FOTD: A Summer Wedding

FOTD: A Summer Wedding

Tuesday 30 June 2015

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First of all let me apologise for the giant pictures of my face, secondly I know I've been laying the wedding stuff on pretty thick these past two weeks but I thought I'd share this pretty, summer look (that is both ridiculously easy and super long wearing) with you lovelies. 

I started off by prepping the skin and for that I used L'Oreal's Infallible Mattifying Primer (read more about that here) to make my skin nice and smooth and to lock in my make up so it  lasted all day. In a move that was most unlike me I actually got a spray tan for my brother's wedding. Tanning isn't usually my thing, pasty and proud, but I wore an ivory dress to the wedding and when I tried it on sans tan I looked dead. Like actually dead. The corpse like pallor had to go and honestly I really liked having a golden glow for a change, but it did mean that all of my foundations were too light against my newly bronzed skin. 

To get the perfect shade I mixed together 2 pumps of  L'Oreal True Match Foundation in Vanilla Rose with 2 pumps of Revlon Photoready in Nude and it worked really well. It gave me really nice coverage without being cakey but was still quite glowy. To cover any blemishes and redness I used Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Ivory and Seventeen Phwoaaar Paint Under Eye Concealer to brighten up my bags.

When I finished my base I used the contour shade from the Sleek Face Form Pallet in fair to lightly contour my non-existent cheek bones and to add a bit of warmth to my face. I then used MAC blush in Dame, which is my absolutely favourite blusher, it is such a pretty rose pink and gives such a lovely flush of colour LOVE IT! For highlighter I popped some of the Kryolan for Glossy Box Cream Highlighter in Cashmere down the centre of my nose, on the tops of my cheekbones, on my cupids bow, in the inner corners of my eyes and beneath the arches of my brows before filling them in with Anastasia Beverly Hill's Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown. 

For my eyes I used the W7 In The Buff: Lightly Toasted Pallet, a spectacular dupe for the Naked Pallet just fyi, using the shade Happy (a light taupey bronze) all over the lid before blending Magic (a rich purple toned brown) and It's A Dream (an ashy purple & grey toned brown) into the crease and under the lash line. I then tightlined and filled in my waterline with MAC eyeliner in Feline and added lashings of L'Oreal's Miss Manga Mega Volume Waterproof Mascara. I finished the look with a slick of Bourjois' Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong because it is the prettiest, fuschia pink that looks gorgeous and as an added bonus stayed in place all day!

So what do you guys think? Would you wear this to a wedding? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses and pinterest. 

Love love love xxx

Lemon Water Recipe

Lemon Water Recipe

Sunday 28 June 2015

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The last couple of weeks have left me feeling really blergh! Bad food, too much alcohol and not nearly enough fruit or sleep has left me feeling sh*t. I've been bloated and tired and just... blerrrgh! So I've started a bit of a detox and have been drinking lemon water first thing in the morning to flush out all the toxins and I'm feeling so much better for it.

Now before we get started I know it's a bit ridiculous to post a recipe for lemon water, what with it literally being lemon juice and water, but I thought I'd share my - for lack of a better word - recipe and some of the insanely awesome health benefits with you lovely lot.

Drinking lemon water is super, super good for you because it turns out lemons are pretty much the best things ever. Drinking one glass of lemon water a day flushes out toxins, aids digestion, helps to fight infection/diseases, strengthens the immune system, reduces joint pain, prevents eye problems and maintains general eye health and most importantly (in my opinion) fights wrinkles and prevents acne! All that from one glass of the stuff! Lemons are pretty much the Superman of the fruit world - there's a sentence I never thought I'd say! 

If you don't drink lemon water and want to give it a try here's how I make it.

You'll need:

The juice from 1/2 a lemon OR 2 x tablespoons of concentrated lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon honey
Hot & cold water

1. Add lemon juice to a cup or glass. (Side note: if you're using the juice from a lemon microwave the lemon for 30 seconds before cutting it you get way more juice that way!)

2.  Fill glass two thirds of the way with hot water.

3. Add honey.

4. Top up with cold water, stir and drink.

I add honey for sweetness, to cut through the sharp sourness of the lemon but honey also has a laundry list of health benefits so it's all good.

