First Impressions | Milani Cosmetics

Ever since I started watching YouTube, I've wanted to try something from Milani. Back then it was pretty much impossible to get hold of, but luckily it's now fairly easy to find the brand online in the UK. Thanks to the lovely team at JustMyLook*, I was finally able to try the cult blush I’d been after for years, Luminoso, along with a few other bestsellers.

I have to start by talking about Milani's Baked Blush in Luminoso, which is just as perfect as I imagined. It's a warm peach shade that leaves a beautiful luminous sheen on the skin - thankfully, it's not at all glittery and instead adds a lovely glow. It actually reminds me a little of Hourglass' blushes for the finish it gives, it's very 'lit from within'.

Due to its slightly pink hue, Luminoso will look great on all skin tones. I love it the most when I'm tanned (which is rare, I know) but even when I am my ghostly shade of pale I think it looks stunning. It's a little powdery, but it never appears this way on the skin. To apply, I've actually been using Milani's blush brush. Not hearing anything about Milani's brushes before I wasn't sure what to expect, but wow. Unbelievably soft, this glides product across the skin and it hasn't shed once... not a single hair!

It's the perfect shape and size too for multitasking - it's great for contour and to apply highlight on the cheeks. Somehow, it's turned into my favourite product out of this entire haul and for the price (it's only £14) it's a steal.

The Prep + Set + Go Transparent Face Powder also caught my eye. I have combination skin, so I'm constantly on the hunt for a powder that doesn't make my face look super matte, but can keep my natural oils in control. I usually use RCMA's No Color powder, which is amazing for baking but it can be a little too intense for all over the face.

Weirdly, Milani claim you can use this powder before foundation to blur lines and reduce the size of pores. I tried it once and just found the whole thing a little weird under a liquid - maybe this is something to try with mineral foundation?

Even though I don't prep with this, I have been enjoying it as a setting powder. I have to reapply around 3pm if I put this on before work but it's easy to layer up. It's very fine and feels almost silky to touch, and while it hasn't blown me away it leaves a lovely natural finish and I have noticed the powder  reduces the appearance of the pores on my nose well. My only complaint is how little product you seem to receive. You only get 7g (half of Rimmel's Stay Matte) and I found myself hitting pan really quickly.

The final Milani product I picked up was one of their Amore Matte lip creams. They have around 30 colours, and they smell super sweet like cake mixture (which I can't help but love!) I went for the shade Adorable, and from online swatches I thought this was going to be a lighter nude, but on my lips and with my skin tone it's actually darker than I expected and quite brown. I'd even say there's a hint of grey in there. 

Adorable dried down almost immediately, turning matte after a few seconds. One swipe is enough for an opaque finish but if you even have slightly dry lips you're going to need lip balm underneath. As my lips are on the drier side, I did find I clung slightly to certain patches although it was fine elsewhere. 

It's lightweight and transfer proof - seriously, it's not going anywhere - but one thing I discovered is that it doesn't layer well. It tends to crumble if you apply too much, so once it does begin to fade it's much better to remove it completely and start again. Annoying if you're out all day, but if you're just applying it for the evening it should be fine. 

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with my first Milani haul. I'm 100% picking up more brushes, and I'm eager to try the baked bronzer and a darker shade of the lip creams too!

Becki xo 

*This post contains a PR sample, kindly sent by JustMyLook.

Better than the Beauty Blender?

 

From the moment I swapped my foundation brush for a beauty sponge, I've never looked back. Goodbye streaky makeup, hello flawless skin.

It's safe to say it was love at first use with the original Beauty Blender, but at £16 a pop they're not exactly cheap. Since my last Beauty Blender sponge fell apart (RIP... *sob*), I've been on the hunt for the perfect dupe ever since.

Before now, the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion sponge has been my go-to. However EcoTools released their Perfecting Blender Duo around April, after hearing some of my favourite bloggers rave about the set, I decided to pick them up for myself. The duo costs £9.99 and it's cruelty-free, latex-free and made of 70% plant-based materials!

A p p l i c a t i o n
I've been completely converted by largest, dark green sponge. It's soft, bouncy and blends everything from my BB cream to liquid bronzer seamlessly without removing any makeup underneath. When it comes to the finish of my makeup, I can't notice a difference from when I used my Beauty Blender but I do think it soaks up slightly more makeup (but not as much as the Real Techniques sponge!)

