January 2013 Favourites ♥

I know I know, I'm a couple of days late with this post. But better late than never eh?

1. Avon Anew pencil eyeliner - I've been feeling lazy lately, especially with my makeup. I forgot how easy it was to just whack on some eyeliner and run out the door. Top liner takes too much time and effort for my constant 9am starts, so I've been just tight-lining & doing my waterline in the mornings. It's a pretty good eyeliner, doesn't have too much staying power but it's fine for everyday. Actually a little sad it's nearing its end..

2. Nivea Hydro Care lipbalm - my lip saviour of the past couple of weeks. My lips have been incredibly dry, so I picked it up and now all is well. It's my holy grail lip balm, I'll always go back to it!

3. Provenzali Argan Oil Lipbalm - this was a gift from my dear friend Sarita over at A Hochpotch Hijabi in Italy. I find it doesn't really work well with my lips but my GOODNESS IT SMELLS AMAZING. I wish I had it in perfume form honestly, it is literally drool worthy. So instead I use it as a sort of solid perfume and rub it on my wrists. It has a lot of product in it too, so this will last me forever. Thanks Sarita! :oD

4. Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie - As I said earlier, I've been very lazy with my makeup, and my lips have been really dry too, so I stopped using my Benetint stain in case it dried it out any further and ended up reaching for this (if & when I had the time to). I would wear it when my lips needed a nice wash of colour without being full on. Plus on top of that it didn't make my lips any drier than they were & actually helped a bit!

5. Witch Stick - I rave about this all the time don't I? I won't go on about this, but I will instead just thank the good Lord that He helped me find this again. Full review here ♥

6. Bath and Body Works Fresh Picked Blackberries PocketBac - one of my best friends went to America a few months ago and bought me a truckload of stuff from there that you can't get from the UK (without paying an arm and a leg that is lol). She knows I love fruity flavours/scents and got me a few of these, and currently I am using this one and loving it. The smell is strong but not overpowering, and being a bit of a germaphobe, I always feel nice and clean and ready to eat my food after using this hehe ^^

7. Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream - Oh my goodness. It's like the winter is out to get me this year. Even my poor hands are getting chapped and dry. This has definitely been my skin saviour this month. I can always count on Soap & Glory in a time of need! (^__^)

8. Batiste Dry Shampoo (Original) - Aaaaand as always I am late to the party. I went to London around mid December for a couple of days and bought the mini version of this to use because I didn't want to wash my hair while I was there - it takes forever and a day to dry (#longhairedgirlsproblems) - its worse when you wear a hijaab, it feels so odd with slightly damp hair under your hijaab (>.<)

 But yeah, this stuff is AMAZING! Seriously, Batiste where have you been all my life? Oh thats right, RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE (-_____-) LOL

Oh, and it also helped me during exam season when I would study late into the night and try not to waste time in the shower (am I the only one who gets stuck in there for like half an hour not wanting to get out?) - seriously every minute counts when it comes to revision for me, and skipping washing my hair for one extra day really helped a lot. Definitely going to repurchase this, again and again!

Whew! Didn't realise I had so many favourites this month! What have been your skin saviours this winter so far? Any recommendations?

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own. 

December & January Empties ♥

Have you ever had a time where loads of things seem to finished all at once? I had that these past two months. I felt quite accomplished looking at my box full of empties this month!

I've decided to separate them into different categories to make it flow a little. Also.. apologies for the terrible lighting and the quality of the pictures. Still finding it hard to find somewhere good to photograph my blog pics! So yeah anyhoo.. LEGGO!

[L-R]

Skincare

St Ives Elements Timeless Skin Daily Microdermabrasion Scrub - Erm.. I didn't actually finish this. It's just been lying around unused for months because it caused me to break out a bit so I thought I'd just bin it! Full review here.

Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser - a staple in my skincare routine. Have already got two backups for this!

