September Favourites 2015

Well, well, well it has been a little while since I uploaded a monthly favourites post or video, so I thought it was about time I started them up again - let's jump straight on in!

Let's start off by talking make-up. My Seventeen shimmer brick has been a godsend since my Fake Bake beauty ran out a few months back (I just can't seem to get hold of another one).  This is a gorgeous finishing touch to my everyday make-up routine, a summer glow is a constant mission of mine!

My Naked palette has been my go-to palette this month, nearly 3 years and countless smokey eyes later and I'm still so in love with this classic. I still love playing around with the different shades, they are so easy to wear.

My lipstick of the month HAS to be MAC's Velvet Teddy - I cannot stop wearing this, it is such an easy shade to just put on no matter what I'm doing or wearing, it's nearly running out which I'm pretty devo about.

Little Ondine is a brand I talked about last week, their nail polishes have changed my thoughts on doing my own nails - they are just so easy and I love this pretty baby blue shade. (Full review here)

The Lee Stafford Arganoil Nourishing Miracle Mist is easily my favourite hair product of the month, it has made my hair feel so much softer and healthier - I couldn't even tell you how many times I've used it already.

Yes, that is an anti-bac hand gel you see there. This is the cheeky little number that has been living in my handbag for the length of September - one of Bath & Body Works best (of course) this is Cozy Vanilla Cream and it smells so yummy!

Skincare pick of the month is my Simple protecting light moisturiser. I'm not normally one for wearing a moisturiser at night but with the change in weather recently my skin has been a little drier than usual but just a light layer of this each night has worked wonders. My skin never really works well with thick, expensive creams so this is perfect.

My Travalo Milano has probably been everywhere with me this month - armed with my fav Vera Wang Princess - this was amazing when spending whole days at Bestival and great for a little freshen up while I'm at work or out for the day! (Full review here)

Dry lips have been the bane of my life the past few weeks so having a lip balm next to my bed has been a total and utter must! Nivea's lip butter in Blueberry has been my balm of choice - I LOVE these butters so much, I still can't decide what my favourite scent is.

Last but not least is a candle from PartyLite candles - you may remember seeing this in a post last month. This Berry Blossom candle is totally Sweet Pea scented and I have been burning it like crazy (as you can see from the photo above!) This candle brand has had me SO impressed, they last for hours and hours and the scent really does fill the whole room/home!

Are you still a fan of the classic monthly favourites posts?

What have been your favourites products from the past month?

Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on  Bloglovin so you never miss a thing!

My Top Highlighter Picks Under £7

 Highlighters are probably one of my favourite make-up products. For years now I have been obsessed with getting a pretty glowing complexion and the amount of products I have bought, tried and tested is endless! 
Some of the best highlighters I own and use most seem to be ones which don't break the bank - which is a total win-win situation right?
I've picked out 5 of my favourites to chat about today... and they are all under £7 ... most of them under £5! *Barry Bargain Alert!*
I've choosen a mix of brands plus a mix of both liquids and powders, as I know some of you are more of a fan of one than the other!

First up my ultimate favourite - 1. Seventeen's Skin Wow! Highlighter - £5.99. This is a product which I have raved and raved about since it was released in 2013 now! The amount of friends I've made buy this is countless now haha! The bottle of this stuff literally lasts me for months on end even though I use it daily and it is a great dupe for Benefit's High Beam at just the fraction of the price!
The most expensive of the bunch is the 2. Sleek Contour Kit - £6.49. Being a bronzer and a highlighter you can forgive it for being a little pricier than the others I'm featuring. I've already gone through one of these kits and had to buy a replacement, so for me this is a keeper! With the amount of different products I own and test to use one up completely is not something that happens regularly. The highlighter is a gorgeous alongside the matte bronzer, it's a lovely peachy shade, great for summer.
Next is the newest on the block which I actually did a review on not too long ago. 3. Rimmel Good To Glow Highlighter is only £4.99, a great price for one of the best high street brands in the UK. The shade I have is Notting Hill Glow and it is a lovely pearly liquid highlighter which I have been wearing more or less everyday under my foundation to highlighter certain areas, if you are a Rimmel fan this is a must-have for your collection.
The last two are both from one of the most popular bargain brands out there at the moment - Make-Up Revolution. 
Number 4. is the Make-Up Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter and at only £3 is it the cheapest product. The shade I've shown here is Pink Lights and my favourite of the bunch. The lightest and pinkest of the lot this is a beaut... although the product pattern itself is a bit off-putting... let me know what you think it looks like.
Lastly we have 5. the Make-Up Revolution Radiant Lights Highlighter* - £5. These super pigmented powders are amazing value for money and with a range of shades there is a highlight for every skin tone. Pictured is the shade Exhale, a pretty creamy colour perfect for contouring aswell as highlighting.

