Beauty Fashion Lifestyle

Thursday 26 February 2015

My 'Body Shop' Wishlist


The Body Shop have really upped their game over the past couple of years, what with there being such a wide range of products and scents available! They have bought out a lot of new & innovative products and they have been ever so popular, some of them have even become cult products within the blogging community (the Instablur primer and Honey bronzer immediately spring to mind!) So today, I decided to hop online in order to suss out which products I would like to pick up from The Body Shop in the near future. Therefore, I then wanted to create my very own wishlist to share with all of you! 

Satsuma Hand Cream (£3.50) - My hands are very dry at the moment due to the cold weather and I really need to invest in a new hand cream. I chose the satsuma version as it is my all time favourite scent from The Body Shop, so I'll be bound to use it often!

Shea Body Butter (£13.00) - Of course, everybody knows that The Body Shop's body butters are seriously amazing and I have never tried the shea one before, I think that it's nutty and sweet scent will feel really luxurious too.

Smoky Poppy Massage Oil (£14.00) - The new smoky poppy range has intrigued me. I can imagine it being quite a musky and sexy scent, so it would be perfect to use during a massage with your partner! I'm hoping to catch a whiff of it in store very soon.

Honey Bronzer in Fair Matte (£13.00) - As I mentioned before, everybody raves about how amazing this bronzer is and I really want to try it. I think that the second lightest shade will suit my skin tone perfectly.

Pink Grapefruit Body Butter (£13.00) - Similarly to the shea version, I feel that I will really enjoy the zesty and sweet pink grapefruit scent - especially as we enter into spring and summer too!

Raspberry Shower Gel (£4.00)The Body Shop's shower gels are very affordable and some of the best out there! Fruity scents are really uplifting in the mornings, they make me enjoy showering in the mornings. Plus, the gorgeous scent then lingers on your skin!

Lip & Cheek Velvet Stick in Poppy Nude (£12.00) - This is one of The Body Shop's newest releases and it looks amazing. This is the product that I most want to get my hands on! Not only is it a 2-in-1 product but I'm really into nude lips at the moment, so this shade looks perfect for me.

So guys, those are all of the items currently included in my wishlist! What do you think of them? What are your favourite products from The Body Shop? Please let me know by leaving a comment below, I love hearing your recommendations!

Monday 23 February 2015

4 Ways To Relax At Night Time


Setting aside some time to relax each day can prove to be quite difficult for those with busy lives. However, it is crucial that we all have some time to ourselves every now and then in order to unwind and de-stress. So today, I wanted to share four of my favourite ways to relax at the end of the day that keep me calm and also allow me to get a good nights sleep too! Let's get started. 

1. Read a book
One of the best ways to unwind after a long and stressful day is to read a book. It is a well-known fact that delving into a bit of fiction allows your brain to switch off from all of the hectic things going on in your own life. It's so fun to escape your own troubles for a while and fully immerse yourself into a great storyline!

2. Light a candle
Lighting a scented candle in the evening is another great way to relax. There's something about dimmed light and the subtle sound of a flickering flame that is soooo soothing! It creates such a lovely ambiance and it also feels pretty romantic too, which is great if you are planning to have a cosy and chilled night in with your loved one!

3. Have a Lush bath
This is probably known as the most clichéd way to relax but taking a nice, long soak in the bath is a really great way to unwind. I love using Lush products as they are a lovely treat and they make bath time so much more fun, what with all of the different scents and colours! You could also listen to your favourite music to set the mood and turn your bathroom into your own private sanctuary. To pamper yourself even further, why not apply a face mask too?

4. Use a pillow spray
Last but not least, using a pillow spray before you go to bed is a great way to relax your mind and make you ready to hit the hay after a tiring day. Just a few spritzes on your pillow is all you need! I really recommend the 'Deep Sleep Pillow Spray' by This Works, as it contains three essential oils (including lavender and chamomile) which our renound for helping you drift off at night time.

So, those are my top 4 ways to relax at night time. All four of these techniques really do make a difference and they definitely make me feel a lot calmer and rejuvenated! I hope that some of you may find these ideas helpful, as it is so hard to combat stress these days. Do you have any techniques on how to unwind yourself? Please let me know by leaving a comment below, I would love to hear your suggestions and how they differ from mine!

Thursday 19 February 2015

My All Time Favourite Blog Posts

Yesterday, I was thinking about when I first started my blog back in 2013 and how even though I still have a tiny amount of followers (although that doesn't really matter to me,) my blog and its content has progressed drastically over the last two years. I never used to edit my photos to make them more aesthetically pleasing, my posts were seldom original and they just didn't have enough detail at all. As well as this, my writing style has come on leaps and bounds - it is way better than it used to be! Consequently, I have found myself scrolling back through my blog and discovering a few posts that I am really proud of. Therefore, today, I wanted to share my all time favourite blog posts that I have ever written with you all today. Think of it as a little blast from the past if you will!

