New clothes!!

With my holiday coming up on the 1st June I have been buying a few summery items. I'm guilty of purchasing clothes quite regularly but I do also sell unwanted ones on eBay (that's my excuse anyway). First stop was Missguided which I love and am always buying things from their website as the prices are good and they are always adding new stock all the time. 

Here I bought a powder blue skater style dress with black and white roses all over it and a pair of shorts with black and bright pink squares. The dress is jersey material with an elasticated waist and little cap sleeves, perfect for daytime with some flip flops or in the evening with some jewellery and cute handbag. The shorts are tailored and fall just on my waist with a zip fastening down the side. I absolutely love these and can't wait to wear them with a crop top and flat shoes or heels and a clutch for a night out. 

Next stop was New Look which has become a regular place for to visit since I moved house and there is one within walking distance of my house. 

As well as shopping for holiday clothes, I've really been trying to step out of my comfort zone and buying brightly coloured items and also things I usually steer clear of. These flowery shorts caught my eye but I wasn't sure if I could carry them off or not, they look like pyjama shorts to me which isn't a good look combined with my knobbly knees! I decided to take the plunge and buy them though as I'll wear them on holiday and if I don't want to wear them when I get home, I can always wear them in bed. Win win! They were £14.99 which I think is an ok price especially if I get the use out of them. 

The first thing I saw when I walked into New Look was this gorgeous jade green coloured maxi skirt. Every year I look for new maxi skirts and dresses as I live in them through Spring and summer, here and abroad. I really can't wait to wear this as it's soft material and quite light which is good as I get hot really easily. I'll wear it with either a vest or a crop top and dress it up in the evening with jewellery. It was £14.99 and comes in a few different colours other than the green. 

This silver coloured necklace is just perfect for dressing up casual outfits and I will get a lot of wear out of it as I also wear jewellery at work and day to day. It was £7.99 which I don't mind paying for something I know I will repeatedly wear. 

Lastly is this basic white vest which is thin and light enough to wear alone with shorts or a skirt or over your bikini at the beach. I will probably wear it tucked into all my pairs of shorts that I have bought recently! It was £5.99 and comes in different colours. 

Xx

May Glossybox

I was really really looking forward to receiving my May Glossybox as I had seen on Instagram that the box is celebrating 50 years of Superdrug and also contains a few full size products. I admit I had a sneaky look at posts by other bloggers to see what they had in their boxes when I hadn't received mine yet, then I felt bad that I had ruined the surprise! 

I finally got my hands on my box yesterday and immediately opened it. 

I first noticed the Vaseline Spray and Go body moisturiser as it's full size and something I haven't tried before. I have always been dubious about Vaseline products as I know a few people that have reacted to them, not that I'm ever allergic to anything! This seems like it will be really good for me as it's non greasy, easy to use and minimises mess and effort! I have a lot of body moisturisers but I don't put them on everyday as they're a bit of a pain having to put my hands in tubs and gouge cream out. I hate getting it under my nails or waiting ages for it to soak in so this will make it a lot nicer for me! 

A product I have tried before is the Maybelline Great Lash mascara and I didn't think too much to it to be honest. I had it a few years ago and ended up throwing it out because I just couldn't get used to it but I will definitely try it again and persevere this time. 

Next up is the blowpro Volumising Conditioner, which I have never tried before. I have heard of the products before but only briefly so I will be interested to see if it does anything to my hair. Anything I put on my hair seems to weigh it down I can't even spray hairspray on it as it immediately goes flat and the curls drop out. 

One product I'm not keen on is the 2true PRO 3D Candy Nail Art. They are tiny coloured balls that you stick to your nails with basecoat and then apply a top coat to keep them in place. I'm not one for the odd nail trends- caviar beads, velvet, even the matte nails don't interest me! I'm just old fashioned and like a good old normal nail colour and a shiny top coat, I don't think you can go wrong with it and it looks smart. I might give these to my sister to try as I don't think I will give them a go, they probably look great on the right person! 

My last full size product is a Sheer Conditioning Lipstick from B. It's not full coverage and feels quite moisturising on my lips- this will be the Shea butter I suspect. I received the shade Merlot which is a red shot through with a gold sparkle, not what I usually wear as I prefer pinks and corals but I'll give it a go. 

