Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I have been a long time fan of beauty blenders, but I can't justify buying an original one, as they don't really last that long, compared to a brush... However, I am a huge fan of the Real Techniques sponges, as I think their shape is spot on - with a delicate point at one end, so you can really work into the inner corners of your eyes and around your nose, and a flat edge at the other to blend foundation across your cheeks.

I think the finish I get from this blender is great, and I feel I use less product when I use a blender than I do when I use my regular brush. The only thing I don't like is cleaning them. If anyone knows a miracle product that can save me a lot of time I would love to know, because I can never get them perfect again!

Let me know what you think of these blenders. Personally I think for about £6 they are fab, and just as good as the £16 you will be paying for the original one! Love

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Instant Whites

I was rather excited a few weeks ago as I was sent a pack of Instant Whites 7 Day Teeth Whitening System to try. For those who know me, I am always drinking tea, so stained teeth is somewhat of a problem that I am always trying to combat!

Unlike a lot of teeth whitening kits, this one was quick and easy to use, after brushing my teeth before bed, all I needed to do was push down on the end of the stick to release the whitening fluid and rub it all over my teeth - fab!
I've used quite a lot of whitening treatments before, some of which have worked but a lot have left my teeth feeling really sensitive, which wasn't ideal - however these ones didn't hurt or tingle in the slightest! They definitely helped them get whiter as well, although I'm not sure they went the 9 shades whiter advertised. Probably more along the 4/5!

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A Lovely Lush Moment

One of my favourite seasonal collections is always Lush, and their Christmas one this year was particularly fabulous! I did get some in November, but I got over excited and used them before I had time to photograph them! However, in the Boxing Day sales I decided to treat myself to a couple of boxes, and this time I did actually get around to taking some pictures!

The boxes that I got were Snow Fairy's Castle and Home for Christmas, which contain a big variety of things!

Contents of the Snow Fairy's Castle box

Snow Fairy's Castle was full of pink sparkly items, which I know that some people aren't a big fan of, but I love a pink sparkly bath! I'm normally a shower person, but on a Sunday night (right after the #bbloggers chat usually) I always have a nice long soak!

The bath looks amazing when the bubble wand is in it! Everything goes pink and sparkly, and the bubbles get huge! It's fantastic, literally the best thing ever to get me ready for the next week ahead!

I have been using the snow fairy shower gel since the christmas collection launched - it is bubblegum sweet, which can sometimes get a bit much, but I really like it. The only downside to snow fairy is that I find the glitter sinks to the bottom after a while, which is infuriating! However standing it on it's head for a while seems to solve that issue.

Fairy dust is fun, but I'm not entirely sure what its purpose is! Basically it is pink, sweet smelling glittery powder.... I put it on for the weekend, when I felt like being sparkly, but I'm not sure I would ever put it on before work!

The Home for Christmas box is the complete opposite of the Snow Fairy - not glittery or sickly in the slightest! Rose Jam is beautiful, although I am biased as Rose is one of my favourite scents. You also get Yog Nog Soap, which I haven't yet used and Dream Cream hand and body lotion, which is fantastic - and doesn't hurt my eczema at all!

Did you get anything in the lush sale? Which seasonal products do you like? I can't wait for the valentines stuff, keep your eye out for them on here!

Lots of love

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What I Got For Christmas

It's New Years Eve! I hope you have all had a wonderful festive season! I thought I would share a couple of items that I got for Christmas (and some I bought with Christmas money!) with you! Usual disclaimer... I'm not showing off, I just think you will be interested in these items!

Naked Palette from Urban Decay

Naked Palette by Urban Deay

Naked Palette by Urban Deay

Diptyque Baies Candle

Diptyque Baies and Roses Candles (FYI I reviewed the Roses Candle here)

Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey Perfune

Hourglass Ambient Highlighter Palette

Hourglass Ambient Highlighter Palette

Neon Christmas Wish Gold Candle

Neon Christmas Wish Gold Candle

I definitely got spoilt this year, Adam got me the Naked Palette, which I was so excited about as I've wanted it for ages! He also got me the perfume and Diptyque Roses Candle :) he's the best boyfriend! I still have a little bit of money left over from Christmas, is there anything you think I need to pick up in the sales? If so let me know below! Also I have watched a few youtube tutorials about different looks to create with the Naked Palette and Hourglass Ambient Palette, but if there are any you know of which are really good, please leave me some links in the comments!!
I hope you had a fantastic Christmas, and I wish you all the best for the New Year!
Lots of love

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High End Gift guide for girls

It's that time of year again where everyone is realising that Christmas is just around the corner and there is shopping yet to be completed! If you are stuck for ideas for gifts, or if you just feel like treating yourself, look right this way!
You will notice that most of the items in my gift guide are high end, this is because I prefer to get one or two nice items that I have been coveting for quite a long time, as opposed to lots of little things! But I understand that not everybody feels the same!

