Holiday Beauty Heroes

You may have noticed my absence over the past few weeks. My holiday came around sooner than I expected and I hadn't planned any posts in advance (bad blogger, I know), so you can consider this my 'Weekly Loves' #21 through to #25. Now it is fair to say that my beauty stash which traveled with me was a little extensive, the handful of products shown above were the ones that I reached for most days and couldn't have been with out.

As for skin care, I really took it down to the bare minimum. It may have included two cleansers, but it was still the minimum. The Liz Earle C&P is no stranger to A Day in Beauty and it is the longest remaining staple product to my skincare line up. I used this as my AM and PM cleanser as it is a great all rounder. I could have easily used this to remove my barely-there makeup as well, but I did have my beloved Clinique balm for that. I also narrowed down my moisturizers and brought Origins GinZing along for the ride. Usually just for the mornings, I found this hydrating and light enough to use for the evenings as well, plus the citrus scent just screams summer holiday. Also, the fact that it comes in a plastic tub makes it weight-allowance friendly. 

I mentioned my makeup was barely-there. I meant this literally. I wore makeup three times throughout the whole of the two weeks and even then it was only for a few hours in the evening - that is what holidays are for... right?  The Bourjois CC Cream was the perfect match for the hot weather. Light and dewy but still with a good amount of build-able coverage. This applies and blends easily for a natrual looking base. My love for the Dior Creme De Rose Balm has been well documented over the months and it was at the top of my list of products to bring. Where ever I went, this went - hand luggage, pool, beach, day trips, shopping, water park... every where. My lips stayed perfectly hydrated and plump, with a beautiful soft pink tint that this gives.

My hair was my main area of concern. Having spent the past three years growing it and getting to a healthy state, I didn't want it to get damaged by the heat or chlorine. I purchased the Redken After-Sun Mask specifically for this purpose. I used this whenever I washed my hair in place of a normal conditioner. I definitely think that this made a huge difference as my hair was, for the most part, in good condition. I can't really say that this worked differently to any other mask but it conditioned my hair, stopping it from becoming too dry and unmanageable so it is a winner in my eyes. I also brought along a sample of the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer - the product that wowed me the most. After a couple of days in and out of the pool, tied up on the top of my head with out being brushed, my hair was in a bit of a mess (yep, that's an understatement). I slathered this on, tied my hair up and slept it in over night and some sort of miracle happened. I washed my hair the next day to find there wasn't any knots or tangles and my hair felt nicer than it ever had before. This is a product I now, never want to be with out and I plan on buying a huge tub of it when payday rolls around. 

As for the most important staples for a holiday - perfume and nail polish... One is an old favourite and one is a new favourite. Essie Fiji adorned my nails on both my fingers and toes and made for the perfect holiday shade. A milky-pink nude that looks fabulous with a tan. This is a universally flattering shade that every one will love, as I have done for years. I wanted a new fragrance for my holiday, something fitting that would always remind of mine and my boyfriends first holiday together. With my ever growing Jo Malone obsession, I opted for their Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne. A very fruity scent, with sweet yet almost warm notes running through. This is the perfect summer perfume, weather you're going abroad or staying at home. 

What are your holiday beauty heroes? 

Things To Do - Vol. 1

As much as I enjoy making lists and being able to tick things off as they are completed, sometimes there are things that need doing that need more than a list to motivate me and are more of a long-term task. Now, I do have a ton of things that could be included in this post but I am keeping it short and sweet and have narrowed down the ones that I want to focus on the most...

1. Use Older Perfumes.

Over the past few years I seem to have collected many bottles of perfumes that were once well loved but have now been replaced by new favourites, mainly since my tastes have changed (and since discovering Jo Malone). With a collection of fragrances that are almost empty and taking up a lot of room, I have put away my current favourites with an aim to use up unloved perfumes to make way for a whole new selection. 

2. Sort Out My Skincare Game.

In the recent months I have become a bit of a floozie when it comes to my skin care. With an array of different products I either find myself using everything I can possibly put on my face, or just taking my makeup off and being done with it. I am hoping to stick to a set skin care routine so that my skin will start looking a lot better, because at the minuet it seems to be having a bit of a tantrum. 

3. A New Nail Polish Line-up.

I have mentioned before my lack of enthusiasm when it comes to my current nail polish stash. I have picked up a few new colours that are now more to my taste but I still need to rid myself of the ones that are going unloved and/or have started to go off. Why do I have a gold nail polish?!  Of course there are shades that I have and love but I am looking forward to having a more condensed and new collection to choose from. 

What is on your 'Things To Do' list? 

Beauty Reward Cards

Being the complete beauty obsessive I am, the majority of my wages go on buying new products whether it be makeup, skincare or hair products... you name it I want it. My beauty reward cards are the second most important thing in my purse, after my bank card of course, and I always make sure to use them where ever possible. Even if this means waiting a of couple days for an online order to come through or going to a different store to purchase an item. So today I thought I would give you a run down of my favourite beauty reward cards...

