Its that time of year again....early Christmas shopping!

I'm one of those annoying people that loves thinking about and planning for Christmas...as early as September! I know, I should be ashamed but I'm not! ;-)

I absolutely detest the queues in stores nearer the festive period. The majority of people shopping for Christmas seem to be on a military style mission, all stressed out and annoyed. At that time I just want to wander around the shops, grab a coffee, enjoy the Christmas music playing in town etc.

A few years ago I started trying to do as much Christmas shopping as possible online. No queues, no stress and instead I can get on with all the enjoyable Christmas parts of preparing for Christmas.
 

MyPure is the perfect place to pick up a variety of gifts. Normally I just get beauty products from them but last month I noticed that they sell candles. Anyone that knows me knows that I am a candle addict. Between candles and oil burners I have every room in the house covered. Can anyone say obsessed? ;-) 

MyPure sells a whole variety of Munio Candela, natural soya wax scented candles. I ordered the marigold flower gift pack and at £15.30 I think it was an absolute bargain! It comes in a beautifully simple cardboard box. In the box there's a candle and wax tarts of various sizes, I love that small detail, because I have oil burners with different sized bowls. You can put the wax tarts in drawers, luggage etc. if you wish but I much prefer to melt the tarts and make the house smell lovely. I intend to pick up some of the cinnamon and clove gift packs for stocking fillers and as thank you gifts for a few people.
 

I also ordered the Eco Tools six piece starter set. I'm a big fan of Eco Tools. They're quite a recent find for me and so I'm building up my collection of them. I tend to have sensitive skin and where other brushes irritate my skin, the Eco Tools brushes are incredibly soft. When I was putting my makeup on this morning using the brushes it dawned on me that this set, at £13.49 would be the perfect gift to pop into each of my friend's Christmas gift bags.
While browsing through the MyPure website I have came up with so many more ideas for friends and family ~ shaving products for my dad, baby products to make up a little gift pack for my friend's soon-to-be-born baby, facial kits for my gran and mum. Have a look for yourself!

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?
Did you see anything you liked on the MyPure site?
 

Inika Light Reflect Highlighting Creme

Highlighters and anything to do with contouring are things I have stayed away from in the past. It took me long enough to perfect a few basic looks that I was happy with without trying to contour or highlight.
Though recently I have been liking the dewy look and for me its not as daunting to try as some of the other looks out there.
I decided to try Inika's Light Reflect Highlighting Crème. It was ordered through the MyPure website and costs £17. I've said it before but MyPure are all about natural, organic skincare. I try to take care of my skin so any products I can use that don't contain any nasties is a positive thing for me.
Anyway, back to the product! Its a good shade for my skin now that I'm slightly sunkissed but I don't think it would work for me in winter when I'm much paler. A friend described the shade as "champagne" and I think that's quite apt. It blends in easily and gives me the dewy look that I've been after. I apply it to my cheekbones, brow bone and cupid's bow.
The only downside to it is that you barely have to touch the tube and some will splodge out so I've had to be careful with my heavy handed ways! :-)

Have any of you tried this product?
What is your go-to highlighting product?

Collection Work The Colour Shadow Pencils

I seen these in Superdrug last month and decided to pick up a few. I'm not normally a fan of eyeshadow pencils but I liked the shades of these and at £3.19 it wasn't a big loss if I didn't like them.


There are 6 in the collection: Gunmetal Glitz, Vanilla Sky, Midnight Glam, Denim Diva, Hot Chocolate and Vintage Blush. I bought Vintage Blush and Midnight Glam.


Collection describes them as:
- Velvety soft, blendable eyeshadow.
- Waterproof formulation for long lasting colour. 
- Glides on effortlessly to create versatile eye looks in an instant.
- Available in 6 stunning shades.
- Sharpen to access the  colour just like a kohl eyeliner pencil.

Both pencils have a pretty shimmer to them. Vintage Blush looks like a pale pink to me on the pencil but when I applied it on my eyelid it looks more like a peach colour. Midnight Glam appears to have tiny wee specks of glitter.

I really love the Vintage Blush shade and I imagine it will look very pretty on top of some sun kissed skin. I've started wearing the Midnight Glam as a chubby eyeliner. I found that for me it was just too dark and not very blendable with other eyeshadows.

This range are waterproof and you definitely need a good eye makeup remover to shift them at the end of the day. I love this though because I've bought cheaper brands before that claimed they were waterproof and a walk in the rain shifted them. Not a good look!

I've enjoyed experimenting with them but I don't think I'll be picking up the rest of the collection. Its not a problem with the actual product, its just that I struggle to get the desired look using them. I'm much more of a powder girl.

Have any of you tried Work The Colour Eyeshadow pencils?

What did you think?

March Wants & Desires



This is my first (and hopefully not my last) monthly "Wants & Desires" post.

Its pretty self explanatory. Its just a few of the things I'm lusting after this month. I couldn't add everything, nobody could read a post that was that long! Some of the items I will probably get around to purchasing, others will just have to stay on that list until the much sought after lotto win!

Cerutti 1881 (30ml)

The Perfume Shop £12.99
I used to love this perfume when I was in college. I loved the floral scent but I also loved how fresh it was. Mother's Day is coming up & I think I've earned it. ;-)




Barry M Waterproof Gel Eyeliner (Black)
Barry M website £5.49
I've recently been doing quite a bit of tight lining and have finally got the hang of it after seeing a great tip on Youtube here. It combines tight lining while curling your eyelashes. 2 birds, 1 stone & all that.










MAC Studio Fix (Powder Plus Foundation)
MAC UK website £21.50
I used this about a year ago & loved it but I have such a habit of always looking for something else & so I forgot about it.






Benefit Gimme Brow
Benefit UK website £17.50
This stuff looks fantastic. I normally use a brow powder but I've always found it such a faff. I've watched a few YouTube review videos recently about this product & it really does look the business.

Yumi Anchor Intarsia Jumper

Debenhams £38

I love the whole nautical theme so I'm glad its still kicking around now that I no longer have a big old baby bump. :-) I love, love, love this jumper!

Olay Regenerist 3 Point Super Serum (50ml)

Superdrug £19.99

I've been reading a lot about skin serums that firm the skin & apparently make it younger looking. One of my resolutions at the beginning of the year was to take better care of my skin. With a new baby I've been neglecting it but no more! :-) This is just another step in that direction.

So that's it this month! :-)

Have you used any of the above products?

Would you rate them?

Let me know!

Much love. xx

Lisa

@latte_fiend on Twitter