June Favourites 2015

Yes, we are already halfway through the year and I know it sounds cliché but this year is really speeding fast. It seems just like a few minutes back when I did my May Favourites. I don’t think I have too many new favourites this month because I am a creature of habit. If I see a product that I like and it works for me, I just stick to it. Of course, I am always open to new discoveries but I am very faithful to my old favourites. There are some new products I have been trying out which had to be featured in this month's fav because they are amazing. I will be posting full reviews of them soon so you can find out more. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoyed last month's favourite and do let me know what product you were loving in June.

Calvin Klein Eyeshadows

I picked these eyeshadows up from PoundLand and I know that they may have been discontinued but they are really lovely. Don’t fret about them being expired as I always check checkcosmetics.net before I purchase any product from Poundland or any other discounted store. I have to say the Poundland stores in South West London have one of the best makeup. I even recently purchased Eylure Pre-Glued False Eyelashes which are pretty expensive in regular drug stores and they were only £1 in Poundland. Anyway, I digress, back to these Calvin Klein Eyeshadows.  I picked up 8 eyeshadows and they have such amazing quality (a review may be up soon). My favourite of the lot is the shade Myrrh which is a nice mix of burgundy and dark brown. I don’t own anything like it and it is so amazing for my crease especially when I need to add some warmth. I have been using it almost everyday since I purchased it.


NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner// £19 for full size // Link // Review
I already spoke about this cute eyeliner over here but I absolutely love it. It is one of the few eyeliners that does not irritate my waterline. I think it would last me a really long time because I only use it to line my waterline. I got it as a free sample which was so kind of the NARS sales lady on the counter. It feels so creamy and glides on so effortlessly. It stays put all day and it’s surprisingly easy to remove which is always a good thing in my books. I love it!

L'Oreal Superstar Felt Tip Eyeliner// £6.99 // Link // Review
I featured this in my recent drug store haul so I won't ramble too much. It is really one of the best felt tip eye liners I have tried and I can now conclude that it has knocked  the Super Slim Eyeliner off its top spot in my books. It is sightly thicker with better control which makes it ideal for anyone to use including beginners. I have used it almost everyday without fail even though I still have a back up of my other L'Oreal ones.


Ebay Dupe Makeup Brushes// Review 
I also have mentioned these brushes in a separate post They are so cheap but good quality and I use them more than a few times in a week. My favourite of the lot is the NARS Yachiyo Brush dupe which is perfect for blending out my contour and applying blush. I think this is one of the best brush dupes I have ever come across. It has not shed at all and I have washed it more than a few times. It’s definitely been a firm favourite this month


Sleek Blush by 3 Palette (Pumpkin) //£9.99 // Link // Review
I was a little late to the Sleek Blush by 3 Palette party but I am so pleased I jumped on the bandwagon. Each time I use a shade from this palette, I keep wondering why I took so long in making it mine. It is incredibly pigmented as always and it lasts for a good while on my face unlike some blushes which disappear by midday. It’s really hard to beat the quality of this palette especially at its amazing price range. It’s truly perfect for Spring/Summer.


Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation// £30 // Link // Review
I am pretty sure this foundation has made more than a few appearances on this blog but I really enjoy using it. I love Bobbi Brown foundations because they just have the right kind of yellow undertone which suits my complexion. It’s my perfect Spring/Summer foundation because it feels exactly like your skin but better (YSBB). It does not offer as much coverage as I would like but I love the texture so much that I don’t mind using concealers in areas that need it. It’s one I highly recommend for Summer.


Wilko False Eyelashes// Link
Wilko (or Wilkinson’s) is like my favourite shop for bits and bobs. I buy majority of my blogging essentials and beauty tools (cotton pads, wipes, etc) from here. I am lucky that there is one near my  office and another one near my house. I prefer the one near my office because it’s like two minutes away and it is massive. I always raid their eyelashes sections because they are such amazing quality and feel quite natural. They only cost £1 but no one can tell when they are on your eyes. I am not yet an expert on buying lashes online; I prefer to see it before buying it. I really enjoy using it and I usually get the Natural, Glamour and Drama ones because they look so pretty. Although they are not made form natural hairs, they don’t feel scratchy at all and they feel so comfy. They are the ones I wear whenever I make YouTube videos in case you are wondering.