Boots Advantage Card

Easily my most loved beauty card, this sits right next to my debit card for easy access. With 4 points per £1 spent and 1 point equating to 1p, this quickly builds up the value of my card, usually meaning that I have more money on this card than in my bank. I always make sure to put my card in the Advantage Card Kiosk when entering Boots as I find the best point-boosting offers this way, more points = more money to spend on makeup. 

House of Fraser Recognition

This is probably my least used beauty card, mainly for the fact that the rewards (1 point per £1) isn't that amazing. However, this does come in useful around birthdays and Christmas as you receive points throughout the whole store, not just in the beauty department. Once 500 points has built up on your card you are rewarded the value of £5 which can be used as part-payment towards a product, unlike the Boots card where you must have full value of the product.

Debenhams Beauty Club

Once my most used product, this is now my go-to card for any products that I cannot purchase from Boots. With 3 points per £1 and 500 points equaling a £5 reward, this card it most used for MAC and Urban Decay purchases. The best bit about this card? Points are carried forward each month and you are notified with a 'Beauty Club Statement', which also warns you when your points are close to running out of time. It can all get a little confusing but it is always nice to have £5 taken off your purchase at the till.

Space NK N.Dulge

This is reserved purely for the more luxurious of beauty buys; NARS, Hourglass, Kevyn Aucoin, you get the gist. 1 point per £1, £5 per 100 points... it is very easily done. Some other perks of this card are the complimentary samples with orders, a birthday treat and invites to events. There is also the chance to upgrade to N.Dulge De Luxe, but you have to spend a whole lot of money for that...

It is always nice to get something back, or a little something off something expensive. 

What are your favourite beauty reward cards? 

My Manicure Routine

There once was a time when I would change my nail polish three, maybe four, times a week. No base coat, no top coat, just colour. As you can imagine my nails were left a bit of a state - stained yellow and flaky. However, as I have grown to be older and wiser (when it comes to my nails) I have developed a routine that is serving me well and keeping my nails in great condition...

Step One: Removing Previous Colour. For this I like to use the Sally Hansen Strengthening Nail Polish Remover. Packed with vitamin E and wheat protein this product removes every trace of polish with ease whilst treating the nails to some much needed nutrients. This has made a huge difference in the condition of my nails and I would really recommend picking a nail polish remover suited to your nail type. 

Step Two: Prepping the Nails. I have four mini steps to this; firstly I start by simply cutting, using any nail clippers I have to hand, my nails to sort out any breakages or uneven edges I have gained and to shape them to how I like - square, FYI. Secondly, I go ahead and file the edges to help achieve a straight edge, any emery board will do. Thirdly, I buff over my nails using this Boots 7 Way Curved Block. I only do this when necessary as it can be damaging to the nails, but if you have any flaky bits it needs to be done! Fourthly, I take one cotton pad with a bit of nail polish remover on and quickly swipe over each my nails. This removes any left over polish that there might be and it dehydrates the nail slightly which helps your manicure's staying power. 

Step Three: Base Coat. My base coat of choice, for the past six months or so, has been the Sally Hansen Maximum Strength. Pale pink in colour, this product works perfectly as a base coat as it treats the nails while still protecting them from staining. This has made my nails go from dry and brittle, to stronger and much more healthy. You can also use this as a treatment but I just like to use it as a base coat.

Step Four: Colour. As apposed to back in the day when I have about 200 different nail polishes, my collection is now just a small array of shades that I switch between depending on my mood. As you can probably guess, my usual choice is an Essie polish - Essie Watermelon to be exact. This almost red, hot pink shade is probably my all time favourite colour, of which I like to apply two coats. I apply to coats of any shade. 

Step Five: Top Coat. Seche Vite. Need I say more? Probably not, but I will make a quick note - this stuff is amazing! If you like doing your mani's last thing at night then you need this. 

Step Six: The Finishing Touch. If you want healthy nails, you need healthy cuticles. To get healthy cuticles you need to incorporate a Cuticle Oil. I am still yet to find one that I love, so at the minute I just using a Sally Hansen one. I like to do this once my nails are completely dry and then again once or twice every day. 

Now this isn't the quickest of routines, it will take you around 30 minuets to complete. However, with a manicure that lasts around 5-7 days and healthy nails that are now a lot stronger, I can deal with that. 

What are your favourite manicure products?

Empties #3

It has been a while since my last empties post, three months to be exact. So I thought it was about time to dig out all of my used up products to show you, now there is more than what is shown here but since they are just multiple cans of dry shampoo and shower gel I thought I would leave them out.

