Favourites: August 2013

In a departure from the monthly stalwart that is the Empties post (don't worry, it's coming tomorrow..!), I've decided to write a quick post on the products i've been liking not only just this month, but for the past wee while.

The Body Shop Chocomania Beautifying Oil - this is described as a 'dry oil' for body, face and hair, and whilst I don't particularly like it for either my face or hair, I LOVE it for my body: it smells amazing (like Palmers Cocoa Butter but more intense!), and even though it is an oil, I can get dressed almost immediately after applying it and it leaves my skin soft and smooth. 

NSpa Deep Hydrating Facial Oil - I have tried several NSpa products, but so far this is definitely my favourite. This feels like a 'different' kind of oil to The Body Shop oil above (as far as oils go!): a blend of (amongst  other things) vitamins A, D and E, rosehip oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil which deeply hydrate and help replenish the skin. I have been using it both in the morning at night (making sure I give it plenty of time to soak in before I apply my makeup first thing!) and I love how moisturised and 'glowy' it has made my skin feel.

Homemade cleansing balm! - as you may have guessed so far, I am all about the oils these days, and this cleansing balm is my homemade mix of shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil and a few other beautiful ingredients such as Vitamin E and jojoba oil. I simply scoop out a small amount and spend a good few minutes massaging it into my face whilst the oils melt and get to work, before using a warm hand cloth to remove it. Love it!

FCUK Sugarscrub - body scrubs aren't something I normally get excited about, but this partcular one is more like a scrubby moisturiser: the base ingredient is Shea butter, and it is enriched with sweet almond and jojoba oils, so when you shower it off you are left with a layer of moisturising oil on your skin - I often go without moisturing afterwards after using this scrub. It also smells amazing thanks to the Extract of Wild Strawberry that is included - sweet without being sickly.

The Body Shop Banana Conditioner - Talking of scents, if you don't like bananas I would give this conditioner a wide berth as it smells very strongly of foam banana sweets! As it contains SLS I would normally avoid this, but as it's a conditioner I figured it's ok as it isn't going on my scalp, and i'm loving it so far: it really does help detangle and soften my hair.

Clinque Chubby Stick in Woppin' Watermelon - Normally I wouldn't buy/use Clinque products as they aren't Cruelty Free, but I was given them as a present last year and have decided to use them - I am not one to waste products! There was 3 in the set but this is my favourite - a lovely almost baby pink that is really subtle and flattering. The formula is a tad drying, but I put lipbalm underneath and over the top to combat this.

MUA Lipstick in 14. Bare  and Lipgloss in Can't Stop - At last, i've found the perfect nude lip combo for my lips! My lips are naturally quite pigmented, so often popular nude shades of lipstick, such as Gosh Darling for example, are just that bit too pale/chalkyish on my lips, but this is just right, and the gloss adds the perfect finishing touch - and they only cost a pound each!

Bare Minerals Prime Time Brightening Eye Primer -  This remained somewhat unloved at the back of my eyeshadow stash for sometime - did I really need another eyelid primer?! - but i'm so glad I tried it out, as it is absolutely beautiful and now a firm favourite in my everyday makeup routine. I use this as  a shadow colour itself, then work different eyeshadow around it into my crease and on the outer corner of my eye, and it really does brighten my eyes. It lasts really well too.

What have you been loving recently?

Recent Favourites

I haven't written a 'favourites' post in some time, largely because I didn't want to put up a monthly post just for the sake of it, where the things I mentioned I didn't particularly like or hadn't used for any great length of time.

Therefore, the (admittedly somewhat random) items in this post are those that I genuinely like and have been using/reading/watching...

