Zoeva's En Taupe Palette

Ever since I received my Naked 2 palette last Christmas, I have become truly obsessed with eyeshadow! This year, I have built up quite the collection of both palettes and individual shadows. So, when my boyfriend asked me to send him over a few links for Christmas presents a while back, I just had to add this gorgeous palette from Zoeva into the mix. Much to my joy, the En Taupe Palette appeared underneath my Christmas tree and I couldn't be happier!

Although I haven't actually worn these shadows yet, I am already very impressed with this palette. It is perfect for any of my fellow cool-toned eyeshadow lovers out there! I feel like there are sooo many well-loved, warm-toned palettes out there but high quality cooler toned ones are a little harder to come by in my personal opinion! Plus, at just £15.50, this is one of the most affordable palettes on the market. 

Another thing that I really like about this palette is its packaging! Not only is it beautifully designed but it would be great for travelling too, as it is so lightweight and compact!

As far as the actual shades in the palette go, I would definitely use all ten of them! Normally, with every palette I own, there are a few shades that I never really reach for but I feel that all ten of these shades will suit my complexion perfectly. After some swatching, however, I have decided that my favourite shades so far are; Gallery (a matte taupe,) Wrapped In Silk (a shimmery light grey) and Exquisite (a matte, muted plum.) It has the perfect ratio of both matte and shimmery shades so that you can create countless different looks in my opinion!

Overall, even though I haven't actually worn the shadows yet (I will be sure to update you on their wear and longevity,) I think that this palette is pretty impressive given its super affordable price point. The pigmentation is fairly good for a lower end palette (a few shadows could be a little stronger in colour) but even then, they still blend well and are pretty buildable anyway. So, if you're on the market for a new cool-toned palette to take you into the New Year, why not try out this palette from Zoeva? I bet you won't regret it!

Sparkling Snow

If you haven't got your hands on a Christmas candle yet and you're popping out today to pick up some last minute presents, why not treat yourself and your home to this gorgeous festive themed candle? Sparkling Snow is definitely my favourite offering from Yankee Candle this year and here are the reasons why... 

I find that many Christmas candles can be very overpowering; plus, it seems that choosing a yuletide scent is near on impossible nowadays - unless you love the smell of cinnamon or sugar cookies. To me, super sweet or spicy scents are quite a lot to handle, especially when there will be plenty of other smells occupying your house on the big day (mainly the delectable roast dinner cooking away in the kitchen!) So as you can imagine, when I picked up Sparkling Snow, I was pleasantly surprised by its subtle yet wintery fragrance!  

Yankee Candle simply describe this candle as the 'crisp scent of snow-covered pines' and I couldn't agree more! It is such a wonderful fresh scent which slowly fills the room rather than all at once like some of their more traditional Christmas candles do. I have actually picked up this candle for my boyfriends Mum as she loves Yankee Candles and I thought this would be a welcome addition to her collection. Candles make wonderful gifts and I think this one in particular would go down a storm with most people for two main reasons. Firstly, it is quite subtle and therefore quite a universal scent and secondly, as it is a white coloured candle, it will go with absolutely anybody's home decor! 

So if you're looking for a last minute gift for a relative or if you simply want to buy something for your home before Christmas tomorrow, then be sure to check out this candle if you are out and about in town today. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed! Also, I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas Day tomorrow and be sure to check back soon for even more posts!

Last Minute Gifts with The Body Shop

The Body Shop have some amazing gifts out this year and I have been meaning to blog about them for a little while now! Whilst I was browsing their website again this evening, I saw that The Body Shop had guaranteed delivery before the big day if you ordered up to the 22nd of December - which is perfect if you need to order any last minute gifts! So with that in mind, I thought that I would show you all some of the best gifts in the collection that caught my eye.

Soft Hands, Warm Kisses (£7.00) is such an affordable set which includes both a hand cream and a lip balm in one of stores most classic scents, Shea Butter. It would make a great stocking filler or secret Santa present!

If you wanted to opt for something a little more luxurious, the Red Musk Eau De Toilette Gift Set (£30.00) is perfect for any fragrance lovers in your life. I can imagine this scent to be very sultry and sexy, so it would be great to give to your special someone.

This adorable heart shaped gift set is another great option. The Nutty Body Butter Sweethearts (£12.00) contain three of The Body Shop's most coveted body butters; Shea, Moringa and Wild Argan Oil.

Now, we can't forget about the men in our lives and so this Modern Gents Shaving Kit (£25.00) would probably be up most peoples alley. Although it is a beauty product, it is very practical and so most mean would definitely appreciate this gift in my opinion!

This adorable Bear Sponge (£4.00) would be yet another great stocking filler item. There are a few other animal sponges you can pick up too (a robin and an owl,) so there is plenty of variety depending on who you are buying for. 

The Glazed Apple Feel Good Tin (£17.00) is the gift that I would most like to receive myself! I have smelt the new Glazed Apple range in store a few times and it is so delicious and unique! This set contains a shower gel, shimmer lotion, body butter and a sugar scrub. 

Strawberry Treats (£6.00) is yet another perfect item to buy as part of a Secret Santa present. It is super affordable and you can never really go wrong with a shower gel and body lotion combo!

Last but certainly not least is this lovely Coconut Festive Picks (£18.00) set. This is one of my favourite Body Shop scents as it so classic and the body butter in particular nourishes my skin so well. Plus, who could resist the super cute packaging that this gift come in?

