It's Been A While...

Hey lovely people!

Oh how I've missed writing to you all. I'm so sorry I've not posted, but I have been ill... and I have quite literally not been able to lift my head off my pillow, never mind use a computer. But I am back to full health, ready and raring to go with some fresh new blog posts... as well as catching up on my Instagram Photo-A-Day Challenge! 

So to ease me back into it, I have decided to do the Lip Product Addict Tag. I watched Amelia Liana & Essie Button's collab video on youtube and just thought it was the perfect tag for me, seen as I am a self-confessed Lip Product Addict. 

Enough of the jibber jabber and onto the tag:

1. Favourite balm/ treatment?

I'm a girl with simple taste, and you don't get more simple and brilliant than Vaseline. I love the plain old original you get in those enormous tubs and I love the dainty little tins, with rose or aloe vera. They are brilliant little budget products that do a great job for me. 

2. Best eye-catching red?

This is my absolute fave red lipstick. I wore it on my Wedding Day and it cost £1. It was a random purchase when I was in Superdrug one day... and it is still my absolute favourite. It's an MUA lisptick in shade 13. I have gone through several (as you would imagine with a cheaper product) and it never disappoints. Is it cheap? Yes! Does it have good staying power? Well... certainly not as much as a luxury brand. How's the pigment? Amazeballs!!! Need I say more???

3. Best luxury & best drugstore?

Ok so aside from the above lippy I was talking about, my other favourite "Drugstore" product is from Bourjois. It is their new Shine Edition Lipsticks in the shade Beige Demographic. It's a super shimmery lipstick with lip balm qualities so your lips feel really plump and nourished when you're wearing it. I love it. 

As far as luxury goes I don't really know if this would qualify as luxury, although it certainly feels luxurious on my lips. It's Liz Earle's Sheer Lip Gloss in the shade Guava 02. It's really a beautiful product that glides on your lips and doesn't have that horrible tacky sensation. It's pretty and long lasting and feels just lovely when you're wearing it.

4. Best MAC lipstick?

Ok, so I don't actually own any MAC products whatsoever and this is due to the fact that they haven't confirmed that they don't test their products on animals. They are owned by Estée Lauder, who DO test on animals, therefore I do not, and I will not ever buy a MAC product. 

5. The most disappointing?

Mmmm... this is a hard one. I can't say I've been disappointed by many lip products, except maybe some tacky lip glosses I happen to have collected over the last few years. I love the look they give... but I hate the feeling they leave on my lips! :(

6. Liner, yes or no?

Yes! Not only does it make your lips look better when you apply your lipstick... but if you apply your liner all over your lips, it acts as a sort of primer and means your lip colour lasts longer! It's a win win!!! :)

7. Best gloss?

Has to be the Liz Earle one I mentioned above! 

8. Something extra?

I decided to use this last question to mention my most lusted after lip product. It is (of course) the beautiful Classic Cream Lipstick in the shade Red 620 from Dolce & Gabbana. I have been in love with this lipstick since seeing it for the 1st time in Vogue a few months ago. It is everything I would want in a lipstick and more. I can't describe how much I want it! I just hope my hubby keeps that in mind when my birthday comes round next week. :)

So that was fun lovelies. :) I hope you enjoyed reading my ramblings. Again I am super sorry for my disappearing act and I vow to try my hardest to keep up with my blogging.

Take care lovelies. x

A Little Birthday Wishlist

Hey lovely people, 

So I know I said I would post 3 times a week, but this week has been exceptionally busy and for that reason I haven't really had much computer time. However, I have a spare 10 minutes this morning and thought I would share a little wishlist post for my upcoming 29th birthday next month. It is of course an enormous hint to my hubby, so hopefully he gets the message loud and clear. :)

1:

This is Model 4018 from Sekonda, as part of the new Editions range. I saw it for the first time last night while watching "Fearne and McBusted" and I just love it. I've been looking at watches for so long, and had my eye on a few including some Michael Kors ones that were just gorgeous, but I really loved this one instantly and it's only £39.99... so BARGAIN!!! 

