Left to right: smarty pants, rebel, fire cracker, funny girl
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Jo Malone Body Crème ~ Nectarine Blossom & Honey | In the winter my skin becomes very dry, especially my legs and arms. To combat this I’ve been using this product from Jo Malone. Made with almond oil, jojoba oil and cocoa butter it moisturises my skin but doesn’t leave a sticky feeling afterwards where you can’t get dressed for half an hour or everything will cling to you like most body moisturisers, especially those with a thick consistency.
Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator | Of late this has been my favourite skincare product to use. It’s gentle enough that it doesn’t irritate my skin but still sloughs off dead skin cells and cleanses the skin. Full review here.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfecter ~ Champagne Pop | Highlighting was never something I was that into before I picked up this product. If you have a warm skin tone, this shade will be perfect for you as It’s a beautiful golden shade with iridescent particles which perfectly reflect light without things looking oily or greasy.
Neom Intensive Deep Sleep Treatment* | As someone who struggles with sleep ~ full post here ~ I love any kind of sleep oil. Currently this one from Neom is my favourite as its slightly stronger than anything else I’ve tried so the scent lasts much longer. It’s also really great if you’re stressed and need to unwind and relax.
MAC Matte Lipstick ~ Velvet Teddy* | I’m currently going through a nude lipstick phase, mainly brought on by not being able to wear bright or dark shades at work. Velvet Teddy is a shade I’ve wanted to try for a while but with a lack of MAC stores around me, I haven’t had chance to pick up. It’s a beautiful brown-y nude which really compliments my skin tone. Despite being matte, it doesn’t look flat on the lips and also doesn’t dry them out too much either.
What are your current favourites?
~ Jade xx
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Jo Malone Cologne Intense ~ Dark Amber & Ginger Lily* | It’s no secret that I’m a big Jo Malone fan - who isn’t, right? - and recently Dark Amber & Ginger Lily has recently been my favourite fragrance to wear. With a top note of black cardamon, heart note of black orchid and a base of incense this fragrance is all kinds of sexy, dark and mysterious without being overly masculine. To me it paints the fantasy of sitting in a cocktail bar, in a swanky dress waiting for a handsome man to whisk me away into the sunset, a girl can dream. The cologne intense’ are slightly more expensive than the regular 100ml colognes at £105 and don’t come in a handbag size but they do last on the skin longer and use rarer ingredients so are worth the investment if you like deeper, sexy scents. Velvet Rose & Oud is another favourite from the collection as well.
Seventeen Mono Eyeshadow ~ Funfair* | This shadow is all kinds of beautiful. It’s a pink duo-chrome which in some lights will look either pink or iridescent however on the eye it doesn’t look overly pink or unwearable. This is also one of the softest shadows I’ve used from the highstreet and is incredibly budget friendly.
L’Oreal True Match Foundation | The L’Oreal True Match recently went through an update in both formula and packaging. I remember picking this up a couple of years ago and not liking it but I’m enjoying the new formula - full review here.
Fleur de Force x Eylure ~ Fleur Loves | I’m a big eyelash girl however I don’t like any which are hard to put on or incredibly noticeable when wearing them, I just want to look like I’ve naturally got perfect lashes. These lashes from Fleur de Forces range are not only incredibly easy to apply thanks to the clear lash band and the fact that they’re only 3/4 lashes but they’re incurably natural but still give umph. They have a new technology which tapers the tips so they easily blend in with your natural lashes and if you’re a winged liner girl, like me, the shape of these lashes will emphasise that slinky eye look.
Large Hair Grips | I recently picked these up from Boots instead of the normal sized ones and I’m wondering why I never got them before. If you have long or thick hair which doesn’t stay gripped very securely or you have to use about twenty pins at a time then you need these in your life. Pronto.
What are you current favourites?
~ Jade xx
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By Terry Ombre Blackstar Eyeshadow Stick ~ Blond Opal | I picked this up on a Sephora run on my recent trip to Paris - full post here - and I’ve used it nearly everyday since. A full review will be up soon but there isn’t anything I don’t love about this product. It’s a great base for eyeshadow but also works well on its own. For me it ticks all of the boxes.
L’Oreal True Match Touche Magique Concealer ~ Ivory Beige | I was in the market for a new under eye concealer and taking advantage of a 3 for 2 deal at my beloved Boots I picked this up to try and I love it. It’s really great at brightening under my eyes and around my nose as well as the high points of my face. With this type of highlighter I usually find that they’re far too pink for my skin tone but L’Oreal have both yellow toned and pink toned options.
