The Best of Beauty 2015: Powder and Eyebrows

This year I have decided to choose my best products of 2015. I'm only choosing one beauty product in each section. e.g. one foundation, one mascara. However, I will be doing a "Runner Up" to the product that almost made it.  In this post, powder and eyebrow product. 

Powder

Benefit Hello Flawless

This powder basically feels like a powder foundation. I apply it all over the face and use a little brush to apply it directly onto problem areas. It looks beautiful on the skin and I want to repurchase it, but the price tag definitely puts me off. I'm going to invest in the MAC Studio Fix powder and if it's not as good as this one, I'll stick to this. Baring in mind, the powder has lasted me well over a year! It also has an SPF of 15.

£25.50

The Runner Up
Revlon Photo Ready

I don't have one that magnificently stood out for me but the Revlon Photo Ready would be my next favourite. £11.29

Eyebrows

Sleek Eyebrow Stylist

I have been using this for about a year and a half. It is an absolute favourite of mine, I've repurchased it four times. It has a wax on one side and a spoolie on the other. The spoolie is incredible and I never need a gel to set it. Absolute must!

£5.99

The Runner Up. (It almost won.)

Benefit Gimme Brow

Ahhh the ultimate cult favourite. I love this gel, I use this on its own when I've just had my brows done or with the eyebrow stylist for that bit more va va voom. Mine lasted me a year and I've just repurchased a new one! 

£18.50

Stay tuned for Mascara and Eyeliner next!

The Best of Beauty 2015: Foundation and Concealer.

This year I have decided to choose my best products of 2015. I'm only choosing one beauty product in each section. e.g. one foundation, one mascara. However, I will be doing a "Runner Up" to the product that almost made it.  In this post, I'm doing Foundation and Concealer.

Foundation

YSL Touche Eclat

I'd always heard people raving about this foundation, but I was always apprehensive to purchase it as I thought it might've been super glittery. I decided to take the plunge and purchase it at the airport and I found that it isn't at all! It gives a gorgeous natural glow to your skin while still giving it a good coverage. I'd definitely repurchase this. RRP £31.50

The Runner Up. 

Rimmel 25hour Lasting Finish

An absolute staple in my makeup bag. I haven't repurchased it yet as they have changed it since I've had it. It is a full coverage foundation from the drugstore that sits perfectly on the skin. RRP £7.99

Concealer

Urban Decay Naked Skin

There's a big hype around this product, and I was torn between buying this or the MAC Prolong Wear. I decided to pick this one up in the end, as I absolutely adore the foundation. It is so light on the skin, like the foundation with a good amount of coverage. My skin tends to scar a lot if I've had a few spots so I only really need the concealer to cover the scars, which it does a tremendous job. £17.50

The Runner Up. 

Collection Lasting Perfection

High coverage from the drugstore, if you have dry skin avoid it, if not it's brill!

£4.19

Five Ways To Stay Kind Of Healthy at Christmas

It's here. The time of year that we all forget about the bikini bodies and the shorts we may fit into, and we focus on oversized jumpers and how many chocolates we can consume without feeling sick. I embrace this time, I'm usually the first one buying the big tin of chocolates! But, this year, I saw something on instagram and it said, "Summer Bodies are made in Winter." Now I know, we shouldn't be worrying about our weight and I'm not saying "Don't eat chocolate. Eat celery." I'm just thinking, maybe I shouldn't lose my gym mojo just because it's the time the advent calendars come out. 

1. Exercise in the morning.

Now I've had this debate with a lot of people. But honestly, if you wake up early and go to the gym. It's done, it's out of the way, you can do all the Christmassy things you like for the rest of the day. Last year, I went to the gym on Christmas Eve. Yeah, I know. 

2. Go on Walks

I loooooove Winter walks. What's better than putting on a cosy coat, hat and some wellies and heading into the forest? It destresses you, gets you away from social media and gets you fresh air and some exercise. All while you crazily jumped in puddles!

