Revisiting Travel Beauty

I've done a few posts on travel/beauty related bumf. This one, notably before my last holiday back in April. So this is a brief revisit - a kind of lessons learnt deal to hopefully give you a little more insight if you're off on any kind of travels - whether it be festivals/camping/staycations/holidays... You get the drill...

theBalm Bahama Mama

Call me a coward but I am more or less petrified of base powder products. Having dry skin and in the past using poor products and poor tools meant run ins with the dreaded cake-face and given my preference for a more natural slightly dewy finish - you can understand me gently dipping my toes back into the powdery waters, so to speak. Given my recent-ish new love, the Revlon Highlighting Palette went so swimmingly I decided to indulge myself in another bronzing product, this time theBalm Bahama Mama...

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Cami // Kimono // Vase // Perfume // Nail Polish // Storage

Happy Monday, Lovelies!

Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer

I know when it comes to primers; everyone has a mixed opinion. Some can't see the point and rather skip the whole process of 'adding another layer' and there are others that shout from the rooftops for all the benefits. I'm in the annoying latter group. 

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Skirt // Bag // Cushion // Camera // Base // Perfume

Happy Monday, Lovelies!

What a weekend! I managed to get a ton of stuff sorted and finito, plus I also had my haircut. It's great because now I can see again, huzzah! My hair is pretty good in that it does grow super quick (great for haircut mistakes...) but it means that by week three I want to rip my fringe out. I've had it cut a little shorter and I adore it. 

It's only about eight weeks to go until I fly off for the first holiday I've had in years! Super exited and already planning what I'm taking with me (and what needs depotting into smaller tubes, pots and bottles, etc) and what we are going to do whilst there. It'll be nice to get some sun and eat stupid amazing food. Excited.

Here's to an amazing week ahead!

Peace!

Don't forget there is only four days left for you to enter my giveaway where you can win goodies from Nuxe, Essie, Vichy & More!

Beauty Bag | February

I have been pretty good with this beauty bag business, switching everything up now and again - it means more products are getting used up and that means I don't feel that guilty when making a new purchase...

Holy Grail | Lucky Seven...

The words 'Holy Grail' get thrown a lot around the blogosphere and YouTube - that product that you purchase time and time again because it is just that amazing, you cannot live without it. Over my time, I've procured a few, some have been discontinued, some have ended up disappointing me in the end; however there are seven (lucky seven, if you will,) that I simply cannot live without. 

NARS | NARSissist Eye Palette

I don't and didn't need a new neutral palette, but it doesn't mean I didn't positively swoon when I saw the pictures for the new NARSissist palettes - both cheek and eye variations set my beauty-heart a flutter but in the end, it was always going to be the fifteen beautiful shades of heaven in an eye palette, wasn't it?

Giveaway & Thank you || CLOSED

Yesterday I did a little post on transitional nails - featuring Essie's 'Bikini So Teeny' - a favourite of mine year round and I've got one to giveaway today... Plus a few other pieces I've been buying & collecting for all that follow my blog. 

Recent Purchases

There is nothing quite like the sound of a delivery van arriving, nor the feeling of a new parcel delivered, no? Just me then? 

Bedside Beauty

If I have one mantra before I go to bed, it's moisturise. I'm not the kind of gal to keep a plethora of beauty bumf around the bedside table - just the necessities that aid in the nightly ritual of injecting as much moisture as possible...

Beauty Bag | December

Can I just be the first to say errmahgahd, it's December?! Already? In any case December is my month. I'm one of those annoying folk with their birthday in December and then of course it's Christmas, with parties and Boxing Day sales... Needless to say this months beauty bag reflects the festive time of the year...

Beauty Bag | September

Whilst September signifies the starting of Autumn for me, it is also the most frustrating month in terms of make up. While there are children going back to school, it always seems that the hot weather clings on for the first two weeks, making me crave chillier weather.

For that reason I'll either be rocking one of two bases this month - the Dr. Jart Beauty Balm for warmer days and the No7 Essentially Natural foundation for the cooler days. Both are lightweight but impart a nice dewy look and are a doddle to apply.

In terms of blush - I'll be sticking to the Max Factor Creamy Blush - it's so easy to do just the lightest flushed look with this and one that I've become partial to. Eyes will be graced by the new Collection Shadow Pencils - just the shade Hot Chocolate for day time wear (a seriously gorgeous bronze) but for evening I'll be mixing in Denim Diva for a pretty take on the smokey eye.

To go with said smokey eye I've chosen a pink toned nude from the Rimmel Moisture Renew range called Notting Hill Nude - it's pretty hard to find a nude that doesn't look too brown, and this is a perfect choice for my skin tone. 

