Madrid

I have been so excited to write this post, and I have finally found a few hours to sit down and get writing. I am not sure how we ended up in Madrid really! This was a holiday with three of my best friends, we wanted somewhere where the sun would shine and there would be things for us to see and do. We found good flights with a lovely hotel, and within the space of an hour it was all booked.

We flew out with RyanAir on their first flight of the day at 6.45 to Madrid from Manchester. We always get early morning flights on the way out so we get a full first day there. We went to Barcelona in the summer, and public transport was easy to navigate. In Madrid it was a completely different story, from the airport we needed to get an underground tube but there were lots of different maps, and Google maps also sent us on the longest journey ever. It took no exaggeration 25 minutes to walk from our terminal to the train/tube stops in the airport. The airport is absolutely huge, one of the biggest I have ever been in. After being on different tubes for 45 minutes we were all frustrated and made a group decision to skip the public transport and get a taxi. It turned out that the underground was going to take another 30 minutes with multiple changes, and then a 10 minute walk. In the taxi it took less than 10 minutes and cost us 5 euros for the journey. Next time, we would definitely just get a taxi from the airport, we did this on the way back and it was just 30 euros for the entire 25 minute journey.

We were so happy with the accommodation we had chosen, which was the Aspasios Calle Mayor Apartments. I am not afraid to say that it was a total bargain, for the 4 of us to stay for 3 nights it was 120 euros each in total. It was located in Calle de Mayor, which a central part to the city right near Sol. We were super happy, and all weekend we kept complimenting how well we had done choosing it. It had modern decor and looked bright and new, we actually all enjoyed having a little kitchen and a little bit more room than your standard hotel room.

Once having the small battle with public transport, we decided we would spend the entire afternoon shopping. However, first we were all starving and we stumbled across the Mercado de San Miguel which was a 5 minute walk away from our apartment. It had the most amazing food ever, it was a huge food market and it was great as everyone walked around with plates getting different tapas from all of the different stalls, like an all you can eat buffet! I loved the market so much I have written a dedicated post about it here. It is definitely a must visit when in Madrid.

We then headed to the main area of shops, and we were not disappointed. They have every high street shop you could think of or want. They also had a flagship Zara which was huge and we spent ages in there! We all planned to buy a lot as it is always cheaper in Spain, but we were a little disappointed. The shopping trip literally took us the entire afternoon, and then we went back to our hotel before getting ready to go out. On this night, we really struggled to find somewhere to eat. We had found a few different tapas restaurants which we fancied, but the menus contained too much fish for us. We ended up after looking around for literal hours in a tapas bar right near where we were staying called Taste Gallery. The food was actually really tasty, and the portions were huge we did slightly over order which never happens with us as we all love our food. They also sell a fantastic cava sangria, which was definitely 99% alcohol!

The next morning, we decided we would get on one of the site seeing buses which actually turned out to be a great decision. The city is pretty big and there were two lines that the buses offered. We had planned to go to the royal palace and cathedral, so we got off the bus there. The palace is absolutely huge, but also stunning with all of it the original architecture. The absolute star of the show which you might not realise is tucked away behind some trees is the cathedral. I cannot even explain how breathtakingly beautiful it was. We all felt a little taken a back, with how stunning the stained glass windows and the detailings and designing of the roof.

After stopping for dinner we decided to get back on the bus and head to Retiro Park. We had read about it, but this is one of the best, if not the best, park I have ever been to. It was just so beautiful, partly due to the leaves falling off the trees. On this day the temperature was 28 degrees, therefore the sun was shining and the views were stunning. There is one part of the park where there is a huge greenhouse that looks over a lake, which has a fountain as a centre piece. We also hired a boat and spent the hour on the boating lake, and we had so much fun.

We had wanted to go to a roof top bar whilst within the city as we had read that there were many amazing ones dotted around the city. We had been trying to find a particular one for ages but we were struggling to find it. We had read about one called The Roof at the ME hotel, however we knew it was very expensive. We decided that we would go and take a little look and see if we fancied treating ourselves to a fancy cocktail or two. The door men had to take you to the lift in the hotel to get to the roof. When we got up to the roof and we asked me a menu, they stated there was only one menu for the entire bar. It was 18 euros each for a cocktail! The view was not exceptional as they had grids up, and we very much felt as though we were being judged by the staff. It was nothing special in the slightest, we decided we would much rather spend our money somewhere else so we swiftly left.

