Florabundance

Lush 'Buffy'

2012-02-12T12:00:00.001Z

I recently repurchased my favourite Lush product, Buffy, and thought it was high time I blogged about it. As a past Lush employee, it's safe to say I've tried almost every Lush product going and Buffy is the one I have loved the most.

Buffy was originally called Buffy The Backside Slayer - because it buffs your backside and slays dead skin, resulting in super soft skin. I remember learning this at work on one of my very first days and it made me chuckle! Buffy isn't just for backsides though - I use it all over :)

Ground rice, ground almonds and ground adzuki beans are the gentle exfoliating ingredients in Buffy, but it's the cocoa butter and shea butter element that I really love - it is super hydrating and your skin will feel like you have just moisturised when you have stepped out of the shower. This is a massive pro for me because it saves the effort of applying an actual moisturiser - especially when I'm in a rush! I'd say this is perfect for the people who have a hard time committing to moisturising on a regular basis. You just scrub with Buffy in the shower or bath and voila, a perfectly moisturised body :)

A 50g bar costs £5.50 and a 200g bar costs £9.95 - next time I'll be splurging on the 200g for sure!

What's your favourite Lush product? I'd love to know!

Lydia xox

IMATS 2012 Haul

2012-02-11T10:00:00.001Z

If this feels like the hundredth IMATS 2012 haul to pop up in your blogger dashboard then I apologise! But I couldn't help but share my little splurge from the weekend :)

I had a great time at IMATS and went a little over my budget, but I just couldn't refuse a bargain - especially when I would have happily paid full price for the products!

On to the goodies -

I'll start with Illamasqua who were my personal favourite - they were absolutely the star of the show. It was ram packed at their stand - even at 9am when we arrived!

What I was most happy to get my hands on was some Medium Pencils - an absolutely steal at £2 each! I chose Cane (pale yellow), Feisty (red) and Obscene (Purple).

Intense Lip Colour in Femme (£5)

Sheer Lip Colour in Mina (£5)

Cream Blusher in Sob (£5)

Nail Polish in Propaganda (£5)

Large Kabuki (£10 - amazing!)

We also spent some time pursuing the Real Techniques stand. I already have the Stipling Brush so I just went for the Powder Brush in the end. It cost around the £8 mark and it is SO soft!

At the MAC Pro stand I took the opportunity to buy something I had wanted to get my hands on for a while - the Reflects Glitter pigment in Pearl.

Finally, at Make Up For Ever I bought their Full Cover concealer - another bargain at £13.

Now that I've written a post it doesn't seem like I bought that much - but it's definitely more than I'd ever buy on a normal make-up shopping trip haha!

As for my overall thoughts on IMATS, I thought it was great but I'm not 100% sure if I'd go again. The atmosphere just didn't seem right and the hall was far too large - I've heard that the smaller hall they used last year was much better as everything was more compact. However, it was great to see some bloggers, chat to some lovely people at the stands and bag some discounted products.

Did you go to IMATS this year? What did you think and what did you buy? Would love to hear!

Lydia xox

Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Foundation

2012-02-09T17:11:00.003Z

Bobbi Brown's Extra Repair SPF25 Foundation is still a fairly new product on the market, and personally I have not heard very many things about it so I thought it could be useful to add my two cents and do a review.

The idea behind Extra Repair SPF25 foundation, is that over time it will help replenish and strengthen skin. I'll be honest though - that's not what sucked me in! My skin has been a little on the dry side this winter (very rare for me!) and the idea of a product was like face cream in consistency but provided me with decent coverage and some SPF seemed like a winning combination.

The foundation comes in a very luxurious jar, just like the skin care line - this is mostly likely because Bobbi Brown wants to market this product as more of a skin product as opposed to make up.

The shade range is excellent and I was very pleased with how the MUA matched me at the counter. She cleansed my skin and drew stripes of different shades to see which suited me the most. In the end we both agreed that 3 Beige was the best match.

How it looks in the pot - as you can see it is a very thick, creamy consistency. As someone that has normal skin with oily tendencies, you think I would run a mile! But in winter time, this is pretty much perfect for me - it nourishes my skin, does not emphasise my flaky patches and does not break me out. My only gripe is that the coverage is low and I find it hard to build - so this can only really be used as a day foundation for me.

Here's a photo of how it looks on me:

As you can probably tell, it is quite luminous. I only have Extra Repair on here with some blusher - no highlighter, no concealer, no powder. I find it makes me look so healthy with just the right amount of glow. It's a huge winner for me. I find the best method of application is with a bog standard foundation brush, but then blended out with your fingers afterwards to ensure no tell-tale brush strokes are present.

I am incredibly pleased with my purchase and I would recommend this if you are after a product that has more coverage than a tinted moisturiser. It would also work great for people with dry skin as it is very nourishing. The only downside is the price - it costs a whopping £36. I bought mine from John Lewis

Lydia xox

January 2012 Favourites

2012-02-06T19:11:00.002Z

January was a great month for both enjoying new products and discovering old ones - so this post has a nice mix of the two.

First up is Garnier's Intensive 7 Hour range - I have both the body and hand versions in the Mango Oil scent. I absolutely love both of these because they are extremely moisturising but soak in to the skin very quickly too! I'm not so sure my skin is left moisturised for 7 whole days, but I can definitely notice it for 2 days afterwards which is definitely a major plus point for me.

These are both on offer in Boots at the moment (£1.99 each!) and I am definitely stocking up before the offer ends.

Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in Genial has surprisingly been one of my most reached for lipsticks this month. It's a bright pinky-coral with a bit of a glossy finish to it. I mostly love how creamy and opaque it is. I'm totally looking forward to Spring and Summer and this lipstick is definitely helping me to get in the mood!

Clarisonic Mia in Pink is definitely the star of the month for me. I bought it with some of my Christmas money and I have totally fallen in love with it - it gives such a deep clean and my skin has really benefited from that. A more in depth review of this to come in the near future hopefully!

St Tropez Bronzing Mousse has been a great pick me up throughout January. I usually use it once every 7-10 days to give me a bit of colour. It's easy to apply and pretty much fool-proof if you use a mitt. A bit of regular exfoliation also ensures the tan fades evenly, unlike other tanners I have tried.

Finally, what with the hype of UD Naked 2 I was inspired to dig out the original Naked Palette and start using it more frequently. I love Sidecar all over the lid, with Virgin and Sin as highlights. I also love Buck for my brows and in the crease. So many gorgeous neutrals in this palette, you just can't go wrong!

Lydia xox

Saturdays Face

2012-01-28T11:09:00.003Z

The sun is shining brightly this morning so I took the opportunity to seize some great natural lighting and snap a face of the day to blog about :-)

Please ignore my hair - it's day 3 hair and flat as a pancake at my roots haha! Not even Batiste could revive it.

Face:

Jemma Kidd Light As Air Foundation 02

Bare Minerals Bronzer in Warmth

Illamasqua Cream Blush in Dixie

Eyes:

MAC Teddy eye kohl smudged around the entire eye

MAC Sable eyeshadow blended over the top

MAC Brule on the brow bone

L'Oreal Million Lashes Luminizer Mascara for Hazel Eyes

Lips:

MAC Speed Dial Lipstick

Clothing:

Top: H&M

Scarf: H&M

This weekend I will mainly be having a major sort through of my stuff. I made £70 on Ebay last week and this has given me huge encouragement to sell more!

Lydia xox

Repurchase: Embryolisse

2012-01-27T16:54:00.003Z

This week I reordered my current favourite moisturiser, Emrbyolisse.

You have probably heard a ridiculous amount of praise for this product already, so I shall save you the time and keep it short. It is a cult French skin care product that is dubbed one of the beauty industry's best kept secret. Although it's not so secret now, eh?! And for that I am glad. It's 24 hour moisture property means it leaves my skin comfortably hydrated all day long, and when I apply it at night I wake up with plump looking skin that screams "I've had 12 hours sleep!" I love it because despite having oily skin, in winter I need something heavier that won't break me out - and this is the perfect product for that.

I purchase Emrbyolisse from Guru Make-Up Emporium where 75ml will set you back around £16. Not too bad considering the size in my opinion!

Have you tried Emrbyolisse?

Lydia xox

Illamasqua Splurge!

2012-01-21T14:19:00.005Z

Yesterday was payday and I was a woman on a mission. I headed to Cardiff with Illamasqua products in mind...

I went to the counter with one particular product in mind - their Skin Base. I had been using a sample of SB06 over the last week but I wasn't 100% sure it was the right match. The lovely MUA (Charlotte I think her name was?) matched me as SB08 and I thought it looked like a better match. My thoughts so far (bearing in mind I used the sample for a week before buying this) is that it's a really nice medium-heavy coverage foundation that leaves a slight dewy look to the skin. The luminosity is not over the top or over powering - it is a really nice medium. I don't powder my skin with this - I like it to look like skin - which is exactly what Skin Base sets out to do.

Whilst the MUA had to make up the rest of my face anyway, I asked her to take her pick of a Cream Blusher that she thinks would suit me. She chose Dixie, a really bright coral-toned colour that looks very fresh when lightly applied. I was totally sold!

Finally, I bought their Brow Cake in Motto - the lightest shade. It is quite ashy, which suits my natural hair colour quite well. I'm not one to fill in my brows every day but I wanted this for nights out.

A special offer was running where if you bought 2 products or more you got a free nail polish of your choice. I opted for Snap, which is a metallic grey/silver. Have yet to try this yet, but I have a few Illamasqua nail polishes in my collection and none of them disappoint.

Did you splurge on pay day? Or are you planning to when it finally gets here?

Lydia xox

Champneys Overnight Hand Therapy

2012-01-14T10:17:00.002Z

The cold weather and constant central heating use has really left my hands feeling dry and flaky recently, but I found a product that has really helped and wanted to share it with you all!

Champneys Overnight Hand Therapy was gifted to me by a family member (my auntie, an avid Champneys Spa fan!) but I found out that it retails for £10 from Boots - although can very often be found on offer for £5 on both the official website and Boots itself.

Inside the box you get a 100ml tub of really rich hand cream, and a pack of two special gloves - similar to what you can buy at The Body Shop.

My Experience:

The cream is incredibly thick and smells very herbal - you definitely get a whiff of lavender, that's for sure! I don't really like lavender very much, but seeing as this is a night time treatment I can sort of tolerate it - plus it helps you get in to sleepy mode!

Despite being a really thick consistency, I found the cream to soak in very quickly and my hands were left fairly matte to the touch - not greasy at all. Whilst this is great - nobody likes slippery hands after applying hand cream - what I don't understand is how you are meant to use this as an overnight treatment. I put the gloves on but because the cream had absorbed within minutes, I didn't see the point in keeping them on overnight. Instead, I took the gloves offf - slathered another layer of cream on and went off to sleep. I woke up the next morning with plump skin on my hands that was baby-bottom soft to the touch.

What I like: absorbs quickly and leaves skin hydrated but not greasy.

What I don't like: the gloves are pretty much useless - think the product is marketed wrong.

Would I recommend? Yes, but not as an overnight treatment - this works well as just a handcream.

Would I repurchase? Yes - but only if it was on offer! £5 is reasonable - £10 is a bit much.

What is your winter hand saviour? I'd love to know,

Lydia xox

Every Day Make-Up Routine

2012-01-10T12:36:00.003Z

I have developed somewhat of a make-up routine lately and I thought I would gather all of my most-reached for products to do a post on it. It's quite a rarity for me to fall in to a routine with make-up so I wanted to grab the opportunity to blog about it! I mean, these products must be doing something right if I'm reaching for them every day, right?

So here are the contents of my make-up bag at the moment...

Foundation: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B30 - a nice lightweight foundation that has a fairly decent coverage in my opinion. I wore it today without any concealer and I do have a few blemishes, so I think that says a lot.

Concealer: MAC Moisture Cover NW20 - for the days when my skin needs extra help! I also use the under my eyes most days, as it is the only concealer lately that doesn't make my under eye area look dry.

Eyebrows: MAC Brow Gel in Clear - seriously running low on the stuff, I use it every day without fail to keep my eyebrows in place.

Blusher: Illamasqua 'Ambition' - I'm all about shimmery blushers at the moment!

Highlight: Dior Ambre Diamond - I use this on my cheekbones and down the centre of the nose. I also dab my MAC pencil brush in to the lighter section of this to apply to my inner corner of the eyes.

Eye Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion

Eyeshadow: MAC Sable or MAC All That Glitters - it's usually one of these two at the moment! A quick one eyeshadow look is something I am really loving lately.

Eyeliner: Collection 2000 Extreme Wear Felt Pen Liner

Eyelash Curler: Shu Uemura (as always!)

Mascara: L'Oreal Volume Million Lash Luminzer

Lips: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Chance or Dior Rouge Serum - both moisturising and easy to wear!

Do you have a make-up routine? Or do you change it up every day?

Lydia xox

Post-Christmas Shopping

2012-01-08T20:41:00.003Z

So after Christmas I decided to treat myself to a few little things with some of my Christmas money. The rest is in my savings account, I'm quite proud at how restrained I managed to be!

Here is what I bought...

1. Nars Super Orgasm Lipgloss - this is something that has been on my wish list for months, and as I have really been getting in to lipgloss again lately I thought I would go for it and treat myself! It's a really flattering, universal colour that I think would suit everyone. It's definitely a my-lips-but-better kind of shade, with added shimmer for good measure! See the photo below for how it looks on the lips.

2. Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser - I have run out of nearly all my cleansers, and none of them were particularly wowing me enough to want to repurchase, so I decided to try something new. I went with Purity because I had heard many great things about it and knew from reading endless reviews that it was a gentle cleanser that you can't really go wrong with. I love it because it's creamy, easy to lather (even with my Clarisonic) and totally non-irritating.

3. Moroccan Oil - this is a repurchase, as you may already know. My last bottle lasted me 15 months so I was more than happy to splash out the £30 for another bottle. I really feel like it has transformed my hair over the past year and it is a total staple for me now :) this time I made sure to order the one that came with a pump - much easier to dispense the right amount now!

4. Clarisonic Mia in Pink - something I have been itching to buy for a very long time, and I am SO happy I took the plunge! I just wish I hadn't waited so long now haha. My skin feels thoroughly cleaned with this and it leaves the texture of my skin feeling amazing. It's still early days though so I won't say too much on this.

As for sale shopping, I picked up a dress and a top and that's it! I really have restrained myself this year and I feel better for it. Proud, even :)

Did you make any post-Christmas purchases?

Lydia xox

NYE 2011 Make-Up

2012-01-04T14:26:00.004Z

I snapped a photo of my make-up before heading out on NYE so I thought I'd share what make up I decided to wear for the occasion :)

Face:

Estee Lauder Double Wear in Sand

MAC Moisture Cover Concealer NW20

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose

Dior Amber Diamond Highlighter

Eyes:

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Illusoire (all over lid)

MAC Shadowy Lady (crease and outer V)

Urban Decay Virgin from Naked palette (brow bone highlight)

Collection 2000 Felt Tip Eyeliner

L'Oreal Million Lashes Luminzer Mascara

Ardell Demi Wispies Eyelashes

Lips:

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Chance

Hope you all had a great NYE whatever you did :)

Lydia xox

Christmas 2011 Gifts

2011-12-29T10:39:00.004Z

I hope you don't think I'm showing off by writing this post, but to be honest I absolutely love reading other peoples Christmas presents posts so I thought I would jump on the wagon and do my own.

