January Favourites 2014 | What I'm Loving

 I know I say this every month, but I cannot believe we are one month into 2014! This means less than 6 months until school ends! I'm constantly reminded by my best friend Becca, who is turning 14 in a week, that this year I'll turn 15! I cannot believe it! Now, stop with the rambling Elizabeth and get on with the favourites!

NB no haircare favourites in this post as I chatted about those in my Haircare Highlights post.

 

Skincare

LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub was a treat to myself just before Christmas and I have to say, it's so much better than a home made one! I love the scent, the texture (a lot drier than my recipe), the taste - yes, I do eat it!

I have been using the Nivea Soft Rose Lip Balm on/off this month as a school lip balm - it adds a slight shine but mostly it's the thick texture that keeps my lips from dying in the winds (my school is in about 4 buildings that are quite a walk apart so we're constantly outside!).

My skin has been surprisingly oily on my nose recently so to combat that I've been using the Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser from Superdrug, and it's been working well. I know, foaming cleansers are terrible for my skin but I needed an oily-skin product to almost dry out my nose, and I'll stop using it as soon as I'm back to normal!

For my evening cleanse, I raved about The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil in my Cleansing Oil Convert post - I love it for removing makeup and, as they say, oil attracts oil so this should be helping with the issues I've been having!

Superdrug's Naturally Radiant Day Cream was helping amazingly with the dry patches I've been getting on my forehead (I know, my skin is in a state!). It works great as a base for makeup and the ingredients aren't too bad for a £3 cream!

Also helping with the dryness and oiliness is the Botanics Organic Facial Oil - it smells really funky, but the affects are amazing, and I'm using this every night from now on! Do you want a review?

Face Makeup

Witch Anti-Blemish Skin-Clearing Primer was something I bought to clear up my acne and it has been working in conjunction with my Witch Anti-Blemish BB Cream to stop me getting angry breakouts, and although my skin isn't by any means perfect, the large spots have gone and now I'm left with a few average teen pimples!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is an old favourite, and it's been covering my blemishes well this month without looking overly cakey - why do you never have it in stock, boots and superdrug?!

Another concealer favourite is the Dainty Doll 'It's a Kind Of Magic' Concealer Pen in 2 - the shade is perfect for highlighting under my eyes and on my face for everyday, as it looks natural and doesn't crease.

I've been using my elf small stipple brush to apply cream blush this month and it's the perfect size and shape for my little head! Along with blush I've been bronzing with this red toned bronzer - Une Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in H08 - as it doesn't look muddy on my pale skin.

Eye Makeup

My eyeko eyelash curlers have been a new discovery - how did I live without good lash curlers? These are amazing for curling well in the morning.

Two mascaras - No7 Exceptional Definition and Max Factor False Lash Effect in Waterproof Balck/Brown. I love the No7 one for over the top of other mascaras to separate and define my lashes, as the brush is really different. Max Factor is great for low-key events (ie 9am maths on a saturday) and it holds a curl well.

As for eyeshadow, the elf eye enhancing eyeshadow in blue eyes 1 works well for my eye colour and the shades are so versatile for a range of looks. For a sparklier look, Maybelline's Iced Fudged works well for shimmer and a one-colour smoky eye.

 

Body

Last is my Soap and Glory Body Butter which I have been slathering myself in every evening after my bath to keep me moisturised and also because it smells amazing!

What are your favourites? Would you like to see my random favourites next month too?

Love, E X

HD Brows 'Foxy' Eye and Brow Palette Review and Swatches

I was really excited to receive the HD Brows Foxy Eye and Brow Palette in my Latest in Beauty Glamour Beauty Edit Box, as it was quite an expensive brow product and I was looking for a good alternative to my MUA kit. As my fellow blondes will know, having blonde eyebrows and finding a good shade match on the high street can be a challenge, and although I could've done with Bombshell in this, Foxy matches me quite well.

As you can see from the swatches, the shades are all pigmented and not too chalky, but are dry enough to stay on my eyebrows and not melt off. I use an angled brush from Bella Pierre to apply the shade Dark Brown lightly to my brows and it works well.

I also enjoy using these as matte eyeshadows, a product hard to find good ones of, and the shade Warm Brown makes an amazing crease colour.

I've never delved into the world of threading and/or waxing my brows, as they're not too crazy, but if anyone has any recommendations in the London area of where does good brows, let me know!

Have you tried HD Brows?

