2011 Favourites

Some favourites of the past year...

 Body Shop shower gel & VO5 shampoo/conditioner

Body Shop Shower Gel - I'd never really noticed how nice these were until recently. I've always had the mini ones for travelling and bought lots of full sizes ones because I had a money off voucher. I've always thought the Body Shop products smell amazing but the shower gels are insane. The smell lingers and its so good! Almost intoxicating. I'm now fully stocked up with an entire shelf of them in my bathroom. 
VO5 Shampoos & Conditioners - I've always loved the smell of VO5 products, especially the styling products. When I dyed my hair red in January 2011 I really needed a good shampoo and conditioner to hold the colour and nourish my hair. It was VO5 that was the best for my hair, the colour stayed so so long and your hair smells amazing for the whole day. 

 back: MAC Fix+, Batiste Dry Shampoo, L'oreal Chelnett, Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector "BB" Cream, Avon Color Trend Chill Out Face Illuminator

front: Models Own Juicy Jules polish, Vaseline Rosy Lips, VO5 Miracle Concentrate, Avon Magix Face Perfector, Natural Collection Blush in Pink Cloud, Max Factor Smooth Effect foundation, MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study

MAC Fix+ - I absolutely love this product. Very annoyed they've made the bottle much much smaller for not much less money, but I only use this when I want my make-up to look flawless or stay perfect for an event. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo - Attempting to grow my hair means I can't wash it as much as I would like to, so this is a god send. I usually wear my hair up when I haven't washed it so I like this on the roots and it makes it a little thicker and more textured as I don't like my ponytail or bun to be sleek. I have such a supply of this as much as I want to try alternative dry shampoos I should use all the batiste I have. 

L'Oreal Chelnett - Can't believe this can is still going, talk about value for money! I use it everyday and quite a  bit too so for that alone it's a favourite of 2011. 

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector - I wear this as a base to my foundation and loved it as soon as I first used it. I love the fruity smell Garnier products have and this really works for my skin. It gives a healthy dewy look and is light. 

Avon Color Trend Illuminator - although this is a product from a few years back if you can get a tube I recommend it. It gives the most amazing glow and is slightly shimmery but not too much. Its my favourite highlighter for a night out. 

Models Own - I only bought from Models Own this year after a stand arrived in my Boots. I love how fast the polish dries and the amount of colours they have really does rival Barry M. Juicy Jules is my favourite and I love wearing it, I get so many compliments and love how much it catches the light and sparkles. 

Vaseline Rosy Lips - I got this in a big Vaseline tin for Christmas last year but only first used it a few weeks ago. It's love. It smells amazing (must be the almond oil in it) and leaves a pretty pink tint.

VO5 Miracle Concentrate - This had been raved about so much by bloggers and youtubers I had to give it a go. It leaves hair like silk and I love the smell. This is a must if you have dyed or used heat on your hair. 

Avon Magix - I bought this when it first launched and I don't think I will ever even contemplate a different primer. This smells amazing, like chocolate and although its a gel as it goes on your skin it becomes more of a powder. Makes your skin feels so so soft and gets rid of pores. 

Natural Collection blush - I've raved about this before because its a dupe of the Rimmel one I've used for years except this is half the price. I'd say this actually even wears and stays better than the Rimmel too. 

Max Factor foundation - I love Max Factor foundation for some reason. Could be that I worked on a counter once so I'm a little biased, but this is one of the nicest ones they've ever released. Creamy and perfect for my skin colour I love wearing this and although I'd say its light it gives a good coverage too. 

MAC Paint Pot - When I first bought a paint pot back in 2010 I used it once and then it sat unloved and unused for months until the summer when I was experimenting. I then realised why everyone loves them so much. I have always struggled to stop creasing on my eyelids but this stays, all day. Que Emily sold.

