2015 IN REVIEW

Onika Perfume / The Chambray Shirt / DIY Ripped Knees #2 / Sunglasses Season / KIKO Smart Lipsticks / New Balance Black Sonic Trainers

For me, 2015 had been the biggest and busiest year to date - I completed my GCSEs, got my first job, started learning to drive, and began the pathway into A Levels. If you couldn't tell already, all of those were the priority aside from blogging, and it became extremely difficult for me to balance all those things happening in my life with regular posts. Hopefully, it can improve this year but secretly I'm hoping 2016 is just as exciting and busy as the last. I'll try my hardest.

I've got a gym membership (classic move in the new year, let's see how this plays out) and I'm reading to head into 2016. Hopefully on the blog this year I want to even out the fashion and beauty aspects, with more lifestyle posts too. There's a certain style of writing I want to convert my posts to in the future, but I'm not sure how it'll go down so I'm testing the waters bit by bit.

One thing I do plan for this year is to work on my Instagram more, which I have been doing more recently so if you don't already, follow @petitedecember. As I did last year, the most popular posts from this year have been listed above, but surprisingly my 2014 Kylie Jenner Lips post has remained the top post throughout the whole year consistently, so it'll be interesting to see whether that stays the same this year or not.

Another roundup for Petite December, who knows what will be in the 2016 installment...

MAYBELLINE LASH SENSATIONAL MASCARA

A couple of weeks back my mascara ran out and I was on the hunt for a new option, and wanted to try out something I hadn't tried before. I stumbled across the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara in Boots on offer and thought I would give it a go to see how it worked, and I actually really like it.

I was using the Falsies (waterproof - as I choose with most mascaras if I have the option) but found that the formula dried out really quickly and I just didn't like it much, woah an unpopular opinion there. But this one is just the right formula and I love the wand. It is a plastic one (unlike some people I don't really have a preference, both a bristle and plastic ones work for me), and they call it the 'lash multiplying brush'. It has longer bristles on one side of the slightly curved wand, and then very short ones on the other that really hug and coat the lashes.

I could be wrong but this seems like a tubing mascara, as when I remove it it seems to come off in kind of chunks rather than a big panda eye mess which I quite like, and because it is waterproof, although harder to remove it really holds the curl and keeps my lashes look as long and defined as when I first applied all day long. Seriously, if you are on the hunt for a new mascara, definitely give this one a go, both length and volume combined in one tube with a serious hold to the finish.

THE THREE MINUTE BELLY BLITZ

As October will mark a biniki-wearing and midriff-baring holiday for me, and I generally wanted to tone up my body I contemplated lots of ideas - a gym membership (which as a 16 year old I could not afford and I wasn't up for using the school facilities) or a workout DVD. Geordie Shore is a guilty pleasure for me and I constantly visit Charlotte Crosby's Instagram for some fitness inspiration, so I guessed the Three Minute Belly Blitz DVD would be perfect for me.

What I like is that it is in sections - three minutes of interval training alternating between cardio and resistance, offering 12 in total alongside a warm up, cool down, 10 minute extra abs section and a diet plan (which I'm yet to fully transfer to as I eat rather healthily already). For someone who gets bored easily with the same routine or doesn't have excess amounts of time, this structure is perfect and it is a really enjoyable routine. Richard Callendar offers motivational words throughout being the creator of the routine, and David Souter offers the step down beginner version in case you need to ease off here and there. Charlotte powers through the routines giving advice throughout and looking great with her blitzed body that keeps you going even though your thighs might be burning. I have no shame in admitting I can quote parts of the DVD...

This is intense, and I will tell you that. I end up in a sweat after every session, desperate for a shower and in the beginning I was in pain for the rest of the day and the day after - but it meant it was working. Although I haven't seen major difference in my body just yet, I seem to look more toned and feel more capable getting through the routines - I started only being able to do 4-6, then moved to 8 and then recently have been able to do all 12, and I'm really pleased with myself for that, and I can't wait to keep comparing photos as I stick to it for longer.

Overall, I truly recommend this - for £14, all you need on the side is a mat and sports gear that can be easily purchased from Primark to begin with, and the space to do it. I actually begin to look forward to doing this routine and I'm sure my friends are sick and tired with my constant updates every three minutes...

NICKI MINAJ ONIKA PERFUME

After Christmas, when hitting the sales I spotted the Nicki Minaj Onika EDP Gift Set, for a mere £12.50, and couldn't resist it, despite not ever having this perfume on my wishlist before. It was a new release in September this year, and to be honest, the 5ml rollerball was what made me decide to buy this, due to them being so uncommon in the UK.

