Video: Sephora Haul + lots more!

I was lucky enough to spend a gloriously sunny weekend in Paris a few weeks ago to visit my French bestie/twin. It was amazing to be reunited and we packed the weekend with lots of touristy things as well as getting to visit and know all the best hidden places that only a local can show you. Of course, my first stop was Sephora when I arrived, however I feel like I was pretty self-restrained! This haul video features all the stuff I picked up there, plus a few bits from the French Pharmacie, Look Fantastic once I got back and finally a present from my sister which she picked up from a US Sephora (any guesses what brand??)

Hope you enjoy the video, I know I haven't been around these parts too much (work/summer/life has once again got in the way). If you do, I would love it if you liked and subscribed xxx

Wishlist Wednesday #8

I haven't done one of these posts in so long so I thought I would revive the series as I really enjoy lusting over everything from make up to home ware and its also cool to look back at previous posts and see what I decided to actually buy.

This week's post was definitely influenced by a recent trip to Urban Outfitters but some of the other things I've been wanting for a while.

1. Origins, By All Greens Facemask - £32: A foaming and deep cleansing mask containing green tea, spirulina and spinach, the latest mask launch from the brand has me so excited! It will come as no surprise that I adore every mask I've used from Origins so I can't wait to try this one, especially as the texture and application is different to what they have released already.

2. Urban Outfitters, Kitty Tea Mug - £12: Not much to say about this apart from I am a crazy cat mum and I have a weird thing for collecting mugs so this is perfect for me. This will be great for my daily cups of tea and coffee in the office.

3. Fleur de Force, Lipgloss in Starry Starry Night - £6.99: Fleur is one of my favourite youtubers as she is honest, hardworking and her content is always top quality. Out of all the youtuber launches this is the only beauty launch that I feel will be good quality. I love the shade range and from seeing swatches online they look highly pigmented. Starry Starry Night is such a 'me' colour so I would like to start there!

4. Urban Outfitters, Icing Sugar Wand - £10: Such an unnecessary luxury but just look how cute it is!! Baking is one of my favourite past times and this will make it even more fun to dust icing sugar over cakes and other bakes.

5. Caudalie, Beauty Elixir - £32: A cult blogger product, I kind of missed the hype on this one. However, as my skin has been changing over the last few years I think it could really benefit from this. I'd love to try this in place of my other toners once they have run out to help calm and hydrate my skin.

What is on your current wishlist? xxx

Review: Fake Bake | Skin D-Luxe Dream Skin Cleansing Melt | Beauty At Home

Fake Bake - Beauty at Home - Skin D-Luxe Dream Skin Cleansing Melt - £17.50

A few months ago I attended the launch of Fake Bake's Beauty at Home range, which was full of new make up, body and skin care products. Subsequent to the event, I reviewed a body scrub from the new line which I adored. This is the next product that I trialed and unfortunately it hasn't won me over like the scrub did.

The Skin D-Luxe Dream Skin Cleansing Melt* (longest name ever) lives at my boyfriends house as my cleanser to use when I stay over. The three main (and only) ingredients listed in this product are Tamanu Oil to heal scarring and promote new tissue growth, Moring Seed Oil to nourish and moisturise and finally Palmitoyl Tripeptide 38 to stimulate cell renewal. It makes me wary that the other ingredients aren't listed as I am sure there must be a high content of mineral oil, purely because the feeling left on my skin is not at all pleasant. It feels very heavy and cloying rather than soft and moisturised, almost like a film has been left on your face that can't be removed with a wash cloth. For comparison, the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm has Moringa Seed Oil in also and this does not leave me with this feeling at all.

The balm does melt into an oil quite easily, but it isn't silky smooth like others I've tried, both budget and high end. By applying to dry skin and then adding warm water, you turn it into more of a milk. This also is not very effect at removing make up, particularly round the eyes, even after double cleansing. 

The only positive I can really say about the cleansing balm is its smell and packaging, but unfortunately it fell short in many areas. For the price, I think it is really disappointing and you can get much better balms for much cheaper, for example The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Balm (read my review here).

This may be better suited for drier skins, but overall I would not recommend it. The body range though is wonderful, so it would be worth checking that out instead.

Have you tried any products from Fake Bake Beauty at Home?

Review: Sleek | Face Form Contour & Blush Palette | 'Light'

Sleek MakeUP - Face Form Contour & Blush Palette - Light - £10

The other evening I was organising my photos - does anyone else have multiple digital albums which are all a bit of a mess? Anyway, I came across loads of photos I had taken for the blog from ages ago which I had kind of forgotten about. One set of these pictures was on this lovely palette from Sleek that I use at least twice a week and still love as much as I did when I first bought it and have been using it loads recently. So it is high time that I wrote a review on it!

One of the best things about this palette is that it is so travel friendly. You are sorted with a blush, contour/bronzer and highlight that are amazing quality and go with pretty much any look you need - I used this exclusively in Stockholm and didn't feel like I was missing anything. Plus you get a good sized mirror, and the pans are a really good size too. For the price point the quality of these powders are so good - really highly pigmented, easy to blend and no chalkiness in sight.

