Lusting After... Premium Beauty

Urban Decay Naked Palette
Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Riviera
Bumble & Bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish Spray
Deborah Lippmann in Shake Your Money Maker 
Hourglass Ambient Light Powder in Diffused Light

Jouer Creme Eyeshadow Crayon

Since spending all of my money at the Bullring in Birmingham last weekend (i will do a post!) I am now reduced to wishlists only. After doing a random wishlist here, I thought it would be good to just focus on the beauty products this time round as I haven't bought too many new products of late *pats self on back*

1. First up, I really want the Urban Decay Naked Palette and I'm pretty sure this is something I will get because everybody loves it and lots of my fav YouTubers use it in their tutorials, so recreating their looks would be easier too! That's a legit reason yeah? ;)

2. The hourglass makeup range has been getting major notice from all the bloggers and three of my favorites Lily Pebbles, Lily Melrose and ViviannaDoesMakeup happen to love the two products I have featured here. I think the Hourglass Opaque Rouge in Riveria is the perfect colour for everyone, as literally everyone I've seen wearing it looks ridiculously amazing. Also, the Ambient Light Powder appears to make your skin glow in the best way I've ever seen and who doesn't want glowy skin?!

3. The Bumbe & Bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish Spray is another raved about product and when I read ViviannaDoesMakeup's post I was immediately sold because her hair looked so thick and fab. It's also not too expensive in comparison to others. 

4. Deborah Lippmann makes the most amazing glitter nail polishes and I heart glitter polish because I suck at painting my nails and have to cover it all up ha! I love this particular colour and I think green is amazing for A/W. Can we all just appreciate the name too? Shake your money maker - genius. 

5. Another loved by Lily Pebbles product and featured in her Top 10 on Cult Beauty here is the Jouer Creme Eyeshadow Crayons. I'm really into coloured eye shadows to spice things up and these look so good!

What's on your recent lust list?

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | WIWT 

Review: La Roche Posay Skincare

I've been dipping my toes into the world of 'premium skincare' recently (not really my toes) and I have just finished using up the La Roche Posay Physiological Micellar Solution & Soothing Toner. Now, I'm usually pretty lazy with skincare aka face wipes and a bit of toner, but after becoming slightly obsessed with Alix's flawless skin (I Covet Thee) I decided to make my routine a little more thorough (i think my skin is thankful).

One of the many lotions and potions I left Boots with were these two from La Roche Posay and I have nothing but good words to say! First off, my skin was well cleansed and felt fresh after every use, which is important for me as I have oily skin, so I hate feeling like my pores are clogged or can't breath if that makes sense?

Secondly, this lasted me quite a long time, which again is important when you've taken the plunge to spend a bit more money on something you use every day. And lastly, my skin just looked so much clearer and I had less breakouts, unlike when I just used a face wipe and a quick swish of toner (i know, you all told me so!). 

I will 100% re-purchase these, but I also really want to try more of the La Roche Posay range because it all looks so interesting! Have any of you tried any of the products? If so, please recommend - I will apologize to my bank in advance...

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | WIWT 

Surviving final year at University

Something a little different today! As it's September and lots of you lucky devils are still at University (stay as long as possible, take many degrees), I thought it would be appropriate to reminisce on my final year and offer up some words of wisdom. Well, some words at least!

1. Get organised! Even if you're the type that works under pressure aka the last minute, you still need to get organised as your dissertation consumes a lot of time and you still have a gazillion* other subjects. There will be time like this...

Image from weheartit

So, make sure you get a diary, post it notes, folders etc or at least find a way to remember when you have things coming up. Here's some diaries that I thought were too adorbs!

1, 2 & 4 from Paperchase
3 WHSmith
5 & 6 Liberty

2. Look after yourself! Did you know I'm your mum? Seriously though, make sure you eat well, drink lots of water and maybe take the odd yakult here and there. With the number of people arriving from all around the world, Fresher's Flu and other horrible lurgies can knock you off your feet. I don't mean don't have an afternoon tea session at your house though...

Food courtesy of my gorgeous friend Jessica, who makes one mean afternoon tea (mojitos are also another forte!)

3. De-stress your mind and body! 'Oh great, she's getting all spiritual on our asses!" I'm not, I assure you. What I mean by this is when your working away or just a student in general you spend a lot of time sitting round studying/eating/watching tv/drinking and your body becomes restless, resulting in a bad nights sleep. I would recommend exercise like the gym, classes or going for a run with your mates if your strapped for cash.

