These are a few of my favourite things..

Hello all! Hope you're having a fab new year. Any New Years Resolutions? Mine, as usual, have gone to pot (don't know why i bother!). I'm just going to focus on being happy and passing these bloody exams.

I was so undecided on whether to do a 2012 Favourites, i love reading them myself but, i'm not one to constantly use something. I swap and change my products every two seconds so trying to find favourites for the majority of a year was too hard. So here a just a few things i have been loving (some for longer than others)..

Makeup

MAC Eyeshadow Palette - i first started this last christmas and continued building it up in 2012 until i finally finished it! I absolutely adore this little collection of eyeshadows, there is a wide range of colours (all of which i love). I love grabbing it and having lots of lovely, good quality eyeshadows all in one place. And despite there being 15 eyeshadows it isn't too bad for travelling.

Real Techniques Brushes - I have only pictured the Stippling Brush here but i also have the Core Collection which i absolutely adore. I rarely use any other brushes since i got these. Affordable, amazing quality, easy to wash, easy to use, the list goes on..

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil - this has been the only thing i have used on my brows throughout 2012, i think i have found a new favourite now but nevertheless this is the perfect colour, easy to carry around and easy to apply. I simply use it in little stoke motions to fill in my brows and they instantly look miles better. It lasts all day too.

Nars 'Casino' Bronzer - This must be the darkest bronzer i've ever used, which personally is great for my tanned skin as it makes the most perfect contour. I regularly reach for this despite having other bronzers i cant help myself. It just does everything it's supposed to do.

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Powder - A favourite for years. I did neglect this for quite a while but i can't help but love the way it sets my makeup without adding lots of coverage or looking cakey. It simply mattes the skin whilst still looking very natural. You could apply lots of this without it going cakey so i usually always have this in my handbag for touch ups.

Avon SuperShock Eyeliner - i love the SuperShock mascara for Avon so i obviously had to try this, it has the most amazing pigmentation (i have never used an eyeliner so black!) This is perfect for a night out and smokey eyes. Its so soft and creamy its perfect for smudging.

Beauty

Tresemme Hairspray - This is literally all i have used for years. Definitely a firm favourite for me. It sets the hair without leaving my hair feeling rock hard - love it.

The Body Shop Body Butter - i've pictured the Almond one here (probably my absolute favourite ever) but i also adore the Coconut and Mango ones. They're so luxurious and creamy, such a delight to put on. I find them amazing for dry skin without being too sticky and the scent is so strong to leave me feeling fab. I apply these every single day.

Juicy Couture Perfume - The scent of 2012 for me and i've had it once before. I find it's such a lovely, strong but not overpowering scent. It's not very floral or fruity like the ones i usually go for it's a bit more mature and i love giving myself a good few spritz of this before i go anywhere.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel - If i had to recommend any moisturiser for combination/oily skin, this would be it. Its so light and cooling yet gives enough moisture without being too much. Perfect, enough said.

Natural Collection Body Spray - Definitely a little bargain at £2 and definitely something i have been reaching for a lot last year. They're perfect on a day-to-day basis for making you smell gorgeous in a subtle way.

MAC Fix+ - Not something i use everyday but definitely comes in very handy for nights out or more dramatic makeup looks. I use this on my eyeshadow brush to make my eyeshadows appear more pigmented and bright, it also makes the shimmer/glitter stand out more. I also spray it onto my face when i've done all my makeup to help it look less full/cakey and more natural.



Well, that was a pretty long post. Just a few of the things i grab for the most and definitely all things that i have been reaching for regularly for quite a long time.

What are you're favourite items that you reach for often?

DIY: At Home Facial. Sunday Pamperin'

We all love a good pamper right? Well i know i do. It's the perfect was to relax, treat your skin and make you feel better! So put your feet up, chill out and follow these steps for the perfect at home facial..

Step One: Steam Face

I opted to use this Lush Toner Tab this time (by adding it to the water) but you don't have to use one. All you need is a big bowl, a towel to cover your head and hot, boiled water. Just fill the bowl with steaming hot water (leave it to cool for 2/3 mins) and place your head over the bowl so the steam can get into the pores and open them up - stay like this for about 10minutes. The toner tab contains essential oils which purify your skin and help it feel supple and smooth. Tip: You could always add a few drops of your own essential oils.

Step Two: Nose Strip (optional)

Que - attractive picture..

Ignore the ugly picture and think of the benefits. If you tend to get a lot of blackheads on your nose, like me, these little things are saviours. I just get mine from Home Bargains or Pound shops - any nose strips will do! You just wet the nose with hot water, stick this on tight, wait around 5/10mins and rip off really fast. This just basically pulls any dirt and grim out!

