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Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts
So after writing my last post about my current favourite perfume (here) I got to reminiscing about previous holidays and being in the sunshine with an ice cold cocktail in my hand. After clicking through the hundreds of beach filled shots on my laptop I've chosen some of my favourites that I would love to share on here.
Let me know where you would love to go on your next holiday - Thanks for reading!
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Recently I decided to go for a quick wander round the beauty section of Boots to see if there were any new releases that were worth a try and whilst scanning the Soap & Glory counter I came across these new Highlight & Sculpt Sticks; there are three in the collection but one was sold out.
Now without even swatching these I was hoping they would be a dupe for the Nars Multiple Sticks and they definitly are! These are sheerer than the Nars ones but the shades and blendability is just as smooth, the one that was sold out was very similar to Copacabana, a pretty lilac highlight that is stunning on paler skintones. The blush shade with its pink and gold glow just screams Nars Orgasm, I would say this one has abit more glitter than sheen but for the price point its completely worth it - and lastly is the bronze this is more of a blush tone to me than a bronzer but still super pretty, I think this would look amazing in the summer with a bronze smokey eye and a nude glossy lip!
If you have been looking into the Nars sticks and arent sure about the price tag these would be a great way to try the shades and product type out without the splurge - I will always love the Nars versions but these are the best dupes I've seen!
Thanks for reading!
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So I'm welcoming the new year with not a new love but a repurchase of an old one - the Soleil Tan De Chanel has featured on my blog before and for good reason! As a beauty addict I tend to change up my routine quite often but this is the one product I use every day without fail.
This is a cream bronzer that blends beautifully on the skin and gives a sunkissed natural tan - I use this when I am my natural ghostly self or even when I have tan on and it suits me both ways as you can build it up without it going orange or cakey! I have also been impressed with how long it takes to get through one of these, I have had mine for about 18 months and have only just needed to get a backup. If you are in the market for a new bronzer but struggle to find one that doesnt make you orange then I would definitely give this one a go - although it is pricey the time it takes to get through one of these with daily use is worth the price tag.
I will always be looking for a more affordable dupe but so far I have had no luck!
Hope you all are having a great start to 2016, I read every comment and will answer any questions,
thanks for reading!
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I was truly excited when I heard about the release of this palette earlier this year, I've always wanted to try Hourglass and this palette was the perfect opportunity to try six of their different powders at the same time. Firstly the packaging is just beautiful and really does add to the luxury of the product, its rose gold with a huge mirror inside which is great for travel.
The palette features:
Iridescent Strobe Light - This is the only new shade in the palette and is a rose pearl powder that gives a subtle glow.
Dim Light - is a peach shade that blurs the skin leaving it looking perfected
Diffused Light - a pale yellow toned powder, helps brighten and reduce any redness in the skin
Luminous Flush - rose blush with a marbled highlight within the give a healthy glow
Mood Exposure - neutral plum again marbled with highlight
Luminous Bronze Light - a mid tan shade infused with light to give a gentle warmth
All of these powders are beautiful and really enhance the skins natural glow - they have a subtle effect and go with every makeup look. These are perfect for any makeup lover as they are so versatile and would definitely make a lovely Christmas present!
Thanks for reading!
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For a girl that is makeup obsessed I can often be in the mood for getting out several palettes and 10 blending brushes to achieve a new eye look however I also have a bit of a lazy side that calls for something with less maitenance yet still gives a polished look and I think I have found the answer.
Every brand these days seems to have come out with eyeshadow sticks and I have tried a fair few yet there is one brand that really stood out in terms of the ease of application and blendability and they are the Chubby Sticks for Eyes from Clinique. What I love about these is the way you can go from a sheer wash of colour to a much bolder statement without taking half an hour and arm ache from all the blending. These also prove to be great bases for pigments or for sheerer eyeshadows if you want to add more depth.
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| L-R: Biggest Blossom..Ample Amber..Whopping Willow..Fuller Fudge..Oversized Orchid..Lavish Lilac. |
Out of the six shades I own, Biggest Blossom and Ample Amber are my favourite shades both leaning towards the rose gold/copper tone that I love. Whopping Willow would be great for anyone who loves Sumptuous Olive by Mac as it has similar tones within it and is a perfect shade for the Autumn season. Fuller Fudge is one I had to pick up - a rich brown with hints of barely there gold, I've used this on its own for a quick smokey eye. Finally the purples, I find myself reaching for purples alot so it seemed logical to try these out, Lavish Lilac is more of a mauve tone and would look lovely with greys while Oversized Orchid is more vibrant and a shade I lean more towards in the summer months.
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to play around with eyeshadows I would definitely recommend giving these a go - there is a decent range of shades all of which have great pigmentation, I do think they could do with adding a matte black as I think alot of people would get use out of that shade.
