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Saturday 7 November 2015

Blush: Powder, Loose, Cream or Liquid?


Nowadays you can find blush in pretty much any form, from liquid to mineral powder, the beauty brands have got you covered. This post is going to go through the main types of blush, where and how to wear them, with some recommendations thrown into the mix. 


Loose Powder Blush
This is the riskiest one of them all, but the finish is beautiful. Any skin type would suit this blush, as this product tends to be very finely milled and avoids the cakey look. So you won't find this clinging onto dry skin patches. I would recommend using a sparse brush for this type of blush product, you want to make sure that minimal product is picked up on the brush when you are applying. Remember you can always add product but it gets a little tricky taking it away! My favourite brush to use for this is the Real Techniques Blush Brush, the tapered end is great for applying product to the apples of the cheeks and the sparse bristles only pick up the amount needed. 


Cream Blush
The perfect one for that natural wash of colour. If you have dry or mature skin this is the blush to go for, its moisturising and will give that youthful glow. I find the best brush to use is a stippling brush, my favourite being the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. After I apply the product with the brush I use my fingers to blend it into the skin a bit more and you end up with a muted wash of colour and a lovely dewy glow.  


Liquid Blush
The product I go for when I want that 'pinched cheeks' kind of look. If you have oily skin, liquid blush would be perfect for you as a stain will stay on you cheeks all day and not budge. This one is safest applied with your fingers, but you have to act quick with blending. Just put a drop or two on your fingers, apply on the apples of the cheeks and blend. If you need to eliminate that clownesque look then grab your foundation brush and lightly go over the blush to soften the colour.


Powder Blush
Last but definitely not least is the trusty powder blush. Powder blush is good for any skin type dry, oily or combination. This one gives a simple but sophisticated look with a matte finish on the skin. These blushes tend to be quite pigmented depending on what brand you go for so I use a sparse tapered brush for this product, typically the Real Techniques Blush Brush (you can never go wrong with Real Techniques Brushes).  

Monday 28 September 2015

Essie 'Lady Like'


I refer to this shade as the perfect fall purple, with spring and summer being lilac and winter as burgundy. If you like neutrals you will also probably be as in love with this shade as I am. And the name? Well the name really does match the shade. It oozes sophisticated lady in a bottle, but with a slight colour twist compared to the usual sheer pinks and nudes. The formula flaunts the usual Essie way- a non gloopy one, full of colour, with a thin brush for great application.

If you do fancy stepping up your 'Lady Like' side a notch this fall, you can pick up this beauty here in Boots for £7.99.

Thursday 17 September 2015

Three Books You Should Read


Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?: (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
If you like the Mindy Project then you will like this, if you have never watched or heard of the Mindy Project but like an autobiography, with a bit of humour and wit thrown in- you will also like this. Mindy Kailing shares her experiences and life lessons but with a personal twist, showing that life is not what you see in the movies it's full of humour, less than ideal situations and a little embarrassing.

Also an autobiography with both wit and honesty, you learn exactly how Lena Dunham got to where she is now. I am a big fan of her show Girls because of its truthful experiences never shown through rose coloured glasses. This is very much reflected in this book which is why I love it so much. If you are a girl in your twenties this is perfect for some life advice and reassurance that even if everything does not go to plan, doesn't mean you will fail.

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
I have always been a lover of Nicholas Sparks, he writes the perfect love story that will definitely need a box of tissues along with it. This book is perfect read when you just want to relax (preferably with a glass of wine). This book writes the dramas of falling in love from a story of a past love and a current one. I won't give anything away, but when the two stories meet the twist will leave your heart melting.

Sunday 13 September 2015

Five Apps You Should Have For Blogging


Notes...
This app is great to jot down any ideas you have throughout the day. As I mentioned in my previous post 'Tips for Blogging in Full Time Education/Work' I might get ideas when I'm walking around in the day, from seeing outfit ideas or a nail polish colour someone is wearing.

Bloglovin'...
I use this app for a lot of things, to get ideas for blog posts from other bloggers, interact with bloggers and save tips to improve my blogging or a product I might want to try out. The app gives you notifications when someone you are following publishes a new post, so at a lunch break or throughout the day, this is great to give you something to read and interact with the bloggers by commenting. In this app you can also create Collections these are groups of saved blog posts from the bloggers, for example, I have a group called 'Blogging Tips' which consist of blog posts that have tips on how to improve my blog or blogging process.

Canva...
If you are creating an image for your blog post but feel like it's a bit sparse and needs a little something extra this app is the one. Canva has creative fonts and shapes to add to your images so it looks like graphic designer might have gotten their hands on it. I used this app for 'The Vitamin C Booster Smoothie' post, this made the perfect image to advertise my blog post on Pinterest and other social media.

