March Favourites

I honestly cannot believe that it's the end of March and time for another monthly favourites post. 

Where has the time gone???!!!!! 

Anyway, I rediscovered some old favourites in March and also discovered some new ones!

Now that it's spring I can  safely use my shimmery blushers without looking silly! I absolutely adore Make Up Revolution's Blushing Hearts blushers and have been reaching for this one in the shade Peachy Pink Kisses throughout March. 

 I've also loved Soap and Glory's Love at First Blush this month which has been a favourite of mine ever since I got it last year! 

Mary-Lou has been a favourite of mine for a while now, but as I've bought new highlighters over time, I would use them instead.  However ever since I've switched to cruelty free I've found myself using it a lot more!

I've also been loving this MUA highlighter which is honestly one of the best drugstore highlighters out there. It's not as pigmented as Mary-Lou but is still incredible for £3. 

Honestly, who doesn't love this palette?! I've been reaching for it a lot throughout March and of course the whole chocolate theme has fitted in well with Easter! 

NARS Laguna is hands down one of my favourite products of all time. I tend to use the same products for my every day make up, so I've been trying to switch things up and have been loving using Laguna to contour with.

Another favourite that I've recently purchased is the Barry M Get Up and Glow palette.

Get Up & Glow

As I have recently switched over to cruelty free, I've been on the lookout for new products to try out. I've never really been too sure about Barry M's eye shadows but I do love their contour palette, so I was excited to give this a go! 

I've read mixed reviews online about this palette and I wasn't sure what to expect. 

It contains a bronzer, three blushers and a highlighter, so it's ideal for travelling. I absolutely adore the pink packaging and how lightweight it is. I've used it nearly every day for the past two weeks and overall I really like it. 

The bronzer looks beautiful on the skin and blends really well. It does appear to have a shimmer to it, but when applied it doesn't show up, so I also lightly contoured with it. It looked very natural and not muddy at all, so I was very impressed! 

The blushers again blend well and look very natural and pretty. My favourite out of all three is the pale light pink shade. It looks very feminine and just perfect for spring, so don't be put off by the lack of pigment!

Unfortunately I was slightly disappointed with the highlighter. After applying the bronzer and blusher I had high hopes! It didn't really show up on my skin as a highlight and worked better combining it with a blusher. That being said I do like my highlight to be quite intense and noticeable, so if you wanted a very natural shimmer or glow then it would probably work better!

Spring Touches

It's that time of year again to start de-cluttering and whip out all of your favourite girly pastel pink products and items. Whilst it's 'officially' spring in England, the weather is still miserable and I'm currently writing this wrapped in my blanket because it's rather chilly. 

It might still feel like winter outside, but inside a few simple touches can brighten your mood and make it actually feel like spring! 

I always like to have fresh flowers in my room and I've been loving daffodils recently as they're such a springy flower. The splash of yellow really brightens up any space and they're also cheaper than your average bunch of flowers! Of course fake flowers are a great alternative if you don't want to always buy real flowers. 

I have also added pink accessories to my room now that it's spring. My pink cushions have come out and I've replaced any dark accessories with lighter ones. 

Whilst I love all of my red, burgundy, orange and brown shades, I've put them away and brought out my pastel pinks and nude make up products. 

The Lush Easter products just scream 'spring' to me, and personally they're too pretty to hide away in a draw, so I display them in a pretty dish! 

NYX Lingerie Swatches

Top to bottom: Bedtime Flirt, Embellishment and Teddy 

Left to right:  Bedtime Flirt, Embellishment and Teddy 

The other week NYX launched their new Lingerie liquid lipsticks on Boots.com and of course I had to order some! I didn't really know what shades to go for to be honest and they all looked similar on the website, so I just randomly chose three. 

I'm really pleased that I got the three shades that I did because they're all actually quite different! Bedtime Flirt is a very neutral nude shade, and for me it is like 'my lips but better'. 

Embellishment is a mauve, cool toned with a hint of grey shade and looks quite dark on the lips. Teddy is a dark brown shade as the swatch above shows. I'm not 100% when I'll actually wear Teddy but hey ho, it looks pretty on!

Make Up Haul

It is unfortunately time for another spending ban... 

I surprisingly did quite well with my last ban in January so I'm hoping I'll resist the urge to buy all the pretty spring make up that's coming out......... .... ... .. . . 

Yeah anyway, this post is my last haul that I'll be doing in a while, so I thought I'd share with you my recent cruelty free make up purchases!

First of all I picked up this beautiful highlighter in the shade Iridescent Gold from MUA. My friend has this at it looks amazing on her, so for £3 I couldn't resist! I also picked up this mosaic blush from MUA in the shade English Rose. I don't own anything like this and so far I love it! 

Next I ordered some NYX bits from Boots online. I got three of the new Lingerie liquid lipsticks (swatches coming soon) and three of the single eye shadows. With the eye shadows I went for shades that I don't usually get, so no oranges and pinks this time! 

