Winter Nail Trend

Wrapped around a mug of hot chocolate, handing out presents, or toasting the new year, groomed hands are essential during this time of year, and it's important to have the nails to match. This season, a low key sparkle will glam up any outfit - cozy pajamas or your favourite LBD...

This nail polish by Leighton Denny in the shade Temptress will at a subtle hint of sophistication to the winter months. Temptress is a deep plum colour with gold glitter in it, and it looks gorgeous on the nails. The dark colour doesn't seem too depressing and is lifted and given elegance by the gold hints. This nail polish will attract and draw the eye without being overwhelming.

(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Review: Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner

This product usually retails for £12, and does what it says on the box. You can get it in either Black or Navy Blue, although I purchased mine in Black. The colour pay off is really intense and the formula is smooth and non-sticky. The product doesn't flake or smudge and it lasted for the whole day when I tried it out, something which I was not expecting.

It is a felt tip applicator which is perfect if, like me, you can't use normal liquid eyeliner applicators - they're so hard to use and I always poke myself in the eye!

The packaging, as well as the product itself, is sleek and upmarket, and isn't trashy in any way,

The only drawback is that the positioning of the tip makes cat eyes a little awkward to do, but it's not impossible. 

Despite that, I would 100% buy this again and recommend it other people too!

(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

L'Occitane Wins Again

A few weeks ago, I was given bottles of L'Occitane Shampoo and Conditioner in the mini versions by a friend. I decided to try give them a try as I'd never used L'occitane products before, but I'd heard of their really good reputation.

These are really good for those of you who, like me, have dry/damaged hair as they replenish your hair's natural oil levels. They leave your hair feeling silky, light, and they give it a shine without making it look greasy.
I also found that my hair didn't get greasy as quickly as it does with other shampoos/conditioners, which I really liked.

This product smells great too! It smells kind of floral but with a hint of orange, and it's so good!





(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Surprised By Miss Sporty

Ok, so everyone has heard positive things about higher end mascaras from brands like Estee Lauder, YSL, MAC, the list goes on...
The other day, I ran into Superdrug to pick up a mascara, and the first brand I saw was Miss Sporty. Needless to say, I wasn't expecting miracles, I just needed a cheap mascara to throw in my bag. The one I picked up was from their 'Curve It' line, the 'Pump It Up Booster'. I loved this mascara so much, I went back and bought another, this one the 'Pump Up Extra Lash'.

The Lash Booster (the orange one) has a curved brush which is really easy to use and it lifts your lashes and gives a slight, natural looking curve - this is the one that I have started to use for daytime makeup as it doesn't look to overpowering and dramatic. The formula is light and it doesn't feel like you have anything on your lashes. The other really good thing about this mascara is that it defines your lashes and doesn't make them clump; It basically looks like you have naturally amazing lashes!

The Extra Lash (the pink one) has a slight rectangular brush which is good for getting the corner lashes (I cannot stand it when they stick out weirdly). This formula is a little different in that it has a lot more volumising capability... and I do mean a lot. When I first put this on, I was taken aback - It is on par with my MAC mascaras, and I love those...
This product is very black and very intense, and I would recommend this for less casual events.

Both of these products have wands that are made of plastic. I really like this because they really separate and accentuate your lashes, and the mascara doesn't clump or stick. They also have real staying power - these won't smudge half way through the night.

If you're looking for a mascara with a small price but a big impact, I would definitely encourage you to purchase these!









(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Red Alert!

I never really used to wear lipstick as I couldn't find the right shade for my skin colour - I have quite pale skin so I thought that pinks and reds washed me out and plum shades were just out of the question!
I was clearly looking the wrong place, because in the past 3 months, I've found 3 shades of red that I absolutely love! They are from a wide variety of beauty makes, but all can be found in drug stores.

Revlon Intense Colour Burst Matte Balm

This is an interesting twist on the coloured balms which became popular a few years ago. It comes in chunky but sleek looking packaging with silver detailing, whilst the actual surface colour depends on the colour of the balm. The product has a crayon applicator - I'm not the biggest fan of these because once you wear down the tip, the product becomes flat and a little messy, but it's usable and definitely not a deal breaker.

