2013 Round Up

It's now a week into 2014, and I've been mulling over my favorites of the year just gone, so here we go!

Skincare

Garnier Skin Naturals Pure Active Toner and Shine-Control Moisturizer: I picked these up in Tesco at some point this year hoping to help sort out a pretty awful breakout I was having. They did the job quickly and have been a staple in my regime ever since.
Rimmel London Fix&Perfect Pro Primer: At first when I got this, I didn't like it in the slightest and I shoved it in a drawer. I found it again at the end of the spring and I decided to give it a second shot. This primer has done me no wrongs ever since. It's fabulous to smooth out lines and fill in pores and it makes my makeup last all day, no mean feat when I'm normally a grease ball by 3pm.]
Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan: I started tanning during the summer when I decided that the milk bottle, glow-in-the-dark look wasn't cute in a pair of shorts. I picked this up in my local pharmacy and after a spot of trial and error (my tentativeness in all honesty) I was a bronzed goddess and not the least bit Tangoed. A+

Fragrance

Katy Perry Killer Queen: The day I bought this, it was one of those days when I had no money to spare, but needed a pick me up something desperate. I just caved and bought it, and I'm so glad I did. It has a beautiful, fragrance, almost too sophisticated for the likes of a celebrity perfume. I've gotten many compliments on it when I wear it, too. I also have the corresponding lotion which makes me feel like a Killer Queen! Thanks, Katy!
Sure Women Bright 48hr: I wouldn't usually include something as basic as an antiperspirant but I've been very impressed with this since I picked it up. A little goes a long way, it has a lovely light scent and a tin lasts for months. I've been so taken by it, I bought a mini one for my handbag!

Make-Up 

Catrice Prime and Fine Translucent Loose Powder: This is my holy grail powder. It goes with every foundation, whether I'm tanned or pale, and leaves my face looking like velvet. No white cast, no caking, no excuse not to invest in it!
MUA Blusher in Marshmallow: I picked this up in Newry when Chris and I went up there during the summer and I couldn't fault it if I tried. It makes me look healthy and gives me a natural flush. For £1, everyone should have some of these!
Natural Collection Eyeshadow in White Opal: Girls, if you need a good highlight for under your eyebrows, but are operating to a budget, this is for you. I picked this up when I was hard pressed to find a good highlight not just for under my brows, but for the tops of my cheeks too. It did the job very nicely.
Urban Decay Naked Basics: I don't know why I bought this, but it has been a staple in my collection since I did. So much can be done with it, even though there are six shadows in it - five matte and one with a sheen.

Lip Products

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub: Bough on a whim early last year, this little pot has traveled everywhere with me. I haven't even finished it yet, though there is a decent dent in it and I will have to invest in the Mint Juleps one soon.
Catrice Ultimate Color in 270 Matt-erial Girl: This lipstick is my favorite shade in my whole collection. I adore the bold, bright shade. I cannot say enough good things concerning this particular Catrice offering. I did buy an extra tube in case they discontinue it, though!

Nails:

OPI Nail Envy Original Formula: This stuff has been a complete miracle for my previously weak, brittle nails. It's not cheap, especially for a student but it is SO worth the money. I use it as an undercoat every time I paint my nails and it has not failed yet.
Rimmel London Finishing Touch Ultra Shine Topcoat: I picked this up on a whim towards the end of the year but I have not one bad word to say about it. It prolongs the life of every polish I have by at least a week, which is a big claim I know, but true. Everyone needs a bottle of this in their collection.

 So there you have it, my 2013 Favorites as it were! What were your favorites in 2013? Let me know in the comments...

Amy
xx

Whats In My Make-Up Bag?

We all have our essentials, girls! Most of our contents will be similar, but I know some of my lovely readers are nosey, so this is for my nosey girls!

Enjoy!

The Bag Itself:

I got this make-up bag in Penney's, for €4.00. It're pretty sizeable, fitting all my bits and bobs perfectly.

While I'm home, I don't keep everything in it, but when I go to Dundalk or anywhere else, it's got all my stuff in it.

I do, however, keep all my brushes in another smaller make-up bag. I want them to be protected and safe from harm.

How motherly of me!

Facial Products:

BB Cream, Moisturiser and at the moment, a primer all get toted around. My BB Cream is Maybelline Dream Pure in Medium.

I'm trialling the Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer, right now, in a bid to shake my hatred for Rimmel face products.

I swear by my Skin Wisdom moisturiser for sensitive skin! It sinks in quickly, is non greasy and leaves my skin feeling like velvet!!

