Wednesday, 9 May 2018

May Goals

May Goals
Wednesday, 9 May 2018
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How is it May, already?! How?! Normally I hate starting posts like this, because it's such a bloody blogger cliche - and one I'm very guilty of - but the rate at which this year is moving at is terrifying me. Where has the time gone?! It's frightening! Anyway - existential crises aside - it's been a while since I last set any goals, and now seems as good a time as any for me to make some changes.

Stop procrastinating

I'm a terrible time waster! Seriously, my powers of procrastination are second to none. As I write this I'm also watching old episodes of Bake Off on Netflix and paying way more attention to Mary Berry than what I'm actually typing. I know full well that I'd get this post done quicker, and would do a much better job, if I was giving it my undivided attention but I just can't help myself. I also just took a five minute break from this sentence to scroll through instagram. I have a problem!

Make better use of my free time

I'm always working. Always. I'm either actually at work, or I'm editing videos or working on my blog. I don't stop, and I always have something to do. I really don't have a lot of free time, and usually I'm so knackered that I don't make the most of the free time I do have. I either want to take a little nap, that lasts a whole weekend, or crash in front of Netflix. There's nothing wrong with either of those things, in fact they're both splendid ways to spend some time, but I've recently realised that my time is limited. And I don't mean day to day, although it is, I mean that one day I won't exist anymore. Now, while I'm fully prepared to admit that I am definitely in the throes of a quarter life crisis, it's a very scary thought, and there is so much I want to do. Like learning to play the piano, or reading everything Bryony Gordon has ever written, or getting really, really good at guitar. So I'd better get to doing it really, hadn't I? On that note I'm off to learn the guitar riff from Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight. 

What are your goals this month? xx



Wednesday, 2 May 2018

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. 










Monday, 2 April 2018

All about that base - foundation routine

All about that base - foundation routine
Monday, 2 April 2018
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In 2014 Meghan Trainor sang that it was all about that bass, bout that bass, no treble, and, even though that song is terrible, when it comes to make up I’m inclined to agree. Honestly, for me a good base forms the foundation (badum chhh... I’m not even sorry!) of my make up.
Wednesday, 14 March 2018

Four lovely facial oils

Four lovely facial oils
Wednesday, 14 March 2018
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Yesterday, 13th March, was my fifth blogaversary, and, as is time honoured tradition, I completely forgot all about it. I promise one year I will remember and make a big ol' song and dance about the whole thing, but this year ain't that year. I did put up a very emotional instagram post though, you can see that here.
Wednesday, 7 March 2018

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






Monday, 5 March 2018

March Goals 2018

March Goals 2018
Monday, 5 March 2018
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I can’t believe I’m already setting my goals for March! The passage of time honestly terrifies me!  Seriously, in my head 2006 was only two weeks ago. Nevertheless here we are and my goals aren’t going to set themselves now are they?
Wednesday, 21 February 2018

The Five Podcasts You Need To Be Listening To

The Five Podcasts You Need To Be Listening To
Wednesday, 21 February 2018
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Once upon a time I thought podcasts were... not lame, lame’s not the word I’m looking for, but I can’t think of the word I am looking for so we’ll go with lame. Then when I started my job I realised that I can’t do anything, and I mean anything, in silence. I have what I like to refer to as a hyper active brain, and by that I mean I’m very easily distracted - I can be doing something and then BAM! I just have to know what David Hassellhoff has been up to - and my internal monologue is so fricking loud and almost impossible to ignore. It’s why I always did so badly in exams but my coursework was always lit. 
Monday, 19 February 2018

(Belated) February Goals 2018

(Belated) February Goals 2018
Monday, 19 February 2018
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So it's very late in the day to be setting my monthly goals, maybe even too late, what can I say -  a total lack of motivation and organisation has been my downfall this month. Having said that I still have nine days to make a difference and put some of these goals into action. If nothing else it will leave me in a really good position for the next month.
Wednesday, 7 February 2018

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!
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