Katie Snooks

Firstly I want to say I was overwhelmed with the response for part #1 of this post last month. I should have known that so many of you would also be interested in the prospect of a device which leaves you with pretty much non-existent hair growth!

Well I've been trialling the Phillips Lumea Precision Plus IPL device for a month now and wanted to report back on the results so far - half way through my trial period.

"Lumea, the secret to beautiful hair free skin, for up to 2 months."

The device is to be used once every fortnight and I think I've done 3 treatments so far (once more than I was supposed to but I couldn't resist as I enjoy it so much)! Each time hasn't taken more than 10 minutes and that's to do my full lower legs, armpits, bikini line and upper lip area.

It's really easy to use - simply turn on, set to your desired intensity setting, press against the part of freshly shaved skin you want to treat until the 'Ready' button turns green and simply press flash! I was a little apprehensive upon the first time I used it but quickly got into a routine which I found fun and satisfying. I don't find this painful at all - the higher the setting and you might feel a little bit of heat on the flash but that's about it. Obviously under the armpits and bikini line this can feel quite tender but it's absolutely fine for me. I've been using setting 4 on my legs, and 2/3 on my face, underarms and bikini line.

It was only after the 3rd use when I noticed a pretty great difference in the appearance of my hairy legs (hopefully all this hairy talk isn't too graphic for you).

So I shaved my legs last Thursday and spent the next few days packing my life into boxes as I have been moving house. Fast forward to Monday night and I realised I hadn't shaved my legs for 4 whole days and to be honest, there wasn't much to get rid of. There were a couple of sparse groups of hairs here & there but on the whole my legs were still soft (I even got my workmate to touch my leg to agree with me and she was impressed - sorry Fran)!

I haven't noticed much of a difference on my armpits and bikini line but I don't tend to study those areas as often (ha) but I'll keep a good eye on them so I can update in my final post next month. So far, so good.

Tempted to try this IPL Hair Remover Tool?

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.

You may have noticed it's gone a little quiet on the blog front recently but that's because I'VE MOVED HOUSE!

After living in Essex with my parents for 7 months, Andrew & I found the most perfect little flat in East London which we moved into just over a week ago. The moving process was painful for me; I'm a hoarder and find it so difficult to get rid of stuff and so sorting through 26 years of belongings and moving them into London produced a few tears!

But we're slowly sorting things out - internet has now been set up, Andrew's buying me a lovely desk to work on (stay tuned for room tours), and we're working our way through boxes whenever we have a spare minute.

Both of our parents have been so helpful so I have to say a big thank you - for helping to lug & transport my stuff to buying us a kettle & microwave! The house is fully furnished but there were a few things we still needed (and want to change) but we're on our way to making it our own.

I absolutely can't wait to start making content in my new space so please stay tuned as I have so much to post about. Also if you're interested in interiors, homeware and design let me know. I have a 'Homeware Haul' going live on my YouTube channel at the weekend and want to do lots of room tours!

Let me know if you would like to see more interior/homeware content!

xx

After Tanya launched her nail polish & lip glosses earlier in the year, I couldn't wait to see what she would choose next to extend her range and it was of course, eye lashes!

I have some girl friends who wear false lashes daily and I'm always so jealous of how beautiful they look, but I only tend to wear them myself for special occasions. I went on a double date recently and decided it was the perfect excuse to dress up and try these out.

I went for the Bambi Eyes lashes, which provide the big, doll like look which complimented my purple smokey eyes and nude lips perfectly. I'm also not the best at applying lashes and tend to end up covered in glue with lashes slightly on the wonk, but these were light and easy to apply. I had to trim them down a little to fit my eyes and the glue included in the set did the trick in setting them down.

Just a note on the other makeup I'm wearing in the pics above - the purple shadow shade is from the Urban Decay Electric Palette and the nude lips are courtesy of Illamasqua Lippie in the shade Starkers.

I have a set of the Individual Lashes that I'm going to try out soon - I've never actually worn individual lashes before because they look super time consuming and fiddly to apply but I've seen Tanya use these in the past and she makes it look effortless so I'm going to give it a go! She also gave me some tips on how to best use these, so I'll let you know them shortly!

There are 6 Lash Types available for £5.49 in Superdrug stores and online at Feel Unique!

How often do you wear falsies? Will you be giving these a try?

xxx

I have some quite exciting news today!

Next weekend Covent Garden are celebrating all things beauty with a pretty exciting 4 day Beauty Live festival around their stunning Piazza.

There will be a big selection of exclusive promotions in stores (including Dior, Mac, Chanel etc), as well as events, talks & makeup demos over the weekend; Blo Blow Dry Bar offering free hair styles, WAH nails have a pop up bar and more excitingly a selection of incredible YouTubers and bloggers I admire, including Pixiwoo will be doing Q&As and talking all things beauty.

