Minimalistic Make-Up

Even though you have a passion for make-up, do you ever get those days where you just want to strip it all back and go for the minimalistic look? At work I'm sitting in an office all day and I don't deal face-to-face with any customers so I've taken it as a chance to let my skin breath and have been wearing only the very basics.  I started doing this at the start of the summer where I would normally opt for more of a sheer coverage anyway, however we're now into December and it's made such a huge difference to my skin that whilst I'm at work I've continued to wear only minimal makeup.

Christmas Gift Ideas For Men

The one week countdown is on and for any last minute Christmas shoppers I've got the final instalment of my Christmas decorations/gift guides. This time I'm focused on men, who can be a lot trickier to buy for if you're female as that gorgeous Eyeshadow palette that you've had your eye on just won't suffice! I've gathered a mix of gadgets, fashion and male grooming products that hopefully will be a massive help if you're stuck for ideas!

Work Xmas Party- The Outfit & The Beauty Essentials

It's Christmas Party season, my favourite time of the year! What better time to put your best dancing shoes on and get a little merry? We had our work Christmas party last Friday and I love seeing how glamorous everyone gets. It's such a change from seeing everyone in their work attire and massive efforts were made!

Christmas Gift Ideas For Women

So you've decorated your house and made it look as Christmassy as possible and now it's time to start Christmas shopping. Around this time of the year there are so many gorgeous items around and hundreds of gift sets to choose from. I've gathered a few ideas together of lots of lovely gifts that you can get the women in your life this Christmas, and maybe a few ideas for yourselves too... because, well, it would be rude not to!

Christmas Decorations For The Home

With only two and a half weeks to go until the big day things are starting to get really Christmassy round here! My family are planning on putting up our Christmas tree this weekend and I can't wait to really start to get into the Christmas spirit! I still live at home with my parents and whilst the house is always decorated very tastefully I'm so excited for when I have my own home in a few years time to have the freedom of decorating it exactly how I want. As a compromise I've collated all of my favourite decorations that I think would look beautiful around the home. There's so many that I've separated them into two different colour themes, and even just narrowing it down was a hard task!

Best Brush For... Full Coverage Foundation

The 'Best Brush For' is the start of a new series of posts about my favourite brushes for different areas of makeup application. I'm starting with the Zoeva 102 Silk Finish Brush which applies foundation flawlessly. I wrote about it back in May (here) shortly after I  had first bought it and six months later I'm still loving it more than ever.

Wishlist | December- Christmas List Edit

This months wishlist is quite a lot bigger than usual as it's the CHRISTMAS EDITION! There's so many gorgeous items that I'm wanting to get my hands on this Christmas and while I'm not expecting to get every single item and obviously I'll be so grateful with whatever I get, these are also a few ideas for yourselves too!

The Best of Christmas Jumpers

This time next month it will be Christmas Eve! We're so close now and Christmas is the time of the year where we can wrap up in our winter warmers and get away with crazy jumpers. This year Christmas Jumper Day is taking place on the 18th December so  I've trawled through the internet to find my online favourites.

Makeup Setting Sprays | Save vs. Splurge

 

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray is one of the most sought after setting sprays. I should know- it took me ages to get hold of it as everywhere seemed to be constantly out of stock. It felt like a long while but eventually a very welcome email landed in my inbox from Feel Unique notifying me that it was back in stock and I was straight on their website submitting my order faster than you can say go! In the meantime, Makeup Revolution also have their own Setting Spray which I've been using for those not-so-special occasions, i.e at work. With one costing £5 and the other over four times the price at £21 (although UD does have 18ml extra) how do they compare?

Product of the Month | Becca 'Champagne Pop'

This is a new feature on my blog where I will write about my chosen product that I've really been loving each month! To kick start my first post it had to be Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop which is still yet to be released in the UK. I was lucky that I managed to pick it up from Sephora whilst I was in the states in September. I wanted to buy something that I wasn't able to get in the UK and whilst  I didn't go there to intentionally pick up a highlighter, Champagne Pop was simply irresistible.

My 3 Favourite Under Eye Concealers...

...And they're all for less than £10 too! I've harped on enough about my horrendous dark rings under my eyes and I'm constantly trying out different products to try and hide them as much as possible. These three concealers have cropped up on so many different blogs on numerous occasions and I can totally vouch for the fact that they are worthy of their rave reviews. Whilst each product are very efficient on their own I've found that mixing all three together creates the perfect formula for both brightening and concealing the under eye area.

