June Beauty Favorites

Beware of excessive amounts of beauty products in this post...

First up on the menu is primers.  I've never really been one for primers, but I want to start using them more because I only wear light coverage foundations, it doesn't last long without a primer.  I found two this month that I've been loving: the Burberry Fresh Glow Primer ($48) and the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer ($52).  Burberry's option can also be used as a highlighter and just perks up your complexion in general.  I tend to use it under more matte-finish foundations, just to give some life to my skin.  Whereas, the Hourglass option is great for longevity, making it a great option for any foundation pick.

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream in Very Light

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light (top: heavily swatched, bottom: blended out)

As for foundation, I've really been enjoying the Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream in Very Light ($35).  The coverage is pretty good, but still light, and it's a great color match for me, plus it feels light on the skin and has SPF 30.  My concealer of choice for this month has been the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Ivory (5.50), a very hydrating, illuminating concealer that I've been loving using every morning.  My new powder of choice, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light ($45), has also become a staple for my everyday make-up.  Used after my entire face of makeup is complete, it gives a final airbrushed look to the face without making it look too much or cakey in anyway.

Left to Right: MAC Naked Lunch, Burberry Trench, Benefit Birthday Suit

Moving on to eyes - I've had a couple of go to products for my eyes this month.  One combination has been the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit ($20) with the Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Trench ($29) overtop.  It's a gorgeous, subtle combination that was very office appropriate.  However, as the weather started to heat up, I started to go for lighter options - my favorite being MAC Naked Lunch ($12), a light, frosty beige that really brightens up the eyes.  I also discovered a great new mascara - Benefit They're Real Mascara ($23).  It adds great length and lasts really well on the lashes, it's no wonder it's a cult product!

Left: & Other Stories Canvas Taupe, Right: NARS Luster
Both heavily swatched

As for blush, I've recently claimed my love for & Other Stories Blusher in Canvas Taupe (£10).  A dusty rose shade, which is inaptly named, looks natural on the cheeks, and the perfect neutral color for any color added to the eyes or lips.  The other blush I've been reaching towards in my collection is NARS Luster ($29).  After purchasing this last summer, I've finally discovered it's beauty.  The perfect shimmery-apricot shade, with a golden sheen, it's a natural shade, but has a little something extra to it.

Left: Chanel Pygmalion, Right: MAC Ultra Darling

My two lip color choices of the month are tied to my new favorite TV series - Mad Men.  Of course, it's coral.  The first offering is MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Ultra Darling ($16).  A gorgeous coral-pink, which has a gorgeous sheeny finish, and keeps your lips moisturized like nothing else, this is something I couldn't put down all month.  The other coral is the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Pygmalion ($34) - a recent limited edition release that I've been adoring.  This is more of a coral red shade, which leaves the lips with a light wash of color, making it easier to wear than something more opaque, add in the moisture factor on this tinted balm and I'm sold.

Finally, a few perfumes have stood out this month for me.  First, the Diptyque L'Eau du Trentre-Quatre EDT ($100 for 50ml) - it's perfection to say the least.  This perfume is multi-layered, leaving a scent that is made up of many different types of notes, which is what makes it so unique.  It's meant to smell like the inside of the original Diptyque store in Paris, and although I can't be sure, it sure smells like it would.  The other option for me has been Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One EDP ($98 for 2.5 oz).  A light, summery mixture of fruity and floral, with notes like rose and pink grapefruit, this perfume smells like summer in a bottle for me.  My first ever high end perfume buy (about 4 years ago) and I still go back to it all the time.  It's a very underrated scent, that no one seems to know when I mention it, but when they take a sniff, they seem to always fall in love.

What are your favorite products this month?  Have you tried anything that I've mentioned?

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Benefit Birthday Suit Creaseless Cream Shadow Review

As a massive powder eyeshadow fan, I find it difficult to get into the cream shadows that everyone loves so much - I find them more difficult to work with and oftentimes, way too sparkly.  However, recently I've jumped on the bandwagon and have been using Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit ($20) pretty much non-stop.

This is the creamiest of cream eyeshadows that I've tried (which, I admit, is not very many).  It slides on the lid like butter, making it easy to apply and easy to blend - which was always my issue with cream eyeshadows.

