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)