Favourites: March 2015

My favourites this month were an absolute breeze to choose.  I've been using these products near enough daily for the entire month, and haven't really been using anything else.  The days have been getting warmer, lighter for longer and today marks the official start of British Summer Time.  I've been whipping out my best bits for creating my own Spring ready look.

The only skincare item that has made it into my favourites this month is The Body Shop's Vitamin E Overnight Serum in Oil.  I mentioned this briefly during my Body Shop Haul back in January and never really knew what to expect from it, but I have been reaching for this almost every night instead of, or as well as a moisturiser if I feel like my skin needs some extra moisture.  It's not greasy, not overpowering in scent and just leaves my skin plumped and hydrated.  Definitely one to try if you haven't already.

I have two cheek products for this month.  At the beginning of the month, I was constantly using the Clinique Cheek Pop in Ginger Pop.  I absolutely love it, and I'm convinced I'll be hitting pan soon...the embossed flower is getting very flat now, just look at it in comparison to when I first reviewed it here!  It might even be my most worn blush in my collection?  It's been perfect for adding a bronzey, peach flush to my cheeks.  For the last couple of weeks of March, I've been using the Bourjois Cream Blush in Pink Sunwear.  I've got a post coming on Wednesday with me using this, and it's just another perfect colour for Spring.  I love that it's a cream too, because it just looks that little bit more glowy than the Clinique blush.

For my brows this month, I've just combed them through with the Benefit Gimme Brow.  Since I ran out of my clear Collection mascara, I've been using this a lot more.  It's great for adding colour and making my brows look a bit fuller, and I also love it when I'm rushing in the morning because I feel like there's enough definition that I can get away with not filling them in.

My lipstick of choice this month has been MAC's See Sheer.  It's such a beautiful shade, and I honestly don't know why I haven't used more of this.  It's a coral shade that has some slight brown undertones in it.  I've seen See Sheer on so many different reviews and it's one of those shades that just looks different on everybody!  I like to apply this to the centre of my lips and pat it in a little bit for a more subtle colour.

On my eyes I've been using the Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palette, specifically the left hand eyelid shade that I've actually hit pan on now, and the left hand definer shade.  The eyelid shade really helps to brighten and awaken my eyes, looks great for Spring and Summer and lasts all day.  I also love the defining shade too; previously I had been using a brown kohl liner, but it was just too harsh.  I love the soft definition this shade gives!

What are your favourites this month?  Leave me a link in the comments!

Fit Friday: Goal Update and Current Workouts

I've been a little absent on the whole gym/fitness front lately.  To be honest, I've just not got my rhythm going and unfortunately I've just taken any excuse lately to not go to the gym.  The early, dark nights made me want to just go home and be warm instead of sweating it out in the gym.  But it's getting lighter in the evenings now, and the clocks go forward on Saturday (handy reminder there!) meaning it'll be lighter for even longer, so I'm feeling much more energised after finishing work recently.  It's so nice being able to drive home without needing my lights on!

I spoke of my new goals for 2015 back in December, and I'm so pleased that this week I managed my first ever unassisted pull up!   I've been trying to do that for so long, and I was so proud of myself when I managed it on my own.  I can't do any more than the one without putting my feet down between pull ups, but hey...one step at a time.  Maybe next month I'll be able to do five in a row?

Talking of my 2015 goals, running has not got well for me at all.  I've been once this entire year and that was also my first ever outdoor run that I did off my own back.  My route takes me down the lane, along the riverbank and over farmers fields along public walkways.  I ran using the Nike Running app, and ran for sixteen minutes and forty seconds for supposedly 1.43 miles.  I'm pretty sure that's a terrible time for such a short distance, but I say supposedly because my route that it mapped out seemed to cut out a chunk?  I ran down a straight between the two red sections on the map, so I don't know if it ran out of signal at that point and stopped recording or what?  If anyone uses it then please do let me know if I did in fact run further...please say I ran all of a smidge further!  

