27TH BIRTHDAY HAUL

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It was my birthday at the start of this month so today I have the traditional 'what I got for my birthday' post, because usually there are a fair amount of beauty bits in the mix that are worth sharing! As always, with these sorts of posts, it's going to be more of a 'show' than a 'tell', so if there are any products in here that you want to know more about; please comment below so I can prioritise reviewing what you're most interested in. But, for now, we have an overview...

- MAKEUP -

I got a few lovely makeup bits from my mum. The first of which is the Cover FX Monochromatic Bronzer Duo in Sunkissed. I'm starting to wonder if I'm just destined not to have this! My mum ordered it to me but when I unwrapped it, unfortunately the shimmer pan dropped right out. So, she got a refund and ordered it again, but the courier decided to leave it somewhere random (despite the fact I was home) and by the time I realised and went to check; it was gone. I'm trying to carefully use the broken one until we can get it resolved, but it's obviously not ideal... This compact contains a warm matte bronzer and a sheeny golden bronzer / highlighter that you can mix and layer, or use individually. This is actually the slightly lighter and more gold-toned option of the two shades in this range, with the other being more rosy. So far, I really do like this duo; both shades blend out really easily without me having to put in much work. She also got me the Kosas 10-Second Liquid Eyeshadow in Supreme. I actually wore this recently with my Natasha Denona Sunrise palette (which is full of yellows, corals and purples) and I loved that eye look for summer. This is a true fluid eyeshadow which needs a good shake so the liquid and the glitter are totally mixed when you apply it to the lid and it goes on opaquely. It also needs a few seconds to set down before you start blinking to prevent transfer. If you follow those couple of tips, you'll get a gorgeous shimmery eyeshadow look in just one swipe that lasts all day. Supreme is a warm gold colour. 

I also got the Nudestix Magnetic Luminous Eye Colour in Rustique, from my uncle (obviously this was a wish list pick!) I have and love this eyeshadow stick in the shade Copper and this metallic-finish formula is just as lovely in its appearance and long-lasting finish. This is a beautiful rosy copper colour. 

I also did get an automatic makeup brush cleaner, which was too huge to fit in this picture, but I'm very intrigued as to how it's going to work! I'm going to pop something up on my Instagram Stories on it, so keep an eye out.

- SKINCARE -

I also received a few skincare bits, which probably isn't a surprise! The first of which is the Herbivore Botanicals Prism 20% AHA + 5% BHA Exfoliating Glow Facial. This jelly face mask isn't for the faint-hearted, as it contains a really strong hit of lactic and glycolic acids, as well as willow bark extract (which is often considered a gentler alternative to salicylic acid, which is derived from it). It definitely feels intense (but not irritating) for the 10-15 minutes I leave it on for, but it's worth it because it really does restore the glow in my skin and leave it feeling incredibly soft and smooth. I'll definitely give an update on this once I've used it for longer, but so far it looks like I might be onto a winner. I also got a product I've tried a mini of before and loved: the Omorovicza Moor Cream Cleanser. This is such a treat for the skin! It's so moisturising, but also offers a lovely deep pore cleanse.

Obviously, I've not used them very much, but I also wanted to mention the Fresh Beauty Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice Antioxidant Face Serum and the Versed Skin Soak Rich Moisture Cream. So far, I'm really enjoying this serum; it gives my skin a really nice, fresh dewy glow. It contains lots of moisturising oils, alongside Vitamins C and E, which are an antioxidant power couple that can help protect the skin against free radical damage. The moisturiser has a really gentle ingredient list, with no fragrance or fragrant essential oils, and contains great moisturisers like squalane oil and hydrators like hyaluronic acid. The texture is lovely; it doesn't feel overly rich or heavy but really moisturises my skin and leaves it soft and smooth. 

- FRAGRANCE & BODY - 

My mum surprised me with a couple of bits from Evolve Beauty. The Evolve At Home Serenity Bundle comes with a candle (scented with rose, orange blossom, jasmine and vanilla) and a body scrub (with Tahitian coconut). I honestly hadn't really registered that Evolve did products outside of facial skincare, but I'm really impressed with these two! The candle in particular smells absolutely beautiful - it's not a big jar but I definitely would pick a larger-sized version of it up, if the brand were to release one. And the body scrub is effective, whilst smelling fruity and delicious.

I also got two more candles. The first is one I seem to get annually because I use it up regularly and this is my third jar of it. The Comfort Zone Tranquility Candle is absolutely beautiful; it smells so relaxing and reminds me of being at the spa. It has a really great throw and is formulated with notes of cedarwood, floral and sweet orange. The other is from one of my favourite fragrance houses right now: the Overose Euphoriasme Candle. I haven't cracked this one open, but I can't wait! Their candles are like melted-down perfume, so the entire room is filled with the scent, even if you're not burning it. This newer addition to their line has notes of cranberry, croissant, caramelised sugar and rose blossom. Yum...

- LIFESTYLE -

The present I kind of lost my mind over is from my boyfriend. Not only did he surprise me with a mini (socially-distanced) birthday party in the park with my best friends, but he spent hours of his life researching this present, so he did incredibly well! He got me the Olympus 60mm Macro Lens, which has honestly changed my entire photography game. I'm kicking myself that I never invested in something like this sooner because it's reignited an excitement in me about taking photos and given me the confidence that I'll get a good shot. It's not only a sharp portrait lens, but it can take those super-clear and detailed closeups that just aren't achievable with a pancake lens. It's got me experimenting and looking forward to taking photos again, and it hadn't really even registered that I'd lost some of that spark.

My grandparents also got me the Bosh Healthy Vegan book. My boyfriend is vegan and it's just easier to cook vegan at home, so that's what we do. I'm always on the lookout for healthy, creative food ideas because, if you don't follow me on Instagram; I'm pretty passionate about food! I have the original Bosh book, which I definitely have a few meals from that I return to time and time again, and this is full of recipes I can't wait to try. Most of them look pretty easy and this book is focused more on healthy food.

It arrived a little after I took this photo but my boyfriend's mum also got me a book called Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. This sounds absolutely fascinating; I do love non-fiction, especially when the book is concerned with morality and the future of humankind, so it's right up my street. I'll pop ulp a review once I've read it! 

Have you tried any of the products I've talked about? Are there any you have your eye on?

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Read more posts from this series here!