Benefit: big beautiful eyes

Several years ago, I received my first ever Benefit product. I was initially drawn to the brand because of the gorgeous retro packaging and their quirky product names. So, when Christmas came, Benefit made regular appearances on my wish-list. At the top of my list was Benefit's 'big beautiful eyes' palette. This product contains a shimmery pink eye shadow, a shimmery light-brown shade and a matte brown. You also receive a good quality, two ended, mini brush and a concealer applicator brush as well as instructions on how to achieve the perfect contoured eye look. The brush has an end to apply the shadow over the lid and to blend but the other end allows you to line your eyes with the dark brown shade. As well as this, you also get some of Benefit's 'boi-ing' concealer, which I absolutely swear by. If you're an "I'm a Celebrity...." fan, then you'll know that this concealer was the one that Amy snuck in to the jungle! The only downside is THAT the concealer in the kit only comes in their medium shade '02' which worked well for me but may not do for others. However, you can buy larger quantities of boi-ing in two other shades.

                                         Picture belongs to benefit cosmetics

This kit teaches you how to create a beautiful, natural look perfect for make up fanatics and newbies alike! From this product I learnt how to apply eye-shadow, by blending colours and applying darker shades to the outer-corner and crease of my eyelids. I think this was a perfect way for me to dip my toe into the world of make up as the kit taught me how to achieve the look step-by-step and there are plenty of additional Benefit tutorials online, like the one I posted above. The eye shadow set costs £24.50. This may sound a little hefty, but one kit lasted me almost a year and the products are of an excellent quality, it would be a lovely gift or perhaps a treat for yourself!



Mist you madly

I was initially drawn to Soap and Glory by their retro 40's packaging, so when I recently saw their much raved about products I knew I had to sample some! I have been after a new body spray which I can slip in my handbag and spritz to my heart's content throughout the day as I have recently finished a strawberry scented spray from the Natural Collection. Once I had smelt 'mist you madly', Soap and Glory's body spray, I instantly dropped it into my basket. It was very much an impulse buy, but one I do not regret. And at just £3.50, I don't begrudge a single penny. The body spray I picked up was part of the travel collection: which includes mini bottles of pink hand sanitizer and, of course, beauty blogger favourite-hand food cream. You can purchase the bigger version of the spray for just £6.50 and you get 250ml of the gorgeous scent as opposed to 100ml. If you haven't sampled the spray before, I advise buying the small bottle first and if you love it, as I do, buy the big bottle.

Soap and Glory describe the scent as 'a flirty, floral, fragrant body spray featuring notes of bergamot and blackcurrant, magnolia, freesia, vanilla and musk'. I love this scent as it is a light and fruity everyday scent that isn't too strong but isn't unnoticeable. It reminds me of a weaker version of Britney Spears' Fantasy and of course for a fraction of the price! Everyone's tastes in perfume are different, however if you love light, floral and sweet perfumes that feature notes of vanilla, this spray is for you!

 

 



Autumn

 

  

Hola, sorry I haven't posted for a while, I have been planning a bigger post which I hope to publish on my blog in the near future. I was playing around on Polyvore recently, a site where you can explore different fashion pieces and products for the home and compile them together to create what is known as a 'set'. I have seen a lot of bloggers use their own sets from Polyvore so I decided to create my own! 

 

1) First of all, the Converse. This pair are a splurge at £180, but they are a timeless wardrobe staple that can brighten up the plainest of outfits. I love the grunge stud detailing and the bright pattern that is slightly more powerful than the skirt featured in the set.

 

2) This gorgeous cat hat comes from H&M. This fuzzy material is really popular at the moment, I have also seen it in crop top and jumper form. It has a really lovely texture and can make outfits look so much more interesting. It is priced at £6.99, which I don't think is too bad, but you could probably find similar hats in the high-street that are cheaper.

