Monthly Favourites | January 2016

So, we're a month into 2016 already and it has flown by.

Here's what I've been loving this month;

Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm

I did a recent blog post on this cleanser. I love this for my second evening cleanse, it removes all traces of make up and my skin feels lovely after using it. As you can see it's nearly all gone - it will definitely be a repurchase.


Bioderma

I bought the duo set of this while I was in Paris back in October last year, however Bioderma is now available at Boots, so much easier to get hold of for those of us in the UK! Bioderma was the first micellar water introduced to the beauty world, so for that reason it's a popular one and highly blogged about. I can't fault the product and really enjoy using it - I've been reaching for it every night this month. It doesn't sting my eyes, and removes the top layer of my makeup ready for me to go in with cleanser.


Imperial Leather Fruit Salad Shower Cream

This smells divine! Just like the sweets. I love anything that smells like sweets, especially retro sweets. It's named a shower cream, it is a thick consistency, and this feels very nourishing and luxurious on the skin. It's only £1 in Boots at the moment too! They also have a Marshmallow one (which of course, I have!) and a Sherbet Lemon one too, which I definitely want to pick up.


Rimmel Stay Matte Primer

I've had this in my collection a little while, but seem to have been reaching for it a lot this month. For a drugstore primer it's actually really good at mattifying and better than some high end ones I have tried! It creates a great base for my makeup, great price and actually does what it says! I still powder, my skin is seriously oily, but for someone with less oily skin I think this primer would hold shine at bay really well.


NYX Blush "Taupe"

Another item I've had sat in the depths of my drawers and found while I was having a tidy up (as you do!) is this blush. I've had this since Next had NYX stands in various stores, why did they have to stop selling it?! I know it's easier to get in the UK now online, but it was so handy being able to go swatch the products. The reason this one made it onto my list was Gracie Victory mentioning that it was a great contour shade - and it is, it's absolutely perfect. Been using it a lot this month and if you can get hold of it by any means, maybe Ebay, do it, you won't regret.


Real Techniques Bold Metals 301 Flat Contour Brush

This brush not only looks like heaven, but applies product like a dream too. I use it as it suggests, for contour. It applies powder and cream products so well, I've been using it with my NYX blush (above) and my Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel. It's a dense brush, but extremely soft and so easy to work with.



Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder "Translucent"

This powder sets like no other. For anyone with oily skin, you need this! I know loose powder isn't the most convenient or easiest to work with, I tend to use this at home and if I take a powder out with me, I will take a pressed powder, Rimmel Stay Matte is next in line after my LM. It's another product that I've nearly finished and I have no hesitation about repurchasing. It lasts forever too, I've had this over a year.


NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream "Stockholm"

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll have seen my love for this lipstick this month. I've been feeling nudes recently, and this one just ticks all the boxes for me. It's the perfect nude shade. Even though it's matte, it's not one of these that you have to be super careful when applying. I have applied it at my desk at work without a mirror, you can't really go wrong. It's also really comfortable to wear.


So that's all my favourites this month. I'd love to know if you have tried anything in post or if you have any recommendations for me!

What have you been loving this month?

Lauren x

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Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm

The blogger in me would have ensured there was nice fancy shot of this cleanser to accompany this blogpost, however my impatient streak made me dive straight in and here we are a few weeks later with a nearly empty pot, but accompanied with a pineapple candle to make it up to you!

On the plus side, you can see how much I have been loving using it.


This is a balm to oil cleanser, it's super thick and luxurious texture makes removing makeup a dream. It's the heaviest feeling cleanser I have ever used, but this is most definitely not a bad thing. It feels very thick when applied to the skin, then when you massage it in melts into a more oil based formula which removes every inch of your makeup.

It contains sweet almond oil, cocoa butter, shea butter and vitamin E - which makes for super nourished and smooth skin. You may think that this cleanser is best geared to dry skin types, however I have oily skin and this has worked so well for me, and in fact I'm confident that it's helped improve my skin.

It's worth noting that this cleanser is not the type that will emulsify when you add water, and you won't be able to simply rinse it off with water, you are going to need to remove it with a muslin cloth / flannel or damp cloth - whatever you'd prefer, I don't mind this little bit of extra effort as the results when you wipe it off are second to none.

