May Favourites!

Hi everyone and welcome to only the second favourites post I've done on this blog. For some reason I really struggle to think of my favourites or I've already talked about them and don't want to get repetitive but I managed to find a small but decent mix of things I've been loving this month so read on to find out what they are!

 Clinique Cheek Pop in Plum Pop- £16.50

Sorry if these photos don't do the products justice, my laptop doesn't deal with photos very well :(. On to the actual product, which is my current favourite blusher. As you can see the adorable embossed flower is beginning to lose it's shape because I've been using it so much. The smallest amount leaves the nicest flush that goes with most makeup looks meaning you can wear this with a brighter lipstick and not look like a clown. Huzzah!

 Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette- £37

You could say I'm late on the bandwagon here but it's fate rather than me that have kept us apart. Then the makeup gods sent a 20% off Feel Unique code my way and I felt like I would never find it cheaper than £29 and clearly no one else was buying it for me so I ordered it. And as expected I love love love it. My other eye shadows haven't got a look in since I got this (even after confessing undying love for the new L'oreal eye shadows in this post). My favourite colours are Booty Call for the inner corner and then I love Half Baked, Chopper, Tease and YDK for the crease. And that's narrowing it down. 

 Scrunchies. Yes, SCRUNCHIES people. We have time travelled back to the 90s when scrunchies were all the rage (or to the noughties when I thought a scrunchie that matched my gymnastics leotard was the coolest shit ever). I saw my friend wearing one a couple of weeks ago and when I saw 3 for a £1 in Primark (the black ones) I got real excited and slam dunked them into my basket. The polka dot one is from Miss Selfridge and the floral one is from New Look. I don't have my hair up very often so these really encourage me to do something a bit different. And who doesn't love a bit of the nineties. 

Miss Selfridge Necklace- £7.50 (It's determined to not be on the website)

As a general rule when shopping I avoid Miss Selfridge. I find it overwhelmingly pastel, overpriced and not really my style. However every now and then I'll find myself in the Miss Selfridge section of a department store and this time around I spotted this layered necklace and really liked it. But then I saw that it was £7.50 and was disappointed because it's more than I like to spend on a necklace. I mulled it over and about a week later it was still on my mind so I broke the bank (£7.50 lol) and got it. And let me tell you I have got my moneys worth. I feel so boho-ey (real word) when I wear this and with a plain black top and lots of rings I love how it looks.

Thanks so much for reading, lots of love

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Wishlist: Foundation Edition

Hello again! Today I have a wishlist for you all and it is solely dedicated to foundations. My skin's been going through a really rough patch lately. It's extremely bumpy, itchy and red as if I'm reacting to something. I think it's starting to calm down a little bit now but the hideous journey has lit a fire and a craving inside me to try every single foundation on the marché. 

1. Clarins Everlasting Foundation- £27: This isn't one of those 'cult' foundations that you always hear reviews about but the reviews I have sought out seem really positive. I'm always attracted to foundations that claim to last a long time due to my oily skin but it doesn't seem as though it'll be too matte which can dry my skin out.

2. Nars Sheer Glow- £30.50:  Now we're in cult territory. If you've ever heard/read a bad review of this foundation please point me towards it because I surely haven't. It's always popping up everywhere on blogs and in Youtube videos and I won't feel like a certified makeup lover until I've tried it. 

3. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk- £35.50: Let's face it, I'm not going out tomorrow to buy this, it's the most expensive of the bunch and I'm on minimum wage but how would it feel to have this in one's possession? Glorious is the word you're searching for.

4. Benefit Big Easy Multi Balancing Complexion Perfector- £27.50: This is another foundation/ bb cream that you hear good review after good review of. To me it's a little on the expensive side (which has stopped me buying any Benefit products previously) but I really like the idea of it being light coverage and if I ever find it discounted anywhere it's deffo on my radar. 

Let me know in the comments if you've tried any of these foundations and thanks so much for reading. 

Lots of love

  

Review: L'Oreal Color Riche L'Ombre Pure Eyeshadows

L'Oreal Color RIche L'Ombre Pure Eyeshadows- £5.49 each

(Top to Bottom) Nude 200 Over the Taupe, Matte 106 Breaking Nude

Hello everyone! Can you believe that this is only like my 4th or 5th product review on this blog? Obviously I'm always talking about products I like and dislike but straight up reviews aren't what I gravitate towards. I think it's because a lot of the time I don't have a definitive opinion on a lot of makeup items. It's rare that I absolutely love something and want to tell everyone about it instantly (depressing). I also know that a lot of the time certain products will work for me but not for other people. What if I recommend something and someone buys it and hates it? I couldn't take the shame.

