February Monthly Favourites

I love monthly favourites. It's that time of the month when I get to have a good nose at what other bloggers are loving... and what's more interesting than makeup and skincare? Nothing! Unless their favourite is a pug, or a sausage dog... in that case, the puppies are infinitely better. Regardless! I do love me some monthly favourite posts. It's where all the lovely items from the month come together in some lovely photography... and they just kinda sum up what your month has been about. I've been loving a lot of makeup this month, and just really sticking to my regular skincare, so there's nothing really new there. But makeup... oh makeup. People ask me how I can have so much, but the real question here is, how can I have so much, and still have a wish list the size of a small country? Huh? Answer me that! I just want to try everything... I really do. I want to have drawers of foundations, concealers, blushes, bronzers and probably an entire wardrobe of makeup dedicated to my eyes and lips. I want to try them all, figure out my favourite ones, and stick to those. Is that so hard to understand? 

Anyway! Monthly favourites for the month of February are almost a complete look, despite the fact that I never like going out of the house without concealer... yeah, these bags need covering. Except the pretty black one with a chain and a pom pom, everyone needs to see that one. For the base, we've got Collection's Illuminating Touch Foundation (£5.99, here), which is a rather fabulous product, as it really does pack in some glow, much like their infamous concealer, without it looking like you're sweaty, or too shiny. It gives a very even coverage without being too heavy, and also blends easily, despite coming out quite thick from the bottle. I have the shade Porcelain, which is rather perfect for me and those with pale skin, and the shade range is good if you're light skinned, but I'd say if you're any darker than a NW30/35, then you might have some issues. Hopefully Collection will expand their shade range and allow those with darker skin to covet their wonderful formulation. Next up is Illamasqua's Cream Pigment in Hollow (£18, here), a sort of grey, beige shade, perfect for pale skin contouring. Or a greige, if you will. It's a cream that can be used on the cheeks, lips, face and body for contouring, or just for general usage. I do like to apply this onto the hollows of my cheeks, and also a little into the crease of my eyes, just to give more depth and definition. This doesn't crease or smudge, making it a fantastic addition to my makeup kit, and a brilliant buy at £18, considering that I've had it for ages, and it's barely made a dent. 

Keeping with the base products, we have a firm favourite of mine and it's from Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess range, their wonderful Bronzer (£33, here). It still has that wonderful tortoiseshell casing with a huge mirror, small brush and powder that gives a glorious bronze glow to the skin - and considering how pale I am, it doesn't overwhelm the skin. In the Summertime, when my skin naturally catches a slight tan, this comes in handy once again, giving a lovely sheen to the skin, and adding a sun kissed glow to the contours of my face. Such a wonderful product, and I'm so glad that I managed to dig it out of my stash. Estée Lauder truly are one of my favourite brands, regardless of whether it's skincare or makeup... I just find their formula's, textures and packaging to be so effortlessly chic. Like that cool Parisian girl who can throw an outfit together, not brush her hair, apply some lipstick and just outshine everyone else who spent hours pinning a look together. Estée Lauder is that girl, and I'm forever in awe. Now moving onto the eyes, we have three fabulous little eyeshadow pans from Makeup Geek (£4.95, here) and they are Vanilla Bean (the cream, champagne shade), Bedrock (a gorgeous taupe) and Barcelona Beach (a sandy bronze shade). These three have convinced me that I need so much Makeup Geek in my life. I really, really do. Buttery soft, with little to no fall down... these three shades blend seamlessly together, and they create a subtle look with a defined crease, and when combined with black cat eye liner... oh, just yes. The look is perfect. I did a post a few weeks ago on the three Makeup Geek eyeshadows and for £4.95 each, these come in at a lot cheaper than most, so you know you want to build up your own collection.

Last but not least, is one of my favourite lipsticks at the moment from Urban Decay. UD have been slaying the makeup game right now with their Gwen Stefani releases, but I'm taking it way back to the start with their Revolution lipsticks (£15.50, here), and the one that's got my heart right now is in the shade Fiend, a pink mauve shade that looks so damn good on the lips that I can't stop wearing it. A little shoutout to the shade Naked as well (as I forgot to include it) which is a nude peachy pink, perfect for a neutral look with a bit of added warmth. The formula's are creamy and long lasting, and if you want to know more/see some lip swatches, they were featured in an Urban Decay Revolution lipstick blog post earlier this month.

