Sephora Haul

As I say the word Sephora I giggle slightly and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. As a beauty blogger I feel a little embarrassed to be making this statement but I never realised Sephora was in France. Oops. For this shocking statement I apologise. I don't know why but I thought it was only in America as that is only where I had heard of people visiting it before. I've never been to America or seen a Sephora store so I'm going to put that down as the reason to my silliness. Living in England we don't have any Sephora stores so when I discovered that they were located in Paris - in fact Paris was crammed full of them - I got a little excited and dragged Mum in. In fact we visited three days and we were staying in Paris for four so that says it all really. After her first visit I don't think Mum needed much persuading to return.

For those of you who don't know what a Sephora store is I salute you and don't feel ashamed of that statement, be bold and proud ready to be educated. A Sephora store is a store of beauty dreams. It is almost like a supermarket or a department store composed entirely of beauty products ranging from skin care, perfumes and make-up. It contains Sephora products as it's own brand yet it includes all of the other essentials such as Clinique, Clarins, Urban Decay, Benefit, Too Faced, OPI, Marc Jacobs etc. etc. the list is endless. The only way to tackle a Sephora store is to grab one or possibly multiple baskets and simply crack on and work your way through all of the aisles thoroughly. I would recommend that you only bother visiting a Sephora store with someone else who wants to go otherwise it will be rushed and you won't be able to take in all in. Luckily for me my Mum was more then happy to visit.

I thought I would write a mini haul of some of the goodies that we picked up. There were so many more items that we could easily have also indulged on however you suddenly realise that you have baskets and baskets of products which do actually cost money. Shocking - I know.

Sephora Face Masks
I had seen these previously mentioned on other beauty blogs where bloggers have raved about them. They look really fun and colourful I was more then excited to give these ago. There are so many different scents and formulations to choose from it is really hard not to get carried away and get one of each so I thought that six (three of each remember) was well restrained by us. We picked up two honey masks which claim to be nourishing and balancing on the Saturday and we had a girly pamper evening in our hotel room. After a long day of sight seeing and traveling all we wanted was to wash our hair, make-up off, magazines and face masks. Pure bliss for two pairs of two little feet which were exhausted.

These are really easy to use. The face mask has a similar texture to a make-up wipe and it is filled full of nourishing goodness that soaks into your skin. The hardest thing about using these is keeping a straight face whilst wearing these and not cracking up in hysterics because you look ridiculous. They have little sections cut out for your eyes, nose and mouth. The moisturiser in the mask allows you to shape the mask to your face. You leave the mask on for 15 minutes and sit back and relax. Before using the mask you should cleanse your face after taking your make-up off. Once finished remove the mask and massage any remaining product into your skin. You don't need to wash these masks off. To finish all you have to do is apply your toner and moisturiser and boom you're all done.

The honey mask was just as it claims nourishing and moisturising. Our skin felt so soft after using these which lasted for days and days afterwards. We were so impressed that on our final day we returned and picked up another four. Another two honey as we knew that they were amazing and would both happily use these again. If we could have I would have brought this one in batches and boxes. I then chose a Pomegranate mask which claims to be energising and to have anti-fatigue properties so possibly one to use in the morning? Mum chose a Lotus mask which claims to be moisturising and soothing which sounds like heaven.

Sephora Hand Creams
After indulging on face masks a swish move to the right was made where we discovered rows, rows and more rows of hand cream. After putting our eyes back into our sockets a decent amount of smelling was done and we each chose a flavour. I plumped for Coconut of course. Everything I use at the moment is coconut whether it's beauty products or food. I think the only thing that I am lacking is a coconut perfume which I sure do need in my life. I'm just obsessed with it end of. Mum chose blueberry which also smelt incredible. So much so that I just had to get one as well - rude not to really. You don't tend to see many blueberry beauty products in England (she says whilst using a blueberry body butter from The Body Shop) yet blueberry products are everywhere in Paris so it seemed like a sign and very fitting to go for blueberry. We have tested these hand creams - of course - and were thoroughly impressed with both. They are so creamy and moisturising yet non sticky or greasy. They also absorb into your skin instantly so the perfect hand cream to keep in your hand cream. I would highly recommend that if you can get to a Sephora store you pick a couple of these up.

Sephora Eyeshadow Trio
At the checkout we were presented with this trio of beautifulness as a freebie. Well you can't say no can you not to three gorgeous nude shades. I said that Mum could keep these as it was her birthday weekend and she dose suit her nude shades. What a nice thing to do, I wish that, that happened more in the UK. Three perfect shades to be used together all with a hint of shimmer. You have your golden highlighter, a milk chocolate praline shade and a darker rich cocoa shade that you could use in the outer corner of your eye for contouring.

