Blogmas Day 24 - Christmas Eve

I actually cannot believe that this is the last day of Blogmas 2016, I am quite sad about it to be honest! This month has flown by and the run up to Christmas has been so quick. Anyway, for the last post of Blogmas I thought I would write about Christmas Eve and some traditions that my family and I have.

I'm not going to lie but during the day of Christmas Eve I do absolutely nothing, and I love it. I have been all cosy on the couch watching my favourite Christmas films and catching up on Pretty Little Liars (which I only started watching a few months ago and oh my god I'm obsessed). I also ate way too many M&S winter berry and prosecco flavoured crisps. These crisps are the most delicious things ever and I am going to have to stock up before they stop selling them after Christmas! They are even covered in sparkly little stars.

I also like to have a chilled bath and pamper time on Christmas Eve to relax an prepare myself for the next day! I used the LUSH Father Christmas bath bomb, which smells so Christmassy and is very colourful to really get you in the spirit. I also added some of the Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay bath oil to make my skin extra soft. I used my Emma Hardie cleansing balm to refresh my skin and make sure it is looking as good as possible for Christmas Day.

I have been so bad this year at keeping up with my chocolate advent calendar! I always forget to open it and I have been weeks behind. But, I suppose it is quite a good thing because now on Christmas Eve I am left with loads of chocolate to eat! However, I have not missed a day when it came to opening my M&S beauty advent calendar. I love everything that I got in it, especially the Emma Hardie cleansing balm, the Josh Wood hair oil and the Eyeko eyeliner. Beauty advent calendars are literally the best idea ever, because who doesn't want to wake up to a new beauty product every day? I still have one more box to open tomorrow too!

I did a Christmas Eve makeup look too! I went for a copper/cranberry eye using some of my favourite eyeshadows and pigments. I also went back to using the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation, which I haven't used in ages, and I forgot how much I love it! Here is a list of all the products I used:

Hourglass Veil Primer
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation - 5.25
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer - NW20
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer - Custard
Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow - Medium Brown
Soliel Tan De Chanel
Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow - Fair-Medium
YSL Terre Saharienne Bronzer
Laura Mercier Translucent Powder
Makeup Geek Eyeshadow pans - Roulette (pigmented copper), Bitten (matte cranberry)
MAC Eyeshadow pan - Red Brick (burnt orange)
MAC Pigment Pot - Tan (rose gold)
Eyeko Skinny Black Eyeliner pen
Benefit Rollerlash
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat - Iconic Nude
MAC matte lipstick - Whirl

I have enjoyed doing Blogmas so much, I hope to do it again next year! It has been hard work as I have been writing posts in advance to make sure they are uploaded in time, and trust me it is a lot of content to write and come up with! But it has definitely been worth it because now I can look back at the posts and remember all the products I was loving and things I did during the run up to Christmas 2016. Thank you for reading my festive posts and I hope you have enjoyed them!

Merry Christmas!!
Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 23 - Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Review

Charlotte Tilbury's Filmstar Bronze & Glow has been one of my favourite products this year. I have only been using it since September and I have fallen in love with it! It contains a bronzer and highlight duo in a sleek compact with a mirror.

One thing that is definite about this product is how gorgeous the packaging is. It is rose gold, which instantly makes anything pretty! The compact is so luxurious and makes a beautiful addition to any makeup bag. It has a large mirror which is so handy; I always carry this with me in my handbag as it is perfect for touch ups throughout the day.

The sculpt shade is a warm bronze with a satiny shimmer to create a natural glow. It is the perfect contour shade to sculpt your cheek bones and add depth. I like that this shade has a shimmer and looks so natural, as sometimes matte contour shades can look too fake and muddy when you are close up. The Filmstar Bronze/Sculpt shade has enough warmth so the skin doesn't look too ashy or harsh, but also it does not appear orange. This powder is so easy to blend and applies really smoothly to the skin. It is easy to blend with other products too, I sometimes pair it with the Soleil Tan De Chanel and they work so well together. It doesn't appear patchy or too heavy. It is really easy to build, therefore I apply small amounts with my brush and build it up.

