2017 || JUNE FAVOURITES

June was yet an another big month full of new products for me to try out. I got my hands on some amazing limited edition products from MAC as well as my very first Milani product, but my favourite thing about June was finishing second year of university and getting a very good grade too! Happy days!

Unfortunately, June has also brought many devastating events such as the Grenfell Tower fire, the Finsbury Park attack, and many more terrible, terrible events. This month will definitely not be forgotten and my love and sympathy are with those affected by the terrible events. However, I don't want this post to be depressing and uneasy to read as we should all try to move on and share love around the world, so let's get into it.

Were coloured mascaras ever a proper thing? I remember experimenting with different colours when I was younger and going to school discos, but now it's so rare to find a wearable shade that isn't too 'in your face'. Ever since discovering the YSL Luxurious Mascara False Lash Effect in the shade Extreme Blue, I was hooked and can safely say this is my favourite summer mascara. I think the blue really complements my eye colour, especially if worn with bronze eyeshadows and a bit of liner.

Most of you probably already know that I'm a massive sucker for pretty packaging, so when I saw that MAC brought out a new Summer collection including a coconut scented Fix+, I knew I had to buy it. So, quite naturally I picked up the Fix+ which smells absolutely divine, and also this cute Hawaiian looking bronzer which makes a perfect addition to my little collection. I've said it before and will stick to it, that MAC's limited edition packaging is over-rated however, I still fall for it every time... Being a huge fan of anything coconut scented and the original Fix+ spray I knew that it was a no-brainer that I'll love this newbie (I wasn't wrong - it is amazing). On the other hand, the bronzer is so beautiful to look at that I haven't given it a proper go yet as I'm scared I'll ruin the pretty pattern! I bet I sound so whiny but I just love the pattern too much! I was the same when it came to my Elizabeth Arden bronzer but now I've used it plenty of times.

I've not tried a lot of Lancome products but the ones I have tested out were pretty damn good. Who doesn't love a new fragrance? When my mum gifted me with the Lancome La Vie Est Belle I was very happy and surprised with how much I actually loved it. Not only was I intrigued by the perfume because of the beautiful Julia Roberts who is the face of Lancome, but also because of the unique shape of the bottle and its not-so-old-fashioned scent as I expected it to be.

Finally, the star of the month. I must admit that I've not been a religious user of blushers these past few years of me using makeup however, I started to get back into wearing blusher recently and this little guy has completely won me over that I NEED the whole collection like, right now, please! I bought the shade 'Tea Rose' which is very cool-toned and I thought it'll work best with my skin tone without making me look too flushed or unnatural. I have my eyes on the other shades, so who knows maybe I'll feature another one in my next monthly favourites?

What have you been loving last month? Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || XLASH SERUM AND MASCARA

Has anyone actually ever found a mascara that they're 100% happy with? I know that after 10 years of religiously wearing mascara (either clear, brown or black) I have become very fussy with the formula, wands, and even packaging! So when I was sent some of the Xlash products to try out I was super excited to see what all the fuss was about.

The packaging is alright, nothing fancy yet it's different to the ones I've tried before. I prefer the packaging of the serum, but having my MAC False Lashes mascara next to the other two kinds of makes them look worse - don't be fooled by the packaging though as I do not get on very well with the MAC mascara.

I love the fact that the mascara is infused with vitamin E as it's a great treatment for those with thinning lashes - I've noticed a huge difference in the thickness and quality of my lashes as this mascara doesn't pull them out when I take my makeup off. At first, I found the consistency very odd as it was crumbling off my lashes in a rubbery sort of way - if that even makes sense?? Either way, it didn't rip any lashes out which I thought was great as my usual mascaras come off with 1000 lashes every time!

I find the serum also helps with strengthening my lashes and letting them 're-charge' overnight as that's when I like to apply the product. I was expecting the applicator to be a wand but weirdly it's a liner sort of brush which makes the application a lot easier.

Here you can see the applicator which I think is fab for precise application that allows all lashes to be covered and replenish overnight. I also believe that this product will last a while even with daily usage as I've had it for a few weeks now and feel like there's an infinite supply of it!

I apologise for the quality of this photo - it took many attempts to try and get the camera to focus on the wand rather than the background but stubbornly it wasn't having any of it. As you can see, the wand is medium-sized with sparse bristles for a natural look. It's also curved for an easier application and natural curve which I love for work, especially during days like today.

Overall, I really enjoy using both products but if I had to recommend one of them then I'd say try the serum as I have honestly noticed a difference in the thickness and length of my lashes!

*The Xlash mascara and serum have been sent for me to try out and I am a part of the ambassadors' team for the company. All opinions are always honest and my own!

Have you tried or been thinking about using any of the Xlash products? If so, which one(s)?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

THE MOST PERFECT BLUSH/BRONZE PALETTE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO TRAVEL

I knew that the initial release of the Hoola Lite wasn't for a while, so I decided to get this Cheek Parade palette which retails at £49, which isn't the most affordable palette however you get 2 bronzers and 3 blushers that usually cost £24.50 each. Another reason for why I bought this was that it actually includes the newest blusher Galifornia - yes, please!

The Benefit Hoola bronzer has been my favourite matte bronzer since the day I bought it (roughly around 1.5 years ago, and I must say it was a life-changer. So, when I heard about Benefit bringing out a lighter version of their original bronzer I was over the moon as I am naturally very pale so the original Hoola can sometimes seem a bit too dark to wear, especially in Winter. The Hoola Lite, on the other hand, I feel will be amazing for me to wear in winter or when I don't fake tan. I also feel like it'll be a great contour shade as it's more cool-toned than the original Hoola.

