After a workout there are days when you may be pushed for time and you need to get ready and go without the luxury of heading home. After topping up my deodorant and spraying half a can of dry shampoo there are a few makeup/beauty essentials I'll pack up and reach for when I need to make myself look presentable after the gym.

First I will reach for a facial spray to sooth and calm down my more than likely red face. The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is one I love as it smells very fresh and is great to wake up the skin. The mini size is also super handy and portable, so perfect to carry around. After this I like to go in with a tinted moisturiser type product to hydrate and give me a bit of coverage, Origins Vitazing is great which comes out as a grey cream which then adapts to your skin tone. This doesn't offer a lot of coverage as it's more on the moisturiser side of things, but it brings a nice amount of colour to face and is a nice base. After this is all blended in I'll add some concealer under my eyes and around my nose to conceal redness and dark circles. Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage Concealer Kit is lovely for this as it has great coverage and also comes with a setting powder, so handy to have everything in one place. To finish off the face you can add some cream blush or let the rosiness shine through a bit. I like to carry the Bobbi Brown Cabo Coral Cheek and Lip Tint around just incase I want something less red toned! These can easily be applied with your fingers, like everything here, making it super easy and fuss free.

I like to fill in my brows a bit too and give them a little brush through so having a two in one brow pencil is great, Soap and Glory make one which I love and would recommend. I wouldn't recommend faffing around with eyeshadow unless you want to so just curl your lashes and add some mascara to your top and bottom lashes. I've been using the MAX Factor False Lash Effect which is great for creating natural looking lashes as well as building them up to be more dramatic so you can go as big as you want with this! On the lips I use a tinted lip balm mainly to moisturise but it's nice to add some colour too. I've gone back to the Korres Lip Tints and love the colour pay off they have!

SHOP THIS POST

Post Gym Edit


After a workout there are days when you may be pushed for time and you need to get ready and go without the luxury of heading home. After topping up my deodorant and spraying half a can of dry shampoo there are a few makeup/beauty essentials I'll pack up and reach for when I need to make myself look presentable after the gym.

First I will reach for a facial spray to sooth and calm down my more than likely red face. The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is one I love as it smells very fresh and is great to wake up the skin. The mini size is also super handy and portable, so perfect to carry around. After this I like to go in with a tinted moisturiser type product to hydrate and give me a bit of coverage, Origins Vitazing is great which comes out as a grey cream which then adapts to your skin tone. This doesn't offer a lot of coverage as it's more on the moisturiser side of things, but it brings a nice amount of colour to face and is a nice base. After this is all blended in I'll add some concealer under my eyes and around my nose to conceal redness and dark circles. Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage Concealer Kit is lovely for this as it has great coverage and also comes with a setting powder, so handy to have everything in one place. To finish off the face you can add some cream blush or let the rosiness shine through a bit. I like to carry the Bobbi Brown Cabo Coral Cheek and Lip Tint around just incase I want something less red toned! These can easily be applied with your fingers, like everything here, making it super easy and fuss free.

I like to fill in my brows a bit too and give them a little brush through so having a two in one brow pencil is great, Soap and Glory make one which I love and would recommend. I wouldn't recommend faffing around with eyeshadow unless you want to so just curl your lashes and add some mascara to your top and bottom lashes. I've been using the MAX Factor False Lash Effect which is great for creating natural looking lashes as well as building them up to be more dramatic so you can go as big as you want with this! On the lips I use a tinted lip balm mainly to moisturise but it's nice to add some colour too. I've gone back to the Korres Lip Tints and love the colour pay off they have!

SHOP THIS POST

Friday, July 31, 2015

It's been a while since I've shared a look I've been loving wearing and today I thought I would talk you though a summery smokey eye. I love a smokey eye when the evenings approach, but in the summer it's nice to tone things down a bit and go in a bit lighter with those shadows. The Maybelline The Nudes Palette is what I'll be using today and it has some lovely shades, perfect for this type of look.

I always start with a base of some sorts to start everything off and get a blank and even canvas. The Maybelline Colour Tattoos are fab as they have good colour pay off and they last ages on the eyes without creasing. I'm using the shade 'Creamy Beige' which is very comparable to MAC's Painterly Paint pot and is a great nude toned cream to prime with. Onto the palette now, and I have to say I was very impressed with the colour selection and overall quality of these bad boys. It has 12 very wearable - and of course neutral - shades which are perfect for day to day wear and also evenings. The palette comes with some basic matte shades and some shimmery which are all very buttery and last well on the eyes. I've been taking the light shimmery taupe shade (2nd in from bottom right) which is lovely all over the lids to bring light to the eye area. I don't normally go for shades as light as this, but this one really makes the eyes look brighter and looks great with a brown blended through the crease and outer corner. For that, I love the shade on the bottom left for blending over that light shimmery shade as it adds a nice amount of depth to the eyes without being too dramatic and dark. These shades together look so pretty on a summers evening and if you're looking for something different then MAC's Shroom and Satin Taupe are both very similar.

To smoke this up a bit you have two great matte shades on the right to choose from, I love going in with a liner - like Charlotte Tilbury's Barbarella Brown - on the lash line, then blending it out with the darkest shade in the palette. I love using a matte shade to blend liner out with as it creates a really soft line which is very flattering and pretty.
Have you tried this new Maybelline palette?

SHOP THIS POST

Summer Smokey Eye


It's been a while since I've shared a look I've been loving wearing and today I thought I would talk you though a summery smokey eye. I love a smokey eye when the evenings approach, but in the summer it's nice to tone things down a bit and go in a bit lighter with those shadows. The Maybelline The Nudes Palette is what I'll be using today and it has some lovely shades, perfect for this type of look.

