• #ALipADay // #26 - Bourjois Peach on The Beach •

This product is so similar to the Revlon Lip Butters but in crayon form.

After reading Kate from Ghostparties' blog and watching her videos, I was intrigued to try Bourjois Peach on The Beach. She wore it in so many of her tutorials and it looked amazing with her pale skin tone, so I decided to pick it up in Summer and lo and behold, I fell in love with it. It really suits pale skin but I don't think I'd wear it when I'm more tanned. The shade is a very pale, very glossy peachy pink (as the name would suggest) and it's extremely moisturising and comfortable to wear. I guess you could try to build up the colour but to be honest I quite like that it's so sheer. In terms of application, I love any lipsticks that are in crayon form as I love the ease of them, and this one is no different. The staying power isn't great as it's such a moisturising product that it tends to slip off your lips/I tend to end up licking it off without realising, but it doesn't matter too much as it's so easy to apply throughout the day. I basically see this as a tinted lip balm which treats my lips and provides a little colour!

Daniela xo

• Summer Date Night Get Ready With Me // Face of the Day •

A quick, simple look, perfect for an evening of
 sushi eating and green tea drinking.

I went on an impromptu date night the other night and had a bit of time to do my make up. I went for a little winged liner and pink lips, and tried out a few bits that I've picked up recently; the L'Oreal Eau de Teint which is amazing (I reviewed it here) and the L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in 201 'Rose Symphony' which survived an evening of talking, drinking and eating, and did not smudge once! Cue the naked face -

I always start with my base and I dotted the foundation onto my skin, then blended it in using a buffing brush. I bronzed my face up, skipping the contour, by placing it on my cheekbones, around my hairline and over the bridge of my nose. Then I highlighted using a cream highlighter and my ring finger, blending it on top of my cheekbones, the tip bridge and tip of my nose, and cupids bow. A girl's gotta have her brows! So I filled them in lightly using a dark eyebrow pencil - I always start by filling in the gaps then shaping the front of them. I went for a champagne cream eyeshadow as a base to lighten up the eyes and give a little sheen, then use a champagne colour on top to intensify it. I also popped this into the inner corners of my eyes to brighten them up, too. To further brighten up my eyes, concealing under my eyes was next, using a liquid and medium/full coverage concealer. I then used a realllllly thin eyeliner to create a teeny tiny wing on my eyes and applied one layer of mascara (with a funky wand) after curling my eyelashes with an eyelash curler. Lip scrub was then used to scrub away any dead skin and create a smooth canvas for my lipstick, which was a really pigmented pink liquid lipstick.

I used:

L'Oreal Eau de Teint Foundation in 'Warm Ivory' // review here

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Real Techniques Contour Brush

Benefit Watts Up Highlighter

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in 'Black Brown'

Benefit Cream Eyeshadow in 'Bikini-tini'

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in 'Sin'

Ecotools Eyeshadow Brush

Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer in 51 'Eclat Clair'

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner

L'Oreal Superliner

Accessorize Paradise Eye Mascara

LUSH Lip Scrub in 'Bubblegum'

L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in 201 'Rose Symphony'

Have you picked up any of these products lately?

What do you think of the format of this post?

It's quite new to me, I would so love some feedback :)

Daniela xo

• An accidental 3 for 2 Boots haul •

I went on an accidental shopping trip last week... 

I can explain - I went to the LUSH bloggers event (a post will be up on this soon!) and wasn't planning on going shopping, but as I was walking past Boots, I saw that damn 3 for 2 sign. Well, they saw me coming. I walked in there like a woman on a mission, grabbed a shopping basket like I meant business, and trotted off to the cosmetics aisle. As a blogger, and generally as a make-up loving girly girl, I have a never-ending 'to-buy' list on my phone which usually consists of make up and skincare. I've had this for months and I just keep adding to it. I decided to buy some of the things that were on that list to make my trip worthwhile...the things we do to convince ourselves hey.

The LUSH Mask of Magnaminty has been a firm favourite of mine for about 3 years now. I keep repurchasing it; it clears my skin like no other and it deserves a review by itself, so I shall save myself for that. LUSH King of Skin has been a part of my life for about 5 years and is something I only really purchase if I feel like I deserve a bit of a treat; it's an amazing in-shower solid body butter that you swipe onto damp skin and then rinse off. It smells like bananas and is so so moisturising.

I've literally wanted to try the Real Techniques Buffing Brush for so long - I was just reluctant to buy the Core Collection for the one brush! But since Boots had their 3 for 2 offer on, I took it as a sign to just get on with it and purchase it. The Real Techniques Core Collection includes the Contour Brush, the Pointed Foundation Brush, the Detailer Brush and the Buffing Brush. The Revlon Parfumerie Scented Nail Enamel is a product that intrigues me, so I picked up the colour Orange Blossom. Low and behold, it actually smells like oranges when painted onto the nails. This just blows my mind - I've not yet painted my nails with it yet, but when I do, I bet I won't be able to stop sniffing them! Another colour that intrigues me, but for different reasons, is Essie's Mint Candy Apple. The colour is so interesting and I don't own anything like it. I've had it on my nails for 5 days so far and I've only just started experiencing chipping - amazing.

Cheating a little by putting these in, I know, but I purchased some new cotton pads. These ones are from Primark and I can't get a link for them unfortunately, but they were £1 for 160 pads which is pretty great. They're not scratchy and not too thin, which I was pleasantly surprised about. The Boots Botanics Hydrating Eye Cream was a new purchase for me as I'd read some great reviews about the Botanics range. I'm yet to try it, as I'm just waiting for my Vaseline pot to run out, but I'm excited to try it out. The one product that has stood out to me so far is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. Where on Earth has this product been all my life? One swipe with this on a cotton pad and my make up has disappeared...it makes removing make up less of a chore and more of something to look forward to! This is on my list of things to review - it definitely deserves it's own post!

