August Goals

August Goals

Wednesday, 1 August 2018

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Another month has just completely flown by. This time in a blur of intense heat, near constant sweating, all of the birthdays and if I’m honest one too many twister ice lollies. July was a busy but really good month, but I have to say I’m really glad we’re into August. It feels like we’re finally on the home stretch people! Just one more month and then summer will be over! I can’t wait. 

Live better

I know, I know, this, or some variation of this, is a goal every single month and yet I continue to be a nightmare human. I don’t sleep enough. I don’t drink enough water. I don’t eat particularly well and some days I just exist on Jaffa Cakes and Hula Hoops. And it’s catching up with me. I’m perpetually knackered, knocking back endless mugs of tea and bottles of Coke Zero - which is way worse for you than normal Coke by the way, but has less calories - just to keep myself awake and honestly, I look and feel like shit! So my main goal this month is a fairly simple one: Drink more water, get more sleep and maybe eat some vegetables. I swear one of these days I’m actually going to achieve this goal, and on that day I will go to sleep promptly at 10:30 and get up at 6:30 feeling refreshed and human, whilst starting the day with a hot water and lemon. Maybe that’s a bridge too far....

Get motivated/work harder

Lately I’ve lost my mojo a bit, and with it my motivation to do anything during the day. I blame the recent - and hideous - heatwave! (I’m not a summer person, can you tell?) It’s melted my brain! It’s miserable. Luckily, and perhaps for the first time ever, my blog hasn’t suffered but the rest of my life has. At the moment it feels like I’m stuck on a treadmill and getting absolutely no where. It feels like I’m achieving nothing between the hours of 7am and 10pm. I know that’s not the case, but it’s a really shitty feeling. Something definitely needs to change. 

Stop people pleasing

This goes hand in hand with working harder/total lack of motivation. I want to, and do, work really hard but I want to do it for me, not for other people. So much of my life and my working day is doing things for other people that I shouldn’t be doing and don’t have time to do. It is, quite frankly, exhausting. I can’t please everyone and trying to is a waste of my time and energy! 

Take no shit! 

Just no more. I don’t need anyone else’s bull shit. I have quite enough of my own, thank you very much! 

What are your goals for the month? x

August Favourites 2016

August Favourites 2016

Sunday, 4 September 2016

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This month I will not be freaking out that there are only 3 months left of 2016, what would be the point? I do the weird freak out thing every month, it's getting kind of old. Instead I'll tell you that August has been a really good month. I've been learning to play guitar, which I am loving! I saw my friends a lot, I went to Bulgaria, which was so fun and I've been going to the gym regularly, which, shockingly, I don't hate... I'm just as surprised as you are. It's been a really good month! On that note it's time to talk favourites. 

Nails Inc Gel Effect Polish in Soho Place - £14 from Nails Inc

This nail polish is an old favourite of mine, you guys know how much I love a good blue-y green polish, and like I said this is a firm favourite. I actually used it to paint my toes and tips with before I jetted off to Sunny Beach. The colour is gorgeous, a vivid aqua, and the formula is pretty lush too! Easily workable yet creamy and thick and the finish is dreamy - ultra glossy, plump and long lasting. It's marvellous. 

Pixi by Petra Hydrating Milky Mist - £18.00 from Cultbeauty

I ranted and raved about this stuff in my In Flight Beauty post so I won't bore you with the details for fear of repeating myself and boring you all to death. Instead I'm just gonna say that this super moisturising, light weight spritz is amazing, and an absolute life saver for those of us with drier complexions or to use when your travelling. I used it pretty much constantly on the flights, to and from Bulgaria, and the whole time while I was out there, and the difference it has made to my skin is amazing. I love this stuff, and I've nearly run out.... NOOOOOOO!

