Monthly Favourites

Tuesday, 10 March 2015

February Favourites Part 3 - everything else ...

It feels like it's been forever since I last blogged, but thats probably because it has been lol. I have had the craziest week this past week full of ups and downs, school runs, after school activities, meetings and events just finding the time to sit down and relax has been insanely difficult never mind typing a post, but I'm here now so lets delve back into the final part of my February favourites which is all my non-beauty related faves.

Poncho - Primark (cannot for the life of me remember the price)

Okay, so first up is one of my old faithful clothing items and that is my poncho (yep you read it right I did say poncho, who'd have thought it?) from Primark. I've got to say that I am in love with my poncho its the perfect accessory to so many of my outfits (it literally goes with just about everything), I just throw it on as I'm on my way out the door and I'm good to go. The shape of poncho is really flattering helps to hide the areas that I'm insecure about, and the fact that its made out of wool means it's really more like a thick cardigan than a coat so its perfect for the (hopefully) warmer weather we will be having soon.

1. Conjoined leggings (£20.99) 2. Skeleton romper (£29.99) both from Ironfist

Now with these next two items you may be sensing a theme, my style isn't strictly one style or another (it's really more of a mishmash of different styles) but one thing that I do really love is skeleton or skull prints. Ironfist is most definitely the kind of shop for people with a fun, versatile sense of fashion they manage to take things like skeletons and zombies etc and make them fun and, in most cases colourful too (I actually also have a pair of pink, glittery, sky high heels with skulls and roses they're to die for). anyway, the leggings are just the right amount of interesting for me, they're super soft and I can wear them for just about anything, and the romper is soon comfortable I usually wear it on a day when I know I'm just going to be lounging around at home but I have to confess I have taken the munchkins to school wearing it more than once. To be fair the romper could probably work in the summer months too as its comfy and pretty baggy too I don't think I'd have a problem with wearing it out and about.

Jawbone - UP24 -Activity Tracker (£89.99) Argos

My next favourite thing from last month is this nifty little device, you simply keep it on your wrist and it tracks all your activities throughout the day and then links up to an app which gives you all the details. With the app you can set yourself realistic goals and see how many steps you've taken in a day, plus it breaks it all down for you and lets you know when you were most active and how long for. I personally got it more for the sleep tracking function as it tracks what time you go to bed, how long it takes before you fall asleep, whether you're in a true deep sleep or a lighter sleep and when/how often you wake up. For me this is pretty useful as I don't really get much sleep, it takes me forever to fall asleep and when I do I wake often (I average around 4-5 hours a night) but because I'm able to track this it means I can make small changes and hopefully get a little more sleep and look a little less like a zombie. Although I did originally get the Jawbone for the sleep function its been great to be able to track my activities, especially since I struggle with movement because of my medical condition. This app/device has helped me to gradually increase my movement every day plus you can even input things like exercise, food and mood and it also offers nifty little hints and tips to help you improve your health.

Last but by no means least I have a couple of films that I've enjoyed, now please don't judge me but both of my favourite films last month could be considered children's films. Any parents out there might relate to this but we have a family movie/game night every week and the way I see it having children gives me the perfect excuse to watch kids films without the need to hide the fact. Any way, to get to the point I actually loved "Big Hero 6" (an animated film about a boy and a robot but don't let that fool you it's really good lol) I was in stitches a few times and will never fist bump the same way again (you'll have to watch the film to know what I mean but it tickled me) so you should definitely check that one out. The other film I enjoyed was "Maze runner", this one is about a group of boys and one girl who have to travel through a maze to escape. This one is aimed at slightly older children so maybe pre-teen to teenagers (and of course adults) and has a slightly more thriller-esque quality to it, but both myself and my daughter really enjoyed it.

Okay so thats your lot for the month of February these are a few of my favourite things (thats right I am actually singing the sound of music while I'm writing this, I may have lost my marbles thanks to my crazy hectic week, but I will have more favourites (hopefully a little earlier in the month) for you next month and I have more than a few fun and interesting (to me anyway) things coming up for you guys. So I hope to see you back here again soon with more beauty loving fun ;)

February Favourites Part 2 - Eyes and lips

Okay so it's time to delve back in to my beauty faves and today it's all about those eyes and lips. I've got to say this is by far the hardest selection to choose favourites from, I am most definitely a self confessed lipstick addict and who doesn't love to change things up with the amazing colours of eyeshadow, and don't even get me started on eyeliner I love a good wing lol. So lets get started, shall we?

