Beauty

Skincare Routine

I'm making this one of my first blog posts as this year, I really want to focus more on looking after myself. I've never really put much money or effort into a skincare routine, but I've found the times I have stuck to a routine of looking after my skin, it's made a hell of a difference.



Towards the end of December I decided to invest in a Liz Earle set as I'd heard lots of good things about the Hot Cloth Cleanser. Since then I have religiously removed my make up every evening, cleansing, toning and moisturising my skin. I picked up the Normal/Combination set as my skin often varies between oily and dry. Before starting this, I was getting lots of spots and blemishes all over my face, since however I have found I get a lot less spots, and my skin feels and looks plumper.

My favourite part about the Liz Earle cleanser is it's a hot cloth one, this essentially means that you use your hands to rub the cleanser into the skin, and wash it off using a muslin cloth, I love this, and one thing I have found with previous skincare is that I hate using my hands to wash all the make up off as ... water everywhere !!! In the set you get two muslin cloths included, I've also bought some from Ebay just because I don't like using the cloths when they are dirty.

Once or twice a week I also try to use the Nourishing Treatment Mask, this I feel really helps to brighten up the skin and give it a bit more of a glow, once again I use a muslin cloth to remove this.

Technically for this treatment you are meant to use it every morning and evening, but I just wash my face in the morning and moisturise using the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, this is a newer purchase and I have only been using it since christmas so I haven't seen any results as of yet, but it does really hydrate my skin in the morning. One perk of this product is it also acts as a primer, which I think is great as I have used moisturisers in the past and my make up has slid off my face within about an hour.

Another moisturiser which I have been using on and off for the past year now is the Clinique Moisture Surge, I mainly use this product when my skin is feeling really dry or I am travelling and need that extra skin pick me up, as it is super hydrating. Therefore I like to make sure I always have it floating around somewhere in my skincare.

What skincare products would you recommend / know and love?

Thank you very much for reading,
hugs and kisses
Too Faced Christmas Palette (it's a bit late)

Now it's a little late, as Christmas has finished but I've been wanting to rave about this palette for lord knows how long (a very long time, since I got it in november)


It is the, Grande Hotel Christmas Palette by Too Faced !!!

This product has some of the coolest features I've ever witnessed. So not only does this come in the most adorable packaging and when you open it up inside there are three different palettes, and a Better Than Sex mascara mini. All the palettes are also scented... Scented! 
My main worry when I bought this was that the eyeshadows weren't going to be very pigmented but, there was no need to worry.

Eggnog Latte Palette
I've tried to edit these as little as possible so you can really see the colours inside. The first one is the Eggnog Latte Palette, now I honestly don't have a least favourite, as I was going to post them in a rank, and physically couldn't decide, as they are all so different but all have beautiful shades. I honestly can't fault anyone of the above shades, however Central Perk is probably my least used as I just don't often wear non-neutral colours on my eyes.

I often use Skinny Latte as an all over lid colour, or as a transition in my crease. Eggnog Latte also works beautifully as a highlight on the brow bone and inner corner.


Peppermint Mocha Palette
 The Peppermint Mocha is a bit more adventurous with berry and pink tones, which I have to admit Candy Cane isn't one I'd reach for probably ever, purely because of my skin tone, saying this though when do you ever get a palette and like every colour? 

Christmas Blend is one of my favourite shades from all three palettes, mainly because I am a sucker for shimmery shades. Peppermint Mocha, and Coffee Chip also work really well together if you are looking for a bronzed smokey eye.

Gingerbread Cookie Palette
Now without a doubt this is my favourite palette of the three, as browns are my go-to everyday colours. Gingersnap is honestly one of the best pigmented golden shimmer colours I have ever used and worked so nicely for Christmas, giving my eyes that extra pop (possibly my favourite shade).

What I have loved doing recently is using a red/burnt orange shade in my crease to add colour, and then using a mixture of Cup of Joe, and Black Coffee on my lid, to create a sort of backward smokey eye, and they go together really nicely.