• Silicon oven glove - my version of the Sigma Brush Cleaning Glove, this cost me less than £3 from Ebay, compared to the $39 that Sigma are asking for theirs! Despite not having the different ridged 'areas' that the Sigma glove has, this definitely does the job in making brush cleaning quicker and more efficient - not to mention saving my hands from turning into a pruney mess!
• Quinoa - in a bid to eat more healthily, I have been eating this instead of bread/pasta/rice as it is pure protein, rather than a carbohydrate. When cooked it's not too dissimilar to rice (and as such needs some sort of sauce or seasoning to give it flavour) and i'm really enjoying it.
• The Night Circus - one of the most magical books I have ever read. I'm only halfway through it so far, but, as the saying goes, it's all about the journey rather than the destination, and i'm loving it so far!
• The Body Shop Camomile eye makeup remover - a product I am going to review very soon, I have really been loving this - mild on the eyes yet ultra-effective, what else could you ask for?!
• Dr Bronner's Peppermint Liquid Soap - I have been using this in place of shower gel, as I have psoriasis and am trying to avoid any unnecesscary chemicals on my skin. I was really surprised how well this soaps up without the 'usual' foaming agents, and I only need to use a little at time. It's multipurpose too.
• Rose Water - Again to go back to using natural products on my skin, I have been using this as a skin 'refresher' every morning before moisturiser. It adds just the right amount of moisture to my skin and 'cleans' it more than just splashing water on it would.
• George Shimmer Me! Shimmer Brick - I 'shopped my stash' for this one, and right now I can't think why I ever put it away! You can read my original full review here, but in a nutshell it is a very obvious dupe for the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks, but is actually nicer in my opinion! It just adds the most beautiful peachy glow to my skin without big chunks of glitter - and it only costs about £6!
• 'Extreme Couponing' on TLC - There are no words. If you have access to the TLC channel (on Sky etc), then get it watched. These people manage to get supermarket shops worth hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of dollars down to pennies using coupons. It's simply unbelievable and i'm addicted now!
• Le Floof TV - The ultimate vlog channel on YouTube without a doubt - many of you (if not most) will know of Jonathan and Anna Saccone-Joly and their gorgeous little baby Emila (as well as their 6 maltese dogs!). They upload vlogs every single day at 6pm (GMT) which are genuinely funny, and I can't say i've been watching anyone else as much recently!

March 2012 Favourites

Another month gone by eh? Where has the time gone.

March's favourites for me are a bit of a random bunch and - shock horror! - no makeup items!

Rather than mention the same products each month (as I do use a 'core' collection which I genuinely love, such as my beloved Palmer's Cocoa Butter), I try and list those which are relatively new to me but which I have been using/loving on a regular basis.

On that basis, here's what I was loving during the month of March...

(I've linked to places where you can buy each product)

• Ionika Curling Wand - I bought this on a whim from TKMaxx when it was priced at £9.99 (every other one there was priced at £24.99, and TKMaxx have a policy that if a product is priced at a certain amount they have to honour that price), but actually didn't get round to using it till recently. I think it will take quite a bit of practising to get the technique down, but so far i've manged to create really nice curls that really hold, even without hairspray. The wand gets REALLY hot really quickly (which is why you need to use the glove provided) - I think I did quite well getting it for £9.99!

• Technic nail varnish in Carnival - The best OPI Rainbow connection dupe right now - and only 99p! (Nuff said).

• Sally Hansen Inst-Dri - I am a big fan of Seche Vite, but my bottle has went all gloopy, and rather than ordering the polish thinner off the internet (i'm too impatient) I decided to try this instead. Whilst it doesn't exactly deliver on the anti-chip promise, it is very similar to Seche Vite in that you can apply it almost straight away over polish and they are dry around 30 seconds later - great for those times I decide to paint my nails before going to sleep!

• Express Makeup and Style Eyes books (reviews here and here) - As i'm sure i've mentioned before, i'm really getting into my makeup at the moment, and i'm seeking inspiration from almost everywhere. My friend gave me these books to look at, and I was really inspired by the beautiful photographs and practical hints and tips.

• Favourite book: Change of Heart, Jodi Picoult - I have never read any Jodi Picoult books before now (i've always been put off by the tear-jerker genre), and I would not have read this particular one had I not just finished a book on my Kindle and my Mum had this to spare. Claire has a heart defect, and as it turns out the only suitable doner available just also happens to be the murderer of her father and sister some 12 years ago. When I read this (combined with the Amazon reviews, of which I am usually heavily influenced by) I was like "say what?! What a load of poppicock" and started reading it already with a negative attitude, but I have to say I was immediately hooked, and there is a theme/twist in the story (which is not mentioned on the back of the book) that definitely makes the book. I don't want to say what it is as I don't want to give anything away, but it definitely tugs at the heart strings whilst raising questions that i'm still thinking about even after I finished the book.

