July Favourites 2016

Hello my lovelies and welcome to August! For me this excites me as we are potentially entering another Summers month and how gorgeous has the weather been in July? Totally amazing is the answer to that. Pure chance that I managed to book two weeks worth of holiday during mid July. Personally, I would say that July has been a good month. I have enjoyed many things during my holiday. Although I didn't actually go away I had a very productive time with gardening and house jobies accompanied by lot's of lovely treat days. I have spent many an afternoon waling on the Downs with Mum. I feel so lucky that we can call the South East our home. Holiday started pretty damn on the Friday going out for dinner and watching the new Ab Fab film, definitely worth a watch! The following day I went to Hastings with my gorgeous mother and best friend. Since moving to Sussex me and Mum have always wanted a sunny day trip to Hastings yet this never happened last year for many reasons such as work, moving house and the weather. Now we can finally tick it off our bucket list. I loved it we did many "touristy" activities such as travelling up the Hastings lift to the top of the cliffs and visiting the cute quirky shops that I would say are very similar to The Lanes in Brighton yet a lot smaller and undiscovered. We then tackled Adventure golf which I have no shame in admitting that I came last in.  After a caffeine shop we had a spontaneous go on the go-karting which was a bit too much for an adrenaline rush for me but something you've got to do once in your life. No day trip to the sea could be possible without a fish and chip lunch and a wonder along the sea front.

Another treat day that I wrote a blog post on that you can read by clicking here was a day out to Chichester with Mum. It has been a dream of Mums to see a real lavender field in full bloom. She discovered one in Laudington so we visited the gorgeous lavender field and she could tick it off her bucket list. I would agree that it was incredible and something you have to see in person. We then went into Chichester and had a cheeky Bill's lunch before continuing our cultural day where we wondered around the town, visited the cathedral and palace gardens.

I haven't been to Brighton recently so what do you do on a gorgeous sunny day I ask you? Spontaneous day trip to Brighton is the answer. Massive sales in Home Sense resulted in some unintentional shopping yet when you can buy beautiful homeward for such good value it would be rude not to. My bedroom is definitely getting there. Mum hadn't visited all of the lanes before so I showed her some more of the lanes. If someone then says who fancies going to Bill's for lunch, I'm hardly going to say no. So TWO Bill's lunches this holiday, what a special treat that was! I mean who can resist the staple dish of Bill's Halloumi burger? Classic. We walked along the beach with crystal blue waters and clear blue sky heaven. Very fitting for ice-cream on the beach, seaside staple. I've heard great reviews of the Boho Gelato ice cream shop so when we stumbled across it we had to go in. They have an amazing range of flavours it is literally impossible to chose. Whilst in Brighton I also got my taro cards read which was a first for me but very intriguing.

The final spontaneous outing of the holiday had to of course be a trip to London. No holiday or time off work would be complete without it. I personally adore London and I haven't had a summer fix yet so it was an easy conclusion to come to. Top tip, book train tickets online it is a lot cheaper.

Yet asides from all of these amazing adventures; chilling in the garden or the odd visit to garden centres has been very therapeutic. Being able to treat my Mum to a coffee and cake at the garden centre whilst sitting in the sun looking over the plants and the downs is very calming. Also quite special as when I was little me and my Mum would spend many a day together at the garden centre playing in the playground then she would always treat me to a slice of chocolate cake so it's almost like we have been recreating those happy childhood memories and traditions.

Back to the point of this blog post. As I have been on holiday there have been many products I have loved using over July so narrowing it down to my top five has actually been quite challenging and a little on the stressful side for me.

Summer Saviour Shampoo And Conditioner By L'Oreal
I would describe this as my Summer shampoo and conditioner of choice. When we are lucky enough to have proper summer weather my hair doesn't seem to cope with this. It goes very brittle, dry and frizzy and all of the moisture seems to disappear. Very unfair I know. Whilst in Superdrug I discovered a new shampoo range by L'Oreal which instantly appealed to me. Summer Saviour, I mean hello that is totally what I need. The shampoo is for dry hair exposed to sun, salt, sand and chlorine, the perfect item to pack in your suitcase for a summer holiday. The shampoo is packed full of oils and claims to nourish your hair and restore shine. I would say I agree with these statements and I think it might just be my new best friend for Summer. Fingers crossed along with the conditioner, my hair will survive the summer, wahey.

Baked Bronzer By The Body Shop
During the summer as I tend to wear make-up most days of the week I always find that my face is less bronzed then the rest of my face. To overcome the challenging prospect of a bronzed body and pale face I have rediscovered a bronzer from The Body Shop that I have been loving again. I still carry out my usual contouring routine with my trusty Hoola bronzer and What's Up highlighter by Benefit yet I use The Body Shop bronzer for an all over healthy glow afterwards. It is a baked bronzer in the shade 02 Warm Glow. I would say that it is a good dupe for the Mac Mineralise Skin Finish powders for an all over healthy glow and shine. Although it's shimmery it doesn't look as if you've covered yourself in glitter. It just adds a bit of warmth to my skin. I love it when you rediscover a trusty beauty item as I have many previous fond memories of using this little gem.

Fruit Salad Bubble Bath By Imperial Leather
I have recently been really enjoying the Imperial Leather products. When they are continually on offer in Boots for £1 you can't say no. This month my scent of choice has been Fruit Salad which is based on the retro pic 'n' mix fruit salad sweets. Personally I never liked the sweets themselves yet I adore the scent of this shower cream. It's a really hard scent to describe. It's fresh, fruity and sweet. It reminds me of sherbet mixed with tutti fruity. Perfect for feeling fresh this summer. I know the products are called shower creams yet I use them as bubble bath as they create beautiful scented bubbles and the added moisture in the formulation leaves your bath water and skin feeling silky soft afterwards. Imperial Leather have a wide range of products and I can highly recommend that you check out the entire range. Whether you are sweet, fruity, floral, neutral or musky there are a whole range of scents to chose from. At a £1 each - total bargain.

Nouvelle Vague Nail Polish By L'Oreal 
I have always loved painting my nails and having time off work has meant I have been able to paint my nails more often and have the time to not rush and enjoy it whilst taking care painting my nails. I have loved changing my nail colour regularly this month; featuring bright summery colours or sweet pale pastels. It has been really challenging narrowing it down to a favourite nail polish but I do love a retro discovery. I have had this nail polish for a couple of years now yet I have really enjoyed rediscovering it over July. It's a beautiful pastel, pale lilac shade with a slight cornfield blue tone to it. Perfect for summer. I really like pastel shades in summer as they make you look more tanned. Good sneaky tip there. It is a really easy shade to wear and compliments many a different outfit combination. In fact I am currently wearing it now whilst typing away. I love it when you rediscover old favourites.

The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette By Maybelline
This was another cheeky purchase for my holiday. I really don't need any more eyeshadows yet I caught sight of this beauty and the naughty beauty loving shopper inside of me couldn't resist. It is a gorgeous nude eyeshadow palette containing twelve eyeshadows, half matte and half shimmer. I am a sucker for a nude eyeshadow palette especially one containing warm shades. The fact that the palette contained warm golds I thought it would be perfect for summer. The fact it was also on offer also made it feel a lot easier. It's hard to pick favourite shades as each day I have been enjoying trying different combinations of eyeshadows. It's very rare for me to actually say that I like every shade in the palette. I know that I will use this palette throughout the year and at some stage every shade will be used again and again. Wow, what a good purchase this was. It's so satisfying to know that you get your moneys worth. I hate it when you finish a palette yet you are left with two or three shades that you never touched as you couldn't find a use for it. I would highly recommend this palette! The eyeshadows themselves are really blendable with great pigmentation. One of my best discoveries this year.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. I would love to know in the comments which products you have loved using over July. Let's hope August is another gorgeous month. I won't lie but the Summer really is my favourite season.

XXX

June Favourites 2016

Hello my lovelies and welcome to July. Where is the time going? I can't believe that we are already now half way through the year. I know I say this every year but this year is literally flying by, I can't keep up.

Moringa Body Sorbet By The Body Shop
As you all know I am a sucker for a body sorbet from The Body Shop and even more so throughout the warmer summer months. They are a moisturiser with a twist. They aren't thick and creamy instead they remind me of aftersun as they provide that instant soothing and cooling sensation. Instead of a creamy formulation, the body sorbets have a slightly more oily texture. I feel by writing oil that I have instantly put you all off. Apologies. Maybe oil is the wrong word, instead imagine a sorbet as the name suggests. Inside the sorbet are teeny tiny little air bubbles that pop and absorb into your skin. The sorbet leaves you feeling instantly refreshed whilst smelling amazing. What I love about the body sorbets is that they absorb into your skin within seconds allowing you to be able to function. What I mean by function is get dressed and continue your day. I love applying the sorbet after a morning wash or if I have been outside soaking in the gorgeous sunshine. Throughout June I have been using a sorbet in the scent Moringa which I have been loving. It is fresh, floral and perfect for Summer. It reminds me of summer meadows in the countryside so I would highly recommend that you make this your new best friend next month. I would say that if you are going on holiday it is essential that you take a body sorbet with you.