 

3) This deep berry shade 3/4 sleeve crop top comes from River Island for only £5-practically Primark pricing! The depth of the colour really brightens up the neutral skirt I have paired it with (which I forgot number) from Primark. The skirt didn't have a price on Polyvore, but, if I made an educated guess, it's probably around £5-£10. There are so many different ways to style this skirt due to the faint and neutral colour scheme as it really helps other pieces in the outfit to pop, whilst making a statement itself.

 

4) I basically found a photo of knee length socks, I think this outfit would work better with tights due to the temperature but either will provide warmth! You can get knee high socks and tights anywhere-with varying degrees of quality and price.

 

I hope you enjoyed this post!

xxx

 

 

                                 please note, the images are from Polyvore and are not mine.

The Autumn Tag

I wasn't tagged in this but I fancied giving it ago. If you want to do it then I tag YOU!

  1) Favourite thing about Autumn

The clothes! I love wearing burgundy and lots of skater skirts with woolly tights. I also love having new boots and picking out a new style each year, but I must say a firm favourite with me is a classic pair of lace up military boots.

2) Favourite drink
This is a toughie. I love a good Starbucks but I like to drink herbal and fruit tea a lot. I'm going to have to say Teapigs Lemon and Ginger tea-it is divine! One great thing about Teapigs is that they sell sample boxes for £1.19, which contain two tea bags, so you can sample the flavour before you commit to a whole box!

3) Favourite scent/candle
I don't tend to use candles but I really like reed diffusers as they are long lasting and give off delicious subtle scents. I am a big fan of the Stoneglow White Bouquet diffuser. It has lasted me from Spring into Autumn and smells beautifully floral and fresh.

4) Best lipstick
Well, I was going to say my favourite Max Factor lipstick, in the shade Lilac Wine (655), but it seems to be no longer in existence so I'd better use mine sparingly! It's the perfect purple shade that is nor too dark or too light and has a beautiful shimmer. However, Max Factor do a range of other, similar, colours, and the formula is of a very good quality.

5) Go-to moisturiser  
Hands down Garnier moisture match. This product comes in a range of different kinds, to match skin type e.g oily/dry. I received a sample online so I could try out a small amount of each moisturiser before concluding which suited me best. I eventually chose the product in the yellow packet which is for 'normal skin' but gives glow to the face. I love this. It cleared away loads of breakouts and made my skin so soft. Just don't get it in your eyes because it hurts like crazy! I think where I have been wearing it so much, the effects have somehow 'worn off' as my skin has become used to it, so I have switched to a different variation of the same line of products which is for normal to dry skin.

6) Go-to colours for the eyes
I stick to shimmery, neutral shades all year round. I love wearing white or pink on the lid and adding definition with darker shades. I often throw in a little shimmery, burnt orange for a more autumnal look.

7) Favourite band/singer to listen to
I don't really mind, I have an eclectic taste. I've always wanted to be a fangirl, totally in love with a band, but it just hasn't happened. I might do a playlist type thing for autumn at some stage and list some of my favourite music

8) Favourite outfit to wear
Well, I practically live in skater skirts and dresses, so I like to pair them with scarves and add bulk by wearing my thick green parka and worn, leather, ankle boots.

9) Autumn treat
Hmm..well I absolutely love toffee apples during Autumn. When I was younger I used to peck all of the toffee off and leave the apple haha! I also think I will be treating myself to some of the Whittard mulled wine flavour instant tea as it just tastes like Autumn/Winter; it is a little pricey but definitely worth it! Another thing I love at the moment is the Cadbury chocolate pretzels or the Milka chocolate coated popcorn. I eat 2/4 of these all year round but I really like these at the moment!

10) Favourite place to be
I love being outside when all the leaves start to fall, but I love being wrapped up warm, with a cup of tea and baking something or watching a movie.

Autumn outfit formula

I was recently using a formula for this, that and the other and wondered...what if there was a formula for other things in life rather than for mathematic and scientific reasons? 

Then, I came up with the autumn outfit formula. This combination of clothing is pretty much fool proof if you follow the rules! 

