Love Me Beauty - May

Just wing it, life, eyeliner, everything. 

This months bag is called #shinebright and is once again full of exciting and varied products to try out! 


If you have an interest in monthly beauty bags you can get 20% off your first month with Love Me Beauty with the discount code 'laurae20'. 

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Oil Gold 10ml
This is a multi-purpose dry oil for the face, body and hair which combines 30% precious plant oils and vitamin E to nourish, smooth and repair. This shimmery oil is designed to enhance the look of your skin once tanned or for use after sun exposure. I am looking forward to thoroughly using this in the summer months in hopes that it will leave me with glowing and sun kissed looking skin. I am also going to be using it mixed with my moisturiser or foundation to add extra glow to my skin and improve the look of my make up. I have always wanted to try this and am so happy it is featured in this month's bag. 

Nuxe Reve De Miel Cleanser 15ml
I am always open to trying products that remove your make up at the end of the day, and although I enjoy using micellar water as a quick and easy way to do this, I have also tried a few different cleanser gel samples that I have really enjoyed using. This is a face cleansing and make-up removing gel that can be worked up into lather to really remove make-up, but that is soap free and gentle and so does not leave your skin dry or stripped of moisture. 

Gentle Exfoliating Gel with rose petals 15ml
This is a gentle gel that removes dead skin cells and exfoliates, recommend to be used twice weekly. It can be massaged onto dry or damp skin and then rinsed with water. I have some dry skin patches on my face and after use, this left them feeling smooth and soft. Some exfoliates can be drying and too rough but this gel is perfect pick me up for your skin. 

Manna Kadar Beauty Lip Locked Stain

This is a highly pigmented, non drying and long lasting lip stain, that was smooth and easy to apply. This is a new innovation, as in it is a primer, gloss and stain in one. It is not sticky, or uncomfortable to wear and does a great job of keeping my lips moisturised. 

Once again you can get 20% off your first month at www.Lovemebeauty.com with the code 'laurae20' ! 

Until next month! 

Three High Quality Highlighters

Make Up Revolution I Heart Make Up 'Goddess of Love' Highlighter - £5.99
Urban Decay Afterglow Highlighter in 'Sin' - £19
Barry M Illuminating Strobe Cream 'Iced Bronze' - £4.49

I have put together three great highlighters that differ in price, formula and brand. I was first attracted to the heart boxes from Make Up Revolution as they looked like amazing dupes of the blushes from Too Faced, and I am a sucker for such cute packaging. At first I tried the blushes from Make Up Revolution and after being very impressed with them I decided to try one of their highlighters. This also turned out to be a great product, not particularly as pigmented as the other two highlighters I have picked out but a good product for only £4.99. It gives a natural and subtle glow to the skin, and it has a pink sheen to it, not my favourite in a highlighter but as it is not strongly pigmented it does not show up on the skin with too much of a pink shine. 

After watching Manny MUA rave about the Urban Decay highlighter in 'Sin' I was easily persuaded and went and bought it when it was finally back in stock! It is super pigmented and I always get comments whenever I am wearing it. If you are looking for a higher end product for highlight then this one should definitely be the top of your list! 

If you are looking to try a cream product, the the Barry M strobe stick is great and really affordable. It is easy to apply and blend, without smudging or moving your foundation and although there are only two shades to choose from, I am really pleased with the champagne shade of Iced Bronze. 

Highlighter is by far my favourite make up product and so my collection is always growing and very varied. What are your favourite highlighters? 

BRYT Skincare Nourish Serum

BRYT Nourish Serum Dry to Dehydrated Skin

BRYT Skincare is all about providing an 'easy and effective way' to take care of your skin, whatever your age. With natural botanical skin products without the use of parabens or sulphates and other preservatives, BRYT Skincare aims to help maintain a healthy complexion whilst maximising suppleness and tone. Their effective method of taking care of your skin includes three steps; cleanse, nourish and protect, a regime that ultimately brings lasting results. 

I am reviewing one of four of BRYT's Serums, each one is suitable for different skin requirements, but all of the Nourish serums are 'soothing, calming, hydrating and penetrating right down to cell level.' What I love about the BRYT website is that they provide you with really useful information on figuring out your skin type if you are unsure. 

