New Favourites

Left to right: Rimmel The Only One Lipstick in Oh So Wicked, Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Lip Colour in Diva, Freedom Makeup Brow Pomade in Soft Brown, Makeup Revolution Ultra Aqua Brow Tint in Medium, Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Zygomatic. Above the Freedom Makeup Brow Pomade in Soft Brown: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Soft Brown. Below the Freedom Makeup Brow Pomade in Soft Brown: Freedom Makeup Brow Pomade in Medium.

Aside from the foundation, this lot of favourites comes in pairs. Two nude pinks, two vampy lip colours, and two brow products. I'll start with the nudes.

Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Zygomatic | Usually £22, I bought this in the sale for £6 something a few weeks ago, so it was an absolute bargain. I think it's my new favourite blush, and I may like it more than my beloved Nyx Cream Blush in Natural. Now that's saying something! It's just so natural, and not too brown like I thought it'd be. The formula is creamy and easy to blend, and leaves a slight sheen on your cheeks. I can't recommend it enough.

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Pink Lemonade | I hadn't painted my nails in two years, after painting them religiously every week for the longest time. This was mostly due to my job, of which I still have. However, I fell in love with this colour. It's a slightly pinker version of Models Own Utopia and OPI's Steady As She Rose, which are two old favourites. It only takes two coats to become opaque as well, which I was surprised about because of its light colour.

Rimmel The Only One Lipstick in Oh So Wicked | Despite reaching for Naughty Nude almost daily, I was still apprehensive about putting it in my 2015 favourites. I don't know why my feelings were luke warm when I couldn't fault the formula. Since then, though, I can't get enough of it, so decided to try another shade from the line. I went for the darkest, vampiest shade there is, and I've been loving it. Just like Naughty Nude, it's incredibly long lasting. I mean, it survived pizza! Next on my list: Peachy Beachy.

Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Lip Colour in Diva | I already owned, and loved, four shades from this range (review and swatches here and here) when I bought Diva, months and months ago, but it's taken me this long to get around to using it. Like the others, you need the smallest amount. They're not glosses, but highly pigmented colours. I find that they last well on my lips, and wear down beautifully. The swatch makes it look like it'd bleed and smudge, but it honestly doesn't. I've just used more than necessary for the photo. I would probably wear a lip liner if I was going to really pack it on, though. It's not as foolproof as the Rimmel one.

Makeup Revolution Ultra Aqua Brow Tint in Medium | I bought this early last year when I placed a large order, and I'd used it a couple times, but it's only this month that I've started appreciating it. Like pomades, it's very pigmented, so you only need the tiniest amount, but I've found it to give an incredibly natural finish. At £3, it's a steal.

Freedom Makeup Brow Pomade in Soft Brown | Like many people, I'm a fan of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade, but mine's beginning to dry out, so I thought I'd try a cheaper £5 alternative. I bought Freedom's offering in Soft Brown, which is the shade I use of the Anastasia one. At first, I thought it was a little too warm, so bought the ashier, darker Medium, but I've since decided that Soft Brown is the shade for me. I can't tell much of a difference between this and the Anastasia one. Both are pigmented creams that have some serious staying power. The powder duo, £4, is also a product I'm a fan of.

Collection Illuminating Touch Foundation in Porcelain | On other people, this foundation looks light, but I still find it a little dark for my liking. Fear not, though, as my Body Shop Shade Adjusting Lightening Drops sort this out. It's the actual formula which has impressed me. I'm used to natural or matte finishes, so wasn't sure what to expect with this dewy one. It looks and feels great on the skin, though. Foundation sometimes settles into places it shouldn't, and goes slightly dry and crusty, but this one doesn't. It has a tendency to crease a little more if I put it on my eyelids, but it's not a big issue. I also like that it's not glittery, unlike Rimmel's Wake Me Up! It has medium-full coverage, and the cherry on the cake is that it's only £5.99 full price. You can often find it on offer for £3.99, though. I'd heard bad things about the Lasting Perfection foundation, so was apprehensive about this one, but it's surpassed my expectations. It'd be even better if there was more of a shade variety.

Do you own any of these products? What do you think of them?

Recently Purchased

I hadn't painted my nails in roughly two years, but last week saw me buy four polishes from Barry M's new ranges, and I've painted my nails multiple times since. I don't know what changed, but I'm rolling with it! I bought the Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Pink Lemonade (the third one along) in store, wore it, loved it, and then decided to buy some more online at Boots. It was 2 for £6 or 3 for £9, but adding a third only increased the total by less than a pound, rather than £3. Then student and staff discount brought this down further, meaning I somehow paid £1.58-£2.36 for them. I chose the Mani Mask in Bashful, the Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Cream Soda, and the Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Butterscotch Sundae. I'm loving these delicate, nude shades. Pink Lemonade reminds me of a slightly pinker version of Models Own Utopia and OPI's Steady As She Rose. which are old favourites of mine.