I always start with a base of some sorts to start everything off and get a blank and even canvas. The Maybelline Colour Tattoos are fab as they have good colour pay off and they last ages on the eyes without creasing. I'm using the shade 'Creamy Beige' which is very comparable to MAC's Painterly Paint pot and is a great nude toned cream to prime with. Onto the palette now, and I have to say I was very impressed with the colour selection and overall quality of these bad boys. It has 12 very wearable - and of course neutral - shades which are perfect for day to day wear and also evenings. The palette comes with some basic matte shades and some shimmery which are all very buttery and last well on the eyes. I've been taking the light shimmery taupe shade (2nd in from bottom right) which is lovely all over the lids to bring light to the eye area. I don't normally go for shades as light as this, but this one really makes the eyes look brighter and looks great with a brown blended through the crease and outer corner. For that, I love the shade on the bottom left for blending over that light shimmery shade as it adds a nice amount of depth to the eyes without being too dramatic and dark. These shades together look so pretty on a summers evening and if you're looking for something different then MAC's Shroom and Satin Taupe are both very similar.

To smoke this up a bit you have two great matte shades on the right to choose from, I love going in with a liner - like Charlotte Tilbury's Barbarella Brown - on the lash line, then blending it out with the darkest shade in the palette. I love using a matte shade to blend liner out with as it creates a really soft line which is very flattering and pretty.
Have you tried this new Maybelline palette?

SHOP THIS POST

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Everyday there are a few skincare products that I always end up reaching for, whether it be on a no makeup day or not, treating my skin is something I love to do. A lot of these products are high end, but I feel like skincare products are the one thing worth investing, but with that being said, of course you can find good products at a less expensive price point.

The Nivea Micellar Cleansing Water is something I love to use either in the morning to refresh my skin, or in the evening to remove makeup and set my skin up for a good cleanse. This is the best micellar water I've tried and there are now loads at the drugstore to choose from so I'm sure there's one for you. This is a 3-in-1 formula so it doesn't just remove makeup, it cleanses the deeper layers of skin and leaves it moisturised. Perfect for a lazy night! Following on from this I love my Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel which has become a cult product in the beauty world. Even though it says gel, I would say its more creamy and turns into a milky formula when mixed with water. It smells of roses which is nice and it dissolved makeup well too, a good all rounder.

For the morning there's nothing better than a good facial spritz and the Caudalie Beauty Elixir is one I love. Out of all the ones I've tried out, this one is definitely the most refreshing and the mint and cucumber leaves your skin feeling super cool and soothed. You can pick this up in a mini size which is handy to throw in your bag for boosts throughout the day. On top of that I like to add a nice serum, and applying one in the morning is something I've only started doing but love the difference it makes. The one I've been using is the Origins Original Skin Serum which is creamy in consistency and preps you skin nicely for moisturiser. I love this because it doesn't weigh the skin down or leave it oily like some which are more intense, it also keeps my skin more moisturised and plump throughout the day. A good lip balm is key to luscious lips and Elizabeth Arden do a great one which is part of their 8 hour range. It's an intense cream/gel formula and works great overnight to leave your lips plump and nourished.
What skincare products are you loving? 

SHOP THIS POST

Cult Skincare


Everyday there are a few skincare products that I always end up reaching for, whether it be on a no makeup day or not, treating my skin is something I love to do. A lot of these products are high end, but I feel like skincare products are the one thing worth investing, but with that being said, of course you can find good products at a less expensive price point.

The Nivea Micellar Cleansing Water is something I love to use either in the morning to refresh my skin, or in the evening to remove makeup and set my skin up for a good cleanse. This is the best micellar water I've tried and there are now loads at the drugstore to choose from so I'm sure there's one for you. This is a 3-in-1 formula so it doesn't just remove makeup, it cleanses the deeper layers of skin and leaves it moisturised. Perfect for a lazy night! Following on from this I love my Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel which has become a cult product in the beauty world. Even though it says gel, I would say its more creamy and turns into a milky formula when mixed with water. It smells of roses which is nice and it dissolved makeup well too, a good all rounder.

For the morning there's nothing better than a good facial spritz and the Caudalie Beauty Elixir is one I love. Out of all the ones I've tried out, this one is definitely the most refreshing and the mint and cucumber leaves your skin feeling super cool and soothed. You can pick this up in a mini size which is handy to throw in your bag for boosts throughout the day. On top of that I like to add a nice serum, and applying one in the morning is something I've only started doing but love the difference it makes. The one I've been using is the Origins Original Skin Serum which is creamy in consistency and preps you skin nicely for moisturiser. I love this because it doesn't weigh the skin down or leave it oily like some which are more intense, it also keeps my skin more moisturised and plump throughout the day. A good lip balm is key to luscious lips and Elizabeth Arden do a great one which is part of their 8 hour range. It's an intense cream/gel formula and works great overnight to leave your lips plump and nourished.
What skincare products are you loving? 

SHOP THIS POST

Monday, July 27, 2015

Recently I've been having a bit of a love affair with Pinterest, and my boyfriend can confirm I'm on it a lot and may be a little obsessed, but there are worse things to be obsessed with right? I'm going to try and make this an every now and then thing where I share a few of my favourite pins of the moment and hopefully you'll all feel a bit inspired too!

1// Style: Source
If there's one thing I love searching through on Pinterest, it's the fashion section and I love how you can find basically every fashion blogger and their outfits on one page, it's fab. This outfit really got me excited to pick up some more seasonal appropriate clothing and I love all the Moroccan vibes, those tiles are just gorgeous, and I love the top. These button down skirts have been a huge hit this year and I'm keen to try one out, and this ones black, so bonus points all around.

2// Interiors: Source
Interiors is another dangerous section for me and I can find myself scrolling for hours looking at white walls and wood floor boards, a bloggers dream! I love the exposed brick in this dining room an the lights are so retro and in a nice pastel blue shade. The flowers are also lovely as tulips are my favourites and the wooden table finishes everything off nicely. I wish I could copy and paste this room into my house right now!

