Saturday 31 January 2015

Putting Magnitone To The Test



I've wanted to try a face brush like Magnitone for a LONG time! I always had my eye on the Clarasonic, but it was simply out of my price range. Magnitone had a fabulous Black Friday deal last year and I managed to get my hands on Magnitone for £10 (instead of £70)! It was a great chance to finally try out a facial cleansing brush! I saved it as a Christmas present and I started using it on January 7th.

I opted for the 'Lucid by Pixie' Magnitone, which is a cute hot pink shade with 'PL' embossed on the bottom. Pixie Lott is actually the new face and spokesperson for Magnitone, so she created her very own brush.

The idea behind Magnitone is simple! You cleanse your skin for 1 minute twice a day. The brush has a built in beeper and it makes a sound every 20 seconds. Magnitone advise that you spend the first 20 seconds on your forehead, the second 20 seconds on your cheeks and the last 20 seconds on your nose and chin. You simply hold the brush on your skin, you don't push hard or scrub, just guide the brush around. The brush has too functions; deep clean and sensitive clean. If you have particularly sensitive skin you can use the special function to avoid hurting your skin. 

I have quite oily skin that can be prone to breakouts, so I was a little concerned how my skin would react to Magnitone. However, since using the brush I have been blown away by the results. Not only is my skin clearer and brighter, my uneven skintone has gone! I don't get random red patches or marks anyone! It's also a lot less congested, the blackheads on my nose in particular have completely disappeared. 

When you first get your brush Magnitone tell you to charge it for 24 hours. They say that the brush lasts for 2 weeks, I've actually been using it for 3 weeks and it hasn't run out yet. 

Of course, Magnitone was well worth £10 but I'd definitely spend £70 on it. The difference it's made to my skin is unquestionable (I actually wish I had before and after pictures). It's really easy to use, it looks great but above all, it just works! I'm really happy having this in my routine. You can buy yours here!



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Friday 30 January 2015

Neom Moroccan Blush Rose



When it comes to pretty candles, it doesn't get much more cliche that Neom. These candles are loved by many, and rightly so! I've tried two candles by Neom now and they are just so potent. You don't even have to have them lit and they can fill a room full of scent. When they are burning they fill a room with lovely scents and they linger for hours. 

Neom are favourites in the bloggersphere for the blend of wax they use. It's pure natural vegetable wax which burns nicely and is less harmful. The candles have high essential oil content too. So not only do they smell good, but often they have aromatherapy benefits too. 

My latest favourite is Moroccan Blush Rose, this one is not for the faint hearted! It's a strong rose/floral scent with a moroccan and woody undertone. If you don't like floral scents, steer clean! However, if your partial to rose and like a strong candle scent, give it a sniff when you next get a chance!
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Thursday 29 January 2015

Organic Mineral Powder By Green People

Powder has always been a firm part of my makeup routine. I have quite oily skin so my makeup can often slip during the day. Using powder just sets everything in place and makes my makeup last. Whilst I enjoy using transparent powders (such as my favourite Vichy Dermablend) sometimes I want a little bit of coverage.

Green People offer organic beauty products, including lots of makeup products, so I jumped at the chance to give the powder a go! One thing I love about the the Green People Pressed Powder*, is the colour choice. The colours are separated for pink and yellow undertones, which is just perfect - a lot of brands do not take this into consideration.

The powder is fine milled and its a dream to apply. I just use my Real Techniques Powder Brush and dust it all over my face. It gives a completely matte finish, which might not be personal preference for everyone, but for me it's great! It gives a little extra coverage which is great for bad skin days and keeps oily at bay! 

The best part for me is that the powder is talc free, which means it hasn't been filled with cheap ingredients. It EVEN has SPF15 to give your skin light protection from the sun. I'm really impressed with this and I'm definitely going to repurchase it when it runs out! I think it's going to be great for travelling around America when I visit in the summer.

The Green People Pressed Powder retails for £20.95 here.
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Wednesday 28 January 2015

Marc Jacobs The Innocent




I have one the the Marc Jacobs seven-shadow palettes (review here) and I love it! So when I nipped over the US I had to get my hands on another. None of the other seven-shadow palettes caught my eye, but this beauty did. This is 'The Innocent' a gorgeous three-piece eyeshadow set by Marc Jacobs.

