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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July Favourites

July was hot. The UK was hit with the longest heatwave in seven years which meant jeans and jackets were replaced with shorts and sun dresses, and SPF products became top of the skincare priority list (I hope!). My sun protection pick was the Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream SPF 30, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays (something we should all be checking for in our SPF products as both contribute differently towards skin cancer, sunburn and skin aging so a sun screen that only protects from one type of ultraviolet radiation is not offering you full protection from the sun damage). This cream is quickly absorbed, non-greasy and did a fantastic job of keeping my skin moisturised and protected from even the slightest sunburn! Job done. 

I took a little five day holiday with the family this month and there were three makeup products that I used almost every night and have continued to pick up most days since I got back. Firstly, my Inglot Freedom System Palette which I reviewed in full here - a completely personalised and hand-picked palette of bronzey neutral shades and a stunning champagne highlighting colour. These eyeshadows are by far the most pigmented in my collection, the texture is perfect and the shimmer is intense, making it the perfect collection of shadows to create a bronze smokey eye. 

On the creamier side of the eyeshadow spectrum, I've also been favouring the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On & On Bronze which I feel like I've spoken about far too much recently but it is seriously such a brilliant highstreet cream shadow. Soft and blendable with amaaazing colour payoff, I can't believe I was ever without this product in my makeup bag.

For lips, an old favourite made a welcome return - the Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Barely There - the most perfect peachy pink shade which has a creamy and moisturising texture whilst being completely opaque on the lips (see full review here). 

This month I also discovered a new favourite nail polish range on the highstreet. The Rimmel Salon Pro range has a shiny gel-like finish and lasts really well on the nails. There is a great selection of colours available - I particularly like the collection that Kate Moss has designed for the range in which all the shades are named after music genre. My favourite this month was 'Jazz Funk', which is a deep rose pink. I liked it so much that I went back and bought another three colours from the range. 

Finally, this month a hair product has made its way into my favourites. The L'Oreal Studio Matte and Messy Shine-Free Fibre Paste is great for adding texture to my hair and giving it that messy, undone look. I think this particular product from the range is actually intended for men, but it works so well in my long hair. I just rub a small amount of product between my hands and rake it through the ends of my hair before blowdrying it roughly and it adds the perfect amount of grit and texture. Take a look at the effects of the Matte and Messy range here.

Have you tried any of these products?

What is your favourite product of the month?

Holly xo

Crazy About Coral

I'm having a love affair with coral. That not-quite-pink, almost-orange, kind-of-red colour that just looks amazing on lips or cheeks. It's such a stunning shade that suits most, if not all, skintones and hair colours and these are the coral toned beauty products I've been reaching for over and over again:

 

For lips, my top pick has to be Mac Vegas Volt. This lipstick is described as a 'full power coral', and that description is spot on in my opinion. It's a stunning bright orange/pink/red hue that really brightens the complexion and perks up a low-key makeup look. The amplified crème formula is one of my absolute favourites from Mac as they are so creamy and smooth to apply, yet seriously pigmented and opaque which is exactly what I want from a lipstick.

I'm also a massive fan of Mac Ravishing, which is a 'clean light peachy coral' (as described by Mac) so it is essentially a lighter, peach-toned coral and it's cremesheen finish means it is slightly less opaque but equally soft and creamy, and it's certainly still pigmented. This was my latest lipstick purchase from Mac, and certainly won't be my last.

At the cheaper end of the scale, the Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 110 Vibrant Coral is less than half the price of the Mac offerings and is a fairly good dupe for Vegas Volt, though it is slightly redder. For a matte finish lipstick, it's not at all drying and actually applies really nicely. I'll be taking this on holiday next week to satisfy my coral cravings!

For cheeks, I have two products that I think fall into the coral category and they are YSL Blush Radiance 02 - a seriously cute, but pricey (£31.00) blush quad containing light and mid-toned coral shades, which mixed together give the perfect peachy glow to the cheeks, and Bourjois Cream Blush in 01 Nude Velvet - my new favourite cream blush which I've raved about countless times in my last few posts, a stunning peachy pink blush and a total bargain for £7.99.

Finally, I had to include a seriously bargainous nail offering. The new Collection Hot Looks nail polishes are only £1.99 each and come in cute little 8ml pots, which are the perfect size if you ask me as who ever uses a full bottle of nail polish? I picked the shade Fruit Salad which is just the perfect coral nail shade and has a lovely shine to it. These nail paints are supposed to dry in only 60 seconds, now I can't vouch for that yet as I've only applied it on my nail wheel and not on my own nails but let's be honest, for £1.99, who really cares?

