Bronze Goddess Scent - A Splash of Sunshine?

Top Notes -  Zesty citrus notes of Sicilian bergamot, mandarin, lemon and orange.
The Heart - Tiare flower, jasmine, magnolia and orange blossom.
Base Notes - Amber, coconut milk, vanilla, vetiver, sandalwood and myrrh.

Is it summer yet? no? well I've found a fragrance that is the season in a bottle, although this scent is normally released in the summer months I had a bottle for Christmas and I am loving it! With all this cold weather and dark days I normally reach for my more warming scents like Jo Malone Nutmeg & Ginger but this splash of sunshine has me reminiscing of those warm evenings and holidays somewhere lovely.

It is a very light fragrance but has a fresh warmth, the coconut is quite obvious on my skin but is still soft and just gives a subtle scent. I would say if you are a fan of heavy scents this may not be the choice for you, but I cant stop reaching for it.

Let me know your current favourite perfume right now - Thanks for reading!

X

Current Faves.

So although around now I should be doing my January favourites, I haven't really got any products that I have just started loving so I thought I would do a post on some staples that I have been picking up alot over the recent couple of months. 

For makeup I have two products that I have become obsessed with recently and the first is the Tom Ford lipstick in Spanish Pink - now I am a sucker for a nude pink, I probably own enough to set up my own store, so why buy another one? Honestly, I was intrigued by the price tag as I couldnt understand how a lipstick could be worth £38 it seemed completely insane to me so I wanted to see what the fuss was all about, and well... I get it. The lipstick is super creamy and pigmented and the shade I have is my everyday shade that I can put on with any makeup look - my advice would be to buy a shade you will get a lot of wear out of as although a vibrant red might look beautiful but you dont want nearly £40 worth of lipstick being put away in a drawer from not being used very often. My next favourite is a foundation and this is a weird one for me as I really did not get on with this when I first tried it 4 years ago however I wanted to try a full coverage foundation and figured I might aswell give it another try and I am so glad I did. If you have very dry skin I really would stay clear of this foundation as that was my problem when I first tried it however my skin has now balanced much more and I find this wears beautifully throughout the day, I can go a day at work and not need to touch up my base (round of applause!) which is completely new to me - im super impressed with this and will be doing a full review on it soon. 

I now have a fragrance favourite and this is certainly not new to me however I have rekindled my love for it over the Christmas months. Jo Malone's signature scent in Pomegranate Noir is such a distinct perfume, it has a comforting warmth that I absolutely love, the first time I wore it was on my 21st birthday so its become abit nostalgic aswell now. 

And finally for my life changer! And no im not being over dramatic this lip balm is completely amazing. I know I am pretty late to the party on this one but I am converted - Nuxe's Reve De Miel Balm is like a mask for your lips. I suffer from cracked dry lips all year round so when I want to wear a bold lipstick I tend to just give up as it never looks very nice however if I apply this balm in the morning and when I go to bed at night my lips stay hydrated and comfortable all day. I cannot rave about this one enough - if you suffer from dry lips and have tried pretty much everything, check this one out!! 

So thats it for this post, thanks for reading, please leave any comments or questions below!

X

Holy Grail Repurchase.

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! 

X

Quick and Easy Smokey Eye.

I am a major fan of an intense smokey eye look however I'm not so fond of the time it takes to achieve, so when I found this quick and easy way of creating a similar look I figured I may aswell share it - so here goes! 

For any smokey eye I use an eye primer and for this look I used the Urban Decay Primer Potion as it locks the shadows in place for long wear! I then reached for my Clinique gel liner in Black Honey but you can use any shade of gel liner which is the main thing I love about this look, the same steps can be used in any colour, a black gel can create a gorgeous smokey eye in the same way as I have done this look and is great for the holiday season. However the Black Honey shade is this beautiful purple toned brown with gold running through it - I pat this on and keep adding layers to create as much intensity as I want I then blend the edges with a fluffy brush so theres no harsh lines. 

For the second step I used a similar toned shadow and placed this over the top, this helps set the gel liner and again add more intensity. For my look I used the mid brown shade in the Morning Java palette from Clinique which has that similar purple undertone running through. To add abit more depth I then picked up a small amount of the darkest shade in the palette and placed this on the outer corner and blended the excess into the crease. I then took the same two colour on a small shader brush and took it under the eye to bring it all together! 

To finish I used lots of mascara and right now I keep reaching for the Max Factor Velvet Volume mascara which does exactly what it says on the tin, I have also found it really extends my lashes whilst leaving them feeling soft rather than others that can feel stiff and uncomfortable on the eyes. 

I'm really enjoying wearing this look at the moment and will definitely be trying it in different colours to see how many different looks I can achieve (stay tuned!) I hope you enjoyed this post - I read every comment and will reply to any questions! 

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Current Loves.

