Christmas Goodies

I wasn't gonna do one of these posts, because I know a lot of people find them 'showy-offy', but I do really enjoy reading these posts, and I got some great gifts that I really wanted to share! So usual disclaimer applies, this isn't me bragging, I just enjoy these posts, and wanted to share some of the awesome gifts I got!

So first up, the bits I got in my stocking, our family always cooks a big breakfast in the morning, so we don't normally open our presents til about 12ish, so we open our stockings first thing in the morning! This year, my stocking was overflowing with little gifts!

I got a lot of food and chocolate, as is customary in a stocking, but I also got some other bits, including a new Cath Kidston Oyster Card case, a miniature Shut the Box, some LoveHearts Tealights, days of the week socks, a hanger for jewellery and a really adorable mug with a map of London on!

I ended up dishing out the presents under the tree this year, so I kept forgetting to open my own, meaning at the end of it all, I still had a big pile to open!

My parents were very generous this year, I asked for a new pair of straighteners since mine stopped working a few months ago, and another pair of my Zara leggings, since I rarely wear anything else, and I was thrilled to find both under the tree for me! I had mentioned on the blog that I was after the new Giorgio Armani fragrance Si, and I found the gift set of that under the tree too! 

I don't normally get makeup for Christmas and birthdays from my parents, since I buy so much myself they never know what I already have, but my Mum took a risk and picked me up the Benefit x Matthew Williamson palette, The Rich Is Back. The risk payed off since I don't have this, but I have had my eye on it since Sophie posted a review on it. Also under the tree was a Fruit and Herbal tea set from Whittards, some salt and pepper pots for my flat, some tartan pyjama bottoms, and a new iPad case! Then my ever so naughty parents pulled out the new lense I've been eyeing up for my camera, the 40mm one that's been dubbed by bloggers the 'pancake' lense. I already have the 50mm one, but that's still pretty bulky for carrying around, and a little too zoomed in for product pictures, whereas the 40mm one is a little bit more zoomed out, much smaller, and it takes incredible quality photos. 

I had also mentioned to my mum that I was after a new small handbag, for using when I just popped out and didn't need to lug the entire contents of my flat, kitchen sink and all. She surprised me with this little number from Guess, which is totally not a bag I'd have picked for myself (I tend to buy everything in black) but I absolutely love it, it's the perfect size and I love the colour so much. It's so soft too!

My grandparents popped in for breakfast and presents Christmas morning (they live next door so it wasn't far for them to travel in their tartan pyjamas!) and they bought me a slow cooker! This probably sounds like the worlds worst present for a 19 year old, but it was one of the only things on my list! I can't wait to get back to my flat and start using it! My parents also got me a blender, so I can make soups and smoothies which I'm excited about! My parents also picked me up the Le Creuset mixing bowl I've had my eye on, and a few other kitchen bits.

My parents also put together a hamper for my boyfriend and I for our flat, which contains bottles of Cider, my favourite tea, chocolate, biscuits, Nandos Peri Peri Sauces and the components to make smores! I loved this, it was such a thoughtful gift, with lots of our favourite things in!

From my little sister, I got a new tart burner from Yankee Candle and a handful of tarts, as well as a 'left handed mug'. I was going to buy myself a new tart burner in the new year, so this was perfect! The burner is very me too, it's got a beautiful baroque flower pattern under shattered glass, it's beautiful!

From friends, I also got a Diptyque Candle and a Chanel lipstick that I mentioned in this post, as well as a NARS blusher in the shade 'Daydream', and the Benefit Rockateur blush, both of which I am totally in love with. 

After Christmas Dinner, my dad pulled out a Pandora bag each for my sister and eye, which is starting to become tradition. Last year he was in New York in the run up to Christmas (without me, might I add, sob) and he bought us back I heart NY charms, this year we both got little Santa charms, which are absolutely adorable. My boyfriend's gift also came from Pandora, I've been after a nice ring for a long time now, that I can wear everyday, and this fits the bill perfectly (and the spending limit I enforced on him, since he always spends too much!). He also got me a tube of Parma Violets, my favourite!