Birthday Suit is a neutral tone, but it's also kind of metallic, as well.  Sephora describes it as a 'brushed chrome', but I'd say there's more brown/taupe to it than any hue of chrome I've ever seen.

Now, the sparkle factor (as I like to call it) isn't pretty on this one, I find it to be way too much sparkle on my eyes, but I usually apply a sweep of neutral powder eyeshadow (usually Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 02 Trench) on top to tone down the sparkle, which works quite well.

As for the actual formulation - well, it could be worse.  As I previously mentioned, this is the creamiest of cream shadows, which is great for application and blending, but isn't so great for longevity.  Without a primer this creases really quickly on me (all eyeshadows, cream or powder, do crease on me without a primer, but this one creases more quickly than others), but with a primer it stays all day.  So, if you're looking for something to use without anything underneath, this may not be for you.

I do really like this cream eyeshadow, the application is great and the color is gorgeous, but I'm still on the hunt for the perfect cream eyeshadow!

Longevity: 3/5

Pigmentation: 4/5

Packaging: 4/5

Texture: 5/5

Application: 5/5

Value For Money: 4/5 

Overall Rating: 8.33/10

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NOTD: Dior 579 Plaza

Despite my recent haul featuring 7 (yes, 7) new nail polishes, I still felt that bug for more - so I bought more. I ended buying a Dior Nail Polish in 579 Plaza ($23).  I've tried nail polishes from Dior before and loved the formulation, so I thought I'd try another!

Plaza is a bright, hot pink that is anything but subtle.  The color is perfect for summer and great for anyone looking for the perfect bright for the nails.  I ended up only needing 1 coat to achieve an opaque color, which is nothing short of amazing.  However, I did have an issue with the longevity of the nail polish.  On day 3, it started to chip a bit on a couple of fingers and wear was showing at the edge of most of my nails, which is a disappointment - I was hoping for 5 days of good wear, especially considering the price point.  But the color makes up for the longevity, though I won't be going back for anymore Dior polishes just yet...

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& Other Stories Canvas Taupe Blush Review

When I was in London in May, going to & Other Stories, a new shop on Regent Street, was something I had to do.  & Other Stories is owned by H&M, and as a huge fan of H&M and Cos (the other store H&M owns), I knew it would be love at first sight at & Other Stories.  I was right.

I went into the store multiple times and came out with a fair few things - one of which was their blush in Canvas Taupe (£10).  I'm never looking for a new blush (I have way too many), but when I swatched this, I knew I needed it.

Canvas Taupe is anything but taupe (as the name may suggest), rather, it's a dusty rose shade, which is why I chose it.  It falls into the Tarte Exposed/NARS Douceur blusher family - which is my favorite blusher family. It blends really easily and looks so natural on the skin.  It's pretty pigmented, too, so I only need to tap my brush in once for each cheek to get the perfect amount.

I've been wearing this everyday since I got back from the UK and I am utterly in love.  I actually think I like this formula better than a lot of my high-end blushers.  It's so soft to the touch, and best of all - it lasts!  After a full day of work, I come home and my blush is still there, faded, but still there.

Also, it's so cute, because imprinted on the blusher is "Go girl, seek happy nights to happy days...".  I love that it has a little phrase on the blusher, and I love the phrase itself, I always smile a bit when I first open it up in the morning to use it.  I'm going to be devastated when the wording is gone!

If you're in London and you're on the hunt for a new blusher, I would high recommend trying this one!

Longevity: 4.5/5

Pigmentation: 5/5

Packaging: 3/5

Texture: 5/5

Application: 4.5/5

Value For Money: 5/5 

Overall Rating: 9/10

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Guerlain Apres l'Ondee 100 Rouge Automatique Review

Last month, I was in Duty Free at the Frankfurt Airport walking around and waiting to get on my flight to London.  After swatching a fair amount of different lipsticks from different brands, I just decided to go full out and get the highest of high-ends: Guerlain.  I opted to get the Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Apres l'Ondee 100 ($35).  I had swatched this in February preceding a different flight to London and fell in love then, but just couldn't justify the hefty price (even with the discount).  So, when I swatched it again, I had to have it.

Apres l'Ondee is a dusty rose (more rose than dusty) with subtle shimmer.  I've been wearing it non-stop since I bought it, and it has quickly become one of my favorite lipsticks.  It's definitely an everyday lipstick, but it could also be worn at night without it looking out of place.

