Top NYX Picks

I've gradually fallen in love with NYX products over the years and I love that they're gradually becoming more and more available in the UK as the quality of the products is brilliant for a drugstore price point. Debenhams have recently started to stock NYX products and it's exciting to have another store on the high street to shop all the lovely products! To celebrate this news, I thought I would share my favourite NYX products as I've gradually acquired quite a collection over the past couple of years! 

The Soft Matte Lip Creams are definitely my favourite lip product from NYX, they are really easy to apply, moisturising as well as providing beautiful and vibrant shades. I own so many different kinds of shades from nudes to vampy reds and they are all equally as lovely to wear. My favourite shades in the Soft Matte Lip Creams are Stockholm and Cairo, these are really natural nude shades that I wear as everyday shades and I think would be flattering on a number of skin tones. The Lip Lingerie's are also a beautiful product to wear. These are similar to a liquid lipstick and provide more of a matte finish than the Soft Matte Lip Creams, they're also much longer lasting and definitely dry down a lot more on the lips. These are great if you want something to throw on in the morning and last you throughout the day as they definitely stay put once you apply them. The eyeshadows are also phenomenal quality, these are genuinely some of my favourite shadows as they blend really easily, don't cause fallout and also last well without creasing throughout the day. Some of my favourite shades are 'Gold Lust' 'Girl Talk' and 'Own the Night.' The Cool Neutrals palette is perfect to have a range of shadows all in one place, so is perfect for traveling! This palette is really good value for money as you get 16 shadows for £16 which is such a great deal. 

I've been loyal to my Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade for years but decided to give the NYX Tame and Frame Pomade a go to see how it compares. For a drugstore product, this does provide similar results to the Anastasia Dip Brow. While it doesn't quite beat it as it doesn't last quite as long and the general finish of Dip Brow is better, NYX certainly provide a drugstore version for those who don't want to splurge on the Anastasia equivalent. One of the products I've tried more recently is the Contour Intuitive Warm Zone Palette which contains the most beautiful highlight shades that look absolutely gorgeous on the skin along with beauty cranberry eyeshadow shades that are perfect for autumnal makeup looks! Like the Cool Neutrals palette, this would be brilliant for traveling and it contains a versatile blush, glowing highlighters and stunning shadows!

Have you tried NYX products before, what are your favourites?
 

The Foundation I Love and Loathe

Diorskin Forever Foundation £35

I was so excited when I bought this foundation and had such high hopes because of the good things I had heard about it. I purchase pretty much every full coverage foundation I can get my hands on so this was no exception. It turns out, it's a foundation I both love and loathe in equal measures. This is a full coverage foundation which covers every blemish, acne scar and section of uneven skin tone possible. It has a beautiful finish and makes my skin look absolutely flawless even when it is far from it. I think it would also work on most skin types as it didn't cling to dry patches but also lasted well throughout the day without needed a touch up or powder. The packaging is really nice and feels luxurious, it comes with a pump which is really handy for dispensing the right amount of product and not wasting any, super handy considering the price! However, there is a massive negative that occurred a couple of days after trying this product, my skin broke out like never before. I had big painful spots, terrible red skin and small pus filled spots all over my face, it looked absolutely terrible. I have had bad skin for years but I've never had a reaction this bad to makeup which was disappointing considering how amazing the actual product is. My advice, if you don't have sensitive skin then you could go to a counter to get a sample before you shell out £30+ on a foundation that may cause issues. However if you are generally quite sensitive to products, I would probably give it a miss! Apparently Lancome do a similar foundation which is also full coverage, so that will probably be my next purchase!

Have you tried this foundation before or do you have any similar recommendations?

August Birchbox

 Birchbox £12.95*

 

Spectrum Full Size Angled Brush £59.99 for set

LOC Shadow Stick £8

Number 4 Sugar Texturizing Spray £20 

Nuxe Dry Oil Shimmer £20 

Huygens Supernature Cream £25 

This month's Birchbox is mermaid themed with a box of treats created to make waves! I love the cute shell and mermaid pins you get with the box too! My favourite item from the box is the Spectrum brush, it's angled so perfect for contouring and I've been using it everyday. I also love how colourful the brushes are which means they're easy to spot in your makeup bag! The bristles are synthetic and animal friendly which is an added bonus! The Nuxe Dry Oil Shimmer is a long term favourite of mine and I always love receiving these in the boxes, you can use it on your skin, body or hair. I tend to use it on my body to add a really pretty glow to my skin. I have tried the LOC Shadow Sticks before, they're a really soft pencil which blends easily to create the perfect base for eyeshadows. This shade is a brand new shade and is a pretty champagne colour, so versatile for any kind of makeup look!