Shirt + Cardigan/Jumper + Skater skirt = Autumn outfit

The only thing I would say is if you have a busy or printed item in the formula, make sure the other two items are plain; otherwise the outfit will look over the top. You can experiment with printed skirts, shirts and cardis to find the look that suits you best. To prove how easy this is, I put together several outfits:

Outfit no. 1

This outfit consists of a Primark shirt, a Primark skirt and umm a Primark cardigan. It proves you can still put together new outfits for Autumn on a budget! I love this skirt as it has a waffle texture to it, plus it was under a tenner when I bought it! Make sure you wear a cami or top under the shirt as it is sheer, I balanced out the translucency from the top with a heavy, beige cardigan which goes with pretty much everything! As you can see, the skirt is what draws the eye to the outfit, so I kept the rest of the components muted and neutral.

Outfit no. 2 

Again I wore my Primark shirt, I'm telling you now, I wear this in all of the looks to save my virtual breath. My burgundy skater skirt and caramel leopard cardigan are both from new look and are staple pieces in my wardrobe. I love how the light caramel compliments the warm maroon in this outfit; the colours encapsulate the tone of Autumn so well.

Outfit no. 3

I love this outfit; it looks preppy yet has a modern twist with the leopard cardigan. The outfit features a lot of brown tones that work well together. The skirt and belt are from Primark and my bag is from the Cambridge Satchel Company.

Outfit no. 4

This outfit features my black skater skirt from Topshop and my Primark cardigan. The shades in this outfit are quite simple, so I love the pop of red from the cardi. This outfit proves that you can mix cheaper and more expensive high street brands to achieve your desired look. I don't normally go to Topshop for bits and bobs but, if I save up, I get great staple pieces from there like my black skater skirt that will go with pretty much anything.

Outfit no. 5

This outfit is versatile as you can wear the jumper around your waist, or if it's a little colder outside, you can wear it with the collar sticking out. I am also wearing my Topshop skirt that featured in the previous outfit. I love this teal jumper, which I bought from Bank last year, but it reminds of Wallace's from Wallace and Grommit!

Anyway, that's all from me for now, I hope you enjoyed reading this post! 

More cheese Grommit? ;-) 

(Photo on left from thedrum.com)

Autumn/Winter nails

First things first, we need to clear something up. I am AWFUL, I repeat AWFUL at painting nails (excuse the capitals; I am virtually shouting for emphasis). But I felt like blogging about some new products I have recently bought, so here goes!

For this manicure I have two 'statement' nails and the rest are painted gold. One nail is a fur textured nail and the other has a crackle polish. This look features a lot of warm colours and is perfect for an event or simply to be worn during the day.

First, paint all of your nails (except the one you want to be furry) in a gold coloured polish. I used a mini polish from 17 however the choice is yours as to which polish you choose! 

For the furry nail I used MUA's fur effect nails in the shade 'Fluff & Cuddles' which is a gorgeous burgundy colour. Paint your nail in a shade that matches the fur you will be using, I used a random red colour I found in my room as it was the closest I have to burgundy! Apply two coats and whilst the second is wet, pop on the nail fur. Now, I have been reading so many blogs about this product, before I went to buy it, and a lot of them suggest to remove the plastic sieve and to use tweezers to apply the fluff. Following their advice, I covered my nail in a mountain of fur. Don't worry if it looks lumpy at this stage-trust me! Then after allowing a few moments for the polish to dry a little, brush off the excess back into the pot. I use a benefit blush brush that came with my Coralista powder and it definitely does the trick! Applying the nail fur takes a bit of practice, however at £3 each they are a bargain buy for adorable autumn nails! I found the blogs 'Mademoiselle LaLa' and 'Little Gemm' useful, when learning to use the nail fur!

 

Pick another nail that you want to be a "statement nail", I chose my index finger. Once your gold polish has dried, apply a shatter polish on top. I used OPI's 'Superbass Shatter' polish, which leads me to believe it's from the Nicki Minaj range. I actually picked up this polish from the 99p store, yes you heard that right the 99p store! I have always seen OPI as quite a high end brand, so I jumped at the chance of owning a nail polish from their brand as they are renowned for making fab products. Apply a thin coat of the polish and watch the magic happen. Don't worry if the polish looks too thin, just wait for it to shatter, if you reapply you'll ruin the effect! Although the colour isn't nearly as gorgeous on the nail, as it is in the bottle, you can't really go wrong for 99p can you? Lastly, I applied a glitter polish from Primark for an extra sparkle! 