I got some money and vouchers too, I haven't spent them all yet, but I did buy a few things in the sales, which you can see here.

So there you have it! I'm sure I've forgotten a few bits, but I always do! What did you guys get for Christmas?

A January DIY Challenge

We're getting down and crafty in the Kitchen here today. There is a reason that you have never seen a DIY post on this blog before, and that's because I am awful at DIY. It's not my forte that's for sure, but new year, new start and all that, I've got a plan.

One of my New Years Resolutions (check back New Years Day to see them!) is to take more photos of every day life, but also to print them, it's all very well and good having photos online, but it's not the same as having them in an album. So, enter January DIY Project...

I picked up this plain notebook in Paperchase for a fiver, I like the size of it and it's got good quality pages. I plan to take a mixture of photos from my camera, printed from my printer at home, and also get some of my Instagram prints printed from Polargram, who I have used before and were amazing (check out my post on them here). I've bought some different patterned papers, and some letter stamps and I plan to display them all prettily, with the occasional little bit of writing about what I've been up to! I'm hoping that when the book is full, it will be a really pretty document of my life throughout the previous few months, and that it will encourage me to take more photos! Hopefully it will look good on the coffee table too!

I plan to update you all here too, I will post occasionally with pictures of the book's progress, showing you the way I'm choosing to display things, and how I decorate it!

I haven't decorated the outside of the book yet, since I'm not sure how I want to do it, so if you have any ideas let me know! The only thing I've done so far is use stamps to decorate the front inside cover, and the January 'title' page, because I want to do it as I go along, I'd like to say I'll sit down once a week to update it, but it will depend on how often I can print photos! 

How do you store your photos? Have you ever made a scrapbook? If you have any posts on anything similar, please leave a link in the comments so I can have a look!

Makeup Favourites of 2013

 Well this took a long time to whittle down. 2013 has been a year of massive makeup discovery, from my first venture into Space NK (be still my beating heart) to fantastic product releases from Rimmel, Chanel, Hourglass and Maybelline. I've splurged massively, and probably racked up a similar amount on makeup to rent (okay, slight exaggeration, but you get the drift). There's been hits and misses (more on those next week) so I'm gonna round up my favourite in each category here for you. 

I've picked one for each category, and the occasional honourable mention. I didn't have them all to photograph since I'm back home for Christmas, but as before I'm gonna link up any reviews I've done, just click on the product name! 

Primer: Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer - This is a fairly recent addition to my makeup ranks, but it's the only primer that has impressed me this year. Soft and velvety, and makes makeup stay put all day and night.

Tinted Moisturiser: Diorskin Nude BB Creme - Light and velvety with decent coverage, feels like there's nothing on your skin. Lovely and natural, I used this for most of the summer.

Foundation: Max Factor Facefinity - I love this foundation, high coverage, matte flawless finish, an awesome dupe for the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, that comes in around the £10 mark. Perfect, photoready skin.

Honourable Mention: Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow - For days when I don't need full coverage, I opt for this. I always get compliments on my skin when I wear this, it's medium coverage and a satin finish, super natural looking.

Setting Powder: Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder - A fab mattifying powder with a medium coverage, lasts all day and is cheap as chips.

Honourable Mention: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders - This would have been top of the list, but I only discovered this a month ago. Mattifies the skin whilst making it glow.

Spot Concealer: Mac Studio Finish Concealer - High coverage and lasts forever, I've had mine for almost a year, and it's not even half gone, despite me using it every day. Great coverage and staying power.

Under Eye Concealer: Rimmel Wake Me Up - Medium coverage and radiance boosting. I've been using this for most of the year, and love it. It doesn't completely cover dark circles, but it's brightening properties make it fab.

Honourable Mention: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer - A new favourite, more coverage than Rimmel's offering, and slightly thicker, but gives a similar effect. Possibly slightly better, but I haven't been using it long enough for it to win this battle.