We already had a table booked at a restaurant, so we decided to order a jug of sangria in a little square we stumbled across until it was time to leave. The restaurant we had booked was called Tacos and Tapas, it had great reviews on TripAdvisor and we were glad we had booked a table as they were turning people away. We got the nachos to share to start with and they tasted incredible. I then ordered chicken tacos which I enjoyed, and there was not too much on the plate.

As we were determined to visit a roof top bar, and after a quick google search we decided go to The Hat. This roof top bar was actually located on the top floor of a hostel right in the city's centre. The cocktails were not particularly cheap and it took at least 30 minutes to take our order. I did enjoy our drink once it finally arrived, however we were not aware that the place closed at 12 o clock so we had to take our drinks home with us!

On the Saturday morning, we had made plans to go to this little creperie which we had seen on the first day. It was great as they did both waffles and pancakes. I had a pancake with sugar, lemon and strawberries, with a hot chocolate and it all tasted great. Everyone enjoyed their food, and it was a lovely start to the day.

We decided we would visit the National Archaeological Museum of Spain. I am very much into visiting historical sites and museums whilst I am on holiday. I have to say this did not disappoint and I think it is a must visit museum whilst visiting Madrid. It was massive, it had five floors and we must have been in there a good few hours. We were all really surprised at just how big and the amount of displays that they had from the different ages.

We decided to fit in a little bit more shopping, and then we stopped in one of their huge department stores called El Cortes. On the top floor they had a roof top bar, (yes we were still on the search for the perfect one!) and this one was great. It overlooked the city, you could have both food and drink, the sun was shining, and there was such a relaxed, chilled vibe. We all ordered cocktails and just enjoyed that true feeling of being on your holidays.

On the last night we went to a burger restaurant called Bacoa which did offer delicious food, however the concept was very strange. You ordered your food before getting a table, and despite the time being past 10pm it was so busy. We then had to wait in this crammed area to be assigned a table, there was some spare benches around the outside of the restaurant and we managed to grab a seat. I had a very tasty burger called the Australian, which was a beef burger with cheese, bacon and beetroot. It was very tasty, and it made up for the chaos of the ordering and seating situation.

Due to RyanAir cancelling our flight back to Manchester three weeks before the holiday, we literally had no other option (except cancelling the holiday) than to get a flight back to London. This was not only inconvenient due to it be at the other end of the country, but this flight was at 11am and our original flight was at 9pm. We had planned to go to this little cafe for some mid morning breakfast called La Rollerie. It was a little cafe right near our hotel which we had walked past everyday during the holiday. I had a lovely pot of english tea with a hot pain au chocolate.
          

                                                                       
It was then time to head back to the airport for our flight home. All round I had an incredible time in Madrid, it was great as we really did not know what to expect from the city and there was nothing but smiles on our faces the entire time we were there.

Lucy
xoxo     

                                                   

Real Techniques Brush Crush

I saw these brushes pop up as an advert on Instagram, and my eyes instantly popped out of my head. I instantly went onto the Superdrug website and bought the three which I fancied. I ordered them on a 3 for 2 offer which made me even more excited (this offer is currently still on as I publish this post). There must have been a mad rush to buy this collection as they kept flicking in and out of stock in my basket, I finally managed to purchase them and they were on the way to me in no time. 

I picked up the 305 shadow brush £9.99, 301 complexion brush £12.99, and the 300 powder brush £12.99. There is also a fan brush, flat contour brush, and blush brush, as well as a diamond shape sponge within the brush crush collection. I have been eyeing them up and I think I need the rest as they are just so gorgeous. If you have been a reader of my blog for a while, you will know that I am a huge Real Techniques fan. I would say that 90% of my brush collection is from Real Techniques as they all just get the job done. I am a massive fan of Sam and Nic Chapman who are the owners of the brand. I always watch their new videos on their hugely successful YouTube channel Pixiwoo, to learn new makeup skills and recreate their looks.

