What I am Loving This Week #1

I have been an awful blogger the last couple of weeks, with zero posts and zero motivation but I am back today with a weekly favourites post. I am gonna post a weekly favourites every Thursday to make sure I post something. I love my blog but recently have had little time to dedicate myself to it.

An oldie but a goodie, I've recently re-discovered my love for the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. I love to apply this foundation with my fingers for the perfect air brushed base. I have the shade 52 Vanilla, which is one shade too dark for my skin tone but it actually gives my skin the warmth it requires to give me have a healthy glow. I have received many compliments on my skin recently and I think it is down to the foundation I have been using, although my skin in general has improved (more on that in a second) This has been my go to foundation this month and have even been mixing it with other foundations to make it last longer.

The reason for my skin improvements has been the La Roche-Posey Effaclar Duo(+). I have been using this, in place of a moisturiser, for the past two weeks and have seen some miraculous improvements. I was having a skin crisis, with a breakout around my chin that never seemed to go away and redness around my nose and cheeks and it was just getting me down. Since using this product, I my redness has disappeared and the breakouts have vanished leaving a loving clear complexion. I almost considered not wearing makeup today to show off my lovely skin.

Another product I have recently re-discovered is Benefit's Fine One One. It is a stick blush and highlighter that gives a beautiful coral glow. The product is a trio of blush colours and a highlighter with a coral, pink and champagne stripe. The packaging is rose gold and is unique among the pot and boxed blushes that I also own. I have been loving wearing this on top of the Healthy Mix Serum to create a beautiful illuminating combo. LOVE IT.

I recently posted a review on the Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Texturising Spray so I won't go into too much detail (You can read the review here) but I am addicted to this product. I take it with me to work, to the shops and on nights out and it is the perfect volumising spray. I have had the best hair days recently and it is all down to this product and... it smells amazing.

What have you been loving?

2013 Beauty Favourites

I have always been a makeup lover and enjoyed using beauty products, but 2013 was the year I started Georgina Sparkles and discovered a whole new world. From bases to blushers, to storage to brushes. This is my 2013 Beauty favourites:

Bases

My most loved foundation of 2013 has been my Bourjois Happy Light Foundation. although this foundation was launched quite late into the year, I fell in love. I have just ran out and I will be repurchasing this as soon as I get to a Boots. As the name suggests it is a light coverage foundation but it just looks flawless on the skin and gives you this glow from within. 

Highly recommended base goes to the DiorNude BB Creme. This was a summer staple of mine and I have started applying it again recently over foundation. I searched high and low in Edinburgh for this amazing BB Creme and finally found a tube in Jenners. 

At the start of 2013 I was not a powder girl, I loved the glow and warmth that tinted moisturisers and BB Cremes could give to my face. Since then my skin has become oily in certain areas and I have been reaching for a powder. My award for best powder goes to Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot. I have hit pan on this wonderful setting powder and will be heading out soon to get my self another. 

Cheeks

This year I bought my first ever Bronzer and have delved into the world of contouring. Since then I have purchased many different bronzers and they have their own home in my makeup storage. My favourite Bronzer of 2013 has been the Topshop Bronzer in Sandcastles. I use this to add warmth and define those cheekbones.

Blusher is something that I tend to wear all year round and I have picked two favourites for this category. My favourite powder blusher has been the Natural Collection Blush in Rosy Glow. This little pot of joy only costs £1.99 and I have been wearing it everyday. It is one that I can see myself wearing all year round as it gives me the warmth that my pale skin craves. The cream blusher I have been loving is the MUA Cream Blusher in Dolly. This was £2!! Amazing value! This is a coral blush that I've enjoyed wearing in the summer and even in the winter to pair with a smokey eye.

Eyes

My most used palette of 2013 has been the Avon True Colour Eyeshadow Quad in Mocha Latte. This is the perfect naturals palette and is great for creating different looks. It's the palette I would take travelling or away for the weekend because it is compact yet holds all the natural shades you will need. 

This year I discovered cream eyeshadows and have never looked back, I have been so impressed with the high street offering that I have never reached for a high end brand yet. The Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze has been a daily staple in my makeup routine since I popped it in to my basket at Boots. The pigmentation is incredible and I have never experienced the dreaded crease with these eye shadow wonders.

The mascara that has given my lashes length, volume and separation this year has been my beloved L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara. They say, when you find the one, you know and I certainly knew, that this was going to be my mascara of choice.

This was the year I discovered that eyebrows needed more than just waxing and shaping. At the Benefit Brow Bar in John Lewis, Edinburgh I discovered tinting and my beloved Benefit Browzings kit. I have dabbled in pencils but I always go back to wax and powder. I would never dream of going out without my eyebrows filled in now. Oh 2013, year of discoveries. 