Highlighter: Benefit Sunbeam - My go to for the whole summer. Imparts a gorgeous natural golden glow to the cheekbones.

Honourable Mention: NARS Devotee - From the Guy Bourdin One Night Stand Palette, this has been my go-to-shimmer-giver since October. A bit more in your face than Sunbeam, which I don't mind for the winter.

Bronzer: NARS Laguna - A total no-brainer. The perfect bronzer for pale skinned gals, I wouldn't be without this. I have a full size at home, but for the purpose of this trip I'm using the mini in the Guy Bourdin Palette. Great for contour or adding colour to the face.

Blusher: Chanel Creme Blush in Revelation - This was probably the hardest one to pick, but since getting this blush in September, it has barely left my cheeks. Imparts a gorgeous natural flush to the cheeks, and lasts really well throughout the day.

Honourable Mention: Benefit Sugarbomb and Nars Blushes - I've been using Sugarbomb for over a year now, it's my go-to, 'I don't know what blush to wear' blush. It's a pretty peachy pink, with enough shimmer to not require highlighter. Goes with everything. As for NARS blushers, they are a recent addition, that I am totally obsessed with. I can see my collection of these growing drastically next year!

Eye Primer: Benefit Stay Don't Stray - Creaseless lasting power, this is also fantastic under undereye concealer. 

Cream Eyeshadow: MAC Paintpots - This was another no-brainer, my absolute favourite hands down, particularly the shade Painterly, which I use every day as a base for shadow. Creamy but set like stone. Painterly is the perfect base shade, and I love Rubenesque in the summer with a slick of bronze liner, and Constructivist as an all over, no fuss needed shade. 

Eyeshadow Palette: NARS And God Created The Woman Palette - This was the big release of the year, and I, along with half the blogging community, fell hard for it. The perfect palette for every look, it's got a combination of champagne base shadows, taupes, and chocolate shades, and it's small and sleek for travel. I've nearly hit pan on one of the shades already, that's how good it is. I'm debating buying another as a back up, since it's back in stock on the Space NK website, despite being limited edition. The shadows are amazingly pigmented, and buttery soft.

Honourable Mention: The Naked Palettes - Naked One and it's warm bronze tones, Naked Two with it's cool taupe tones, and Naked Three the new jewel of my collection with it's rosy shades. They have a shade for every need, and they're great quality shadows.

Eyeliner Pencil: Rimmel Scandaleyes Pencils and Max Factor Kohl Pencil - A new release for this year, the Rimmel Scandaleyes pencils blew me away with their incredible pigmentation, and true waterproof properties. These last all day, even in the waterline, without budging. I have the shades Nude, Bronze and Taupe, and use them all regularly. For black however, I have stayed loyal to Max Factor's Kohl Pencil, a waxy black pencil that smudges nicely and stays put well.

Liquid Eyeliner: Soap and Glory Supercat Liner - Felt tip liner is definitely the answer to your liner dilemas, but this is definitely the cream of the crop. A thin nib that doesn't bend on the eye, and it's black black, not like some of them that turn grey by the end of the day.

Mascara: YSL Shocking Volume - This stuff has it all, length, volume, curl and drama, it's even got luxurious packaging. I love this stuff so much, it's hands down holy-grail material.

Honourable Mention: Max Factor Masterpiece Waterproof Mascara - My drugstore go to, I don't normally go for waterproof formulas, but this is awesome.

Brow Product: Along Came Betty Br-wow - A fantastic dupe for HD Brows kit and Benefit Brow-zings, and I paid a fiver for it. Two powder shades, a wax and a highlighter, what more could you want?

Lipstick: MAC - This was easy too, MAC literally have every lipstick you could ever wish for, every shade in every finish. This year I have particularly loved Plumful, Lustering, Russian Red and Syrup. You can see my MAC Lipstick collection here.

Honourable Mention: Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick - Another fantastic release this year, Urban Decay lipsticks are incredibly pigmented, have a gorgeous satin finish and lasting power like no other. Also, the packaging is incredibly sexy. 

