L'Oreal True Match Foundation

I have been meaning to pop up a post about this for a while now about this little gem from L'Oreal which is featured in our drugstores. I have seen a few different bloggers pop up posts about it recently, but I am actually on to my second bottle. I saw it featured in one of Vivianna Does Makeup YouTube videos at some point last year, and then Amelia Liana also recommended it. In my recent The Boots Shop post I featured this as I had repurchased it on my last trip to Boots. I mentioned that I had originally bought the True Match foundation in the Golden Ivory shade as I had originally thought that it was a perfect match for my skin. This time I tried out the Rose Ivory shade and realised that it actually did match my skin perfectly, and I did in fact have a pink undertone to my skin. This for me is the drugstore version of Nars Sheer Glow, I would not go as far as to say that it is a dupe as it does have it differences. I find the texture is soft and smooth, and is very easy to blend leaving a great even look to the skin . It is a medium coverage which is buildable but with just two pumps I have the right amount of coverage for my desired look. The main difference between this and the Sheer Glow is that this does not last as long on the skin and it does not quite have as much 'glow'. But all in all, for the price of £9.99 is something which I would definitely recommend to those wanted to try a new foundation which you can pick up on the high street. It has 20 different colour shades to the range so hopefully there will be one that matches everyone!

Lucy
xoxo

Spring Primark Haul

I took a trip to the big Primark in Manchester city centre last week and picked up a few bits for Spring. Primark is so good at picking up the basics and new essentials when moving into a new season.

I was debating on picking up the shoes as it is only the start of March, but you can never be too early and in Primark you have to pick it up when you see it as the stock changes so frequently. I can report that they are majorly comfy and the heel is just the right height. These will be great going into summer especially if you are jetting off to somewhere sunny this year. I can see myself matching these with a cute little summers dress or a short and tee combo. They also had these in black which I was debating on picking up. However, I thought the white is a much more spring/summer colour and all my shoes all winter have been black and I wanted to venture out. These were £12 which is such a steal and I am really hoping to get a lot of wear out of them.

Accessories in all shapes and sorts are known for being cheap in Primark. Saying that the jewellery is always so on trend and they have such a vast variation. The silver flower and gem necklace is really dainty, I thought this would be great to dress a simple outfit up taking it from day to night, and it was just £2! I love statement necklaces and the five different coloured flower necklace was right up my street, I would also wear this to add an emphasis to an outfit and was once again a steal at £3. As an avid headband lover I just could not leave this cute flower and pearl combination on the shelf, I love the stretchy style as they do not hurt or dig into your head. This was just £3 which I love, as in Topshop this would cost at least £10.

Have you picked anything up from Primark recently?

Lucy
xoxo

The Boots Shop

Boots is essentially the best drugstore within the UK hands down. It contains all of the best beauty brands at budget friendly prices. I had ran out of my trustworthy L'Oreal True Match Foundation so I took a little trip and came out with some other bits and bobs.

I had previously picked up the L'Oreal True Match Foundation in Golden Ivory and I thought that it had been a really good match to my skin. After taking a trip to Nars though and picking up the Sheer Glow Foundation which features in my February Favourites post, the makeup assistant told me that I have more of a pink undertone to my skin which I had never previously realised. Therefore, when I went to pick up a restock I reached for the Rose Ivory colour and realised that it actually did match my undertone more. I love this foundation so much and I have never found a foundation with the £9.99 price tag attached to it which is as good as this. The formula is great and creates a lovely glowing effect to the skin, it is super blendable and is a medium coverage. It has SPF17 which is always a hidden bonus and helps keeps your skin protected even in the winter months. You get 30ml and my last bottle lasted me three months, which is excellent value for money. The colour range is huge and caters from pale to dark skin as well as different colours of undertones.

My skin has been feeling like its in need of a good moisture boost, working long shifts is not the best for your skin and I often feel like I need cleanse more thoroughly. I have previously used Sanctuary Spa's 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask and got great results as it draws everything out of your pores and really gives you a deep cleanse. However, this time the Moisture Boosting Mask sachet caught my attention and when I read the words "ultimate moisture boost to revive thirsty skin for glowing finish" it eagerly took a place in my shopping basket. These are not cheap as they are £2.50 for 15ml but I wanted to try it out before I bought a bigger version, and they are so convenient for a one stop fix.

Amelia Liana is always mentioning how good the Maybelline Super Stay 7 days Gel Nail Colours are. At just £4.49 I was intrigued to see how good they really are. One of Amelia's go to colours is Divine Wine which is a beautiful grape coloured, vibrant purple. The other one which I picked up was Hot Salsa which is a beautiful bright pink (looks more orange in the photo!), this is just a classic colour for me to be attracted to, as I love a pop of pink on my nails. They have a great flat brush which makes application so much easily, the colour range us huge making choosing a colour so much harder. They also have a high shine finish which makes the colour look more glossy.

Lastly, on my way to the tills I reached for my ever so reliable Blistex Relief Cream. My lips have been so chapped and I needed to move from a lip barrier balm to a lip treatment. I pile this on to my lips as often as it is needed to help to instantly repair my lips. My most sore and cracked area at the moment is the top of my lips and it can great incredibly sore. I should have bought this earlier to help it prevent it getting to this stage, but I no that it quickly works it wonder and I can not recommend it enough. You get 5ml for £2.65 which is a fab price considering how great the product is.

Have you picked up anything new and great from Boots recently?

Lucy
xoxo

February Favourites

This post is actually on time! I always aim for it to be on time but I always seem to be a couple of days later into the next month. I have done individual posts on four out of five of those items which shows that they really have impressed me within February.

