BeautyBay Haul

I’ve enjoyed BeautyBay for quite a few years now. It’s great for those luxury beauty brands that you as readily available from your local retailers with an added bonus of free delivery.

I’m almost out of my ALL time fave, holy grail skincare product, Alpha H Liquid Gold. I've been using this little 'facial in a bottle' for years. Fantastic for any uneven skin tone or scarring, blemishes or signs of ageing. This stuff is strong sh*t and I only use it twice a week tops. I personally use it as an intensive overnight treatment, by sweeping a small amount on a cotton pad across freshly cleansed skin and just leaving it solo to do it's work (no moisturisers, serums etc after application). 

The next morning my skin looks clearer, more radiant and plumped. I always use it before an occasion/big event or if my skin is looking tired and dull. It contains liquorice extract to purify and boost vibrancy, the glycolic acid is great for anti-ageing and silk proteins tighten and firm the skin. It stings a little when you first apply it (too harsh to use on the daily) and I can't help but find that incredibly satisfying.

Obviously, one couldn’t resist adding a couple other gems into the basket…

I’ve been loving the Makeup Geek eyeshadows this year and had to try the new contour pan’s to add to my Z-Palette. I got the shade ‘BreakUp’ and it’s the perfect cool toned shade for me. It’s buttery soft and super pigmented, just like the eyeshadows. For the £7.95 price tag, it’s up there with the £35 Kevyn Aucoin Sclupting Powder. I also picked up the Full SpectrumEyeliner from Makeup Geek in black, again incredible opaque colour pay off and super soft on the delicate eye area. Really impressed.

I keep hearing all the YouTube gurus talk about Morphe brushes. I’ve been reaching for my Zoeva brushes of recent but fancied giving these a go (ps.on the subject of Zoeva, I NEED to get my mits on the Cocoa Blend palette!). So far I’m really enjoying them! The quality looks and feels like my higher end brushes, but these won’t break the bank. I picked up the M335 Chubby Blending Buffer brush for concealer (works a treat under the eyes), the M528 Pointed Contour brush for cheekbone contour and the M438 Pointed Contour brush (thinner than the M528, amazing for delicately setting under eyes with powder). I’l be interested to see if they wash up well, so far I haven’t experienced any shedding.

They also threw in a sample of the Beauty Blender Solid Cleanser which I have been wanting to give a go. I’m currently using a Detol soap bar (it’s antibacterial and it works!) but I’ve heard great things about the original Beauty Blender cleanser.

http://www.beautybay.com

"A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting" - Christian Dior

I don’t feel ready to leave the house until I’ve got my perfume on. Even before bed, I have a quick spritz of one of my Victoria Secret’s body sprays. The great thing about fragrance is that it's unique to everyone and the smell can even link back to a special memory or person.

On this tray (H&M Home) I keep my go-to fragrances. My taste does vary depending on the occasion, but I do seem to gravitate towards the stronger scents. I always spritz the inside of my wrists (don’t rub them together!) and just below my ears. Good quality perfumes don't require bathing in them. If you find that the scent isn't lasting long enough, try popping a little Vaseline on these points before you spray.

My current favourite day time scent has to be either 'See By' Chloe (left) or 'La Vie Est Belle' by Lancome (right). 'See By' Chloe is ‘the little sister’ of the original Chloe. It’s floral, pretty and playful. Think bergamot, sandalwood with a hint of vanilla. Sad news is, I think this has now been discontinued. Luckily I have a back up! While Lancome’s La Vie Est Belle’s (meaning ‘life is beautiful’) has a top note of iris, a heart of patchouli and a base of gourmand. Both gorgeous and girly.

 As for an evening scent, for me it’s all about Dior. Dior 'Addict' (left) is a sophisticated, floral and oriental fragrance. 'Hypnotic Poison' (right) includes notes of bitter almond, caraway, jasmine sambac, moss, jacaranda wood, vanilla, and musk. These are both strong, warm and mature scents. You don’t need much of it to make a statement! Think stiletto heels, red lippy, you'll smell me before you'll see me kinda vibe. 

When testing out a fragrance in a shop, I’d recommend trying it on your skin rather than those little bits of card. Let the scent settle into your skin for a while and come back to it. See how it lasts, how it smells on you. Sometimes the counters even have samples to take home and try out.

I also love these little Zara scents, perfect size for your handbag as a top up and don’t cost much more than a fiver. These are just the two I currently have, but I've tried most of them and they're all pretty good.

I’ve got my eye on the Jo Malone (Amber & Patchouli Cologne) and Marc Jacobs (Decadence) for my next purchases. What are your favourite fragrances? Do you have a signature scent or switch it up?