The smaller sponge is a lot firmer, even when wet. I only reach for it when I'm baking underneath my eyes to be honest, but it is brilliant for doing that. Otherwise, I tend to use the larger of the two on a daily basis.

S h a p e
It's immediately obvious the EcoTools sponges are a different shape compared to the Beauty Blender. Both have a round base, as well as a flat edge and wedge-like tip which is really useful for baking underneath the eyes and/or defining my contour.

While they're certainly different, I quite like the addition of the flat edges. It did take a while to get used to at first but now I'm a big fan!

V e r d i c t
I've actually had my EcoTools sponges for almost five months now, and I've only just started to see a tear in the largest sponge despite washing it (almost) every day. I'm seriously impressed by how long it lasted, and I'll definitely be picking another one up once it's time to do so.

I have noticed EcoTools sell the larger sponge on its own in Ulta though, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed it comes to the UK! I would rather just buy that for less, rather than the duo.

Have you tried the Perfecting Blender Duo? I'd love to know what your favourite makeup sponge is too!
Becki xo

Beauty Wishlist #4 - The Luxury Edit

I don't tend to buy as many high-end beauty products as I used to, but it doesn't mean my wishlist isn't full of them! Today I thought I'd show you what luxury products I'm lusting after, and if you've tried any I'd love to know if they're worth the money.

Clive Christian L Feminine
A luxury perfume from designer Clive Christian, the L Feminine limited edition fragrance is so beautiful. Rose scents are my favourite and this exclusive perfume has hints of delicate damask rose, pink pepper and soft magnolia. Clive Christian's fragrances are known for using rare and precious ingredients so they tend to be more expensive than your average perfume, but this 10ml bottle is definitely affordable if you're looking for something extra special!

Becca FirstLight Priming Filter
I'm obsessed with Becca's Backlight Priming Filter, and I've heard so much about the First Light version since it was released. I'm really intrigued by its lavender tint, and it's supposed to be fantastic for adding a soft-focus finish to the skin.

Farmacy Skin Savior Kit 
I've noticed Farmacy cropping up in many of my favourite YouTubers' videos, and it seems like such a lovely brand. This Skin Savior Kit includes generous sample sizes of their Honey Potion mask, Sleep Tight firming night balm, Honey Savior repair salve and Skin Dew setting mist, and it sounds like a perfect way to sample the brand. 

Clarins Summer Bronzer and Blush Compact 
I missed out on the Clarins summer bronzer last year and it was beautiful, and I'm desperate to get my hands on their new one. There's three matte bronze shades and a pretty coral blush included, which creates the perfect sun-kissed glow.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder
How can anyone walk past a Charlotte Tilbury counter without wanting everything in sight? I'm on the hunt for a new powder that can keep oil at bay without making my face overly matte, so maybe CT can do the job?

What do you currently have on your beauty wishlist? Are there any luxury products that you think are worth splurging on? 

Becki xo

*This post was sponsored by Clive Christian.

The 5-Minute Face

I hate mornings, and the longer I can stay in bed the better. If you're the same, I'm sure you've experienced one of those days where you push snooze one too many times, leaving no time whatsoever to get ready.

Whenever this happens there's a certain makeup routine I do which I attempt to finish in around five minutes. Honestly, it's probably more like ten as I'll usually end up smudging something (notice the lack of eyeliner? There's no way I'd attempt that when I'm panicking!), but regardless this is definitely what I throw onto my face when I'm in a rush. I keep it fairly simple, and I'll throw concealer and powder in my bag for later on in the day.

Face: bareMinerals Blemish Remedy Mattifying Prep Gel, bareMinerals Complexion Rescue

Cheeks: Stila Convertible Colour in Cameilla , Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal

When it comes to the base, I'd rather pop on a primer and skip powder. I've been loving the bareMinerals Blemish Remedy Mattifying Prep Gel which was a favourite of mine last summer, and now the weather's getting a little warmer my oily T-Zone needs all the help it can get! The best thing about this primer is definitely the texture - the gel-like consistency is so lightweight and it feels really cooling on the skin. Afterwards, I'll apply one of my favourite tinted moisturisers, bareMinerals Complexion Rescue, and if I feel like I need concealer under my eyes that day I'll reach for my trust Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Fair.