1. 'Love, Tanya' Book Review
First up is one of my more recent posts, a review of Tanya Burr's new book. The reason why I am proud of this particular post is that it shows how my photography has improved over time, I am paying much more attention to detail and how to make the composition of the image prettier and more appealing.

2. Easter Baking: Creme Egg Brownies
I think the reason as to why this is one of my favourite posts is pretty obvious... these brownies are indulgent and down right delicious! Although I didn't create the recipe myself, I was so happy with the end result. Normally, my work only gets recognition from other bloggers but even some friends and family read this post and used the recipe as well, which felt very rewarding!

3. Rimmel Provocalips Lip Colour Review
This review of the Provocalips lip colours from Rimmel is my most read blog post ever, so I had to include it mainly for that reason alone! However, I am also proud of how informative this post was, as I went into as much detail as I could to review the product to my readers.

4. Benefit's 'Do The Bright Thing' Beauty Kit
This is one of my favourite product reviews I have ever written because it so in depth. I do believe that is also my lengthiest review too! There were so many aspects to this Benefit beauty kit and I really enjoyed testing each product out. Plus, it was given to me as a birthday present too - which means that it was even more exciting and special to write about!

I hope you all enjoyed reading about my all time favourite blog posts and why I was proud of each one. What is your favourite blog post that you have ever written? Leave me a link to it below and I'll be sure to check it out!

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Daisy Dreamin'


Hi guys, apologies for not blogging in over a week now! Unfortuantely, my computer went in for repair and I have only just gotten it back. It's safe to say that I didn't realise how much I would miss not having access to a keyboard for a week, I have been going stir crazy! With that being said, however, I am now completely ready to get back into the swing of blogging once again.

The other week, my parents went on holiday to Jersey and purchased me a brand spanking new bottle of perfume whilst in duty free - Marc Jacobs' 'Daisy Dream.' I have been a huge fan of Marc Jacobs for a while now, after already having both the 'Honey' and original 'Daisy' perfumes in my collection. So, I was pretty certain that I would love this new addition to my perfume collection too... and boy, was I right!

'Daisy Dream' is a gorgeously light and subtle fragrance that is perfect for every day wear, although I can imagine that it will smell even more amazing as we enter into the spring and summer months too. It totally has that airy, ethereal kind of vibe to it! This is because as well as it being quite a floral fragrance, it also has some more fruity elements to it too. It truly is a wonderful combination of everything that I look for in a perfume to be honest!


Here is a full list of the notes and scents that feature within 'Daisy Dream': 

Top Notes - blackberry, grapefruit & pear
Heart Notes - jasmine, lychee & blue wisteria
Base Notes - white woods, musks & coconut water


In addition to mentioning how lovely the scent itself is, I would also like to touch on its amazing packaging too! The same as with any other Marc Jacobs perfume, this bottle is to die for. I am obsessed with the simplistic yet beautiful flowers that surround the top and the lid of the bottle! I think its pretty safe to say that this is going to look so special on my shelf where I keep the rest of my perfumes in my bedroom.

This lovely eau de toilette is available in three different sizes: 30ml for £38.50, 50ml for £51.50 and 100ml for £69.50 (all prices are according to the Boots website.) If you love the fragrance as much as I do, you could also purchase a matching shower gel or body lotion too. Alternatively, you could just buy the amazing gift set for a fantastic £54.00, which would make for a wonderful gift for a loved one - or as a treat to yourself!

Overall, whether you are looking into buying Daisy Dream for yourself or for a friend, I would highly recommend it! It is just the most fruity and floral fragrance, yet it is incredibly subtle and sophisticated at the same time. It's a must buy in my eyes!

Sunday 8 February 2015

Topshop Lovin'


I have spent a lot of time this week lusting over several items on the Topshop website. Therefore, today, I thought that I would share some of my favourite picks with you and create a little wish list! In recent months, I have found myself not liking much of Topshop's stock but they have seriously upped their game in my eyes since the New Year. As you can probably see, I am really loving a mixture of monochrome, simplistic items as well as some green and blue hues too. Now, without any further ado, let's get straight into my top picks!

90's Tile Printed Crop Cami - £20.00
I am a huge lover of any crop top and so this is right up my alley! I barely have any green pieces in my wardrobe, if any, and so I think that this top would be a nice addition to it. Plus, I think that the tiled pattern is very unique and different to anything else that I own! 