What do you think of this month's box? 

IT Cosmetics CC Cream

IT Cosmetics CC Cream £30    I had heard so many great things about IT Cosmetics from the concealers to the mascara, so when I found their counter in Selfridges, I was excited to check them out. I have an obsession with foundations so obviously I decided to try out their CC Cream, I haven't tried one before so this was my first impression of how they work. This product claims to be full coverage, it has an SPF of 50, is anti-ageing and hydrating on the skin. I've used a lot of full coverage foundations, the Kat Von D Lock It Foundation, Estee Lauder Double Wear and Mac Studio Fix Fluid and I personally would say this foundation is medium coverage. It didn't cover a lot of my redness, acne and acne scarring like other foundations I've tried and I still needed quite a lot of concealer to cover everything. It's still a decent amount of coverage but I am used to heavy foundations and this just doesn't compare. The foundation is great if you have dry skin as it's really hydrating and also feels incredibly light. It applied nicely and didn't accentuate any of my dry areas which is quite rare when I try base products. However I personally can't comment on the anti-ageing claims as I'm still fairly young and I didn't notice any difference in my skin while I was using this.   The best way I've found to apply the CC Cream is with a Beauty Blender as it did apply slightly streaky with a brush and the Beauty Blender tends to provide more coverage which I like. I really like the packaging as you get a pump which is handy and it's great for traveling or popping in your handbag as it's not going to potentially smash like glass bottles. The only negative is that I don't think the actual product will last a long time in comparison to other foundations as I've had it for four weeks and I seem to have used quite a lot of it. Saying this, you do get 2ml more product that normal foundations so it might just be that I've used more product in an attempt to get more coverage. If you're after a hydrating foundation with medium coverage and are willing to spend the money to test it out, then I would recommend it. However, it's not a foundation I'm going to shout about and one I probably won't repurchase as I own similar and better foundations that give me the coverage I want. It is slightly pricey at £30 so if you tend to prefer to save your money and want a similar alternative, the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation provides similar results, without the SPF and price tag.    Have you tried this foundation? What did you think? 

Why you should put your blog on your CV

I follow a lot of other bloggers on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. This means I am constantly surrounded by other people who do exactly the same as me, write a blog. It makes me shrug off the work I do on my blog, I always say to people "loads of other people do it" and I don't always see my blog as anything special. This is one of the main reasons I didn't mention my blog on my CV, I didn't think employers or recruiters would take it seriously and would scoff at my little hobby. However, a year ago, when I was beginning to update my CV for full time jobs after uni, I decided to add my blog to my CV.  I was applying for social media and marketing jobs, I had no other experience apart from helping create content at my part time retail job so my blog was really my only attempt to land my dream career. One part of me felt slightly stupid for putting my blog on my CV, was it something people would take seriously? Would they be impressed? Would they laugh me out of the building in interviews? These were all questions I asked myself before adding "Founder and Editor - Live Laugh Lipstick" to my CV and eventually being proud of myself as I listed all the skills I had. Even if you're not applying for social media or marketing jobs, blogging shows you have the initiative to start something on your own. It shows you're hardworking, creative and innovative enough to build a brand and a business by yourself. When I was nearing the end of my job search, it was becoming apparent to me that people were actually impressed with what I had created and were asking questions. I would sit down in interviews and be asked "so, I'm really interested to learn about Live Laugh Lipstick, please tell me everything about it!" I would be asked "do you have help or do this on your own?" and "would you want to do this full time?" These were such encouraging questions, they made me feel like I had started something amazing, that people were impressed with what I had created single handed in my bedroom and despite my own criticisms, I was actually okay at it. 

I think the thing to remember in terms of blogs is the amount of people who start them. Many set them up, write a couple of posts and then get tired or bored of it. Maybe because no one is reading it within the first week or they wanted to start a blog to receive free products. If you've kept up a blog for longer than about 6 months, you're doing good! I think many people, including myself, underestimate themselves. I didn't believe my blog was as good as others and therefore I didn't think employers would take it seriously. However I've had so many interesting and engaging conversations with people in job interviews who seem genuinely interested in the 'business' I've created and I would always encourage others to add it to their CV to also show yourself off to employers in the best way possible.