So, those are the eight gifts that I really wanted to mention in this post. I tried to cater for every type of budget too, hopefully there is something in there for everyone! Which gift caught your eye the most? Have you bought any gift sets for your friends and family this year? Please let me know, as always, by leaving a comment below and... happy shopping!

My All Time Favourite Bath Duo

Lush Cosmetics' products make quite a regular appearance here on my blog because as most of you will already know, I have well and truly become a Lush addict over the past two years! There is nothing I enjoy more than treating myself to a colourful and delicious smelling bath in the evening after a long day at work. Not only does it relax me but it also allows me to have some quiet time to myself in order to reflect on my day. 

Two of my favourite products that I like to use as part of my pamper routine are The Comforter Bubble Bar and the matching Shower Cream. I love them both individually as well but they work even better in conjunction with each other! The scent of The Comforter is a sweet blackcurrant smell - reminiscent of a Fruit Pastilles ice lolly that I used to have when I was younger. It is just soooo yummy! The main ingredients used to create both products are cassis absolute, bergamont oil and cypress oil. 

The bubble bar creates lots of lovely bubbles when you crumble a piece of it under a running tap. It turns your bath water a gorgeous pink colour, which makes the experience even more girly and enjoyable! One thing I love about The Comforter is that is much bigger in size than most of Lush's other bubble bars, which means that you get plenty of baths out of one bar - which is great considering that it only costs £4.95!

Similarly, the matching shower cream lathers up really well and a little bit of product goes a long way. In the past, I have only purchased a mini 100g bottle and that lasts me for at least a month. Therefore, this time I went for the next size up (250g,) so I am sure that this bottle will last me for absolutely ages too! Unlike most of Lush's shower products, The Comforter has a creamy formula instead of being a regular shower gel, which means that is a way more moistursing for your skin. I also love how the scent lingers for hours on both my skin and in my bathroom, purely because I can just never get enough of this lovely sweet yet fruity scent!

If you haven't tried either of these products yet and you're a huge fan of Lush or you love sugary scents, then I would highly recommend this duo to you! If you do check them out, please let me know what you think of them by leaving a comment down below!

MAC's Grand Galaxy Extra Dimension Eyeshadow

Whilst out picking up the last couple of Christmas gifts that I needed to buy for my friends and family, I decided to treat myself to an eyeshadow from MAC that I had been lusting after for long time! I use my Naked palettes pretty much religiously when I want to create an evening make-up look but to be honest, I am getting a little bored of the same old smokey eye that I always tend to gravitate towards. It's definitely my go-to look simply because I know that it works for me! 

So, on Friday, I picked up the ever so gorgeous 'Grand Galaxy' (£16.00) from MAC's Extra Dimension collection. Although upon first glance it looks like a typical shade that I would go for, it is actually the must beautiful iridescent lilac eyeshadow ever! I love it because it's still incredibly neutral and wearable; however, it's mixture of violet, blue and silver tones makes for the most stunning metallic shift when your eye catches the light. Of course, this was really hard for me to capture in a photo, so be sure to go into your local MAC store to swatch this bad boy for yourself! This shadow can also be applied both wet or dry depending how intense and glittery you want it to appear on your lids.

I'm not too sure how long wearing this shadow is yet because I haven't worn it for long enough but if its anything like MAC's classic eyeshadow range, I'm sure they will last amazingly - especially if you use a primer as well!

I cannot wait to wear this shadow properly on a night out or for a special occasion, especially now that we are well and truly into the festive party season! I'm like a magpie when it comes to sparkly eyeshadows too, so I am glad to have finally added 'Grand Galaxy' to my collection. Do you own any of MAC's Extra Dimension eyeshadows? What is your go to party look? As always, please let me know what you think of this product and my review by leaving a comment down below!

Selfridges Luxury Christmas Gift Ideas

We all love a little bit of luxury every now and then and I love browsing Selfridges' website online, looking through and lusting over all of the high-end beauty brands that they stock! As you can imagine, now that we are in the run up to Christmas, I have been doing this quite a lot lately and so I thought why not make a mini Christmas gift guide showing you some of the best festive gift sets on offer right now! Of course, these products do not come cheap, so they would perfect to add to your Christmas list or to buy for a loved one if your budget can allow it! Within this little gift guide, there a few slightly more affordable options as well as some extravagant ones thrown in there for good measure too. So, here are the six gift sets featured in today's post;

Tom Ford Lip Colour Set / Urban Decay Vice 4 Eyeshadow Palette / Charlotte Tilbury K.i.s.s.i.n.g Mini Lipstick Trio / Jo Malone Cologne Intense Collection / Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Gift Set / Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effect Mascara Gift Set

As I'm sure you would agree, all of these sets look absolutely amazing - everything from the packaging to the products themselves scream all things luxurious and fancy! I, for one, would loooove to find any of these beauties underneath my tree on Christmas morning! Please let me know which of these gifts you would love to receive the most by leaving a comment below and remember to come back soon to check out more festive themed posts all throughout December!

The Big Bang Bubble Bar!

If you love zesty and fresh scents, then this new bubble bar from Lush is just the thing for you! Personally, the fruity scents from Lush are my absolute favourite alongside the sweeter, candy-like ones such as the 'Creamy Candy Bubble Bar.' Although I do love a good old-fashioned bath bomb every once in a while, I have a serious love for bubble bars because they are much more moisturising and nourishing on your skin! Sure, they might not be all fizzy and exciting but they still smell delicious and leave your bath water a pretty colour too.

