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