Now after lots of planning I can announce that I too am taking part in the event on Saturday 6th December. As well as doing a Q&A, live makeup demonstration & meet up, I have a super exciting competition so you guys can get involved too.

Covent Garden are offering 4 of my readers a chance to:
- Join me for Afternoon Tea (at Ladurée) for a gossip & beauty talk
- I'll give you a little gift - a box of designer makeup chosen by me (inlcuding MAC, Chanel & Bobbi Brown).
- We will then go and get our nails and hair done at the Blo Blow Dry Bar & by WAH nails.
- And then we can watch Pixiwoo's demo and you will have front row seats for my blogging Q&A and demo!

To enter, simply make sure you can get to and from London (from midday) on Saturday 6th December, be over 18, and comment on this post with your email address and telling me one beautiful item you would love to buy in Covent Garden.

I'll choose 4 winners on Wednesday next week and will contact them via email.

Just to recap, the event is taking place between Thurs 4th - Sunday 7th but myself and Pixiwoo will be there all day on Saturday! You can also keep up to date with the event with the #TheBeautyQuarter hashtag!

Feel free to pop down and pop into the Q&As - it's all free!

Leave me a comment and I'll choose 4 people on Wednesday!

Please note this is a sponsored post but this does in no way affect my views and opinions. My reviews are always honest and trustworthy.

I've always generally preferred powder shadows to cream shadows but recently I've been playing around with texture and switching things up.

Most highstreet beauty brands have recently launched cream shadows (I'm thinking Maybelline's Colour Tattoo & Bourjois Colour Edition Shadows) and so I've been happy to see my favourite high-end brands produce some new shades too!

L-R Night Sky, Midnight Forest, Smokey Topaz, Thunderstorm.

I can't express just how luxurious & stunning these Long Wear Gel Sparkle shades are. Absolutely perfect for this time of year, they sparkle and glisten in the light and really make the eyes pop.

I've been opting for a sweep of these shades blended up to the crease of my eye and smudged out below my lower lash line (with a fluffy eye brush) and they look like I've made loads of effort. They are also build-able so you can layer to get the type of intensity you want. I love the Smokey Topax for blue eyes, and the blue & green shades look stunning on darker eye colours.

You can also use these instead of a bog standard black liner, to create a flick on your top lash line (the shimmer looks stunning peeping behind big lashes). I should also mention there is absolutely no glitter 'fallout' with these shades so you won't end up looking like a sparkly Edward Cullen!

These are available online here and at Bobbi Brown counters for £20. Quite pricey but absolutely stunning and a gorgeous addition to a makeup collection.

What's your favourite cream eye shadow?

xxx

So, here it is; the final update from my trial period of testing out the Philips Lumea Plus. Can't quite believe it's been 2 months since I started using this product! Since then I've moved house, made another pretty big life decision (which you'll find out about soon) and all the while this gadget has been by my side.

Catch up on Part #1 and Part #2 of this review series here!

To be honest, using this product couldn't have come at a better time - I've been the busiest I've been in a long while and shaving and pampering has been at the bottom of my list of priorities.

Thankfully, hair growth really started slowing down on my legs after a month and now I can go full weeks without shaving them and barely give a second thought to it. There are a few random sparse hairs here and there, but overall my legs are smooth & hair free, which even Andrew has noticed & complimented.

Armpits & bikini line have taken a little longer to start seeing good results, I think this must be because I use it on a lower setting (normally 2/3) as that area does tend to be a little more tender and the higher settings do make me flinch a bit, but hair growth is beginning to look sporadic and I think with a few more treatments the results will be fantastic.

The device has innovative light-based technology called IPL, which works by applying gentle pulses of light to the hair root, therefore resulting in natural hair shedding over time and hair growth becoming inhibited.

I love the fact that I can do this in the comfort of my own home (bed) and without the big cost of laser treatment. I would really, really recommend this to any one who either hates shaving &
waxing, or has thought about laser hair removal as it's a much more comfortable, easy, pain-free & a more affordable alternative!

"Lumea, the secret to beautiful hair free skin, for up to 2 months."

Would you try this beauty 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.

Here's a little secret - Eyeko's liquid liners are some of the best out there. I've been through so many pens of theirs and can't praise them enough!

Here's a review of one of their newest liners, a collaboration with Alexa Chung and it didn't disappoint!

I just can't fault Eyeko's liners. They are pigmented, the nibs are precise, firm and last ages before they wear down. The product stays on all day (especially when set with black shadow) and the packaging is sleek, simple and perfect for slipping in little handbags for touch ups.

I also spotted Alexa using this herself in a video on Lisa Eldridge's channel recently and it shows just how easy it is to use to create the perfect flick.

Love this item and will continue to repurchase! The only negative is that it is quite pricey for a eyeliner pen - £15 and can only be found in certain stores likes Space NK and Selfridges, but it last's a lot longer than my usual liner pens so it's worth it.

