October Empties

  I've been on a bit of a mission to use up products that I took with me to Kosovo, mainly because then I can justify buying a load of new toiletries! I also don't want to use up valuable luggage space with half used products. 

Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge

 I have just found these photos on an external hard drive and I cannot believe I forgot to blog about these beauties. I actually won these in a giveaway which was especially lucky because as far as i'm aware, these are not available in the UK. If you are in France, you can find them here for €23 each. 

Maybelline Baby Lips Pink Punch

 When these launched in the US I was really excited to try them, until I realised they would not immediately be available in the UK. I managed to persuade a lovely friend that was spending time in New York to bring me one back, she bought me the Grape Vine one which I reviewed here. Typically they became available here as soon as i'd left at the beginning of the summer but I had to wait until now to purchase one here. I went for  the Pink Punch balm because it sounded as if it would smell good.

GIVEAWAY: Topshop Lipstick Has ENDED!

 thank you for all taking the time to do the competition! We're very pleased to announce the winner of our Topshop Lipstick Giveaway!....

With a whopping 14 entries, congratulations to the lovely and wonderful.....

REVIEW: Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm

  I have been a fan of Nuxe products since trying the famous huile prodigieuse. Some products, like the Nuxe fondant shower gel, have impressed me whereas others, such as the Micellar Cleansing Water with rose petals, have been a real disappointment. I have wanted to try the Rêve de Miel lip balm since browsing the entire range online and I finally cracked a couple of weeks ago. I had a tedious 4 hour wait in Zurich airport and I spend most of that time in the pharmacy. It cost 17CHF which is close to £12. If I had some modicum of patience I would have waited and bought it for less than a tenner in the UK. 

My MAC Make Up Brush Collection

 This post is pretty self explanatory so I won't ramble too much about the virtues of MAC brushes. I hold fast to the hope that with proper care, these beauties will last me a lifetime. They are far more expensive than the likes of Real Techniques but when I started my collection they did not exist yet, and I want everything to match.

October Favourites

 As October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, i've tried to use as many pink products as possible. This wasn't very difficult as a lot of my staple, everyday products have very girly packaging. 

Beauty Blogger Clichés

 Have you ever noticed how most 'established' beauty bloggers all own the same things? This post sort of pokes fun at the blogger must have products. I'm in no way judging anybody because I honestly want everything on this list that I don't have already!

1 Acrylic Make Up Storage  Muji Acrylic 5 Drawer Box £24.95 seems like a lot for a few bits of plastic stuck together and i'm sure there are cheaper alternatives to be found on eBay.

2 Ikea Alex Drawers At £60 these are not a cheap organiser. They are very nice and minimalist and anything that keeps me tidy and organised is worth it.

3 Make up Brush Holder The Ikea SKURAR flower pots seem very popular and at £2 I think I will invest in a few myself. They are so pretty and look really dainty despite being very sturdy.

4 A Rose Gold Watch Ideally the Michael Kors Bradshaw Mini Rose Golf Chronograph. I've wanted a rose gold watch for nearly 3 years now and my dream is as yet, unrealised. I look forward to the day I finally get to purchase this bad boy, but at £229.00 it probably won't be any time soon.

5 The Apple Product Usually the MacBook Air/Pro strewn casually in the background of a youtube video or lipstick photograph. This is actually the only thing on the list that I own and I adore it like the child I don't have. Starting at £999 they are extortionate but if you're a student you can get a pretty decent discount!.

Leave a comment if you have anything to add to the list!

                                                                  

Hair Care Essentials: TRESemmé

 Every girl has their trusty few hair products that can be relied upon when they are in a hair pickle. For me, these tend to be products that can limit the damage I do to my hair with heat styling or dye.

30 Tips To Show Stopping Make Up: Tip 7 - I'm Flawless And I Know It

Ever looked at someone's skin and thought 'WOW!' .. well that could be you! With the knowhow and the technique your skin could be perfect!

Here's a little tip so you too could have flawless skin!

Loose powder is known for its setting powers for foundation and concealer, giving your skin a sultry velvety finish. It also provides a smooth surface for eye makeup or blush. 

Face powder can by all means be used on its own, over foundation or over your moisturiser for a sheer-no-shine look. For a natural colour,  choose a shade lighter than your foundation.

My current favourite powder is the Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Waterproof Powder. Which doesn't have a very wide range of shades, but keeps my skin matte and keeps my makeup perfect all day long, even in the rain!

So dig that unused powder out of your makeup drawer or the bottom of your handbag and use it to it's full potential!

REVIEW: Kate Moss Lasting Finish Rimmel Collection

   I'm not the hugest Rimmel fan but these beauties really impressed me. I love love love matte lipsticks so I couldn't resist treating myself to one from the Kate Moss Matte Lasting Finish Collection. Several months later I had some Boots points to spend and I went for a pinky nude from the standard Lasting Finish collection.

30 Tips To Show-Stopping MakeUp: Tip 6 - Solid or Liquid.. How Would You Like Yours?

 We all know how difficult it is to choose a foundation.. "Shall I go for a powder or a Liquid, or a Cream, or a Gel?" Or maybe we just buy a selection and hope that we will use them all one day. I know I've bought countless foundations and never actually used them!

If you're stuck as for which to buy; here's a little tip to help :)

My Top 5: Lipsticks

 I thought i'd turn 'my top 5' into a bit of a series because it allows me to round up and share my favourite products with you. I am not a huge lipstick wearer but I really think it adds something to a potentially dull, neutral look. I never go for crazy colours and I stick to what suits my skin tone (olive). High end lipsticks are my kryptonite and I cannot resist the beautiful packaging.

