WHAT'S ON MY BEAUTY CHRISTMAS WISHLIST

Hello everyone! It is that time of year again and with Christmas just being a little over a week away, i thought it was about time i share with you what is on my "Christmas Wishlist" beauty edition this year. Side note this year i feel like there are so many more great gift sets/products that are new-in for the holiday unlike usual, so it was a little difficult to resist and keep the lust list to a minimum...

1. nuxe luxury prodigieux set | click to shop | £37 worth £57 |

First of all can i just say that this year Look Fantastic have nailed their site/stock for Christmas this year, with so many different categories from hers/his to stocking fillers. Nuxe is the skincare brand that i reach for every single say, especially their huile prodigieuse, so naturally this gift set is going to be a winner with me. 

2. laura mercier stardust radiant glow palette | click to shop | £40 |

Next up as soon as my eyes locked in on this palette i knew i was going to want to put it on my wishlist, as let's face it who doesn't love a highlighter palette? I love every single thing about this palette from it's rose gold slim/compact packaging with star features, the three different molten metallic and beautifully pigmented highlight shades that will leave you glowing. 

3. sanctuary spa sumptuous selection gift set | click to shop | £18 |

Who doesn't love giving/receiving a spa-like gift set for Christmas? because i know i do and especially anything by Sanctuary Spa. Picking up gift sets from the drugstore is such a good way to save money at Christmas as gifts from both Superdrug and Boots are all always on a 3 for 2 offer. Another great tip especially if you are wanting to pick one up for yourself, is to hold off until Boxing Day and pick yourself up some sets for 1/2 off.

4. bareMinerals exclusive star signs lipstick duo | click to shop | £17.50 |

If you know me personally or have read my posts in the past, then you will know that you will be on to a winner straight away if you were to gift me something bareMinerals as it is in fact my favourite makeup brand. This set is perfect for not just any lip product lover but also nude lip product lovers, as it comes as a Gen Nude full sized lipstick duo for just £17.50 instead of £34.

5. bareMinerals BAREPRO glow liquid highlighter | click to shop | £23 |

Another bareMinerals product that is firmly placed on my wishlist this year is this new-in liquid highlighter in the shade fierce, from the bare-pro range. Fierce is this most beautiful copper/bronze shade that can be worn/used multiple ways, either simply on the high points of your face, mixed in with your foundation or simply in with your skincare.

6. dose of colors mickey mouse collection lip gloss | click to shop | £16 |

Another brand that i love and use often is Dose of Colors and this Christmas on BeautyBay they are stocking the brands Mickey Mouse collection, which i am first of all living for not only the packaging but also the three different shades from the lip gloss collection. 

7. too faced sugar cookie eyeshadow palette | click to shop too faced | £33 |

Finally is a palette that i think is going to be one of those "impossible to find" gifts, as it is literally sold out everywhere (including the gingerbread palette) which happens pretty much every time Too Faced launch a new cute designed palette. I love how compact yet versatile this palette is, from its different shades with both matte and shimmer finishes. Also if you know anything about Too Faced palettes, then you will already know that they smell amazing and i simply can't wait to get a sniff of this sugar cookie palette.

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

QUICK ALMOST "NO MAKEUP, MAKEUP" FOR DECEMBER

Hello everyone! So at the beginning of November i shared with you all an everyday autumn speedy makeup post, which explained how i do a put together look in around 20 minutes or so. Keeping that in mind and taking into consideration how busy we all tend to be during December and not to mention how we love to sleep in longer in the mornings, lets face it when the alarm goes off it still looks like night-time outside. That being said this month i have been loving going for the whole "no makeup, makeup" look and keeping things simple.

maybelline x gigi west coast strobing liquid gold

So once all of my skincare routine is complete, i go straight in with a base for my makeup and for that i love to use some form of strobe cream, as it not only preps the skin but also moisturises and gives the appearance of a healthy glow. I first mentioned this particular strobing liquid in my recent five affordable november favourites post, where i went into full detail about the different ways to use this product.

milani 2-in-1 conceal and perfect foundation + concealer

I used to reach for this particular foundation a lot last year/the beginning of this year and then i ran out and forgot to repurchase it. That being said during Black Friday i decided to pick one up again and i honestly forgot how much i loved this foundation/concealer duo, it has amazing coverage, is light-weight and long wearing, not to mention quick/easy to blend out. I always opt for the shade 05 warm beige, as it matches me perfectly.