Thanks for reading, I read all the comments and will reply to any questions!
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In the past couple of months I have completely updated my skincare regime, as mentioned in my previous post about the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish (here) I have had a bit of a rough patch with my skin so although I tend to stay away from trying new products as I have sensitive skin and often get a reaction I decided to take the chance and try something new.
As I have sensitive skin I decided to try brands that are more gentle on the skin, I changed my cleanser to LE Clease & Polish which also duos as my makeup remover. I then tried the Origins GinZing moisturizer which smells amazing, like fresh oranges - which I love first thing in the morning. The formula is lightweight and has a gel-like texture that I prefer to the thicker creams, it sinks into the skin quickly and provides a hydrated base for makeup.
For under the eyes I do prefer a more intense moistuizer so I decided to try the Clinique All About Eyes Rich. This is a thicker cream that does take a little longer to sink in but is completely worth it if you get drier skin around the eyes - I've also found this to help my concealer blend more evenly and wear longer throughout the day.
Let me know of any skincare favourites you would recommend in the comments, I read every one and will answer any questions - Thanks for reading!
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For my second post of the day it's just a quick one! I recently realised that I had subconciously changed my everyday makeup due to the new season without even really noticing, these are products that aren't the classic bold berrys but are the more soft warm tones that brighten the skin up.
As I have a large Mac palette and a quad I tend to swap the quad round with whichever are my most used shades at the current time and recently those have been Paradisco, Mythology, Coppering and Antiqued all of which fall into the orange/rust kind of tones which are perfect for this time of year.
In terms of face products I tend to change up my blush shades and in this case I have been picking up Clinique's blush in Ginger Pop which again is a rich deep orange/bronze shade, I also used this in the summer with golds so this is a all year round kind of colour. On top of that if im feeling like I want more of a glow I use the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar - again the orange shade but with more pink that adds a natural glow to the skin.
Finally for lips and for this I tend to change up on a daily basis but I have been putting the Charlotte Tilbury lipgloss in Ibiza Nights over basically everything aswell as on its own, the gloss adds a sheer wash of nude with gold that enhances the lips when the lights hits them - absolutely stunning!
Let me know of any Autumn staples that are worth picking up in the comments below, I read every one and will reply to any questions - Thanks for reading!
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Finally getting back to blogging, after finishing uni and settling into a new job I'm able to get back to what I love. Over the past year my skin has gone through what only can be described as a rough patch so I decided to update my skincare and try something new.
I know basically the world of bloggers have already reviewed this product with rave reviews however I wanted to see if it really was worth all the hype. I've been using the cleanser for a couple of weeks now and it is fast becoming a staple for me in my daily routine and heres why...
*It removes makeup at the same time as cleansing which for me is an absolute bonus and even gets that pesky mascara off without having to scrub at your eyes.
*It's very gentle which was a concern for me as I have sensitive skin so trying new skincare is something I tend to avoid and this has left my skin feeling comfortable and cleansed.
*The scent is one I really enjoy, I could imagine some not loving it but I finding it relaxing and a more natural scent rather than chemically.
I would definitely say the Cleanse and Polish is worth the hype, its great for anyone that wants their routine to be quick and easy whilst still feeling cleansed.
Thanks for reading, I read every comment and will reply to any questions!
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For a while now I have had plum toned hair which I love but takes alot of upkeep with roots and vibrance or it just looks abit of a mess. Recently I started looking for ways to tone and maintain the colour of my hair to increase the amount of time between dying and the answer came in an unusual product.
I am well aware the Bleach London range is for what is says on the tin 'bleach blondes' or light coloured hair, however I originally bought their shade Bruised Violet to put on top of my brown hair to tint it slightly and after a great experience with that I dyed it a similar colour permanently. Using their non permanent hair dyes is effective but time consuming since I have to apply to dry hair and leave it for a decent amount of time to get the colour payoff so I looked for an easier alternative.
The rose shampoo and conditioner when used on platinum blonde hair can leave a milky pink tone which is super pretty and tones the blonde at the same time. However I bought the products to try and reduce my hairs tendancy toward going red/ginger as it pink colouring vamps up the purple in my hair and keeps it the colour I want it to be. When using these, I always use them together and will leave both on for a number of minutes and massage in to make sure I get as much from it as possible.
If you are looking to try a different colour or have purple/pink tones like myself and want to keep them vibrant then give these a go. I would highly recommend the range to anyone, as the Bruised Violet shade was even noticable on my dark brown hair.
Let me know of any other ways to maintain the hair colour, any advice is always appreciated! I read every comment and will answer any questions!
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I think its safe to say that most girls go through a period of wanting long hair, which is great if you're one of the lucky few that can grow it quickly but for me its not so easy. I've always liked having longer hair but I also enjoy changing the colour and style which can and has damaged my hair - Last summer I had 4 inches cut off my hair as I had been dip dying my hair for about 6 months and my ends were super dry and just needed to come off. Although I was glad to have healthy hair again I did feel upset that I had lost so much length and decided to look for a treatment that could help.