Let's start with skincare... The Origins United State Balancing Toner is my go to toner for the mornings and most evenings as it helps greatly in keeping any oil at bay throughout the day and I think this may be my second or third bottle! This is a toner I would recommend if you have normal/combination skin as it helps to even out both dry and oily patches. To go alongside this toner I like to use the Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner, this is the only exfoliating toner that I have tried but I love the stuff! This is the first bottle that I have used up and it didn't take me long to repurchase. 

Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish is a product that I have been using for years now and I wouldn't want to be with out it in my collection, ever. Another favourite cleanser of mine is the infamous Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm, this luxurious balm works wonders at removing makeup and giving you soft, plump skin.

It's not very often that I use up makeup. Why? I don't know, I use enough of the stuff! However I have managed to finish two products that have been getting a lot of attention recently. Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation is a holy grail product of mine as it covers every imperfection, giving you a flawless base. 

Although you don't need a powder to go with this, I have fallen head over heels for the Bourjois Java Rice Powder. An illuminating powder that when applied gives an almost airbrushed effect to your complexion while still brightening up your makeup look. 

I have quite an extensive amount of hair care products, especially shampoo and conditioner. So it is really something when I manage to use one up. I discovered the L'Oreal EverRiche Range a couple of months ago and I have absolutely loved using them. I still have some of the shampoo left, however the conditioner is long gone!

What have you used up lately? 

Gift Guide: for the Beauty Blogger

Us beauty bloggers are much more specific in what we are lusting after for Christmas, so I thought it was only right to have a dedicated gift guide just for us - so feel free to sent this link to that person in your life that doesn't take hints very well.

With the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette coming out, all of us beauty junkies have got a little hot under the collar waiting for it's release. However I suspect that it will sell out almost immediately so if you're not lucky enough to get your hands on it there are two other options for you, the Original Naked Palette and Naked 2. The original one being my favourite. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb perfume is a popular choice among us, not just for the cutesy name but also for the girly design. Limited Edition for Christmas they have released Flowerbomb Crystal which, let's face it, is just gorgeous. Another product that has us lusting after it is the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum, a well documented hero product that pretty much everyone seems to love. Laura Mercier are known for their luxurious products and the Creme Brulee Body Product Range smells absolutely beautiful.

Something else that has had us all going a little crazy is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette. These powders have become very popular in the beauty community over the past few month so a palette including a selection of shades, one of which is limited to only this palette was destined to be a success. We all love makeup, which means we all love storage and the most lusted after storage in the beauty world has to be the Muji Drawers. The acrylic designs makes for a chic storage system that is oh so photogenic, plus the price is pretty reasonable too! If you're a makeup lover, you're a Real Techniques lover. These brushes dominate our collection and this latest set called Sam's Picks is a great place to start or to add to your already excessive collection. The Diptque Baies Candle has become a very coveted product lately but the price tag is a little steep, this would make the perfect gift for a beauty blogger as most of us won't purchase it ourselves! My final pick for a beauty obsessive is the NARS One Night Stand palette, a product that sent the blogging world into over drive when it was first released. Selling out before it's actual release date this palette would make a great gift - if you can get your hands on it!

This was probably the easiest gift guide to put together as I just went through my own personal wish list (and makeup collection). There are some fabulous beauty Christmas gifts around this year for us - I hope you manage to get some as I know they are selling out quick!

What are lusting after most for Christmas?

P.S - don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaway!

Gift Guide: for Him

Men can be a little tricky to buy for... you ask what they want and all they reply with is 'I don't know'. But I have gathered a collection of presents that are on the safe side when it comes to buying for the men in your life, nothing too out there, just a few staple pieces.

Let's start from something that would be universally accepted by everyone, even men - the iPad. This is the perfect gift to give and there is no doubt that they will get a lot of use out it, more on the pricey side of things but I definitely think it is worth it. Whether they like a long beard or a bit of stubble, every man needs a trimmer in their life and this BaByliss iStubble is one that my boyfriend owns and loves as you can control exactly what length it is. For the more musically of men (or hard-core gamers) the Beats by Dr Dre Headphones would come in more than handy - plus it means we wouldn't have to listen to what they are doing! It is becoming much more known that men are starting to look after themselves a bit better so this Clarins Men Collection which contains a few bits of skincare to get them started.

There are two kinds on men out there; those that wear watches and those that don't. This Daniel Wellington St Andrews Watch is perfect for the watch lover or the man that you want to start wearing a watch. With the basic brown strap this non-offense watch looks sophisticated with out standing out too much. Choosing a fragrance for a man can be a little tricky but I have found this Jean Paul Gaultier Aftershave to be loved by both all men and woman - it is definitely one of my favourite scents for men. For the man that has pretty much everything, you can't go wrong with a Barbour Jacket. Simple and classic in design these jackets are perfect for brothers, boyfriends, dads and grandfathers. We all know about boys and their toys. There is always a great selection of remote control gadgets for them to keep them entertained for a few days, including this AirCraft. Finally, one of the most spoke about things for men this year - Grand Theft Auto 5. Pretty much all guys either already have this or want it.

