My Make Up Declutter

I appreciate it's the height of 'first world problems' and a rather nice problem to have but one of the 'downsides' as a beauty blogger is quite simply the sheer abundance of products that we own. Over recent months I've tried to take a step back from making unnecessary purchases, accepting press samples I do not need and instead focus on working my way through my collection using what I have or decluttering things I do not love or have need for. I've rather enjoyed the process and enjoyed using products to their end rather than constant chopping and changing, reigniting my love for products once forgotten and finding I'm able to gather more thoughts on the products I do or not like. Today's post is sharing some of those products that haven't quite made the cut this month. 

First is L'Oreal Paris Infalliable Total Cover Foundation which despite my claims that I am not making any unnecessary purchases shows I am still prone to be swept up by some new releases because I have no need for more foundation. As is often the case this was first released in the US and unclear whether it would indeed hit UK shores I was able to ask a friend to pick it up for me. This was way back in December yet it's only recent months I've been reaching it for and I do not like it at all. Having such love for L'Oreal Infalliable Pro-Matte Foundation I expected that it would be a case of loving what I presumed what just be a fuller coverage version. Yes it is fuller coverage but far too much for my skin which felt suffocated whilst wearing. It did nothing for my mature skin and instead highlighted every line on my face so it's certainly not something I would reach for. I actually felt like I was wearing a mask that would crack and was literally itching at my face wanting to remove it.

An old favourite is Vivienne Westwood Boudoir Perfume that was my holy grail scent of old. In recent years I do not wear very often because it is a strong and heavy scent not suitable for day, or certainly work. As such the bottle has languished on my vanity unused and as part of my declutter I reached for it and realised that either the scent is perhaps too strong for me or quite simply I left it unloved too long and it's gone off. It was sad to part with a scent that brings back so many memories - good and bad - and I can remember when my mum purchased for me when it was only available exclusively in Harrods many years ago. 

Dr Lipp's Nipple Balm for Lips - yes that is its name - was one of the products I first purchased having moved into beauty blogging and saw appearing on various other blogs and YouTube channels. I was never particularly enamoured but what for me is simply a thick balm. Designed as one of those versatile products, original as the name suggested for the nipples of breastfeeding women but not is hailed to tackle any irritation from dry cuticles to lips and even babies bottoms. Interestingly I'm currently using a pot of Carmex that I prefer in the tube yet in this instance the tube was troublesome due to being such a thick formula. I actually had some success for Dr Lipp having left on the windowsill by accident one particularly sunny day so it had melted and dispensed with ease. That said life is too short to be fighting with a product I don't particularly enjoy using.

I purchased Make Up Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter in Pink Lights over 2 years ago and I've rarely reached for it if at all. I prefer either a pigmented pink that works as a blush or at champagne or gold highlighter. This is just too cool toned and a bit 'out there' for me as beautiful as it is. Time to pass it on.

Like many other bloggers I loved the Sephora Lip Creams when they were first released and wore often but there is no denying that if wearing on a long day they are very drying and reapplication does bode for a clean lip look. I was always conscious of this so in latter months found myself reaching for it less and less, even when I was working through my lip collection. Finally taking the plunge I didn't make it 5 minutes from leaving home before noticing any moisture being sucked from lips and decided it was time to move on to other products such as the L'Oreal Lip Paints which are a far creamier and less drying. 

OPI Face and Body Shimmer is a product I'm once again ashamed to admit the age of and it's clearly only had sporadic use over the years. This is a very glittery product but not in an offensive way, but does mean choosing the appropriate occasion is key. I took this to St Lucia with me on holiday and love a dusting on the shoulders but decided that was where it should stay and instead I can use one of the many highlighters in my collection.

The final product in today's post is the Real Techniques Buffing Brush a long term favourite of mine and well used. Recently I've been enjoying Beauty Blenders and Oval Brushes for foundation application and seeing my Real Techniques brush looking wearing from such use and cleaning I decided to throw it out and purchase myself a new one in the future. 

I'm really enjoying relieving myself of the excess products in my collection and hope to keep continuing to do so. Are you a beauty hoarder or have you joined the current craze for decluttering your stash?