This year I didn't ask for anything besides perfume and money, so that I could save the money to spend on my trip to America in March. I feel like I was totally spoilt with gifts and got so much more than I had thought I would!

Here is a peek at some of the stuff...

Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum 50ml

Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Parfum 100ml

Yankee Candle Christmas Cookie Tumbler

Lots of lovely Lush products to bump up my stash!

A gorgeous Cinderella Christmas tree ornament, given to me by a friend - I love her :)

A new Radley umbrella - perfect timing as my current one is on its last legs!

Bobbi Brown Make-Up Manual - something I have wanted for a long time!

A travel Babyliss hairdryer to take on my trip with me.

I also got a smoothie maker and lots of bath, body and hair gift sets but I didn't include them as I didn't think they'd be too interesting!

Lydia xox

My 2011 Beauty Winners

2011-12-21T20:44:00.002Z

A little bit early I know, but I have hardly any spare time over the next few weeks so better early than never at all I say!

Here are the products that have won my heart this year....

Make-Up:

Foundation: Jemma Kidd Light As Air

Powder: Chanel Poudre Universelle

Concealer: MAC Moisture Cover

Eyeshadow: MAC Patina

Eyeliner: MAC Teddy

Mascara: Covergirl LashBlast

Blusher: Illamasqua Ambition

Bronzer: NARS Laguna

Highlight: Dior Amber Diamond

Lipstick: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Chance

Lipgloss: MAC Dazzleglass Rags to Riches

Nail Polish: Orly Rage

Skincare:

Morning Cleanser: Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser

Evening Cleanser: Origins Clean Energy Oil

Toner: Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner

Moisturiser: Origins Dr Weil Mega Mushroom Soothing Face Cream

Haircare:

Shampoo: Aveda Brilliant

Conditioner: Joico K-Pak Intense Hydrator

Deep Conditioner: Kerastase Chroma Riche Treatment Masque

Leave-In Treatment: Moroccan Oil

Hairspray: Tresemme Firm Hold

Hot Tool: Babyliss Waving Wand

Have you done a 2011 beauty favourites post? Let me know if so! I love to read what products people highly rate.

Lydia xox

Monday's Face... 11/12/11

2011-12-14T08:55:00.002Z

On Monday I had a rare spare few minutes before leaving for work so I snapped a few photos to do a FOTD :) you know the drill, take about 20 photos and only 1 is ever deemed blog-worthy. Well here's the one I chose...

Face:

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Fresco

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose

Eyes:

MAC Sable - all over lid

MAC Black Tied - outer V

MAC Phloof! - inner corner

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Luminzer Mascara (for Hazel Eyes)

Lips:

17 Mirror Shine lipstick in Beehive

I love a good old FOTD post.

Lydia xox

Top 3 Winter Perfumes

2011-12-11T13:55:00.004Z

As I was tidying up my make-up and perfume storage this morning, I decided that a post on my top 3 perfumes for the winter months may be a very good idea indeed :) I love perfume and I am a bit of a collector, which means certain perfumes only get used at certain times of the year.

In winter I like heavier, more muskier and longer lasting scents. I love nothing more than picking up a scarf and smelling a perfume you wore days ago! That, is the essence of a fantastic perfume in my opinion :) the 3 I picked all posses that quality.

1. Diptyque Eau Duelle: this is the longest lasting perfume I've ever come across. It's a gorgeous spicy vanilla that manages to be woody and sweet all at the same time - a very complex and interesting scent indeed. It's perfect for this time of year! If you would like to read more about it then click here for my review.

2. Chanel Chance: this used to be my signature scent - well I guess it still is - and I have definitely gone through at least 10 bottles of the stuff over the years! Truly tried and tested you could say :) I don't know how to describe but it is definitely a heavy scent with outstanding staying power. In the last two years I have become a bit of a perfume junkie and so I no longer stay so loyal to Chance - it tends to just come out in Winter time now!

3. Vivienne Westwood Naughty Alice: I had this perfume as a gift last Christmas, and every time I spray it it takes me back to the that period of time. For me, it is the essence of Winter - a musky scent that smells very sensual and audacious, yet it is also floral. Another perfume that lingers all day.

What are some of your favourite winter perfumes?

Lydia xox

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Luminzer Mascara for Hazel Eyes

2011-12-08T14:36:00.005Z

I have a new favourite mascara that I have recently discovered and I couldn't wait to share it with you all! I'm too excited :)

First I shall give you a bit of a back story...

Previously, I had been using and loving Covergirl's LashBlast for months on end but due to it not being available in the UK I started to try out some of our own drugstore mascara offerings. Old favourites Rimme Sexy Curves and L'Oreal Voluminous were just not cutting it for me so last week I decided to take the plunge and try out a new mascara - L'Oreal's Volume Million Lashes Luminzer Mascara. Now, the luminzer range has 3 offerings - one for blue eyes, one for green eyes and one for hazel eyes. I have brown eyes so this wasn't exactly ideal, but I know from experience that purple is really complimentary on brown eyes so I plumped for the Lumizer Hazel Eyes, because that is a plummy purple colour. I'm glad I took this risk because I am so in love with this mascara!

Packaging...

The brush...

How it looks on the lashes...

Above is a photo of my lashes with just one coating of product. As you can see, it really opens up the eye and defines each lash. You also cannot tell that the mascara has some colour to it, so if that has been putting you off trying this range then don't let it!

The reason I love it so much is because it does exactly what I want in a mascara - lifts, expands and separates.

Lifts.... I naturally have rather long lashes but they have no curl to them at all, making them look short and stumpy. This mascara really helps hold the curl created with my eyelash curlers, and shows off the length I have instead of them lying flat and looking pretty non-existent.

Expands... Again, the brush really helps to fan out my lashes and it also seems to give some volume at the base. It makes me look like I have tonnes more lashes than I really do - or at least what I thought I had!

Separates... The brush is plastic and has loads of little grooves in it, which is what I think makes it define the lashes so well. The design of the brush helps to grab each and every lash and then coat them individually! I'm not into clumpy mascara at all, so this works great for me, but if you are then you might be sorely disappointed here.

This mascara cost me around £11 from Superdrug and I would definitely recommend and repurchase. I give it 4 stars out of 5 :)

Lydia xox

November 2011 Favourites

2011-12-03T19:05:00.004Z

Yay for December! I can't believe how fast November flew. I started a new temporary job and I have been crazy busy, so I apologise for the serious lack of blogging - I couldn't miss out on a favourites post though :)

So here are the things that have been used and loved throughout the last month...

1. MAC MSF in Triple Fusion (LE) - this MSF has been sat in my make-up drawer for months untouched, but after getting it out one day on a whim I realised how gorgeous it really is. I think I've used it every day since! It is in three stripes - one pink, one pale bronze and one pale gold - and this makes for a gorgeous cheek colour. It is like a blush, bronzer and highlighter all in one. Bit of a time saver in the mornings, and I can see this sticking around in my every day make up for a long time to come. Such a shame it is limited edition, I'll be so sad when I hit pan!

2. Tresemme 24 Hour Body Mousse - I was sick to death of how limp and lifeless my hair had been looking, so I went to Boots on the hunt for a hair mousse. This is the first thing I saw and picked it up without really thinking twice - I'm such a hair mousse novice! I have definitely been loving this product though and I'm so pleased I pick it up. My hair curls a lot better when I've used this, and it also helps boost my root volume when I dry my hair upside down.

3. Sienna X Gradual Tan - this has become my new weekly self tanner recently. It smells very tropical, feels very moisturising and leaves me with an even, golden colour to the skin. I only like to look slightly sunkissed, so full on fake tan is not for me - I'm much better suited to a gradual tan, and this so far has been my favourite :)

4. Jemma Kidd Light As Air Foundation in 03 - I've used this foundation on and off since April, but since buying a better colour match for me (I was using 02 but now have 03) I have been using it religiously! It makes me skin look healthy and I have had lots of compliments whilst wearing it - ding ding!

5. OPI Quarter of a Cent-Cherry - this is my red nail polish of choice at the moment. It's a gorgeous, deep red so I feel very festive wearing it. I mostly love it because it's a darker red though - no berry tones here! I feel like it works with a lot more outfits for me. As for OPI as a brand, I only have good things to say. LOOOOVE!

6. Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Sensuelle - this line is described by Chanel as a 'luminous matte lip colour' and I actually think this is quite an accurate description. The lipstick feels velvety on the lips, appears matte to the eye but feels very moisturising indeed. The colour La Sensuelle is a beautiful dark red, it looks very classic and is an essential in my festive make up routine!

My favourite song of the month has to be an amazing cover/mash up from Glee....

It has been on repeat!

Lydia xox

Current Skincare Routine

2011-11-20T14:25:00.003Z

My skincare routine always seems to be getting tweaked here and there, but I have gotten myself in to a nice little consistent routine since mid August so I thought it was about time I put up a post about what products I'm using :)

CLEANSERS:

1. Origins Checks and Balances - I love this cleanser and this is currently my third bottle of the stuff. I find it to be a little bit drying with every day use, so I just save this for days when my skin feels a bit on the oily side. It is a very thick cream that turns frothy with the water, and leaves my skin feeling super duper clean

2. Avene Gentle Cleaner - To be honest, I much prefer Cetaphil to this (but it is very comparible!) but because until recently Cetaphil was hard to find in the UK, I sometimes pick this up as an alternative. Basically a gentle cleanser - I use this most days, I don't believe in using harsh cleansers no matter how spotty my skin gets!

3. Origins Clean Energy Cleansing Oil - I use this every evening to remove my make up and I absolutely love it. My skin feels plump and comfortably hydrated. If you want to read more about this, check out my recent review here!

TONERS:

1. Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion - I use this as my night time toner, it's great at helping to keep the spots at bay and making sure my pores get a deeper clean (it contains salicylic acid).

2. Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner - this is my day time toner. It is very soothing and calms down any redness. It would be ideal for night time use too but I prefer to use the slightly harsher products at night and the gentler ones in the day - I find my make-up applies better that way.

MOISTURISERS:

1. Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion - god, I love this stuff! It's perfect for days when my skin is more on the oily side and it is also great to use during breakouts - it doesn't really add any excess oil or too much moisture in the skin. Plus, it's so gentle :)

2. Origins Dr Weil Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Cream - this has definitely taken top place as my all time favourite moisturiser. It is thick in consistency but soaks in to my skin almost instantly. My skin feels well hydrated but velvet to the touch. It is also soothing, meaning it helps with redness and sensitive skin.

EXTRAS:

1. Origins GinZing Eye Cream - I use this in the mornings before applying make-up. It helps brighten up the under eye area and feels very soothing. I have yet to find myself a night time eye cream, so any suggestions are very much welcomed!

2. Origins Super Spot Remover - this is my go to product for spots. You can read more about it in my review here!

And that's it. A lot of Origins products I know, but what can I say... they're my favourite skin care brand :)

Lydia xox

October 2011 Favourites

2011-11-02T18:04:00.003Z

I think this is the earliest in to a new month that I've managed to write a monthly favourites, as I was very eager to put this up. I think from now on, I will aim to put the post up on the actual last day of the month. Seems a lot more fitting that way!

On to what I have been loving throughout the month of October...

1. L'oreal Voluminous x5 Mascara - this is an oldie but a goodie! I have used this mascara in the past but then I started to shun it in favour of trying out new ones instead. After being disappointed by a MaxFactor (not sure of the name, purple packaging though?) mascara recently I decided to pick up Voluminous again for the bargainous price of £6 and I have been seriously impressed by how it makes my lashes look. When I use Voluminous, my lashes look fluttery and full - just what I want from a mascara.

2. Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant - oh my gosh, can you say HG product here?! I can't believe I have only recently discovered this product. Basically, it is an exfoliator that is applied like a face mask and then rinsed off - so no little scrubby bits like your usual exfoliators. I really prefer this type of exfoliation now that I have tried it, as I find an exfoliator that really scrubs at your skin can be too harsh and actually make my pores look worse. Not to mention that vigorous exfoliation can lead to broken capillaries! I use this product twice a week and it leaves my skin as soft as a baby's bum :)

3. MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer NW20 - another product that I can't believe I have only just discovered. I really love this concealer as it does an excellent job of covering up spots and dark circles, yet it never feels or looks cakey. I used to more cream based concealers (such as Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, MAC Studio Fix concealer...), but lately I have found they can emphasise any spots that are dry and cake up under my eyes. What I love most is that my shade - NW20 - seems to blend perfectly in to whatever foundation I am using, whether it is lighter or darker.

4. He-Shi Day to Day Gradual Tanner - this product is PERFECT for this time of year. Now that my real tan from summer is gradually fading, I have been using He-Shi's gradual tanner once a week to subtly inject some colour back in to my skin. I feel I look much healthier with a tan, so it's nice to keep a little sunkissed glow. I imagine I will use this product all year round until summer again. What makes this product stand out amongst other gradual tanners is that the colour is perfect every time - no streaks here! It is also is the least offensive smelling tan I've ever used - bonus!

5. Too Faced Primed and Poreless Primer - when I look in the mirror I have noticed my pores around my nose have been becoming more prominent which kind of upset me. I decided to take action and since using the Too Faced primer I can definitely see a difference. It leaves my skin feeling like velvet and my foundation now goes on seemlessly without accentuating my pores at all. This is one of my first Too Faced products and I'm excited to explore more products from the brand :)

Finally, I will leave you with my favourite song from October: Florence and The Machine - Shake It Out from her gorgeous new album, Ceremonials.

Ceremonials came out on 28th October, and is currently available to download from Amazon for just £3.99 as it is their album of the week :)

I have had the pleasure of seeing Florence live a few times - most notably my university's summer ball last year - and I hope I can see her again in the near future!

Looking forward to everyone else's favourites,

Lydia xox

Top 5 Blushers

2011-10-30T14:05:00.002Z

I've never been one to write 'top 5' or 'top 10' favourites post, but I decided to jump on the bandwagon as I love reading other peoples favourites.

So to start with, here are my top 5 blushers...

Top Row L-R: MAC Gentle, MAC Pink Swoon, MAC Melba

Bottom L-R: Nars Deep Throat, Benefit Coralista

1. Benefit Coralista - this is hands down my all time favourite blush! I just find it so flattering on my skin and it always looks great. It is quite shimmery, meaning I don't really need to use a highlighter when I use this and it still makes my skin look glowing. Benefit blushers are ridiculously expensive but I've had this box since January 2010 and I haven't even hit pan :)

2. MAC Pink Swoon - this is the first ever MAC blusher I bought (back in 2006!), and it is also the first blusher I ever bought and used consistently. Before I got Pink Swoon, I never bothered with blusher so in a way this blush is what started my love affair.... it really made me realise what a difference a pop of blusher on the cheeks can do for your complexion.

