September Favourites

Hello you fabulous people, here are my September favourites and a new photograph composition, I hope that you like both! So, here we go (:

First we have The Body Shop's Vineyard Peach body butter. Now i'm all for smelling like a peach (a like I didn't realise that I had before I tried this) but this body butter is exactly like all the others, and by that, I mean amazing. They're so moisturising and soft on my skin, but the smell (did I mention that it's peach? PEACH!) is gorgeous, and it smells like a peach tree. Ugh, so good.

Stila's convertible colour dual lip and cheek cream in Lillium is lovely. It's a gorgeous colour, and you only need a little dab onto your cheeks, before blending it out (I use a stippling brush to do so) and it gives such a gorgeous flush of colour that lasts all day with very minimal wear (I would give it about 30 seconds to set before applying a loose powder on top) This is the only Stila colour that I own, but it's so beautiful, and the consistency is so good, I'm definitely considering buying another. 

Now this is a product i've mentioned many times before (you're probably sick of me talking about it) but it's Soap & Glory's 'One heck of a blot'. Oh my goodness, I am in love. I take it everywhere with me. I'm serious. If i'm going out, it's in every bag and usually whipped out to check out my shine situation (it's something i've learnt to do over the years) and usually, I only need a slightly dab of the mattifying powder to make my skin look ready for anything. 

107 by Kate Moss' range for Rimmel is something of a holy grail product for Beauty Bloggers come Autumn/Winter and i've only worn this a handful of times during the month, but I love it. I've worn it in the day for coffee with friends (teamed with a simple flick of eyeliner and flushed cheeks), and then for a night out (with a smoked out eye, a thick cat eye eyeliner and contoured cheeks) and it's been tried and tested, this is a winner of a lipstick. 

The eyeliner in question is Rimmel's Scandaleyes precision micro eyeliner with the thinnest nib, as I find that it can get right in the corner of my eye, and give the most defined look. With creamy eyeshadows, this will not last and it will transfer (and if you have oily eyelids like myself, a little bit of transfer is inevitable) but I find that with powder eyeshadows, this last all day, or all night. It's very black and although it does sometimes drag across the eyelid, I find that it does the job.

The only mascara that ever works, and I mean ever, is L'Oreal's telescopic waterproof mascara, and that combined with my Shu Uemura eyelash curlers, is a winning team. I do actually need a new tube of this mascara, but can I find it anywhere? Nope. I am determined though. Bring it on Cardiff Boots, I will find this mascara. 

Maybelline's Eraser eye is glorious. It is YSL's Touche Eclat but without the price tag. It illuminates, conceals and just brightens my life. It's not a heavy duty concealer, as I use my Barbara Daly one for that, but this is for under eye usage and wherever I need a bit of illumination. It's gorgeous, and a permanent edition to my makeup bag. 

Now for my only haircare love this month, as as much as I love the John Frieda Shampoo and Conditioner (which I love so so much, did you see my rave review?) but for me, it's the Full Repair oil elixir that is the star of the shower. It's amazing, so much so, you only need one of two pumps, and it just makes my hair feel so good. It makes it soft, smooth and it actually dries a lot quicker than without anything on it. 

My only non makeup/skincare item, and that's a room spray. It's gorgeous. It's citrus, sweet, floral and fruity, it makes my room smell gorgeous, regardless of the time of year, but I find that this is especially good in Spring/Summer, as for Autumn/Winter I prefer something a bit spicier, and more musky (any recommendations?)

So this has been my September Favourites post, and I'd love to know what you think. What products are you loving this month? Anything in my list that has caught your eye?

xx

Soap & Glory Shower Scrub edit

Who doesn't love a good shower? ... Exactly! Everyone does. And one of my favourite shower pastimes (yes i have more than one, shaving my legs is far down on the list) is having a good scrub, and I don't think anyone does it better than Soap & Glory. I've tried quite a few of their scrubs, but I have to say, my favourite is currently 'Sugar Crush', and oh my god it's good. It's smells citrusy and fresh (the perfect way to wake you up in the shower) but I find it moisturising and it makes my skin really soft afterwards. I think it's down to almond oil for making my skin feel plump and rich, whereas the smashed brown sugar and macadamia grains scrub away at the dead skin cells, and I find that even though i'm a bit pink after exfoliating, I think my skin looks glowy, and it's wonderful (I like to get my glow on). I like to have a good exfoliation two to three times a week, to increase blood flow and circulation (which with me, can be quite bad sometimes).