*this post contains press samples and/or affiliate links

Products I Used Up | May 2017

May I continued to make headway with my mission to use up products I own but it's always sad to see Chanel in an empties post - and costly if I'm going to repurchase!

First is Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Twist & Spray travel set, the final bottle since recently appearing in my April favourites. A classic signature scent that I would typically repurchasing but for now I'll be enjoying my new Summer scents and other perfumes in my collection and I'll save the repurchase for later in the year when I hit Duty Free - now if there was ever a mission to declutter that perfume collection.

Once again another 'holy grail' and favourite product, Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder which due to broken packaging, not reaching for so often of late and it being the 'final dregs' I decided to say goodbye. I'm certain this will be a product I'll repurchase but for now I want to try and use and test alternative products I own before I do so. I'm not back at work and this was previously a handbag staple so I'm keen to see if it's absence becomes something I need to replace urgently.

Regular staples and repurchases come in the form of Sure Maximum Protection Deodorant* and an evening bubble bath. This month I'd tried Imperial Leather Relaxing Sleep Bubble Bath and unfortunately wasn't a fan. A strange gripe was that I found it 'dolloped' into the bath rather than poured out of the bottle. I don't know why this bothered me but it did. I also found it didn't create as many bubbles as I usually find with my Radox. For now I'm enjoying This Works Deep Sleep Bath Salts.

Two hand cream minis, L'Occitane Vitoria Regia and Liz Earle Orange Flower Hand Repair both of which were enjoyable but nothing I'm rushing to repurchase. I found the L'Occtane a thinner formula than Liz Earle but the latter was a perfect mini size for travel or in your handbag.

I always enjoy when I find make up appearing in my empties, and more so at the moment as I continue my declutter. With a brand new Clarins Bronzing Duo sitting untouched in my drawer it was madness I was clinging to this older version to avoid wasting.  I've spoke of the Clarins Bronzing Duo often and remembered how much I loved it back in March this year and it'll be nice to make a dent in a fresh one.

Another product that I dread to think how old it is (but I know my Mac lipstick collection moved from my parents to my flat over 7 years ago!) is Mac Cremesheen Lipstick in Hot Gossip. I'm quite impressed that I obviously loved this product enough to have almost used it up but somewhere along the line it had become too hot and was broke and in a right old state so I've added it to a pile of products I have to 'Back to Mac'. For fans of Syrup lipstick from Mac you might like this shade. It's lovely for this time of year.

Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Mascara is your typical product of it's type which I enjoyed using. I have since repurchased L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper which is not dissimilar although as a slightly smaller wand to work with. With Wet n Wild not readily available on the high street it's not something I'd need to hunt out but I might throw one into my basket when I'm next in the US.

The Portuguese toothpaste, Pasta Medicinal Couto was one I used for travel and in later weeks everyday to use up and it's not for me. If you're a fan of the traditional toothpastes that taste more like bicarbonate of soda them you may favour this. The tube was also a nightmare to squeeze from.

Peel of masks have been one of the latest trends and a source of great amusement of late and even my friend tagged me in one on Facebook but I'm pleased to say that Superdrug Black Seaweed Peel Off Mask* isn't one of the pain inducing ones. If you are one of those people who was a fan of painting your hands with glue to peel off then pick up one of these affordable masks from Superdrug at just 99p.

Containing Seaweed and Sea Buckthorn which will cleanse and detox the skin I didn't find this harsh at all and skin looked fresh and cleansed. I kept on for approx 15 mins and some of the thicker parts were still a little wet and had to be washed rather than peeled off but I appreciated that it was less messy than clay masks so can certainly see the appeal.

Skincare products used up recently including ALGENIST Genius Ultimate Anti-Ageing Cream* after using in Center Parcs and my previous years holidays. As I've said in previous features it's a mousse like texture which is step up from a thinner lotion but not as thick as heavier creams. It's a high end brand so perhaps a little more than I'd like to spend but never say never.

The Hero Project is a brand I only discovered last month and the Hyasoft Instant Moisture Boost* was my least favoured of the products. It's a gel like product, similar to Pixi's H20 Skindrink Hydration Gel which I prefer.

