July Favourites

(L-R Dior Amber Diamond, Rimmel Nude Delight)

Is it really August tomorrow? This has been the fastest year ever. Anyway, I haven't done a monthly favourites post in a while so thought I'd share with you some products I've been reaching for this month. Some of them are products I've had for a while and recently rediscovered my love for and a couple are new favourites.

Dior Amber Diamond - The weather had (not anymore) been gorgeous this month so my go to every day look was bronzed and natural and I loved finishing it off with a dusting of Amber Diamond highlighter on my cheekbones and brow bone. I won this highlighter in Emma's blog giveaway last November and it's been a favourite highlighter in my collection ever since. I also love using it in the inner corners of my eye when I'm going on a night out, it looks gorgeous with a gold smoky eye. Also, there is hardly a dent in it, it's lasting me so long so I think it's definitely worth the £32.00 price tag as it's such a gorgeous, luxury product. I really want to get my hands on Rose Diamond as well.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - This is my third tube of the Effaclar Duo but up until recently I had run out and was using an Origins moisturiser instead. While I liked it, I definitely noticed a difference in my skin when I went back to using the Effaclar Duo. I feel like my skin is much clearer and my pores aren't as clogged when I'm using this, so it's here to stay from now on. I got this for £13.00 from Boots.

Batiste Dry Shampoo XXL Volume - I always need at least two cans of Batiste dry shampoo in my drawer as it's one of my favourite hair products. The main reason is because I'm far too lazy to wash my hair all the time but I also love that it gives my hair some extra volume - I even use dry shampoo after I've washed my hair to give it some texture. My favourite one at the moment is the XXL Volume, it's gives my hair amazing volume without back combing as well as refreshing it between washes. I've tried so many dry shampoos but they never work as well for me as Batiste does, it's also one of the cheapest!

Rimmel Nude Delight - I've finally found the perfect nude lipstick for me, yay! Now that I've got a tan and my skins darker some of my nude lipsticks look a bit light on me but Nude Delight is just perfect. It's a bit darker and more brown than my usual nudes but it works well with my skin tone. This is one of the Moisture Renew lipsticks so it's not drying on the lips at all which I love. I've been reaching for this a lot this month whether it be for work or a night out. I really recommend it if you've got slightly darker skin and looking for a nude that doesn't give you the dreaded 'concealer lips' look.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere - As I've ran out of my all time favourite foundation, Armani Lumious Silk I've been reaching for my Perfection Lumiere this month. I bought this a while ago and hardly used it but now I've been wearing it almost every day and I've fell back in love with it. This is one of the highest coverage Chanel foundations and also has more of a matte finish than the rest which has been perfect for the warmer weather (no shiny t-zone). Even though the coverage is medium/high it still gives me a really natural finish. I reviewed this foundation back in March and you can also see me wearing it in this post here.

MAC 217 Brush - I have no idea how I coped before this brush was in my life as this is essential for doing my eye makeup these days, especially to blend out a smoky eye. I like to apply my eye shadow in my crease then use a clean 217 to blend it out for a seamless look. Thank you Pixiwoo and Tanya Burr for telling me I needed this brush in my collection, you were right! I'm thinking of picking up another one so that I have one to apply my eye shadow and a clean one to blend.

So that's all the products I've been loving this month. What are some of your July favourites?

L'Oreal Paris False Lash Telescopic Waterproof Mascara

Mascara is the one item in my makeup bag that I like to switch up a lot and I don't exactly have one particular HG brand. A few of my favourites include Dior Show, Maybelline The Falsies and Benefit They're Real! and now I have another one to add to my list - L'Oreal Telescopic. I'd always seen Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup rave about this mascara but never really thought about picking it up until I ran out of my Falsies and headed into Boots in search of something new to try. I'm really picky about mascaras but since I trust Anna's judgement I decided to give it a go.

The main things that I look for in a mascara is length and volume (obviously) at the same time, sometimes I find it hard for a mascara to give me both of these together but Telescopic definitely does. I also really like the thin, plastic brush which makes it really easy to do my bottom lashes as well. I usually always prefer plastic mascara wands as I feel that they coat each individual lash and make my lashes look more defined. Also when L'Oreal say waterproof, they mean waterproof, like I can even put my face directly under the shower without it budging. However, there is also a downside to this - it's so bloody hard to remove! I really need to invest in a good eye makeup remover (any recommendations are welcome) but I've also heard Bioderma does the job nicely. Sadly, I've ran out of my Bioderma and haven't got round to repurchasing it yet so getting this baby off at night is a chore. It's worth it for long, fluttery eyelashes though, right?