2:

I can't say enough about this genius cleanser from Liz Earle. I have been using it for 1 years and I have literally no complaints whatsoever. My skin feels so fresh and clean and fantastic when I use this, so naturally I run out a lot. It's £14.95 for the 100ml pump directly from Liz Earle or you can get two 100ml pumps from QVC for £28. :) 

3:

I have been dreaming about this gorgeous lippy since reading the April Vogue (UK edition). It has been on my wishlist since then, but I still haven't managed to justify the £24 price tag to my hubby. He just doesn't understand the importance of me having this gorgeous piece in my collection. I wonder if he ever will!!! :(

4:

My 4th item is these slim fitting boyfriend jeans from Simply Be. I'm generally a dark jean kinda gal, but I really love these. they are super cute and will look fab with a pair of pumps & a tee... my fave kind of outfit. They are £35. 

5:

The 5th and final item on my wishlist is this little treat of a tv show. :) It is my new favourite... and is AMAZEBALLS! I have quite seriously watched all 4 seasons on a loop on Sky & Netflix, and I just can't get enough. It is available from Play at £29.99 for all 4 of the current seasons.

So there you have it. I don't think I'm asking for too much...

Take care lovelies. x

Rimmel London Just Let It Go - Full Review

Hey lovely people!

So today I thought I would share my thoughts and opinions on this little product from Rimmel. I would like to re-iterate (as I have done in previous posts) that I am in no way, shape or form an expert in make-up, skincare or anything in that field for that matter. I am just a lover of all these products, sharing my absolute honest opinion with all you lovely people. 

So a month or so ago, I was out shopping and was specifically looking for an eye make-up remover. I don't know if you're anything like me, but I have super sensitive eyes. So much so that I have to endure watery eyes every single time I put eyeshadow, eyeliner... and worst of all mascara on. So, you can only imagine the tough and often excruciatingly sore time I have of it, when I'm trying to take it off at the end of night. 

So anyway, while I was browsing the beauty product filled shelves, my eye caught a glimpse of this product by Rimmel. On first impressions, I felt like it would be the perfect thing to try, not only because I find that Rimmel products in general are of the highest standard for being a "cheaper" brand product, but also because it stated clearly on the bottle that it was "gentle", "dermatologically tested" and "suitable for sensitive eyes". So for me it was a win, win, win!!! :)

However, I regret to say that it does not live up to it's promise on the bottle. I tried this as soon as I got home from picking it up, and it quite literally made me cry... tears of pain! Now, after bathing my poor eyes in cool water, trying to numb the burning sensation, I decided that perhaps it was something else that had caused such a bad reaction. Maybe it was in fact just my eye makeup, which as I said before often brings on pain such as this. So on that basis, I left it on my makeup shelf and decided to give it another try at another time. 

I tried using it again 2 days ago... and I can now say, without doubt that this is not a product for someone like me. Quite literally, as soon as I put the cotton pad near my eye, I could feel the water building, and as soon as I began to try wiping, it just became entirely insufferable. 

This makes me sooo sad, because I am otherwise an avid advocate of the Rimmel range, but I have to say that if you have sensitive eyes, I would seriously consider whether or not you want to risk using this product. It is perfectly fine to use on most other parts of my face and hands, and I have used it several times to remove make up swatches from the back of my hand, with no problems at all. But I must stress again... IF YOU HAVE SENSITIVE EYES, PLEASE BE WARY OF THIS PRODUCT. 

Hopefully, this will have been helpful to some of you lovely people, and by all means, if you have had any different experiences with it, then by all means let me know. As I said earlier in the post, I'm not an expert at all, I can only give you my open and honest opinions, which is what I've done. 

Take care lovelies. x

Snap Happy Tuesday - Some Recent Purchases

Hey there lovely people!

So it's Tuesday... and even though Wednesday gets a bad rep for being the worst day of the week (or hump day as they call it) I really really hate Tuesdays. They are rubbish, pointless days that make getting to the weekend even harder. However... this Tuesday is a great one... because I'm getting some new Models Own Nail Polishes delivered!!!

