January Favourites

It is finally the last day of January, the most boring month of the year. This month has dragged and dragged, and I am so happy that it's almost over. Bring on Valentines, Easter, Pancake Day and all that spring stuff! So, as it is the last day of the month, I thought I'd show you my favourite products that I have been using.

Monthly favourites are one of my favourite posts to read/videos to watch, and I always enjoyed doing them when I first started blogging. Since we've just had Christmas, I've had loads of new products and different pieces to try out this month, and I have found some firm favourites in my new collection. Some products I've been using religiously this month, whilst others are ones that I found halfway through, or have only used a couple of times but already adore.

Starting with skincare, I'm really loving the Benefit cleanse and moisturise set, containing the Foamingly Clean Facial Wash cleanser, the Smooth It Off Cleansing Exfoliator, the Triple Performing Facial Emulsion moisturiser, and the Moisture Prep Toning Lotion. My mum got these for me for Christmas and I'm enjoying using them so much! They look super cute in my bathroom, and they all smell amazing too. I definitely feel like this range is helping my skin in the horrible winter weather. The facial wash removes all of my makeup very easily and leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh, and the exfoliator is so gentle and rejuvenating. I especially love the toner as it has a slightly thicker, oily consistency to it, which I think I prefer over the watery toners. The moisturiser sinks in wonderfully, and the set combined leaves me feeling so pampered.

 I am also absolutely loving the Nip and Fab Hydrate Dragons Blood Fix Plumping Serum. It has that light sting to it that actually makes it feel like it's working, and it definitely does make my skin feel much fresher. I use it after my toner, and before my moisturiser both morning and evening to enhance hydration and plump the skin.

Lastly for skincare products, I've been loving the Dr Botanicals Pomegranate Superfood Regenerating Sleeping Mask. It smells amazing, and once washed off in the morning, leaves your skin feeling so rejuvenated. It's also cruelty free, vegan, and 98% natural!

Not so much skincare, but definitely related to it, is the Magnitone London Bare-faced2 3D Vibra-sonic Daily Cleansing and Skin Toning Brush. This thing is basically a giant electric toothbrush for your face, and it really works wonders. It gives you a much deeper cleanse than using your hands or a cloth, and is honestly so relaxing. It wakes your skin up and leaves it feeling super fresh and bright. It also has 3 different settings, a cleanse and a deep cleanse, as well as a toning setting to massage your toner into your skin. My brother got this for me for Christmas and I absolutely love it.

Next up is makeup! I've not actually tried an awful lot in the way of makeup this month, but there are a few things that I've been really enjoying, including a couple of foundations.

The first foundation, Revolution Conceal and Define, is the one I've been using longer, and it's one that my friend Brenna recommended to me. I feel like the shade isn't quite perfect, but it's one of the closest I've ever gotten. It's a high coverage foundation, but it is buildable so if you wanted a lighter look you could achieve that too.

Secondly is a foundation that my friend Jade recommended to me, which I've only been using for a couple of days. The L'Oreal True Match foundation blends so well, and I feel like it's a fantastic match for my skin, and will look amazing when the warmer weather comes in.

I've also really been enjoying using the Eyeko London Lash Alert Mascara, which I got in my advent calendar in December. It helps to condition your lashes and wake up tired eyes with caffeine, while making them fluttery and flirty. A winner in my eyes!

Onto random bits and pieces - I've been watching quite a lot of Netflix this month, and like everybody, I went nuts for You. What a wild ride of a show! I'm so excited for the second season to come out, and I really want to read the book too. If you haven't seen You yet, I definitely recommend it. My friend Brenna wrote an awesome review for it - read it here.

I also absolutely adored Sex Education, and I want to watch it all over again. It is so funny, and just executed so well. That vagina scene made my heart swell... which will sound really weird if you haven't seen it yet. Girls supporting girls yo!

Another random thing I've been loving this month is water. That's right, water. I've been chugging it down like nobodies business, and I feel so much better for it. I'm really trying to make a conscious effort to drink more water, but it seems I'm craving it anyway!

Lastly, I've been really enjoying reading through my Happi Cards. My friend Maddie got me these for Christmas and I think they're super cute. They have little inspiration words of wisdom and affirmations on each card, and they really do give you that little boost first thing in the morning.