When these arrived on my door, I could not get into the packaging any quicker. My eyes actually lit up when I saw how beautiful these are, they are actually my dream brushes. They have glittery pink or purple handles which are coated in a clear plastic layer, this is great as it means the glitter does not come off in your hands. The detailing of the brushes is gold, which adds the perfect contrast to the colours of the brushes. The actual brushes are soooo soft, the bristles are synthetic, and they all have a multicolour ombre effect to them. I honestly don't think I could rave any more about how they look and feel. I have placed them in a pot on my beauty desk and I just keep staring and stroking them!

I already own a similar eyeshadow brush from Real Techniques which I use on a daily basis, so I am excited to have a second version to add to my collection. I have two small buffing and foundation brushes also from the brand, but I can't wait to use this much bigger complexion brush as it will hopefully speed up the time it takes to blend foundation. The other brushes which I have from them are blush, highlighter, and concealer brushes, and I was shocked that I do not already have one their powder brushes. I currently use a small, flat Sephora brush which I really like. However, I am looking forward to having this much bigger powder brush to use.

Have you tried anything from the new Real Techniques Brush Crush collection?

Lucy

xoxo

Primark Beauty Haul

Last week I took a little trip to Primark in Manchester, and they have opened a huge beauty section. I went over to pick up some more of their false nails, as they are all I use. As you can see I managed to pick up a few different styles, I bought them for my holidays and over the festive period. They are great and so cheap; they range between £1 for the simpler design to £3 for the gem embellished designs. 

I then ventured over to their section of hand creams. As I am washing hands, god knows how many times a day at work my hands can get very dry. Primark has recently launched a range which has been described as 'Jo Malone dupes', there is no denying that they have definitely taken inspiration from their ranges. It has similar scents and names, so as a massive Jo Malone fan I was intrigued to see what the range was all about. I decided to pick up a 3 mini selection pack of the hand creams which they offer and it was only £4!

I then stumbled onto the makeup accessories stand, where I picked up and put down the silicon sponges approximately ten times. I have heard good and bad things about silicon sponges, and instead of splashing out I thought I would try their version to see what they are like. A few weeks ago I picked up one of their foundations brushes from their deluxe line, and I wanted to try out their concealer brush so I picked it up for just £3.

I finally decided to pick up some of their skincare range as I have never tried anything previously. I love, love, love micellar waters and they had a travel size version for just 90p, so I thought I would give it a try and compare it to my holy grail Garnier micellar water. I have needed a new cleanser to take off my makeup at night, and I was drawn to their deep cleanse off oil (£2) as it also has hydrating properties.

I then decided to pick up a night cream from their range called the dream cream (£4), I often wake up in the mornings feeling like my skin is very dehydrated and in need of some serious moisture. I hope this does what it says on the box, and helps restore and adds radiance to my skin. I also picked up the hydration boost eye gel for £3, this is a light and cooling under eye gel cream to help puffiness and helps to sooth and hydrate.

Have your tried anything from Primark's beauty range?

Lucy
xoxo

How to pack your travel case

As I write this I am currently on the way to Madrid (hooray RyanAir actually managed not to cancel at least one of our flights!). This year I have been lucky enough to go on five holidays abroad, four of those being weekends away. On all of them I have only taken a hand luggage size suitcase with me. I have learnt a few tips which I have found useful, so whilst packing for Madrid I decided to take photos as I go. 

The suitcase which I use is from Antler and I got it at 5 years ago. It has a hard outer casing, and it has been bumped many times as I used to use it a lot coming to and from uni on the trains. If you want a new case, one with 4 wheels can be very handy, and it means you do not have to drag the case everywhere and you can gently push it alongside you. I also love this case as it has 2 clear sections, and I use these to split my case into clothes on the bottom, and the lid side for anything else as it has a zip so things do not slide around.

I first and foremost always start with my packing list, I picked these up from Tiger in the summer and they have been a total god send. They literally have everything on for everything occasion. I first up start by crossing out everything which I do not need from the list. This helps me then cross off one by one once I have packed each item. 

I always start by setting my outfits into day and nights. Making sure I know exactly what is going with what, and I always pack an extra outfit as you may want choices when you get there. Lay everything out in front of you to check you have outfits for daytime including trips/beach/pool, and then night time both casual and dressy. As I mentioned before I always use one side of my case for clothes so everything is together. I then add underwear to the spare places and roll them up to fit into the outer edges to use all possible space.

