January & February Favourites

Hello lovelies,

Can you believe we are almost in March..!? Like, seriously, where has this year gone?!

March always makes me think Spring & Summer are on their way, however, I'm currently sitting here writing this post with snow flurries whirling around outside my window! It's actually bizarre. I'm staying at my parent's house as they've gone away for the night & it's in the middle of nowhere - no idea how I'm going to get to work tomorrow if it carries on like this!

Anyway, onto my favourites for January & February. I've actually not been changing much up this year so far with my beauty products. I struggled to find some I hadn't previously mentioned, hence the 1 lipstick featured in this post & apart from obsessing over my bullet journal & finding a new love of fiction, there isn't much else to add!

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No7 Matte Lip Crayon
Cathy kindly bought me this shade for Christmas & it's honestly one of the prettiest shades I own from No7. I'm usually a gloss girl, but I've noticed I've recently been wearing matte shades alot more. This one is called Dusky Rose & retails for £9.

Bullet Journalling

Since I got given a bullet journal for my birthday in January, I've been obsessed with designing my pages & creating content. I've got a full post coming up on my journal, so keep an eye out for that! But in the meantime, you check out my Pinterest Board that I use for inspiration!

Strawberries
I mean, I think this obsession started again when I had my first pancake of the year. Nothing beats a  pancake with bananas & strawberries on top! They have become my go-to snack at work as I'm trying to take at least 1 item of fruit with me each day!

Books
I made an order with The Works back in January to encourage myself to read more. I've been absolutely loving losing myself in a book in the evening, I just find it so relaxing. You might have noticed I've started reviewing my reads of 2018, starting with The Fifth Letter. Keep an eye out for my post coming soon reviewing Three Amazing Things About You! This book has deifnitely made my top 10 favourites!

Marc Jacobs - Daisy Dream Eau De Toilette
I was kindly given this eu de toilette for Christmas by my Auntie & I'm in love with it. The scent is absolutely perfect for me & I'm loving wearing it for special occasions.

A Little Something Hand Cream - Apricot
I can't for the life of me remember who gave me this hand cream! (I apologise if it was you, but please know how much I love it!) The apricot scent is so delicious, I have to resist eating it when applying it! It makes my hands so soft & has helped me out so much in these cold winter months. I'm quite lucky in the sense that my hands aren't particularly dry, but this helps keep them extremely hydrated.

Labyrinth
This board game has to be one of my favourites ever. James was given it for Christmas & we haven't gone more than a few days without playing it! It's so much fun & easy to understand (good for me) & a game usually lasts about 20 minutes, so it's perfect for us to do in the evenings just before bed. 

Events

I turned 27! As always, I filled the 5 days around my birthday with celebrations, including a trip to Brighton, West Wittering & Sumners Pond. It was amazing as always & I was thoroughly spoilt.

I met baby Rupert!

James & I visited Shere for the day (blog post coming soon!)

Valentine's Day was extra special this year. I worked with Cathy during the day who completely spoilt me with flowers, balloons & lots of beautiful gifts. James also cooked me a surprise dinner when I got home.

I got made full time at work! I'm currently on a 25 hour contract, but work between 37-40 hours a week doing overtime, but I finally have the 37 hours confirmed! It will make such a difference knowing what I'm doing months in advance & have the security of more hours.

TV

Friends
I genuinely thought I'd seen every episode of Friends, but since we've started watching it on Netflix, there's a few that have cropped up that I haven't seen! I absoutely love this show, it's one of those programs that can instantly make me smile, whatever mood I'm in.

Music

Craig David Feat. Bastille - I Know You

Clean Bandit - I Miss You

Lauv - I Like Me Better

How has February been for you lovelies?

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November & December Favourites

Advent Calendar

If you follow me on Instagram, you're probably sick to death of seeing this advent calendar! If not, then keep an eye out for my blog post coming in January, reviewing all the bits I got! I've absolutely loved opening this every day through-out December & I'm extremely sad it's finished.

Candles

If I had a life time favourites, candles would feature for sure, but this month I've fallen back in love with Yankee Candles. James & I were kindly gifted a pine scented one at the beginning of December from my mum & we've already burnt through it! I'm so sad, but perfect timing to say goodbye to Christmas & start a fresh for the New Year.

Blood Orange Bodyspray
This was one of the items I got in my advent calendar & I've been wearing it most days since opening it. It smells so Christmassy & not surprisingly.. quite orangey! Who wouldn't want to smell like a chocolate orange at Christmas time?!

