January Favourites

I've found that this month I have been trying out so many products, especially because I've put myself on a spending ban which you can read HERE. What comes with a spending ban is the fact you're forced to use a lot of products you already own - finding some old treasures in your never ending collection. Along with Christmas gifts too January has very much been the experimentation month!

• Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum Primer (£10.99) - I picked this product up with a gift card and Bourjois are a brand I'm really starting to enjoy. I was a little hesitant about a matte primer as I have a dry skin type but still I went ahead. I'm so glad I did, it gives me an airbrush like finish to my foundation after application. I also like how it comes in a glass bottle with a pump as I often feel like I'm wasting product when using a primer from a tube.
• Clinique Lash Building Primer (£12.00) - Another primer! I actually picked this up a few months ago but couldn't get it work right for me. The mascara style wand holds a white product with the same consistency of a mascara, I swipe a few times over the lashes and it leaves my lashes with length all day, such a good purchase that was brought on a whim. 
• Carmex Original Lip Pot (£2.69) -  I actually picked this up in Primark of all places for a little cheaper with a price of £2. I often wondered why everyone raved and ranted about this lip balm and now I can see why. I suffer with terribly chapped lips and this has been keeping the dryness at bay with so much ease. I really like products when I can see an impact straight away and this offers that.
• Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain (£7.99) - Now I know I'm massively late with this product, so late Revlon have actually brought a new release out on this product but whatever. I opted for the shade Honey as I wanted something natural for everyday wear. I've been really enjoying lip stain products and this one from Revlon has become my absolute favourite. 
• L'Oreal Triple Active Day Moisturiser (£6.49) - This product I actually picked up in a gift set from the boxing day sales and I adore it. Suffering with dry skin always means I need something leaving me hydrated and keeping any dry patches at bay too. This really does do the trick. I pop it on in the morning and it also makes make up application a lot smoother too.
• DKNY Be Delicious 30ml (£34.99) -  I love this range of fragrance from DKNY. I find that Be Delicious is the strongest smelling scent I have tried from the range but definitely my favourite one. Personally I prefer to wear it in the evenings but it's long lasting and I've gotten so many compliments on the fragrance.
• Bourjois Java Rice Loose Powder (£9.99) - I have wanted to try this out for the longest time and I am sure it was worth the wait. Released as part of Bourjois' anniversary and I can see why it's a best seller from back in the day. It gives a lovely radiant glow to the skin and sets make up well too. I like to use it a highlighter as well due to it's shimmery finish. 
• Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara (£10.50) - This was part of the Yule Monty gift set from Soap & Glory and why has it taken me this long to try it? The mascara wand is like a thinner cone shape and really lengthens the lashes well giving them a thickness as well. Somehow I don't already have anything similar to this mascara in my collection making it a great addition and often reached for.

What products have you been loving lately?

Last Minute Gift Set Bargains

If you're like me then you might of got the majority of Christmas presents but there might be one or two things might make someones gifts that little bit better. At the same time though we seem to be too busy treating everyone else and forgetting about yourself. There's so many gift set bargains out there, a lot are going on sale already too. There's so many products out there I'd like to get my hands on and now I'm doing the "Do you still not know what to get me for Christmas?" to people. If only I'd done my research on all these fab sets doing the rounds in the beauty blogging world to let people know what I'd quite like.

• bareMinerals The Beach Collection (RRP £39 - Now £31.20)
• Philip Kingsley Happy Hair Days Kit (£19.99)
• Clinique Party Favours (RRP £55 - Now £49.50)
• Soap & Glory Good, Butter, Best (£8)
• Liz Earle Limited Edition Cleanse & Polish (£19.75)
• Nails Inc Snowflake Collection (RRP £15 - Now £13.50)
• Bumble and Bumble The Tousled Two Step (£27)
• Benefit Limited Edition How To Look The Best At Everything (RRP £25.50 - Now £15)
• Burt's Bees Essentials Kit (£11.69)
• Too Faced Poolside Primping (RRP £32 - Now £22)

Is there any gift sets you're lusting after?

What's In My Travel Bag?

Another day of December means another day of Blogmas! I've got to say it's hard work blogging everyday but I'm really enjoying it! Tomorrow I'm off to Birmingham for a few days - a couple of gigs to attend to, the German Christmas market to visit along with all the other amazing shops Birmingham holds! If I'm honest I'm quite glad for this mini break. Working in retail is stressful any time but at Christmas a lot of people turn into an idiot customer and it doesn't half get you down. Anyway, back to the point of the post.. With my mini break looming I thought it would be the perfect chance to show you what bits and bobs I'm taking with me on my travels. A lot of this you can easily pick up in the drugstore and always a good time to try out samples.