Big Bang (£3.75) is one of the newer bubble bars Lush have added to their permanent collection and I have been loving it so far. It has the most uplifting grapefruit, tangerine and lemon scent - which is a perfect combination for me. One of the other main ingredient featured in 'Big Bang' is avocado butter, which of course will leave your skin feeling super soft and hydrated. As for the colour of the bath water once you have crumbled it under a running tap to produce the bubbles, it goes a wonderful shade of blue!

I can quickly see this bubble bar becoming one of my new favourites (my current favourites are Brightside, The Comforter and Candy Mountain!) Fruity fragrances are my ultimate weakness and I will definitely be buying 'Big Bang' again once I get through my current stash of Lush goodies! I would love to know what your favourite Lush products are and if you have any recommendation for me; so please feel free to leave a comment down below!

My Latest MAC Purchases

Hey guys! Sorry that I've been a little quiet on the blogging front recently but I have really been struggling both motivation and inspiration-wise lately. However, not to worry because I'm now back and ready to show you all the latest additions to my MAC Cosmetics collection. In the past, I was a lover of bright and bold lip colours but throughout the course of this year, I have been opting for nude shades over colourful ones almost every time! I'm not quite sure whats gotten into me but I am just really into more natural, understated hues right now. So, because I was using 'Velvet Teddy' to death, I thought that I would pick up another new nude shade to add to my ever-growing lipstick collection.

After a lot of swatching and trying on with an assistant in the store, I stumbled upon 'Faux' and instantly fell in love with it! Think of it as a much pinky and slightly paler version of 'Velvet Teddy.' What I love about this lipstick in particular is how well it compliments my eyes and my cool-toned complexion. This is also my first satin finish lipstick from MAC and it feels really creamy and moisturising compared to the matte finish of 'Velvet Teddy.' Of course, a creamier consistency is a much better choice to go with during winter too because it doesn't accentuate any dry patches or flakiness on your lips.

To go with the lipstick, the assistant also suggested purchasing a Pro Longwear lip pencil in the shade 'Cultured' to go with it. She applied both products on my lips to show me what the finished result would look like and I thought that it looked even more amazing than before. Even though in the swatch below the two products look quite different in colour, they go so well together and make my lips look plumper and thicker! As it is a pro product, the lip liner is super soft and glides on perfectly without any dragging or tugging at my lip line.

(Left: Faux Satin Lipstick - Right: Cultured Pro Longwear Lip Pencil)

Overall, I am really pleased with these new purchases and I have been wearing this lip combination almost every day because I just love it so much. I get so excited every time that I get to add another MAC product to my make-up collection and these two items were no exception! After testing them out for a few weeks now, I would highly recommend these shades as they are very wearable and comfortable on the lips. So, next time you are passing by a MAC store, why not pop in and give these products a go? You definitely won't regret it!

Life Lately #2

Hi guys and welcome back to the second installment my 'Life Lately' series. If any of you read my first one all the way back in July, you would know that I used to do a lot of Instagram updates but too often I found that I never had enough photos to share. So, instead, I have decided to just do the occasional update when I feel that I have some fun things to share with all of you. Of course, if you would like to keep updated between these posts, feel free to give me a follow on Instagram here! Anyway, here's what I have been up to lately...

1. This photo is with my friend Yasmin when we were out for a friends birthday. Unfortunately, I didn't get any clear photos of my make-up after I got ready but I went for a classic grey shimmery eye with plenty of lashes and glowy skin!

2. Me and the girls have been making a concious effort to get together on a more regular basis. At this age, I've found that we are all so busy that sometimes it's hard to get everybody together on the same day. However, we have been going to our favourite breakfast cafe a lot lately in order to catch up and enjoy some yummy food whilst we're at it!

3. One lazy Saturday afternoon, Kieran (my boyfriend) and I decided to make some brownies as a treat. We wanted to make them even more exciting and decadent, so we added Rolos into the mixture. As you can imagine, they were deliciously gooey and the caramel from the Rolos made them soooo good!

4. This photo is before another night out with my fellow blondies, Yasmin and Sarah. We went to our local indie/alternative club and had the best night, followed by a sleepover at my house.

5. Obviously I am a huge Lush fan all year round but of course, now that winter is upon us I'm having even more baths than usual. This time, I used the Intergalactic bath bomb which is full of the most crazy colours and glitter. I loved it so much that I had to take a photo!

6. This is a photo of Kieran's family's new kitten called Esmée. She is an adorable grey tabby cat! I manged to get this cute photograph of her whilst she was napping just in time, before she woke up and started playing with all of her toys again!

7. If you have been reading my blog for a long time, you will know that I have suffered with anxiety since I was about 10 years old. After being in counselling for the last few years, I have conquered one of my biggest fears which is eating out in restaurants. I always knew that this fear was irrational and I am so glad that I am getting better at it. This was actually mine and Kieran's first sit down lunch in public and I'm so glad that I could share my accomplishment with him!

8. Me and my friend Lucy went out for Halloween and it was a really lovely night. I had so much fun experimenting with my makeup look for this and I opted for a super dark MAC lipstick and a smokey cat eye. I went as a stereotypical black cat and Lucy went as a skeleton.

