Tuesday, April 29, 2014

The Best Of Co-ords




I’m a huge co-ord fiend. I'm absolutely obsessed! For someone who has never really paid too much attention to fashion trends, I was surprised to find myself agog at this matchy-matchy 90's look whenever I saw it on the street or in ads. I've got a white lace crop and skirt, which I've almost worn to death, so I'm on the lookout for a new set. My favourite is the middle Missguided set; it is stunning, but seems quite formal! I'll stay on the lookout for more, but these are my current top picks!


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Monday, April 28, 2014

eBay Wishlist // What I Ordered!


It's strange when your taste in fashion seems to change overnight! Last week I was craving cute and girly pastel knits and baby pink t-bar shoes, but today when I logged into eBay I found myself adding grungy tartan shirts and ripped denim shorts to my cart. I love being a girl who is into fashion and makeup though, because it really means you can express who you want to be that day. Slogan T Shirts are cropping (pun intended) up everywhere, and no matter how much I tried to resist the pull of the Mean Girls quote shirts, I ended up giving in. My total order cost me £59! I really can't complain! 

What's been on your eBay wishlist this month? 





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Friday, April 25, 2014

FOTD




Hello everyone! Just a quick post as I’m off out with my friend to the cinema and then to the pub (what’s this, you say? A social life???). I’ve never done a FOTD post before but it’s nice and simple to put together and now I don’t feel like my makeup has gone to waste. It’s almost like a simplified GRWM video!

PoreFessional by Benefit
L’Oreal True Match Foundation in Vanilla
Face Of Australia Loose Translucent Powder
Hoola by Benefit
Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium
Elf Twinkle Pink Blush
Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo in Barely Branded
Collection 2000 Felt Tip Liner
Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara
Natural Collection Lipstick in Scarlet

I went for a pretty natural looking base with a soft contour and subtle blush. These are best for daytime looks in my opinion, but everyone has a personal preference and some girls look amazing with a really dramatic and full face when I see them out. I love doing a bold red lip to switch up from my normal nudey pink; you don't really have to change much in the rest of your daytime makeup but it gives me such confidence!


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Triangl Bikini Review





One of my most popular posts was my ‘My Triangl Bikini Arrived!’, and I’ve been almost bombarded with questions on things that I forgot to mention. In all my excitement I simply covered the very basics so I thought I’d do an updated review! I’ve had my Triangl Bikini for about 7 months now, and it has served me well. I’ve got a lot of wear out of it, and now I’ve tried and tested it out in the field, I feel like my review will be way more reliable.

When I was looking to purchase mine, I couldn’t find many reviews on the bikinis at all, which was really frustrating and I wasn’t sure which size to buy or which style would suit my body best. Given that sizing advice is the biggest question I am asked, I’ll stick that in here now to save people trawling through my wittering; I wear a size 32A bra and size 8 pants and in my bikini I ordered a size xs top and s bottoms. In terms of sizing, they’re absolutely perfect and I was lucky with this! The bottoms aren’t stretchy at all, so be aware of this! Don’t feel embarrassed if you’ve got to go a size up because I’ve seen some people trying to force their booties into a miniature pair of bottoms and ending up looking hugely uncomfortable!

I went with the ‘Chloe’ style, which is a traditional triangle shaped top which ties up at the back and behind the neck, and the bottoms are low cut, full bikini bottoms. I went with this one because I loved the black edging, and all the colours were absolutely stunning. The other styles don’t tend to match, and I knew I definitely wanted a matching pair. The ‘Ollie’ style is said to be like a push-up bra, so I was tempted to get that one to add a bit of volume to my chest, but I have found that with the Chloe I am given a fair bit of oomph. The fabric is neoprene (amazing, I know), so it does give you a bit of push up and a bit of padding out. It’s brilliant!

I adore the colour I picked; California Coral. It’s more of a baby pink, but it looks amazing against the solid black lines of the hems. I think that it makes you look a bit more tanned, and it’s such a feminine colour. The next Triangl bikini on my hit list is the Chloe in Indiana Ice, it is to die for! White makes you look way more tanned as well, and with me being so pale, I need all the help I can get. They have a whole range of colours and you’re guaranteed to find one that suits you; my sister loves the Miami Mint and Arizona Sunset colours, which are, again, absolutely amazing.

Despite the bikini being a bit rigid, it is really comfortable to wear (providing you buy the right size). I feel really secure in it; I don’t feel like I’m going to fall out of if or anything. As one would hope, it’s absolutely fine in the sea and behaves pretty much like a normal bikini. The only difference is that the neoprene is quite insulating. I feel myself getting pretty hot underneath it, but it doesn’t bother me too much. An added bonus is the carry-bag, which is made of matching neoprene in the same colour. I love it! It’s perfect for a holiday where you’re just popping down to the beach and only need to bring a little towel, some sunnies and some sun tan lotion! Plus it matches, and I’m a sucker for co-ords.


