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PERSONAL: Things that make me happy!

September 10, 2014, 1:30 am
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Following on from the really depressing last post of mine, I wanted to write a little list of things that really make me happy when I am feeling down.  These things might sound so silly but they really perk me up (I'm a weird one).



- Books.  I can't express how much I adore stories, and books are real escapism for me.  I constantly have a book on the go and the thought of getting into bed with one really cheers me up.
I have the following Morrissey quote tattooed on my back (pictured above) "There's more to life than books you know, but not much more", which sums me up perfectly and I sometimes believe it's true.

- A drop or two of sherry. I hope I don't sound like an alcoholic but whenever I feel really down, the thought of having a thimble of sherry with a book and lit candle excites me (I told you I was odd).

- This blog.  Although I put myself under way too much pressure to make great content that appeals to everyone, and find it hard to make time for,  I really treasure this little blog, and the thought of playing with makeup, putting my photography skillz to use and writing is very dear to me.

- Cuddles with the boy.  I have no idea how I managed to get this boy and I'm honestly shocked he hasn't left already, with my worrying and crying, but I love time with him, it's so precious and he is really the only one who knows how to cheer me up and make me laugh when I'm having a down moment. 
Time & hugs with my family also cheer me up big time.

- The thought of moving out and getting our very own place.  SO excited for this chapter of my life, I've been dreaming about it for so long now.  I can't wait to decorate my own home and have a space I can love and adore.

- Flowers.  I will never ever get bored of receiving flowers. They brighten up the room and me!  The feeling I get having some in my room make me ridiculously happy.

I think that's it for now.  The little things that make me happy. 

What little things make you happy?

xxxx
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FASHION: Floral Clash Lookbook

September 12, 2014, 1:30 am
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If you saw this outfit of the day, then you'll know that I recently filmed another little style lookbook based around the 'floral clash' theme.

2014 has seen me thoroughly embracing prints and colour into my wardrobe and so this perfectly sums up how I like to wear this trend.

Outfit #1


Floral headband:
http://fave.co/1thqYnj

Floral Bralet:
http://fave.co/1sQhJq0

Floral Shorts:
http://fave.co/1thr1Q5

White Strappy Heeled Sandals:
http://fave.co/1sQhStB 

Outfit #2


Green Open Back Playsuit:
http://fave.co/1sQhVWw

Green Platform Shoes:
http://fave.co/1thr2TU


 Outfit #3




Cream Rose Playsuit:
http://fave.co/1thr3aE

Cream Platform Heels:
http://fave.co/1thr5iL




I love all the outfits in this video.  Most of them are from Missguided (an online brand I've been loving, all really affordable and great designs).

The video was filmed, edited and produced my Andrew - he even made the music for the video from scratch (majorly impressed and super lucky) so I really hope you like it.  I think it took 10 hours in total to create this so it'd mean the world to us if you 'liked' and subscribe to my channel!

We're in the midst of also discussing another 'couple's lookbook' so let us know if you would like to see another too!

Do you like the floral trend?  What's your favourite online store?

xx

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My Pamper Night!

September 15, 2014, 11:37 am
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Working full time as well as juggling a blog, YouTube channel, social life and a relationship definitely takes its toll on me and so it's so important for me to fit in those pamper nights.

After a seriously hard couple of months (feeling emotionally and psychically strained) I'm starting to try and make more 'me-time' where I relax and pamper myself.  Here are the following things that are normally involved in my pamper night routine!











First step HAS to be a bath, without a doubt.  I can light some candles (currently adoring Aromatherapy Associate Inner Strength Candle which is great for helping to de-stress) add a couple of drops of essential oils into the bath and relax as I pamper and preen myself!  I like to start off with a hair mask & face mask whilst I buff my body with my Braun Silk Spa 7 which is an epilator and exfoliation system in one.  Giving your body a good scrub before epilating ensures dead skin cells are removed and also prevents ingrown hairs.  It can be used wet and dry all over the body which makes easy and convenient to use!

Next step is to epilate my legs and under arms.  I've mentioned before this is quite painful but the results are outstanding - anything which  means I don't have to shave my legs daily is incredible in my books.  Love this epilator in particular as it removes tiny hairs, has a light for precise use and has a pivoting head which makes it little less painful.

Now once my body is soft, clean and stubble free, I wash my hair properly and cleanse my face with the Braun Face. You can read about this in full in this post here but it’s perfect for thoroughly removing every bit of makeup and oil from the face.

