Lush Haul

Hello my lovelies!

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while, just been trying to settle back into life after the holidays.

Earlier I posted a picture on twitter of my Lush online order, and it was such a good order that I thought I'd do a little haul post on it! When they get delivered I will do a couple of review posts as there's 2 things in there that I've actually never tried before!

The items I ordered were:

•  Blackberry Bath Bomb - £2.46
• The Comforter Bubble Bar - £3.75
• Amandopondo Bubble Bar - £2.29
• 100g Small Flying Fox Shower Gel - £4.13 
• Bubblegum Lip Scrub - £4.58
• The Sacred Truth Fresh Face Mask - £4.96 

Is it me, or do the prices seem really random? Or have I just never noticed this before? Anyway, the Blackberry Bath bombs are a favorite of mine, and I've even tried them and loved them from other brands! This one smells amazing, and is really good at helping me to unwind. Very relaxing. I usually save them for a Friday night after a very busy week.

Again, the Comforter Bubble Bar is a popular favorite. Sweet smelling and extremely pretty. There's not much I can say about this, other than it's great, and if you haven't tried it yet, you should!

The Amandopondo Bubble Bar is one I never really hear people talk about. It's got a very light fragrance of rose and lemon, and just smells really clean. It's also VERY pretty (like most things from Lush) with a little rose bud on the top of it. I only tried it for the first time a week or so ago after getting one as a gift, and am already back to buy another one (it hasn't run out yet, I just thought I'd stock up).

Next, the Flying Fox Shower Gel is one of the things I've never tried, that's why I only bought a small one. I've loved every shower gel I've tried from Lush, so I doubt I'll be too disappointed. Plus , I do love anything with honey in it! Will review when I've tried it :)

The Bubblegum Lip Scrub is another popular item, along with the Popcorn one. I have to say, I prefer the Bubblegum to the Popcorn, as I prefer the sweet sugary smell and the bright colour.

The Sacred Truth Face Mask is another one that I have never tried. To be honest, I've never tried any of their face mask range. I don't know why, but I always just seem to go straight for the bath and shower products and that's it really. I love a good face mask, and I'm really excited to give this a go! It contains wheatgrass and fresh papaya, so I'm pretty sure my skin is going to love it. I hope it smells as good as it sounds.... nice and fruity!

So that's my recent Lush haul, and I can't wait for it to come! Will post pictures and reviews as soon as it arrives and I've tried my new items! Ordering this was the perfect little mid week pick-me-up after a stressful and rainy few days.

Have any of you tried these, and if so what do you think? All comments welcomed and appreciated.

Thank you for reading...

Love to you all x

2013 Beauty Favorites...

Hello everyone, and happy New Year!!

Hope everyone had a great NYE and are now having a good start to 2014.

I can't believe how quickly 2013 went. It was such a busy year, and the year in which I started my little blog! It was also the year that I really got into trying a testing a lot of different beauty and make up products, and there were definitely a few that really stood out to me. I did a post on this at the end of Nov, and will put the link to that (here) however since then, I've been thinking about it a bit more, and have a couple more products that I feel deserve a special mention from the past year.


1. JASON soothing 98% Aloe Vera gel 

This is a really light weight moisturising gel, which I find perfect for those times when you just need a light touch of moisture to your skin. For those good skin days, I use this, and it helps my skin feel fresh and clean. It's also great in summer to help combat the effects of the heat. It costs between £4 and £7 depending on where you buy it from. I bought mine from feelunique.com a while a ago, and they have a great range of other JASON products too. It's been a staple of mine since I bought it a few months ago. 

2. Tresemme Platinum Strength Leave In Conditioner 

I bought this product around Sept/Oct time when it was on offer in my local Tesco store. It retails at between the £5 and £6 mark, which is pretty standard for Tresemme products, and for that you get 125ml of the product. It is a leave in treatment that you use after you've washed your hair, and it is supposed to make hair look healthier, claiming to revive up to 2 years worth of damage. My hair is in pretty good condition anyway, but I definitely noticed a difference in shine after a couple of uses. The product smells lovely, and is thick and creamy but doesn't make hair greasy. You also only need a little bit of the product (I have long hair and run it through 2 thirds, and I use 2 pumps at a time) so it lasts for ages. I love it. 

3. Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream 

I first tried this last January when I got a small tube of it in a sample kit containing 4 or 5 skin products. After trying it, I had to go out and purchase the full sized version. It's an all over body exfoliating cream, great for elbows and knees, that not only leaves skin feeling smooth, but also cool and clean. You get a light tingling feeling after using it which I love. It's great to use for a quick brighten up in the shower when skin feels dull, and I also found it brilliant to use before using fake tan, as it really does leave skin perfectly smooth. It costs £22.50 from Clinique, which does sound a tad pricey, but it's so concentrated with beads and works so well that it lasts a long time. Mine lasted around 6 - 7 months. 

So there we go, I just wanted to add those few products onto my already existing list of 2013 beauty loves. Hope the new year has started well for you all, and if any of you have done any best of 2013 posts, please link them in a comment as I'd love to check them out. 

Thank you for reading. 

Love to you all x

A Little Christmas Treat....

Hello again!

Just to rub it in a little bit (sorry) I now have nothing but free time up until Christmas! I can actually feel the jealousy from here! No work to do, no Christmas shopping left to buy, I'm finished. Nothing but wrapping (which I actually love), seeing family, and Christmas baking left for me to do.

This year, I actually shocked myself in finishing my Christmas shopping under budget! So, as a treat for doing so, I've decided to buy myself a little present. A well done for being good this year :P But what to choose! There a lot of stuff I really want but I kinda know I'm getting it for Christmas, so I want something I cant treat myself with to accompany them... and join my ever growing make up hoard! I officially can't decide what though.... So I need your help. Should it be:

1. The Urban Decay Fun Palette 

I LOVE Urban Decay palettes. I have asked for the Naked 3 palette as I know I need it in my life, but I think the shades in this little palette are just so... well.... fun! The brighter colours would make a nice change to the large collection of nudes and browns that I have. 

2. MAC Lipstick in Candy Yum Yum 

I am a self confessed lipstick hoarder. I have way too many already, but I lack a bright girly pink colour, so I think that this would actually fill a gap in my make up collection. I think MAC lipsticks are really good, and they don't dry out my lips too much in the colder weather either. This is a shade that I could see becoming a firm favorite as the weather warms up and it turns to spring... so its kind of like a investment. Right?? 

3. NARS Multiple Bronzer 

I think NARS do lovely blusher/bronzer palettes, and I love their eyeshadows, but this is something that a few people have said is really good, but I've never really paid much attention to. The idea is that its a bronzing stick that you can use on your cheeks, eyes and body. I like the idea of it being versatile, but I honestly can't believe that it would look right on anywhere but your cheeks... I want to try it for its uses as a bronzer alone, as I love their powder ones, and at the same time could investigate whether it does actually work elsewhere or not. 

So come on then people.... help me?! Which one should I buy myself for Christmas...? Lets put it to the vote :) 

Love to you all x

The Winter Project Week #6: Christmas Make Up

Hello everyone! Wow, I can't believe that #TheWinterProject only has a couple of posts left! Must mean it's nearly Christmas though, yay!! This week, we are posting about our favorite make up looks for Christmas. 

To be honest, when it comes to Christmas day, I don't tend to do much with my make up. I'm more excited about opening presents and eating way too much food to spend too long looking in the mirror, so to me, Christmas make up should be simple but still bold and festive. That's why I always turn to a statement lipstick, and bold festive nails (which I can do the night before)! That's why, instead of posting a whole make up look, I'm going to show you my favorite lipsticks and nail polishes for this time of year :) 

As you can see, I love my pinks and reds. I think reds are more festive, but pink tones tend to suit my skin tone more. As you can see from the top picture, all of these lipsticks look well worn. That is because I love them all, and have had 2 or 3 of them for a couple of years now (only tend to bring them out in winter)! In order from left to right, we have: MUA - Shade 3, Shiseido - Perfect Rouge, Astor - Rouge Couture and Avon - Smitten Red. 

