January Favourites

January is usually the month where everyone has some fabulous new favourites post Christmas as everyone has new products. I actually did not receive any makeup for Christmas last year, I have however still got a brand new favourites post for you this month as I have some new favourites!

The Urban Decay Shadow Box is such a great little compact palette it is great if you are going away as it fits perfectly inside my makeup bag. I have been getting a lot of use out of this palette this month, and I have been quick to find some of my favourite shades. Sin is great as a base to all looks as it is a light pearlescent gold, I then have been choosing Bordello or Baked depending on what I am wanting to create. If I have been wanting something more dark and smouldering I then add either Mushroom, Smog or Lost. I did not think I would get much use out of Mushroom which is a shimmery grey, but I have surprised myself at how much I have gravitated it towards it and it has been nice not wearing gold and coppers 24/7.

I have really enjoyed using the MAC highlighter in Beaming Blush which launched as part of their new extra dimension highlighter line. I am really happy that I chose this shade as it has a pinky undertone which looks stunning on the cheekbones and reflects beautifully in the light. I have been pairing this with my MAC blush in Peachykeen which is an all time favourite as it suits my fair colouring beautifully and has a slight shimmer adding more light and dimension to my face.

This week I put up my latest Colourpop haul if you want to check it out. I feature their eyebrow pencil in Honey Blonde which I have been really loving since it arrived at the start of this month. It is a good match and the pencil applies well it is not chalky, the nib is thin helping with precision and I think it is great value for money with it's $5 price tag. Another favourite from Colourpop which I have been using a lot this month is one of their super shock shadows in the shade Weenie. This is a beautiful metallic rose gold and it is great for a one sweep shade, which actually makes it look like you have blended a few shades together.

Kat Von D are launching some new liquid lipstick shades throughout the next few months and I could not be happier as they are definitely my holy grail of all liquid lipsticks out there on the market. I was soo happy which they launched on Debenhams as they are now so much more viable to get our hands on. I have been loving Lolita II once again, it is a gorgeous chestnut nude which looks beautiful on all skintones. I am definitely going to have to buy some their new shades when they launch as so many of them look amazing.

What have been your favourite products in January?

Lucy

xoxo

Feel Unique Haul

I somehow, as always ended up stumbling across the Feel Unique sale website and was surprised at the amount of bargains on there. All the sale products now have between 50-80% off and I just could not resist. As always I am here as your enabler to say go ahead and spend, spend, spend!

I have tried a few pieces of Tanya Burr's beauty collection but never anything from her nail range. I picked up some of her nail polishes in three different shades - Mini Marshmallows, Pick & Mix and Penguin Chick all with 80% off costing just £0.95. I have heard great things about these and cannot wait to try them out. I also pick up from her line a lip gloss in Afternoon Tea for just £2.35, I already own Picnic in the Park which I really like as it is pigmented and not too sticky. I previously tried some of her eyeshadows and the Galaxy Eye palette was just £3.60 and the shades really stood out to me. The last purchase I made from her collection was the Flush Cheek palette. This was half price for just£4.00, and was great value for money as it contains a bronzer, blush and highlighter.

I love Fleur de Force as a person and what she stands for, and I think she represents the blogging community really well. I have previously tried one of her lipglosses and I was impressed and they had 70% off so I picked up the shade Written in the Stars for £2.05, which is a classic go to pink shade for me. The last thing I added to my basket was her Lunar Rose eyeshadow palette which was such a bargain as it had 80% off making it just £1.55! This has some really nice burgundy toned shadows in and I am excited to put it to the test.

I suggest if you want anything which I have mentioned you get online as soon as you can! There is also so many other products included in this huge sale so it is definitely worth a peek.

Lucy
xoxo

Colourpop Haul

This is definitely at least my fourth Colourpop haul over here on my blog. Everytime they have some sort of free shipping offer I always cannot resist making another order.

The lip bundle which is in this haul is actually a birthday present for my best friend for her Christmas present which I obviously have not yet given, so I pray she isn't reading this! I wanted to feature it in the haul though as I think this is not only a lovely present for someone else, but they are sets of their best selling lip products so if you are wanting to treat yourself your know your getting something good. This bundle named Out and About has two ultra matte lipsticks in Viper which is a dusty rose and Times Square which a pink beige, and also a ultra satin lipstick in Baracuda which a gorgeous warm deepened rose. I always rave about how much I love the finish of the ultra satin liquid lipsticks and I actually already own Baracuda myself, it is a beautiful shade which as always is long lasting and comfortable on the lips. I would usually swatch these but as they are a present I obviously won't be doing in this haul. This bundle costs $15 all together. 

