Two Make Up Summer Additions

Long time, no see! I've been having a break on here due to deadlines at work and taking some time out for myself. I actually have a bit of a social life lately as everyone's birthdays seem to be in April and May. Let's just say alcohol and I aren't friends at the moment. Clearly now being 24 has an effect on how hungover I feel. Also I've been really ill recently, I always seem to get the flu when the weather is hot. It doesn't make sense!

Anyway back on topic! I popped into Superdrug for the first time in a while and saw that L'Oreal bought out a summer make up range. I was on a mission to buy a couple of products that I'd seen in a couple of reviews (you know I need some other peoples opinions to justify me buying it). As the weather has been crazy hot in the UK the last few weeks I've been wearing less.

The first thing I bought was the lip scrub in the flavour Peach Twist as I love anything Peach scented. A grim fact about me is when I'm anxious or thinking i pick at my lips. No I can't be normal and bite my nails. Anyway this scrub is so nice and it has exfoliating bits in which have worked a treat. I would highly recommend, plus i love the sherbet orange packaging.

Now I haven't bought myself a bronzer in years as I haven;t really used it. But I heard good things about the Back to Bronze, so I treated myself. It's not an orangey colour which I full appreciate. Not many bronzer products suit me as I have fair skin, but this seems to be doing the trick. Give me that sunkissed look!

Hope you're all having a lovely week!

Trying Out IGK Hair Products

Its been a while since I've bought anything new for my hair. I am probably one of the laziest people when it comes to my hair, I'm just not very good at making it look presentable. I have the most unruly, frizzy, curly hair. Its been the bane of my life since I can remember, I had a combination of an afro and perm as a kid. But for a few years now I've been growing my hair as I've always had this dream to have really long hair. And for once it's actually getting there. Don't get me wrong I still have a long way to go but it's the longest it's ever been and I'm not complaining.

Make Up Wishlist #1

Morphe Fall Into The Frost Palette

Rex Colourpop Eye Shadow

Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk Lipstick

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

Cover FX Custom Enhnacer Drops

Stila Liquid Eye Shadow

So I thought I'd share some make up I really want to get my hands on. Again I'm in the mood to spend money... whats new there then. Lately I've been wanting to purchase a lot of make up. I blame watching a few too many YouTube videos and tutorials so it instigates me to want more things. Plus I've been so lazy and done the same look forever I need some new items to play with!

Two items in particular I have wanted for ages!! The first being the Morphe Fall Into The Frost palette, look how pretty those colours are. There quite Autumnal shades so I think that's what I like about it, I just want it to be October again. The second being the Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter and Glow Liquid Eye Shadow, oh my god they look so beautiful. I'm really wanting the shade Rose Gold Retro. Pure sparkly goodness. Had to chuck in a bit of Charlotte Tilbury as I just love her and the brand, would love her to do my make up one day but a girl can dream. 

Have to say I'm quite happy with how this collage turned out, I did a lot of playing around on Photoshop and I kinda love how it turned out. Also I'm off on holiday tomorrow for a week to Lanzarote. I cannot wait to have a break and hopefully get some sun.

Yeah I'll stop rambling on now.

The Essential Eye Brush Set by Studio 5 Cosmetics

 

Firstly I realise I've been really bad at posting lately, I'm having a lack of self confidence at the moment so haven't felt like writing so yeah. One day I want to feel happy enough to do outfit posts again.
Recently I have rediscovered my love for doing my makeup coming out of what feels like the longest lazy slump. I realised that I needed to add some new brushes to my collection and in particular some eye shadow brushes. You know times are bad when you're trusty H&M eye shadow brush snaps in half (shameful I know!). Most of the brushes I own are from Real Techniques but I really wanted to try out a new brand. Whilst browsing Amazon I came across the Essential Eye Brush Set by Studio 5 Cosmetics which sounded pretty decent to me. In this set you get seven 'high quality' brushes all designed to help apply eye make up. Within the set you get:

*Pencil brush
*Precision Shader
*Small angle
*Eye liner
*Shader
*Angled shader
*Perfect blending

 

 

 

 

The one brush I was really looking forward to using was the perfect blending brush as I'd never had a brush specifically for blending out eye shadow. The amount of times I've wanted to create a soft eye shadow look but not been able to do it. That brush is so fluffy and does the job of blending out colours perfectly. All of the brushes seem really high quality and none of them so far have shed all over my face which I've had happen before. Plus the bristles is 100% cruelty free so that's an added bonus. And for the price of £11.80 for the whole set you can't really go wrong.