I ordered mine whilst living in Australia, which is where the brand is based. It cost me $98 AUD and took about a week to come. I was so desperate for it to arrive, and it felt like such a long time!! I found the ordering process really easy, and they’ve got online advisors you can chat with to help you out with any problems, and I definitely recommend talking to them! I definitely pestered them a good few times, and they’re very kind and helpful. The Triangl bikinis are about £50 GBP, which is a heck of a lot for a bikini, but if you can justify it, then go for it! They’re so flattering, and the neoprene is just beautiful to look at and to feel. I 100% recommend these bikinis and I know that once you’ve got yours, you’ll absolutely fall in love with it.

If you have reviewed your Triangl Bikini I'd love to read it! Leave me your links in the comment and I'll pop over! xxx


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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Lord & Berry Lipstick Crayon 20100 Review and Swatches



Who doesn’t love a jolly good nose about on all those websites, adding things to your basket and working out how many of your belongings you’d have to sell in order to actually afford them?! This was me about 3 weeks ago, furiously texting my boss and demanding he give me extra shifts. I’d fallen in love with a whole load of stuff on LookFantastic, which is as wonderful as it is addictive, and couldn’t wait to place my order. In amongst all the makeup and haircare were these two Lord & Berry 20100 Lipstick Crayons in two beautiful shades; Vintage Pink and Fuchsia.

I’ve been craving these strange looking lip products for a while; I’d seen positive reviews on two of my favourite blogs (Birds Words and Thumbelina Lillie) and then searched long and hard to try and find some more information, which was quite difficult in the end! There’s not a great deal of information on the Lord & Berry Lipstick Crayons on the internet, and even less swatch pictures, so I ordered them sort of blindly, not really knowing which colours I’d be getting. I went with Vintage Pink and Fuchsia, which struck me as a couple of really gorgeous and feminine shades of pink.

Vintage pink is a pretty wearable, neutral peachy, nudey pink. It’s definitely one you can slap on for an un-done sort of look. It isn’t OTT or too vibrant, it’s simply a ‘my lips but a better colour’ colour, which is exactly what I’ve been needing after my last beloved everyday pink ran out. It’s definitely one I’m going to reach for when I need a daytime lip shade, but I think it might be a little too understated for a night out. Regardless, though, I’m going to get a hell of a lot of wear out of this gorgeous shade; I absolutely love it!

Fuchsia is a really intimidating colour! When I pulled it out of the box I remember thinking “whaaaaat??”, but now I’ve swatched it on my lips and worn it out for dinner, I’m coming around. It’s your typical Barbie pink; it’s in your face, it’s bold, and it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s definitely a show stopper, but such a bright, vibrant colour gives you so much confidence when you know you’ve pulled it off. This lip works beautifully with a simple black winged liner and lots of mascara, and that’s what I’ve paired it with so far, otherwise it’s far too overdone!

The application of these lipsticks is an absolute dream! I lost my lipstick crayon virginity to these, and I really don’t understand why it’s taken me so long to hop on the bandwagon. They apply like a beautiful velvety cream, and it’s so pigmented and intense in colour. They’re actually pretty long lasting too, and stain pretty well so that even when the product rubs off, there’s still a definite colour on your lips. The packaging is ok I suppose, I don’t like the fact that you’ve got to be careful when removing the lid in case you hack off a piece of the crayon, but other than that it’s sleek, and I love the Lord & Berry logo on the side.

I can’t put into words just how impressed I am with Lord & Berry’s 20100 Lipstick Crayons; I’m eager to build up my collection and they look like they’ve got some really gorgeous shades. These crayons are a breath of fresh air from my usual lipstick choices, and I’m hooked on the amazing pigmentation and creamy formula. At £8 each, they’re a whole lot cheaper than MAC, but a little more expensive than the drugstore brands. They sit pretty at about the mid-range, and after they’ve impressed me so much, I’m happy to spend the little bit extra. A massive winner in my opinion; get on Lord & Berry’ products!