Dermalogica is a brand I feature regularly and their Intensive Eye Repair* is a great eye product I enjoyed using and as you will hear me talking often in my reviews of late I do feel that I have seen a significant improvement in my fine lines around my eyes and dark circles resulting in my concealers applying far better than ever without any creasing to speak of thanks to my under eyes being so hydrated.

It may be surprising that the only purchases I made from Sephora when I visited Las Vegas last year were from the Sephora mask range. I'm not yet fully on the sheet mask band wagon although we did enjoy one or two in St Lucia and I do appreciate them for ease.

The Sephora Collection Eye Mask, Pomegranate and Sleeping Mask are the ones I used prior to my first day back to work and both were pleasant to use. The pomegranate masks are to 'awaken and tone the skin' and reduce the signs of fatigue so it's something I picked as I was typically in the 'always tired' camp through lack of sleep.

I used some DHC eye masks during my trip to St Lucia and they were amazing, they are scheduled for review and whilst the Sephora versions were nice enough for their price they felt inferior to the DHC offering. They felt very thin yet evident on the skin and not quite the 'right fit'. As I say these are only niggles and wouldn't stop me using nor repurchasing but not quite a must have.

The Sleeping Mask was very interesting. It's size makes it great for travel and I was able to get two uses out of this capsule. It was somewhat like applying jelly to my face and I was particularly surprised how cooling it felt on the skin so I imagine it would be a lovely product in the current weather we're experiencing in the UK.

Another sad addition to my empties bag this month was What Skin Needs Hydrating Facial Serum* which is a saviour for tired, dehydrated or dry skin. I was introduced to the brand via PR and it's one I will repurchase in the future most certainly. You can read more about my usage here and I won't say much more because I just might have a little giveaway featuring this product very soon.

Maybe it's my age but I'm just not jumping on the full lip bandwagon so I was less inclined to be overly impressed with Transformulas Lip Volume* than others but I can't denying, whether that placebo effect or not as I added a swipe in the mornings by way of my skincare regime I did feel like my lips look plumper.

I used the This Works Energy Bank Skin Glow* as part of my Holiday Skincare Regime and continued using on my return. Interestingly it reminds me of my current serum from B. which I talked about in my New In Skincare post. This Works offers hydration but is a light formula so was perfect for the Carribean climate and would suit the current one in the UK right - the last thing I'm keen to do is pile too many oils and heavy serums onto my face. I'm also a fan of the pump dispensers. I'm currently experiencing a rage against pipettes which I find one a product gets halfway used they seem to stop picking up an product so instead I'm pouring onto my hand.

I am laughing to myself as a I have read the blurb on A-Derma Exomega Cleansing Oil* reading to link and have had the realisation that this cleansing oil is for the body not the skin which is how I was using it.  What is a shower product for eczema-prone skin I am able to tell you was amazing as a cleansing oil on my face so you could argue it does double duty. Perhaps not my smartest move and it'll teach me to read up about a product before I pile onto my face although it's a shame as I really enjoyed using this product.

Finally is a travel size of Colab Extreme Volume Dry Shampoo*  a product I will certain repurchase in it's mini form as I love to have a supply of this in my handbag of desk at work to give myself a little volume throughout the day. I have talked about Colab many times if you'd like to read more.

There ends my bumper post of empties throughout May; what products did you use up this month?

*this post contains press sample and / or affiliate links

Products I Used Up | February 2017

So it's not just monthly favourites that are back to Florence and Mary but here I am with a monthly empties post. This is just a small edit of the products that have made their way into the empties pile but they are the ones that I have used this month and at some point I will catch up with the backlog as it's not lost on me that I'm hoarding bags full of beauty trash which I'm not quite sure 'spark joy'.

First is L'Oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal which my friend over in the US brought over for me on her last visit as apparently they cannot be sent by post. As she said 'what is in these'? I enjoy using exfoliating pads and of course being a US exclusive it made these more desirable but I have to say they were nothing special. With so many great versions, at all price points available in the UK and even those under £5 I featured on Monday which are as good by comparison this is not something I'd seek out again as a must have.

