Monthly Favourites - August

It's September now, which to me is crazy, so I thought what better time than now to post an August favourites post? I know we're already on the 6th of the month but the longer I stay in August (blog wise) the longer I can deny how quickly this year is passing. Next month we celebrate Halloween, November we celebrate many birthdays and Bon Fire Night, and then Christmas quickly approaches. Crazy to think about, but at the same time it's so blooming exciting.  But for now lets stick with August and get on with my monthly favourites...

First up are my favourite hair products:

Garnier Fructis Srtength & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner - Oh how I love this stuff. I've probably used this shampoo and conditioner for about a year now, and it always leaves my hair in the best condition. I buy it from Asda for only £1 and it's always on 3 for 2. Cheap and Cheerful. 

Tigi BedHead After-Party - I always use this on dry hair after I've styled it to keep those pesky fly aways in check, and as long as I run it through the ends of my hair first it's perfect on the roots as well.

Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-in Conditioner- I've been a huge fan of Aussie hair care for years, all starting in my teenage years with one sachet of 3 minute miracle deep conditioner. This spray is one of my holy grail products. I'm actually scared of washing my hair without using this after as I think my hair would end up in one big not. After spaying this I feel my comb glides straight through without any problems. This leave-in conditioner is definitely a wonder product.

Wide Tooth Comb - Why/how have I gone this long without this in my life? With long hair this is a definite must. Previously I used a normal hair brush, tut tut! But with such hair damage I thought it was time for a change.

My skin has been awful recently so it's tricky to find anything that has particularly helped this month so my skin favourites are things that I've enjoyed using.

Soap & Glory Clean On Me - I love this shower gel and seriously, a little goes a long way. I've had this bottle for months and I've still got plenty left. (And don't worry I do shower regularly I just only use one pump at a time.) This leave my skin feeling super soft and smells incredible. 

Olay Regenerist Thermal Skin Polish - Now this product is designed for older skin and as I'm 23 it's not  something that I's usually go for, but believe me when I tell you that it's amazing. It's a heat warming exfoliator that leaves my skin feeling soft and pampered. The warming aspect feels luxurious on the skin and with the winter months fast approaching it's a perfect addition to the bathroom cabinet. 

Garnier Fresh Essentials eye make-up remover - Now don't get me wrong this is a fantastic eye make-up remover but with my allergies worse than ever I've been using it to bathe my sore and itchy eyes. Perfect. 

My lovely make-up favourites. I've not been doing anything special this month, just a basic neutral eye and pretty natural face but these products have come in very handy.

Rimmel Clear Complexion Clarifying Powder - After falling out with my Mac Natural Skin Finish (we just don't have a good relationship) I decided to give this one a go and I'm in love. It's rather cheap but sets my foundation perfectly. I've hit pan so I think it's time to buy a new one. 

Mac Studio Finish Concealer NW20 - This concealer is slightly too dark for me, and more fool me for thinking that I'm not as pale as a milk bottle, but I've reestablished the love with it. I used to apply if after my foundation which is probably the most common way to apply, but now I apply it first. It covers my skin flawlessly (well mostly) but this way I don't get a patchy finish. 

No7 Natural Blush in 12 Coral Flush - I've had this blush forever and normal team it with a cream blush, but recently I've been wearing it on it's own. The colour is lovely and really creates a subtle look for work, but is very buildable for a more dramatic look. Plus it suits my pale skin tone - what more could I ask for?

Urban Decay Naked Palette - Well who hasn't heard of this one? It took me forever to get hold of due to it's popular demand, but after initially feeling overwhelmed by the vast selection of pretty colours I've never looked back. As you can tell Sin is my favourite colour from this palette for a all over lid colour  and I love to team it with Smog or Toasted in the crease. I do tend to slick with what I know works well but I may try to break out of my comfort zone to utilise the other lovely colours, but for now that's what I like.

Finally my favourite monthly read: 

Babyvillie by Jane Green - If you've read my monthly reads page you'll know that I gave this book a rather good rating, if not what are you waiting for? Go and take a look. I really enjoyed the story and her writing kept me hooked throughout, so I recommend that you pick it up if you get a chance.

I couldn't leave without sharing a monthly hate now could I? 