One of the things that I really like about this lipstick is the formula of the lipstick.  If it were a MAC lipstick, it would fall into the Creamsheen category.  It's an opaque color, but it's also so moisturizing!  During May, I still was having issues with wearing lipsticks, and could only wear really moisturizing ones, and this was one that I could apply to my lips without my lips feeling really dehydrated immediately afterwards.  Once, I forgot my chapstick and needed to apply something moisturizing to my lips, so I applied this and my lips couldn't tell the difference - So. Much. Moisture.  It's really great!

However, as much as I love the color and the formula of this lipstick, there is one downfall to it - the packaging.  Now, don't get me wrong, the packaging is really nice to look at, and it's also super fun to play with, BUT it's too boxy.  I've taken to calling this my 'box lipstick', as I feel like the housing for this lipstick overpowers what's inside the damn box.  The shape of the packaging makes it difficult to apply the lipstick, and when I'm applying it, I constantly smudge my lipstick - which is nothing short of annoying.  Is the packaging a dealbreaker? No, but it's probably my least favorite packaging for any lipstick - drugstore or high-end.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this lipstick if you're looking into it or just looking for a splurge, just be wary of the packaging!

Longevity: 4/5

Pigmentation: 4/5

Packaging: 3/5

Texture: 5/5

Application: 4.5/5

Value For Money: 4/5 

Overall Rating: 8.17/10

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Beauty Haul!

My shopping can't be stopped.

After a couple of trips to the store, I ended up with a few new products that I'm pretty excited about.  The first of which is the L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Hand Cream ($12).  I've finally worked my way through all of my hand creams, and this is one of my favorite brands.  It's really moisturizing and the perfect size for your handbag.  Next up is the Dior Vernis in Plaza 579 ($23), a hot pink nail polish that I had to have after seeing it in person - stunning shade.  I also picked up another product whilst at the Dior counter - the Dior Hydra Life BB Eye Crème in 1 ($45).  I heard Essiebutton talking about this in one of her recent videos, so I knew I had to have it.  So far, I'm sort of unsure how I feel about it, a full review is sure to come soon enough!  I also picked up another product on Essiebutton's recommendation - the Origins Make A Difference Plus Rejuvenating Treatment ($39.50).  I've been suffering from breakouts recently and I was hoping this would help out with that - so far, I'm loving it, but keep your eyes out for a review, again!  Finally, I couldn't leave the store without picking up the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner ($32).  After hearing Caroline Hirons rave about it and then Viviannadoesmakeup rave about it, too, I knew it needed to be a part of my skincare routine.

I'm happy with my purchases, is there anything that I bought that you're wanting?  Anything you want that I didn't purchase?

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NOTD: Rimmel Rose Libertine

If you saw my recent UK Drugstore Haul, then you'll know I went a bit nail polish crazy (I got 7 - yes, 7).  I couldn't restrain myself from the offerings, and the first one I decided to don on my nails was Rimmel's Rose Libertine (£3.50).

If you haven't already guessed from the name, it's a rose color, a stunning rose color.  I've recently started getting into pinks on my nails, which is pretty much unheard of for me.  Pink on my lips? Yes.  Pink on my cheeks? Yes.  Even a little hint of pink-based eyeshadow? Sure.  But pink on my nails, that's pretty much unheard territory for me.

Rose Libertine seems to last pretty well on my nails, about 3 days into wear and I've yet to see any chipping.  However, I do have an issue with the formulation of this one.  I've only applied this once, but when I applied it, it didn't apply smoothly, but kind of streaky and even a tad clumpy on some nails.  

The bottle also says that you only need one coat of this for an opaque shade, which is definitely not true.  After one coat, there was a streaky pink tint to my nails, but after two, it was totally opaque.  But like I said, you definitely couldn't get away with one coat of this stuff.

Overall, I'm content with this nail polish.  The color is gorgeous and worth and formulation issues I have with the nail polish, but I'm going to give it another go sometime soon to see if it was just a one time thing!

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Keep Calm and Drink Tea

I thought I'd take a break from my usual Beauty-related posts and go for something different today: Tea.

I'm a massive fan of tea, I rarely drink coffee, so I try to drink a cup of tea everyday.  I find it tastes better (in my opinion) and it's a healthier option than coffee (as long as you don't add too much sugar to your tea).