The hardest decision of all for me is always deciding on shoes, this time I placed my shoes on the lid side of my case. I made the mistake when I went to Barcelona of taking some new dolly shoes and they completely creased my feet. Since them it is definitely all about comfort. If you are heading to a city you are likely to be going to be doing lots of walking. I always choose a pair of trainers which I have worn often and I know will be great for seeing the sites. Then if you are going somewhere where it is sunny take a pair of nice versatile sandals. Choose a colour like black, white, or brown, something which is going to match all your outfits. Then if you know you are going to be going somewhere fancier at the nighttime, this may call for a pair of heeled sandals or heels. If you are going somewhere with a much colder climate, I would pack a pair of good warm and cosy boots. Try and pack a maximum of three pairs for the trip, you are not going to need any more. 

Makeup and skincare products can be a pain as with hand luggage you can now only take one clear plastic bag for all of your products. You can have as many as you want as long as they contain less than 100ml, but they all have to be able to zip up in one small clear bag. In regards to powders and palettes, as long as there are no cream products they do not need to be in the clear bag and can go in your main suitcase. I put all of my other products in another makeup bag in my suitcase, so I know where everything is and put my hairbrush and toothbrush also in this bag. I then put this in the side of the case with my shoes. I always remember to leave a bit of room for the clear plastic bag which is going through the scanners separate to your case, once you have go through that can now stay in your suitcase and doesn't need to come out again.

When I went to Barcelona in the summer, I had heard someone at work discussing a fabulous idea and I mentioned it to my friends about doing the it for our holiday. Basically with Boots you can do click and collect to the airport terminal of your choice. When making the order you can add anything which you may need for your entire trip. I tell you something it is a god send! This is a blessing if like me, you don't want to have to leave half of your makeup bag at home. There is no way I would have managed to fit my liquid makeup products, skincare and toiletries all into one small bag this year. Therefore, between us we came up with a list of basic toiletries - shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, razors, deodorant, sun cream and cleanser to share and ordered it to our terminal. It is free click and collect and as you have already gone through security you can basically buy as much as you want. We have done this today when flying to Madrid and it worked just as smoothly as the first time. When I went to Amsterdam in September with my family we didn't do it, and it was such a faf at security as my deodorant rolled out of my plastic bag. I had to then wait in the queue for my entire suitcase to be searched. To be fair mini toiletries are so expensive, and for everything which we ordered it came to £20 between 4 of us.

I took a small rucksack alongside my case as most airlines allow this, however there are restrictions to the sizings. In here I kept my passport folder with my passport, travel insurance documents and Euros, so it is all in one place. I also put my camera, iPad and phone in my rucksack, alongside a magazine and book. Everything which is valuable or I am going to need on the plane is what I usually pack in here. 

I packed in my suitcase a small handbag for day and night time, as I wanted something smaller than my rucksack. I then put other miscellaneous products like chargers, adaptors and a travel size mirror in the zip part of the case. It all fitted in really well and I knew where everything was so I could reach for it easily. I also never fill my case to the brim as I know I am going to want to buy some things whilst on my holidays!

I hope you have found this post hopeful, leave any more tips in the comments.

Lucy
xoxo

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid

Whilst in Madrid we were staying at Playa de Mayor which is off one of the main squares. On the first day we went for a little wander around the local streets, and within a very short distance we had found a small bustling area surrounding a market hall. In the guide book it did mention that there are lots of little markets dotted around the city. We were definitely ready for food after an early start to get on the first plane to Madrid that morning. Mercado de San Miguel was the perfect place for us to get our first taste of what food they had to offer, and I have to say it definitely did not disappoint.

This market is just a food market, which for three girls who love their food our eyes instantly lit up at all of the different stalls. It was great as the stalls had different type of tapas, and instead of having to buy one big meal a lot of the food was sold in bite size canapes. Everyone took a plate, and filled it up with food from all of the different stalls making it like one big buffet.

   

 I started with eating with ham croquettes which tasted so nice, the texture was the perfect combination of crispy and smooth. I then choose a parma ham and cheese baguette which was a little bit smaller than your average baguette, however this made it not too filling and the ham was delicious. I then finished up by eating a crepe with lemon, sugar and strawberries which was the perfect finishing touch to my delightful dinner. After we had all eaten we decided to have our first taste of sangria, we chose the strawberry option and it tasted sensational.