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner, Collection 2000 Glam Crystals, Avon Glazewear lipgloss, Avon Satin Satisfaction, Soap & Glory Supercat liner, Avon Super Shock eyeliner

Maybelline Gel Liner - Gel liners had never really appealed to me and I noticed this one and curiosity got the better of me. This gives a really dramatic, black look which I love. It stays put and is really nice and easy to apply. 
Collection 2000 Glam Crystals - I own this in every colour available and love it. Gives the most amazing look to eyes and I always get complimented on them. Very quick and easy if you've not got much time too. 
Avon Glazewear - I've loved these lipglosses for years now and they release so many different colours. They smell amazing, the tube lasts for ages and doesn't leak/go sticky. They always have a good amount of glitter in which I love, these are my staple for work. 
Avon Satin Satisfaction - Newly released but I've stocked up already. This might not be everyones cup of tea because its very thick. Its a lipgloss which is more like a lipstick. It lasts for ages, even through food, drink and talking. Pleased Pink is my favourite colour, a hot pink. 
Soap & Glory Supercat - I love this for mornings when I don't have much time especially work mornings. I used to spend ages with liquid liner as it can be messy, going on lashes and needing tidying up with a cotton bud, but with this I can draw the line and it needs no work plus means my mascara goes on much better. Much easier to do my flick with too, probably because there isn't much product on the pen tip. 
Avon Super Shock gel eyeliner - Ever since I first used this I have been in awe of how good it is. This is the best ever product to stay on my waterline all day, kohl always came off after an hour or so and fell down. I've bought no end of these so have a good supply for some time.

Collection 2000 Lasting Colour 6 Bubblegum, Barry M 129 Palest Lavender, 17 Mirror Shine Peace, Avon Ultra Colour Rich Moisture Seduction lipstick in Lilac Shimmer, MAC Milan Mode 

2011 was definitely the year I got into lipstick. These are my favourite brands and I picked a favourite shade from each (for MAC and Avon it was very hard!). 


What were your favourites of 2011? I'm really excited to see what I find in 2012 and add to my collection :)
Em x

Happy New Year!

So 2012 is here. Time has whizzed past and can't believe Christmas and New Year has been and gone. Didn't do much, usually go to a party but wanted to stay in this year with my Mum. Plus had to collect my youngest brother from his party, but he got a lift back in the end. Was the first time I saw the fireworks in London though, they looked amazing! May look into being there next year :) 


I treated myself in recent weeks :)

Of course I couldn't resist getting one! A huge Soap & Glory gift set for £25 instead of £60 with approximately £68 worth of goodies?! Yes please. Made even better by using my Boots points. However I soon begrudged this purchase being my first as I was in town on my own, doing my last bit of Christmas shopping. Trying to carry this, a cage umbrella, a roll wrap in no bag (I said no to one, thinking it was easier to carry it) and three shopper bags of stuff. Trying to pay for stuff while holding everything was a nightmare, I even dropped something I was getting money out to buy and a little lady picked it up for me saying "dear you look like you can barely carry what you have let alone pick this up" haha. 

back: abombinaball bath bomb, cinders bath bomb, snow fairy shower gel, celebrate lip tint, miranda soap, snowcake soap, phoenix rising bath bomb

middle: candy cane soap, lil lush pud bath bomb, candy mountain bubble bar, gingerbread house bubble bar, satsumo santa bath bomb

front: the melting snowman bath melt

I ordered Lush online and added some goodies to the basket for me, obviously. I was very restrained as you can see. However in my attempt not to spend much I only ordered a Celebrate lip tint. My Snow Fairy lip tint from when they last released them is still going and much loved but I forgot to get another. Luckily my friend Amy saved the day as she'd got me one for Christmas, which actually made me scream on Christmas morning.

I've wanted a pristine set of Harry Potter books for a while but it wasn't high on my list. I soon discovered there was several boxsets available and decided on this one with the new design covers as all my copies are the original ones, slightly well loved and my deathly hallows is in hardback. I'm now hoping to pick up the page to screen book //link// 

 Mum got me these lights for my room. I love bird stuff and last Christmas Eve she put diamond lights on my bed, on my twitter pictures if you look back. 

 Just the dove lights on

 dove and diamond lights on

so pretty!

Hope you all had a great New Year and started 2012 on a good note

Em x

Sunday Catch Up

Just a quick round up of some purchases I've made this week. Had a very strange but good week. Some personal stuff happening, but things are looking up now. I truly believe everything you go through makes you stronger.

Silly me, in the mess of the last week or so I didn't photograph the final Models Own Beetlejuice colour. I probably won't wear it again until next year. I've got lots of parties and nights coming up from this week and I like to really go all out on my nails for such occasions haha. 

