Happy New Years Eve Lovelies!
It's the end of December and the end of 2014. This year, 2015 holds massive changes for me but I shall be going into 2015 exactly the same as I am now. I believe that even though a clean slate begins at midnight, the biggest change actually happens in your mind. Nothing will change and move you out of your comfort zone unless you change your mind. You can wait until that clock strikes midnight to change something or you can take action at 11.02 a.m today. Even though New Year is a lovely chance to change and mix things up, it's not necessary to have a brand new year to change something you're not happy with. I start a New Year in my mind any time I get stuck and crave change. Don't watch life pass you by until you find your perfect moment because you can miss out on so many opportunities.
However if you're waiting for midnight to start your new life, I'm sending you the most encouraging vibes because the willingness and action to change something to improve yourself and your life is one of the biggest inspirations there is.
If you're happy just as you are, then stay as you are because I for one may be an indecisive lipstick hoarder and addict but I love it and I shall certainly not be changing that! (my bank account would probably disapprove!)
In true New Year style I'll add in my lipstick dilemma, choosing your final lipstick of the year is a difficult decision!
Left-Right
Clarins Rouge Eclat Woodhouse, Tom Ford Nude Vanille, MAC Craving, Guerlain Rouge Automatique Tonka Imperiale
I hope you all have a fantastic New Year, always add some sparkle because sparkle is the colour of my life!!!!
Happy New Year and see you in 2015.
L x
Hello Beauties!
I hope you had a great Christmas! I certainly had a great festive time and really enjoyed spending it with such great company. Christmas time really does make you grateful for all the wonderful people around you.
However as Christmas has now passed, it's time to celebrate the last few days of 2014. It will soon be 2015 which I just can't quite get my head around, it seems like only yesterday that we were welcoming in the Millennium New Year! Crazy!
Whatever your plans are for New Years Eve or today, I have a little pink treat to perk you up because you can never beat pink right?
Here are my Pink picks!
I think sometimes you just need a little bit of pink in your life!
MAC Feed the Senses: I've actually done a post on this lipstick before but I just had to dig it out once more. It's a perfect lipstick for that natural but still there look. I love this colour and it matches the nails pretty well.
Nails Inc VVB by Victoria Beckham nail polish. This is in the shade Bamboo White. Whilst it isn't really a pink shade but more of a stone/beige white, I still feel that it can kind of get away with a pale pink combination. It looks perfect with the pink lips! The nail polish itself is amazing, you are left with such a beautiful finish with just 2 coats. It covers completely and leaves a beautiful gel kind of sheen. I love it so much that I'm definitely going to order the Judo Red shade. If you're debating getting this nail polish it really is worth it as it's incredible!
Dior Addict Lip Balm. I'm addicted to this balm. It brings out your natural lip colour, and guess what shade mine are? Yes pink! Need I say more!
Pink is obviously filling my life right now, what colours/products are you loving right now?
L x
Happy Christmas Eve Beauties!
The big day is nearly upon us and I can't quite believe it. So in order to feel a little prepared I've picked three beautiful nude MAC lipsticks which could be potential contenders to wear on christmas day.
Obviously if it were possible to wear all three in one go and look good that would be amazing, but sadly I think I'm going to have to tear my heart and make a choice. So if you would all help me out and give me your thoughts that would be great, because I'm so indecisive when it comes to which lipstick to wear!
From left to right:
MAC Velvet Teddy: a natural brown nude with some pinkish undertones. Perfect natural lip and more!
MAC Blankety: The creamiest of nudes and a pinky beige kind of shade. Creamy nude perfection!
MAC Yash: a brown nude with peach undertones. Yash is a nude favourite in my lipstick stash!
Some decisions in life are pretty difficult, let me know which one you're backing?
I would just like to wish each and every one of you a Happy Christmas! I hope you have a lovely day celebrating and that Santa's made a little beauty visit too! Thank you for reading and I'm sending you big Christmas kisses!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
L x
Hello Lovelies!
Today it's a photo snap post, I love sharing these to show you some things I love and get up to! I hope you enjoy these shots!
