Current Beauty Favourites

When I started this blog (previously A Yellow Brick Blog) back in 2013 I talked about make-up a lot. Probably 85% of my content was talking cosmetics whether it be favourites, hauls or a review. I lived for it and spent so much money on tying out the latest releases, top trends and recommendations from other bloggers to feed my addiction!

Over the last couple of years this has slowly faded away, not only do I not really have the budget to be buying new products every single week but I have also become a creature of habit and once I've found a few products that work for me I will use them religiosuly until they are empty!
So I wanted to share with you all some of my FAVS right now that I have been using constantly!

Stila Heaven's Hue Highlighter - Kitten
Highlighters are my thang! I have been obsessed with using highlighting products since I tried out a cream highlight from (maybe) Illamasqua  back in 2008/2009! I have bought countless different powders, liquid and creams over the last 8 or so years and this new release from Stila is up there with my favourites!
Kitten is such a classic shade from Stila and this version of the Heaven's Hue is the perfect finishing touch to any make-up look! I used to use the highlight from my Charlotte Tilbury contour kit everyday but I've now switched to use this on my cheekbones, down my nose and under my eyebrows! If you get the chance to check out the Heaven's Hue Hilighters.... do it!

Beauty Blender Sponge
Well.... I'm not too sure how I actually lived without this. I swore by using a buffing brush to put on my Facebook .... until I discovered a damp beauty blender! This is now the only way I apply my foundation and concealers, game changer!

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
This was actually an influenced purchase... I haven't had one of those in a while! I had finished my with my Age Rewind Concealer (I think that's what it's called) from Maybelline and as the Fit Me was on offer and I had seen Brittney Saunders using it in her videos I thought I would give it a go! This is the perfect 'wake up' for my skin. It brightens up my eye area and transforms my tired face immediately! Where it has been so hot recently some days I have just been wearing this without foundation to brighten my skin and get rid of any fatigue on my tired-ass face!

Make Up Forever HD Foundation
I must say this has been in my make-up collection for a long while now BUT it can only come out to play when I have a tan! The shade I have is way too dark for my natural skin colour but when I have fake tanned, this mixed with a bit of my darker True Match foundation is amazing! Such incredible coverage and perfect for a night out.... it was also my go-to for the IOW Festival earlier this month! 

Nivea Daily Express Hydration Primer
*Holy grail alert* - this is my favourite skincare product to use every single morning. Once I've washed my face in the shower and used a toner I pop on this super light primer moisturiser to melt into my skin before I start my make-up routine. It feels fab and my skin just loves it, I'm not one for thick cream on my face so this formula is perfect, plus it feels really refreshing - I highly recommend giving it a go, especially throughout the summer!

Rosie For Autograph Eyeshadow Quad - I Feel Like A Million Dollars
I'm a sucker for nudes, bronzes and general neutrals when it comes to eyeshadows. I love my Naked palette from Urban Decay but this has actually been my go-to for the last few months. The whole Rosie range is super pigmented and fantastic quality!

Blank Canvas F33 Extreme Contour Brush*
I was sent this brush to try from Black Canvas a few weeks ago and I think I've probably used it every time I put on make-up. It is the perfect brush for applying my Charlotte Tilbury contour powder, definitely an everyday product for me now!

Zoeva 317 Wing Liner Brush
The perfect brush for applying eyebrow powder. That is all.

My Everyday Contouring Duo

Contouring has been talk of the make-up town for at least a year now and although I'm no Kimmy K when it comes to shaping my face, I do use a couple of products in my everyday routine to give me a little definition, colour and shimmer.

These two have been a solid make-up favourite and in my make-up bag since the day that I got them. It was literally love at first use and I know I've talked about them a fair few times already on here but I do feel like they deserve another mention! 

These two are both from the ever-growing cosmetic brand theBalm - on the left the Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter and on the right the Bahama Mama bronzer - and I cannot rant and rave about these enough.

The highlight is a gorgeous pinky silver shimmer highlight which gives a gorgeous sheen and glow to the skin and the bronzer is a fantastic matte tan shade, which I always find hard to get hold of (For under £25 anyway!) - together they are a dream team!