The bronzer is great for contouring as it is matte and more on the cool side, although you do need to make sure you blend it properly as it is very pigmented. The highlighter I wasn't sure on at the beginning, but applied with a denser brush like the Real Techniques contour brush, it looks so beautiful across the cheekbones and centre of the face. It gives a lovely glow without being glittery or really obvious. Lastly the blush is a fantastic dupe for Nars Orgasm and again is just as pigmented as the rest of the palette and lasts all day without needing a touch up.

The only thing to keep in mind if you have acne prone skin is that it does contain talc so if you have acne prone skin this may aggravate it.

There is also 4 different shades for varying skin tones from Light to Dark - so a palette for everyone! you can purchase this palette in Boots or Superdrug.

What is your favourite product from Sleek? xxx

My Top 5 Hair Styling Products

When it comes to hair, I'm not that adventurous, although I would like to try and step out my comfort zone this year. I have highlighted blonde hair that is easily damaged so I tend to use minimal heat and wash it about every 3 days. I'm also in a rush in the mornings so try and blow dry it relatively straight when I wash it so it will last the next couple of days without me having to use extra heat. Below are the top products I use to achieve this easy, fuss free style.

1. L'Oreal Elnett Satin Heat Protect Styling Spray: I love the smell of this product and also the bottle. The spray pump delivers a fine weightless mist to the hair so it doesn't feel weighed down or clogged with product. This version is meant to lock in your style for 3 days, but I'm not so sure it can live up to those claims but it does protect up to 230 degrees.

2. Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray: Texturising sprays can be a bit hit and miss with me, but this is definitely the best one  I've tried so far. I like that it is a dry mist so it doesn't mess with your hair style, it smells lovely and it adds grit and texture without being sticky or leaving a dirty feeling in my hair. I tend to focus it in my roots and and the mid lengths to add some volume although I don't use this every day.

3. Redken Straight Line Balm: I've been using this trusty product for years. My hair is naturally quite wavy so its useful to use a product like this to help smooth out any kinks. A 20 pence piece sized amount is all you need and I distribute it throughout the mid lengths to the ends of damp hair. Again, this is a non sticky or heavy product, and also helps to protect against damp/humid weather.

4. Kerastase Elixir Ultime: This oil has lasted me ages! I did a review of it on my blog about 2 years ago now and its still going strong, considering I use it on damp hair after every wash. Again I distribute about a 20 pence piece amount through the mid to end lengths of my hair. It helps to add softness, shine and smooth any frizz.

5. Redken All Soft Gold Glimmer Perfecting Shine Treatment: This is quite a thick and heavy product, so I try and use it sparingly. Normally it gets used after blow drying to smooth out the ends and any frizzy bits on top, as when I blow dry my hair it tends to get a bit poofy and unruly! When pumped out, it has a gel like texture that has glitter particles - but when in your hair it just makes it soft and a bit more shiny. Because of how heavy the product is I tend it focus it at the very ends of my hair where it needs it most and the remnants on my palms on the top to smooth fly aways if needed.

What are your top hair products? xxx

Video: Added Extras #3 | My Evening Pamper Routine

Normally these types of posts are blog posts, but as I was having a pamper evening last night, I thought it would be fun to film a different type of video than I normally do (a chatty sit down). It took me ages to film but is actually my shortest video ever haha, so I totally appreciate the amount of work it goes into videos like this!

I hope you enjoy this different style of video - please subscribe to my channel if you do. And if you have any other video suggestions let me know :) xxx

Event: La Roche Posay | Effaclar K + Launch

Earlier this week I dropped into the Effaclar range event by La Roche Posay, which include the launch of a brand new product to the line: Effaclar K (+).

I couldn't stay too long due to another commitment, but I had a great whistle stop tour of the entire range to learn more about each product and their uses. I've tried and tested a few before including the mattifying moisturiser, Serozinc and micellar water which I love and was excited to learn more about the newest addition to the range.

Effaclar K (+) is a moisturiser formulated for combination to oily skin that is prone to blackheads, irregular texture and shine. Unfortunately, my skin is all those things so this seems like a fantastic product for me to test out. During research, La Roche Posay found that external factors such as pollution cause oily skin to oxidise which in turn causes excess sebum production and therefore more imperfections. Effaclar K (+) aims to target and tackle all these problems and leave skin mattified and purified, feeling clean and he

althy rather than stripped.

It can be used morning and night so I am going to be testing this religiously for the next few weeks to see if it makes any difference for me - so keep your eyes peeled for a review coming up in a month or so!

Have you tried any of the Effaclar range from La Roche Posay? xxx

All Used Up #14 | Skincare Edition |

Once again, I seemed to have accumulated alot of empties over the past few weeks. A large proportion consisted of skincare items so I thought it would be fun to do mini reviews on those types of products I've used up recently for all you skincare junkies out there. Let's start with the cleansers:

- L'Occitane Shea Cleansing Milk: I used this up in my travel bag and it is pretty inoffensive and gentle but not the best for removing make up, so would be more suited for a morning cleanse rather than an evening. I prefer gel cleansers for first thing however, so I wouldn't repurchase. I did like the travel size and the bottle though.

