5 Shades of Summer

Following on from my recent post Summer Beauty Buys I thought I would do a series of posts related to summer beauty and fashion, look out for a summer skincare routine, maybe haircare routine, summer lookbook and many other ideas I've been thinking about. This post is going to be all about my five favourite nail polishes I have been wearing this summer and what will probably be on my nails for the rest of summer too!

The first one is from Tanya Burr's cosmetic range which she launched earlier this year, the colour is 'Little Duck' and it is the perfect duck-egg blue. This colour is one of my favourite colours anyway so when I bought it I knew I was going to love it for summer, the colour compliments a tan and the formula is long lasting and chip resistant.

Recently I have been loving a nice nude nail and this Barry M polish delivers the perfect colour- not too yellow and not too pink and I think it would suit all skin tones. The formula is not the best to work with but not as bad as some Barry M polishes I've tried, it is a little thick and gloopy and the brush does leave some streaks but after two generous coats it leaves a fully opaque glossy finish.

This OPI polish I got in my June Birchbox, hence the adorable miniature size, the colour is 'Kiss Me I'm Brazilian' and comes from OPI's Brazil collection that celebrated the World Cup. I am not going to lie, the formula is terrible, I definitely wouldn't buy an OPI polish after experiencing this one, it is so hard to apply and I found it nearly impossible to do without leaving a horrible streaky mess. Why is it in my favourite summer polishes?... I am just in love with the colour, a sort of bright medium pink that would look amazing with a tan, I haven't come across a similar shade by a brand that I know I love like Essie or Jessica - if you have any recommendations, drop me a comment below!

Next is Essie's 'Roarrrange'; the newest one to my nail polish collection, I bought this recently (see it here in my Summer Beauty Buys post) and I already know that it will be on my toes for the majority of the summer! It is a fabulous bold orange, and as with all Essie polishes, it is super easy to apply and chip-resistant too. 

Finally is another Essie one, in the shade 'Mezmerized'. I adore this royal blue colour at the minute; it reminds me of the sea, being on holiday and little Greek islands. It looks great on both fingers and toes and is the perfect shade for summer.

What are your favourite nail shades this summer?

All-Time Top 5 Concealers

5. Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick in Porcelain 

This concealer is perfect for throwing in your handbag and using on-the-go, it is slim and compact but delivers a creamy, full coverage that lasts for hours. It covers imperfections, blemishes and redness and suitable for any skin type. I use it throughout the day to touch up where my foundation may have rubbed off, it comes in 19 shades (my shade is Porcelain) and retails at £20.

4. Benefit Boi-ing in 01 Light

My first ever blog post called 5 Beauty Products I Can't Live Without featured this concealer and although it has been pushed off the concealer top spot since last September I still like it very much. I find it a really good blemish concealer, especially as it has anti-bacterial properties. I apply a small amount to a spot with a traditional concealer brush then buff it out with a fluffy brush. It is long lasting and a little goes a long way. Although it looks quite dark in the picture, my shade is 01 Pale, I have had this one a while and think it has oxidised a bit so after I write this post I think I will have to throw it away. It comes in 5 different shades and costs £17.50.

3. Collection Lasting Perfection in Fair 

I have talked a lot about this concealer and you can read about it in more detail over on this post. This is a really good concealer for it price, at £4.19 you can't really go wrong. I like the coverage of this concealer and its lasting power (although I'm not sure I would agree with the 16 hours Collection claims it has). However, this one does have a couple of drawbacks, firstly the poor colour range means I can only use it as a brightening concealer under my eyes as it is too pale for blemishes but the next shade up is far too dark. Also, my shade (Fair) is such a pain to get hold of I usually end up giving up finding it.

2. Make Up Forever Full Cover Extreme Camouflage Cream in Pink Porcelain 

This is the newest concealer to my collection and featured recently in my June Favourites post. Often used by professional make up artists, it is one of the most full-coverage concealers on the market and can cover pretty much anything from spots and blemishes to scars and tattoos. It is a little more on the pricier side at $32 but you only need a teeny weeny amount and I only use it when i have some serious spots going on. My shade is Pink Porcelain and it can now be bought online in the UK from Sephora.com.

1. Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla

Finally, my holy grail concealer, the concealer that is so hard to get hold of it literally took me months to repurchase (I was on the waiting list at 3 different SpaceNK's!). For some reason Nars have difficulty making enough of this concealer in my shade 'Vanilla' and there is always a shortage, but fear not - I got hold of one recently when I was down in London so I am ok for a while now. I've talked quite in depth about this concealer on a recent post which I will link here, where I compared the this concealer to the Collection one above. The main differences I find between them are that the Nars colour range is a million times better, I find it more long lasting and finally I find it a bit better at covering blemishes.

Are any of these concealers your favourite? If not, what is your fave? - I am always on the hunt for a good concealer!

Summer Beauty Buys

The sun has finally graced us with its presence this week and that meant I had a desperate urge to inject my beauty collection with bright colours and fresh fragrances. Summer is definitely my favourite time of the year and when the sun shines it makes everything more beautiful, makes me feel happier and generally makes life that little bit better.