3// Beach: Source
Theres nothing more that gets me in the summer mood than looking at beaches, white sand, crystal clear waters, it's heartbreaking being in the UK when there's so much more beauty to be explored, and you certainly don't get palm trees down in Brighton...

4//Fitness Inspiration: Source
Fitness inspiration, or "fitspo" as the cool kids are saying these days, is everywhere on Pinterest, which is good as it gets my butt moving and motivated. This Lulu Lemon get up looks so cool for summer and I'm in love the mint green sports bra, perfect for a spot of yoga.

Pins I Love No.1


Recently I've been having a bit of a love affair with Pinterest, and my boyfriend can confirm I'm on it a lot and may be a little obsessed, but there are worse things to be obsessed with right? I'm going to try and make this an every now and then thing where I share a few of my favourite pins of the moment and hopefully you'll all feel a bit inspired too!

1// Style: Source
If there's one thing I love searching through on Pinterest, it's the fashion section and I love how you can find basically every fashion blogger and their outfits on one page, it's fab. This outfit really got me excited to pick up some more seasonal appropriate clothing and I love all the Moroccan vibes, those tiles are just gorgeous, and I love the top. These button down skirts have been a huge hit this year and I'm keen to try one out, and this ones black, so bonus points all around.

2// Interiors: Source
Interiors is another dangerous section for me and I can find myself scrolling for hours looking at white walls and wood floor boards, a bloggers dream! I love the exposed brick in this dining room an the lights are so retro and in a nice pastel blue shade. The flowers are also lovely as tulips are my favourites and the wooden table finishes everything off nicely. I wish I could copy and paste this room into my house right now!

3// Beach: Source
Theres nothing more that gets me in the summer mood than looking at beaches, white sand, crystal clear waters, it's heartbreaking being in the UK when there's so much more beauty to be explored, and you certainly don't get palm trees down in Brighton...

4//Fitness Inspiration: Source
Fitness inspiration, or "fitspo" as the cool kids are saying these days, is everywhere on Pinterest, which is good as it gets my butt moving and motivated. This Lulu Lemon get up looks so cool for summer and I'm in love the mint green sports bra, perfect for a spot of yoga.
Sunday, July 26, 2015

I love summer, and bright lips, so this post definitely seemed appropriate and I can't wait to share with you a combo that I can't stop wearing. I love corals don't get me wrong, but lately there's been something about a good old pink that has been tickling my fancy.

Ever since the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat craze I've been loving lip liners and love the way they make my lips look. Agreed, you only really need one or two lip liners in your life, a nude and a red, but a fuchsia pink won't do much harm right? Rimmel's Indian Pink is the perfect bright pink for summer and for £2.99 you can't beat it. The formula of rimmel lip liners are very comparable to Charlotte Tilbury, just not as creamy, but still lovely and non drying never the less. On it's own this is lovely, matte and will last ages, but I like to pair it with something a bit more glossy to give my lips more depth.

So, following on from the lip liner, on top I go for MAC's Lustering which is one I seem to be talking about a lot. It's a similar fuchsia pink to the liner but a sheerer finish and with more shine. Putting a more moisturising lip product on top also ensures the liner won't dry into any cracks, and a sheer lipstick is a lot easier to top up during the day. When I wear a liner underneath, it doesn't fade awkwardly and you're always left with a nice pink stain if the lipstick disappears throughout the day. A great combo don't ya think? 

SHOP THIS POST

Summer Lip Combo


I love summer, and bright lips, so this post definitely seemed appropriate and I can't wait to share with you a combo that I can't stop wearing. I love corals don't get me wrong, but lately there's been something about a good old pink that has been tickling my fancy.

Ever since the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat craze I've been loving lip liners and love the way they make my lips look. Agreed, you only really need one or two lip liners in your life, a nude and a red, but a fuchsia pink won't do much harm right? Rimmel's Indian Pink is the perfect bright pink for summer and for £2.99 you can't beat it. The formula of rimmel lip liners are very comparable to Charlotte Tilbury, just not as creamy, but still lovely and non drying never the less. On it's own this is lovely, matte and will last ages, but I like to pair it with something a bit more glossy to give my lips more depth.

So, following on from the lip liner, on top I go for MAC's Lustering which is one I seem to be talking about a lot. It's a similar fuchsia pink to the liner but a sheerer finish and with more shine. Putting a more moisturising lip product on top also ensures the liner won't dry into any cracks, and a sheer lipstick is a lot easier to top up during the day. When I wear a liner underneath, it doesn't fade awkwardly and you're always left with a nice pink stain if the lipstick disappears throughout the day. A great combo don't ya think? 

SHOP THIS POST

Friday, July 24, 2015

If there's one body product which is making me feel all the summer vibes, it's the Origins A Perfect World White Tea Body Lotion, which straight off the bat reminded me of peach ice tea, it smells pretty damn good. When I found out that Origins had a body lotion I had to try it out as their facial moisturisers are something I'll forever be repurchasing. For £25 it's definitely a more luxury product and I wouldn't normally spend this much on a body lotion, but you get 200ml of product and for a summer treat it's gorgeous.

I tend to apply this in the morning as the smell is so good and lasts well on the skin, the white tea is really refreshing and I can't stop sniffing my arm once it's sunk in. It's very peachy and amazingly delicious! The formula is creamy and helps to hydrate the skin and sinks in quickly so you don't have a wait around to get dressed, you can just crack on with your day. The A Perfect World range from Origins is great for all skin types, and like their facial skincare range, you can feel and see that your skin is more plump and nourished which I love, again, not cheap, but totally worth it.

