For over 18's only, please drink responsibly! 

I'm not fussed about hot chocolate in the warmer months, but as soon as the temperature drops I seem to drink it by the bucket load! I love nothing more than snuggling up with a good book or some Netflix, sipping on a nice hot coco. Instead of sharing a bog standard recipe with you today, I wanted to add a little something extra to really give your tastebuds an indulgent treat this season. Baileys is an Irish cream liquor, and boy does it pair well with chocolate...

What you will need: 
1 cup of milk (I used almond, but feel free to use whatever milk you fancy!)
1/2 cup of whipping cream
2 tsp drinking chocolate powder
1 shot of Baileys Irish Cream Liquor
A couple of chocolate squares to decorate

Let's get started! 

To heat up the milk you can either pop in the microwave for just under 2 minutes, or if you're feeling super fancy pop it in a saucepan and heat it up that way. I'll measure my milk in the mug so I know exactly how much I want to use. If you do make this on the stove, wait until the milk comes to a boil, then remove from the heat and add the other ingredients as followed.

Once your milk is nicely warmed, add your drinking chocolate powder, I don't have a favourite but I used one from Green and Blacks which was super rich and luxurious! Then add your shot of Baileys and stir. This liquor is lovely in a hot chocolate, it's so heavenly and the perfect festive treat. If you haven't tried it, do, it's amazing!

For decoration, feel free to use squirty cream, or you can make up your own using whipping cream. I have a stand mixer, so this step is a little easier but you can also use a handheld mix. I'll pour half a cup of cream into a bowl and mix until it forms stiff peaks. I love adding whipped cream to my hot chocolate as it makes it 10 times creamier when it starts to melt down! Once you're happy with it, spoon it onto your hot chocolate.

I'm not a fan of marshmallows, so they haven't featured here, but if you do then feel free to add as many as you like! Instead, I'll grate up some chocolate and add that. I used 2 cubes of plain milk chocolate and the cutest mini grater ever which I'll link if I can find it!

Sprinkle your chocolate on top and enjoy!

What's your favourite go-to Autumn/Winter recipe?

Baileys Hot Chocolate Recipe.

For over 18's only, please drink responsibly! 

I'm not fussed about hot chocolate in the warmer months, but as soon as the temperature drops I seem to drink it by the bucket load! I love nothing more than snuggling up with a good book or some Netflix, sipping on a nice hot coco. Instead of sharing a bog standard recipe with you today, I wanted to add a little something extra to really give your tastebuds an indulgent treat this season. Baileys is an Irish cream liquor, and boy does it pair well with chocolate...

What you will need: 
1 cup of milk (I used almond, but feel free to use whatever milk you fancy!)
1/2 cup of whipping cream
2 tsp drinking chocolate powder
1 shot of Baileys Irish Cream Liquor
A couple of chocolate squares to decorate

Let's get started! 

To heat up the milk you can either pop in the microwave for just under 2 minutes, or if you're feeling super fancy pop it in a saucepan and heat it up that way. I'll measure my milk in the mug so I know exactly how much I want to use. If you do make this on the stove, wait until the milk comes to a boil, then remove from the heat and add the other ingredients as followed.

Once your milk is nicely warmed, add your drinking chocolate powder, I don't have a favourite but I used one from Green and Blacks which was super rich and luxurious! Then add your shot of Baileys and stir. This liquor is lovely in a hot chocolate, it's so heavenly and the perfect festive treat. If you haven't tried it, do, it's amazing!

For decoration, feel free to use squirty cream, or you can make up your own using whipping cream. I have a stand mixer, so this step is a little easier but you can also use a handheld mix. I'll pour half a cup of cream into a bowl and mix until it forms stiff peaks. I love adding whipped cream to my hot chocolate as it makes it 10 times creamier when it starts to melt down! Once you're happy with it, spoon it onto your hot chocolate.

I'm not a fan of marshmallows, so they haven't featured here, but if you do then feel free to add as many as you like! Instead, I'll grate up some chocolate and add that. I used 2 cubes of plain milk chocolate and the cutest mini grater ever which I'll link if I can find it!

Sprinkle your chocolate on top and enjoy!

What's your favourite go-to Autumn/Winter recipe?

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Autumn is here, so it's time to slather on your favourite burgundy eyeshadows and roll around in some leaves, just me? Ok...But seriously, Autumn is my favourite time for fashion and beauty, I love the deep tones, warm eyeshadows and of course a berry lip. Today I wanted to home in on my go-to eye look which really embraces those Autumnal colours we all know and love. Also, I think I have the perfect palette for all your eyeshadow needs this season...