I eventually came across the Lee Stafford Hair Growth range, I initially bought the shampoo, conditioner and the treatment I got them on 3 for £15 which saves alot of money. After a few months of testing I found the shampoo was the most effective of the range in terms of increasing hair growth and I didnt really enjoy the conditioner. The treatment is something I would recommend to anyone, as its the best mask/treatment I have ever used on my hair and keeps it in great condition.
Its now been roughly a year and I havent had my hair cut in that time, my hair has grown back to its previous length and further and is in much better condition. I would like to say though that I rarely use heat on my hair, I usually let my hair dry naturally and will only used heat tools when Im going out so that will contribute to the health of my hair. It is also not a miracle product, it definitely isnt going to turn you into Rapunzel after one shower however I find that because it looks after the hair so well and keeps it so nourished that it encourages more hair growth, obviously how quick this happens will depend on the individual.
I hope this helps if anyone is looking into these products, I have used similar items such as Fast Shampoo & Conditioner which did not work for me and made my hair and scalp really dry. I find vitamins can help but work far more on my nails and skin than my hair. The Lee Stafford range is worth a try for anyone even if you just want to improve the health of your hair, I wouldnt call it a miracle product but more like a helping hand.
Please leave any comments below and I will reply to any questions!
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Ok so I am bracing myself for a slap on the wrist for writing this post but I know from going to the gym that I am not the only girl that puts a little something on her face before working out so I figured I would do a post about what I use and what I have found to not cause any breakouts or look like a hot mess (quite literally) when I leave.
So the main thing I will always wear is a tinted moisturiser, I either use the YSL Skintone Perfector or the Estee Lauder Sheer Tint as they provide light coverage that looks after my skin but evens it out at the same time. I use this as it doesnt really feel like makeup and isn't like wearing Double Wear for instance - it lets the skin breathe while giving that extra bit of confidence.
Concealer is not something I will always wear, but if I'm having a particularly rough patch with my skin and either have some blemishes that are crazy obvious or dark circles that make me look like I haven't slept in 10 years then I will reach for my Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer, this one is lightweight but great coverage and doesn't look cakey or thick.
Staying with Bourjois and their Healthy Mix range, their powder is a staple for me everyday no matter what makeup look I am wearing, however all I do when I go to the gym is dust a little over my T-Zone just to keep the base from sliding around and it just keeps it looking fresh.
This next step is super optional and definitely depends on how good the shape of your brows are but mine are just loving making my life difficult right now so I pretty much rely on the L'Oreal Brow Artiste to keep them looking somewhat reasonable, however if I was blessed with good brows I would skip this step.
I pretty much always wear mascara, I'm not particularly faithful to just one, I do really love Lancome Hypnose but will try others and at the moment I'm giving the new Maybelline Lash Sensational a go and I do actually really like it, its not my absolute favourite but does lengthen my lashes quite abit which is nice when you want a more natural look - I'm pretty sure you could add a couple of coats for more vampy looks but I haven't tried that yet.
Lastly is a lip balm of some sort, I've put my Dior Lip Maximiser is the picture as its the one I use pretty much constantly right now. I do however use anything that I know will keep my lips moisturised and comfortable for a decent amount of time without being greasy or sticky.
So that's it for my 'gym face' products, I know that you really shouldn't wear any make-up when working out and embrace the naked face but if you're not feeling quite so confident I think finding products that will let your skin breathe, keep it moisturised and aren't pore blocking are the best way to go.
Let me know if you have any products you would recommend, I read every comment and will reply to any questions
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During Christmas I picked up a fair few candles (far too many!) and on boxing day I had a look on the Flamingo Candles site and saw their Christmas scents had been reduced so I picked up a couple as they sounded far too yummy to leave. Although they were technically part of the Christmas range I would use these scents out of the season as they smell so good and as its still the colder weather these are really comforting scents.
The best things about these candles is they are made out of soy wax so they dont cause black smoke which is a major bonus, the scents are also fairly strong so you dont have to have them burning for hours on end in order to fill your room with the scent making them last longer. The brand have such a good range so there is pretty much a scent for everyone, they normally retail for £12 a candle but I got these for £6 each which was a really great buy.
The two scents I picked up are Chocolate Orange, which smells exactly the same as a Terry's Chocolate Orange, weirdly one of my favourite scents but not sure if it will get too sickly, I may have to burn it in short periods. Secondly is Vanilla & Spice, this one is just the perfect warm winter scent, just comforting and seasonal.
I will definitely be trying more of their range soon, let me know if you have tried any and which ones you would recommend! I read every comment and will reply to any questions.
