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Friday, 31 July 2015

July: Loves and Lusts


It's the end of the month and so that can only mean one thing round these parts - another round of my monthly favourites/wishlist hybrid, 'Loves and Lusts'! If you're new round these parts of the Interwebz then I'll link up my other six posts of this style I've done so far here so you can get a feel for how things work. Ready? Let's begin the second half of 2015's editions...

What I've Loved:

Original Source Vanilla and Raspberry Shower Gel - I actually started to use this back at the end of last month, but as that technically doesn't constitute an entry into a monthly favourites post - here it is cropping up in July's edition. I love Original Source as a brand - they offer some really good quality bodycare items with yummy smelling scents and for a darn good price too - and this is no exception. You can pretty much guarantee anything featuring raspberry as a scent or flavour will win me over and this is exactly why I plumped for this version in the first place. For me, this smells precisely like Haribo and let's be honest - what more could you want from a shower gel? Well, the actual formulation ain't too bad either, lathering up nicely and cleansing the skin in a way that still leaves it feeling moisturised and hydrated. Double win.

Zoella Beauty Tutti Fruity Collection  - More bodycare and this has to be one of the more prominent launches of this past month. Everyone and their dog knows of Zoe Sugg (a.k.a. Zoella) for her massive online fame - and if you don't, where have you been? Last year she branched out to release her first ever range of bath and body products (#ZoellaBeauty) and this year marks the first collection's follow-up - the Tutti Fruity Range. I actually did a more in-depth write up of my thoughts in this post, but in summary - I'm actually quite impressed. From what I've tried - the scent is what I feel is a 'people pleaser' and will extend past her younger fanbase and the items themselves live up to their expectations and in some cases even beyond that. I think I may even prefer this collection as a whole to the first one...

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer - Moving onto makeup, and this one will come as no surprise if you read this post I did very recently. I have a proper thing for Rimmel's primers. I tried the Lasting Finish one a few months back and now, with that tube long gone, I've moved onto this - the Fix and Perfect - and what can I say? They've gone and done it again. A slightly more silicone-y texture than that of the Lasting Finish, but still with the same moisturiser-like qualities, I think this provides the best of both worlds in regards to different primer types. It aids the drier nature of my skin, but also helps makeup stick around that little longer too.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Now, I promise I will try and keep the rave about this to a minimum, as I always like to attempt to. If you're a regular around these parts, you'll know this most certainly not a new addition to my makeup collection. I've loved and continually used this beauty for years now, so when it started to disappear off the shelves of Boots and Superdrug and Tesco and pretty much any place where it is usually stocked - I, and many others, started to panic. However, Collection themselves reassured us that it would soon be back and that there was just a stock issue and lo and behold, earlier this month - during one of my many Boots trips - there it was again. I picked up another tube of my usual shade (Fair) and it has become a firm staple in my makeup routine yet again. Love, love, LOVE this stuff.
Rimmel Natural Bronzer and Real Techniques Duo Fibre Face Brush - Another makeup-related fave - this time two items I'm mushing together to create one overall 'thumbs up' from moi. Neither alone are newbies to me, but the collaboration certainly is. The Natural Bronzer I've had rattling round in my makeup drawers for some time now, and while I've cracked it out many a time prior to this realisation (particularly in the days before I found the Soap and Glory Solar Powder), recently it hasn't been getting much airtime. Applied with a standard brush (I personally like to use the Real Techniques Blush Brush for bronzer), it does have the tendency to come off on my paler skin a little too warm and therefore a tad muddy. However, sometime earlier this month, after a few too many times of glancing back at the bronzer in desperation of cracking it out again, I decided to give it a whirl using a slightly different tool - the Real Techniques Duo Fibre Face Brush. And, oh my, does it make the difference. The brush is designed with the duo fibre bristles to pick up less pigment and so transfer less of it onto your face at once. This means you can get a slightly less dense coverage, or build it up, just more gradually. The two together just work so well - the bronzer looking far more flattering when applied in a far sheerer and better-controlled way. In no way does this mean I've rejected my beloved Solar Powder, but I have to admit it is nice to finally have another option bronzer-wise when I don't fancy using it.

Maybelline 'The Nudes' Eyeshadow Palette - Eyes-wise, there has been one thing I've really loved using ever since I discovered it in these past few weeks after picking it up in this haul. This is a new launch from good 'ole Maybelline and I have to say - I am feeling it. I do love a good eyeshadow palette (doesn't everyone?) and so when I heard about this, I knew I had to get hold of it and I am so glad I did. In here you get a mighty twelve shades - all themed around the concept of natural, nude tones. However, the difference I've found between this and some other offerings in this department is that there is not one shade I feel I wouldn't or couldn't use at some point. There are no weird bright blues or smokey greens that are perhaps not to everyone's taste in sight and instead we are treated to a line-up full of golds, bronzes, coppers and taupes - with only the occasional featuring of muted colour sneaking its way in. The pigmentation of the shadows themselves is impressive too compared to some higher-end counterparts and when teamed with my faithful Urban Decay Primer Potion (which I always use as my eyelids seem to crease up shadows no matter what) - the lasting power is pretty darn good as well. I would like to say which shades are my personal favourites but if I'm honest, I've been getting good use of pretty much every single one since I bought it - and for me, that says something.

