Back to Blogging // Recent Favourites

Hi everyone! It's been a while. Firstly, sorry for the blogging hiatus - I've been finishing my Psychology degree and have had a non-stop stream of work for the last few months. But I'm back and ready to pick up where we left off. I thought I'd start with a rundown of some of the products I've been loving recently. Ranging from highstreet to high-end, here are my current favourites:

The Tresemme Texture Style Divine Definition Spray (£5.49) has been a welcome addition to my (admittedly lazy) hair routine. I'm the type of girl that likes the messy, tousled look. I tend to avoid even brushing my hair if I can help it and 'styling' normally consists of a scrunch here and a zshush there (real word?). This spray adds some much-needed texture to my fairly straight, thick locks. I tend to brush out any tats, spray in the texturising spray at arms length and then style using my fingers (scrunch/zshush/twist etc). It really helps to achieve that lived-in, 'I woke up like this' look. I tend to pick this up in bulk from Superdrug/Boots with their 3for2 offers (I think both shops are offering this at the minute actually!).

I've really stripped back my skincare routine recently as my skin is fairly sensitive and I feel that using too many products does me no favours. So I tend to just use my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Cleanser and a good quality moisturiser (occasionally throwing a hydrating face mask  into the mix - specifically my trusty Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask). My moisturiser of choice since Christmas has been the Clarins HydraQuench Cream (the normal-dry version - £35.00). Packaged in a blue-tinted glass jar (which always adds a bit of luxury to a product), this cream is silky smooth, lightweight and does a great job of making skin feel hydrated and rejuvenated. Like most Clarins products, it also smells amazing. I know that's probably not a key selling point for a moisturiser, but it definitely makes me more likely to buy it, I don't know about you? I always buy Clarins products for special reduced prices at Escentual - link.

(L-R: YSL Rouge Volupté Shine 15, Urban Decay Naked, Chanel Blush Creme Revelation)

It's probably obvious what my favourite lipstick/blush shade is right now. Although these three products appear to be similar colours in the swatches above, they're actually very different. 

The YSL Rouge Volupté Shine lipstick in 15 Corail Intuitive (£25.00) is one of my favourite lipsticks in my collection. I now own two of the YSL lipsticks and they are the most beautifully packaged products I own. Encased in a sleek gold tube, each lipstick shade is clearly shown by a coloured strip emblazoned with the YSL emblem that corresponds to the shade inside. The Rouge Volupté Shine lipsticks are extremely glossy, shiny lip colours with great pigmentation. They are comfortable to wear and feel very hydrating on the lips. My only qualm is that, due to their glossy formula, they don't have much staying power and definitely won't hold up against eating/drinking. Corail Intuitive is a beautiful peachy pink shade which compliments any makeup look. 

The Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked (£15.00) is probably my favourite lipstick of all time. A bold statement but this lipstick definitely earned the title. The formula of these lipsticks is different to any others I own - they're very moisturising and have a slight shine but they also have an almost waxy feel that helps them to last longer on the lips. Naked is a rosy pink and is just such a wearable shade. It looks great with both subtle and dramatic eye makeup and for daytime wear or nights out. The packaging is also beautiful; the lipsticks come in a shiny gunmetal grey casing with the standard Urban Decay dark purple lining. I've never finished a lipstick before but this one is on its last legs due to frequent use since Christmas - I will definitely be repurchasing.

I was so excited about the launch of the Blush Creme de Chanel (£28.00) range last year and I knew straight away that the shade Révélation was for me. A warm coral pink, this shade can be applied lightly for a subtle wash of colour or built up for a more intense blush. The cream-to-powder formula applies like a dream with fingers or a stippling brush and I think I will get a lot more wear out of this in the Summer (when I favour cream blush). The sleek black compact decorated with the Chanel emblem is simplistic but stylish and I love pulling this out of my handbag for touch-ups.

I've always maintained that YSL mascaras are the best I've tried, apart from their one downfall  - they dry up far too quickly. Their latest offering, the YSL Babydoll Mascara (£24.50), is my favourite yet. It's blacker than black, lengthens, volumises and curls as well as giving lashes that multiplied, spread-out look. It's also endorsed by Cara Delevigne which definitely makes it more appealing (sucked in by marketing tactics). Like I said, this mascara is brilliant but it does tend to dry up after a couple of months which is the only thing that puts me off repurchasing (though I am now on to my third tube, so obviously not that offputting).

My recent favourite nail polish is the L'Oreal Perfection Color Riche Nails in 851 Nouvelle Vogue. It's a beautiful milky lilac shade and is opaque in two coats. It only comes in a small 5ml bottle so I can see it running out before long but I'll definitely repurchase as I get a lot of wear out of this shade. I can't really comment on lasting power or chip-resistance as I haven't found any nail polish lasts that long on me - I work in a shop so my hands are constantly in use, so I normally see some tip wear after one shift!

Finally, my favourite single eyeshadow right now is Mac Cork (£10.00), which is described on their website as a 'muted golden brown' and is part of the Satin range. Cork is a smooth, matte shade and works really well as an all-over lid colour. I tend to apply this all over using a flat brush and then blend into the crease and out at the outer corners using a fluffy blending brush. It takes less than a minute and really amps up my eye makeup look. This shadow has great pigmentation and staying power and is great for daytime wear or even for evening wear if you wanted a more toned-down look.

That was a very long post so if you made it all the way to the end, well done! It feels good to be blogging again and I can't wait to get some more posts up for you all.

What is your favourite product right now?

Holly xo

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