My favourite beauty discoveries of 2019

Have you entered my Christmas giveaway here?

Before I get into today's post, I just want to thank you all for reading and commenting throughout 2019. My giveaway for regular readers and commenters will end at midnight tonight but if you don't win, please don't be disheartened as I have more giveaways in the pipeline for next year. I know that some people think that blogs are dying out but I personally still love reading them and writing my own so as long as there are some of you out there who are happy to keep reading, I'm happy to keep writing!

Over the course of the week, I have been sharing my beauty favourites in individual categories but today it's all about products that I discovered this year that have made their way into my hall of fame. If a product was gifted to me, it will be marked with a * but there is no obligation on me to share any gifted products and, as with all of my posts, this is not sponsored. It's a long one so let's get started!

2019 Favourites: Makeup

Have you entered my Christmas giveaway here?

I thought that makeup favourites would be my longest post of the week but when you see my discoveries post (tomorrow), you will know that this actually isn't a huge list! There are a lot of well loved products in this post that featured in previous years also. Although I love trying new products, there are some that just can't be beaten and are staples in my routine. None of these products were sent to me. Let's get into them.....

2019 Favourites: Skincare

Have you entered my Christmas giveaway here?

It's yearly favourites week and today, it's all about skincare. These products aren't necessarily new to me - in fact, some of them have been staples in my routine for years! All new discoveries from the year will be in Friday's post as it will cover all areas of beauty. Most of the products in today's post will come as no surprise to my regular readers! Anything that was gifted to me, will be marked with a *.

2019 Favourites: Hair & Body

Have you entered my Christmas giveaway here?

I cannot believe that it's yearly favourites time again. Where has this year gone?! For the rest of the week, I'm going to be sharing the cream of the crop of products from 2019. Today is hair and body products, tomorrow is skincare, Thursday will be makeup and on Friday, I'll share all of the discoveries I made this year. I like to put discoveries into a separate post because otherwise, the posts would just be too long! If anything was sent to me, it will be marked with a *. Let's get into it...

How to make your blow dry last longer

Have you entered my Christmas giveaway here?

I don't know about you but when I go to the effort of styling my hair, I really want it to last as long as possible and particularly over the festive season, when life is even busier. My hair is dry and I really don't like to feel a lot of product in my hair, although some product is definitely necessary if I want my blow dry to last. Today I want to share the products that I rely on, especially over the next fortnight.

Nourishing products for winter...

All items marked with * have been kindly sent to me without obligation, I don't do sponsored posts.

Have you entered my Christmas giveaway here?

I don't know about you but my skin is really feeling the effects of winter, central heating and an open fire in the house. Actually, it's not just my skin, my hair and lips are also feeling the effects so I'm on a mission to nourish everything from head to toe! I want to share some of my top picks with you today. 

Five favourites: Sarah Chapman

Have you entered my Christmas giveaway here?

It's difficult to choose just an ultimate favourite skincare brand but if you asked me to narrow it down to my top five brands, Sarah Chapman would have to be included. I love how passionate Sarah is about skincare, which comes across in every interview I have seen and on her YouTube channel. This is a luxury brand, which means the products are expensive, however I have a 20% discount code to share with you if you wish to buy anything I mention - enter LYMIN at the checkout on Look Fantastic and the discount will be applied. (The code will also work on other brands on LookFantastic).  It was very difficult to narrow it down to just five products because I love so many but I just about managed.....

This is not a sponsored post but affiliate links are used.

Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Trio - perfect for the festive season!

Have you entered my Christmas giveaway here?

If you would like to wear some glitter on your eyes this Christmas but are wary because you have sensitive eyes or maybe because you think it's a bit 'young' for you, I would highly recommend trying the Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows. They are, what I like to call, sophisticated glitter eyeshadows - they aren't too in your face but they do add some sparkle. 

Banish the signs of late nights with these great makeup picks

Have you entered my Christmas giveaway here?

We're all a lot busier in December and there's no doubt that having less down time, more late nights and social engagements can show in our faces. I'm talking dull skin, dark circles, tired eyes etc etc.  Fortunately, there are some products that will help hide the signs of our sins!

