Review: Clarins | Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in '01 Honey' |

Clarins - Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil - Honey - £19 - 7ml

When these were launched, it was one of those products which went right to the top of my lust list. As you probably know, Clarins is one of my all time favourite high end brands for both make up and skin care. I had just run out of my previous favourite night time lip balm (Nuxe Reve de Miel) and thought this would make a good replacement.

First off, I wouldn't use this during the day as it is not something you can layer other lip products over the top of. Instead the blurb suggests using it over lipstick as a sort of gloss. It has a very thick, almost gel like cushioned texture, and does sit on top of the lips rather than sinking straight in. This is good for when your lips are really sore as it gives them a soft, protective layer. 

The applicator is large and soft, which makes application easy but I would be sparing with the amount you put on. Although the oil is the colour and consistency of honey, the taste and smell is more floral and there is no colour pay off on the lips. Key ingredients included are Hazelnut Oil to plump and soften, Jojoba Oil to nourish and add sheen to your lips and finally Mirabelle Oil to prevent dehydration. I tend to use this in the evening before bed, to protect and nourish my lips over night ready for the next day.

For a lip product, it is very expensive and a luxury product to have in your skin care kit. However, I really enjoy using this every evening and next on my list is the Raspberry version!

What is your favourite lip balm? xxx

October Favourites

Once again the lighting is horrendous and I'm struggling to take any decent photos for upcoming posts! On the plus side the festive season is creeping up on us and I bloody love it! I love everything about Autumn and Winter and am so excited to get ready for Christmas. The only downside is the ridiculous amount of work and deadlines I have for Uni around this time of year :( Now lets get on with this month's favourites...

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Kohl in 'Nude': A budget dupe for Mac's Chromographic pencil, this perks up my eyes when applied to the waterline. I've used it nearly every single day and it helps to make me look more awake on cold mornings.

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes in 'Extra Black': This makes my lashes look so nice with just one coat and gives a really natural looking definition and volume. I like to use it by itself when I'm having a 'no makeup' makeup day.

Lip butter in 'Raspberry Pie' and Topshop's 'Brighton Rock': Both these colours have been on my lips pretty much all month as I love bright lips at the moment and think that 'Raspberry pie' especially is a lovely colour for Autumn. You can see reviews for both here and here.

Christmas candles: I have quite a few more than the one pictured to represent them all. I love the smell of Autumn/Christmas candles and they have really got me into the festive spirit :)

Aussie Dual Personality Curl and Shine mousse: This is a new purchase of mine and I love it. My hair has a natural wave and this mousse boosts and holds this wave for longer. Unlike other curling mousses it doesn't leave your hair crunchy but instead leaves it lovely and soft. Expect a full review of this soon.

St Moriz Fake Tan Mousse: A different type of mousse now, this time for my body! I don't tend to fake tan on a daily basis but this is great for nights out. I prefer this type of formulation as it is easy to blend and the product leaves a lovely natural tan - I've never looked streaky or orange when I've used this.

Glitter nail varnishes: This is just a few from my collection that I've been wearing recently and loving. I like to layer them on top of other base colours to inject some sparkle into the darker days. Plus I just love glitter!

What do you think of my favourites? What are your favourites this month? xxx

In The Nude

Swatched L-R: Revlon lipbutter in 'Creme Brulee' - Topshop lipstick in 'Nevada' - Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick in '03'

Every beauty blogger knows that within the sphere of 'beauty' there is always one slight obsession  they have with a particular section whether it be skincare, haircare, bodycare etc... mine is make up at the moment and in particular I can't get enough of lipsticks! Over the summer I expanded my stash quite a lot and with the new additions came these three nudes. 

Before purchasing these lip products I didn't actually own any nudes instead mainly opting for pinks and reds. This all changed though after buying the first of my nudes which was Rimmel's '03' in a blog sale. In relation to the other nudes I have this is the darkest and its great for pulling together an evening/more sophisticated look. I like to wear it if I'm going out for a meal (see this post) or sometimes in the day with a gloss over the top. It is in the 'lasting finish' range by Kate Moss and I can verify it does last a good while on the lips without being drying.

I purchased the shade 'Creme Brulee' around the time the blogging world seemed obsessed with Revlon lipbutters. I've already done a review on what I thought of the actual product (here) so I won't go into too much detail about the formulation. The colour is a browny-nude which is quite sheer and glossy due to the nature of the lipbutters. I really like this and it is great for every day use when I don't want to look too 'done' or if I have heavy make up elsewhere it tones it down a bit and balances out my face. It's really easy to wear so if you are new to nudes I would suggest checking this out.

The final lipstick of the bunch is 'Nevada' which I think just takes first place as my favourite overall. It is a really pretty light shade which can be perfect for day time with just one swipe or layered up for more intensity. It isn't the most universal shade however as its not suitable for all skintones the way 'creme brulee' is more inclined as it is quite pale. If you would like a more detailed opinion then I reviewed it here in a post about my Topshop lipstick collection.

Do you have any favourite nude lipsticks? Have you tried any of the ones mentioned? xxx

My 'Summer Face'

Today I thought I would try a different post as I have been doing a lot of reviews lately and thought it would be nice for you to read something a bit different. Even though the weather this Summer has been quite temperamental, I've shyed away from heavy and time consuming make up and updated my make up regime to easy, quick and lighter make up suitable for warmer weather. The above picture are the products I have been using on a daily basis as a standard summer face. I sometimes switch up my eyes or lipsticks depending on my outfit and mood but overall this is my staple make up at the moment. Sorry in advance about the quality of the picture, the natural lighting isn't great due to gloomy weather and some of my products are a bit battered from traveling and everyday use!