The highlight shade is a golden champagne colour with so much shimmer. The colour is perfect as it is not too yellow and is very neutral. I love the consistency of this powder highlight as it still appears nice and shimmery on the skin but it doesn't look overly frosted or make pores stand out. It is so pigmented that you only need to apply a small amount to get a beautiful natural glow.

The amazing quality of this bronzer and highlight duo makes up for the high price tag. Overall, the powders are so silky and apply really nicely to your skin and don't look too harsh. It is the perfect contour and highlight compact for me. Everything about it is great! I highly recommend trying this product!

(I realise that this post is a day late, it was scheduled for yesterday but failed to upload! Sorry!)

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 22 - Party Face Makeup Essentials

For today's post I decided to write about my essentials for party makeup. I have focused on face makeup products as I have talked a lot about sparkly eye makeup and false lashes throughout the month already. Therefore, I thought it would be helpful to talk about the products that keep my makeup looking perfect throughout the night. As it is all well and good having flawless glittery eyes and a perfect wing, but you need to get the basics right first to make sure it will last all night!

I have chosen 3 products for this post, all of which I could now not live without!

Lets start with the Hourglass Veil Primer! Now I know this primer is quite pricey, but I just love it so much. It is the first primer I have used which you can actually notice the difference. When I first got it I tried days with the primer and without and then also I tested nights out with and without the primer. I could definitely notice a huge difference when using the primer. My makeup seemed to apply to my face much nicer and smoother, it made my makeup stay put for the entirety of the day/night and it helped stop oily shine come through. Hourglass Veil primer has an oil free formula, which is a must for me as I have oily skin in my T zone and I absolutely hate my skin looking shiny due to the oil. It also blurs pores and covers any redness really well, sometimes I just wear the primer on its own without any foundation as it does such a good job at making your complexion look smooth and even. The consistency of the product is a creamy liquid with a satin finish. It is a must when it comes to party makeup this month!

I have also chosen the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in the shade NW20. This concealer is my holy grail when it comes to brightening and concealing my under eye area. It is a lightweight, thin liquid which doesn't feel heavy on the skin around your eyes. This is important as the skin around your eyes is very thin and sensitive, so heavy products could make bags and dark circles worse. It gives a medium to full coverage finish, which is why it is so perfect for hiding them annoying under eye circles. It has a matte finish and has amazing staying power. This shade is great for highlighting and brightening the under eye area. I have been using this concealer under my eyes for years now and it never fails!

The last product is the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder. I have been after this powder for so long and I was lucky enough to get it for my birthday back in September. I have been using it religiously ever since, it is the ultimate game changer when it comes to long lasting makeup. I love using this product as it is so lightweight and it never appears cakey when set. I use it to set my under eye concealer, on my forehead, chin, around my nose and sometimes under my contour to make it sharper. It stops any oil peeking through and stops any shine. I really recommend this powder, it is probably my favoruite makeup product at the moment!

All of these products work so well together to keep my makeup looking perfect and holding back any shine, I recommend giving them a try!

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 21 - Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation Review

Charlotte Tilbury is one of my favourite makeup brands, which you will know if you read my posts. I started using the Magic Foundation around a month ago and have been trying it out, so thought I would do a little review on it.

First of all lets talk about the bottle. I love the rose gold lid, as I am obsessing with all things rose gold at the moment. The frosted glass bottle gives it an elegant look, it really is the prettiest foundation bottle I have.

I have shade 7 which is a medium tan shade with olive under tones, it matches my fake tan perfectly. The foundation comes in 15 shades and they are all explained in detail on the website to help you colour match to the perfect shade for you. The foundation is described as full coverage on the website, however I think it is medium/full coverage and very buildable. I use this foundation both through the day and when I am going out on a night. When I wear it during the day I only apply a thin layer and my skin looks natural and healthy. For a night out I apply a little more to ensure it lasts all night and is full coverage. It doesn't matter how much product I apply it always lasts well without budging or oxodising.