I'm very lucky with the area that I live in that I have such a pretty route to run, so I can't excuse why I've only been once.   Needless to say, it was tiring, but I'm pleased I went - even if it did feel as though my ankles were bending the wrong way for a few days afterwards.  I feel like I need a running buddy to spur me on to turn this into a routine, and so far I've only had Liam volunteer to bike alongside me, which is nice but I'd feel like I was in a scene of Run Fatboy, Run.

Image Here

For my workouts, I've still been mainly doing weights over cardio and I'm really enjoying seeing my strength building and my body changing.  I've actually maintained my weight, but have managed to lose a few inches on most of my body!  The jeans I got for Christmas are even starting to feel loose around my waist, so I'm definitely pleased.  I won't lie that I'm disappointed I'm maintaining my weight, but my diet hasn't been great recently.  I'm finally out of Christmas chocolate now though so hopefully things will improve a little.  I really need to start trying to ignore what I weigh and go on how my body feels.

This week I've been picking out a couple of workouts to do that I've found on Pinterest and I've really enjoyed them.  I find that I work best when I have a plan of what I need to do, otherwise I end up floating around not really knowing what to do next.  I'll continue with these workouts a little longer and then come and report back on them, but in the meantime here is my Fit Board if you wanted to check that out!  I also cracked on with Carly Rowena's Leg and Butt Routine...my legs were like jelly afterwards, and going downstairs as I was leaving the gym proved pretty difficult!  It's definitely one to give a go, and a workout I'll be slipping in every week!

What does your work out routine look like?  How are your goals coming along?

The NARS Yu Dupe

It's not often that I come across dupes in my stash.  I'm usually quite good when buying make up and stick to buying things that are different to what I have already.  But whilst browsing my collection of pinks, I happened to stumble across a very good dupe for the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in the shade Yu - and you will be pleased to know that it costs just £7.99.

I actually said in my post on the Digital World Lip Pencil Coffret that I didn't own anything similar to Yu.  Turns out that was a big fat (unintentional, might I add) lie as my Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in the shade Lovesick is pretty identical in colour.  The Revlon Balm Stains are one of my favourite lip crayons, and I have pretty much the entire original release.  They're comfortable to wear on the lips, are moisturising, not sticky, buildable in colour and when the balm feeling fades, you are left with a great stain.  I remember being quite shocked at how good the pigmentation was in a balm stain, and Lovesick is no exception.

On the left is Lovesick; the Revlon offering is a bright fuschia pink which, because it applies like a balm, is slightly glossy with a slight sheerness to it.  It's still packing some pigment, but isn't quite as opaque in one swipe as Yu.  That said, I think you can layer up to get a decent colour intensity.  To the right, we have Yu.  Yu is opaque in one swipe, and is also a very bright fuschia pink.  Yu isn't as glossy as Lovesick as it has a satin finish, but I don't find it to be as comfortable to wear as the Revlon alternative.

In the photo above, Lovesick is on the left again and Yu is on the right.  As you can see, they are very similar in colour - Yu just has a touch more opacity which makes for a slightly bolder lip.  But, the photograph below, I'm wearing Lovesick on my top lip and Yu on my bottom - I honestly don't think I can tell the difference wearing it together!

I'm quite into getting my moneys worth, so I think if I ever lost both of these, I'd be buying Lovesick in a heartbeat.  Whilst I love my NARS lip pencil, spending £19.00 on something I could get which is nearly identical for just £7.99 just seems silly.  Especially with how much I love the Revlon Balm Stains!

Have you found any dupes in your stash?

Rimmel Extra 3D Lash Mascara

I don't know if it's because it's Spring, or my lack of time in the morning because I favour sleeping over getting ready time, but I've been opting for a fresh faced simple make up look recently.  Simple and natural has been my morning mantra, and to help me achieve it, I've been using the Rimmel Extra 3D Lash Mascara a lot lately!