So in the spirit of new purchases, I thought I would share some photos of some of my new makeup, and the area in my bedroom where I keep it all. Not that images themselves are particularly technical, but the contents of them are truly beautiful (at least to me). Haha!

So anyway... here goes:

That was some of my new makeup purchases from Make-up Revolution, a new site I discovered through a fellow blogger. I am yet to give any of them a proper try yet, but will definitely report back with my findings. 

The rest of the images are just a few random shots of my make-up station. It's certainly nothing special but it is my own little piece of heaven, where I sit everyday to do my skincare routine, apply my makeup and style my hair. Sometimes, I sit there and don't do any of those things... I just admire all of its loveliness. :)

It really is quite a beautiful thing... A sad, and often expensive thing... but beautiful none the less. Hope you all enjoyed this version of Snap Happy Tuesday! :)

Take care lovelies. x

Monday Wish List - All Things Ebay

Hey lovely people!

So it's Monday and it's time to share with you, a small selection of some of the many... many things I currently want in my life.

This weeks post is brought to you via the fantastic little world that is Ebay. Now I know a lot of people maybe don't like shopping on Ebay or don't trust using the site, but there are so many safeguards with PayPal, that it just hasn't ever been an issue for me. 

So this wish list is a mix of all of the little accessories etc, under £20 each, that are currently sitting in my shopping basket. 

1.Rectangle Clutch Bag - £15

2.Flower Iphone 4s Case - £0.99

3.Pair Of Bookends - £19.99

4.Beautiful Statement Collar Necklace - £8.59

5.French Glass Bottles with Cork Stopper - £7.50

6.Green Patent Flat Pumps - £11.99

7.Acrylic Makeup Organiser - £19.99

These are just some of my fabulous little finds on Ebay. I could honestly shop on there for hours... it literally has everything you could possibly want... most of the time at a cheaper price and in my case, always received without a hitch. So do yourself a favour, give Ebay a visit and grab yourself a bargain!

Take care lovelies. x

Friday Faves - My Favourite Youtubers (Part 2)

Good morning lovely people!

The sun is shining here in Glasgow and I am in a very good mood. I'm waiting on a new TV being delivered - a 50" beast - and I am chilling out and catching up on all my YouTube subscriptions which appear to have doubled since the last time I shared my faves with you all.

Anyway, I mentioned on my twitter feed, but I thought I'd also mention it here... I'm going to start featuring my favourite blog every week in my Friday Faves. I do have a list of all my favourite blogs at the minute in a list down the right hand side column of this blog - but I've decided to remove that and just focus primarily on one blog per week. I figured it's a nice way to personally get to know a lovely new blogger and get down to the nitty gritty of what they are all about and what they want to achieve through their blog. I thought it would be a super fun addition to my own post and would help you - my amazing readers - to find new and exciting reads too.

So anyway, onto today's business and the addition of 5 new Youtubers into my faves.

1. WheezyWaiter.

 

This guy is an absolute genius and comedian all rolled into one. He somehow manages to take actual real life pieces of news and current affairs, and interpret his thoughts and feelings on the matter in a funny and coherent way. I have literally never stopped watching his videos since discovering him and I think you should definitely give him a watch yourself.

2.Amelia Liana

This gorgeous lady is another of my Youtube faves who is a bit of a makeup guru. She shares makeup tips, shopping hauls, tags and all sorts of other fun and entertaining videos. She is so charismatic and normal, that you genuinely feel like your listening to a friend speaking. Definitely pay her a little visit.

3. Aaman Birk - Girl On Beauty 

So this lovely lady is Aaman and again she is super similar to Amelia Liana above in that she's a bit of a makeup, hauls & tag person. The reason I chose to share her with you too though, is because she's a really great speaker and is super confident in front of the camera. I know that's a weird thing to say really... but I have watched several videos over the past few weeks of young girls, obviously just trying to get into YouTube and they are so shy and nervous that you often can hear or understand what they're saying in the videos. That's why I love Aaman, she is super straight talking and to the point and doesn't waver on her opinions about skincare and beauty products. She's a straight shooter and you should give her vids a watch. 

