June Favourites

Can you believe it? We are halfway through the year already! It should be summer at the moment but what with the weird weather you wouldn't be able to tell...

left to right: Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer, Dr Jart BB Cream, Benefit They're Real Mascara, Soap & Glory Lid Stuff, Benefit Posietint

This month's makeup must-haves are mainly old favs with one re-discovered gem and newbie product.

I'll begin with skincare. Although my skin isn't overly dry, I do find that it can often be lacking hydration which is where the Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer comes in- the clue's in the name. Light enough to wear under makeup yet perfect for blending in concealer, this really has been a stand out product for me. I have the mini travel size version, but the big boy bottle may be coming my way soon...

The newest addition to the cosmetics clan is a much raved about product by many other bloggers and now by me. The Dr Jart Water Fuse BB Cream (full post coming soon...) is a low coverage, lightweight, one-shade-fits-all product with huge skincare benefits. Without going into too much detail, it gives a dewy finish and I've been loving it.

Although my initial view on the popular mascara was very, well, critical, I decided to give They're Real another go. Although it is the hardest thing to get off my lashes, I can't stop using it! It really does lengthen, curl and volumize, but beware! If you do add layer upon layer it can get a tad clumpy. It really does show that giving things another go works, so I have a feeling that this best-selling mascara won't be going anywhere!

Onto another eye product- Soap & Glory's Lid Stuff. Although this eyeshadow quad has been in my possession for a while now, I seem to have a new-found love for it. Some days I've just been wanting a matte lid look, and this palette is perfect for it, so I'm sure you can imagine how devastated I was after the matte pink, Pink T, smashed! Oh well. I also find the sheer white, Vanilla, perfect for setting concealer under the eyes, as it has little pigment. The matte brown is perfect for the crease, and the shimmery almost purpley, shadow adds a bit of oomph to the eye. What more could you want?

And last, but not least, Benefit's Posietint has made an appearance in the makeup bag. Now that we have entered Summer, although the weather outside isn't reflecting it, dewy cheeks and lips are desirable for a healthy glow, and I find this sheer pink tint perfect!

The Youtuber/Blogger of this month is Zoella, or Zoe Sugg. She recently hit 1,000,000 subs on her channel, and uploaded her first tutorials this month. Yay!

Nail Polish(es) that I've been loving are the Rimmel Salon Pros, Nails Inc, and I bought Essie's Figi yesterday. Love it!


El
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Beauty Wishlist #2

After being fairly impressed with my first wishlist post, (if I do say so myself!!) I thought I'd open up my laptop and scour the blogging world for more makeup-must haves.

Being one to shy away from foundation, tinted moisturizers and other products of a similar coverage are on my radar, so when the Chantecaille Just Skin tinted moisturizer popped up in many posts of other people's, it just had to go on the things-I-would-really-like-but-really-can't-afford list. And when I say really can't afford, I mean really can't afford. Although it may be amazing, this product veers way to close to the wrong side of £50 for my liking. Yep, perhaps not.

Chanel is a brand that I often look up to with great amazement; the beautiful products and sensational scents, that I have no intention of buying, of course, as then my bank balance really wouldn't be able to cope! Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre in Emerville however, has caught my eye, and isn't ridiculously expensive. I say not ridiculously, meaning it's 20 quid. Maybe I'll need to rethink that one...

Coating my bottom lashes with mascara has never really been a pastime of interest to me, but I do always admire doll-like lashes. Having fairly oily eyes, well oily enough for my mascara not to stay on my bottom set of eyelashes but to transfer beneath them, I find my usual mascara doesn't stay. So Clinique's bottom lash mascara has cropped up on the ol' beauty list.

I've only just really started getting into nail polish as before encountering the live-saving Essie nail colours, I struggled a lot with painting my nails. Mentioned in my Rose Gold Nails Trend, Essie's Buy Me A Cameo really fits the bill!

Since buying the Boots' Own 3 Minute Clay Mask, other products in this genre have started to catch my eye. I wanted to buy a cheap one first as splashing out on expensive masks isn't great if they don't work! I think I'll be giving this Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask - What a name! - after the success with said Boot's Mask.

After having a play with liner as shadow, I started investigating what was out there when I remembered the reviews I'd read on the Clinique Chubby Stick Tint for Eyes. My initial thought was one of a well, it's okay nature, but after experimenting with creamier lid options, reviews and posts were re-read! But is it really worth it when there are cheaper versions?

Another Tinted Moisturizer - suprise, suprise! - that's been mentioned by fellow bloggers is one by Laura Mercier. Compared to the Just Skin mentioned earlier, it's about half the price. I can't think which one I'll be buying first...

Bioderma, the makeup remover and cleansing water of the French. Hard to purchase in the UK, this one really won't be reaching me soon. Next trip to France however? On my list in the blink of an eye.

So that's what I'm wanting at the moment. I think it's good to have a wishlist, as occasionally, you may get a treat from it, but most of the time it's good to see if things are really worth it or not- eg. Chantecaille Just Skin, probably not worth nearly 60 quid. 

El
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Ravishing Reds

Nail Polish seems to be my new obsession - for now - and although it's often thought of as a Christmassy Colour, I love to wear red all year round. The polishes on my tips today all fall into this category, so here's the low-down.

Collection's red-toned wonder is more of a sparkly shade, check out the pinkie for further reference, and is what most people imagine being worn on the nails during the winter season. It has a very fine 'glitter' type iridescence running through it, but paired with a more classic colour can be sported all year round. The only annoying thing is it's unnamed. Darn. 