The serum comes in an small attractive bottle, at £16.50 I will admit that it is a little pricey in comparison to other skincare products, but if you suffer with dry and dehydrated skin like me, I am willing to try so many different products to get the results I want and this one in my opinion, is worth a try. This serum is in a 30ml bottle and dispensed with a pump which makes it easy to use. The serum is pretty thick and so once on the skin it definitely feels like it is giving it an intense treatment, but a little goes a long way and with just a couple of pumps I could spread the serum across my face and down my neck as instructed. My skin was not left feeling sticky as it sunk in quickly, but was left feeling smooth and soft pretty immediately, and it was still fresh and hydrated in the morning. This I was pleased about as the product is described as 'penetrating right down to cell level' which helps to revive skin, and I have been sceptical about other skin products before that are specialised towards dry skin. 

This serum is cruelty free and has a vegan formula, and includes a number of essential oils, fantastic for retaining moisture and hydrating the skin. It also has a pleasant, fresh and clean smell that is not overpowering at all - I really enjoyed trying out this product and look forward to getting my hands on more products in order to be able to fully take advantage of BRYT's three step process. 

Check out their website and social media handles:
http://www.brytskincare.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/brytskincare
https://twitter.com/BRYTSkincare
https://uk.pinterest.com/brytyoungthings/
https://www.instagram.com/brytskincareuk/

'Younique' Products

My friend Charlotte was kind enough to recently offer me the chance at trying out some of the many products that Younique offer. Charlotte sells the products through her very own e-commerce store, like many other Younique Presenters and picked out her top five products for myself to try and review. 

Younique has a mission to 'uplift, empower, validate, and ultimately build self-esteem in women around the world through high-quality products that encourage both inner and outer beauty...' 

Moodstruck Addiction Shadow Palette Number 3

I love the colours in this palette, it is versatile and perfect for creating both a day time and night time look. With three shimmers and four mattes you can create a simple and light look or a more intense smokey eye. I found that the shimmer shades were more pigmented than the mattes, but that being said, the colour when using these can be easily built up to get your desired look. The shadows blend out really well and I find that the black matte shade is great to use as eyeliner too. 

Liner/Shader Brush
The perfect partner for any of the eyshadow palettes, I was able to apply the shadows and blend them out perfectly with this double ended brush, and the liner end was great for applying the black matte shade in the palette along my upper lash line to create a winged look.  Precision Brow Liner
This is in my top three favourites of all the products I have tried, it is so easy to use and glides on so effortlessly. I chose to use the medium brown shade, however I had to mix it with a brow product I already own as unfortunately the shade was too much of a brick brown shade to be a perfect match for myself, but the actual product itself definitely rivals benefits brow products. This product also has a spooly on the end to comb through your brow hairs beforehand. 

Royalty Detoxifying Mask
This face mask looks a bit daunting to use at first due to it's charcoal black colour, however once I had got over that, I applied it and felt it working straight away. This is best applied with a spoon or a spatula, as once the product touches the skin it gets to work immediately, bubbling on the surface. The mask is recommended to be used three times a week, which I did my best to stick to. After the first use, it did break me out a little bit, but this tends to happen often when trying out new skincare products, and after a few more uses I started to notice the effects and a clear difference to my skin. In the mornings my skin appeared brighter, my blemishes were clearing up, and overall the redness was reduced. This is a bamboo charcoal mask, that aims to absorb toxins and impurities as well as giving oxygen to your skin through the foaming sensation it creates. Due to it's exfoliating properties, this mask removes dead skin cells, and as it contains tree oils and vitamins, your skin is left nourished and brighter. 

Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes+
Now this product really intrigued me. It claims to increase your average lash volume and speaking to others, this product definitely works for so many people. It makes lashes look long and thick but unfortunately it did not do anything too dramatically different to my lashes, however my lashes are so temperamental and nothing ever really seems to make any impact on mine.  When I used this with my own mascara there was more of a difference, and for a light coating of mascara or a simple make up look, where I am not too bothered about the look of my lashes then this is fine for that. I would still recommend this, it is different from anything I have tried before and I know that it works wonders for so many people. This comes in a chic case with two different containers inside; the transplanting gel and the 3D fibers. I applied a coat of my own mascara, before applying the transplanting gel which contains collagen which is the success of the 3D Fiber lashes application. The application of this gel is what helps the fiber lashes to stick to the natural lashes. Take the tube with the natural fibers and swipe them over the gel, they attach themselves to your natural lashes to give volume, length and thickness. Put another coat of the transplanting gel on top to tame any clumping, though I found this to be a very minimal amount. This second coating helps the fibers to stay secure and in place. I love that this is waterproof but easily removable just like any other mascara. 