I also picked up two of their super shock shadows in the shades White Rabbit and Static. I was sold on White Rabbit when I read the description which says it is a pink copper, as copper shades are my go to. I am happy to say that this is just as beautiful in real life as it is in the photos and I cannot wait to try this out. The shade Static is darker than a shade which I would naturally gravitate to, but it just looks so amazing in the pan and the burgundy tones stand out to me. I already have a few of these shadows in my collection in the finish which is pearlised, which is my favourite finish out of all the different ones which they do. I think they are the most pigmented and the most long lasting without creasing on the eyelid. 

I finally picked up an eyebrow pencil from their collection. Before this purchase I had not ventured out from eyeshadows and lipsticks, but I wanted to try a few more pieces from them. I picked up the shade Honey Blonde, which is pretty self explanatory the shade is for warm toned blondes. I have tried this quite a few times since receiving this order, and I actually think that is a pretty decent eyebrow product. For $5 I think it is great value for money as in the UK I think drugstore brands really lack within the eyebrow product ranges which they sell. I usually always have to buy high end eyebrow products are there is a huge difference in comparison with how the products wear, and also the choice of shade range.

Have you bought anything recently from Colourpop?

Lucy

xoxo

Fitness

When I think about my 'fitness' past, I have never been the person who hits to exercise which I know is an excellent starting place. I hated PE at school, I hated it mainly because I hated outdoor activities mainly running. It was the bane of my life, and I had no intention of ever trying as to me it was pointless. As a child I went to swimming and since the age of 3 I attended dance lessons. I thoroughly enjoy dancing, and since being back home from university I have gone back to my old dance school doing a class of ballet a week and I have been loving it. There is no doubt of the impact which ballet can have on your body, with the strength and technique which is requires. However, I wanted to take things up a notch further rather than it just being one hours sessions a week. I joined the gym at uni and with one of my friends who is really into fitness we started to go a few times a week. However, I did not sustain it and I quickly fell back into my old routine.

I am now more than ever wanting to actually go the gym on a regular basis. If you read my recent new year's resolutions post, you will know one of them was to join the gym and go. I did take the first plunge by actually joining the gym last week, I had been saying I was going to do it for ages but I never got round to it. It has been a massive help that two of my close friends already go the gym I have joined. I am always much more encouraged to actually go and attend a gym class or a session if I have made plans to. It's nice to have someone there you know for moral support especially when you are brand new to it. I want to join in mixture of classes and going to the actual gym. I have looked online at their classes timetable and jotted down in my diary the classes which I fancy, the days and times around what I am working. I want to participate in a number of different classes to see which ones I enjoy the most. I think it is important to do a variety to see what I liked the best at the start, so then I have an idea when I think about when I can go each week.

This week I attended my first class which was bodyattack. I was not expecting it to be as intense as it was, but even though I came out in a big, sweaty mess after the session I felt as though I hard worked hard and it is definitely a great cardio workout. I made the mistake of booking my gym induction the day after. I woke up the next morning with aching legs, but I think when your body aches it shows that you worked hard. I thought I was going to a gym induction which would just be showing me how the machines work. How very wrong was I, it turned into an hours personal training session. Considering my lack of exercise history previous to this, I was not prepared in the slightest! When I say I thought my body was literally going to give way on the last set of crunches, I was not exaggerating. I made the error of informing the trainer I wanted to tone up, especially my stomach and legs. Let's just say I was waddling like a penguin the next day, I have never felt a burn quite like it. Saying that, I found the induction really useful as I now don't feel as though the gym will be too daunting next time I go on my own, as I now know how to use the equipment properly to actually get something out of it. He also went through lots of floor exercises with me which I found the most useful as I can also do these at home for days when I don't have time to go but I still want to do some sort of exercise. 