Have you added your blog to your CV?

Drugstore Favourites

I mainly purchase higher end makeup, however there are drugstore products that are firm favourites and ones I rely on daily. The Maybelline Fit Me Foundation is my favourite for when my skin is dry. It's the only one that looks amazing even if my skin is bone dry and you can't tell I'm having a bad skin day! It's very luminous and moisturising while giving medium coverage which looks very natural on the skin. Another favourite that makes my skin look glowing is the I Heart Makeup Goddess of Love Highlighter, I have two of these shades and adore them both. They are so affordable, you get a lot of product for your money and they come in the prettiest shades too. Also, the packaging is really pretty! There are two lip products from the drugstore that I rely on, the Lottie London Matte Liquid Lipstick comes either separately or in a lip kit. Personally I absolutely adore the lip kits, the lip liner is really soft and easy to apply while the liquid lipstick dries matte but is still comfortable on the lips. Another drugstore lip favourite is the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, I own so many shades of these and they're all amazing. I love how moisturising they are on the lips, how vibrant the colours are and how long they last.

What are your drugstore recommendations?

Current Wishlist

Since finishing my degree and working a lot more, I seem to have added lots of new items to my wishlist so I thought I would share the items that I'm currently lusting after! I recently swatched the Stila Highlighter in the shade Kitten and immediately fell in love with it! I adore how soft and pigmented it was, I've tried the eyeshadow in Kitten and it is a firm favourite so I'm definitely wanting to invest in the highlighter version! I've had extremely dry skin lately, I think due to the fluctuation in the British weather which has confused my skin! I definitely need to invest in a rich and I've had my eye on the L'Occitane Moisturiser as it contains Shea butter and works on sensitive skin like mine. It also apparently lasts for 72 hours and is a bestseller so it's currently at the top of my 'to buy' list! 

I work opposite a Hobbs store and I've been seeing this dress in the window for ages and I absolutely love it. It's the style of dress I tend to wear and I think the colour is really classic as a work outfit. Another skincare product I've been dying to try is the Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse as I've heard so many great things about it. I've had so many skin issues recently so would love to test this out and see if it can solve any of my skin problems! The final item on my wishlist is this beautiful embroidered bag which is actually from Marks and Spencer! I saw this on twitter and instantly fell in love with it, embroidered fashion is really on trend and I think the colours in this bag mean it would go with a wide variety of outfits!

What products have you been lusting after lately?

 *This is a sponsored post

Roxanne Campbell Nail Lacquer

Roxanne Campbell Nail Lacquer £10*

I was asked recently if I wanted to try out Nail Lacquer from Roxanne Campbell and I jumped at the chance. I generally have gel polish on my nails however I also have rest periods where I take the gel off and apply normal nail polish, so I was interested to try this polish out and see how it fairs against the likes of Essie and Barrym! The polish is described as "one coat only" which I think is an interesting and exciting claim, they are also cruelty free which is great and means no little bunnies have been hurt in the making of these polishes! The brand was created by Roxanne Campbell, a nail expert who has worked with celebrities, at international events and at the London 2012 Olympics! It's also all made in the UK and free from Formaldehyde, Toluene and Camphor so there are no nasties!

At the moment, the shade range is quite small but hopefully this will be expanded to include more variety however at the moment the brand starts with classic nail shades. I was sent two shades to try out, 'Sitting Pretty' and 'Violets are Blue.' The blue is a statement pop of colour and a really fashionable and on trend shade while the pink is a classic hot pink colour. My favourite of the two is 'Sitting Pretty' as it's a shade I usually wear and it's perfect for summer! Onto the actual polishes, I was so impressed with them for a number of reasons. I doubted the 'one coat' claim and thought this wouldn't be true, however the photos show my nails with just one coat of polish on. The colours are really vivid and pigmented which meant that one coat was enough to create the perfect manicure. The second thing I loved was how quick these dry, one of the reasons I have gel nails is because they dry so quickly and there is no faffing around with drying. However these polishes dry almost instantly and I was floored by how quickly the polished had set which meant I could get on with my day without worrying about smudging the polish! These polishes lasted really well and I experienced minimal chipping which was brilliant! I am hoping more colours get released but I think the next shades I try will be 'Nude Tights' and 'Off to Jamaica' as they look beautiful!

