Winter Haircare Faves

Winter Haircare Faves

Wednesday, 13 November 2019

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To deliberately misquote Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, winter is here, bringing with it the kind of inclement weather that looks oh so cosy on instagram but in reality is rather cold and unpleasant and can also fuck up your skin and hair.

Beauty Rediscoveries

Beauty Rediscoveries

Wednesday, 23 January 2019

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There are few things I enjoy more than stumbling across things I’ve forgotten I love. Whether it’s a song, book, podcast or, in this case, beauty product(s), I just love that feeling of rediscovery. It’s almost as satisfying as drinking a cup of tea while it’s still hot, which I never manage to do.

March & April Favourites

March & April Favourites

Wednesday, 2 May 2018

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This was originally meant to be my March Favourites and then my April Favourites but it's May now, which means this post is desperately late, but I suppose it's better late than never. March and April both went so quickly, and I've been running ragged trying to keep on top of everything lately, and sadly that has meant my blog has suffered. Normally, I would've just scrapped this post but I did have some cracking favourites  that are definitely worth talking about. So, let’s talk about them. 

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Lavender Toner - £6.43 at iHerb.com

Thayers' Witch Hazel Toner has been around in the US for about a thousand years, but recently it's gained quite the online following and us UK peeps have been cottoning on to its wonders. Designed to soothe and revitalise sensitive, acne-prone skin this toner is formulated with Witch Hazel and Aloe Vera to soothe the skin, while Lavender has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties to prevent breakouts. I've been using it for a couple of months now and I really like it. It's very gentle plus it smells amazing. It's not widely available in the UK yet, I picked mine up on my last trip to Florida on one of my many, many trips to Target - I super love Target - after having heard some very good things,  but can be found quite easily with some tactical googling. 

Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA * - £55 at lookfantastic

When I was younger and stupider I never ever wore SPF. I've got very pale skin that doesn't tan, and I rarely burn, so I didn't think SPF was all that important. Now that I'm a grown up it's a whole different story and I'll be the first person to tell you what a fucking idiot I was! Putting photo and premature ageing aside, skin cancer is a very real concern, and literally everyone should be wearing some kind of SPF everyday. I've gone through quite a few SPF loves in the past couple of year - La Roche Posay's Antihelios XL and The Body Shop's Skin Defence are firm favourites - but Murad's latest sun care launch has been giving them a run for their money. This fast absorbing sunscreen is very light but packs a punch in the protection stakes. It's designed to offer protection from five major causes of premature ageing, including UVA and UVB rays, pollution, infrared rays, pollution, and, interestingly, blue light from phones and other devices. I like it because its very lightweight, sinks in really quickly, and makes a good base for make up. 

Vincent Longo Water Canvas Blush in Terra Dew* - £19.95 at lookfantastic

I was gifted this blush at Vincent Longo's UK launch event last year - I know I can't believe I just typed that either! - but I've only recently started using it, and I love it. Firstly, because it's a beautiful colour, a deep raspberry shade, secondly because it has an amazing cream-to-powder formula that just melts into the skin. It contains Microwater, a Vincent Longo exclusive, an active ingredient that intensely hydrates the skin and seals in moisture. It's a really lovely product. 

Lancôme Art Liner - £21.15 at feelunique

Every time I write about eyeliner I tend to mention two things; 1. that I’m something of a liquid liner connoisseur - it’s because I am! - 2. Stile’s Stay All Day Liquid Liner which has become the yardstick which I use to measure, and pass judgment on all other liquid liners because it is effin’ marvellous. So if I favourably compare an eyeliner to Stay All Day it means I really bloody like it, and I really bloody like this liner. It has a fine foam point that makes for really easy yet precise application, and a highly-pigmented formula that lasts for days. Seriously, I wore it when I saw Hamilton so I can tell you with absolute certainty that this stuff is both incredibly waterproof - seriously, I cried four times! - and incredibly long lasting.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Madrid - exclusive to Kat Von D Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipstick set £37.80 at Debenhams (currently out of stock online, may still be available in store) 

Now it just wouldn't be one of my monthly favourites posts without a new Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick obsession now would it? Like all the others this has a beaut formula that stays in place all day while still being ridiculously comfortable to wear. Annoyingly, Madrid is exclusive to the Kat Von D Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipstick set - which I got for Christmas...it was gift from me to me - and isn't sold as a standalone lipstick. Madrid is a warm-toned plum shade, which on me is actually more of a nude - I have very pigmented lips - it's my go to everyday lipstick, because it is so pretty and so effortless. The only problem I have with it is that when it runs out I won't be able to repurchase it, and I really love it! 