Top Left: Dior Addict Lip Glow, it's a colour revival balm so not only does it look after your lips but it beautifies and enhances your lips. I love this lip product, it's simply amazing!
Top Right: This was taken in the Corinthia Hotel London. I was there for a celebration so I couldn't resist taking a sneaky pic of this chandelier, isn't it gorgeous!
Bottom Left: I haven't had a chance to make a gingerbread house this year, but this is a picture of the gingerbread house I made last year. Of course it's pink!
Bottom Right: This was the Cocoba cafe in Bluewater, my Mums snacks just smelt and looked too good not to snap! It was a welcome sit down from the mad Christmas shoppers!
What have you been up to this week?
L x
Hello Sunshines!
The sun may not be shining today but it doesn't meant that there can't be any sunshine in our lives! One thing that lightens up my life is lipsticks! Today I am very excited to share with you a beautiful baby from Charlotte Tilbury.
This lipstick is a Matte Revolution one in the shade Very Victoria. The first amazing thing about this lipstick is that like all other Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks the rose gold packaging is just so divine. It's definitely an extremely classy looking lipstick and for the price of £23 it definitely rivals the more expensive lipsticks and gives them a run for their money.
Very Victoria is a nude colour lipstick in the brown/neutral shade scale. It's an extremely flattering shade which I'm sure will compliment many different skin tones.
Even though this lipstick is a matte, it isn't drying! It's actually quite creamy which is a huge bonus for a matte lipstick. The thing I love about this lipstick range is that they are designed to give you fuller lips and plump them.
Here it is applied:
It's a gorgeous shade which I absolutely love and the staying power is pretty good. Now if only Santa could deliver all the other lipstick shades that would be the best thing ever!
Have you tried any Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks?
L x
Hello Lovelies!
For a few years now when my skin gets super super dry and it needs some real intensive treatment, I love using the Dr organic Manuka Honey Rescue Cream as it sorts out my skin straight away. However the other day I came across a face mask version of this cream, so Dr Organic Manuka Honey Face Mask. As a lover of face masks I knew I had to give this a go!
It claims to nourish, restore and offers a deep cleanse. Obviously it's honey flavoured but it opens the pores to remove all those nasties in our skin to freshen our skin once again. As I love the rescue cream I had pretty high hopes for this!
It's actually clay based but when you apply it, it's smooth like a lotion/cream. I expected it to be sticky because it's honey but it definitely isn't. Once applied it delivers that cooling feel as it begins to work its magic!
You leave this beauty on for about 10 minutes, I've never felt anything like it, the mask hardens but it's so smooth if you run your hands over it! No flakes or sticky situations! You then rinse it off with warm water or a flannel.
The result?
The softest skin ever, literally running my hands over my face felt like all my pores had disappeared. My complexion felt a lot clearer and fresher! I'm really impressed by this face mask it just feels so natural once applied, it's so easy to get off and doesn't irritate in the slightest. They say to use this twice a week and I will definitely be doing that as it delivers such great results!
Have you tried anything from the Dr Organic range?
L x
Hello Lovelies!
Today is a mini makeup round up of a few products which I'm loving! They're also products which would definitely make great gifts!
Left-Right
1. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in shade Very Victoria
It's a gorgeous shade, a natural brown nude, which delivers a perfect lip! I'll do a whole post on this beauty soon!
2. VVB Nails Inc Nail Polish in shade Bamboo White
Everything about this is so classy and elegant. The packaging, box and bag this came in is like no other polish I've ever bought. I'll do a whole post on this bambino too!
3. Shu Uemura eyelash curlers!
These curlers are the best thing ever! Beautiful lashes every time!
What makeup must haves have you been loving?
L x
Hi Lovelies!
I cannot believe how quickly December is going! It only seems like it was the 1st December yesterday! On that day I promised myself to try some more unusual things every day and one of those things was to build a profiterole tower or (croquembouche if you're feeling fancy!)
Today that is exactly what I did! It was kind of easy to make but a lot more time consuming than the recipe actually says!
