Currently Loving...

Clarins Instant Smooth Primer ♥ Maybelline Baby Lips ♥ Caudalie Beauty Elixir  ♥ L'oreal Super Liner ♥ Vitamin E Moisture Radiance Cream

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

There was so much hype around this product when it first came out and I find its still a product I go back to again and again. I love the scent, how it refreshes my skin and how it works perfect as a setting spray. I’m almost out again so payday on Friday needs to hurry up!

Clarins Instant Smooth Primer

This is by far the best primer that I have found for keeping my make up in place all day, but it is on the pricey side at £26 per tub. Lucky for me my sister didn't get on with this product so I have inherited a new tub. This leaves your skin feeling silky smooth, hides your pores and holds your make up in place perfectly. It’s just a shame it isn't more affordable!

Vitamin E Radiance Moisture Cream

This is another product I have gone back to. I'm trying to save for my holiday so I have had to hold of splurging on my favourite Origins moisturiser, and when I walked past this in Superdrug I instantly remembered how much I loved this. It only costs £2.99 which is a complete bargain and it just gives my skin a gorgeous dewy finish. I would pay a lot more for this and will definitely not be forgetting about this again!

L’oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim

If like me you are just not skilled at a cat flick then this is the product for you. It is pretty much just like a felt tip making it easy to hold and apply. The nib is very fine so its super easy to use just above your lash line, it doesn’t smudge and lasts all day so it’s a winner in my book.

Maybelline Baby Lips Pink Punch

I’m not really one to wear lipstick every day, sometimes I just find it a bit ott to wear in the office. I have been loving the Baby lips in Pink Punch as it really keeps my lips nice and soft while adding a gorgeous subtle pink tone, perfect for everyday wear. These are also only £2.99 and so convenient to just throw into your handbag.

The make up bag is by Charlotte Tilbury and I just love it. Its elegant but still fun and a great size for traveling.

What products have you been loving lately?

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My Current Eveyday Make Up

If you had asked me 6 months ago what my everyday make up routine was I would have found it really hard to pick out the products. Reading so many blog posts and watching you tube videos I would always run out and buy the latest hyped up super products that I obviously needed in my life.

As you may or may not be aware since starting my current job my blog has been slightly neglected and hasn't had as much as my time as it deserves, this also means I haven’t had as much time to read other peoples.

As rubbish as I have been this has actually had a positive effect on my bank account and has made me realise which products I really love and keep going back to every day.

To start I prime with the Bourjois Happy Light primer, this is a product I'm really glad I jumped on the bandwagon for. I first purchased DrJart BB cream for my holiday last year as I wanted something lighter with a good spf, since purchasing this I've not looked back. I love how my skin can still breathe yet have a nice dewy finish. I apply this with my trusty buffing brush.

I'm still loving the Collection lasting perfection concealer, even though I hate the way the writing rubs off the packaging I will still continue to repurchase this. To finish my face I will apply the Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder in translucent with my Real Techniques big Duo Fibre Race brush. I then like to set my make up with the Caudalie Beauty Elixir.

I like to keep my eyes simple so usually no eye shadow, the L'oreal Super Liner in black, the Bare Minerals waterproof eyeliner for my waterline and the Benefit Bad Gal mascara for my lashes. Job done.

Cheeks is the beautiful Nars blush in Deep Throat, despite the outrageous name the product itself is beautifully subtle but easily buildable.

And last but not least for my lips I use Mac Hue.

So there we go, my current everyday face. If you do know any products that I am missing in my life please leave your recommendations in the comments!

Do you use any of these products?

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Recent Repurchases

Caudalie Beauty Elixr ♥  Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleansing Balm ♥  Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic ♥  Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder ♥  Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer  

Hi Guys! January has been the longest month for me money wise, trying to stretch my wages for 6 weeks has been a mammoth task so I have really tried to keep my spending to a minimum. There are a few products though that were essential for my survival. You know you love a product when you dread the thought of them running out and continue to repurchase over and over again even in the tight money months.