3. Have a good meal a day.

I get that most people have a lot of junk food snacks throughout the day. What if, it got to lunch and you thought "Hey, why don't I have a stir fry for lunch?" You have your stir fry with your veg, and then it's kind of unlikely you'll have enough to fit in that extra piece of apple pie, when you've had such a filling meal. Am I even making sense? It's 10:12pm.

4. Drink plenty of water.

Christmas is the time for the parties. And I know if you're over the legal age of consuming alcohol in your country, some of us will like to enjoy a glass of wine or nine. Even if you're younger and you drink lots of Coca Cola, make sure you're getting that water in. I know this tip is always being mentioned, but there's a reason for that. It works! The amount of health benefits you can get from drinking just a few glasses a day, it will have you pumped to put that tree up!

5. Catch up on sleep. 

A funny one, but this helps your brain a lot. We're recommend seven to nine hours sleep a night, and in the Winter, when there are longer nights it is the perfect time to get those hours in. So catch up on those hours you've missed from going to bed so late in those Summer nights! Quick fact, sleep actually improves memory. That means you won't forget to get a certain someone their Christmas present!

Just remember that your body is your temple, look after it! 

But also eat those mince pies. Before I do. 

Giving Back

I was talking to my best friend the other night, and we decided we needed to give back this time of the year. Despite me not having my best year, I know some people are still battling it a lot worse than me around the world. I'm not saying I'm trying to end world hunger or anything, but I wanted to help out.

I looked into a few things, I wanted to send a soldier a Christmas card. I couldn't find anything in the UK for that, if you're American and wanted to do it, the American Red Cross had something. There were a few different things out there, as simple as giving a pound to charity, but my friend told me she had donated a present for an 18 month old baby girl at an organisation her university were doing. Inspired by the thought, I found one local to me.

Capital FM Radio for South Wales have a Toy Appeal going on at the minute. They have a stand in the St Davids Centre in Cardiff. Seeing as I had already heard about the organisation, I went straight up and picked up a leaflet. A girl there just gave me and my friend a candy cane and said thank you. We read the leaflet and it seemed the candy cane represented a girl. If you were given a red candy cane, they wanted you to buy a present for a girl. If you were given a blue candy cane, they wanted you to buy a present for a boy. No pressure to come back with a present, but we did.

The present can be anything from a cuddly toy to a selection box, and the ages are from 0-16. I picked up a lip balm trio from Boots, and some bath bits from there too. As a thank you for donating, we got a free Krispy Kreme donut voucher, we didn't end up getting it but it was a kind gesture.

If you feel like giving back this year and you're in South Wales/Cardiff area, I will leave a link to the details of the Toy Appeal below.

Giving back can make you feel like a saint. 

NARS Glossybox Edition

I've never really ventured into NARS. I've picked up the odd lipgloss in T K Maxx excitedly, but other than that, I've never looked at the counter and picked up more than I should. I've also never had a Glossybox, never really thought about subscription boxes either if I'm honest! Until. They collaborated. The box contains five miniature products and it retails for £35 if you're not a subscriber, and £30 if you are. Personally I think it was worth it, though if it had been just that tad bit more, I wouldn't have bought it.

It contains the Audacious Mascara, I haven't actually used this because I'm using up others. But, I heard that it is good for voluminous lashes!
The Long Lasting Eyeliner in Via Venito, which is just a black eyeliner. It is highly pigmented and it can be smudged well.
The Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien which is beaaaautiful. Such a lovely colour, I acutally wore it on my 20th birthday.
Orgasm blush, which I like, but I'm not sure on the hype around it? It's very similar to Sleek ones, so if you're after this! I'm sure Sleek Rose Gold is like it.
Multiple in Orgasm, again same shade as the blush. I haven't used this yet but these things don't really jump out at me to use. However, I will use this and let you know.

Overall, if you can get your hands on this and you haven't tried Nars before, do it! If you have tried Nars and you've used a fair few products, I would keep your pennies.