YSL Touche Eclat Foundation

As I mentioned in my March Favourites I was a little sceptical about this new formulation. The original was such a cult classic and a personal favourite of mine for giving that beautiful natural skin like finish. Thankfully I was pleasantly surprised with this formula. It still has the same beautiful finish but the coverage is much better this time and is buildable to a good medium. I am also really glad they kept the packaging the same, the pump dispenses just the right amount of foundation for a sheer coverage for my face, and two pumps for the fuller coverage. I like to apply it with my Beauty Blender which I just dampen a little with the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water for a really flawless skin like finish. 

They claim this to be a weightless foundation but honestly, no foundation that has a natural kind of finish is weightless. Unless you like a matte base like Estee Lauder Double Wear that will dry on to your skin, there is going to be some texture to wearing the foundation. So long as you don't apply too much of this though it does seam to stay put better than the original formulation and it does feel lighter than other more dewy foundations on account of this not feeling oily. To compare this to the last foundation I reviewed; the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow, this feels much lighter and long-lasting. I have done the same makeup here as my Ambient Lighting Look and up close this does look better than the Les Beiges. This has sheered over my skin where as the Les Beiges did cling to some dryness and crease around my eyes more. Now that is looking very closely at pictures, both foundations look nice in person but perhaps if you do have some dryness then this would be a good foundation for you to try moreover the Les Beiges. There are 22 shades available in the Touche Eclat and it can be purchased on all YSL concessions and online here. 

The Application Dream Team

When it comes to applying your base everyone is looking for a natural finish. Whether its sheer or full coverage you wear no one likes to look plastered in product. And after many trials and errors this little trio have surpassed all other applicators. I realise that the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water does sound like a bit of a waste of money to buy what is essentially a water spray, when you can just dampen your sponge under a tap. But honestly if you really want your makeup to stay put as long as possible then this is the way to go. I personally hate silicone based primers. I am more than happy to use toner and serum and moisturiser to prep my skin but I just don't like to feel like there is a layer between my skin and foundation. For me your base product should feel like skin as much as possible and not like it is sitting on top of it. I place a few dots of foundation on to the centre of my face then spritz the Beauty Blender till it is damp and bounce the product all over my face. Once my foundation has dried I do the same with concealer but then use the Micro Mini Beauty Blender as this seams to keep the concealer in place better than the original sponge. Here I have the Pure Sponge which comes in at £16, it is the same size as all the original blenders but for £18 you can buy the Pink Blender and Solid Soap Set which really is the best way to clean the sponges if you want to remove any product stains. I still love the Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Face Brush *review for a slightly more speedy application but for days I have the time to really blend in my foundation and create that completely natural looking skin this little trio really does give a flawless looking finish. 

Everyday Makeup

I am a creature of habit when it comes to my everyday makeup look. As I wear rather a lot of makeup I like to keep things really simple or it can easily look too much for work and errands. I do like to mix up some of my products though, sometimes because I am trailing new things, but also because my skin really seams to change with the weather. With it being slightly warmer at the moment I have gone back to the Chanel Perfection Lumiere which I loved last summer. It is really good at being re-worked into the skin throughout the day so perfect if you are a little more oily in the warmth.

For powder I have been loving the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light just down the centre of my face to kick back excess oil but still have a natural glow. For blush I cannot stop using NXY High Definition Blush in shade Nude'tude on the apples of my cheeks and shade Taupe as a subtle contour and softly on my lower lash line. I also use a combination of the two through my lids and crease, not as a cut crease but just to add definition to my eyes. I have actually been using a new liquid liner recently which I don't find as easy to apply as the Maybelline Gel Liner but I wanted to get the hang of before my holiday so I don't have to pack the liner brush. It is the Revlon Coloursaty which looks really good and is a true black but I do find liquid liners drying so I think I will go back to the gel soonish.

