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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Christmas Beauty Wishlist

I'm surprised I don't write wishlist posts more often, as I'm the girl who has a dedicated section in her iPhone notes for adding products to the wishlist. I have beauty and fashion wishlists (in Paint form) safely stored on my laptop. And once I make a purchase and can happily tick off an item from one of these wishlists... I simply add another three. It's a never-ending process. 

Now we all know that the wishlist of all wishlists is composed at Christmas time. All those products that you've been lusting after all year but couldn't bring yourself to buy as they were too expensive or you already have something similar so didn't need it, now you might finally get to add them to your collection. 

My birthday is the 5th December, a mere 20 days before Christmas so I tend to make one big wishlist for both. Here's a selection of what I'm hoping to get my beauty-loving hands on this year.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation secured its place on my wishlist many many months ago. It's a must-have base according to all my favourite beauty bloggers. The likes of Amelia Liana and Vivianna Does Makeup rave about this foundation on a monthly basis (at least), praising it's lasting power and the polished yet natural finish it provides. I've heard people repeatedly say it's the perfect foundation for a night out (due to the lack of SPF as well as the aforementioned benefits) and that's exactly what my collection is missing - that perfect base that lasts all night, makes skin look airbrushed and photographs beautifully. 

The other base that's on the wishlist is the Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser. I actually don't own any tinted moisturisers or BB creams so this will definitely be a welcome addition. Generally, my skin's quite good and for days when I don't need a full face of foundation, I think this will offer the perfect amount of coverage as well as injecting a little extra hydration, which my skin always needs. I've read that the oil-free version offers slightly more coverage than the regular offering and since I'm not confident enough to go practically bare-faced, this sounds like the right option for me.

Le Blush Creme de Chanel is just the most luxurious little compact of creamy colour and I just know I won't want to dent it with my stippling brush but I need to own one of these before the year is out. The shade Revelation is the one that's jumped out at me every time I've visited a counter as it's a warm-toned peachy pink - my blush colour of choice. The other colours look amazing too, but I thought for a £27.00 blush, I should get the shade that I'll get the most wear out of. 

I've rediscovered my love of lip products recently so they take up quite a bit of space on the Christmas wishlist. The YSL Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks are just the most beautifully-packaged and luxurious lipsticks I've ever seen. They're very glossy and creamy so I've heard that the lasting power isn't all that good but who wouldn't want to pull that shiny golden bullet out of their handbag to reapply? I think I'd like either the shade 08 which is a lovely baby pink or 15 which is a light coral. I've heard nothing but good things about the Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks which are said to be creamy and hydrating but opaque in one swipe and fairly long-lasting. The three shades that I would love to own are Naked, a light rose pink, Streak, the blogger's favourite - a peachy pink or Bang, a stunning orange-red. I can see me buying one or two of these before December arrives actually as there's a space in my lipstick holder just waiting to be filled with one of these lippies. The Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Riviera is another blogger favourite, being sported by the likes of Lily Melrose and VDM and I don't own anything like it - in colour or texture so I'd love to try this. 

The Aesop Parlsey Seed Cleansing Masque looks like the perfect clay-based mask for me. It applies like a cream before drying in patches so is a lot more comfortable and gentle to use - something my sensitive skin needs in a cleansing mask. It's supposed to draw out impurities leaving skin clarified and refreshed. There's definitely a gap in my skincare collection for a mask like this and I really love the black and white apothecary-style packaging so that's a bonus! 

I really love Clarins, I've never tried a product from them that I didn't like. The packaging is nice, it's not too expensive and the products usually smell lovely too. The next product I'd love to try from Clarins is their Hydraquench Cream which comes in a blue-tinted glass jar (quite luxurious-looking I think) and applies as a light, silky cream that absorbs quickly. I tried a sample of this cream and loved it, and it smells really good too. 

I don't normally do anything to my eyebrows except brush them through on a morning because they're quite a lot darker than my blonde hair and they're not very sparse so when I fill them in, they can look a little OTT at times. The Anastasia Brow Wiz is supposed to be so fine that it creates hair-like strokes, making brows look completely natural so this sounds like exactly what I need in a brow product. 

The only powder I've ever used is the Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent powder and it does a great job of mattifying the skin and setting makeup, but I'd love to try something a little more high-end like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light which claims to capture, diffuse and soften the way light reflects on the skin. I imagine this powder to give skin that soft focus look and refine the skin's texture. 