MAC Burgundy Times Nine Palette - £25.00 from MAC

Again I have sung the praises of this teeny little palette in previous posts (read them here, here & here) so I'll let you read those rather than bang on about it here. It's an excellent little palette for travelling because it is really tiny but has nine shadows in there, that really pack a punch in the pigment stakes, and is super versatile. I am obsessed with it and have been using it pretty much constantly. I love it so much.

The Wet Brush - £8.99 from lookfantastic

I got this in Anna & Lily's Cult Beauty box back in April and it's the only brush I've used on my mad, tangly hair since then, but I've never mentioned it on here, which isn't really like me. Anyway I love it. It has really flexible bristles that glide effortlessly through the hair, detangling any knots without pulling. Now I don't brush my hair everyday, because it's so curly that brushing only makes it frizz out uncontrollably. So I only brush before and after I wash it and that's it. It used to be an absolute nightmare brushing my hair, even with a Tangle Teezer or an Easy Tease (read more about that here), and I hated doing it because it really did hurt. The Wet Brush is so gentle yet effective, it has just solved all my hair brushing problems. I refuse to be without it, that's how much I love it!

Avon Advance Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Leave-in Treatment -  £3.50 (on offer, usually £6.00) from Avon

This stuff is haircare heaven! If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have one hair care product this would be it! It's incredible! One pump, run through the mid lengths and ends, intensely nourishes and protects the hair (from heat, chlorine, etc.), calms frizz and adds definition to curls without weighing them down. It's non-greasy, very light weight and leaves no residue in the hair whatsoever. I used this every day on holiday to protect my hair, and it worked an absolute treat. No sun dried ends and chlorine damage for me! It does come in a glass bottle, which I agree isn't the best for travel, although I didn't have any problems with it. But seriously this stuff is magical! I would be lost without it and I'm not joking. 

La Roche Posay 50+ Antihelios XL Ultra-Light Fluid - £16.50 from Boots

There's nothing really knew in this month's favourites, pretty much all of them have been talked about before, including this one (read more about it here). I'm a recent convert to La Roche Posay's Antihelios XL sunscreen but it is amazing. It absorbs into the skin really quickly without leaving a white cast on the skin and gives my pasty skin the protection I need, from both UVA and UVB rays. And unlike a lot of sunscreens it's non-comedogenic, so it doesn't block the pores or cause break outs, which my skin will do at the slightest provocation. It's awesome stuff. 

Rimmel Kate Sculpting Palette in 002 Coral Glow - £6.99 from Boots

This is kind of a forgotten favourite because I have used it so much in the last couple of months but keep forgetting to put it in my favourites. I actually have this in both shades, 002 Coral Glow and 003 Golden Bronze, and I like and use both a lot, but I have used Coral Glow more this month because I took it on holiday with me (read more about that here). It's such a handy little palette as it comes with a blush, contour and highlight and, despite the fairly naff packaging, it is really, really good quality. The powders are creamy and smooth, they apply beautifully and they have really nice pigmentation. They're really lovely. 

Becca Backlight Priming Filter - £32 from SpaceNK

Again this is something I have talked about recently, (read it here) I feel like I'm a broken record today, just saying the same thing over and over again... I'm sorry. I have used this so much in the past couple of weeks, in fact I've nearly used it all up and will have to get a new one soon. It adds such a beautiful, beautiful radiance to the skin. I have fairly dull, pale skin but this gives me a glow that would put JLo to shame. It is stunning! And expensive, but worth it. 

Walk Off The Earth - watch them on youtube here

My bad ass friend Charlotte, who is actually teaching me to play guitar and is the coolest person I know,  introduced me to Walk Off The Earth during our first lesson, and I have been listening to them ever since. You may have come across WOTE before as quite a few of their videos have gone viral, they're the band who covered Gotye's Somebody that I Used to Know with all 5 members playing the same guitar! (Watch it here it's amazing!) Their videos are insane, they are so talented and so, so clever. I've downloaded a load of their songs but Gang of Rhythm and Hold On (The Break) are my favourites. I am also obsessed with their cover of Cheerleader! Watch some of their videos, you will not be sorry.

