May Beauty Favourites

Summer is almost upon us... although looking out of the window right now at that cloudy sky, it's pretty hard to believe! Here are a few of the products I've been loving and using in the month of May!

1. La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo

2. Marc Jacobs 'Daisy'

3. Burts's Bees beeswax lipbalm

4. Mac frost finish lipstick in 'Pet Me Please' 

5. Mac satin finish lipstick in A43 'Snob' 

6. L'oreal L'Extraordinaire Color Riche liquid lipstick in 301 'Rouge Soprano'

7. Boots Botanics All Bright hydrating day and night creams

8. Ciate Paint Pots nail varnish in 039 'Mistress'

9. Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation in shade 'Ecru'

Here are the swatches for the lip products! Left to right: L'oreal 'Rouge Soprano', Mac 'Snob', Mac 'Pet Me Please'

So, last month I decided once and for all to finally try the famous and much blogged-about Effeclar Duo. Having heard recommendations from the likes of  Tanya Burr and Ruth of A Model Recommends, I took the plunge and headed to Boots to purchase it right away! My skin is and always has been problematic. I have dry skin which is prone to the occasional breakout, but I have a lot of pigmentation and uneven skin tone from my teenage years! My skincare routine has always been fairly basic and so I thought, now in my twenties, it's about time I started properly looking after my skin and introducing some other products to help combat these issues and prevent further damage. 

The results? I have to say, I am very. very impressed with this product! After just a few days of using it I was already noticing a change in my skin- it looked and felt clearer, healthier and brighter. All I do is apply a tiny amount in the morning and a night just before my moisturiser- it's very light to apply and feels hydrating on the skin. Now, about a month in, I know this is going to become a permanent favourite of mine and I will definitely be re-purchasing. Colleagues of mine have even commented that I looked different and asked if I was wearing new make-up- pretty sure that was down to this little gem! Love love love.

Since we're into the warmer months now I thought I should break out an old faithful Summer perfume- Marc Jacobs Daisy. I actually have a few bottles of this in my collection as it used to be my favourite perfume when I was younger. When I spritz it on it instantly makes me happy and reminds me of Summers past.

My Burt's Bee's Beeswax lipbalm is another oldie but goodie. It's never out of my bag! Those who know me will know about my obsession with lipbalms, but of all the ones I've tried it is pretty hard to match Burt's Bee's in long lasting hydration, in all seasons. Smells lovely, too.

Continuing on the lip product theme, I have a few I've been loving this month! When I saw the packaging for the recent Mac Alluring Aquatics collection I squealed with delight. The metallic, turquoise blue with beads of water is just heavenly and makes me think of mermaids and cool ocean waters. I knew instantly I had to buy something from this collection from the packaging alone, and in the end I opted for this lipstick, in 'Pet Me Please' It's a gorgeous mauvy-nude with a subtle shimmer which applies beautifully and I can't wait to wear this with a tan! The second lipstick which is never out of my handbag and has definitely been my most worn this month is Mac 'Snob'. It's a cool toned pink which is pretty, fresh and brightens my complexion. I love it so much! I think this will be a re-purchase. Lastly, when I've been looking for a bolder lip this month I've been reaching for the L'Oreal liquid lipstick in 'Rouge Soprano'. These are fairly new, and I've been dying to try them since they remind me very much of the YSL glossy stains. In my opinion, the L'Oreal versions are much better! Firstly they are a fraction of the price, the YSL smelled very strongly and I actually find the packaging of the L'Oreal ones a lot nicer! This colour is so pigmented, goes on like a dream, looks lovely and glossy and the staying power is pretty decent too. Obviously after a three course dinner or a long kissing session you may have to re-apply, but we can deal with that.

On to the moisturisers of the month! Previously I was using the L'oreal skin perfection along with the serum (the ones in the pink packaging) and it was working pretty well for me but when I ran out I decided I wanted to try something different. I ended up dashing into Boots on a day when I was in a hurry so I grabbed these because I have used the Botanics range in the past and I knew I liked it. I picked up the All Bright hydrating day cream which has an SPF 15, and the matching hydrating night cream. For the price of these, I'm very impressed. As I said I have dry skin and sometimes it can be difficult to find a moisturiser which keeps my skin hydrated all day long, but this definitely does that. It's very very light and quite runny in consistency, but that's good because you don't need a lot to cover your whole face. The night cream is obviously thicker and both have a very calming scent which isn't overpowering. Definitely a re-purchase! Well done Boots.

My favourite nail varnish of the month has been one I've had for ages - the Ciate paint pot in 'Mistress'. The truest of reds, pillar box, London bus style, it's so classic and eye catching. Applies beautifully and looks excellent with just one coat and a top coat to make it extra shiney! I always get so many comments about my nails when I wear this. I definitely want to try more Ciate nail varnishes!

Finally, my foundation of the moment is my Estee Lauder Double Wear. Described as 'Stay in Place Makeup', it does exactly what it says on the bottle. This stuff will not budge from your face. Provides excellent coverage and makes your skin look glowy and natural- love! I apply with my RealTechniques powder brush and kind of buff it in for an air brushed look. It's a cult make up favourite for a reason! 

So that's it for this month's beauty favourites, check back for my non-beauty favourites, coming soon :)