Lately I've Been Lovin' #13

You might notice a wee bit of a coconut theme in my favourites this month but as with everything, I'm always on the look out for more so if you have any coconutty suggestions, leave 'em below. :)

Yves Rocher Malaysian Coconut Eau De Toilette: What's not to love? It even looks like coconut milk in the glass bottle! I've already declared my love for this perfume but if you missed that post, you can find it here.

Palmers Strong Roots Spray & Repairing Conditioner: Both are from the coconut oil formula line and leave my hair smelling good enough to eat untill the next wash. The Strong Roots Spray will last a long time as you don't need to use much at all but I've already got my needy mitts on a back-up of the Repairing Conditioner. If you like the sound of these you can read my full review.

La Roche-Posay Serozinc: I have to be honest and say I still don't really 'get' what this does and I do still get the odd spot around my chin area so wouldn't recommend it to those wanting it solely as a spot fighter BUT it make's my skin feel incredibly clean and clear. I've heard that it's great for red, inflamed skin which is the main reason I bought it. I apply it to a cotton pad after cleansing and sweep it over my face avoiding the eye area and even though it leaves the skin feeling really clean, I never experience any tightness. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and although it doesn't make a difference in the spot department for me, I think it's helped clear up the tiny bumps I get along my cheekbones. Does anyone know what those bumps are?

Organic Surge Blissful Daily Moisturiser*: My skin drinks this stuff up like crazy. When you first apply it, it slips around the skin as if it's never going to sink in but it does within a matter of seconds. It helps my skin stay calm, doesn't bring out any hives which I almost always get and it acts as a great base for foundation.

YSL Touche Eclat: This has been a long time fave of mine but never really gets a mention in my monthly faves posts. Chances are if I'm wearing make up, I'm wearing this. I get a lot of darkness in the inner corners of my eyes and this magic pen just helps brighten everything up and makes me look more awake. I apply it over concealer though to lighten certain areas, never as a concealer on it's own.

Have you tried any of these products?

What have you been lovin' this month?

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*PR sample

Review: Sephora Smoothing & Brightening Concealer | YSL Touche Eclat Comparison

I need all the help I can get when it comes to disguising under eye bags and dark circles. For many years YSL Touche Eclat has helped brighten my inner corners, add light along the line of my bags to make them appear to disappear and just help make me look more awake. A lot of people mistake YSL Touche Eclat for concealer which it isn't and is the main reason they don't get on with it. Obviously there's other factors as to why they think it's not worth the hype but I've read so many reviews on how bad it is as a concealer which is unfair as it's actually a complexion highlighter. If your dark circles are minimal then yes, of course you can get away with using only this but if you're like me and your dark circles would still make an appearance through a brick wall then you need to use concealer before applying this. I've tried a few of the many 'dupes' available from other brands but for me, YSL Touche Eclat can't be beaten. Or can it?

Swatched: YSL | Sephora

I asked Lina to send me Sephora's Smoothing & Brightening Concealer 'light 02' as I'd really enjoyed all the Sephora own brand products I've tried so far and thought that maybe Sephora could give YSL a run for their money. SS&BC is a lot thicker and more opaque than YSLTE and could be worn alone if your having a good under eye area day. It really brightens the eyes, diffusing the look of any sagging. It without a doubt helps make the whole eye area look more lifted and youthful. I always buy YSL Touche Eclat in 'The Original' as it's pink toned. You can see just how pink it is in the side by side swatches. It doesn't look pink in the slightest once gently blended in but the pink helps correct any shadows under the eyes.

Creasing: I never have any problems where creasing is concerned with YSLTE but SS&BC does crease slightly as the texture is thicker. It isn't major but anyone with dry patches or more than just a few fine lines may struggle with this.

Coverage: SS&BC win's when it comes to coverage but if you aren't plagued with very dark circles YSLTE could be enough for you.

Brightness: YSLTE is very subtle. It adds just the right amount of light and never looks obvious. SS&BC adds a lot of light to the face too but because the coverage is more opaque it can look stark if not blended well.

Longevity: Both wear for around the same amount of time and neither of them slide around the face even when not set with powder. 

Price: There's a huge difference in price and the amount of product each pen contains - YSLTE £25 for 0.1 fl.oz / SS&BC $16 for 0.11 fl.oz

I use both pens in the same way - inner corners, along 'bag lines' and dark circles, between my brows, along my top lip to disguise any pigmentation and I find they both work really well at taking away any redness at the corners of the nose.

So which do I like best? I love them both! They both do their job really well, work in a similar way and I would have no problem recommending both but I'm a die hard YSL Touch Eclat fan, my loyalty lies with the golden pen.

Have you tried either of these products?

Are you a YSL Touche Eclat lover or hater?

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Review: Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer

Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer in Medium 02*

I need all the help I can get with my dark circles. I like my dark circles to be gone! But I also like to highlight the eye area to make me look more awake. Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer comes in sturdy silver twist up pen packaging with a brush on the tip. Its easy to use, doesnt take up much space in your make up bag and is light enough to carry around in your handbag everyday for touch ups. Theres 4 shades in total - Fair 01, Medium 02, Medium-Dark03, Dark 04 so hopefully there will be a shade to suit everyone. My shade is Medium 02 which suits the majority of caucasian skins.