The lighting may seem a little off for this photo, but it's just because I had to edit it a little to allow the true colours to show through (yes, I am that pale!) I picked up the Revlon Colourstay Foundation in Buff, the L'oreal True Match Foundation in N1 Ivory and the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 52 Vanilla (full review here). I'm not going to write too much about these because so far I've only tried the Bourjois foundation, so I wan't to try the others out to compare them and write a full comparison review post.

I bought some clothes from Zara, H&M and Primark too, but I think I'll save those for another post (if I get round to it before caving in and wearing everything!) I wanted to keep this one beauty-focused so it's all a little easier to follow.

Have you bought anything from the Boots 3 for 2 sale? That offer gets me, every time. I just can't help myself.

Daniela

• Empties #1 // make up, skincare, haircare etc // reviews & would I repurchase? •

It's so satisfying when you finish a product, especially something that you've been working on for so long. I've been saving (rather, trying to remember to save) my empty packaging from things I've been using recently and I've finally gathered enough to make it post-worthy! So I thought I'd share with you what I thought about the products and whether to not I'd repurchase them - this is kind of a mixed bag, some things I love and some things I really wasn't a fan of.

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque
Currently £12.46 (on sale!) from Amazon, click here to be directed to the site.
I bought this mask after reading so many amazing reviews about it and after using the whole tub, I'm definitely ready to give my opinion on it; I really like it. I must say that I'm not in love with it and I'm definitely on the look out for a new mask, but it worked well whilst I had it. At first, I used this as a mask, putting it in my wet hair and leaving it for 10-20 minutes, but after a few applications I started using it as a conditioner as it's still effective this way. It made me hair feel so soft and manageable, not at all knotty and so easy to work with. My hair was super silky and felt really clean and nourished after use. The smell of the product is amazing and my hair still carried the scent a few days after using it, which is a massive bonus. So really, this is a lovely hair mask - I'm just not sure it's worth its normal price tag at £26.95, and I'm certainly on the hunt for something similar as I don't think it's one in a million. Unless it's on sale for under a tenner, I wouldn't repurchase this.

Alberto Balsam Coconut and Lychee shampoo
Currently 99p from Superdrug, click here to be directed to the site.
This smells incredible. It's a true coconut smell with a hint of lychee and the scent really fills up the whole of your bathroom. The shampoo lathers up really well and is a thick consistency, it cleans my hair well and doesn't leave any type of residue. I'm not entirely sure what else I can say about shampoo other than that, but I did like it and I would repurchase!

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical 400ml
Currently £4.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
We all have those days where we just can't be bothered/it isn't feasible to wash our hair, and I'm not going to lie, this happens to me more often than not. I tend to wash my hair about twice a week which sometimes means my roots need a quick pick-me-up in the form of Batiste. This dry shampoo does leave a white talcum-powdery cast at first, but I always spray it, wait about 5 minutes then gently massage it into my scalp which gets rid of any white residue. After flipping my hair upside down and messing it up with my fingers, it looks as if it's just been washed and is styled without effort. It's not sticky and gives me loads of volume, resulting in me looking like a lion and having to tame it dow slightly, which is what you want out of a dry shampoo essentially. I keep repurchasing this product and will continue to do so.

LUSH Tea Tree Toner Water 250g
Currently £7.50 from LUSH, click here to be directed to the site.
I really do go on about this a lot here on the blog, and for good reason. It's so refreshing when sprayed directly onto the face throughout the day and it keeps my skin feeling and looking clear when spritzed onto a cotton pad and swiped across blemish prone areas (mainly my chin and jawline). It contains tea tree oil which is great for blemishes but it's not as concentrated as pure tea tree oil, making it really gentle on the skin. The scent is so light and inoffensive, the spray is so fine so you don't end up with a big wet patch on your face and it really is a lovely product. I will repurchase this again, as I have done many a time, as it's a staple product in my skincare routine.

LUSH Enchanted Eye Cream sample
Currently £11.95 from LUSH, click here to be directed to the site.
I tried this teeny little tub out as I received this as a sample in my recent order from LUSH. I'm not overly crazy on eye creams as I usually just use vaseline on my eye area and that works perfectly, but this product did leave my eyes feeling really moisturised and plump in the mornings. The consistency is quite thick but sinks into the skin really quickly and easily which is lovely. I'd recommend this product but I'm happy with my vaseline routine so I don't think I'd purchase this.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 52 Vanilla
Currently £10.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
This is the loveliest foundation I've ever used and easily one of my favourites of all time. It covers my scars and evens my skin tone, is light enough for every day but build able for medium coverage, I'm so impressed with it. I've written a full review with a demo in this post, so check that out if you'd like to know me. Oh and it goes without saying - repurchase!!

Maybelline The Volume Express Flared Falsies Mascara
Currently £7.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
There is just so much hype around this product and unfortunately I can't understand why. It didn't volumise my lashes nor did it really lengthen them at all and it was kind of a dud for me. I may have had high expectations for it but it genuinely did nothing for my lashes - I always found that I had to layer it with another mascara, and that was just for daytime wear, which personally I think is just too much hassle and faff. I was quite happy when this dried out as it meant that I could move onto other mascaras and get rid of it, I really wasn't impressed at all. Mascaras are quite a personal thing so please don't let me put you off, this product may even work for you, but for me, I definitely wouldn't repurchase.