 

Hart and Home

I recently purchased something from Hart & Home, who sell home wear, interior and lifestyle goods as well as beautiful accessories. The products have a real vintage feel to them but with a modern twist. What really caught my eye was their selection of macaroon trinket boxes for only £5 a pop. They come in an array of mouth-watering pastel shades; however the mint green took my fancy. The box fastens with a cute little gold bow at the front. The macaroon holds my favourite ring on my dressing table to I can always find it without that flush of panic, thinking I've lost it!

Another selection of products also took my fancy; Hart and Home have the most gorgeous selection of porcelain animal necklaces, featuring anything from ducks to giraffes. These statement, yet simplistic, pieces are only £15 each and would certainly add vintage/shabby chic vibe to any outfit! They also have many other animal themed items including porcelain fox rings and an array of pug and bulldog necklaces that certainly have character! Another popular product is their vintage looking engraved silver cutlery that looks just fantastic and would spruce up any table.

If anything has caught your eye or want to continue browsing the Aladdin's cave that is Hart and Home, click here to reach their Tumblr page. They are currently working on a website, however if you are interested in any products, there is a contact information of the page! 

 

 

Get the look: Ruby Tandoh

I don't know about those of you reading this, but I am an avid viewer of 'The Great British Bake Off'. I have watched series upon series, however 2013 contestant Ruby's outfit really stood out to me in one of the first episodes.

Photo from Daily Mail website (BBC)

I think her look gives off laid-back and bohemian vibes and I really wanted to try and emulate her style. 

For make up, I went back to basics, applying a neutral shadow with a darker brown liner on my upper and lower lids. I filled in my eyebrows, for extra definition and added a few coats of mascara. To finish, I popped some concealer some of my blemishes and added a light pink blusher to the apples of my cheeks.

For hair, I created a centre parting, and as I have completely straight hair I decided to curl it. Using the 'Babyliss pro hairdressing' wand, I curled the front sections of hair that frame my face. I then ran my fingers through the ringlets, that I created by curling small pieces of hair, to ensure the curls looked natural and fluffy. I then gathered the hair into a low bun, against the back of my neck. This look would also look well with a loose plait I think! 

Finally, for the outfit! I wore my Miss Selfridge blue marble wash jeans. For me, they were a bit of a splurge but they are good quality and I know that they will be a long-lasting staple piece in my wardrobe. Plus, they're super comfy!  Although Ruby wears a white tank top on the show, I am wearing a black long sleeved t-shirt to adapt the look so it's suitable for Autumn and Winter. I fell in love with Ruby's bo-ho cardigan and I was able to find a similar one in good old Primarni. This grey and earth tone cardi was only £14 and I love the way it fits. It feels baggy and comfy yet fitted at the same time which is always a good thing as you get the best of both worlds! 

Finally, I topped off the look with a pair of gold hoops. Ruby's are silver, but I only had gold-plus I think that the colour ties I really nicely with the earth tones of the cardigan. 

Thank you for reading and putting up with an especially long babble this time! 

Punk but not punk

So according to some source in the fashion world, punk is back. That's right, think 70s, safety pins, tartan etc. But, as a fairly "girly girl", I wanted to put my own spin on the trend.

 I wore my favourite dress of all time: a tartan skater style number that I picked up for £12 on a sale rail in New Look last year. The dress showcases the pattern but in a feminine way. I wore my "well loved" (falling to pieces) creepers, which are also from New Look, and paired them with rolled down thick knee socks from, you guessed it, New Look. For accessories I threw on my Topshop beanie, a classic autumn/winter staple that will keep your head toasty warm and give a comfy and effortless look to your outfit. As a self-confessed Primark addict, I looked for a beanie in-store but to my disappointment, hat that I liked, in the rather eclectic assortment, didn't fit the huge head of mine. Topshop beanies are a little bit of a splurge at a tenner a throw, in comparison to Primark's thrifty alternatives, but they are great quality and bang on trend. Finally, I wore my trusty Cambridge Satchel which accompanies me just about everywhere. It's the perfect size for the bare minimum that I carry around with me and is a timeless staple that will last forever, if taken care of, and will go with pretty much any outfit.