Love, E X

The Weekend Post #4: Bath Bomb Storage

I love bath bombs and as you may have seen in my birthday presents post, my best mate Becca bought me a cake stand covered in bath bombs. As gorgeous as that packaging was, it was quite inconvenient which led me into TK Maxx looking for new storage. And low and behold I found it - two jars that'd be perfect in my room with any bath bombs/soaps in. The larger one was £2.49 and the smaller one was £1.99, so super affordable. I think these look quite pinterest-worthy.

The bow was from the cake stand and the bath bombs now live in the larger jar - any ideas for which Lush bath bombs I should buy for the smaller one?

What do you think of my storage? How do you store bath bombs etc?

Love, E X

The Highlights: Haircare | January 2014

I've been buying a lot of haircare recently (and using up a lot!) so I thought I'd share the highlights of my haircare routine with you.

L'Oreal Elvive Smooth-Intense Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner

Do these have long names or what? Despite their titles, these are amazing for my hair. The consistency of the shampoo is like a thick hair oil and, although you need a lot, they work really well on my hair. The conditioner is really moisturising and is the star product here - a little goes a long way and these keep my hair soft and shiny (and without frizz!).

Fudge Urban Iced Raspberry and Vanilla Hairspray

I've been out of hairspray for a while but the name (and pink colour!) of this hairspray intrigued me so I picked it up in superdrug. Though it doesn't smell bad, the raspberry and vanilla claims aren't met. However, the actual hairspray is pretty good, not sticky or crunchy and it keeps my 'do in place all day long.

Dove Refresh+Care Dry Shampoo

I was so excited to try this as I'd heard such great things from Kaitdee on Youtube, and am so happy we can now get this in the UK. It comes out clear (though I have heard if over-used it can be white) and when massaged in leaves my hair feeling clean plus is adds volume and plumps up my ponytail if I need a bit more oomph! Better than Batiste, in my opinion.

What are your haircare faves at the mo?

Love, E X

The Touch-Up Bag: Winter 2014 | Day-to-Night Handbag Essentials

 

I've started a new series for A Blushing Blonde - it's called 'The Touch-Up Bag' and they'll be seasonal. I always carry a little makeup bag with me containing a few items to turn my day look into a night look quickly, and those products tend to chage a few times a year. I thought I'd share what's in my touch up bag with you all!

Hair: Toni & Guy Glamour Firm Hold Hairspray (50ml)

I tend to wear my hair up in the day and down at night but to add some glamour to messier hair (or, in winter, hat hair), I like to smooth it down but add volume with hairspray, and this one from Toni & Guy isn't crunchy but adds a bit of life into dead, end of the day locks.

Makeup: Clinique High Impact Mascara, MUA Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde, Seventeen Supreme Shine Lipstick in Deep Secret

I don't like to faff about with eyeshadow when I only have a few minutes in the ladies' loos so I tend to go for a bolder lip instead - my choice is Seventeen's 'Deep Secret' as it's easy to apply (the packaging is a mirror!) and the colour is just gorgeous! To add some definition to my eyes I like bolder brows, and the pencil I chose was the MUA pencil as it's only £1 and has a brush on the end. Then, finally, to build up them lashes I apply a couple extra coats of Clinique's High Impact Mascara as it doesn't go clumpy and doesn't smudge.

Nails: Nails Inc. Glamour Glitter

If I have time I'll paint on a glitzy top coat to make my talons sparkle - I find a bit of glitter makes everything more polished (get it?).

Fashion: Statement Necklace

My favourite way to make a casual outfit a bit dressier is with a piece of statement jewellry - it's so simple yet so effective and it's not too much hassle to carry a necklace or two to jazz up an outfit.

What do you carry in your touch-up bag?

Love, E X

Cleansing Oil Convert | The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil Review

It's official - I'm a cleansing oil convert. I haven't touched micellar solutions since Christmas. I've been neglecting my HG eye makeup remover. All for The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil (£10).

This Caroline Hirons-approved cleanser is step one in my two-step cleansing routine. It removes makeup amazingly - even L'Oreal Telescopic Waterproof; wowzas. I use one pump on dry skin, massage in for about a minute, then add some hot water to my hands and emulsify into a milky consistency. If I'm feeling lazy, then I just use a hot cloth and remove, or if I'm feeling fancy I use my No7 Cleansing Brush with some hot water and use that in circular motions over my face and it works fabulously, removing all traces of makeup!

I am so impressed with this cleanser and am yet to try the Cleansing Butter and Makeup removers that I have, but I've got high hopes!

What are your favourite cleansers?