L’Oreal Infallible Mega Gloss ~ 103 Protest Queen | I’d been swatching these on the back of my hand the past few times I’d been into Boots and finally picked up a colour on my last trip. These come in an array of colours across four different finishes - cream, dazzle, xtreme and matte. Protest Queen is part of the cream formula family and is a lovely milky nude colour which is great to use in the centre of the lips. These aren’t sticky but stick around a long time.
Clearasil Deep Action Deep Pore Treatment Toner | This was an emergency purchase when my skin was acting up and I needed something to put on my breakouts but my stocks were depleted. I picked this up on a whim and it worked a treat shrinking my breakouts almost instantly. I wouldn’t recommend using this full time though as it does get a bit drying.
Z for Accessorize Heart Pendant Necklace* | A friend gifted me this dainty chain and I’ve worn it pretty much everyday since. I’m not usually a big jewellery wearer but as this is so small and delicate its perfect. The rest of Z for Accessorize range is pretty great too.
Vaseline Intensive Care Spray Moisturiser | As I mentioned in my Lazy Beauty Steps post - which can be seen here - I’m really bad at moisturising my limbs. This however is life changing. Every night before bed I spray some of this onto my legs and arms, quickly spread it around and it sinks into the skin seconds later. It isn’t arduous and you aren’t left sticky for two hours after. Perfect.
What are your current favourites?
~ Jade xx
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The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil | This was a recommendation from Lucy and one that I was very weary of. Having oily skin the thought of putting oil on my face terrified me but it removes makeup like nothing I’ve ever used before and leaves the skin feeling nourished and moisturised, but not greasy.
Barry M Quick Dry Nail Paint - Eat My Dust | I’ve been obsessed with this shade since I picked it up all the way back in March. It’s the perfect pastel blue that isn’t too pastel and the formula is fast drying for any impatient people out there like me - full review here.
Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Pencil - East End Snob + Revlon Moisture Stain - London Posh | As of late this has been my favourite lip combination. The Rimmel Lip Pencil is another recommendation from Lucy and the colour is a great pinky nude with the formula being long wearing but not drying, I had to go back and pick up some more shades - full review here. I’ve had the Revlon Moisture Stain since last year and loved it when they first launched but it became lost and buried in my makeup collection. I was recently looking for a nude gloss though and digging through my stash found this beauty. The texture is unlike any other gloss product but isn’t sticky and sticks around a long while. I like to put East End Snob all over my lips for colour and add London Posh to the centre of the lips to add dimension.
Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream | Recently I was on the hunt for a summer base that was light in feel but still had coverage - quite hard to come by. I picked up this CC Cream from Bourjois to test out and ended up loving it - full review here.
What are your current favourites?
~ Jade xx
- 16:53:00
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Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner - 063 Eastend Snob | I bought this mainly due to the recent Kylie Jenner 'plumped' lip craze. I personally don’t like to go quite as big as Kylie does but this liner is great to give a natural bigger look to your lips. I like that it isn’t too nude as I have naturally quite dark lips so it blends in well, and it also lasts all day. As it gives a matte finish I think it would go great with the much sought after 'Velvet Teddy' by MAC but if you can't get your hands on Velvet Teddy or would prefer a cheaper alternative, I like to wear this lip liner with either 03 - post here - or 08 from the Kate Moss x Rimmel range.
Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter - SweetTart | I feel like I'm a little late to the game with this one. These lip butters were quite the rage a couple of years ago and I already had one in my collection, although it isn't a colour I grab for so often. 'Sweet Tart' is the perfect pink for me, which will be perfect to wear during the spring/summer months coming up. As the name suggests the formula is lovely and smooth on your lips and is very easy to wear. One layer gives a sheer colour or it can be built up to be more opaque. Although it doesn’t last a long time on the lips, it gives a nice shine and is a product that wears nicely so you don’t have to worry too much about reapplication.
Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer - '220 Perfect Plum' | This is a much unexpected love of mine, I bought this late last year to give an autumnal colour to my eyes. I liked that it wasn’t too purple but it was enough to not look black or too intense. As a lot of the time I have to be ready for work by half 7 in the morning - a big struggle for me - I use this just to add a bit of something to my top lashes rather than spending time trying to create the perfect black line. It smudges easily and is quick to use on days where you don’t have time to do much with your makeup but want it to look like you do! I also find this great to add a bit of colour to my lower lashes for a more smokey look - when I have time to do something more interesting with my make up that is. I will definitely be looking out for more colours when I go to pick up another one of these. I didn’t expect much but have used it so much that it's almost time to buy a new one, although I think the purple has been discontinued which I'm very upset about.
