Monthly Favourites - January

Monthly Favourites - September

Monthly Favourites - August

June Favourites *blushes at the lateness of this post*

I've been a bad blogger... I have had such a busy month with work and at home that I have not done any blogging for almost a month :(  In fact, I wrote this June Favourites just before the end of June and didn't even have time to take the photos and upload, so it's just been languishing in my Drafts folder.  So here it is, my VERY belated June Favourites and what I hope will be the first of many posts over the Summer holidays! 

A bit about my June and July
I had the busiest month ever - (in my Primary Teacher job), I was frantically trying to finish writing reports when we had the call that OFSTED were coming in!  Cue hours and hours of preparation, worry and dread.  All was not in vain though - my lesson was graded OUTSTANDING (which is the top grade) as was the school.  Everyone pulled together, worked hard and showed what great stuff is done there so it all worked out in the end.  Then July just got crazy, trying to wrap up everything from this school year and prep for next year.  After all that work though, I am mostly prepared for September, so shouldn't have too much to do during the holidays, yay!

MY FAVOURITES:

Hair

Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Shine Spray
Skincare
Bio-Effect EGF Serum
Fragrance
Origins Ginger Essence
Make up
L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara
Chanel Les Quatre Ombres
Nails
Essie Tart Deco
Tools
Lancome Powder Brush
Around the House
Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay Candle
Food
Morrisons Wheat Poppers

Hair
Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Shine Spray  £21 for 125ml

I have said it before and I will say it again - I LOVE the Paul Mitchell Awapuhi range!  This month's offering is the shine spray - it has the same effervescent ginger scent that I loved in the treatment oil and gives a lovely sheen to blow-dried hair.  For reasons that are beyond me though, this range is so hard to find; I have given an Amazon link on here because hardly any shops, online or otherwise, seem to sell it.  Let me know if you find it anywhere!

Skincare
Bio-Effect EGF Serum £125 for 15ml (eek!)

I got this little bottle of wonder in a blog sale and it brings tears to my eyes that I am about to finish it - do I splash out on the full size or not???  If it was cheaper, I wouldn't even hesitate for a second.  I can honestly say that I have NEVER used a product that has made such a difference to my skin.  All the fine lines on my forehead that were seriously making me feel old (that coupled with turning 30!) have truly all but disappeared.  This stuff is amazing but boy is it pricey!

Fragrance
Origins Ginger Essence  £29 for 50ml

This has been my top perfume this month - I just can't get enough of its zingy sparkliness. Check out my full review here.

Make up
L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara  £10.99 - currently buy 1 get 2nd half price in Boots

I am a big fan of Benefit They're Real but have been disappointed by how quickly the product dries up and goes clumpy.  I find this mascara to be a great dupe - it has the same lash-lengthening power and lasts just as long (easily a whole day).  It gives enough volume without being heavy or clumpy and sets a nice curl to the lashes.

Chanel Les Quatre Ombres in 20 - Regard Perle  £38

This is a gorgeous palette but I chose it as my June favourite for just one of the eyeshadows - the one on the bottom left is a beautiful shimmery nude colour that works perfectly as a base colour and to highlight the inner corner.  A light sweep gives a simple, polished look that works well with either a bold lip or neutral lip, or it can be built up to create a more striking effect.  The best thing about these eyeshadows is that they stay perfectly in place for a whole day.

Nails
Essie Tart Deco  £7.99 for 15ml - currently buy 1 get 2nd half price at Boots

I picked this up to take advantage of Boots' Buy 1 Get 2nd Half Price when I bought my blog giveaway prize.  I was in a mega rush to get to the tills before closing time and didn't have a colour in mind to buy so I literally scanned the shelves and went for the one that stood out.  Turns out it was this one - a true blogger favourite!  And rightly so.  This is the perfect shade for Summer - a bright orangey pinky coral colour that works beautifully with a tan.

Tools
Lancome Powder Brush  £13 in House of Fraser sale

This was a House of Fraser sale purchase that was another rush-buy.  It did not disappoint - it is large and tapered and super soft.  And half price too!  Perfect for a swish of Chanel's Poudre Universelle powder.

Around the House
Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay Candle  £39 for 200g

 

I have been after a Jo Malone candle for soo long and the only reason I have waited is because I couldn't narrow down which one I wanted!  But I finally made my mind up and went for this beauty.  As with all Jo Malone candles, the fragrance fills the room after about 5-10 minutes of burning.  This scent is neither too feminine nor too masculine, so it passes the boyfriend test.  It is sweet and fresh with herb undertones and just plain gorgeous.  I just love the packaging too - I got this at the Jo Malone store in Westfield and watched the assistant expertly wrapping and tying the ribbon, spritzing some Grapefruit cologne in the bag.  I was stopped several times throughout the day to ask for directions to the store! 

Food
Morrisons Wheat Poppers  £1 (for about 8)

I'm not a fan of rice cakes (I find that flavour really weird) but I have been after a relatively healthy bread alternative to eat with salads, soup, cottage cheese, humus etc.  These are perfect.  They are £1 for about 8 and taste soo good - the texture is similar to prawn crackers or rice cakes but the taste is less strong.  Only 19 calories too which is amazing!  