I do not think I need to spend long on the packaging, lets be honest; it's gorgeous! It's a lovely sleek black compact, with a big mirror and silver details. It screams 'chic' and it well fits the price point. The Innocent has two matte shades, a beige and a brown crease shade. The third shade is a glitter gold shade which looks incredible in the pan.

If you apply the glittery shade with a fluffy brush, you don't get far very quickly. You need a dense brush and then you can truly get the pigmentation.  The matte shadows on the other hand, are buttery and really easy to work with. 

I'll be honest, at $39 this is a very indulgent palette. In fact you can get a palette just like this easy on the high street and it will probably cost under £5. However, if you like a little bit of luxury, it's gorgeous. It makes a great present and it is a lovely thing to own. You can pick it up form Sephora here
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Tuesday 27 January 2015

Glossybox January 2015



I'm sure by now, you've read a lot of Glossybox reviews for January. I'm a little late with my review this month as I spent a week in San Diego! I wanted to share my thoughts with you though, as I've officially unsubscribed. I've been saying it for a long time, but I finally hit the button. I think I have February's box left and then that's it for Glossybox. 

I don't normally took negatively on my blog, but I think some things just have to be said. I think slowly this brand has lost it's touch. Some say they lost their touch a long time ago, but it's only now that I've come to the end of my patience. Repeated brands, rubbish products and bad choices have left Glossybox way behind! I've got a lot of boxes on-the-go that I still love, but Glossybox simply isn't one of them. Nevertheless, lets look at the contents inside the January box. 

MEMEME Eyeliner Pencil In Clay
This is a 'soft, glide on pencil' made from kohl. MeMeMe say that these have great definition and a intense colour. MeMeMe seem to be a brand that have never 'taken off' - they've been around for a long time but nobody seems to know who they are. The pencil retails for £4 - I'll definitely give it a whirl. 

Nicka K NY Colour Luxe Powder Blush
This is brand that I've never heard of, with a product that they say is 'revolutionary'. It's a loose blusher that you apply with the included puff. These do not seem to be available in the UK, but they are available across-the-pond. 

Jelly Pong Pong All Over Glow
Jelly Pong Pong is a brand that I'm SICK of seeing in Glossybox. I never like the products and it just feels like a cheap tacky brand. 'All Over Glow' is an oil-free highlighting liquid, you just apply it to your cheekbones for a 'lit from within look'. 

Kueshi Pure And Clean Face Toner
This is another brand that I've never heard of, it's a spanish brand. It's another product that you can't seem to get hold of in the UK. I know it's great trying these things, but what is the point if you can't buy it here? I cannot find any information about this online (I don't speak Spanish) bit I assume you apply this with cotton wool after cleansing.

Naked Lips Organic Lip Balm
Another new brand to me; Naked Lips! This brand is actually a swedish brand. This is an Organic Lip Balm which is in stick form, you just apply it to dry skin and it hydrates them. You can get this in the UK but it comes over from Sweden. 

What are your thoughts on this Glossybox? Am I just miserable or have Glossybox really lost their touch?
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Monday 26 January 2015

Real Techniques Setting Brush



When it comes to Real Techniques, you'll be hard pushed to find a brush I don't own. The collection of brushes from Real Techniques is just fantastic. They are low cost, look fantastic but also do the job they are supposed to do! 

One brush that I had on my list to add to my collection is the Real Techniques Setting BrushThe Real Techniques Setting Brush is designed to do exactly what it says on the tin; setting makeup. I wanted a brush that fit under the eye and was perfect for setting powder. Of course this dinky brush is perfect, it's the perfect shape! It's lovely and soft too, so it doesn't irritate your eyes.

The one thing I wasn't expecting is that this brush is fabulous as a multi-use tool! It's fantastic for applying highlighter too. It's the perfect shape for the tops of your cheekbones and into your brow bone!

The brush is only £6.99 and it's a super handy addition to your makeup bag, I'm super impressed! You can get it from Look Fantastic here
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Sunday 25 January 2015

My First EVER Perfume Repurchase

This might sound silly to some people, but I've never ever repurchased a perfume. I have a lot of perfumes and I use all different ones on a daily basis. So I've never actually finished a perfume in my life. 

However, the time has come to repurchase Marc Jacobs Dot! I've been saving my last little drop for ages now and I needed to have it in my life properly again. I was walking through duty free last week and the temptation to pick up a brand new bottle was too much. 