Now, my scrub gloves are what I use when I need a quick all over exfoliation (i.e a five minute shower, whereas my regular ones are about twenty minutes). I find that these gloves do aid my skin in glowing, as not only does it improve the texture of my skin, but it also increases blood circulation (which undoubtedly causes the glow factor). They're so easy to pop on and have a quick scrub without the use of an actual scrub, plus they can also be used to lather shower gel onto your skin (my shower gel of choice being 'Clean on me') which not only exfoliates with the rough texture of the gloves, but slathers moisture onto the skin as quick as you like.

What do you think of Soap & Glory scrubs? Which ones do you like the most? Do you use scrub gloves?

xx

John Frieda Full Repair for Damaged Hair Review

I'm sitting here writing this post, with damp hair and waiting for my food to cook, and I just had to do this review now. I've been using John Frieda for about two weeks, and I love it. It makes me hair soft, smooth and shiny, which are the main three things I tend to look for in a good haircare routine. Not only that, but I feel like my hair feels healthier, and i've noticed that the ends of my hair don't seem as dry, or as damaged any more. I think it's the fact that they're rich in Omega-3, which claims to reduce the appearance and feel of damaged hair. Since I've started using this, my hair feels so luscious and bouncy, and I think it's actually grown. It claims to give full repair to damaged hair, and for me so far, it totally has. I am impressed, so let's talk about it.

We start with the shampoo* (£5.89), which is thick and creamy, and although it doesn't smell like anything too fragrant, it makes your hair smell clean, so much so, i've gotten comments on how good my hair looks and smells (win!). The conditioner* (£5.89) is amazing. It's so softening, and you don't have to use that much of it at all, and for the first time in my life, I actually have more conditioner left than shampoo. Mind blown. Together, these make a really wonderful duo, so much so, i've made my mum start using them, and she loves them too. My hair, in comparison to my mum's, is thin, but there's a lot of it, so there's quite a bit of body to it, but it's not thick; i rarely straighten or use heat on my hair, but i've got split ends which need care and attention. My mum's on the other hand, it really thick and curly, which she straighten's everyday, so damage repair is a top priority for her.

So for my hair, thin and wavy, and for my mums, thick and curly, it really works. So, two hair types down!

Now, for the best step, it has to be the oil. The repairing oil elixr which adds shine, smoothens and strengthens is amazing. It makes my hair feel so good, and I think it actually makes it dry quicker than it would without this step. This oil* sells for £9.99 in Boots, and I think it's totally worth it. I think it's hard to describe, but my hair feels so so good, that I don't think i'm going to change my haircare routine. Ever. This is something of a holy grail for me, as hair that looks and feels good is a total winner. It can be used on wet hair, with one pump into your palm, before rubbing your hands together and running it through your hair, or it can be used on dry hair, to add shine and tame flyaways, which happens quite a lot with the use of heat products like straighteners. 

Here is a link to the full range of full repair products from John Frieda, and here is a link to their Youtube channel, which after a good nose, offers some really good tutorials on on different hairstyles, so if you're a bit of a stickler for the same hairstyle (guilty as charged!) then this is exactly what you need! What's better than good hair, and learning what to do with your newly fabulous hair? I don't know, but I know that this hydrate and rescue haircare routine is now going to be my go to for my hair washes, which average about four times a week.

What do you guys think of these products? Would you give them a go? Got any hair issues that you think this could solve? Let me know (:

xx

Physicians Formula Make-up Review

Hey there my lovelies! Let's talk about Physicians Formula. Don't know who they are? Don't worry, you soon will! They are tailored to those with very sensitive skin, with mostly all of their makeup being hypoallergenic and dermatologist approved, which I think is brilliant for those who may get reactions from makeup, even makeup they've used for quite a long time. Physicians Formula are held are experts in Colour Correction, bringing high end products, at drug store prices, which to be honest, is wonderful, as who doesn't like a well priced product that delivers above and beyond? Don't let the claims of being recommended by allergists throw you, their products are fun and glamorous, so you needn't worry about your face looking dull, or unexciting compared to those who are wearing different makeup brands. Physicians Formula can hold their own. I introduced the following products in a post last month, and i've been testing these for a few weeks, to which I finally feel like I can present a well rounded review of these products.

Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Airbrushing Bronzing Veil Deluxe Edition* 

Now, i'm not one for bronzers. At all. Having a glowing bronze look just isn't my thing. I much prefer a porcelain, english rose kind of look, as I like to think that it works quite well for me. However, I've been putting this fabulous product through its paces the past few weeks, and can I just say, look at it! How gorgeous is that product? The sun is gloriously pressed, and although it may look quite shiny, it is not at all like that on the face.  I've been using it as a contour, as, a bronzed face just looked odd on me (each to their own, I suppose) and as a contour, it is so good. If you've got pal skin, and find most contours too dark for you, such as the Sleek one, this is the one for you. It creates a wonderful shadow, and for me, makes my cheekbones look so good! Also, for you little bronzed lovelies out there, it claims to extend the life of your tan with its 'Triple-Action Bronze Boosting', which, although I don't tan, sounds pretty darn wonderful. And a little additional note for the bronzer, and the pressed powder below, if you lift up the product pan to get to the brush, there's a very handy mirror for applications on the go. Love it? Oh yes. 

Mineral Wear Airbrushed pressed powder*

Now this product, I think, is my favourite. I apply it with either the brush provided (isn't it glorious? it looks like a fan!... anyway) or with a powder brush, such as the one by Real Techniques, and it makes my skin glow. I think it's the Mineral Powder that gives such an amazing, almost flawless finish, it seriously makes my skin look so airbrushed, and you want to know something else that's good about this product? It's got an SPF of 30. How crazy is that?! It actually helps to prevent sunburn! It's been weeks, but that fact still blows my mind. You can imagine that my skin in the summer was still as pale as ever, and stayed that way due to this little beauty. I know it may look a bit dark in the pan, but when applied, it illuminates and conceals like a dream. This is a new love for me. The packaging is a lovely metallic blue, with a way of opening that took me about five minutes to figure out (I know. I am ashamed) with a space below the pan of powder for the brush, which is a very high quality, just as with the rest of the packaging. 

Organic Wear Fake Out Mascara*

I was very excited about this. It's organic, so it's 100% natural with no irritation to be found, and when I wear it, it feels very light on the lashes, and the colour, it's very black, which is always a plus for me. The wand, is huuuuge. So huge, the first time I used it, I got it on my eyelid quite a lot, but with more practice, I got better at wielding such a large wand. I've found that it doesn't smudge, or clump, and even for the most sensitive of eyes, I think this would be very suitable. The packaging, like the other products, is metallic, and it's pink! And it just fits well in my hand, which is another plus from me. The only thing, and it's totally to do with my eyelashes and not this product, is the fact that my lashes only hold curl with a waterproof mascara, so, regretfully, my eyelashes fell almost immediately, but they were long and lovely. You can't win them all I suppose, but on someone with normal lashes, this would be really, really good. 

Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing eyeliner trio Nude Collection, in colours from l-r: Pewter, Black and Champagne*

Now these are so exciting. Creamy, blendable, pigmented goodness that has a sharpener on the bottom of each one. A sharpener. Oh yes. And they twist, in order to reveal more product, but the sharpener is very useful in order to reveal a sharper line, as I find they do blunt quite easily due to their soft creaminess (which is by no means a bad thing). The packaging is glorious, and it feels expensive. It's heavy and metallic, and quite minimalist in design, so all pluses from me so far! There's a swatch in the picture below (the colours are, from top to bottom, Pewter, Champagne and Black) and I find that they last very well throughout the day, even on my oily eyelids. They claim to be smudge proof, which I agree with, unless you viciously rub your eyes, as I think there would be some movement, but not too much to cause an eye-makeup disaster. The lightest colour, is a wonderful bronzey taupe, which shimmers with a soft shot of glitter through it, that is quite subtle and really wonderful as a base, or eyeliner. Pewter and Black, are quite similar in colours , with the black being obviously darker, it has a shot of gold glitter to it and something quite goldy black about the colour too, there's just something about it that looks good. With Pewter, it's more of a brown black, with a mixture of bronze and gold shimmer running through it, which I really like. These eyeliners claim to create a warm nude eye for any eye colour, and I can totally see that, with these colours. They work well on my blue/grey/green eyes, so I can imagine that they'd do well on others too.

