This Week's Most Loved #14

Happy Sunday! I plan on spending my Sunday doing as little as possible, since I'm coming down with a cold I think I need a day to just rest! I think I deserve it anyway, I feel like I haven't stopped working this week!

First for my most loved of the week, my necklace from Accessorize. I think I've worn this every single day this week, I just love it. Since most (read: all) of my outfits are completely monochrome, this adds just a touch (a tiny one) of colour. I'm obsessed. This week I also pulled my Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess scent out of the back drawer. This is definitely a 'Summer in a bottle' fragrance, and it definitely makes me feel like warmer weather is coming! If you haven't checked out this fragrance yet, you should.

I've been reaching for my Weleda Skin Food a lot this week, my hands have been inexplicably dry this week and this just really sucks moisture back into the skin. Similarly, my lips have been really chapped so I've been using The Body Shop's Honey Lip Balm, which not only smells amazing, but also is super hydrating.

And lastly, two eye products I've been loving. The Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in R.S.V.P, for days when I can't be bothered. It's a pretty pinky champagne shade that just looks great on it's own. I don't really like this as a base for eyeshadow because it's got quite an uneven shimmer which makes eyeshadow look lumpy, but on it's own it's lovely. I've also been loving the Smashbox Always Sharp Liner in Penny Lane, which adds a little smokey definition to the lashes, and stays put really well throughout the day.

What have you been loving this week?

5 Things To Buy in May

Since last months version of this feature went down really well I thought why not try it again this month! So if you're on a budget, these are the five products that are worth the splurge this month.

First up, the priciest of the bunch, I've been testing out the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation since February and I'm obsessed with it. As far as lightweight, dewy, medium coverage foundations go, this is the cream of the crop. I honestly haven't tried a better foundation than this and if you want to splurge, this is the one to go for. 

I fell in love with the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer this month. This applied to the skin pre-foundation just adds a gorgeous glow to the skin, that makes you look healthier than you actually are! This is a real multipurpose one too, I've used it as a primer, a highlighter, and mixed with concealer to brighten up the undereyes. Three in one? Definitely makes it worth picking up. 

A couple of weeks ago I repurchased the Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer and I can't remember why I didn't do it earlier. I was given one of these at the Smashbox UK launch nearly two years ago and it's honestly the best eyeshadow primer I've ever used. It really creates a velvet texture to the lid that eyeshadow just clings to, and it lasts so well. 

Another L'Oreal product but the brand has really impressed me recently. The L'Oreal Collection Privee Cheryl's Nude Lipstick is a gorgeous nude that just really suits my skin tone, and goes with everything so well. The quality of L'Oreal lipsticks has really impressed me, they aren't the cheapest in the drugstore, but they're definitely some of the best! 

And lastly a nail polish that I'm obsessed with, the Maybelline Super Stay Gel Polish in Berry Stain. A gorgeous bright purple shade that really just sums up my mood right now, is that a strange way to describe a nail polish? Anyway, it's got an amazing formula, and comes in under £5, definitely one to pick up on a lunchbreak!

What's on your wishlist for the month?

Lip and Nail Pairings

Before we get into today's post, can we have a gushy moment? Yesterday I got home and checked my emails to find that this little blog hit 1000 followers on Bloglovin' yesterday. I honestly can't believe that that many of you are interested in what I have to say, it just blows me away completely. There will be a special giveaway coming up in celebration, so keep your eyes peeled, but until then please just know that I love every single one of you so much!

On with the show!

Everyone loves a good co-ordinating colour, right? Much like when my bra matches my knickers, if my lips match my nails I feel like my life is in order. Read on for my favourite combos! 

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Standout & & Other Stories Pekin Cherry

Two totally gorgeous dark reds, I've penned many an ode here to the Matte Balms, a gorgeous matte finish that isn't drying at all but actually rather smooth. This is probably the most wearable red lipstick in my collection. As for the polish, I have a few from & Other Stories now and they've all impressed me, they last a good 5 or 6 days without chipping and look super glossy! This is the pairing I go for when I want to feel like a Rock Chick or a Grown Up.

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet 37 & Essie Watermelon

I don't regularly sport a pink lip, but when I do this is the one I go for. I just think bold lip colours look best in matte formulas, and this one from Chanel is completely infallible. Watermelon is probably my favourite Summer nail polish, it's just so bright and pretty, it makes me happy just looking at it. To be worn on bright summer days.

