Best Make-up of 2016

2016 was a good year for me. One of the best I've had in a while and I'll actually be sad to see it go. Might be the minority of people that think that but hay ho. 2016 saw me buying a car and passing my driving test, finally getting into 3rd year of uni, getting a new job which I love and seeing so many amazing and new places. I made quite a few great beauty purchases too and cut back on bulk buying by a huuuuge amount - at least compared to how much makeup I bought in 2015 anyway. This did mean that my purchases were all things that I liked, but this post is for all the things I love!

Compared to 2015, I wore sooo much more perfume in 2016. I made a few new fragrance purchases and I love the scents I got. The fragrance I've been loving most though throughout the majority of the year is YSL Black Opium. Everything about this perfume is amazing, the bottle is sheer perfection and the scent, oh wow. Its so sophisticated and such a grown up scent. I always get compliments on it when I wear it, its odd to be told you smell nice but its also so good to know that other are able to smell it and that it smells as good to others as it does to you. 

My next favourite is the Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette. I got this a matter of weeks before it was released in the UK, I waited a long time to get my mittens on it and I was so chuffed when I finally got to use it. I've not used all the shades in the palette, cause frankly I'm too pale for some of the contour shades but the lightest shade is the perfect match for my skin - in terms of the ideal contour shade... The highlight shades are so good to, I've played around with the first and middle shades and they give a really nice soft subtle glow. The shades blend brilliantly, and so far I've had no muddy faced disasters. 
Another favourite from Kat Von D is her Tattoo Liner. The one I have is only a sample, but I'm absolutely certain that the full sized version will be getting bought very soon. At this point I'd hate for it to run out, because its genuinely the best liner I've tried. I used to be so big on the gel pen type but this felt tip one is life. It gives the blackest of lines and you can control the line so so so well. Because the nib is so thin, its also super easy to control the thickness and get a super thin line towards the inner eye. I'm really fussy with eye liners, and this one gets all the thumbs up from me. 

Highlighter wise, discovering Hidden Cosmetics was game changing for me. Their products are amazing, and the glow you get from these highlighters is amazing. I find the best way to apply them is with the Zoeva Luxe Highlighting brush, which is another firm favourite for my makeup loves. The brush just blends everything out ridding harsh glowing edges for a more dimmed glow look.
I was gonna try force a few more favourites, but the only other things I could think of are things that I got right before Christmas, so didn't think it was fair - cause really they haven't been tried and tested enough. The Huda Beauty palette almost made the cut but that'll have its own post v soon. So these 5 products have been absolute must haves for me in 2016, god bless them and I'll not be without them in 2017!

November Favourites

It's been awhile since I sat down and wrote a post of any sort. I'm not really sure where to start if I'm honest with you, I am sorry for not posting anything for a couple of weeks, university and work has just drained me so much that I've had no time to do anything. 

Today though I'm back, back with a November Favourites! 

Two hair products have been well loved this month. I don't get up nearly early enough in the mornings and I need something, anything that'll help reduce drying time. First up we have the Schwarzkopf Supersoft Detangling Spray, this spray smells amazing - very fruity smelling and a few sprays in the hair make it super easy to brush through. It doesn't say it helps with drying time but it definitely does, spraying this in my hair is definitely helps. 
I've also been loving using the Ojon Rare Blend Oil, a few drops in my damp hair and not only does my hair feel so soft and lovely, it also seems to dry quicker. The scent of the oil is odd, but nice, I just cant quite put my finger on what exactly it smells like. I only got myself a tiny bottle just in case I didn't like it, but I'd have been so glad even if I had have gotten the full sized bottle. 

The next set of things i'm gonna talk about is some of the skincare bits I've been using. At the beginning of the month I bought myself a bunch of new skincare things, my skin was in horrendous condition, a big ball of oil and spots. Origin's has once again been my saviour! Every morning I use the Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser on my face, it doesn't leave my skin feeling tight, I follow this up with the Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner and the Super Spot Remover. These three combined have seriously helped my skin, its less oily and I've only the odd breakout now, my manager even noticed that my skin was considerably clearer in recent weeks. 
Oily skin gals, try the Zero Oil range out if you've not already I honestly don't think you'd regret it! 