Have you ever tried an Eyeko liner?

xxx

So there are currently 11 days until Christmas and I'm sure many of you, like me, have only just started thinking about gift shopping!

I've put together a little gift guide here to help those who are currently stuck on what to get certain people; a little inspiration if you may!

For the Fashionistas: For those who are fashion conscious, a classic, simple piece of jewellery such as a watch is the perfect idea.

Discount code:

I actually have a discount code for you guys today; enter 'katiesnooks' at checkout and receive 15% off when you order from www.danielwellington.com. It's valid everyday until December 31st!

For the Beauty-Obsessed:
Soap & Glory are back again this Christmas with another incredible discounted gift set for one week only. Until Friday, this set which contains over £75 worth of products is available for only £29 both online (here) and in stores!

I know I should probably give this to someone as a gift but (naughty as this sounds) I might just keep it for myself! The products smell incredible, especially the Sugar Crush Body Scrub and the Righteous Butter smells exactly like one of my favourite perfumes, Miss Dior Cherie!

For the Blogger: I'm currently obsessed with my new phone & laptop case from Case App and I think these would make the most perfect gift which is a little different! You can completely personalise your very own laptop skin and phone case which for a loved one makes a really thoughtful present.
Discount Code:
I also have a discount code, enter: KATIE2 at checkout to receive 20% off until December 20th from http://caseapp.co.uk! I want to write a full blog post on just how much I love these so stay tuned!

For the Blogger or Boyfriend: I have a little place in my heart for Acer tablets as it was one of the first I owned and since then they've released this beauty; the Iconia Tab 8!

This tablet is a real beauty with it's petite, sleek white casing making it the perfect size to fit in a handbag or 'manbag'. The screen is real high-def which makes reading blogs and YouTube videos a pleasure and it also has a front and back camera which is great for snapping on the go.

I love my Acer tablet for reading books on (after buying them from the Google Play store) as well as for writing blog posts whilst on the move - if you travel a lot like I used to for work, then having 10 minutes on the bus or train to tap up a blog post on makes this the perfect companion for a blogger (you can download the blogger app to make things even easier). If you have a bit of money to splash out on for a gift for someone this Christmas then this makes the perfect gift.

For Mum: I don't know anyone who doesn't adore Kiehls products and for that fact they'd make the perfect Christmas treat!
They've recently teamed up with International Artist Duo Craig & Karl to create Limited Edition packaging for the Holiday Collection which adds a lovely festive twist on the usually clinical looking products. Creme De Corps is one of my favourite body lotions ever (I love to slather it head to toe after a bath) which leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft and even tames my sensitive, eczema prone skin.

For the Beauty Obsessed:
Benefit have such a gorgeous selection of gift sets this Christmas and this might just be my favourite; The Cheeky Sweet Spot; a tin palette full of their most popular blusher shades! Although it's not great for travelling with, it makes the perfect gift for someone who loves experimenting with makeup and who has never tried a Benefit Blusher before as they can try them all out and find their favourite.
It's also contains Watt's Up; a gorgeous soft highlighter for the face which you can also use on the brow bone for a subtle highlight!

There we have it; a little Christmas Gift Inspiration. I really hope this helps those in need pick something perfect for their loved ones this winter. I must say I whole heartedly adore every single item featured in this post and so if they're anything like me they'll be super happy with these gifts!

What's on your Christmas List this year?

xxx

I decided recently to film a really easy, festive makeup tutorial, perfect for this time of year, using some of my absolute current favourite products.

I'm suffering quite badly at the moment with acne scarring (I've spoken about this lots on my blog and channel before), and so I've been reaching for my favourite MAC Full Coverage Foundation to completely airbrush and cover any imperfections.

I used the Bobbi Brown Warm Eyeshadow Palette on the eyes, complete with lots of kohl & gel liner, contouring with Illamasqua's Cream Pigment in Hollow and finally lots of products to enhance the lips including Tanya Burr's lipgloss in Lunch Date!

Products used:
Avene TriAcneal: http://fave.co/1AK9MY2
Eucerin Even Brighter Day Cream: http://fave.co/1AK9XCH
MAC Full Coverage Foundation: http://fave.co/1qcMWYe
L'Oreal Paris Eye Primer Base: http://fave.co/1qcN7CX
Bobbi Brown Warm Eye Palette: http://fave.co/1pLKmYY
Illamasqua Precision Gel EyeLiner: http://fave.co/1qcNDRg
Maybelline Master Smokey Shadow Pencil: http://fave.co/1qcOukY
L'Oreal Super Liner Brow Artist Shaper: http://fave.co/1AKd2D1
Shu Uemera Shupette Eye Lash Curlers: http://fave.co/1qcPo0R
Lancome Hypnose Star: http://fave.co/1AKeeX0
Burt's Bee's Lip Balm: http://fave.co/1qcPPIy
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer: http://fave.co/1qcPZ2K
Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow: http://fave.co/1AKf0mD
Bobbi Brown Lip Liner in Pink Mauve: http://fave.co/1AKf7ih
Sleek Makeup Lipstick in Barely There: http://fave.co/1AKfwky
Tanya Burr Lipgloss in Lunch Date: http://fave.co/1qcQIkq
CoLab Dry Shampoo in Rio: http://fave.co/1qcQTwe

