Stuff I'm Loving Lately #1

When is a favourites post NOT a favourites post?...... When it's one of mine, that's when. 

I always feel like a bit of a fraud doing monthly favourites posts. Mainly because my favourite products do not change on a monthly basis and I'd just be posting different stuff for the sake of it, but also because I find the term inaccurate. I'm always suspicious of different favourites posts for every month of the year. I'm always like "Hang on, how is that you're favourite, you've only had it 3 days??" or "That HG foundation isn't the same as last month's??". Don't get me wrong though, I'm all for discovering and embracing new products and I'll never stop looking. I just like to mull it over for more than a couple of weeks before declaring it my FAVOURITE. And I'd be a pretty lame. boring blogger if I blogged the same favourites 2 or 3 months on the jog, wouldn't I? I tend to grow attached to products that really work for me. Therefore, I vow NOT to ever do a favourites post ever again and, instead, highlight a few products every so often that I've been using the most or have been particularly enjoying lately.

And with that I'll crack on.....

Bourjois Healthy Mix: Radiance Reveal Foundation - 53 (Light Beige)*

There has been soooooo much damn BOURJOIS on this blog recently!! The main reason being I'M LOVING IT!! This foundation completely rocks my world. I love the consistency, the coverage, the finish, the scent..... just everything about it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. I'm currently alternating between this and my NARS Sheer Glow (which i like to keep for more special occasions) and I really don't find them that different from each other. Both give a lovely glowy finish to my skin, and last really well. 

BeneFit Fakeup Hydrating Concealer: Medium*

I've worn this product every day since I got it. It's so handy to carry around, applies like a dream and keeps my dark circles at bay for a reeeeeeally long time. It's a light formula that feels really hydrating and does not crease. Of course, as it's Benefit, I also love the packaging. Very sleek and compact. It's a winner!! Read my post about the recent launch of Fakeup Here

Stila 'Garden Bliss' Shadow and Blush Palette

This little beaut has been a godsend for travelling up and down to University every week. It incorperates 4 shades that can be easily used for day or night time looks, as well as a really pretty pink blush. It's gorgeous and spot on for Spring! The shadows are really pigmented too. I don't own much Stila, but this palette is definitely one of my most used items of late. 

Garnier Summer Body - Deep

I haven't used a gradual tanner in aaaaaages. However, I recently went in search of one as I was getting a bit 'blah' about my weekly tan (not that I went off it, I just felt like changing it up a bit). Johnsons Holiday Skin put me well and truly off graduals as it smells like utter MUCK, but luckily this one has the loveliest Apricot scent and gives an amazing colour even after the first application. 

Bourjois 1Second Nail Polish Remover*

Yeeeees, I know.... MORE Bourjois. I'm beginning to sound like a stuck record. I'm so late to the party on this product it's not even funny, but it's just so easy to use and handy for carrying around or if, like me, you tend to bodge ONE nail. This allows for quick removal of any smudged nail polish whilst leaving the others untouched. No wonder it's a blogger favourite across the board! 

DHC Liquid Eyeliner pen - Black*

This is by far my HG eyeliner product. I've been sticking to gel liners applied with a brush for quite a long time now, but since receiving this one, have not given them a second glance. This is the easiest eyeliner to apply that I have ever found. I struggle to get a thin enough line a lot of time. I don't know what it is about this one. It's a brush, but a very rigid, sturdy brush that doesn't slide around or bend too easily and you get a LOT of product so no need to dip between eyes. The shaft of the brush is also nice and long and easily controlled. I'd highly recommend!! 

TIGI Catwalk Session Series: Transforming Dry Shampoo*

I was introduced to this during London Fashion Week and it's completely changed my viewpoint when it comes to dry shampoos. This is more of a texturising product, although it does absorb excess oil like you would expect of a dry shampoo. It's volumising and mattifying and I find an all-over spray of this followed by much ruffling of roots adds a touch of disheveled chic to my everyday look. It's virtually transparent as well so no hint of talcum powder hair. I find that my hair has a really silky texture and struggles to hold style so this is perfect for adding some 'grip'. I will be repurchasing the hell out of this.

Blue Nail Polish

I've been going MENTAL for blue on my nails recently!! I've no idea why... It started with the Barry M Blueberry Gelly polish and kind of escalated from there!! I've got quite a diverse range of tones as well and no two are the same (even though they may be SIMILAR). There's always room for another blue nail polish in my collection of late. 

My shades are....