30 Tips To Show-Stopping MakeUp: Tip 5 - Your Face is a Canvas

 Apologies for not posting in AGES! I've been busy starting at a new university -  I'm now based in London at London Met Uni, studying Journalism, Film and Television studies for my 3rd and final year of a degree. 6 months and I'm a graduate!!

Anyway, lets get down to business.. finally.. after a long wait, I bring you tip number 5 of the Show-Stopping MakeUp series of posts..

Best Of MAC Products

   My love affair with MAC started quite a few years ago and it doesn't look as if it will be ending any time soon. From Lipsticks to Eyeshadow there's nothing I don't love! The only thing i've not really tried are their concealers or any skincare products which is a situation I hope to change in the future. I've picked my favourite products (that are currently in my possession) to show you what I think is worth purchasing. 

REVIEW: Clarins High Definition Body Lift

 I bought this little gem as part of a slightly-smaller-than-original-size set from Nice airport well over a year ago now. Clarins has always been a brand that has attracted me, they have such a fantastic reputation and I love the simple, classic packaging. I've only really gotten into using this over the last couple of months in conjunction with the Clarins Body Shaping Cream. I'd just like to say that no cream in existence is going to make you any skinnier and i'm not naive enough to think that this could have been the exception.

Q Balance The Fine Fragrance Body Spray

 I thought i'd review this body spray that came in a Glossybox a few months ago. I'll start off by saying that i'm not really a body spray fan, i'm a one perfume woman and it would take a lot to change that.

REVIEW: Dove Maximum Protection goFresh

 A lot of these snazzy new extra-strong deodorants have been popping up on my blogger and bloglovin feed recently and I can't really understand the obsession with them, Sure has obviously been implementing an aggressive marketing campaign.

Shopping List: Skin & Hair Care

 In anticipation of my trip back to the UK on Monday I've compiled a little list of the things I hope to purchase. I've practically run out of everything I took with me when I left back at the beginning of July so I need to stock up on some shower supplies. Realistically I may end up purchasing cheaper alternatives because sadly, toiletries are not allowed to be my financial focus at the moment.

Awapuhi Wild Ginger Shine Spray

 This beauty came in a Glossybox which made me initially dubious but after some googling I discovered a bit more about the product and got a bit excited. The Awapuhi Wild Ginger Shine Spray retails for nearly £20 so I was expecting a pretty good result.

Rimmel Apocolips: Worth the Hype?

 The hype surrounding these lip lacquers when they were first released was astounding. I bought the Rimmel Apocolips in 500 Luna many moons ago and it has sat at the bottom of the proverbial make up bag ever since. To answer the question of whether it is worth the hype I have measured it against my usual standards for a lip product.

My Top 5 Blushes

  These are my favourite blushes that I have with me, there are quite a few more that easily make the grade but I left them behind *sob*. I have quite prominent cheeks and I love using blush to add a little rosy glow. On a side note, I'd be interested to hear whether you call it blush or blusher...

September Empties

 One day I will learn to write posts on time rather than being a week late! This month's empties are a bit of a random mish mash of products, some of which I will be repurchasing.

Bucket List: 30 Before 30 Tag

Tumblr

After last night's #lbloggers chat on Twitter, I felt inspired to start a new tag- At least I don't think an 'official' one exists yet. I have been compiling a vague bucket list in my head since I was a teenager and I think it's high time I put pen to paper as it were. You can amend the title to suit you- I realise not everybody is in their twenties. My list is made of places I want to visit and things I would like to do before the big 3-0. That leaves me 8 years so as long as I tick off 3.75 a year, Ill be on target. This isn't some sort of Stalin-esque 5 year plan, but more of a wishlist for milestones I'd like to reach plus I find having a goal can really focus my energies.


1. Live in France for a little while (tick)
2. Take a European Road Trip.
3. Own a Chanel bag.
4. Master the skills to make the perfect Macaron.
5. Play Monopoly without an argument (tick)
6. Visit Angkor Wat, Cambodia.
7. Donate blood.
8. Sleep in an overnight train.
9. Start a proper, 'grown-up' career.
10. Go shopping in New York.
11. Learn how to use chopsticks (tick)
12. Have a professional massage.
13. Put a lock on the Pont des Arts (update: locks are systematically removed, so decided not to)
14. Host a New Year's Eve party.
15. Finish my degree.
16. Qualify as a lawyer.
17. Take cliché tourist pictures in Paris and Rome.
18. Camp in the wilderness (tick)
19. Ride an elephant.
20. Pass my driving test.
21. Own a pair of Louboutins.
22. Learn to appreciate good wine.
23. Swim with bioluminescent plankton in Thailand.
24. Eat Pizza in Italy.
25. Attend La Tomatina festival near Valencia, Spain.
26. Travel to the top of the Eiffel Tower (tick)
27. Gamble in Las Vegas.
28. See the Northern Lights.
29. Fly on a private plane.
30. Visit Naples and see Pompeii.

Some of these are pretty common but definitely things that I would like to do. It's quite a lot to get done in 8 years but a girl can dream! I won't tag any particular people because I think it would be nice if everyone was included.
What are your 30 before 30?

Monday Must Click Links

  I'm going to try and make this link roundup a weekly feature, the list below includes some beauty blogs but also other blogs that i've found either useful or hilarious. These are all well worth following on the available platform or bookmarking for future reference. This obviously coincides with the blog hop that we happen to be co-hosting today, please sign up to that and check out some new blogs.