I love travelling and unfortunately, I don't travel light haha... I always bring a bag full of makeup so I thought that this palette would be great for travelling as it has everything you will need in it. I think that Galifornia would look great on its own as it has shimmer so will give an illusion of a highlighter.

Dandelion has been on my wishlist ever since I bought the Dandelion Shy Beam. I recently got back into wearing blusher after 5 years of swearing by bronzer and contour so I was pretty excited to start using this palette straight away. I find it gives a very natural blushed look which is perfect for every-day wear, especially for people who are a similar skin tone to me.

Last but not least, the Rockateur blusher. To be honest with you, I wasn't too fussed about it as the colours seem very similar to a blusher that I already own, but oh my is it a beauty! I love the shimmer in this blush, it's perfect for Spring as it adds a natural blushed look as well as some shimmer which can be a substitute for a highlight.

Overall, I must say this palette is amazing - it's not too big to travel with, you get a lot of product for your money which is great, and the products are great for all skin tones. The only downfall of this product is that it is still quite expensive compared to this set which actually has 8 products but costs less than 1?! Crazy - I just bought it as a treat for doing well at uni!

What do you think? Would you buy this kit? Have you tried any of the Benefit face products?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2017 || MAY FAVOURITES

For me, May was a good month full of amazing new beauty products I got to try out! I love trying out new things, as well as using up old products haha - I don't know if it's just me but I find it so satisfying to use up products and chuck out the empty packaging??

First up, we've got my beautiful Vivienne Westwood Orb Earrings which I received for my birthday from the other half. I love them so much and try to get a lot of wear out of them but they're so precious I'm scared to lose them :( One of my close friends lost her VW earring down the sink, so imagine how painful that must have been for her!!

The fragrance I've been constantly using throughout the month of May is Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb - come on now, the clue is in the name haha, it's the most perfect scent for spring! I love the cute bottle, it comes very handy if you're travelling as the bottle is easy to store.

I don't know about you but I've never really seen/heard any makeup gurus rave about any high-end face powders but when I got my hands on this little number by Lancome my life literally changed haha. The packaging, for one, is gorgeous. I love the lid - it screams expensive. This powder was a part of a limited edition collection for Christmas in 2014 called 'Parisian Lights' and has bits of shimmer in it. I got this from my mum as she works in makeup and is lucky enough to get her hands on LE stock that can't be sold to the public anymore - sort of like Bicester village.

Another one of my May favourites was the Makeup Revolution Contour Palette. This bad boy only retails at £3.50 (last time I checked anyway). It comes in a cute compact with a mirror, a cool-toned bronzer shade, bright highlighter and rose-gold blusher. I've already used up one of these but the one I had before didn't come with a mirror which makes me feel like this one might be slightly more expensive, but most likely still very affordable. My favourite part of this palette is probably the highlighter as it is BLINDING. It looks great on my pale skin which is hard to find, to begin with, so if it shows up crazy bright on my skin tone you can only imagine how piercing it'd look on darker skin tones. The blusher reminds me a lot of Nars' Orgasm but for a fraction of the price. The bronzing shade is also great for those who prefer cool-toned contour shades over warmer shades.

What best way to tone up than using a Firming Anti-Cellulite Gel?! Haha don't get me wrong, this isn't going to make you look like Rihanna but it will help reduce the appearance of cellulite wherever you desire to get rid of it. I've been using this for a while now and have noticed a slight difference in the cellulite on my thighs. I've also been trying to drink more water and work out harder at the gym so I can gladly say my Summer body is coming along nicely! (Update: 16/02/2021 - I was very obsessed with having to look a certain way and have since become confident in my own skin and would never recommend a cellulite 'removing' product as 1. this cannot be done, and 2. cellulite is normal!!!)

Last, but not least the Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream - the saviour. I had a lot of deadlines and a few exams in May so it resulted in many sleepless nights thus making my eyes very puffy. This cream is amazing and I have raved about it many times before so if you'd like a further read on it, check my post here.

*This post contains some affiliate links.

What have you loved in May? Did you have any important deadlines to meet or exams?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || URBAN DECAY BROW BEATER IN TAUPE

Urban Decay never fails to surprise me with new launches. I absolutely love their collaboration with Pulp Fiction, the Naked palettes, All Nighter Setting Spray etc. You know the gist! So when I saw that they came out with ABH style brow pencils I had to try it for myself. The colour range isn't the best which is a shame, but I opted for Taupe as it seemed most appropriate for my hair colour.

I usually use blonde shades and they often turn out to be too warm for me so I thought that Taupe would be the best colour choice. The packaging is very similar to their eyeliners which is nice as they stuck to the original theme however, I feel like it looks too much like the ABH brow products.

I must say that I was very happily surprised with how pigmented this brow pencil was. It applied very easily and wasn't too waxy which made it look very natural once applied to the brows. The tip is very small and thin which makes the application more precise and easy to draw hair like strokes for a natural look.

The finish of the brow pencil is very odd, it's not quite matte but it's not shiny either... satin maybe? Either way, it looks great on and I would highly recommend it to those who want to try something new without it disappointing you. I must add that I have never tried any of the ABH brow products so I can't compare the two, but this one has worked for me well and I will continue to use it until I find the ultimate most perfect brow product ever!

Do you have a favourite brow product? Have you tried the UD Brow Beater?

Lots of love,

Maya xo