And that concludes my monthly favourites. Like I said earlier in the post, I really enjoy monthly favourites, so I'm going to make a real effort to do one every month.

What have you been loving in January? Let me know in the comments, and I'll see you soon!

Ciao for now, 

Katie x

Payday Shopping Trip Haul - Superdrug, Lush, Primark, and more!

On Saturday I was in dire need of some retail therapy, so myself and my friend Jade took a little trip to Truro to have a mooch around the shops and grab some lunch. The weather was horrible, as it always is in England, but we still had a nice time having a lovely little coffee and a quick bite to eat in Starbucks, before heading out to New Look, Lush, Superdrug, and more. It's safe to say that I was in a 'treat yo self' kind of mood.

We went to New Look first, and I wasn't overly impressed with the spring selection that was available. I picked up some Shape and Define skinny jeans and I was pretty tempted by the homeware, but I was good and just bought the jeans. Being a slightly bigger person myself, I usually find jeans really hard to find, but New Look's tend to fit me best. I love the shape the jeans give me - it's the second pair I've bought!

We then went to TK Maxx and found so many lovely things that I wanted to grab. Some of the bargains I found included a little candle, a face mask, false lashes, and a super cute mug. My favourite mug got chipped recently so I needed a replacement, and although its nowhere near as nice as my old mug, I still think it's super cute.

The little Tilly Parker candle and the Eylure false lashes were both reduced, and I randomly found the Coop + Daisy face mask in the stock pile of makeup. I was immediately intrigued by the glitter, and then realised it was a watermelon face mask. How could I resist?

After that, we popped over to Lush and I didn't hold back. They have their Valentine's range out which is full of loads of amazing goodies, so I grabbed the Love Boat bath bomb, and the Aubergine bath bomb (I see you with your penis emojis), as well as the Goddess and the Guardian of the Forest bath bomb from the normal selection. I also grabbed 2 bath oils. I love how some of the bath bombs make the water feel, so I thought i'd try the oils on their own (so good for shaving).

Love Boat Bath Bomb

Goddess Bath Bomb

Guardian of the Forest Bath Bomb

Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment and You've Been Mangoed bath oils

Superdrug is probably where I picked up the most - it's so hard to restrain yourself in there! I'm absolutely loving Nip and Fab right now, so I decided to pick up the Glycolic Fix Bubble face masks, which were 2 for £8. I then spotted a Nip and Fab makeup stand and immediately went raiding. I had no idea they did makeup, but if their skincare is anything to go by, I know it will be amazing. I picked up the colour corrector in the shade 02 Banana, and the contour palette in 01 Light.

I also grabbed myself a new foundation. I seem to have a thing with foundation where I can't seem to find any that I really like, so I'm constantly buying new ones. This time I went for the Loreal True Match in the shade Golden Ivory. As you can see, I have used it already, and it's a great match for my skin.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation - Golden Ivory

I also picked up a second set of Eylure lashes, and the Maui Moisture Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner. My friend had really enjoyed using them, and I thought they looked amazing. I decided to pick them up since they were on offer, and my hair is in need of some major TLC.

Next we went to Waterstones and I picked up 2 books - Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig and The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k by Sarah Knight. I had read Matt Haig's other book, Reasons To Stay Alive, and absolutely loved it, so I've wanted to pick this one up for a while. I've heard really good things about the Sarah Knight book, and I'm definitely in a 'sort yourself out' point in my life right now, so I'm pretty excited to start reading it.

Lastly, we had a little look around Primark. Again, I wasn't overly impressed with the spring fashion, but I did find a cute little bag. I'd been looking for one anyway as all my bags seem to be too big or too small, but this one is the perfect size. It has a simple magnet to keep it closed, and a detachable inside pocket.

So that's it, no more shopping ever again!.. Or until next payday.

I hope you enjoyed my little haul, and I'll see you very soon!

Ciao for now,

Katie x

Autumn Wishlist | Beauty

Welcome back to my autumn wishlist - this time, makeup! Autumn is definitely about golds, reds, berries and browns, so I have made a little collection of my favourite shades that I would love to wear this autumn. 

