June In Pictures

Nothing beats cute home accessories with a well placed bow. Vibrant pink peonies. A Chanel kinda Birthday, the boy definitely did good. Over indulging in Next Homeware. Reminiscing about Paris. Birthday afternoon tea at The Grove. Obsessing over Jo Malone's Silk Blossom, mmmm. Macaroons and Sunshine. My beautiful Bridesmaid's bouquet from my Best friends wedding. 

Best of 2013 | Makeup

Its crazy how much tastes change within a year. When I wrote my 'Best of 2012' post way back in January, my go to products included EOS Lip Balms, a Jack Wills Lipstick and the infamous Nars Orgasm. Fast forward 12 months and the sea of bright pinks have been replaced with daring reds and blushers have been pushed aside for bronzers (hello Tarte's Park Avenue Princess). With this being the case it will come as no suprise that only one product from last years post has made the cut. 

YSL Shocking Mascara (review here)

2013 saw me purchase a fair few mascaras (what can I say Im anything but loyal to them). Yet I find myself going back to YSLs Shocking Mascara time and time again (typical its the most expensive eh). This luxurious, long lasting, lengthening mascara may not be 'the one' but it comes pretty darn close.

Runner Up: Wet n Wild Mega Length Mascara 

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquers (review here)

Hailed as dupes for several high end lip products during its release, its hardly suprising that the Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquers went down a storm with beauty addicts. Apocalyptic a pigmented bright pink shade has regularly made its way into my day to day makeup routine since I purchased it back in January.                                      Runner Up: Chanel Jalousie 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (review here)

Iv'e said it before and Il say it again, no matter how many times I stray away from Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (DoubleWear is the usual suspect), I always find myself coming back to it. I cant rave enough about this light weight and long wearing gem. 

Runner Up: Estee Lauder DoubleWear 

Barry M Nail Art Pens (review here)

In the summer I went gaga over Barry M's Nail Art Pens (these are ideal for nail art novices). These fuss free pens will help to create quite simply the perfect manicure. Here's hoping they release more shades in the New Year.

Viva La Juicy La Fleur (review here)

Viva La Juicy La Fleur has been my go to scent this year. Each time I spritz this on my wrist im instantly transported back to my week in Paris with Tim. This beautiful feminine fragrance is the perfect floral yet fruity scent suitable for both day and night. 

Runner Up: Viva La Juicy Noir 

Maybelline Baby Lips (review here)

The hype over Maybelline Baby Lips may have died down, but personally I still cant get enough of these super moisturising and buttery soft balms. I wont ramble much more about these as I may have gone just a little overboard when they were finally released back in July. 

Runner Up: Fresh Sugar Lip Balms 

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette (review here)

December saw every blogger and their friend adding the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette to they're Christmas Wishlist's (myself included). This Palette really is perfect from the sleek rose gold packaging down to the seriously pigmented shades. This beauty may be a newcomer but considering it was love at first swatch, it well and truly deserves a spot in my 2013 faves. 

Runner Up: Nars & God Created Woman Palette

What were your favourite beauty products of 2013?

YSL Rouge In Danger

Dressing up on Christmas Day has been a tradition in my family for aslong as I can remember. Even as a child I would parade around the house in an oversized velour number, drowning in a sea of dress up jewels (those were the days when the latest 'it' bag was a LaLa rucksack). Fast forward over 15 years and I still like to adorn some serious sparkle (this year I have a little Zara number). Im sure your wondering where im going with this, so I shall stop digressing and get to the point. No Christmas outfit is complete without new beauty goodies, more specifically a beautiful red lipstick. 

So what im trying to say is, well I shamefully used Christmas day as the perfect excuse to indulge in a beautiful YSL lipstick in the form of Rouge in Danger, a vibrant yet wearable bright red. I know I know im a shopaholic. This seriously glossy lipstick is super pigmented, long lasting and easy to apply (it really does glide on effortlessly) making it the perfect accompaniment to any Christmas look. 

Unlike most reds  Rouge In Danger doesn't stick to, or emphasise dry patches. Infact I find it to be not only hydrating but quite flattering even with my current bout of seriously chapped lips (as you can probably gather from the swatch above, its unnoticeable). Unlike the generic vanilla scent of most high end lip products (dont get me wrong I cant fault it) this YSL beauty has a pleasantly refreshing fruity scent. 