Pinterest...
This is my place of inspiration if I am stuck in a blogging 'rut'. With all of the beautiful fashion, DIY, food and beauty photography you are bound to get an idea of what to write about. This is an app that I tend to scroll through in my spare time or when I'm commuting. Pinterest is also a place to promote your blog, I recommend adding the Pinterest botton to your blog pictures (go here for how to add this) so either your readers can pin your images or you can to advertise your posts to other 'pinners'.

Instagram...
This is another place of inspiration and a great way to promote your blog. Set up an account for your blog to show up and coming blog posts and interact with other bloggers. If you have written a blog post on the perfect slutty brownie recipe- show other bloggers and food lovers #foodporn. 

Sunday 6 September 2015

The Secret To Healthy Nails

This is an image of my nails completely natural, with no polish on!

My nails used to be in horrible condition- flaky, always broke and were never the same length. I have used a lot of products to try and find something that can help with them- O.P.I Nail envy, Dr. LeWinn's Nail Strengthener and home remedies such as olive oil with lemon. None of these really worked any wonders and the nail strengtheners were around £20 a bottle which just burnt a hole in my purse repurchasing them. 

That's until I found Rimmel Nail Rescue- it is bad but sometimes I do judge a book by it's cover or rather a nail polish my it's brand. This is not to say I don't love Rimmel products but I didn't think they would be any better than O.P.I so I never bothered trying them. Big mistake.

One of my friends introduced me to this and said she uses it as a base coat under her nail polish as well as on it's own. I noticed after a couple uses how much better my nails were looking, after purchasing a bottle and few more times of using it my nails weren't flaky anymore and thicker which meant less breakage. 

I 100% recommend this, at only £4.49 from Boots you can't really go wrong!

Get Rimmel Nail Rescue here at Boots!

Thursday 3 September 2015

Tips for Blogging in Full Time Education/Work

Schedule which days you will be posting...
This is simply to make a schedule, you can then plan when to write your blog posts around your week and other deadlines you will have. I have a schedule of posting 2 times a week, on Monday's and Thursday's. In my opinion this amount is manageable with other full time commitments. 
However saying that, some weeks differ- you can have a quiet week and you could manage to post 4-5 times a week, but then you could have a very busy week with only enough time to post 1-2 times a week. I tend to stick to the schedule and save blog posts for those busier weeks. Then, if you feel like you can handle more posts each week, increase it by another day and so on. 

Take as many photos as possible in your free time...
Taking pictures for you blog can be tricky sometimes, if you are just starting out blogging then you may not have the equipment such as light boxes, forcing you to rely on natural light. 
If you are working or studying full time, then chances are you will be doing that in the prime time to take pictures. Therefore, the weekend is the best time to utilise the natural light and take as many pictures as possible to plan for the week of posts ahead. 

Write lots of blog posts ready to publish...
As I mentioned before, some weeks will be busier than others and these very busy weeks can be stressful when you still need to write those blog posts. To put a stop to those rushed, stress filled posts  I write a collection of filler posts you could say. These tend to be posts like 'Links I've Been Loving' and 'Wishlists', I write these posts my spare time and only use them for those jam-packed weeks.
In addition to this, I will also write as many blog posts as possible in the weeks I'm not very busy so there is no worry about not having anything to publish.

Use a notes app on your phone to record new blog post ideas...
Sometimes bloggers can go through a bit of a bloggers block. To get as many ideas flowing as possible as soon as I think of one I write it down, otherwise I will probably forget it by the time I get home. I use the Notes app on my iPhone for this which works great because my phone is on me most of the time and I can quickly jot ideas down. An idea can come suddenly from anything from tasting something delicious to inspire a recipe to seeing how someone wore their kimono. 

Have posts ready for social media e.g. Instagram, twitter...
This is to keep up with social media, the more you are posting, the more people discover you and your blog. If you are a regular poster this will also help to maintain and raise your followers. However, in full time study or work there are some days where work is the only thing you have done and there is literally nothing exciting to report from your day. Try to refrain from not posting at all. Anything I see that I think would look great on my Instagram feed, I take a picture of it- but I limit my posts so I am not posting 5 times a day on the weekend and none at all in the weekdays. I try and stick to one a day or every other day- this all depends on the amount of images you tend to take per week.

I hope some of these tips help and I would love to hear any tips you have in the comments! 

Monday 31 August 2015

Luxemme Delphine Eyelet Lace Up Two Piece


Luxemme was so kind for contacting me, giving me the opportunity to collaborate with their clothing brand. I was lucky enough to pick a bespoke designed piece from their Limited Edition collection.