Final two things I've been loving this month is the Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm and one of the Kat Von D Studded Lipsticks. I've recently repurchased Nuxe Reve De Miel and I forgot how much I loved it. It is just such a good lip balm for keeping your lips feeling nice and soft with no cracks or anything over the winter. Unlike most cheap lip balms this one doesn't need to be reapplied constantly, just in the morning and in the evening is more than enough.
Any time I've worn makeup recently, the only colour thats made its way on my lips is Kat Von D Love Craft. I got this when I ordered from Sephora a while back, you can see what I got here if ya like,  its just a sample size but its such a lovely lip colour. Definitely you're lips but 1000000x better! I really want to try more of Kat Von D's lipsticks cause this one is amazing! 
What have you been loving this month? 

Top Make-up Products Of 2015

2015 didn't seem to last very long did it? Quite frankly I'm glad for it to be over as it really just wasn't my year, lots went wrong for me and it ended up being a very sad year for me. It wasn't all bad though, as not only did I meet my amazing boyfriend in 2015 I tried so many new things and am fairly happy now and hoping to be even happier in 2016. 
But today I thought that I'd share my top products of 2015! 

Foundation - For me I have to say that the Too Faced Born This Way is definitely the one that comes out on top for me. Its just everything I could ever ask for from a foundation: high coverage, great colour match for me and doesn't go flakey or patchy like some others that I've tried. 

Concealer - There's really only one concealer I use, I have others but from trying them they just haven't lived up to the high expectations that my favourite has set. My favourite really has to be the Seventeen Phwoarr Paint - its cheap, its high coverage and it lasts forever! Although its marketed as being an under eye concealer I use it for concealing everything and anything that could do with that little bit extra help. It is an amazing under eye concealer - but I also use it for covering redness, spots, cleaning up brows and around my lips after apply lipstick. Its an absolute dream of a concealer. 

Bronzer/ Contour - I've really only ever tried a handful of bronzers, but of al the ones I've tried NARS Laguna always comes out on top! I've had this bronzer for the longest time - I think about 2 years... - and although it is a bit of an investment (it certainly isn't cheap) you will most certainly get your moneys worth out of it! I've only just recently hit pan and there is still so much more use to get out of it. I think when you have that one product that you just love, its hard for anything else to top it. 

Highlight - The highlighter I've been loving this year is actually not branded, its made by a lovely girl who I originally found on Depop, but I think she now only is active on Instagram... Her instagram is here, and of her highlighters the one I have is Tinker, I've got this tiny tiny little pan of it and its lasted me so long, I'm needing to get a new one soon though so I'll be placing an order again with her soon. 

Brow Product - This one wasn't too easy to decide on my favourite for, I love the Benefit Gimmie Brow, but I figure mine has been empty for months and I've not yet repurchased it, so is it really my favourite? Probably not... My favourite is definitely Illamasqua's Precision Brow Gel. I'm pretty sure this is meant to be Illamasqua's version of the Anastasia Dip Brow, but obviously you can get to look at the colours and ask for help from the counter girls with the Illamasqua option. It is just a dream to use, and it doesn't seem like it plans on running out any time soon! 

Eye Liner - Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner Pen - hands down, no question about it! I had won the Benefit Push up Liner and liked it a fair bit, but then I saw this in Boots and decided to give it a go, and fell in love with it. I find that is is so much easier to apply on myself than the Benefit one. It is a really black line too, it does take a bit of getting used to when your applying it, but once you get the hang of it, it looks great and doesn't budge once its set. 

Eye Shadow - This year I've been all about using the Urban Decay Basics Palette. The colours in it are so nice and really compliment each other, you can't make loads of looks with this but for daily wear the colours are perfect
Make-up Tool - BeautyBlender. Hands down the best thing I've used for applying foundation and concealer. I definitely want to buy another one, would save me needing to constantly clean it. I just feel that the BeautyBlender is 1000% better than the cheaper alternatives and is well worth the money. 

I left a few categories out, but thats just cause I genuinely couldn't think of anything to put for them or had too many favourites to list. 

What have you been loving make-up wise this year? 

November Favourites

I was trying to think of things that I've been loving this month, and at first I really wasn't sure. But I've come up with a few things that this month I've been absolutely adoring. Without further warbling and rabbeting, lets see what I've been loving. 

The colder weather has done a number on my skin, with my lips taking the worst of the cold. They feel permanently sore and tight, every year they do this as soon as the weather gets colder. These two products I've found really help my lips feel nicer, look nicer and sting less. First up is my trusty, Nuxe Reve De Miel lip balm. I got this last year for my birthday in August, I use it every day at least once a day (two or three times a day in the winter months) and its only just beginning to look like it might be running out soon. I doubt I'll need to buy a new one this side of the new year though. I put a really decent and thick amount of this on my lips and just under them, because this is such a luxe product it takes a wee while to sink in fully, it really does wonders for your lips. Its kind of like a mini treatment for the lips. Once that lip balm begins to wear off, I move on to the more travel friendly of the two - I say this because this is in a tube, where as the Nuxe one is a glass jar. The Lucas Pawpaw Ointment (which I now can't find anywhere!) is a wonderful multi use product, I really only use it on my lips - more so when they are overly chapped or sore, like how they are now. I take this almost everywhere with me, and it doesn't need reapplied overly often - major plus. It goes on really easily and just like with the Nuxe one, you can feel it on your lips for some time after applying it. 

