Sunday, 31 January 2016

January Beauty Favourites 2016

January Beauty Favourites 2016
Sunday, 31 January 2016
Read post






La Roche-Posay Serozinc - £8.50 from boots.com

I recently raved about this in my Mini Skincare Haul (read it here) but I've been using it every single day and I seriously love it. It has made my terrible skin look so much better, it's just bad skin now.  It has become an unmissable step in my skin care routine because it is so so good. It calms down any big, juicy spots, completely gets rid of little ones and gives the overall appearance of clearer skin. LOVE. IT.

Max Factor Gel Shine Lacquer in #35 Lacquered Violet - £7.99 from boots.com

I picked this up at the end of last year and it's been on my nails pretty much ever since. I love purple nails and Lacquered Violet is such a sophisticated and pretty take on that. The colour is absolutely gorgeous, the perfect blend of purple and blue, and it has a fabulous formula with great opacity - one coat! - and a high shine finish. The packaging is really pretty too. It's lovely.

Michael Kors for Esteé Lauder Blush Trio - No longer available.

For a really long time I was too scared to use this because it's so beautiful and I didn't want to hurt it. Then I realised that thought was completely ridiculous and I got over it. It is seriously B-E-A-U-Tiful! The trio is made up of a plum, a bright pink and a light mauve. The blushes are finely milled, buttery soft in texture, blend easily and are well pigmented with a subtle shimmer running through them. They're so pigmented that you need to use a really light hand with them or risk looking like you're permanently embarrassed - a lesson I learnt the hard way - even so they're amazing. Individually they're lovely, but when swirled together with my trusty Real Techniques Blush Brush they create a lovely pink-y mauve that gives the cheeks a really pretty glow. It is gorgeous AND that packaging though! It is seriously dreamy! - Sorry for being a tease guys! This blush was part of a limited edition collection and is no longer available :(

Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2 in 1 Moisturiser & Serum - £5.99 for 100ml from superdrug.com

I've been kind of obsessed with skincare for the past couple of months, hoping to find the miracle product that will give me the  flawless, english rose complexion of Emma Watson or Emilia Clarke.  Alas so far that has not happened but I have found some darn good products, Superdrug's Naturally Radiant 2 in 1 Moisturiser & Serum is one of them. It's a really nourishing serum, with a silky smooth gel like texture that sinks into the skin so quickly. It gives me a much needed burst of hydration and really brightens up my dull, grey skin. I've been using it every night and I really like it, plus it smells amazing! Seriously amazing.

Soap & Glory No Clogs Allowed Super Self-Heating Deep Pore Detox Mask - £11.50 for 100ml from boots.com

I picked this up a couple of weeks ago after reading some rave reviews online and thought it was definitely worth a try with my clogged and congested skin. It is so good. It starts working it's self-heating magic the moment it applies to the skin, really getting into the pores and giving them a proper deep clean. It's been really good for my skin. I like it a lot.

Naked 2 Palette - £38.00 from urbandecay.co.uk

I've been OBSESSED with the Naked 2 palette throughout January. I've had a bit of a thing for matte eyeshadows - I blame Adele and the make up she wore on the 25 album cover - and I've been particularly loving the shades Foxy & Tease. Foxy is a slightly yellow,  creamy nude that I've been packing on all over the lid and Tease is a light, almost lilac-y toned chocolate brown which I've been using in the crease to give my eyes some smokey definition. It's a combination I've been loving all month and wearing pretty much everyday but the rest of the palette is just as heavenly. The shadows are pigmented, blendable, buttery soft and incredibly wearable, with a range of finishes including shimmers, glitters and the odd matte. They apply beautifully and there is no creasing whatsoever with these bad boys. Naked 2 is basically perfect. The obsession is so real people!

Collection Extreme Felt Tip Liner - £2.99 from boots.com

Another product whose presence here can be attributed to Adele. Back in the day I used to wing my eyeliner everyday like it weren't no thing. I could do it in seconds, no mistakes made and be out the door. Oh how I miss those days. Now it's a bit of a different story. Being out of practice and my eyelids having become curiously wrinkly (don't think about it!) I've had to go back to basics to get my eyeliner back on fleek. The Collection Extreme 24Hr Felt Tip Liner is the liner that helped me perfect the wing originally due to it's sturdy nib, long lasting, blacker than black liquid formula and it's general awesomeness. I've been reaching for it on a daily basis to get the practice in and my wings back and I still really, really love it. Maybe even more than Benefit's They're Real Push-Up Liner.

