Currently Loving

I'm trying to stay away from the more traditional monthly favourite style posts, so I thought I'd do a currently loving kinda series, with posts as and when I feel like them. I mean, how on earth is one expected to have so many favourites each and every month. Like I mean I only own so many things! It's been a quiet few months for me recently, being confined to four walls for the whole summer (read about that here) has meant I've worn the very basics in the makeup department. I mean I don't really want to be turning up to physiotherapy looking like Ru Paul now do I? 

So face-wise, I've been sticking to light bases like the Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint. It gives quite a medium coverage, but looks and feels so natural - like you're not wearing anything at all! In terms of shade, I have 'Bare' which according to Liz Earle 'suits most alabaster complexions', and I think it's safe to say that it would suit most low maintenance vampires. Speaking of vampire suitable products, I've been setting the skin tint with the NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder. I've not tried a loose powder before and I'm so mad at myself for that! But then you could say I was waiting to meet the man powder of my dreams. And it's safe to say I have! The first time I applied it I just couldn't help but stare at myself in the mirror - it left my skin looking so smooth! In terms of staying power it lasted as long as my usual powder, which has pretty decent longevity fyi. 

After having a massive beauty clearout, I've been expanding my Essie collection because yanno Essie. The last time I was browsing the aisles of Boots I picked up the shades 'Eternal Optimist' (dusty pink shade) and 'In Stitches' (brown toned pink). Both of which have been alternated on my toes since the day I bought them #obsessed. I currently have on 'Eternal Optimist', and it has received compliments from all who have had the pleasure of seeing my feet. 

What have you been loving recently?

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Current Faves: Nyx

I've been a fan of Nyx for years, long before I'd even tried anything from the brand. Years ago I received a set of Nyx nail polishes as a gift and I was left highly disappointed. People were still raving about the brand, so I wasn't sure if I just received a faulty product. With this in mind, I was a bit skeptical about buying anything else from the brand, but early on this year I decided to give them another chance. I was right to give them a second chance, because I have fallen in love with their products. I love how affordable and high quality they are! 

First up is the gem that is the HD Studio Finishing Powder. As I mentioned in Sunday's post, I've never tried a loose powder before, but this one caught my eye whilst roaming the aisles of Boots. As soon as I opened it, powder flew everywhere (and I mean everywhere). Once the cloud of powder had settled, I applied my usual foundation and concealer, and then used this in place of my usual powder. Words cannot describe how much I loved this powder! I literally could not stop staring at my face once I'd applied it - my makeup looked so smooth! A few hours went by and my makeup still looked fresh, and everything was still in place. By the end of the night, I could probably have done with a touch up, but my makeup still looked decent. So it clearly has longevity! 

Secondly are the Soft Matte Lip Creams. I've mentioned these a couple of times, but I think they really deserve being written about. I have the shades Prague (dark raspberry) and Antwerp (mid-toned pink) and they are both extrememly wearable. They are not as matte as some of the other matte lipsticks out there, they have a softer appearance and texture. They don't dry out your lips, and are so creamy. The doe foot applicator is tapered and cushioned, making it quick and easy to apply - leaving a crisp, clean finish. There are tons of different shades to choose from and I only have these two as I found the selection quite overwhelming! I've been eying up Stockholm and Copenhagen, amongst a few others, so I may have to take a little trip to Boots sometime soon!

Have you tried anything from Nyx? What are your thoughts?

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Favourites From February

First of all, I just want to mention that my blog is back in business. Some of you may remember that towards the end of January I took a bit of a break from blogging after everything got to be a little too much for me to cope with. And whilst posts still went up, I wasn't technically here, and checking up on stats and replying to comments. But after a bit of time off, the stress has subsided slightly and I want to get back into blogging slowly - easing myself in so it's not a shock to the system. I thought the best place to start would be with a monthly favourites post as they are by far the quickest and easiest to write. But can you believe we're in March? Like whaaaaaaaat? Seriously, it will be 2017 before we know it at this rate. 