Eyeshadows

(From left to right)

1. By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Beyond Gold

2. Bourjois Little Round Pot Eyeshadow Prune Pailettes 13

3. Bourjois Color Edition Eye Shadow Prune Nocturne 5

4. Mac Pro Longwear Eyeshadow in One To Watch 

I've actually been quite adventurous with these choices, in the sense that I don't usually go for berry/purple colours for my eyes. I love berry lips but have never actually tried it as an eyeshadow, but these colours look absolutely gorgeous. The Beyond Gold eyeshadow stick is right up my street and by far my favourite out of my choices! Early Christmas present please, mum?!

Eyeliners

(From left to right)

1. Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Liner in 100 Santal

2. Butter London Eye Pencil in All Hail The Queen 

3. Estee Lauder Little Black Liner

I've suddenly become interested in brown eyeliners. They are much more natural looking, and although I love my bold black eyeliner, my eyes are quite small and can often look overpowered, so I'm going to attempt some more natural pencils that you can see here. I've also included the Little Black Liner, just because I still love the bold black look.

Lips

(From left to right)

1. Mac Giambattista Valli Lipstick in Charlotte

2. Mac Lipstick in Maria Moretti

3. Mac Lipstick in Whirl

4. Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Starry Eyed

5. Chanel Rouge Allure Lip Colour in Pensive

6. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Bond Girl

Oh my god, lipsticks galore! I'm quite surprised I went mostly for reds rather then berries and purples, but saying that, I do own an awful lot of berry tones already. I think all of these colours would look great for autumn, as well as into the colder winter months. I included a nude colour (Chanel) as I think a very natural look is also gorgeous at this time of year.

Blush 

(From left to right)

1. Illamasqua Velvet Blusher in Peaked 

2. Mac Powder Blush in Pinch Me

Last but not least, blush! Now, I'm usually not a blush fanatic - it kind of scares me. BUT, how gorgeous are these colours! They would give such a gorgeous pop of colour to your cheeks, as if you had been out in the chilly autumn breeze too long!

What do you guys think of my makeup wishlist for autumn? What are your must haves this season? Don't forget to check out my autumn clothes wishlist here, and stay tuned for a few more autumn wishlist posts!

See you soon!

Katie xo

Recent Beauty Buys

Yesterday I went for a little venture into town and ended up coming home with a few new bits and bobs of makeup, none of which I have used yet, but I thought I would show you guys anyway!

The only high end makeup I own is a Benefit Foundation, so I was really excited to pick up a few of my first ever MAC pieces. Firstly, a MAC eyeshadow in Chrome Yellow. This shadow is a gorgeous golden yellow colour which will look amazing all year round, and I really love wearing gold on my eyes as it makes them stand out a bit more, so I'm super excited to use this. MAC eyeshadows are really pigmented and finely milled so they're amazing for blending, bring it on!

I also picked up the Haute and Naughty Lash/Mascara Double Effect, which is a double wanded mascara. I've seen a lot of mixed reviews on this so I'm interested to see how it will work out. 

The last MAC piece I got was a Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Ruby Woo, a gorgeous pink toned red. My lipstick collection is ever growing and this is the first high end lipstick in that collection, so it had better be good!

I picked up 4 little drugstore makeup items, including another mascara - the Rimmel Wake Me Up mascara. I have actually tried this one and was quite impressed with it. It separates my lashes and makes them look really long, just what you need in a mascara!

Also from Rimmel, I picked up the Brow This Way brow gel. I'm not going to lie, I have never used a brow gel in my life. However, I am going to get my eyebrows shaped today and I'm hoping my eyebrows will look fabulous. I have actually tried to find something other than a pencil to fill my eyebrows in, but everything I come across is too dark. If you have any recommendations for lighter eyebrows, let me know!

The last two items are from Collection. I picked up another Lasting Perfection Concealer in shade fair 1, as my current tube is coming to it's end. I am in love with the concealer and thoroughly recommend it to everyone!

Last, but not least, the Little Mix All About the Eyes palette. This palette features 6 different shadows,in a gorgeous range of golds and browns, right up my street! I have heard good things about this palette, and it was only £2.99, so I'm not complaining!

What have you been buying recently?