Not only do all of these lipsticks give you a big bold sweep of colour, but they are all very moisturising too, which makes them especially perfect for this time of year. I find that the one by Shiseido looks especially bold and glamorous if worn with a layer of clear high shine lip gloss over the top. But as I tend to eat my own weight in turkey and pigs in blankets on the day, I think lip gloss would wear off pretty quickly! As lipsticks on their own, they are very long wearing (after doing the swatches earlier I have actually stained my arm a pinky red colour... Oops)!

When it comes to my nails, I normally tend to go for a metallic colour at Christmas. The Barry M Gold Foil Effect nail polish is a firm favorite of mine, and I have blogged about it already. Its like it was meant to be worn on Christmas day. You only need one coat, its quick and simple to apply, hard wearing, and instantly glamorous. Then we have the polish by Astor in Tonic Orange. I'd never heard of the brand Astor until recently, when a friend of mine received some Astor products as an unwanted present, and so gave them to me to try. I will be doing a full post about what I got when I have finished trying everything, but this orange nail polish and the lipstick mentioned above have both been brilliant. It's branded as being long wearing, and it really is. I put it on to try about 5 days ago, and its only just starting to chip at the ends. That's amazing for me as I have my hands into everything all the time and usually need to re-paint after around 3 days. It's bright, bold, and is a twist to the usual red nails of this season. 

So there we have it, some of my favorite make up for Christmas. Thank you for reading, and all comments are appreciated. MERRY CHRISTMAS! :) 

Love to you all x

The Winter Project #5: Christmas Accessories

Hello everyone! Firstly I would like to start by saying sorry for my lack of posts recently, and I am gutted that I missed last weeks post for #thewinterproject! Was down in Berkshire for my friends wedding and forgot my laptop, then was really ill when I came home and just looking at the computer screen was making me feel dizzy! Am getting better now though, so am happy to be back!!

This weeks post for the winter project is all about favorite Christmas accessories. This should be a fun one, as I LOVE accessories in winter. Christmas is also a good time to wear novelty things that look really cute but that you couldn't get away with at any other time of year. People are in a good mood and everyone is all for having a bit of fun. Here are the accessories I'm loving at the moment for the festive season. The bolder the print and the more glitter the better I say! So bring on festive hats, gold and glittery clutch bags, and socks that would make you cringe at any other time of year :) ......

So there we go, a lot of red patterns and gold accessories for the festive season. Thank you for reading and cant wait to read everyone's posts!! All comments are, as always, appreciated! 

Love to you all x

Christmas Wishlist...

Hello my lovelies :) 

I've been in a very Christmassy mood today, probably because of the freezing weather, so I thought I'd do a Christmas wishlist post. I love reading people's wishlists, so if anyone wants to link me any in the comments I'd love to read them! 

Firstly we have a Magic Wand Bubble Bar from Lush. I think Lush do lovely products, especially at Christmas, and this wand looks so pretty! I really like the idea of being able to wave it around in the bath to create lots of lovely smelling bubbles. 

Secondly, we have the Nars Up To The Moon Palette. Love the nudes and wintery shades of this, and it has been a long time since I last had a Nars palette. My old one ran out about 6 months ago, and I've been tempted to replace it ever since. Though I've been a good girl and waited for Santa to bring me one.

The Third item on my list is the one I'm most excited to try. If I don't get it for Christmas then I may have to buy it for my self in the new year. Its a Nails Inc polish diary, and it comes with 12 shades which are supposed to be perfect for the 12 months in the year. I wouldn't be disciplined enough to wait a month before trying the next shade, but it does look like it has a good mix of colours, including nudes, brights and glitters, so I feel its a good investment (it's around £50 but that's for 12 nail polishes!). 