The packaging (although not to everyone's taste) is something I really love about this fragrance - a simple black and gold bust and head of Nicki herself (or Onika) and this has a proud spot on my wall shelf simply because I love looking at it.

I think this might win the spot of one of my favourite scents now, and I've been reaching for it nearly every day. It's quite sweet, fruity and floral, but the sheer musky notes tie it all together. Nicki herself actually said this scent was designed to promote confidence, due to her sharing her birth name in the title. I've had so many compliments wearing this perfume, and the scent stays around for at least 6 hours on me, which is amazing for such an affordable scent.

 I think when this runs out I might be tempted to repurchase as I love it so much - you will probably catch my sniffing my wrists at any given time in the day...

SLEEK BLUSH BY 3: LACE

Sleek blushes aren't stocked near me, but they are definitely some of my favourite blushes out there (my Face Form has huge circles gleaming silver in where I have hit pan for the reference), so when I saw the Blush By 3 in Lace for £5 in my local Tesco I nearly wept (with joy).

There are two matte shades, a bright vibrant orange called Chantilly, and a hot red-pink dubbed as Crochet. The formula of these two are nice, not too buttery nor too chalky but the right balance that allows them to really stain the cheeks and create a long lasting colour. The shimmer is called GUiPure or something(?!), but is a stunning colour. Think Sleek Rose Gold but lighter, and I really love the look of it swatched and kind of packed on - it reminds me of a sunset, what more could you want?

These could possibly be some of the brightest powder blushes I now own and I am really inspired to try more from the Sleek blush range now, let's hope Tesco get some more trios into the clearance so I can get a collection going! But, saying that I would definitely pay full price for these, as three blushes in one place for £9.99 is a brilliant deal, and what sounds like a travelling essential...

REVLON COLORBURST BALM STAINS

Since my early days of blogging, the Revlon Colorburst Balm Stains (previously known as the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains) were a firm favourite of mine, with Honey even reaching a holy grail status at one point. I treated myself to a trio on my flight home from Madrid for £16 (bargain)  and so thought I would revisit them for a full review.

I have three shades; Sweetheart, Rendezvous and Honey, all of which have become staple colours for me. Sweetheart is a bright pink, one I will be getting a ton of use out of in the summer months, and Rendezvous is a classic orange colour that actually suits me really well and fulfills my wants of an orange lip colour. Honey is a classic neutral mauve pink colour, that if applied too generously can look a bit ancient but with experience you get the right balance.

The formula is what I love, they apply so easily to the lips, and I never have any trouble with bleeding or uneven fading. These really do stain, so when that slight glossiness (which can be blotted down if you aren't feeling the sheen) has faded, you are still left with the strong colour - even my holy grail eye makeup remover struggles to get this off my lips sometimes.

I am looking to get my mitts on the rest of the collection, as well as trying out the Matte and Lacquer offerings which I am leaving too late to purchase (note: must go to Boots), so that I can compare the formulas...

THE PRIMER COLLECTION

Using a primer is often a step that I miss out in my makeup routine, because I have struggled for a while now trying to find the perfect one, and sometimes I'm just too lazy. I do however have quite the compilation of primers so I thought I would categorize them and ramble.

BRIGHTENING: So, we all have dull skin days at times and on those of mine I quite enjoy the Bourjois Luminous Serum Primer, which doesn't have any shimmer in, but just seems to make the face look radiant. It really is glowy skin in a bottle, and although it doesn't help with longevity it is worth it for the glow.

SMOOTHING: Smoothing primers tend to be quite heavily silicon based at times so I do often experience breakouts after using them. The first is a love hate relationship primer; the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, which is really smoothing, and keeps makeup on all day (I like to use it just on oily areas when I am using BB Cream or glowier bases), and I have just got back into using it so I will report back if I get any breakouts. I also have the Proactiv Smoothing Primer but I don't use it too often as it smooths but doesn't help with longevity all that much.

BRONZING: In the summer when you want to rack up the tan or in the winter when you are fed up of your pale skin, a bronzing primer is always a good'un to have in your stash. My personal favourite is the Bourjois Bronzing Primer which I also like to use over foundation around the outer areas of the face and on the cheekbones for an extra glow. I also like the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Tinted Primer as it is almost a mix of the Bourjois and Smashbox primers in one.

This post has actually inspired me to use my primers more often, we'll see how it goes tomorrow morning aye?

NATURAL LOOKING CONCEALERS

Concealing is one of those steps I enjoy in my makeup routine - delicately tapping on precise dots of product really is quite satisfying. But sometimes, the end result isn't as satisfying, especially when you look like a you have caked on your concealer with a paint brush, which is why I have been on the hunt for new additions to my collection that look a little more natural.