Like all YSL packaging, this is seriously luxurious and visually appealing, thanks to the beautiful gold packaging finished off with the brands logo. I love how the band around the packaging is colour co ordinated to the shade inside, making it easy to identify (not that I have a drawer of YSL lipsticks to rummage through). 

The YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in Rouge In Danger costs £24 and can be purchased from the likes of Debenhams, Selfridges and Feel Unique.

What are your Christmas beauty traditions?!

All I Want For Christmas Is...

...Several high end beauty products 

Christmas; a time for giving, spending time with family, attending endless party's with friends, consuming one too many mince pies, and lusting after the many limited edition gift sets Selfridges, Space NK and Boots have to offer (just me?) Seeing as though I've been oh so good this year (il just keep telling myself that) I've put together a list of luxurious Christmas presents, I would be thrilled to see under my tree. So without further ado, here's my dream Christmas Wishlist. 

Lets face it this YSL case is the creme de la creme of beauty gift sets, the ultimate present for any nail polish obsessives even if it does come with a whopping price tag. Theres no harm in dreaming though, right?

When it comes to perfume I am a Juicy Couture girl through and through. So its no suprise that I find myself swooning over the limited edition Viva La Juicy Luxe Parfum (just look at that bottle), however that being said I would be one happy bunny if a bottle of Jo Malone's Pomegranate Noir in its iconic cream and black box somehow found its way into my stocking on Christmas morning. 

How fabulous is this Charlotte Tilbury Future Vintage, Collectors Edition Set containing a Luxury Eyeshadow Palette, the sought after Bar Of Gold, Mini Charlotte's Magic Cream, Filmstar Bronze & Glow, Lip Lustre in Bardot beige, K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick in Penelope Pink and Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillowtalk ... and breath. Now does anyone have a spare £250 floating around? 

Finally, I cant help but lust over the Ombres Matelassees De Chanel Eyeshadow Palette (what can I say im a neutral eye gal through and through), and the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette.  

What would you love to see in your stocking Christmas morning?!

The Lipstick Tag

Keeping with the Lipstick theme, I thought I would have a go at the Lipstick Tag. It will come as no suprise that I have a total weakness for a good lippy. Im that girl that goes gaga over the infamous sleek black M.A.C packaging, the girl who spends countless hours in Boots swatching every lipstick in sight (I jest), and makes the most of 3 for 2 offers for the sole purpose of owning a limited edition Maybelline Baby Lips. So it only seemed right to dedicate a post to all things lipstick. 

How many lipsticks do you own?!

With only one pair of lips I would love to say 5 (a nude, light pink, vibrant pink, red and mauve), however in reality I have around 40.

What was your first ever lipstick?!

Im not sure on the exact shade as the name has worn away over time. But it was a pretty frosty pink from Maybelline. I still actually have the lipstick to this day (pictured above in purple packaging), I no longer use it, but I cant bare to part with it.

What is your favourite lipstick brand?!

So cliche, but I would have to say M.A.C. With such a vast range of shades and formulas (and lets not forget those sought after limited edition beauties) there really is a lipstick for everyone (you can read my collection post here).

What is your most worn lipstick?!

It would have to be Creme Cup from M.A.C, the ultimate every day light pink.

What is your favourite finish?!

I find creamy formulations to be the post wearable, fuss free and easy to apply. 

What was the last lipstick you brought?!

Chanel Bondi, a sheer peach coral which I managed to pick up in a blogsale for the grand total of £5

How many lip products do you currently have in your bag?!

As im currently using my Mulberry Lily, I only have room for three, Chanel's Bondi, M.A.Cs RiRiWoo and M.A.Cs Dish It Up. However I usually carry way too many. Please tell me im not alone?

What lipstick do you use to rock a red lip?!

Recently I cant get enough of M.A.Cs RiRiWoo. This beautiful matte red is seriously pigmented and long lasting (it survived a three course meal), making it the ultimate party perfect lipstick. 

How do you store your lipstick?!

Although I would love to have them all on display, its more practical to have them stored away in an acrylic box within one of the many malm drawers. 