Each month I like to try and mix up my make-up routine and this month I have decided to give a couple of newer products in my collection a go. The Dior BB Creme has been a favourite base of mine for a while, and is one I often reach for on days off, as it's so lightweight but gives great coverage. I have tried out one of the new Eyes to Hypnotise by Charlotte Tilbury, I got it in The Huntress which is the bronzey shade that works beautifully with the Dolce Vita palette- it also came with a liner in the shade Amber Haze which again is a bronze, lovely for the winter season. Another newbie to my collection is the Kiko Moon Dust face powder in Mysterious Pink which is my perfect blush, it's a neutral/warm toned pink marbled with a subtle gold glow, this looks gorgeous when it hits the light and saves time in your routine as you dont have to use a highlighter on top! Lastly, it has to be a berry lip and these Lip Pops from Clinique are perfect as the primer infused formula allows them to wear longer and more evenly which is great with darker shades, my favourite at the moment is Berry Pop however Rebel Pop is on my list next!

Thanks for reading, I read every comment and will reply to any questions!

X

Dior Addict Lipstick - Im obsessed!

Although I love my makeup, lip products are always my favourite things to try and these from Dior have not let me down! I now have three shades, the one in the image is shade '881 Fashion Night' which is a fuscia toned purple that is great for anyone that loves a berry lip but isn't ready to rock anything too intense. I have now picked up a coral shade in '437 Charmante' which is gorgeous with a bronze toned eye look, and finally my most recent purchase is a neutral pink tone that I wear for my everyday look in the shade '260 Rose Deshabille'.

I've found these lipsticks to be very versatile, depending on the look I am going for I have worn them on their own, over just a lipliner, or on top of another lipstick - all of which wear beautifully and make even the dryest of formulas comfortable. 

I would recommend these to anyone and they would make a lovely Christmas present or a nice little treat to yourself as there is a shade for everyone's style! 

Thanks for reading! Please leave any comments below, I read every one!

X 

Hourglass - The Edit.

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! 

X

Clinique Chubby Eyeshadow Sticks: Review.

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. 

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! 

X

The Berry Lip Trend.

On a day to day basis I am a nude lip kinda girl however when it comes to the colder months and richer colours come back into season I cant help but delve into my collection and grab those plummy shades. I have a couple that are my holy grail Autumnal lip shades that I reach for every year and also some more recent purchases. 

In terms of finish I do tend to prefer a matte or satin as I find the darker shades wear better in those formulas, although I often suffer from dry lips so I just place some Elizabeth Arden 8 hour lip balm on before to keep them hydrated. I also tend to use lipliners with most of these shades to get a cleaner line and to stop any colour bleeding. 

L-R: Charlotte Tilbury; Night Crimson..Rimmel; 107..Revlon; Fiery Flamboyante..Mac; Dark Side..Nars; Cruella. 

*Charlotte Tilbury in Night Crimson - I LOVE this lipstick, the colour, the formula, the packaging, it's just perfection! The longevity of this product is very impressive and wears off evenly so none of that patchy lip situation going on! Although these lipsticks are at the higher end of the price scale they are worth the hype if you're looking for that one perfect lipstick. 

*Rimmel Kate Moss in 107 - I dont think there will ever be an Autumn lip edit without this one featured. The quality of this lipstick for the price is outstanding and delivers everything you need for Fall. I am now on my third purchase of this shade and will continue to repurchase as it is such a great buy!

*Revlon Matte Balm in Fiery Flamboyante - A very new purchase for me, I'm pretty sure this is a new shade as I had never seen it before. I have a couple of these already and adore the consistency, they are perfect for quick and easy application aswell as being comfortable to wear and give great pigmentation. 

*Mac in Dark Side - I had to include a Mac shade, although I have quite a collection I dont reach for them as often as I used to, yet I do love the colour range that they do. Dark Side is the newest to my collection and is one I have been reaching for, contrary to its name this is wearable shade and isn't quite as scary as it sounds, I've found patting it down to more of a stain with a balm on top looks really pretty if you want something more subtle.

*Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella - The perfect red. There is no better way to explain this shade, it is definitely a bold statement and is not for the faint hearted if you're nervous of trying a bolder shade however if you're looking for that classic red then you can stop right here because everything you need is in this lip pencil. My only criticism would be it is slightly drying on the lips and therefore does need a balm underneath, but I tend to wear one anyway so its not really a problem. 

Thanks for reading, as always I read all comments and answer any questions - let me know any autumn favourites you have so I can check them out!

X

Skincare Update.

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! 

X

The Autumn Edit.

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! 

X

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish - Hot or Not?

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! 

X

Flamingo Candles

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.

X

Makeup Revolution: On The Go Palette

So in 2014 Makeup Revolution became one of the most standout drugstore brands for me, it is super affordable and the quality of the products are just amazing. I'm a big fan of how they create dupes of much more expensive products so if you aren't sure on whether its worth splashing the cash you could try their version first and save some money. 

I saw the On The Go! palette online a couple of months ago and thought the general layout and colour scheme looked somewhat familiar but couldnt quite figure out where I had seen it before. It wasn't until I was on Sephora and saw the Tarte Rainforest After Dark palette that I realised how good this dupe was especially for me living in the UK as Tarte is quite difficult to get hold of. 

