Autumn 2014 Wishlist

New Look Leopard Print Shoes// Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Perfume// ASOS Beaded Tapestry Dress// Yankee Candle "Spiced Orange"// Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette// Olivia Burton Watch// Jouer Matte Moisture Tint

 

 

My favourite season by far is Autumn, as I love the bright jewel tones of the clothes and makeup, as well as the cosy evenings watching X Factor and Downton Abbey. Every Autumn I seem to end up with lot's on my wish list, and so I thought I would share some of the things I am lusting after this season...

 

The moment I saw these shoes, I fell in love (which happens quite often with shoes!) I feel that they would add an instant uplift to any autumnal outfit, due to the leopard print. I also like the peep toe style, which means they would be appropriate to wear now, whilst the weather is still warm-ish, and not just in the Autumn/Winter months.

Whenever I end up in Selfridges I always head to the Jo Malone counter to peruse the beautiful fragrances and candles on offer. I fell in love with the scent 'English Pear and Freesia' from the first whiff, and despite trying out many others, I will always have this one on my wish list, as I love the blend of fruity and floral scents.

 
This ASOS beaded tapestry dress just screams Autumn when you look at it, due to the rich orange, mustard and brown tones that represent the tone of Autumn leaves. I love the skater style of the dress, as well as the woven fabric, meaning it will be perfect for when the days start turning colder, and you can throw it on with a pair of tights and some black ankle boots.

Burning a candle seems so Autumnal, and this Spiced Orange Yankee Candle just smells of Halloween and Bonfire Night, with the citrus and ginger scents. I will definitely be buying one of these soon, as I can't wait to make my house smell of Autumn.

Eyeshadow palettes are my weakness when it comes to makeup, because I love the range of shimmery and matte colours all housed in one item of makeup. I am definitely a neutrals girl when it come to eyeshadow, and this just seems like the perfect product to create many different looks, for both day and night. I will definitely pop this onto my birthday wish list later in the year!

When it comes to accessories, watches are one of my favourites, as they are subtle, yet can add just an extra something to an outfit. I love the tan and gold colours of this Olivia Burton one, making it classic and understated, yet the the pretty flower design on the watch face adds a fun and girly twist.

 As we enter Autumn, I tend to start wearing more matte foundations and bases, as the glowy, dewy look seems more suited for Summer. However, I still like a hint of radiance and glow, as well as some coverage, and this product seems perfect to give that matte-dewy complexion that I am after.

So that is my Autumn wish list, I am sure many more products will end up on it, so I had best get saving!

Megan x



Review | Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Concealer

 I love trying out new concealer products and I am always on the hunt for the best product to aid my mission of  a flawless looking complexion. Therefore, when my previous under eye concealer ran out, I immediately took a little trip to Boots to pick out a new one. I had read many reviews of the Seventeen 'Phwoarr Paint' concealer and so decided to give it a try, and with a price tag of only £5.49, I'd have been mad not to.

 

 I was instantly impressed with the packaging alone, as it comes in a fairly big sized pot with a mirror in the lid. The product itself claims to "wage war on under eye circles" due to the heavy duty, thick and creamy consistency of the concealer. I picked up the shade 'Fair', which is a slightly orange toned hue that counteracts those pesky blue undertones of dark circles. I have found that after using this, my under eye area looks a lot brighter and illuminated and my dark circles have instantly vanished. Whilst the texture does seem slightly dry at first, once applied it becomes more creamy and is easy to blend out. With just a slight dusting of powder, it is set in place all day, without creasing or sliding off the face.

 Overall, I would definitely recommend this as it is a really great concealer, giving a lot of coverage as well as being much cheaper than alternative versions.

Megan x

Review | Benefit High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer

One of my favourite makeup looks at the moment is beautiful, glowing, dewy skin, and so my number one product to achieve this is with a shimmering highlighter. One that I can't get enough of at the moment is the Benefit 'High Beam', a satiny pink luminescent complexion enhancer that comes in liquid form.

Despite not being the best that Benefit has to offer on the packaging front, I still like the nail polish bottle look that it has going on, as I find it easy to apply with the brush applicator on the tops of my cheekbones, my brow bone and down the centre of my nose.  The consistency of this product is very creamy, making it effortless to blend in to the skin and give a flawless, radiant finish.  The pigmentation is great also, as just one swipe along the places I want to highlight gives a beautiful, shimmering luminosity without looking too glittery. For me, this adds a subtle, healthy glow reminiscent of Victoria Secret Models, making it the perfect product for effortless highlighted skin. 

