January Favourites

I went on a mad one in January and purchased so many new beauty products,some that I haven't even had the chance to use properly yet, but a few I have been using non stop and have been absolutely loving them and so I had to include them in my favourites for the month of January.

Tanya Burr Cosmetics Peachy Glow Cheek Palette £8- Super affordable, pigmented and with beautiful details, I have been using this palette from Tanya's range non stop. The bronze shade has a subtle shimmer in it, but not too much that it is still suitable to use to contour, the blush is the perfect shade for any skin tone I think, but really does compliment a fairer skin. The highlight is a lovely champagne colour and although it is quite shimmery and glittery, when applied to the skin it gives a natural healthy glow, and so all round this a great three in one palette that offers both a subtle definition to the face, or more of a strong contoured look. 

Coconut Lane Marble Phone Case £13 -  http://www.coconut-lane.com/accessories/marble-phone-case - Marble accessories are all the range and I particularly love marble phone cases as they look sophisticated and elegant. I chose this one from Coconut Lane as they offer super cute accessories at affordable prices. You can get 20% off your order by using my code 'lelizaxo20' at the checkout. 

Nivea Post Shave Balm £3.52 Superdrug - If you aren't aware of this product being used as a primer then one, where have you been?! Two, you need to purchase this. Yes this is a man's product and has a more masculine scent, but once covered with foundation you can't smell it at all. It isn't as effective as a high end primer, and doesn't minimise pores, but it smooths out the skin and make up has long staying power as the foundation sticks to the balm and so it makes for a great primer. 

Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator in Ballerina £21- I love the design of this product, its small and compact and so perfect for travelling. Also the 3D design means you don't lose the cute ice cream swirl effect. The product itself is really pigmented, applies like a powder but feels like cream which makes it great for blending and building up, and even though it's highlighy pigmented it doesn't go on too glittery and so offers a lovely healthy looking glow. I chose the shade 'ballerina' over the ever popular 'gilded honey' as I already own a highlight in this shade. Ballerina is a more dusky rose gold shade which I think looks lovely on my pale skin. 

Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Invasion and Serenity £9.50 - Having quite dry lips means I have a love hate relationship with liquid lipsticks. These I find are not drying on my skin but are still pigmented. I love the frosted tubes and sleek gold lids  and the doe foot applicator. I chose the shades 'Serenity' a pink nude shade and 'Invasion' a great dupe for Lime Crime's Cashmere, a grey toned purple. They also smell of frosting! 

So these have been my favourites during January! What products have you been enjoying lately? 

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Palette

L-R: Prime, Enhance, Pop and Smoke

I am finally the proud owner of my first Charlotte Tilbury product! I decided to go with one of the beautiful colour-coded eye shadow palettes and after debating between 'Dolce Vita' and 'Vintage Vamp' I chose 'Dolce Vita' and I am so chuffed with my choice. 

Not only is the packaging beautiful- light and compact, but the product itself is so lovely that it is definitely the most luxurious product in my make up collection - which is expected for the rather hefty price tag! 

The four shades help to create such versatile looks such as a glam and golden glittery eye to a smoky burgundy look. All four shades  have a lovely texture and are so pigmented as well as easily blend-able and build-able. I have green eyes and I personally think this palette compliments them so well. 

The press on golden pigment is like no other shade I own, great for creating a look perfect for going out! 

This palette really does make me swoon and is pretty much perfection. I wouldn't say it's a palette you need in your collection in terms of being an essential item, but for what it is and the price you pay (£38) it is super luxurious and beautiful. 

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! 

Coconut Lane Accessories

Coconut Lane (www.coconut-lane.com) sell super cute home and fashion accessories at affordable prices that I just had to share their website with you! I also have a 20% off discount code for you to use at the checkout, just type in 'lelizaxo20' !

They have a range of cute Iphone 5,6 and 6+ phone cases with the marble one being my particular favourite. Coconut Lane also sell A4 wall art, also available in a variety of coloured frames to choose from, as well as A6 cards with sassy phrases on them. I'm excited to create a spare in my room to stand this frame up! 

Find Coconut Lane on Instagram @coconutlaneuk and visit their website www.coconut-lane.com Remember to enter 'lelizaxo20' at the checkout for 20% off your orders! 

Laura Elizabeth xo

Winter Essentials

                        Essence 'Come Naturally', Mac 'Whirl', Revlon 'Black Cherry'

Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub

Cocoa Brown Tan - Mousse

Tangle Teezer

Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser

Primark socks

I have a love/hate relationship with winter. I like wrapping up to stay warm, but I don't like being cold, and as I have dry skin anyway, the cold weather does not help. I have put together some products that I love to use in winter, and some that keep my skin glowing and healthy, to make me look less pale and ill!