Luxemme is a new clothing brand who describes their style as "Parisian chic with Manchester street". After getting sent this Delphine Eyelet Lace Up Two Piece I can say that their pieces are the hight of luxury, with a great quality feel and a true to size fit (I am wearing size 6). These types of clothing brands typically come with a costly price tag, but Luxemme gives you great quality with a price tag that doesn't put you in shock.


I picked the Delphine Eyelet Lace Up Two Piece because of it's uniqueness. The lace up sides on the top not only follows the Cut-Out trend that I am loving for the summer but also allows you to have the perfect fit by adjusting the ties. The shorts are also a piece that I will not only be wearing with this top but also pairing it with some others in my wardrobe. They are so versatile and the high waisted fit shows off those curves beautifully.


You get get this simple but stunning and chic two piece here, but they only have 4 left so I would hurry to get your hands on this beauty! In addition to these pieces, Luxemme also offers many other two pieces from their Limited Edition Collection ranging from a casual everyday feel to a more sophisticated look. 



Visit the Luxemme website for more luxury, chic pieces like this one! 

Thursday 27 August 2015

9 Instagram Accounts I Love

(From left to right: @nataly0689, @alice_bitmead, @k_a_t_h_r_i_n, @ciderwithrosieblog, @ihavethisthingwithfloors, @linda_lomelino, @meghanrienks, @_ponykiss_, @alexcentomo) 

@nataly0689 This is an account including different foods, fashion and lifestyle posts but what I love about this one is the many flowers and foliage that she includes in her images. I find these to add so much life and colour to her posts that accompany the overall neutral tone of her images very nicely.

@alice_bitmead Alice's account is a blend of bright and lively colours in the food she makes and the  various places she photographs. With her witty captions to go with these images her account has you scrolling for hours and hours. 

@k_a_t_h_r_i_n If you are wanting some healthy food inspiration this is the account to visit. Kathrin creates beautiful smoothie bowls topped full with endless superfoods and fruits, with stunning presentation. Her account gives off the most vibrant, colourful look with the natural foods she uses.

@ciderwithrosieblog Cider with Rosie is a collection of images that ooze English countryside with an exception of the tropical Thailand images from her honeymoon. I always feel very cosy when browsing through her account, this is probably more than likely from the morning coffee and breakfast in bed posts. 

@ihavethisthingwithfloors If you also have a thing with floors, I would recommend this account. It is full of regramed images from various floors all over the world with the most beautiful and unique designs, you almost wish this was a flooring catalogue.

@linda_lomelino Linda is a very talented photographer which is shown by her gorgeous recipes decorated and photographed to perfection. She also includes pictures of lovely, colourful exteriors wherever she travels. If you are looking for an account to follow with a mixture of lifestyle and irresistible recipes, Linda Lomelino is one to follow. 

@meghanrienks I just really enjoy to look at the whole bright and airy design of Meghan's account. She has created a beautiful wash of white across her account filled with her day to day life from the food she eats to the outfits she puts together.  

@_ponykiss_ This account is a mixture of food, travel and general everyday life. She has created an account of perfectly composed images that always tend to make me a tad jealous of wherever she is photographing these places. 

@alexcentomo Everything on this account is Pinterest worthy you could say. I first found Alex's account from watching her YouTube videos which are full of fashion, workout and hair tutorials that is reflected in her Instagram feed. One thing I have learnt from flicking through her images, is that you will get serious hair envy. 




Monday 24 August 2015

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

If you are craving pudding, heavenly gooey chocolaty guilt loaded pudding this is the recipe to go for- but minus the guilt. I'm sure you have all heard of chia seeds, chia seeds can be added to pretty much anything from muffins to a cereal topping. However, my very favourite way to use them is in this recipe...

Makes 3 Servings

 1) Put all of the ingredients into the blender and blend until all ingredients are mixed together

2) Pour into a bowl or mug and leave it to set overnight


3) Add any toppings to your chocolate chia seed pudding (my personal favourite is greek yogurt to mix into the pudding with some raspberries)



This is a great quick breakfast when you are in a hurry or a quick sweet treat, leftovers can be left in the fridge for 2-3 days. 

Let me know what you think if you try it out and feel free to share any recipes in the comments! 

Thursday 20 August 2015

Links I've Been Loving #1


1. Because everyone needs somewhere cute and creative to store their spices...

2. An ice cream sandwich slutty brownie, does life get any better than this?

3. The best 27 ways you ever will see an Oreo being used

4. *Warning* Serious house envy.