Finally, the product I'm possibly the most excited about on this list is by Charlotte Tilbury, the celebrated makeup artist who recently released her own makeup range at Selfridges. All her products look so high-end and beautifully packaged but the one that stood out to me most was the Colour-Coded Eyeshadow Palette in Dolce Vita, which is inspired by the look of Kim Kardashian with deep bronze hues. This is such a gorgeous quad that could be used to create a variety of different looks. 

I feel like this was a very long post, but I just get so excited over new beauty products! If you made it to the end of this post, I'm seriously impressed. And grateful, ha.  

What's on your Christmas Wishlist?

Holly xo

 

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e.l.f Haul

If you haven't already registered your email address to receive the newsletter from e.l.f, can I recommend you do! If I hadn't, I wouldn't have known about the 30% off flash sale that was on last month for a limited time. Elf regularly email with discount codes to be used on all their products or on the shipping, so it's definitely worth keeping up to date with their offers via email! 

E.l.f (or Eyes Lips Face) is a budget online beauty brand which originated in America and made its way to the UK in 2007. The prices are seriously low, and although the products are a bit hit and miss, when it's good, it's really good! And when paired with a generous discount code (in the Summer, they offered 60% off!), it's definitely worth trying out their stuff. 

So the product I was most looking forward to trying, and one that is often sold out due to its popularity is the Contouring Blush and Bronzing Cream in St. Lucia (£3.75). This cream cheek duo is often compared to Nars Laguna bronzer and Deep Throat blush (I own Laguna and the fairly similar Orgasm blush, I can feel a comparison post brewing). I haven't even dipped a brush into this yet, firstly because it's just so pretty and I hate 'spoiling' pretty beauty products haha, and secondly because I don't really know where to start with applying this. I'm thinking I should use my stippling brush and start by applying lightly, and BLEND. Full review when I've given it a try, promise!

I also bought the Blush in 'Blushing Rose' (£3.75). I'm normally drawn to peachy pink blushes, but for Autumn, I really love mauve pink shades, so Blushing Rose seemed like a good choice. This is a beautiful, slightly plummy pink with golden shimmer. I've used this blush a couple of times and I really like it. The staying power isn't great, but I don't really find any blushes last that long on me (not sure why as I don't have oily skin) but the pigmentation is spot on. This looks lovely paired with a berry lipstick or a smokey eye. Both the powder blush and the contouring blush and bronzing cream come in black palettes that are very similar to the Nars packaging, except they are made of plastic instead of being rubberised, which makes them a lot less luxurious but a lot easier to keep clean. There are also decent-sized mirrors inside the palettes. 

During the Summer 60% off sale, my sister picked up some e.l.f bits, including the Black Cream Eyeliner (£3.75) and I've borrowed it from her more times than I can count, so couldn't wait to pick up my own. I also picked up the shade 'Coffee' as I tend to opt for brown eyeliner during the day. The cream eye liner comes in a small clear plastic jar with a black lid. As soon as I opened them, I noticed that the brown eyeliner had hardened into a chunk that didn't actually fill the whole jar, and could probably be tipped out in one go (as you can see from the picture above) - not good. The black eyeliner was in great condition though. I've used the black one a few times now and it's so easy to apply. It's so creamy and soft and opaque in one swipe. The brown, as I expected, was not so easy to work with. It's not as pigmented or as soft, making it harder to line the eyes effectively. I'm thinking about popping it in the microwave for a few seconds to see if that makes it a bit softer and easier to use (any advice would be appreciated). These cream eyeliners also come with a small angled brush, though I haven't tried those yet as I've been applying it with either my MAC or my Models Own angled brushes. 

I picked up the Eyelid Primer (£1.50) which I've heard good things about but haven't yet tried myself, the Daily Brush Cleaner (£3.75), which I tried very briefly and on first thoughts wasn't impressed with but I'm definitely going to give it a proper try and get back to you as I really want it to be good for spot cleaning brushes, and the Blush Brush (£3.75) which is a soft, fluffy but fairly flat brush with a black handle, ferrule and bristles. 

Have you tried e.l.f? What are your favourite e.l.f products?