Click here for Topshop hats

 

dotcomgiftshop haul

Hellooo, sorry I haven't posted in so long! But don't you worry,  I have plenty of ideas for autumn winter make up looks and outfits which I will write about! Anyway, today I was excited to receive the things I have ordered from 'dotcomgiftshop'. It's a really reasonable, UK based, online company that sell really sweet and retro products. I really love the woodland range for kids that features cute little deer, rabbits and plants. I simply could not resist the foil lined lunchbox. It's really lightweight, a great size to fit in your bag and is totally adorable! And it was only £4.95 which I think is a fab price.

I have been really wanting a plastic  Starbucks Frappuccino cup for so long but they don't seem to be for sale anywhere near me, but I saw this cup for only £2.95 and totally fell in love with it. Although it is a lot smaller than the Starbucks cup and a straw isn't provided, it's the perfect size for on-the-go an you can pick up disposable straws really cheaply. I got a pack of about 200 in the 99p shop-guess how much they were?

Finally, I ordered this little box to use when I don't use the bag. I love the vintage look to the lid and the box feels sturdy. Like the lunch bag, the box was only £4.95. There are also small 'snack pots' available with an array of different themes and designs. 

I would really recommend checking out their website, the bag and box I bought are available in a range of different styles and there is another cup, which features a vintage space design. I will definitely be ordering from dotcomgiftshop again! 

Oriental print dress

I have an extensive collection of skirts and dresses, but I own about four pairs of trousers! One of my all-time favourites is this blue/mint green dress from Primark.

(I cut my head out of the picture for artistic reasons..only joking, I had a bit of an embarrassed expression going on haha!)

 I love the on-trend pastel shades and the lightweight silky material; I also really like the oriental cherry blossom print. I paired the dress with my JuJu Jellies to give the look a pop of neon, making it perfect for summer. You can wear these sandals without socks, but I think they look cute with frilly ones in pastel shades. I coordinated mine with the colour of my dress, but I would also wear cream socks for a more neutral look. You can get a pair for around £3 in Topshop or a pack of several pairs for £2.50 in Primark, the choice is yours...

JuJu Jellies

 After what seemed like forever (well, four days) my JuJu Jellies shoes arrived. I adored my pink jelly shoes 'back in the day' so I love these beauties as they are retro with a modern twist (the 6cm block heel). I picked the fuchsia pair as it will go well with all my pink clothes and will add a pop of colour to dungarees, jeans and shorts.

To my dismay, where the material is slippy, my toes kept sliding to the end of the sandal causing slight discomfort. However, I popped on a pair of white socks with pink polka dots and they created more friction whilst looking really cute at the same time! You can get your hands on a pair by searching 'JuJu babe' onto amazon for the pair I have. They come in a range of colours including mint green, blue and yellow as well as a paler shade of pink. JuJu Jellies also make flat sandals and different types of jelly shoe so it's worth having a look at their site! You can get black versions of the shoes I have at River Island too! 

baggy tshirts

Greetings,
I am actually doing a post about fashion today, now that I have the blog up and running. Something I really like to 'dress up' at the moment is a baggy t-shirt. Now, you can get these anywhere: from the back of your wardrobe, a charity shop or even a high street store. I personally, like the look of vintage/2nd hand tops as they often look worn and can have some really individual designs and slogans. The t-shirt I am wearing is a souvenir, which I received as a gift, from Las Vegas. I really like the style as you can wear it baggy or make it look more polished by tucking it in, I also think the rhinestones add an extra 'something' to any outfit.