4. Digital Rev TV

Ok so in my last Fave Youtubers post I shared Matt Granger with you all. He's a photographer sharing his skills and knowledge through reviews and tutorials etc. This team of experts are similar in that sense. However, Kai and Lok, break everything down into layman's terms, making everything more understandable for the less knowledgeable. As well as that, Kai is super quick witted and sarcastic and most of these videos are just downright funny, so if you're wanting to learn a bit more about photographer equipment then these guys are your best bet for learning successfully.

5. Carrie Fletcher - It Was Way Past My Bed Time

Ok, so Carrie, as many of you will probably know is the sister of Tom from McFly... and if you don't know who that is, he is the amazingly romantic guy who sang his wedding speech and shared it on YouTube and it went viral a few years ago. Ok??? Got it now??? Ok, so Carrie is Tom's sister, and she is a star in her own right. She plays a part in Les Mis on the West End in London and has the biggest and best personality a person could have. She is a tremendous singer and often collaborates with her brother and others on her page, singing songs with just the accompaniment of her acoustic guitar. To say I LOVE HER is an understatement. Every time I watch her videos she just fills me with absolute joy. She is one of those people who was sent here to be kind and make the world a better place. You would be bonkers not to subscribe to her NOW!!! 

So there you go my lovelies. Another 5 Youtubers for you to get to know and hopefully subscribe to. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Youtube is a truly remarkable place, full of super talented people, all sharing a little part of their lives, and I feel truly blessed that I am able to enjoy and be part of that... I hope you do too. 

Take care lovelies. x

April Photo Challenge - Day 9 - "...Bright Lips..."

Hey lovelies,

Just another short post to update you with today's April Photo Challenge submission.

This was in no way, shape or form particularly challenging for me today as I am a sucker for bright and vibrant lipsticks... and any excuse to get my lippy on is a good thing in my book!

So I went with a lovely bright pink lip today... with a little bit of gloss over the top to make it pop! 

Hope you all like it. 

Take care my lovelies. x

Spring Make-Up Tag

Hey there lovely people, 

So I didn't post yesterday as it ended up being a super busy day spent with my niece and nephew, so today I bring to you another Tag and this time it's all about Spring Make-Up... my new favourite topic. So without further ado, here is the tag.

1. Do you change up your makeup when Spring arrives? If so, please explain how?
As I've explained in previous posts, until recently I was very much in the dark about most make-up trends. However, I was always very conscious about keeping my makeup quite light and fresh in the warmer months, and experimented a bit more with deeper, darker colours in the colder, winter months and this continues to be the case.

2. What’s your fave Spring fragrance?
This is an absolute no brainer, it's my favourite fragrance for every season of the year - Just Pink from Next. 

3. What’s going to be your fave accessory this Spring?
I'm super into necklaces & chains again - exploring old costume jewellery I had locked away and forgotten about. So I think a few more purchases might be in order as like earrings, it really does add a little something more to your outfit. As well as that I'm thinking about finally investing in a pair of Ray-Bans. 

4. What’s going to be your most worn item of clothing this Spring?
Mmmm... Probably anything Coral! I'm absolutely loving that colour right now so yeah, probably that. 

5. What are your Top 3 fave Spring nail polishes?
Ok, so I have a Coral shade (did I mention that I like coral) from Sinful Colors which I adore, but I'm also loving the shade Hip Hop from Rimmel and Brompton Place from Nails Inc. They are all super bright and cheerful colours.

6. Do you prefer pumps or sandals in Spring?
Pumps definitely - Scotland is not really warm enough in the Spring to wear sandals. 

7. What's your fave lipstick colour for Spring?
Well red is always my fave and I think it's quite an easy colour to wear in all seasons... but I am loving peachy shades right now too.

8.  Are you a fake tanner or do you prefer the natural sunkissed look?
I am completely hopeless at applying fake tan... not to mention I have quite pigmented skin, so it doesn't go on well anyway... So the natural sunkissed look is the one for me!