Elemis Life Elixir Fortitude Perfume Oil Rollerball* - £28 from Elemis

Last year Elemis launched Life Elixirs, an aromatherapy collection designed as an antidote for modern life. I was lucky enough to be sent a few things, including a yummy smelling candle and some shower oils, but the perfume rollerballs are my favourite. Life Elixirs is made up of five mini collections: Sleep, Calm, Clarity, Fortitude and Embrace. I was originally sent the Calm rollerball, which I loved but lost in Disney's Animal Kingdom, I was then lucky enough to be gifted the Fortitude rollerball to try at this year's Professional Beauty show. Fortitude is my favourite of the five elixirs. It is formulated with 16 essential oils, including geranium, ylang yang and cedarwood, and is designed to make the wearer feel grounded, empowered and strong. Now I don't know if it actually works but it smells gorgeous! 

What are your beauty favourites? Let me know xx

*Disclaimer* products marked with an asterisk * have been sent to me to review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own. 

February Favourites 2018

February Favourites 2018

Wednesday, 7 March 2018

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Unlike January, which felt like it lasted all of 2018 and well into 2019, February just flew by. I don't feel like I've even had the chance to catch my breath, let alone try and form an opinion on new things. But I have, and here they are.

Bourjois Radiance Reveal concealer in Medium - £7.99 at Boots

It's been a really long time since I've talked about a concealer on here, I can't actually remember the last time, it's been that long. But I've completely fallen back in love with Bourjois' Radiance Reveal concealer and had to talk about it. Radiance Reveal is something of a hybrid that is designed to brighten the skin and conceal imperfections. It’s got a nice light texture that blends nicely into the skin while still providing a decent amount of coverage. It's formulated with hyaluronic acid and glacier water, whatever that is, making it very hydrating and it doesn’t have any annoying bad concealer habits, like caking or creasing or oxidising.

Barry M Speedy Quick Dry in Sprint Finish - £3.99 at Boots

When I first started my blog - nearly 5 years ago... what?! - I was completely obsessed with nail polish. To the point where I couldn't go into a Boots or Superdrug without buying at least one. Now it's really rare for me to even paint my nails. In fact I've just got rid of maybe 80 per cent of my 300-strong nail polish collection. Sprint Finish is one of the few that survived the cull, due to the gorgeous  berry red shade and rather fabulous formulation, which is thick, creamy and dries almost instantly. It also has a wide curved brush which is designed for easier application, and really good colour off so you can get away with just one coat. Love it.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair - £53 at lookfantastic

I've waxed lyrical about my love of this stuff before, but lately, after some very well placed podcast ads, I've found myself obsessed with it. I basically used up this little sample bottle in like two weeks and my parched skin lapped it up. It's formulated with Estée Lauder's exclusive Chronolux CB technology. which is supposedly designed to aid the skin's nightly renewal process and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for 'more beautiful skin everyday.' It also claims to leave the skin feeling smoother, stronger and more hydrated, which is the main reason I've been using it so religiously. It's really lovely stuff, and my skin feels a lot better for it.

Alpha H Clear Skin Daily Moisturiser with Glycolic Acid - £23 at Cult Beauty

I actually got this in the ASOS beauty box back when it first launched, which I think was at the end of November last year maybe, but I've only just got round to trying it... my only excuse is that I have so much skincare. Anyway Alpha H was developed by Michelle Doherty, who designed it specifically to target problem skin, which I have. The Clear Skin Daily Moisturiser is for acne prone skin,  which again I have, and is formulated to moisturise and fight blemishes. It contains 10 per cent glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid to clarify and moisturise the skin, as well as tea tree and aloe vera which have antibacterial properties. It also claims to manage oil production and refine the pores. I've been using it pretty much every day and I really like it. It feels very cooling and refreshing, which is so nice first thing in the morning, and I've noticed an overall improvement in my skin. It's definitely something that I'll be repurchasing once it's all gone. 