Loreal False Lash Telescopic has been my mascara of choice a lot recently as I tend to be favouring longer lashes over volume. And for my browns NYX Tinted Brow Mascara is my go to for a really speedy application. Lastly, for my lips I tend to just wear balms, and as I have been wearing a bit of colour on my eyes I like the natural look of Elizabeth Arden Lip Repair Balm. 

Travel Makeup Bag

I am finally going on holiday this week to see my dad in Spain, and although I still plan on wearing a fairly full face of makeup I decided to really cut back on the products I take. I will after all be going to see my family so there is no reason to look overly fancy. For lips I am taking just three options, a tinted lip balm which is my everyday choice; By Terry Baume De Rose in shade Toffee Cream, MACs Lip Pencil in Soar for a mauve lip option and NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Abu Dhabi which is my favourite brown lip at the moment. My base of choice in warmer weather is Chanel Perfection Lumiere it just seams to work better on my skin when it is a little oiler. I am also taking the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Concealer though just in case I get any blemishes. For my brows I am just taking NYX Tinted Brow Mascara and I am trying a new liner this time the  Revlon Colourstay Eyeliner which I have been trying out, I don't love it but it will do for the holiday. I have a travel size Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Mascara in black, I actually use the brown shade of this a lot so I know I love the formula. It looks really natural but can be built up for quite a bit of volume. And lastly make up wise I have packed 2 NYX High Definition Blushers in shade for a peachy blush, and as my contour. Both of which I love to wear as eyeshadow also. 

To apply my foundation I have packed an original Beauty Blender and a Micro Mini to apply concealer, both of which I dampen with the Liz Earle Skin Tonic to tone my skin while making a really natural looking base. Skincare wise I just have a travel size of the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm and Age Support Cream and a few sample serums I had saved up. I will be taking my Laura Mercier travel brush set as well but that will go in my hand luggage as I would be pretty mortified if I lost them. 
I will still have posts going up while I am away and hopefully I will have a holiday blog when I get back if I manage to take some nice pictures. For now though I hope you all have a good two weeks whatever your plans. Ciao xxx

Nip+Fab Dragon's Blood Serum

After trying the Rodial Dragons Blood Hyaluronic Night Cream I was really happy with how much healthier my skin was looking and really wanted to try some more from the range. Unfortunately I just do not have the budget for the full range but when shopping in boots last month I spotted that Nip + Fab have some similar products that are way more affordable and this little beauty has surpassed all expectations. Now I'm 24, I hardly have too many signs of ageing but I do have a couple of fine lines on my fore head that this has evened out completely. Before I used to like the Lancome Advanced Genifique Serum for helping my skin feel firmer and plumper but this is ten times better and a fraction of the price at £19.95 compared to £82 for the same 50ml bottle. I very rarely get excited about skincare as I do makeup but I have already been recommending this to my friends and it really is worth a go.

I feel I must mention this contains the sap from a dragon blood tree and there are no strange labs holding dragons to produce these products. The sap assists in soothing and restoring skin which makes for this being a lovely serum to apply in the morning; it really does feel like it is soothing your skin. It sinks in instantly, which does mean that you have to work it on to your skin pretty quick, but you don't get the tacky feeling on your skin after application which some serums leave. The serum also contains Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin which will help your skin to absorb and lock in moisture. If like myself you are not keen on wearing primers, I find serums are a good way to prep your skin for foundation and the fact that this completely absorbs into your skin means that you have a perfect base for foundation. I would love to hear your thoughts if you have tried this product also, and if you want to give it a try you can buy it online here and in larger Boots stores. 