Clinique Lipstick

I mean, nothing beats a red lip at Christmas time. It just completes every outfit in my eyes & makes you look like you've put in so much more effort than you actually have! This one from Clinique is never far away from my lips, it's such a lovely formula.

Matte Pink Lipstick

I've never bought anything from the brand Stila before, but loved the look of their products, especially the lipsticks. When this one popped out of my advent calendar, I was so excited! I started wearing it the next day & haven't taken it off my lips (apart from when I'm wearing the Clinique red lipstick!) 

Mince Pies & Cheese
I mean, not together obviously, but who doesn't love a mince pie & cheese & crackers at Christmas! I've lost count of what I've consumed this year.. oops!

Music

Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (remix)

Christmas songs!

TV

Vampire Diaries 
James & I have started watching this from the beginning & are loving it. I'd watched up to season 5 a few years ago, but forgotten so much of it! 

Events

Grandad celebrated his 90th birthday in the middle of November! 

James & I celebrated our 5th anniversary with a trip to Kingston-Upon Thames.

As well as meeting up with friends & family in December, the girls & I went to Wakehurst Place for the Glowalk, we had a group meal at Elisa & Jamie's & I organised our work Christmas do at Bills. It has definitely been a month of eating, drinking & social gatherings!

& finally, it was Christmas! From start to finish, Christmas is always so busy. James & I started off with Christmas Eve at Valerie & Barrie's, my Grandparents' on Christmas Day & then Boxing Day at Allan & Maria's. I still haven't managed to sort through all my presents yet as it was so manic, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

How was your Christmas'? Hope you all had a lovely time however you celebrated & I hope you all have a very Happy New Year! : )

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May & June Favourites

Lilac Nail Polish
I mean, can you get anymore Summery than a lilac nail varnish? I've found I've been reaching for my favourite pastel nail polishes lately & Utopia by Models Own has to be one of my ultimate favs. I've had it in my collection for years (I should really get another one because I'll be heartbroken when it's finished!) I'm also loving glitter polishes, who said they just have to be used at Christmas time?

Sweet Sheen Lipstick

I can't resist a lipstick that is easy to apply, keeps my lips in great condition & provides a healthy colour in the Summer. Well, all year round to be honest! This one is a complete bargain, only £2 in Superdrug. MUA have some of the most affordable products on the highstreet in my opinion & could be sold for a lot more.

Frazzled

I'm really enjoying dipping in & out of this book, especially now its warmer & I can enjoy it in the garden. It's perfect for giving you that little bit of reassurance that everything's going to be ok. I'd highly recommend it.

Sandals 

These have been my shoe of the Summer so far. For £4, they are an absolute steal & so so so comfy. They are perfect for work & evenings out when I can't be dealing with heels!

Garnier Summer Body Lotion

Every Summer, this lotion becomes my life saver. This year I was tempted by the darker shade & seeing as it was half price in Boots, I couldn't resist! I absolutely love how it makes my skin look beautifully tanned after just two applications, you just need to remember to keep applying it regularly otherwise it does become quite patchy.

TV

Love Island

I just have no words to express how in love with this program I am. It's fully taken over my life yet again! Who is your favourite couple in there at the moment? I absolutely love Marcel & Gabby!

Events 

On 21st May, James & I travelled up to London to see The Sidemen play in their second charity football match. We had such a wonderful day exploring along the Thames in the sunshine, followed by the game. 

James finally got to use his birthday present from me & drive 2 super cars around a race track last month! It was so much fun watching him, vlog coming soon!

We also got the chance to go away on a mini break to Wales at the end of May, which was so lovely. I'd only ever been to Wales when I was little. It's such a beautiful place. You can read about our full adventure here if you like.

Finally, Allan & Maria's wedding. Guys, how can I say this? It was basically one of the best days ever. I've written a full post about the day which you can have a read of it you like, but everything was just so perfect. I can't wait for another wedding! Mils & Craig.. : ' )

What have you been loving in May / June? : )

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Technic ColourMax Lipstick - Dark Purple, Dark Red, Red & Pink

Hello lovelies!

I wanted to share with you today these new lipsticks I picked up from JustMyLook. You might remember me mentioning this website at the beginning of April, when I reviewed the W7 Eyeshadow Palette, which I purchased from the same site. It's an online store that offers free delivery to the UK & has a range of discounted products from well-known brands. I can't recommend it enough!