Mother's Day Gift Guide with L'Occitane

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and if you've left things until the last minute then there's no need to panic! If your Mum is anything like mine, then I have a feeling she'll love everything featured in my Mother's Day gift guide.

My Mum never treats herself to luxury bath and body products, but I know she loves nothing more than a relaxing bubble bath and a rich body lotion. L'Occitane is actually one of my favourite brands for gifts all year round and they always offer great value sets with the prettiest packaging. Their mother's day gift sets are really lovely this year, so I've picked out a couple of my favourites to feature!

My Nighttime Skincare Routine

To be honest, my morning skincare is pretty minimal. Despite the fact that I'm usually walking around like a zombie, makeup brush in one hand and coffee in the other, I never actually leave myself enough time for a complicated routine before work.

This is why, for me, evenings are well and truly allocated to skincare and I've been using a combination or products lately, some new and some old, which have been working really well. I may have also made an exciting purchase from The Ordinary very recently to add to my routine too, but more on that in a few weeks time!

The One Where We Start Again

Happy New Year! (and Merry Christmas, Happy Halloween and everything in between...) 

I know, it's been a little bit quiet over here on Beauty and the Brunette. Since my last post a lot has changed and I still can't quite believe that it's been 6 whole months since my last post. Where did all that time go?

Sometimes, you really just need to take a break. It's funny, during my time away I've been reading more blogs and watching so much YouTube it doesn't really feel like I've left. And with 2017 finally here, I think it's about time I finally stop pressing pause on my own content.

July brought so much chaos (in the best possible way) and blogging just had to take a step back. So much has happened, and at the end of June I finally moved out of my parents' home and into an apartment in my favourite city. As well as finally being able to call Leeds home again, I've also started my first full-time job. I'm now a content writer for a marketing agency and every workday is so different. From creating content on bathrooms and pensions to fashion posts and writing about sex toys (I'm deadly serious, haha!), I won't deny it took me a little while to find my feet. 9am starts were (and still are) hell for this night owl, and doing laundry and planning meals are certainly not the highlights of adulthood. But the freedom it brings and the fact that I'm financially independent are definitely major perks.

I mean, I even have a company email address and I've purchased a fancy decorative hand towel from M&S. If that doesn't scream 'adult' I don't know what does.

So here's to 2017, to navigating adulthood and to the many adventures the new year will hopefully bring!

Flamingo Candles | The Melt Crowd June 2016

#TheMeltCrowd

I know it's a huge blogger cliché, but I absolutely adore candles. It must run in my family as my Mum is just as obsessed as I am and I can guarantee that at least 2 will be burning every evening without fail. When I discovered The Melt Crowd from Flamingo Candles, a subscription service where Wax Melts are delivered directly to your door, I literally squealed with excitement. After reading rave reviews from two lovely bloggers, BlondeAmy and TheDiaryofaBeautyAddict, I was sold and I placed my order straight away, impatiently waiting for June to arrive!

How much does it cost?

For £10 a month Flamingo Candles deliver 8 EcoSoya Soy Wax melts to your door (you'll find no nasty chemicals here) with an additional melt added to celebrate your 3rd, 6th, and 9th month as a subscriber. With your first order you also receive a free Wax Burner so all you need to do is add a tealight and your good to go! Every month 8 melts or more will be delivered straight through your letterbox so you don't have to be in for the parcel to be delivered. Boxes with 8 melts have a RRP of £18.95 (£2 each per melt plus an additional £2.95 for delivery) so it's certainly great value for money and the added excitement you feel before the box arrives just adds to the value for me. The scents also vary every month and often feature The Melt Crowd exclusives that you can't buy online!

What's in June's Box?

Before I even opened my June edition of The Melt Crowd I could tell it was going to transport me away to a tropical paradise. The scents were already bursting out from the box before I opened the lid and with one sniff I could already detect so many fresh and fruity fragrances. With Summer officially starting in June, this month was packed with vibrant, exotic scents to celebrate the warmer weather and to fuel those dreams of spending summer nights in the Maldives, relaxing by the ocean with a cocktail in hand. But it's not all about fruity fragrances, there's definitely quite an exciting mix of fragrances this month. Four exclusive scents are included: Beach Please, Peach, Gin & Tonic and Chilli & Coriander, alongside the dessert inspired Lemon Curd and Cheesecake Crunch, the iconic summer cocktail Pina Colada and a special WILD fragrance, which is Flamingo Candles' 90s inspired range, in the scent Strawberry Millions.