What are your favourite highlighters? Do you like buying cheaper brands aswell as high end?

Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on  Bloglovin so you never miss a thing!

Boots Christmas 2014 : My Top Picks £20 & Under

Post number 3 in this little series is here! To catch up with my guide's to presents £5 and under and £10 and under just click HERE or HERE!

I love love love shopping for other people and I love going overboard at Christmas! These gifts range from just £12 to £20 .... yes they are mostly beauty bits but I know most of you normal readers love that kind of thing! 

Joules Cream of the Crop Skincare Kit - £14

Last year was the first time I had tried out products from Joules and I was so impressed! The quality is amazing and the scent was right up my street! This pack contains a huge pot of both body scrub and body butter - this is perfect for the ladies in your life... I know my Mum would love it!

Soap & Glory The Perfect Ten Palette - £16
S&G are always a favourite... espically with bloggers... and this year they've stepped it up with their make-up gifts and have relased a gorgeous eyeshadow palette! 10 great shades for a fantastic smokey eye - sometimes you don't have to pay a fortune for palettes!

Benefit Sweet Tintations Set - £19.50
The Benefit balms caught my eye as soon as they were announced earlier this year and this gift set is the perfect chance to give someone a proper treat! You get 2 of the lip balms which are about £14 on their own usually so this itself is a total bargain plus you get 2 mini tints aswell - a total steal! Sooooo tempted to buy this for myself!

Starbucks Cocoa Hot Chocolate Duo with Mugs - £16.50

I swear I always end up buying at least one person a mug for Christmas - most people drink some form of hot drinks right? So they are always going to come in handy! This Starbucks Cocoa Duo set is a yummy hot chocolate gift with 2 lovely mugs and some chocolaty goodies, perfect for anyone who's not a coffee fan too!

Smashbox Try It Kit - £19
Know someone who's never tried Smashbox and their amazingness? I love this brand, although working a boring 5 day a week standard job I can't really afford to kit my make-up bag out head to toe with it *sad face*! This is a gorgeous gift of 5 mini products to try out, any make-up lover in your life would be super impressed with this!

More? ... oh okay then! Here's some more gifts for £20 or less!

Seventeen Ready Steady Glow Bronzing Kit -£12
Seventeen have some amazing products in their collection at the moment and this gift set contains at least 2 of them! I use the shimmer brick all the time and I've also tried the cream bronzer which is fabulous! 
So if you're looking for a decent present with a tiny price tag this is he one to go for!

Nandos The Magnificent Seven - £20
I have a confession to make... I've never been to Nandos...I know right? Who even am I? Sorry guys! BUT I know how much everyone goes crrrrazy for it so why not give them the pleasure of Nandos at home with this yummy gift set! (If you're a Nandos fan, or know one head to the Boots website as they have LOADS of gifts on there!)

Boots Vintage Collection Jewellery Box Caddy - £16

I love this shabby chic jewellery box, perfect for keeping rings, necklaces and other delicate pieces! *Pretty alert*

Twinings Tea Tray Mugs Loose Leaf Infuser and Towel Gift Set - £16

Tea, tea, tea - who doesn't love a nice cup of tea? This set is a lovely home gift for any lady in your life! 

Jack Wills Ladies Signature Toiletry Bag - £18

Jack Wills is a new brand to Boots this winter and their stuff has been flying off the shelves! Their range fits in perfectly with the other collections Boots has to offer and I love their classic blue and pink scheme! This is a great size for holidays, trips away and even as an everyday make-up bag!

Burt's Bees Bounty Collection - £15.99
This set contains products for your feet, hands, nails and lips! A lovely looking set - perfect for Mum's & Aunties!

Bleach London Scrap Book & Disposable Camera - £16
I love this set (and pretty much everything Bleach has to offer this Xmas!). The idea is so cute, a scrapbook alongside a disposable camera an stickers! Imagine having a NYE party, birthday party, holiday and being able to take along your your camera and then making a fun scrapbook of your adventure afterwards! This is a great gift for teens - so maybe a sister, friend or daughter! (saying that I would 100% use one of these too!)

Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on  Bloglovin so you never miss a thing!



To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube

Beauty Haul - October 2014

Hh dear.... I've been let loose with the bank card again!

 I always get the urge to splurge and this month I have succumb to that ever-so-present beauty blogger itch and treated myself to a few new bits and bobs! 

Some of my favs re-purchased and some brand spanking new things I will no doubt fall in love with aswell and I thought why not let you girls and boys have a cheeky peek inside my shopping bags!

Sorry for the pretty pants photos - it is my mission of the next few months to really try and improve my blog's content and photography, hopefully you will be able to tell the difference soon!

First up the make-up.... those bits I expect you are all probably most interesed in! I'll start at the top and work my way along!

Nivea Fruity Shine Lipbalm in Watermelon
Nivea is easily one of my favourite bargain drugstore brands so when I spot a newbie enter their collection I have to get my hands on it! Lip balm's are a must for this time of year and although I already own about 42 million I couldn't help but be sold buy the words "new" and "watermelon" - this smells lovely and has a lovely pink tint to it aswell!

No7 Presicion Lips Pencil in Raspberry
It came to my attention that although I wear alot of fuchsia's and bright pink lip colours I don't have a lip liner that goes with them and with the classic £3 off voucher for No7 this seemed like the perfect bargain. It's a gorgeous pink which blends with some of my favourite lipsticks so well!

Rimmel's Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel 
This is a must for me - use it daily and have probably gone through about 203 in my lifetime so far.

Seventeen Define & Conquer
 A newbie from the high street, Seventeen have bought out a contour kit yippee! and although I'm totally happy with my one from Sleek I couldn't just walk past this and not pick it up! A gorgeous bronzer alongside a shimmering highlight, I know that I will get so much use out of this!

Boujouis' Healthy Mix Foundation -Vanilla
Another repurchase - this is one of my go-to everyday foundations, I'm near enough always wearing either this or L'oreal's True Match.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick - Ole Flamingo!
Seeing as Bourjois was on two for £14 I had to pick up something else (obviously) and I went for this little beauty! Having seen sooo many people posting selfies with a gorgeous lip colour and soooo many times seeing it is this shade I finally decided to grab it! It's a lovely matt pink which I know I'm going to be wearing alot over this next season.

Seventeen Phwaorr Paints - Medium
You've seen been rave about this countless times! The best concealer I've ever used I go through sooo many - I've even got my Mum using it now! 

Seventeen Quicker Slicker Nail Polishes x 3 
It was about time I purchased some new darker nail polishes! I recently did a huge clearout out of products and things and lots of nail polishes didn't make the cut so it was time to stock up on some newbies!

Natural Collection Lipglosses - Vanilla & Turkish Delight
I like having cheap lipglosses in my bag especially for work days, these smell amazing and were only £3.50 for 2! 

Now a few skincare buys - which I definitely probably didn't need but you know what us girls are like...you can never have enough!

Nivea Soft Cream

I got through so much of this stuff! I use it every evening and swear by it!

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel

This was actually on clearance at only £5.50 so I grabbed it! It is for oily sensitive skin which is perfect for me at the moment as my skin as taken a greasy turn for the worse, I'm really looking forward to trying ti out as I have heard such great things about this brand!

Aveeno Skin Relief Lotion

This stuff has become a total life saver so it was time I stocked up on some more! This is amazing for dry/irritated skin I highly recommended it!

Boots Simply Sensitive Deep Cleansing Mask

The first of the face mask's now and one that I haven't tried before! I am obsessed with trying out new ones and this was so cheap I thought it it was worth a go! Something that will last more than one use aswell!

Montagne Jeunesse Face Masks

This will come as no surprise to you regular readers - I buy these like they are going out of fashion and as they were on 3 for 2 in Boots I grabbed a handful! I got 3 of the creamy coconut, 1 hot sauna, 1 hot chocolate and 1 nut oil! All have been reviewed on here before so if you want to read more then just search them in the search bar on the right!

Ultimate Blends The Sleek Restorer Shampoo & Conditioner

I've bought these before and loved them, this new collection from Garnier is doing so so well, I've seen everyone picking them up! I love the scent, coconut is the best for me when it comes to haircare! The Sleek Restorer really does work aswell making my hair smoother and frizz-free... for once!