Love, E X

The Weekend Post #3: What's on my iPod? #2 | Music I'm Loving inc Mumm-ra, Luke Friend and Tom Law

Sorry the picture's a bit terrible, it was taken at 7am this morning on the way to a maths workshop. So, I love music, so much so that my parents refer to me as 'the walking jukebox' as I seem to carry music with me everywhere. I love finding new music to love, and these are my current faves - I'm going to try and do this post seasonally, but considering my last one was in August I don't think I'm particularly good at remembering...

My favourites are marked with ♥s

Abi Alton - I Will Survive

Abi Alton - Livin' On A Prayer

♥ Aiden Grimshaw - Curtain Call

Avicii - Wake Me Up

♥ Bastille - Flaws

Bastille - Pompeii

♥ Ben Howard - Keep Your Head Up

♥ Ben Howard - Only Love

Ben Howard - The Fear

Ben Howard - The Wolves

♥ Colorfire - Rocks and the Sea

Colorfire - Don't Let the Lovers Die

David Julien - She Will Be Loved

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Home

Ellie Goulding - Guns and Horses

♥ Ellie Goulding - How Long Will I Love You

Ellie Goulding - The Writer

Ellie Goulding - Your Song

♥ ELO - Mr Bluesky

♥Emma Stevens - Riptide

Gabrielle Aplin - Panic Cord

Gary Barlow - Let Me Go

Gym Class Heroes - Stereo Hearts

Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood

♥ Haim - Running If You Call My Name

Half Moon Run -  Full Circle

Hayley Richman - Young and Beautiful

Hey Monday - Candles

♥ Ingrid Michaelson - Can't Help Falling In Love (Like Crazy)

♥ The Killers - Mr. Brightside

Lauren Aquilina - Sinners

Lawson - Juliet

Lucy Spraggan - Mountains

Lucy Spraggan - Yes, This One's For You

Lucy Spraggan - Lighthouse

♥ Luke Friend - Old Pine

Luke Friend - One Day Like This

♥ Luke Friend - Best Thing I Never Had

♥ Luke Friend - I Will Wait

♥ Luke Friend - Kiss From a Rose

Luke Friend - Basically Older

♥ Luke Friend - Commitments

Mumm-ra - Your Father's Son

♥ Mumm-ra - Technicolour

♥ Mumm-ra - Jeremy

Of Monsters and Men - King and Lionheart

♥ Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks

Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound

♥ The Paper Kites - Bloom

Passenger - Let Her Go

Phillip Phillips - Home

Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah

Robyn - Dancing On My Own

♥ Stars - Dead Hearts (Like Crazy)

Taylor Swift - Red

♥ Taylor Swift - Story of Us

Taylor Swift - Everything Has Changed

♥ Tom Law - If I Ever Lost You

♥ Tom Law - Thrift Shop (English Version)

Tom Law - Same Love

♥ The Vamps - Wild Heart

The 1975 - The City

♥ The 1975 - Sex

The 1975 - Chocolate

The 1975 - Girls

♥ 5SOS - Heartbreak Girl

5SOS - Try Hard

5SOS - Wherever You Are

So, now you know my music taste and can tell who my favourites are. Yes, Luke Friend, The 1975, Ellie Goulding, 5SOS and Mumm-ra triumph as some of my faves, but you have to check out the music from the film Like Crazy as it's amazing, and listen out for my fave line in any song ever in The Paper Kites' Bloom - the whole world it is sleeping, but my whole world is you. Cute.

What are your favourite songs? 

Love, L X

 

 

Stila Colour Me Pretty Convertible Colour Lip & Cheek Palette Review and Swatches | Kitten, Peony, Gerbera, Rose, Petunia

 

 

 Let's just take a minute to look at those swatches. Just look at them... b.e.a.utiful. I received this gorgeous Stila Colour Me Pretty Convertible Colour Palette for Christmas and I LOVE it.

The shades included are: Kitten (champagne highlight), peony (neutral brown-pink), gerbera (peach-pink), rose (bright dark pink) and petunia (bright barbie pink). All these shades are really wearable and the blush shades (not kitten) are all available in the larger £16 size.

The formula is perfect - creamy and sticky enough for the cheeks but not too creamy or sticky for the lips. The Convertible colours have received a lot of blogger hype and I must admit, they're worth it! 

This palette is still available from stila.co.uk, which has amazing customer service and shipping so I'd definitely recommend placing an order (it's only £19.50!).

Have you tried anything from stila? What's your fave?

Love, L X

The Lip Crayon Bandwagon | Drugstore Lip Crayon Review Including Seventeen, Revlon, MUA & Soap and Glory

I love lip products, and have recently been really loving lip crayons. First were the Clinique Chubby Sticks, then the high street brought out some amazing 'dupes'. I have four different lip crayon options, of which each have been awarded a title.