Rimmel Lasting Finish By Kate Nude Lipstick '45' - Finally for makeup, we have a lip product (surprise, surprise). However, I'm particularly fussy when it comes to lip items of the nude variety, so for one to be featuring here must mean it's pretty special. Too often I come across nudes which just look like I've plastered my pout in cover-up - and that, I'm afraid, is not a good look. I'm more of the school of thought that nudes should emulate your natural lip colour (a.k.a. MLBB-type shades) and this is exactly that. When swatching this new launch from Rimmel in-store, I found this shade to be the best match for me and so home with me it came and I've been slapping it on ever since (and raving about it in this post). I find this to help even my lips out a tad and give them a slightly more mauve-y look to them, ala Kylie Jenner of course. It's really nothing too drastic, but it's a perfect option for when you're completely clueless as to what to wear lips-wise that day and the formula is uber-hydrating and creamy so kind to your lips in the process. Yes, it may not be that long-lasting - but hey, nude lipsticks basically = no mirror application - so everyone's a winner here.

Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish in 'Roll In The Grass' - Last, but by no means least - we have a nail offering. In the Summer I frequently gravitate towards the brighter end of the colour spectrum (as I'm sure many others do too). However, I especially find the blue/green territory to be particularly more prominent on my beds during the warmer months. This shade fills that quota perfectly and I could not be happier. It's very similar to a few others I have in my collection (what's new?), but I still love it the same and continue to attempt to distinguish it apart from the others I already own. #BeautyBloggerProblems. I've done a full 'Polish Pick' post featuring it in all its glory here if you fancy a gander.
What I'd Love To Have:

Soap and Glory Solar Powder Bronzer (New Packaging) - £11.00 - Ok, yes - this is by no means a 'new' product - but I can still lust after it, right? Soap and Glory very recently listened up to everyone's quibbles about their infamous bronzer at last and upgraded the packaging to a plastic set-up, moving on from their less-aesthetically-pleasing cardboard housing. HALLELUJAH! I cannot wait to get my hands on this when my old one bites the dust.

Benefit They're Real Push Up Liners (Colours) - £18.50 - Again, not necessarily a new release, but more a variation on an already-well-established one. I'm sure everyone and their dog knows of and would've possibly tried the original Push Up Liner from Benefit. A gel-like consistency housed in a handy, supposedly easy to apply angled nib format - it became many a gal's new liner fave. Well, if that wasn't exciting enough, Benefit have now come out with a few colourful adaptions for the more adventurous among us - including a purple and blue - plus a brown alternative for those craving a more subtle finish for their cat flicks.

Urban Decay Naked Smokey Eyeshadow Palette - £38.00 - One of many palettes featured in this month's 'Lusts', we have a new launch from Urban Decay (a.k.a. the Makeup Gods of Palettes). Not content with the number of Naked's already on the shelves, they've put together yet another variation - this time, smokey-themed. Everyone loves a good smokey eye, and UD have come up trumps here with a colour spectrum allowing you to do just that - and more. As the name would correctly imply - many of these shades lean more towards the darker end of the scale, with only a few lighter options included. There's a good mix of matte, shimmer and satin finishes though, and if that's not enough to get you salivating - just watch this recent tutorial from Sam of Pixiwoo in which she uses it. Oh yeah, baby.

MAC 'Relentlessly Red' Lipstick - £15.50 - Do I need another lipstick? No. Do I want another lipstick? Hell yes. This I've spotted on Alix of I Covet Thee's pout in a few of her recent YouTube videos and I have to say it looks so stunning on her. A lippie that's technically classified as a red, but once on the lips looks far more fuchsia in tone - can I justify adding it to my ever-growing collection? Only time will tell...

Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion Spray - £21.50 - Moving onto the hair department, and this just seems to be a genius creation. I've heard many a good thing in the past about the original Surf Spray for teasing hair into voluminous, messy beach-style waves, but perhaps not such good things about the after-effects it has on the hair. So inevitably, Bumble and Bumble have released a slightly less drying version for us gals possessing locks of the parched variety. The introduction of oil into the formula supposedly helps to give the same results of the classic spray but with a more sheeny, hydrating finish. I feel this may just be right up my street...

Gillette Venus Snap Portable Razor - £5.00 - Onto bodycare-type thangs and we have a razor. I know, I know - TMI? Anyway, I remember a while back when this was announced as a new launch pretty much everyone went cray cray for it and for good reason. I ummed and arred over it a few times at first, but since my subscription feed seems to be occupying many a 'What's In My Travel Beauty Bag'-style video of late, this has been getting even more heads-ups that usual and maybe, maybe, I might just have to give in for when I'm next going on holiday. (Which is not that often, but never mind).

Zoeva Cocoa Blend Eyeshadow Palette - £15.00 - More palettes (I did warn ya that this post was full of 'em) - one from a slightly more budget-friendly price. Zoeva I used to believe was a brand purely useful for their amazing brushes, but recently I've spotted this cropping up in a few blog posts and videos and was seriously impressed by just how delicious it looks. Like, seriously - it's named after chocolate and I could actually eat it - coincidence? I think not. The palette comprises of a total of ten shades (only two short of UD's but for a fraction of the price) - four matte, six shimmery. There's your classic neutral everyday shades, a couple of golden, bronzey shimmery numbers and a some takes on colour with a subtle lilacy greige and bright cranberry thrown into the mix too. In short - there's something for every look for everyone. I likes.

Makeup Revolution Ultra Contour Palette - £8.00 - Finally for this upper-long post and also for the palette-based inclusions - we have another one that's easy on the purse strings. I really love Makeup Revolution as a brand and feel they offer brilliantly priced items without comprising on quality. So when this popped into my Twitter newsfeed one day, I can't say I wasn't at all excited. This is very, very comparable to the classic Anastasia Contour Palette, but of course at a fraction of the price. There's your contour shades (a couple more warm-toned and one more ashy), a few matte shades ideal for highlighting or as setting powders wherever you need it and a couple of their baked highlighters for that extra glow on the tops of the cheekbones.

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