What I love about this foundation is that even though it is medium/full coverage, it is not cakey and doesn't feel heavy on your skin. It has a weightless texture and blends really nicely into your skin. However, if you have quite dry skin I would stay away from this foundation, as it does tend to cling to dry patches. I have the tiniest bit of dryness around my nose, which usually I don't even notice, however since using this foundation it has been quite noticeable. Although, all I do now is put extra moisturiser and primer on this area before applying the foundation and it isn't a problem. But, if you have dry skin then it may not be that easy. However, for normal and oily skin this foundation works perfectly as it blocks oily shine from popping through as the day goes on.

The foundation creates a very flawless, demi-matte look that lasts all day. I find that it works really well when set with the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder. My skin is quite oily in my T zone area, so throughout the day my skin can get shiny. But, I haven't seemed to have this problem when using the Magic Foundation and the Laura Mercier powder, so I am loving this combination!

Overall I am a huge fan of this foundation and recommend it to anyone with normal to oily skin. It has amazing staying power and it is true to its claim that it gives you a flawless, weightless finish.

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 20 - Day Out at Beamish Museum

First of all, as if it is day 20 already! I have no idea where this month has gone as I have been so busy all the time. I can't believe there is only 4 more days of Blogmas after this!

Today George and I decided to drive up to Beamish for a day out. I heard about the ice skating rink and little Christmas stalls they had and I really wanted to go. I used to go to Beamish all the time when I was younger and I hadn't been in so long, so Christmas seemed like a perfect time to pay another visit.

The really good thing about Beamish is that once you buy a ticket it lasts for the whole year, so you can come back as many times as you want during the year! Which is great as they have so many events throughout the year. A student ticket was only £13.50, which is a good price considering we are definitely planning to come back!

The whole museum was decorated so Christmassy, it was so cute. There were countless Christmas trees, lights, garlands and wreaths scattered around. We got the tram straight to the Town to look in the shops and houses.

My favourite part was the Christmas Bazar that was held in the park around the band stand. There were little stalls around the band stand that were selling mulled wine, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, christmas decorations and other small gifts. The market was decorated with fairy lights and garlands and had a brass band playing carols in the band stand. It made us both feel so Christmassy!

I bought some gorgeous hand made Christmas decorations and then we sat on the bench drinking mulled wine and George had some roasted chestnuts. The mulled wine was so delicious and it was so nice to sit and listen to the Christmas carols in the middle of the cutest mini Christmas market ever.

We had a look around the buildings that are all based around the early 1900s. The decoration and attention to detail at Beamish is amazing. Also all the staff are in full character and really informative and happy to talk to you, which makes the experience even better. I have always thought that working at Beamish must be such an enjoyable job as you get to dress up and live in a different time zone everyday!

The village was also really festive, there was another band playing Christmas carols in the church and there was an area outside with another band and a hot drinks hut. In the school there was activities for kids, such as Christmas tree decoration making. There is an old fashioned fish and chip shop in the village which we really wanted to go to but the queue was so long, so it must be good! We went to the little snack shop instead and got traditional corned beef pasties and sausage rolls, which definitely beat Gregg's!

We passed the ice skating rink and fun fair on the tram and it looked so much fun! However, it was absolutely freezing and also so busy so we didn't fancy the ice skating rink today. There was a carousel and shuggy boats. I was pretty annoyed that I was probably too old for the shuggy boats now, I used to love going on them as a kid and I always remember them at Beamish! The fair was decorated with colourful lights, Christmas trees and fake snow; it looked so pretty.

We got the trams and the buses a few times, which were really good as they came every 20 minutes to take you around the site. They were all old fashioned vehicles with a conductor. Most were double decker so you could see the amazing view across the fields.

We had such an amazing day and came away feeling very Christmassy. I would definitely recommend a trip to Beamish over Christmas as there is something there for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 19 - I Passed My Driving Test!

A bit of a different post today but I am really excited about it so thought I'd make it part of Blogmas!

I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST FINALLY!!

I am so so happy that I can finally drive, I feel so much more independent and it has given me a lot of freedom to go where I want. After over a year of learning/putting it off (oops), it is such a relief. I was so nervous for my test but some how managed to do it! I am really pleased I will be able to drive around over Christmas too.