What are your monthly favourites? Are there any of mine that have caught your eye? 

Winter accessorising and Estée Lauder.

As I write this, i'm procrastinating an awful lot. Why? I'm not entirely sure myself... I have dozens of things to do, but I just find myself scrolling on social media and looking at how pretty all my skincare and makeup looks on my chest of drawers. It does look pretty, I'll give you that, and social media is damn entertaining, but you know what, I wanted to talk about how extremely cold it is and that the sun is actually making an appearance. So sun is always brilliant. Sunshine means warmth, but it being the end of February and really, really chilly, I find myself wrapped up really warm, in bold colours and animal print, but then enjoying the suns rays too much... and then there goes my hat and scarf, as I'm too darn warm to wear them again. I tell you, going for walks in Winter Sun is always a bit of a dressing task. To wrap up, or to not? To layer up with six layers and a pair of gloves, or to not? It's tricky business, I tell you. So I just wanted to write a post about what I'm wearing, and generally what's going on my face in this whole in-between seasonal weather that we're having.

When I was in London earlier this week, the sun was shining and although it was very cold, my partner and I kept ourselves warm with coats, strolling around and small cups of coffee. Whereas in small Welsh town, there's more chilliness than sun to be found, but on a good day, there's a bit more sunshine than anything else... which means that I can just wrap up, with a few statement pieces, and be on my way. Skincare wise, I always try and prep my face for the upcoming chill of my walk, and smooth on some Advanced Night Repair Serum (£50, here) which nourishes my skin, and keeps my nose from going all flakey in the cold weather. My oily/combination skin doesn't necessarily change during this season, so I try and combat the inevitable shine on my skin, with Estée Lauder's Clear Difference Oil Control Moisturiser* (£42, here) before I apply any makeup. For a Winter stroll, I'll keep my makeup simple and chic, and I see no need to apply a lot of blusher, as no doubt Winter winds will give my cheeks a rosy glow, so I just tend to dab a little of Stila's Covertible Colour in Lillium onto my cheeks and lips, to give a hint of pink. For a soft, glowy base I apply Double Wear Light Foundation (£30, here) with a blending sponge (I use the Real Techniques sponge) and then just a little bit of Amazing Cosmetics concealer under my eyes, and on any blemishes, before brushing on a little Bronze Goddess Bronzer (£33, here) just so my face isn't as pale as usual...because trust me, it is very, very pale indeed. And I always find that a little bit of bronzer along the contours of my face, just livens my face up, making me look alive and well (which I am, I just don't look it haha). For a hassle free eye look, I'll just curl my eyelashes using my Shu Uemura eyelash curlers before applying Sumptuous Extreme Waterproof Mascara (£24, here) on my lashes, as the formula is so so black, it gives such wonderful definition to the eye. Lastly, a few spritzes of Sensuous Nude perfume (£37, here) on my pulse points, and it's ready to pop on a coat, some accessories, boots and head out of the door.

My chosen accessories right now are red bow leather gloves that I bought years age from Accessorize, a leopard print hat from Dorothy Perkins two years ago, and a faux fur stole from Topshop that I bought last year. And this isn't an ad for Estée Lauder, I'm just a massive fan, and I adore their products. 

Travel: Harry Potter Studio's and London.

Hello my lovelies! As this is being written, I'm waiting to travel to the wonderful and magical land of Harry Potter Studios, and I AM SO EXCITED, the need to capslock is huge. So yes, very excited. I'm heading off with my boyfriend, who basically knows nothing about Harry Potter, so you can tell by the fact that he's taking me, that he's a good 'un. I'm expected to feel tons of different emotions, as Harry Potter has been such a large and encompassing part of growing up, that to see it would almost be like completing a part of my life that I've loved so so much. I'll write back with what actually happened, and show off some pictures, plus some tips. (I really just wanted to photograph my new sunglasses and my tickets).