Rosie for Autograph Nuit Parfum - £14/£28 for 30/75ml at Marks & Spencer

This is something that I completely forgot I owned until I happened upon it during a clear out. If memory serves I think I got it in a subscription box, but I forget which one. Nuit Parfum is part of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's original collection with M&S from a few years back, and it smells effin' amazing. It's actually a pretty solid dupe for Tom Ford's Velvet Orchid, which you all know I love, but with the added bonus of being less than a third of the price. It's described as being 'infused with vintage femininity'. Now despite the somewhat dubious description it doesn't smell like Grandmas. It's very floral but has a warming sort of spiciness that stops it from being heady and sickly. It has top notes of jasmine and French centifolia rose (?) with base notes of musk. It's floral but definitely more of a winter floral, and it has amazing lasting power. It lasts all day. It's also cruelty free and vegan. Lately I've been more and more interested in where products come from, how they're made, and the impact they have. Without sounding preachy I'm really starting to lean more towards products that are ethical, so it's really nice to know that something I already love is cruelty-free, as well as being suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Plus, and I may have mentioned this already, but it smells bloody gorgeous. 

Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw - £17 at Debenhams (currently out of stock! Boo!)

I have a feeling that every monthly favourites post from now on is going to feature a Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in one form or another. I love them! They are wonderful. This month's favourite is Outlaw, which is a blue-toned bright red. It's very bold and very, very pretty. I've recently swapped over to Outlaw from Nahz Fur Atoo, which is a deep, rich burgundy, and was the only lipstick I wore for about four months. Anyway Outlaw is more of a spring red, whereas Nahz Fur Atoo is my go to winter lipstick.  At the risk of repeating myself, the formula of these lipsticks is amazing! It doesn't budge, it's so comfortable to wear and it's so easy to apply. I'm obsessed. I love them. I LOVE THEM!

What are your current favourites? xx

2017 Beauty Favourites Part 2

2017 Beauty Favourites Part 2

Wednesday, 7 February 2018

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My last post (read it here) barely scratched the surface of the beauty loves I discovered last year. Here's the rest of them. Enjoy!

A Load of Beauty Favourites

A Load of Beauty Favourites

Tuesday, 25 July 2017

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It's been ages since I last sat down to write a favourites post, months in fact. It's been so long that I can't even remember most of them but I thought I'd tell you guys about some of the beauty bits that I've been loving over the past couple of months.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair - on offer for £45.05 (usually £53) from lookfantastic

I've done quite a bit of travelling recently, 8 flights and counting, and this teeny tiny bottle of magic has become a hand luggage staple for me, because it is amazing. Now my skin is shit at the best of times, let alone when I'm flying. Enter ANR, a serum that is designed to protect and repair the skin whilst reducing the appearance of blemishes - of which I have a few - and providing an intense boost of hydration. It is insanely good! I don't ever want to travel without it because I don't even want to imagine the sorry state my skin would be in if I did.

MAC Liptensity in Medium Rare - £17.50 from MAC

I've got into the habit of buying a MAC lipstick every time I'm in Duty Free, which is a fairly frequent occurrence these days. This is the lipstick that kicked off that habit. I picked it up in Copenhagen Airport back in February when I had a few hours to kill, and it's been knocking around in my handbag ever since. It's such an easy to wear, low maintenance everyday lip. Medium Rare is the most perfect your lips but better shade, a mid-toned rosy pink -  my fave, read more about that here - with a hint of brown to it. It has a dreamy formula with a semi-matte finish that is smooth, creamy and totally comfortable to wear. It's wear time is fairly average, due to the creaminess (read slipperiness) of the formula it doesn't stick around when confronted with food or drink. However it does look good on absolutely everyone,  from us pale folk to olive toned complexions and darker skin tones.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir* - £12/£32 for 30ml/100ml from feelunique

This is such a princess product, in that it's not strictly necessary and also doesn't really do much, but I love it, like really love it. It really perks up tired skin as it is very refreshing and quite hydrating. It also smells incredible, with notes of grape, mint, orange blossom and rosemary. My only slight gripe is that it comes housed in a frosted glass bottle, which is both super luxurious and super impractical, but I'll get over it.

Body Shop Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF50 - £16/£20 for 40ml/60ml from The Body Shop

As I've got older I've become super aware of photoageing, I really don't want to spend my formative years with the creased, leather-y complexion of an old handbag. So I've started using a facial sunscreen everyday to protect my skin from sun damage and harmful UV rays. I picked this up after running out of my former fave La Roche Posay's Antihelios XL Ultra-Light Fluid (read more about that here) and have become completely obsessed with it. It's incredible. It's non-comedogenic meaning it doesn't break me out. It's also very hydrating and has a lightweight, milky texture that absorbs into the skin without leaving a white cast. It's a really good base for make up and it offers protection from both UVA and UVB rays. I really love it.