Hand luggage beauty picks for a winter trip to Rome!

I'm off to Rome tomorrow morning with my husband! We first went to Rome on our honeymoon and I was so, so ill and we've been saying for years that we must re-visit so this year for our wedding anniversary, he surprised me with this trip and I couldn't be more excited! I like travelling with just hand luggage for convenience as that there is no waiting around in the baggage collection area but I always struggle with liquids!  There's no doubt that I'll be using some of my husband's allowance too but I think I've done a pretty good job at narrowing it down to necessities!

Too Faced Let It Snow Girl Review & Swatches

Have you entered my Christmas giveaway here?

In my Christmas Gift Guide, I included this gorgeous Let It Snow Girl Set from Too Faced and I had to revisit to show you swatches and give you a full run through the products in the set as it is just so beautiful! Obviously the design is quite cutesy, which may not be to everyone's taste but even if you aren't a fan of the packaging, I urge you to look past that because the quality of the products inside is really brilliant. 

Christmas Giveaway!

In my gift guide posts, I promised a giveaway! I'm not running this in the usual way with a rafflecopter form because this is not for giveaway accounts or those who comment with 'nice prize'. This giveaway is for my regular readers and commenters. I want one of you to win this prize, which I am offering as a thank you for those of you who actually read my blog and engage with my content both on here and on my Instagram. 

How to get your makeup to last this festive season

It's so frustrating when you put a lot of effort into applying your makeup only for it to disappear a few hours later. Around Christmas, makeup needs to last all day and possibly into the night, it needs to withstand heating, rain (possible snow) and general partying/socialising. I've compiled my go-to products that will ensure my base stays put for as long as possible - I think that if the base is done right, everything else will wear well - blush, bronzer, highlighter etc so I am just focusing on products that will make your base last longer.

Charlotte Tilbury Starry Eyes To Hypnotise Palette Review & Swatches

In my palettes gift guide (here), you will have seen that I included the new offering from Charlotte Tilbury - the Starry Eyes to Hypnotise Palette. I have purchased the previous two palettes of this size from Charlotte Tilbury but I personally think that this is the best of the three!

Five products that I am currently using non-stop!

Have you entered my beauty bundle giveaway here?

I go through phases of using new products regularly and then at other times, I find that I reach for the same few products on a daily basis for weeks. Today I'm sharing five products that I'm constantly using at the moment - a mix of makeup, skincare and haircare.

Christmas Gift Guide £50+

Have you entered my beauty bundle giveaway here?

Have you read my previous gift guides posts here and here? Each gift guide contains a mixture of products that I have bought myself and products that were kindly sent to me. If a product was sent to me, it will be marked with a * for transparency. I never feature products that I wouldn't be happy to spend my own money on. In the coming weeks, I will be combining some of the gifts in a bundle for a giveaway that will only be open to those who engage with my posts, both here on the blog and on Instagram. Rather than focus on categories of products, I am devising my gift guides by budget and today, we're talking all things £50/€50+

Christmas Gift Guide: Under £25/€25

Have you entered my beauty bundle giveaway here?

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Well, nearly! Welcome to the first of my Christmas gift guides! Over the next five days, I am going to share lots of gift ideas with you for a variety of budgets so I am hoping that there will be something for all beauty lovers. Each gift guide will contain a mixture of products that I have bought myself (as gifts or you know, to me, from me!) and products that were kindly sent to me. If a product was sent to me, it will be marked with a * for transparency. I never feature products that I wouldn't be happy to spend my own money on. In the coming weeks, I will be combining some of the gifts in a bundle for a giveaway that will only be open to those who engage with my posts, both here on the blog and on Instagram. Rather than focus on categories of products, I am devising my gift guides by budget and today, we're talking all things under £25/€25. I definitely wouldn't call this a stocking filler guide as I think these gifts are more than that and its the full budget for many people so I am hoping you find some inspiration.

Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips - the perfect lipstick/balm hybrid

Have you entered my beauty bundle giveaway here?

