Monthly Favourites | January 2014 |

Hello! As it's the end of January (already...!) it's time for the first installment of monthly favourites for the year. This month features a lot of make up, mostly lip-centric with a little bit of skin care thrown in for good measure. If you are more of a listener than a reader, I've included a video that I filmed to accompany this post too.

1. Revlon Lip Butter in 'Pink Lemonade': I'm a massive fan of the lip butter range and this shade is one of my top shades. A soft peachy pink, its easy to slick on and go and pairs perfectly with natural make up looks or to soften a smokey eye. I also find the formula nice and nourishing which is great for this time of year.

2. Topshop Lipstick in 'Idol': A while ago now I did a post on my Topshop lipstick collection, which now I have bought quite a few more I'm looking to update in the near future. This lipstick featured in it and it is still one of my favourite pinks. It's a bright, Barbie-esque pink which I've been wearing as a pop of colour with pared down make up.

3. Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream in 'Brink Pink': This has been posted on really recently, so for an in depth review click here. As you can tell I'm well and truly in a pink phase at the moment, with this lip cream being the brightest and most statement lip out of the 3. 

4. Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm: The last of the lip products, this is an absolute must have for the colder weather. I like to use it before bed as it leaves a slight layer on your lips. It is so nourishing and smells delicious and works really well when used in conjunction with a lip scrub.

5. Benefit 'Million $ Mocha' Eyeshadow: A beautiful shimmery brown shade with pink undertones, I've been using this all over the lid for a really simple day time appropriate smokey eye. The formula is really buttery and easy to blend with no fall out at all. 

6. Estee Lauder Double Wear & Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: This duo is a perfect pairing in my opinion! With this brush you only need a tiny amount of the foundation and when buffed in properly it leaves a lovely natural, airbrushed finish. Double Wear doesn't have to be cakey! I also have a full review on this foundation.

7. Estee Lauder Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher: After receiving this for Christmas I've used this every day as my morning serum. I think its best suited for the day as it is so light weight, and as it melts into skin immediately it leaves a super smooth base, perfect for make up. The pump bottle is also a nice addition as it gives just enough for your whole face without being messy.

8. Clarins Lotus Oil: A whole post has been dedicated to how much I love this oil already! If you have oily/combo skin I urge you to try this as it has really changed my skin for the better. It is a really light oil which won't clog your pores or break you out, while still hydrating your skin really well.

What are your favourites for this month? xxx

OOTD: Twenty Two

It was my friend's 22nd birthday the other week and we celebrated by going out clubbing in Birmingham. The club we went to is more 'upmarket' than the other student clubs and so they expect you to dress smarter, otherwise you won't be let in. I quite like this as it gives me the opportunity to wear some of my many dresses that I never seem to get much use out of and made her night feel a bit more special. The pictures shown are all from after the night so that's why I don't look my best haha. Also excuse the hideous carpet of my uni house!

What I wore:

* White peplum dress from Topshop

* Stud shoes from New Look

* Diamond stud earrings from H&M

I chose to wear a peplum dress I bought in Topshop over the summer, which I hadn't got the chance to wear yet. I think this dress is so lovely for smart occasions, for both day and evening. As well as the peplum I really like the lower back of the dress too. I bought it in black with a flower pattern on too as I just couldn't decide and think the design is gorgeous! I teamed it with some new heels I got in New Look which are just amazing!! I absolutely love them and they are just so me! They're not as high as some of my others but they support your feet really well making them more comfortable than some of my other platforms. New Look is so amazing for shoes, I always find loads I like! For accessories I just to go with some simple studs so I didn't over power the rest of the outfit.

For my hair I did the same style as in this outfit post to dress up the outfit more, and I find having my hair pinned up showed off the back of the dress and allowed me to be a bit cooler in a hot club! For my make up I followed a tutorial by pixiwoo which I thought was gorgeous, although I substituted a lot of the stuff  used for similiar things I had in my own make up bag. I already had collection glitter eyeliners, but had never though of using them as eyeshadows! 

What do you think of this outfit? xxx

October Favourites

Once again the lighting is horrendous and I'm struggling to take any decent photos for upcoming posts! On the plus side the festive season is creeping up on us and I bloody love it! I love everything about Autumn and Winter and am so excited to get ready for Christmas. The only downside is the ridiculous amount of work and deadlines I have for Uni around this time of year :( Now lets get on with this month's favourites...