YSL Lipsticks 
Here we have it, the grand finale. Both of us have been staring at these lipsticks for what feels like forever, dreaming of being spontaneous and making a splurge. YSL is a luxurious high end brand so not the sort of thing you would buy everyday just by popping into Boots or Superdrug. I guess we just thought if we don't do it now we're never going to. What could be more special then picking up this duo whilst celebrating Mum's 50th birthday in Paris. So we took the plunge and went for it. After a whole lot of swatching we each chose a shade from the Rouge Volupte Shine range. I plumped for 17 Rose In Tension which I have had my eye on for years and I mean years now. It is a beautiful rosy brown shade with pink undertones to it. It is a my lips but better shade perfect for Autumn/Winter or evenings out yet I would still wear this shade all year round. If I could only own one lipstick it would be this as by having darker toned lips I find it hard to find lipsticks that suit me. I can't wear pale nudes, peaches or corals so this definitely floats my boat. It has no shimmer in it and it feels really moisturising and glossy. All praise the YSL Gods. Mum chose 9 Nude In Private which is a beautiful and I mean beautiful rosy pink shade with a hint of shimmer to it. Like me she has dark lips so she goes for rosy pink shades yet her lips are less 'pigmented' then mine so she suits slightly paler shades.

These lipsticks are just gorgeous. I mean just the packaging alone is stunning with the golden case and beautiful colourful ring running around it which I love as each shade represents the lipstick and is so unique to that lipstick. Just imagine rows of these - amazing. The lipstick quality itself feels so luxurious. I'm having a battle going on inside my body I want to wear it now all the time and everyday yet part of me see's it as such a special product that I want to save it only for special occasions. I'm going to write a separate blog post on these as they are in a league of their own and so special I feel that they deserve it and it would only be fair.

So there you have it my lovelies. A few little goodies from Sephora to show you all. As I said earlier we could have gone on and on but we were well restrained. I think Mum also did a little bit of private shopping for a special event that it is coming up in two months. Yes two months till Christmas my lovelies only 9 Fridays to go. EEK. Christmas is my favourite time of the year so I have been on countdown since the end of August. Let me know in the comments if you have tried any of these products and what you thought of them. Thank you for reading this post my lovelies and I hope you all enjoy your weekend. I'm just about to tuck into a curry and watch a bit of Doctor Who with my Mum - heaven. Perfect Saturday night in, in my eyes.

XXX

September Glossybox 2015

Hello my lovelies and a Happy Friday to you all! Just want to through this out there but this is my 100th blog post on the old blog. Celebrations all round I think. This blog is my baby and my hobby. It brings me so much pleasure so this is a huge milestone for me.

I have a little apology to make to you all as my September Glossybox post is a little on the late side - in fact half a month late. Oops. For which I'm very sorry about but look at it on the plus side you get not one but two Glossybox posts this month so like I say there's a silver lining around every cloud. September was a pretty hectic month for me with starting my university course and going to Paris so time was on the shorter side last month. I take my blog very seriously so I didn't want to rush out any blog post. Blogging is one of my hobbies and I like to enjoy it and write my posts properly so i hope this one is worth the wait.

So moving on - can we just all take a moment to appreciate how pretty this months box is. A little firecracker. I love the combination of the pastel blue and hot pink. The limited edition boxes are always my favourite to receive as they just seem that little bit extra special. The September box was designed to inspire us fellow beauty lovers for the upcoming trends of Autumn and Winter this year. Judging by the weather Autumn has definitely arrived. Carry on reading my lovelies to discover more about the products and this seasons new trends.

Traceless Hair Ring By Invisibobble
The first product I have to show you all is a hairband. Yes a hairband. You're probably reading this thinking why would I be excited about a small hairband in a box? Well let me tell you my lovelies, this hairband is designed so that when you take your hair down you won't be left with any kinks in your hair. I hate it when I've had my hair tied up and you take it down and your left with kinks and curls all over the place. This means I then have to straighten my hair which I'm trying to do less of to try to take care of my hair better. You get three little plastic spiral hairbands in a pack which also claim to be invisible in your hair. The smooth plastic surface also means that the bands shouldn't rub against your head leaving you headache and damage free. I'm very excited to try these as they could be the wonder band that solves all hair issues so I will let you know how I get on with these. These will only cost you £4 and you can pick these up from Topshop. I recon these are really good value as they are chunky so not the bands that you are likely to loose either. It comes back to that famous question of how do hair bands always go missing? No matter how careful you are they always somehow disappear into a black hole. It's the same with hair grips or bobby pins, what ever you call them they will always go missing.

Eyeshadow Brush By Marsk 

I haven't heard of Marsk before so this is a new brand to me. What I will say though is that it feels like a really good quality eyeshadow brush which I won't say no to. I mean who will say no to a free make-up brush? The hairs feel really soft which you would hope so as one of these would cost you £16.70 so this is one of your high end make-up brushes. I recon it will be a really nice brush to use as the handle isn't too long allowing you to get closer to your eye focussing on the detail of your eye make-up. I don't own any high end make-up brushes other then this one so I'm looking forward to trying it. 