A mauve, burgundy or brown shade lipstick are my absolute favourites to wear during the winter season. I have picked out my current top three and I love pairing these shades with a smoky eye or simply with just some eye-liner. The essence lipstick is more sheer than the other two, and has a glossier finish but still gives a subtle purple shade to the lips. Mac Whirl is the ever popular lipstick shade, and one of my top five from Mac. It is a rosy brown with a matte finish but is not drying at all but I ensure to moisturise my lips during the cold months to keep them hydrated and to make sure any matte lipstick sits nicely. Revlon 'Black Cherry' is a little more daring and definitely one that needs to be applied on moisturised lips and with a lip liner. It is a deep, vampy, burgundy wine shade that is pigmented and really makes a statement. 

This stuff smells incredible; lime, brown sugar and almond oil are just a few named ingredients within this product. I am a huge fan of Soap and Glory like many people are, and this was the first product of theirs I ever tried, and it is still one of my favourites. It removes dead and dry skin, and followed with a moisturiser, this leaves my skin silky smooth, great all year long, but perfect for winter! 

I have always been pale, and tried many fake tans but this one is one of the best ones I have ever tried. This gets to work quickly and depending on how long you leave it on before you wash off, you can take control of how dark you want your tan to be. Applied correctly it is not streaky and on moisturised skin it doesn't stick to any dry patches. I use this weekly during winter to give me a subtle, warm glow. 

I have long hair and always have, and during the winter months my hair needs all the care it can get. To be honest, it is fairly moisturised and it not really all that dry, but in winter I can feel and notice a difference in it and after being out in the rain, wind and cold my hair is harder to brush in a gentle manner. The tangle teezer hairbrush brushes out any tangles and knots gently and smoothly without doing any damage and so is definitely a winter essential of mine. I honestly don't know how I coped without it! 

As previously stated, I have dry skin and winter time is torture for my skin but I also like a light moisturiser that works well under my skin and last year I discovered that this worked perfectly for me. Simple is great for sensitive skin and has a wide range of products. 

Lastly, I really love wearing fluffly or thick socks in winter under a pair of boots to keep my feet warm and to create a cute look. Jeans, boots and long socks are usually my go to outfit, particularly for days when I am at University. Primark have a great collection. 

What are your winter essentials? 

Laura Elizabeth xo

Lush Blooming Beautiful Box

I received this Lush gift set for Christmas, and finally cracked it open this week. I love the design on the packaging and the scent coming from the box really was blooming beautiful! In this box were two items that had a strong floral fragrance and just on the scent alone I was so excited to use them. 

On the left is the 'Rose Jam Bubbleroon' which is the cutest product ever. Admittedly I had to look up what a 'bubbleroon' was to see if it was different from a bubble bar but found out that it actually has it named due to the fact it is shaped like a macaroon! It has a filling of cocoa butter with the two halves on either side, so essentially you get two bars. You break off a bit for your bath and run it under warm water, and it creates a lovely pink bath with the sweet smell of roses.  I found there was no need to moisturise afterwards because of the cocoa butter and so this now one of my all time favourite Lush products. 

On the left is the 'Honey Bee bath bomb' and it is made up of a trio of honey, aloe vera and rhassoul mud and so leaves your skin feeling soothed and moisturised. The smell wasn't too overwhelming but sometimes that is just what you want. It does leave dust around the edges of the bath so a bit of tidying up afterwards is required, and some reviews say that it stains their skin as well as the bath, but I didn't have any problems with this product and so I would also recommend this bath bomb if you like a subtle but sweet scent and a moisturising product. 

What are your favourite bath bombs/products from Lush?

Laura Elizabeth xo

AA Skincare - Frankincense & Rose Clay Face Mask

My skin can get dehydrated quite easily, as well as dry and so I have a fairly big collection of face masks and creams. However, I don't tend to reach for a mask all that often when I probably should.

Since receiving the Frankincense & Rose Clay Face Mask, I have been regularly using a face mask much more often, and can already see and feel how much of a difference it has been making to my skin. I am familiar with this brand, and have enjoyed using products from them before, and so I had high expectations for this and I was not disappointed. It is infact my favourite product of their's I have so far tried. 

This is a natural clay mask that is made with essential oils to help to improve the skin and leave it hydrated. The clay is quite thick and dries within five - ten minutes, and is really easy to wash away afterwards. 

The scent is quite strong, which doesn't bother me, and I find a little bit goes a long way.  

I am happy to be able to give my readers a 20% discount: use BLOG20 at their website! (Link below) 

I hope to review more products from AA Skincare in the future. Visit them on social media Facebook / Twitter / https://instagram.com/aaskincareuk/ or visit them at their website http://www.aaskincare.co.uk/

Laura Elizabeth xo