March Favourites

Another month has come and gone, I don't like how fast time is going recently.  I have been loving a whole host of new products in March including makeup, skincare and hair products.  So if you are interested in what I have been using on a regular basis then please check out the video below and remember to leave a comment.

What have you been loving recently?

The Body Shop White Musk Smoky Rose Collection

I stumbled upon this collection but accident really. I used to be an avid white musk wearer back in my younger years and the sweet musky scent always remind me of a school trip to France in particular. So I was browsing around the body mists, as I have heard a whole hog of bloggers include The Body Shop scents in their favourites recently, when I was taken in by the rose scented version. Normally I am not a fan of rose but the musky undertones really gives this scent a grown up feel. So before I knew it I had bought the body spray in the sale and of I popped. A week or so later I was in The Body Shop again looking for the Honey Bronzer, when I saw there was a Christmas set of the perfume and body wash reduced in the sale. 

Needless to say I have the collection and to be honest I probably don't need the body spray and perfume but the glass packaging looks and feels so much more expensive. At 30ml the perfume is perfect to throw in your bag and go.  I also love the look of the glass body mist on my desk at work. I find that the body mist is just that, it sprays the rights amount in a lovely mist so it is never too over powering.The body wash I have only used once but the thick texture allows it to lather quickly and I was happy.

I have just noticed that there is also the lotion to go with this set but as I am trying not to buy any more body lotions I will have to save that for another day.  Have you tried the White Musk Smoky Rose Collection from The Body Shop? 

Sephora Blush Orange Pop

For Valentines day my lovely boyfriend treated me to a romantic weekend in Paris. I did a post here showing some of my favourite pictures including when I met mickey mouse at Disneyland. If you have already seen that you may have notice the mini haul photo I threw I'm there for good measure. Yes what beauty obsess can go to Paris and not visit the Sephora flagship store on Champs Elysees? It would have been a crime not to. I was on my best behavior (and the Nars palette that wanted was sold out) so I only bought one thing this beautiful Sephora own brand blush in Orange Pop.

This is the second in my collection as I loved Rose Glow so much and wear it all the time.  

Orange Pop is a matte bright pop of colour shade that will be amazing with a tan (sadly for me that is not the case right now) its one of those shade that you can pop on with a big fluffy brush and be good to go as it will add an instant vibrancy to your complexion without making you look like a clown.

This these are a bit pricey at just under £10 but I think they are worth it for the pigmentation and longevity. A little definitely goes a long way so they will last you a very long time and there are a variety of shades and finishes.

Now Sephora is shipping to the UK so the Sephora Blushes are now available online.

100 Day Spending Ban

On 31st January 2013 I challenged myself to go 100 days without spending unnecessary money.  If I remember correctly it was really hard, but I didn't do too badly, the odd Primark haul and Boots 3 for 2 were my weaknesses. Today I am challenging myself the same thing, 100 days with the following rules:

1. No makeup, haircare, skincare, or bath products

2. No clothes, shoes, jewellry, bags or accessories

3. No home or storage items 

4. No impulse buying of anything

5. Presents may be bought for others

6. Can go out for drinks and dinner with friends and family

7. Must save at least £1000 during the course of this challenge

8. If I do wish to buy something I must write it on a list and give 5 points as to why I need it in my life

This all may seem a little extreme but I do waste a lot of money and I want to put the money that I save towards a car or summer holiday.  

Weight Loss Wednesday #bloggerswlw

I have completely fallen off the diet and fitness wagon.  So I thought I would share some quotes I found to help inspire myself and any of you that need a bit of a pick me up.

I really liked this one when I saw it as this can be for anything in anyone's life.  Whether the changes you make are to do with health, giving up a habit or even just trying to be a better person, not many things happen overnight.  I've always thought it's about the small things in life, the things that most of the time we overlook and take for granted.  Whatever goals or achievements you are aiming for, you should not ignore the small things as they really do make all the difference.

This one is focused more towards those of you like me that would prefer an extra half an hour in bed in the mornings rather than going for a run or just generally too busy for gyms.  Hopefully, there is at least one point that will help motivate us to bust a move from now on.

Rimmel Moisture Renew - Relaunch

 

You might have seen the newly repackaged slightly reformulated moisture renew lipsticks from Rimmel spoken about recently. With a smoother longer lasting finish these have shot to the top of my drugstore lipstick favourites. I have a few shades of the old range but I really didn't get on with them at all.  I picked up two of the newer shades Glam Plum Fulham and In Love With Ginger which are supposedly dupes for the much loved Mac Rebel and Morange. Personally I haven't tried the Mac ones as they aren't anything that appeals too me as there are so many good drugstore dupes. The other shade I picked up is Nude Delight which was always a bit of a cult favourite but as I found the old formula a bit drying and dull, the shade always looked horrible on me.  Not anymore though, I love all three shades.