After the Show:
Okay, it was amazing and perfect. I pretty much cried and you'll understand once you go there, or see the pictures that I've taken. If you're a Harry Potter fan, then this is going to be a post for you.

A 'treat yo' self' Giveaway

I'm not going to lie to you, this month has sucked so far. I've been so ill and full of cold that it's made me feel totally awful, almost for the entire month (thanks to the person that gave this plague to me). So! To cheer myself up, and hopefully you guys too (unless you're happy already, then yay, be even happier!) I decided to start collecting some little bits and pieces so that you fantastic people can have a little treat. You can have a pamper and do your nails, rock a beachy waves look, pen some serious thoughts down into a new notebook, or just slick on a new lipstick... or two. Yes, that's right, I said TWO. Nothing cheers me more up than having some little treats, so I wanted to treat one of you fantastic people! Sooo... for the lipsticks... yes, two lipsticks. You can choose any that you like. I'm talking Charlotte Tilbury, Estée Lauder, Clinique, Mac, Illamasqua, Urban Decay...even something that you fancy from the Drugstore can be won...go WILD! As long as I can get it in the UK, then you can choose whatever two lipsticks that you like. RUN FREE AND IMAGINE!

Now for a few little rules. I will ship internationally, so this is open WORLDWIDE. I will email the winner, but if you don't reply within 48 hours, I will choose another person, and so on. I'll update you with shipping dates when the lipsticks have arrived, as everything is sitting cosily in my house. Please feel free to leave me blog comments about what lipsticks you'd like to win, and what lipsticks you're loving right now... everyone loves a good lipstick, right? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

All things Rose - Skincare picks.

Do you ever just have that one scent, where whatever you smell it in, just sends you into a blissful little dreamlike state, where you're floating and surrounded by the wondrous smell... well, for me, it's rose. I used to find anything rose scented overpowering and just generally horrible. Oh how wrong I was. Rose is delicate, soft and the type of scent that clings to the skin, so that a quick movement can bring about that perfect smell once again...it's just fantastic. The main brand that re-introduced me to rose, was Jurlique, and their wonderful Rosewater Balancing Mist* (£18, here), which I think I mention basically all the time... but it's just perfect. Refreshing, delicate and hydrating enough so that your makeup still sits wonderfully on the skin. A perfect spritz for every weather. Jurlique are without a doubt one of my favourite skincare brands ever, and I've been so lucky to work so closely with them; they have really opened my eyes to natural skincare and wonderfully grown ingredients. Another example of this is their Precious Rose Intense Handcream* (£18, here), it's basically a creamy, moisturising hug for your hands. Soothing for skin and nourishing for nails, this hand cream is coming up roses. It's just a delight, and you can be that I'll be packing a cheeky tube of this in my handbag for when I go to London in the next few days.. cold weather and hands don't mix well together, so this is going to be a saviour. You can also bet that I'll be popping a little bottle of my Rosewater Balancing Mist into my handbag, as the weather outside will hopefully be dry, the air conditioning inside the hotel rooms are going to be playing havoc with my skin - so i'll be keeping this close to me, to keep my skin as hydrated as possible. 

There's something so nourishing about Rose within skincare, whether it's a special type of rose, like the Moroccan Rose Otto within Ren's Sugar Body Polish (£32, here), which not only buffs away dead skin cells and reveals new, glowing limbs, but wraps the skin in a glorious scent, not stripping away precious oils, but adding to them. The scent for me, is euphoric enough, but just seeing this, sat in my shower, waiting for me to start scrubbing, it just makes me feel rather happy (is it lame that skincare really makes me happy?). Plus I really do like the packaging, it's sleek and quite luxurious, but I can always count on Ren for packaging and products that do exactly what they're going to. Another Rose addition, is the Wild Rose Brightening 24 Moisturising Cream (£20, here), with a texture so light and bouncy, my skin positively drinks this up, leaving me looking more lively and maybe even feeling it (I always think that looking alive makes me feel more so... with or without coffee haha). The pot is literally on it's last legs, and I'm scraping every last morsel out of this red jar... I just don't want to part ways with it at all, as my skin adores it. I think the texture is one of my favourite things about it, it's like a gel, but also like a cream... or like one of those strained yoghurts, that you can stand the spoon up in and it won't fall over... it's kinda like that. Moisturising and illuminating, Korres are really onto a winner with their Wild Rose moisturiser. 