If you read my recent Top 5 MAC Nudes post which you can see here this lipstick will look familiar - yes it is the lipstick that had no name and I have now identified it as Cosmo. I popped into MAC over the weekend, me and the makeup assistant searched the stands and managed to match it perfectly. My mind is now at ease for when I need to repurchase it as I was worried it had been discontinued. It is the perfect colour for day to night and is my reach for lipstick when I am in a rush.

Garnier Micellar Water Cleansing Wipes, there is also a post on the wipes here. But since that post I can confirm that they have continued to do the job perfectly, I have used them most nights when you want to quickly remove your makeup. They are so gentle over the face and eyes and remove all stubborn makeup easily. To me there is really nothing else I would expect a facial wipe to do, and have been recommending these to everyone and I do the same to all of you!

Charlotte Tilsbury Colour Chameleon Eyeshadow Pencil this is a beautifully pigmented pencil which contains glittery pigments which glisten on the eyelids. It is a thick formula which can crease if you do not blend quickly all the details are here . I have been using this on a daily basis as it adds a quick pop of colour to the eyelid and when I have time it looks perfect with a thin line of eyeliner and lashings of mascara.

Real Techniques 201 Crease Brush has been used on a daily basis this month in order to apply my eyeshadow. The name applies that it is a crease brush but it actually does a great job at applying eyeshadow all over the eyelid as the bristles are packed tightly and pick up the product perfectly, more details here . This however does works equally as well as a crease brush as it blends together different colours perfectly,

Finally Nars Sheer Glow Foundation, so there is currently no individual post on this as I only purchased it last weekend so it is currently under review. But I included it in my favourites as I have been using it everyday this week since I purchased it and I have been absolutely loving it! It differently lives up to it's expectations and has a huge price tag attached to it at £31, and I kind of didn't want to fall in love with it but I have done and I don't want to stop using it. It creates such a beautiful dewy, glowing effect on the skin and is long lasting throughout that day. A post will be up soon and I am expecting rave reviews.

What have you been loving in February?

Lucy
xoxo

Elizabeth & James - Nirvana White

I got this for Christmas off my parents, I had been longing over trying either the black or the white fragrance since their release. Well I'll let you into a secret which I am not one bit ashamed of. Since childhood I have been obsessed with the Olsen twins, it all started with the films, the books, the tv series. They even had a line of clothing and makeup in Asda and I used to always pick something from it on a special occasion just because I thought that they were it. I think at the time idolising them was the norm within girls my age just because they exploded on to the scene and were such a global success. There is no denying that I still watch the movies because they were just great and bring back only happy memories. Me and my best friend still call each other MK & A till this day when we're being cute!

So now you know I was a pretty big fan you probably have guessed the reason why I wanted to try the perfume. After their teenage success they have gone on to be incredibly well known in the fashion industry and have a variety of clothing lines. Elizabeth and James (their younger sister and brother) is the name of one of their clothing collections, and they have branched out from there with the realise of the perfumes. I think people were intrigued to find out the scents they had chosen for the black and white fragrances. There has been a buzz around the white fragrance in particularly on the blogging front. I tried to get this back in Sephora in Majorca last August but they did not have it, so I am not sure if this is exclusive to Sephoras in America. As this came from Sephora in New York I didn't personally have the opportunity to smell for myself the difference between them. I am one of those girls who loves fruity scents and this is the absolute complete opposite. Therefore it took me a good few days to get use to it and decide whether I actually liked it or not. I continued to apply it and every morning I would intensely smell where applied to see if I had grown to love it anymore. I kept asking friends their views and they were mostly positive. But I think if it had been one of my friends asking me it would of initially of been a negative response from me, due to it being so different to my usual choice. The scents of the perfume are musk, peony and mugnet which make a perfect blend. The perfume is long lasting and settles into the skin nicely, I would describe it as a feminine fragrance. I came to the conclusion that I do really love the perfume, it is just polar opposite to what I usually wear but that's a great thing and to me this is just something which took me time to get used to. There is three sizes of the perfume a rollerball which is ultimately a perfect size for your handbag. I got this for my best friend for Christmas and I felt like it was a really thoughtful present. I would definitely pick this smaller version up for myself if anyone was taking any Sephora trips any time soon, as it's just so convenient to pop into your handbag when your on the go. This rollerball costs $22 for 0.34oz. The size which I got was the 1oz which costs $55, and there is a 1.7oz for $75. Lastly I would like to mention the bottle because I think it's really lovely and looks expensive sat on your dressing table, with the intercut detail.

Have you tried either of the Elizabeth and James perfumes? 

Lucy 

Xoxo 

Top 5 MAC Nudes

MAC are known for their phenomenal range of lipsticks, and they are the brand which I always head to as you know that there will be always be that perfect colour which you have been lusting after on the display. From left to right I feel give you a run down on why these are my favourite five and I hope I give you some lipstick inspiration!

Velvet Teddy featured in my New York Haul as after Kylie Jenner stated that this is what gives her huge lips it is now very hard to track down in the UK. Thankfully my sister managed to get it for me from Macy's. It is a matte nude which can be worn as an everyday, I have found that matte does not suit me as much as something with a sheen running through it. Although, I think that is just preference and it does look lovely on the lips. If you do not want such a strong nude you can pat it out to make it more suitable to your liking, it is also has excellent lasting power on the lips. If I was to imagine a 'nude' lipstick it would be this, it has a slight bronze tone but all round the description of it in one word is nude.

