Do you have anything from Anthropologie on your Christmas list this year?
Thursday 4 December 2014
5 CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM... ANTHROPOLOGIE
Hey guys! It feels like such a long time since I've been able to sit down and write a blog post.. maybe because it's been nearly 2 months since my last one! I neglect my blog far more than I'd like to, but juggling all of the college work I have, social commitments & my job is obviously more difficult than it sounds! Anyway, for my first post back blogging I thought I'd do something Christmas themed. I don't know about you, but I absolutely love buying Christmas presents (most of the time anyway... it's rather stressful trying to find a perfect gift at 6pm on Christmas Eve; don't even try to deny that you've been in that situation, we've all been there!) as well as giving them. I think it's rooted in the fact that I simply love shopping; I will be the first to admit my shopping habits are verging on addiction at times, but it's a whole lot better when I have a valid reason to be spending the money. I was browsing Anthropologie earlier and there were so many things I loved, so I thought I'd put together a quick post of my top 5 Christmas gifts as found on their website... everything is below £20 so that you could buy them for stocking fillers or Secret Santa gifts if you don't mind spending a little more on a gift that is lovely and that the recipient is sure to really appreciate.
Monday 6 October 2014
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - MILANI BAKED BLUSH IN 'BERRY AMORE'
As I may have mentioned in a recent post, I admit me and blusher have never been the best of friends. I have always loved how it looks on other people but haven't really got the hang of applying it myself without looking like I have had some sort of allergic reaction on my cheeks. That aside, I decided that it was finally time that I mastered it. I ordered 5 blushers from the website and my favourite out of them was definitely the Milani Baked Blush in the shade Berry Amore. I discovered this product whilst watching one of MissGlamorazzi's videos on YouTube over Christmas and when I spotted it online for just under £5, I thought, why not?
This shade is a funny one, as in the pan it looks like a mauve-y berry shade with flecks of gold and I feel like this is what it looks like on my skin as well when I just apply it lightly. However, when I applied it as a swatch on the back of my hand it was more of a light brick red; either way, it is a gorgeous colour! I must admit that it looks a little scary whilst in the pan, however is nowhere near as daunting when you put it on your skin... a little goes a long way! The hints of gold give your cheeks a lovely glow and I just think this blush is perfect for the current and upcoming Autumn and Winter months. Also, the formula is just perfect in my opinion. The Milani Baked Blush is very easy to apply and the colour is very pigmented. Since I have started wearing blusher on a more regular basis, this has been my go to product.
Friday 4 July 2014
JUNE BEAUTY FAVOURITES
Hey guys! I have finally gotten round to doing another monthly favourites post (I apologise about the fact my last one was in like, January...) and there have been plenty of products that I have been loving for the past month or so that I am very excited to talk about.
There were two (technically three I suppose) hair products that I loved in the month of June and found myself reaching for on a daily basis. First up is the Toni & Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray, which had been raved about by countless bloggers yet I still hadn't tried it. I finally decided to pick up the smaller, travel-sized version and I have really liked using it. My favourite thing to do with it is to curl my hair normally using my straighteners then spray it a few times and scrunch my hair up a bit to create lovely, beachy looking loose curls. It is a little on the pricier side at about £7.19 for the full size version but you'll be pleased to know that it's currently on offer at Boots for £4.79.
The second (and third) is the Herbal Essences Moroccan My Shine Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner. I had previously been using a combo from Aussie and whilst there was nothing wrong with them, I felt like my hair didn't look and feel as good as it could do. The two from Herbal Essences are extremely affordable (I picked up both for just £4 in Asda!) and they contain Moroccan Argan Oil- they promise to 'revive natural shine, softness and strength against styling damage' and I feel like they have done all three whilst I have used them! My hair definitely feels softer and looks much shinier and healthier.
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Now onto skincare. As for body products, I haven't really bought any recently because I have been using up and trying all of the products that I already own (which is A LOT). One product I have found myself using very often is the Korres Coconut Milk Body Milk (I really hate the fact that the word 'milk' is in the name of this twice... don't ask). I picked it up for the bargain price of £3.99 in my local TK Maxx and am so glad that I did! It smells absolutely incredible if you love creamy, coconut scents, is very moisturising and light on the skin and contains 92% natural content, i.e. it doesn't contain silicones, parabens etc. My second body/skin care pick for this month has got to be the Vineyard Peach Cream Body Scrub from The Body Shop. Holy guac, this stuff smells amazing... but my favourite thing about this scrub is the texture- unlike my other scrubs, it is in a cream form, which means that whilst it isn't as abrasive, it is much more moisturising, soothing to the skin and still gets the job done.
