Current Favourite Blushers

~ Powder Blushers ~

Swatched From Left to Right:

MAC Merrily - A red with golden shimmer

MAC Pinch O' Peach - A fairly neutral matte pink

NARS Deap Throat - A peachy-pink with shimmer

NARS Torrid - A coral with shimmer

~ Cream Blushers ~

Swatched From Left to Right:

NARS Cactus Flower - A watermelon red with gold shimmer

Topshop Flush - A bright warm pink

MAC Something Special - A soft pinky-peach

Graftobian Raspberry Wine - A rosey-red shade 

Has anyone else tried any of these? Let me know what you think of them or what your recent favourites are! I always love checking out new ones being the blush addict that I am :D

My Top 10 Make-up Products

I was tagged by the very lovely Lil Lady's Life to do my top 10 beauty products so here they are! I'm obviously always trying out new products and finding new things that I love but these are all products which I can always rely on and which I will probably keep coming back to.

1. Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation - A gorgeous foundation which gives medium coverage and has a lovely healthy, slightly dewy finish. It photographs beautifully too despite it containing SPF. This is probably best suited to normal-dry skin types. It's apparently being discontinued at the end of the year though so stock up before then if you like this one!

2. MAC Pro Longwear Concealer - A fantastic concealer for under eyes or to cover minor redness (not ideal for blemishes). It's got great coverage but never looks cakey or dry around the eye area. 

3. Make Up For Ever Super Matte Loose Powder - This is definitely the best loose powder I've tried. It's finely milled so it doesn't look overly powdery and it does a fantastic job of setting foundation and concealer. Shade #12 is translucent and suits fair-medium skins but this comes in a range of other shades too.

4. Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond - A beautiful powder highlighter. It's got a very fine shimmer so it gives the skin a really gorgeous, sophisticated glow and doesn't look over the top.

5. Shu Uemura Glow On Blush - I can't say enough good things about Shu Uemura's blushers! Both the matte and shimmer ones are absolutely gorgeous - super soft and they apply seemlessly. My favourite shade is P Pink 30 but they have a huge range of really amazing colours. Love these!

6. Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Creme in Iced Gold - A cream highlighter which I think will always have a place among my top beauty products. You can take a look at my review of it here.

7. NARS Alhambra Eyeshadow Duo - These are two great staple lid colours. I love the quality and texture of these as well - they're buttery soft and lovely to apply.

8. Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner in True Black - I favour this over any other gel or cream liner because it stays really creamy and doesn't dry out like ones from other brands do. It's very easy to apply and can be used on the waterline too.

9. MAC Paint Pot in Painterly - Painterly is a great eyeshadow base. It acts like a concealer, covering up any redness or veins on the eyelids and leaves you with the perfect blank canvas! Eyeshadow clings really well to this too which means you get a stronger colour pay-off.

10. Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara -This has been my favourite mascara since it came out. It gives great length and separation and never looks clumpy. The one in the photo is the 'Fusion' version. I'm not quite sure what the difference is between this and the original - they seem like practically the same product to me!

Hope you like my favourites. Feel free to do your top 10 too!

My Skincare Routine & Favourite Skincare Products

A few people have asked me what my skincare routine is and what products I use so here it is for those who are interested! I have a normal skin type most of the time but it can become dry in winter and it's also slightly sensitive. My routine is fairly fuss-free and simple. Here's what I would do morning and night.......

Morning:

Tone and moisturise. I don't tend to cleanse in the morning because I don't ever feel the need to - I think that over-cleansing is not always a good thing especially if your skin is on the dry side. If I need a sun protection I will use that instead of my moisturiser. I'll exfoliate in the morning too with a scrub every so often.

Night:

Cleanse, tone, moisturise. If I've been wearing false lashes I'll use a separate eye make-up remover to my regular cleanser. Sometimes I'll use a serum at night underneath my moisturiser (mainly just in winter when my skin is drier) and I use an eye cream too whenever I remember!

Here are the products that I like to use and which work well for my skin type.......

Cleansing:

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - This is hands down the best cleanser I've tried. I've been using it for about 3 years now. It's quite a thick cream but it's very gentle and you can use it over your eyes too without irritation. It comes with muslin cloths which are fantastic since they act as a mild exfoliant and leave your skin really soft. The cleanser is really effective at getting rid of every last trace of make-up and this is one I would recommend over and over again!