Last but not least I found the most gorgeous grey-toned lilac (grurple according to Elle online...) in the form of Maybelline Forever Strong in Lilac Charm. It's perfect for the tricky transition from Summer to Autumn and is just plain gorgeous. 

So tell me, what's in your beauty bag this month?

It's also worth mentioning - Wanda completely approves of these choices, especially the lipstick. 

Peace!

True Red

I don't know anyone who doesn't like nail polish. I mean seriously, it's a lot easier to get to grips with than other make-up out there and can complete an outfit - plus make you feel amazing. I'm always gazing at my hands once I've done a fresh manicure and I know I'm not the only one...

Do excuse the claw, but I think I've found my new perfect red. In this post I asked everyone whether they could accept the challenge of whittling down your nail polish collection and find your perfect red. A red lip never dates and neither does a red mani/pedi. So considering my favourite had gone as bad as bad can go - it was time for a fresh coat and I was in the market for something new...

I love the Rimmel nail varnishes but especially the Salon Pro range, the colours are beautiful, they are under a fiver and they last on the nail. Winning all round. This shade in 'Rock N Roll' is a perfect deep, true red. Not pillar box, but this cooler toned red suits my skin tone perfectly and looks just as beautiful on toes as it does on fingers. Plus it won't look out of place all year round, score.

So, what's your favourite red?

Peace!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Paint | Rich Russet

Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Paint - Available here.

If you read a lot of blogs then this product won't be exactly new to you, but the Scandaleyes Shadow Paints are reasonably new on the market and there was one particular shade I was interested in, and that is Rich Russet. The other shades available currently are two silver/grey shades, a light golden shade and a purple - I don't dislike these colours but once swatched I knew this was the one I wanted to test out...

I'm pleasantly surprised by the consistency, it's very smooth and so pretty easy to blend with a brush or (a clean) finger. What I will say is to act quickly because once set - it's set and it took ages for me to get these swatches off over the course of the day (a standard swatch test, am I right?) but it came off easy enough with trusty bioderma and it came off with a cleansing oil too.

Personally I think to ramp up the range they could add some matte colours. I love a slight shimmer like any other girl but I think some matte colours in some nude shades would work a treat.

You can buy these in most drugstores and supermarkets now but currently Boots and Superdrug have them available for £3.99, a saving of £1. 

Have you got the Rimmel Shadow Paints, what are your thoughts?

Peace!

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Happy Monday Lovelies!

This week as mentioned in Saturdays post I'll be leading my ever-exciting life and tryin' to crack (haha,) down on this back pain/issue I have been having. I won't lie to you, I've been super, super anxious about not working - I don't have an amazing job by any means, it's very low rung as the case may be but it's still a job - even if it is only part time. Does anyone else get like that if they've been off work for a long time? Let me know in the comments.

Hang on though, because it's Monday and I don't particularly want to start off on a glum note - so look at some of these pretty (necessary,) pieces! I'm in love with the bunny box storage (swoon,) and the bag (of course,) but the trainers are just thrown in because I need an everyday plimsoll/hightop because my current ones are ruined. Ain't nobody got time for holes in soles in Devon weather, let me assure you that!

I hope you have an amazing week and do let me know if you're doing anything exciting (so I can live vicariously through you, haha!)

Peace!

Beauty Bag | August

I quite enjoyed putting together July's beauty bag and it was a great way of using up products that I'd either forgotten about, neglected or maybe even just new products that I wanted to make sure got a good run in my routine. I'm thinking of it like a monthly 'shopping the stash' post. Obviously I'll change out products here and there if I need to (like if it's warmer I'll probably go back to a tinted moisturiser,) but apart from that - these are the products I want to use and show a bit of love...

First up for the base, I'm switching to a still light, but slightly more coverage foundation and I've gone for the No7 Essentially Natural foundation (in Cool Vanilla if you're wondering,) it applies beautifully with fingers, brush or sponge and it's still light enough to get away with in this humid but now raining weather. 

For eyes I'm hoping to make a dent in my Heaven and Earth MUA palette - I haven't really shown this palette enough love as of late, going for more creamy products for a wash of colour. I really like this product and have a decent eye primer to reduce creasing risk - so there really is no excuse now that the heat has apparently left Devon.

Another few products for eyes - the No7 Metallic Eyes eyeliner in Black is a really beautiful shimmery black eyeliner that looks amazing on a smokey eye. It's just one of those products that fell into my make-up bag without much thought but I've brought it out again. For mascara I really need to use up my No7 Fanomenal Lashes - a good product that gives a natural look without much effort. Sold.

