Make Up | Topshop Infrared

TOPSHOP INFRARED LIPSTICK £8.00

Okay, so when MAC bought out their All About Orange range I was tempted to jump and dive in and get myself an orange lippie, without trying it. Instead I went and ordered Topshop's Infrared, something I thought would be a reddy orange, with more red than orange.

Actually, it was incredibly orange and let me see exactly what I'd be getting with the orange range. Something that is totally not me. I don't know about you, but I think it really doesn't suit me. It's a bit too yellow, and my Mum said I'm more of a pink girl. Which to me means I need more blue tones. My skin is pink toned so maybe if it was yellow toned this orange would suit me more. But otherwise, it's not one I'm reaching for.

I don't know what it is with me and Topshop lipsticks. Everytime I get one I seem to be disappointed with what I get. I blame the lack of swatching before purchasing. Lesson learned!

This means... No more orange lipsticks for me. Corals yes, orange definitely no. 

What's your favourite Topshop lipstick shade?

Skincare | Moisturisers

For a long time I shyed away from moisturisers for fear of adding to the oiliness in my skin, however I read somewhere (I forget where) that oily skin is dehydrated, more than overly hydrated. If that makes sense. Plus, parts of my face get quite dry so I want to balance it. Kate from gh0stparties said that the two key things you need to get right to improve your skin is a good cleanser (sorted here) and a good moisturising routine. Well, that is now sorted - eek!

Okay, so there are three different moisturisers that I could use in the morning. Most of the time I use La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat, a mattifying moisturiser that I think it the perfect moisturiser for oily skin. it takes away any excess shine and helps to keep oil at bay all day. However, when my skin is feeling dry I turn to Vichy Aqualia Thermal Riche, a light moisturiser that's incredibly hydrating and makes my face look plump and fresh. It stays like this for hours and hours. A definite favourite for me. The third (yep, third) is Nivea Daily Essentials Express Hydration Primer. It's rare that I use this, but I tend to use it before putting my make up on for nights outs, or heavy make up days as it helps keep it in place as well as moisturising.

In the evening there is one cream that I always turn to - that is Superdrug Vitamin E Nourising Night Cream - living proof that you don't need a high end cream to make a difference. This goes on before sleep, after cleansing. It's a thicker cream, but absorbs quickly, smells amazing and really hydrates my skin. This has made a big difference in the quality of my skin as well. The corners of my nose and the bridge can get quite dry, so sometimes I enlist the help of Superdrug Vitamin E Skin Oil, again proving sometimes the cheaper products can make a huge difference.

Since moisturising properly I have noticed a difference with the quality of my skin. Sorting out my cleansing and moisturising routine has actually done wonders - why did I not do this sooner?! O well, it is done now... Can't wait to see what's next on my overhaul, let me know of any requests!!

What moisturisers help with your skin?

Make Up | Mac Brule Eyeshadow

MAC SATIN EYESHADOW IN BRULE £12.00

I treated myself a little too well to Mac a few weeks ago - and this was one of my many treats. Described as a soft creamy beige, it is exactly that (as you can see). It's also described as a "satin" eyeshadow. Again, a pretty apt description.

It applies really nicely, incredibly silky smooth and without mess or fuss. I'm not usually one to buy a shadow this colour as I've never seen the point when it's the same as your lids, but I wear this under liquid eyeliner when I don't want any coloured shadow and as a base with other colours as well. With both uses it's the perfect shadow. It holds other colours on well, and makes you look effortlessly bright eyed without other colours.

I'm so glad I bought this little beauty and would definitely recommend if you're looking for a high quality base. Long lasting and just incredibly pretty. A lot of love for this. I do love my neutrals!

What's your favourite MAC eyeshadow colour? Any you'd recommend?

