Fusing hi-tech formulations, skincare benefits and magical makeup, By Terry is a brand that not only aims to enhance beauty with cosmetics, but creates innovative products that also treat and care for the complexion simultaneously. I covet pretty much everything in their luxury range and treasure every By Terry product I've splurged on, including one of my all-time favourites, the By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Primer. I recently repurchased this wonder product after finishing off my first entire tube, which previously featured in my Best + Worst: Hydrating Primers post, so I just had to review it for you.

As promised in my September Favourites, I just had to dedicate a full review to the Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot Primer, as it's just bowled me over. Mattifying, pore-perfecting primers are usually a no-go, for me. Having dry skin, I prefer radiance-boosting formulas that add an extra layer of hydration, if I bother to use one at all. But, after purchasing this primer on a whim, I've fallen in love and can no longer imagine being without it in my makeup bag.

As soon as September arrives, I get all excited. Not only is it my birthday on the 6th, but the season starts to transition from summer to autumn, which is my favourite time of year. Layering up in chunky knits, the crisp air, cozy nights in, burning candles and the festive cups from Starbuck's - I love it. Best of all, I of course adore the beauty trends and, predictably, my favourites from last month reflect the changes that I've been making when it comes to my makeup.

In the beauty world, some products come and go without much of a buzz, whilst others rocket up to cult-favourite, must-have status, in days. I don't always like to give in to the hype, at least straight away, and let it settle before I take the plunge and make a purchase, to see if the commotion dies down or remains strong. With the constant influx of new products, if a certain product remains in the limelight, then that's an indicator that it's something pretty special. So I thought that I'd give you the low-down on which products I think are deserving of the hype surrounding them.

In winter, we tend to up the level of makeup coverage we wear, but when our skin is feeling the effects of harsh winds, bitter frosts and regular rain, foundations can sometimes look too heavy and emphasise any flakiness we may be struggling with. What do we need to prevent looking like a shriveled, old prune? A hydrating primer can help. But, with so many to choose from, which do I rate and which do I slate? Do we need to spend top dollar to get the best finish?

As the seasons change, I think everyone likes to mix up their beauty stash and experiment with different looks. What better reason do we need to go and splash some cash and find some new additions to our stocks. To make up for a few months of a beauty-spending ban, I headed to Space NK and picked up some items to arm me against the A/W weather. I think that defeated the whole object of the ban, but hey, it was my birthday at the weekend (#feelingspendy). Of course, extravagant hauls like this don't occur on a regular basis and I did get a bit greedy, but I think it's good to treat yourself once in a while! Some products I've already tried out, but most are still waiting in the wings, before I give them a good going-over. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for these products making an appearance in upcoming posts.

Summer is finally here and it's time to mix things up beauty-wise. To make the transition from Spring to Summer, there's a few makeup trends that I intend to incorporate into my look, including natural-looking, glowing skin and a bright lip.

Whilst many, many beauty products come and go, there are always some that we feel lost without. I know I have a selection that I must have a backup of, just in case that beloved 'long-lasting, dewy, but good coverage, that doesn't cake' foundation runs out unexpectedly, or that perfect bronzer that sculpts my cheekbones just that little bit better than any other, is dropped and smashes into irreparable oblivion. And don't even mention the nightmare of the dreaded D word. Yeah, those products.

I thought I'd give you a run down of the beauty items that consistently grace the chaos that is my staple stash, starting with the make-up base products (primer, foundation, concealer and powder), that I'm forever loyal to. As I'm just a tad obsessed with complexion products and I have so many that I regularly wear, I decided to split this post into two parts. This first edit features the more long lasting, heavier duty staples in my core makeup collection. Part two will consist of the lighter, sheerer, base products that make up my essentials inventory, so watch out for that coming up soon, too!