Foundation&Concealer:

Usually, I bring whatever foundation and concealer I'm loving at the time in my make-up bag. I'm a fickle creature, and so that changes frequently. I'm currently loving my Maybelline Super Stay 24hr Foundation and Concealer.

Other times, I will bring my Barbara Daly oil free foundation, or my 17 BB Cream.


Powder and Blush:

I adore my Natural Collection Pressed Powder and Blush. These two gems are super soft, pigmented and fragrance free. Although they come in 3 shades each, they seem to be able to adapt to everybodys skin tone. Both can be found in any Boots, and retail for €3.09 a pop. Bargain, much?!

I must admit though, to all my ebony-skinned ladies out there, they have yet to offer base products in your beautiful shades yet!

Eye-Liners:

I am beyond fickle in the search for a good eyeliner. I literally carry my top 3 at the time everywhere I go. At this moment, its a 3-way tie between my Loreal Superliner, my ELF Liquid liner and my Bourjois Kohl pencil.

Contour:

I use the biggest bronzer in the world to contour under my cheek bones. It's an Essence Sun Club for Blondes, and light skin.

With a light hand, and a small, tapered Eco Tools brush, I use it to contour just under my cheekbones, and lately, down my nose, ever-so lightly!

My highlighter is Physicians Formula Translucent Pearls. This works for all skin types as it just adds a sheen to your natural skin tone, or over your foundation.

Mascara:

Yet another mention for my The Rocket mascara!! I adore this offering from Maybelline, and I would be lost without it!

My lash curlers are just a bog standard Infinity set, from any good chemist!

If anyone has tried the waterproof version of this mascara, please let me know what you thought of it, in the comments.



Lip Care:

I go nowhere without my Lush Lip Scrub and my Carmex. Who knows when a dry, bitty lip is going to strike?!

The lip scrub leaves your lips feeling tingly, and then slathering the Carmex over the top adds to the tingle, healing your lips beautifully, leaving them ready for colour.




Lip Colour:

I wouldn't be Red Lips, Red Hair without a red lip, now would I? I generally opt for my Maybelline Super Stay 24hr Lip Color in Red Passion when I'm going to Dundalk, since Chris likes it because it doesn't transfer onto him when I kiss him.

I do, however bring another red-lip product in case I fancy a change (ELF Matte Lip Crayon is my second in command at the moment), and often, I'll bring something muted in case we have to go anywhere that a red lip wouldn't be appropriate.

Whats in your make-up bag?? You should do a post, and tweet me, so I can be nosey in turn!! :P

Love and stuff,
Amy
xx

June BBC Day 7: Favorite Lip Product

This one is a toughie.



Lush Bubblegum lip scrub gets a great surface going for the application of my balms and lip colors.

For lip balm, I adore my raspberry "Balmi" which is pretty much a dupe for EOS. It's moisturising and smells divine. Carmex is another brand I advocate, though I find it leaves a residue on my lips, so I save it for night time use.

Essence Stay Matte Lip Creams are great quality for the tiny money. I adore my Silky Red shade, with Femme Fatale lipliner. Paired together, they make a beautiful true red lip for less than €4. Not too shabby, I think you'll agree!

May Favourites

Hello there!! *wave* Its that time of the month again, its time for my May Favourites. During the month of May I trialed a few new products and rediscovered old loves. It's been a busy month in many respects for me, but I managed to stay on top of everything, and road-test a few products along the way!

May 2013 Favourites

Lush Loves Lips...

Its pretty much taken as Gospel that lipstick looks better on a lip that has been scrubbed smooth and slicked with something healing or softening before you slap on that color. The same goes with tan, foundation, even nail polish looks better on smooth nails!

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

As a result, every time I've found myself in a Lush store, I've somehow managed to pick up a lip scrub and just stand there smelling it. They have 3 flavors, Mint Juleps, Popcorn, and Bubblegum! Mint Juleps is lovely, very strong but sweet somehow, Popcorn smells like just that - popcorn, buttery, salty wonderful cinema food! Bubblegum is the best. Vibrant pink, smelling like the love child between candy-floss and Hubba-Bubba, it's a complete throwback from those childhood days!

Ever since they released these beauties, I've been lusting after and coveting them intensely. I had to have a bubblegum one, but at the same time, I'm unemployed so money is tight. These lip scrubs are somewhere in the region of €8, which can be a lot depending on the look of my wallet... But last week I decided it was high time I got my hands on the highly-coveted Bubblegum Lip Scrub. So off I went, into Dublin, so I could get a few bits (I will be posting a haul soon I hope), with a stop into Lush being top of my list...