I start off my doing my usual base of make-up - primer, concealer and foundation. I then use my Zoeva Sheer Luxe Cheek Brush to sweep the bronzer into the classic '3' shape from my forehead round to my cheekbones and then down towards jawline. At this point I look a bit OTT and ridiculous but that doesn't last long.

I then use the other end/side of the brush to start of the highlighting.
 With the Mary-Lou I usually pop a bit alongside/above the line I had made along my cheekbones, then down my nose, a tad on my forehead and a little on my cupids bow and chin.
Then it's time for the blending - I use my big fluffy Real Techniques powder brush to buff it all together in small circular motions, blending away those harsh lines and creating a soft, subtle and wearable bronzed and highlighted look.

As you can see.... these are running thin and I'm already panicking about running out! Even though I'm trying to save money this next year these will have the be a re-purchased as I really can't see me living without them anytime soon.

What are you favourite bronzers and highlights? Have you tried either of these?

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I'm Loving... #24

Inside Amy Schumer

Okay - this woman is bloody hilarious! I can't believe I had never watched this show before - it's now on Season 2 and it literally makes me lauhg out loud! Unfiltered, outrageous and ridculous comedy, it really is so up my street! I want to go out and party with this girl!

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical

I went to see this at the Mayflower this month with my parents as they had bought me a ticket for my birthday back in February! I LOVE musicals and this was amazing. For one... it had Duncan James in it - and he was in his pants about 30 seconds into it which was an added bonus! The music, the comedy, the drag - this made me smile from start to finish! I highly recommend!

MAC Give Me Sun Bronzer

I had totally forgotten about this little chestnut in my make-up collection until I dragged it out for Bestival! I got this years and years ago in New York but don't wear it that often anymore just because I'm never normally tanned enough! I had fake tanned for Besti so this was a perfect match - such a gorgeous shade.

Bleach London Pink Rose Shampoo & Conditioner

This shampoo and conditioner worked wonders in my hair this past month - even better than the dye itself! I left them both on for 5-10 minutes and it turned my hair into a fabulous shade of baby pink - winner wiiner!

My New Elsa mug

Opps, I may have gone to the Disneystore this month. This mug was half price so I couldn't not buy it, you know? Cute!

L'oreal Make-up Genius App

The clue is in the name - this is genius! Honestly just download it and give it a go, and if you fancy a laugh try it on your boyfriend/husband/dad!

Scream Queens

YES! Finally! I have been waiting for this show for so many months now and it is finally here - Yay!!!! This show is hilarious and the cast is just so on point - I love Emma Roberts and the fact Ariana has a guest role in it just makes it even better!

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

With the change in weather recently my lips have really been paying the price. Crusty, flaky, dry lips are just a no-no so I've been using this stuff a few times a week to try and keep my lips soft and smooth!

Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek Brush
I have used this brush everyday for over a year now - I feel like I haven't spoke about it a lot so I wanted to share my love for it in this post! I use this for my contouring, the angle makes it fab for my bronzer and then I use the other end/side for my highlight - I don't think I could live without it!

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This Week I'm Loving... #15

The Girl On The Train

Yes I am finally reading again! I took four books from my parents bookcase a few weeks ago, this being one of them! My Mum read it recently and said it was brilliant so I thought I would give it a go. So far, so good!

Hollyoaks

I know this is obviously something I watch every week but I'm loving the storylines at the moment! I can't wait for Mercedes to come back and for Kim to be revealed as a nutter haha!

Clearasil Rapid Action Treatment Cream

Unfortunately the last week or so I have had some friends join me on my face..... the big red ugly kind! This stuff is what I run too as soon as I have an unwanted zit - it works like a charm for me and has helped me vend these beasts off!

Sunshine (Finally!)

ENGLAND HAS HAD SUNSHINE! Yes it's true that big ball of fire in the sky does actually work. It's amazing how much it can change my mood and put a smile on my face!

 I went for a lovely walk along to seafront with my favourite songs playing in the week and it really lifted my spirits - it's the little things in life!