Working Out 

So this is a surprising favourite for all of us, especially me, but I am really, really enjoying working out. I've been working out everyday during the week and the sense of achievement it gives me is incredible. Do I still hate cardio? Absolutely, yes I do! BUT I can do it, which is amazing because up until recently I definitely couldn't. I'm feeling very proud of myself for that.

What are your August Favourites? 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 - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

(Late) August Favourites 2015

(Late) August Favourites 2015

Sunday, 20 September 2015

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HELLO LOVELY PEOPLE! Long time no blog! I am so happy to be back I can't even tell you. After a nightmarish few weeks, including a nasty and badly timed bout of acid reflux disease (don't ask... it's not pleasant), my dissertation's due date, thank God that's over, and a rather nasty cold (not what I need) my dissertation is finally handed in and, even though I'm laid up in bed with a cold,  I'm now free to read what I want to read - I'm so excited!!! - and write about make up. Hurray! From now on it's business as usual on my little corner of the internet. So on that note, even though at this point they are ridiculously late, here are my August Favourites.

(Sorry the swatches haven't come out great, this was the best of a bad lot.)

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion - My skin hasn't been great for a while but lately, probably due to stress and eating a bit too much sugary stuff, my skin has been the worst I've ever seen it. I'm not even joking it is awful! I was using The Body Shop's Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion throughout August to get rid of any nasties lurking on my skin to prevent new spots forming and it has really helped. Designed with oily/blemish prone skin in mind this lotion lightly hydrates, mattifies and helps to clear the skin. With the primary ingredient being tea tree oil, a super ingredient known for it's spot fighting and anti-bacterial properties, it leaves the skin feeling fresh and clean and visibly clearer. My skin isn't oily at all, in fact it's the opposite. I have very sensitive, occasionally dry skin but I do breakout a lot and I have found this definitely gives me clearer looking skin without being too harsh. I really like it. I only have the 15ml tube at the moment but it's lasted really well, and I will definitely be picking up the full size when this runs out.

Maybelline Master Sculpt Contouring Pallet in 01 Light Medium - I picked this up a while back (read more here) and have been using it on a daily basis ever since because it's so good. The contour is the perfect ashy toned brown for us pal gals, it just looks so natural and shadow like on the skin. I can really carve out cheek bones and it doesn't look like I've gone the full Kardashian or too overboard. It just looks really natural. I love it BUT the highlighter is my favourite. I've never been a fan of powder highlighters, I've not had great experiences with them to be honest. The ones I've tried have either been too shimmery/glittery or the texture has been too chalky or not easy to blend but this one is amazing. Finely milled, easily blendable and it gives such a beautiful, subtle radiance to the skin without being too in your face. I've been using it to set my under eye concealer and it works wonders. It really brightens up my, very dark, under eye area and makes my skin look really fresh and glowy, like it's lit from within. I. Love. It.

Natural Collection Moisture Shine Lipstick in Raspberry - This lipstick was my go to throughout August (read more about that here). Natural Collection is not a brand I've ever really tried before but I'm a really big fan of this lipstick, I have two because it's awesome. The formula is not the best, it's very rich and moisturising but it doesn't want to hang around for very long. I've got round this by dusting some translucent powder over the top. I just love it. The colour is a super pretty berry toned pink that is right in my wheelhouse and suitable for everyday and this makes it more than worth the hassle of reapplying every couple of hours.


Pinch Me by The Barenaked Ladies - I've loved this song for ages but it was one I'd almost completely forgotten about until it came on when my iPod was on shuffle. I'm a really big fan of the Barenaked Ladies, I actually saw them at Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park about 4 years ago and they were amazing. They wrote a song on stage. It was incredible! Pinch Me is one of their lesser known songs, although Scrubs fans would have heard it in the background of an episode, it sounds so happy but if you really listen to the lyrics it's quite sad. I love it. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.