"I don't think there is ever a wrong time for a polka dot..." - Marc Jacobs

There is nothing I do not like about this perfume! First up is the polka dot bottle which reminds me of little ladybugs. I think it's such a lovely design and it's always had pride of place on my dressing table. The perfume itself is a blend of red berries, dragon fruit, jasmine, coconut water and orange blossom. With a base of vanilla, driftwood and musk. It's a lovely floral scent which I love!

If you haven't tried this, give it a sniff when you next go through a fragrance counter. It's just wonderful. You can pick up 50ml for just under £50 from Boots (link here).
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Saturday 24 January 2015

Curvaceous Full Swirl by Redken


I've been resisting buying this product for so long. My hairdresser has used Curvaceous Full Swirl by Redken on my locks for the past two years and I've loved it every time I've visited. The main reason I was holding back on this is the price. I've always had amazing products from the high street, so spending £12 on a serum seemed like madness. 

However, just before Christmas I did eventually cave and now I'm never looking back. The Curvaceous Full Swirl by Redken, is a serum mixed into a lightweight cream. It aims to make your hair big and bouncy and it does exactly that. I squirt this into my hands and warm it through, I then scrunch it into my hair. 

Amazingly, it works well in both wet and dry hair and makes my permed curls look incredible! I was in San Diego last week and I only needed to take this one styling product with me which is amazing! I'm used to having two or three products with me for all kinds of eventualities.  The Curvaceous Full Swirl gets rid of all my frizz and locks out humidity, which got tested to the max in sunny San Diego!

It's incredible the difference this stuff has made to my hair! No matter what how clean my hair is, this product performs and creates fresh looking curls every time. I'm a huge fan and if you have curly hair you NEED to try this.

The Curvaceous Full Swirl serum retails for £12 and you can pick it up from Look Fantastic (link here). Let me know if you have any favourite hair products, I'd love to hear all about them! 
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Friday 23 January 2015

Recently Unpacked



If you follow my blog, you'll know that I've just moved house. I've had a lot of products in storage for around 18 months. So with moving came unpacking a whole load of beauty goodies that I had completely forgotten about. It's like going on a huge beauty spree, without spending any cash! 

So what is on my recently unpacked list? First up are some MAC goodies, I can't believe I ever packed these away?! I have my MAC quad in 'Showstopper' which was a limited edition piece in 2013. It's full of neutral shades including a dark brown and a silver glitter. I also uncovered my MAC duo set which includes Naked Lunch and Wedge, both amazing hyped shades. My favourite thing I've uncovered though is the MAC Studio Finish Concealer! This is such a good concealer, it covers blemishes with ease and it blends out beautifully.

Next up is the Kylie Minogue perfume in 'Darling'. Chris bought me a bottle of this when we first met six years ago and this scent is full of memories. Spritzing this is full of amazing memories! 

Last on my list is the Vineyard Peach Body Shop Shower Gel, this was a limited edition fragrance. I stocked up on this as it was being discontinued and I bought four bottles of the stuff! I forgot how good it was! 

Are there any products you've rediscovered recently?
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Thursday 22 January 2015

Look Fantastic January Beauty Box

I've sung the praises of the Look Fantastic Beauty Box since it's launch last year. I honestly think it's a fantastic (excuse the pun) beauty box and one of the best on the market. All the products in the box are in the luxury market, which is great as a lot of people have a bit of a problem with seeing drugstore brands in beauty boxes. 

In January's beauty box I received five products that are all really great sizes. This month there is a real mixture of products, something for different parts of your beauty routine. First up is the Nuxe Crème Fraiche Mask, this is a full sized product worth £19.50 (link here)! I've never tried a face mask from Nuxe before, so I'm excited to try this out.

Next in the box is the Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence spray. This is a 60ml spray that is worth £7.50 (link here). I've never tried a protection spray that wasn't cheap from the drugstore, so I'm looking forward to seeing the difference. 

I'm a huge fan of Molton Brown so when I saw the Molton Brown Temple Tree Body Wash in the box I was really happy! This is 100ml which is worth £6 (link here), it's going to be great for travelling! 

Another haircare item is in the box and it's the 3" More Inches Pre-Wash Treatment. This is a new brand to me, I've never heard of it before. The tube is 100ml which is worth £5.80 (link here). The treatment aims to slow down the ageing process of your hair and protects it from all kinds of problems!

