I don't quite know how, but it's already the end of April - my namesake month - and so here we are again, at another of my end-of-the-month posts. As the name suggests, I'm going to be talking you lovely lot through some of my top picks from the last few weeks and all of the things I've been loving during the fourth month of the year. How has that happened, eh? I'll link all of the ones I've done already for 2017 here if you're new round these parts and fancy catching up but for now - let's get started!
GHD COPPER LUXE PLATINUM STRAIGHTENERS - First up - Tools. I know I only talked about these a couple of days ago and I have only had them in my possession for about a week now but I just had to include them here because I can already tell I am in love. As I explained in that post (which you can find here) I had been thinking about investing in a pair of GHD hair straighteners for the longest of times and finally this month, I actually did it. Not only is the copper/rose gold design to die for, the actual straighteners themselves are all kinds of awesome. They were double the price of my last pair, but I can definitely tell the difference already. They're able to create a variety of styles quickly and easily and in a way that really locks into place - even with my more troublesome tresses. Love, love, LOVE.
TRESEMME KERATIN SMOOTH COLOUR SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER - Seeing as we just discussed an awesome hair tool, how about we continue along that theme and talk about some equally-as-awesome hair products too, eh? I have been a fan of the original Keratin Smooth range from Tresemme for ages and was majorly up for trying out their latest version for colour-treated hair and I have to say - I am impressed so far. Just like before, this duo leave my hair feeling clean and hydrated - all with a super-sleek, smooth finish - but I think I actually love this one even more. The coloured hair tailored formula just seems to make my hair feel and look even better than the original and the scent - oh my goodness, the scent. It's even more delish than the standard edition and for some reason hangs around for far longer too. Always a good thing when your hair smells almost good enough to eat...
LEE STAFFORD BLEACH BLONDES SHAMPOO - A product that's perhaps more of a rediscovered favourite this month has been this purple toning shampoo from Lee Stafford. I used to be a huge fan of this way back when I first started getting into actually toning my hair and after stepping away from it for a while and using other things, this month I am firmly back on the bandwagon again. This is a great purple shampoo for knocking out those brassy, warm, orange-y tones in your blonde hair in an instant and making it fresher, brighter and cool-toned again and I love it. A little really goes a long way and though it is a hair toner, it still manages to avoid drying out my hair too much and instead actually leaves it feeling rather soft and supple.
ZOELLA BEAUTY 'PRETTY POLISHED' BODY SCRUB - Bodycare-wise, I cracked out this new body scrub from Zoella Beauty this month and have been thoroughly impressed with it so far. It's pretty much the exact same set-up as the 'Scrubbing Me Softly' Body Scrub that I fell in love with from her limited edition 'Tutti Fruity' Collection a couple of Summers ago and with that one now being unavailable, I was eager to try this permanent addition to her Classic range out. And just as I expected, it is just as good. It's got the exact same creamy consistency that's loaded with tiny particles to buff away those dead skin cells, without leaving your skin feeling stripped or dry at the same time and I just love it.
SHADOW SWITCH BRUSH CLEANER - Just like the GHD's, this dry brush cleaner was something I'd wondered about trying for some time and finally got round to doing so this month - again, with great results. For my smaller, eyeshadow brushes I do still love using the The Pro Hygiene Collection Brush Cleaner for taking out the product, pigment and colour out of them but for an even quicker, more fool-proof method that requires literally no drying time at all (even the spray-on cleanser requires you to leave the brush to dry for a few minutes) this is a great thing to have lying around.
BARRY M FROSTED CUPCAKES NAIL PAINT IN 'MARSHMALLOW' - I picked up this shade from Barry M's newest range this month and having lacquered my nails up with it, I'm liking it so far. The off-white hue with the slightest touch of baby pink to it is very different to the hypes of shades I usually like wearing on my nails, but I actually quite enjoy it - while I did use to be scared of using extreme pale shades like this on my equally-pale hands, once you try it out it's not actually that horrendous looking and makes a nice change from the usual brighter, bolder shades I tend to gravitate towards. You can check out my 'Polish Pick' I did featuring it here if you fancy.
BOOTS TEA TREE AND WITCH HAZEL RANGE - I had a couple of skin-related issues this month, with a few annoying spots popping up here and there and seeing as my usual stash of Skincare stuff doesn't really include anything of much to tackle those types of problems, I needed to add a couple of things in to try and resolve it sooner rather than later. I'd heard good things about this own brand range from Boots and so headed there to pick up some items to try out - I came away with three as there was an offer on - and all in all, I was majorly impressed. I only needed to utilise one of them - the Charcoal Face Mask - for whatever was going on to massively reduce and start to finally clear up the next morning. Quick, easy and pretty affordable too - awesome.