The first thing I bought was Essie's new summer collection, 3 wonderfully bright shades which I absolutely love.

The first shade is 'Ruffles and Feathers' which is a vivid teal colour, the second is a gorgeous hot raspberry pink called 'Haute in the Heat' and the final shade is 'Roarrrange' which is a bright bold orange.

Next in my basket went this No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Delicate Pink. I bought this as I had a money off coupon for No7 and I realised apart from my Clinique Chubby Stick I haven't tried any of the other lip crayon varieties on the market. I haven't used it yet so I can't comment on the product but the colour is a just quite a basic, everyday pink colour.

I have heard so many good things about the L'Oreal Colour Riche eye shadows that I finally caved and made the purchase, I did want to try the bronze and brown shades but I have so many similar shades already that instead I tried this shimmery, champagne nude. I think it will look lovely all over the lid for just a simple subtle summer make up look and also look great as a base for a bit more of a smokey look.

Finally I took a little trip to the Soap and Glory counter and picked up the body wash in Orangeasm, words cannot describe how good this smells - when you are next in Boots go and take a sniff. I love the Soap and Glory body washes but have never seen this flavour before, I think it is a relatively new launch. I can't wait to use this in the mornings, the fresh scent is the perfect way to start your day!

Have you bought anything recently to help give you a summer boost? Drop a comment below- we love to read all of your comments! 

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm Review

After reading a lot of reviews of the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm I was sold and wanted to purchase it so badly! However I already had a cleansing balm by Balance Me which I was using and the Emma Hardie Balm is quite pricey at £34 (especially on a student budget). However a few weeks ago the cleanser was on sale on FeelUnique.com for only £19.80! I had to buy it and try it out for myself.

My First impressions of the product were good. It has nice simple packaging and the cleanser also comes with an Emma Hardie face cloth that has a muslin side and a side that is similar to a usual face cloth. Also you get 100ml in the tub which is quite a decent size. Then when I tried the product out I certainly wasn't disappointed! The balm has such a luxurious (but not overpowering) smell that reminds me of spa products. The balm also has a nice texture to it that isn't too thick or oily. You only need a small amount to cleanse all of your face. I usually use a small scoop of it in my palm and then add some warm water so it turns to a milky thinner liquid consistency. Then I massage all over the face, paying special attention to my eyes to make sure all the mascara and eyeliner is removed (this balm is really gentle on the eyes too). Then I rinse of with warm water and use both sides of the cloth to make sure all my makeup has been removed properly.

This cleansing balm is so good! I've fallen in love with it after only using it for a few weeks. It melts makeup away and leaves skin feeling fresh, clean and moisturized. I've noticed a definite improvement in my skin already. It's great for my oily skin and isn't harsh or dehydrating like most cleansers targeted towards oily skin. The only downside to this cleanser is the price however if you can find a good deal like I did then definitely buy it! I have a feeling I will re-buy this product if it continues to impress me like it has so far.

Have you tried the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm or thinking of trying it? Comment below to tell me your thoughts on this cult cleasner. 

July Wishlist

Wow, how fast did June go? I'm happy that it's July now though because it's my Birthday month (and Jess' too!). Seeming as it's my Birthday I thought I'd do a bit of an extended, more miscellaneous wishlist for this month, with more products than usual.

Benefit They're Real Push Up Liner

Everyone in the beauty world has been talking about this new eyeliner release from Benefit. I think eyeliner will always be one of those things that no matter how much a girl practices, she will make mistakes a lot of the time, especially when it comes to the perfect winged eyeliner. Either you end up being a bit heavy handed and putting on too thick of a line or you're never able to match the perfection of the first eye the second time round. However this eyeliner looks like it could solve all our eyeliner problems. Their new unique eyeliner pen with an accuflex tip looks so easy and simple to use. There's been so much hype about this product I can't wait to try it out myself.

Diptyque Candle

I've always wanted a Diptyque Candle. Not only do they smell delicious, but the little pots they come in are so cute and can be used afterwards to store things like makeup brushes and would look great on a dressing table. I really want to sort out my room and makeup storage too and this would be a nice little addition when I've finished. The only issue now is deciding which candle to get! I love Baies, Fressia and Mimosa as well as Roses and Ambre.

A New Camera

I'm going to be living in America for a year starting from mid-August and that means there will be so many photo opportunities and I plan to travel as much as is humanly possible so I feel like I need a new camera. It would also come in really handy for blogging too! I've had a tiny Kodak compact digital camera since I was 14 and mainly use my phone for pictures these days but a nice new, possibly more technical, camera would be so useful for my year abroad.

Muji Storage Drawers

Any beauty addict will know that there comes a point where the many makeup bags filled with products (and counting) just won't do anymore and you need a long term solution to store a growing makeup collection. I think the time has come for me to invest in some clear Muji storage drawers, for my sanity if nothing else! There is nothing more frustrating than rooting through bags of makeup and being unable to find that one product you need in a morning. I also forget about what I actually have if it's not in my everyday makeup bag so I end up using the same products everyday. If my makeup was nicely organized though I would use so much more and I wouldn't waste so much time when getting ready!