Shimmer Eyeshadow Powder By Bellapierre

Oh what a surprise, Glossybox have very kindly included an eyeshadow to accompany your eyeshadow brush, what a treat. This is a gorgeous metallic grey and shimmery eyeshadow with purple undertones to it which would make it gorgeous paired with a dark purple shade. It is a lose eyeshadow that can be found under the name of Whesek which you can purchase for £12.99 is you are interested. Glossybox are claiming that 'Greige' is the new seasons must have - a combination of grey and beige. Personally I tend to stick to compacted eyeshadow powders as I find lose eyeshadows a little on the messy side. If I'm running late or rushing to get ready for work and using a lose eyeshadow the chances are I will drop/knock/spill the pot all over me and the bathroom which wouldn't be the best way to start the day. However, if I'm not rushing and I have the time to take care and enjoy doing my make-up then I will be more likely to use a lose eyeshadow. Yes they are tricky but I do find that lose eyeshadows provide you with a stronger colour pay off so if you have the time it is definitely worth using one of these. 

Nail Polish By Nails Inc

When I first opened this months box this was one of the products that stood out the most to me. I guess because I know the brand Nails Inc to be a gorgeous and luxurious nail polish brand. Up until now I don't actually own any polishes from Nails Inc. Mainly because they are on the pricy side so it's not something I would really buy myself as one of these will cost you £11. Is it really worth it? Well to be honest I recon so as they have a really great glossy colour pay off and will last for ages without chipping. They are more like a thin liquid then a thick polish and so, so easy to apply. I have tried one of my friend's before and fell in love with it instantly. It was a gorgeous tangerine shade called Clifton Gardens which was perfect for summer. For Autumn a grey polish was included called Battersea Park which was very fitting as it is named after a park I visited with an old school friend in Chelsea last month. I would describe this as a khaki shade which would look gorgeous accompanied alongside a thick wooly Autumn grey jumper. Actually saying that any shade of jumper would look gorgeous with this neutral shade whether it's black, brown, green or red the list of possibilities is endless. That's why I'm so glad that I got over my fear of grey nail polishes last Autumn as I think they are a great neutral sophisticated shade to wear. It's probably one of my favourite products I've received in a Glossybox so far so a massive round of applause to you Glossybox editors, give yourselves a well earned pat on the back you sure have done good this month. 

Luminous Colour Hair Masque By Maria Nila

Last but by no means least is a new product that I am probably the most excited to try out of this box. This high end vegan - yes vegan hair treatment product is designed to nourish, strengthen and protect your coloured and natural hair. Something my hair could really do with. It is packed full of natural vitamins and minerals to boost the health of your hair. This is something mine could definitely do with as it gets damaged from me straightening it although I am trying to reduce this so I am trying to be good. Also dying your hair isn't the healthiest of things to do to it. I went blonde over summer and have recently gone back to being a dark chocolate brown of my natural hair colour. It was a treat and really fun to experiment and colour my hair yet it isn't something I want to make a habit of as I want to look after my hair so it doesn't all fall out when I'm older. 

I know it sounds sad but I also really like the packaging of this product, it definitely floats my boat it will look perfect on the bathroom shelf. The product was produced in Sweden and it raves about it's natural properties being 100% natural and vegan and it contains no sulphates or parabens. I'm not entirely sure what a paraben is but the impression I get is that it isn't good for your hair so we'll take the fact that the product contains zero amounts as a positive. The masque is designed to nourish your hair whilst providing a colour 'guard' to help maintain the colour of your dyed hair. This appeals greatly to me as I recently had a semi-permanent hair dye to put in so that my hair will blend back to it's natural colour once my new roots grow through so this should help to maintain a natural looking transition. You can read more about my recent hair adventures and experiences of dying my hair by clicking here if you are interested. The masque contains pomegranate extracts which help your colour to last longer which can fade from styling, UV light and washing.  masque is designed to be applied to damp hair that has just been washed where you can leave it in for three minutes but the longer you leave it the better the results. You then simply wash out the masque and apply your conditioner. This sounds like a hair care product that could revolutionaries my hair care routine so I am really looking forward to cracking on and giving it a try. Again like the other products in the box I will let you know how I get on with this and whether they are worth buying. A tub of this will cost you £18.95 so I am expecting great things from this. What I will say is that this is a mahoosive tub so if it's a gooden it will be well worth investing in to one. 

There you have it my lovelies - a rather late yet special September box. Here it comes another bold statement hold on to your socks kids but this could be my favourite box to date. Whoah there - I said it. I also love the quote that is featured on the lid of this months box. As that is something I agree with - style is unique to everyone and there is no right or wrong way of doing things. If it makes you feel good on the outside then you will feel good in the inside. Discover your style and roll with it. Let me know if you have tried any of the products and what you thought of them. There isn't a single product in this box that doesn't stand out to me, I want to try each and every single one of these now. Thank you for reading my lovelies and stay tuned this month for another Glossybox post I'm sure it won't be long to go until another little bundle of joy arrives on my doorstep. 