Summer Care | Swimsuit Styles

1 | Panache Savannah Bandeau Swimsuit

2 | Freya High Waist Bikini Brief

3 | Seafolly Bustier Bikini Top

For years the main swimwear trend has been bikini, bikini, bikini; but recently this trend has been slowly changing. Swimsuits have been slowly creeping back into brands and onto the beach, high waist bottoms are suddenly trendy again. For me the big turn came in Series 1 of Gossip Girl when Serena, aka Blake Lively, wore a one piece and out-styled every other girl in the scene. She remained sexy and stylish, without showing her middle. And it seems the rest of the world is now following suit. The Daily Mail states that 53% will be wearing one piece cossies this year, with only 18% steering towards the once popular bikini.

FemaleFirst believes that the main reason for this seems to be that swimsuits tend to be more flattering for certain body shapes. I know personally my stomach isn't as toned as it once was - so flashing that flesh is always a bit of a headache for me. Hello anxiety! Therefore a swimsuit would be perfect - as well as high waist bottoms. So what's the benefit for each style? 

1 | Swimsuit

This gorgeous bandeau swimsuit from Panache swim collection is incredibly flattering for those with bigger busts as well as a not so flat tummy. The patterned top makes the bust look smaller, and the bright suit hides a belly you may not want to show. It's a very flattering shape, and I love the pattern and design.

2 | High Waist Briefs

There are perfect for curvy or pear shaded girls. Black is always slimming, no matter what size you are so if, like me, you're a little bottom heavy, this is the perfect style. It hides a multitude of bottom sins, as well as covering a not so flat stomach. These bottoms are from the Freya collection - a stunning collection that fits B to J cup. So as well as the briefs you get a stunning top to go with that fits most sizes.

3 | Bikini Top

First of all let's just drool over this gorgeous pattern. Drool. Done. Good. Now, this particular style from the Seafolly collection is perfect for those with a small bust or with a sporty, athletic figure as it creates the illusion of curves.

I found all of these stypes on Figleaves.com, who by the way are having a summer sale, a whole 50% off!!! So, it you want to top up on some new style, then this might be your chance, especially if you're going away for the summer. They have some gorgeous collections and items so I would definitel recommend taking a peek.

 

What style will you be rocking this summer? Are you swimsuit or bikini girl?

*This post is written in association with Figleaves

Make Up | Benefit Stay Flawless Primer

BENEFIT STAY FLAWLESS 15 HOUR PRIMER £24.50* available 29th June 2013

I popped over to Southampton Orange Rooms for the launch of this little beauty in May. This is Benefit's latest offering for long lasting make up. This is a 15 hour primer and is described as a magnet that holds your make up in place for up to 15 hours.

Lisa P-D, Head Trends Make Up Artist for Benefit showed us how to use it - apply in circular motions starting from the forehead and work your way around. We were warned that it will feel slightly sticky on application, which is does, but that it can be counteracted with make up applied over the top. This is also designed to be able to be used with PoreFessional, which is how I've been using it.

I found that PoreFessional was the best way to counteract the sticky feeling this primer leaves behind. Then Hello Flawless popped on top. In terms of lasting time, I would say that it doesn't tend to last as long without PoreFessional with it - and I think it's to do with my oily skin. PoreFessional works well at counteracting the oil whereas I don't think Stay Flawless is probably the best for oily skin.

Overall I do still think it's a great product. For me I need it with PoreFessional to be able to comfortably wear it and it stay on. I think this would be the perfect primer for other skin types. Saying that - I am still using it everyday and I do like it.

Will you be trying Benefit Stay Flawless?

Make Up | Mac Woodwinked

MAC EYESHADOW IN WOODWINKED £12.00

This eyeshadow became the object of my affection after I saw Zoe wearing this on one of her recent videos. I think I missed what she was talking about as I spent it staring at her eyes going "I must have that eyeshadow...". Turns out it was Woodwinked and now it's mine. Woop!

Described as a warm antique gold, I would say it's more of a bronze than a gold with definite brown tones. I love the colour. I'm definitely a neutral eyeshadow girl and this is the epitome of that, with a touch a style to it. It's very easy to apply and looks gorgeous on.