Oral B Pro-Expert Toothpaste - I had to add this one, though I've heard a few people that like it, so I guess it's one of those marmite products. I received this sample when the product was first release and never got around to trying it, until we ran out of toothpaste one morning that is. Now the factor that put me off was the taste, Michael describes it as cleaning your teeth with cough sweets and he's dead on. I loved the gritty texture though and I felt it gave my teeth a good clean, I just couldn't get over the awful taste... that stayed with me all day might I add. I think Oral B need to re-think the taste and then for me it would have probably made it into the monthly favourites rather than the hates. 

That's it from me for this month, but what have you all been loving in August?

Speak Soon,

Katie 

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My Everyday Favourites

I love reading and watching Monthly Favourite post. In fact it could be one of my favourite posts to read. How shallow of me?! I love seeing new products but I most of all I love reading how someone loves a product that I also love. 

I use to be obsessed with buying new make-up and skincare products. Every payday I would have to pick up something new to try. I guess you could say I was a slight shopaholic. Suddenly all this changed. 

♥ I found make-up and skincare products I liked. 

♥ I got fed up with trying new products that ultimately broke me out. 

♥ And finally I was skint. 

Don't get me wrong I still love trying out new products but I have to have heard and read many reviews before I spend my/our hard earned cash on something new and unfamiliar. You also need to know that I have very temperamental skin, some of the most gentle products can break me out, where as some of the harshest products are perfect for me. Weird huh? 

For example I can't go anywhere near Aloe Vera and I have to be careful with Tea Tree. The two most trusted and widely used skincare ingredients out there. Stupid Katie skin.

So instead of a monthly favourite post, I thought I'd do an every day favourite post, and these products rarely change. 

First up: 

Skincare

I've mentioned previously that I'm a fan of Garnier products. Well when I say that I mean I'm a fan of these Garnier products, I've tried others but I just cannot get to grips with them. 

1. Garnier Fresh Essentials Eye Make-Up Remover - it's says on the bottle that this is new, which confuses me as I've used it for years, but maybe they've just slightly changed the formulation. 

2. Garnier Pore Purifying Toner - I've love this item. It really gives my skin that super clean feeling, and it removes every trace of make-up including Estee Lauder Double Wear, which is a task and a half. Plus it doesn't break me out. 

3. Johnson's Face Care, Oil Balancing Light Daily Fluid - I love this. This is now my second tube, which must mean it's good as I rarely repurchase a moisturiser. I have oily skin so I hate that greasy feeling some creams leave me with. Well this is perfect. It moisturises well, absorbs quickly, leaves my skin feeling silky smooth and is the perfect base for my foundation. 

Make-Up

Face

1. Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Shell - I was recommended this by a college at work who's skin always looks perfect. It took me a while to finally take the plunge and buy it, but with my upcoming wedding I thought it was a perfect opportunity. I was meant to only test it out before the big day but I just can't stop using it now. It really does last all day, it really is tear and water resistant, it really is amazing coverage, and it really is expensive. haha. It is worth the price tag, but I think they should invest in adding a pump as it can be tricky to get out the right amount on those sleepy mornings. 

2. Mac Mineralised Skin Finish Natural in Light/Medium - I'd read so many reviews on this before I actually went out and bought it, and I'm so glad that I now finally own it. It's a fantastic product, and definitely finishes the face very well. I would say it's slightly too heavy for me to apply on my upper lip just under my nose, where I would normally apply my powder (I have a slightly sexy sweaty upper lip at times) so I don't use it there, but my foundation seems to work perfectly here. 

3. Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 - I'm normally a Cool Skin Tone but I picked up the NW to counteract my dark purplish circles, and I must say I love it. It's covers spots perfectly and works wonders under my eyes, though slightly think in texture at times as long as I warm it up first it glides effortlessly. 

Cheeks

1. MaxFactor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Pink - I received this tester as part of a free gift offered by MaxFactor when you buy 3 or more of their products in boots, and I feel in love. I wear it almost every day. It's so easy to work with, blends effortlessly, and comes in the perfect colour for me. 

2. No7 Natural Blush Cheek Colour in Coral Flush - I bought this blusher a long time ago using one of my £5 No7 vouchers, and kept coming back to it. Now I use it every day. I either use it on its own for a more subtle look, or I use it to set the MaxFactor Cream Blush. Both ways I love it. The colour is perfect for my pale skin, and it's vert build-able. I've probably had this over year now, in fact I know I have, and I'm still nowhere near finished with it. This blusher lasts forever. I find that I have sensitive skin issues with a lot of No7  liquid or moose products, but their powdered products of perfect for me. 

