GracexKate: August Favourites!

I know I need to stop getting so surprised when another month is over and done with but I can't help it, August went way too fast. It is now only a matter of days before I go back to school and so I am on a blog post writing rampage today and what better way to start than with a favourites! August for me has been a great month for trying new things and so I have a lot of favourites, so prepare yourself for a very long favourites.

For makeup, I have a lot to talk about but starting with my current lip product obsession the Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in I'm Nude. When I first got this for my birthday, I was not feeling it because I thought that it was too cool, but it actually looks incredible. I love this because I tend to go for a fun eye and neutral lip, and this shade just goes with everything. The formula of these liquid lipsticks are some of the best I have tried, they are super comfortable and last a long time, super opaque and just everything you could ever want in a liquid lipstick. Also, if you have been following my Instagram (@Gracexkate), you will be able to tell I have been wearing this a lot in my MOTD posts.

A lip liner I have been wearing a lot is the Mac Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Oh Honey!, for formula this is super similar to the Colourpop so I would recommend them over this one but this shade is more me in comparison to the Colourpop one I own, so that is why I have been wearing this more. This is just a standard nude shade that goes with everything I put on top of this and for formula it is creamy and long lasting which is all I need.

The base product that has changed the game for me is the RCMA No Colour Powder. This powder is my obsession! If you have seen my latest base routine (link at the end) you will have seen this mentioned and an in depth explanation of how I use it to bake with. Why I love this powder so much more to others I have tried in the past is that it is actually near enough to translucent. Yes, if you bake with it for too long, it can leave a little white cast but nothing you can't blend out a little more, but this makes your under eyes look super smooth and airbrushed which is something I struggle to achieve. I wear this on glam day and on more lighter days, it is super versatile, I use it to set my under eyes, to bake, to set my face, and even little things like setting down my eye base and cleaning up my contour. It is just an all rounder and one I would recommend to anyone, no matter you ability or what you are looking for because this will be able to achieve anything you want it to.

Continuing on from the face products, I highlighter I am head over heels for is the Ofra X NikkieTutorials Everglow Highlighter. Thanks to Penny for getting me this for my birthday, it is incredible and I feel like I have not stopped speaking about it, but it deserves it so whatever. Anyways, this highlighter is about as blinding as it can get. It is crazy pigmented, the formula is incredible but what I love about this is that it is not a super unnatural looking highlight, of course it is there, because it is blinding, but it just makes your skin look wet. It doesn't enhance any pores or texture and it is not chunky, your skin still remains smooth but wet looking, I just love it. I pretty much wear this anywhere I can, brow bone, cupid's bow, inner corner, cheekbones etc. it is just a freaking amazing highlighter that I think everyone will love because you can easily manipulate its intensity.

For eyes, I have been very good at mixing it up ad experimenting more with colours, combos and formulas but a palette I am super impressed with and have been wearing a lot is the MUA Fire Vixen 15 Shade Eye Shadow Palette. I cannot say enough good things about this palette, it's pigmented, the shades are great, they included foiled eye shadows which are amazing and something rare to find in such an affordable palette, it's affordable and it is just freaking bomb! The colour scheme in this is very warm and pink but I love the pops of orange and grey in this palette, it makes it an all year round palette but it contains some fun colours but still making it wearable. I have no idea how MUA did this but this palette is freaking incredible and it is £5 so everyone could do with this in their life. It is also a great all rounder, the mattes are creamy. blendable and pigmented while the foiled shades are metallic, smooth and pigmented. Highly, highly, highly recommend!

Moving onto a product that is my new obsession, the Barry M Lychee Nail Polish. I don't know what it is about this shade, but it is just the most flattering, most beautiful nude shade to wear on the nails. This is without even mentioning the formula, the Gelly Hi-Shine formula is one of the best I have ever found. They are super opaque, last a long time and come in a great range of shades. Lychee is just my perfect colour and during the summer holidays, I have been wearing it a lot as it matches with everything and just always looks greats.

This has to be my signature spring and summer scent, as I have been wearing this for years, when it first came out. I am talking about the Marc Jacobs Daisy Perfume which seems to be a staple perfume for a lot of people, me included. The scent is very fresh and floral, perfectly suited for the warmer months, I find that it lasts a long time and is pungent but not overwhelming. When I do remember to wear perfume, I always go to this one as I know that it never fails me so I just wanted to mention it since I never really talk about perfume on my blog.

A skincare product that just really worked for me is The Body Shop Sleeping Cream. Even though this was only a mini, I would repurchase it, just not at this moment in time, but I still wanted to mention this in case you were interested. This is, as the name suggests, a night cream and even though, on the skin it feels super lightweight, it is super hydrating and just makes my skin look amazing come the morning. Since this was a super mini mini, it did last me around two to three weeks which is not bad at all but it is a pricey product which I would say is worth the money, but for the time being, I will probably not repurchase it. Saying that, it is a really amazing night cream and I would recommend it.

A pair of shoes that I have just been wearing constantly have to be my White Converse. I actually got these all the way back in December for Christmas, but since summer finally rolled around, I knew that I could whip these out then. I feel like I have been wearing these a lot just for the main fact that they are super comfy. It also really helps that they are white so they go with everything and they just look super fashionable. It feels like forever since I had my last pair of converse but I have missed them to say the least. I love how they are something a little different from trainers and they are just an iconic summer shoe in my eyes.

Not very often do I talk about underwear on my blog, saying that, I don't think I have ever spoken about underwear on my blog before, so why not start today. Anyway, sorry if this is TMI, but I just have to share my love for these bralettes. The iconic, Calvin Klein Bralettes are so super popular and they are definitely winners in my eyes. I have quite the collection of three white, a grey and a pink classic style bralette and to say the least, they all get worn. They are so well made, so easy to style and just the most comfortable things on the planet. I do know that they come with quite the price tag but I think that they are totally worth it, so if you do want them, I would highly suggest picking them up. Throughout this month in particular, I have just been wearing these a lot. I wear these to lounge around in and to go out in, they are just great with everything.

A bit of a fitness favourite this month has to be the Protein World Chocolate Protein Powder. I know protein is a little scary to some people but it really doesn't have to be. Me personally, I am not on a massive health kick or diet, I just like using this protein powder to make sure I get my daily intake. Enough protein can help build muscle, improve performance and just strengthen. I tend to have a protein shake, which is just the powder and a little water, after a workout to regain my strength. I find that it tastes nice and not too weird which I was super worried of. Sadly, I think that protein is a little overpriced but I have already repurchased this since it is on offer, because I don't think that I could live without this. Even though I don't use it daily, it is just such a good way of increasing my protein intake.

For books this month, I have finished a few but I started this one and I am totally in love with it. It is History Is All You Left Me, by Adam Silvera and even though I am only half way through, it is so beautifully written and I love the story. I don't want to give away the story as I wont do it justice but if you google the blurb, I am sure you will be interested. I love this book so much because it gives me all of the emotions, all at once, one second I cry and the next I am laughing until my stomach hurts. If you are one for a romance book then I definitely suggest this one and I cannot wait to read on.

Music this month, I have not been too impressed with new releases, saying that I do have one that has been on repeat since I discovered it. It is Camila Cabello and it's called Havana. I don't really know what it is about this song but I just really like it. It is super catchy and I think the beat is so unique. I have been listening to this loads this month and it was definitely a stand out song for me this month.