Changing URL... Come with me!

I have loved writing Just Bananas Makeup, and have my fingers crossed that you have enjoyed reading enough to come with me to By Her Mirror; a new design and new name for my beauty writing.

It's still gonna be about makeup gang, no worries on that front, but with a fresher look and less fruit based name!

I am about to email Bloglovin to ask them if they will move you BL followers over for me (that would be grand wouldn't it?) but for those of you not using the site, my new URL is http://byhermirror.blogspot.co.uk/ and I cannot wait to hopefully see you there!

Thank you for your support, see you on the other side!

A Long Weekend In Photos

A Trip to London - That brickwork though | The V&A | Poppies at the Tower of London

A Day in Birmingham - English skies always amaze me | A lil CT action | Wagamamas p0rn

At Lizzie's House - A gorgeous rainy morning | Salted toffee cupcake | An old station

5 Blushers For Beginners

I've spoken of my blush phobia before... It's a cautiousness that comes down to the fact that my face is naturally rosy, prone to broken veins and just has its own blush - okay, flush - going on most of the time.

I certainly never expected to be writing a post about blushers when  I started Just Bananas, I can tell you that much!

There are however five blushers whose presence I generally enjoy on my face, as long as every inch of redness elsewhere has been buried under four layers of concealer. My logic on this one is if I like them, they must be pretty freakin' good.

To ease yourself into blush, a great powder formula is probably the easiest way to go: the method of application is reminiscent to applying face powder and is generally not too tricky. For complete blush virgins, I'd recommend Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso: it is a beautiful, corally option with subtle gold highlight running through it, making it really perk up the skin and and some brightness as well as some warmth to the face.

If powder blushes are definitely your thing, and you're feeling spendy, the Laura Mercier Second Skin blushers are really rather beautiful. I have the shades Heather Pink and Barely Pink, which are both stunning and apply wonderfully. Don't be put off by the vivid pink of Heather in pan as on the skin it translates to a really healthy, lovely looking natural rosiness; however, if you're really wanting to ease yourself in, Barely Pink may be the better choice, as it is a super soft and subtle hint of pink.

Now you've conquered the powder blush, let me convince you that cream is the dream: even if you're oily skinned, there are some cream formulas that are definitely suitable and beautiful and altogether cute-able.

Bourjois Little Round Pot Cream Blush in 01 Nude Velvet is a cream to powder formula that is nothing like the gross cream-to-powders of old: all you need is a quick swipe and an easy blend for a colour that's a muted coral kiss of loveliness. If you're ready to spend more, Stila Convertible Colour in Gerbera is a lovely creamy formula that stays put much longer than you might expect, and looks fresh and light on the cheek. Last up, and another budget option is the Sleek Pout Polish. It is intended to be a tinted lip balm, but I've been loving the look on my cheeks. The shade I have is discontinued but the formula itself is really rather decent and lasts nicely too... A rare two in one I can get behind!

That's my blush gush, of five cheeky chappies that I love even as it goes against my very nature. Now it's over to you: what blushes am I missing out on? Or are you a blush-phobe too (we can suffer together, BPFF...) I'd love to know!

If You Do One Thing This Month #3

Hit up your local TK or TJ Maxx, depending on where you live!

Above are three goodies that I grabbed last month... It's definitely worth remembering that as TK runs on other brands' old stock (or so I'm told!) there will be beauty products that are a little bit less fresh than you may be used to, but I think this is still a great option to try higher end lines before you buy 'em full price.

Not pictured, but DEFINITELY worth checking out, is their stationery section: my local one has some incredible and beautiful notebooks that are a total bloody steal, so RUN DOWN THERE my friend, go go go!

Bloggers Made Me Buy It Tag

I love me a good tag - this one I saw over on Parisian To Be's blog and knew I had to get it on mine, not least because a beauty stash based 95% on blogger recommendations meant I would have heaps of material... Let us commence!

Who are your most influential bloggers?
Obviously, obviously Anna from ViviannaDoesMakeup - a no brainer there! I also super trust the opinion of Siobhan from LetzMakeup and Sharon Farrell. Of course, I rarely watch a Lisa Eldridge video without my blogging notebook at the ready for some product recommendations. More recently, I have been swooning over That Grace Girl and some lush picks on her part!