Sure Woman Crystal Invisible Pure Deodorant
Can't find this product anywhere - which is probably a good thing.
Whoever knew that there could be a deodorant that makes you smell even more? ...found it! It stinks like you wouldn't imagine. I'm really sorry if you like this smell but that's not even the real problem if I'm honest - when on the skin, it makes me smell terrible and I swear it enhances natural odours. Definitely not great when you're having a stressful day, running errands or just generally running all over the place! I don't know what on earth's going on with this deodorant but the fact that I can't find the exact one anywhere on the internet to provide you with a link kind of tells me something. I'm thinking that perhaps it's been discontinued, and if that's the case, then good riddance. I don't mean to end the post on a negative but...it's just awful! I'm so shocked because I never thought that a deodorant could do this. I found myself sniffing my underarms all day and really worrying about it - not what you want out of a deodorant! Anyway, do I even need to say it? I totally would not repurchase this.

I hope you enjoyed my empties - again, sorry to end on a downer! I have used up some amazing products recently though, so it's not all bad. I'd love to see your empties, link me some posts in the comments if you have any!

Daniela

• Shop my stash // rediscovered products - Spring edition •

I've been lacking colour in my make up recently and I'm really starting to miss it. The 23rd March feels like the right time to inject some fun into my looks and use some of the products that I used to know and love. I've spent the past week rummaging through my make up bag and finding the products that I always reach for during the Spring months that I just seem to forget about throughout the rest of the year. One reason for this post is that I'm trying to force myself into using up some of the make up which I already own instead of buying more and more and more...if you're an avid reader of my blog, you'll know that I do love my hauls and I've been on one too many recently, encouraging me to use what I already have lying around. And since I'm on a spending ban, it's nice to get excited about things you haven't used in a while - it's as if I've just been shopping and I'm using lots of new things!

This post is a collab with Molly from mollyox, a gorgeous little blog that I always turn to for reviews. Molly and I purchase quite different items and products so it's really interesting to find out what I'm missing out on! I really recommend checking out her blog - her layout is gorgeous and she takes the clearest, most beautiful photos...if you head over there, tell her I said hi!

Ah, my trust old MUA Undress Your Skin Primer. I used this in the days where I had more time in the mornings and when my skin was more oily. As we're approaching the warmer months, I can already feel that my t-zone is starting to look a little less matte, so I'll be reaching for this a lot more. At £4, it does the job really well and I can't fault it - I need a minuscule amount, which is usually half a pump/a pump, to cover my t-zone and my make-up stays put all day, without slipping and sliding off half way down my neck. The Garnier BB Cream in Light/Clair isn't something I got on with to begin with, but I soon realised that this product works best when used with fingers. Applying it with a brush just doesn't work for me as I feel like any brush I use just swipes it across my face without it actually sinking into my skin. It provides a very light coverage which is perfect for me as I tend to go a lot lighter with my bases as it progresses towards Summer. It is fragranced which doesn't bother me as I actually quite like the scent and it's a thick BB cream which can be sheered out or built up.

Out with the Benefit Hoola, in with the Benefit Sugarbomb! I miss this product so much and I'm now asking myself why I ever stopped using it. I like to switch up my blushes and bronzers quite regularly and I think this one just got lost at the bottom of the pile. It's a stunning rosy/bright pinky colour with tiny little shimmers, it's really gorgeous for this time of year. I tend to go for matte blushes in Winter and this little guy always makes an appearance in my Spring make up bag. As I mentioned previously, my t-zone can always do with a little mattifying so I'm going to start using my L'oreal Paris True Match Powder to balance things out again. It's a very finely milled powder which doesn't provide a lot of coverage, but sets everything in place. As a highlighter, my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade is so so stunning and always completes any look I go for. It is quite subtle when applied with a brush but I tend to use two fingers to dab it onto my cheek bones. It catches the light beautifully and I like that it's a unique product in my collection, as many of my highlighters are a goldy/champagne colour. Silver/pearl makes a change and I'll definitely be using this for a subtle Spring glow.

The No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Palette in Rainforest was one of the first beauty products I owned. I used to wear it all the time, especially the copper colour, just swiped over the lids with a little mascara. The quality of the eye shadow is great and the colours are really lovely together; I'm definitely going to try and incorporate this palette into some Spring eye looks. I also enjoy a light wash of champagne across my lids to keep things fresh and simple in Spring, and the Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Sin used to be my most-worn eyeshadow from about the age of 16 until I was around 19 (this is my third pot!). At that time, I didn't experiment with makeup a whole lot, so this colour was a really easy one to wear. It's a gorgeous shimmery champagne which catches the light beautifully and I can't wait to start using this again. In terms of eyeliner, I really like the look of applying a thin line of colour to my upper lash line and applying mascara to only my top lashes. I think it really brightens up the eyes and adds a pop of colour in a subtle way. Because I have dark brown eyes, I feel like purple and teal compliment them really well, so I'm going to start wearing more of my Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Lust and my Bourjois Khol & Contour Eye Pencil in Blue Virtuose.

