January Beauty Haul

I know Christmas was like 2 weeks ago and I was spoilt with treats but I couldn't help myself when it came to beauty items. Most of these items were a must have or repurchases and most of them have been used so I can give you a mini review.

L-R - Batiste Light & Blonde Dry Shampoo - Lady Gaga Fame Perfume - Bourjois Happy Light Foundation - L'Oreal Skin Perfection -  Maybelline Lasting Drama Eyeliner Gel - Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm - Topshop Pressed Powder - Maybelline The Falsies Mascara - Topshop Nails in Green Room - Mac Creme Cup - Real Techniques Stippling Brush - Real Techniques Eye Brush Set - 

The Batiste Light and Blonde Dry Shampoo was something I purchased when I was visiting a friend because I didn't have time to wash my hair before our shopping trip. I loved it, my hair went from greasy to clean looking in seconds. I enjoyed the fact that it wasn't the typical white powder of other dry shampoo as i find some others make my hair look grey.

I picked up the Lady Gaga Fame perfume on Boxing Day, as if I hadn't received enough perfumes over the festive period. I really fancied a warm, night time scent as I usually gravitate towards fresh flower scents. This perfume is a black liquid with the ingredients:

Tears of Belladonna 

Crushed Heart of Tiger Orchidea

With a Black Vail of Incense

Pulverised Apricot

And the Combinative Essences 

Of Saffron and Honey

I am a little bit in love with this perfume.

The Bourjois Happy Light Foundation is one of my favourites from 2013. This is a repurchase because I just ran out and couldn't be without my beloved Happy Light. The coverage is light to medium but can be built up. Even though I discovered this in the autumn/winter time, I think this is a summer foundation. The colour range is not great but I have no. 50 porcelain and it is just a little darker than my skin tone but this does help my fair skin glow a little.

Another repurchase is the L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar solution. I really love this product for taking of my makeup before using my cleanser and after cleansing as a toner. 

One of my New Years resolutions is to learn how to apply eyeliner. I picked up the Maybelline Master Drama Gel Liner on a Boots spending spree. I have tried this before and managed to create an okay line across one of my lids. I am determined to master the technique of applying eyeliner. 

The Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm is something I have been lusting after for a long time. When Feel Unique had a 15% off event I couldn't help but pop this into my basket and click checkout. I have been using this for a week and have not noticed much of a difference. However, I have read reviews were people say that they notice a big difference when they stop using it. It smells amazing and I'm gonna keep using it in my skin care routine. 

My beloved Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder has hit pan in a bad way and I went out yo seek a replacement. I picked up the Topshop Setting Powder in White Lies because I have been impressed with Topshops Makeup offerings. So far, nothing special, I will have to pick up another One Heck of a Blot.

I was a big fan of the Maybelline The Falsies the last time I had it. I picked up the Flared version and I'm not impressed. My lashes are average and don't have the wow factor they did the last time. Going to keep using it, maybe it gets better with age?

I love Topshop Nails and I had a voucher to spend so I picked up the Topshop Nails in Green Room. I  have this on my nails now and I love it. It's a very opaque bright mint green and I think it's one I will be wearing all year round.

I have started a new Mac Obsession. Whenever i go to a Mac Store or counter I have to buy something, eyeshadow or lipstick related. On this particular shopping trip I picked up Mac Creme Cup and I am in love with this lipstick. It's the most wearable Mac Lipstick I own and it's the perfect nude/pink. It is my go to lipstick of the moment. Any Mac Lipsticks you would reccomend for next shopping trip?

Last, but certainly not least are my new additions to my Real Technique makeup brush family. I picked up the Stippling Brush for using with my blushers. I was previously using a Claire's Accessories brush but I decided I needed this in my life. I also bought the Eye Makeup Brush Collection. I have wanted this for a long time and finally just decided to get it. I have been using the Deluxe Crease Brush and Base Shadow Brush everyday since I bought them. 

What have you been buying this month?

Top 5 Hair Products

I have not done a top 5 edit in a couple of months so I thought I would blog about my Top 5 hair products! These are products that are essential in the maintenance of my hair on a daily basis. I dye my hair blonde regularly, the ends can be dry and brittle but my roots, where my natural hair is coming through, can be a little greasy. I would fully recommend these amazing products to achieve beautiful hair.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush is my dry shampoo of choice. I have only recently started washing my hair every other day and this product has been a saviour in making my hair look and smell fresh on that second day. I have found that second day hair is easier to style, especially for someone like myself, who has hair that is naturally poker straight. 

When I get my hair dyed blonde I sometimes find that my hair needs a little toning down to make it less yellow and more ashy! I love to use the Pro-Voke Twice A Week Brightening Shampoo about three times a week to achieve the perfect ashy blonde. I have had this bottle for a long time and it seems to last forever.