The Righteous Body Butter By Soap And Glory
I adore Soap And Glory; I love the products, the brand and the packaging. A couple of Christmases ago my Mum brought me one of these and ever since it has become a yearly tradition which I really hope continues as I look forward to using this every year. It is the most gorgeous and luxurious body cream with a gorgeous fresh, floral scent. The scent is gentle and very refreshing and therefore perfect for the warmer Spring/Summer months. I have therefore been obsessed with this body cream throughout June using in in bulk everyday. I also love the tub. Soap and Glory aren't reserved on their products and you get a heck of a lot of cream in the pot. A very economical buy. The fact that the tub is so big somehow makes the product feel even more luxurious and it is very satisfying to open and be welcomed to the gorgeous fresh scent. The butter itself is super moisturising and it leaves your skin feeling silky soft and nourished afterwards. A must have all year round yet particularly for Summer. Next time you're near a Soap and Glory counter I would highly recommend that you give the tub a good old sniff, trust me you won't regret it.

Bubble Baths By Imperial Learther
I am a sucker for bubble baths, always have and always will be. Whether it's the morning, mid-day or evening, summer or winter I will never say no to a gorgeous and comforting bubble bath. Whilst shopping in Boots with my Mum the other day I noticed that the Imperial Leather bubble baths were on offer. Being a sucker for beauty products and bargains I couldn't resist and I have stocked up. I love the range of scents and formulations that they produce. Whether you're nutty, fruity, fresh, floral, sweet or neutral there is a product for everyone.

I have been loving three scents in particular which all appear very similar and unsurprisingly are classic 'what i call Ellie scents'. No surprises I opt for sweet scents and of course my ultimate favourite of coconut. These scents also cover three purposes: Nourishing, moisturising and Comforting which are again classic Ellie criteria in a bubble bath for the perfect pamper evening.

Marshmallow 
This was the first scent that I was drawn to mainly because I was curious to what a marshmallow is supposed to smell like. What that is I still don't know but I like it. It is very soft, subtle and gentle. It has a beautiful pale baby pink colour and it leaves your skin feeling moisturised and really soft afterwards. Amazingly if you smelt a marshmallow it would probably smell the same, sugary and sweet. Shock horror marshmallow is part of the sweets range and true to it's name extremely comforting. I absolutely adore this and I have already worked by way through multiple bottles. I think for it's pure originality this has to be my favourite scent.

Vanilla And Almond Milk
Vanilla and Almond are two of my favourite scents so of course I was going to have to buy this one. It is part of the Classics range and it is described as nourishing. It is a beautiful pale taupe shade, a cream with warm brown undertones running through it. It has a really refreshing sweet scent that brightens you whilst also providing that added bit of TLC. I could never turn down vanilla and almond scented products.

Coconut And Tiare Flower
I am an absolute sucker for all things coconut. I have never heard of a Tiare Flower before but what I do know is that it smells amazing alongside coconut whatever it may be. I love coconut all year round although I would say mainly in Summer as it has a beautiful summery tropical feel towards it. If you suffer from dry skin I would recommend trying this one as it has added moisturiser which is perfect for tackling dry skin. I have seen that this one is currently a firm favourite whether that's on beauty blogs or just generally throughout the shops. Coconut is all the rage at the moment. The bubble bath is part of the fruity collection and perfect for a summers day allowing you to picture yourself relaxing on a warm sandy tropical beach sipping some sort of coconut cocktail, or is that just me? 

Pink Rules Sheer Pink Lipstick By Rimmel 
You may remember recently reading a little cheeky make-up haul post on my blog back in May which featured a couple of the new Sheer Lipsticks by Rimmel. If you have forgotten or missed the post and want a little nosy you can click here to do so. I have recently been obsessed with the lipstick in the shade Pink Rules and I have worn in pretty much everyday throughout June. It appears to be a vibrant, hot bright fuchsia shade which I would normally be slightly terrified of and avoid as I'm not sure that full on bright lipsticks suit me. However, what I love about these lipsticks is that they're sheer allowing you to build up as much colour as you like. The lipstick is still incredibly pigmented so I don't need to apply a vast amount so you definitely get your moneys worth. The lipsticks themselves are also really moisturising which is perfect for the warm summer weather. The other shade I picked up was a coral shade which I think will be more of a Spring shade for me but I'm sure that it will also make an appearance throughout Summer. The lipsticks are really affordable yet a really good quality. Out of the highstreet brands in Boots/ Superdrug I would highly recommend that you check out Rimmel for lipsticks. A personal favourite of mine and they take up the largest space in my lipstick collection. I am also always reading positive reviews about the lipsticks in beauty blogs. If you need a new side kick for the Summer I would hands down recommend the new range of sheer lipsticks; great price, great quality, great formulation and a great range to chose from.

Pure Natural Beauty Sugar Grape Face Serum By M&S
Thanks to by subscription to Glossybox last year I discovered Face Serums. Thumbs up from the face, thumbs down from the bank account. I had previously been using a very expensive face serum from a French company that I received in a previous Glossybox. Much to my distress this had recently finished after I had extracted every last drop that I could. Rather then shipping an already very pricy face serum from France I thought I would take the spontaneous and slightly risky option and try and find a new one. I then learnt that all face serums are very, very pricy. Poop. Who knew. Although, if they are effective then I personally believe that they are worth investing into as you're only born with one face that has to last a life time so I believe that it is important to take care of it. For those of you who don't know, you apply a face serum to a clean face before moisturising and applying your make-up. Face serums are designed to add radiance to your face whilst smoothing your skin, minimising pores and hydrating your skin aiming to provide a younger complexion. The first new face serum I have been experimenting with is an M&S one in the fragrance of Sugar Grape. I wouldn't instantly say it smelt of grape yet grapes don't really have a distinctive fragrance. To be honest though, the scent wasn't a key element when choosing a new serum. I find that the serum instantly absorbs into my skin adding extra moisture to my face. I find that alongside moisturiser and a face primer my face feels super soft which gives a more natural finish to my foundation. So far so good and I'll be interested to see what the long term benefits could be from using the new serum.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. We seemed to have focussed on skin care throughout June which probably isn't a bad thing now that we are hitting those Summer months. I would love to know what products you will be recommending to your friends and family this month and whether you have tried any of these products and what you thought of them. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

XXX 

May Favourites

Hello my lovelies and a Happy Wednesday to you all. Pinch Punch it's the 1st of June who can believe it? The year is totally flying by I can't keep up. It only seems like yesterday that I was sat here typing away for my April favourites blog post. Now we're coming up to the half way mark through the year even though we are almost on the cusp of Summer soon we will be on the Christmas countdown.  I hope you all enjoyed a fabby long weekend with the bank holiday, that's one of the best things about May; we're treated to a whole two bank holidays.

I have definitely started to notice in a change in the products that I have been enjoying to use recently. We are  creeping into more summery colours and products which excites me immensely.

Mango Body Butter By The Body Shop
I hate the feeling of having dry skin which I seem to be prone to mainly over the Summer and Winter months. So I suppose you could say that I basically have dry skin all year. I think that it is important to take good care of your skin so I try to force myself to moisturise as much as possible. Not the most exciting of beauty tasks but still an essential. Over summer I also find that moisturising helps maintain a tan which is also beneficial compared to a patchy, streaky and flakey look - nice. When it comes to body butters and moisturises I always find myself returning to The Body Shop for a rich and nourishing moisturiser in the form of their body butters. Over May I have particularly enjoyed using the Mango scent which I haven't used for a while. It leaves your skin feeling nourished and refreshed with a gorgeous fresh fruity scent. This is definitely more of a summer then winter scent. I find the body butters incredibly moisturising and you feel as if you are really benefiting your skin whist you can feel all of the moisture being absorbed. My skin feels super soft for days after a deep moisturising session.

Pink Grapefruit Body Mist By The Body Shop
Scent wise I have found myself really enjoying using the pink grapefruit body spray from The Body Shop recently. I have owned this for quite a while now however, I have found myself returning to this little gem and it has been my staple scent this past month. It is really refreshing and fruity and perfect for those warm summer days where you feel as if you need a little refresher through out the day. Fresh and fruity summer scents have definitely been a theme for me recently. Roll on Summer is all I can say.

Hand Food Hand Cream By Soap And Glory 
Returning to all things creamy I have found myself totally loving the classic Hans Food hand cream from Soap and Glory recently. I have been using this hand cream non-stop through out each day recently and I have been loving it. It has a gorgeous sweet floral scent combining cocoa and marshmallow making it a very sweet yet refreshing hand cream. I absolutely adore the scent which is perfect for summer. The hand cream itself is deeply nourishing and a small amount goes a long, long way so you get your money's worth with this product. I have been using the hand cream endlessly even when my hands don't need any cream just because they are left so soft afterwards and the scent is very comforting. It has become a little habit for me; when in doubt, whack out the hand cream. I love Soap and Glory products and I will 100% be repurchasing this product in the future. A summer essential for you all.