Although they can be tricky to buy for, I hope this has given you some ideas what to buy for your male relatives or boyfriend. Either this or just give them some money to buy something they want!

What are you buying for the men in your life?

P.S - don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaway!

Gift Guide: for Her

When it comes to Christmas shopping, ladies are by far easier to buy for then men. The chances are we have something in mind that we would like and if not there are plenty of offerings out there that will have us swooning at first sight.

Firstly, you cannot go wrong with jewellery - especially something from Tiffany. This Silver Heart Key Necklace is a beautiful piece that will remain timeless. I personally own this necklace and it is one of most treasured bits of jewellery in my collection. Speaking of timeless, this Mulberry Bayswater Bag is something that every girl/woman would dream to own. One of their more popular bags, this classic design is perfect for any occasion. Everyone loves a candle, especially girls and Yankee Candle Christmas Cookie is my favourite of them all. A super sweet scent that fills the house at first burn, I recommend picking up the large size as it burns for weeks. A makeup pick that everyone will love, no matter their degree of love for cosmetics is the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette. A small palette containing six neutral shades that makes for simple smokey eyes for everyday wear.

Something everyone will love is the iPad Mini. A great little device that functions as a normal iPad but is a little more compact for fitting into handbags. Another perfect gift is a Ted Baker Wash Bag that comes in multiple colours to suit the personality of any girl, plus - it looks great as a feature on a dressing table. When it comes to the colder weather, slippers are a must and these Knitted Bow Slippers from H&M are super cute and come in a few different colours. Fragrance is always great gift to give and one of my favourites at the moment is Chanel Chance Eau Tendre, this is definitely one to check out if you are on the lookout, also... you can never go wrong with Chanel. My final gift idea for her is this Origins Moisture and Be Merry set that contains a collection of their Make A Differnce range to sample.

This gift guide ranges in price from £12.99 to £895 so there will be something for everyone - I know I wouldn't mind everything on this list! Keep an eye out for the men's gift guide coming up on Wednesday!

What do you most want for Christmas?

P.S - don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaway!

Building My MAC Blush Palette

The world of beauty blogging is currently dominated by palettes, in particular a blush palette - I'm looking at you NARS One Night Stand . So I thought what better time to share with you another palette that has recently been added into my collection.

After completing my first MAC eye shadow palette (pictures and swatches here), I decided it was time to start up a blush one. Now this wasn't an easy decision, did I want single blushes that I could easily rotate in my Muji drawers or did I want a palette, or two , that was a bit more travel friend? I chose to go for the palette (obviously) as I love the idea of customizing it to my own tastes and choices, plus I think the newer style of palettes from MAC look very sleek and the ability to see the shades through the transparent lid is always an added bonus.

I started off my palette with Frankly Scarlett, an super deep pink it is almost red shade which looks beautiful when used to add a pop of colour to your makeup whether it is a more simple or dramatic look. When it comes to blush I tend to stay with pinks and peaches and currently on my list to get are Well Dressed and Peaches but I would love to know what your favourite MAC blush shades are?

What are thoughts on blush palettes?

Empties #2

After my last empties post I expected it to take a while before having another one to share with you, but within about three weeks my 'empties bag' nearly brimming to the top so when it got to the point of it over flowing... I thought I should show you what I have used up.

Two products that I use up on a monthly basis are the Batiste Dry Shampoo and the Batiste XXL Volume Dry Shampoo. I use this on rotation depending on what look I want to achieve and what I am doing that day, these will forever been repurchased and I always have some stashed away for when I run out. Another product for my hair that I have finished is the Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Cream. I always spritz this throughout my hair before blow drying as it leaves my hair feeling incredibly soft and smooth, again I had a back up in product stash for when I ran out. Soap & Glory's Heel Genius is quite isn't exactly a glamorous product but it is an essential in my collection and I quickly repurchased this. If you want super soft feel, rub this is and pop on some socks over night!

The five remaining products are all skincare ones because I bought them all at the same time, which seemed like a good idea at the time however my collection quickly decreased over the space of a week or two. First up is the REN ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser which may be a mouthful to say but it will work wonders if you have got oily/blemish prone skin. Another cleanser that I love is the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, a favourite in the beauty community and with good reason. If you are looking for a great all round cleanser to clean your skin and remove makeup then this one is for you! Once my skin changed from oily to normal I swapped my toner for a balancing one in the form of Origins United State Balancing Toner. This has already been repurchased and is sitting happily in my collection. Another pick from Origins is the GinZing Moisturizer which has been a favourite of mine for months now, this makes for the perfect early morning pick me up as it is hydrating and filled with a citrus scent. Finally... the Indeed Labs Eysilix. This does the job that and eye cream is supposed to do and keeps my eye area hydrated, however it doesn't wow me so if you have any recommendations I would love to hear them!