Now the craziest part about all of this, is these palettes cost me £40 !!!
I honestly think that it is such good value for money, although some of the lighter shades are very similar, the fact that each palette also comes with a blusher I think just adds that little extra, and I still can't get over the fact that they are scented..
How does anyone come up with the idea to make eyeshadow smell of peppermint??

Are there any shades you love? or any palettes you bought / received over Christmas?

Thank you very much for reading,
hugs and kisses
nads

any products mentioned are listed below

if you can find a link to it please post in the comments below x 

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Empties Collection

Now I used to love these, I haven't really seen them around that much recently, but I used to watch peoples videos on these all the time and they were their collection of empties. Which essentially was them showing what products they'd completely emptied out. So guess what I'm going to be doing..

Clinique Moisture Surge

This is one of my favourite moisturisers and was featured in my recent skincare routine. I got this last Christmas (2015) and it ran out December last year. This is mainly because I don't often overuse moisturiser and with this product you definitely don't need to. I also didn't use it everyday, as it was my go to product if my skin ever needed an extra lift.

I have repurchased this product, and I think it will always be part of my skincare, just because it's such a great product to have and I haven't found anything to be as moisturising and pleasing.

bobbi brown skin smoother pore perfecter

Sticking along the sort of skincare, as you can see from the picture this has been well and truly used up. It also has to be one of my favourite beauty products ever (big statement, i know). I picked this up after receiving a sample, and I loved it. It lasted me from July until Christmas. It's similar to the Benefit Porefessional in it covers up your pores, and smoothes your skin making applying foundation so much easier. The best part about this product however is, it also acts as a primer... whaaaaat

I haven't repurchased this yet, mainly because I got myself the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base for christmas so I'm trying that out for the time being, but I will definitely be buying it again in the future, and for £26 !!

MAC Studio Fix Foundation

Moving onto beauty, this was my first non-drugstore foundation and I loved it. I think in total i've used up two bottles, but after a while my skins tends to get used to foundation so I have to switch it up every now then. I also found that sometimes this foundation slipped off my face so I moved onto the MAC Pro-Longwear Foundation, this was probably my favourite of the two (I just can't find the empty bottle). 

So, yes I did repurchase, but at the moment I am currently using the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation. If I'm honest I think I would use the Studio Fix foundation now if I was going on holiday, as it was quite a dewy foundation, so I did find that I preferred the Pro-Longwear. It just depends what foundation you prefer really, if you are after a dewy foundation then it's definitely a winner.

Collection lasting perfection concealer

This concealer is probably one the most raved about and one of the most inexpensive ones you can get. I bought this after watching a Zoella video and I definitely have used more than one. I can't quite remember how long these really last me, but I constantly switch up my under eye concealers. I'd probably say this is better if you're looking to conceal blemishes as it's quite heavy for under the eye.

I have repurchased this, and I'm pretty sure I have one lying around somewhere that isn't used, I probably wouldn't go out and purchase it again though just because I find I prefer other products, I also only really use concealer for contouring.

Bourjois radiance reveal concealer

This is by far my favourite under eye concealer that I have ever owned. I can't even express how long I'd been looking for one that was just right and I picked this up at random. I'm now only on my second one as I bought a Nars Creamy Concealer in October so I use both (realistically I could probably get away with just using the Radiance Reveal but I want to finish up my Nars). The reason I love this product is it's light but gives a good coverage and 'brightens' my under eye which is essentially what I am looking for in an under eye concealer. Also it's a fraction of the price of Nars.

I will definitely be repurchasing after I finish the one I am currently using. I would say these usually last around 2 months, depending on how much you use obviously.