9. What is your favourite drugstore and high end Spring inspired piece of makeup?
Fave drugstore make-up at the minute is the MUA lipsticks... they are like £1 and there are loads of beautiful fresh spring colours to choose from, including the Peachy Keen Matte Lipstick I was referring to before. My fave high end piece would have to be my Bare Minerals Powder - It's feels super nice and light on the skin and gives me a fresh and healthy complexion. I love it!

10. What's your fave Spring colour this season & do you have your eye on any specific clothing pieces?
So as I said earlier and several times in previous posts, I love coral this spring! It's just such a beautiful and vibrant colour without being too in your face. I love how even somebody like me, with very pale skin, suits it. Whether it's on my nails or a piece of clothing... It is the ultimate spring colour for me! 

Ok so there's my Spring Make-Up Tag for all you lovely people... why don't you get involved and do your own.

Take care lovelies. x

April Photo Challenge - Day 3 - "Brushes"

Hey lovely people!

Today's submission is "Brushes" and I shall keep it short and sweet as I've already done an immense amount of jabbering today. So here you go:

Take care lovelies! x

Vogue - May Edition - First Impressions

Hi there lovely people, 

So today, as explained in a previous post, is one of the most exciting days of my month... Vogue delivery day. I know that might seem a bit ridiculous to a lot of people, but I am a magazine freak and I can honestly say that I enjoy nothing more than relaxing on my couch with a cup of coffee and my magazine in hand. It's the absolute definition of blissful. In the 2 hours or so that it takes to read it from cover to cover, I am transported into a beautiful world filled with fashion and culture, and surrounded by every possible beauty accessory a girl could ever want. 

So anyway, onto this months edition. 

The May cover has been graced with none other than Kate Moss - her 3rd cover in the space of 12 months, prompting this months theme... "The Great British Model Takeover". 

So like myself, I'm sure a few of you would love to know a bit more about her "cover look" so here you go...

She is wearing: Beaded Jacket £225, Sequinned Chiffon Trapeze top £75 (Kate Moss Topshop).

Her makeup: Face - Rimmel Stay Blushed (Sunkissed Cherry), Lips - Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick (Latino).

Her hair: Kérastase - Mousse Bouffante, Kérastase - Spray a Porter Tousled Effect Spray.

Ok so enough about the cover - let's get into the content!

I will hit smack right in the face when I turned the first page to find, quite simply, the most fabulous bag I have ever seen (this often changes with each new edition). It is the Ralph Lauren "Ricky Chain Bag", and although it is shown in the image in red, it is in fact only available in black or white in the UK. 

Stunning eh??? The entire collection is inspire by Ralph's wife Ricky, hence the name. He describes the collection in the following way: "Classic to me means things that are timeless and enduring, the things that never go out of style" and let me tell you, there are not many women who would describe this as having no place in their collection. Timeless indeed.  

The second thing that caught my eye (before I even got to the contents page) was the Lady Dior Bag advert, brought to you through the effortlessly elegant Marion Cotillard(best known for blockbuster movies such as Inception and The Dark Knight Rises). 

These stunning images were taken by none other than Jean-Baptiste Mondino, the esteemed French Fashion Photographer and Music Video Director. And that bag... that ridiculously stylish and exquisite accessory, is available not only in that pop of fuchsia (Toxic Purple Lambskin), but another 11 styles and colours including "Green Tweed" and "Embroidered Satin". I've been unable to find a price for this item, but estimate that it be anything between £1500 and £2500 in the UK. 

This months edition also includes a tribute to the recently passed Beatrix Miller, the editor of British Vogue from 1964 to 1986. Being a photographer myself, one of the things she did (as well as revolutionising the magazine), was introduce and helped thrive, the careers of amazingly talented photographers such as David Bailey, Patrick Demarchelier (mentioned in my previous Vogue post), and Mario Testino. 

So onto one of the things I've now added to my beauty wishlist, and this item should be of no surprise to anyone due to my absolute adoration of Red lipstick. 