The last item in the box is the MyVitamins Vitamin C Effervescent Tablets. I haven't heard of these before but they sound like they are great for this time of year. They boost your immune system which can only be a good thing. 
It's great to open a box and not see a lot of rubbish in these boxes, I recently unsubscribed to Glossybox as I was fed up with the same stuff time and time again. The Look Fantastic beauty box only costs £15 and it comes with free delivery. You can subscribe to the box here.
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Wednesday 21 January 2015

Keeping Time



Today I had to share this gorgeous watch! I've wanted a new watch for quite a while, as all my old watches are quite big or traditional. I wanted something a little more swish, particularly with a white colour scheme. 

So when I spotted this online at M&S, I had to have it. The watch is everything I had hoped for and definitely prettier than it looked online! It's a simple white strap with gorgeous rose gold details. The watch is analogue style and has vintage black style numbers all around the edge. I think this watch is going to be a great addition to my outfits, especially as Spring approaches. 

The watch retails for £29.50 and you can pick it up from the M&S website here.


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Tuesday 20 January 2015

Pop Art by Rimmel London



I first saw this top coat in the adverts for Made In Chelsea (yes, it's a guilty pleasure). It's the Rimmel London Pop Art top coat which was made in collaboration with Rita Ora. 

The Pop Art top coat is a clear nail polish which has lots of little hexagon flecks inside. The flecks are blue, yellow, orange, pink and black. It takes a couple of coats to get a finish like the swatch below. If you want a fuller finish you would need a good few coats! 

It applies really nicely and dries quickly too! If you're bored of glitter already and you want something a bit different, this might just be what you need!

You can pick up the Rimmel London Pop Art Top Coat from Superdrug for £3.99 (here).



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Monday 19 January 2015

Mini Travel Essentials



When I travel for business I want to travel as light as possible. Although I'm also a fan of decanting products into smaller tubes, sometimes you just don't want the fuss. I only ever travel for 3-4 days at a time, so I tend to keep a stash of mini travel essentials ready for when I go. These little tubes and bottles can often last me 2-3 trips away, so it's worth just having them there ready to go. I recently got to the end of all my stash, so I took to Superdrug for a bit of a mini haul. Here are some of my mini travel essentials:

Tresemme Ultimate Hold Hairspray
There is nothing worse than taking a huge can of hairspray in your bag when you're only going to need a tiny bit of it. I always pick up this hairspray from Tresemme, it has a strong hold and can hold my fringe and curls in a whole range of weather conditions.

Frizz Ease Shampoo and Conditioner 
I've mentioned before that this is my shampoo and conditioner of choice and I like having these in miniature form. You obviously can't get every kind of shampoo in mini form and these can actually be quite hard to get hold of. 

Original Source Shower Gel
I'm a huge fan of fruity shower gels, so these mini Original Source bottles are fabulous for travelling and they are super cheap too! I love the Lemon and Tea Tree scent, it's a good way to wake up when you're struggling with jet lag!

Carex Refreshing Wipes
A small pack of wipes is one of the things I always try to take with me. I don't use them to clean my face but these are handy for all kinds of emergencies.

Batiste Dry Shampoo
Batiste isn't my favourite brand of dry shampoo but it's one of the only ones you can get in a small can. A little can like this can last me ages and it's handy to freshen up your hair if you're going out for dinner.

Halo Eye Makeup Remover Pads
Although I take all my face cleansers with me when I travel, I find taking dedicated eye products a bit of a faff. I chuck these in my hand luggage as they are good for removing makeup on the plane. They are also fab for removing stubborn mascara!

Do you decant everything when you travel or do you buy mini products?
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Sunday 18 January 2015

Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara

When I look for mascara, I want volume and lots of it! If there is one thing I love; it's big lashes! I like big lashes but without wearing fake eyelashes. The Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara gives just that! 

The mascara has quite a big brush which has bristles all the way around. It allows you to wrap around every single lash, I mean every lash! The bristles are straight which Bourjois say gives a clump free finish. I have to agree, the formula is completely clump free and it's a dream to work with. The formula lasts all day too, you don't end up with flakes on your cheeks! The colour is jet black too, which for me is a huge plus! I don't like when mascara looks grey and dull! 

Although it's a bit of a pain to photograph, the packaging is gorgeous! It's a gorgeous metallic tube with coral detailing. The brush is really easy to hold too, it feels really comfortable in your hands and I never end up with mascara all over the place!

"GIVE LASHES INSTANT 360°VOLUME" In literally one coat you can get a really impressive finish. You just zigzag the brush over your lashes and you have instant volume. I'm so impressed with this mascara, I think it's a great product and I'll definitely be repurchasing it!

