Blogmas Day 1 | My Christmas Wishlist

Hello Friends,

ASOS Black Bucket Bag £35

I am a handbag fiend. I'm always looking for my next favourite handbag, so every year there's at least one on my Christmas list!

Zoeva Rose Golden Luxury Set £55

What kind of a beauty blogger would I be without a Zoeva brush set hmmm...

Benefit Real Cheeky Party £25.08

I love these benefit 'taster' sets, I must admit I've already got Hoola and Dandelion but it's still worth it for the 3 other blushes, the watts up and the there real eyeliner and mascara (although I'm not a fan of the eyeliner)

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Lipstick Charms £29

Because Charlotte Tilbury. Because minis. Because lipstick.

Face Paint by Lisa Eldridge £12.15

A book by the Queen of chic makeup, Yes Please!

Sterling Silver stacking rings £19

I'm very in to layering and stacking jewellery right now so these are a must!

Makeup Brush Roll £14.95

For the avid traveller I am (not!). I just like pretty things to hold my makeup.

One Line a Day Five Year Diary £13

Every year I try to start a diary, get to the middle of January and then give up. Just writing one line a day I think even I could manage. Plus it's nice to sum up a day with a short sentence whether it's been hectic or lazy.

Honey Bee Necklace £14.99

I think this is a pretty good dupe for the crazy expensive (£165) Alex Monroe offering available on Liberty.co.uk. And it's super cute.

Now, this isn't every single thing on my list. For the full run down check out my pinterest board 'My Xmas Wish List' and while you're there give me a follow.

Comment below the top items on your Christmas wish lists below, not that I need anymore ideas!!

X

Freebie | A Beautiful Rose Gold Polish

Hello Friends,

I just wanted to get this post out here quickly due to it being time sensitive (listen to me being all business talky!).

So, when bored in WH Smith where do you find yourself, in the magazine aisle of course! And here I find the most beautiful rose gold nail polish, for FREE. Well, £4 for the mag (Elle Nov 2015) and polish but technically a freebie!

Look at that gorgeous shimmery glittery rose gold goodness! 

This would make a lovely alternative Christmas nail colour and I even think it looks so cute as a causal everyday glam nail!

So, I just thought I'd let you guys know this polish, along with 3 other colour variations is available with the November 2015 Elle (UK) for £4. 

If you're looking for a gorgeous glitter polish then look no further. Well go and look for it in your local magazine shop then look no further! 

X

Haul | My First Sephora Order

Hello Friends,

So, unless you've been living under a beauty blogger rock for the past year you'll know that Sephora ships to the UK! However, you do have to spend over £75 and the shipping rate is £6 so it's not a venture to be taken lightly which is why it took me so long to place an order. I wanted to wait until I was desperate for a few things you could only buy in the US, particularly limited edition stuff, and with the hype around the BECCA x Jaclyn Hill highlighter I could resist no longer!

Without further ado, the products:

First up, the BECCA x Jaclyn Hill highlighter. This is most definitely as gorgeous as everyone says! I'm not a big highlighter girl so this will probably only be pulled out when I'm getting ready for a night out rather than an everyday product but I am super excited to play around with it! I feel it would look great as an inner corner highlight when wearing a bronzey copper Zoella-esque eye.

Another limited edition product, which is actually available in the UK, is the Olivia Palermo X Ciaté London Blusher-Bronzer Duo in Bluff Point. This shade is directed towards girls with lighter skin and there is also a slightly darker version - Seaside Park for those with darker skin. The packaging of this is absolutely adorable and feels expensive, even the 'click' of the seal is super satisfying! The pigmentation of this isn't great but I actually prefer my blushes and bronzers to be less pigmented as you can't over do it (something which I have been a culprit of many times!) 

On to the lips, and I love lip products.

The Bite Beauty lipstick Duo in Fig & Date. Now these are teeny tiny but Bite products are raved about the internet over so I couldn't resist! These are two lovely everyday shades that I know will be forever floating around in my handbag for when I need a mid-day pick me up.

Sephora offer a great line of sets called Sephora Favourites, whereby a selection of their best-selling products are packaged up together in a handy try-before-you-buy collection. Of course the one I went for was 'Give Me Some Lip', a selection of the finest lip products sephora have to offer.

In this set we find: 
Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Coral Blossom
Sephora Collection Rouge Infusion The Neutrals in 19 Peony
Make Up Forever Artist Plexi Gloss in 202
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lip in Lolita
Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment
Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Crème in Je T'Aime

I have already tried the Fresh, Tarte and Marc Jacobs offerings all of which I love. The Fresh lip treatment smells divine and is the perfect daytime lip balm. The Marc Jacobs lipstick is pretty much the reason I bought the set and I'm so glad I did! Although you almost need a microscope to see the product, (I kid, but you don't get an awful lot) it's a beautiful pinky red and sticks around on the lips. The Tarte lip butter is smooth and a lovely summery colour, this is going to be perfect for 'no make-up' make-up days.