Setting Spray: Urban Decay All Nighter - This got me through the summer, and the days of melting faces, spritz this onto made up skin to keep makeup intact all day.

So there you have it, my 2013 stand out products, have you tried these? What were your favourite products this year?

Sales Shopping

 Being of poor student disposition, the only kind of shopping I can partake in for the moment is sale shopping. Bargain hunting has become something of a forte these days, the inner shopaholic in me desperate to splurge. That being said, the Boxing Day sales sounded like hell to me, I'd much rather be curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea and a good book. I did however, have to pop into town to exchange the ring my boyfriend bought me for a different size, so I popped into Space NK and Boots.

The Space NK sale online was a bit pants to say the least, but my local store had all their remaining gift sets 50% off. I'd been oggling the Aromatherapy Associates Festive collection since November, and the sale bought it down to £17.50, so I grabbed that. It contains ten different bath oils, each a unique blend of essential oils with different purposes. I'm particularly excited to try the De-Stress Mind oil, and the Relax Deep oil! 

Also in Space NK, I couldn't help but pick up this little Laura Mercier palette. It's a teeny slimline palette, perfect for travelling and slipping in your handbag. Inside are three shadows, Cameo, a satin finish beige colour with a hint of shimmer, Bronze Opal, a deep chocolate with a heavy taupe shimmer that mixes to create a shimmery medium brown taupe, and Sienna, a deep chocolate with a hint of shimmer. You can use this palette to create anything from a simple neutral eye, to a dramatic smokey look. This was £10 in the sale, but I had £10 of N.Dulge Points, so it was free!

I normally go a little bonkers in the Boots sale, particularly in the Soap and Glory section. This year I didn't buy any body bits, since I have more than enough, but I did pick up the Powder Trip Palette. This contains a full size Solar Powder Bronzer, Glow All Out Highlighter and Love at First Blush Blusher, as well as a half moon brush, which is lovely and soft. It's big and bulky so no good for travel but great for applying makeup at home. These powders retail for £10 each individually, but this palette was in the sale for just £10, so it was a total bargain. Plus I used my Boots Points to buy this, so it was totally free.

And lastly, yesterday I popped into The Body Shop in search of one of the Gingerbread gift sets. They were all sold out, but I did decide to pick up the Gingerbread shower gel, since it was only £3 and smelt heavenly. I can't wait to use this!

So I managed to get all of this for £20.50! Not bad if I do say so myself. I did pick up a few other bits, but they are for a little craft project for the new year, which you will hear about very soon.

Did you buy anything in the sales? Have you tried any of these products?

Best of the Beauty Bumf - 2013

It's that time of the year, time to round up the best beauty discoveries and and bits that have seen me through the year. I'm gonna split this in two, here is all the body and hair beauty bits, as well as all the accessories, and then tomorrow, I'll have the makeup bits! So here goes, it'll be a long one! I'm gonna link any reviews I've already done on the product name, so click there if you want to know more! I'd thoroughly recommend all of these products!

Hair

L'Oreal Ever Riche Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner - a super moisturising duo that don't leave your hair feeling weighed down with product. An honourable mention to the BedHead Resurrection duo too, that I've been using once a week to repair my hair.

Catwalk's Sleek Mystique Haute Iron spray - a heat defence spray that softens and protects the hair.

Tresemme Dry Shampoo - I did love the Batiste dry shampoo until I tried this, now I can't stand it. This actually makes your hair feel clean, not just covered up.

VO5 Give Me Texture - comparable to the Bumble and Bumble Dryspun Thickening Spray, or the Oribe Dry Texturising spray, but under a fiver. Lovely.

Lee Stafford Breaking Hair Split Ends Serum - a serum that detangles your hair and protects against split ends.

Lee Stafford For Hair That Won't Grow Past A Certain Length Mask - you guys know I've been desperately trying to grow my locks all year and this helps nourish hair into the optimum condition for growing.

Urban Fudge Iced Raspberry and Vanilla Hairspray - smells incredible and doesn't leave your hair crispy, I love this.