Lips

It is very hard to narrow down my favourite lip products of 2013 because I have become a little obsessed with lipsticks this year. I have picked three overall winners that have brought me lipstick joy throughout this year.

First up is the Revlon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake. This is my, my lips but better choice and it has fast become my most worn lipstick of 2013. If you have not tried these bullets of lip loveliness, get on this!

My red of choice is an oldie but a goodie! Topshop Rio Rio is the perfect blue toned bright red. The pigmentation of this lipstick is out of this world and it was my first ever Topshop lipstick from back when they launched their makeup line. It is love! 

My final favourite lip product of 2013 is a new launch by Rimmel. I have been loving the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks and there is a place in my heart especially for As you Want Victoria. It is a bright berry shade that compliments my skin tone and is super pigmented yet moisturising. 

Brushes

I am a huge fan of the Real Techniques makeup brushes and I recommend them to everyone who will listen to me. My two most loved and well used brushes of 2013 have been the RT Buffing Brush, to apply and blend in foundation, and the RT Contour Brush, to add cheek bones and angles to my flat face. Try these out and you will not be disappointed.

Nails

I have discovered so many amazing nail polish formulas this year and have realised that it is definitely substance over style in the nail polish stakes. My favourite nail polishes of the year go to the Maybelline Super Stay Forever Strong Gel Nail Colour. I have loved every shade I own and a special mention goes to Mint for Life. Just go and get this colour. 

Skincare

I have expanded my skincare collection and have come up with a skincare routine that works for my skin. (If I stick to it) A recent skincare purchase that was recommended to me by a friend, is the Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser. This stuff is amazing, it cleared away my spots and actually makes your skin feel clean and fresh. This is a winner and is so inexpensive that it's worth giving a try. 

My moisturiser of choice has been the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturiser. I have been using this for years as part of the Clinique 3 step system but can not afford the rest of the products so have just been using this to moisturise my skin after the Biore Ice Cleanser. It's a really nice formula and is great for when you have dry areas.

My favourite Face Mask Ever is the Lush Magnaminty Face Mask. It is a peppermint mask that smells incredible and helps fight blemishes. I have very spot prone skin and this has been a saviour over the years. It is green and gross looking but I assure you, it is heaven in a Lush Tub.

A new discovery of 2013 has been multipurpose oils. Twice weekly I like to substitute my moisturiser for the Caudalie Divine Oil when I feel that my skin could do with a little extra. This smells crazy good and just leaves my skin feeling amazing. 

Body

The body lotion I have been reaching for all year has been the Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Firming Butter. This smells like chocolate and just makes my skin feel soft. As for the firming properties of this lotion, I have noticed a difference in my legs and would really recommend this to those looking for a toning lotion product.

My shower gel of choice will come of no surprise to those of know me. I am head over heels in love with the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash. The lemon meringue pie scent of this body wash makes it smell good enough to eat. 

The body scrub I have been loving this year has been the Sugar Crush Body Washes Partner in Crime the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub. Same amazing Scent and the perfect texture to rid me of my scaly dry legs. 

I have to add a hand cream in here because they are my saviours all year round. The hand cream that I have been reaching for most is the Soap and Glory Hand Food. This smells of marshmallows and does an amazing job of keeping my hands moisturised. I have a tube in all my handbags just to be on the safe side. 

Perfume

I am a Marc Jacobs Daisy girl forever yet I have been branching out in 2013 and discovering some more irresistible scents. My other top favourite perfume that I wore a lot during the summer months was the D&G L'impératrice. It is sweet and fruity yet very fresh and is one I have always gone back to throughout the year. I even picked up a bottle for my friends birthday because she loved the scent so much. 

So there we have it, my 2013 Beauty Favourites. I am looking forward to the makeup and skincare discoveries I am going to make in 2014.

Beauty Favourites

I have been unable to blog or do much else for the last 3 weeks due to work commitments. I realised I missed my October favourites which I am gutted about because I love doing favourites posts and I love reading other peoples. I decided to do a just general favourites post of all the beauty products I have been LOVING this month. Because of work commitments beauty has not really been a priority, however I did manage a full face of makeup every night, regardless of anyone actually seeing me.

So here goes...

My first big favourite right now is the Soap and Glory hand food which I am sure I have spoken about lots and lots! During work my hands became incredibly dry and rough and yucky and this was a savour! Big love for Hand Food.

I love a bright lip and a berry lip but because I was working a lot I opted for pale pink lips. Enough colour to show I cared! I have been loving Topshop Pillow Talk and Avon Ultra Colour Lipstcick in Proper Pink. The perfect pale pink shades.

