The end of 2017 is basically here, how that happened I'm not quite sure, so it's time to share my top products from the year. I originally wanted to share a favourite from each beauty category, however that would be a very very long post, so instead I'm going to tell you all about the bits that have really stood out to me throughout 2016...

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel: I think I'm on my fourth or fifth bottle of this stuff, so I had to give it a mention as it still remains my favourite cleanser ever. If you're looking for a cleanser which is going to brighten the skin, that smells nice, and that will remove any excess makeup, this is it! I think this will always be in my bathroom cupboard.

Foreo Luna Play: I'm so surprised that I have stuck to using this every night. Normally with these skin gadgets I use them for a couple of weeks then I just forget about them, this however, I've been using for the past few months and I adore it. The silicone is very gentle on the skin, but it still leaves my face feeling so so soft and radiant. This little one is perfect for travelling, and I'm considering buying the bigger version in the new year.

This Works Energy Bank Skin Glow: Mid-way through the year I had a massive skincare switch-up. I picked up loads of new products to test out and this one stood out to me the most. It's a daytime serum which adds glow to face as well as having a ton of skincare benefits. It's basically a dewy primer which is amazing for your skin, my dream product! On no makeup days this is also a must have.

Fresh Rose Face Mask: I got a sample of this in August when I was in NYC and I'm so happy I tried it because it has quickly become my favourite mask ever! Yes that's right, my favourite mask ever! I neeed to go to the Fresh store in London ASAP to repurchase this because I need to back in my life. For a mask, it does a bit of everything. The rose makes it super hydrating and toning, it has cucumber extract which soothes the skin, and rich green tea to brighten.

L'Oreal Nude Cushion Foundation: Cushion foundations have been everywhere this year, and I love this L'Oreal one! It's the easiest foundation to apply day-to-day, it's very dewy and the coverage is buildable. It's definitely been my most worn foundation this year, purely because it's so quick to blend and always looks good. It's also very travel friendly, and great for touch ups. 

MAC Pro Longerwear Concealer: This was one of the first concealers I ever tried many many years ago and I never repurchased it again until this year. I've fallen in love with it all over again. The coverage is quite high, but my under eyes definitely don't mind that. It has a very long wearing formula, as the name would suggest, and if you're on the hunt for a fuller coverage concealer this one comes highly recommended. 

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is fairly recent addition to my collection, but I still want to give it a mention. It's a beautiful golden, champagne shimmery shade which is very pigmented and looks so stunning on the high points of the face. I always reach for this over my other highlighters, I love it! 

Benefit Gimme Brow: I think I may have mentioned this in last years favourites, but I still love it and use it every single time I do my brows. I'll use this to set my brows in place if I've used a pencil or powder beforehand, or I'll just use it on it's own to subtly  define. It's such a great tinted brow gel. 

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Bronze Moon: I am so so obsessed with this. It's a beautiful bronze cream shadow stick which lasts all day on the lids. My favourite way to wear this is on it's on with loads of mascara to give me that Olsen twin smokey eye. It's not too light, or too dark, so it's perfect on the lids and it gives such a nice amount of definition to the eyes. If you invest in one eyeshadow in 2017, make it this one. 

MAC Syrup Lipstick: MAC lipsticks will always be some of my favourites, their nude/everyday shades are like no other and their formulas are all beautiful. Syrup has become one of my favourites, and as I picked it up earlier in the year I had to include it. It's a lustre finish, so it's quite sheer but super moisturising and adds a nice shine to the lips. The shade is a mauvy pinky purple, but as it's very buildable it's a lovely everyday shade. 
& Other Stories Fig Fiction Body Oil: I love to use body oils over creams and lotions. I feel they're a lot more luxurious and they're also nicer to apply post shave as they don't irritate my skin. These ones from & Other Stories are fab as they come in spray bottle so they're so easy to apply and you don't get oil everywhere. Their scent selection is also lovely. This fig scent is very fresh and subtle, it's lovely in the evenings. 

Aveda Volumising Hair Tonic: I've tried loads of Aveda products this year and this one is such a gem. My hair is super limp and lifeless so I always love to try out products which claim to add volume. This one really doesn't weigh my hair down, it smells great, and it adds a nice lift to my roots. 

Jo Malone Sweet Almond and Macaroon Candle: I think with scents, it's very easy to establish which ones you love as you don't have to trial them for a few weeks. This is a slight cheat as I have only recently got this candle, buuuut I have been smelling every time I go past my local Jo Malone counter, so that's justified right. If you love sweet scents, this is the ultimate candle. Jo Malone don't really do sweeter scents, so I definitely think this is worth the splurge. It's very almond-y, but not too much like marzipan, I'm just so obsessed. 

2016 Favourites: Stand Out Products.


The end of 2017 is basically here, how that happened I'm not quite sure, so it's time to share my top products from the year. I originally wanted to share a favourite from each beauty category, however that would be a very very long post, so instead I'm going to tell you all about the bits that have really stood out to me throughout 2016...

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel: I think I'm on my fourth or fifth bottle of this stuff, so I had to give it a mention as it still remains my favourite cleanser ever. If you're looking for a cleanser which is going to brighten the skin, that smells nice, and that will remove any excess makeup, this is it! I think this will always be in my bathroom cupboard.

Foreo Luna Play: I'm so surprised that I have stuck to using this every night. Normally with these skin gadgets I use them for a couple of weeks then I just forget about them, this however, I've been using for the past few months and I adore it. The silicone is very gentle on the skin, but it still leaves my face feeling so so soft and radiant. This little one is perfect for travelling, and I'm considering buying the bigger version in the new year.

This Works Energy Bank Skin Glow: Mid-way through the year I had a massive skincare switch-up. I picked up loads of new products to test out and this one stood out to me the most. It's a daytime serum which adds glow to face as well as having a ton of skincare benefits. It's basically a dewy primer which is amazing for your skin, my dream product! On no makeup days this is also a must have.

Fresh Rose Face Mask: I got a sample of this in August when I was in NYC and I'm so happy I tried it because it has quickly become my favourite mask ever! Yes that's right, my favourite mask ever! I neeed to go to the Fresh store in London ASAP to repurchase this because I need to back in my life. For a mask, it does a bit of everything. The rose makes it super hydrating and toning, it has cucumber extract which soothes the skin, and rich green tea to brighten.

L'Oreal Nude Cushion Foundation: Cushion foundations have been everywhere this year, and I love this L'Oreal one! It's the easiest foundation to apply day-to-day, it's very dewy and the coverage is buildable. It's definitely been my most worn foundation this year, purely because it's so quick to blend and always looks good. It's also very travel friendly, and great for touch ups. 

MAC Pro Longerwear Concealer: This was one of the first concealers I ever tried many many years ago and I never repurchased it again until this year. I've fallen in love with it all over again. The coverage is quite high, but my under eyes definitely don't mind that. It has a very long wearing formula, as the name would suggest, and if you're on the hunt for a fuller coverage concealer this one comes highly recommended. 

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is fairly recent addition to my collection, but I still want to give it a mention. It's a beautiful golden, champagne shimmery shade which is very pigmented and looks so stunning on the high points of the face. I always reach for this over my other highlighters, I love it! 

Benefit Gimme Brow: I think I may have mentioned this in last years favourites, but I still love it and use it every single time I do my brows. I'll use this to set my brows in place if I've used a pencil or powder beforehand, or I'll just use it on it's own to subtly  define. It's such a great tinted brow gel. 

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Bronze Moon: I am so so obsessed with this. It's a beautiful bronze cream shadow stick which lasts all day on the lids. My favourite way to wear this is on it's on with loads of mascara to give me that Olsen twin smokey eye. It's not too light, or too dark, so it's perfect on the lids and it gives such a nice amount of definition to the eyes. If you invest in one eyeshadow in 2017, make it this one. 

