The September Edit

I’ve blogged about a lot of products this month, but which ones have been the stand out stars? Time for the September Edit…let’s see who made the cut!

Skin: It’s got to be Origins GinZing moisturiser, no surprises there! A citrus scented, smooth gel texture that boosts brightness and soothes skin with its oil-free moisturising formula. Sad skin days are a thing of the past!

Complexion: The stand out in this category is the Nars Sheer Glow. I recently re-discovered my love for this product and I have to say it’s probably one of the best foundation formulas I’ve tried. Ever! It’s a light texture but highly pigmented so a little goes a long way. Blended in with fingers in the day time and my skin looks natural with a gorgeous, glowing undertone and buffed on with a brush in the evening creates a medium coverage that’s just the right side of airbrushed. The undertones in this foundation are perfect for my skin; Santa Fe is slightly yellow but has a hint of pink mixed in.

Cheeks: A  bit of a toss up with this category and I’ve got to announce that there are two winners. The stand out products have both been firm staples in my make-up bag but for very different reasons…

Firstly Benefit Rockateur. The product launch of the month and what a good one at that. The finely milled, pigmented rose gold blush that heats up cheeks in a second has been adorning my cheeks in the evening. The hue of this blush will complement each and every make-up look by adding subtle colour but lots of definition. Clashing combos are a thing of the past.

Secondly, The Body Shop Shimmer Palette which featured in my Surprise September Finds. I’m still impressed with this product and it has been my go to cheek choice for the day time. Sweeping the brush diagonally over the palette collects all three colours which highlight, contour and colour cheeks in just one sweep. Hello five minute lie in!

Lips: I think I’ve lost count how many times I’ve mentioned this lip product in posts. The Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayons are amazing. Glossy, smooth but pigmented and with staining/staying power they have to be one of the very best lip offerings out there. Gorgeous colours, moisturising formula, only £7.99… what’s not to love? I have the shades Red Sunrise and Fuscia Libre, I’ve never been one to wear a pink lip but this colour just works. Fuscia is the stand out star!

Eyes: Oh eyes, so tricky are you. One product can not suffice this category. Without choosing everything I own I’ve managed to edit it down to two things. Both Benefit, this brand brings it in the eye department.

Firstly, the Magic Ink Liquid Liner. I hailed this product as ‘The Perfect Liquid Liner.’ Yes, I was that confident in it to make such a bold statement. A formula that slicks on smooth, dries jet black with a hint of gloss and doesn’t dry, flake or crumble throughout the day. It’s perfect. The handle of this product has also been designed by the liquid liner fairies… it’s perfectly moulded to suit your thumb and finger and makes gliding on controlled and easy.

Secondly, the Tweezerman for Benefit Eyelash Curlers. Wow! What a difference a curled lash can make. I explain my teenage experience of lash curlers here which resolved in a near bare lash line so picking up a contraption like this again was a big step for me. But ever so comfortable with extra lash pads included in the box, the Tweezermans gently pressurise your lashes into standing into primped and curled attention. Anything that’s amazing at making the most of lashes and using less of mascara will always be a winner for me.

So there you have The September Edit. What’s made it into your favourite list this month?

Lovely Lashes with Tweezerman for Benefit!

My lashes are sneaky little things. Au naturel they are light brown and unnoticeable, so when I apply mascara I’m so thrilled to have luscious dark lashes that curling them is rendered unimportant.

But I’ve been thinking for some time whether or not to try lash curlers again (more on that below), and charged up with curling knowledge from my beauty blog reading and perusing the beauty isles at the weekend means I am now the proud owner of a pair of proper grown up eyelash curlers.

I have used similar contraptions before, in the makeup ‘dark days’ where I used to load my lashes full of Bourjois Volume Clubbing mascara and then *winces* trap, squeeze and torture my delicate lashes into a thick, rigid curl. It’s painful just remembering the amount of lashes I used to rip out during this process.

A few years later and with a more stripped back, less is more approach to beauty I’m ready to give my ladies a little squeeze again.

I was interested in the Tweezerman range as I’ve heard great things about them, I use their tweezers anyway and I know they come with a lifetime guarantee which is always a handy bonus. It was at this great moment that I stumbled across, wait for it… Tweezerman for Benefit! Who knew? That sealed the deal for me, and a happy Hannah trundled on home to try out her new lash contraption.

I wasn’t sure if they were going to make a huge difference to me or if they would hold their curl but I’m so pleased to report back that I’m thoroughly impressed with them. I’ve heard of the ‘3 squeeze rule’ which consists of  base, length and tip but with the Tweezerman for Benefit range I just snuggle my lashes in at the base, squeeze with a little bit of pressure, release and repeat. And wow, what a difference this makes! Fanned out, long, curly lashes have been revealed and it has made such a difference to my makeup routine, I now need less mascara to achieve the ‘I have lashes’ look which equates to less time in the morning waving a loaded mascara wand around my bleary eyes. Result!

The pack also comes with three replacement rubber pads so I have every faith that it is a purchase that will last me for a very long time. Unless I lose it, which with me is always a possibility!

Have you been living under a rock like me and not tried curlers in recent times? Or if you have, what are your favourite ones?