Image from weheartit

4. Don't dread the dissertation! I remember thinking "I will never be able to write that many words", panicking about the subject and the title and thinking "Jeez, I hope this makes sense!", but it all worked out in the end. I think because it's big compared to your other essays you almost try harder and focus more.

Your tutors will tell you this but it's always a good idea to pick a part of your subject you enjoy and have maybe wrote about before if poss (you can re-use sections of your work and you have a better knowledge base). I would personally recommend really getting to grips with the Harvard Referencing System (or whichever your uni uses) and employing a trusty friend (thank Lauren!) to proof read your work throughout the year, so you don't make silly mistakes. 

Image from weheartit

5. Don't forget to have fun! This isn't hard for most people, but in the final year you can get caught up on the quest to a 2:1 (or whatever grade you have in your mind) and forget that it's your last year. I was living with a new group of girls in my final year (we all had placements in 3rd year) and we just had the best time ever. I'm pretty sure our house had the best parties ha, we went bike riding in the New Forest, ate a LOT and played sardines with all our mates in the house! (to name a few of our antics!) 

 "i want to ride my bicycle"

Me and my gals at our summer ball, we're enchanted forest people aka it was cheap!

Enjoy, work hard and stay in touch with everyone when you leave.  

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | WIWT 

*genuine number of subjects I had

Review: Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning for Face and décolleté

 

I just kept thinking my décolleté could be more bronzed. I joke, of course! I did in fact get this because even when my face gets some sunshine, like most girls it's still pretty white in comparison to the rest of my body (I'm sure most of you will agree that's not a great look, i hope ha). So, on one of my many days watching youtube clips (every day...), the gorgeous Vivianna from viviannadoesmakeup mentioned the Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tan and I was immediately sold! But what's so great huh? Read on my friends...

1. The consistency - It's a very light milky texture, a bit like the a cream cleanser. I think this is perfect for your face because it's such delicate skin and also it just feels vile when you have a sticky one on there that retains your body's heat, ew.

2. The smell - It doesn't smell bad at all. Well, I don't think so anyway! It doesn't have that horrible weird biscuit smell and because it's light it sinks in quickly too.

3. It lasts - £18 is a little pricey, especially if you're a student/school age/jobless, I know that would have definitely put me off when I was at University! However, a little goes a long way and since buying this at the start of the summer I still have well over half a bottle left - amazing.

4. No orange hands - I'm not kidding, you can put this on with your BARE HANDS people. Just wash them after and you are good to go with no oompa loompa hands in sight.

5. The colour - It's a great natural colour for most skin tones I would say. It's been made specifically for fair skin, so there's no worry about waking up like this, plus if you like to be especially bronzed you can layer up during the week.

Have any of you guys got this or any other Clarins products? I'm after recommendations!

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | WIWT 

Viva Espana

This year I've been lucky enough to get out to Berlin, Croatia, LA and Spain and as I've shared some pictures from all of my trips so far, here's a few from Spain...

1. My grandparents live in a small rural Spanish town called Calasparra

2. The figs are fresh from their neighbor who speaks zero English and told me off because I still haven't learnt any (I will I swear!)

3. My Grandma makes a mean paella

4. The little puppy was one that had been abandoned, unfortunately they don't have the same animal rights as we do, so sadly this is quite common. Don't worry though, this little guy was saved!

5. It's really unfair that we don't have siestas - a nap in the middle of the day is brilliant

I wonder where next year will take me!

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | WIWT 

All pictures are my own apart from the very first and last, which are from weheartit

Lusting After

Olivia Burton Watch
Zara Bag
Rimmel 1000 Kisses
ASOS Fazed Gladiator Sandles
Diptyque Roses Candle

Lust lists are so dangerous aren't they? *cuts up card* So, what's caught my eye recently...First up, this watch by Olivia Burton is just so gorgeous and I think it's just as nice as Mr Daniel Wellington's watches, but quite a lot cheaper, so I'm pretty sure I'll be getting one very soon.

Shut-the-front-door how much does that bag from Zara rock? It's only £30 and I think it looks so expensive (there's a theme of me trying to get things that look more expensive here). I love the pale blue and gold detailing, the perfect accessory for both day and eve. 