My first experience with the Caudalie Beauty Elixr was very love/hate, it wasn't until I actually finished the bottle I realised it was actually true love. You know that saying "You don't know what you got til its gone?" This is definitely how I feel about this and I appreciate it so much more now I have it back in my life.

This is my First full size Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm and I actually purchased it while I was half way though my trial size pot! I love, love, love it it's probably the best product that's ever happen to my skin.

Before I repurchased the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic I tried my hardest to find a high street toner that I loved just as much, this didn't happen. This toner is so gentle and effective it really soothes my skin but if  you do know of a high street dupe please let me know!

Make up wise, the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder and Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer are products that I've actually lost count of how many times I've repurchased. Its so good when you fall in love with products that don't break the bank, they both have a  very safe place in my make up bag for the foreseeable future.

Today I have finally been paid! Friday and pay day is such a win it actually feels like my birthday right now. I just need to try and not go crazy and spend the majority of it in the first week. Am I the only one that finds there is too much month left at the end of the money? Happy Friday everyone.

Stars of 2012

I can't believe I'm writing this post as not too sure where 2012 has gone! Nevertheless I thought I would put together a post dedicated to those products that I have had a love affair with this year.

Skincare

Since this time last year my skincare routine has had a radical makeover, long gone are the days where I can only be bothered to use face wipes to remove my make up, oh no, I'm an absolute skincare fiend! These are the products I believe that have transformed my skin this year.

Avene Gentle Gel Cleanser. After receiving a sample size of this I've never looked back, the formula is so gentle it leaves my skin feeling great. I use this every morning and if you have oily/combination skin I cannot recommend this enough.

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser. Who knew you could find such a fantastic high street version of Liz Earle! I am a fan of Liz Earle Cleanse and polish don't get me wrong, but this stuff works exactly the same and is bigger and cheaper. I use this every night and it removes every scrap of make up.

No7 Beautiful Skin Purifying Mask. Another No7 product but I had to include it. An essential for pampering my skin I cannot tell you how ridiculously velvety soft this leaves my skin feel, its like an exfoliator and mask in one, you really need to try it to understand the level of softness I'm talking about here. I love it, I use this about twice a week for a little skin treat.

Caudalie Beauty Elixr. A product that I was so hesitant to buy but can no longer live without. I love a multi purpose product and this is great as a toner, for setting your make up and for just giving my skin a boost through out the day.

Liz Earle Moisturiser  I love this stuff, I use if every night and it really helps my skin recover while I'm sleeping. I also use this before I do my make up to go out in the evening to really prep my skin.

Make Up

As with skincare my make up routine has had a massive re vamp, priming my skin? Applying foundation with a brush? Thank goodness I found the light.

MUA Undressed Palette. An amazing alternative to the Urban Decay Naked palette. MUA eyeshadows really are among the best out there, they are so pigmented and easy to blend, I cant actually remember when I reached for another Palette.

MeMeMe Seventh Heaven Moisturising Facebase. I have tried a few different high street primers but this little pot of loveliness wins hands down. It smells delicious and holds my make up in place for the majority of my day

Max Factor Eye Brigtening Mascara. I do love a mascara and has to be my favourite of the year. Its fantastic at creating volume and length but doesn't clump, leaving you with lovely luscious lashes.

Real Techniques Buffing Brush. This has probably been the most significant change in my make up routine. I use this brush to apply my foundation and it gives a completely flawless finish. I could never go back to just applying with my fingers and if you don't own this brush, why not!!

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer. This will cover your blemishes. Fact. For £4.19 its a wonderful product that I can't live without.

Hopefully while you are reading this I am in a Country pub, snuggled up by a log fire with a glass of mulled wine. I hope you had a great Christmas and got lots of new beauty products you cant wait to post about!
 

Hangover? What Hangover

'Never again!' Two words that I have said many a time. We all know the feeling, if only we had said no to that last glass of wine or had taken it easier on the shots we wouldn't be in this self inflicted mess right now.