laura mercier loose setting powder

Once i have gone in with the base, foundation and concealer i will set my face with a light dusting on powder, which to be honest i switch up all the time as i have so many favourites. At the moment i have living for using the Laura Mercier powder again, as it is just flawless looking on the skin and is totally worth the huge mess i tend to make using it. Please tell me i am not the only one that tends to get loose powder everywhere?

mua luxe 3-in-1 power brow definer in the shade dark brown

Next up i will go ahead and fill in my brows lightly, as at this moment in time i am so happy with how full my brows are looking (thanks to the Benefit brow conditioning primer). I really like this pencil as it is easy to use, matches the colour of my brows perfectly and is a complete dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow definer, which would cost you almost £20 more than this one. 

kiko 30 day lash treatment mascara

For eyes i will keep things super simple and just curl my lashes and then go in with mascara. This KIKO mascara as you might already know is such a favourite of mine, but even more so on those quick makeup days as you can get the desired long-lash effect instantly and effortlessly. 

laura geller baked gelato swirl illuminator in the shade gilded honey

I had my eye on this highlighter for the longest time (which i will explain in more detail in a post coming soon), but long story short i will never ever skip on highlighter and i am really loving this one at the moment, it is simply beautiful. I just apply a little to the highest points of my cheeks, tip of my nose and cupids bow for a natural yet healthy looking glow.

bareMinerals invisible bronze medium bronzing powder

Final step for the face and that is to add some colour and shape back into the face, no surprise that this is the bronzer i am still reaching for and if you have been reading my posts for some time, then you will know i just can't put this one from bareMinerals down. The formula/colour of this bronzer is honestly flawless and like nothing i have ever used before.

mac cosmetics stripdown lip liner + peachstock lipstick
Finally to complete the look we can't forget a good nude lip combo and this is my lip of choice this month so far. I love how the two lip products look together, as it creates the most perfect slightly brown/autumnal beige peachy nude lip. That being said some days i will switch the lip combination up but it will more than likely be a nude ha ha!

Catch up on this weeks instalments...
christmas baking #1: chocolate holly cupcakes
winter wonderland: christmas market 2017
christmas homeware picks from h&m + m&s

xo. 

THE BEST NEW-IN BEAUTY GIFT SETS

Hello everyone! Christmas is already only a couple of months away and brands/stores are starting to stock their shelves/online stores with new-in gift sets. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you a selection of my best picks for new-in beauty gift sets, which would be perfect to get an early start on your Christmas shopping, for a birthday gift or even just to treat yourself.

bareMinerals send nudes trio | £32 bareMinerals |

If you have read my posts for a while now, you will probably know i am obsessed with these from bareMinerals and this matte lip trio is the perfect gift for a nude lip lover.

dior miss dior eau de parfum gift wrapped 100ml | £104 John Lewis |

This Christmas season Dior are selling exclusive ready gift wrapped perfumes, which is great for those who's wrapping skills aren't on point and also this scent is simply beautiful.

beauty blender 'midas touch' gift set | £18 Debenhams |

If you know someone who is a complete makeup addict, then a beauty blender is probably their best friend and this blender and cleaner bauble duo, is the perfect stocking filler.

soap and glory full sparks mini duo | £6 Boots |

Another great stocking filler but this time one that is a little more on the affordable side, Soap and Glory know how to do Christmas sets and every year they get better and better!

neom luxury organics home of sleep collection | £20 Selfridges |

The NEOM gift sets for Christmas this year are simply beautiful, from the products inside and the packaging which makes for a perfect luxury gift for so many different people.

neom luxury organics christmas wish candle | £30 Selfridges |
I always think if you are stuck on what to get someone, get them a candle right? NEOM candles are one of my favourites anyway but this Christmas limited edition candle is simply beautiful.

nuxe my dream gift set | £20 Look Fantastic |
If you know someone who loves their skincare then this NUXE trio gift set is surely a winner, as it doesn't break the bank, looks beautiful and also the products inside are too (i love the dry multi-purpose oil).

starskin #maskboss face mask set | £27 Selfridges |
Another great one for those skincare lovers/mask addicts in the form of a sheet mask set, this gift is the perfect mix between luxury and practical for somebody.

pixi skintreats duo | £28 Look Fantastic |
This skintreats duo is the perfect gift for those who love anything that will achieve glowing looking skin, stocked with the ever so famous glow tonic by PIXI.