 

 

Can you recommend any other coral beauty products?

Holly xo
 

Converted: Essie Nail Laquers

Hi everyone, I'm really sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've had a tough week for personal reasons but today I'm back with a product I'm sure you are all familiar with, but that I was a little late to jump on the bandwagon with: Essie Nail Laquers.

Until fairly recently I wasn't really into painting my nails - I don't have a particularly steady hand and I'm impatient when it comes to drying time so this generally led to me looking like a two-year old had painted my nails. The release of the Barry M Gelly Hi Shine range started to change that as I loved so many of the gorgeous pastel and bright shades, as well as the glossy finish that I started to build up my collection of nail polishes.

Essie, however, was a brand that I could never justify buying from due to the £8.00 price tag. Now I know some of you nail polish addicts won't think £8.00 is bad at all, considering some brands such as Nails Inc and Butter London charge more, but for me, a very recent nail polish fan, that always seemed pretty steep. I did love the range of colours though, and would find myself stopping to gaze at the stand in my local Boots and Superdrug and sighing 'Ah Essie...'.

So I finally took the plunge. I had finished an exam and felt like I deserved it, and with my Summer holiday approaching, I thought Fiji would be the perfect colour to paint my toenails for the week. So I bought it. And I tried it. And I loved it! So much so that I had to go back the following week and buy the other shade I'd been lusting after - Mint Candy Apple.

 

Fiji is a beautiful pale, almost white pink which looks so elegant on fingernails and works really well as a pedicure colour too. Mint Candy Apple, which I'm currently wearing, is a stunning pastel mint green shade which is perfect for this season. Both polishes have a gorgeous fairly shiny finish, even without a top coat, and are very opaque so you could probably get away with just one coat if you were in a rush, although they do look far better with two coats.

My favourite thing about Essie nail polishes, other than the amazing colours, is the brush. The brush is much wider than any other nail polish I own, meaning that application is so much quicker and easier as you don't need countless strokes to cover each nail.

The lasting power is also pretty good, considering I don't use a base coat or a top coat (I know I know, that's shocking but I told you I'm new to this nail painting stuff!). I've been wearing Mint Candy Apple for three days now and chipping is minimal. I have just ordered the Seche Vite top coat for £4.61 on Amazon though - I'd never seen it so cheap so I would snap it up now if you've been after this cult top coat! So hopefully, they'll last even longer when I start using them alongside a decent top coat.

 

 

 

So there it is, I'm converted. Now I have an expensive new obsession and I'm determined to slowly but surely build up a collection of Essie nail laquers.

 

Can you recommend any other shades from Essie?

 

Holly xo
 

L'Oreal Confetti Top Coat

Until recently I was never that into doing my nails. I'm really bad at having to sit still and not touch anything until they dry. I'll paint a nail and then suddenly MY NOSE IS ITCHY or SOMEONE HAS TEXT ME and I can't resist moving. But since I started reading beauty blogs, I've been exposed to so many brands, colours and nail effects that I've suddenly become quite excited by nail polish!

I've seen a few people talk about the L'Oreal Confetti top coat and it looked so pretty and easy to use so I knew I wanted to try it. Unfortunately every time I've stepped into Boots or Superdrug looking for it for the last month, it's been sold out. Until Friday! I went into Boots for a browse before the Body Shop event and I spotted it. Safe to say within seconds it was in my hands and I was heading for the tills. I wasn't going to let this baby get away again. Even the sales assistant at the till commented on how lovely it was.

I applied it that night over the top of my Models Own Blueberry Muffin (from the new scented fruit pastel collection, also a really lovely nail polish!) and instantly I knew it was love.

 

 

The top coat is a clear polish with small and larger flecks of black and white 'confetti' pieces suspended in it. It applies like a dream - so simple for those of us who struggle with more intricate nail art (me), yet it gives a really gorgeous effect. I got so many compliments on my nails the next day at work when I was wearing this - I think I sold more Confetti top coats then I did New Look products that day! It has pretty good staying power too, the confetti pieces haven't chipped off easily at all so far. I think this would look gorgeous on top of any nail polish colour, particularly lighter shades so that the confetti really pops against the background.

Overall, I love this top coat and am so glad I got my hands on it eventually! It has totally lived up to the hype for me. So my advice: if you see this polish in your local store - buy it while you can!

 

Holly xo