Beauty Advent Calendars | Blogtober Day 21

Last year I did a post about the beauty advent calendars that were available so this year I thought I would do the same thing. It’s never too early to start talking about Christmas, so let’s dive right in. I will try and leave a list of everything included in the advent calendars at the end of the post with a spoiler alert sign before I do for people who do not wish to see what is inside just like last year.

First up, Benefit Cosmetics Candy Coated Countdown - £60

Last year, Benefit’s beauty calendar was raved about all over the internet. This year, they have returned. I prefer the look of this calendar in comparison to last years as it is a love more festive to the eye with the red and green packaging. Inside are miniatures of the brand’s favourite and bestselling products along with a couple of accessories. I think this calendar looks fab, but this year they have raised the price by £10 following last year’s sell out calendar. (Available now at Debenhams website and in store and benefitcosmetics.co.uk).

Secondly, Selfridges Enchanted Spells - £85

My favourite of them all – Enchanted Spells by Selfridges. This calendar is stunning. It is a little pricier than the Benefit one but I feel that it is so much better (sorry Benefit!). Inside, the calendar is hiding lots of miniatures including skincare, fragrance and makeup. Many favourite brands are hiding behind the doors and trust me when I say it is definitely worth the money! (Available now at Selfridges).

Third, Ciate Mini Mani Manor - £49

This calendar is for the nail obsessed people out there with a nail polish behind each door for the lead up to Christmas. There are lots of beautiful colours hiding in the calendar so get your hands on one of these mini manors before they sell out! (Available now at ciate.co.uk, ASOS, Selfridges and John Lewis.

Next, Jo Malone - £250

The most expensive calendar by quite a lot, but beautifully stunning products within. Behind the doors are a selection of body creams and colognes. The most upmarket calendar out there. (Available now at Harrods and nationwide 10th November).

The Body Shop 24 Days of Joy - £50

The Body Shop also did an advent calendar last year and went down really well. This year they have come back with a similar calendar containing miniatures of their bath and body products – and I think a few beauty products squeezed in this year as well! Another good thing about this calendar is that The Body Shop have teamed up with War Child which is a global charity for children who have been affected by war and will grant children the wish of an education from people buying this calendar. (Available now at selected Body Shop stores).

No7 25 Days of Beauty Secrets - £35

No7 have jumped on the beauty advent calendar bandwagon this year and have released a beautiful 25 day calendar – even one for Christmas day! This calendar is packed with lots of skincare and makeup for the festive season including some of their best sellers. (Available 29th October in Boots stores and online).

Liberty - £149

Liberty is up there with the more expensive side of beauty advent calendars this year at £149 but includes fabulous brands such as Nars, Diptyque and Laura Mercier. Definitely worth the hefty price tag. (Available in Liberty store and online on their website 1st November).

Elemis 12 Days of Beauty - £59.50

Unlike the other advent calendars which have 24 or 25 doors to open, this Elemis one has 12 doors for the 12 days of Christmas. Packed with luxury skincare, pamper yourself with this calendar. (Available now at timetospa.co.uk).

L’Occitane - £45

Another different number with the L’Occitane calendar home to 13 doors due to a Provence tradition of having 13 desserts on the festive table – cool huh? This calendar includes fragrance, skincare and body products. (Available 3rd November at loccitane.co.uk).

Lush 12 Days of Christmas - £49.95

Following the 12 days of Christmas rule again with the Lush calendar. The packaging on this calendar is beautiful. The calendar opens like a story book which is filled with Christmassy lush treats for a pamper day every day up to Christmas. (Available now at Lush stores and online).

Yankee Candle Advent Calendar - £21.99. Advent House - £24.99.

I know that Yankee Candle isn’t beauty as such, but who doesn’t love candles at Christmas? They have brought back the same style one as last year with 24 doors hiding a tealight candle for each day. But they have also brought a calendar in the shape of a 3D house home to 23 tealight candles and 1 votive candle for the last day. The best part? Every candle is a Christmas collection scent. (Available in stores and online now). 

!! SPOILER ALERT !!

Some of you may wish to know what each of the calendars include so you know if you want to spend that amount of money on one. So for those who do… here’s what’s inside.

