April 2012 Favourites

Another month gone, where is 2012 going? April was an extremely busy month with the magazine unit due (see the finished product here) and then work experience starting, I haven't really stopped.  When it came to my make up for this month it was quick and simple which is reflected in my favourites.  

For my base I've kept it light and dewy as I haven't really had the time to buff out a heavy duty foundation, plus my skin hasn't really needed that extra coverage. I've switched between my Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow in shade 'I'm pure 4 sure' and my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10.  These both give a dewy finish which leaves your skin looking really natural.  My brush of choice is the Sigma F80 flat top kabuki which makes life so much easier! It applies the foundation extremely quickly, leaving a flawless finish. 

To add warmth to my cheeks I've been using the Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronze Universel with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush from the Core Collection.  As I am so fair at the moment, I use the tiniest amount otherwise I might look like an oompa loompa (sorry Roald Dahl, it was never a good look).  I'm looking forward to taking this on holiday and using it when I have a tan! I've also been picking up my Sleek Face Contour Kit and using the highlighter to brighten the inner corners of my eyes as there was a lot of early mornings and late nights through April.  

Keeping with the simple look, I haven't really done anything other than kohl liner on my tight line and mascara.  My mascara of choice is MUFE Smoky Lash in black which I will definitely be stocking up on when I go to Sephora in Spain next month.  For lips I've kept things pretty nude or sheer in colour.  My favourites have been the Clinique Chubby Stick in wooping watermelon and 17 Mirror Shine On Lipstick in Beehive.  

What have been your favourite products of April? 

Trying Out: High Street/Drugstore Cult Products

As with the high end beauty brands, there is always a lot of hype surrounding certain products, including the high street brands.  Wandering round Boots and Superdrug the other day, I picked up a few 'cult' products, that have been raved about by fellow bloggers or YouTube gurus.  Without further adieu, the products in question are...

1. MUA Heaven and Earth Palette; £3.00 (Usually £4) - I have the Naked Palette, which I reach for on a regular basis, but feel it lacks the in between or medium colours.  I picked this up in Superdrug and it even had an extra quid off (super scrimper ftw).  I used it this morning and I'm impressed. It was a bit difficult to get some of the colours to pick up on the brush but I think that's just the first layer.  If it's still on offer (or even if it's not), it's definitely one to pick up - especially if you're a beginner! I didn't swatch these below, but if you would like to see any swatches, please let me know.  

2.  Natural Collection 'Peach Melba' Blush; £1.89 - I have been looking at getting MACs Melba blush for a while, but didn't want to splash out £17.00 incase I didn't like it.  After doing a little bit of research (watching Barbara over at The Persian Babe and Meg at meganisobel) I found this beauty for under £2.00.  I really love the colour, it has a good pigmentation and leaves a healthy glow to the cheek.  Definitely one to try at that bargain price!

3. Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Fuschia; £3.99 - I've been obsessed with bright lips as of late, not the usual pillar box red either.  I picked up this bad boy in Superdrug after hearing how ruddy pigmented they are and I wasn't disappointed (see picture below).  I really like the consistency and the overall colour.  I'd like to get 'Amped' next, which is a bright matte pink - I have MACs Viva Glam Nicki Minaj on the way though, so maybe not just yet!

4. 17 Lipstick in Beehive; £4.59 - Now, this product is nothing new to me.  I bought this a few months ago and loved it and one day it disappeared before my very eyes.  I have turned my room upside down looking for this lipstick, but to no avail.  This product is extremely moisturising and the perfect 'my lips but better' shade. The only downfall - it tastes funky!

Here are some swatches and what not:

Do you have any high street products you deem 'cult'-worthy?

OOTD: Oh, for the love of Kimono.

Yes, you guessed it right, todays outfit of the day will feature that pretty blue Kimono which I just can't get enough off.  

The weather is gorgeous today so the sunnies will be out for an airing.  I'm surprised I didn't get a tan this morning on my driving lesson, the sun was beating down on the window.  

Kimono: Primark

Top: Primark

Skirt: H&M

Tights: Primark

Shoes: New Look - I know you can't see them!

Ring: Vintage

Necklace: Vintage

Sunglasses: Ray Bans Ltd Edition Wayfarers

I always seem surprised at how light my hair is, I always think it's darker than it really is.  I'm off to uni now but i'm getting paid to do so, no my lecturers aren't desperate to get us in.  I've got some student ambassador training to do and at £8.11 p/h why on earth not?

Have a lovely day in the sun guys!

OOTD: Pocahontas Chic

It wasn't the best of days weather wise today.  I decided to wear something slightly warmer both in colour and in clothing, than yesterday.  I felt a little bit like I should have come from the New World and have fallen in love with John Smith.  

