Slow Burners

Like most beauty addicts I give into hype more often than I really should be it a raved about product from a friend or a fellow beauty blogger. The problem with being so weak is that along the way you will end up with products you just don't get on with. However all is not lost, a few lesser loved items have slowly wriggled their way into my affections...

Maybelline Baby Lips Intense Care £2.99 via Boots - link.
Now don't get me wrong I am not a fan of Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balms in the slightest and think they are the most overrated lip balms out there. Sorry not sorry but Maybelline Baby Lips Intense Care is the best of a bad bunch. It is more nourishing, not as waxy and contains an SPF, it also has a fruity fragrance (I can't quite put my finger on what fruit it is exactly) that is not unpleasant. If you buy one Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm I recommend it be this one. As a sucker for punishment I do plan on purchasing the Dr Rescue Baby Lips line up once in the States next month.

Beauty Blender £14.40 via Beauty Bay - link.
This represents every egg shaped beauty sponge out there, in the last few years I have bought pretty much every branded one going and only like two. What a waste of time and money. For contouring, highlighting and general blending out the Original Beauty Blender gets the thumbs up from me, don't ask me what sets it aside from the rest of the egg shaped sponges as I do not know. My guess is that it is made from a better quality of foam? Who knows but I can tell you that it is best version out there and does live up to the hype, if you have bought a generic beauty blender type of sponge and didn't enjoy it for whatever reasons I recommend giving this a whirl. Another good one is the Dior Backstage Blender Foundation Sponge which really gives foundation a flawless finish - it is crap at blending out concealer and to contour with.

Clinique Happy Eau de Parfum £39 via Debenhams - link
I've mentioned in the past that I wasn't always a fan of this bright floral yet citrus scent. As a teen I found it for lack of a better term - disgusting. Yet now I'm a few years older I really appreciate the cheery, light weight yet long lasting. I must warn it took me a good five or so years to warm to this fragrance but for the moment this is my go to day scent. It cheers me up, isn't too heavy nor is it undetectable. I urge you to give this a whirl.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Palette £56 via Space.NK - link
If I had a pound for every time I have mentioned this palette I'd be rich but it hasn't always been smooth sailing. For the longest time I simply did not understand the allure of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders at all. The beauty of this range of powders lies in their subtle finishes, if you love nothing more than a super shimmery highlighting powder this is not for you but if you want an almost ethereal lit from within glow then you must check this palette out. I really enjoy the fact that each powder can be used as a highlighting powder or as a setting powder and in some cases a blush/bronzer. They photograph beautifully and it is so difficult to over do application. I am not rather loyal to this palette.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight £6.49 via Boots - link.
I can recall a few years ago this was the most blogged about budget friendly nude lipstick out there and like most I rushed to my local Boots store and bought a shiny tube for myself. Back then I was all about concealer like nude lipsticks and didn't quite enjoy the warm, caramel tones of Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight. Fast forward a few years and now I get all the hype thanks to a Lisa Eldridge video featuring Alexa Chung. This warm nude looks great on both tanned and pale skin, is natural yet doesn't wash me out and works beautifully with Boots No7 Lipliner in Nude as a heads up.

InvisiBobble £3.75 for three via Boots - link
A plastic hair bobble? Yeah I wasn't all that convinced initially first and found the whole concept bizarre. Yet if like myself you have thick hair that is fairly weighty and find that ponytails, buns and general up do's can result in a headache this is a hair tool you need. They securely hold the hair in place without causing strain on the hair or scalp meaning headaches and broken hair is a thing of the past. I personally need to invest in more natural colours of Invisi Bobble's - bright red and green really are not my calling.

What have you slowly learned to love?