Overall I'm pretty impressed with how it turned out, well not bad for a first attempt because surprisingly it does resemble a tower! However yummy a profiterole tower may be, the main point was to expand and spice up the normal things we do everyday! I really enjoyed making it and loved doing something totally different, no more sleepwalking through life!
I'm always thinking of different things to add to my expanding list so if you have any ideas let me know!
Are you stepping outside the box this month?
L x
Hi Beauties!
Today I want to share with you a skin care product which I've been using for a little while. I recently discovered In Situ Cosmetics. They're a brand which takes skin care seriously and understands that we all have different skin care requirements. They customise and tailor a wide range of skin care products just to suit your needs and skin.
My main concern is dry skin, especially in winter I suffer even more with dehydrated and dry skin, which definitely needs that extra TLC. Even though my skin is not overly sensitive, using a product with as little chemicals as possible is always a must!
In Situ cosmetics have loads of products which can be personalised for your specific needs. This includes body care, face care, eye care, sports skin care, cleansers, exfoliators, serums and one of the most exciting by essence!
I knew I needed a face cream so I decided to use a gift voucher* online to buy a cream. I followed the questions asked when deciding on how you want to make your own unique product. After browsing the website I went for the customize your face care option.
I went for a cream texture, self-confidence mood boost, hydration and protection was my skin concern, for a dry skin type, and a morning face cream.
I love how personal you can make your skin care product, it really does make you feel like you're getting a really special product, which you know will suit you perfectly!
I couldn't be more excited for it to arrive, when it did the packaging was great. A lovely white box with sparkly writing, and the best bit is that the product itself has your name on it! Have you ever seen this before?
It really did make me smile seeing my name on my own product. This would definitely be such a great gift to give someone special and it looks so thoughtful too!
The face cream itself has worked a treat, it contains vitamins, minerals, omega oils and antioxidants. My skin actually feels like it has more moisture in it, and my complexion looks a lot more nourished and natural, definitely not so dry and dull like before. The texture of the face cream is quite light and it applies and absorbs nicely. It is unscented and although some may not love this, I like it because it reassures me that there are no nasties in it!
I am so impressed not just with this cream but the whole experience. I feel like the product which I requested is absolutely perfect for me and the whole personalised experience is so unique that it makes buying skin care feel like your birthday!
I'm eyeing up the flavours in their essence range right now, doesn't a caramel toffee body butter sound inviting!
Have you tried In Situ Cosmetics before?
L x
Hello Lovelies!
I'm having a little technological play around with my blog today! So I thought I'd do a photo post because I can never resist reading these kind of posts!
Hope you enjoy!
1. Top Left: Bath Xmas Market! It was truly Christmassy and so lovely! I really enjoyed visiting it!
2. Top Right: Biscuit magnets! Gone are the days of tacky fridge magnets! These were so cute! I couldn't resist buying a bourbon one!
3. Bottom Left: More Christmas tree obsession. This is in Worth Avenue, Palm Beach! It looks so beautiful and it's even musical!
4. Bottom Right: Afternoon tea at a local hotel. Simply cosy on a chilly afternoon.
What have you been snapping this week?
L x
Hello Lovelies!
I thought I'd share with you a few makeup things which I'm excited about trying this week.
1. L'oreal Voluminous Butterfly Intenza Mascara
I'm quite addicted to the Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde mascara at the moment but I thought I should try a new one, and when I saw this one in the US the shape of it was pretty unusual. The claim that it adds 9x more volume to your lashes is pretty impressive so it's definitely worth a test!
2. MAC Whirl Lip Pencil
I'm a great lover of MAC Lip Pencils, they are definitely the dream team when combined with their lipsticks! I recently snapped up Whirl and I cannot wait to test out this shade to see if it lives up to its' reputation. When paired with MAC Velvet Teddy, I'm sure it'll be an unstoppable force!
3. Chinatown by Lipstick Queen
This little trio was snapped up in Space NK. 3 things in one package from Lipstick Queen, could there be anything better? This set contains 3 chubby lip crayons. The shades include:
Chinatown Chase, Chinatown Pink Bluff and Chinatown Catalina.
