The Best Beauty Discoveries of 2016: Part 2

Being a lipstick hoarder, naturally I had to have a separate 2016 favourites post dedicated just to lip products. This is part two of my yearly favourites, so if you missed my first part then you can catch up here on all my other beauty favourites. Back to the the topic of lipstick however, my favourite, there is a few different products I want to discuss from liquid lipsticks, lipsticks and lip balms which have made my year. Honestly, I could’ve maybe added more options to this post but I thought I would keep it streamlined to mention my top ultimate lip products from the year so here we go..

Starting with liquid lipsticks, 2016 has officially been the year of liquid lipstick. It seems like every brand has their own version of a liquid lipstick with so many to choose from now. There were quite a few I tried this year and particularly ones I hadn’t previously tried out. Kat Von D finally came to the UK this year (finally!) and of course I had to nab a couple of her ever popular everlasting liquid lipsticks. I have a few shades from the range including both Lovesick and Mother (pictured) and they are so gorgeous. Lovesick in particular is such a great everyday shade but also super unique too as well as having a great wearable formula.

Another liquid lipstick that won me over is from the Mac Retro Matte range, in particular Lady Be Good. I heard a lot of mixed reviews regarding these matte liquid lipsticks however I am obsessed with this one. The formula is super comfortable as well as having an amazing doe foot applicator which is spongy and shaped perfectly to fit the lips. The colour is a beautiful peachy nude shade, perfect for everyday wear. With new shades of these being released, I definitely need to try more!

In terms of lipsticks, I fell in love with two new formulas. Firstly, lipstick queen Charlotte Tilbury when I finally tried her KISSING range out, in particular the shade Bitch Perfect. This is my perfect nude, a beautiful light peachy pink and the most comfortable creamy formula. Major Love! A new release this year came from Urban Decay when they revamped their lipstick range, introducing the vice collection of 100 lipsticks. With so many to choose from, I settled for the shade Backtalk which I am so glad I did. It is definitely one of my favourite lipstick shades, a beautiful cool toned rosy mauve shade in a comfortable matte formula. Definitely one I recommend!

Lastly, moving on to lip balm/glosses. I found a lip balm this year that I truly do not know what I would do without in my beauty stash! It is the Instant Light Lip Perfecting Base from Clarins. This works as a treat as my go-to lipstick base as it helps hydrate my lips before layering on the heavy liquid lipsticks. I honestly don’t find matte lipsticks uncomfortable at all, yes even the Mac Retro Matte range as this seems to work so well as if I am wearing nothing on my lips. A truly ground-breaking product in my stash!

Lastly, a newer product in my stash but still one I am already obsessed with. A lip gloss/balm hybrid. the By Terry Baume De Rose Lip Gloss. A special holiday release, this is essentially a pearly lip glossy version of their cult balm, except with a texture much like a balm in that it isn’t overly sticky like a gloss which I love. I always wanted to try the original so I am super excited to be able to try this and since I’ve been loving it, I desperately want the original in my stash! It is such a great minimal makeup option, a beautiful glossy nude pink shade.

What are your top lip products from 2016?

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Products On The Repurchase List

You can always tell how good a beauty product is if it’s worth a repurchase! After trial and error, I have found some great products that I would no doubt be repurchasing in the future. There is countless products in my stash that I adore however I selected a small variety of products that I have either already repurchased or know that a repurchase will happen!

SKINCARE

Skincare products are tricky and definitely the sign of a good product if you know it is worth a repurchase! Whilst I will probably have more makeup options overall, there is some skincare products I know I couldn’t be without!

Clarins are one of my favourite brands and definitely a brand I need to try more from. One of my favourite products is their One Step Facial Cleanser. I am now on my third bottle of this stuff, it is so good! It is a quick and easy water based cleanser that is perfect for mornings to swipe over the face for a gentle and awakening cleanse. I’ve tried both the mint and orange variety and love both, this orange one however does leave a beautiful glow to the skin!