I normally just go in with a flesh toned base to enhance any shadow I put on top, but this Charlotte Tilbury Cream Shadow in Jean is absolutely perfect for this look. It's a shimmery champagne shade which I apply all over the lid and into the inner corner to really brighten the area. The shades I put on top look 10 times better once this is all blended in and set. It's the easiest thing to apply to, a brush or your fingers will do the job nicely, and it stays put all day.

For my eyeshadow I had to mention the Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eyeshadow Quad, just look at those shades!! I could oo and aa at this all day long, but I'll make this as short and sweet as possible. In here you get four beautiful shades, a champagne base, a rusty burgundy, shimmery bronze-y gold and a smokey rich brown. Basically Autumn in a palette. I apply the lightest shade over the lid, and with that cream base underneath, this shade really pops and looks stunning. For me, this works perfectly with my complexion and it has the perfect amount of shine to work under the brow bone as well as in the inner corners.
Next I'll place the burgundy shade through the crease to warm things up and add some definition and shadow to my eyes. This is my favourite shade from the palette, and I did not think I would love this kind of colour but here we are...It's the perfect warm red shade for this time of year.
 I then go in with some of the super shimmery bronze, this is described as the 'pop' shade in the palette and it doesn't exactly that. I love this over the lid, it really completes the look and it catches the light beautifully. I did think this would be too much, but actually I don't find the shimmer too overwhelming and the shine compliments the bronze-y tones beautifully. I also bring this under the eye to further define.
If I'm feeling like I want a bit more, maybe for the evenings, I'll take the darkest brown and blend that into the outer corner. It's the perfect warm smokey shade and looks amazing blended in with the other colours.

I always find myself gravitating towards pencil liners when I'm working with darker colours, I love that smokey look they give once blended out. My favourite pencil liners at the moment are the Rodial Smokey Eye Pens, and I run the black shade through my upper lash liner. I then take a small pencil brush, or an angled brush, and smudge it out. I love this affect! These pencils are so creamy and blendable, they stay put and I think they are one of the best formulas out there.

Once you've finished with liner, I love to pile on the mascara to make my lashes stand out. One of my favourites is the Clinique High Lengths, it adds some crazy length and definition to the lashes, and I often get compliments on how good they look when I wear this! I don't always feel like you need to go out a buy an high-end mascara, but this one is worth every penny. The brush is very odd, the plastic bristles are almost undetectable, but it makes coating every individual lash super easy.

What's your go-to Autumn look? 
SaveSave

An Autumnal Eye.


Autumn is here, so it's time to slather on your favourite burgundy eyeshadows and roll around in some leaves, just me? Ok...But seriously, Autumn is my favourite time for fashion and beauty, I love the deep tones, warm eyeshadows and of course a berry lip. Today I wanted to home in on my go-to eye look which really embraces those Autumnal colours we all know and love. Also, I think I have the perfect palette for all your eyeshadow needs this season...

I normally just go in with a flesh toned base to enhance any shadow I put on top, but this Charlotte Tilbury Cream Shadow in Jean is absolutely perfect for this look. It's a shimmery champagne shade which I apply all over the lid and into the inner corner to really brighten the area. The shades I put on top look 10 times better once this is all blended in and set. It's the easiest thing to apply to, a brush or your fingers will do the job nicely, and it stays put all day.

For my eyeshadow I had to mention the Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eyeshadow Quad, just look at those shades!! I could oo and aa at this all day long, but I'll make this as short and sweet as possible. In here you get four beautiful shades, a champagne base, a rusty burgundy, shimmery bronze-y gold and a smokey rich brown. Basically Autumn in a palette. I apply the lightest shade over the lid, and with that cream base underneath, this shade really pops and looks stunning. For me, this works perfectly with my complexion and it has the perfect amount of shine to work under the brow bone as well as in the inner corners.
Next I'll place the burgundy shade through the crease to warm things up and add some definition and shadow to my eyes. This is my favourite shade from the palette, and I did not think I would love this kind of colour but here we are...It's the perfect warm red shade for this time of year.
 I then go in with some of the super shimmery bronze, this is described as the 'pop' shade in the palette and it doesn't exactly that. I love this over the lid, it really completes the look and it catches the light beautifully. I did think this would be too much, but actually I don't find the shimmer too overwhelming and the shine compliments the bronze-y tones beautifully. I also bring this under the eye to further define.
If I'm feeling like I want a bit more, maybe for the evenings, I'll take the darkest brown and blend that into the outer corner. It's the perfect warm smokey shade and looks amazing blended in with the other colours.

I always find myself gravitating towards pencil liners when I'm working with darker colours, I love that smokey look they give once blended out. My favourite pencil liners at the moment are the Rodial Smokey Eye Pens, and I run the black shade through my upper lash liner. I then take a small pencil brush, or an angled brush, and smudge it out. I love this affect! These pencils are so creamy and blendable, they stay put and I think they are one of the best formulas out there.