 

Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner*

Finally, we have an eyeshadow palette, which also claims to be a 'Nude look for any eye colour', which I think is brilliant, as it's so versatile as well. The shadows are grouped in threes, with two larger shadows next to a thinner one; the thinner one can be used as a liner for that particular look, and can be used dry, for a soft look, or wet, for an intense, dramatic look. The colours are shimmery and subtle, but can be built up for a more pigmented look. If you're not a fan of shimmer eyeshadows, then this is not the palette for you, but for those of you who like a bit of glimmer, keep on reading (; This is an eyeshadow collection that can take you from day to night very easily, as you just move along the palette, from light to dark. There are some real gems in this collection, and I find that i've been going to this palette almost every day, as who doesn't like a bit of shimmer? I certainly do. The packaging is lovely with black lace over a pinky base, with a fold over lid, which is very good to quickly get to your products, although, it does not feature a mirror, which may foil your plans unless you carry one around with you.

So, this is my Physicians Formula makeup review, I hope you enjoyed it, and I cannot wait for them to come to the UK, as these products were all $15 ish or less, and that equates to just under £10, which is a very good price for such wonderful products. I'm not sure when they are announcing themselves over in the UK, but I am very excited.

Which of the above products do you think you'll be trying? Any that catch you eye?

xx

The No7 Autumn colour edit

This is the guest post that I wrote for Nicole over at Coleoftheball and I thought I'd post it here as well, just in case you didn't see it. Nicole is so lovely for asking me to do a guest post for her. Go check her out (: Sooo, this is the post, as was done on her blog. Enjoy!

Hello to all you fabulous lovelies out there, I'm Rebecca, and the lovely Nicole has asked me to write a guest post on her blog, and who am I to say no? I'm a great fan of sharing newly discovered beauty products, and that's exactly what this post is today. It's all about two fabulous products that I'm going to be wearing this Autumn when the weather gets a bit colder (saying that, I did have the heating on yesterday... slippery slope, yes? Haha). I've been waiting a good while for Autumn to arrive, as for me, it's all about bold brows, bold lips and flushed cheeks, either separately or all together, and these two products definitely tick two of those boxes. 

So, let's begin with this gorgeous lip crayon. I feel that No7 are really bringing it with their products these days (if you follow my blog, i'm sure you'll know i'm all about the No7 lipsticks) and this crayon is no exception. It's glossy, pigmented, not exactly creamy, but not drying either, or really very sticky. I hate gloopy, stickiness on my lips as somehow my hair always gets stuck to it, and it just ends badly. This however, is nothing like the horrible gloopy hair debacle. This is actually really lovely. The crayon isn't as thick as others that you can get from Revlon etc, it's thinner, and the actual products seems more moisturising than others, which is a huge plus from me. It's super easy to apply, and can be blended with a finger to give a more subtle colour, something similar to 'i've just been rubbing my lips together' kind of look, which I really like. It lasts for a good few hours before reapplying, and I find that it fades quite evenly, which is always a worry for me. 

No7 High Shine Intense Lip Crayon in 'Sultry Kiss'

Our next product is what No7 call a Blush Tint and is very similar to the Revlon Baby Stick that they brought out in the summer, the difference here is that the colour payoff with No7 is a lot greater, and less.. I don't know, shiny? There was something quite sheer and shiny about the Revlon Crayon, which is perfect for summer, but for winter? Nope. A bit not good. This crayon is seriously pigmented, to the point where i would not actively put it on my face straight from the stick. I put it on my hand, then dab it on with my fingers, and then blend with a brush. Otherwise, it can look like you've just gone for a run, or it's really, really cold... and it's not that cold, so maybe it would look a bit odd for this time of year? It's creamy, so can be blended very well, and is very buildable, if the first flush of colour wasn't enough for you. For pale skinned beauties, I'd apply this sparingly, as I've found, it can give a 'too flushed' look. 

No7 Blush Tint Stick in 'Rosebud'

So here are two of my No7 picks for the upcoming Autumn/Winter season, which I am very excited about. I just want to thank Nicole for letting me guest post, as it's such an exciting experience (: and I hope that you've all enjoyed reading this, if so, I'd love for you to let me know, and to check out my blog, which can be found here at ohkalukalay. 