Finally, the products that I switch up alllll the time are lip colours. I'm a massive fan of orange and I go for both sheer and full-on lip products when it comes to Spring. For a subtle sheen of colour, the Revlon Colour Burst Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya is perfect. If you're afraid of wearing bright oranges, I recommend going for something like this, as it adds colour but can be sheered out to suit your preference. Everything about this product makes me happy; the fact that it moisturises my lips, it's so easy to wear, is the perfect shade of peach/orange. I'm really looking forward to wearing this again as it's a lovely colour to wear for work when I wan't to add a little something Springy to my look, but don't want to add too much. One that I wouldn't wear to work, however, is the Topshop Lipstick in Infrared, purely because it is so so pigmented and a very statement colour. It's a vibrant, gorgeous, in-your-face, look-at-me orange and my most-worn colour of Summer 2013. I just didn't leave the house without this lipstick on. It's definitely not for the faint-hearted and probably not suitable for work (especially in a teaching profession!) but the creaminess of it, the pigmentation of it, the pure amazingness of the colour is enough to wow me every single time I put it on. It just brightens up my whole face and is very on trend for Spring/Summer 2014 (not that I follow the trends - I'm usually a year or two late!) If there's one thing I recommend from this whole post, it's this lipstick and I really can't wait til it gets sunny enough for me to wear this one again!

It was fun rummaging through my make up collection and reminding myself why I loved these products once upon a time. Sometimes, when you buy new things constantly, it's easy to forget about amazing items that you already own - and since I'm on a spending ban indefinitely, I'll be picking out my old beauty products more frequently than I have been recently!

What were your most-loved products that you've forgotten about? Do you also get wrapped up in all the new launches, sometimes forgetting about perfectly usable products that you already own? (I'm guilty of this and I'm definitely going to avoid Boots, John Lewis and Debenhams for a while!)

Daniela

• Face five challenge // tag •

I'd been eyeing up the face five challenge posts that were appearing on my bloglovin feed so I was chuffed to bits when Gillian from purplegillian tagged me to take part! The tag entails creating a make-up look with just 5 products which is harder for some than it is for others - luckily, I tend to keep my make-up look minimal for work and end up using around 5 products anyway.

If you read my recent haul post, you'll know that I picked up the Bourjois 123 Perfect Colour Correcting Cream in 31 Ivory and have to say that I really like it. It's quite liquidy compared to other foundations that I've tried (too many that I care to admit!) but the coverage is great. I haven't included a concealer in this look as I think you can build the coverage of this product for any problem areas. Anyway, I won't say too much about this as I'm planning on reviewing it when I've had more experience with it.

I didn't intend for this look to be kind of Bourjois-heavy, but the truth is that my favourite and most-used base products are from Bourjois. The Bourjois Bronzing Primer is no different and is such an easy product to use. It works perfectly as a bronzer and can also be used as a contour colour too. Cream products are always my favourite to use as I think they look more natural than powder products, so picking up this bronzer last year was a no brainer for me. I apply it to the high points of my cheeks and around my hairline and it warms up my face beautifully.

The Soap & Glory Thick and Fast Super Volume Mascara  in Superjet Black gives my lashes masses of volume and the right amount of thickness for day-to-day wear. I've only just started using it but I'm already in love with it. With a minimal make up look, I try to emphasise my lashes as they can really open up your eyes and add a little something special to your look.

If I'm not wearing any eyeshadow I tend to go big on brows and this Rimmel Professional Eye Brow Pencil in Black Brown is both the perfect colour and the perfect texture for me. I prefer eyebrow pencils as opposed to brow powder as you can sharpen pencils to get a really crisp point, making it easier to create the illusion of added individual hairs. Another bonus is the brush that's on the lid - it's a bit rough but it does the trick.

My final product is the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 05 Candy Shimmer. This is the lip product that I reach for when I don't have time to um and ah about which colour to wear as it's so easy and looks great with any look, particularly natural ones. It has the perfect amount of pigment, adding a slight peachy-pink colour to your lips, whilst not having that nasty sticky effect that other glosses give. It certainly does what it says on the tube as it gives your lips a natural sheen whilst perfecting them to make them look fuller and glossier. You can read a more in-depth review of this product in this post.


Thank you again to Gillian for tagging me to do the challenge, I absolutely loved writing it! I'm not quite 'there yet' when it comes to posting photos of make-up looks actually on my face, but if I was, I'd definitely show you all what the products would look like on...maybe this could be an idea for an updated face five challenge in a few months time!

The 5 people that I'd like to tag are:
Amie from belle-amie
Selina from seli's corner
Kristina from creepers and cupcakes
Ellis from ellis tuesday
Amelia from amelia rose

The rules are:
1. use 5 products to create a make-up look
2. each different product counts as one product - eg. benefit benetint can only count as one product
3. no palettes, trios, quads or multi-shade palettes are allowed
4. tag 5 others to complete the challenge
5. have fun!

I would also like to tag all of you to complete the challenge, just leave your links down below. I'd love to see what you all come up with!

PS. Don't forget to enter my MAC Giveaway - ends on 19th March!

Daniela

• February lusting // March wish list •

February has been the month of lusting - there have been so many product launches and I've read countless amazing reviews whilst thinking to myself "ooh, I must pop that on my shopping list". Last night I decided to see just how much my shopping would cost and it came to nothing short of £406 - at that point, I knew it was never gunna happen. So for this month's lusting post, I have narrowed it down to 6 very special, very beautiful products that I believe are justified in their own way. If you wanted to check out what I was lusting over in January, here's a link to last month's lusting post.

1. Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick in Pastel Preppy
Currently £7.99 from asos.com, click here to be directed to the site.
We're fast approaching Spring so I'm starting to think about lighter, pastel-y lip colours. This one seems perfect, a very soft orange, which is a great colour to transition us into the next season. It will come as no surprise that I've included products from Bourjois because I love them as a brand!

2. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow
Currently £49 from Charlotte Tilbury, click here to be directed to the site.
This is just so beautiful. Everything from the packaging to the product itself is so gorgeous in my eyes. The sculpting powder (left) looks like the perfect contour colour, not to orangey like a bronzer, but not too muddy like some contour powders. I'm a massive fan of highlighters and this champagne-y colour looks like the shade of highlighter that would suit me - I much prefer a champagne highlighter to pink or pearly highlighters when it gets to Spring/Summer.

3. Dove Hair Nourishing Oil Leave in Spray
Currently £3.59 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
I'm nearly out of my Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment and I'm on the hunt for something which will give me the same effect, but for a more affordable price. Although I don't mind paying £25 for a hair treatment (especially one that works wonders on my dry ends), I'm always open to trying new products and I've heard great things about the relatively new Dove hair care range.

4. Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream
Currently £9.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
I ran out of my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation *sob* a few weeks ago so I need to head out to Boots and buy myself a new base. I'm currently testing a few mineral products from another brand and I'm really enjoying them (a review will be up on this soon!) but I will need a liquid base for days that I want a different sort of finish. As I've said before, Bourjois are one of my most used brands, if not the most used brand in my make up collection, and I always trust their products to deliver. I've heard lots about CC creams and although I do think they're a bit of a fad that will probably die out soon, I wanted to give them a go before I can make a judgement. If I'm honest, I didn't get on too well with any BB creams from any brand, but I'm going into CC creams with an open mind. I'm excited to pick this one up! And for £9.99 for a well respected brand, you can't go far wrong.

5. Marc by Marc Jacobs Rose Goldtone Stainless Steel & Leather Watch in Maroon
Currently £111.11 from Saks Fifth Avenue, click here to be directed to the site.
I'm not sure there's a lot to say about this one...the photo explains it all. It's just absolutely stunning. I'm not usually a watch kind of girl, but I do need to start wearing them for when I'm in the classroom and need to keep an eye on the time, and what better way to ease myself into watch-wearing than with this stunner? It's my birthday on the 16th and I'm hoping to get enough birthday money so I can buy this, but we shall see - watch this space!

6. The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
Currently £12 from The Body Shop, click here to be directed to the site.
I never went for the whole Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm thing as I just knew that other brands would bring out more affordable alternatives, and sure enough, they did. This is usually the case with high-end products so I always try to be patient and wait for a cheaper option! I usually remove my make up with pure coconut oil, but for a change I thought it would be nice to try something from The Body Shop's new skincare range. I love anything gentle as I try to treat my skin with as much care as possible, whilst trying not to use too many chemicals in the products I expose it to, and this cleansing butter seems to tick all of the boxes.

So there are my six most-wanted products from the month of February. Spring is in sight and I'm feeling really positive about the rest of the year, and I always look forward to a change in season as I can start thinking about mixing up my make-up and skincare to suit the weather.

Do you have any products that you've been lusting over lately?

PS. Don't forget to enter my MAC Giveaway!

Daniela

• January lusting // February wish list •

I thought I'd start a new series to let you all know the products I've been lusting over for the past month and what I'll be popping on my shopping list for the next month :) It's just kind of a fun way to show you the kind of products I'm into! I created this image using Polyvore and I would be really interested in seeing what you guys lust over beauty/fashion-wise, so if you decide to make monthly lust lists, please do leave the link in the comments box.

1. Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade

Currently £15 from Cultbeauty, click here to be directed to the site.

I'm a massive brows gal, so this product really excites me. It's been described as having a gel-mousse consistency which is really unusual and nothing like I currently own. It's waterproof, smudgeproof, and adheres to your eyebrow hairs making them look really natural but really defined. There's a waiting list for this product as it's not out instores/online yet - I'm very tempted to sign up to that list this weekend.

2. La Roche Posay Effaclar DUO Dual Action Treatment

Currently £23.95 from Lavishchoice, click here to be directed to the site.

I've acquired a few little friends-of-the-face recently which can't really be covered up with make up. I'm not sure if it's stress, hormones or the weather, but my skin has been majorly acting up. I've heard so much about the La Roche Posay range and I think that February will be the month that I finally give it a go.

3. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow

Currently £28 from Space NK, click here to be directed to the site.

Just look at it...any sane beauty-lover would want this, surely. There are a range of shades to choose from but I don't have any blush shades that are light/baby pink, so I thought this one would be the best shade to go for. I never jumped on the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders as I thought that £38 was a bit steep for a face powder, however I don't mind spending that little bit more on a blush as I could use it sparingly if needed.

4. Estee Lauder Pure Colour Eyeshadow Duo in Raisins

Currently £23 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.

I'm a sucker for plum shades so this duo is perfection for me. When I saw this product on Zoella's beauty favourites I knew I had to have it - the lighter shade is perfect for highlighting the inner corner of the eye and the plum shade is gorgeous in the crease. I've wanted this for far too long now so I may just have to bite the bullet and go for it!

5. Bourjois Happy Light Foundation
Currently £11.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
If you're a big blog reader and YouTube watcher, you'll have heard about this product. Bourjois just bring it when it comes to bases and this one's no different. The amount of times I've swatched it in-store is bordering no ridiculous...I'm just waiting for my Bourjois Healthy Mix to run out before I purchase this beauty.

6. Diptyque Philosykos Eau de Parfume
Currently £85 from Space NK, click here to be directed to the site.
This scent is unlike anything I've ever smelled before. Just writing this is difficult as I can't even find the words to describe it. It's a fig scent, quite musky and woody, and just smells heavenly. It's a perfume that lingers, which seals the deal for me - I hate it when perfumes fade away after an hour or so. This is one of those perfumes that you try once and don't stop thinking about. I will definitely be purchasing this one in the near future.