L'Oréal Color Riche Exclusive Collection in Julianne's Perfect Nude - £6.99 from boots.com

Okay it's pretty safe to say that all my make up favourites this month are due to Adele. That was one seriously amazing make up look that's all I can say. But oh man this colour is so dreamy. I'm not normally a fan of nudes (tehehe) but this is the most beautiful pink-y nude lipstick that is so easy to wear but looks like I've put a lot of effort in. It is seriously beautiful.

What were your January Beauty 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
Thursday, 28 January 2016

FEARLESS: Introduction & The First Challenge

FEARLESS: Introduction & The First Challenge
Thursday, 28 January 2016
Read post



Way back in 2013 I started a blog called Fearless: A Year of Confidence. At the time, shockingly, I had really quite low self-confidence and the idea was to set myself daily challenges that would take me outside my comfort zone and slowly increase my confidence. It didn't work. It was a good idea but it didn't work, but only because, being incredibly naive at the time, I didn't realise how much work goes into a blogging and with my uni work, this blog and a way more active social life than I have now, it all fell by the wayside pretty quickly.

Last year I thought about revisiting the idea but decided that the timing wasn't right and it would be more suited for this time of year. So here it is, finally, 3 years after I had the original idea, it's had some tweaks but I am very happy to introduce FEARLESS! Essentially it is the same, I will be challenging myself to try new things, get outside of my comfort zone and work on my confidence - it's still not great - except they will be bi-monthly challenges, not daily, and I will be sticking to it this time.

Challenge #1: Go to the Gym alone & book a Personal Training session

Last time I went to the gym I let myself get really intimidated, I freaked out after about half an hour and left because I felt so uncomfortable and self-concious. I haven't been back since. I want to go back because I do want to get in shape and get fit but also because I don't want to be intimidated by it. It's ridiculous, I need to prove to myself that it's just a gym and it's okay that other people use it. Get over it. To make things a little bit harder on myself I want to book a Personal Training session. I haven't booked one before because honestly I was way too self-conscious but I have no idea what I'm doing and I need help. It's all well & good me being able to go to the gym but it's pointless if I haven't got a clue what to do. So that is my first challenge. Wish me luck!

I'll keep you posted.

Let me know what you think 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






Tuesday, 26 January 2016

5 Things I'm Excited For In 2016

5 Things I'm Excited For In 2016
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
Read post

Okay guys how long into the new year can we get until it's not a new year anymore? The end of January still counts right? - Side note: HOW ON EARTH IS IT THE END OF JANUARY?! - Well before it's officially too late I thought I'd tell you guys about some of the things I am really excited for in the coming year.

Starting a Youtube Channel

I've been threatening promising to start a Youtube Channel for the past 2 or so years but what with uni work, actual work and life generally getting in the way I haven't been able to. Now I FINALLY can. My tripod has arrived and I will be filming some stuff very soon, so keep an eye out for that. I'm really, really nervous but really excited too, it should be a lot of fun! 

Getting back into Slimming World

At the beginning of last year I was really ON Slimming World, I lost 1.5 stone (21 pounds) and was feeling so much better for it, but then I got off track and put some of the weight back on and really lost heart. So I'm quite excited to really get back on it. I mean junk food tastes good and all but it makes me feel really rubbish. Hmm... maybe that's why it's called junk? 

Learning more

You'd think that after 4 years of uni I'd have had enough of learning, but I love learning new stuff, even if it's just really random stuff I've read on Wikipedia (that's how I learnt that when an Octopus gets stressed out it will try to eat itself). At the moment I'm figuring out how to use my new camera  - which I AM OBSESSED WITH & slowly getting the hang of - but there are so many things I want to learn. Including: how to drive (I've been saying this for years, maybe this is the year!), how to play guitar (ditto), how to sew, how to cook properly... the list really is endless.

Working what I want to do

This may be the scariest thing of all, I'm absolutely terrified, but the prospect of finding out what it is that I want to do, and then finding a way to actually do it, I mean that's a little bit exciting. Very, very scary but exciting too. 
Travelling

This is the thing I am most excited about! I'm hoping to go travelling towards the end of the year, August/September time. I haven't booked anything yet, at the moment I'm just focusing on doing a load of over time at work and adding to my savings as much as I can. But I have so many ideas about where I want to go. I'm torn between Australia, New Zealand & some of Asia on the way back, I'd love to go across America or around Europe. It all depends on how much I save. If you guys have any suggestions or advice please let me know. 


What are you looking forward to this year?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
Sunday, 24 January 2016

The Weekly Round Up #10: NYX, Barry M & ALL THE ICE CREAM

The Weekly Round Up #10: NYX, Barry M & ALL THE ICE CREAM
Sunday, 24 January 2016
Read post



This week has lasted FOREVER! But it's over now. I've had a nice, relaxing weekend and am I really ready for the week ahead - sorry that's a total lie, I'm never ready for Mondays - but before we get started onto the new week let's round up the last one shall we?