Brave has a satin finish which means it in between the matte and the lustre finish. On those days when I am not feeling Syrup this is always my opposing pick as it is just a little darker and adds a most bolder lip to a simple look. This is also a long this Kylie Jenner vibes and it creates a stronger look and I prefer the texture of this to Velvet Teddy.

Now after I had taken the pictures for this blog post I discovered that the name of this lipstick had rubbed off to my delight. I have searched the internet for hours trying to find what the name of it is but I just do not know what it is, and my memory seems to have been swiped. All I know is that it is an amplified finish but on the MAC website under the amplified finishes section none of them matched this one. Which means that I have concluded that it must have discontinued unless, someone clever reader has this and can put my mind at rest - pretty please!! There is barely any of this left so I am going to have to go to MAC and solve the problem if possible because it is such a lovely colour. It has pink tones running it and is the darkest of them all.

Syrup has purple and pink tones running throughout, and is my favourite on the whole bunch, it is my go to in the morning when I haven't got time to think about what colour I want to wear that day. You can tell its my most worn as out of them all it has the least amount left. It is a lustre effect meaning it is soft and creamy on the lips.When someone asks me to suggest a new lipstick surrounding a nude/purple toned I would always suggest this without a doubt. I do not think anyone would not like this, which is a strong statement, but I am yet to find someone who disagrees.

Patisserie the lightest of the bunch and a Lily Pebbles recommendation. It is lighter than I thought it would be but it really lovely for a pretty girly everyday look. Another lustre finish which is my favourite as it leaves a sheen gloss across the lips. This has lighter pink tones running through it making it perfect if you don't like anything too noticeable or overpowering. Worn with a gloss it can create a great combination, I usually go with Charlotte Tilsbury in Sweet Stiletto.

Have you got any other shades which you think would fit into my collection perfectly? if so please leave your suggestions below.

Lucy
xoxo

Love Tanya

Whether you love the idea of beauty bloggers releasing books or loathe it, out of them all to me Tanya Burr is the person who I always can guarantee to rely on with when it comes to makeup advice and tutorials. So when she brought out the book, I was intrigued to find out what it was all about, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. She has had so much success with her blog and YouTube channel lately, and her audience is obviously loving what she is doing, so why not realise a book all about it.

I like how the book starts letting you into Tanya's childhood and her upbringing as it makes you feel like you are able to relate to her throughout the book and the ins and outs of her life. The part which I most enjoyed was the Beauty section as it is something which really interests me, and Tanya always has the most glowing skin. She does delve into her skincare routine in depth and explains her top tips for creating great skin. I find that she always manages to produce such beautiful makeup looks in a matter of minutes and nothing is ever to complicated or over the top. She gives a lot of advice throughout this section and features her favourite products both skincare and makeup. I love how much recognition and how grateful she is to Sam and Nic Chapman for encouraging her to follow her ambitions, and giving her the opportunities at the start of her career which really helped her to get to grips with the basics to the makeup artist role. She tells the story behind her Tanya Burr Cosmetics line, I am a personal fan and her lip glosses are really great and such good value at £6.99 which are sold in Superdrug. I am a sucker for a good love story and her and Jim's is just so cute and you can tell how much they love each other through how shes portrays him within the book. She shows so much personality within the book and I love how within the Fashion section she says how she has her own individual style and it has taken her a while to be get used to her shape. I think all girls can relate to this as it does take time for you to distinguish what does and what doesn't suit you and sometimes you just have to understand that not all things are going to show you off in the best possible way. The book also includes a Baking section and Tanya always says on her vlogs how popular her baking videos are, and it seems to have taken a firm place within her channel. She expresses how much she likes to bake and I think there are some really lovely bakes in her book which I am looking forward to trying out.

All in all I think that because there has been many YouTubers releasing books in whatever form within weeks of each other it has received a lot of negativity, which I think is a shame. The publishing company's have been clever they know the amount of millions of followers these guys have and they also know how well they could potentially sell. In reality if you got offered the opportunity to write a book like Tanya on something you feel passionate about then why not! Lastly don't bother going to WHSmiths or Waterstones and paying full price for it, head to Asda or order it online as it is currently only £7, and it won't be a waste of money.

Lucy
xoxo

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette

It has taken my a while to get round to blogging about this palette of absolute beauty. Blush is definitely not something that I naturally venture towards when makeup shopping, I seem to have only own two or three which I stick to as I no I can rely on them. But this palette really caught my eye and I have been wanting to try Hourglass products for a while, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. There was a hell of a lot of hype around the realise of this palette since the success of the company's Ambient Lighting Powder. I was lucky enough that my sister managed to pick this is up for me whilst on her trip to New York as I had been lusting it over it since its realise. In Sephora it costs $58 which is approximately £37 compared to UK stockists such as Space NK and John Lewis  where the price tag is £56, quite a hefty difference. You are able to buy these individually for £28 for 4.2g or in the palette each shade is 3.3g. The three blushes from left to right are Luminous Flush, Incandescent Electra and Mood Exposure. I love how the three colours are completely different shades going from a baby pink into a lilac shade.

Luminous Flush is the one that I would class as my classic go to shade when I am out shopping for a new blusher to add to my collection. It contains the pink shimmery tones and adds a lovely pop of colour to the cheek bones. I swatched it to compare it to my two previous go to blushes both from MAC, which are Stereorose (not online) and Peachykeens and it falls somewhere right in between, which pretty much makes it the perfect shade. Its light and looks radiant on the skin adding a glow which reflects perfectly on the cheeks.

