Summer Haulin'

Summer is definitely my favourite season; I am one of those people whose mood is instantly brightened when the sun is shining. The clothes may also be a factor for my love of all things summer as your outfits aren't always hidden under your one winter coat. The colourful clothes in the shops are just that bit more enticing and so over the past few months I may have done just a litttttle bit of shopping.

I generally find River Island a bit hit and miss; their clothes often have a very distinct style which I tend not to like. However, saying that, I have been loving their clothes this summer and have to restrain myself in order to prevent maxing out my overdraft! As said in my Weekend Wishlist post  I am loving palm prints at the moment and these first two items are what started this love affair.

Palm Print Blazer - River Island (not on their website anymore but it is on sale on ASOS for £36)
Palm Print Skirt - River Island, £25 (can't find it on RI website but it is available on ASOS)
Shorts - River Island, £20 (not available anymore, but similar style here and here)




With birthday money (and the American Apparel voucher from Christmas) I went a little overboard on the tops front. I have really been loving all the neon yellow/lime green tops in the shops recently however, I don't think it suits my skin tone that well. The first t-shirt is a perfect way to pull off the neon trend as the grey background tones it down a little. I was struggling with what to buy with the AA voucher because it was worth £34 and as you may know AA is pretty pricey in England. However, I saw Laura Whitmore wearing this crop top a while ago when presenting I'm A Celeb...Get Me Out Of Here and had loved it then so, when I saw this still in the shops I snapped it up, and it's palm print, double bonus! The final two basic tops are to go with the palm print skirt and the yellow crop top also goes really well with the shorts.

Grey Lace Overlay Tee - Miss Selfridge, £20
Jungle Leaves Crop Top - American Apparel, £24
Blue Vest - H&M, about £6 (similar here)
High Neck Ribbed Crop Top - River Island, £10 (Yellow not online but this is the style)

Again, as said in my Weekend Wishlist, I have been in desperate need of a new pair of sandals as the sole of my previous pair of tan gladiator style sandals is flapping off despite my attempts at super gluing them back to life.

Metal Look Hardware Sandals - Next, £30.

I learnt last year that you cannot buy bikinis in summer - there will be none left. This year I started my summer shopping earlier and managed to nab these around May time, however they do still seem to be available online and so maybe in the shops as well.

Blue Twist Front Bandeau Bikini Top - Warehouse, £12
Blue Ruch Side Bikini Bottoms - Warehouse, £10
Apricot Lace Covered Bikini Top - H&M, £12.99
Apricot Lace Tie Side Bikini Bottoms - H&M, £7.99

I would say that's the end of my summer shopping for this year, however I did a bit of shopping whilst in California, but when in Rome right?

Summer Loving: Bodycare

I have my facial skincare routine down to a tee, even after a night out I remember to cleanse, tone and moisturise. The same cannot be said for the rest of my body which doesn't receive as much attention. However, in the summer months I tend to get a boost of motivation and up the ante to make sure my other limbs are beach ready. I'm a frequent visitor to the aisles of boots (lame, I know) and I recently saw this new 'Oil Beauty' line by Garnier. I was initially intrigued by the Ultimate Beauty Oil for the body however that was a bit too far out of my comfort zone and was worried I'd look like I rolled right out of the 80s so I stuck to the standard moisturiser and an exfoliator.

All the products from this range are infused with with 4 oils: argan, macadamia, almond and rose and let me tell you straightaway, the result is wonderful. First off, the smell of this range is incredible; I won't try and describe it (I'm guessing it's the almond and rose mix) but I would recommend you give it a sniff next time you're in Boots. The scent also lasts for hours on the body; I applied the mosituriser at about 10am and by 10pm I could still smell it on me.

The exfoliator contains cupuaça seeds and is one of the rougher scrubs I've tried so I would suggest using this on its own as opposed to with an exfoliating mitt. However, it does the job and you can already feel how smooth your skin feels as you rinse it off. The oil infusion also moisturises the skin without leaving an oily residue and used in conjunction with the moisturiser leaves your skin feeling incredibly nourished. The moisturiser is quite thin and lightweight (not runny but just not as thick as something like Palmer's Cocoa Butter) and therefore sinks in really fast, so none of that standing around for half an hour starkers worrying that the postman could come any minute.