Purity Conditioning Cleansing Lotion/Makeup Remover* - I loved this so much! I was so sad when it finished. I really stretched this .. I have a weird habit of not using things I love when I see I'm near to running out. I should really stop doing that. Definitely need to repurchase this. Clickety clack over here for the review~

Lush Dark Angels - I actually finished this ages ago and found the tub again in a random drawer. It worked well on my skin back when my skin was much oilier, but I won't be repurchasing this now, don't really need it!

Witch Stick x2 - Lol, do I even have to say it? Already stocked up on these babies! Click here for the full review on this amazing thing (^__^)

[L-R]

Makeup

Clinique High Lengths Mascara Sample - had this for ages. Tried it a couple of times when I first got it after swapping an old mascara for it at the Clinique counter. Didn't really like the wand, kept poking myself in the eye with it! Won't be repurchasing this.

Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous Foundation mini - matches my skin almost perfectly. Great for touch ups and popping into my bag - I already have another one!

Rimmel Clear Complexion Translucent Powder - Love this stuff, it is really good at mattifying my skin and setting my makeup. Won't be repurchasing this because I want to try something new :)

[Anticlockwise from left]

Body Care

Soap & Glory Flake Away body scrub - I mention this in all my empties, and is in my Five Favourites Friday: Soap & Glory post too. I always buy the small pot in case I get sick of it lol, but I never do. I am however going to try something new this time, so I won't repurchase this just yet! Although I do have another one open already.. heh.

Original Source Mint & Tea Tree shower gel mini - I bought this when I went away to London for a weekend so I wouldn't have to lug around my big one. Lav it. Won't be repurchasing the mini though, obviously! Full review here ^^

Botanicals Orange Blossom Body Balm* - Before I started using my Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream, I used this (not just for my hands, but any dry patches on my body too). For the full review, click here :o) Won't be repurchasing because I already have too many body butters and a hand cream at the moment!

Oral-B 3D White Brilliance* - A sample I got in the post. It was only a small sample, so I don't think it really was enough to make a difference to my teeth. Might check it out if its on offer. :]

Dove Go Fresh Deodorant in Pomegranate - My favourite deodorant! Sure deodorants never seem to work with me, but Dove's do! Already repurchased this (^__^)

[L-R]

Hair Care

Batiste Dry Shampoo mini - LIFESAVER. Read my (upcoming!) January Favourites post to see why. Already repurchased in full size. It's become one of those things that I can't live without now. ♥

The Body Shop Coconut Beautifying Dry Oil - did the job. The smell was REALLY strong though, which put me off. I swear actual coconut oil doesn't smell that strong!? Won't be repurchasing this, purely because of the overpowering scent.

Candles & Fragrance
[L-R]

Yankee Candle in Cranberry Ice - My younger sister got this as one of my birthday gifts. I adore this scent, it's the perfect winter scent for me, someone who adores fruity scents. I was so sad when this finished. I would light this to cheer me up whilst winding down from a long night of revision. She got me some more so I won't be repurchasing this any time soon, because I want to try the other ones first! (^__^)

Avon Perfume: Wink - Remember what I said earlier about loving something, panicking about it finishing, and then leaving the last bit to make it last forever? Well I did that with this too.. and then it got discontinued! This was the scent of my teenage years.. fruity and girly and sweet all at the same time. I decided to use it up and move on. I felt like I've left a part of my younger self behind now. *totes not getting emotional*

Wooooooooooo. That was a long post lol! I can finally throw them away now *fist pump* Hope you're having a lovely week my dears!

*PR samples sent to me for consideration. The rest I bought with my own money. All views are my own, I promise. :o)

Face Mask Fridays: Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Facemask

Aloha my lovelies! Hope you've all had a fabulous week (^__^) Today I have a face mask from a brand I'm sure everyone has heard of, and that is Montagne Jeunesse. Am I the only one who can't say the name properly? Anyone? Okay just me then.. xD

As you can tell from the title, I shall be reviewing the Passion Peel Off Facemask.

Everyone loves their masks, so I thought why not? I'll give them a whirl too! They're only a quid or so, so I picked a few up to try. Claiming to be gluten free, nut derivative free and having no added parabens, it seems to be that they're trying to make it suitable for just about everyone on the planet.