One thing I'm a bit disappointed in is the longevity of the shadow. I find that after a few hours it tends to crease, which is something I have only found with cream eyeshadows. It does last a good few hours, but by the time I get home from work it has all but disappeared and just looks patchy. Otherwise, it's a great eyeshadow and I still adore the colour.

Have you tried Mac eyeshadows? Which is your favourite?

Trends | Coral Lips

Rewind a year and I was incredibly iffy and underwhelmed by lipsticks, or glosses. I just didn't really care about them and certainly wasn't brave enough to try them. Now fast forward to now and my friend Amber says I'm addicted. So I thought I'd sort out my stash and see what trends I'm rocking with my lips...

As it's summer I thought coral would be the perfect place to start. When I first got into lipsticks I was dedicated to finding the right coral, and now I have a ridiculous amount of them - all of which I love, and some that look identical to others. Opps!

Rimmel Moisture Renew in Coral Queen

I love Rimmel's Moisture Renew lipsticks, they are soft easy and soft to apply and really comfortable to wear. The lasting time isn't incredible, but it's easy to top up. This is a gorgeous bright coral pink colour with a glossy finish, negating the need for gloss.

Rimmel Apocalips in Stellar

I wasn't sure if this counted as a coral, but it's definitely got some orange tones in there so I'm throwing it in. Rimmels infamous liquid lipsticks, this is a very intense bright pink with coral running through it. Again incredible glossy so no need for gloss and very pigmented.

L'Oreal Caresse in Dating Coral

Coral my name, you can't really go wrong. It's a very subtle coral, so a million miles away from the previous two and is more of a balm than a lipstick. It's incredibly moisturising and easy to wear, and easy to apply without a mirror as well. Lasting time isn't great, but just top up like a balm and you're set!

MAC Cremesheen in Crosswires

A bit of a more natural coral, it has a slight nude coral element to it that I love and that makes it so wearable for everyday. The finish is less of a gloss, and more of a glow or sheen and the lasting time is a good few hours. It's the perfect everyday coral if you want the colour, but not something too vibrant.

Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Rende-vous

Very moisturising and incredibly long lasting, I love Revlon's Balm Stains anyway, but this colour is gorgeous. It's a definite orangey coral and is perfect for the summer as it's bright, but wearable and just a really easy shade to wear all day long.

This shows quite a range of different corals, from vibrant bright pink corals, to nude corals and orange corals. I didn't quite realise how many different types of corals you could get... eek! At the moment my favourite is MAC Crosswires, I think because it's a newbie, and it's so incredibly wearable. But all of them get good use!!

What's your favourite coral lipstick?

Wishlist | Holiday Cover Up

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

So I'm off on holiday in just under five weeks, and I'm planning on spending most of it by the pool, chilaxing. So I thought I should make myself a little cover up wishlist, something to wear by the pool but that can be used to swap over to lunch/day out as well.

1 | Topshop White Floral Seperates, £12 bottom: £16 top

Now it is tradition for me to purchase a new bikini every year - and this year I've fallen in love with this gorgeous floral number from topshop. Bright blues and corals with frilly bottoms. It's just perfection. And looks like it's make any tan pop!

2 | Rimmel Salon Pro in Summer Orange £4.49

This is a gorgeous orange that goes perfectly with some of the flowers on the bikini. I've got one of these and they are such amazing quality for a nail polish, a great bargain and have some gorgeous gorgeous colours. Plus orange is so summer!

3 | Topshop Cream Lace Playsuit Cover Up £30

This will literally go with everything, and who can say no to lace in summer? It's ever so pretty and very airy as well. Another outfit to make any tan pop and can be dressed up or down, depending on where you want to wear it.

4 | Accessorize Mini Daisy Sunglasses £12.00

I bought a wayfarer type pair of sunnies from Accessorize last year and I wear them all of the time - these are gorgeous. Classic in black but with a seriously cute edge with the mini daisies dotted around the frame. And so cheap!