Eyes 

1. Urban Decay Primer Potion - This product really needs no introduction. I love it. It's my second tube, and with using it every day, it lasts forever. I know people have had issues with the packaging, and i must admit that it is a rather poor design, but the product inside more than makes up for it. Plus I've heard that Urban Decay have already changed the packaging to be more user friendly, so I cannot wait for it's release. (because I'll buy all the old packaging at sale price hopefully)

2. Mac Eyeshadow in Brule - I bought this palette for my Wedding Day so I had all the shadows I needed in a handy little container, but cannot stop using Brule, (the top left colour.) It is the most perfect matte colour. I've never really been a fan of matte eyeshadows but this one has most definitely changed my opinion. Normally I use the as a crease colour for a subtle everyday look, or as an all over colour for a slightly (and I mean slightly) darker look. 

3. No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in Mink - I'm constantly raving about this eyeshadow colour. I love it. I must say that No7 eyeshadows seem really pigmented when swatched but they really do need a good base for the colour to stand out on the eye. I love this colour. It's slightly shimmery and a perfect pale colour. I use it for an all over eyelid colour. This is the third one I've gone though, believe it or not, I love it that much. I also have a back up just incase I run out before the No7 Vouchers come back. 

4. Rimmel London Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Noir - This is the second tube I've gone through and I still love it. The design is the mechanical pencil style where you twist instead of sharpen, so the eyeliner is so much smoother to apply than a normal pencil. Also very handy when you can't find your pencil sharpener. It's a very black pigmented colour and once dry it's very difficult (but not impossible) to smudge. On one end it comes with an inbuilt 'smudger' but I don't use it as I like my eyeliner to be very neat, or as neat as I can get it. 

5. MaxFactor High Volume & Definition Mascara in Black - I love this mascara. It was another MaxFactor freebie, but it is a fantastic product, which I will be repurchasing the full size version once I'm through with the tester. I like my eyelashes to be long and not clumpy. I like the look of mascara but hate the heavy feeling, so I prefer the lengthening, defining mascaras, rather than the body boosting thickening ones, and this one is perfect. It makes my lashes look incredibly long with is a huge bonus. 

Brushes

Ignore how dirty they are, I've only just used them.

1. The Body Shop Face & Body Brush -  (closest first) I've had this brush for years and I love it. It's the softest brush I have ever felt. I must admit that I have always been a fan of the body shop brushes. I remember as a teenager walking into the body shop in my dinner breaks just to stroke the brushes, (the testers of course) and to dream of owning my own. A couple of years ago I took the plunge and bought my very own brushes and I've never looked back. They apply make-up perfectly.  

2. The Body Shop Blusher Brush - This is the second body shop blusher brush I have owned, and I was devastated when the first one died. Whatever you do don't try to use a hair dryer to dry the bristles on a synthetic haired brush. haha. I love this brush so much. As with the face and body brush, the bristles are so soft. Another thing to add is that once washed they regain their original shape so easily, and I have not once experienced any fall out in regards to the brushes. Overall these brushes are amazing quality. 

3. No7 Foundation Brush - This was another £5 No7 Voucher purchase and I love it. It's a very soft but sturdy brush, with nicely compacted bristles which help make applying foundation a dream. Sometimes I find it can leave slight brush marks in the foundation, but it is to be expected when using this type of foundation brush to apply foundation, so we can't really blame the brush for that. 

4. Revlon All Over Shadow Brush - This is another brush I've head for years, and it's stood up to the test of time. It's an incredibly soft eyeshadow brush which I use to apply my main eyeshadow colour all over my lid. I can't remember the exact price but I don't believe it was that expensive. I bought it in Superdrug, and it was with out a doubt under £10.

5. No7 Eyeshadow Blend & Contour Brush - I have two of these because I love them so much. I think they retail at £6 so when used with one of the £5 voucher they work out at £1. And believe me they are well worth it at £6, so for £1 it's a steal. They are super soft, blend eyeshadow effortlessly, and are just pretty. haha. I use this brush to both place the shadow in my crease and to blend and it works a treat. 

It just goes to show that you don't need really expensive make-up brushes to apply your make-up, you just need to know where and when to pick up a bargain. And you don't need tons and tons of brushes either. I must admit I've also never experienced any shedding from any of my everyday make-up brushes, and I've washed them all many many times. 

I hope at least some of you found this post helpful, or at least share in some of my favourite products. 

Katie 

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