Pina Colada | When I think of summer I can't help but start singing that famous song... if you like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain... Pina Colada is a true iconic holiday cocktail and Flamingo Candles have nailed the scent. It's not too sweet or sickly as the mix of pineapple, orange and grapefruit is balanced with a rich coconut and vanilla base. I love this one and I'll definitely be burning it the night before my holiday!

Beach Please | A special edition for June, Beach Please is fresh and zesty and reminds me of the ocean. This one would be perfect for the bathroom and it's a welcome addition besides the majority of fruity, sweet scents.

Peach | Peach is rather self-explanatory and it's another exclusive this month. I was worried that this would smell rather artificial but thankfully it doesn't and instead it has a lovely refreshing sweet peach scent that I can't stop smelling. It's not as complex as Pina Colada or Beach Please but it's just as wonderful.

Gin & Tonic | An exclusive added to celebrate World Gin Day on the 11th of June, Gin & Tonic has a very zesty and punchy gin aroma. I'm a big fan of gin so I was really excited to smell this and I'm very impressed, it's a very clean, clarifying scent. It's a fragrance that is hard to put into words but just think about an uplifting mix of lemon, lime, herbs and gin and you'll have Flamingo Candles' Gin & Tonic!

Lemon Curd | Lemon Curd has a very strong scent which I'm hoping will weaken a little once lit. I'm not a big fan of lemon scents in general so I don't love this but it is quite a nice scent. It's very refreshing, definitely very lemony and it is part of the High Tea permanent collection.

Cheesecake Crunch | It takes a lot of self-restraint to not bite straight into this melt! It honestly smells amazing and so more-ish, it's definitely not one to burn if you're feeling peckish or you might end up devouring an entire cheesecake before you realise it. If you hate sweet, dessert inspired scents you won't like this but I adore them and I can't get enough of Cheesecake Crunch!

Chilli & Coriander | When I first read the name of this melt I wrinkled up my nose and hesitantly gave it a sniff. I don't really enjoy eating Chilli or Coriander at all so I really expected to hate this one but I was pleasantly surprised. I'm very intrigued to see how this smells in a room once it has melted but for now I'm torn. It's very fresh, herby and woodsy but it's also rather weird... but in quite a good way. I like it, I think... I'll have to update you all after I've used this!

WILD Strawberry Millions | The WILD range from Flamingo Candles cast you back to the 90s, full of nostalgia and retro vibes. I do enjoy actually sitting down and smelling the Strawberry Millions melt, it's ridiculously sweet with a sherbet-like strawberry scent, but I'm not sure if it's something I would want my entire room to smell like. It's definitely one I need to burn to fully make up my mind on. 

Overall I'm really pleased with June's melt selection. There are a few instant hits that I know I'll absolutely love but I'm most excited to try some of the more unusual scents. I think I love the concept of The Melt Crowd as it definitely forces me to try fragrance I wouldn't necessarily choose myself. My favourite? It's a difficult decision but I think I'd have to go with Cheesecake Crunch, closely followed by Pina Colada! 

Will I be continuing my subscription?

Absolutely! Due to moving house at the start of July I've been forced to suspend my account for the moment as I have no idea which address I would send July's box to but as soon as I'm settled in my new home I'll be reactivating my account immediately! I'm already eagerly awaiting August's box and by then I'll definitely be in need of more melts. I never usually stay loyal to subscription services, I always feel that they're very hit and miss between each month, but after reading reviews of The Melt Crowd for the past year it seems like they're very consistent with their quality! 

The only tiny, negative thing I have to say about my experience of The Melt Crowd subscription is honestly so petty I'm not even sure why I'm mentioning it. The paintwork on the wax burner I received had sadly been chipped quite a bit on the inside and I was a little bit disappointed that I received a plain black burner instead of one of the prettier cream and blue burners other subscribers had received. Complete and utter #firstworldproblems right here, I know. I'm still so thrilled with my introduction to Flamingo Candles!

