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This next haul post is coming to you from Boots (and one item from Topshop). Working there has definitely encouraged my beauty spending habits!

I prefer cream highlighters to powder ones, and had heard a lot about the Topshop Glow Highlighter in Polish (£9). I'm impressed so far, and will probably be reviewing it soon. I also had my eye on one of their powder blushes, but I have enough already. I'm also not a fan of the packaging because it gets so grubby.

The Max Factor products are actually my first purchases from the brand. I'm running out of my Witch primer and wanted to try something new, so thought I'd give the Face Finity All Day Primer (£10.99) a go. I was sent the Skin Luminizer Foundation (£11.99) a few months ago, but it was in the wrong shade and I wasn't really into wearing foundation back then. I've heard good things since, and was in the spending mood yesterday, so popped it in my basket. I'm hoping it's light enough for me! Max Factor is currently on 3 for 2, so I also picked up the Colour Elixir Lip Gloss in Enchanting Coral (£7.99). I'd had my eye on this for a while - it's a beautiful, pinky coral shade with no shimmer (for once!), and has a good colour pay off.

Wearing foundation has opened up a whole new area of makeup for me to try, which is exciting. After doing lots of research on many brands and foundations, I decided to try the L'Oreal True Match Foundation (£9.99). I was going to go for the Revlon Colourstay one, but it looked too dark for me, so maybe I'll try that in the summer. Now, I thought it'd be best to go for the shade N1 Ivory, but my store only had C1 Rose Ivory. I thought it'd be too cool toned for my skin, but then I compared it to other foundations in the store, including my current No7 one, and it didn't look any different, in terms of tone. I'll let you know how I get on with it! L'Oreal is currently 2 for £14, and as tempting as that was, there wasn't anything else I wanted.

I love Maybelline mascaras, and the new Lash Sensational (introductory price £5.99, normal price £7.99) looked like a combination of the Rocket and Falsies, so I had to try it. I then bought another Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Intense Black (currently £5.99, normally £7.99) because my current one is starting to dry up. I love this eyeliner, and I actually use the brush that comes with it!

When I showed my family what I bought (does anyone else do that?), my dad said I didn't need any more makeup. Sometimes, I feel like he doesn't know me at all...

Another Yankee Candle Haul

I know I've only just posted one of these, but my sister and I went to a store that had its own Yankee Candle section the other day, so took advantage of being able to see and smell all the scents.

I intended on stocking up on Red Raspberry because I'd melted it the night before and fell in love. Sadly, it was the one scent they didn't have any wax tarts in, so I settled for a sampler candle (£1.80). I then bought another Mango Peach Salsa, as well as Black Cherry, Pink Grapefruit, and Turquoise Sky for £1.49 each. Turquoise Sky is described as 'calm, salty air with hints of sea grass and musk, float gently on ocean waves... off on an adventure beneath a bright blue sky', but I'd just describe it as fresh and slightly more masculine than the others I have.

Champaca Blossom is one of the fragrances of the month (25% off), so I paid £1.12 for the wax tart. It's described as a 'fruity floral nectar', and I'd agree with that. Not one I'd have chosen if I was shopping online, so I'm glad I was able to smell it.

Summer Scoop and Sicilian Lemon were £1.04 for some reason, and ones I'd had my eye on before. Summer Scoop smells like strawberry ice cream, and you can guess what Sicilian Lemon smells like!

Finally, Christmas Cookie and Snowflake Cookie were 74p each. There were other Christmas and Halloween scents on sale, too, but I didn't like them as much.

I don't need to buy any more for a while now, but I'm tempted to buy 10 Red Raspberry melts from yankee.co.uk for £9.60! I may need another Pineapple Cilantro as well because the scent's currently wafting through the house and smelling beautiful.

2014 Favourites: Part Two

Part two of my 2014 favourites includes skincare, haircare, and bodycare products (you can see my makeup favourites here). I'm probably missing something, but the ones above are the ones currently in my collection. I've given the full prices, but, aside from the Lush products, I've never paid them! They're on offer more times than not.

The Body Shop's Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter (£12) and Silky Cleansing Oil (£10) have become my favourite cleansers. They remove makeup so well and leave my skin feeling incredibly soft. I find they both do the same job; they're just different formulas. The Silky Cleansing Oil is quicker to dispense, but the Sumptuous Cleansing Butter won't leak if you were to travel with it.

The other cleanser I've been loving is Lush's Ultrabland Facial Cleanser (£7.25/45g or £11.50/100g). Like the others, this is my second repurchase, and it won't be my last. Again, it removes my makeup well, and I can open my eyes without it stinging. It leaves my skin feeling moisturised, and my combination-oily skin would be fine if I didn't use anything else. It makes my skin feel moisturised in an ever so slightly tacky way, like I have actually just moisturised.

Another Lush favourite of mine is the Ro's Argan Body Conditioner (£16.50). This second pot was a gift I asked for, for Christmas, because it's expensive. It''s amazing, though. You put it on and wash it off in the shower, and you're left with moisturised skin, just like you would be with a body butter. It makes moisturising in the winter so easy (and a lot less cold!).