We then have the Woodland Splodge Scarf from Topshop. I know I featured a Topshop scarf in my post for the winter project, but yesterday I spotted this one, and it got added to the list. I told you I have a scarf addiction! 

I had to add Chanel Chance, which I have already said is my favorite perfume. It smells amazing, really light and fresh, and its the only perfume I wear on a regular basis. I still have some of mine left, but Christmas seems to be the best time to stock up on your favorite perfumes as a lot of shops seem to do special deals and gift sets. 

The shoes are from ASOS, and although they aren't the most practical thing for winter, I just can't resist a nice pair of heels! Plus, it's kind of become a tradition for me to ask for a pair of shoes for Christmas that I want to wear out on new years eve. These classic black and gold ones are perfect for the party season and would go well with pretty much any outfit. 

Another one I'm excited about on this list is the Oasis tote bag. I honestly don't have many bags, and only 2 decent sized ones (most are little clutches). I love the complimentary cream and brown together with the bold blocks of red at the sides. Would be great for me to hoard hand creams and lipsticks in too........

Lastly, we have another treat from Lush.... The Christmas Penguins! I saw these online and just thought they were unbelievably cute! Haven't seen them in the store yet, although I'm sure they will smell amazing... most things from Lush tend to! 

Well there we go, that is my finished and final Christmas Wishlist! What do you all have on your Christmas list? Comments always welcomed, and thank you for reading :)

Love to you all x

The Winter Project #2 - Winter Accessories

Hello my lovelies, hope everyone is well and keeping warm!

So its come round to the second week of #thewinterproject, and today is all about favorite winter accessories! :)

What I thought I'd do with this post, is show you the accessories I'm loving at the moment as kind of a wishlist post. I'm going Christmas shopping tomorrow, and these are the things I might treat myself to :)

1. Topshop Net Bow Headband: £10

I love headbands for winter. I've always been a bit of a hat lover when it comes to winter, but this season, I'm wanting to buy a couple of headbands instead, as I think they add something a bit different to a winter outfit. This one is simple yet has some lovely elegant detail with the lace bow, and is a bargain at only £10! 

2. River Island Brown Floral Print Scarf: £18

I have to admit something to you. I am a bit of a scarf hoarder! I think I now have around 20, and the list seems to grow almost weekly in winter. I love them, and most of them are printed scarves rather than woolly ones. I think you can brighten up any outfit with them, so when I'm stuck for what to wear, I throw on a plain black dress and add a bright scarf. I saw this the other day when browsing online, and loved the unusual pattern. 

3. Warehouse Quilted Leather Gloves from Asos.com: £26

I actually treated myself to these last night when looking online! Oops! I have bought several pairs of pretty knitted gloves in the past, all with lovely designs, but I play with my hands a lot, and am always picking things up and fiddling, and knitted gloves seem to wear out really quickly. Last year I bought some leather ones, and they lasted all winter without a problem. When I saw these quilted leather effect ones, I thought they looked classic, and will keep my hands nice and warm at the same time! Might even dedicate a  post to them when they arrive :)  

4. Hunter Wellies: Price Varies

The one thing I just could not live without in winter is my wellies. I have chocolate brown Hunters at the moment, and to say that I love them would be an understatement. For Christmas, I have asked for another pair, seeing as I get so much wear out of them! These classic pillar box red ones are what I have decided on, although there are so many to choose from that I may change my mind! 

5. Hunter Socks: Price Varies 

Finally, to go with my beloved brown Hunters, I have decided that I need some of these lovely cable knit Hunter socks. The winters get very cold here in Yorkshire and I'm hoping these cute little things help! I think they are around £30 from Hunters website, but you can shop around to find them cheaper. 

So there we are! My top 5 wishlist picks for winter accessories! Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! All comments, links, and opinions are always welcomed...

I am already looking forward to the next #thewinterproject post next Tuesday :) 

Love to you all x

2013's Beauty Loves

Hello everyone!