What lip products are you currently lusting after?!

I would love to see Hourglass' Liquid Lipstick in Icon at the bottom of my stocking. 

I tag:

Jennie from Sail Boat

Trina from TrinaWears 

Victoria from Victoria Earls 

They See Me Hauling ..

As an ex Next employee back in my Uni days, I have seen first hand the utter craziness that ensues during the sales. Dragging myself into work at 4am and passing all the students going home from a night out (yes it really was that early humph), I would be greeted at the door by a hoard of ladies (and unimpressed partners that had been dragged out of bed) ready to bag themselves a bargain. What would ensue inside the shop was utter craziness, with bargain hunters leaving a sea of carnage behind them!! (note: a little tip I learnt, if you want to bag yourself a bargain, go a few days later when half of the items have have been returned and reduced further). Since then I like to bag my sale bargains from the comfort of my own home, free from pushing and prodding, and women fighting over the last pair of still hideously expensive shoes!!

Luckily for me, my birthday happened to coincide with most of the summer sales, waheeey. So its safe to say that I may have been a little naughty (I can still use my birthday as an excuse right?)

After reading this post by the gorgeous Amelia, I knew I needed the above floral shorts from Zara in my life!! I picked these up for about £30, not exactly a massive saving, as they were around £40 before they went into the sale, but I couldn't let them pass me by!!Okay okay so they may resemble your Grans curtains but I love them! The perfect balance between smart and casual, these gorgeous neon orange and pink shorts are a perfect fit, and a lifesaver during the recent heatwave. 

Carrying on with the neon theme (can you tell im a fan?!) I picked up the above neon pink flip flops from Tory Burch. I had been tempted to purchase these beauties for a while, so when I saw them in the sale for £20 down from £40 I knew I had to get them. On an impulse I also picked up the pink and neon orange bracelet, my reason?! because I thought it would go perfectly with the shorts!! ha. This was around £40 reduced from a whopping £70. 

Finally the birthday treat to myself.. With the extortionate price tag, I never in my wildest dreams (and yes I do have dreams that entails me raiding Chanel and Hermes) did I ever imagine being able to afford a YSL Arty Ring! When I saw this beautiful Arty on Net A Porter for about £100 (no thats not a typo) I knew I had to have it. I did hold off for a few days but finally convinced myself that A. I would regret it if I didn't purchase it (it was reduced from over £200), B. I had birthday money burning a whole in my pocket and C. If rumours are correct it may be my last chance to get my mitts on one (apparently there discontinuing the Arty Rings, boo). 

It really is love, and I cant stop staring at it!! The above stone is now sold out HOWEVER there are others still available in the Net A Porter sale for around £70 (a massive discount wouldn't you agree?!)

So there we have it my pick of the sales!
Right im off to hide my bank card!!

Did you find any gems in the summer sales?!

The joys of Duty Free

Lets face it, sitting in the departure lounge can be a gruelling wait, especially when you know that your a mere flight away from holiday bliss. Luckily as a beauty addict there is the joyous world of duty free to help pass the time. With my birthday fast approaching (am I really going to be 22 tomorrow?!) I decided to treat myself to a few bits and pieces I had, had my eye on for a while!! 

Chanel Les Beiges no30

I have been eager to try the Healthy Glow Sheer Powder since it was released a few months back! But with the prospect of Duty Free on the horizon I waited patiently for my trip to Paris to seal the deal, whilst also getting it for a little cheaper. 

The MUA advised me to go for a shade deeper than I am in Vitalumiere to help add a natural glow, and im so glad she did. Unlike most powders Chanel Les Beiges is completely lightweight and leaves my skin with the natural, matte finish I desire. 

Diorskin Nude Tan BB Cream 

After hearing so many rave reviews I couldn't wait to get my mitts on the Dior Nude Tan BB Cream. This new release from Dior claims to enhance an existing tan, whilst still having all the benefits of a conventional BB Cream. I haven't used this yet, so have no opinion, but expect a review uber soon. 