Pixi suggest that this is used as a PM cleanser, which is exactly what I do. I find it works best for me as my 2nd cleanse in the evening, and go in with a cleansing oil first.

A little goes a long way, which is another reason I love this product. This large pot contains 90ml for £18, it's lasted me since early November and I've used it pretty much every evening since opening it.


Other favourites of mine are the Pixi Glow Tonic and the Beauty Sleep Cream - I'd love to hear of any other Pixi products you've tried that you recommend!

Lauren x

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Makeup Geek - My (Growing) Collection, Part One...

For months, I sat and swooned over Jaclyn Hill & Nikkie Tutorials makeup videos using Makeup Geek eyeshadows, wishing there was an easier (and import tax free!) way of getting them in my clutches... If I'd have been a bit cleverer, I could have done an order and had it shipped to my hotel when I visited America in November, why do we always have the brilliant light bulb moments when it's too late?!

It was a very happy day when I discovered that Beauty Bay were stocking the brand.

At first the stocks were very limited and I don't think they had realised just how much demand they would get for the brand, shades sold out SUPER quickly and the order took ages to process. To be fair to Beauty Bay, they have since given me £5 to spend on the site due to the delay, which I think is really good customer service. I have always had a brilliant service and delivery time from them in the past (and there's been a lot of orders!)

So onto the shades I have chosen, which, if you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen the various snaps of the collection has it's been growing...

So far, I have 5 of the foiled eyeshadows and 10 of the standard eyeshadows.

Makeup Geek describe the foiled shadows as; "With these rich and intensely-hued shades, the new Makeup Geek Foiled Eyeshadows go beyond your standard line of cosmetics, introducing you to a new and powerful cosmetic experience.

This cutting-edge formula offers a creamy texture that is a hybrid between a powder shadow and a cream shadow that is on a level of its own.

The intense pigmentation combined with an opaque, metallic finish make these shadows a dream to work with. These can be applied effortlessly in just one swipe with no primer required! Our lineup includes a diverse array of rich colors and a smooth silky formula that we believe help elevate pressed eye shadows to the next level of exceptional quality."

I do completely agree with this, they are buttery, blend so well and look heavenly on the eyes, by far my favourite type of eyeshadow.

I've done swatches of each line of shadows so you can get an idea of them individually.

First up, Untamed & Desert Sands
Untamed is one of the foiled eyeshadows and is a bright coppery orange/golden shade and Desert Sands is a matte shadow in a camel brown shade with yellow undertones.

Now onto the dark, purple-ly shades we have Showtime (foil) Burlesque & Bitten.
Showtime is a rusty brown with warm undertones and a foil finish, Burlesque is a deep burgandy with a hint of bronze and Bitten is another matte finish shadow in a deep maroon shade.

Flamethrower (foil) Cocoa Bear & Americano
I think I can safely say that Flamethrower is my favourite of the bunch, it's a true, bright copper with a foiled finish, beautiful. Cocoa Bear is a warm, reddish brown and has a matte finish. Americano is a classic dark brown with a matte finish.

Magic Act (foil) Cosmopolitan, Brown Sugar.
Magic Act is beautiful inner corner highlight shade, a light, yellow toned gold. Cosmopolitan, a beautiful rose gold shade with gold flecks. Brown Sugar is a warm coppery toned brown with a shimmery finish.

Now onto the lighter shades, Grandstand (foil) Shimma Shimma, Beaches & Cream, Mirage.
Grandstand is a beautiful light rose gold shade with a foil finish, Shimma Shimma is a metallic champagne colour, another good one for inner corner / brow highlight. Beaches & Cream is fabulous as a transition shade at the outer corner of the eye, it's a creamy shade with a hint of peach and a matte finish. And last but certainly not least, Mirage - stunning as a brow highlight, it's a warm buttercream shade with a satin matte finish.

I store the eyeshadow pans in a large Z Palette. The normal pans are £4.95 each from Beauty Bay, the foiled shadows are a little more expensive at £7.95 each, but they are so worth it!

I hope this post has helped, if you're looking for some inspiration for new shades to add to your collection, or for someone just starting your Makeup Geek pallete.

I'd love to know if you have any shade recommendations for me too, there's a big space to fill in my Z palette!

Lauren x

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