Wednesday 31 December 2014

2014 Beauty Discoveries


For me, 2014 has been a year of beauty. I was never really into it so much prior to this year. I wore BB creams and concealers regularly, but never really knew what I was doing with them, or really cared to branch out into anything further.

For some reason it changed early this year. I don't know what clicked, but something made me want to try using a blush and it all grew from there. I suddenly found myself watching beauty videos on Youtube and avidly reading blogs.

This has meant I had a lot of beauty discoveries this year, and below are some of my favourites. For this post I am going to concentrate on make-up discoveries as that is where my love has mostly lay this year. I could have put much, much more, but I decided to keep it short.

My biggest and best discovery of this year, was definitely the Bobbi Brown corrector, which very, very quickly became my holy grail. It was also the first ever high end product I bought. It is the one product I can use without using anything else. Just getting rid of dark under eye circles really changes the look and helps me look fresh instantly.

Eyebrows are one of those things I never considered concentrating on before. I would hear a lot that they were key to framing your face, but I always thought mine were a decent shape and looked okay, so I didn't really need anything on them. It wasn't until the Benefit counter lady used the Gimme Brow on me, that that I realised what a difference grooming them could make. Just brushing the gel through really made them looking more striking, but kept them looking natural at the same time. I like the shape of my eyebrows, so it mostly helps in filling in gaps and it stays on for such a long time.

Another Benefit product I fell in love with this year was the Porefessional. I think this has become quite the staple in the beauty world. I have tried other pore primers but this is by far my favourite. I love the consistency, as it is so light and creamy, and it makes a difference as soon as I put it on. It is also mattifying which is a huge plus in my book, as I have such oily skin.

Having oily skin also means that keeping my make-up in place all day can be a bit of a struggle. I work full time so the longer my make-up can stay without slipping off, the better. To combat this I use Urban Day's de-slick which is a setting spray, and really does help my make-up stay on longer throughout the day. All it takes is a spritz in the morning and I'm good to go. It doesn't last the entire day (but what does, ey?), but it means I can spend a lot less time fixing and worrying about my make-up at work.

One of my favourite discoveries during summer was the Garnier BB Cream. In the hot weather, when my skin gets particularly oily and is much more prone to slipping away, I find it is good to wear a lighter foundation, and this BB cream was my go to the entire summer. It's very light and offers a decent coverage for a BB cream. It evened out my skin without looking cakey, and meant I was able to build on top of it.

For autumn and winter, I switched up my BB cream for the L'Oreal True Match foundation which I absolutely adore. A little goes a long way with this, and really helps my skin look flawless. Ever since the weather started getting cooler, this has been in my routine. I let my skin breath at the weekends or when I'm off, but I use this regularly in my work routine. One of the biggest benefits of this for me, is how much it lasts throughout the day. 

As far as concealers go I have not found anything to beat Maybelline's The Eye Eraser. I use this for under the eyes and to brighten up areas of my face, but it is perfect for that and really makes a difference. If I am just nipping to the shops I will use this to help even out my skin tone as I like how it brightens up and keeps me looking fresh.

Finally one of the newest additions to my collection is the Illamasqua Matte Veil. It has quickly become a favourite, as it does exactly what it says on the tin. It really helps towards keeping my skin looking great all day. Although my skin is so oily it is impossible to keep it looking matte the entire day, it helps with keeping it stay matte for a little longer and crucially with keeping my make-up on. I really love it.

And there we have it; my favourite make-up products of 2014. As you can see, I've really concentrated on getting the base right this year. For the year ahead I want to get better with eyeshadows, and get the confidence to wear them as well as bold lipsticks more often. I also want to concentrate on developing a good skincare routine and look after my hair much more.

What are your beauty discoveries of 2014?

Saturday 20 December 2014

Nottingham Christmas Market


I love Christmas time.

It's not just about the day itself, the time leading up for it can be so magical. It's true what the song says, it is the most wonderful time of the year.

For me I love the atmosphere of Christmas. I spent a wonderful day this year decorating a Christmas tree with Christmas songs playing in the background, followed by baking Christmas themed treats. It really put me in a very festive mood.

