My May Favourites │ Better Late Than Never

The sky is thick with heavy, grey, miserable clouds. The pavements are littered with puddles. The wind has picked up a serious bite. Of course, it’s summer in England! Woo. So, as I pulled the hood of my adorable Topshop raincoat tighter around my head today, it occurred to me that it’s already a good few days into June and I haven’t done my May favourites! In fact, that’s a little dramatic considering I haven’t done a favourites post full stop. So, this is my first one and I’m excited to jump onto this bandwagon at long last and share some of the products I have loved most in the month of May…

Nip + Fab Liquid Lipstick in Marshmallow

I LOVE this liquid lipstick. I’ve tried a few liquid lipsticks and haven’t been wildly blown away by the trend. I’ve found most to be drying and to leave my lips looking as wrinkly as a 99 year old lady’s, which is good for nobody. This one, however, is a DREAM. The texture is creamy, the finish is matte but not drying at all, and it adds some serious volume to my pout! It’s the perfect balance of a decent pink tone and a nude look. I bloody love it and have pretty much worn it every day the past month.

The Body Shop Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50

When you share a complexion with Casper the Friendly Ghost, a decent SPF is essential. Yes, I know I live in Blighty where sunny days are few and far between, but I’m swanning off to Vietnam this summer and getting my summer skincare sorted early is always a good thing. A decent moisturiser should always contain some level of SPF to protect you from the daily grind, free-radicals and environmental damage etc. This one is bloody brilliant; it’s a lightweight, non-comedogenic formula that leaves my skin feeling fresh and hydrated whilst protecting me from those pesky ageing UVA rays.

The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy

This book is astounding. It’s a memoir by the writer Ariel Levy and it tells her tale of tragic loss and what it takes to rebuild your life under devastating circumstances. It’s not all doom and gloom though, there are funny anecdotes and startling observations, too. Ariel’s beautiful writing style hooks your heart strings and allows her to crawl inside your mind and make you think, dream and feel. It’s raw, funny, devastating and stunning. I’m going to do a full review later on this month, but couldn’t leave it out of this post as I’ve not stopped thinking about it. She’s a gifted writer and you put this book down feeling changed.

SportFX Eyebrow Pencil

This double sided eyebrow pencil is an absolute game changer. I have mentioned it before in my April Birchbox vs. Glossybox post and I’ve used it ever since receiving it. It’s smudge proof and water resistant, making it super easy to create long lasting, perfectly defined brows. It’s also paraben free and vegan! What’s not to love?

Yes to Cucumbers Soothing 2-Step Eye Kit

This product worked really well on my under-eye area; the first stage is the de-puffing under-eye masks and the second phase is a cream that aims to work as an anti-dark circle treatment. It didn’t really reduce my dark circles, but it left my skin feeling smoother and plumper after just one use. It did sting a little, but I felt my eyes were less puffy afterwards – just what I’ve needed after hay fever has cursed me with itchy, swollen eyes! I have read some bad reviews online, so maybe give this a miss if you’ve experienced trouble or sensitivity with your under-eye area before. Personally, I loved it but you’ve got to find what works for you.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette

Well, I’ve saved the best till last. Honestly, my photo doesn’t even do this beauty justice! It’s 16 glorious shades of chocolate MAGIC. These shimmer and matte shades have been perfectly crafted with antioxidant-rich cocoa powder, meaning they’re easy on the eye both literally and aesthetically. They’re highly pigmented so you can create a wide range of looks, from subtle pinky hues to more dramatic, intense looks. They’re oh so creamy and blendable and they smell of chocolate (!), so using the palette does create a rather heady, intoxicating experience for the senses! This is one of the most beautiful palettes on the market and I’m utterly obsessed with it. If you don’t have it, then beg, borrow or steal and GET ONE.

Thanks for reading; I hope you liked my first favourites post! All of the products listed are, of course, cruelty-free and all views are my own, honest opinions. Please let me know what products you’ve been loving lately in the comments below!

Jess XO