I have had problematic, oily skin all throughout my teen years and it is FINALLY beginning to start clearing up. Over the years I've tried many products from different brands including Neutrogena, Benefit and Liz Earle and haven't really found many products that I would consider buying again, not even from the higher end brands. My main concern was the small, hardly noticeable but nevertheless frustrating bumps/spots on my forehead. However, after about two months of using the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + rather religiously, they are finally nearly gone! I know that this is a much loved and coveted product which is why I bought it, but was I actually expecting results quite as good as this? Nope, definitely not! Secondly, I have loved using the St. Ives Naturally Clear Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub, as it leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft. I also feel like my skin is certainly a lot smoother and cleaner in appearance, which makes it a lot easier for me to apply make-up on top and makes me feel a lot more confident when I choose not to wear make-up.
To be perfectly honest, I feel as if during June I had more no make-up days than anything else and the only time I wore a full face of make-up really was at weekends- this is definitely a step in the right direction as I used to be terrified of leaving the house minus my make-up! A product I have loved using is the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil- I own the shades Yogurt [ a light rosy toned nude ] and Iced Mocha [ a more bronze toned shade ]. They are extremely handy and the formula is very creamy and easy to work with. They look nice separately however personally I love blending them together for a very effortless yet effective eye look. Plus, they are so affordable - I picked them up at Beauty Joint for $5 each which is equivalent to £2.91. My second make-up related favourite is the Honey Bronzing Powder from The Body Shop. I own the shade 02 Fair Matte - I love this as it is long lasting and whilst still looking light and natural, it gives your face that bronze, just-been-on-holiday look that we all lust after.
Technically, I purchased my next favourite around Christmas, but I have only got round to using it recently. I have loved using Essie's 'Beyond Cosy' over a white polish to create a gorgeous accent to any nail polish look. At the moment, I am wearing it on my ring fingers and the rest of my nails are painted in a lovely peachy shade. My last beauty favourite from June is the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in the shade Audacious. I have never really been one for orange lips but I decided to try it out and am so glad I did since this has probably been my most worn lip colour recently! The formula of these things is absolutely incredible and if you haven't picked one of these up yet then have you been living under a rock for the past few months? I love that they can instantly give a pop of summery, vibrant colour to an otherwise more natural look.
There were two (technically three I suppose) hair products that I loved in the month of June and found myself reaching for on a daily basis. First up is the Toni & Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray, which had been raved about by countless bloggers yet I still hadn't tried it. I finally decided to pick up the smaller, travel-sized version and I have really liked using it. My favourite thing to do with it is to curl my hair normally using my straighteners then spray it a few times and scrunch my hair up a bit to create lovely, beachy looking loose curls. It is a little on the pricier side at about £7.19 for the full size version but you'll be pleased to know that it's currently on offer at Boots for £4.79.
The Herbal Essences Moroccan My Shine Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner.
The second (and third) is the Herbal Essences Moroccan My Shine Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner. I had previously been using a combo from Aussie and whilst there was nothing wrong with them, I felt like my hair didn't look and feel as good as it could do. The two from Herbal Essences are extremely affordable (I picked up both for just £4 in Asda!) and they contain Moroccan Argan Oil- they promise to 'revive natural shine, softness and strength against styling damage' and I feel like they have done all three whilst I have used them! My hair definitely feels softer and looks much shinier and healthier.
The Korres Coconut Milk Body Milk and The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Cream Body Scrub.
Now onto skincare. As for body products, I haven't really bought any recently because I have been using up and trying all of the products that I already own (which is A LOT). One product I have found myself using very often is the Korres Coconut Milk Body Milk (I really hate the fact that the word 'milk' is in the name of this twice... don't ask). I picked it up for the bargain price of £3.99 in my local TK Maxx and am so glad that I did! It smells absolutely incredible if you love creamy, coconut scents, is very moisturising and light on the skin and contains 92% natural content, i.e. it doesn't contain silicones, parabens etc. My second body/skin care pick for this month has got to be the Vineyard Peach Cream Body Scrub from The Body Shop. Holy guac, this stuff smells amazing... but my favourite thing about this scrub is the texture- unlike my other scrubs, it is in a cream form, which means that whilst it isn't as abrasive, it is much more moisturising, soothing to the skin and still gets the job done.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo +, Toni & Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray and the St. Ives Naturally Clear Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub.