So on that note, I'll dive straight in. First up is this gorgeous daisy necklace from Whistles. As much as I've eyed things up from Whistles, I've never bought anything from them as they are so expensive! This necklace set me back £25 (£22.50 with student discount), and is by far the most I have ever spent on a single piece of jewellery. The necklace that I usually wear on a daily basis was looking a bit tarnished and grubby so I treated myself to this when I saw it. I fell head over heels for it and from the moment it arrived, it has only left my neck whilst I sleep and shower. It is so dainty, and is perfect to layer with my other necklaces!

Speaking of pricey items, the Charlotte Tilbury Chic To Chic Blush in 'Love Glow' has been my go-to blush throughout February. I've been breaking my rule about only wearing premium makeup when I go out-out, and have been treating my face to more luxury items on an everyday basis. I love that if needed, it can double up as two different blushers as the 'pop' shade looks gorgeous by itself! On the opposite end of the beauty budget, I have loved teaming the blush with the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in 'Eastend Snob'. It took me the best part of a year to track down and purchase this particular shade, and I have certainly been wearing it to death to make up for that fact. It looks soooooo gorgeous by itself so even if you don't fancy layering it with a lipstick, you can still have gorgeous lips. It has quite a matte finish, and I'm excited to bring it into Spring and wear it with lighter bases and quite minimal makeup. 

Another favourite has been the Lush Twilight Shower Gel. I'd completely forgotten I owned this, and found it stuffed at the back of my collection at the start of the month. It was a limited edition/exclusive product in a Christmas gift set, and I have loved pairing it with the matching bath bomb as a weekend pamper treat or by itself as a weekday pick me up. I'm absolutely gutted that it is only a 100ml bottle, as I've only got a little bit left and I won't be able to repurchase it when it's all gone! *cries into Lush filled bathwater*. 

And finally! Is the Prada Candy L'eau perfume. Purchasing this was a complete accident as I was actually trying to repurchase the Florale version of the perfume that I had used up. But as perfume is usually non-returnable I thought I'd try it out anyway - and spoiler alert I FLIPPIN' LOVE IT. Now it is completely different to the Prada Candy Florale, so I don't get why they share the same name. Ey Prada? I'm terrible at describing perfumes so I'd suggest going to a shop to smell it for yourself, but I'd say it smells quite fruity - but not a fresh, girly type of fruity. It smells more musky than the Prada Candy Florale, and is more suited to autumn/winter unlike the Florale which I prefer in spring/summer. 

What have you been enjoying over the last month?
Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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January Favourites

How has January been and gone already? It only seems two minutes since we were popping open the bucks fizz at the start of the new year. But with the new year comes new beauty products, so there have been a few new bits I have been enjoying using - mainly skincare, but there has been a few other things (including a book) that I have loved throughout January!

First up is a skincare product that I have used at least once a week throughout January. I'd never tried an overnight face mask before, but I'd heard incredible things about it so picked it up halfway through December. The Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Face Mask, has become somewhat of a staple in my skincare routine, and even though my skin isn't dry - I am prone to dehydrated looking skin that refuses to absorb anything to help sort itself out. Whilst I have been using this on the regular I have noticed that my skin is a lot smoother and hydrated, so I think that it is worth checking out if you suffer with dry skin or if the winter weather is wreaking havoc on your face. One thing I don't like about it is the smell - it has that sort of fake fruit smell that I find quite sickly with regular usage, but I can look past it for the brilliant results! Another skincare item that has been working wonders on my skin is the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. This face oil feels so nourishing on the skin and it feels as though your are treating your skin to pamper evening without having to go through the effort of washing something off later on. I really want to get the daytime version to apply alongside it in the morning, but we'll have to see what my student budget will allow for in February. 