Nude Eyes Uncovered Eyeshadow Palette By Collection 
Again this isn't a new addition to my make-up collection but I personally love rediscovering older products in my collection. Recently I have found myself really enjoying using this nude eye shadow palette by collection. It is composed of six gorgeous nude eyeshadows including a matte warm toned highlighter with the best name in the universe - white chocolate, two gorgeous gold shimmery shades, two brown shimmery shades and a matte black which is perfect for contouring and as a liner. The eyeshadow palette is amazing value at only £2.99 yet you wouldn't believe it judging by the amazing quality of the eyeshadows. The eyeshadows are really creamy and blendable making them perfect for contouring. They are super pigmented with amazing colour pay off that lasts all day. These eyeshadows make contouring dead fast and speedy making it appear as if you have spent half an hour doing your eye make-up as supposed to a couple of minutes. They are perfect for applying make-up quickly before rushing off to work. I already have my eye on a couple of the other eyeshadow palettes from the Collection range as they are gorgeous. I also adore the names of all the eyeshadows with a lovely sweet theme running through the palette such as White Chocolate, Buttercream, Biscuit, Chocolate Milk, Brown Sugar and Espresso - hello to you my friends. The palette is also really compact making it perfect for travelling and being tucked inside your make-up bag. I am so, so happy that I rediscovered this beautiful gem last month.

Summer Pink Lipstick By Maybelline
This was one of the first lipstick shades that I ever purchased and it has since continued to be a staple within my extravagant and ever expanding collection. This will always be a special shade to me. Fellow make-up junkies I'm sure will relate to having certain products that they will continue to buy as they have been significant for them. I purchased this shade for the first time when I first started my make-up collection and it will continue to hold a firm place in my collection for many years to come. I even remember buying this lipstick on a gorgeous warm summery day during the summer holidays. I love the Maybelline colour sensational lipsticks; they are the whole package when it comes to lipsticks. They have a gorgeous and nourishing smooth moisturising formula whilst being extremely pigmented. They nourish my lips and they don't leave them looking dry. The colour pay off is amazing and lasts for hours and hours even after food and drink with little top ups needed. The lipsticks also have a gorgeous coconut scent that I personally adore as I'm sure you all know that I am a sucker for coconut. Since the range was first introduced I have enjoyed expanding my collection of gorgeous shades from a huge range but this will always be a personal classic for me. The shade is a beautiful bright pink with a hint of shimmer. However, the lipstick luckily doesn't look glittery on the lips. Instead the satin finish leaves you with the ultimate shiny lips without the need of lip gloss which I personally struggle with. I can tolerate lip gloss on warm days with little wind and when my hair is tied up. Useful tip - never eat pastry when wearing lip gloss, it isn't pretty. Lip gloss aside, the lipsticks are really affordable with a huge range of shades to chose from. Highly, highly recommend these lipsticks to anyone out there seeking a new purchase.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. I would love to know what products you have all enjoyed using over May.

XXX

April Favourites 2016

Good morning my lovelies and a Happy Sunday and May Day to you all. This month has totally flown by for me I honestly don't know where it has gone. I feel I have failed slightly on the blogging side of life but I have been a little busy bee at work. It wouldn't be the first of the month without a classic favourites post.

Cocoa Body Butter By The Body Shop
As you all know I love The Body Shop. Not a day goes by where I don't use at least one of their products. Skincare, bath and body, home and makeup they have it covered with an amazing range of products to chose from. Over April I have been enjoying using the Cocoa body butter. I used to love the scent when I was younger but I don't know if I overdosed or my choice of scents changed but I kind of went off the scent and only just used it again recently. I am now a huge fan of sickly sweet and sugary scents which I used to avoid. The butter itself is so moisturising and perfect for anyone that suffers from dry skin. I love the scent and my skin is always left feeling silky smooth afterwards and smelling of chocolate and vanilla - yum!

Gradual Tan Body Lotion By Garnier
Moisturising my skin is something that I am ashamed to admit that I am guilty of not doing regularly enough. When I'm busy during the week and getting back late I find my self slipping into naughty habits. However, I have found myself getting into a good routine of moisturising my legs using the gradual tan lotion everyday. Spring is the awkward transition stage when more flesh is exposed that has been hibernating under cosy jumpers and pyjama bottoms for months and hasn't seen sunlight for nearly half a year. To make the transition a little less painful I find a little helping hand for the pale legs is required. I have been alternating between using this and a gradual tan lotion by Dove which is my holy grail. Feeling spontaneous I have been trying the new Garnier gradual tan lotion of which I have been pleasantly surprised. What I love about both lotions is that they don't have the horrible fake tan smell. Instead this one has a fresh and fruity apricot smell which I love. The lotion absorbs instantly which is perfect for if you're pushed for time as you're not left standing in your bedroom naked for half an hour waiting for your body to finish absorbing the moisturiser. I have also noticed a quick change with my legs looking a little more golden. It's perfect as they don't look obviously tanned yet they've just got that base before they're exposed to sunlight again. A 2 in 1 product for me as a really efficient and smooth moisturiser along with a gradual tan that is instant to use, perfect.

Colour Rush Lip Crayon In Give Me A Cuddle By Rimmel
This isn't a new product for me, instead it's a classic that I have rediscovered again recently. Throughout Spring I have been enjoying wearing a peachy pink lip colour. It's brighter, very Spring like, fun and colourful. Perviously I had been sticking to my darker berry shades throughout Autumn and Winter so as soon as the sun is out, any excuse for some pastel colours. I have been really into pastels in general this past month, not just in terms of lipstick. Whether it's lip colour, nails or clothes I have been obsessed with pale pastels. It just makes me think of Spring and Easter. What can I say pastel colours make me smile. I have been particularly enjoying pairing this colour with an Essie nail polish that I mentioned in my last favourites post called Lovie Dovie which is a gorgeous pastel barbie doll pink shade. The two pair very nicely together, I can highly recommend the combination. They're like two little peas in a pod. The formulation of the lip crayon is lovely and soft whilst being very moisturising yet it also has really good colour pay off. I would describe it as a lip balm, lipstick and a lipgloss all in one. I won't lie but I also love the vanilla sweet scent that it has which makes it even better in my eyes as I am a sucker for vanilla.

High Beam Crayon Highlighter By Benefit 
I personally love a spontaneous treat splurge, I mean who doesn't? I don't tend to ever treat myself to high end make-up very often as I normally see it as a treat to request these beautiful little creations as a gift for my Birthday or Christmas when you're being poked for gift ideas by relatives. I've had my eye on the Benefit High Beam highlighter crayon for quite some time now and I had also read many a positive review on beauty blogs. So on one day off I had a wave of spontaneity consume me and I took the splurge and picked one up; and I haven't looked back since. I am planning on writing a full review of the crayon on a separate and dedicated blog post so I'll treat you all to a quick summary. The crayon is really smooth and creamy and really easy to blend. It is a gorgeous iridescent oyster cream pink shade which I find really suits my skin tone for highlighting. The crayon is almost matte with a beautiful silver shimmer yet it appears matte on the skin so you don't appear glittery. I have been using the crayon specifically under my eyebrow to highlight my brow bone which I find helps to widen and brighten any tired looking eyeballs. I don't know why by I find the word eyeball a really cringy word. It's nice to have a specific eye-highlighter-product-thingy as supposed to using eyeshadows. I may also start experimenting and using the crayon around my eyes as a highlighter in the inner corner to help combat those resistant dark circles that I seem to be prone to. What a successful spontaneous splurge; maybe I should have these more often who knows.

What's Nude Eyeshadow Quad By Soap And Glory 
Similar to the lip crayon this isn't a new purchase in my make-up collection, instead it is the return of a golden oldy, a classic if you like. It has featured in many a favourites post before. I am a sucker for nude and pink eyeshadows as I find that they compliment my green eyes by emphasising and opposing the colour. I just adore this beautiful little quad. A- it is small and compact and takes up very little space in your make-up bag. B- it is from Soap an Glory which is one of my favourite highstreet make-up brands which I find to be of tip top quality. C- the eyeshadow quad contains four beautiful, creamy and blendable shades that are all really wearable for everyday use. I have got into a little routine recently of using this beautiful quad almost everyday in my working weekday make-up routine. The quad contains a gorgeous matte highlighter, a creamy pink matte nude, a matte dark brown and a dark brown with a hint of shimmer. The perfect eyeshadow cocktail combination. The shades blend together really easily producing the perfect nude eye. Perfect for quick, easy and effortless eye make-up that using your contouring skills can make you appear to have spend hours creating when really it was a little two minute job. D- the quirky pack even comments on how they haven't bothered providing a cheap sponge brush which I find painful to use. I wouldn't recommend these for contouring with. It is just the perfect eyeshadow quad that is cheap and affordable yet of tip top quality.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. I would love to know what products you have all been enjoying to use over April. I hope you enjoy your bank holiday three day weekend you lucky sausages.