REAL TECHNIQUES EXPERT CONCEALER BRUSH - Shocker alert - but I haven't added any new makeup brushes into my collection for ages now. I know, I know. Coming from me, the self-confessed brush addict (especially for Real Techniques), this is big news - but don't worry - I soon got back to my former self this month when I added this to my basket (and later my brush pot). As I explained in this post, currently I use the Deluxe Crease Brush from their Eyes range to apply a solid concealer to those areas that require more coverage than my liquid one provides me with and while it works perfectly fine, ideally I wanted to find a brush that's more targeted for that specifically so I could perhaps free up the Deluxe Crease for what it's actually supposed to be used for - the peepers. This Expert Concealer Brush is basically a baby version of their brilliant Expert Face (hence the name) and it works brilliantly for applying and blending out concealer. It's slightly flatter and wider than the Deluxe Crease, but I find it to actually work a bit better in terms of applying product in a more controlled, build-able way and slightly more precise too.
SLEEK 'CLEOPATRA'S KISS' HIGHLIGHTING PALETTE - Another month, another highlighter - I know, I know. This time round, it's a palette and in terms of the brand and format, it's one I've used and loved before - simply in a different shade compilation. I bought into the hype surrounding the 'Solstice' version of the exact same palette ages ago and was majorly glad I did and so ever since the 'Cleopatra's Kiss' one was released sometime last year, I have been eager to try it out too - especially seeing as it seems to be just as raved about, if not even more so. And you know what? I am super impressed yet again. A nice mix of colours, and textures too - all at an incredibly reasonable price. The powders are super intense and yet super finely-milled, whilst the creams are just that - creamy, not greasy and work great alone or as a base for powder to sit over the top of. At first, I was a little dubious as to how well I'd manage to make use out of this palette, with it containing slightly darker, richer tones - but actually, the two lightest ones work perfectly fine as highlighters on my paler complexion, while the two deeper shades are great as eyeshadows.
MAKEUP REVOLUTION FLAWLESS 3 RESURRECTION EYESHADOW PALETTE - As soon as I saw this palette was on the horizon, I instantly knew I wanted to add it to my collection. I actually don't own any of the other eyeshadow palettes from Makeup Revolution, but I've always heard and seen great things and so I didn't really have nay qualms with adding this beauty into my basket. Containing a grand total of 32 shades - yes, thirty two! - this is a beefy one, but don't think that greater quantity means lesser quality as that is certainly not the case here. Here, you have basically every single neutral, nude eyeshadow tone you could ever want or need, with a mixture of warm, cool and neutral tones and good mix of mattes and shimmers too. I love how they've included some of the massively hyped-up neutral tones right now - with the oranges, reds, pinks and purples (very ABH Modern Renaissance-inspired) and so far, every single one I've tried is majorly pigmented, creamy and with no fall-out to be seen either. I can foresee this fastly becoming my go-to everyday palette...
MAYBELLINE LASH SENSATIONAL MASCARA - Another rediscovery this month comes in the form of this awesome mascara from Maybelline. I have always been a massive advocate for the lash offerings from Maybelline - I think there's only been one I've tried that I didn't get along with - and having sampled a lot, I have to say that the Lash Sensational was always my favourite, favourite. And with my current mascara reaching the end of its life a few weeks back, instead of doing my usual of plumping for something new, I headed back to an old classic and picked up a fresh tube again. Having been so obsessed with this stuff in the past, I was pretty hopeful that it would be the same case this time round and it so is. Adds a tonne of length, volume and lift - kit just makes my lashes look like the best version of themselves. You can apply it lightly or really layer it up (my personal preference) and it never ever smudges, flakes or crumbles off.
NYX SOFT MATTE LIP CREAM IN 'ABU DHABI' - Finally - moving onto Lips - I have two, yes two, NYX products for you lovely lot. It's no secret that I am a big fan of the lip offerings from NYX and I am particularly in love with their liquid variations - so guess what? That's exactly the category that these next two lip products fall under. This one is a shade from their Soft Matte Lip Creams which I hadn't tried until recently, but had always heard people talk about it - hence why I was so eager to test it out for myself. These aren't so much of a 'traditional' liquid lipstick in that they don't dry down to a completely matte finish, aren't fully transfer-proof and don't last all day long - but still deliver that matte-ish effect that hangs around for a decent amount of time with a more comfortable finish that's much easier to reapply. It's all swings and roundabouts I guess. I have a couple of nude shades from the collection but fancied adding this slightly more neutral, light brown to my stash and I'm very happy I did. It
NYX LIP LINGERIE LIQUID LIPSTICK IN 'CASHMERE SILK' - Last, but certainly by no means least - another NYX lip product, just this time one of their Lip Lingeries. These are more of your 'standard' liquid lipstick and I really love using these as while they are more super-matte and long-lasting, they still somehow manage to avoid feeling and looking dry or cakey. I already have a few in my stash, but recently they added a whole new selection to their existing range - of course because of the name, still within the nude-toned family - and I just had to pick up some more to try. I really like them all, but the one which I have been reaching for the most right now has been 'Cashmere Rose' - a mid-toned, warm brown. This is a great option for when I want a nude that's got really good lasting power and will last all day long with little to no touch-ups required. Lovely.