3. MAC Gentle - this is the only mineralized blush that I really use, and I think it is perfect for days when you have gone heavier on the bronzer and want a tiny pop of colour on the cheeks. It is also great for days when you are wearing minimal make-up. It is also has shimmer in it so it makes you look glowing and gorgeous.

4. Nars Deep Throat - I find this really comparable to Coralista, but it is definitely more pink than coral. I love Nars blushers but this is definitely my favourite - it suits my skin tone and never looks too harsh.

5. MAC Melba - I love this blusher for summer time when I'm tanned and using quite a bit of bronzer - Melba just looks so subtle on the cheeks. It is also my only matte blusher.

What are your top 5 blushers? I'd say I have a rather small collection compared to other make-up items, so I'm open to new purchases :)

Lydia xox

FOTD 27th October 2011

2011-10-27T21:46:00.005+01:00

Not quite sure what is going on with my camera today - it seems to be taking very grainy photos with the flash off despite being in great natural lighting :(

On the plus side, whilst I was trying to figure it out I snapped quite a few photos and ended up deciding to use one as a FOTD! How convenient :)

Face:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Bisque

MAC Moisturecover Concealer in NW20

Nars Laguna Bronzer

MAC Mineralized Blush in Gentle

Eyes:

MAC Brow Gel in Clear

MAC Bare Study Paint Pot - all over the lid up to the brow bone

MAC Woodwinked Eyeshadow - over the whole lid

MAC Mystery Eyeshadow - crease

MAC Phloof! Eyeshadow - inner corner

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara

Lips:

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Chance

Hair:

Au naturel!

Jumper:

H&M this season

I hope you all enjoy FOTD posts. I personally like them because it allows me to see products in action, and inevitably get put on to my make-up wish list as a result!

Lydia xox

Origins Clean Energy Cleansing Oil Review

2011-10-26T13:56:00.004+01:00

I had planned to do an entire skin care post today, but then I changed my mind - you see, I'm quite fickle with skin care - I rarely repurchase products unless they have stood out to me.

Instead, I decided to put the spotlight on my evening cleanser of choice at the moment because it is definitely a product I'll repurchase.

"A healthier looking future for skin begins here. This lightweight, high-tech, hybrid formula with non-comedogenic Olive, Sunflower, Sesame and Safflower Oils removes dirt, makeup and pollutants with high efficiency.

Kukui Nut and Macadamia help protect precious natural moisture resources. Vitamin E helps reduce effects of environmental hazards such as irritation that can threaten the comfort of skin. Skin breathes freely. And the energizing aroma of Grapefruit, Orange and Lemon renew your spirits."

Wow, what a humungous product blurb with a plethora of claims and promises! Well, I can safely say the product itself lives up to them all.

I use the Origins Clean Energy every evening and it removes every little scrap of my make-up. I have used many oil cleansers in the past (Laura Mercier, MAC to name a few) but none of them remove foundation and eye make-up as well as the Origins version.

Oil is definitely my number one choice for make-up removal. For someone with combination-oily skin this might sound crazy to you, but using an oil is so gentle and effective at cleansing whilst also leaving the skin feeling comfortably hydrated. Despite having skin with oily tendencies, I absolutely hate any cleanser that leaves the skin stripped!

Another plus point for me is that it only costs £17 for 200ml of product. To some people, £17 might be a lot for a cleanser which I understand. But for me, £17 is a reasonable price point - especially when a bottle lasts so long! The photo I included above was taken this morning so you can see how much product I have used over the past month and a half. I think a bottle would easily last me 4 months! So at £17 a bottle every 4 months, it's not too bad right?

Origins are my favourite skin care brand and I'd highly recommend checking them out if you haven't already.

Lydia xox

Disclaimer: Product purchased myself.

Recent Skin Saviors

2011-10-25T17:40:00.002+01:00

I have two products that definitely deserve a post of their own today - for they are truly my recent skin care saviors!

1. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion: I've been using this non stop for about 3 weeks now and I am so happy with the results. I had a bad outbreak of cystic spots on my chin which is very annoying, and at first I used quite a lot of acne orientated products to try and get rid of them which just dried out my chin. So then I decided to take the gentle route, which is where my old faithful Cetaphil lotion came in to play. I apply this every morning and night and my skin has calmed down a lot. Once my skin goes back to normal I know I will use my Origins face cream again, but it's nice to have the Cetaphil as a safety blanket for when my skin goes berserk!

2. Satin Care Sensitive Skin Shave Gel: This past month I have started to get red itchy bumps all over my legs after shaving - well I was getting them until I started using this gel. I bought it from Superdrug for around £3 and every time I shave my legs with it it my legs are rash free :) thank the lord! I really recommend this if you get a shaving rash or you have sensitive skin in general.

Have you had any skin or product saviors as of late?

Lydia xox

Interview Attire

2011-10-22T17:57:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I had (yet another) job interview. It was for a job in admin, which is what I have mostly worked in in the past so I knew how to present myself in terms of clothes, hair and make-up.

You can't really see my full outfit in the photo sorry, but I am rubbish at taking photos of myself if I'm not holding the camera!

Outfit:

Black Waterfall Blazer - Topshop

Black Chiffon Dress - H&M

Black 90 Den Tights - Accessorize

Black Reva Pumps - Tory Burch

Rose Gold Watch - Michael Kors

Make-Up:

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation #5

Chanel Pressed Powder #30

MAC Mineral Skin Finish in Triple Fusion (LE Colour Crafted Collection)

MAC Woodwinked Eyshadow

L'oreal Voluminous x5 Mascara

MAC Clear Eyebrow Gel

Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in 04 Imagination

Hair:

Au naturel.. with a bit of help from Moroccan Oil :)

Lydia xox

Drugstore Purchases

2011-10-21T22:09:00.003+01:00

Hate to use the term 'drugstore' as I am in the UK and all, but really.. what IS the UK equivalent of drugstore? I don't think we have a specific one!

Anyway enough rambling, here is what I have picked up from Boots and Superdrug this week :-)

L'oreal Voluminous x5 Mascara in Black (an old favourite)
Garnier Fresh Essentials Eye Make-Up Remover (something like my 20th bottle!)
Dove Damage Therapy Colour and Radiance Shampoo
Dove Intensive Repair Express Treatment Conditioner
Dove Silk Glow Shower Gel

All of the Dove products I have used on and off over the years but a while ago the hair products have been re-packaged and gone up in price so I stopped purchasing them. They are now all on offer for £1.20 in both Superdrug and Wilkinson's so I thought why not :-) I'd really recommend trying them out now that they are on offer - they all contain serum which leaves the hair super soft! I am going to stock up for sure.

Lastly, I picked up Marie Claire magazine and it has a free L'Occitane hand cream - amazing freebie :)

On a side note, how beautiful does Reese Witherspoon look on the cover? I am going to keep this magazine to show my hairdresser at my next hair appointment - hello side fringe, bye bye middle parting! What do you think?

Lydia xox

Shellac 'Decadence'

2011-10-20T20:09:00.003+01:00

So today I had my first ever Shellac appointment and I'm very pleased :-)

I plumped for the colour Decadence - see below for stock photo and above for the colour on my nails :)

Decadence looks really dark in the bottle which is what I wanted it to look like, however it turned out more of a cherry red which I am equally as happy with - think this kind of red is so classic :)

The whole process took around 30 minutes - a lot quicker than when I used to get 3 Week Manicure at Nails Inc.

It also only cost me £15 - a hell of a lot cheaper than Nails Inc!

Now that I have had Shellac I don't think I'd ever think twice about going back to Nails Inc. Nothing against the company - I do love getting manicures there - but the 3 Week Manicure is pricier and it also weakened my nails over time from the buffing during the removal process.

I'm still a bit of a Shellac novice, so if you would like a bit more in depth information then I suggest heading over to Sarah's blog where she has a really informative post on Shellac and a post on the colours you can get.

Have you ever had Shellac? What colours do you recommend?

Lydia xox

Lately Loving...

2011-10-19T23:05:00.002+01:00

I seem to have caught the blogging bug recently and want to post all the time.

Here is a post on a few things I am loving lately...

Curly hair

Nars Sheer Glow foundation

Slatkin & Co Leaves Candle (why why why must we be deprived of Bath and Body Works in the UK :( I do not love that!)

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

Fleece pyjamas (Primark!)

The Vampire Diaries - I look forward to Fridays, when I can stream the new episode online!

Winged eyeliner - I have finally perfected the art, hallelujah! I now wear it daily.

What are you loving lately?

Lydia xox

Nars Ashes to Ashes & Mekong

2011-10-17T16:36:00.003+01:00

After doing a blog post on Nars recently, I found myself lusting over lots of products over on the Nars website. I tried to restrain myself and in the end I ordered a modest 2 eyeshadows :)

The eyeshadows I chose were Ashes to Ashes (left)) and Mekong (right). Both have been talked about quite a lot by other bloggers and on YouTube so I figured they were a safe bet as I liked the sound of them. I was not disappointed!

Below: Swatches of Ashes to Ashes (top) and Mekong (bottom) in natural light - sooo pretty :)

I am very happy with my new Nars additions and can't wait to expand my collection even more! They are extremely pigmented, so you do need a light hand - particularly with Mekong. Most days I have been putting a wash of Ashes to Ashes over the entire lid and adding a flick of eyeliner. If I have more time or I need a more evening-appropriate look, I've been blending the tiniest amount of Mekong in to the outer V and crease.

Do you have any Nars eyeshadows? I currently have 3 and would like to expand - do you have any recommendations for my wishlist?

Lydia xox

What I've Been Buying This Week...

2011-10-16T17:41:00.005+01:00

So I have a mish mash of things I have bought this week and to make a little change from a beauty post I thought I'd post this on here instead!

My auntie came down to stay from Hampshire and we had a nice day shopping. Here is some of the stuff I picked up...

Absolutely gorgeous scarf from H&M (£12.99), I think the colours are perfect for autumn and that it will go with a lot of outfits. I tend to wear a lot of dark colours in winter so this will hopefully add a bit of life to my outfits!

This top is also from H&M (£7.99), which I think is just a nice simple basic. I got it in size L without trying it on and I'm really regretting that now - I usually get a M so I think this may have to be exchanged. I also want to pick it up in black! Very light and airy but with long sleeves so I think this will be a nice transitional piece of clothing.

I'm going to put it out there - I hate Primark and rarely shop there, but you can't beat their nightwear - especially in winter :) I always pick up some fleecey pyjamas from there every year as they are a bargain and soo cosy! (£7 for the pair)

Flip flops at the start of Autumn, I hear you ask? Well I got these Havaiana's from http://www.powderrooms.com/ for a bargainous £7 in the sale! I am going to America for 6 weeks in March/April next year so these will definitely come in handy - it is kind of a ritual for me that I buy a new pair every time I go on holiday hehe.

Finally, I ordered Essie Damsel in a Dress polish from Ebay and it arrived last week. I painted my nails with it last night and it is such a gorgeous colour - a dark with some purple shimmer to it. Pretty!

Hope you all enjoyed this post,

Lydia xox

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua - Repurchase!

2011-10-12T21:27:00.003+01:00

I recently repurchased Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua foundation because I flippin' love it! For me to repurchase a product can be sometimes quite rare so I thought it deserved a little blog post.

I was running dangerously low on my old bottle, plus it was in shade 20 which was a bit too light for me so I went and bought a brand new bottle of B30. I think I'll put my old bottle aside so I can use the remnants up when I'm paler in winter :)

Here's a photo of me wearing it :) probably not the greatest photo to choose as I currently have a cystic spot outbreak on my chin boohoo - nothing a bit of concealer can't hide though!

Lydia xox

Illamasqua Freak Eau de Parfum

2011-10-08T17:44:00.004+01:00

Recently I was kindly sent a very generous 15ml sample of Illamasqua's new (and first!) perfume - Freak. I was not expecting it but I was pleasantly surprised because I have been itching to smell it ever since I heard that the brand were bringing out a perfume!

As always with Illasmasqua, the box had huge attention to detail with the silver shell, purple shredded paper and the images rolled up in to a scroll. I also love that the perfume came in a small velvet pouch!

I am SUCH a fan of the way they seal their envelopes with wax :-) it's all very Harry Potter eh?!

But enough about my package, let me tell you about Freak....

"Freak is you, freak is me, freak is her, freak is he, freak's who you are and want to be, freak's the door, freak's the key, freak is out, freak is free. The freak's will inherit the earth." Alex Box, Illamasqua's Creative Director

I'm dreadful at describing scents so I shall instead say what the press release says about Freak...

Top Notes

Black Davana, Opium Flower and Belladonna; bewitch the senses into uncontrollable lust and passion.

Heart Notes

Poison Hemlock, Datura and Queen of the Night blossom; caress and kiss.

Base Notes

Aromas of Frankincense, Oud and Myrrh; addictively mesmerises and captures the senses.

My thoughts on Freak:

It is a rather sensual and sexy scent that lingers for hours and hours on the skin. In my opinion, it would make a great evening scent. My initial thoughts on the perfume was that it smelled a bit like bergamot but with a sort of citrus freshness to it. I also feel it is very unisex - either female or male could wear it, if they so wished. I may actually buy this perfume once my sample runs outs, as I have really been enjoying wearing it, particularly as the weather is colder and I have felt an urge to wear stronger perfumes. The only downfall? I wish it had more sizes as the current size is quite a big commitment.

Freak by Illamasqua 75ml EDP will retail at £59 and can be pre-ordered from the 3rd October at Illamasqua.com - the scent will launch 20th October.

Lydia xox

A Face Full of Nars! FOTD 07/10/11

2011-10-07T19:48:00.002+01:00

I dug out Nars Sheer Glow today and as I was applying it I decided to go a bit Nars crazy and try and do a face full of Nars products :)

Here is my FOTD:

Face:

Nars Sheer Glow in Deauville

Nars Bronzer in Laguna

Nars Blusher in Deep Throat

Eyes:

Nars Eyeshadow in Ondine

Covergirl LashBlast Mascara

MAC Brow Gel in Clear

Lips:

Nars Lipstick in Roman Holiday

I think I did quite well - only 2 products were non Nars :)

What do you all think of Nars? Are you fans or not so keen? I've only really got in to them over the past year and my collection is slowly growing. They are definitely one of my favourites though :-) just wish they weren't so pricey!

Lydia xox

Naughty MAC Haul!

2011-10-05T17:53:00.002+01:00

To make the most of being in a city that had a MAC store earlier this week, I decided to pop in and pick up a few bits. I'll be honest, I didn't plan on getting this much but I thought what the heck - it would be better than placing an order later down the line...

Lipstick in Girl About Town - a gorgeous hot pink creamsheen, which is my favourite finish of lipstick. I'm such a sucker for fuschia lips. I'm not scared of a bright lip at all, but I frequently choose pink over red so this purchase will not go unloved.

Select Moisturecover Concealer in NW20 - I've been tempted to buy this for a while and think it will be great for spots that are dried out. My other cream based concealers always emphasise the flakies, so hoping this will disguise them better. I will also use this for under eyes.

Eyeshadow pans: Mylar, Mystery, Club, Nocturnelle - just building up my palettes slowly. Though it was about time I'd own a highlight other than Brule. Also love using purple on my eyes, so Nocturnelle is a nice little addition :)

On a side note...