'Gently peel away dead skin with our amazing Passion Peel Off deep cleansing masque. Our Pomegranate and Passion Flower formula cleans, purifies and protects leaving your skin feeling fresh and radiant.'

[source]

This masks ingredients include passion flower - rich in Potassium, and the vitamins C & A, is antibacterial, and has healing properties; and pomegranate - which has anti-aging benefits, antioxidants, vitamins A, C & E which protect  skin from free-radicals.

It also contains raspberry, grape and cranberry, all of which are also packed to the brim with antioxidants! The website says its suitable for normal to oily skin, and seeing as I have a combination of both, I decided to pick this one up out of the others ^^

When I opened this, the first thing that hit me was the smell.. oh it made me DROOL. I mean, you all know that I love fruity scents. I could definitely smell the pomegranate and cranberry.

Texture-wise, it had a gloopy-gel-like feel to it but it wasn't too hard to apply. When I saw it I was confused as to why it wasn't purple like the girls on the packagings mask. Why would you not show the real thing?! I found that really weird. I know it says on the packet that it'll vary due to it being natural ingredients and blah blah blah but the actual thing is quite different from the picture!

Anyway, I'd say the amount given was just enough for a full face, but that's about it.




Sigh. Here comes my least favourite part. When I put it on all over my face, my eyes started stinging like mad. Even though I had not put it anywhere near my eyes. It was so heavily scented that it stung my eyes. *flips table* I remember so looking forward to using it, and here it goes stinging my eyes.

The stinging diminished after a few minutes however, after it had started to dry. It made my face feel tight (which is what is supposed to happen) and I waited about 7/8 minutes before peeling it off.

Despite it only being a short time, it felt like ages, because well.. I wasn't really relaxing, what with my eyes stinging from the fumes and all that. Then I realised my face was stuck in this bored expression. LOL xD So I started to open my mouth and it started peeling off around the mouth. It felt so weird.I felt like a snake shedding its skin O.o Lmao I apologise for the terrible similes.

Aaaaaaanyhoo. When I peeled it off, it hurt :/ even though I was doing it slowly and trying to be gentle. My skin didn't feel too much different after using it either. I really will not be repurchasing this. I'm actually a little scared of using my other peel off masks of theirs now.. I don't want my eyes to sting again!! *sobs* (;_____;)

Yeah.. so that was a bit of a fail. Have you tried these masks? Did your eyes sting too?

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own. I promise ^^

Related Posts: Superdrug Hydrating Self Heating Mask, DIY Fruity Face Mask: Oily/Combination Skin, Sanctuary's 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask

Mini Boots Haul ft. Benefit ☼

Well hello there you beautiful people! Hope you're all having a lovely week. I thought I'd share with you some of my recent purchases in the form of a mini haul post (^__^)

Nivea Hydro Care lipbalm  - My all time favourite lipbalm. This winter my lips dried out to the point of it being painful, something which has never happened to me before. Whilst my EOS lipbalm was hydrating, it really wasn't moisturising enough for this. I had to go back to my old lipbalm, so I took a trip to Boots on my way home from uni and bought it. My lips are much better now thanks to it, Alhamdulillah ^^

Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips (Original) - I've seen this around on a few blogs and decided to try them out. Mainly because my nose feels like it really needs to try something like this right now. I've been having such a bad skin month :[  Whilst any spots I may get on my cheeks I can hide with concealer, the stubborn blackheads on my nose are harder to hide. Even exfoliating regularly isn't helping me! *sigh* 

Anyhoo, review is coming soon..I've tried one already but won't give away my verdict just yet!

Benefit Hervana blush - AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I FINALLY GOT IT! *beams* ASOS were having a student discount deal where it was 25% off clothing, shoes, accessories etc and 20% off beauty items for 48 hours the other day, so I decided to take the plunge and order my very first Benefit blush as an after exam treat. 

This has been on my wishlist since it came out and a Benefit makeup artist put it on me - I received so many compliments that day. (>.<) I decided I HAD to have it, because even *I* thought it looked good on me, and you'll never hear me say that! I was so excited when my sister told me my package had arrived, I was literally grinning ear to ear when I got home and opened it. *SQUEEEEEEEE*

Have you been shopping lately? Found any bargains? ^^

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own. But if you read the post you'd know that. :P 

Tag: You're it!