If you're a candle lover, you simply have to try The Melt Crowd. You also receive a 20% off discount code for the Flamingo Candles website every month in case you find a favourite scent you just have to stock up on. Let me know if you've joined The Melt Crowd already and if you haven't which scent from June's box do you like the sound of the most? 

Getting Lippy with Lord & Berry

Have you heard of Lord & Berry? They're a brand I've only ever encountered in beauty box subscriptions such as Birchbox so I was actually really surprised when I did a little research and discovered that the likes of Selfridges, Boots, Look Fantastic and even Asos stocked them. They don't seem to be a brand that's talked about very often in the beauty community, so when I was sent 3 of their lip products to try I had no idea what to expect! 

The 20100 Crayon Lipsticks* caught my eye immediately, as they instantly reminded me of the NARS lip pencils which I've been desperate to try. Retailing for £10 each they're considerably cheaper the NARS crayons and although I can't say whether or not the 20100 Crayon Lipsticks are dupes I can happily say that the they are are wonderful products in their own right! And better yet, Boots are currently selling them for half price so they're an absolute steal at £5 each! I never expected to be this impressed, mainly because I hadn't heard much about them or the brand before, but the application was so easy and comfortable due to the super creamy formula and I found them to be long-lasting, highly pigmented (especially the bolder shade) and not drying at all on the lips!  I was sent 2 shades, Vintage Pink and Fuchsia, which you can see applied to my lips below.

Finding the Right Balance with L'Oreal Extraordinary Clay Shampoo

I'll put my hands up and admit it, I was well and truly enticed into buying L'Oreal's new Extraordinary Clay Shampoo purely because of the adverts on TV. Who on earth could resist the promise of combating two pesky issues all at once? Having oily roots and dry ends is an absolute pain. It's so difficult to cleanse the hair thoroughly and keep the grease at bay without stripping away all of the moisture from my poor dry and brittle ends.

To get straight to the point, L'Oreal's Extraordinary Clay Shampoo isn't absolutely life changing but it is a lovely shampoo, especially for only £3.99 for 400ml. Instead of washing my hair every other day, or pile half a can on dry shampoo onto my scalp to make third day hair look slightly acceptable, I can now happily wash my hair twice a week, adding just a touch of dry shampoo on the third and fourth days to top it up. When I first used this I noticed that my scalp felt incredibly cleansed but vitally it wasn't stripped of moisture. My dry ends seemed to feel stronger, silkier and look smoother and my hair overall appeared thicker and a little bit healthier. By the fourth day my hair was definitely leaning towards the greasier side but in comparison to what it would have been using a different shampoo it's still pretty impressive.

The Re-Balancing technology in the new Elvive range is apparently down to 3 redefined clays which help release you from the vicious over-washing cycle. I can't really find an exact scientific analysis of why and how the three clays work to achieve this but the apparent absorption of oil and added hydration seems to be working quite well with my hair. If you suffer from oily roots and dry ends I definitely suggest giving this go to see if your hair responds. It lathers well, smells lovely and it's also silicone free! However, it does still contain sulphates which I'm personally not bothered by but it is something to be aware of incase you're against SLS.

Until I find something even better I think I'll be sticking with the Extraordinary Clay range. The lazy girl in me rejoices whenever I reach for this. Who wouldn't enjoy saying so long to every-other-day hair?

Have you tried anything from the Extraordinary Clay range? 

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Review | Vichy Dermablend Corrective Fluid Foundation and Setting Powder

Full coverage: a phrase that used to send shivers down my spine.

Contrary to popular opinion I really didn't get on with the famous Double Wear or even Revlon's Colorstay foundation. I'm certainly not opposed to a flawless finish, especially for the evenings, but it just seems that every full coverage foundation I've tried to date hasn't sat well on my skin. Sadly, I find that the formulas always tend to be too thick, difficult to blend and combined with my oily skin they end up being a recipe for a cake-y disaster. With this in mind, I suppose you can imagine how hesitant I was to try Vichy's Dermablend Corrective Fluid Foundation (£18)* which is known in the beauty world for providing extremely high coverage and helping to hide even the most severe skin concerns. In all honesty I would never have picked this up myself as it sounds like it provides even more coverage than Double Wear but when Vichy kindly contacted me I thought I'd give it the benefit of the doubt. It's a foundation that's stood the test of time and with a new look, 3 new shades and so many positive reviews I thought that maybe, just maybe, it might be the full coverage formula for me.