I passed a few weeks ago and I have been enjoying it so much. It feels so good to not have to rely on the public buses anymore too.

I have the cutest little car, it is a silver VW Up and I love it. I feel so lucky! However, this means I am going to be spending money like its water on petrol and the fact I can drive to the Metro Centre whenever I want! All I need to do now is get myself a little keyring.

Anyway, this post was just a little update on a big step in my life I guess! Back to beauty, fashion and festive posts tomorrow!

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 18 - Golden Cut Crease

I have recently been trying out some cut crease eye makeup looks to post for Blogmas and I have finally created one that's my favourite! The golden flick makes it a bit more festive, I love it. It wasn't actually that difficult to do and I think it will look so nice over Christmas. Enjoy!

Like I do before starting any eye makeup look, I primed my eyes with the Nars Radiant Creamy concealer and set that with the Laura Mercier Translucent powder for my base. Next I used the shade Divine Decadence from the MAC Warm Neutral palette, which is a light shimmery brown. I applied this all the way across my eye just above my lid. I made sure this was blended completely so there were no harsh lines, the MAC 224 brush is perfect for this as it is nice and fluffy. I also blended this shade along my lower lash line.

I then took the Nars Radiant Creamy concealer in the shade Vanilla on the flat shader brush by Nanshy and applied it all over my lid up to my crease to make a sharp line when it met the brown eyeshadow. I then applied the shade Brulè from the MAC Warm Neutrals palette on top of the concealer. This makes the lid very matte which contrasts with the shimmery eyeshadow on top of the crease.

I then used the Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick eyeliner pen to create a thin wing and I extended it out quite far to make the look extra dramatic. Now this part was my favourite; I took my Nanshy eyeliner brush and sprayed it with MAC Fix+ to make it damp. I dipped the brush into the MAC eyeshadow, Amber Lights, and made sure the brush was packed with pigment. I then applied the eyeshadow in a very thin line where the brown eyeshadow meets the crease and then I followed the flick of the wing. I then did the same along my lower lash line, from the inner corner of my eye to the end of the winged eyeliner. Finally I applied some Red Cherry Wispies lashes to finish off the look.

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X

Use the code ITSGEORGIAMAY at the checkout on www.nanshy.com for a discount on your order! 

Blogmas Day 17 - Jo Malone Christmas Gifts

Jo Malone is one of my most loved shops at Christmas, as their Christmas gift collection is always so sophisticated and gorgeous. My Mam and I have bought a few gifts for people from Jo Malone this year and we had a good look at the whole collection. So, I thought I would share it with you.7

I love Jo Malone as they gift wrap everything so carefully to ensure it looks beautiful. At Christmas they always have a different festive ribbon each yea,r which they tie the bags with. Everything comes in a gorgeous gift box that they spray with some perfume so that when it is opened you instantly smell the scent. They also include samples with every purchase so you can test new things out before committing to buying them.

The first thing that caught my eye was the Christmas Cracker as the packaging is so fun and festive. Inside the cracker you get three stunning miniatures, which include the Basil and Neroli cologne, the Blackberry & Bay body & hand wash and the Mimosa & Cardamom Body Creme. I think this is the perfect luxury gift, or if you want to go all out with stocking fillers then this would be great! Although, on the Jo Malone website they suggest putting these on the table for all your guests on Christmas Day, but I think that is a bit extreme and would be VERY pricey indeed! This cracker is £33, but will make the loveliest luxury gift.

The next little gift I found was the Christmas Ornament. This is a little tree bauble in the same festive pattern as the ribbon and the cracker which has mini surprises inside. It includes a duo of some of the most popular scents, Peony Blush & Suede cologne and Grapefruit body creme. This little bauble is so cute, decorated with a stylish black ribbon. I know fine well that if this was on my Christmas tree I would not be able to wait until Christmas to open it! The Christmas Ornament is £22, I think this would be so cute to hang on a present or pop in a stocking.

