November Favourites

November has been the month of getting everything done before the madness of the Christmas rush. Its mostly worked quite well and now I can sit back and watch as everyone else panic buys socks and boxes of biscuits for loved ones. If your one of these people, do keep an eye out over the next week or so for different gift guides that I'll be posting up. There might be something for that one difficult aunt or brother that you can never get the right thing for.

I think its clear by now to see that I am a massive fan of candles, especially Irish ones that are made of only the good stuff. So you might be shocked to see that I have both Yankee candles and Emma So Naturals side by side this month. I'll tell you now, I used to be Yankees biggest fan and still buy them on occasion, but I've mostly used Christmas Cookie because it was a present and himself was giving out I wasn't using it. But also because I broke my beloved Emmas one - drink and candles do not go hand in hand, just let me say that now. Surprisingly enough, it lit for the photos and then died on me altogether not long after I went to pick out the pictures of this post. Little fecker, such a poser that Masala Chai. Luckily enough though, I picked up the largest candle size of this scent yesterday, so I am one happy camper. Have a read of the Emmas candles collection over here.

I know last month I featured this Christian Breton lipstick in the shade speak easy, but holy god its that good I had to include it again. I have never before got so many compliments as I do when wearing this. Its such a gorgeous purple colour and is something that I can't seem to find in any other collections. It lasts all day with the help of a lip pencil and adds serious attitude to any look. I'd put money on me finishing this lipstick before Spring - and I've never finished a lip product before. You can get this from The Cosmetic Outlet on Meath Street for €10. Just in time for the Christmas stocking, or a treat for yourself.

The Body Shops White Musk was every girls fragrance at some stage in her teens, but they brought out the more mature smoky rose scent last year. This month it has been my go to scent thats perfect for a little something heavier in the winter months. Again, I've had loads of people sniffing me and asking what it is. My bottle has been well loved and I can see myself getting it again once it runs out. Its not breaking the bank either considering its perfume and from the sometimes over pricey Body Shop. One for the wish list!

Glitter. All of the magical glitter that is allowed at this time of year. And because I don't do things halfheartedly, every single nail had to have Models Own top glitter coat, that doesn't actually have a name or number on it oddly! I am such a big fan of glitter and would wear it all year round if it wasn't so hard to take off my nails. This one is under Barry M Chai. 

Next is a bit of a surprise one for me. My Sleek vintage romance palette that I got back in October. I've been using all the colours in this, which I never thought I'd do. The pinks and purples are well out of my comfort zone but I decided to throw caution to the wind and slap it all over my eye balls for a lot of this month. I feckin love how pigmented these palettes are and the gorgeous selection you get in each one. Theres both shimmers and mattes in this, but the glitter has to always be caked on when I do it! How can you not have glitter when its acceptable to? This was €9.99 in Boots for 12 shades, a brush and a massive mirror. Bargain if I ever saw one.

Next is my lovely *Paese bamboo powder that I have become very attached to. I was so surprised when I started using this, a little on when first doing my make up to set the lot and that was it for the day. Normally I'm having to touch up my setting powder through out the day, but I hardly ever need to with this one. Its total magic I'm telling you! The one downside is that its loose so if your not careful it can go everywhere. (Or if your me, you'll accidentally inhale some and ruin your eye make up coughing and making your eyes stream. Sexy, right?) You can see my full review and more of the Paese range here. 

Lastly two of my most used things to date. I've had a long affair with Soap&Glory, but when their Orangeasm collection was launched I considered marriage. I've been using this body wash since I got it back in October and I've not fallen out of love with it yet. Using it every single day with 2 or 3 pumps and its only now hit the half way mark. Theres some gorgeous S&G sets out for Christmas that I have been begging for. I need them all in my life - and I'm just out of their body scrubs too. Perfect timing to stock up again! (Are you listening santy?)

My sister introduced me to a bundle of French brands after she went jet setting to France with her other half for a week. She came home weighted down with skin care and goodies for me to try. I'll tell you now, the sisterly bond was strong that day. This Bioderma cleansing milk is one she passed to me when she found it wasn't working for her skin. After trying it out for the entire month I'm almost booking her tickets back to France to buy more. This takes off the most caked make up, mascara (- but not Benefits They're Real. Feckin nothing gets that cray stuff off.) and all the most pigmented lipsticks going. I really love it and its not once irritated my skin. I've not looked this up as I really don't want to ruin the dream and find out how expensive it is, or how difficult it is to get in Ireland. But as its now two thirds gone, I'll have to burst my bubble soon. 

Thats it for me now. I'm sorry about the crappy blogging I've been doing in the last few weeks. If its not the awful light, its the lack of time! Speaking of light, apologises for the utterly horrendous light in this post. I've had nothing but weeks of poor lighting and said feck it yesterday. Downsides of the winter season! 

Soap&Glory Sugar Crush Collection

I've been a massive fan of Soap&Glory for years now but sometimes the S&G signature scent can be a little overpowering and not to my likes. This is totally my own fault though, I've used far too many of their products and now I'm reaching for their other scents in the range. I guess you can have too much of a good thing! Right now I'm really in love with the sugar crush collection, its totally different from other scents in the range and I really love the slightly summery feeling it gives me when I have a shower in the morning.