Barry M Speedy Quick Dry Nail Paint in Sprint Finish - £3.99 from boots.com

I love the formula of Barry M's Quick Dry Nail Paints. It's way up there with some of my favourite formulations. It does exactly what it says on the tin, dries super quickly, add to that a fabulous cuticle hugging brush and you have got yourself a darn good nail polish. So when I was browsing the aisles of boots and spotted this pretty burgundy shade it was only a matter of time until it would be making it's way into my collection, which it has. Now it's on my nails. I love it.

NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Hera & NYX Butter Lipstick in Moonlit Night -£5.00 /£5.50 from Boots, available here & here

NYX is a brand I've heard loads about but never tried, and I thought it was about time I changed that. So I had a little browse online and before I knew it I'd added the Jumbo Lip Pencil in Hera and the Butter Lipstick in Moonlit Night to my basket. Hera is a beautiful, bright cerise pink with a blue shimmer running through it and Moonlit Night is a gorgeous, gorgeous berry. Both shades make my eyes turn into hearts because they are beautiful but I haven't actually tried them out yet so I'll keep you posted.

Ben & Jerry's Blondie Brownie Core Ice Cream

If you follow me on twitter you'll have noticed that I have recently discovered Ben & Jerry's Blondie Brownie Core Ice Cream and it is so amazing that I can't stop eating it. It's chocolate & caramel ice cream with a salted caramel core and blondies and brownies in, and it is incredible! Seriously it is so good that I couldn't get a photo because I ate it.  It is delicious! So much so that you could eat a whole tub in one sitting completely by accident, not that I've ever done that ;). It's amazing and it's causing some problems because I am trying so hard to eat healthily and be good. DAMNIT BEN! DAMNIT JERRY!

How was your week? 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
Saturday, 23 January 2016

Lip Smacker Coca-Cola Collection

Lip Smacker Coca-Cola Collection
Saturday, 23 January 2016
Read post


Lip Smacker Coca-Collection - £7.59 for a set of 4 from amazon.co.uk

Back in my uni days I had a pretty intense Coca-Cola habit, as in I could, and did, drink a 2 litre bottle a day and think nothing of it. If I ever had to choose between food or a bottle of Coke, food would always lose. BUT it is so bad for you and I know that, so I don't really drink it anymore. Now I am what I like to refer to as a Coca-Cola enthusiast. I don't really drink it but I have Coca-Cola pyjamas and I love them. So I was thrilled when I opened this Lip Smackers Coca-Cola collection on Christmas morning. 

Who else used to love Lip Smackers as a kid? Just me? I loved going to Claire's Accessories when I was a tween and spending all  my pocket money on Coke flavoured Lip Smackers and those checkered sweat bands, even though I definitely wasn't doing enough exercise to cause me to actually sweat. I've gone off topic, anyway this little giftset caused quite the rush of nostalgia when I opened it. I was over the moon. 

For those who don't know Lip Smackers specialise in cool and quickly lip balms, but my favourites are the fizzy drink ones, they're the best because they taste exactly like they're supposed to. I mean EXACTLY. I don't know how they've managed to contain a bottle of drink in a lip balm but they have. I can only think some kind of witch craft is involved. Not only do they taste incredible but they are actually decent lip balms. They're moisturising, provide lasting hydration and they leave the lips feeling soft and smooth. A lot of novelty lip balms just disappear and do absolutely nothing but these do last reasonably well on the lips. Lip balm, like hand cream/hand sanitiser,  is one of those products that I don't like to be without and these ones are really good, taste amazing and are oh so cool. 

Have you tried any  Lip Smackers? Which one is your favourite? 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







Thursday, 21 January 2016

Mini Skincare Haul

Mini Skincare Haul
Thursday, 21 January 2016
Read post

You've all heard about my problem skin by now, if you haven't then, to cut a really long story short, it's pants, my skin is pants (that means bad for any non english people reading this). I've recently taken to browsing the aisles of boots, and the sephora website and basically anywhere that sells skin care, to try and find the miracle product that will turn my skin around. Here are some of the bits I've picked up on my travels.