SHOP THIS POST

A Summer Body Must Have


If there's one body product which is making me feel all the summer vibes, it's the Origins A Perfect World White Tea Body Lotion, which straight off the bat reminded me of peach ice tea, it smells pretty damn good. When I found out that Origins had a body lotion I had to try it out as their facial moisturisers are something I'll forever be repurchasing. For £25 it's definitely a more luxury product and I wouldn't normally spend this much on a body lotion, but you get 200ml of product and for a summer treat it's gorgeous.

I tend to apply this in the morning as the smell is so good and lasts well on the skin, the white tea is really refreshing and I can't stop sniffing my arm once it's sunk in. It's very peachy and amazingly delicious! The formula is creamy and helps to hydrate the skin and sinks in quickly so you don't have a wait around to get dressed, you can just crack on with your day. The A Perfect World range from Origins is great for all skin types, and like their facial skincare range, you can feel and see that your skin is more plump and nourished which I love, again, not cheap, but totally worth it.

SHOP THIS POST

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Hair is probably the one beauty category I tend not to explore as much, as when I wash it, it's a chore, I want to be done ASAP. With the exception of a few leave in treatments, oils and serums go over my head and I like to keep my haircare very minimal and fuss free. I wash it at night so I rarely dry it and I never straighten it either, as naturally it already looks like it's been ironed to my scalp, but with that being said, my hair can be dry sometimes and I do get split ends on occasion.

My shampoo and conditioner tastes aren't too fussy and I tend to buy whatever is on offer and promises volume (although I'm not sure they make much difference but hay). At the moment I've been using the Aussie Mega Instant Shampoo and Conditioner which smell amazing but are nothing that special. I feel like you can get away with using cheaper shampoos as it's the products you use afterwards which make the most difference. They're nice enough products but I won't be in a rush to repurchase then. Once a week I've been using the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo which is perfect to remove product build up at the end of the week and give your hair a deep clean. I wouldn't recommend using this anymore than two times a week as it may be too stripping on the hair and make it dry. Another product I use once a week is the Dove Nourishing Oil Care Repair Hair Mask which leaves your hair so soft once it's dried. I use this instead of conditioner and for £2 it's going to last me ages, it's great value for money. It's enriched with argon oils so your hair is treated and nourished and left feeling healthy and hydrated. I've never been into hair masks, but after using this one I'm keen to try out more, so leave you recommendations down below.

Post shower, I have whittled my routine down to one product, yes, one! In the summer my hair doesn't need as much maintenance so I can get away with a few spritzes of the Dove Leave In Conditioner, brush it though and be done. I really rate this leave in conditioner, it's, again, enriched with oils to add moisture. It's one of those products you have to shake as it separates in the bottle but it's got a handy spray top and you can easily disperse the product as the mist is quite fine. I think Dove do haircare really well and are one of favourite brands to check out from the drugstore so I highly recommend their products to you.

SHOP THIS POST

Fuss Free Haircare Routine


Hair is probably the one beauty category I tend not to explore as much, as when I wash it, it's a chore, I want to be done ASAP. With the exception of a few leave in treatments, oils and serums go over my head and I like to keep my haircare very minimal and fuss free. I wash it at night so I rarely dry it and I never straighten it either, as naturally it already looks like it's been ironed to my scalp, but with that being said, my hair can be dry sometimes and I do get split ends on occasion.

My shampoo and conditioner tastes aren't too fussy and I tend to buy whatever is on offer and promises volume (although I'm not sure they make much difference but hay). At the moment I've been using the Aussie Mega Instant Shampoo and Conditioner which smell amazing but are nothing that special. I feel like you can get away with using cheaper shampoos as it's the products you use afterwards which make the most difference. They're nice enough products but I won't be in a rush to repurchase then. Once a week I've been using the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo which is perfect to remove product build up at the end of the week and give your hair a deep clean. I wouldn't recommend using this anymore than two times a week as it may be too stripping on the hair and make it dry. Another product I use once a week is the Dove Nourishing Oil Care Repair Hair Mask which leaves your hair so soft once it's dried. I use this instead of conditioner and for £2 it's going to last me ages, it's great value for money. It's enriched with argon oils so your hair is treated and nourished and left feeling healthy and hydrated. I've never been into hair masks, but after using this one I'm keen to try out more, so leave you recommendations down below.

Post shower, I have whittled my routine down to one product, yes, one! In the summer my hair doesn't need as much maintenance so I can get away with a few spritzes of the Dove Leave In Conditioner, brush it though and be done. I really rate this leave in conditioner, it's, again, enriched with oils to add moisture. It's one of those products you have to shake as it separates in the bottle but it's got a handy spray top and you can easily disperse the product as the mist is quite fine. I think Dove do haircare really well and are one of favourite brands to check out from the drugstore so I highly recommend their products to you.

SHOP THIS POST

Monday, July 20, 2015

As summer is here and many of you may be off somewhere new to explore, eat and eat some more, I thought I would share with you what I do to plan and hopefully give you some tips along the way. I'm off the Paris in August and I'm really excited and eager to fit in everything that I want to do in only a few days so heres how I'm planning on doing that.

Write an itinerary...This is very important and will ensure you have time do to everything you want. You don't have to be super strict with timings ect but make sure you do leave enough time to get to your destination, and of course for food too. As I've only been to Paris for one day before there's a lot of the touristy things I want to do and doing one or two a day is good for me. If you find that there's an area which has a few landmarks or places you want to visit schedule them all in the same day so you don't have to keep going back and fourth.

Blogs over travel guides...Travel guides are obviously great for the tourist bits, but for where to eat and shop, blogs are best. They tell it to you straight, offer great reviews and normally give you a better insight into local restaurants and cafes which may to be an obvious first choice. I've already found so many great places I want to eat in Paris through reading various blogs and the recommendations keep rolling in. As far as shopping, we're bloggers, we will find the shops and the best Sephora, it's in our nature, so be sure to take in their recommendations for nice places to drain your wallet.