I am not jumping into this thinking I am going to be some sort of Victoria Secrets model in no time, but I am doing this for myself to tone up and feel better in myself ultimately improving my own self confidence. I am going to make it my goal to attend three times a week whether it be a class or a gym session. I am quite lucky in with my job I have 3 or 4 days off a week so I am pretty much aiming on going on all of my days off for the first few weeks to see how it goes. Alongside this I am also trying to eat more healthy. I do not eat 'unhealthy' anyway, but as everyone does I make bad choices and I never feel good in myself after. I am going to try and eat the best I can as I think I think it is vital alongside weightloss and toning up. I have seen quite a few bloggers do a series of fitness updates and I always enjoy reading them. I was wondering whether to do them monthly or just as and when? I think I will see how I get on and will go from there.

Lucy
xoxo

Morphe 35O Palette

I finally managed to get my mitts on the Morphe 35O palette, and boy am I glad to have it in my possession. I bought it from Beautybay and it costs just £21 considering it contains 35 shades it is amazing value for money. I could not decide between this and the all shimmer version. However, I decided to go for this as it contains a mixture of mattes, metallics and shimmers. It is great to have such variation within a palette. If you have followed my blog for a while you will know what a huge fan I am of the MAC Warm Neutrals palette due to the range of shades it contains, but this is one up on it due to there being 35 shades. I am quite predictable when it comes my what I wear on my eyes I always choose golden and brown tones, and my absolute favourite at the moment is burgundy shades. I love that they add a pop of colour and they also complement my blue eye colour beautifully.

If you are wanting a palette which is budget friendly, pigmented and you are a neutrals lover you need this in your life. I totally understand the hype around it and it's all for the right reasons. I would pay double if not triple for this palette hands down as I have been loving it that much. I have had this for over a month now and all of my palettes have been collecting dust as this is what I have picked up almost everyday. The bottom two shades on the right hand side have literally brought a whole new dimension to my burgundy love and I did a amazing smokey eye using some of the matte shades blended with this and a little dark brown blended on the outside, and it was of my favourite looks I think I have ever created. There is no denying I love a good shimmer shade, and I could maybe do with 2 or 3 more shimmers in this palette, that would be its only downfall. I think the matte to shimmer/metallic ratio is a little bit off. However, the shimmer and metallics which are in the palette are all stunning and complement the rest of the shades beautifully. I was not sure if I was going to use the brighter orange shades in this, but I actually blended some of the brightest shade into a look the other day and it really added a pop to the look. This will be great to use in the spring and summer to add some colour and diversity into my looks.

Unfortunately this is once again sold out, the only way to get your hands on it is to follow Beautybay on their social media as they do often restock it in but in small quantities. I would not recommend buying this from Morphe directly unless you are desperate as one of my friends has done this and got stung with a big delivery and customs charge, and it ended up costing her over £50.

I am already eyeing up some more of the Morphe palettes and it would be great if anyone had any recommendations?

Lucy
xoxo

My most used makeup brushes

I have been trying to put this post together for months and I have finally managed to do it as I these are the brushes which I use on a daily basis and can rely on to get the job done.

First up, the Real Techniques 201 Pointed Creased brush this is the first brush which I bought from their Bold Metals line. I really like this for using in the crease to create a really good blend with my shadows. The bristles are densely packed which means you are able to easily blend and create a more sharper cut crease. The only eyeshadow brush which I use on a daily basis is the MAC 217. This is very well known in the beauty world and rightly so as it the brush which I recommend to everyone if they ask me for one brush which they need in their collection. The bristles are different lengths which reach a curved peak at the top creating an arch. This is great for shading or blending both cream and powder shades. I use this whether I do a wash of one colour on an everyday basis up to creating a full blown smokey eye.

For my face I have two recommendations. The first being the Beautyblender, I know it isn't a brush but it still falls into the brushes type category. This is also a product which has a lot of hype surrounding it but all for the right reasons. I use this by dampening it and then applying my foundation directly onto the sponge. I then lightly bounce it on my face moving it around slowly to cover the entire surface of my face. I find this movements adds a lot more glow and luminosity to my skin and meshes my foundation with my skin rather than it sitting on the surface. My other choice is one again from Real Techniques and it is the Expert Face brush. I really enjoy using this as I find it once again really blends my foundation in well. The brush is small and densely packed and I always get an even application when I use this. 