Another product I've been loving using is the Micropedi, I got mine when it was on star gift - so its one of the Nails Inc ones. I tend to use this a couple of times a week and moisturise my feet really well. It really doesn't take long to see results with this, within a few days of using it you can really see and feel a difference in your feet. I tend to have quite hard skin on my feet, and this really sorts this out for me. I was so sceptical about this, but I'm so glad I bought it - I'm a bit annoyed I didn't buy one earlier. 

Another item I've been loving recently is this super soft (and huge!) scarf from New Look. I got it before fireworks night, its black white and pink tartan. Its just the absolute softest and cosiest thing ever, for £14.99 I couldn't really say no - could I? 

A few make-up items now to finish off my favourites for this month. Benefit's Fine One One has been an absolute staple for me this month. Every time I've slapped some make-up on my face this has gone on. Swipe swipe blend blend. Done. It just gives the nicest flush of colour, utterly perfect for me. 

Next, is the new Maybelline liner. Its a dupe for the Benefit one, but I actually prefer it to the Benefit one - I've found recently that the Benefit one flakes and the colour comes away - boo! Also its a fraction of the cost, so if its not for you, then you haven't spent all your hard earned pennies. 

It's that time of the year again girls, MAC Rebel has become a staple in my make-up routine. Cold weather comes, and along with it comes dark lips. This dark pink/ purple is beautiful and I couldn't ask for more from a lipstick. I fall in love with it a little more each time I wear it. 

June Favourites

Monthly favourites time! I've done almost nothing since my holidays started and I'm so confused as to where the time is gone - I mean I now have just over a month until my University resits. Oh god, wish me luck. I'm trying so hard to keep posts coming onto my blog whilst studying - so I'm sorry if the posts stop for a little while.

 My entire house has been smelling of this beauty, my brother - as savvy as he is - made a tart and a few tea-lights out of the extra wax from another one of these giant candles. Every room smells like this - so lovely. Even when this isn't burning it smells amazing.

 Two bath products from the Body shop. Anyone that knows me will know that my absolute favourite body scrub is the Breakfast Scrub from Soap and Glory but this Blueberry Scrub Gelee is amazing! It smells, looks and feels like jam! It gives a really nice, not overly abrasive scrub and from the get go I was majorly impressed by this - could maybe be my new go to? I love baths, I love bubbles in my bath and I love honey scented things. The Honeymania bath melt ticks all the boxes for me, it smells divine! I just pop a wee bit in the lid and run it under the tap, it makes the softest, silkiest bubbles - and obviously they smell so good.

 The Stylfile is something I've been interested in for ages, but was always wary of buying it because it is almost a fiver to buy and well - I kind of thought it was maybe a bit of a gimmick. Its not a gimmick though! It really isn't. Its so easy to get a nice round shape for your nail and its pretty much effortless. The only slight thing with it is that I think you might need to replace it every month as I've already pretty much filed it as much as I can. Sigh.

The Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream, now I bought this donkeys ago and basically shoved it in a drawer shortly after buying it. I've been wearing this a lot though recently and I've really been liking how it looks and feels on my skin. I'm not sure if I like it because its good or if I like it because its beginning to run out - I take great joy in finishing a product. I'm weird I know. Any time I wear foundation I apply the Smashbox primer before hand - I'm not sure if my makeup lasts longer after applying this or what, but I find that my foundation just sits and looks better on my face. Final item is something I recently got from a blog swap recently - and I love it! The Pacifica Color Quench lip balm, smells like heaven and gives a pretty sheer tint for the lips.

So thats that, all the things I've been enjoying this month. What have you been loving this month?

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January Favourites

I didn't do a favourites for December, for me December tends to be a month where I use the same old products and tend to use as little as possible. But January is one of my favourite months of the year - most people hate January, you spend loads and the build up to Christmas and New Year is gone. Not me though - I love January, I buy loads of new products and try so many new things. This month I've got 8 products that I've been completely loving this month.