- Tropic Organic Hot Bamboo Smoothing Cleanser: This was included in a set I was given at Christmas and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked the products. This was good at removing make up and was gentle with a clean smell. However for a cream cleanser, I like something a little bit thicker (think Liz Earle C+P). I liked the pump dispenser too but there are other cleansers I enjoy using a lot more. This is a good choice for people who use Vegan and natural products.

- The Body Shop Skin Clearing Facial Wash: Featured in my recent What's In My Shower video, I finally used up this giant bottle of face wash. It was a sad day as I loved this. Normally my skin doesn't react to Tea Tree but this was great at treating any blemishes that cropped up, smelt really nice, and did the job in the morning without being too harsh or stripping. I would definitely repurchase and love the toner too.

- Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (Oily/Combo Skin): My favourite Micellar Water I've tried, you get a lot of product for your money and it does a great job at taking off the majority of make up (although not the best at removing mascara) without irritating or making you tug at your skin. I don't feel like the formula is any different to the original though so I would repurchase either types.

- Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Treatment Pads: A surprising favourite which was featured in my updated skincare routine, I wasn't sure if glycolic acid did much for my skin before using these as I was left disappointed by Ren's Glycolactic Radiance Mask. You get about 60 pads in each tub, which are soaked in product and I tended to use them every other night as a toner. These really evened out my skin tone, made me look more radiant in turn and aided in healing both active blemishes and marks. I would definitely repurchase, but at the moment I am testing out Pixi Glow Tonic.

- L'Occitane Fresh Face Water: From the same Shea range as the above cleanser, I really enjoyed this product too. It is quite inoffensive and gentle, similar to the Liz Earle Skin Tonic, but for a reason that I can't quite put my finger on, I prefered this. I think the addition of the Shea made it quite 'soft' and left my skin refereshed without feeling tight. This is a great morning toner and I would repurchase.

- Vichy Normaderm Moisturiser: Last year I attended a Vichy event and this was featured in my goodybag, I have only just used it up after putting it on my face every morning so that shows you how long the bottle lasts! I loved the formula, it was hydrating yet not heavy, helped to combat oil without drying out my skin and was a great base for make up. I liked the pump bottle too and I would repurchase now if I didn't have a million other moisturisers to use up!

-Lush Mask of Magnaminty: One of my favourite products from Lush, I have just repurchased a new pot, but this time the self preserving version (you can see it in this video). This is great at treating blemishes and evening out oil production. I also like that as it isn't a fresh mask it lasts a lot longer than the other Lush masks.

What is your favourite skincare item? xxx

Review: By Terry | Light Expert Click Brush Foundation |

By Terry | Light Expert Click Brush Foundation | 2 - Apricot Light | £48 | Space NK

As you may have already seen, I went to the relaunch of the vamped up By Terry Light Expert Click Brush* (long name!) event and it was awesome. I was over the moon to be able to test out and review the product, especially as it is my first item from the brand. I've been using it pretty much every day for the last few weeks so am now ready to give you a thorough opinion.

Lets start with the pros. The packaging feels and looks high end, and is perfect for travel due to the no leakage click brush pump at the bottom. There are 4 holes within the dense kabuki brush where the product is dispensed, to give a more even coverage and finish and the brush can also be unscrewed and washed so is hygienic. I love that you can also take a look at how much product you have left too while doing this.

The elastic formula of this foundation is different to anything else I've tried. It is super light weight and buffs out to the most incredible natural and flawless finish while blurring out my pores, even though the coverage isn't very high. The texture is also great for touching up before a night out or generally on the go as it doesn't even go cakey or unnatural looking, instead it just builds really nicely. One of the most surprising features of the foundation is how long lasting it is. Considering how lightweight the formula is, I thought it wouldn't last too long but it lasts all day and on my combination skin I only needed to powder once during the day, which is amazing! Like all foundations I like to mix in a liquid highlighter, but to be honest this doesn't need it as the finish is luminous enough by itself. 

Onto the cons - firstly I don't really like the brush it comes with. It is so dense and small that I find it really hard to buff in the liquid evenly. Instead I like to dot it on my face and use my Real Techniques Buffing Brush instead. The shade range is also quite small, and they are all quite on the warm side so unless properly blended it can look a little orange (I have the shade 'Apricot Light'). However, with a tan it will be a great shade and the lead make up artist at By Terry explained that the reason they do not have a bigger shade range is because they have not been able to perfect the formula yet. I think this is a good reason and at least they are not putting out a product they are not 100% convinced by. It is also worth bearing in mind that the foundation has quite a strong scent - I quite like this and it smells high end (if that makes any sense) but those with sensitive skin may want to take note. I would also like the coverage to be a bit higher as I do have blemishes and dark circles to conceal!