You can pick this up in Boots for £9.99 - link here.


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Saturday 17 January 2015

Sally Hansen Mega Shine

When all my top coats died I found myself running to Boots to find something new so I could paint my nails. My local Boots has a pretty limited nail selection, so I found myself picking up 'Mega Shine by Sally Hansen'. When buying a top coat I look two things; it needs to be fast drying and it needs to have a high shine finish.

The packaging of the topcoat is really simple and pretty. As you can see it's a metallic mirrored bottle with a metallic blue lid. The only real problem is you cannot see into the polish so I'll have no idea when it is running out!

Mega Shine is formulated with an 'exclusive micro-diamond formula' which has light-reflective diamond particles. It makes it a really shiny finish which I love! Sally Hansen say that the formula is designed to 'fuse' your coats together. 

The best bit about the top coat for me is the drying time. The instructions tell you to put a single thick coat on the top of your manicure and it dries your manicure very quickly! I haven't actually timed it but they claim that it takes 60 seconds. The worst thing for me is that the top coat can sometimes suffer from push back, leaving the tips of your polish bare!

The good news is t's only £6.39 (link here) which makes it pretty affordable!
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Friday 16 January 2015

Instant Radiance

No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter, £9.95

The No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter was hot on my wish list for a long time. Even though were heading into winter I still love highlighter and I use it every day! No7 makeup seems to know no bounds. They've gone from a boring high street brand to a company pushing the boundaries and creating amazing products. This highlighter is certainly no exception!

The highlighter comes in a stick form which you twist up. It's packaged in a cute beige tube with stunning silver details on the twist and the lid. For some reason I expected this to feel wet on the skin but it's actually quite dry. It's a formula that I can't quite describe. It's not wet like a liquid, it's not like a powder and it's not like a cream, but it's lovely. You simply sweep it onto the skin, it doesn't drag on your skin, it just applies effortlessly. You then just blend it in with your fingertips and you're good to go! I've applied this to my cheekbones, my nose and my eyebrow bone and it works well in each place.

This adds such a beautiful subtle glow to your cheeks which is perfect for this time of year. A little seems to go a long way, so I'm sure this will be around in my collection for a long time yet! 

Have you tried anything by No7 recently?
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Thursday 15 January 2015

Handy Nail Tools



When it comes to nails I have quite the selection, I've tried a lot of products; some good, some bad. I found a lot of great nail products in 2014, so I thought I'd share them with you. 

Stylfile
The Stylfile has been a firm favourite of mine for ages! I love the innovative curved design and the quality is really good. I have the full sized versions, but I also have a selection of miniature ones that I keep in my desk, my handbag and at work. You can pick up the whole range at Amazon - link here.

Bourjois Nail Polish Remover for Hands & Feet
I loved the original Bourjois nail polish remover, so when Bourjois bought out the version applicable for toes, I picked it up straight away. This is really handy for traveling and it's perfect at removing polish, leaving no residue. I picked mine up from ASOS - link here.

Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
2014 was the year I discovered cuticle removers, the Sally Hansen one is fantastic. You just apply this to your cuticles, leave for 20 seconds and then remove with a cuticle stick (link here). Speaking of cuticle sticks; I use the little wooden ones which I pick up from Superdrug! You get 10 for 99p, which is a bargain - link here.

Essie Grow Stronger Base Coat
My base coat of choice is Essie's Grow Stronger Base Coat. It applies with ease, it dries quickly and I've never had stained nails! It's available from Superdrug - link here.

Nail Dotting Tools
I do like polka dots and unfortunately my nail art skills are not very advanced. These nail dotting tools from eBay cost 99p but they make polka dot nails very simple - link here!

Sally Hansen Mega Shine Top Coat
This top coat is formulated with an 'exclusive micro-diamond formula' - it makes it a really shiny finish which I love! Sally Hansen say that the formula is designed to 'fuse' your coats together. The only downside of this is that this top coat is bad for pushing back, so if you use your nails a lot then you end up with damaged polish. You can pick this up here.

Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
This is definitely the holy grail of top coats for me! I recently repurchased this and it's blown me away all over again. There is a reason that this is raved about so much - it's just unbeatable in the nail world! You can buy it here.

