July 2016 Favourites

So, I'm a few days late with getting my July favourites out but I had a few items this month that I really enjoyed using and just had to share (lets just forget that I haven't done a favourites post in around a year or so shall we!)

So this month I had a little mix of things that I kept going back to again and again. These were:

1) Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - It took me a really long time to get on the Micellar water bandwagon as I was convinced that it was a lot of hype over nothing. But, since I decided to take the plunge and buy some of this at Priceline a few weeks ago I can now see why it is so popular. This product takes off any makeup product it's put up against and does it with very minimal effort. It's non-irritating, even when used for stubborn eye makeup and has no annoying scent or oily residue. My skin feels refreshed and totally clean after use so I will definitely be repurchasing this when it runs out.

2) L'Oreal Infallible Makeup in Creamy Natural - This would have to be hands down my most favourite foundation of all time. I have had this bottle for what seems like forever and I put it aside now and then to use other newer foundations I buy, but then I always go back to it and wonder why I change. It goes on flawlessly using a brush or a beauty blender and stays put all day long. It doesn't sink into my fine lines and gives me great medium to full coverage without looking like I'm wearing a huge amount of makeup. I just love it!

3) Australis AC on Tour Contouring and Highlighting Kit - I was going to do a full review on this product but decided not to as I think it has been reviewed to death. This palette never leaves my makeup table and is my most reached for item at the moment. All of the highlighting powders are the perfect shade for my pale skin and the middle contouring shade is just great. These powders are so easy to blend out and seem to last for the whole work day. They also make good eyeshadows on those days when I'm in a rush and want a quick, neutral look. For the price this has to be one of the most economical palettes out there.

(Australis AC on Tour Contouring and Highlighting Kit)

4) Elizabeth Arden Lipstick in Rose Petal - I have been living in this lipstick this past month as it is the perfect everyday winter shade for me. It is a gorgeous medium, rose-pink shade that is so creamy to apply and it lasts for hours, even through eating and drinking. This formula doesn't sink into lip lines at all and it keeps my lips feeling moisturised and soft all day. I have always been a huge fan of Elizabeth Arden lipsticks and have a few of them in my collection. I don't think they get anywhere near enough attention in the beauty world.

(Elizabeth Arden lipstick in Rose Petal)

5) Sukin Purely Ageless Intensive Firming Serum - I received this is the last Priceline beauty bag and am going to be running back to my nearest store to get more as soon as it is finished. This serum feels just gorgeous on my skin and makes it seem so soft and supple when applied. I absolutely adore the smell as well which is kind of sweet but floral at the same time (I suck at describing scents!) It's not sticky at all and absorbs into my skin straight away so it doesn't feel too heavy when I apply my day or night cream afterwards. I will definitely be repurchasing this.

6) Rimmel Magnif'eyes Eye Shadow Stick and Liner in Back to Blacks and Queens of the Bronzed Age ** - These shadow/liner sticks have been on my eyes almost every day for the past month. They make a subtle daytime smoky eye possible in literally under 2 minutes. My favourite way to apply these is to do a thick swipe of the black shadow along my upper lash line followed by another thick swipe of the bronze shadow on top of the first line. I then quickly grab my eyeshadow brush and then blend, blend, blend upwards until my whole eyelid is covered and I have an unbelievably fast and long-wearing smoky eye. I then like to use the golden liner end to line my lower lashes and highlight the inner corner of my eye. The trick to these is to blend them very quickly as they set fairly fast and then don't budge for the entire day, even on my badly hooded eyes. They are amazing!  

(Rimmel Magnif'eyes Eye Shadow/Liner sticks in Queens of the Bronzed Age and Back to Blacks)

So that's it for my favourites this past month!


Have a great week!

Michelle xx

** Product received for consideration but my thoughts are purely my own.

L'Oreal Shine Caresse Lip Colour in 501: Bonnie

So I know that these have been out for a while now but I only recently decided to bite the bullet and get myself one. I have seen so many different reviews about these that are both positive and negative but last time I was out I couldn't help but have a bit of a swatch-fest and just buy one.

I ended up getting shade No. 501 Bonnie as it's a shade that I normally don't lean towards. I have so many pink shades at home that for once I went a bit out of my comfort zone and tried something different in this peachy shade.

Surprisingly I have found this shade very versatile and it goes so well with a very minimum makeup look on days when I don't have time to do much or am just not feeling like putting too much colour on my face. It gives off such a lovely shine when applied and this is one thing that I really do love.

Here is a little bit about the Shine Caresse lip colours from the L'Oreal website:

'The next generation lip colour, that combines the texture & shine of a gloss with the long wear of a stain. Delivering a lasting colour with a subtle glossy shine. 

The unique formula comprised of 30% water and 60% oil provides an exceptionally high level of moisture, allowing for 6hr hydration.
Concentrated soluble colour pigments create a subtle wet look with a weightless feeling on lips.'

I find this gloss is very sticky to start with when it's first applied but it does dry fairly fast and not leave too much of a sticky residue once that happens. It feels quite comfortable on the lips which really surprises me as my poor lips and stain products normally don't get along very well as I always find them too drying. I don't seem to have this problem with the Shine Caresse gloss which is great.

It has a very fruity scent that reminds me a bit like boiled lollies but it doesn't seem to have much of a taste that I can detect. The doe-foot applicator is a very convenient shape to apply the gloss but I usually wipe off quite a bit of product before applying or it can get a bit messy and difficult to spread around evenly before it starts to set.

L'Oreal Shine Caresse in No. 501: Bonnie - with flash

L'Oreal Shine Caresse in No. 501: Bonnie - without flash

The only problem I sometimes have with this lip product is that it tends to wear off the centre of my lips in a short amount of time and I find I can get a bit of a ring around my lips because of the stain component. I am a bit of a lip licker though when I am thinking alot so this might not be an issue for most people.

Overall I am really happy that I decided to try one of these for myself and will most likely pick up one in another shade next time I am out and about.
 
Has anyone else tried one of these yet? I'd love to know what other shade I should try next.

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Michelle xx