As those who follow me on twitter might have seen, the other day I was reading Grazia, and they had a section all about their 2013 beauty awards, listing all of their favorite products from this year. It got me thinking about what mine are, and I decided to do a post about it. Sorry in advance for the lack of photos, a lot of the stuff I decided on has either run out and needs to be re-bought, or is in such a well used state that it would NOT look it's best in a picture!

So here we go :)

1. Clinique Take Off The Day Make Up Remover 

I know I go on and on about Clinique's makeup remover, but I honestly think its the best out there. I've tried a lot of different ones, and this is the only one that makes me feel like I'm doing something really nourishing to my skin by taking makeup off. It feels like moisturising. The one I buy (and I'm running out... please bring me some Santa!) is £17 for 125ml, and that lasts me ages! The last one I got was for my birthday in June, which makes it value for money as well as a really good product.

2. Balance Me Balancing Face Moisturiser

I've talked about Balance Me's moisturiser before when I got a small free sample in a magazine a while ago. I talked about its light floral scent, it's thick creamy texture, and the way that it manages to deeply hydrate your skin without feeling greasy. I loved it. So when it ran out, I went and bought myself the full sized version! It was £24 for 50ml. I bought it last month and have used less than a quarter, so I can see this product lasting me a long time. You don't need a lot to really feel the benefits!

3. Benefit Full Finish Lipstick in Slow Zone

This lipstick is a light pink, and makes my complexion look so much lighter and fresher. Its well pigmented and doesn't seem to dry my lips out like a lot of lipstick tend to do. I bought it for £14 a while ago, but when I looked on the benefit website earlier, I see its now £7. I may have cheekily ordered myself another when I saw that!

4. Barry M Foil Effect in Gold 

Now I know I talked about this in my post for #TheWinterProject, so I won't say too much about it, but it has been my go to nail polish ever since I bought it. Whenever I'm stuck on what to do with my nails, this is what I choose. You do have to buff them beforehand as the foil effect means it picks up any ridges, but one coat and it gives you a feeling of instant glamour. Was perfect in the sunshine, and its perfect for the party season. All for just £3.99. LOVE it :)

5. Redken Colour Extend Rich Recovery Protective Treatment

I love Redken. When I buy their products though, I do tend to buy the gift sets which include little bits of everything in them, and I always go for the colour protect range. I dye my hair a lot, and this is the best product I've found for helping to keep my colour looking bright and my hair feeling healthy. It's the only full size product I buy, and 250ml is £17.50 from feelunique.com. It smells lovely, and this treatment is my go to product to keep my hair looking bright and healthy. The perfect treat for your hair! Also, the pot lasts quite a long time (depending on hair length and how often you use it of course). I have quite long hair but only use the product when I feel my hair needs a boost, and it lasts me a couple of months. 

6. Chanel Chance 

Now I'm not one to usually do a fragrance post, as I'm not a huge lover of perfume. I use it, but tend to stick to what I like and don't try many new ones. This is my favorite of all time though. I buy it over and over, and never get tired of the light, fresh scent that it gives. I cant go into what the various tones are as I will admit I know nothing about all that, but I can say it smells lovely, and I never get bored of it. Prices vary from place to place, but the last bottle I bought was from thefragranceshop, and I got 35ml for £47.50. It is a bit pricey, but in my opinion, completely worth it, as its the only one I wear.

My Best Discovery of 2013 
What I thought I'd do, is also give a mention to the best brand that I've come across this year, and all things considered, it has to be the VERY reasonably prices MUA. With a lot of products for just £1, they are exceptional value for money, and everything I've tried from them, including eyeshadows, lipsticks, nail polishes, powder and eyeliner has been brilliant. Well pigmented, long lasting, and good for my skin. Why would you not love all that for such low prices!? I cant wait to try their highlighter, as I've read some rave reviews about it.

Well, they are my top beauty loves of this year. Sorry this post has been a tad wordy, will do a lighter post next time :) As always, all comments are appreciated, and thank you for reading!

Love to you all x