XXX

What Was In My Travel Make-Up Bag To Paris

Bonjour my lovelies! Sorry I promise I will stop milking the Paris holiday but I had such an amazing time. I can't stop talking and thinking about whilst constantly flicking through hundreds and hundreds worth of photos. I haven't ever uploaded a 'What's in my travel make-up bag' post before and they seem to be a firm favourite amongst beauty bloggers so I thought I would make the most of this golden opportunity.

In one of my Glossyboxes I received a limited Paris edition box which featured this Paris inspired make-up bag created by Glossybox so it only seemed fitting that this accompanied me on my travels. On a practical note it was also a really good bag to take because it's see through so you can easily see what's inside. This meant if you are looking for something in particular you don't need to get stressed rummaging for hours before getting in a rage and emptying everything onto the bed in a dramatic rage when searching for something small like an eye liner. It's also not the biggest of make-up bags which forced me to be restrictive on the amount of make-up that I took which is a good thing for me as I am guilty as charged as being someone who over packs.

Baby Skin Primer By Maybelline
If you have followed my blog for a while or read my make-up tutorial posts you will know that this is a must have in my make-up routine. It is a silicon based face primer which I apply after a serum and moisturiser and before my foundation. Primers help to reduce the appearance of pores, help your make-up last longer and also allow a smoother application of your foundation. I have noticed a dramatic quality in my foundation since including face primers in my make-up routine. Having oily skin I find this silicon based primer suits my skin type as using oily products on oily skin can counteract the oily appearance. This leaves me more confident that I won't be looking sweaty, greasy and if I've just finished a 10K run.

Dream Matte Mouse Foundation By Maybelline
A lot of people use this as one of their first foundations but I have continued to use it for years since I started wearing make-up. I know that I will continue to do so for years to come unless god forbid they chose to discontinue it. As I previously mentioned I have oily skin so a matte foundation really suits my skin. I find liquid matte foundations can even leave me looking oily so this mouse formulation suits me down to a tee. I love how this foundation easily blends into my skin. I apply this using my fingers and it is so easy to build up to the desired level of coverage. I wouldn't be without this so it was a no brainer that it joined me on my little adventure.

Lasting Perfection Concealer By Collection
This is a life saver in my eyes. If I'm looking spotty or red I can whip this little fella out to solve that. When it comes to dark circles this is a must have I haven't known any other concealer to be able to cover up my pander eyes like this one can. I have always been a light sleeper yet no matter how much sleep I get I will always be prone to dark circles which is something that I am very conscious and slightly paranoid about. This concealer can help to resolve any fears and it boosts my confidence levels when it comes to dark circles. I wouldn't be without this concealer and the great thing about it is that it is affordable and just as good as any high end concealer.

Stay Matte Powder By Rimmel 
Alongside the Collection concealer, this face powder is a firm favourite amongst the beauty bloggers and again a nice and affordable one at that. I use this powder after foundation and concealer to set my make-up in place. I also carry it with me in my handbag during the summer for on the go touch ups if I feel slightly oily or if my make-up is starting to slip southwards a little from the heat. Although I use a matte foundation I still like to apply a thin layer of powder focussing around my t-zone just for that added bit of confidence that my make-up will last longer and I won't look greasy. This is especially useful if you need your make-up to last for a long time, for example if applying your make-up at 5am ready to catch the Eurostar you don't want your make-up to have disappeared by the time you arrive in I don't know say Paris maybe.

Cheeky Sweet Spot Palette By Benefit
After setting my face in place it's time for one of my favourite stages which is contouring. It sounds sad but I find it quite satisfying just by seeing how applying different shades can really change the appearance of the shape of your face. Contouring helps to define your cheekbones and shape your face. This is a plus in my eyes as I feel I have slightly round chubby cheeks. A bit of bronzer also adds a natural bit of glow to your face after powdering your foundation. I chose to take this Benefit palette with me which I received as a Christmas gift last year. It contains the Hoola bronzer, five blushers and the Watt's Up highlighter. I just thought it was easier to take one palette that contains all of your contouring necessities rather then having to take a separate bronzer, blusher and highlighter which would take up more room.

Bold statement coming up - the Hoola bronzer is my all time favourite bronzer and a large box from Benefit is definitely going on my Christmas list. Hint hint Mum if you're reading this. I just find that the matte brown shade suits my skin tone all year round. It is really easy to blend and just a tiny amount can really emphasise your cheekbones.