TTFN!
Katie xo

Monthly Favourites | July

So July went by super quick and quite a few exciting things happened.. I joined a gym and went swimming at 6:30 in the morning, quit my waitressing job and got another job working at a holiday park with some really wonderful people, and finished my course of CBT training with a lot of improvement, go me!

This month's favourites are a lot more makeup based than usual, which is quite strange because I've been wearing less makeup this month - it's too hot, and I'm too lazy! Anyway, here's what I've been loving this month...

The Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine and Rita Ora nail collections are my obsession this month, I think I've bought about 10 different colours this month alone. They're only £2.99, which I think is amazing as the quality of the polish is so amazing. The colour is really shiny and lasts a long time on the nail, as well as only needing two coats at most to cover the nail fully. The only downside to them is that I don't have more! In the picture you can see Berries and Cream, Lose Your Lingerie, and Rain Rain Go Away, pretty pretty pretty!

The Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation is literally a godsend at the moment. My skin has become a bit horrible recently with a lot of breakouts and discolouration, probably from the heat we're getting at the moment. This foundation gives me a gorgeous coverage which isn't so heavy that it looks like I'm wearing foundation, but heavy enough that I honestly feel flawless. It's the only high-end makeup I own (for now..) so I cherish it dearly. It was £26 but I feel like that's a good price to pay to feel flawless. Plus, it has SPF 25, yay!

The W7 In The Buff eyeshadow palette is quite a recent buy for me, but I saw it everywhere and thought the colours were way too pretty to leave on the shelf. I've wanted a nude palette for ages as I'm not very adventurous with colours, and this was exactly what I was looking for. I think this cost around £4.99 which is an excellent price for so many colours. The shadows are really pigmented and last ages, so I'm as happy as Larry!

I wanted something lighter as a base for the summer, what with it being so hot at the moment. Something lighter would benefit my skin and would also be really useful for when I'm having pretty good skin days, but just want a little bit of coverage. I picked up the Rimmel London BB Cream in light, and I can't tell you how much I love it. It is literally the perfect colour for my skin, it lasts all day and longer, and makes my skin look normal, healthy, and dewy, and we all want that, right? If I were to recommend anything in my favourites, it would definitely be this.

I heard a lot of people talking about the Lash Sensational mascara by Maybelline, so I couldn't help but feel intrigued. I had recently finished my mascara so was looking for a new one anyway, and this makes my eyelashes look really long, really full, and really thick. I haven't had any clumps which I got a lot with my old mascara, and the packaging is really pretty which is obviously essential.

Lastly, and the only thing that isn't makeup related, are candles! The Tesco Travel Tin candles, to be precise. I've really been getting into candles and saw these for 75p, which is an amazing price for such amazing smelling candles. I have Awake, which is grapefruit and lime leaf, and is basically just a burst of citrus which really wakes you up, Sleep, which is lavender and jasmine, quite herbal and sweet, Laugh, which is pink lemonade and peach, really sweet and light, and Indulge, which is bubble bath and rose petals, and basically smells like fancy soap. They're really cute and burn for ages, so go head to Tesco's and pick yourself up a bunch!

What have you been loving this month?

See you soon!
Katie xo

July Glossybox

Salut!
This month's Glossybox is by far my favourite of the ones I have received so far. The collector's edition box was inspired by French skincare, complete with illustrations and a box designed by the phenomenal artist Jamie Lee Reardin. 

This month's box featured 4 French skincare products, as well as an adorable exclusive Glossybox travel pouch. I'm not even a little bit disappointed with any of these products and I'm really impressed with the amount of effort that went into the July Glossybox! I have a weird obsession with France and think it is a beautiful country, so I was really excited when I saw that this box was French inspired.

First of all, a little bit about the artist! Jamie Lee Reardin is the fashion 'it' artist of the moment, and has done work for Chanel, Givenchy, Christian Dior, Cara Delevingne, and Anna Wintour. Ooh la la! She was the brains behind the gorgeous design of the box and the adorable face of the box, Mademoiselle Glossy. Check out her Instagram here.