I've been wearing and loving Rimmel's The Only One Lipstick in Naughty Nude an awful lot, but I also like my berry shades, so picked up Oh So Wicked from the same line. It's already love. I wore it the other night and it lasted through pizza, which is the ultimate test in my eyes. These lipsticks seem to seal themselves without becoming drying, meaning they comfortably last for a long time.

In the same Boots order as everything else, I also bought another Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner in Black because I always like to have a back up.

Then, from Superdrug, because it was out of stock at Boots, I bought the Collection Illuminating Touch Foundation in Porcelain. This was £3.99 down from £5.99, and I used £1 of my collected points, making this just £2.99. It's darker than what it looks like on other people, and this is the lightest shade, but this isn't a problem now that I have The Body Shop's Shade Adjusting Lightening Drops in my life (I love them so much!). I've only worn it once at the time of writing this, but I like it so far. I'm used to natural or matte foundations, so wasn't sure how this dewy formulation would fair on my combination oily skin, but it lasted well, felt really nice on the skin, and actually made my skin look less flat than it normally does. It also wasn't cakey, and didn't settle in places it shouldn't. This was with using the Soap & Glory One Heck Of a Blot Primer underneath it, though, so I don't know how good it is on its own.

I've liked the look of printed trousers/jeans for a while, and finally decided to just buy some in Primark last week. The ones above were £11. The trouser material is something I'm going to have to get used to, but I love the print, and am already on the look out for some navy tile ones.

I spotted the skirt above (£17.99) in New Look before work one day, and impulsively bought it without trying it on. Once home, I found that while it didn't fall down, it was too big to look flattering. I wanted to exchange the 8 for a 6, but it wasn't available, so I just returned it. Then I found it on ASOS, where smaller sizes are available, so bought it again. The smaller size fits perfectly. I've recently tried on three New Look skirts in size 8 now, and all of them have come up big, so it's something to consider if you're going to buy one from them. Anyway, the print of this one is pretty boring, but I can see it coming in handy for a few occasions.

The makeup bag was also from New Look, and was £5.99. It's so incredibly tacky, but makes me happy to look at! It reminds me of mermaids and unicorns and all things beautiful. The photo above really doesn't do the changing colour justice, so I've included more photos below. I've also included photos of me wearing the clothing and Barry M's Mani Mask, all of which are from Twitter/Instagram.

I'd be interested to know what you've purchased recently, so let me know below!

Top 15 Products of 2015

I didn't give myself a limit to the number of products featured in my 2014 favourites, and ended up having two mammoth posts, so I set about having just 15 this time around. It was quite difficult actually, so I may write another post with the ones which didn't quite make it!

Most of these products are ones which I discovered in 2015. There are three which I've been using for longer, but I absolutely love them, so had to include them. I haven't included my trusty NYX Cream Blush in Natural, The Body Shop's All In One Face Base in 02, Maybelline's Gel Liner in Black, or ELF's Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light, because although I've been through many of each, I talk about them all the time.

The fragrance which I'm choosing as my 2015 favourite is Viktor & Rolf's Bonbon. I haven't had it that long, and I still love all my others just as much, but this one is so different to anything I own. It's rich, warm, and sweet, rather than light, floral, and fruity. The caramel note is really what makes it, and I'll catch whiffs of it throughout the day. One spray on the neck, and one on the wrists, is all I need, and my mum will comment on my perfume when I get home from work. I've avoided smelling Flowerbomb because of the patchouli note, but everyone seems to love it, so I think I'm going to have to track down a tester or sample of that one as well.

I'm grouping the MUA Sweet Sheen Lip Balms together, but thought I'd show you two of the five shades I own; Cherry Bomb and Dusky Rose. They're light, balmy, and last surprisingly well. They're also only £2 a piece!

I've been using the Superdrug Colour Effects Wash In Wash Out Conditioning Colours for years, and have spoken about them an awful lot, but I had to include them in my 2015 favourites because I've been using them more than ever, and have been receiving more compliments on my hair than ever. These bottles (£1.49) add different tones to your hair, depending on which shade you opt for. I tend to use the Mahogany shade the most, which makes my auburn hair deeper and richer. I also like True Chestnut, which is less red. I'll either leave it on for an hour once a week, or put it on in the shower for ten minutes and gradually build it up over the course of a few days.

