This week in England has been ridiculously hot. As someone who burns through windows and passes out in 20 degrees heat, I have found it hard to function. A positive of this heat however is that I've dug back into my old stash of more waterproof/sweat resistant products as well as buying a few new ones! 

The first products I have found is the Maybelline 24 hour colour tattoos. I have talked about these before, both on my blog and on my youtube channel. I stopped using them in favour for my Stila Palette, but with the recent heat I didn't want to spend ages putting make up on just for it to fall off my face later on. The 24 hour tattoos stay on your lids until you choose to take them off with makeup remover and are practically heatproof. Thank God. They are also very pigmented and easy to blend, especially with each other as I have found. The two colours I have been loving are Metallic Pomegranate and On and On Bronze, and mixed together on the lid create a really nice rusty bronze finish that may not be too summer appropriate but still looks very flattering. 

The next favourite I have been loving this week is the Benefit Watts Up highlighter. I use a matte blush a lot of the time as I love the colours I have, so this adds a healthy glow to my skin and helps me feel more summery. It comes out a champagne colour and is very easy to blend into the skin. I apply onto the cheekbones and occasionally down the bridge of my nose if I feel I'm looking particularly dull and it really brightens my complexion. 

My final beauty favourite of the week is a new purchase, the MUA  velvet lip lacquer in Criminal. It goes on really well, and although slightly sticky to begin with, it mattifies quickly and you can barely feel it on your lips. I bought a few different shades, so expect a full review later this week! I feel this colour is extremely summery however and as I have very few bright pinks, it really adds to my collection. 

My last love of the week is Parks and Recreation. Pretty much everyone knows about this show, but if you are late to the party all I can say is watch it! I rarely laugh out loud at TV/film and this has me almost crying with laughter almost every episode. I have slightly fallen in love with Ben Wyatt and April Ludgate and truly love the show and the realism of the plot and the comedy. It is set in a fictional town of Pawnee and describes the journey of Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, through her career in local government and personal life. A real must see!

So these have been my loves for this week, I hope you enjoyed and thank you for reading!

Shannon 

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This week has not been a huge make up or fashion week and I have stuck to what I know I love mainly. However, I have been through my stash and found two things I forgot I owned, and now have fallen in love with again; the Loreal Colour Riche nail polish in 851 Nouvelle Vague, which I'm sure I talked about in one of my first blog posts, and a E. Funkhouser blush in Nouveau Chic. The nail polish is a pale lavender shade and one that I love for summer. It does take two or three coats to become opaque due to the paleness of it, but does last at least three days without chipping, which for me is a record. The packaging is also nice and small, making it great for travel to top up on if needed. 

 The blush is a pink toned blush, with high pigmentation. It is very finely milled and easy to blend and adds a pop of colour without making you look sweaty. It's an incredibly flattering shade and again one I love for summer as it warms up the complexion. 

When Daredevil was released on Netflix, I was in the midst of exam revision and so didn't let myself even look at the trailer for the show. However, now that exams are over, I binge watched the entire season in less than 24 hours and have fallen completely and utterly in love. As a self confessed Marvel fangirl whilst also loving darker, more gritty character and plot developments, this was right up my street and I really enjoyed it. I fell in love with Matt Murdock and the complexity his character was given through both the writing and the acting and Charlie Cox can be commended for the talent he brought to the role. I am beyond excited for series two and my only disappointment is that it won't come sooner!

A music favourite of mine for the last few weeks, but this week in particular has been Flatsound. I found him through listening to other spoken word artists and have fallen in love with his acoustic/lo-fi sound and his words. Favourites of mine include 'i exist i exist i exist', 'you had a panic attack in my bathroom' and 'saturday dec 14 2013'. While some of his words really expose raw nerves and cut a little too close to home for me, his music makes me feel calm and really helps with writing and just thinking for a little while. His music has introduced me to a whole new genre that I have fallen in love with and now want to explore it much further. 

his music; https://soundcloud.com/flatsound

That's all for this week's favourites! Next week's should be interesting as I'm off to Ireland, so I'll see what it offers me.