I really hope you enjoyed this video; I had good fun editing it too so I think I might try more of these in the future. Also - it would really mean the world to me if you subscribed to my YouTube channel; I'm going to be uploading a lot of new content in the up coming months!

What's your current favourite makeup look?

xxx

Although brows are very in at the moment, it's still important to keep them looking natural and not too OTT. That's where tinted brow gels have excelled and become very popular.

There are an abundance of them available on the high street now but I wanted to talk about the Rimmel Brow This Way Gel's today!

There are 3 tinted shades available - Blonde, Mid-Brown and Dark Brown, as well as a clear brow gel for those whose brows just need a little general upkeep!

I've found the Dark Brown is the most suited for my brows - the others are quite light and red based (I'd prefer if they were all a little more muted). Because of this, it's important not to over apply the product so I've found to sweep the wand against the side of the product before applying leaves you with a much more subtle, but build-able coverage.

On the days I don't have much time to get ready in the mornings, these are what I've been reaching for. They are super easy to use, just sweep through the brows in the direction of hair growth to set in place all day.

They are available in Boots & Superdrug stores for £3.99 each. - affordable and easy to find!

Have you ever tried a tinted brow gel? What's your fav?

xxx

This is a look I wore to Gleam's Christmas party a couple of weeks ago and I loved it so much I wanted to recreate it for a video today! It's such a simple look but very stunning; I love that you get a flash of glitter when looking down or blinking.

I tried to use really affordable and easy to find products to create the 'eye' for this look so I opted for a Rimmel Quad for shadows and Collection Products to create the glitter. You can also obviously switch up the glitter colour for this look but I think gold and black is classic and makes the perfect New Year's Eve makeup!

Products:
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation SPF15: http://fave.co/1HVNrci
MAC Full Coverage Foundation: http://fave.co/1qcMWYe
Urban Decay Primer Potion: http://fave.co/1HVNzs8
Rimmel Glam Eyes HD Eyeshadow Quad in Brixton Brown: http://fave.co/1HVNGDW
Rimmel ScandalEyes Kohl: http://fave.co/1HVNPaE
Illamasqua Gel Eye Liner: http://fave.co/1qcNDRg
Collection Galactica Faststroke Metallic Liner in Solar Ray: http://fave.co/148VkOW
Collection Glam Crystals Dazzling Gel Liner in Funk: http://fave.co/1HVNXqw
Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eye Liner: http://fave.co/148VlCt
Shu Uemera Shupette Eye Lash Curlers: http://fave.co/1qcPo0R
L'Oreal Super Liner Brow Artist: http://fave.co/1AKd2D1
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer: http://fave.co/1qcPZ2K
Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow: http://fave.co/1AKf0mD
Sleek Eau La La Liner in Melba: http://fave.co/1HVOitg
Mac Lipstick in Sushi Kiss: http://fave.co/148Vrdp
Benefit Majorette: http://fave.co/1HVOqsV

Really hope you enjoy this tutorial and do be sure to tweet/tag me in an Instagram if you try this out yourself, I'd love to see!

What makeup will you be wearing on New Year's Eve?

xxx

Wow, so 2014 is now over. Can't quite believe just how quickly time moves now that I'm an adult and all, ha (seriously though). As usual I wanted to write up an end of year post and my resolutions for the next. This is always one of my favourite yearly posts to write (you can read 2012, 2013 and 2014's posts here) so here we go!

(Last pictures of 2014)

2015 Resolutions:

1) Keep a diary.
Typical one, I know (I set myself this challenge every year and fail). I kept a daily diary when I was a teenager and absolutely love reading them back and my life is pretty great at the moment so I want to remember everything. I have a plain journal that I want to jot memories down in all year round and I'm really looking forward to documenting everything!

2) Get rid of my phobia & worries.
This seems like an overly ambitious resolution but I'm determined to make 2015 the year I get help for my issues (lolz). I had my first CBT session at the end of last year and so I'm well on my way to banishing my fears (emetophobia). You might also remember this post from last summer when I was in quite a bad place in my head and so hopefully CBT will help me think about how to process my worries in a way that makes them more manageable.