L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim - Intense Black | On the other end of the scale, this is my favourite eye liner to - attempt - a winged liner look. My hooded eyes make this a very difficult task for me but this eyeliner has changed that. I've tried many of these 'felt tip' liners in the past but none of them have worked out too well for me. Jade had always told me how great she thought this liner is so I thought that I would give it a try - thanks Jade! The tip of the liner is very fine so it allows me do small lines to plot out the wing and gradually build it up but is also great to just do a simple thin line. I would definitely recommend this liner for those with hooded eyes.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Concealer - 010 Porcelain | I won't go on too much about this product as Jade has already reviewed it - which can be seen here - but I've also been really enjoying using this concealer. In contrast to Jade I like to put this in the inner corner of my under eyes as it's the only concealer I've found which is light enough to brighten underneath my eyes. That being said I have found it to be a love/hate product as it takes a while to work out how best to use it. As Jade mentions in her post, it is thick in consistency so it is best to warm up the product before use. I also find it works very well if I apply the concealer before my foundation, I never used to like doing this as I used concealer to cover whatever my foundation didn't, but I found that my makeup tended to go patchy throughout the day. This way of application has completely changed the way my makeup looks on my skin. Putting this concealer on first means I use less foundation and it goes on smoother and lasts a lot better on my skin. Also, where the concealer is think and slightly drier in consistency, when putting foundation on over the top, it doesn’t move around and stays in place all day. The dryness also, I have found, helps dry up any spots you have making them go quicker. Which is always a good thing!
What are your go to products at the moment?
~ Lucy xo
- 09:00:00
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Olivier Bonas - Card Holder* | I’m awful at having a purse. It becomes a breeding ground for receipts and I can never find which card I’m looking for as I rarely carry cash with me. The solution to this problem is a card holder. This one from Oliver Bonas - a shop which I’ve become obsessed with recently - neatly holds my most important cards, driving license, debit card and of course my Boots advantage card, and its rose gold.
Daniel Wellington - Mens Sheffield* | I have a bit of a thing for watches. Some women like to collect shoes and handbags, I like to collect watches. This is my third Daniel Wellington watch - a more in depth post coming soon. This one is from the mens section as I really love watches with a large face, its a classic style and I love it a lot.
Jo Malone - Tudor Rose & Amber* | I recently wrote a post about the Jo Malone Rock the Ages collection - which can be seen here - and after writing that post I acquired another scent from the collection. This time in Tudor Rose & Amber. This scent is heavier than Lily of the Valley & Ivy and lasts on the skin all day.
Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer - Ivory | I picked this concealer up a couple of months ago to try something new. Only it was more of a rediscovery as I used to use this concealer all the time when the Wake Me Up line was first released a couple of years ago. I’ve fallen back in love with this concealer as its great for under the eyes as well as on blemishes and I currently have a backup of my backup thats how much I love it.
Nivea Express Hydration Primer | I remember using this moisturiser when it was first released and liking it so I decided to pick it up again on a recent trip to Boots. Its great for mornings when you’re in a rush as its a moisturiser and primer in one which saves time and because of its gel texture is non greasy but still offers great hydration to the skin.
What are your current favourites?
~ Jade xx
- 11:47:00
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Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick - Bond Girl* | I’m going to write a full review of this beauty soon but it’s become my go-to lipstick in recent weeks. A matte formula that doesn’t dry out your lips or feel uncomfortable but still lasts? & don't even get me started on the packaging. It’s a winner in my book.
Barry M Eyeshadow Pencil - Brown Black | Perfect for the days when you can’t be fussed with eyeshadow but you want something. Just smudge it on the lid and blend out with either your finger or a brush for a fuss free, five minute makeup job. It doesn’t crease either.
Alexa Chung - It | Alexa Chung is one of my favourite humans in the public eye. Her style and makeup is something I strive to replicate and her brazen faced attitude is to be admired. Her book ‘It’ is a quick read - it took me about three hours with tea breaks in-between - and is filled with talk about her style inspiration, fashion mishaps, boys and breakups with photos and sketches breaking up the pages.