Maybelline lash sensational mascara

I'm a bit strange in that I never have one mascara I always use two at the same time, and they tend to last me around a month. I bought these two when they were on offer, and at the time that I bought them I didn't actually realise that the black one was made of an oil blend, essentially meaning it looks after your eyelashes a bit more, something I am always in need of. I do really like these mascaras, the wands were easy to use and I liked the formula of both.

I have repurchased the original Lash Sensational, and would repurchase the oil blend.


Sleek Face contour kit

I can not begin to tell you how many different contour kits I have tried, from cream, powder, gel, you name it. My favourite, and the ones I find the easiest are definitely the powder contour kits, as I currently use the Revolution Ultra Contour Palette. However, this Sleek Contour Kit, is the best one I've purchased, it's easy, simple, and comes with everything I need, a dark contour and highlight. As you can tell, I really really like the highlighter. This lasted me a good few months, and I kept putting off buying another.

I have since repurchased another one, and this will definitely always be floating around my make up collection, firstly because it's a trusty product, and two if I don't have space for 'bigger' make up this fits easily in my bag.

escada taj sunset

Now moving onto something a little different and that is perfumes. I never used to be that into perfumes, I'd spray a bit of deodorant and maybe a Victoria Secret spray and carry on about my day. But as I have got older, perfume has become part of my everyday routine. Since then I have built quite a collection and I somehow manage to make my perfumes last for ages. This one by Escada is my all time favourite ever perfume and just smells of holiday and summer, and is super fruity, I just love it.

Unfortunately however, it was a limited edition, whyyyyyyy, so repurchasing it has been difficult, but if I ever find it, I will be buying it again for sure.

justin bieber someday

Lastly is my Someday perfume, and this was one of the first I ever received, alongside the One Direction Our Moment. When it comes to perfumes I have never really been about brands, as long as it smells nice, that's all that matters to me, and most of my perfumes are from Zara (they are amazing). This perfume is very sweet and fruity, but I definitely feel like I've grown out of it now.

For this perfume I honestly don't think you have to like Justin but it would make a great present for someone just getting into perfume, as they are quite cheap now, and are a younger scent.

Do you have any empties floating around your collection? or products you definitely wouldn't repurchase?

Thank you very much for reading,
hugs and kisses
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Kylie Jenner Lipkit vs Victoria Secret Cream Lip Stain

Since the launch of Kylie Jenner's Lipkits, lots of different brands have released their own version of matte liquid lipsticks. I have to say, these are my favourite lip products, I have only really ever worn matte lipsticks, and these I think are the perfect upgrade. They are super long lasting, and depending on which one you buy can be moisturising on the lips.

The two I'm going to be comparing today are the Kylie Jenner Lipkits and the Victoria Secret Lip Stains. Now I have purchased other brands versions such as NYX but I just don't know if they are on the same level as these...




The swatches I think also say a lot about the products... I tried to use only one coat so you can really see how they come out.

Kylie Lipkits

The Kylie lipkits for me were the first matte liquid lipsticks I ever tried (or saw on the market) and I loved the concept of them, especially as they came with a lip liner. I only ever wear matte shades, even when I bought lipsticks so for me a long lasting version was perfect. Obviously the whole only being available in the US and shipping/custom fees is a bit of a downfall, but I want to mainly talk about the products.

I have three of the lipkits.. Candy K, Ginger and Exposed.  I am not too extravagant with my lip shades, basically if it's not nude.. I probably won't be wearing it. These three shades I think all have something a little different.

Candy K

This was the first I ever bought and is a pinky toned nude. Won't lie.. Candy K was not what I expected it's much more 'pink' than when Kylie used to wear or swatch it.

Ginger

Ginger is definitely my favourite of the 3 shades, it's almost like a rusty, dark toned brown nude.. that's a lot of colours but it was the only way to describe it.