I discovered Lush's Ultrabland Facial Cleanser in 2014, but it became the only cleanser I use in 2015. When you first start using it, it feels very heavy, and so moisturising that you think it'll clog your pores, but it doesn't. The texture has become the norm for me now, and the simple ingredients are great for my skin. The best thing about Ultrabland is how well it removes your makeup. It just melts it away, and doesn't sting your eyes.

Rimmel's The Only One Lipstick in Naughty Nude wasn't going to be in here, but when I thought about it, it's a lipstick I go to a lot. It's opaque, creamy, and lasts for hours. It kind of dries down to feel like a satin/stain, but it's not drying on the lips at all.

Barry M's Satin Super Slick Lip Paint in Berrylicious isn't one I've had that long, but I really do love it. Again, it's opaque and incredibly creamy, but it lasts well, especially when I dab and work it into my lips. The colour is different to other berry shades I own as well. It's slightly more purple, more muted. It's also only £4.49, which is a bonus.

My new favourite mascara is Maybelline's Lash Sensational. I'm not great at distinguishing the qualities between mascaras, but I know that this one separates my lashes, somehow makes them look better than other mascaras do, and doesn't flake.

I also discovered Lush's Ro's Argan Body Conditioner before 2015, but I love, love, love it. I found the scent overpowering at first, but now it seems to calm me. The actual product is what does it for me, though. You put it on in the shower, wash it off, and voila. You're left with moisturised skin. No need for butters or lotions in the cold.

Boots were selling Origins Mask Marvel sets, left over from Christmas, in the spring for a great price. I think they were £20 for three 75ml tubes. My favourite out of these is the Drink Up Intensive one. You sleep with it on overnight, and wake up to incredibly moisturised, plump skin. I usually find that once you wash your face, the effects of other moisturisers and masks seem to disappear with it, but this one doesn't. It also smells like apricot, which I love.

The Body Shop's Shade Adjusting Lightening Drops are a game changer. I've been loving them so much. You simply add however many drops to your foundation to make it lighter, which is great if you're pale and find it difficult to find a foundation light enough. It doesn't change the formula of the foundation either.

I became a big fan of Nip & Fab in 2015, especially of the Glycolic Fix range. I love the mask and serum, but decided to include the pads here because of their ease. Wiping one of these over your skin will improve the texture, making it smoother and brighter. You'll see more of an effect if you incorporate them into your daily routine, but I like to give my skin a break after about a week.

I've been loving highlighting in general, and have a few favourites, but the one which tops them all is probably Topshop's Glow Highlighter in Polished. You only need a small amount of the cream formula, and it blends beautifully. If you want something that's warmer than this pearlescent shade, they have a golden shade called Gleam.

Overall, I love my cream blushes more than my powder ones. My NYX, Stila, and Illamasqua ones in particular. But I thought I'd include Max Factor's Creme Puff Blush in Nude Mauve because, out of the blushes I bought in 2015, it's the one I go to the most. The colour is so natural and easy to wear, and the formula is a dream to use. It's soft, yet not chalky, and blends incredibly well. These blushes were talked about a lot last year, and for good reason.

I found a new brand to dominate my brush collection in 2015, and that brand is Zoeva. They look and feel more expensive than they are, and the ones I own have not disappointed. The two I use the most are the Silk Finish and Brow Line ones. Even after using the Silk Finish brush to apply my foundation after all these months, it's still just as in shape and dense as it was when new. The Brow Line brush is thinner than any other eyebrow brush I've used, so it doesn't pick up as much product, and allows you to have more control. This comes in particularly handy when using pomades.

Have you used any of these products? What were your favourites of 2015?

A Christmas Gift To Myself (and other things)

The Origins Glow So Nice Christmas Gift Set was in my post-Christmas sales wishlist, and the one I wanted to get my hands on the most. Its contents is worth £71.75, with the VitaZing alone costing £29. The GinZing eye cream is £20 to buy individually (in pot form), the KissZing lip crayon in Rosemance is usually £16, and the GinZing mascara sample is worth around £6.50. On top of this, you receive a mirror and little cosmetics case to hold it all, so the £40 price tag isn't astronomical. I still wanted to wait until after Christmas, though, seeing as we haven't got long to wait now anyway. However, I was browsing the Boots website the other night and saw that it was a third off, at just £26.66. Then I added it to my basket and my staff discount brought it down to £20.66. It had taken off double the amount of discount that is was supposed to. Seeing as it was nearly half price anyway, I decided to buy it then, because it's not guaranteed to be in stock after Christmas. I'm looking forward to trying all the products because I've heard great things!