Also I really like using the Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick in Bulletproof Beige - but it's been left alone for a while. This is beautiful used in the inner corners and even used lightly to highlight on the brow bone. I've even used it as a base and loved it. 

To finish up the eyes, I've included my brow pencil - the (once again,) No7 Beautiful Brows Pencil - I've neglected using anything on my brows these last few weeks because I didn't really need too - plus it was so hot I was scared that it would become eyeliner instead. 

For cheeks I'll be using the Max Factor Creamy Blush in Soft Murano - I really can't get enough of this and it won't be that hard to use it all month long. I mentioned it in yesterdays post, my July Favourites. 

Lastly for lips - the No7 Stay Perfect lipstick in Classic Rose - it's such a pretty, classic colour that really suits my skin tone and is a pretty good transitional colour to take me from the last dregs of summer to autumn. 

What are your beauty picks for August?

Peace!

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Happy Monday Lovelies!

As I type this I feel like I am withering a way into a ball of orange hair and tattoos. Literally. I haven't had such contact with heat like this in years and oh good god there is NO BREEZE! I'd kill for a whisper of it. Seriously

This week will mostly be made up of iced coffees and fruit; new exercises with my back and some reading on a new course I'll be starting in October - not very exciting, but it sounds like bliss to me.

I cannot bear to look at that cushion cover. It's perfect, I mean, I can't deal with it. NEED! And that tray? Well damn. 

We're supposed to be having some cloudier days here in Devon and I cannot wait. I love the sun (especially when there's a slight breeze,) - but I burn easy which makes me bitter to the folk who do tan easy! ;)

In any case I hope you have an amazing week and enjoy the sun while us Brits are lucky to have it - I'm just going to dunk my head in ice!

Peace!

Beauty Bag | July

July is notorious for rain where I live. It seems ironic as soon as kids break up from school the weather turns and then when they go back to school in September, it's sunny as can be.

Regardless of England's somewhat mystifying (read, annoying,) weather, I've sorted out my make up bag to suit this months usual weather (humid, rain, occasional sun,) with some new and old favourites.

First up for face; the Dr Jart+ Water Fuse BB cream. Covers without suffocating the skin, but produces a nice finish - it doesn't cover any wrong-doers (or spots/blemishes,) but it does sort out redness and leaves a fresh face in it's place - huzzah!

Next is the Bourjois Bronzing Primer - I won't go on about it but I adore it! I apply lightly and build up if I want where the sun catches my face - not for contour, it's way to orange toned for that, just a heads up! I finish that with some Barbara Daly cream blush in Peaches and Cream on my cheeks and that is my base done with minimal effort. 

For eyes it can either go one or two ways - if I really am lazy then I'll just slick some Rimmel Scandaleyes in Bronze over my eyelid and blend away. If I feel a tad more energetic than I'm currently loving the combination of using Maybellines Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze, lightly applied and then going over that with a smidge of Pink Gold. So so so pretty! Of course if you want to take that to evening then I'll just use the kohl under my lower lashes and be done. 

Mascara is the same as always - L'Oreal Telescopic False Lash - I love the telescopic range and hope they never discontinue them!

For lips is just a slick of Mac's Dress Maker - a pretty peachy pink that pretty much compliments every 'natural' make up look I do or can be pretty versatile and be used with a smokey eye. Perfect.

What are your picks for July?

Peace!

Essie Summer 2013 Collection

Essie's mini collections can be something like an enigma...

For instance - the Resort 2013 collection, so hard to find and when you do people are over charging like nobodies business and it really makes you hate collections and especially limited collections, so on and so forth. 

The problem was that I wanted/needed (not really though, it was pure colour lust let me assure you, no one needs nail varnishes in every single colour,) the resort collection until I spotted the Summer Collection Mini's... Then I was like, well damn it - which one to go for?

In the end, thanks to beloved e-bay again, I went for the Summer 2013 collection and oh god - I am in lurve, let's take a look at the colours, shall we?

From left to right on the swatches;

Full Steam Ahead - A pretty pearlescent lilac with subtle shimmer.

Naughty Nautical - An amazing blue-green with shimmer, I'm dubbing this the 'mermaid' shade.

Sunday Funday - A hot pink/tangerine coral-y blissfull shade with shimmer running through, probably my favourite and will pretty much be my new go to for summer.

The More The Merrier - A juicy lime green shade - this looks amazing on and I love it, surprisingly. 

There are two more colours that weren't included in this set -  but you can check them out here.

The polishes are the old brushes but surprisingly I'm becoming a fan of them - it means I concentrate more and tend to have less slip ups when I'm doing my nails, not so great if I'm in a rush, but totally perfect for the weekly mani/pedi session. 

Have you got your eye on any Essie collections?

Peace!