Now here's a product that is on the pricier side and will be perfect for someone very special to you. The Limited Edition Orange Bitters Cologne is probably one of the nicest scents I have ever smelt. It is so warming and sweet at the same time. It has scents of citrus, sweet orange and ripe mandarin. It also has notes of bitter orange and amber to bring this incredible scent together. The bottle is decorated in the same festive pattern that is used across the Christmas collection and it also has a golden lid. I would definitely be over the moon to receive this as a gift, so I am sure anyone special in your life would too!

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 16 - NYE Eye Makeup

New Year's Eve is probably the most exciting night of the year, so some glamorous makeup is a must! I have created this glittery, colourful eye makeup look!

First I primed my eyes with Nars Radiant Concealer in the shade Custard and I set that with the Laura Mercier Translucent setting powder. I then used the cranberry coloured Makeup Geek eyeshadow pan Bitten and blended that all over my lid. I then used the dark brown shade by MAC called Embark in my outer corner to add some depth. I then added the MAC Blue Brown pigment all over my lid, before applying the pigment I sprayed the MAC Fix+ setting spray on my brush to make the pigment even more intense. I absolutely love this pigment as it is so unique and really stands out, it is so perfect for NYE! I then added a little bit of the Urban Decay eyeshadow in the shade Moonspoon, which is a sparkly dark grey. I put this in the outer corner of my lid and blended it with Blue Brown. I then added a wing with the Eyeko Skinny liquid eyeliner pen. I got this eyeliner in my M&S beauty advent calendar and I am so impressed with it. It is so easy to use and the perfect travel size. Next I added a bit of glitter using my Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter in the shade Distortion which is an iridescent glitter in a liquid gel. I applied this to the inner corners of my eyes, a little on the lid and a line under my wing.

I then added a coat of Benefits Rollerlash Mascara and then added my Red Cherry Wispies lashes. These are my favourite lashes to use as they are so feathery and are easy to apply. I added a few Eylure Individual lashes on to to make the look a little more dramatic, as it is NYE. Finally I smudged the shade Bitten along my lower lash line along with some of the Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitters.

I am so in love with this eye makeup as it is super sparkly and also has some colour, so it is different to the usual neutral shades and rose golds I usually go for.

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 15 - Christmas Paperchase haul

Paperchase is one of my favourite shops as it has the cutest stationary. The Christmas range at Paperchase this year is amazing! They have so many funny cards, decorations and bits and pieces to make your Christmas even more fun. I picked up a few things and wanted to share them with you.

Lets start with the wine jumper. How amazingly cute is this? If you love wine as much as I do then you will understand why I needed to buy this! I just think it is so funny and it would be a great little gift for someone you know who loves wine. If you are stuck for a secret santa present then this would be perfect as it is only £6. It is a wooly jumper with little pom poms on and the phrase 'Christmas Time lets drink wine', which I think is now my motto for the Christmas holidays! So even my bottle of bubbly will be wearing a Christmas jumper this year!

Paperchase also have a great selection of cards, money wallets and gift tags. I picket up a few sets of the most adorable kraft gift tags. They were £1.50 for a pack of 5 different festive characters including Rudolf, santa and a little penguin. They are ideal for kids and they have matching wrapping paper too!

I love thinking of creative ways to wrap presents (even though I am so bad at it!) and Paperchase always have the loveliest decorations and stickers to add on to your wrapped gifts. I picked up some little 3D snow globe stickers, each with a different design. You get 8 stickers in a pack, I have already used some of them so thats why there are some missing in the photo. These would also be great for handmade christmas cards or sticking on the envelopes to make them extra special. I also got these little 3D felt present toppers, which are just adorable. These would be great to stick on gift bags, presents or cards. They are the cutest designs and within the pack of 4 you get a Santa, a Rudolf, a penguin and a Christmas tree.

Now this next product might be my favourite after the wine jumper! I got these little pigs in blankets paper plates. This is such a good idea, as they will be great for the pre-dinner nibbles or on Christmas morning when I will be eating a large amount of pigs in blankets while we all open presents! The design is so cute and fun, and they were only £2 for 10 plates.