Vintage Mom Shorts - £28.00
I have been after a new pair of high waisted shorts for a while now and these ones look lovely! I love a great pair of denim hotpants as they are so versatile and you can pair them with absolutely anything. They are a wardrobe essential!

Semi Precious Bracelet - £6.50
I love dainty and simple jewellery as I have tiny wrists, therefore, chunky bangles etc are just not for me. The main thing that I love about this particular bracelet is that it has a little pop of colour; which would add a little something extra to any outfit! 

Black Watch Scarf - £22.00
I am obsessed with this scarf; it's definitely my favourite item in this wishlist! I, like everybody else, love tartan scarves and the purple and green combination of this one is really unique in my opinion. 

Berners Tote Bag - £38.00
When it comes to handbags, I like them plain and simple. So, this one is perfect for me! You can never go wrong with a plain black bag and it goes with absolutely everything, which means you never have to worry about swapping bags either.

Petite Geometric Panel Bodycon Dress - £30.00
Last but not least, bodycon dresses are my absolute favourite because they suit my petite frame really well. I think that this would be a great all-rounder to wear both in the day or the evening, depending on how you style it. Plus, the black panels will be super slimming too!

So guys, those are the six items that I am loving from Topshop at the moment. As I said before, they have some amazing pieces in at the moment, so make sure to pop into a store or check out their website! Do you like my picks? What items are you lusting after at the moment? As usual, please let me know by leaving a comment below!

Thursday 5 February 2015

Kiss-Proof Valentines Day Lips


As all of you are aware, Valentines Day is next Saturday and so today I thought that I would share one of my favourite lip products that would be perfect to wear on the day. Bourjois' Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick has been a firm favourite amongst beauty bloggers, including myself, ever since its release and there's a reason for that...it's amazing! Not only does this liquid lipstick/lip stain hybrid glide seamlessly onto your lips but it stays put all day too!

The formulation is one of my favourite things about this product. Upon immediate application, it feels very glossy and buttery on the lips but then after a few minutes, it will dry down to a matte finish. Usually, matte finishes have the reputation of being very drying on the lips  but this one is still very comfortable to wear. Also, as it is matte, it is incredibly long-wearing and it also slightly stains the lips. So, it will last even whilst you are eating or having a cheeky kiss!

The colour that I have chosen to show you today is 'Personne ne Rouge,' which is a gorgeous true red shade and is therefore perfect for a Valentines Day themed make-up look. However, if you like the sound of this product but do not like this particular shade, there are plenty of others to choose from! A few other popular shades within the range are; Hot Pepper, Pink Ping and Nude-ist!

Overall, the Rouge Edition Velvet range is an excellent choice of product for Valentines Day. It is long-lasting, the colours have amazing pigmentation and they are comfortable to wear too! All in all, what's not to love?! Regardless of whether you are celebrating the day with your loved one or if your simply hanging out with your girl friends, I hope that you all have a wonderful day! 

Have you tried this product before? What did you think of it? What are your plans for Valentines Day? Please let me know by leaving a comment below!

Monday 2 February 2015

My One And Only January Favourite


This month, I only have one January favourite for you all - and that's my Naked 2 palette! For some reason, as I was raiding my beauty stash to pick out this months favourites (I usually pick 5,) nothing really stood out to me aside from this one product. Ever since I received this palette for Christmas, I have been using it non-stop ever since! I have only recently converted to being an eyeshadow lover after thinking for so long that it just didn't suit me but boy, was I wrong! It turns out that all I needed was a high quality palette, some decent brushes and a little bit of patience.

Even though I'm sure all of you have seen countless reviews of the Naked 2 palette in the past, I still wanted to share my own opinion of it too. Being a blondie with blue eyes, initially I was not sure which of the three Urban Decay palettes to go for. However, a helpful shop assistant said that she thought that the cool tones of the second palette would suit me perfectly and I definitely agree with her!




My two favourite things about this palette is the amazing pigmentation of the colours, as well as how blendable they are! They glide onto my lids like a dream and stay put all day, providing I use one of the four samples of their infamous eyeshadow primers, which were provided with the palette.

So far, my favourite colours to wear in the daytime are Bootycall (all over the lid) and Tease (in the crease.) Simply using these two shades creates a lovely and subtle look that isn't too in your face! When it comes to a more dramatic look, I have been reaching for the shade Verve accompanied with either Pistol or YDK. Of course, I love all of the twelve colours but these ones just stand out to me a lot!

Overall, this palette definitely deserves to be my one and only January favourite! It's just amazing and it really has transformed the way that I apply my make-up and the looks that I can create! What are your monthly favourites? Do you own any of the Naked palettes? Please, as always, let me know by leaving a comment below!