My March Favourites

MAC Sun Power MSF

Essie Chinchilly nail polish

Fresh Sugar Plum Tinted lip treatment

MAC Freckletone lipstick

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Dark Bisque

Topshop Head Over Heels Blush

YSL Faux Cils Shocking mascara

Here are a few make-up items i've been enjoying this month. Its been very cold here in the UK for March.. we've even had some snow, so i've tried my hardest to inject some colour and warmth into my make-up!!

The cold has left my lips severely chapped and I've found my Fresh tinted lip treatment has been the only product that been able to save them.. although I would have preferred a less vampy colour for Spring!! I can't live without my Bobbi Brown Corrector, it the best thing for covering dark under-eye circles. If you haven't tried Topshop's blushes.. I highly recommend you do. This is my first one - but the colour pay-off is amazing considering the price.. not to mention it lasts a fair amount of time too! Finally, bronzer is my best friend!! I do find MAC msf in Sun Power a little to dark and orange for my liking, but when applied light-handedly (and I mean VERY light handedly!!) then its easy to achieve that sun kissed look!

So those are a few things i've been enjoying, let me know what you've been loving for March.

x

LUSH | Vanillary perfume

 LUSH Vanillary - £6.50

New year.. new scent! (yes, i'm a bit late but its only February!)

I just turned 23 and one of my presents this year was the Vanillary solid perfume from LUSH. 

To me, this is what LUSH stores smell of.. its the scent that draws me in if i'm walking past! LUSH describes Vanillary as "The sweet and sensual real vanilla and jasmine absolutes are supported by the burnt caramel-like scent of tonka bean in this delicious perfume" and I can only agree. Words cannot express how good it smells but its not at all overpowering. I don't enjoy scents that once sprayed you cant really breathe anything else (does that make sense)! Vanillary is definitely not like that. If you've ever owned  and loved the discontinued LUSH Heavanilli massage bar its smells just like that, which I think is the reason I really like it. 

What really impressed me though was its longevity. I've read countless reviews of people claiming a perfume will last all day and night, and regardless of the amount of money i've spent, i've still yet found one! However, I applied Vanillary at 7am before I set off to university in snowy and windy conditions, and I could still smell it at 6pm once I was back home (yes, it a very long day!). I was kindly given the solid version, but it does come in atomiser and spritzer forms, which I wouldn't mind trying either. I quite like the solid though; it easily fits in my handbag and I know it wont break, unlike a glass bottle. You can apply it anywhere and I tend to rub it on my neck and wrists. 

As somebody who doesn't really mix up perfumes often, i've really been enjoying Vanillary at the moment.

It may even become my new signature scent! 

HAUL: Topshop, ZARA & Urban Outfitters Haul | January 2013

This year I did a little sale shopping online. Most years I do make an attempt to visit the sales although the atmosphere is not something I particularly enjoy; I tend to feel quite overwhelmed and lost :s.

Let me share a few of the items I managed to find.. (I've included links if the items are still available.. well one link!)

Blazer from Urban Outfitters. I think a good blazer is a essential in everyones wardrobe. They can instantly add class to an everyday jeans and t-shirt outfit. This one from Urban Outfitters is of the longer style which I prefer and has a slightly boyish feel. It'll be perfect over dresses on nights out when the weather heats up a bit here in London!

Ankle length trousers from ZARA. You may already know, coloured jeans and trousers are a great way off injecting life into a boring outfit. As someone who prefers black, I do struggle to play with colour but i've discovered its easy to mix black tops with khaki or oxblood jeans and create a new look.

Leopard print top from ZARA. I loved the print on this top combined with the peplum style.

Lace peplum top from ZARA. Another peplum style made of fine lace in my favourite colour black.. I just couldn't resist!!

Fringed boots from Topshop. Long suede boots are lovely in the Winter months. I am thinking to cut off the fringing eventually, so they're more "neutral"!

I think its safe to say I've spent enough money and won't intentionally be buying anything for some time!  

However, I'd love to know if you found anything nice in the sales..? 

Avene Cleanance K Cream-Gel | Review

Happy New Year everyone!

I thought i'd share a skincare item I've been loving recently..

AVENE Cleanance K -  £10.50

The Avene Cleanance K Cream-gel is something I picked up a month ago from my local drugstore. I had been searching for a skincare product that would help with the small blemishes I had been experiencing around my mouth and nose. Initially, I had intended to buy the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo which has been mentioned by many youtubers and bloggers as a great product for blemishes but unfortunately my local Boots was out of stock so I picked up an alternative instead. 