One of the other ways to put me in a festive mood. is by visiting Christmas markets. Luckily Nottingham has a good one, right in the middle of the city centre. There are a lot of food, gifts, games and  rides. They even have an ice rink, which I am yet to try. One of my favourite parts is the delicious Dutch pancakes they sell. They come with strawberries.

But enough of me, I'll let the pictures do the talking.











Wednesday 17 December 2014

Festive Lush Haul


Lush is one of those places where you can easily spend far too much time in, smelling all the delicious products and trying them all out. Case in point; I went into Lush, limiting myself to one product from the Christmas range, I came out with three. But Lush have some really great festive products this year that it was really hard to choose only one.

First thing I picked up was the Magic Wand Bubble Bar, which I just couldn't resist. It is pink and strawberry scented, and what makes it particularly great, is that it is on a stick just like a wand, and even has a bell. I am really looking forward to pampering myself with this one.

Next I saw the Butterbear Bath Bomb, which as the name suggests, is a very cute vanilla scented bear with cocoa butter to help soften the skin. 

Finally, I passed a bowl full of The Christmas Penguin Bubble Bar and they made me giggle so much that I could not pass up getting one. I purposely picked up the most deformed looking one because they made me laugh so much. But the bubble bar itself sounds really great. This is orange flower and mandarin oil infused which will make it very relaxing. 

Have you tried any of the festive Lush products?

Monday 15 December 2014

Clothes Show Live - The Show


Last week I was lucky enough to go to the Clothes Show Live, the highlight of which is the 45 minute show, full of beautiful clothes, dancing and topless male models. It was hosted by designer Henry Holland with help from Joey Essex.

The show took a fun look through New York. We started with the vibrancy of Times Square, to the slickness of Wall Street, and then onto the ethereal and calm of Central Park - which clearly took inspiration from Swan Lake and was incredibly beautiful. Then it was on to the fun and bright colours of Coney Island, before checking in at New York fashion week. We visited the Hamptons where we saw a beautiful love story take place, and danced the night away at Studio 54, where the men wore cut-off shirts. Finally we ended up in Gotham, which was a little bit sinister. Each scene was a lot of fun, and told a story. The choreography in particular was really beautiful and slick.

The fashion itself was gorgeous. I loved the tailored suits of Wall Street which looked very wearable, and the bold and bright designs of Coney island. There was a lot of bold pieces and lots of metallic. See below for some of the fashion and show highlights.

All the photos were taken by my sister, the editor of independent magazine, Vanity Hype. She kindly let me use some for this post. They look much better than the ones taken on my phone!

















Saturday 13 December 2014

December Birch Box


It's party season! Well, sadly not for me - I am missing out on my work's Christmas party this year, so I still need to find an excuse to glam up. But Birch Box are helping out for anyone who is partying it up in the cold months.

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil - Rosehip oil is very good for this time of year. The cold weather can be very drying, and this is a very natural way to add the nourishment back into your skin. Generally my skin is the very opposite to dry, but it is still very handy to have.

Models Own Nail Polish - The last time I received a Models Own nail polish in the box, I wasn't impressed. It was just glitter and offered no coverage to my nails. So, I didn't have high expectations when I saw another one. However, this one has been so much superior to the previous. I received mine in Amethyst which is a gorgeous glittery, purple shade. It's so beautiful and sparkly for this time of year. The packaging is also lovely as it has a velvet top. I love it so much. It is incredibly hard to get off though!

Eslor Firming Collagen Day Cream - This is a really decent sample size for the cream, and I'm sure it will last for some time. It helps give the skin a plumping boost and hydrates. I tried this on my hand and it made my skin feel very soft and not sticky at all. I'm looking forward to trying out this one properly.

Electric Hair Electric Hydrate Shampoo - This shampoo is perfect for winter as it is designed to repair damage and improve shine, that the  dry weather can cause. It also has a really lovely and fruity scent which is a plus for me. I'm looking forward to using this one on my next overnight trip.

Eyeko Fat Eye Stick - This jumbo eye pencil in 'smoke', is perfect more creating a quick, but effective smoky eye. It gives an intense colour, but it is really easy to blend out for the desired look. What makes this even better is that it is a full size sample.