The set contains six eyeshadows, a blush, a bronzer and a highlighter. It is a warm toned palette and also has a pink flush to it that is something I tend to use alot. The formula of these shadows is super creamy and soft, and do remind me of Urban Decay's shadows, the pigmentation is really great and they blend beautifully! 

I haven't swatched the three face products as the highlighter was hard to get to show up on camera and the other two simply come off exactly how they look in the palette. The bronzer is one of my favourite parts of this set as it is a great contour shade and applies really nicely to the skin, it is buildable without going muddy so you can be as light handed or severe as you like! The blush is a simple pretty pink that pretty much goes with most make-up looks and just adds that nice hint of natural colour or again can be built up for more of a pop. Lastly of course is the highlighter, this was the one thing I honestly thought would let me down, I am super fussy when it comes to highlighters as I prefer sheen and metallic to glitter and usually the more affordable brands stick as much sparkle in there highlighters as possible however Revolution has shut me up yet again! This is the most natural, pretty subtle glow highlighter I have ever found, it just adds that healthy look to your skin without adding too much of anything, super pretty!

I'm completely loving this palette as for only £4 you get so much value for your money, I would recommend this for any of the products individually all of them are worth the £4 on their own so even if you only want to give it a go for just the bronzer its well worth a try! 

Let me know if you have any favourites from the Revolution range, I read all the comments and will reply to any questions. 

X

Stocking Fillers: Christmas Candles

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! 

X

A Bit Of Sparkle.

Okay so abit of a confession, I am quite a bit of a magpie and love anything with glitter, sparkle or shine so this time of year when it becomes abit more acceptable to go full glitter I always go full force, so when I saw these little treasures I had to pick a couple up. I have always liked the Colour Show collection from Maybelline as they are super affordable and have a really great selection of colours and finishes. 

The Be Brilliant selection are limited edition for the festive season and are £3.99 apposed to the usual £2.99 of their regular shades. My only let down was there wasnt a rose gold or light gold shade which is my favourite however the two I chose are super pretty and look amazing over lots of different colours. 

The silver/multi - coloured shade is called Light It Up and has small silver glitter pieces with larger multi - coloured sparkles aswell, I'm currently loving this one over black as it really stands out. The purple one is called Purple Dazzle and has the purple glitter with large sparkles in blue, green and pink this one looks great over obviously purple but also white or blue-grey. 

My favourite thing about these is the consistency, it is so hard to find a decent glitter nail varnish that applies an even coat across your nails, these do a great job and dry quickly aswell. If you wanted a bit of sparkle this year or even just for one day and didnt want to break the bank these are a great choice and in my opinion better than alot of the more expensive brands. 

So whats your favourite sparkley nail polish? Please leave any comments below, I read every one and will reply to any questions. 

X

Mac Holiday Collection: Gold Pigments

I'm abit of a sucker for anything with a bit of a Christmas twist so when beauty brands come out with their holiday collections I cant wait to see what they've done. I have already got a mini palette from the Bobbi Brown collection which is beautiful and will have a review on very soon. 

Now the Heirloom collection from Mac has had me very excited since I saw the US release however since sadly I dont have a bottomless purse (I wish!) I settled on my favourite item from the Keepsake part of the collection which was the pigment box. 

After alot of go and back and forth between the different boxes I eventually went for the nude/gold pigments although the pink toned one was absolutely beautiful! I chose this set as it is the most wearable for me and means I can incorporate some sparkle into my everyday makeup. 

Shades from L-R

Lithe - cream with subtle shimmer

English Gilt - rose gold 

Pretty it up - olive with gold shimmer

Gold Glitter

Deep Brown - matte dark brown

For only £26 this is such a good buy if you're thinking about trying pigments or if you want alot of different colours. I apply mine by dipping my brush into eye drops just so its damp, this makes the look super shimmery and almost like foil, something i'll be doing alot for the upcoming season. 

Have you tried any of the Mac holiday collection? Let me know any of your favourites in the comments below, I read everyone and reply to any questions

X

Jo Malone: Nutmeg & Ginger.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love varying my fragrance and don't really have a loyal favourite, I tend to find ones that I like and use them at random. However what I do tend to do is change up my scents depending on the season, which brings me to this little delight. 

My first Jo Malone scent was Pomegranate Noir which I love! In fairness there isn't many of the whole Jo Malone collection that I dont like, but when I saw this particular scent I just knew I had to have it. The best way for me to describe this perfume is basically winter in a bottle; it is warm with spice, yet has a bit of vanilla that gives it a sweetness. The longevity of this one I feel is longer than quite a few of the others which I prefer as I dont like having to reapply constantly throughout the day. 

If you are a heavy floral or candy shop sweet smellin' kinda girl this probably isn't going to be the scent for you however if you like warmth and spice then give this a go! 

Let me know what your favourite Jo Malone fragrance is :) 

X