MAC Syrup Lipstick: MAC lipsticks will always be some of my favourites, their nude/everyday shades are like no other and their formulas are all beautiful. Syrup has become one of my favourites, and as I picked it up earlier in the year I had to include it. It's a lustre finish, so it's quite sheer but super moisturising and adds a nice shine to the lips. The shade is a mauvy pinky purple, but as it's very buildable it's a lovely everyday shade. 
& Other Stories Fig Fiction Body Oil: I love to use body oils over creams and lotions. I feel they're a lot more luxurious and they're also nicer to apply post shave as they don't irritate my skin. These ones from & Other Stories are fab as they come in spray bottle so they're so easy to apply and you don't get oil everywhere. Their scent selection is also lovely. This fig scent is very fresh and subtle, it's lovely in the evenings. 

Aveda Volumising Hair Tonic: I've tried loads of Aveda products this year and this one is such a gem. My hair is super limp and lifeless so I always love to try out products which claim to add volume. This one really doesn't weigh my hair down, it smells great, and it adds a nice lift to my roots. 

Jo Malone Sweet Almond and Macaroon Candle: I think with scents, it's very easy to establish which ones you love as you don't have to trial them for a few weeks. This is a slight cheat as I have only recently got this candle, buuuut I have been smelling every time I go past my local Jo Malone counter, so that's justified right. If you love sweet scents, this is the ultimate candle. Jo Malone don't really do sweeter scents, so I definitely think this is worth the splurge. It's very almond-y, but not too much like marzipan, I'm just so obsessed. 
Friday, December 30, 2016
I love getting ready for New Year's Eve, spending ages having a nice pamper and doing my makeup, it's such a glamorous time. I could have done a post on everything I love to slap on my face when seeing in the new year, but we could be here forever, so I just want to share my top five essentials for a classic New Year's Eve gathering...

Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze and Glow: I love this for the party season. The bronzer is a lovely medium toned brown shade which defines the cheekbones beautifully. I apply this with a fluffy bronzer brush and follow the contours of my face, so under the cheekbones, down the sides of my nose, and the jawline. This also contains a beautiful golden highlight, a party essential. It's super buttery, easy to blend and looks gorgeous on the tops of the cheekbones.

Origins Rose Retexturizing Face Mask: After consuming the entire Tesco Christmas isle, it's fair to say my skin is not looking it's best, so a good mask is key! I love Origins skin care and they always have some great masks to chose from. This rose one smells amazing and does such a good job at rejuvenating the skin. It hydrates, plumps and helps to get rid of any dead skin cells, it leaves my skin glowing!

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eye Quad: A good eye shadow palette is also an essential to me, and I tend to go for something which has a bit of shimmer. This CT palette is perfect for that, the bottom left shade is a gorgeous bronze packed full of glitter, it look stunning on the eyes. The quality of these shadows are great, they blend really well together and stay put all night.

Urban Decay Backtalk Comfort Matte Lipstick: I love a festive red, but when Christmas passes I go for something a little more understated and easier to wear. I love the Urban Decay shade, it's a gorgeous nude-y brown, and it compliments any kind of look. Nude doesn't always mean boring, this shade adds a little something to the lips without being too in your face.

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray: I can't forget about the hair, I don't do too much to mine, but if I curl it and little hairspray never hurt! This is a great one as it's adds a bit of texture to the hair as well as making your style last all night long! I wouldn't use this in the roots, but I love it though the ends of my hair to give it that lived-in look.

New Year's Eve: 5 Must Haves.

I love getting ready for New Year's Eve, spending ages having a nice pamper and doing my makeup, it's such a glamorous time. I could have done a post on everything I love to slap on my face when seeing in the new year, but we could be here forever, so I just want to share my top five essentials for a classic New Year's Eve gathering...

Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze and Glow: I love this for the party season. The bronzer is a lovely medium toned brown shade which defines the cheekbones beautifully. I apply this with a fluffy bronzer brush and follow the contours of my face, so under the cheekbones, down the sides of my nose, and the jawline. This also contains a beautiful golden highlight, a party essential. It's super buttery, easy to blend and looks gorgeous on the tops of the cheekbones.

Origins Rose Retexturizing Face Mask: After consuming the entire Tesco Christmas isle, it's fair to say my skin is not looking it's best, so a good mask is key! I love Origins skin care and they always have some great masks to chose from. This rose one smells amazing and does such a good job at rejuvenating the skin. It hydrates, plumps and helps to get rid of any dead skin cells, it leaves my skin glowing!

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eye Quad: A good eye shadow palette is also an essential to me, and I tend to go for something which has a bit of shimmer. This CT palette is perfect for that, the bottom left shade is a gorgeous bronze packed full of glitter, it look stunning on the eyes. The quality of these shadows are great, they blend really well together and stay put all night.

Urban Decay Backtalk Comfort Matte Lipstick: I love a festive red, but when Christmas passes I go for something a little more understated and easier to wear. I love the Urban Decay shade, it's a gorgeous nude-y brown, and it compliments any kind of look. Nude doesn't always mean boring, this shade adds a little something to the lips without being too in your face.

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray: I can't forget about the hair, I don't do too much to mine, but if I curl it and little hairspray never hurt! This is a great one as it's adds a bit of texture to the hair as well as making your style last all night long! I wouldn't use this in the roots, but I love it though the ends of my hair to give it that lived-in look.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Wrapping presents is something I never look forward to when it comes to Christmas...I'm a horrible wrapper, but I am determined to get better, or at least disguise the fact I can't wrap a present to save my life. If you're like me, here are a few tips to get you through...

Vary your decorations
I find that if I use the same paper with the same bows and gift tags, I get bored super quickly and just want to stop after about three presents. Variety is great in all aspects of life, it keeps things interesting and you can treat each present like another little wrapping project. 


Experiment
I never thought to use little baubles or bits off the Christmas Tree (sorry dad) to help wrap, but I absolutely love how it turned out, very Pinterest! I love these baubles from Paperchase as they have loads of different coloured stars held inside, so they will go with loads of different wrapping papers. I also wanted to use string as appose to normal ribbon, as it's a lot more student friendly money wise, and it goes perfectly with the paper I chose. 


Choose a wrapping theme
I do this every year and it just helps when mixing and matching your paper and ribbons. This year I wanted to go for a slightly rustic theme, so brown paper with simple patterns, string, then some complimentary gift tags and other little bits. I wanted to keep the colours simple, with white, gold and red, then of course the baubles add the perfect pop of colour. 

Pick your presents wisely
I know that buying gifts is already a daunting task, so picking out certain gifts which are easy to wrap  doesn't leave you much to chose from. If you find you do have some awkward little jars, bottles or anything like that, think about making a little hamper with them instead of wrapping them all separately. For my boyfriends parents I picked them up some mini jams - with a hard to wrap spoon attached to the side - and some chocolates. I decided to pick up a cute little Christmas box, line it with tissue paper and lay everything inside. So don't feel like you have to wrap everything. 


Don't rush
Easier said then done I know. I was lucky that I did most of my Christmas shopping in November so I had loads of time to make sure I wrapped them with care and didn't rush. I find whenever I leave myself one evening to wrap everything, nothing ever goes right. The paper rips, I run out of gift tags, etc etc. Even if it's just the week before Christmas and you wrap a few presents a night, it will a lot more relaxing and a less daunting task. 

Know your wrapping strengths
For me, I'm pants and the actual wrapping part. I always have too much paper or too little and it looks crap when I don't add any extra bits. If you're the same, then go all out on the decorations, ribbons and gift tags to detract from the bad wrapping. Trust me it works! If you find you're not good at finding ribbon, gift tags ect that you like or you think will good nice together, but your wrapping is above average, get a really fun wrapping paper with loads of colours and prints and then stick to one colour for everything else. 


That's A Wrap.


Wrapping presents is something I never look forward to when it comes to Christmas...I'm a horrible wrapper, but I am determined to get better, or at least disguise the fact I can't wrap a present to save my life. If you're like me, here are a few tips to get you through...

Vary your decorations
I find that if I use the same paper with the same bows and gift tags, I get bored super quickly and just want to stop after about three presents. Variety is great in all aspects of life, it keeps things interesting and you can treat each present like another little wrapping project. 


Experiment
I never thought to use little baubles or bits off the Christmas Tree (sorry dad) to help wrap, but I absolutely love how it turned out, very Pinterest! I love these baubles from Paperchase as they have loads of different coloured stars held inside, so they will go with loads of different wrapping papers. I also wanted to use string as appose to normal ribbon, as it's a lot more student friendly money wise, and it goes perfectly with the paper I chose. 