A bit of a skincare-makeup hybrid, the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfecting Base, in short a lip balm. This is seriously underrated! I recently finished up a tube of this and had to repurchase asap as I just couldn’t do without this! It is the perfect lip balm for under lipstick, super moisturising and a great base. So worth the splurge!

After suffering from rough skin under my eyes, I opted for the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado and since haven’t looked back! This is seriously moisutrising stuff, it is thick and super nourishing so great if like me you suffer from dryness or rough skin under your eyes. It may seem expensive for a tiny pot but oh my this has lasted me so long, in fact over a year (which I shouldn’t be admitting to!) and is still going strong!

The last skincare product on my list is from another brand favourite of mine, Origins. I’ve tried quite a lot from Origins but one of my favourite products from them right now is their Ginzing Energy Boosting Moisturiser. With the wintery weather making an appearance, my skin is feeling rather lacklustre and in need of hydration and this moisturiser is the perfect option. It is seriously moisturising and as it suggests a boost of energy! I need a full sized tub asap!

MAKEUP

First on the makeup list is an already repurchased item in the form of Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, my favourite ever concealer. I am not going to go on too much about this as regular readers will know the drill, this stuff is just seriously good. Thick and creamy with high coverage, perfect for blemishes!

Sticking to base related items, BareMinerals Complexion Rescue has became a favourite of mine over the last year. The perfect lightweight and low coverage base that offers the most gorgeous dewiness to the skin. It is essentially like your skin but better! A product I highly recommend trying if you are into glowy skin!

Another favourite of mine that many will be aware of, since I’ve mentioned it so many times is the Body Shop Honey Bronzer. This bronzer was basically made for my skin, coming in a range of light tones, it is the perfect shading for fair skinned gals (and guys) like me! It isn’t too muddy or orange in any way so creates a gorgeous warmth and sculpted look to the skin! My shade 02 doesn’t seem to be available and I have heard terms of it being discontinued(!) but there is other shades available!

Last but not least on this extra long post (sorry!) is a newbie to my stash yet one I already am obsessed with. It is the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper. I went off eyeliner for a long time and once I got this and I can’t stop wearing it! I seriously wonder how I coped without wearing eyeliner since it makes such a difference! For an eyeliner noob like me however this is an absolute dream of a product. The brush tip makes it easy to glide over the eye without tugging and it is super pigmented and seriously long lasting! So good!

What is on your repurchase list?

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Summer Beauty Essentials

When a sight of sun is in the sky, my beauty priorities take a change from fuller coverage bases and sculpted, neutral looks to embrace the Summer vibes with bronzed skin and bright shades. As well as my makeup choices, my skincare also changes up slightly. With Summer in full swing, I thought I would share my top beauty essentials for dealing with the summer heat.

MAKEUP/NAILS

In terms of base, I love a lightweight glowy base for Summer. When the sun is shining, the last thing I want is a fuller coverage thick foundation so instead I love a light and comfortable tinted moisturiser/bb cream. My favourite is the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue which gives enough coverage for a light base and also provides a fresh glowy look to the skin all whilst remaining comfortable and moisturising on the skin. To add some extra glow to my skin, I love the look of liquid highlighters. They look soft and natural on the skin and can be worked in with foundation too. I am currently loving the Nars illuminator in Copacabana which blends into the skin beautifully.

To amp up the warmth in my skin, bronzer is such a must in Summer. It helps add a little definition to my face whilst giving me a little colour too. I am currently all for shimmery bronzers to add even more glow in my skin such as the Soap and Glory Wonderbronze which I have been loving. To add even more colour, I love bright lip shades at this time of year. There is nothing better than a bright coral or orange-y red to brighten things up. I will share some of my favourites later but I am loving Mac Relentlessly Red.

I also love bright nails as well, something I will also cover in another post. They look summery and great for enhancing a tan. I have so many Essie shades that I am loving but I am currently all for their new Summer shade Sunshine State of Mind.