This product caught my eye as its list of ingredients included alpha hydroxy acids: glycolic acid and lactic acid and beta hydroxy acids: salicylic acid. If you haven't heard of these acids, they're all great chemical exfoliators which are quite hard to find in mainstream products on the high street. The packaging states its for oily, blemish prone skin which I must admit I didn't read until I got home (my skin is typically normal to dry!) 

I apply less than a pea size amount to the areas that need it (around my mouth and nose) and then use the remainder for any where else so I haven't found it to be overly drying. If need be, I do add an extra moisturiser on top which hasn't effected the product. I think the packaging is great, its a squeezy tube so you won't waste any product and is more importantly hygienic! 

So, the big question is has it worked? I've seen a definite improvement in my skin each day. The blemishes are noticeably reduced around my mouth allowing me to use less foundation. I've also seen a noticeable reduction in the pores on my nose, which were quite enlarged after not agreeing with a Nivea face wash I had been using before!

Will it work for you? I do feel there is a limit to the product as the strength of AHA's and BHA's isn't particularly high and therefore won't be able to tackle severe acne. However, if you have mild blemishes, like myself, its gentle yet effective and definitely worth a try. 

I'm quite glad La Roche-Posay's offering was out of stock otherwise I would never have found this beauty. 

Its definitely something i'll repurchase in the future. 

Gingerbread Family

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you had an enjoyable day!
This year, I got quite into the Christmas spirit and baked some delicious gingerbread men. Although Christmas has now gone, baking is definitely not seasonal and these biscuits can be made whenever!
The original gingerbread recipe is by the Sorted crew which I found whilst watching Tanya Burr's youtube channel. Don't worry if your cooking skills aren't exactly like Jamie Oliver's, the recipe is super easy and can be made by anyone!

If you have a go at making them, let me know how they turn out! 

Primark Haul | December 2012

Hello!
I recently took a quick trip to my local Primark so I thought i'd show you my purchases :)
I was specifically on the hunt for Topshop Leigh jean dupes. I've seen a few bloggers mention they were selling soft, super skinny jeans similar to those produced by Topshop but at a fraction of the price AND that they came in Tall and Short sizes!!!
As a petite girl I do struggle to find clothes that fit my height. Im not adverse to using a sewing machine and I don't mind altering clothes to fit, however, sometimes its nice to buy things off the rack that actually don't need adjustments. Anyways before I digress into a long article about the perils of being petite, back to my HAUL.

Primark black skinny jeans - £11

These jeans are equally as soft as Topshop's offering and only cost £11. As an owner of both versions I definitely think Primarks are worth the price if your not willing to spend too much on a staple pair.

I also picked up some basic shoes to wear to university. I've been looking for good chelsea boots but the ones I tend to go for are quite expensive and i'm not entirely sure if i'd wear them that much. So to try them out, I thought i'd pick up a pair of Primarks version:

Chelsea boots - £5

This pair caught my eye as I feel velvet looks great in the Winter. They're also a rich blue colour that adds a little extra to outfits; not to mention they were a steal at £5!!

Desert ankle boots - £6

The second pair I bought were these black desert ankle boots (as Primark likes to call them!). They looked like a good staple boot that can be dressed up and down!

Have you found anything nice in Primark recently?

Studs | Primark studded clutch

Studded clutch - Primark £6

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.. its been a bit hectic at uni.. but I should be more free now (:

SO, i've really been enjoying the stud craze.. from afar! ~ Mainly because I don't feel studded items mesh with my personal fashion style. Nevertheless, this clutch from Topshop really caught my eye. Accessories are a great way of keeping up with trends and much easier to blend with outfits. But as with most Topshop items, it came with a lovely price tag that I really couldn't justify spending on something I know would only be used on the odd occasion. After notching a replica Primark version cropping up in many Youtube videos, I decided to have a little look on my most recent shopping trip.

At £6 I think its well worth the price. Tucked under my arm with any outfit it'll add heaps of edge! I must admit I do prefer suede items.. like Topshop's version, because I love the rich black colour suede gives.. but for £6 I'm hardly going to cry over the fabric. And anyways at least it will fair better if a drink is split over it! I customised mine by removing the tassel and handle strap that were attached to the side, and I tucked in the zip at the top. My only fault would be that I would have loved an inner zip pocket; this clutch has only one main compartment. But again, for the price you can't have it all! 

If your looking for a studded clutch to used now and then, I definitely recommend checking out Primark's version - it also comes in a lovely nude colour as well!