I missed my June beauty favourites post, so I thought I’d just combine it with my favourites from this month – I’m still loving all of the products anyway. This is a bumper edition of beauty favourites; featuring makeup, skincare, haircare and beauty tools.
I have four amazing makeup items that I want to introduce you to. First up is a beautiful highlighting powder trio from Contour Cosmetics. The Spotlight Illuminating Highlighting Palette (£24 from Contour Cosmetics) features three large highlighters that are great for my pale skin. Verve is a frosty white that I love on the brow bone and in the inner corners fo my eyes; Mink is a light gold that looks stunning on my cheekbones; and Clique is a muted pink that’s nice as a light dusting on my cheeks instead of blusher. All the of highlighters are so finely-milled and look natural whilst still giving off some serious glow.
Another makeup product I’ve been loving is a foundation that I picked up in LA from the drugstore. The Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear Cushion Foundation in Ivory ($16.99 from Ulta) doesn’t have the chicest of packaging, but the product inside is really good. I have the lightest shade and it’s a good match for me in the summer months. One of the things that I love most about this is that it has SPF 50 UVA and UVB protection, whilst still feeling light and breathable on the skin. You can wear it as a light coverage or build up to a medium, and it feels very hydrating on the skin. I like to dab a beauty blender sponge onto the cushion and then apply it to my skin.
Since I’ve been all about more natural-looking, glowy skin this summer, I’ve been loving another US product. The Sephora Collection Perfection Mist Nude Glow ($20 from Sephora) is not a water-based facial mist, it’s literally a glow spray – covering your face in a translucent sheen from rose gold micro-pearl particles. The potential to go too far with this is extremely high – I know, I’ve done it. You need to be very light-handed with it and only spray it over the high points of your face. It’s a very interesting invention and I haven’t tried a product like it before.
Finally, makeup-wise, there’s a summer-perfect lipstick from this year’s Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Collection. The lipstick in shade Sunlit Nude (£24, but sold out, from Estee Lauder) gives a sheer golden sheen to your lips, that’s the perfect compliment to bronzed summer skin. The formula is very buttery, moisturising and hydrating. Such an easy sunny day lipstick to throw on!
Moving onto skincare, I have a product that’s designed to smooth and plump the ageing ‘bar code’ lines above your top lip, but it’s actually great as a base to matte liquid lipsticks, to smooth out the lines and cracks on your lips themselves – this is what I’ve been using it for – as a sort of lip primer. The Merumaya Lip Line Restoration Treatment* (£19.50 from Merumaya) actually treats the lines as well as disguising them, through a powerful combination of anti-ageing ingredients and plumping Hyaluronic Acid. It helps my lipstick to look apply smoother and to last longer too.
Another skincare product I’ve been loving is the affordable and very cheerful nspa Fresh Sweet Raspberry Daily Refresh Shower Scrub* (£3 from Asda). This smells so delicious – very realistically fruity – and it has a gentle scrub that still does something. I love this and i’ve stocked up so I don’t run out for the rest of the summer.
A haircare duo I’ve been loving, and have actually finished now, is the new Liz Earle Limited Edition Botanical Shine Shampoo & Conditioner in Geranium, Citrus and Vanilla* (£13 each from Liz EarleLiz Earle). These smell incredible – a fresh, zesty floral scent that’s great for summer and leaves your hair smelling amazing all day. The products wash and condition really well, and they are packed with natural, botanical oils and extracts. They are colour-safe, sulphate-free and silicone-free.
Finally, let’s move on to beauty tools. I’m sure I’ve mentioned these somewhere before, but the Brushworks Crystal Cuticle Sticks (£2.49 from face.) are the best cuticle sticks i’ve ever used. They have exfoliating tips, which make it so easy to buff away any dry skin and cuticles from around your nails. You can use each stick twice before it loses it’s texture. I’ve also been loving the Japonesque Go Curl Pocket Lash Curler (£10 from face). This looks like an odd contraption, but it’s a lot easier to use than conventional eyelash curlers and you are less likely to trap your eyelid in one of these. Plus, it’s baby pink!
What beauty products have you been loving so far this summer?
This post contains press samples, but all opinions are my own.
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