Holly xo

September Beauty Buys

Hi everyone, sorry I've been a little absent from blogging for the last two weeks, I started my final year of university and have just been settling into my new weekly routine of balancing university with my job. 

I have a lot to catch up on so there's a list of posts as long as my arm that I want to get written for you all :) I'm going to start by showing you all the beauty bits I picked up in September (minus a little E.L.F haul and a Student Night haul that I'll be posting separately). 

Firstly, I picked up a few things from Crown Brushes. Back when I was doing some modelling early last year, I spoke to a Makeup Artist who told me about a website called Crown Brushes where she purchased all her tools, she compared the quality to MAC brushes but at around 1/3 of the price (or less). So since then I knew I needed to add some to my collection, though the Real Techniques phenomenon did distract me for a while. I've been longing for the perfect small fluffy blush brush to apply powder blushes and found one on Crown Brushes that I thought looked just right, so I placed my first order with them, adding a small shadow brush and a fine liner brush to the basket. The brushes I bought are sleek with matte black handles and silver ferrules. The C403- Small Chisel Blush brush, though not the fluffy, soft blush brush I was hoping for, is excellent quality. It's a little flatter and more structured but I do think it will work well with powder blush or for contouring. This brush is fairly expensive at £17.89. The C209- Chisel Pointed Fluff is an excellent little shadow brush, it packs on colour well and as it's quite small, it can get into the harder-to-reach areas of the eye and at only £3.09 it's an absolute steal! The C250-1 Taklon Liner (£1.69) is your typical straight eyeliner brush. I didn't actually buy it for eyeliner as I prefer to use an angled brush for that, I bought it with the intention of using it to apply shadow under the eye or adding shadow on top of eyeliner to smoke it out. I'll report back when I've used these brushes more. For now though, Crown Brushes are offering you 10% off all orders throughout October - just click the following link and enter the code FINBER2013 at the checkout - http://www.crownbrush.co.uk/?acc=1afa34a7f984eeabdbb0a7d494132ee5 .

From The Body Shop, I picked up the new Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover and a mini Strawberry Body Butter, whilst they were having a  40% off event. As you'd exepct, the body butter smells incredible, so incredible in fact that I still can't bring myself to dip my finger in and use it because I like to smell it and I like how it looks when it's untouched. That's weird isn't it? I'm still testing out the makeup remover ready to review fully for you, but hint - at first I didn't like it, now I like it quite a bit! The week when I bought this, the Body Shop were also offering a free hand cream to all shoppers (no purchase necessary!) so after sniffing them all I decided on the Almond Hand & Nail Cream which normally retails at £5.00 so quite a saving! 

I was very excited when I saw on Twitter that M&S were offering 20% off their beauty section for one day only last month so I snapped up the Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask for £24.00 instead of £30.00! It felt good to finally tick that one off the wishlist and welcome it into my skincare collection. Though it's not recommended for sensitive skin (like mine), I did a patch test first then used it fully last night and besides a little redness on my cheeks and around my nose, which are the most sensitive part of my face, I haven't noticed any nasty reactions. Full review on this beauty blogger favourite coming soon!

I've already mentioned the Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm which is the most nourishing lip balm I've ever tried and I've been using it religiously every night to prevent my lips from getting chapped now that the cold weather is setting in. I also repurchased the Morocconoil Treatment 25ml, this time from Charissa's blog sale at less than half the price! I love this stuff and the 100ml bottle is definitely on my Christmas list. It leaves my hair soft and more manageable, and cuts drying time in half.

Of course I had to pick up some products from the highstreet, so this month I added the Maybelline 24 Hr Colour Tattoo in Metallic Pomegranate, a shimmery cream shadow in an Autumn-appropriate plum shade, Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 107 which is the first ever purple toned lipstick I've owned but is surprisingly wearable if you like the deep, vampy look which I've found out this month that I do, Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Polish in Blue No Blues, definitely one of my favourite highstreet nail polish formulas as it's fast-drying, opaque in one coat and the wide brush coats the nails in one stroke, and the L'Oreal EverRiche Nourishing and Taming Shampoo and Conditioner, which smells dreamy and leaves my hair so soft and smooth.

So I've added a fair amount of products to my stash in September, but of course I'm never satisfied and have only replaced their spots on my wishlist with other products! Anyone else do this?

What did you pick up during September? 