Benefit Candy Coated Countdown

“that gal”, the POREfessional, benetint, high beam, chachatint, posietint, stay flawless, they’re real!, ultra plush in dandelion, ultra plush lip gloss in A-lister, ultra plush lip gloss in fauxmance, BADgal lash, stay don’t stray, fakeup, it’s potent!, total moisture facial cream, ooh la lift, watt’s up, beauty sticky notes, doodle pad, heart-shaped paperclips, pinky polka-dot hair tie, elastic hair band with bow charm, metallic silvery hair tie.

Selfridges Enchanted Spells

Yves Saint Laurent Opium EDT, Kiehls Ultra Facial Cleanser, Lancome Renergie Multi-Lift Day Cream, Lancome Douceur Galateis, Shu Uemura Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil, Lancome La Vie est Belle EDP, Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream, Yves Saint Laurent Forever Youth Creator, Giorgio Armani Armani Code Femme, Lancome Le Rouge Absoul Bx, Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara, Emporio Armani Diamonds Rose, Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate, Lancome Hypnose Mascara, Yves Saint Laurent Kohl Black, Lancome Genifique Eye Pearl, Urban Decay Anti-Ageing Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Lancome Visionnaire Serum, Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, Lancome Bi-Facial Eye Make-Up Remover, Lancome Lip Lover 337, Lancome Genifique Serum, Lacome Lip Lover 355, Kiehls Crème de Corps.

Ciate

15 mini paint pots – headliner, sharp tailoring, members only, sloaney, sweetie, velvet tuxedo, big yellow taxi, mineral clarity, strawberry milkshake, silhouette, unrestricted glam, cupcake queen, amazing gracie, candy cane, sand dune, sherbet fizz.
1 full size paint pot – celestial.
8 effects – girl with a pearl, runaway ribbon, prima ballerina, let it snow, slumber party, tinsel trail, frozen daydream, fairisle style.

Jo Malone

Grapefruit cologne, lime basil and mandarin cologne, English pear and freesia body crème, grapefruit body crème, peony and blush suede cologne, pomegranate noir cologne, pomegranate noir body crème, blackberry and bay cologne and a 50ml pomegranate noir body crème behind the last door.

The Body Shop

Almond hand and nail cream, almond nail file, frosted cranberry heart soap, frosted cranberry shower gel, frosted cranberry shimmer lotion, eye definer black, strawberry heart soap, strawberry lip butter, strawberry hand cream, colour crush nail colour in relish the moment, glazed apple heart soap, glazed apple body lotion, vitamin E moisture cream, vitamin E moisture mask, vitamin E nourishing night cream, moringa shower gel, moringa body milk, mini crinkle lily honeymania lip blm, wild argan oil body lotion, eyeshadow brush, shea shower cream, shea body butter, white musk eau de toilette.

No7

Skin illuminator in peach, high shine lip crayon in delicate pink, eye colour brush, youthful eye serum, stay perfect nail colour in highland mist, lash impact mascara in black, eye shadow in the middle shade from good earth trio, beautiful skin radiance exfoliator, protect and perfect intense day cream, blissful body wash, beautiful skin eye makeup remover, stay precise felt tip eyeliner, high shine lip crayon in daydreamer, completely quenched body lotion, amazing eyes pencil in brown, essential lip brush, intense volume mascara in black, eye shadow in the top shade from cappuccino trio, nail effects disco ball, protect and perfect intense day hand cream, stay perfect metallic eye pencil in blackest, gel look shine nail colour in deep wine, amazing eyes pencil in black, protect and perfect intense night cream, stay perfect duo nail colour in hot to trot and cheeky chops.

Liberty

I can’t seem to find the list of contents for this calendar – maybe because it isn’t actually out just yet. I can see a few of the brands from the picture though and they include Nars, Decleor, Deborah Lipman, Diptyque, Kiehls, Dermalogica, Eve Lom, Laura Mercier and Weleda.

Elemis

Pro-collagen cleansing balm, pro-collagen marine cream, pro-collagen oxygenating night cream, pro-radiance illuminating flash balm, papaya enzyme peel, cellular recovery skin bliss capsules (14 caps), revitalising babassu facial wipes (4 sachets), frangipani monoi shower cream, frangipani monoi body oil, skin nourishing shower cream, pro-radiance hand and nail cream, treat your feet foot cream.