It's really nice to be able to have a choice of blushers giving you a bit of variation for your make-up whilst staying away. On holiday I used Bella Bama and my all time favourite Benefit blusher (hint hint again Mum) Rockateur. Both are warmer shades that leave your cheeks with that rosy glowing cheek look which is perfect for Autumn. Giving you the appearance that you're glowing after stepping into the warm after being outside in the cold. Bella Bama is a warm pink with a hint of shimmer to it adding to the glowing look where as Rockateur is a rosy brown shade with a tiny hint of shimmer although it is mainly matte. I think it's my favourite as it's the closest shade to my natural glowing cheek colour. I think the rosy brown shade also compliments my dark hair, green eyes and pink lips.

The Watts Up! highlighter is a beautiful golden shimmering highlighter which I apply above my cheekbones. This gives a natural glow to your face leaving you beaming whilst helping to emphasis your cheekbones again along with your bronzer. This compact little gem is the perfect item to take away with you on your travels. This palette in general is actually a travel essential for me as it has all you need and more.

Brown Kohl Eyeliner Pencil By Barry M
I have always struggled with liquid eyeliners, no matter how much time and effort I spend on it, it never works. This is something that I have learnt to accept so I just stick to using kohl pencils with which I have a much stronger relationship with. For a day time look I prefer to use brown eyeliners as I find that they look a lot more softer and natural around your eyes whilst still drawing attention and emphasising your eyes. I didn't bother taking a black eyeliner as I never usually go for a strong eyeliner look and I would only ever use it if going out in the evenings yet I thought a brown eyeliner would do the trick for a weekend away. I wasn't after a dramatic make-up look, more of a softer one.

Intense Smokey Eyeshadow Palette Rose Twiste By Bourjois
This eye trio palette contains two eyeshadows and a dark brown eyeliner. The lighter shade is a beautiful copper shade which I apply all over my eyelids. I then apply the darker brown shade in the outer corner of my eye and blend it out for a little bit of eye contouring. I didn't see much point in taking loads of different eyeshadows so I just stuck with these ones for the weekend. The copper browns are perfect for Autumn alongside a rosy brown or dark lip colour. I also find that they compliment my green eyes so this is definitely a favourite of mine over the Autumn months.

They're Real Mascara By Benefit
Wow. Wow is the only word that I can use to describe this mascara. I was lucky enough to receive this a gift last Christmas yet I have only just started to use it. I try to only have one mascara on the go at once otherwise multiple mascaras will all dry up at the same time so you end up waisting multiple mascaras. Last Autumn I received a free mascara from Barry M - one of their Showgirl Mascaras with extra volume. This has lasted me pretty much a whole year so I definitely got good use out of that one and it is only now that it is starting to run out. In fear that it would run out whilst away I thought why not treat myself to the Benefit mascara which I had been saving for a special occasion to use and let me tell you this was definitely a special occasion. A weekend away in Paris to celebrate your Mum's 50th isn't something you get to do everyday. I was so, so impressed by this mascara. I have never been one for getting into using different mascaras I found that they all pretty much had the same effect but I have never known one like this before. Just one coat left me looking as if I could be wearing fake eye lashes. Naturally I do have quite long eyelashes yet a little bit of They're Real really makes my eyes pop. I love it so much and I wouldn't use any other mascara now. There is no way back I'm hooked. I will definitely be writing a full blog post on this baby in the future you mark my words.

I'm a sucker for lip products so I thought only taking three products was well restrained of me.

Whimsical By Revlon
I love a lip crayon. Don't you love a lip crayon? I find lip crayons really easy to apply especially on the go for little touch ups as well. Autumn is famous for it's berry lip colours - the beautiful dark pinks, reds and purples I'm all for it. Especially as I naturally have dark lips myself I find the berry pinks really suit my lips - more then your corals or peaches which I think of more for Spring. Whimsical is a beautiful berry pink which appears purple yet more pink on your lip. It has a shimmer to it leaving your lips with a beautiful shine yet it doesn't look glittery or grainy on your lips. This has to be one of my all time favourite lip crayons. What could be better then a berry lip colour, rosy cheeks and copper eyes - bliss - Autumn in a nutshell.

Stellar Pink By Maybelline
I absolutely adore the colour sensational lipsticks from Maybelline and this has to be my favourite one amongst my collection. It is my go to lipstick and probably the one I have used the most. I pretty much wear this everyday all year round. It is a beautiful rosy brown shade which again really suits my lip colour. For me personally it is a my lips colour but better kind of shade if you know what I mean. Again a rosy lip colour also looks beautiful with rosy cheeks and a copper eye make-up look. I am just loving Autumn at the moment, maybe it's turning into my new favourite season who knows. I wouldn't be without this lipstick so it was a no brainer for me to take it with me. It has a gorgeous coconut scent to it and you all know I adore my coconut. It also has a pearl shine to it which I would usually avoid yet it does't appear pearlescent on your lips it just emphasises the pink tones whilst providing a glossy shine. If I could only own one lipstick it would be this one end of.