Stilla - In the Know eyeshadow palette (£25.00)

 I know that this palette is a little more pricey than some others on the market at the moment, but I've got to say that I really love it anyway, all the shadows are matte meaning that this palette is great for girls with hooded eyes (shimmery shades tend to accentuate the hooded area), the colour selection is great for a nice natural every day makeup look. All the shadows are super creamy and blendable, so its easy to eliminate any harsh lines (unless of course thats the look you're going for) the burnt orange shade is to die for and adds a perfect pop of colour to any look. My only criticism is that a few of the shades are very similar in colour and I feel that had they maybe just changed them up slightly it would make a good palette great.

1. Collection Lasting Colour Gel eyeliner (£4.99) 2. Maybelline Lasting Drama gel eyeliner (£8.99)

Now I am most definitely a lover of eyeliner particularly gel eyeliner as in general gel gives a darker and more defined line, and this month these 2 are my go to products. The Collection gel eyeliner is a nice creamy gel thats really easy to apply and glides on perfectly. For me I have a hard time finding a gel eyeliner that is as black as I like it to be, most that I have found are black but not entirely opaque. The collection eyeliner though doesn't have that problem so it is one of my favourites for this month. Now if you're a fan of Benefits They're real push up liner but don't want to fork out £18.00 (ish) then look no further than Maybelline's Lasting Drama gel eyeliner. It works in much the same way as the benefit one by giving you the great look of a gel liner while also giving you the convenience and ease of a pen liner. I wouldn't say that it's without it's flaws as I generally have to dab the excess product away before using it in order to avoid lumps and it's a little tricky to master, but once you have the hang of it you end up with a fab well defined look. I love that the tip is flexible too as it really helps when you're connecting your wing to the rest of your liner and it's also incredibly long lasting so there's no need for touch ups, I will say though that it can be a bit stubborn when it comes to removing your makeup, but for half the price of the Benefit one I can handle a little stubbornness :).

1.Rimmel Scandaleyes mascara (£6.99) 2. Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara (£7.99)

Makeup simply isn't complete without the wonder that is mascara and 2 of my favourites in February were definitely Rimmel's Scandaleyes and Maybelline's Lash sensational. Now the reason that I have picked 2 mascara favourites is because I pretty much always use 2 different types of mascara, one to add volume and another to separate and add length to my otherwise pitiful lashes. These mascara's do the job perfectly, Rimmel Scandaleyes adds masses of volume and really make my lashes look lovely and full, and I find that by using the Maybelline Lash sensational as well not only are my lashes longer and more defined but they stay clump free too (unless I was to add another 20 coats lol).

Maybelline Brow Satin in Dark Blonde and Medium Brown (£5.99)

Anyone who follows me on instagram will know by now that my eyebrow game (without product) is simply non existent. I have got incredibly thin eyebrows anyway as I over plucked a couple of times when I was younger and they've just never grown back in, but just to make matters worse they are also mostly blonde so the hair that is there is virtually invisible. Needless to say that filling in my brows is an absolute must no matter what look I am aiming for. Now I have tried a number of different products in the past that have worked fine but when I stumbled upon the Maybelline Brow satin pencils my brow routine got a whole lot easier. I love the fact that with this product you have the pencil end (nice and thin) which is perfect for filling out the shape and getting a nice defined line and then you have the shadow end which fills in the centre and just softens up the edges (if you want to) giving a nice natural look. So with this brow pencil you get 2 in 1 and a great range of shades too.

1. Stainiac - The Balm (£9.99), 2. Burts Bees Lip shine (£6.99) 3. Maybelline Superstay 14hr Lipstick (£6.99)

Last of all, well for part 2 anyway, are some great lip products. Ive got to say that this is by far the area that I find the hardest to pick just one favourite as I LOVE a good lippie, but I've narrowed it down to these 3 lip products. I really love the lip stain by The Balm, it's a great product for those days when you don't want to wear a lipstick but just want a little something to brighten up your lips (if you're anything like me if I don't have anything on my lips I look like a zombie lol) it gives your lips just a hint of colour thats long lasting without being drying, t's basically my lips but better. I also find that if the colour isn't quite enough I can just give it a little something extra by building up layers until the colour is perfect. The 2nd lip product I chose this month is Burts bees lip shine, although this product adds a subtle sheen to your lips it's not actually the main thing that I love about it, I am absolutely in love with how soft this makes my lips. I tend to suffer with pretty dry lips and this just makes them feel so much softer my only problem is that when I have it on I have a tendency to rub my lips together just because I love how smooth they are and so I go through the lip shine a little quicker than most but I can live with that ;). Last of all I love the Maybelline Superstay 14 hr lipstick, not because it's long lasting, although it is fairly long lasting (not 14hrs long though), not because it's a matte lipstick (I do love a good matte lippie) but because this particular shade is simply beautiful. The one I've chosen is called always plum and it is a stunning shade of purple/mauve that goes perfect with just about any kind of look, in fact if I had my own way (although with 2 children I seldom do) my lips would naturally be this colour. Actually scrap that idea I love lipstick too much to pin it down to just one shade lol.

