters! This is a gorgeous berry shade and is perfect for the coming Autumn/Winter season. It's really rather pigmented compared to most of the other Lip Butter shades, and after over-dosing on corals and pinks for summer, this is a welcome addition to my daily routine. Although saying that, I don't use it every day - I still switch up my lip colours a bit, but I wanted to include a lip product and this is my current favourite.

What are your current beauty favourites?

xx

Day to Day Makeup: New Favourites

Makeup:

Benefit Erase Paste Concealer in Shade 02

Revlon Photoready Makeup in Shade 008 Golden Beige

Benefit Dallas (contour)

Benefit Coralista Blush

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara

Random brown eyeliner I picked up in Brazil (sorry, I'm not sure of the brand as the writing has rubbed off!)

Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick in Vegas Volt

Hi lovelies, sorry about the lack of post yesterday. My internet, surprise surprise, has been misbehaving again!

I thought I'd share a little 'Face of the Day' post with you today, as I have got my hands on some new make-up goodies in the past week or so, and am pleased to bits with the results!

Now, let me just say first that for some reason, I am really unphotogenic. I don't know why, but it is just near on impossible to get a good, natural looking shot of me! I always either end up looking drunk or drained, no matter how much make-up I've got on! 

So that brings me onto my first product success, which is Revlon Photoready Liquid Foundation. Now, I know this has been around for a while, but I hadn't tried it before as I usually tend to stick to my higher-end foundations, having had little success with pharmacy/drugstore offerings in the past. But I was running a little bit low on funds, and had heard good things about it, so I decided to give it a whirl. Well, as you can see, it doesn't exactly remedy the drunk-eye effect in the photo, but it DOES make my skin look a zillion times better and much more glowy than if I was wearing something different! I'm actually going to do a full review on this later in the week, so I won't harp on about it too much now, but I thought it deserved a mention as I really am rather pleased with it!

I also got my paws on Benefit face powders Coralista, Dallas and Hoola this week, in sample sizes, which I'm really excited about as I have wanted them for ages. Well, so far, they certainly haven't disappointed, and I've been really enjoying using Dallas and Coralista together. Again, they have given me a really healthy glow, and I think Coralista might turn out to be my new favourite blush!

This is just a simple make-up look, as you can see. No eyeshadow or elaborate eye makeup. I like to wear this look on a day to day basis, and save more dramatic looks for night time.

Excuse my slight frizz-head and disobedient fringe in the pic!

Anyway, hope everyone is really well and having a lovely week!

xx