So to begin with, I mix my 17 BB cream in 'Light' mixed with a pump or two of Soap and Glory's Hocus Focus to brighten up my dull complexion and blend all over my face with my fingers to melt it into my skin. The BB cream has relatively good coverage but I cover up my under eye circles and any blemishes with Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. I then dust 17 Miracle Matte pressed powder over my face lightly as I am on the oily side with a large powder brush and then blend Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer all over my face with a MAC blending brush. This powder is great as it gives my face a bit of warmth without dulling down my complexion with a light, silky texture. I dot some extra Hocus Focus on my brow bone and top of cheek bones for a highlighter, a product which I have really grown to love as it is multi purpose and gives a lovely natural glow. I then give a light dusting of Benefit's Thrrrob powder on my cheekbones with a stippling brush to give a flush of colour.

For my eyes I fill in my brows with Bobbi Brown Mahogany eyeshadow (not pictured) then using my finger blend a thin layer of Maybelline Colour Tattoo in 'On and On Bronze' over my lid, which is a great natural colour for blue eyes that is easily buildable into a stronger colour if you so wish. To finish my eyes I put a few layers of my favourite mascara of the moment, Masterpiece Max by Maxfactor.

Finally, a few coats of a Revlon Lip Butter in shade Creme Brulee and I am good to go!

I have done a few reviews of the products mentioned which I have included links for. What do you think of my 'Summer Face'? Do you include any of these products in your every day routine? xxx

July Favourites

This is my first ever favourites post! I love reading other people's posts and watching YT videos like this as it makes me confident at trying products I've been thinking about sampling and also gives me some new suggestions to have a look at. This post features a mixture of skin care and make up :)

Skincare

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish: Ever since purchasing this last month I have loved it! From the packaging to the product it hasn't let me down and I understand now why there were so many rave reviews. I may be late on the bandwagon, but now I've got this brand on my radar I'm looking forward to trying some of their other products and will be keeping this as a staple in my skincare routine. I'm not going to go into too much detail as I have an upcoming post dedicated to this lovely product. (Edit: see review here!)

Neutrogena Grapefruit Facial Wash: Again, there is an upcoming review of this on my blog and is a new item in my facial skincare regime. I'm really enjoying using it in the mornings as the scent and formula wakes me up and refreshes my face nicely. 

Make Up

Revlon Lip Butters: I've just done a post on these so you can see how much I love them and why here! An update since then though is that I have recently purchased my third in the shade 'Creme Brulee' and I love it just as much as the others! I've been getting into my nude lips recently and this is a wonderful addition - it is a lovely soft nude, which is sheer enough to let some of my natural lip show through while still giving shine and a wash of colour with lots of nourishment. If you aren't that big into lipsticks and colour but want to dabble in lip products this is an excellent way to introduce yourself to both.

Urban Decay Naked Palette: This has been such a good investment purchase. Since buying it I've used it nearly every day and love the selection of matte and glittery shades, the quality of the eyeshadows and their colour payoff. You can create so many looks for day and evening by combining the different shades and I suggest it is a good palette to buy if you are into the natural look or are wanting to experiment. You can see my full review here. 

17 BB Cream: This has been a key staple in my every day make up routine this summer. I've been shunning foundation for the summer and this has to be my favourite BB cream that I have tried so far as it has good oil control, added SPF and good coverage. Every time I use it I like it even more :) If you want to read my full review for this you can read it here. I am looking forward to trying some other BB creams and am going to do a post soon on all the ones I have tried and what I think of them.

Hope you enjoyed reading my favourites :) Are any of these featured in your favourites post? xxx

Review: Revlon Lip Butters

I bought these beauties in my first purchase from a blog sale as they were cheaper than in the shops and I'd been wanting to try them for a while as I've seen many other bloggers rave about them. I purchased two, one in the shade 'Cupcake' which is a very wearable shade and really great for the day, and the second in 'Raspberry Pie' a gorgeous deep reddy pink, which looks great in the evening but also in the day with just lashings of mascara to make the colour pop and stand out. I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed and these lip butters really lived up to they hype. Although the colour doesn't have the greatest staying power, once it has worn off it still leaves a lovely stain on the lips. I love that it is nourishing to my lips as the formula is so creamy and glides on easily. In my opinion it is a lipbalm, lipstick and lipgloss all rolled into one product. The packaging is also sleek, compact and pretty and they are easy to pop into my handbag. They are priced at £7.99 at Boots and although they are a bit pricey for the size, I would have no problem repurchasing as I think the rest of the product is great. Apologies for the not so great swatches, I found it tricky to get an accurate colour!

Revlon Lip Butter in 'Cupcake'

'Cupcake' swatched L-R: Colour build up, one stroke

'Raspberry Pie'

'Raspberry Pie' swatched L-R: Colour build up, one stroke. The colour is darker and more true to the tube colour than this photo shows.

Other colours I have my eye on include 'Tutti Frutti' 'Lollipop' 'Macaroon' 'Candy Apple' and 'Berry Smoothie' ... I think you can tell I really like them! Have you tried any of these before? I would also like to try the Revlon Just Bitten sticks too xxx

Edit: I just bought the shade 'Creme Brulee' too :)