On the last day we made a second visit to the market as there was so much more food we wanted to try which we had seen on the first day. I just had to get two more of the croquettes from the stall from the first day. This time I got one cheese and one ham to see if the cheese was just as good as the ham, and I can say it was just as delicious. On the first day one of my friends had tried the vegetable paella and said it was gorgeous, therefore I took the plunge and tried the chorizo and chicken paella and it was honestly the best I have ever tried. It was very filling and was only 5 Euros. I also picked up a fruit smoothie, which tasted lovely and they had all different flavours on offer. We were all really impressed with the prices of the food and drink, as nothing was overpriced and it was great as you was able to try a variety of foods without the spending a fortune.

This market is definitely worth a visit and is in a central location which is easy to get to by public transport. It is open for the early morning into the evening, so depending on what time of the day you go you will definitely be able to find something to eat and drink.

Lucy
xoxo

4 year Blogiversary

I cannot believe I started up my little old blog 4 years ago today. I remember sitting in my room at university and thinking I am going to do this. It is so funny when I look back at my old posts, as I honestly thought you had to blog everyday. I remember being so busy but always getting home to put up a new post on time, for obvious reasons that only lasted a few months. I would use my wooden desk at uni as mt background, and my phone to take my photos. This was all way before the days of marble and rose gold backgrounds!

I have definitely had some ups and downs whilst blogging, but the good definitely out way the bad. When I first started I felt as though I would never, ever belong within the blogging community but I started joining in chats and before I knew it I felt as though I had a few online friends. I have definitely had times where I have felt like giving up, once being earlier this year where I literally thought about writing a goodbye for good post. However, I picked myself up and started remembering the reasons why I started blogging, and the joy it had bought me and before I knew it I was back in the game.

Attending events especially the Bloggers Blog Awards the last two years has made me realise the amount of amazing and talented bloggers which are out there. I have met some truly great people and I love that blogging has allowed me to do this.

I have got some big plans, which I literally need to just put into action. I want to buy my own blogging domain, it is definitely about time. I also want to have a little rejig of my blog design and incorporate a bit of colour into it, instead of the black and white theme which I currently have.

As I have already said I go through phases of loving and hating blogging. I am currently in the loving stage and I really want to try and broaden my horizon. My blog has always been beauty based, and I think that is why I felt stagnant with the direction it was going. I have enjoyed speaking my mind in lifestyle posts, and sharing my holidays and expanding the travel section of my blog recently. I still want to post more fashion posts, I always put outfits together and want to share them. However, I never want to ask my mum to do a little photo shoot and I just haven't really got the confidence for it either. It is definitely something to work towards.

I am so happy I have managed to get to 4 years of blogging, and I am a little bit proud of me self for sticking it out, and dedicating a lot of time to a hobby which I do (most of time!) thoroughly enjoy.

Lucy
xoxo

My Jo Malone Cologne Collection

I have wanted to write this post for months and months now and I finally got around to it (horray!). I recieved my first Jo Malone perfume over 3 years ago now as a present, and ever since I have become obsessed with the brand. Since joining the blogging community 4 years ago, it is clear that bloggers love Jo Malone and it is all for the right reasons. I can hands down 100% say that Jo Malone is my favourite brand of perfume. I sometimes wear these fragrances to work, and I always feel a little bit more fancier. I often have people compliment me whenever I have just got to work, on how nice I smell which is always lovely. The best thing about these perfumes though is as they are all colognes, they all have fabulous longevity powers.

Nectarine blossom & honey was my first introduction to Jo Malone, my parents bought me this for my birthday a few years ago and it is such a beautiful scent. You will notice that there is a running theme throughout this post that I like fruity scents. I like something light and refreshing on the skin, and this is exactly what this fragrance is. It is the sweetest of the three perfumes, you can definitely pick up the sweet nectarine which adds the softness and all round fruity aspect to the scent. There are also notes of honey and blossoms which adds the smooth and knits everything together, along with the cassis which I had to do a little bit of research on. It is a type of blackberry which definitely adds a more intense juicy scent, but it keeps the fragrance from being too sweet with just the orange and honey tones. I have currently just received my second bottle of this for my birthday in July, so the original 30ml bottle lasted me a long time.

