Tuesday, 29 March 2016

4 Instagram Accounts Worth Turning Your Notifications On For


Everyone seems to be panicking about Instagram's new upcoming algorithm. The possibility that it will now be even harder to attract likes and the fear of missing out on your favourite users photos sparked a frenzy of 'Turn Notifications On' posts on the platform yesterday. In reality, as the new algorithm works off your behaviour on the platform, the accounts you interact with the most should still appear frequently on your feed. But let's be honest here, nobody is entirely sure whether they're going to get buried by the new changes or not. The desperate plea by many to encourage their followers to receive a notification every time they upload a new photo is all well and good but our phones are already saturated by notifications without Instagram adding to the mayhem.

If you are planning on pushing the 'Turn Notifications On' button you definitely want to be very selective about who you push it for. For me, I'm limiting myself to only receiving notifications for close friends and those accounts that truly inspire me and cheer me up every day. So I thought I'd create a list of my Favourite 4 Instagram Accounts that I'm so obsessed with that even the idea of adding to the notification hell doesn't alter my love for them.

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Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Gemporia Spring Wishlist


1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Gemporia is a company I've been hearing more and more about over the past few months, whether it's from fellow bloggers or in the press. I've always been the type of girl who loves simple and delicate jewellery and when it comes to gemstones I turn into a complete magpie. Gemporia is basically like an online treasure chest for people like me! I like to browse the site every so often and pick out a few favourites that I could spoil myself with if I'm ever feeling spendy so when Gemporia contacted me and asked if I would like to put together a Spring Wishlist for them I already had a few of the pieces featured above in mind.

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Sunday, 27 September 2015

Soufeel Charm Bracelet

Soufeel Charms
Soufeel
I was looking through my jewellery box a couple of months ago and I discovered my old Pandora collection. I used to adore collecting charms when I was younger and stumbling across them made me realise how much I still loved the style and concept. I was desperate to start updating and maturing my collection considering 15 year old me obviously thought the right thing to do was to buy every bloody animal charm imaginable (seriously, I have the tortoise, cat, horse, bear, hedgehog... need I go on?) My only problem? Pandora is so unbelievably expensive these days and to be perfectly honest with you there are other things in life I'd rather spend £40+ on (I'm looking at you Jo Malone!) So I decided to hunt for cheaper alternatives and funnily enough a few weeks later an email appeared in my inbox from Soufeel who kindly offered to send over a bracelet and 5 charms for  me to review. The universe can act is such mysterious, freaky ways sometimes but I'm definitely not complaining!

Soufeel are a company based in Hong Kong but they ship all over the world and provide free shipping over £39 and a 365 day returns policy. They seem to always have a sale on and they have really great discounted items too so I found their prices to be really reasonable. I was quite impressed to learn that their charms are 925 Sterling Silver (exactly like Pandora!) and they used Swarovski crystals in their jewellery too. This being said I was still a bit wary and unsure what to expect when my bracelet arrived. I was, after all, once a huge Pandora snob but in all honesty I was truly surprised and really impressed when my Soufeel jewellery landed on my doorstep. So much so that I'm actually considering putting in another order next month! 
Soufeel Charms
Onto the charms! When I started narrowing down my choices I didn't really have a theme in mind but my finished result has a kind of beachy vibe to it...with a random Eiffel Tower stuck in for good measure! Paris obsessed I couldn't resist the Eiffel Tower charm* and it reminds me of the wonderful time I had in the city last Christmas (which I actually blogged about here if you were interested!) The thing I was concerned about when I picked this charm was the colour of the silver itself. I was hoping for a bright, shiny silver and not a darker, dull colour and I was so happy when it was exactly as pictured and what I was imagining it to be. Next up is my little Starfish charm*! I know I was trying to stray away from the whole animal charm theme but I could not resist this cute little guy. The crystals really sparkle in the light and I love the pop of colour it adds to the bracelet. My Equinox Flower Murano Glass Charm* is probably my favourite of the 5 and I can't quite capture in a photograph how beautiful this is. As you move your wrist the colours change from purple to an almost red/pink colour then to orange and it's literally like there's a sunset captured inside the glass. The Pearl Pendant Charm* is a piece I thought would actually look beautiful in so many situations: on a necklace, with a group or even alone on a bracelet. My final charm, which I can't seem to find on the website anymore, is my Silver Crystal Charm*. To complete the overall look I wanted to add more silver and an extra bit of sparkle is always a bonus.