• Favourite blog(s) (I'm cheating this month and having two) - Philofaxy and A Thrifty Mrs - If you are a filofax/stationery/organiser obsessive like myself, you will LOVE Philofaxy. As well as free downloads to print out for each type of Filofax, there's also quirky little posts such as 'what's in my filofax' which I love. Totally conversely (although not really, cause this lady is also very organised) is A Thrifty Mrs - a fabulous blog on everything (as the name suggests) thrifty and money saving. Mrs Thrifty actually appeared on Superscrimpers on channel 4, and her blog is a fantastic little fountain of hints and tips relating to everything from charity shop shopping to cleaning around the house.
• Favourite YouTube Channel: Simon's Cat - Even if you don't own/like cats, it will not fail to make you laugh, and if you do own a cat, you can relate to everything that goes on in each little mini video (usually around 1-2 mins long). Recently when i've needed cheering up i've been watching one of these little videos - very daft!

What have you been loving this month?

Melanie x

February 2012 Favourites

February's favourites are a tad few and far between this month, simply because (other than the month seems to have zoomed past), i've been concentrating on trying to 'shop my stash' and not buy anything else new until i've used up what i've already got.



♥ Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Pink Quartz - I hold my hands up and admit this is only a favourite this month because it's a treat to myself and its oh so pretty! (Quickly glossing over the rather expensive price tag...) You can see my review post here.

♥ George Shimmer Me! brush on powder in Heaven Sent - A spectacular dupe for the Bobbi Brown shimmer bricks, this little lovely number is a snip at only £4.50. I've come to the conclusion that my skin tone suits peachy blushers, and these shades blended together are perfect. Another product i've also reviewed, you can have a little look here.



♥ Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation - I doubt i'll ever do a review on this foundation, simply because, as a popular product, there is already tons of reviews out there. In a nutshell I am loving this because it actually does what it claims to do, and is one of the most accurate colour matches for my skin thus far. Admittedly it might not necessarily last the full 16 hours as stated on the packaging, and I do start to get a tad shiny (i'd rather call it 'glowy') round the t-zone, but you know what, I like it and that's that! ASOS are currently selling this on offer for £7.50 (see link).



♥ Sudocream - An old classic when it comes to fighting spots, i've been using this for the infamous 'sudocream facemask' (as recently sported by Nicola McLean in CBB!). As the link shows, this can be bought in different sized tubs (and a tube now too) and is really cheap and effective.

♥ E.L.F. Zit Zapper - This little roller ball stick of wonders contains the magic spot fighting ingredients of Witch Hazel, Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil and Camphor, and all for £1.50. I've had this for ages and do generally use it on a daily basis (pesky stray spots), but you'd never know!

♥ Savlon - Similar to Sudocrem, this is a very inexpensive, multi-purpose antiseptic cream that I have mainly been using on spots, but can also be used on cuts, grazes and so on. I usually have this small tube in my handbag.

♥ 17 Mirror Shine On Lipstick in Beehive - Another 'must have' product in the blogging world (and thus one I don't need/want to say much about), i've included this in this month's favourites as I have literally been wearing it every single day. I wouldn't say its 'mirror shine' shiney, but has just the right amount of nude tint/gloss combined.

♥ 17 Ultimate Volume lipgloss in Very Berry - A bit of a surprise inclusion, in the sense that I put off trying it out for ages and ages because I thought it looked so dark and scary a shade! However it's actually quite sheer and buildable: the (somewhat blurry - but you get the idea) photo I've included above is maybe around 3 coats worth of the gloss. I also like the fact when the actual gloss wears off the colour leaves a nice stain to your lips, and the fact when it wears off it doesn't leave your lips tacky, 'bity' or at all dry.

♥ Favourite Blog: Leanne-Marie - I love the 'few to follow' post she does every Friday, where she lists some of her favourite blogs for that week - i've found so many new fabulous blogs this way.

♥ Favourite Youtube: LoveMelisaMichelle - I love her quick, easy tutorials she does using (largely) affordable make-up products/tools - she's a big fan of ELF brushes.

♥ Favourite Book: The Radleys - Following the lives of a family of 4 'abstaining' vampires, The Radleys is a really original take on vampire literature (and nothing like Twilight, if you're not a fan of this!), and one in which I really enjoyed reading and would throughly recommend.