Body

Original Source Raspberry and Vanilla shower gel - this is the best smelling shower gel I have ever used ever. Go smell it.

Soap and Glory The Breakfast Scrub - smells good and super gritty. Gets the job done easily.

Nivea In Shower Skin Conditioner - the lazy gal's dream moisturiser. I can't be without this now.

Vera Wang Lovestruck - a floral, feminine fragrance that just works for every occasion. I don't normally like floral fragrances, but this is sweet enough to not be overpowering.

Lush Phoenix Rising bath bomb - my all time favourite bath bomb. Cinnamon but not overpoweringly so. Super comforting, and turns my bath purple and cold.

Rimmel Nail Nurse Top Coat - like Seche Vite but doesn't go solid halfway through the bottle. Glossy and gel like in finish, and dries quickly. 

Kiko Smooth Base Nail Base Coat - smooths out the surface of your nails a treat.

Essie Nail Polishes - definitely my favourite nail polish brand of the year. They have amazing brushes, great formulas and an incredible colour range. Some of my favourites are Essie Watermelon, Orange It's Obvious and After School Boy Blazer.

Soap and Glory Endless Glove - whilst I'm a fan of the classic Hand Food, my hands need a little more hydration and this one gives just that. 

Skincare

Bioderma Crealine H2O - the only product I use to remove makeup. Feels like water but removes makeup like billy-o.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - a creamy cleanser that cleans your skin deep leaving it fresh and smooth. I ran out of this a few weeks back and my skin started breaking out withing days.

Lush Tea Tree Water - tones and keeps skin clear.

Origins Ginzing Face Cream - my favourite morning moisturiser. Wakes your skin up, and gives hydration without making you oily.

Origins Ginzing Eye Cream - same as the face cream really, but this comes with reflective particles to trick people into believing there's no bags under your eyes.

Trilogy Rosehip Oil - speeds up spot healing and removes scars, whilst giving hydration. Love this.

Lush Let The Good Times Roll Cleanser - you knew this was gonna be here now didn't ya. Does this really need explaining?

Caudalie Beauty Elixir  - keeps spots at bay, refreshes and tones skin, and calms the senses.

Nuxe Reve De Miel - the best lip balm ever. It's thick and you don't want to use it in the day, but for night it's perfect.

Maybelline Baby Lips Intense Care - my daytime lip pick, smells like frangipan and is super hydrating.

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask - you know the drill with this by now. Super spot zapper extraordinaire. 

Lush Santa Lip Scrub - yum, yum, yum, the perfect lip scrubber upper.

Makeup Tools

Shu Umera Lash Curlers - pretty and gold, the only lash curlers to hold a curl.

Real Techniques Buffing Brush - my favourite for applying foundation, it buffs product into the skin for a flawless finish.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - awesome for extra coverage with foundation, but at the moment I particularly love this for cream products, namely blusher, bronzer and highlighter.

Real Techniques Powder Brush - perfect for covering the face in powder, or blending out blush and bronzer.

Eco Tools Blush Brush - I like the shape of this for adding product to the cheeks, and it picks up product better because it has natural fibres.

MAC 215 - my favourite for packing shadow on the lids, the dense bristles work a treat.

Topshop Domed Shadow Brush - great for adding colour to the crease, the shape of it fits in the eye socket perfectly.

& Other Stories Fluffy Crease Brush - the MAC 217, but less than half the price. The best for blending. 

And there we go! What have been your favourite products this year?

Tartan Christmas

 Ahh Boxing Day, a day reserved entirely for playing with presents, stuffing your face with leftover food, and little else. Instead of a beauty post today, I thought I'd just show you a few snaps from my day yesterday. We declared a state of tartan Christmas, we donned our tartan pyjamas, we had tartan ribbons on gifts, and a host of tartan decorations. My boyfriend stayed for breakfast and gifts, as did my grandparents, but for lunch it was just my parents and my sister. Aside from all he forgotten foods for dinner (completely neglected the red cabbage and pigs in blankets), we had a great day, and I was thoroughly spoilt!

