October Favourites

I think Favourite's posts and videos are one of my favourites to read/watch especially with the change in season, I love to be a bit nosey and see what people have been loving that's new recently! Here's a few of mine from October...

• MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick - In theory I have a lot of similar products and always seem to lean towards nude lipsticks however recently this is all I've been reaching for. The formula for a Matte is still quite moisturising and I've just found it the perfect everyday colour that's so easy to wear!
• Benefit Rockateur Blush - A little rediscovery for me recently and I think possibly my all time favourite blush! I purchased this about 2 years ago and keep going back to it. I love the natural glow it gives and how it can be built up!
• Topshop Loafers - Shoes are one of my many weaknesses and these were something a bit different for me but I absolutely love them! They're just a bit smarter for everyday wear but also a nice alternative if I don't want to wear heels on an evening out!
• Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer - Once again I was probably a bit late to the party with this one and can now see why people really like it! It definitely helps cover my extreme dark circles and I even used it on it's own dotted around my whole face the other day and it actually worked pretty well!
• Tresemme Deep Cleansing Shampoo - A bit of an odd one for a favourites but I thought I would just mention how good this was! My hair was getting quite clogged up from volumising shampoo's and various other products recently and I was struggling with product build up, but within 1 wash this had completely cleared it and I just use it twice a week now to keep my hair soft and shiny. It's so reasonable too!

What have you been loving this month?

Autumn Wishlist 2015

So summer has pretty much been and gone in the blink of an eye for us in England and to be quite honest I've been wishing Autumn to arrive. The past few weeks it's gotten colder and the weather's gotten more dreary and I've been looking forward to wrapping up in my comfy jumpers and staying in on an evening watching films. So I thought, what better time than to put together my Autumn Wishlist!

• The Perfect Bronze Eyeshadow - Something that I most likely have in every wishlist, however the search continues for the perfect bronzed shade. I'm due in London a few times this month and next so I'm hoping to pop to Selfridges and have a scour of the Charlotte Tilbury counter for this beauty
• Lace Up Flats - These have become quite a trend this summer and I think they're so chic! Definitely something that can dress up any outfit!
• Copper Jewellery - I love the copper/rose gold tones for jewellery and I think it compliments the autumn pallets perfectly!
• Chunky Knit's - I mean, you can never have enough comfy jumpers!
• Brown Satchel Bag - Probably another thing that's in every one of my wish lists, I'm still searching for the perfect one though!
• Button Down A-Line Skirt - I also love this trend that has come into AW15 and think the A-Line shape is so flattering. I've had my eye on this one from Miss Selfridge for ages and love the colour for Autumn
• Light Trench Coat - Being 5ft tall I always have trouble finding a good length trench coat, however they are the perfect light layer for getting into Autumn before the colder times set in!

What's on your Autumn Wishlist?

Winter Wish List

I really enjoyed making my Autumn wish lists (linked here and here) and looking back to see what I have actually got or what I'm carrying over. So I thought I would do one for Winter as well! Even thought the weather hasn't changed as much as it does from Summer to Autumn, I still find that with it getting a lot colder I need to change both my beauty/skincare routine and my wardrobe. Here's just a few things I'm going to be looking out for this Winter...

(Going clockwise from top left)

1. Knee high boots
 I've become slightly shoe obsessed in previous months and have decided the next thing I'd like which I don't have in my collection are a pair of knee high boots. These ones are from Duo and I've been eyeing them up for ages now (possibly a early Christmas present for myself? I wish!)

2. MAC 'Ruby Woo' Lipstick
I've seen so many people raving about this one lately saying that it's a staple item and I definitely think I've been convinced! Such a perfect colour for this time of year and possibly the perfect red shade!

3. The 'Boyfriend' Coat
 I absolutely love this style of coat and think it looks so chic but really easy to wear! I've been looking for one all last season but can't get one that isn't too long/doesn't look like I'm wearing my Dad's coat so I'll definitely be on the hunt for one like this!

4. New Look Tartan Reversible Scarf 
New Look have brought out a few colours of these scarves and I honestly can't decide which one is my favourite! I love that you can almost get two scarves out of one or wrap it round and get the different sides together!

5. Una Brennan Superfacialist 'Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Pore Purifying Clay Mask'
 I've been meaning to try this out for ages and have been really been getting into using face masks more as a little pamper session in the evenings. I love the idea that this hopefully absorbs oil and helps with blemishes!