I also got some bits from BarryM as they were on special offer. I will be honest and say that I'm not keen on their eye shadows as I found them quite chalky, but I do like their contour palette so it will be interesting to see what the palette and blush are like! I also got a new mascara as I've nearly used up all my non-cruelty free ones. 

Spring Make Up

As I'm writing this post, it is the end of a beautiful sunny day and the sun is setting. The days are starting to get longer, pretty pastel colours are every where and new signs of life are starting to show after a miserable winter. I personally find that sunny days, pretty girly colours and flowers make me instantly feel happier and lighter, so today's post I'm going to share my favourite make up products for spring. 

I'm going to start with this beautiful Make Up Revolution Baked Blush in the shade Peachy Pink Kisses. It's a cheaper alternative to the Too Faced blushers and the pastel peach packaging in the shape of a heart is so adorable. The product itself is stunning. It gives the skin a beautiful, natural, healthy glow, and could even be used as a highlighter!

Next is another peach coloured product, and it's the NYX Butter Gloss in the shade Peaches and Cream. I'm not a massive lip gloss fan but I love how pretty this shade looks and it's actually not that sticky like many other glosses! It's the perfect lip colour for transitioning to spring. 

It wouldn't be spring make up without including a highlighter! This cream highlight stick from Rosie for Autograph works perfectly as it's more natural looking than a powder highlighter. And of course the rose gold packaging is very appropriate for spring! 

This beautiful palette is from the cruelty free brand B. The packaging is of course ridiculously appropriate for spring, but the main reason I included this palette is for the two blush shades and the highlighter. Both the blushers are the perfect light peach and pink shades for spring, and the highlight is a stunning cool toned shade. These all look very natural and glowing on the skin!

For me, BarryM always reminds me of spring with their pretty pastel shades and packaging. These nail polishes are two of the new spring colours in their Speedy range.They are the perfect pinky nude shades and are on special offer in Boots and Superdrug at the moment!

Last but not least is the Melted Metal lipstick from Too Faced. The colour itself is very pretty but for me it's all about the packaging. I definitely need more of these in my life!

Cruelty Free Alternatives #1

As you are probably all aware by now, I have begun my journey into the wonderful world of cruelty free beauty products. I've been using up a lot of my none cruelty free skincare, haircare and bath products recently, so I wanted to share with you some cruelty free alternatives that I've purchased. 

Bath Products

When switching over to cruelty free, Superdrug will be your best friend. Their own brand products are ridiculously cheap, BUAV approved and they're no different to the big brands. 

So, next time you're out shopping, swap your Radox bubble bath for this Superdrug alternative. Likewise switch from Imperial Leather, Dove or Radox shower gels for this cruelty free Superdrug shower gel. You'll find that you will also start saving money as well! 

Hair Care 

I have personally swapped my Pantene Pro V shampoo and conditioner for the Superdrug Pro Vitamin shampoo and conditioner. This is a great cruelty free alternative and is cheaper as well. I've also used up my VO5 texture spray and switched to the Superdrug Salt Surf Spray.

Hand Gel

I've swapped my Carex hand gel for this Superdrug alternative. Simple as!

Lip Balm

A more expensive cruelty free alternative, but definitely worth it. I would highly recommend switching your Nivea lip balm to this Lush one, which is cruelty free and vegan. 

Deodorant and Nail Polish Remover

I have swapped my Dove deodorant for this one from Superdrug. The Co-operative own brand products are also cruelty free and have great alternative products.

Skincare  

A great CF alternative to the Garnier Micellar Water is the B. Pure Micellar Water. I have also swapped my Clinique facial wash for this Superdrug alternative. A couple of years ago I stopped buying the Simple make up remover wipes and changed over to these Superdrug Cleansing Facial Wipes. 

Last but not least, the Body Shop Sea Weed Mattifying Day Cream is a great alternative to the Benefit POREfessional matte rescue!

I'll be doing more cruelty free alternative posts in the future as I find new products! 

Skincare Routine - Cruelty Free

Today's post is an updated night time skincare routine. My skin has been quite dry recently so I have been using products that I know will keep my skin hydrated and healthy!

Step 1

First of all I will remove my make up using the Superdrug Cleansing Facial wipes combined with the Soap and Glory Micellar water. I then wash my face with this Soap and Glory Deep Cleansing Milk. This leaves my skin feeling clean and very soft. It is also suitable for all skin types, so when my skin has been particularly dry, it hasn't made it worse or irritated my skin. 

Step 2

After washing my face I then cleanse and tone my face using the Soap and Glory Micellar Water. And yes I do use this twice as I like to really make sure that there is no make up left on my skin. 

Step 3 

After I have toned my face and made sure it is as clean as possible, I will then apply The Body Shop Seaweed Night Treatment on my T zone. I then apply The Body Shop Vitamin E Cream on the rest of my face, making sure I focus on the dry areas. 