Lastly... a definite skin saviour. That acclaimed orange oil that bloggers go mad for, and I am exactly the same. Pai's Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil (£22, here) is just... otherworldly, not just for the colour... as yes, it is genuinely as orange as it is in the bottle... but when applied to the skin, it sinks in, and leaves my skin feeling wonderful. This oil is a definite favourite for my skin (I think my skin actually goes on strike when I don't use this at least four times a week) as it seems to balance out my oily t-zone and my dry cheeks and chin extremely well, without clogging my pores and making my face feel like an oil slick.  Before I became a blogger, I had a simple skincare routine, which even though my mum had instilled it in me from a young age, that I had to look after my skin, my face wouldn't be as hydrated, as well looked after, and as loved as it is now. Yes I still have my issues with my skin, like pigmentation/redness, dark circles and the lines on my forehead... but my skin is my skin, and I wouldn't change it, because a lot of love, care and money has gone into making it what it looks like right now. I know I'll thank myself in the years to come, and these five are products that are definitely making my skin as happy as it can be right now. 

H&M High Impact Eye Shadow in Shiitake

This is such a beautiful taupe. The packaging is lovely. I'm just a huge fan. That... has kinda ruined the review, but I guess that you know to read on if you want to know more about it? A buttery soft satin finish, with a slightly bronzy taupe shade in the sweetest little packaging. I think H&M know how to do clothing and home ware very well, so it's only natural for them to take that inspiration and knowledge into their makeup range - and from what I've seen, the makeup is sleek and very, very instagrammable (hence that gold and white finish). I'm actually quite surprised that I managed to walk away with only one thing from the collection, but I had my boyfriend with me, and I had just dragged him through the entire Home Section in the store... so yeah, I suppose I felt a little bit sorry for him. To be honest, we had just devoured a Five Guys, so I think we were both in a bit of a food induced haze.... totally time for a nap. 

Back to this High Impact Eye Shadow in the shade Shiitake; it's such a gorgeous shade, whether worn on its own or blended with others. I think that because it's a satin formula, the light picks out certain shades, making it seem that you've pretty much made loads of effort on your eyes, when all you've done is blend out one shadow. It's the lazy girl approach to shadow, and it's awesome! I also really like it blended into the crease, to give depth to the eye socket - I'm just a really big fan of it, and for £4.99, it's the kind of formula that can give big drugstore names a run for their money. I've certainly got my eye on a few more pieces from their collection, such as multiple eyeshadows (Candied Almond and Greige of Innocence look beautiful), their cream blushes and even their brushes are looking mighty fine... so I think I'll pick up a few bit when I see them in a store next, before, of course, raiding the home section... forever raiding and drooling over everything in there. The last time I was there, there was a sale on... I don't think the noise that came out of my mouth was human. It certainly seemed to freak my boyfriend out... but oh well, he's pretty much stuck with me now, anyway.

Have you picked up any little bits from H&M that I should know about?

The New Additions and First Impressions.

Just a simple little post today, and it's first impressions tiiiiime! Who doesn't love them? I certainly do, as i'm so damn nosy, I just love reading what products people are loving! So let's start with something I've actually used before, and that's La Roche Posay's Effaclar K, and I honestly cannot remember why I never repurchased this tube... it's literally amazing. I noticed a difference to my blemished skin the next morning, as it helped the huuuuge spot on my chin go down, and is keeping my under the skin blemishes at bay, which is fantastic! This was in the reduced section at Boots, so I managed to get this for about £2, which is such a bargain re-introduction to the Effaclar range. Next up on the skincare routine, and it's a new product from Una Brennan, the Probiotic Overnight Skin Recovery Cream, which to me, feels more like a luxurious day cream than a night cream. It doesn't seem thick enough to keep the moisture in all night, so I've been wearing it in the day instead, and it seems to be doing quite well. This was another bargain purchase, £1.50 well spent I reckon. Whilst we're on the topic of Boots bargains, this Tangle Teezer was £5, and usually they sell for about £12 - £15, so I was quite excited! I've always wanted one, as I've seen loads of blogger with them, but I just couldn't justify spending that much on a hairbrush... now that I have one, I totally get it. No snags, no tears... just wonderfully soft, silky hair. 