I think that it's been well established on the blog that I am a massive fan of Charlotte Tilbury makeup products! I've tried something from pretty much every category of products and her lipsticks are among my favourites (see review and swatch post here). I love both the Matte Revolution and K.I.S.S.I.N.G. formulas as they are creamy, comfortable to wear and, of course, the packaging is stunning. When she first released her line of Superstar lipsticks, I wondered what made them different from the originals and I recently had the opportunity to find out when I was kindly sent two from the range. 

Five favourites from Too Faced

Have you entered my beauty bundle giveaway here?

Too Faced is a brand that can be quite divisive because of the packaging but also the names of some of their products. I can understand that but I just love the quality of the products so I can get past some silly names. I have tried A LOT from the brand and want to share my ultimate five favourites with you today.

Five brilliant pore clearing masks

Have you entered my beauty bundle giveaway here?

Back in the day, face masks were pretty much all clay based and aimed to decongest the skin. Since then, things have changed and we now have masks that exfoliate, hydrate, brighten and more, which is great. That being said, I still love to use a mask regularly that will give a deep clean and refine my pores. I'm not crazy about masks that set and feel very tight on the skin because they're uncomfortable and also a pain to remove! I have five great picks to share with you today and there should be something for all budgets.

Beauty bundle giveaway

I'm lucky enough to be sent beauty products and sometimes I find that I have duplicates of some so I thought that it's only fair that I do a giveaway to thank you for reading and supporting my blog! There is a mixture of skincare and makeup, all products are brand new and sealed and there are seven products in total. 

Look Fantastic Beauty Chest - £360 worth of products for only £100!

If you read my post about the Look Fantastic Beauty Advent Calendar, you will know that it offered amazing value - I say offered rather than offers because it is now sold out! If you missed out on it or are looking for a luxury gift for a loved one (or yourself!), you might be interested in the Look Fantastic Beauty Chest. Housed in a gorgeous chest with the same festive design as the calendar in shades of rich navy and gold, are 10 full size products - yes, full size! The value is £360 but the price is only £100. It looks and feels expensive and luxurious and I haven't seen anything similar elsewhere. This is bound to sell out quickly so don't delay if you want to get your hands on one (buy here)! Read on to find out what's in the chest!

Oskia Liquid Mask Lactic Acid Micro-peel review

Oskia is one of my favourite skincare brand. I have probably only tried half of their products but have yet to find a dud. You can read my thoughts on some other products from the brand here and here. When I saw that they released a liquid mask, I was instantly curious. My skin responds well to Lactic Acid, which is a gentle AHA and I also love overnight masks, so I decided to go ahead and purchase it.

Finally, face tanners that don't break me out! St Tropez and SoSu by Suzanne Jackson

I know it may seem a bit strange to talk about self tan at this time of year but I'm a weekly tanner regardless of the season! I also like to have a little colour in my cheeks so that I don't look deathly pale on no-makeup days! The problem that I've had in the past is that most fake tans break me out really badly, when used on my face - either that or they make my skin even drier but also visibly congested. For years, I just tanned my body and left my face, which admittedly looked odd but it was better than the alternative. Earlier this year, I decided to give St Tropez Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist a try and I haven't looked back! In fact, I now have a second face tanner that doesn't break me out and is half the price...

Banish signs of an ageing neck with this PRAI duo

Our necks show signs of ageing 20 times faster than our faces - I remember a Science teacher in secondary school telling us that and making a mental note to always use my skincare products on my neck (I have always been a beauty junkie!). I didn't always follow through with this intention but after turning 30, I made more of an effort to pay attention to my neck. Admittedly, I didn't always use my products all the way down to my décolletage but it is something I try to do more consistently these days! I have tried some specific neck products over the years and apart from one (Omorovicza Firming Neck Cream), I found that most pilled, which was uncomfortable. Instead, I just used my usual acids/serums etc on that area. However in an advent calendar last year, I received a sample pot of PRAI Ageless Throat & Décolletage Cream and I could see a difference in the skin on my neck pretty quickly and I was converted. Since then, I have also added the PRAI Ageless Throat & Décolletage Serum to my routine and I now don't see myself ever being without this duo.