I am not a Bronzer girl because I am as pale as they come, however, in a moment of weakness I picked up the Topshop Bronzer in sandcastle. I love this. The packaging is beautiful and so is the beautiful powder inside! It has brightened up my completion and it just makes me happy! The smells thing in life eh?

There has been a lot of hype around the Avon Mega Effects Mascara, positive and negative. I am going hold my hands up and say I love it! This mascara knows how to create full, long, volumised lashes and this mascara can hold a curl! Reccomend! 

Another Avon Goodie that is a repurchase is the ANEW CLINICAL Line Corrector Hydrating Cream. After one use of this cream I was hooked. The only negatives I have are that it only comes in a 30ml tube for £19! Pricey but defiantly worth it.

I picked up 2 new Bourjois launches on my travels which I have been loving! The Happy Light Foundation is just perfect for my skin. I did have a wee struggle getting the right shade first time around but after picking up shade 50 in porcelain I have found a match made in heaven.

I also picked up some of the Bourjois Colour Edition 24hr cream to powder eyeshadows. I have been wearing the shade 6601? Since I got it and I am loving the result. It is the bronze one if that number is just nonsense! It's the perfect amount of pigmentation and shimmer for the party season.

Finally, I have been loving the Marc Jacobs Dot perfume. I am a Daisy lover till the day I die but I have run out of my signature scent so I have been using Dot. I love it! It is the perfect combination of fruity yet warm and just amazing. 

Can you tell I wrote this post in a hurry? Sorry!

August Beauty Haul

I am going to split my August Haul into Beauty and Fashion because I have bought a lot this month! Surprisingly I also saved money for the first time in like 5 years... So August has been pretty good for me!

This is my beauty haul and I have purchased a lot of amazing products this month! I have had a chance to try out most of them because I have been shopping a lot throughout the month. Soooo here we go: 

I bought a few MUA products from my local Superdrug and I wanted to try out some new blushers. I got the MUA Shimmer Kisses in the bronzer and the blusher. Since I purchased these I have hit the blogs to see what other people thought and I've discovered they are more of a highlighter... But for like£3 I'm okay with that! I also got the MUA Mosaic Blush in English Rose, this leaves a very pale pinky colour on the cheeks but I've only used it a few times so I'm open to trying it some more! This was £2.25 I think which is a bargain! 

I have heard some amazing things about the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation and it was top of my wish list! I am a firm believer that the foundation you use on your skin must be of a high quality and for that reason I am usually drawn to luxury high end brands, however, bloggers have been raving about this stuff so I decided to pick it up! I've only been using it for a couple of weeks but I am head over heels in love with this! I got it in the shade 52 and it is perfect on my skin and feels so light weight and the coverage is perfect! Go get this foundation!! 

I already have the Maybelline Forever Strong Super Stay Nail polish in Mint for Life and it is actually one of my favourite formulas, so I picked up another colour to try called Hot Salsa and I Love it! It's a colour I would wear all year round and it is this pretty pinky red.

The Revlon lip butters get a lot of hype online so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about! I picked up the shade candy apple which is a sheer red which can be worn casually or on a night out! The formula is creamy so i did find that you had to apply a couple more coats throughout the day. I do like this product and I did pick up 2 more shades yesterday when I was shopping in boots, Sorbet and Strawberry shortcake.

It has been like 2 months since I had my eyebrows professionally waxed so I have been tweezong them to save me some money. I usually get them done at the Benefit Brow Bar and they do such an amazing job at creating that benefit arch! To fill in my brows on this low maintenance period I picked up the Maybelline Master Shape Brow Pencil in Soft Brown! I haven't really used this yet to give you a review but I will do very soon! One end has the brow pencil and the other has a brush for combing through those messy brows! 

One of my favourite purchases, which I have already done a blog post on, are The Real Techniques Powder Brush and Expert Face Brush! I can not rave enough about these amazing brushes so check out my full review of my brush collection in my other blog post! 

I also picked up these two soap and glory products this month on a 3 for 2 offer... Just realised I forgot to include the 3rd item, Scrub your Nose in it. That product is so amazing I think I will review it for you guys! Anyway, I picked up the Breakfast Scrub which is something I have wanted to try for ages! It smells delicious and I want to eat it every time I use it! I love it and I feel that it gives me skin a deep scrub without drying it out. 

The final beauty that I bought this month is the Smoothie Star Body Milk. This smells like cookies and cream and I can not wait to start using it! I want to finish off my body shop body butter first before I start using this one but I can tell it is going to be a favourite of mine.