My last Boots bargain is this lipstick from Rimmel, and it's their The Only 1 lipstick in Call me Crazy, a fantastic bright orange red. Swatches wonderfully, but I haven't worn it for a long period of time yet, but once I do, I'll write an update for you folks! And do you know how much it was? The clue is in the name... yep, it's was a £1. One! Just one! Crazy right?! Who can resist a lipstick for that much? Certainly not me. Now, onto different bargains, and these two Nails Inc polishes are from TKMaxx, a haven for me, for everything homeware and beauty... plus the occasional drooling over a handbag and a coat. It's just a fantastic place. I have two Gel Effect Nail Polish shades, and they are Baker Street and St James, a royal blue and a true red, respectively. They're both completely stunning on the nails (I've got St James on my toenails right now) and the gel formula is wearing very well. I'm going to have to test them out on my fingernails for a true reflection of their formula... as only really good ones stay on my nails for more than three days with minimal chipping. At £4.99 each, I was very happy to try these, without paying the full £15 for one of them.... Check back here to see some full reviews in the upcoming weeks. 

Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipsticks

Remember when I spoke about Urban Decay? Of course you do, it was only the other day... anyone else quite impressed with the fact that that rhymed? Just me? Okay then. I blogged and gushed about UD's amazingly creamy Revolution lipsticks, and even provided swatches/lip looks; that's how much I love you guys, and these lipsticks. Which believe me, is a lot! Well now you've gotta make room in your lives for these two stunning shades. Say hello (hello!) to Sheer Rapture* and Sheer F-Bomb*, two shades that are so me, I don't know where they've been. Currently they're sat in my lipstick wardrobe (yes, there's an entire wardrobe for lipstick... ha, just kidding! I wish that there was) being all shiny and beautiful in their packaging, which is so luxurious, it has to be some of my favourite from any brand. If there's one thing I've come to know, it's that Urban Decay do packing and formulation very, very well. 

So, I covered bold shades in my last post, from nude to bright pink, there never were creamier lipsticks to be seen! But this time, and just in time for good ol' Valentine's Day, a sheer wash of pigment that gives a full glossy lip. Now, if you know me and this blog, then you'll know that glossy lips are not my thing... I find them sticky, goopy and just plain horrid (take them away from meeee) but these Sheer Revolution lipsticks (£15.50, here) are anything but! Silky with a slick of colour that's not too much. Sheer Rapture looks a bit darker on me (it's the pigmented bare lips) but according to UD a 'sheer dusty rose' was what they were going for, and for me, roses are the best shades, so you can count me in for all of the rose shades in the future! Much like their non-sheer counterparts, these lipsticks wear evenly and tend to last for about 4 hours before I really need to touch it up.

F-Bomb is the most fantastic 'sheer red', with almost a pinky coral undertone, and ohmygoodness it is so so beautiful. A glossy red lip is usually a massive no-no from me, but this just screams yes-yes. Urban Decay have really hit the nail on the head with this shade, as it's one that I haven't seen before, and was certainly not present in my lipstick wardrobe (yep, there's that wardrobe again). Much like Sheer Rapture, the shade wears evenly and can go many hours before any major work was needed to make it look presentable again. Another thing that's beautiful about these, is that, if blotted, the immediate sheen is taken away, leaving a sheer stain of colour, making your lips look delectable (you can bet that I snapchatted these shades to my boyfriend) and yeah, pretty sure that he agreed. For £15.50 these lipsticks come in under Clinique, draw with Mac and are a little more expensive than the Drugstore, but they are so so worth it. You can purchase them from UrbanDecay.co.uk or from Debenhams, House of Fraser, John Lewis etc. Do you have any shades from their Sheer Revolution line, or are you fancying any? Y'know, it's gonna be Valentine's Day, gotta remember to 'treat yo self'!