OPI Avoplex
This is a fabulous cuticle oil which is perfect for when your cuticles need a little TLC. I apply this on my cuticles and let it soak in on top of a fresh manicure. Leaves your cuticles hydrated and unlikely to split. You can buy this in full size or just in a travel sized version like I've got! You can buy this from Debenhams - link here.

Do you have any favourite nail tools? Have you tried any of these products?
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Wednesday 14 January 2015

Emirates Air Line | Lifestyle & Travel

If you read my blog regularly you've probably heard me mention the Emirates Air Line before. A couple of weeks ago I had some time to kill in London so I figured I'd check out a couple of tourist attractions. With a bit of Googling I found Emirates Air Line a new addition to North Greenwhich. The Emirates Air Line is a ten-minute gondola lift which travels across the River Thames. It reaches 90 metres in the air and allows you to travel between the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks. Whilst on the Emirates Air Line you can see great sights from around London, including The O2 and Canary Wharf.

I actually went on the Emirates Air Line on my own and the kind staff offered to take my picture and gave me a car all to myself. It's very weird being above the river in a little cable car and I can imagine that it can be a bit scary if you're afraid of heights. However the views when you're in the air are incredible and you can take some fantastic pictures.

It's operated by Transport For London, which means travelling on the Emirates Air Line is really cheap. It can cost as little £3.30 for an adult to ride on the Emirates Air Line, but for £10 you can get a round trip with includes a guide book and entrance to the Emirates Aviation Experience.









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Tuesday 13 January 2015

The Addictive Perfume

Lolita Lempicka Minuit Sonne, £68 (here)

I obviously had a bit of luck recently as I was lucky enough to win a bottle of the Lolita Lempicka Minuit Sonne perfume. You can probably see from the picture that it comes in a rather beautiful bottle. It's apple shaped, with purple glass, decorated with silver glitter. I don't mind admitting that this bottle confused me a lot when it first arrived. There is no obvious sprayer, but it turns out that you push the stalk of the apple and it comes out of a little hole on the stalk. Which is super cute!

The Lolita Lempicka Minuit Sonne perfume is limited edition and offers something a little bit different.  Now I'm a bit rubbish at describing scents, so this one has me stumped! Lolita Lempicka say that the fragrance aims to capture the 'wonder and sensuality of a starlit night'. 

They say the fragrance is addictive and I actually agree. This is the only perfume I've ever had that I've kept on spraying. Whenever I nip into my bedroom to get something I cannot resist spritzing this all over me. Officially the perfume is woody oriental; featuring liquorice flower, sensual iris and jasmine, Myrrh, Vanilla Infusion and Benzoin. They are unusual ingredients and it's just something I cannot explain. It's simply beautiful, if you get the chance to try this, give it a go, you won't regret it!
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Monday 12 January 2015

2015 - A Few Thoughts


I think 2015 is the first year when I have no idea what is in store. Every other year we’ve had plans or set goals; graduating, buying our first home, getting a new job. However, this year is a little different. Who knows what the year has in store but I’m excited to find out. I don’t really do resolutions, especially this year, but I do have a few key thoughts that I’m taking with me through this year.

Worry Less & Live In The Moment
There was a period in my live where I worried too much. You don’t realise it at the time, but it really takes over your life. Thinking too much is a bad thing.
2013 was a particularly bad year for this, but in 2014 I conquered a lot of worrying demons. I want to carry on ignoring the ‘what ifs’ and live in the moment.

Take Every Opportunity
I’m quite a nervous person! There have been times in the past where I’ve not done things because I was nervous or scared. It’s time to just try everything and do what my heart desires. I started this in 2014, I went to meet Vivianna Does Makeup and attended two blogger events. Both are things I would have actively avoided in the past because of fear. I try to tell myself that fear is only in my head, you can do anything if you really put your mind to it!

Be Healthy
I’m quite lazy when it comes to losing weight and staying healthy. This goes far beyond ‘looking good’ and into the realms of actually looking after myself properly. Eating well and exercising 
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Sunday 11 January 2015

First Impressions: GLAMGLOW


Now this product needs now introduction. GLAMGLOW has been voted the 'Best Face Mask' in over 40 countries worldwide and definitely leaves a path of hype wherever it goes. I cannot believe how long I've had this in a box in my bedroom and ignored it. I've only used this mask once so far, so I thought I'd share my first impressions of it.

I had a couple of important functions coming up, so I figured it would be a great time to try it out. You cannot say that the packaging is pretty nice, I know this is only a sample size, but it's black and silver style is right up my alley.