Another body product I've enjoyed using is the Imperial Leather Foamburst Luxurious Body Wash in Bewitching Blackberry & Wild Fig (£2.99-£3.15). I've tried all the scents, and this one's my favourite. I just love foam shower gels, and think these are a great alternative to the Rituals ones.

In terms of hair, the TRESemme Platinum Strength Shampoo (£4.99) really impressed me last year. I find most shampoos do the same thing, and as long as they clean my hair and don't dry it out, I'm happy. This did those things, but also made it feel incredibly soft, without weighing it down or making it greasy. The conditioner was also good, but I didn't even need it with this. I now have an entire draw of this range, which should last me through 2015!

The Naked Rescue Intensive Care Conditioner (£4.39) is still a favourite of mine. It smells great and conditions my hair like no other. The shampoo is also good, but can be a little too clarifying at times. The brand no longer has a website or social media accounts, but can still be found in Boots. I really hope they stay there!

Well, this is no surprise. The Superdrug Colour Effects Wash In Wash Out Conditioning Colours (£1.49) have been favourites of mine for years. Some of my most popular posts are of these, and they're included in nearly every Empties post. They just give my auburn hair that extra vibrancy, which I'm regularly complimented on. They've gone up in price to £1.49, but were recently on offer for 3 for £3, so I bought another 9 to add to my stock.

2014 saw me find a new appreciation for hand creams. My absolute favourites so far are the Figs & Rouge ones (£3.95/20ml or £6.95-£7.95/80ml), particularly the Cherry Blossom and Mango & Mandarin scents. I also love The Body Shop Hand Creams (£3.50), with Mango, Frosted Cranberry, and Vanilla Brulee being my favourites.

Finally, I'm never without a pack of Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets. They absorb any excess oil without disturbing your makeup, and I normally use these at lunchtime to freshen up. I don't think they're available in Boots or Superdrug anymore (I think they were discontinued), but you can get them on eBay and Amazon. I bought 5 packs for £3.49 including delivery (they used to be £2-3 individually).

Do you love any of these products?

The Body Shop Haul

I've been 'treating myself' a lot recently, so expect to see a few hauls!

The code I used for the products above only entitled me to 35% off (not 40% or 50% off like I usually buy with!), but it included sale items as well, so I didn't mind so much!

I'd wanted to try The Body Shop's Home Fragrance Oils for ages, so when I bought my burner, I went straight to the website. I bought Aloe & Soft Linen, Green Tea & Lemon, Pomegranate & Raspberry, Exotic, and Satsuma for £2.60 each (RRP £4).

I then bought another All In One Face Base in 02 for £9.10 (RRP £14) because I always like to be stocked up on this. It has some coverage and a velvety soft, matte finish.

From the sale, I bought the Frosted Cranberry Eau De Toilette for £2.93 (RRP £8.50), the Frosted Cranberry Body Polish for £3.25 (RRP £10), and the Raspberry Body Scrub for £4.25 (RRP £13). I want to start using body scrubs more, and these scents are a couple of my favourites!

Have you bought anything from The Body Shop recently?

Yankee Candle Haul

I've wanted a wax burner/warmer for years, but am not allowed naked flames in the house. I looked at electric ones a couple years ago, but there weren't many options and they were much more expensive than tealight ones. Then, last week, Hannah reminded me of them and I went on an online hunt. The selection still isn't great, and they're still not the cheapest, but my parents offered to buy me one for my birthday (I'm going to be 22 on the 20th). I bought the one above from here, and then set about buying some wax tarts to go with it. 

I know I went a little overboard, but I just got excited about finally being able to buy them! I bought 10 from this listing for £11.95, and another 10 from Yankee Direct (another recommendation from Hannah). The ones from Yankee Direct were 'buy 10 pay for 8', and delivery was £1.95 (£2.95 if you spend £10-£24.99 and £3.95 if you spend over £25).

They're already scenting my room, and I haven't even opened them yet! Salted Caramel is particularly strong, and one I can't see my parents appreciating, so I'm going to break it into smaller pieces.

I also wanted to try some wax melts from smaller brands to see how they compare, so look out for another haul.

Are you a fan of wax tarts? What's your favourite brand, scent, and place to buy them?

Reading | Kindle Paperwhite

I've never been against eReaders, because reading is reading, but I've just never felt the need for one myself. My dad has the original Kindle, and my sister the Fire HDX, so I'd borrow theirs. I also like going charity shopping for books, even receiving Amazon orders and opening that satisfying packaging. Still, I was running out of room and wanted my own collection of eBooks on my own device, so I bought the Kindle Paperwhite (from Boots because they've just started selling them and I had points vouchers!). 

I was going to get the Fire HDX because the graphics are obviously better, but I'd only use it for reading, so it made sense to go for the Kindle designed for just that. The Paperwhite isn't back-lit like tablets, so doesn't tire your eyes, it doesn't glare in the light, and it has a significantly longer battery life.

Yes, you do have to pay for the device and then the books on top of that, and there's no excitement in the buying of them, but there's so many more pros. It holds over 1000 books, saving space, it's a lot more comfortable to hold, you don't even have to hold it to be able to read (handy when you're eating on your lunch break), you never lose your place, and you're able to look up words with the built in dictionary. There's also plenty of free/cheap books available, which you're able to download and read within seconds.