My packaging is a candy apple red and correlates with the colour of the product (shown below)

The product itself is meant to eliminate the need to use a balm underneath the product, and it does work. This is, in my humble opinion, one of the best examples of a colour balm because it does moisteurise your lips as well as having a colour payoff which is impressive for such a product. It's not the best, and don't expect the intense pigmentation of a lipstick or lipstain, but the colour is quite strong. 

This balm dries matte, which I like because it means I don't have wet look lips, which I try to avoid.

L'Oreal Intense Color Riche Lip

I can't get enough of this product! Mine is in the colour 376 Cassis Passion, and it suits my skin and hair so well! The formula is rich and creamy, and the colour is instantly strong, so there's no layering a million times until you get the desired shade.

Although in the picture below it looks kind of pink, it's actually sort of between a red and plum colour, and it looks really good with pale skin.
The packaging is a simple gold plastic with the brand name and range on the lid.

Marks and Spencer 

I actually don't know what range this is from, but it is the most surprising lipstick in this list. I don't usually take own brand supermarket makeup seriously because I always felt like the popular brands are popular for a reason, but how wrong I was...

This product has really sleek dark silver packaging in a slim tube, and is a pleasure to handle. 

The colour itself is a cherry red with pink tones, which I really like so that it doesn't overwhelm my pale skin and make me look like a painted corpse (I've had experience with that scenario...), although, again, the true red doesn't show up well on camera. The product has a creamy, smooth formula that applies really easily and doesn't cake and it's really easy to layer. Also, it's not sticky, so you can move your lips well without them getting stuck together. 

(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

A PSA

Ok, this is going to be really short, but I just discovered that not everyone knows this:

Before bed and/or putting on mascara, but a little bit of vaseline on your lashes. Before bed, it will help take off any last remaining bits of makeup and it will moisteurise your lashes during the night. 

Putting the vaseline on before mascara acts as a base and gives the product something to stick to, helping it last longer. This is especially good for lower end mascaras.

Try it!





(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Autumn Is Fast Approaching...

It's the second day of September and I have officially accepted that Autumn is upon us. It's cold, grey, and damp, perfect for snuggling into those jumpers which have been long abandoned at the back of your closet for the summer months, and boots which keep your toes that extra bit warm. The colour palettes become warmer and deeper, whilst lace and silk turn into wool and velvet. I think everyone looks better in Autumn, but maybe that's just because there's less light...
I was skipping around the internet looking at this year's Autumn beauty trends, and there were some recurring themes:

Bare faced beauty: This season, you'll see a lot of bare skin - on your face of course. Bases will have nothing other than the basics; foundation, concealer, primer. Gone are the months of blush, bronzer, highlighter and the rest, now fashion and beauty houses have gotten into the au natural look in a big way!

Pedal to the metal: Metallic shades around the eyes are really flattering as they draw attention away from other areas, and they bring out the natural hue of your eye. Creating wet look textures around the eye brings a polished, high end look. Good drugstore brands of metallic eyeshadows include Bobbi Brown and Collection.

Top and bottom: For absolutely ages, beauty trends have been telling us that top lid eyeliner is the way forward and that everyone who's anyone knows how to perfectly wing eyeliner (something which I wholly fail at, it just always goes wrong). Now, they've done an about turn and this season, it's all about lining your bottom lid too. You can create the perfect smokey eye by doing this, or leave it a defined line. If you feel that this is too harsh, you can smudge whatever eye shadow your'e using onto your lower lid for a less defined, softer look.

Go Nude: Because eyes are becoming such a bold statement, lips are taking a backseat. They are either nude (a look which I personally think makes it look like you have no lips, and therefore scares me a little...) or they are natural and balmy so as not to detract attention from the eyes. This is such a plus, because lipsticks and lip stains are drying and you really don't want chapped lips in the cold months to come.

Colour me bold: Colour has made it's big return to the stage this season (not unlike Kate Bush) and it's absolutely everywhere. Jewel tones such as blue, purple, and (obviously) red will be spotted everywhere. If sporting green eyeliner is a little too bold for you, try toning a smokey eye blue, or wearing both black and purple eyeliner to take the boldness out of it.