I have just restocked my skin care stash so I'm hoping that it will be a little while until I have this many empties again...

Recent Skincare Additions

After stepping up my game on the skincare front last year, my skin has gone from an oily mess to somewhat of a manageable state, however I seemed to have developed a skincare addiction. Anyone else suffer with this? Thought so. I'm always on the lookout for the next best thing to add to my collection...

It was a sad day when I released that my beloved Bioderma just wasn't cutting it anymore. So I picked up the Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover to help remove the lashings of mascara that I apply everyday. I had a little bit of birthday money left over so quickly added the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask to my basket. I have been after this mask for a while after reading so many great reviews, so my expectations are for high for it's trial this evening. The Origins Mega-Bright Serum has been on my wishlist for as long as I can remember, so I was over the moon to receive it as a present from my boyfriend. I have tried a few samples of this over the past few months and I have loved the results every time. Hydraluron is a cult favourite in the beauty world and almost impossible to get hold of, especially if there is an offer on... but, I did it! My skin gets a little dry in the colder weather so I am hoping this will give my skin a little shot of hydration. Being a girl with large pores I like to do anything I can to minimize the look of them. The Clarins Pore Minimizing Serum has been in the back of my mind for a while now and looks just like the sort of thing I need to help disguise my pores.

Three serums, a face mask and a new eye makeup remover should keep my going for a while, unless you have any recommendations for me...

Bad Skin Saviours

My skin has been up to no good lately. Yes, this is mostly my fault as I was slacking on the skincare routine for quite a few weeks and I ended up only doing the bare minimum to remove my makeup. As expected my skin was looking dull, I had a few breakouts (which is very rare for me) and my makeup wasn't apply as it should either. Anyway, I stepped up my skin care game, my skin is back to how it was before and I have a few products to credit for the transformation.

Firstly is the REN ClearCalm3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser. I noticed a huge difference in my skin when I stopped using this - my skin become a lot oilier and much less manageable. So when I finally got around to repurchasing this my skin lapped it up. I use this every morning and thankfully I can go the whole day with out powdering over my skin face. The Origins Out of Trouble Mask was another product I stopped using and after seeing such amazing results from it at the beginning I knew that it would work wonders for my again. I have been using this three times a week/every other evening and my break outs have been banished from my skin. I will definitely be keeping this up to keep any blemishes at bay, you can see my full review here.

On to the brightening... the REN Resurfacing AHA Concentrate is the product that the majority of the credit goes to. Again, I have been using this every other evening (the opposite ones to when I use the Out of Trouble mask) and most of the time when using this I have been leaving my routine at this step so it can work it's magic. This has helped to make my skin appear much brighter and has given it a much nicer feel making my makeup apply more evenly in the morning. Another brightening product I have been loving is the Indeed Labs Pepta-Bright serum, which I have been applying in the mornings only. Not only has this smoothed out my skin to give a better base for my makeup but I have also noticed a more even skin tone and the redness in my cheeks reduced.

I am very happy to have my some-what nice skin back in action and to be clear of any breakouts, all of which I owe to these for products. If you can relate to any of these skin woes, I would really recommend checking these out to help combat the problem. Next up for my skin? Some doses of hydration...

Empties #1

I will admit that it is not very often I use up a product, but when I do I just pop in a drawer, wait a couple of months to see what I have accumulated and thus, the 'empties post' is born. Just a warning to you all, my empties post will mostly be filled with skin care and shower products, cool? Let's get on with it...

Origins Zero Oil toner was a great little product that helped in reducing the oily mess that was my skin, but as my skin is becoming slightly more normal, I have switched this up for a balancing toner - also I couldn't really handle the scent that this gave. A product I go through time and time again is Bioderma. Raved about in the beauty community, but it is something that does actually live up to the hype - it removes makeup, particularly eye makeup, with ease. The final skin care product, another that I have gone through many a time, is the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. Again, well loved among beauty bloggers and with good reason. A great all round cleanser for all skin types, I use this after Bioderma to remove the rest of my makeup.

Makeup? Something I very rarely use up but I have two fab products that I have used right until the end. Firstly is Benefit's That Gal primer, now this is only a sample size but it was something I have really loved using over the hotter months to give a healthy glow to my skin. And to go over the primer, I have been using, and have used up, the Laura Mericer Silk Creme foundation. A lovely foundation that gives great coverage with a natural finish - perfection! (See my review here).

A couple hair care products, first up - V05 Miracle Concentrate hair oil. I actually used this up a long time ago, and although I didn't repurchase this it is a great hair oil and it is nice to your bank account. My favourite way to use this was to apply a lot to the bottom half of my hair for about an hour before washing it. You will be left with silky smooth hair in no time! The second? Lee Stafford's Hair Growth Treatment. Again, I didn't repurchase this but purely because I have like 101 other hair treatments to use and it didn't feel as though it done anything special to my hair. Last but not least, Soap & Glory Fake Away scrub. I have mentioned my love for S&G before, here, and this product was no different. A great exfoliator that is not to gritty but gets the job done! I am trying out another S&G scrub at the moment but I would happily repurchase this.