So, my gift guide for you consists of....

1) Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow

2) Ooh La La Leather Cosmetic Bag from Cult Beauty

3) Jimmy Choo Esme 85mm Glitter Heel Pump from Selfridges

4) Victoria's Secret Sleepover Knit Pajamas

5) Olympus Pen E-PL7 Camera from Amazon - I have recently bought this camera in the Cyber Monday sales, it's amazing!! There will be a review post going up about it soon!

6) French Sole Classic Ballet in Nude

7) Aspinal Brook Street Purse Wallet in Deer Saffiano

8) Diptyque Roses Candle - this is probably my favourite candle ever!

9) The Perfect Nude Kiss gift set from Charlotte Tilbury

10) Christian Louboutin Pigalle 100 Patent Calf in Nude from Selfridges

11) Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey from The Perfume Shop

If you want to see more of what is on my Christmas Wishlist this year, check out my pinterest board below!

Let me know in the comments section below what you think, and leave me links to your gift guides! Merry Christmas! Lots of love

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Ended: 1000 Twitter Followers and Christmas Giveaway!

UPDATE: Congratulations Becky Powley! You will get an email requesting your address, I hope you love your prizes!
This giveaway has now ended, keep following for more in the future!
Lots of love and Christmas Wishes!
I'm so excited right now! I have now got just over 1000 followers on twitter and being as it is so close to Christmas I have decided to giveaway some fantastic presents!
As my blog has evolved, I have gradually gained more of an idea about what I like to write about, and I thought that my giveaway should reflect that! Well, good news for you guys is that one prize was never going to manage that, so instead you will get 3:
1) Avene Cicalfate Repair Cream 2) Yankee Candle Christmas Cracker 3) Lonely Planet Best In Travel 2016

You may have remembered a while ago that I reviewed Avene Cicalfate Repair Cream and loved it? Well I have been using it for well over a year now, and it is definitely one of my winter skin care staples, and I am hoping whoever wins this Christmas package loves it too! I added the candles to the mix, because it is never truly Christmas until a lovely scented candle is burning, and as I am doing more home decor type posts I thought it would be cute. Finally the  Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2016, because I love visiting new places, and thought that this would provide you with some inspiration for your next adventure!


Keep an eye out in the future for more giveaways!

Lots of love

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What's in my Carry On? And Longchamp Le Pliage review...

I have been a rather lucky girl when it comes to holidays/ getaways in the last year. I ended last year by going to Florida, then after not doing much for the first half of the year (thank you Glandular Fever) my boyfriend and I went away for my birthday in July to Lincoln for a few days, then a couple of months ago we went to Cannes (feel free to have a nose here) and now I am preparing to pop off again, as I am heading to Barcelona next week! All of this has made me rather adapt at holiday packing, which I thought I would share with you guys!
Without further ado...
Firstly. In general I am not a wheelie case carry on fan. Long haul I will occasionally, but I will never use one for short haul, unless I am not taking any other suitcase, and to be fair even then I usually check it in! I have the opinion the bigger bag you take as hand luggage, the more you want to pack into it, and then you have to carry it all. Not ideal!

All my junk!

  I have recently bought a new bag, which I think is airport perfect, it is the Longchamp Le Pliage shopper which was £68 from Selfridges. I love this bag for travel as it folds down if I want to use it as a shopper in a smaller bag, it is also completely waterproof, so if you get caught in a downpour nothing will be ruined inside. I decided I wanted the longer handle as I like being able to throw my bag over my shoulder when I can't be bothered to hold it, however it is also available in shorter handles and as a rucksack.

I got these packing bags on amazon - I got a set of 4, the bigger ones I have used in my case

Using travel organisers is one of my top tips. I put all my electrics into one bag, so I know where everything is, and I put my spare clothes in another.
I pretty much pack the same things every time I go abroad: iPad - I use it for everything, magazines (seriously, carrying heavy magazines is completely unnecessary) apps, movies, tv shows iPhone and charging block - I find a charging block to be a godsend when I'm traveling as I'm constantly using technology of some kind, I usually run out of battery, therefore having a way of recharging them is essential! Headphones - I'm an in ear person Makeup Toiletries - my essentials are avene cicalfate// embryolisse lait creme// toothbrush and paste // face wipes Sunglasses Travel documents Notebook and pen Electric bits Purse Travel Purse Hand sanitiser Medicines Camera Scarf

Mini makeup brushes save so much packing space. BUT they have to be good quality.