First up is the noxidoxi Enhancing Serum Base which aims to protect your skin from external aggressions - fancy!

noxidoxi Enhancing Serum Base

Glossybox Says: A serum is the power-house of any skincare regime. From Bordeaux-born brand noxidoxi, this has a CRC6 moisturising complex, which hydrates the skin's surface as well as deeper layers, while a cocktail of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories protect the skin. Layer under moisturiser.
My Review: I have never used a serum before, although I've really wanted to. This stuff shields your skin from environmental damage, so no matter what the weather, or how polluted your surroundings are (smokers, cough cough), your skin will still be amazing. I actually really like this. I put this on in the morning after cleansing and toning, and before moisturising, and found that it left my face feeling healthy and protected. I do believe this stuff works really well, and for something that protects your skin from smoke and pollutants, I don't think £33.46 is bad all all! You can get it here.

Next, the Lollipops Lip Balm Delicieuse, the only full sized product featured in this month's Glossybox.

Lollipops Lip Balm Delicieuse

Glossybox Says: A wonderful French find. This rich and creamy balm immediately soothes and softens with antioxidants and vitamin E, as well as protecting the lips from UV damage. Perfect for the summer!
My Review: I'll be honest, lip balms aren't something I tend to worry about very much anymore, simply because I've found my holy grail lip balm which is the Body Shop Cocoa Butter lip balm, but there's definitely no harm in trying new things, especially if they've come all the way from France! I'll start with the bad point first - there is barely anything in the tube. I had to squeeze it really hard to get any lip balm out, so I probably won't repurchase it simply because you're not really getting much! However, this stuff is really good. It smells quite sweet, I can't quite put my finger on what it smells like but it's definitely familiar! It does hydrate your lips and I found it was a lovely base in my skincare routine. It's only £4.15 for a tube and is available here. It is also available in two other flavours!

This is the only product I haven't actually tried yet, and you'll see why in a minute... Presenting the Teoxane Cosmeceuticals Perfect Skin Refiner!

Teoxane Cosmeceuticals Perfect Skin Refiner

Glossybox Says: Why hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate skin, 10% glycolic acid to help resurface the skin and calming ingredients to reduce irritation. Start by using it every other night (you'll feel a mild tingling at first), and as with all potent treatments, a high SPF is a must during the day.
My Review: Okay, when a product makes your skin tingle, you know that either it's working it's magic, or you're going to die. Well, not really, but it's easy to be intimidated by products that affect your skin that way, so I am a little scared to try this, but even more excited. The only reason I haven't tried this yet is simply because I don't own an SPF, gasp! Shock horror! I know, I need to buy one, but they're pricey and I never go outside because I'm a winter girl. However, at £70 a pop (!), it had better be good. If you can afford this then head on over here to purchase it!

You can never have too many perfumes, so you can imagine my happiness when I saw the Yves Rocher Comme Une Evidence Eau De Parfum in the box (what a mouthful!)

Yves Rocher Comme Une Evidence Eau De Parfum

Glossybox Says: This quintessentially French musky floral scent is light, feminine and airy. It intertwines notes of violet leaves, rose, lily of the valley and patchouli for a subtle scent that lasts all day (or night) long.
My Review: Gorgeous. Wonderful. Love, love, love! This is such a beautiful scent, it makes me feel so feminine and bubbly, I don't even know how to describe it! Y'know when you're wearing your favourite lipstick or your most flattering jeans and your mood is instantly lifted? This is the perfume version of that. SWOON! It's only £24.50 which is really good for such a lovely perfume, and is available here!

Lastly, my personal favourite, the Glossybox Exclusive Travel Pouch! Peachy keen, jellybean!

Exclusive Glossybox Travel Pouch

Glossybox Says: With exclusive artwork by fashion illustrator Jamie Lee Reardin, this zip-lock pouch is the chicest way to keep your beauty essentials safe through security, or use it as your everyday make-up bag.
My Review: The little bag features an illustration of Mademoiselle Glossy on it, and it is just so cute! It's the perfect size for my daily make-up essentials, so it's brilliant for carrying around in my bag for touch-ups throughout the day.

So that's the July Glossybox! It looks absolutely gorgeous sat on my makeup desk with my other boxes, and I have not been let down! If you don't already have a glossybox subscription you can get one on the Glossybox website, and receive 5 surprise goodies every month! I highly recommend, it's so exciting!

If you haven't already entered my giveaway, you can do that here. There's still a few weeks left so get in while you can!

Until next time, au revoir!
Katie xo