Naya - the brand that brings the glow!

If you have read my blog for any amount of time, you will know that I absolutely love products that help my skin to glow. I have dry skin, which is naturally very dull so it is a constant battle to achieve bright and glowing skin, especially when the seasons change. I was kindly sent some products from Naya at the end of summer and it was perfect timing as the temperatures were starting to drop and I could see the effect in my skin. 

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Star Highlighter

Have you seen all of the new Christmas releases from Charlotte Tilbury? I adore the midnight blue packaging of this year's limited edition products and I basically want everything but settled (so far) on buying just one thing, which is the Magic Star Highlighter.

Molton Brown Bizarre Brandy Collection

Three festive posts in a row! Don't worry, regular beauty posts will resume tomorrow but it's just an exciting time of year with so many new releases and the Molton Brown Christmas collection always grabs my attention! This year, the range is Bizarre Brandy and it's based around the party scene of 1920s London when The Bright Young Things were the 'It People and social influencers' of the era. They were known for their parties and the drink of choice was the Sidecar cocktails which serves as inspiration for the notes in this line as they were comprised of cognac, lemon and orange liqueur. 

L'Occitane festive bath and body releases

It's very hard to beat L'Occitane when it comes to festive packaging! They just seem to get it right time and time again and this year is no exception with jewel tones and decorative accents, which are nature themed this year to reflect the brand's commitment to reducing waste.  I will be featuring some of the gift sets in my Christmas Gift Guides next month but today, I wanted to share some products from the limited edition festive collections.

The new Pixi Pretties Makeup Collection

You will probably have seen the new Pixi Pretties collection all over Instagram over the past few weeks. Pixi certainly know how to do PR packages! Once again, they have teamed up with some influencers to release a variety of makeup products, which I've been using and I want to share my thoughts with you today. Pixi offers really great quality products at affordable prices, in both skincare and makeup so if you have yet to try anything from the brand, this range might be a good place to start!

Antipodes skincare giveaway!

Regular readers will know that I am a big fan of Antipodes skincare - see Brand Focus post here. I was recently sent two products from the brand that I hadn't tried before but they both contain shea butter, which doesn't suit my skin so I thought that I'd do a giveaway so that one of my lovely readers will have the chance to try the brand for themselves! One of you will win a Grapeseed Butter Cleanser and a Vanilla Pod Day Cream. 

3 treats for 3 budgets

It's almost payday again so I'm back with my monthly post with 3 great products for 3 budgets. This will probably be the last of these posts for the year as next month, I'll be focusing on gift guides and Black Friday. I honestly cannot believe that it's almost the end of October and that I am already planning festive content! Where has this year gone? Anyway, on to the products!

Oh and a quick reminder to enter my Benefit Brow Zings Pro Palette giveaway here. It ends at midnight tonight!

Morphe base products review

Morphe is Cult Beauty's Brand Of The Month for October, which means there is free international shipping on all Morphe products. There is also a free eye primer set with every order over £40 this month. I love when there is free shipping on budget brands because if you have to pay shipping every time you buy a budget product, it doesn't really feel like a bargain. Over the last 12-18 months, I've been trying various products from the brand and I really rate the eyeshadows and the Continuous Setting Mist. I was recently sent a bundle of Morphe base products to try to coincide with the launch of the Fluidity Full Coverage Foundation on Cult Beauty. Usually, I would test for a month or so before writing about products but if I wait that long, the free shipping offer would be over as it is only available until midnight on the 31st so I wanted to let you know my thoughts sooner rather than later so that you can buy if you like the sound of the products.

Dermalogica Phyto-Nature Firming Serum

As a huge fan of Dermalogica, I am always excited by their new releases but especially when it's a serum. When it comes to skincare, I'm a big believer in investing in serums more than any other product as they penetrate the skin more deeply than any moisturiser will and will work harder than other products in your routine. Bare that in mind when reading this review as the Phyto-Nature Firming Serum is pricey! 