The prices of all these products are affordable and acceptable for what you are paying for and all their products are available to purchase and browse online, head to https://www.youniqueproducts.com/charlottedunn to check them out! 

I really enjoyed trying out these products and would once again like to thank my friend Charlotte for introducing me to them! 

My Acrylic Storage

I love displaying my make up, and I regularly switch up what I have on my dressing table, but I am currently really happy with my display and the make up on show in my Muji drawers. It is a mix up of some of the products I use on a daily basis, as well as all my favourite liquid lipsticks. 

Acrylic drawers are a great way to store your make up, and I think they look really good when filled with your favourite products. I also display my favourite lipsticks on top of the drawers in a plastic display unit from Amazon. I love stacking the storage to leave space on my dressing table to make a mess of a morning and I prefer to keep what I display to a minimum. 

My drawers are the wide two drawers acrylic box available here, but Amazon and Ebay as well as homeware stores and even Primark now sell storage suitable for displaying your make up. 

Gerard Cosmetics Lipsticks and Swatches

 Mystic Moon and Underground

My Gerard Cosmetics collection is slowly but surely growing, and I find myself browsing the section on the Beauty Bay website very frequently to see what I can buy next. I recently purchased two of their lipsticks in the shade 'Mystic Moon' and 'Underground' and wanted to share my views with you. 

Both are similar shades but Mystic Moon is a more browny purple colour whereas Underground is more of a mauve shade. These lipsticks are pigmented, non drying and creamy even though they feel matte on the lips. I find that they don't budge for hours and so in my experience they are long lasting on the lips. 

I adore the packaging and love storing these on my vanity as they look super pretty and chic. I highly recommend Gerard cosmetics and particularly their lipsticks!

Make Up Wishlist

Once again I am lusting after more make up, and not particularly affordable make up either, which means my bank balance is in trouble. 

Mac - Mineralize Skinfinish - These contain four shades in one pan designed to give a healthy glow. The design is so pretty and reminds me of a batten-berg cake! 

Hourglass - Ambient Lighting Blush - I have heard lovely things about this product. There are loads of shades to choose from.

Burberry - Complete Eye Palette - This contains four shades of brown which is my favourite shade to wear on my eyes.  I love the Burberry fabric design and this pan looks so versatile. 

Charlotte Tilbury - Magic Foundation - Another product I am desperate to try. I always like trying out new foundations and any that claim to be long lasting, high coverage but feel lightweight on the skin are ones that I get really excited about trying. 

Urban Decay - Afterglow 8 Hour Powder Highlighter - This one is leaning more at the top of this make up wish list, I have read raving reviews about all three shades and a little goes a long way. These are meant to give a strong highlight and is described as being a very luxurious product. 

Nyx - Angel Veil Primer - I am always interested in finding and trying out new primers. Again, I have read great things about this product, it has a matte finish with a moisturising texture. 

Nars - Illuminator - I am getting more into using liquid highlighters, either on their own or mixed in with my foundation, and the Nars ones are a huge favourite in the beauty world. It is designed to give a radiance to your complexion. 

Nars - Audacious Lipstick - This looks like a gorgeous shade for spring and summer. Applies like satin with a strong pigment to it. 

Laura Mercier - Invisible Loose Setting Powder - I rarely stray from my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte powder, however this loose powder is at the top of my list of loose powders to try out. Again, only great reviews found of this product. 

What products are you loving right now? 

Gerard Cosmetics Lip Products

Top-Bottom- Serenity, Invasion and Underground 

I have had my eye on Gerard Cosmetics products for a while and after seeing so many lovely images on Instagram, and reading great reviews, I finally made an order on Beauty Bay and it was the best decision I have made this last week. 

Liquid lipsticks are usually a hit or miss with me, I have fairly thin lips, and if I don't have a suitable lip liner then I might as well just not bother wearing them. I had heard great things about the Hydra Matte liquid lipsticks though, and really liked the look of the shades and so I chose 'Serenity' and 'Invasion' after doing some internet research. They are creamy when applied, and then dry matte, but give you enough time before they dry to apply the product perfectly.  They are opaque and long lasting which is all you want in a liquid lipstick.