3) Grow my blog and YouTube channel.
I made some pretty big life decisions at the end of last year (which you will hear about soon) but I've decided to make 2015 the year to really expand time spent on my online sites. I'm determined and super passionate about this, and so I hope you all stick around and continue to read & watch my content!

4) To just survive.
I had a really interesting (albeit tipsy) chat with someone a couple of days ago about resolutions. He said the only one he ever makes is 'to just survive'. It's the only thing we can really commit to, and if we fail, it doesn't matter any way. I know this sounds ridiculously depressing and deep but it made me think; life is what we make of it and we are blessed to be alive so let's just enjoy that.

2014 Highlights:

I was thinking last night about how in my head, 2014 was full of ups and downs - I went through big periods of being very down and sad in my mind (it's funny how sometimes you only remember the negative things?) but over all the year was in fact, fantastic.

In the first week of January last year, Andrew and I had a silly discussion about how good it would be to live together after having a long distance relationship. Fast forward to 5 months later he had moved his entire life down to London to live with me. We spent 6 months living with my parents in our family home (which I can't thank them enough for; the house is seriously tiny (we call it the hobbit house) and not big enough for 5 people) but we made it work and their support was incredible. In November we found a little place to call our own in East London which we adore it to bits and it has become my biggest highlight of 2014.

Other highlights include:
- Our first holiday together with my family in Portugal, and a trip to Centreparcs!
- Meeting so many readers of my blog out in public. This has to be one of my favourite things and something that really makes me happy!
- Quality time with my parents & sister.
- Working for such a fantastic, inspiring company - Gleam. I celebrated my 2 year anniversary there in the summer and feel so honoured to work for such a great business with amazing team mates.
- Filming lots of content for some amazing YouTubers; a favourite part of my job is helping other YouTubers create content with my photography skills. You can watch some of my favourite things I've filmed here, here and here!

Finally, I want to say a massive thank you for everyone that has read my blog and watched my videos; I will be celebrating my blog's 5th birthday this month (bloody hell!) and it's become SUCH a big part of my life, I can't imagine doing anything I love doing more in my spare time. Nothing makes me happier than writing creating content about makeup, fashion and books and so I'm entirely thankful to everyone who joins and supports me. Blogging really has changed my life!

Sorry for the long post, but I hope you enjoyed it! I hope you all have a fantastic 2015!

What are your New Year Resolutions?

xxx

At the beginning of every year I like to write up a list of my favourite products from the last as a little look back and round up. I decided to split products up in to 6 categories this year - Hair, Skin, Eyes, Lips, Foundations and Blushers (as opposed to 5 the last - as I had too many favourite blushers this year and couldn't fit them in the same category as my fav face/base products)!

First up are my favourite hair care products from 2014!

Tangle Teezer: One of the biggest bains of my life is how tangled and matted my hair gets on a daily basis. I just have to walk out of the house with my hair down and five minutes later I have a birds nest at the base of my neck. Tangle Teezers have become my saviours in the past year and this wet one is my favourite. I use it to comb conditioner through my hair and again before blow drying. It's just the best at removing knots and I know have about 6 dotted around the house!

CoLab Dry Shampoo: 2014 saw the launch of a new dry shampoo to hit Superdrug stores; Colab. Fronted by the gorgeous Ruth from A Model Recommends, the range contains 5 cans; London, Paris, Tokyo, Rio and New York. They all smell amazing (my favourites are London which is a classic scent and Rio which is tropical) and they are so light and leave no chalky residue in the hair which makes them perfect for refreshing your locks.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer: I have a big thing for hair masks and do one at least once a week. As my hair gets so knotty, I think masks really helps to condition and stops it getting so tangled. Elasticizer is my current favourite; it feels so luxurious and my hair literally feels like silk once dried. It's pricey but a real luxury treat for me!

Morrocan Oil Treatment: As well as masks, I also have a big soft spot for hair oils. I use them daily on the ends of my hair to keep them soft and managable. This one smells incredible (Andrew always compliments me on how good my hair smells after I use this) and is quite light so as long as you use a small pea size amount your hair won't be left looking greasy.

Bleach London Super Cool Colours: These babies launched in 2013 but I have only recently got round to trying them out at home and LOVE them so much. I have pretty much always had blonde hair and so at the end of last year I decided to experiment and add some bright shades to my hair. These dyes are semi permanent and wash out in 2-10 washes. They smell amazing and the shades are super cute; my favourites are Awkward Peach and Washed Up Mermaid!

Next up in my 2014 Favourites is Eye products; keep an eye out!

What were your favourite hair products of 2014?

xxx

Next up in my 2014 Beauty Favourites are eye products! From lashes, to lids, here are the 5 items I used and loved the most over the past year.

Rimmel ScandalEyes Kohl Liner: This is my favourite black kohl liner I've ever used - really! It's affordable, I can find it anywhere on the highstreet, it's creamy and pigmented and doesn't crease under my eyes. I used about 8 of these in 2014 (oh my gosh, such a goth) and will continue to repurchase forever!