You can purchase them here!

June Birchbox

Birchbox £12.95*

MeechNMia Brow Liner

Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream

Scrub Love Body Scrub

Cowshed Cow Pat Hand Cream

Eco Tools Double Ended Brushes

This month's Birchbox is officially my favourite, ever. I was impressed with every single product and I absolutely love the little bag that they all came in. I think there was a really lovely mix of products from makeup to skincare and tools which I think made it a strong and varied box (or bag!). The MeechNMia Brow Liner is a really lovely product, the shade works well with my hair colour and it applies really nicely, this is a full size product which is also super handy! I have dry skin so frequently use body and face scrubs so I was excited to use the Scrub Love Body Scrub to remove dead skin cells, this leaves your skin feeling super soft and it smells amazing too! While it is slightly messy to apply, I absolutely adore these sachet scrubs and they always work well. The Bobbi Brown Eye Repair Cream is a nice addition, it's always good to try out a high end product before you splash out on a full size so this way you can test it out!

What do you think of this month's box? 

Space NK Favourites

Space NK is a store I spend a lot of time and money in, it's full of luxurious and exciting beauty products from so many different brands. I thought I would share my favourite beauty (and skincare) finds that have a firm place in my daily routines. The Laura Mercier Translucent Powder is an incredible product, if you want a flawless and perfect looking base, I would highly recommend investing in this. I have repurchased this recently and honestly don't think I want to try out any other powders as I cannot imagine them living up to this amazing product. This can be used for baking your makeup, packing on powder with a sponge and leaving it to 'bake' for 5-10 minutes or simply applied using a powder brush. I carry out both of these methods, depending on how much time I have in the morning! It took a while for me to invest in this as I did feel it was expensive for a powder but you get a lot of product for your money and it does last a decent amount of time. The concealer I have used for years is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, I love how well this covers without being heavy or too thick. It's perfectly hides under eye circles and really red blemishes, making your skin look blemish free! There's a really great shade range with this so if you're really pale or have much darker skin tone, you should be able to find your perfect shade match! 

I've spoken about my love for Eve Lom skincare quite a few times on my blog and really enjoy using many of their products. The favourite one I've tried is the cleanser and I've used this religiously for a year. The consistency is quite thick and almost like a balm which means it definitely removes makeup from the face and leaves the skin feeling squeaky clean!  My final Space NK favourite is the Becca Powder Highlighter, I have the shade Pearl and I absolutely love it! I am also going to purchase the slightly more golden shade Moonstone as it looks absolutely beautiful and I have adored using the Pearl shade.

What are your favourite products from Space NK?

Viktor & Rolf Bon Bon Spring/Summer

Viktor and Rolf Bon Bon £58*

 

I remember as a teenager going into perfume stores and spraying the classic Viktor and Rolf scent all over myself as I couldn't afford to buy it but was completely obsessed with it! So I was so excited to try out the limited edition Viktor and Rolf Bon Bon fragrance which is a sweet, summery twist on the original bon bon perfume. The fragrance has notes of pink grapefruit and mandarin which creates a fresh and fruity scent along with jasmine which adds floral femininity. It also has a tough of icing sugar which really adds a sweetness to it! There are base notes of cedarwood and caramel which add some depth and intensity however this perfume is predominantly fresh, floral and fruity. I absolutely love how light and fresh the fragrance is, it's the perfect summery fragrance to make you feel like summer is on its way! The bottle is absolutely beautiful, they have kept the bow shape from the original bottle but it's a prettier and more feminine light pink shade with a gorgeous frosted bottle. This is one of those perfumes which will just look stunning on your dressing table!

The perfume retails for £58 and is now available nationwide here!

April Birchbox

Birchbox £12.95*

Manna Kadar Cosmetics £27

Nip + Fab Colour Correcting Concealer £8.95

Polaar IcePure Gentle Scrub with Arctic Cotton £23.50

Amika The Shield Style Extending Spray £20

Baija Paris Creme Moana £15.90 

This month's box is in partnership with Boden and it is definitely my favourite design yet! It actually matches their key print for this season which I think would be perfect for a dress! The theme for the month is "being bold and beautiful" and a perfect way to incorporate some bright patterns into your wardrobe. In the box you receive two full size products, the Manna Kadar High Definition powder which is a HD powder for creating a matte finish and the Nip + Fab Colour Correcting Concealer. I received the orange shade which is perfect for covering under eye circles, which I have a lot of! The Baija Paris Creme Moana is a nourishing lotion for your skin which leaves it super soft and moisturised! I always need products to try to help my skin as it gets very dry and irritated so this is an exciting one to try out!