Sometimes I feel a bit iffy about posting hauls, but I am a nosy person and like to see what other people buy so that's why I do them. When other people post them, I enjoy reading them. I hope people like to read mine!

Hey ho, I guess everyone has their opinions.

Lydia xox

September 2011 Favourites

2011-10-04T21:39:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone! Yep, it's that time of the month again.... time to do monthly favourites :)

September has been a bit of a blah month for me, nothing much has been going on but I did find time to shop and all of these items are kind of newbies :)

1. Soap and Glory Pulp Friction - this body scrub is probably the best I've ever come across. It smells gorgeous and fruity, and has a thick paste consistency with very fine scrubbing beads. I find it very gentle and non-abrasive, unlike the Body Shop one I had previously been using.

2. Dior Forever Flawless Perfection Foundation - I think this may actually be one of my favourite foundations! I bought my first bottle of it back in March and I used it constantly, but as soon as summer rolled around it got put to the back of my drawer as the shade was too light for me. However I have now invested in the shade up (020 Light Beige) and I am wearing it every day again. I love it for many reasons - it smells great, has just the right amount of coverage (medium) and I find it looks better on the skin as the day goes on.

3. Dr Weil for Origins Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Cream - I fell in love with this back in August after a lady at the Origins counter gave me a generous sample pot. I had previously been told by a different woman that this would not suit my combination skin, so I was amazed to see that it was doing wonders for my skin. I later found out that this is actually for sensitive skin, so it should be pretty universal. It totally gets rid of any redness and I wake up with plump, soft skin each morning. It is also less greasy feeling than my previous oil free face cream, providing a great foundation base in the mornings. I am still alternating this with my Origins Starting Over oil free, but when I run out of both I will be sure to repurchase the Mega Mushroom cream.

4. Dior Amber Diamond - ahh the famous Amber Diamond! I knew I'd crack and buy it one day, and that day sure came at the end of August this year. I have been using it basically every day since getting it and I love how it gives me a healthy glow. Most days I am skipping blusher altogether and just using bronzer with Amber Diamond on the cheekbones.

What have you been loving this month? Looking forward to everyones monthly favourites, as usual :)

Lydia xox

Lush Christmas 2011: Magic Wand

2011-10-03T13:36:00.006+01:00

Calling all Lush Snow Fairy fans... prepare to get mega excited and squeal with delight!

I was wandering around Cardiff on Saturday after having a successful job interview, when I decided to pop in to Lush and treat myself. I thought to myself that I'd pick up a Butter Ball or two... but I was totally not prepared to see the entire Christmas collection out on shop floor! YAY!

What struck me the most out of this years collection was definitely the Magic Wand. It is a brand new addition to the beloved Snow Fairy line that comes out every year. I think people are going to absolutely nuts for the Magic Wand... my money's on a regular sell-out!

See it here in all its glory:

Isn't she purrdy?!

Lush says:

"A reusable bubble bar star that gives mounds of sweet-smelling foam. This is a solid version of our best selling Snow Fairy shower gel for those who prefer to bath.

The magic of this version is that you can wave your wand under the water until you have the amount of bubbles you want – then you just stash it someone safe to dry off, ready for when you next bath."

Now for the slightly negative aspect - it does cost a whopping £4.95! However, it is reusable despite dunking the whole thing in to the bath each time you use it - very impressive in my books that the bubble bar doesn't just shrivel up after water contact. According to Lush, you should get several baths from this, depending on how much bubbly magic you want in your bath of course.

Each use will leave you smelling of candy floss and pear drops. Baths don’t get more yummy or more girly than this :)

Are you going to be trying this? I will be stocking up for sure!!!

Lydia xox

New Make-Up Station!

2011-09-30T12:36:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone!

Just a quick little post today because I don't have much time but I'm too excited to not blog! Recently, as you probably know from previous posts, I've been doing a bit of a revamp to my bedroom back at home with my parents. My old furniture was basically too big for my room and left me with very little floor space, so it has recently been replaced! Yesterday we put together the chest of drawers, and it has now become host to my make-up collection... well, just the top of it and the top drawer :)

Here's a closer look at what I keep out on show:

On top it is mainly my necessities and every day products.

And here's a sneak peak at some of my make-up/perfume collection! If you would like a proper collection post then let me know - I might be able to manage it, although not sure how to go about it! That kind of stuff always works best with videos, eh?

I keep products separated with plastic trays and some of my old GlossyBox boxes! Makes finding things SO much easier, and prevents it from becoming a mess.

Next thing on my list is put the wardrobe together this evening and then my room is almost complete!

Where is your 'make-up station'?

Lydia xox

How I Grew My Hair...

2011-09-24T13:26:00.004+01:00

After getting quite a lot of emails over summer from people asking how I managed to grow my hair out so quick, I decided to do a post to explain a few things and give some 'tips'. But I have to say - there is no easy or quick solution with hair growing, and most of my tips are nothing new.

Below is a photo of my hair right now (Sept 2011):

Here is a (gross!) photo of my hair length this time last year (September 2010):

And here is my hair in July 2008 (on holiday in Egypt!), when it was bleach blonde and would not grow:

Okay so now that the photos are out of the way, on to the good stuff...

As you can see, my hair has grown quite substantially in the past year but I honestly believe it is down to all the things I have been doing for the past year and a half.

1. Cut down the dye/bleach in your hair:

As you can see, I used to have white bleached blonde hair. I loved it, it was part of who I was and I found it very hard to make a change but it had to be done. In spring 2009 I decided to get rid of the white. I had a bunch of 'bronze brown' lowlights scattered through my whole hair to tone it down. Eventually, as the colour toned down I began to get highlights done instead of touching my roots up with bleach. It was a gradual journey that did take quite some time but I have to say it was worth every minute to get my hair the way it is now. These days, instead of getting my roots bleached every 6 weeks, I get half a head of highlights and lowlights every 8 weeks. The colour usually only touches the root too.

I think my change in hair colour is the absolute biggest factor in my hair growth.

2. Get your hair cut every other appointment:

Instead of getting my hair cut at every hair appointment, I now get it cut at every other. So instead of every 8 weeks it is cut every 16 weeks. This lets my hair get rid of all the split ends whilst also giving it a chance to grow between cuts. I don't believe in stopping getting it cut altogether - it will only make your split ends snap off, resulting in shorter hair anyway.

3. Wash your hair less often:

I used to wash my hair every day, which meant my hair got dried with a hairdryer and then straightened with my GHD's each day. NOT GOOD! No wonder my hair was fried. Now I wash my hair every 2-3 days. I use a gentle clarifying shampoo (Aveda Brilliant Shampoo in case you're interested) which helps me last longer between washes as it gives a deep clean and gets rid of build up. I also use dry shampoo when needed.

4. Limit the heat you use:

To begin with, I changed from straightening my hair every morning to just straightening it every time I had clean, freshly washed hair and leaving it off for the other day or two. For the past 6 months though I haven't even been straightening it all - maybe once a week at the most? Sometimes I use my Babyliss Waving Wand, but again it is a rarity. I have began to love my natural hair - it isn't as frizzy or wavy as I had once thought. I think this has come from the lack of bleach and extra hair length too! In that top photo of my recent hair, it has not been straightened - I'm pretty proud of that :)

5. Use a hair oil:

I'm as massive fan of hair oils! I truly believe that using Moroccan Oil on my wet hair every time I wash it has hugely helped get my hair in a good condition. I also use it on hair that's just been blow-dried to add shine.

6. Be patient....

And that is it! Like I said, nothing revolutionary or new but really there is no quick fix. Hope you enjoyed this post and it answered some of your questions.

Lydia xox

My Favourite Mascara: Covergirl Lash Blast

2011-09-23T12:27:00.005+01:00

My search is well and truly off for the perfect mascara. I have only just realised this, but I already own it!

The mascara is Covergirl's Lash Blast Volume in Very Black. I have used it on and off over the past 2 years, more so the past year as I stocked up on multiple tubes of it when working in Boston last summer.

Despite knowing that this mascara worked for me and I liked how it made my lashes look, I never stopped buying different drugstore mascaras that would let me down again and again (especially you Maybelline!). Today I think I realised that I wasn't going to get any better than Lash Blast and subsequently threw out all my others/donated them to my mum.

The reason I like it so much is that it lengthens and separates my lashes, giving a defined look that still looks voluminous at the root. It is also probably the ONLY mascara I have used that I am actually able to layer without my lashes clumping together! I like to apply two or three coats of this, depending on how long I have to spare!

Below: To compare, one coat of mascara is on the left eye but the lashes on the right are bare...

I purchase this mascara from ebay for £8 from the seller kashtone and I think it is good value for money. If you were to buy the so-called UK equivalent by MaxFactor it would cost £12.99 and I don't feel it does as good a job as Covergirl! So I am happy to continue to order from the USA.

What's your favourite mascara? Have you tried LashBlast?

Lydia xox

Move Over Patina, There's a New Favourite in Town!

2011-09-14T19:07:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone!

As I was putting on my make-up today I became inspired for a blog post. It was when I was applying my eye make-up that I realise I have been consistently choosing to apply MAC's Sable eyeshadow almost every day for months now. That's when it hit me - Patina is no longer my go to, most loved MAC eyeshadow. Sable has well and truly taken her crown! I find this so hard to believe as well, because Sable has been in my collection for almost 3 years and it is only now I have noticed how gorgeous it is.

So this post is a little spotlight on the wonderful Sable...

Natural lighting swatch...

Me wearing Sable eyeshadow yesterday....

Why do I love Sable so much, I hear you ask? Well... it's so multi-faceted. On first look it could be seen as your run-of-the-mill chocolate brown eyeshadow. Nothing special, just a medium brown. But if you look at it properly, you can see undertones of red and purple in Sable. I find it hugely complementary on my eyes and I wear it most days alone - it is so simple but looks like I have made an effort!

As for combinations, I think Sable can work well with a whole range of other MAC eyeshadows. In particular my former favourite, Patina. Other favourites include Jest and Mythology.

What's your favourite MAC eyeshadow?

Lydia xox

New Skincare Additions: Liz Earle

2011-09-12T18:43:00.006+01:00

Hello everyone!

Today I just felt like blogging, and it just so happened that on Saturday a Liz Earle package dropped through my letterbox. I take this as a perfect blogging opportunity, particularly because they are Liz Earle products that have not been in the spotlight so much as others!

Now we all know Liz Earle. If I have to watch one more Cleanse and Polish review I may literally pull my eyelashes out one by one (I kid...)! I have used Cleanse and Polish on and off for the best part of 2 years now, and whilst I like it I don't LOVE it. I have also gone through three or four pots of their face cream (combination skin version) and also liked it, but again never LOVED it.

So whilst everyone else is wittering on about the more popular products that never wowed me, I decide to scour the Liz Earle website and see what else was on offer.

Face Scrub...

I have began to dislike my St Ives more and more recently, as I feel it is a bit abrasive on my changing skin (it gets a bit less oily in A/W). So I plumped for the Gentle Face Exfoliator . The website describes this as a "gentle exfoliator to buff away dead skin cells and impurities for smoother, clearer skin. Contains purifying eucalyptus, softening cocoa butter and fine jojoba beads."

My thoughts so far: I have used this twice since getting it and really liked the effects. It is very gentle and leaves my skin feeling comfortably moisturised and soft. I think this is a great scrub because it really is so gentle and does not leave the skin feeling tight.

Face Mask...

I haven't really experimented with face masks much, I only really use Origins Out of Trouble mask and as it works for me I haven't ventured out. However, I'm about to run out of the Origins mask and don't want to fork out almost £20 for a new tube. This is where Liz Earle comes in.. at £13.25, the Deep Cleansing Mask is a bit more affordable for me! I also LOVE that it comes with two sponges especially created for this mask. I found it very intriguing and can't wait to report back to you all about it.

Liz Earle says of the mask... "Naturally active ingredients include green clay to draw out impurities, soothing manuka honey and propolis and rose-scented geranium to help tone and balance. Leaves skin balanced, calm and clear."

Have you used either of these products? What else do you love from Liz Earle?

Lydia xox

A Belated August Favourites

2011-09-09T11:16:00.002+01:00

Can't believe how late I've left it to write my August favourites, but better late than never right?

August's favourites are mainly all new products to me which is exciting and I am glad I love them all! Nobody likes to waste money eh!

1. Joico K-Pak Intense Hydrator: This is a hair conditioning treatment but I have been using this as a conditioner after every wash. It leaves my hair feeling ridiculously soft and healthy but not too weighed down. It is also a rather large 250ml bottle which only cost £11 from feelunique.com so I don't mind using it so frequently. For reference, after using it every other day for the past 3 weeks I still have about half a bottle left so as you can see it is quite good value for money. One more thing - it smells gorgeous!

2. Vichy Normaderm Purifying Cleansing Gel - I noticed one of my best friends using this on our recent trip away and after hearing her sing its praises I decided to buy one for myself too. I have been using it every day and night since purchasing it and I have to say I do like it. It is for oily, acne prone skin but it isn't too harsh. After using this product it is noticeable that it has got ridden of oil and shine but my skin doesn't feel stripped at all. Right now I think I would definitely repurchase this when it runs out.

3. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer (Shade 03) - I bought this after hearing all of the rave reviews in the beauty community and I have to say that I was not disappointed. It really impressed me in fact! It gives great coverage and lasts all day. I use this on spots, under my eyes and on the discolouration around my nose. It isn't cakey or heavy either, which I love.

4. Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Epatant - these eyeshadows are something I have been excited about for months and as soon as I saw them in store I made a beeline for them. I decided to get Epatant, a gorgeous silver pewter with a bit of a green undertone to it. This will be great for the upcoming festive season, and for nights out in general! I love the gel-like texture of these, they don't crease and are so easy to apply. I really want to get more of these before they disappear from the counters!

5. Origins Super Spot Remover - I have already reviewed this recently so I will just be brief here. This stuff is seriously amazing and has helped clear the stubborn spots on my chin. You can read my full review here!

6. Origins Starting Over Moisturiser (Oil Free version) - this is for sure my HG moisturiser and it wasn't until this month that I realised that. I had gone through two pots of this in the past and it kept my skin just right side of hydrated and also kept my skin clear. When I ran out recently, I purchase a moisturiser from Bliss instead and it broke me out. I then realised that I shouldn't dabble with other products if I have found one that works so perfectly for me, so off I skipped to Boots to pick up a new pot of Starting Over. I have used it religiously ever since and it has treated my skin well :-) hurrah.

Looking forward to reading everyone else's favourites,

Lydia xox

Dior Earth Reflection Eyeshadow Palette

2011-09-08T19:39:00.005+01:00

Recently I picked up some products from a Dior counter, a brand I haven't really dabble with much in the past, and I am really impressed with them.

I think I have tried just about every Dior mascara going, and I am absolutely in love with the Dior Forever foundation, but their eyeshadows are a territory I have never ventured in to before. This eyeshadow palette has changed everything though! I am so impressed and pleased.