Two moisturisers that have been used up this month are DHC Beauty Lift Cream* and SKINeffects Active Day Face Cream* which have seen to different needs and meet different price points. I first tried the DHC Beauty Lift range* last Summer and I'm currently trying to work my way through using up lots of half used products and the Beauty Lift Cream was my moisturiser of choice recently. I referenced in my original post that this was too rich for daily use at the time but during the colder months when skin tended to be drier I found it was the right formula for tackling my skins needs. This is a pricey moisturiser at around the £50 mark which I'd be anxious at repurchasing but if you have the cash to splash it's filled with wonderful ingredients to fight those fine lines and feels wonderful on the skin.

SKINeffects Active Day Face Cream* by comparison is only £7.99 and available exclusively from Lloyds Pharmacy.  I receive a lot of traffic for this being hailed as a dupe for Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream due to it's thick consistency. I have had this pot in my dish by my sofa to reach for and tackle the dry patches I find behind my ears which can be quite sore. I slather a layer of this on and it does the trick. Whilst my skin is always dryer during the Winter months it's not as dry as has been in recent years thanks to some wonderful heavy duty serums and oils I've been using so as a moisturiser for the face its too heavy for me but for those persistent dry patches it's a godsend and one I reach for to tackle my red nose if I'm suffering a cold and have spent too long blowing it.

Two products that have found there way to today's post hand in hand are the Sephora Rose Eye Mask and Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara.  The latter has been discontinued and they may give a nod to both this mascara's age and warn me of the dangers of trying to work through and declutter ones make up stash.

I've noticed on odd occasion this month that my eyes have been a little sensitive and sore which I mentioned in last weeks favourites was being helped by an eye gel. On one particular evening when I knew I had used this Urban Decay mascara and they really were causing me some discomfort I picked up my Sephora eye mask and soothed the area. These masks are affordable and great fun and probably the only product I wish Sephora was coming to the UK for. I have a few more from the range in my skincare draws so I will be trying some more out.

As for the mascara I can't say definitively it was at fault but I wasn't prepared to chance it again and as it's no longer available it seems foolish to work with something that I can never track down again. With it's curved brush which you can find from other brands and nothing amazing me on it's use it's time to say goodbye.

It was also bye bye to Dermalogica Hydrablur Primer* which has received a lot of coverage on these pages. Repeating what I've said in every post this is again a lovely primer and really does work to smooth out the skin and ready it for foundation application but is at a high price point that . In comparison to DHC Primer which I talked about in my monthly favourites this is definitely a thicker formula so depending on your priming needs I'll allow you to make your choices with what to spend and what you need.

As a blogger I should be allowed to come up with the perfect justification to buy any beauty product claiming it's 'research' or 'for the good of the blog'. The only problem with that is I only have one face and I'd rather use the products I'm lucky enough to be sent and provide thorough reviews on those products than chopping and changing more than necessary. That said there is something of a eureka moment when I find that I no longer have a particular product in my stash and can hit Boots and try out something new. In this instance it was only a deodorant but let's be thankful for the little things. It's well documented I favour Sure Maximum Protection and has ceased featuring in my empties as it was getting a little repetitive and instead sharing on Instagram but I wondered if I was indeed in a rut and decided to pick up Mitchum Gel Deodorant to compare.

Let's say sometimes you're not in a rut and simply know what product works for you. Whilst I used this completely as it wasn't dreadful and I'm spending more time on the sofa than running around an office of late it won't be something I repurchase and I will be returning to Sure forthwith. Firstly I would turn the dial to release the gel but it would almost pour out wasting a lot of product each time. I would also find that it was very wet under the arms leaving me doing a chicken dance before I could dress. That said the wetness would always feel ever present. Interestingly I discovered I tried the solid version of Mitchum and it was a fail so I think it's safe this is not a product that works for me.

Finally is a product that makes me weep with sadness that it is here, Jo Malone Bath Oil in Pomegranate Noir. My friend introduced me to Jo Malone many years ago and I still shed a tear that my cleaner broke the stopper on my glass bottle which I'd been refilling from the plastic packaging. This has been a repeatedly purchased product and one I love to use. The scent fills my bathroom and I just love the smell that floats around my home. My only complaint and wondering with Jo Malone is why they do not have a version with bubbles. There's something about climbing into a bath filled with bubbles and whilst the scent of this makes up for the lack of I do miss it. I'll definitely repurchase but think I might save as a treat for duty free or a reward when I finally find a new job.

