April Favourites ♥

This year is going so so quickly! Some amazing things have happened this month! I can confirm that I will be in America for three months this summer! I am super excited! (Any tips on travelling to the USA are very much welcome in the comments section below!). Also in April I went on my first run in a while because I want to do a half marathon soon! My time was what I wanted so this was a promising start! As well as this I have finally finished my first book since completing my degree (which ended almost a year ago!). When I completed my English Literature degree I strangely had little desire to finish a whole book as I read about 1-2 a week for 3 years. It didn’t feel like reading was a pleasure anymore but more like something I had to do in order to formulate an assignment. It wasn’t that I fell out of love with literature per-say..believe me I tried to read but could never stick with a book long enough so now I have about 7 half read books lying about my house! But I am so glad that I am finally out of this reading funk because I truly enjoy reading! It is also why I haven’t really blogged as much too because of the sheer volume of essay writing required for my degree. Fashion and beauty is my passion so I am excited to share a few purchases I have made this month…

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♥ Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lip gloss shade Plums Up

My auntie is a huge fan of the Sexy Mother Pucker lip gloss range from Soap and Glory. I have always thought the lip glosses they do were really pretty shades so on a spontaneous trip around Boots I picked this one up. Once you apply it to your lips it makes them tingle as it ‘plumps them’. I don’t really know if it does make them any bigger as my lips as quite big but I do know that it is a gorgeous shade! It isn’t a sticky lip gloss and stays on a while so would for sure recommend this product. £9.00

♥ Eyelure London Exaggerate No 145 Fake Eyelashes

I needed some last minute fake lashes for a night out so bought these from Boots. Eyelure has in my opinion always been a reliable brand for fake lashes so went straight for these! There were lots of different types but I usually go for volume (when I was younger I used to wear two pairs of fake lashes on nights out!!). They were only £5.45 and came with glue. The glue is a bit rubbish but thankfully I have my own glue! Lashes great but glue not so great!

♥ Natural Collection Lip Liner Ruby Rose 

This lip liner is only £1.99 from Boots. It is really good! I needed a lip liner for my VIVA GLAM MAC lip stick as it bleeds sometimes. It is super for the price – would definitely recommend!

♥ MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

This is in my opinion an essential for any girl to have in her make up bag! Class matte red lipstick from MAC. £15.50 but well worth the price!

My May Wish List Item  – Benefit’s Brow Zings!

Eyebrow shaping kit with all the tools you need for clean, smooth, perfect brows!

Exploring The Yorkshire Moors ❤️

Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with the Brontë sisters! My all time favourite novels are Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I am lucky enough to live fifteen minutes away from where these literary masterpieces were penned! The Bronte Parsonage in Howarth is truly beautiful! My best friend from university was visiting for the weekend (she too is equally obsessed), so we decided to release our inner Catherine Earnshaw/Linton/Heathcliff…


The main cobbled street down Howarth

Us outside the famous Parsonage

A scene from the film ‘Wild Child’ is actually filmed in this very spot!


There are some unique lovely shops in Howarth including a vintage shop, an apothecary and lots of beautifully quaint tea rooms

The parsonage where the Brontë sisters grew up. They are not buried in this grave yard, but in vaults inside the church to the right

March Favourites ♥

March has been such a good month! Now the weather is finally warmer I have been able to do some really fun summery things like going to the park for ice creams with my little cousin or sitting sipping cocktails outside (pretending I am somewhere exotic like Barcelona when in reality I am in Leeds!). I have also had a few fun nights out, watching my favourite football team Manchester City and I went to see the band The 1975 who were incredible!
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Product wise I have discovered some amazing products this month!

The Tangle Teezer

Urban Outfitters, £10.00

No joke you guys this has entirely taken brushing my hair to the next level. I saw an advert or an Instagram post of Kendall Jenner with one and thought surely there is not much of a difference between this and a normal brush? Oh there is! My best friend has one and her hair is gorgeous and long and always looks in amazing condition. I know for sure you can get it much cheaper than £10.00 but it was a bit of an impulse purchase. It doesn’t rip my hair out like normal brushes (even if I brush it wet). It doesn’t make my hair poofy/fizzy and is the perfect size to just pop into my handbag. Would definitely recommend it!