Incandescent Electra is exclusive to the Ambient Lighting Blush Palette. This is the lightest shade within the palette and I think you can wear this as a pretty girly shade to the cheeks, or wear it softly above the cheekbones as an illuminate/highlighter. It is a great addition to the palette as if you do not like a flush of colour on the cheek that is worn to be seen then this is the perfect alternative.

I was very intrigued by how Mood Exposure would show on the skin, I have never seen a shade of blush containing this amount of  purple tones running through it. On the skin I can safely say it looks completely different to how it does in the pan, it definitely has a lot more pink tones running through than at first glance. It is the deepest colour of the three but it still wearable for daytime, it adds a lot of depth to the cheeks.

The texture of these blushes are so smooth and glide on to the skin with ease, the pigmentation is excellent and transfers on to the skin perfectly. This palette contains such different shades that you can carry and use this on all occasions depending on if you prefer lighter more subtle cheeks or a more stronger and heavier look. Lastly, I have to say that these all contain more shimmer than I first thought, so if you prefer a matte blusher these are differently not something for you to choose. But if your like me and adore shimmery cheekbones then I suggest you get ordering from Sephora. These are also great for any flash photography as the finishing powders are made and formulated to enhance the skin in any kind of light and refine the appearance of your complexion.

Lucy
xoxo

Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eyeshadow Pencil

I recently took a little trip to the Charlotte Tilsbury counter in Selfridge's. I took an instant like to the stand containing all the eye products and the colour chameleon eyeshadow pencils looked very interesting. The stand had great organisation and it splits the products into eye colours as Charlotte has created specific shades to suit each eye colour - what a perfect idea! She has also created a day and night look for each colour of eye, so everyone has two options. So naturally I started to look at the blue eyes part of the stand and the colour Champagne Diamonds instantly caught my attention, it was the daytime colour. There was some other great shades for all the different eye colours on the stand, and I would definitely venture out and would not just necessarily choose the colour which it is tailored for. The formula was smooth and incredibly pigmented with one swipe. The lovely makeup assistant told me that they are quick drying so once applied to work fast and quickly blend it to your preferred look. The formula is quite thick, meaning it does stay where it is suppose to, on the eyes this adds a real pop of colour and looks really lovely with a thin line of eyeliner along the top lash line. It has a shimmer running through it, which is a personal preference as I prefer something more shimmery for daytime than matte. This does not come cheap at £19 but I think it is a definite investment for your makeup stash, it will also last a while as you do not need much to create the acquired wash of colour across the eye. I have already added one of the night time shades - Bronzed Garnet to my never ending makeup wishlist.

Lucy
xoxo

La Roche Posay Serozinc Toner & Cicaplast Lips

I recently made a sneaky order on Escentual.com, I have ordered from there previously and have always experienced excellent service. If you are a regular reader you will no that La Roche-Posay is fast becoming one of my favourite brands for products which get the job done. Throughout the year the site has 15% of all French pharmacies so I thought I would take advantage and order a few bits which have been on my skincare wish list for a while.

Serozinc is a much anticipated toner which has become globally well known for it wonders, my skincare bloggers have repeatedly recommended it as something to in cooperate into your daily skincare routine. It states it is for oily blemish prone skin, my skin is more dry than oily, but it definitely falls into the blemish prone category without a doubt. I have been trying to establish a more defined skincare routine. This is usually costs £8.50, but with the current discount it is £7.20, which I think is an absolute skincare steal. This only arrived in the UK at the beginning of the year and there has been a lot of hype surrounding its arrival. Many people used to buy in bulk when on vacation in France, but thankfully this site has taken it under their wing. I have been testing it out this week after cleansing and before the application of my moisturiser, I have noticed that it leaves your face feeling refreshed and cooling. It contains three active ingredients - soothing water, zinc sulphate and sodium chloride. This combination aims to target blemishes and get rid of excess oil, all sounds very impressive to me.

Cicaplast  states to intensively replenish chapped lips. It is a step up from the Ceralip which I recently reviewed and you can have a read of that post here. I changed it up and started using this as I had not used any lip treatments in a few days and the soreness had started to flare up again. It was particularly sore right at the top of my lips at my cupids bow which was very dry. I applied this heavily and it has quite a thick consistency but it is so soft and it feels like it is working instantly. It does not have a flavour or have any kind of tingling effect, it just feels like a thick balm. It clearly claims to be a barrier repairing balm and that is perfect description for it. The main difference between the two is this one feels a bit thicker in consistency but I think this has helped them repair that little bit quicker s it a more intense treatment. This is usually £6.00 but with the current offer it is £5.20 which to me is definitely a drugstore price, and I think it is much better than anything currently out there on the high street with this price point.

Have you tried either of these products?

Lucy
xoxo

Real Techniques: Bold Metal Collection - 201 Pointed Crease

This collection have been at the very top of my wishlist since I first heard Sam and Nic talk about their release. There was a lot of speculation surrounding the price of this new collection, if you would like more detail about the brushes Pixiwoo themselves they made a YouTube video which you can watch here. Within the video they state how since the release of the original line they have always wanted to bring out a line which is a little  bit more luxury. They explain the increase in price of the new line is due to the quality of these new brushes, and these are to essentially compete with the more expensive rather than drugstore brands. They are still sold  in Boots as they want them to still be widely available, which I think it great meaning everyone is able to get their hands on them. On the Boots website  you can have a more in depth look at each brush, and you can also order them and have them delivered if it is easier or your Boots does not have the stock currently in.