Very YSL Travel Palette, Guerlian Meteorites Travel Pearls, Juicy Couture Perfume Minis 

I then fell into the 'duty free exclusives' trap and walked away with the Guerlian Meteorites Travel pearls, a set which includes two mini pots of the infamous meteorites aswell as a ridiculously cute brush. Juicy Couture Perfume Minis and a YSL Travel Palette. Personally I think the photos do the talking in terms of the palette, and like all YSL products the packaging is divine. I wouldn't normally opt for purples and pinks but something about the shades screamed out to me (my inner teenage self was ridiculously pleased with this purchase haha) 

So there we have it, a sneak peek at my Duty Free purchases!! 

Have you picked anything up from Duty Free recently?!

Harvey Nichols Gift With Purchase

 With payday just on the horizon and a rather extensive wish list of beautiful high end beauty products, just willing me to purchase them (lets face it I am a total shopaholic), it didn't take much for me to make a very naughty (gulp) unnecessary and indulgent purchase, with the prospect of being rewarded a Harvey Nichols gift with purchase for being so bad good!! 

With my constant late night shopping antics getting a little out of hand, I have slowly reached joking terms with my local DPD courier, so I excitedly greeted him at the door this morning with my box full of wonderful treats. 

In terms of the gift with purchase, it is without a doubt the BEST freebie I have ever received, with 14 decent sized samples (included in that two full size) sitting pretty inside a gorgeous makeup bag adorning Fifi Lapin in all her haute couture glory, whats not to love. Altogether the gift with purchase is worth a whopping £130, amazing I hear you say?! well the only downfall is that to receive this beautiful bag of goodies, you must spend £110 in the Harvey Nichols beauty department!! So if you've been after some high end luxury for a while, nows your time to be a little naughty. 

Opening up this beautiful treasure chest, whilst admiring Fifi's beautiful illustrations, it did feel just a little like Christmas had come around again. So whats got me all excited this morning? the gift with purchase includes:

Fifi Lapin Makeup bag

Butter London Polish in West End Wonderland (full size)

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (15ml)

Serge Lutens Eau De Parfum (5ml)

Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil (20ml)

YSL Volume Effect Mascara (2ml)

Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask (10ml)

Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Pond (full size)

Lancome Advanced Skin Corrector (5ml)

ESPA 24-Hour Replenishing Moisturiser (7ml)

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (13g)

Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash (50ml)

Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Neck Cream (30ml)

Eve Lom Cleanser

Overall I am seriously impressed! I have heard rave reviews about a lot of the products, especially Butter London and Laura Mercier to name but a few, so im really looking forward to giving them a try. The only product im not too sure about is the Bare Minerals Eyeshadow due to the colour (I think the name gives the shade away), but im willing to give it a shot!! 

Right im off to act like a big kid and play around with my new things!! I will leave you with a picture below of the guilty purchases I made to receive my bag of goodies!! 

What do you think of Harvey Nichols Gift With Purchase?

Will you be taking a trip to the Beauty department? 

March Favourites 2013

YSL 'shocking' mascara

If you've read my posts for some time, then you'll know that I am a sucker for mascara (whilst also a little unfaithful to one in particular). Throw some fancy packaging into the mix, and im all over it like a rash. 

How I came to purchase the YSL shocking mascara, can be told via that oh so familiar story, (il set the scene) its payday, which means a walk into town and a visit to the house of fraser beauty hall and like a magpie gravitate towards the shiny gold packaging of the YSL stand. In all honesty I meant business, with my well earned wages burning a hole in my trusty black Mulberry purse, and after hearing rave reviews about the 'shocking' mascara, I needed little encouragement/persuasion from the mua to make my purchase. 

First things first lets just take a minute to admire the luxurious packaging, embossed with the YSL logo (ooooo how fancy). Now lets get down to the nitty gritty, with various sized plastic bristles, the wand makes applying the product a doddle, catching all of the lashes, resulting in a 'shocking' fluttery effect. Creating seriously long lashes, this mascara packs a punch and stays put all day. 

The downsides? initially when I purchased the YSL shocking mascara, the product was a little 'wet' which left black marks on my brow bone and left me slightly disappointed, however after the first application I haven't had the problem since (phew). 

The only over downfall is the £23 price tag, but for how good this mascara is, and the added bonus of the flashy packaging that any girl would happily have adorn their makeup bag, we can look past this little downfall right?? 

Are you a sucker for fancy packaging?? 