Monthly Favourites: January 2012

I had such grand ideas of getting this post up in plenty of time before the end of the month, but as is usually the case with me, it's been left to the last minute!

Therefore without further ado, here's what i've been loving during January...

Maxfactor Masterpiece Glide & Define Liquid Eyeliner

This was given to me as part of my Christmas presents and i've really enjoyed using it. It has a fine 'felt tip' style nib similar to that of the L'Oreal Carbon Gloss liner which makes it really easy to use. It gives a fairly matt-effect, and the staying power is good, although it is also easy to remove at the end of the day.

St. Ives Microdermabrasion scrub

This was another one of those products that was languishing in my bathroom for a while, but in an effort to be economical and use up products before buying more, I started using this and I'm glad I did.

Unlike the traditional hard-core St. Ives scrubs, this is more of a gentle paste, and can be used on a daily basis. I really like using it first thing in the morning and it definitely gives a nice glow to my skin, whilst providing a good canvas for moisturiser and then make-up to go onto. Only costs about £4 and a little goes a long way.

Yankee Candles (pictured is Black Cherry)

I'm going through a bit of an obsession with making my room smell nice, and have been reaching for the old classics, Yankee candles. My mum bought me this jar for Christmas, and i'm desperate to try more.

Vintage Watch

A bit of a random one I know, but given that i've worn this constantly the past month I feel it's only fair I include it! It was my grans, and whilst it doesn't work (and i've been wearing it alongside my other watch - I do get questions as to why two watches!), there is great sentimental value to it.

John Frieda 3 Day Straight

This product (much like the Naked palette) has been all over YouTube/blogs therefore i'm sure people are tired of hearing about it, but I wanted to include it as it has actually made a difference to my hair.

I have very frizzy/curly hair to start with, therefore I wasn't expecting miracles with this, nor does it perform them in terms of making my hair straight, but it definitely makes the drying process a lot easier/quicker and my hair is a lot sleeker too.

Bobbi Brown Party Collection Deluxe Travel Brush Set

(This was a Christmas present and i've just choked on my tea when I saw how much it was!)

This little beauty is my new baby of the moment - i'm actually in love with it. I've always wanted to start a 'proper' collection of brushes, and this has definitely got me started. I'm going to do a review very soon which goes through each of the brushes in turn, but for now i'll just say I love it!

Soap & Glory Flake Away Scrub

As I epilate/wax my legs I suffer from dry/flaky/itchy skin, even if I moisturise regularly, so a good body scrub is a must. I decided to go for Soap & Glory as i've heard good things about their scrubs, and so far it hasn't let me down. Another product I want to review, this scrub smells yummy and does the job perfectly: sloughing away dead skin whilst moisturising/soothing at the same time. I'm desperate to try out more S&G products and am kicking myself I never bought the Big Splendour set that was on offer in Boots over Christmas...

Eylure 'Cheryl' False Eyelashes

Ok, as much as I do love these particular ones, I have to say I have been loving false lashes in general again over the past month (as I mentioned in my November favourites), and have recently received an order from E.L.F. for (ahem) 8 pairs.

Now i've got the application technique down, I am LOVING wearing lashes on a daily basis, as I really think they make such a difference.

Favourite blog

Blusher and Blogging

A fabulous beauty blog from the beautiful Footballers Wives actress, Susie Amy.

I really love her down-to-earth posts in which she discusses/reviews both highstreet and 'up market' beauty products, and also really like those posts in which she calls upon her celebrity friends/make-up artists etc to give tips/advice and so on.

Definitely check it out!

Favourite book

The Cornerstone by Nick Spalding

I downloaded this to my Kindle on a whim as it was going for something silly like 99p, but as it was labelled as an Amazon UK Best Book of 2011, I reckoned it must be worth a read.

If you like the kind of fantasy genre which include His Dark Materials trilogy, Harry Potter or even Lord of the Rings, you will like this book, even more so if you like books which don't take themselves too seriously.