Once out of the bath, I obviously dry my hair and usually put into a plait to style overnight (makes it incredibly wavy in the morning and absolutely effortlessly stylish).

Now ready for the final step!  I’m currently obsessed with Peppermint tea; I have one every night before bed as it helps settle my stomach and relax me (I have a really bad phobia of being ill so this helps silly amounts).  I then like to paint my nails (currently ADORE Max Factor’s polish in Ruby Fruit see above) and then finish by reading a book.  I’m currently reading ‘Dark Echo’ by F.G Cottam (review coming soon).

So that’s it!  Hope you enjoyed this post.  Remember you can watch Jessica Alba & Braun's Break Free campaign & join in the movement here!  
Just writing it before I put this into action tonight is making me relax! 

Do you have pamper nights?  What’s your pamper routine?

Xxx

Thanks to Braun for sponsoring this post!  All opinions and thoughts are still my own.


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REVIEW: Benefit's Tinted Lip Balms & Swatches!

September 20, 2014, 8:34 am
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I can't leave the house without a bit of colour on my lips, and for the days that lipstick is a bit too much, I've been finding myself reaching for these babies - Benefit's new tinted lip balms.



Available in four shades, these lips balms are lovely and hydrating on the lips and also have a sheer pigment leaving just a hint of colour (if you have pale lips - those with pigmented lips may find the shades very slight).

My favourites are Cha Cha Balm - an mango shade and Posie Balm - a very pretty nude pink.  I also really like the fact that these shades match up with the Benefit Cheek Tints so if you're a fan of those of you can match your cheeks to your lips!

They are available for £14.50 from Benefit counters & online.

What's your favourite tinted lip balm?

xxx

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OUTFIT OF THE DAY: Katie & Andrew Sin City Style

September 22, 2014, 1:30 am
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Last week it was Andrew's 26th birthday and so I treated him to a surprise birthday meal at super swanky restaurant Le Trois Garcon, followed by our favourite cocktails in Lounge Lover (both situated in Shoreditch).  Full blog post on the food & cocktails coming up, but first I wanted to share these pictures with you!

On our walk back to Old Street station we walked past The Griffin pub (which coincidentally sits opposite my work office) and we noticed it's either being shut down or refurbished as there were old chairs & tables outside.  As we were a little tipsy, we decided to have an impromptu photoshoot outside making full use of the props!






















I absolutely LOVE these pictures!  They're a little grainy as we had to turn the ISO right up on my Canon 7D, but after a little bit of editing to make them brighter they have a Sin City feel to them which is very apt as both Andrew and I adore the films.

I wore a New Look lace playsuit (which my sister got me for my birthday), teamed with my favourite Boohoo boots and Choies coat.  Andrew wore River Island Shirt, Primark Trousers, Shirt & Tie and M&S Shoes.

We were both absolutely in fits of giggles whilst taking these and so I hope you find them amusing too!

Are you a fan of Sin City?  Want to see more couple's fashion posts?

xx
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REVIEW: Hair Styles with Braun!

September 25, 2014, 3:22 am
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You guys know how lazy I can be sometimes with my hair.  I tend not to make that much effort, but since getting my hands on a few new beauty gadgets (and since having my hair trimmed and lightened) I've been loving paying my locks a bit more attention. 


After experimenting with their cleansing brush& hair removal range, I’ve also been trying out Braun's hair gadget selection and have put together a few easy looks perfect with these tools.


























Satin Hair 7 Dryer:
I know what you're thinking - a hair dryer is a hair dryer, but this one is specifically designed to style your hair without the harm.  From the mesh at the back of the dryer (which prevents hair being sucked in & damaged) to the satin ion technology which helps to restore the moisture balance, this is a very well thought out dryer.  It is a little bulky than your average but worth it for healthy hair!

Satin Hair 7 Brush: 
A hair brush which smooths out frizz & adds shine whilst it detangles? YES PLEASE!  I love this revolutionary brush which, on the push of a button, releases 'ions' which work like a conditioner to tame frizz (also fantastic if your prone to static hair).  Available for £19.29 currently at Argos!

