February favourites 2014

Hi Beauts.

Time for my second favourites of 2014!! I'm going to have to say it....HOW FAST HAVE THE PAST TWO MONTHS GONE?! Anyway on with the products I've been loving:

* Nuxe Rêve de Meil lip balm - I bought this at pretty much the beginning of February and I've used it every day since. I have a full review coming up soon, but I will tell you that it has sorted my dry lips out big time. I use it every night before bed and every morning before I apply my make up, and it has worked wonders!

* Along came Betty 'Fix Me' - This product shall be surprise to any of you who have red my previous review post. There was no way I couldn't add this to this months favourites. This is basically a mattifying primer in stick form, and it's the best thing I've ever used. It mattifies my skin and keeps my make up in place all day long

* Sleek 'Garden of Eden' palette - I'm a massive Sleek fan, especially their blushes, so when this beauty got released I knew I had to have it. Again, I have a review drafted up, but I will say if you haven't got this then go buy it ASAP! It's a palette perfect for brown and hazel eyes, filled with gorgeous purple and green shades. I've literally used this every day!

* Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in 'Blueberry - This has been my go to nail polish this month, and it's one shall continue to reach for. I have a full review here if you want to read my thoughts on it. It's a gorgeous blue/purple shade and lasts a good few days on the nails! Such a beaut!

Well that was short but sweet wasn't it? What have you been loving this month?

Stacey x

Along Came Betty 'Fix Me'

Hi Beauts.

I'm yet to find a mattifying primer that I could add to my Holy Grail list, so I'm constantly trying out new things. If you read my 'Along came Betty' haul then you may have noticed a little product named 'Fix Me' which is a mattifying product that you apply before foundation (you can actually apply after too) 

I've used this every day for the past month and have to say, it's made it to my Holy Grail products. I love it so much I had to go back to Tesco and buy a back up! 

I haven't used anything like this before so was intrigued to see how it would hold up, and if it would effect the appearance of my foundation. 

Each morning I apply a line along my forehead, down my nose and along my chin then blend in with my fingertips. Straight after applying I noticed how soft my skin feels, it's so smooth and creates the perfect base for the rest of my make up.

The product itself ia actually pink but it applies transparent, nobody wants a pink face really do they? Originally I assumed this would keep me a little shine free throughout the day and hold my make up in place, however, I was surprised to see how matte my skin looked straight after application! My foundation definitely glides on a lot smoother each time I use this, and I'd say it looks pretty flawless too.

 The big test: does it actually keep me matte? Oh hell yes! Literally nothing I've tried before has worked as well as this little beauty, and nothing has kept my foundation looking as great all day. Setting sprays always work when I use them, but never has a primer worked so well. My foundation doesn't budge from the usual places - my forehead, nose and chin, it doesn't look cakey at all (some products tend to cake up on me with having oily skin) and the product itself is unnoticeable (some transparent face products can do that roll thing when wear them under foundation, or at least they do with me) I'm hoping this isn't being discontinued, otherwise I'm going to have to hunt each and every one down and buy them all. I absolutely love this, and of you have oily skin too this is a must try. 

What's your favourite mattifying product?

Stacey x

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Blueberry

Hi Beauts.

I seem to have a bit of an obsession with Barry M nail polish, and can't seem to stop buying more shades. I think so far, my favourite formula has to be their Gelly Hi Shine because they're so smooth to apply and look so glossy, hence the name 'Gelly Hi-Shine'. 

So far I have 3 shades in my nail polish collection but definitely want them all. One in particular that I've had my eye on for a while is 'Blueberry', it's such a gorgeous blue/purple colour and reminds me of Bluebells.

I could resist no longer and had to make a purchase before I talked myself out of adding yet another nail polish to my overflowing collection. I'm so glad I finally bought it and I'm kind of kicking myself that I didn't buy it sooner. 

This is most certainly a shade that would be perfect for the spring and summer seasons, however I don't play by the rules so I wear lights and brights in winter and darks in the summer, and vice versa obviously. Rock whichever shade you like ladies!

Like I mentioned earlier, this shade reminds me of Bluebells because it's not quite blue but not quite purple either. And from swatches I've seen, I think this could be a good alternative (not so much a dupe) for Essies Bikini so teeny.

I always find Barry M nail paints to apply smoothly and always only need 2 coats to get a beautiful opaque colour, but I do think because the Gelly Hi-Shine are so glossy, they do apply a little more smoothly. The finish is what you'd expect - glossy and gelly like, and what I love is that over the days the glossiness and shine doesn't fade.

Last but not least is lasting power. I'm kind of naughty with nail polish and never wear a base or top coat, but even without both of these I still get a good 4 - 5 days wear before I notice any chipping. I do think, if I wore a base and top coat I'd probably get another day or 2. This shade shall definitely be making it to my February favourites, that's for sure!

What's your favourite shade from Barry M?

Stacey x

Nuxe Pamper Hamper Competition a Wishlist

Hi Beauts.

Today I bring to you another, yes ANOTHER wishlist. This time it's a Nuxe wishlist. I recently bought their Rêve de Miel lip balm and I'm loving it (review to follow soon) and was eyeing up some of their other products whilst in Marks and Spencer's.

They currently have a competition running on their website called the 'Pamper hamper' wishlist competition. All you have to do is create a wishlist as a blog post, tweet your list to Nuxe with the hashtag #Nuxepapmerhamper and you have the chance to win a hamper worth £250!! 