Ultimate Blends The Sleek Perfector Oil

After seeing VelvetGhost's September favs video and watching her rave about this stuff I decided to give it a go myself! I have used it so much already and am LOVING it - I'm sure it will be mentioned again on here soon!

Boots Coconut & Almond Intensive Hair Mask

More coconut goodness! These are the best value for money hair mask's ever! £1.99 each or 2 for £2 on offer - I bought 4! I use this a couple of times a week and it leaves my hair so shiny and smelling great!

Moroccanoil Treatment Oil

Probably my favourite oil I've ever tried, it is a tad more expensive than others I have but I only use it after I've washed my hair so maybe 3 times a week!

Some random bits now!

Venus Pro Skin Sensitive Razor

BORINGGGG I bought a new razor coz' it was half price... nothing more to say haha!

Zoella Blissful Mistful

Yayyyy I finally got some Zoella Beauty bits! Keep your eyes peeled as these are going to have their very own post very soon!

Zoella Let's Glow Candle

I've nearly burned this whole thing already! It's so cute and smells lovely! Like I said above... a full review will be coming soon!

Oral B 3D White Replacement Heads

Well... we all need to brush our teeth don't we!

Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on  Bloglovin!



To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube

My 2000 Followers Worldwide Giveaway!

I promised it so here it is!
 After doing a UK Only giveaway for hitting 2000 followers it's time to share the love with the rest of the world! 
Enter now my pretties <3

Like this post? Follow on Bloglovin! To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube

FOTD : Easy Minimal Make-up For Summer

I don't know about you but all this hot weather we've been having lately has been playing havoc with my usual make-up routine!

Major heat + humidity + a full face of make-up never really ends well does it?

 So I've been cutting back on my products for the last few days and wearing a minimal look which has turned out to work out so much better for me and my skin in this heat.

No-one wants to get home from work looking like Olaf next to a flame do they?

So here's a quick and easy summer minimal make-up look!

Products used :

Nip + Fab CC Eye Fix*

Seventeen Skin Wow 3 Way Highlighter

Nip + Fab CC Cream*

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil

Sleek Contour Kit

Natural Collection Lash Length Mascara

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Lips - 5

And here's the overall finished look! This is really light, minimal look for me but it's perfect for a day at work in the heat or for popping out to the shops or to my parents house.

Obviously I used my usual brushes and my beloved eyelash curlers to help me achieve it but it really is so simple and a such a quick look to complete!

I love the lip shade so much, the perfect tiny pop of colour without being too OTT with the simple eyes!

What do you think? Do you change your make-up in the summer?

(FULL review on the new Nip + Fab products coming soon!)

Bloglovin | GFC | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

3 Fab Lipstick Dupes

I love a good dupe when it comes to make-up, but then again who doesn't?!

 Knowing that you can get nearly the same fab product but for a fraction of the product's price tag is one good feeling!

 I'm always reading and looking out for other bloggers dupe posts so I thought it was about time that I started sharing with you guys dupe that's I have discovered over the last few years!

First up is three lipsticks that I seem to have copycats of - I love higher end and drugstore lipsticks just as much as each other... just FYI!

Lipstick Dupe #1

Mac Girl About Town (£15) VS Rimmel Moisture Renew Lily Extase (6.49)

Saving : £8.51

If you've read my blog before you may know that Girl About Town is my favourite Mac lipstick that I own! 

I am such a fuchsia lover and it's always a go-to shade for me! It wasn't until recently that I noticed stumbled across this lipstick by Rimmel in my collection and saw how similar they are!

I know that the Moisture Renew lipsticks have had a bit of a make-over recently so I'm not sure if this shade is still available but if you can get your hands on it I highly recommend you do! They are both super hydrating, pigmented and have a great long-lasting finish.

Lipstick Dupe #2

No7 Stay Perfect Gay Geranium (£9.75) VS Seventeen Stay Pout Make An Entrance (£4.49)

Saving : £5.26

These are both Boots brands and I think most people see Seventeen as the "younger, hipper" version of the formal No7.

Even the name of the products are similar, the only main difference being the price! The Seventeen lipstick is less than half the price of the No7 and for me the quality is totally equal! The colours of both are stunning and so stand out, although the Stay Pout is only very slightly darker than the Stay Perfect!