XXX

March Favourites 2016

Hello my lovelies and a Happy Friday to you all! Who has that Friday feeling? I know I do. It's also April Fool's day - help us all. First of all, where has the month gone it has seemed to fly by. March always seems to go quickly with Mother's day, my Mum's birthday and Easter. Plus I have also been to stay with family and friends. It has been a busy and crazy month that's for sure.

Lovie Dovie Nail Polish By Essie

One of the best things about March is the official arrival of Spring; and when it comes to nail polish this means I can go totally crazy and crack out the pastel nail polishes. This makes me immensely happy. One nail polish that I have been reaching for in particular is Lovie Dovie by Essie. This isn't a new nail polish, I have had this colour for many years now. A retro if you like. In a way I am surprised at myself for reaching for this polish so much as I tend to normally wear it more in the Summer. I don't know why but in my head I see Spring for super, super pale pastels; pinks, greens, blues and purples that are so pale they are almost white. Whilst in the Summer I tend to go slightly brighter. It might be because I have been using gradual tanning lotion this past month in preparation for Spring I don't know. Lovie Dovie is your classic barbie doll pink. I'm normally more of a dark pink or pastel pink girl yet I have just found myself reaching for this colour so much recently. Even now as I'm sat here typing away I find myself smiling as I get a glimpse of my busy fingers typing away wearing this beautiful shade. The Essie nail polishes are a beautiful thick formula yet they aren't too thick where they can look streaky. I only need two coats to get a beautiful full coverage. The polishes themselves are also super glossy. There are so many amazing colours to chose from with beautiful names Essie is a brand that I would highly recommend. I love my collection.

Acai Smoothie Nail Polish By Barry M

Another nail polish that I have found myself reaching for a lot over March was surprise, surprise a Barry M shade. Acai Smoothie is one of the latest additions to their Gelly collection which is my favourite range that Barry M produce. Again, surprisingly to myself this isn't a pastel shade. It is a beautiful mauve purple. It is one of four for the Spring 2016 collection with the theme of pastels and nudes yet this is the darkest shade of the collection. I thought I would find it quite difficult to pair this shade with multiple outfits however this hasn't been the case. It is actually a really easy shade to wear and I have also found myself reaching for this a lot recently. I have basically alternated between the two shades over March. To sum it up, the gelly collection is thick, glossy, long lasting and easy to apply. Barry M is also really affordable and a cheaper alternative to Essie yet the quality of the nail polish would make you think that it is from a high end beauty brand. If you are interested in the Gelly Spring 2016 collection you can read my blog post by clicking here.

The Strength Restorer Serum By Garnier

Hair care is really important to me and I am always after products that can help to keep my hair looking healthy. I do straighten my hair regularly although when it comes to styling it could probably be worse. Even so I still want to look after my hair. I have recently been using a serum from Garnier which I have been really enjoying. I love the Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Care range; in particular the Strength and Sleek restorers. I thought I would test out the Serum from the strength restorer range. I apply two pumps through the ends of my hair after washing it. I find that my hair gets really knotty after I've washed it so if I apply the oil before brushing my hair it makes it a whole lot easier to deal with. I find that alongside my tangle teeser, brushing my hair after washing it isn't a nightmare anymore as the brush can glide through. Not only that I have found that it leaves my hair looking super shiny which I approve of and appreciate immensely. The strength restorer range also smells of honey; very refreshing and Spring like so what's not to love?

Snow Fairy Shower Gel By Lush

When it comes to washing and all things hygienic I have been loving using the Snow Fairy shower gel by Lush. Yes I know it was from their Christmas range and yes I know that it is now April but what can I say, I'm a free spirit. If you're like me and you love scents that are sweet and slightly food related then you will love the scent of Snow Fairy. It is a super sweet scent and too sweet for many but I personally love it. It is a Lush christmas classic. If you say the words 'Lush Christmas Range' to a true Lush fan then they will instantly reply with 'Snow Fairy'. I wish it wasn't limited edition yet I suppose maybe it wouldn't be as special to be if I could buy it all year round. It is a beautiful barbie doll pink with a silver simmer running through it. Packed full of candy floss and sugary sweetness it is just to die for. The quality of the Lush shower gels is also really good. I picked up a small bottle yet this will last me a long time. That doesn't mean I don't wash often - I do. The shower gel itself lathers really easily and creates beautiful Lush bubbles for your shower or bath. I have actually been enjoying using this sweet scent for the start of Spring as it's very refreshing.

Summer Glow Body Lotion By Dove

During the colder months I find that I get dry skin quite easily, especially as I was really ill the previous month I have been slapping on the moisturiser. In true preparation for Spring/Summer I have brought one of my oldest and dearest friends out of hibernation. I have been using the Dove Summer Glow body lotion for years now. I think it goes back to my year 11 prom in 2012. My legs always tan the least so I like to give them a little head start for when it is warm and sunny enough to crack out the skirts and shorts. The body lotion is really moisturising and it leaves my skin feeling really soft afterwards. It absorbs into your skin really quickly. Not only is it benefiting by reducing the dry skin yet it is also a gradual tan giving a bit of warmth and colour to my legs. It has a lovely scent towards it and luckily not the one of ammonia that some fake tans have. I usually get through three or four of these bottles over Spring and Summer but that's not too bad for over half of the years worth.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. I would love to know what products you have loved using over March and if they are similar to mine. Enjoy the rest of your day it's not long to go for that weekend push now.

XXX

February Favourites 2016

Hello my lovelies and a Happy Tuesday to you all. Where has February gone? Having said that I am so happy that it is now March which brings lovely Spring as I am definitely fed up with Winter now. As soon as Christmas has passed for another year I am all set for Spring/Summer with warmer and sunnier days and new life. February has been a funny month for me. I feel I am a little guilty of minimal blogging as I have been ill with flu for half of the past month and I'm still not 100% yet. I won't complain when I next have a cold that's for sure. It just means that I have been trying out new products that much this past month. Wearing make-up was restricted back to the start of the month I therefore found it quite challenging to think of new products that I have loved using or trying this month as the majority of the time I have been ill in bed looking revolting. This wasn't intentional but this post seems to feature favourite products that are dominated by one shop. This isn't a sponsored post by The Body Shop and it is pure chance but what can I say, I have always loved The Body Shop and I know that I will continue to for many years to follow.

Oat and Honey Face Mask By The Body Shop

I think it's really important that we all take time to pamper our skin and look after ourselves. Something I'm sure we are all guilty of is not allowing or making enough time to do this. This is something that I am definitely guilty of. Once a week I try to have one pamper evening where I will indulge in a face pack, face mask, exfoliate and treat myself to a lovely bath using lovely special treat products. Call it an unofficial New Year's resolution if you like. Not something you would do on a daily basis in your quick morning bath that is a bit of a rush just for a quick wash to start the day off with. I have been testing a face pack from The Body Shop which is called an Oat and Honey mask. The smell of this mask is gorgeous. It's really refreshing and light and it just screams summer to me. The mask is also really soft on your skin so if you have sensitive skin I'm sure that you would be fine with using this one. The mask is a 2 in 1 face mask and exfoliate. This is perfect then for those of you who say that they don't have the time to pamper your self. Two jobs at the same time, no excuses my lovelies. It feels really soft and creamy on your skin as it also contains an inbuilt moisturiser. It's really easy to apply then you simply leave the mask on your cleansed skin for 5 to 10 minutes before washing the mask off with a warm flannel, toning and moisturising. I also think that this mask would be suited for those of you who suffer from dry skin as it is incredibly moisturising. I have been using this once a week every Saturday and it has earned a well deserved place in my weekly skin care routine. After using this mask my skin feel glowy and moisturised. I'm sure there are lot's of benefits for using one of these masks. If you think about it, you're born with one face to last you your whole life so why wouldn't you want to take care of it.

Satsuma Body Sorbet By The Body Shop

You all know that I love The Body Shop sorbets. Fact. The only difference here is that I have been enjoying using a scent that I haven't used in sorbet form before. I remember purchasing this back at the start of December thinking that Satsuma sounded perfect for Christmas. Although I have only just got round to using it now satsuma is a really refreshing scent. I apply this in the mornings and evenings. It just feels really refreshing on the skin. The little pockets of air pop onto your skin allowing the moisture to be absorbed. For another year I will continue to use these all year round only alternating on the different scents.

