Of Love and Lipstick

Recently I've been trying to pack up all my travel makeup for going a way next week, and it is proving harder than I remember. My makeup bag weights a tonne and I seem to be taking everything but the kitchen sink. While I have been trying to whittle down what I'm taking, I've been noticing products that I haven''t used a long time. The Revlon  Ultra  HD Matte Lipcolors are one of those products. Since chucking it in my travel bag, I have not been able to stop reaching for it.

This is one of the longest favourites posts I have ever written! I forgot to post January's Favourites so this is a combinated favourites over the last two months, as opposed to the single month. February has been a good month for beauty favourites, I've been making the effort to switch up what products I've been trying in an effort to not get stuck in a product rut.

I'm all about the highlighter: the shinier the better! If you've seen my post all about my highlighters then you'll know that all but one of my highlighters is a powder. To be honest, I'm kind of afraid of liquid highlighters. I'm not really sure the best way to use them without turning my makeup streaky. Thus, I challenged myself to find a way! My poor Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights was getting neglected at the back of my drawer.

I promised a matching American drugstore haul for my previous American high-end haul, so here it it. This is a mixture of Walgreens, Cvs and Ross Dress for Less with a touch of Bed, Bath and Beyond. There was a Walgreens just across the street from me, the willpower was not strong. I was in there like every second night, mainly for food, but that beauty aisle is always the first aisle in the store right at the entrance...I had to keep being dragged away.  Looking at my haul like this, I can see I was on a fiercely strong Milani kick. 

When I first came on the makeup scene, highlighters were not that big of a deal. The focus was more on contouring so hard that your cheekbones looked like they could cut glass. Over the last year and a half (sometimes it feels like I've been blogging a lot longer), I have noticed that highlighters have turned into 'THE' product to have.

It's been so long since I have last done any major makeup shopping; I think it was Boxing Day when I last went a bit 'wild'. Boots was running deals on the majority of their brands, my interest was being pulled by the '3 for 2' on Revlon. I was desperatly needing a new foundation as my Maybelline Fit Me! was down to it's last drops.

I am back!!! America was amazing, and the shopping was phenomenal. Unfortunately that means it's back to the university grind for me; to top it this is my degree year were I'll find out if I'm graduating with a first or second class. How scary :( But enough of that, back to the original content. This is one of the contenders for my favourite nail varnish for autumn. Revlon's nail varnish in 'Vixen' is what I'd call a dark cherry shade. A really dark and deep burgundy colour that appears almost black until you take a second glance.

With a heatwave expected in Scotland this week, I though I'd take the chance to talk about some of my summer essentials that become my absolute staple products. 

Contrary to what my Instagram shows; there are actually days where I do not paint my nails with Disney themes. Sometimes I like to have a more understated and elegant look, which is when I paint this style. It's simple, but looks like it has taken me a fair bit of time to complete!

Believe it or not but I'm not usually one for big bold, bright lip colours. I sometimes feel like I'm not confident to pull them off. This all changed when I laid eyes on the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in the shade #220 Showy. It was just screaming 'BUY ME!' The first two things that hit me about this particular one were; colour and smell. The colour is a very bright bubblegum, barbie pink which is very much blue toned. The packing makes it seem like it would be a bit more warmer toned than what it actually is. The smell is this amazing minty peppermint that just floods the air when I take the cap off the stick. I love peppermint. I leaves me feeling so fresh and bright after applying this.

I'm a huge fan of makeup collection videos over on YouTube! I like seeing all the different products everyone has and how they store them. Do they have the Alex Nine Drawers? Muji Storage? How do they set up their desks? You start to notice a pattern in the products that everyone has. One of the products that I picked up on were the  Revlon Colorburst Lip Glosses. I noticed that most people kept them in their acrylic storage; that they fit just perfectly in height and length to create layers in a drawer. I was gutted as I could not find them in any of the Superdrugs or Boots where I live, and I thought that perhaps they were discontinued. I know; why didn't I just move on? There are plenty of lip glosses in the world. The Revlon Colorburst Lip Glosses were just calling to me!

The real question should be what's NOT in my makeup bag. Haha! I quite literally carry all my everyday makeup in this bag. It's just a large cute floral patterned bag from Primark. It stays on top of my Ikea nine drawers and holds all my everyday makeup. It's so much easier to reach for the bag instead of rooting through my drawers searching for everything. 

Hey I've been wanting to show you guys my desk setup for a while now. I thought that I'd wait to get my new furniture first. I have not had a new desk in years; before this I was using a hand-me-down from my younger cousins that only had three tiny drawers. I can safely say I've upgraded to a Micke desk and the Alex Nine Drawer Unit.

A little exam procrastination! I have my Psychology final today, and I'm at that point where I not longer care what will happen. That does not bode well considering that my attendance was sketchy at best. I just want to pass, I don't care about the grade I get. So, anyway. I had a bit of another shopping trip todayyy! I hit up my most favourite store in the world, TK Maxx, and also, as strange as it may seem; my workplace. I work at a national store known as Store 21; it only opened back in March. It is a bit of a value store, specialising in homeward and womenswear, but also selling menswear, childrenswear, nightwear, lingerie and shoes. A little mix of everything. It's a bit like TK Maxx; either a bit or a miss. Store 21 I got this totally cute knitted waffle jumper! It's so warm and snuggl y; perfect for the winter weather. It's actually a baby powder blue, instead of the blue-grey it is in the picture. It is currently on 30% of...

Today, I'm Taking about Revlon Lip Butters. I think that they are by far the best reasonably priced lipsticks available, which is why I own multiple shades. I only buy more if I truly love it! I currently have, in my collection (from top to bottom): Juicy Papaya, Sorbet, Sweet Tart and Creme Brulee. I originally won four in a competition, but lost two a while back in America (so sad!). I recently purchased Sweet Tart and Creme Brulee, which was the inspiration behind this post. 

With the Christmas season almost upon us I am constantly seeing products that I'm in love with. There are just so many that I want to try! Below are just some of the ones that are higher on my list: Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso This one was just resting on the line for me. I could buy it off of Ebay or Amazon now, or I could wait until I go back to America where it would probably work out cheaper. Regardless, Milani Baked Blushes are supposed to be some of the best. They are supposed to be really pigmented and super-long lasting. I think the shade Luminoso would be the best to try first as it looks like a natural shimmery flush colour. Revlon ColorBurst Lipglosses Set A product that I've seen in a few makeup collection videos on youtube, that I just fancy trying. No other real reason. It is a set of four different shades. Nyx Centre Stage Jumbo Pencil Set This is more of a need product than a wish. I have very little in terms of eye-sha...

Tartan is always a key feature in my wardrobe come autumn/winter. Although, that's maybe because I'm Scottish and everyone else starts to wear it. There is just something about it that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Now, even though I am Scottish, I don't come from one of those families where they have their own special tartan (one day though...). I, instead, wear any that please me' preferring to stick to those that feature traditional colors such as blue, red and brown.  These nails were inspired by love of all things tartan during Autumn, featuring a burgundy and gold pattern. Louise x  x