The two samples- Ghost Eclipse perfume and Garnier Body Oil Infused Nourishing Lotion. I like samples of fragrances as I can easily pop them in my handbag for nights out rather than carrying around a full size bottle. This is described as fruity-floral, which is two different things in my opinion. I like the fruity aspect but not the floral scent as I find it can give me a slight headache but I will use this and may fall in love with it, watch this space! The body lotion appeals to me as it's non greasy and non sticky and contains four oils to really nourish dry skin. Although I have oily skin on my face, my body is actually a lot drier surprisingly. I go on holiday in two weeks so this will come in handy to take with me and may result in me buying a full size one when I get back. 

What did you get in your Glossybox? 

Xx

New makeup bag and a few beauty items

The weather here at the moment is very sunny and warm (by England's standards) so I've been trying to make the most of it by walking as much as possible. I have mentioned before that I am fortunate enough to live within walking distance of the shops in my town, which can be deadly if you're a shopaholic like me! I needed a new bronzer so I took a trip to my local Boots and picked up my usual one- Bourjois Bronzing Powder in shade 52. This is the one that opens like a book to reveal what looks like a bar of chocolate. I really like this bronzer as it isn't very shimmery, although it does contain some flecks of glitter but these aren't visible on my skin. The packaging is also very appealing for me as I'm forever dropping and cracking my makeup but this is impossible (so far) to damage as it's enveloped completely in rigid cardboard with a magnetic lid that stays shut very well. 

Also on my list was a new body scrub as I had nearly finished my old one. I go through scrubs and body products fairly quickly as I constantly wear fake tan so I'm either trying to scrub it off or prolong it with body moisturiser! I usually get the Soap And Glory Scrub Of Your Life, which I was intending on getting until I saw this Sugar Crush Body Scrub. My sister bought me the body cream version for Christmas and I really like the scent. It's very sweet smelling but also refreshing due to the lime in it, so only buy this if you really like quite strong fragrances. I also have the shower cream of this too, yes I'm obsessed, which I mix with the body scrub so make it a thinner consistency otherwise it drags a bit on my skin. 

I had been meaning to get a new makeup bag for a while as mine was stained inside and out with foundation and various things that had leaked. I had tried washing it a few times but the stains wouldn't budge so I resigned myself to the fact I needed a new one and also needed to look after it better than my previous bags! The last few makeup bags I have bought have been by Ted Baker as they're a great size and always have a gorgeous design on the front. This flowery one caught my eye as it is made of clear plastic, genius! Why I didn't think of getting a plastic one before, I don't know but it's such a great idea. Now I won't stain it with makeup from my brushes etc as i can just wipe it clean! 

Xx

Boots product haul

Now my boyfriend and I have moved house temporarily, we are making the most of being in pretty much the centre of a town-easy for coffee, dangerous if you're a shopaholic like me! It was lovely and sunny here at the weekend so we took a wander as I needed to go to Boots to pick up some beauty items and thought we may as we'll pick up some bits for our upcoming holiday on the 1st June. Whilst there, I went a little crazy and ended up spending a stupid amount but we will actually use everything we bought.. I'll make sure of it! 

Now first off we needed sun cream which I dread buying every year as it can be quite expensive. After comparing a few, I settled on the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 10 and my boyfriend picked up the Nivea Moisturising Sun Spray SPF 15. We tend to start with an SPF of 20 and work down to a 10, we have some SPF 20 already so will finish that before we start these. We usually stick to these brands as we find them to be reliable and non greasy and easy to apply etc. I needed a new cleanser and this was the hardest thing to pick as I can be quite indecisive-this was one of those days. I have a few products from La Roche Posay and have done previous blog posts declaring my love for the French brand. Today I picked up the Physiological Cleansing Gel which is for normal to combination skin and I hope I get along with it ok. I do have a couple of cleansers already and usually use Bioderma morning and night but I really fancied something to use in the morning or on days I don't wear any makeup, something I could actually wash with water. I'll be doing a blog post on this after I have used it for a while. 

I also picked up three different size clear bags. I figured I could use the smaller one for my liquids that I carry on to the plane, the medium one for my makeup and the large for our creams etc so if any explode we should minimise the damage! I will use them for my makeup kit after we have been on holiday. I can't remember the prices of all the products sorry but I know these bags were £8. Money well spent! 

Now onto the minis! I'll run though them quickly otherwise this will be a very long blog post! 

Minis- Soap and Glory Clean On Me shower cream, Aussie Miracle Moist shampoo and conditioner, Aussie 3 Minute Miracle hair mask (my hair goes weird on holiday), two Lynx shower gels and a Lynx body spray. Also in the photo is Hawaiian Tropic after sun, the thing I actually went in for! Smells like limes and is lovely consistency. Buy one get one free on Hawaiian Tropic aswell! 