I have had problematic, oily skin all throughout my teen years and it is FINALLY beginning to start clearing up. Over the years I've tried many products from different brands including Neutrogena, Benefit and Liz Earle and haven't really found many products that I would consider buying again, not even from the higher end brands. My main concern was the small, hardly noticeable but nevertheless frustrating bumps/spots on my forehead. However, after about two months of using the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + rather religiously, they are finally nearly gone! I know that this is a much loved and coveted product which is why I bought it, but was I actually expecting results quite as good as this? Nope, definitely not! Secondly, I have loved using the St. Ives Naturally Clear Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub, as it leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft. I also feel like my skin is certainly a lot smoother and cleaner in appearance, which makes it a lot easier for me to apply make-up on top and makes me feel a lot more confident when I choose not to wear make-up.
To be perfectly honest, I feel as if during June I had more no make-up days than anything else and the only time I wore a full face of make-up really was at weekends- this is definitely a step in the right direction as I used to be terrified of leaving the house minus my make-up! A product I have loved using is the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil- I own the shades Yogurt [ a light rosy toned nude ] and Iced Mocha [ a more bronze toned shade ]. They are extremely handy and the formula is very creamy and easy to work with. They look nice separately however personally I love blending them together for a very effortless yet effective eye look. Plus, they are so affordable - I picked them up at Beauty Joint for $5 each which is equivalent to £2.91. My second make-up related favourite is the Honey Bronzing Powder from The Body Shop. I own the shade 02 Fair Matte - I love this as it is long lasting and whilst still looking light and natural, it gives your face that bronze, just-been-on-holiday look that we all lust after.
Technically, I purchased my next favourite around Christmas, but I have only got round to using it recently. I have loved using Essie's 'Beyond Cosy' over a white polish to create a gorgeous accent to any nail polish look. At the moment, I am wearing it on my ring fingers and the rest of my nails are painted in a lovely peachy shade. My last beauty favourite from June is the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in the shade Audacious. I have never really been one for orange lips but I decided to try it out and am so glad I did since this has probably been my most worn lip colour recently! The formula of these things is absolutely incredible and if you haven't picked one of these up yet then have you been living under a rock for the past few months? I love that they can instantly give a pop of summery, vibrant colour to an otherwise more natural look.
Wednesday 18 June 2014
NAIL OF THE DAY (NOTD): LEIGHTON DENNY'S PLUSH PINK
My NOTD ft. my rather lovely new bargain (£4!!!) cushion from Tesco.
Hey guys! Quick post for you all today showing you what my nails look like at the moment. They're in fairly good condition and shape- I've been using my Models Own 4 Way Nail Buffer regularly to file, buff and smooth my nails out and I've been loving it! Today, whilst sat in the garden I decided to apply a newbie polish from my collection called Plush Pink by Leighton Denny. I actually got it free with the July Harper's Bazaar Issue, which contains one of 6 Leighton Denny polishes in different colours, each worth £11- this is a fantastic deal in my eyes considering that this shade is actually part of the main collection! It was opaque and glossy after one coat, but I put on two coats hoping that it will last a little while longer. This particular colour is a beautiful, true hot pink that will be perfect for the summer. The only problem I had with this polish was that the brush picked up far too much polish and because the formula is quite thick and gloopy, it could get a little messy at times. Otherwise, I love this!
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Leighton Denny's 'Plush Pink' and the July issue of Harper's Bazaar
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The shades available (I'm sorry, this is quite possibly the worst photo I have ever taken...)
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Please note- it took me about 1 hour to finally be able to paint my nails because this little gal was playing around in my garden. Never ever seen her before but she was a lovely little thing and sat happily with me for a bit whilst I flicked through my magazine. Found it funny because (shock horror) I've never really been much of a cat person; but this one I loved and it seemed the feeling was mutual!!
Monday 16 June 2014
MY GO TO 3-STEP LIP COMBO
Hey guys! I wasn't sure what to write for today's post to be honest so I decided to show you my go to lip combo. This is a look that works rain or shine, day or night, shopping or partying- the opportunities are literally endless...
1) Firstly, I apply a clear lip balm to moisturise. I have horribly dry, chapped lips therefore this step is crucial for me. At the moment, my favourite is the Nuxe Reve De Miel Honey Lip Balm (which I have recently written a post on and am LOVING at the moment!)