I've already started wearing completely glitter nails...

 models own bluebelle and emerald city glitter polishes

Mixed it up a little. Loving not having all my nails the same colour, also why I won't wear any Beetlejuice again this year. Feel so boring. But I feel boring with just one different nail colour, so I always do my thumb nail too. Got so many compliments on my nails. Did them opposite ways on my hands but took so so many coats. Glitter takes a while to build up but I've already had one nail chip badly, and losing the colour of the glitter after two days. Usually steer clear of glitters for this reason but I haven't got a top coat on. 

I needed an exchange at Boots and knew exactly what I was going to treat myself to...

Wasn't very happy with the service I got. I know the kids on the tills may be christmas temps and I'm more than happy to wait for a permanent member or senior staff. But the person I got was so difficult about it and then made me wait ages to "check with someone". I had bought the item only a month previous, it wasn't opened and wasn't cosmetics/food. Why bother giving her a position to authorise an exchange if she still can't do it. Makes me so mad! I got a refund in new look off christmas staff because I could tell she wasn't sure what she needed to do. Right rant over! 

I bought a conical wand! I have had such envy of hair styled with one. Lusted after one possibly all year just never got around to actually purchasing one. Mainly due to my no heat hair during the summer. Still haven't used straighteners or curling tongs since may but with Christmas and party season upon us, it seemed the perfect time to invest. 

My Mum went to London on Monday. I sent her with a list of items from MAC and Forever 21 in the hope she may track something down. She text me when she was getting the train home at 9 to say she had something from my list. Cue major excitement and impatience. When she finally got home, I had waited up and I saw the MAC bag that I love so much. I decided I wanted this lipstick after my order but most of the Glitter and Ice collection had sold out. 

 MAC Glitter and Ice Collection, Whirls and Twirls lipstick 

Boots had another spend £50 and get £12 of points events on Thursday. I practically lived on Boots meal deals for my lunch last week which is terrible, usually a home lunch girl as I'm fussy. So with my lunch on Thursday I got one of my brothers birthday presents (Joop is on offer for £25.99 instead of £39) and then spent £40 on make up :) there was so much I wanted and this was a very restricted spend. 

l-r maybelline gel eyeliner, soap & glory sexy mother pucker, soap & glory supercat pen liner, 17 mirror shine in purple haze, 3x natural collection pink cloud blush

front soap & glory smoulder kohl, 17 lip liner fawn

Getting fed up of liquid liner, its so messy and takes ages to get right so got two new forms of eyeliner to try. Already used the supercat liner and LOVE it. Will talk more of that another time. Always wanted to try the sexy mother pucker as what girl wouldn't want bigger lips?! Am so in love with the 17 mirror shine lipsticks and wanted a purpley vampy lip colour. The natural collection blush has replaced my usual Rimmel one. Half the price and exactly the same colour. I need to venture into the world of lip liners but I'm so all over the place with my lipsticks it would take so much time to get lip liners to match all of them, and surely you can't get exactly the same shade. So taken a gamble and got a pale shade hoping that it works. More than anything I need one to stop red lipstick feathering as I'm swaying towards red/purple lips. 

I went late night shopping on Thursday after work with my little brothers and the oldest youngest (it does make sense!) girlfriend. We were about to leave H&M when my eyes fell upon a table of Disney jumpers. I literally screamed out loud and rushed over. There wasn't many sizes left and although mine is a little too big for me, I quite like it like that. Hoping to get the Minnie Mouse version too. Loved the Bambi tee too, although I can't watch Bambi, too sad! 

Got home Thursday to my Graze delivery! Was such a good box, had my favourites in: cashews and honeycomb chocolate flapjack. Plus a cardboard snowman to make and gift vouchers for friends. 

Stocked up on my new favourite shower gel. They last quite a while and smell amazing. 

Can't believe it's the fourth of December today! Keep forgetting to open my advent calendar, got a thorntons one :) 

Not feeling particularly festive just yet, but once the house is decorated and I get serious with my Christmas shopping I should be like a little kid i.e. bouncing off the walls. 

Hope you're all keeping warm as it gets colder and feeling festive. 

Emily x