So onto the lipsticks. I purchased the Technic Colour Max Lipstick in Dark Purple, Dark Red, Red & Pink. These are 4 out of 6 shades that the website stocks. They are all in the sale, retailing at  £1.99 down from £2.99.

First of all, the packaging. To be honest, it's well made & practical, but nothing fancy. I do like how well the lipstick is fitted into the base, it simply rotates round with no difficulty & pushes up the product without any fuss.

This is the summery that's on the website -

"Technic Colour Max Lipstick lasts for up to 24 hours giving you gorgeous colour that will be envied by all! The colour gives a smooth finish with flawless, water-proof juicy shine"

I have to say, I wasn't expecting too much from the price but I do agree that it's very smooth on the lips & applies easily, however, it doesn't last for 24 hours. To be honest, that's quite a bold statement to make! The pink & red only seem to last about 3 hours on the lips before they need touching up, but the dark red & purple last about 5 / 6 hours, which is still pretty amazing in my opinion!

Dark Purple

Dark Red

Red

Pink

Swatches; L-R - Dark Purple / Dark Red / Red / Pink

I think if you're on a budget these lipsticks are great & definitely worth the £2.99 price tag! The purple shade is my favourite, it's the first & only purple I've owned so I was excited to add it to my collection.

Have you tried any of the products from Technic? Which shade is your favourite? : )

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Primark Matte Long Lasting Lipstick - Desire

Hello lovelies!

I wanted to post today about this beautiful lipstick called Desire from the Primark PS Beauty range. It isn't the most popular shade as we're coming into Spring, but if you're brave enough to wear a dark lip, why not do it all year round?

If you've been a follower of my blog for a while now, you'll know I'm not a fan of matte lipsticks. I actually picked this one up not knowing it was a matte formula (I should have probably studied it but I just saw the colour & thought I would give it a go) & for £1.50 you really can't go wrong.

& what can I say? I absolutely love it! Being a matte shade I thought it would really dry out my lips, but the formula isn't drying at all.

As for it being long lasting, it is quite true to it's word. I wore it to work & had to top it up once after my lunch, but considering I'd been serving & chatting to customers all day, it lasted pretty well.

You might have seen that I reviewed one of the new Tanya Burr lip glosses back in January. It's a shade called Berry Picking & after seeing how similar the two shades were, I now wear Desire on my lips with Berry Picking as a top coat. As I mentioned I'm not a massive matte lipstick fan, so these two are the perfect combination for me.

Have you tried any of the PS beauty range in Primark? I'm always surprised how amazingly good quality they are for such low prices!

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Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm - Coquette

Hello lovelies,

I was lucky enough to receive some beauty bits for Christmas, one being this gorgeous lip balm from Revlon. I'm a massive fan of the brand, so was extremely excited to try it.

I received the shade Coquette, which is a stunning pale pink. I do tend to wear pink all year round, but I think it would be perfect for Spring time.

It applied really smoothly onto my lips & felt very light-weight. One of the main features of this balm is the fact it has shea, mango & coconut butter in it's formula, making it very moisturizing on the lips. I found it also had a shimmer to it once applied, which I'm not a massive fan of, but I much prefer that to a matte lipstick.

The best thing about this product is it's retractable & you won't need to use a sharpener once the product has been used. I absolutely despise products where I have to sharpen them. Call me lazy, but it's so much easier when you can access the lip balm by twisting the base.

The lip balm doesn't have the greatest staying power & I did have to re-apply it every 2 hours or so to keep the pink from fading on my lips, however, I was drinking & talking all day, so that's to be expected!

I'll definitely be looking in drugstores to try out a few more shades as the darker pinks are calling my name!

Have you tried the Revlon Lip Balms? What did you think? : )

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Clinique Pop Lip Colour & Primer - Cherry & Nude

Hello lovelies!

In this month's Glamour magazine, I managed to pick up two of the most gorgeous lip colours you'll find on the market. Let me introduce to you the Clinique Pop Lip Colour & Primer.

If I'm honest, I'm not usually a nude lip fan, they just doesn't suit me. I tend to wear bright reds & pinks the majority of the time, but I thought I'd try out the nude. It's actually a lovely shade when applied to your lips & although it's quite subtle, there is something you can't resist about it. I won't be rushing out anytime soon for another nude shade, but it's a nice addition to my collection.