I use the Sephora Multitasker brush to apply my powder. The flat shape of the brush head means that I am able to make circular movements easily helping to create an even application. The short bristles means that the brush does not pick up too much product. My most recent addition to my brushes collection is the Real Technique's Blush brush. I love the big dome shape of this as when I first bought it I was scared it was going to apply too much product. However, when swirled into my blushers the product only ends up right on the peak of the brush, meaning an equal and small amount is on the brush so too much product does not end up on your face. I wasn't sure how much I was going to use the Real Techniques Setting brush when I first got it. Many people use it to set products under the eyes but I tend to just use my beautyblender. However, this brush is perfect for applying highlighter to the tops of my cheekbones, cupids bow and through my brow bone. It is the perfect size and I use it on its side to gently apply my highlighter to all the areas which I want to add some shimmer and shine.

What are your favourite makeup brushes?

Lucy

xoxo

New Years Resolutions

I have already put up my blogging goals post if you want to have a read of that. I had been toying with the idea of putting up this for a few days, and I decided to as its better late then never. This is a new one to my blog as the past 3 years I hadn't really had many personal resolutions, but this year I
am feeling more pumped and willing than ever.

1. My first goal is all about work. I started my first full time job in October after qualifying and graduating from uni. I want to really shine and show myself which is something which I have been struggling with in my first few months of starting. When they say you will sink or swim, I have definitely felt a lot more times of sinking than swimming but I think I am starting to get there. However, this is going to be a huge year for me at work, I have so much to learn and this is only the beginning. I want to finish this year thinking that I have achieved and learnt a lot, and that I am able to work well on my own without the constant reliance of others.

2. This year I have to take on board my messiness! I have always been a messy and untidy person, I not unclean or dirty but I leave my stuff everywhere. I try so hard to keep the little amount of mess around me tidy, but in no time it erupts and I have a mountain to face and I simply leave it as I cannot be bothered to tackle it. I think I need to just do a huge clear out and tidy, and then make myself stick it. I think it will help me stay more organised and want to have a clear space in my room, which I can actually enjoying having. This is my number one goals this year and I am determined to stick to it!

3. Working full time means that I now able to set myself some financial goals, which is exciting. I want to open a Help To Buy ISA, to help me save for a deposit for a house. This is going to take me a few years I know but we all have to start somewhere. I am determined not to rent somewhere as I know that I won't on my own be able to afford to rent and save for a house at the same time.

4. I also have some material goods which I will be saving for this year, this being a rose gold Apple Mac, a new camera for blogging and also a Gucci bag. I am no way going to be able to buy them all but I am good with money and I want to buy myself a few big things this year. I like having a goal for what I am saving for, and we can all dream about buying those things which we are lusting after.

5. Joining the gym is a big one for me. Now that I am home and not bobbing backwards and forwards from uni I have no excuse. I am wanting to loose a little bit of weight and also tone up for myself to increase my confidence. As I write this I joined this gym on Monday and I have attended a bodyattack class which I really enjoyed. I also had my induction at the gym which turned into an hours personal training session, which has left my legs completely dead. I didn't actually hate it and it was nice to learn how to use all the equipment correctly, as next time I go in the gym it will hopefully not be as daunting.

I am motivated to keep to these goals as there is nothing to out of the ordinary which I will struggle with. I want to look back to the end of the year and think to myself that I really tried hard to achieve them.

What are your New Years resolutions?

Lucy
xoxo

The best of beauty 2016

To round up my best of beauty 2016, it took a lot of thought and consideration. I made each decision as to what I would always grab when I am in a hurry and knew would perform. I also considered what products I would say instantly if my friends said "what is your favourite...?", as that is a question I get asked often.

Foundation is the only category in this post where I have two picks as I just had to mention both! My high end foundation choice has to be Nars Sheer Glow Foundation, I recently rebought my second bottle as I just cannot be without it. I have written an entire post all about it which you can read here. I rediscovered the L'oreal True Match Foundation in the summer when I needed a cheaper option to take on holiday with me once I had a tan.I love this and it is definitely in my opinion the best drugstore foundation out there. I massively got into using my Beautyblender last year, and I finally got what all the fuss was about. I love using it damp to bounce on my skin gently to get an even coverage and it definitely adds to the glowing element of my foundation.