Light Reflecting Concealer is very easy to apply and blend. It blends in with my natural skintone perfectly and highlights without being obvious or sparkly. I apply it under my eyes, inner & outter corners, under & between my brows and above my top lip as I have some pigmentation there. It can also be used to subtly highlight cheekbones but I prefer to use my MAC MSF Soft & Gentle or New CID i-blush for my cheekbones. The product is a lot more fluid than other highlighters of the same type which makes it much easier to work with and another good point is that it doesnt crease.

I've been using YSL Touche Eclat for around 10 years now and wanted to see how Liz Earles offering compared. I love Touche Eclat but like everything else it has its faults and I can see why some people hate it. The main difference between the two is how fluid the Liz Earle version is compared to YSL which makes it easier to work with but it also means its less opaque. I like the packaging of both equally and find them both easy to use. Another big difference is the price - Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer is £15.50 whereas YSL Touche Eclat is £25 but they're also different sizes - Liz Earle 1.5ml, YSL 2.5ml. I always go for the lightest shade in Touche Eclat as it has a lot of pink in it and disguises my dark circles as well as brightening the eye area without being stark. Liz Earle Light Reflecting concealer in Medium 02 is much darker and I cant pick out any pink which is why it doesnt cover my circles just as good as Touche Eclat does. I would definitely go for Fair 01 next time and would suggest others do the same if you're quite fair.

Out of the 2 I prefer YSL Touche Eclat but thats probably due to the fact I've been using it for 10 years so thats what I'm used to but I would 100% repurchase Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer.

Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer would be perfect for anyone who isnt troubled by seriously dark circles, is looking for a product to illuminate their eye area, finds YSL Touche Eclat creases on them or looks too cakey, and anyone who loves expensive looking packaging ;)

Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer £15.50 available from LizEarle and Liz Earle stockists.

*PR sample

Instead of doing a separate post I'll just add it on here as I'm sure most of you have read about it already. Theres currently free p&p on all UK orders from the Liz Earle website untill 31st August. And on the 6th of August Liz Earle will be releasing a limited edition Princes Trust Cleanse & Polish! Liz has been working with a young entrepreneur supported by The Princes Trust called Rebecca Taylor. The award winning Cleanse & Polish has been given a limited edition make over by Liz and Rebecca. The formula now includes rose and lavender essential oils. £2 from every Limited Edition Cleanse & Polish sold goes straight to The Princes Trust and helps young people into jobs and training.

I know I'll be ordering atleast one. Will you?

Few Days Away | Make Up.

On Sunday I'm going away for a few days so while sorting out what I'm bringing away with me I thought I would make a few posts - Make up | Skin Care | Shampoo etc etc. I'll only be away for 4 nights and I'm not planning on going clubbing or anything like that, its just going to be a nice relaxing spa break so maybe I wont even bother with makeup but I thought it'd be best to bring some with me so as not to scare the other guests over breakfast. I'm very thoughful like that :]

Viva Glam Nicki | Creme Cup | Speak Louder

The sun is shinin' and my lips are getting brighter. I did plan on only taking one lippy but am I the only one who feels a bit braver around people you dont know? This will be my chance to wear VGN all her glory. Creme Cup is my safe everyday option and Speak Louder is just gorgeous. I never see much on the blogosphere about Speak Louder and I really dont know why, I think its perfect.

MAC MSF Soft & Gentle | Estee Lauder DayWear B.B Creme | Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint | MAC 187 | bareMinerals Blush

I never go anywhere without Soft & Gentle now, its like my life support machine. Dramatic? Yes, but true. EL B.B Creme - just a tiny sample size but enough for a few days. I might even buy the full size tube while I'm away, its brilliant! Decanted some Sheer Skin Tint to a wee pot to save some room. Brush - to apply my war paint and bareMinerals blush in tickled for a teeny bit of colour.

Benefit Browzings | bareMinerals Curl & Definition Mascara | YSL Touche Eclat | Shavata Brow Tamer* | Urban Decay Primer Potion | Naked Palette | Lash Curlers

Even if you're only wearing tinted moisturiser and mascara, Browzings makes a huge difference and just finishes off the look. I tend to back away from the powder in fear of ending up looking like the sister of Ernie and Bert but the wax does a great job on its own. I havent really had much of a chance to try the bareMinerals mascara out yet but it'll be put to the test this week. Touche Eclat - my best friend first thing in the morning. Shavata Brow Tamer* to hold my brows in place all day. UD Primer Potion, because I cant remember the last time I wore eyeshadow without it. Dont think I even need to say which shade from the Naked Palette will be over used ;] and just a cheapy pair of curlers untill I pluck up the courage to spend over a tenner on essentially a piece of metal.

Oh, and I forgot to mention Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer. Dont know where it disappeared to in the pics. So thats everything on the makeup front. Not sure if I'll have time to do my other posts before I go but if not I'll just do them when I get home but I'll leave you with this scary thought.. If you were going away for a week and could only take one lippy,what would it be?

*PR samples