9. This week I got my first Christmas Costa drink of the festive season! I opted for a Caramel Fudge hot chocolate and it was so tasty. I love the themed cups at this time of year, so I just had to take a snap of my first one of the year!

So, that's it for the second of my 'Life Lately' posts. I hope you enjoyed seeing what I have gotten up to since the last post. Be sure to check back soon for another new installment!

Christmas Gifts For Beauty Lovers

Today's post is for the hardcore beauty lovers out there! As we are in November now, I can finally start creating some Christmas gift guides without looking far too eager because truth be told, I have been excited about the festive season for at least a month already! I absolutely love buying gifts for my friends & family and I get so much satisfaction out of picking out the perfect present for each of my loved ones. I have a few super girly-girls in my life and so they were the main inspiration for my first post! I love some of the products featured in this post so much that they are even on my own wishlist (aka the Zoeva palette and the Stila liquid lip set.) Furthermore, without any further ado, here are some quick links to the items from my first Christmas gift guide of the year!

Zoeva En Taupe Eyeshadow Palette / Cowshed Christmas Cracker / Clinique Get The Skinny Eye Set / Soap & Glory Three Times Butter / MAC Enchanted Eve Brush Bag / Victoria Secret VS Stripe Make-Up Bag / Stila Eternally Yours Liquid Lipstick Set

So guys, those are the gifts I have chosen to feature in my first guide of the year! The prices for these gift range from a super affordable £8 to a more luxurious £45, therefore, hopefully there is something here to suit your budget! What do you think? Which products stand out to you and what is on your Christmas wishlist this year? Please let me know by leaving a comment down below!

A Mini Christmas Lush Haul

Lush products are a regular feature here on my blog nowadays and so it was pretty obvious that a Christmas haul was coming at some point! So, with my first pay packet from my new job, I decided to treat myself to a few bits and bobs. Of course, I could have gone absolutely crazy in store and put soooo many things in my basket but alas, I refrained. Although, I will definitely going back to pick up some more products in the near future as I have a lot of baths during the winter months. Clearly I was unintentionally going for some kind of pink & white theme during my latest visit too - oops! Anyhow, here are the few products that I chose to get my winter stash started...

Magic Wand Reusable Bubble Bar - £5.25
Even though the Magic Wand is a really popular item at Christmas time, I have never tried it before! However, I love anything that has a 'Snow Fairy' or candy-like scent, so this reusable bubble bar is right up my alley. The bell and ribbon make this product super cute and exciting to use as well. I cannot wait to have a sweet smelling bubble bath with this one!

So White Bath Bomb - £3.65
This is another bath bomb released in previous years that I am yet to try! The main reason why I was so attracted to 'So White' is because of it's unusual apple scent. It is so fresh and makes a nice change to the sweeter smells that I tend to lean towards at this time of year! It may not be the most colourful or exciting looking product of the bunch but I cannot wait to try it out nonetheless!

Razzle Dazzle Bath Oil - £2.00
I have used one of Lush's bath oils before in one of their Oxford Street exclusive gift sets that a friend bought me for my birthday and I loved it. So, I wanted to pick up 'Razzle Dazzle' to see if it made my skin feel just as smooth as the previous one did! It has a gorgeous fruity scent made up of raspberries, bergamot and lime. Plus, it has plenty of different oils to nourish and moisturise your skin!

Candy Mountain Bubble Bar - £2.95
'Candy Mountain' is one of my all time favourite bubble bars, right behind my number one Lush product 'The Comforter.' It has the most gorgeous vanilla and candyfloss scent which I adore, it's almost good enough to eat! It turns your water a pretty pastel pink colour and the silver, sparkly lustre leaves your skin with a subtle shimmer too!

Star Dust Bath Bomb - £2.95
Last but certainly not least is this super cute and festive bath bomb. 'Star Dust' predominantly has a vanilla scent to it with a hint of both bergamot and rosewood oils. To me, its shape and dusting of silver glitter just screams Christmas! After having a look on the website too (which now shows videos of the products being used,) it seems to have lots of little multi-coloured star confetti inside it, which is released as your bath bomb fizzes away in the water. How amazing and festive is that?!

Overall, I am so excited to have gotten my hands on a couple of Christmas products and I cannot wait until I can go back and pick up some more! I am really looking forward to bath time now, knowing that I have plenty of new items to try out. Have you picked up any of Lush's Christmas range yet? If not, will any of it be on your Christmas list? Let me know by leaving a comment down below!

A Vampy High End & Drugstore Lip Combo

For a couple of weeks, I had been searching for the perfect vampy lipstick to wear as part of my Halloween costume and now... my search is over. Say hello the the most gorgeous dark purple lip combination from MAC and Barry M! I really wanted to find a matte lipstick for my night out because they are usually a lot more long-wearing and fuss free than a more more glossy and moisturising formula. In the past, I have used Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in the shade 'Dark Night Waterl-oops!' but I found that it was just too shiny - which meant that it would slide around, get on to my teeth and bleed outside of my lip line. Let's face it girls, that's never a good look!

So with the help of my good friend Chloe, who actually works for MAC, she helped me settle on the shade 'Smoked Purple' (£15.50) - which is described on their website as a deep eggplant purple shade. I love MAC's matte formulation as it is so comfortable to wear and not at all drying on the lips. Plus, it tends to stay in place pretty well even you are eating or drinking (and I will definitely be doing the latter on my night out!)