2) The next step is to apply a nude lipstick. Personally, I like my nude lipsticks to be more on the pink side therefore my go to nude at the moment is the Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick in the shade Let's Get Naked. I love these products- they are purse friendly, highly moisturising and stay on your lips basically all day!
3) To finish the look off I apply my favourite lipgloss of all time in the form of the NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in the shade Pirée. I'm pretty sure that this was my first NARS purchase and I just know that the second I run out I'll be off buying a new one. At £19, they are a little on the pricey side however in my opinion they are so worth it! Both the colour and the finish of this gloss are beautiful.
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Swatches of the products used and the finished result! |
Sunday 15 June 2014
WEEKLY LINKS - 09-15 JUNE 2014
Hey guys! I have loved reading the 'Links I Love' feature on one of my favourite blogs, Cupcakes & Cashmere for a long time and thought it would be a good idea to start it myself. Through my internet addiction, I have acquired quite the collection of interesting, uplifting, inspiring and helpful links in my Google Chrome bookmarks list, which I plan to share 10 of every week with you guys. SO, here is take 1; happy reading!
1 - A little something to lift your spirits; I watched the whole video with a beaming smile plastered across my face. 10/10 for effort!
2 - Need something to read?; A handy tool that I for one love using!
3 - The perfect inspiration; Originally watched this probably about a year ago and since then I have watched it over and over, constantly in awe. I wish could write poetry like this *sobs*.
4 - Quick and easy student snack recipes; if you are a student, then you will obviously know pain of having so little time and so little money to your name- here is a HUGE list of snacks that are just perfect if you are on a tight budget and you want to get rid of those ready meals!
5 - Tip of your tongue; whilst this doesn't exactly help when you can't think of the word you want to use at all, but a very useful tool if you know certain letters or even the meaning of a word you can't quite put your finger on.
6 - Beauty Hacks; 26 of the best beauty hacks according to editors at Allure magazine.
7 - Faith Restoring; need your faith in humanity restored? Look no further than this blog.
8 - The Best Ever Brownies; my all time favourite thing to bake. Squares of heavenly, gooey, sweet, yummy, chocolatey goodness.
9 - Song Of The Week; I have been loving Budapest by George Ezra for the past week or so. My life has been so swamped with exams, and this song is so uplifting that I just want to have a dance party every time I hear it.
And finally, 10 - The Loneliest Road In America; God only knows why stuff like this fascinates me so much. If you enjoy reading pointless but endlessly interesting things, then go for it.
Hope you have all had the best week!
1 - A little something to lift your spirits; I watched the whole video with a beaming smile plastered across my face. 10/10 for effort!
2 - Need something to read?; A handy tool that I for one love using!
3 - The perfect inspiration; Originally watched this probably about a year ago and since then I have watched it over and over, constantly in awe. I wish could write poetry like this *sobs*.
4 - Quick and easy student snack recipes; if you are a student, then you will obviously know pain of having so little time and so little money to your name- here is a HUGE list of snacks that are just perfect if you are on a tight budget and you want to get rid of those ready meals!
5 - Tip of your tongue; whilst this doesn't exactly help when you can't think of the word you want to use at all, but a very useful tool if you know certain letters or even the meaning of a word you can't quite put your finger on.
6 - Beauty Hacks; 26 of the best beauty hacks according to editors at Allure magazine.
7 - Faith Restoring; need your faith in humanity restored? Look no further than this blog.
8 - The Best Ever Brownies; my all time favourite thing to bake. Squares of heavenly, gooey, sweet, yummy, chocolatey goodness.
9 - Song Of The Week; I have been loving Budapest by George Ezra for the past week or so. My life has been so swamped with exams, and this song is so uplifting that I just want to have a dance party every time I hear it.
And finally, 10 - The Loneliest Road In America; God only knows why stuff like this fascinates me so much. If you enjoy reading pointless but endlessly interesting things, then go for it.
Hope you have all had the best week!
SUNDAY FUN-DAY!
Hey guys! Despite the fact that it is finally brightening up outside compared to the horrible, stormy weather that us people in the UK have had to deal with over the past few months, I love spending my Sundays pampering myself, blogging and catching up on work from the comfort of my own bed. Personally, I used to hate Sundays- the dreaded day of rushing to finish things that should have been done days ago and the day where all you can think about is returning back to school/work the next day. However, nowadays I like to spend my Sundays treating myself and relaxing. Here are my top 5 ideas for things you can do on a Sunday...