Aromatherapy Associates Support Breathe Rollerball* - £16 from lookfantastic

I was given this at Pro Beauty back in February and have used it basically everyday since. I absolutely love it. It has a very fresh scent, with notes of tea tree, pine extract, eucalyptus oil and  peppermint. It smells incredible and is very soothing. I like to use it when I travel to keep me calm, I'm not a nervous flyer but it definitely helps. It's also great to use when you have a cold.

Lancôme Grandiose Wide-Angle Fan Effect Waterproof Mascara - £26 from lancôme

This is another gem that I picked up in Copenhagen Airport's Duty Free. This one however was a total accident. I'd meant to get the Lancôme Grandiose Waterproof eyeliner, which I now have and love by the way. Anyway it was a happy accident because this mascara is now a firm favourite. It features a plastic brush and Lancôme's trademarked swan neck which is designed to get to even the most hard to reach lashes in the inner corners. The mascara itself is very lengthening and it really holds a curl. It's not the most volumising and it does have the tendency to clump - which is never a good look - but it doesn't streak, smudge or flake, and it's not a total nightmare to take off. It's a really good everyday mascara.

Revlon Gel Envy ColorStay in Up the Ante - £7.99 from Boots

This has been a favourite so many times that it's getting quite embarrassing. The colour is great, the formula is great and there's really nothing I can say that I haven't said before, read more about it here.

Let me know some of your favourites by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at laurenwiththeredhair@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx


Disclaimer: All products marked with an * were gifted to me. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and not influenced by outside parties.

January Favourites 2017

January Favourites 2017

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

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Firstly I must apologies for these pictures. I'm really not happy with them, but I'm so short of time at the moment that I'm having to work with what I've got. It doesn't help that I mostly use natural lighting and it is so dreary at the moment. When I've got some time, and some decent lighting, I will definitely be re-shooting.

*Blog update: I have re-shot and I am much happier with the pictures now :) *

2016 Internet Favourites

2016 Internet Favourites

Tuesday, 24 January 2017

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If I'm not at work, the gym or asleep then chances are I'm on the internet, probably youtube, and have been for a good few hours. I love discovering, and then subsequently becoming addicted to, new content creators. Last year I came across a load of new creators that I absolutely love, so I thought I'd share them all with you lovely lot. 

My Favourite Christmas Films

My Favourite Christmas Films

Tuesday, 20 December 2016

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I so wish that it was socially acceptable for people over the age of 5 to watch Christmas films all year round. Sadly it is not, so I try to make the very most of the few weeks in December when I'm allowed to watch them. After having a look through some old blog posts (read them here and here), it seems that my taste in Christmas films has stayed exactly the same, so I'll try not to bore you too much with the details. 

October & November Beauty Favourites 2016

October & November Beauty Favourites 2016

Thursday, 8 December 2016

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The last couple of weeks have seen me completely lose all motivation for anything other than snuggling up under a duvet and watching I'm a Celebrity. It's the time of year, November always makes me want to take to my bed and stay there until April, only briefly emerging for Christmas. So it's safe to say blogging has definitely not been a priority, anything that hasn't been finding food/tea and wearing my comfies hasn't been a priority. But I have managed to get some motivation to share my Favourites for the last couple of months with you. Now I didn't have a lot of favourites back in October and I didn't have a lot of beauty favourites in November either, so it just made sense to combine them.

My Favourite MAC Eyeshadows

My Favourite MAC Eyeshadows

Sunday, 23 October 2016

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After quite a heavy post yesterday, today I thought I would keep things light and tell you guys about my favourite MAC eyeshadows.  Be warned this post is gonna be a little on the long side, I tried to narrow down my favourites but I couldn't get lower than 10. I couldn't do it, I wasn't up to that challenge. Now everyone knows that when it comes to eyeshadow MAC is the undisputed king. Their colour selection is incredible, they have so many different finishes, and generally the overall quality is amazing. Buttery soft, blendable and pigmented to boot. Whenever I'm by a MAC counter I'm like a kid in a sweet shop, I can't keep my greedy hands to myself, I want to swatch everything!

Creative Copper has a lustre finish and is actually more of a metallic golden brown than a copper shade. The pigmentation is incredible and it applies smoothly and evenly with really good colour pay off. The texture is soft and smooth and it blends beautifully. I particularly like to use Creative Copper when I'm doing a bronze smokey eye and pack it onto the first two thirds of the lid with a flat brush.