March Favourites 2016

Time for another favourites and I know most people talk about how fast months have gone but March has been so slow for me! I am going to visit my dad in Spain and moving house in April so as you can imagine I currently feel like a kid at christmas and time is dragging. That said I have really enjoyed trying some new products this month and most of these are new discoveries. The first fave I have to mention is the Loreal Elvive Extraordinary Clay Dry Shampoo, it my not be the best dry shampoo but if you want your hair to smell beautiful then this is the way to go. Can they please make this a perfume or candle or something because it smells of beachy summers and I'm all up for smelling like that. Skincare wise I have picked up a few new bits recently but the Nip+ Fab Dragons Blood Serum is hands down the best thing I have tried possibly ever. I see instant results with this, my skin definitely feels and looks plumper and younger. I also tried NYX for the first time this month and it has changed my makeup game completely. I am in love with the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in shade Abu Dhabi not only is the shade perfect the formulation is on point; it is so long lasting but not at all drying. I have also been wearing the NYX Tinted Brow Mascara everyday this month, it keeps  things in place without it looking like you have product on your brows which is great if you have longer brows like myself. 

The product I was not sure I would like is the new formulation of the YSL Touche Eclat Foundation. I loved the old formula so much but this really is an improvement. I'll be reviewing it soon but in short, great coverage and same natural finish. My last favourite this month is the By Terry Baume De Rose Nutri-Couleur which I spoke about in my Balm Favourites Post. I love matte lips but my lips get so dry and this has such a beautiful texture and the rose scent is lovely. It's so expensive and not the most long lasting but I just can't keep this off my lips at the moment. So thats all the stuff Iv'e loved this month and I would love to hear your faves, so pop me a comment and post links bellow and I will have a nosey. x

Les Beiges Makeup

I would love to have a really creative makeup for you guys but I pretty much suck at taking pictures of my face, nevertheless I started the year saying I would try to show more makeup and less swatches so here is a little look at the makeup I have been reaching for recently. 

I start off by applying a little Soleil Tan De Chanel to warm up my complexion. I then apply my foundation and I have been using Chanel's Les Beiges Healthy Glow a lot recently, I really like the coverage and finish and it works a lot better with the Les Beiges Powder than other powders I have found. I like to use shade No10 as a base powder and No30 as a bronzer. On my eyes I have fallen back in love with Chanel's Illusion D'ombre in shade Emerveille, it as a beautiful shimmery pink that I think I will be wearing a lot in spring. 

The Loreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara I like to wear without eyeliner, I find it makes my lashes look so long that liner can make it look a little much sometimes, but this is by far my favourite high street mascara. To fill in my brows I next to always use the Soap and Glory Archery Pencil, I find it has great precision and shade Hot Chocolate is a really nice match. And to finish off the look I have been wearing another Chanel product, the Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour in shade Indecise, the shade itself is nothing special but I love the packaging and lipstick should be something you enjoy applying.

Concealer Collection

I've shared my Contour Collection, Balm Favourites, my bundle of Cream Shadows and my Foundation Rotation so I thought it was about time I shared the cover up masters of my makeup stash. I don't wear concealer on a daily basis so when I do wear it I like it to have good coverage and a non crease formula. So far I have never needed any colour correcting or highlighting from my concealers so if it is just a cover up you are after, here are my faves.
Starting with the highest coverage of the bunch The Sensual Skin Enhancer from Kevyn Aucoin, this can camouflage any blemish with the tiniest amount of product and it will not budge once applied. Benefit Boi-ing I have used the longest out of all of these, it is a great one to keep in your bag, its creamy but doesn't crease and it blends really well on top of other product. Estee Lauder's Stay in Place High Cover Concealer I like for under my eyes, it is the least drying of all of these, it has really good coverage and it really does stay put. Also it's nice to have a mirror in the packaging if you are using it for touch ups. Their Stay in Place Flawless Wear I do find to be a little drying but it is perfect if your wearing a tinted moisturiser and just want to amp up the coverage in certain areas. 

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lift and Firm I also tend to keep in my bag, it's another one that blends well on top of other product so it is a nice one to touch up with. It has less coverage than the others but also looks the most natural looking on the skin. The Eclat Lumiere Highlighter Face Pen is intended to be a highlight but I personally use this as a touch up for days I am wearing the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet. I find the formulas compliment each other well and this has that little bit more coverage than the foundation with the same demi-matte finish. There are other concealers I have used in the past and loved but nothing I feel I am missing at the moment. I would like to give a special mention to the Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer though. If you are on a budget it costs just £5.99 and it has really good coverage and longevity. It does crease a little but that also means it does not make your skin feel dry. I may not have one in my current collection but I have been using it on and off since way before I started the blog. 