 

 

Overall, I really like this product from Benefit and would highly recommend it if you are interested in products that add a brightening and radiant finish to your complexion. It is available to buy from many retailers for £19.50.

 

Megan x

August Favourites

 Another month, and another monthly favourites post! I can't believe summer has pretty much passed for this year, and autumn is just around the corner, which I am very excited about as it is my favourite time of year! Anyway, back to my favourites, I have been loving a lot of new products throughout August that I thought I would share...

Rimmel Salon Pro Nail Polish- Urban Purple

This nail polish has been my go-to nail product of the past month, as it just ticks all the right boxes. I was looking for a slighter darker shade as we left summer behind, and this berry shade was perfect, without looking too autumnal. The formula is also great too, with a high- shine, long lasting finish. 

 Clinique High Impact Mascara

I received this sample size with a magazine, and was excited to try it as I was looking for a new mascara. I have to say that I love it as it gives a tonne of volume, definition and length, as well as being very natural looking on the eyelashes. The wand is also the perfect size to subtly create a fluttery lash effect, and I may have to pick up the full size.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer 

I have to admit that I have had a very love/hate relationship with this concealer, as I sometimes find that it can be quite drying and cakey looking. However, I recently repurchased it as it gets so many rave reviews, and I am so pleased I did. It gives excellent coverage, and is really buildable, as well as staying around all day, with just occasional touch ups needed to prolong the wear of it. 

 Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain- Cannes Crush

A fairly recent purchase and one that I loved right away. The Revlon Moisture Stains give lips a super glossy, moisturising look, without being too sticky, as well as providing a highly pigmented stain to the lips. Cannes crush is my favourite as it is a super pretty coral/pink colour that would compliment any makeup look. 

Stila One Step Correct

A major rediscovery this month, as I used to use this primer all the time a couple of years ago. It contains green, lavender and peach coloured tones to counteract redness and sallow undertones, as well as brightening the complexion. It creates the perfect base for foundation, as well as prolonging the wear of foundation, and I desperately need to repurchase this as it will continue to be in my makeup routine for a long time. 

Superfacialist Salicylic Acid Pore Purifying Clay Mask

Face masks are probably my favourite part of a skincare routine, as I feel they benefit the skin the most and the quickest. My current favourite is this Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Clay Mask, as it unclogs pores and congested skin, leaving an overall clearer complexion. I have been using this twice a week for the past month now and have noticed that my skin looks a lot more refreshed and brighter.

The Body Shop Argan Oil Body Butter

I was very excited to get my hands on this, as I love using argan oil in my hair, and was eager to see the benefits of using it for my skin. First of all, the smell is amazing, it is quite sweet, but also has a luxurious element too. It is super rich and hydrating, and I love the indulgent quality it has whenever I apply it. I look forward to continue using this in the future. 

Have you used any of these products? What have you been loving this month? 

Megan x

 

My Travel Makeup Bag

So I am about to head off for a long bank holiday weekend to London with my family and thought I would share the beauty bits that I have decided to take. As we are only going for 3 days, I have tried to streamline my packing and only take the necessities needed for some city fun...

For base, the Stila One Step Colour Corrector , and the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation, as well as the Collection Lasting Perfection and Rimmel Wake Me Up concealers. To set my makeup, I have packed my Bourjois Java Rice Powder, which not only sets my makeup, but also adds a subtle radiance to my face. For bronzer, I will be taking my Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder, and my Dior Rose Diamond Shimmer Powder for a  Blush and Highlight combination.

For my eyebrows I will bring my Hd Brow Palette in Foxy, whereas for my eyes I will use my Sleek Au Natural eyeshadow palette, Boujois Liner Feutre in Noir, Mac eye pencil in Coffee and Clinique High Impact Mascara. 

In terms of lip products, I will take an assortment of pink and nude shades, one from Bourjois and one from Soap & Glory, and then Revlon Moisture Stain in Cannes Crush, a pretty coral/pink colour. 

As you can see, I have probably packed way too much, but I just like to be prepared, and too much is better than packing too little, yeah?

What's in your travel makeup bag?

Megan x

The Pink Edit

 

For the past few months now I have been drawn to all things pretty and pink, so I thought I would share my favourite flamingo-esque bits and bobs that I have been reaching for lately...

 

Yankee Candle- Pink Sands

I received this candle last year as a Christmas gift and loved it immediately. It is quite a fresh scent being a combination of citrus, floral and vanilla, creating an overall sweet scent once burning.

 

 

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain- Cannes Crush

Quite a recent purchase but one that I loved straight away. This Revlon moisture stain adds a serious amount of gloss without being sticky in the slightest, as well as being super pigmented. Cannes Crush is coral-pink shade that would look good on everyone.