I find these glide smoothly over the lips and make them look hydrated and not at all dull.  For a moisturising lipstick I think these last really well especially the deeper shades and they fade nice and evenly too.

If you are more if a matte kinda gal I will have a post up soon on another high street favourite which is a matte version of one of these shades so watch out for that. These are available from Boots which at the moment have 3 for 2 so I will definitely be browsing the Rimmel stands for more shades.

Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Concealer

So let's make a bold statement... I think I've found a better drugstore concealer than the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. Yes, I just did that.

Seventeen have released some right crackers recently so I thought I would share my views on the Phwoarr Paint concealer. I am not a fan of the name to be honest but I can deal with that. As the word paint suggests this is a heavy duty concealer, Seventeen have aimed this at combating those pesky undereye bags but I actually use this for covering blemishes and creating my perfect base. 

I have been meaning to talk about this in a post since I stumbled upon it all the way back in September.  I love the creamy texture and how it blends beautifully into the skin.  I find that it covers anything I need it to quickly but it can be built up for those extra annoying spots.  I find this concealer to last well as part of the perfect base, though I do set it with powder.  With a compact little mirror I think this is the perfect concealer to pop in your handbag and know you are good to go.

As I mentioned before, I would not recommend using this under the eyes, as I think the consistency is slightly too thick which can be drying and not last as long.  I find with any thick concealers they tend to crease in the fine lines under my eyes, but I generally think this is so much better to be used on blemishes rather than to hide bags under the eyes.  My main issue I have with this concealer is the colour range, or may I say the lack of.  As far as I am aware there are only two shades, Fair which is the one I have and medium which is slightly darker. 

For £5.49 I think this is right little steal and with Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer being discontinued I think Seventeen have eased the pain some what.  Boots is currently doing 3 for 2 on Beauty, Hair and Skincare so I would hurry down there.

Valentine's Weekend in Paris

Over the past week I have been suffering from major holiday blues.  For Valentine's day my boyfriend took me for a long weekend to Disneyland Paris.  It was amazing, we spend three days at Disneyland and the Studios where we went on the rides and met lots of different characters.  I some how convinced my boyfriend to queue for an hour to meet Mickey Mouse and half way through he asked me what ride we were waiting for.  He was baffled that it was just for a photo, but it made my day having a dance and I kissed Mickey on the nose.  (Don't tell Minnie)  We watched the parade and the floats are amazing with characters from all the films out dancing and singing along.  

On Valentines day we took the train into Paris and even though it was raining and miserable it didn't ruin our day.  We first went to Notre Dame, still in the Disney theme clearly. Then engraved our padlock and locked it onto the lovelock bridge. We walked around paris all day seeing all the different sights and it just so happened that we strolled into the Sephora on the Champs Elysee.  I do have to apologies that I got so excited the only photo I managed to take was of the ginormous bottles of perfume they had displayed.  Being Valentines day we couldn't not go up the Eiffel Tower, two and a half hours later in the queue and we made it up there.  Paris is such a gorgeous place and I personally love cities at night so I absolutely loved it.

It only took us a few hours on the Eurostar to get to the Disney Station so I think Paris is brilliant place to spend a well needed weekend away with friends or loved ones.

Weight Loss Wednesday Slim Fast #bloggersWLW

Part of me getting fitter and healthier means sorting out my diet. I am using Slim Fast to help me eat regular meals and more importantly to help me control what I eat as well as trying to shift a few pounds in the process. Rewind a few weeks ago I never used to eat breakfast, and so would to eat anything in sight at lunchtime. And used to have no control over my snacking habits. I am only on my second week but I have already noticed how little changes can help for the better.

I will run through the basis of slim fast and then how I am adapting it for my needs. So the idea is that you can still eat and lose weight. The main difference to your diet is that you substitute two meals for either milkshakes or large cereal bars, which allows you one meal but you can snack three times a day.  For example, you could have a chocolate milkshake for breakfast, snack on fruit, have a meal bar for lunch, snack again on Slim Fast tortilla chips then have a healthy calorie-controlled meal, and that still leaves room for a little pot of jelly.

How I have worked my plans out, is by seeing how many calories I am allowed to have based on my metabolism and daily activity.  I even change it up a bit and have a healthy lunch instead of the meal bar most days but will have a smaller dinner of have a smaller portion of fruit.  I am writing this having had a cheat day but I know that I will be able to wake up tomorrow and get back on the healthy train.  Though I am snacking, for me the most helpful part of Slim Fast is how I know don't just anything for the sake of it.  I have turned down chocolate and sweets which at the time is hard for ol' greedy guts here, but it has made me feel so much better when I realise that I didn't need that rocky road ice cream.