Thanks for reading.

Shannon.

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I am a lipstick addict.
My family have noticed, my friends stage interventions to stop me from buying more, but my collection is unashamedly still growing strong. However, there are few in my collection I wear on a regular basis and fewer that are my absolute go to for travel or day to day wear. 


The first of these lipstick is the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy. This is a recent purchase, picking it up in the Duty Free on the way back from Berlin, and I have fallen in love. It gives a sheer colour pay off but it still adds a little something to your lips, making it an ideal your lips but better shade. It is also incredibly easy to apply due to its creaminess, making it an ideal daywear lipstick as touch ups are incredibly easy. 

The next is Velvet Teddy by Mac. There isn't much I can say about this that hasn't been said already, only that if I want something a bit more sophisticated than Boy, but still neutral, this is the ideal choice. It's extremely long lasting due to the matte finish and compliments my skin tone nicely, leaving it again a great choice for day to day wear. 

The final one in my trio is again Mac, in the shade Sin. I am a sucker for dark gothic lips, even in the summertime, and this fulfills all my goth lip needs. It's a matte finish which I find essential for dark lips, and so long lasting it can be worn throughout meals and still look okay after. The only issue I find with this is that I can't wear it every day due to it being drying to my lips, but for going out and nighttime wear, I love it a lot and find it hard to beat!

I hope you enjoyed my post on my favourite lipsticks and maybe one of them caught your eye to pick up! 

Shannon

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I'm not being funny but where the hell is 2014 going? October flew by so fast, but as another month passes, another favourite is here!

FTN beanie; I've been wearing this a lot recently as it goes with pretty much everything I wear as I only wear monochrome, and adds a bit of colour and warmth to my outfit. This link will take you straight to it;
http://www.findthenomads.com/collections/products/products/script-beanie-burgundy

Revlon BB Cream in Light; In rushes for college in the morning, foundation isn't always an option, and this is where this BB cream comes in. It's a really quick lightweight option that I can just throw on and go in comparison to my Sheer Glow which takes a lot of blending. It is slightly too dark for me but I can pull it off if I blend it into my neck well, and this doesn't take much time at all so I feel it's worth it!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in Nude; I love this eyeliner for again, rushed college mornings where I seem to lose time and end up having none. It makes my eyes look bigger and makes me look awake when really I'm falling asleep. 

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Damsel; This comes with the In The Light Palette and I love it. For days when black is too harsh or I'm too scared/tired to attempt to use my Maybelline gel pen, this is a great alternative. It's ridiculously pigmented and creamy, and very easy to use, and once it is on it does not budge at all. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick in 011 Bluffing; I feel like the theme of running late is popping up a lot in this post, and I won't lie, it happens a lot. This is my eyeshadow of choice when I'm late because it is such an easy thing to apply. It is very easy to blend as it is a creamy texture, but isn't crazy pigmented meaning it can be applied a bit hap-hazardly and you won't be able to tell. It gives off a bronze shimmery texture that looks like you spent time and effort on your eyeshadow as it gives a small amount of definition and is all round a great product.

Seventeen Falsifeye HD Mascara; When I first used this product I was not impressed as I found it just made my lashes blacker and did not add anything to them. However, after about a week I came back to it and found it much better. It really grips the lashes and coats each individual one and gives them both length and volume. I really love this mascara now, and my first impression definitely wasn't right!

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Audrey; I don't have any lipsticks like this colour, and I think that says a lot already. It's warm toned which makes me feel slightly uncomfortable usually as my teeth usually look yellow-er, but this lipstick doesn't which is a huge plus. It is very pigmented and goes on creamily but has good staying power and lasts a very long time. Because of how pigmented it is, it's not a good idea to put it on in a rush but I love it anyways. 

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Vintage Pink; This colour is great for days when you don't want a bright lip but you don't want a nude, and is super hydrating. The formula is really creamy and goes on so easily. The staying power isn't great but it's understandable due to the creaminess, but reapplying isn't a hassle as it's easy to apply. 