Phew, there was more products than I though there would be *pats self of back*, but now it is time to start stashing those empties all over again - see you in a couple of months!

The Unused Products

A few weeks back I was having a little reorganising of my makeup collection and came across a handful of unused products. It is not very often that a new product goes unloved in my stash, because I usually use it non-stop from the moment of purchasing it until something new comes along. So I thought I would show you some of these products in a 'shopping the stash' style post.

MAC's Pink Buttercream Pearlmatte Face Powder (aka highlighter) was an impulsive buy after seeing it in my local store. I think the main reason for my not using this product is the fact that the detailing in the pan is just far to beautiful to be messed up - I'm a sucker for anything pretty! One thing you should know about me is that I have a thing for MAC lipsticks, hence why I have two unused ones. On a day to day basis I go for a pink/nude shade like Hue or Creme Cup, so my bolder colours like Daddy's Little Girl (Archie's Girls collection) or the infamous Riri Woo lipstick usually take a back seat. Another MAC product (it's the last one - promise!) is the Day Gleam pressed pigment. A product I had seen on someone else I thought 'I must have it', so I got it. In all honestly it didn't live up to my expectations but I am determined to find a way to make it work. When Revlon released some new Lip Butter shades for summer I went into beauty blogger mode and picked some up asap. Juicy Papaya looked great swatched on the back of my hand, but it was a little to sheer for me when applied to my lips - especially as my lips are quite pigmented. My last unloved product, and the priciest of them all - the Dior Nude Bronzer. Again, a product too pretty to use but the main reason for this just sitting in my dressing table drawer was my love for NARS Laguna.

So in true Shopping the Stash style, over the next few weeks I am going to be switching up my every day makeup (which you can see here) to incorporate some of these unused beauty products. I may even come back to you with a follow up post so you can see how I got on with them. First call of duty? Switching NARS for Dior...

My Skin Care Routine

Morning

My morning routine is the simpler of two and follows the basic principle of 'cleanse, tone and moisturise'. The REN Clay Cleanser is the first step and this removes anything that has built up on my skin over night. This is perfect for us oily skinned girls as the clay base helps to neutralize the skin, it is also is like having a mini face mask on and leaves the skin feeling super soft. The Origins United State Balancing Tonic has a similar effect in the way that it helps to even out oily and dry patches on your skin. Next I apply the Indeed Labs Eysillix to hydrate the eye area, followed by the Origins GinZing Moisturizer to give my skin a little boost.

Evening

My evening routine is a little more complex, but still not too over the top. First thing's first is to remove my make up which I do by firstly using Bioderma to remove the bulk of my make up - three cottons pads in total, one for each eye and one for all over my face. I then use my beloved Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish to remove any remaining make up. I'm a double cleanser so I follow this with the REN No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm, which leaves my skin feeling super cleans and smooth. As well as a double cleanser, I am a double toner. So the next step is to use the Clarins Brightening Exfoliating Toner to balance my skin's pH level and give a brightening effect, followed by the Origins United State Balancing Tonic. As with my morning routine, I use the Indeed Labs Eysillix as my eye cream. This is a reasonably thick cream that really nourishes the eye area. The final step is to moisturize for which I use the Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Oil Free moisturizer.

Treatments

Treatments are my favourite steps to my skin care routine. They always give your skin that extra little something, don't they? First up is an exfoliating scrub and probably the best one out there: Origins Never A Dull Moment Face Polisher. There is something about the way that this gentle removes dead skin cells while still nourishing the skin that always has me coming back for more. Origins Clear Improvement mask is one that we all know well... a charcoal based mask that gives pores a good old clean.I use this once to twice a week, depending of how bad my skin is. Origins Out of Trouble mask is new to my stash, but it is a life saver. I use this every other day to keep blemishes at bay and it is a great fixer of troublesome skin. Origins Drink Up-Intensive over night mask is one that I use on Sunday and Wednesday nights to keep my skin nourished and hydrated throughout the week. Last but not least is the REN Glycolatic Radiance Renewal mask. A gloopy textured product that promotes skin cell turnover to create a brighter complexion. This is more of a long term solution than a quick fix and I use this on a Sunday night to prep for the week ahead.

Phew... I think that covers everything! I will admit that skin care is becoming a bit of an obsession of mine, so I would love to see your routine or any products that you cannot live with out!