Once you've finished with liner, I love to pile on the mascara to make my lashes stand out. One of my favourites is the Clinique High Lengths, it adds some crazy length and definition to the lashes, and I often get compliments on how good they look when I wear this! I don't always feel like you need to go out a buy an high-end mascara, but this one is worth every penny. The brush is very odd, the plastic bristles are almost undetectable, but it makes coating every individual lash super easy.

What's your go-to Autumn look? 
SaveSave

Thursday, October 27, 2016

MAC create some fabulous lipsticks, and their nudes, among a few brights, seem to always creep into my everyday stash. My first ever MAC Lipstick was 'Plink!'...yikes...your classic frosty as f*** baby pink lipstick which really didn't suit me at all and I'm not even sure what possessed me to purchase that, looking at it in the bullet now however, I somehow got through a lot of the stuff. Never the less, now I've found a few nude-y pinks which I actually do love, and I love them so much I wanted to dedicate a whole post to them...

Velvet Teddy, matte - Deep toned beige: I didn't think I was a nude matte lip kinda girl, it's a trend I get and think looks nice, but for some reason I only ever saw it paired with incredibly on fleek brows and a gorgeous matte smokey eye I was far from being able to achieve...That being said, I love this shade, and it converted me! It's more on the pink side, which I appreciate, and its a very universally flattering shade and can be worn with a lot more looks than ya may think, it is a nude after all...

Patisserie, lustre - Sheer nude pink: I adore this shade soo much! It's the perfect your lips but better colour which you don't need a lot of skill, or concentration, to apply. Patisserie is a beautiful sheer, muted pink-y nude shade which is a handbag essential for anyone on the go. It is a lustre, which means it's going to add a nice sheen to the lips, which I think is why it's so nice and easy to wear. I can't rave about this one enough!

Twig, satin - Brown pink-y nude: This is the darkest of the three, and I know in the picture above, they all look the same. Well, if you look at the swatches below, they're very different...maybe not very different, but enough for me to justify owning all three! This is another one I didn't think I was going to like, but I love it. If you want a slightly bolder nude option for the Autumn and Winter this is it!

(Top to bottom; Velvet Teddy, Patisserie, Twig)

MAC Neutrals; My Three Favourites.


MAC create some fabulous lipsticks, and their nudes, among a few brights, seem to always creep into my everyday stash. My first ever MAC Lipstick was 'Plink!'...yikes...your classic frosty as f*** baby pink lipstick which really didn't suit me at all and I'm not even sure what possessed me to purchase that, looking at it in the bullet now however, I somehow got through a lot of the stuff. Never the less, now I've found a few nude-y pinks which I actually do love, and I love them so much I wanted to dedicate a whole post to them...

Velvet Teddy, matte - Deep toned beige: I didn't think I was a nude matte lip kinda girl, it's a trend I get and think looks nice, but for some reason I only ever saw it paired with incredibly on fleek brows and a gorgeous matte smokey eye I was far from being able to achieve...That being said, I love this shade, and it converted me! It's more on the pink side, which I appreciate, and its a very universally flattering shade and can be worn with a lot more looks than ya may think, it is a nude after all...

Patisserie, lustre - Sheer nude pink: I adore this shade soo much! It's the perfect your lips but better colour which you don't need a lot of skill, or concentration, to apply. Patisserie is a beautiful sheer, muted pink-y nude shade which is a handbag essential for anyone on the go. It is a lustre, which means it's going to add a nice sheen to the lips, which I think is why it's so nice and easy to wear. I can't rave about this one enough!

Twig, satin - Brown pink-y nude: This is the darkest of the three, and I know in the picture above, they all look the same. Well, if you look at the swatches below, they're very different...maybe not very different, but enough for me to justify owning all three! This is another one I didn't think I was going to like, but I love it. If you want a slightly bolder nude option for the Autumn and Winter this is it!

(Top to bottom; Velvet Teddy, Patisserie, Twig)
Monday, October 24, 2016

I am an avid cleanser user, I adore them, and if I could own all the cleansers on the market I would, but thats just not feasible...My love for cleansers and the need to take my makeup off every night  - something everyone should do - got me thinking I need to put the two together and show you my cleansing routine, and in the evenings it's all about the double cleanse...

As far as removing my makeup goes, I'm all for the oils and balms. I find micellar waters make my skin feel far too dry, and to be honest I'd much rather cut out the faff of using a cotton pad, so it's oils and balms all the way! I'm a huge fan of The Body Shop Cleansing Oil and Balm, they're cheap and cheerful and get the job done, lately though I've been using something else! The Boscia Cleansing Oil is basically a gel/oil formula which breaks down makeup easily! I haven't been wearing a tonne of makeup lately which is why I've been reaching for this one so much, it's perfect for removing smaller amounts of makeup, not so good for waterproof mascara, but I don't tend to wear much of that in the colder months anyhow. I know this is a US based product, but if you're in the UK and want something just as good check out the one from The Body Shop I mentioned previously.