Have you tried lemon water? If not then give this a go and let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses and pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Mattifying Base Review

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Mattifying Base Review

Thursday 25 June 2015

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Hi Guys! I hope everyone's having a lovely week and enjoying the sunshine. Today I'm gonna share my thoughts on L'Oréal Paris's Infallible Mattifying Base with you lovely people.

Now for me primer is one of those products that I'm quite happy to skip, unless I need my make up to last a particularly long time but other than that I don't really use it. However I wore this to my brother's wedding and it kept my make up in place all day without even a hint of shine, we're talking a good 14/15 hours here.

The product itself is a fast absorbing, super light weight gel formula that leaves the skin smooth, matte and evenly textured. It promises all day comfort whilst enhancing foundation and neutralising shine. But does it deliver?

Yes. Yes it does.

I was expecting it to feel quite silicon-y and sticky but that is so not the case. When first applied it feels quite wet, which is really strange for a mattifying product, but it absorbs into the skin ridiculously quickly. It evens out any bumpiness, takes care of shine, leaves the skin velvety smooth and acts as the perfect base for flawless foundation. It's also incredibly gentle on the skin whilst still adding some serious staying power to my make up. It keeps my make up in place for hours without being the least bit drying.

My experience with products that mattify the skin have usually been quite negative. Being quite dry skinned shininess isn't usually a problem for me but at the times when it has been I've really not had great experiences with mattifying formulas. I've found them to be quite harsh; stripping and drying, which is a  pretty serious problem for those of us with sensitive skin, and have left my skin dehydrated and in dire need of some moisture. Normally I avoid mattifying base products like the plague for this very reason. However summer is now upon us and this primer has been fantastic in combating sweat induced shine and really locks in my make up, keeping it in place for hours on end. I've been using it on an almost daily basis and I love it. It's great for those of us with drier skin types who only have occasional shininess but would work really well for oilier skin types.

One of my favourite things about it, other than it's awesome, is the packaging, which is fantastic. It comes in a really handy, see through, squeezy tube with a thin nozzle that dispenses the perfect amount of product. The tube is super handy for travelling but it also shows you how much you've got left - this is one of my biggest bugbears, I HATE it when you can't see when you've run out! - The best thing though is that it gives you detailed descriptions of the product, including the texture, what it does and how to use it, which I think is the best idea ever and should be on all make up. Overall it's amazing! Actually amazing.

I was so impressed with this product and I haven't even mentioned the super low price point yet! Seriously I would expect this kind of performance from a much more expensive, higher end product but this set me back a mere £6.99. So it's a bargain too!

Have you tried L'Oréal's Infallible Mattifying Base? What did you think? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses & pinterest for daily updates.

Love love love xxx

What's In My Handbag: A Summer Wedding

What's In My Handbag: A Summer Wedding

Tuesday 23 June 2015

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Wedding season is upon us and one of the reasons I've not been blogging lately was due to my brother's wedding. So I thought I'd make it up to you guys by sharing my wedding guest essentials with you lovely lot! Now there may have been the slightest chance that I was a little bit... over-prepared shall we say? The words 'No Lauren you can't take a sleeping bag to your brother's wedding!' may have been used when I was getting ready. Still better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it... I think.

First off let's talk about the bag itself. I wore ivory and neon pink to the wedding and was looking for a matching clutch bag for absolutely ages until I spotted this little beauty on ASOS (you can get it here). It's the Lisa Long Frame Clutch in Pink from New Look at ASOS. It's a really pretty, textured, faux leather bag with gold detailing and a chain strap. It went with my outfit perfectly and was big enough to hold everything I wanted to take with me without looking bulky. I love it.

So what was in this beautiful clutch bag I hear you ask?  Well let's start with the basics.

ID, Money & Keys

Now I know these all seem really obvious but when it comes to weddings normal rules don't seem to apply. Even if it's an open bar money is essential at a wedding, even if it's just for the taxi home at the end of the night. ID again essential, if like me you are cursed/blessed with a baby face then you need it! I get ID'd for absolutely everything (including a dvd of Madagascar for my nephew. True story) and the last thing you want is to be caught short without your ID when everyone else is knocking back the champers. Last but not least keys, yes they may jingle at inappropriate times during the ceremony but that is a risk you're gonna have to take. I mean how else are you supposed to get into the house after? My mum actually left hers at home so it was bloody lucky I had mine with me or we'd have been stuck.  