Due to the demand and the release of this range three weeks ago they have been sold out online and in store, but thankfully they seem to be restocking at the moment. I looked in the Trafford Centre store and they had the entire line stocked to the brim on the shelves, which meant it took me approximately twenty or so minutes to decide exactly what I wanted to pick up. For once I was good and told myself just to pick up one for now as I can always buy more. I finally made the decision and picked up the 201 - Pointed Crease Eye Brush. The price was £12 which is still much cheaper than the £18-£25 which most high end brands charge for a similar style of brush. The reason I went for this one was I thought it could be a perfect combination along side my staple 217 MAC eyeshadow brush. As this is a crease brush I am hoping they work like two peas in a pod along side each other. The brush is so soft and you can tell that the bristles are densely packed and different lengths going into the arrow shape. This collection of brushes to me do look more luxury and look great perched on your dressing table.

Whilst I was in Boots I also fell in love with the 300 - Tapered Blush Brush even my sister who likes make up but is not too fussed about brushes said that she really wanted it! It just looked so soft and the shape was perfect for applying blush to the cheeks. So I will definitely be picking that up come next month's payday which excites me hugely.

What is everyone's thoughts of the new line have you been liking it? Any recommendations to other
products I should pick up from the line?

Lucy
xoxo

Garnier Micellar Extra-Gentle Cleansing Wipes

When I saw these advertised in one of my weekly magazines I was instantly intrigued as I hadn't heard too much about the realise of this new Garnier skincare product. Now I currently had on trial before this, Garniers micellar water and the boat is still out on this at the moment. I have got a kind of love/hate relationship currently taking place. Previous to the Garnier wipes I have been using either the ever so loved Boots Essentials Cucumber Wipes or the Yes to Grapefruit Brightening Wipes. I have enjoyed using both of these so I was interested to see how these compare.

I have been trying these out every night this past week since I picked them up from Tesco as they are currently on an introductory offer of just £1.63 and it states that they are also currently exclusive to the supermarket brand.

My first night of trying out the wipes I had just face makeup on and no eye makeup that particular day. The very first thing I noticed was how smooth the wipe felt across the skin which makes its very soothing. I then noticed on the packaging it states that it contains silky fibres so I'm guessing this has something to do with it. I felt like it did give my face a good cleanse and it feels refreshing as the wipes are really moist. They definitely live up to their extra gentle status, which is great for at night time. The only negative aspect first noted was that after the wipe made my skin feel a little sticky and not quite as smooth as I expected. 

The second night I had had a gold shimmery eye going on that day with a few layers of mascara. The wipe gently eased over the eye and my eyes are sensitive and can sometimes sting and go red after using some facial wipes. This was such a relief! Taking the rest of my makeup off again, it once again emphasised just how soft the wipe is. It feels slightly foamy and glides around the skin effortlessly. 

After continuous use throughout the week the overall judgement is that these are a little gem which I have found. I will be popping off to Tesco to stock up whilst the half price offer is still on. They do the job perfectly and they have no overpowering fragrance. If you have sensitive skin like me I would recommend these, but I think all skin types would be fine. Like I said at the beginning the only downside it that it leave a slightly sticky residue to your face but nothing to off putting. 

Has anyone else tried these yet? 

Lucy

xoxo

January Favourites

I usually start these posts stating how quick the month has flown by, but this month is different. I think January has been never ending, and I glad to be welcoming February.

 Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Yu and Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Descanso  are my two most worn since getting them just before Christmas. I snapped up the miniature set of Nars lip pencils as I have been lusting after trying them. I am glad to confirm that they are just as brilliant as everyone makes out. They are highly pigmented and the colours are so bright and vibrant with just one swipe. At £19 they are pricey but I have to say if there was a colour which I fell in love with I would definitely pick it up without hesitation. Charlotte Tilsbury Lipgloss in Sweet Stiletto is my other lip lover this month it is the perfect combination with the Descanco nude colour. At £16.50 its once again on the higher end of the spectrum but I love the texture of the gloss and this also has excellent pigmentation. La Roche-Posay Ceralip is my chapped lip saviour this month, this horrid cold and windy weather had taken a terrible hacking at my lips and they ended up so dry. I did a full post on this for further details which you can read here. Unfortunately it does not seemed to be widely stocked at the moment and Boots is out of stock at the moment, if you do manage to get your hands on it it will only cost you £7.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation in W1 Golden Ivory has literally been my best discovery of the last few months and its all thank to Amelia Liana. She has recommended it quite a few times either on her blog or on her YouTube channel and I finally managed to snap it up. People sometime ironically seem to have a problem with matching it perfectly to their skin tones and end up mixing two. But for me this colour matches my skin perfectly and for £9.99 it is the best drugstore foundation which I think I have ever used it is definitely on par with more high end brands which easily charge double to price.

This month I decided to treat myself to having some acrylic nails and I choose to have them painted in Naked by China Glaze. It is a lovely bright colour with a shimmer running throughout it so girly and cute. I loved the colour so much that I decided to by it myself so I can wear it once I get my nails removed. My mum instantly borrowed it and she reported back how long lasting it is, which means a thumbs up from her.

In the Selfridge's sale I picked up the Vera Wang Bejeweled Perfume  for £22.50. The scent is beautiful and fresh - perfect for the spring. I have been wearing it on a daily basis and it is very long wearing, it keeps the fresh cool fruity tones light on the skin.

What have been your go to products this month?

Lucy
xoxo

La Roche-Posay Ceralip

January the month where chapped lips is the fashion and there just so sore and cracked. I whipped out my La Roche-Posay Ceralip and it has been working wonders. This product is one of those no fuss, no scent, nothing fancy treatments but gets the job done and works fast. It instantly softens, and it helps with the cracks on your lips to repair as soon as possible. It is a handbag essential which is so easily to carry around and use whenever needed.