Last Sunday, my post talked about 'The Life Changing Magic of Tidying' book by Marie Kondo and how it had well and truly changed my life. Of course I had to include it in my favourites post for this month as it has well and truly been a favourite. Although I technically finished it at the start of the month, throughout the first week I was excited to pick it up and read another section, and the effects of reading it have lasted since picking it up at the end of December. It has changed my outlook on living and has made me kept my bedroom clean and tidy for an entire month!! That is absolutely unheard of for me and the only explanation must be this book! At the beginning of January a follow up book called 'Sparks Joy' was released by Marie, and I'm enjoying that just as much! 

For lips we'll start with  new NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams that have swept the UK like a storm over the last month or so. In my last post I mentioned that NYX has become more readily available in the UK and you can now buy it in Boots and on Feel Unique amongst a few other places. I picked up the shades Antwerp and Prague, and have been wearing them both quite regularly throughout January - but my favourite has to be the shade Prague as it's a gorgeous berry pink shade that is perfect for winter. They'd be ideal for those of you who like the idea of a matte finish but don't want anything to feel too dry on the lips, as they appear matte but feel incredibly creamy on the lips. There are tonnes of different shades available, and I absolutely love how they are all named after capital cities! I have also been enjoying wearing the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Love Liberty, and even though I mainly bought it to wear on Christmas Day, I have transitioned it though into the start of 2016. I adore the shade and will most definitely be wearing it regularly throughout the year! 

What have you been enjoying this month?
Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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December Beauty Favourites

I can't believe we're in 2016! I know I've already written a post this year, but I wrote that last year so technically this is my first post. At the start of December I didn't really expect myself to switch things up from the previous month, however I did - massively! With the festive season in full swing I decided to switch out my hypothetical makeup bag (I for some reason don't own one?) and chuck in some more luxurious products. First to go in was the Essie top coat in 'A Cut Above' Obviously everyone needs a smidgen of glitter in their life and this was one of my go-to polishes throughout December. I worn it on my fingers and toes at every opportunity, and personally I thought that it looked sexy af. Carrying on with the glitter, I developed quite an addiction to the Lush Christmas range. In particular those with glitter! I really liked the Bar Humbug bubble bar, which smelt like blackcurrant and liquorice. I repurchased it quite a few times as the scent was really relaxing and perfect for soothing the end of semester deadline stress.  

After much consideration, I finally decided on the Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter in 'Candy Apple' as my Christmas day lip. I had so much trouble deciding and seeing as though I had worn it pretty much everyday throughout November and December, I felt it only fitting to wear it on the big day. Of course it had nothing to do with how low maintenance it is, and the fact that I couldn't be bothered to waste my time topping up anything else! I worn it alongside my Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Warm Eye Palette, which I actually wore last Christmas as well! I love how buttery the shadows are, and they felt so luxurious! On the day I worn every single shade in the palette, however I have been wearing each in different combinations throughout December so I just had to include it in my monthly favourites post! 

And finally! Last but not least, we have the No7 Sheer Perfections Blush in Soft Damson. I wear this pretty much everyday anyway, but it got an extra lot of loving throughout the party season! I have spoken about it many times before so I'm not going to bore you all to death, but it is a gorgeous pink-berry powder blush! 

What did you love during December?
Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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November Beauty Favourites

Apologies, as this post is going to be rather short and sweet as I haven't been mixing much up since my last monthly favourites post. There has only been a couple of things I have been loving. I have 'shopped my stash' and had a good rummage through my collection to see what I could use. I've also purchased a couple of new things that I have been loving too - so here we are again! 

Whilst rummaging though my collection, I came across the Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter in Candy Apple and thought it would be perfect to wear in the run up to the festive season. It is a gorgeously sheer red that is perfect for everyday wear and I have been loving wearing it to university! I have also been loving all the compliments I've got when I've worn it! Another rediscovery is the Soap and Glory Perfect Ten Eyeshadow Palette - this was a limited edition palette that I bought myself last christmas, and they have it (or an extremely similar one) back in this christmas! It is extremely similar to the original Urban Decay Naked palette, and being from Soap and Glory, the quality of the shadows is incredible! They are so buttery and very well pigmented, so if you're in the market for a cheaper neutral palette, or are simply looking for some christmas gifts - definitely check this one out!