While I was in London a few weeks back, I was browsing through Spitalfields Market and came across a stand selling loose-leaf tea.  I stood there and took a whiff of every single tea they were selling.  The guy working at the stand said there was an offer going on: 3 bags of loose-leaf tea for £13, plus a small tea-strainer, as well.  I obviously had to get some tea after that offer!

Notting Hill

This is a black tea, which I usually don't care for.  I usually find black teas to be lacking in flavor and generally need sugar, which I really don't like to add to drinks unless absolutely necessary.  However, when I smelled this, I had to have it.  This has the largest amount of tea in the bag out of the three, so I'll definitely get my money out of this!  The ingredients in this tea are: Apricot, Strawberry, Marigold Blossom, and Cornflowers, which makes it more fruity than most black teas, making it a great choice for Summer!

Egyptian Nights

Once I smelled this, I knew I had to have it.  My all-time favorite tea is peppermint tea, and I would gladly drink that everyday.  Egyptian Nights is made up of Egyptian Chamomile and Egyptian Mint.  The mint is quite strong smelling in this, so I think it will work with the chamomile quite well.  This might also be a good option for someone with a sore throat/cold, because chamomile is a good tea to drink for that, but the taste of chamomile is nothing short of gross, so the mint in it will probably work well with it!  I also got this because it's a red tea and I've never tried a red tea before.

Chelsea in Bloom

This was the first tea I knew I wanted, it smells amazing!  I'm generally not a fan of green tea, as I find it to taste a bit - how do I put this - plant-y?  I just feel like I'm drinking tea made out of grass, it doesn't taste good to me.  However since this has elderberry, apple, lemon, sunflower, rose, chamomile, blue mallow and peony, it adds a bit of fruit and floral to the otherwise eau de grass taste.  It also tastes pretty damn good, though perhaps not as nice as it smells (but only just).

Are you a tea drinker over a coffee drinker?  What are your favorite types of tea?

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Neutral-Toned Foundation Finds!

In my experience, it always seems the Beauty World seems to be broken into two distinct sections: Warm-toned and Cool-toned.  You either have Yellow or Pink undertones.  You're either a Summer or a Spring, a Winter or a Fall.  But then there are those of us that don't fall into any of those categories, but a completely different one: Neutral.

Ever since I started to get more into Make-Up and Beauty products, I've always struggled finding foundations that work for me.  I'm naturally fair and don't like to tan, so finding foundations to match that is difficult in itself, then add my neutral coloring to the mix and it becomes damn near impossible.

I spent a good year thinking I was cool-toned, then once I discovered my foundation didn't actually match my skin at all, I spent another 6 months thinking I was warm-toned, only to be called cool-toned by a couple Make-Up Artists.  I was confused, to say the least.  Then, around April of this year (recent discovery - what), I finally realized that the reason pink-toned foundations didn't work for me and yellow-toned foundations were just too yellow on me was because I have neither pink nor yellow undertones, but beige ones!

Since having neutral coloring is something unusual, it's sort of pushed to the side in the beauty world, but I wanted to share 3 foundations with you that seem to work perfectly with my coloring (keep in mind that I'm pretty freaking pale), in hopes that this will save someone out there time and money trying to make pink and yellow-based foundations work when there's just no chance in hell they will.

First up (excuse the SUPER Intro, a lot of clearing up I wanted to share), is the Burberry Sheer Fluid Foundation in Trench No. 01 ($52).  This was the first foundation I ever tried that made me realize there was a foundation out there that actually matched my skin-tone.  This has a light-medium coverage and doesn't feel like I'm wearing foundation at all, despite the decent coverage.  It does have a distinct rose scent, which I love, but might put some people off it.  The longevity of this stuff is also really great and I've already got my sister hooked on it, too (though she wears Trench No. 02 as she has very pink undertones).  Trench No. 01 is very beige-based, making it a great choice for someone with fair, neutral skin like me.