La Roche-Posay is fast becoming a brand which I am able to rely on in order to get the job done and done well. It is a French brand which has become increasing well known with the UK and I find the prices are somewhat between drugstore and luxury. I bought this from escentual.com it was early last year and it does not seem to be available anymore from their site. However, you can buy it from Boots as most now stock this brand, alternatively off Boots website. It was around £6 at the time I bought it which is such excellent value and the tube is not particularly small either.

Lucy
xoxo

Zara Ballet Pumps

Zara is one of my favourite high street stores out there and I miss having one on my doorstep whilst I am at uni. So I took a little late night trip to the Trafford Centre store, I am totally over the the sales now and usually all that is left is the tat that no one wants. But Zara still had a decent selection of sale items left, where I stumbled across these little beauts. Me and my sister both instantly picked up a pair as they were just £5.99!!!

I adore the pastel blue colour which will be perfect going into the spring, it is an incredibly easy colour to wear and matches pretty much everything. The black tip at the toes and the little bow add a pretty detail and makes them a little more formal. This kind of ballet pump style shoe is one of my favourites come the warmer months, when I am ready to firmly place my thick winter boots in the back of my wardrobe. I think these shoes are really versatile as you can coordinate them with jeans, skirt/dress and tights as well as with trousers, meaning you can easily get your wear out out of them throughout the upcoming spring / summer season. Unfortunately there sold online but I am sure that if your quick you might be able to snap some up from your local store.

Lucy

xoxo

Urban Outfitters Picks

Whilst shopping in Newcastle I took a visit to Urban Outfitters, I think it sells such fab things which other shops just do not come close to. I think the clothes are really stylish but I think you have to have confidence to wear some of their pieces. I am also a huge fan of their accessories department as their jewellery is so delicate and intricate. I picked up these three items which I just thought were so cute I could not leave them behind. They were in the sale at extremely excellent value and to top it off they had 25% off on top of the sales prices. The tray is cute and I could put all my favourite pieces on there and will look really lovely on my dressing table. The necklace is really interesting and I love how the shapes are all different colours so you can wear it with basically any items and it will match. The nail polish was just so sparkly and it has strands of actual gold glitter inside of it, it will great as a topcoat when your wanting to looking a little more fancy.

The my gems tray - £3.75
The three shape necklace - £3.75
The gold dust nail polish - £2.25

Lucy
xoxo

Starting my Scrapbook

I've always liked the idea of having a scrapbook but have just never got round to taking the plunge and actually starting one - like most things. But after watching Lily Pebbles YouTube video all about how much she loves scrapbooking and realistically how easy it can be once you get going. 

She used Project Life which you can buy from Hobbycraft, but when I went to the store and realised just how expensive it was I decided to just buy a Hobbycraft own version which worked out much, much cheaper. I also wanted a smaller scrapbook as I thought the larger ones could be a little overwhelming and very space consuming.

The design which I choose was the Vintage Large Floral Print 8x8 for just £6, and then I choose the design papers and more pages to fill the book with. I loved the idea of photo stickers to make things much easier and I bought the pretty silver outline stickers to put around the photos. Everything costs under £15 which I think is really good value. I am really looking forward to starting this little project of mine and slowly but shortly filling it with thoughtful memories, and I also think its going to be really fun and give me a little hobby to do.

I will do a future blog post letting you no how I get on with this, as I am really excited to get started! Do you have a scrapbook? if so please leave me with any advice or posts which you written or found useful.

Lucy

xoxo

My Mama's Potato Hash

Ingredients:

1 Onion
1 Potato
1 Carrot
1/2 Can of Corned Beef
2 x Oxo Cubes

This recipe will serve two people for a tea size portion, My mum simply doubles the recipe when shes feeding the four of us.

Instructions
1. Fill the kettle with 250 mls of water. Pour the water in the pan and put on highest heat so it is boiling.
2. Chop all vegetables into small chunks and put into pan.
3. Crumble to 2 oxo cubes into the pan, and stir.
4. Reduce heat to just above simmering (3).
5. Remove corned beef from tin, and chop into chunks.
6. Once the veg has been simmering for approximately 10 mins, add corned beef.
7. Turn down to simmering (2)
8. Stir every 10 minutes, to ensure it does not stick to the pan.
9. I usually leave mine for at least one hour, usually and hour and a half. It will thicken on standing.
10. Get a giant dollop of beetroot chutney on the side, I love Mrs Darlington's it is simply the best and you are ready to serve!

Let my know if you try this recipe, I love it and my mum makes it on a weekly basis. It is incredibly simple but so yummy, and it is healthy and contains barely any calories.

Lucy
xoxo

Sephora Haul

 

 This post has been a very long time coming but here it is. When I visited my first ever Sephora in Italy last year I felt completely overwhelmed by the amount of stock that was available. The store I was visited was no way a flagship store, but it had more than enough for my first ever visit. I think my mind went into overdrive and I grabbed a basket and was running around like they were giving stock away.

Items:

1. Cream lip stain (06)

2.  Nail lacquer 5 day shine (not online)

3. Waterproof eye makeup remover

4. Rouge shine lipstick (27)

5. Precision powder shadow brush (61)

6. Formula X neon nail colour - Jolt

7. Cream lip stain (03)

8. Colourful shimmer - flirting game (46)

9. Long lasting powder blush - coral flush (06)

10. Mineral powder brush (45)

11. 10 hour wear perfection foundation - light delicate beige (14)

12. Long lasting kohl pencil - intense black (01)

13. Triple action cleansing water

As you can see everything I bought was from the Sephora Collection itself as I really wanted to try own brand out. I was so happy with everything I bought and could easily have bought double, the total amount for everything was just over 100 euros. This probably seems a lot but I had saved for this trip and considering I got 13 items I think its pretty good going! You can now order on the main Sephora website and they ship to the UK which is great I think the shipping is £10 so buy in bulk!