At the end of October I reordered the Liz Earle skin bundle, and the free gift inside the bundle was the Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint. I didn't really think I'd use it, but since my skin has started (and fingers crossed continues) to clear up, I have really enjoyed using this in place of my foundation.  To apply it, I have been using the Crown Brush SS003 Deluxe Medium Oval Foundation Brush* which I am in love with! It gives such a natural finish and is perfect for applying liquid foundation and BB creams! 

What one thing have you been enjoying this month?

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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___________________

The SS003 Deluxe Medium Oval Foundation Brush (RRP £7.19) was kindly sent to me by Crown Brush UK for the purpose of a review. All thoughts are my own and you can read my full disclaimer policy here. 

My Current Favourite Lipsticks

It's no secret that I am a sucker for lipstick, but my addiction always seems to grow during autumn and winter. And whilst cleaning out my car on Wednesday, I noticed that I had a lot of lipsticks rattling around in my door pocket - so I thought I'd share the ones that I seem to take with me everywhere! 

First up is a red, and I couldn't leave out the Revlon Colour Burst Lip Butter in Candy Apple (even if it is going to be in my November Favourites on Wednesday - if I manage to get photos taken!). I've worn this to university throughout November and received so many compliments! One of my friends asked me what it was, and when I told her she said she'd never heard of Revlon! I really want to go and see what other shades they have as I have a couple - but I prefer the darker shades for a wash of colour! I have been mixing it up/alternating it with the Burberry Kisses Lipstick in Sepia. This particular shade of lipstick is perfect to wear in the daytime, and has been one of my go-to's over the last couple of months!

In my back to university goals blog post, I mentioned that I wanted to try and turn up to lectures looking less like I'd crawled out of bed, and the MAC lipstick in Red Balloon has really helped make me look more awake. It is a really bright fuschia pink and I've been wearing it when I've had a really simple outfit on to make myself feel a little more put together. When I've been wanting a pink, but haven't wanted to go bright, the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Amazing Grace has been tossed into my handbag. I've spoken about it many times before on my blog and I've actually treated myself to a couple more shades for christmas!

And finally! For instances where I have been going out in the evening or for when I've wanted a more intense makeup look - the No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in Grace has been my favourite to wear. It has more of a matte/satin finish and looks incredibly glamourous on the lips!

What is your current favourite lipstick?

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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My Favourite Picks: Jewellery

** I am writing this post incredibly late as it is due to go up in less than an hour, and I've spent the whole day writing assignments, so my brain is mush! I need to get back on track and get my posts written so I schedule them and not have this INCREDIBLY last minute panic, whilst I'm already panicking and stressing out! But because I am writing it so late, it means I can remember to give you all a massive thank you! Last night on my very long train journey home I hit 1500 followers on my blog - which is  absolutely insane!! **

I'm a big fan of minimalist jewellery. You won't find many (if any) statement pieces in my jewellery box! Although I have quite a few (ok, a lot) items in my jewellery box (seriously it is beyond full), I only really tend to wear a few select pieces and I thought I'd share them with you today!

One of my favourite pieces is my Pandora charm bracelet which was a gift from my mum for my 18th birthday. Alongside that I received the 18th birthday charm from my sisters. I now have a total of five charms on my Pandora bracelet and I love them all! I am incredibly fussy with Pandora charms and my friends and family know this haha! I only like the silver ones (no gold or diamonds here) and I can't stand the ones that dangle off. My favourite charm has to be the circular nativity one I received last christmas (the one on the far right)!

Alongside my Pandora bracelet, I have my Pandora birthstone ring. I was born in June (#summerbaby) so I obviously got the June birthstone (moonstone). The ring has a gorgeous sterling silver bubble design and features a simple moonstone set in more silver shaped like flower petals. I don't own many rings as they aren't something I really wore until recently, but my Pandora ring alongside the gold zig zag one from ASOS. The gold zigzag ring is so simple and dainty, but it can really make your outfit look a little more interesting. Plus is always matches the colour of my nails which is a win win situation. 