5. The perfect blog post for blog photography background ideas

6. A fresh, summer sweet corn and bean salad on Blake Lively's website Preserve will make you want to get chopping in that kitchen straight away

Monday 17 August 2015

The Subtle Bronze Eye





























I love a good subtle, bronze eye. It's quick, easy and brightens those babies up to make you look awake and ready for the day (even if you have stayed up till 2am watching Netflix).
This tends to be my everyday eye look throughout the summer, basically anything bronze in those warm months - I'm all for! I use all shimmer shades for this look which could sound a bit too much but with these products you get a lovely subtle glow wash over those lids. 



After applying my base I will put a small dot of Urban Decay Primer Potion onto my ring finger and dab that on my lids. This creates a perfect base for the shadow and prevents any creasing throughout the day. I will then use the Real Techniques 'Deluxe Crease Brush' to apply a light wash of Urban Decay 'Venus' from the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette, all over the lid for a bright base. I then take my Real Techniques 'Base Shadow Brush' and apply MAC 'Naked Lunch' - a beautiful light champagne colour. If you wanted more of a smoky look I sometimes add MAC 'All That Glitters' in the crease with the Real Techniques 'Deluxe Crease Brush'. To highlight, I take the Real Techniques 'Base Shadow Brush' to add Urban Decay 'Venus' to the brow bone. I take the same colour on the lower lash line and inner corner with the Real Techniques 'Accent Brush'. 


To enhance the lashes I use the Max Factor False Lash Effect on the top and bottom lashes - this lengthens and holds a curl wonderfully! And the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler (which really is as good as they say!). 

xoxo 

Thursday 13 August 2015

The Review // Urban Decay Naked Skin Bronzing Beauty Balm

I love the summer and I love the sun, but when it comes to my foundation routine, this can get a bit tricky and often expensive when your constantly changing shades. How to eliminate these constant Space NK and Boots orders? The Urban Decay Naked Skin Bronzing Beauty Balm has got you covered (pardon the pun). 



I add this to any foundation, BB cream and concealer too light to add a bit of colour and a lovely glow to your base. This can also be used on its own for a natural, darker glow or even apply before your base but I do prefer to mix it in for a smoother and even finish. 



£23.50 Urban Decay

What's your favourite product to add a bit of colour to your base?

xoxo

Monday 10 August 2015

Creamy Avocado Pasta


This creamy avocado pasta is my favourite quick and healthy dinner that tastes amazing, with only 5 ingredients! If you fancy some meat add chicken to the sauce for some added protein and if you are a cheese lover like me, add some parmesan on top. 

Makes 2 Servings

2 Avocados
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp of salt
1 Clove of garlic
3 tbsp of olive oil
250g Pasta


1) Add the pasta to boiling water for 10-15 mins depending on the pasta 

2) Add all of the ingredients into the blender and use a garlic crusher for the garlic

3) Blend until smooth

4) Give it a taste to see if you want more salt, lemon or garlic if desired



5) Drain pasta, add avocado sauce and mix

6) Add some salt and pepper or parmesan on top! 


Enjoy!

Thursday 6 August 2015

Homeware Wishlist #1

I've been doing some online window shopping for cute homeware bits, after watching Zoella's Homeware Hauls - how can I not?

So I have to admit, quite a few of these things are from Oliver Bonas. Why? Because Oliver Bonas knows how to do homeware. Its the copper products that reel me in - I like the simple white and neutral colours with the main homeware and furniture but sometimes this can look a bit 'dentist/ hospital like', so some copper accents in the home really warms the place up and gives it a little somthin' somthin'.

Another favourite is Anthropologie - this is where I like to look for some colour. They incorporate lovely bright limes, oranges and blues into their kitchen, bedroom and living room products as you will see down below.

Some of the other favourite homeware bits come from Homebase - Yes I know Homebase is not one you would put down for a chic home style but they do some really cute products, my favourite is their  big clocks to hang on the wall, especially their Salisbury Wall Clock in Grey.

For bedding I love Shabby Chic by Rachel Ashwell, she uses lovely soft colours but my favourite is her all white bedding for a simple look, that you can add colour to with bright cushions and throws.


xoxo

Monday 3 August 2015

Essie 'Absolutely Shore'


If you like your blue's and green's on those finger tips but want to tone it down a notch, this Essie 'Absolutely Shore' is the answer. This shade is a beautiful light sea foam green which makes me think of a beach house in the Hamptons.
The formula? You need two coats with this polish but I have had two of these and they do tend to get a bit gloopy. For this, just pop a few drops of nail polish remover into the bottle and shake it up.
The perfect summer shade when you want a pop of colour without going too crazy. 


xoxo

Monday 27 July 2015

The Vitamin C Booster Smoothie


This has been one of my favourite smoothies to make this summer, it's packed with Vitamin C to boost the immune system and even has anti ageing benefits for the skin. And who doesn't love a good smoothie in the summer?!