L’Occitane

I can’t find the contents yet due to it not being available until 3^rd November. Check back then J

Lush

Snow angel bath melt, hot toddy shower gel, dashing santa bath bomb, honey I washed the kids soap, celebrate body lotion, the olive brance shower gel, karma soap, golden wonder bath bomb, holly golightly bubble bar, lord of misrule bath bomb, cinders bath bob, star light star bright bath melt.

Yankee Candle

Advent calendar – icicles, angel’s wings, snowflake cookie, cranberry ice, Christmas cookie, Christmas garland.
Advent house – candy cane lane, Christmas garland, snowflake cookie, sugared apple, Christmas cookie, Christmas memories, spiced orange and a Christmas eve votive. 

Love Em x

Lush Northern Lights Review | Blogtober Day 8

Northern lights is a limited edition bath bomb from Lush from their Halloween 2014 collection and priced at £3.50. I will be honest, when I walked into the shop and saw this bath bomb, I wasn't blown away. The shape of it interested me as it is obviously not a normal shape for a bath bomb with it being long rather than round, however with it just being a lilac colour, I didn't expect too much.

However, all was changed when I saw the lady from the shop put into a bowl of water and saw it explode into a rainbow of colours. Northern lights smells incredible including jasmine and ylang ylang within its' ingredients. It also leaves little stars in your bath as well (which do dissolve) leaving your bath look like Bonfire night with all the fireworks of colour and the stars making it look even more like the sky. After a while, the bomb leaves your bath a pale lilac colour when all of the exciting explosions have come to an end. It leaves your skin feeling amazingly smooth and soft and smelling gorgeous. It is a very calming bathing experience and I will definitely be going back to Lush to pick up a few more before the collection is taken out of stores.

Have you given anything from the Lush Halloween/Christmas collection for 2014 yet? It all looks so amazing and I think a few more repurchases will be to follow when I have tried out more of the collection I bought. 

Love Em x

Etude House & Minnie Mouse Collection

So, you should probably know by now that I love all things beauty and Disney, and when I came across the brand Etude House and saw that they had worked with Disney to create some products, I had to get my hands on some of the collection.

I decided to order one of the blushers and two of the lipsticks. The blusher is beautiful and has an embossed Minnie Mouse face. I'm not too sure on the name of the colour of the blusher, but there is two - a pinky one and a lilac one and I chose the pink one. I think that the packaging of all the products is amazing and the blush is so cute! I can't wait to try it out when I do my full face. 

I also ordered both of the lipsticks, obviously I couldn't just choose one. They are called Minnie Red and Bubble Pink. They are both absolutely stunning colours and the packaging is adorable. They are really creamy and have very good pigmentation. They also feel quite moisturising as well. They are both perfect colours for a Minnie Mouse collection and I think that I will be finding myself reaching for these products a lot! It was my first time trying anything from Etude House and if all of the lipsticks are like the Minnie collection then I will be very interested in trying some more!

Because I live in the UK, I ordered these from eBay. I got the blusher for £9.39 with free delivery. I got the lipsticks for £5.59 each with free delivery also. I received the package in under two weeks as well which was great!

Have you tried anything from the Minnie Mouse collection or Etude House in general?
Hope you liked this post.

Love Em x

The Mother of All Hot Pink Lipsticks

I can't believe how fast this year is going and that it's nearly the end of February already! However, this means that Spring and Summer are on their way equalling in bright lips and pastel nails - which I love both. To get into the Spring/Summer spirit, I whipped out one of my favourite MAC lipsticks today that had been pushed to the back of the drawer for some time. I'm sure you'll of all heard of MAC Girl About Town?? Well, yep. That's the one. 

The colour is a blue based fuchsia, so it makes your teeth look very white when wearing it. It is an amplified finish and is also quite creamy. The lipstick is a opaque colour and will last a very long time before it is needed to be reapplied. I love this colour and it's making me very excited for Summer to be here!

I hope you enjoyed this post. What's your favourite MAC lipstick for Summer?

