My Years Favourites

Boxing Day Beauty Buys

I have spent this year trying to find some alternatives to some of the more expensive products I have previously used. I have had success with some, others not so much. I think the conclusion I have reached is that sometimes you can find an alternative that is equally as good for half the price, other times it is worth spending that extra bit for a fabulous product! 

So here are my year's finds and favourites...enjoy!

• Dermalogica - Skin smoothing cream and daily microfoliant. However many times I try something new I always return to these two fantastic products. I have been using these for years and nothing compares! I buy them from Look Fantastic when they have a deal on to get them at the best possible price.

•  Soap and Glory make up range.  1. "It's all about Prime" eyeshadow primer - a brilliant little primer that intensifies eye shadows and keeps them in place all day. 2. "Trick and Treatment" concealer to cover those black under eye bags! I've needed that this year!! I get these at Boots.

• Bad Gal Benefit Lash - A superb all round mascara - have repurchased this twice from Boots  and still happy! 

• Orly Top 2 Bottom base and topcoat - This is the best one I have ever tried. It really does help sustain my nail polish for longer. You can get Orly polishes and nail treatments from Cheap Smells.

• Stila bronzer and highlighter - this is a lovely little product that I rely on to bring some winter colour to my very pale face! Look Fantastic stocks Stila products.

• Hydraluron moisture booster - if you haven't tried this yet - do!! It goes under your usual moisturiser and really does improve skin texture over time. Now hooked! This can be purchased at Boots .

• Elvive Extraordinary Oil - best anti frizz, calming, hair product on the market. I love , love , love this product. Easily available at Supermarkets and drugstores.

• Essie nail polishes - the colours of Essie polishes have me capitivated and the fact I can pick them up from Superdrug is even better! Superdrug Essie Polishes

• My most recent discovery - KMS makeover spray. A brilliant styling, revamping tool without buildup! Another staple to be added to my cabinet! Cheap Smells has a great price on this product.

• Bourjois Colour Pots - I have a few of these as alternatives to my Mac eye shadows. They are not the same as Mac by any stretch of the imagination, but with a good primer they are fantastic little shots of colour and at a 3rd of the price a few of these will do thank you very much! Wait for a 3 for 2 offer and get these from Boots.

• Dr Jart BB cream - this is the most gorgeous BB ever! The end!

I could go on ...and on and on ..... but these are probably my top new discoveries or old favourites. I have a list of items I am now itching to try. Thats the problem with reading blogs - you read about so many tempting things!! 

My advice with beauty products is if you are unsure always see if they have a sample size you can buy first or if buying from a counter ask for some samples to try. Always look for money off vouchers and codes and check the prices online to see if it is any cheaper to order your products, taking into consideration the cost of posting compared with petrol and parking etc to drive into town to buy them. Don't rule out buying through cashback sites either. Some sites such as Quidco give up to 8% cashback on purchases at Boots and you still get your points on your card too. It's a win, win! 

What is your favourite Beauty Product of 2012?

Wednesday Beauty Buys

Stila

Stlla Eye Shadow and Shimmer Duo

I had a good child free browse around the Benefit and Stila counter in our local Boots last week. I was looking for a darker brown than the phloof Mac shadow and wanted to take the opportunity to try something different. I don't know whether this is me showing the signs of middle age setting in, but on this occasion, I found the packaging and Benefit display utterly confusing. Nothing is particularly clearly labelled and for most products an explanation is needed as to what it is for.I think once you are really familiar with all of the products it becomes easy, but the reality is not many of us are. It seems to me that some of the labelling and packaging for Benefit has gone down the gimicky route for the sake of it and I think it detracts from the fantastic quality of the products.

 Now, I love a bit of fun in products - I like the way Soap and Glory label and package some of their product, but I also like to know what I am looking at. It took me forever to find an eye shadow and then the products were in a pot that was difficult to rummage in and I couldn't find what I was looking for. Usually the Benefit lady is hovering ready to impart advice and makeovers, but today was no where to be seen, so I headed off to the smaller Stila display. This was clear, simply set out and I found what I was looking for straight away. I was a bit gutted that I had missed the £1 offer at pound land on some Stila products, but maybe that will teach me to be quicker off the mark!

Firstly a lovely eye shadow in a lovely brown with a gold sheen in it called 'Golightly'. Very pretty and has a lovely depth of colour especially when used with a primer, but also is a great colour alone. I am very pleased with it's ability to stay put too. A little cheaper than the Mac products at £13.

I also picked up an all over Shimmer Duo called 'Kitten'. I have used this on it's own or as a highlighter with my blusher. It isn't as apparent on your skin as the 'Watts Up' highlighter from Benefit which I have and love, but is more of a subtle shimmer for daytime use. I mix the colours and use this mostly on it's own as it gives just a lovely peachy glimmer which is ideal on my fair skin. I think for darker skin tones you may want to use it as a highlighter with your usual blush. A really versatile little product and I paid for this with my points at Boots so an extra little gift. Price £18.

You can buy the Stila eye Shadow here for £12 and free shipping, and the Kitten Shimmer Duo here for £15 and free shipping. The same site.  This is cheaper than the Boots prices.

One of my favourite Stila products are their smudge sticks - very easy to get addicted to these and to want one in every colourway!

Wednesday Beauty Buys

Benefit

I have a fabulous Benefit Mascara ( Bad Gal Lash) which I love. I don't know if it is the chunky brush or the creamy consistency that doesn't clump that makes the difference, but this mascara is a real winner for my lashes. 

It has given me the confidence to branch out and try a couple more of their products that previously I have been a little reluctant to . I'm not one for jumping on the band wagon, as such, but - if it works for me I'll use it. 

I've been trying out primers and have found a primer that is reasonable from Rimmel that does a good job, but  decided, on recommendation,  to try the Pore fessional from Benefit. I missed this when it was available as a sample on the glossies a few months ago and was gutted, so have bitten the bullet and paid full price for a full size product - lets hope I like it ( deep intake of breath here please.)

I was expecting it to be white so was pleasantly pleased to see a creamy skin toned cream when I opened the package. The instructions are to pat a fine layer onto clean and moisturised skin from the centre of the face outwards , to wait a few seconds and then apply make up. If pores reappear then pat delicately over make up and blend. You can re touch during the day as well. My first impressions are good and I have found that it has helped to give a more even appearance. My only concern is value for money and how long this will last, especially if you do have to reapply during the day. At the moment I have not needed to reapply, but maybe that is laziness or lack of time, more than anything else, so we shall see!

My second product is called Watts Up! It is a soft focus highlighter for the face. Already I love this product and I have only used it twice. It has an end for the creamy product and an end that has a sponge to blend. It gives a soft subtle shimmer to cheeks and brows - as much or as little as you want. It can be used over make up or simply on it's own for a healthy glow. A lovely flexible product. Again , not particularly cheap, but we will see how long I can make this stretch......!

I am sure this is just the start of another one of my collections so watch this space!! The tinted lip gloss is also another lovely product - just thought I'd add that final thought there!

What are your favourite Benefit products you think are worth trying?