Lipstick Dupe #3

Mac Matte Lipstick Candy Yum-Yum (£15) VS Barry M Lip Paint 62 (£4.49)

Saving : £10.51

This is probably the best dupe I've found so far! I have been buying Barry M lipsticks and glosses for years and really do swear by them! The colours are amazing and they are still some of the cheapest on the drugstore market! 

Of course I LOVE my Mac lipstick but if you aren't up for paying the price of mac or just wanted to see weather a colour this vibrant would suit you before splashing out the Barry M alternative is totally and utterly perfect!

So there's 3 fab dupes for you all - let me know weather you like this type of post and if you would like to see anymore! 

Bloglovin | GFC | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

Seventeen Instant Glow Pink Bronze Shimmer Brick Review

A shimmering glow is a look I go for on a daily basis. I love any product which can give me a gorgeous dewy look and I am constantly adding these products to my make-up collection!

Shimmer bricks are something I have used for years and I don't feel like my face is complete without it! With my current shimmer brick coming to an end I knew it was time to invest in a new one and this was the perfect bargain price for my current budget!

This is the Seventeen Instant Glow Pink Bronze Shimmer Brick.

With my holy grail fake bake shimmer brick (mentioned in many a post) being on it's last legs I knew that it was time to hit the shops and find a replacement. Although I needed  cheaper replacement - and this beaut from Seventeen fit the bill perfectly!

Seventeen are a brand that since I started my blog back up again last May I have mentioned countless times! They have really upted their game and alot of their products at the moment are up there in my favourites!

This shimmer brick comes in 2 fab shades - a pink shade and a bronzed shade! I've had trouble before with over bronzing myself (sometimes when intoxicated) with my shimmer brick so I thought Id try out the pink shade which hopefully would just give me a lovely pink shimmer!

These are such a great range of shades which when blended together make a gorgeous shimmering glow!

This is the last product I use on my face when doing my make-up - after my concealer, my foundation -  everything - I pop this onto a blush brush and just add it to the apples of my cheeks and a little down my nose!

I love the subtle shine it gives me for both day and night, my make-up doesn't feel complete without it!

Even though this is only £4.99, half the price of my Fake Bake brick that I have been using for years and years - it works just aswell, you can hardly tell the difference apart from the fact this is has a slightly pinker tone!

I love it and if it is anything like my other ones this thing is going to last for years!

GFC | Bloglovin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

Empties #4

Once again I have 5 products that I have used up, loved and now want to share with you lovely lot!

 Like I've said before it does take alot for me to finish a product to the very end as I have an addiction to buying more - so I'm always dipping in and out of different things!

 I think being on a Spending Ban lately is definitely helping me get through the products I already own! Buying less is showing me what I already have to try out and what I have to use up still!
(Also... yay for a bit of sunshine in my photos!)

1. Lee Stafford My Big Fat Healthy Hair 

Having loads of shampoos and conditioners floating all around my flat I decided that before I bought any more to clutter up the place I needed to use up what  I had! This was one of the first I grabbed! We all know I love a bit of Lee Stafford and this is one of the many that I have of his. This left my hair feel soft, smooth and alot fuller than normal with a great bit of lift - one that I would 100% re-buy.

2. Joules Sensational Skin Body Wash Souffle

You may remember this being on A Yellow Brick Blog last year when I reviewed a lovely bath set from Joules for Christmas! I loved the whole set but this was my favourite product! A gorgeous souffle which felt like a skin conditioner - I've been obsessed with this for months and can't believe I used up the tub already, I haven't looked yet but I really hope Joules sell this all year round and not just at Christmas. (Original review)

3. Bath & Body Works Raspberry Pink Peony Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel

Yes, I am one of the anti-bac freaks! Total addicted. I love this scent of this - reminds me of being in LA & San Fran, I love when smells bring back memories.

4. Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Concealer - Fair :

I know I'm not the only who's ranted and raved about this! This has been a life-saver for those pesky ages under my eyes! Fab fab fab high coverage stuff - I already had another one ready for when this one was a goner!

5. Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil - Hazel :

The only eyebrow pencil I have used in years and years, I swear by this one! Total bargain at £2.99 - works perfectly with my brow shade and is great to use before my HD Brows palette!

GFC | Bloglovin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr