Friday Favourites #1

So I have decided to start a weekly favourites series on Fridays, partly because I'm so fickle with my favourite products and partly because I felt it would allow me to add a few more fashion/lifestyle pieces.

This week the weather's been pretty rubbish and the one good thing about this is that I can get roll out my standard autumn look with my leather jacket from ZARA paired with a scarf, this one from New Look is my favourite at the moment. 

As I said in my perfume post, I've been absolutely loving Agent Provocateur Fatale perfume. I've even worn it on days I'm not going anywhere because it makes me feel better about myself and the scent stays so well that you only need a little and it'll stay all day!

As for makeup, a friend of mine introduced me to Topshop's Lipstick in Mink a few months ago and it is great if you just want to emphasise your natural shade, or you can build it up to give a darker purpley brown. It has a matte finish but doesn't dry your lips out making it ideal for daywear. It does need topping up occasionally but it has generally pretty good staying powder. Annoyingly it seems to have been discontinued (again) I have also been loving Bobbi Brown's Cream Blusher in Fresh Melon because I was finding that powders were sitting a bit on my skin and not blending well. Plus I've been favouring a more natural look lately and the creaminess of this blush blends so well that it doesn't look like you're wearing anything.

Also pictured: Rimmel Rita Ora Nail Varnish in Pillow Talk, NARS Tinted Moisturiser and Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara. 

What products are you loving at the moment?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

Products I'm Repurchasing

One of the ways I know if I've really loved a product is if I feel disappointed once it is almost empty (and I try to squeeze every last bit of usage out of it). Those products are the ones I know I will be repurchasing asap. Weirdly, I find that several products often run out at once, so I thought I'd share with you the products I will be buying again pretty shortly.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

I had heard so much hype about this that I was left thinking that there was no way a toner could be that amazing. I had always thought of a toner as being a bit of a pointless part of a skincare routine, except for when Dermalogica had their Soothing Protection Spray, which they sadly discontinued, and I certainly hadn't found any which were as life-changingly great as Beauty Elixir was said to be. Well, I stand corrected! Beauty Elixir is all the things I liked about Dermalogica's toner but without the price tag and a better sprayer (seriously, that's important in a toner!). I've found that since I started using it, any redness has been reduced and my skin seems to better absorb my moisturiser, plus it smells lovely and doesn't feel at all heavy on your skin. Definitely worth trying.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

As you can see, I have hit pan here! I actually picked this product up because I had forgotten to powder my face as I ran out of the house, so nipped into Boots to grab a cheap, temporary solution. To my surprise this has become one of my favourite products! It actually does keep your skin matte, although you may need a top-up after a few hours and it hasn't clogged my pores or irritated my skin. The powder isn't wasted every time you use it because it doesn't break up or clump like some powder products do. Admittedly it does notice a little on the skin but it's perfect for the evening. Link to it here.

bareMinerals Mineral Veil

This is my other powder and is what I would recommend if you wanted a highend product. What I really love about this is how natural it looks when you put it on. Whilst the Rimmel product is a little visible, this one is invisible and manages to mattify areas which need it, whilst not drying up the rest of my skin. It's just perfect for a natural, understated look so I tend to use it during the day more than the Rimmel one. You can get it for £20 here.

Champneys Oriental Opulence Shower Cream

I was given a little gift set of these for Christmas years ago and have been rebuying it ever since. I never thought I could become loyal to a shower product but I was wrong. This stuff smells amazing and has a lovely glittery sheen to it without actually leaving glitter all over you and the shower. Basically, I can't explain why I love this so much but if you are anywhere near a Boots and are looking for a new shower wash, go and smell this! Then let me know if you agree with my obsession.

What products have you emptied? Are you as attached to any of these products as me?

Much love,

Sasha Monday x

My Summer Favourites

This year we have had an actual summer in the UK (hooray!) and this has meant a little overhaul of my old summer makeup, which was well past its best. Here are a few of the products I've been loving this summer.

Makeup

Most of my makeup collection can be used in any season but some of it is particularly suited to the summer months when I want to look a little more natural during the day (or at least have less of an ice princess look!) My summer must-have is NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in the shade Finland, it has a lovely light texture, blends flawlessly into my skin and is even SPF 30. If you have pale skin I can highly recommend NARS as they have a wide-ranging colour palette and an SPF is always very welcome as the lobster-look is not good no matter the season!

As a part of my more natural look I have found that bareMinerals READY Blush in The Whisper is perfect for adding a subtle healthy glow to your cheeks. It's easy to blend and removes the need for bronzer (which can be a difficult look to pull off if you're fair).

If I want to look super-natural I'll just apply Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lip Balm and leave it at that. It has been my favourite for a long time, I just love the chocolate flavour and the SPF15 is an added bonus for the summer. If I fancy adding a little colour though, L'Oreal Glam Shine Stain Splash lipgloss in Lolita is my go-to for the summer months. Its lovely texture, cherry scent and staying power are second only to the gorgeous colour, I find it really shows off blue eyes. I originally looked into them because Fleur de Force (link to the post here) rated them as a good dupe for YSL Glossy Stain and she was right! So if you are looking for a cheaper option these are a good place to go.

Skincare

I had a bit of a haul at Rituals recently (I'm weak!) and have been really impressed with what I bought. Their Sensational Soft Cleanser is great for removing makeup at the end of the day and feels really lovely on your skin. It's also tailored to sensitive skin which is great for me as fair skin tends to come hand-in-hand with sensitivity.

I always follow my first cleanse with a cleansing water and I am currently in love with Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser with Peach Essential Water, it's a must-have for me, despite being a bit of a mouthful to say. I have always been a big fan of cleansing waters and the peachy scent is heavenly.

My other skincare favourite is Rituals Intense Moisture Serum. My skin veers between combination and dry depending on what it's feeling like on the day and a lot of serums leave my skin feeling too oily, but not this one! It hydrates the parts of my skin which need hydrating but doesn't make my T-zone oily or sticky and I love its light texture, just perfect for summer.

Much love,

Sasha Monday x