For the bracelet I opted for the Double Silver Grey Leather charm bracelet which seems to be out of stock at the moment but the Single version can be found here. In retrospect I actually wish I'd picked up the single version as the double one that I picked out is a little bit too big for me. Considering I have tiny wrists (I wear the smallest Pandora size) this was my own fault but as far as quality goes I'm really impressed with this. The colour is lovely and the quality of the leather is identical to my Pandora one and the clasp is really secure. I think it looks wonderful with the 5 charms and I can't fault it or Soufeel as a company in any way really!

Eiffel Tower Charm: £16 |Starfish Charm: £20 |Murano Glass Charm: £20 |Pearl Charm: £20
Soufeel
Soufeel
If I was ordering from Soufeel myself for the first time one thing that would definitely worry me would be shipping/handling and how the items are packaged. I didn't exactly keep track of how quickly my order arrived but I know it was just over the week mark. My items arrived safely and were secured in a box lined with bubblewrap and the items themselves were contained inside a bubblewrap protective envelope (the yellow parcel in the photo above!) Each charm was packaged individually inside a lovely lined Soufeel box with the prettiest blue ribbon and they even included a gift bag just in case! 
Soufeel jewellery
With their 365 day returns policy, cheap prices and lovely packaging I have to say I'm truly impressed with Soufeel as a company. What do you all think of their jewellery and the pieces I picked out? 

If you'd like to shop at Soufeel I also have a coupon code for my readers which entitles you to 5% off any order. Simply enter BLOG5 at the checkout and you're good to go!
* This post contains a PR Sample that was gifted for review however I am not sponsored by Soufeel and no affiliate links have been used! 
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Monday, 17 August 2015

Alex and Ani Bracelets

If you're from America, or just generally cooler than I am, then I'm sure you've already heard of Alex and Ani. I stumbled across the brand a few months ago on Pinterest and I instantly knew that I had to start a collection of my own. I've had my bracelets since the end of April and I've hardly taken them off my wrist since so I thought it was about time I shared my love for Alex and Ani with you all!

I don't own that much jewellery, especially not costume jewellery, but the majority of my collection is silver (think Tiffany, Pandora, etc) and this Summer I really wanted some pretty gold bangles to wear both during the day and for the evening. Everything I stumbled upon from places like New Look and Forever 21 looked a little bit cheap (they all ended up being that yellow-gold colour I'm not a fan of) and I just wanted well-made pieces that I would treasure but wouldn't empty my bank account at the same time. Each Alex and Ani bracelet is made from recycled materials and the brand pride themselves on being an eco-conscious company. Alex and Ani really promotes the importance of using sustainable materials from America and having a positive, not negative, impact on the world through the production of their product. Each bracelet is nickel free and made from a brass base with either a Rafaelian gold or silver finish or a shiny yellow-gold or silver finish. Both of my bracelets have a Rafaelian gold finish which has an antique, rustic look due to an oxidisation process and all the bracelets have an anti-tarnish coating which protects the finish. Even after wearing my bracelets for almost 4 months straight they still look just as beautiful as they did on the first day that I wore them.
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Sunday, 26 April 2015

WISHLIST | THE SPRING EDIT


When Spring rolls around I always love to brighten up my wardrobe and, as I'm not one for wearing bold, bright colours I usually tend to switch my blacks for blues and incorporate a lot of white into my wardrobe. After scrolling down my Instagram feed enviously and seeing photos from Coachella earlier last week I'm completely obsessed with the boho, festival look and I'm currently on a mission to buy way too many gold necklaces and bracelets so I can layer like I never have before (Meghan Rienks is to blame for this one!) Sadly, the reality check hit and no matter how much a girl can dream I do not live in L.A so my wishlist had to become a little more practical for the unpredictable UK weather.