London Calling by Kat Von D

Being from the UK I couldn't get my hands on Kat Von D makeup easily as it was always available for years in the US in Sephora. So when I found out that her make up was being launched over here in Debenhams I was so so excited! And my lovely boyfriend treated me to a limited edition set from her range called London Calling which featured the product I have been wanting to try for ages.
So in this collection you get three miniature sized products which I actually really like as they're perfect for travel and it also means you can try them out before deciding to buy the bigger version. So it features a min studded kiss lipstick in what I believe is a classic shade from her collection called Lolita, a mini everlasting liquid lipstick (which I've heard many good things about) in the shade Double Dare and the product I'm most excited about a mini waterproof tattoo eyeliner in Trooper.

I am absolutely loving the eyeliner so I now see why everyone raves about it. The felt tip applicator makes it so easy to use and draw a smooth line something I find really tricky to do. I've also heard it makes doing winged eyeliner really easy so we'll see if that works with clumsy old me. But what I'm most impressed with is that the colour stays on my lid throughout the whole day. Most of the time the black liquid eyeliners I use fade a lot through the day which is a tad annoying. But this one remains all day. I also love the pigment of the lipsticks particularly the everlasting liquid one. It just glides on, the colours are a little darker then what I usually wear but I guess Autumn is the perfect time to experiment with darker lip shades.

Question is what do I buy next from the range...

Beach Day Musts

The beach is one of those places that can instantly make you feel happy in an instant. The mere sight of sand and sea that's never ending just instantly puts a smile on my face. Whether it's lapping up the sun abroad or enjoying the hustle and bustle of the English seaside some essentials are needed for a beach trip. The idea for this post came from a hash tag on Instagram created by Adore Me so if you want to get involved upload your ideas with #BeachDayMusts.

I think most of the items I picked are pretty self explanatory but I'm really not all about taking fancy items. Lets be honest whatever you take will get covered in sand at some point so take what you need and just enjoy relaxing. A hat is essential for me, on my last holiday my scalp got so burnt and I definitely learnt my lesson. A tangle teezer for the frizzy mane that is my hair, seriously at the beach I get so many knots so its perfect. I don't read a lot of books which isn't something I'm proud of. However at the beach when I'm sitting there enjoying the sun I tend to pick some sort of autobiography, currently I'm reading Caroline Flack's book and I love it. She's definitely a girl crush of mine. Maybe I'm a bit old school but I still use my iPod to listen to music instead of my phone. I love listening to music so I have to take it to the beach with me, gives me a chance to daydream.

Now I'm in the mood to go on a holiday again, anyone want to join me??

And if you're in need of swimwear for a holiday then check out the amazing range by Adore Me here

YSL Black Opium

Whilst on holiday I wanted to treat myself to a new perfume. I bloody love a good perfume, seriously I can't go a day without wearing it even if I'm just lounging about the house I still have to spray some sort of fragrance.
I've wanted to get my hands on Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent for a very long time after hearing many good things about it (shocker bloggers and Youtubers have influenced me buying something yet again). As I had spending money I figured I would treat myself so as soon as I saw it I was like yep it's going to be mine. I am terrible when it comes to describing perfume but its not like anything I've smelt before. Its quite a dark smell compared to the usual vanilla sweetness I go for. It's kind of musky in a nice way and just makes me feel special when I spray it. The bottle as well captures the dark nature of the perfume. With the black and pink mixed glitter covering the outside it's a mix of sophistication and mystery. Two traits I personally am always attracted too. Its just looks damn good on my dressing table in my room.
Safe to say I've found my new favourite scent, the price is steep but if it smells that good then it's worth every penny.

It Was Time For A Change

 

 

I'm not a very outgoing, spontaneous person, I never have been. I stick to what I know, stay within comfort zones and just get on with life. There are many things I've thought about changing in my life. My fitness level and overall health is something I'm massively keen to get back on track. My style I want to mix up a bit. But my hair is one of those things where I haven't really changed for years.

As crazy as this is going to sound my hair is pretty sacred to me, I know such a bloody girly stupid thing to say. But I've always had issues with it. As a kid I had what I called my afro but essentially short ringlety frizzy hair and it was just atrocious. And discovering straighteners as a teenager meant I overdid it and well my hair essentially died from the heat. I've kept my hair the same for as long as I can remember really, only getting the ends trimmed. I feel like you're a bit limited when you have curly hair. For years I've been trying to grow it and finally it's got a bit longer now. But it still has a way to go to what I want it to be (below the boobage area).