All in all, this is great for all skin types and ages. Although it is quite pricey, I think it feels luxurious and is great for more natural make up days by giving a flawless texture and tone to your skin.

Have you tried this foundation yet? What is your favourite product from By Terry? xxx

Review: Yardley London | Bluebell Perfume |

Yardley London English Bluebell - £9.99 EDT 50ml - £14.99 EDT 125ml - Deodorising Body Spray £2.49 75ml

You've probably heard of Yardley London before as their Lavender and Rose scents have been popular for years with the older generations. I have of course heard of the brand but had never tried anything as it did seem like the products were focused for an older market. However, Yardley have recently rebranded and refocused on the younger woman, signified by their latest English Bluebell fragrance launch.

English Bluebell Eau de Toilette* is the latest addition to the Contemporary Classics floral collection that launched earlier this year (including English Lavender, English Rose, Lily of the Valley and April Violets) and has a light fragrance that is reflected in the pale blue colour of the perfume.

The packaging is sleek and pretty yet still classic and light enough to pop into your handbag. In terms of scent, the top notes are of bergamot, green notes and cassis and the heart contains bluebell, jasmine, lily of the valley, peony and peach. These sweeter scents definitely focus the perfume to a younger market but the addition of base notes of musk, sandalwood, cedarwood, amber and vanilla give the scent more of a grown up edge. The fragrance is light and sweet, perfect for all occasions in the day.

The Deodarising Body Spray is a great addition and perfect for younger women on the go - I like mine for freshening up after the gym. I found the scent of the spray is actually stronger and longer lasting than the perfume and at only £2.49 for 75ml its a bargain.

You can purchase the new launch at Boots, Superdrug, Lloyds and Sainsburys - coupled with price points of £9.99 for 50ml and £14.99 for 125ml, this perfume is easily accessible for the younger market.

I really enjoyed this perfume and consider it a fresh, light alternative for Autumn than heavy muskier scents. Also do you like my terrarium? We made them at the launch event and I love it!

Have you tried any Yardley London products before? xxx

Review: Fake Bake At Home | Dolcé Dreams | Coconut Macaroon Body Scrub |

Fake Bake At Home | Dolcé Dreams - Coconut Macaroon Body Scrub - £18 - Available at www.fakebakebeauty.co.uk

Did you know that Fake Bake have diversified and now do beauty products including make up and body care? Neither did I until I went to the Fake Bake Beauty at Home event a few weeks ago, and was pleasantly surprised about the array of products on offer - you can see some pictures from the event on my Instagram. 

One of the products I received to test out was the Coconut Macaroon Body Scrub* from the Dolcé Dreams collection. Everything about the product is great and pleasantly surprised me. I think the packaging is sturdy and cute, and the actual product is packed full of sugar to exfoliate, which means a little goes a long way. There is also enough slip due to the addition of coconut and shea oils, which leaves your skin soft, moisturised and smooth but it doesn't leave any oily residue which is a massive plus for me. The scent is also so good - it is sweet and reminiscent of holidays, but isn't sickly or over powering.

This would be a great scrub for exfoliating skin before tanning, which shouldn't be a surprise considering its manufactured by a tanning brand. I would definitely repurchase once this runs out and its become one of the favourite scrubs I've ever tried.

Have you tried anything from the Beauty at Home range? What is your favourite Fake Bake product? xxx

EVENT: By Terry | Light Expert & Autumn 2015 Launch |

When the email inviting me to this event popped into my inbox, I literally screamed with excitement. I have loved By Terry from afar, lusting after everything from the Baume de Rose to the Hylaronic Hydra Powder, but unfortunately have never actually owned anything from the brand.

This changed on Wednesday, when I popped down to the Space NK store in Chelsea to view the new Autumn launches, the star of the show being the revamped Light Expert Click Brush Foundation, which is available from September and retails at £48.

Myself and the other bloggers who attended were treated to purple macarons (what else for a blogger event?) and pink champagne, whilst having a chance to browse the range and have a chat with the make up artists that represent the brand.

We were also treated to a demonstration which showed three different looks you could create with the Light Expert Click Brush - a very natural, super easy and quick look for the busy working mum, the social butterfly who needs to take her look from day to night using contouring and the super busy woman who needs to top up throughout the day. Alban Laloy who has been the lead make up artist for By Terry for 5 years, talked us through the product and the looks while they were being demonstrated.

After the demonstrations I had a make over by the lovely Alessia who used the Light Expert Click Brush in the shade 1 Rosy Light as a highlight over the make up I already had on, the most beautiful blush duo in 400 Rosy Sculpt and my new favourite lip product which is now top of my wishlist Palace Garnet 10.

I will most definitely be doing a full in depth review of the product in the new future, so keep your eyes peeled for that, but in the mean time I will give you a quick low down on the new product. It is a light weight and buildable liquid foundation, which is dispensed via a click brush system and instead of having just one hole, there are 4 places in the brush that product is dispersed. Replacing the flat foundation style brush is a kabuki brush head which is super soft and very sturdy so amazing for blending the product seamlessly. You can also unscrew the brush head to clean it thoroughly and you can also do this to check how much product you have left.