Eyeko Eye Do Liner: I wrote about this on my blog in full detail recently (here) but it really is just an incredible pen liner, probably the best I've ever used. I've just purchased my second and can't fault it. The nib is firm and the ink is incredibly pigmented which makes it so easy to use. Pricey at £15 but worth it as it lasts ages!

Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara: I can't express just how much I love this mascara. Right from the first use it did such an amazing job at elongating and separating my lashes without any clumps and mess. The tube is also super unique which makes it lovely to use. One thing though - it's not very easy to get hold of, I think you can only get it online which means I still need to get round to ordering another!

Illamasqua Gel Liner: I pretty much used only this when it came to gel eyeliners in 2014 and it still has the most perfect consistency and pigment and hasn't dried out at all (like I've previously experienced with more affordable gels). I also find this lasts all day which means rarely need to reapply.

Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 Palette: I use eye shadow palettes pretty much daily and so I found it really difficult choosing a favourite from the past year. I decided to go with the ever so popular Naked Basics 2 Palette as it's small, compact and has the most perfect neutral colours that I wear daily. As much as I love my HD Brows Kit as a shadow palette, the cream is far too orange looking on my pale skin and the grey undertones of the taupes in this kit suit me much better! You can see swatches and my full review here!

Next up in my 2014 Favourite's Round Ups is Cheeks; stay tuned!

What were your favourite eye products from 2014?

xx

Right. So in last year's favourites I included a couple of my favourite blushers in my 'Fav Base' makeup products but this year I had too many favourites to squeeze into that category so I've made it a category of it's own!

I introduce you to my most loved blushers & contour products of 2014!

Benefit Hoola: I had always dismissed using Hoola as a bronzer because I thought it'd be too dark & slightly on the orange for my pale skin, but since getting a sample last summer it became a staple in my makeup bag. It manages to contour and give my face the perfect amount of colour without being 'too much'. It's pricey and bulky but the colour is fab for all skin tones, so it's a firm favourite of mine.

Benefit Majorette: Another Benefit product! I can not express how much I adore this cream to powder blusher. From it's pigmentation to it's scent, it's just perfection and my favourite Benefit product to date. This looks stunning on my cheeks and really brightens my face up. I also like to dab this on my lips for a peachy pout.

Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow: This was in my favourites last year and although it doesn't look like much in the pictures above (in fact, it actually looks kinda gross) it is the perfect contour shade for me. I simply swirl my Real Techniques Duo Fiber Cheek Brush in it and buff into the hollows (ha) of my cheeks for a perfectly sculpted Snooks. I also love how great Illamasqua's Cream Pigments are for multitasking - you could use this as an eye primer, shadow or even lippie if you wanted!

Illamasqua Blusher in Naked Rose: Another Illamasqua product; this time a powder blusher that was released in the Once collection last autumn. I can't quite believe just how perfect this shade is - a neutral pink beige which looks so natural on my cheeks. This blush is super pigmented and you only need a tiny swipe to achieve gorgeous results so this will last me a very long time.

MAC in Melba: This blush also featured in last year's favourites but a year later and it's still one of my most reached for blusher. It's a warm peach shade which looks gorgeous all year round, especially teamed with a peach lipstick!

Next up in my 2014 Beauty Favourites series is Skin Care and it's a big'un - stay tuned!

What were your favourite blusher and contour shades of 2014?

xx

Next in my 2014 Favourites is skin care and I found it so hard to include just 5 products, I picked out 6 instead!

These are al amazing products which I have loved and used religiously all year. 2014 in general was up and down in terms of skin greatness; I had a couple of bouts of bad acne due to eating too much dairy and new medication also making me flare up but over all my skin seems quite balanced!

Shu Uemura Skin Purify Oil Cleanser: I really look forward to taking my eye makeup off every evening because of this product. It's super luxurious and so pricey I'll have to save up to repurchase, but it does a wonderful job of removing even the toughest of waterproof mascara. It's an oil which I use in circular motions on my closed eyes until I feel like everything is removed, and then I wash off with water and a flannel. My skin is left super soft and makeup free.

Paula's Choice Clear Cleanser: I absolutely adore this cleanser for my acne-prone skin. I've been using it for a couple of years now and repurchased again & again because I notice such a great difference in breakouts when it's a part of my regime. It's a bog standard gel which lathers up nicely and doesn't leave my skin feeling too tight.

Alpha H Liquid Gold: Okay, so Caroline would probably slap the back of my hand if she see's this (sorry) but I can't help but love it - in moderation. I always notice such a big difference in the clearness and general brightness of my skin the day after I use this so I use this once or twice a week and always the night before special occasions.