I've been contemplating getting a dip dye for ages and I've finally taken the plunge. I didn't want my whole hair done as dare I say it I like my natural hair colour. I got the ends dip dyed in this gorgeous vibrant purple and I bloody love it. I think the colour is gorgeous and goes so well with my dark hair. I literally am so happy with it. 

 



 

I'm now a proud member of the dip dye club, I just feel a bit revamped now. Maybe I should think about making some other spontaneous decisions.

The £6 Perfume from Primark

I love a perfume, I don't feel complete without wearing some kind of scent. It's just part of life now. As much as I love Daisy by Marc Jacobs its not the cheapest product so I want to save every last spray for special occasions or days where I need perking up. I wanted to find a cheaper alternative to wear on an every day basis. Whilst recently browsing the Primark in Tottenham Court Road I came across a display of perfumes.
Coachella 05 was one of the main features on the perfume stand I came across. What mainly swung it for me was the packaging. I live in a lot of black but I am a sucker for a bit of bold colouring. Plus both the packaging and bottle scream summer vibes. And I could use a bit of sun just saying. The fragrance is quite light and delicate. Like everyone says I don't really know how to describe scents but it's not overly sweet which is what I usually like to go for. It's easy wearing for everyday. And the bottle is huge so I hope will last me a long time. I think I now want to pick up the smaller bottle to put in my handbag.

You got to love finding a winning product for such a good price!

A short and sweet post today, apologies for the lack of life on here lately. Last week was my birthday I'm 22 now, so an old git essentially. And I've been doing so much overtime (well probably not that much compared to most people) but yeah.

Two Skincare Saviours

 

My skin at the moment is suffering, like really badly. I don't know whether its the colder weather, stress, what I'm eating but it's driving me nuts. I suffer from really dry skin and it's looked really dull and lifeless lately. So to try and combat this I've been attempting to do a skincare routine. For the record I am no expert but there are two products that I've been loving lately and now use daily. 

The Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner by Pixi is something I've heard many people talk about and it's been something I've wanted to try for a while. When I was browsing Cult Beauty I just decided to get it as the reviews are so positive. And I have to say I'm agree. I put this on a cotton pad, wipe it on my face and neck and skin feels a lot fresher. Its perfect for my skin specifically as it's get rid of the dry patches and makes me feel awake. I bought the bottle back in January and I still have about half left so it last a while and you don't really need a lot.
The Vitamin E Sink In Moisture Mask from the Body Shop I bought quite a while ago but I've just started to use it properly. This mask is literally a life saver!! The instructions say to leave it on for 10 minutes and wipe it off with a tissue. But I usually put it on before bed and then wash my face in the morning. My skin always feels so soft and I love the smell of this. As odd as it sounds the fragrance reminds me of a perfume that my Nan used to wear so it has a nostalgic vibe to it.

I still have a lot to learn but thought I'd share some products that seem to be taming my horrific skin as of late. If anyone has any products they'd recommend let me know, I'm always on the hunt to try something new!

Syrup by MAC

Woah woah woah I've bought another MAC lipstick. Can I just say my friend Lizzie is bad, she's the biggest instigator to buy MAC then anyone in the world. We go into a store together and it just spells out trouble and before I know it my purse is out and I'm purchasing something. We both took a trip to Brent Cross shopping centre a few weeks ago and both decided straight away we need to visit MAC. Of course like every store I visit it was bombarded with people, hardly any room to move and you had to queue just to ask someone who worked there a question. This is my fourth lipstick I've bought so I'm not doing too bad, a lot of restraint and walking away. I went in not having a clue what I wanted to get but immediately swatched one on my hand and fell in love.

 

Syrup literally glided onto my hand and it just looked gorgeous. I'm usually all for a matte lipstick but this one has completely changed the game. Its from the lustre range and its so creamy and pretty. Its not been drying and really stays on. It has just the right amount of shimmer without being too overpowering. It's a gorgeous muted pink colour that is perfect for everyday wear. Makes such a change from the nude shades I tend to stick too. I just feel a tad more glam putting this on when I wake up at 6am to catch a train to volunteering like I have been lately. Also I remember this shade being one of Essie Buttons top picks and well I just have to trust her judgement just saying.