Now that my makeup is removed, I go in with a second cleanse to make sure my face is completely dirt free! The Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel is something I use morning and evening, it's the best cleanser I've ever used and I believe this is my fourth bottle of the stuff! The formula is lovely and milky, it initially comes out as a gel, then turns into a cream once you add water. I've introduced a new little gadget into my routine too, the Foreo Luna Play. This is so cute and small and it's perfect for getting super soft, clear skin. I used the Clarisonic in the past and have recently made the switch to this and I prefer it so so much more. It's a silicone device, so it's easier to keep clean, and the vibrating bristles feel lovely and soft on the skin, you hardly feel them at all they're so sensitive! Even after using this for the first time my skin felt the best it's been in a long time. This, along with the Oskia Cleanser, are a perfect match for radiant looking skin! I simply run it under some warm water, turn it on and message it around my skin for around 60 seconds or so. 

Double Cleansing Routine.


I am an avid cleanser user, I adore them, and if I could own all the cleansers on the market I would, but thats just not feasible...My love for cleansers and the need to take my makeup off every night  - something everyone should do - got me thinking I need to put the two together and show you my cleansing routine, and in the evenings it's all about the double cleanse...

As far as removing my makeup goes, I'm all for the oils and balms. I find micellar waters make my skin feel far too dry, and to be honest I'd much rather cut out the faff of using a cotton pad, so it's oils and balms all the way! I'm a huge fan of The Body Shop Cleansing Oil and Balm, they're cheap and cheerful and get the job done, lately though I've been using something else! The Boscia Cleansing Oil is basically a gel/oil formula which breaks down makeup easily! I haven't been wearing a tonne of makeup lately which is why I've been reaching for this one so much, it's perfect for removing smaller amounts of makeup, not so good for waterproof mascara, but I don't tend to wear much of that in the colder months anyhow. I know this is a US based product, but if you're in the UK and want something just as good check out the one from The Body Shop I mentioned previously.

Now that my makeup is removed, I go in with a second cleanse to make sure my face is completely dirt free! The Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel is something I use morning and evening, it's the best cleanser I've ever used and I believe this is my fourth bottle of the stuff! The formula is lovely and milky, it initially comes out as a gel, then turns into a cream once you add water. I've introduced a new little gadget into my routine too, the Foreo Luna Play. This is so cute and small and it's perfect for getting super soft, clear skin. I used the Clarisonic in the past and have recently made the switch to this and I prefer it so so much more. It's a silicone device, so it's easier to keep clean, and the vibrating bristles feel lovely and soft on the skin, you hardly feel them at all they're so sensitive! Even after using this for the first time my skin felt the best it's been in a long time. This, along with the Oskia Cleanser, are a perfect match for radiant looking skin! I simply run it under some warm water, turn it on and message it around my skin for around 60 seconds or so. 

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Before I started blogging I was obsessed with reading other peoples blogs, whether that be about beauty, food or travel, count me in! They very much replaced the traditional magazine for me. I love good ramble about my current favourite beauty products for this and that, but behind the scenes I follow a tonne of bloggers who write about all different kinds of things, and I thought I'd share my favourites with you all today...

Beauty
I'll get my favourite category out the way first, and give you a brief run down of my favourite beauty bloggers! The first is From Roses which is blog written by a fellow Brit, Rebecca. Her photography is gorgeous and she has the best recommendations, I tend to agree with most of her opinions! She has a lovely range of posts which are so creative and there's something for everyone out there. Another blog I can't get enough of lately is Beauty By Kelsey who is a US based blogger. She does some really lovely reviews and makes me want everything she writes about...She features some really beautiful and unique products and brands, and I'm constantly adding to my wish list after reading one of her posts. Her pictures are always very nice and well laid out too.

Fashion
I think fashion blogs are so inspiring and always get me lusting over the newest bag trend...My all time favourite fashion blogger is a lady called Alexandra who writes the blog Lovely Pepa, originally from Spain, but she's always travelling here there and everywhere. Her fashion is so wearable and simple, yet chic. I find some fashion bloggers feature outfits that on one would actually wear, but her style is so so nice and right up my street. I'm always so inspired after looking through her looks! Another girl I love is Victoria from In The Frow. Her style is so classy and there are loads of looks very suitable for the workplace if that's the kind of inspiration you're searching for. Her holiday looks are currently my favourites though, as they are filled with floaty dresses and jumpsuits and a beautiful selection of shoes!

