JULY FAVOURiTES

Here I am again with another post of my monthly favourites. A rundown of what I have been enjoying throughout the month of  July. July has been mostly hot with heat waves except for the last bit which is rainy so most of my favourites are products that are suitable for hot weather. It is summer anyway in the UK but our weather is getting confuse as usual (nothing new in that). Some of the products will be a repetition of previous monthly favourites but the rest are mostly unmentioned products.

CLARiNS AUTUMN COLLECTiON 2015

New collections always excite me like everyone else. You might probably by now how I love Clarins. Not only does their products have chic packaging, most if not all of their products also has good quality. My make-up collection includes plenty of Clarins products but each collection still manage to surprise and awe me with new things. I think this is part of the amour of Clarins. The brand tries to bring out new products or ideas that are innovative and refreshing. This recent collection is minimal compared to Clarins' previous collections yet the whole collection appears to be well-thought. For Autumn 2015 Collection, Clarins released five new products including a limited edition eyeshadow palette.  That palette is on top of my lust list. On the other hand, I had the opportunity to try the other equally amazing bits from the collection. After testing them out, I'm ready for my report.

SEASONAL SKiNCARE: SUMMER EDiT

As the weather changes, I also switch my skincare routine. For winter time, my skin is dry and sensitive whilst on warmer months, it's just plainly a combination skin and still sensitive. For this summer, I actually changes my skincare routine twice. My usual summer skincare routine is not working for this year. I ended up with a very angry and unhappy skin. I was horrified as I never had breakouts as much as I had at the end of May. I tried several products and I finally found the skincare routine that works with my skin in this temperamental weather which is scorching on one day and then raining the next.

A LiTTLE UPDATE

As you may have notice, there's a bit of a change in my blog. Instead of posting every other day, I now post three times a week instead. I have been quiet unhappy with my blog lately and I know other bloggers also experience this feeling every now and then. A bit of a blogging rut as we call it. That feeling of unhappiness is however going on and on and it is dragging me down. I am not the sort of person to wallow on misery and I always try to look on the brighter side of things. When I started blogging, my main purpose of doing it is to release some creativity in me. I have never been a creative person and sadly growing up, I am boxed as an academic. I never excelled in anything with regards to being creative like music, arts, etc. Blogging has however gave me an opportunity to somehow express creativity. I tried my hardest to be creative in photos. As time goes by, I did learn a trick or two to improve my photography in which I am really happy about but I still need to improve.

NEW IN FROM THE DRUGSTORE

Going to Boots just to get one or two things is never a good idea. I have all the good intentions of just buying Nurofen (yeah,right) but then the make-up aisles are singing a siren song luring me to explore them. 3 for 2 offers and that small blue tag indicating new products are equally as bad. I ended up walking out with make-ups and even forgot about Nurofen! That is so bad and hilarious at the same time. Anyway, enough of my waffling and I'll share with you some new things from the drugstore. Some of it maybe not that new but still relatively new.

SWEAT PROOF MAKE-UP

In the UK, we don't usually need sweatproof make-up as we mostly live under grey skies. However, the UK is experiencing on and off heatwave. It is so hot that I don't even know if I'm happy or I'm going to moan about it. As much as I like to go without make-up on, there are certain occasions that I need to. With trial and error, I finally found a make-up routine that sticks in my face despite the warm weather.

SUMMER SHOE WARDROBE

Nowadays, instead of buying tons of clothes, I am now having a more minimal approach to my wardrobe. Each season, I only buy basic pieces and few (probably three the maximum) clothing that are on trend. I find that this works best for and it feels like I always have something to wear because I just mix and match things. The more clothes I have, the more I feel that I don't have anything to wear. Can you see the irony in there? I also use this approach for my shoe wardrobe. Each season, I try to stick to a pair of smart flats, a pair of sneakers, one pair of sandals for warmer months (ankle boots for colder months), and one pair of kick-ass pumps. Although I may have add a pair or two but nothing much.