Eyeshadow Quad By The Body Shop

This isn't a new addition to my collection, in fact it's slightly embarrassing as to how old this could be. I have just found myself turning to these beautiful eyeshadows quite frequently and I remember doing the same back in January and December as well. It is a beautiful neutral quad with a whole lot of shimmer to it. I always finding myself turning to this for special occasions such as birthdays, nights out or meals out. Seeing as Christmas and my Birthday have just passed this quad has been of great use recently. It comes with a beautiful warm toned golden highlighter and three beautiful nude brown shades which are perfect for contouring with and using for definition such as under the eye. I remember receiving this as a Christmas gift many years back and it has been continued to be loved ever since. It is definitely one of my favourite eyeshadow palettes. An oldy but a classic and staple. The eyeshadow quad is called 01 Smoky Copper although unfortunately it has been discontinued so I'm dreading finishing this little beauty and I probably won't allow myself to ever fully finish it.

Glazed Apple Body Butter By The Body Shop

This has been mentioned in multiple favourites posts at multiple times of the year. It still remains a firm favourite and staple of mine. The Glazed Apple scent is hands down my favourite ever scent from The Body Shop. Unfortunately for me it is limited edition. Typical. Therefore I always make sure I stock up on it when I can and it is always top of the list of my Christmas list. I promise you it genuinely was the first thing on my list. I can't bare not to use any throughout the year which was a big mistake I made when the Mother of all crimes was made and the gingerbread scent was discontinued. I mean really. I will continue to use this scent throughout the entire year and I will never get bored of it or lose my love for it. Moisturising is always essential although I have found that I seem to have got through a lot of body butter over February. I think that's down to a combination of the cold weather and being ill it has been essential to moisturise any dry skin. It has a beautiful sweet and fruity scent combining fresh apples with sherbet. The perfect scent for me personally.

Thank you for reading this post my lovelies and I'm sorry that it is so short and sweet. I'm hoping I might get my mojo back now this month. I would love to know in the comments what products you have all enjoyed using over February and maybe let me know if there are any products that you want to try. I have seen that there have been a lot of lovely make-up realises for Spring so I won't lie but I feel a haul post coming on. I'm feeling a spontaneous shopping trip where I spend hours and hours staring at make-up stands and swatting. Heaven, very therapeutic and relaxing.

XXX

January Favourites 2016

2016! I cannot believe I just typed 2016. Hello my lovelies and welcome to the first monthly favourites post for 2016. There have been quite a few products that I have loved using this month so it was quite hard to narrow down my favourites to just five. I have been lucky enough to try lot's of new products this month after Christmas so just watch this space as I'm sure you will see them again in future monthly favourites posts.

Snowcake Soap By Lush 
If you have been following my blog for a while now then you will know that I have my own personal yearly tradition where I pretty much buy the entire Lush Christmas range. You can see my latest Lush haul blog post by clicking here from last Christmas. I go way OTT on the bath bombs, bubble bars, bath melts and shower gels and creams. It may seem extravagant but this batch will last me over a year and so if you space it out it really isn't that much. It also means that the bathroom always smells incredible and has a slight glitter tinge towards it.

Lush also produce really good soaps. They are fun, colourful and creative yet they are also really nice and creamy for your hands and they smell amazing. I wanted to add soaps to my Christmas purchase but whilst browsing through the shops and catalogues I realised that it would be a 'slippery soap' and I think there was all but one I wanted to try so I thought it would be best to save my money whilst I still had some left.

As one of my Christmas presents, Mum brought me the Snowcake soap which I was over the moon by. Snowcake shares the same luxurious marzipan and almond scent as the Snow Angel bath melt which is one of my favourite Lush Christmas products. It was the one soap that I was dying to try the most, she knows me so well. I would have included a picture of it but it is looking a little sorry for itself as I have used it so much and let's be honest we all know what a half used bar of soap looks like. What I will say is that it is the creamiest and most moisturising soap I have ever used. My hands always feel really soft and nourished after using it. As I mentioned it has a gorgeous scent which you can still smell on your hands a long time after using it; sweet almond marzipan is my all time favourite Lush scent ever created, thank you Lush. The soap is a beautiful white and creamy colour with specks of glitter yet your hands aren't left covered in glitter. The top of the soap was also dusted in beautiful gold glitter. It definitely feels like a luxurious product to me. Unfortunately for my bank account now I have been introduced to the world of Lush soaps I may have to add these to my Lush Christmas spend.

Fix It Shampoo and Conditioner By Lee Stafford
I'm a sucker for trying new products. Trying new hair care products can usually be a bit hit and miss. Usually I find that they are just okay or the formula doesn't suit my hair. I find it quite rare to find a really good one. Last year I discovered the Garnier Ultimate Blends collection which I have been obsessed with. In particular I would say my favourites were the Sleek and Strength repairers. Whilst shopping at the start of January I saw the Lee Stafford brand of hair products that I was drawn to. Maybe it was the pink bottles who knows. I hadn't seen his own collection of products before and seeing as he is a London stylist I thought they should be pretty good. Feeling spontaneous I had a cheeky splurge and mixed up my hair routine. Crazy I know.

I have been using these throughout January and I absolutely love them. I opted for the Fix It range which aims to fix, build and repair damaged, over-processed and breaking hair. Hair care is very important to me and seeing as I straighten my hair I want to look after my hair as best I can. Whether any long term improvements will occur I don't know yet but my hair is a lot shinier and it feels full bodied with greater volume and a lot softer. I think it just looks healthier after using these products. It certainly feels healthier that's for sure. The shampoo and conditioners are packed full of vitamins A and E which can  only be doing goodness to your hair. I love the quote on the back that says "have fun, look wicked and smell beautiful". I don't know how to describe the scent of these but they do smell really good I want to say slightly floral with a hint of caramel which let's be honest just sounds weird. I've also noticed the scent lasts in my hair which I find doesn't usually happen with other shampoos. I'm so glad I discovered the brand. I definitely want to go back and admire the full collection to see what other goodies I can discover.

MUA Eyeshadow Palette 
I received this palette in my last Glossybox and I have been obsessed ever since. Eyeshadow palettes are my current weakness and I sure was treated to some beauties over Christmas which I am obsessed with and enjoying using. I love combining different combinations for different looks. If you are new to make-up then the MUA eyeshadows are perfect. You could get one palette and be good to go with 12 gorgeous shades. They are really pigmented, creamy and blend-able yet they are also really cheap and affordable. The palette that I own is called Undressed and I find that I turn to it most week days especially if I'm rushing for work as I know I can rely on it. It is a gorgeous neutral palette and perfect for everyday use. The shades that I have recently been enjoying the most are: Puff (warm toned highlighter), Rose Ash (pale and shimmery rose gold pink shade that brightens your eyes) and Hazel (matte rich chocolate brown that is perfect for contouring in the outer corner of your eye). I have also loved using the golds and browns yet I have just found myself using the above three as a regular combination. This palette would also be perfect for travelling as it is nice and compact with endless possibilities.

Grandest Grape Chubby Stick By Clinique 
Now tell me this, who can say they don't love a lip crayon. I was absolutely obsessed with lip crayons back in 2014. I brought loads from different brands of similar colours yet I have and still do use all of them. This Christmas I was lucky enough to receive the Clinique chubby stick gift set. If you are interested you can read a full blog post on the gift set by clicking here. I can now proudly say that I am the owner of not one but four Clinique Chubby Sticks which are the Queen Bee's of all lip crayons and where all the hype began. My current favourite and the one that I have loved using over January is Grandest Grape. This appears to be a purple lipstick however it appears as a gorgeous dark berry shade on the lips that I adore. Berry lip colours are perfect for Autumn/Winter. Seeing as I naturally have red lips I always tend to wear berry shades all year round as nudes and pale pinks and peaches don't suit me, they make me look ill. The chubby sticks are really pigmented and moisturising and they last a long time on the lips. They also look really glossy; they are the perfect handbag essential.

Watermelon Nail Polish By Barry M 
You all know how much I love Barry M nail polishes and in particular the Gelly range. To sum it up for you all yet again they are shinny, thick, glossy and they last a long time without chipping. There is a huge range of colours and shades available to choose from, perfect for every season and every occasion. The best thing about Barry M is that it is also so cheap and affordable so you can definitely justify a multi purchase spending spree. Last November and December I mainly stuck to red nail polish. In particular Blood Orange from the Gelly range. I think it's because I think of red nail polish as a festive colour and essential for the Christmas period. It is so versatile it goes with everything.

However, over January I branched out and mixed up my colours a bit. I brought back some old nail polishes that I have had for a few years that are classics and still firm favourites of mine. Watermelon being one of them of course. It has been freezing throughout January which has seen me whack out the warm, wooly cosy knitted jumpers - heaven! In particular I have been wearing a dark green one from H&M that just so happens to match Watermelon perfectly. I really like dark nail polishes for winter and this dark green shade is rich and luxurious. The thought of dark green nail polish wouldn't normally appeal to me but this one just works. I can't stop smiling when I look at my nails. This was from the original Gelly collection and one of the first that I ever brought, tried and tested. It is therefore very special to me.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post my lovelies. I don't know about you but I love a favourites post. It's nice to look back and reflect over the past month; what you did, loved and enjoyed. I would love to know in the comments what your favourite products have been over January. I hope your Mondays are all bearable and if in doubt, just think coffee.

