2013 beauty favourites.

Whenever it comes to monthly favourites and, in this case, 2013 favourites I'm never really sure where to start and, in case you haven't noticed before, they're usually put together a bit last minute. It doesn't feel quite right saying it's 2014 and I'll probably still be writing 2013 as the date for a while but I'm positive 2014 is going to be a good year.

So here's a round-up of my 2013 beauty favourites;

bareMinerals original foundation - Since buying the 'Try, believe, love' kit earlier this year I have been addicted to this stuff. This foundation provides more coverage than any other I've tried before and it's a powder. In fact, the only similar product I've found to this is Benefit's 'Hello flawless' powder but they're both around the £25 mark anyway. Aside from it's amazing coverage it also feels so lightweight on your skin and, in the Summer,  this is all I'd really need.

Batiste dry shampoo - I won't talk much about this product because I have a review of the Batiste dry shampoos coming up soon. However, what I will say is that this product has been a life saver at some points and really has helped my hair, not only, feel but also look fresher.

Bourjois healthy mix foundation - This is the best foundation I've ever found from the drugstore and I'm definitely going to carry on repurchasing it for years to come. This foundation is perfect for me because it provides me with a medium but build-able coverage and it's available in very fair shades.

Benefit porefessional primer - I've been using this as my primer on and off through 2013 but the thing I love the most about it is how lightweight it is. You can't even feel it's on your skin and after applying a thin layer your skin feels so velvety soft. It leaves you with the perfect base for the rest of your makeup.

Benefit 'coralista' blush - Another product I've been using on and off during 2013 but mostly in the Spring/Summer. Coralista will always be a favourite because it's a stunning mix of coral, peach and rose. It also contains some shimmer so, depending on how much you use, it can save the need for highlighter. I'm surprised I haven't hit pan yet, actually, but I can definitely see myself having to buy a new one sometime this year.

Essie 'mint candy apple' nail polish - This has been in quite a few of my blog posts already and, I promise, I'll try not to go on about it too much in the future but it's one of my, all-time, favourite Spring/Summer nail polish picks. It's the perfect mint green shade so, if you've been on the hunt, look no further.


Rimmel stay matte powder - Again, another product that I've mentioned a lot on my blog previously. It isn't often I hit pan and, if I do, you can tell it's a well-loved product. This is my favourite powder to help fight against a shiny/oily face and is super cheap too, what more could you want?


Soap & Glory peaches and clean face cleanser - This is great for removing any last traces of makeup left on your face and smells good too. I apply a couple of pumps onto my face and massage into skin, then rinse and my face is left feeling fresh and makeup free! Soap & Glory is such a brilliant brand with so many beauties to offer.

Dove leave-in conditioning and care spray - I try my best to take as much care of my locks as possible. I apply a heat defence spray before using any heat on my hair but the ends of my hair always end up feeling dry and spraying this on the ends has really helped. My hair is left feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Clarins instant light natural lip perfector - I'm not a huge gloss fan but, unlike other glosses, I find this so easy to wear and find it doesn't wear off too quickly. At first, I felt pretty bad for buying it (since I had a drawer full of lip glosses at home) but I'm glad I did.

Thanks for reading! What's your 2013 beauty favourites?

x

What I got for Christmas 2013.

I hope all of you had a fabulous Christmas! I enjoyed taking a short break from blogging to enjoy Christmas with my friends and family. I wasn't actually going to do this particular post but, after seeing many YouTubers and bloggers doing them, I thought I may as well jump on the bandwagon. I didn't get anything really expensive/extravagant this year because I didn't ask for anything huge and I was happy receiving small gifts and some money. Just to put it out there, I'm not trying to show off in any way and I'm so grateful for everything I received from my family and friends.

 As always, I get al LOT of chocolate and sweets at Christmas. I would've taken a photo of all of them together but my family and friends have already started helping me eat them!

Lush 'Snow fairy' shower gel // Burt's Bees gift set // Lush 'Sweetie pie' shower jelly // Vanilla scented hand wipes // Bath and body works 'Winter candy apple' hand sanitizer // Yankee candle in 'Merry marshmallow' // Impulse body sprays in 'Sweet smile' and 'True love' // Blue floral blanket/throw

Diary of a wimpy kid 'Hard luck' // Percy piglets // Home sign // Floral pen set // Cath Kidston soap 'Honeysuckle' // Milkybar polar bear // Various nail polishes (Rimmel 'Purple reign', Maybelline 'Ceramic blue' and L'Oreal 'Crystalissme')

My mum bought Marc Jacobs 'Honey' as more of a shared present between me, my mum and my sister and it smells amazing! 

 Batiste dry shampoo // Soap and glory 'Clean on me' shower gel // Soap and glory 'The righteous butter' body butter // Flower pharm 'Orange flower' body scrub // Balmi 'Coconut' lip balm // Milani Glimmer stripes // Chocolate coins in a bauble // 2  hand creams (these came in a set of four between me and my sister: so we divided them)

 I got this really cute doughnut cushion/toy thingy which I think I'll put on my bed.

When I opened this present I was so shocked and surprised! I'd been asking my dad for a Jack Wills book bag for ages and I was so pleased that he had got me one.