What products have you used up recently?

*this post contains press samples and / or affiliate links

High End US Beauty Haul

When my BFF Rose announced she was moving to America I should’ve been distraught. And of course I was that she would no longer be a short drive away when we wanted to catch up but on the other hand I was over the moon that I now had a ‘US Beauty Shopper’. Any beauty product that I would previously lust after longingly could now be mine without the costly expensive of an international fight or worries about customs charges. Fantastic news!

I must say in the time that Rose has been living in the US she has been amazing at helping me tick items off my US Beauty Wishlist and recently I put in some requests for two ‘must have’ products, one of which I certainly would’ve struggled to get hold of had it not been for her US mailing address. That is of course the Lorac Pro 3 Palette. Which you will have had a teaser for in last months favourites.

I’m lucky enough to have all three of the Lorac Pro Eyeshadow Palettes thank to my lovely American dwelling friends. Rose sent me the Lorac Pro Palette for my birthday and Grace was kind enough to send the Lorac Pro Palette 2 as an act of kindness last year. I mused whether the lust and love for the Lorac Pro Palette is as much for them being so hard to get hold of. As more and more US brands are accessible to us Brits, Ulta the stockist of Lorac still does not ship to the UK, nor does the brand itself and the stores are typically in locations outside of the usual tourist shopping malls.

As soon as I saw the Lorac Pro Palette 3 I put Rose on standby and she went above and beyond when she received an email from Ulta advising her that she was able to take advantage of an early release date. Yay for me. As I said in my favourites videos this palette is no different in format to the previous two. Slim, sturdy packaging that makes them ideal for travel, in fact this is currently on holiday with me in Italy. You have sixteen shades, eight mattes, eight shimmers and there are so many ways of wearing them that even an eyeshadow amateur such as myself can do great things.  

Admittedly when this palette arrived I wasn’t as excited as I thought I would be as I thought it was a little boring but those initial reservations have long gone. This is the ‘little black dress’ of make up palettes, the perfect selection of neutrals, the comfy black pants you’re wearing under that killer outfit. As I’ve said I chose to take this on holiday with me as one of the reasons for my trip is a christening. So whilst many of the days away will be spent ‘casually’ I wanted to ensure I had the make up to make a little more effort for the special occasion and this is just the ticket with its pigmented and buttery formula. Any novice can go to work with these shadows with minimal mistakes.

The Sephora Lip Cream in the shade Strawberry Kiss was actually a gift from my sister-in-law when she visited the US for work and was a request after enjoying Always Red and wanting to add another to my collection. I really love this shade and it’s a great alternative to red when I still want a bright lip but some pinks look a little garish on me. I was so happy with the colour I actually gave space to it in my make up bag when I went to Menorca last month and wore it often. I do find that after prolonged wear by the end of the day my lips can be suffering a little and this is perhaps one of the worst lip products that I can be left with nothing but a stark ‘lip liner’ look if I’m not careful but that doesn’t stop me loving them.

Finally in my small ‘haul’ is the much hyped product, the BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette, a brand/YoutTuber collaboration that has sparked much controversy but nonetheless has lot of love and hype around. I’m not really a highlighter person, or when I say that it’s an area that is so very new to me I’m only just finding my feet. If I were to walk into the office with a beam of light coming off my cheeks I’m sure my colleagues would question my sanity but highlighters are a product I’m growing to love and are becoming part of my everyday make up look.

When Champagne Pop was first released the blogging world went crazy and everyone was praising how amazing it was but for my aforementioned reasons I was happy to hold back. If I’d been in the US and stumbled across a Sephora I’m sure it would’ve made its way home with me but it wasn’t something I was desperate for and when it was made available in the UK I was worried about the delicate nature of it leading to many smashed pans and the fact I’m not really one for online beauty shopping.

Fast forward to the palettes’ release and I decided now was the time to jump on the bandwagon. It made sense, not just the ‘famous’ Champagne Pop but three blushes and a new highlighter shade all encased in some pretty amazing packaging. A side note on this packaging it was very luxurious but weighty. I did have in mind that this would make a perfect travel accessory but I’d be cautious now due to its size.