Looking in the mirror the morning after the night before has often made me think what a state! How did I go from being dolled up to the nines to looking like I've been sleeping on the streets. Puffy eyes, dehydrated skin and a mouth as dry as the Sahara Desert are some of the horrible after effects of a night on the town.

Sometime a hangover is the perfect excuse to stay in bed with a bacon sandwich glass of water and headache tablets but sometimes, especially of the night is unplanned you need to be up and running errands. I got this idea off Rebecca's blog P0larMilk to show you how I try and hide my hangover. I can never be bothered/have enough time to do a full face but these products are essential to help take me from looking like a corpse to a kind of alive human being.

First of all I take the Superdrug Vitamin E Radiance eye cream to try and reduce the puffyness, Then I use the Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer to try and add a bit of life to my skin. I follow this with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation as I think it Gives a nice dewy finish or as the name suggests a 'Healthy' look. Next up is the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer which is great for hiding bags under my eyes, I then finish with a quick spritz of the Caudalie Beauty Elixr to set the foundation and hydrate my skin.

For eyes I heard that a nude eyeliner on the waterline is great for hiding any redness. As I dont own one of these yet I have opted for my Eyeko Eyeliner in powder pink (I got this in a Glossy Box and always wondered when it would come in handy!) I then use the Max Factor Eye Brightening Mascara to make my eyes look awake.

And Voila, thats how I try to conceal my hangover. I thought this may come in handy as its Christmas party season and all.

Do you have a hangover routine? I would love to hear some of your tips!

I had my Christmas party Last Night and oh my god did I feel rough This morning! Luckily I didn't have anything to get up for, apart from hunting for something filthy to eat. Have you had your Christmas party yet?

Beauty Blogging Influenced Products

Oh hi bandwagon, mind if I jump on? The products above are no strangers to the blogging world and while I have always loved trying new products and buying pretty things there are a few items that I have purchased just because other bloggers say they are A-ma-zing.

Liz Earle was the first brand I discovered through blogging. I couldn’t believe how many different blogs raved over her skin care, I’d never even heard of a hot cloth cleanser before and the concept really excited me. Last Christmas my sister got me the Daily Essentials kit and I completely fell in love. My favourite product would have to be the skin repair moisturiser, I use this every night and I love how it makes my skin feel. Next I really want to try the Eyebright and Deep Cleansing Mask, any more suggestions?

Ahh the Caudalie Beauty Elixr, never have I changed my mind about a product so many times! At first I didn’t really want to like it, then I did, then I thought  didn’t but at the moment I love this product, I use it after applying my foundation but before my powder and I think it gives my make up a really natural finish. I also find the scent really relaxing; it definitely has a safe place in my everyday routine.

MAC 215, Sigma f65, I’m sorry what? Make up brush numbers confuse the hell out of me I don’t know what number I need for my eyes!? Enter Real Techniques, the best value for money make up brushes ever. Fact. I adore these, the brushes are name so it’s pretty self-explanatory what they are for and they are colour coded; orange for your base, purple for eyes, and pink for a perfect finish. While these brushes are around I have no need to purchase any others.

I think beauty boxes are a great way to find new products and brands so when I heard about Glossy Box and saw some of the products people were receiving I immediately signed up. I did receive a couple of gems in my boxes including a Deborah Lippman nail polish and Burberry lipstick but after a few months I unsubscribed. I just found that half the products I received I haven’t used and I couldn’t justify spending £12 a month on sample perfumes and mini shower gels. I still enjoy reading other people received in their boxes but no product has really jumped out at me and don’t think I will be signing up to another box again soon.

I've only recently joined in on the Essie hype, after reading post after post about the colour Mint Candy Apple I kinda got a bit put off, the excitement just wasn't really there for me. However show me it a discounted price and I'm there. After purchasing some from Fragrance Direct I can see why everyone loves them, gorgeous colours and great staying power. I still haven't cracked and bought Mint Candy Apple though haha.  

Do you own any of these products? What products have bloggers influenced you to buy?