Gingersnap is a deep rose gold shade with a frost finish. Again it's highly pigmented and applies really nicely. I've found that it can look a bit much when washed all over the lid but looks awesome when blended into the crease.

Honey Lust is one of my most used eyeshadows. I have Honey Lust in both my Warm Neutral and Burgundy Times Nine palettes and it is the most used in both palettes. A golden peachy bronze with a lustre finish, Honey Lust is glittery but not in a tacky in your face kind of way. It looks amazing with a tan, but works well on us paler peeps too. My favourite way to wear it is washed over the lid with winged eyeliner. There is a slight issue with fall out but it's nothing major and Honey Lust, in my opinion, is more than worth it.

Satin Taupe is one of the first MAC eyeshadows I ever bought and it still holds a very special place in my heart. Why? Because it is so dang versatile. Satin Taupe is a dark purple-grey taupe with a silver shimmer running through it, it has a frost finish and can be packed onto the lid for something super smokey, blended into the crease to add definition or simply patted on for something far more subtle. It's a MAC classic for a reason people.

Woodwinked is actually the first ever MAC eyeshadow I bought, in the MAC store in Times Square, and it is still my favourite. You can see from the dent I've made in it that I've used it an absolute ton. Woodwinked is an absolute babe of an eyeshadow, an antique golden bronze with a veluxe pearl finish, it looks amazing simply washed over the lid and when blended into the crease makes for one of the simplest smokey eyes ever. Personally I love to pack it on for something a bit more intense. It's my favourite MAC eyeshade ever. Yeah I said it.

Patina is another firm favourite of mine, a pale taupey bronze with a frost finish - can you tell that I have a thing for bronzes? - Patina is a good one to wear in the day time as it adds a really nice and subtle pop of colour to the lid.

All That Glitters is quite similar to Honey Lust as they're both peachy gold bronzes, however All That Glitters has a veluxe pearl finish so is more of a pearly shimmer than an actual glitter, it's also slightly more pink toned. Like Honey Lust it's a one wash wonder and works best blended all over the lid. It's super wearable and one I find myself reaching for when I want to make an effort but also really can't bothered. It's really effortless and adds a pretty pinky gold sheen to the lid. Lovely.

Haux - Damnit! I just realised I spelt this wrong in the photos, face palm!- anyway Haux is a muted dusky pink with a satin finish and is a fairly new favourite of mine. I've found myself reaching for it more and more lately, particularly on days when I want really natural looking make up. It's really good for adding a little something something to my lids when I'm not in the mood to go all out on my eyeshadow.

Quarry is another really pretty neutral shade and is quite similar to Haux. Like Haux, Quarry is a  pinky taupe, unlike Haux, it's more purple toned and has a matte finish. It is beautifully soft and pigmented with excellent colour pay off and, due to the buttery soft texture, blends in seamlessly. It's one that I like to use all over the lid on no make up make up days but it also works really well as a transition shade for super smokey eyes.

Poppy Seed is a mauve-y pink toned nude with a satin finish, and it seems to be exclusive to the MAC Burgundy Times 9 palette. It's in a similar vein to both Quarry and Haux, which makes sense as they all came in the same palette, and I love using them all together for a matte smokey eye, think Adele's eye make up on the 25 album cover.

MAC eyeshadows range from £10 for the Pro-Pan refills or £13 for the individual Eyeshadow pans and are available from MAC link

What are your favourite MAC eyeshadows? Let me know by commenting below - I always reply so check back -, 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

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

April Favourites 2016

April Favourites 2016

Sunday, 8 May 2016

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So another month of 2016 has disappeared in the blink of an eye. I'm a month older but none the wiser but I do have loads of favourites to talk about so let's get down to it.

Beauty Blender - £16.00 from Beauty Blender

Until recently I didn't really understand the hype surrounding the beauty blender, I just thought it was an overpriced make up sponge, nothing really remarkable about it other than it's shape. But I have since seen the error of my ways. The beauty blender is a make up application game changer and I LOVE it. If you google beauty blender there are literally thousands of ways to use it, but my favourite is for concealer and as the final step when applying foundation. It blends everything in so seamlessly and when damp sheers out really heavy and cakey looking foundation. It also adds a ton of glow to the skin, which my complexion desperately needs. I also like to use it for blending out my contour as it makes it look so natural and non-Kardashian-esque.