My ASOS watch has revolutionised me. Until I bought this one back in June/July/August (the whole summer blurs into one haha), I hadn't worn a watch since I was seven years old. A teacher in primary school told me off for wearing my Disney diamante encrusted Ariel/Little Mermaid watch, and I've never worn one since (#childhoodtrauma). But when I decided I was going to be commuting to university this year, I knew I'd need a watch to help me catch my trains on time. So I browsed and browsed and it took me forever to find one that I liked for a decent price! But eventually I found this one on ASOS for £20, and into my basket it went! I love how simple the design is, the navy wrist strap, the rose gold face - everything about it! 

I've had this Miss Selfridge necklace (the one with a little pearl inlaid in it) for a couple of years now and I wear it on almost a regular basis. I have a couple that I may switch it out for incase it doesn't look right with an outfit, but this is the one that I wear the most out of all my necklaces - infact I'm wearing it right now! I got my Accessorize necklace around the same time and I used to wear it with EVERYTHING. I love that it is a more modern take on a St Christopher necklace and it will remain around my neck until it either falls apart or gets lost! For when I'm not channeling the gold jewellery, I usually reach for my silver Topshop C necklace. I got this yeaaaars ago as a gift and I love it! It is a little worn now after so much use, but I still wear it!

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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September/October Favourites

Hi Friends! The last two months worth of favourites are all rather pink themed (not intentional I swear!), as I clutched onto the end of my summer holidays before going back to university. Maybe throughout November I'll start bringing back all the berry shades, but how gorgeous are all the colours in this photo though? Such beautiful shades of pink! I'm envious of my own things! I didn't do a separate September favourites post because there would have been about 2 things featured in it and I thought that a bit pointless. Instead I decided to pop the products in with my October favourites as I have continued to use them throughout the last month!

Again, I have been loving The Comforter Shower Cream from Lush - because how could I not! I have  probably had about a dozen baths out of the bottle so far and hardly any of it seems to have gone! Just showing how good the value for money is! When I talked about it in my Lush haul, I mentioned it was rather pricey but clearly you get a lot out of it! I've been using it for just around a month (?) and it took me until yesterday to realise that it has teeny tiny specs of glitter in it! Basically, if you have never smelt The Comforter range from Lush, it smells really fruity like Ribena! Mmmm! I took this photo a few weeks ago as I knew I would be super busy, and now I have used well over 60% the bottle because I am addicted to it! 

Next up is the drop dead gorgeous Prada Candy Florale perfume. OH MY GOD how obsessed am I with this??? I love EVERYTHING about it! The packaging is just beautiful, it looks so luxurious! And the smell. Oh my goodness the smell. I am rubbish when it comes to describing smells, but it smells soooo good! According to the product description it has top notes of limoncello, heart notes (what the heck is a heart note?!) of peony and base notes of musks, caramel and benzoin! It smells so fresh and clean and girly but not too girly at the same time!

For blush I have been mixing it up using the Clinique Cheek Pop in Berry Pop at the start of the month. And moving onto the NARS Powder Blush in Sin towards the end of the month. The Clinique Cheek Pop has a cream-powder finish that I have been loving as my skin has started to change with the new cold weather. It glides over skin and I can myself using it when my skin turns drier over the winter. The NARS blush is my all time favourite at the moment. It is so lightweight and buildable, and the shade is perfect for this time of year! 

I have also been mixing up what I wear on my lips. I've been loving wearing lipstick on more of an everyday basis recently - popping one on for uni or a trip out into town. The Burberry Kisses Lipstick in Sepia has to be my favourite over the last couple of months. It is so hydrating with the cold weather, plus the shade is so easy to wear in the daytime! Last but not least, I have been enjoying mixing it up by wearing the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Vintage Pink. It is so subtle and perfect for everyday and I love that it has berry undertones making it a great alternative for a nude! 