Love Em x

Rita Ora for Rimmel

As you may have already heard, Rita Ora has worked with Rimmel and is releasing some items to Rimmel's Collection. If you don't know who Rita Ora is, she is a singer and the products she will be bringing out are 12 nail polishes and 5 colour rush balms. 

The nail polish collection consists of 12 shades ranging from white to a very dark almost-black red. They are also in the 60 seconds range of Rimmel's nail polishes, which I am a fan of, which means they dry quickly. Often with the 60 seconds nail polishes from Rimmel, they are very pigmented and can sometimes only need one coat which is always a plus!

Rimmel already have some colour rush balms out with their permanent collection, however five more shades are being added in Rita Ora's collection. All the shades are very bright, pink and girly. These are similar to the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains and are very pigmented, moisturising, creamy and have a very nice finish( they also smell of vanilla, yum). I think that despite the fact that Rimmel were one of the last brands to jump on the bandwagon with the balm stains, they have produced one of the best. 

Rita Ora for Rimmel will be available as of March 19th 2014 and priced at £3.69 for the nail polishes and £6.99 for the balms.

Hope you enjoyed this post - I can't wait to get my hands on a few of the products. 

Love Em x

Valentine's Day Make-Up!

So, seen as it is Valentine's Day tomorrow, I thought I would do some Valentine's Day make up. Since it's Valentine's themed, it's very pinky, so I hope you like it!

The finished look

Products used:
Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 200 Soft Beige
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light 2
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent
MAC Snowglobe Eye Shadow Palette (just the dark brown)
Urban Decay Primer Potion Original
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pink Gold
BarryM Kohl Pencil Liner in Black
Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner in Black
Yves Saint Laurent Shocking Mascara in Black
NARS Bronzer in Laguna
MAC Blush in Fleur Power
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle
Rimmel Vinyl Jelly Gloss Lip Liner in 001 Moreish 

The finished look using Instagram filter Lo-Fi

I applied my foundation all over my face with the Real Techniques buffing brush and then went in with my concealer under my eyes, round my nose and on any blemishes using the Real Techniques deluxe crease brush. I then powdered my face using the MAC 134. I applied primer to my eyelids whilst I filled my eye brows in with the snowglobe palette and a MAC 266. I then used my finger to apply the color tattoo and darkened my crease with the same colour on my eye brows using a MAC 217. I then finished off my eyes by tightlining, adding winged liner and mascara. I then contoured my face and added blush with a Real Techniques blush brush and added highlighter with a Real Techniques contour brush. To finish the look I used the Rimmel lip liner all over my lips as it is a glossy liner and I ended up with the look above.

I hope you enjoyed this post.
Love Em x

L'Oreal Paris 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution Review

Getting hold of the hyped-up blogger-crazy Bioderma solution has been a struggle for me as I haven't been anywhere that sells it since everybody has been going crazy for it. So, when L'Oreal came out with their micellar solution, which is supposed to be like Bioderma, and everybody started blogging and YouTubing about it, I definitely wanted to get my hands on a bottle. 

Starting off with the packaging, I really like it. I think it is quite simple with the clear bottle, which is plastic, and the white top with a hint of girly pink where the writing is placed. 

I wanted to try this product out for a few days before writing about and I think I am now ready to give my opinion, so here goes...

I am literally SOO impressed with it. I have nothing to compare it to, due to me not trying out Bioderma before, but I am really happy with this L'Oreal version. 

The solution claims to: 1. dissolve make-up. 2. unclog pores and remove impurities. 3. tone and sooth 

I agree with everything it says on the bottle. I feel that it removes your make-up with ease. I just apply some of the solution to a cotton pad and wipe my make-up away. This product is also suitable for sensitive skin. I have combination skin and find it great.

The product is suitable for face, eyes and lips, so I have been using this all over my face and have seriously loved it. I heard rumours about it leaving a slightly oily residue on the skin, so I was a bit wary about buying it, but I am so glad that I did because I haven't had any problem at all with an oily residue and find that it leaves my skin feeling lovely and clean (and soft!). 

The L'Oreal Micellar Solution is available at drugstores such as Boots (£3.33) and Superdrug (£3.32). I definitely recommend this product and I will definitely be repurchasing another bottle when mine runs out. And on the plus side it's so cheap! 