glamglow multi-masking kit | £39 M&S |

Sticking with the glowing/skincare theme, this glamglow minis set is such a great idea and not just for giving as a gift but also if you just want to give a bunch of different masks a try before buying the full sized version.

mac cosmetics snowball collection mini lipsticks | £85 MAC Cosmetics |

I received a sneak-peek to buy email for this years holiday collection by MAC and once again they have "wowed" me, this is the perfect luxury gift for those lipstick lovers. 

tanya burr a season to sparkle day palette | £14 Superdrug |

Another collection that is even more beautiful than last year is Tanya Burr's Christmas range, these palettes make such a great gift to people of all ages and are super affordable.

laura mercier créme brulée temptations duo | £35 Selfridges |

Finally we have another perfect luxury themed gift, perfect for those bath lovers that you know, in fact this Christmas Laura Mercier have so many beautiful gift sets!

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE SETTING POWDERS

Hello everyone! Something i will always remember from when i started to wear makeup at around age fifteen-ish, is the first ever makeup purchase i made and it was the ever so still kind of famous stay matte powder by Rimmel. I believe i used to just use concealer, powder, a little mascara and lip balm back then as i was still at school. That being said fast-forward ten plus years to the place i am now, with multiple favourite setting powders and with that in mind, for today's post i thought i would share with you all my all time favourites.

rimmel stay matte pressed powder in the shade transparent

Kicking things off with the powder i was talking about in the beginning and the very powder that i wouldn't like to guess how many i have gone through over the years, yes you got it Rimmel stay matte. The texture of this powder is so silky soft, it does just what it claims to and minimises the appearance of any pores you might want to hide. If you are yet to try this powder, you can't really go wrong for £3.99 and it comes in six shades.

l'oréal infallible 24h matte powder in the shade warm vanilla 

So after years and years of sticking to the same Rimmel powder, i actually decided to branch out and try a different powder and this is the powder that took over and stole my heart. Yet again another powder that i have gone through so many of, yet again another powder that does what it claims to and is a great one for those scorching hot days. This powder retails for £5.99 and comes in three shades.

nyx hd finishing powder in the shade banana

As i became more confidant/more adventurous with my makeup, i started to learn what i liked from the base products i was using and one of the things was/still is a bright under-eye. Banana/more yellow toned powders are amazing for further achieving this, as well as a brightening concealer and this powder is one i also love in the translucent pressed and loose form too. For a "drugstore" powder this is slightly more on the price-y side at £9 but honestly i still think it is worth every penny. 

makeup revolution luxury banana powder

Sticking with the banana/brightening themed powders but this time a loose finely milled powder, that will make your under-eye area look super bright and almost air-brushed looking which is great if you are like me and some powders crease easily under your eyes. This particular product is such a dupe for the makeup worlds famous Ben Nye banana powder but only costing £5, which is a complete bargain as a little product goes a long way.

rcma no-colour powder

I picked up this powder towards the end of last year, after seeing so many people on YouTube rave about it and i was just like i need to see what the fuss is about (along side one i will get to soon). I honestly can't grip my head around how air-brushed this powder makes your make set, without adding any colour/flashback to the face. It is super soft and lightweight feeling on the skin, the only downside to it is that is is super messy so don't wear your best clothes when using it. This powder retails for £12 and also comes in a translucent form.

laura mercier translucent loose setting powder

As you could probably tell for the longest time i was team pressed powder all the way, but for the past year i tend to mainly reach for a loose powder now as there is just something about them. They always sit beautifully on the face and this one in-particular is just simply beautiful. It is so light-weight and luxury feeling, as well as being a great powder to bake with, which i am not keen on doing with the rcma no-colour powder. This powder is definitely the most expensive of the bunch retailing for £29 but a little product goes a long way again.

rimmel insta fix and matte translucent powder

This powder is one of two new powders new to the drugstore recently and i have actually been loving them both. The first is the insta fix and matte powder by Rimmel, which i thought was probably a new pimped up version of the stay matte but this one doesn't add any colour whatsoever, it just mattify's the skin with its light-weight pressed formula. Even though mine have all worn off, i also loved the cool touch of the hashtags in-printed on the powder. This powder retails for £4.99 and comes only in this translucent shade.

maybelline fit me matte and poreless powder in the shade translucent

Finally we have another new product to the drugstore recently and honestly there is a powder god out there somewhere, because if you have read my posts for some time then you will know that the fit me foundation and concealer are two of my go-to holy grail favourites. So naturally i knew before i even tried this, that i was going to like it and it is as equally as amazing. This powder retails for £5.99 and comes in this translucent shade, as well as four other skin-tones shades. 