Aveda Pure Comfort Eye Makeup Remover - I'll only use a separate eye make-up remover like this if I've been wearing false lashes. I've found that some eye make-up removers have stung my eyes in the past but this one doesn't at all. I'll soak a cotton pad with this and hold it on my eyes for a good few minutes to let it dissolve the make-up and lash glue. It then gently wipes away without having to rub your eyes too much which is never something you want to do!

Toning:

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - This is a very gentle toner and it's alcohol-free which is brilliant since it won't dry out the skin. It's full of natural ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile and cucumber which are very soothing and great for sensitive skins. It also gets rid of any last remaining traces of make-up. 

Moisturising:

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturiser - The Kiehl's moisturiser is another product which I've used for years. It's not too thick but I find that it's very hydrating and it works great under make-up. There's no heavy fragrance so it's good for sensitive skin.

MAC Strobe Cream - This is a moisturiser which has luminizing particles in it. It's great for wearing during the day under a light foundation for an extra glow. It's not as hydrating as the Kiehl's so I'll use this mainly in summer.

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado - This particular cream is only for moisturisation so it's quite basic but it does it's job well and doesn't irritate my skin. I'm quite interested in trying the Origins eye creams next though.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair - Unlike a moisturiser which will only be absorbed into the first few layers of skin, a serum seeps down further into more layers so it helps to repair the condition of the skin more effectively. I love this Estee Lauder one because I find it really does help to clear up any dry patches which I get around my nose in winter and my skin is left very smooth and hydrated after using it.


Exfoliating:

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator - This is a gorgeous exfoliating cream. It doesn't leave skin feeling tight or dry since it has cocoa butter in it. I find my skin is left extremely soft after using this.

Sun Protection:

Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Lotion SPF30 - This is the only sun cream which has not irritated the skin on my face so I definitely won't be without this one! It also goes on matte so it's absolutely perfect for under make-up.

Has anyone else tried any of these products? Do let me know what you think of them!

Tag ~ I love Lipsticks

1. How many lipsticks do you have?

I won't count. That might mean owning up to an addiction :D

2. What was the first lipstick that you ever bought?

One from The Body Shop when I was about 14 I think! I don't know how I remember that.

3. Which is your newest lipstick?

Topshop 'Show Off'

4. What is your favourite lipstick brand?

I like MAC for their huge variety of colours and finishes. Another favourite is Chanel since I don't think their lipsticks can be beaten in terms of texture.

5. Favourite Pink?

I don't wear true pink lipsticks too much. I recently picked up Topshop 'Show Off' lipstick though and I've been liking it a lot so I think that has to be my new favourite pink.

6. Favourite Nude?

I don't actually wear nude lipstick much anymore but I used to wear MAC Patisserie a lot which is a great natural shade. I tend to use this a lot on other people too.

7. Favourite Peach/Coral?

It has to be MAC Vegas Volt which is a fantastic bright coral. This looks great when it's sheered out a bit too so that becomes a slightly softer coral shade.

8. Favourite Red?

Well since red is my favourite lipstick colour I couldn't pick just one! So the three that I love are: Chanel Rouge Allure in Flamboyante, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo and MAC 'MAC Red'.

9. Favourite Hot Pink?

Dior Addict Lipstick in Collection. It looks red in the tube but it goes on as a hot pink.

10. Favourite Brown?

Hmmm.....we've moved on from the 90's I think! :D

11. Favourite Rosewood?

Chanel Rouge Coco in Organdi Rose. This is a lovely rosey shade which is great for a very natural look. My photos don't do it much justice I'm afraid!

12. Favourite Plum?

MAC Plumful. I like this one in winter especially.

13. Other Favourite Lipsticks?

MAC Hibiscus (limited edition), Chanel Rouge Coco in Orchidee, Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Heartbreaker, MAC Milan Mode, MAC Lustering and MAC Media (not one I'd wear on myself too much but I really love dark vampy lipstick shades and this one is beautiful for those that can pull it off!).

14. Favourite Lipglosses?

NYX Round Lipgloss in Doll Pink, MAC Lipglass in Hot House (limited edition), Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Petulant, MAC Ample Pink Plushglass and MAC Love Nectar Lustreglass (looks lovely over coral lipsticks).

I wasn't tagged by anyone - I just thought I would do it anyway. I tag anyone who would like to do this!

Top Ten Favourite Summer Nail Polishes

From Left to Right:

Orly Rage - An amazing metallic rose gold. I love metallic nails in summer as they really catch the sunshine. This is equally pretty at Christmastime.