Essentials- a pack of tissues- never know when you need them! Hay fever tablets, Soltan lip balm to protect them from burning-it's happened before and is so painful, elastic hair ties-metal free so they don't get tangled in my very long hair. Also Jolen bleach as I (embarrassingly) always bleach the hair on my tummy as I can see it even though everyone else says it's not noticeable! I think they're just being kind! 

I will shortly be doing a holiday checklist post so be sure to check that out if you are going on holiday soon! 

Xx

Mac upcoming Collections

I'm a little slow on the uptake for mac collections, I'm still trying to get my hands on the cool and warm neutral 15 palettes! The only ones I have been prepared for are the Rihanna collaborations and now own a few lipsticks from her collection. So I have looked ahead and seen on Instagram and twitter that on June 14, Kelly and Sharon Osbourne are releasing their own makeup together with Mac! 

Sharon's will be more for darker haired women and Kelly's is for lighter haired/complexions. I'm really intrigued to see what they come up with, I'm assuming there will be a bright red somewhere maybe and a bright pink probably in Kelly's collection. I'm guessing from these ads released that Kelly's will include a peach nude lipstick and possibly some sort of kohl. Sharon's won't be as bold, instead being more muted and classic. They're my guesses anyway, we will have to wait until June to find out how right or wrong I am! 

The Simpsons collaboration will be a bright affair judging by this picture posted on Instagram by Mac a few hours ago. I am looking forward to seeing what this collection entails, bright makeup isn't really my thing but I might be pleasantly surprised by it. At least it won't be boring! Just when I wondered what Mac would come up with next- they never fail to surprise me. It makes a welcome change from samey Rihanna collections, while being popular and wearable, it's nice to see something more out there. I don't think there is a release date for The Simpsons yet but I'm assuming it will follow after Sharon and Kelly's. Can't wait!!

Xx

April Favourites

I always mean to do monthly favourites but time flies by before I get round to it and then I'm too late. So I'm being organised this time, I can't promise it will be a regular thing though but I'm trying! This month I have been loving quite a few things: 

Firstly, as my holiday is slowly creeping up, I have been making a conscious effort to exercise. My trainers have seen better days due to also wearing them to help my dad do the gardening (!) but I am planning on getting some new ones in the near future. I used to jog a couple of times a week but I have injured my knee so I can't anymore, instead opting for aerobic exercise routines on YouTube with my sister and one of my friends combined with a few power walks when my knee will let me! I've been drinking a lot of green tea with lemon as I don't like plain green tea and struggle to find a nice one that I can stomach! This PG Tips Zesty Lemon one seems to do the trick though and I don't find myself struggling to put up with the taste. 

Beauty favourites this month are in the form of Bioderma, L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Fragrance, Fake Bake Original Tan and Maybelline ColorSensational lipstick in Tantalizing Taupe. I use Bioderma every morning to cleanse my face and every evening to remove my makeup. I just soak a few cotton pads with it and wipe over my face until it is clean. It's so easy to use and I'm sure it will be in every monthly favourite! I'm nearly out of my L'Occitane Cherry Blossom and I always repurchase this over and over again as it's such a lovely fragrance that lasts on my clothes all day. Now the sun is shining I have been regularly tanning again. I do it on and off or if I am going somewhere nice but when it gets warmer I can't reveal my lily white legs without it on pretty much constantly! I find this Fake Bake one is a lovely colour and has quite a pleasant smell. I have been in love with this Maybelline lipstick since I received it in one of my Glossyboxes a few months ago. It's been really hard for me to find that perfect nude and while this may not be it, it is certainly the closest I have come! I have dry lips and this is quite moisturising and long lasting. 

A couple of random favourites this month- my new sunglasses from River Island, I think they were £10 or thereabouts and one of my favourite films Pitch Perfect!  I have worn the same £3 pair of tesco sunglasses for a few years now as I could never find any that suited me as well as my old faithfuls. Needless to say, they are now in the bin as I have these gorgeous ones! They're UVA and UVB protective and are so lovely that I find myself wearing them even if it's not very sunny outside. Pitch Perfect is such a funny film and I could watch it over and over again, which I have these past few weeks! Our housemate had never seen it and doesn't own any DVDs that I would watch so I vowed to convert him, starting with this. He is now addicted to it and even downloaded some of the songs onto his phone. Mission accomplished! 