I have also been using this sprout wrapping paper and the matching tags because I think it is so fun and very Christmassy. The smiling sprout characters are wearing cute little party hats! The tags even have goggly eyes too. This wrapping paper would be great for kids or someone you know who loves sprouts! Paperchase are also doing 3 for 2 on Christmas wrapping paper at the moment, so go crazy! 

Thank you for reading,
Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 14 - All The Sparkles

I love wearing sparkly eye shadows all year round, but at Christmas it is even better. Shimmery eyes at Christmas time is just a must. I have picked out my favourite sparkly eye shadow shades and I'm going to tell you a little about them!

MAC Tan Pigment Pot

I have wrote about my obsession with MAC's pigment pots previously on my blog, but I needed to include them in my Christmas themed posts as they are just perfect for the party months. Tan is my favourite out of the MAC pigment range, it is a rose gold shade and is so sparkly! It goes perfectly with neutral shades and adds a bit more glam to your look. 

MAC Blue Brown Pigment Pot

This pigment has one of the most stunning shades I've ever seen. It is a brown with pearled blue and purple tones that reflect beautifully in the light. Depending on how the light is shining it can look brown or a purple/blue shade. This is definitely a shade made for party make up! It is different to the usual neutral shades or smokey eye and brings some colour to your look. This one would be perfect for New Years Eve!

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Moonspoon

These Urban Decay Moondust eyeshadows are incredible. They are so pigmented, especially when applied with a damp brush. The medium gray base colour is quite subtle but is amplified by the silver shimmer and sparkle. This eye shadow is also really long lasting without creasing. I would suggest using an eye primer when applying for extra staying power.

Nars Mekong

This Nars eye shadow is a shimmery medium/dark brown with hues of deep red. This eye shadow is extremely pigmented, therefore you only need to apply the smallest amount. It is very long lasting and doesn't crease throughout the day. I also love how big the pan of this eye shadow is. I love using this shade in the inner corner of my crease for a shimmery dramatic look.

MAC Amber Lights

Amber Lights is described as a peachy brown shade by MAC, but I think it has more of an orangey golden tone. When this eye shadow is applied it creates the most perfect golden shimmer. I have been through a few pans of this shade as it goes with so many different looks. It is the perfect gold eye shadow for Christmas time! 

Thanks for reading,

Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 13 - My Festive Lip Picks

Over the years of having a slightly unhealthy obsession with make up I have accumulated quite the lipstick collection. I scrambled through my stash of lip products and picked out my favourites for the festive period. I feel like there is something here for everyone, theres the classic Santa reds, some subtle nudes, a vibrant berry and a drug store bargain!

(from left to right)
MAC - Ruby Woo
Max Factor - Ruby Tuesday
CT - Tell Laura
CT - Red Carpet Red
CT - Glastonberry
MAC - Pure Pout
MAC - Pure Zen
MAC - Whirl

Ruby Woo
This is MAC's classic red and is a lipstick collection staple. Ruby Woo has a matte finish and has the most amazing staying power. Although, it can be quite drying on your lips so I suggest applying a lip balm or a lip oil first. It is the ultimate Santa red and is perfect for Christmas!

Ruby Tuesday
This Max Factor lipstick is a pretty close dupe for MAC's Ruby Woo and is only £7.99! The quality of this drug store lipstick is amazing for the price and it is so moisturising. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to the MAC classic, or if you love the colour of Ruby Woo but it is too dry, then this is the one for you!

Tell Laura
If you read my blog posts often then you will know how much love I have for Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks. Tell Laura is from the Hot Lips collection and is inspired by British model, Laura Bailey. This is an electric red with a more orangey tone than Ruby Woo. The colour is buildable and really long lasting, like all the CT Matte Revolution formula lipsticks.

Red Carpet Red
The name really does describe this beautiful shade. It is a deep ruby red that is richly pigmented. It looks striking and really catches the eye when worn. It is a CT classic and another perfect Christmas colour. I think this is what I'll be wearing on Christmas Day!

Glastonberry
Moving on from the classic festive reds, I also love to wear berry tones around this time of year. CT's Glastonberry is hands down my holy grail when it comes to berry lipsticks. It is a sheer blackcurrant shade that is so stunning! I always have a soft spot for this lipstick as it was my first CT lipstick and this was the one that started the obsession.