Revlon's Coverstay Concealer is one what I have really enjoyed using in 2016, and is the one which I always pick in a rush as it is so reliable. It is similar to both Collection's concealer and Nars' Creamy Concealer in terms of having a creamy consistency. As you can see from the picture I have definitely been using my Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder to death this year, as I have pretty much used it all up. I am dreading having to buy another one because of it's hefty price tag, but I really love this as it feels silky smooth when applied to the skin, and it keep my base products in place really well. My love with this MAC Blush in Melba is never ending. This is the perfect shade for my skintone, it has the perfect mix of pink with a hint of coral, and it contains a subtle hint of golden shimmer to add some life and luminosity. Talking of adding some shimmer, the MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter in Iridescent Gold has definitely been my drugstore find of the year. I have recommended this to everyone of my friends, and they have all bought it and reported back with how much they love it! It is not too glittery or chunky, and glides on super easy and with one stroke your cheekbones instantly light up.

Once again I could not deny that the MAC Warm Neutrals Palette is definitely my most used palette of last year. There are so many colours which I always gravitate too which I can use as a one swipe shade, or to create more intriguing smokey eyes. I talked quite a bit about the Colourpop pigment shadows on my blog last year, and I had to put them in this post as I have quite a few in my collection now. Weenie was one of the first which I bought, and I love it, it is a rose gold shade with a metallic finish. I have found that I much prefer the metallic finishes over the pearlised finishes, as they do not crease and blend much nicer. Literally the only eyeliner which I have used this year is the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner. The nib is like a pen which is my favourite type, and it makes it super easy to apply the perfect amount. If you haven't yet tried this, you must! It is probably my most favourite item of all in this entire post. I discovered the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara in the very latter part of 2016, but it has revolutionised my lash game. I am super picky with my mascaras and I always struggle to find one which does everything which I am looking for. I now totally understand the hyper surrounding this, and I will definitely be picking up the full size once my travel size runs out. I am not always a huge fan of Benefit, but I really enjoyed using their Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil last year. It has a triangle shaped nib which makes it really easy to shape your eyebrows to exactly how you want them.

What are your best beauty products of 2016?

Lucy
xoxo

MAC Haul

We had been planning a trip to Cheshire Oaks which is a designer outlet mall not too far from us for ages now and we finally found a day which everyone could go and headed there. There is a store called The Cosmetic Company which features all the companies which Estée Lauder own including MAC. I never usually find much in the store which I like as for one it is always busy and basically I never find anything which I actually want. But this trip was very different!

I found the Veluxe Brow Liner in Omega which I wanted to buy last time I visited the MAC concession in Selfridges, but I am a creature of nature so decided to stick with what I know. However, coincidentally that morning we went shopping my current pencil ran out so I thought it was the perfect timing to try something new on my brows. I have also been wanting to try out the new Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour range, and I really liked the consistency when I switched it. I picked up the shade Too Matte With Love, which is actually a lot brighter when applied to the lips than what I originally thought. I wore it that afternoon and it was comfortable on the lips, but I did notice it clinged to the drier parts of my lips. I am going to test it out further and report back soon. I also picked up a single shadow in the shade Star Violet, which is one I have been wanting for myself forever. My sister has this shade and I always sneakily use it as it is a really beautiful. It is a purple toned shade which contains shimmer, it is not your usual purple as it has light undertone of gold which makes it look metallic when applied making it shine through as violet.

Lucy
xoxo

Blogging Goals for 2017

Looking back on my 2016 goals I think I have done pretty well in terms of sticking with them, and I mostly want to carry them on into this new year. My goals were to focus on photography, be more organised, use instagram more and become friends with my more people in the blogging community.

I have tried really hard with my photography this year and I think it has improved, I have tried to focus on how I arrange what I am photographing and also the editing of them. I really want to continue to improve this into this new year as photos can be seal the deal on whether someone clicks on a post or not. 

Being more organised is definitely something which I have improved over 2016. My blog is probably the only part of my life which is organised! I started to use my fave notebook as much as possible to lay out all of my posts throughout each month. This helps as I can tick off when I have done my photos and written posts and can map out what needs to be done when to keep me on track. I like to know on my days off what needs to be done surrounding all things on my blog even if it is just scheduling tweets. I need to take this organisation and apply it to all aspects of my life as organisation is definitely not my strong point. I could definitely still improve how I utilise my spare time, so I have made this a new blogging goal for this year. I can spend hours browsing social media and watching TV when I could be using that precious time to write posts and organise my blog. I don't like to know that I need to rush to get a post out to my scheduled days, I prefer to do it as and when I can and do things in advance as not only does it make life easier, it also makes everything much more enjoyable. 