Step 4 

Finally, I will apply a couple of drops of  the Mora Pure Argan Oil* onto the driest areas of my skin. I found that even after one use, this product really made my skin feel wonderfully smooth and soft. I have never been keen on using oils on my face, but I absolutely love this product. It's lightweight enough to use as a daily moisturiser and it gives the skin a beautiful healthy glow. Having travelled around Morocco a couple of years ago, I purchased a bottle of pure argan oil then and I applied it to my damaged hair, so I've seen first hand how amazing argan oil is as an all rounder. If you're interested in this product, head over to Mora's instagram @moraessential.uk for more details. 

*I was kindly sent this product to try out, however all opinions are of course my own :) 

Rosie for Autograph

A couple of weeks ago I went on a massive cruelty free beauty shopping spree. I've seen a lot of posts about Rosie Huntington-Whitely's make up range for M&S, so I popped in to have a browse and see what all the fuss was about. 

First of all, the packaging is rose gold. I LOVE LOVE LOVE rose gold everything, so the packaging is of course a big thumbs up from me. It is also feels very luxurious, with Rosie's signature engraved subtly on the front of each product. 

As these products feel and look very luxurious, you may be wondering how expensive these products are. I only picked up two items; the Starstruck Highlighter and a Cream Blush. The highlighter was £15 and the blush was £14, so not exactly drugstore prices, although not as expensive as some high end brands. Obviously if you buy a lot of her products it will soon add up, but individually, they are reasonably priced. 

Now for the most important point. All of her products are cruelty free and are BUAV approved!! When I first went up to have a look at her products, I saw the leaping bunny symbol and knew straight away that I had to get at least one item! Also, according to the M&S website, both of the products that I bought are 'suitable for vegetarians and vegans', so of course this knowledge makes me love her products even more. 

On the left is a swatch of the cream Starstruck Highlighter stick and next to it is the Cream Blush in the shade English Rose Flush. Now I don't usually go for cream products, so I wanted to branch out and try something out of my comfort zone, and it's safe to say that I'm so so glad that I did! 

Pixi Copper Peach Palette

A couple of weeks ago I popped into M&S and discovered that they sell Pixi products! 

As I am obsessed with warm copper tones, I was instantly drawn to this beautiful palette. At £15 it is more expensive than your average make up in the drugstore, but it is still affordable and definitely worth the money! 

Pixi are of course cruelty free and have the most beautiful simplistic packaging. This palette will be perfect to take when travelling as it's so light weight and not bulky at all. 

As for the eye shadows themselves, they are very beautiful and lovely to apply. I found that they blended really well and had a buttery soft feel to them. All of the shades are very natural looking so it's pretty much the perfect palette for every day use and of course for travelling! I had no fall out with these eye shadows and they lasted all day without fading. I will definitely be trying more of Pixi's products! 

Cruelty Free Haul

If you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed that I've started to go cruelty free. I have decided that when I buy make up, skincare, haircare etc, I will not purchase from companies that test on animals. 

I am obviously new to buying cruelty free, and for now I will continue to purchase from companies that don't test but their parent company does (NYX, Body Shop, Nars, Urban Decay etc). I know a lot of people don't agree with this but I don't want to dive in at the deep in and end up giving up.

Eventually I want to aim to only purchase 100% cruelty free and vegan products, but for now I'm starting with the basics. 

I went shopping a couple of weeks ago and popped into M&S, Boots, Lush, Superdrug and TKmaxx to check out their cruelty free brands and products. It looks like a lot but I did get the majority of this in the sale or on special offer!

In Superdrug I stocked up on my favourite cleansing wipes and also bought a new deodorant. 

I picked up this Tuscan Hills Powder Brush from TKmaxx. I love the natural style of this brush and cannot wait to try it out!

I've been a massive fan of the cruelty free brand B. ever since it came out in Superdrug. I believe that they're changing the style of their packaging so all of these products were discounted!

The B. palette was only £2.99 so I couldn't resist. I also found the Hard Candy palette in TKmaxx for £3.00 and I can't wait to try it out. I went into M&S and picked up the Pixi Copper Peach palette and I am obsessed! 

Also in M&S I had a look at the new Rosie for Autograph Make Up Range. As soon as I found out her products were cruelty free and had rose gold packaging, I knew I had to buy a couple of items! I'll be doing a full post on these soon. 

I love the Barry M Speedy nail polishes and when I saw there were four new shades out for spring, I had to have them! They were also on special offer. I also went into Lush and got this lip balm. It's of course cruelty free and also vegan!

Last but not least I ordered this NYX concealer from Boots and also this Sleek eyebrow gel. I later found out that Sleek are not cruelty free so I returned it for a NYX one. 

I hope you enjoyed my first cruelty haul!