Blackberry & Bay is the one which I reach for the most; therefore I would say it is my overall favourite. This one is not as sweet as the first, and it is a perfume which I would wear on any occasion day or night. You can definitely straight away pick out the blackberry scent in this, which adds the slightly sharp tarty part to the perfume. I have always been able to smell a more woody aspect to this, and though this would be due to the bay leaves. However, this is actually down to the cedarwood within the notes of the scent. I think the bay leaves role is to blend everything together, and keep the fresh and light part to the cologne which is actually what I love. I hate anything too overpowering or too dark and musky and this is a perfect balance. I have also recently bought myself a second bottle of this, after I smashed my original bottle on holiday. Thankfully, there was only a tiny amount left in the bottle.

English Pear & Freesia is the latest addition to my collection; I had wanted to add a new fragrance from them to my collection for a while. However, I was really struggling to find one which I loved enough to spend my money on. I got this for Christmas last year, after spending some long at the Jo Malone counter with my mum trying to pick a scent. Everyone keeping trying to get me to try Pomegranate Noir, but it is just not to my liking. This is different to any fragrance which I have ever owned, as it does have some floral aspects to it. Jo Malone still puts this into their fruity collection due to the pear scent, which is a mallow but still quite juicy scent. It also contains freesia which is a type of flower, and patchouli which adds the woody notes to the cologne and also enhances the longevity of the fragrance. Out of all the fragrances, this is the one where I struggle to pick out each element as everything is blended together so well.

Heads up if you travel frequently or know someone who does, definitely check to see if there is a Jo Malone in your local airport. At Manchester Airport unfortunately only at terminal 2, they have a Jo Malone shop and I was seriously shocked at the discounted price of their products. The 30ml colognes are usually £45, whereas in the airport it cost me £35. This is a great saving and like I say the discount is tax free plus a little more and is across the whole of their line.

Which scent should I pick up next?

Lucy
xoxo

Earrings for Autumn

I have been looking for some new 'going out' type of earrings for ages. A few weeks ago I bought some from New Look which were similar to these new black ones in the photo. However, I wore them to the Bloggers Blog Awards and the main part of the earrings were flower shaped and a majority of the jewels fell out, so I returned them as faulty and was back to square one.

Earlier this week, I went on a little shopping spree into Manchester as I really wanted some new earrings to wear this weekend for my friend's birthday. I have seen these black tassle ones (currently sold out online) which I purchased on lots of different Instagram's, and I love how they looked. Heads up though, they are selling these in H&M where I purchased them from for £8.99. However, Topshop have an almost identical pair but are charging £15. These must have sold well in H&M as they had them in at least eight different colours including navy, red, rose gold and white. I decided to go simple and pick up the black pair as they will go with any outfit. I think they will finish this weekend's outfit off perfectly.

I recently saw on Primark's Instastories that they were finally getting in some new earring styles. Primark are usually pretty on it with trends, but I feel like they have been a bit behind with this one as big out their earrings have been in since the start of the season. Anyway, they did not have anything to similar to the chandelier type (the name I have given them!), but they did have these two pairs which I picked up. The first pair are the white feather earrings, which also come in black. These were just £2.50, and I am definitely going to get a lot of wear out of these. The second pair I picked up are these daintier rose arrow plaited earrings. These were only £1.50, and I am very excited about wearing them as they are much more subtle. I am hoping that they add the finishing details and dress up different simple outfits.

I am very happy with my purchases and I already know that all three of these pairs are going to be worn frequently especially leading up to the festive period.

Lucy
xoxo

My Favourite Four Concealers

I have tried many concealers over the years, but I currently only have these four in the collection as I use them all on regular rotation. They all belong in the budget to mid point price bracket, and I think with concealers you definitely do not need to break the bank in order to get a decent all round product.

I could not, not include the Collection lasting perfection concealer in this post as it is a firm favourite amongst many beauty bloggers. I must have purchased over five of these since my teenage years, as they cost just £3.99 and do exactly what I want it to. It offers a high coverage and I use this to cover over my blemishes and then set it in place with some powder. The only problem with this is its shade range. I am guessing that this is one of Collection's best selling products, so for it to still only come in three colours all these years later baffles me. It comes in light, medium and dark. I have used both light and medium over the years, but at the moment I am using medium as I still have a little bit of tan left from my holidays.