The AM | PM Routine Tag

I've noticed The AM/PM Tag floating around quite a lot lately and I absolutely love reading them. There's nothing better than being able to snoop around and gain a little insight into people's daily routines. Even though I wasn't tagged by anyone I've decided to join in on the fun anyway as nothing beats a good ol' tag blogpost on a Sunday morning!

- AM- 

1. What is your morning beauty routine? I'm definitely not a morning person so waking up is always a struggle for me. I usually cleanse my face with Burt's Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream which helps reduce any redness, softens my skin and leaves a nice cooling sensation on my skin due to the hint of menthol in the product. If I have time I'll use my ESPA Balancing Herbal Spafresh Toner and then I reach for a cooling eye product, at the moment I'm using up my Embryolisse Artist Secret Radiant Eye (which I was kindly sent and it's lovely but way too expensive to justify a repurchase), before following up with my La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo moisturiser. If I have time in the morning I might pop on a face mask, Lush make some of my favourites, but this happens pretty rarely as I'm always in a rush to get ready!

2. What's for breakfast? Cereal usually, or a piece of toast with a little bit of Philadelphia cream cheese. If I have more time I love making scrambled eggs on toast! And I always have a piece of fresh fruit too which varies every day.

3. Coffee or Tea? Honestly, neither. I like to start my day with a glass of fresh orange or apple juice. If I had to pick between the two I'd choose tea, but only fruit or green tea. I'm not a fan of normal tea or coffee! I don't really drink hot drinks at all weirdly. 

4. How long does it take you to get out of the door?  If I have 30 minutes to get up and get out the door I can do it but give me 2 hours and I'll find ways to fill in the time! On average to wake up, eat and get ready I like to give myself an hour so I'm not rushing too much.

5. What is your go-to makeup look on a fuss-free morning? If I'm having a good skin day I'll start with bareMinerals Complexion Rescue and if not I'll use my Bourgois Healthy Mix foundation with my Real Techniques Sponge. Next is bareMinerals bareSkin Serum concealer and then I like to use Stila's Convertible Color, in either Camilla or Peony, to add a flush of colour to the cheeks and lips. I always needs a powder to set my makeup, a new favourite of mine is Vichy's Dermablend Setting Powder, and I quickly brush throw my brows with L'Oreal's Brow Artist Plumper. For eyes, I add a wash of with a Kiko Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick and finish up with coat of Maybelline's Lash Sensational mascara!

- PM -

6. What is your evening beauty routine? I'll start by removing my makeup with Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water then I follow up with Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish. About 2 to 3 times a week I'll lightly exfoliate with the Superfacialist Rose Brighten and Refine scrub and then I'll spritz on my ESPA toner again. I add 4 drops of Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate and if my skin is feeling a little bit dry I'll use my Vitamin E Night Cream from The Body Shop. 

7. Snack time! What's in the bowl? Most of the time it's another piece of fruit and possibly a Chocolate Digestive or an Oreo. Sometimes I have the strangest cravings though, I had such a hankering for a piece of cheese the other night!

8. How do you wind down and prep for bed? I'm terrible at winding down and turning off my phone before bed, I'd love to be that person but my mind is always at its most active at night. I like to catch up on some YouTube videos or watch a few episodes of whatever TV programme I'm into before climbing into bed. 

9. Cozy up! What are you wearing to sleep? My Victoria's Secret flannel pyjamas, they're so comfy. If it's warmer I'll usually swap the long-sleeved shirt for a loose t-shirt or a vest though. 

10. What are some things you must do before hitting the hay? I always to double  triple check that my alarm is set and then all I ever really need to do is apply some lip balm!