Drugstore Highlighter picks under £10

As you can imagine, three products that each come in under £10 each are going have a lot to say, and a lot to prove, especially when the highlighter market right now is filled with Anastasia Beverly Hills and Hourglass; both seem to be gracing thousands upon thousands of cheekbones around the world, and whether worn alone or combined, Drugstore highlighters have a lot to compete with. With two powder offerings and one cream, this trio covers it all. Makeup Revolution are such a standout brand for quality and pricing, and with two highlighters, both buttery and finely milled, you can bet that they are standard additions to my rather extensive makeup kit. The Radiance Palette from Makeup Revolution was something that I originally reviewed last year, and the same goes for the Goddess of Love Baked Highlighter, but y'know what? They're just so good, that they deserve so much more love. MakeupRevolution are still as impressive now, as they were when they first burst onto the scene with their makeup dupes and show-stopping formulations. 

Another addition, is from Boots' own brand, Seventeen, and their Skin Wow Primer (£5.99, here) is nothing short of pearly, glowy loveliness. It can be used as a primer, mixed with foundation and also used as a highlighter - for me, this is amazing as a highlight on my cheekbones. Mixed with foundation/used as a primer is asking for a sparkly, shiny face - and I have oily skin, I don't need to draw more attention to my skin when it gets shiny (I might blind someone..). I blend this onto the tops of my cheekbones after foundation, and it just gives a beautiful iridescent glow, and when I blend a little Goddess of Love (£4.99, here) on top, you can bet that there is some major fleek. Serious fleek. All the fleek. 

The Radiance Palette (£8, here) consists of three shades; Breathe, Exhale and Glow, all of which are perfectly pretty and gorgeous, though I would only use two on my cheekbones. I would use Glow (the more bronze shade) as either a bronzer, or even as an eyeshadow, as who doesn't love a multitasking product? Breathe and Exhale are shimmering champagne shades, with Exhale being the lightest and Breathe having a little more of a darker pigment, making it a highlighter for a medium skin tone. Exhale is the choice for paler ladies, much like myself, and I think that Glow would look gorgeous on pretty much anyone, although darker skin tones will definitely have a bronze glow to their cheekbones if they use it; if I used it on my cheekbones, I think I would look like I'd had a rather large makeup mishap! Which one of these have taken your fancy? Or are there any more Drugstore highlighters that I should be having a look at? 

From the top: Seventeen's Skin Wow Primer, Makeup Revolution's Goddess of Love Baked Highlighter, and MR's Radiance Palette in Breathe, Exhale and Glow. 

Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks with swatches.

So Valentine's Day, eh? As much as I love a good celebration day, it can be a bit much. Red fluffy hearts, massive teddy bears and too much chocolate. I think I can get onboard with loads of chocolate, but would anyone else just rather have a good lipstick? Or makeup... give me all the makeup, regardless of the occasion. Birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day... Easter? Humpday? Seriously, I'll just take it all. I'll pass on the teddy bears (unless they're shaped like dinosaurs) and red fluffy hearts... because why?! Yeah, I'm not really soppy... more romantic, in a kind of 'find a vaguely amusing and slightly offensive Valentine's day card and cackle endlessly in the Tesco card aisle'. So yes, in my effort to be less soppy and more romantic, I've decided to do a post on something every girl needs. Lipstick. And who better to show off, than Urban Decay? Whether creamy, matte or sheer... Urban Decay know how to do a lipstick. So for Valentine's Day, it's a battle between nude/pink and a pink/red... I already have a few firm favourites, so where does your heart lie in this matter? You can shop all of the colours that strike you from UrbanDecay.co.uk and maybe even leave the page open, on a certain shade... 'because, you know, these things are available from Debenhams, John Lewis... numerous places... *hint hint* *wink wink*

I thought that, going into this, the dark colours would have me. I love a good dark lipstick, so Manic*  and Fiend* were my first impression favourites, but I have to say that Naked* and Turn On* were a massive surprise. Whereas I think Obsessed* is the kind of colour that I'm not confident enough to pull off... a bright almost Barbie pink, that I applaud other people for wearing, but for me, I'd have to blot it down and make it seem more of a stain; otherwise, I'm not sure if I'd wear it outside of my house (let me know what you think it looks like on, below). 