OPI Dim Sum Plum - I love this deep pink shade for toes in particular.

Orly Fancy Fuchsia - This is more vibrant in person than it looks in photos. Texture is a bit goopy but I really love the colour. It's a gorgeous Barbie pink.

Barry M Lemon Ice Cream - I did a post about this one a while back. It's a nice cheery yellow (:

CND Guava - A lovely peach. It's quite a soft colour so it's a good option for something which is still bright but not fluorescent or over the top. CND polishes are great quality too.

Revlon Tropical Temptation - I think this is the perfect coral shade. It doesn't have too much red, pink or orange in it - just the perfect balance!

Rimmel Coralicious - This is more of a red coral. I like this one on my toes especially with Tropical Temptation on my fingers.

Barry M Blueberry Ice Cream - A gorgeous sky blue!

Essie Coat Azure - This is a medium blue with a slight bit of shimmer. It definitely reminds me of the sea!

Rimmel Sky High - A nice medium turquoise colour.


Hope you like my picks for summer!

My Top Must-Have Beauty Products For Summer

 

1. SPF

The best sun cream I've found is the Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Lotion SPF 30 which is for both face and body. This is the only one that I've tried which doesn't leave me with a sticky, greasy face. It actually goes on matte which is amazing since it's therefore perfect to wear under make-up. It doesn't smell the best (well actually it smells quite bad!) but I can tolerate that if it means less sun damage for my skin! For lips I like to use the Nivea Lip Care Sun which is SPF 30.

2. Bright Nail Polish

Summer is definitely the time to go to town with bright nail colours! I think Barry M is always a great brand for brights and they even have a neon range of nail paints. 

3. Sheer Foundation

I always tend to go for lighter foundations in summer time. I'm not sure too many people like wearing thick, heavy make-up in hot weather! I really like Make Up For Ever's Face & Body Foundation. It offers sheer coverage with a healthy dewy finish. It's also water based so it's very lightweight and comfortable. It's suitable for all skin types and the icing on the cake is that it's water resistant once it has set which is really brilliant for summertime. 

4. Bright Lipstick

A vibrant lipstick is always a fun option for summer and looks great with a bit of a bronze glow. I don't think you can beat MAC for their range of bright shades. 'Lustering' (a bright watermelon pink) is a summer favourite of mine.

5. Metallic Eyeshadow

I think a wash of a metallic eyeshadow on the lids looks really gorgeous in the sunshine. MAC pigments are brilliant for getting a great metallic effect especially when they're foiled (used wet). I love the shade Gold Mode and both Melon and Tan look very pretty on tanned skin.  

6. Bronzer

I think bronzer is a summer essential for warming up the skin. My favourite is the Dior Bronze Matte Sunshine and I use the shade 002 Honey Matte. 

7. Hair Treatment

I use hair treatments all year round but I think they're really important in summer to give moisture back to your hair which the sun has taken away especially if you have colour treated hair. The Kerastase Chroma Riche treatment is the creme de la creme  of hair treatments as far as I'm concerned! It's the only one I've tried which doesn't weigh my hair down or leave a horrible residue. If you have extremely fine and colour treated hair I think you will love this one! If you're a real sun worshiper Kerastase also do a whole Soleil range of hair care products.

8. Fake Tan

Having skin that would give a vampire a run for their money, fake tan is definitely a must-have for me when showing a bit more skin during summer. Tried, tested and loved by me are St Tropez and Xen Tan. I'm currently trying out He-Shi tan and so far I think it's fairly good. I'm not sure if it beats the others but I may do a full review in another post soon. 

9. Exfoliating Gloves

Not the most exciting of products but these gloves are fantastic! They work a whole lot better than any scrub and they only cost a few euro from Boots! Exfoliating your skin to get rid of dead skin cells really helps to make it look a lot healthier and of course smoother. It's also an absolute must to keep exfoliating regularly when using fake tan to prevent it from going patchy or scaly. 

10. Body Moisturiser

Another essential for keeping your skin in good nick. The one I love to use in summer is the Boots Coconut & Almond Body Butter. Coconut is one of my favourite smells and this is brilliant if you have dry skin. Another love of mine is the Shiseido Energizing Body Cream which makes skin incredibly smooth and smells like heaven! (sadly I can't afford this one too often though!). 

What are anyone else's essential summer products?