a round-up of last years favourites...
So this post is going up a bit later than planned, but the start to my 2020 has been busy so I just haven't had the time. I've decided to do a small round-up of my 2019 favourites, mostly beauty with a couple of lifestyle and fashion bits thrown in there. I don't have a great memory at the best of times so I find these yearly favourite posts quite hard to do and usually most of my beauty picks are things I discovered towards the end of the year. Mostly that doesn't really matter as they've obviously become my most-used to be included as a favourite but I'm sure there's tons of others I've loved that I've forgotten about. I guess that's the difficulty when you're a blogger and you're constantly trying out new things and changing it up! It's a bit easier with lifestyle/fashion faves, especially because I don't mix up my wardrobe that often and all I have to do is look through my saved list on Netflix... but anyway! I'll stop rambling now and tell you about a few things I've loved this year...
beauty
I'll kick it off with some beauty faves... so I became a brand ambassador for Bobbi Brown last year which was fab as I really got into their products before they'd even got in touch. I basically started my BB collection just last year and that was the icing on the cake as I got the opportunity to expand it even more and try out lots more of their products - all of which I've absolutely loved! I now have a selection of their makeup/skincare that I reach for every single day so of course they have to be included in my yearly faves. The two skincare products have to be the Vitamin Enriched Face Base & the Hydrating Eye Cream as I use them both every single morning as they're the perfect pair to prep my skin for my makeup routine. If you haven't tried BB skincare yet, you're missing out.
As for BB makeup picks, I am so glad I finally got to try out the Creamy Corrector as I now also use that daily and just can't be without it. Not only does it completely hide my eye bags but it conceals all of my redness and everything, whilst looking like I haven't even got makeup on. I use this even on my "no makeup days" as it's such minimal effort to quickly pat a bit on but leaves my skin looking much more flawless. I'm also a massive fan of the Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation as it's an absolute dream for oily skin. I haven't got along with this as much in the colder months due to my skin being on the drier side and it being quite a thick formula - but it's still a favourite as it's by far the best foundation I've discovered to control oily areas. I know that I'm going to swear by this in the summer when my oil is out of control! It blends like a dream and the coverage is buildable too which I love.
Other skincare bits I've loved are the Alpha H Liquid Gold which I swear by for reducing my acne scarring and redness. I very recently repurchased after going a few months without it and I can't tell you how much I've missed it in my skincare routine. It makes such a difference! I've also really loved the Pixi Vitamin C range, especially the Toner and the Serum. I received the range last year and used it all up so quickly as it all just did wonders for my skin. I particularly found a reduction in my breakouts with the toner & serum and my skin always looked so glowy the next morning! I definitely need to repurchase the two. Lastly I think I'd have to say the Origins Retexturizing Mask With Rose Clay - I've almost used up my tube of this as it's the best face mask ever! It dries down to quite a matte chalky finish so isn't hugely comfortable, but the results are so worth it because it exfoliates my skin and after I've cleansed it all off my skin literally looks like new. All of my pores and blackheads are reduced and my skin just instantly looks so much healthier and clear, I'm a huuuuge fan.
A few more makeup bits that I've been in love with over the past year and used religiously, include Charlotte Tilbury's Cheek to Chic Blush in the shade First Love as it's the perfect peachy shade for my skin tone and just goes with every single look I wear, as well as the Superstar Lips in Pillow Talk. I only got this in December but I've been wearing it so much as it gives you everything you want from a lipstick but also has a glossy finish and is super hydrating. I've become a fan of a bit of gloss so I love that I get two in one with this. I've also used the Fenty Killawatt Freestyle Highlight in Mean Money/Hustla Baby so so much that I've almost hit pan, so that's definitely been a firm favourite, it's so glowy!
lifestyle
I never know what comes under lifestyle favourites so I'm just going to share a few things that I've loved daily throughout the year... my favourite fragrance last year had to be the limited edition Jo Malone Rose & Magnolia. Again, this was only a perfume that I got my mitts on in December as it was their Christmas release but it quickly became a firm favourite and still is now! It's just so gorgeous and I've been spritzing it a lottttt. On the topic of fragrance, I'm also obsessed with my Diptyque Pomander candle - I'm trying not to light it as much because I love the scent so much, it fills my house with the most gorgeous fruity, citrus-y scent and it's divine!
As most of you all know, I'm in the process of styling my new home so there's been lots of homeware buys over the last few months - but some of my favourites include all of my faux plants from Homesense (they look so realistic!) and all of my woven baskets, also from Homesense. Their selection of baskets is next-level and I tend to pick up a new one every time I go in. They're so handy for storing absolutely everything in yet look gorgeous in every corner whilst hiding everything, especially Ru's toys! I should probably just put Homesense on here as a 2019 favourite because I could live in there the amount of time and money I spend in there. I'm sure 90% of my house comes from that place! I also recently got a chunky knit throw from The Range which I loveeee, you can't beat a big snuggly throw in winter.
The only TV I watch is Netflix so I've got through a lot of shows over the past year, but some of my favourites have to be, Virgin River (obsessed, patiently waiting on another season), Northern Rescue, Anne with an E, Dynasty, You, Safe, Orphan Black, Bates Motel, Workin' Moms, Good Girls, Cable Girls, Unforgotten, Lost in Space, Orange is the New Black, Luther, The Let Down, After Life, Greenhouse Academy, Glitch, Money Heist, Insatiable, Marcella... and so many more! God I've watched a lot haven't I, no wonder I keep running out of things to watch. I'm currently watching Good Witch which is also really good.
fashion
I don't usually share fashion bits as my style is very simplistic and I tend to wear a lot of the same things, however I know there's lots of people out there who are similar so I really need to share my faves more often! Last year I finally treated myself to the Classic Checkerboard Slip On Vans after lusting after them for ages, I put it off for so long as I felt like they didn't suit me but during Summer I pretty much lived in them. I've been trying to wear them more lately too but my ankles get a bit cold in this weather haha, but yeah they go with almost everything in my wardrobe and I'm obsessed. Another pair of shoes I bought early 2019 that I lived in until the warmer months and now live in again are my Dr Marten Bianca boots, they've been discontinued now and I was v lucky to get my hands on a pair after seeing Kate La Vie in them but I just love them. They're so comfy and I fully intend on buying my second pair of docs now!
I'm also obsessed with my Bershka Skinny Jeans, found through ASOS. They're only £19.99 (even less with student discount!) and they're so comfy, high waist and flattering on my big hips which is a rare find. Before I discovered these, the only jeans I really wore were the Topshop Joni Jeans so it's nice to find an alternative that's a bit cheaper. I also invested in a Leather Tote from Accessorize last year that I love and use every single day, it's just simple and black but I love it because it's a really decent quality so I'm able to carry around my laptop, camera, all Ru's changing bag stuff and snacks and it holds everything like a dream. What every working mama needs! I got an insert from it from Amazon too, I've never had a tote bag insert before but they're definitely a game changer, I hardly root around to find things now. Lastly for fashion bits, I got my first couple of pieces from Daisy Jewellery last year and their Bark Wreath Necklace is by far my most worn piece of jewellery. I just love how simple it is but the lovely touch it adds to my basic outfits.
Let me know if any of your 2019 favourites were similar to mine?