Step Three: Face Mask

I used Montagne Jeunesse Blemish Mud Mask which aims to get rid of any spots/imprections. Just slap some on (avoid eyes) and leave to dry for 15mins(ish). This is by far the most enjoyable part - grab your brew and relax! There's also enough product for two..

Last but not least: Cleanse, Tone & Moisturise! 

I used my Simple Refreshing Face Wash Gel with my Rio Sonicleanse to really deep clean the skin. I then wiped over my face with a cotton pad and the Simple Smoothing Facial Toner which is so gentle and makes sure the skin is fully clean! I then added some much needed moisture to revive my skin using the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel. 

Tah-Dahhh! 

Current Skincare Routine (Oily Skin) & Mini Update.

Hello all! I have my current skincare routine for you all today, i say 'current' because i change it every two minutes. But, these are the products i have been sticking to for the past month or so and they seem to be working pretty well. I do break out every now and then and it's usually quite severe - meaning lots of little spots and bumps :( But it doesn't last too long!

My skin is combination/oily - meaning it's dry on the outer area's of my face but very oily around my t-zone (especially my nose). I also get a lot of blackheads on my nose and chin which isn't very nice  and have a bit of redness around my nose and cheeks. So these are the things i try to combat most :)

l-r: Clean&Clear Moisturising Mist, Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, Clinique Liquid Facial Soap (oily skin), Skin System Foaming Facial Scrub, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising gel, Lacura Serum.

Recently i've been reaching for my Clinique Facial Wash as my cleanser - morning and night. When i first started you using this, i hated it (strong but true) but at the moment i've been loving it. One pump removes all makeup (expect the eyes - that stings!) and cleans the skin but, sometimes i do use a second pump for a deep cleanse. It's gentle on this skin and foams up when you rub in circular motions. It does dry the skin out little but it's nothing a little moisturiser can't solve.            

 As part my cleansing routine i also use the Skin System Facial Scrub from Asda, from day one i have been impressed with this scrub. It exfoliates the skin without being too harsh. It's a gel like consistency with little beads in it that exfoliate and clean the skin - also removing makeup. So, sometimes i use one squirt on this to initally remove makeup and exfoliate then use the Clinique Face Wash to deep clean.

Once or twice a week i use the Mint Julep Mask to try and get rid of any build up of oil/blackheads. I just apply a very thin layer on my 'problem area's (t-zone and any spots) and wait above 15 minutes until it's dry and remove. I'm still unsure how i feel about this mask. It does help to get rid of spots/oil and brings out any congested area's but, it doesn't do much for blackheads. It's isn't drying and easy to remove so it's pretty hassle free!

The toner i have been using at the moment in another from Asda, it's the Skin System Vitamin E Toner. This is such a harsh toner, no matter how much i was my face it will still remove dirt/makeup which is crazy. I only use this around 4/5 times a week when i want a deep cleanse as it's so harsh and i'm afraid it will strip skin of it's natural oils etc. making it worse. But it is great when i really want a deep clean. It 'replacement' of the toner, i use the Clean & Clear Moisturizing Mist daily after cleansing to just refresh the skin and a little moisture - it's just like any face mist really. And sprayed on a cotton pad it does get rid of any left over cleanser while being gentle.

I did a post on these two moisturisers here. I use the Clinique Moisturizing Gel in the morning, before makeup as it's a really light moisturiser so makes a great makeup base for people with oily skin like me. I wasn't sure about it at first, now i love it and couldn't imagine using a different moisturiser as they all seem heavy in comparison. The Lacura Multi-Intensive Serum is also a light moisturiser although it's slightly thicker than the Clinique one so i use this as night. This really hydrates the skin but doesn't leave it feeling greasy, my skin also isn't greasy when i wake up either which is a bonus.

So yeah, that's everything i use on my face to get rid of makeup and cleanse. At the moment this combination is working but i know i'll switch it up sooner or later :)

I also wanted to let you know i'm off to LONDON tomorrow with the boyfriend. We are staying over until Tuesday and have lots of plans (especially shopping). It going to be a lovely little trip and i can't wait to explore the streets of London, spend some time away from Manchester and experience the hustle and bustle of the city. But i have some great guest posts lined up to keep you occupied and if i'm a little awol (not much tweeting as my phone will die </3) you know why!

Battle of the moisturisers: Clinque vs Aldi!

I thought i'd share these two moisturisers - one 'high-end' and one bargain product! I thought doing reviews of them would be a bit boring so as i use these both daily i decided to put them up against eachother ;)

 Clinique's dramatically different moistursing gel is £29 for 125ml
 Lacura (Aldi's brand) multi-intensive serum is £3.49 for 50ml.

 So, is it really worth paying more? 