Are there any products you've been loving recently?
Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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August Favourites

Before I start, I'd just like to mention that the winner of my 1K Giveaway is Jodie Moores! Thank you all for taking part and a big thanks to Baker Days for supplying the prize! 

Hello friends! I actually can't believe we're now in September!! This year has literally gone by in the blink of an eye! And the other day I actually found myself thinking about Christmas - that is insane! Anyway, this month I've really tried to switch things up a bit, reaching for different products and using them in different ways. 

First up is The Comforter Shower Cream from Lush Cosmetics. OMG How excited was I when I was browsing and found it outside of the Oxford Street, London store! I nearly screamed I was so excited - seriously! I have been lusting after it for so long and was heartbroken when I realised it was exclusive to Oxford Street. As I am sure you all know (after mentioning it only about 1000 times), The Comforter Bubble Bar is my all time favourite product from Lush and I use it almost weekly! So when I saw this I immediately knew I was going to love it! If you've never smelt the comforter before a) how have you not? and b) imagine a sweet and fruity blackcurrant scent or a big glass of Ribena! It makes any gloomy morning an absolute dream and is perfect for a long relaxing soak!

Adding a touch of luxury to my everyday makeup, the NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette (Limited Edition) has been one of my most used products this month! I've really been liking using just one of the shades (mainly the top right burgundy colour) all over my lid and blending it out to create an intense smokey look. Using a range of Real Techniques eye brushes to apply them with, I have really mixed up my entire makeup look and I will certainly be opting for similar looks this month!

To go with the NARS eyeshadows, I've been loving using the Benefit Badgal Lash Mascara. One day I will actually commit to it and purchase the full size, but until then the miniature travel size is suiting me just fine! It has a really big wand which gives you incredibly voluminous lashes. Those with oiler skin may find that it smudges onto the under-eye area. 

I have recently made both a rediscovery and new discovery at the same time. I haven't used Sudocrem as a part of my skincare routine since I was about 13/14/15 years old. I seem to remember it working really well to get rid of blemishes, but I always felt super awkward going out to buy a product labelled as 'nappy cream'. Sudocrem has recently launched a new Skin Care Cream targeted at everyone with blemishes. The Sudocrem Skin Care Cream* is absolutely incredible for soothing blemishes and when used as an overnight face mask or a targeted spot treatment, you wake up with the softest and plump skin! Plus it only costs a bargain £2.11 per tube - at that price you can't really afford not to try it out!

And finally, my last favourite from August is The Body Shop Strawberry Body Mist. One of my bestest friends (hi Sarah!) bought me it as a gift for my birthday in June and I've worn it pretty much non-stop since. It is so fresh and perfect for summer - plus you smell like a giant strawberry all day long! It is an absolute steal at only £7.50, and is perfect to throw in your handbag for touch ups throughout the day!

What have you all been enjoying this month?

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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The Sudocrem Skincare Cream was kindly gifted to me by Sudocrem for the purpose of a review. If you have any queries or questions you can read my disclaimer or email me on the email on my contact page. 

July Favourites

Hello folks! I can't believe how fast this year is going! We are now closer to Christmas than we are the start of the year. That. Is. Insane. I didn't post a favourites post last month, mainly because I forgot until we were half way through July, but also because I didn't really have anything different to mention! But this month, I have received a few new products and a couple of samples which I have been lovingggggg!

First up is the Nokia Lumia 640* which I am currently trialling for Microsoft! At first I though I wasn't going to like it, but I must admit that so far I am really liking it! I'm not sure if I will be switching my iPhone for it anytime soon but it is certainly great for those looking for a smartphone at a more reasonable price! I'm not too keen on the neon orange hardware, but thankfully they do come in black, white and blue aswell! After my trial period is up I will be posting an in-depth review of the phone, so stay tuned for it! Besides other things, I have been using it to listen to my favourite albums on Spotify. Over the past month I have been particularly enjoying listening the album 'Talking Is Hard' by Walk The Moon. It is one of the albums I love to listen to in my car, alongside the debut album from Years and Years. They are just the perfect soundtrack to drive along to! If you thing you haven't heard of Walk The Moon, you are probably wrong - the song 'Shut Up and Dance With Me' is one of their singles!