5 | Topshop Infrared Lipstick £8.00

A gorgeous orange red perfect for summer and matches the bikini perfectly. I have a couple of these, and although a little drying I love the pigmentation and longevity. And I feel I desperately need a gorgeous orange red for summer!

6 | New Look Gladiator Court Wedges £19.99

Tan wedges are definitely a staple for all summers. No matter who you are - go get some tan wedges now! You'll thank me, trust me. These are so cute and such a good price as well, why not get them in all three colours?

So yep, this is my wishlist - what do you think?

Life | Beauty Accidents

Okay, so “beauty” and “danger” isn’t exactly two words you would put in the same sentence, however a survey by First4Laywers showed that 13% of those asked has had an injury resulting from a cosmetic or beauty treatment. Suprisingly, over half of this being men. That’s a bit of a shocker! But obviously us ladies have suffered before as well... The top three treatments that caused injury were hair cut or dye, leg or bikini wax and UV tanning beds. All of which seem to go hand in hand with summer holidays... So to help try and keep you all safe I’ve popped together my top 5 tips for staying safe in beauty

1.       Do the patch test – this goes for wax as well as hair dyes. Reacting badly to ingredients can be incredibly dangerous. I am one for the lazy “nah won’t do the test”, but having seen horror stories in newspapers from bad reactions I religiously test now. Luckily I haven’t found anything I’m allergic to yet (touch wood) but you have to be careful.

2.       Research the hairdresser/beauty parlour you are going to. I always try to go on recommendations. The hairdresser I currently see was recommended by a friend whose been going to her for years, and the beauty parlour I go to for waxing etc is one my Mum and best friend go to. Always check reviews

3.       Don’t push your limits – there are so many warnings against sun beds. Personally I would rather have a fake tan, but I know others who love a sun bed, but it’s important to know your limits. If you are a first time, take it easy. Talk to those who have done it before, talk to the employees of the place – they are there to help. Baby steps first.

4.       Be Upfront – tell your hairdresser or beautician of any skin complaints, hair worries etc that may affect the treatment. For example, I have a hoop in the top of my ear and the amount of times it’s been snagged by a hairdresser is countless – even after I tell them, but they are more cautious if they know. If you are allergic to anything they can usually accommodate you and actually offer you advice. Don’t keep something hidden because you’re embarrassed – it could cause trouble. Also, if the hairdryer is too hot, water too hot etc tell the hairdresser! They don’t want to burn your head...

5.       Cosmetic Surgery – again, go to a referred place, look at reviews and for god’s sake, make sure you’re sure. Most procedures are major surgeries and things can go wrong, so please do your research, go to the consultations and listen to what they say, take their advice and take as many precautions as possible.

I feel a bit like a mum with all this safety advice so apologies – but it really is important. As fun as beauty is, sometimes it can be risky so please take precautions. 13% of people have had accidents – it may not seem like a lot but in relation to the UK, it’s still a good few thousand people.

What are your top safety tips? Have you ever had a “beauty” accident?

*This post is written in association with First4Lawyers

Make Up | Mac Fan Fare

MAC Cosmetics Cremesheen Lipstick in Fan Fare £14.00

I've been after this shade of lipstick from Mac for a while, and when I was sent some pennies from a brand for a post I decided to treat myself and give you guys a little view.

Fan Fare is described as a yellow pink, which to me basically means that it's a natural pink, with yellow tones in it - which it totally does. It's a great lipstick for everyday use and I've been wearing this as my work lipstick since it came through the post. It's incredibly wearable, and has a nice sheen finish to it, as I've found is characteristic of the cremesheen formula with Mac.

Overall I'm so glad I bought this - Crosswires is still my absolute favourite Mac lippie to date, but this comes a close second and as I said before - perfect for everyday use. It's the epitome of a "my lips but better" colour.