 

 

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm- Unapologetic 

I don't often rock a bold lip as I prefer heavier eye makeup, yet I instantly fell in love with this bright, matte pinky-red colour. It is so easy to apply, as with just one glide the pigment packs a pretty good punch, immediately perking up the face.

 

 

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint- Pomegranate

Probably my most worn nail polish ever is this shade from Barry M. The deep fuchsia colour stops it looking too girly and cutesy, whilst the formula makes the finish super glossy and shiny. A winner all round in my opinion!

 

 

Dior Shimmer Powder- Rose Diamond

My all-time favourite product, this shimmery, pearlescent powder by Dior adds a gorgeous subtle sheen to the skin, giving an overall dewy, healthy look. Despite being super shimmery, it does not leave you looking like a glitter ball, simply just rosy and glowing.

 

Megan x

 

 

 

July Favourites

Hello everyone, I hope you are all enjoying your summer. I can't believe it is August already, I am slightly dreading next week as I am getting my AS results, but hopefully I will do okay *fingers crossed*. Anyway, enough rambling and let's get down to business. I tried out a lot of new products in July that I loved, as well as rediscovering a couple of oldies...

 

Dior  Shimmer Powder- Rose Diamond

I had lusted after this for ages, but as it was sold out everywhere I gave up scouring the web for it, until I happened to stumble across it on eBay. As soon as it arrived on my doorstep i fell in love. The varying shades of pink blend together beautifully as an all over blush, or the lighter shades add a gorgeous highlight to the tops of cheekbones. My skin has sported a rosy sheen for the past few weeks now, and it will continue to for a long time. 

 

No7 Essential Moisture Day Cream

I picked this up a couple of months ago as I had a money off voucher for No7 and i knew that I needed a new moisturiser. I wasn't looking for a particularly fancy product as my skin had had a bit of a breakout and I didn't want to overload it with a whole bunch of different ingredients. This does exactly what it says on the tin - hydrating the skin, leaving it soft and smooth, without adding shine. It acts as a great base for makeup, and i love it so much that I recently purchased the night cream!

 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 

Another skincare favorite of mine is this gigantic bottle of cleansing water from Garnier. I love Micellar waters as they are so gentle on the skin, yet effectively remove even the most stubborn of makeup, including gel eyeliner and waterproof mascara. I have been enjoying using this as a pre-cleanse to remove the majority of my makeup before using my normal cleanser, and it has made a huge difference to my skincare routine. The 400ml bottle will also last ages. Bonus!

 

 

 Rimmel Colour rush Balm- On Fire

Lip balms are my new addiction, as they are seriously quick and easy to apply, yet add just as much colour as a lipstick or lipgloss. This offering from Rimmel has been my favourite for the past month, as the glossy, vivid red-pink colour packs a serious punch. I will no doubt be adding more of these to my collection soon.

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish- 101

Another favourite lip product from Rimmel, this time the Kate Moss lipstick in 101. When I first bought this, I didn't immediately love it, as I wasn't sure if the pink entirely suited my skin tone. However, I gave it a second chance and I am so glad I did. I have been swiping just a little bit of this over my lips and blending it out to create more of a subtle stain of colour, that gives a 'your lips but better' look. This works with any makeup look and I will certainly continue wearing it.

Bourjois Java Rice Powder

This is a fairly recent favourite for me, but as soon as I used it I loved it. It is a beautiful shimmery pinky powder, that can be used as a makeup setter, highlighter or radiance booster. It doesn't look cakey on the skin, it simply adds a glowy finish to the whole complexion. What's more, the packaging is absolutely gorgeous!

Essie- Sunday Funday

I purchased this last year as part of the Summer collection and used it a couple of times before becoming bored and moving on to a different shade. However I rediscovered it this summer and I am so glad I did. It is a pretty pink-based, coral hue that seems to perk up any outfit due to the subtle shimmer running through it. It is perfect on both fingers and toes in the summer, though I will try and make it work as we approach autumn too. 

MAC Eyeshadow- Woodwinked

When it comes to applying my makeup, I am all about the products that take no time at all to apply, as I am sometimes in a rush or just a tad bit lazy. One sweep of this warm, antique gold across the lids and I am good to go, as this eyeshadow seems to change colour as it is blended into the crease, meaning I don't need a second eyeshadow to achieve that look. Paired with bronzed skin and pink lips, it is the perfect shade for summer. 

Have you tried any of these products? What have you been loving this month?

Megan x