March Beauty Favourites

1. Nivea Daily Essentials Express Hydration Primer: 

I'd never bought into the idea of using a primer as I just always presumed it was unnecessary and that a good moisturiser does the job fine, however when I tried a sample of this one from Nivea courtesy of Glamour magazine, I had to buy it. What I really love about it is its ultra-lightweight feel; it isn't heavy like a moisturiser and its almost transparent which makes it absorb onto the skin instantly, so you don't have to wait to apply your make-up. It acts as both a moisturiser and a primer so it nourishes your skin and also makes your make-up stay in place longer. For me personally I've noticed a huge difference in my make-up application since using this as my foundation stays in place all day, and it also manages to control the oil on my skin so I don't have a shine problem. It also smells lovely, and it's really inexpensive too; I got mine when there was an offer on but the normal retail price in Superdrug is £4.99. 

2. Nivea Lip Butter in Caramel Cream:

Also from Nivea is their lip butters which I've only just discovered. This one in caramel cream smells unbelievable, it is literally good enough to eat (it reminds me of cake mix!) which is ideal if your like me and go mad for anything that smells delicious. Besides the smell it is really great for moisturising your lips, I find it a lot better than Vaseline as due to its thick buttery texture, it nourishes your lips for a lot longer. It certainly rivals my much loved Korres lip butter, and is ridiculously inexpensive at just £1.50. They also have a raspberry flavor that I'm yet to try, and a  macadamia one that we don't get in the UK, sob. 

3. Barry M Nail Paint in Blue Moon:

Since spring is upon us, I have been wearing Blue Moon from Barry M pretty much throughout this month. I think It's the most perfect shade for spring as it is a pale pastel blue colour with a very slight metallic shimmer which is so subtle it is barely noticeable. I adore pastel nails this time of year, and this one is really fresh and cute. As always Barry M is amazing for the quality of nail paint, I find it lasts for ages without having to reapply and I love how cheap they are at just £2.99. 

4. Jimmy Choo Perfume:

I got this fragrance at Christmas but pretty much neglected it until now. It is such a pretty, feminine scent that is not heavy or overpowering at all. I started using it a lot this month because I think it really is great for this time of year as it is so subtle and fresh for spring. It's also something really different to anything else I have; usually I quite like scents that are quite heavy and bold but this makes a lovely change, I'd definitely go try it if you haven't yet. 

5. Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation:

I had heard so many good things about this foundation from Boujois that when there was a 3-for-2 in Boots I just had to grab it. First of all, this is the foundation and not the serum, they have slightly different packaging which got me real confused but this one is brand new so I thought I would give it a try. I had heard that this is similar to Chanel Vitalumiere foundation which had me sold, and also I loved the sound of opting for a slightly lighter, glowy foundation which is so much nicer for this time of year. I was a bit skeptical about the promise of a healthy glow; seen as I have oily skin I didn't want to be too glowy, however this foundation is really lovely. It does give me a slight radiant, dewy glow, but it is by no means shiny or oily looking. Another problem I thought I would have with this is the coverage, as as it promises a healthy glow I thought this would mean a compromise on coverage which isn't great news for me because I have a bit of hyper-pigmentation which always needs covering. This however still manages to provide full coverage which is great, but at the same time lets your natural skin shine through which I love. I'm not sure what the big difference is between this and the serum, but I think this might be heavier coverage which works better for me anyway. I really would recommend this foundation as it uniquely offers a flawless complexion which stays in place throughout the day, whilst still providing you with a healthy looking glow. You can pick this up at Boots for £10.99. 

6. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer:

This is another product that I had heard so much about that I just had to give in and get it. Before this I had only ever used stick concealers so I didn't really know what to expect with this, however it did not disappoint. I got the lightest shade as it is really important that you go one or two shades lighter than your foundation as, especially under the eyes, it is good to highlight this area which is only possible if it is a bit lighter. I really love using this under my eyes, I just use the applicator to run right underneath the eye, and I also take it downwards slightly to create a V shape, which is a great technique if you want to brighten this area. This is such an amazing drugstore concealer as is ridiculously inexpensive at around £4 I think. It really makes you look more awake and is great for dark circles and also covers up scarring and blemishes which is great. The only negative thing about this is that the writing on the tube pretty much wiped off as soon as I put it in my make-up bag which was kind of annoying and a common issue, but obviously not a major issue as whats inside the tube is brilliant. I know a lot of people already use it and I can see why, so if you never have and your looking for a great drugstore concealer then this is your answer!