For me, the Dior Earth Reflections palette is even better than the UD Naked Palette. Wow, that's almost like blasphemy in the beauty community right?! Well let me tell you why. For starters, it has all the neutrals I need in one little eyeshadow quint. It's small, portable and fantastic for travel. Sure, there is not as much choice as the Naked palette, but it covers all bases as far as neutrals go. If you are traveling or lugging this about in your handbag, what does it really matter - a neutral is a neutral right? That's my opinion anyway. I would never just casually pop the Naked palette in my handbag or dream of taking it on a weekend away!

But enough with the comparisons, that is not what I set out to do with this post. I just wanted to blog about this fabulous quint and let you all know how fabulously gorgeous it is!

Take a look... (you can click on the photos for a closer look by the way!)

Swatches taken in natural lighting...

The eyeshadow quint is part of Dior's iridescent range and therefore all of the eyeshadows are, well, iridescent, but more importantly they are butter soft and incredibly complimentary on the eyes. They are also like a dream to blend. A wonderful formula I have to say, pat yourself on the back Dior cosmetics... :)

What are your thoughts on Dior?

Lydia xox

Illamasqua Theatre of the Nameless

2011-09-05T13:49:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone! Today I am going to do a little post on Illamasqua's new collection, Theatre of the Nameless. You can check out and purchase the whole collection online here!

On Thursday 1st September I was lucky enough to attend the launch of the collection in London. It was the first blogging event I had actually ever attended - after 3 years of blogging I decided that it was about time I should make an effort! Safe to say I was super excited for the event already but Illamasqua totally exceeded my expectations at the event and blew me away with their new products and the conception behind the collection. I also had a wonderful day beforehand meeting lots of bloggers - how very exciting!

I know that there are a lot Theatre of the Nameless event and product posts floating around so I don't want to bore you by making mine too similar - I promise to keep this as short and sweet as possible!

Theatre of the Nameless...

"Descend into the riotous scene of erotic adventure that is The Theatre of the Nameless; a nocturnal den of the dissident leaders of underworld subcultures."

I firstly have to apologise at my lack of photos. As seen in the photos below, the convention room used was beautifully lit by candles which added fantastic atmosphere and set the scene well, but unfortunately it made it hard to take photos of the products. I had hoped to photograph everything but alas this post will only be about the products I received in my goodie bag. Sorry about that!

Below (L-R): Shimmer Blusher, Pure Pigment, Cream Pigment.

The Shimmer Blush in Ambition is my favourite of the one I received and I have been using it daily since! Below is a photo of the product in natural light, as you can see it is a light, dusky pink with gold shimmer. It applies effortlessly, although a very light hand is needed as it is crazily pigmented! I have used this every day since Thursday and if I hadn't received it I can honestly say I would have purchased it. The other blush in the collection, Morale, was a deeper more hot pink and I am also tempted to purchase this!

Next is a Cream Pigment in Depravity , a gorgeous magenta purple. Cream Pigment's are intensely colour-rich and a crease resistant matt formula. I will be using this for lips, cheeks and eyes - love a multi use product!

Finally, there is no photo as you cannot really see the product in it's packaging, there is a Pure Pigment in Zeitgeist . It is a dark, almost black, shimmer with a high-shine metallic finish. This is a really great and versatile product to have in anyones collection. I have already used it all over the lid, blended in to the crease and pressed in to my lash line as eyeliner. Love it!

Other stand out products for me was the Pure Pigment in Berber (an auburn red shimmer, ridiculously pigmented too! <3) and the Precision Ink in Havoc. I cannot wait to get my hands on either of these! :)

What do you make of the new Illamasqua collection then? Anything you are buying/have bought? Would love to know...

Lydia xox

FOTD Feat. Illamasqua Ambition Blush

2011-09-02T13:26:00.003+01:00

Hello! Today is essentially a day of doing nothing for me, so I decided to have a little play with my make-up. Nothing too drastic but I love it - and it's very different to what I'd normally go for! I think I feel a little inspired after the Illamasqua event last night. So many gorgeous, innovative products.. but more on that to come this weekend!

FOTD with flash:

FOTD without flash:

Products used:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Bisque

Chanel Loose Powder in 020 Clair

MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

Benefit Bad Gal Eyeliner

Covergirl Lashblast Mascara

Chanel Tan de Soleil Bronzing Base

Illamasqua Blush in Ambition (Theatre of the Nameless collection!)

MAC Lip Liner in Naked (no idea what collection but LE)

MAC Lipstick in Rebel - Satin Finish - LE (again, no idea what collection)

Stand out products for me were...

The Illamasqua Blush in Ambition, which I got at the event last night. It's a shimmer finish and the most gorgeous muted, neutral pink.

The MAC lipstick in Rebel. I was instantly drawn to this colour, and it is not at all as scary looking once applied on the lips! It has strong staying power too, which is great - I'm not one for reapplying when out and about!

And finally, my hair is in a messy bun - not quite a topknot as it has sunken down since this morning! Sorry for the terrible photo, but do you know how hard it is to take photos of the back of your head? Very!

Hope you like this post,

What do you all think of the blusher and lipstick?

Lydia xox

Miracle Product? Origins Super Spot Remover

2011-08-31T19:25:00.003+01:00

Hello hello hello :-) I warn you now.. this is going to be a rather lengthy post!

I was gearing up to do a little collective post on all the new stuff I've bought recently but I've just decided to do this post one special product in particular instead. It definitely deserves a post of its own!

So to start off, here's some background info. The past few weeks I've had a bad outbreak of cystic spots on my chin and nothing would get rid of them, not even my trusty benzyl peroxide gel from my GP. I was beginning to lose hope when this little product came in to my life about a week and a half ago! I know it seems premature to review it but it really has done wonders for me and I am seriously questioning whether this is the miracle spot product I have been looking for my entire life!

The product in question is Origins Super Spot Remover, which set me back £12 for 10ml of product. Seems a little expensive for such a small amount but really it looks like it will last a while as you only need to use the tiniest amount of it. The main spot fighting ingredient is salicylic acid.

The first night I bought this I followed the Origins assistant's advice and layered a tiny blob of it on my entire chin (or in your case whichever area is affected by spots). I woke up the next morning and to my utter surprise the spots were seriously less inflamed, less red and less prominent. One had even disappeared completely to just a dry little flake of skin. This is the first time in a very long time a product had wowed me.

The following night, I applied this product again and low and behold, yes the next morning my spots had shrunk yet again. Fast forward three more days and my chin was clear!

So to say I am impressed with this product may be a little bit of an understatement. I genuinely believe it is worth the money and as far as I am concerned it is the reason my spots cleared up.

If you are at your wits end with a breakout and nothing seems to be doing the trick, I'd seriously advise checking this out. Origins are fantastic at giving samples out, so if you are a little skeptical then maybe ask for a small sample pot of it.

As with all of my reviews, here is a breakdown on my thoughts:

Would I recommend? Yes

Would I repurchase? Yes

Why I like it: Basically.. it cleared my spots when even a doctors prescribed product didn't work. It's also less drying than a benzyl peroxide treatment. In my opinion it also isn't too expensive considering it's a higher end skin care brand. Plastic bottle means it is light and easy to travel with.

What I don't like about it: NOTHING :-)

Now speaking of Origins, I just wanted to reinstate my love for Origins Starting Over (Oil Free) Face Cream. I went through two pots of this stuff in the last year, and when it ran out the last time I never repurchased it. The Bliss face cream I bought instead broke me out and instead of trying a different product yet again, I played it safe and went back to Starting Over. Boy is my skin thanking me for it!

Without a doubt, Origins Starting Over is my favourite face cream ever. It keeps my skin clearly and gives it just the right amount of moisture.

Oh Origins... I really do love you!

Lydia xox

TAG: What's In My Shower

2011-08-19T22:34:00.004+01:00

Hello everyone! Long time no blog, I am a terrible blogger right now I'm fully aware. I am always full of great blogging intention but never seem to get around to it.

A few days ago when I was taking a shower I came up with a little blog post idea. I remember that Elle Fowler (I'm sure you all know her - AllThatGlitters21 - say no more) started a tag video called "what's in my shower" and so I decided to turn it in to a blog post tag :-)

I'm quite a nosy person so would love to see what products everyone else has in their shower, so I thought I'd start this off...

St Ives Face Scrub: I have used this scrub for years! I keep this in my shower as I like to use it in the mornings to wake me up! I use it about 4 times a week, it's gentle enough to be used so frequently which is great :)

He-Shi Exfoliator: The most recent addition to my shower shelf, I love this stuff so much as it smells like strawberries, is of sugar consistency, and it isn't too abrasive on the skin!

Dove Silk Glow Shower Gel: I always pick this up when it's on offer (I usually can find it for a £1!) and I love how it feels on the skin. It's uber moisturising which means I can skip on using a moisturiser if I'm in a rush or feeling lazy. This will especially be great in winter when the skin on my legs tends to dry out!

Tresemme Naturals Shampoo and Conditioner: I won these massive bottles in a Twitter giveaway and they seem to be lasting me a lifetime! I do like them and will use them up over time, but they are nothing special - there's no wow factor for me. I am mainly keeping them in my shower so they will get used up :)

Redken 'All Soft' Heavy Cream: This is a brand spankin' new tub of deep conditioner. I've only used it twice so can't really say too much about it, but so far so good - I like it. Despite the name Heavy Cream, it doesn't weigh my hair down and leaves it feeling super healthy.

Unite Weekender Shampoo: This is my clarifying shampoo that I use once a week to get rid of build up! I love this stuff so much - it smells gorgeous and makes my hair feel squeaky clean. It also lasts a lifetime - I've had this bottle since April and have used it at least once a week since I got it - look how much is left!

And that's it! I do of course have many more shower products lurking in my bathroom, but this is what is on my shower shelf right now.

What do you guys have in your shower? Feel free to consider yourself tagged! :)

Lydia xox

New Hair, Orange Nails and a FOTN

2011-08-12T16:56:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone!

Last weekend I had my hair done, you know the drill - standard highlight root touch up as usual, but then I spontaneously decided to commit to a middle parting and get my layers cut to suit that style instead of suiting a side part like I usually have.

I am not 100% sold on whether I like it or not yet - it's certainly nice to have a change though. I thought I would post this FOTN from my best friends birthday a few nights ago and ask you all for your opinions on the hair? Don't be afraid to be honest if you don't like it :-)

Also this photo really shows how much of my natural colour has grown out underneath - I haven't had it dyed underneath for over 18 months now! Very pleased with that.

Face:

MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC20

Bobbio Brown Creamy Concealer in Sand

NARS Laguna Bronzer

Benefit Coralista Blush (only lightly on the apples)

Benefit High Beam

Eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

MAC Sable Eyeshadow all over the lid

MAC Brule Eyshadow as highlight and used to soften crease

MAC Teddy Eye Kohl

Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara

Lips:

Nars Roman Holiday Lipstick (LOVEEEE!)

On my nails I wore the super bright OPI Y'all Come Back Ya Hear? It's from the Texas collection :)

Lydia xox

Loving... Diptyque Eau Duelle

2011-08-02T11:01:00.008+01:00

Hello and happy Tuesday!

Today I'm blogging about the fragrance 'Eau Duelle' by Diptyque. You may have heard about this perfume from Tanya Burr , but I personally decided to purchase it after seeing Fearne Cotton say it was her current favourite. Yes, I am such a big Fearne fan girl, I know I know!

I ordered the 50ml bottle from Space NK for £48.

I bought this on a whim, without even smelling it in person (something I would never normally do by the way!), I just knew I liked the sound of it and it seemed like something I would love. Almost all of the reviews online desrcribed it as a strong, sweet, vanilla scent. Well let's just say, it's a lot more complex than that - at first I wasn't sure I even liked it!

As I am totally useless with describing scents, I will borrow the Space NK description to help you understand the scent a little better...

"A journey through shadows and light. Eau Duelle is a narrow escapade between gentleness and character. Vanilla with exhilarating spices are intertwined unleashing splendid blends. Combining top notes of pink peppercorn, juniper berry, cardamom and elemi with heart notes of frankincense, calamus and black ceylon tea and base notes of bourbon vanilla and vetiver."

So as the description shows, it is a very complex scent. To begin with, when it is first sprayed it smells heavy and spicy, with just a hint of vanilla. This is when I begin to feel a bit iffy about the perfume, thinking ooh this isn't really me. Then, as the perfume settles on your skin after about 10 minute, you can really start to smell the vanilla. It is sweet but not sugary sweet, and there is definitely still some spice present, but it is the vanilla that is most prominent. It definitely doesn't smell girly to me at all, despite how sweet it is.

This perfume only comes in eau de toilette, but it's safe to say this scent lingers ALL day long! A definite plus for me - I love perfumes that don't need reapplying. I can even smell this perfume on my clothes the next day.

At first I wasn't sure I'd ever grow to like this, but after 5 days I am officially hooked! I think this would be perfect for winter time too as it is so heavy. When I run out of this bottle I am sure to be buying the 100ml version, for just £20 more.

I am also tempted to try more of Diptyque's fragrances, but this will have to wait until I am in store - I won't be risking another blind online order!

Have you tried any of Diptyque's perfumes or candles? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Lydia xox

Monthly Faves: July 2011

2011-07-31T23:26:00.004+01:00

Hello everyone! Wow, I can't believe how fast this summer is flying by. It's crazy!

I don't have many favourites to show you this month as I was on holiday for the first half of the month! As I was away I didn't really have much chance to buy new things or experiment with products as much as I usually do.

Here is what did stand out though:

1. Marc Jacobs Lola EDP: I bought this on the aeroplane on a whim, and I'm so glad because it is the perfect light and floral summer scent. It's not too heavy and generally just an easy scent to wear. Love it. Oh, and how cute is the bottle?!

2. Nails Inc Brook Street: I bought this after hearing on Twitter that Fearne Cotton chose it for her Nails Inc pedi! I love Fearne Cotton so of course I hotfooted it to my local Boots and picked it up. It is a gorgeous coral pink that is perfect for the toes in summer. It also applies pretty well for a Nails Inc polish - I don't really tend to like their formulation.

3. Chanel Mat Lumiere (shade 30): Now that it's summer, I tend to rely on Mat Lumiere to keep me from looking like a shiny horrible mess on any nights out that I go on. It is also great for days where I know I'm going to be out for a long period of time. No other foundation has the same staying power in my opinion!

4. Nars Roman Holiday Lipstick: I can't believe I didn't own this lipstick until a few weeks ago. It is just a gooooorgeous shade of pink and has a fab formulation. I find it very moisturising, and despite being sheer it is easily buildable. I have worn this almost every day for 2 weeks now - it definitely deserves its place in my favourites!

Roman Holiday on the lips:

Can't wait to read everyone else's favourites,

Lydia xox

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Review

2011-07-25T17:30:00.005+01:00

Hello! Today I'm writing a post that I'm super excited about.

I mentioned a few weeks ago I had bought the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, and quite a lot of people commented asking for a review. I had only used it once before holiday and wasn't really convinced, so I took the TM away with me and just hoped for the best. I won't lie, I'm not usually a fan of foundations with low coverage, so I didn't have the highest hopes for this. I just thought it would get me by on holiday. However, after using it every night of my entire holiday I can safely say I LOVE it! On top of that, now that I am home I am still using it and loving it for day time make-up.

