SLEEP INDUCERS AND ROUTINE

Sleeping is something that hasn't been coming very easily to me since starting university. I can't get comfy, my mind won't settle or there's rowdy, drunken students under my window. So I've started making my bedtime routine more a ritual..

Very un-student like, I know, but I like to be in bed relaxing before 11pm - lately it's been around 9:30/10pm which is perfect! But I find sleeping so difficult, I just find it so difficult to drop off and either lay there wide awake or end up sitting up despairing. So here's my ritual before getting into bed.

9:00pm:
Make your bed! I never make my bed in a morning, I just don't have time/effort/care to do it. But lets be honest, there's nothing nicer than a lovely looking bed to get into. So on goes the duvet with my tartan throw laid over.

9:10pm:
Computer OFF. There's nothing more tempting than a computer to waste your time. Get it switched off.

9:15pm:
Make up OFF, that's if I didn't do it earlier! I find giving myself a mini-facial extremely relaxing, so out come the balms, sprays and oils to get me ready.

9:30pm:
Main light off, night light and candles on. Let's create a bit of ambiance up in here. My current candle of choice is the gorgeous Laura Mercier Roasted Chestnut Candle. For me, there's nothing more awful than the lights in my room. Getting them switched off instantly makes me sleepier.

9:35pm:
Fill up a bottle with some fresh water and say goodnight to your flat mates. Me and Charlotte always say goodnight to each other, there's nothing worse than being distracted and having to get out of your nice, warm bed. There's also nothing better than walking into your gorgeously fragranced room that just looks so relaxing.

9:50pm:
Get into your fresh sleep attire, apply your hand cream and lip balm and jump on in. I like to spray my This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray onto my bed sheets and pillows and slick some of the oil onto my wrists at this point so the smell isn't so over-powering when it comes to sleeping.

10:00pm:
Time to relax. For me, this means get a bit of reading in and start finishing some texts off.

10:30pm:
Lights out, candles out, eyes shut.

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THE GLOW INDUCERS

When it comes to make up finish, I love a glowing, healthy look. Not only does it make your skin look much more awake it seems to blur blemishes, which lets face it, we all want! These are my top five glow inducers that help me achieve a healthy base.

Laura Mercier, as always, hit the top spot for me - and not only in make up, there candles are to dieeee for! If I'm after a full on, mega-watt glow then a sweep of the Radiance Primer followed by a thin layer of Silk Creme wins hands down. Although Silk Creme is super pigmented, the Radiance Primer still manages to shine through perfectly. If I'm going for something a little more subtle, then Silk Creme alone gives you that second skin luminosity we all desire.

The RMK Creamy Foundation* has become a bit of a staple in my stash for those days that I want an effortless glow. It can occasionally look a little too much but a dusting of powder sorts that out. I know, the colour looks super dark, but do check out my review here and find out what's going down!

Origins VitaZing Moisturiser doesn't quite fall into the tinted moisturiser category, but is definitely a little bit more than a moisturiser. Who cares what it is, layered over my DHC Pore Milk* and under the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation it gives colour and warmth to my skin. It has potential to look a little orange, so I wouldn't wear it alone unlike the Radiance Primer or the next product...

Everyone seemed to pick this up in last months Red magazine, and I don't blame anyone. Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm (mouthful...) is simply beautiful. Subtle, but blurs any imperfections and leaves me skin looking really healthy. I don't really understand this "Flash Balm" malarky - I tried the Clarins one as well and just don't get it, so if anyone can fill me in, holla! I'm unaware if there are any skincare benefits to advertise it as "anti-ageing", but I think any illuminating product would make something look anti-ageing, non?


So there's my top picks for a glowy, dewy base! Do let me know what you think of these, or if you have any recommendations!

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER 

Laura Mercier Radiance Primer

Yep, you read right, Laura Mercier again. Me and this gal are having a little love affair and boy am I infatuated. The foundation primer in Radiance is no exception.

Whenever I'm looking for a real glow for my base, which is pretty much an every day occurance, this is the product I reach straight for. A pea sized amount covers my face and gives it that 'lit from within' glow that everyone is dying to achieve, especially now summer is on its way! You can see perfectly from the swatch above just how much of a sheen factor this has and that shimmer is shown a different route, you won't be getting the Twilight shine from this product. I always use this with my Silk Creme foundation (review soon!) and even though it has quite a full coverage, it doesn't stop the glow coming through.