Choose a wrapping theme
I do this every year and it just helps when mixing and matching your paper and ribbons. This year I wanted to go for a slightly rustic theme, so brown paper with simple patterns, string, then some complimentary gift tags and other little bits. I wanted to keep the colours simple, with white, gold and red, then of course the baubles add the perfect pop of colour. 

Pick your presents wisely
I know that buying gifts is already a daunting task, so picking out certain gifts which are easy to wrap  doesn't leave you much to chose from. If you find you do have some awkward little jars, bottles or anything like that, think about making a little hamper with them instead of wrapping them all separately. For my boyfriends parents I picked them up some mini jams - with a hard to wrap spoon attached to the side - and some chocolates. I decided to pick up a cute little Christmas box, line it with tissue paper and lay everything inside. So don't feel like you have to wrap everything. 


Don't rush
Easier said then done I know. I was lucky that I did most of my Christmas shopping in November so I had loads of time to make sure I wrapped them with care and didn't rush. I find whenever I leave myself one evening to wrap everything, nothing ever goes right. The paper rips, I run out of gift tags, etc etc. Even if it's just the week before Christmas and you wrap a few presents a night, it will a lot more relaxing and a less daunting task. 

Know your wrapping strengths
For me, I'm pants and the actual wrapping part. I always have too much paper or too little and it looks crap when I don't add any extra bits. If you're the same, then go all out on the decorations, ribbons and gift tags to detract from the bad wrapping. Trust me it works! If you find you're not good at finding ribbon, gift tags ect that you like or you think will good nice together, but your wrapping is above average, get a really fun wrapping paper with loads of colours and prints and then stick to one colour for everything else. 


Friday, December 23, 2016
I loove to have dewy, glowing skin when it comes to getting ready for a party. I find it's so easy to look flat and caked in makeup when you layer on the powder to make sure your foundation lasts all night, so it's nice to use a few more glow inducing products along the way. I adore highlighters, that is no secret, so I really go all out around Christmas...

This Works Energy Bank Skin Glow Serum: For me, getting the glow starts with the skincare. In the morning I use a range of products which will brighten and add life back into my dull skin, and this is one of my favourites. From the get-go I knew I would love this. It's a gorgeous golden, pearly shade and a very lightweight consistency, giving your skin a natural glow from within. Even on a no makeup day your skin will still look fab!

Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow: I'm definitely all about the golden shades this year, you will be able to see that trend as the post goes on. Primers are my favourite way to add glow to the skin. You can mix them in with your foundation or use them before, and this one from CT works well whichever way you choose. I find this more subtle than the next one I'm going to share, but I love it for an everyday glow.

Becca Backlight Priming Filter: This is such a fab one for a night out. It's very dewy and gives off slightly more glow than the previous one. Becca are known for their amazing highlighters, so this one didn't disappoint. It's, again, a golden tone and looks so beautiful on the skin.

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is where the hardcore glow comes into play...I adore this highlighter when I want something that is really going to show up and make me look like a lighthouse. It's so pigmented and the beautiful golden shimmers shine amazingly on the tops of the cheekbones. This is such a party essential for me.

TOPSHOP Glow Cream Highlighter: If you're not a fan of powder products, this highlighter from TOPSHOP is lovely and also really affordable. I find that applying this with my fingers is the best way so I don't move too much of my foundation underneath. It blends into the skin really well, as all cream products do, and looks more natural than some powder highlighters on the market.

Benefit Watts Up: This is my all time favourite cream highlighter, it's a gorgeous champagne gold shade, it blends so well, and I'm always happy with my skin after using this. The stick format makes its really easy to apply, although I don't blend it in with the funny little sponge on the other end, I tend to use a small face brush. The colour is so perfect and I find I can wear it during the day, and then build it for the evenings. 

The Party Glow.

I loove to have dewy, glowing skin when it comes to getting ready for a party. I find it's so easy to look flat and caked in makeup when you layer on the powder to make sure your foundation lasts all night, so it's nice to use a few more glow inducing products along the way. I adore highlighters, that is no secret, so I really go all out around Christmas...

This Works Energy Bank Skin Glow Serum: For me, getting the glow starts with the skincare. In the morning I use a range of products which will brighten and add life back into my dull skin, and this is one of my favourites. From the get-go I knew I would love this. It's a gorgeous golden, pearly shade and a very lightweight consistency, giving your skin a natural glow from within. Even on a no makeup day your skin will still look fab!

Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow: I'm definitely all about the golden shades this year, you will be able to see that trend as the post goes on. Primers are my favourite way to add glow to the skin. You can mix them in with your foundation or use them before, and this one from CT works well whichever way you choose. I find this more subtle than the next one I'm going to share, but I love it for an everyday glow.

Becca Backlight Priming Filter: This is such a fab one for a night out. It's very dewy and gives off slightly more glow than the previous one. Becca are known for their amazing highlighters, so this one didn't disappoint. It's, again, a golden tone and looks so beautiful on the skin.

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is where the hardcore glow comes into play...I adore this highlighter when I want something that is really going to show up and make me look like a lighthouse. It's so pigmented and the beautiful golden shimmers shine amazingly on the tops of the cheekbones. This is such a party essential for me.

TOPSHOP Glow Cream Highlighter: If you're not a fan of powder products, this highlighter from TOPSHOP is lovely and also really affordable. I find that applying this with my fingers is the best way so I don't move too much of my foundation underneath. It blends into the skin really well, as all cream products do, and looks more natural than some powder highlighters on the market.

Benefit Watts Up: This is my all time favourite cream highlighter, it's a gorgeous champagne gold shade, it blends so well, and I'm always happy with my skin after using this. The stick format makes its really easy to apply, although I don't blend it in with the funny little sponge on the other end, I tend to use a small face brush. The colour is so perfect and I find I can wear it during the day, and then build it for the evenings. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

    



Baking and buying presents are two things I love to do around the festive period, and the former is definitely something I wish I did more of. I wanted to round up a few recipes I've seen and am dying to try out, so hopefully this will inspire you to get in the kitchen too this Christmas...




  
This seems like such a fun recipe to try! I love to dress
  up my hot chocolates so I'm super happy I found this
  recipe on Sugar and Charm's blog. I can imagine
  making these in the evening and being snuggled up
  watching a festive film. 

  You actually don't need as much ingredients as I would have thought to make marshmallows, so I would definitely recommend trying out this one for yourselves too! 


_______________________________________________________________________________





Any excuse to make up some cookies and I'm there! These ones look absolutely lovely so I had to feature them for you today. 

I think making these alongside some really fun and festive themed sugar cookies would keep everybody happy over Christmas. They look like the perfect sophisticated treat at the end of the day. I'm really excited to give these a go! 


________________________________________________________________________________________






  If your vegan, or want something slightly more healthy
       to indulge in Christmas morning then this is the
          recipe for you. I love gingerbread so I feel I need to give this one a go this year! 

    You can also switch up the vegan ingredients for things
   you may already have in your cupboard so it's a super
     versatile option, and I love to play around with
   toppings when it comes to french toast. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________


 


This is another gingerbread recipe and one you can also 
enjoy in the mornings, or if you're like me, any time of day! 
I'm going to have a crack at this sometime during the week 
so I can have a festive breakfast in the run up to Christmas. 

Granola is a fab thing to have around as it's such an easy 
and filling breakfast. 

________________________________________________________________________________________






      I love chocolate and orange, the combination is so nice a festive in my opinion. When Anna uploaded this recipe I was in heaven, and that was just after reading the title! 

  You can never go wrong with a good festive cookie and I can't wait to try these.





_________________________________________________________________________________________

Festive Recipes To Try This Christmas.


    



Baking and buying presents are two things I love to do around the festive period, and the former is definitely something I wish I did more of. I wanted to round up a few recipes I've seen and am dying to try out, so hopefully this will inspire you to get in the kitchen too this Christmas...




  
This seems like such a fun recipe to try! I love to dress
  up my hot chocolates so I'm super happy I found this
  recipe on Sugar and Charm's blog. I can imagine
  making these in the evening and being snuggled up
  watching a festive film. 