Lucy

xoxo

Blogging Goals for 2015

The thought of 2015 was rather exciting to me at the latter end of 2014. The idea of a new year to me makes the possibilities of new goals much more achievement. I am excited at the thought of what my blog can do and the variation of the posts which I am hoping to post across this new year. In particular there is a few blogging goals which I have my focus on.

1. More variation within my content -  my blog is mainly beauty focused, but I also have a huge interest in fashion so I hoping to include fashion type posts within the content more frequently than in 2014. I have also started to explore lifestyle posts, and I like these as I like relating to these types of posts on other people's blogs. I would like to include them in the content as they can be lovely when readers relate to your posts. The difference in content will be bring more excitement and add variation to my blog.

2. Improve my photography - Since getting my new camera in the summer I have loved being able to explore the difference settings and images which can be produced. I find my backgrounds of my photos to be quite plain/boring/simple so I am definitely striving to try add some colour and patterns to my photos and brighten and lighten up my posts. I had no previous experience with photography at all before starting my blog, so every post is a stepping stone for me.

3.Organisation and planning -  I see all these bloggers who are so organised with there blog posts within days in advance, with the photos edited and the social media links set up. I am very much spontaneous and I blog when a spot of inspiration has happened for a post. One purchase which needs to be made is just a simple notebook, dedicated to the blog where I can be organised and have some kind of routine of when I am posting. I know this would make life instantly easier and a lot less stress free. I think I may need a little trip to stock up on new stationary (any excuse!),

4. Involved in the blogging world - Basically try and venture out of my little own world and into the big world of blogging. I see lots of people who have made friends and regularly take part in the chats and I think I would very much enjoy participating, but its a little daunting to start with to just pop up and join in but I would definitely like to.

What's you blogging goals for this year?

Lucy
xoxo

New York Haul

My sister headed on a holiday of a lifetime not to long ago to New York. The first thing I did was reach for my notepad and started to jot down everything that I wanted. The list was so long so I narrowed it down to my three must haves.

Marc Jacobs Lolita Palette - My most lust after and most expensive item, this was talked about massively in 2014 I instantly loved the pigmentation of the colours. and the colour range couldn't be more perfect if they tried. I have used this so much over Christmas, you can create endless amounts of makeup looks from very subtle everyday to a smokey going out. I just love it and it is a definite must if you are heading overseas anytime soon.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes Mascara - This has been a much talked about mascara, and I don't own many as I stick to what I know as a rule. Many beauty bloggers had picked this up and really recommended it so I thought I would. It is a really good day-to-day mascara I find the mascara brush picks up a lot of product so you definitely need to use it sparingly. It does what it says though and I do often reach for it on daily basis.

MAC Velvet Teddy - Seems a strange request, but with all the Kylie Jenner hype this is always sold out in the UK. It is a very natural nude matte that is perfect for all occasions. They are so much cheaper in America and I wish I had requested a few more!

Bloomingdale's Little Brown Cosmetic Case - A little addition from my sister for me to pop all of my new makeup bits into. This is such a handy size to fit into your handbag, and also if you off somewhere for the weekend I am able to fit my makeup in this to travel with.

Lucy
xoxo

Top 5 Posts of 2014

It is always interesting to see the most popular posts on my blog, I love having a sneaky peak at the stats of each post, to see what people have most enjoyed reading.

1. Pollo Pesto Pasta  - My by far most read post of this year is my recipe to my pollo pesto pasta which I posted back in January after I had made it a few times and completely fallen in love with it. I still use this recipe every time I make it and its always as good as the last time.

2.  Zara Mini City Bag - is my favourite fashion purchase of this year and since buying it back in April I have used it none stop.  Fashion posts seemed to have quite high viewing this year, although I have not featured that many recently as I seem to have been more beauty focused. Something to differently try and do more of come 2015.

3. Escentual.com - An order which turned out to be a very important one as I finally placed an order on Escentual.com.  I bought the Real Techniques Sam's Pick's which turns out to include some of the best brushes I have ever owned. The multi-task brush is a definite staple within my beauty stash. I also stocked up on my Bioderma which is an everyday must within my skincare routine.

4. Rimmel Sun Shimmer  -  A post simply explaining how much I love the formulation, price, longevity and my go to everyday instant tan.

5. Birthday Presents  - Turning 20 and receiving such lovely presents was such a lovely day for me. For the first time on the blog I decided to share what I had got with my viewers and it turned out to be the right move. I love reading these on other people's blogs so why not do it on your own?

 I would like to say a huge thanks to everyone who had read my blog throughout 2014 and would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year, bring on 2015!

Lucy
xoxo

Kate Spade

A few months ago way before my sister headed to New York I casually showed my mum a sneaky picture of this bag and purse stating how beautiful I thought they both were. I had asked my sister for a new purse for Christmas and I was so excited when come Christmas morning I opened it and it was the exact purse I had wanted. My mum let me open all my presents and then told me there was an extra present behind the chair and within 5 seconds of ripping open the wrapping paper the bag was there in all its glory!

The style of the bag is the Cedar Street Maise, and the purse is the Cedar Street Stacy. They do not seem to sell the vivid pink in Selfridges or katespade.co.uk. Seeing as they were bought in New York I think they were quite a bit cheaper than over here as within the UK the bag costs £245 and the purse is £80. The quality of them both is high, and I have simply fallen in love with the brand and have had them displayed as arm candy ever since Christmas day.