SKINCARE

Obviously when the sun is out in full force, it is important to protect your skin. Having light skin, I need high protection for my skin in the sun so SPF is so important. I am currently using the Clarins Sun Cream for Very High Protection which offers UVB/UVA 50+ to help my skin stay safe in the sun. So having light skin means that tanning just doesn’t happen for me and I have to turn to self-tanning products. I am not much a tanning person anyway so a gradual tanner is all I need for a subtle bronzed glow. I am currently using the Clarins Golden Glow Booster to add in to my moisturiser for an extra glow.

Lastly, to keep hydrated I love hydrating mists. In the heat there is nothing better than a boost of hydration to stay refreshed and cool in the heat. I am all for the Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist which is a bargain and super hydrating on the skin.

What are your Summer beauty essentials?

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Summer Beauty Prep

When Summer comes around, I feel like I there is a lot of beauty prep going on to sort myself out after hibernating through the colds of Winter. My beauty routine always seems to be more important in Summer time since it’s bare legs weather, oh no! In Winter since I like to stay wrapped up in hundreds of layers, I basically need to get my head in gear come Summer. Today I thought I would share some of my go-to products and how I use them to prep for the Summer season!

EXFOLIATE/MOISTURISE 

One thing in my beauty routine that I am pretty lazy with is keeping my body exfoliated and moisturised. Particularly in Summer, I like to make sure I am on top of this. When legs out weather is in, I gotta be prepared. Exfoliating is so important and helps get rid of any dead skin great for tanning. I am currently using one from The Body Shop, in fact one from their Christmas collection! Very summery, I know! As well as exfoliating, like with any skincare routine it is also important to moisturise. Whilst I’ve got my eye on the new Body Shop Pinata Colada range, I am currently loving the ease and convenience of the Vaseline Spray Moisturiser.

TANNING

I am not much of a tanning person, I kinda just accept the fact that I am a milk bottle and embrace it. Whilst I don’t see myself going for a full fake tan anytime soon, I do like to have a light subtle glow. A gradual tanner is basically perfect for me and this year I am looking forward to using the Clarins Radiance Plus Golden Booster. The idea is super simple and appealing, basically you just add a few drops of this to your moisturiser and mix it together and apply for a subtle glow.

NAILS 

I am more of a neutral nail shade lover but when it comes to Summer there is nothing better than bright corals and tropical shades. Great for enhancing a tan, I am looking forward to getting my nails ready for the Summer season. I am currently loving the new Essie shade Sunshine State of Mind from the Summer collection.

How do you prep for Summer?

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March Favourites

Hello everyone! Firstly, apologies for my absence recently! If you follow me on Instagram then you may be aware of my technical issues I’ve been having lately at home meaning I haven’t been able to blog! I’m still having issues with no working desktop and going through the pain of the terrible WordPress app and mobile website! Anyway I obviously have managed to post today however I can’t promise my usual schedule again yet! I will of course update you all later and apologies for being late in responding to comments etc! Anyway on today’s post, it is time for another monthly favourites as March is officially (nearly) over! I don’t have a load of favourites this month but I have a few products that I kept returning to over the last few weeks!

Starting with base/cheek products, I had been in a bit of a concealer rut recently! Whilst I mentioned the UD concealer in my favourites last month, I really can’t get away with the shade right now so I have to turn elsewhere. The Clarins Instant Concealer has been my go-to over the month, it is fresh and lightweight and whilst I prefer it for my under eyes opposed to blemishes as the coverage is quite light, it has done a not too bad job. Most importantly though, the colour actually matches my skin! Hoorah!

Another rediscovery this month has been the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat. I’ve also been in a bit of a blush rut recently, feeling rather uninspired by my blush options. Although I went back to this beauty and have been obsessed. The coral-y shade is perfect for this time of year when the sun is finally appearing. The formula is also beautiful and the blush just looks so uplifting and glowy on the cheeks.