This next one is definitely a favourite! Nails Inc is one of those brands that I've usually just dismissed because of the price, but when the shade 'It's Red, Babez,' was given as a freebie in June's InStyle mag, I was sold. It's more of a tomato red than a straight-up pillar box, and I'm really into orangey shades.

A similar shade to the former mentioned colour, Hip Hop from Rimmel's new Kate Moss Salon Pro Range is of a similar hue but with more pinky-orange tones. The formula, colour and brush is amazing, and at just over four quid, you can't go wrong.

The next polish to grace my fingertips is actually my sister's, whoops, and is another nameless shade. But negatives aside, this classic red from No7 is more of a traditional red with a darker tone to it. Probably better for later on in the year, but equally good if worn in conjunction with a lighter shade. Love it!

And last, but not least, another Rimmel one, in the colour Double Decker Red. Honestly the best and well-fitting name for this polish, as this is the closest true red colour that I've found so far! It's as cheap as chips and a perfect all year round polish. Another stunner from Rimmel, the nail polish queens at the moment...

El
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Blue

Outfit Of The Day type posts are ones that I personally love reading. I find it really interesting to see how people have paired together, and love taking inspiration from them. So, today's post is exactly that, a little snippet of my style. Although monochrome is a big trend this season, blue seems to be a popular clothing colour. I love bright cobalt and electric blues, and if paired with darker or lighter hues of the same palette can be worn easily.

Jeans - New Look. Vest - Matalan. Nails - Rimmel Salon Pro in Navy Seal

Matalan, although not the most raved about shop, is a great place to buy basics from. I picked up this bright blue vest for under a tenner, and as it's such a statement piece, it only needs to be worn with a smart jacket and heels to create an evening outfit! I paired this with a black strappy vest underneath, as it was a little too low at the sides, back and front for my liking, however in the summer it's sheer enough to be thrown on top of a bikini for beach-wear.

I was searching for ages and ages to find a decent pair of jeans for under £25. New Look's array of clothing hasn't really seemed to suit me in the past, but I stumbled across these navy jeans for just over twenty quid, and bought them. They are gorgeous! Most jeans, even high waisted ones don't seem to be, well, highwaisted on me, but these are great. My new former mentioned blue top can be tucked in for an equally fab look.

As for nails, I knew that Nails Inc's Baker Street would have matched perfectly, but since I am resisting the urge to buy it (£11 for a nail polish?!) Rimmel's Navy Seal suited the look. And for less than half the price, I was pleased!

Shoes were covered by Cath Kidston. My blue floral canvas trainers complemented the bright vest and navy jeans.

Hint: Go bright on top or bottom, not both. If you pair a cobalt vest with jeans of the same shade, it can go from pop of colour to dipped in blue paint. Yep, probably not the best of looks...

Nails are the best place to experiment with colour, so just popping on a coat or two of a bright polish can banish boring outfits and create bright new ones!

PS - seeing as blue is the colour of the moment, there may be a full post on nail colours of the same hue...

El
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Coming Soon...Posts To Keep Your Eyes Out For!

Although the title of the post may sound like a movie trailer, I guarantee you that it's nothing of the sort! I really wanted to give you guys a little sneak peek of posts to come as I realise that I haven't been blogging for about a week now. So, let's have a look at the posts!

Hair Tutorials - I seem to be getting a bit more adventurous with hairstyles, and after watching a video of Zoella's on the same topic I was determined to have a go at some different ways to wear my locks.

June Favourites - Okay, this one will be arriving at the end of the month, but I have discovered some new products recently!

Polish Posts - Laying up the nail laquer had never been a pastime of mine until I rediscovered nail polishes at the start of the year. Starting afresh with my collection and buying some decent colours means that I now have less nail varnish, whilst actually wanting to use it!

Room Tour? - Having just re-organized my room, I thought that a post on the subject might be a good idea, but I'm still debating which blog to put it on and if I'm going to do one. Hmmmm....

El
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Rimmel Kate Moss Salon Pro Nail Polishes

After reading post after post after post on the latest Boots bargain, you know what I'm like - can't say no, I popped down to said shop and picked up the latest Rimmel rave- the Kate Moss Salon Pro Polishes. A rather catchy name if I do say so myself. The most common problem with cheaper nail enamels, or at least for me is firstly the skinny little brushes (please, the fat ones work best!) and the fact that the colour ranges can often be lacking a bit of, well, colour, but these are an exception to my unwritten rule. With an applicator similar to those of an Essie polish (finally!) and amazing colours, I was drawn in. Darn. And of course, very conveniently there was a 3 for 2 on. Bargain! 

This was another Anna from VDM inspired purchase. After quizzing her on Instagram as to which shade was featured in a pic, I was sold on Hip Hop, a tomato red, with more of an orangey twist on the classic shade. Perfect for spring and summer, this one was the first in the basket.

Peppermint seems to be the twin to Hip Hop, not in colour but equal in the popularity poll. Mentioned by Alix from I Covet Thee and Anna, I knew that this one was a winner. A minty green was missing from my collection, and with such a self-explanatory name, this one's a gooden'.

The last polish (bought on the 3 for 2 whim) was Navy Seal, a greyish blue colour. Not the most 'springy' colour, but definitely one that will be frequently on my nails later on in the year. Although it appears more of a vibrant blue in the photo, it almost has a purple tone to it, and I love it!

El
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