After buying the lipstick, I was really struggling to find a matching lip pencil to make sure that I could a get crisp and sharp line around the edge of my lips, seeing as it is such a dark colour. I didn't want to purchase a lip pencil from MAC seeing as I had already spent over £15 on a lipstick that isn't a wearable shade that I could wear everyday. After swatching what felt like hundreds of liners on my hand in Superdrug, I finally came across this super affordable one from Barry M. I'm not a big fan of the Barry M range at all (aside from their nail varnishes,) so I was pleasantly surprised when I found this gorgeous lip liner in the shade 'Plum' (£2.99.) I was expecting it to be really hard and drag the lips but it is actually a lot creamier than I expected. 

As you can see from the swatches above, these two products match almost perfectly! I am so happy that I found this incredible lip combo to wear as part of my costume. I am going as a super simple black cat but I am planning to add more interest to my outfit and overall look by really exaggerating my make-up! What do you think of my vampy lip duo? What are you going as for Halloween this year? Please let me know by popping a comment down below!

Lush Skincare Empties

I am rather surprised that I have never done a Lush empties blog post before because as you all know by now, I am a Lush addict! The main reason that I tend to hang on to any Lush packaging is because if you take five empty pots back to a store, you receive a free face mask! I love schemes like this (similar to the Back To MAC one) because not only do you get a free product in return, but it feels great to know that you are doing your bit to recycle too! Furthermore, let's jump right into my five empty products and hear what I thought about them, shall we?

Tea Tree Water Toner - £4.50
I loved this toner water so much because it didn't strip my skin like some harsher toners with lots of chemicals in them do! This spray is super refreshing to use after cleansing and the tea tree helps to calm down any blemishes or redness on my skin. It can be either spritzed straight onto your face like a mist or onto a cotton pad so that you can then gently wipe it across your face. I tended to alternate between the two methods depending on how I felt on the day to be honest!

Mask Of Magnaminty Face Mask - £5.75
Although this mask didn't smell the greatest, I did like the effects that it had on my skin. It was really cooling upon application because all of Lush's face masks are fresh and must be kept in the fridge! It always left my skin feeling very calm and rejuvenated. I got about four or five uses out of this mask and I always put on a very generous and thick layer! It's not my favourite mask of theirs that I have tried but it is still one of the best in my opinion.

Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask - £5.75
Now on to my preferred mask of choice, 'Catastrophe Cosmetic.' I love its blueberry scent but the thing I love the most about this mask in particular is its texture. This mask definitely feels more clay-like and so it's really great at combating the oiliness of my skin. It is also excellent at soothing the skin, reducing the size of my spots and improving its overall texture. This mask is a must have for me and I need to re-purchase it ASAP!

Dark Angels Cleanser - £6.95
The reason that I used this cleanser was purely for its exfoliating purposes rather than its cleansing properties. Its gritty charcoal-based texture not only sloughed away any dead skin on my face but it also soaked up an excess oil on the surface of it too! The only downside to this product is that its really messy to use but if you are careful, cleaning it up afterwards doesn't take too long at all. In my eyes, this is just a small price to pay for such a lovely product!

Ultrabland Cleanser - £11.95
Last but not least is my holy grail cleanser, 'Ultrabland.' I have used quite a few cleansing balm and oils to remove my make-up but none have ever compared to this one, hence why I mention it so often here on my blog! I love knowing that I am using a product on my skin with lots of natural ingredients in it too, as they make my skin feel so nourished afterwards. This cleanser melts down even the heaviest of make-up looks with ease and that's why I love it so much! It is very rich and thick in texture but it never clogs up my skin, which is always a bonus. 

So guys, those are the five empties that I have to show to you today. I hope that you found my mini reviews helpful! Have you ever tried ant skincare products from Lush and if so, what did you think of them? I would love to know - so, please leave me a comment down below with your thoughts and suggestions!

A Casual Topshop Wishlist

I have been loving dressing more casually lately and I am all about comfort and warmth during the winter time! I am often a little bit hit and miss when it comes to Topshop, even though it is one of my favourite high street stores, but recently I have fallen in love with so many items. So today, I thought that I would share some of my top casual pieces with you all.

Trouble Motif Tee - £16.00
I am always partial to a slogan tee and this one is no exception to that rule! I love how simple it is and it can be paired with literally anything - jeans, skirts, leggings etc. I also love wearing a monochromatic t-shirt with a checked shirt layered over the top of it during autumn and winter for a laidback look.

Cable Knit Pom Beanie - £14.00
There's nothing like a cute beanie hat to keep you warm during the winter months and this one really caught my eye because it has two colours of yarn running through it. Plus, I love wearing hats to hide a bad hair day too ;)

Jersey T-Bar Triangle Bra - £9.00
I'm one of those girls who hates wearing a bra and I always take mine off as soon as I get home - I just find them so uncomfortable! So, the idea of wearing a triangle bra that has no underwire is so appealing to me. You still get a tiny bit of support but none of the discomfort!

Slouchy Stud Embellished Holdall - £40.00
This bag is definitely on my Christmas list, as my current bag is falling apart! I love slouchy bags in particular because I feel like you can fit so much more into them and I am one of those people who carries absolutely everything around with me. I also love how it has silver studs as embellishment as I am a huge fan of silver jewellery as opposed to gold, I feel like it suits me a lot more!