Beauty Haul: Boots & House of Fraser

This was supposed to be just a Boots haul, I planned on picking up some cheaper pieces to take to Spain with me next month so I would not be worried about anything breaking, but I was looking around and to be honest not much really caught my eye that I have not already got or have tried in the past, but I thought I would show you the few things I did pick up. I have heard so much about the Collection Eyes Uncovered palettes and I am loving the sepia toned make up trend at the moment; you all know I live for neutral tones, so I picked up the Nude palette to take away with me.

I have also seen a lot of people raving about this Elvive Extraordinary Clay range, it is what I have been after for years; something to dry out my excessively oily roots and nourish my dry ends so I have high hopes for this trio. NYX is a brand I have wanted to try for ages and annoyingly there were three shop assistants filling the eyeshadow section so I didn't get a chance to look but I decided to pick up two lip products. The Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm which I love the shade of but have to get used to the formula. And the Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Sandstorm which is my new everyday. Again the sepia tone is just beautiful, I was too young in the 90s and missed the brown lip trend but this shade is just beautiful and the formulation and finish is amazing. I have not had this off my lips partly thanks to its longevity. 

I also picked up the Tinted Brow Mascara, I have been growing my brows recently and fancied a faster application for days I don't want to use the Soap and Glory Archery Pencil which I picked up another two of. It's nice to have brow options though, and so far I am loving it. I think I will pick up a darker shade than Brunette next time and see which shade I prefer. 

Of course I had to pop to House of Fraser and pick up my beloved Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara *review because I just cannot be without it. I also picked up an Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer, I have been using this every day recently so I wanted to make sure I had one in for whenever my current one runs out. I also could not resit picking up the new formulation of the YSL Touch Eclat and after a few uses this is seriously nice, I didn't think I would be saying this but it has a much nicer coverage and feel than the older formulation, which was a firm favourite of mine. I plan on reviewing a couple of these products and using them in some makeup look posts so let me know if there is anything you want to see first, and if you have any NXY favourites jot them bellow, I'm really excited to try some more of their products. 

Contour Collection

You may already know I, like the rest of the world, am a little obsessed with contouring. Not the drawing tribal paint on my face kind but the cool toned, blendable, subtle powder kind. And it has become a bit of a mission for me to find all the best powders in that category that suit my skin tone. I realise I only have one face and therefore only really need one powder but clearly I don't pay attention to that reasoning and have built up a pretty hefty collection. Starting with my more recent obsession the Anastasia Beverly Hill Contour Kit £39 I have been absolutely loving the shade Fawn to chisel at my cheekbones. And now I have discovered you can buy refills for the palette for £14 my purse will be happy that my new favourite is the cheapest of the bunch. The Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium I have probably used more religiously than the other powders in that  it is so compact you can fit it in any size make up bag. The shade is beautiful and well suited to lots of skin tones as it has a more ashy, cool tone to it than most other, there is also a light and dark sculpting powder available in the range though if you find this isn't a perfect match. At £35 it is pretty expensive but it does seam to last longer on my skin than some of the other powders *review.

The Blush Subtle Palettes were the fist contour powders I tried, I love the deeper powder in the 02 Nectar Lace palette which you can probably tell by how little powder I have left. The 01 Rose Flush palette has a much nicer blush and highlight shade that I get more use out of so this is the one I re-purchase these days. The powders are so buttery and blendable I wish they did a stand alone contour compact it is by far my favourite of the bunch but at £29 it just feels too expensive for such a small amount of the contour shade *review. The Smashbox Contour Kit I discovered last summer, the three powders have a more dusty or chalky texture than the other contour powders which came in very handy when my skin was more on the oily side. It retails at £35 and comes with a pretty decent brush, you can read my full review here but overall it is a really lovely palette I just wish the shades where a little cooler to match my winter skin. So thats my collection of contours, I would love to hear your faves, particularly if you have found any good cheaper options. I tend to love drugstore powders but I just can't seam to find any good cool toned contour powders like these ones. 