Be weather prepared...If you're going on a city break it's more than likely you'll be outside most of the day and you don't want to be in shorts and a tee when it's pouring with rain. Keep checking the weather in advanced and make sure to pack things like an umbrella or jumper for the evenings even if you think you won't necessarily need them. Cities in Europe can be unpredictable with rain so don't get caught out. Also bring comfy shoes if you're wandering around all day!

Shop around for good deals...If you're booking a hotel don't always go through the typical sites, there are so many more websites out there which have great deals on hotels and look out for restaurant vouchers/discount codes too, you can save a few pennies this way! Lastminute.com normally have some good deals on for hotels and Air BnB do some nice places if you want to go down the more self catering route.

Note down places you like the look of...If you have a notebook where you write down ideas for your trip as you go, you'll be sure to not miss anything out. I always have a note saved on my phone where I write down restaurants or other areas of Paris which look nice and I want to visit so when I write a plan of action I know exactly what I want to do and where to go.

Get your maps at the ready...If you've never been somewhere before it's more than likely you won't have a clue where to go and may get lost one or two or maybe even 20 times...there are some great apps such as City Maps 2Go which don't require internet, you just download the map at home before you leave and it'll be there whenever you need it. Never reply on your standard Google/Apple maps in time of need as the internet may not be in your favour! And there's nothing wrong with brining a good old map with you too!


Planning A City Break


As summer is here and many of you may be off somewhere new to explore, eat and eat some more, I thought I would share with you what I do to plan and hopefully give you some tips along the way. I'm off the Paris in August and I'm really excited and eager to fit in everything that I want to do in only a few days so heres how I'm planning on doing that.

Write an itinerary...This is very important and will ensure you have time do to everything you want. You don't have to be super strict with timings ect but make sure you do leave enough time to get to your destination, and of course for food too. As I've only been to Paris for one day before there's a lot of the touristy things I want to do and doing one or two a day is good for me. If you find that there's an area which has a few landmarks or places you want to visit schedule them all in the same day so you don't have to keep going back and fourth.

Blogs over travel guides...Travel guides are obviously great for the tourist bits, but for where to eat and shop, blogs are best. They tell it to you straight, offer great reviews and normally give you a better insight into local restaurants and cafes which may to be an obvious first choice. I've already found so many great places I want to eat in Paris through reading various blogs and the recommendations keep rolling in. As far as shopping, we're bloggers, we will find the shops and the best Sephora, it's in our nature, so be sure to take in their recommendations for nice places to drain your wallet.

Be weather prepared...If you're going on a city break it's more than likely you'll be outside most of the day and you don't want to be in shorts and a tee when it's pouring with rain. Keep checking the weather in advanced and make sure to pack things like an umbrella or jumper for the evenings even if you think you won't necessarily need them. Cities in Europe can be unpredictable with rain so don't get caught out. Also bring comfy shoes if you're wandering around all day!

Shop around for good deals...If you're booking a hotel don't always go through the typical sites, there are so many more websites out there which have great deals on hotels and look out for restaurant vouchers/discount codes too, you can save a few pennies this way! Lastminute.com normally have some good deals on for hotels and Air BnB do some nice places if you want to go down the more self catering route.

Note down places you like the look of...If you have a notebook where you write down ideas for your trip as you go, you'll be sure to not miss anything out. I always have a note saved on my phone where I write down restaurants or other areas of Paris which look nice and I want to visit so when I write a plan of action I know exactly what I want to do and where to go.

Get your maps at the ready...If you've never been somewhere before it's more than likely you won't have a clue where to go and may get lost one or two or maybe even 20 times...there are some great apps such as City Maps 2Go which don't require internet, you just download the map at home before you leave and it'll be there whenever you need it. Never reply on your standard Google/Apple maps in time of need as the internet may not be in your favour! And there's nothing wrong with brining a good old map with you too!


Sunday, July 19, 2015

Summer is the time to crack out those bright nail polishes and potentially buy a couple of new shades to rock. I really felt like there were a couple of nail colours I needed in my collection and I'm happy I picked up some that fit in nicely and will satisfy my nail needs for now. 

I headed over to Maybelline counter as I was keen to try out their Superstay Gel Colour range which I've heard such great things about. The shade range is really lovely and I have to say it was rather hard not to buy every single one, but I walked away with two, sigh. I picked up the two shades, Uptown Blue and Red Hot Getaway. The latter is a lovely coral pink shade which funnily enough I don't think I have in my collection. This is part of their Summer Bliss line so may not be around forever therefore you have to check it out now while you can. It's more pink than some other corals, but I think this is more classy. Uptown Blue on the other hand is in their permeant line and one I'm very happy I picked up. It's a light baby blue, but not too pastel or off white, perfect in my opinion. The brushes on these are great and super easy to achieve an even coat in only a couple of swipes. The lasting power is also fab as you expect from the name, not having to paint your nails for a week? I'm in! 

SHOP THIS POST

New In: Summer Polishes


Summer is the time to crack out those bright nail polishes and potentially buy a couple of new shades to rock. I really felt like there were a couple of nail colours I needed in my collection and I'm happy I picked up some that fit in nicely and will satisfy my nail needs for now. 

I headed over to Maybelline counter as I was keen to try out their Superstay Gel Colour range which I've heard such great things about. The shade range is really lovely and I have to say it was rather hard not to buy every single one, but I walked away with two, sigh. I picked up the two shades, Uptown Blue and Red Hot Getaway. The latter is a lovely coral pink shade which funnily enough I don't think I have in my collection. This is part of their Summer Bliss line so may not be around forever therefore you have to check it out now while you can. It's more pink than some other corals, but I think this is more classy. Uptown Blue on the other hand is in their permeant line and one I'm very happy I picked up. It's a light baby blue, but not too pastel or off white, perfect in my opinion. The brushes on these are great and super easy to achieve an even coat in only a couple of swipes. The lasting power is also fab as you expect from the name, not having to paint your nails for a week? I'm in! 