Below are all the products mentioned and I'd love to know if you're a morning or an evening person! I'm also tagging these 5 lovely ladies to talk about their AM/PM Routines:

Jodie from jodieloue

Ela from elabellaworld

Anjna from anjnaharish:thoughtsofagirl

Katie from beautyfromkatie

Becky from lifebybecky

Favourite Products for Naturally Fuller Brows

Bigger, bolder brows are definitely here to stay. There are so many products on the market right now that are designed to help you fake that fuller brow that people are often spoilt for choice but as a girl with naturally fuller, and rather dark, eyebrows I've really struggled to find the perfect products for me. When all you need to do is to fill in a few gaps, neaten up an arch and somehow manage to get your brows to stay in one place you'll soon discover that a lot of products end up being way too intense and those naturally full brows end up looking quite ridiculous and rather harsh. I'm aware that I'm rather blessed to have an abundance of eyebrow hair, believe me I know how screwed I would be if I had to somehow draw on matching eyebrows, but when a look calls for a delicate, soft brow it can become so frustrating when it's almost impossible to achieve. 

One of my biggest brow issues (but ironically it's also one of the things I love the most) is the colour of my eyebrows. They're almost black and on my very pale skin it creates quite a stark contrast. With a little bit of bronzer it can look great but because of their deep pigment I'm not looking for any intensely pigmented products. Brow products that can be slowly built up to increase pigmentation or products that can add just a hint of colour are my best friends. Finding gaps in my brows has to be the most frustrating problem I face. Having to fill in my brows with such dark brown shades requires a very light hand and it's so easy to end up creating a block of colour that doesn't mimic a natural hair at all. The three products I'm featuring today are brilliant for people with naturally fuller brows for the many reasons that I'm about to list below but they're also excellent brow products in their own right. I think anyone would enjoy using them, even if you have quite sparse brows, if you're looking for products that excel in precision and leave a natural looking finish. 

Top 5 Nude Lip Products

Nude hues are slowly taking over my lip product collection. A few years back you'd be lucky to find anything even slightly neutral in my stash but now nude lip products are all I seem to buy. I still absolutely adore wearing a classic red lip now and again but nothing seems to effortlessly pull a look together like the perfect nude lip. Somehow I've managed what I thought would be impossible and I've whittled down my collection and selected my Top 5 Nude Lip Products to share with you. From barely there washes of colour to bolder, more solid mattes I think I've managed to cover every base. I suppose my Top 5 products are almost like a capsule wardrobe for the lips!

Here Comes the Sun with bareMinerals bareSkin Sheer Sun Serum Bronzer

Being on the paler side, bronzer can either be my best friend or my worst nightmare. Adding a touch of bronzer to my makeup is the easiest way for me to instantly look healthier and more alive but it's also so easy to go overboard when you have fair skin. When bareMinerals kindly sent over their bareSkin Sheer Sun Serum Bronzer* I was honestly a bit terrified of it which, in hindsight, was a bit ridiculous as the 'Sheer' element of the product was stated pretty clearly in the name. But I had never ventured into the world of cream or liquid (or in this case serum) bronzers before as I imagined them to simply be too intense for my pale skin. I can safely say that my fears were misguided and now I think I'm completely converted to the liquid bronzer trend. In fact, I'm so addicted to this product I'm literally pining for hot summer nights as my glowing complexion simply doesn't match the rubbish weather we're having in the UK at the moment.

Men's Beauty Gift Guide feat. L'Occitane

Men can be so difficult to buy gifts for. I know it might be a stereotypical statement but from my experience at least they tend to already have everything they need. When it comes to items they are lacking in, however, beauty products always seem to come out on top (narrowly followed by matching socks of course) and with Father’s Day as our next upcoming holiday - June 19th, don’t panic! - I’ve decided to compile a Men’s Beauty Gift Guide in collaboration with L’Occitane for the occasion which is also for birthdays, anniversaries or any other form of celebration you might have coming up in your life. The hype surrounding Nivea’s Post Shave Balm has also inspired this post and even though products may be categorised as ‘For Men’ or ‘For Women’ the magical shave balm is living proof that we shouldn’t just shop within these binary divisions. The scents and products that I’ve featured in my Gift Guide are definitely universal and it also means that if you discover that the recipient of the present, whether it’s a father, partner, brother etc, doesn’t end up sticking to their new beauty regime then you definitely have an excuse to adopt the product as your own and use it yourself. It’s a win-win situation if you ask me!  