By practical I mean simply switching high waisted shorts for a pair of jeans, these Topshop Ripped Leigh Jeans to be exact. I know I own way too many pairs of jeans already but I'm loving the ripped trend and even though I used to hate wearing jeans the Leigh style from Topshop converted me - they're unbelievably comfortable! Whilst I was in Topshop the other day I tried this beautiful Floral Bardot top on and I'm having serious regrets about not picking it up. I love the print, the fit and the style of this and I feel like I'm in the 70s when I wear this. I can imagine wearing it with the jeans, a huge floppy camel coloured hat and pairing it with these Block Heel Sandals from New Look. I always buy tan coloured sandals but the little heel on this pair dress up an outfit just the right amount without being too high and leading to painful feet!

One type of fabric I always gravitate towards when the weather starts to get a little bit warmer is that white, floaty cotton material. I'm in love with the Bellfield Sally Top which you can also find at Joy! I adore the embroidered pattern, the double layered effect at the bottom and, of course, the combination of blue and white! It's a classic piece that I can see myself reaching for year after year, especially on holiday.

My love for blue and white doesn't stop at clothing! In fact, if you add a little gold or silver in the mix I end up loving it even more. I don't actually own too many pieces of jewellery from stores like Topshop etc. but after seeing how amazing layering necklaces and bracelets can look at Coachella I've decided to invest in a few pieces! I love the detailing on the chain of this Louche Cobalt Pendant and I think it would look so pretty with some smaller, more simplistic gold necklaces. As for bracelets I'm planning on picking up some simple gold bangles (perhaps from Forever 21?) and I think this pretty white and gold Warehouse Bracelet Set would look really cute mixed in!

If you have any favourite, online jewellery stores I'd love to hear about them! 
Let me know, along with what you're lusting after this Spring, in the comments below.
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Wednesday, 1 April 2015

GIVEAWAY | Win a Subscription to Scarlett of Soho!

For those of you who have never heard of the brand, Scarlett of Soho offer a monthly subscription service for eyewear. Subscription services are so popular lately and I think this has to be one of the coolest I've ever came across! They've created a range of price plans so their customers can swap and change their glasses multiple times a year and they have so many vintage frames and even prescription sunglasses available! I've written a previous post, which you can find here, where I test out their Home Try On kit. This kit is delivered to your door and includes 4 of your chosen frames that you get to keep for 7 days to decide which is your favourite!
After writing my previous post, Rob was kind enough to offer my readers a free subscription to Scarlett of Soho for an entire year. The plan I'm giving away is called The Seasonal, worth £180 in total, and you can receive up to 4 different pairs of glasses in the year! 
If you'd like to win the free subscription for a year, please read the rules carefully and enter via the Rafflecopter form below. 

Rules
1. You must complete all 3 mandatory entries to qualify. You can then unlock 2 extra entries which are optional.
2. UK only. Sorry to my international readers but Scarlett of Soho haven't expanded their services outside of the UK yet!
3. The giveaway ends on 16th April 2015 at 12:00 am. 
4. The winner will be contacted directly by myself or Rob from Scarlett of Soho.
5. If the prize isn't claimed with 48 hours I'll be drawing again.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck everyone!
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Thursday, 19 February 2015

Scarlett Of Soho

One thing I always remember from my childhood is visiting the opticians with my mum and spending hours watching her try frames on. It wasn't all bad, I did get to play dress up too after all, but there was nothing more frustrating than my mum complaining after a month or two that she didn't like her glasses any more. And it happened every single time. When Rob contacted me about Scarlett of Soho, a subscription service for eyewear, I immediately thought of how perfect this service would be for my mum and anyone else who has the urge to switch up their eyewear every few months!

Scarlett of Soho offer an amazing free 'home try-ons' scheme where you select four of the gorgeous, vintage frames from their catalog and they are shipped directly to your door for free. The frames are yours for 7 days so you have plenty of time to find your favourite and discover which frames really compliment your style. As I don't currently need glasses myself (although I know one day I will end up needed them as my entire family have to wear glasses and one of my eyes in getting weaker uh oh), I ended up selecting two pairs of sunglasses alongside my chosen glasses frames.