XXX

Blogmas Day 1 - November Favourites 2015

Hello my lovelies and welcome to the 1st of December - finally it is here the Christmas countdown can begin. Although talking of Christmas countdowns I have been getting excited since September with the excitement level growing stronger and stronger everyday. I am feeling really organised this year, so far I've got Christmas candles, cards, crackers, paper, ribbon, wreath, a build your own gingerbread house kit, an ickle robbin for my chocolate yule log, christmas nails, gingerbread cutters, advent calendars, we have ordered our duck, sausages and bacon and I have already brought a whole load of Christmas presents. I'm sure theres still more Christmas things achieved that I have forgotten to include in that long list but I am feeling so organised this year it is so satisfying. I couldn't hold off until December for the Christmas music, that has been on full blast in my car for a couple of weeks now accompanied by some dodgy singing and dancing.

Getting a little side tracked but Christmas is honestly my favourite time of year. Most people hate the long old build up but I personally thrive off it. I cannot wait to wrap up presents and get the Christmas tree and house decorated. I love buying presents for others I get a real enjoyment from it I find it hard to restrain myself from spending all my money. Side tracked again - sorry!

Turning to monthly favourites I have a bit of a random list for you all this month.

Lord Of Misrule Shower Cream By Lush
When it comes to Autumn/Winter I am a sucker for Lush. I manage to incorporate a Lush product into my day every single day over the cold months which is something that I am quite proud of. When I had a little Halloween splurge at the Lush store I was so happy to see the return of the Lord of Misrule bath bomb which was my favourite bath bomb from the Halloween collection last year. I was even more pleased to see that it was also accompanied by a shower cream version. Thank you Lush. This means the earthy scent can be continued in the bathroom for a longer period which pleases me immensely. I would describe this as an earthy, woody scent which I would usually avoid yet I personally love this. It is the total opposite to my usual sweet and fruity preferences yet I'm slightly addicted to it. It's a gorgeous emerald green colour which brings back so many happy memories of when I went to see Wicked in London for my 16th. It also leaves my skin feeling really soft afterwards and smelling like a Lush shop so it's a win, win with me.

La Palette Nude Rose Eyeshadow By L'Oreal 
I picked this up from Tunbridge Wells a couple of months ago and I have been a little obsessed with it ever since; I use it practically everyday. There are two palettes in their new range and I picked up the one in 01 Rose which is packed full of 10 nude rose gold eyeshadows. What more could you ask for in an eyeshadow palette? I personally love nude eyeshadows and I am slightly on the nervous side to bold colours. Having green eyes myself I find the rose gold element compliments my eyes as the pink and the green clash which draws attention to your eyes. The palette consists of a golden highlighter, five rose gold nudes, a gold, a grey, a navy and purple. I love all the different ranges as it allows you to create various eyeshadow looks that can be worn with various make-up looks for an everyday or evening look. The list of possibilities is endless. They are really pigmented and blend really nicely together. They also last a long time on your eyelid so you get a good colour pay off. I would recommend this as a good dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 3 eyeshadow palette. I know I will continue to love and use this palette all year round.

Candy Corn Candle By Yankee Candle
I don't think I have included a candle in a monthly favourites post before but this is was in a whole league of it's own it has definitely earn it's place. I am a huge sucker for candles - I buy and own way too many, how I'll ever burn them all I don't know but I'm sure there are worse things that you can be addicted to. I have had a reputation at work for buying too many candles which I'm proud to live up to. I brought this candle from the Ashford Outlet where there is a Yankee Candle store - yes that's right my lovelies a store full of Yankee Candles. Candle Addicts Anonymous anyone? Yankee Candle brought out two scents for Halloween: Candy Corn and I believe the other one was a grey candle called Witches Brew. I was instantly drawn to Candy Corn in the orange glass jar and oh my the smell is incredible. If you love sweet scents then you will have loved this candle. At the time I didn't know what candy corns were but a little trip to Google informed me that they are American Sweets. As I said if you like sweet vanilla scents then this would have been right up your street. I'm not a fan of the vanilla cupcake scent from Yankee Candle it's too overpowering for me yet Candy Corn is more gentle on the nose. If it wasn't for the Halloween jar I wouldn't have known that it was designed to be a Halloween candle as I could quite happily burn the scent all year round. I got so much use out of the candle it has certainly done it's bit. I've kept the jar as I thought I would bring it out again next year and light a tea light inside as it looked so effective on the fireplace. I really hope this scent returns to us next Halloween as it is a new favourite of mine.

Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Daily Scrub By Neutrogena 
This isn't a new product in my skin care routine however, I have found it to be essential over the last couple of weeks. Last week I had my first winter cold of this year which resulted in an outbreak of spots on my chin. This was really frustrating as up till now I have been quite lucky with my skin however I knew my luck would soon run out. I remember one morning coming downstairs and saying I feel 'spotty, snotty and grotty' - gross. Too much information I know. The Neutrogena daily face scrub is designed to clean your skin and remove any dirt and impurities. I use this every morning and it's just a nice way to start the day. Since using it I have also found that my spots tend to clear up a lot quicker which seems to be essential over the winter months when everyone is ill and feeling run down. My favourite scent from the collection is the pink grapefruit one as I just find it feels really refreshing and it's a good way to wake up in the morning I would highly recommend it especially if like me you are prone to or conscious of spots.

Face Masks By Sephora
When I went to Paris in October I discovered Sephora with my Mum and these amazing face masks. They are so easy to use, they are basically a cloth face mask that you stick to your face, put your feet up and have a giggle at how ridiculous you look for 15 minutes then whip off the mask and feel the benefits soaking into your skin. You apply these to a pre-cleansed face and once you have removed the mask all you have to do is massage in the remaining moisture, tone and moisturise your face. These were really cheap and there are so many to chose from that all benefit your skin in different ways. It's so hard to chose I would personally recommend buying one of each but that's probably not the most economical thing to do. Whilst in Paris on the Saturday night we tried the honey mask and it was honestly incredible. Afterwards our skin felt smooth, glowing, healthy and nourished. It even felt smoother then that amazing feeling you get from using a face scrub to exfoliate your skin. I think these masks are packed full of goodness. These are perfect for giving your skin that added boost over the colder months for healthy, glowing and clear skin over Christmas. Unfortunately we don't have a Sephora store in the UK so we stocked up in Paris. Since returning we have worked our way through a batch of the honey masks. We now only have two masks left which saddens me deeply. The last two masks consist of the pink Lotus mask which claims to be moisturising and soothing and the red Pomegranate mask which is supposed to be energising with anti-fatigue effects. I'm thinking the Pomegranate mask will come in perfect for getting ready for a work Christmas do.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. I would love to know what have been your favourite products to use over November. Also, let me know if you have tried any of these products and what you thought of them. Aside from beauty I have also been loving the famous return of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and anything Christmas related. My Mum and I have created a tradition that every Black Friday we do the majority of our Christmas shopping. To be honest I had done a load already but I can boldly and proudly shout that 'I have finished my Christmas Shopping'! We had a lovely day shopping in Tunbridge Wells with multiple Costa trips which consisted of some amazing gingerbread, cream and sparkle lattes and the cutest ginger bread muffin. I am so obsessed with my coffee shops at the moment. I hope you are all feeling festive and have your advent calendars at the ready, a very big and hearty merry 1st of December to you all.

October Favourites 2015

Hello my lovelies and a Happy 1st of November to you all. I cannot believe where the time is going it is less then two months until Christmas and I have started my Christmas shopping, I've brought Christmas candles, Christmas cards and Christmas crackers. To say I'm excited is an understatement right now. During October I was loving the build up to Halloween. I have loved, loved, loved doing all of my Halloween baking, I had a Lush Halloween splurge, I've been lighting my Candy Corn Yankee Candle with my ghost and pumpkin tee lights, I have discovered the Pumpkin Spiced Latte from Starbucks which is just out of this world and me and my Mum treated ourselves to the perfect little Pumpkin that we carved together. I have been like a little kid again, so excited for Halloween. I don't know why though I didn't go out partying or trick or treating instead I had a cosy evening in with my Mum wearing Halloween headbands and indulging in our tradition of chilli on jacket potatoes that we eat on every Halloween. Where these traditions come from I have no idea. Of course Halloween wouldn't be complete without a little bit of baking. Halloween biscuits anyone? October also saw the much awaited trip to Paris with my Mum for a long weekend which was definitely a highlight of my year. Paris in the Autumn is simply gorgeous and a must see.

Being the first of a new month I have a monthly favourites post for you all on products that I have loved using last October. Put you're feet up, make your self a nice coffee and cut yourself a slice of cake or grab yourself a biscuit and enjoy.

