2012 Favourites Awards

Finally i have completed this mammoth post. Its not like it took me over a week to write or anything. A word of warning before you start reading this, its a long-un. 
Like seriously, you may want to take a break in the middle and get some coffee to keep you going. I actually considered doing this in a video as it would have been easier but I'm too scared to talk to the camera haha. 
I decided to do this in a kinda awards system. So here we go, without me rambling on too much...

Skin Care Category

Cleanser - Mamma Mio Clean Slate (Review Here)

Serum - Balance Hyaluronic 554 Youth Serum

Day Moisturiser - Yves Rocher Instant Anti Wrinkle Hydra Vegetal

Night Moisturiser - Origins Night a Mins

Eye Cream - Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream

Exfoliate - Dermalogica Microfoliant

Toner - Avene Cleanance Purifying Anti-Shine Lotion

Mask - Lush Mask of Magnaminty

Spot Treatment - Origins Super Spot Remover

Make-up Catagory

Primer - Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer

Foundation - Laura Mercier Oil Free in Blush Ivory

Tinted Moisturiser - Stila Oil Free Sheer Colour in 02 Light

Under eye Concealer - Bobbi Brown Corrector in Bisque / Concealer in Beige (Review Here)

Concealer - By Terry Touch Expert Advanced in 01 Fair

Eye Powder - Elf Under eye setting powder

Face Powder - MAC Prep & Prime Translucent finishing Powder

Eyeliner - Barry M Blink Precision Felt Liner - Black

Rimmel Scandleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in 005 Nude

Eyeshadow - Suspect (From Urban Decay Naked Palette)

Mascara - Benefit They're Real / Elf Exact Lash Mascara

Blush - Daniel Sandler Watercolour in Cherub (Review Here) / MAC Mineralise in Warm Soul

Bronzer - Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder - Medium (Review Here)

Eyebrows - Elf Eyebrow duo - Dark

Lipstick - MAC Plumful

Lip balm -  NUXE Rêve de Miel

 

  Hair Care Category 

Shampoo - Ojon Damage Reverse

Conditioner - Ojon Damage Reverse

Mask - Avon Morrocan Argan Oil

Product - Hask Argan Oil Healing Shine Treatment

Body Care Category

Body Wash - Soap & Glory Clean on Me

Moisturiser - Soap & Glory The Richeous Butter (Review Here)

Exfoliate - Soap & Glory Pulp Friction

 Nails Category

Base -  OPI Nail Envy

Top - Seche Vite (Review Here)

Colour - Essie in Bahama Mamba (Review Here)

 Miscellaneous

Hair Brush - Tangle Teezer (PINK :D)

Make-up Brushes - Real Techniques (I have all but 1 of them) &
Laura Young no. 27 Eyebrow Brush

Makeup Finishing Spray - MAC Fix+

Dry Shampoo - Stila Hair Refresher (Review Here)

Also adding in my Clarisonic which i started using this year and love :D

So this is the round up of my 2012 Favourites and quite a lot there were:D Hope you enjoyed and please feel free to leave comments :D

Lorna xxx

Elf Haul - Part 1

So as you may have seen on an earlier post i recently got a MEGA haul from E.L.F as they were doing an offer that if you spend over £50 you got £25 off. So i got £50.50 worth of things and it only cost me £25.50. That's basically 50% off which is amazing!!

Now as you can see i got a lot of things so i'm doing this post in 2 parts. Part one will be the eye shadows, eye primers and the blush/bronzer set and Part 2 will be the rest.

Bottom to Top: Sheer /// Sheer blended /// Pearl /// Pearl blended /// Champagne /// Champagne blended

These are the three eye primers (they can be seen in the group pictures as the three lip gloss shaped tubes. They are from bottom to top:

• Elf Mineral Eyeshadow Primer - Sheer - £3
• Elf Eyelid Primer - Pearl - £1.50
• Elf Eyelid Primer - Champagne - £1.50

As you can see these are very different and i tend to use different ones depending on what eyeshadow i'm putting on. I use the mineral sheer the most, i looks great under daytime eye makeup, nudes and simple. The pearl i use for nighttime, going out looks (not a dark smokey eye as its white and bright) that have a fair bit of shimmer in them and i use the champagne for a dark smokey eye.

I think that the mineral works best as a primer, it definitely has the longer staying power although they all work incredibly well for the price.

Blush /// Bronzer

This is the Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder - £3.75.

I do quite like using this for when im contouring but i need to be very careful with it because it is a very warm toned bronzer and you can end up looking fairly orange. The blusher is a pale pink shade that works well on pale, minimal makeup days and while it does have a shimmer through it it is not over the top.

It comes in a lovely little compact duo with a mirror.

These are the four duo creme eye shadows and they are all £1.50 each . The consistency of them is lovely very creamy but not thick and they are so pigmented you only need a tiny amount. Below are closer up pictures.

Left to right this is The Butter Pecan Duo and the Black Licorice Duo.

 I really love the licorice duo for starting a smokey eye for a night out and the butter pecan duo is great for day time (its a bit less red than it looks in photo)

From lest to right this is the Olive Duo and the Berry Mix Duo.

 Ive only used the brown shade of the Olive duo as of yet and i love it however iv been using both of Berry Mix quite often. (the darker of berry mix is less red and more purple in real life).

L-R Night Owl Heavily Swatched /// Night Owl Lightly Swatched /// Baked Brown Heavily Swatched /// Baked Brown Lightly Swatched

This is the Elf Glitter Eyeshadow and the Elf Studio Eyeshadow Pigment.