What products are you coveting this A/W? Are you going to be rocking a bold lip? Or perhaps a flushed cheek? Let me know (:

xx

The SO Project - Foundation

Get your war paint on girlies! (My dad calls it that, no idea why, haha) It's time to get your foundation sorted, and for me, my essentials are pale and long lasting. I'm not generally too fussed over coverage, as I know that I need my medium to full, and my light to mediums, depending on what look and I want, and what kind of day is ahead of me. For a long day, I go for a fuller coverage, like Facefinity All Day Flawless  by Maxfactor, and then set that with Soap & Glory's mattifying translucent powder. Whereas for a light to medium coverage day, I still set it with my mattifying powder, because oily/combination skin like mine tends to shine a lot, but i do it quite lightly, so my skin still shows through, if you know what I mean. 

These three foundations, by Maxfactor and Soap & Glory, are my essentials. They're drugstore, and I love them. Perhaps because i've never had a high end foundation? But, regardless, I adore them, and they suit me very well. The shades are the palest of them all (the S&G shade is called 'fairest of them all' so I feel all Snow White when I wear it. It's a good moment for me, haha) and to be honest, i'm pretty ghostly, but I still have a few patches of redness on my cheeks, so when I apply my foundation (with the brushes below) it's a bit like that moment in Memoirs of Geisha where she's painting her face (i'm seriously that pale and I love that moment). Although, we have much better foundations nowadays. 

Now these bad boys are my foundation brushes. Oh yes, I have two expert face brushes, it's because ohmygod I cannot do without them. They are my go to, everyday, for a flawless base. When I first purchased the Core Collection by Real Techniques, it was all about the Buffing brush, and wow, is it good! But, I bought the Expert Face brush and I haven't looked back since (except when my expert face brushes need cleaning). I do go back to the Buffing Brush on occasion though, as it's a lovely change of pace. 

To apply my foundation, I make sure that my skin is prepped ready for it. So cleansed, toned and moisturised. After that, it's all about the flawless base, and with one of the below brushes, it's super easy to achieve. I put one pump (or a soft squeeze, if the bottle doesn't have a pump) onto the back of my hand, then I dab the brush onto half of the makeup before applying it in circular strokes on my face. I do this everyday, so it only takes me a minute or two, but you want to make sure that all of your face is covered, and that you've blended it well. We don't want any lines, or buildup of makeup. We want a flawless look, and well blended makeup is the way to do it. I would then follow this routine with application of concealer, and to complete the base, I would then set it with a mattifying translucent powder. 

Drugstore foundations that I like, well, the above three. They're my go to's, and I love them. High End foundations that I want to try; Mac Face & Body, Illamasqua Skinbase and Chanel Perfection Lumiere.

What foundations are you using? Any one's that have caught your eye?

Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeliner pens

I used to be quite a fan of eyeliner, but then gel took over and I never looked back, that was, until I thought 'Why not buy an eyeliner pen, that sounds so easy' and it was, as the above eyeliners were not the first ones that I bought. I originally purchased one from Bourjois, and I do regret it. It was watery and it just didn't stay on my eyelids for as long as I wanted it to. Not impressed. So, these were my second effort, and I'm really glad that I bought them, as not only is one really thin, but the other is quite blocky and wonderful for a thick cat eye flick.

The colour is very black, and the first one, with the thinner nib, is perfect for getting in the inner eye, for a really defined look, but can also be made thicker quite easily. The pen makes it so easy to handle and manoeuvre, which I think is essential for a good flick and definition when doing eyeliner. The same can be said of the second one, which although had a thicker, blockier nib, is equally as black and easy to use. 

I bought them when they first came out, and they've quickly become my go to for black eyeliner, and I do find that they last for a long time, although they do transfer to the skin above the crease of my eye, I don't know if that's mainly due to my oily eyelids? Or is this something that happens with you too? Let me know. They're both £5.49 in Boots, and are part of the retro look that Rimmel are focusing on this season, and I do love a good retro look. These two products, I think, would be essentials for creating a retro Twiggy-esc retro look (remember those amazing lines!) as a precision pen and a thick & thin pen when used together are really, really good. 

What do you think of these bad boys? Are you an eyeliner pen fan?

xx