THE SPRING POLISH PICKS

As Autumn and Winter leave us, and as Spring looks as if it is just around the corner, I have been ditching the vampy plums and reaching for the dainty pastels when it comes to polishes. There are definitely a few more types of colours I am looking to purchase, like pastel blues and pinks that are almost off whites - the L'Oreal new releases look promising. But, for now I have been enjoying using my current lineup.

An old favourite is the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Greenberry. If it was possible to have a pastel mint green, with a hint of neon about it, this would be it. The formula scores full marks from me too - glossy and opaque. Stunning.
Who can resist a bubblegum pink? I certainly can't and Ciaté Candyfloss is the one I am loving. There's something about this milky pink that stands out among the rest of my collection of polishes that makes me want to paint it on my nails every day.
Another offering from Ciaté is Chinchilla, a powdery pale blue which looks really nice on my skin tone. The formula of this one isn't quite as good as my other Ciaté polishes, but I still love it nonetheless.

One that I never stop banging on about is the Revlon Colourstay in Provence, a dusty, slightly grey pale lilac, which I slap on my nails if I can't decide what to wear - it's basically my go-to.
I don't really like how oranges look on my nails, but GOSH Peachy* is slightly more pastel and muted, so I feel like it is one of the only oranges I enjoy wearing. I'm not sure if this is still available anywhere, but if it is, I recommend picking it up.
Finally, what would this post be without a true mint. This is the Rimmel Salon Pro polish is Peppermint, and it is the perfect blue-mint which has a great thick formula and I seriously don't understand why I haven't purchased more from the line because they really to rule.

So, that's what my pointers have been loving, but leave your suggestions of what to get for when Spring hits hard so I have my fair share of pastel lacquers...

P.S - This is my 200th post! *applause*

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...

COLLECTING AND SPENDING POINTS

Loyalty cards and points cards are where it's at in the beauty world, as I am sure most of us can't resist
getting a treat free of charge. When you do the maths, it can be a little staggering to find out how much you have actually spent in order to gain those beloved points, so maybe put the calculator down on this one.

I only have 2 points cards, as I don't have the likes of Space NK locally, so I only have the option to get some pennies back from Boots and Superdrug.

The Boots Advantage Card is the one which gives you more points for your money. Coming in at 4 points per pound you spend, and then each point counts as 1p, it isn't too bad. In theory, its 4p back from every £1 worth of purchases. The only downside is that you have to have the entire amount of points equivalent to the product price in order to make the purchase, whereas with the Superdrug Beauty Card, you can spend your points in multiples of 100 towards any product.

If you are unsure what I mean, maybe this will help. For Superdrug, if you had 364 points on your card - equivalent to £3.64, you could put 300 of these towards your product. Did that even help you? But, there is a downside to this one too, you only get 1 point per £1 spent, so really you would end up spending a minimum of £100 in order to get £1 off a product.

Nonetheless, the spending part is very fun. Being on my spending ban, I needed (read: wanted) a new foundation, something a little lighter to coincide with my 'wear lighter coverage' New Year's resolution. The Rimmel Match Perfection was on the till, and I can tell you, I am very much enjoying that foundation as my go-to base, so points well spent if you ask me...

CURRENT BEAUTY CRAVINGS #1

Bourjois Happy Light Foundation // Revlon Matte Balms // Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water // Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Paint // Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder // Bourjois Bronzing Primer // No7 Pop & Glow Cream Blush // Maybelline Brow Drama // The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer // Nuxe Reve de Miel // Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer // MUA Luxe Lip Laquer //

Since I have been on my rather lengthy spending ban (only a week and a half left now), I have been going crazy over all sorts of products, new releases, and even the things that have been around for a while, but I just cannot wait to get my beauty fix once my spending ban is over - watch out Boots. It's time to share what I have been lusting after recently...

There's a few things complexion wise that I have been craving recently, one of them being the Bourjois Happy Light Foundation. I recently rediscovered my Healthy Mix Serum and it makes me want to try this one even more. Another is the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer, one which Megan keeps egging me on to buy, and I think at some point I will have to give in and purchase it. This No7 Pop & Glow Cream Blush jumped out to me on the Boots website, as it just seemed like a really quick product to swipe on your cheeks for a bit of colour.
The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer is the priduct that everyone keeps talking about at the moment, and it just looks so glowy even through the stock pictures that I want to reach out and touch it. Another glow-getter is the ever so hyped Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - I just feel like I want something a little more from my powder and this looks like it would give that. Finally on the complexion front is the Bourjois Bronzing Primer, and I don't know what it is, but something really intrigues me about this one.

Onto eyes, and I only have a few current cravings in that category. The first is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, another product everyone is raving about at the moment. I have Lily Pebbles to blame for this one, as she is constantly hyping the Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Paint in Rich Russet, and it just looks like such a no fuss eye look. Lastly, the Maybelline Brow Drama has been on my wishlist for some time now, and for someone who has never tried a tinted brow gel/mascara, I am even more intrigued.

For lips, I'm sure you all saw the Revlon Matte Balms coming into this wishlist. In particular I am really interested in Audacious and Elusive, as I am getting into brighter colours. The Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm is one of those products that I have been wanting to try for ages, but never got round to doing so. Maybe one of the boldest lip products I have ever wanted to try is the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in the colour Kooky in particular which is a purple. Yep, you read that right. I don't know why I want this, or when I would wear it but I always go into Superdrug hoping it's there.

Lets hope some of these cravings go away before my spending ban is over, otherwise we could be in for a rather large spend up...

BRUSHES FOR BASES

A day doesn't go by where I don't use a brush in some shape or form for my foundation/concealer. I'm not quite sure how I used to manage without, and even though a finger-applied base looks pretty and natural, I go for the brush option more often than not. I have three favourites, come and say hello...

The Real Techniques Buffing Brush really is the cult of the trio I have going on here, and I can certainly tell why. It isn't as dense as the likes of the Expert Face Brush, but it certainly blends just as well - a lot of people actually say even better. This makes makeup look like a part of your skin, rather than a thick layer sitting on top of it, and I love it. I can't quite believe that Megan doesn't have this one yet - come on girl.

For a more natural finish, I love the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. Sam Chapman really hits the nail on the head with her brush line, hence why I never stop rambling on about the darn things. This one is the one I love for lighter foundations or BB Creams/Tinted Moisturisers, because it's something about this brush and those kinds of bases that look the best together.

For a more dense brush we have the Nanshy Round Buffer Brush* which is becoming one that is used more and more regularly. It really blends foundation into the skin, and I love the way it looks. I don't think it quite rivals my Real Techniques Buffing Brush yet, because I find it slightly too dense to get everything as blended, but the finish is still great. This is one that I love for concealer more than foundation I guess.

3 Brushes, all of which my face appreciates. I wonder what brush I will be getting next from the Real Techniques range...