You'll have to excuse the complete state of this tube of mascara.  I won a goodie bag of Rimmel bits on Twitter, and a nail polish smashed in the bag it got sent in and completely covered everything!  I tried to take it off, but it's a fine glitter nail polish and it's just not having any of it - drives me insane to look at it so messy!  That aside...I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with this mascara, but all in all it's definitely a product worth checking out if you want natural looking lashes with plenty of length.

The wand has plastic bristles which is perfect as I've always favoured this over a fibre wand - I just think that the plastic bristles really work to comb through and separate your lashes.  The only downside to this wand, which is where the hate side of the relationship comes in, is that the bristles are so damn sharp.  It took me a while to get used to using this mascara, because you really can't get to the root of your lashes because it's actually painful - you can see in the photos that the bristles are like spikes.  So...a  bit of practice is required to get to grips with not scratching your waterline.

As you can see in the photographs above, my eyelashes are near enough invisible without mascara.  They're quite long, but the colour is just so light, especially on the tips, they just look like they aren't there at all.  The photograph below shows my lashes with one carefully applied coat of the Extra 3D Lash Mascara.  As you can see, my lashes are lengthened and lifted.  I don't use an eyelash curler, in fact don't even own one, but I think I might have to look into getting one as this kind of lift just doesn't last all day unfortunately.  

At £4.99, this mascara is definitely reasonably priced and I wouldn't hesitate to buy this again when mine runs out.  It's the perfect addition to any Spring make up routine and is ideal for creating defined, long, natural looking lashes.  I'm really impressed!

Have you tried this mascara?  What's your favourite?

Spoil Yourself Sunday

Sunday.  The only day of the week that I have completely to myself; no work commitments, no nothing if I wanted to.  Today has been a bit of a busy one for me actually.  I got up earlier than normal, had my breakfast before going out to clean both mine and Liam's car, stocked up on logs for our log burner and stacked them in our shed, washed and dried three loads of washing and even did a bit of tidying up.  So as I sit here leisurely tapping away whilst Liam plays on his Xbox guilt free, I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to my 'me time.'  I've been making time for this for quite a few Sunday's now, and at the moment it features these...

It's not often that I have the time during the week to sit and relax in the bath, so come Sunday I am all about bath time.  After cleansing my face and taking any make up off if I've even been bothered to put it on, I like to sit in the bath with my hair piled on top of my head with a face mask on.  The face mask I've been using recently is the Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask from The Body Shop, but in all honesty I'm not entirely sure if I love it - it can sometimes be quite uncomfortable on the skin, dries it out lots so I can't leave it on too long and  I always have to follow with a hydrating toner and an oil afterwards.  I definitely think there is a face mask out there which will be perfect for my Sunday routine...let me know in the comments what your favourite is!

I love to use my absolute favourite LUSH product which is The Comforter Bubble Bar.  I get lots of bubbles from just crumbling a quarter of the bar under the hot tap, and it turns my bath water purpley pink!  It also smells like Vimto; very berry scented and I just find the scent really relaxing!

After having my bath and going through my skincare routine, I like to sit downstairs in my comfortable pyjamas and paint my nails.  I have been using the OPI Nail Envy for Sensitive and Peeling Nails as my base coat recently, which I much prefer to the Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Base Coat.  I've been neglecting my nails for a few months now, and they need to get some strength and length back in them so Nail Envy has been ideal.  When this runs out though, I think I'll be opting for the Original version.

For colour, what better way to spoil myself  than cracking out my Christian Louboutin Rouge Nail Lacquer.  Liam surprised me with this for Christmas, and I absolutely love it.  The colour is just the perfect red, and it's so glossy!  Plus the packaging is just beautiful...  It's definitely the most luxury beauty product I own, so fits perfectly into my 'Spoil Yourself Sunday' routine!

What's do you do on a Sunday to spoil yourself?