However, Cherry is definitely more my colour & I love how pigmented this formula is. As well as producing a beautiful shade on the lips, these lipsticks are very moisturizing as well, so perfect for the colder months.

Have you tried either of these lipsticks? What are your thoughts on Clinique products?

Remember to pick up this month's Glamour to grab yourself one at a fraction of the price! *

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* Please note this was not a sponsored post & all views are my own.

April Favourites

 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

I have to admit, I picked this product up because of the hype around it but I don't regret it one bit! This product has changed my evening routine. I'm one of those lazy people that hate taking off their makeup at night. By the time I think about it, I'm too tired & just want to get into bed. I love that you don't have to rinse this product off, it's as simple as using as much as you need on a cotton pad & just lightly washing your face. Ideal for lazy people like myself!

Pomegranate & Pineapple Fragrance Jar Candle

James bought me this candle for Valentines Day & you can see, I've nearly burnt it all! I'm definitely going to Clintons to re-purchase it. It's such a beautiful scent & such good value, I'd say it was on par with the Yankee Candles, but a lot more affordable.

Nails Inc Express Nail Polish Remover
 As I mentioned, I'm a lazy person. This nail polish remover has been a complete dream come true. If you're not familiar with the product, all you have to do is simply dip your finger into the pot which is filled with sponges & you twist the pot to rub the nail against the sides. It's so easy to do & the nail varnish comes off within seconds. I picked this Nails Inc one up in the Boots clearance section, I seriously couldn't believe my luck!

Odesza - All We Need

This song, just wow. Sammi mentioned the band Odesza in her favourites not long ago which prompted me to search for them on YouTube. Some of their songs aren't to my taste, but this one has been on repeat for me all month!

Revlon Colorstay Lipliner - Pink / Rose

I bought this lip liner from Save On Makeup, a website that sells a mixture of high & low end beauty products. I'm seriously in love with this lip liner! Not only is the colour gorgeous & goes with so many of my lipsticks, but it's very long lasting. I tend to wear lipstick most days & have found that this lip liner stays on a lot longer than a lot of my lipsticks! I really need to purchase a nude & a red shade to complete my collection.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

I've heard mixed reviews about this mascara but I'm convinced it's the perfect one for day time wear. The mascara claims to 'volumise & define the look of longer lashes' which I totally agree that is does. The best thing about this mascara for me is not only the price but the fact my eyelashes hold a long lasting curl all through the day. With previous mascaras, my lashes seem to fall flat & lose their curl within a couple of hours, so I was over the moon when I noticed how well this one compares!

Tesco Finest Earl Grey Leaf Tea

I love tea. Anyone that knows me will know that. However, when I've been eating out or having a catch up with the girls, I've been ordering Earl Grey. I was always a Breakfast Tea kinda girl, but since receiving a lose leaf tea strainer for my birthday, I ventured out & purchased the Finest Earl Grey from Tesco. Even though it takes more time than just putting a tea bag in a mug & adding hot water, it's so worth it. I find the making of the tea to be as relaxing as drinking it. Nothing beats snuggling up in the evenings with my favourite brew.

 

What have you been loving this month? Please leave me links to your favourites posts, I'd love to read them! : )

 

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Barry M Hi Shine Lips

Hello lovelies,

 

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the amazing creation of the Gelly range Barry M have introduced. When I firstly tried their nail polishes, I thought nothing could beat them.. till I discovered the lip range!

 

 

The formula is perfect for my lips. I'm not a matte lipstick kinda girl, so a glossy finish is ideal for me. My lips need to be constantly moisturised as I suffer from dry lips all year round & these just seem to work. They also come in the most beautiful shades. These are the two I picked up:

 

 

 

When I'm feeling brave, nothing beats a beautifully pigmented pink. This one is extremely bright, but perfect for Spring / Summer evenings in the pub garden.

 

 

& a classic red. This one is perfect for every day wear.

 

 

Have you tried any of these lip crayons? What did you think?

 

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Nivea Lip Butter - Raspberry Rose

Afternoon lovelies! Hope you're all well.

 

I thought I'd show you one of my latest purchases, the Nivea Lip Butter. My mum actually got this in a set for Christmas & it just smelled so good I had to go out & buy my own!

 

 

First of all, the packaging. I love it, so simple & but very true to the product. The lip butter, as you'd expect has a very creamy texture & although it's light pink in pigmentation, it appears white / opaque on the lips.