Clarins x The Kooples Lip Comfort Oil

You might think that a Clarins and The Kooples collaboration is a bit random but it's actually a good match as they are both French brands and they both epitomise sophisticated French chic style. This is a limited edition collaboration so if you are a fan of either brand (or especially, both) or if you like to collect limited edition beauty releases, you are going to love these lip oils. 

Current makeup favourites...

As I'm sure you've noticed, I don't do monthly favourite posts these days but every so often, I'll share some products that I am currently loving and that are consistent in my routine. Today, it's all about makeup favourites. As you can see from the photo above, there are quite a few well loved products in this post!

Skincare products that will help you achieve a glow in Autumn

When the season changes, I always like to switch up my skincare - not completely, but I'll always make some changes. Now that it's Autumn and the central heating is on, my skin is feeling a little parched and looking a little dull. The temperatures have yet to drop into single figures (hopefully it will stay that way for a few weeks more!) but I have noticed that I need to up my game to make sure my skin is glowing and I want to share some additions to my regime with you today.

Four brilliant exfoliating toners

There is no doubt that chemical exfoliators and acids, in general, really made a big difference to my skin when I introduced them to my routine around 6 years ago. Back then, there weren't very many on the market and it was tricky to get hold of Pixi Glow Tonic as it wasn't as freely available as it is today. Thankfully, things have changed and most brands now offer a liquid/chemical alternative to the traditional face scrub. Using an acid toner daily is an easy way to achieve fresh, glowing skin and to prevent clogged pores.  If you are new to acids, you might find the idea a bit daunting but I promise that your face won't resemble Samantha's when she had her chemical peel in Sex & The City! Start gently and work your way up to frequent use and higher strengths and you will see a positive change in your skin. Today I am sharing four of my favourite liquid exfoliants with you.

Why you need to use some Niacinamide in your daily routine

Niacinamide/Vitamin B3 - do you use it daily? No matter your skin type or issue,  it's an ingredient that will most probably help yet it's quite an unsung hero! Everyone raves about the benefits of retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid (with great reason) but I promise that adding some niacinamide to your routine will reap rewards. I also want to share my two favourite products with you.

Fenty Pro Filt'r Hydrating Longwear Foundation - worth the hype?

Two years ago, I reviewed the original Fenty Pro Filt'r foundation here. In short, it was a lot of hard work to make it look good on my dry skin so I passed it on to a friend who has combination skin. I was surprised that it took two years to release a second foundation but it's better to take the time to perfect a product than just keep churning out releases, which is what a lot of other brands are doing at the moment. When I heard that a hydrating version of  Pro Filt'r Longwear Foundation was being launched,  I was in two minds about buying it. Lord knows, I don't really need any more foundations but the description of a natural finish, suitable for dry skin kinda sucked me in - what can I say, I'm weak?! I've been putting it to the test and want to share my thoughts. 

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Benefit Brow Zings Pro Palette

If there is one thing that Benefit does well, it's brow products! They have a variety of pencils, powders, gels and pomades to cater for all preferences. Recently, they launched their new Brow Zings Pro Palette and I was kindly sent two so I thought I'd review the one that I thought would suit me best and give the other one away to one of my lovely readers!

New to or nervous about retinol? Try Oskia Retinoid Sleep Serum Level 1

Retinol really is a wonder ingredient in skincare and I noticed a huge difference in my skin when I introduced it into my regime, in terms of texture and visibility of fine lines.  I recommend it to so many people and some wince as they just have visions of their face falling off (a bit extreme but you know what I mean!) but I do understand the hesitation. My advice is always to start gently, especially if you have sensitive/reactive skin and the perfect introductory product is Oskia Retinoid Sleep Serum Level 1 - 0.2%, which I want to share my thoughts on today.

4 great powders for those with dry skin

It took years for me to find a powder that actually liked because with having dry skin, most just aged my skin, settled into fine lines and generally looked awful. Instead, I just used setting sprays to keep my makeup in place That being said, the right powder can give the skin a very polished look so it's worth persevering to find the perfect powder for you. I have four options that are perfect if you have Sahara-like skin like I do.