I have four make-up bits that I've been using basically non-stop since getting them. The first is an Illamasqua blush in the shade Lover, I got this on their sale - as soon as it arrived I was in love with it. Love at first sight. It is the perfect peachy coloured blush, it looks lovely on my skin - fair skinned girls, this will be your best friend. It is highly pigmented though, so you only need a tiny bit - and if you needed to then you could build it up. 

Another make-up item I've been loving is my NARS Laguna Bronzer. As soon as I had it applied to my face I knew I wanted needed it in my life. I got mine from ASOS since I could get student discount on it. Again for fair skinned girls this is perfect. I didn't own a bronzer before this and I'd honestly be happy if I never tried another one. This one is just perfect for adding a bit of colour to the face and to contour with - it doesn't look muddy or orange, and its subtle enough for daily use. I'm completely smitten with this. 

Second last make-up item is my wonderful YSL Baby doll mascara. It makes my lashes look so so so lovely, fluffy, full of volume and incredibly long. Everything about this is perfect (apart from the price), the packaging is beautiful - the gold with red writing looks so sleek - and the way it makes my lashes look - magnificent. I really am so glad that it is as wonderful as it is, it makes it worth the price you pay. 

Final make-up bit, if you can call it make-up, is my Nails Inc polish in the colour Baker Street. It is the most beautiful blue colour, its not as dark as I'd like it to be but I think that makes it an all year round kind of colour. I got this is in the Nails Inc Nail polish Diary back in the sales, I've not tried all the colours yet but this is one of the ones I've tried most, and I've basically worn it all month. Must be love. 

The next few things I've been loving are skin care items, two of the items I've included I haven't been using for very long but I love them so much already so I thought I had to include them. The first thing I've been loving is my Origins Checks and Balances Frothy cleanser. This for starters smells amazing, very minty and lovely. You only need a tiny amount to wash your face and it fixes any dry or oily bits you may have, I use this in the morning and I think it really helped to control my shiny forehead. Before using this between my eye brows and on my nose was quite dry and the rest of my face was quite oily - but I genuinely think this has helped to fix that. I'm really wanting to now try more of Origins products since this one is so good.

The second cleanser I've been loving recently is the REN ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser - such a mouthful to say. It smells reasonably nice - sort of lavendery, with a slight herbally smell. When you use it, you skin is left feeling really fresh and soft, I also I think this has helped with the redness in my skin - I've noticed in the past few weeks that my cheeks and stuff don't look nearly as red as it used to. 

The last skin care thing I've been really enjoying using is Hydraluron. I don't know really what this has done for my skin, but I do think my skin looks and feels better for using it. I think when it runs out I'm going to leave repurchasing it for a few weeks to see if I can notice my skin going downhill slightly - I think its easier to see your skin getting worse than improving. 

The final thing I've been loving is by Avon. Its their Planet Spa Sleep Serenity Pillow Spray. The pillow spray smells really nice, its Lavender and Camomile scented, when I smell it I feel really calm and sleepy. I don't think it helps me fall asleep, per say, but I do think it helps me have a better night sleep - when I wake up I feel a lot better and so much more rested. I think it also helps my brain to think less when I use it, it relaxes me and helps my brain calm down - I tend to have a lot on my mind when I go to sleep. 

So that's everything I've been loving this month.

What have your favourites been? 

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November Favourites

Goodbye November and HELLO DECEMBER. Santa is coming to town boys and girls. December is going to be my month - I will make sure it is. I finish for Christmas on the 13th, I have workout clothes so that means I will be going for some runs, and work is going pretty well.
This month I've been loving quite a few new products - and loving the same old ones, but no point in mentioning those ones again.

Anatomicals Help The Paw Hand Cream

I got this in a beauty box, Love Me Beauty I think, and at first I just put it in a box out of the way. But recently I've had really dry hands and none of the ones I usually use have been working for me. This one however, is amazing! After I use it my hands feel soft, it doesn't feel like there is a layer on my skin and it smells amazing! Zesty, sweet but not overpowering. I lurve it!

Ecolab Aqueous Cream

This is another product for my poor dry skin. I don't know where you can get this since my mum got it for me. But this works like a dream - goodbye dry skin. It doesn't have a fragrance and it dries really quickly so you don't have to wait ages for it to dry.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick

The shade I have is 14, its a beautiful dark pinky/ purple shade - utterly perfect for this time of the year. I love this colour because it is so easy to wear and because of its amazing ability to make my teeth look super white. This was one of the first Bourjois products I bought, and I have to say all I want is to try more of their lipsticks!