I'm super excited to use these petite pencils as they're meant to leave you lips smooth and moisturised too! Perfect for winter.
Well that's three things I'm excited for trying this week, I'll let you know how I get on!
What are you excited about this week?
L x
Happy Sunday Lovelies!
I thought I'd share with you some things which I've been loving this past week which all begin with the letter M! (coincidental!)
Movies
I'm not the biggest movie fan I get quite impatient watching anything for too long, unless it's super easy to follow! Romcoms are definitely my favourite genre as these are simple to follow! This week though I've been loving the classic 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. It's a pretty hard one to top!
Magazines
I love a good magazine, since finishing uni I feel like I can actually allow myself to read a magazine! I used to feel guilty if I picked one up because I thought I should have spent my time reading law books! So I'm thoroughly enjoying reading a good old magazine again!
This week I've loved Porter magazine and of course Conde Nast Traveller, because it makes me drool over everywhere in the world I want to go. It's a great dream magazine when you want to escape reality!
Mulberries
I love these little mulberries, they're like nuggets of nutritional goodness! It's what I tell myself anyway! I like to add them to my breakfast. They're unusual and quite pricey but once you've fallen in love with them, they're quite addictive!
Well I hope you enjoyed my M loves! What have you been loving this week?
L x
Morning Beauties!
Hope you have some great plans for the weekend! I'm sure it probably means finishing up your christmas shopping or if you're a last minute type of person like me, starting to attempt it!
I thought I'd make this post all about mixing! I'm one of those people who likes to buy lots of makeup, and then after a while I get bored of it. So instead of just using something new I've bought, I like to start mixing and this is exactly what I did the other day!
I'd been enjoying wearing my MAC Mineralize Moisture Foundation, as it was giving such a lovely glow when I wore it but as lately I've been unwell my skin tone started turning a bit yellower and so I was literally glowing a stronger weird yellow colour whilst wearing this! I decided that I needed to use another foundation with a bit more coverage to take the yellow glow away! So I dug out an old YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation.
I absolutely love this foundation and I used to wear it everyday for such a long time a few years ago but I was still searching for a bit more of a glow than this foundation offered. So what did I do?
I MIXED and well I can tell you that this mixture is absolutely a little gem!
MAC Mineralize Moisture Foundation + YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation
= such a beautiful healthy glow and actual coverage.
I urge you to give it a go if you're after this kind of finish. Even if it's just grabbing some samples of them and testing it out yourself. I felt pretty proud of myself for finding this little beauty and I think I'll be mixing for quite some time!
Now if MAC and YSL were to combine these it would be incredible!
Have you ever combined 2 products you love and found a new favourite?
L x
Hello Lovelies!
A bit of a random post but it's Friday and I've definitely got that Friday feeling! As Xmas is only around the corner and I'm not feeling overly Christmassy, a post dedicated to Christmas trees can surely help!
I love looking at everyone's Christmas trees, I'm fascinated by the way they're decorated, the colour, the decorations, whether they're real or fake. Nothing looks more magical than a beautifully decorated Xmas tree!
My favourite trees are the real ones. To me it doesn't feel like xmas without that amazing Christmas tree smell. I'm also one of those people who thinks the bigger the better, even if you have to saw the top off because it can't get through the door! It's only Christmas once a year!
This tree is a from somewhere I went last December, call it my xmas tree idol!
It's just so beautiful and a complete showstopper! My dream is to own this one day!
I also love this tree, although completely different, it can't help but get you excited for Xmas. Definitely one of those magical type of Christmas trees.
This grand tree is a Christmas tree classic at Blenheim Palace last week, it definitely fitted into its setting!
This year my trees are silver, white and light pink. I'm trying to replicate the top one but I somehow don't think you can really compare anything to this beauty!
I would love to know what your favourite xmas trees/colours for them are?
L x
Hello Lovelies!