My first 3 picks are from L’Occitane, a brand who I personally adore and who have a wonderful selection of products and fragrances suitable for men. My first recommendation is their Mer & Mistral Eau de Toilette, an uplifting and refreshing scent inspired by the breeze of Grasse, a town on the French Riviera. The fragrance is a lovely combination of lemon, mandarin, cypress, pine and rosemary and it is perfect for Spring and Summer - I even have a little bottle of the shower gel myself! Next is a L'Occitane Classic: the Shea Butter Hand Cream. It has a super rich and creamy formula and it has a very light, comforting scent that isn't overly feminine. My final L'Occitane pick for my gift guide is from the Verbena range, a zesty lemon fragrance that is loved equally by men and women. The Vervaine Shower Gel is the perfect pick me up for early mornings and like all the L'Occitane shower gels its scent lingers for hours and I find it to be soothing and slightly moisturising too! The entire line is amazing but I have a feeling the shower gel will be most popular with men. 

Kiehl's also make some incredible skincare products and I couldn't create this Gift Guide without including them. Their Midnight Recovery Concentrate is a staple in my own skincare routine but I also think it would be a wonderful gift for any man. It really transforms the skin over time, replenishing moisture whilst adding radiance to the face. The lavender essential oils really help you sleep and the pipette applicator is rather cool too. Another amazing product for men is Kiehl's  Razor Bump Relief. I've actually had my eye on this product for a while but for the man with sensitive skin who shaves frequently I can't think of anything more perfect — irritated skin and ingrown hairs on the face have to be the awful! In a similar and slightly cheaper form, of course I had to include the famous Nivea Post Shave Balm. Even if you buy this for a man just so you can steal it back ten minutes later I still thought it was worth mentioning! It's the thought that counts, right? 

Do any of you have any favourite products that work well for both men and woman?

Let me know what beauty items you would buy for a man in the comments below!

*This post was written in collaboration with L'Occitane.

Lush | Frozen Bath Bomb Review

Lush reviews are some of my favourite posts to write for my blog. I enjoy snapping photos of my bath after a bath bomb has been dropped into the water almost too much, sometimes I don't even want to get in because I'll probably destroy the pattern. Am I crazy? Probably. Anyway, I digress. This week I finally found the time to use the magical Frozen bath bomb which sadly doesn't start singing 'Let It Go' as it hits the water but don't worry, I managed to make up for that to everyone else's dismay.

3 New Beauty Buys from L'Oreal

After rummaging around my makeup collection I was quite surprised that I owned very little from L'Oreal. With the exception of the odd mascara and a very dried up eyeliner my current collection was pretty much L'Oreal free. To be honest I'm not entirely sure why I've tried so little from such a popular brand but for the sake of beauty research I decided this had to change (excuses, excuses!) I'd been curious about a couple of their newer releases for a little while now so when I spotted a 3 for 2 offer in Boots a few weeks ago I jumped at the chance to finally explore the brand a little bit more.

4 Instagram Accounts Worth Turning Your Notifications On For

Everyone seems to be panicking about Instagram's new upcoming algorithm. The possibility that it will now be even harder to attract likes and the fear of missing out on your favourite users photos sparked a frenzy of 'Turn Notifications On' posts on the platform yesterday. In reality, as the new algorithm works off your behaviour on the platform, the accounts you interact with the most should still appear frequently on your feed. But let's be honest here, nobody is entirely sure whether they're going to get buried by the new changes or not. The desperate plea by many to encourage their followers to receive a notification every time they upload a new photo is all well and good but our phones are already saturated by notifications without Instagram adding to the mayhem.

If you are planning on pushing the 'Turn Notifications On' button you definitely want to be very selective about who you push it for. For me, I'm limiting myself to only receiving notifications for close friends and those accounts that truly inspire me and cheer me up every day. So I thought I'd create a list of my Favourite 4 Instagram Accounts that I'm so obsessed with that even the idea of adding to the notification hell doesn't alter my love for them.

Gemporia Spring Wishlist

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Gemporia is a company I've been hearing more and more about over the past few months, whether it's from fellow bloggers or in the press. I've always been the type of girl who loves simple and delicate jewellery and when it comes to gemstones I turn into a complete magpie. Gemporia is basically like an online treasure chest for people like me! I like to browse the site every so often and pick out a few favourites that I could spoil myself with if I'm ever feeling spendy so when Gemporia contacted me and asked if I would like to put together a Spring Wishlist for them I already had a few of the pieces featured above in mind.