The Glossiest - Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks, £8, review here

I own four shades of this amazing chubby stick, making it my favourite of the bunch. The colour selection is great, but these ones triumph due to their glossy finish. They shine on the lips, giving a fuller-lipped-look (not Katie Price-esque, but plump enough!). Their amazing vanilla scent and taste also adds to the amazingness.

The Most Pigmented - Seventeen Lip Crayon in Knockout, £4.99
A present from Lauren, this Seventeen bargain is gives your lips a pop of dark berry. Shiny, smooth and as bright and concerntrated as a lipstick, this chubby stick is fab for a fiver!

The Longest Lasting - Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, £7.99, review here (charm)
These Revlon balm stains were the first high street chubby sticks, and are the bomb when it comes to lasting power. I've been out for a whole day, eating etc and have topped up once! Brilliant. Cannot. Recommend. Enough.

The Most Moisturising - MUA Power Pout, £3, review here
The cheapest of the bunch, these terribly named lip crayons are amazing for a sheer tint of colour. The orange shade (justify) is amazing for a pop of orange whilst still looking natural. And because the stain, the colour lasts quite a while on the lips.



What are your favourite lip crayons?

Love, L X

The Weekend Post #2: My Week in Pictures

 For this Weekend Post I thought I'd show you some pictures from my Winter break. It was so great, and although we had to cancel our weekend away due to my uncle's accident, we still had a great Christmas between home and the hospital, so I thought I'd share. (sadly for you, the hospital wouldn't let me photograph my uncle's awsome looking leg, which is currently in a cage with pins holding it together. To me, it looks awsome, but to some of you, it'd probably look gross. I'll leave you with that mental image!)

 Rummikub, oh how I love and despise you!

 My everyday evening - feta, tomatoes and Wonderful-You.

 My Christmas goodies (elaborated on here)

 Christmas PJs

Good Morning (ie let me sleep face)

 OOTD - Christmas Day

 *surprised face*

FOTD - Christmas Day

selfie - I look weird with my eyes closed!

table decor

 gingham - my idea.

 cards in the hall - dad's idea

 my teddy in nan's slippers - grandad's idea

 

tree and cards

 

 new jammies!

What did you get up to this Christmas?

Love, L X

elf (eyeslipsface.co.uk) 50% Off Sale Haul | January 2014 | UK Blog elf Haul

 

 Today I have the second haul instalment, this one is an elf haul, including some of their sale items with the rest at 50% off during a voucher code period. *'Scuse the change in picture background, the lighting was all over the place so I changed location!*

 

  

 I bought two of the new elf studio moisturising lipsticks in the shades ravishing rose and pink minx. Pink Minx is for my friend Becca for her birthday, but ravishing rose is more me - a deep plummy brown that is super creamy and the colour is really highly saturated. I'd recommend picking one of these up if you're making an order.

 

 On the recommendation of Alice from BeautyByAlicee, I bought the Mineral Eyeshadow Primer to use instead of my Too Faced Shadow Insurance. It's working well so far, better than the £1.50 one did.

 

 

 

 Another one for me, one for Becca product was this Eye Enhancing Eyeshadow Palette, normally £8 but on sale for £2.40! For Becca, I bought the brown eyes 2 shade which has some pretty purples in it, and for me I bought blue eyes 1, which is neutral. As you can see from the swatches, they're all moderately pigmented, and this would be perfect for travel as it has that essential matte brown for crease work, lighter everyday shades then darker browns for smokier looks.

 

 

 From the studio line, I've wanted the blush and bronzing cream for ages but it's always sold out. Well, it wasn't this time so I ordered it and it's worth all the hype it gets! A review is coming soon!

 

 I bought an empty custom compact for some loose soap and glory shadows I had as mentioned in my last post, and they fit perfectly. This compact is really sturdy and I expect it'd fit mac eyeshadows too if you wanted a cheaper palette option.

 

 A brush I wanted was the small stipple brush. I had the larger one but it broke :( so I decided to order the smaller one and it has so many uses - a blog post is in the works on 10 uses for the elf small stipple brush!

 

 A hyped product that I gave into was the wet gloss lash and brow clear mascara. It does leave my brows a little crispier than I'd like but I'll use it for £1.50.

 Last is an essential brush for me, the eye crease brush. I love this for lower lash line work and creating the outer-v definition all the youtube gurus love! It picks up colour well and the two I have don't shed at all!

Have you been tempted by anything from elf? What are your favourites?

Love, L X