What do you think of this month's box? 

 

Current Makeup

I've been loving the Kat Von D Lock it Foundation as my every day base, it's full coverage and lasts all day so it's one I have been completely obsessed with using. I tend to apply it with a beauty blender as this creates a seamless application and leaves no streaks, making it look completely flawless. To conceal both my under eye area and blemishes I use the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer as it works really well on my dry skin and doesn't accentuate any of the dry areas on my face. To set my makeup, I bake using the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder, I have recently repurchased this product as it is the best face powder I have ever used. To highlight my cheekbones, I use the I Heart Makeup Goddess of Love baked highlight powder. This is a super affordable drugstore product but one I've been really impressed with and received a lot of compliments on!
For my brows, I firstly do Soap Brows (read full post here) and then fill in my brows using the Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade which is a product I have used religiously over the past couple of years. I use the colour 'taupe' which is the perfect match for my fair coloured brow hairs and it stays put all day! Every day for the past few months I have used the Anastasia Modern Renaissance Palette, I am in love with this palette and would 100% recommend it to anyone! I've been enjoying wearing winged liner and have used the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, this lasts all day and as the tip of the pen is super fine, it makes for a precise application. Finally, the mascara I have been using is the Clinique Chubby Lash. I tend to prefer volumising mascara's as I already have long lashes, this is great for making my lashes look fuller than they actually are!
Which products do you use on a daily basis?

YSL Black Opium Floral Shock Perfume

YSL Black Opium Floral Shock £71*    Debenhams got in touch recently and asked if I wanted to try out the new Black Opium Floral Shock Eau de Parfum, of course I jumped at the chance. I've always wanted to try the Black Opium fragrances as they're a classic and timeless scent, I love the floral take on the well-known perfume and knew it would instantly be one I would love.    The perfume is described as "burning exhilaration" and Debenhams asked me to describe a time where I have felt most exhilarated. Next week, I will hand my 10,000 word dissertation in to University. 3 years of work all concluding in the handing in of a mammoth assignment. It's exciting, I haven't particularly enjoyed my degree a great deal so it's nice that it's coming to an end in a piece of work I have enjoyed writing and am proud of.    Anyway, on to the scent! It's described as a mix of the classic electrifying Black Opium but with a floral freshness comprising of bold citrus notes and white musk. If you find the original Black Opium too strong and powerful then this is a slightly lighter and fresher alternative. I adore the packaging, who doesn't love a bit of glitter? The purple ombre glitter shows that it is the less dramatic option in comparison to the strong black glitter packaging of the classic Black Opium. You can check out Black Opium Floral Shock here or if you want to browse at the other scents Debenhams offer, perfect for a last minute Mother's Day gift, you can check them out here.

Kat Von D Lock It Foundation

Kat Von D Lock it Foundation £27

I recently tried out Kat Von D makeup and almost immediately fell in love. I adore the liquid liner, the lipsticks and the contour palette so was desperate to try out the foundation after hearing so many things about it. The first point to mention is that this is a very full coverage foundation and that a little goes a long way, the consistency is thick so you barely need any in order to cover your whole face. I absolutely love how full coverage it is, whenever I wear Estee Lauder Double Wear now (previously my favourite full coverage foundation), I am disappointed by the coverage it gives me as it is nothing compared to this. On me, this is a matte finish although it should be considered that I have quite dry skin however I didn't have any issues with it clinging to dry patches and it always looks lovely on my skin. I was really impressed with how long this lasted on the skin, I usually set it with my Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder and my skin looks flawless all day long! The only thing I'm not a massive fan of is the packaging, I find it quite bulky and unattractive but luckily it's not something that bothers me too much. Overall I would definitely recommend this foundation if you love a full coverage look, it's long lasting and just beautiful on the skin along with covering all my acne scarring and blemishes. This retails for £27 which quite pricey for a foundation but I think it is 100% worth the price tag! You can check it out here.

Have you tried this foundation yet? 
 