For a bored, x-box loving teenage boy the local library doesn't seem like an obvious choice of venue for an afternoon's entertainment. Yet that is where Max Bloom, a boy with "less purpose than an ambivalent sloth" finds himself one drizzly afternoon. Browsing a book he discovers a curious note which leads him to the Cornerstone - no ordinary book. It certainly makes his afternoon more interesting when it transports him to another universe, one which needs help saving itself (and Earth) from the Dwellers. Summoned by beautiful 16 year old Merelie Max is torn - delighted to have reason to talk to a gorgeous girl, but baffled by her insistence he must be able to harness the power of all the books on Earth to wordcraft. Yes, she's lovely but these Dwellers are pretty nasty and he's not convinced he can do magic.

Nick Spalding has created a great alternative world and society with means of travel to other places and a form of magic I thought was brilliant. As a keen reader I loved the concept of harnessing the power of words and instead of having a God having a Writer. The action was well-paced and there was plenty going on to keep me interested, although the plot is pretty straightforward and the style of writing (especially in the opening chapters) did make me wonder if the book was originally aimed at a younger audience.

I still whole-heartedly recommend it though!

Melanie x

November Favourites

Deary me, even for me this is a late monthly favourites!

No time like the present...

NYX Nude on Nude Palette

I really want to do a proper, in-depth review with swatches of this palette (most likely after Christmas when I should hopefully have the infamous UD Naked palette to do a comparison with!), so in the meantime I don't want to say too much other than in my opinion it is the best Naked palette dupe/alternative I have yet to come across. The shades are a mixture of warm and cool tones making it more accessible to different skin tones, and it's the perfect palette for day an night.

I got mine for £15 from TKMaxx.

Primark Blusher

I recently reviewed this gorgeous little tub of lovliness here, which I think speaks for itself, but I will say that other than appealing to my girlie side with the heart-shaped blusher 'beads' this is a beautiful light shade of pink that adds the perfect amount of colour and highlight to your cheekbones without being overpowering or too 'sparkly.'

W7 Nailpolishes

If you hadn't guessed from my earliest post on these beauties, I am obsessed with these nailpolishes from W7, which I picked up for £1.99 each from Savers. The staying power of them is not particularly amazing, but I'm blown away by the stunning colours/tone/depth of each one, and think they are amazing shades to add to your winter collection!

Watch this space for individual NOTD - i've already featured Metallic Mars (see link above)

17 BB Cream

Another product I was fully intending on reviewing before featuring it in my November favourites (and still plan to at some point!), I am again not going to let too much out the bag, but I will say I love this product for giving a really healthy glow to my skin, and you're likely to love it too if you like the Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint - from sampling the skin tint i'd say the products are very similar in consistency and coverage.

 

False Eyelashes (Any kind)

I've never really been into falselashes (and now i'm obsessed, I can't for the life of me think why not); maybe it was the fact I couldn't figure out the proper way to put them on, i'm not sure, but anyway I had ordered a pair from ELF a little while ago, and on Saturday while I had some time to myself I decided to make the effort to try them out. LOVE. Now i've got the technique nailed down, I've been confident in wearing them even on a daily basis, and have recently stocked up on loads of other pairs to try.

They make such a difference to your makeup look, and make me feel so glam!

Primark Boots (current stock)

I've only had these a matter of weeks but i've been wearing them to death as they're so versatile and go with practically anything.

A snip at £15, they're also available in dark brown and are still in stock so grab them while you can!

No7 4 in 1 Facewipes

A product I would NEVER buy at full price (a stonking £7.00 for 30 wipes), I recently picked these up for £2 using my £5 No7 voucher I had languishing in my purse.

I've been pleasantly surprised with these: they're larger than your average facial wipes, and are uber wet, which is what you need to 'properly' (if that's possible) remove make-up using a wipe.

Collection 2000 Cream Puff Matt Lip Cream in 01 Cotton Candy

You always know if Lisa Eldridge gives a product the thumbs up it must be a good 'un, so when she mentioned this product in one of her tutorials I knew I had to try one out.

Cotton Candy is a lovely matt pink shade, which doesn't dry out your lips and stays put for a long time. I've loved wearing it on a daily basis for a pretty, natural look.

 

Favourite blog:

Vintage Vixen

I am constantly amazed at this lady's ability to unearth clothing/jewellery/accessory etc jems in jumble sales, car boot sales, ebay, charity shops (you name it). She updates her blog daily, and will astound you with her vintage finds and bargains!