Wislist | October

Oasis Detachable Fur Collar Coat | £68 (was £85)

The clocks went back at the weekend so it feels like winter is now upon us. Each year I like to purchase a new winter coat and I've seen this gorgeous stone coloured  one from Oasis. My current winter coats are all black, navy or dark green so I love that this is a little different and the fur collar makes it extra warm and cosy. It synchs in at  the waist and flares out at the bottom so it's a very flattering shape too. It's currently reduced in House of Fraser so I'm desperate to get hold of it as soon as I can!

Best Bottom Lash Mascaras

Mascaras in general get discussed a lot amongst beauty blogs and I've got an every growing list of ones that I have tried and ones that I want to try, however I don't find bottom lash mascaras are often specifically spoken about. I believe that my top and bottom lashes have different needs and requirements so therefore warrant the use of a different mascara for each. For my top lashes I want volume, length and curl whilst my bottom lashes simply just need the length and to be waterproof. I've come across two mascaras that fit the criteria for the latter perfectly.

Seventeen's Awesome Foursome*

Over the last few years SEVENTEEN have had a rebrand and become a lot more appealing. Formally known as 17, I've always associated them with young teenagers who are just starting to experiment with makeup. In some respect,  due to how affordable they are I'm sure they still  reach out to this audience but I find that the quality has improved so much so that they could even give some of the more higher end brands a run for their money. I've used quite a few of their products in the past including their Bronzing Powder, Wow! Tan and Eyeshadows so I was really happy to be asked to try out some more of their products, and this awesome foursome didn't disappoint!

Clarifying Shampoo

Until earlier on in the year I hadn't ever heard of a clarifying shampoo. Tell me anything about something that conditions the hair and I'll have more than likely heard of it but with shampoos I'm a lot less knowledgeable. It was only when I read about it somewhere on the internet that I realised a clarifying shampoo may be something that my hair could really benefit from. Do you ever feel like no matter how recently you've washed your hair it still feels lank, heavy and greasy? Well this is a real problem solver.

Holiday Snaps in Arizona

During September I was near enough completely absent from the blogging world, writing a very shameful total of just two posts; due to me being away on my family holiday to Arizona. Just as all bloggers do they love to take lots of pictures, so without breaking a trend and to make up for going all MIA I've decided to share a few with you.

Budget Lips | The Nude, The Berrys and The Classic Red

I wouldn't classify myself as a lipstick obsessive but I do like to wear it on certain occasions as it can really dress up a look. I'm quite wary of some shades such a corals and orangey pinks that really don't suit me so I tend to only stick with the colours that I feel most comfortable in. Over the past year I've fallen in love with 90's nudes but I also find berry and red tones really have the ability to look ultra glamorous. These are my favourite shades that can be picked up for less than £10!

Wishlist | September

Paco Rabanne Olympéa Eau De Parfum 30-80ml | £36.50-61.50

I spotted the new Paco Rabanne fragrance being promoted at the airport before we caught our flight to go on holiday a few weeks ago and it was love at first smell. It's described as 'a fresh oriental fragrance' with three accords  of 1. Green  Mandarin, Ginger Lily and Hydroponic Jasmine; 2.  Salty Vanilla and 3. Cashmere Wood and Ambergris. Admittedly I'm the worst at being able to describe or pick out certain scents in a fragrance and can just about tell whether something is either rich or fruity smelling, but what I do know is that this smells gorgeous and is definitely one that will take pride of place on my dressing table- just look at that bottle! The smell lasted for ages too and even withstood a ten hour flight. Lucky for me my mum works at the airport so I can still get this with duty free discount!

A Trip to Kiko

I kind of feel a bit like I've disappeared off the blogging radar the past couple of weeks- but I do have a good excuse as I've been sunning myself up in the beautiful state of Arizona in the US! I'll go into a lot more about my trip and the things I bought whilst I was out there in future posts,  but for now I'm home and ready to get back into the swing of things and begin updating my blog on a much more regular basis! But first, lets discuss shimmering shadows and a glowing highlighter from KIKO.

August | Wishlist

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray | £21

After hearing about a gazillion wonderful reviews about this product it's about time that I got my hands on it! I mean who doesn't want their makeup to stay in perfect tact all day long? Ideally this would have come in so handy during the really hot spell that we had the end of June when my makeup  was practically dripping of my face but even on just a normal day I like to keep everything in place. I'm going on holiday to the states next week so I'm hoping that I may come across this for slightly cheaper but even if not £21 isn't a bad price at all!