Lychee Nail Polish By Barry M 
This is the first of two nail polishes that I have loved using this month. I'm going to refer to this one as my holiday nail polish as it is the one that I wore when I went to Paris with my Mum. It is a really pretty pale nude shade with warm brown undertones to it making it more Autumnal. This isn't very descriptive so a better comparison would be to compare it to a white nail polish such as Barry M Coconut. Both appear white yet Lychee is more of a softer brown making it a warmer nude for this time of year compared to a pale pastel. I love the formulation of Barry M nail polishes, particularly the gelly's. They are really glossy, creamy, they have good colour pay off and last a long, long time without chipping. Another good thing about Barry M is that they are really affordable so you definitely get your money's worth yet they are just as good as any expensive high end brand in my opinion. They have an amazing range of colours which are defiantly worth checking out.

Cherry Creme Nail Polish By Orly 
The second nail polish that I have loved using this past month was actually a freebie in a magazine which I'm not ashamed to admit. Long train journeys call for magazines. So we picked up a couple of magazines to take to Paris with us, this being one of them which just so happened to come with a free nail polish. Rude not to really. I haven't heard of the brand Orly before but I think it's meant to be a really good brand and usually a little more on the pricy side. You can definitely tell this when using the nail polish as it has a very pigmented and thin formulation, similar to that of OPI or Nails Inc. Yet it is by no means watery and it is amazingly pigmented. You always have to be careful with red nail polish anyway but particularly cautious with this one. I have been obsessed with this nail polish for the second half of October, I think I have worn it every single day. I'm currently wearing it now so my love for it still burns deep. I also thought it was perfect for Halloween. You can't beat a bright pillar box red sometimes. It's basically Halloween and Autumn in a little pot.

OGX Argan Oil Of Morocco Shampoo And Coconut Milk Conditioner 
Oh I love a mini product. Don't you love a mini product? These were purchased to take with us to Paris. It's always a gamble with hotels, will they or won't they provide mini freebies of shampoo. Yes they did is the answer but it's better to be safe then sorry. I loved using both of these products they left my hair feeling really healthy and nourished after just one use. OGX is a new brand to me I usually tend to stick to Garnier but I feel like I'm branching out. The Argan oil shampoo claims to help nourish and restore dry/damaged hair so my hair could do with a tun of this. It does tend to go a little drier over the colder months and my hair felt renewed after using it. Those of you who read my blog regularly will know that I have a major obsession with coconut. I think it tastes delicious but it's also really good for your hair and body. This conditioner therefore instantly appealed to me. It is soft, creamy and nourishing leaving your hair looking and smelling amazing afterwards. I think my hair really enjoyed a change and trying these new products and I have certainly loved the effects.

They're Real Mascara By Benefit 
Oh me oh my this mascara is incredible, literally insane. I have never been one to get excited over mascaras I have never understood the excitement as at the end of the day no matter which one I use I have never noticed a major difference until I discovered this little hidden treasure. I personally love Benefit it is one of my if not my favourite make-up brands so I instantly love any product from Benefit with all the cute and quirky packaging and amazing products it is right up my street. Previously I have been using my Barry M Extra Volume Showgirl Mascara which was a lovely freebie which lasted me a whole year, not bad eh? I thought I would treat myself to a new mascara for Paris so what could be better then this gorgeous present from my Mum last Christmas. Hands up I'll admit it I have been converted and now understand how people can get excited over mascaras. One wipe of this over my eye lashes and they are instantly transformed. I naturally have long eye lashes but one coat of this leaves me looking like I'm wearing false eye lashes. It literally does anything you could want it to; it adds volume, lengthens, separates, emphasises and extends your lashes leaving you with a beautiful fluttery effect. What more could you wish for? It literally does everything. I have been 100% converted and I wouldn't use any other mascara it's Benefit all the way from now on. Sorry bank account. I'm going to write a separate blog post on this mascara it is so good I cannot praise it enough.

Bronzing Duo By Bourjois 
This is an oldie in my collection but ever so much loved. In fact I thought I would include it in this months post as I recently treated myself to a new one and I have pretty much used it everyday since. I find it really suits my skin tone during the Autumn/Winter months. It was this time last year that I first discovered it. It is a beautiful matte bronzer with a hint of shimmer to it yet it appears matte so perfect for contouring. It is accompanied by a gorgeous golden highlighter which looks beautiful above the cheek bones. I love bronzing and highlighting duos as they are perfect to use together for contouring. It is a really nifty little product that is compact so perfect for taking with you for on the go touch ups. The other thing that I love about this product is that it is packaged like a chocolate bar. Who is going to say no to a bit of milk or white chocolate? I just think it's really cute and it has a lovely vanilla scent to it if thats something you go for when you pick up a bronzer. A must have in my make-up collection.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. I would love to know in the comments which products you have loved using over October. I currently have my feet up, typing away with Come Dine With Me on and my Yankee Candy Corn candle burning, Sunday evening heaven. I hope you are all having a lovely evening. Here we go, count down to Christmas now that's all I'm focussed on *squeels loudly*.

XXX

September Favourites 2015

Hello my lovelies and a Happy 1'st of October to you all! After the 21st of September Autumn has officially fallen and I am absolutely loving it! Normally I dread Autumn as I think of cold shorter days, rain and everyone seems ill but so far it has been gorgeous. I don't want to tempt fait but I think we've been pretty lucky so far. I love living in the countryside which just looks gorgeous in Autumn with that warm sunlight, blue skies, red berries and the crunching leaves on the floor - heaven. Autumn makes me think of cosy socks and pyjamas, hot chocolate, candles, cosy nights in, evening walks, films and bubble baths. Yes I am an 80 year old trapped in a 19 year olds body but to be honest I don't really care. Also, am I the only one who is constantly checking the Lush website for the release of their Autumn/Winter collection? The shops are filling up with Christmas stock so it's only a matter of time. I'm also not ashamed to admit I've brought my Christmas cards all ready, top tip, Next have some goodens thats worth checking out.

So I am currently sat here typing this brimming fit to burst with excitement as I'll let you all into a little secret in the fact I am off to Paris tomorrow for a long weekend. The last time I went to Paris I was just sat chilling in my mother's stomach so unsurprisingly I don't remember it. We first had the idea of going back in March when it was my Mum's birthday so after months and months of planning and a whole lot of squealing it's finally upon us. EEK! Paris looks so pretty and what better time to go then the Autumn. Theres so much to explore and I just want to see as much as possible taking in all of the culture and beauty. A bloggers heaven; what more could you ask for?

Towards the end of September I have started my university course and I fear that my blog has taken a back seat. I knew it would happen I guess I just find it hard to let go. I should really be working now but I needed to blog for sanity really. I have had so, so many blog posts planned recently yet I just haven't had time to write them which I am sorry about. I will still blog it just won't be as frequent as I like but I do have a few baking and beauty posts lined up for you all for October and who knows maybe a cheeky Paris post might creep in.

45 Rimmel Lipstick By Kate Moss
Over the Summer Kate Moss continued to release a further 5 lipsticks with Rimmel which was called her nude collection. Nude lipsticks don't suit me as I have very pigmented red lips so they don't tend to show up or they make me look disturbingly ill. The only nude shades I can wear are dark rosy brown shades. I didn't pay much attention to her collection as I just guessed that they wouldn't suit me but whilst queuing in Superdrug I saw the range and saw one shade that I thought I could ware. I got a little bit too excited over this and took the plunge and brought it. Those till offers you have to stand next to for five minutes are my nemesis. 45 is a really pretty rosy brown shade. The lipsticks are of the same formulation to her previous collection - smooth, moisturising, really pigmented and they also taste really nice - sort of a cherry scent (not that this should be an important factor). They last a hell of a long time and this newbie is a welcome edition to my collection. I have found myself wear this pretty much everyday throughout September. It is just a simple, new easy to wear everyday lipstick. The fact it's nude means you can wear it with pretty much any make-up look. If you could only own one lipstick then I would recommend this one. It's definitely worth checking out the collection if you haven't so already.

Cool Melon Fresca Bubblebath By TreacleMoon 
Autumn and bubble bath, no surprises there then. I love using the Treacle Moon bubble baths. They have a really good range of scents, they're super cheap and they last a long time. It takes me months and months to get through one of these. I realise that, that makes me sound like I don't wash. I do wash. In fact I have a bath everyday you just get a lot of product here which is a good plus. Last year I discovered this limited edition Melon one which can I just say smells amazing. Summer in a bottle. When you think about it you don't tend to see many Melon scented products so it's in a league of it's own here. It's really gentle, refreshing and soothing so perfect for an evening in and a nice warm bath. I brought one of these last year and became obsessed with it. The fact that it was limited edition panicked me so when it went on a 3 for 2 offer I brought another 3 and stocked up, is that normal? So yes I have got through almost four of these. I have used this pretty mush over the entire summer and I will greatly miss it so fingers crossed it returns next year as it is a summer must have for me. I also love the little messages Treacle Moon write on their bottles for each personalised scent, it's really cute and I often find myself re-reading them whilst lying in the bath.