Below: my ultimate summer/holiday kit!

Secret Camouflage Concealer Palette in SC-2 and Tinted Moisturiser in Bisque.

Swatches:

Top - LM TM

Bottom - LM SC

The swatches look quite pale against my now tanned skin, but this wasn't a problem for me. Before I went away I bought a shade too dark (on purpose) so that it would match when I tanned. But despite this, it still blended and matched well at the start of my holiday when it was a shade too dark, and it still matched at the end of my holiday when it was a shade too light. A bit of bronzer sorted it out in no time!

A little photo of me from holiday, wearing the Tinted Moisturizer. As you can see (I hope!) it has great coverage considering it is a TM.

Summary:

What I like about it: good coverage, reasonable staying power, lovely creamy consistency, blends well no matter what shade you are, looks natural, doesn't need to be set with powder, looks slightly dewy but not too shiny either. oh and it smells good!

What I don't like about it: despite being a 40ml bottle, it feels like I already used up a lot of it in just a 3 week period. I only applied it once a day for these 3 weeks, so I don't feel it would be good value for money (around £30 a bottle) if it were to run out soon.

Would I repurchase? definitely! it's pricey but worth it. I intend to repurchase a darker shade (Sand, for ref) in the near future.

I am a tinted moisturizer convert! Hurrah!

Hope this covered everything you wanted to know! If not, leave me a comment below :-)

Lydia xox

Holiday Make-Up Bag

2011-07-23T13:22:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone! Hope you're all having a great weekend.

Today I thought I'd show you what make-up I took on holiday with me. I took this huge Accessorize make-up bag shown below, but to be honest it wasn't all that full considering I went for 2 weeks!

What I took:

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation in B20 (what I wore before I got tanned)

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser in Bisque (LOVE! review coming...)

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Nars Penny Lane Cream Blush

Nars Deep Throat Blush

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers

MAC Eyebrow Gel

Urban Decay Primer Potion

MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy

Covergirl Lash Blast Waterproof in Black

MAC Lipstick Vegas Volt

MAC Lipstick Petals and Peacocks

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo

For my eyes, I took a full MAC palette, which can be seen below...

Despite taking 15 eyeshadows, I mainly just used Patina - oops! Next time I think I'll take an eyeshadow quad :)

What are your holiday make-up bag must haves?

Lydia xox

I'm Home... and I've Graduated!

2011-07-19T17:18:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone! Hope you are all well. I got home from Cuba on Saturday - had a really fab time. Two weeks of the scorching hot weather, the beach, the pool and all inclusive food and drink - heaven!

Yesterday I had my graduation ceremony - I graduated with a 2:1 Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations. I'm very proud!

Here's some snaps...

Celebrating me and my best friend's results in Cuba. All inclusive champagne - yes please!

Me in the stoopid cap and gown - most uncomfortable clothing ever!

Me and my friend Tamar just before the ceremony :-)

Is anyone else graduating this summer? Congrats, if so!

Lydia xox

Birthday Outfit

2011-06-27T21:42:00.003+01:00

As promised, here's my birthday outfit of the day. It was a beautiful day so this was taken in my garden :) please excuse how pasty I am - I'm off on holiday this weekend so I'm strictly off any kind of fake tan in preparation of a real tan!

Cardigan: New Look

Dress: H&M

Belt: Dorothy Perkins

Flip flops: Havaiana

Neckalce: Tiffany's (birthday present!)

Lydia xox

Outfit of the Day 25/06/11

2011-06-26T12:31:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone! This is my first ever outfit of the day post - I don't normally do them as I don't have anyone to take photos of me and I always mess up with the self timer.

Yesterday I went out for my birthday meal with my family (my birthday is today but a lot more is open on a Saturday so...!) and I really liked my outfit so I got my mum to snap a photo for me :)

Leather Jacket: Muubaa

Dress: H&M

Belt: Topshop

Tights: Accessorize 90 den

Boots: Very.co.uk

Hope you like! I may do another one today as it is my actual birthday - plus the sun is shining! :)

Lydia xox

Mulberry Bayswater - YAY!

2011-06-25T20:14:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone!

This is my most extravagant purchase yet and I couldn't be happier with it! I have wanted a Mulberry Bayswater for so long and when my savings account matured recently I decided to dip in to a little bit of it before putting it back in! I am a total believer in keeping money savings, but hey what's life if you don't spend a little and treat yourself, eh?! At least that's what I've been telling myself.

Anyhows, there is not much to say so just enjoy the photos... oh and I got the bag in 'Oak'...

^Without flash
^With flash

A Pre-Birthday Shopping Spree... Part 1

2011-06-24T12:50:00.004+01:00

Hello everyone! I am guilty of being quiet on the blogging front recently but I am back today with a haul.

Yesterday I went shopping in Cardiff with some of my savings money. I decided to spend a little bit of it because I've had the money tied up in bonds for years and I had never dipped in to it - now that I am turning 21 this weekend I decided to treat myself!

This part of the haul is cosmetics. Here is what I bought:

Goodies from MAC and Laura Mercier :-)

From MAC I got... 'Gold Deposit' Mineral Skin Finish, 'Clear' Brow Gel and 'Fling' Eyebrow Pencil. The gel is just a boring necessity that I always purchase. I have unruly brows so this helps to keep them in place. The MUA used the pencil on me and I loved the effect so much that I bought it! I never normally pencil in my brows so this is a new venture for me :-) oh and the MSF is to take on holiday! Yay.

From Laura Mercier I got.... the famous Tinted Moisturiser in the shade 'Bisque' and the Secret Camouflage concealer duo in '2'.

Just a close up of the concealer duo. Very excited to experiment with this - love that they have pink and yellow undertones to mix and use appropriately :-)

That's it for now. Next up will be part 2, which will include a very expensive purchase! I am just dizzy thinking about it...

Lydia xox

Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser

2011-06-17T15:29:00.003+01:00

Here's a bit of a photo of the day from today, just because I wanted to briefly talk about a product I am totally loving right now - the Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser! I saw Alex use this in a tutorial of her summer make-up so I just Googled it to see how much it was. To my surprise, I found it for £6.95 (including p&p!) on CheapSmells.com and ordered it straight away! SUCH a bargain, especially as it costs £18 on LookFantastic.com :-)

You can buy it here! I bought shade 02 and it matches perfectly. If anything, it is a little lighter than I imagined but it could easily be bronzed up.

I absolutely love the sheen it gives to my skin, but it doesn't feel oily at all. This is coming on holiday with me for sure! Despite not having much coverage at all I was comfortable wearing it with just a dab of MAC Studio Fix Concealer on my chin (spots, time of the month, aaarghh!).

I am wearing no highlighter in the photo above, no poweder, just blush, so you can see the beautiful sheen it gives. I think it looks very natural too. £6.95 well spent - I definitely recommend it!

Sorry for the rushed post, just couldn't wait to share this bargain!

Lydia xox

'An ugly, lovely town'

2011-06-17T15:15:00.002+01:00

Dylan Thomas once said Swansea, his hometown, was an 'ugly, lovely town'.

Well as I stood at the top of a 28 floor tower in the marina a few days ago, I couldn't help but think that Dylan couldn't have been more wrong...

It's a beautiful coastal city!

Swansea, you'll always be mine!

xox

My bedroom... a work in progress

2011-06-16T21:10:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone! Not my usual kind of post today but I wanted to share with you all something I am working on at the moment... my bedroom at my parents home. As I am soon to be permanently living with them again this summer I have decided to spruce it up a little! I was so sick of the baby pink walls, so decided to go for something I feel is a little more mature and timeless :-)

So this is what I have done so far...

I choose Dulux 'Soft Stone' for the three walls and then used the Dulux feature wall paint in 'Mulberry Burst' for the wall behind my bed. I had a purple bedroom at university so I already have a lot of things to match the feature walls. I also have cream curtains so thought that it would look really nice against it.

Above: freshly painted, without flash

Above: with flash, curtains drawn

I also added new shelves for my DVDs :-) much better than the way they were - they used to be squashed in a bookshelf! Check out my Barbie too - the only one that never made it out of the box. She's beeeautiful!

So what do you guys think? I'm really pleased with it. Next on my list is to get rid of my furniture (there's way too much of it and not enough space!) and replacing it with one large wardrobe, a chest of drawers and hopefully a dressing table for my make-up! Oooh the excitement!

Lydia xox

A little ramble...

2011-06-15T12:56:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone! First of all... sorry for being so absent recently. Our internet broke over a week ago now at my university house, but thankfully we were all busy celebrating the end of our degrees.

Today I moved the majority of my stuff home to parents house and I will only be returning to my student house next week for two days. I'm so sad to be leaving university - I have made friends for life and have had the best time . I have no idea how I'm going to get used to living with just my parents after living in a house with 7 other people. It's too quiet here already!

So whilst I am feeling all sentimental listening to Adele (bad song choice when you're constantly on the verge of tears!), I thought I would do a little blog post just to say that.. if you are thinking of going to university, please do it! I was never a person who had dreams of higher education and a particular career aspiration I wanted to work my butt off for, but going to university was the best decision I have ever made. It has given me independence, it has made me disciplined, I have laughed more than ever and most importantly, I have met so many wonderful people I would never have met if I had not gone...

3 years goes so fast, so please - enjoy! When your parents/family/friends tell you that university is the best time of your life, believe them.

Here's some photos of my last week at university...

Lydia xox

My MAC Neutral Palette So Far...

2011-06-05T17:38:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone! Hope you've all had a good weekend and had a chance to enjoy the sunshine :-)

On Friday I received a MAC order in the post and as I was placing my two new eyeshadows in to the pan I thought you all might be interested in seeing what I have in my palette! So here it is...

(Top to bottom)

Row 1 : Brule, Orb, Phloof!

Row 2: Ricepaper, Retrospeck, Honeylust

Row 3: Patina, Mulch, Satin Taupe

Row 4: Wedge, Sumptuous Olive, Sketch

I absolutely love every eyeshadow in this palette but I have to note that this isn't all of my neutrals, as when I first started getting in to MAC I bought my eyeshadows in regular form instead of pan. I am still in the process of switching to pan and once I fill this pan I have no doubt in my mind that I will start up yet another neutral palette! Outside of this palette, the most used neutrals I own are Naked Lunch, Sable, Tempting, All That Glitters and Black Tied :)

What eyeshadows do you think I am missing in here? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Lydia xox

May 2011 Favourites

2011-05-31T10:43:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone! Hope you all had a fantastic bank holiday weekend. I spent it painting my bedroom :-)

May was a very busy month for me, what with finishing university and all the work that went with it, so it was quite hard for me to choose any favourites as I haven't really used much! But I managed to scramble five together, and they are probably my most used of the month.

1. Jergens Natural Glow Gradual Tanner

I bought 3 tubes of this stuff in America last summer to bring home with me, as it is the BEST gradual tanner I've ever used! This is my last tube and I'm very sad to be running out of it :( it is never streaky and the colour is very subtle and and natural. The smell isn't too bad either - definitely not that strong compared to others! Unfortunately this stuff isn't available in the UK.

2. Chanel Mat Lumiere

I've been wearing this a lot in May as it is fairly full coverage, which means no need for concealer, which means a faster make-up application in the morning! I've been applying this with a damp beauty blender sponge, dotting it over my face and then blending it with my sponge. LOVEEEE!

3. Essie 'Secret Affair' Nail Polish

Finally, a pale nail polish that I can apply with it looking like a terrible mess! This applies evenly and is quite fool-proof. It is a gorgeous pale, milky pink that has shimmer.

4. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in 'Chance'

I bought this as a little "yay my degree is finished!" present to myself. It's so beautiful on the lips. In the tube it looks hot pink but on the lips it is a beautiful, muted pink that is shiny. Much like a lip balm, but with a bit more pigmented colour. This is going to be a summer staple for sure!

5. Nars Lagune Bronzer

This is basically the only bronzer in my collection that ever gets used these days. As I'm feeling quite excited for summer now, my bronzer has been getting used every day to help make me look a little less pasty! Love Laguna - think it suits most people.

What are your May favourites? Looking forward to seeing everyone else's posts and videos!

Lydia xox

Why 'Snob' Is So Not My Colour...

2011-05-29T20:59:00.002+01:00

I'm quite ashamed of how terrible I look in this photo, but I just HAD to post it just so I could make a point!

In the past I had heard so many good things and endless praises for MAC's Snob lipstick in the blogsphere.. but after picking out of my make-up stash the other day I'm starting to wonder why?! It looks dreadful!

It looks cheap and nasty on the lips, it's safe to say a bright lilac-pink is so NOT my colour! Maybe it's just me, or does it look like this on everyone?!

Does anyone else hate Snob?!

Lydia xox

Recent Book Haul

2011-05-28T19:41:00.005+01:00

Hello everyone! Hope you are all having a great start to the weekend :-) I have been busy listing stuff to sell on ebay and curled up reading a book... which brings me to the topic of my post!

I did a little book order on Waterstones.com last week and I wanted to show you what I got. I know I have quite a few book lovers following me so I guess it could be interesting to see what I got or maybe give you a little inspiration?!

As I haven't finished any of these yet I will just provide a brief description from the website...

L-R

1. Room - Emma Donoghue

Jack is five. He lives with his Ma. They live in a single, locked room. They don't have the key. Jack and Ma are prisoners. 'This book will break your heart ...It is the most vivid, radiant and beautiful expression of maternal love I have ever read' - "Irish Times"

2. Thanks for the Memories - Cecelia Ahern

Lose yourself in the magical new novel from the No.1 bestselling author of PS I Love You Joyce Conway remembers things she shouldn't. She knows about tiny cobbled streets in Paris, which she has never visited. And every night she dreams about an unknown little girl with blonde hair. Justin Hitchcock is divorced, lonely and restless. He arrives in Dublin to give a lecture on art and meets an attractive doctor, who persuades him to donate blood. It's the first thing to come straight from his heart in a long time. When Joyce leaves hospital after a terrible accident, with her life and her marriage in pieces, she moves back in with her elderly father. All the while, a strong sense of deja vu is overwhelming her and she can't figure out why.

3. The Brightest Star In The Sky - Marian Keyes

June the first, a bright summer's evening, a Monday ...And into the busy, bustling homes at 66 Star Street slips, unseen, a mysterious visitor. As the couples, flatmates and repentant singletons of No 66 fall in and out of love, clutch at and drop secrets, laugh, cry and simply try to live, no one suspects the visitor patiently waiting in the wings. For soon, really very soon, everything is going to change ...

I am currently reading Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern and I'm enjoying it :-)

Sorry this post hasn't much effort put in to it - but there isn't much I can say on books I have not read yet, so I thought borrowing a description might be quite useful.

Lydia xox

Nars Sheer Glow and I Fell Out... But Now We're Friends Again!

2011-05-25T16:04:00.004+01:00

Hello everyone! Hope you are all well.

You might remember that about a year ago I did a negative review on Nars Sheer Glow because there was so much hype surrounding the foundation, yet it didn't seem to work for me - it even broke me out in cystic spots, or at least I thought it did. You can view that review here.