I Got The Power By L'Oreal 
I recently picked up this lipgloss two weekends ago whilst discovering some new L'Oreal products that got me and my Mum very excited. I think I might write a separate blog post and write a mini L'Oreal haul on these. I'm not usually one for lip glosses as I find them hard work. Usually my hair gets stuck to my lips and I remember my friend once made the all time classic mistake of eating a sausage roll after applying lip gloss. Not her finest hour. Pastry stuck all around your lips and face isn't the best look for school. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It has a creamy formula with a great colour pay off. The rosy brown colour again I found complimented my natural lip colour. This left my lips looking really shiny and glossy all day and I didn't need to top it up at all that day even whilst eating throughout the day. It was also non-sticky so my hair never got stuck around my face. I also really like the shape of the applicator as it moulds to your lip shape allowing you to easily apply the lip gloss without a mirror and it simply glides across your lips providing a full even coverage. This lip gloss has restored my faith in lip glosses. It has opened my eyes and I definitely want to spend some time rummaging around the L'Oreal counter to discover more as they seemed to have an amazing range of different colours and formulations. A massive thumbs up from me is all I can say.

So there you have it my lovelies, this was what was 'In my travel make-up bag' to the beautiful city of Paris. Of course I also look a whole load of skin care products and make-up brushes but I thought I would restrict this post purely to make-up goodies. I hope you enjoyed reading this post and who knows maybe it gave you some inspiration of what to pack in your make-up bag if you are going away soon.

XXX

Weekend In Paris

Bonjour mon lovelies! 

Last weekend (02/10/15 - 05/10/15) I felt very treated and spoiled as I spent a long weekend in Paris avec my Mum. It was a gorgeous holiday which I feel very blessed to be able to go on. We haven't had a holiday for two years and we couldn't really plan anything with relocating and moving house so as soon as that was complete we were free again to plan adventures. It was also a very special birthday for my Mum this year so it was the perfect way to celebrate. I was also so glad to be able to see Paris in the Autumn as it was just plain and simply beautiful and we were so, so lucky with the weather. No rain just pure blue skies and sunshine with the Autumn reds, oranges and golds leaving the city that never sleeps looking stunning. I thought I would write a blog post to share some of the amazing things I saw of which I'll include as an outfit of the day post so you can see what I wore each day. 

What I wore day one:

Jumper - New Look

Black Vest Top - Next

Leather Jacket - New Look

Jeans - New Look

Shoes - Miss Selfridge

Bag - Topshop

Nails - Lychee by Barry M 

Our adventure began a little on the early side at 5am ready to head to the local train station to catch a train to Ashford International ready to hop on the Eurostar. After arriving in Ashford we had just over an hour to kill and we were both starving so we started the day with breakfast at the train station and a nice strong cappuccino. We hopped on the Eurostar at Ashford and hopped off in Paris where we were welcomed by warm beautiful sunshine. We dumped our bags at our hotel which was near the Gare de L'Est station and headed towards the River Seine. We were now starving again so stopped off for lunch at a little French cafe Le Cavalier Bleu where we treated ourselves to mozzarella, tomato, ham and pesto toasties which were mahousive but filled a big gap. Any cafe which brings you free biscuits with the bill is a good one in my eyes. 

We carried on walking down to the river where we also saw some cute French shops and markets. We discovered a chocolate and pistachio shop which was amazing as it was filled full of chocolate, pistachios and marzipan so whats not to love. We received a few compliments in the shop and like a pair of giggly school girls we walked out without our goodies - first embarrassing moment of the trip. We also discovered the Notre Dame Cathedral which was stunning and on it's own separate island, we did want to go in but there was a service going on and the crowds were heaving and after a long morning travelling a gentle stroll next to the river sounded perfect. 

I was so glad we had good weather as it meant you can walk outside and you definitely see more by walking rather then the metro. One of the things being river boat gardens which were gorgeous and very peaceful to sit in and watch the world go by. You also get to see more sights such as the Musee du Louvre or the Concord which just inspired us for the rest of the trip. 

What could be a more perfect way to end our first day in Paris then a trip up the Eiffel Tower? That was the main thing on our Paris bucket list so it was the perfect way to end our first day. The Eiffel Tower is surrounded by beautiful gardens and it is really nice to discover 'green' areas in the city which are so calm and peaceful, similar to my ever loved London parks I guess. We walked up the tower to the first floor which leaves you with stunning views of the city where you can see across the whole of Paris which is simply breathtaking taking in the landmarks. It also puts a calmer perspective on the city. One floor was definitely high enough for us as neither of us are that keen on heights. I felt very lucky to see Paris from the tower in daylight but it was more dusk when we got there which is my favourite time of the day. We were part of the last group to go up the tower so it was quiet up the tower which added to the peacefulness as there was space to take in the views and enjoy it. 

