July Favourites!

As we head into August, I'm glad to say the weather seems to be calming down, I'm so not a summer girl and I can't wait for it to be cold and wet again so I can wear coats and scarves and boots and lovely things again. This months favourites are pretty much all either for keeping makeup on in the heat, or looking summery. So without any further ado...

Urban Decay Smoked Palette: After getting stuck in a bit of a neutrals rut, I've been using this palette to add a little more colour in my everyday makeup look and I just love it. Super pigmented, gorgeous shades and I love the packaging too. You can read my full review here.

Benetint: This is a product that I kind of got bullied into buying by a pushy sales assistant, I must have been having a weak day. It's been lying neglected in my makeup collection since then, so for the best part of six months. However, I've recently realised that it's a great product, and been using it every day under lipstick or gloss as a base to help the colour last longer. It stays put all day and is actually a lovely subtle colour. It's come in handy when I've been moving, when I've wanted to be wearing a little makeup but nothing too much, or that is going to need touching up.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray: I will shut up about this soon I promise. Spray this all over your face and no matter the humidity your makeup will stay put all day. Nuff said. Full review is over here.

Rimmel Orange Your Life Polish: I've spent the entire of the month floating between polishes on the orange/pink/coral scale, and this is one of my favourites. It's a bright orange, similar to Essie Orange It's Obvious, but a bit brighter. Staying power is awesome, as always with Rimmel Polishes, it's just a lovely summer colour.

Nars Laguna: The only bronzer for pale skin, I've used this every single day this month, dusted all over my face with a large powder brush, and in the hollows of my cheeks as a contour with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. So many people have commented and said that I look bronzed and healthier! Yay for finally mastering bronzer!

Mac Lustering: Pretty much the only lipstick I've worn all month. It's not as bright as the camera has made it look, and it's slightly sheer on application, it's kind of like a pink version of Plumful and I lurrrrrve it.

Along Came Betty Mattifying Stick: I'm pretty sure I paid under a fiver for this little stick of goodness, and it was a fiver well spent. Swoosh this over the t-zone aprés primer and pre-foundation to keep oils at bay all day. A summer makeup essential!

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer: I picked this up out of my collection by accident on a Monday morning and applied it before I realised that it wasn't the MAC Studio Fix Concealer I thought it was. The two are pretty similar, but this one is a little creamier so it's easier to blend. It's snuck it's way into my handbag for touchups and I've been quite enjoying it. 

Vichy Purete Thermale Cleanser for Normal/Dry skin: No nasties, no scent, creamy cleanser that leaves your skin feeling refreshed. This is the first Vichy product I've tried and I'm really impressed.

Urban Fudge Iced Raspberry and Vanilla Hairspray: Holy mother of god this smells heavenly. Like seriously, I don't think I will ever use another hairspray, ever. Bold claim I know but I love this stuff.

This Works Fresh Skin Toner: This is a lovely summer toner for all skin. Quite herby smelling but it leaves your skin feeling clean and refreshed. It's a spray bottle so you can spray it directly on your face, but I prefer to just spray it onto a cotton pad and swipe it across my face in the evenings, and spray it onto my face in the mornings to wake me up.

A few non beauty favourites too this month, I've finally moved into my new flat, which is great because aside from having more space, there are a lot more nice places to take photos, and better lighting, so hopefully the blog will get better too! I picked up the plant pot and the plant on a trip to Ikea, and I'm loving how much having plants around brightens up the place. The plant itself was on sale for £2.50 and the pot was £1.50, so it's a really inexpensive way to decorate. Let's hope I can keep it alive! The vase in the second picture was also from Ikea, it looks like a giant milk bottle and I adore it, and the roses from my boyfriend too!

It's been a stressful month, so I've really been enjoying taking a little time to myself at the end of the night, lighting a candle and reading a good book. Particularly, I've been enjoying my latest Yankee purchase, a large jar of Summer Scoop which I got on sale for 25% off. It smells so fresh and fruity and summery. I've read a few books this month, but I'm currently on this Marian Keyes one. I love her books in general, they're great chick-lit books that have an interesting plot, but aren't too taxing to read after a long day at work! Lastly it's a drink I've been loving, which is this Blossom Cottage Elderflower cordial, which I've been mixing with lemonade for a refreshing, summery drink.

What have you been loving this month?