There's this divide between paper and digital reading, but they're both reading at the end of the day, so I don't see a problem. I'll still continue to go to charity shops and buy my favourites in hard copy, but I'll just be reading more on the Kindle.

My case is from a brand called Punchcase, and was bought in Tesco for a few pounds during one of their sales. This was a couple of years ago, though, for my sister's old device. It's available on Amazon here, but they want £25.99 for it.

I've only got four books on my Kindle at the moment, so would love to add more with your recommendations. I also have a Goodreads profile here, where I'd love to add more friends.

2014 Favourites: Part One

I wasn't planning on having this many favourites, so I've split them into a couple posts. As you can see, this one contains the makeup!

There's clearly a theme with the lip products, with them either being coral or red. The ones above are No7 BB Lips Beauty Balm in Berry Rose, L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Exclusive Reds Lipstick in Julianne, Maybelline Colour Elixir in Alluring Coral, NYX Butter Gloss in Peach Cobbler, The Body Shop Colour Crush Shine Lipstick in Sunset Romance, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Frambourjoise, Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon, and No7 BB Lips Beauty Balm in Geranium. Some are glossy, some are matte, some are sheer, some are opaque, but they are all absolutely beautiful.

Another lip product I've been loving is the Blistex Intensive Moisturiser. Hands down, the best lip balm I've ever tried. Unlike many, it doesn't just act as a barrier, but actually improves the condition of your lips.

I started wearing foundation in 2014, after not being able to get on with any for years. The No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation changed that. The packaging is practical, it's one of the lighter shades on the highstreet, it gives a full coverage, and doesn't feel heavy or look cakey.

The Body Shop's All In One Face Base in 02 is a product I've been using for a couple years now. It's silky and provides a little extra coverage. I've yet to come across anything better.

I don't like the handles of the Real Techniques Stippling and Powder Brushes because they take up so much room in my brush holder, but I've been using them nearly every day for the past year and they're still looking good. They've held their shape and haven't shed a hair, so I'm really pleased with them.

The No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter is just beautiful. It's the perfect candlelight shade and is easy to blend. 

The ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light. I've been through so many of these over the years. I used to use the Medium shade, but started using Light in 2013/2014 and find that it's a much better suiting.

I had a couple styes in October that lead to me pulling out my eyelashes (I know), and the Eylure Individual False Lashes saved the day. I only used the short ones to fill in the gaps I had, but they looked natural and weren't that difficult to apply. They didn't last more than a day because of cleansing, but they lasted through the day without any problems. 

Another product I started using for the same reasons is the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner in Black, and I now use it every day. It's jet black, easy to apply, and lasts all day, even on the upper waterline.

To my lower lash line, I smudge in the Maybelline Eye Studio Colour Tattoo Cream Gel Eyeshadow in On and On Bronze. It's a beautiful metallic shade that lasts all day.

Maybelline really is my favourite brand for eye products! The Rocket Mascara is another favourite of mine that I've been using for years. I don't find it clumpy in the slightest, and it really lengthens the hairs.

The last products are cream blushes. NYX's Cream Blush in Natural is my favourite blush of all time, and I've just hit pan! So proud. It's pigmented, creamy, and easy to blend. The Illamasqua Cream Blushers in Dixie and Seduce are also great, although not quite as creamy. The shades, though, are beautiful.

Are you a fan of any of these products? What were your favourites of 2014?

Lush Sale Haul

It was the early morning of Boxing Day, and I found myself dreaming of the Lush sale. You'd think I was a mad fan of the brand, but I'm not. Anyway, this dream woke me and I couldn't get back to sleep, so up I got, thinking the sale would have just started. Hours passed and still no sale. Then, when it did start, there were difficulties with the site. Most of the Christmas products I wanted didn't even show up, so I settled with four items (three of which were from the permanent line).

I bought a large bottle of Snow Fairy for £5.97, which is still overpriced for a shower gel. I like the pear drop and cotton candy scent, though, and it's one of the few that actually lingers on my skin. I had my last bottle for about 10 months before I started using it, and it still smelt the same as when I first bought it.

I then added an Each Peach (And Two's A Pair) massage bar to my basket for £2.97. I already have and love this, and it's still smelling great after all this time, so thought I may as well get another while it's half price!

I received two shampoo bars for Christmas, but that didn't stop me buying two more. How could I resist when they were down to £2.87 each? I'm going to keep the ones I'm not using in a vacuum bag to ensure they stay fresh! I've already owned Squeaky Green in the past, but am most excited to use one of the new additions; Honey I Washed My Hair. I believe my first introduction to Lush was a set gifted to me on my birthday many years ago. If I remember correctly, it contained a Butterball bath bomb and a chunk of Honey I Washed The Kids soap. The sweet scent now brings back memories and I find it comforting. They just need to bring out a Comforter smelling shampoo bar now!

Did you manage to pick anything up in the sale? I couldn't get to a store because of work, but will hopefully have more luck next time!