Everything about the packaging and product is well thought out, user friendly and beautiful! I can't wait to test it out more and let you know my thoughts.

Have you tried any By Terry products before? xxx

Hangover Heroes

As seen from my previous post it was my 23rd birthday recently. I went out with a few friends to celebrate last weekend and I must say that heavy drinking is just not for me anymore. I don't seem to have a middle ground in between being slightly tipsy and full blown drunk and always end up feeling terrible the next morning, with a hangover that seems to last the whole day. An arsenal of super effective skincare on these occasions not only makes me feel better but also look a lot better too.

I am pretty good at taking off my make up before bed even when I'm totally sloshed and my skin always looks so much better in the morning if I remember to apply Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Serum (which I didn't this time doh!) It honestly makes you look like you've had a good nights sleep and helps battle the dullness, dehydration and blemishes that all arise from a late one.

The first thing I do in the morning is wash my face and apply a good clay mask, my favourite at the moment being Una Brennan's Pore Purifying Clay Mask, to mop up the oilyness in my skin due to dehydration and clear the pores from the extra layers of make up. It makes me feel a lot more awake and clean once I've properly cleansed with a good clay mask and makes my pores less obvious and my skin looking refreshed, balanced and more even.

I tend to not wear make up the next day so will put on a layer of Origins Drink Up Intensive mask which is so hydrating and soothing. If I do have to be somewhere and need to put on minimal makeup then I will normally reach for Una Brennan's Rose Radiance Day Cream which is deeply hydrating while giving a very nice glow and radiance to the skin. This stuff really works and looks lovely by itself or underneath make up. I've also been trialing Hydraluron from Indeed Labs which is a thin serum that sinks in very easily before your moisturiser and helps to lock in hydration as pure hyaluronic acid holds up to 1000 times it's own weight in water.

To soothe sore and achey eyes, I have been reliant on the Eye Refresher Roll On from Tropic Skincare. The roller ball is ridiculously cooling and soothing and also helps to depuff the eye area while nourishing with a thin formula.

Lastly I pile on the Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm, an old firm favourite that is more of a lip mask than a balm. It's super thick so protects your lips as well as hydrating them deep down.

What are your hangover heroes? xxx

Take 3: Highstreet Concealers

Maybelline Eye Eraser in Light £7.99 - Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer in 52 Medium Radiance £7.99 - L'Oreal Lumi Magique Concealer in 1 Light £8.49

When it comes to drugstore concealers, I find it so hard to find the right shade and texture for my skin type. This means I tend to have to use different concealers for different needs and parts of my face, but I think with this trio I might have cracked it! I know 3 concealers seems a bit excessive but luckily these last for ages and they're all under the £10 mark and all have different uses.

Let's start with under eyes. Maybelline's Instant Anti-Age Eye Eraser in 'Light' totally lives up to the hype for me. Yes I might not need anti-aging underneath my peepers but the consistency, applicator and effect it gives is fabulous. You twist the product up so you can get the exact amount you need out the sponge as well as being able to see how much you have left which is a massive plus for me. The sponge applicator aids to softly pat the concealer into a V shape under my eyes and the texture is creamy yet light so gives great coverage without looking cakey at all. Blended in with a damp beauty blender this stuff looks airbrushed and skin like, whilst still covering dark circles effectively. My only niggle with this product is that I would like the shade 'Light' to be a tad lighter to give a more highlighting effect but in terms of coverage this is great and you could even use it on other parts of your face as a 2 in 1.

For all over concealing I've been using Bourjois Healthy Mix Correcting Concealer in '52 Medium Radiance'. I didn't get on with the foundation as it oxidised badly on me, but I really wanted to give the concealer a go after reading good things. You get so much product in this tube and the dispenser makes it easy to get just the right amount you need in a hygienic way. I tend to squeeze a little out and apply with my Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush and buff it over blemishes and any redness around my nose. It is relatively thick and quite creamy making it easy to blend and cover well. This lasts all day and I do not have to reapply at any point. I wish I had got a shade lighter as it can be a little dark depending on my base but with proper blending it isn't an issue and it doesn't oxidise like the foundation did.

Lastly the concealer I use for highlighting is L'Oreal's Lumi Magique Correcting Pen in '1 Light', which I have repurchased numerous times. This is basically a dupe for the YSL Touche Eclat, although the texture is more pigmented and thicker. I use this in the inner corners under my eyes most days to brighten the area up and if I'm going for a more sculpted or radiant look I will pat some in down the bridge of my nose, my brow bone, cupids bow and middle of my forehead. It is easily blendable with a light texture and although it is definitley highlighting it isn't stark or unnatural looking for every day.

I still want to try high end concealers but I'm pretty impressed with these 3 from the drugstore. What is your favourite concealer? Have you tried any of these? xxx

January Favourites | 2015

Everyone always says they hate January as the weather is crap, Christmas is gone etc... but I actually love January! Not only is it my birthday month but I love winter and the prospect of what a new year can bring. On that positive vibe, I have been loving so many products this month - some new which I got for Christmas and others that I rediscovered after shopping my stash.

