The First Favourites One- March Favourites.

 Hello there, I hope you all had an amazing Easter and have maxed out on chocolate and eggs like me over here- the diet was definitely on hold for the weekend. Now I had planned to do hauls from MAC and Charlotte Tilbury buuuuut, in typical me style I forgot this weekend was Easter weekend so there's no post/deliveries so that'll be on hold until things are back to normal on that front. Instead we shall do a March favourites. So there's a range of things on here so let's crack on.

Fashion:

 Everything from my fashion favourites this month are from Boohoo, and there's only a few but I am oh so in love with them. First up we have two pairs of sunglasses I've purchased. I don't know where this began or why but I have a serious addiction to sunglasses. I have a trusty pair of Raybans that I stick on if I'm in a rush but this year I have really tried to branch out and go for something different. Enter the mirrored aviators. Now it seems everyone and anyone has a pair of these or a different pair but in the mirrored style, but I am totally bought by them, I love the mirrored tint and the aviator style, the only thing is they sometimes slip down or don't sit right (I have a small head so getting sunglasses to fit is a bitch.) However, I give them a little squeeze and it does the trick (don't squeeze too hard, they'll break.) They're also really cheap at £5.00 so head here to grab them. But everywhere sells them because they're so popular so pretty much any high street store will sell them.

Modelled on my pea head.

Mirrored aviators

 The second pair I got were a black cat eye pair. I love these but have to be wary when I buy cat eyes because I have a small head they can takeover my face and make me look ridiculous. I did have a trusty tortoise shade pair but long story short I had a battle with the sea and the sea won, RIP beloved cat eye sunglasses. But I digress, I have finally found a pair that make up for that loss and they're beautiful, they have a black outer rim with gold at the sides. They are still quite big, but if I pull them a bit further down my nose I can get away with them. These are also cheap and affordable at £8.00 and you can get them here.

 Next up we have shoes, and this month is a pair of heels in a nude colour. Now I love heels but normally stick to a black colour because when I go out I have been known to fall down and totally wreck my shoes, I have a pair of suede nude heels that I wore out once and didn't survive. These however are leather so I'm hoping that they'll be easier to clean if I do get them dirty. These are platforms so are easier to walk in than stilettos in my opinion and they have a strap that goes just above the ankle so helps to elongate the leg rather than cut them off and make you look stumpy which I find sometimes happens when you get straps on shoes. Another thing I absolutely love about these is that at the bit where the ball of your foots goes there's a cushioned bit for comfort, I'm sure we've all felt that pain when you've been walking/dancing/stumbling around in heels all night and your poor feet suffer in the process so I'm hoping these will do the trick, I've only worn them for a short time but haven't had any pain in that time so fingers crosses. Again they're relatively cheap as far as prices for heels go at £25.00 and you can find them here.

I've only just noticed this has cut off half a shoe,
I will go back and take another photo.

 My final and favourite fashion bit is this khaki waterfall belted coat which you can find here for £20.00. I am literally in love with this coat. I love the fact you can dress it up with a dress and heels for a meal or for drinks at a bar, or you can dress it down with jeans and boots/trainers. It's so versatile. You can tie it up which I sometimes do as it emphasises my waist which is my favourite part of my body, but most of the time I keep it undone and casual. It does come down quite long so if you're on the shorter side like me then you might not like it but if I'm going casual I team it with my black skinnies and boots that have a slight heel and make me look taller and then it doesn't totally drown me out. But there isn't one thing I don't love about this coat and I can already tell I'm going to wear it to death.

Shit lighting (I'm having a nightmare.) Better photo on the website.

Makeup:

 Ahh, where to begin with makeup? Buckle in we could be here a while, I have so many favourites when it comes to makeup.