What were your August Favourites? 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 updates.

Love love love xxx

Belated Super August September Favourites

Belated Super August September Favourites

Sunday, 9 November 2014

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So I thought August and September were hectic months, I have since learnt how very wrong I was, but I was busy. So busy in fact that I never got round to posting either of my favourites for those months. Well all that’s about to change with my Belated Super August September Favourites. Just in time for me to be late with my October Favourites (Sorry :S I can’t stress how manic life has been of late.) So grab yourselves a cup of tea, maybe some cake, cake is always highly recommended, and let's DO this!

First things first August...

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation in Light Beige

Real Techniques Complexion Sponge

For the first couple of weeks in August my skin was really behaving itself so I was all about the light coverage and the Bourjois Healthy Mix is amazing for that. It felt so nice and light on the skin, like I wasn’t wearing any make up at all, and gave me dewy, barely there coverage whilst evening out my skin tone and covering any redness. The consistency is quite watery so I found that the best way to apply this was with a damp Real Techniques Complexion Sponge (which I also love)because it gave a really natural, even finish. A winning combination. 

The Body Shop Deep Sleep Dreamy Pillow and Body Mist 

I have a lot of trouble sleeping, particularly in the summer time when it’s too hot and humid to get comfortable but this is an absolute God send. Containing ingredients known for their powers in aiding deep and restful sleep. The spray is so soothing and relaxing that I can’t help but fall into an easy sleep, plus it smells incredible. For me it's a bedtime staple.

Travel Candle in Primrose & Peony by Sainsburys. 

I always find it really hard to describe how something smells other than good or bad, to my mind it's impossible but I'll have a whack at it. This candle has a really light, floral scent that smells gorgeous. It really fills a room, quite surprising for such a tiny candle, without being at all overpowering and the tin it comes in is ridiculously cute.  It's my new favourite.

 Scandal Eyes Eyeshadow Stick in 011 Bluffing

Swatch of Scandal Eyes Eyeshadow Stick in 011 Bluffing (that's Barry M's Chai on my nails just fyi)

I was absolutely obsessed with this throughout August as it literally halved my make up time in the mornings. The formula is really long lasting, easily blendable and gives the simplest smokey eye effect in the biz. (sorry I’m not sure what happened there). I just swipe it on, blend it out with either my finger or the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush then finish the look with lashings of mascara and I’m done. It’s so simple but so effective and takes seconds. 

No 7 Pop & Glow Cream Stick Blush in Watermelon and the Real Techniques Stippling Brush.

No 7 Pop & Glow Cream Stick Blush  & the Real Techniques Stippling Brush

Real Techniques Stippling Brush.

Swatches of No 7 Pop & Glow Cream Stick Blush in Watermelon blended out and straight from the stick.

Whilst this blush looks almost violently red in the stick it blends out to be the prettiest rosy pink. Normally I'm so wary of cream blushes thinking that they don't really last but this has some serious staying power and it's so effortless to apply. I just dot it on to my cheeks, press it into the skin using the Real Techniques Stippling Brush and then finish off by blending it out with my fingers and voila glowy, rosy cheeks in seconds. Amazing.

Soap & Glory Blush Brick in Love At First Glow 

Another blush, I love me a good blusher, I was so worried about using this because I didn’t want to ruin something so beautiful BUT my fears have since been assuaged.  Now when it comes to blushes I’m not really a fan of a shimmery finish,  I like dewy, rosy cheeks but too much shimmer and I look like an unsuccessful drag queen. HOWEVER this blush is shimmery in all the right ways. The colour is lovely, the packaging is nice and the blush itself is stunning. It makes me look and feel all freshfaced and glowy, it's become a firm favourite.

Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Oil 

I got this in August’s Birchbox and have been using it religiously ever since, whilst I find serums kind of scary this one is so hydrating and feels glorious on the skin. I like it a lot. 