We’ll start by saying that I’m not overly enamored with this palette. It’s nice, and I don’t know if I can blame the hype, the controversy or my make up skills but I’m just not feeling the love. As many have reviewed the powders in this palette are dryer than the individual pans and I’m so used to hearing Jaclyn Hill talk about how ‘buttery’ her highlighters are I’m a little disappointed.

If you’re a fan of the palette or have investigate thoroughly you will know that there are five shades for you to play with, two highlighters and three blushes. The two highlighters are the famous Champagne Pop and the newer Prosecco Pop, both shades of gold the former with orange undertones and the later yellow. For me, an amateur MUA at best, there isn’t enough of a difference between these two highlighters to make me go ‘wow’ and where gold highlighters are concerned my preference is Mac Magnetic Appeal and the yellow tones would be Charlotte Tilbury’s Bar of Gold Highlighter.

Moving on to the blushes which again don’t spark any joy unfortunately. I have enjoyed using Rose Spritz a little but in comparison to my newly purchased Make Up Revolution Rose Gold Lights it leaves me wanting. I don’t find there’s enough variation in this palette to make it something I can’t live without nor are the products achieving anything I can’t find elsewhere and with more pleasing results. I will continue to play with this palette as I’m sure I just need to find the way it can work for me but if I had the opportunity again I don’t think I would’ve hit ‘buy now’.

A mixed bag from this US Beauty Haul but us beauty fans must take the good with the bad. Have you tried any of these products from the US?

My Favourite Make Up Brushes

Make up brushes, the tools of the trade and the product that can make or break any make up look. Hmmm perhaps that is a little to over enthusiastic but there's something to be said for a decent make up brush aiding someone who is wanting to learn and hone their skills.

To say I was always a fan of make up brushes is a stretch but I did enjoy the process of buying, my early collection came from The Body Shop and in recent years US trips saw me stocking up on Sonia Kashuk. I also shouldn't tell you my old method of washing them would be rinsing under the tap and then dumping in a jug of water for a few hours/days. Thankfully now my current brush cleaning method is far more effective.

Ramblings over let's actually talk about what my favourite make up brushes and why starting with the foundation brushes. It'll be no surprise that first up is the Real Techniques Buffing Brush which annoyingly can only be purchased inside the Real Techniques Core Collection. I've tried the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and even the Bold Metals 101 Triangle Foundation Brush but neither compare to the Buffing Brush for me.

This is the closest I get to an airbrushed finish without that Snapchat filter and I find it works well with all types of foundation I own. Even if I'm rushed with my make up application I still get good results, and when working at my leisure even better.

Sephora's Pro Airbrush 55 brush is definitely one I use when I have more time on my hands as I find the longer bristles make hasty application a little harder. I typically have used this in the past with my beloved Make Up Forever HD Foundation and it is a beautiful partnership. I was even able to pick up a smaller handled travel size which I will be testing out this month when I'm off on holiday.

New to me is Brush Works Multi Tasking Brush* from MakeUpBrushes.co.uk. This website features a lot of familiar make up brush brands, with fast dispatch and free first class delivery. I was able to take a look round the website and pick a brush or to try, the Multi Tasking brush being one of them. I was keen to see how it would fair against my favoured Buffing Brush and it's a hit. I have a pile of make up brushes sitting in my kitchen waiting for cleaning so I've been able to give the Brush Works Multi Tasking Brush a through testing and I'm pleased with what I'm seeing. Dense fibres create the perfect conditions for blending my foundations and for £6.99 I'm happy.

I'm not very adventurous with my eye make up but I find that a trio of brushes from Mac really help make my life easier. Eyeshadow colours are packed on with the Mac 239 Eye Shader Brush, I pick up a new Mac 217 Blending Brush from Duty Free whenever I travel, it really is worth the hype. And a new addition is the Mac 219 pencil brush which I dip in and out of using depending on the look.