GUEST POST: Dolled Up London - Favourite MAC Products

Hey Lovelies,

Some of you might know me from my blog Dolled Up London .  And if you read my blog, you’ll also know that I’m pretty obsessed with MAC Cosmetics. It’s a brand I’ve loved for many years, but it was only last year when things got a little out of hand and I acquired enough make up to open my very own MAC counter. No, I didn’t win the lottery, but I did complete a make up course at the London College of Fashion. As part of that course we were given a MAC pro discount for one evening. If I remember rightly the discount was 35%, so needless to say I went a bit nuts with it. I ended up buying a ton of stuff so today I thought I would share with you some of my very favourite MAC products!

Eyeshadows

I love MAC eyeshadows and would even go as far as saying they are the best ones out on the market. The colour range is second to none. MAC eyeshadows are very pigmented and easy to blend. Even though I own all 3 Urban Decay Naked pallets, it’s my MAC eyeshadows I reach for on a daily basis. I’ve got 2 15-pan pallets, a quad as well as a few loose shadows. I know that’s slightly OTT but MAC shadows really are a bit like Pringles. Once you shop, you can’t stop! Must-have colours for me include All That Glitters, Woodwinked and Satin Taupe, so if you don’t already have them in your collection write them down and check them out next time you’re at MAC!

MAC Paint Pots

MAC paint pots work as an eyeshadow base that make the colours pop and stay on all day long. They come in various lovely shades and are also great if you can’t be bothered to apply a lot of eye make up. You can either wear them on their own or as an eyeshadow base. I always apply my MAC paint pots using my fingers. They are very long wearing and highly pigmented. If you’ve got any MAC paint pots in your collection, make sure you store them upside down because it helps to prevent them from drying out.

MAC Brushes

One of my all time favourite MAC products would have to be their 217 brush. It’s a fluffy blending brush that can not only be used to apply eyeshadow, but also concealer or highlighter. I actually own 2 of these, one to apply the eyeshadow and another one to blend it with. It’s a brush I use on a daily basis and I could not be without it. I know MAC brushes can be a bit on the pricey side, but they are a worthwhile investment. I’ve owned my MAC brushes for many years and they are still in excellent condition. Even though I am also a big fan of Reach Techniques brushes, I definitely prefer MAC brushes for powder products. I only use my Real Techniques ones for foundation and concealer.

MAC Lipsticks

Right some people are crazy about MAC lipsticks. They are often the first product bloggers purchase when they are just starting out with MAC and I can see why. Most MAC lipsticks are very pigmented and long wearing.  Like MAC eyeshadows, their lipsticks have a huge colour and finish selection. Personally I very rarely buy MAC lipsticks though because if you return 6 MAC empties to the MAC counter you can actually exchange them for a free full size MAC lipstick. Yes you’ve heard right, a free MAC lipstick, so make sure you never throw out any of your MAC empties!

MAC Concealers

I love MAC concealers because they are great for covering up scars, blemishes, hyperpigmentation and all sorts of other nasties which can sometimes pop up on our face. A personal favourite of mine is their Pro Longwear concealer. As the name suggests, it’s long wearing. The pigmentation is also great. I use the Pro Longwear concealer to cover the dark circles under my eyes. It works great and doesn’t crease or budge all day long! If you are looking for a MAC undereye concealer, always go for an NW shade rather than an NC shade. NW shades are pink based, NC shades are yellow based.  Pink tones are more effective for concealing dark shadows under your eyes.

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural

MAC MSFs (Mineralise Skinfinish Natural) are a really lovely product. If you’ve got amazing skin, you can use them instead of foundation because the coverage is very light. This product gives a lovely dewy finish to the skin. Sadly for me, my skin isn’t great so I do need to wear foundation. I usually set my foundation using my MSF natural. You can also buy this product several shades darker than your skin tone and use it to contour your face or as a bronzer.

Well, these are just some of my MAC favourites! What’s your favourite MAC product?

Thank you for reading and thank you to Emma for letting my guest post on your lovely blog!

Nuala xxx

Post Hair Wash Routine

One thing that I have been on top of lately is having a good hair care routine. Over the years I have tried  and tested multiple products from oils to mouses to waxes. Yes, waxes. So after much trial and error I have finally found a post-wash, hair care routine that works perfectly for me.

After towel drying my hair and brushing it through, I spray the Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Cream on my hair, from roots to ends. This has quickly become one of my favourite products as it leaves my hair feeling softer and more nourished than ever. I follow this by applying the L'Oreal Mythic Oil Rich Oil to the ends of my hair, I use this to help tame the ends of my hair as they tend to be quite unruly. After these steps, I blow dry my hair. Not in any particular way, just roughly - and as quickly as possible. Following this I spritz the REDKEN Iron Shape 11 Styling Spray throughout my hair and brush it through. This helps to keep my hair style in place for longer. I usually straighten my hair on a day-to-day basis, and when using this I do not need to use heat on it again until my next wash - bonus! Once my hair has been styled, for which I either use the Enrapture Totem Styler or GHDs, I let it cool down before applying the Bed Head Glaze Haze Serum to the ends of my hair. This again helps in controlling my fly away ends and adds a glossy shine.