Next is the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation in 0 Porcelain ($47).  If you know anything about Bobbi Brown foundations, you'll know they have a yellow undertone to them.  However, this particular shade seems to be more on the neutral side.  After I bought it, I came home and played around with it, comparing the color to some other ones I own, and this seemed to have more pink in it than some of my yellow-based foundations, making it an ideal choice for me.  Though if you're neutral leaning cool (I'm slightly more neutral leaning warm, but I'm pretty much totally neutral), I'd give it a swatch first, just in case there's a little too much yellow in it.  This has light coverage and doesn't have the greatest wear-time, but it looks and feels like skin (hence the name - Skin Foundation).

Finally, the By Terry Sheer Expert in 2 Neutral Beige ($65) is another ideal choice for someone with true beige undertones.  When the Make-Up Artist at Space NK tested this out on me, it was perfect.  Literally, this is pretty much my exact skin color in a tube. Unlike the first two options, which are more on the luminous side, this has more of a matte finish, though not totally.  This is a sheer foundation, and has light coverage, with less coverage than the Burberry foundation, but more than the Bobbi Brown one.  If you're coloring is like mine: fair with beige undertones, this would be a really good option for you.  There's also a sister product to this, the Cover Expert, which offers more coverage if that's what you're looking for.

Obviously, not everyone can afford such high prices for foundation.  I personally think it's worth it, since finding neutral-toned foundation at the drugstore is nothing short of IMPOSSIBLE.  However, I have run across a couple purse-friendly options that might work:  Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation in Classic Ivory ($12.99) is a good neutral-toned option, though slightly too dark for me.  There's also the L'Oreal True Match Foundation ($9.99), which separates their shades into C (Cool), N (Neutral), and W (Warm).  I haven't tried this line out yet, but I have color-matched myself to N1, and will be picking this line up ASAP.

So, if you're sick of your foundation not truly matching your skin-tone, if you're sick of having to counteract your wrong-toned foundation with the other wrong-toned powder, or if you just want to try something new, I highly recommend all of these products!  I've used and loved them all and will continue to love them, as they're my three best color matches.

Any other great neutral-toned foundations that I missed?  Let me know, I'm always looking for a new foundation!

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NARS Douceur Blush Review

NARS is one of those brands that never seems to disappoint.  Their blushers, their eyeshadows, their concealers: everything I try from them is always top quality and usually end up being some of my favorite products!

One of those stand out products is the NARS Douceur Blush ($29).  This is a pinky-brown blush (more brown than pink) that looks so natural on the cheeks.  It's a matte finish, making it look appropriate for any age!  It looks quite boring in the pan, I know I passed it up so many times when I was at the NARS counter, but once it's on your cheeks, it's stunning.

Douceur can also be used as a contour color for those with paler skin.  I've never personally tried this, but I know a lot of people who swear by it!

However, if you've tried NARS blushers before, you'll know that most of them are extremely pigmented.  This isn't necessarily the case with Douceur.  It takes a few more dips in the pan to get the proper color payoff, but if you like lighter, sheerer blushers, this one is probably for you!

Another thing to keep in mind with Douceur is that the longevity isn't fantastic.  It lasts about 5 or 6 hours before it starts to get patchy, which isn't great, in my opinion.

Longevity: 3/5

Pigmentation: 3.5/5

Packaging: 4/5

Texture: 4/5

Application: 4.5/5

Value For Money: 4/5 

Overall Rating: 7.67/10

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My Beauty Must-Haves!

Thought I'd take a break from my usual review post and talk about all the products that I love and have loved for a long time!  My Beauty Must-Haves (this doesn't include skincare, haircare etc.) make up quite a list, you have been warned :)

I'll quickly run through my must-have beauty tools, I couldn't live with my MAC 217 ($23).  It's just the perfect blending brush and is so versatile.  I'm even planning on picking up a few more once I can afford the steep price (€25, ouch).  I also LOVE my Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers ($20).  These converted me to using Eyelash Curlers and now I can't look back.  My eyelashes have looked stunning ever since I started using these and I will continue to use them for the foreseeable future!

Onto the best part: Makeup.  I have two base products that I will continually repurchase.  The first is my trusty Burberry Sheer Fluid Foundation in Trench No. 01 ($54).  Although it's expensive, it's the perfect color for me and it gives me just the right amount of coverage without making me feel like I'm wearing a mask (which just about any foundation above a light-medium coverage does to me).  This shade is pretty neutral in color, which is perfect for me, because I'm pretty much neutral in skin-tone and I find it really hard to find foundations that match my skin, they mostly end up being too yellow or too pink!  So, is a must-have for me!

