#149 - 2012 Favourites

I know I'm slightly behind on the getting the ol' favourites of last year up, as well as being generally behind on actual blogging. never mind, I have several posts lined up for the next week or so, (including an empties post later this week, oooh) so I should be back into some form of regular posting, hopefully. no promises there, I'm only human; a human that often gets distracted by delicious food and Supernatural, so sue me.

Anyway, I've divided it up into four categories so it's a little easier to digest.
Being the silly goose I am, I forgot to include any nail items, and I couldn't be fussed taking yet another photo. but nail favourites are OPI's Nail Envy and Maybelline's Stay Strong in Ceramic Blue. Nail Envy has helped my nails in a huge way; they aren't flaking or breaking as easily as they used to, and I can grow them all to a nice length without one snapping and letting the side down. And Ceramic Blue is a shade I discovered early last year and wore it as often as I possibly could. I love it, it has a brilliant formula and barely chips.

But, onto the other stuff, I had to narrow it right down so these are just, absolute favourites. Like, if I didn't have these items I'd probably be much more inclined to stay in bed than I already am. Hard to top, I know.
I'll just do a real quick reason why I love each item so I don't ramble on too much.

SKINCARE 

Good Things Five Minute Facial Mask - I use this at least once a week after giving my face a good scrub, and before using my Liquid Gold. This brightens my skin, reduces blemishes and makes my face look generally lovely. Highly recommend it, I've had it for about seven months and I think I'm only halfway through the tube.

Re-Gen Cream - This is a sneaky gem from Home Bargain (not sure if that's just a North-West store, or what?) it's a cheaper Bio Oil but in cream form. I smother my skin in this stuff and it's brilliant. It's reduced those little bumps I get on the backs of my arms, improved the skin on my thighs and helped the look of any scarring or stretchmarks.

S&G Flake Away - This is my go-to body scrub, I use it twice a week, it smells amazing and isn't too harsh on the skin. It leaves a slight oily film after you get out the shower, but I quite like that, means I don't spend as long moisturising.


Garnier Summerbody Gradual Tan - I hate fake tan, the smell, the patchiness, just everything. I'm also far too lazy to keep it up, so this is ideal for me; slap it on before bed each night and wake up looking like you've just come back from holiday. Easy peasy.

Alpha-H Liquid Gold - I had to get it after seeing nearly everyone raving about it, and I certainly did wince at the price (£30 back in March) but I'm glad I went for it. I only use it once, maybe twice a week before I go to bed, but it's helped my skin so much. It's brighter, all blemishes and any marks left by them disappear faster, I adore it. I only have about three applications left, but I'll be purchasing another very soon.

MAKE UP

 17 Va Va Voom Mascara in Black - I love this mascara, I refuse to buy anything high-end as this does exactly what I need; lengthens, plenty of volume, rarely clumps and it's waterproof which is perfect for me and my contact lenses.

Frat Boy Blush - I recieved this in a Glossybox/Carminebox/whateverbox last Spring and I shoved it in a drawer never to be seen again as I never used blush because I always thought I looked daft in it. I have only really been wearing this for the last five months or so, but now I've perfected the application it's something I reach for everyday. It is quite pigmented so you only need a slight amount on the brush and just blend it in well.

17 Mirror Shine Lipstick in Beehive - This is looking slightly worse for wear due to it nearly being finished, and the fact I was daft enough to take it with me on a girl's holiday to Turkey in '11. It probably melted as soon as I stepped off the plane. But this is still my everyday lipstick, it's just the right amount of colour.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Don't need to say much about this, I love it, everyone and their cat loves it. Let's face it, it's a HG concealer. The End

Elf Powder Brush - I use this brush to apply foundation and it does so flawlessly. I adore this brush, it can do no wrong in my eyes.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner - Best eyeliner pencil I have tried, there was no way I was forking out for a Mac or Nars pencil, so Rimmel releasing this was a godsend.