Benefit Chiristmas Cracker - High Beam - It was a lovely surprise, to have a cracker included in the box. Inside was a sample of High Beam. I already own a sample of this highlighter, and I love it, so I was really happy to see it again. It is one of my favourite highlighters, as it gives a soft shimmer and is really easy to apply.

Sophia Webster Purse - December's box was in collaboration with designer Sophia Webster, so the lifestyle extra was this purse, which has leopard print on the front and stripes on the back. It will be a great little edition to my bag.

Monday 8 December 2014

London Haul


Last month I went to down to London for the day. I went particularly for an Illamasqua make-up lesson. It was called 'Skin Realism', which involved learning what products we could use to keep our skin looking flawless. It was a really good evening, and I picked up some useful tips. However, it did mean that I spent a lot of money in the shop afterwards. I did some shopping earlier in the day too, but, thanks to some unexpected happenings, I ended up with only a hour or two to get some shopping done. I headed to Oxford Street to buy clothes and make-up. I ended up in Kiko, as I've been yearning for some of their Daring Game collection forever. I also bought a couple of pieces from Forever 21, but this post is all about the make-up.


Kiko Top Pairs Blush - It's fair to say that I was sold by the packaging on this. I absolutely love the look so much, it is so gorgeous. After spending probably more time than I should have trying to decide which one I wanted, I settled on '01' in the shades Desert Sand and Rose Coral. they're really beautiful shades. I haven't tried them out as yet, as I didn't want to ruin them for the pictures, but I'm really excited about using them.

Kiko Eyelash curler - I didn't go in particularly looking for the eyelash curler. Mine broke that morning, and so I needed a new one. I completely forgot about it until I saw them on the shelf, whilst I was in the queue. It was good value, and it's good quality so I'm glad I picked it up.

Illamasqua Matte Veil - I was sold on this as soon as I was told it would keep my skin looking matte. I do have oily skin, so I'm consistently trying to find things that can combat it. I think this is great as it keeps my skin matte a lot longer. It doesn't last all day but I can definitely see the difference,

Illamasqua Cream Pigment - This is the cream we used for contouring during the course, It is in the shade 'hollow', which is very matte and perfect for contouring. I never contoured my face before, but I think I am definitely going to start as it really looked great,

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation - I went to the course knowing that I would want to pick up their foundation, and I did. It has a decent coverage, but still looks natural. I love the way it looks. This came with a tube of white skin base mixer. It's mixd with the foundation to help brighten up the complexion.

Have you tried any of these products? Did you like them?

Saturday 6 December 2014

November Favourites


The dark nights and a busy schedule have been working against me and my blogging. The window for taking pictures is very limited, especially with having a full time job, so as you can see it's all meant I've been quite quiet here.

But November has been a busy month in itself. One of the best moments was spending a day down in London, where I went shopping along Oxford Street and had my first make-up course at Illamasqua, which was a really great experience. It was also the month of my birthday, but only small celebrations were had. I did go out for tapas, which I always find delicious (calamari anyone?).

There was also a lot of other great things in November:

Favourite Beauty



In the October Birch Box I received this Pixi lip balm and I have not stopped using it since. It's made using shea butter, so it feels so soft and smooth on my lips. It also gives a little bit of colour to my lips. It's great for the cold days. I'm sure I shall be using it all winter.

I have also renewed my love for the L'Oreal True Match Foundation. Now it is colder, I can wear it without it slipping off my face during the day. I really love the foundation. The shade works well with my skin, and I love the look it creates.

Favourite Skincare



Molton Brown hand creams were another product I discovered through Birch Box. I just had to buy a full size. They're a bit pricey at £10, but they are so worth it. They're not sticky at all, and sink in easily to the skin. This one in rhubarb and rose, smells absolutely delicious.

I have also been using the No.7 eye make-up remover. What really caught my eye about this was how it is two-toned. You shake it up to mix the clear and blue liquids, and then use it from there. My eyes are quite sensitive, but this doesn't irritate them at all and gets rid of all my eye-make-up, including tough mascara!