La Roche-Posay Serozinc - £8.50 for 150ml from boots.com

Serozinc is essentially a water spray containing Zinc Sulfate, an active ingredient in a lot of acne treatments. The spray dispenses a fine mist, which can be sprayed directly onto the face, although this does take some getting used to, or applied to a cotton pad and swept across the skin. There is a lot of hype surrounding this particular product, like A LOT a lot, but for very good reason. It. Is. Awesome.  I really do struggle with my skin, I get breakouts, blackheads, big juicy blemishes galore - oh for the days when it was just the occasional blackhead and sensitivity -  and I have tried everything, and I really mean everything, and this is one of the first things that has made a real, noticeable difference to my skin. I've been using it in place of a toner for the past week or so and it's incredible.  It reduces redness, calms particularly aggressive spots and clears smaller spots. It is seriously amazing. Just a quick warning though ALWAYS cover your eyes when spraying on your face. I got some in my eyes and I swear I've never known pain like it. Other than it's awesome and I'm sure I'll be adding the Effaclar System to my basket at some point in the very near future. 

Soap & Glory No Clogs Allowed Super Self Heating Mask Deep Pore Detox Mask - £11.50 for 100ml from boots.com

Okay so this mask is amazing. I've only used it once but I already love it. It's a self-heating mask that begins to heat up as soon as it's applied to the skin. It gives the skin a real deep clean, really getting into the pores and getting rid of dirt and bacteria to prevent new spots forming. It also reduces the appearance of spots and pores and leaves the skin looking, and feeling clearer. It works wonders on congested skin. The best part is that the mask turns blue once it's been activated which is SO COOL! I love it. 

Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2 in 1 Moisturiser & Serum - £5.99 for 50ml from superdrug.com

This 2 in 1 Serum is a seriously lovely offering from Superdrug's own skincare line. I'm actually super impressed with what I've tried so far. It's really nice quality but also really cheap which is always a bonus. This serum has a lovely silky smooth texture that just melts into the skin. Normally I'm not a massive fan of serums, some I've tried have felt really sticky on the skin, but this applies really smoothly and just feels so nice on the skin, it's also really nourishing. My skin gets really dull and grey, particularly in the winter time, and this serum has done a lot to restore some radiance, and general glowiness to my skin and make me look more alive. It's very nice. 

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream - £5.99 for 15ml from superdrug.com

The skin under my eyes is really sensitive, to the point where if I don't moisturise regularly then it becomes dry and sore and starts to look and feel like tissue paper. The worst thing is it really doesn't take much to irritate it, so I have to be super careful with what I use. It's a bit of a vicious circle really. Superdrug's Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream is really nice, and one of the few eye creams I've come across that doesn't have any adverse affects on me. It's quite rich but also lightweight and fast absorbing. It's really moisturising and oh so gentle on the skin. It doesn't irritate me at all but leaves my under eye area feeling nourished and looking refreshed and awake. I almost can't believe how good it is. Especially when considering how cheap it is. It is so good. 

What skin care bits have you been loving lately? Any recommendations? 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


Tuesday, 19 January 2016

3 Products that Fight Frizz Fast

3 Products that Fight Frizz Fast
Tuesday, 19 January 2016
Read post

I was cursed  blessed with a tangled mane of messy curls which, honestly, are an absolute bitch to maintain. My hair care routine is pretty set, I know what works for me and I stick to it. I wash my hair 2-3 times a week, the day I wash it tends to be an okay hair day, and I handle the frizz on the days in between. Some days I wake up and my hair is fine - these days are rare but they do happen - but more often than not I'll wake up with hair closely resembling a cherry red brillo pad. On those days, if it's a non hair washing day, there are three products I reach for to tame my mane and calm my curls.


This stuff is my Holy Grail product for getting rid of frizz fast. When my hair is being particularly mad the first thing I do is spray this liberally through my hair to dampen it down, before working it in with my fingertips. It's very conditioning, really hydrates and nourishes the hair and leaves it feeling soft, smooth and frizz free. It also treats split ends and fights against breakage. I've been using it for years and nothing else calms my hair quite like it. 

This teeny, tiny bottle of magical golden liquid is a GODSEND for curly hair. I'm serious, this stuff is incredible! Frizzy/curly haired girls everywhere owe Avon a huge thank you for this! That's how good it is. For an oil it's non-greasy, light weight and oh so nourishing. One pump, run through the mid lengths and ends of the hair,smooths down any frazzled flyways and gets rid of any fluffiness. Leaving me with smooth, healthy looking, frizz free curls. It's actually amazing. 

John Frieda Frizz Ease Secret Agent Touch-up Crème - £5.99 for 100ml from superdrug.com

Another Holy Grail product for us curly girls. The Secret Agent Touch-Up Crème is a thick cream with a surprisingly light texture. Once worked into the hair it breaks down and sort of binds the hair together, smoothing away any flyways and frizz. It smells really nice and works wonders on mad hair.  I've been using it for years because it's so good and I haven't found anything else that does the job better. Love it.