Pure Pout
As much as I would love too, I can't wear reds for the whole of December! There are a few nude shades which I have been loving too. Pure Pout is from MAC's Mineralize Rich collection, which is designed to have a hydrating feel which lasts 6 hours. I can't say that it lasts 6 hours without re-applying but it definitely is hydrating. The shade is a subtle rosy nude with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It is so nice to wear as it keeps your lips moisturised and feeling soft, which makes a change from a dry matte formula.

Pure Zen
This one is from MAC's Cremesheen collection and is a lovely frosted warm, coral nude. It is has a glossy consistency which is really soft on the lips. This one is great with smokey eye make up as it doesn't clash and looks really subtle.

Whirl
Now this is my go to lipstick at the moment and has been all year, so this lipstick will definitely be part of my 2016 favourites! It is a dirty rose colour and has a matte finish. It has been one of MAC's most popular lipsticks, probably due to the fact that it is one of Kylie Jenner's favourites, and I can totally see why! It is quite edgy and dark but still a wearable nude shade. I wear this lipstick both through the day and on a night out, it just seems to go with every look. I cannot recommend this one enough!

Which one is your favourite?

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 12 - All About the Miniatures

I have selected my favourite miniature beauty products for today's Blogmas post; as these are some of the products I would be taking with me if I was going away this Christmas. So, if you are off somewhere special this Christmas I hope this post helps you choose your beauty travel essentials.

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm
This is a classic cult find when it comes to cleansers. When I use the Emma Hardie cleaning balm I actually enjoy removing my make up; which is strange as I usually despise it! It is so incredibly raved about because of how moisturising it is, due to the oils in the balm. It has a citrusy, sweet floral scent which makes me feel s refreshed. When using the balm I scoop out a small amount with my fingers, add a touch of water and then massage onto my face full of make up. The balm breaks down the make up almost instantly. I then wet a face cloth with warm water and wipe it away. It leaves my skin feeling so moisturised and soft. At £38 for the full sized pot, it is quite pricey for a cleanser. However, you can get this mini in a gorgeous bauble with a face cloth for £15 as a special Christmas edition! This would be a great stocking filler if you or someone you know wants to try out the product.

Alpha-h Liquid Gold
I got this product in my M&S Beauty Advent calendar and I was excited to try it as I am completely new to it. This is a firming lotion containing glycolic acid which works to brighten and smooth your complexion. I have been using this product for about a week now and I am really impressed with it. My skin seems firmer and luminous. Normally when I see the word 'acid' on a product I am put off as I am not a huge fan of products that you can feel burning your skin, but this doesn't hurt at all! I apply this product on cleansed skin, normally after I have got out the shower, on a night before bed. I apply a small amount to a cotton pad and wipe across my face. I then apply my serum and moisturiser. I recommend this product if you feel like your skin needs a bit of a boost, especially over these winter months!

Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt Perfume 
I absolutely adore Jo Malone perfumes, and the miniture bottles are so cute! Wood Sage and Sea Salt has been one of my favourites for a while now (I have almost run out!). It is such a fresh scent and a really nice change from the floral scents I would usually go for. The mini bottles are the prefect size to slip in your handbag or take on your travels. It would also make the loveliest stocking filler!

Rodial Super Acids X-treme Rush Peel
This is another product I got in my M&S advent calendar and I was so excited because I love face masks! This face mask makes my skin feel more luminous and makes my skin tone more even. It also helps strengthen and protect your skin from everyday pollutants. It leaves your skin with a clear, youthful glow and feeling fresh. This product is quite pricey as the mini itself is £45, but I really like the results and have enjoyed using it.

OPI Mini Red
A red nail varnish over Christmas is a must wherever you are, so you need to pack a mini! I love the OPI mini's as they are the perfect travel size and are really cute. This bottle doesn't have a name on it so I don't know the shade! OPI is my favourite nail varnish brand as the quality is unbeatable! These mini sets make perfect Christmas presents or a great treat for yourself.