I hope you all had a great day, and enjoyed spending time with your families, let me know what you got up to in the comments, and link me to your Christmas snaps!

The Christmas Pamper

Happy Christmas everyone! I hope you are all thoroughly stuffing your face, got lots of wonderful presents, and are enjoying spending time with your loved ones! And if you're reading this on a shiny new phone, tablet or laptop, well, you lucky duck.

There's nothing I like more at Christmas than a good pamper sesh (except for food and presents and chocolate...). And I like it to start on Christmas eve, I fold my tired limbs into a hot bubble bath for a nice long soak, and this year I plumped for Lush's Christmas Eve bubble bar, which smells beautifully of Jasmine, and is very calming. 

I just wanted to take a minute to thank every single one of you, I love you all very much, and I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas!

What have you been up to today? Do you like a good Christmas pamper?

The Review: Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins

As the weather has turned downright torrential, and you can't leave the house without approximately fifteen thousand layers, it's only natural that your skin gets drier. I've turned my flat upside down looking for the perfect antidote to dehydrated winter skin, and the answer lies in this little pot of goodness. 

You guys know I love the Origins Ginzing face cream, it's my favourite morning moisturiser, so I guess it's only natural that I've fallen in love with this for the evening time, the Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins. In consistency it's fairly similar, it's a light gel like texture, it doesn't feel heavy at all. I'm using the oil free formula, just because I don't feel like I need anything richer. I pop this on in the evening before bed, and in the morning my skin is plumper, more hydrated, but not in any way oily, or greasy, it leaves no residue. It smells just like the Ginzing one too, orangey and lovely. 

I've noticed a massive difference in my skin since using this, it's healthier looking, and not dry at all. This face cream is massively pricey, but I find that these last so long it's worth it, I've been using my Ginzing one religiously since July and I still have a third left.

What products are you using to keep your skin hydrated? Happy Christmas Eve!

The Review: Elegant Touch Christmas Snow Hearts

 A cop out at festive nail art this holiday season presented itself in the form of some press on nails that arrived in the mail. You all know by now that I am not much good at nail art, so any excuse is a good excuse if you ask me. 

I love the Fairisle print of these nails, they're so cute and festive. They're a little longer than I would normally like (and these are the smallest size), since I'm rubbish with longer nails, but I don't want to file them down and ruin the pattern! They were super easy to apply, unlike tradition nails they come with sticky pads that adhere to your nails, for you to pop the false ones on top, making actual application time for a full set under five minutes. 

For a festive event or Christmas shin-dig these are great, but I can't see them being a great long term option, after three hours I had already lost one nail, I'm not sure the sticky pads are up to scratch! However, the pattern is undeniably lovely, and I do feel a smidge more festive! I may give these a go with nail glue instead of tabs, but it's probably more faff than it's worth.

What do you think of these nails?

Loving Lately

 A while back, I used to do weekly posts on the products I was loving, products that wouldn't necessarily make it into monthly favourites, but were getting some loving all the same. Since I won't be doing a monthly favourites this month (it's my 2013 favourites instead!) I thought I would bring it back to show you some of the products I've been loving this week.

First up, a lip colour. I spoke this week about the Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colour in Tutu, this is from the same line but in the colour Cherry Pink. It looks like a dark berry shades, but it applies as a sheer plummy pink, not as full on as it looks, much more wearable. Since I've been wearing softer pink shades on my eyes, this has been the perfect accompaniment.

Of course the Naked 3 palette was gonna be in here, these shadows are just gorgeous. I did a full post on it here, but this is definitely gonna become a firm favourite.

I've been using the Soap and Glory Archery brow pen for a while now, and it's love. On one end is a really fine felt tip pen liner, that you can use to draw in little hairs, and at the other end there's a waxy pencil that is similar to the Hourglass brow pencil. Sounds strange but creates naturally full looking brows really easily. 