Favourite Book


November is my birthday month, and my sister got me the Bobbi Brown Everything Eyes book as a gift. I generally don't use much on my eyes, so it's a nifty little book to help me with making my eyes look great. There's quite a lot about glasses, which I don't wear (I wish I did), but there is enough of other great stuff that it's a very useful book.

Favourite Television

This month I have been loving The Apprentice. It is one of my reality TV guilty pleasures, but it is a lot of fun to watch. There's been so many spats this year, and a number of happenings I've been annoyed at. Now we've got quite far through, I'm rooting for Solomon (possibly because he's good, looking but he is a good candidate too) and Katie (because she's brilliant).

Favourite Music



I'll admit it, I have been listening to lots of Tinie Tempah again.

Sunday 9 November 2014

October Birch Box


I am aware we are almost in time for the November Birch Box. However, I have only just received the October one. There was some hiccup somewhere along the way, but the Birchbox team were really great, and helpful and sent me a replacement box. I hope my November box gets to me okay.

But back to October's surprise, I must say that I really love this box. It was so good, that I wanted to share it with you guys. 

Cattier Pink Clay Face Mask - I'm excited about using this. There were two samples in the box, which will help to see how it looks after a multiple uses. I've never actually used a face mask. I know, I know. I should, and I plan to. This will be perfect to give them a go. 

KMS California Hair Play Playable Texture - This is probably the product I am least excited about in the box. I usually use products that are specifically made for making my curls look great. I think I will give this a try and see how it looks, but I'm not sure it would become part of my routine.

Shaveworks The Cool Fix - I do have trouble with ingrown hairs and this product is made to combat that, as well as razor bumps and redness. I'm really looking forward to trying this one.

Pixi by Petra Shea Butter Lip Balm - This is probably my favourite thing in the box. It feels so soft on my lips and has a little colour to it. I received it in the shade Honey Nectar, and it's such a lovely muted colour. It makes my lips look great, I really love it.

Lollipops Nail Lacquer - I'm sure I've said this before but I'm not a fan for red nail colours, so I'm not sure I'll use this one. It seems like a good product, but it's just not the colour for me. I think I may give this one away.

Birchbox Lipstick Pen - This seems a little of little random product. It's a pen, shaped  like a lipstick. There's not more I can say than that.

Sunday 2 November 2014

October Favourites


I can not believe it is now November. I seem to say this every month, but the year is going so quickly.

October has been quite quiet for me in terms of this blog, but my life has been quite busy. I have began fencing, there was a fair in Nottingham, and work has been very crazy. This last week I took a trip down to London to meet a friend, where we went for sushi. Saying that though, there's a lot to look forward to in November (my birthday for one), but here are my October highlights.

Favourite make-up


This month I have found a renewed love for my rockateur blush. It's just a beautiful rose gold shade and looks great on my cheeks. I think it looks great for autumn.

I also enjoy using the Maybelline Eye Eraser. It's good to use if I'm going minimal on my make-up and just want to brighten up my eyes, as well as using it as a concealer over my foundation.

Favourite beauty


I am quite late to the party, but in October I picked up the 'Mint Julips' Lip Scrub from Lush. It smells and tastes delicious, and keeps my lips feeling really soft. I love it.

I have also been using the Dove Dry Shampoo this month and it's great. I think it's definitely my new dry shampoo of choice. It barely leaves any residue on my hair and smells great.

Favourite candle


A Yankee Candle store has recently opened up in Nottingham, and I picked up this spooky holder and candle, in the scent Ghostly Treats, which were perfect for Halloween. I have had this lit for the last week of October in time for Halloween and it's given such a lovely scent to my room. But now Halloween is over, I can start on the Christmas candles.

Favourite gadget

I am pretty much completely in love with my Chrome Cast. It is such a great gadget. It's just a usb sized dongle, which you plug in into the back of your television. Then using your phone, tablet or laptop you can cast such things as Netflix or IPlayer onto your television. It is brilliant. As someone who would watch a lot of things on my laptop, it's great to be able to put it on my TV and be able to work and watch things at the same time.