Who are the ones you rely on for reviews and swatches?
I don't really have an answer for the swatches part of this question other than my old friend Google, as it's rare that a blogger I follow has the exact same skin tone/hair colour combination as I do, and I find this helps make a huge difference to how a product will look on me. In terms of reviews, Temptalia is probably my first port of call, followed by Makeup Alley too.

Do you buy a product solely as a result from one review of your favourite bloggers, or do you look for more reviews from others?
I want to say that I am a good girl and always shop around with a range of reviews from different sources but I would be lying to you. I hope that now I have learnt the error of my ways as there is plenty of evidence of the disappointment I have felt when I've just bounded from one blogger's rave review to Feel Unique/Space NK/Boots.com (delete as appropriate) without doing sufficient homework.
I'm not perfect guys (hard to believe I know!)

What is your favourite item you have bought as a consequence of blogs?
Right now I think it's got to be Effaclar Duo! As you will know if you saw my Skincare Update last week I am a big fan of this little white tube and it has really helped keep blemishes at bay now that my acne is too mild for my old prescription treatment. It's also true that the new formula is some how even better than the old one.

Name five products you have bought recently based on blogger recommendations!
I am currently obsessed with the No7 Shade and Define Eyeshadow Crayons (I have 3 shades so far, for me that's a pretty big deal!). I also bought another Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet, this time in the shade 08 Grand Cru, whose colour is beautiful but the formula appears to be seriously dodgy. I have also bought the Body Shop Honey Bronzer, Origins VitaZing and Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Clearing Gel in recent times too.

And we will leave it for the tag there (I deleted some questions I felt were too repetitive!)

I hope this tag sparks you to get answering these questions too - if you do this tag please let me know so I can show some lovin'!

July Favourites

Well well well, what have we here? It's a favourites video folks, and it's just for you... enjoy!

10 Reasons To Follow My Instagram

Guys, I love Instagram.

I mean love Instagram.

We're thinking of moving in together, it's getting that kinda serious.

This post is simply a showcase of my finest Instas to date, in case you need some convincin'.

LET'S GO.

1. I am getting way too into VSCOCam.

2. I make friends with a fair amount of wildlife.

3. I have great taste in desserts.

4. I wasn't kidding about the last one.

5. My cats are models, whom I occasionally force to pose for me.

6. I lived in France and there is photographic proof.

7. I am passionate about taking photos of flowers.

8. Do it for my bat friend.

9. I make the occasional, INCREDIBLE, collage piece.

10. There will be food porn, and lots of it.

There we go guys... Are you Insta lovers? Are you following me? More importantly, am I following you??

Sunday Wishlist #2 The Brush Edition

I love, love, love me a good wishlist... They work to get out my spending itch in a more constructive and less bank-balance-bothering fashion, and if  I can afford to, reading other people's is the perfect spending inspo. 

This wishlist is a brush themed one as I have told myself many a time that you can never have too many brushes (or skincare... one for another wishlist!) Given that at the time of writing I am currently curating my favourite brushes from my present stash, I felt it was the ideal opportunity to give you the lowdown on what other brushes I have my eyes on...

The High End Heroes

Charlotte Tilbury's Powder and Sculpt | Louise Young's LY34 | Paula Dorf Sheer Crease | Suqqu Cheek

These lovely ladies have been on my wishlist for what feels like an eternity... Pixiwoo, Lisa Eldridge and of course Charlotte Tilbury are all responsible for the lust that I feel for these four. The Paula Dorf and Suqqu Cheek brushes in particular have been on my mental wishlist for a good couple of years now; I am thinking their purchase will have to be save for a very special occasion!

Sold On Rose Gold

Zoeva's Rose Gold Set

But of course! This particular pick has received arguably more blog coverage than any other set (with the exception of perhaps Real Techniques' Core Collection) so I won't bore you too much with its merits but good LORD it is GORGEOUS.

Bobbi Brown Beauties

Full Coverage | Face Blender | Blush | Eye Sweep | Eye Smudge

I'm a real fan of Bobbi Brown and her brushes are no exception... So far there is just one in my collection but I wouldn't say no to having a fair few more as the quality and look of these brushes is just fabulous...

Those are my choices, I hope you liked 'em - what are the brushes you are drooling over?