Two From Yes To

There are a couple of things that have been featuring rather heavily in my daily routines lately that I have been absolutely loving.  One I have mentioned previously in my Sick Day Skin Care Routine, and the other is one I've been enjoying using over the past few weeks.  Yes To is a brand I've heard of, but it's not one that I regularly see raved about.  I've seen their facial wipes being spoken highly of quite a few times, and whilst I wasn't really a fan of the Cucumber Facial Wipes that I tried, I don't understand why nobody has branched out to try much else.  There are five different ranges to choose from, each aimed at a certain type of skin and here today I have the Yes To Blueberries Firming Eye Treatment and the Yes To Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub to talk about. 

Yes To Blueberries has a "clinically proven formula to treat fine lines and nourish age damaged skin," which whilst it may not be strictly for my age group, I've been really enjoying using the Yes To Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment in my daily routine.  I have been using it daily during my evening routine for the past few months now, and I don't think I've got a bad thing to say about it.  It's thicker than any other eye cream that I have, which is why I choose to use it in the evenings, but it doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy or feel heavy on the skin.  It absorbs really quickly and leaves the area feeling really soft.  At first, I didn't think that I was too bad for fine lines, but I think that using this combined with the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream in the morning has made a noticeable difference - maybe not noticeable to anyone else, but I feel like I can tell that something good has gone on.  Because I use two eye creams, I don't think I could pin point if it was one or the other in all honesty.

Next, the newer Yes To addition to my collection, the Yes To Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub which I think smells just like sour gummy worms or something.  It's sweet, but sour and just smells pretty amazing.  I have often tried daily face scrubs before and some of them are just so harsh and scratchy that using them can become quite sore and leave my skin feeling irritated.  This one however has just been a complete pleasure to use; the exfoliating grains gently buff the skin, leaving my skin feeling soft without being at all abrasive.  Acne and big cystic spots haven't been an issue on my face recently (I almost don't dare type that in case it's one giant jynx...) and I'm feeling confident that introducing an exfoliator more regularly to my routine might have played it's part in keeping my skin look fresh and clear.  A random positive is that it also sits happily in my shower and doesn't collect water in the cap - don't you just hate when that happens!

Have you tried anything from Yes To yet?

Hyped: The Maybelline Champions

You might be sick of reading about these two.  I won't lie, I am too and often skip on by the reviews of the On and On Bronze Color Tattoos and the Eraser Eye Concealer because how many times can you read the same thing over and over again.  I avoided the hype particularly on the Color Tattoo's for what must have been years and here I am...I've finally given in.

So let's start with On and On Bronze as this was the one I was definitely most excited to try.  The majority of my eyeshadow collection are powder.  In fact, this is one of only two cream eyeshadow to grace my stash.  The shade itself is great; easy wearing, perfect for wearing every day, it adds a subtle gleam to the lids which I think can be easily built up to pack a real bronze if you fancied for the evening.  It's pretty much been a go to for me in all honesty!  The Color Tattoos leave a beautiful sheen to the eyes which I think can only look nicer as it gets into the warmer months - think a more wearable, every day version of the MAC Eye Glosses.  This all said...I don't think I'll be picking up any more shades because my heart has already been stolen by the Jouer Long Wear Creme Eyeshadow as mentioned in my January Favourites.  The Maybelline texture feels almost like Vaseline compared to the mousse like cream shadows from Jouer, and whilst the Maybelline Color Tattoos are long wearing, the Jouer version beats it and dries to a nice powder finish.

The Maybelline Eraser Concealer...damn it took me a long time to get hold of this one because it was constantly sold out.  I went for the shade Light, and I actually really do quite like it.  It really brightens under my eyes and conceals dark circles nicely.  I wouldn't say it's a completely flawless concealer - it's definitely a natural looking concealer and isn't completely opaque but I quite like that, even for covering blemishes because it just gives a natural finish.  I love wearing this on the weekends without foundation too - it brightens my entire complexion and just makes everything seem a bit nicer.  