MUA Lipstick in Shade 11; This is a really nice nude colour as it has coral tones to it and gives your lips a bit of colour without giving them too much. It's very creamy but not moisturising or drying. The staying power again isn't great and you have to apply it very frequently but it's my go to college lipstick if I can't find one I like, and so I just reapply it whenever I have the chance. 

Too Faced Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow; This is like a highlighter and a blusher in one and I love it. It has three different strips to it and mixed together gives a really healthy looking colour while still being natural. It is great for the colder months as it gives you the look of going outdoors and being in the cold while still making you look healthy and glowy like you do in summer. It does smell disgusting though, just a word of warning. 

Urban Decay Naked Palette; This variety of shades is amazing for a neutral yet slightly smoky eye. For a girl who avoids shimmer like the plague, you'd think this palette was a no go for me and yet I love it so much and have really found a love for shimmer that I didn't know existed inside me. 
That came out a lot more dramatic than planned.

Tangle Teezer; I've been doing a lot of swimming and au natural hair this summer and both of these require a good brush that gets rid of tangles easily. So of course the Tangle Teezer would be my go to brush and it has not let me down in the slightest!

Lancome Gentle Softening Cleansing Fluid; I have a strong love for everything about this product except the price. It removes make up easily and feels soft on the face as it is more of a cream than a liquid. It is definitely gentle, meaning I can use it on my eye make up without fearing for my eyesight if it gets into my eyes. I also love how easily it removes gel liner (spoiler alert!) It also smells good which for a facial product is always great. 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer and Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek Brush; These two are a bronzing dream. I feared the bronzer may be too dark for my almost deathly pale skin tone but instead it works so well and gives my skin a nice matte bronzed finish without looking muddy or orange. It also has great lasting power, and for someone who spends most of the day sat with their chin in their hand that is a huge bonus as it doesn't rub off. The angled brush makes it a lot easier to apply the product evenly, and also blends it into my skin well. 

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Siberia; I never thought I'd see the day when I put a foundation on my face and it was the same shade as my skin. This product is honestly amazing as it gives a glow without looking shiny and so makes me look more awake. It also matches my skin tone. Did I say that already? 

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Powder; In the hotter parts of summer I opted out of foundation and instead just wore this and my trusty Lasting Perfection Concealer. I found this product to be so nice on my skin as it gives a good amount of coverage as it is a BB powder, without looking cakey. It also gives such a velvet finish to the skin that is so nice to look at, but also to touch. As you can tell by the fact I hit pan hard, I really do like this powder a lot. 

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner; I love this eyeliner so much. I've not had the heart to spend £18.50 on the Benefit They're Real Liner, but I've had this since before the Benefit one came out and I've loved it a lot. It's really black and stays put all day, even in extreme heat. Miscellar water has trouble getting it off, hence why I've loved my Lancome product so much. I find the nib really helps with getting a line along my lash line even and has really helped with getting my cat eye equal on both sides. If you're looking for a dupe of the They're Real then look no further. 

Ghost Eclipse sample; This perfume is perfect for summer, so of course I'm gutted I managed to get a sample just as Autumn started rolling in. The smell of this is very fruity and isn't overwhelming while still strong. There is a lot in this sample bottle, and it has a roller ball as well meaning that it applies however much you need and there's no danger of you spilling the product everywhere. I need to get my hands on a full sized bottle!

June went far too fast, and we are now halfway through the year! Genuinely quite scared by that fact. I hope you had as good a June as I did, and here are my favourites;

Soap and Glory bodywashes; £6.50 each at Boots

I love these more than life itself. The two on the picture are the Sugar Crush with a sweet lime scent and the Rich and Foamous with an almond, oats and brown sugar scent. These are my go to body washes at the moment and have been for quite a while and that is simply because they smell so good. I use the lime scent for the morning as it really helps wake me up as it is quite a refreshing and citrus-y smell whereas the almonds, oats and brown sugar scent is definitely much more of a bed time scent as it is a relaxing smell and puts you in a "bed time" mood. The Sugar Crush also contains "CoolCapsuleX" which helps cool and refresh the body, making it perfect for summer as it is slowly getting much hotter in the UK, whereas the Rich and Foamous contains moisturising ingredients meaning that it is ideal for hot months where your skin is prone to getting dry. I also love Soap and Glory generally as they do not test on animals. 