Look Good Feel Better Finishing Brush - part of The Makeover Brush Set £24.99 from Boots

I picked up LGFB's Makeover Brush Set at the beginning of the month (read more about it here) and have been using them pretty much constantly ever since. The finishing brush is my favourite, I've been using it for my foundation because it's really soft, gives flawless coverage and because the bristles are synthetic it doesn't soak up too much product, minimising wastage. It's a great little brush.

Avon Big & False Lash Volume Mascara - £8.50 from Avon

The Big & False Lash Volume mascara is Avon's answer to Benefit's They're Real mascara, and if truth be told I actually prefer Avon's offering. It has a blacker than black 'fibre infused' formula and a big, fluffy brush that lifts, separates, defines and packs some serious wallop when it comes to volume.  Love it.

YSL's Rouge Volupté Shine in Corail A Porter - £26.00 from YSL

I really upped my fancy pants lipstick game when this bad boy made it's way into my collection. Everything about it screams premium! From the weighted gold packaging - that is so beautiful I could eat it -, to the incredibly satisfying click closure and the dreamy peach scented formula. High gloss lipsticks aren't usually my cup of tea, however after seeing how beautiful this one was, an exception had to be made. Corail A Porter is a deep pink-y coral with a super glossy finish. It also has a really nice formula, it's moisturising, it smells amazing and is very pigmented with a reasonable wear time. I like it a lot, and it is super fancy.

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Brave Red - £15.50 from MAC

This was a birthday present from a particularly lovely work friend of mind, and it's as if she read my mind. Brave Red is a classic pillar box shade, a bit more yellow than I'm used to, but a really gorgeous bright, bold red. It's another one with a glossy finish, but it actually looks quite dewy on the lips and is very comfortable to wear. I like it, and the sweetheart who bought it for me, a lot.

Blogosphere - £40 for Issues 1 - 8 at Blogosphere

I hadn't really heard of blogosphere until quite recently, but after seeing that 4 of my favourite bloggers had already been featured on the cover (Esteé Lalonde, Fleur De Force, Samantha Maria & Lily Pebbles) getting a subscription was a complete no brainer. Written for and by bloggers Blogosphere is a gorgeous magazine, full of insider tips and tricks for up and coming bloggers - like myself... she said wishful thinkingly - it's quickly become my go to bedtime read and I've read all 8 issues cover to cover, I can't wait for the next issue to come out.

Buzzfeed Video - Subscribe here

I've been talking about Buzzfeed non-stop lately (read more about it here and  here) because the content they create is brilliant and so addictive. Whether it's funny, informative or even a little bit gross, it's always interesting and very well executed. I dare you to watch just one, because in my experience it isn't possible!

The Bones of You by Debbie Howells - Paperback/Kindle Edition £3.55/£3.37 from Amazon

Lately I've been really getting into thrillers,  I blame Gone Girl, and The Bones of You is one of the best I've read. The book is about Rosie Anderson, an 18 year old girl who goes missing, throwing the tiny village she lives in into turmoil. When Rosie is found dead a few days later Kate, a friend of Rosie's mother, becomes obsessed with solving the mystery surrounding her death, revealing some dark secrets along the way. The story is a multi-narrative told from the points of view of Kate and Rosie herself, working backwards from her death, it's beautifully written, tense, suspenseful and the story has more twists and turns than a corkscrew. Think Broadchurch but even more shocking. I can't wait for Howell's next book, if it's anything like her first it's bound to be a good 'un.

Landline by Rainbow Rowell - Paperback/Kindle Edition£3.85/£4.99 from Amazon

Rainbow Rowell is one of my favourite authors because her writing is incredible, the best way I can think to describe it is kinda like a really good piece of cake  - or chocolate... insert applicable food here - you want to savour it because it is delicious. Landline is about tv writer Georgie McCool whose family and married life suffers the more successful she becomes. When she has to work over Christmas her husband Neal takes their daughters to back home to Omaha leaving Georgie alone in California. Unable to face her home and the problems in her marriage she goes to stay with her mother. In her teenaged bedroom, surrounded by pictures of pugs, Georgie discovers she has a direct line to 1998 and a young Neal who loved her, by using her ancient yellow rotary phone. I won't give away the ending but it is amazing! It's really funny and sweet and manages to be both completely realistic and a little bit magical. I loved it, definitely worth a read if you liked Eleanor and Park.

What were you loving in April? 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