Xx

Real Techniques Makeup Palettes

I have just discovered these makeup palettes from Real Techniques, the makeup brush brand from Sam and Nicola Chapman. I'm glad they have branched out to makeup as they have a full set of makeup brushes out and then released travel brushes so I wasn't sure what else they could bring out. I have quite a collection of their brushes already so I may buy these palettes to increase my collection! 

Each palette contains four eyeshadows, a gel liner, a highlighter, a blush and two lipglosses. I don't usually like palettes with glosses/shadows etc in but they have made the glosses in their own mini tubes instead of being with the eyeshadows, thank god! The palettes are called 'modern natural' and 'night owl' and are available on the Real Techniques website for $25 each with shipping to other countries. They are limited edition though so hurry!!

The return of the Glossybox!

Yes you've guessed it, I gave in and renewed my subscription to Glossybox. I just couldn't hold out any longer! I thought I would leave it a good few months before getting them again but I missed the emails telling me my lovely box was on its way and then the excitement of receiving it and finding what was inside. I signed up for another 6 month subscription and will then look around again at other beauty boxes that are available, just to see if I'm missing anything :). 

This month I received quite a varied and useful box. 

The first thing I picked out the box was the MONU Spa Warming Ginger Massage and Body Oil. Now being a Beauty Therapist, I use a lot of different oils for massage etc and I'm really intrigued by the warming element of this one. Ginger is not my favourite scent in the world but this is actually quite pleasant and not overpowering at all. From reading the back of the bottle, it says it turns into a milk when water is added so it would be useful for massaging tight areas and then washing off in the shower afterwards. I really look forward to trying it! 

Two useful items I received are TRESemme dry shampoo and a lip brush by Emite Makeup. In the kit these go! I'll be interested to see if any hairs fall out of the lip brush, very annoying! 

One for the holiday bag- SunSense Daily Face SPF 50+ invisible tint finish. So from the name I can assume it's more like a tinted moisturiser with sun protection added. This will be really useful for me for holiday and I'm saving it for when I go away as it doesn't have a lid on it so I can't test it even if I tried! 

I'm so glad I have renewed my Glossybox subscription and can't wait for next months to arrive as apparently it's going to be a good one! And it's the last one before my holiday so I hope I get some good products! 

What did you get in your box? Are there any better beauty boxes out there that I should look at instead? 

Xx

A few beauty bits..

Hi guys hope you have been enjoying the sun (if you're in the UK). I have been trying to be out in it as much as possible and spent the weekend at a farm watching the lambs and piglets being born, then went for a 7k run which definitely blew away the cobwebs! Today I popped into my town to do a few jobs and ended up picking up a few things that I shouldn't have, as usual! I had seen a pair of flip flops in New Look a few weeks ago and really wanted them but thought I would wait and see if they got more stock in as I'm really picky with shoes. When I went in today, I saw the same pair and still loved them more than the others so I ended up buying them. They were £24.99 but I will wear them to death as I needed to throw out my 2 year old pair of flip flops that had definitely seen better days. The old ones are similar to these ones but when I sit them side by side, I can see how worn and old they now look compared to the brightly coloured new ones. 

I popped into a shop called Savers which is a cheaper version of Boots or Lloyd's Pharmacy. Here I picked up a new Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent- I have this in my personal and professional makeup kit. I find it makes my makeup stay put longer and is easy to use for touch ups through the day without adding any colour or dislodging the makeup. 

I needed a new mascara so thought I may as well buy a Rimmel one while I was there. I'm a bit clueless when it comes to mascaras, having had eyelash extensions on for years and so I get easily overwhelmed with all the different ones. I settled on the Scandaleyes Retro Glam in extreme black on the recommendation of my sister so I will be interested to see how good it is when I put my makeup on tomorrow morning. 

The most exciting purchase I made was the Schwarzkopf got2be Volumising Styling Powder which I had been wanting to try since seeing Pixiwoo use this or a similar one in one of their YouTube videos. It's a little pot with holes in the top, a bit like a salt shaker. You can either dust this at the roots of your hair and rub in to create volume or shake some into your hands and dust through. I'm really looking forward to trying this for my next evening out! 

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think? 