Ralph Lauren 5150 Sunglasses

With sun comes sunglasses, these are my total and utter favs at the moment - I did a blog post on them a few months ago! They are great for my face shape (aka a massive face!) and I think the pink detailing on the arms and inside.

Special K Porridge Pot

I love porridge and I love easy porridge. I have been having these for lunch everyday with a few almonds and raisins chucked in - they are great if you are on the go and so, so yummy!

Revenge

I know this was in my 'TWIL' post last week BUT I have still been watching it ... ALOT. I'm half way through season 2 already and am still loving Emily Thorne and her antics!

MAC Viva Glam Miley Lipstick

Most worn lip colour of the week has to go to Miley once again! I love this bright pink shade and have even been wearing it to work!

Writing

Like I said earlier in my "Me Project" post, one of my missions for this year is to write a book! I have now started to draft out my idea and expand my thoughts for it, hopefully soon I can get started on the proper writing - I'm excited for it.

Zoeva Luxe Cheek Brush

This has been my favourite brush for contouring for months now ..... and I'm not sure how it hasn't been mentioned on here yet! It's the perfect angled shape to use with my matte bronzer and highlighters to create great daily contour!

Lee Stafford Poker Straight Flat Iron Protection

Since getting my haircut I have been styling it alot more, which of course means alot more products and alot more protection! The 2 heat protectant's I was using have totally run out so after hunting through my haircare stash I found this beaut which I hadn't used in month! I'd forgotten how fab it was and how much I love the scent!

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Beauty Wishlist : February

Tangle Teezer Blowdry Brush

For years now I have been a fan of the Tangle Teezer - I own 3 and don't know what I'd do without them! So seeing a new product from them has got me very excited! A blowdry brush - finally! It's not the easiest thing trying to blowdry your hair with a brush that doesn't have a handle so I cannot wait to get my hands on one of these!

Burberry Rain Or Shine Blush

I've never been much of a blush person, I've said this many times on here before! But after trying a few products from Make-up Revloution and buying Nars' Orgasm - I am slowly learning to love them! This looks like such a pretty shade for spring, perfect for simple, everyday looks.

Soap & Glory Archery D-I-Y Brow Bar

My HD Brow palette is slowly starting to run out so I have been checking out what's out there on the highstreet to try and this newbie from S&G caught my eye! 4 shades and 2 small angled brushes for only like £12? I need this!

Chloe Love Story Perfume

I tried this out in Debenhams a few weeks ago and fell in LOVE (excuse the pun!). 

Smashbox Primer Water

Well this a new one isn't it! I love, love, love the sound of this stuff! I'm a big fan of Smashbox' primers so I'd happily fork out to try this out.

Embroyloisse Gold Cream

Hailed the miracle from many a celeb this stuff is now available from Boots - I've heard alot of goo things about it and have gone to purchase a couple of times now.... have any of you tried it?

Fleur De Force The Glam Guide

Out of all the youtubers out there Fleur is one that I have been watching constantly for years now. She seems genuine, clever and has a real gift for what she does! I feel like this book would be right up my street - it seems mature and full of useful tips and information. I think I'll be popping this in my amazing basket on payday!

Zoeva Rose Golden Eyeshadow Palette

What can I say? This is beautiful and I want it.

Neal & Wolf SILK Blow-dry Lotion

I've been using a few products from this brands for months now and I'm kind of obsessed with the scent - I would really love to try out some more from them and this is definitely the next one on my wishlist.

EOS Summer Fruits

I cannot get enough of the 2 I already own and summer fruits sounds like a lovely scent to have for the upcoming spring months!

Whats on your wishlist right now?

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My 5 Most Used Brushes

Brushes... one of those key ingredients to make-up and it's application. 

I honestly don't know how I use to apply my make-up with no brushes when I was younger - what on earth was I thinking, I dread to think what I looked like!

Back when I was about 15 I used probably 1 brush and that was just a cheap little kabuki brush to apply some bronzer - everything else was done with my hands... opps!

I like to think I've come along way since then, it's 9 years later and I owe more make-up brushes than kitchen cutlery but there are a few that have a firm place in my daily make-up routine and those are rhe brushes I'm going to share with you today!