(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Shamballa Bracelets

I got these bracelets for my birthday last year, and I fell in love when them instantly. They come in so many cool colours and a few different styles, that it's impossible not to find one you like. 

These will instantly automatically make any outfit you put on that much more sophisticated and 'put together'. Because of the variety of colours, you can match these to any outfit! I wear these so often, and in the past they've saved me from looking under dressed by adding a touch of chic to what I'm wearing.



(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Hair Care

A few years ago I set my hair on fire (by accident, of course) and it hasn't been the same since. Don't ask me why, but my hair type is just weird now...
My roots are oily, and they become so very quickly, so I need to wash my hair at least every other day. On the other hand, my lengths and ends often get really dry, so I have to condition my hair well. I often found that moisteurising and rejuvinating shampoos and conditioners didn't correctly balance out my hair so it either became super dry or seriously oily, neither of which I am ok with.

Around a month ago, I went to a friend's house and whilst I was in her bathroom (irrelevant, but oh well), I saw that there were Tresemme products in her shower (doesn't everyone love to snoop?) I hadn't tried the brand out before because I always assumed that it would be the same as the other brands I was using, but more expensive. How naive I was.

I use a mix of the Deep Cleansing Shampoo and the Body and Volume Conditioner, because I find that these two together create a balance between the oiliness and the dryness of my hair, leaving it soft and silky, which hasn't happened in absolutely ages! I'm so glad I found these, and I'll definitely be keeping these in my shower (at least until I move on to my next hair care infatuation - I'm thinking about Aussie products...)


Since the hair burning incident, I don't like to blow dry or iron my hair because of the heat damage, so I let my hair air dry, or I'll towel dry it if I don't have time. Then, I use oil on the ends of my hair and the lengths; it goes nowhere near my roots, that would be terrible! Personally, I feel that hair oils e.g. Argan oil, Moroccan oil etc. and all of the different brands are a dime a dozen and I don't personally see a difference between them - Tell me if I'm wrong...

That's it! I have a really simple but effective hair care routine with no heat damage or chemical products.


(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Bedtime Ritual Secret

So, you know how everyone loves that clean baby smell? Well, so do I. A lot. So much, in fact, that I like to smell like that whenever possible, which means bedtime. To achieve this sleepy scent, I use Johnson's Baby Bedtime Lotion. Yes, I know it's for babies, but who's going to stop me?

This lotion has the most amazing smell, it reminds me of being sleep and safe. As well as that, because it's meant for babies, this lotion won't damage your skin and it won't make just shaved/waxed/threaded skin burn and hurt - I've had too much experience with that...
The gentle formula leaves your skin soft, smooth, and supple.

My skin literally feels like a baby's bottom!

(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Summer To Autumn Scent: Abercrombie and Fitch Linsly Prep Body Mist

During the transition between Summer and Autumn I love to wear something light and girly so I feel those last moments of Summer staying with me as the weather turns colder. This month, I'm obsessed with the Abercrombie and Fitch Linsly Prep Body Mist. It just smells so fruity and fresh that I feel like I smell like Summer!
It includes notes of Red Berries, Tangerines, and Water Lily, and it smells divine!!! I can't actually get enough of this, and I've used up so much since I got it last week!

I usually try to stick with cheaper, lower end drugstore brands because I don't normally feel the need for fancy smelling perfumes and sprays and so I don't even remember the last time I went into an Abercrombie store. When my brother brought this back from America for me, I  admit that I was a little sceptical of the baby pink liquid and the A&F logo on the front, but that was before I smelled it. If it's possible to fall madly in love with a fragrance, then that's what happened.

I'm going to stop myself at this point, but I'll end by saying that even though it is turning into Autumn, this is not a fragrance to be missed!



(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Drugstore Lip Balms Everyone Should Have

Fact: I absolutely love lip balm.

I love trying out new lip products, especially balms because of that feeling that happens around 30 minutes after you put it on - smooth, soft, moist...