 

I suffer from very dry lips all through out the year. Using a product like this as a base & top coat for a lipstick really does make a difference. I usually put it on before bed so it can soak in over night & then as a top coat over lipsticks in the daytime.

 

Even if your not a fan of this type of lip product, all you need to do is go & smell it & it'll win you over. Seriously. : )

 

What have you been wearing on your lips recently?

 

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Revlon Colorstay

Hello lovelies!

 

Please tell me I'm not the only one who can't resist an offer in Boots? Especially when it involves lipsticks..

 

Revlon are currently offering a 2 for £10 on a range of their cosmetics. One of their latest products I've been dying to try is the Colorstay lipsticks. Considering they are usually £8.99 each, I couldn't resist picking up two for £10.

 

I chose Finale 095 & 005 Muse. Finale is an orangy red & Muse is a bright pink.

 

I wore Finale out to dinner last night for Kym's birthday. I always go for lipsticks with long staying power & contain a lot of moisture. Even in Summer, my lips are so dry, so in Winter I need even more help to keep them moisturised. I always tend to wear a lip balm under lipsticks regardless of the formula but I think this lipstick proved I didn't have to. It stayed on amazingly well too, I re-applied it after dinner but you could see it was still clearly on my lips despite eating & drinking.

 

Have any of you tried these yet?
I'm tempted to go back & get a few more shades while the offer is still on.. ; D

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Maybelline Baby Lips

You have no idea how long I've been hunting for this product. It seems to have sold out every time I've ventured into Boots or Superdrug. But finally.. I found it!

 

 

If you haven't heard about Maybelline's new lip product, where have you been?! This product not only claims to moisturise your lips for up to 8 hours, but also adds a hint of pigmentation.

 

 

As most of you know, I'm a pink girl at heart so I just had to go for the pinkest shade in the collection - Pink Punch. These lip balms are totally affordable & retail for £2.99 in Boots.

 

 

I absolutely love the packaging - seriously how cute is it?

 

They apply so easily onto the lips but I find myself applying them at least once every two hours, sometimes more. The colour does last, but fades after a while. My lips do feel moisturised after wearing the balm, but it definitely needs applying more than every eight hours.

 

What do you think of this balm? Have you tried any of the other shades?

 

I'm thinking of purchasing Cherry Me & Peach Kiss next time I'm in town. : )

 

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Ebay Lipstick Review - Star Pink & Melon

Recently, I've found myself becoming addicted to Ebay. I go through phases of loving it & hating it & at the moment, I love it. So when I saw these bargain lipsticks for £1.95 each, I couldn't resist.

 

I picked them up from this UK seller & they do such a range of colours, I'm surprised I controlled myself with just the two shades but having free postage means you can always try the product & purchase another if you liked it without paying out for the delivery again.

 



Top - Star Pink 038 / Bottom - Melon 020

It's quite hard to actually see the shade when you select it on the seller's page, only because there are so many to choose from & are all quite similar, the seller fails to give a clear swatch on most of the shades. Melon was actually more orangey / coral than I thought it was going to be but the Star Pink is pretty much true to the image.



Melon 020

Like I said, this shade is more orangey than I thought it would be, but it's actually gorgeous on the lips. I don't actually own any orange lipsticks, I usually either buy pinks or reds, but this one is a lovely addition to my collection to add some variety. Overall its beautifully pigmented & easy to apply.



Star Pink 038

This shade is gorgeous. It's quite a dark pink so I'm leaning towards wearing it more in the Autumn / Winter months, but regardless I love the pigmentation.



Top - Star Pink 038 / Bottom - Melon 020

Both shades however don't have the greatest staying power, especially when it comes down to eating & drinking, but overall I'm super happy with this find & for £1.95 each, you can't really complain.

 

Have you found anything on Ebay recently?

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Legend

Topshop have had a sale = my life completed. : )

 

I managed to find this lipstick, buried at the bottom of the sale basket, right when I was coming out of Topshop. Being a bright barbie pink, I had to snatch it up.

 

 

Usually Topshop lipsticks hate my lips. They instantly show all the cracks & un-even skin & turn a chalky texture despite all the amazing reviews I've heard about them. I thought I'd try the Louise Gray range to see if they were any better. Answer, yes! I tend to go for lipsticks that are moisturising & not drying for my lips, this one is perfect. It's a beautiful pigmented shade, that instantly brightens up any look.

 

Have you tried any of the Louise Gray range? I'm tempted to stock up on the lipsticks!

 

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