LOVING LATELY #1

So I realize I haven't done any favorites on my blog so far, but given that I'm only posting once a week at the moment I don't think monthly favorites will be a thing. That being said, I do want to share some of the things i've been loving over the past few months.

BEAUTY

I have been obsessed with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (£9.99). I have the shade 54 Beige and I think it's a good match for me, but maybe a teeny bit too dark. I  wanted to pick up 53 Light Beige, but they didn't have it in stock, so next time I'll see if I can get that and hopefully it'll be a better match. I've also been liking the Kiko foundation I mentioned in my last post. I do get a bit shiny when I wear it, but I think it's because I've been using a very hydrating moisturizer in the mornings, so I'm going to switch to a less intense one and see how it goes.

Ever since I started really using my Lorac Pro ($42.00) palette 3 weeks ago, I haven't picked up any other eyeshadow since. The colors are neutral, but still so beautiful and diverse that you can create many different looks with it. They blend like a dream and I just can't get enough. Some of my favorite combos are Pewter all over the lid with Mauve in the crease, or Lt. Bornze all over with Taupe in the crease - both with Nude as an inner corner highlight - beautiful! I definitely understand the hype around this palette.

Next we have brows. I'm never exclusively a powder/pencil/pomade kind of gal as I rotate between them frequently, and will switch it up depending on the kind of look I'm going for. Over the past few weeks I have definitely been reaching for my Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Dark Brown (£17.00) over the others as it's so quick and easy to use, especially when you're overdue for an eyebrow threading.

The final makeup product I've been reaching for a lot is the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Berry ($22.50). It's very nourishing and comfortable to wear, and gives enough color to make it look like you have something on. It's definitely going to be a handbag staple for a while.
The last two beauty related items I've been obsessed with are the Kiko Nail Lacquer in 511 Metallic Mercury Purple (£3.90) which lasts a good week with minimal chipping (score!) and the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product ($18.00) which tames frizz and keeps my curly hair super soft.

NON BEAUTY

This may seem very random, but my two non beauty items that I've been obsessed with lately are a pair of sport leggings, and some Quay sunglasses. I got these leggings from adidas a couple of months ago (can't find a link to them online) but I love the bright colors and they're super comfortable. Also, the print doesn't stretch out when you wear them which is a big plus in my book. They also came in a blue/green color which I want to keep an eye out for because the fit is just so nice.

Finally, my last favorite are these White Quay Invador Cat-Eye Sunglasses (£27.00). They're so cute and funky without being over the top, and I get compliments whenever I wear them. They're also quite inexpensive for relatively good quality, and in general I think Quay make awesome sunglasses.

Let me know some of the things you've been loving lately in the comments below, I'd love to hear. x

KIKO HAUL + REVIEW

While I was in Barcelona last week, I stumbled across a Kiko store. And of course being my makeup obsessed self, along with four other girls, we had to stop and take a look around (twice). I tried my best to resist the urge to swatch and buy everything, but still came out with a good range of products.

The main thing I wanted to look at going in was their Universal Fit Hydrating Foundation (£6.90). After hearing Lily Pebbles rave about it so much I wanted to try it out myself. I'm glad to say I was not disappointed. I usually have trouble finding foundations with the right undertones in the drug store (I'm quite yellow/olive), but I tried the color 06 Creamy Beige which turned out to be a perfect match for me. I have been wearing it everyday since and I can't get enough. It's light, but covers enough, and doesn't over greasify my combination skin. All of that AND it's inexpensive price? I don't know what could be better.

After perusing around the store I found a few more bits and bobs I wanted to try out. I REALLY wanted their Ace of Diamonds lipstick in the shade 27, but they didn't carry that line, so I opted for their Luscious Cream Creamy Lipstick (£6.90) in 515 Orchid instead. It's a lovely purply pink mauve shade that's very comfortable to wear. Next I got two of their Generation Next Crystal Eyeliners (£6.90) in 02 Technological Brown and 05 Hefty Sapphire. They swatched so vibrantly and all the colors were so beautiful I had to restrain myself to two only. I also took a look at their skincare range and was intrigued by their Mat Fluid Moisturiser (£11.90) so I picked one up to give it a go.

The next day we went into the store again as some of my friends wanted a few more things, so although I wasn't planning it I made a few more purchases. What caught my eye was something I'd missed the first time around - their colored mascaras range. They looked SO vibrant, and I've been on the hunt for a blue one after seeing a specific makeup look, so I got one Super Color Mascara (£5.90) in 07 Sky Blue. It's one of the only mascaras i've tried that's actually true to color once applied - so if you have dark hair like me and want a color that shows up, I definitely suggest giving these a go. And finally, I picked up two of their Nail Lacquers (3.90). I've been like a magpie to shiny things recently, especially when it comes to nailpolishes, so naturally the two I picked up are 511 Metallic Mercury Purple, and 530 Pearly Blue Peacock. I have yet to try them, but my friend has and she says they last a good week without chipping.