The Boots website (and some stores) now stocks NYX, so I added the Concealer Wand in Green (£5.50) to my basket as well. I've had the pot version for a few years now, and after not using it for a long time, I've recently dug it out again. The texture is really thick and drying, though, so I wanted to get the liquid formula. I haven't used it properly yet, but it already seems to be a lot more manageable. 

I've decided to start using my Boots Advantage Card points before I get to £100, because I know that once I hit three digits, I'm going to withhold from spending them even more. The first product I bought with them was the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Creme De Rose (£4.99). This is supposed to be a dupe for MAC's Painterly. I don't wear eyeshadow, but thought this would be a beautiful wash of colour to get me into doing so. The lid implies it's a lilac shade, but it's actually a creamy beige.

I'm a fan of the Barry M Satin Super Slick Lip Paints I already have, so wanted to use my points to add 169 Mannequin to my collection. It's the nude that I wanted Nuditude to be. I find that it looks more brown in the bullet than it does when swatched, which suits me perfectly because the brown lip trend hasn't won me over yet. These lipsticks are only £4.49, so I'd definitely recommend checking them out. 

I know I've just posted a haul of sorts, but I can't help it if things catch my eye so soon after! Let me know if you've purchased any Christmas gift sets for yourself this year. They work out to be better value for money than buying the products individually, so they're a great way to sample a brand.

Barry M Satin Super Slick Lip Paint in 171 Berrylicious

Like many others, Barry M's the brand I go to when I want a new nail polish, but I can't say I've delved into their makeup all that much. I've had their Dazzle Dusts and Blink Precision Eyeliner in the past, and own five of the Loud Mouth Liquid Lip Colour shades, but that's about it.

I saw some photos of this new lipstick range last month, and just had to try them. I was confident I'd like the formula just from the name, and the shades were all ones I'd wear. I decided to only buy two, though, just in case. The first was Nuditude, which is very light and more of a pink than a nude. Then there's Berrylicious, which is the shade above.

Berrylicious is different to other berry lipsticks I own. My others lean red and are more vibrant, whereas Berrylicious is more purple and muted. Not as purple as the photos are implying, but definitely more purple. I find it a lot easier to wear because it's not as bold. The first photo shows it dabbed on, which is how I usually wear my lipsticks, and the second photo shows it to its full intensity. They're darker and more vampy in real life, which is why I find dabbing it on to be more than enough for work.

The formula of these is moisturising and comfortable to wear. You'd think the creamy texture would lead to bleeding and a short wear time, but I don't think this is the case. Berrylicious wears down evenly, leaving a stain which lasts throughout the day.

At £4.49 full price, I think this lipstick is well worth the money. I quite like the pewter casing as well. Mannequin is next on my list to buy because it looks like it'd be a better nude than Nuditude, and I also want to get my hands on Peachy Keen. What do you think?

Boots Haul

It's currently double discount week (and a half) at Boots, where employees and designated card holders receive 25% off branded products and 45% off Boots own products. I've been taking advantage of this, and thought I'd show you what I bought. Compared to last year's haul (found here), this is tame, especially considering some of it isn't mine!

Both my sister and I already have a large bottle of Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream. I bought my sister it for her birthday, and considering she's not into perfume, she's already half way through her bottle. She decided to buy another for when it runs out, which I have no complaints about because she received 500 Advantage Card points for buying it, and gave them to me! I'm now back up to £80 odd.

She also picked up the OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner because it was already a third off, making these around £3 a bottle. I've used OGX in the past and like it, but don't find it to be above and beyond what I normally use. I also have a drawer full of hair products already, so have put myself on a hair product ban!

The Maybelline Rocket Mascara and Lasting Drama Gel Liner are also hers. I also picked up the Gel Liner and the Sensational Mascara, both of which are repurchases. I have other mascaras to use, but wanted a back up of one I really love.

I bought the Laura Ashley Ceramic Cupcake and Muffin Tray and Rolling Pin with my future kitchen in mind. They're both things which should see me through the years, and they're so pretty! I actually bought two of the trays because I always make at least 12 muffins when baking. They're both originally £16, but the 3 for 2 offer and double discount brought this down to a more acceptable amount.

I ordered through the tills in store so I could have access to the products online. On the website, you can buy a No7 Restore & Renew bundle for just over £31, which is an amazing price when you think that the day and night creams are usually £24 each. The bundle also comes with the eye cream, and I'll be giving all of these to my mum for her birthday. This bundle was exempt from the discount because you're already saving so much.

Soap & Glory! I picked up the Super Exfoliating Scrub Gloves in the hope that they're better than my usual cheap ones. I also bought the Sugar Crush Body Wash, which I haven't used in a while. I still have my fair share of shower gels to get through, but I've resisted quite a few recently, so thought I'd allow myself this one. The One Heck of a Blot Primer and Sugar Crush Hand Gel are both new releases, and for some reason, I received 45% off of them, which I'm very happy about!