 When it comes to mascara I have had the same two for donkeys years it seems but I love them so much I always stock up on them every payday. The two in question are Benefits Roller Lash and They're Real, and I wear them together. I start with benefits Roller Lash to curl them and I put two coats of that on then leave them for a minute. After that I go over them with They're Real which adds length and I'm not just saying this, it really works. Since I've started wearing these together I get so many compliments on how long my lashes are looking. They're Real is normally £19.50 but right now I have the limited edition swarovski one which is priced at £21.50, there is no difference between the products only the packaging, and although it may seem a bit steep paying more simply for packaging, once your swarovski one has run out they'll swap over the wand into your new one. But it's up to you, the limited edition one is here and the normal one is here. Roller Lash is priced at £19.50 and you can get that here. It may seem steep paying £39.00 or if you get the limited edition £41.00 but it genuinely is worth it, there definitely is a difference in the way my eyelashes look when I wear these two together. However I do have two mascaras that are just as good but cheaper so may do another blog post on that.

They're Real & Roller Lash.

 I always team those with another one of my favourites which is also from Benefit. This is the Brow Zings eyebrow palette. This is priced £24.50 and can get here. Again it seems a bit steep and I also thought this when I first bought it but I have definitely been converted as it's so simple to use, there's no faffing about. It comes with instructions so if you're not sure how to use it that's there to help you but it's relatively simple. It includes a wax and a powder, you use the wax to outline your brows with the angled brush that's included which makes it easier and it follows the shape of your eyebrow completely. Then with the blending brush you fill in the rest of your eyebrow and that's it, simple. It also comes with tweezers to pluck any stray hairs, I tend to stay away from this as I get my eyebrows waxed and the woman that does it says it's harder to get an even brow when your eyebrow hairs are all growing at different rates, so bare that in mind. It also has a mirror included so you can really see what you're doing. It comes in different shades, I use the dark one as I have brunette hair at the moment. If you're blonde go for the light but it all depends on what shade you like your eyebrows.

Angled Brush, Blending Brush &
Tweezers Included.

Brow Zings- Dark.

  The next item is also from Benefit, and although it does seem this is turning into a bit of a Benefit haul I will move on to other brands don't worry. We are however moving away from eyes onto highlighters. I literally have so many highlighters it's ridiculous, I will do a Blog post on this aswell. The one that's earned a spot in my favourites is the Watts Up highlighter. This is a cream highlighter stick that turns to powder once applied and blended. I apply it on my cheekbones and my brow bones to accentuate them. I also apply it around my lips as it give the appearance of fuller lips. It has a sponge blender on the other end of it to blend it so then I go over it with that just to make sure it's all rubbed in. It's in a champagne shade and is a shimmer finish. I apply it after my foundation and before my blusher and bronzer. It is again on the higher price range at £24.50 but if you're looking to treat yourself or you want to splash out you can find it here. The last thing I will say about this is it lasts for ages, the last time I bought this was before Christmas, I use it pretty much every day and it hasn't run out yet which is always a bonus, but when you're applying it don't press down to hard or it will snap (which I found out the hard way.)

The actual highlighter stick.

Watts Up! Highlighter.

Highlighter with flash.

Blending sponge included. 

 We will FINALLY move away from Benefit so you can all breathe a sigh of relief. Plus my next item is cheap and I am totally in love with it from the way it looks to the way it applies. This would be Max Factors Creme Puff Blush in the shade Seductive Pink. I have to admit, I bought this for the way it looks, it literally looks gorgeous, it's a light pink and dark pink marbled powder and as soon as I saw it I was hooked. It applies so well aswell. I hate blushers that are overly pink,and I would say I am definitely more of a bronzer person rather than a blusher person but now I use this every day. It leaves a subtle hint of pink and I think you could almost class it as a highlighter, as I find it really highlights my cheek bones. There are a range of shades so if you aren't like me and do like your bronzer to be obvious check them out but this one is my absolute favourite and has definitely converted me from a "sometimes uses a bit of blusher" to an "everyday blusher" person. Like I said it's cheap which is always a bonus. It's £8.99 and if you get it here at Boots then there's 3 for 2 on selected Max Factor products, so if you use that range often take full advantage of this offer and give this a try. Alternatively get it here at Superdrug where they have the same offer on as Boots but they're also giving away a free tote bag if you spend £15 on cosmetics, so in my eyes it's a win win situation either way.