I've had the NARS Blush in Day Dream for a while now, it was part of the Guy Bourdin collection, so I'm pretty sure it's sold out now. I never used it when I first got it since I was too busy fawning over the One Night Stand palette, but I chucked it in my bag to bring home for the holidays, and I've been loving it ever since. It's a gorgeous peachy pink (are you sensing a favourite blush shade yet?) that sits more on the pink side of proceedings. It's got a slight, very slight gold shimmer, but much less than the likes of Orgasm and Deep Throat. It's a gorgeous blush, so flattering and natural, I can see myself reaching for this day after day.

And finally, a nail polish I am obsessed with, Essie's Stroke Of Brilliance, which is basically a blue reflective glitter, very sparkly and very festive, looks amazing paired with After School Boy Blazer.

Have you tried any of these products? What are you loving at the moment?

Worth The Splurge

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I have a weak spot for high end products. I can't help it, I think I got worse while I was working for YSL, being surrounded by luxury products all the time does get to you. Having said that, I have tried a lot of high end products that really don't warrant the price tag, so I thought I'd show you some of my favourite picks from the more expensive end of the spectrum.

First up, Blushes. For the most part, I much prefer high end blushes to high street, I just find they last longer and look better on me! Two of my absolute favourites come from NARS and Chanel. In my opinion, NARS just bring it when it comes to blush, they have every colour under the sun, and the formulas are incredible, they last so well on the skin, and are incredibly pigmented, so you only need the tiniest amount. My favourites are Orgasm, Mistinguette and Doucer. I'm not a fan of Chanel powder blushes, they are really chalky and you need a ton of product for any colour payoff, but I do love their cream blushes. I'm not even sure if they are still doing these, but my god they are the best cream blushes I have ever tried. 

Two face powders made the cut, first up, the highly coveted Chanel Les Beiges powder. This is an incredibly finely milled matte face powder that not only smells incredible, but keeps shine at bay all day. I love this because it never looks like you are wearing powder. Plus look at that packaging...*dribbles*. The other high end powder I am obsessed with is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders. I forgot to bring these home with me for the holidays and I already miss them so much. They, again, are incredibly finely milled powders but with varying levels of shimmer and different base tones, so they can be used for setting makeup, as highlights, and adding warmth to the skin. These genuinely make your skin look like it's been lit from within, they are so flattering. 

One base product I had to include is the Diorskin Nude BB Creme. If you read my blog over the summer you'll know I was obsessed with this. It's a lightweight creme with just enough coverage to even out your skin tone, but it makes your skin look like it's naturally perfect. 

In the lipstick department there are two brands that bring it. I love both the Chanel and YSL Lipsticks, they have great pigmentation, stunning colour selections and great staying power. Plus they look so luxurious. 

I'm not one for splurging on nail polish, but the Nails Inc Gel formulas are an exception. Big wide brush, glossy finish, one coat is all you need and the colours are gorgeous.

You don't need any of these products in your life, but if you're looking to treat yourself or someone you love, I'd definitely recommend all of these products.

What are your favourite high end products?

The Review: Urban Decay Naked 3

I'm sure you guys have seen tons of photos and reviews of this by now, but I thought I'd chuck in my two cents. 

This palette is gorgeous, 12 very wearable, neutral rosy hued shadows. There's a nice handful of matte shades, more than in the original Naked Palettes, which makes a nice change. I particularly like the five darker shades, they're unlike anything else in my collection. The staying power is great, but best with a primer (I like the Painterly Paint Pot from MAC) and the shimmery shades don't fall out around the eyes. The shades are particularly flattering with hazel or green eyes, and look gorgeous on pale skin. As always with Urban Decay shadows, the formulas are great, buttery smooth and a little goes a long way. An awesome palette for travelling, it's got everything you need for neutral day and smokey night looks. I even like the brush in this kit, the flat end is great for packing on shadow, and the fluffier end is perfect for popping colour in the crease, you just need a fluffy brush to blend out with. 

Overall, this is a gorgeous palette. No you don't need it, but hey, Christmas is coming, maybe you deserve it?

What is your favourite Naked Palette?