Each of these products work really well on their own but the combination of the three works a frizz fighting miracle. What products do you use to tame your hair when it's misbehaving? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or emailing me at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

*Disclaimer:* This post is NOT sponsored by John Frieda. I'm just a really big fan of the Frizz Ease range. 
Sunday, 17 January 2016

The Weekly Round Up #9: Bad Skin Days, Wildfire & New Youtube Obsessions

The Weekly Round Up #9: Bad Skin Days, Wildfire & New Youtube Obsessions
Sunday, 17 January 2016
Read post

This week has been really, really long. I've been doing a ton of overtime at work so I can save money and my days have basically been me getting up and leaving the house really early, getting back late and then going straight to bed. Just one of those weeks but it's over now, so I should really round it up.

My skin has been so bad over the past couple of weeks. I've mentioned, briefly, that I was diagnosed with Adult Acne in October and I've been getting treatment for it which is NOT working. I can't even tell you how frustrating it is. I'm going back to my GP to see what else we can do because it's driving me crazy. I've bought some new skin care bits in case I've been using something I'm allergic to so keep an eye out for a mini skin care haul on Thursday. 

Wildfire by Rachel Platten - £8.99 from iTunes

I'm not normally a pop girl, I'm more of a leather and lace, blasting AC DC till your ears bleed kinda girl. Having said that I've been listening to Wildfire on repeat for the past week because it is so good! I just can't stop listening to it, it makes me feel like I can take on the world. It's amazing. I've really enjoyed  listening to it. My favourite songs are Fight Song (obvs), Stand by You (ditto), Better Place and Speechless but there isn't a song I don't like.  I love this album.

Shay Mitchell - watch her youtube channel here

I haven't watched Pretty Little Liars - I'll be changing that as soon as I've finished writing up this post - so I didn't really know who Shay Mitchell was. But after seeing her in an Ingrid Nilsen video (watch it here) on Friday, I switched over to her channel and very quickly became hooked, before I knew it I'd fallen into a Youtube vortex and when I came out it was 2 in the morning but her videos are so good. She's even done quite a few collaborations with some of my favourite youtubers - Rhett & Link, Ingrid Nilsen, the list goes on - she just seems really cool.

How was your week? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check me out on instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest
Thursday, 14 January 2016

Soap & Glory It's the Whole She-Bang

Soap & Glory It's the Whole She-Bang
Thursday, 14 January 2016
Read post





I've been a fan of Soap & Glory for years now, their products are amazing quality and the Christmas gift sets are something I look forward to every year. So when this wasn't one of the presents under my Christmas tree, well I had to rush out and buy it (even though I'd been spoilt rotten). When I found out it was half price that was just the icing on the cake, when my mum offered to buy it for me... well that was the cherry on top.

For this INCREDIBLE gift set, the mack daddy of gift sets if you will - Soap & Glory collaborated with pop artist and fashion designer Philip Colbert, the man behind The Rodnik Band, for the enormous, and fabulous, vanity case. That vanity case plays host to 9 full sizes of some of S&G's best selling products.

The set contains:

Clean on Me Moisture Shower Gel - £6.50 from boots.com
The Scrub of Your Life Body Butter - £7.00 from boots.com
The Righteous Butter Body Butter - £10.00 from boots.com
The Righteous Butter Instant Sun Kissed Tint Body Lotion - £8.00 from boots.com
Hand Food Hand Cream - £5.50 from boots.com
Heel Genius Foot Cream - £5.50 from boots.com
Peaches & Clean 4-in-1 Wash Off Deep Cleansing Milk - £6.00 (currently on offer, usually £8.00) from boots.com
Thick & Fast High Definition Collagen-Coat Mascara - £10.50 from boots.com
Sexy Mother Pucker Lip  Plumping Gloss in Rose & Shine - £9.00 from boots.com

It's mostly made up of body bits but has a nice mix of everything with some beauty and tanning bits thrown in for good measure. I haven't had the chance to have a proper play with everything yet but Clean on Me, Hand Food, Heel Genius and Peaches & Clean are all old favourites of mine and I can't wait to try out the Thick & Fast Collagen-Coat Mascara. I can't praise it enough. Not only is it stuffed to the brim full of fabulous products but it's also incredible value for money. This set was £60 but has a total worth of £70 and I, well my mum, only paid £30 for it, which is half it's retail price, and less than half it's value. What a bargain! As you would expect it's completely sold out online but there might be a few still floating around in store, so it's definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of Soap & Glory.

Did you get your hands on S&G's It's The Whole She-Bang? 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 regular updates.

Love love love xxx
Latest pins