Favourite tea


In my trip down to London this month I visited the Twinings shop, which I have been wanting to visit for a long time. I was pretty much like a child in a sweet shop. The best thing I bought was this beautiful tea caddy. There were samples to add into the box like a tea pick 'n' mix. Tea-wise I have been in love with the Twining Camomile and Spiced Apple tea. It is perfect for this time of the year and, and as well as being very delicious, it is also relaxing. I love drinking it in an evening to relax before going to bed.

Favourite television



I know I'm about 9 years behind, but this month I have really been enjoying the US version of The Office. I have pretty much been binge watching it and already I am halfway through series 4. It is incredibly hilarious.

Music



I have been listening to a lot of music this month. I use Google Music All Access, and now and then I like to listen to the songs it picks for me. This is where I discovered Florrie's Summer Nights. I really love this song. It's really upbeat and great to bop to.

What have you been loving this month?

Saturday 1 November 2014

October Loot Crate


I must say that I am beginning to become a fan of monthly subscription boxes. I already have two on the go, and even have my eye on a possible third. I've not been able to post about my Birch Box this month, as I've not actually received it yet. The Birch Box team have been really nice about it and are posting me out a replacement. Fingers crossed for this one!

But this post is for the Loot Crate; a subscription box for geeks. It includes things like figures and t-shirts from TV shows, films and games. It's actually an American subscription box, but they have a good deal for international shipping, and best of all, there's no delay on the time it takes to get here. The box costs about £17 per month, and for that you get quite a nice bundle of stuff, in an awesome looking box.

Each box has a theme, and for October it is 'Fear'. You know, because of Halloween and all that. As I mentioned in my previous post I don't like horror, I especially don't like zombies, so I wasn't sure if I would like this box as much as I maybe could.

Luckily I have a family who love The Walking Dead, so I'm sure they're more likely to appreciate the print and the comic. Even though I'm not a fan, the comic is quite cool. It's an actual issue with a Loot Crate exclusive cover. I don't understand the reference in the print, so that's not one for me.

From the rest of this month's goodies, I particularly like the saw. It's actually a secret pen which I thought was really cool. There was also some realistic temporary tattoos of slashes and bites, which were perfect for Halloween; a quick idea for a costume.

The book in the picture is called 'How To Survive a Sharknado' which is actually a full book of how to survive various 'sci-fi' incidents. And then there is the t-shirt. This month it was a skull made from cats, which is very fun.

Finally it comes with a booklet. This one was particularly cool as the outside cover has 3D zombies. They actually look really, really good.

Overall, I really loved this box. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Friday 31 October 2014

Halloween films!

It's Halloween!

It's time to get out the scary costumes and carve those pumpkins. It is, without a doubt, one of the most fun times of the year.

My plan today, is to curl up with a bag of treats and watch a bunch of Halloween films. Now I must confess that I hate horror films. I should put hate in capital letters there, as that's how much I don't like being scared. Because of this, I have to pick my Halloween films a little more carefully, and end up going more for the 'family' option. Luckily, there are plenty of films out there that are fun and fantastic, and just perfect for this time of year.

So here is a list of Halloween films, in no particular order, that will not terrify you. There are most certainly some classics missing, as there will be quite a few I've never seen. This year I plan to watch Hocus Pocus and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, as I've never seen either, so below are the tried and tested ones.

The Addams Family



I'm sure without even seeing the film everyone can click along to the tune. They are a dysfunctional family, with some interesting ways of going about things, but bring in a lot of laughs. It's really fun film and great to watch with the family.

The Lost Boys



This may be bordering on the scary, especially Keifer Sutherland's character, but I love the film. Forget Edward Cullen, these are the original teenage vampires. There are some recognisable 80's teenage actors in this, and a lot of laughs and scares throughout.

The Nightmare Before Christmas



I guess this is technically a Christmas film, but there is enough spooky imagery to make this perfect for Halloween. It's a brilliant film with lots of songs to sing along to.

Beetlejuice



This is another very funny film. It's a bit ridiculous, and a fun take on hauntings. It's got just the right amount of scariness, and because it's from the 80's, the effects are hilarious.

Edward Scissorhands



Another Tim Burton one here, but that's because he does these kind of films so well. Edwards Scissorhands is a such sweet story and beautifully filmed.