Obviously, I have a beauty product in there and this happens to be my current favorite lip stain stolen from my younger sister. I've 'borrowed' the shade 'Endless Blossom' and it's just the perfect light pink that's not too in your face. It also lasts all day and the balm on the one end is great for stopping your lips from chapping.

Don't judge me, I have sandals on my list and all it's been doing is raining here in England of late. These are actually sold out on ASOS, which is pretty annoying. I don't know if anyone else is like me, but finding shoes to fit is an absolute nightmare, so I always have shoes until they are falling apart on my feet cause shoe shopping is so traumatic. Peep-toes are a lifesaver for me and my 6 and a bit sized feet!

When I was in London a while ago, I hopped into Liberty and some dreamy french salesman at the Diptyque stand made me sniff a load of candles. I know the Diptyque candles have loads of hype around them, but I genuinely think it's well deserved as they smell unbelievable. I love the Roses one, just wish they were cheaper!

What's on your recent lust list? Have any of the above taken your fancy too?

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | WIWT 

Review: Urban Decay B6 Complexion Vitamin Infused Complexion Prep Spray

Woah, bit of a mouthful ay? So, I recently got the Urban Decay B6 Complexion Vitamin Infused Complexion Prep Spray from look fantastic and I am loving it! If you read my blog normally then you'll know that I have pretty oily skin, so a primer is a complete must for me every day. I've used the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer and Mac Prep + Prime  which I would also rate pretty highly, but let's have a look at what's great about this beauty from Urban Decay.

First off, it works! Always a good start. My makeup has been staying in place all day and my skin is nowhere near as oily by the afternoon. Also, after my recent holiday to Spain my skin was pretty clogged up and I think this prep spray has helped to clarify my pores with all those lavley vitamins. I have also noticed the redness of my skin reduce quite a lot since using this, which is amazing.

The prep spray is also super refreshing in the morning when I'm struggling to open my eyes. A few sprays of this and I'm ready to crack on with my make up, whilst i watch E! News (what, it's news isn't it?). Do you know what? I've only just read those stats in the picture above and I genuinely agree, this is a great product that also seems to be lasting well, so if you have oily skin I would give this a go.

Let me know if you have tried it in the comments below or any other primers you love cuz i'm kinda obsessed with testing new ones all the time!

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | WIWT 

London Beauty Hub

As you know I write for the beauty site London Beauty Hub each week where I create Top 5 posts highlighting beauty trends and dabbling with fashion. If you've never hopped over to the website, there are some really interesting reviews, interviews and of course top fives ;) here's a few worth checking out! 

Top 5 Micellar Water Products

A day in the life of Tracie Giles, semi-permanent make-up specialist

My beauty secrets: Rebecca Goodyear, beauty blogger, editor and founder of Rebecca Goodyear PR 

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | WIWT 

Review: Denman Tangle Tamer

If you follow my blog or Twitter you will know that I am always wishing that my hair would grow (still wishing, I'm afraid) and as part of my quest for luscious locks I am always after quality hair products to help me out. Alongside my vast array of lotions and potions, I have quite a few top quality hair brushes including some from Denman. I was recently sent the D90 Dolphin Tangle Tamer to try out and this is what I thought...

Being a blonde, my hair gets quite dry and knotty from the highlights, so any kind of tangle eliminator is a must for me! I have used brushes in the past that have got stuck in my hair - not a good look. Thankfully, this brush glides through my hair even if I don't put any leave-in conditioner in there to assist.

The design of this brush is bright blue with some happy dolphins on the front and back. I can't say it's really my style, but for dolphin lovers, children or teens this is a perfect design. If your not a season ticket holder at Sea World the black or pink option might suit you better.

I've been using this brush for over a week now and I am really pleased with the results e.g. all of my hair is on my head still and not in the bristles! I would definitely recommend it, alongside the Denman D3 Kiss Brush (review here) which is a harder bristled brush and great for helping you get volume. 

Both of these brushes are super affordable, with the tangle tamer costing just £6.98. I don't know about you, but I don't think there is much you can get that is great quality for less than £10 - total bargain! I also have my eyes on their Head Hugger Hot Curl Brushes, which look incredible (again, less than £10 - crazy good!) and are selling out fast.

Do you have any Denman hair brushes? Do you think it's important to find a good quality brush? 

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | WIWT