October Favourites

This month's favourites features some newish purchases as well as products that I've learnt to love again after shopping my stash. 

MUA Pro-Brow Kit: After hearing a lot about various brow kits, I thought I'd switch out my regular brow pencil to try one myself and thought this would be a good place to start as it is cheap as chips. I use the lightest shade of two to fill in my brows and the wax included to set them. The powder is soft with good pigmentation and the wax is easy to work with. I really like the results that using a powder creates and have reached for this every day since I bought it. A full review post on this little kit with more details on it will be up in the near future.

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation: For the past three years I have always had a bottle of this foundation in my stash. Normally reserved for nights out, I really like the finish this foundation gives and that the coverage is buildable. Matched with the Real Techniques buffing brush I find this gives a lovely natural air brushed base with a slightly dewy finish. I usually prefer matte finishes but recently this foundation has been reached for on a near daily basis. I have the colour '100 Ivory' which is a little too dark for me at this time of year so will be picking up a lighter shade when this has run out.

Revolution Organics Freedom Glow in 'Bronzed': I posted a review of this a while back but have changed the way I use it since then. Reminiscent to the NARS multiple sticks, this is a multi use product free of any nasties. My preferred way to use it at the moment is as a cream contour as it is a darker shade than the bourjois bronzing primer which I use more for adding warmth to my complexion. It is easy to blend and build up when buffed in again with the buffing brush from Real Techniques. 

MAC Creme D'Nude Lipstick: This is a relatively new purchase too which I picked up from a recent blog sale. Although it was a bit melted, the shade had been on my wishlist for ages so I snapped it up for a bargain price. My first cremesheen finish (the other MAC lipsticks I own are amplified) this lipstick has become a staple in my every day make up. I normally stick to bright lips but I've been going through a bit of a nude moment and this is the perfect shade and consistency for every day. Buttery and nourishing, this smells just like other MAC lipsticks and has just enough shine and brown to the shade to be complimentary to my skin tone. It is perfect for day and night and is a great addition to my lipstick collection.

The Body Shop Honeymania Bubble Bath Melt: As soon as I caught wind of the Honeymania launch I knew I had to get my hands on some products. The bath melt has a really strong scent which I love - more floral with a touch of honey. The consistency looks just like honey and there is something about the pearlescent formula that makes it feel like a real decadent treat. Now the colder months are here I've been enjoying more baths and this is the perfect accompaniment

L'Oreal Lumi Magique: For ages I never understood the hype behind YSL Touche Eclat but then I realised it's purpose was for highlighting rather than concealing and saw how fab it was. The L'Oreal high street version is just as great in my opinion and I've enjoyed using it every day on the inner corners under my eyes to brighten over a colour corrector, down the bridge of my nose, on my brow bone and the cupids bow. It is subtle and natural but makes a difference to brightening your complexion and the rose gold packaging is pretty cute too.

What have you enjoyed using recently? xxx

Review: Revolution Organics Freedom Glow

Freedom Glow in 'Bronzed' // £21

I’ve been interested in branching out to cream bronzers for a while but have been hesitant due to the oily nature of my skin. However, when this popped through my door in a recent Joliebox it came at the perfect time as my skin has been drier and dehydrated due to the colder weather. I’d never heard of the brand before but the concept of the product intrigued me and I haven’t been disappointed when I got round to using it.

Its appearance is reminiscent to that of the Nars multiple sticks, but I haven’t actually tried this so can’t offer a fair comparison.  It is a good size product which is great for travel, with sturdy and sleek packaging which twists up and down to get more or less product. The colour looked pretty dark in the tube but once blended in properly to the skin it leaves a natural, healthy glow. I’ve been reaching for this on days when I want a bit of colour but don’t want to wear a full face of makeup, for example when I’m feeling under the weather. It’s very moisturising with organic olive, coconut and jojoba oils so I’m not sure this would be that suitable for me in the summer but at the moment it is perfect for the way my skin is behaving. I think this would be best for normal to dry skin types all year round but us oily skinned girls can get away with it in winter time too. This beauty balm also contains aloe vera to condition and smooth – great for sun or wind damaged skin. The product is 100% natural and 85% organic ingredients as well as being free of any nasties such as mineral oil, which is a big plus point for me!

Revolution Organics have described the product as a beauty balm to act as a multitasker to be used anywhere you want some colour - think face, body and lips. This colour would be great for contouring, however I don’t do much of this myself and instead use it for an all over glow. I rub a generous amount on my cheeks, forehead, nose and chin and then blend it in thoroughly using a stippling brush to give a light even colour. Considering how moisturising the product is the colour pay off is amazing and the pigmentation doesn't disappoint.

You can also purchase this product in the colours: 'Sunkissed' a coral peach and 'Blushed' a pink. It seems to be a Canadian brand but you can find this product on eBay or cutecosmetics (linked above). I've really enjoyed using this product as it gives benefits to my skin while adding subtle warmth and coverage. As my first step into the world of cream bronzers it has been a success and I’m interested in trying out Chanel’s Universal Bronze.

Have you heard of this brand before? What do you think of cream bronzers? xxx

The Poorly Face

Recently I've been under the weather like most people around this time of year and so havn't been up to putting on a full face of make up. However, when illness strikes I like to use more subtle make up to make me look a little less sick, which in turn makes me feel a bit better.

To start off I apply Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm in 'bronzed' all over my face and blend in well with a stippling brush. This gives a healthy, natural glow which contains moisturising oils such as coconut and jojoba, and aloe vera to sooth and condition, perfect for dehydrated skin and dry areas such as round the nose. I then applied Benefit's Erase Paste in 1 and Lasting Perfection Concealer by Collection  in 1 to cover up any other redness and dark circles. To perk up  my complexion a little more, I blended some Hocus Focus by Soap and Glory onto my cheek bones and places that would naturally catch the light.

For my eyes I used a tiny bit of the new Rimmel Scandal Eyes waterproof kohl liner in 'Nude' on my water line to brighten them up and defined my brows with a little of a Rimmel eyebrow pencil in 'Hazel'. I didn't tend to wear mascara but on the days when I felt it was needed, a few coats of L'Oreal Million Lashes was suffice.  Lastly, I lightly lined my lips in the perfect shade for my natural lip colour - 'Eastend Snob', another Rimmel product, this time their Exaggerate Full Colour lip liner. I then blended this all over my lips to give them some natural definition.

What make up do you wear when feeling under the weather? xxx