Jack Wills English Velvet Body Butter

Boots, present

I received this gift set from my best friend for Christmas and I am obsessed with the body butter! It smells gorgeous and makes my skin so soft and smooth. It isn’t greasy at all and rubs in really easily. If you are bored of your body butter or wanting to try another one then give this one a try!

MAC Prep and Prime Highlighter Light Boost

MAC, £19.00

I bought this product because I didn’t actually own a highlighter! I use it when contouring. I put it under my eyes, on my cupids bow, chin and along my nose and blend it in with a beauty blender sponge. I love this product. You twist the bottom and enough comes out with one twist so you don’t have to waste the product. It blends into my skin or into my foundation really well, never looks patchy and really highlights the features I want to. I know it is a bit pricey but will last me around 6 months I recon.

My oldie but goodie…

MAC All Fired Up Retro Matte Lipstick 

MAC, £15.50

For some reason I have been wearing this constantly. I have fallen back in love with this lipstick! This was my first ever MAC product and I still love it. The colour is so girly and lovely. It is matte based so I do need some form of primer for my lips before I apply it (vaseline is usually what I go for). I think it looks great with either natural make up or going out make up.

My Wish List…

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lipliner Indian Pink 4

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lipliner Indian Pink 4

Boots/Superdrug, £2.99

This was recommended to me by one of my best friends and I really want to buy it! Whenever I have been into Boots there hasn’t been the shade I want! I always think lipliner makes lipstick look so much neater! Will definitely have to hunt this down or buy online!

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray Review

Hi all! As you may have realised I’ve been a bit absent from the blogging world for almost two months now! This is the longest I have gone without blogging since I started this blog actually! I have been super busy in my personal life (as well as having a nasty chest infection lasting 3 weeks 😦 *cries inside* ). Anyways, in those two months I have bought a wholllllle lotta make up and a copious amount of clothing so expect a lot of make up reviews, a few hauls and as always the OOTDs! I have missed blogging so much in these past two months but this break has given me so much inspiration for writing material. So let’s get onto the important stuff!

Review of Urban Decay All Nighter Make Up Setting Spray

£22.00 from Urban Decay

I have only ever bought one product from Urban Decay – Naked 2 – the eye shadow palette.  This palette has the best eye shadows I have ever owned in so I had pretty high expectations of this setting spray!

Usually for setting spray I just use normal hair spray which works okay(ish) but you know what it’s like when you go into a department store and see all lovely products then get talking to the sales assistant about your mutual love for make up and BAM you leave with about ten bag fulls of make up – well this was one of those moments!

I never intended to purchase the setting spray but I am sure glad I did! Although £22.00 is a bit steep for a setting spray there is 118ml of product in the bottle. So it will take me at least a year to get through this which works out about £1.83 per month – so that doesn’t seem so bad!

There is also a travel size mini one which will be great for those airport trips! There are three types of setting spray you can purchase : the oil control (for oily skin), the cooling and hydrating (for those with drier skin) and the all nighter (which is for any type skin).

I bought the all nighter setting spray.

Does my make up stay on well?

It is no joke when I tell you my make up stays on from morning until night! It is amazing! I read a review recently which went viral about a poor girl being dumped and crying and her make up being completely intact still. Literally this is the best product possible in my make up bag. I cannot praise this enough!

How do I apply it?

After your make up has been applied just spray your face with this product (you’ll probably need to do about three to four sprays). It doesn’t make your make run or look shiny at all. It dries pretty much instantly and you don’t need to do anymore!

How much do you need to apply?

Not much at all – about four sprays max. This product (especially the larger bottle) will last you a long long time!

Would I rebuy this product?

100% yes! It is kind to my skin and keeps my make up in place for a long length of time!

Any tips for using it?

If you apply your mascara last (like me) then wait about 3 mins before spraying so the black liquid doesn’t go onto your skin when you close your eyes.

 

Blogmas Days 15 and 16 – Lip Crayon, Sparkly Nails and Christmas Jumpers!

I can’t believe that we are well over halfway in Blogmas now! Eek! I definitely feel like the Christmas jumper needs to come out soon!

Day 15 of my beauty advent brought me…

… No7 High Shine Lip Crayon (the second shade from the left)

I love this! It is a really natural colour and also has little sparkly glitters emerged in it adding an extra festive glisten! It doesn’t have a shade name on the crayon but it is more of a pink than a red. It is also quite moisturising which is great because I can double it up as a lip balm. This was pleasantly surprising as some lip crayons can be really drying.

