Pretty Packaging

It shouldn't, but packaging definitely has a big impact on my spending habits. I'm not saying I won't buy something if I don't like the packaging, but if I'm on the fence about something and it's got good packaging, that'll probably push me in the direction of the checkout.

One of my recent discoveries with gorgeous packaging is the Marc Jacobs Lolita Palette, have you ever seen anything so sleek and beautiful? I love the gorgeous black packaging, it's super slimline and sleek, it's super handy for travel! Also for eyes, the Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara isn't my favourite mascara, but I love the packaging, anything that's black AND sparkly is good in my books.

Not necessarily packaging, but I do love the look of the Shu Umera Lash Curlers, I just feel so sophisticated using these.

Not the most exciting or revolutionary packaging, but I love the rose gold colour of the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Concealer, there's something about rose gold that gets me every time. Also, the packaging of the Chanel Les Beiges Powder is not exactly game changing, but it just looks so beautiful, and it makes me feel like a real sophisticated lady person.

I'm a sucker for a well packaged lipstick. I've mentioned my love for the twisted gunmetal packaging of the Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks before, they remind me of bullets and they're just seriously luxurious feeling, and heavy. Anyone else a fan of a heavy lipsticks? Just me?  On the opposite end of the spectrum, I love the packaging of the Dior Addict Lip Glow, which to me feels like the perfect lipstick for a ballerina? Definite dressing table lipstick that one. I also have to mention the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipsticks, which are just simple and sleek.

What are your favourite packaged products?

This Week's Most Loved #18

It feels like ages since I did one of these posts! I've been living out of a makeup bag again this week, back at my parents house, after fleeing London and the One Direction fans that have descended on it. I tried to be restrained and only pack one of everything, which I'm starting to regret since I've ended up staying much longer than I originally anticipated.

First up, I wasn't going to mention the Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara Waterproof, since it's getting a pretty detailed dedication in one of next week's posts, but I just couldn't not mention it. I'm going to keep it quiet but just tell you, it's good. 

I packed my Bobbi Brown Apricot Blush, because I haven't used it in a while, and I've fallen in love with it all over again. You've gotta go light with this one, because it's pretty pigmented, but it's so so pretty on the cheeks. It's quite a versatile blush too, you can wear it pretty lightly, or build it up for a bold look. 

My lips were pretty dry at the beginning of the week, so I've been slathering on the Nuxe Reve De Miel like there's no tomorrow. There really isn't a lip balm in the world better than this one, it's so incredibly hydrating and smoothing. If you don't have this, you need it. 

Colour-wise, I've been sporting the MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup, a pretty pale neutral pink shade. I still haven't quite worked out how to wear it best, but I love the shade, it's gorgeous. It's a cremesheen formula so it's super hydrating and creamy. 

Lastly, I wanted to have a special mention for a hair product I've been loving recently. I've been wearing my hair curled a lot the last few months and the Percy & Reed Finishing Polish is amazing stuff, it's like a styling cream that gets rid of flyaways but also adds a little hold to the hair too. I'm so obsessed with this right now, it's amazing stuff.

What have you been loving this week?

5 Product Face

Sometimes, not often in my case, but sometimes spending ages doing my makeup just isn't an option. For the most part, I wear a full face of makeup everyday, because I enjoy it and I work from home a lot, putting makeup on is almost like my morning commute. But it does occasionally happen that I'll be in a rush, or just can't be bothered, and that's when I deploy the five product face.

I keep these five products in a mini Muji drawer, so they're always on hand if I need them, and I don't want to think about products. I try to shake up this drawer every couple of months or so, and I pick out products that are hard working, that get the job done.

For base right now, I'm using the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation, a long wearing foundation that gives a healthy, glowy, radiant look. This is a good medium coverage foundation that is super easy to apply, and is buildable too. This covers all the redness in my skin easily, and makes my skin looks healthy. I then reach for the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, which covers dark circles and blemishes easily, and lasts throughout the day really well. 

I've been loving the Kiko Long Lasting Shadow Stick in 06, a beautiful shimmering bronze crayon shadow.  I just take this all across the eyelid and blend it out with my ring finger. This is a gorgeous shade, and once this is on you don't have to worry about it for the rest of the day. I then apply a couple of coats of the L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Excess Mascara, the wand of this has densely packed bristles and a slight curve, so it really grips every individual lash and adds lift, volume and length.

The last product in rotation is the Jouer Cheek and Lip Tint in Peony, this is a pretty scary bright pink shade, but patted into the cheeks with fingers and blended out, it just gives a gorgeous pretty pink glow to the cheeks. I pat a little of the same colour onto my lips too.

What products do you rely on for an easy makeup look?

The Rosy Glow

*insert heart eyed emoji here*

Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? I could just stare at these all day. I really could. 

I actually own very little from Dior, I'm not really sure why, it's just not a brand I've ever really gravitate towards. However, these two items are exceptions. When I want a blush and lip colour that look natural and glowy, this is what I go for. 

The Dior Rosy Glow Blush reacts to the moisture in your skin to give a super pretty glow. It starts off pretty light but it gets darker, so a light handed application is definitely necessary. This on me just gives a gorgeous subtle glow to the cheeks, I've never worn a blush that looks so natural before. I love the packaging of this, the gorgeous mirrored lid and the embossing in the powder, it all looks and feels really luxurious.

The blush goes hand in hand with the Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm, a super moisturising lip balm which reacts with the chemistry of your lips to change colour and add a glossy effect. On me this is just ever so slightly darker than my natural lip colour, it just adds a bit of colour and shine. This is infused with mango which makes it really moisturising too. 

I feel like these two products just gently enhance the look of my skin, and make me look naturally glowy! I absolutely love them and they have definitely become makeup bag staples!

What are your favourite products from Dior?

Smashed Strawberry Lemonade

We are starting to get hints of Summer sunshine here in England, and it's making me feel quite happy. I don't drink much but a week or so ago I was craving a sweet summery cocktail, so I worked with what we had in the flat, and we sipped these on the balcony in the sunshine. And if I do say so myself, they were delicious.

I started off by rimming the glasses with sugar, purely for decorative purposes. I then put a handful of chopped strawberries in the bottom of each glass, along with a sprinkle of sugar, and smashed them up with a spoon. I squeezed a quarter of a lemon between the two glasses and added a lemon slice to each and a couple of whole strawberries too.

Then I added a single measure of Limoncello, and a splash of Vodka, the great thing about this drink is that you can add as little or as much alcohol as you like, and it doesn't massively affect the taste of the drink! Then I simply topped it up with lemonade! You'll want to give it all a good stir, so that the smushed strawberries are all mixed up! Alcoholic Strawberry Lemonade, Delicious!