Shirt:  Primark

Tank Tee: New Look

Leggings: H&M

Watch:  ASOS

Necklace: Primark

Bracelet(s): H&M and DollyBowBow

On my lips I decided to sport 'Belle', one of my new finds and my nails are Barry M Raspberry.  

Now to print out many a hand out and get on with a 1500 word draft.  Oh to be a student!

Beautiful you.

On Friday, I went shopping and bought some new beauty products.  I was really excited to try the 17 Mirror Shine lipsticks and bought two in 'Belle' and 'Beehive'. I swatched them for you.  

Beehive is an extremely sheer nude which comes out a lot lighter than it first appears in the tube.  It's been described as 'your lip colour but better' and it certainly is that.  The creamy texture is really moisturising for your lips.  The second colour I got was Belle, slightly darker, which adds just the right amount of colour for an everyday look.  

The second product I wanted to try was the 17 photo flawless primer.  I live and die by my MAC Prep and Prime but it's quite expensive.  17 do one for £4.99 and after hearing several good reviews I decided to try it.  It's pretty much transparent compared to the MAC and it leaves a velvety finish on your skin whereas the MAC is slightly moisturising in its finish.  I will do a thorough review once I have used it for a while but on first impressions it was really good!  

Have any of you tried the primer? 

Adding a touch of S/S to my wardrobe.

One of the best things about working at Tesco is in April we get two paydays - obviously this is my months pay cut in half, but nevertheless it's still nice.  I would prefer if I got paid every two weeks as I always find the money is gone after two weeks.  So today I popped to the shops, setting myself a challenge.  The first was to buy the Naked Palette by Urban Decay but of course everywhere was sold out.  The second challenge was to buy something from Primark - lately I've walked in and walked out with nothing, this time I walked out with £38.50 worth.  

Floral Kimono - £10.00

This was the first item I picked out.  It's a sheer chiffon kimono which will be lovely over a tank tee and leggings or jazz up a rather plain dress.  You can't really see the colour well but it's supposedly duckegg.

Sheer Chiffon Shirt in Rust £10.00

Long Necklace avec Feathers - £2.50

I really adore my electric blue chiffon shirt, I only wish it was longer so I could wear it with leggings.  So when I spotted this shirt I had to get it, it's a lot longer at the back and is a gorgeous colour - more terracotta than rust though.  I also picked up two feather necklaces, this was the first - it's pink and looks extremely feminine.  I'm loving the hippie trend at the moment.  

White Feather T-Shirt - £5.00

Feather Necklace with Gold Charms - £2.00

I know, I've gone a bit feather mad but this T shirt caught my eye, great for the hot days in summer where all you want on are sandals, vintage levi's and a tank.  I go on about Vintage Levi's like I own a pair, I will soon :)

Tank Tee's in Cream and Purple - £4.00 each

These were my last buys, I wanted some plain tanks to go under the Kimono and also because you can get through so many in the warmer months.  They had lots of colours, I preferred these. 

I then went on to buying make up, starting off in boots I took the opportunity of two of the great offers.  

Barry M 2 for £5 or £2.99 each

I've been after Dusky Mauve (far right) so I picked it up.  The other two caught my eye in Epsom the other day, 'Indigo' and 'Raspberry' - two gorgeous colours for this season.  You're probably thinking 'why didn't you buy another polish?' I was going to but couldn't see any stand out shades like these.  

17 3 for 2

Photo Flawless Primer - £4.99

Lipsticks in Belle and Beehive - £4.49 each

I love my MAC Prep+Prime but I'd love to find a cheaper alternative that is just as good, I've heard really good reviews about this primer so I hope it will work for me too.  I've gone a bit lipstick barmy lately, building up my nudes.  I got these two, Beehive I've heard about and Belle I just liked.  I bought the highly recommended 'Apple Blossom' by Natural Collection for only £1.99 the other day too!

I popped into Next to buy some new Jeggings as mine are currently falling apart.  

£16

I only buy my Jegs from Next as I find they fit perfectly.  I just wish they lasted longer at that price!

Lastly I went into Topshop and bought an unlikely item.  

Foundation Brush - £7.00 (£6.30 lesser student discount)

I never usually pick up the make up items in Topshop, but I needed a new foundation brush and this one was so soft and a decent price to I decided to grab it.  My current foundation brush is starting to shed, i'll probably wash it and keep it but I needed a new one!

So spending wise it's been a good day, I'm getting some Cath Kidston like bedsheets over the weekend too to update my room a tad.  I also found out today that the fashion shoot we did for university got us an A+ which I was over the moon about.  My grades just keep getting better since I've been to university!

Have a lovely weekend, I'll be at the old ball and chain, Tesco as per.