Overall, I would highly recommend these products and I am slightly tempted to go back and pick up the oil if the results of these two are anything to go by. You can pick these products up from Boots; the Oil Infused Nourishing Lotion is £4.99 for 250ml and the Oil Infused Nourish Scrub is £7.15 for 200ml. I would keep a look at though for the regular deals Boots offers as I paid about half price for these products.

L'Oréal Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover

I had heard big things about this bi-phase eye makeup remover. It's supposed to be akin to the blogosphere famous Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover, however I can't bring myself to justify spending around £16 on just an eye makeup remover. This L'Oréal version doesn't break the bank (£5.49 from Superdrug) and so I thought it would be a good place to test the waters with these bi-phase solutions. The blue layer on the top contains gentle oils which help to dissolve all traces of makeup including waterproof mascara and the clear layer is a simple soft lotion to leave skin fresh. The two layers should be shaken up to blend together the two solutions before applying to the eyes.

I can't make a comparison between the Clarins and L'Oréal offerings but I am very impressed with L'Oreal's version. Beforehand I had been using a variety of different standard single solution eye makeup removers however I tended to wake up and still find a small amount of black smudged around my eyes. This dual solution on the other hand ensures all traces of mascara and eyeliner are completely removed and I have stopped waking up looking like a panda. I have slightly sensitive eyes and am a contact lens wearer and have had no problems with irritation. However, although it claims to be non greasy I do find there is a slight residue left behind but I tend to use this before cleansing so any greasiness is removed with that step in my routine.

Weekend Wishlist #1

I definitely do not need to go shopping after a few very spendy months (I blame exams), however I cannot help but scour the sites and pick out some great summer pieces (just in my head, I promise!). 

1) Palm Bandeau Skort Playsuit, £48 from Topshop. I'm having a palm print moment currently as you'll see from an upcoming haul. This playsuit would be ideal for a holiday and the green would complement a tan perfectly. It also comes in both tall and petite versions which is handy.

2) Floral Duster Jacket, £39 from Miss Selfridge. Kimonos are the perfect addition to your wardrobe especially for our English summers which don't always get too hot or for a summer's night abroad. This would look perfect with a coral cami top, light wash denim jeans/shorts and some tan brown wedges.

3) Blue Leopard Tribal Print Split Maxi Dress, £40 from River Island. RI has really been hitting the nail on the head this summer and this maxi dress is no exception. I'm not amazingly tall (about 5"9), but I do tend to find a lot of dresses are a bit too short if I want to keep some dignity, especially with summer dresses and so I have been swaying towards maxi dresses. This one is very glamorous with slits on both sides and the back is plain black so as not to be too overwhelming.

4) Simone Fine Cateye Sunglasses, £16 from Topshop. I find sunglasses to suit my face shape (think perfect circle) very hard to find and have hence had the same pair for about 6 years so I am definitely on the lookout for a new pair. After recently trying on a similar shape pair I think the cat-eye shape may be my go to as the angular sides draw my face up a bit and the tortoise shell finish is a bit softer against my skin tone. These pair are also reminiscent of a certain Prada pair but of course lot cheaper - I may be breaking my spending ban for these!

5) L'Oréal Professionnel Solar Sublime Advanced Protection Conditioning Spray, £11.05 from FeelUnique. Everyone is well aware of the importance of applying sunscreen to your face and body however many forget about protecting your hair. The sun can be very drying to your hair and can fade coloured hair so it is important to use a UV protection spray to help combat these effects. I will be heading over to California for 2 weeks soon and so will definitely be picking one of these up as I not only have coloured hair (although slowly returning back to my natural darker colour after a year and a half of highlighted hair) but use curlers and straighteners so damage my hair enough as it is!