1. BAKE
One of my favourite things to do when I feel like I need to unwind a little is bake up some sweet treats for myself. My favourite recipe at the moment is this Cinnamon Rolls one that I discovered the other day whilst browsing through Cupcakes & Cashmere (which, by the way, is one of my new found favourite blogs)- I tried these out yesterday and they turned out absolutely beautifully. Another all time favourite of mine is Lorraine Pascale's Cookies and Cream Fudge Brownies - personally, instead of the 200g of dark chocolate I prefer to use 100g of dark and 100g of milk to create a less rich flavour. Super, super yummy, trust me!
2. RELAX
Pampering myself is not just something I do on a Sunday, however I feel like it is the perfect time to do so. I love to give myself a full manicure and then apply a face mask- my favourite at the moment is one that I know is also a favourite of other beauty bloggers, which is the Superfacialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Pore Purifying Clay Mask. At just £8.99 it is a bargain and it leaves my skin feeling super soft. Then, I like to just sit back and read my book for about 15 minutes before washing it off with cold water.
3. SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS
Of course, spending time with family is important any day of the week. I often meet up with members of my extended family on a Sunday, having a roast dinner or going out on a day trip. Even if it is simply going on a walk with my parents and siblings, having just a little time to relax with the people you love is an extremely important thing for me.
4. SHOP
I find that whenever I want to just a little bit of shopping, my favourite time to do it is on a Sunday. The town where I live is nowhere near as busy than it is on a Saturday, so whenever I need to pick up a few bits I like to do it then. I always find coming home with a bag of goodies (usually food and beauty related, sorry not sorry) so satisfying!
5. CATCH UP
Whilst the last idea is more suited to days when the weather is miserable and dull, Sundays are PERFECT for catching up on TV shows. My personal favourites at the moment are Orange Is The New Black and Greys Anatomy, but every once in a while I will snuggle up in bed and laugh for hours upon end over the good old F.R.I.E.N.D.S. (which, by the way, I would do ANYTHING to get a new series back on TV).
So, what are you going to spend your Sunday doing? It's Father's Day today in the UK so I'm going to be spending some time with my dad before going to meet up with some friends! Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend, leave a comment below about what you're doing today (I get so interested in what you guys get up to, in the most non-creepy way possible).
1. BAKE
One of my favourite things to do when I feel like I need to unwind a little is bake up some sweet treats for myself. My favourite recipe at the moment is this Cinnamon Rolls one that I discovered the other day whilst browsing through Cupcakes & Cashmere (which, by the way, is one of my new found favourite blogs)- I tried these out yesterday and they turned out absolutely beautifully. Another all time favourite of mine is Lorraine Pascale's Cookies and Cream Fudge Brownies - personally, instead of the 200g of dark chocolate I prefer to use 100g of dark and 100g of milk to create a less rich flavour. Super, super yummy, trust me!
2. RELAX
Pampering myself is not just something I do on a Sunday, however I feel like it is the perfect time to do so. I love to give myself a full manicure and then apply a face mask- my favourite at the moment is one that I know is also a favourite of other beauty bloggers, which is the Superfacialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Pore Purifying Clay Mask. At just £8.99 it is a bargain and it leaves my skin feeling super soft. Then, I like to just sit back and read my book for about 15 minutes before washing it off with cold water.
3. SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS
Of course, spending time with family is important any day of the week. I often meet up with members of my extended family on a Sunday, having a roast dinner or going out on a day trip. Even if it is simply going on a walk with my parents and siblings, having just a little time to relax with the people you love is an extremely important thing for me.
4. SHOP
I find that whenever I want to just a little bit of shopping, my favourite time to do it is on a Sunday. The town where I live is nowhere near as busy than it is on a Saturday, so whenever I need to pick up a few bits I like to do it then. I always find coming home with a bag of goodies (usually food and beauty related, sorry not sorry) so satisfying!
5. CATCH UP
Whilst the last idea is more suited to days when the weather is miserable and dull, Sundays are PERFECT for catching up on TV shows. My personal favourites at the moment are Orange Is The New Black and Greys Anatomy, but every once in a while I will snuggle up in bed and laugh for hours upon end over the good old F.R.I.E.N.D.S. (which, by the way, I would do ANYTHING to get a new series back on TV).
So, what are you going to spend your Sunday doing? It's Father's Day today in the UK so I'm going to be spending some time with my dad before going to meet up with some friends! Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend, leave a comment below about what you're doing today (I get so interested in what you guys get up to, in the most non-creepy way possible).
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