But as you can see, the swatches on the back of my hand, and the lip swatches are fairly the same, but it's always nice to see them on, isn't it? My lips are quite pigmented, so finding lipsticks that can give the impression of 'My lips, only better' is a massive win, as I don't know, some days it's just reassuring to wear a natural lipstick, as I think it gives me a bit of a boost. Naked is the perfect nude lip, a really soft peachy pink that just looks so gorgeous on. Fiend is a deeper, nude pink mauve shade, one that I actually really love the look of... a total win as the original swatch stole my heart. I think it does swatch lighter for some, but I think my pigmented lips are making it a bit darker. Obsessed, like I mentioned earlier, is a super bright pink, ridiculously pigmented and beautiful in looks that other people have worn. I think it looks okay on me... but someone else would totally rock this look! Turn On is the darker of the pinks, a fuchsia shade that is so ridiculously pigmented that you need one swipe, and that's it! Manic is the last, and it's just so stunning. A soft wine shade that is just so beautiful slicked on at full force, or whether patted down and worn as a stain, it's just gorgeous. 

So far, I'm leaning either towards Naked or Manic for the big V-Day celebration, and by that, I mean day in work, and then back home to watch Netflix. Maybe Manic for the day with customers, and then a softer nude, like Naked for a night in? Hmmm. Let me know what you guys think I should choose! 

From left, the Revolution Lipsticks are; Turn On, Obsessed, Manic, Fiend and Naked.

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked. 

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Fiend.

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Obsessed. 

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Turn On. 

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Manic. 

Flamingo Jar Candles

I'm just going to put this out there. These are amazing. I think I may actually prefer them to my Yankee Candles, as they don't give off such a dark, sootiness to them... if you know what I mean? Like the jar isn't blackened and dirty? That may just be the soy wax, but I'm not quite certain. Anyway! The scent of Pink Lemonade (here), Lemon Curd (here) and Cinnamon Sticks (sadly no longer available) are just beautiful. True to the name, not artificial smelling at all... and so far, after many, many hours or burning, I'm yet to make a real dent in any of them. I've been burning Pink Lemonade for days and days, and it's only just reached the top of the flamingo's head... so far, I'm very impressed. As well as being completely organic and a delight to burn, they're made in Britain (woo Wales), so I'm representing the Brits by burning one of these beauties. 

The Glass Jar Candles by Flamingo Candles are some of the best, and probably, some of the most beautiful. Bright or pastel, these colours and scents are a delight for the senses, with a whimsical flamingo on each jar in different shades, they really are a fabulous addition to any room. My Pink Lemonade is currently sat on my windowsill, illuminating and creating a warm glow as I work... I don't think there's anything better, on a chilly night, where the wind is howling, than snuggling up and having a candle burn, encasing the home in the scent. 

I fell in love with Pink Lemonade when I went to Blenheim Palace last year, and since then, I always find myself craving it, so what can be better than a candle to ease my need for it? It's sweet, not artificial, with a gentle lull of strawberries and lemon. Smells like a warm Summer day, when I have a drink in my hand and I'm lying on a beach. Heavenly. Lemon Curd is another favourite of mine. Sweet yet zesty lemon with a hint of vanilla... gorgeous, no matter what time of day. Fresh but warm and comforting. A gorgeous scent. And lastly, Cinnamon Sticks; a festive scent that's warm and spicy, a blend of spices that makes you crave mulled wine and a mince pie... perfect for cold weather and snuggles underneath a blanket. At £12 each, these are considerably cheaper than my previous favourites, Yankee Candles, and with much cuter jars in my opinion. These seem more.. homely, like something you would put homemade chutney in or something. I love how sweet they are. 

I've got my eye on a few (dozen) candles that I think will be sneaking their ways into my next order, such as these food themed ones: Raspberry and Salted Caramel (here), Macaroon and Almond High Tea (here), Créme Brûlée (here) as well as some cocktail drink themed ones: Mojito Cocktail (here), Cucumber and Melon (here), Thai Lime and Mango (here), Strawberries and Champagne (here) and Tropical Coconut Milk and Honey (here). Basically anything food or drink related.. and I'm there. Do you have any scents that I simply have to try?