Monthly Favourites Update

It seems like a lifetime ago since I did a favourites post. The unglamorous third year life was not very exciting, I rarely changed my routine in terms of skincare and makeup, and being unemployed for a few months left me restrained from Space NK splurges. But there university life is no more and I now have a small part time job which means I can definitely have a splurge or two! Anyhow, there are no more excuses. So here are some of the things I have been loving for the past month…and a bit!

We all know I have been a loyal Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish fan for a very long time. Despite this affection however, the release of their limited edition fragranced cleansers didn't get me excited. I now realise what an idiot I was. The jasmine & osmanthus version is absolutely beautiful and is perfect for a nighttime cleanse due to its relaxing aroma. Exactly the same formula as the original, just with the lovely addition of some floral scents.

The bareMinerals Complexion Rescue has been on my face every day (almost) since I bought it. I am definitely a hoarder of lightweight bases but I think this may be my favourite lightweight base of them all.  No kidding. You can read my full review of it here.

Likewise the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Dim Infusion has not left my makeup bag. It gives my complexion such a radiating boost. I think the best way to describe this is healthy complexion is a box.

The Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial is a hero product in my skincare drawer. When you can't be bothered to do too much with your skin in the evening put this on and wake up feeling like you had a full pre-bed facial. Results from this product are instant and amazing, making it worth its slightly expensive price tag.

Last but certainly not least, I have loved using the Original Source Skin Quench. It was the smell that attracted me to this product - the lime and coconut one. It is so zingy and fresh. But it was the smell of the moisturiser that encouraged me to apply it everyday after showering and my skin really noticed the benefits of a good old moisturise! Goodbye dry elbows and knees.

What have been your recent favourites?

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Lightweight bases

It is no surprise over on these pages that I am a lightweight/BB base, formula, lovin' gal! I can't get enough of them; I find them so simple, hydrating and dewy, a quality I am ALWAYS on the hunt for. After looking through my stash I thought I would show you my Top Four.

The Diorskin Nude BB Cream is a luxurious hero. It has a watery consistency, making it perfect for summer. For a BB cream it actually provides quite a good coverage, and I especially reach for this one if I want to look tanned!

The Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint is the latest addition to my collection and has quickly captured my heart! It is the most simple of the family; suitable for all skin types, SPF 15, and full of the all-powerful ingredient Vitamin E. This product should be, in my opinion, nicknamed the dew-enhancer.

I would probably class the Estee Lauder Double Wear All-Day Glow B-B as the best all-year-round cream. I take shade one and it is, literally, my skin shade in a tube! I love it in the colder months (pretty much 3/4 of the year in the UK) as it provides me with the perfect skin booster: glowing, even skin. With an spf 30 this is a firm favourite in my makeup bag.

Out of the lightweight gang, the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue is the first to fall - apologies for the drunk related puns! I think this is due to its 'gel' formula: a little goes a long way and it feels so hydrating on the skin. I have actually used this in the past month instead of my moisturiser, it is that hydrating!

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The new complexion rescue

How many times on the blog have I mentioned my love for lightweight bases and BB creams? I'm sure I'm in the hundreds by now, but after reading HelloOctober's love for this one I realised I had to add another to my collection. This is the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream.

As an unusually named 'gel cream', I should probably begin with talking about the formula. The texture is somewhat mousse-like, which was rather surprising. I would not describe it as a gel at all. But as a 'mousse-like' formula, it is therefore very lightweight which I find helps to blend the product well into the skin.

As a normal/combination skin gal this cream has multiple skin-saving properties. Firstly, it hydrates. Indeed, I have used this at times to replace my moisturiser, especially as it contains SPF 30. It evens out skin tone. As a lightweight formula it's great for an everyday, summer base but it is also really easy to build up coverage. On the package it says it contains 'mineral electrolytes' and 'antioxidants' which help to energise and defend your skin. Whilst I don't understand the properties of these ingredients I can safely say that my skin looks noticeable dewier and radiant after applying this. The first time I used it even my mum made a comment about my skin! Moreover, I can vouch that this product is seriously long-lasting. I wore it last week in Paris, where temperatures reached 34 degrees! There was no melting, makeup face, thank goodness. 

I take the shade 02 vanilla which was probably one of the best matches to a base I've ever had.  This has definitely become a firm, lightweight favourite! 

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