W7 In the Mood Eyeshadow Palette*//currently £3.92 // Link
I was kindly sent this eyeshadow palette last month and it has been one I have used a lot. It is really similar on first impressions to the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette but I think the UD version has better quality. Nevertheless, this palette has really good pigmentation with minimal fallouts. I always use it with a primer and I love the overall finish. I use majority of the shades in the palette to create a really nice neutral look which I would be sharing in a tutorial or a blog post with a full review. It is a cool toned palette but I find ways to make it work best on my complexion and it is so ideal for work, school or everyday wear.


W7 Ebony Range*// Link
I have not reviewed this yet on the blog but I have been testing it out for a little while and I am impressed. I don’t want to give away too much because I have a review coming up soon. I had no idea that W7 had an Ebony range that caters to darker skinned ladies like myself. I can tell you on first impressions that I was really delighted at the quality. They kindly sent me their Matte Lipsticks, Matte Powder, Concealer, Blushes and Liquid Lipstick. They are really lovely and I think they would suit anyone really depending on your taste. I have enjoyed using them last month and I know I will keep using them through Summer.



That's it folks!! This month came and went really quickly. I know I am sound like an absolute wimp but I am not really a huge fan of Summer. My favourite seasons are Spring and Autumn because the temperature at these periods are not extreme. Yesterday in London was super hot. I am talking about 33-34 degrees Celsius which is insane. It was hot and humid even through the night. I still love how bright everything is right now and truly people are happier when the sun is out so I am happy that everyone is happy. That's my little rant of the day. What was your absolute favourite product in June?...xx
*PR Samples + Affiliate links used, read my full disclaimer here

March Beauty Favourites

I am really pleased that March is over because it means Spring is closer than ever. I just get annoyed with March because it seems like a long month with 31 complete days. The fact that the clocks go forward and we lose one hour of precious sleep does not help matters at all. That’s my rant for the day!! Nevertheless, I enjoyed discovering new products last month and going back to some old favourites. I made a video as expected but I am also aware that sometimes, you want to read some blurb about the products. I have written a few words around some of these products but I go into more detail in my video so make sure to check it out. Here is a direct link here and the video itself is below. I would love if you subscribed to my channel here.

Dolce Gabbana Clarifying Lotion//Link

Who knew that fashion designers could make such a lovely skincare product? I received this in the Cohorted Beauty Box (review here) which I purchased in February and I absolutely love it. It contains Salicylic Acid and Lactic Acid which really help to keep my skin blemish free and decongests my pores at the same time. I really like this toner and I will be pretty sad when it finishes! I spoke more about it in the video above.

La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Sunscreen SPF 50* //Link

This is also an old favourite and I absolutely love it. I have used it now for almost two years and I can really say I cannot be without it. It ticks all the boxes for me as it’s non-greasy, gets absorbed easily and does not leave any blue/white caste after I use it. I have spoken about it here. It’s just an absolute gem and it lasts for a really long time. 

Kiko Mat Base Corrector Primer

I featured this already in its own post here and I am obsessed with it. It’s a new discovery for me and I cannot believe I never thought to try it despite hearing about it so much.  I love the way it has upped my foundation game and my makeup game in general. If your base goes well, everything else seems to fall into place. This primer is perfect for anyone whose foundation slips off during the course of the day and I absolutely love it. I have a review here where I rave about it

Makeup Forever HD Foundation (N173 Amber)

This is also a semi-old favourite which I purchased during my last trip to Paris. This is one foundation I was dying to try my hands on after reading many raving reviews. I am happy to report that it has not let me down at all. It offers a really good medium coverage that can equally be built to full coverage. I particularly love how natural it looks and I have fallen back in love with it after I discovered the Kiko Mat Base Corrector which makes it even longer lasting less dewy for my skin (I noticed it was getting dewy as the weather got warmer). I have a review here.