6) Multi Jewelled Colourful Sandal, £30 from Warehouse. I saw these sandals hanging up whilst walking through House of Fraser (a Warehouse stockist) and was instantly drawn to the coloured gems. The embellishment colour and pattern reminded me of something by Shourouk however at a fraction of the price and it was definitely hard for me to leave them behind. The colours just scream a Caribbean holiday and would look amazing against tanned legs.

Holy Grail: Mascara

(Excuse the creepy eye shot!) 
I received my first tube of the Benefit They're Real Mascara for my 19th Birthday and I haven't looked back since. I can totally understand why this is the UK's number 1 mascara; it lengthens like no other mascara and adds volume without being clumpy. What else do you want from a mascara?! I remember when I first put this on after my 19th birthday and was shocked when I could feel my eyelashes tickling my brow bone and I went to show the results to my house mate immediately! The one tiny downside to this mascara is that it is a bit of a pain to get off and so you will need a good eye makeup remover (reviews of a couple to follow).

The price has gone up a bit since it was first launched (£19.50 from Boots) however I will still continue to repurchase this unless another mascara enters the beauty world promising better results - now that's a challenge.

The Big 2-1!

I recently turned 21, however there was no big birthday bash for me as my birthday fell in the middle of my final University exams. Although this may have worked in my favour as I did end up getting a litttttle bit spoilt by friends and family!

My parents came down to Bristol for the day despite my demands for them not to as I had the best intentions to spend the day revising, however I am so glad they did as we ended up going to Harvey Nichols for a fancy lunch and they brought along some pressies for me to open.

I have been using the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser for about 5 years now after being first introduced to it by my mum so she definitely knows my love for it!  This one is a limited edition Orange Flower and Chamomile version which I can't wait to try because, despite being used to the original scent now so much that I don't even notice it, the original scent isn't to everyone's taste.
The Smashbox Try It Kit includes mini versions of the infamous Photo Finish Foundation Primer, Photo Finish Lid Primer, Full Exposure Mascara, Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx and Lip Enhancing Gloss in the shade Illume. This will be absolutely perfect as I about to go on holiday and really need to downsize my makeup bag a bit if I'm to be within the 20Kg limit!
I'd read lots about the Soap & Glory 'Glow Job' and was definitely keen to try out this tinted face moisturiser with instant wash off self tanner in it because although I tend to tan easily on my body, my face will always stay as pasty as ever!

My mum knows I'm a big fan of statement jewellery and so I was completely spoilt with these Swarovski gifts. The  'Meringue Pierced Earrings' are rhodium plated with a deep blue Montana crystal which are absolutely stunning, although perhaps a little too sophisticated for the type of events I attend, but I will definitely be storing these away to wear to the first classy event I get invited to!
The 'Airy Necklace' is also absolutely stunning and I cannot wait to wear it! The fringing is mixed metal and so will go with nearly everything as well. Swarovski describes this necklace as an 'urban tribal look with a feminine twist' which I think is spot on as the small crystals bring back that dainty 'pretty' feel.

My brother got me the standard DVD (this year it was the 2nd Hunger Games movie) and also this amazing pink and aqua crystal flower statement necklace from Next and a set of pearl earrings in a gradient of colours also from Next.

My best friend also completely spoiled me and they were such thoughtful gifts as I have been wanting these for so long! The Nails Inc. box is from the Couture section where you can personalise the bottle and the box and choose the shade. Laura (found here) picked Porchester Square, which I have been wanting for as long as I can remember, and is a gorgeous sophisticated mushroom shade.
Laura also got me the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette which I squealed in excitement when opening! This palette is slightly more cool toned than the first, containing taupe and greige natural toned shades. Of course this is absolutely gorgeous and I have been using it at every opportunity I get. My favourite shades so far are Half Baked, Tease, Snakebite and YDK.