Deoderant & Sunglasses

Let's be real now people, no one wants to be a Sweaty Betty at a summer wedding, especially if you're there for the whole day rather than just the evening and/or you're wearing a sleeveless dress. For my brother's wedding I was both so I had to be prepared. ALWAYS BE PREPARED! This Right Guard deoderant is really good because it keeps you protected from any odour (ergh I hate that word!) but doesn't stain your clothes, it also has quite sleek packaging so it's not too bulky and fit into my bag easily. Sunglasses are another necessity because no one wants to be squinting in the sunshine or the wedding photos. These ones I think are from Primark from about 3 years ago but they kept the sun out of my eyes and matched my outfit perfectly. Winner.

Make Up Pouch

Make Up Pouch containing: Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Warm Medium, Concealer Brush, Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick in Bluffing, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong, Bourjois Cream Blush in Rose Tender, L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara, MAC Eyeliner in Feline, Eclipse by Ghost Perfume Rollerball, Tissues, a hairband, Superdrug Non Slip All Day Hold Hair Grips, Patisserie De Bain Cranberries & Cream Hand Cream, Superdrug Antibacterial Hand Gel & painkillers.

Okay so this is where it starts to look like overkill and I look a little bit... cray! I told you I like to be prepared. Basically I am the most hopeless of hopeless romantics and I always, ALWAYS cry at weddings. It doesn't even matter whose wedding it is I'll still be a bit misty eyed before the brides even down the aisle. However this particular wedding was my older brother's, I was expecting, and preparing for, a full scale meltdown.

This little make up pouch was a gift from my mum's friend, I think it came from Superdrug, and whilst I'm not crazy about the design, the size is perfect for popping all my make up and odds and ends in without cluttering up my bag. Everything I packed was to make sure that I could deal with the tears during the ceremony and then touch up my make up after. I also took painkillers just in case, hairband/hairgrips if I lost control of my hair, a perfume roller ball in case my perfume wore off, hand sanitiser because I actually can't go anywhere without it and hand cream to stop my hands drying out. I also left a bottle of suncream in the car and took a cereal bar with me in case I got hungry before the meal. 

So I may have been a little bit over-prepared...

Phone, Phone Lead & Portable Phone Charger 

The iPhone is a smart phone with a stupid battery, how they've developed a phone that can quite literally do anything BUT has the average battery life of under a day is beyond me! I'm kind of the family photographer, it's not an official title, but I'm the most snap happy and take all of my photos on my phone, which drains the battery like crazy. Taking my charger meant I could take pictures to my heart's content without worrying about my phone suddenly dying.

Looking back I may have been a tad over-enthusiastic in my preparation.This is just what I take to a wedding imagine how equipped I am for a zombie apocalypse (JK I'm totally not prepared for that!)

What do you take with you when you go to a wedding? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

May Favourites 2015

May Favourites 2015

Sunday 21 June 2015

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Hi Guys. Long time no blog! Sorry for the absence folks! Life has been particularly hectic lately but finally all the messy, stressy uni stuff is over (just my dissertation left now!) and I can get down to the serious business of telling you guys my May Favourites, even though it's nearly time for my June Favourites. Oh well.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

For those of you who don't know - because I didn't -DHC is a Japanese Skin Care company that primarily uses Virgin Olive Oil in it's products. As someone with super sensitive, occasionally dry, blackhead prone skin I'm super wary of oils, BUT this is amazing. It removes my make up so quickly and so gently whilst nourishing the skin. I'll need to get the full size soon because it's so good. it has made taking my make up off a 30 second job and for that, and so many other reasons, I love it. 

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25Hr Nude Skin Perfecting Medium Coverage Foundation in 100 Ivory

This is my new favourite drugstore foundation! Because it. is. awesome! I've actually tried most of Rimmel's foundations and this is my favourite by far. It gives great medium to full coverage, that is covering but in no way cakey, with a dewy-matte finish that I can't quite put my finger on but looks so good, all glowy and fresh faced which I love.  At this point it doesn't sound like it can get any better right? Wrong! The shade match is perfect for me, it lasts ages and it has a ridiculously low price point. Obsessed.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Shadow Stick in 011 Bluffing