SLEEK 'CLEOPATRA'S KISS' HIGHLIGHTING PALETTE - Another month, another highlighter - I know, I know. This time round, it's a palette and in terms of the brand and format, it's one I've used and loved before - simply in a different shade compilation. I bought into the hype surrounding the 'Solstice' version of the exact same palette ages ago and was majorly glad I did and so ever since the 'Cleopatra's Kiss' one was released sometime last year, I have been eager to try it out too - especially seeing as it seems to be just as raved about, if not even more so. And you know what? I am super impressed yet again. A nice mix of colours, and textures too - all at an incredibly reasonable price. The powders are super intense and yet super finely-milled, whilst the creams are just that - creamy, not greasy and work great alone or as a base for powder to sit over the top of. At first, I was a little dubious as to how well I'd manage to make use out of this palette, with it containing slightly darker, richer tones - but actually, the two lightest ones work perfectly fine as highlighters on my paler complexion, while the two deeper shades are great as eyeshadows.
MAKEUP REVOLUTION FLAWLESS 3 RESURRECTION EYESHADOW PALETTE - As soon as I saw this palette was on the horizon, I instantly knew I wanted to add it to my collection. I actually don't own any of the other eyeshadow palettes from Makeup Revolution, but I've always heard and seen great things and so I didn't really have nay qualms with adding this beauty into my basket. Containing a grand total of 32 shades - yes, thirty two! - this is a beefy one, but don't think that greater quantity means lesser quality as that is certainly not the case here. Here, you have basically every single neutral, nude eyeshadow tone you could ever want or need, with a mixture of warm, cool and neutral tones and good mix of mattes and shimmers too. I love how they've included some of the massively hyped-up neutral tones right now - with the oranges, reds, pinks and purples (very ABH Modern Renaissance-inspired) and so far, every single one I've tried is majorly pigmented, creamy and with no fall-out to be seen either. I can foresee this fastly becoming my go-to everyday palette...
MAYBELLINE LASH SENSATIONAL MASCARA - Another rediscovery this month comes in the form of this awesome mascara from Maybelline. I have always been a massive advocate for the lash offerings from Maybelline - I think there's only been one I've tried that I didn't get along with - and having sampled a lot, I have to say that the Lash Sensational was always my favourite, favourite. And with my current mascara reaching the end of its life a few weeks back, instead of doing my usual of plumping for something new, I headed back to an old classic and picked up a fresh tube again. Having been so obsessed with this stuff in the past, I was pretty hopeful that it would be the same case this time round and it so is. Adds a tonne of length, volume and lift - kit just makes my lashes look like the best version of themselves. You can apply it lightly or really layer it up (my personal preference) and it never ever smudges, flakes or crumbles off.
NYX SOFT MATTE LIP CREAM IN 'ABU DHABI' - Finally - moving onto Lips - I have two, yes two, NYX products for you lovely lot. It's no secret that I am a big fan of the lip offerings from NYX and I am particularly in love with their liquid variations - so guess what? That's exactly the category that these next two lip products fall under. This one is a shade from their Soft Matte Lip Creams which I hadn't tried until recently, but had always heard people talk about it - hence why I was so eager to test it out for myself. These aren't so much of a 'traditional' liquid lipstick in that they don't dry down to a completely matte finish, aren't fully transfer-proof and don't last all day long - but still deliver that matte-ish effect that hangs around for a decent amount of time with a more comfortable finish that's much easier to reapply. It's all swings and roundabouts I guess. I have a couple of nude shades from the collection but fancied adding this slightly more neutral, light brown to my stash and I'm very happy I did. It
NYX LIP LINGERIE LIQUID LIPSTICK IN 'CASHMERE SILK' - Last, but certainly by no means least - another NYX lip product, just this time one of their Lip Lingeries. These are more of your 'standard' liquid lipstick and I really love using these as while they are more super-matte and long-lasting, they still somehow manage to avoid feeling and looking dry or cakey. I already have a few in my stash, but recently they added a whole new selection to their existing range - of course because of the name, still within the nude-toned family - and I just had to pick up some more to try. I really like them all, but the one which I have been reaching for the most right now has been 'Cashmere Rose' - a mid-toned, warm brown. This is a great option for when I want a nude that's got really good lasting power and will last all day long with little to no touch-ups required. Lovely.
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