  You actually don't need as much ingredients as I would have thought to make marshmallows, so I would definitely recommend trying out this one for yourselves too! 


_______________________________________________________________________________





Any excuse to make up some cookies and I'm there! These ones look absolutely lovely so I had to feature them for you today. 

I think making these alongside some really fun and festive themed sugar cookies would keep everybody happy over Christmas. They look like the perfect sophisticated treat at the end of the day. I'm really excited to give these a go! 


________________________________________________________________________________________






  If your vegan, or want something slightly more healthy
       to indulge in Christmas morning then this is the
          recipe for you. I love gingerbread so I feel I need to give this one a go this year! 

    You can also switch up the vegan ingredients for things
   you may already have in your cupboard so it's a super
     versatile option, and I love to play around with
   toppings when it comes to french toast. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________


 


This is another gingerbread recipe and one you can also 
enjoy in the mornings, or if you're like me, any time of day! 
I'm going to have a crack at this sometime during the week 
so I can have a festive breakfast in the run up to Christmas. 

Granola is a fab thing to have around as it's such an easy 
and filling breakfast. 

________________________________________________________________________________________






      I love chocolate and orange, the combination is so nice a festive in my opinion. When Anna uploaded this recipe I was in heaven, and that was just after reading the title! 

  You can never go wrong with a good festive cookie and I can't wait to try these.





_________________________________________________________________________________________
Monday, December 19, 2016

I feel like everybody works twice as hard in the run up to Christmas! You want to make sure you have all your work done so you can relax and enjoy yourself, and maybe you've been taking all the overtime you can get to earn some extra cash for the festive period. Either way, everyone is tired these days. My eyes tend to look very puffy and dark, so they need an extra helping to appear more awake. The first thing I do in the mornings is my skincare routine, so I always make sure I have these two products to hand...

Liz Earle Eye Bright Soothing Eye Lotion: This is a lovely one to get those peepers feeling refreshed. I like to soak some of this onto a couple of cotton pads and just hold them over my eyes to let the product sink in. If their looking extra puffy, I'll hold keep them on there for 40-50 seconds, but on a normal day 20 is fine. This a great lotion to help brighten and sooth the eyes. If you have sensitive skin this would be a great one for you as it is very gentle. Liz Earle is by far one of my favourite skincare brands so it's no surprise I adore this!

Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum: I'm not a fan of heavy eye creams in the mornings, I find they take far too long to sink in and my makeup doesn't sit as well on top. This one from Kiehl's is a serum, so it's a lot more lightweight under the eyes. I love the formula of this, it's a pearlescent cream so it really helps to brighten under the eyes and lift the area. This is also one which has many anti-aging properties, I'm not at that stage quite yet, but I still use it and find it fab for firming. If you're looking for a new eye cream to use in the mornings, this comes highly recommended.


Two For Tired Eyes.


I feel like everybody works twice as hard in the run up to Christmas! You want to make sure you have all your work done so you can relax and enjoy yourself, and maybe you've been taking all the overtime you can get to earn some extra cash for the festive period. Either way, everyone is tired these days. My eyes tend to look very puffy and dark, so they need an extra helping to appear more awake. The first thing I do in the mornings is my skincare routine, so I always make sure I have these two products to hand...

Liz Earle Eye Bright Soothing Eye Lotion: This is a lovely one to get those peepers feeling refreshed. I like to soak some of this onto a couple of cotton pads and just hold them over my eyes to let the product sink in. If their looking extra puffy, I'll hold keep them on there for 40-50 seconds, but on a normal day 20 is fine. This a great lotion to help brighten and sooth the eyes. If you have sensitive skin this would be a great one for you as it is very gentle. Liz Earle is by far one of my favourite skincare brands so it's no surprise I adore this!

Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum: I'm not a fan of heavy eye creams in the mornings, I find they take far too long to sink in and my makeup doesn't sit as well on top. This one from Kiehl's is a serum, so it's a lot more lightweight under the eyes. I love the formula of this, it's a pearlescent cream so it really helps to brighten under the eyes and lift the area. This is also one which has many anti-aging properties, I'm not at that stage quite yet, but I still use it and find it fab for firming. If you're looking for a new eye cream to use in the mornings, this comes highly recommended.


Thursday, December 15, 2016

It's the most wonderful time of the yeaaar...yes, it's December 13th and I think that officially counts as Christmas right? Festive parties are one of my favourite things about this time of year. I love dressing up and perfecting my smokey eye and red lip, and I know so many of you out there will either be having work parties, or drinks with family and friends. I have collated a few products I love to use around the festive season...

Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation: This is my all time favourite higher coverage foundation. Everything from the formula, to the lasting power is just spot on. It's medium coverage and be layered really well if you wanted to build the coverage. It's very blendable and looks like velvet on the skin, it's not super matte, but it's not dewy, a perfect in-between. I always reach for this when I want my skin to look flawless.

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is so so beautiful and one which is such a party essential for me. I love highlighters and this one really is one of loveliest, most shiny ones I own. Becca highlighters are very buttery, well pigmented and look stunning on the skin, this one in particular is very festive appropriate. It's a gorgeous golden champagne shade, so the name sums it up perfectly, it pairs great with a golden smokey eye and red lip!

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Bronze Moon: If you don't want to fuss around with a smokey eye, this cream stick eyeshadow from By Terry is the way to go! It's so easy to blend, last ages, and give the eyes a lovely amount of colour and definition. I love the shade bronze moon, it's a gorgeous golden bronze, perfect for Christmas!

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eye Quad: This is my perfect palette for the festive season, the colour combinations are stunning and look amazing together. You get a base colour, a rusty burgundy, a bronze shimmer and a dark brown, I honestly don't think I will be wearing anything else on my eyes, I can't get enough of this! The shimmery bronze shade is perfect for parties as it catches the light beautifully and adds a nice sheen to your smokey eye. The quality of these shadows are also great, they blend really well and are very buttery to apply.

Dior Lash Primer: This is another essential for me when it comes to picking out my party makeup arsenal. A good lash primer can make all the difference to your eye look, they make your lashes to 10 times longer and so much thicker, and paired with your favourite mascara, you will look like you're wearing fake lashes. If you don't already have one of these in your collection I would highly recommend getting one!

Red Cherry 415 lashes*: I'm not normally one to wear false lashes, but when the occasion is right, I will do my best to apply them! I love the ones from Red Cherry, they are very wispy and are super easy to apply. These particular ones are quite long so I do like to trim them a bit so they're more natural, but I love them!

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Liner: I don't always like to rock a red lip over Christmas, especially when there's going to be a huge meal involved, so a nude lip liner is a staple! This one from Charlotte Tilbury is the perfect natural pink shade and works amazing under any nude lipstick I own. I love to apply this all over the lips, as well as perfecting the shape, so that my lipsticks lasts longer.

Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect Lipstick: To go along with the lip liner, a good nude lip is an essential. I love the formula of this one, it's matte, so last forever, and is so creamy and looks great paired with a smokey eye. It's a lovely pinky nude shade I think lots of people will be able to wear.

Kat Von D Everlasting Lipstick in Outlaw: You can never go wrong with a festive red lip and I adore this one from Kat. Her liquid lipsticks are super long-lasting and non drying, they feel like velvet on the lips! This shade is gorgeous, the perfect cherry red tone which also makes your teeth look that little bit whiter, amazing!

Christmas Party Makeup.


It's the most wonderful time of the yeaaar...yes, it's December 13th and I think that officially counts as Christmas right? Festive parties are one of my favourite things about this time of year. I love dressing up and perfecting my smokey eye and red lip, and I know so many of you out there will either be having work parties, or drinks with family and friends. I have collated a few products I love to use around the festive season...

Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation: This is my all time favourite higher coverage foundation. Everything from the formula, to the lasting power is just spot on. It's medium coverage and be layered really well if you wanted to build the coverage. It's very blendable and looks like velvet on the skin, it's not super matte, but it's not dewy, a perfect in-between. I always reach for this when I want my skin to look flawless.

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is so so beautiful and one which is such a party essential for me. I love highlighters and this one really is one of loveliest, most shiny ones I own. Becca highlighters are very buttery, well pigmented and look stunning on the skin, this one in particular is very festive appropriate. It's a gorgeous golden champagne shade, so the name sums it up perfectly, it pairs great with a golden smokey eye and red lip!