Faux Glow For The Face

The weather has been pretty average this summer which means that there's been very few chances to sit in the sun and top up my tan. Instead I've resorted to tanning from the bottle to give my skin that  golden glow. Fake tanning the body isn't a particularly difficult task but when it comes to the face it's a lot more tricky. That's not least because if it goes wrong there's absolutely no way of hiding it (unless you succumb to putting a paper bag over your face) but I'm also wary of  fake tan being liable for breakouts. As such I tend to avoid putting them anywhere near my face, leaving me facing  the disastrous look of a white face against a tanned neck. This is where I have to turn to other alternatives to give me that faux glow. There are various  products that have the ability to warm up the face and give a sunkissed look and I've selected four different formulas that can either be used all together or separately depending on the depth of colour that you're aiming for.

Makeup Revoultion | Hot Spice Ultra Blush Palette

Would you believe that this palette is my first ever Make Up Revolution product!? It's taken me far too long to make a purchase but Hot Spice has really impressed- which definitely bodes well for the rest of the brand!  The gorgeous peachy-brown toned blushers that sit amongst the palette look incredible on the skin and the quality is excellent. I'm still amazed that it cost as little as £6!

My Feline Flick Essentials

The feline flick is well renowned in the beauty industry as what seems near enough impossible to get perfect. It takes a LOT of practice and probably a few tantrums in the process. I won't even begin to try and attempt to give instructions of how to get it right but I can talk about the products that I find are an essential- Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Eyeliner and L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Gel Intenza. I use two liners for the purpose that Rimmel allows for absolute control and precision whilst L'Oreal provides amazing pigmentation and sustainability.

A Day At The Races- What I Wore

The Saturday before last myself and a few friends spent the day at Ascot Racecourse for King George Weekend to celebrate my birthday. After the Friday being the most grim day ever I was dreading the weather being just as wet and rainy the following day but I was so happy to wake up to bright sunshine- perfect for my summer outfit of choice! The day was really lovely with drinks flowing and huge amounts of picnic food. Unfortunately I didn't win anything but maybe next year eh! I opted for this gorgeous floral midi skirt teamed with a metallic cami and beige wedges, and accessorised with a pale blue Whistles clutch. Shop the look below.

Wishlist | July- If Money Were No Object

Wouldn't you just love it if you were super rich and money were no object?  That's just what I've been imagining with this high-end accessories wishlist. It was so fun to put together, lusting over all of these gorgeous items and I  barely even gave the price a second look. If only!

Afternoon Tea at Sopwell House

Thursday 16th July was my birthday and to celebrate James took me for afternoon tea at Sopwell House in Hertfordshire. I was so surprised James had organised this because he's not really into the whole tea and cake thing but he knows how much I love it and it fitted into the rest of the days plans so it was a really lovely idea! Having not been to afternoon tea before he had no idea what sort of thing that he was looking for but he did amazingly well- Sopwell House was beautiful!

Sleek | Sunset and Birthday Suit

Sleek is a highstreet brand that I honestly couldn't rave about more! I first came across the  i-Divine Original Palette  years ago by a friend and  couldn't believe how high quality it was for such a small price. It wasn't long before I went out and bought a brand new palette for myself- and that it where our love affair started! Ever since I've made numerous Sleek purchases, with i-Divine Sunset Palette and Matte Me Birthday Suit being the latest additions.

Clearer Skin With Clarisonic Mia 2

Cleansing brushes seem to be cropping up everywhere and opinions often vary. Is it really worth spending over £100 on an electronic brush? Does it's performance justify the price? I know all too well how miserable bad skin can make you feel. When my skin was at its worst I would have paid anything to help improve it. Admittedly my skin is now a lot better than it was four years ago but I still suffered with breakouts and uneven complexion so I felt that there was definitely room for improvement. When I first heard about the Clarisonic I couldn't  help but wonder whether this could be the answer  to my problem.

Fake It Like You've Been On Holiday

 

If you're like me and you hate having pale skin then I'm sure that fake tan is your best friend. I have tried countless tanning products over the years from when I first started wearing it, from St Tropez even down to Wilkos' own brand. It's difficult finding the perfect tan- a lot of them either come out green, have a horrible smell or wash off with the slightest bit of rain, and sometimes it's almost enough to put me off tanning altogether. That being said, with many different brands bringing out new and improved tanning formulas, it's hard to resist.