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow and Powder and Sculpt Brush

Ever since Charlotte Tilbury released her makeup collection I have lusted over these two products ever since. I've bought a few products from the collection now including the Dolce Vita eyeshadow palette, the Sex on Fire Cheek to Chic Blush, the Rock and Kohl eyeliner as well as two lipsticks in So Marilyn and Bitch Perfect. Now that I'm going to America for a year Charlotte Tilbury won't be as easy to get my hands on so I feel like I need to get them now or I'll have to wait a really long time to buy them (and I don't think I can last that long!) This bronzer/highlighter duo looks incredible and I love the rose gold packaging. Also I've heard good things about the Sculpt Brush, especially when using the Filmstar Bronze and Glow!

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

Sometimes you just need a change up in your makeup routine. Using the same product every day for a long time can get boring. That's why I've decided I need a new foundation. I currently use Nars Sheer Matte but after going through two bottles of it I'm getting bored and I feel like it doesn't impress me and meet my skin needs like it used to. Also the colour was a shade too dark for me now my tan has faded. So now I want to try the Nars Sheer Glow Foundation. I originally wanted this one and tested it out but when I got to Sephora in New York I picked up the Sheer Matte by accident. I still hear great reviews about Sheer Glow too and it seems more blend-able with a medium coverage but still suitable for oily skin.

Becca Ever Matte Priming Perfector

I've never really classed primers as an essential part of my beauty routine but I feel like I should start using one, especially since I have quite oily skin and after a few hours from application my makeup starts to wear off and my face becomes shinier. Therefore this Becca Matte primer seems perfect for what I need in a primer, one that makes my makeup last and mattifies my skin throughout the day.

Marc Jacobs Pink Honey and Daisy Dream

I love a good Marc Jacobs fragrance, my favourite and signature scent being Daisy Eau So Fresh (which I have repurchased so many times) but I also have Daisy and Dot. I was so excited when Marc revealed he would be releasing a new fragrance this month called Daisy Dream! This one comes in a clear bottle with a light blue liquid inside and of course cute daisies printed all over. It's supposed to be a mixture of fruity and floral notes which sounds amazing to me! I can't wait to try it out. I also really like the Honey scent but haven't gotten round to buying it yet and I tried the limited edition Pink edition at Selfridges and now I really want that too! What can I say? I'm a sucker for all things Marc Jacobs!

What's on your wishlist for this month?

June Favourites

Sorry there have been no posts from me in a little while, June ended up being quite a hectic busy month for me with exams, holidays, moving out of uni and getting a job - all in one month! Anyway, here are the things I have been loving this month:

1. The Body Soft Camomile Cleansing Butter

I have been loving some of the Body Shop's skincare range recently, I think I will do a full blog post about all the things I have been trying in the near future. I have the oil form of this cleanser which I have been using for quite a while but I bought this one to take on holiday as the oil leaks and causes a disastrous mess in your suitcase (as I found out a few months ago). You massage the butter into dry skin then wet your hands slightly and continue to work into the skin then rinse off or use a muslin cloth to remove. It smells really lovely and delicate and leaves my skin feeling super soft.

2. Make Up Forever Full Cover HD Concealer

I bought this at the beginning of the month when I was away in Spain and got a chance to raid Sephora. It is an extremely high coverage, waterproof concealer and covers almost any blemish or imperfection. You only need the tiniest amount which I work into a blemish with my finger before foundation then buff around the edges of the spot with a fluffy brush to blend in the product. I have had a really spotty chin over the last few weeks do this concealer has been extremely useful. 

3. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

I have recently switched from using foundation to using a tinted moisturiser and felt like the Stippling Brush I usually use for foundation just wasn't working as well for the tinted moisturiser. I felt I needed a brush with denser hairs but still had lots of movement in the bristles and the Expert Face brush fit the bill perfectly. It leaves a medium coverage but leaves a completely flawless finish. 

4. Bourjois Rouge Velvet Edition in Ole Flamingo

These little guys have been doing the rounds on beauty blogs for a couple of months now and with good reason. They are liquid lipsticks in amazing, vivid colours that stay for hours and hours and leave a lovely matte, velvet finish. The colour I have is a bright shocking pink which is perfect for summer but I do want to get my hands on a couple of other colours too.  

5. Clinique 'Neutral Territory 2' 8 Pan Palette

One thing I definitely didn't need in my make up collection was another neutrals palette, but I bought one anyway! I can get away with this one though as I bought it in America for a great bargain at $20. It has 8 neutral shimmery shades ranging from a sparkling white to a deep warm brown. This palette is perfect for traveling with a slim compact and a great mirror. My favourite shades in the palette are 3rd and 5th from the left.

What have you favourites been this month, drop a comment down below! Also don't forget to check back in the next couple of days to see Sophie's wishlist this month.