Last but not least, the freebies. Tarte crease-less concealer in a variety of shades, a sachet of Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser and Tom Ford Noir sample sheet.

So there you have it, I managed to keep my order down to the £75 minimum (pre-tax) and it arrived within a week of ordering. All in all I'm pleasantly surprised with the service after hearing a couple of horror stories and I'll definitely be making another order soon, probably when the Christmas sets are released!

Let me know if you've ordered from Sephora and what you'd recommend I try! Love hearing your views :)

X

The Liebster Award

Hello Friends,

So, first of all big thank you to Shona from Sho On The Go for nominating me for this award. I've seen this little logo banding around the blogosphere and am so honoured to be a part of it!

The Liebster award aims to promote smaller blogs with 200 followers or less, I'm not sure where the 200 followers have to come from but as of today I have 170 followers on Bloglovin' so I guess that counts.

These rules are not made to be broken:

1. After being nominated, make a post thanking and linking the nominator.

2. In that post include the Liebster Award logo.

3. Nominate up to 10 other new bloggers with 200 or less followers.

4. Answer the 10 questions posed to you by your nominator.

5. Make 10 questions of your own to be answered by your nominees. 

So here are the questions from Shona that I must answer:

1. Why did you start blogging?

Honestly, I used it as an excuse to buy lots of make-up and write about it. But although I haven't posted in a little while I am enjoying it for what it is. I have many a post in the line up and hundreds of photos waiting to be used!

2. If you could steal any celebrities wardrobe for yourself, who would you choose?

This may be because I just actually want to be her but I love Blake Lively's style. She's the epitome of the classy woman in my opinion!

 Even pregnant she looks awesome!

3. What is the one beauty product you cannot live without?

Mascara, mascara, mascara!! Even when I'm having a terrible skin day, a little bit of mascara makes me look human!

4. What is your favourite song at the moment?

Photograph by Ed Sheeran. Love the music video, love the song and love him.

5. What's your favourite season?

This is tricky as we're coming into Autumn but it doesn't feel like we've had a Summer which makes me long for a beautiful sunny day. However I do love Winter; I love the snow, I love winter boots and dark smokey eyes and dark lips.

6. What is your all time, number one movie?

Goodness this is hard!! Hmmm, I do love Mean Girls. That's probably my number one hangover film. I also love pretty much all animated films. That's as good an answer as I can give.

7. Do you have a favourite motto, either a famous one or one you've created for yourself?

There's two: 

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened - Dr Seuss 

(This one's a great one for break-ups!)

Be kind, for everyone who meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about - Instagram quote

8. Where do you see yourself in five years time?

Hopefully I'll have finished a Clinical Psychology PhD and be looking for a position working with people who have experienced a brain injury.

9. Where would you go on your dream holiday?

I'd love to do a road trip across America and see all those famous sights I've only seen pictures of!

10. What do you love about blogging?

I love the community, I love reading other peoples posts, finding new blogs to read and feeling like I'm a part of it all.

Now to nominate some blogs I've been loving:

Katie Lou

Style With Sahara

Madison Victoria

Starry Skies

Maddie's Beauty Spot

Essential Twenty

Loovelle

Pretty Neutral

Shauna Hatch

Champagne Or Lemonade

And the questions you must answer:

1. What's the reason behind your blog name?

2. Why did you start blogging?

3. What are the top 5 songs on your Recently Played list?

4. What's your favourite part of doing your make-up?

5. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

6. What's your number one skincare product?

7. Do you have a favourite book, if so what is it?

8. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

9. What's the most expensive beauty item you own?

10. What is your favourite month, and why?

Can't wait to see your posts, I genuinely love reading each of your blogs.

X

Review | Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser

Hello Friends,

It looks like sun cream, smells like sun cream and feels like sun cream, so it must be sun cream. Right? Wrong, this is apparently a cleanser, and supposedly a dupe for Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. Oh no, do not be fooled.

Firstly the sun cream thing is off-putting. I don't want to feel like I'm rubbing sun cream on my face to take my make-up off. And it leaves behind a residue which makes the water feel as though it's just sitting on top of the skin. 

Secondly, it doesn't actually cleanse the skin. My skin doesn't feel clean when I've used this, it actually feels more clogged and sticky.

Plus my skin reacted to the product, little bobbly spots appeared on my chin. Not good.

I wouldn't recommend this product as a dupe if you like typical hot cloth cleansers or balm cleansers, I would say spend a little extra and get a decent product like the Liz Earle. Back to my trusty Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm for me.