Enhancing Serum Base By Noxidoxi
News flash but over September I only started to use a face serum. I'll be honest I wasn't sure you were meant to use them or what they really did - bad blogger. I suppose the beauty world is always changing and like I mention in my profile I'm no expert and I'm always learning and adapting to new creations. This arrived in my July Glossybox and after testing it I have worn it everyday since. This is very fitting as the July Glossybox was the French edition box. I believe toners are meant to firm your skin and this one also contains antioxidants to help nourish your skin. Toners are also supposed to tighten your pores which will help a smoother application of foundation. I apply this once a day in the morning after washing my face and before moisturising ready to apply my make-up. I believe that this is more of a high end product and a little on the pricy side but after discovering toners I think it is worth spending that extra bit of money and including them into your skin care routine.

Sugar Crush Body Spray By Soap And Glory 
Now tell me who doesn't love a Soap and Glory product? I love their range of make-up and skin care products my house is filled to the brim. The Sugar Crush scent is my favourite from their range and when I discovered you could buy a body spray of the scent I got very excited. I don't know how to describe the scent I guess the best I can come up with is sweet limes yet it isn't overly citrusy if that makes any sense. Probably not so I suggest you just go and give this a sniff and I promise you that you won't be disappointed, I'm addicted to it. I just love the scent as it's really refreshing so if you're in need of a little pick me up, give this a spritz and you will smell heavenly.

Mojhito Body Sorbet By The Body Shop
Okay so we seem to have a lime theme going on here. I loved using the body sorbets over summer and it is something that I will continue to use no doubt throughout the Autumn and Winter. The body sorbets are great to use if your in a hurry to quickly moisturise as they instantly absorb into your skin. This means you're not stood awkwardly for half an hour naked waiting for your moisturiser to sink in before you can get dressed. Not the best scenario when running late for work. The sorbets have a more oil then buttery formula but don't worry they won't leave you greasy. Instead they are full of amazingly smelling air pockets that pop and soak into your skin. The perfect cheats tool to speedy body moisturising. The Body Shop sell these in an amazing range of scents. Over the Summer they brought out the Virgin Mojhito range which I have been dying to buy over the entire summer yet restrained myself as I'm trying to be careful with money seeing as I'm now a student again. I told myself once I ran out of my current sorbet I could treat myself to a new one so after finishing another tube I took the plunge and went for it. I love that word tube it's very satisfying to say. Although I would describe this very much as a summer scent I have loved using this recently I must be having a lime faze. Similar to the sugar crush spray this is very refreshing and it will definitely be Paris bound with me.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. Let me know in the comments what your favourite products have been this September. They don't have to be beauty related they can be totally random from TV shows to food to clothing to sports. TV highlights for me have included the return of the X Factor, Educating Cardiff, Doc Martin, surprisingly Doctor Who and less unsurprisingly of course the one and only Great British Bake Off. I hope you all have a lovely day don't worry it's nearly the weekend and I shall see you once I've returned from Paris. Au Revoir my lovelies.

xxx

August Favourites 2015

Holy Moly I cannot quite believe that I am writing this post but apparently so as it is currently the first of September - goodbye Summer and hello Autumn. Another month and another monthly favourites post. Looking at the products that I have selected for August there is definitely a summer feel towards them. Although there are signs that Autumn is on it's way. One - this disgusting torrential rain, two - it's darker and colder outside and three being the return of X Factor and as soon as that starts you know that you're practically on the count down to Christmas. I have worked in retail this past year and the fact that a couple of weeks ago we were bringing out our Christmas cards and crackers just boggles me. It's like you see back to school adverts on TV before the kids have even had a chance to break up from school for their holidays. I'm sure as you get older time goes faster.

Pink Grapefruit and Basil Shower Gel By Radox
I mentioned a similar product to this in my June favourites post which was the tangerine edition of the Radox shower gels. I'm sure that if you live in the UK you will have seen the Radox shower gels on offer over the summer in the majority of super markets and beauty stores such as Boots or Superdrug. I remember back in June having a naughty Boots splurge after being in need of some retail therapy when I purchased this. I was caught out queuing for the till where they always have all of these great deals in troughs which they make it really difficult to say no to and you find your hands overloaded with added extras you didn't really need. The Radox shower gels were on offer for £1 each and I thought well bargain. Seeing as I had already spent too much I thought another £2 won't hurt. This is very bad life advise please listen and don't copy or repeat, try to do the opposite and save money. To be fair though there is always a need for shower gel and it will always come in so you might as well purchase it whilst it's on offer right? Enough of my guilty conscience but if you happen to be queuing and you see this glaring at you I would recommend you give it a good sniff as it honestly smells incredible. I wouldn't describe it as a strong grapefruit smell which I can sometimes find too much but I think that the basil makes it sweeter and slightly more floral. It just smells so refreshing and perfect for a morning shower to wake you up leaving you feel refreshed reducing the need for a morning coffee.

Summer Pink Lipstick By Maybelline 
This isn't a new edition to my collection it was one that I picked up last summer yet it has made a reappearance for this summer. It is a really pretty metallic pink shade that looks natural on your lips just giving you that extra bit if colour to brighten your lips. I really like the Maybelline lipsticks, I love the formulation as they are really creamy and moisturising so they don't dry your lips out. They also have a coconut scent to them which is an immediate winner with me as of those of you who regularly follow my blog will know that I have a very strong love for coconut going on right now, in terms of food and beauty products. Normally I would avoid metallic lipsticks like the plague as I would normally find them to look glittery and grainy yet the metallic just makes these lipsticks appear really shinny without looking thick and glossy. I love the different ranges of pink shades that Maybelline sell and if you prefer more of a subtle pink then I would deffinetly recommend that you check out their collection. I alternate between different shades over the different seasons yet Summer Pink has been one that I have turned to the most over summer and the previous month.

Brown Eyeshadow Pencil By Barry M
Lip crayons were my obsession last summer and this summer it has been eye crayons. Who knows what it will be next year, possibly concealer crayons or who knows bronzer or blusher crayons may be brought out. I have loved using this dark brown shade in the outer corner of my eyes for some very quick early morning contouring. When I'm rushing to get ready for work I can't be bothered to fath about too much applying different eyeshadows and blending them together. Don't get me wrong when I've got more time I love doing my make-up properly but when I'm pushed for time, this has been my cheats way to contouring. I have been applying an iridescent pink cream eyeshadow all over my lid and then roughly smudging some of the brown crayon in the outer corner of my eye lids and blending it out with my ring finger. I find this gives a more natural and smokey eye make-up look and it literally only takes 30 seconds - perfect. I wouldn't recommend applying one of these all over your lid as they are more chalky then creamy which I have found can look a little streaky yet they are perfect for a little bit of cheats contouring.

Strawberry Body Sorbet By The Body Shop
Body sorbets have been my summer obsession of 2015. I picked up two of the body sorbets at the end of last summer, a strawberry and mango. I liked them yet I wasn't overwhelmed with them at the time. Some times I'm a sucker for routine and I just got stuck using the body butters and never really branched out of my comfort zone yet I am so, so glad I rediscovered these this year. The body sorbets have a more oil to cream formulation and they are filled with air pockets which melt and absorb into your skin. I have been applying this after a bath or shower usually twice a day in the morning and evening. I started using these again when we had the band of crazy hot weather for the UK when it was over 30 degrees every day. I was using these as an alternative to aftersun as I was in the process of moving house and couldn't find the aftersun or a lot of other things for that matter so this was me improvising. The sorbets feel so cooling and moisturising on your skin yet they absorb instantly without leaving you stood there naked in your room feeling sticky and unable to move. I also think by using the sorbets I have moisturised my skin a lot more this summer which is only a positive and it has helped my tan to last just that little bit longer. I have always been a sucker for The Body Shop and the strawberry scent has always and will always by a strong favourite of mine. It is really refreshing and summery and who doesn't instantly think of British Summertime at the smell of fresh strawberries?

The Righteous Body Butter By Soap And Glory 
Along with me branching out into body sorbets I have also been branching out and using body moisturisers that aren't from The Body Shop - I have no idea what has come over me this summer. I was stocking up on Soap And Glory goodies with my Mum last month when we realised if we spent over £10 we would also get a free tub of the body butter so we thought well it would be rude not to make use of that amazing offer seeing as these are usually over £10 anyway - theres logic there somewhere I'm sure. Yes these are usually very expensive just for a tub of body butter but my oh my do you get your moneys worth with these. The tubs are gigantic whoppers and will almost last you a life time. I find the actual tub quite satisfying to open, yes I know it's the small things in life that count. This has a gorgeous summery scent combining fresh aloe vera with nourishing cocoa butter for that little bit of sweetness and sugar. The actual moisturiser is really nourishing and absorbs into your skin really quickly a lot faster then the body butters from The Body Shop may I add. I usually use this after shaving leaving my skin feeling super soft and silky. Unfortunately I have loved using this and would use it again which means I will want to buy more and they're not the cheapest of moisturisers yet they are so, so worth it.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post my lovelies. Let me know what products you have loved using this past month or just generally over summer.