Barry M have released a new lipstick range called Satin Super Slick Lip Paints. There's six shades, all of which are beautiful. There's some neutrals, berries, and a peach. I chose Nuditude and Berry-licious. Nuditude is more pink than I thought it'd be, and looks like it'd be chalky, but it's not at all. Berry-licious is more toned down than a lot of berry shades, making it more wearable. Because of the 3 for 2 offer and discount, I got both of these for £3.47. I'm excited to wear them, and can see myself buying a couple more shades!

Have you had a splurge in Boots or Superdrug recently? What new releases have caught your eye? I can't wait to get my hands on the Freedom brow products, as well as The Body Shop's Fresh Nude Foundation and Shade Adjusting Drops.

Boots and Superdrug Haul

You know when you're in Boots or Superdrug, and the first one or two products you pick up are thought through, and then, suddenly, the enthusiastic spender comes out in you and you're picking up things you didn't plan, things you didn't need? Well, that happened. Considering I caught the shopping bug, I think I was pretty restrained. I only bought half of what I originally picked up! Boots is my retailer of choice because of the loyalty points (and the fact that I work there), but stock availability and different offers lead me to Superdrug, so this haul is a mixture of both.

I haven't bought a nail polish or painted my nails in over a year now. I wasn't even interested in the new Barry M Sunset range. However, my sister wanted a nude polish, so I took her straight to the Barry M stand and started comparing the shades. Like a Nude attracted my attention because it wasn't too brown like so many others are. I walked away and regretted it, so bought it in another store. I'm not thrilled with the £4.99 price tag, but like I said, I was in the shopping mood. It takes three coats to become opaque, so it's not perfect, but it's a beautiful, classic, work appropriate shade, and you can always wear a white underneath.

I've heard so many positive things about the Revlon Colourstay foundations, so finally bought a bottle. I don't have dry skin, but bought the one for normal/dry skin in 110 Ivory because it was lighter than the combination/oily one in the same shade. I sandwich my foundation with primer and powder anyway. I tried it this morning, and so far, so good. It feels less chalky than my other foundations, not that they're chalky, but this one feels more gel like? I also haven't been any more oily than usual. My skin feels more hydrated, though, like when I moisturise in the morning.

I already own four of the Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Lip Colours, and while they're good, I've been neglecting them as of late. It's because I have so many lip products. To make matters worse, I then go and buy more. I know, there's no logic in this. However, I really wanted the deep red shade called Diva, and it was only £3.99.

I was regularly checking one of my large local Boots for the Revlon Ultra HD lipsticks throughout April, and with still no luck, I decided to just head to Superdrug. They're currently two for £10, so it worked out for the best. I chose the shades Gladiolus, a bright red, and Iris, a plum. Just from the state of the testers, I know these are going to be difficult to use without catching the product on the lids, so I'm tempted to cut off the small part sticking up at the top and store it in a little jar or something.

The Bourjois Bronzing Primer looks promising. Although it's called a primer, it's basically a light textured, cream bronzer. It can look quite orange at first, but once blended in, skin looks more sunkissed.

Like I said in my wishlist post, I'm always open to trying new primers because I've yet to find my holy grail. The Garnier Perfect Blur has been talked about a lot, so I thought I'd give it a go. It's £12.99 full price, but I paid £8.66 while it was on offer.

I swatched Soap & Glory's Glow All Out Super Luminizing Powder (not pictured) multiple times over the course of a couple years, but never bit the bullet and bought it. Possibly because of the price (£11). I finally bought it the other week, and to be honest, I've been underwhelmed so far. It's a nice, subtle highlight, but because it's raved about by many, I was expecting to be blown away when I applied it to my face. I'll persevere and get back to you on this one.

Another Soap & Glory product I've recently bought is the new Sugar Crush Body Spray, which I've already reviewed here.

I've also already reviewed the Bourjois Rouge Edition Aqua Laques here. The colours are beautiful and they last 5-6 hours on me, but they can settle and collect pigment towards the inner centre of your lips, so my feelings are mixed. I think 04 is worth the little hassle, though, because the deep rose shade is different to other colours I own.

I used and loved the Nivea Daily Essentials Express Hydration Primer a couple years ago, but didn't feel like it did much towards the end of the pot, so never repurchased. However, I felt the same way about the Witch one, but noticed a difference when I didn't wear a primer at all. Since the Witch one has been discontinued and this one was better than half price, at £2.48, I thought I'd buy it again.