In the first week of slim fast, even though I went out for a three course meal where I didn't hold back, I still managed to lose 4 pounds.  I am still learning what is best for my body but I know I can do better next week.  Let me know about your experiences with slim fast or any other diets. 

For more information please visit the Slim Fast website.

Boots 24 Days of Beauty Treats Advent Calender

I posted on December 1st that this year (well last year) I had managed to get my hands on the Boots 24 Days of Beauty treats calender and that I would be posting on Instagram a photograph of what I received each day.  As my Instagram threw a wobbly I wasn't able to post everyday as I had hoped so I thought I would share with you on here a complete look at what I received and whether I think beauty advent calendars are worth the hype and money.

(in no particular order)

Balmi Lip Balm in Coconut

Soap & Glory Clean Girls Body Wash 75ml

Soap & Glory Flake Away Travel Size

Seventeen Supreme Shine Nail Polish in Miami

Boots Salon Care Nail Shine Solution

Umberto Giannini Back Comb in a Bottle 30ml

Vichy Idealia Life Serum 3 ml

Botanics Heat Protection Shine Serum 30 ml

Carmex Pot Original

Seventeen Tattoo Me Eyeliner 

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation 8ml

Vichy Liftactiv Serum Eyes and Lashes 3ml

17 Blow Out Mascara

Umberto Giannini Pom Pom Band (Hair Tie)

Orly Bonder Basecoat

Nails Inc Porchester Square 4ml

Mavala Nail Polish  in Pure Diamonds 5ml

Mavala Nail Polish  in London 5ml

Boots Nail File

Paco Rabanne Black XS 

Ghost Moonlight

Juicy Couture Couture La La

Nina Ricci Nina

Ghost The Fragrence

I decided to wait until after the Christmas craze to pass before posting this as to be honest I did have mixed feelings.  I really love the idea, who doesn't want a new makeup product each day running up to Christmas? But more importantly I didn't know what to expect as I didn't want to know what was in the calender until I opened the door, all part of the Christmas spirit.  Being such the drugstore lover that I am I have actually used a lot of these products before so I was a little disappointed.  Also I found there there were a lot of nail products (7 in total), perfume samples and Seventeen products. So I think they could have chosen more of a mixed bag of products and brands. 

However, this has not deterred me from beauty advent calenders as there were a couple of things that I have enjoyed that I would not have picked up.  Next year I think I might go for a pricier calender with more of a chance of finding new things.

The Boots 24 Days of Beauty Treats retailed for £30 and I think is well worth it if you do not dive into the drugstore that often or if you just want the excitement of Christmas everyday leading up the big 25th but without spending a lot of money.

Let me know your thoughts on  this calender or any others that you tried this Christmas.

Best Beauty Finds of 2013

2013 was such an amazing year for me, I graduated, went on my first cruise as well as a girls holiday to Aiya Napa, started my YouTube channel but above all that I was lucky enough to roll straight into a full time job in my chosen career.  So I would like to take the time to point out that I am very grateful for 2013, I like many others, anticipated an unlucky year, but mine was far from it.

I would also like to show my appreciation for some absolutely amazing beauty products that were released in 2013 both highend and highstreet.  Makeup world you never fail me.  And for that I filmed a little video showing what my favourite beauty finds of 2013 were.

Enjoy and I hope you all have a prosperous 2014.

Weight Loss Wednesday #bloggerWLW

So in the spirit of dare I say it... "a new year, a new me" I am kicking my butt into gear and for once going to stick to resolution of losing a few pounds here and there.  I am joining Jennifer from Barely There Beauty and a whole host of other bloggers in Weight Loss Wednesday, where we will post our updates and all things weight loss related on a Wednesdays and then join each other for a twitter chat #bloggerWLW on Thursdays at 8pm UK time to catch up with our progress (or possibly the odd cheat day).

I thought I would ease in steadily and start of with a get to know me post and what I hope to achieve from this series.  This is well and truly out of my comfort zone so it will be a learning curve for all of us.

1. I have never been on a diet or had a fitness regime before

2. I have always been conscious that being 5 foot a little bit of extra weight is very noticeable

3. I hate breakfast, I think this may be my downfall, but I will try

4. I bought new running trainers 3 months ago and they are still in the box (currently used to balance my laptop)

5.  I want to lose 21lbs by 1st April, that's 2 lbs a week 

6.  I want to become fitter as well as losing weight so I will add exercise into my routine

7. If nothing else I would like to help support the other bloggers that are taking part

In future posts I will be talking about my diet & fitness plans, any online resources that I have found useful, motivational snips and clips as well as general updates.

If you are looking for support with losing a pound or two, or whether you have your eye on that bikini body feel free to join us or follow me on my twitter and Instagram.  If you have any words of wisdom or advice please leave a comment.