I also bought a lipstick in the shade 'Underground' which I think is a lipstick version of the shade 'Cashmere' from Lime Crime's Velvetines. This product is a lot sheerer than the Hydra Matte products and I had to apply it a number times to build it up to the amount I wanted and the colour I was happy with, but they are nice and creamy and I will definitely be purchasing more. 

Also, I absolutely adore the packaging of these products! Gerard Cosmetics gets an A+ from me! 

Dupe: W7 Hollywood Bronze and Glow - Charlotte Tilbury Dupe

I was immediately drawn to this product before I even knew what it was or which brand it was by. The fact that it looks so similar to Charlotte Tilbury's Filmstar Bronze and Glow made me purchase the product without any second thoughts. As amazing as the Charlotte Tilbury product seems to be, I haven't tried it as I just cannot fathom spending that much, and at £4.95 I just had to try this obviously inspired dupe. 

I like everything I've tried from W7 and was really excited when I discovered this product. I am not overly fond of the packaging; the mirror is quite pointless as it isn't big enough to be able to use when applying the product, however I like how the powders are displayed inside. 

The powders themselves are pigemented enough but can also be built up, and they both have a shimmery finish to them. The bronzer is fairly orange but I can make it work with my skin, and the highlighter is a lovely champagne colour. I don't own the Charlotte Tilbury product, and so I cannot effectively review this in comparison to it, but this is a great bronzer and highlighter duo for a really great price. 

Laura Elizabeth xo

Physicians Formula - Shimmer Strips Natural Nude

Physicans Formula is a brand I have been wanting to try for quite a while now but unfortunately it is not sold, or widely available in the UK. Amazon have a few products with quite a hefty price tag, and so when my best friend recently visited America, she very kindly bought me an item back. 

The first thing I noticed when I found this brand was the very pretty and photogenic packaging, which is dangerous territory for me when purchasing products, I get drawn in by attractive packaging and products sometimes before necessarily knowing much about the product itself. 

I wanted to try the Shimmer Strips Custom All-in-1 Nude Palette for Face and Eyes. This is a multifunctional, versatile product, which states that it can be used to accentuate cheeks and enhance the eyes. All 12 shades differ in colour and are all beautiful natural colours. The strips are pigmented, and can either be blended together or worn separately; the whole box provides the essentials to a natural face. I use this product as bronzer, highlighter, eyeshadow and it can also be used as eyeliner. The colours aren't too shimmery but still provide a lovely glow, it can also be built up to give a really intense highlight. 

A mirror, appplicators and directions are all compactly fit into the small, pretty packaging. The product doesn't irritate my sensitive skin and it has many purposes, overall a really good, versatile product. 

August Favourites

First things first; where on Earth has August gone?! I feel like I have blinked and here we are on the cusp of September, nearing Autumn and saying goodbye to another summer again, way to soon for my liking. 

My august favourites are very brief, but they have been the products I have been applying everyday I have worn make up during August and tools I have used to do so, and while the UK hasn't had the best weather this summer, with these products I have been able to achieve  bronzed and glowy skin, making it look like I have been on a tropical escape to the Caribbean!

Also, all the products are super affordable but do just as an amazing job as high street brands would do. 

Make Up Revolution Baked Bronzer Really easy to blend, buildable and has some glitter in it, I like to add this to certain areas of my face to add a bronzed glow. 

Make Up Revolution Golden Lights Highlighter Super pigmented, a white-golden shimmery shade, perfect for cheekbones as well as eye brow highlight. 

W7 Make Up and Glow Bronzing Base Easily blendable, gel based bronzer, isn't too orangey, perfect dupe for Soleil Tan De Chanel. Great for contour, all over bronzer or under foundation to even skin tone and add a bronzed base.  

Real Techniques Stippling Brush Versatile brush, love using it to apply the W7 Bronzing Base, it helps to distribute and blend the product. 

Ebay Fan Shape Make Up Brush Also in last months favourites, this brush is soft, really affordable but good quality and is the perfect shape for applying highlighter. 

What have you been loving this month?

Laur Elizabeth xo