Xx

Sanctuary Sensuous Body Soufflé

This product has been around for ages and I have used it on and off but only when I receive it as a gift. Not because I don't love it but because it's just not on my go to list of body products I buy myself. I first used products from the Sanctuary range when I was given a set years ago and this was one of the products along with the sugar scrub, who doesn't love one of those!? There's nothing better that having a hot shower and exfoliating all the dead skin cells off, or layers of fake tan if you're anything like me, and following with a body cream. It's fair to say I have a ridiculous amount of body lotions and potions in my house varying from L'Occitane and Tesco to a huge Soap and Glory obsession, many of them being gifts. I think I will always come back to this one though, it smells nice (the usual Sanctuary fragrance) and it soaks in incredibly well. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy using luxurious creams that stay on your skin that bit longer but when you have to share a bedroom with 2 cats, one being long haired, I would end up looking like one of them- covered in hair! Don't worry this is a very temporary thing, I don't always confine my cats to our bedroom and in my defense they love snuggling on my bed so it's not all RSPCA necessary! 

Now back to the topic in question, sorry I tend to ramble on! As well as the smell, I really like the texture. It is described as a soufflé (clue in the name) and that's exactly what it is. It seems sort of air whipped although mine is nearly empty and isn't as light and fluffy as when I first opened it but I suppose that is to be expected. 

So overall, a great body cream that does exactly what it says on the tin and leaves my skin feeling soft with a hint of the aroma still lingering after a few hours-bonus!! 

Xx

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream The Original

This has been a favourite of cult beauty addicts for years but I have only just got my hands on this much loved tube. Now I don't know what I was expecting but I was taken a bit by surprise when I squeezed some of the cream out into my hand. Its a lot thicker than I thought I would be, which isn't necessarily a bad thing as it is great for burns or cracked lips and hands. I tend to suffer with eczema a lot so I will definitely be giving this a go and also will be donating it to my boyfriend who has chapped and very rough hands. It's like holding hands with a block of sandpaper and actually hurts me if he rubs my arm so I will be interested to see if it manages to help him. The downside to this product is the smell. I'm very particular when it comes to fragrances of beauty products or perfumes and I didn't realise this would have such a strong smell. This however is just my opinion, it's loved by many people so I may just have a sensitive nose! I shall persevere and see how I get on! I did receive this as part of a gift set for Christmas that also contained a day cream, hand cream and lip balm, all of which I am currently using and loving. 

Does anyone else use Elizabeth Arden? I'd love to hear what you think of the products

Xx

Awful Blogging and Getting Old!

How bad have I been at doing my blog recently?? The answer is very bad!! I have no worthy excuses other than time has passed me by and it's suddenly the last week of March, whoa where did that time go?? I feel like i will soon be 30/40/50 in the blink of an eye so I'm trying to do as many things as possible to create memories to look back on. I've been a bit nostalgic recently, thinking back to being 18/19 and having what I consider to be the best years of my life so far. You know when you had it so much easier back then (probably didn't feel like it at the time) but I had so much fun going out drinking/partying and hanging out with my friends every weekend not worrying about money and bills! Obviously I had a job in the week, I didn't just mess around all the time but the days seemed longer and I almost seemed busier. We are hopefully moving into our first home together in the next couple of months so I have been going through our boxes that are in storage to get rid of things we have had for years but no longer need, which of course meant I found lots of old photos that I didn't know much about. At the time of taking them I never thought to write on the back of them the year and location etc so now I find myself wanting to buy photo albums to put them all in- a sure sign I'm getting older!! You really don't want to see my list of boring things to buy for the house but I shall be adding albums to it! I'm also thinking of starting another blog, a sort of online diary of what I get up to day to day and things to remember/ positive thoughts/memories for me to look back on. I figured it may help other people too? What do you think? Do you like to read about things like that? 

IMATS 2014

IMATs is the International Makeup Artists Trade Show and is held in London, LA, New York, Vancouver, Toronto and Sydney and I am planning to go to the one in London in June. I really wanted to go last year but I was a bit slow on the uptake and i was too late by the time I realised it was on. Boo hoo! I've been obsessed with makeup for years and years and being a Beauty Therapist and Makeup Artist, I am always on the look out for items to add to my kit (and just use for myself!). I recently looked on the list of brands that were there last year, as this years list is yet to be released, and I am so excited to go! Hopefully the same people will be there this year or just some of the lesser available ones so I can get my hands on their products. Looking through the list, these catch my eye-

Bobbi Brown, Mac, Inglot, Makeup Forever, Eye Candy Cosmetics, NARS, NYX Cosmetics, PAM

Crown Brush, Royal and Langnickel 

Eldora False Eyelashes

Makeup Artist Magazine

Tickets cost £40 each and the show runs from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th, with the Friday being for Pro card holders only. It is held at Olympia in London which is so easy to get to as it has it's very own train stop. I might drag my boyfriend along as he can carry my bags and maybe buy me a few things! :) 

Xx

February Glossybox, my last for a while!