So, I cleansed my skin and then I shook the bottle and squeezed some of the mask out on my hand. The first thing I noticed were some 'lumps' which I learnt are actually green tea leaves. I've definitely never seen these in press photographs or anything, but it's good to know that they are supposed to be there! So applied this all over my skin in a thin layer as the descriptions say. 

Now this is of course called the 'YOUTHMUD Tinglexfoliate Treatment' and tingle it does. I love a mask that tingles but this was a LOT even for me. So if you hate the tingle feeling you should avoid this mask. However, being a weirdo, I love the tingle feeling, to me it just makes me feel like the mask is working! 

You leave the mask or for 10 minutes, or you can leave it on for as much as 20 minutes. I had a lot of time, so I went for 20 minutes. Then the instructions say that you should remove the mask in circle motions. I always remove masks with the Ole Henriksen Complexion Sponges (here), they are only £3 for two and they are fab! The mask really came off with ease which was a welcome surprise when you're used to scrubbing away for hours!

I have to say that I really did see a difference in my skin instantly! My skin seemed to have an inner glow and it was so bright and dewy. Not to mention that my skin was super soft, I was amazed at how smooth it really was! I did not have any purging or weird reactions to the product which is always positive.

I can see why people LOVE this product, it's really fantastic! The bad news is the price, at £50 for 50ml, this is pricey stuff! You can pick it up here from Look Fantastic.

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Saturday 10 January 2015

Blogging Essentials: Anker Portable Charger

If you're anything like me, I like to be in constant contact with my blog, twitter and instagram. Not to mention that, when you have no sense of direction, being in London without a phone with Google maps is very dangerous!

I've wanted to get my hands on a portable charger for quite some while. Recently I decided to just buy one and save myself from having a dead phone when I'm on-the-go. I had no idea what to go for, so I just had a Google and ended up buying the Anker Portable Battery (£19.99 here). Simply because it had the best reviews on Amazon and a few other bloggers use it too!

You just charge this up, stick it in your handbag and then you have power wherever you might be! It has two USB sockets so you can charge anything that connects with a USB. I've tried it with both my phone and my iPad and it works a treat! This has been a fabulous addition to my handbag. I don't have to worry about my phone dying anymore, so I can use it for tweeting or directions so I don't get lost! Perfect for a worrier like me! 
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Friday 9 January 2015

My Little Box December


I've had my eye on 'My Little Box' for ages, it's such a cute company and every box looks lovely! Seeing as it was Christmas I decided I would treat myself to the December box!

The December box was made in collaboration with Fleur De Force and I think it looks amazing. Every little item has been made with detail in mind, from the cute illustration on the lid, to the washi tape inside. It's safe to say I'm impressed! You get a whole range of beautiful items; the string and tape has joined my craft selection. There's a lipstick, L'occitane moisturiser and Cowshed lotion. There's even a gorgeous black, glittery headband! Really something for everyone!

I know this post is pretty late, so I didn't want to include a FULL 'content reveal' but I wanted to mention how special I think it is! My Little Box retails for £11 plus P&P and you get a box every month. Head to www.mylittlebox.co.uk to subscribe.
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Thursday 8 January 2015

Colab Dry Shampoo

I've spoken about the Colab Dry Shampoo quite a lot so far. So I thought it was about time that I gave it it's very own feature. 

Colab Dry Shampoo was launched last year and it took the beauty world by storm. It's made by Ruth Crilly, AKA, the totally loveable 'A Model Recommends'. I've watched Ruth Crilly for a long time and I never imagined her making her own haircare range, but thank God she did! Not only is the packaging gorgeous and the fragrances smell amazing, but this is totally innovative. 

It's a completely residue-free formula! Which not only makes it lightweight but it means you don't get a dry chalky finish in your hair. I've actually managed third/forth day hair with this stuff, which is completely unheard of!

Colab Dry Shampoo is available from Superdrug (link here) and Feel Unique (link here).
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Wednesday 7 January 2015

Gifts & Pieces

I've been a huge fan of Gifts & Pieces for quite a while, so when I won a £20 gift card - it's safe to say I was a little over excited! I ran straight to the website and placed an order full of gorgeous items. I moved last month and these already have pride of place around the house. I thought I'd share items with you, who can resist gorgeous homewares?