Jo Malone - Peony & Blush Suede* | Peony & Blush Suede is the newest edition to my collection of Jo Malone colognes which I’ve previously written about my love for. Peony & Blush Suede isn’t a scent I would usually go for but I love it. It’s a floral scent - which usually I favour the spicy and woody scents - with a fruity top note of apple and heart notes of honey and rose to add to the Peony. It lasts all day on the skin and smells even better the longer you wear it.
What are your current favourites?
~ Jade xx
- 11:37:00
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Rimmel instant tan | Instant tan is an ingenious product which I only discovered this summer. It's great for when you you're going out and don't have time to actually fake tan but want some form of tan or when you only want a subtle glow and not the hassle of actual fake tan. You can also use it between fake tanning to 'top up' your tan when it begins to fade (this is how I generally use it). The Rimmel Sunshimmer instant tan is great. There are many different types, light colours and darker colours, matte and shimmer formulas and also a waterproof version, so there's something for everyone and it's not expensive!
Revlon moisture stain ~ London Posh | Revlon recently launched their new moisture stain lip products. London posh is the perfect nude with subtle shimmer - which isn't a 90s throwback. The formula is somewhere between a liquid lipstick and a gloss, it's not quite one or the other however they're 100% non sticky. I think I'm in love.
Avon ~ Sparkly citrus Eau De Toilette | My current favourite and everyday perfume is Scent Essence sparkly citrus from Avon. It’s very affordable and despite the low price tag lasts well throughout the day. As the name suggests the perfume has a light fruity scent which is great for everyday wear if you like to savour your more expensive perfumes like I do.
Barry M ~ Rosehip | I've spoken numerous times about how much I love the Barry M gelly nail polishes but I'm going to mention them again. The formula is great, we all should know that by now. My current favourite shade is a pastel pink which goes by the name of 'Rose Hip' (which was originally from the spring collection but isn't limited edition). This colour looks great with a tan but also without so it's a great summer colour for all skin tones.
MAC eyeshadow ~ Woodwinked | Woodwinked is a beautiful burnt gold shade and when blended turns into a matte burnt brown. It’s perfect for if you’re in a rush for you only need one shadow to create a lid and crease colour. I forgot about wood winked for a while but picked it up again recently and I can’t get enough.
What are your current favourites?
~ Jade xx
- 16:46:00
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I’ve recently started to use fake tan and have been loving it.
The St Tropez Bronzing Mousse formula is streak free, easy to apply and long lasting.
Before I fake tan I always exfoliate and the Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub gets the job done,
smells really good and leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated as it contains Shea butter.
The Boots Botanics Mattifying Gel Cream is the perfect daily moisturiser for anyone with oily skin. It’s budget friendly,
hydrating and due to the gel formula it leaves skin matte enough that theres no need for a primer.
For targeted spot treatment I’ve recently been using the Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil. I put a small amount onto a
cotton pad and dab onto any active acne. It’s effective, natural and cruelty free, what’s not to like?
I’ve been going back to old favourites recently and the shades ‘Naked’ & ‘Sidecar’ from the original Urban Decay Naked Palette
are my current favourite eyeshadows. I use naked in the crease and sidecar all over the lid - to avoid the chunks of glitter
from sidecar going everywhere I suggest putting your crease colour on before your lid colour.
What are your current favourites?
~ Jade xx
- 09:12:00
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On days where I don’t have a lot of time to get ready or I really cannot be bothered with eyeshadow and liner I’ll reach for the Rimmel scandeleyes shadow paint in rich russet. This liquid eyeshadow lasts all day and is super quick and easy to apply. Just swipe across the lid and blend out the edges with your finger or a brush. Simple.
I love the matte Kate Moss lipsticks but had never tried the non-matte formula. I picked up the Kate Moss x Rimmel lipstick in shade 16 a few weeks ago and have been loving it. It’s a pinky-peachy colour which is perfect for spring/summer and the formula is non-drying and long lasting.
I cannot go without primer in my makeup routine and recently I’ve been using the Rimmel stay matte primer. It is a cream-like formula which creates a perfectly matte base for my foundation and helps keep my makeup in place and last all day.
I’ve been using the Neal’s yard frankincense hydrating cream* as my night cream recently - you can use it as a day cream but it’s too oily for my skin to use under makeup - and I’ve been loving it. It’s good for your skin as Neal’s yard use organic ingredients and the frankincense helps to rejuvenate tired and dull skin.