Whilst we’re on the topic  of lip products I really would like a Kylie Lip Kit! Kylie Jenner has released three lip kits including a gloss and lip liner in each. They are gorgeous! They sold out in a ridiculous short time but she is restocking in January I think!

Candy K

Day 16 of beauty adventing brought meee…

… 4ml of No7 Nail Effect ‘Sun Rays’ shade

I have so many new nail products to try once my acrylics are off so I am sure I will do a whole blog post on that alone! I love glitter nail varnish – whether it is over a colour or on its own. Glitter is very in right now! Cannot wait to try this!

My Favourite Christmas Jumpers

Soo last year I bought the best Christmas jumper ever! As you all know I love the film ‘Home Alone’ and my Christmas jumper has one of the most prominent quotes from the whole film on it. I saw it on boohoo.com and thought I have to have it!

I feel like Christmas jumpers have become so popular in recent years and I think there is an unspoken rule of no judging the jumpers! So basically anything goes and the uglier and more patterned the jumper the better really! Having said that I was in Dorothy Perkins the other day and they have some beautiful, simple Christmas jumpers and to be honest I could have bought them all! So with those contradictory statements in mind.. I thought I would share with you some more of my fave festive jumpers!

F&F Penguin Pom Pom Christmas Jumper

£9.00 from F&F at Tesco

Tesco are going all out this year with the festive jumpers, socks, pjs – everything! It is so reasonable in price too.

Hollie Reindeer & Snowflake Christmas Jumper

£15.00 from Boohoo.com

They have such a varied selection of Christmas jumpers – patterned, cute, novelty – you are bound to find one that even the scroogiest of you out there simply cannot part with!

Brooke Bah Humpug Christmas Jumper

£12.00 from Boohoo.com

Black Penguin Fairisle Christmas Jumper  | New Look

£24.99 from New Look

Or there is the Christmas cardigan option from ASOS at £24.50

Let me know where your favourite Christmas jumper is from in the comments below

xox

 

Blogmas Day 14 – Nail Polish and My Fave Festive Films!

Day 14 revealed to meee…

… 4ml of No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in the shade of ‘me me me’

I still have my acryllics on at the moment so as soon as these come off I want to try out my new nail varnishes! This looks like a shade I would usually go for!

My Fave Festive Films!

(Call me uncultured buuut I have never seen ‘Elf’ or ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ soo those are definitely getting watched this Christmas!

1- My number one has to be Home Alone! I love the first two with Macaulay Culkin in.

2- The Santa Claus

3- Love Actually. This is such a classic rom com – I watch this even when it isn’t Christmas!

4- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

5- The Holiday

6- The Polar Express

7- The Nativity Story

8- Jack Frost

9- A Christmas Carol

10-  Unaccompanied Minors

 

Blogmas Days 12 & 13 – Beauty Balm, Last Minute Gifts and Favourite Christmas Tunes! 

Today I decided to merge Blogmas day 12 and Blogmas day 13! I did Blogmas last year and it was full of Christmassy posts and this year has been mostly beauty related soo I thought I would merge the two days and write about both topics together!

Day 12 of my beauty advent revealed…

 

… 5ml of No7 BB lips Beauty Balm

I used this last night and it is so good! It’s a pale pink shade. It isn’t greasy and sticky like a lot of lip glosses. I only needed to apply a little bit too. Definitely recommend!

Today I received…

… No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil – Brown

I wouldn’t usually use a brown eye liner but this one looks really natural. I will apply a little bit subtly over my eye shadow  and possibly blend it.

Last Minute Gifts for Women

If you’re stuck about what to buy your friend, girlfriend, sister, auntie, mom – whoever! Then look no further for inspiration!


Beauty Products from the Zoella range in Superdrug

These products smell amazing. They are super reasonable in price too (most items around £5). She has even released a Christmas range too which includes little sets of products together! One set is only £12 too!


Writing Sets £1.00 each from The Works

These are so cute! I love writing – whether it’s thank you letters or letters to my best friend. These are so cheap! I love receiving stationary – whether it is a new diary, beautiful writing paper or pens.


Adult Colouring Books!

These are so popular right now! You can get them from literally anywhere – WHSmith, The Works, Amazon. They’re really relaxing!


The one I have has quotes in too! You can buy different themes also.