Satin Hair 7 with SensoCare Straighteners:  
Despite being a beauty blogger, I have never yet managed to nail the art of curling with hair straighteners… until now!  I can’t express how much I have loved using these – for starters there’s a little screen on top of the straighteners which allows you to set ‘hair profiles’ – you can choose your hair length, thickness, whether it’s natural or coloured and it will then heat up appropriately for your hair type.  You can also save those settings for your next use.  
I’ve never had that intractability with a hair tool before and I was super impressed.  It allows me to straighten and curl without burning or overheating.  Also, the rounded tongs make curling super easy as you can see in the images above.  I highly recommend!

What I Think:
To be completely honest I really didn’t realize how fab Braun are in their tools for women (and men).  With Jessica Alba now fronting their Break Free campaign (which you can watch here) which encourages women to be confident and break free for their imperfections, they are the first brand I'll be going to when I need a beauty tool.  

Do you own any Braun products?  What's your favourite easy hair style?

xxx

Thanks to Braun for sponsoring this post. As always my thoughts & opinions are my own!
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REVIEW: Zoella Beauty Range!

September 26, 2014, 1:47 am
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Something SO exciting on the blog today - my review of the brand new Zoella Beauty range which had it's launch party yesterday!  Upon news that YouTube sensation Zoe Sugg had a product range coming out, the internet went wild and so I'm very happy to show you them today.

Read on for pictures and a run down on the products!
 











The range is primarily all about body, pampering and delicious smells|!  It consists of a Blissful Body Mist, Creamy Madly Dreamy Body Lotion, Soak Opera Bath & Shower Cream, Fizz Bar, super cute Let's Glow Candle and two makeup/pencil bags.  The packaging of the whole range is so pretty making any bathroom or dressing table look super cute - with pastel shades, polka dots & Zoe's lovely handwritten logo.

The makeup bags are a great size, perfect for carrying your morning face or for if you're travelling.  The material is also wipeable (if you're prone to mess & spills like I am).  As well as the pink guinea pig bag above, there is also a blue one featuring her eyes.

The same fragrance runs throughout the range and I think it's lovely - very sweet and fruity, but not overpowering in any way.  It contains notes of strawberry, violet, jasmine, vanilla and gardenia which is light and a perfect pick me up fragrance.

Obviously Zoe had full control over the range, from the packaging, design, smells and products she wanted and this is an absolutely fantastic achievement - super proud of her and I can't wait to see what she does next!

The products will be out in Superdrug stores on Monday 29th September and online from today here!!

Will you be picking up some of these products?

xxx
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REVIEW: Clinique Sonic Purifying Facial Brush!

October 3, 2014, 1:00 am
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The importance of effective cleansing in the beauty world has been growing and growing in the last few years and I think we've all agreed that our fingers just don't give a good & deep enough cleanse anymore.

Clinique recently launched their brand new Sonic Purifying Facial Cleansing Brush and challenged me to try it for 10 days before giving my thoughts... so here we go!





The brush head contains 2 bristle types for targeted cleansing - the white bristles are softer for the more sensitive areas of the face & green bristles which are slanted & firmer for the hard to reach nooks & crannies (like around the nose and other contours).

The brush's gentle 'sonic' vibrations help to remove an abundance of impurities that hand washing just simply doesn't remove and my skin has been thanking me for it.  After removing a lot of the rubbish (pollution dirt/heavy makeup, even sunscreen) my skin is settling and looks brighter and calmer than it did before.  I've heard that many facial brushes give you spots for the first couple of weeks but I didn't experience any new blemishes with this (a rarity for me)!

Clinique recommend starting using this daily for 30 seconds (it tells you when this time is up) and build up to 1 min twice daily.  You can also use your favourite cleanser with it (I used my Mild Liquid Facial Wash for the challenge) and massage in circular motions on the cheeks, whilst option for an up&down motions on the T-Zone.

Things I love about this product is that it's waterproof - making it super easy to reach for in the morning shower; it has a funky charger (if you get one you'll see what I mean) which you can even charge by laptop, and it's also pretty enough to take pride of place in my bathroom.  Over all I'm really, really happy with this product and can't wait to keep seeing the benefits!

Are you excited about Clinique's latest innovation?
Click the link to learn more about the New Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush.


Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Clinique via Glam Media. The
opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Clinique.

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REVIEW: Benefit Majorette Blush Swatches!

October 5, 2014, 3:30 am
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When I first started seeing these beauties do the rounds in the beauty world I knew I would love it, and I really, really do!  Read on to see why!











This is a little tub of gorgeousness.  I'm instantly drawn to peachy, orange beauty products and so I knew this would suit and flatter my skin tone.  Majorette is described as a 'blusher booster', designed to be worn underneath blusher to enhance and 'pop' the colour but in all honesty, it's so beautiful I've been wearing it by itself!