Hey there everyone! I've got a tag post for you today. I got tagged by the lovely Sal over at Little Girl, Big Thoughts - you should check her out, she's pretty amazeballs. ;D

The rules are:

1. Answer the 11 questions set

2. Set 11 questions for the people you tag

3. Mention the blog who tagged you

The 11 questions Sal set for me (^__^)

1. What do you like most about blogging?

Being able to talk to people who understand my love for lipsticks. I don't normally show my (slightly) makeup obsessed side to the people I know in person lol, so they give me funny looks when I go into overload about stuff I never use but know everything about LOL

2. What do you like least about blogging?

I don't like it when people just comment for the sake of it, just to put their blog link out somewhere so they can get traffic. Half the time I can't even reply to their comment because it's so general and cuz it blatantly there to get their link out. :/ I only comment when I genuinely have something to say or have something to ask. *annoyed face*

3. What are your ambitions with blogging?

I don't really have any ambitions for it. I do it for fun. :) Anything that comes with it is just a perk haha.

4. What is your favourite winter time product?

The Body Shops body butters. I have five.. *shifts guiltily in her seat* LOL

5. What are your goals in life?

I have many goals in life, but I'd rather not share them until I've fulfilled them (^______^)

6. Your worst makeup fail?

OMG it was when I first wore eyeliner back when I was something like 14/15 years old. My friend put it on me and it just made me look like a total panda. I was such a makeup n00b back then.. *CRINGE*

7. Favourite snack, favourite food and favourite comfort food?

Fave snack - this changes a lot. I get obsessed with certain kinds of food sometimes. Right now it's Snickers (She said, eating it as she types this post..). A month or so ago it would have been Twix. (>.<)
Fave food - I CAN'T PICK! But one that's definitely up there is samosa chaat. NOM!
Fave comfort food - cheesy pasta. (^__^)

8. How much time do you spend on blogging in a week/month?

Blargh. I don't really know if I'm honest. I'd say about five or six hours on typing up a weeks worth of blog posts, and another couple of hours taking the photos and editing them and such.

9. Besides blogging, what are your hobbies?

I like to read! currently reading The Hobbit, it was a gift given to me on my birthday but sadly uni exams got in the way. Now that I've found some time, I've been reading it and quite frankly loving it. I read the LotR books last year and was so sad when I finished. (;_____;) I won't spoil anything but I shall just sadfghkjljhfsdgkjhasn;akjfn instead. ASDFHJKJASGDJ!!!

10. What do you do for a living?

I don't have a job at the moment. I study at university and am currently looking for one though! ^^

11. What is your favourite nail polish brand and why?

I don't wear nail polish! But they all look so pretty..

My questions!

1. Does anyone you know in real life know about your blog?
2. How did you tell them about it? Were they surprised like my friends were? :P
3. Describe your blog in five words.
4. What is one thing you can't leave the house without?
5. If you were a perfume you would be...?
6. Show us your phone cover! If you don't have one, show us one you want (^__^)
7. Boots or Superdrug?
8. What is one thing you wish you were amazing at?
9. What was the last song you listened to? I won't judge you if it was a One Direction song.. I swear.. :P
10. how old were you when you first bought your first beauty product and what was it?
11. Whats your favourite blog post of mine? Cheeky I know but I'm curious (>.<)

I tag:

1. Mez - All Made Up
2. Vanessa - Parisian Orchid
3. Asmaa - Chocoholic Hiijabi
4. Ellie - Ellie's Ramblings
5. Charlee - MYSTRINGALING
6. Alex - Lipsticks and Heels
7. Hannah - hannahjustyne
8. Nayab - Nayab Loves
9. Helen - *Beautifully Superfluous*
10. MangoWhirl
11. Tiya - AfroChique Honey

Aaaaaaaand whoever else is reading this :oD

Hope you had fun reading my answers lol.. now go check out their blogs! You won't regret it ^^