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Bronze Moon: If you don't want to fuss around with a smokey eye, this cream stick eyeshadow from By Terry is the way to go! It's so easy to blend, last ages, and give the eyes a lovely amount of colour and definition. I love the shade bronze moon, it's a gorgeous golden bronze, perfect for Christmas!

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eye Quad: This is my perfect palette for the festive season, the colour combinations are stunning and look amazing together. You get a base colour, a rusty burgundy, a bronze shimmer and a dark brown, I honestly don't think I will be wearing anything else on my eyes, I can't get enough of this! The shimmery bronze shade is perfect for parties as it catches the light beautifully and adds a nice sheen to your smokey eye. The quality of these shadows are also great, they blend really well and are very buttery to apply.

Dior Lash Primer: This is another essential for me when it comes to picking out my party makeup arsenal. A good lash primer can make all the difference to your eye look, they make your lashes to 10 times longer and so much thicker, and paired with your favourite mascara, you will look like you're wearing fake lashes. If you don't already have one of these in your collection I would highly recommend getting one!

Red Cherry 415 lashes*: I'm not normally one to wear false lashes, but when the occasion is right, I will do my best to apply them! I love the ones from Red Cherry, they are very wispy and are super easy to apply. These particular ones are quite long so I do like to trim them a bit so they're more natural, but I love them!

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Liner: I don't always like to rock a red lip over Christmas, especially when there's going to be a huge meal involved, so a nude lip liner is a staple! This one from Charlotte Tilbury is the perfect natural pink shade and works amazing under any nude lipstick I own. I love to apply this all over the lips, as well as perfecting the shape, so that my lipsticks lasts longer.

Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect Lipstick: To go along with the lip liner, a good nude lip is an essential. I love the formula of this one, it's matte, so last forever, and is so creamy and looks great paired with a smokey eye. It's a lovely pinky nude shade I think lots of people will be able to wear.

Kat Von D Everlasting Lipstick in Outlaw: You can never go wrong with a festive red lip and I adore this one from Kat. Her liquid lipsticks are super long-lasting and non drying, they feel like velvet on the lips! This shade is gorgeous, the perfect cherry red tone which also makes your teeth look that little bit whiter, amazing!

Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Concealers are the one thing I will forever invest in. My under-eyes are always dark and puffy whether I get 3 hours sleep or 10, so covering them up is a must. Having tried out a lot of different ones, both high-end and low-end, I really wanted to share with you a few which I believe are worth every penny...

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer: This is one I have repurchased a few times and never fails me. It's a really nice creamy formula which is hydrating and long-wearing. This has been super raved about and for good reason, it covers really well, without looking cakey and dry. It's a great all round concealer so if you're looking to invest in just one, this is the one I would choose. The applicator makes it really easy to apply and it's super blendable too.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer: This is a bit more heavy duty than the Urban Decay one, it's great for concealing around the face. It's very long wearing as the name would suggest, but I don't find it looks too heavy on the skin. I have this is a couple of shades lighter than my skin so I can use it to brighten under the eyes. If you suffer with dark circles, this will be a great one to pick up! The only thing that annoys me with this is the pump, a little goes such a long way and I feel it always disperses too much product.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit: This is another high-coverage option for those of you who want to correct those blue tones under the eyes. This handy kit comes with a concealer and a powder which both perform beautifully together. This is the only concealer I get on with which is in a pan. It's a fairly tacky consistency, but I actually love that as it stays put all day. This is also great for for pin point concealing as it's very full coverage. If I'm having a notoriously bad under-eye day I can always rely on this.

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Miracle Eye Wand: I do love a good two-in-one product, so it's no surprise I get on with this. If you're looking for a light weight concealer which is going to correct under the eyes and help to brighten, this is great. It comes with pearlescent eye cream on one end, which hydrates and plumps, and a salmony corrector shade to conceal. This is great for those of you who don't wear a lot of makeup, but still want to correct under the eyes.

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Corrector: Bobbi Brown nail it when it comes to concealers, so yes, this is the second one I'm loving. This is a great light-weight corrector option, perfect to layer underneath another concealer. This is very hydrating and sits beautifully under the eyes. The peachy tone really helps to offset the purple/blue tones you may get under the eyes.

What concealers are you loving at the moment? 

5 Concealers Worth Every Penny.

Concealers are the one thing I will forever invest in. My under-eyes are always dark and puffy whether I get 3 hours sleep or 10, so covering them up is a must. Having tried out a lot of different ones, both high-end and low-end, I really wanted to share with you a few which I believe are worth every penny...

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer: This is one I have repurchased a few times and never fails me. It's a really nice creamy formula which is hydrating and long-wearing. This has been super raved about and for good reason, it covers really well, without looking cakey and dry. It's a great all round concealer so if you're looking to invest in just one, this is the one I would choose. The applicator makes it really easy to apply and it's super blendable too.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer: This is a bit more heavy duty than the Urban Decay one, it's great for concealing around the face. It's very long wearing as the name would suggest, but I don't find it looks too heavy on the skin. I have this is a couple of shades lighter than my skin so I can use it to brighten under the eyes. If you suffer with dark circles, this will be a great one to pick up! The only thing that annoys me with this is the pump, a little goes such a long way and I feel it always disperses too much product.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit: This is another high-coverage option for those of you who want to correct those blue tones under the eyes. This handy kit comes with a concealer and a powder which both perform beautifully together. This is the only concealer I get on with which is in a pan. It's a fairly tacky consistency, but I actually love that as it stays put all day. This is also great for for pin point concealing as it's very full coverage. If I'm having a notoriously bad under-eye day I can always rely on this.

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Miracle Eye Wand: I do love a good two-in-one product, so it's no surprise I get on with this. If you're looking for a light weight concealer which is going to correct under the eyes and help to brighten, this is great. It comes with pearlescent eye cream on one end, which hydrates and plumps, and a salmony corrector shade to conceal. This is great for those of you who don't wear a lot of makeup, but still want to correct under the eyes.

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Corrector: Bobbi Brown nail it when it comes to concealers, so yes, this is the second one I'm loving. This is a great light-weight corrector option, perfect to layer underneath another concealer. This is very hydrating and sits beautifully under the eyes. The peachy tone really helps to offset the purple/blue tones you may get under the eyes.

What concealers are you loving at the moment? 
Wednesday, December 07, 2016

With all the gift guides floating around the internet, I really want to do a little post about the things that I've popped on my Christmas wish-list this year. This is a bit of inspiration just in case you're not sure what you may like and you have people messaging you 24/7 asking you want you what...We're all in the same boat...



What's On My Christmas List 2016.


With all the gift guides floating around the internet, I really want to do a little post about the things that I've popped on my Christmas wish-list this year. This is a bit of inspiration just in case you're not sure what you may like and you have people messaging you 24/7 asking you want you what...We're all in the same boat...



Saturday, December 03, 2016
I've had my blog for over two years now and there are still so many things I'm learning. There's stuff I wish I did differently when I first started, from photography to content, and I know I'm not alone in still trying to find my footing. If you're thinking of setting up a blog, or you've just started one, here are a few of my personal tips I would give to you...


Make a plan
If you're starting out in blogging I would suggest making a list of content ideas you can produce so you don't get stuck within the first few weeks. When I started blogging I knew I wanted to cover beauty but I found it hard to come up with fresh content as I was new to the scene.  Thinking up some post ideas, and jotting down a few notes for each, will make it so much easier when you're starting out. 

Be consistent 
Even if you want to blog once a week, make sure you do. For me now, this is something I'm still struggling with. I have a rough schedule in my head, but as I'm in my third year at university, I find it very hard to stick to. When I started out I wish I did it more regularly, and I always see my site grow when I do. If you're thinking about quitting because you don't think anyone is interested, please don't stop, keep going and I promise it will be worth it. 

Numbers and just numbers
When I started out in blogging I was always looking at how many other followers fellow bloggers had and how I wished I could be like them...this is not going to do you any favours. Although I still kind of do this now, we are all human after all, I have come to the conclusion that staring at someone else's stats aren't going to change mine. There's no problem with having aspirations in the industry, but focus on growing your own blog organically and be proud of what you have achieved.