Books! Here are a few I plan to read over the Christmas period. They sell the best sellers at the moment really cheap in supermarkets. Also if she prefers the film versions to books they’re also reasonable in price on Amazon!


Bits and bobs! Socks, hats, gloves, scarves. Topshop do a great range! Their socks at the moment are 3 for £8.00.


Beauty electricals! This gorgeous Tony and Guy set is £35.99 from Argos.


Jewellery! This beautiful set is £16.00 from Debenhams. Make sure when buying jewellery (especially rings and bracelets) you know their size!

My Favourite Christmas Tunes!

1. Frank Sinatra – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 

2. John Lennon – Happy Xmas (War is Over)

3. Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas is You

4. Wizzard – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

5. Wham! – Last Christmas

6. Dean Martin – Walking in a Winter Wonderland

7. Andy Williams – It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

8. Il Divo – O Holy Night

9. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Arthur Christmas Version)

10. Bing Crosby – White Christmas

11. The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl – Fairy Tale of New York

12. Do They Know it’s Christmas – Band Aid 1984

13. Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

14. Jackie Evancho – Silent Night

15. The Jackson 5 – Frosty the Snowman

16. Santa Baby – 1953 Eartha Kitt

17. Michael Buble – It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

Blogmas Day 11 – Body Polish and Christmas throwbacks!

Today I thought I would share with you a few of my Christmas throwbacks! I absolutely love Christmas time!

Ahh memories..

My sister, grandma and I with all of her cards! This must be 1997! 

This was my first Christmas! Here I was only 20 days old! 

 
I was so proud of this sledge! Check out my bed head ha ha!

 
My dad and I trying out my sledge!

 

My Auntie Lisa, mom and I. My auntie always puts on great spreads at Christmas!

 
My dad helping me to open presents!

 

My cousin Lucy, my sister and I in 2013. This was at my Auntie Lisa’s again!

 
This year Christmas is at my Auntie Lisa’s again where there will be 14 of us! My duty is to make one of my chocolate fudge cakes!

Today in my beauty advent I received…


… 50 ml of No7 Beautiful Skin Perfecting Body Polish

It is exfoliator for brighter, healthier looking skin! I shall try this out and post a review soon!

xox

Blogmas Day 10 – Eyeliner, New Hair and 20 Beauty Questions Tag!

Welcome to Blogmas day ten eeeek! Christmas is a creepin’ up on us and I have bought a grand total of two presents! Ut oh! The Christmas tree was purchased today though (my family went for a fake one), so hopefully a Christmas tree post will be posted very shortly! Today also I had my hair done (just a trim) and went to visit my Grandparents because they have just come back from a holiday to Portugal!

Day 10 of my beauty advent revealed…

… No7 Stay Perfect Amazing Eyes Pencil 

There isn’t a specific shade on the actual eye pencil but I would say it is gold. On the Boots website it says that this eye liner would be £7.50 if bought on its own! I’m not sure I would pay that for the gold shade, possibly the black one because I would use it more. I am going to use it in the corners of my eyes so that it gives a bright highlight effect. In terms of application, it goes on well and easily. I love the colour – very Christmassy. I love it!

The 20 Beauty Questions Tag

I have decided to do ‘The 20 Beauty Questions Tag’.  I found this on http://www.letstalkcosmetics.wordpress.com and I loveeee her blog so make sure to check it out! Also if any of you guys wish to do this tag feel free!

1- Do you remember your first make up item?

It was probably a lip balm or something from a magazine! I do remember getting lip glosses with magazines like ‘Shout’ which I don’t know if it still exists anymore! I used to ask my mom’ if I could borrow her powder and lip stick when I was younger though!

2- Describe your perfect mascara. Have you found one that fits your specifications?

My version of a ‘perfect’ mascara is:

  • Black
  • Doesn’t flake off/leave bits under my eyes
  • Can wash off easily (doesn’t take a load of product to scrub it off)
  • Doesn’t make my eye lashes look clumped together
  • Makes my eye lashes look longer and fuller

The best mascara I have found so far is the one I always raveeee about : MAC Haute Naughty Lash

 

3- What kind of coverage do you prefer from a foundation?

I like my foundation to look natural but at the same time to cover any blemishes or spots I have. So probably medium coverage.

4- Favourite high end brand?