Miniature House Lantern - link here
This is favourite item from my order and it's on the window ledge in my bedroom. It's a gorgeous lantern and I've wanted it for ages. It's made from metal white and it has some really cute details. It's really well made and it looks lovely!

Light Up Wooden Frame - link here
This is a really lovely frame with one of my favourite quotes on it. The quote is cut out and there is an LED light inside which makes the message glow. I haven't hung this on the wall yet, but it's currently on the side in my office. The style of this is a little shabby, it's not got a perfect finish, which is right up my street!

Cream Love House Tea Light Holder - link here
This is by far the piece that I've had the most complements on! It's sitting by the side of our television and it looks so cute. You just pop in a tealight and it looks great when your all cosy on the sofa. This one is cream in colour and It's quite thick porcelain, it's not flimsy or poor quality. The best thing is that it's only £3.50?! I can't believe how good the quality is for the price!

You can shop the website here and follow them on Twitter here. What's your favourite item?
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Tuesday 6 January 2015

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover, £5.99

When Bourjois released the Magic Nail Polish Remover for both hands and feet I was pretty impressed! The idea behind it is very simple but it's amazing they never thought of it before. The Magic Nail Polish Remover has the same sponge inside that the original had. You put your finger into the sponge, twist it around and your nails come out clean. But this new version also has a sponge in the lid. This allows you to remove nail polish from your toes or any stubborn bits on your nails. This new version is just as good as the original, but it is in fact better! I much prefer the scent on this new version, it's much less sickly!

It's a clever idea and it's well worth investing in! I recently took this on holiday and it saved travelling with a big bottle of nail polish remover and cotton wool!
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Monday 5 January 2015

2014 Make Up Favourites

Today I thought I'd talk 2014 favourites! This post could literally go on forever, so this year I'm just talking makeup. So what makeup blew me away in 2014? Keep reading and find out! 


First up I'm talking bases and again in 2014 I was really impressed with the high street brands. Rimmel completely rocked my foundation socks! 'Match Perfection' was repurchased at least 3 times this year and it's great at supplying a perfect natural base (link here). Later in the year 'Lasting Finish' was released, I've spoken about this a lot! It's got the natural finish of 'Match Perfection' but with a high coverage finish (link here). Perfect for the days when you need a flawless finish all day long! 'Healthy Mix' by Bourjois was my concealor of choice this year, it gives good coverage and it covers dark circles with ease (link here)!



There has been one choice of powder for me this year and it's the Vichy Dermablend Powder. I apply this over my finished makeup with a fan brush to set my makeup. Let me tell you that this stuff does not let your makeup budge. 10pm and my makeup is still perfect and there is not a hint of oil in sight (link here)!

My most used blusher of the year is Japonesque's Velvet Touch Blush in 01. I bought this at the start of the year after watching FleurDeForce's 2013 favourites and it completely blew me away. It has the most beautiful packaging, it's so pigmented and the colour is gorgeous (link here). 

One product you should totally believe the hype on is the Body Shop Honey Bronzer. I resisted this for so long, but when I caved I was gutted I waited. This stuff is perfect for my skintone, it's really easy to work with and it's the first bronzer I've ever hit pan on (link here)!


Palette of the year goes to the Too Faced Natural Eyes eyeshadow palette. I bought this on a whim and it really impressed me. The eyeshadows are amazing quality; they are buttery, blendable and pigmented. It's by far my most used palette of the year and it's well worth the money (link here).




I've used a lot of mascara this year but the Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Endless mascara was one of my favourites. This gives you the most amazing lashes, the brush is lovely and it's only £7.99. Win, win! (link here)

My brow product of the year goes to the Model Co More Brows Gel. There were a lot of brow gels this year but this was by far my favourite. The best thing was I actually received this in a Glossybox?! The colour is a perfect match for my brows and it gives my brows definition in a single stroke (link here)!



Highlighter of the year goes to Mary-Lou Manizer from The Balm. This is the most pigmented highlighter I've ever used! You just need to touch your brush into the powder and you have enough for your full face. It's a gorgeous shade and it's so lovely to use (link here)!

I could never pick a single nail polish as my 2014 favourite, so this year I picked a brand! The award this year goes to Essie! This year Essie has been amazing, I have bought so many polishes and the shades are gorgeous. (link here)

So that's it, my 2014 makeup favourites! I've really enjoyed trying products this year and I have found some absolute gems! The high street has taken the world by storm and so many brands have upped their game. If you have a post or video of your 2014 favourites, leave me a link below, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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