There was a lot of hype amongst Bloggers regarding the L'oreal EverRiche Shampoo but I picked up the L'Oreal EverPure Shampoo and Conditioner for coloured hair. I loved this shampoo and conditioner and I will be repurchasing it. The scent is rosemary, mint and Juniper and it just left my hair feeling clean and healthy. The scent does stay on the hair which I personally loved.

I received this Bamboo Style Boho Waves Spray in a GlossyBox and it is my most used product that I have received. I would pick this spray over my Bumble & Bumble Salt Spray any day! I just feel it gives my hair more texture and volume which is particularly important for someone with the flattest hair ever!

Sometimes when my hair is feeling a little dry and brittle I like to run a hair oil through the ends. You already know the love I have for the Caudalie Devine Oil. This Multi purpose oil is amazing on my skin, face and of course my hair. It leaves my hair beautiful and shiny and I love wearing my beautiful, shiny hair in a high pony tail.

I have added a couple of extra products that are not creams or sprays! I have been loving my orange Tangle Teezer and use it daily to get all the tugs and tats out of my hair. My hair is notorious for become. Tangled ball of hair that resembles a hamster and the Tangle Teezer is a miracle product! 

I have also been loving my Large Hair Dohnut from Claire's. I love having my hair tied up and out my face but I think that a bun just adds something a little extra to an outfit. I think it makes it look like I've made a massive effort when in reality it took me two minutes to stick my hair up in this Dohnut.

What are your Holy Grail Hair Products?

September Beauty Favourites

I love the autumn and as soon as it turned September I was swapping all my summer essentials for beauty products that were more seasonal. I have been loving a few products this month and have discovered some amazing beauty treats on my visits to Boots.

For skin care I have been loving the Champneys Super Rich Cleansing Balm, which I did a blog post on. This product is a treat to use and it gives great results. My skin just feels amazing and any blemishes I had are gone. A little goes a long way of this cleansing balm and I have barely made a dent even though I have been using it every night during my skin care routine. 

I have been following my cleansing balm with the Caudalie Divine Oil. This is another favourite that has made a difference to my skin. The Divine Oil makes my skin feel nourished, moisturised and healthy. I would recommend using this every other night or twice a week as your nightly moisturiser, using it more often could cause break-outs.

I have decided that I need to start washing my hair every other day instead of everyday because I think it makes my hair greasy faster. I picked up the Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush and I have really been enjoying this product. Not only does it de-grease the hair it also adds volume which I am in much need of. My hair is super flat and I find it hard to puff it out and this does the trick.

As it is autumn, I have decided to swap the pastel and bright nail polishes for nudes and darks. I have been loving these three nail polishes this month: 

Chanel Frenzy: A pale grey

Chanel April: a dark burgundy 

Maybelline Forever Strong Super Stay in Divine Wine: a red toned dark purple

The formula of the Chanel polishes is not great but I love these colours so much I am willing to overlook that and just paint over unsightly chips. The Maybelline Forever Strong Super Stay nail polishes have an amazing long lasting formula and I can not fault this shade!

The lip product I have been loving this month is the Revlon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake. I swear I have worn this shade every day. It is the perfect shade of pink that can be easily worn throughout the day. If in doubt of what colour to put on my lips I pick up this beauty! The formula is very pigmented for a sheer lip butter and it is very moisturising!

After Essiebutton raved about the Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot powder I knew I had to get my hands on it. This powder is incredible. Most of my foundations and bases have a very dewy finish because that was the look of the summer. However, as it is now autumn and the glow needs to be toned down a little, I have been reaching for this powder to matte up my face. It's very finely milled and leaves a beautiful finish. 

I love the Maybelline Colour Tattoos and I was on the hunt for the Rose Gold shade. After looking EVERYWHERE I picked it up in Carlisle. I still favour On and On Bronze as my Cream shadow of choice but I have been enjoying the Rose Gold colour for evenings and dinner dates with my friends. The colour is very pigmented and quite shimmery which I like for an evening look.

This September I have been back to loving my brows and filling them in to their full potential! I have been using the Benefit Brownings kit to make my eyebrows stand out in the crowd and I love it. I prefer using wax and powder to fill in my brows rather than a pencil, and I have it in the shade light. The colour is a perfect match to my own eyebrows and I think that my look always looks complete when my eyebrows are filled in correctly. 

My final favourite of the month is a cream blusher from MUA. This blusher cost me £2 which I think is the bargain of the year. My favourite shade is Dolly which is a lovely peach colour and I have been wearing this when I have chosen to do a more darker eye look, to contrast with a natural cheek colour. I am so impressed with the quality of this blusher when it only cost £2! There is a nice shade selection so you should check out MUA at Superdrug. 

What have been your September favourites?