Instagram is something with I have tried hard at times to use and gain followers but it has not been a main focus of mine. I have gone through phases where I have really focused on it and then it gets put on a back burner. I am definitely going to try and also plan my instagram as a lot of the time I am not sure what photos to actually take and what does well in terms of interaction and what does not. I am going to trial and error a few different ideas and see what type of interaction and response I get. I am going to set a target of 1000 followers by the end of 2017 - lets see how I do.

I finally made it to two blogging events in 2016, the first a Lush Easter event which I had a brilliant time at. The second being The Bloggers Blog Awards which I had a fantastic time at, I am definitely going to go again this year as I had a great time meeting some of my favourite bloggers and everyone was so lovely. I hope this year I get to meet some more of my favourite bloggers as there as so many babes who I want to be friends with.

My additional blogging goal this year includes mixing up my content. I really, really want to venture into fashion posts but I have no one to take my photos. I need to get my mum on board to take my photos for me! I also want to do some more lifestyle posts as I have really enjoyed writing them last year. I like to have a variety of content on my blog as it also makes it more exciting for me as it keeps everything fresh and allows me to be as creative as possible.

What are your 2017 blogging goals?

Lucy
Xoxo

What I got for Christmas

I love reading what I got for... posts. Whether its birthdays, special occasions or in this case Christmas. I love to have a nosy and see what other got as it is just an excuse to add more things to my wishlist and also it can help spark inspiration when buying presents for others. 

For Christmas the only present which I asked for was my Logitech canvas iPad keyboard, which has been one of the most practical present which I have received in a while. I love my laptop but it is quite heavy and bulky and until I've got enough together to buy my dream iMac which will hopefully be by the end of this year, I needed to find a practical solution to being able to work on the go. I have been using this on a daily basis, it works by connecting from Bluetooth from the keyboard to my iPad it is super easy to use. I have been using it on the go in car journeys to write up posts as part of my productivity goal of the new year. I will also be using it whilst travelling as it is a great small size, not heavy and is compact as it comes as a case which you just clip on. This costs £70 and my mum bought it from the Apple shop and it comes in a variety of colours, I opted for the red.

I really like the brand Jack Wills, I think it is well priced and all the clothes are great quality. Everything is quite simple which I like as I don't like my clothes to be over fussy or too statement. I love this grey hoodie which I received off my mum as I needed a new zip up hoodie to throw on when it is freezing which it has been in Bolton recently. They ares super cosy and soft, and I have barely taken this off since Christmas day.

My sister bought me this Soap & Glory set which contains and the thick and fast mascara, glow all out highlighter and a sexy mother pucker lipgloss. I have a few pieces of Soap & Glory makeup, but not many. However, from what I have tested out I have been impressed and the brand it very affordable. I am excited to try these products out and I will report back if any are a must have piece.

I received the Real Technique's Bold Metals brushes set off my sister for Christmas, she knows me so well as I had already treated myself to this set! She told me she had bought it me before Christmas so I gave it to one of my good friends as I knew she would love it just as much as I do. I love, love, love Real Technique brushes and they make up 90% of my brush collection. When the Bold Metals collection was first released they were the more luxurious high end brushes and some of them were £20 plus each. This set is excellent value as you get three of the face brushes - tapered blush, triangle concealer and tapered shadow, and I can not wait to try them all out. You also got a brush roll in this set which will be get for travelling and keeping all my brushes in one place.

A few months ago I was shopping with my mum and I was hinting at what perfume she liked from Jo Malone as I was going to buy her a bottle for Christmas. I already own Blackberry & Bay and Nectarine Blossom & Honey. They are by far the most beautiful perfumes I own as they are colognes, therefore they linger on the skin for hours meaning you smell fresh all day. We stumbled across English Pear & Freesia and I was instantly intrigued. She said that she also really liked it so I was seriously getting it for her Christmas. I didn't end up getting it her, but she in fact remembered I liked it and bought it for me. I always prefer fruity scents rather than floral, but this is a mixture of both and I actually really love it. I have already been wearing this on a daily basis, and I love how fresh it smells on the skin.