Holly xo

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MAC Faux Lipstick

As promised, today I'm going to review my other MAC lipstick purchase from this month. In the past, I've always bought from MAC's collection of Cremesheen or Amplified Creme lipsticks, as they tend to be most people's favourite formulas and I do normally gravitate towards more moisturising lipsticks. This month though, I expanded my collection to include a Matte (Russian Red, see review here) and a Satin lipstick, Faux.

Faux is described by MAC as a Muted Mauve-Pink, which I think is pretty spot on. For Autumn, I really love mauve coloured products, particularly lipsticks and blushes. This shade is a stunning toned-down pink with a definite mauve/lavender hue. I feel like Faux is one of those shades that will look slightly different depending on the wearer's natural lip colour/pigmentation and skintone, so I'd suggest swatching it or trying it on at a MAC counter to really get a feel for how the shade will look on you. 

I know some people find the Satin formula a little drying but I have to admit I am totally in love with the finish of this lipstick. It's creamy and comfortable on the lips as well as being matte and opaque. This shade is also one of the more long-wearing lipsticks I have in my collection. I will definitely be picking up more lipsticks from the Satin range as I am totally impressed with Faux. I've been wearing this lipstick with a taupe smokey eye to compliment the subtle purple tones.

MAC lipsticks increased in price again recently and now retail for £15.00, but let's face it, they can get away with it. I can't see the hype surrounding those sleek black bullets dying down any time soon, can you?

What is your all-time favourite MAC lipstick? What is your preferred finish?

Let me know in the comments!

Holly xo


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*I've just started a new Twitter specifically for all my blog-related ramblings, I'd really love if you could follow me there as I'm looking rather lonely at the minute! Ha

Fifty Shades of Red

To the untrained eye, a red lip is a red lip. But enter into the beauty blogging world and you soon find out that there's a lot more to it than that. Which red will suit your skintone, eye colour or hair colour? Do you go for blue tones, orange tones? And what about the Sophie's choice of lipstick selection - matte or glossy?

As I perused my small but diverse collection of red lippies, I realised there is a different red for every person and every occasion.

One of the most important things to consider when choosing any beauty product is the colour wheel.
Colours opposite each other on the colour wheel tend to be complimentary of each other, as they can work to either counteract or intensify the opposite colour. For example, when using colour correctors, we choose a product containing a colour that will counteract the problem - e.g. a corrector with yellow undertones will work to reduce the appearance of purple under-eye circles and a green-toned corrector can counteract any redness in the skin.
The colour wheel is also very relevant when deciding which shade of red will suit your colouring best.
Here are my six picks, one for each red lip category, and my thoughts on each.

L-R: Rimmel Kate Moss 22, Rimmel Kate Moss Matte 110, Topshop Rio Rio

The Pink Red
A pink-based red lipstick is a youthful and fresh take on the traditional red lips trend. A cool-toned pink red like Rimmel Kate Moss in 22 would be particularly suited to girls with a paler complexion as the cool tones won't be as stark as they would be against a warmer skintone. Pink reds also look particularly beautiful with darker hair and eyes, as pinks and purples tend to be complimentary of darker features.

The Coral Red
This is a bright summery red which leans towards the warmer side of the red lipstick spectrum. Because of this, a coral red would look great against a warmer skintone. That's not to say that paler girls can't pull off a coral red - it would just stand out more against cool-toned skin, which is definitely not a bad thing, depending on the intensity of the look you're trying to achieve. I've also found that coral and orange reds are amazing at bringing out blue eyes (it's that colour wheel again!). When I applied the two orange-based lipsticks I've chosen for this post, the first thing that stood out to me was how much more blue my eyes appeared. If you're brave, try a bright coral red like Rimmel Kate Moss Matte in 110.

The Orange Red
Similar to the coral red, but without the pink undertones, the orange red again is traditionally recommended for darker skintones as it is the warmest of all the red lipstick shades. Whilst it is easier for someone with a warmer skintone to pull off, I'd definitely say us paler girls can pull it off too when we wear it right. Pair it will lashings of mascara and flawless-looking skin to really make the orange pop against cooler skin. And if you're a blue-eyed girl, prepare for your peepers to stand out just as much as your lip colour. Try Topshop Rio Rio for a flattering orange red lip.