Sorry Superdrug: 3/10 for you and that's mainly because of the price!

Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser £4.99

X

Haul | Urban Decay

Hello Friends,

I had a little spending spree on House of Fraser online recently. There was an offer whereby if you bought 2 Urban Decay products you received a free mini sample of one of their lipglosses. Now I'm not a big fan of lipgloss anyway, but I'd heard great things about the Urban Decay ones and couldn't resist a freebie!

I picked up a Revolution lipstick in the shade 'Turn On' £15.50, a beautiful vibrant deep pink. These lipsticks are a lovely creamy formula and although they are not matte they stick around for a good long while. If you blot the excess away with a tissue it stays on the lips for quite a few hours (as long as you don't eat, I've been left with a rather pink stained baguette before now). I think I'll be picking up a couple more shades of this lipstick and will try the matte revolution ones too.

I also got an eyeshadow in 'Freelove' £14.00. This is a gorgeous shimmery peachy orange, perfect for an everyday 'no-makeup' make-up look. I think it goes great with blue eyes as well. 

Then for the freebie. A mini sized high-colour lipgloss in 'Scandal', again a lovely bright-fuschia pink. Brilliant colour pay-off, almost as good as the lipstick with a glossy non-sticky finish.

Top: Revolution lipstick in 'Turn On'
Middle: High-colour Lipgloss in 'Scandal'
Bottom: Eyeshadow in 'Freelove'

If you've tried any other Urban Decay products leave a comment below on your opinions :)

X

My 25p Charity Shop Find

Hello Friends

I have been looking for a new make-up brush pot for a very long time now. I've searched the likes of TK Maxx, Supermarket homeware and even Home Bargains for a cheap offering, however no luck.

I was then out and about with a friend who likes to frequent charity shops, now I've nothing against charity shops I just don't visit then particularly often. This occasion I'm so glad I did.

This little (well it's quite big actually) was all on its lonesome, it's a tea/coffee holder which make perfect brush holders however a lot of them have Tea/Coffee written on them. This one has a cute blackboard section on the front so you can write whatever you like in chalk. I think I'll leave mine blank though.

So my advice to you is, if you've exhausted all other shops in a search for a particular item, try a charity shop.

Good luck and Happy hunting!

X

A Dupe for MAC Painterly?

Top: Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Creme de Rose 91
Bottom: MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

Hello Friends,

Now, I haven't heard of this dupe before and haven't even ever seen this colour of the Maybelline colour tattoo anywhere until I was in my little local Boots having a mooch around. Maybelline was on offer 2 for £10 so I picked up a liquid lipstick (another post to come on that) and had a look through the colour tattoo offerings they had.

To suprise they had a couple of colours I'd never seen before. This creamy rose (Creme De Rose 91) and a creamy yellowy-beige (Just Beige). I swatched both on my hand and decided the rose version was more skin toned and looked remarkably like a very well known paint pot I had picked up from MAC.

Top: MAC Painterly
Bottom: Maybelline Creme De Rose 91

When swatched the Maybelline offering comes off a little more pink toned than the MAC product, however when dry they are almost indistinguishable from each other.

On my oily lids the MAC paint pot lasts a little longer as it is a slghtly thicker consistency than the creamy colour tattoo, however if you know that the colour tattoos work for you as an eyeshadow base I would more than recommend this product.

It may be difficult to find, as I said I've never seen it before and only came across it through sheer luck. It's not listed on the Boots website or the Maybelline UK website either. I may have just been lucky but if you find one in your local Boots, comment below which one.

Good luck and Happy hunting :)

X

Current Wishlist

Hello Friends,

So like every good beauty addict, I'm always looking for my next fix.

My current wishlist is pretty long, so I thought I'd let you guys know what I've been after so you can get some inspiration.

1. Nars Audacious Lipstick in Anna - This seems to be a bit of a cult classic and obviously I want to jump on that band-wagon.

2. Charlottle Tilbury FilmStar Bronze and Glow - Another cult classic, very expensive though so I might have to save up for this.

3. Lorac Pro Palette - Only available in the USA but Nordstrom does ship to the UK for a hefty price

4. Too-Faced Snow Bunny Bronzer - A beautiful combination of blush, bronzer and highlight you can swirl together or use separately.

5. Hourglass Ambient Lighting in Diffused Light - It's just beautiful, no other words needed.

6. Essie - Master plan, After school boy blazer and Matte about you - Not that I need any more nail polish.

7. by Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon - These are beauty guru faves and other popular shades include Brown Perfection and Misty Rock

8. FairyDrops Scandal Queen Waterproof Mascara - It's been raved about recently and is only available in Cult Beauty as far as I'm aware. Pricey but could be worth it.