♥

MY EVERYDAY GO-TO SWEAT-PROOF BASE FOR SUMMER

Hello everyone! So the past couple of weeks in the UK have been super hot/humid and seeing as we are now into summer, we are just having warmer weather in general. A lot of us can struggle to keep our makeup on/keep it looking fresh, when we are wearing it and just because the weather is warm doesn't mean we should just not wear makeup. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you all the products/go-to techniques i have been using everyday, which is sweat-proof and long lasting in this heat.

mac cosmetics studio moisture cream and nip+fab primer water

In summer just as much as winter it is important to keep your skin hydrated, so i like to go in with two different styles of primer and this step is one of the most important, as primer will not only prep your skin but also help keep it on all day long. I like to either go in with the studio moisture cream or strobe cream by MAC, as this deeply hydrates the skin making it a great base before makeup. Then i will go in with a primer water, i love using these not only are they quick and easy to apply but they are also super refreshing on the skin.

maybelline fit me, l'oreal infallible total cover and nars all day luminous weightless

Moving onto the next step which is foundation, these three particular foundations are favourites of mine when it comes to needing a long-wearing/bulletproof foundation. If you have been reading my posts for a while you will probably already know how obsessed i am with the Maybelline fit me matte and poreless foundation, as well as the NARS all day luminous weightless foundation. Both foundations have amazing coverage, a flawless natural finish, long-wearing and not to mention lightweight feeling on the skin (which is what we want in the heat). Moving onto the L'Oréal infallible total cover foundation, this also like the other foundations has amazing coverage, a flawless finish and long-wearing but the consistency of the foundation is a little thicker (great for oily skin or if you have dry skin add in some facial oil drops like i do).

maybelline fit me concealer and estée lauder double wear brush-on glow

Next up is concealer/highlighting the face is what i always do with concealer, which just like the foundations we want to be lightweight yet full coverage and long-wearing, this combination is just that for me. First of all i like to apply the Maybelline fit me concealer in the shade 10 light in a triangle shape under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, forehead and chin, then before blending out i will apply a little bit of the brush-on glow from Estée Lauder just under the eyes and down the bridge of my nose to highlight further.

laura mercier translucent loose setting powder

I always loved a good pressed setting powder but i have found that i prefer to use a loose setting powder just recently, not just to bake but a loose powder just seems to sits better on my skin and gives it a better finish. I am obsessed with the Laura Mercier loose setting powder at the moment, i love everything about it from its light-weight almost silky feel and the flawless finish without adding any further colour. I good hack i have found works well to keep shine away is to set the areas of the face where you are prone to shine (for me it is the sides of my nose/forehead) is to take your damp beauty blender with some powder on and press it into the skin.

topshop glow pot in the shade gleam and makeup revolution skin kiss highlighter

Next up base wise i like to go in with my favourite step, yes you guessed it highlighter! A great way i have found to keep your highlight looking beaming and fresh all day long, is to firstly apply a cream/liquid highlighter like this one from Topshop that i am obsessed with recently and then setting it with a powder highlighter (that part i always switch up, as i own and love so many highlighters). 

bareMinerals invisible bronze bronzer and milani baked blush

Once my highlight is done i like to go in with adding some shape/colour back into the face, i always used to do my highlight last but i have found doing it first just helps everything else blend together better/more seamlessly. First up is bronzer and i literally can't put this one from bareMinerals down, it is probably the most beautiful bronzer i have ever tried and it lasts all day long without fading. Next up is blush, which is something i always swap and change just like powder highlight on a day to day basis all depending on what colour i am going with.

maybelline superstay 24H setting spray

Finally moving on to probably the key step into keeping your makeup on all day long and it is as simple as spraying some setting spray on your face, once you have completed all of your makeup. Setting sprays are my new obsession and i have tried quite a few different ones out now, but i have two favourites and they are both drugstore. Firstly the barryM mist and fix dewy setting spray, which i mentioned in a recent favourites from the week post and then this one by Maybelline. This one has been such a makeup saviour in the heat, as it is really good at keeping everything in place, looking shine-free and fresher for longer.

♥