Here are my very diva-esque selfies! 

The frames themselves are made from premium aged Italian acetate and, as well as looking chic and stylish, the quality is excellent. They appear to be sturdy and durable whilst feeling really light and comfortable on the face. I love each and every frame I picked out, even though at first glance I thought I really wouldn't suit the Hemingway, and I'm actually rather gutted I don't need to wear glasses! I think my favourite has to be Ive in Chestnut Horn or the Hemingway in Translucent Olive. I'd love to know which look is your favourite!

After you've picked your favourite pair, you simply have to seal the box with the stickers provided and pop the glasses into your nearest post box (return postage is prepaid!) Then, all you have to do is head over to the catalog and select your frames with your prescription lenses! Scarlett of Soho currently offer three subscription plans for you to choose from:

The Staple - £10 a month where you can change your frames once a year (2 pairs)
The Seasonal  - £15 a month where you can change your frames three times a year (4 pairs)
The Trendsetter - £25 a month where you can change your frames an unlimited amount of times a year!

If you're currently living in London (lucky you!) Scarlett of Soho actually have two events coming up in the next month where you can view the entire range of glasses and get to meet the people behind the brand! The information for the two events is listed below:

Location: Old Street/Shoreditch
Date: February 23rd - March 8th 2015
Old Street tube station pop up store - Stand: UNIT 2B
More Information here

Location: Islington, London
Date: March 18th-22nd 2015

I love the concept, flexibility and style of Scarlett of Soho and I just have to point out how adorable the packaging of the Home Try On kit is! Attention to the little details always makes me smile! I'd love to know what you all think about the service and, if you love any of the frames on the site, you can use my code: BEAUTYB2015 on the Scarlett of Soho website to receive a month's free subscription! 


* The Home Try On Kit is a free service but I have kindly been gifted my favourite pair from Rob at Scarlett of Soho.
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Sunday, 15 February 2015

Topshop Haul


Apart from the odd sale purchase and buying a new top for New Year's Eve, I haven't bought many pieces of clothing lately. I did, however, find myself in Topshop about two weeks ago - alone which is always dangerous when there's nobody to stop you from buying absolutely everything - and I picked up a skirt, a lace bralet and an embroidered blouse. I've been loving monochrome and experimenting with textures lately so when I spotted these three items I just couldn't leave the store without them!

P.S. - please excuse my terrible photography. It appears that clothes do not like to be photographed on flat surfaces - who knew? There was nobody around to take a photo of me actually wearing the items so this was the only alternative!





When I picked this up I wasn't aware that 'pelmet' apparently means a micro-mini skirt! Although this skirt is definitely quite short I wouldn't consider it to be any shorter than some of my other mini skirts so don't be too put off by the name. I've been wanting a white skirt for quite some time now - I just couldn't find the perfect one last summer - and I love this combination of the basketweave texture and the curved contrast panels. The skirt also features a thin slip underneath to avoid that see-through look and I adore the silhouette it creates. I purchased it to wear with the lace bralet below but I've even been wearing this during the day with tights, my Levi boots and a cute navy jumper! There's just something about white in winter I'm loving at the moment!


 Topshop Tall Deco Lace Bralet in Black - £25 (Only avaliable in white online!)

It was the lovely patterned lace detailing on this bralet that initially caught my eye and it was the neckline and delicate features that sold it too me. I've been a fan of the lace bralet for quite some time but I've never felt comfortable wearing the usual, plunging V-neckline. I love the straight neck on the bralet and how pretty the lace at the top and bottom of the bralet looks on the skin. For now I can only see myself wearing this in the evening but I can't wait for summer when I can pair it with a pleated chiffon skirt and some cute sandals. I adore how elegant and minimal the straps are and I might have to pick up the white version as well before it goes out of stock!