Makeup

001. Eco Tools Angled Eyeliner Brush: Last year I did a review on the set this brush came in but this was one of my least used in the collection. However, I've been favouring lining my eyes with black eyeshadow rather than liquid liner or pencil as it is less harsh and this brush makes it super easy to get a thin even line close to your lashes.

002. The Body Shop Clementine Lip Balm: Years ago back in school I was obsessed with the Body Shop lip balms and butters. I forgot about them but then received the lollipop gift set from my secret santa at work and fell in love with them again. The formula is so nourishing and glossy, the scents divine and they are great for popping in your hand bag. The Clementine scent brings back school memories and has glitter running through it to add a bit of your shimmer to your lips.

003. Benefit Hervana Blush: Again, Benefit blushes bring back memories of my youth and were one of the first make up products I bought. I love the packaging (although its not great for travel) and the recent addition of a tapered brush and mirror in the box is a great bonus. This blush is so pretty both in the pan and on the cheeks and I've been using it every day this month - you can see it in action here.

004. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette: The original Naked will always have a special place in my heart but I have been itching to add to my UD collection and was delighted to get this for Christmas. It is the more cool toned sister of the original and I adore every single shade in there. The formulation is buttery, super pigmented and easy to blend - just what you would expect from the brand. It's perfect for all kinds of looks and again I've been using this practically every day this month.

005. Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz in 'Taupe/Ash Brown': This product deserves every accolade it has as it is seriously the best brow product I have ever used! It is the perfect texture and colour -  I will be doing a full review of this but basically you need this in your life.

006. The Body Shop BB Cream in 01: Full review can be seen here so I don't want to go into too much detail! This is my favourite BB Cream it gives medium coverage without feeling heavy, covers pores and imperfections and lasts for a very long time.

007. Bobbi Brown Long Wear Foundation in 'Sand 2' : My favourite base for the latter half of January, this gives medium coverage without being cakey, lasts a long time and gives a 'my skin but better' appearance.

008. No 7 Instant Radiance Cream Highlighter: Cream products don't normally tend to be my thing but I adore this highlighter. It gives a beautiful natural sheen that is not glittery in the slightest and blends in wonderfully.

Hair

009. Paul Mitchell Full Circle Leave-In Treatment*: I got this ages ago (at my first event actually) but for some reason reached for other products in the range instead of this thinking it might be too heavy for my hair. This is actually very nourishing without weighing down my hair and I love to use it on occasions when I haven't used a hair mask or deep conditioner. It leaves hair soft and manageable and I've seen my natural waves/loose curls become more defined.

010. Schwarzkopf Hair Therapy Oil Miracle Spray: This product is a surprise gem. I received it in my stocking at Christmas which was good timing as I was looking for a new spray conditioner to help detangle my hair after washing. This is so light with a fine spray and makes it easy to brush out knots, leaves your hair silky soft and smelling beautiful.

Skincare

011. The Body Shop Eye Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover: My favourites always seem to include multiple Body Shop products at the moment, so apologies for that but clearly I am a big fan! I enjoyed the cleansing butter from this range and have just used up the oil so naturally when looking for a make up remover I picked this up. It has two parts so you need to shake it properly and it is oil based so makes removal a breeze, although it doesn't leave the eye area feeling heavy or greasy which is a big plus for me.

012. Super Facialist by Una Brennan Anti Blemish Pore Purifying Clay Mask: Una Brennan are definitely a brand that don't get enough recognition. The quality of the products are so good for the price and this mask in particular is amazing. I loved the teaflower version which I think has been replaced with the salycic acid version. It draws out impurities really well, leaves your skin feeling soft, nourished and more even toned and the inclusion of acid helps to clear up any blemishes that have been hanging around.

0.13 Baby B Browne Tan in 'Medium'*: This featured in a favourites pretty recently at the end of last year but I picked this up again a few weeks ago and was so impressed all over again! It rubs in so easily, the smell is so nice for a fake tan (think vanilla) and the colour develops and lasts so well. It is by far the best tan I own.

What were your favourite items this month? xxx

The Best Winter Hand Cream

Garnier 7 Day Intensive Restoring Hand Cream - Shea Butter - Currently £2.13 at Boots - 100ml

When it comes to hand creams I tend to choose high end brands like L'Occitane or Crabtree & Evelyn due to the light consistency, the dreamy smells and the fact that they sink in easily while still moisturising effectively so you can get on with your day. However now the weather has turned quite bitter they aren't cutting it anymore and I've been searching for something deeply moisturising that repairs and protects.

Recently my hands have been dry and the skin around my finger nails has been peeling and cracked. I've been using The Body Shop's Hemp Hand cream which is great for before bed as it is quite sticky and takes a while to sink but it doesn't last throughout the next day and the formula isn't great for day to day business.