I go for a clear wash bag to keep everything in because I've got a tendency to forget things and I'm always in a rush so a last minute check of everything is made a little easier with this option!

• Shockwaves Ultra Strong Power Hold Spray (£2.95) - What a fancy name for a hairspray eh?! Names aside I've been using this hairspray for years. I'm yet to find one that keeps my hair in place for longer or one that smells as nice. A lot of hairsprays I can't stand the scent of but this one is spot on!
• Sunkissed Instant Self Tan Moose Medium Bronze* (£4.99) - Become my new tanning favourite recently so this has to come with me for a tanning top up. Read my full review HERE.
• Batiste Dry Shampoo Paisley (£2.99) - Always safe to carry a bottle of dry shampoo around with you. However I think they have stopped making this paisley version as I can't find it anywhere online but I've spotted it in my local Superdrug recently. 

• Nivea Double Effect Anti-Perspirant (£3.29) - Bit of an obvious one but I've been loving Nivea's deodorant range recently and they do the job!
• Nivea Invisible Black & White Clear Roll On (£2.10) -  I like this roll on especially because you can use it with whatever colour clothes you are wearing without the worry with white marks on your new black dress and I prefer a clear roll on as well.

• L'Oreal Matt & Messy: Salt Spray (£3.75) - One of my favourite purchases ever brought on a whim, I picked my first bottle up in the summer. As a natural wavy/curly hair girl I love to embrace it and I love spraying this for an added texture to my waves.
• L'Occitane Jasmin Passion Hand Cream (:Limited Edition) - C'mon it's Winter and the dry hands are making there way out to haunt me. I love this 30ml size, perfect for travelling. It has a slight scent which is nice as I don't like strong smelling hand creams (yuck for finger foods half hour later!)

• Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser (£3.79) - Whenever I'm having a skincare nightmare I always turn to Simple. My skin gets dryer as it gets colder and applying this twice a day has kept the dryness at bay as it hydrates the skin.
• L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution (£4.99) - I'm currently in the trail period with this product but so far I've been enjoying it. It does a good enough job of removing any make up and toning the skin. (Don't forget the cotton pads either!)

• Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream (£18.50) - When it comes to travelling out it always the right time to gather your samples and try them out. I have tried this a few times before and it always leaves my skin extremely soft and helps glide on primers/foundations even easier.
• Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion+ (£28) - I can see why so many people love this after a couple of uses. Already thinking of purchasing the full size if I'm honest!
• Vichy Idealia Life Serum (£29.50) - I got my hands on a couple of sample sachets of this and I was hooked after one try of the stuff. Every time I go into I'm stopping by this but the price tag for such a small amount puts me off. I can see myself buying it in the new year though.

So that's a few bits I'm taking with me this weekend (don't worry I know I've missed out key things like shampoos etc but I'm doing a haircare post soon!)

What are you up to this weekend?

Clinique Goodies

Last week I discovered Debenhams had an offer on the Clinique range they stock. Buy any two items (one has to be skincare) and get a free gift set. I believe this offer is only running actually in stores and I think it ends the 20 something of October, my memory is lacking! Either way I'd get to your nearest Debenhams sooner rather later if you want your slice of the action! I actually took time to work out how much this free gift was worth and was slightly shocked to see around the £50 mark - for 6 small products (pretty much sample sizes) and a patterned cosmetics/toiletries bag - call it what you may.

The cosmetics bag. Simple bright pattern! 

Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion | All About Eyes | 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse Off Formula

Chubby Stick Intense - 05 Plushest Punch | High Lengths Mascara - 01 Black | 

Blushing Blush Powder - Iced Lotus

Swatched! Left to right: Blushing Blush Powder - Iced Lotus | Chubby Stick Intense - 05 Plushest Punch

So I got my hands on this just under a week ago and I've decided on my top picks:

The blusher -  A lovely frosted and shimmery shade of pink with a hint of purple tones to it, ideal for the earlier stages of the autumn season.

The eye cream - Claims to reduce puffs and circles and I've got to say applying this before my make up has left me looking more awake when I'm really not!

The mascara - Brilliant for a simple lengthen to your lashes for a natural eye look perhaps.

What are your favourite Clinique products?