Balm Favourites

Lip balm may not be the most exciting of make up products but when you have super dry lips its one of the nicest to apply. For some reason I have dry lips all year round so I personally don't mind spending a little extra on my lip balms so that they actually stay on my lips and look as nice as a lipstick or gloss. I've tried countless lip balms by Nivea and Carmex and gone through a thousand Vaseline tins but they last a few minutes feel too slippy and only relieve the dryness for a while. These three balms on the other hand make my lips feel great for the rest of the day. So if you fancy a matte lip in the evening then these are great day time options. 
The balm I have been using the longest is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Intensive Lip Repair Balm. It has a sticky texture but it makes it last for a good couple of hours on your lips. Im not massively keen on pots but this is the most effective of the balms for keeping your lips nourished and it makes your lips look lovely and glossy. The Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Sheer Tints have also been a firm favourite of mine for the past year or so. I use shade Honey so it looks like a lipstick but keeps my lips soft. It has SPF15 and retails for £20 like the repair balm. The By Terry Baume De Rose Nutri-Couleur is the most expensive of the three at £35.50 and to be honest it is not as long lasting but the texture of this is so buttery and the smell of rose is beautiful. I have shade Toffee Cream but if you prefer a clear balm you can purchase the larger Baume De Rose for £39 which also has SPF15. It would be nice to find a cheaper alternative to these three, so suggestions please, but for now these have my lips feeling smooth and ready for matte lipstick at all times. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

I have been using this off and on for a few months now, my skincare seams to revolve around whatever I find easy and quick to do at the time and for the past few weeks this has been my everyday morning cleanse. I have to be honest I don't bother with the muslin cloth or flannel anymore. Because I do a full oil cleanse in the evening, I just like how fresh and clean this makes my skin feel in the morning. I don't need this to take the day off so a splash of water and no dirty cloth has just made this a more useable option to me. Because in the past I went from foaming cleansers to oil cleanser I did find this a little weird to work with to begin with. This does not lather at all and it doesn't slip around like oil cleansers, nor is it thick like a balm, its more like a face soap. I don't  find this leaving my skin feeling tight and in need of a good drink like I have found with other non oil based cleansers. It may not take off water proof mascara as well as an oil but this just breaks down any product or excess oil on your face. The best I can compare this is how your face feels after using a micellar water only more clean feeling and less drying. I'm not going to lie I do miss a good lather from a foaming cleanser, but you know how it is, you start reading Caroline Hirons blog and you instantly remove all the foam and face wipes from your cupboard. 
I have to add this is a really good make up remover if you enjoy using a hot cloth and spending time removing your make. So if you are using this as your first cleanse, and wanting it to remove the unbudgeable waterproof mascara then the Hot Cloth Set is just £15.50. And if like me you want to use this like a face soap for a speedy wash in the morning then you can buy the 100ml bottle for £14  online here. 

Cream Shadow Collection

My love for cream shadows has taken me a while to develop, as a lover of all things matte my shadow palette collection is pretty extensive but over the past year I have built up a cream collection I am really happy with. If you are a regular reader you will know by now I do tend to steer towards high end but I must add a special mention to the Maxfactor Excess Shimmer cream shadows *review. I used to have a few of these and they are really good but when I culled my makeup when moving house they just didn't make the cut over my palettes. As you can see most of my shadows are fairly neutral but all offer a different finish. My only real colour shade is the Chanel Illusion D'ombre in shade Illusoire which is a beautiful deep shimmer purple that looks amazing as a smudged liner. The By Terry Ombre Backstars in shades Mysty Rock and Frozen Quartz are both very neutral pinks when worn alone, but together these make for quite a statement smokey eye that can be applied in seconds. 