It's Glossybox time again!! I always look forward to this time of the month and the surprises in store when I get the post. My last box wasn't very impressive but this one definitely makes up for it! I received three full sized products, two smaller sized ones and chocolate! What more could a girl want! 

Giovanni Eco Chic Cosmetics shampoo, conditioner and leave in conditioner

Ciate Nail Colour in Kiss Chase

Maybelline ColorSensational Stripped Nudes Lipstick

Nougat London Sparkling Body Shimmer

Eldora Eyelashes H144

Lindt Lindor Treat Bar

What a fantastic box!! Obviously fits the valentine theme and I love the lips design and pink bow. This month is my last Glossybox as my sixth month subscription has come to an end :( but I may give in and buy another one! 

I really wanted to buy some Eldora eyelashes so I am really looking forward to trying these out. I'm awful at putting lashes on myself and good at putting them on other people but I want these lashes all to myself! I haven't ever found the perfect nude lipstick so I tend to shy away from them but hopefully this will be the one I've been looking for! Being a Beauty Therapist, I have countless nail polishes but I have never used Ciate. I received a lovely pink colour that reminds me of OPI Elephantastic Pink, which is my favourite ever colour. It's quite a warm pink so hopefully it will suit my skintone or it will be another one given to my sister! :) I am intrigued by the sparkling body shimmer and may be useful more in summer as I can imagine it will look nice on top of a gorgeous tan. Lastly (as I ate the chocolate whilst writing this) is the Giovanni Eco Chic Cosmetics shampoo and conditioner. It contains all natural ingredients which should be good for me as I tend to get an itchy scalp with some hair care products so watch this space! 

Xx

Products I'm loving February 2014

Being someone that is very much into all things beauty related, I'm always buying new products and rediscovering old favourites. My skin is generally combination although my t-zone is incredibly oily and I suffer with random dry patches/sometimes eczema through the colder months. 

This month I have been using a variety of products really, I always use my faithful Bioderma Sensibio H2O to cleanse my face in the mornings and remove my makeup in the evenings. It's great, I love it and it manages to get through the layers of makeup to reveal my skin in a few swipes of a cotton wool pad. I buy the 500ml size as needless to say I get through a bottle at super high speed (I buy it from escentual.com). 

I recently bought the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner after reading endless blog posts about it and decided that I must write one too! I am ashamed to say I am actually Clarins trained and worked at a salon with Clarins products readily at my fingertips for 2 years but didn't explore many of the products for myself. Slapped wrist for me! Exfoliating my skin once or twice a week is great for my body as I wear fake tan almost all the time but my face flares up if I scrub it with an Exfoliator containing bits. At the same time I don't feel that enzyme or fruit acid peels do anything amazing either. This is where Clarins come in. I wipe my face over with the Brightening Toner a few times a week and to my surprise it makes my skin feel soft and look less dull and tired. 

I'm also loving my Elizabeth Arden lip balm which I wear at night to soothe my incredibly dry lips which I spend all day licking and nervously chewing! Bad habit I know. 

Hair- I can't get enough of my Milkshake Leave In Conditioner and my tangle teaser. My hair falls just below my bra strap and takes a fair amount of time to brush as it knots very quickly. The leave in conditioner smells like milk bottle sweets so i spray very liberally on my hair to get my sugar fix. Tangle Teasers are one of the best things ever invented, I still haven't quite worked out how they manage to de-tangle my mop with not so much a scream or swear word! 

Xx

Anatomicals Puffy the eye bag slayer

You will see from a previous post (if you read it haha) that I received these eye patches in my Glossybox. I promptly put them on as I had just showered etc so thought why not Multi task and blog while wearing them, genius I know! So the bright spark that I am opened the pack upside down so the liquid leaked all over my hands and the sofa but it wasn't sticky at all! The pack is pretty self explanatory and easy to follow if you're a bit slow on the uptake like me, you basically peel the pads out of the plastic moulds and place them under your eyes (consult the diagram on the pack if you got a little confused which way they go on-yes I'm that stupid). 

Good points- solution not sticky, has a pleasant smell to it, actually stick to my face while I look down and type but really easy to get off. It's almost like they're just lightly suctioned to my face. Also stayed on through a sneezing fit! 

