October Favourites: e.l.f, No7, Wet n Wild, Models Own, M.A.C

There are a few things I've been using religiously this month. A few are past loves, a few are products I didn't think too much of when I first bought them and have found new uses for and some are products I've bought recently that have had a lot of use.

First up is a product I bought nearly a year ago and didn't really like. It was decent but wasn't something I reached for very often. e.l.f HD powder from their studio line. I use this to set my under eye concealer and find it does an absolutely fantastic job of that! I like using my Revlon contour crease brush for this. It's a little messy to use because of the square lid and round screw top but at a fiver, you can't complain much and if I'm using this to set under my eyes, it'll last forever.



Next is a product I received in a swap a while back. I've been using this a lot lately as the shades are very autumnal and we all know I love a good purple. It's the Wet n Wild ColorIcon palette in Lust. Gorgeous shades, incredible pigmentation. If you can get your hands on this I really recommend you do! I hear fantastic things about the ColorIcon shadows and am hoping to get a few more. If anyone on the other side of the pond is interested in doing a swap please get in touch! I'm guessing (and hoping) I'll be done with P5P by the end of November and the UK has a lot of awesome products available. Sleek and Barry M being the main brands and MeMeMe is one coming up in popularity.



M.A.C's Studio Finish concealer has been a staple of mine for a couple years now. It offers great coverage without looking cakey and the colour match is perfect. I have this concealer in NC20 and NW20 - NC I use for blemishes and NW I use under my eyes. I use this by applying with my fingers and patting in to blend.



M.A.C eyeshadow in Humid is another one I've been going to quite a lot lately. One of my Project 5 Pan items is a neutral Biotherm duo which is lovely on it's own but sometimes it's nice just to add a pop of colour and I love green on my eyes. I have small green patches dotted around my iris and this really brings them out.



I bought a Models Own blending brush in a set back when they had their 50% off sale. The size of this brush is perfect for my eyes. I have hooded eyelids and not much lid space so find that it's difficult to create definition in my crease while blending out well and not too far up for a daytime look. This brush is an ideal size for that. It's soft and washes well too. I've not noticed any shedding.





Last up is No7 Stay Perfect nail polish in Totally Teal. It's the most perfect creamy petrol blue colour. I usually change my nail polish up every couple of days because I get bored, but I find myself reapplying this one day after day! It also looks fantastic with gold glitter over the top. I have one of these polishes included in my giveaway! If you haven't entered, you can do so here.



What are your October favourites? Have you used any of these products? Share!

October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As many will know and perhaps some will not; October is breast cancer awareness month. This is a time of year where so many get together to push the cause and help the countless charities reach that same goal. Obviously a cure is right up there at the top, but on the way these charities are working towards more effective treatments, better aftercare and support and most of all awareness; teaching women (and men) to check themselves regularly and to know their bodies and campaigning for more government funding.

I think the effectiveness of treatment is hugely important. My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. She started radiotherapy which didn't work. She then started chemo. That didn't work. Finally they operated. That didn't work. At 39 she died in late 2006 having spent the last 3 years of her life in pain. The research they're doing today means patients won't need to go through treatment after treatment without knowing whether it will work or not. How awesome would it be for them to be able to say to someone: "Radiotherapy will work for you, you'll be cancer free in 4 months"? Amazing. Aftercare is crucial; providing a support system not just for the patient but for the family and friends. There's a woman on YouTube by the name of April Capil. An amazing woman whose videos inspire cancer patients and survivors alike. She does makeup tutorials and inspirational videos and is a prime example of how care should be. One on one, life affirming and self esteem boosting.

There are misconceptions about breast cancer. Some believe that you're only at risk if a close family member has had it, though only 1 in 5 diagnosed have a significant family history. Men don't realise they can be affected too - around 300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK. Sadly, 70 of those men and 12000 out of nearly 46000 women die from breast cancer each year - 1300 of those women are under 50.

There's a bright side. Despite the figures, more people are surviving breast cancer than ever before thanks to research funded by these charities. Unfortunately, the government only supply around 1/3 of the funding needed which is why the generosity of the public is so crucial. Every penny counts. Regular (monthly, quarterly, anual) donations are the best way for these organisations to survive and keep doing their work; it means they have regular funding rather than having a huge chunk of money throughout October then flat lining in November onwards.

These are a few charities I urge you to consider supporting:

Breast Cancer Care
Cancer Research UK
Breast Cancer Campaign
Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Macmillan

Each charity will focus on different aspects of cancer; some will focus on care, some on research. There are countless charities outside the UK as well but if I talked about those, I would be talking about something I know nothing about! Get on Google, talk to people. Cancer affects 1 in 3 people in their lifetime - whether it be through your own diagnosis or the diagnosis of a friend or family member. It's something close to everyone's heart.

Giving up a glass of wine a week will mean you can donate a tenner a month - and if you tick that little Gift Aid box (if you've paid tax in the last 3 years I believe), the charity can claim back an extra 17p per pound! Like any charitable donation, it is tax deductible.

One of my favourite lines when I was fundraising for Breast Cancer Campaign (yes, I knocked on your door and asked you for money and I'm damn proud of it!) - especially for the fellas - Do you like boobs? Yes?

Save some then.