It has a gorgeous silky cream to powder formula which looks like a natural peachy flush on my cheeks.  I've also added a little to my lips on days out which compliments the shade even more.

The packaging is bulky but super cute and contains a great 7grams of product.  It also smells delicious and contains a mirror in the lid making it perfect for on the go touch ups.  Can't express my love for this enough and I urge you to give it a swatch.

Are you tempted by Majorette?  What's your favourite peach blush?

xxx

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REVIEW: Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colour Swatches!

October 7, 2014, 2:30 am
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I've been meaning to write about these lip products for almost a month now because they have become a staple in my makeup bag, but wanted to do the products justice by nailing the pictures.

Released as part of the Bobbi Brown Surf & Sand collection, they introduced 4 new colours into their Sheer Lip Colour range.  See my thoughts on 3 of them below!

 

#19 Summer Nude

#18 Sunlit Pink

#20 Peach Sorbet

As you can see, these lip shades are to die for.  Despite being 'sheer', they give a good amount of pigment to my lips making them so easy to apply and wear.  The have a lightweight formula which also makes them really creamy and with an added shine.

My favourite is Summer Nude (#19) which has replaced my favourite ever lipstick (Barely There by Sleek MakeUP) - shock horror!  It's just the most beautiful pink brown nude - my lips but better shade.  Peach Sorbet (#20) follows closely behind for it's stunning bright peach tones which really brighten my face up.
Sunlit Pink (#18) is my least favourite.  It's a dark brown/bronze containing hints of gold shimmer, which sounds fantastic but I just can't seem to pull off.  Saying this, I think it'd look stunning on darker skin tones and those with a tan.

These retail at £19.50 which I'd think was pricey for a sheer lipstick, but as these have such fantastic colour pay off I'm more than happy to part with the cash.  Also - I'm not too sure if these shades will be discontinued along with the Limited Edition Surf & Sand range, but I really hope Summer Nude isn't because I can't imagine life without it now!
(It's totally the shade of lipstick I'd wear on my wedding day... Just saying... Bobbi Brown please take note)!

What's your favourite sheer lipstick?

xxx

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LOOK OF THE DAY: Sleek MakeUP Au Natural!

October 11, 2014, 3:00 am
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Sleek MakeUP have been one of my absolute favourite brands of the high-street for almost 5 years now.  Their products are stunning, of really high quality and for such a great price.  I wanted to create a look using their products for the blog today!




This look is a natural smokey eye, combined with contoured cheeks and nude lips.  I used the matte shades of the Au Naturel i-divine Palette (£7.99); the cream shade as a base and built up a matte brown in the crease of my eye to give more depth.

After lining my eyes and applying lashings of mascara, I used the Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette in the shade Fair (£9.99), to contour my cheeks and then used the rose gold blusher in the palette to build up a natural flush.

I used the Brow Kit (£8.49) containing a powder brow-shadow, a pigmented wax as well as mini tweezers and 2 brushes, to perfect my brows.  I finished with a slick of their True Colour Lipstick (£4.99) in Liqueur, which I'd describe as a muted purple toned, nude lipstick.

This is pretty much the look I wear most days to work, and to get products so affordable and high quality from the same range is fantastic.  I also can't get enough of Sleek Palettes - they are so, so beautiful to look at and their packaging is so simple that they look super smart in my collection.

Are you a Sleek MakeUP Fan?  What's your fav palette?

xxx



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BOOKS: Recently Read

October 12, 2014, 8:30 pm
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I haven't done a book review in a VERY long time (must be coming up to 2 years now) but that doesn't mean I still don't constantly have my head in books!

At the beginning of the year I set myself a challenge on Goodreads (you can see my account here) to read 24 books this year.  I'm currently reading my 19th book of the year so I think I'm pretty much on schedule.

I find it SO difficult to review books.  I love talking about them (desperately want to start a book club) but find it so difficult to write about them and so instead, I wanted to list a few of my recent favourites in the hope that some of you pick them up and love them as much as I did!

This is my friend Sophie's ladder bookshelf - I LOVE it and want one myself.

Night Film by Marisha Pessl
This has been my favourite book of the year so far.  I was gripped from the first chapter and felt thoroughly involved and captivating by this story.  It’s a murder mystery, almost detective book set around a mysterious film director; Cordova.  His films are highly disturbing and have been banned from many countries, so much so they’ve developed a cult following.