Exposed

Probably my least favourite mainly just because it was a lot 'paler' than I expected and when I wear it, it just kind of washes me out.. It's hard to explain

Victoria Secret  Cream Lip Stains

So, there are a lot more than just these two brands on the market, and I have been tempted to try others such as MAC but I never found the right shade, or price point, especially after feeling a little ripped off by Kylie. When I was in a Victoria Secret store a couple of weeks ago I saw these at the till and instantly fell in love with the colours. I bought two!

Adored

This is probably a little too similar to Candy K but for the price and the quality, if you can get your hands on one in store it's definitely worth picking up if you want a cheaper dupe.

Wanted

Probably my favourite of the two, this is more of a brown toned nude and is super versatile.

Kylie vs Victoria Secret

Now lets get down to the nitty, gritty. Whilst I love the Kylie Lipkits, which offer way more shades / variations and come with a lip liner, which is always appreciated. I do find them quite drying.. one thing I hate about matte lip products. I also feel like the never turn out how I expect them to, I'm always disappointed with the colour, which is such a shame. However... the Victoria Secret Lip Stains on the other hand... whilst their shades are limited, are just as long wearing and have more of a 'buttery' feel to them. Basically I'm not crying after four hours because my lips are cracking. I honestly could not rate these higher, and considering they are only like £11 I think that is such a great price for such a high quality product. You also don't get hit with a £20 customs fee charge! The only bad side of the VS ones are they sometimes take a little longer to dry, but in the long run are so worth it.

Have you tried any other liquid lipstick brands that you've loved?

Thank you very much for reading,
hugs and kisses
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February Favourites

I probably say this every month, but how is it already March! This year is already going so quickly and what's even scarier is in two months I won't be a teen, I am not okay with this.

anyways... I have never done one of these posts but I've been loving so many products this month so I thought I would share them with you!

Beauty faves



Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (Shade 55 / Dark Beige )
This is new to my collection and, well I love it. I had been using the Bobbi Brown skin foundation, and really wasn't getting on with it, so I tried out the Bobbi Brown longer lasting and MAC pro-longwear foundations (just in little sample pots), when I came across this one in Superdrug. I have tried Bourjois foundations before, but there is just something about this one that is a great mix between healthy, and heavy coverage, my ideal foundation!

Bobbi Brown Corrector (Light Peach)
Under eye concealing has always been one of those things for me where I think if I just add more product it'll conceal.. realistically this is not the answer. When I was looking at foundations I popped to the Bobbi Brown counter and the really helpful assistant offered to match my skin. She explained to me that my under eyes were really dehydrated and thats why product seemed to disappear and why my under eyes were dark. She recommended the 'correct and conceal' products they offer and because I already have a concealer which I love, I decided to just go for the corrector. Correcting isn't something I ever gave much thought to, but it makes such a difference, and now it's a step I make sure not to miss.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream
The Bobbi Brown corrector I don't think would've worked as well as it does if it wasn't for this little miracle cream. When the lady at the counter matched my skin she also gave me some (much appreciated) skincare advice. My skincare routine has got so much better, and I have seen an improvement in my skin (an updated skincare routine is coming soon, so I won't go into this too much) but an area of my face I never paid much attention to was under my eye. She explained to me that if your under eye is dehydrated, normal moisturiser won't rescue it, which is why my make up was creasing under my eyes. This little cream however, wow, I apply the smallest amount every morning and evening, and I love it!

Nivea Mens Post Shave Balm
I've been wanting to try this product for a while after hearing good things about it working well as a primer, and then I saw it in Tesco at a ridiculously good price, so obviously... I had to pick it up. I don't use it everyday, but on days I know I want my make up to last I apply this to my skin after moisturising and it does make so much difference.