 HAIRCARE

V05 Dry Shampoo - A good alternative to Batiste, not as chalky in your hair, doesn't leave white marks and smells nice. I got it in Superdrug a few weeks ago on offer for £1.89

Tresemme Split Remedy Masque - I use this once a week on the ends of my hair in the shower. I apply it and leave it on under a shower cap and rinse it off just before I get out. Makes my hair look and feel less damaged than it really is.

Samy Fat Hair Thickening Spray - I have fine hair, which is annoying but I can deal with it since finding this. It thickens my hair without making it crispy or greasy looking, and it actually makes curling it much easier and I find the style lasts a little longer than it would without this in my hair.

Tresemme Hairspray - Little fact of the day, I do not like Ellnet hairspray. The smell makes me gag and it doesn't do much for my hair. And the fact Cheryl Cole is the face of it is just another reason not to buy it. But Tresemme hairspray is the best for my hair, it holds for as long as I want it to, and I found the huge can in Home Bargain (again) for just £1.99, in comparison to Boots selling it for about a fiver. I always have a small can of it in my bag for any flyaways or frizz that rears its ugly head during the day.

 MISC.

Vivienne Westwood's Naughty Alice - Before I got this my favourite perfume was Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb, which is still is, but that's now my Spring/Summer perfume. But since getting this last Christmas this is my Autumn/Winter perfume, I just love it, I'm not going to describe it as I'll only butcher it, but it's gorgeous and a few sprays lasts hours.

Supernatural dvds - I have every season, it's one of my favourite shows, but my mum snagged me season seven for Christmas, which I was so delighted at. You just have to watch it, it's brilliant.

James Frey & Suzanne Collins - My two favourite authors of 2012, thier books are amazing, and I have chosen to re-read several of them in favour of reading from my pile of un-read books. Check them out, just do it.

What were your 2012 Favourites? Leave any blogposts/video links for me to have a nosey :)

#139 - May Favourites

I think this is the earliest I've posted my favourites, go me! I have quite a few items this month but I've grouped them up to make it an easier read!

 

 Nails 

OPI in Mermaid's Tears | Models Own in Fuzzy Peach | Maybelline Forever Strong in Ceramic Blue

These are the three main colours I've been reaching for this month, a nice mix of pastel and more neon shades. Mermaid's Tears is a lovely sea green, it's my perfect green and is so easy to apply and dries fast.
I am yet to brave wearing Models Own Hedonist on my nails, but I may use it as an accent nail when I next use Fuzzy Peach, might be a nice combo. Ceramic Blue is a gorgeous pale blue with shots of metallic blue/purple shot through it, It's opaque in two coats and with a top coat lasts on my for about six days with minimal tip wear.

 

Face

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Ivory | St Ives Invigorating scrub
Nivea Oil Free moisturiser | Beverly Hills whitening toothpaste

I was using the Bourjoid 123 Perfect foundation, but since the weather's perked up a little (I type this looking out my window at a dreary sky threatening to rain, ha!) I went back to this as the formula's much lighter, and it smells soo good! The colours a limited but this is the lightest shade and it's fine on me.

St Ives scrub has been an essential in my routine for at least seven years now, it's my favourite scrub ever. I use this three times a week to give my face a really good clean; I love using it after a 10hr shift in work, really makes my skin feel amazing.

This is my go-to moisturiser, not much to say but it is brilliant for oily/combination skin, I am yet to find a better one, and at such a good price.

I got this in Home Bargain for 99p! a month ago, as I'm still on the quest for whiter teeth. This really does work, I use it twice a day and it has definitely improved the colour.

 Hair

Berber Hair Oil | Pure Coconut Hair Repair | Charles Worthington No Frizz Serum

This is my favourite product from the Birthday Glossybox, it really is brilliant at conditioning my hair, stopping frizz and reducing drying time when I blowdry my hair. I got this coconut treatment again in trust Home Bargain (seriously, look there for hair products before Boots/Superdrug, they're ridiculously cheap!) and have been using it on the ends of my hair twice a week, leaving it on for ten minutes. It makes my hair softer, smoother and easier to style. The serum doesn't need much said, it does its job brlliantly, tames my flyaways and gives my hair extra shine.

 

 Misc.