Next up are the beautiful Lottie London makeup brushes. I've had these for a while and was going to do a separate blog post on them, but theres only so much you can say about makeup brushes before it gets ridiculous. They are soft. They are a bargain. They are beautiful. End of. My current favourite is the red handled brush (they don't have names or anything to identify them other than the handle colours; sorry!) - I love using it to apply my highlighter before blending it out with a large fluffy brush!

One of my all time favourite products is the Charlotte Tilbury Colour Coded Eyeshadow Quad in Dolce Vita. I have worn this pretty much everyday through June and July. It looks absolutely beautiful with a tan (or in my case sunburn haha) and with the 'pop' shade sparkling in the (non existent) sun. I love how Charlotte Tilbury has lots of tips and looks for her products on her YouTube channel - the 'Dolce Vita' eyeshadow look is one of my favourites! I have also been loving pairing it with The Body Shop Colour Crush Lipstick in 115 Enraptured Red, the two just look so classic! I have NEVER tried any of the makeup from the body shop so when I received this from one of my best friends I was excited to see the quality! They are so glossy and hydrating, and the colour payoff is amazing! Will certainly be checking out more of their makeup products next time I'm in-store!

At the start of June, The Library of Fragrance asked if I would like to sample some of their perfumes. I obviously said yes as we all know I love perfume! They sent me the Peony*, and Apple Blossom* fragrances and I have been loving both of them. As I am writing this, I have just returned from a few days away on the East Coast, and my perfume of choice for the trip was Peony! I love it!

This month I've also been rekindling my love for plants! After moving all my stuff out of university halls of residence at the start of the month, all my plants made their way into my bedroom at home (well the ones that survived without water).  I keep nipping into B&Q to see if they have any others to add to my collection - I'm obsessed!

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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*Disclaimer*
The Nokia Lumia 640 was kindly sent to me for 2 weeks to trial and review for Microsoft, and the Peony perfume/cologne was sent to me by The Library of Fragrance. 
All opinions are my own - see the 'Disclaimer' section of the 'FAQ' page in my navigation bar for full details.

May Favourites

We are now officially half way through the year! June! My birthday month! And as you can see, my favourites are getting less and less spring/summery as we go along ha! This seems to be more of a winter favourites post! Quite a few of these favourites are fairly new discoveries, but there are also a few trusty favourites in there for good measure aswell! 

First up, i'll start with the newbies. The most recent of purchases would have to be the Nars All Day Weightless Luminous Foundation. Nars matched me as the shade Ceylan (light number 6), which personally I think is slightly a bit too yellow toned for me, but then my skin is really hard to find an exact shade match with any foundation. Trust me to be difficult ey! Upon first use, I was shocked at how watery it is! The consistency reminds me of the Yves San Laurent Fusion Ink Foundation that I recently swatched in town. It is incredibly thin and definitely can be describes as a LIQUID foundation. My one gripe with this has to be the staying power. On me (without a primer) it only stayed put for a couple of hours. So those with oiler skin should probably stay well clear of this unless you have an incredibly good mattifying primer! When teamed with the Benefit Porefessional, it really does last all day! The other day I had it on for nearly 12 hours and it still looked as good as it did when I first applied it!

I've loved pairing the foundation with the Nars Blush in Sin as I feel they complement each other perfectly. This blush is so lightweight yet buildable - it is a gorgeous berry shade with just a hint of shimmer running through it. I've been applying it with the Real Techniques Cheek Brush and I'm so pleased with the results! After applying the blush, I have loved using the red Lottie London brush to apply my highlighter. It is just the perfect size to apply product to your cupids bow or your brow arch. 

Another brush I've been loving is the Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush. I've been favouring eyeshadow over eyeliner a lot recently and this brush is my all time favourite for applying it. It is so soft and is brilliant for blending out into the crease of your eye. But then are there any Real Techniques brushes that are a disappointment?