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Kohl in 'Nude': A budget dupe for Mac's Chromographic pencil, this perks up my eyes when applied to the waterline. I've used it nearly every single day and it helps to make me look more awake on cold mornings.

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes in 'Extra Black': This makes my lashes look so nice with just one coat and gives a really natural looking definition and volume. I like to use it by itself when I'm having a 'no makeup' makeup day.

Lip butter in 'Raspberry Pie' and Topshop's 'Brighton Rock': Both these colours have been on my lips pretty much all month as I love bright lips at the moment and think that 'Raspberry pie' especially is a lovely colour for Autumn. You can see reviews for both here and here.

Christmas candles: I have quite a few more than the one pictured to represent them all. I love the smell of Autumn/Christmas candles and they have really got me into the festive spirit :)

Aussie Dual Personality Curl and Shine mousse: This is a new purchase of mine and I love it. My hair has a natural wave and this mousse boosts and holds this wave for longer. Unlike other curling mousses it doesn't leave your hair crunchy but instead leaves it lovely and soft. Expect a full review of this soon.

St Moriz Fake Tan Mousse: A different type of mousse now, this time for my body! I don't tend to fake tan on a daily basis but this is great for nights out. I prefer this type of formulation as it is easy to blend and the product leaves a lovely natural tan - I've never looked streaky or orange when I've used this.

Glitter nail varnishes: This is just a few from my collection that I've been wearing recently and loving. I like to layer them on top of other base colours to inject some sparkle into the darker days. Plus I just love glitter!

What do you think of my favourites? What are your favourites this month? xxx

OOTD: Autumn Leaves When The Grass Is Jewelled...

Does anyone else remember that hymn from primary school? It was one of my favourites that we had to sing in assembly :) Anyway, I thought I would do a simple outfit of the day which is perfect for Autumn/Winter as it is comfy and warm. It is a mixture of more expensive investment pieces such as my Urban Outfitters Parka which I bought in first year and has lasted me so well and goes with everything with cheaper bargain bits such as the jumper from Primark. The jumper is one of my favourite purchases recently as I love thick knitted jumpers, the colour and the detail of the elbow patches - plus it was a bargain for £14! As it is quite a simple outfit I paid attention to detail: the gold stripe down my leggings and the matching pearl headband and earrings which incorporated the gold too. I opted for Uggs on my feet as they are so warm and snuggly but I know people either love or hate them. I thought this look could also be paired with chelsea boots or my aviator style boots that I got from Missguided around 2 years ago. I'm not claiming to be ultra-stylish so I normally shy away from OOTDs but I liked this as a casual outfit and thought it would be a nice idea for other not so fashion concious people to relate to!

What I wore:

* Tan Ugg Boots

* Gold strip leggings from Topsohp

* Jumper with suede elbow patches from Primark

* Green Parka from Urban Outfitters

* Pearl headband from Forever 21

* Pearl stud earrings from Topshop

I went for a simple fresh face with a pop of colour on my lips. Recently I've been testing out the highly raved about Healthy Mix foundation by Bourjois and mixed it with some Hocus Focus (mentioned in my September favourites here) to add even more luminosity to my face. I also used 'rose shine' blush by Fashionista from a 4 quad palette which I recently purchased and will be sure to review soon. It is a lovely light pink that gives a wind bitten flush to the cheeks which is great for autumn/winter.I chose 'Brighton Rock' by Topshop for my lips - a colour and formulation I just can't get enough of and with toned down eyes it makes a lovely daytime look. I didn't do anything to my hair as I've successfully stopped using unecessary heat on my hair, so it was natural waves for me!

Whats on my face:

* Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation in '52 Vanille'

* Soap and Glory Hocus Focus

* Benefit Erase Paste in '1 Fair'

* Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in '1 Fair'

* 17 Miracle Matte Pressed Powder

* Fashionista blush in 'Rose Shine'

* Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige (for highlight)

* Bobbi Brown eyeshadow (for brows) in 'Mahogany'

* UD eyeshadow in 'Maui Wowie' all over the lid and a light application of 'Smog' from the Naked Palette in the crease

* Maxfactor 2000 Calorie Mascara in Black

* L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara in Extra Black

* Topshop Lipstick in 'Brighton Rock' (swatches here)

Swatched L-R: 'Smog' and 'Maui Wowie'

Thanks to Matt for being a fab photographer ;) What do you think of my outfit? xxx

In The Nude

Swatched L-R: Revlon lipbutter in 'Creme Brulee' - Topshop lipstick in 'Nevada' - Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick in '03'

Every beauty blogger knows that within the sphere of 'beauty' there is always one slight obsession  they have with a particular section whether it be skincare, haircare, bodycare etc... mine is make up at the moment and in particular I can't get enough of lipsticks! Over the summer I expanded my stash quite a lot and with the new additions came these three nudes. 