I don't what's up with me lately but I'm just loving everything pink. It's like I'm trying to be a bit more girly or something.
As of right now I'm having a no make up day (happening too much lately) sitting in bed watching the Purge. I've actually had quite a productive couple of days so feeling pretty proud right now!

Loving A Bit of Pink Eyeshadow

 Yep pink that's right, so not like me. I've never been a pink type of girl even from a young age I loved Barbie but hated that it was all pink. Maybe cause its the stereotypical girly colour. I'm pretty basic when it comes to eye shadow, yep I'm a neutral girl like most. But I wanted to mix it up a bit more, so I've been experimenting with pink. The palette I've been using is the Redemption Palette Iconic 3, amazing range of shades and a bargainous price (yes I know that's not a real word).



 

Now I'm no pro and will never claim to be so everything I do is pretty basic. So this look is done in three simple steps. Firstly I brush the light pink shade (second one in) all over the eyelid. Then take I get some of the darker pink (next shade on the right) and put it on the outer third of the eyelid. Finally I take my favourite the purple pink shade (on the far right) with a blending blush and put that in the crease and blend it out. That really is it.



 

 

 Added with  a pink lipstick and I'm done. Look at me trying to be all girly. Quick I'd  put on something black otherwise people will start getting worried...

I'm going back to watching the Brits, first year I think I've bothered watching it properly.

 



Things I loved In January

In all seriousness we've already finished a month of 2016!?! Time seems to be going faster and faster as I get older! I thought I would do a favourites post as I've rediscovered some new and old items that I've been loving over January (A month in which again I've been terrible  at posting yet again).

 

Netflix I have rediscovered, I now use it daily. I probably am one of the worst people when it comes to seeing the latest films or TV series, there's always so many things I want to watch but I just never get round to it. Pretty Little Liars was a series I started watching back in the summer of last year but I got a bit lost. I think it's cause there are so so many episodes in one series that it got a bit like okay am I ever going to make it to season 3. But I cannot recommend enough after starting to rewatch it. The girls are gorgeous, the guys are gorgeous, there's so many twists and now its getting more gritty. Lucy Hale is officially my new girl crush.

I've been really into trying to perfect a skincare routine this month and bought a product everyone has been raving about and for good reason. I never really used a toner but now the Pixi Glow Tonic is part of my daily routine both in the morning and evening. It just seems to make my skin appear brighter and it feels tingly on my face but not in a worrying way. I just feel like its working wonders on my dull dry skin face I'm experiencing lately. But trust me I have  a lot to learn abut skincare and I should have started this much sooner. Teaming it with the Vitamin E sink in moisture mask from the Body Shop its been working wonders.

If I could marry a pair of shoes then my Navy suede boots would be in the running. These beauties I got for Christmas from New Look I immediately fell in love with and I adore. It's got to the point where I get a mark on them I panic and start frantically wiping them. And when you're walking through the streets of London there bound to get a bit of dirt on them. The rich navy teamed with the suede is just a match made in heaven.


I went a little crazy with make up purchases last month, guess I was making up for slacking over the last couple of months. The best item I picked up was the False Lash Sculpt mascara from L'Oreal. I only picked this up because it was on a special offer as it was a new product and honestly its amazing. It doesn't make my lashes look clumpy and gives them so much length. I love wearing it as an everyday mascara as it's not too dramatic but still shows a difference in my lashes.

 For Christmas I got a couple of DVD's and the one I have been loving is The Duff. In a way its a bit of stupid teenage school usual rom com but I do love those types of films. It's silly but I love it for that reason, so unbelievable that it's brilliant. And in a way I relate to the main character, always feeling a bit like the ugly duckling in your friendship group. I saw it at the cinema and it made me laugh so much. This may be the perfect film for fellow single ladies to watch on Valentines day tucked up in bed with a shit load of chocolate (definitely my plan once I finish work).

 And finally I couldn't leave out some music. I was so late to the party getting Automatic by Don Broco but I literally haven't stopped playing it since I got it for Christmas. So much funk but then heavy riffs I mean it's impossible not to enjoy. I'm always amazed how the drummer can sing so high, but I honestly love it. It's an album that definitely puts a smile on my face if I've had a terrible day. I think my favourite songs from the album are Nerve and Money Power Fame which I've loved since it was released as a single. Check out Don Broco if you haven't before, their music is always featured on Made In Chelsea.