April 2016 Favourites:

How is April nearly over already? It seems like only yesterday that I was stuffing my face with chocolate and drinking too much champagne whilst waving goodbye to 2015 and seeing in the New Year in style. But without paying too much attention to how quickly this year is progressing, I thought I would share with you a few products that I have been loving throughout the month of April.

Mac ‘Camel Coat’ Pro Longwear Paint Pot: Upon opening my MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot to find what can only be described as a shrivelled up mess inside I thought it was about time I found a comparative replacement and Camel Coat is just that. It’s a lovely cool toned beige shade with a slight hint of grey that would serve beautifully as a base for subsequent powder eye products or run along the lower lash line to create a subtle shadow. It has a very soft, creamy texture and is easily blended with both a brush and finger. A great item to have in your collection.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara: This mascara has become a staple product in my collection over the past few weeks, it lifts my lashes like no other and leaves me with long, separated lashes that won’t transfer, flake or become brittle throughout the day. If you’re lazy, like me, you will love this mascara and you can certainly say goodbye to your eyelash curlers!

Hugo Boss Orange Woman Eau de Parfum: This is my ultimate Spring/Summer scent. Its light, its floral, its sweet, what more could you want? The top note of apple and middle notes of orange blossom and white flower certainly pack a punch but aren’t too overbearing for the warmer months, they provide just the right amount carefree femininity that will get you noticed this season. 

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette: Forget about an April favourite, this palette has to be one of my favourite discoveries of the entire year so far. As you would expect with any Urban Decay palette these eye shadows apply and blend like a dream, there is only one let down for me in there and that’s ‘POP’ which is a bit crumbly for my liking, but don’t let that put you off, there are 14 other superb shadows to keep you busy. ‘Steady,’ ‘Baby’ and ‘Stark’ are three of my favourites.

Topshop Matte Liner: I don’t think I will ever find at liquid liner that ticks all the boxes. I’ve tried high end, low end and everything in between and this Topshop Matte Liner is the only thing that really comes close to what I’m looking for. It has a relatively small lid which is easy to grip allowing for maximum control when applying the liner and it has a neat, precise nib which makes creating that perfect, sleek wing a walking in the park. The product itself is extremely pigmented, a beautiful deep black to compliment any eye look, and I can’t complain about the staying power either.

Origins GinZing Moisturiser: Origins is without a doubt one of my favourite skincare brands. It caters for all different skin types, skin conditions and it has an extensive array of products per skin concern, so if you have dry or dehydrated skin like me, oily or combination skin there will be something on the site for you. Whilst the GinZing moisturiser isn’t specifically targeted to dry skin alone (the website suggests it’s suitable for both dry, normal and oily skin) it really does make my skin feel thoroughly refreshed and hydrated and the lightweight gel like consistency leaves my skin feeling cool and calm. 

What products have you been loving this month?

Take care x

NARS Copacabana Illuminator:

For my first post since my blogging break I thought I would talk about one of my favourite products that I have discovered during 2014/2015: the Nars Illuminator in Copacabana. As I didn’t even attempt to wear eye makeup for the majority of 2014, for me, it really has been all about the face and finding those Holy Grail products that I know will give me the best base possible. 

As the name would suggest it is a stunning, shimmering liquid illuminator that can be used either alone as a cheek bone/brow bone highlight or mixed in with foundation to provide a sheerer, more luminous coverage. But, whilst this product serves both of those purposes perfectly, I have been absolutely loving it as a primer before I apply my chosen foundation.

This beauty packs a very pigmented punch, just a little bit of product goes an extremely long way so be careful not to cross that fine line between radiant glow and dazzling disco ball. I just apply a small amount of this to my entire face keeping clear of my nose and surrounding area (only Benefit’s thePorefessional can keep my foundation from slipping here) and massage into the skin until blended. I then apply my foundation (I have been loving the Illamasqua Skin Base foundation lately) with a damp sponge, do all my contouring and blush etc and that’s it, flawless face accomplished!

What’s great about this NARS Illuminator is that no matter what liquid, cream or powder products you place over the top of it, it still manages to shine through so there is no need to waste time adding additional highlighters – great for all you girls on the go. I have even given this product a little nickname: “my foundation glue.” It just seems to keep my foundation in place all day no matter which foundation I choose and I can happily go about my day or dance the night away knowing that my foundation won’t have creased, faded or slid down to my chin when I come to inspect it in the mirror.

I can’t tell you how many compliments I have had since I started using this as a primer and I would completely recommend it to anyone looking for a versatile liquid highlighter or illuminating primer.

Have you tried this product? What are your favourite highlighters at the moment?

Take care x

I'm Back!

Oh goodness, where has the past year (or two) gone!? I can’t believe I haven’t sat down to even think about blogging for over a year now, naught naughty me. But, to be honest, I just really haven’t had the time, money or inspiration to crack open the laptop and write about the latest beauty, hair and skincare items that have hit the shelves. Plus, I have been really struggling with my eye health for the past year, so much so my confidence has really taken a hit and posting pictures of my puffy eyes for all the interweb to see isn’t exactly number one on my to do list. But the number one thing that has been taking up my time is a little Cocker Spaniel puppy named Dylan. Late nights, early mornings and constant play fighting has definitely taken its toll on my get up and go but, now that Dyl is over a year old, I feel like it’s finally time to get back to being me and not one of those crazy ‘all-I-can-talk-about-is-my-puppy’ women and get back on it with my beauty blogging. I really have missed it!

Anyway, now that the excuses are out of the way, let’s get down to business. I’m not going to say that I’m going to go back to posting everyday (unfortunately time still won’t allow me to do that!) but I have missed the interaction and sharing my views with you all so much that it’s come to a point where I just NEED to starting blogging again. I’m going to start with posting every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and I’ll see how things go from there, sound good?

Oh, I almost forgot to mention my new blogging name and layout! To go along with my new lease of blogging life, I thought I would give my blog a complete makeover including a whole new name – The Beauty Log, and a cleaner and crisp design to go with. Let me know what you think!

What have you all been up to? Don't forget to follow me on all  my new social media accounts!

Take care x