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Stila In The Moment Palette Review & Swatches


Stila Palettes: In The Light, In The Know, In The Garden, In The Moment 
(These images are from Google)


´        Instinct – A gorgeous pearly white shade which I use as a base to intensify other colours. An     ideal inner corner highlight shade and browbone shade.
´        Impulse – A dusty, pastel lilac. When using this palette for a smoky eye, Desire is the perfect transition colour for the crease, and really flattering on everyone’s eye colour.
´        Glance – A deep purple. Great for a beautiful twist on the traditional smoky eye, I use this shade instead of black or dark grey.
´        Improvise – Charcoal plum with shimmer. Unusual and interesting, but very pigmented so avoid using a heavy hand or you’ll look like you’ve been punched in the eye!
´        Catalyst – Black with pink sparkle. Smoky and sultry, perfect for dramatic, smouldering eyes.
´        Desire – Soft and natural pale pink. Ideal as a base because it’s quite accurate to my natural skintone. Not a showstopper, but a natural nude shade.
´        Wonder – An instant favourite, deep bronze pink. An unusual shade that’s really attention grabbing and feminine.
´        Spontaneous – Luxurious bronzed beige with subtle shimmer. Goes really well with the purples and has a regal feel.
´        Whim – Warm toned brown with soft shimmer, again, another perfect crease colour or under-the-eye smoked out shade.
´        Captivate – Intensely deep plum-ish brown with golden shimmer. A showstopper! A really dramatic colour but requires a bit of build-up.



I’m a die-heard Stila fan after picking up their ‘In The Light’ palette last year, and I simply can’t fault them on anything. Their eyeshadows are an incredible formula which glides beautifully onto the skin, and lasts for hours and hours. I like all of the Stila palettes, so when I decided it was time to invest in a new one, it was quite a tough decision! I went with ‘In The Moment’ because I’m seriously lacking in the purple eyeshadow department, and I was captivated by the gorgeous lilac tones which has recently become my favourite colour.
  

The palette comes with a smudgestick, but after my last Stila Palette, I’m not a fan of these freebies and I haven’t even picked mine up yet. The eyeshadows are and should remain the main selling point. The formulas are amazing; always creamy and blendable, and crease very very rarely (remember to use a primer to minimise the risk!!). This palette is incredibly beautiful and I cracked mine open for the first time last week to create a smouldering smoky eye using only 3 shades; instinct, desire and captivate. Captivate is a firm favourite on my end; I just adore any kind of bronzey looking shade because I love how it intensifies the blue in my eyes. I’m definitely a fan of the ‘In the Moment’ palette, and I’m glad I chose this over the others. For £25 these babies don’t come cheap, but you’re actually saving a fair bit buying the palette rather than the shades separately. What’s more, these shades are chosen to really complement each other and are gorgeous when incorporated into looks together. A huuuuge thumbs up from me; thank you Stila, keep it up!



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Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque Review

Right, in all honesty I’ve been having a bit of a mope and I’ve been feeling a bit sorry for myself with this whole moving business. I had stopped doing, well, everything really, including blogging and writing and filming my YouTube videos which are my favourite things in the world. Today is the day my moping ends! I’m happy and healthy and I always knew that moving would be difficult! Writing my blog is one of the things that can take my mind off negative things and so it was really very silly to put my first love on hold. 



I’m really excited to be writing this blog post because I’m sure I’ve stumbled upon my newest holy grail haircare product! For those of you who don’t know, I bleach my hair to within an inch of it’s existence, and this causes all sorts of undesirable issues; thin hair, brittle hair, split ends, dullness, knottiness…the list unfortunately goes on for days. I have sought after a hair masque to at least help me fix these problems, but I wanted one that was environmentally friendly and natural as possible. Enter Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque. Where do I even begin?? I’d seen a few positive reviews, namely on Katie’s Beauty Blog who I’m pretty sure also bleaches her hair. I got mine from LookFantastic.com, a UK based site which stocks all sorts of higher end beauty products. It cost me £23.95, so it certainly doesn’t come cheap, but the stuff seems to be blended with the blood of Christ himself; it is literally a miracle worker!

The packaging, for a start, is beautiful. I adore the greens and deep browns, and the swirly patterns on the tub. It sits on the edge of my bath looking pretty and doesn’t take up too much room. The masque itself was unusual; it has a gorgeous pearly sheen to it! The masque smells absolutely fantastic, and isn’t harsh or chemically in the slightest. You get 250ml in the tub, so it’s a pretty standard size, and so far is lasting me quite well as I only really use it once a week (twice a week if my locks are particularly thirsty).

Unfortunately I don’t have any of the shampoos or oils, and I’m one of those people with a sort of OCD about using matching products with each other, though I’d definitely be interested in purchasing the other products from the Macadmia range. Regardless, I find that the masque works incredibly well; it is the best masque I have ever used! I decided I’d crack it open after I washed my hair after landing in England. Plane air is notoriously dry, and before I left I’d shampooed my hair twice to make sure it was properly clean – cue dryness. After I had shampooed and conditioned (using a really tiny amount and leaving it on for about 30 secs), I got a generous amount of the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque and sort of combed it through the lengths of my hair using my fingers. Using whatever was left I massaged it upwards and into the roots. I was then pretty much sucked into a trance, and sat there for a while inhaling the beautiful scent of the masque; believe me when I say it smells absolutely phenomenal.