Thoughts on Kat Von D Makeup

 I received a few Kat Von D products to try out a while ago and have been testing them out since, I had wanted to try some products from the brand for a long time so it was really exciting to be able to have the chance to give them a whirl! The Studded Kiss lipsticks, which I have in the shades 'Magick' and 'Underage Red' are a lovely consistency. 'Magick' is a mid tone, rose pink while 'Underage Red' is a true vibrant red. These lipsticks are really soft and moisturising on the lips, 'Magick' is a slightly darker shade of pink than I would usually wear but it is still a really pretty shade while 'Underage Red' is just a classic shade of red that I know I will definitely get a lot of use out of. Another lip product I've been trying out is the Liquid Lipstick in the shade Lolita. This looks very different on the lips in comparison to how it looks in the tube, it's not as red as it looks and is more of a pink/brown/nude shade which is beautiful. What I've been loving about this product is that it isn't drying like a lot of my other liquid lipsticks so perfect if you have dry lips of just really hate the feeling of super matte liquid lipsticks.

The product I had heard the most about from Kat Von D is the Tattoo Liner, I love winged liner and immediately tried it out to see if it worked as well as I had heard it does. I love how sharp and precise the applicator for this is, if you like thin liner it is super easy to just apply a tiny bit or if you like thick bold liner you can easily build it up. This is fool proof and makes it incredibly easy to create the perfect cat eye! I didn't test whether this was indeed waterproof but it did last all day on me without smudging or moving. Finally is the Shade and Light Contour and Highlight Palette which comes with three contour and three highlight shades. The main point to make about this is that the powders are incredibly pigmented so I would recommend making sure you tap off any excess before you apply it to your face to avoid any mishaps! All three shades are cool tones so perfect for contouring and creating the illusion of sharper cheekbones while the highlight shades work beautifully to brighten in the areas like under the eyes, the center of the forehead and the bridge of the nose. 

Overall, I'm really impressed with Kat Von D products, so much so that I have since bought the Lock It Foundation to test out as well! Have you tried any of Kat's products?



*These products were sent to me to review however this is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own

Anastasia Modern Renaissance Palette

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette £41

I put off buying this palette for so long, I didn't think I would use it much as I generally reach for neutral palettes. I was put off by the pink tones and kept adding it to my basket and then deleting until I finally decided to just buy it. I am so glad I did because this has become one of my favourite palettes, ever. As I mentioned, I was unsure about buying this palette as I didn't know how much I would reach for it but since buying it I have used it everyday. There isn't a shade in the palette that I wouldn't use, I'm getting braver at trying the brighter pinks and each day I can create completely different looks. The consistency of these shadows is by far my favourite of any I have tried before, they blend so beautifully and there is no fallout so I don't have to worry about any products on the rest of my face. I love when palettes have a mix of both matte and shimmery shades as it allows you to create a number of versatile looks that are both wearable and slightly more dramatic for going out. The double ended brush that comes with the palette is decent quality too, the blending brush does shed slightly but nothing too bad and it works really well if you're traveling and don't want to pack lots of eyeshadow brushes.

Overall, I am absolutely in love with this palette and would 100% recommend you buy it if you are considering it. It has made me slightly more adventurous with my makeup and opened me up to a world that doesn't just consist of neutral palettes! It is one of the more expensive palettes I have bought but in my opinion, it is very much worth it so if you are looking for a payday treat, this is great! You can buy it here!

January Birchbox

Birchbox £12.95*

Merci Handy Hand Cream £4.90

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmer £21

Nails Inc Nail Polish £15

Whish Shaving Cream £14.80

Lord and Berry Stick Concealer £12

This month's Birchbox theme is 'Sprinkle Happiness' which seems a perfect one for the start of the year when everyone is feeling slightly deflated! There are two full size products in the box this month, the Merci Handy Hand Cream and the Lord and Berry Stick Concealer. The concealer is not pictured as it went straight in my makeup bag to try out, it's a really creamy product so great for under eyes and as it is shaped like a pencil, it is really easy to use and apply. I was so excited to receive the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmer as I've tested a few Nuxe products recently. This is a shimmer you can use pretty much anywhere, it smells amazing and adds a really lovely glow to the skin. I always love receiving hand cream as I constantly use them, this one from Merci is full sized so it's one I can pop in my handbag and use on the go!

What do you think of this month's box?