ASOS Tartan Scarf

 I have worn this scarf almost every day, I love it so much - especially now since the weather has gotten so cold. I wrap this round a couple of time and then viola - I'm all cosy. The only thing I'd say about this scarf is that it is really long - so it tends to stick out the bottom of my jacket.

Casio Watch

I just this this looks pretty. I wear this everyday, I don't really know what more I can say about a watch but I love wearing this. Its the only thing I wear accessory wise.

Happy December! What have you been loving this month?

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October Favourites

Well, there's another month gone. Only 61 days left of 2013. I'm going to have to start Christmas shopping soon, since there is only about 54 shopping days till Christmas day - that's not very long when you think about all the people you need to buy for: mum, brother, friends, cousins, grandparents. This month I've been trying out quite a few new products and been trying to use up a lot of what I have already - mostly ski care wise, I've gone through quite a few skin care things this month.
My last favourites video was about half an hour long, I didn't even notice how long it was until after I uploaded it - oops. I think from now on I'm going to try and keep my favourites to a maximum of 8 products to stop it being to long.
Skincare wise I've not really been loving anything overly much, so this months post will be prominently make-up, I think I'm going to throw a couple of random favourites in here as well. Since y'know its only kind for me to tell you about the food and fashion things I love.

Real Techniques Blush Brush

Oh geez, can someone tell me how I managed to apply blush before I had this brush? Oh wait thats right, I didn't really manage. This brush is amazing, if your wanting to buy a new brush please let it be this one. You will not regret it. I've not had a bad blush day with this yet, and if I do get slightly over excited with a blush I can easily blend it out with this. Perfect.

Lord and Berry Foundation

This is the only foundation that I've been using this month. And all I can say is WOW! This give me the coverage I'm looking for, whilst still giving me a natural finish. This doesn't specifically say that it is for oily skin, but I find it controls oil so well. It might cling a little to any dry patches, but a good buff into the skin and you should be good to go.

Seventeen Phowarr Paint

If you have any under eye problems, be they big or be they small - I totally recommend this to anyone wanting to look more awake in the mornings or just even brighten up their eyes a bit. Go, buy it, you won't regret it.

Soap and Glory One Heck Of a Blot

Best powder ever. Hands down. The Rimmel stay matte has nothing on this bad boy. Keeps you matte, doesn't look powdery or cakey. Absolute sheer blissful amazingness. My description isn't great, I know, but holey mother this powder is great, best £12 ever spent. Please, go out and buy and try and love it and never look back.

Lord and Berry Magic Brow

This is such a great match for my eyebrows, magic brow is really well named. It makes my brows - that never look good - look pretty damn amazing. Seriously blooming amazing. Lord and Berry isn't spoken of enough - they deserve to be talked and raved about so much more than they do!

Stila In The Light Palette

I love this palette, it is seriously amazing. There is one eye look I've been wearing quite a lot, by quite a lot I mean once a week when I go out with my friends on a night out. I'm trying to find a look that is pretty, simple and quick to do - so I can maybe wear a little eye makeup for university. I'll let you know how I get on.

What have you been loving this month?

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September Favourites

Where as September gone?No seriously, where is all the time going? It honestly doesn't feel that long ago that we were celebrating the new year! Before we know it it will be 2014!!! Crazy.
September I think weren't by quite quickly for me, there was a lot of prop for university and of course there was then freshers week. I had bucket loads of fun!
I spent quite a bit of time before I started University planning posts and writing them so that I could focus on classes and meeting people - sad not to be doing blog posts but happy knowing I wouldn't stress over missing weeks out.
September was a month that I tried very hard to look after my skin, so quite a few of these will be skin care items. I also got quite a bit more use out of make-up - a lot more than last month anyway. During September I was preparing the go to University and then making the nervous steps of starting. Starting university also meant freshers week, more "night time makeup" meaning most things in this months favourites are makeup.
Anyway, here is the video of me talking about my favourites - I find videos an easier way to show my favourite rather than writing them down.


                     

I'm so sorry that this is so long, I have no idea how that happened. 

Next month will be shorter - I promise. What have your favourites been?

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August Favourites

August has been a month of using more products. I've got into a routine of trying to remember to wash my face both morning and night. And not just cleaning my face with a crappy wipe. Along with that I've been trying out different bits and pieces. Skincare, make-up, body care and so on. I'm going to try and make monthly favourites, and share them all with you but if I've been loving nothing new then I won't make a video. No point in showing the same products over and over.

Any way with out any further rambling, here is the video. 

                                  

What have your favourites been for this month? Have you tried any of these products? 

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