Have any of you tried this product? Do you like it?

Hope you enjoyed this post.
Love Em x

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation First Impressions

So, today I thought I would do a first impressions post about the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation. 

I went out shopping yesterday and picked this foundation up along the way as I had ran out of my MAC Studio Fix Fluid that morning. I will definitely be repurchasing my MAC foundation as it is my favourite and I always end up going back to it, but I like to try others in-between. I have tried the Rimmel Wake Me Up and I do enjoy it, but it can sometimes be a bit too glowy for me. 

No make up

Foundation applied

I would say that this foundation has a medium coverage but is buildable if you would like to go for a more full coverage. I like the finish of this foundation a lot better than the Wake Me Up as it is the perfect inbetween matte and glowy finish. The foundation is quite a runny liquid and I used my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to apply it and I was really pleased with how the foundation looked. 

Full face applied

As this was the first day, I wanted to test how long it stayed on for before I needed to touch it up. I didn't have this make up on all day (I had it on for around 7 hours) but the staying power was amazing to me. After the 7 hours had passed, it still looked as though I had just applied it and I was really pleased with how it looked. 

After 7 hours of wear

All in all, I think that this foundation has worked really well for me. My skin is combination. I have some patched which go a bit oily and I also have dry patches around my nose and forehead. I didn't find this foundation to be drying on my skin, I found it nice to wear and I liked the finish of it a lot. Nice one, Rimmel! 

The packaging of the bottle I also really like. The bottle is glass which I really like. A lot of drugstore foundations can be in plastic bottles, so I really like how it is a glass bottle. The lid is blue as well as some of the writing which I also don't mind. I love the fact that the foundation comes with a pump as it is easier to get the right amount out of the bottle. The foundation comes in a 30ml bottle with SPF 18. 

Products used:

Face:

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in shade 200 Soft Beige 

Collection Lasting Perfection 16 hour wear concealer in Light 2

Korres Multivitamin Compact Powder in MVP5

Nars Bronzer in Laguna

Mac Blush in Fleur Power

Mac Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle

Eyes, Brows and Lips:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Urban Decay Naked Palette - Sin (all over lid colour)

Mac Snowglobe palette from Christmas Collection - Dark brown (crease colour)

Collection Extreme 24 hour felt tip liner in Black

Barry M Kohl Pencil in Black (tightline)

Yves Saint Laurent Shocking Mascara in Black

Laval Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde (I know I'm not blonde, but the other pencils were too dark)

Maybelline Colour Sensational lipstick in 170 Darling Pink

Hope you enjoyed this post.

Have you tried this foundation? What do you think?

Love Em x

The Disney Tag!

This is another non-beauty related post, but don't worry because the next post is coming soon and is beauty (yayyyy). So, because I am a HUGE Disney fan, I thought I would do the Disney tag that I've seen a lot on YouTube again, but I don't have a YouTube. So let's just get stuck in!

1. Which Disney scene do you wish you could experience?
I love the little mermaid so much and it's not really a scene, but I'd like to experience being a mermaid cause I'm so afraid of the sea, it might help!

2. The first time you went to Disney?
The first time I went to Disney World in Florida I was 7 years old and I went with my mum, my dad and my older brother, Joey.

3. Your most unforgettable moment at the parks?
I think the most unforgettable moment you can have at Disney is the first time you ever walk into Magic Kingdom and also when you make it to the castle and see it for the first time. 

4. A non Disney song that reminds you of the parks?
I'm not too sure on this one. It's mostly just Disney songs and songs played in the parks which remind me of them. 

5. The character that you would want to be your best friend?
It would have to be Belle - of course!

6. What's the first Disney film that you remember watching?
Either Bambi or Lady and the Tramp. I don't know which I watched first, but it was definitely one of these two with my Dad.

7. Favourite Disney princess?
Belle and Ariel - don't make me choose!

8. What is one of the scenes in a Disney film that makes you cry?
There's probably one in every film! It's going to have to be the classic moment when Mufasa dies in The Lion King - so sad!

9. What is the Disney film that will make you feel better when you're feeling down or poorly?
I think The Little Mermaid as I find the songs very cheery and I think the film is amazing.