Lucy
xoxo

Manchester Christmas Markets

 

Every year for the past few years, Manchester has put on their annual Christmas Markets which are set up from around mid November. They have become such an monumental celebration within the city, and they are a truly festive site. They are dotted around the streets of the city in lovely wooden cabins all decorated in festive decor, they go on for miles and miles. The markets feature all different types of stalls from crafts to decorations and most of all the greatest selection of food you will ever see. There are food stalls from Dutch mini pancakes to the famous German wursts. As well as lots of sweets, chocolate covered fruit and a wide selection of cheese stalls. A main feature are the beer halls located in the main section next to the town hall where the giant Santa is placed. The beer houses feature all different types of local beer from within Germany and there are seating areas and bars within the wooden cabins. If you prefer you can get a mulled wine and they come in festive mugs featuring the markets logo with the year, which you can pay to take away as a little memoir.

Today is actually the last day they are set up before the markets close and all of the workers head back home for Christmas. I suggest if you live in the city or in the surrounding area to get yourself down there today! A little tip is that we went as a family on the last day last year and they sell everything off for half price to get rid of the stock. It is a really lovely day out and I guarantee you will walk away in the most cheeriest, festive spirit.

Lucy
xoxo

Skincare Routine featuring Clinique

I have been trying to keep up with a morning and evening skin care routine as much as possible recently in order to try and keep my skin clear. Clinique are one of the most well known beauty brands when it comes to skin care due to the vast amount and highly rated products which they sell. A few weeks ago I picked up three new products which I have never tried before, but have heard that they work wonders. Two products come from their anti-blemish solutions line the Cleansing Foam (£17) and the Acne Clearing Gel (£14). From reading a few blogs I have heard that Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (£22) is an excellent and cheaper alternative to the Emma Hardie version. I have slotted the products into my morning and night routine and I love how clean and fresh they make your skin feel and they don't have a fragrance.  I am hoping that these will work there wonders and keep my acne at bay over the festive period.

Lucy
xoxo

One Year of Blogging

I posted my very first post in October 2013 and it was such a daunting experience uploading on my blog. It is strange because you do not have a clue of what is about to happen or the kind or reaction (if any) you are going to receive. I am not afraid to admit that I thought that it was going to be a lot simpler than it is to attract a growing audience, it terms of the blogging world mine has a small readers. I think that you have to be prepared that your not going to be the next best known blogger around, because whenever everyone sets out they deep down would like to achieve this and good on them. It can take up a lot of time and effort to try and make your blog the best that you want it to be. For me it started it out as a hobby and it still is I loved reading other people's blogs and thought I would give it a shot myself to see what it was all about. I have truly loved delving into the blogging world and community, and meeting so many smaller bloggers who blogs I find truly inspiration and deserve a lot more recognition.

I started out with this huge aim of posting a post every day, and at the start I managed this. However, it got to a point where it was totally impossible for me to juggle my time with blogging and doing everything else like university and working at the weekends. It frustrated me that I was unable to reach this aim that I had set out for, but then I realised that most of the 'big' bloggers do blogging as their full time jobs so therefore they had so much more time to dedicate themselves to achieving daily posts. It hit me that it was okay to just post two or three times a week, and fit it around everything else going on in my day to day life. I am now happy with the routine that I am in, but I do think that it can be a barrier to a growing audience. I also stumbled across the idea of starting my own YouTube channel as I thoroughly enjoy seeing my favourite bloggers having their channels as well. I feel it makes you be able to relate more to their posts on their blogs, and it is a much wider audience for you to reach out too. But for now I would not be able to fit this in, but it is definitely something I would consider in the future. However, YouTube is way more scary than having your own blog and you have to be prepared for all the criticism which unfortunately comes along with posting videos.

All I can say if I have thoroughly enjoyed it and it was the best but scariest thing that I have done in a long time. The slight issue which still seems to bother me is posting on my Twitter page which is lucyalanaxo. I use this as my personal and blog twitter as I thought it would be nice to integrate them both. I do feel though as if some of my followers might get sick of me posting my posts on that username as it is the one that I have had since I first signed up so I have all of my old friends on there. However, I think that it is easy to unfollow so if they get bored they can do with a click of a button. Twitter is such a big platform for your blog, and it is where I go to get the links to my favourite bloggers including Essie Button, Amelia Liana and ViviannaDoesMakeup. As well as being on Twitter to promote your blog and posts, bloglovin' is definitely a site which helps others to discover your blog, and for you to find new blogs which you love to reading.

I have loved doing a variety of posts, from beauty, fashion and lifestyle. Looking at my top 5 posts:

1. Pollo Pesto Pasta
2, Zara - Mini City Bag 
3. Escentual.com 
4. Rimmel Sun Shimmer 
5. Birthday Presents

It is easy to see that people enjoy reading all different aspects of my blog, and I definitely think bringing a variety of different posts brings in audiences from different places who have a wide scope of interests.

If you are considering starting a blog all the advice I can give is to just go for it! Honestly there is absolutely nothing you can loose. I am always striving to achieve a wider audience and I am not going to lie it is hard, really hard but if you passionate about it you will keep going!

Lucy
xoxo

Letting Off Lanterns

I have never let lanterns off before which seems a little strange, but as a celebration me and my friends decided to. It was such a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion and watch them lead off into the night sky along side the stars was a beautiful affair. We bought all different colours which was lovely and it really brightened up the occasion.

Have you ever lit lanterns?

Lucy
xoxo