We all know I'm a list writing addict so I couldn't not give It a bash! Here are the products I selected:

1 - Micellar cleansing water with Rose petal. I've become quite a fan of micellar water lately, it's so handy to have to quickly remove the majority of your make up before doing a full cleanse. This one is for sensitive skin, which means it won't sting the eye area. And anything with the word Rose in it has me sold!

2 - Crème Fraîche de Beauté Light. Having oily skin is such a pain (although I have heard that it takes longer to get wrinkles....) Anyway, I've tried a million and one moisturisers to combat the oil and I'm still on the hunt. This one says it's light, soothes and mattifies all tick the right boxes for moi! It's light which also means it'll be perfect for the warmer months

3 - Rêve de Miel ultra-comfortable foot cream. Not everyone loves to talk about feet, as long as mine get me from A to B it's all good with me. I do suffer from a little dry skin which ain't too pretty, especially with the sandal wearing weather coming up. Because this promises to soothe and repair AND it's honey scented, it had to make it to my list.

4 - Aroma-Perfection Anti-imperfection care Along with a morning moisturiser, I need something to battle the oil as I get my 8 hours sleep. This promises to tighten pores, reduce excess oil, moisturise and it contains salicylic acid so helps keep spots at bay - always a bonus!

 5 - Travel kit. I'm a sucker for travel size products, so this is perfect. It comes with a 30ml Micellar cleansing water, 15ml Nuxellence, 10ml Huile Prodigieuse, 15ml Rêve de Miel hand and nail cream and a 30ml Nuxe body fondant shower gel. This is also great for trying out different products before buying the full size (and may just come in handy on my travels to Rome in May!)

What would you add to your wish list? Do you have any recommendations for other products I should try out?

Stacey x

Along came Betty lipstick duo - Double whammy

Hi Beauts.

One of my favourite make up items to buy is lipstick, a girl can never have too many right? When I picked up some products from the Along Came Betty range in Tesco (haul post here), I noticed this 'Double Whammy' which is a lipstick and lip gloss duo. 

There were three shades/combo's to choose from so I went for the shade Poochy, which was the more neutral/every day shade on the shelf. 

MUA released a similar product last year called Lip Booms which had a lipstick on one side and a lip gloss with chunky glitter particles on the other side. Unlike that gloss, this one is smooth, with small non chunky shimmer in it and isn't on the sticky side. It isn't overly pigmented but definitely gives a nice sheen to your lips. I'd say the shade is a wearable frosty baby pink, and when applied on top of the lipstick in the centre of the lips, gives a gorgeous shine and makes your lips a little more poutier. 

The lipstick, however, is really pigmented and is smooth to apply. The shade is a deep pink toned mauve and is so pretty, I've worn it so much. I'm even considering going back to pick up a back up!

 When I wear the lipstick alone, I'd say I get around 3 hours wear, which I think is great, and when I apply the lipstick and gloss I get about 2 hours which I'm pretty impressed with too. The lipstick isn't drying either when worn alone which I have found before with duo lip products. Although this is a little on the chunky side, it's still perfect for travelling with as it saves you chucking a lipstick and gloss in your bag.

Do you like these types of lip products too?

Stacey x

Small haul

Hi Beauts.

Over the past week or so I've picked up a few things that were on my latest wish list and thought I'd do a quick post and share them with you.

Skincare 

Asda currently have 3 for £10.00 on their Nspa products, so I bought the oil free moisturiser, melting cleansing gel and youthful eye cream. I can't wait to try them out!

After reading a ton of rave reviews of the Nuxe Riev de Miel lip balm, I decided to try it it.mige used it for the past week or so and I'm really enjoying it

Make up

As soon as Sleek released their new palette 'Garden of Eden' I knew I had to get my hands on it. It's filled with purples and greens, my favourite colours!

Barry M nail paints are my all time favourite nail polish, in particular their Gelly Hi-Shines. So I bought the shade Blueberry which I've wanted for ages

Random

I a HUGE fan of Wallace and Gromit, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. So when I spotted this in Aldi for £3.99 it when straight in my basket!

Well that's it folks. I've been trying not to buy too much lately, but couldn't resist this lot. What I've you been chucking in your shopping basket recently?

Stacey x

Along came Betty concealer

Hi Beauts.

As far as concealers go, I had my Holy Grail product - The Collection lasting perfection. However, I'm still unsure whether or not they're cruelty free so I went in search of a new one when I finished up the last few drops. 

One (I've actually found two that I like now) that I picked up is the Along Came Betty All concealed in Light/Medium. 

This is a cream concealer which contains a light shade and a medium shade, along with a translucent setting powder screwed onto the bottom, pretty nifty right? This is pretty similar to the S&G kick ass concealer, that too comes with 2 shades and a setting powder although their powder is pressed not loose. And unfortunately, I think I'm the only person that didn't get along with that one. 

This one, however, I love. I use the light shade as my under eye concealer and I mix the light and medium and apply to any redness/scars/blemishes that I have, and find that the two mixed match me perfectly.

 I'd say it has a medium coverage, and doesn't cake up when I apply more on top if needed. I can't say I'm overly keen on the powder as it can make my under eyes a little ashy, but used to set the concealer anywhere else works fine. 

I usually find when using cream based concealers (especially the S&G) that they cake up and crease under my eyes, and oxidise when I've used them on my chin. However I didn't find this happened at all with this one which surprised me big time. I really like that you get 2 shades of concealer and a setting powder, it's so useful for travelling with and it allows you to mix and match the concealer to find your perfect shade.

Needless to say, I love this and think I've found a new favourite.

Have you tried anything from the Along Came Betty range yet?

Stacey x