I did get other things for Christmas but it was mostly just more body creams, body sprays etc and food so I didn't think there was much point in taking pictures of them all. Again, I hope you had a good Christmas, thanks for reading! x

Christmas stocking fillers #3

This is the last Christmas stocking fillers post I write, but I wanted to fit one more in before Christmas, for those of you who still have a few bits and bobs to pick up, for friends and family.

Baylis and harding beauticology mini trio - boots

Daisy studs - forever 21

Barry m glitter nail paint - boots

Burt's bees gift set - sainsbury's

Laptop case - asos
This works dream team - feel unique
Cranberry joy body butter - the body shop
Tangle teezer - feel unique
Victoria's secret body mist - ebay


I think all of these are great for stocking fillers of as a little gift to a friend. The Body Shop's Cranberry joy body butter really does smell amazing: I've added one to my Christmas wishlist now! I've seen loads of other beauty bloggers talking about the This Works Dream team set and, even though it's small, it's said to work wonders. As for that laptop case, I don't think it could be any more beautiful and I think it would be a great present for any students. I've heard tangle teezers last a long time and are very good quality so, for your best friend or your sister, this would make a great gift. So that's all my picks, I hope you've enjoyed these posts!
What's on your Christmas wishlist?

Christmas Stocking Fillers #2

Chunky knits pen pot - paperchase

Moustache party straws - etsy

Mini rabbit lamp - urban outfitters

Globe watch - ebay

Santa pocket mirror - cath kidston

Galaxy giraffe nail decals - etsy

Cat wearing glasses iphone case - etsy

The christmas penguin bubble bar - lush

Satzuma usb led spotlight - boots

Watermelon origami note set - liberty

So, as promised, here's another Christmas stocking fillers post! My favourite things from this list would probably have to be the rabbit lamp because I just know it would look so cute in my room. I recently bought The Christmas Penguin from Lush and it creates a crazy amount of bubbles, perfect for hot Winter baths.

xxx

Christmas Stocking Fillers #1

I know, I know, it's a tad early to be writing this type of post but I'm in such a Christmas mood already! I'm planning to do a few of these 'Christmas Stocking Fillers' posts, so keep your eyes peeled!

Yankee Candle Christmas Tarts £1.05
One thing everyone needs in the Winter: candles. They make any room feel so much cosier and there's over 10 to choose from too. These would be great stocking fillers for beauty lovers or people who just love to relax and pamper themselves.

Smencils 10 Pack £11.50
These smencils would be a perfect stocking filler for any budding artists or anyone that, simply, enjoys making lists! I'm always making lists for different things (blog posts, shopping, to-do lists etc...) and the fact they all smell just immediately makes them appeal 10 times more to me.

Piper the Pug iPhone Case £4.95 each
I have a slight obsession with Pugs and I just can't get over how adorable these cases are. I can't believe I've never come across them before either. At just under £5 each these are affordable and will make sure your phone is protected, as well as making it look incredibly cute.

Set of 6 Mini Kiko Frames £24.95
Now, I know, these are a pricey pick but I just couldn't not include these. Store a picture of you and friend in one or use it to house your little treasures - you know - those ones you simply cannot part with. I think they look quite dainty but would look cute attached to your keys.

'You Look Lovely Today' Canvas Pouch £18
If you have a friend who is forever misplacing their makeup then this would be their ideal gift. A nicely sized canvas bag and the font that 'You Look Lovely Today' is written in just adds that extra detail, making it even more special.

Macaron Trinket Box £6.95
I don't know about you, but I've always wanted to try a macaron. They just look so darn delicious! One of these macaron trinket boxes would look lovely on top of a vintage style dressing table. Trinket boxes are good stocking fillers because they come in very handy for storing tiny things, that are lost easily, for example; hair grips; hair bobbles; loose change or jewellery. In a selection of colours and not too expensive, I think these would make a perfect gift.


Thanks for reading, what do you think of my picks? :)

Lush Cinders | Review

I don't really tend to shop at Lush all that often but when they bring their Christmas products out there's no stopping me. Lush really do have the best choice of bath bombs etc to choose from around this time of year and yes, I do go just a tad crazy.

Lush Cinders Bath Bomb £2.45

Cinders has actually been a Christmas product for a while now and pretty much everybody and their cat raves about it however (up until now) I'd never known what all the fuss was about. This just smells absolutely divine, it's basically Christmas in a bath bomb. It contains; almond oil; sweet orange and cinnamon leaf oils which blend together perfectly to make a spicy but fruity scent. On top of the bath bomb is some popping candy which crackles away whilst you're in the bath; Lush say it's to sound like a fire crackling away.
  This bath bomb is a little smaller than what you'd normally expect from Lush (I'd say Honey Bee is the perfect size for a bath bomb) but it is cheaper, so I guess you're not missing out.
  Cinders turns the bath water a yellow-ish colour and the popping candy on top begins crackling and snapping away soon after the bath bomb has fizzed away. As with all Lush products I've tried, the smell does linger in the bathroom but, unfortunately, not very well on my skin.
  Cinders is by far one of my favourite bath bombs I've tried from Lush and I can guarantee I'll be picking lots more up before Christmas!


Thanks for reading, let me know in the comments what your favourite Christmas product from Lush is! :)