Definitely MAC. I have bought far too many amazing products from there. They are pricey at times but I would rather pay more for something that looks great and lasts a while than a cheap product that reacts badly with my skin or runs out/dries up quickly.

5- Favourite drug store brand?

Simple. I use their moisturiser, cleanser, toner, face wash, face wipes and even their shampoo! I love their products as they are so kind to skin and often in Boots they have a 3 for 2 offer on them!

6- Is there any kind of make up you can’t leave the house without?

To be honest I wear no make up more than I wear make up. Buuut if I had to choose it would probably be something boring like vaseline!

7- What is your most cherished beauty product?

My most cherished beauty product would have to be my Lady Million perfume by Paco Rabanne. I think that it is so special and I only really use it on special occasions. It smells amazing!

8- How often do you shop for make up?

I don’t specifically go on make up shopping trips. I suppose if I spot something whilst I’m out or I’m running out of something I’ll buy it for myself as and when.

9- Do you have a beauty budget or do you spend freely?

To be honest I don’t really buy my make up based on price. If I see an amazing product that I love, has great reviews, looks good and I know I will use it a lot then I’ll buy it. My make up bag varies from high street to high end. When I visited Prague I found a Sephora and I didn’t really know how the pricing would be compared in pounds so I kinda just went along with it and bought things I loved!

10- What type of product do you buy the most?

Hmm probably mascara because I tend to renew mine every 4-6 months. Or moisturisers because I go through them quite quickly!

11- Do you avoid certain ingredients in cosmetics like parabens or sulfates?

I have never really thought about it really.

12- Do you have a favorite place to shop for makeup?

Ooh it would have to be a tie between Sephora and MAC!

13- Do you like trying new skincare products or do you keep a certain routine?

I tend to try different skin products because I find my skin gets used to different face washes. I do love trying new products!

14- Favorite bath and body brand?  

At the moment I am absolutely loving  Zoella’s Soap Opera bubble bath and her Creamy Madly Dreamy moisturiser. Her products smell gorgeous and are so reasonably priced!

15- Do you like multifunctional products like lip and cheek stains? 

I don’t know why but I am always a bit dubious about these products.I had a lip stain product which you could use on your cheeks too but I only used it on my lips. I am yet to be convinced!

16- Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

Liquid eyeliner – yes! I think the more practice I have had, the easier it has been to apply careful products like fake lashes or eye liner.

17- Do you ever consider taking makeup classes?

I would love to! Just for a hobbie though. I remember in high school our head teacher brought in some make up artists to teach us all the correct way to apply make up! It was good because when I was younger Youtube tutorials definitely weren’t that popular so you just had to look in a magazine or ask someone. So now I think it is so cool that if you wanted to try a certain style, an make up guru could give you a step by step free video tutorial which you could play as many times as you wish.

18- What do you love about makeup?

Hmm well I love art and I guess I see applying make up as a kind of art. It is extremely technical (using different products to create different looks on different skin tones, face shapes etc). I love that it sort of creates a certain type of ‘art’. I love applying it, collecting it and trying out new looks.

19- Dramatic or Natural Makeup look?

Natural any day! I love subtle, natural make up looks, which incude a ot of nude shades.

20- Worst makeup-related habit?

My worst make up related habit is the equivalent of double dipping with my brushes! So putting my brush in one shade of eye shadow then applying it then putting it into another instead of cleaning it in between. Also doing the same for my powder and high lighter for my contour and my bronzer and brown contour shade.

Thanks for reading guys and feel free to do this tag!

xox

Blogmas Day 9 – Share Your Posts Tag and Skin Illuminator!

Hi Guyssss, today is going to be a bit of a different post! One of the best things about blogging is meeting new bloggers, discovering exciting new posts and just generally being a part of the lovely blogging community!

So the rules…

Comment below with your favourite post you have written

or

Comment below recommending your favourite blogger/favourite post by them

or

Like or comment on this post and I will check out your blog 🙂

Share this post or create your own so that everyone discovers new bloggers and can read their amazing work!

xox

Day Nine of my beauty advent calendar revealed…

… 10ml of No7 Skin Illuminator Radiance Boosting Beauty Fluid

I am a huge fan of contouring and this product will look amazing over the cheek bone high lighter! It is so shimmery – I’m going to use it on my cheek bones to lift them and also on my collar bone. You only need a little bit though because it goes far!