For under eyes, on top of something a little more heavy duty, or alone, my favourite offering is the KIKO Natural Concealer in 01. As the name suggests, it is natural, and very fresh looking. It is brightening, a little dewy and has a more pink tone to counteract any more darkness under your peepers. I am almost out of this, which is a shame because I live rather far from London. Maybe an online order...

For both blemishes, under eyes, and a little dewy highlighting, we have the Sheer Cover Conceal & Brighten Trio which offers 2 shades of concealer, and a light cream to highlight, which brings the glow to a new level. The concealers have a fairly light coverage, but can be built up to cover blemishes and banishes some of the under eye darkness you may have.

One which has been gaining more and more use from the Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer. I have recently rediscovered the Serum Foundation from the range too, and the two go hand in hand for a natural base. This is fairly yellow, but once blended just matches seamlessly to the skin. I'd give this one a  medium coverage status, with a satin finish, but not one that looks or feels drying in the slightest. A new love perhaps?

I am a bit of a concealer junkie, I confess. I am predicting that we'll be seeing another concealer-centric post fairly soon...

SMASHBOX IT'S YOUR PRIME

Since the day I started watching Youtube videos, someone has always been talking about the Smashbox Primers, and I got my fair share of the cute minis from the It's Your Prime set this Christmas. It contains 3 of their primers, 2 well-loved staples, and one new release. I'll give you the low down on the trio.

Photo Finish Foundation Primer: This is the one that everyone talks about, but also the one which some people don't like. I'm fairly sure it is silicon based, which breaks out a handful of people, but I am yet to experience that *touches wooden desk*. For me, I wouldn't say this dramatically increases the longevity of my makeup, just more so helps it wear off more evenly, so I don't have any weird marks where it settles.

Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer: This was the exciting newly released one, which isn't like many others on the market. This primes the under eye area, in order to prevent concealer creasing or drying out too much. I do really like this, and I find that concealer does apply and wear much better on top.

Photo Finish Lid Primer: For some reason, I am a lover of eye primers and I always want to buy more. This one though, makes me want to buy the full size (maybe my purse wouldn't agree). This is a lid primer which mattifies the surface, smooths, and blanks any colour out, and creates the perfect base for shadows. I definitely find that this guy makes my eye makeup wear for so much longer, without any signs of creasing. I am using this sparingly, because the pot is so diddy, and I love this stuff. Maybe I will fork out the £15 for a repurchase one day.

So, I am sitting on the fence with some, and totally smitten by others, but who would say no to cute little minis like these?

 

BARRY M BLINK EYELINER

Diverting away from the Christmas posts for a day, over the past month or two this Barry M Blink Eyeliner has quickly become my favourite eyeliner. I haven't tried many before, but the simplicity of using this has won me over.

This is a felt tip eyeliner, which I find the easiest type of liner to use. I basically draw on whatever shape I like, whether that is a dramatic wing, a small wing, or no wing at all, (some of which are demonstrated in the picture above), and it will last all day. I love that the pen tip is a spongey-foam kind of thing, as it just makes the application so much more flexible and quick. 

This is waterproof and smudgeproof, and all the other good stuff. I have only ever had this smudge on me once when my eye watered and I went crazy rubbing my eye because I forgot I had eyeliner on. School Girl Error. For £4.19 though, and for how blimmin' good this is, I will be repurchasing to my heart's content. 

If you suck at eyeliner, go and buy this. I was awful at liner, and after buying this, the amount of compliments I have gained isn't countable on my two hands...

BOURJOIS HEALTHY MIX SERUM

I didn't think Bourjois could get any more praise on their range of base products, until their newest addition - dubbed the Happy Light foundation - hit the shelves. Although it isn't what I am reviewing today, it is on my shopping list, just when I finish this bottle of the Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation. 

This is in shade 52 which is too dark for me, but I got it when I was tanned after my holiday, and so I just have to blend it down my neck and I'm all good. 
I can't entirely blame it on this foundation, it could have been when I have used different skincare, but I noticed that when I use this, for a good few days simultaneously, I have been getting a few blemishes here and there. As I say, it could be coincidence, and I hope it isn't this, as I love this foundation. And trust me, it is no event when I get a blemish, more a daily occurence...

This is the 'good skin day' foundation. Light coverage, maybe teetering on the edge between light and medium, but buildable, and concealer can do its job where needed anyway. As for the radiance, I have combination skin, and so this doesn't look as good on me after a few hours wear as it would/does on Megan (her skin is normal/dry and it looks incredible on her all day!), but with a blot, and a powder touch up, it serves me well. And I do look healthy.

I think once I get through this bottle (which I must say is perfect for travelling), I will be skipping away to Boots to get my hands on the Happy Light offering, and lets hope there are no breakouts to follow.. *crosses fingers*