10. What is your favourite Disney film?
I can't choose just one. Beauty and the Beast or The Little Mermaid.

Okay, so thanks for reading guys! I know it wasn't a beauty related post but I love Disney and just thought this tag looked really fun! 
Hope you enjoyed this post. 
Love Em x

The TMI Tag!

Today, I have decided to do the TMI (too much information) tag which has being going round a lot on YouTube lately and since I don't have a YouTube channel (yet... eeeek too scared) I thought I'd throw it on her for y'all to read! :) 

1. What are you wearing? Chicago bulls tshirt, some little Hollister leggings and my brothers socks... heyyyyy. 
2. Have you ever been in love? Ermmmm, touchy subject... I'm gonna say no haha.
3. Have you ever had a terrible break up? Not terrible, but then again not so great either.
4. How tall are you? 5ft 2.5in. And yes, that 0.5 of an inch does matter cause I'm a short ass. 
5. How much do you weigh? No idea... too much haha. 
6. Any tattoos? Yes, 1. A love heart on my ribs in memory of my Grandad (love you gramps!!)
7. Any piercings? Yes... scaffold, tragus, helix, ears and tummy. 
8. OTP? Ermmmmm... it was Justin and Selena but they're not together anymore so I don't have one :(
9. Favourite combination of characters from a fandom? I'm watching a TV series from the USA at the minute called The Fosters and I gotta say it's Callie and Brandon. #Braille.
10. Favourite TV show? Of all time, Friends. At the moment, The Fosters.
11. Favourite band? ONE DIRECTION OF COURSE!!! (Harry Styles, I love you).
12. Something that you miss? My grandad. 
13. Favourite song? At the moment, All That Matters by Justin Bieber or Midnight Memories by One Direction. 
14. How old are you? I'm 20.
15. Zodiac sign? Virgo.
16. Qualities you look for in a partner? Hmm... honesty, loyalty and a nice smile. 
17. Favourite quote? Follow your dreams and never say never.
18. Favourite actor? I don't have a favourite but I quite like Robert Pattinson in the Twilight saga. 
19. Favourite colour? Purple.
20. Loud or soft music? Loud when I'm cleaning up or getting ready to go out, soft when I'm studying or just chilling out.
21. Where do you go when you're sad? To my bed, 100%.
22. How long does it take you to have a shower? About 20 minutes, 30 minutes if I'm washing my hair.
23. How long does it take you to get ready in a morning? Around 30-45 minutes.
24. Have you ever been in a physical fight? Nope.
25. Turn ons? A good sense of humour but caring at the same time.
26. Turn offs? Arrogance.
27. Reason you made a blog? Because I want to do YouTube but I'm not brave enough yet... yes I'm a wimp.
28. Fears? Spiders and dying. 
29. The last thing that made you cry? Anxiety.
30. Last time that you said that you love somebody? Yesterday on the phone to my mum.
31. Meaning behind your blogger name? It's just my own name. Quite boring really!
32. Last book you read? Nowhere but up, Pattie Malette.
33. Current book you're reading or going to read next? I'm still reading nowhere but up at the minute.
34. Last show you watched? The Fosters.
35. Last person you talked to? My best uni pal, Kayla.
36. What's your relationship like with the last person who text you? She's my best friend :) (soppy, I know).
37. Last place that you were? In my friends room at Halls of Residence.
38. Do you have a crush? I'm gonna go for celebrity crushes... Justin Bieber and Harry Styles, yum. 
39. Last time that you kissed someone? New Year's Eve.
40. Favourite flavour of sweet? Orange.
41. What instruments do you play? I used to play the piano, but I can only remember bits now. 
42. Favourite piece of jewellery? My Pandora bracelet because all my charms were bought for me by the people closest to me :)
43. Last sport that you played? Awkward, I don't play sports.
44. Last song that you sang? Midnight Memories by One Direction.
45. Favourite chat up line? There's a vine where a guy says to a girl "I'm gonna flip this coin and whatever it lands on I get" hahahaha. 
46. Have you ever used any of them? No, absolutely not haha. 