First I have to talk to you about the gorgeous body wash. Like with all S&G things, I love all the bright pink packaging with these products, they make my heart flutter a little. I've taken this body wash out of the shower recently purely as I don't want to use it all up so quickly! This is the fresh and foamy body wash in a handy 500ml bottle with a pump. It smells like lime but sweet too, its not overpowering and stays on your skin after you've finished in the shower, something that a lot of body washes don't do. It foams up well and gives lots of bubbles. It also contains radiance boosting kiwi juice just to make your shower time fun even fancier. You can use this as bath foam too, but I've yet to try it out, preferring to keep it for the shower in the morning, This is €9 in Boots. 

To compliment the body wash I use the sugar crush body buttercream. This is the thickest and most rich moisturiser I've used in a very long time, its nothing short of utterly beautiful. I realise in the warm summer months not everyone is going to want a heavy thick cream which is understandable, but keep it on the wishlist for the cooler months, its worth it. I have used this so much in the past two months and have barely made it to the halfway point in the big 300ml tub. Once the cream hits the heat of skin it spreads easy and a little goes a long way which I was genuinely surprised about to begin with, thinking I would have to scoop most of it out in one go. This is the heavy duty kind of moisturiser that cures the sand paper elbows and knees and makes the rest of the skin silky soft - if I do say so myself! Its packed with shea and cocoa nut balm, kiwi juice water, lime and almond oils. You can again get this in Boots for 14.75 which I would consider pricey normally, but I have got so long from it without finding the bottom yet, I would say your skin will thank you. If not your pocket!

There is a body scrub in this range too, but I'll be talking about that soon in another post, so look out for that! From having a quick goo on the Boots site I've noticed all these products are in a 3 for 2 offer, so you could try them all out and save some money at the same time. (And get a few Boots points, man I love those things!) So theres another excuse for all the product junkies out there to nip into the shops and be tempted!

Whats your favourite S&G product?

Glossy Box - My Last One

I can't even hide how unimpressed I am with this months Glossy Box. When I first got the box to the front door last year as a present from my boyfriend I was more then delighted. I couldn't believe I was getting something I have watched bloggers and vloggers review forever and lusted over them all. But it seems that Glossy Box has just gone further and further downhill. The general feel on Twitter is the same, Glossy Box has lost well, the gloss? I know, no pun intended though! 

I'm not sure if this is going to be an ongoing thing, but this months box is shiny. I'm sorry but just no. No thank you. Their other matte boxes looked much better and clearly said luxury service, but now this new box just screams cheap and quite frankly, nasty. Back to basics is the theme of this months box and they really got it spot on with basics and the bare minimum in the product department. 

So, this is what I got. Sample size things that would have been cheaper to get in the shop instead of forking out around €16 for next to nothing. 

Yu-Be moisturising skin cream £13.50 for a full size.

 The Vintage Cosmetic Company floral slanted tweezers that are £8.

  Balance Me super toning body wash £10.25 for full size 250ml.

Anatomicals puffy the eye bag slayer wake-up under eye patches £6 for 3 pack.

Montagne Jeunesse passion peel off masque and blemish mud mask £1.09 per mask.

There is nothing in this box that I can't wait to use, I could leave or take it. The tweezers will come in handy if I loose my ones and I will try out the mask but I'm not excited about them like I am for other products. I think you will see now why I'm not impressed at all. I have unsubscribed from Glossy Box and going to take my hard earned few bob else where. 

Glossy Box actually tweeted at me when I took to Twitter to voice my anger at the box and they informed me that nexts months box would focus on make up... I don't know about you ladies and gents, but I'm glad I'm not sticking around to find out if the box delivers a full sized product or dare I hope, even equals to some of the €16 I have paid each month for the service. I am one unhappy girl today, sorry guys for such a grry negative post but I am so so upset and annoyed at this months box of 'samples'.

Soap&Glory Clean, Girls Body Wash

I have had this so long I can't even remember when I first got it. I think it might have been givien to me as Christmas present, maybe. But I do remember how much I loved it, that sticks out. Its a really huge bottle being 500ml but has easy access with a handy pump. The bottle itself is something you would be proud to display in your bathroom, with a pin up girl on the front cover and some bright, fun lettering as with all S&G's packaging.

Inside this massive bottle is a pinky coloured cream that has S&G's signature sent of Mist You Madly. Its also packed with musk, vanilla, blackcurrant, bergamot, magnolia and freesia. But for me after easily six months of on and off use, I can't wait to finish off this body wash. The Mist You Madly sent is, to me, now a really horrible over-powering smell. No thank you very much!

In fairness to the body wash, it does do a lovely job of cleaning and moisturizing your skin, leaving it soft and fresh.Not to mention that a little goes a long way, this stuff creates a creamy lather in seconds. The sent actually clings to your skin for hours after which to begin with I really liked and was a little more relaxed in the knowledge that I wasn't going around with a swarm of flys after me! (pause for giggle over funny image) 

I doubt very much if I will ever buy this again, or another S&G product that has this sent, but I will look out for new things in their line that might just make up for the fact that I now really hate this smell! However, if you like the sent and want to make a sneaky purchase for it, you can do so here for €8.50 which isn't that bad considering how big this bottle is and how long it lasts.