MAC Maleficent Eyeshadow Quad: clockwise from top left Goldmine, Ground Brown, Carbon and Concrete. 

Oh this eyeshadow quad filled with it's lovely, lovely eyeshadows. I got this back in August after seeing Maleficent and despite my rather mixed feelings towards the movie (read more about that here) my feelings for this quad are clear. I love it. Whilst the colours are more on the neutral side and not particularly Maleficent-y (I was expecting some dramatic purples, maybe a turquoise) they are really wearable, have a beautiful, buttery soft texture and last ages without creasing. Amazing. 

That brings me to September...

L-R: P.S Love Your Nails Nail Polish Twist Pot, MUA Eyeshadow Pallet in Heaven & Earth, Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick in 1 Seduction, Rimmel Match Perfection in 200 Soft Beige, Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub and Japonesque Salon Collection Precision Tweezers. 

Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub 

About halfway through August my skin went crazy and by crazy I mean horrible. It was congested and gross and there were blackheads galore. BUT since adding this scrub to my morning skin routine there has been a noticeable improvement in my skin. Whilst it doesn’t make blackheads magically disappear overnight (I wish it did) it reduces the appearance of them and clears clogged pores to stop new ones from forming. 

MUA Heaven & Earth Eyeshadow Pallette

I had this pallet for a long old time and when I finally hit pan I rushed out to Superdrug in a mad panic to get a new one. Why was I in such a panic? Because it's fantastic that's why! The pallette is made up of 12 shadows, mostly shimmers but with a few mattes thrown in for luck. The colours are lovely and the pay off is good, they also last really well which is awesome. The texture isn't the best, being slightly on the chalky side, but what can be expected for £4.00. I particularly love the middle three shades on the bottom row and have been using them on an almost daily basis. I love it. 

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 200 Soft Beige

Throughout September when my skin was at it's absolute worst I was reaching for this on a daily basis. When I first got it I was a bit unsure about it (read more about it here), I liked it but I had others that were better. But the more I used it the more I loved it. It gives good coverage without being cakey in anyway and feels so lovely against the skin. It also lasts ages and is so nice to apply, it just blends into the skin so easily. 

 P.S. Love Your Nails Nail Polish Twist Pot (Primark)

This is a clearly a dupe of Bourjois' Magic Nail Polish Remover and at £1 is literally a fraction of the cost. When I first got the twist pot I didn't like it at all, it felt so weird on my fingers and it just made me feel a bit squeamish. But since then I've come round to it, because it is so convenient. I have three of these on the go at the moment, one on my desk at home, one at my mum's and one on my desk at work. For someone like me who's constantly switching up my nail colour the twist pot is an absolute God send, it makes taking nail polish off so quick and easy. You just pop your nails in and twist. Done. 

 Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick in the shade 1 Seduction 

This is definitely a contender for the title of my favouritest lipstick ever, quite the statement I know, especially coming from a lipstick fanatic such as myself.  But it's beautiful and at £2.99 it's a fricking steal. Seduction was released last year as part of Collection's Gothic Glam (for lack of a better word) collection The colour is beautiful, the perfect autumnal berry shade, the formula is nice enough, not particularly moisturising or long lasting but what can one expect for £2.99. It's the colour that wins it for me. I love it. 

 Japonesque Salon Collection Precision Tweezers

I picked these up in T.K. Maxx ages ago for something ridiculous like £4.99 and have been using them religiously ever since. I try not to pluck my eyebrows too much, after years of overplucking in my misspent youth but the less said about that the better. Hands down they are the best tweezers I've ever used. They're sharp which means I can get even the tiniest of hairs, it also means they have great precision so I don't end up plucking hairs I shouldn't. They're also turquoise and glittery which I think is amazing. Winner. 