MOTO Vintage Borg Western Jacket - £59.00
I already have a denim jacket from Topshop but the fluffy shearling lining both inside and on the collar of this coat really appeals to me. Not only will it keep you warmer during the colder months but it also adds another texture and some extra interest to an outfit too!

Hazard Lipstick - £8.00
Lastly, I have never tried any of Topshop's lipsticks but I know many people who are a huge fan of them. I have heard that their colour pay off and formulation are great! At the moment, my lipstick collection is lacking in the reds department and so this shade would be the perfect for me!

So guys, those are the items that I currently on my Topshop wishlist. I hope that you like them! Topshop have so many great things at the moment so I definitely recommend that you check out your local store or their website to see what you can add to your own wishlist!

My Favourite Autumn Lipsticks

This year I have fully embraced nude lips (I like to blame that on MAC's Velvet Teddy and NARS' Anita) but now that we are well and truly in the midst of autumn, I am back to rocking a darker and bolder lip once again! I have four of my favourite autumnal lip products to show you all today, three of which are from the drugstore, so there are definitely some great bargains out their that you need to get your hands on! So, let's jump right in and see which red and berry hues that I have been loving lately!

MAC Lipstick in Plumful (£15.50)
First up is the ever-so-popular MAC shade 'Plumful' - a lustre formula that is the perfect autumnal pink shade with a really subtle berry hint to it. It is such a comfortable lipstick to wear in the colder months as it is super moisturising and it glides onto your lips so seamlessly! It is a great shade for when you want an understated pop of colour.

Rimmel Provocalips Lip Colour in Kiss Fatal (£6.99)
Next is Rimmel's version of a liquid lipstick in the shade 'Kiss Fatal,' which is a gorgeous dusky purple shade. It's not too in your face but it's bold enough to make an impact! Although the formula of the Provocalips line is far from perfect, (it can sometimes feel really drying and occasionlly it crumbles away slightly,) I always manage to see past it because the shade is so unique and is really long-lasting!

(From left to right: Plumful, Kiss Fatal, Standout, Dark Night Water-loops)

Revlon Color Burst Matte Balm in Standout (£7.99)
I have loved Revlon's range of lip crayons for such a long time now and the shade 'Standout' is no exception! It is a stunning blue-based cherry red that is matte without being drying on the lips. I love wearing this lipstick during the festive season as it is truly a classic red that looks perfect around this time of year!

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Dark Night Water-loops (£6.49)
Last but certainly not least is the amazing 'Dark Night Water-loops' from Rimmel. Although I barely get any wear out of this shade because it is really dark, (the swatch doesn't do it justice,) I had to give it a special mention because it is the perfect vampy purple shade for Halloween - I am even wearing it as part of my costume this year! It is so fun to wear and it definitely turns a lot of heads!

So, those are my favourite autumn lipsticks at the moment! Have you tried any of these shades before and if so, what do you think of them? Also, if you can recommend any more autumnal shades that you think I need to get my hands on, then please let me know by leaving any suggestions down below!

This Years Best Soap & Glory Gifts!

I am one of the biggest fans and advocates of Soap & Glory's entire bath & body range, I love their products so much and I always have one of the body butters on the go - seriously, their scents are addictive! So, you can imagine that every year, I am always excited to see what Christmas gift sets that they have on offer. Boots always have such a lovely display of S&G's presents and they are already out on the shelves (even if we are still over two months away from December 25th!) Therefore, even if it is a little early to start dedicating blog posts to all things Christmas related, I wanted to show you the best of this years selection in case you want to get in a little early!

Crazy Sexy Kohl - £14.00
I have never tried any of Soap & Glory's eyeliners but I have heard some great things about them during my time as a blogger. This little set contains 5 pencils from their Smoulder Kohl range in the shades Superblack, Cocoa Bean, Blue My Mind, Grapevine and Aquabat (three of which are exclusive to this set only!)

Well I'll Be Glammed - £40.00
This gorgeous set contains eight of S&G's most popular make-up products, as well as three mini brushes to apply them with. This kit has pretty much everything you would need for a stunning daytime or night time look - from bronzer, to lip gloss and everything inbetween! This is a must have for any beauty enthusiast in my opinion. 

Bright & Bubbly - £10.00
This nifty little gift set contains miniatures of some of the brands most iconic items; Clean On Me, Hand Food, Scrub Of Your Life and The Righteous Butter. All four of these lovely products have S&G's original 'Pink' scent, plus you get a pink body polisher too. Just think of what a lovely pamper session you could have with this set!

Get A Smooth On - £35.00
This has got to be my favourite gifts from the bunch for one reason only... all of the products inside have the Sugar Crush scent, which is my all time fave S&G fragrance. It is the most amazing combination of sweet lime and brown sugar (it's almost good enough to eat.) This set includes a body butter, a body wash, a body mist and one of my holy grail items, their body scrub.

The Righteous Butter Drum - £5.00
This is such a great stocking filler to give to any beauty junkie! The Righteous Butter is one of Soap & Glory's most renowned products and with good reason, as it is extremely moisturising and rich. This present also resembles a Christmas decoration, so you could also hang it on your tree for an extra-cute touch if you wanted to! 

Belle Of The Ball - £12.00
Last but not least is this adorable giant bauble containing four products from the Smoothie Star range, which smells like vanilla, almond and pistachio (my second favourite scent behind Sugar Crush.) Similarly to the Bright & Bubbly set mentioned above, it has a hand cream, a body wash, a body scrub and a body buttercream to give your skin a real treat!