6. Body Shop 'Glazed Apple' Collection
I think this is a limited edition scent for Christmas and I'm really hoping they bring it in to their full range! It's such a fresh scent (I almost want to eat it!) and I'm going to try and stock up before it leaves stores!

7. Elegant Touch Press On Nails 
I've been trying out a set of these nails recently and am really impressed! The current pair I'm wearing have only been on for a couple of days but they're really comfortable and didn't take me too long to apply seeing as I normally get someone else to do them. I love the glitter and Christmas versions they have out though and will definitely be picking some up for parties this time of year!

What's on your wish list at the moment?

Soap and Glory Skincare Series - 3 - Instant Radiance Energy Boost Balm

In my third edition to my skincare review series of Soap and Glory products I've been trying out the 'Bright Here Bright Now Instant Radiance Energy Boost Balm' (bit of a tongue tangler!). This is a skin-perfecting cream which claims to lift, energise, tighten and brighten the skin and give a super-radiant glow! My skin has been lacking recently and I feel I quite often go through stages with my skin where it just seems a bit dull and doesn't react well to my make up, so thought I would try this out and see if it helped at all.

 

At first try of this one, as with many of the other Soap and Glory products, it did tingle slightly whilst it soaked in, but by the second go I didn't even notice it was on my skin! It has a bit of a strong scent when you initially pop it onto the skin which I didn't like too much, but doesn't smell at all once rubbed in and soaks in really easily. The formula is pretty much that of a light moisturiser, which is how I like to use it, or it can be mixed in with your foundation/base products. 

I've noticed a slight difference with this, using it in the morning and letting it soak in before doing my make up. I've definitely noticed a bit of a skin-perfecting element (I don't expect it to do much without actual concealer added in as I do have quite bad scaring) and think that it just adds a bit of life to the skin with a bit of a radiance. It's not too brightening that you glow (I have combination skin so was slightly weary but I don't get any more oily in my t-zone than before using it) and it just adds a little highlight where needed! I think it would be really nice to use strategically as a subtle highlighter if you wanted!

I'm definitely going to be trying this out mixed in with tinted moisturiser next!

Have you tried any skincare products recently you've loved?

Marks and Spencer Christmas Event

This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of being invited along to The Mall Cribbs Causeway's Marks and Spencer store for their first Christmas Blogger Event. They had transformed their Espresso bar into a 'Winter Wonderland' showcasing some of their best pieces for this season, along with lots of lovely nibbles, a beautiful Christmas tree and nail bar!

They had some beautiful rails out, full of this seasons must haves and faves! I spotted a few items which I will definitely be popping in to look at more for Christmas parties including gorgeous skirts, blouses and a coat which I may just have my eye on now! Their Christmas jumpers were also probably the best I have seen this year, along with their hats and scarves which I will definitely be donning this Christmas season! 

I had already been eyeing up the Marks and Spencer Christmas gift sets this year, especially the beauty ones! The boxes for most of their sets is a beautiful rose gold colour, perfect as a bit of a luxury present! They have some brilliant gifts as well that are more non-beauty prezzies that are well worth checking out!

Marks and Spencer also have some really great brands in the beauty department including Ren and Diego Dalla Palma; brands which I don't really see around much and am very excited to try out! I was also lucky enough to be given a few mini goodies from these brands which I most definitely will be trying out and letting you know how I get on with them! 

Unfortunately, I had to pop off slightly early, but I would really like to thank the great team that organised this lovely event for inviting me! I'll definitely be looking forward to if they have another one next year!

'No Make Up' Make Up Base

This week for some reason I had a bit of an allergic reaction to something and haven't been able to wear any make up etc around my eyes (except mascara which I pretty much could never leave the house without!) I've been having a lot of these days lately though, trying not to wear too much make up and actually think I prefer it sometimes.

(Excuse the well used bottles, for some reason the writing always rubs off within a day, does anyone else find this?)

I've not been wearing foundation day to day but quite like the lighter, less coverage base that I've been wearing. Of course, it doesn't last all day but with a little bit of topping up of powder half way through I don't really mind that my skin and scars are showing through a bit, actually I'm kind of trying to embrace them! I also have combination skin so do get a fairly shiny T-Zone but have found wearing less sometimes means I don't become so much of a sheeny mess within an hour!

MAC Studio Moisture Tint in 'Medium Plus' - I don't wear this every day but just the days where my skin has a few more dry patches or needs a little bit of a pep up. It's not much coverage but keeps the skin hydrated and does help to even things out a bit!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 'Warm Medium' - A staple for so many beauty bloggers and definitely one for me! I've used this for years and just find that it gives really good coverage and blends really nicely. I only wish they did more colour options!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 'Soft Beige' - Not being able to wear much around my eyes I've found this is the lightest and softest thing to use under my eyes that didn't irritate them so much. I definitely think this is one of the best high street concealers for under eyes you can get!