L-R: Gold by Giles Pulse, Mac Russian Red, Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in Rosy Red

The Blue Red
Now the queen of red lipstick has to be the blue-based red. Universally flattering? Check. Classic and striking? Check. Makes teeth appear whiter? Check. I read somewhere that a blue red is the only shade of red lipstick that blondes should wear. Now, whilst I don't agree with that (I very much enjoy my orange reds thank you very much), I do see the logic behind that statement. Blue is opposite the yellow tones on the wheel after all, which is why reds with blue undertones work to whiten teeth, by counteracting any yellowness. Is yellowness a word? Spellcheck says yes so we'll go with it. As blue-based lipsticks like this one by Gold by Giles in Pulse are cooler in tone, they work best against a paler skintone, but are so flattering I think they'd work just as well with a warmer skintone and dark features.

The Matte Red
Matte lipsticks might be the marmite of the beauty world. Some love the traditional, chalky feel of a matte formula, whilst some loathe the potential lip-dragging and highlighting of dryness and imperfections on the lips. Personally, I always avoided them, until I bought Mac Russian Red, and finally found a place in my heart for matte. I think every girl should own a classic matte red. It oozes sophistication and matte is always on trend, particularly for Autumn/Winter. If you're conscious of the lipstick clinging to any dry patches on your lips, exfoliate first using Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub, and follow with an intensely hydrating lip balm like Nuxe Reve de Miel Baume Levres, allowing it to sink in before applying your lip colour.

The Glossy Red
I think a glossy red is the younger, less serious sister of the matte red. It's fun, comfortable and less intense. If you want a true red lip, with an almost balm consistency and without compromising on pigmentation, I'd recommend the Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm in Rosy Red, which can be built up into an intense but glossy colour and compliments any skintone or colouring.

I better state that these are by no means 'the rules' of wearing red lipstick, just my opinions based on a little research and my own experience. At the end of the day, red lips are meant to be a little daring, striking and sexy, so go for the shade that makes you feel most confident about yourself, not the shade you think you 'should' be wearing. 

What's your favourite red lipstick?

Holly xo

August Favourites

As I only made a few new purchases last month, there are only five products that have made it into my August Favourites, but each one is amazing and some are definite contenders for holy grail status.

My favourite base of the month, and possibly of all time (ooh!) is the Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal Foundation. I've raved about this foundation here and here and the more I use it, the more I fall in love with it. It gives me the most natural-looking, smooth complexion and a beautiful lit-from-within glow without looking shiny. This is perfect for daily use or for nights out as it can built up for higher coverage. Basically, if you want your skin to look healthy and flawless, you need to try this. I've also tried the Healthy Mix Serum from the same range, which is more of a gel consistency, but the foundation just completely blows it out of the water. This is definitely the best highstreet foundation I've ever tried.

On my cheeks, I've been loving the Illamasqua Androgen Cream Pigment, which is a multi-use cream colour that can be applied to cheeks, lips and even eyelids (though maybe not this particular shade). Androgen is a beautiful peachy pink shade, and as it's a pigment the colour pay off is amazing - a small amount of this on a stippling brush creates a beautiful flush of colour and can be built up for a more intense look. Considering I struggled with applying cream blushes in the beginning, I'm now their number one fan and they are dominating my makup drawer.

My favourite lipstick of the month has been Mac Ravishing, a peachy coral with a creamy formula packed with shine. This is a beautiful lipstick that looks great with pretty much any makeup look. The lasting power isn't amazing, as with most of the cremesheen formulas from Mac, but I'm never one to complain about pulling that sleek black bullet out of my handbag to reapply!

In terms of skincare, I've been loving using the Origins Ginzing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer as my day cream. This moisturizer contains panax ginzing and coffee beans to really wake up the complexion and works really well with the Healthy Mix Foundation to make skin look revitalised and luminous. My favourite thing about this cream, though, is the gorgeous orange scent which is one of my favourite ever smells. 

Now my final favourite product of the month only made the cut in the last few days of August. For the last three weeks, I've been having a nasty breakout on my chin (mm, sexy I know). No matter how long I waited, it just wouldn't clear up, until I started using the La Roche Posay Serozinc morning and night and my breakout cleared up considerably within a couple of days! This is a zinc sulphate solution spray-on toner which cleanses and soothes the skin, helping to prevent and heal breakouts. This has made a massive difference to my skin after only a few days and I think this toner will be a staple in my routine for months to come.