Before purchasing these lip products I didn't actually own any nudes instead mainly opting for pinks and reds. This all changed though after buying the first of my nudes which was Rimmel's '03' in a blog sale. In relation to the other nudes I have this is the darkest and its great for pulling together an evening/more sophisticated look. I like to wear it if I'm going out for a meal (see this post) or sometimes in the day with a gloss over the top. It is in the 'lasting finish' range by Kate Moss and I can verify it does last a good while on the lips without being drying.

I purchased the shade 'Creme Brulee' around the time the blogging world seemed obsessed with Revlon lipbutters. I've already done a review on what I thought of the actual product (here) so I won't go into too much detail about the formulation. The colour is a browny-nude which is quite sheer and glossy due to the nature of the lipbutters. I really like this and it is great for every day use when I don't want to look too 'done' or if I have heavy make up elsewhere it tones it down a bit and balances out my face. It's really easy to wear so if you are new to nudes I would suggest checking this out.

The final lipstick of the bunch is 'Nevada' which I think just takes first place as my favourite overall. It is a really pretty light shade which can be perfect for day time with just one swipe or layered up for more intensity. It isn't the most universal shade however as its not suitable for all skintones the way 'creme brulee' is more inclined as it is quite pale. If you would like a more detailed opinion then I reviewed it here in a post about my Topshop lipstick collection.

Do you have any favourite nude lipsticks? Have you tried any of the ones mentioned? xxx

My Topshop Lipstick Collection

Topshop's diversification into make up has been around for a while now but I was never totally convinced. I love their clothes but figured the transition into make up would always be a let down as I perceived it to be more of a side project. I expected the formulation and packaging of products to be cheap looking and over priced....but how wrong I was!! Since testing out various products from their make up range I have fallen in love with it, particularly with their lipsticks. Although it not may be the cheapest in price, it is certainly priced fairly in line with the quality of the products on offer.

I now own 5 lipsticks from Topshop: Nevada, Idol, Brighton Rock, Infrared and Legend, the latter from their newly released collection with Louise Grey. They all have the same velvet matte finish (bar Legend) but still manage to be moisturising and deliver great colour pay off - the colour you see in the tube is really what you get on your lips which is a massive plus for me as lipsticks can sometimes lack on this front. The colours of these lipsticks are in no way sheer and therefore even one coat of them delivers a lovely pop of colour. The fact I'm really into bright lips at the moment means I'm wearing these all the time. Even if you're not a fan of matte finishes, they are worth it just for the colour and you can just add a bit of balm/gloss over the top. I also find their wear time to be quite long which was again surprising for me but obviously a plus point. They all have the same stylish packaging and design which is sleek and lightweight, although the only con is that the white marks easily and you can't seem to get it off. The lipsticks also have a sweet smell to them, but this is quite light and doesn't transfer to the lips. The shade range of the lipsticks can sometimes be very similar, so it is best if you are interested in trying them to go instore and have a swatch yourself.

Infrared: This is the first shade I picked up after seeing Zoe from Zoella rave about it so much. I had been wanting to get into orange lipstick for a while and this shade was the perfect one to start with. The colour is a true deep orange and I just really love it! It is a really bold colour, like I said before even with just one coat but its staying power is great and I find these lipsticks also leave a nice stain so don't wear off patchy. As it isn't bright neon orange I think it is a very wearable shade for both evening and in the day - I've been wearing this in the day with a neutral eye and find it is great at adding something a bit different to your look.

Nevada: This is a very pale, milky nude which may not suit all skin tones. I have quite pigmented lips but only one coat is enough to create a 'your lips but better' look. I like to smudge it with my finger into my lips as unlike the brighter colours, I find it looks better with less precision and just a natural wash of colour. When wearing heavier eye makeup this is a good choice to balance out the rest of my make up. I'm steadily building up my nude collection and this is one of my favourites as for my skintone I find it relatively easy to wear.

Idol: Pink lipsticks are definitely my favourite colour to wear and I have quite a few varying shades (which Matt never understands!) but this one has fast become one of my favourites. It is a perfect Barbie pink and just so so pretty! I like to build up the colour so it really pops. Again this would be perfect for in the day or the evening. I love it!