Cordova’s beautiful 24 year old daughter is found dead in a warehouse and the story follows Scott Magrath, investigative journalist who tries to unravel the mystery of her death.  This book also has interactive elements, which was new to me but completely gripping (I’ve always wanted to be a detective and this made me feel like I was one).  You can download the ‘Night Film’ app which when you see a ‘stamp’ on a page of the book, you can scan it through the app which then gives you an extra piece of evidence or bit of the story you wouldn’t have known otherwise – such as police evidence reports, music, detective notes etc.
Also throughout the book, as well as the general story, are news articles and message board screengrabs which makes the story a little more involving and ‘real’.

I DESPERATELY want to read more books like this so if you know any, please recommend!


The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Secret History by Tartt is one of my all time favourite books, and so when Goldfinch was released I was ridiculously excited.  The main character is Theo Decker, a 13 year old boy who survives a horrific ordeal that ends up killing his mother and the story follows him through his life as a man.

It's a really long book (over 770 pages) but I adored the story, fell in love with Theo, despite his imperfections and also discovered a new found interest in antiques and art.  I can't wait to read more of Tartt's work as she is one of my favourite authors.








We Were Liars by E Lockhart
This was one of my most recent reads and it was initially a sentence from the tag line which made me pick it up

"Read it. And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE".

I love the thought of the ending involving a twist that you have to promise to keep.  I don't want to say too much about it, apart from that I loved the way it was written, I loved the twist which was totally unexpected and it starts off with a map and family tree which makes any book perfect in my opinion!









Dark Echo by F.G Cottam
I downloaded this on my kindle on a whim and put off reading it for ages, but once I started I wish I had read it sooner!  It's the story of a haunted ship (sounds really lame, despite the fact that I love ghost stories).

It follows Martin Stannard, who's wealthy, successful father buys a boat to ride during retirement but as Martin and his girlfriend discover, the boat has a dark past and was owned by Harry Spalding (a horrific character).  It's quite graphic and dark in places and left me feeling scared and uneasy in some parts (which I love, always enjoy morbid subjects).

I found the ending a little disappointing and you do have to suspend your disbelief in parts but I loved this book and now want to read more ghost stories!



So sorry for all the words!  I really hope some of you read a couple of the books I mentioned here.  I loved them all and hope you enjoy their worlds as much as I did.

Also please leave me comments of your favourite books and if you have any recommendations - I'm always on the look out!

xxxx

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REVIEW: Philips Lumea Precision Plus Part #1!

October 17, 2014, 5:05 am
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Have you ever heard of a beauty tool that not only removes hair, but also does it painlessly, effortlessly and within minutes?  NOPE?  Well I'm about to embark on an 8 week journey testing out the new Philips Lumea for you guys.









I'm going to be trialling this on every part of my body that is possible - legs, armpits, bikini line and even my face (I always feel anxious that people can see the fine hairs above my lip and my last efforts of removing them resulted in cutting my nose open - got a little too excited with a razor eyebrow trimmer).  It says that 4 fortnightly treatments will leave you with hair free skin for up to 2 months and so I absolutely can't wait to see the results.

There are so many reasons I'm choosing to do the Lumea trial; I hate the time it takes shaving every morning, feeling self conscious about lifting my arms up because of underarm hair, even after shaving and also because the pain of epilation & waxing is sometimes a bit too much.  I've used the Lumea once already and so far pain free and took about 6 mins (for my underarms, bikini line, moustache & bottoms of my legs combined).

I'll be updating y'all on the way with updates via Instagram, Twitter and of course my blog here and I can't wait to share the results - I'm expecting to be as smooth as a dolphin afterwards, and I'm sure Andrew will love me all the more for it - I actually didn't shave my legs for two weeks recently (my excuse is it's autumn) and he hated it so much he wouldn't let my legs touch him in bed whilst sleeping... (don't worry gals, I reminded him that I have to deal with his hairy legs all the time)!

So I hope you join me on my updates!

“Lumea, the secret to beautiful hair free skin, for up to 2 months”
Have you ever tried an IPL hair removal gadget?

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Philips via Mode Media. The
opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Philips.
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REVIEW: Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 Palette Swatches!

October 20, 2014, 1:30 am
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DEAR DIARY,

I HAVE A PROBLEM AND CAN'T RESIST URBAN DECAY PALETTES.













