September Favourites 2014

Another month, another collection of favourite things for me to share with you all! This month is more weighted by beauty products than other things, mostly because this month I have been experimenting with different colours and textures daily. Also, this week was Freshers Week so I had a lot of free time to play around with makeup looks, plus there were a variety of events going on which required different kinds of looks from going out/party looks to wearable daytime looks to bolder colourful looks for work (makeup artists get away with a completely different sort of 'work make up' to regular folk). So without further ado, let's see what I have been loving for the month of September!

Makeup...

Illamasqua's Matte Veil ~ L'Oreal Color Riche L'Ombre Pure in 502 Quartz Flume ~ Sleek's Matte Me in Rioja Red ~ MAC lip liner in Nightmoth ~ Benefit's They're Real mascara ~ MAC Face and Body Foundation in C5 ~ Illamasqua's Precision Brow Gel in Strike ~ L'Oreal Super Liner So Couture.

Illamasqua's Matte Veil This primer is a lifesaver for oily skin. It doesn't completely mattify your skin to a drying finish but leaves it with a nice dewy glow that is not oily-looking. Oily-skinned girls are often too afraid of a bit of shine and totally mattify their face to a powdery finish which is neither natural-looking nor flattering. It smells of toffee flavoured yogurt which most people I've met like, although I'm not too keen on it.

L'Oreal Color Riche L'Ombre Pure in 502 Quartz Flume I've been meaning to check out this range of eye shadows for the longest time and I'm so glad I finally managed to do it. I actually bought two of these shadows but the other one, 301 Escape in Bordeaux, isn't one I have reached for much this month although it still is a stunning colour on the eye. Quartz Flume is a shimmering taupe colour colour that has a strong colour pay off. The formula is soft and creamy, which I assume is the result of the gel-infused powder, and so the shadow glides on like a dream. This particular shade is very adaptable. It can be used to wash all over the lid for a simple yet beautiful day look, or can be layered with other eye shadows to create even more glamorous looks for the evening. It is also a shade that practically any skin tone can wear.

L'Oreal Super Liner So Couture Believe it or not but I received this for free from Boots because I spent over £10 on L'oreal cosmetics! Honestly, this is the best free gift I have ever received and I am so glad that I now know about this liquid liner. I personally have had a terrible time of trying to find a liquid eyeliner that works well for me. This liner is perfect though! The nib thins into a very fine point to create the crispest flicks but there is no problem of drag marks across the eye, it gives a smooth application. The colour is not compromised either, it delivers a true black colour in one swipe and doesn't lose pigmentation halfway through the applying The pen design is also very easy to handle. 

Illamasqua Precision Gel Liner in Strike I actually tried this the very first day it was launched because I was at the Illamasqua School of Make Up Artistry at the time. The excitement in the Beak Street store was electric with everyone dying to get their hands on this baby and to try it out on different skin tones and hair colours. We used this in one of our tasks and it was incredible to see how versatile this one colour was to suit nearly everybody on the course, even though we were all from very different backgrounds with different coloured skin and hair. It is so easy to apply with an angled brush and you only need to use a little bit for both eyebrows which means this product will last for ages. That's music to your ears when you're a poor university student like me!

MAC Nightmoth lip liner + Sleek Matte Me in Rioja Red Next up we have a double act. I have recently fallen in love with how these two look together when you line the lips thickly with Nightmoth and blend the colour towards the centre of the lips (but leave the very centre blank), then go over the whole lip with Rioja Red. The end result is a statement matte ombre lip with attitude in abundance. I wore it to a party recently and loved the effect so much I had to take a picture.

I apologise that this picture is uncharacteristically posey and sultry for me but it was the only angle to get a good idea of the lip colour!

Hair...

I only have one hair favourite for this month and that is my Umberto Giannini Curl Friends Scrunching Jelly. I was a bit sceptical about this product at first because I didn't like the idea of using gel on my hair. I had images of crispy, gunky looking hair that was not flattering at all, but I'm happy to declare that this product rocks! I have been getting a lot of compliments about my hair looking "even curlier" and "less frizzy" than usual. I've been finding my hair harder to style since it has been getting even longer (it now reached my belly button when straight) so even my usual hair products have had a hard time at standing up to the task. This scrunching jelly has taken it all in it's stride and has given me superbly defined curls. It does leave it a little crispy if you use too much, but your hair will still feel soft it you use the correct amount.

Food...

I'll admit it, this one is a bit of an odd favourite but we'll just go with it, okay? This weird-looking fruit is called Mangosteen and it's the tastiest fruit ever. This fruit is my absolute favourite (followed closely by figs, peaches, durian and watermelon) but it grows in Asia and is near impossible to find in the UK. I usually eat it in Malaysia when we go there on holiday to see my family so this fruit is a reminder of all the amazing memories I have in Malaysia. The only reason I can include this in my favourites this month is because the Malaysian Food Festival recently took place in Trafalgar Square and I went with my mum and stocked up on all the fruits and foods you cannot usually find in the UK.

Songs...

Shake It Off- Taylor Swift (I am not even ashamed. This song makes me want to dance)

Don't- Ed Sheeran

Lie To Me- Neyo (an old song I have recently rediscovered on my iPod)

Am I Wrong- Nico & Vinz (giving me chilled beach vibes while I'm stuck in London)

I'm Not The Only One- Sam Smith 

Prayer in C- Lillywood & Robin Schulz 

Elastic Heart- Sia (makes me want to do an expressive contemporary dance)

Miscellaneous...

You may have noticed the funky product background I have been using in this post. That is my new bedding for my new room in my new flat! I am very excited to be living in London with four of my close friends from university and I absolutely love my new flat despite its oddities and flaws. Like, for instance, the fact all our floors are slanted and the rooms are all very drafty and there is only one bathroom between five people. I had so much fun decorating my new room and am very proud of the outcome and for that reason, my room is the final favourite on my list for September! 

My room could never be complete without fairy lights and all my favourite pictures!

That concludes my September Favourites, I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about what I've been loving this month. Be sure to tell me about your favourites too! 

Love love love <3 xxx