In comes Garnier's Intensive 7 Days Restoring Hand Cream. I only picked this up after using a colleagues and being seriously impressed. A few years ago I enjoyed using the 7 Day Intensive Body lotions (review here) but never thought to try the high street for an intensive hand cream as I thought they just wouldn't be up to standard. I was so wrong though as this is literally the best intensive hand cream EVER and for such a good price too.

I chose the Shea Butter formula due to being suitable for dry and chapped hands, the scent of which is light and inoffensive. It is a relatively light formula which sinks in very easily and leaves your hands feeling soft, smooth and supple and instantly my hands looked soothed and more hydrated. The hydration even lasts through washing your hands so you don't need to keep on reapplying which is awesome. I've noticed such a difference to the appearance of my hands over just a few days, which says a lot as I was constantly reapplying some of my favourite high end creams and didn't notice any difference.

This is now a staple in my hand bag and on my desk and I urge you to try it if you are looking for something intensive that won't break the bank.

What is your favourite hand cream? xxx

Review: The Body Shop | Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream |

The Body Shop - Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream - £8 - 40ml

The Tea Tree BB Cream is the first make up product I've bought from the Body Shop in years. The first BB cream that they bought out just wasn't right for my skin type so it was great when they bought a version out suitable for oily and blemish prone skin, and I decided to give it a go seeing as it was under a tenner.

A lot of high street BB creams are much more like tinted moisturisers and I tend to be a satin finish, medium to high coverage kind of girl. The texture of the product is a lot thicker but not stiff in anyway and blends out to be quite sheer and skin like while still evening out skin tone very well in addition to being buildable. I tend to use my fingers, a buffing or a stippling brush to blend this in depending on how heavy I want the coverage to be. You will need a concealer for extra coverage on blemishes and under eyes.

The shade range is pretty poor with only 3 colours - I picked up the lightest which I was afraid would be a little too pale but once it's blended out it adapts to your skintone, so even when I was more tanned in the summer this still suited me just about! Not only is the coverage impressive for a BB cream, I love that it is really long wearing too and also quite good at oil control without being drying. A lot of BB creams either oxidise or slip and wear unevenly throughout the day but I've never had any problems like that with this product.

I normally tend to mix all my bases with a liquid highlight, purely so my face isn't flat or dull. For the purpose of this picture I didn't do that so you could see the true effect of how it looks on the skin, but you can see this post here where I'm wearing it mixed with Seventeen Skin Wow.

I've used the Tea Tree BB Cream practically every day since the beginning of the year on both weekends and long work days in the office (think bright lights, air con etc) and it's been a really reliable base without being heavy or detrimental to my skin. If anything, the inclusion of tea tree oil has helped keep my skin as blemish free as possible.

It is one of the best BB creams and bases that I have used from the drugstore and I would recommend it to anyone who has the same skin type as me.

What kind of base to you like best - foundation or BB cream? xxx

Maybelline | Colour Drama Lip Pencil in '310 Berry Much' |

Maybelline Color Drama Lipstick in 'Berry Much' - £4.99 - Boots

To be honest, when these lip pencils were launched I wasn't desperate to try them. Lip products are my weakness but after collecting many different types of lip crayons I thought these looked a bit lack lustre. First of all they are much smaller than the jumbo lip pencils you can get from brands such as Bourjois and Revlon and I thought the packaging looked a bit cheap, although I do love that the colour of the product is on the end of the pencil.

However, I absolutely love both the colour range and formula of the Colour Drama Lip Pencils. Berry Much is a deep red berry colour which I would compare to Revlon's Kissable Balm Stain in 'Cherish' but is darker, more intense and and a thicker, more opaque formula.  The application is a breeze with the pencil gliding on easily, there is no bleeding throughout the day and the staying power is amazing without being drying on the lips. I do top up with lip balm throughout the day now it is much colder but compared to other mattes it does a great job of hydrating your lips. They also smell quite fruity without being over powering. The product is also an actual pencil so you will need a chunky pencil sharpener to keep the point.

I'm super impressed with the quality of the formula and will certainly be picking up some more shades as soon as possible!

What shades would you suggest I pick up next? xxx

December Favourites | 2014

While picking up people's Christmas presents, I inevitably picked up a few presents from me to me (hopefully I'm not the only one to do this!) December's round up therefore consist of a few new purchases with one or two re-discovered favourites.

001. Soap & Glory Hand Maid Cleansing Gel - £2.50: This has been raved about by a lot of people, but I always thought how good can an antibacterial gel actually be? Well it turns out, pretty damn good. This sinks in quickly, is compact for your hand bag and the scent is delicious and lingers after application. It also looks cute too! This will be really useful when I start using the tube every day for my new job.

002. L'Oreal EverPure Intense Mask for Coloured Hair - £7.30: If you read my previous post you would see that I want to use more natural products when looking after my hair. I bought this back in November and it has proved to me that products free from sulphates do actually work. The main ingredients are rosemary and mint oils which gives the mask a spa like scent. Although the mask is thick it doesn't weigh down my hair at all while still giving me sleek, shiny and soft locks. I would love to try the shampoo and conditioner from this range too after sampling this. It is normally on offer too - currently at Boots for £3.65.