Ghostbusters



A incredibly fun film, this, and definitely a classic. I don't know anyone who hasn't seen this. Like most of the other films on this list it's funny and scary and really perfect for any day of the year, it's that good.

Little Shop Of Horrors



Finally, for one of my favourite musicals, I could sing these songs all day. This is such a brilliant film, and even has some great guest stars (Bill Murray and John Candy, anyone?).

What is your favourite Halloween film?

Monday 13 October 2014

September Favourites

I know it's incredibly late, and we're well into October now, but I really wanted to get my September favourites in, as there were some great things I enjoyed. I might post a few extra times this month to make up for my absence.

You may be wondering where I have been. I've simply been too busy. I picked up some extra-curricular activities in September, including a beginners course in fencing, which I love. I've also spent the last few weeks studying for my car theory test, which took up all my time. Now that's over I can concentrate on my blog again (I passed by the way!).

I've not had the light to take pictures of my favourite make-up, and beingconcious that this is already very late, here are my multimedia favourites.

Film



I didn't think I would have a film in September. I saw a couple, but they weren't brilliant. Then on the last day I went to the cinema with my sister to see Pride. I was blown away by it completely. It's based on a true story, set in the midst of the mining strikes in Britain. A group in the gay community decide to begin raising money for the strikers, What follows is a wonderful story of camaraderie and adversity. It's brilliantly paced, very witty and perfectly cast. I love it so much I've seen it again since. Cannot. Recommend. Enough.

Television




The best television without a doubt has got to be Great British Bake Off. I, like many other people, am in love with this show. I chose this clip of Mel and Sue as I don't think it could be the same without them. They're just so funny and caring. If you've never seen it (and I don't know why you wouldn't have) a group of amateur bakers get pitched against each other each week, in a number of challenges to become Star Baker. But one must be eliminated. All the bakers are just so nice, and it's so lovely to see what they bake. Already, I am longing to make some bread soon.

Music

Since watching Pride, I have once again been hit by the 80's bug, and this song in Pride is the best. It's so catchy and danceable! I love that 80's sound. Somehow the video being cheesy and typically 80s is a plus!



I'll be back with more posts soon!

Friday 26 September 2014

My eyebrow routine


Eyebrows can be the most important part of your make-up routine. If your eyebrows are defined, they can really help frame and even out your face.

My eyebrows is one feature of my face I actually like. I'm lucky that they have a decent natural arch, so I don't need to do much to shape them. I still love to groom them though, and give them some definition.

I took my eyebrow routine from a tutorial I saw online. It's one that works perfectly for me. It's a very simple and quick routine.

First I comb through Benefit's Gimme Brow to go over the shape and smooth it out. I follow this by outlining the bottom and outer half of my top brow with Maybelline Mastershape brow pencil. I then blend this into my brow using an angled brush. This makes it look really defined but still natural.

If I'm feeling it, I will finish it of by using Benefit High Beam as a highlight under the arches.

The picture below shows my eyes with and without make-up. Doesn't it make a difference!



Sunday 14 September 2014

September Birch Box


It's that time again, when a Birch Box is pushed through my letterbox, and I excitedly open it for my little surprises. This is already my seventh one. Time has gone so quickly!

This month the theme is Happy Days, in which Birch Box are concentrating on creating memories, after having to go back to school after the summer. I like this month's theme a lot, It's such a lovely idea to create memories to remember summer by. I also love the look of the box. It's a beautiful blue and pink, with some really cool designs on. They should make their boxes artsy every month. It's much better than the usual boring cardboard. 

Here's what I received in September's box:


Agave Healing Oil Treatment - This is oil helps to de-frizz the hair and generally make it silky and smooth. The idea is to simply work a small amount through damp hair. I'm looking forward to using this one as my hair can get pretty frizzy, and hopefully this will help to make it look smoother.

Korres Citrus Showergel - For a moment I thought this was the body milk I received a few months back, as the packaging is exactly the same. Luckily it's not. This time it's showergel, and oddly, this is the one I'm most excited about, simply because I adore the scent. This will be a great one to keep for the next time I go away.