I also bought a Micro Pedi last week for £15.99. It was on offer in Lloyd's, and my sister had 20% off. I haven't had a lot of dry skin to test it on, but from where I have used it, I'm impressed. It's so much more gentle than the Ped Egg, which is a lethal cheese grater for your feet.

What have you purchased recently? Any new releases you've been impressed with?

Taking It Back | Old Blogger Favourites

I will have been blogging for six years this year, and in that time, a lot of products have come and gone. The ones above are only some of the favourites; I either didn't own the rest (mostly because I was a teenager with very little money), ended up throwing them out, or have simply forgotten about them! I've never been able to part with the above, though, and even though I rarely use them now, I still like to come back to them from time to time.

I remember loving Accessorize makeup, and seeing so many reviews on the baked blushes. I still think they're great, and it's a shame the range isn't really around now. After a quick search, I can tell you that these were popular from 2010-2012 - I've just been reading reviews from bloggers I still follow and love now.

Barry M Dazzle Dusts. Of course. These are still around and cost £4.59 for a generous pot of shimmery pigment. A couple of the shades I have are green and blue because I used to like wearing those shades on my lower lash line. The nude shades were the most loved among bloggers, though, and I've just seen a newer shade called Athena, which looks very pretty.

The Seventeen (17 back in the day) Supreme Shine Lipsticks were a big hit in 2011/2012, and the packaging has been updated since. The shade Belle, in particular, was a must have. It's a natural, pretty pink, and the entire range is light, moisturising, and glossy. 

I used to love the Collection Glam Crystals Gel Liners in 2009/10, and had every shade. I recently threw most of them out, but couldn't part with the two blue ones. Even after all this time, they've barely dried out.

The Collection Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Creams used to be well loved a few years back, and still are now. They're similar to the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, and are only £2.99. I think I'm going to start wearing these again because I really did love them.

I've just been going through old posts (which I don't recommend doing!), and there's been many product favourites over the years. Sleek, as a brand, used to be at the very top, but I rarely look at their stand now. My tastes have changed since my 16 year old self started blogging, and if I continue writing on this little part of the internet, it'll be interesting to look back and see myself developing even more.

What are your favourite products from back in the day?

Lip Product Collection and Storage

I don't know when this happened. One minute I'm rarely wearing lip products, and the next I'm having to buy a third container just to fit them in! I didn't realise how many I had until I gathered them together for this post. I used to wear nothing on my lips because I thought I looked like a child playing dress up when I did. However, I wear very little eye makeup and have pale lips, so without some form of colour on them, I can look a little...  ill. The lipstick holders are from here, and I'm very happy with them. I'm able to easily see every shade I have, without having them scattered across multiple surfaces in my room. They're currently just £2.99, which is an added bonus. I'm not going to go through every lip product with you, but I'm going to link the posts and reviews to some:

My Lip Crayon Collection (with links to individual reviews)

Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick in Fraise Remix

Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick in 1,2,3 Soleil

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya

NYX Butter Gloss in Peach Cobbler

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balms

Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Liquid Lip Colours

What lip products would you recommend I try? I have some slots to fill!

Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Liquid Lip Colour Swatches

Left to right, top to bottom: LM3 Gossip (raspberry pink), LM4 Show Off (coral pink), LM5 Chatterbox (pink), LM6 Screamer (peach)

Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Liquid Lip Colours review here

P.S. These swatches look completely different on every screen I've viewed them on (four, would you believe), so keep in mind that what you are seeing is not 100% accurate. I also couldn't capture them in natural lighting for the life of me!

Getting Back Into Makeup - New Products & Mini Reviews

Up until recently, I hadn't bought any makeup for months. It didn't appeal to me and no new releases caught my eye. Then, within the space of a month, I go and buy the above. I don't know what changed, and I don't know if I'm back into makeup again or if this was a one off splurge, but I'm liking trying new products again! I thought I'd group them all together and tell you my thoughts.

Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer - £11.99

I've actually already reviewed this here. The packaging looks nice, but it could be improved so no product's wasted. The actual product almost blurs fine lines and pores, while mattifying the skin. Makeup then applies better, and you can feel the smoothness throughout the day. I'd repurchase, but only when it's on offer!

Revlon Colourstay Concealer in Fair - £6.99

Before this, I was using the Collection Lasting Perfection and MUA Cover & Conceal concealers. The Collection one became a little too heavy for my skin, while the MUA one was a little too light (in terms of coverage) and dewy. I wanted something in between. This concealer is just that. It has a medium coverage and satin finish. It's nothing special, and rather average, but that's what I was looking for.