If you're a cool-toned, pale gal like myself or enjoy natural taupe eye looks, Naked Basics 2 would be great for you.  It contains 3 neutral shades, most of which are matte apart from Skimp which has a slight shimmer, which work beautifully together to create an easy to wear nude look.

I've been using this daily for the past couple of weeks, with Skimp as a base, Primal into the crease of my eye, Undone smoked out in the outer corner and when a mix of Cover, Primal & Undone under my lower lash line for my signature sultry come-to-bed eyes (lolz).

I love the packaging of this palette, it's sturdy, small enough to fit in my makeup bag, has a good size mirror for applying makeup and perfect for travelling with.  It retails at £22 and I'm now lusting after the original Naked Basics palette as I haven't tried that yet!  Maybe if I do get it I'll do a comparison for you!

Are you a fan of neutral shadow palettes?  Have you got the original Naked Basics?

xxx

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EVENT: WITCH & MONDRIAN

October 25, 2014, 7:01 am
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Staying in a hotel overnight always feels like an absolute luxury to me - big beds, mini bars and room service - what's there not to love?

Last week Witch skincare invited me for dinner and an overnight stay at the brand new Mondrian hotel to celebrate their newest campaign #SwitchToWitch and I took my camera along to photograph the evening!











After arriving at the swanky new hotel on the thames, I checked into my room to find Witch products dotted around, as well as a personalised PJ set which I absolutely love.  I trotted down to dinner with some of my fav bloggers including Lily, Victoria, Leanne & Niomi for a delicious 3 course meal of scallops, lamb wellington & apple pie.
We had the chance to talk to Dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall who explained that skin looks & feels it's worst during the winter compared to any other seasons, which is why we need to switch up our skincare regimes to accommodate this.

After dinner Andrew joined me and we rushed back up to my room to have a pamper!  I changed straight into my pyjamas and used the Gentle Exfoliating Face Wash to take my makeup off,  followed by the Witch Hazel Bursting Beads Wash as I really wanted to try it after hearing such good things at dinner.

I finished with some moisturiser, ordered a peppermint tea and climbed into bed.  #SwitchToWitch is a nice little campaign reminding us to look after our skin all year round and I've now added some Witch products into my daily routine - my favourite is currently the Mattifying Moisturizer (with SPF15) which makes the perfect base for my makeup.

Big thanks to Witch for the evening - I felt like a princess.

Do you switch your skincare regime in the winter? Have you tried Witch products?

xxx

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REVIEW: Collection Mascara Comparison!

October 27, 2014, 2:30 am
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Along with foundation and skincare, I think mascara's are one of the beauty products which has taken me years to find my favourite.  I rarely buy the same mascara twice because there are SO many out there to choose from and because I'm always certain there will be a better one out there for me!

I've decided to start reviewing mascara's in bulk, by range, in an attempt to help some gals out there decide on what they think might work best for them!

First up, are 3 mascaras from Collection!







Super Size Fat Lash Mascara £2.99:
I had high hopes for this baby but it was honestly my least favourite of the three.  I felt it was really difficult to build up a good coating, despite having a big fat brush and it instead just really separated my lashes and combed them through.  Saying that, I know some mascara's take a while to dry out to a good formula but it was still my least fav.

Lengthening Mascara £3.99: 
This was my second favourite of the three and I think you can see in the middle image above, just how long it made my lashes.  It really promises to lengthen and it does just that, whilst coating a nice black shade on my lashes.

Big Fake Curves £4.99:
This came out trumps at #1!  I'll admit, the brush is whacky, big and a little messy due to it's shape, but I found it made my lashes look their best out of the three.  As I wear quite dark, heavy liner daily, I need a mascara which makes them stand out and this has the thickness to make them long and defined.  I did need to clean up after I use this though so have cotton buds at hand!

There we have it!  I hope you found this post helpful. This was the first time I had tried Collection Mascaras and for the price, I'm throughly impressed!  For under £5 is fantastic and I've found two new mascara's which I love!

What's your favourite highstreet mascara?  Have you tried a Collection Mascara before?

xxx
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REVIEW: French Pharmacy Skincare Favourites!

October 29, 2014, 3:59 am
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One thing I adore about France (along with their patisseries, moules et frites and beautiful homes with shutters) is their pharmacies and skincare brands!  Whenever I go to France I make sure to pop into at least one chemist to browse their skincare aisles.

I thought I'd write up a blog post featuring some of my favourite French Skincare products!