I washed it off after about 5 minutes and let my hair air dry. The transformation was visible after only one use and I was really amazed! My hair felt really silky and soft, and very light. There wasn’t a gross residue left hanging around anywhere, and even though I was unsure as to whether I’d rinsed it out properly, it turns out it’s easy to get rid of and doesn’t cling to your hair. The pearly sheen of the formula seemed to have somehow transferred onto my hair, because it was glinting and shining and looked absolutely gorgeous. On top of all that, the fragrance of the masque had stuck to my hair, which led to a whole load of sneaky hair smelling throughout the day.


I honestly can’t give this hair masque enough praise! I am in love and in awe of its abilities to smooth out even the driest and most straw-like hair. From what I’ve seen, you really can’t go wrong with it; so many bloggers have loved the masque too. I’d definitely recommend this for blonde haircare, but even if you need some extra frizz control or a bit of extra moisture, this is absolutely ideal. I’ll admit it’s a little on the expensive side, but I’ve never been happier to wave £20 goodbye in exchange for silky and gorgeous smelling hair. Yay!


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Saturday, April 5, 2014

Wishlist #7


Triangl Bikini in Indiana Ice £49 Link | I’ve got this bikini in California Coral, a beautiful pale-ish pink. I adore these bikinis, they are wonderful, even for my body type (a.k.a flat chested). They give you enough support, wonderful coverage and a bit of added volume up top. I was agonising between the California Coral and Indiana Ice when I bought my first one, and knew I’d be getting the other after anyway. Triangl Swimwear is an amazing brand with so much hype, and I need need need this bikini, as well as some of the new range of underwear they’ve got. You can read my review of the Triangl California Coral here.

Essie Nail Varnish in Ballet Slipper, Bikini So Teeny and Lilacism £9.99each Link | I’ve bitten my nails a lot in the past, but painting my nails and making them all pretty and colourful is the only way I can stop biting. I picked these colours because I’ve been really into my lilacs and bluey hues, but I can never resist a nude coloured anything.

YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in No.13 Peach Passion £24.50 Link | I’m on a quest for the perfect peachy lipstick, and from reviews I’ve read and images I’ve seen, I’ve got my eye on this one. This has been recommended by two of my favourite youtubers, Chloe Morello and Zoella. The shade is goooorgeous, and don’t even get me started on the packaging. The price tag is a little off-putting, but the reviews speak for themselves!

Black Tote Handbag £20 Link | I’ve got this handbag in nude, and I absolutely love it. I love this style of bag, it kind of reminds me of the Celine Phantoms. Black bags are a staple in every girls wardrobe, and my last one has been worn out now! The nude is wonderful, but I can’t help feeling the black version would go with more outfits, and looks slightly more understated. Therefore, this one’s definitely on my lust list.

Frank Body Scrub £9 Link | As a die-hard Babe Scrub fan (read the full review here), I decided to have a look at some of the other dry scrubs on the market. I adore dry scrubs, they are so gritty and they smell so much better than scrubs in a gel. The ingredients are fresh, organic and smell beautiful, which means you’re not scrubbing unknown chemicals into your skin. The Frank body scrub has a massive following among the beauty blogging community, and I can’t wait to give this one a go.

Bobbi Brown Chocolate Obsession Palette £39.50 Link | I adore Bobbi Brown, but I’ve always been put off by their monstrous price tag. However, this palette is to die for! It’s got a beautiful range of beautifully rich brown and creamy shades. I have the Naked Palette, which I love, but the shades are quite bronze based, and these colours are deeper. I love it! It’s also got a couple of shimmering and frosty shades, as well as matte ones. A gorgeous looking palette, I’m desperate for it!

Lace Up Ankle Boot in Honey £16 Link | Despite the general opinion of Shoezone being chavvy, I absolutely love it! I’ve never had an issue with the shop, but my step-brother literally refuses to even carry the Shoezone carrier bag! I get cheap shoes more often than not, I always get Primark and Shoezone boots and flats because I go through them so quickly. These are so gorgeous, and remind me of Timberlands! These are gorgeous and perfect for cooler weather.


That’s it for my latest Lust List! Anything here tickle your fancy?