However there is a product(s) that I've been using everyday for weeks now and they are the new L'oreal Color Riche L'Ombre Pure eyeshadows. I have the colours 106 Breaking Nude which is a matte brown which looks slightly taupe in the pan and 200 Over the Taupe which looks like a shimmery version of Breaking Nude. These were an absolute bitch to find online for some reason but I eventually found them on the Boots website under the name L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Mono Eyeshadow. However you need to swatch these in store to understand HOW GOOD THESE ARE. CAPITALS ARE NECESSARY. They are gel infused eyeshadows which makes them buttery as hell. It makes them the Mayors of Buterryville. Pack your bags chalkiness because you are not welcome here. They are so soft to the touch and they leave the most subtle sheen on the lids, especially the shimmery shade called Over the Taupe. They can also be built up to a really nice intensity and they last all day too. There are 20 shades in total with a mixture of matte and shimmery shades and a good range of highlighters, base colours and more intense colours which would be great for smokey eye looks. The two colours I currently have are perfect for everyday wear and work with any makeup look you decide to go for. Some of the shades have patterns embossed on them which makes them individual and more expensive looking and all the better for swatching. They are £5.49 per colour which I guess if you had all the colours would end up costing a lot but I don't begrudge paying £5.49 for the best drugstore eyeshadows I've ever tried (I went there).

Thanks for reading and if you've tried these let me know what you think of them in the comments below!

 Lots of love,

Red Lipstick: Sheer vs. Opaque

Clarins Lip Balm Crayon in 04 Sweet Cherry- £18

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Hot Pepper- £8.99

Today I'm going to be talking about two of my current favourite lip products. They are both reds however one is sheer and glossy while the other is opaque and matte so I figured I would pit them against each other and see which comes out on top. Ding ding.

 I bought this Clarins Limited Edition lip balm crayon because you got a free gift when you bought two things and my sister was buying the Clarins bronzer so all eyes turned to me. I decided to get this because my hunt for the perfect sheer red has been a long one and I was hoping I had reached the end of my quest. I love this because it's glossy without being shimmery and it feels so smooth on the lips. This kind of thing is good for work because I don't have to worry about my lips getting dry or getting it on my teeth or smudging or anything.  However I have to admit it's not very long wearing but I feel like that's to be expected with a formula that's so glossy. Another good thing about this product is that it's buildable and wearable for every occasion. 

Up next is the Bourjois Velvet Lipstick which is a verrryyy matte, veerrryyy bright red lip cream. I feel french with the stripes and the red lipstick. This colour and formula is perfect if you're in the mood for it. I would never wear this for work because I'd be so worried about it drying my lips out even though it doesn't when I wear it in the evening or during the day. It's the least drying matte lipstick I own which is amazing because my lips get dry pretty often. This product is incredibly long wearing. It doesn't come off on drinks cans or bottles when you drink and it stays put when you eat. The price is also a bit less vom inducing. 

Overall I think the Clarins crayon is the perfect sheer red for everyday wear and I think it perks up the face without being over the top however I love how the opaque red looks and I would love to be the kind of person who could wear reds like this on the daily. I crack this one out for nights out or when I'm at home alone (don't act like you don't do that too). 

Thanks for stopping by! Lots of love

Outfit of the Day #14 ft. A Primark Gem

H&M Top- £3.99

New Look Skirt- Old

Primark Blazer- £13

New Look Watch- £12.99

H&M Necklace- £1.99

(Can we just note how nothing I buy from H&M is ever on the website?)

 I have an outfit of the day for you today because I bought this blazer from Primark yesterday and I felt the need to show it off. I think these are going quick because I had never seen them before and there were only 3 left in my Primark (yes it is my Primark) so if you like it you might want to run to your local Primark, like, now. Because the blazer is quite a loud patterned item I decided to go very plain with everything else. I bought this black crop top from H&M because I think it will come in really useful when it gets hotter and I'm tempted to get it in other colours too, I already know how much I will wear them. It's one of those ones that is high necked with a racer back style and it makes me feel like Sporty Spice. I find it a really flattering shape considering I hate showing any kind of upper armage/shoulders. I like the way the top and skirt look like a little black dress but then if you lift your arms you get a teeny bit of skin poking through for extra sass points.

I went for gold jewellery with a really dinky necklace and this watch from New Look. My shoes are my everyday shoes which are falling apart and I reckon my makeup is pretty natural. I tried to make this outfit look a bit more casual but with higher shoes and an up-do I think this could look really classy. 

Thanks for stopping by! Lots of love,

Wishlistin'

It's that time again! Annie's favourite kind of post! A wishlist!

1. My favourite thing of all time is something that looks more expensive than it actually is. At £20 this is an absolute steal because it looks so classy and stylish. I love the large face and thin strap and how simple it is.
2. In every wishlist I seem to feature something that I'm obviously not going to be buying anytime soon. The Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square is exactly the kind of colour I'm trying to get into wearing on my lips. The perfect bright red in my humble opinion.
3. Next is this stripey top. I tried it on in New Look but I bought the yellow top featured in yesterday's post instead but I really liked the cropped baggy style. It looked really nice with my plain black trousers and a bold lip. I think we all need a good stripey top in our lives.
4. Continuing my yellow obsession, I came across this yellow blazer on Boohoo.com and I'm feeling the itching and the scratching that lets me know I want to make an order. The shape looks like it would be mighty flattering and great for spring days where it's still a bit chilly.
5. This cute little earring comes in at a slightly silly £16. Hashtag sad times. But I've wanted something like it since I got my conch pierced last year and they're so hard to find so I really want to get this one so I can finally end my search. Hashtag tempted.
6. I want to try all Micellar waters for some reason and Nivea are the latest skincare company to bring one out. I'll probably get this one when my other one runs out as it is only £3 and it's good to test the waters.
7. And lastly is the Garnier Miracle Skin Cream. Every time I go in to Boots I swatch this and I think it makes such a difference but I've never actually taken the plunge. I definitely have some doubts about it but I think it might be time to make the commitment.