So those were my favourites for the months of August and September. It feels like a million years ago now, well not quite.... Anyway I promise my October Favourites will be up before the end of the year ;) 

Have you tried any of these amaze products? What did you think? Love them? Hate them? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below (I always try to reply so check back) or by dropping me an email lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, Bloglovin & pinterest. You know if you want to :). 

Well that was incredibly long and rambly, so if you stuck with it to the end then thank you and be sure to check back on Tuesday for my next post.

Until then...

Love love love xxx

Inside August's Birchbox

Inside August's Birchbox

Thursday, 11 September 2014

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L-R: Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Oil, Supergoop! Daily Correct SPF35 CC Cream, Chella Highlighter Pencil, Vasanti Brightenup! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator, Number 4 Super Comb & Protect Leave in Conditioner & Supergoop! Daily Correct SPF35 CC Cream.

L-R: Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Oil,Vasanti Brightenup! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator, Number 4 Super Comb & Protect Leave in Conditioner & Chella Highlighter Pencil.

L-R: Supergoop! Daily Correct SPF35 CC Cream, Chella Highlighter Pencil, Number 4 Super Comb & Protect Leave in Conditioner, Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Oil & Vasanti Brightenup! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator.

This post has been in the pipeline for weeks but for some reason or other I just hadn't got around to it however I got an email this morning saying that my September Birchbox had been dispatched and I thought I'd better get a wriggle on and share the delights of August's Birchbox before it was officially too late. 

Last month's Birchbox was all about Holidays, and whilst it doesn't look like I'll be heading off on my Hollybobs anytime soon. I did really appreciate the contents. So without further ado let's finally do this! 

Chella Highlighter Pencil

I actually clapped when I saw this. I have been wanting a highlighting pencil for a while and sometimes it's like the good people at Birchbox can actually read my mind, being in pencil form it is ridiculously easy to apply. with a really nice formula that is easy to blend. I'm a bit wary when it comes to highlighter but this is rather fabulous.

Supergoop! Daily Correct SPF35 CC Cream

There were 2 of the cutest and tiniest sample bottles I have ever seen. There are so adorable. Now as far as Supergoop goes I had genuinely no clue about this brand. Then after some googling I discovered that Supergoop, founded in 2006, specialises in lightweight, easy to wear sun screen and skin protection products. Now being a sensitive, fair skinned lassie sun screen is ridiculously important - for everyone not just me-. I haven't actually tried it yet, what with the current stream of drizzle not exactly lending itself to sun cream, but I will keep you posted. 

Number 4 Super Comb & Protect Leave in Conditioner

My hair is... difficult to say the least. At the best of times it does tend to err on the frizzy side of things, but in the summer my hair goes from difficult to clinically insane. The sun dries it out and the humidity makes it 10 times it's original size - and it's pretty big anyway, but this leave-in conditioner has been a total lifesaver. It has stopped the sun from drying out the ends of my hair and manages to exert some level of control over my wild and tangled mane. In love. 

Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Oil

Nude is a brand, established in 2007, that a specialises in natural, high perfomance skin care. Again it was not a brand that I had come across before. I have always had a bit of a phobia of serums. In the past I have been afraid to use serums due to the fact that I have combination skin that likes to break out. But this is lovely, it feels so nice against the skin and is really kind to the skin. I was so impressed.

Vasanti Brightenup! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator

I had never ever heard of Vasanti before but anything that promises a renewed and refreshed complexion is okay in my book. After giving it a whirl I can say in total honesty that it is amazing. It made my skin feel incredible and so clean. I will definitely be repurchasing. 

So that was August's Birchbox, unfortunately it's no longer available BUT September's is and it looks awesome. If you don't already subscribe (and strongly I recommend you do!) you can do so here. I'm sorry that this was so late August was sso hectic that I am still wrapping up all the loose ends. I promise that my August Favourites will be going up before the end of the week/weekend. Until then you can read about previous Birchboxes here and here and you can check me out on twitter, facebook, Bloglovin, instagram & pinterest. 

Love love love xxx