I had a lovely Birthday and a biggggg thank you to everyone who made it special :)

Summer Loving: Fragrance

This perfume is summer in a bottle. That is all there is to say about this scent; you take one whiff and you're on a beach drinking out of a coconut, the sun shining down on you with the blue ocean lapping at your feet. Estée Lauder describes Bronze Goddess as  'A sensuous, sun drenched blend of Bergamot, warm Amber, Tiare Flower and Vanilla combined with delicious creamy coconut'. To me it smells of some form of sun cream/coconutty combination in the best way possible. I was spraying this all throughout exam season to try and fool myself that I was in the Maldives as opposed to my dull room with a pile of never-ending revision notes.

This perfume only gets released in the summer so I totally recommend picking it up while it's still in the shops, although it already appears to be out of stock online on Debenhams however House of Fraser still has some here.

Winter Saviours: Nails

My nails really suffer at the hands of winter; nails constantly breaking and the skin around the nail bed starts cracking - all in all, not a pretty sight. There are a few products, however, that have made my witch hands a little more age appropriate looking.

First off is your standard hand cream (not pictured) which I apply liberally morning and night, and a little periodically throughout the day if my hands feel really dry, which is often the case with the central heating blasting. At the moment I am using a Ragdale Hall one, which I believe is a spa's line of products, but is available at Marks and Spencer here at a reasonable price for the amount of product you get, £6 for 100ml. This cream is quite thick and very moisturising as it contains sweet almond oil and lanolin, however I do find it takes a while to sink in. The second hand cream I have on the go is by L'Occitane in a lovely desert rose scent (this is a limited edition) which is equally as nourishing, containing shea butter, but sinks in just that bit quicker, however does come in more expensive, £19 for 150ml.

To really target my cuticles and banish those ragged edges, I'v been reaching for two products: Flexitol Cuticle and Nail Cream and OPI Avoplex Nail and Cuticle Replenishing Oil. The Flexitol tube isn't one for your night stand to display however the product within the basic packaging does the job, and that's what really matters right? To use it I dab a tiny amount (a little goes a long way) on each finger at night, as it can be a little greasy, and massage it into my nail bed and on my nails. This cream has really improved my cuticles and any hangnails I had and although it may seem a little pricey for the small tube (£5.10 for 20g from Boots), it will last you a long time and it is definitely worth it. The OPI oil is also pretty expensive, £16.50 for 15ml from Boots, however I reckon this too will last a long time and it really nourishes my cuticles and restores them back to good condition. I simply swipe this across the nails beds of each hand and rub them together to massage it in, again I recommend doing this at night before bed as it does take a while to properly sink in.

Finally, to rescue my breaking nails I use OPI Nail Envy (£18.65 from Boots, however I'd keep a look out in the sales of John Lewis as I managed to nab this and the oil in a duo set for £18). During winter as soon as my nails reached a decent length they would just rip at the base, not only annoying but painful too. Applying a layer of this polish every day for a couple of weeks has majorly improved the strength of my nails and actually given them a chance to grow before breaking, and now I use it as a base coat before applying nail polish. This is very expensive and I maybe wouldn't use this all year round in order to make it last longer, especially as in the summer my nails are generally in a lot better condition due to the sun, however I would highly recommend using this if, like me, the winter really takes it toll.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss Lipstick || Red, Red Wine

The infamous '107' lipstick from the matte Kate Moss range of Rimmel lipsticks is a right pain in the backside to get hold of, and for good reason. I traipsed around 3 different Boots and a Superdrug on several occasions trying to get my paws on this but I'm glad I was so persistent as it is the ideal winter shade.

At first, I was a little worried about the matte formula as I thought it could be quite drying especially with the state my lips in winter. I already had '03', a pinky/brown nude shade, from the original collection and I can't fault the application of that so I had high hopes for the second range of Kate lipsticks. The '107' is incredibly pigmented, a nice rich berry shade, and the formulation is really creamy. It does slightly stick to and highlight any dry patches, but what lipstick doesn't in winter, so I would recommend a lip scrub beforehand and applying a little balm before the lipstick.

Overall, especially for the price point (£5.49 in Boots), I would highly recommend checking out the Rimmel Lasting Finish lipsticks if you're making your first delve into matte lipsticks. I know I'll be returning and already have my eyes on '101' next as an everyday light pink shade.