Despite my negative review many moons ago, I felt compelled to try it again because so many people still seem to love it, and plus - it looked great on my skin, so it was such a shame to have to write it off. I couldn't help but wonder if it was just my skin playing up at the time last year and not actually the foundations fault, so I finally bit the bullet and got a sample pot of it to try out.

I used the sample for three days in a row with no problems, and I was totally loving it. It was such a relief to see that it didn't break me out, and it looked so nice on the skin. In my opinion, it has the perfect coverage - it isn't too heavy and it isn't too light - I guess you could call it medium coverage! I also find that this foundation gets better throughout the day. It is fairly matte at first, but throughout the day I find it looking more luminous - but certainly not shiny!

It's safe to say that there has been a 360 degree change in my thoughts on this foundation. I'm so glad I decided to take another chance on it!

For reference, my shade is Deauville (Light 4). I apply it with my fingers or my beauty blender sponge. I ordered it for £29.50 from John Lewis.

Lydia xox

Sunday Make-Up

2011-05-22T21:22:00.002+01:00

Most Sunday's I go make-up free but sometimes, like today, I get a bit bored and like to have a play around with make-up :)

Here's a short but sweet post on today's face of the day :

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in 20

Nars Deep Throat Blusher

MAC Patina Eyeshadow

Lancome Hypnose Precious Cells Mascara

Bare Escentuals Brow Gel

MAC Creme Cup

What make-up do you go for on Sundays? Or do you go for a naked face?

Lydia xox

Garnier Roll-On Thoughts

2011-05-22T12:31:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone! Hope you are all having a great weekend. I'm currently still in my pjs, writing this from the comfort of my bed :-) ah the joys of having nothing to do!

Today I wanted to do a little review of the Garnier Roll-On. I was a little skeptical of this and would have never originally bought at the full price of £10. However, about four weeks ago I saw it on offer in Tesco for £6 I just bit the bullet and bought it. And boy am I glad I did - it's been used every day since!

I use the roll on every day without fail - whether it's a make-up day or a make-up free day. I apply it after moisturiser but before foundation and it works a treat. It really makes me look much more awake, feels cool and soothing on my tired eyes, and generally works as a fantastic concealer for dark circles!

I could never really wear concealer on my under eyes before as it would always look dry or creased after a while. This roll-on has been a total life-saver, and is now 100% my HG under-eye concealer. If I am having a make-up free day then all I need is this to make me look a lot more awake and presentable. I have happily gone to my local shops with just a slick of this under each eye and my moisturiser.

So to sum it up... I totally recommend this to everyone! I promise you will not regret it :-)

Have you tried the Garnier Roll-On? Do you agree with me?

Lydia xox

My Hair Care Routine

2011-05-21T16:35:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone! I am very excited to report that I have officially finished university - for ever! I had two big deadlines yesterday, and now that all my work is handed in I am free. It is a very bittersweet feeling... but on the plus side, at least I have a lot of free time on my hands now to get some blogging done eh?!

Today I thought I'd do my hair care routine post, because although I do love make-up I think my biggest passion lies with hair. The only thing is is that these non-flash photos I took this morning looked very sharp and clear on my camera, but once I had uploaded them to the computer they were a bit blurred - sorry about that guys!

Anyway, here is a run down of the products I have been using for quite some time now...

1. James Brown Scandalous Volumising Shampoo and Volumising Conditioner

I use these every time I wash my hair, which is every other day. I used to use the moisturising version of these two but I felt they weighed my hair down so I swtiched to these. They are a lot lighter and work well for the new wavy haired look I've been sporting a lot recently :-)

2. Unite Weekender Clarifying Shampoo and Kerastase Reflection Chroma Riche Treatment Masque

I use these two together once a week - usually at the weekend - to really deep clean my hair and inject some moisture back in to my tired locks. Love these two and they are ideal to use together as a weekly treatment to fight product build-up and treat my hair to some hydration. I would recommend both of these very highly!

3. Kerastase Nectar Theremique and Moroccan Oil

These are two leave-in treatments that I interchange from day to day. I use them both (not at the same time of course!) on damp hair, and they both leave my hair so incredibly silky smooth. I also use the tiniest amount of Moroccan Oil on my freshly dried/straightened hair to make it a bit more sleek and to smooth down flyaways. Would be totally lost without either of these two - particularly Moroccan Oil! Moroccan Oil is a FAB investment :-)

4. Denman Combs and Aveda Brush

These are pretty self-explanatory really, I use the combs to detangle damp hair and to create my parting. I then use the Aveda brush when drying my hair/on dried hair. Not a lot to say about these except that the Aveda hairbrush is a great investment and that I cannot stress enough how important it is to use combs on wet hair not brushes! I lose a LOT more hair when I use a brush instead of combs.

Finally, the hair style I have been sporting a lot recently. I create this using my Babyliss Waving Wand which I simply LOVE! Must do a review soon. When my hair isn't wavy I just use my trusty GHD's to iron some natural kinks out and fight the frizz a little. Pretty basic and nothing too fancy, sorry!

Hope you enjoyed this,

Lydia xox

I can always rely on Office...

2011-05-16T14:02:00.005+01:00

... to provide me with a pair of summer sandals. Year after year, I always get my summer sandals from Office. They tick all the boxes for great quality, comfort and style.

Last week I decided it was time to start preparing for summer, and I toddled on down to my local Office in a bid to scout out some summer sandals.

I chose these dusty/dirty pink (they came in black and brown too!) ones for £50. That is quite steep for high street, but I'm happy to pay that price as I know they will last. I rather one expensive pair than go through multiple cheap pairs! FYI I bought these in a size 4 so they are true to size.

Below: with flash (not that true to colour)

Below: without flash (more true to colour)

The back is a zip up. I usually find shoes that have a zip at the back never fit me because I have quite a high instep, and so the zip never goes up no matter what size I try on. But these beauties zipped up fine - yay!

Just wanted to share them with you all! I can't wait to wear these on my holiday to Cuba in July. I'm on a bit of a shoe-buying kick at the moment, as you may be able to tell. Plus, it's a bit of a seasonal ritual for me. In summer I have to buy a pair of sandals, and in winter I have to buy a pair of boots. They are like the staples of my wardrobe for each season so I believe in making a good investment!

Are you like me and do the same? Have you bought your summer sandals yet?

Let me know!

Lydia xox

The Wedges That Were So Good I Bought 2 Pairs!

2011-05-15T19:13:00.003+01:00

Hi everyone! Second post in one day, this is totally unlike me eh?!

I mentioned on Twitter about two weeks ago that I bought some wedges and had a few replies asking me to blog about them. So here is my very belated post for those who asked :)

So as I said, about two weeks ago I went on a very spur-of-the-moment shopping trip and I spotted these beauties in New Look for £19.99 (but I had them for £16 each with student discount!) I tried them on and they were so comfy, practical and perfect for summer that I just had to buy them in both colours. I think I will wear black more for nights out and more formal stuff, and I will wear the tan ones on holiday and in the daytime :)

One thing I have to say is that I wish they did these in the regular fit as opposed to the wide fit that they are. I am a size 4, sometimes a 3.5, but on the whole a 4 will always fit. Because these are wide fit they do feel a bit loose sometimes, but it doesn't make them uncomfy so I'll let that slide :)

At £19.99 a pair I think these are brilliant value for money and are so comfy that they will be a worthwhile summer investment.

Lydia xox

Playlist 15/05

2011-05-15T17:45:00.004+01:00

Hello everyone,

Today I thought I would share with you all some of my favourite songs at the moment. This isn't the kind of post I normally write, but it's nice to break from routine sometimes, and hopefully some of you will enjoy this.

1. Modest Mouse - Float On

2. Kanye West - All of The Lights

3. Naked and Famous - Punching In A Dream

4. Chris Brown - Yeah 3x

5. Death Cab For Cutie - Crooked Teeth

6. Ellie Goulding - Lights

7. Neon Trees - Animal

8. Charlie Simpson - Down Down Down

What songs are you liking at the moment? Give me some inspiration! I am always looking for new music :-)

Lydia xox

April Favourites 2011

2011-05-08T19:26:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone! Long time no post - sorry, but yet again I am just too busy with my dissertation and assignments.

Fortunately I finish university (for ever.. scary!) on the 20th May so expect an influx of posts from there on after!

This months favourites:

L-R

1. Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre Moisturiser - bought this after seeing Daisy's monthly favourites last month and I have not been disappointed! This really hydrates the more drier-normal areas of my face, whilst not making my t-zone any oiler. My skin looks so much better the morning after I have used this. I have nothing but good things to say about it. Will definitely be ordering a larger tube when this runs out!

2. MAC Creme Cup Lipstick - love this colour, not much to say except it's an easy and wearable pinky nude. It's just about the only nude I can actually pull off, so of course I love it! It gets bonus points for being a Creamsheen too :)

3. No7 Purifying Face Mask - I bought this after reading that Fearne Cotton loves it - I'm a huge Fearne fan so of course I succumbed! This is a nice alternative to my Origins Out of Trouble mask, and much cheaper too. You apply it to damp skin and it heats up on touch, but unfortunately the heat doesn't last very long like some heated face masks - that's probably the only down side. I like that its gently exfoliating, as you massage this into the skin for a couple of minutes and then leave it rest for a couple more minutes before rinsing.

4. Elemis Fresh Skin Peachy Perfect Face Wash - I had ran out of face wash and wanted to try something new, I'll be honest I only bought this because I'm an Elemis fan and the £12 price tag was too good to miss! I'm glad I ordered it though as it is a lovely face wash, nothing groundbreaking it is just lovely and gentle.

5. Dolce & Gabbana 'The One' perfume - my auntie gave me this perfume as she bought it but didn't like how it smelled on her. Luckily for me, it reacts well with my skin and I love this scent! I wore it last month every day to my work experience placement so it reminds me of that - I love having scents that remind you of a place or time :)

Lydia xox

Recent Purchases... Chanel, Nars, Mac

2011-04-29T18:32:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone! Sorry for being totally rubbish with blogging these last few weeks. I'm not even sure what my excuse is - how about a ridiculous amount of uni work? Yes, I think that might suffice!

Last week I managed to fit in a nice day of shopping in Cardiff with my mummy dearest. I decided to treat myself for Easter.. and treat myself I bloody did!

I am in love with everything I bought so I wanted to share it with you. I only tend to write haul posts if I like everything I've bought - just a little fyi.

I bought: (L-R) Nars cream blusher in Penny Lane, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, MAC Vegas Volt lipstick and a MAC lipliner from one of the new collections - god knows which one though!

Close up of Penny Lane - sorry it's already been swatched before I took this photo! I couldn't resist. It is just so pretty :) this is going to become a summer staple for me, in fact it already has now that I come to think of it. LOVE. If you are new to cream blushers then I totally recommend this - the application is full proof!

Close up of Vegas Volt - totally not something I'd usually go for as it is a sort of orange toned pink. Very bright but I love it. I bought this thinking that it would be something I could take on holiday - I love wearing a naked eye and bright lips with a tan on holiday!

Finally, some swatches of everything above. Top to bottom: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in shade B20, Penny Lane, Vegas Volt, Naked.

Whilst the two MAC products haven't been used excessively since I got them, I have to say I am totally loving the Chanel foundation and Nars cream blush - I think I have worn them both nearly every day since getting them.

A full review of the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua to come soon. I won't review Penny Lane as I know it has been reviewed a thousand times - I won't bore you all!

Lydia

xox

Happy Easter Weekend

2011-04-22T20:58:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone,

Nothing of importance to say this evening really, I just felt like putting up a little blog post as I haven't for a while. I am snowed under with university work recently - I have my dissertation to finish off and countless other essays to do. Wahhh. This time of year really is all work and no play :(

Anyway, I wanted to wish you all a great Easter weekend. I am not religious in the slightest but I do love a good bank holiday weekend to catch up on lost sleep and rest :)

I will be spending my weekend with my little furbaby...

Isn't he just the cutest? He makes me a very happy lady indeed :)

And I thought I'd throw this photo in for the hell of it! I think I look like Boohbah. Me + dressing gown + bed =a large portion of this weekend!

What are you all doing this weekend?

Lydia xox

Author I Love... Maggie Alderson

2011-04-19T18:05:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone!

It's not often that I stray away from the topic of make-up and beauty products on this blog, but today I will make that exception for my absolute favourite author. I know some of you in the beauty community are big readers and have posted your own book reviews, so I thought those you who are bookworms might appreciate this post :-)

I first discovered Maggie Alderson in 2004 when my mum bought me Handbags and Gladrags for Christmas. I read it in less than a week, which is speedy for me! I loved it, it was the first book in ages that I hadn't been able to put down, and so I set about getting the rest of her books. These have all been read sporadically through the last 6 years so you won't be getting a full on review of each book I'm afraid. I mainly just wanted to bring attention to the author so you can go off and discover them for yourself.

What I love about Maggie's books is that the great detail on fashion and the detail of the locations her books are set in. But Maggie Alderson is not only an author, you see - she is a fashion journalist and former magazine editor. She used to be the editor of British Elle - which is coincidentally my favourite magazine - so you can see how she manages to use a lot of fashion details. This is a woman very much in the know! She has lived in both Australia and the UK, so this again all helps in her details of her book locations.

About a week ago I finished reading How To Break Your Own Heart for the first time, which I absolutely loved. By the end of the book I felt like I really knew these characters - and for me, the books that can do that are the best kind of books. I also loved all the details on London and Paris. A wonderfully written book that really made me feel for the main character.

Out of all of Maggie's books, I think that How To Break Your Own Heart, Cents and Sensibility and Handbags and Gladrags are my absolute favourites. But I do love love love all of her books, so if you spot them in a bookshop I really urge you to pick one up!

On a final note, Maggie has a new book out called Shall We Dance. It's not available in the UK yet though. Maggie actually told me herself on Twitter (which I was very excited about!) that she hasn't got a contract for it over here yet - but it is available in Australia. Fingers crossed it will come to the UK!

Lydia xox

BeautyBay.com Order - Jemma Kidd Products

2011-04-17T20:38:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone! On Friday afternoon I placed an order with BeautyBay.com and was pleasantly surprised that arrived the next morning - despite paying for just standard delivery! I am very impressed with the website after my experience with them this weekend and I'd definitely recommend them :-)

Onto the order...

I ordered two things from the Jemma Kidd Make Up School line - the Light As Air Spf 18 foundation and the Dewy Glow Radiance Creme in 'Iced Gold'. Both have been popping up in the beauty community recently I noticed, and I wanted to try them out for myself.

I absolutely love the Dewy Radiance Cream. Although I do think it is quite similar to MAC's Cream Colour Base in Pearl, I do think this is a nice - possibly cheaper? - alternative. It's a bit lighter and less full on than the MAC one, so it's more useful to be used as a base underneath foundation if you really want a dewy look.