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Streak & Rimmel Lasting Finish Polish in Orange Your Life

You guys know that I fell for this lipstick hard, and pretty much all through January this was the polish I was loving with it. This is the perfect combo for dipping your toe into the coral pool, and it's oh so pretty. The perfect spring combo. 

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Orange Punch & Essie Orange It's Obvious

For when you need something a little bolder. I love the combo of a bright orange lip, orange nails and lightwash jeans, is that strange? One of my favourite combinations for when it starts to get a little warmer. I can't fault the formula of these two products, they're both incredible. Perfect for fun Summer outings.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey & Rimmel Salon Pro Polish in New Romantic

Not exactly an exact colour match here but the idea is nude lips and nails. The easiest nude lip to wear in my collection is definitely Honey, it just gives a hint of colour and a bit more oomph to my lips, whilst being super moisturising. As for New Romantic, it's my favourite barely-there polish, a sheer pinky nude that just oozes 'I'm a Ballerina". My go to  for days when I want to feel sophisticated.

What are your favourite lip and nail pairings?

Perfect American Pancakes

 Now, I don't mean to toot my own horn so to speak, but I am pretty damn good at making pancakes. I posted a picture on Instagram of these pancakes I made on Saturday, and a few people tweeted asking for the recipe, so here you have it! 

Ingredients

1 tablespoon of baking powder

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon of caster sugar

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons of soft butter

1 1/4 cups of milk

Basically there's no skill to making these, it's all in the ingredients. Just mix them all together in a gigantic bowl, I like to do it by hand. Then when it's all blended and lump free, transfer it to a jug. Then you're gonna want to heat a tiny bit of butter in a pan on a medium heat (I put mine on about 6/9). Once the butter has melted and coated the pan, pour in the batter. I just use a little because they do expand, around 3 tablespoons worth of batter, but I just guestimate! Allow to cook until the pancake has air bubbles round the edges, and then flip. Cook for thirty seconds and then it's done!

I like to serve these with yoghurt and then any fresh fruit we have in the house!

Let me know if you try this recipe!

Skincare Everyone Should Own

Skincare is such a difficult thing to talk about and recommend as a blogger, since everyone's skin is so different. For that reason, I tend to keep skincare chatter here to a minimum, and I always tell you guys about my skin type (Normal, but prone to hormonal breakouts and can be oily around 'that' time of the month), so that you guys know what I'm working with.

All that being said, nobody is born with oily or dry or combination skin, we are all born with normal skin, and the fundamental things our skin requires is the same person to person. So when it comes to certain things, you can generalise, because at the end of the day, all our skin is essentially the same.

One product that is pretty universal is makeup remover, since you should be going in with a proper cleanser after anyway. What you're looking for in a makeup remover is just good makeup removing ability. For day to day use I love the Bioderma Créaline H2O Solution Micellaire, which is incredibly gentle on the skin, almost the same as just water, but it gets rid of all the makeup. It's not the best for waterproof mascara, but for general, daily makeup you won't find better than this.

Where possible I like to use products with as many natural ingredients as possible in my skincare routine. Creamy cleansers are incredibly gentle on the skin, but really get rid of any dirt or buildup in your pores, and my favourite is the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. This might not necessarily be the cleanser for you, but a cream cleanser is definitely something you should have in your arsenal, and as far as gentle, natural cleansers go, this is my favourite. I can't see this being a problem for any particular skin type either, since once you wash it off, it leaves no residue, just clean, soft and supple skin.

Something that everyone should be using in their skincare routine is the Lush Tea Tree Water. A few spritzes of this onto your skin post-cleanse will do the world of good. It's got antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties, making this your blemish fighting best friend. This is also perfect for spritzing on your pillow to keep it clean!

In the same vein, a bottle of Tea Tree Oil is a must in any skincare collection. Mine is from The Body Shop and is liberally applied to the first sign of any blemish. 

A lot of people seem to avoid oil in their skincare routine and I haven't the foggiest why. Even if you have oily skin, your skin still needs oils, and if you use an oil on your skin in the evening, your skin is likely to produce less oils. It seems to be a common misconception that oils make your skin oily, when that's not the case at all. A couple of drops massaged into the skin before bed, and with an hour your skin will have absorbed all the goodness and be rehydrating itself. My personal favourite is the Trilogy Rosehip Oil. 

And lastly, one of my favourite 'lazy beauty' products, the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. Perfect for perking up the complexion, adding back in some radiance and even fighting blemishes. This is a deskside must have, whatever your skin type.

What are your skincare must-haves?