Have you tried Fan Fare? What's your everyday lip colour?

Skincare | Cleansers

Continuing on my mission for a great skincare regime, I have recently shaken up my cleansing routine and really commited to it, and to be honest I have seen the biggest difference because of it. I've gotten rid of a lot of "treatments" like La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo - as much as I love it I wanted to go back to basics - and honestly I haven't had to use it.

So, cleansing is basically cleaning your face. Simple I know, but like me you may not have really registered the importance of doing so. When I said to my boyfriend "since I've been doing it properly my skins has really cleared up" and he looked at me like an idiot - for him it just seemed like common sense. So what have I changed?

Well, I now have a proper routine. I cleanse in the morning, and double cleanse in the evening. After reading Rebecca's post on double cleansing I am now addicted and feel a bit eugh if I don't.

So in the morning I use my Origins Zero Oil cleanser, it's a gel cleanser that was recommended by Kate from gh0stparties for oily skin, which is exactly what I have. I pop a bit in my (clean) hands, and then apply to the face using my fingers in a circular motion until it covers my entire face. Then using a flannel, I remove with warm water - again in circular motions. I use a flannel instead of a muslin cloth as I just cannot get on with the cloths, I just tend to find them dirt catching and harder to rinse, and a flannel works perfectly for me anyway.

Then, in the evening I use a micellar water to remove my make up as my first cleanse. I've been switching between Bioderma and B.Pure. Both are great at removing make up, personally I prefer Bioderma but it's a little harder to get hold off so I use that when I've been wearing a lot of make up, and B.Pure for everyday make up.

For the second bout of cleansing I go back to my Origins Zero Oil to get rid of any excess dirt or rubbish on my face.

Since using this as my everyday cleansing routine my skin has significantly improved in appearance. I've used the micellar waters for ages already, so I am putting this mainly down to the Origins cleanser. A tad pricey but absolutely essential for me now - I couldn't live without it.

I would definitely recommend reading through Rebecca's post on double cleansing as it's a real eye opener, you can see it here.

What cleansers do you swear by?

Disclaimer: Please remember that all skincare is subjective. This review is based on my personal experiences with the products and based on my skin type. 

Nails | Topshop Hidden Treasure

TOPSHOP HIDDEN TREASURE NAIL VARNISH £6.00

My lovely Mummy went on a shopping trip recently and bought this back with her for me. It's not my usual colour, not something I'd pick for myself, but I am really drawn to it. It's a mix of blues, greens and golds, all mixed together with a shimmer. It's very unusual and incredibly pretty. It makes me think "mermaid".

Quality wise, it's the same as any other Topshop polishes. It lasts for a good couple of days without chipping (with a bottom coat) and I've gotten several compliments when wearing it.

What do you think? Would you wear Hidden Treasure?

Skincare | Vichy Aqualia Thermal

VICHY AQUALIA THERMAL MOISTURISER £15.83*

My skin lacks moisture, there - I've said it. Where I try to avoid moisturisers so not to aggravate my oily skin, the moisture tends to disappear from my skin. Then it gets dry. So instead I've focused on using moisturisers that work for oily skin. I've found that this is one of them.

I've started using two moisturisers in the morning, for many reasons which I will state in a later moisturisers post, and this is one of them. I've found it to be incredibly light and quick to absorb into the skin. You only need a little bit to cover the entire face and since I've been using this I've noticed a difference in my skins hydration. It's also paraben free - so yay!

This is specifically for sensitive skin, which I don't have, but I think this would be a great moisturiser for all skin types. It's a fab little product and has become instrumental in my skincare overhaul. I would definitely recommend this.

What moisturisers do you recommend for oily skin?

Trends | Powder v Cream Blusher

I've been having this as an internal debate so I thought I'd bring this debate to you guys. Now, it's a big one and of serious importance... Powder v Cream Blusher...! I know, it's a dilemma... So let's get onto each side of the debate!