What do you pack in your carry on? Let me know below! Lots of love

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You can never have enough MAC...

So, while I was in Cannes I was wandering around, and happened to come across a MAC store, so naturally I had to have a little wander in and made a few purchases!

Velvet Teddy

I am constantly searching for the perfect nude, and one I have been keen to add to my collection is Velvet Teddy... however tracking down a store when it is out of stock everywhere was really hard! However, in France, it turned out not to be an issue! Apparently the Kylie Jenner lip craze hasn't struck as hard there!

Nice 'n' Spicy Lip Pencil

I never used to bother buying lip pencils to go with my lipsticks, but now I realise what an asset they are, and always get one to go with any new lipstick. The girl in MAC suggested this one, and I think it's fab.

Continuing on the lip pencil requirements, I bought Ruby Woo lipstick quite a while ago, but I didn't get the lip liner... I love the colour but bleeding lipstick especially in bright red is literally the worst thing in the world, and it has meant I don't wear it as much as I would like. Problem is now solved, I have bought the liner!

Another item that I have been considering for a while was the Prep + Prime Lip Base, and seeing as how I'm currently massively into matte lipsticks, I decided it was the perfect time to buy it! Definitely no regrets, I always use it under mattes and it makes them look so much better. Also if I am having a dry lip day I use it under any other formula, and it makes the lipsticks go on so much easier and they stay on much more evenly if that makes sense!

I hope you have enjoyed reading this, as always I'm sure my next MAC trip isn't going to be far off, and if there is anything new you think I need to try out let me know!
Lots of love

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I will forever love Chanel Tissé Camélia eyeshadow palette

In January, I bought my first Chanel palette after a wonderful friend bought me a voucher for Christmas, and I absolutely loved it, the colour and consistency of the shadows are THE best I have ever used, (which as a die hard MAC lover is saying something). I have been looking for another, however it is quite a lot of money to justify spending on eyeshadow (£40) so I was waiting until I was certain which one. Then I went to an airport, saw them in duty free and it became an impulse purchase. But an amazing one.

Aren't they beautiful!

I have been using a few more pinky shades recently, which is a new step for me, and as I said, on impulse I decided to buy this palette instead of my normal copper/ brown/ neutral options. And I have so say I am so happy that I did! These colours are fantastic, for everyday I use the pink and light purple (both are ombré shades), sometimes with a little highlighter in the inner corners to brighten me up. For evenings though, I go all out, and that dark purple (intensify) is beautiful - it sits so well against my skin tone, it isn't as harsh as using black, but it adds something a bit more special than using a brown. I love it.

I got so excited by this

Every quad comes with a little book of application ideas

Always chic, always Chanel!

Sorry this one is a bit battered! I forgot to take it and it was rattling around my makeup bag!

I hope you liked reading this, if you want to read the review of my other Chanel quad, click here and you will be transported over! Sorry about the image quality in this post by the way, I promise this is the last time I don't take my DSLR on holiday with me!
Leave me a comment if you would like me to do a tutorial post with either of my Chanel quads to show the different looks that can be built up with the colours!
Lots of love

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Korean Skincare: Mizon Egg White Bubble Cleanser

As you may have realised from my recent French Skincare buys, I am a big fan of looking after my skin, especially recently because for some reason I have started getting breakouts on my chin... honestly I thought that I had enough of those when I was a teenager!

Mizon Mild Skin Smoothie Egg White Bubble Cleanser

However, I have been hearing a lot about Korean skincare recently, and while I was having a mooch around Cult Beauty the other day, I saw Mizon Mild Skin Smoothie Egg White Bubble Cleanser, which I have heard a lot about.

Mizon Mild Skin Smoothie Egg White Bubble Cleanser

After using this for a week, I have kind of mixed feelings, on one hand I love how soft it makes my skin feel, and it got most of what was on my face off, however - it failed at my eye makeup - although admittedly I use waterproof mascara. Because of this I now prefer to use it as part of a two step cleansing method at night; firstly I remove all eye makeup and do a quick sweep with micellar water or something similar, then do a proper wash with the Mizon Cleanser. In the morning though it is great to use on its own. Since using this product, I have to say my skin has been a lot clearer, and the spots I was battling around my chin have pretty much gone away, which is fab! You do need to use a good moisturiser with this cleanser as well though - it is quite drying on my skin, which although that is fine for me, it may be an issue for others! If you have used this before let me know what you think, and if there are any tips you know of to get a great cleanse! Lots of love

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