SHOP THIS POST
Friday, July 17, 2015



What you'll need;

- 1 cup water, plus 4/5 extra to mix in at the end
- 3/4 cup raspberries
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemons, I used 6
- 1 cup of sugar

Lets get started;

1. Heat the cup of water and sugar in a saucepan on a medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Stir it occasionally then once it's all combined, leave it to cool. 

2. Puree the raspberries in a food processor or blender, don't worry about the seeds as we'll deal with those in a second. Once you're happy you've got a smooth consistency pour it into a fine sieve to separate the seeds. You may have to push down on it with a spoon to get all the puree through. 


3. Squeeze all your lemons, remove the pips and mix this in with the raspberry puree. 

4. At this point, your sugar syrup should have cooled down enough so add that in too, as well as 4/5 extra cups of water to get the correct taste/bitterness you desire. I added 4 and found this to be perfect for me. 

5. We're done! Pour it in a glass, add a slice of lemon and some extra raspberries on top and enjoy! 



I made about 1 average sized jug with this recipe, the perfect size to share with your family and friends over a picnic blanket on a summers afternoon, and a great refresher! If you try this out please make sure to tweet me a pic or tag me in it on Instagram as I would love to see (@millielouisee).

Summer Raspberry Lemonade




What you'll need;

- 1 cup water, plus 4/5 extra to mix in at the end
- 3/4 cup raspberries
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemons, I used 6
- 1 cup of sugar

Lets get started;

1. Heat the cup of water and sugar in a saucepan on a medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Stir it occasionally then once it's all combined, leave it to cool. 

2. Puree the raspberries in a food processor or blender, don't worry about the seeds as we'll deal with those in a second. Once you're happy you've got a smooth consistency pour it into a fine sieve to separate the seeds. You may have to push down on it with a spoon to get all the puree through. 


3. Squeeze all your lemons, remove the pips and mix this in with the raspberry puree. 

4. At this point, your sugar syrup should have cooled down enough so add that in too, as well as 4/5 extra cups of water to get the correct taste/bitterness you desire. I added 4 and found this to be perfect for me. 

5. We're done! Pour it in a glass, add a slice of lemon and some extra raspberries on top and enjoy! 



I made about 1 average sized jug with this recipe, the perfect size to share with your family and friends over a picnic blanket on a summers afternoon, and a great refresher! If you try this out please make sure to tweet me a pic or tag me in it on Instagram as I would love to see (@millielouisee).
Friday, July 10, 2015

Summer is now here - but of course it's raining outside - and I thought it would be nice to share with you what I do in order to get my body ready, and here we will be covering all the bases. I like to give everything a good deep clean before showing off some skin, so that means using a lot of masks and getting in all the beauty treatments I can!

We'll do this post in a head-shoulders-knees-and-toes kind of formation so starting from top. Hair is something I don't tend to pay much attention to, but in the summer I like to get it cut and coloured to make it more manageable and lighter for the summertime. If you do it at home, Madison Reed do some great dyes which will give you salon finish results. The colour range is great and they have a  hair dye advisor you can complete before buying so they can match you to the colours they think are best. To keep that colour going I would use products that are specifically tailored for coloured hair and Aveda have a great line for this. Their Colour Conserve Strengthening Treatment helps keeps the colour fresher for longer as well as making sure it's nourished and in good condition.

Skin wise, masks are essential. Depending on your skin type your choice of mask will differ, LUSH make some excellent ones which cater for different skin types. If you want hydration then I would go for the Oatifix and for a refreshing boost and something that will combat blemishes I would recommend their Mask Of Magnanimity which has a minty scent and leaves the skin feeling cooled and cleaned. I also like to get my eyebrows sorted out and that means heading over the Blink Brow Bar to get them threaded. I used to get them waxed and found that it was too harsh on my skin so I tried threading and it didn't hurt as much as I thought, which I'm pleased to report. They're great over at Blink so I would recommend giving them a call if you're considering getting your brows done.

My body is what I spend the most attention to in summer and giving it a good exfoliate is key. Lately I've been using the Clarins Exfoliating Scrub which is great and is a good step to do pre tanning as it removes all the dead skin. Then I'll epilate to make sure my legs are nice and smooth. I wouldn't recommend going in with a tanner straight after this though as it will irritate the skin, so always shave ect a day before. I've done a whole post on how I epilate and my tips so I'll link that here. When it comes to tanning I love to use my St Tropez Express Tan which is fab for creating a natural tan in only a few hours. I've banged on about this so much this summer already so I shan't bore you with any more details!

SHOP THIS POST

Summer Preparations


Summer is now here - but of course it's raining outside - and I thought it would be nice to share with you what I do in order to get my body ready, and here we will be covering all the bases. I like to give everything a good deep clean before showing off some skin, so that means using a lot of masks and getting in all the beauty treatments I can!

We'll do this post in a head-shoulders-knees-and-toes kind of formation so starting from top. Hair is something I don't tend to pay much attention to, but in the summer I like to get it cut and coloured to make it more manageable and lighter for the summertime. If you do it at home, Madison Reed do some great dyes which will give you salon finish results. The colour range is great and they have a  hair dye advisor you can complete before buying so they can match you to the colours they think are best. To keep that colour going I would use products that are specifically tailored for coloured hair and Aveda have a great line for this. Their Colour Conserve Strengthening Treatment helps keeps the colour fresher for longer as well as making sure it's nourished and in good condition.