So, those are this years best gift sets from Soap & Glory in my opinion! I think that there are some really cute design concepts within the range and I am hoping to receive at least one of these gorgeous sets myself. Remember that Boots have a 3 for 2 deal on all their festive pressies, so be sure to take full advantage of it if you want to treat either yourself or your loved ones to a good old pamper this year!

The Best Setting Spray In The World!

On Monday, I repurchased yet another bottle of my all-time favourite make-up setting spray, Urban Decay's All Nighter! Up until sometime last year, I had never used a setting spray before and I actually thought that they were a bit of a gimmick but after reading lots of rave reviews online, I took the plunge and my mind was changed almost instantaneously!

I have combination to oily skin and in the past, I always had trouble with make-up literally sliding off of my face during the course of the day (especially on my T-zone area.) However, since setting my face everyday with both pressed powder and a few spritzes of this spray, my make-up stays perfect for much longer! Of course, this product isn't a miracle worker; if it's a super hot day or I have a long shift at work, some shininess may still come through and affect my foundation ever so slightly but aside from those instances, my base always looks pretty much flawless! I could literally apply my make-up at 7am and it would still be in tact at midnight, which I think is pretty incredible if you ask me! It even stands the test of time when I go out clubbing at the weekends too and you definitely can't ask for much more than that!

I personally like to buy the travel size version of All Nighter (£9.00) instead of the original size because it fits nicely in my make-up brush holder, which in turn means that I will never forget to apply it! Plus, of course, it is much easier to pack if you want to take it on holiday with you.

Urban Decay do also have another setting spray in their repertoire called De-Slick - which is specifically targeted for oily skin types. Although, I have heard that it doesn't have quite as much staying power as the All Nighter does, which is why I have never opted to try it out even if I do fall into the oily skin category. 

I do not think that I will ever stray away from All Nighter... I mean, why mess with a good thing?! It is one of the best and readily available setting sprays on the market and I know that I can rely on it no matter what. So, if you haven't tried out this amazing holy grail products already, why not? I can guarantee that you are going to love it just as much as I do!

Hauntingly Halloween-y

I was never a huge fan of Halloween back in the day but strangely, as I have gotten older, I have grown to love it more and more! Maybe it's because I really love experimenting with vampy and dark make-up looks, or maybe it's because for one night of the year you can truly be whatever you want to be! With that being said, although its still a few weeks away, this year I have no idea what I am going to dress up. So, I have put together a little collage in order to give myself, and all of you, some inspiration. Here are the ghoulishly gorgeous and devilishly divine items that I have picked out...

Claire's Accessories Black Cat Mask / Topshop Lace Up Front Body / Eylure Halloween Spooky Eyelashes  / Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in Blackmail / House Of Holland Bloody Thirsty False Nails / Claire's Accessories Flower & Spider Headband / ASOS Metallic Spider iPhone Case

So, those are the few pieces that I have picked out. Unfortunately, not every store has put their Halloween stock online yet but I still managed to find quite a few cool ideas to get my creative juices flowing! Who or what are you dressing up as this year? What is tour favourite Halloween outfit that you have ever worn? And... if you have any fun ideas as to what I could be for Halloween, please leave any suggestions in a comment below!

My Monthly Favourites - September 2015

The month of September has been a bit of a whirlwind for me! I started my new part-time job and I feel like time has just flown by ever since. Although I haven't tried out too many new products this month, I have discovered a couple of new favourites as well as fallen back in love with a few older items in my stash too. So, let's skip the long intro for a change and jump straight into what I have been loving this month!

Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturiser - £24.00
Some of you may remember that after winning Katie Snooks' Feel Unique competition a few months ago, one of the products I picked up using my voucher code was this moisturiser from Origins. At the beginning, I used it religiously but then I forgot about it for a little while... until now! I love the gel-like consistency of this product because it is not too rich for my oily/combination skin. It has really improved how radiant and clear my skin looks without make-up on too, which is something that I have struggled with in the past. This is the first thing that I have ever tried from Origins because of the hefty price tag but I am super impressed with them as a brand and I will definitely purchase from them again in the future!

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish in Street Flair - £9.99
You may have seen in my recent Boots haul that I picked up a few new nail varnishes this month and ever since then, this Sally Hansen number has constantly been on my nails! It is a gorgeous dusty lilac colour with a hint of grey within it, which makes it absolutely perfect for this time of year. It is a muted and understated shade but it has such an autumn feel to me! The polish itself is fairly chip-resistant, (especially when it's paired with the matching Miracle Gel top coat too,) and it has a gorgeous glossy, gel-like finish.

Invisibobble Clear Hair Bands (3 Pack) - £3.75
I had seen so many people talking about the Invisibobble hair bands and so I decided to take the plunge last week. Once my hair is tied up up, there is nooo way that I can take down again as my hair would then have a permanent dent and kinks in it. This would always upset me because if I had my hair up at work and then wanted to go out at night time, I would have to completely re-wash it in order to then wear it down! However, now that I have started wearing an Invisibobble, (which looks a bit like a clear telephone cord,) my hair is kink free! The bobble is virtually undetectable and it's so comfortable to wear, it never pulls on my hair or snags it in the slightest. This product is so amazing and I'm annoyed that I didn't pick it up sooner to be honest!