With flash on.

Max Factor Creme Puff Blush-
Seductive Pink.

 As I said I am more of a bronzer person and I was using Benefits Hoola bronzer (which I absolutely adore.) But then I bought this and made the switch to Nars Bronzer in the shade Laguna. Which you can find here for the price of £27.50. Now if you aren't into bronzer this probably seems a ridiculous price for a product. But if you're like me and love nothing more than looking tanned and bronzed this is totally worth the price. I bought this just before Christmas and as you can see I still have product (albeit it not alot now) left, so it does last considering I use it everyday, sometimes applying it more than once. It leaves a lovely shimmer so unlike my Hoola bronzer it isn't matte. But you get used to it quickly and it leaves such a smooth finish it's easy to get over. I apply it to my cheekbones and then get a little bit more product and apply it along my nose and forehead in a T shape before finishing with my jawline and blending it down my neck for that all over sun kissed look.

Nars Bronzer- Laguna

I have literally saved the last of
this product for this post.

 My final two makeup favourites are both MAC lipsticks, in two different shades, one is a nude and one is a dark shade. The first one is Velvet Teddy and as you can see it's been worn alot. I love this natural shade so I wear this if I'm travelling somewhere or just hanging at someones house. Basically if I'm wearing a minimalist makeup look I team it with this. Also if I'm at work and hungover so therefore I'm looking rough I wear this lipstick because it's subtle enough to wear even if you don't want to wear makeup in my opinion. The next shade is MACs Whirl and I team it with the lip liner again in the shade Whirl to make my lips look fuller. Although this looks barely used it's because I had to buy a new one after losing my last one of a night out (I am aware I need to take better care of my things.) I tend to wear this when I'm doing a dramatic look like on a night out or if I'm doing a look with dark eyes. But you can also keep it casual as I'll also wear it if I'm wearing dark jeans and I find dark shades bring out the best in this colour. Both these shades are matte which are my favourite type of lipsticks, they're also really pigmented so have a really good colour and are long lasting and can last all day/night without reapplying. However I do like to reapply both once in the middle of the day/night to make them really bright. As with all MAC lipsticks they're £15.50 and you can get Velvet Teddy here and you can get Whirl here. You can get the Whirl lip liner for £12.50 here if you want to create the illusion of fuller lips or make it easier to apply.

Left- Whirl. Right- Velvet Teddy.

Left- Whirl. Right- Velvet Teddy.

 And just like that March is over and April will soon be upon us. Where has this year got to? It was only Christmas like 10 days ago. I'm definitely thinking of doing a highlighter post next as like I said I have so many, probably an unhealthy (especially for my bank balance) amount. I hope you enjoyed this and definitely recommend trying ALL these products (but that might be pushing it.) As always feel free to comment and follow. You can also follow me on Twitter here and Instagram here. Thankyou.
Xx

The First Lipstick One- Berries and Purples.

 Hello Hello, First things first ANOTHER apology from me. I did say I would upload at the weekend but it was so busy I didn't have the time. Two blog posts and I'm already slacking. Minus points for me. I did say on my last blog post I would do something about lipsticks because I have so many of them but then I wanted to do my evening skin routine because I've changed it up recently and my skin is both thanking and loving me for it at the moment. (You're welcome skin.) So what I'm going to try and do is post this lipstick one first and then try and write my evening skin routine after and maybe get them both up this week. (oh lucky you.) But no promises.