Let me know what you've tried from Kiko, and your opinions on their products in general, I'd love to read.

NINETIES NUDE LIP

Maybelline Lip Liner in Velvet Beige (£3.99)
Wet'n'Wild Lipstick in Think Pink (£2.30)

As you all may have noticed, the whole 90s nude lip has been a big thing lately thanks to celebs like Kylie Jenner. If you've been trying to find your perfect shade but have had no luck, or don't want to splurge on a Mac lippy, I may have found the solution for you. Ultimately, nude's can be more on the pink, brown, or concealer-y side depending on personal preference and what you think suits your skin tone more. 

I found my perfect 90s combo by mixing a more browny nude lip liner, with a pale pink lipstick. I wasn't trying to find this combo in particular, but on my last trip to the US I bought this Wet'n'Wild lipstick thinking it would be a nice light pink shade, but it ended up looking WAY too pale and weird on me. Instead of throwing it away, I rummaged through my stash to see what I could mix it with to tone down the pale-ness, when I saw that Maybelline lip liner and thought I'd give it a go. Lo and behold I found my perfect nude lip. 

I usually fill in my whole lip with the liner, then go on top with the lipstick, and then blend it out with my fingers a bit. Both formulas are quite matte, but still quite creamy to apply and comfortable to wear. What I love about this is it's totally customizable. You can apply more of the browny lip liner, or more of the pinky lipstick depending on what you're feeling that day.

I'd love to know if any of you guys try out this combo, or if you've found another color or combo that works for you.

WHAT'S IN MY TRAVEL MAKEUP BAG

I'm heading off to Spain for 5 nights with my Uni, so I thought I'd show you guys what I'll be packing in my travel makeup bag in the hopes that I won't overpack. These are some of my favorites blog posts/videos to read/watch probably because I'm just a little nosy. But anyway, here's what I'm taking.

BASE

As Spain is quite cold at the moment, and my combo skin tends to get more dry bits in the winter, I'm taking one of my favorite hydrating-but-not-greasy bases with me - the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (£9.99). I have the shade 54 as 53 was sold out, so it's a tad darker than my color, but with some blending it looks fine. To go along with that, I'm taking my Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer for under my eyes (£7.99), and the MUFE Full Cover Concealer (£21.00) incase any pesky spots come up. To set all of that down, I'm taking my favorite Soap & Glory's One Heck of a Blot powder (£12.00). I also popped in my mini Benefit Porefessional sample for a primer.

FACE 

I don't wear any bronzer on a daily basis, so I skipped that product, however I do like to give my face some shape with a bit of contour. For that I'm taking the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow (£49.00) which I'm still 'borrowing' from my mom (She hasn't asked for it back yet - shhh). The contour and highlight shades are both gorgeous, as I'm sure you've already heard from every other blogger who's raved about it since it's release. For blush I was going to take my beloved Sleek Pomegranate, but it is quite a strong color, so I opted for a more my more natural Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Blushing Bride (£17.00), which I've only bought recently and need to start using some more. 

EYES

For eyes I wanted to take a thin palette that I can use for any type of look, so of course i opted for the Lorac Pro Palette (£28.00). I've only used it a few times since purchasing it in December, but the colors are so blendable and lovely I'm sure i'll be addicted to it after this trip. Along with eyeshadow, I'm taking my Kat Von D  Tattoo liner (£13.00) which is a dream to work with, a black Topshop Kohl for tight lining (£4.00), and the Tarte Gifted Mascara (£14.00). And of course not to forget my beloved Anastasia Brow Wiz (£15.50) to fill in those sparse areas. It's so skinny and perfect for travel. 

LIPS

My favorite category. I always find this impossibly hard to narrow down and end up taking WAY too many options, but I got it down to 3 this time. First my Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey (£7.99) which is a lovely everyday shade. Second, another Revlon Balm Stain in the Matte formula in the shade Shameless for a dark lip option, and finally Topshop's appropriately named Red Lippy (£8.00) for, you guessed it, a red option. I also popped in the Mac lip liner in Cherry (£12.50) as the Topshop lipstick can be a bit slippy and hard to apply neatly. 

I'm sorry a lot of these products can only be found in the US, but I picked up a lot of new stuff when I was on holiday and I'm still excited to be using them all. I hope you enjoyed having a look through my makeup bag, I'd love to know what are some of your essential travel makeup items.