This embroidered, sheer blouse reminds me so much of Free People and I've always been a fan of the effortless bohemian look. I've wanted a floaty, lightweight blouse like this for years now and my photograph really doesn't show how pretty this top looks when it's on! The embroidered patterns are so lovely and even though it is quite sheer I usually just wear this with a nude or black bra. For now, I pair this with my Topshop Leigh jeans but I can't wait to team it with some shorts in the summer time (I guess I'm just really excited for the hot weather!)

Have you purchased anything from Topshop lately? 
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Friday, 16 January 2015

January Catch Up... (And a little haul!)







Before I begin making a dent in my long list of planned blog posts I wanted to write a little catch up to let you know what I've been doing for the first 16 days of January! I always hate this time of year, the Christmas tree comes down and all the festive cheer disappears and, for me, January means one thing - deadlines and exams. Erugh, even the sight of those words makes me shiver. The silence on my blog was pretty much due to University work but, thankfully, I've made it through. My essays have been handed in and my exam wasn't too terrible so I've been letting my poor hand rest and embracing my new found freedom by going out way too much for lunch and doing a tiny little bit of retail therapy.

One of the most exciting things that's happened to me in 2015 so far is that I've finally bought my first ever iPhone! After saving a bit of my Birthday and Christmas money I'm now the very happy owner of a shiny silver iPhone 5s and I can't believe how much easier my life is with a phone that actually works properly! I'm not ashamed to say that I haven't put it down since I skipped all the way to the Apple shop after my exam. I popped into Cath Kidston and picked up this adorable Little Birds case in the sale, along with a cute little floral make-up bag which I might use to store my phone in so it doesn't' get scratched in my bag. 

On the beauty front, I decided to cash in my Birchbox points and take advantage of free shipping on Stila this month. I've had my eye on this gorgeous In the Light palette for months now; the blue shade named Night sky is beautiful and I've finally had the chance to try out the famous Kitten (which is as gorgeous as everybody says it is!) I'm going to be writing a review about this soon once I've had a chance to test the palette out properly and I'll be including plenty of swatches but, so far, I'm completely smitten with it. I've also been reunited (finally!) with my beloved bareMinerals foundation and I've definitely been lost without it these past couple of weeks - it's my absolute favourite and perfect when you want flawless foundation in a rush! 

My last purchase of the month was this swing coat from Topshop. I've had my eyes on this for the longest time and when I found it in the sale yesterday I just couldn't resist. I have a very similar coat that I bought years and years ago which I completely adored but it was so worn out that I've  finally thrown it away (we're talking holes and very matted faux fur here!) Even though I really don’t need another coat I've always felt lost without my navy, fur hooded jacket and I'm so happy with my replacement, especially since it has a much nicer hood and it only cost £31 thanks to the sale and student discount!

How's your January been so far? Have you discovered any new beauty products?

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Thursday, 9 October 2014

Mini Autumn Accessories Haul


Yesterday was the first day I could truly tell it was Autumn. After a downpour of rain, something England hasn't had in a while surprisingly, I was walking home through some leaves and for the first time this year that Autumnal smell hit me. You know the one, that recently wet leaves smell mixed with horse chestnuts and the scent of rain (I wish someone in England would bundle it up into a candle already!) Anyway, I've been shopping a little bit recently to update my wardrobe for the new season. This is part one of my shopping spree and it's dedicated to accessories (Part 2 is going to be an Autumn fashion haul but as a newbie blogger I really didn't realise how hard it is to photograph clothes! Hopefully that post will be on the way soon...)




I've seen so many different versions of the tartan/dogstooth scarf in various stores lately and, even though I don't like to have that item that everybody seems to be wearing, I couldn't resist buying this scarf from New Look. I've always had a tartan scarf in my wardrobe but this reversible one adds a little bit of excitement to my collection! I know Primark make a cheaper version (I think it's about £6?) but I fell in love with the texture and the colours of this one from New Look. My camera isn't the best but hopefully you can spot the green and blue within the dogstooth print which I think adds a softness to the design. New Look also have a plain black dogstooth version of this scarf which you can find here if you're into more classic colours. I couldn't contain my excitement when it was finally cold enough to wear this yesterday and this one is oversized too so I was really cosy!