Wishlist | June

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum | £46

I've probably mentioned it time and time again but dark circles and uneven texture under the eyes is a real issue for me. I've read about this eye serum by Estee Lauder and it sounds like it tackles my exact problem area. Only slight dilemma is that it's rather expensive. It's also an anti-aging product and being only 22 I'm not entirely sure it's a product I should to be using just yet. However the hydrating formula is said to inhibit signs of fatigue and pollution to leave the area looking vibrant and brighter, so if it really does do what it says on the tin then this sounds like it could be very worthy of its hefty price tag, whatever age you are.

My Concealer Favourites

I owe a lot of thanks to concealer for allowing me to 'fake being awake' and making me feel so much better when I've had a huge breakout. It's a huge saviour and one of those make-up products that I truly could not be without. Even on a no make-up day I'll still have a little dabble with the concealer! I'm a complete sucker for any form of cover-up but these are my current favourite go-to products.

Soap&Glory | My New Brow Favourite

I've previously done a post on shaping and defining the brows [here] where I mentioned that I like to use a Brow Pencil by MAC. The main reason that I love it is due to the very fine nib enabling for greater precision. I like to use the fairest shade in blonde to outline the edge and then I fill in with a powder. This technique works really well for me and I've been using it for sometime.

Favourite Body Lotion: Bath and Body Works

I always love to use a really nice body lotion after showering to leave my skin feeling soft and smelling extra fresh. My ultimate favourite is Bath and Body Works which, as said in the name, specialises in bath and body products ranging from shower gels and soaps to lotions and perfumes, or even candles and fragrance plugs for the home. They are the most gorgeous fragrances and particularly fitting for the summer.

Longer Lashes With Magnetic Mascara

Last month I went to the Ideal Home Show with my mum and sister and came across this amazing mascara which gives the most beautifully long lashes. Long gone are the days  of hopelessly trying to get fake eyelashes to stick without getting a blob of glue in your eye because Magnetic Lash by Santhilea London is so extremely easy to use and the results create such an impact.

Base On The Face

Having done a make-up course at university and being a huge beauty fanatic, I've accumulated a lot of make-up. Truthfully some of it has just been pushed to the back of my drawers and been totally forgotten about but generally most of it I do still use in rotation. In terms of what base I use it often depends on the type of coverage that I want whether it be full coverage for an evening out or something light and dewy for a summers day.  Providing my skins cooperating and I haven't had a huge breakout, this little combination has been working really well for me at the moment.

Face and Brows With Zoeva

I've been meaning to get a new foundation and eybrow brush for a while so when I was browsing on Beauty Bay's website a few days ago  it was no surprise that I landed on the page for Zoeva's brushes; a well loved brand by fellow beauty bloggers. After having read so many amazing reviews about their fantastic quality for such a reasonable price I decided that now was the time to try them and swiftly  added the 322 Brow Line Brush and 102 Silk Finish Brush to my  basket.

Wishlist | May

Miss Selfridge Structured Trench Coat | £69

A trench coat is the perfect attire for the Spring/Summer months in the UK so I think it's a good idea to invest in a nice one that will last. I find that unless we're having a spurt of a heat wave where you want to wear as little as possible, a trench is just right; it's not too thick but will keep you warm enough for when the sun disappears behind  a cloud. This one by Miss Selfridge is really sophisticated and isn't overly expensive either.

A Very Mini Boots Haul

Boots is one of my favourite shops. It may be a little sad to admit but I just love it. Pretty much most of my beauty essentials are all in my one place and I regularly like to pop in there to pick up some new bits and see what else is about.  These three items I picked up a few weeks ago and so far have really been enjoying using.

My Current Primer Favourites

Primer is a bit of a new addition to my make-up bag but ever since I started using it I wouldn't be able to go back. I've been trying out lots of different primers to find the best ones suited to me and the two that I'm currently loving are simple drugstore purchases that can easily be picked up in  Boots or Superdrug.

Wishlist | April

Asos Swimsuit | £18

With a potential last minute May holiday on the agenda I need to start getting my summer holiday wardrobe together. I don't normally wear swimsuits as I like to tan my stomach but as I love this so much I'm willing to sacrifice the tan for a day! Although I think I'll be saving it for the last few days of the holiday when I'm not quite as pale- a white swimsuit and pasty skin wouldn't be a great look.