I applied this with my fingers on to my cheekbones and nose yesterday - as can be seen in the photo below. I applied it on top of my foundation and found it a little hard to blend in properly. That was soon sorted when I picked up my foundation brush and blended it out :-)

Just a little photo of my make-up yesterday. As I said, I'm wearing the dewy radiance cream, as well as the Light As Air foundation. I bought the shade 01 Ultra Light, and as you should be able to see it is quite a good match. I was torn between shade 01 and shade 02 but went with the lighter one as it is easier to bronze up your face to match your body as opposed to having a foundation too dark! I will probably buy 02 for the summer :-)

Just a little FYI - I'm a MAC NC20 right now, so anyone paler than that might not find a good match with Light As Air sadly.

I will probably do a full on review of the foundation, but for now I will say that my initial thoughts are that I like it - medium coverage and very lightweight. I also think it makes me look fresher and awake.

That's all for now!

Lydia xox

March Favourites 2011

2011-04-11T17:26:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone! This is a bit late seeing as it's the 11th of April but seeing as I had the photos on my macbook, I might as well do a little post :-)

This month we have...

1. Dior Skin Forever Foundation - see my review here! As I have already reviewed it in detail, I will just sum this product up by saying it's a lightweight, medium coverage foundation which has great staying power. Love it.

2. Vivienne Westwood Naughty Alice eau de parfum - I received this as a gift at Christmas and loved it, but I only worn it from time to time. The month of March really saw me reaching for this on a daily basis. I love this perfume for it's staying power, and it's not the girliest of scents which is a nice change for me.

3. MAC Pigment in Vanilla - this is something that has been in my make-up collection for quite some time. I used to use it as a highlight on my brow bone, but this month I've been wearing it over the entire lid. I think it looks great with just that and a flick of eyeliner.

4. MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipstick - again, another product I've had in my collection for a while but only now am I reaching for it consistently. March really was the month where I "shopped my stash" so to speak! Love this because it's quite a bright colour even though it's pale pink. I often mute it down with a bit of lip balm.

5. Clinique Moisture Surge - yes, this is what I chose as my free gift with last months Glamour magazine. I'm so glad I chose it too! I have used so many things from Clinique over the years so I wanted to try something new. Luckily, I really liked this product. And if it hadn't been free with Glamour, I'd have never thought to try it. Something that suggests a surge of moisture could be quite scary for a person with oily skin - but I find it very lightweight as it has a gel consistency. Perfect as a make-up base.

Et voile, that is my favourite for this month :-)

Lydia xox

My Lunch Time Bargain

2011-04-10T10:02:00.004+01:00

Hello everyone! I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. I spent the last week doing work experience with a PR agency in Cardiff, and it's safe to say the working world has truly taken it out of me. Tired is not the word!

On my lunch one day I popped in to TK Maxx and decided to be naughty and treat myself. I scored a great bargain and just HAD to share it with you all :-)

Let me start by saying I love the brand Nica. I think they have great quality handbags for a high street brand. I already own three handbags by them that I have paid full price for. Despite being a high street brand they are quite pricey, but I feel they are genuinely worth the price tag.

So when a Nica bargain like this came along, I couldn't say no...

Say hello to my new tan over-the-body bag! I'm not sure I'd describe it as a satchel but it is that sort of thing.

This little beauty was just £22.99 down from £55! Bargain-a-licous, if I do say so myself! There was nothing even wrong with it, I'm guessing it just didn't sell too well when it was in store. I personally think it's a very handy little bag which will be great for the summer - on holiday, for traveling or for festivals. I particularly like this style of bag for gigs, as I like to be hands free :-)

Check out the price tag!

This is how it looks back from the back - love the little zip pocket. So handy to put my train pass in there and such. I have already unclipped the butterfly charm though - little bit tacky or childish for my liking? Either way, I don't like it, but it was easily removed by unclipping it.

And the inside has a very cute pattern, as with all the Nica bags. I love the little quirky edge that comes with all of Nica's bags. It's nice to have something a little bit different :-)

So that is my lunch time bargain! Not much else to say except everyone go check out TK Maxx if you have one near you! We used to have one in Swansea, but it got replaced by a huge H&M about a yaer ago. I didn't really care for TK Maxx at the time but now I wish we still had one local. Boo!

Lydia xox

Dior Skin Forever Foundation Review

2011-03-31T23:38:00.002+01:00

Hello everyone and a special hello to my new followers! I have noticed the numbers slowly creeping up all week, so thank you :-)

I have been itching to review this foundation since I very first tried it (I loved it straight away) but wanted to make sure I had tested it enough before doing so. So I stuck it out and waited two weeks. So yes, I bought this foundation two weeks ago, have used it every day since and I totally love it.

I would describe it as having a medium coverage with a matte finish, which is great for my combination oily skin. I love that I can wear this foundation on its own - there is totally no need to set it with powder. I have noticed that it is somewhat luminous and makes you look glowy from within, but it's definitely a matte foundation at the same time and it controls my oily t-zone. I have also found it to be one of the longest lasting foundations I've ever tried - lasting a good 10 hours yesterday when I attended my university's Varsity event in Cardiff (the next city to ours).

My desired way to apply this is with either my MAC or Benefit foundation brush. I'm not usually fond of foundation brush application, however this is the first foundation I have noticed that blends seamlessly with a foundation brush. Amazing! The foundation itself has a very light consistency but surprisingly dries with a generous medium coverage. It covers my blemishes well too so I don't often find the need to use concealer.

And finally, one of my favourite things about this foundation? It smells wonderful and fresh!

A photo of me wearing the foundation :-) ah I love it. Oh and I got matched as shade 020 (not sure of the exact name sorry, only the number!)

So if you are on the lookout for a new, long-lasting foundation I'd definitely recommend trying this out. I knew as soon as the Dior MUA applied it to my skin that I wanted to buy it. It felt lovely and made my skin look healthy. So I advise you to have it tried on you at a counter :-)

Lydia xox

Saturday Haulin'

2011-03-26T21:54:00.004Z

Hey everyone! I went shopping today with the girls and it was a very successful shopping trip indeed. With the Spring definitely showing signs it has arrived in the UK, I wanted to get a few new pieces of clothing. My wardrobe was looking far too dark and dreary for this Spring weather!

So here is what I bought :) it is very much a H&M orientated post by the way. Love a bit of H&M - not too cheap, not too expensive. I hate Primark, but sometimes I can't always splash the cash at Topshop or Zara and I find that H&M is a nice middle ground. Anyway... here goes..

This lovely floral top was £7.99 and it looks way better on the body than it does the hanger! It has bat wing sleeves and is oversized and floaty, but it becomes more fitted as it hits your hips. I love this style, my wardrobe is definitely dominated by loads of similar tops to this right now. I got this in size medium for reference.

I picked up this lovely long cardigan for just £14.99 - I can't quite describe the colour though. The photo is not showing it's true colour - it's more a pale camel colour I think? Anyway, I bought this because I only own black, grey and navy cardigans. All far too dark for the new season! I got this in a size 14 rather than my usual 12 as I like them to be quite baggy.

Finally, the last thing I picked up at H&M today was this floaty racer-back top, for £5.99. I bought this to wear under another top I have to wear to a university event on Wednesday, but thought it would be nice to wear over a bikini on holiday or paired with leggings for the day time. Nothing special, just something basic.

I actually bought this top from H&M about a week or so ago. I had to include it in this post because it is just so lovely! Love the colours - all very 'me'. It cost £19.99 and I have worn it loads already! I bagged the last size 12 and I have a feeling these have been flying off the racks.

Finally, I picked up this Tresemme ceramic round brush from Boots for £7. I want to reduce how often I use my GHD's so I picked this up in a bid to achieve a better blow dry. Haven't tried it yet but will keep you posted if it's a success :-)

Lastly, here's a DailyBooth photo from yesterday. All this lovely weather is making me want to crack out the Strawberry Brothers cider. Yummy! :-)

Have a good weekend guys,

Lydia xox

Kerastase Resistance Strengthening Duo

2011-03-19T00:10:00.004Z

Hello everyone! Bit of a late night post from me before bed. I had these photos on my computer ready to do a review so thought why the hell not eh :-)

I bought these products in early January from Lookfantastic.com - click here - and I have been using and loving them ever since.

In the duo you get Kerastase Bain de Force shampoo (250ml) and Kerastase Ciment Anti-Usure. I love both products so much, but really it is the Ciment Anti-Usure that I feel has done the most for the condition of my hair.

"The ultimate duo for weakened hair, the Kérastase Strengthening Duo combines Bain de Force and Ciment Anti-Usure, two best-selling products from the Resistance Force range. Your weak, fragile hair will be left full of body, vitality and improved strength."

Since January, I have used just one bottle of the shampoo which amazing. I am half way through my second bottle of the conditioner, which for me is great too. These are pricey but I feel if they will last this long then it makes up for it and makes them worth the money.

I don't have much to say about the shampoo except that it does its job and it does the job nicely. It smells great (quite fruity?) and cleans my hair well. It also makes it feel soft, as opposed to some shampoos that leave your hair quite rough until conditioner is applied. However, I don't feel this is a necessary must-have product like the conditioner, but I do like to have the matching shampoo to my desired conditioner :-)

The Ciment Anti-Usure on the other hand is a fantastic product. It is a leave in one-minute conditioner which you use just like any other conditioner - only you must leave it in for one minute rather than rinsing instantly. When I first applied this conditioner it didn't feel very special, but once I rinsed it out and the water hit my hair I could feel how silky it had made my hair. My hair is the softest I have ever felt it when I use this product. I seriously believe it has made my hair healthier too, not just a product to coat my hair and make it look healthy.

Above you can see the condition of my hair. This photo was taken about 3 weeks ago, and since then my hair has grown even more.

This haircare system will be with me for a long time I imagine. I have every intention to keep repurchasing, as I have seen such great results from them.

If you have weak, damaged or really dry hair then I would highly recommend these products. I have been on a journey with my hair for nearly two years now - going from very damaged and rather short bleached blonde hair - and along with Moroccan Oil these products are what have made the biggest improvement to my hair.

Cannot sing their praises enough.

xox

Face and Outfit of the Evening 16/03/11

2011-03-17T21:53:00.002Z

Hello everyone! I went to the cinema last night to see Chalet Girls (purely for Ed Westwick perving - it was pretty good too!) and had a bit of time before we left so snapped some photos for the ol' blog :)

FOTD:

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation 003 Shell

Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick in Rose

Bare Minerals Eyebrow Gel

Urban Decay Half Baked Eyeshadow (Naked Palette)

Urban Decay Toasted Eyeshadow (Naked Palette)

MaxFactor Masterpiece Mascara

Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in 04 Imagination (my absolute fave!)

Top - Topshop

Watch - Michael Kors

Necklace - Lisa Taubes 42" Rose Gold Chain

Bodycon Skirt - H&M

Tadaaaa. Just a simple little outfit :) I live in my bodycon skirts, usually paired with a floaty top just like the one I'm wearing in these photos.

xox

Lisa Taubes 42" Rose Gold Necklace

2011-03-10T16:01:00.003Z

Hey everyone! Hope you are all doing ok.

About two months ago I ordered the 42" Rose Gold necklace by Lisa Taubes from Lorraine at www.thecurrentcustom.com :-) I ordered it because I wore my silver version to death over the past year and wanted to mix it up a bit. Plus, it's nice to have something that matches my rose gold Michael Kors watch!

I thought I'd blog about it with some photos because according to my blogger.com stats, my previous Lisa Taubes post is my most viewed of all time. It seems a lot of people get to the post from Google, so hopefully this post will be just as useful for you guys :-)

Above is how I usually wear the necklace - I personally think it looks the best like this, doubled once.

Above - with the necklace worn long. I think it looks nice like this but it's quite a pain as it can get caught to stuff. It's so delicate, I wouldn't want to accidentally pull it and break it! Not that I think that it is in any way poor quality, but it is just so dainty.

Close up of the necklace in my hand, taken in natural light - a good representation of how the rose gold really looks, I would say.

Do you have any Lisa Taubes jewelry?

I highly recommend - such simple pieces than can be worn with everything!

Lydia xox

February Favourites

2011-03-04T23:53:00.004Z

Hello everyone! Bit of a late night post from me. I am definitely a night owl, so much more productive at night :-) and that's how I like it!

I haven't done a favourites post in a long time so I thought I would re-join that bandwagon. As always, I have picked my top 5 products of the month.

1. YSL Parisienne Eau de Parfum - I had this for Christmas (2009) and was a bit underwhelmed if I'm honest. I didn't find the staying power too great so I wore it on and off and then just retired it to the rest of my perfume stash. Flash foward January 2011 and I received a sample of this perfume and just totally fell in love with it so I whipped it out of my stash and have been using it very often ever since. This is a lovely scent - a bit like parma violets - and although it doesn't linger for too long it is PERFECT for spring. Just the right kind of 'heaviness' you'd like in a spring/summer perfume. Looovely.

2. Nails Inc 'Jermyn Steeet' Nail Polish - this polish was a freebie in a magazine quite a few months ago and it is possibly the best freebie I've ever had from a mag! Although Jermyn Street is similar to the many muddy grey polishes in my collection it just stands out. Its very creamy and applies like a dream. Plus, it is so neutral that is just goes with any and every outfit. I love it. I also find that Nails Inc have the longest staying power out of all the brands I use.

3. MAC 'Florabundance' Lipglass - well, as the blog name points out, you should already know how much of a fan I am of this lipglass from MAC. It is a wonderful peachy nude that just looks perfect for most every day looks. This is the only lipgloss I keep on my dressing table and as a result it has been well used for the month of February :)

4. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation - not much to say except that I LOVE this foundation so much! I have been using it most days since January and it hasn't let me down yet. It applies like a dream and I think this is down to its cream formula. Perfect coverage without feeling too heavy. I urge you all to try this out! :-)

5. Maybelline Vollume Express One by One Mascara - have been wearing this mascara all month long. At first I found the large wand hard to use but now I have realised all I need is one or two simple coats and it leaves my lashes looking lengthened all day long. It is so quick and easy to use! Love this for when I am in a rush!

So there we have it. What are your monthly favourites?

Lydia xox

Loving... Sheer Blouses

2011-02-25T19:44:00.003Z

Hello everyone, happy Friday :-) I have come down with a cold and feel very achey so I am typing this from my bed. I meant to do this post ages ago - I actually bought these items over a week ago - but hey, better late than never eh!

I have really been in to sheer blouses and shirts recently. I adore all the ones from Topshop but can't justify spending ridiculous amounts on their sheer offerings when I can grab myself at good old New Look!

Last week I picked up these two beauties and thought I would show you them :-) I think people quite like it when I do clothing posts. Let me know if you do!

You can buy this one here!

I love this one. It is shorter at the front and long at the back. Looks great thrown on with a pair of skinny jeans, but I prefer to wear it with a bodycon skirt. I also have to wear a pale pink cami top with this because it is far too sheer to not!

This one is definitely my favourite of the two. I know you can slightly see my bra through this but I am pretty sure it's because I used the flash. I can get away with wearing this alone which is great. I just love the pale pastel blue colour. I definitely suit pastels better than brights, so this is my kind of thing for sure!

I especially like the zip detailing at the back. I also wear this shirt with my black bodycon skirt - I swear, I wear bodycon skirts probably 5 days out of 7. Love them!

Have you bought any blouses like this recently? I'd love to know where you buy yours :-)

Lydia xox