Clinque: This is a gel moisturiser - which is better for my oily skin than a cream. The gel is really lightweight and applies easily to the skin. One - one & a half pumps provides the right amount of moisture for my whole face and doesn't leave me feeling greasy atall. This is a great base for my makeup as it doesn't provide too much hydration so my makeup lasts longer! However this can take a lot of getting used to if you're used to thicker more moisturising creams sometimes i feel my skin needs that little bit more moisture. I'm not too keen on the smell of this aswell, although it's not detectable once absorbed into the skin.

Lacura: This a serum for all skin types, it's a cream consistency but is still very lightweight and not thick atall. I find inbetween a half and one pump (awkward i know) is more than enough to hydrate my entire face and again doesn't leave me feeling greasy. It provides long-lasting moisture however because it is slightly thicker than the Clinique one my skin gets slightly oilier through day but it's not a massive problem atall i can just use a little less. This cream smells gorgeous - it smells so fresh and 'clean' - i can't describe it but the smell is lovely believe me (once absorbed it is undetectable).
 

Left: Lacura Multi Intensive Serum                  Right: Clinique Moisturising Gel

Overall these are both so similar - both hydrating yet not too hydrating for my oily skin, both light and absorb into the skin quickly. The main difference is the price tag and the smell - both of these the Lacura serum wins hands down!  At the moment i used the Clinique in a morning before my makeup and the Lacura one applied more liberally as a more intense night time treat.

The Clinque gel is probably better if you have oily skin like me, but i don't think it is dramatically better! I don't think i will be repurchasing the Clinique moisturising gel unless i have a spare £30 as i think there are cheaper moisturisers - like the Lacura serum - that do virtually the same thing!

So, if you're oily skinned both these do the trick i would recommend them both but obviously the Lacura serum is far more purse friendly and suitable for all skintypes whether you have dry or oily skin i think it'd be great :)

Hope this has been slightly more interesting than a straight review, or maybe not haha!

So, how much are you willing to spend on moisturiser? Are you prepared to splash the cash or do you look for cheaper alternatives?

Favourites of March!

To be honest - i'm struggling with this monthly favourites thing - due to the fact i'm a boring sod and stick to what i know! My daily routine never really varies - think i might have to get a bit more adventurous though, don't you think?

 l-r - Rose of Bulgaria Cleansing Milk, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing gel, Body Shop Mango Body Butter, Lee Stafford Poker Straight Heat Defence Spray, All About Nails Nail Polish, Avon Colortrend Double-ended Kajalstick. 

Rose of Bulgaria Cleansing milk - www.rose-of-bulgaria.com - 4.80 euro's. 
I got this whilst on holiday in Bulgaria - it's really handy for getting makeup off at night and does an extremely good, fast and easy job of it! It smells like roses (obviously) and is soo gentle and soothing on the skin! If you go to Bulgaria i suggest looking at the Rose of Bulgaria line (cheap and cheerful).
Clinique Moisurizing Gel 125ml- Clinique (counter/online)  - £29
With the recent flush of hot weather in England (which has now gone) this has been a saviour - it gives my skin enough moisture without 'over do'ing' it. This helped my skin to be less oily so my makeup stayed on for longer in the heat! Not a fan of the pricetag though!
The Body Shop Body Butter 200ml - Mango - The Body Shop (store/online) -  usually £12.50 but available online now for £6.25 (bargainnnnnn!)
My mum has been a huge fan of this for a longgg time but i never really understood the buzz about this until recently! The scent is to die for - smells delicious! A little goes a long way - it adds lots of moisture to your skin, sinks straight in (no sticky/greasy legs!) and is so smooth. LOVE THIS STUFF!

Lee Stafford Poker Straight Flat Iron Protection Shine Mist - Boots (online/store) - £5.89
I have been a huge fan of Lee Stafford hair products for years - affordable, lovely looking (yay for the pink bottles) and definitely do what they say! I re-discovered this this month and wonder how i have coped without it? Protects hair against all heat (hair dryer, straighteners, curlers etc.) and does keep hair looking healthy and shiny!

All About Nails Nail Varnish - 'Mulberry Pie' - Tesco - £1
Love this polish - everything about it - the colour, consistency, chip-resistence! (full review here)

Avon Colortrend Kajalstick - 'Black and Violet' - Avon (online/brochure) - Usually around 99p (price varies)
I featured the black and brown version of this is my January Favourites - can't get enough of these pencils - two colours in one, they last all day and are so handy to take out and about. I've been loving the purple to add some colour to the lower lashline and a black pencil eyeliner is always handy!


So, of course, i recommend all these products - and they're becoming or already are firm favourites of mine throughout the year not just march!  What are your march favourites?

p.s. get your body butters from www.thebodyshop.co.uk quick while they are so cheap! you won't regret it!