My routine lately has been all about the lip products. I am truly obsessed with the dusky pink/rosy nude shades (you know the one!) at the moment which is pretty evident from my next favourites. The first is the Soap and Glory lipstick in the shade Perfect Day which is a gorgeous rosy brown colour. This shade is in their satin finish range so is super creamy yet pigmented and long lasting. I honestly think these lipsticks are so underrated as the quality is superb however sadly I believe this line is being discontinued since they have all been reduced. I believe I picked this shade up for a mere £4 so if you have stock near you, I highly recommend picking one up! Alongside this lipstick, I have loved pairing it with Mac Whirl lip liner. At first, I did think it was a little too brown for my liking but it happens to be a perfect match for the lipstick and of course the Mac formula is fab!

Lastly, I have grew a bit of an obsession with liquid lipsticks. I basically want them all! I picked up a couple from Gerard Cosmetics and I have been so impressed. The shade Cher appeared it would be too dark on me at first however I am loving it! The shade is a deep mauve colour that is super flattering. The formula isn’t the most comfortable but it isn’t terrible either and it also offers incredible longevity! I need more!!

What have you been loving lately?

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How To Wear A Matte Lip

Matte lips are truly having their moment just now. I can totally understand why though as I love a good long lasting matte lip. Knowing that my lipstick will stay in place and look nice is a big deal so I do have a thing for matte lips which always does the trick. Although we are all pretty much aware that going matte has its issues. Many matte lip products can be drying or uncomfortable due to cracked or dry lips so it is vital that lips are well prepped before hand. I thought I would share a few pointers to keeping your lips looking in tip top shape whilst rocking a matte finish.

EXFOLIATE 

Thinking on similar grounds to your skin, if you have dry flaky skin then exfoliation is your best friend. Similarly, as you would with your skin, you apply to your lips. Ensuring your lips are smooth and rid of any dry patches, using a lip scrub can help create a good base. There are plenty of lip scrubs available now, heck you could even make your own, DIY style! Although I will always love the Lush Lip Scrubs, effectively gets the job done and tastes nice too! Another good method for ensuring your lips are super smooth is to brush them with a toothbrush, sounds gruesome but it really works at peeling away dead skin.

PREP

Again like you would with skin after exfoliating is add a boost of moisture. It is important to ensure you retain levels of moisture in your lips so they are well hydrated especially under matte lipsticks. Investing in a good lip balm is key and a product everyone needs in their stash. For under lipstick, I am currently loving the new Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfecting Base, the perfect base for lipstick which makes my lips feel super soft and comfortable under drying lip products.

LINE

As well as matte lips, lip liner is really having a thing too at the moment. I am definitely cool with that though as adding in that extra step can do all the difference. For long lasting colour, filling in your lips using a liner can help pro-long the wear of your lipstick and also prevent the colour fading unevenly. Having a lined base underneath means when your lipstick starts to fade, your lips can still retain colour from the liner stain. My favourite lip liners are the Mac ones as they are super creamy and apply easily.

APPLY AND SET

Once you’ve given your lips the perfect prep, it’s finally time to apply your favourite matte lippy! Then to give your lips a final boost of longevity, by placing a tissue over your lips you can dust translucent powder over to set your lipstick in place.

What is your tips for wearing matte lips?

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Skincare Empties

It’s been a while since I last did an Empties post although over the last month I have reached the end of several skincare products and thought it was about time for another ‘things I will be putting in the bin’ post. Of course it was just my luck during the month of January when I was trying to stick to a budget that a lot of my main skincare products decided to come to an end, typical eh! Anyway I thought I would do a little round up of some of the products that have reached their end or near enough. After using up a whole product it is definitely a good indicator of whether or not it lived up to its expectations or not.

FIRST AID BEAUTY FACIAL RADIANCE PADS 

I had heard so much about these exfoliating pads and was ever so excited to see them included in a beauty box I picked up. I like using acid toners for exfoliating rather than harsh scrubs and essentially this is such an ideal and convenient product. Pre-soaked cotton pads that you can simply wipe over your face to exfoliate and brighten. I completely love the idea of these, they feel pretty gentle on my skin and they leave my skin feeling smooth. The pot came with 28 pads which lasted a good length of time so it does work out as good value.