So last months Lip of choice was brought to you from Dolce & Gabbana's Classic Cream Lipstick, which has since been made available at Harrods. However, this months choice - Dior Addict Fluid Stick (the one coat do-it-all hybrid lip fluid) is screaming out at me and is already available for purchase in the UK at Debenhams for the meagre amount of £26! 

So I posted a few days ago about my fashion wishlist including a lot of floral prints right now, and this trend is confirmed as absolutely on the button on pages 69, 70 and 72, with the fashion editors choices ranging from an LK Bennett shift dress at £245 (1), a vibrant little silk number from Nina Ricci at £1980 (2), and a beautiful little silk piece from Stella McCartney at £920 (3).

I've also read one of the most outstanding pieces of writing in this edition. It is a piece written by Kate Gross, a cancer sufferer, tragically afflicted with a terminal form of the disease. In her article, she writes so eloquently about the place material items have in her life, and how she hasn't let her awful prognosis change the person that she is. It is truly a remarkable read, and you can read more from her on her blog at kateelizabethgross.wordpress.com.

Another of the beauty must-haves this month, is the new Tom Ford Eye & Cheek Palette. It boasts some gorgeous rose and peachy coral shades for the cheeks as well as a bold pop of cobalt blue for those eyes. It is utterly divine and can be found, of course, at Harrods for the rather high end cost of £68... but come on... it's Tom Ford!

The final few pieces I had added to my beauty wish list can be found on  the "20 Beauty Updates For Spring" article on page 231. Firstly is the new Burberry Nail Polish in Pale Yellow. It's only £15 and can be bought directly from the Burberry site.

My 2nd choice is the Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Gloss Stick in Coral Reef. You already know I have a thing for coral this spring, and this lip product is an absolute must-have for anybody with the same amount of love I have for this colour. It can be found at boots for £17, but there are several dupes available from the likes of Revlon, at a much cheaper cost if that's just too pricey.

And finally, and to finish up this super long post, I am adding the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Brow Loft Duo. This little genius tool is a brow pencil with 12 hours of staying power that shapes, fills and defines your brows, as well as brightening and creating a lift under the arch of your brow. I am really not very good at doing my brows and have been looking around for a product to help me perfect my brow skills, and this seems to be perfect. It is £19, comes in 4 different shades and can be bought directly from Estee Lauder.

Ok, so I apologies for this rather lengthy post, but this months Vogue was definitely worthy of all of these words. If you've made it to the end (I commend you) and you're not completely bored out of your mind,  then you should really go and buy yourself a copy as there is sooooo much more content I haven't even touched on. But anyway, enough from me for the minute... but remember I will be posting again later with today's Photo Challenge submission. I promise it will not be Vogue related!

Take care lovelies. x

April Photo Challenge - Day 1 - "What I Used..."

Hey lovely people! 

Starting from today, I have decided to take part in a photo-a-day challenge for April, created by the lovely Alice from the blog Super Gorgeous.

I have always wanted to do one of these challenges, not only because they are fun but because it encourages me to get my camera out EVERYDAY as opposed to just when I'm working, and it's a chance to really hone my skills and try to be as creative as possible with my daily entries. 

So on that note, here is the monthly challenge in all it's glory, along with today's submission.

Face - BodyShop Moisturising Foundation, Sheer Cover Concealer, Victoria Jackson Blusher, Avon Pressed Powder
Eyes - MUA Undress Me Too Palette, NO7 Brown Eyeliner
Lips - MUA Matte Peachy Keen, Carmex Lip Balm
Nails - Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby, Rimmel Finishing Touch Ultra Shine

This may seem like a lot of makeup for one face - but my foundation gives a very sheer finish and the powder I use is almost translucent. The eyeshadow can be as light or heavy as I want, all I have to do is build up the colour, and add as much or as little of my eyeliner. The peach matte lipstick is so subtle that it improves the natural colour of the lips and makes them look fuller. 

As you can see, it's not super heavy. It's really more of an everyday look, easy to do and effective enough that my skin isn't exactly bare, but certainly not caked in products. 

Anyway,  just so you know, you can expect an extra post each day, showcasing that days photo challenge, with a short description of how the photo came about, much like this post.

Take care lovelies. x