Even though I own tons and tons of lip balms, there are two that I always come back to and love every time I use them:

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

So, I'm not actually sure how many people actually know about this balm or how popular it is because I usually see people using Vaseline and Dove lip care products, but this is one of the best balms I have ever found. Ever. Made of all natural products (Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Peppermint, Rosemary, among other things), this balm is smooth and silky, and leaves your lips feeling the same. It also gives you a natural shine without making it look as though you have a gloss on. 

I would recommend this balm to use under lipsticks and lip stains as it isn't sticky or slippery so it holds colours and stains better than other balms. 

After you put this on, you get that tingly feeling, almost like you can feel it working, and your mouth becomes kind of minty and fresh. It doesn't make your lips feel slippery and moist because it is made of a wax base, but it conditions them and makes them feel indescribably soft. This is one of the things that is always in my handbag and I don't go anywhere without.

EOS Lip Balm

Ok, so I know that the world and his wife already knows about this product, but I just want to say that I love it. It's not widely sold in the UK and so many Britons have never heard of this, but it's one of the best drug store balms out there. It comes in around 9 flavours with matching packaging. 

These leave your lips feeling moist and smooth, whilst giving you a shine. They smell and taste great, last a really long time, and are so good to put in your handbag, or use under lipsticks and lip stains. These are basically just a simple, easy balm to use when you want more of a shine to your lips, plus, the packaging is really cute!




(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Primark Satchel Dupe Steals The Show

Primark has recently brought out a line of Cambridge Satchel dupes which are amazingly similar to the originals but at a tenth of the price. At £82 or more, the leather satchels from the Cambridge Satchel Company come in a lovely, supple leather. The Primark bags cost only £9 (or £5 if you got it on sale like me), which just can't be beaten. The material is noticeably plastic, but I don't find this to be drawback because it doesn't actually detract from the whole look of the bag.

Like the Cambridge Satchels, the Primark satchels come with a front window and a smaller pocket at the front, as well as a zip pocket inside the main compartment. The faux buckles on the front come with silver hardware and close using magnetic poppers, making it easier and faster to open and close this bag compared to the original Cambridge Satchels. The bag includes a small handle on top, or a shoulder strap that is actually not uncomfortable, although the holes in it do wear and stretch over time.

At 15'', this satchel is perfect for laptops or tablets and can fit a lot in it - I personally use mine mostly for university and it can hold all of my notes and books, plus my tablet.
All in all, this is a really good bag especially for such a low price, and it's one of the best Cambridge Satchel dupes that I've seen.




(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Review: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

In my search for the perfect everyday foundation, I came across the Bourjois Healthy Mix collection of foundations and primers. I wanted to try out the foundation, and I picked up one in the shade 51, as I'm quite pale. I don't wear foundation  day to day as the drug store brands can make me look a little orange and I find that they cake easily, but this is not the case when it comes to this product!

I loved it from the first wear, as it lasted all day and gave me a glowy, satin like complexion. It wasn't drying in the slightest and it went on really easily. The pump dispenses a good amount of product, and although I use my fingers to apply foundation, I tried it with a brush and it spreads nicely. The colour match is really good, and the product can be layered if you want a fuller coverage.

This is a product that I would wear everyday and I fully recommend it to anyone looking for a budget foundation (it was £9.99). It has great wear and the finish is really complimentary to all skin types.

(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Concealer At A Steal

I usually use concealer to hide redness on my chin and under my nose, and in the past I've found it really hard to find a cheap concealer that doesn't cake or slide off during the day. I've tried loads of different styles - pen applicator, brush, liquid, mousse, solid, but none of them really seemed to do the job.
Then, I stumbled across No7 Match Made Concealer; It was a match made in makeup heaven and I had finally found my dream concealer.

This was by far the best concealer that I had ever used, and for £7.50, it had amazing value. The product comes in the standard plain ivory packaging and uses a lipstick type applicator so that you can apply it straight to your face without a brush, which I do. The consistency is close to that of a mousse concealer and is light and soft. I found that this meant that it didn't cake or crumble, as has happened with other drugstore concealers. The product has enough weight that it doesn't melt off during the day, and it kept my skin looking smooth and even for around 9 hours (I took it off after that).