7. Benefit They're Real Mascara
Currently £19.50 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
I received a sample of this mascara in my stocking for Christmas and as soon as I wore it for the first time, I knew it was the best mascara I'd ever used. I'm being very stingy with my sample bottle as I don't want to use it all up too quickly - I definitely recommend it and will be purchasing the full size tube as soon as my other mascaras run out!

There's a round-up of what I'm hoping to purchase in the month of February. I hope you like the idea of a little series, I'm looking forward to writing them - hopefully these posts will be a constant reminder that I need to treat myself throughout the months (not that I need any reminders...)

Daniela

• Oops... // beauty haul •

So I know I said in my last haul that I was on a spending ban until February...

This happened.

I specifically ventured into Boots last weekend to get my hands on a few of the infamous Revlon Matte Balms, but I have to say that after endless swatching and half an hour of browsing, I really wasn't overly impressed. Instead, I ended up filling a basket with other goodies.

Casey Holmes' video on the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge sold it to me. I'd been eyeing up this product for months, since I love the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, so when I saw it in Boots, staring up at me from the shelf, I had to nab it. More influenced purchases were the Bourjois Happy Light Concealer and the Seventeen phwoarr Paint (thanks to Kate at gh0stparties). That woman could talk to me about drying paint and I would still look at her in awe, open mouthed, believing anything that she says. I've very nearly run out of both my Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer and my Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer - why is it that when things run out, they take a partner with them?! - so I had to buy two more (there's my justification...) I got them both in the lightest shade so I could use them for under my eyes, but the phwoarr Paint looks as though it could also be used on my face, which is rather lovely. And finally, the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash...drooooool. This literally smells heavenly. Like actual heaven. A mixture of lime and sugar, this will knock your socks off in the morning with its zesty scent. It's amazing!

I'd really been enjoying the Soap and Glory The Ultimelt Hot Cloth Cleanser so I knew I'd be repurchasing this one. I have a few cleansers on the go at the moment (blog post coming soon...) but I always find myself coming back to this one. It's really creamy, gentle and smells fresh - it's the perfect morning cleanser. A shopping trip isn't complete with a trip to LUSH, so I had to repurchase my LUSH Tea Tree Toner Water as I was so close to running out. I always make sure I have another one to hand - I'm not sure how my skin would react if I didn't! This really is a lovely toner, so gentle on the skin and all natural. I use it on a cotton pad after my cleanser, and I sometimes just spray my face with it as a little "pick-me-up". My cotton pads of choice are the Boots Baby Large Cotton Wool Pads. I like to use them when removing my make up with coconut oil (blog post here) as they are so big and cover a large surface area, cutting down make-up removing time significantly. (Does anyone else hate removing their make up or is it just me...?)

I was so excited when I saw the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Metallic Pomegranate as my local Boots doesn't usually have it in stock, and I'd been lusting over it for weeks! I haven't even swatched it yet as it's too beautiful-a-colour to just swatch and rub off, so I think tomorrow morning may be the morning that I try this beauty on my eyes. Another gorgeous purchase was the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Permanent Taupe, another shade that I'd been struggling to get my hands on - I was starting to think that this shade was just a myth, and didn't actually exist. I feel like I've searched high and low to find this, I will guard it with my life! The Maybelline Coloursense Nude Lipstick in Tantalizing Taupe really caught my eye as it's unlike any other nude that I own. I swatched it in the shop and found it to be more of a peachy brown, which is nice, because I only own pinky nudes. This is a glossy formula which is also unlike any other nudes I own, so I'm really looking forward to trying this one out.

There have been mixed reviews about the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser so I thought I'd pick it up and throw in my two cents. I didn't even get a chance to swatch it in the shop as this one was the only one left (and when this happens, it only makes me want the product more...) It's been compared to the Benefit Porefessional quite a bit, but I think that I'm going to go into it with an open mind - I'm not going to compare it to other primers, and I'll just take it for what it is. A review will be up on that soon, I'm sure. The Bourjois Java Rice Powder is also another hyped product and has been likened to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder. I can't say I'll be able to compare the two, as I've not tried the Hourglass Powder, but from what I've heard about this Bourjois one, it's meant to be a pretty good dupe. The idea is that the powder sets your make up but doesn't leave a matte finish, and gives a glowy look to the skin (particularly when light reflects on your face). I'm looking forward to trying this one as I've never tried anything like it! Lastly, I got the Bourjois Liner Feutre for free as I'd spent a certain amount of money on Bourjois products. I'm not usually one for felt liners as I find them to be messy and unforgiving, but since it was a freebie, I'll give it a go - who knows, I may be pleasantly surprised.

And they're all the products that I bought...argh, I was SO close to February (7 days to be exact) but I just couldn't manage it. It's not easy having a Boots nearby, OK. And if you're wondering about the random pairs of shoes in the first photo, my friend is having a baby so one of the presents I bought her were these cute little shoes from Boots (they were in the sale so I can't find the link, sorry!) The other pair are from John Lewis and were £40 reduced to £19.50 - again, in the sale, so no link I'm afraid. I've been wearing them everyday for work and they're sooo comfy, and I'm really into brogues at the moment! That's it now though - no more buying til birthday month (which is March for me) so I really need to restrain myself - these little goodies should keep me going up until then!

Have you treated yourself to anything lately?

Daniela

• Unexpected perfection // MUA cream blush // review •

I wasn't overly excited about trying out the MUA Blusher Perfection Cream Blushers as, for £2, I expected the quality to be nothing better than "okay". I picked up the shades Dolly, Yummy and Bittersweet. And they are bloody lovely. (click on the names to be directed to the Superdrug site).