This combination of products has been my go-to routine for about a couple of months now and my hair has quickly become very manageable and frizzy ends have been kept at bay. Along with this routine I use certain shampoo and conditioners for certain days and/or events, but I will save that for another post...

Summer Blushing

If you asked me to name my favourite make up product to buy, blushes would win by a mile. In my opinion there is no such thing as 'too many' blushes as although some may go unloved from season to season there is always such excitement when you discover and old favourite. So today I have whittled down my collection to show you some of my top picks for the summer months.

We all know that summer is dominated by shades of coral, so this first pick is a bit of an obvious one, but boy is it a good one. Benefit's CORALista is the ultimate summer shade; a perfect coral with slight pink undertones and a shimmer that gives you that post-holiday glow. Oh, and not to mention the gorgeous packing it comes in... all boxes ticked? I thought so. Next up is the newest blush to my collection, Clarin's Spring 2013 blush. Although no longer easy to get a hold of, this is the bee knees when it comes to a matte peach shade. A quick sweep of this over your cheeks and your good to go with a natural peach flush. Another offering from Benefit in the line up is their Bella Bamba blush, and not just for the cute name. A shimmering pink with peach undertones gives a warmer pop of colour to your cheeks but with added glow. Finally, probably the most eye catching one of them all - MAC's Ripe Peach. There is just something about the ombre effect, isn't there? Still a peach shade but definitely more on the orange side, this blush definitely adds a pop of colour to any make up look. Another limited edition shade, but fear not as Estee Lauder have a pretty similar offering in Peach Nuance if you can find one at your local counter...

So there is a whole lot of peachy pink goodness for you to feast your eyes on, but in my opinion Benefit's CORALista wins first place.

The Everyday Face

We all have one... a set of products that we get into a routine of using because those 6am alarms just do not make way for making good product choices or trying out new things. We just need a handful of products that we can apply with no fuss while still half asleep and trying to think if really  need to be up at this time.

Now the picture above does seem to be a little excessive on the product front for a quick everyday routine, but it makes me appear human and I can do it in about twenty minuets.

Let's start with the base. I am a full coverage kind girl so I like a base that is going to give me flawless looking skin and last all day. Firstly I apply my Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Coverage foundation  in 11 'Very Light' under my eyes, as I have inherited some lovely dark circles, and to a birth mark that I have as this is the only thing that covers it. I then use my hand as a palette to mix the Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation in Rose Ivory and Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation in 51 Vanille Clair together. I then apply this with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush to give me a lovely dewy base while still getting good coverage. I then go over my dark circles and any blemishes that I have with the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 3 'Medium' and the Real Techniques Contour Brush.

I like to keep it pretty simple when it comes to the eyes. For my brows I like to use MAC's Charcoal Brown which gives me a nice, strong and defined brow with out looking like they have been coloured in with a sharpie. I then go on to use my beloved Maybelline The Falsies mascara which is my go to mascara that I have been using for years. I then apply a slick of Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. I keep this line as close to the lash line as possible and do a tiny flick at the end for that semi cat eye effect.

So now on to the finishing touches which again I tend to keep pretty simple for day to day activities. I apply some NARS Laguna bronzer under my cheekbones and down the sides of my nose to add a bit of definition to face and follow this with the CHANEL Spring 2013 Highlighter along the tops of my cheekbones, down the centre of my nose and under my brows. I then lightly apply some of the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus down the center of my face to keep everything in place throughout the day. Lastly I put on my all time favourite lipstick that is MAC Creme Cup - the most perfect natural pink shade.

Although I hate those 6am starts, I love applying make up - hence the amount of products I use for my 'simple' face... maybe I should start adding some eyes hadow into the mix?

Herbal Essences Bee Strong

Herbal Essences is my go-to drugstore hair care range, because as much as I love high-end hair care - using it for every wash just isn't very purse friendly. So when I saw this new Bee Strong range released, and on offer I should add, I quickly put one of each of the products in my basket before my boyfriend could see and I was on my way.

Smelling deliciously sweet, I couldn't wait to use them in my next hair wash - which ended up being an unscheduled one that night. Both the shampoo and conditioner are made with honey and apricot extracts, but the conditioner is extra special as it is serum-infused - fancy! I did as instructed and shampooed, rinsed, repeated and then conditioned. I was left with super soft, healthy feeling hair. Results that rival some of my high-end products and for just a fraction of the price... now that is something to write home about! The best bit? I can easily skip a wash (a hair wash that is) if I use these as they keep the hair clean whilst still being nourished. They even got the seal of approval from my boyfriend - which meant that we had to repurchase pretty quickly!

The Bee Strong range is aimed at damaged hair, but I would highly recommended this to anyone and all hair types! They are quite often on offer as well, so keep an eye out and definitely stock up!