Two new highlighting additions: theBalm Mary Lou Manizer and Illamasqua Aurora

I'm a big fan of highlighters and I've written a post on my favourite ones here. More recently, I have added three more to my collection and I am going to share my thoughts with you on two of them today. I have one cream highlighter: Illamasqua Gleam in Aurora and one powder highlighter: theBalm Mary Lou Manizer. They are both similar in price at £18 and £16 respectively.

Empties #3 featuring Xen Tan, Pixi, Elemis, Macadamia & more!

So it is empties time again! There's something very satisfying about finishing products for me - the opportunity to try new things or just to make some room on my heaving shelves! I have a variety of empties to share with you today - hair, body, skin care & 1 make-up product.

I'll begin with the hair care products. Firstly, I have a bottle of Sebastian Professional Penetraitt Shampoo. I had heard so many good things about this product, but it just did not live up to the hype for me. My hair felt completely stripped. I live in a hard water area so maybe that didn't help, but I definitely would not but this shampoo again. I finished 2 hair oils this month: Percy & Reed Volumising No Oil Oil, which was just a mini size that I had received with a magazine. It has lasted a long time as a little goes a long way. I really, really like this product - it is very light, has a very light, fresh scent and really does add volume. I would repurchase at some point in the future when I get through some more of the many, many hair products that I have on the go at the moment! The second oil is Macadamia Healing Oil Spray - I love this product. I used it as a finishing spray & it really added a fabulous shine to my hair. I will definitely repurchase.

REVIEW: YSL Fusion Ink Foundation

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I am a bit of a foundation junkie! My foundation collection post is here, if you want to check out the general types of foundations that I like. When I first heard about YSL's Fusion Ink foundation, I was very intrigued - firstly, because I am a massive YSL fan, but also because I have never tried an ink foundation before - Armani's Maestro & Lancome's Air De Teint never particularly interested me. 

REVIEW: Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Streak

I bought this Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Streak last month because I liked the idea of a bronzer, highlighter & blush in one and I thought that Streak would be most suited to my skin tone. It was the coral blush colour that really attracted me to this palette over Native & Strip. There is more bronzer than blush & highlight and this is the right proportion, in my opinion because I couldn't see myself using equal amounts of all three. The bronzer is a medium shade, not as dark as my Hoola or Nars so I wouldn't use it for contour even though it is matte, however if you are pale it might work for you. 

REVIEW: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

If you read my mascara collection post, you will know that I love a voluminous look on my lashes & when I read Just Julie's post about Better Than Sex Mascara from Too Faced, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. I featured it in my recent haul & have been using it for 2 weeks now & am ready to share my thoughts with you now.

Recent Purchases #7 featuring Hourglass, Nars, Illamasqua, Urban Decay, Too Faced, Vita Liberata, Kerastase, TIGI, Label M & Manuka Doctor

With the last of my birthday money, I decided to splurge on some items that I had wanted for a while! I have a mix of make-up & hair care. The great thing about being subscribed to newsletters with online shops is that most of them send a discount code for your birthday! How could I resist using them?!

First up are two items that featured on my recent wishlist: Hourglass Ambient Blush in Dim Infusion & Urban Decay Naked Flushed Compact in Streak. I have wanted a Hourglass blush since they were first released & Dim Infusion looked right up my street. I love coral and gold & this product has the perfect blend of both. I was lucky enough to receive this as a gift from my cousin for my birthday a few weeks ago & I am very excited to use it! The Urban Decay palette in Streak is perfect for bringing in your handbag as it has a mix of bronzer (can be used to contour), blush & highlight.