My previous favourite cream blush was the Bourjois Cream Blush in 02 Healthy Glow, a gorgeous peachy pink colour (click here to be directed to the site) but I think it's more suited to Summer. It was then time to move onto a deeper shade; I'd already fallen head over heels for cream blush at this stage, and was so reluctant to go back to powder, so I began my hunt for Winter cream blushers.

Packaging
Small, simple, easy to use, easy to travel with, a clear lid so you can see the colour clearly...good. The fact that all of the writing rubs off the packaging - not so good. For £2 a pop though, I'm not going to cry about it.

Colour
Dolly - A rosy pink colour that I think would suit many different skin tones.
Yummy - My personal favourite of the three. A really deep, dark pinky/plummy colour with a hint (and I mean, really small hint) of a reddish undertone. It's absolutely gorgeous for the Autumn/Winter months and I can't get enough of it. It leaves a kind of "I've been frolicking out in the snow all morning" look. This one looks scary in the pan but is beautiful when sheered out and blended into the skin.
Bittersweet - A baby/Barbie pink colour which would be suited to pale skin tones. I think this would look gorgeous on girls with blond hair, too.
As you can see, they are all very pigmented - the swatch was only one swipe of my finger, so the colour payoff is amazing.

Finish
When blended with my ELF Stipple Brush (click here for my review!) it blends to such a natural, soft finish. The blush never looks cakey and doesn't add an extra layer on top of your make up, it just kind of melts into your skin for the most stunning glow. The blendability is incredible and it's so easy to work with, yet it sets pretty quickly so you don't have to hang around for it to dry. It leaves a dewy finish, so if you're looking for that kind of thing, these blushers would be amazing - if you want a matte look, these blushers also look perfect with powder brushed over the top.

Longevity
I don't particularly look for longevity in my cream blushers as my make up tends to fade throughout the day anyway, however I haven't noticed any fading with this product in particular. I guess it's pretty standard when it comes to staying power.

Opinion
I've never enjoyed a cream blush as much as I do these, and I'm seriously so so impressed with them. I use them every single day and love the way they look. The shade range is great - I think there are 6 shades, which for a drugstore brand (and a cheap one at that) I think is rather good. I really recommend trying these out and they've become a real staple in my make up routine. I always reach for them as they never let me down, and I'm in love with the look they give my skin! £2 each, come on...go get you some.

What's your staple product in your make up routine?

Daniela

• Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation // review - on acne scarred skin •

Currently £10.99 from Superdrug, click here to be directed to the site.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 52 Vanilla

It's no secret that I love this foundation - I've raved about it on my 2013 beauty favourites post and mentioned that I wear it everyday. I wanted to write this post to show mainly the coverage of the foundation and how it covers up my acne scars, whilst providing you lovely people with my review on the product.

Packaging

The packaging is cute, nothing amazing about it but does there need to be? I enjoy the fact that there's a pump which pumps out the right amount of foundation needed to cover your entire face (why can't other companies get this right?!) and which is useful for sanitary reasons. The signature red cap is rounded, showing the difference between the serum and the normal foundation, and is secure enough to not flimsily pop off in your handbag - this is a personal annoyance of mine, so this packaging is spot on in my eyes.

Type

The serum foundation is, as it a suggests, a serum texture. It's a liquid foundation which is sort if gel-like in consistency and is medium in thickness. For reference, it's not as thin as MAC Face and Body, but not as thick as MAC Studio Sculpt.

Coverage

The coverage is medium-buildable and as you can see in the photo below, covers and fills scars. It also disguises any redness and literally never looks cakey. It can be sheered down to a light coverage by applying half a pump and blends beautifully. It's pretty hard to cock this up and I usually apply one or two layers to get my desired coverage.

Shade range

The colour range isn't great to be honest; it's pretty restricted to fair to medium skin, which is a real shame.

Opinion

I reach for this more than I do any of my other foundations. I've not compared it to the normal Healthy Mix foundation as I didn't bother to buy that one when I bought this one, I was so impressed by this. It fills pores, covers my scars, hides my redness - to me, it's perfection in a glass bottle. In all honesty, if it weren't for the fact that I'm a cosmetics whore and buy new bits and bobs all the time, I don't think I'd ever buy another foundation again (do not fear though, I will - all in the name of reviews and blogging of course). 

I prefer this to my high-end foundations and can't fault it in any way other than the poor shade range. One thing I have found, though, is that I had to go a shade lighter than my Healthy Mix Concealer - for some reason, the shades of the concealer and foundation don't quite match up. Hey ho, that's what testers in the shops are for, I guess.

Anyway...I shall leave you with this very flattering photo of my exposed acne scarred cheek (damn you, skin) compared to a photo of the same cheek with one layer of the serum foundation. Pretty good, huh? Admittedly, I used to cake my face in thick foundation to cover up my scars (Dream Matte Mousse was my best friend) but now I kind of...embrace them? In a weird kind of way? Yeah, I had acne. Yeah, it was horrible. But there are maaaany many many worse things in the world than a few spots. And with a foundation like this, I don't mind them. Side note - along with the foundation, I also think I've grown up a bit and realised there are more important things to life...and as I've matured I've realised that actually, people don't really care as much about your face as you think they do!

I hope you liked this post and found it useful. If you haven't gathered by now, I freakin' love this stuff.

Have you tried the Healthy Mix Serum Foundation? If so, what did you think?

Daniela

• 2013 beauty favourites •

This year has definitely been my year for makeup. I've really enjoyed experimenting with new looks (mainly me daring to try out gel eyeliner - it's actually not that bad!) and have been spending much of my student loan on hauls to John Lewis, Boots and Space NK.