Current Everyday Makeup

I've been having real issues with my skin lately, it's been incredible dry and hardly any of my foundations have looked good on it. The only one I have been able to use is the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation, this is perfect if you have dry skin as it glides on the skin and doesn't accentuate any dry patches. It also has great coverage and gives a dewy and luminous finish which is lovely on days where my skin is looking dehydrated. For Christmas I received another Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer as I had run out of my previous one, this is my all time favourite concealer as it works for both under my eyes and on blemishes. Before I powder, I use the Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in the shade Moonlight. I am undecided on this product, I haven't been wowed by it and I think I would have suited the shade Celestial more. Then to powder certain areas of my face, I use the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder which I am in love with! 

For my brows, as per, I use my Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade. This is perfect if you want your brows to stay looking immaculate all day, you can either go super natural with these or create a more dramatic look! For mascara, I have been loving the YSL Shocking Mascara, this is perfect for creating volume. I tend to prefer volumising mascaras over lengthening ones as I already have fairly long lashes. The eyeshadow palette of dreams is the Anastasia Modern Renaissance palette. I put off buying this for ages as I didn't think I would get much use out of it, however I adore it! I have a blog post coming very soon on this palette so keep a look out!

What products do you use on a daily basis?

Wow products of 2016

I discovered some beautiful products last year, a Space NK opened in my city so I definitely bought a few (read: a lot of) products! I discovered a new skincare brand half way through the year, I bought the cleanser from Eve Lom before falling in love and buying the mask as well. This cleanser makes my skin feel and look amazing, I definitely noticed a difference in my skin after using this product and I have recently got another pot! 2016 was the year I FINALLY got the hang of baking my makeup. I invested in the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder as I had heard so many good things about it and I have been obsessed with it ever since I bought it. I bake my under eyes, my chin and my nose. I have noticed such a huge difference in the way my makeup looks, it is much more flawless and definitely lasts a lot longer than just powdering normally.

 A highlighter I was obsessed with last year was the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in the shade Pearl, I absolutely adore this! I always get compliments when I wear it and it really suits my fair skin, I am definitely going to invest in more shades (Moonstone is next on my list) as I adore the finish of these. Finally is a product I have spoken about so much on my blog and on Instagram, the Gerard Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks. These stay put for hours and hours, I love products that I can apply and forget about. I don't have to worry about smudging or needing to reapply throughout the day so these are such a staple in my makeup bag! 

Which products were your favourite of 2016? 

The Perfect Wedding Attire from Simply Be

 I love getting dressed up at the best of times so weddings are my favourite! SimplyBe have a fabulous collection of clothing for the Bridesmaid, Maid of Honour or Wedding Guests and I thought I would share some of the pieces I am in love with. Even though the collection is mainly for weddings, their outfits and accessories are perfect for any occasion, so if you have a wedding to go to or are just looking for some new clothes for a night out, you have some fantastic options on their website.

Red Culotte Jumpsuit
I think this red jumpsuit is my favourite out of all these items, personally I love throwing on a jumpsuit with a pair of heels and being ready to go! They are comfortable while still looking smart and elegant; this would look perfect paired with a bright red lip!

Silver Clutch Bag
This is a super versatile bag, because it's silver, I find it goes with so many different outfits. As I mentioned earlier, this could be worn on a night out so it definitely does not have to be used exclusively for weddings!

Pearl and Diamante Clutch
The reason I love this bag is because it gives me a Great Gatsby vibe and I really love the pearl detail on it, it looks slightly more delicate than the Silver Glitter Clutch so could easily be worn with floaty casual dresses or smarter outfits too.

Lace Fit and Flare Dress 
This dress stood out to me immediately, it reminds me of a 'Self Portrait' dress with the lace detailing so it is definitely on trend at the moment. Like the Culottes, I love the red colour and think it would look beautiful with classic makeup looks like winged liner and a red lip. 

Printed Scuba Dress
I think this dress is a classic wedding guest dress. It's the kind of dress I would normally choose as it's feminine with the floral pattern and I find that these patterns make more fitted dresses look more elegant.  

Floral Tea Dress
This is the most casual of all the dresses but would be perfect if you were an evening guest at a wedding. It is more dressed down than the others so if you don't like dressing up quite as much, it would be perfect. This style is also really flattering if you are not as keen on the form fitting dresses.

Which item is your favourite? You can check out all the clothing pieces and accessories here!

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