Moving onto eyes.  I have oily lids, so I have to have an eyeshadow primer and the NARS Smudge-Proof Eyeshadow Base ($24) (review here) ticks all the boxes.  All other eyeshadow primers I've tried still cause creasing, but this makes my eyeshadows last all day!  

My eyeshadow pick has to be the Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 02 Trench ($29).  This isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but it's the perfect wash of color on the lid for me.  It matches my skin tone and covers up the veins on my lids, but it has a (very) slight shimmer running through it, too, for something a little more special :)  Then for my brows, I couldn't live with my Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Taupe ($42) (review here).  I was devastated when mine was stolen from my make-up bag when I was in Spain :(  But thankfull I had already repurchased this and I will continue to do so.  It's just amazing, I can't say anything more than that.

Finally, I have to mention the lipstick I've been in love with since January: the Clinique Chubby Stick in Bountiful Blush 05 ($16).  Sheer, but not too sheer: this gives an amazing color to the lips, without looking too matte or too much for day-wear.  I recently lost my tube of this and went about 5 days without it and felt completely lost.  Needless to say, I went out and bought a new one and everything now is right in the world again!

I also want to mention my all-time favorite perfume.  I've never mentioned this before, but my go-to scent is Dolce & Gabanna Rose The One ($98 for 2.5 oz).  It's an amazing mix of fruity and floral, which just smells really natural and never seems like it's too much.  I've worn this for four years and I constantly go back to it (fun fact: this was the first ever high-end perfume I bought!).  I never hear about this anywhere, but I've turned a lot of people into addicts of this stuff, so seriously go give it a try!

Well, this was quite the post!  Anyways, I hope this gave some insight into what I feel is really worth the money for me and maybe it helped you out :)

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UK High-End Beauty Haul

In my last post I went over my drugstore purchases from my recent trip to the UK, but I wasn't able to restrain myself to just Boots and Superdrug (though I'd have a happy, if not healthy, relationship with both stores), I made a couple naughty trips to Space NK, Liberty, and a few more stores...

First up are a couple of powders that have been hot on my radar for a bit (one longer than the other).  I've heard so much about the Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powder in Candlelight (£34) over the last few months, that I simply had to have it after making the fatal mistake of swatching it.  I also made a little trip to the Hourglass Stand in Liberty and couldn't resist picking up one of their new Ambient Lighting Powders, opting for Dim Light (£38), which the Make-Up Artist said was the best-selling in the line, and I can definitely see why!

The Make-Up Artist at Liberty also completely sold me on the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (£52).  So very expensive, but since I wear light coverage foundation, I always have issues with longevity and she said this would help.  I've only used it once, but I did notice that my foundation did last longer, so I'm happy so far!  I also went to the Dolce & Gabbana Beauty Section at Duty Free in Heathrow and opted for their Concealer Perfect Finish Concealer in 2 (£20 at Duty Free).  I recently ran out of my beloved Burberry Concealer and my shade in that was sold out throughout all of London, so I thought I'd try something new.

This is where things got bad...  I really couldn't restrain myself when it came to finding the new 'Perfect Summer Foundation'.  Due to where I live in the US (when I do live there, that is), I rarely get a chance to swatch and test things out for myself more than a couple times a year, which leads to me sticking to what I know works for me, foundation-wise.  That being said, I couldn't miss the opportunity to get color-matched to a few different foundations while I was in London.  First up is the Chantecaille Just Skin in Alabaster (£57).  This has been on my list for over a year, but I definitely didn't want to splurge on this without testing it out in person first.  This was actually my last purchase in London - I had enough cash left to buy this, so I figured I may as well just do it!  Next up is the By Terry Sheer Expert in 2 Neutral Beige (£44).  I went into Space NK to get matched to the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Tinted Balm, but when no color really worked for my neutral hue, the woman assisting me said I should try By Terry instead.  She tried this on a little patch of my face and I fell in love - the perfect match.  For all you fair, beige-toned gals out there, check this stuff out!  Finally, I made a random purchase when perusing the Clinique counter at Boots and couldn't resist the Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream in Extra Light (£28).  The fact that a CC Cream was light enough for me was a miracle in itself, and who am I to deny witnessing a miracle?  I obviously had to buy it, it was fate!