 This winter I have been LOVING berry and purple shades. Before this winter I was kind of afraid of going for bold colours on my lips and always felt self conscious when I wore them so tried to keep them to a neutral pink shade, but then I went into Boots and found a colour that I instantly fell in love with so I told myself to buck up my ideas and put myself out there. So if you're reading this and thinking "no I know bold colours aren't for me" don't be scared off because I was once you. However I have turned (quite literally) to the dark side.

 The lipstick in question was from the Rimmel Kate Moss Collection In the Lasting Finish Shade 30. When I first tried it on, because I'd never worn a dark shade before I wasn't convinced but I stuck with it and it's now one of my favourites (as you'll see from my photos.) When I wear this I get asked so many times a day at work where it's from and when I tell them Rimmel they are always shocked. This is because it looks so good. It's such a good quality and it's pigmented so lasts all day. It literally does what it says on the tin. I top it up once a day on my lunch break, but even without it the colour still lasts. The only downside I have with this lipstick is it gets on everything. I am constantly finding purple smudges in places (but this could be my fault for fidgeting relentlessly during the day.) I find with some of my other products that once I've applied and blotted them I feel free to do things such as drink and eat, however with this I do live in fear of constant smudges. This may sound kind of contradictory to my last point and I may not make sense so try it out. It's has a shine finish so if you're looking for a matte shade this isn't it but, if you're new to purple tones this is the one to go for, it's easy to apply and affordable find it at Boots for £5.49. It's also in Superdrug, I did try and find a link but there were none on the website so you may have to actually go in store for that one. This is a bargain steal style from my next shade. So if you're looking for a lipstick that lasts all day but don't want to spend that much, go for this one.

With flash.

Without flash.

Rimmel shade 30

 The next lipstick is from Urban Decay, in the Revolution range, shade Venom, you can find it here. I originally bought this because I'm really wanting to find a dark purple and thought this would be it but when I got it it turned out to be more of a fuchsia purple. When I put it next to my Rimmel Shade 30 one there is literally no difference in colour and at £15.50 it's still affordable but I would definitely recommend the Rimmel one.

Left is Rimmel shade 30, right is Urban Decays Venom.

 I find that this has the same factors as my Rimmel one aswell. It glides on, is really pigmented so has a good colour and leaves a lovely finish that stays on.Unlike the Rimmel, this one doesn't smudge as much, however I do find that the colour fades throughout the day. I also don't like the shape of it, I like my lipsticks to be shaped to make it easier to put on however this one is flat and slanted, so if you're a novice at putting on lipstick I'd say stay away from this one or, alternatively use use a lip brush to aid you.

 On the website a HUGE selling point for me was that is said there were different types of oil in the lipstick including jojoba oil and avocado oil aswell as cocoa butter and shea butter. Because of this it's meant to make your lips feel soft and this I cannot fault. This doesn't dry out my lips like some lipsticks, it leaves them feeling soft and moisturised, so this wins over Rimmel in that factor. I like this lipstick and it definitely has some winning factors but I do prefer my Rimmel shade. (Just in case that wasn't clear.)

Urban Decay Venom. (I want to apologise for how my smiles get wider and wider, sorry!)

Without flash.

With Flash.

 I feel like the three liptsicks (including the one I'm about to write about) are very similar, but stick with me, there is variety. I liked this next one because it seemed very simple to use and I got it around the time I got my Rimmel one (OK, we get it you love the Rimmel one, move on.) It's shaped like a pen/fat felt tip so was great for me to use and I was just starting out in the world of bold coloured lipsticks and didn't want to muck up the application of it. The lipstick I'm referring to is the Collection 2000 Lip Butter in the shade Perfect Plum.

 Again there are pros to this, good pigmentation so a good colour, as it's a lip butter it leaves your lips feeling super soft and moisturised again. It glides on almost like a lip gloss and as I said due to the shape it's so easy to apply. It's also super cheap at £2.99, get it here. However, this lipstick bleeds so I feel like I'm constantly checking myself and wiping my outer lips and it can get annoying. I also feel like the product itself wears down really quickly so it ends up almost like a blunt pencil so it gets harder to put on the more you use it so again would suggest a lip brush. Also because I have so many purples I seem to forget I have this lurking around so don't use it as much anymore but I would definitely recommend it for anyone who isn't used to applying lipstick or wants a lipstick that doesn't dry out your lips.