As I more regularly wear the gold browns though I thought I would swatch my favourites, and my most worn of the bunch is the Ombre Backstar in shade Bronze Moon, this is a really easy all over wash of colour which gives a nice bit of definition meaning I don't have to wear eyeliner. I love applying the Diorshow Fusion Mono in Meteore on top of this for a really intense gold shimmer, but it also looks lovely worn alone with a really thin cat flick liner. The Chanel Illusion D'ombre in shade Emerveille is the most delicate pink shimmer I could find and I am sure I will be wearing this a tone in spring. The Bobbi Brown Longer Cream Shadow Sticks are actually my least favourite formulation in that they just do not sit as effortlessly on the lid. The do not really set and so I find I have to re smudge it throughout the day to prevent it from creasing. I do however love shade Beige Gold as an inner corner highlight and it seams to stay put if you pat this in with your finger rather than applying product straight on to your eye. 

Just to give you an idea of playtime and longevity, here are the shadows smudged once over with my finger after about a minute. You can see that the Ombre Blackstars stay put the most with the strongest pigment but there is still plenty of time for you to have a play with the cream and get the look you are after. The rest of the shadows are still there but they do take a lot longer to set and even then they are still not as long-lasting as the By Terry. I think the best way to buy the cream shadows is to have an idea of the shade and intensity you want and just go and swatch all the different brands. They all have variations of the same colours, but where if I wanted a deep brown I would go for By Terry over Dior, and if I wanted an amazing high shine glitter you can't beat Dior, so it just depends on what your preference of finish is. 

February Favourites 2016

This month I have been mixing up my base products a little and attempting to use up the last of my YSL Touche Eclat foundation in an effort to justify buying the new formula that I am really eager to try. Although I failed in finishing the bottle turns out I have a re-kindled love for this beauty. My skin has been so lacking in radiance recently and this has been working far better than my Estee Lauder Double Wear at giving me a glow. I just hope I like the new formula as much. Talking of Double Wear although the foundation has been taking a back seat the past month, the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Concealer has been cracked out nearly every day. I think I will always prefer a more full coverage base, but I am happy for it to be targeted coverage with a concealer and the Double Wear range is the best for coverage, finish and longevity; all the good stuff. 

My last makeup fave this month was the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in shade Opal. I have been trying to get my skin to look healthy and glowing and, used sparingly, this adds a lovely natural sheen to the skin that isn't too much but is a little more than the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders that I mentioned in January's Favourites. My fashion favourite this month has been my new Daniel Wellington Classic Sheffield watch in rose gold and the Classic Glasgow Wristband. I have had the Classic Sheffield watch in silver for about a year and love the style and size if it so I just had to have the rose gold to match the hardware on some of my bags and coats. And although I love the classic black I felt like the Glasgow Wristband was a really nice nautical option for spring and summer. 

My last favourite may seam a little random but anyone who knows me well knows I am obsessed with hand gel, I always have a bottle in my bag and although it can make my hands a little dry I just like to know they are clean. The Aesop Resurrection Rinse Free Hand Wash however does not cause dryness at all and it smells beautiful. It is still alcohol based but it has a lovely scent of lavender and feels nice and gentle on your hands. 

So thats all the stand out things I have been loving this month, I would love to hear what you have been enjoying this month so be sure to leave me comments and links to your blogs, and see you on Wednesday for my next post. xx  

Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Night Cream

First of all lets just address the price of this product, at £58 for 50ml this is not in everyones budget. I in fact did not buy this, my sister has a skin condition that she hoped this would work well on, turns out it was not most useful for her but anyone with undiagnosed skin problems will probably know you save all your money and try anything you can. If you do not have problem skin head over to cheaper, but still amazing, brands like my favourite Vichy. If you do have dehydrated skin though that you just can't seem to nourish then this has been working wonders for me in the short time I have been using it. It is one of those products you see a real difference from using after one application and annoyingly I will have to buy this again; so thanks Amanda for introducing me to another expensive product. 