Finally, I made two more purchases while in the UK.  The first purchase was the Elemental Herbology Facial Glow (£39).  While I was being color-matched foundation, the Make-Up Artist complimented me on my skin, saying that all I needed to do was exfoliate.  I gave in and said that was the step I always skipped due to my hatred of exfoliating beads on my face (I feel like they're scratching me!).  However, once she mentioned how important it was, I had her recommend an exfoliator to me that didn't include any damn beads.  She recommended this to me and I left a happy woman - perfect skin here I come!   

The final product I purchased was the Diptyque 34 EDT (£60 for 50ml).  By far the most expensive perfume I own, but after spraying a bit on my wrists one morning at John Lewis, I spent my entire day smelling my wrists and lusting after the gorgeous scent.  So, I bit the bullet and made the super splurge and I'm so glad I did, it's quickly becoming a new favorite!

As you can tell by the post, I definitely left the UK in a better economic state than when I arrived- though my personal economic state is another story...

Have you tried any of these products?  Have any of these items made it onto your wishlist?

bloglovin' l hellocotton

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UK Drugstore Haul

After 12 days in the UK, I definitely couldn't resist a couple of trips to Boots, Superdrug, and a few other shops, as well!

 One of the first purchases I made was the MUA Undress Me Too Palette (£4 from Superdrug).  I saw Essiebutton use this in one of her videos and I had to pick it up.  Of course, after I used it once or twice, I couldn't help but notice that it's a complete dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (which I already own), so this purchase was slightly unnecessary, but I'll still use this one.

I also couldn't help myself when I went to the Natural Collection section of Boots.  There was a 3 for £5 offer going on, and I thought I'd take advantage of it!  I opted for Pink Cloud, Dusty Rose, and Sweet Cheeks (L-R in the swatches above).  I now think I own every single blusher from Natural Collection, but I really like them, plus they're super cheap!

I also decided to get some things I've heard a lot about: the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer (£5.50) and the Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder (£12).  The concealer seems to be a favorite among British Youtubers/Bloggers, so I had to get my hands on it.  I opted for the lightest shade: Ivory, and it seems to work pretty well for me.  As for the powder, I went to Boots almost every day on the hunt for this, but it was always sold out!  Finally, on my last full day in London, I managed to arrive at Boots right as the Soap & Glory section was being restocked, I grabbed it and high-tailed it straight for the till!

While I was in London, I also decided to pop into & Other Stories (a few times), a new store on Regent Street that everyone is going on about.  I wasn't super impressed with the beauty offerings they had, but still managed to find a few things.  I opted for the blush in Canvas Taupe (£10), a natural pink with a very misleading name, it's definitely not a taupe blusher!  I then decided to get an eyeshadow in Cubica Mauve (£7), which looks like it may be a dupe for MAC Quarry, though I can't be sure, as I don't own Quarry.  I also decided to get an eyeliner in Tricolette Naquet (£6), a shimmery, pinky-champagne color that I thought would add something to my waterline from time to time.  Finally, I decided to get one of their nail polishes, which I've heard mixed reviews on.  I opted for Damask Rosé (£5), a gorgeous rose gold shade that I'm really looking forward to testing out!

I may have gone a bit nail polish crazy...  However, in my defense, there are a lot of amazing formulas for nail polish in the UK, that we can't get in the US or Germany, so this was my last chance to snatch them up before I move back to the US!  I got four new Models Own nail polishes (as they're probably my favorite): Purple Ash, Bloo Boo, Utopia, and Feeling Blue (£5 each).  I also went in to Topshop and couldn't leave with the Celestial Nail Polish (£5), which I've heard a lot about in the past.  Once I got to the Barry M section, I restrained myself and only bought Raspberry (£3).  Finally, I opted to get the Rimmel Rose Libertine Nail Polish (£3.50), that seems to be getting quite popular!

As you can see, some damage was done at the drugstore, but I can't deny some of the gorgeous products the UK has to offer!  I also made some slightly naughtier purchases at some high-end counters throughout the UK, which you can see here (post will be up in 2 days time)!

Have you tried any of these products?  Is there anything that I missed from my multiple trips to the drugstore that I should add to the list for when I return to the UK (hopefully) next Summer?

bloglovin' l hellocotton

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