Overall, I'm really impressed with this mascara and it's definitely one I can see myself repurchasing. I paid £10.99 for this at Boots which is a bargain compared to my usual Dior or Benefit one. Have you tried this mascara before? What's your favourite?

HyrdoPeptide Instant Peptide Miracle Mask

Ever since I started blogging and taking care of my skin, face masks have became a staple in my weekly skincare routine so I was intrigued to try out the HydroPeptide Instant Peptide Miracle Mask*. I hadn't heard much about HydroPeptide, an award winning anti-ageing skincare range that uses peptides and stem cell technology to help your skin look smoother, brighter and younger but once I read up on it, it sounded like something I'd be willing to try. If you're interested in knowing exactly how it works, you can read more here. 

The product that caught my eye was the mask which claims to exfoliate, rejuvenate, hydrate, firm and brighten your skin and contains collagen plumping peptides, enzymes and antioxidants. The mask gives you both the benefits of a gel mask for hydration and a clay mask for pore cleansing - no need for two separate masks in your routine! The enzymes accelerate the skins natural shedding process and stimulates skin cell renewal which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (I know it all sounds very technical).

I've been using this as part of my skincare routine twice a week for about a month now which is the recommended time for you to be able to notice a difference to your skin. I apply a thin layer of the mask, leave it for about 10 minutes then wipe it off using a muslin cloth (you don't have to do this, I just prefer it). Now I don't have any wrinkles at all yet (it is called ANTI-ageing after all) but do have a few fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead. After using this I can definitely see a difference and my skin looks plumper and smoother. The thing that I noticed instantly after taking it off was that my skin looked fresher and brighter but it did take a couple of weeks for me to notice the lines fading. I am really happy with the results I got from this mask, it's left me with firm and glowing skin!

I have even done a bit of research and not seen one bad review on these product and the good thing is that it's suitable for all skin types, even sensitive! I'm always a bit skeptical about anti-ageing products but this one really does seem to work and I'll be using it until the tub is completely empty. Did I mention it's cruelty free? So if you're wanting to stop the ageing process or get rid of a few fine lines and wrinkles I definitely recommend having a look at the HydroPeptide products. The mask costs £30 which is roughly what I'd may for a really good mask anyway and you can buy it online at Beauty Time Therapies.

Have you tried any of the HydroPeptide products?

*PR Sample

Currently Loving: Midi Rings

I had been lusting after the River Island midi rings that a few bloggers had been wearing for a while but never got round to buying them, so when I noticed some packs in H&M for just £3.99 I decided to buy a couple. I'm now addicted! Since buying them I've been wearing them everyday and also bough a couple of other packs. They look good on their own as well as paired with some normal rings to finish an outfit off.

I really wish I'd got the RI ones now. What do you think? Have you bought into the midi ring trend yet? My aunt asked me why I was wearing rings that were too small for me!

P.S in case anyone's wondering my nail polish is one of the Barry M Gelly's in Passion Fruit - one of my favourite Summer colours.

Lauren Conrad Inspired Everyday Makeup

Two of my favourite Beauty and Fashion books to flick through and get inspiration from are Lauren Conrad 'Style' and Lauren Conrad 'Beauty.' Why? Because Lauren has been one of my style icons every since her Laguna Beach days (yes, I wore denim pedal pushers with white tops back in the day just to be like LC). Nowadays Lauren's hair and makeup is flawless and I always love to try and recreate it. I though I'd do a bit of a different post today and do an everyday makeup inspired by one of the looks in her beauty book as it's really similar to the makeup I wear to work on a daily basis. 

This is such a simple makeup look and only takes about 10 minutes to do which is perfect for those early mornings before work. It's also really good for Summer when you don't want to wear as much makeup during the day. All you need to create the look is foundation, concealer, powder, bronzer, blusher, eyeliner, mascara and a natural lipstick/gloss. Here are the list of products that I used:

• Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation
• Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer
• Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent Powder 
• NARS Laguna Bronzer
• Benefit Coralista Blush
• Maybelline Gel Liner in Black
• L'Oreal Telescopic Waterproof  Mascara
• Revlon Juicy Papaya Lip Butter 

This beauty book is packed full of easy hair and makeup looks that every one can try at home along with some great skincare and health tips too. If you fancy picking this up I got it on Amazon for about £8.

So far I have all of Lauren's books, even her novels and I can't wait for the next one to come out! Do you own any of her books? 

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask

I know what you're thinking, yet another post on the REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask but as this has fast became the favourite part of my skincare routine I just had to write about it. I've stepped up my skincare routine drastically in the past couple of months (for years I only used face wipes and a cheap moisturiser, I'm sorry) and masks have become a big part of it. When my sister was in New York she very kindly picked me up the REN mask as I'd been going on about it ever since I read a couple of rave reviews and it's been one of my go to masks the past month along with the Origins Clear Improvements one.

The Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask is an exfoliating mask made up of Glycolic, Lactic, Citric and Tartaric acids and contains extracts of passion fruit, grape, pineapple and lemon. It removes dead skin cells to renew the complexion, improves skin tone and reduces the appearance of fine lines while combating congestion, blackheads and blemishes for healthier, more radiant looking skin.

The mask has quite a gooey texture which feels a bit strange when you first use it but the fruity smell is amazing! I use it about 2 times a week and apply 2-3 pumps all over my face and leave it to work it's magic for 10 minutes (sometimes longer depending on what I'm doing). When it's time to remove it, you just dampen the muslin cloth that also comes in the box and use it to gently wipe of the mask. You might experience a tingling sensation but that's normal with a product like this.

Now for the results...I can honestly say from the first use I noticed a difference, my skin was glowing and feeling super soft. I've been using this for about a month now and my skin is looking the best it has in a long time. It's looking brighter, clearer, my pores aren't as noticeable and I can see a huge difference in my skin tone. I usually suffer from bad redness on my cheeks and nose but since using this it has calmed down a lot and my skin tone is looking much more even. As for the fine lines, I'm not too sure? I don't really have any fine lines.

Overall, I 100% recommend this mask, although it does say to avoid it if you have sensitive skin. At £30 it is a tad expensive but in my opinion it's worth every penny and I'll definitely repurchase it when the time comes. If you fancy trying it you can buy it online here.

Are there any other miracle masks that I need in my life? I really want to try the Aesop Parsley Seed one next!

phil smith BE GORGEOUS: Big It Up! Range

As someone that has fine, poker straight hair I find it really hard to get that bounce and volume that I always desire. If there's a hair product out there with the word 'volume' written on it, I've probably bought it and to be honest not a lot of them have impressed me. So, in my strive for big hair I've been trying out some new products for the past 3 weeks - the phil smith BE GORGEOUS, Big It Up! range*

BE GORGEOUS is a new range exclusive to Sainsbury's that caters for everyone's hair needs whether you're looking for volume, shine, moisture or heat defence. There are also products for coloured hair and different types of hair (straight, curly) so there really is something for everyone. As the only problem I really have with my hair is that's its flat and lifeless, I decided to go for volume which is perfect for flat or fly-away hair.

There are five products in the Big It Up! range:

Volume Boosting Shampoo & Conditioner £3.99*: Together these products add volume and fullness to limp hair with the weightless conditioner adding a gorgeous shine. I only usually wash my hair 2-3 times a week but when I was on holiday I had to wash it every day because of the sand, sea and chlorine etc. so I was worried that conditioning it so much would weigh it down. Surprisingly I did not find this at all with this product and my hair stayed big and bouncy all night which I was really impressed with. I'd repurchase both of these products as I've found that they work really well with my hair.

Volume Boosting Spray £4.09*: I find the volumising spray the most convenient product to work with, a few spritz and you're good to go. I like to spray this in my roots, comb through and blow dry my hair upside down for maximum volume. I've used this in the photo above but I'd taken the picture after a full day at work so it has lost some of the volume but usually my hair is stuck flat to my head by this time! It definitely adds bounce to my hair which I don't usually get from just blow drying alone.

Volume Boosting Mousse £2.99*: I'm not a big fan of mousse as I can usually still feel it in my hair once it's been blow dried and it weights it down a lot. However, this particular mousse feels really light in my hair which surprised me but I think I'd still rather go for the spray over it. Personally, I've just always prefered spray or cream over mousse so I don't think I'd repurchase this.

Thickening Volume Cream £4.09*: Out of all three of the styling products I'd say this one is my favourite. I love the cream formula which adds volume as well as texture to my hair and I tend to use this one when I'm going out as it holds my style all night. This would definitely be something that I repurchase as I've never found a styling product that thickens my hair as much as this one. It does say on the tube that it's for short to medium styles but I love how it works on my long hair.

During the day I'd normally just blow dry my hair and leave it but when I'm going out I like to backcomb it and I feel like these products have really helped to hold it in place. Overall, I'm really impressed with this range, especially the shampoo and conditioner and the thickening cream. You can have a little read about the range on the Phil Smith Website and purchase it in store at Sainsbury's or online here.

Have you tried any products from this affordable range yet?