I read about this Seventeen stay time concealer on a beauty bloggers blog about a year ago, and at the time I thought I might as well give it a go. I use this in the shade fair as an under eye concealer. I think this works well at brightening, and best of all it offers great coverage. It is nice and budget friendly at just £4.49, and I have bought three of these over the past few months. It is great for those days when you are really tired and you are going to be out and about all day long, but you still want to look fresh and awake.

I bought this after another beauty bloggers recommendation for under eye coverage and I have not been disappointed. It is the NYX HD concealer which costs £6, and this is really great at brightening. I always notice a visible difference in my under eye area when applying this. It is lightweight and moisture rich meaning that the creamy formula is easy to apply without any creasing or cakeyness. A great option if your skin is slightly on the drier side of the scale.

The Sephora high coverage concealer is the latest and most expensive (£14) addition to my concealer collection. First of all, I really like the applicator it is a flat wand which makes adding the product easy to apply. This comes in lots of different shades, I went for the shade 22 natural and it is a very good match for my skin as it has a slight pink undertone which is exactly what I need. This is a full coverage concealer which has a fluid consistency which makes application very easy. I will always opt for a fluid type consistency over a thicker, creamier texture as I find that they blend in so much better and do not dry out my skin. I have been using this over my blemishes and it has been working really well, and I have been impressed with its longevity.

What is your favourite concealer?

Lucy
xoxo

Autumn Lips

Left to right: stoned rose, ibiza nights, magic wand, calypso, saint.

Two of my favourite lip products come from Charlotte Tilbury which is not a surprise as I love her brand. The lipstick which I have chosen is stoned rose, which is a gorgeous warm toned terracotta rose. I love the formula of these as they are creamy, pigmented, and feel comfortable on the lips despite having a semi-matte finish. Every time I take a little trip to one of her counters, I have to resist buying another to add to my collection as these are differently a treat purchase at £24.

I am not a big lip gloss wearer really and this is down to the change in lipsticks formulas. Due to lipsticks now coming in all different forms and finishes these days, and they being so well formulated and long wearing I never really reach for a lip gloss. However, when I want to wear one ibiza nights by Charlotte Tilbury is what I always reach for. It is sheer, shimmering gloss which is ideal for layering over any lipstick no matter what finish it is.

It is no lie that I am a huge fan of Colourpop Cosmetics and magic wand was one of the first liquid lip products I bought from their ultra satin lip line. This shade is a classic mid tone nude, the undertone to the product is more on the orange side of the scale and I really like it for this reason as I own no other product like it. I think this would look great on all different skin tones, as it really is an all round shade to wear throughout all of the seasons.

For me autumn is all about those berry toned shades, and calypso also from Colourpop does not disappoint. This is once again from their ultra satin line which is my absolute favourite from them. It is a semi matte finish which I love as you still end up with the product being matte to the lips, however it contains moisturising emollients so it does not completely dry your lips out and stays comfortable all day long. These are highly pigmented and with one swipe your lips are completely transformed. This is a mid toned rose shade, with some reddish undertones adding the berry element which I love.

 

I think this is the first LimeCrime lipstick which I have featured on my blog. This is the darkest shade of my autumnal favourite lipsticks in this post. I am not a massive lover of dark shades as I think they wash me out as I have fair skin, but saint is a gorgeous dark purple grape shade. However, with a dark, smokey eye and this on the lips it can create a beautiful combination. This comes from their matte velvetines collection which is a matte liquid lipstick line. Saint definitely has the most matte finish from all of these lipsticks. I have been impressed as this is highly pigmented and once again only needs one swipe across the lips. The only negative to this lipstick is they dry down very matte, and if you have quite dry lips it can be slightly uncomfortable.

What are your favourite lipsticks for Autumn?

Lucy

xoxo

Vichy Dermablend Foundation

Six weeks ago I made an on the whim purchase (which I do often!), and bought the Vichy dermablend fluid corrective foundation from LookFantastic. I have tried a few Vichy skincare products over the years and I have always been impressed. Their makeup line is something which has always appealed to me as it offers high coverage products for troublesome skin types.