Of course these aren't the cheapest of brushes and it seems like Real Techniques, the typical high street make up offering don't provide a good selection of make up brushes. That's where Zoeva fit in. I have the Zoeva Rose Gold 227 Luxe Soft Definer Brush* and I might even love it a little more than the Mac 217. I use this a lot during the week when I'm just reaching for a single eyeshadow and it blends it beautiful. Often the proof is in the cleaning and this cleans up a treat with no shedding to speak of. I definitely think it's time I added a few more Zoeva brushes to my collection - send me your recommendations.

I was also sent the So Eco Eye Brush Set* from MakeUpBrushes.co.uk which contains a concealer brush, eye shading brush, angled eye liner brush and finally a lash and brow comb which I have to ask why we are still be subjected to these - does anyone use them? Although the spooly is a greatyly appreciated.

My two top picks from the list are the eye shading brush and angled eye liner. Wider than the Mac 239 it allows for packing on those one colours without needing too much detail. I'm usually loyal the to the Mac 266 Small Angled Brush but I don't know what it is about it, I keep losing them! Luckily I have had the So Eco version to hand to play with. It's thicker than the Mac version so not ideal for detailed work but it's serving me well until I hit duty free and great to have in the collection for use between washing or if I want to go a little thicker with my liner (I use powders typically).

If I have one or two of these brushes to hand I can apply my make up with ease. What are your favourite brushes?

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links

Sephora Beauty Haul

When I visit the US I must admit I'm more drawn to the budget end and much prefer browsing the aisles of the drugstores than Sephora. I don't know if it's the fact that we can buy the products online now or it's simply cheaper in Walgreens or CVS but nonetheless I still managed to come home from Florida with a few higher end purchases. And yes for the eagle eyed there are two items that were purchased outside of Sephora.

On my last trip to the US I picked up a smaller Z Palette from Sephora which you can read about in this post. It was much handier for travelling so I decided to get a larger size with a view to future trips and perhaps decanting some of my single products into the palette to make storage easier. Recently I've been going through my make up stash for this purpose and I'm even thinking of moving my Mac Eyeshadows out of their Mac Palette as Z Palettes really do afford much more room.

Next on my list was a Beauty Blender, something I'd never been tempted by before but there is only so many times you can watch a YouTube video of one in use before you need to try it for yourself. I went for the Limited Edition Red Carpet version for something different. As such a fan of red and hoping perhaps it might be more forgiving when in use I've still been too 'scared' to try it out but I'll report back when I have.

Another product I'd yet to give in to the hype was the Sephora Lip Stains of course choosing 01 Red as my starting point. It's recent appearance in my February Favourites tells you I was a fool for waiting so long to try. I've never found a lip product with the staying power of these and can't wait to add more to my collection next time I visit a Sephora.

I didn't really need a new mascara but I think the fact I wasn't finding much else to excite me on my Sephora shopping trip explains why Tarte Lights Camera Lashes ended up in my basket. I remembered this as a great mascara when I'd tried in the past and whilst it's available from QVC in the UK the dollars burning a hole in my pocket drew me in.

Moving on from Sephora I decided to have a trip to Ulta. I'd researched in advance and discovered that there was a branch in Florida a short walk from the mall I was visiting and I quite enjoyed the quiet stroll over there to browse the beauty mecca. As it happened once again, and I blame my tired feet I couldn't find much that made me want to part with my cash but I did track down the cult product from Laura Geller, her Baked Gelato Swirl Illuninator in Gilded Honey. I'm having something of a moment with highlighter and Gilded Honey is a current favourite and worthy of the hype in my eyes.

Feeling slightly despondent with the lack of excitement on my trip I found myself in Mac, somewhere I rarely browse or seek out beauty products on this type of shopping trip. Aimlessly swatching the Faerie Whispers collection I was drawn to the Foiled Shadows and their metallic finish. Fly by Twilight a silver looked amazing under the lights and I decided to treat myself to something that wouldn't get regular wear but would look fabulous for the right occasion.

As I draw to the end of this post I notice there was a lot of metallic and red in there, clearly an unexpected theme to my shopping trip.

February 2016 Beauty Favourites

I've been enjoying my return to blogging following my hiatus earlier this year and with that has come the rediscovery of old products and the introduction of some new finds to my daily regimes.