Travel
Travel blogs are by far one of my favourites to read, they really put me in the holiday blues, but I can't stop looking at the sandy beaches, beautiful cities and blue skies! The Londener is my favourite blog for travel, Rosie's photos are always beautiful and you really get a good sense of a place after reading her posts. She covers food and style as well, which are great companions to her travel posts. There are a lot of places I want to go because of this lady! If you're looking for some more local breaks, maybe something in the UK, What Olivia Did does some lovely travel guides for cities right on our doorstep, well not quite, but a train journey away maybe? Olivia is a constant reminder to me that you don't always have to hop on a plane, and go somewhere tropical to experience good food and culture! Her recommendations for restaurants, cafes and places to stay are always on point.

Food
Food is such a fun one to talk about, and although I don't really follow any bloggers who exclusively write about food, there are a few who's recipes I'm always dying to try out. The first are from a blog called A Beautiful Mess, and I'm sure you're already following them as they are the ultimate lifestyle blog, they cover everything from food to decor and everything in between! Their recipes always get my mouth watering and some of their savoury dishes are perfect for dinner parties, even though they don't require too much skill or expertise! Back in the summer they put up a recipe for pancake puffs, and boy do they look and taste delicious! If you're on a bit of health kick, Eat Yourself Skinny, is a lovely blog filled with nourishing and simple recipes to fuel your body. There are some lovely salad recipes on here and some good healthy alternatives to things like chocolate chip cookies, a personal favourite of mine. Even if you don't create any of her recipes word for word, they serve as lovely inspiration.

Decor
Apartment Number 4 is a blog I always go back to whenever I'm in need of some home wear inspiration. This blog is written by Victoria who is a journalist and interior styler, two perfect components for creating a successful blog! She's always putting together lovely edits and photo collections showcasing the latest trends, and her personal spaces always look so dreamy and perfectly put together. Another blogger I love for pretty much everything, but especially her interior decor, is Kate La Vie. She is a lover is West Elm and house plants and I swear to god her house is probably like walking into Pinterest, everything looks so photogenic and perfectly placed! She's done an apartment tour on her Youtube channel, and she's constantly writing posts on her home decor. If you're a lover of white floors and high ceilings - a bloggers dream right - you'll adore her!

My Favourite Blogs For...


Before I started blogging I was obsessed with reading other peoples blogs, whether that be about beauty, food or travel, count me in! They very much replaced the traditional magazine for me. I love good ramble about my current favourite beauty products for this and that, but behind the scenes I follow a tonne of bloggers who write about all different kinds of things, and I thought I'd share my favourites with you all today...

Beauty
I'll get my favourite category out the way first, and give you a brief run down of my favourite beauty bloggers! The first is From Roses which is blog written by a fellow Brit, Rebecca. Her photography is gorgeous and she has the best recommendations, I tend to agree with most of her opinions! She has a lovely range of posts which are so creative and there's something for everyone out there. Another blog I can't get enough of lately is Beauty By Kelsey who is a US based blogger. She does some really lovely reviews and makes me want everything she writes about...She features some really beautiful and unique products and brands, and I'm constantly adding to my wish list after reading one of her posts. Her pictures are always very nice and well laid out too.

Fashion
I think fashion blogs are so inspiring and always get me lusting over the newest bag trend...My all time favourite fashion blogger is a lady called Alexandra who writes the blog Lovely Pepa, originally from Spain, but she's always travelling here there and everywhere. Her fashion is so wearable and simple, yet chic. I find some fashion bloggers feature outfits that on one would actually wear, but her style is so so nice and right up my street. I'm always so inspired after looking through her looks! Another girl I love is Victoria from In The Frow. Her style is so classy and there are loads of looks very suitable for the workplace if that's the kind of inspiration you're searching for. Her holiday looks are currently my favourites though, as they are filled with floaty dresses and jumpsuits and a beautiful selection of shoes!

Travel
Travel blogs are by far one of my favourites to read, they really put me in the holiday blues, but I can't stop looking at the sandy beaches, beautiful cities and blue skies! The Londener is my favourite blog for travel, Rosie's photos are always beautiful and you really get a good sense of a place after reading her posts. She covers food and style as well, which are great companions to her travel posts. There are a lot of places I want to go because of this lady! If you're looking for some more local breaks, maybe something in the UK, What Olivia Did does some lovely travel guides for cities right on our doorstep, well not quite, but a train journey away maybe? Olivia is a constant reminder to me that you don't always have to hop on a plane, and go somewhere tropical to experience good food and culture! Her recommendations for restaurants, cafes and places to stay are always on point.