Garnier Summerbody Gradual Tan in Deep | Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf

I really dislike using fake tans, so this is perfect for me. I apply it after every shower and it gives me a really deep but natural looking tan. A friend commented on it last week, thinking I had been abroad, back of the net! It doesn't go streaky, the smell is pleasant, and it doesn't wash off if you get your skin wet. It's currently oart of the 3 for 2 at Boots too so I'd suggest you give it a go!

This has been my favourite perfume since I bought it on the plane to Turkey last June; it's strong but not overpowering, gorgesouly and fruity/floral. Whenever I smell it, I'm instantly taken back to my holiday last year, which makes me really happy. I'm pretty bad at descrbing perfumes, but give it a whiff you won't be disappointed!

What are your favourites this month? Any posts/videos please leave me a link! :)

#111 - Recent Favourites

Recent Favourites

I've been using the following products for quite a while now, some longer than others. But I feel they are my "staple items" at the moment, so thought I'd share my thoughts if you're interested! :)

VO5 'Treat Me Right' Deep Conditioning Treatment, S&G's Flake Away, Models Own Top Turquoise
Garnier Gradual Tanning Lotion, Palmer's Cocoa Butter, Neutrogena Visibly Clear Daily Scrub.

- VO5 Deep Conditioning Treatment: Despite only having used this a handful of times, I can safely say my hair is in much better condition. After my usual shampoo and conditioner, I add a small amount of this to my ends, leave for five mins and rinse out. Combining this with using the VO5 Miracle Concentrate, my hair is so soft, my ends look healthy and it takes less time to dry. Will definitely be repurchasing.

- S&G Flake Away Body Polish: This has been a staple in my skincare routine for the past two years, since recieving a travel pot in a Christmas gift. It's not too harsh on my skin, so I use it maybe two, three times a week in the shower. It is excellent for removing any fake tan and smoothing down those bumps you can get on the back of your arms (anyone know the name for them?)
I've had this 300ml pot since the start of June and I'm barely halfway down. The smell is enough to make your mouth water, but it's the best scrub I've ever used, and will continue to do so!

- Models Own Top Turquoise: Models Own is my current favourite brand of nail varnish, I can't believe it's taken me this long to try it! My faithful Barry M's have been shoved aside to make way for these creamy, quick-drying formulas. I'll post a photo below of my current nails, which I've had on for about five days, and the chip on my middle nail is the only one I've had so far.
I'm also using a Sally Hansen Insta-Dry top coat on top, but still I'm impressed and can't wait to build up a collection of these polishes.

- Garnier Gradual Tanning Lotion: I'm not really a fan of using fake tan; I hate the smell, the way it streaks on elbows and knees, orange palms :| and having to scrub it off only to slap it back on again. To be fair, I have used my mum's Fake Bake on my legs earlier this week and they do look good, but to me it's not worth the hassle.
That's where this little beauty comes in. I just get out the shower, slap this on and repeat the next night, and over the next couple of days, my tan's as good as it was when I came back from Turkey! I'm going to continue on using this right through the Winter, I'm enjoying having some colour to me and not being reeeally pale like usual :)

- Palmer's Cocoa Butter: Again I have been using this rich but not greasy moisturiser for years, only having to re-purchase maybe three times a year. It's great for prolonging tans, and I picked up the Fragrance Free bottle this time, because as much as I love it, sometimes the scent can make me feel slightly nauseated. It's working wonders on the stretchmarks on my thighs and the abundance of scars on my arms.

- I picked this up sometime last year when I was on the hunt for a new facial scrub, being slightly apprehensive to use Neutrogena products in case they broke me out. This has made myskin much brighter and any spots or blemishes I get are gone within a couple of days, with the help of a dab of Sudocrem at night. I am using this in conjunction with the Pink Grapefruit scrub they do, which smells gorgeous and isn't harsh on the skin, making it easy to use in the morning and before bed. I have oily/combination skin and neither of these scrubs aggravate it, leaving me with smooth, mattifyed skin :)

As promised above, my nails this week. I was feeling adventurous so did a leopard print but in different colours, crazy I know! But I'm really happy with how well the Models Own varnishes have stuck and not just chipped at the first hurdle.

What are your recent favourites?