Top Three: Highlighters

When it comes to summer I am all about highlighting; giving my face a lovely glow and dimension without going too heavy on the contour. Don't get me wrong, I love a good contour all year round, but summertime is definitely when you can go all out with a highlighter. These are my favourite picks at the moment.

June Favourites

I know I think this every month, but how is it almost July already! Aside from the too hot weather, which I can't stand, July is one of my favourite months because it's my birthday! But before I get too carried away, let's take a quick look back on my favourites products this month.

Summer Travel Essentials

Sun Care

For me the ultimate most important travel essential when going any where vaguely hot is an SPF because I burn so easily. I don't need to bang on about how important it is, it just is. My favourite is the Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defence SPF50 as it gives me good protection without feeling greasy or heavy on the skin. It doesn't interfere with makeup or leave my skin looking ashy, what's not to like! If you don't burn as easily as me, Soap and Glory Feel Good Factor SPF25 (I believe they have now changed this into a BB cream, but if you can find the original, it's great!) is a lovely alternative so long as it is reapplied throughout the day.

The Review: Maybelline Colour Tattoo

I am seriously in love with the Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Eyeshadows - what a name! I would definitely say they are more cream than gel as they are so easy to apply and blend but then dry fast and last for hours on the lids. I like to apply them with an ordinary flat brush, usually a No7 Eye Colour Brush and quickly blend them out with a Zoeva Luxe Soft Definer 227 or a Mac 217, doing one eye at a time as they dry down fast. At only £4.99 each, and often on 3 for 2 at Boots, these are an absolute steal for such an amazing product! Having owned a couple for over a year which still haven't dried out, I can't fault these in the slightest.

The Best Hydrating Drugstore Serum Of All Time

My dehydrated, sometimes dry, mainly combination skin has fallen in love with hydrating serums. They have completely changed the way my skin looks and feels and make a perfect base for makeup. I have heard so many good things about the Sarah Chapman Hydrating Booster but I couldn't bring myself to spend that much on it so have been hunting down a cheaper alternative.

Five Product Face

Inspired by a recent video by Lily Pebbles and Victoria from In The Frow (which if you haven't seen it yet you must check it out here) I have been thinking about what my five product face would be. This is a look I have been wearing to death recently, it's quick and easy but makes me look more awake than a bare face!

Best Beauty Books

I am really not much of a reader, in fact I am still making my way through the book I started in the summer of 2013! I just never feel the desire to sit down with a book, no matter how good or iconic it's meant to be. This all changes when it comes to beauty books; I am drawn to the beautiful pictures and love learning new things about the wonderful world of beauty.

Feeling Foodie: Italian Chicken Bake

Since having to adopt a gluten free diet I have become more and more interested in cooking and decided to share one of my favourite recipes with you. It's a little different from the beauty posts but hopefully it'll give you some inspiration in the kitchen.

Makeup Spares

To follow on from yesterday's post which covered my favourite skincare which needed to be backed up (click here if you missed it), here is a round up of the makeup side of my spares collection. And as will will probably be able to tell I have a weak spot for concealers.

Skincare So Nice I Purchased It Twice (Or Thrice, Or More)

This is the start of a very short mini-series on my blog based on products I own backups of because I can't bare to be without them. Today's post takes a look at skincare and Thursday's will show makeup, so lets get cracking.

First Impressions: Clinique Pop Lip Colour and Primer

Packaging: Honestly, I am not blown away by the packaging of the Clinique Pop Lip Colour and Primer. It doesn't have a click on closing, and it's unusually short. The silver lid is already getting covered in fingerprints and I have owned it for less than a week! And if anything, I think it looks a little cheap. However, the coloured end would make it easier to find if you owned more than one, which for many people would be beneficial, and it is perfect handbag size. So there are pros and cons, it is definitely no Charlotte Tilbury - but at 2/3's of the price I think I am just being picky.

Mini Boots Haul

Last week I had a little spendy moment in Boots and thought I would briefly show you the bits I picked up.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 125ml: £1.99: I have used the full-sized version of this cleanser ever since it came out, and am now using my third bottle, It is so good at removing makeup - even heavy eye makeup - without feeling too striping on the skin, I like to use it before a second cleanse with a more 'traditional' cleanser. When I was wondering round boots I saw they had them in the dinkiest 125ml size which is just perfect for travelling, as I despise decanting but don't really want to have to take the 400ml bottle with me.