Rounding up 2013

The year 2013 has been a pretty good year to me and I’m proud to say that I will be heading into 2014 will some fantastic memories.

This year I’ve celebrated numerous engagements, a marriage and a birth. I’ve gained new friends and spent more time with those who I have known for years. I’ve laughed a lot, cried a little and finally feel as if my feet are firmly on the ground.

Along with all of this, I’ve also discovered some fantastic beauty products too. They haven’t always been new, in fact some are old time essentials that I wish I discovered sooner. So here’s my round up of some of my best loved beauty products of 2013…

Maybelline Baby Lips

Quite possibly my favourite lip product of all time, this year this little gem became a real staple for any beauty junkie. It’s perfect handbag sized, affordable and truly nourishes lips and to be perfectly honest, I won’t go anywhere without it. To read my full blog review on Maybelline Baby Lips, click here.

The foundation brush

Okay, I’ll admit. Before summer 2013, I had never owned a foundation brush (I was more of a sponge-applicator lover) but after seeing how flawless my sister’s skin was after applying her make up, I got make up envy.

The first foundation brush I purchased was by Eco Tools from Boots and I loved it. I was so impressed at how little product I was using and yet coverage on my skin had improved – with a couple of simple sweeps, my skin looked flawless and surprisingly lasted a lot longer than it ever did before.

I’m not that experienced when it comes to make up brushes, which is why I’ve promised to invest in a decent, worthy set in 2014.

L’Oreal Skin Perfection Day Moisturiser

I blogged about this moisturiser not that long ago (in fact you can read it here) and it has completely transformed the health of my skin. I relied on an intense daily moisturiser that gave protection again daily stresses like pollution, sun and wind damage, but I had never realised that hydration was actually what my skin needed.  

Since using this product, my face looks brighter, healthier and my complexion has improved. I love the texture and although it feels quite heavy when applying, it actually sinks into skin quickly and feels extremely light. This is definitely a repeat product that I will carry on purchasing into 2014.

Nails inc.

Last but not least, my favourite nail brand of the year. The bright bods at Nails Inc. have bought us so many types of nail polish this year, from lettered nail art and beads to gel finishes and feather effects. Although they seem quite pricey on first look, I’ve never known a Nails Inc. polish to go gloopy or stringy and lasting a lot longer than any other polish I own.

In 2014 I hope to discover many other beauty products like these and share them with you. I’ve promised myself to up my blogging game and blog as often as I can (expect a post a week)!

In the meantime, I would like to wish all readers of Jade’s Beauty Blog, a very happy New Year.

Santa's Lip Scrub from Lush

Dry, cracked lips are common in winter, so a lip scrub is essential for keeping lips super soft and mistletoe ready.

Santa's Lip Scrub from Lush is a cola flavoured scrub that when applied to lips, helps scrub away any dead skin and bring blood vessels to the surface, which is fact can help plump lips and make them look fuller, healthier and more kissable! 

The Lush Santa's Lip Scrub combines caster sugar, coconut oil and extract of cherries and dates to give a rich red lip scrub with cute little red hearts too. Perfect for adding a subtle Christmas touch to your makeup bag. 

Santa's Lip Scrub is available from Lush for £5.50. 

The Christmas tag!

Courtesy of weheartit

So I thought, what with it being nearly Christmas it was time for the famous Christmas tag! I saw this one over on Kirstie's blog - A Yellow Brick Blog - so here goes... 

1. What's is your favourite Christmas song?

Oh wow, now that's a toughie to start with. I can't possibly pick one, but certainly a good contender has to be Mariah Carey's - All I Want for Christmas. It is a complete classic and reminds me of some of my best times at university. Every Christmas, my housemates and I would put this song on full blast and dance and sing around our flat until we lost our voices. My second favourite is by all means The Pogues - Fairytale of New York. The perfect song to have a drunken singalong down the pub.

2. Which is your favourite drink? 

Without a doubt, mulled wine. I'm really not a red wine drinker, so it's quite surprising how much I love mulled wine. 

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas film? 

I think there's one film everyone loves at Christmas and that's Elf. Close second is Home Alone.

4. What is at the top of your Christmas wish-list this year? 

This is one question I'm constantly asked and I honestly don't know. I would love a new camera and a set of hair rollers. To be honest, I'm more about the giving than the receiving.

5. What is your favourite festive makeup or nail art look?

Glitter nail polish is a must for perfecting a festive look. I'm currently loving Nails Inc. Sloane Gardens, a navy glitter polish that comes out perfectly opaque after two coats. I also have a bronze glitter too from Accessorize. As for my party makeup, I like to keep my eyes dark with smokey shades. I've always loved the red lips look, but I'm convinced red lips don't suit me. So 2014 is all about experimenting with more lip shades and finding the perfect one to suit my pale complexion.

6. What is your favourite outfit at Christmas time? (LBD? Christmas jumper? Pjs?)

My favourite Christmas outfit has to be an oversized cosy jumper with my Ugg boots. There's nothing more than that. Every girl loves a sparkly party number, but there's nothing I feel more comfortable in that a cosy outfit.

7. Would you rather play out in the snow or enjoy it from inside with the fire and a cuppa? 

There's no doubt about it, definitely out in the snow! I'm a keen skier and don't get to go as often as I'd like, so any opportunity to snap it up and I would.

8. Wrapping presents - love or loathe? 

I love wrapping presents, it's all part of Christmas!

9. What is your favourite Christmassy food? 

Pigs in blankets. I could eat those until I popped! 

10. What is your favourite thing about Christmas?

I love the smell of Christmas. That may sound odd, but there's nothing better than waking up in the morning and smelling a real Christmas tree. I also love the cosyness of it all, sitting in the warmth and the pretty lights. Finally, I love how it brings people closer together - I haven't met a person yet, who doesn't love Christmas! 

If any of you do this tag, please comment below with a link to yours. I'd love to read them.