The first new discovery was Dermalogica Hydrablur Primer* which I shared with you last week in this post. There was a time when primer was something I saved for nights out or occasions where applying make up was done at my leisure. Now it's part of my daily make up routine and I feel and look better for it. Dermalogica Hydrablur Primer smooths out skin and provides a base for my make up whilst avoiding stripping my skin. I've moved on to testing a new primer this week but rest assured this is a product that will be returning.

Favourites posts contain some scorn from readers for being a jumble of PR samples and never less than when a product is shown that barely look used. There is some fear that that view could be taken with Rossi Cleansing Oil* as it doesn't even look like I've touched it. I can only say take my word for it that that isn't the case and it only goes to show the thickness of this oil and how little you need to use. I have been comparing to another cleansing oil in my stash but it's still been used more often than not and is something I'm enjoying using. As I've often mentioned my evening cleansing routine is not something I rush to do but Rossi Cleansing Oil has seen me more enthusiastic as it works so quickly without fuss. Read my full review here.

A rediscovery this month has been Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Stick. I picked up the shade INSERT when I was in the US some time ago after seeing it used for contouring and wanted to try for myself. I never found that it was something I got along with and into the drawer it when. During my recent declutter and pulling out products to try and see if they really were destined to be passed on I fell in love. I'm by no means skilled with contouring and nor do I try that hard but the Foundation Stick seems to work far better for me at the moment than any powder. Simply swipe in the hollows and blend out.

You would've thought that I'd have picked up one of the famous Sephora Lip Stains far earlier than my recent trip to Florida. For whatever reason I'd held off and now regret not picking up sooner, and only 01 Always Red. I used this for the first time and was bowled over but its staying power. Usually by the time I've reached the office a couple of cigarettes and a morning coffee mean that any lipstick I have on is a distant memory, the Sephora Lip Stain lasted until lunchtime.  Amazing stuff and one to try.

The final favourite is the Zoeva Pink Spectrum Blush Palette* which makes picking a blush in the morning easy whilst still allowing me to have a choice and change up my look. Usually I find blush palettes either have too similar shades or too varied, and whilst there are four shades of pink so no great differences the variety of finishes make subtle differences I enjoy playing with.

What have been your favourites this month?

*this post contains press samples

Sephora Z Palette & Mac Eyeshadow Collection

Sephora Z Palette

Way before I knew beauty blogging was 'a thing' I loved Mac eyeshadows. Above are some of my first Mac eyeshadow purchases and yes I was pretty bold - no neutrals here. I used to purchase them as singles until deciding to depot them and store in large Mac compacts.

When I was heading to Dubai I wanted to take some of these bolder colours away to play with but the Mac palettes aren't the most travel friendly and larger than I would like. Then I remembered the Sephora Z palette I had purchased and was sitting unused in a drawer.

I have the smaller sized palette which in comparable Mac terms would house four eyeshadows but the trusty Z palette holds nine which is pretty amazing in my mind. I have often found that I always seem to want just one more shadow to play with when using my Mac palette and the Z palette clearly knows this.

Z palettes are slim, magnetic palettes which allow you to put any combination of products, be they blushes or eyeshadows as you chose. I'm now very tempted to start depotting all my eyeshadows and blushes and putting them in Z palettes.

If you're interested to know how I initially depotted my Mac eyeshadows it was pretty easy but must be done with care. You can see plenty of YouTube tutorials online but in short you heat up the item you want to depot (I used hair straighteners) to loosen the glue and using a pin or similar ease the shadow out of it's holder. Be very careful at this stage as the metal of the product will be hot!

The Sephora Z Palette even comes with what looks like a cuticle pusher to help you and magnetic strips for adhering the products to the palette, although at the time I used magnetic strip I brought from a local craft shop.

What I particularly like about the Z palette in comparison to the Mac versions is that you can easily remove eyeshadows at any time. With the Mac palettes because they fall into their individual slots, removing them is difficult and I've damaged colours along the way just trying to move about.

For those interested the colours in the palette are; Swimming, Wondergrass, Chrome Yellow, Orange, Creme De Violet, Parfait Amour, Freshwater, Bang on Blue and Jewel Blue. Some I think may have been discontinued but I know quite a few are still available.

Have you used a Z palette before?