I also don't see why everyone is moaning about the fuzzy applicator tip being unhygienic - if anything, it's more hygienic than doe foot applicators, because you're not dipping the wand back into the product and contaminating it.  It's no different to any other concealer unless you're telling me you honestly wash your wand.  It looks grubby because it's not white like when you bought it and the tip can touch the inside of the cap, but I think that it applies really nicely so no complaints here from me.  I have found though that this settles pretty much on application into fine lines around my eyes.  I'll often apply it, set it, finish the rest of my make up and have to go back and buff the creases out with a setting brush before leaving the house and then I'm good for most of the day.  I think I'd buy this again, but I might try out a few other concealers before committing to this one...

Have you given into the hype too?  What are your thoughts?

February Empties: Make Up and Hair Care

The final installment of this months empties is some make up and hair care bits!  There's not too much, but still a couple of bits worth sharing!

The frankly horrendous looking tube on the left is actually a tube of clear mascara from Collection and it's their Little Mix Full On Clear Mascara.  I was looking for something cheap and cheerful to sweep my brows into some sort of shape, and this did the job perfectly.  It doesn't leave them looking white, doesn't feel overly crispy and keeps brows in place.  The only downside is that the tube itself is clear so you can see your product getting coloured with any brow wax/powders that you use.

This was the first time that I'd tried the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation and I have to say I do quite like it.  I've already bought a second bottle of this and used it as my day to day foundation all the way through Winter.  It is really light weight, not at all heavy and blends nicely into the skin.  My one downside to this is that it's just a light coverage foundation, and leaves the skin with a glowy finish.  Sometimes, I love this aspect of it, but only when my skin is having a seriously good day, and when it's not so warm.  I think I'll be swapping this for a matter foundation come Summer, because it does have the tendancy to make me look a bit oily.

I got this little bottle of Maghrabian Oil in a Glossybox forever ago, and it's not one I'll be picking up again.  I've honestly had this so long, and I just don't ever see any difference in my hair when I use it.  It's not any more hydrated, not particularly any smoother and I just think that there are better hair oils out there for the price.  A hair product I have loved though is the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Shine Shock.  This adds amazing shine to my hair without making it look greasy, really illuminates the brunette tones in my hair and helps to smooth it all down.

The blank tube on the end is actually a Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer.  Like with the Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer, I'm going to go against the blogger grain and declare that I don't like this concealer.  Yes, it's got great coverage, but I just find it to be so drying and almost cakey on my skin unless I try mixing it with some sort of eye cream...maybe...it's one to test as it's not exactly pricey, but as it stands, I'm not a fan.

Have you tried anything from this months empties?  What concealer would you recommend?

LUSH Jason and the Argan Oil Shampoo Bar

When I got the Jason and the Argan Oil Shampoo Bar for Christmas, I really wasn't expecting that much.  I'd never heard of a shampoo bar before, and the closest I've been to trying one was when I went for a Turkish Bath whilst on holiday in Turkey where I got brutally scrubbed with a bar of Olive Oil soap all over my sunburnt scalp before being drenched with a bucket of cold water after being steaming away in a steam room.  Ah memories.

All this aside...this shampoo bar was actually amazing, and you really do get your moneys worth with this LUSH product - you supposedly get eighty uses from one bar!  I've used mine so many times now I've lost count, and the bar still seems to be in pretty decent shape and seems to have a lot of life left in it.  Jason (for short) smells like the Rose Jam shower gel, but I don't find that the scent lingers in my hair unfortunately.  Also, I really wasn't expecting it, but for a solid shampoo this gives off the most amazing lather ever.

I have quite fine hair which tends to be lacking in any body whatsoever without a big of help, and found that using this alongside a separate conditioner really weighed down my hair.  Used on its own though, my hair looks super shiny, really healthy and even had a natural bounce whilst still feeling pretty soft.  I did notice that it really brought out the red tones in my hair, which I also quite like!  When ever I manage to finish this one, I'll definitely repurchase another along with a little storage tin - I currently use the bag I got it in to keep it safe, but a tin would be much better and would be perfect for taking this little guy on trips away!