Food
Food is such a fun one to talk about, and although I don't really follow any bloggers who exclusively write about food, there are a few who's recipes I'm always dying to try out. The first are from a blog called A Beautiful Mess, and I'm sure you're already following them as they are the ultimate lifestyle blog, they cover everything from food to decor and everything in between! Their recipes always get my mouth watering and some of their savoury dishes are perfect for dinner parties, even though they don't require too much skill or expertise! Back in the summer they put up a recipe for pancake puffs, and boy do they look and taste delicious! If you're on a bit of health kick, Eat Yourself Skinny, is a lovely blog filled with nourishing and simple recipes to fuel your body. There are some lovely salad recipes on here and some good healthy alternatives to things like chocolate chip cookies, a personal favourite of mine. Even if you don't create any of her recipes word for word, they serve as lovely inspiration.

Decor
Apartment Number 4 is a blog I always go back to whenever I'm in need of some home wear inspiration. This blog is written by Victoria who is a journalist and interior styler, two perfect components for creating a successful blog! She's always putting together lovely edits and photo collections showcasing the latest trends, and her personal spaces always look so dreamy and perfectly put together. Another blogger I love for pretty much everything, but especially her interior decor, is Kate La Vie. She is a lover is West Elm and house plants and I swear to god her house is probably like walking into Pinterest, everything looks so photogenic and perfectly placed! She's done an apartment tour on her Youtube channel, and she's constantly writing posts on her home decor. If you're a lover of white floors and high ceilings - a bloggers dream right - you'll adore her!
Monday, October 10, 2016

Makeup is so personal and can mean many different things to many different people. Some use is as a way to be creative and others use it purely to make them feel 10 times more confident, either way, you're beautiful without it. In this post I really wanted to focus on features you may love about yourself and how to make them stand out without using loads of products. For me, my cheek bones are one of my favourite features, so I never skimp on bronzing and highlighting. If you love your eyes, or you lips, hopefully this post will help you to accentuate those... 

If you have naturally flawless skin and you very rarely reach for foundation, a dewy primer and colour corrector under the eyes is all you need. I find by adding a small amount of a primer such as the Dior Glow Maximiser, your skin looks so fresh and naturally radiant. To help cover up any darkness under the eyes and to finish off the base, just add some of your favourite concealer where needed! If you use your finger or sponge it will apply a lot more naturally. The Bobbi Brown Skin Serum Correctors are fab for this! 

If you're like me and favour your cheekbones, invest in a palette which has everything you need, as opposed to two or three separate products! Having everything I need in one palette really speeds up my makeup process and I'm not faffing around trying to find this or that. One I been obsessed with - and yes, I'm going to mention this in anyway I can - is the Hourglass Ambient Surreal Lighting Palette which is perfect for all your cheek needs. You have a nice medium toned bronzer, this isn't matte, so it's not great for contouring, but to add some colour and subtle definition is really good. You also get two blushes, one is more mauve toned, lovely for autumn, and the other is a pinky peach. I love to apply blush more towards my tamales then the apples, as it slims down the face. Hourglass blushes are so beautiful, they add a perfect amount of sheen to cheeks to make your skin appear healthier. You also have one of their Ambient Lighting Powders, which you can use a subtle highlight, or they have another highlight option which comes in the form of their Strobing Powders if you like something more intense. If you were looking for something more affordable, I really like the Rimmel Sculpting Palette as it contains a bronzer, blush and highlight. The formula isn't chalky and I love the peachy blush, its so pretty. 

There are so many things I could mention here in terms of eyes, but I'm just going to rattle off a few of my favourite tips and tricks! If you're a lover of eyeshadow here are a few colour ways I think look stunning on different eye colours;
Green - Purples and light shimmery browns really help to bring out green eyes, purples specially look gorgeous! Golden shades are also so lovely on green eyes. 
Blue I think light champagne shades look really nice on blue eyes, as well as rich copper or red shades. Any dark shadow will really help light blue eyes to stand out as it's such a contrast!  
Brown - I definitely think golden bronze shades look lovely on brown eyes as well as green/olive shades. I have hazel eyes and I love olive shadows on my eyes. 
In addition to eye shadow, eye liner can also play a huge part in your eye look! If you have almond shaped eyes, lining your waterline can look so sexy and really make them the focus of any look. Liquid liner can also look really nice, play around with different thickness to find a style your happy and comfortable with! Lastly for eyes, curling your lashes can add sooo much to your lash game. It makes you look more awake and it makes your lashes look longer and more noticeable even without mascara. 

For lips, I would say just to stick to a nude you love, or a sheer balm, and add some lip liner if you want to to help define the shape. My favourite lip option for when I want something simple, but also something to make my lips look a but fuller, is the Clarins Instant Lip Perfecter Balms. They're very sheer, but the gloss adds a nice shine to the lips and helps them appear more plump. 

Makeup To Enhance Your Natural Beauty.