Two Skinny Belts - Primark (in stores) £2 
Belts tend not to be the most exciting accessory in the world but as the temperature drops and the weather gets more unpleasant I find myself wearing jeans a lot. I love wearing cropped jumpers with my jeans and adding a belt makes the outfit look a little bit more put together. For once I actually love both of the belts in this twin set from Primark and I simply can't pick a favourite! The Aztec print and dark, berry-like colour scheme is perfect for Autumn and the cream cut-out design on the other belt reminds me of snowflakes and winter time which makes me really excited for Christmas (it's not too early to be excited yet is it?!) The design of the buckle is also really cute and the belts are really cheap at only £1 each!


Black Duo Zip Bag - Primark £6
I was in need of a little handbag to take with me in the evenings and even though Primark had so many lovely designs in store at the moment I found most of them to be too boxy and bulky. I mainly picked up this bag for its softness and flexibility! It feels quite expensive and it's also quite spacious as it has two compartments. I like the simple, classic design of this bag and the gold detailing. The only annoying thing is that the zips seem to get stuck quite often - I'm not sure if this is a design fault or I might have just picked up a faulty bag!

What are your favourite accessories this Autumn?
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Friday, 15 August 2014

Wishlist | The Olive Clothing Edit



At one point, during endless hours on Instagram, I stumbled across a brand named Olive Clothing and I think I've fallen in love. I hope you understand how ruthless I have been whittling my wishlist down to only three items, if I could I would have listed half of the website on here! Originally, this post was going to be a combined fashion and beauty wishlist but, as half of the fashion items were from Olive, I thought it would be nice to do a smaller list featuring the brand.

Olive clothing is based in Cheltenham and was created in 2010. If you're lucky enough to live in that area you can visit their flagship store on Pittville St. Olive Clothing is one of those brands that makes simplicity look so beautiful and elegant. They mix classic chic with current trends and create timeless, feminine pieces made with quality materials. Currently, I have an obsession for classic prints and Olive clothing have nailed them all - the breton stripe, the ditsy floral print and the feminine, checkered shirt. All 3 items are lovely, affordable pieces that can definitely transition into Autumn and I hope I can get my hands on them soon!

(Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with Olive Clothing and they have not sponsored me to create this post. I'm just a girl who's fallen in love with a brand and needs to share her obsession on the internet!)

What's currently on your wishlist? 

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Thursday, 7 August 2014

July Favourites 2014



Somehow it's already August, and it really is true that time seems to pass by quicker as you get older! July was a wonderful month, full of travelling, sunbathing and spending time with my favourite people and I'm quite sad to see it end. Hopefully August will be just as exciting and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the sun to keep shining - I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to my summer wardrobe just yet! 

Beauty Favourites

The Body Shop -  Coconut body butter:  For as long as I can remember, the body butters from The Body Shop have always had a place in my bathroom cabinet. My mum has used them for years and the coconut scent was actually the first body butter I ever used! They have a creamy and rich texture and sink into the skin fairly quickly, keeping my skin nourished and soft all day long. They're a beauty favourite of mine all year round but the coconut body butter has stolen my heart this month!  The smell is incredible and it's an instant cure for post-holiday blues. One sniff of coconut and I'm whisked away to a beautiful tropical island! 

theBalm - Nude 'Tude Palette: I'm actually quite surprised by this one, have I finally met a neutral palette that rivals my beloved Naked 2? The texture, pigmentation and color selection in this palette is wonderful and the packaging is so cute! I'll be writing an entire post on this soon.


Victoria's Secret - Pure Seduction Bloom fragrance mist (limited edition): Ah Victoria's Secret, ever since you landed in Leeds my bank balance has suffered immensely (but my underwear draw looks fabulous!) Fragrance mists are perfect for summer, they're light and refreshing and I've been loving Pure Seduction Bloom this month. It has notes of red currant and violet blossom and it's the perfect mix of fruity and floral.

Essie - Meet Me at Sunset: My favourite way to wear my favourite colour of the month!