I decided to make an order and purchase the foundation. I have to say I was very impressed with the service from LookFantastic, I placed the order late in the afternoon and it was with me the morning after. I opted for their standard free delivery service, so I was super pleased at how fast they got it to me. They also had a promotion which is currently still on at the moment, where the foundation was on offer from £20 to £15.

The shade range in this collection is limited as they are currently only offering seven shades. I bought this after my holidays so went with the shade 25 nude, which is the second to lightest shade which they sale. I think for my natural skin colour minus a holiday tan, I would need the lightest shade 15 opal.

I have learnt over the years that fluid foundations work with my skin type the best. I started trying this foundation with both a buffing brush and beautyblender, and after usually both a number of times I definitely prefer using a sponge over a brush. I use a damp beautyblender as I find it creates a much more flawless finish. I have also found with this product that unfortunately you can't skip the skincare and priming stage before applying the foundation. As it has quite a thick consistency once on the skin, having the skin prep stage first definitely contributes to a more perfect finish. Once applied to the skin the foundation definitely allows you to build to a full coverage, without having to add multiple layers. This has a lightweight fluidity which does instantly blur into the skin helping to hide my acne. Once or twice, I have added a bit too much and I have looked a little cakey, so it is definitely best to apply one layer and then build on areas which need more coverage.

Longevity claims to be one of its main selling points. I am the queen of having to wear foundations for a long time and when I say I put them to longevity test, I really do. On a standard day at work my foundation is on my face for 15 hours. For the purpose of this post, whilst at work I would check up at different times of the day on how it was performing. Before lunch which is usually 5 hours wear the foundation looks amazing still. When I am approaching the 8-9 hour mark, I definitely see wear and usually it is over my chin area. By 14-15 hours when I am getting home from work and have eaten my dinner, the foundation has worn over my entire face. I am however still yet to find a foundation which lasts for 10-12 hours without any wear in the slightest. Overall, it does have good longevity, and lasts the same amount of time without budging as my other favourite foundations. I just wish there really was a foundation out there that does not budge for my entire shift.

To mix things up on a few occasions, I have added a blob of L'Oreal's true match foundation and they actually work really well together. I have been very impressed as they have effortlessly blended together and once again have produced a natural, radiant finish. I like to often mix foundations as if you have a foundation which has a great glow element for example, but does not have your desired coverage you can create your own combination. I am yet to find the absolute perfect foundation which does everything I want, so mixing is a great way of trying to achieve this.

Something which I will say is that this is a 30ml tube and it is not going to last me too long. I apply two blobs of this onto my sponge, which is the amount I apply for any foundation. However, after using it 3-4 times a week over the last 6 weeks the tube is near the end. This is something which I am not obviously impressed with, and I am unsure to the reason why I have gone through it so fast as any other my other foundations are also 30ml. Therefore, within the next month I am going to have to repurchase another tube.

Lucy
xoxo

Stoned Rose

I have owned this Charlotte Tilbury lipstick for a good year now, and whilst applying it the other day it came to me that it is yet to make an appearance on my blog despite the fact it is in my top 5 lipsticks. Stoned Rose is a beautiful warm toned coral rose. It is the lipstick that everyone needs in their life, and I would define it as the ultimate my lips but better, and makes them look more plump and defined shade. This is from her K.I.S.S.I.N.G line which was different from her original line which was all matte formulas. This is a soft, full coverage, highly pigmented lipstick which has a buildable formula and dries down into a comfortable cream finish.

Charlotte Tilbury is no doubt a high end brand, and this lipstick costs £24. It is definitely a payday treat, or something to add to your birthday/Christmas list, as paying for this just about broke my heart. However, every once and a while we deserve to treat ourselves and this was definitely worth the money. I own two other shades from her collection in Very Victoria and Sexy Sienna, which are bought from her matte revolution line. I find all three of the lipsticks long lasting and comfortable on the lips. I have my eye on the shade Pillow Talk which is currently sold out online, but I swatched it in store the other day and it made my heart skip a beat. It is once again very much an everyday shade but is more pink rather than nude toned in comparison to Stoned Rose.

Lucy
xoxo