7. Bourjois Bronzing Powder: 

This is yet another product that I brought because of all the recommendations I heard about it on YouTube and on here (one of the reasons I love blogging so much!). I was in need of a bronzing powder as we are getting into spring now finally and especially for the summer, I like to look more tanned but in a natural looking way. First things first, it has to be said that this bronzer smells amazing! It is like chocolate but also like cocoa butter which is so delicious, I have to smell it every time I open it. The packaging is also really cut and reminds me of something Benefit would produce so I think it is really great for a drugstore product. I use this for contouring my cheekbones by just taking it from the top of my ear to the middle of the cheek. I also use this around my temples, hairline and around the jaw to give me that sun-kissed, bronzed glow look which I love because it makes me look so much healthier and radiant. It is also the most natural looking bronzer I have ever used; it is not orange toned at all, and it has a very slight amount of shimmer but it is still mainly matte which I prefer. You can pick this up for £6.99, or get down to Boots like I did whilst the 3-for-2 offer is on.

8. MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter: 

I picked this up from Superdrug on a whim because it was only £2! At that price I would have been stupid not too, and I absolutely adore highlighter, particularly at this time of year as I love that radiant skin appearance. I have been using a little of this just above the apple of my cheeks over my blusher and bronzer, and this highlighter seems to blend all three together into a gorgeous combination. It is surprisingly subtle therefore you don't need much of this at all and it creates such a beautiful radiant glow on the cheeks when it catches the light. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the smell; It smells of some sort of chemicals which isn't very nice, but it's not a major issue when you consider the ridiculously cheap price. 

9. Maybelline The Falsies Mascara:

This purchase was long overdue as I had heard so much about it, but I'd been waiting for my MAC one to run out before I could purchase it. This mascara is really unbelievable. It is by far the best mascara for volume I have ever tried. It really lives up to its name and is so volumising that I have been ditching my false lashes lately because I find that this is enough. I got the ultra-black drama one because I love really black lashes. What I love so much about this mascara is the curved brush which really helps to coat every lash, even the ones in the inner corners which is really quite difficult with a straight wand. It lengthens  thickens and holds a curl well, without looking too clumpy. You also don't need to build it up loads which can turn clumpy; it is enough with two coats max. Buy into the hype because this is really worth it! £7.99.

10. Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie:

I have had this lip butter from Revlon in my make-up bag for ages, but I have been using it all the time this month because it is such a beautiful colour for spring/summer. First of all, I'm pretty sure everyone is aware of how great Revlon lip butters are because they really are such a beautiful formulation. I wish all lipsticks were like this because they are so moisturising and creamy, but they still have amazing pigmentation. I know that some of the lighter shades just provide a sheer coverage, but this shade Raspberry Pie provides the same coverage as a lipstick. It is a gorgeous dark pink colour that almost verges on purple; it is actually quite similar to MAC's rebel, but more on the pink side. I think the formulation of these is also ideal for spring as I tend to prefer not so matte textures during warm weather. I really want to try more of these lip butters so If anyone recommends any shades, let me know in the comments below! 

11. Rimmel Kate Mosse Lasting Finish Lipstick in 107 Wine:

This is yet another product that I brought this month because I felt like I had heard so much about this particular shade that I had to own it myself. 107 is a gorgeous, rich dark red tone with slight purple undertones. It is probably not the most suitable spring shade, I think its actually quite perfect for autumn/winter, but I love this shade nonetheless and have actually worn it quite a few times this month already. The quality of these lipsticks are fantastic, the pigmentation is excellent and actually remind me of MAC lipsticks. The stain does last a long time, but the matte formulation can be a bit drying so its necessary to moisturize your lips beforehand. 

xxx