For dinner we found another French cafe where I plumped for traditional French Onion Soup which I've never tried before and I felt like it's something you just have to try in Paris. It was delicious but it also came with cheese on toast in the soup and a side bowl of bread. I don't usually eat that much bread so I was feeling a little on the bloated side to the point where I've only just been able to eat bread again yesterday. Don't get me wrong French bread is gorgeous but I can't live on just bread, I do love my fruit and veg I won't lie. We were both shattered so we got the metro back to the hotel room which was nice and easy to understand; just like the London underground. Both of us were barely able to function when we got back as it had been such a long day so we just crawled into bed. 

What I wore day two:

Shirt - Topshop

Black Vest Top - Next

Skirt - H&M

Tights - M&S

Trainers - Converse

Bag - Topshop

Nails - Lychee by Barry M 

Day Two was another stunning day in Paris - blue skies and warm sunshine. We headed out for breakfast via the metro, got a little confused and ended up walking in the wrong direction back to the hotel. Clever. Undefeated we turned around and headed back the other way to find a cafe. After fuel replenishment we stumbled across Sephora which excited me immensely as stupid me thought they only had stores in America - wrong. Goodies and treats were added to baskets and I am now planning a haul post so you can do the maths as to what happened there. 

Fuel break was needed where we found an adorable vegetarian cafe called Cojean. I believe they only have stores in Paris but I would be very grateful if they chose to branch out to the UK thank you kindly to you thank you very much so. Coffee, smoothies and cake were highly indulged on and we picked up a couple of salads for lunch (no bread - yay) which we thought we could demolish in one of the gorgeous Paris parks/gardens. 

The cafe was next to the Musee Du Louvre which is home to the Mona Lisa. The museum is massive it's hard to describe just how big it is or even put it into words. the architecture is stunning and must  see if ever in Paris. We strolled around the museum and the gardens where we had a picnic which was gorgeous. 

After lunch we strolled along the river again where we walked past the Musee d'Orsay, there are so many art galleries in Paris I felt very cultured. When I was in Primary School I studied Monet's waterlilly paintings so it only seemed fitting to pop to the Musee de L'Orangerie which is home to his waterlilly paintings hidden amongst the Jardin des Tuileries. This museum was so much quieter then the Louvre, hidden amongst orange trees it is a must see as you don't have to spend hours and hours and hours queuing to get into a building where you can hardly move to see a small cm of the mona lisa as you duck and dive throughout the crowds. The paintings were gorgeous and I'm not usually one for art galleries myself but I really enjoyed it. There is something very calming about seeing rooms full of waterlillies. 

Determined to discover Laduree - a famous French macaron shop we finally discovered one where we picked up a couple of macarons for pudding. I plumped for coconut as I have my strong obsession going on and Mum chose a blackcurrant. Again after a long day exploring we were both shattered so we headed back to the hotel via the metro. We treated ourselves to a couple of Iced Coffees, picked up some pasta for dinner, showered, and had a girly night in with face packs. Perfect!

What I wore day three:

Jumper - H&M

Black vest top - Next

Jeans - New Look

Trainers - Converse

Scarf - Boohoo

Bag - Topshop

Nails - Lychee By Barry M 

Day three again was welcomed by gorgeous sunshine - heaven. We popped out for breakfast again to a cafe near the opera house where we discovered a French fun run as you do. Sunday morning saw us discover a different area of Paris called Montmatre which is almost like a separate village/community within Paris. To get there you walk up a whole lotta steps through gorgeous French streets. I loved the French buildings which were tall and white with gorgeous shutters and balconies. Montmatre is home to the Sacre-Coeur - a famous domed church which you can walk up to see some stunning views of Paris which reach beyond the Eiffel Tower. 

The first thing we did was get our caricatures done which was an amazing experience. We wanted to get these done as Montmatre is famous for them and their art. I thought mine made me look like an alien with central features and a large forehead but I suppose I do have a large forehead. I thought my Mum's looked just like her but I think it's easier to see similarities on other people rather than yourself as you never really truly know what you look like. They picked up that I had my Dads eyes so they definitely put a lot of detail into the drawings. I would highly recommend you get yours done if you ever get the opportunity to. 

Next we looked around the Sacre-Coeur which was simply breathtaking. Pure chance we went in during the Sunday service. Totally unplanned but I feel so lucky that it happened. There were singing nuns and the priest was waving incense sticks. Totally calming. We both lit a candle each and took in the statues and the experience. Paris seemed so calm, quiet and still for the first time. I can't put into words how peaceful it felt. 

For lunch we stopped off at a French Cafe for a coffee fix and to try some traditional French Crepes. We shared a savoury and a sweet to try one of each and they were gorgeous and so light. After lunch we walked around all the market stalls and the French shops where we picked up a few goodies. Montmatre had a very different feel to the centre of Paris it was very quirky and in it's own separate world on top of a hill. Packed full of small hidden and cobbled streets it was hard not to miss anything. Gifts were purchased and chocolate shops were discovered and indulged on. I won't say no to a free sample. One chocolate shop had amazing statues made out of chocolate, it was a chocolate lovers heaven. Whilst looking around we picked up another two macarons each for pudding later which has seemed to turn into our little tradition each day. This time I went for Pineapple and Mum went for Earl Grey Tea, we were trying new flavours that we hadn't seen or tried in the UK before. 