I was using this eyeshadow stick throughout May because it's so quick and easy to use but looks really good. I'm not the most organised of people so this is a god send for the mornings when I just don't have my sh*t together (which is every morning just fyi) I just pop it on to the lid, blend out, put on some eyeliner, finish off with mascara and I'm done in like a minute. It is the easiest eye make up look ever but still looks like you've made an effort. It has a really lovely formula, creamy yet long lasting it and once it sets in place it seriously does not budge. Love it. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown

It seems that everyone, their mothers and their mothers mothers is obsessed with Anastasia Beverly Hills' brow products so I was eager to see what all the fuss was about... and let me tell you there's a reason it has reached cult status! It's incredible! The formula is seriously good; creamy but not so creamy that there's any movement or slippage but malleable enough to give your brows the shape and definition that you want whilst staying in place all day. Plus you really only need a tiny bit so a 4g pot lasts forever, making it's £15 price tag a total bargain. 

I'll be honest I was a little bit scared of this particular product because the colour is quite dark, but it actually works really well for me as my hair is a lot darker than my brows. I have the shade Medium Brown which is the perfect balance of ashiness and warmth to darken my brows without making them look ridiculous. However the colour range they have is immense! So it's definitely worth checking out on that basis alone.I am seriously in love! ❤️ 

Essence I ❤️ Extreme Crazy Crazy Volume Mascara & Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara

I  was absolutely loving this mascara combination last month! The Essence mascara has an enormous plastic brush that packs some serious volume but has the slightest tendency to clump, while the Rimmel mascara has a finer plastic brush that combs through the lashes, removing clumpage and adding definition and length. Together they give super volumised, long, defined lashes. Amazing.

Bourjois Little Round Pot Cream Blush in 03 Rose Tender

This is my favourite blush to use in the warmer months, when summertime rolls around I am all about the cream formulas because they stay in place just that much better when things are all sweaty and gross (I went there, sorry). This has a really lovely cream to powder formula with a beautifully smooth velvety finish. The colour is a pretty rose pink, suited to us english rose  types (read pasty and pale) leaving just a flush of colour on the cheeks.  It applies so easily too, I just dab it onto the apples of my cheeks and blend it out with my fingers, so simple yet so pretty. 

Twinings Velvety Vanilla Flavour Chai Latte

This, and I am not exaggerating here, is the most incredible tea to ever grace my teapot. It is delicious! We all know that I'm a bit of a  tea enthusiast/obsessive but I'd never tried Chai Tea before and OMG have I been missing out. It is amazing! Essentially it's a black tea spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, loads of other yummy spices and in this case vanilla. It's so delicious and I'm annoyed at myself for not having tried it sooner. - Side note: if anyone would be interested in a 'Tea Collection' post let me know, all contact details can be found below - Also, and I know this is a bit weird but the packaging is beautiful! Like it's gorgeous. Sadly it's limited edition so I've been panic buying it because it's that good! I'll be really sad when I can't get it anymore. I've even tweeted Twinings asking them to make it part of their permanent collection but no dice.

I know I'm such a loser! :)

Always the Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk 

Lindsey Kelk is one of my fave chick lit writers! I was obsessed with her I Heart series and have read and enjoyed all her other books too so when Always the Bridesmaid came out I was eager to get my paws on it and have a read. I really enjoyed it, it's funny with some sweet moments and the main character Maddie is really relatable. Definitely a good beach read for anyone heading off on holiday anytime soon. 

The Last Five Years 

You guys know what a hopeless romantic I am! This stunning musical tugs at my heartstrings and makes me feel all the feels (read more about that here). Starring the amazing/wonderful/awesome/epic Anna Kendrick and Broadway Baby/Smash alumn Jeremy Jordan The Last Five Years tells the story of Cathy and Jamie's relationship from the wonderful beginning to the heartbreaking end. It's incredible! Just make sure you have the Kleenex handy because it's a bit of a tear jerker. 

Geordie Shore

If you follow me on twitter you'll know that I've been absolutely loving Geordie Shore this month. It's a total guilty pleasure but I'm OBSESSED! It's hilarious! I seriously love it and I'm so gutted that this series is over and I have to wait for the next one #ChazForever

I know it's a bit late but what were your May Favourites? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check me out on instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - and pinterest for regular updates.

Again Guys I'm sorry this is so late, things are finally slowing down and settling back to normal now so I will be posting as normal from now on. I'll be back on Tuesday.

Love love love xxx

Images Via, Via


(I own all images except those of The Last Five Years and Geordie Shore. These images were used for entertainment purposes only)