Because baggy tops can often look a bit sloppy, I tucked it into a skirt with an elasticated waistband to gather it in a little. The spotty skirt I am wearing was an absolute bargain- at £9 from Primark! Finally, I paired the outfit with some plain, black, biker boots to ensure there isn't too much going on in the outfit. I purchased these leather boots last year from Next and they have certainly stood me in good stead (pardon the pun). They look tough and masculine however the discreet leather frills either side add femininity to the look.

 

 

This-or-That... (the first ever babbling)

This is officially my first post on this blog...very exciting! I've seen a 'tag' on YouTube recently called 'this or that' and thought that I could get involved but only in word form and without the 'tagging' malarkey. I will only do a few as the post will be jam-packed with my ramblings.
P.S I will also be including my favourite products for the option I choose.

So without further ado, here goes...

Make Up

blush or bronzer?
Blusher, I am not inclined to use bronzer as I look orange when I use it. EVERY TIME.
My favourite blush is 'Coralista' by Benefit which is a gorgeous, shimmery, coral colour and lasts me a lifetime.

lip gloss or lipstick?
I'm actually more of a lip gloss fan, I find lipstick a bit annoying and it is less easy to re-apply without a mirror when you are out and about. Also, using lip gloss can help you avoid the whole lipstick-on-teeth fiasco.
I love Bourjois Effect 3D gloss in 'Rose Symphonic'. It literally smells of those love heart sweets and is a really pretty nude-pink.

eyeliner or mascara?
I think I'll have to go with mascara. Eyeliner irritates me. Picture the scenario: you've just finished your eye shadow, five minutes worth of blending, and you venture into lining your eyes. You decide to wing out the liner for a change and you start your first eye, which ends fine. You then complete the other eye to realise that the flicks couldn't be more different if you tried. Next is the task of trying to alter the flicks, but you and me both know that it just makes things worse. The final resolution is to attempt to, carefully, remove the flicks with a make-up wipe, which simply drags the liner down your face-ruining the base you completed earlier. I literally face this frustration every morning, therefore I am picking mascara as the application is much more straight-forward.
My favourite mascara is Chanel Inimitable. I know the word 'Chanel' sounds daunting to everyone intending to do their make-up on a shoestring but just think to yourself, it's false economy to spend a few pounds here-and-there on cheapo make up that you aren't really satisfied with, when you can save your pennies, and spend them on quality make up staples that you will use and love. I actually received my mascara as a free sample in a shop and it has lasted me months. The mascara gives each lash definition and curl and really widens my eyes. It is most definitely worth the splurge.
You can see why I named this blog 'my fashion babblings' now can't you...

foundation or concealer?
I'm going for concealer. Covering your face isn't the best idea if you have some blemishes and some clear areas on your skin-what's the point of worsening the condition of your clear skin whilst you cover-up your current spots? I like to use a creamy concealer to hide a few pesky blemishes without caking my face. If foundation really helps you to feel more confident then go ahead, this is just what I like to do and how I feel confident as I am pretty awful at finding a shade of foundation that doesn't make me look like a TOWIE cast member.
My favourite concealer is Boing by Benefit as it covers spots and dark circles well and is buildable for those more noticeable blemishes.

 Fashion

jeans or sweatpants?
I'll go with jeans even though they are a LOT less comfy than sweatpants as you can style them in so many different ways, They're a fashion staple.
I don't really have a preferred brand but I think that Primark have a great denim range as the products are bang-on trend and purse friendly. This way, you can keep up with trends without worrying that the expensive article you've bought will go out of trend and you'll never use it again.

long or short sleeves?
Personally, short sleeves are my preference as you can always wear a cardigan or jacket if it's cold, however if the weather warms up you can just wear the top on its own. Short sleeve t-shirts are pretty much everywhere so I probably don't need to provide an example!

dresses or skirts?
I ADORE both and I have more dresses and skirts that I do trousers and shorts so choosing between them is very difficult. I think that skirts can be more versatile as you can mix them up with different tops to create different looks.

I hope you enjoyed my first ever post-and don't you worry there will be more rambling to come!