Black Opal True Colour Foundation Stick

Although I have always known about this foundation stick, I never thought to try it because I am not a huge fan of stick foundations (except Bobbi Brown). However, the formula of this is seriously amazing and it does not feel heavy at all. I don’t use it as a foundation rather I use it as a contour kit which is just incredible. It looks ever so natural and I love the overall look compared to using just a powder contour. I have a brief review here.

Sleek Makeup Contour Kit//Link

This is a seriously old throwback favourite but it is one that always has a special place in my stash. I even think I prefer it to the Sleek Makeup Face Form which I also own. This is more compact and I love that the Contour section is much bigger than the highlighting section which I don’t really care for. I now pair this with the Black Opal Contour and it’s just so lovely. I still use it on its own but I love using both of them together these days. I have a  brief review here

Sleek Makeup Blush Sahara//Link

I love this dual purpose blush which is a perfect shade for my skin tone although I think it will be suitable for many other skin tones. The reason why it is featuring on my favourites is because I have been using it as a crease transition eyeshadow and I am just obsessed with it. If you are not ready to splash out on MAC Rule eyeshadow, you might want to try this as it’s a little bit more subtle but really flattering on the eyes. I always use this to warm up my eyeshadow and I love it!! I briefly spoke about it here.

MAC Lipstick (Twig)//Link

This is a new favourite which I got via the Back to MAC programme where you take six empties to get a free lipstick. I don’t know about you but whenever I have a chance to get a new MAC Lipstick, I just forget what shade I want. Thankfully, I went with a friend and when we both sighted Twig, it was love at first sight. It’s a perfect warm pinkish mauve shade which is ideal for an everyday look. I have been wearing it a lot and I fear it may finish soon. I think I love it more because it was free!!

Jo Malone Tuberose Angelica Cologne//Link
This has been featured in a few posts already but it is one of my favourite perfumes. I received it as a birthday present from the BF and I know it will definitely remain a favourite all through the year. I just love it and it always seems so fresh and season appropriate whenever I wear it. I love the rich blend of Tuberose which seems to linger on my skin all through the day. I recently started layering it with my other Jo Malone perfumes and it's just so incredible. I have a review here


Real Techniques Collector's Edition Sculpting Set//Link
I raced to Superdrug when this collection was launched because I have recently been into contouring. It was already sold out when I got there so I had to ask the sales assistant who had to check in their warehouse and luckily for me, there was one left. I love every brush in this collection and there are so useful for contouring and highlighting. It definitely makes a difference but I won't talk much about it on here yet because a full review is on its way.


Bourjois Color Band Eyeshadow Stick//Link
I have already spoken about this already and I really like them. I even went back to buy the sixth shade (The Black one) which is amazing for smokey eye looks and I have been enjoying it. However, my favourites are Rose Fauviste (4), Mauve Baroque(3) and Brun Dadaiste(2). They are just incredible and I use them almost everyday. I have sharpened them once and it was not too bad at all. There was minimal wastage which is really impressive. I have a review here

iPhone 6
This is my only-non beauty favourite for this month. I really liked my iPhone 5 but the iPhone 6 is definitely much better. It has a bigger screen so emails and browsing the internet has a better feel on this phone than the iPhone 5. I really like the gold colour as well; I feel it goes well with all the other things I love. I may do a techy post soon because I am also obsessed with techy stuff like computers, apps, cameras, software, etc although I won't say I am an expert.


That’s pretty much all my favourites and I realise it’s quite a lot of favourites but I just love them all and I have thorough enjoyed using them this month. I hope you enjoyed this post. Don’t forget to enter for the La Roche Posay Giveaway here. What was your absolute March Favourite?

*PR Sample and some affiliate links may be used above, see my full disclaimer here

January 2015 Favourites (Non Beauty)

I can’t believe we are approaching the end of January already but I am really glad it is ending. I don’t know about you but January always seems like the longest month for me because it feels like forever before I get paid at work. If you work in a regular 9-5 job (and get paid at the end of the month), you would probably have been last paid a week or so before Christmas. This means you have endured a six week gap before you get paid at the end of January * a big high five*. Anyway,  I thought it would be nice to share a few of my favourite non-beauty items just before the usual January 2014 Favourites goes up.