AN EYESHADOW PALETTE TO ADD IN YOUR COLLECTiON

Aside from blushes, I am also a big hoarder of neutral eyeshadow palettes. I can't resist a good eyeshadow palette to be honest. I always find an excuse why I need another eyeshadow palette. It has shades that I don't have, it has entirely different shades, it has a different packaging from the rest of my collection, and the list goes on. Another factor that could push me to buy something is if it has a beautiful packaging. I know it is a shallow excuse but you know, we need the pretty things in life.

PRiMERS FOR DEWY and GLOWY SKiN

I love a good dewy base all year round. With strobing coming as a new trend in the beauty world, I have to say that I think I'll be sticking to my dewy bases instead. No matter how much I love a glowy look, strobing for me is a tad too much for my personal preferences. Aside from dewy finish foundations, I mostly rely on primers to give a serious amount of glow. A highlighting primer gives a glow that seems to come out from within making it more natural.  I have several primers that does the job and I narrowed it down to five of the best in my stash. Some of these primers are new discovery and I have a long-standing love-affair with some of them.

WHAT'S HOT THiS WEEK

I'm wrapping up what is hot in the interweb for this post. From what to watch to what's to buy that you need to add for this weekend or next week's to-do list.

TO WATCH- Olivia Palermo is one my favourite style icon and girl crush since I discovered her in The Hills. Her style is effortless, classical, yet cool. I am well-pleased, well ecstatic is the right word, when Vestiaire Collective featured Inside the Wardrobe of Olivia Palermo. Spoiler alert, her apartment alone is so dreamy and I am guilty of watching it multiple times already. I am obsessed, what else can I say.  If you haven't watch My Pale Skin's You Look Disgusting video, then you should watch it ASAP. It is very inspirational and a good eye opener about our general outlook on beauty. It is a short youtube video but has a lot impact.

THE SCENT OF SUMMER

I am one of the biggest fan of the Roger and Gallet Fleur de Figuier range. The body oil from the range and its handcream are staples for me all year round. When Roger and Gallet announces that the brand is releasing an Eau De Parfum from the range, I could hardly conceal my excitement. Fleur de Figuier Eau de Parfum will be the cherry on the top for the amazing range.

MAC BLUSH COLLECTiON

I am a serious blush fanatic and I may have own blushes that will last me a lifetime and the next. I have several blushes from different brands whether it's high street or not. Whilst looking in my blush collection, I did notice that amongst all the different brands, the one brand in which I got several blushes is MAC. The reason behind it probably is that MAC has a wide range of shades to offer and its price sits inbetween drugstore and high-end. You might find it strange that I have it in individual pan instead of a palette. To be honest, when I started buying these blushes, I didn't expect it would reach to this number although I still don't have an extensive collection. I also prefer carrying one at a time or two when I am travelling instead of hauling an entire palette. Just one of Ella's logic.

JUNE FAVOURiTES

I hate reminding myself and everyone but really, this year is flying so quickly. It sometimes scares me how we are already in July. Like what happened for the past 6 months? It just seems like a blur. Anyway, as June has gone, I am here with a list of my June favourites. June has been a great month when it comes to my make up stash (not to my bank balance) as I tried several new and good products but I also re-acquiented myself with old ones.

THREE SUMMER ESSENTiALS

As summer is finally here and the UK is currently suffering from a heatwave, I made a list of summer essentials that is perfect for warm days and festival season. What I considered as essentials are products that I really need. Like if I am stuck somewhere and I could only bring three items, these are the things that I would bring.  Or when I go to a festival, these are the items that I would bring myself although I am not a big fan of festivals myself. My essential list includes skincare, base, and a fragrance.

THE SEPHORA CREAM LiP STAiNS

I have heard so many good things about the Sephora cream lip stains yet I remained skeptical. Sephora is also hard to get from the UK which is annoying as the rest of Europe and probably the world has Sephora everywhere. So when I am on holiday and I spotted a Sephora which is just a few steps from my hotel door, I had my fingers crossed that they available stock for the shades that I am after.