FIVE AUTUMN BEAUTY FAVOURITES - OCTOBER 2014

As the the nights are getting colder and darker my beauty routine has started to change to suit the Season. Last week I was in 30+ degree weather on holiday and now I'm back in rainy England, so my skin and shade preferences have adjusted dramatically and my skin needs more looking after. I have started to bring out the heavier scents as I wear lighter fragrances in the Summer. One of my favourite to wear during the day or evening is the Thierry Mugler Alien Essence Absolue. I love the original Alien fragrance, but this one is more musky, woody and just reminds me of Autumn. The scent is intense and deep, it's main notes are Jasmine, Vanilla and White Amber. The fragrance stays around for hours and I love the shape of the bottle and liquid amber colour.
My skin starts to get drier as the weather gets colder and one of the main product I reach for it the Origins Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment. This is a sample size I got in a Christmas set and it does wonders for your hands! It's not too thick a formula and doesn't leave a greasy film on your hands either. The scent is a nice light, orange blossom scent and I like to use this on my hands as well as any other dry areas like my elbows and knees. This is a handy sized bottle to throw in my handbag and I think this would make a great gift for Christmas!
I like to wear a higher coverage foundation in the colder months. My favourite higher end foundation has to be the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation, which I have loved for a few years now. This gives a lovely, flawless base which looks natural but can be built up to a full satin coverage. It has light-reflective properties which cause fine lines and wrinkles to optically vanish. I like that this foundation stays around all day and the shade Soft Ivory matches my fair skin tone perfectly as my tan fades.
My make-up preferences have also changes to darker, vampy shades instead of the bright lips and nails I was sporting in Summer. The Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stains have fast become one of my favourite lip products to apply. I currently have three shades, but this is my Autumn favourite in Parisian Passion which I mostly like to wear in the evenings. They're easy to apply, create bold colour and lasts on the lips for hours. I have done a full blog post on these here. My nails have also been painted in berry shades, I especially like this Butter London Nail Lacquer in Shambolic which is a lovely sparkly, glitter purple. I bought this in a set which comes with a matching lip gloss. I think this lip and nail combo would look great together!

What are your favourite products this Autumn?

JUNE BEAUTY PRODUCT EMPTIES 2012

I'm trying to be better at cutting down my hoard of beauty products by using them up one type of product at a time. This month I have seemed to do quite well, there are quite a few..
Firstly my basics, Johnson's Cotton Buds £1.40, Boots Cosmetic Buds £1.40 and Boots Cotton Wool Oval Pads £1.89. These are my basics for taking off my make up as well as touch ups. So I always have back ups of these, they do the job. Would I repurchase? Yes.
Johnson's Eye Make-Up Remover £3.29 - This is a bottle I have been trying to use up for ages, I don't tend to use Make-up remover much anymore, I would tend to use a cleanser for my whole face. But if I do have some difficult eye make up to get off, then I would use this or something like it. It is a very gentle formula and great for waterproof mascara. Would I repurchase? Maybe, at some point.
L'oreal Ever Pure Shampoo and Conditioner (Fullsize 250ml £5.99 each) - These were free samples in a magazine. I had wanted to try this shampoo since it came out. I was really impressed with this shampoo and conditioner, my hair was so soft and glossy. The no sulphate shampoo and conditioner smelt lovely of botanic oils and mint. The shampoo left my hair really refreshed. Would I repurchase? Yes defiantly.
Thierry Mugler Alien 30ml Eau De Parfum £35.00 - This has to be my favourite perfume. I would say it's more of a 'night time' fragrance, but I would spray it in the day as well, just because I love the scent so much, and there is nothing out there like it. A rich floral woody amber scent. Would I repurchase this? Yes, I can't live without this perfume.

Batiste XXL Volume Dry Shampoo £3.99 - I repurchase Batiste Dry Shampoo over and over again, just because I know it does the job. I'm not too keen on this XXL Volume one though, It definitely gives your hair extra volume which I like, but I don't like the way it feels in my hair. It just makes me want to wash it out, the totally opposite of what I want from a dry shampoo. Would I repurchase? Not this kind, but definitely either the tropical or wild scent.
Nivea Double Effect Deodorant £3.25 - To be honest, I swap and change deodorants all the time. This one doesn't do anything special, I just like the scent and it does it's job well. Would I repurchase? Yes, if nothing else caught my eye.
Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo £4.49 - I always come back to this shampoo. I absolutely love the smell of it. It contains Macadamia Nut extract, which really helps dry and damaged hair, and leaves it silky and smooth. Would I repurchase? Yes definitely. 
Palmolive Shower Milk (Fullsize 250ml £1.59) - This was just a little sample size that needed using up. I would always have this shower gel when I was younger, just because I liked the sweet honey smell. But it does leave your skin feeling moisturise rich and soft. Would I repurchase? Maybe at some point.
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic (Fullsize 200ml £12.50) - This came as part of a 'try me set' which I purchased at John Lewis. I haven't tried Liz Earle Products before but I wanted to see what all the 'hype' was about. It was a great chance to try them, and I loved using up the little miniatures. The tonic is really natural and brightens up the skin. Would I repurchase? Yes, I would get the full sized version after I have used some of my 'stock' up.
Lush Cosmetic Warrior Face Mask £5.75 - This is a face mask which you have to keep in your fridge and use up quite quickly as it is fresh. Cosmetic Warrior is suited for troubled skin to help calm and soothe spots. The smell is very overpowering, but if you can get over the smell of garlic, then you will find it is great at reducing the size of spots and even closing them up. Would I repurchase? Yes, if my skin was going through a bad patch.
Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous Foundation Faker £23.50 - This is a product that I would use as a teenager, it was quick and easy and covered up any redness to the face. It comes with a sponge pad to apply the make-up, which I find isn't really very hygienic. But the compact mirror is very useful. Would I repurchase? No, it did it's job, but I have moved onto other things now.