Best of 2012

Raiding through my ever growing makeup drawer whilst trying to decipher what my my most used and loved beauty products have been over the past year, made me realise just how much my tastes have changed. Last January I would have picked MAC Studio Sculpt as my holy grail foundation in a heart beat, whereas today I would firmly chose Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua.

Ive gone from opting for a neutral lip, needless to say creme cup has been replaced with various shades of bright pink (hello show orchid). As for skincare, I am no longer that girl who would lazily use wilkos finest face wipes and the cheapest cleanser on offer. These days I have a range of products that suit my skin, and in return ive noticed a dramatic difference in my complexion. 

So after much consideration, here it is my Best of 2012

Best of Makeup

 Foundation- Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

Concealer- Collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer

Highlighter- YSL Touche Eclat

Blush- Nars Orgasm

Bronzer- Mac Refined Golden

Eyeliner- Estee Lauder Doublewear 01 Onyx 

Eyeshadow- Bobbi Brown long-wear cream shadow (velvet plum)

Mascara- Benefit they're real

Lipbalm- Fresh Sugar Lip Balm 

Lipstick- Jack Wills Hot Pink

Nails 

 Barry M- Red Glitter

Chanel- Peridot

Essie- Tart Deco

Best of Skincare

 Toner- Caudalie Beauty Elixir

Cleanser-  Philosophy Purity 3-in-1

Moisturiser- Liz Earle Skin Repair Light 

Eye Cream- Benefit its potent

Face Mask- Elemis Fruit Active Rejuvenating Mask

Make up remover- Bioderma

Best of the rest  

Shower Gel- Lush Ponche 

Perfume- Jimmy Choo

Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitiser 

Mulberry locked cosmetic purse 

What were your faviourite Beauty Products of 2012??

whats inside my makeup bag

Hello lovelies, i hope your all well. Being a serial snooper i rather enjoy seeing posts on the items you lovely people keep in your bags, makeup bags included, so i thought i would give you guys a little insight into what i use on a daily basis. My makeup bag of choice is of course my beautiful mulberry locked cosmetic purse (if you want to see a post dedicated to the beauty itself click here ;) if your wondering where my makeup brushes are, i keep them separate as i dont want them getting my makeup bag all messy.

 Dr Jart+ Beauty Balm

This is a new addition to my makeup bag, and it is already becoming a firm faviourite. It claims to minimize the need for foundation and concealer and that it does. Although i still adore my studio sculpt foundation i have been using this to let my skin breathe a little as studio sculpt is quite a heavy foundation

Collection 2000 concealer

ive been using Dr Jart+ Beauty balm with my collection 2000 concealer. Ive raved about this concealer many a time, and all i have to say is that it deserves to be hyped about

YSL touche eclat

i apply a little of this as a highlighter under my eyes

Loreal Paris lumi magique primer

this is another new addition but a definite new fave. not only does it prime the skin which in turn helps my foundation stay longer, on my oily prone skin (boo). But it also doubles as a highlighter, it is seriously gorgeous from the rose gold detail on the packaging to the product itself

Benefit Brow Zings 

apologies for the sheer grubbiness of this, i couldnt be without this little duo, anything to keep my unruly eyebrows at bay is a plus in my books. I also love how it includes small tweezers, a perfect makeup bag essential

Bobbi Brown Extreme Party mascara

yep your eyes arent playing tricks with you, im actually mentioning the same mascara more than once, i think there may just be a long lasting relationship with this beauty, it lengthens aswell as thickens my lashes, what more could a girl want 

Bobbi Brown Long wear Gel liner 

a jet black liner that lasts all day on my oily lids, a definite statement in my makeup bag

Urban Decay Naked palette & Bobbi Brown long wear cream shadow in velvet plum (37)

for the past week or so ive been using virgin and sin with velvet plum on a daily basis. Im not usually a fan of cream eyeshadows as they tend to crease but velvet plum seems to last well, and it is such a beautiful shade that the picture just does not give it justice. 

YSL rouge Volupte (10) & Chanel Jalousie 

These two together are a perfect combination, although rather bright shades ive quite enjoyed using them on a daily basis

So there you have it, these are the goodies that i store in my makeup bag!!

whats inside your makeup bag??