Thanks for stopping by. Lots of love,

Outfit of the Day #13

New Look Top-£14.99

Primark Trousers- £5

Topshop Shoes

Primark Sunglasses- £3

What a glorious day it is! I couldn't let the opportunity for some decent outfit photos pass me by. Turns out glaring sun is a pain in the backside as are the flies and wasps *shudders*. 

I absolutely love yellow at the moment and I spotted this top in New Look plonked on the end of a rail looking sad and lonely. It was the last one in stock and it's a size 16 but I love how it drapes because the material is so light (but creases like a cer-razy).

I paired it with my trousers from Primark which I bought for £12. A week later they are now £5 which resulted in me collapsing in a heap on the floor in the middle of a busy Primark. No I didn't. Yes I did. No I didn't......

I also bought these sunglasses recently which I am whipping out at every opportunity I get. I love how massive they are because I will do anything and everything to make my face look smaller. Fellow planet faces will feel my pain. 

Thanks for stopping by! Lots of love,

Ombré: Suck it and See

If you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed that I decided to Ombré my hair. Obviously this is not a new thing in the world of hair with scores of celebrities and youtubers and everyone else giving it a try and I've always been super jealous of how cool it looks. So yesterday I used my Superdrug points to buy a box of the L'oreal Wild Ombre kit for Light Brown to Dark Brown hair. I didn't tell anyone I was going to do it so when the house was empty I whacked it onto my hair in a worryingly haphazard manner and let it work it's magic. The instructions are very straightforward so weren't really necessary. I did use the brush it comes with but I also went free hand for some of it. You're supposed to leave it in for 25-45 minutes depending on your desired intensity. About 30 minutes in I panicked that the ends of my hair were going platinum blonde so I washed it out. Kinda wishing I hadn't now because it's not as intense as I would like it however I am still really pleased with it. This is how it turned out:

Hello washing line!

My Top Tips (as an Ombre newbie)

1. Don't overthink it. I think a lot of people can over complicate it by worrying too much about the graduation from brown to blonde. It's not essential to do it in 50 different stages because with one simple kit it works just fine. Mine isn't perfect but I think that's what makes it work. Just slap that stuff on to your hair and hope for the best.

2. Don't worry about trends! A few people have said to me that ombre is out and so last year and that made me a little worried. But then I was like it's my hair why should anyone else care (rhymed). And I'm so glad I didn't listen to anyone because I love it. 

3. Suck it and See. Even if you have doubts, if you know that it's what you want to do just go for it. There's always dye remover or going over it with a darker colour. I think this goes for all hair/makeup/fashion decisions not just the one I went for. 

That pretty much sums everything up! Thanks for reading!

Lots of love, 

Showing the Love: Pastel Nail Varnish

Yoohoo! Big summer blowout? 

Today I am going to show you my favourite pastel nail varnishes because it's all about the pastels this Spring/Summer (apparently). I like to have a pastel colour on my nails since I tend to wear a lot of monochrome so it's nice to have some colour somewhere on my body. 

Revlon Nail Enamel in 211 Charming

Lilacs and Lavenders always catch my eye and I couldn't resist this one from Revlon. You know when some nail varnishes look as though they're verging on pastel but they're not quite there? Well this isn't one of them. It's on the right side of pastel for me. Hurrah! I also really like the formula of these. I don't think it chips as quickly as some other nail varnishes but that could be a lie because all nail varnishes chip on me in less than a day.

Essie Fiji

This post wouldn't be complete and I wouldn't feel like a beauty blogger without including Essie's Fiji. It's one of those that once it's on your nails you can't stop looking at your hands and drinking drinks with your pinky finger sticking out. I don't wear it too often though because Essie nail varnishes seem to run out so quickly. 

Bourjois So Laque Glossy Nail Enamel in Amande Defile

 A mint green was a must in this post and I recently dug this out of my collection which resides in a box in a basket under my bed so as you can imagine a lot of my nail varnishes gets easily forgotten. I got this last summer and I think it's the perfect pastel green colour, I prefer it to Essie's Mint Candy Apply which is a cult favourite. The formula is really glossy and the brush is lovely and thick, however sadly this peels off my nails really easily. 

 L'oreal Perfection Color Riche Nail Varnish in 850 Lemon Meringue

This is the newest addition to my collection. In my opinion the closer to white the colour is the better, especially when it comes to pastels and this one is an off white yellow which is a dream on the nails. It goes opaque in about 2 layers which is unusual for such a pale colour and I can imagine it looks amaze with a tan. 

That's everything for today! Thanks for reading, lots of love