No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter - £9.95

I didn't plan on buying this, but had one of those vouchers and it swatched beautifully, so couldn't resist! It's a beautiful candlelight shade, creamy, and SO easy to use. The shimmer is very fine, so you don't look like a disco ball. I'd actually prefer it to be even finer, so it's more metallic, but that's just me. I'll probably be reviewing and swatching this in another post, so look out for that. If you know of any other cream highlighters, preferably under £10, let me know!

Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara - £9.99

Everyone's been raving about this. I love my Maybelline mascaras, but thought I'd try something different, so picked this up when it was on offer. It's clumpier than my Maybelline ones, and starts to look bad if I put on two coats. It's more dramatic and gives more volume, but I won't be repurchasing. It's okay, but I don't know why everyone's been raving about it so much.

The Body Shop Colour Crush Shine Lipsticks in 15 Fuchsia Flirt and 18 Sunset Romance - £10

I'll be reviewing and swatching these soon! They're light, balmy, and perfect for summer. They look quite bold in the bullets, but they're sheer and give a nice wash of colour. They can be built up, though. They're similar to other lip products that have been coming out recently, so they're not unique, but worth trying when there's a great offer on (which is always).

Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Liquid Lip Colours in Gossip, Show Off, Chatterbox, and Screamer - £3.99

I've already reviewed these here, but will be showing you them on my lips soon. I like them. They're pigmented, glossy, don't settle into the lines on your lips, and last a decent amount of time. You only need to use a small amount, too, so the 10ml tubes should last a while. I've read a couple people write that they're just pigmented glosses which don't last well. They're pigmented and they're glossy, but they're not glosses. I also don't know why they didn't last well for these people. Show Off lasted through three hours, a stir fry, and a whole lot of ice cream on me!

Do you go through phases of not being into makeup?

Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Liquid Lip Colours

Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Liquid Lip Colours in LM3 Gossip, LM4 Show Off, LM5 Chatterbox, and LM6 Screamer

Up until recently, I hadn't bought any makeup for months. I was happy with the products I was using and no new releases appealed to me. None of the Barry M products even caught my eye, but then I swatched these in store and ended up with four. At just £3.99 for 10ml, I didn't even wait for an offer! 

So, the Barry M Loud Mouths (hate the name) are similar to the likes of the Sleek Pout Paints and OCC Lip Tars, in the sense that they're a pigmented liquid lip colour. They smell fruity, a little goes a long way, they're glossy, last at least a few hours (on me), and fade surprisingly well. They don't seem to settle into the lines of my lips, either. I simply put a little on my finger and dab them into my lips, but you can also use a lip brush. When I first used one of these (Show Off), it lasted through three hours, a stir fry, and a bowl half a tub of ice cream, and was still visible, albeit very faded. They may separate as time goes on, like my Sleek ones did, but just try and shake them up or get rid of the excess oils with a tissue.

Gossip is a deep raspberry pink, Show Off is a warm coral pink, Chatterbox is a straight up pink, and Screamer is a peach. There's also two reds (LM1 Diva, LM2 Tease) and a nude (LM7 Tell-Tale) in the range.

I'm sorry I don't have lip swatches for you right now (pesky blemishes), but I'll try and get some up in the near future! UPDATE: swatches here.

Do you like the look of the Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Lip Colours?

New Things

I used my iPhone for the photos above because my camera and I aren't getting on at the moment. I may use my phone for future hauls, too, because it's a lot quicker! This week, I've received my dissertation and final assignment grades (all good, thankfully), updated my CV and applied for a job, finished watching Chuck, watched the first season of OITNB, started watching Prison Break, and shopped. All in all, it hasn't been bad!

I featured the necklace in my New Favourites #05 post. It's from Accessorize and was £6, which isn't too bad for them. It's small, sits on your collarbone nicely, and goes with most things. I also have my eye on another Accessorize necklace, but it's £15, so I'm going to wait and hope it's in their next sale!

Even though my ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light is still going strong, I wanted to buy a back up. I bought it here for £4.99 including P&P. Now that it's gone up to £3.95 on ELF's website and P&P is £2.95, it's cheaper to get it on eBay. I know ELF often have codes floating around, but I didn't want anything else.

I bought the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter yesterday for £6.95 because I had one of those £3 off vouchers to use. I wasn't planning on getting it, but loved how it swatched. Also liked the BB Lips Beauty Balms, and wish I'd picked one up now!

I then bought the Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Liquid Lip Colour in Show Off for £3.99. It's a warm, coral pink, which is very pigmented and similar to the Sleek Pout Paints. I tested it out yesterday evening and it was still present after three hours, a stir fry, and a bowl of ice cream (half a tub, really...). It had faded, but it was even. I then went ahead and ordered another three shades, so look out for reviews and swatches soon!