We also discovered another small cute church the opposite side to the Sacre-Coeur which was similar to an undiscovered gem. Tucked away from the crowds. Again it was very calming to walk around and we lit another candle. A very spiritual day. It was definitely a good idea to see the Sacre-Coeur early on as the crowds built up very quickly in the afternoon so we timed that well. 

To finish our day in Montmatre we walked up the dome of the Sacre-Coeur where the views again are just breathtaking. Similar to when we walked up the Eiffel Tower you can look out over the whole of Paris and beyond from the other direction. Unfortunately the skies weren't as clear that day but you could still see for miles and miles. As we headed back to the metro we walked through some beautiful gardens above the Square Louise Michel. To finish the day we thought it would be nice to walk along the River Seine in the opposite direction, this time East to see what we had missed. We discovered some more beautiful parks and gardens which looked really pretty in the dusk light. There also happened to be some filming going on which featured actors in period costumes alongside old cars driving around the centre of Paris which isn't something you see everyday. 

We headed back for a cosy night in with pyjamas and salads. I don't know how we managed to fit so much into our day yet nothing was rushed. An early night seemed a good idea before our journey back the next day. 

What I wore Day Four:

Jumper - Next

Jacket - New Look

Scarf - Boohoo

Jeans - Miss Selfridge 

Boots - New Look 

Bag - Topshop

Nails - Lychee by Barry M

Monday - our last day can only be described as a food orientated day. It was another early start to pack our cases ready to pick up later as our train was just after 3 in the afternoon but we got to the station soon after 12. Once packed we popped on the metro to see the Opera House which looked really pretty lit up amongst the early morning darkness. I was so glad to be able to see it looking so pretty and when the city was quiet. We stopped off for breakfast at a local cafe before hitting the shops. We knew that we wouldn't have much time on Monday so we saved that for shopping. Mum needed to send postcards and get stamps and we had a few gifts still to purchase for friends and family. The area just so happened to be the Paris equivalent to Mayfair in London. Full of designer shops such as Gucci, Chloe and Girogio Armani. I won't lie but we felt so posh and sophisticated I really enjoyed it. 

A lot of the time was spent staring into windows and seeing all of the gorgeous French patisseries. Paris definelty knows how to make good cakes i'll give them that. We stumbled across Laduree again - what a shame. So we thought sod it we'll treat ourselves to a small box of macarons as it's not something we would do back home. Again going for new tastes I went for Blackcurrant, Maple Syrup and Pecan Vanilla whilst Mum chose Raspberry, Marie-Antoniette Tea and Salted caramel. So far we have been treating ourselves to one a night since we got back and tonight's our last night which saddens me immensely. They are so special you just have to savour each and every one of them. 

My Aunty went to Paris the previous year where they discovered an amazing chocolate shop called Angelina. This shop is pure sophistication and indulgence worthy. I'm just going to throw this out there that they do the best hot chocolate in the world. Yeah bold statement I know but I've said it and it's out there and if you don't believe me head over to Paris and try it for yourselves. We were the same thinking it can't be that amazing but oh me oh my it is. It's like drinking liquid chocolate - no milk, water or cream just pure chocolate. This sounds way too sickly sweet but it isn't. The room you sit in is just stunning and you are served with beautiful small cups and individual pots of cream to add if you choose to do so. The hot chocolate is then delivered to you in a jug so you can indulge in as ever much that you want to. The breakfasts they served also looked adorable all in miniature form. Mini croissants, mini pain au raisins or mini poached eggs the list is endless. The toilets were even stunning and I won't say that Paris is famous for nice toilets but they were something else. I felt as though we should have been wearing period dresses and waving fans. That says a lot about the quality of public loos in Paris when you get excited about a toilet on your last day. 

Shopped till we dropped, we headed back to our hotel room to pick up our cases and back to Gare du Nord ready for the train home. I love a bit of people watching, does anyone else? We spent a while watching the trains arriving and leaving before picking up some pasta salads for lunch where I received a marriage proposal which was a first. A long time was spent having a wonder and the odd splurge in duty free before catching the train back to Ashford and another train home. Just as we left Paris it started to rain which seemed a fitting way to end our holiday as the weather had been perfect for our entire stay. 

I absolutely loved Paris. I had never been before only whilst my Mum was 6 months pregnant with me but that doesn't really count. It was the perfect weekend and the best way to celebrate my Mum's special birthday. A girly weekend away with a whole lot of mother and daughter time in a beautiful city what more could you ask for? I feel very spoiled so thank you so much Mum and for everything you do and have done for me - I love you loads!

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