These are the 5 brushes that I use the most. 
Brushes that I use daily and brushes that, now, I couldn't see myself living without - they are my fav's and are all pretty affordbable in my opinion!

1.  Real Techniques Powder Brush

I love this big fluffy brush. It's perfect for using with a powder after foundation  to help set it and I use it daily - also fab if you want to add some bronzer to your neck and chest!

2. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
I use this for my Seventeen Pwhooar Paint concealer and it works wonders! So good for blending - I will never use my fingers for concealer again! Would also be great for contouring!

3. Zoeva Silk Finish Brush
This is the greatest foundation brush I've ever used! I hate your standard flat foundation brush - I've never go on with them and just don't get them! I love a flat buffing bruh like this and this works so well with any of my favouite foundations! This thing is a lifesaver!

4. Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek Brush

This angled brush is what I use with my Sleek contouring kit - which, to be honest, I don't know how I lived without! 
The Sleek kit has become a staple in my make-up bag and this brush with it, I hardly go a day without it! This brush is fab for using along my cheek bones and jaw lines with the bronzer and then I flip it to the other side and use it for the highlighter!

5. ELF Eyeliner Brush
Yes yes yes I know this is an eyeliner brush BUT for me this is my eyeBROW brush! This size and shape is perfect to help me fill in my brows with my HD brows palette and I have been using it for years!

So there you have it - my 5 most used brushes! Was this a bit of a boring post?!
 What brushes do you use the most and which are your favouites?

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Top Beauty Finds Of 2013 Tag

Right girls and guys , for a while now I've been wanting to share with you the products that I have been so so happy to find this year. Products that I now cannot live without and don't know how I lived before they entered into my life.

But this also got me thinking about how much I would love to see everyone else's top products of the year SO.... with this is mind I thought to my little old self, why not make a tag for everyone to join in with?
Totally simple and easy to do - just share your top 5 products that you have discovered this year. (don't worry if you can't think of 5 or have more than 5 - you can choose as many as you like... I just thought 5 would be an easy number for everyone to find!)
 Things that you hadn't used before 2013, hadn't even heard of or maybe they were only just released this year!
I thought this is a tag post that more or less any beauty blogger can get involved in and I would LOVE for as many of you as possible to join in!
These products can be anything beauty related (we are beauty bloggers of course!)- make-up, hair, skincare, body products, an electrical item, an accessory - anything!
It is most likely aswell that if you have LOVED a product that you have shared it previously on your blog - so make sure you link all your previous posts about them too for everyone to read and enjoy!

So here we go - My Top 5 Beauty Finds Of 2013 ..........

First up is the Apocalips Lip Lacquers from Rimmel!
 After purchasing 2 of these beautys at the beginning of the summer (big bang and nova feat. in my June favs) I was actually lucky enough to WIN the complete set from Rimmel via a twitter competition! I'd been using my first two for weeks and weeks so was so so excited to be getting the whole lot! 
These have been my favourite lip product this year. For me they are the perefect mix between a lipstick and a gloss. The pigmentation is incredible and they are so easy to apply and look gorgeous on! I was so happy when they added a few newer darker shades to the collection back in the Autumn and of course bought some of those too! Click here for my first post all about these bargain beautys and ... click here for my more recent additions to my Apocalips collection.

Number 2 on the list (and these are in no particular order!) is the Morrcoanoil Treatment which I featured on A Yellow Brick Blog back in July! This is one of those products that I really don't know how I lived without before!
 It is by far the best hair oil I have used and it is going to take alot to beat this! These tiny bottles that I buy last for months and I have to say for a couple of days in which I was without I noticed a serious difference in my hair.
I use this everytime I've washed my hair, just tip a pea sized blob onto my fingers and smooth in through the mid-lengths to ends of my hair. Since using it my hair has felt alot stronger, softer and it is certainly alot less dry and "ratty"! My hair product of the year!

Now onto a range of products that I have used more or less everyday (minus those lazy make-up free days that I love!) since getting them!

Zoeva brushes have slowly climbed to the top of my favourite brushes that I own, closely followed by real techniques.