9. Clinque Pop Lip Colour & Primer in Punch Pop - I've swatched a few of these lipsticks and wasn't a big fan. I haven't seen the deeper shades though and I saw this on FleurDeForce in a recent video of hers and she rocked it!

If any of you guys have tried any of these products please let me know what you thought of them! 

Also comment what's top of your Wishlist right now, I could always do with more inspiration.

x

Mini Make-up Haul

Hello Friends,

I've been a bit naughty and bought some goodies :)

Clockwise from middle: 

Seventeen EYE eyeshadow in rose quartz, 

The Body Shop Insta-blur face, 

The Body Shop Insta-Blur eye, 

Maybelline ColourSensational lipstick in 906 - Hot Plum, 

M.A.C High-Light Powder in Freshen Up (Wash and Dry collection - Sold out online)

M.A.C Lip Pencil in Heroine 

Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow in 147 Caroube (This is limited edition)

Barry M Matte Me Up Lip Crayon in 4

Close up of the Barry M Lip Pencil, Maybelline Lipstick and Seventeen eyeshadow

Close up of the M.A.C Powder 

M.A.C Lip Pencil (I use this all over the lip as a super matte lip colour)

Close up of the Chanel eyeshadow stick

I'll be sure to let you know what I think of each of these products, but I have to say from initial swatching I say with confidence that I'm going to love them all!

If you have any recommendations for new products please leave them in a comment below. I love hearing about new things and it gives me an excuse to go shopping

X

Welcome. Bienvenue. Willkommen.

Hello New Friends,

Disclaimer: I. Love. Make-up! It is my one obsession (well one of).

So I thought I'd start a blog to record my musing about make-up, skincare and general lifestyle things. Maybe it will help some of you, maybe it will occasionally be a little comical or maybe I'll be the only one to ever read this. But that's OK.

First I thought I'd write a little introduction and for inspiration I turned to YouTube and stole the '50 facts about me' Tag.

So here we go....

1. I am 23 years old (soon to be 24!)

2. I grew up in Kent but now live in Shropshire

3. I am currently listening to Taylor Swift's '1989' album on repeat

4. I have had a giant Winnie the Pooh stuffed toy since I was about 4 and he is my favourite thing ever

5. I have a degree in Neuroscience

6. And I'm doing a Masters in Psychology right now

7. I have two Labrador dogs called Archie and Flynn

8. My favourite theatre production is Les Miserables (which my mum loves too)

9. And I know almost all the words to almost all the songs (GOALS!)

10. Not only do I love make-up but I also love buying make-up bags too, I definitely have more than I need!

11. I have a pretty big 'unhappy face' shaped scar on my knee

12. I'm also really clumsy and always have a burn mark on me somewhere from the oven, hair curlers, hair straighteners etc

13. I'm sort of suspicious (see what I did here)

14. I love watching YouTube videos, possibly more than watching TV

15. I have a half-brother

16. I have size 8 feet

17. When I was younger I used to call chocolate 'choc-choo'

18. And I used to call swede, seaweed

19. I'm not a big fan of exercise but I'll do it if I have to

20. Saying that I quite enjoying going for a swim

21. My favourite 'drugstore' make-up brand is Rimmel

22. And my favourite high-end brand is probably Clinique

23. I'm 5'8" (about 173cm)

24. Like a lot of people I love pretty stationary

25. I try and do a 'No Money Month' ever now and then to curb my spending!

26. My favourite animal is a pig and I really want a mini-pig as a pet someday

27. I used to work on a Delicatessen counter so I now know more about cheese than is necessary

28. I love ginger biscuits and milk

29. I don't have a bath in my house and I really miss having Lush baths

30. Ever year I try and keep a diary but I only last until Mid-January

31. I love peppermint tea

32. My favourite programme that I can re-watch over and over is The Office USA

33. I wear glasses

34. My middle name is Alice

35. I really LOVE macaroons

36. My favourite flower is the tulip

37. I have double-jointed thumbs

38. I broke my arm when I was about 7 or 8

39. Most of my tops are either blue and white stripes or have animals on them

40. I have a forward helix piercing which was so painful

41. I failed my driving test the first time but passed the second. They say that makes you a better driver but I don't think that applies to me

42. I love having a clear-out but at the same time I'm terrible for hoarding things

43. I was once in an advert with the infamous Samantha Mumba (points if you know who she is)

44. I hate avocado but I love guacamole

45. I like to make pro and con lists for big decisions

46. I hate horror films, even the adverts on TV scare me to death

47. I cry at the drop of a hat, many an emotional advert has had me in tears

48. I liked to be shocked by book endings, I hate it when you can predict what is going to happen

49. I wish I could sing

50. I found this list kind of difficult but really fun

I hope to see you back here next time 

x