Would I repurchase? I do really want to try the Pixi Glow Tonic first but I would definitely come back to these.

SIMPLE LIGHT MOISTURISER

It feels pretty satisfying reaching the end of this bottle as it has lasted me so long! The bottle is a huge 125ml and only needing a small amount each time, it is definitely a long lasting option. Being a ‘light’ moisturiser, it isn’t too rich or thick, instead as it suggests it is pretty lightweight. No pun intended but this is a pretty simple moisturiser. It is fairly basic, it is decent enough, has a light layer of SPF included but it is nothing wow.

Would I repurchase? No, I think it is time to try something new.

THE BODY SHOP TEA TREE BLEMISH GEL

I am a huge fan of many products from The Body Shop however I don’t find the Tea Tree range all that great. In fact, I have never really been one for tea tree products. I remember in my early teens using those horrible tea tree facial scrubs that all did nothing. Sadly, this is another product takes me back for those reasons. I suffer from quite a lot of blemishes and picked this up in a bid to try and make a slight difference. The bottom line here is that it really didn’t do anything for me at all. I’ve kept using this with the hopes it would do something but sadly not.

Would I repurchase? Nope, I think my tea tree days are over.

CLARINS ONE-STEP FACIAL CLEANSER

I am definitely not a morning person so having a convenient and easy morning routine is a must. I don’t have time for an excessive skincare routine so something easy for a quick but effective cleanse is a must. I picked up this cleanser last year and it has became my morning go-to. I used the orange extract version suitable for all skin types. With the zingy orange-y scent, it feels freshening and awakening on the skin perfect for those early mornings. It also makes my skin appear more radiant and is so quick and easy to use! It is one that I am currently still obsessed with so this is going no where!

Would I repurchase? Already have, although this time I picked up the mint one for combination skin to see if there is much difference!

LUSH CRANBERRY FRESH FACE MASK

I love a good face mask especially those ones from Lush so I was looking forward to trying a newbie as part of the Christmas collection. Cranberry essentially has a full on cranberry scent as you would expect. The mask is thick but applies smoothly on the skin. It feels refreshing and smoothing on the skin and is a nice one for the end of a long week.

Would I repurchase? Sadly not as it was limited edition!

LIZ EARLE CLEANSE AND POLISH

A beauty cult favourite that I truly adore. This cream cleanser became a staple part of my routine last year and really paved the way for me with skincare. It is a gentle cream cleanser that you apply over dry skin and then wash off with a hot muslin cloth. It is a good entry level cleanser and also works out at great value for money especially with the length of time it lasts! It left my skin feeling smooth and cleansed.

Would I repurchase? Not at the moment as I am trying something new but I would go back to this!

Have you tried any of these products?

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The Going Out Makeup Look

Despite still being in my teen years I have a rather poor social life. I rarely venture out for nights out on the town instead favoring staying in to watch a load of crap weekend TV. Since it’s such a rare occasion I do step out I do like to up my makeup game and put in the effort. All my favourite and top makeup picks come out to play in being those trustworthy products that I know will stick around for a long night. There is no surprise really that it’s all high end products that made the cut as I do like to make good use of my investment pieces that I know work well for me. I did surprisingly head out last weekend although for a very special occasion as I headed to see One Direction in concert so obviously I wanted to look my best. There is a mix of newbies and old favourites that I have put together to form a killer night out look.

Starting with base, this is really were I put a lot of trust in my products to be long lasting and work for my skin. As always I start with primer and of course my holy grail Smashbox Photo Finish Primer excels in helping makeup last longer and still looks fresh throughout the night. I’ve never found as good a foundation as Nars Sheer Glow. It provides a buildable satin finish and blends beautifully into the skin. Another favourite from Nars is their Creamy Radiant Concealer which does the best job at concealing blemishes and redness. Mine is currently running low which does make me panic cause pricey repurchase may be necessary! In terms of concealing eyes, I start with my Bobbi Brown corrector to cancel out any discoloration under the eyes then use my Clarins Instant Concealer over the top.