From the top pictures the glitter shadow is in the circular white packaging and the pigment is in the small square tub.

• The Glitter is in the shade Night owl  - £2.50 
• The Pigment is in the shade Baked Brown - £3.75

I love the pigment shade for everyday makeup, its just such a perfect colour to go with blue eyes and the glitter looks good for a night out.

So this is part 1, part two will include the eyebrow kit, body shimmer, eyebrow tint and tame, clear brow and lash gel, HD under eye setting powder and the brush shampoo and daily cleaning.

What are your Elf faves?

Lorna xxx

How much is my face worth?

So I've been so excited to do one of these posts after seeing so many of them. I'm also terrified about what the outcome will be haha. I always find it interesting how surprised by the final price people are and to be honest i don't think ill be any different.
Also can i apologise for the abundance of photos, i got a little carried away.

So before i start i want to put a warning out there, please don't get freaked out my what i use as a primer. haha. Its honestly the best thing I've ever came across for oily skin because of its staying power and drying like a powder. (p.s loads of people actually use it)

1. monistat chafing relief powder-gel - £5.85 for 42g from amazon

It just holds by make-up in place all day and covers and fills every bump and line in my face, its generally my single most cant live without product. Its just a clear gel that glides on perfect and dries matte. It doesn't let my oil get at my makeup for hours either. Will always buy this.

2. L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Anti-Redness Primer - £10.29 from boots

This really covers the rosacea on my nose really well. Its great, but i feel it really clings to my pores and emphasises them and looks dreadful so i only use it on top of the monistat. It also stays really green so i would only wear it under makeup. Not sure if id re-purchase this, will prob try something else.

3. No7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser - £11.50 - Boots

This is one of my all time favourite things! It goes on so well and gives good coverage for a tinted moisturiser. Its well protected with all its SPF and lasts ages. I use it in Fair/Medium. Will continue to buy for a long time.

4. MAC Studio Finish Concealer - £14.50 - MAC online

Now i have this in NC15 when i should have it in NW15-20 but hey-ho wee all make the occasional mistake when buying things and i find it works pretty well anyway. I use this on blemishes and the like. mostly on my chin. It has great coverage and i love it. Will buy this again but in the correct shade haha.

5. MAC Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder - £19.50 - MAC Online

 I use this whenever im putting my makeup on it just holds in all in place and helps soak up any excess oil throughout the day.

4.  L'Oreal Glam Bronze Duo Sun Powder Brunette Harmony - Free 3 of 2 offer - Boots (Rrp £10.29)

Now this is something that i didn't actually pay that price for, it was on a 3 for 2 offer and this was my free purchase. It works fairly well and i use it most days to give me a little colour and with my blush. Would not re-purchase.

5. Elf Studio Cream Blush - £6.50 - E.L.F

I have this in 'Seductress' and apply it with my eco-tools stippling brush and it goes on perfect and blends so well. For only 6.50 this is a great grab.

6.Benefit Lemon aid - £16.50 - Benefit

If i'm honest i don't like this product this much but i've been lazy and not got round to getting a new eye primer yet so its what i use till then.

7. Urban Decay Naked Palette 2 - £36 from debenhams- £30 from Thomson airways

I got this on the plane heading back from holiday for got it duty free and couldn't resist buying it. It is suck an amazing palette, the shimmer and pigmentation are BEAUTIFUL.

I usually use Half Baked, Tease in the crease, Booty call to highlight and a touch of Busted the the outside corner.

8. L'Oreal Super liner Luminizer Eyeliner - £6.49 - Boots

This is quite an interesting liquid eyeliner that comes in 3 different shades for either blue, hazel or green eyes. Now i got this in Brown because it came in a set even though i have blue/grey eyes. Its a great liner with quite a felt like applicator. it dries quick and lasts ages.

9.L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara - £10.99 - Boots

I have this in waterproof black. Its great at separating and lengthening i also think it adds volume well. Its an all round amazing mascara. Oh and its waterproof properties are amazing. i tested this in the shower where i stood under the spray and rubbed my eyes and it didn't budge. I used it on holiday in the pool too and no smudging or flaking. The only time it did flake was when i was in the sea but i guess that's to do with the salt? (and how much i was splashing?)

10. Benefit Brow zings - £22.50 - Benefit

I have this in medium but could maybe do with dark. I really like it but find it a tad difficult to use but it does make my brown look better as i cursed with genetically sparse and thin eyebrows.

 

Now i usually only wear one of these but i use all 3 of them so often i included them all:p

11. MAC Lustre Lipstick in Plumful - £10 from duty free

This is the perfect colour for me, it lasts ages (especially when used with lipcote) and i use it all the time.

12. L'Oreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick - £7.99 - Boots

I have this in a few shades but the one i always use is 103 Sweet Berry. Its my fave lipstick EVER. Its a weird cross of a lipstick and lip balm but with the full colour of lipstick and i love it.

13. Vaseline Limited Edition Pink Bubbly - £3.49 - Selfridges

This is a fairly new purchase but i love it sooo much and its always in my handbag.

So thats what my face costs haha. Shall we get ready to total it up... well my total is  £186.39.

This may come as a surprise but its actually a lot less than i expected haha. Although this is just my everyday makeup and not all the stuff i own.

What did you all get? Do you think you would be more or less? Anyone have any thoughts on these products.

Lorna

xxx