003. The Body Shop 'Glazed Apple' Shower Gel: A new purchase from one of their Christmas ranges along with the matching bubble bath. This smells so good - like apple sweets - without being overly sickly, although it isn't very moisturising. It is quite zingy so great for cold winter mornings when you need a pick me up and the scent is also uni-sex so great for sharing with Matt. I like the bright green of the gel too and the sleeker packaging than the original shower gel line up.

004. Lush 'Hot Toddy' Shower Gel: Another shower gel that I just couldn't resist! The Christmas products from Lush are always amazing and this is a refreshing change from Snow Fairy. The gel is bright red with flecks of glitter, so very festive, and the smell is amazing. It honestly smells like mulled wine and the scent is super strong and lingers like you would expect from a Lush product. I wish I had got a larger bottle because I will be really sad when this is over.

005. L'Oreal True Match Foundation in 'W1 Golden Ivory' - £9.99: This gives a light to medium coverage which is moisturising without being oily and blends out so well so it looks like your skin but better. I also found that it was quite luminous too and didn't sit flat on your face and was easily buildable for more coverage. I did find that my t-zone did get shiny more quicker but it is quite long wearing and great for evening wear.

006. Maybelline Colour Drama Lip Pencil in 'Berry Much' - £4.99: I'm planning on putting up a detailed review of this in the next week or so, but basically this is the perfect lip product for the colder months. The colour and pigmentation is gorgeous, as is the wear time and ease of use. A really great product which I will surely be getting in more colours.

007. Bobbi Brown 'Sand' Palette from the L.E. Surf and Sand Collection - £48: First of all, this palette just looks gorgeous. The packaging is weighty and great for travel and the pans of eye shadow are good sizes. The colour selection is fantastic, with a mixture of matte and glitter golden neutral shades that can create a variety of looks. A few of the lighter shimmer shades were a little disappointing with not a lot of colour pay off, but over all I love this palette for day and evening looks. Although it is a lot of money for a palette, I think the shades and amount  you get in the palette make it worth while. I've been reaching for this most days of December.

008. Molecule 01 Perfume by Escentric Molecules - £65.50: The scent of this is so different to anything else I own or would normally pick up. I got this for Christmas about two years ago and think its perfect for this time of year. In essence, the USP of this perfume is that it smells different on everyone by working with your skin's chemistry and is great to layer up with other fragrances. I'm not sure if the first claim is true as I have smelt it on other people and have known exactly what it is. However, the claim that everyone will want to know what you're wearing is valid. I always have compliments when I wear this scent and have convinced quite a few people to buy it! Reported fans of this fragrance are Kate Moss and Daisy Lowe which is always a good endorsement and it is very long wearing to boot.

009. YSL Parisienne Eau De Parfum - £47 for 30ml: Another perfume I have been enjoying this month and that works well with Molecule 01. It is a deep floral scent which is rather long lasting and always brings back good memories for me as I received it for my 21st birthday.

What are your current favourite products? xxx

My Beauty Resolutions for 2015

Pinterest

After spending New Year's Day writing about my general wishes for 2015, I thought it would be a good idea to note down some beauty goals for myself as well seeing as this blog is predominately beauty based. There are a few bad habits I need to break as well as some fun goals that I would like to achieve. Hopefully buy putting them out there for you all to read, it will give me some extra motivation to achieve them.

1. Drink more water: Quite a simple goal, but something I am absolutely terrible at! Normally most of my water intake is with meals but in between I am awful at drinking anything. I enjoy herbal teas so will try and drink more of those and am planning to use my water bottles that are gathering dust at the back of a kitchen cupboard.

2. Wash my make up brushes more often: Something I am very lazy with. I do spot clean them regularly but deep cleans take a lot more time and then I hate having to wait for them to dry. Hopefully Sundays will become my new deep cleaning brush days as there is nothing better than clean brushes and I think they apply make up so much better.

3. Invest in products: There are loads of great brands available on the high street, but in 2015 I want to discover some of my holy grail products, particularly in skin care. There are loads of higher end brands which I have lusted after and put off purchasing but I think it is worth investing in one amazing product rather than lots of mediocre ones. Skin care brands that I want to explore more are Rodial, Caudalie and Sarah Chapman and for make up brands I'm thinking of Dior, Laura Mercier and Chanel.

4. Be kind to my hair: I'm normally pretty good at looking after my hair with various products, but again I want to invest in some more natural products rather than those stuffed with silicones and sulfates. I want to use more oils and also try and get more regular trims to keep it in good condition, as normally I leave it months and months to get my colour re-done and even trim my hair!

5. Try some beauty DIYs: There are a whole host of pins on my 'Beauty' Pinterest board that are waiting to be used and following on with my natural theme I think this year would be a good time to give some a go. A few things that I would like to try are a DIY body scrub, hair mask and face masks.

What are your beauty resolutions? xxx