Skin wise, masks are essential. Depending on your skin type your choice of mask will differ, LUSH make some excellent ones which cater for different skin types. If you want hydration then I would go for the Oatifix and for a refreshing boost and something that will combat blemishes I would recommend their Mask Of Magnanimity which has a minty scent and leaves the skin feeling cooled and cleaned. I also like to get my eyebrows sorted out and that means heading over the Blink Brow Bar to get them threaded. I used to get them waxed and found that it was too harsh on my skin so I tried threading and it didn't hurt as much as I thought, which I'm pleased to report. They're great over at Blink so I would recommend giving them a call if you're considering getting your brows done.

My body is what I spend the most attention to in summer and giving it a good exfoliate is key. Lately I've been using the Clarins Exfoliating Scrub which is great and is a good step to do pre tanning as it removes all the dead skin. Then I'll epilate to make sure my legs are nice and smooth. I wouldn't recommend going in with a tanner straight after this though as it will irritate the skin, so always shave ect a day before. I've done a whole post on how I epilate and my tips so I'll link that here. When it comes to tanning I love to use my St Tropez Express Tan which is fab for creating a natural tan in only a few hours. I've banged on about this so much this summer already so I shan't bore you with any more details!

SHOP THIS POST

Wednesday, July 08, 2015

Investing in skincare is something I do a lot, mainly because I think its important to give your skin all the nourishment and attention as possible. Of course what you eat has a huge impact on your skin and you'll find that if you've had one too many McDonalds one week, you'll have a couple of uninvited guests claim there spot on your face - no pun intended - so eat lots of good food and drink plenty of water. Onto skincare now and heres a few bits that I don't mind paying a bit extra for.

Makeup removers and cleansers come in the bucket load at drugstores and are all pretty good so we'll skip those and move onto serums/oils. This is where you can really treat your skin and in my opinion the product that makes the most difference. Kiehl's and Estee Lauder make my favourite ones and I find my skin looks 10 times better in the morning than if I use nothing at all, that's when I fall in love with a product! Serums can be used to target ageing, moisture, blemish prone skin, the list goes on and they really do better the appearance of the skin. The reason I say splurge is because there aren't that many good ones at a inexpensive price and they last for months and months so way worth the money. 

Next would be face masks/treatments, which again, last ages as you only use them once or twice a week. I also feel like when you give yourself a nice facial or use a face mask you want to use products that make you feel luxurious and indulged. Ren have an excellent 1 minute facial which is perfect if you're looking for quick - very quick - pick me up. It leaves the skin feeling super soft and glowing. Also check out Oskia and Origins for some other great masks as they do some which are perfect for giving lack lustre skin a boost of moisture.

Moisturisers are also quite a luxurious product I feel, and you can never go wrong with hitting up the Origins counter when you're in need of a new one, they're fab! They have lots of different ranges which cater for different skin types, as well as specific morning and night ones which can be hard to find within some brands. They are pricey but they last and the quality is amazing, as well as the smell. For the morning I would recommend giving the GinZing one a go and the High Potency Night-A-Mins for night. Clarins and Kiehls also do some lovely ones.

Skincare brands worth the money; Origins, Ren, Clarins, Kiehls, Oskia, Sarah Chapman, Estee Lauder. Favourite products listed below...

Skincare; Where To Splurge


Investing in skincare is something I do a lot, mainly because I think its important to give your skin all the nourishment and attention as possible. Of course what you eat has a huge impact on your skin and you'll find that if you've had one too many McDonalds one week, you'll have a couple of uninvited guests claim there spot on your face - no pun intended - so eat lots of good food and drink plenty of water. Onto skincare now and heres a few bits that I don't mind paying a bit extra for.

Makeup removers and cleansers come in the bucket load at drugstores and are all pretty good so we'll skip those and move onto serums/oils. This is where you can really treat your skin and in my opinion the product that makes the most difference. Kiehl's and Estee Lauder make my favourite ones and I find my skin looks 10 times better in the morning than if I use nothing at all, that's when I fall in love with a product! Serums can be used to target ageing, moisture, blemish prone skin, the list goes on and they really do better the appearance of the skin. The reason I say splurge is because there aren't that many good ones at a inexpensive price and they last for months and months so way worth the money. 

Next would be face masks/treatments, which again, last ages as you only use them once or twice a week. I also feel like when you give yourself a nice facial or use a face mask you want to use products that make you feel luxurious and indulged. Ren have an excellent 1 minute facial which is perfect if you're looking for quick - very quick - pick me up. It leaves the skin feeling super soft and glowing. Also check out Oskia and Origins for some other great masks as they do some which are perfect for giving lack lustre skin a boost of moisture.

Moisturisers are also quite a luxurious product I feel, and you can never go wrong with hitting up the Origins counter when you're in need of a new one, they're fab! They have lots of different ranges which cater for different skin types, as well as specific morning and night ones which can be hard to find within some brands. They are pricey but they last and the quality is amazing, as well as the smell. For the morning I would recommend giving the GinZing one a go and the High Potency Night-A-Mins for night. Clarins and Kiehls also do some lovely ones.

Skincare brands worth the money; Origins, Ren, Clarins, Kiehls, Oskia, Sarah Chapman, Estee Lauder. Favourite products listed below...
Sunday, July 05, 2015
Another ASOS wish list for you, and today, I'm covering all things summer! There's a gorgeous embroidered dress in here which would be perfect for a wedding, a pair of sunnies and a couple of bikinis which I have my eye on and may purchase for any future holidays. Again, my style is nothing groundbreaking but I find ASOS a great place to go for, for basics and if you want something more colourful and out there. I do branch out more in the summertime and love to experiment with patterns and bright shades to make things more fun! Let me know what you've been loving from ASOS and fee free to link some bits below as I would love to have look through and find some more gems. 