Brighton Rock: Not only did the colour of this lipstick grab me but the name too as I really like the book by the same title. This pink is a lovely deep shade which is quite similar to a Rimmel one I own (shade 340 Lily Extase) although the latter is a bit darker. Again I would wear this in the day or evening and I've found it to be an excellent colour match to my Hollister jumper I got in a recent haul :)

Legend: Firstly, how cute is the packaging! It is so lovely and pretty! Even though I've already got loads of pinks, I saw this featured on Tereza's blog Cityscape Bliss and knew I just HAD to have it. It is from the recently released range by Louise Grey from Topshop and it is BEAUTIFUL!! It is a bit like Brighton Rock but the colour is close to being Neon. It's a really bold colour and perfect for the evening. This shade is £10 so a little more than the core collection but it is definitely worth the price. I'm so pleased I picked this up :)

That's it for my collection and I am keen for more...! What do you think of these colours? Have you tried any Topshop lipstick? xxx

P.S. I'm trying to branch out and do some different style posts rather than just reviews, what do you think? If you have any suggestions of what you would like to see, then leave me a comment/tweet me and let me know!

Oops I Did It Again...!

Hello everyone, at the moment I'm back in Exeter :)! The other day Matt and I decided to go into the centre of the city and enjoy some retail therapy to celebrate that he has just got a new job! After spending a good few hours in town, I came back with more than I expected (although some were gifts) and Matt came back with... nothing! Woops! Apologies for the not so wonderful pictures, but the weather was pretty gloomy so the lighting wasn't fab. 

                 

Leopard Print studs are a gift for a friend.

 Revlon Just Bitten in 'Cherish Devotion'

 Mini peace hoop earrings from Urban Outfitters (gifted)

 Soap & Glory Supercat Liquid Eyeliner

 Kirsten high waisted jeans from Topshop - £20 in the sale!! Half price! Bargain!

 Dark Blue Jeans from Topshop (gifted) - I really needed a new pair of jeans as my previous trusty Pippa ones from Topshop were threadbare after 3 years of wear!

Bargain of the day: Stila make up for £1 EACH in Poundland!!!!

This is a broad overview of what I purchased - expect detailed reviews of the mentioned products to be up in the near future. On the whole I am really happy with what I got especially as I wasn't planning on buying a lot apart from a much needed pair of jeans, plus I managed to pick up some real bargains :)

What do you think of my haul? xxx

OOTD: Little Black Dinner Dress

A couple of nights ago my boyfriend and I went out for dinner and drinks to celebrate some good news on our last night in Birmingham before heading down to Exeter. This is quite a simple outfit as it wasn't ultra dressy, but still was girly and suitable for the occasion. I love LBDs just because they are so easy to accessorize and you can wear them in so many different ways, especially this skater dress as it would be great for the day time too. I've also been waiting for an excuse to wear my new gold cuff  necklace which I have been wearing soo much ever since I purchased it. It's been such a great buy as it goes with smart or casual outfits. 

* Black Skater Dress from Topshop

* Shoes from Carvela 

* Tights from M&S

* Clutch bag from a friend

* Bracelet and Earrings from Forever 21

* Gold Cuff Necklace from H&M

*Friendship Bracelet from Turkey

I love wearing black as it means I can really diversify how I do my make up each time I wear the outfit as you can wear literally any colour. I chose to go with purple eyes and my nude Rimmel lipstick. I left my hair naturally wavy/curly underneath and added some curls on top.

L-R: 'Grifter' by UD, True Colour Eyeshadow in 'Midnight Plum' by Avon, Mac Pigment in 'Violet'

More true colour of Avon eyeshadow than first picture.

L-R: Collection Glam Crystals in 'Shake it Up' and Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipstick in 03

What do you think of this outfit and make up? xxx

Happy Father's Day!

Hey guys,

Hope you all had a wonderful Father's Day and managed to celebrate in some way, whether it was a big family get together or a little more low key. I'm lucky enough to have an amazing Dad so it was great to be able to show him how grateful I am. We had all the family round for a lovely Sunday roast, with a cream tea for afters! I don't get to see my family very often, so it was a great to see everyone.

What I wore
* Blue lace top with sequins Topshop
* Earrings from Forever 21
* White strap top from New Look
* Pippa Jeans from Topshop

My lovely Dad

What did you do for Father's Day? xxx