I thought I'd share with you a lipstick love which I cannot stop wearing. It's a lipstick from Lipstick Queen. It's from their Sinner range and is in the shade Peachy Nude. I love wearing nude lipsticks and find that they're super handy to wear everyday even in Winter. This particular nude is pretty creamy and moisturising. It flatters any makeup look you wear with it! It's described as a warm peachy nude. What I can't get over with this whole sinner lipstick line, is that even though these lipsticks give a matte look, they are the most creamiest lipsticks ever! They actually feel pretty moisturising on your lips so definitely feel healthy for them! (Not that a lipstick is really healthy for your lips though!)
So say goodbye to dry cracked matte looking lips when you wear this!
Also this lipstick wears for such a long time, which is incredible especially for a nude! Overall I'm impressed by this lipstick, I will definitely love more lipsticks from the Sinner line as I love having a bit more coverage than the Saint line offers. I love this shade and it is one of those nudes which I know I'll be purchasing over and over again!
I love pairing this lipstick with MAC Nice 'N' Spicy Pro Longwear lip pencil, it creates such a beautiful combination!
Have you tried anything from Lipstick Queen?
L x
Morning Lovelies!
As it's Wednesday and sometimes we need a little midweek perking up!
Here's some things which always perk me up during the middle of the week!
Flowers:
My favourite flowers are Peonies and Orchids but to be honest I love any flower. They're so beautiful and always put a smile on my face! Flowers definitely change the atmosphere in any room.
Candles:
Switching off the lights and the room being lit by candlelight is just so magical. I love pretty much any type of candle! I've recently just got another Jo Malone candle flavour which I can't wait to start burning! The scents they give off are incredible.
Positive quotes:
Everyone probably knows that I love my positive quotes. However something which I love is these cute little pegs which I have, they are engraved with a different day for the whole week. They are perfect for pegging a daily quote or two!
So here's the offering from today:
"Minds are like flowers, they only open when the time is right"
These type of quotes always make me think and motivate me to start the day in a positive way!
What are your midweek pick me ups?
L x
Morning Lovelies!
As nothing beats feeling festive, I thought that Travel Tuesday should involve a little bit of England, because it always delivers that festive feeling over Christmas time. So over the weekend I took a little trip to the Cotswolds. It was one of those icy cold days with a bitter wind. I feel the cold pretty badly but soldiering on with numb fingers and toes I visited Blenheim Palace. I am so glad that I did because it is such a beautiful place. It has the most gorgeous parks and gardens. It's definitely a place which would be absolutely breathtaking in the summer and the photos would be seriously stunning.
After a long trek from the wrong car park, a pitstop in the cafe was in order to warm up. Then off to inside the palace I went. It is so beautiful, when you walk in you are greeted with the most spectacular chandelier, unfortunately I didn't get a snap of this but take my word for it, it's a chandelier that any chandelier dreams are made of! After looking in quite a lot of the rooms I headed to the great hall where there was a Christmas band playing carols. Hearing christmas carols definitely reminded me of my childhood and when the school made it compulsory to join the school choir regardless of the fact that you couldn't sing!
This atmosphere definitely gave me that Christmassy feeling!
Then I headed for a lovely little wander around the gardens and just took it all in. Sometimes nature and country walks can just make you feel really grateful and appreciative for all the things around you!
Then of course where would you find me? In the gift shop of course! I love these sort of shops, they always have the cutest selection of stuff. I end up buying stuff that I don't need but I did need pretty pencils and rubbers even though I've finished uni right?!!!!!
It was getting quite dark, so I wandered back to the car park. The train through the property had ended so I had to brave the cold wind and muddy path again! Once back in the car I warmed up with the heater and decided to go into the Cotswolds for some cosy pub action.
This came in the form of one of the most unique and beautiful pubs in the village of Kingham. It's called the Wild Rabbit Inn. There's a big roaring fire, cosy seats where blankets are provided if you get a bit chilly. Perfect for someone who can't deal with cold weather! There are even games you can use whilst you're there. It was such a lovely atmosphere, I just wish I could have fallen asleep in the comfy chairs! It's definitely an amazing and beautiful pub that I recommend you visit if you're in the Cotswolds! I didn't eat here, but I've heard that it is incredible and I can say I'll 100% be going back there!