Summer ASOS Wishlist

Another ASOS wish list for you, and today, I'm covering all things summer! There's a gorgeous embroidered dress in here which would be perfect for a wedding, a pair of sunnies and a couple of bikinis which I have my eye on and may purchase for any future holidays. Again, my style is nothing groundbreaking but I find ASOS a great place to go for, for basics and if you want something more colourful and out there. I do branch out more in the summertime and love to experiment with patterns and bright shades to make things more fun! Let me know what you've been loving from ASOS and fee free to link some bits below as I would love to have look through and find some more gems. 
Friday, July 03, 2015

Summer is definitely the time to fake tan, and I thought I'd let you know some of my favs I love to crack out when the weather is getting warmer and the pins are coming out. Fake tan has developed a bad rep over the years, but if you do it right and use good products there's nothing to be afraid of. Brands have come out with some really good, easy to use, noob friendly options which are more gradual and don't leave you looking like a wotsit. Some helpful tips before we get into it; exfoliate before, especially your knees and elbows as thats where tan will cling to the most and moisturise after to prolong your tan. 

We will start of with a couple of gradual options which are great if you're starting out and are scared to venture too far. My favourite is the Dove Summer Glow Moisture Lotion which is inexpensive and leaves your skin moisturised and with a nice glow. If you apply this with your hands, make sure you wash them after as you will get orange rings in-between your fingers which is not a great look, trust me. I find the colour this leaves is very natural and once you apply it enough times a week you'll end up with a golden glow which makes it look like you've had a bit of sun. Garnier also do a nice option which smells so nice. I don't love this one as much as the Dove one but I find it gives quicker results, but you have to be careful and really blend it in as it is more prone to streaking. I do really like it though and it leaves you skin smelling amazing. 

For more instant tans I have a couple which I've been using this summer and love. They both do very different things. The St Tropez Express Tan is one I've raved about a lot this year and can't seem to put down. The idea with this is you leave it on for 1-3 hours, depending on how dark you want it, wash it off then you're left with a lovely natural colour. The smell of this is also very different to other fake tans, it's fruity and doesn't smell of biscuit which is rare but bloody brilliant. I find that if I leave it on for 2 hours I get the best results and my skin looks golden and glowing. This lasts for about 5-7 days which is good and I tend to top up my legs about once or twice a week to keep them looking brown. This is more pricey but totally worth it if you're new to the tanning market. The next one I use more on my legs than my whole body. The Rimmel Instant Tan BB Perfector - longest name - is a lovely one to use if you want an instant bit of added colour, so if you're going on a night out or maybe it's the first time you've got your legs out in a while. The thing I love most is that it blurs any imperfections you may have, and if you're anything like me you'll have a few bruises hanging around. When this first comes out the tube it looks dark and scary but once you buff it in - with a mitt - and leave it to sink in it leaves you legs looking amazing and nicely browned. This is also a wash off formula so I would recommend taking advantage of that and having a play around with it before heading out anywhere, this way you can see if you need to blend more or if you could get away with adding some more to give your legs even more colour. It will come off in the shower so practicing before is a safe bet. 

SHOP THIS POST

On Wednesdays We Fake Tan


Summer is definitely the time to fake tan, and I thought I'd let you know some of my favs I love to crack out when the weather is getting warmer and the pins are coming out. Fake tan has developed a bad rep over the years, but if you do it right and use good products there's nothing to be afraid of. Brands have come out with some really good, easy to use, noob friendly options which are more gradual and don't leave you looking like a wotsit. Some helpful tips before we get into it; exfoliate before, especially your knees and elbows as thats where tan will cling to the most and moisturise after to prolong your tan. 

We will start of with a couple of gradual options which are great if you're starting out and are scared to venture too far. My favourite is the Dove Summer Glow Moisture Lotion which is inexpensive and leaves your skin moisturised and with a nice glow. If you apply this with your hands, make sure you wash them after as you will get orange rings in-between your fingers which is not a great look, trust me. I find the colour this leaves is very natural and once you apply it enough times a week you'll end up with a golden glow which makes it look like you've had a bit of sun. Garnier also do a nice option which smells so nice. I don't love this one as much as the Dove one but I find it gives quicker results, but you have to be careful and really blend it in as it is more prone to streaking. I do really like it though and it leaves you skin smelling amazing. 

For more instant tans I have a couple which I've been using this summer and love. They both do very different things. The St Tropez Express Tan is one I've raved about a lot this year and can't seem to put down. The idea with this is you leave it on for 1-3 hours, depending on how dark you want it, wash it off then you're left with a lovely natural colour. The smell of this is also very different to other fake tans, it's fruity and doesn't smell of biscuit which is rare but bloody brilliant. I find that if I leave it on for 2 hours I get the best results and my skin looks golden and glowing. This lasts for about 5-7 days which is good and I tend to top up my legs about once or twice a week to keep them looking brown. This is more pricey but totally worth it if you're new to the tanning market. The next one I use more on my legs than my whole body. The Rimmel Instant Tan BB Perfector - longest name - is a lovely one to use if you want an instant bit of added colour, so if you're going on a night out or maybe it's the first time you've got your legs out in a while. The thing I love most is that it blurs any imperfections you may have, and if you're anything like me you'll have a few bruises hanging around. When this first comes out the tube it looks dark and scary but once you buff it in - with a mitt - and leave it to sink in it leaves you legs looking amazing and nicely browned. This is also a wash off formula so I would recommend taking advantage of that and having a play around with it before heading out anywhere, this way you can see if you need to blend more or if you could get away with adding some more to give your legs even more colour. It will come off in the shower so practicing before is a safe bet. 

SHOP THIS POST

Wednesday, July 01, 2015