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner
Eyeliner is definitely an essential for me and I need to take it everywhere! This Eyeko mini is the perfect size for my travel make up bag and is also really good quality. It has great staying power and is really easy to apply. I also like that the colour is jet back and does not fade. Dramatic winged eyeliner is a must over Christmas so this will be coming with me wherever I go.

Benefit Rollerlash Mini
If you have been reading my blog for a while you will know how much I love Benefit's Rollerlash. I have been through countless tubes and I basically swear by the stuff. So, I needed to have a mini The bottle is as cute as ever with the mini roller on the lid. This is my go to mascara as it doesn't come off under my eyes or smudge throughout the day, and it makes my lashes super long and doesn't clump them together!

I hope this post has helped if you needed some travel sized beauty advice or if you needed stocking filler ideas!

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X

Blogmas Day 11 - Winter fake tan routine

I am a huge fan of fake tan and even though it's winter I still like to look like I have just come back from a long holiday abroad (I wish). However, my tan routine does change when it gets to November/December as it would be a bit unrealistic to look really brown when it is winter. I like my tan to look subtle and natural, and these products I am going to talk about here work perfectly!

I have talked about the FakeBake tanning range before and as you will know from that post, I have never found a tan to work better for me than FakeBake. I usually use FakeBake Flawless Darker which is a tanning liquid. You can't go wrong with this tan at all, it is streak free and so easy to apply. It also comes with a free tanning mitt which is actually really good quality and reusable as I just put them in the wash when I've used them. The tan lasts about a week and fades nicely, leaving no patches. This tan is quite dark, therefore in winter I normally only use this one if I am going out. I prefer to use the FakeBake 60 minutes self-tan liquid during the week. This is one that you wash off after either 1 hour, 2 hours or 3 hours depending on how dark you want to be. I use this normally twice a week to keep it topped up, and it works brilliantly. It is a lot more subtle and it still has the same amazing quality of FakeBake Flawless Darker. I would recommend either FakeBake tan to anyone!

If I am going out, I apply Ted Baker's Body Shimmer Soufflé before I apply my tan. It is a golden cream with a shimmer, when you apply the cream it moisturises your skin while giving it a little touch of a bronzed glow. I find that my fake tan takes better to me skin when I apply a moisturiser first, and this mouisturiser gives some sparkle too!

I got this Zoella Beauty Body Fondant Shimmer Balm not long ago and I have been loving it quite a lot. First of all the packaging is so cute and when you open it up you get a little puff sponge too! This is a thick bronze balm with a shimmer and I apply it generously to my shoulders, arms and collarbones to add even more of a glow to my fake tan before I go out. It smells deliciously sweet and applies really smoothly. It reflects in the light or if you are getting a photo taken, it looks so stunning.

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X

Blogmas day 10 - Festive Makeup Look 3

The 3rd festive makeup look is more subtle, simple and for everyday wear, but still has a touch of sparkle for Christmas. This is the look I have been wearing the most as it is super easy and goes with just about anything! Just like the last festive makeup posts, I have kept the face make up the same and focused on the eye make up.

As always, I primed my eyes with the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and set that in place with the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder. I used 4 MAC eye shadows for the look and they are all in the Warm Neutral palette. I started with the shade Saddle, which is a light brown/caramel shade and I blended this across my crease. I then focused more on the outer corner of my crease with the shade Dark Brew, which is a brown with undertones of cranberry and a bit of sparkle. I blended this into the Saddle shade. I also smudged this shade all the way along my lower lash line. To add some definition I added a touch of the shade Dance in the Dark, which is a really dark brown/almost black colour. I blended the colours together well so there were no harsh lines and it created an ombre effect. I then patted a small amount of the MAC shade Creme Brûlée to the inner corner of my eye and the middle of my lid to brighten it up. I then added the Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter in the shade distortion to the inner corner of my eye and brought this onto my lid and to the middle of my lower lash line. I can't get enough of this glitter, it is perfect for this time of year! To finish the look off I added some individual lashes just to make the look a little more dramatic.

I hope you enjoyed my festive makeup looks!

Thanks for reading,
Georgia May X