Now lets talk ingredients. Unfortunately this does not contain the blood of an actual dragon, that would be equally awesome and cruel, it in fact it contains active ingredients from the dragon blood tree which is actually pretty awesome for a tree, that helps to soothe and restore skin with anti inflammatory properties. It also contains hyaluronic acid which is what makes this such a good cream in that this helps your skin in locking in water. It also has glycerin which encourages your skin to absorb more water and of course aqua which all make for this being an amazing cream for anyone with dehydrated skin, or anyone wanting a cream with an anti ageing affect. Although a cream will never be a filler of fine lines, boosting your skins moisture will make skin appear more plump and firm and therefore more youthful. Lets be real, I'm 24, aside from a few fine lines on my forehead I don't really have signs of ageing, but it certainly does make my skin feel more plump and less dull. I actually like this as a day cream because it just makes my skin feel pepped up for the day. I think I will next try the Dragon's Blood Moisturiser which contains SPF and is a little cheaper at £49 so I will let you know if it is as good as this Night Cream. But if a good nourishing skin boost with amazing fruity, flowery smells in night cream form is what you are after then head to Space NK or find this online here. It comes with my highest of recommendations. 

Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Cleansing Oil By Una Brennan

Although perfectly happy with The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil I have been using for years, I no longer live close to a Body Shop store and Boots is far more convenient for me to get to. So while I still bulk buy my camomile cleanser I have had to try a couple of cleansing oils more easily available and the Super Facialist Vitamin C Cleansing Oil has been my favourite of the bunch. 
I have dehydrated skin with dry and oily areas, but the reason I go for an oil based cleanser is not really for hydrating purposes, I just find them more gentle on my skin and they tend to break down makeup more easily. I normally use this while in the shower, and always in the evenings as it does leave a slight oily texture on my skin which I am not keen on during the day. For my morning cleanse I use the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish which is great at cleansing my skin but it can't remove makeup like this can. The cleansing oil removes waterproof mascara with ease and you really don't need to rub, just use gentle circular motions on your eyes and rinse under the water and you won't wake up with panda eyes. If only this came with a pump it would be perfect. I also use cleansing oils when shaving sometimes, if you have dry or sensitive skin on your legs this will make the shave much smoother and cause less irritation to your skin. This retails at £10.99 in boots stores and can be purchased online here. 

Alpha H Liquid Gold

Liquid Gold has interested me for so long but after using so many cheap drugstore exfoliants it just seamed like a luxury that I could not necessarily afford, well turns out you can buy the Liquid Gold Try Me 50ml bottles for just £15. The full size 100ml bottle is £33.50 so you're actually better off buying the trial size. Such a small amount of product is needed per cotton pad that these bottles last ages and turns out my skin loves this stuff. I have been using this on my favourite Muji Peelable Cotton Pads, and with just one swipe this all over freshly washed skin my skin feels cleaner and fresher. It does make my skin feel a little dry but I do have dehydrated skin anyway. If you are a little more oily you may find this balances you out, personally I just use my Vichy hydrating Serum and Cream after using this and my skin feels nourished again.
For a full list of ingredients click here, but some ingredients I look out for are Glycerin which will assist your skin in holding water, and Glycolic Acid which is a chemical exfoliator. The glycolic acid will help remove dead skin cells leaving you with healthy looking fresh skin. It is great if you have blemish or acne prone skin or look for products that are anti ageing. I feel like this has really helped my skin look more healthy and less dull. I have been using it two or three times a week as suggested and it has made such a difference I will definitely be keeping stocked up on this. 