Another lucky moment from me here but I actually won these from Zoeva on twitter (seriously twitter is the place to be for comps I tell ya!) - they are such amazing quality and there is a brush for everything, I have been seriously impressed with them and like I said use them every single day! Fabulous for creating a great base and the eyeshadow brushes are brilliant! For more photos and info check out my post I did on them :)

A body beauty favourite now - and if you've bene reading A Yellow Brick Blog for a while then this is going to come as absolutely no surprise to you. It is the Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash. I am such a huge Soap & Glory fan and the sugar crush line is something I fell in love with this year.
 As well as the body butter and the body scrub I have been using this body wash for months. I don't think I could change to another body wash now, it smells amazing, you don't need alot each time you use it so it lasts for weeks and weeks on end and it leaves my body feeling so fresh and clean. A total beauty bargain, I have bottles of this stuff stocked up so I am never without!

Last but not least is another make-up product. This stuff is a god send and I urge you all to go out and try it! It is the Skin Wow! 3-way Highlighter from Seventeen. 
Seventeen have seriously gone up in my make-up books this year - their new products released have just been getting better and better and this has been my favourite.
A gorgeous pearly pink highlighter that you can use 3 ways - as a base, mixed with your foundation or alone as a highlighter (my favourite way to use it)!
I can't rave on enough about how much or a bargain this is, only £5.99 - a fraction of the price of Benefit's high beam and it is a great dupe for it!
 I have used this everyday since purchasing it in September and have only used probably a 1/6 of the bottle! This is another product I have stocked up on so I am never without, although I have a feeling these bottles are going to last a long long time!

That's it - my Top 5 Beauty Finds Of 2013! What do you guys think? Have you tried any of these?

I would love for you guys to join in and share your favourite new finds of 2013! It is a great way to bring the year to a close and also find out about some great products from everyone - and I'm sure more or less everyone is going to have a different 5 to share!

If you are anything like me you buy new products weekly so for something to stand out and be a favourite of the year then it is definitely worth sharing with the rest of us beauty addicts!

Make sure that if you join in with this tag you share your link below so we can all be nosey and have a lookie at what you have LOVED this year!

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August Favourites

Another 31 days, another 4 weeks, another month down.
 Can you BELIEVE it is September?!?
Is it bad that I love it - I love the build up to Winter because... winter is my favourite season! (waiting for people to look at me in disappointment - sorry kids!)

Anyway August has been both a good and a busy one and September looks to be even crazier! I'm moving out of my house for the first time.. TODAY and I'm off to Bestival on Thursday - it is all go go go!
Anyway back to August and my favourites of the month...

Yes, this is the "wash bag" from Ted Baker,but looking at the size of the Make-up bags from them though I knew they would not be big enough for the likes of my daily face so I thought I'd get the washbag where I knew everything would fit!
I bought this from ASOS and it was £25. I love French Bulldogs. Like, alot. If I see one it makes me want to cry and my number 1 aim in life is to be a French Bulldog owner (I even have names picked out already..... am I sad?) but anyway.... this pattern is perfect for me! So so cute! 

Now... if you have been reading my blog for a while you know that in last month's favourites I raved about Soap & Glory's Sugar Crush Body Buttercream. The smell is just so incredible (if you want a description head over to that post) and at the end of that post I said "I cannot wait to get the body wash aswell!" ... Well guess what came back into stock! And with it being 3 for 2 I grabbed 3 while I could! They are £6.50 each, which in fairness for a bodywash is a little expensive but the smell is just amazing and they are so creamy and moisturising I can't imagine using anything else now! 10/10!

I love Taylor Swift, you should know this by now, and I own all of her perfumes. (I am not ashamed, I have an obsession with country music and I think she is so talented.) Her first perfume Wonderstruck I actually bought when I was travelling in the US as it wasn't out in the UK yet and is probably my favourite perfume of all time - big statement there.
 So when she bought out another new perfume a few months ago - Taylor by Taylor Swift - I knew I had to have it! But with me trying to be sensible with money I have been putting off splashing out for it but this month I just thought why not? My local Superdrug only had a 30ml so that's what I settled for and it was only £22, barry bargain!
I love love love this scent, alot more than the second perfume, "Wonderstruck Enchanted" as it is alot sweeter and I actually really recognise the scent but can't work out what it smells like! Nice work T-Swizzle!