Q&A a day 5-Year Journal

I heard about this journal a few years ago but I just forgot to get it. I think somewhere in my mind, I thought it was huge. It’s quite the opposite as it’s really small and easy to pop in your hand bag if you wish. The Q&A 5-year journal is essentially a journal that lets you make an entry for five years. It’s not your typical diary where you write all about your day and all (I had so many diaries when I was younger). Every day you get new questions to answer which gives you something to look forward to at the end of the day. One of my favourite questions so far was "what makes "you" you? I love how easy these questions are and you don't have to think deeply to answer them because they are fun.  I really love this journal and I can't wait to read what I have written by this time next year since it will also be on the same page. I also thought it would be nice to start in 2015 so by 2020, I would have completed it BGG and it would be amazing to look back on what changes I have made in my life. I got mine from Amazon for only £10.49 with free delivery.



Oliver Bonas Scarf
My first Oliver Bonas scarf was given to me by my lovely colleague in my former office and I loved the scarf so much (it's actually the one on my profile picture). One day, it went missing just like that. I was so sad because it was a really sentimental gift from her (it was my farewell gift) and I think I may have left it on the bus to work. So, I really wanted to get another Oliver Bonas Scarf even though they are a little pricey and cost £24. During their sales, I got this Soft Blue Printed Scarf for only £5.00. Can you believe it? Nah, neither can I.  It was originally £24 so I felt really pleased to get such a huge discount. Most Oliver Bonas Scarves are very soft and feel silky even though I think they are just polyester/cotton. This scarf goes with a lot of outfits and adds some colour to my overall look since I usually stick to neutral colours. I think this scarf will be even more amazing during Spring.


Oliver Bonas Socks
These socks were actually what drew me into the Oliver Bonas store because they just looked so comfy and colourful. I don't think I have ever had such colourful socks and I am slightly obsessed with them. They are quite long which is good especially for just chilling at home. They come in this amazing packaging/box which I love to leave them in when they are washed and clean.  It just feels extra special bringing them out from this box (I am so silly). They go on my feet immediately I get home and it makes me feel very relaxed. They were also on sales for £4. I may have even worn it under my Boots to work a few time; they are that comfy...hehehehe



Lauren Ralph Lauren Caldwell Equestrian Wallet
I got this lovely wallet during Christmas and I absolutely love it. I generally love wallets and I tend to change my wallet once a year. This is my first designer wallet even though I think it's one of the diffusion lines from Ralph Lauren. It is a bi-fold wallet which means it does not have a zip closure but it has a small click button or closure which secures the wallet. The only snag is it won't close if you overload it which is really good as it forced me to downsize my wallet to the barest essentials. I love the design and all the lovely compartments it has for cards. It has a small zipped compartment at the back for coins and any other random stuff you want to throw in. It looks small but it's actually a normal size wallet and it can hold  a whole lot more than you would expect. I may do a separate review with more pictures of it. It is a really good quality and I know it will last for ages.




Candles
During A/W, I love to burn candles because they put me in a good mood and they actually keep me warm. I am not really too fussed with candles but I like scented/fragranced ones. If they also have lovely packaging, that's even more incentive to purchase them#bloggerissues. One of my current favourite candles is from Our Own Candle Company in Ho Ho Ho (I think it's a USA brand) and I was drawn to it particularly because of its packaging. It smells lovely and burns evenly without tunnelling (what happens when the edges of the candle don't burn along with the middle). It smells faintly of mulled wine and it has lasted me for a long time. I am quite anxious to get my hands on the packaging (Kilner Jar/Cup)  when it is burnt out because it will be useful for my smoothies. Its original price was £12 but I got it on sales for £6 in a store called Chickidees in Bentalls Centre, Kingston.




Artificial Potted Succulent Plant
Ohhhh did you think it was just a blog prop? Well, it has served well as a lovely blog prop and has made a few features on the blog already. However, it is one of things I have been loving this month as it is really different from the normal plants/flowers I would go for. It's a fake plant obviously but I think it looks very realistic and it photographs really well. I got it from Sainsbury's for only £2. I buy majority of my blogging props from Sainsbury's Home section because they just have the best hidden gems. That's pretty much all I have been loving this month. What have you been loving this month? See you in my next post...xx
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