Even though it may sound like I didn't do too much on this day, it felt so jam packed and it really was the perfect winter day!
Have you ever been to the Cotswolds/recommend anything?
L x
Good Day Lovelies!
Today I have a beautiful little treat to start the week. It's one of those sticky days, where you feel all tired with sticky eyes. As I'm definitely in need of a pick me up to refresh myself, I thought lets try this little H&M Dead Sea Mineral Mask. I had it lying around and as I read it's meant to give a radiant complexion to tired skin, I thought this was perfect! The mask is made from natural seaweed and rock salt. so it's pretty fresh!
Once applied it's a white coloured mask with a greenish tinge. It feels quite cool when first applied and then you can feel it tighten. I have quite a little face, so I only need about half the packet. So for a price of 99p, this mask is even better when you can get 2 uses from it!
After leaving this mask on for 10-15 minutes whilst having a little relaxing time at the same time, I washed it off.
And the verdict?
My skin actually feels clearer and more glowy. My skin feels fresh and free of dirt and impurities that however hard you try when cleansing you just can't get rid of. Once again I am really impressed by the H&M masks. They are incredible value and actually work. My other favourite is their coconut water mask, so if you get a chance definitely test them out.
Have you tried any H&M masks before?
L x
Good Morning Beauties!
I hope you've got a tip top Sunday ahead of you today! As it's so chilly outside, I thought I'd share with you some things which are keeping me lovely and toasty, cosy and in tip top condition to tackle the winter weather.
Nothing beats burning a beautiful candle and relaxing in just pure candlelight bliss. The White Company Winter candle is one of those perfect candles to achieve this! The smell of this candle with its cinnamon, cloves and orange aromas just screams Christmas every time! It's a lovely change from Yankee and Jo Malone candles. The packaging is so simple and elegant, that it creates such a cosy winter feeling when placed any where.
In this weather my hands take a battering and definitely need some in depth TLC! I've been using this Josie Maran Whipped Argan oil intensive hand cream. I'm currently obsessed with everything from Josie Maran and so I'm loving using this hand cream. The fact that it's vanilla scented is an added bonus for me. The hand cream itself is quite silky and smooth. It's not greasy at all and works a treat. I wouldn't say it's the most intensive one out there but it does work its magic!
Lastly I'm all about slipper socks! Socks are literally one of my favourite things for feeling all warm and cosy. I recently found some gorgeous cream slipper socks from Crabtree and Evelyn and they're the softest, fluffiest and cosiest socks in the world. Putting these on is something you would imagine in slipper sock heaven!
What are your perfect tips for staying cosy in winter?
L x
Good Morning Beauties!
Today is definitely one of those frosty and cold days but instead of the usual grey clouds, the sun is shining and the blue skies are peeping through! I love this winter combination, it just feels so fresh and crisp outside. Now all that would make it truly festive is if there were a little robin hopping about.
However because the temperature has dropped, I thought I would share with you something which can be enjoyed whatever the weather!
Festive popcorn! Now I thought this was a nice little treat to spice up the weekend, and it's incredibly easy to make and eye catching at the same time.
So here's three flavours, which would make cute little extra gifts for people or a nice little xmas movie marathon accompaniment!
1. White chocolate and cranberry popcorn
2. Salted caramel
3. Chocolate orange and marshmallow
They're so easy to make and to be honest I don't really follow recipes, I just guess and pour. But for each of these flavoured popcorns, you start by popping your corn in a saucepan of a little oil.
Once popped, you can do whatever you want.
Drown it in melted white chocolate,
Melt butter + sugar to form some kind of caramel,
Add essences, decorataions, sprinkles, glitter, crunches, chocolate drizzle, dried fruits, nuts! The possibilities are endless.
If you would like me to put together some kind of recipe for any of the flavours, just let me know, but to be honest you can make any flavour popcorn in the world! It's so quick and easy because once made you can just put it onto a baking tray and pop in the fridge for about 10-20minutes. And then voila it's done!
Have you made any flavoured popcorns before?
L x