Natasha Denona Metropolis Palette - worth the price?

At the beginning of the year, I decided to be much more mindful of my spending - makeup purchases, in particular. Why? Simply, because I only have one face and I can't use all of the products I already own so adding lots more to my stash is a waste of money. For the most part, I've done really well! I am a self-confessed eyeshadow palette addict but I have so many that I couldn't justify buying more unless they were really special. The Natasha Denona Metropolis palette is my second (and probably last) eyeshadow purchase of the year. This is a limited edition palette, which is probably part of the reason why I couldn't resist buying it (also, it's a beauty!). My other palette purchase was also limited edition (from Inglot in this post) and I'm pretty proud of the fact that I've resisted so many releases this year. That being said, this is a pricey piece of makeup and I'm sure a lot of people will think I am mad and would prefer to buy more products at a reasonable price than just one expensive item and that's understandable. To each their own and all that! Now that I've had the palette for almost a month and have had plenty of time to play with it, I wanted to share my thoughts and let you know if I think it's worth the price/hype. If you are interested in buying, the Cult Beauty waitlist is now open.

Concealing with bareMinerals

For some reason (and I really don't know why), bareMinerals is a brand that I have tried very little from. I dabbled in some foundations around 3/4 years ago and I love their Good Hydrations Silky Face Primer but I've tried little more than that. When I was browsing Sephora at the end of August, I noticed that the barePro 16 Hour Full Coverage Concealer and  bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer were reduced to $10 each. It reminded me that I had used the serum concealer a few years ago and really liked it and I had heard good things about the barePro so I thought I'd snap them both up - at that price, it would be rude not to! 

Omorovicza Silver skincare range review

Regular readers will know that Omorovicza is one of my absolute favourite skincare brands (definitely in my top three) and every time they release a new product, I want to try it even if it might not be actually aimed at my skin type! I have dry, textured and quite reactive skin but I have never had a negative reaction to any products from this brand. All products contain their patented Healing Concentrate and this really does help to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. Last year, I reviewed their Silver Skin Saviour Mask here and in recent months, two new products were added to the Silver line and I want to share my thoughts on them with you today. Those with oily, combination or blemish-prone skin will love this range.

Rejuvenated Pink Drink Set in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Before getting into the post, I want to remind you that today is the last day to enter my Bee Yü skincare giveaway here. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an international campaign that promotes awareness of breast cancer (what signs to watch out for and also help for those affected by it) and it also sees a lot of fundraising, which goes towards research into how to prevent the disease, the best treatment and more. Lots of beauty brands get involved in this campaign and I want to share one with you today. Rejuvenated have launched their Pink Drink Set and will be donating 10% of sales to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.

The hype is real #9 Jo Malone fragrances

There is something about Jo Malone fragrances that gets my pulse racing!  I adore the classic cream and black packaging and the scent combinations that work so well together.  I waited years before indulging in some Jo Malone fragrances because they're pretty pricey and I honestly wondered if they could be worth the money and it was actually my husband who bought my first one as he knew I couldn't really justify the cost. Since then, I've been hooked although I will say that the classic Pomegranate Noir is not for me. As with all fragrance brands, it's not a case of one scent suits all tastes but I'm sure that there's at least one fragrance to suit everyone. Their Christmas range excites me every year and I love to both give and receive gifts from the brand.

Five Favourites from Huda beauty

I'm back with another instalment in my Five Favourites series and today it's all about Huda Beauty. I have to say that it was really tricky to narrow it down to just five products because I genuinely love so many products from the brand. I know that Huda can be seen as quite controversial at times but I'm just focusing on her products and brand rather than the lady herself.

Cleansing Gels for every skin type

Regular readers will know that balms are my favourite type of cleanser but there's no doubt that gel cleansers are ideal for mornings as they are refreshing on the skin. I think that most skin types will enjoy them as long as it's not stripping on the skin. They are also perfect for a second cleanse once makeup has been removed. Today I have five to share with you, some of which will suit almost everyone and others, which are targeted at specific needs.