I’ve been dealing with very damaged hair recently from having ombré for nearly two years and bleaching every few months so I’ve been using the Moroccan oil light* to help soften the ends. I run two pumps through damp hair and it adds shine but also softens and improves the look of my split ends.
My current go to nail colours are the OPI nail lacquers in I just can’t cope-cabana* & Kiss me I’m Brazilian* from the new OPI Brazil collection. They’re a little different to what I would normally reach for as deep plums tend to be more my thing all year round but the bright yellow and bright pink are super summer-y and add some colour to my normal all-black everything wardrobe.
What have you been loving recently?
~ Jade xx
- 09:00:00
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Happy new year everyone! For the first post of the year I thought I'd do another instalment of 'my current favourites' - previous posts can be seen here and here - of the few new favourites I've discovered over the past couple of months.
Firstly, the Jo Malone fragrance in Amber & Lavender*. I don’t think I’ve ever used a perfume that smells so good or lasts so long. This beauty was waiting for me under the christmas tree this year - thank you Santa - and I haven’t stopped wearing it since. The 30ml bottle is £37 and the much larger 100ml bottle is £78, expensive but so worth it.
I’ve had a love hate relationship with this Super Liner eyeliner from L’oreal since I bought it around sixth months ago. However, I’ve discovered it makes it really easy to do my everyday winged liner and it doesn’t smudge. I originally didn’t like it because I didn’t feel as though it was black enough and when you used it the fluid ran out quickly, but if you shake it well before use it’s absolutely fine. The super liner also doesn’t break the bank - a definite bonus.
I’m a fan of the Maybelline colour tattoos so when Bourjois came out with their own cream like eyeshadow formulas - Colour Edition 24hr - I was intrigued. At first I was apprehensive for they’re a cream to powder formulation however they last a really long time - not quite the twenty four hours like stated, though. Colour pay-off is pretty great to, I have the colour Petale de Glace which is like a lighter version of ‘satin taupe’ by MAC. I’m not overly impressed with the rest of the colours however and I feel that the colour range is what really lets this collection down.
After using Lucy’s Sleek Face Form palette a few times and falling in love I decided I had to get my own. Lucy’s review of this beautiful palette can be seen here.
I’m a big fan of volumised hair and am no stranger to backcomb. However, backcombing my already damaged hair with a comb isn’t the best thing for it. Enter the L’oreal studio line volume super sizing spray. This stuff is basically backcomb in a bottle. You spray it at the roots of the hair and scrunch until the desired amount of volume has been achieved. It doesn’t make your hair feel sticky at the roots like others I have tried and its very affordable - but word to the wise, don’t use this if there’s a possibility of being rained on as water mixed with stuff creates a paste and its not easy to get out.
What are your current favourites?
~ Jade xx
- 13:33:00
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Barry M textured nail varnish - lady
Revlon lash potion mascara - blackened brown
MAC eyeshadow - satin taupe
Bourjois happy light serum primer - matte
Barry M recently came out with a new textured line of nail varnishes called the ‘royal textured glitter’ collection. I picked up the colour ‘lady’ and have really been enjoying it. Two coats gives an opaque finish and the varnish itself is really pretty. Its part iridescent sparkle, part white glitter and part matte white flecks with an interesting textured finish. Barry M previously came out with a textured line of polishes during the summer and they didn’t catch my eye however this time around they have and I will be looking at picking up some more shades. The best part is they last a lot longer on the nails than a regular varnish because they’re textured.
I’ve done a full review on the new Bourjois matte primer - which can be seen here - and since I bought it a couple weeks ago and I haven’t stopped wearing it.
I picked up MAC’s eyeshadow in satin taupe when I was in London a few weeks back and I think I’ve fallen in love. I don’t usually go for cool tone eyeshadows as I don’t think they particularly suit me however satin taupe is great to pair with a warm toned champagne colour and adds just the right amount of smokey-ness for a daytime look.
I’ve been trying out a new mascara recently and although I picked up the wrong colour - I’m a true black mascara girl all the way - I’ve been really liking this new option from Revlon. It adds just enough length and volume without my lashes looking too spidery or too full.
Finally I’ve been in love with my contour brush from real techniques. Originally I used this for what the name suggests - contouring - however recently I’ve been using it to buff in my concealer. It’s the perfect size and as it’s duo-fibered and synthetic it doesn’t soak up too much product or make concealer look heavy and caky which I can sometimes find when I use a heavy duty concealer like my MAC pro-longwear.
What are your current favourites?
~ Jade
- 09:00:00
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