Garnier - BB Skin Perfector in Light: As temperatures started to rise this month, I needed something lighter for my face. After trying out a sample of this at the end of June, I fell in love and purchased the full size in Boots. The coverage is quite light but easy to build up, although if I have a bad skin day I have to add a touch of bareMinerals to completely cover my imperfections. This BB cream is weightless and it's also oil free so my skin only needed one touch up with matte powder throughout the day! It looks natural, adds a subtle glow and even has SPF 20! 


Non-Beauty Favourites

Staring at Stars - Camisole in Boho Floral Print: I picked up this top in Urban Outfitters and I'm completely in love with the print. It's something that I think will always be in style and it looks effortlessly cool, especially when paired with beachy hair, white shorts and gladiator sandals! The material is light and it has quite a loose fit, yet it's slightly cropped so it doesn't swamp your body. Urban Outfitters also make a matching skirt in this print too! 

Clarks - Oditi Lucky Sandals: Clarks have always made the comfiest shoes and I've literally worn these sandals every day this month! I love the gladiator style and they look great with every outfit. They're currently in the sale (sold out online but you might be able to find them in store) and they come in pink too!

Jack Kerouac On the Road: This book is actually one of my all time favorites but I've been rereading it for my dissertation and I think I might love it even more after a second read! It's based on the life of Kerouac and his friends as they travel across America between 1947-1950, however it's the style of writing that makes this book so incredible. It mimics the world of the Beat generation perfectly and you really have to read it to understand how wonderful this book is! I've actually never watched the film version of On the Road, I don't think a film could ever capture the beauty of Kerouac's writing, but it's definitely on my list of films to watch in August.

♫ Lana Del Rey - Brooklyn Baby

Let me know what your July favourites are in the comments below!

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Tuesday, 5 August 2014

Meet me at Sunset...



Every so often, usually once or twice every season, I find myself completely obsessed with a new colour. (For example, this Spring I found myself in love with a turquoise green-blue shade, think China Glaze’s For Audrey and Tiffany’s classic blue!) My obsession always gets a little bit out of hand and when I’m shopping I gravitate towards absolutely anything that’s in my new coveted shade, convincing myself that it’s entirely acceptable to feel like I need to buy five lipsticks, four tops and two handbags in my new go-to colour.  So, in an attempt to control myself whilst simultaneously satisfying my colour craving, I allow myself to buy up to five new items, a sort of colour capsule, that includes make-up, clothing and accessories. However, if the colour can transition into the next season I don’t feel too guilty if I splurge and buy a few extra things! 
Inspired by hot summer nights, sunsets over the Costa del Sol and blazing campfires my current addiction is a bright, but slightly burnt looking, red-orange. Surprisingly, I only have one clothing item which is a simple vest from Topshop, £6. I wear it with everything and it instantly makes me feel summery. My favourite buy is the Florelli Paris Tote which I picked up in TK Maxx for only £35. It provides any casual look with the perfect pop of colour and I absolutely love the little purse that comes attached to it which I use to carry my favourite lip products of the moment (I bet you can’t guess what colour my favourite lipstick is right now...)

Left to right: Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in 255 Coral Kiss (£6.99), Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in 03 Orange Punch(£7.99).

I have a weakness for lip products so it was only natural that I picked up two in boots: a Revlon lipgloss as well as the Bourjois Lip Crayon. I'm a big fan of the Revlon Super Lustrous glosses and I love how pigmented Coral Kiss is. It also has a hint of golden shimmer and it looks gorgeous with a tan (I'm desperately trying to keep mine!) Bourjois' Lip Crayon is sheer, glossy and quite moisturising which makes it perfect for everyday wear! It lasts for a couple of hours on the lips before it begins to fade and you can easily build the intensity of the colour to transition from day to night. My favourite way to wear coral, however, is to combine the gloss and the crayon together!

My final purchase was my first ever Essie nail polish in Meet me at Sunset, £7.99. I'm absolutely in love with the colour and formula and I can't stop staring at my nails, they're just so pretty. After two coats my nails looked great and I think this shade will look amazing on the toes!




What's your favourite colour this summer?



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