Makeup is so personal and can mean many different things to many different people. Some use is as a way to be creative and others use it purely to make them feel 10 times more confident, either way, you're beautiful without it. In this post I really wanted to focus on features you may love about yourself and how to make them stand out without using loads of products. For me, my cheek bones are one of my favourite features, so I never skimp on bronzing and highlighting. If you love your eyes, or you lips, hopefully this post will help you to accentuate those... 

If you have naturally flawless skin and you very rarely reach for foundation, a dewy primer and colour corrector under the eyes is all you need. I find by adding a small amount of a primer such as the Dior Glow Maximiser, your skin looks so fresh and naturally radiant. To help cover up any darkness under the eyes and to finish off the base, just add some of your favourite concealer where needed! If you use your finger or sponge it will apply a lot more naturally. The Bobbi Brown Skin Serum Correctors are fab for this! 

If you're like me and favour your cheekbones, invest in a palette which has everything you need, as opposed to two or three separate products! Having everything I need in one palette really speeds up my makeup process and I'm not faffing around trying to find this or that. One I been obsessed with - and yes, I'm going to mention this in anyway I can - is the Hourglass Ambient Surreal Lighting Palette which is perfect for all your cheek needs. You have a nice medium toned bronzer, this isn't matte, so it's not great for contouring, but to add some colour and subtle definition is really good. You also get two blushes, one is more mauve toned, lovely for autumn, and the other is a pinky peach. I love to apply blush more towards my tamales then the apples, as it slims down the face. Hourglass blushes are so beautiful, they add a perfect amount of sheen to cheeks to make your skin appear healthier. You also have one of their Ambient Lighting Powders, which you can use a subtle highlight, or they have another highlight option which comes in the form of their Strobing Powders if you like something more intense. If you were looking for something more affordable, I really like the Rimmel Sculpting Palette as it contains a bronzer, blush and highlight. The formula isn't chalky and I love the peachy blush, its so pretty. 

There are so many things I could mention here in terms of eyes, but I'm just going to rattle off a few of my favourite tips and tricks! If you're a lover of eyeshadow here are a few colour ways I think look stunning on different eye colours;
Green - Purples and light shimmery browns really help to bring out green eyes, purples specially look gorgeous! Golden shades are also so lovely on green eyes. 
Blue I think light champagne shades look really nice on blue eyes, as well as rich copper or red shades. Any dark shadow will really help light blue eyes to stand out as it's such a contrast!  
Brown - I definitely think golden bronze shades look lovely on brown eyes as well as green/olive shades. I have hazel eyes and I love olive shadows on my eyes. 
In addition to eye shadow, eye liner can also play a huge part in your eye look! If you have almond shaped eyes, lining your waterline can look so sexy and really make them the focus of any look. Liquid liner can also look really nice, play around with different thickness to find a style your happy and comfortable with! Lastly for eyes, curling your lashes can add sooo much to your lash game. It makes you look more awake and it makes your lashes look longer and more noticeable even without mascara. 

For lips, I would say just to stick to a nude you love, or a sheer balm, and add some lip liner if you want to to help define the shape. My favourite lip option for when I want something simple, but also something to make my lips look a but fuller, is the Clarins Instant Lip Perfecter Balms. They're very sheer, but the gloss adds a nice shine to the lips and helps them appear more plump. 
Thursday, October 06, 2016


I love it when Autumn rolls around and I can start using a bit more makeup, as I don't have to worry about it melting off. Along with layering, hot chocolates and scarves, I love a deep toned lipstick and slightly matter skin when October hits. This year I'm really excited to add a couple of new items to my Autumn line up, and I can't wait to share them with you, and hopefully give you some inspiration of how to switch up your makeup for the colder months...


Base.
Like I was saying, I love to dust off my foundations which offer a slightly heavier coverage and are going to stay a bit longer on the skin. My favourites for this are the L'Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation and the Liz Earle Signature Foundation. Don't be put off by title of the L'oreal one, I know matte skin is not for everyone and I definitely fit into that category, but somehow it looks very skin-like and non cakey. For a drugstore foundation I really adore this one, it offers medium coverage which you can build, it sits well on the skin, and last all day. I would say the finish is more velvet than matte! The latter is one I've loved for years and I feel like Liz Earle makeup doesn't get as much recognition as deserved, so I had to give it a mention. This is another medium coverage foundation, but a bit more dewy than the L'Oreal option. It's a thicker formula than other foundations I own, but it blends in seamlessly with a beauty blender and looks very natural on the skin.

For powder, I always opt for something non detectable on the skin, and preferably one which doesn't offer any additional coverage. The new Hourglass Surreal Ambient Lighting Palette has everything you could need to finish off the base. This contains one of their infamous Ambient Powders, two gorgeous blush shades, a bronzer and a strobe powder...does it get much better than that? The powder is finely milled and leaves the skin set, but not cakey. I prefer to use the warmer blush in the palette as I like those deeper tones in the colder months, and I think it compliments the lip shades I love to wear too.

