An End Of Year Beauty Round-Up
-post contains PR samples-
It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve had a good natter about beauty and when I looked through my archives it’s been nearly two months which is quite a while so I’m excited to fill you in on what products I’m loving right now. Over Christmas, I had a big declutter of my beauty products that live in my dressing table as well as the bathroom and it’s helped me narrow down what I actually enjoy and look forward to using and what I’m clinging onto for the ‘just in case’ instances which never arrive. Having a smaller and well-edited beauty collection is something that brings me so much joy now as I feel like everything I own does at some point get used and this is what I’m using the most as of right now.
MAKE-UP
HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHTING BLUSHER - mood exposure
I’ve had this blusher for years, so long that it’s probably disgusting to many that I’m still holding onto it but look at it? Despite using it so much it looks like I’ve barely scratched the surface so there is no way I could get rid of it. My go-to blusher of the past few months has been Nars Douceur blusher which I’m very close to finishing and still haven’t quite got over the fact they discontinued it many years ago. A couple of weeks ago I pulled this back out and I forgot just how much I adored it, it’s one of the most beautiful berry shades without being too intense and I find it super flattering against my pale winter complexion. The formulation is absolutely glorious, it’s so lightweight and buttery but it stays put on the skin all day and sometimes my blush can be one of the quickest areas to fade.
HOURGLASS extreme CAUTION MASCARA (PR PRODUCT)
This mascara has been in my collection waiting to be used for a while but as I don’t wear make-up daily anymore I find I get through mascara quite slowly so it’s taken me a while to get around to it. When it comes to high-end mascaras I’m always on the fence whether or not I think they’re worth the investment as there are some truly incredibly budget options out there but this one if you have the budget is wonderful. It gives me a lot of separation, length, and volume without taking multiple coats which is something I find quite rare. Removing it is easy too, it’s not waterproof but I don’t find I have any issue with smudging or falling. The packaging isn't my favourite in terms of design but it does have luxurious weight to it.
TARTE AMAZONIAN CLAY 12 HOUR FOUNDATION (PR PRODUCT)
I have to admit that I’ve not worn this foundation in months as it’s quite pale and unless it’s either the beginning of spring I can't really get away with wearing as when the sun hits my skin it’s too light for me. But as of right now it’s a wonderful colour match and I’ve been loving a full coverage base which isn’t that unusual but it’s not something I’ve ever used in the colder months before as it’s not the most glowy option I have at my disposal. However, with an oil, moisturiser and nourishing primer this sits beautifully on my skin and I’m not using powder anymore which is a new thing for me as I’ve been a loyal powder user throughout my entire make-up wearing life and I love how this looks on its own. It stays put all day without the use of powder and it wears evenly and comfortably too, even when I’ve worn this for long periods of time I haven’t been itching to take my make-up off.
NARS velvet shadow stick - hollywoodland (PR PRODUCT)
I’ve not been wearing my typical powder eyeshadow options as of late and instead I’ve been opting for a cream eyeshadow pencil as they’re exceptionally easy to scribble on the eyelid so if you're a fuss-free make-up lover this one is for you. This shadow from Nars is my standard go-to champagne type of affair just in a cream formula and it not only adds a little bit of sparkle but it neutralises any discolouration on the lid too which is something I look for in my shadows. For a cream eyeshadow, this stays on all day without any creasing which is surprising for my typically oily lids and like I said I’ve not been wearing powder lately and this is a really soft cream so quite the testament to the formulation.
skincare & other
radical cbd facial oil (pr product)
I can’t say CBD in my skincare is something I’m interested in it at all but I do really love this oil. As I’m fast approaching 30 I want to keep my skin as nourished as possible and this is a beautiful product that fits the bill perfectly. It’s not super slippery and thick which I personally prefer with the oils I use in my routine as I find they sink in better and don’t interfere with any other products I use when they're a little thinner. Ever since using this I’ve noticed my skin feels a lot firmer and looks plumper too so my smile lines and lines around the corner of my eyes aren’t as noticeable as they once were. This may be due to the inclusion of fatty acids like omegas 3 and 6 and other lovely ingredients. Obviously, I can’t say for sure but either way, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this and it might be one I repurchase when I’ve used up all my other oils and serums.
sanoflore light dewy morning moisturiser (pr product)
This a product that I’ve been saving for the warmer months as it’s a lightweight day moisturiser but something made me pick it up a few weeks ago when my other moisturiser ran out and I’m so glad that I did. This very much feels like a mixture between a moisturiser and a primer and in the AM it’s perfect for make-up free days. It’s got a light milky pink tone to it which I find brightens and adds luminosity to the complexion in such a natural way. Despite it saying th’s a lightweight moisturiser I don’t find it any less nourishing than my typical go-to moisturiser options and as of right now is when I need the most hydration. I didn’t think I’d like this anywhere near as much as I do and if you want a product that feels like it does a little more than your average than I highly recommend this. And if you’re a rose hater don’t worry, this isn’t like your typical rose product in the slightest.
lilibeth brow shaper (pr product)
Peach fuzz isn’t something I’ve discussed in quite a while but it’s still something I choose to remove as personally I prefer how my make-up looks without it. I’ve always used cream facial hair removers in the past and even though they got the job done they were quite tough on my complexion so any alternative is something I’m willing to try. The Lilibeth of New York Brow Shaper is something you can use to shape your brows and remove any stray hairs. But personally, I like it for gently removing any peach fuzz I have as it’s so easy to use and it doesn’t cause any irritation either (I have got quite tough skin that isn’t particularly sensitive so do be careful when trying anything like this) which exactly what I wanted.
essie ladylike nail polish
To say I was excited to see my all-time favourite nail polish from Essie in the diffusion line in Boots is an understatement. I practically skipped to the till with this in my hand and it’s what I’ve worn the most throughout the past few weeks. As soon as it chips and it’s time for a new application I slick it on once again and it brings me so much joy as its the perfect mauve shade. Nude shades are something I find quite tricky as they can be quite unflattering on me if they are too nude and brown toned but this is something I find incredibly flattering. As usual, the formulation from Essie is fantastic and I never have issues with it chipping quickly and I typically get a good 5 days from my manicure and that includes a good amount of housework as well as tapping at a keyboard for a few hours a day.