So you're probably thinking "it makes you glow, we get it, but does it make your make up last?". Yes. It really maximizes how long my make up lasts for. I applied this at 9:30am and when it came to removing my make up at midnight (after waiting in the pouring rain for an hour and going to a gig) it was still firmly in place and I was still glowing with a healthy looking complexion.

If you're not a fan of an entire face of glow, this would be perfect to just apply on your cheekbones, down your nose and on your cupids bow so you can miss out the highlighter step and still with a really natural look.
Even my boyfriend commented on how "nice my face looks like that" which is quite a biggy coming from him!

If you're a little unsure about this, DEFINITELY go check it out at your nearest Laura Mercier counter - you will NOT regret it!

Have you tried this, or are you tempted?! Let me know!

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER

Laura Mercier Bronzing Duo

You know when you look at an item of makeup in your collection and you just think "Well daayumn aint you a pretty little thing!" in that fantastic redkneck accent you're perfecting? Well this Bronzing Duo by Laura Mercier has got me saying just that! Can I just apologise for the awful swatch on paper - my camera just wouldn't take a nice photo of it swatched on me!? 

I have the shade Coral Bronze which consists of an almost matte bronzer and a gorgeous coral blush with a very slight golden shimmer. The bronzer is absolutely beautiful. It creates a really glowing, sunkissed look without seeming too orange or too "dirty". Since there's not too much shimmer, you can just about get away with contouring, but I'd rather keep that to my Bourjois compact and put a light dusting of this over my cheeks, temples and down my nose for an easy, quick and flawless bronzed look. 

The blush is unlike any shade I have in my collection but is going to be PERFECT for summer. A true peachy coral shade, this looks lovely on the top of the cheeks and blends really nicely into the skin. Alternatively, a big brush to mix the two colours together looks really pretty as well! Even though this is a powder product, it never looks cakey or too much, it just blends flawlessly.

The packaging is SO luxurious, it feels really well made and is going to look b-e-a-uuuuutiful on display! Obviously, this is perfect for travelling too, but I'm too scared to get it dirty haha!

What do you think? Go have a look in Space NK or your nearest Laura Mercier counter, you won't be able to not buy it! 

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER.

what I got for my birthday!

Right let's start off this whole charade by just stating that I'm really not bragging about anything I've received! When I ask you guys what you love to read, a lot of you say haul posts, so here you are! Another thing is, I have a veeeery lovely boyfriend which spoils me rotten, just like his family.

So now that's out in the open, it was my birthday on Saturday! May the fourth be with you.. I'm really lucky to have received pretty much everything that was on my list and have some spending money for Manchester/#SheffieldMeetUp which is nice!

My absolute favourite gifts are my beloved Laura Mercier Primer in Radiance and the Bronzing Duo in Coral Bronze (I think..!) and of course, something I've wanted for longer than I can imagine, Molecule 01! I was SO excited when I opened this bad boy up and had a cheeky spritz, my mum fell in love.

Before going to London, Mike gave me some money to get something for myself for my birthday, so I picked up my first ever MAC lipstick. The shade is Rebel and I think the love affair has officially begun.
Me and Mike are also going to Manchester in a few days to go and see one of his favourite bands. I cheekily said that I'll go as long as he buys me something from Selfridges, alas, what popped through my letterbox on Saturday but a Selfridges Gift Card, with a note saying "I told you I'd buy you something from Selfridges!". Such a baaaabe.

My sister has always been saying to me "Hayley start a YouTube, my friend does it, he loves it!" and my response has been "But I have no camera!!!". I now have NO excuse after she got me a webcam with microphone, so perhaps you'll be seeing more of me, who knows.

So here's a little glance at my presents! I've gone a little OTT lately on the spending front with London first, I have Manchester on the 14th and then the #SheffieldMeetUp on the 18th so I think once this influx of money and opportunities dies down I'll be well up for a spending ban and saving for University!

Do you want any of these products? Or have you had a cheeky haul lately? Tell me all about it! :)

You can find Hayley Loves on BLOGLOVIN' and TWITTER.