Last month (I think) I was sent the Burberry Kisses Lipstick* in Sepia. When I received it, I mentioned that as soon as it runs out I'd be buying the full size. Turns out I couldn't wait and when Feelunique had a bank holiday discount day recently, I simply couldn't help myself. I thought it genius to keep the miniature sample size in my handbag for touching up whilst out and about. It is just the perfect shade for everyday and it's my new favourite go to lipstick!

And finally, do I need to tell you about this perfume again? We all know it has been in several posts before. Clinique Happy could be described by many as my 'signature scent' - I've been wearing it for yeaaaars! It is just the perfect fragrance blend!

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x
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April Favourites

How is it the end of the month already? The time to write these posts comes around so fast! And to start the post off, I wanted to include the Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara again. I know I included it in last month's favourites posts, but I have used it religiously throughout April and I've fallen in love with it even more! It makes your lashes look super long and fluttery. I really want to get around to trying the new Benefit Roller Lash. But that may have to wait until this one has dried up!

Towards the start of the month, Burberry launched the release of their new Burberry Kisses Lipstick*. They came up with an ingenious Twitter campaign to  give away some samples and I was incredibly lucky to be sent one! I chose the shade Sepia as I am a lover of 'your lips but better' kind of lipsticks. I have worn this repeatedly, and I will definitely be buying the full size when my sample size runs out!

I've been pairing the lipstick with my Charlotte Tilbury Colour Coded Eyeshadow in Dolce Vita and I must say they go together perfectly! The golden tones in the eyeshadows compliment the colour of the lipstick and together they make your skin glow! Been loving wearing the combination for days where I decided to make more of an effort.

When I haven't used the Charlotte Tilbury quad, I have LOVED using the limited edition NARSissist Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette. It comes with a mini Wet/Dry Eyeshadow brush (the full size one costs £24 alone!) which is incredibly handy for on the go application! The thing about these eyeshadows is that you can use them wet for a more intense look. I am yet to try using them wet as they are incredibly pigmented as they are, however I am excited to see the effects!

Finally, we have the Benefit Porefessional primer. I wasn't a fan when I first bought it, but it is slowly growing on me now! I love the fact that it's tinted as all of my other primers are clear/white. I feel that this gives a little extra coverage so is perfect for achieving a flawless look!

What have you all been enjoying this last month? I would love to know!

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x
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Where To Splurge, Where To Save

One of the most well argued debates in the makeup industry is the "is high end better?" debate. Now I have briefly touched on this subject before (in my 10 things I've learnt from beauty bloggers post) and mentioned that many high end brands also own drugstore/highstreet brands and therefore the products are made using similar formulations. 
But, I'm sure there are still people out there that want to have just a little touch of luxury in the lives. Soooooo, if this seems to describe you, keep on reading to hear my thoughts on which products you could splash out on and which you should save your pennies for something else. 

The general rule I tend to follow is 'how often will I use the product?'. Things like foundation usually get used up the fastest meaning that you have to repurchase it more frequently. Now I don't know about you, but I'd rather repurchase something that costs £6.99 rather than something that costs £36.99. So I try and avoid buying expensive foundations, concealers and powders now matter how amazing they sound. They could cure colds and I'd probably like to save my hard earned money for something else (waves goodbye to NARS Sheerglow and Dior Airflash foundations). 

Products I use less of or less frequently like lipstick, highlighter, blush and bronzer are the products I see the potential for spending more on. You often use less of these types of products so for the money you spend on them, the more you will get out of them. Money well spent!

Another rule I try to follow is 'will I still want to wear this in six months time?'. Theres no point splashing out on something when it's just a short lived trend. I want products that are classic and versatile. Many products have a good use-by date on them so will last you a long time if its something you really like and not something thats going to be sat in the back of a drawer gathering dust. 

What are your thoughts on this? Do you prefer to spend or save?

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

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