Avene Triacneal Cream -
My skin is being a nightmare at the moment and I'm really suffering from inflamed, angry under the skin blemishes that take ages to heal and fade.  Luckily I've added this to my regime and have been loving it.  It contains the ingredients to reduce inflammation, imperfections and Glycolic Acid to buff away dead skin.  I've been using this at night time underneath a moisturizing serum and spots have really started to fade now.

Avene Clearance Mask - 
You know I'm addicted to face masks at the moment and this is another I've been loving.  Again suited for acne-prone skin, this helps to reduce sebum and mattify the skin.  It's an odd formula containing small gritty bits which, after leaving on the skin for 5 minutes, you can rub in circular motions for extra exfoliation.  Just be sure to moisturize well after hand.

Bioderma Sensibo H20 - 
I hardly need to write about how much I love Bioderma.  It's my go-to eye makeup remover for lazy days and I always stock up on this when I visit France.

Bioderma Sebium Matifying Fluid - 
For days when my skin feels particularly oily I wear this underneath my makeup.  It's a creamy gel texture which once applied, makes the perfect base for my foundation and instantly mattes my skin.

Eucerin - 
Eucerin is fast becoming one of my absolute favourite skincare brands.  Their products are easy to find in Boots stores, are great quality and leave my skin feeling happy.  I have a full blog post on my current skincare regime coming up so stay tuned to hear more about these products in more detail.

There we have it, some of my current French skincare favourites.  There are a couple I've missed out from the likes of Vichy & La Roche Posay so maybe I'll do a part #2 of this post!

Also, online beauty store Escentual.com currently have up to 1/3rd off all of their French Skincare Products until the end of October (HERE) so be sure to check that out if you like the sounds of any of the products mentioned here!

What are your favourite French Skincare Products?

xxx

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EASY HALLOWEEN LOOKS!

October 31, 2014, 6:28 am
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Halloween is one of my favourite times of the year, not only for the copious amounts of sweets and pumpkins, but also for dressing up and makeup!

Here are some of my previous Halloween makeup looks and tutorials for those in need of some last minute inspiration!








You can subscribe to my channel to keep up to date with my videos here!

Do let me know what you dress up as this Halloween, I'd love to see!  Also if you try any of these out then do let me know and show me a picture!

xxx

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LIFE: Trainspotting

November 4, 2014, 8:50 am
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I can't tell how just how much I love escaping from London once in a while.  Don't get me wrong - I love London and would never leave it, but sometimes it can all get a bit too much.  For these times, we like to escape to visit Andrew's parents who live in Peterborough.

Although it's only 2 hours away it always feels like a breath of fresh air and spending quality time with his family playing card games, making our own ice-cream sundaes or going on bike rides always feels like a little holiday.

The last time we visited, his family took us on a ride on an old steam train throughout Peterborough and I took my camera along for the day!












We obviously couldn't resist a little photoshoot at Wansford Nene Valley train station where they keep so many old vintage trains & buses (even the original Thomas the Tank Engine)!

Andrew's mum packed us a little picnic to eat on the train, of quiches, little sandwiches, crisps and chocolate mousse for dessert.  We had a chat to the conductor and he even let us try on his hat (Andrew was so happy and giddy, I don't think I've ever seen him so excited).  After the train ride we had some drinks on a pub on the lake and headed back for a night of card games and sherry.

I hope you liked this different post - just wanted to share it with you :) Let me know if you'd like more posts like this!

Also big thanks to Andrew's amazing parents for always making us feel so special when we visit.

Where do you go to escape?

xxx


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HOW TO: Easy Galaxy Nail Art Tutorial

November 11, 2014, 6:10 am
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I've recently become a little obsessed with nail art (I blame it down to following the @NailsVideos account on Instagram) and it inspired me to film my own tutorial!

I've done a blog post on this nail art look before because it's one of my favourites, but wanted to film it for you guys today.




I used some really affordable, great quality nail polishes to create this look from the likes of Tanya Burr, Gosh and Rimmel and so I hope you enjoy this video!

You will need:
Midnight Sparkles by Tanya Burr
Rimmel in White Hot Love, Midnight Rendezvous, Blinfold Me Blue.
NCLA Bell Air Trophy Wife
Gosh in Magic Star
A Dotting Tool
A Sponge

Let me know if you would like to see any more nail tutorials from me - I loved doing this and am itching to do more!

What's your favourite nail art look?

xxx

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