The mug is from Wilkinson and was £2. The print is nice, but the main reason I bought it was because of its size. It's like a small bowl, fitting two normal sized cups of tea in!

The tins were from TK Maxx and cost £2.99-£3.99. I'm always on the look out for tins because they're great for storing my baking bits (and anything else).

The yellow satchel was from Primark and cost £6. I've only ever used bags for school/uni, so have never owned a small one. I loved the colour of this, though, so just had to get it. They also had it in mint and pink. This is probably my favourite item I bought yesterday because it's so different to anything I have!

The knickers were also from Primark, and were only £1 each. They have a nice shape and look good on, so I'm happy.

The last three photos are of boring items, but they're items most of us use. The lint rollers were from Primark and were £1.50 a pack. Lint rollers are a must in an animal filled house! The Bic Soleil razors were from Superdrug and were down to £1.83 from £3.69. I already had a couple packs stored away, but couldn't resist a couple more. They're something I'm always going to use! The Mitchum deodorant sticks were £1.48 and £1.66 from £2.99 and £3.35 (this offer isn't online, though). I started using Mitchum deodorants earlier this year and they seem to work better than others I've tried. 

I use Simple Baby Moisturising Wipes for removing makeup before cleansing, spot cleaning my brushes, and freshening up. They're normally around £1.99 for 80, which is great in comparison to standard facial wipes. However, I usually get them when they're 99p or 6 for £5 at Lloyds Pharmacy. My sister also happens to work at the latter, so gets staff discount. 67p for 80? Yes please!

The last photo shows my inner age. My new net curtains arrived yesterday and I really like them! It's surprising how much a new pair of net curtains brighten your room. I'm mentioning them because they were a bargain from eBay. For my large window, I paid £5.70 including P&P. You can find the listing here. You can probably get nicer ones, but for the price, these are great. They also look better than others I've had in the past.

What have you been buying recently?

Peaches & Corals

Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Dixie, MUA Blusher in Lolly, NYX Butter Gloss in Peach Cobbler, Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick in 123 Soleil, Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya, Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Peach on the Beach

I'm so imaginative with my titles, I know. Shades of peach and coral are my favourite, so I thought I'd show you some of the best products I have in these colour families.

Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Dixie - £18 - review here

This is incredibly pigmented, blends well, and lasts most of the day. It applies more pink than it looks in the pan, so the overall effect is warming and not in-your-face. It's not as creamy as my NYX ones, but it's still one of the best formulas I've tried. I bought this for £6.75 in the sale, so I'd definitely keep an eye out for their next!

MUA Blusher in Lolly - £1 - review here

This is the only orangey powder blush I own. It's a soft apricot with very subtle golden shimmer. It's soft to touch and blends well, but has a lot of fall out. Still, if you're thinking about trying an orange blusher, it's worth giving this a go first to see if the shade suits your complexion.

NYX Butter Gloss in Peach Cobbler - £5 - review here

My new favourite lip product. I normally dislike lipglosses, but this is something else. Pigmented, buttery, and lasts a few hours before fading evenly. I also have Apple Strudel, but don't like it as much. The colour is great, but it settles into the lines of your lips, which is a shame.

Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick in 123 Soleil - £7.99 - review here

The formula of this range is similar to that of the Revlon Lip Butters, which I've become a fan of. 123 Soleil is an orange shade, but leans coral, steering it away from being garish. The formula's light, balmy, and lasts a few hours before fading evenly.

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya - £7.99 -  review here

This is a lot lighter, and is more of a peach/apricot, so looks natural. The formula is like the others, which I'm obviously a fan of at the moment!

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Peach on the Beach - £7.99 - review here

I wore this a ton last summer. The colour is beautiful, and, again, the formula is light and moisturising. You can see what I prioritise in the warmer months!

Models Own Nail Polish in Beach Bag - £5 

I have yet to review this, but you can see a swatch of it on my Instagram here. It's a neon pastel peach, which is difficult to photograph, and takes three coats. If it was more opaque, it'd definitely be one of my favourite nail polishes, ever.

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Papaya - £3.99 - review here

A bright peach that's opaque in two coats. It looks dull and dark compared to the others, but it is a beautiful shade.

Sinful Colours Nail Polish in Orange Cream - £1.99 - review here

This is the light peach in the photo, and it's one of my favourites. It has silver shimmer in, which I'm usually not a fan of, but it's very subtle and just lifts the shade. It takes 2-3 coats to become opaque.

Sinful Colours Nail Polish in Island Coral - £1.99

You can probably find a shade similar to this in every range, but I love it. Straight-up corals that change from orange to pink in different lights are my favourite. It takes two coats, too, which is great for £1.99.

What are your favourite peach and coral products?