What's In My Bag: The Night Out Edit

First of all a little love for the Whistles Suede Chain Pouch, everything looks better in black and gold and the suede just makes this feel like such a luxury clutch. At £75 I realise it is rather expensive, but it has such a classic style and I like to invest a bit into my bags and get ones that will last me years. We are all aloud one vice, and mine mine is bags and make up and skincare and shoes and clothes... 

Inside I actually have another Whistles clutch which I featured in my last WIMB post, which I use for all of my make up bits. I tend to go for my more high end makeup as I so rarely go out I may as well use the good stuff. I went for all chanel products with the Eclat Lumiere  to touch up my foundation that my face seams to drink when I go anywhere vaguely warm, the Les Beiges powder in shade 10 to get rid of any excess shine, and Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour in Adrienne, a natural lip shade with a touch of shimmer.

Purse wise I just take a card holder with a bit of cash, my cash card and my proof of age. This one is one I picked up a while ago from Oliver Bonas. Of course I always like to smell my best, so my handbag staple is the Muji Atomiser, this time filled with Flowerbomb by Viktor and Rolf a beautiful musky flowery scent that has really good staying power. Aside from my phone, keys and chewing gum there is not really room for much else, but I love this bag and its sturdiness, it may not fit the kitchen sink but it is perfect for nights out. 

Ambient Lighting Makeup Look

I love makeup, and I don't really go a day without it but honestly for a normal day I just do not have more than 20mins to apply my face paint so I don't really get up to much experimenting with looks. I do however love using different products, and at the moment I am loving the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders.

I have been wearing Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation almost everyday *review. My skin has been dehydrated recently no matter what I do skincare wise, and this foundation with just a touch of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light is stopping it looking so dry. The Ambient Lighting Edit palette has really made me love the powders, I just find it so easy them all being bundled together but the two powders I have particularly liked in the palette, Dim Light and Diffused Light I am sure I will have to purchase separately soon. Here I have Dim Light on the tops of my cheeks, into my hairline and crease of my eyes. Diffused Light I use as a shimmer free highlight to blend out the powder on my eyes, down my nose and on my lower cheeks, to make the Dim Light work as a contour whilst not looking as harsh as a regular contour powder. 

On my brows I always use the Soap and Glory Brow Archery Pencil in shade Hot Chocolate.  To finish off my eyes I just do a simple flick of liner using Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner *review which I can only apply using the Lancome Liner Brush, and on my lashes of course the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara *review. I tend to just wear lip balm on a daily basis and Elizabeth Arden Lip Repair Balm is saving my lips at the moment from this dry weather.

January Favourites 2016

I wasn't really sure if I would would be switching over from the seasonal favourites to monthly favourites, but as I enjoyed so many things in January I figure we can give this monthly thing a go. And fist up for January has to be my new Macbook Air. I have been lusting after one for so long and although they are ridiculously expensive, they are also ridiculously beautiful; priorities on point!

Makeup wise I have been loving the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit, but as you can no longer purchase this, more specifically the Dim Light and Diffused Light powders. These give a lovely light from within finish that my skin has really been lacking, I am so ready to have spring time skin I will just have to fake it for a little while. Of course the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation was going to get a mention. It may have hit stores mid January but I have been using this every day since and loving what it is doing for my skin. On my lips I have been wearing Mac's Lip Pencil in Soar which my sister kindly got me for christmas and on days when my lips are dryer I have been loving the Soap and Glory Lip Stick Satin in Naked Beige.  
My favourite fragrance is actually the perfume oil of my all time favourite fragrance; Dior J'adore Touch de Parfum. This smell is so intense and a much deeper smell than the J'adore Eau de Parfum, I just use a drop of the oil and and it lasts on my skin all day and night. For my nails I have been wearing Berlin There Done That OPI Nail Polish, and my only hair favourite has been the Sleep-In Rollers not particularly to add any curl, but just to up the volume a little. My last favourite this month is my beloved Oliver Bonas Alphabet Mug which is just that bit bigger than regular mugs so perfect for this never ending winter we seem to be having in the UK.