Use social media to your advantage
It's so important to get your blog out there when you first start out. Two years on, and I've only just mastered the art of social media...I never used to be fussed with Twitter and tweeting about my most recent posts, but it's really important. I use hashtags such as #blogginggals and retweet accounts such as @FemaleBloggerRT to get my stuff shared, these are a couple I would recommend embedding into your own tweets! 

Be original
When there are so many bloggers out there it's hard to be original and come up with your own fresh ideas. You don't want to copy someones content ideas word for word, of course there are posts which may overlap in someway, but by including your own products and writing in your own way, it will be different. Photography comes under this too! There are loads of bloggers which have the most amazing photography skills I wish I could steal, but it's crucial to take your own and create you're own image style.

Starting a Blog: Tips I Wish I Followed.

I've had my blog for over two years now and there are still so many things I'm learning. There's stuff I wish I did differently when I first started, from photography to content, and I know I'm not alone in still trying to find my footing. If you're thinking of setting up a blog, or you've just started one, here are a few of my personal tips I would give to you...


Make a plan
If you're starting out in blogging I would suggest making a list of content ideas you can produce so you don't get stuck within the first few weeks. When I started blogging I knew I wanted to cover beauty but I found it hard to come up with fresh content as I was new to the scene.  Thinking up some post ideas, and jotting down a few notes for each, will make it so much easier when you're starting out. 

Be consistent 
Even if you want to blog once a week, make sure you do. For me now, this is something I'm still struggling with. I have a rough schedule in my head, but as I'm in my third year at university, I find it very hard to stick to. When I started out I wish I did it more regularly, and I always see my site grow when I do. If you're thinking about quitting because you don't think anyone is interested, please don't stop, keep going and I promise it will be worth it. 

Numbers and just numbers
When I started out in blogging I was always looking at how many other followers fellow bloggers had and how I wished I could be like them...this is not going to do you any favours. Although I still kind of do this now, we are all human after all, I have come to the conclusion that staring at someone else's stats aren't going to change mine. There's no problem with having aspirations in the industry, but focus on growing your own blog organically and be proud of what you have achieved.

Use social media to your advantage
It's so important to get your blog out there when you first start out. Two years on, and I've only just mastered the art of social media...I never used to be fussed with Twitter and tweeting about my most recent posts, but it's really important. I use hashtags such as #blogginggals and retweet accounts such as @FemaleBloggerRT to get my stuff shared, these are a couple I would recommend embedding into your own tweets! 

Be original
When there are so many bloggers out there it's hard to be original and come up with your own fresh ideas. You don't want to copy someones content ideas word for word, of course there are posts which may overlap in someway, but by including your own products and writing in your own way, it will be different. Photography comes under this too! There are loads of bloggers which have the most amazing photography skills I wish I could steal, but it's crucial to take your own and create you're own image style.

Monday, November 28, 2016
It's that time of year again, the Christmas trees are being purchased, meals are being planned, and money is being spent! For a lot of people out there buying gifts for people can be a struggle, last year I did a few gift guides and I wanted to come up with some fresh ideas for 2017! This is a bit of a guide for that special woman in your life so hopefully you can take inspiration from this post...


Small leather goods

Buying a nice gift doesn't have to be expensive, even if leather is in the equation. You don't have to splash out a £1000 bag - although yes, you lady would probably love that - you can always go for something a bit smaller, which isn't going to break the bank. A new purse or card holder from her favourite brand, designer or high street, will go down a treat! 

Beauty
You can never go wrong with a good gift set or limited edition palette. So many girls will love to receive beauty bits, especially if it's from a higher end brand they may not want to invest in themselves. Girls also love to try out new bath and body products and there are a lot a lot a lot of gift sets on the market to give her something to look forward to! 

Jewellery
Such a classic, but maybe something that seems to obvious and cliche that you may skip over?...There are loads of really nice jewellery and watch brands which have some beautiful and unique designs and concepts. My favourite brand for jewellery at the moment is Monica Vinader, this brand do some super luxe friendship bracelets, stackable rings and some gorgeous necklaces, so it's definitely a brand worth checking out for your special lady. 

Candles
Yes, just candles, us women love a good candle...or twenty...Christmas is the best time to stock up on festive, warming scents, and never think the lady in your life has enough, this is frankly impossible. You can never go wrong with a luxury candle guys!

A Girlie Christmas Gift Guide.

It's that time of year again, the Christmas trees are being purchased, meals are being planned, and money is being spent! For a lot of people out there buying gifts for people can be a struggle, last year I did a few gift guides and I wanted to come up with some fresh ideas for 2017! This is a bit of a guide for that special woman in your life so hopefully you can take inspiration from this post...


Small leather goods

Buying a nice gift doesn't have to be expensive, even if leather is in the equation. You don't have to splash out a £1000 bag - although yes, you lady would probably love that - you can always go for something a bit smaller, which isn't going to break the bank. A new purse or card holder from her favourite brand, designer or high street, will go down a treat! 

Beauty
You can never go wrong with a good gift set or limited edition palette. So many girls will love to receive beauty bits, especially if it's from a higher end brand they may not want to invest in themselves. Girls also love to try out new bath and body products and there are a lot a lot a lot of gift sets on the market to give her something to look forward to! 

Jewellery
Such a classic, but maybe something that seems to obvious and cliche that you may skip over?...There are loads of really nice jewellery and watch brands which have some beautiful and unique designs and concepts. My favourite brand for jewellery at the moment is Monica Vinader, this brand do some super luxe friendship bracelets, stackable rings and some gorgeous necklaces, so it's definitely a brand worth checking out for your special lady. 

Candles
Yes, just candles, us women love a good candle...or twenty...Christmas is the best time to stock up on festive, warming scents, and never think the lady in your life has enough, this is frankly impossible. You can never go wrong with a luxury candle guys!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Autumn and Winter is all about those bold, berry lips, and every year I'm excited to crack mine out. Plums and mauve shades are by far my favourite colours to wear so it makes me extremely happy when Autumn rolls around. I have a mix of drugstore and high end products here to show you, so there should be something to fit everyones budget...

MAC Lipstick - Plumful (Rosy Plum): Plumful is my all time favourite lipstick, huge claim, but I've been obsessed with this for about three years so I feel I've given it a good test. It's a very flattering shade which helps to brighten up the skin. This is a lustre finish, so it's going to add a slight sheen to the lips, although it's definitely not as glossy and as the label 'lustre' lets on... It's more on the purple side than pink, but I absolutely love it and in the Autumn/Winter, I don't think you can go wrong with a shade like this.

NARS Velvet Lip Pencil - Cruella (True Red): I felt like I couldn't do a lip edit without mentioning a red...NARS Cruella is one of my favourites as the pencil design makes it so easy to get a defined line, and the formula is long lasting, a must when it comes to rocking a red! This is a true red in my books, it's not orange in tone, nor is it too dark, I feel like this would be great for many skin tones. It's a matte finish but is very creamy to apply and doesn't dry out your lips.

MAC Lipstick - Twig (Brown/Pink): I do think you can still 100% rock a neutral shade in the Autumn, after all they are the most easy lip colour to wear and go with any look! Twig is a bit more on the darker side, making it slightly more statement than other nude shades I own. It's a brown based pink, which is super on trend at the moment, and the satin finish makes it very conformable to wear. If you don't feel like you can rock something bold, this is a lipstick I would highly recommend.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Prague (Pinky Purple): This is another bold option, and is more pink than some other mauve purple shades I own, I tend to save this for the evenings. Prague is a stunning vibrant shade which lasts all day and feels so soft and velvety on the lips. I adore NYX lip products, especially their Soft Matte Lip Creams, their affordable, have amazing colour payoff and their shades are stunning, what's not to love?!

Revlon Matte Balm - Sultry (Taupe-y Mauve): This is a new one to my lipstick wardrobe and I really really love it. It's an odd shade to describe, it's kind of taupe, kind of pink and kind of mauve all at the same time, but I can't stop wearing it. Even though it's a matte formula I didn't expect it have amazing colour pay off, I think as 'balm' is also in the name...but boy was I wrong, this stuff is pigmented. It's another one which glides on smoothly but lasts for ages. 