Eyes. 
For the eyes, I'm all about the matte shadows, and one of my favourite palettes to use is the Charlotte Tilbury Sophisticate Eye Quad. All four shades are beautiful and are all you need to complete a natural, or slightly smokey eye look. I love to put the lightest shade over the lid and up to the brow, followed by the medium brown shade in the crease and under the eyes to add some extra definition. Then if I feel like something a bit more dramatic, I grab a tiny bit of the black/grey shade and blend that into my outer corner. They all blend beautifully together and aren't patchy at all, her palettes are one of my faves formula wise. I'm also a huge fan of lining the waterline, for some reason it's something I always do in the Autumn. Instead of using black which can look too harsh, I love a good brown. Rodial make a great pencil liner which is very creamy and the Urban Decay Bourbon 24/7 Glide on Liner is another one I love and stays all day without smudging. 

Lips. 
I absolutely love deep, plumy nudes in the Autumn and I could go on and on about my favourites, but one I've recently discovered is MAC Twig. This is a gorgeous mauve-y nude with some brown in the mix and it's become my favourite for everyday, I can see myself getting through this pretty fast. Some others which are on a similar vein, is Plumful and Syrup, both really lovely mauve shades. If you want something on the cheaper side the Revlon Matte Balm in Sultry is a stunning shade which is very similar to twig. Matte shades don't have to be drying either, so these are a lovely option as they feel very creamy and comfortable on the lips. I would say Syrup is my most moisturising as it's not matte and more sheeny. 

Updating Your Makeup Bag For Autumn.



I love it when Autumn rolls around and I can start using a bit more makeup, as I don't have to worry about it melting off. Along with layering, hot chocolates and scarves, I love a deep toned lipstick and slightly matter skin when October hits. This year I'm really excited to add a couple of new items to my Autumn line up, and I can't wait to share them with you, and hopefully give you some inspiration of how to switch up your makeup for the colder months...


Base.
Like I was saying, I love to dust off my foundations which offer a slightly heavier coverage and are going to stay a bit longer on the skin. My favourites for this are the L'Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation and the Liz Earle Signature Foundation. Don't be put off by title of the L'oreal one, I know matte skin is not for everyone and I definitely fit into that category, but somehow it looks very skin-like and non cakey. For a drugstore foundation I really adore this one, it offers medium coverage which you can build, it sits well on the skin, and last all day. I would say the finish is more velvet than matte! The latter is one I've loved for years and I feel like Liz Earle makeup doesn't get as much recognition as deserved, so I had to give it a mention. This is another medium coverage foundation, but a bit more dewy than the L'Oreal option. It's a thicker formula than other foundations I own, but it blends in seamlessly with a beauty blender and looks very natural on the skin.

For powder, I always opt for something non detectable on the skin, and preferably one which doesn't offer any additional coverage. The new Hourglass Surreal Ambient Lighting Palette has everything you could need to finish off the base. This contains one of their infamous Ambient Powders, two gorgeous blush shades, a bronzer and a strobe powder...does it get much better than that? The powder is finely milled and leaves the skin set, but not cakey. I prefer to use the warmer blush in the palette as I like those deeper tones in the colder months, and I think it compliments the lip shades I love to wear too.

Eyes. 
For the eyes, I'm all about the matte shadows, and one of my favourite palettes to use is the Charlotte Tilbury Sophisticate Eye Quad. All four shades are beautiful and are all you need to complete a natural, or slightly smokey eye look. I love to put the lightest shade over the lid and up to the brow, followed by the medium brown shade in the crease and under the eyes to add some extra definition. Then if I feel like something a bit more dramatic, I grab a tiny bit of the black/grey shade and blend that into my outer corner. They all blend beautifully together and aren't patchy at all, her palettes are one of my faves formula wise. I'm also a huge fan of lining the waterline, for some reason it's something I always do in the Autumn. Instead of using black which can look too harsh, I love a good brown. Rodial make a great pencil liner which is very creamy and the Urban Decay Bourbon 24/7 Glide on Liner is another one I love and stays all day without smudging. 

Lips. 
I absolutely love deep, plumy nudes in the Autumn and I could go on and on about my favourites, but one I've recently discovered is MAC Twig. This is a gorgeous mauve-y nude with some brown in the mix and it's become my favourite for everyday, I can see myself getting through this pretty fast. Some others which are on a similar vein, is Plumful and Syrup, both really lovely mauve shades. If you want something on the cheaper side the Revlon Matte Balm in Sultry is a stunning shade which is very similar to twig. Matte shades don't have to be drying either, so these are a lovely option as they feel very creamy and comfortable on the lips. I would say Syrup is my most moisturising as it's not matte and more sheeny. 
Tuesday, October 04, 2016