What was your favourite product in August?

Holly xo

MAC Russian Red

Mac Lipstick in Russian Red - £15.00

One thing that is guaranteed to bring out the green-eyed monster in me is an amazing Mac lipstick collection. As a girl who is fairly new to the world of mid to high-end makeup, I only started purchasing these hugely hyped lipsticks when I started my blog back in February this year, so my collection is still fairly modest. When payday came around this month though, I had already cleared some spaces in my acrylic lipstick holder to make way for more Mac. 

Russian Red is described as an intense blueish red. It's been on my wishlist for so long now as I think a deep dark red looks amazing against paler skin and as Autumn approaches, I thought now would be as good a time as any to pick this up. 

This is the first matte lipstick I've purchased from Mac, and I have to say I'm really impressed. I haven't found the formula at all drying and the lipstick applies really smoothly, without any of that uncomfortable dragging that often accompanies matte lipsticks. The lasting power is also amazing, I wore this shade for work today and by the end of my shift it was still going strong, though it had dried down to more of a stain. 

I would recommend wearing this with a lip liner as 1) it's a little difficult to apply neatly as it's such a bold colour and 2) I'd imagine it has a tendency to bleed/smudge. 

I'm so glad I finally have Russian Red in my collection and I can't wait to wear it in Winter with a slouchy jumper and a pale complexion. This lipstick definitely makes a statement and isn't for the faint-hearted but paired with a flawless base and toned-down eye makeup, it creates a look that's bound to turn heads.

I'll be sharing my other Mac lipstick purchase with you soon!

What is your favourite ever Mac lipstick?

Holly xo

Go For The Glow

One thing that I always want from my skincare and makeup, no matter what season it is, is a glowing radiant complexion. So here are my picks of some of the best products for brightening the skin and imparting that lusted-after healthy glow. 

A new addition to my skincare routine and one that I have been yearning for since its release is the Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturiser. This light gel-cream is enriched with panax ginzing, chestnut seeds and coffee beans and promises to add radiance and visibly wake up tired skin. This moisturiser definitely delivers, leaving my skin with a healthy glow, before any makeup has even been applied. This stuff also smells amazing, very fruity and citrusy with notes of orange (which happens to be my favourite scent).

For a radiant, lit-from-within base, the best foundation I have found is the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation. I only picked this up a little over a week ago and I have completely fallen in love with it. This foundation gives my skin the most beautiful and natural glow without looking shiny. I already own the Healthy Mix Serum from Bourjois which I also really like, but this new lightweight formulation which contains various fruit extracts to deliver radiance, hydration, energy and antioxidant properties is a definite contender for my Holy Grail highstreet foundation.

When skin is looking a little lacklustre, or you've had your face on all day long and need a quick makeup pick-me-up, a quick spritz of the Caudalie Beauty Elixir does the job quickly and effectively. This can be used as a setting spray, a spray-on toner or as a final touch to makeup to give that longed-for dewy look. 

When you've achieved your desired base, your glow can be intensified using highlighting products like the Mac Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle. This beautiful baked highlighting powder delivers a stunning golden/champagne-coloured glow. This is the perfect highlighter for Summer as it is packed with shimmer and its golden tones look stunning with a tan to create that glowing bronzed look.

For those who prefer a creamier option, the Topshop Glow highlighter in Polished has a very lightweight, mousse-like texture which imparts a subtle creamy champagne shimmer to areas you want to highlight. Swept across the cheekbones, under the brow bones, in the inner corners of the eye and a dab above the cupids bow, this highlighter blends easily to emphasise areas which would naturally catch the light. I also think this would work well as a cream eyeshadow.

Finally, a post about achieving glowing skin wouldn't be complete without including the cult highlighting pen, the YSL Touche Eclat. Translating to 'Radiant Touch', this award-winning pale pink/champagne coloured highlighter has more uses than most people realise. Use it to outline the lips to create the illusion of a fuller pout, draw a line down the centre of the nose for a slimming effect or apply to the centre of the forehead and the temples for an instant face lift. The Touche Eclat also works well to brighten under the eyes as well as the eyelids and inner corners.

Six products, multiple uses to achieve radiant, healthy-looking skin with a natural glow.

What are your top picks for a glowing complexion?

Holly xo