Beauty Birthday Haul

I have the bestest family and friends, I really do.  Once again I have been well and truly spoilt for my 29th birthday!  I had a lot of beauty products on my wishlist as I am always looking to expand my collection, but I was overwhelmed with everything I got.  I thought I’d share a few of the beautiful gifts I got that I am really looking forward to using in the run up to Christmas.

LUSH

I’m a new convert to Lush – I actually used to find the smell of the stores unbearable but now their otherworldly scent draws me in time and again.  As I’ve got older, I’ve been more conscious about what I want to spend my money on and a brand that is cruelty free certainly gets my vote.  Lush are a wonderful company that just seem to trade in love and rainbows.  And who doesn’t want a part of that?!  I for one certainly do.

So what did I get from Lush?

Snow Fairy Shower Gel | Honey I Washed My Hair Shampoo Bar | Montalbano Shampoo Bar | Round Tin

Snow Fairy Shower Gel – what a gorgeous, Christmassy, sugary treat this is!  It smells lovely, it looks lovely and it’s full of good stuff.  I can’t wait to use it every day.

Shampoo Bars – I specifically asked for these for my birthday because I travel with work and sometimes it’s difficult to fit all your lotions and potions into 100ml containers and cram them into a small, plastic bag.  This stuff is going to change my travelling life!  The tin is *meant* to be the perfect companion to the bar – but unfortunately none of my three shampoo bars actually fit in it!

I’m also super excited because I’ve heard these shampoo bars are great for washing your make up brushes with.  Which takes me nicely onto my next birthday treat…

REAL TECHNIQUES CORE MAKE UP BRUSH COLLECTION

I do have a number of random different make up brushes but I really wanted to up my game and upgrade my make up bag.  I had read lots of things online about Real Techniques and I already own a small travel kit of theirs so they were the perfect brand to start with.

Real Techniques Core Make Up Brush Collection

Ooosh I feel as though my make up bag has been instantly upgraded.  This collection is the perfect starter kit and includes five amazing brushes.  From left to right:

• Buffing brush
• Contour brush
• Pointed foundation brush
• Detailer brush

I’m not quite sure what to use my detailer brush for yet, so I’m looking forward to checking out some of the videos on the website for hints and tips.  But all the brushes are super soft, they don’t seem to shed and they are pretty to look at!  I’ll keep you posted on how they go.

MAC

OK, OK I have a confession to make.  I don’t own any MAC products.  I’ve never tried one of their lipsticks and their foundation is a total mystery to me.  I thought it was time I got with the programme.

 

Vanilla Pigment | Peach Blossom Lipstick

My lovely parents treated me to the Peach Blossom lipstick – a cremesheen lipstick that is in a perfect day to day shade.  Andrew has this thing about me wearing bright lipstick (is that a general man thing?!) so this could maybe be a contender for the wedding day shade…!

Vanilla pigment has been on my wish list since my beaut friend Kat wore it on her latest trip to the U.K. (she lives in Canada, wahhhh).  It’s a beautiful shade with a gorgeous shimmer that I can imagine using to highlight my inner eye alongside some more dramatic eye shadow or swept across my entire eye lid for more of a daytime look.  Lovely!

So that was my amazing beauty birthday haul.  Lucky old me!

Have you got any of the products I was gifted for my birthday?  I’d love to see how you style them!

♥ JH

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