I'm so happy its Friday, I'm of out on the town with my friends tonight so it may get a bit messy. I have headache tablets at the ready for tomorrow morning! Bad news is I've woke up and pretty much lost my voice, this might please some but I'm feeling very sorry for myself :( 5 o'clock needs to hurry so I can finish work. I'm so close to finishing my Christmas Shopping too, just a couple of bits left for my mother and then I can rest. What are you up to this weekend?

Caudalie Beauty Elixr

Caudalie Beauty Elixr

Hi ladies! So today's review is a product that is brand new and you will have never heard of before…if you have been living under a rock. I know I'm a bit late to the party but I wanted to use the whole bottle before I gave you my thoughts.

The Caudalie Beauty Elixir took the beauty blog land by storm and is a product I have been tempted to buy for quite some time. The reason I put it off for so long is the price. At £9.90 for 30ml it’s not the cheapest and when you have bills coming out of your ears it’s not always possible for me to afford all the lovely products I would like to try.

Anyway at the end of summer I finally got round to purchasing this from Feel Unique, which was great timing as it came with 2 free Caudalie samples!

I think the thing that really drew me to this product is the fact it’s marketed as a ‘Beauty Elixir’ and not just another toner (which I think essentially is what it is) makes it seem that little bit more luxurious.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir smooths features, tightens pores, and gives the complexion a burst of radiance. An excellent base for make-up, Mist onto the face before your moisturiser and at any time of the day.

Apply between your foundation and powder to perfectly set make-up.this water awakens the skin in the morning and livens it up before a night out.

I have been using this after cleansing and it feels lovely on my skin, it leaves me with a really fresh feeling. I like the way the product has a pump so I can easily spritz it over my face.

 I'm always on the hunt for products that make my make up last any longer than it usually would. At first I found it quite strange applying it after my foundation but before my powder, as I've never used a setting spray before but I really did like the finish it gave.

It’s very heavily scented, which I know some people find off putting but I actually quite like it it reminds me of vicks or eucalyptus when I spray it I take a deep breath and find it quite relaxing. 

The one negative point I have with this product is that it does contains a lot of alcohol, which I usually try to avoid but it hasn't effected my skin in any way taht I can tell.

After a lot of consideration I would repurchase this. It's refreshing, sets my make up and I just really enjoy spritzing it all over my face and that's a good enough reason for me. I know I'm usually a bargain hunter but skincare is the exception, if I do like a product I have no guilt repurchasing.

Have you tried the Caudalie Beauty Elixir? What other Caudalie products would you recommend?

Holiday Heroes: Egypt

Hi ladies, today's post is dedicated to my Egypt holiday heroes. It was about 36 degrees everyday while i was there and I would not have survived without these products, well that might be a bit of an exaggeration but I certainly would be burned to a crisp and lobster red without them!

♥ Calypso Deep Tan. I got this bad boy for about £3 from body care and I used this everyday when I felt I needed to top up my SPF or if I felt I was burning. It's also supposed to help enhance your tan and I have returned pretty bronzed so I am happy.

♥ No7 Triple Protection Moisturiser. This featured in my Italy Holiday Saviours post so I knew I needed this with me. I didn't really wear make up while I was there, but this is great for a bit of extra face protection and to cover my blemishes.

♥ Caudalie Beauty Elixr. I was unsure weather to take this with me or not but I'm so glad I did, It was so refreshing to spritz onto my skin. I also used it at night after cleansing and it made my skin feel clean and like I really had got rid of all  the sun cream and salt water that had made my skin feel dry.

♥ Palmers Moisturising Lip Balm. Love this stuff. My lips usually get quite dry when there is an extreme change in temperature and this helped keep them moisturised. It also has SPF 15 which is a bonus.

♥ Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder. I used this at night time when we went out and it just helped reduce the amount of shine on my face, can't go wrong.

♥ Riemans P20. This also featured in my Italy Post and I would never go on holiday without this. It is so amazing at protecting my skin from the sun, you apply it once in the morning and it protects you all day even in water, a must for any hot holiday.