Sleek Contour Pallets; £6.49 from Boots

This product does wonders with my face and I love it a lot. It is highly pigmented and so you do not need to use a lot which is great as this means it will last for longer. I love the matte pressed powder as it really does work wonders on the contours and really slims down my face. I am usually not a big fan of shimmer and try to avoid it where I can, but it works in the highlighter, especially in summer as it gives you much more of a glow and a summery look. I love the packaging as it looks sleek (no pun intended) and quite high end in my opinion without costing much at all, and also has a decent sized mirror without being huge, meaning I can put it in my bag if I need to top up at all and it will not take up much room .

Slanted Kabuki Brush; £16 from The Body Shop 

When paired with the Sleek contour powder I genuinely could not think of anything better for my face. This brush is ridiculously soft and when using it to put any sort of powder on my face it feels like my face is being stroked. Its shape means that contouring my face is easy as it follows the shape of my cheeks without any hassle at all, making blending very easy and quick. The handle is also easy to hold and makes controlling the brush easy. As the brush itself is quite fat, it means it covers more area on the face, making the process much quicker which is something I like a lot. My only drawback on this brush was the price as I found it quite expensive, and I managed to buy an entire Real Techniques kit for £1 cheaper, but I am happy I spent the money on it as I do feel it is worth it completely.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer; £4.19 from Boots

I feel like I'm late to the bandwagon on this one, but in all honesty I have been using it for a while. However, I didn't realise how much I loved it until I ran out of it in the airport on the way to Ireland and had to buy the Rimmel Hide the Blemish concealer and hated it, so when I re-purchased this when I got home it was like it had suddenly gotten 100000 times better. I love this a lot, mainly as it is one of the only skin products I've found so far to match my skin tone completely and not given me a hint of orange. Its coverage is brilliant and works on spots/redness and under the eyes, making my skin look much clearer and makes me look more awake. It claims it's waterproof which I'm not 100% on but it is very long lasting and usually lasts all day unlike my foundation. It is easy to blend and can be worn with or without foundation, meaning that on days where I want a really natural look or I just want to let my skin breathe, I can just put a bit of this on and some powder and I'm good to go. It is a very good quality product for the price which I like a lot as it gives great coverage and I don't have to fork out if I re-purchase. My only issue is the packaging does chip away very quickly as shown in the picture, meaning it has a tendency to look messy which I don't like.

Nandos Lemon and Herb Chicken Wrap

Until my trip to London I was a Nandos virgin, and now I've been twice! I have found a new favourite take out food I think, and it is definitely somewhere I'm going to be hitting up a lot more. I can also tick it off my 101 things!

The Fault In Our Stars movie

I'm not going to say anything about the plot as I know most people know it and if you don't I don't want to spoil it. I read the book probably over a year ago now and loved it, and so when a film was announced I was a stereotypical book person and went around saying "it's never going to be as good" "the casting's rubbish" etcetc. I am proud to say that I was proved wrong. I came away from this film an emotional wreck. It was true to the book, the casting was perfect and I found a love for the soundtrack and cinematography. It has rekindled my love and passion for films and made me want to go out with a camera and make something as beautiful. My boyfriend was just a big a wreck as I was, something that rarely happens, and I just have a special place in my heart for this now. Definitely a DVD I'll be buying when it comes out. 



Once Upon A Time

I am extremely late to the bandwagon with this one as it started in 2011 and I've only just gotten round to watching it. I am about a quarter of the way through series two and in love. I find the whole concept of "real life" fairytale characters genius and loved watching the flashbacks to storybook world and then real life back in real world. I think series 2 is going to be just as good as I think the idea is just as clever as the first series, but I won't spoil it for anyone. If you are into fantasy, slightly cheesy but clever tv shows, like Teen Wolf or Pretty Little Liars then this is definitely for you!

If you love any of these things, or have any favourites you wanna discuss then comment below so I can know about what you've been loving this month!