I've already got my eye on the next shampoo bar I'd like to try - Montalbano, which was recommended to me to help keep product build up at bay.  I'm a regular user of dry shampoo, so it's something I'm always worried will be sitting on my scalp.  In fact, all of the shampoo bars on the LUSH website look to have incredible reviews of all of the bars so I think your best bet if you want to try them is to nip in store and see which is the one for you!

Have you tried a LUSH Shampoo Bar?

February Empties: Skin Care

So my mission for starting a regular blog posting schedule has dramatically failed.  For some reason, just as I gained momentum, the momentum quickly ground to a full on halt.  I can't believe that I haven't posted since the end of January; it's the longest I've ever gone without posting anything...  I honestly can't believe we've hit March now - where the hell did February go?  It feels like it's only just finished being Christmas and here we are almost at Easter.  In fact, this whole year has gone fast - can you believe it's almost a year now since Liam and I came to first view our house?!  Even though I've not written a hello in a while, sharing my thoughts has still been on my mind and I've collected a nice box of empties again.

Probably the product I'm most sad about finishing this month is Soap and Glory's Smoothie Star Body Milk.  I absolutely love this moisturiser, but I have such a stash of moisturiser at the moment that I just can't physically justify buying another bottle.  It smells incredible, like an oaty, almondy flapjack.  It's also really light, but really hydrating so this would be an ideal moisturiser to use in the morning instead of a richer body butter, or on a warmer evening.  I also finished the Soap and Glory Whipped Clean Shower Butter.  It smells similar to Smoothie Star, but there is something about it that makes it smell a bit sharper than the Body Milk, and for some reason I didn't like it as much.  It was nice to use, but I wish it smelt identical to the Smoothie Star.  This lathered up really well, and left my skin feeling really soft.

From The Body Shop this month, I've finished up a sample size of the Vitamin E Moisture Cream.  I've already repurchased this in the bigger size and I love it - it smells amazing and really hydrates the skin.  I've been using this in the evening when I don't want a really rich cream to sit on my skin.  I've also finished the Camomile Cleansing Oil which again, I've already repurchased.  I don't think I can be without this anymore; I'll have a review up on this at some point, but if you haven't tried it, get on down to The Body Shop and get it.

I was sent the Eucerin Even Brighter Night Cream* quite a while a go now, but never really used it religiously.  It's supposed to even out skin with hyper pigmentation.  I think this would work for me in terms of acne scarring maybe, but I honestly don't think I used this regularly enough to see the benefit.  It was quite a thick, rich cream, but it was very easy to apply and you don't need to use much.  I'd definitely try this again to see if it lives up to claims of evening skin tone.

I bought the Clearasil Superfruits Refreshing Facial Pads on a Caroline Hirons recommendation as they were hailed as a high street version to the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads.  Now I've not tried these because they're expensive, so I gave these a go.  These smell super sweet, and leave my skin feeling really refreshed but not at all tight, or leave it looking red.  I think these have been helping with congested pores around my nose, and I'm already onto my second tub.  I am in a bit of a fluster now though, because I've gone to link you guys and can't track them on Boots or Superdrug so I hope they're not being discontinued!

Finally, the Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2 in 1 Wash and Mask is actually a repurchase of mine already.  I do actually really quite like this face wash.  Like the Clearasil Superfruits pads, this has Salicylic Acid in, and has a creamy, ever so slightly grainy texture.  It doesn't foam, and is just really nice to use.  I tend to see a difference in my skin when I've been using this daily, so I'll eventually repurchase this again.

That's all I've got for you for today, but I've still got some empties to talk about including some make up bits!  I'll be back again soon!

Have you tried anything from this months empties?

*This product was sent to me for consideration