 

Favourite book

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is part one of a triology of Hunger Games books (there's Catching Fire which i'm reading now, and also Mockingjay, the third book), and introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem where the United States once existed. This is where a government working in a central city called the Capitol holds power. In the book, the Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the Capitol chooses one boy and one girl aged 12 to 18 from each of 12 districts for a massive televised battle in which only one person can survive.
It sounds brutal (and it is somewhat), but it's totally gripping and an idea which I am totally fascinated by.

What have you been loving this month?

Melanie



October 2011 Favourites

It's officially less than 8 weeks until Christmas. I don't know whether to be uber excited, or uber scared - it's my last Christmas as an unmarried woman eek!

Anyhoo, onto the good stuff - what have I been loving in the good old month of October?

Tesco All About Nails polish (L-R: Bronze, Emerald, Cocoa), 99p

I nearly overlooked these little beauties whilst browsing in Tesco for the new Vivo range, but luckily I happened to glance up and, ta-da!, there they were, all lined up in a wee row of their own.

There was actually an amazing array of colours on offer, but I opted for these 3 metallic shades as they're the perfect on-trend/Autumny-Wintery colours, and I LOVE them. The colour pay off is really good after two coats, and whilst they do require a top/base coat to increase their staying power, i'm not too fussed as i'm really pleased I got these beautiful shades for less than a pound each!

E.L.F. Zit Zapper £1.50

I bought this on a bit of a whim when trying to get the contents of my basket to above £30 (or was it £40?) to qualify for the last 50% off offered by E.L.F., and reckoned that since it's usually sold out I better add that bad boy to my basket pronto to see what the fuss was all about (and I was getting it for 75p. I do love my bargains).

It's packed full of spot-fighting ingredients (...I sound like a Clearasil advert), with a little roller ball mechansim that makes it easy to 'dispense' the right amount of product.

I wasn't expecting big things for this, but it really works: you can literally put it on a troublesome spot at night, and the next day it's completely flattened making it far easy to conceal.

E.L.F. All Over Colour Stick in Lilac Petal, £1.50

I'd heard mixed reviews about these little (they're definitely little - much more than I thought they would be!) colour sticks - such as that they dry out really fast - but I decided at 75p i'd give them a go (I purchased this and a kind of highlight shade).

I love using this over tinted moisturiser on days I just want a really fresh-faced, natural look as it gives a really pretty glow to your cheeks, and provides a perfect base for powder blusher if needed.

Boots 17 Starry Eyes trio in Galactic, £5.49

I actually bought this along with the famous beehive lipstick in order to 'qualify' for a free Femme Noir giftset (pics/review to come and some point) - yes I am a sucker for freebies.

It's a really stunning trio of metallic (not glittery) eyeshadows, which have good staying power (unlike some other 17 eyeshadows these aren't powedery thankfully), as well as a wow factor!

George (Asda) Shimmer Me! Brick in 04 Heaven Sent, £4.50

I think it is immediately obvious what this is a pefect dupe of (Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick for anyone who needs help guessing!), therefore I had no hesitation at picking one up from my local Asda for only £4.50 (compared to £20-odd for the BB Bricks).

George have recently expanded their range from 3 basic shades (there were 6 different ones to choose from in my branch), but I decided to opt for this peach/pink/coral based product as I've found that bronze-based shades can make my pale skin look a bit 'muddy.'

Like the BB Shimmer Bricks, this adds a beautiful lift and glow to your cheeks, and I personally think it packs a bit more colour than the BB bricks.

Asda Skin System Eye Make-up Remover, £1.50

After the recent death of my Bioderma Crealine H20 Cleansing Water, I was on the hunt for a new eye make-up remover (preferably cheap and not tested on animals), but never thought I would find it in Asda!

You get a mahoosive 150ml for your money, and it's a really gentle yet effective cream make-up remover (which I've used as an all-over facial cleanser once or twice) - i'm impressed!

E.L.F. Studio Eyebrow Kit in Ash, £3.50

I can't believe the difference defining/shading/filling in your eyebrows actually makes, therefore i'm really glad I bought this little 'kit' as part of my last E.L.F. haul.

I actually thought the Ash shade would be too light for me, but it's actually perfect: the gel fills in my brows without being too dark and therefore glaringly obvious, although I don't use the lighter powder as i'm not really sure what it's for!