MAC Studio Fix Powder in 'NW25' - I've only been using this the past couple of weeks but really love the extra coverage it gives. It's a really light texture that doesn't feel at all heavy on the skin and just keeps things in place a little bit longer. You can either use it as a lightly tinted powder or build it up a bit for extra coverage.

Have you been loving any base products lately?

October Favourites

I honestly have no idea where this past month has gone! It feels like just yesterday we weren't starting back the college year and now it's only 8 weeks till Christmas (not that I'm counting or anything...although, maybe I am). With the Autumn Season coming to a high and the colder weather coming in, I've changed up my routine slightly this month and been trying out some new bits. These are just a few things I've been loving this month (including a non 'beauty' fave)!

Urban Decay Naked Palette - I got this for Christmas last year and seemed to use only this for months. Then Summer came and with the exception of a little soirée with 'Half Baked' I didn't seem to be reaching for it all that much. This month though, I've regained my love for this beautiful palette, particularly loving using 'Smog' and 'Buck' at the moment!

Soap and Glory Sexy Motherpucker Gloss Stick in 'Plum Jam' - With last months mention of this lipstick in 'Nudist' I sparked my own interest to pick them all out again and remember what great colours they are for Autumn, particularly this one! I just pat this in my lips day to day, or build it up for a little more colour and more of a dramatic look!

Burgundy Top - I purchased this top from New Look a few weeks back now and have just got so much wear out of it! It's great as a 'day to night' piece that I wear for any occasion, dressing it up with heels and black jeans or blue jeans and boots for the day. I love this colour for Autumn as well!

The Righteous Butter Body Lotion - I'm a huge lover of all Soap and Glory products, I've never found anything I didn't like really and don't think I ever will. I've always used their body butters, but wanted to try this one seeing as it was a lotion so hopefully quicker to use (which it was) and liked that it had a pump rather than a tub. Definitely will be repurchasing this one!

The Maze Runner Trilogy - I started reading these books when I went on holiday late September and have just been hooked! I'm just starting the third one now but wanted to finish the first one before seeing the film and cannot put them down! They're packed with action but a great mysterious back story which you find bits out about throughout. I both can't wait to finish this and also don't want to at the same time!

What have you been loving this month?

Love Hope xxx

Soap and Glory Skincare Series - 2 - The Fab Pore Moisture Lotion

The second edition to my little Soap and Glory skincare review series sees me trying out the 'Fab Pore Moisturiser'. Such as with the facial wash, I've been trying this for a little while now, incorporating it into my daily skincare routine. 

I picked this moisturiser as I have combination skin and wanted to see if it would work to minimise pores and control that troublesome t-zone and I'm glad to say I definitely noticed a difference! 

Within the first few weeks of using it, my skin did feel a bit better. My skin was more soft and even a bit brighter. I noticed when I swapped it for a tinted moisturiser in the mornings that I was having a lot more breakouts and getting dry patches, but as soon as I switched back it was a lot more manageable. I'm not sure it controls the oils in my t-zone as such, but it has helped minimise pores slightly.

As the weather's getting colder, it's still keeping up its duties, although I am finding that the change in the weather is meaning that I have a lot more troublesome dry patches so I may need to start using something a bit stronger overnight, but I'll definitely be keeping this one in the routine in the morning!

Do you have any skincare recommendations I should try out?

Love Hope xxx

Review - MAC Studio Moisture Tint

Recently I have been trying not to wear foundation except on special occasions in hope that my skin would clear up a bit. I'd been using the Nivea Tinted Moisturiser but found it wasn't quite doing as great a job as I'd have liked, so I popped to my local MAC counter to see what they had to offer.

I picked up the Studio Moisture Tint in the shade 'Medium Plus'. It's described as a 'light tinted moisturiser' that's easy to use and provides just enough to coverage to even out skin tone and I definitely think it does the job here! I have combination skin and despite this not necessarily staying put all day on my face, I do like the finish, and just use a bit of concealer to touch up any blemishes or troublesome patches.

I'd definitely repurchase this one again, however I do think I'd quite like something with a bit more coverage at the moment and maybe a bit more of a matte finish for this colder season. I'm thinking of trying the Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser next? Anyone know if it's any good?

Have you used a tinted moisturiser you think I should try?

Love Hope xxx