On to the more exciting products to give my complexion a little bit of life. I am so excited to say that I finally own the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow Palette. This palette is what dreams are made of. It is so gorgeous. I firstly use the sculpt shade to warm up my complexion and give my cheekbones a little definition. Then I like to go a little crazy with highlighter by patting it on to the tops of my cheekbones for that intense glow. To perk up the cheeks you can never go wrong with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes in particular the shade Diffused Heat. With highlighting properties these blushes really light up the skin and don’t appear flat.

Onto the eyes. As usual my Benefit Gimme Brow for a little sweep through the brows to make them a little fuller. In terms of eyeshadow, I have been going a little palette crazy recently. I finally picked up the Urban Decay Smoky palette cause obviously I had to, right? With deep intense shades it works perfectly at creating more full on night out looks. The shimmer shades in particular in this palette are truly stunning and the shade Radar is one I am forever reaching for. For the full on dramatic eye look I like to finish by curling my eyelashes with the Shu Uemera eyelash curlers and many coats of the Benefit They’re Real mascara.

To finish off, I like to add something a little bold to the lips. I find going out gives me the perfect opportunity to crack out the bold dark shades. One shade I have been reaching for recently has been Mac D For Danger, a bold berry red shade in a matte finish that sticks around from dinner to drinks to home time.

What products do you reach for on a night out?

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September Favourites

Another month gone by, another time to round up my monthly beauty favourites. I feel like September is the last month to really say goodbye to the tinted moisturisers and coral shades in order to prepare for the darks shades and matte complexions ready for Autumn. Looking at my favourites this month I really have went for more Summery and natural picks perfect for an everyday minimal makeup look. I have found some great products this month that worked a treat during the Summer months and hopefully will work well into Autumn and I won’t have to push them to the back of my drawers.

Starting with base, there was two base products that worked perfectly in giving me a flawless complexion over the month. Firstly, I pulled out my Topshop BB cream again to start getting a little more use out of it. I reviewed this a while back now here and at that time I was a little in the middle with this one. I liked the coverage but the shade and application didn’t always go down well with me. Since I started using this again I have just been loving it. It seems so different from when I started using it. The shade seems to be a little better suited especially when I’ve piled on the bronzer and with my skin improving lately it blends in really well and sits perfectly on my skin. It’s also so great for during the day whilst I’m working as it is super lightweight but also has a beautiful glow to it and lasts really well too! Hopefully if the shade still works well with me, this will be one I will keep using into the new season!

The next base related product is from Clarins and a product I mentioned in my recent Clarins Haul post here. It is of course the Clarins Instant Concealer. This is just the perfect under-eye concealer I’ve ever used. It is so incredibly lightweight but still offers a good whack of coverage. As it is a really thin consistency a little goes a long way and it blends in like a dream. A concealer that I think will get a lot of loving from me for a long time to come.

To add a little colour to the cheeks, I’ve been loving the Clinique Cheek Pop in Melon Pop. I mentioned this here alongside it’s matching lipstick. This is such a gorgeous blush and so summer appropriate. The coral-y peachy pink shade is super natural and soft looking on the cheeks and the formula is super fine so doesn’t feel overly powdery or too much. As Autumn swings around I may have to turn back to my dusky rose shaded blushes but I definitely need to pick another one up from the range as they are so lovely!

Finally, there is probably no surprise here when I mention this well loved lip combo. I talked about these two in my Nude Lip post here and it’s been the one lip look I’ve worn for the majority of the month. Charlotte Tilbury Miss Kensington lipstick and Pillow Talk lip liner really are the perfect nude lip and as I’ve been in need for something work appropriate during the month this combo has worked perfectly for the natural makeup look. For those light makeup days, this is two that I can always rely on.

What has been your favourite products this month?

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