Autumn Winter Lip Edit.

Autumn and Winter is all about those bold, berry lips, and every year I'm excited to crack mine out. Plums and mauve shades are by far my favourite colours to wear so it makes me extremely happy when Autumn rolls around. I have a mix of drugstore and high end products here to show you, so there should be something to fit everyones budget...

MAC Lipstick - Plumful (Rosy Plum): Plumful is my all time favourite lipstick, huge claim, but I've been obsessed with this for about three years so I feel I've given it a good test. It's a very flattering shade which helps to brighten up the skin. This is a lustre finish, so it's going to add a slight sheen to the lips, although it's definitely not as glossy and as the label 'lustre' lets on... It's more on the purple side than pink, but I absolutely love it and in the Autumn/Winter, I don't think you can go wrong with a shade like this.

NARS Velvet Lip Pencil - Cruella (True Red): I felt like I couldn't do a lip edit without mentioning a red...NARS Cruella is one of my favourites as the pencil design makes it so easy to get a defined line, and the formula is long lasting, a must when it comes to rocking a red! This is a true red in my books, it's not orange in tone, nor is it too dark, I feel like this would be great for many skin tones. It's a matte finish but is very creamy to apply and doesn't dry out your lips.

MAC Lipstick - Twig (Brown/Pink): I do think you can still 100% rock a neutral shade in the Autumn, after all they are the most easy lip colour to wear and go with any look! Twig is a bit more on the darker side, making it slightly more statement than other nude shades I own. It's a brown based pink, which is super on trend at the moment, and the satin finish makes it very conformable to wear. If you don't feel like you can rock something bold, this is a lipstick I would highly recommend.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Prague (Pinky Purple): This is another bold option, and is more pink than some other mauve purple shades I own, I tend to save this for the evenings. Prague is a stunning vibrant shade which lasts all day and feels so soft and velvety on the lips. I adore NYX lip products, especially their Soft Matte Lip Creams, their affordable, have amazing colour payoff and their shades are stunning, what's not to love?!

Revlon Matte Balm - Sultry (Taupe-y Mauve): This is a new one to my lipstick wardrobe and I really really love it. It's an odd shade to describe, it's kind of taupe, kind of pink and kind of mauve all at the same time, but I can't stop wearing it. Even though it's a matte formula I didn't expect it have amazing colour pay off, I think as 'balm' is also in the name...but boy was I wrong, this stuff is pigmented. It's another one which glides on smoothly but lasts for ages. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Now that everyone is well into the school year and people are working their butts off before Christmas, putting on makeup is not our first priory when waking for the day ahead. I love to have all my products in one place so I can quickly make myself feel a bit more human in as little time as possible. My Muji drawers are my saviour as they make everything so accessible and I don't have to riffle through drawers and drawers of products to find what I like, it's all there in front of me ready to be slapped on my face. Here's a little insight into my go-to quick makeup look this Autumn/Winter...


Face
For my base, I like to keep things dewy and simple. I'll go in first with my Becca Backlight Priming Filter which perfects the skin and leaves it looking fresh and glowing. I don't like to faff with foundations, so this is great to add some life back into my face. After that I have to add a concealer or corrector as my under eyes will no doubt be looking dark and puffy. The Charlotte Tilbury Miracle Eye Wand is a great multi-purpose corrector. It has an eye cream on one end to help tighten and brighten then under eyes, then a salmon concealer shade on the other end to counteract blue tones. I find this is all I need to wake up my skin. For blusher and bronzer I of course have my Hourglass Surreal Light Palette which has everything your cheekbones could need. I will first take the bronze shade and blend that across the cheeks and forehead to add some colour, before going in with a blush. I love the two blush shades in this palette, one is more peach and one more mauve, perfect for Autumn. I simply swish the two together to give a nice flush of colour. 

Eyes
I keep my eyes super simple and quick with a swipe of the By Terry Ombre Black Star in Bronze Moon over the lid then smudge some black liner into my upper lash line. This is a very simple look which doesn't require much effort or skill, you can even use your fingers to blend the two out. I have to curl my lashes and add some mascara, and for that I've been back to using my MAX Factor Masterpiece Mascara which is great for defining the lashes. For my brows I tend to gravitate towards a gel of some sorts. The Benefit Gimme Brow is my favourite as it adds a bit of colour and texture to the brows, as well as keeping them in place all day. 

Lips
Somedays I won't faff with a lipstick, I'll just pop some lip balm on and head out the door. On other days I will go in with a mauve tone which I find finishes the look of nicely and looks like you've tried a bit harder than you actually have. The Bite Beauty Matte Lip Crayon in Pastille is a gorgeous dusty purple pink shade which feels very comfortable on the lips. This is my favourite kind of colour to wear in the Autumn!
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This post is in collaboration with makespace.com, make sure to check them out! https://makespace.com/locations/

Autumn 5 Minute Makeup Drawer.


Now that everyone is well into the school year and people are working their butts off before Christmas, putting on makeup is not our first priory when waking for the day ahead. I love to have all my products in one place so I can quickly make myself feel a bit more human in as little time as possible. My Muji drawers are my saviour as they make everything so accessible and I don't have to riffle through drawers and drawers of products to find what I like, it's all there in front of me ready to be slapped on my face. Here's a little insight into my go-to quick makeup look this Autumn/Winter...


Face
For my base, I like to keep things dewy and simple. I'll go in first with my Becca Backlight Priming Filter which perfects the skin and leaves it looking fresh and glowing. I don't like to faff with foundations, so this is great to add some life back into my face. After that I have to add a concealer or corrector as my under eyes will no doubt be looking dark and puffy. The Charlotte Tilbury Miracle Eye Wand is a great multi-purpose corrector. It has an eye cream on one end to help tighten and brighten then under eyes, then a salmon concealer shade on the other end to counteract blue tones. I find this is all I need to wake up my skin. For blusher and bronzer I of course have my Hourglass Surreal Light Palette which has everything your cheekbones could need. I will first take the bronze shade and blend that across the cheeks and forehead to add some colour, before going in with a blush. I love the two blush shades in this palette, one is more peach and one more mauve, perfect for Autumn. I simply swish the two together to give a nice flush of colour. 

Eyes
I keep my eyes super simple and quick with a swipe of the By Terry Ombre Black Star in Bronze Moon over the lid then smudge some black liner into my upper lash line. This is a very simple look which doesn't require much effort or skill, you can even use your fingers to blend the two out. I have to curl my lashes and add some mascara, and for that I've been back to using my MAX Factor Masterpiece Mascara which is great for defining the lashes. For my brows I tend to gravitate towards a gel of some sorts. The Benefit Gimme Brow is my favourite as it adds a bit of colour and texture to the brows, as well as keeping them in place all day. 

Lips
Somedays I won't faff with a lipstick, I'll just pop some lip balm on and head out the door. On other days I will go in with a mauve tone which I find finishes the look of nicely and looks like you've tried a bit harder than you actually have. The Bite Beauty Matte Lip Crayon in Pastille is a gorgeous dusty purple pink shade which feels very comfortable on the lips. This is my favourite kind of colour to wear in the Autumn!
SaveSave

This post is in collaboration with makespace.com, make sure to check them out! https://makespace.com/locations/
Monday, November 14, 2016

Here in the UK Autumn lasted about a week, then we were graced with freezing cold weather and all things wintery. My skin is always it's worst when the cold hits, it gets more dry, irritated, and I also tend to get a few eczema patches around my chin if I don't look after it properly. Over the past couple of years I've realised there are a few products I tend to reach for to ensure my skin is always looking it's best - or as good as it can...


Invest in a skin gadget
Pop it on your christmas list, or maybe treat yourself, but I can't tell you how much a skin cleansing device has helped the look and feel of my skin. I used to use the Clarisonic which is great if you're skin isn't super sensitive, the bristles can feel a bit harsh but it's a really good way to get very soft, clean skin. Lately I've switched the the Foreo Luna Play which is a fraction cheaper and it does a very similar job, but feels a lot more gentle on the skin. These I love in the winter as they help offer a slight exfoliation, as well as a deep cleanse, to remove dead skin cells and better the surface of the skin. The Luna Play is a great one to start with as it's cheaper option and you can see how your skin reacts before splurging for its bigger sisters.