Okay, so that is my TMI tag and I hope you enjoyed it! I am also going to tag one of my best friends, Leigh, to do this tag over on her blog, www.kissandmakeup28.blogspot.co.uk go and check her out! :)
Love Em x

Me and Kayla before a night out at uni :) 

My 2013 Beauty Favourites!

2013 is now over and we have moved onto 2014! I have decided to do a post of my 2013 beauty favourites, including makeup and skin/body products!

I know I have chosen a lot of favourites here, but the reason is because they were all my favourites in 2013! Starting with face products:

For foundations, I have loved two this year and these are MAC studio fix fluid and Rimmel wake me up. I choose to wear the MAC foundation when I want my makeup to last all day or need a heavier coverage and the Rimmel one for days when I don't want a heavy foundation but still want some coverage. Concealers I have loved are of course the Collection 16 hour lasting perfection as it has amazing coverage and I also love the MAC studio finish concealer for under my eyes. Powder, of course the Rimmel stay matte powder. I love this powder so much and it does a brilliant job of keeping my skin matte. I also have here my Nars laguna bronzer for contouring and a bronzed look and my MAC blush in plum foolery which I have literally worn every single day in 2013. The big glitterball palette at the front is from MAC's Christmas collection around 2 years ago and has a dark brown eyeshadow in there which i use for my brows everyday and it is the perfect colour for me. 

For eyes, I have loved loved loved my MAC eyeshadow quad (I know, it only has three eyeshadows in it, I'm working on it). In this palette I currently have top left - all that glitters, top right - woodwinked and bottom left - satin taupe. I love all these colours, especially satin taupe for everyday with a dark brown in the crease. The Maybelline colour tattoos have been amazing this year and I have enjoyed the colours on and on bronze, permanent taupe and pink gold. The eyeliner I have used every day has been the Collection extreme 24 hour felt tip liner. I love winged eyeliner and I literally wear it every day and I find that this is the best liner I have used, easy to apply and cheap as well! Bonus! I couldn't live without my Urban Decay primer potion. I have oily eyelids and shadow never ever stays in place unless I have this on my lids first. I have been loving false lashes this year and to apply them I have to use the MAC duo adhesive and my lashes never ever move. My mascara is the Maybelline the falsies black drama mascara and I have repurchased this mascara soooo many times. I tried other mascaras this year but still ended up back with the falsies!

For lips, MAC lipsticks have been my favourites this year and I have constantly worn the colours all year round. I have here left - brick-o-la (amplified), middle - hue (glaze), right - plumful (lustre). Brick-o-la is a lovely reddy-brown colour (basically, like a brick Emma, duhhhh) and looks great when on. I especially loved this colour during autumn/winter. Hue is my favourite for a nude lip look or for when I have heavy makeup on my eyes. Plumful is my favourite of the three and is a gorgeous purpley-pink colour but because it is a lustre finish, it doesn't come out too strongly in colour. 

For skin/body, I have been loving Soap and Glory products, Lush products and, of course, MAC products. Soap and Glory have done good this year and I have become obsessed (seriously) with the sugar crush range. It contains lime oil, coolcapsule x, kiwi juice water and a skin softening omega-rich veggie oil and it smells AMAZING. To me, it smells of a cross between lime, fruits and yogurt. (Emma, learn to never describe scents). It smells a lot better than I just described it. Lush are always a favourite for me, especially in winter. My favourites this year have been from the Christmas collection and new discoveries of my own as I have never used them before and they are the so white bath ballistic and the christmas eve bubble bar. Together = perfection. MAC fix+ I use every day when doing my make up and I love ittttt! I also have been using the MAC studio moisture cream and my skin has been amazing! I'm always scared to try new stuff out on my face as I don't have the best of skin with products, but this has been fab and my skin feels so soft. 

Finally, brushes. My favourites have by far been the Real Techniques brushes. They are from the drugstore so they are very affordable and I have fallen in love with them. I use the buffing brush for foundation, the deluxe crease brush for concealer, the contour brush for contouring and the blush brush for blush. I also love my MAC brushes. I use the 134 for powder, the 217 for blending and the 266 for eyebrows. I also have my Urban Decay brush here which came with the naked palette and I love using this for my base shadow. 

I hope you enjoyed my 2013 favourites. I hope you all had a fab 2013 and an even better 2014 to come.
Love Em x