Most Loved : July

August already, which is something I am finding hard to fathom. It feels like only yesterday, as cliché as it sounds, that I was beginning my post graduate course and pining over the thought of moving out of home one day, sigh. Now I can officially say “we’re moving in this month” and “I will be a qualified teacher soon.” I’ll stop the end of month musing there, and get on with the task at hand: sharing my most loved products of July!

 

Eyes were kept fairly neutral, with my Urban Decay Naked 2 getting some long awaited love. I hold a huge amount of love in my heart for the original Naked palette from the brand, but the second instalment sat unloved in my drawers for quite a while. I’ve been using Bootycall as a brow + inner corner highlight, Pistol as a nice crease shade and Busted when I want something a bit darker. The newest addition to my palette collection took a few weeks to steal my heart, but I can now say I am in love with the MAC Bare My Soul palette from the Temperature Rising collection.  I've also been popping a bit of my Beauty Attitude Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Busted Brown in place of a traditional eyeliner, to add a nice frame to my shadows. If I’ve felt like a little pop of colour on my lids, I’ve barely stepped out of the neutral realm in using my Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Epatant.

 

I do apologise for the reoccurrence of the cheek colours in each monthly round up post, but my love for these two shades really does know no bounds. The Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed is the easiest shade to throw on, and I find it adds a warmth to my face that nothing else can. A pop of bright colour on the cheeks is almost always Chanel Pink Explosion, which looking back was a wonderful choice on Chris’ behalf for Christmas 2013. I have expressed my love for the idea of a new Chanel cheek shade each festive season, and this year I’m once again happy for him to hold the reins and select a shade for me to fall in love with.

Pink is yet again the theme of my lip choices this month, with my motto being the brighter the better! MAC Girl About Town is an amazing, long lasting and flattering lipstick from a brand that is often hit and miss in regards to lip products in my opinion. I’ve been wearing it a little too often this month, but it makes me smile wide and that is all that matters, right? For something a little more inconspicuous I’ve been turning to L’Oreal Colour Riche in Velvet Rose*, which has gone well with Busted + Busted Brown that I mentioned earlier. The other lip product that has captivated me is one I am not fully in love with, purely because of the lack of lasting power (even compared to other lip glosses) The Laura Mercier Lip Glace is Sweetheart is such a lovely shade that indeed leaves the lips glossy like a glass reflection, and the scent and flavour is so divine. It doesn’t stay around for long, though it must be said that having such a sweet scent makes reapplying quite an enjoyable task.  

How dark do you shadows go on a day to day basis?
Do you have a beauty tradition like our (will be) annual Chanel blush?         

*Marked items provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

Stash in the Bag

 

Just can’t seem to keep a ‘normal’ amount of makeup in my handbag! They really seem to multiply, but it is great for giving me a snapshot of what I have been loving lately if I’m too lazy to sit down and nut it out myself. I was at my sisters for dinner last week and decided to rifle through my stash, and here is what I retrieved.

 

That typical winter thing, a stack of moisturising lippies or balms to keep the chapped flakiness at bay. I feel like I need to get cracking with my Lush lip scrub, which is sitting forlorn wondering where the love has gone. Love is still there for it (despite it being something I could essentially make myself) it is just that I have become a busy lazy lady of late you know how it is. Have cracked out the Baby Lips stash and it is a tad more extensive that I first thought it would be. The pictured tube is Energising Orange, but I have my eyes on the Relieving Menthol because I am a sheep who adores Sleep and Water and must have anything she approves of.

La Roche Posay Ceralip also gets a look in, though I haven’t used it enough to decide if I love it yet. It does feel pleasant and smooth on the lips, which is a positive first impression I suppose. The Jack Black balm is ace, and because I have this formula in almost every scent you can trust me on that! This Vanilla & Lavender is my personal favourite, and is great for a nice sheen and some wind protection on my nightly walks with Mister Bovary and his Papa. Last but not least for balms, my beloved Carmex Peach Sheer Tint*, of which I professed my love for in this post quite recently.

I was all about a strong chocolate crease for the eyes last week, so the lipsticks were a change from my bright line up of late. YSL Rose Bergamasque is one of the best lipsticks I possess, and a wedding lip contender at that (full post and comparison swatches are here for you) The other nude lip love to enter my life is one I am wearing as I type this – L’Oreal Color Riche 378 Velvet Rose*. This formula is seriously stellar, doesn’t fall into my lip lines or get cakey, just sits beautifully and is my perfect MLBB shade right now. Much love for both of these nudes, and that is a lot coming from a fair bear like me.

YSL Rose Bergamasque, L'Oreal Velvet Rose, Carmex Peach

 

Fess up- have you found a good nude for your complexion yet?  And do you have any tips of taking care of lips during harsh weather?

 

*Marked items provided for consideration, but were really in my bag! Honesty, always.