Bad points- perhaps a little too much solution although I understand this is needed to keep the pads soaked, texture creeps me out a little but I am the girl who hates touching Playdoh and other random things! 

It says on the pack to keep the pads on for 30 minutes to reduce the appearance of fine lines and revitalise the skin around my eyes. 

Verdict- my eyes feel hydrated and awakened! I'm going to give the other pack to my boyfriend to try when he gets home from work, I'm nice like that! :) The pads retail for £6.00 for a 3 pack which I think is a reasonable price and I definitely would use them again. 

Xx

Professional Beauty London 2014

Every year me and a few of my beauty therapist friends get the train into London to Excel for the Professional Beauty Show. It is always in February around the same dates, this year it is 23-24 February (Sunday and Monday) with it also being their Silver Anniversary celebrations. We always look forward to going as we never know who we are going to see and get to talk to and obviously pick up a few bargains along the way! As well as some stands retailing, there is also the chance to have a sneak peak at new product and equipment launches and the main exhibitors never fail to disappoint. This year we will see Decleor showcasing a new product- Aromessence Super Serum which I would love to get my hands on at a later date. I used to work in a salon that used and sold Decleor products so I readily got my hands on their gorgeous range of serums and oils which they are renowned for so I can't wait to hear all about it (and hopefully get to test it!). We always pay Elemis a visit and they are launching a facial machine this year, their first one so I'm intrigued to see if it differs from others I have see and used. 

With Professional Beauty being the UK's largest beauty show, there is lots to see. I am looking forward to seeing:

*OPI .... Obviously!! This is always packed with bargain hunters! 

*NYX Cosmetics- we always head here first as last year it was PACKED!!

*Leighton Denny Expert Nails- I really hope Leighton is there as he is always fun to watch and doesn't mind us picking his brains

*Australian Bodycare- love love love their Tea Tree Skinwash and Hand and Body Lotion

*Eve Taylor, Elemis, Decleor, Royal and Langnickel Brushes, Morgan Taylor and Louella Belle are also on my list but we do walk around all of the stands for a nosey! 

If you have never been before I would definitely recommend it. It's a great day out whether it's with friends or work colleagues, just register online for free if you're in the trade and your ticket will be sent to you in the post or via email a week or so before the event. Let me know if you're going and what bargains you manage to find! 

Xx

Tanya Burr Lips and Nails Launch 30th jan

So it's official countdown time to the release of the first beauty collection from YouTube sensation Tanya Burr. I have watched Tanya's makeup tutorials on and off for about a year or so, finding them through Pixiwoo. For those of you who have been living under a rock, Pixiwoo are sisters Sam and Nic Chapman who have achieved success through YouTube and more recently Sam's makeup brush line Real Techniques (a firm favourite in my pro kit). Tanya is engaged to Sam and Nic's brother Jim and was trained by the Pixiwoo sisters on one of their week long makeup courses in Norwich. 

The collection is made up of 12 lipglosses and 10 nail polishes and launches at 6pm GMT on feelunique.com. The great thing about this collection is all items willbe between £6-£8 so I will definitely be picking up more than a couple of the lipglosses to try! I haven't seen the full nail colour range yet but I spied the lip colours over on British Beauty Blogger's blog so head on over for a sneak peak until you can get your hands on the real thing! 

Xx

A Very Late January Glossybox

Not sure if I have said it but happy new year! I've been super busy throughout January so I neglected the blog a lot ( I feel terrible). I feel like I should have a lot of things to blog about but I have writers block again. Some bloggers write about every day things and days out etc but I haven't done anything worth sharing really! I need some excitement in my life! This came temporarily in the form of my most recent Glossybox which arrived later than usual but I think that was because of the Christmas one arriving late. I didn't mind although I did worry that it got sent to the wrong address or lost in the post!

I have to say I wasn't expecting much in this box because I got some good sized products in the December one and I have read online that quite a few people have been disappointed with this month's offering. 

I first noticed how small everything in the box is and I know they don't have to be big to be expensive but I was a little disappointed I have to say. I received tweezers from The Vintage Cosmetic Company, Vaseline Essential Moisture Body Lotion, Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash, two Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Creams and two sets of Anatomicals Eye Patches. Don't get me wrong, the tweezers will be useful for my kit and who doesn't love body wash and lotion right? I am just a little under whelmed this month but I look forward to what February's box will bring. Now for some eye patch testing.....