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Thursday, April 3, 2014

Tips & Advice On Getting Rid Of Oily, Greasy Hair

For those of you who follow my blog, you’ll have seen my recent ‘Tips & Advice On Getting Rid Of Oily Skin’ (link) post. I got a great response on it and decided I’d put together my top tips for minimising oily hair, which I also unfortunately suffer with! I am coming to terms with the fact that I’m just a generally oily person and need to take extra these steps to keep my hair and skin from looking terrible, but I don’t mind at all. I’ve always had greasy hair, ever since I became a spotty, smelly teenager and I’m pretty much used to it now. My hair has very dry ends because of the bleaching I do, which can make things a bit more tricky, but I address that here too! If you’re interested in knowing how to keep greasy hair at bay, then keep reading for my top tips!


Keep your brushes and combs clean
If you’ve got oily hair, then whenever you brush your hair, you’re transferring all the oils onto your brush, and it is collecting there. This means that when you brush your hair, even when it is clean, you’re putting the oils straight back in! I never realised this until midway through last year! I mix a few pumps of antibacterial soap with water in a spray bottle, and spritz them through the bristles, then rinse it off and leave it to dry.

Change your pillowcases
As I said in my oily skin post, pillowcases are brilliant at harbouring all that oil and giving it straight back to you. I like to turn over my pillows after I’ve slept on them, and changing them more often.

Use a dry shampoo
Dry shampoos are sprays which absorb the oil and refresh your hair between washes, and it’s been an absolute saviour for me! You spray it in the roots and sort of massage it in, and not only does it clean up your greasy bits, it adds a bit of volume and texture too. If you don’t have dry shampoo, you can always use talcum powder, but I’d recommend this for lighter hair as it doesn’t blend in to darker hair and can make you look like you’re going grey!


Use the right shampoo and conditioners
When choosing a shampoo and conditioner, look for words like ‘cleansing’, ‘purifying’ or ‘anti-residue’ and avoid ‘nourishing’ or ‘moisturising’ ones. If you’re a person with dry ends though, like me, you make up the moisture when conditioning, but you only condition from the mid-lengths down, and leave it on longer. Make sure you rinse all the products off to ensure the hair stays cleaner for longer.

Keep your skin clean
Your hair is constantly touching your face, neck and back, which can get pretty oily themselves. This transfers onto the hair and causes it to get greasier looking far quicker. To avoid this, keep your skin clean and fresh. I use Skin Doctors T-Zone range, and I absolutely adore it to keep my skin matte and oil free (review here).

Tie up your hair when possible
When your hair is down, it is like a big net for dust, oil, smells and fumes that are floating around in the air. Tying it up is a great way to prolong its freshness because you’re keeping it sort of protected. Use a scrunchie though! Hairbands can damage your hair.



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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Cheeky Purchases & Little Life Update

Coat £23 / eBay / Link             Nova Scuba Boxy Dress £19.99 / Missguided / Link

Hello beautiful people! I’m just throwing together a quick post today to show you what my recent online binge has got me. I fell in love with these PU Sleeve coats after seeing them on countless fashion blogs, and they complement that monochrome style I am obsessing over right now. Plus, it’ll be a perfect jacket for cooler days in the UK! The dress is ideal for my cousin’s wedding in a few weeks, but I’m so in love with it I’ll be wearing it loads afterwards. The neoprene fabric is such a selling point for me! Call me silly, but since I got my hands on my Triangl bikini (review here) I’ve been lusting over more neoprene fashion. I adore it!


In regards to my life; many of you will know that I’m packing my bags and moving home to the UK. My flight has come round quickly! I’m leaving Australia on the 7th of April and landing back on home soil at 1pm on Tuesday 8th April and running into the arms of my dad who I’m so excited to see. I cannot tell you how emotionally and financially taxing moving overseas is, and unfortunately this is the second time I’ve had to do it! I’m so excited though, and although I’m heartbroken to leave my mum, sister and dear sweet doggy, I’m trying to focus on the happiness of being able to see my dad and grandparents and my niece and nephew  whenever I want. I’m also excited to get settled and unpack and decorate a bit in my new room.

It’s a really great feeling to finally be doing what I always said I would. Ever since mum said we were moving to Australia I fought it and vowed as soon as I was 18 I’d be back. It’s been three years now and I’ve mustered the strength to go out on my own! It’s such a sense of liberation and satisfaction to finally be going out and getting what I want for myself. I saw an Instagram post a few months ago which I felt related to my situation, and although I’m not moving to a beachy place, it inspired me to go out and live my life the way I have always wanted.




My final note would be to remind you all that we all have a CHOICE! If there’s something you don’t like that you can change, don’t be afraid to change it. You will always ask ‘what if?’. 
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