Without flash.

With Flash.

Collection 2000-Perfect Plum.

 Mistake is a word to sum up my next lipstick, and that mistake is referring to MACs Odyssey. Again I bought this because I'm desperate to find a dark purple shade and thought this would match what I want. Safe to say it didn't. First of all it's a frosted shade so it's kind of like an icy, light, shimmery look, if that makes sense, which I'm not a huge fan of and secondly, I feel like you have to go over your lips loads to build up a strong enough colour. If you're after a light purple that's almost like a lilac when you first put it on then this is for you. However I literally only put this on if I'm in a rush and literally grab the first lipstick I can see. So I don't hate it enough to not wear it but I'm not a massive fan. But if this glowing review has persuaded you then head to Mac, alternatively if you're lazy like me or lives miles away from a MAC also like me then head here but just a heads up I don't think the image they use accurately represents what you actually get and at the price of £15.50 I definitely don't think it's worth it.

Without Flash.

With flash.

MAC-Odyssey.

 I love MAC. I shop there (online) all the time so hate almost "slagging it off." So let's skip to a shade of theirs I do love which is D for Danger which is also £15.50 and you can get here. Whilst the other shades (excluding Odyssey) have been very purple, this one has more of a reddish undertone. It's a matte shade which I was looking for and I love. One negative I do have with this and sometimes find with all of MACS matte collections is if you apply it more than once it can be quite bitty, when you rub your lips together you can feel all the little bits of lipstick is what I mean. However I feel like you can go without reapplying as the colour does stay on.

Without flash.

With flash.

MAC- D For Danger.

 We started with a Rimmel and so it only seems fitting we should end with one. Again, it's another bargain style steal, this time from MACs D For Danger. It's the Kate Moss Matte Finish collection in the shade 107 so it even has the same finish as MAC.

Left-Mac. Right- Rimmel Shade 30.

 This similarly has red undertones and when put side by side with the MAC is very hard to tell the difference. It's nicer to put on than MACs as I find with MAC sometimes I'm really pushing the lipstick in order to get the colour to stick. It's cheaper than MAC at £5.49 here and Superdrug, so if you're on a lower budget then get this as no one would notice the difference in my opinion. The only downside to this is that it bleeds so once more I'm constantly checking to see if it's smudged which is slightly disappointing as I didn't get that with the Kate Moss shade 30.

With flash.

Without flash.

Rimmel Kate Moss- Shade 107.

  I'd say overall my favourites are definitely the Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Shade 30 (shock!) And the MAC D For Danger, but it's totally up to your personal tastes whether you be someone wanting to try out a bold shade for the first time but jut want to dip your toe in the pool (Odyssey) or you hate the whole process of putting on lipstick and just want something quick and simple (Collection 2000.) There is something for everyone. Don't be afraid of the darkness, embrace it!

L-R without flash: Rimmel 107, D For Danger,
Odyssey, Perfect plum, Venom, Rimmel 30.

L-R with flash: Rimmel 107, D For Danger,
Odyssey, Perfect Plum, Venom, Rimmel 30.

 Now for the part for me, I'm still desperately looking for a dark purple shade, so if anyone has any recommendations please leave a comment. I did look at MAC Boyfriend Stealer but it was always sold out and is no longer available online. I also had a look at Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in the Glastonberry shade, but at £23 a lipstick want to know it's definitely a dark purple before I purchase. Please feel free to leave any other recommendations, what are you favourite purple and berry shades?

 Thanks for reading, please let me know if this type of blog post is too long or if you want more content or more detailed content. I shall be back with my evening skin routine. Oh and feel free to follow me on Instagram here and Twitter here.
Xx