Xx

New Years Eve

Happy New Year! How did you celebrate? I stayed at home with my boyfriend which may sound boring but it was our first New Year's Eve alone in 6 and a half years and was really lovely to relax and enjoy ourselves. I was supposed to cook but couldn't be bothered so we got a takeaway instead and cracked open a bottle of wine and a bottle of champagne to toast at midnight. It was a really nice evening! 

As usual it's awful lighting so I will recreate this makeup look at some point so you can see it properly as it was really glittery and gorgeous. Here's a list of the makeup anyway-

Monu Illuminating Primer, Mac Studio Sculpt foundation with a little Illamasqua Skinbase mixed in, Mac concealer, Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, Mac Harmony Blush as contour, Mac Stay Pretty blush, Benefit High Beam highlighter. Eyes- Mac Paintpot in Bare Study, Bobbi Brown quad of shadows over lid and crease, Avon Supershock Liner in waterline and tightline, Mac Pressed Pigment patted on lid, Benefit They're Real Mascara. Lips- Mac stone lip liner, NYX lipgloss. 

Outfit- black skirt from New Look, top from H&M, necklace H&M. 

Xx

New Years Resolutions

I am useless at sticking to goals and then I feel disheartened so these are things I'm aiming to do as well as secretly hoping to achieve :). 

• A house. Yes a bit ambitious but we have put an offer on one so fingers crossed this one works out. We have been trying and failing to get a house for over 4 years so we really hope it will work out this year. 

• A new car. Mine is a death trap and is now costing more to fix than it is worth. I've had it for 6 years and it is the only car I have had so I feel the need to upgrade to a nicer car. I really want a mini or an Astra but I'm awful at parking so not sure a bigger car is for me (my car is a corsa). 

• Get fit. This is probably on everyone's lists! I don't want to lose weight, I just want to tone up again. I used to jog three times a week and workout 4 times a week (aerobic and mostly abs and legs). I'm naturally slim but I would like a bit more shape and tone so I look less like a bean pole and more like a woman. 

• Be more confident. I doubt I will ever feel confident about myself all the time but I am slowly getting there. A mixture of depression/ anxiety and panic attacks usually get in the way of normal day to day life but I'm really hoping to get on top of them this year. 

• A better blog! With my sisters help I will hopefully have a better understanding of what it is I'm actually doing. I don't even know how to do simple things and I want to make my blog stand out a bit more and attract more readers. How, I'm not sure yet! 

• Promote my business more and set up a website. I have my own beauty business and work freelance as well as in a salon. I feel I need to add some more treatments and overhaul the whole business, including adding a website. Which I am clueless on! Any help would be gladly received! 

Xx

My Christmas Gifts!

Hey guys hope you all had a great Christmas and a happy New Year! I thought I would just show you a few photos of some things I received from friends and family for Christmas and pick out a few of my favourites! 

Apologies for the blurry photos, it was later in the day than I would have liked to take photos, so the lighting isn't the best. 

A few of my favourites- 

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette obviously! I've used it a few times already but haven't sat down and experimented properly yet. 

All the wine which is nearly gone!

L'Occitane goodies including my usual Cherry Blossom shower gel, body cream, hand creams, face creams and a candle. 

Perfume as I ran out of nearly all of my bottles. 

Mr Grasshead and the paint your own rubber duck. I can't wait to do these, they're waiting at my dads house ready for me! 

Did you get anything nice for Christmas? 

Xx

Winter wonderland

Hi guys! My boyfriend got a very very rare day off and surprised me with a trip to winter wonderland! (Altogether now-awwww) I thought i would share some photos with you of what we got up to. 

On the train. I'm kind of hoping this is blurry so it makes us look better-very un photogenic couple! 

We made it!! My first time visiting Hyde Park and that particular part of London and I have to say I loved it! I'm not a London person but I was pleasantly surprised at how open and not busy it was. 

Trying on funny hats and browsing the market. 

Hot chocolate and a very strong mulled wine later.... We ventured into the Ice Kingdom and went on the Observation Wheel. (I'm really scared of heights but managed to control my screams). 

It was sooooo cold in there that we rushed it a bit! 

As with most of our days out, a lot of food was consumed! 

Just a couple of food photos, not very interesting I'm afraid! 

I really enjoyed going to Winter Wonderland and it was definitely a good idea to arrive early to miss the crowds. We got there around 10.45-11 and it was lovely and quiet but it filled up very quickly when we were leaving. I also kept meaning to do an outfit of the day post but never got round to it, bad blogger! Did many of you go to Winter Wonderland? What did you think? 

Xx