Murad Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30: This was the moisturiser I took with me on holiday in Portugal in the summer and coincidentally that was when my skin was at it's most perfect. It's a gorgeous moisturiser which leaves my skin feeling soft and protected for the day ahead. It also has a sweet orange smell which is lovely to use in the morning.

Eucerin Even Brighter Night Cream: I've only featured the night cream in the images above but Eucerin has been one of my favourite brands of 2014. I can honestly say I have loved every skin care product I have ever tried of theirs; they do exactly what they say and leave my skin feeling nourished. The Even Brighter creams in particular are great and I use them all the time.

Kiehls Midnight Recovery Serum: Pretty sure this was in last year's favourites too because it's just so good. I pat a couple of drops of this oil into my skin before bed (usually after any acne/spot treatments I've applied) and my skin feels so soft and supple the next morning. If my skin is super dry I normally apply a thicker night cream before this (like the Eucerin one above) and then spat this on after for more of a drink!

I hope this wasn't too long of a post! I've really enjoyed finding and trying out new skin care products which benefit my skin recently so I'm sure they'll be lots more great finds in 2015!

Next up are my favourite lippie products from 2014! Get ready to pucker up!

What were your favourite skincare products in 2014? Let me know if you found any good'uns!

xxxx

I had a real difficult time narrowing down my favourite lip products from 2014 because I have so many favourites (I wear a lipstick daily!) but these were the beauties that made my top 5 picks!

Illamasqua Liquid Lip in Exotic: I have a big thing for liquid lipsticks because they're so pigmented and stay in place for hours. When Illamasqua launched their Matte Liquid Lipsticks early in 2014 I couldn't wait to get one. Exotic is a tangerine orange shade which has taken place of my usual favourite red lip (Morange by MAC), which is a pretty big deal! See full blog post here.

Sleek in Peaches and Cream: I LOVE Sleek Lipsticks; they're incredible, full stop. Barely There is my favourite lipstick of all time, but I've fallen back in love with Peaches & Cream - a peachy orange shade which is an amazing dupe for MAC's Limited Edition Sushi Kiss. This lipstick is pigmented, soft and creamy and so affordable - I urge you to try them!

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colour in Naked Sun: This was one of my go-to nude lipsticks throughout Summer - Autumn. You can see full swatches of just how stunning it is in this post. It's a sheer lipstick but I find it gives the perfect amount of nude pink-beige to look natural but 'done-up'.

Blistex: Okay, hands up, this isn't the most glamorous lip product BUT it's a good 'un and an all year round must have. I get ridiculously sore and chapped lips in the colder months and I love Blistex because it gives them a tingly feeling once applied and really helps to repair them.

Urban Decay Lip Liner in Naked: The end of 2014 was ALL about the big Kylie Jenner drawn in lips and this was my go-to lip liner of the year. Naked is the most perfect beige-pink liner - soft, creamy, easy to apply and a great base for nude lips!

The final in this series is coming up next and it is my favourite foundations and concealers from 2014 - stay tuned!

Let me know your favourite lip products of 2014!

xx

We are now at the final in my 2014 Favourites Series! I've left foundations & concealers till last because I've found some corkers this year and was excited to share them!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer: This is still my all time favourite concealer. Full stop. It has been a staple in my handbag for the past 3 years or so because the perfect colour for my pale skin, available for a great price on the high-street and perfect it covers all imperfections incredibly!

MAC Studio Fix Concealer: I picked this up on a whim during a MAC shop visit on my birthday in the summer and used it for months afterwards. It's a heavy coverage concealer which is amazing for problem skin. Now it does look extremely dark and orange compared to all the other products in this post (despite being an NC15) so I would only really use this in the summer but I love it!

MAC Full Coverage Foundation: This is one of my absolute favourite foundations which I've only just recently been able to get my hands on again because it was out of stock for months! You can see the full review with before and after pictures here to see just why I love it. It really great coverage for blemished skin but still manages to look natural!

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation: This has been my most used foundation of 2014. It's light, easy to wear, in a great colour range and doesn't break me out at all. Bobbi Brown have some real lovely base products to their name and I'm going to be reviewing them all properly in 2015.

Illamasqua Skin Base: At first I was unsure about this much raved-about foundation but I have grown to love and adore it. I can't express how much of a beautiful, flawless base it gives me, even when suffering with acne. It comes in a massive range of shades for all skin tones and blends in gorgeously to the skin leaving airbrushed but not in a cakey one. One thing though - I feel like it does slightly break me out, so I tend to only wear this now for special occasions.

There we have it - a complete run down of my favourite products from 2014. Sorry they've dragged on a bit but I just had an awful lot to share! I'm really excited for all the new product launches and discoveries this year so I hope you join me for another year of beauty reviews on my blog!