Drink your water
We've all heard this a million and one times, but it's so so true. Having your daily intake of water can really benefit your skin. If you're dehydrated, you skin will suffer, simple as. 8 (big) glasses is the recommend amount, so please make sure you're hitting that, you will see a huge difference in your skin if you are! I find if I haven't drunk as much water as I should, I get dehydration lines and makeup will sit weird and it's just not good. Also getting your fruits and veggies in is another factor which will leave your skin glowing! 

'Tis the season to be using oils
I am a huge oil and serum advocate in the colder months, it's one of the only skincare items I will really invest in as they tend to last ages and make the most difference to your skin. If you haven't got round to picking one up yet, here's why ya should! Depending on which one you go for, they douse your skin in hydration, leaving it plumped and radiant by morning. There are a lot on the market these days, whether you need some anti-aging properties, or you lack radiance and moisture, there will be one you can get along with. I've been loving the Sarah Chapman Skineses Overnight Facial, it's a thicker oil than others I've used, but it feel amazing on the skin and it always leave it's feeling soft and looking nourished. 

Lip balm is life
As soon as winter hits, my lips all of sudden tern into a flakey mess. They get so dry and chapped that I need a lip balm - and a pretty intense one - on me at all times! The NUXE Rev De Miel is my all time favourite, you can really slather this on at night, or using it sparingly during the day to keep your lips plump. I can't tell you how good this balm is, it's the only thing that will save my lips during the winter! I always have on in my bag and on my bedside table, it doesn't leave my side. 

Hydration mists will be your daytime bestie
I love love love hydration mists to give my skin a little pick-me-up throughout the day. The Pixi Milky Hydration Mist is one I've been using and it does exactly what it says on the tin. The spray is very nice and lightweight so it wont clog the skin, or leave a funny residue. I use this in the mornings before moisturiser, and sometimes again after, to give my skin and extra boost of nourishment. This step is something I can't skip when it's cold! 

5 Steps To Better Skin This Winter.


Here in the UK Autumn lasted about a week, then we were graced with freezing cold weather and all things wintery. My skin is always it's worst when the cold hits, it gets more dry, irritated, and I also tend to get a few eczema patches around my chin if I don't look after it properly. Over the past couple of years I've realised there are a few products I tend to reach for to ensure my skin is always looking it's best - or as good as it can...


Invest in a skin gadget
Pop it on your christmas list, or maybe treat yourself, but I can't tell you how much a skin cleansing device has helped the look and feel of my skin. I used to use the Clarisonic which is great if you're skin isn't super sensitive, the bristles can feel a bit harsh but it's a really good way to get very soft, clean skin. Lately I've switched the the Foreo Luna Play which is a fraction cheaper and it does a very similar job, but feels a lot more gentle on the skin. These I love in the winter as they help offer a slight exfoliation, as well as a deep cleanse, to remove dead skin cells and better the surface of the skin. The Luna Play is a great one to start with as it's cheaper option and you can see how your skin reacts before splurging for its bigger sisters.

Drink your water
We've all heard this a million and one times, but it's so so true. Having your daily intake of water can really benefit your skin. If you're dehydrated, you skin will suffer, simple as. 8 (big) glasses is the recommend amount, so please make sure you're hitting that, you will see a huge difference in your skin if you are! I find if I haven't drunk as much water as I should, I get dehydration lines and makeup will sit weird and it's just not good. Also getting your fruits and veggies in is another factor which will leave your skin glowing! 

'Tis the season to be using oils
I am a huge oil and serum advocate in the colder months, it's one of the only skincare items I will really invest in as they tend to last ages and make the most difference to your skin. If you haven't got round to picking one up yet, here's why ya should! Depending on which one you go for, they douse your skin in hydration, leaving it plumped and radiant by morning. There are a lot on the market these days, whether you need some anti-aging properties, or you lack radiance and moisture, there will be one you can get along with. I've been loving the Sarah Chapman Skineses Overnight Facial, it's a thicker oil than others I've used, but it feel amazing on the skin and it always leave it's feeling soft and looking nourished. 

Lip balm is life
As soon as winter hits, my lips all of sudden tern into a flakey mess. They get so dry and chapped that I need a lip balm - and a pretty intense one - on me at all times! The NUXE Rev De Miel is my all time favourite, you can really slather this on at night, or using it sparingly during the day to keep your lips plump. I can't tell you how good this balm is, it's the only thing that will save my lips during the winter! I always have on in my bag and on my bedside table, it doesn't leave my side. 

Hydration mists will be your daytime bestie
I love love love hydration mists to give my skin a little pick-me-up throughout the day. The Pixi Milky Hydration Mist is one I've been using and it does exactly what it says on the tin. The spray is very nice and lightweight so it wont clog the skin, or leave a funny residue. I use this in the mornings before moisturiser, and sometimes again after, to give my skin and extra boost of nourishment. This step is something I can't skip when it's cold! 
Tuesday, November 08, 2016

Simple smokey eyes are my favourite thing to wear when I want to look like I've made a bit more of an effort but don't have the time - or the skill lets be honest - to create a masterpiece of colours on my eyes. There are so many eye shadows, cream or powder, which you can simply sweep across your lid, blend, and you're good-to-go. If you only need one shadow and one brush to create a beautiful Olsen twin like smokey eye, count me in...

The By Terry Ombre Blackstars are something you have no doubt seen floating around the blogging world for some time now. They are a cream stick shadow which blends beautifully and can be used as a base for other shadows or, my personal favourite way to wear them, on their own. The shade selection is so stunning, and I wanted to chose one which was dark enough to create a smokey effect and add definition under the eyes, but not a black...so I picked up Bronze Moon and I'm beyond chuffed with my purchase.

Aside from the packaging, which is stunning, the product inside is one of the best cream shadows I've tired, and for the price (£29.00) I'm pleased it met my expectations. It really is one of those you can scribble across the eye and it blends out in a few seconds with a fluffy brush. The Morphe M441 is a great fluffy brush I love to use when working with one shadow, it blends things out effortlessly. Bronze Moon is a bronze - fancy that - golden shade which would work so well on so many different eye colours. The shimmer throughout is very pretty and catches the light beautifully, colours like this are my favourites for a simple smokey look. The formula is really creamy, yet it sets and stays put all day. I like to work from my lash line up, applying the product to my lid then blend it through my crease. I also looove this under the eyes, I think using the same shadow around the entire eye creates a really sexy lived in look, which we're all after right?!

One Stop Smokey Eye.


Simple smokey eyes are my favourite thing to wear when I want to look like I've made a bit more of an effort but don't have the time - or the skill lets be honest - to create a masterpiece of colours on my eyes. There are so many eye shadows, cream or powder, which you can simply sweep across your lid, blend, and you're good-to-go. If you only need one shadow and one brush to create a beautiful Olsen twin like smokey eye, count me in...

The By Terry Ombre Blackstars are something you have no doubt seen floating around the blogging world for some time now. They are a cream stick shadow which blends beautifully and can be used as a base for other shadows or, my personal favourite way to wear them, on their own. The shade selection is so stunning, and I wanted to chose one which was dark enough to create a smokey effect and add definition under the eyes, but not a black...so I picked up Bronze Moon and I'm beyond chuffed with my purchase.

Aside from the packaging, which is stunning, the product inside is one of the best cream shadows I've tired, and for the price (£29.00) I'm pleased it met my expectations. It really is one of those you can scribble across the eye and it blends out in a few seconds with a fluffy brush. The Morphe M441 is a great fluffy brush I love to use when working with one shadow, it blends things out effortlessly. Bronze Moon is a bronze - fancy that - golden shade which would work so well on so many different eye colours. The shimmer throughout is very pretty and catches the light beautifully, colours like this are my favourites for a simple smokey look. The formula is really creamy, yet it sets and stays put all day. I like to work from my lash line up, applying the product to my lid then blend it through my crease. I also looove this under the eyes, I think using the same shadow around the entire eye creates a really sexy lived in look, which we're all after right?!

Sunday, November 06, 2016