Eyeko Grafitti Eyeliner Pen (Black), £5.50

I got this as part of a little set from TKMaxx for around £8, and i'm really loving it so far: for someone who's not the best at applying eyeliner on my top lid, the felt tip applicator helps achieve both fine and thicker lines, and it really doesn't budge (however i've not tested it in monsoon-rain conditions as yet).

Favourite Blogger: Fee at Makeup Savvy
I can't for the life of me understand why this girl's blog didn't win an award at the Cosmo Blog Awards! I'm assuming most of you know of Fee's blog as it is rather amazing, but if not she's a beauty blogger (as well as very talented photographer and nail art designer) who focuses on inexpensive, 'drugstore' products - right up my (high)street!
Her posts are really original and often quite thought provoking, and her photos can make even the most mundane products look stunning!


Favourite YouTuber: Becca at Voussontbeauetbelle
I can't remember exactly how I found Becca's YouTube channel but i'm so glad I did - she's as funny (if not funnier) as the likes of ZozeeBo and Sprinkleofglitter, and if you like haul videos then you'll LOVE her channel, especially for the likes of Primark, Topshop and H&M.

What have you been loving this month?

Melanie x

September 2011 Favourites

For the eagle eyed of you out there, you might have noticed there was no August favourites from Her Royal Highstreet, partly because I didn't know if the products I was going to mention were really my favourites, but largely because I was in the midst of trying out loads of different products and wanted to try/review them first before deciding if they are a favourite!

But that was last month, so onto September favourites!

Palmers Cocoa Butter

Ah the old classic, and one which has no doubt featured in my monthly favourites before. With the colder days (unless you're in England with the October heat wave!!) creeping in, this lovely thick moisturiser is perfect for slathering on your limbs and makes you good enough to eat!

It's also really inexpensive (this 400ml bottle cost around £4) and is not tested on animals which is another plus point.

Bourjois Volumizer

I've actually got a review for this in the pipeline, so don't want to speak too much about it, other than it's one of the new, fangled two-step mascaras which give you uber-fluttery volumized lashes - love!

Bioderma Crealine H20 Cleansing Solution

Again, another product that i'm in the midst of writing a review for.

You'll have heard me mention this product in my Garnier Simply Essentials Make-up Remover review, and it is very similar to this in terms of being a make-up removing solution that is gentle yet effective, but dissimilar in the size (500ml) and price (around £14).

Badger Balm Cuticle Care

Out of all the items mentioned here, this is probably my favourite, as you might have guessed from my recent rave review!

It's named as cuticle care, but i've been using it as a great little multi-purpose product: on lips, cuts/abrasions, spots, etc, and have compared it to Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour cream - but all the ingredients are natural, and the price is a snip at around £4.

Gucci Guilty for Men and Thierry Muglar Angel EDP

The above i've mentioned as favourites just because i'm OBSESSED with the smell!

I'm afraid i'm not any good at describing the various scent combinations that go into these fragrnces, so all I can say is if you're ever in Boots or Duty Free and you've never smelled these before, have a sniff and you'll fall in love!

I also think the Gucci Guilty could be worn by women as a sort of unisex scent, as it's not over powering or very 'male.'

Ecotools 6 Piece Eye Brush set

Another product i've recently reviewed, I love these little brushes as they're excellent value for money, are really good quality and are eco friendly.

Get the Job You Really Want by James Caan

I'm not necessarily looking for a new job at the moment, but it's always good to keep your options open, and this has really opened my eyes to the various stages of looking, applying for and getting a job, with really good, helpful, easy to understand advise which is split out into clear chapters.

I thoroughly recommend it for any job seekers out there.

Calorie Counter App by FatSecret - Free on Blackberry (and I presume iPhone?)

This is an excellent app that i'm really glad I discovered. I've been trying to eat a lot more healthier, and when you first open the app, you can programme in what your goal is - in my case slight weight loss - and it works out your own recommend daily intake (or RDI) of calories (mine is 1700 in comparison to the 2000 guideline for women).

You can then track what you eat through the food diary and diet calandar (it recognises thousands of British foods, restaurants/chains and popular brands) as well as the exercise diary and weight tracker.

I'm really impressed that it's free too!

Favourite blogger of the month: Laura at Buy Now, Blog Later

Favourite YouTuber: Karris at Karrisx

i'd love to hear your favourites this month, whatever they are!

Melanie