Here is a little peek into my favourite products of 2013:

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 52 (Vanilla)
Currently £10.99 from Superdrug, click here to be directed to the site!
I have really been enjoying this foundation/serum. It markets itself as a buildable coverage foundation and I totally agree. I use it with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (more on that later) to get a sheer coverage, and then apply some more onto my problem areas, where I have acne scarring, with my Beauty Blender dupe. After I have applied the foundation, I leave it for 10 minutes while I complete my eye make up, and come back to it. By this time, it has usually dried to a semi-matte finish, and I just have to powder my t-zone. I've been reaching for this product every day since it came out - no oxidisation, no shimmer, and promises to do amazing things for your skin - this foundation's a winner in my eyes. For £10.99 I don't think you can go wrong, and compared to my MAC Studio Sculpt, I'd say this definitely wins hands down.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
Currently £9.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site!
Wayne Goss, my favourite make up artist and a pleasure to watch on YouTube once said that if you're on a budget, always spend that little bit more on brushes, because you can make cheaper make up look flawless with a decent brush. I totally agree with him. Although the Expert Face Brush is not as expensive as, say, MAC or NARS brushes, it is not as cheap as ELF brushes (I've reviewed the ELF brushes here!), so I'd say it's probably mid-range pricewise. The creator of the brushes, one of the Pixiwoo sisters Samantha Chapman, has managed to create a flawless brush that makes applying foundation an absolute dream. The bristles are densely packed but still soft enough on the face, and because of the slight dome shape to the brush, it does most of the blending work for you. I can't recommend it enough, and if there is one thing I'd recommend you buy from this post, it is this brush. Now to get my hands on the rest of the collection...

Rimmel Kate Matte Lipstick in 107
Currently £5.49 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site!
Most of you have probably seen or heard about this lipstick. Seen on the lips of the likes of Zoe Sugg (Zoella) and Anna (Vivianna Does Makeup), it truly is a firm favourite among beauty bloggers. On some, it is a beautiful wine colour, however on me it is sort of a purple-y colour. With my pale skin, it makes for the perfect bold lip, and with a thin flick of black gel eyeliner, I'm good to go. The formula is matte and before you cringe and worry about making your lips dry, this doesn't tend to happen to me. Before bed, I always use Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream on my lips, which makes for matte-lipstick application-ready lips in the morning. It's just the perfect lipstick! I could (and do) go on about it for ages so perhaps I should stop...

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner
Currently £7.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site!
Firstly, what a long name. I never realised how much of a mouthful it was until I searched for the link for it! I've never been one for liquid liners as I just think they are really messy and I just haven't yet got the hang of them. I always played it safe with pencil eye liners as I found I had the most control with them and they were easily smudgeable for a smokey look. When this came on the scene in 2013, I was so excited to try it because the little brush seemed so tiny that I thought I could get maximum control with it. And boy was I right. With the teeny brush, the application of the eyeliner is so precise and I have yet to make a mistake when applying it. The formula of the eyeliner is great as it is not as moveable as liquid liner as it is thicker, so it never transfers onto my lid or under my crease when I blink. It stays on all day, and with a job like mine where I apply it at 6.30 in the morning and take it off at 10.30 at night, it still looks just as good as when I had just applied it. It is the darkest deepest black and the colour doesn't fade throughout the day at all. Maybelline have also realised the liner in purple and brown, and with my dark brown eyes, I think I may have to pick up the purple colour.

Benefit 10 Bronzing and Highlighting Face Powder Duo
Discontinued (for some ridiculous reason??) sorry guys!
I have a bone to pick with Benefit. This product was my all time favourite Benefit product since I received it as a birthday gift in March 2012. Next thing I know, they go and discontinue it? Whyyy?! *cries a little*. I'll just go on to tell you a bit about why it was so amazing. The bronzer is a very light bronzer which matches my skin tone perfectly as I am so pale. The highlighter is a pale pink shimmer and compliments the bronzer perfectly, as I personally don't think that gold or silver shimmer works well with a bronzer. The powder is so finely milled (sorry, I know this term is used way too often, but it really is finely milled!) that it never looks cakey and always adds just the right amount of glow to an otherwise matte and flat face. I'm truly gutted that it has been discontinued, however if you are hopping across the pond any time soon, I know that it hasn't been discontinued in the US. I feel like this product has always taken a back-burner to the other boxed blushes, in particular Hoola, but I think it really deserves a mention as I have used it pretty much every day this year (and I've only JUST hit pan - bonus!)

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl Face Primer
Currently £24.50 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site!
I usually apply this under my make up, after my moisturiser. I only apply it to the tops of my cheekbones, in the centre of my forehead and down the bridge of my nose. Who knew such a small amount of product could make such a dramatic change to your face? When foundation is applied on top of Girl Meets Pearl it instantly transforms into a glowy, youthful finish. It sounds cliché, but I am 100% telling the truth. I always notice when I have it on and when I don't, and it catches the light perfectly whilst being really subtle. I have applied it on top of foundation before but I don't think this is the most effective or economic way to use the product, as it can look cakey that way, does not sit well on top of powder, and you end up using a lot more product that way too. The twist up applicator makes for easy application as it comes out in tiny little holes. It is a silvery highlighter, and looking at it now on the back of my hand, it also has a touch of pink to it. A really lovely piece to add to the collection. And now I feel slightly awful about having a bone to pick with Benefit...oops.

So that's it for the 2013 beauty favourites. I have really enjoyed playing with make up a bit more this year and I will dabble with new make up in 2014.

What are your beauty favourites of 2013?

Daniela