Primark Rose Gold Eyelash Curlers
These little bargain finds are my new holy grail. I never really use eyelash curlers just because in my head I didn't think they made all that much of a difference, and whether they actually work or not I have found my applying mascara after curling them makes them look that little bit longer.

fashion faves

Topshop Boots
I haven't had many fashion favourites this month, and that's mainly because I've just felt really uninspired by retailers. Unfortunately I do not live close enough to a Zara (probably a good thing really) and so I haven't really seen anything I like that much. Although, I do love these boots! I picked them up in the Topshop sale at the end of January, and usually I am a trainer person through and through, but these boots just do something for me, AND they were only £10!

lifestyle faves

Netflix Originals
Onto the more lifestyle-y bits. I have been more addicted to Netflix this month than I have ever been. Realistically it's because I have way too much spare time but... The series I have been loving are the Netflix originals, in particular, Orphan Black (so I think this started as an American BBC but Netflix picked it up I don't understand it really) and Riverdale. 

I'll start with Orphan Black it's one of those programmes that has honestly never been done before and is just so filled with constant plot twists and surprises and turns, I don't want to give too much away, but essentially there are clones, and they're trying to find each other. 

Riverdale is a bit more a 'stereotypical' american, murder, high school, mystery, drama... saying that though I'm obsessed, and my favourite thing about it is, episodes come out every Friday which is great because I can't binge watch all four seasons in a week (I definitely did not (did) do that for Orphan Black).


What have been your favourites throughout February?

Thank you very much for reading,
hugs and kisses
nads

any products mentioned in the post x 

rose gold eyelash curlers - primark
topshop boots - sold out


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My Hair Timeline

Throughout the years I have had a range of hair styles, and hair colours, from bright red, to 'caramel' ginger, to a lob... the list goes on. In the past year or so I've definitely changed my hair a lot, so I decided to take you through my hair timeline. So sit back, and get ready for some ultimate cringe throwback pictures!

2007



Throwing it all the way back to 2007 (maybe), this was pretty much my hair all the way up until year 7, mainly because my parents wouldn't let me cut it, but oh do I look back and wish I'd listened.

2010 


(yes that is olly murs ha) As soon as it got year 7 and 'emo' haircuts were in I was all over it. What nobody told me was my hair was too thick, so those heavily layered 'gothic' haircuts didn't really work on me. Especially when it used to take me two hours to straighten my hair!

2011


So, things were getting better, I'd learnt to tame my hair, and I decided to dye it bright red (this picture doesn't do it justice - although used to be one of my favourite photos!) This hairstyle didn't last for long though.

I got bored...


and had the chop. (I hated it)

2012


New Years Eve 2012, with one direction around me, my hair was the shortest, and reddest it had been. Not such a great way to start the new year, and unfortunately... it doesn't get better.


Ok... so it got a little bit better, this probably being the best it had looked since the chop, but my full fringe never lasted long, something which I never learnt (have only just really learnt).


This is quite possibly the worst my hair and I have looked, this photo doesn't quite do the hair justice. My intention was that it would be a honey, caramel brown. Well it turned out orange, with burnt red ombre... 

2013


After realising what a horrible mistake I'd made, I backtracked to my natural hair colour, and let it grow out!! (oh yea and that time i 'met' harry styles)


Skipping ahead a good few months, after I'd left school, my hair had grown, oh and I was obsessed with Zoella, I decided to get my hair ombred yay heart eyes!

2016


I then pretty much stuck with this hairstyle, reombreing it so it was lighter, and going further up etc (this picture was basically all my hair goals) but guess what... 

I got bored.


And... I went back to my natural colour. At the time I loved it, but where my hair had been bleached, and dyed, it was dead and wasn't growing so...


Again came the chop... In long term I think it has done my hair a load of good, but I can't help get a little bit bummed down just because I want my hair to be longer, but it will grow... eventually...

NOW


(featuring toby) This picture was taken end of last year but my hair fortunately hasn't changed since, apart from a trim. If I could go back to any haircut, it would definitely be my long ombre, but I'll get there again, eventually!

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So that was my hair timeline, and some incredibly cringe photos, but I love looking back and seeing how much my hair has changed over the years.

Do you change your hair that often? What would your hair timeline be like?

Thank you very much for reading,
hugs and kisses
nads

















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