(As below, L-R)

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint - Blueberry

H&M Nail Polish - Blue My Mind

Nails Inc Neon - Kensington Park Road

Bourjois So Laque Glossy - Adora-Bleu

Barry M Nail Paint - Denim

GOSH Special Edition Nail Polish - Tilted Blue

So those are a few things I've been going mental for in recent weeks/months/no particular timeframe and I have no intention of stopping using them just because I have to do a different favourites post in another month's time. So I ain't gonna do one haha. I'll just update you if I uncover any new gems that make it into my 'can't function without recently' pile. How about that?? 

Do you find products you LOVE and stick with them?? Or do you constantly search for something different/better??

MakeUp Bag of the Week #1

Evening girlies!!

So the new year finds me rather limited budget-wise and i'm a MASSIVE fan of the very lovely Sunday Girl, so i have made a vow to appreciate the items i already have in my makeup collection a little bit more before i go blundering in with the Mastercard to buy any more. Doing my 2011 favourites last week really got me remembering and appreciating the items i have already so i have decided to follow the emerging trend of switching my makeup bag around each week to get more use out of forgotten about items. Last week's bag didn't get a post but now that i have a bit of extra time on my hands (all assignments are handed in until i go back to uni on the 24th) I'm showing my blog some love.....

So here's the items i picked out today to serve me for this week......

These first two items are likely to remain in the bag from week to week because they are my must-haves and  i cannot live without them, but they are...

MAC Matchmaster Foundation - Shade 4

and 

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural - Medium Plus

(One item i appear to have neglected in these photos is my recent concealer discovery, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection in 03 Medium. My bad!!)

(If you're wondering why some of the photos are different, i ran out of camera battery halfway through taking these photographs and had to use my iphone camera to take the rest)

The Bronzer I went for this week is Bourjois Delice De Poudre 'Chocolate' bronzer. I decided it was time to give the VIVO a little break and I adored this Bourjois one earlier in 2011. It works for contouring as well as adding a gorgeous subtle glow to the face and it lasts forever! I've had this one since about June (ish) and have hardly made a dent in it yet!! Well worth its money. Smells delish too!

This week's Blush is Sleek Powder Blush in 'Life's a Peach'. Again, this was a big hit with me over the summer. Not sure why i'm going for glowy, gold, bronzey tones in this particular makeup selection, they just all seemed to jump out at me! Maybe its because its so cold outside that i'm dreaming back to summer haha. This blush is perfect for a subtle glow or a more vibrant look. 

Lipstick choices for this week are quite similar really. I have been in LOVE with my MAC Shy Girl (Cremesheen) ever since i got it late last year. Don't know why it took me so long to get my paws on it because i knew i'd love it and its been on my radar for a while now. So glad i own it and its been hard to separate myself from it so it had to go in this week's bag.

 My next choice is my Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick by Kate Moss in shade 03. I bought this in September with Boots points and, after the initial play, i kind of tossed it to one side in favour of my MAC Hue. But i found it earlier while picking products and had to toss it in the bag because it really is a lovely nude pink shade which isn't too pale or too dark and i haven't really given it a proper chance.

Eyeshadow palette this week is my lovely MUA Professional Heaven&Earth palette. It really is a little gem of a palette and the shades go really well with the bronzer and peachy blush. If you don't own this yet i really do suggest you snap one up on your next Superdrug visit because its great value and excellent quality for the price. Great for everyday looks. 

Eyeliner this week is my Stila Smudge Stick in Moray that i got in a recent Glossybox. Its a lovely golden toned liner and is long wearing. Half the reason i picked this was because, up until the other day, i actually thought i'd lost it as i couldn't find it anywhere! I just so happened to have a re-shuffle the other day of my entire makeup area and it jumped out at me. Phew!! I didn't pick a black this week as I'm not really going anywhere (I've finally got some proper time off) but this is lovely on its own or with the golden brown tones from the palette if i do have to pop out anywhere. 

The mascara i chose was my L'Oreal Lash Architect 4D. I LOVED the original Lash Architect mascara and picked this up because i wanted to see if it lived up to it's predecessor.... It didn't QUITE match my expectations but i'd still say it's a pretty decent drugstore mascara. I have heard a few moans about this here and there but i haven't got any major issues with it as long as i wipe off the excess before applying it. It seems a little more manageable now that its been left to dry up a little. 

Some definite gold themes emerging in this week's choices. It wasn't deliberate but maybe its a reflection of something subconscious.... Like i wish it was WARM again!!

What old favourites have you been resurrecting lately?? Have you rediscovered any old favourites??