Woburn Safari Park

Since James and I have left university and moved back to our family homes it's become a lot more difficult to see each other. With James living just outside of Milton Keynes and me living closer to Windsor (an hours drive) along with the fact that both of us work full time, we're now restricted to seeing each other only at the weekends. We've been doing this for about 7 months now so I've become pretty used to it and I like that it makes me feel that I've always got something lined up for the weekends. Often when we visit each other we'll go out for dinner and drinks or stay in and watch films however recently we've decided that when we go to see each other it would be nice to make an effort to plan to do something a little bit different and so this weekend we took a trip to Woburn Safari Park.

Sunshine and Snow in Austria

Last week I had the pleasure of skiing at an altitude of up to 2800m with beautiful sunshine and stunning views in the most gorgeous resort of Ischgl, Austria. I'm now sitting back at home in the drab English weather and it would be truthful to say that I'm sad to be home! We had such a good time and this is what we got up to whilst we were away...

Wishlist | March

Misguided- Sleeveless Trench Coat £35

I've been wanting this jacket for a few weeks but it's currently out of stock. It's a gorgeous pale grey and will be perfect for meeting up for lunch with the girls. Now we're approaching spring it's about time that my thick winter coats get put to the back of the wardrobe and I start bringing out much lighter jackets. I'll team this with a long sleeved top on those sunny-but-windy days where it's too cold for bare arms, but weather appropriate, I'll go totally sleeveless. I'm hoping Misguided get it back in stock soon!

Lookfantastic Haul

Last Wednesday I received an absolute delight of an email informing me that Lookfantastic were offering 20% discount! Quite often I have to stop myself from going on their website otherwise I'll lose self-control and buy pretty much everything on there; but on this occasion I just couldn't resist. This was a 'Beat the Beauty Clock' promotion lasting for one day where the discount drops by 1% every hour. I've had a few things that I've been wanting to buy for a while but just haven't got round to it so this was the perfect opportunity. The clock started at 9am but as I was starting work at 9.30am I didn't get round to ordering till about 11am so the discount had dropped to 18%, but this was still a very generous amount off!

Moroccanoil Hair Care

Moroccanoil is one of my favourite hair care brands. I first started using it nearly 2 years ago and it has done wonders for my hair. Those who know me are all too familiar with my hair problems and whilst I don't think that there will ever be a cure for my wild mane, there are certain products that definitely help.

Wishlist | February

Sali Hughes- Pretty Honest £14.96

This book looks just my kind of thing. Written by beauty columnist Sali Hughes and with 20 years of experience in the beauty industry I would say that she is a pretty reliable source to take advice from. This could be the ultimate guide for fellow beauty lovers as she gives advice and guidance on all beauty areas from the good, the bad and the ugly. What with her witty sense of humour, I have a feeling that I'm going to enjoy reading this.

Lime Crime Velvetines

Lime Crime is a brand that I'm not sure many people from the UK know much about or have even heard of. I hadn't actually heard of them myself until I read about them on Karla Powell's blog 2 years ago but ever since I have been keeping a close eye on their products. They are the brand that are responsible for the amazing Velvetines range and I would urge anyone who loves a bold and vibrant lip to give them a try.

Tweezerman | Eyelash Curlers.

Unlike some, I've never been blessed with super curled lashes, so eyelash curlers have become a staple tool in my make-up bag. I find that when my eyelashes are curled it opens up my eyes and makes them appear so much bigger and better! Saying that, I was never been one to actually spend a lot on eyelash curlers. I hadn't really understood how a £15 pair of eyelashes curlers could hugely differ from a £5 pair. Surely they all just work the same?

Glossybox | January

The theme of January's box is 'Fresh Start', ready for the new year! Considering we've only just passed Christmas I actually think that most of these products are more suited for the summer however inside are 5 full-sized products, all of which I will be able to put to good use, so all in all I would say it's a good start to the year for Glossybox!

Wishlist | January

Lucy Mecklenburgh- Be Body Beautiful £7

Who doesn't want a body like Lucy Meck? One of my new years resolutions this year is to keep on top of my health and fitness and on the agenda is to sign up to Results with Lucy. Alongside the fitness programme Lucy has also brought out her book, Be Body Beautiful, and I think this will be one step further in the right direction to getting a body like hers. In the book not only does she tell you the best exercises for a toned body but she also provides recipes so that you can eat clean too which I think will be really useful.