I did receive a few other presents off my mum and dad such as the Marc Jacobs Dot perfume and my new favourite rose Converse which I completely forgot to photograph, but I am doing reviews on them anyway so keep your eyes peeled for those posts. My best friend from uni got my the Justin Bieber calendar and a Ted Baker gift set. I also received a Boots gift set from my Secret Santa at work. From my aunts and uncles I received vouchers which I always enjoy getting as I feel as though you can spoil yourself without you having to actually spend anything! All in all, I received some amazing presents this year, and as always I am really grateful for everything.

Lucy
xoxo

The roundup for December

Hello 2017!

I am really excited for what 2017 is going to bring to me, but first it is time for one last roundup of December. I started these monthly roundups at the start of this year, and I have really enjoyed writing them throughout 2016. I would like to know if you have enjoyed reading them and if you would also me to continue writing them in 2017. So December... it was a bit of a weird one and it is really hard to think of some significant things which have happened. I've had a few nights out which have been fantastic, as it is my favourite thing to do when I have time off work. I also really enjoyed being able to afford to buy nice Christmas presents. It was my first year in which I was able to afford to buy good quality presents which I knew my family wanted. Last year I felt really deflated when I had a real lack of money, and I promised myself that in 2016 I would buy some beautiful presents. I love giving out nice presents and it made me so happy to see how much they appreciated what I had bought them.

In terms of my actual Christmas, must of it was spent at work. It was my first year as a staff nurse and I was prepared for the amount which I would be working, but I was really disheartened when I found out my shifts as they were pretty terrible. I mentioned this in my last post saying I was going to try my best to stay positive about it all and I did. I worked around my shifts fitting in where I could to socialise. Basically making the best out of a rubbish situation. On Christmas Day I worked in the morning until 2pm, we all brought in ingredients to make sausage, bacon and mushroom barms which was great and everyone at work is lovely so it was all heartfelt. When I got home my mum had prepared Christmas dinner which was as amazing as ever. We then all played games for a few hours which was great as we had all had a little too much M&S Buck's Fizz. All in all what got to me the most was the amount of time I spent in work, we split out shifts into earlies and lates instead of our usual 12.5 hour long days so that we would have more time at home. However, I felt like I never left the place as I was coming and going constantly, from Christmas Eve I had 2 days off between then and New Year's day. I am starting annual leave for a week on the 4th of January and I am so excited to have some down time as my mum and sister are still of work, and I have a trip to York planned.

In terms of plans for 2017, I haven't got too much planned yet. I am still deciding whether to do a goals for this upcoming year post, but I am excited as I want to do as much as possible and not say no. I definitely want to travel more and I don't need it to necessarily be some exotic island in the Maldives, it could be to see my friends who are now dotted around England after university.

Here's to a get 2017 - lets smash it!

Lucy
xoxo

December Favourites

I have gravitated towards using the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder this month. This feels super lightweight and the powder leaves your face feeling smooth and soft. This is not cheap as is costs £33, but as you can see I hit pan a long while ago but it seems to be lasting well. If you are wanting to treat yourself this is definitely something which I always recommend to people when this ask me what to buy from Charlotte Tilbury. An added bonus is the adorable rose gold packaging which looks amazing on my dressing table.

My MAC Velvet Teddy lipstick had been missing for months, and I recently found it and it has not been off my lips since. It is a matte lipstick which has a nude undertone, everyone went wild for this when it was first released as it was Kylie Jenner's go to lip shade. It took me months to find it in stores and my sister ended up getting it me in New York! Considering the effort which went into getting it I really should have taken better care of it. This month I reorganised all of my makeup and all of my MAC lipsticks are now kept in one place, so it should never disappear ever again.

I recently repurchased the Nars Sheer Glow Foundation as I needed it back in my life. It is not cheap at £31, but every so often you have to spoil yourself and this was my payday treat right at the start of my month. I wrote a full more in depth review of this recently which you can read here, all in all I love it and no other foundation wakes my skin up and makes it look glowing and as lively as this.

I have been a huge fan of Colourpop eyeshadows for a while now and I recently purchased the colour Static. It is a beautiful pearlised burgundy and I cannot wait to wear it more. I have a few shadows from Colourpop in my collection now and I always find the pearlised ones to have the best finish and the pigmentation is always beautiful. I have purchased a few metallic ones and they have creased majorly on me, whereas the pearlised shadows blend out really well and do not crease barely at all. These are such great value for $5, and I always stock up when they do free international delivery.

What products have you been loving this month?

Lucy
xoxo