Premae Mild Dermabrasion Face & Body Scrub - This is a gentle body scrub that is made from olive granules! Apparently it's also gentle enough for the face. The tub also says it's excellent for use after hair removal. I'm a little dubious, so I want to use after shaving my legs to be sure! 

Benefit It's Potent! Eye cream - I have had a sample of this before when I purchased the Benefit skincare pack. The issue I had with it then was that it was a little irritable on my eyes. It stung a little. It's still the same now, so I think I wil be giving this one away.

ModelCo Lip Lacquer - This is a product that we had sight of beforehand, as we were able to pick from a selection which product we wanted to receive. I chose this lip laquer in the shade Morocco. I'll be honest, it's not what I was expecting. I was expecting something more like Rimmel's Apocalips, but this is really just a sheer lip gloss. In fact, I can't see any colour pay-off at all, but I did choose one that was close to my lip tone so it would look more natural. It's also a little too gloopy and sticky for my taste, but it does give a great shine. So far, I'm not really that impressed, which is a little disappointing.

Birchbox Happy Days Photo Clip - We had a lot of these types of photo holders growing up. It's a simple thing but I like it. I think I mostly like the colour. It's such a lovely blue.

Urban Fruit Smashing Strawberry - I already know I love Urban Fruit so I was very happy to see this. These are delicious strawberry pieces. I'm looking forward to snacking on these.

What do you like the look of?

Friday 12 September 2014

Benefit V.I.P. Spree


I often like to walk through Boots on my way home from work, and spend some time browsing around the make-up. Weirdly, I find it relaxing. On one of these trips, I decided to pick up a mini size of Benefit's They're Real Mascara, and sitting next to it was this little Benefit VIP Spree pack. After a short moment of deliberation, obviously I bought it...

There are three sample size products in the pack; High Beam, Bad Gal Lashes and Sugarbomb lipgloss. It also comes with a voucher for £10 off when you spend over £25 on Boots.com, as well as a voucher for a free makeover at any Boots Benefit counter.All for £9.95.

First up is High Beam, and it's safe to say I have fallen in love with the product. It comes with a little brush which makes it really easy to apply. All I do it is dot some on my cheekbones, blend it in and it looks great. It gives the skin a really beautiful shimmer, and it's not ridiculously obvious. I also use it on my cupid's bow, down the bridge of my nose and under the arches of my eyebrow to highlight my face.

Next is the Bad Gal Lashes. The wand has thick bristles, and is geared more towards achieved voluminous lashes. It's not my favourite type of mascara, so I'm not blown over by it, To be honest, I can't see any difference in what I'd get for a cheaper product. I also found it smudged throughout the day more that the They're Real one does. It's not bad, but I won't be purchasing a full size.

Finally is the Sugabomb lipgloss. The first thing I noticed is that the gloss is scented, and I'm really not fond of it. Getting over that though, it applies really smoothly on the lips and made them feel moist and smooth for ages, without being overly sticky. I would describe it as a shimmery, mauve-pink shade. It would be nice, if I could get over the scent.

Have you tried any of these products?

Wednesday 10 September 2014

I bought some more things

As I mentioned in my little haul post last month, I bought quite a few clothes and jewellery in August. Some of them were so pretty that I really wanted to show you. So here are two of my favourite pieces that I bought last month.


This dress is by the brand Mela Loves London, which I bought from New Look (£22, here). It was the collar that drew me to it. I just love the scalloped edge. I really like that the florals aren't too garish, and I thought it would be perfect to wear to work paired with a blazer. This angle also shows my pretty new ear studs (£2, River Island). I like foxes, and they definitely seem an animal for autumn. this was too cute to pass up.


I wanted a simple tunic dress, so I was happy when I saw this one in Primark (£5).  It fits loosely but looks great. I wore it with a pendant from Accessorize (£7, here). There is a cluster of cute keys hanging from this. It was just too beautiful to pass up. These pictures also shows the sandals I bought at the beginning of august. (£35, River Island) After I bought them, it started to rain a lot, so I didn't get as much chance as I wanted, to wear them. I'm not usually a fan of sandals, but these are perfect.

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