Max Factor Colour Collections Lipstick in Rosewood - £6.99
This Max Factor lipstick has been my biggest re-discovery of the month. I have had 'Rosewood' in my lipstick collection for such a long time now but I have found myself reaching for it a lot lately. It is the most gorgeous warm-toned rose shade that leaves a gorgeous sheen on your lips. Although the longevity of this product is not anything to shout home about, I do love how pigmented and comfortable this shade is to wear. It pairs well with so many different make-up looks too. You should definitely give it a swatch next time you're in Boots and Superdrug!

Lush The Comforter Shower Cream (100g) - £4.75
Last but not least is my favourite Lush shower gel of all time, The Comforter! I had always been a big fan of the bubble bar equivalent of this product, so when they brought out a shower cream I was beyond excited. I cannot even explain how in love I am with this sweet blackcurrant scent - it makes me look forward to shower time, even on cold autumn mornings! I love how soft and moisturised it makes me skin feel, plus it lathers up into a gorgeous pink foam too (which is always a bonus!) Even though it will be quite expensive, once this mini bottle runs out, I would like to buy the enormous 1kg verson which is just shy of £28 but in my opinion, it will be soooo worth it!

So guys, I bet you're glad I skipped the long intro now because that was a very in-depth favourites this month (oops!) I hope you enjoyed reading all about the five products that I have been loving and reaching for the most over the past 4 weeks! What have been your favourites this month? Have you used any of my current favourites before? Please let me know popping a comment down below with all of your thoughts and suggestions!

My All-Time Favourite Drugstore Lip Product

Bourjois' Rouge Edition Velvet lipsticks are by far my favourite lip product from the drugstore! I have spoken about them a couple of times now here on my blog and I still cannot get enough of them; especially now I have added a new shade to my collection, as it has made me rekindle my love for them even more! These liquid lipsticks certainly deserve to be raved about as much as possible in my opinion.

First of all, let's just talk about the formulation... it's truly amazing! Velvet is definitely the correct name for this range as these lipsticks glide on so smoothly and feel really buttery on the lips. Of course, liquid lipsticks have a bit of a reputation of drying out your lips but these ones are surprisingly comfortable to wear. They have minimal tackiness to them and are no where as sticky as some other products that I have tried in the past. Plus, at only £8.99, they are much more affordable than say Stila's Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick for example.

There are currently 12 shades in the range but I have heard that a few more are being released very shortly in time for autumn. However, below are swatches of the four shades that I own right now from left to right; 01 Personne ne Rouge, 02 Frambourjoise, 10 Don't Pink Of It & 12 Beau Brun.

In the photograph above, the swatches look glossy but after a few minutes they dry down to a lovely mate finish! I have become obsessed with matte formulas over the last year or so because they make bold colours much easier to wear, as they are less likely to transfer or fade throughout the day. I have to say that my favourite shade of the bunch is definitely the newest edition to my collection, Don't Pink Of It, which I featured in my latest Boots haul. I have only had this shade for about a week but I already love it because it is a great everyday shade that does with almost any make-up look or outfit! As for my favourite bold shade, it would have to be Frambourjoise - which is a stunning bright pink shade.

Overall, I think that the Rouge Edition Velvet range is the best lip product in the drugstore for so many reasons. I think they are just incredible! Have you tried out this product before? If so, please let me know in the comment below what is your favourite shade to wear and why?

My Favourite YouTube Channels For Make-Up Tutorials

I am absolutely addicted to watching make-up tutorials on YouTube! In fact, I am subscribed to so many beauty gurus that I've actually lost count. Sometimes, it's pretty hard to keep up with them all! With that being said, however, there a few gorgeous ladies in particular whose content I watch religiously. I love gaining inspiration from other make-up enthusiasts, picking up tips & tricks, as well as seeing which products are really worth the splurge. Therefore, today, I thought that I would tell you all about my top four favourite YouTube channels are right now...

Shaaanxo 
One of the main reasons that I love watching Shannon's make-up tutorials is the fact that she has the same hair colour and skin tone as me, so she often creates looks that would suit me perfectly! I also love how she experiments with such bright colours too - which makes a change from the amount of neutral looks that a lot of other beauty gurus make.

Kathleen Lights
I discovered Kathleen about 6 months ago and I have been hooked on her videos ever since! Her personality really is what draws me in, as she is so likeable and down to earth. I also love how she creates some really stunning drugstore tutorials - which are great for when you don't want to break the bank to achieve a specific look. Plus, she shares my outrageous obsession for liquid lipsticks too!

Jaclyn Hill
Jaclyn definitely creates some of my favourite glamourous make-up looks ever! I love how bold she is both in her artistic abilities and her on-screen presence (her positive energy really is infectious!) She really knows her stuff when it comes to products and I love getting her recommendations for highlighters and false lashes in particular. 

Mirella Belle
Something that really kept me coming back to Mirella's channel week after work was the amount of colourful tutorials she makes! She always comes up with the most amazing and innovative eyeshadow looks. Also, she is never afraid to pair bright eyes with a bright lip too - which is something that would have scared me away in the past! However, she manages to pull it off so beautifully!

So, those are my favourite channels for watching make-up tutorials on YouTube! They provide me with so much inspiration. Who are your favourite beauty gurus to watch online? Also, if you know of any other channels that I should be subscribed too, please let me know by leaving a comment down below.