Powder

One of the reasons I like powder blush so much is that I get oily skin and powdered blushes don't tend to aggravate this or clog up those oily pores. Not all cream blushes do this, but it's definitely something to think about when trying to decide over a powder or cream blush.

I also find them a lot easier to apply and build on, it's just a matter of swirling your brush in and brushing across your cheeks, adding as much or as little as you like and you control where it goes. I find cream blushes are near impossible to apply with a brush, it's definitely a finger application.

My favourite powder blushes are Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush and also No7 Natural Blush.

Cream

I have found that cream blushes tend to last longer, as a product and on the skin as a blusher. I find it sinks into the skin a bit more, just clinging on that little but longer so you don't have to worry about topping it up every couple of hours.

Having said powder is easier to apply, I find cream blushes are great for on the go, as it's just a case of popping your find in and blending it. There is never as much control as with a brush, but it's a great just to carry around with you if you need a rushed top up.

I prefer the finish on a cream blusher than a powder blush. I think with a powder blush it's usually obvious that it's a powder blush (if that makes sense) whereas cream blusher is easier to blend into the skin and tends to look a lot more natural and for me just has a much nicer finish.

My favourite cream blushes are Topshop Cream blushes, Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush and Revlon Baby Stick.

Overall, both have some really great merits. I tend to prefer cream blush in the summer as it gives more a dewy natural look, which I love in the hotter months (which we'll get at some point, right?). But I also love my powder blushes. It's a hard choice - but at the moment I am definitely sidling towards my cream blushers. I'm using them a lot more than my powder ones and when I go shopping I always go towards the cream versions instead of the powder. So this one goes to cream!

Which do you prefer? Powder or Cream?

Outfit | A Ditsy Summer

dress: river island | belt: h&M | ring: raspberry grape | bracelet: lola rose | nails: essie maximillian strasse her

I wore this outfit at the weekend, an incredibly sunny weekend, and up to Capital's Summertime Ball at Wembley. It is THE cutest dress and I fell in love with it when I first saw it. First of all it's blue, secondly it's floral. Then we have the cute crossover back. Well, it was cute until I got burnt and now have weird tan lines.

This dress was a steal at £22 as well - so I was really chuffed with it. It's definitely going to be this summers main dress. As you can see I also decided to give above the knuckle rings a go, if I'm honest I'm not 100% sold. I felt a bit like it was going to constantly fall off my finger - but maybe that's just me. I love the design of this one though!

You may have noticed I've also had a new design done on the blog. I did love the old design done by Gillian, but I just wanted something a bit simpler and cleaner - so I went to the gorgeous Steph who redesigned it for me and I couldn't be happier. She was so easy to work with and it was really quick. I'd love to know what you think though!

What do you think of this dress? Do you like the new blog design?

Make Up | Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation

BENEFIT HELLO FLAWLESS OXYGEN WOW IN IVORY BELIEVE IN ME £25.50*

After being invited to one of Benefit's Stay Flawless event in May, I was lucky enough to be gifted one of their Hello Flawless foundations. A few months ago I used a trial of this from my local Debenhams and really enjoyed using it, however was put off buying by the price tag - for me I just couldn't justify it at that moment in time. So when I found out we were getting one each I was super excited.

The colour is perfect for my tone. It's the pink toned version of their ivory and suits my skin tone to a tee, it's one of the closest matches I've ever found, if not the most perfect. It's incredibly light weight but gives a good, even, natural coverage. Enough to cover any annoying blemishes, but perfect for the summer. It's very easy to apply and blend in and as I said, looks very natural.

For me it's great as it's an oil free foundation, as a oily skinned person it's exactly what I need. It doesn't aggravate my oily skin. I am really finding it hard to pick out something bad about this product - apart from the price. But for me, right now it feels like it's worth the price as it is probably the best foundation I have ever used, for me. Plus it has a pump - high five for pumped foundations! (I cannot be the only one people)

Have you ever tried Hello Flawless? What's your favourite foundation?