What were your favourite foundations/concealers of 2014? Let me know!

xxx

I've never done a blog post like this before but it's a campaign I feel very strongly about and so I wanted to share my experience. It's Cervical Cancer Awareness Week (as you might have seen with the #SmearForSmear instagrams & tweets over the weekend) and I wanted to just discuss the importance of attending smear tests!

As I've said before, 2014 was pretty up & down for me and one of those reasons was because of my smear results.

I had my first smear test just after my 25th birthday (2013) and it was absolutely fine - it's uncomfortable but it doesn't last long. I popped it to the back of my mind until I received a letter saying results had come back abnormal and I had to be booked in for a Colposcopy in Feb 2014. I read up as much as I could about the process and decided to take Andrew along with me because in all honesty, I was petrified.

A colposcopy is a simple procedure to find out in more detail whether there are abnormal cells on your cervix.

The nurses were lovely and used a colposcopy camera/microscope to get a closer look at my cervix (they even asked if I wanted to see it on the screen - I was like, oh definitely not, no thank you). They saw a pattern on my cervix which were pre-cancerous cells so they decided to take a biopsy then and there. Andrew held my hand the whole time & there were tears but mainly because of the shock of it. The days after were pretty rough and there was lots of crying involved, not just because of the process but because I was so scared about the results.

A couple of months later the biopsy results showed that I had pre cancerous cells (about 6 out of 10 women get this result from their biopsy) but as it's a mild abnormality they decided to just book me in for another colposcopy a year later to keep an eye on it.

The appointment is coming up next month and I'm still scared but I can't help but think - imagine if I'd never attended the smear test; I would be walking around completely oblivious to the fact that I have pre-cancerous cells on my cervix. The sooner and more regular you have the cervical screening means a better chance of preventing and curing any abnormalities.

So, if you're eligible for a smear test but haven't yet booked or attended it, please do make your appointment as soon as possible. We're so lucky to have this service and so we should make full use of it, it could end up saving your life!

Katie xx

Ever since moving into my own home with my boyfriend, I have become so obsessed with buying bits for the house and one of my absolute weaknesses are candles.

I seem to have accidentally bought a LOT of them over the past couple of months and so I thought I'd tell you about some of my favourites! This is also a little sneak peak of my home & my 'style' of interior so I hope you like it!

Rituals Sacred Fire Candle: I've never owned a candle big enough for three wicks before so this has been incredible to burn; It really releases it's gorgeous scent of patchouli and cedar wood for a musky, cosy atmosphere. It also has a burning time of up to 70 hours which is incredible and I absolutely can't wait to use the pot to store makeup brushes after it's finished. This candle was released as part of the Diwali collection last autumn and so I can't wait to see what other limited edition ranges Rituals bring out!

IKEA 'Knitted' Style Candle: This candle has no fragrance but I instantly fell for it's 'knitted cotton' look. Only problem is it's SO pretty I don't want to burn it!

Long IKEA Candlesticks: IKEA are the best place for bulk buying candles in my opinion. I really stocked up last time I went and got some long candlesticks to pop in some old quirky bottles I have. Andrew and I have been trying to build up a really nice wax drips around the bottles for that rustic, shabby chic feel.

Urban Apothecary Bramble Jelly Candle: I'd never heard of Urban Apothecary candles before but they've become one of my favourite candle brands; just look at that gorgeous quilted jar for a start (another one I'll be using for holding brushes when it's ended)! This candle is part of the Preserve collections which also includes scents like Lemon Curd & Orange Marmalade - delicious! You can see their product range here.

Yankee: I also have to give big praises to Yankee candles as I have loads in every room of the house. My favourites are their Christmas ones, particularly Fireside Treats and Cinnamon Stick!

I've really enjoyed writing this post up so let me know if you did too and I'll show you more of my fav candles! I'd love to know what you'd recommend too, I'm absolutely obsessed (and want any excuse to buy more)!

What's your current favourite candles?

xxx

REVIEW: Phillips Lumea Precision Part #2!

I'VE MOVED!

REVIEW: Tanya Burr Eye Lashes!

COMPETITION: Shopping Trip in Covent Garden with Me!

REVIEW: Bobbi Brown Gel Sparkle Shadow Swatches!

REVIEW: Philips Lumea Precision Plus Part #3!

REVIEW: Eyeko Eye Do Alexa Chung Eyeliner!

Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide!

Get Ready With Me: Party Edition

REVIEW: Rimmel Brow Gel Mascaras

TUTORIAL: Gold Glitter Eye Liner Look!

2014 Round Up and 2015 New Year's Resolutions!

2014 Favourites: Hair Care Products!

2014 Favourites: Eye Products!

2014 Favourites: Blushers & Contours!

2014 Favourites: Skin Care Products!

2014 Favourites: Lipsticks!

2014 Favourites: Foundations & Concealers!

ABOUT ME: Cervical Cancer Awareness Week

LIFESTYLE: Candle Obsessed!