What have been your favourites this month?

If you have done a June favourites post, leave your link below for me to check out. 

May Favourites

I have been so excited to write my first monthly favourites post, so here goes!


May has been so up and down in weather terms, I can't believe it is so nice today but only last week it felt like Winter - well that's England for you I guess.  My big car disaster happened earlier this month - I broke down whilst driving on a busy road and the AA told me to call 999 to close the road - very dramatic!  As of Friday I am the proud owner of a nearly-new Fiat Punto and I can't wait for it to be ready so I can have a car again.  Because of that though, I have decided to join some of you and start a spending ban :(  Let's see how long I can resist!


So, onto my beauty favourites:

Skincare

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo
I have been using this twice a day for a couple of months and my skin has never been clearer or had less blemishes (it's still not perfect but one step at a time!).  I love the smell too - although it is fragrance free, it has a light scent that I can't quite put my finger on it but it reminds me of fresh roses or newly cut grass.







Origins Oil Free Night-a-Mins
My skin is oily and I would like it to be brighter with a more even skin-tone.  I am also hitting the first signs of ageing with a few fine lines.  Based on these concerns, this night cream was suggested to me by a lady at the Origins counter in House of Fraser.  It was a good recommendation and has really helped to nourish and improve my skin.  It love the smell too - very fresh and orangey.





NSpa Skin Renewal Gel
The discovery of NSpa has been a bit of a revelation for me.  The range is stocked at Asda and is currently on offer at 2 products for £8.  Everything in the range is paraben free and packed full of great ingredients such as Neroli Essential Oil, Vitamin E, Ginseng and Algae Extract. 




This gel is an exfoliator that uses fruit acids to gently but effectively get rid of dead skin cells.  You massage in the gel for 2 minutes, leave it on for a minute then massage again.  On the final massage, the gel melts into an oil, then you wash it off.  This is such a different and effective product - I can't believe it is only £4!





Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine
I have reviewed this here: http://cloudnineindulgence.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/review-korres-lip-butters.html and it remains my favourite lip product of the moment.  It feels luxuriously soft and creamy and it smells divine (but not of jasmine bizarrely).  I also use it to correct lipstick colours - the Jasmine is slightly pink so can brighten up nudes whereas the pale Guava tones down a bright lip.

Brushes

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
This is the best brush I have used for applying liquid, cream and powder foundation as it buffs into the skin beautifully.  It feels really soft but strong and dense enough to buff well. 

Real Techniques Stippling Brush
I love this for applying cream blush and highlighter as it helps blend the product seamlessly onto the skin whilst maintaining a light touch.

Body Shop Mineral Foundation Brush
I love the Body Shop brushes; they are the softest I have ever used and the large face brush is a staple in my collection.  I recently bought this in the 50% off flash sale and it is perfect for using with my new Bare Minerals foundation.  I can't stop running my fingers over it either - it is just so soft!

Make Up

All of the make up in this month's favourites are from blog sales!


NARS cream blush in Cactus Flower

This a beautiful pink/red gold colour that gives a gorgeous subtle highlight to the cheeks.  I tried to swatch it but the camera just didn't do it justice! Both my friend Lyndsey and I wore it in the pic below though.








Estee Lauder Illuninating Powder Gelee in Topaz Chameleon (limited edition)

Again, I found this so hard to capture on camera but I used it on me and Lyndsey in the pic below.
This has to be used sparingly but is such a beautiful gold highlighter - perfect with a tan.  I love how gorgeous the compact is too - the striking gold lid and reptilian embossed effect of the gelee itself.  Stunning!





Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette

I had been eyeing up this palette for ages and was planning on buying it with my Boots points so I was ecstatic when I saw it in a blog sale for £5 - I repeat £5!  It didn't disappoint either  - a great selection of neutral/nude/pink/brown colours ranging from matte to super sparkly via light shimmer.  This can be used to create a natural day time look or a full-on evening face.  A fantastic set of colours that I am so pleased to own.

Soleil Tan de Chanel

Lyndsey also features this month because she bought me this AMAZING birthday present for my 30th last month.  I have used it just about everyday since then and have barely made a dint in the tub.  I use the Real Techniques Contour Brush to use this to contour my cheekbones and temples, or to lightly sweep across my skin to add some all-over colour.  I have also been dabbing my Expert Face Brush into this before applying my foundation on days when I have a tan but my foundation doesn't!

Lyndsey (far left) and me (2nd left) wearing all 4 of the make up faves:

So there you have it, my first monthly favourites!

As a celebration of  reaching 1,000 Twitter followers, I am running a giveaway of a few of my favourite things.  You can win: a MAC lipstick of your choice, an ESSSIE nail polish of your choice, a pot of KORRES lip butter in Jasmine, a tube of NSPA skin renewal gel and a gorgeous 'live, love, sing, dance' bangle from Adorn Accessories in Stamford, where I got my DogEared necklace from.  They have amazing jewellery and a great range of bags too - mine has been mistaken for a Mulberry several times!

ENTER HERE - good luck!

What have you been loving this month? 

Please leave me a link to your monthly favourites if you have made one.