The concealer matched my skin tone perfectly and it didn't look at all like I was wearing makeup. The product wasn't sticky and didn't leave my skin shiny, as it has a matte finish. I found this was good for areas like the T-zone, as you want to avoid any extra shine in these areas.
The Match Made concealer is available at most drugstores across the UK and America.

(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

Review: Rimmel Scandaleyes Micro Eyeliner

Rimmel Scandaleyes liquid eyeliner  is definitely one of my favourites this month. The applicator is in a pen style which makes it quick and easy to apply - I've never met anyone who can actually use a liquid eyeliner wand applicator and not stab themselves in the eye.
Mine is in Black and it's a really deep, intense colour that you could either layer or just use one coat; I found that one coat was enough normally, but when I wanted something more dramatic, the product layered well and didn't cake. The tip makes winging your liner really easy as it's basically drawing on your face with a pen.

My one negative to this product is that although it says that it's waterproof, it smudges easily, so use a primer, base or powder underneath to stop this from happening.
This product was £3.99 and most drug stores carry it, and so far, I haven't found a better low end drug store liquid eyeliner pen!

(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)

3 Shockingly Underrated Beauty Products

Ok, we've all heard people raving about the usual makeup brands, cheap and high end - NYX, ELF, Sephora, Elizabeth Arden - but recently I came across a few products which I absolutely love!

NYC 16 Hour Lip Stain

These lip stains come in all of the usual colours, like fuschia, plum, red, nude, but unlike other lip stains, these colours actually last. All day. I used Champagne Stain before leaving the house at 9 am and didn't get back until 6pm, I had eaten and drank and by the end of the day, the only effect was that there was a slight fade (although this was completely even) and the 'stain' effect had worn off a little around the edges, but it still looked perfect. Compared to other lipstains I've tried in the past (Chubby Sticks I'm looking at you), these lasted incredibly well and the colour pay off was really good. 

The lip stains come with a felt tip applicator, which you may think is low end and slightly childish, but let me tell you that these are really useful when applying a neat line. The tips don't dry too quickly and it's super easy to get a clean line, which in my opinion, is much better than using lipstick and lip liner. 

My only negative with these is that they dry very quickly once on the lips so you have to work fast when apply them, and if you make a mistake, be sure to have cotton buds and makeup remover to hand. 

I would definitely recommend these to anyone looking for long lasting, smooth lip stains which really work.

PS Store liquid lip stains tip down to ensure that they stay moist and they last longer

Models Co Eyeliner Pencil

I was really surprised that I liked this liner because recently I haven't been so impressed with Model Co products, but this eye liner is such a good deal. It was £2.99 at Superdrug, and for a low end brand, Model Co have done an amazing job. The liner is creamy, light and easy to apply - there's no dryness or stickiness to it, and I would even put in on the same level as my MAC Technakohl liner. 

This eye liner is long lasting and doesn't fade easily, which is really convenient for long days or nights out. The lid includes a sharpener, which I find very useful as I constantly lose stand alone sharpeners! Even thought the lid is slightly open, it does a great job protecting the tip and keeps it fresh and moist. 

Touch Clear Mascara

This is a really interesting product for me because I never ever use clear mascara; clear mascara is meant to be used over normal mascara to set it and make it last longer, but I find that it weighs the mascara and usually makes it sticky. This clear mascara was given to me by a friend who had never used it and didn't want it any more, so I decided to try it out. 

I decided to test it out this week, with nothing underneath it to see what the effect on my lashes would be and I was really surprised at the result. It elongated my lashes and made them appear thicker whilst still retaining their natural look. The mascara goes on easily and isn't sticky at all. I wore this all day and it was still on perfectly by the time I took it off at the end of the day. 

I also used this as a brow setter and it was really good for that too, so I recommend this product for anyone who (like me) loves two in ones and multipurpose products. It was super cheap too, at £1.50, this was a steal!

(Disclaimer: Certain pictures may not be mine)