Well folks thats the end of part 2 of my February favourites, just one more to go now and thats my favourite everything else lol so I will sign off for now and see you all again soon.

February Favourites Part 1 - Face...

I know, I know, I'm a little late with the whole February favourites thing, but to be honest last month was kinda hectic (then again isn't every month lol). As I have been struggling to find enough time to sit down and write out all of my faves at once I figured the best thing would be to do it in parts, that way I get to post each part as I find the time instead of having to wait who knows how long for the whole thing.

So lets dive right in with a few of my favourite things, I'll start with the beauty favourites since thats why we are all here shall I? ;)
Last month, well the past few months really I have found myself reaching for these products over and over again,

1. Simple clear skin, oil balancing moisturiser (£2.83 on offer at Superdrug) 2. Maybelline , Baby Skin  (£7.99 ) 3. Garnier moisture matte + (£3.99)

I am one of those really lucky people who suffers with incredibly oily skin so finding a moisturiser that leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth without leaving it looking and feeling greasy can be a bit of a challenge. That being said out of the various moisturisers I have tried these 2 have definitely been the ones that have worked best for my skin.

In the interest of prepping my skin I've also been loving Maybelline's Baby skin, this particular one is supposed to be a pore eraser and I have to say that I'm pretty impressed, don't get me wrong it doesn't completely erase my pores (which in fact are more like craters) however it adds almost a blurring effect to my skin, so making them seem a lot less prominent add to that the fact that makeup lasts longer when using this primer and I think we are on to a winner. 

Monu - Refining capri facial oil (£26)

It might seem a little strange to use a facial oil when I already have incredibly oily skin but to be honest my skin doesn't feel any more oily than usual when I'm using this product. In fact this company claims that the oil actually helps to balance oily skin and decongest pores and I definitely agree with the balancing although I don't particularly notice a massive difference in my pores. I like to use it a couple of times a week before bed to give my face that little extra boost and I lurve how soft it makes my skin feel. If like me you don't really want to fork out £26 for a product that might not work for you, there are plenty of cheaper options available if you shop around, although I got mine in my Glossybox (Subscription box).

I apologise if this post seems a little disjointed but I am currently typing one handed while holding my 11 month old nephew with the other and he really wants to help lol :)

1. Maybelline superstay 24hr foundation in colour nude (£7.99) 2. Revlon superstay in colour sand beige (£12.49)

I am completely a Revlon superstay foundation at heart if for no other reason than it's one of the only foundations that I have found so far that actually stays on my skin. The thing is that when you have oily skin like mine foundation can start to break down after a time leaving your makeup looking patchy and uneven, fortunately for me with Revlon superstay I don't seem to have that problem and my foundation looks great all day. That being the case I am always wary of trying new foundations but I have to say that I really like the finish with the maybelline superstar, it does have a slightly orange look that I'm not a fan of but I think that if I mix a couple of shades together I can get a much more natural finish. (I'll update later on whether or not that works out for me lol).

Vita coco coconut oil (£9.99)

Okay so I'm going to finish up the face favourites with a product that is actually great for soon many different things. Now I've heard on and off about the benefits of various oils for health, skin and hair and I've even tried out a few including argan oil and moroccan oil for my hair but I've never jumped on the bandwagon with coconut oil. It's got to be said boy was I wrong (I know, I know it's a first lol), coconut oil is by far my favourite oil right now, it's AMAZING, I have extremely dry hair (its neither curly or straight so basically just a huge frizzy mess) and I've previously been using dedicated hair oils in the mid lengths to help to control the frizz, don't get me wrong dedicated hair oils are pretty great too and do make my hair look and feel smoother. But for the past month or so I've been adding the tiniest amount of coconut oil to the ends of my hair (while it's still damp) and its made a huge difference. Thats not the greatest thing about coconut oil though, coconut oil can be used for just about anything and you only need a tiny amount to make a huge difference so far I've used it in my hair (obviously), to take off my makeup (which leaves my skin feeling soft and supple),  as a cuticle oil to help my gel nail polish last longer, as a lip balm and I've even used it for cooking, the munchkins and I made some delicious popcorn for movie night (definitely recommend) and I also made my mum a yummy coconut cake for her birthday (simply swap out the butter for coconut oil). You could also make a face scrub or lip scrub by adding some brown sugar, so its got to be said if you're going to invest in anything I would definitely recommend picking up the wonderfully versatile coconut oil.

So thats it for part 1 folks I will be back soon for part 2 which is going to be all about eyes and lips :) see you soon.