My Zoeva brushes HAVE to be in my favourites for this month. I did a whole post on them so I won't bore you again with everything but you can read that here if you want to find out more! But they are just such good quality and I have been using them non-stop! Fabulous brushes!

I know I am a big slow with the up-take on this one but I am loving the Garnier 5 sec Perfect Blur Smoothing Perfecting Primer. Yes this has been out for a good while now and I have been meaning to pick it up for months but for some reason every time I always thought "I'll get it next time" But when it was down to about £8.65 or something on promotion I snapped it up and I am so glad I did! 
This stuff is awesome, primers are something I switch up all the time and this one is brilliant! It leaves your skin so silky smooth and perfect for make-up application - I have used so much of this that I'll probably be buying a replacement real soon!

I'm just going to have to add Pretty Little Liars to my favourites this month. THAT finale was just amazing!
 I'm still sat here thinking about it! I have read a couple of the books and have been a loyal watcher/fan since the show started and I recommend it to everyone and anyone! Obviously I'm not going to write any spoilers but if you watched it too and are upto date you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about! Bring on October 22nd and the Halloween episode!

What have been your favourites this month?! 

Zoeva Cosmetics : Complete Brush Set

Some people may call me jammy, I'd just like to think of it as lucky.... yes I won another competition!
 Along with Rimmel, Revlon and Umberto Giannini wins this past 6 weeks or so I also managed to win a competition with the lovely people at Zoeva.
Zoeva are a cosmetics brand based in Germany, I'd seen them a few times on twitter and had heard really good things so thought I would enter - why not right?!
The prize I won was the "Complete Set" - a set of 15 make-up brushes and a brush cleanser product - A-mazing.

"The ZOEVA Complete Set is an exclusive selection of ZOEVA’s favorite makeup brushes for face an eye application.

This set contains 15 essential brushes for a perfect makeup finish. From powder, foundation and blush brush, to professional eye brushes for the application of eyeshadow and eyeliner – with this kit you are all set! 

A travel size mini Brush Cleanser is included in this set." - Taken from Zoeva's website

The brushes came in a lovely black case/pouch and are all black and silver - simple but gorgeous. There is literally a brush for everything here and I have been using them non-stop for the past week.

106 | Powder Brush
104 | Buffer Brush

102 | Silk Finish Brush

127 | Luxe Sheer Cheek Brush

110 | Face Shape Brush

142 | Concealer Buffer Brush

228 | Crease Brush

227 | Soft Definer Brush

231 | Petit Crease Brush

234 | Smoky Shader Brush

230 | Pencil Brush

317 | Wing Liner Brush

238 | Precise Shader Brush

315 | Fine Liner Brush

321 | Brow Comb

Zoeva Brush Cleanser 15ml

All the brushes are super soft which the first thing I want in a brush and to me they are just as good quality as the Real Technique brushes. (a personal fav)

The silk finish brush is perfect for liquid foundation application and the concealer buffer does the perfect job with my Collection Lasting Perfection concealer!

I'm also loving using the Luxe Sheer Cheek brush for my Sleek contour kit bronzer - it is the perfect shape to contour my cheeks and the powder brush is fab for my ELF Warm bronzer or Fake Bake shimmer brick!

The wing liner brush I actually use with my HD Brows palette to fill in my eyebrows, it works so well!

I can't wait for a big night out soon when I can put to use all the other brushes as I've only done that once so far - other than that I have just been using them fr my day-to-day make-up which is pretty basic!

I highly recommend these brushes and for only €88 for 15 brushes and a brush cleanser I think it is a bargain (works out at just over £5 per item - alot cheaper than going out and buying a whole brush collection separately!)

I'm definitley going to look into trying some of the Zoeva make-up because if the products are as good as the brushes then they are slowly going to be heading up to the top of my fav brands!

Have any of you tried any Zoeva products? What are your favourite brushes to use?