This recipe includes a smoothie pack from Love Smoothies which is great if you want a pre made smoothie pack to wack in the blender or you simply want to avoid buying heaps of ingredients.
You will need a blender, I used the Nutri Ninja but any blender will do!


Makes 2 Servings
-1 cup of strawberries
-1 cup of pineapple

-1/4 cup of broccoli*
-1/4 cup of spinach*
-1/4 cup of mango*
-1/4 cup of pineapple*
*Or 1 pack of the 'Broccoli and the Beast aka The Hulk' smoothie mixture from love smoothies

-1/2 cup of milk (you can replace this with almond, coconut, rice or oat milk for a diary free alternative)


 Admittedly, this is not a Pinterest worthy 'Green Juice' due to it's unappetising brown colour but it really does taste amazing! 

Thursday 2 July 2015

Five YouTubers You Should Be Watching



I've been watching YouTube for quite a few years now. From what the best BB Cream is to how to do the perfect squat, it's all on there. So, here are a my top five YouTubers to watch, who will tell you everything you need to know about beauty, fashion and lifestyle.

Zoella
She covers everything from vlogs to hauls but my favourite thing to watch Zoella for is her homeware hauls. I can only imagine her home looking like a Pinterest news feed with her chic candle collection and copper decor.

Hannah Maggs
A mum and beauty blogger that does weekly vlogs with her husband and their baby Grayson. If you like family vlogs Hannah Maggs is one to watch.

Niomi Smart
Her channel is one to go to if your searching for healthy, vegan treats. Niomi does videos on everything healthy, with food, fitness and even throws some fashion and beauty in the mix.

ViviannaDoesMakeup 
ViviannaDoesMakeup is the reason I started my blog. Her classic, chic fashion style and effortless natural beauty looks will make you want to watch more and more. I definitely recommend watching her 'makeup menus' for great beauty products, but I have to warn you, your bank will suffer from many purchases at SpaceNK after clicking on her videos.

Tone It Up
This channel is my favourite fitness channel. They target all body parts and makes working out not a chore. As summer is quickly approaching, I would go check out their 'Bikini Series' for some great workouts they do on the beach.

Monday 9 March 2015

Cheltenham Racecourse Ladies Day #ColourMeMarch

With Cheltenham Racecourse Ladies Day event moving closer, EtailPR approached me to put a post together of the look I would wear to the event following the theme of #ColourMeMarch! I wanted to incorporate lots of bright spring colours and of course, I've always wanted an excuse to wear fascinator. 

The Dress


This dress is perfect for a smart event like the Cheltenham Races. The midi length gives a sophisticated look to the whole outfit with the pop of yellow showing spring colour.

The Fascinator
 

The Races are one of the rare opportunities a girl gets to wear a fascinator. Pair this with some big loose waves to the side. 

The Shoes 


These simple, barely there sandals are perfect to pair with a midi dress in my opinion. With the dress doing all the work, these shoes just add a little something extra without going too overboard. 

The Bag 

You can't go wrong with a Whistles bag, they add class to any outfit and add a bit of texture to the outfit with the stingray leather. 

The Jewellery 

I wanted to keep the jewellery very minimal so the main attention can be on the pop of colour in the dress. With the hair pinned to the side, these earrings add a touch of gold to complement the white and yellow outfit. 

Make sure to follow @ColourMeMarch and tweet your outfits for Cheltenham Racecourse Ladies Day using the hashtag #ColourMeMarch. You can also enter the competition and find out more information at this website
xoxo




Sunday 11 January 2015

The Review // Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation


I thought I would jump on the Laura Mercier bandwagon and try out the Silk Creme Foundation. Kate from ghostparties also had a lot to do with this purchase when she raved about this foundation in her review. She was right, this foundation is amazing. It's long wearing, dewy but not too dewy and great coverage while looking natural and never cakey. In my opinion, this could work with any skin type. I have an oily t-zone and occasionally dry areas around my chin and this works wonders.
Coverage wise this covers any redness on my face so on a good skin day I can wear this by itself. When I'm sporting a few more blemishes, I add a bit of concealer and I'm good to go. I apply this with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush and I found that this is the way to get the best coverage and finish. 
I have worn this all day and with most foundations by the end of the day it tends to look a bit worn and the foundation isn't really at it's prime. With the Silk Creme Foundation the finish looks the same at the end of the day from when I applied it. 
Massive recommendation from me and wish I found this foundation sooner.    

xoxo