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I just wanted to start off by saying that this is not a product I have tried personally as I actually have dry/sensitive skin and so if I do use the Dermalogica range the Ultracalming collection is what I go for. However my partner has been using this since Christmas and has really enjoyed it, he suffered from blemishes and acne when he was in his teens and now although all that has calmed down he likes to keep the oil level down and look after his skin.
Dermalogica is an expensive brand but these kits are a great way to try out a whole range and get the full works for what essentially is the cost of one full size. The set costs £42 and you get eight different products to try out some of which are really great sizes and will last ages.
Inside the kit...
1. 50ml Cleansing Gel
2. 22ml Active Moist
3. 22ml Skin Prep Scrub
4. 50ml Multi Active Toner
Not included in the box but given away at the counter were 3 sachets of other products that were from the same range but not featured in the box. I really like it when companies do this as it just adds to your purchase and allows you to try even more. If you have been thinking about trying the brand but not sure, they did give a skin test and talked about your skins needs in depth first before recommending any products so you could go for the skin test and go home and think about it for a while after.
Please leave any comments below I read every one and will reply to any questions!
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As a bit of a candle hoarder I could have done a full post on every scent from Yankee Candle however I wanted to done one on alternatives for people who dont want to spend that much on a candle or just want an alternative. All four scents are ones I've bought in the last month so if you are looking to get any of these for yourself or a present they should still be available.
The best value candle and the biggest one I have bought is also the cheapest at £1.99 from Home Bargains and although doesn't have that room filling in 5 seconds scent it does warm up nicely and add a subtle sweetness thats really nice if like me you just like to have candles on for the light and atmosphere, plus burning this one for longer periods of time isnt so bad since its such a good buy!
The second cheaper choice a little beauty from Primark, for £1.50 this cute candle comes in a red metallic tin and once opened the top of the candle is a red glitter snowflake. The scent in this one is actually really nice and does fill the room, it is a sweet christmas scent as these are my favourites so if you dont like the sugary sweet smells this one probably wont be the one for you.
The last of the bargains is this Glade scent in Roasted Chestnut and Macaroon, this was on offer for £2 instead of £5 and smells sooooo good! I would really recommend this one, it leaves the whole room smelling amazing and it even spreads into the rest of the house. There were about 4/5 in their Christmas range so I'm sure there is something to suit everyones taste.
Now for my favourite! Christmas Pudding by Lily Flame Candles is the most delicious smelling candle I have ever owned and have now tried a couple from the brand and I am slowly converting from Yankee as these seem to last longer and the scents are all so lovely. Another one from their festive line called Jack Frost smells like lemon pudding and gives a beautiful citrus, sweet, warm scent that makes a great change.
Let me know if there is any Christmas candles you would recommend, I read every comment and reply to any questions!
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Recently I have found myself looking on blogs to find ways of dealing with the stresses of being at uni, working, and maintaining a personal life along side. I've found some things to really help and though I would right abit of a different post of what I do and friends do to ease the pressures.
1. Manage your time: yes I know easier than it said but now I'm in my last year of uni I have learnt different ways to manage my time, one of which is having a diary that has one day per page so I can make a proper schedule. Another way is to have reminders on your phone for assignments or anything else so you can make sure you dont miss anything or have to face the 'all nighter' (we've all been there) cramming an essay into one sitting which is more stress than necessary.
2. Stay balanced: If anything this is the most important. Making sure you get all your work done in time is very important but dont let yourself become consumed by deadlines, make sure to have a bit of time to yourself and socialise to give your head abit of a break, I actually find my work is better when I've been able to do other things aswell. Obviously the flipside of this is to not go out everynight and neglect your work either.
3. Treat yourself: give yourself a goal, and really aim for it. I found that by making myself save money and not buying little bits here and there I could say to myself that if I got the grade I wanted I could really treat myself, basically a bit of an incentive to push yourself and makes you really appreciate anything that you get as you worked hard.
4. Organisation: perhaps my biggest downfall when it comes to my notes and readings from lectures as I am forever getting them mixed up or lost. This year I have decided to try colour coding and gone a little far (slight OCD there) by having a folder in a colour with corresponding post-it notes and highlighters, however it has really helped me keep everything together and I can find anything I need alot quicker.
5. Little things: try and give yourself a calm surrounding when doing any work, I always used to have music on or the tv but it really is just a distraction and I find that if I do 20 minutes work then 10 minutes break for a couple of hours I get alot more done and it doesn't feel like such hard work. Try not to compare yourself either, just make sure you know that you've tried your hardest as always looking at others just adds pressure that you dont need. Lastly is look after yourself, eating good meals and staying hydrated will give you energy which in turn will help you when trying to do your work.
Okay so thats it for this little post, I hope that this is a little useful for anyone that needs some ideas, if you have any then please comment them below. I read every comment and will reply to any questions.
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