New Year, New...

...Things?!

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas and a lovely New Year and y'alllll are feeling relaxed and sufficiently plump. My Christmastime was full of movies, hot chocolates and mince pies all whilst snuggled up under a super cosy blanket with an obligatory candle burning. However, now we have entered dreaded January and uni work is now back on the timetable after a week of kicking the books to the side as I begin my last ever real semester (3rd term is basically just my final exams eeeekk!) However, less of the real talk, and back onto more serious things......presents!!

Now I'll admit I'm a nosey one and love finding out what people got for Christmas, so here are a few goodies I received this year...

Me and the main man himself

I decided to take wrapping paper into my own hands this year instead of using mum's left overs, especially as I wasn't getting home until a couple of days before Christmas and was really pleased with the outcome! The brown paper and glitter ribbon was from Paperchase, tartan labels from Sainsburys and the large box at the back from Clintons.

Pyjamas were top of my list for christmas presents so my mum and I went on a hunt. I'm the type of person that, if I have no plans, will spend the day in lounge wear. This tended to consist of old t-shirts and some form of too short for me bottoms, so I thought it was probably time to renew my stock and actually have some nice pyjamas for once since I spend so much time in them. I have a little obsession with owls at the moment (as you'll see throughout this post) so the first pair were an absolute must! The bottoms of this pair are like leggings (although not so skin tight) which is perfect for the cold weather as they don't ride halfway up your leg. The second pair are more for the summer and I love the lace detailing and there are little bows, which you can't really see in the picture, on either side of the shorts. The drapey cardigan also goes with this set and is really comfy and cosy. My old pair of slippers were falling apart and so I needed a new pair and I thought these mouse ones were cute and are so cosy.
All these were from Next (similar are 1, 2, 3)

Stocking Fillers:
Socks are a classic Christmas present and I received some cashmere ones which are sooo soft and these Christmassy print slipper socks.
Benefit Hoola bronzer and They're Real mascara are my all time favourites and so Santa did especially good getting me these. The mascara really lengthens the lashes and gives a good amount of volume too and I always get people asking me if I'm wearing falsies when I've applied this and Hoola is the perfect bronzer for my skin tone - not too dark, not orangey at all; just gives a nice colour.
The owl obsession continues and this, what I assume is an ornament, is now hanging above my desk.
The American Apparel voucher is actually from my brother and I'm thinking of putting it towards a dress, either this or this in cobalt.

I'm quite the boy when it comes to movies and I absolutely love marvel films (I blame my brother) so he got me the Iron Man Trilogy, Captain America and Thor on DVD.
I've read quite a few of the I Heart series by Lindsey Kelk so was excited to receive this new release. I've only just started it but it seems to be another great, easy read with all the romance, comedy and drama you'd expect.
Finally, I got a completely not-in-your-face at all laptop case for my new baby, a MacBook Air.

I've also done a little bit of after Christmas shopping, so here's what I've picked up in the sales:

My mum is completely feeding my love for owls and upon returning from a food shop at Sainsburys she also picked up this owl in the sale and got me a new candle for my uni bedroom. The scent is white fig and patchouli and smells divine and I love the cute little bow and heart packaging (although I think this is from their new spring range).

I'll be graduating in July and so am slowly starting to build up an appropriate work wardrobe and picked this skirt up in the M&S sale for £18, down from £29.50. This skirt is a lovely fit and I love the print, it's a kind of blurry houndstooth print, with the black panels down the side as that makes it really flattering.

I also picked up this nail polish set by Leighton Denny from Marks and Spencer beauty section for £6 down from £17.50. It includes a mini dark teal coloured polish called Persian, a mini top coat called Crystal Finish and finally, a sparkly polish called Angel Effect. It was this iridescent silver sparkle one that drew me in as my Models Own Snowflakes, which is similar, has gone gloopy so hopefully this will last better.

Once again, I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday period and I'd love to know what gifts you received or any of the sale steals you've picked up.