Sephora Wishlist

It's the middle of the month, where you're counting down the days until payday and thinking I might just treat myself to something new. It is also that time of the year where Summer is just around the corner and your having to save every penny possible. However, you always manage to justify to yourself that one high end sneaky purchase is highly justifiable as you've 'earnt' it, or that's what I tell myself anyway. So to help you along with that one special product which you deserve, I've put together a wishlist of everything which I am currently lusting over on the Sephora website.

The original of the Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara has been something which I have been wanting to try for years. But the price and the fact it wasn't waterproof always stopped me. However, I think this new formula is something which I need to try out. I am super picky about my mascara choices and I usually choose a budget friendly option. I think this would be perfect for the summer season and on my holidays.

There has been such huge hype surrounding the launch of the new Jaclyn Hill x Becca collection. The one piece from the collection which stands out to me is Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop Skin Perfector. Becca is well known for their skin perfectors and this looks stunning. It is a soft pearlescent gold with pink peach undertones to add additional glow. This can be mixed into your foundation for an overall glow, or used as a highlight to add luminosity and dewiness to create an overall healthy glow. This however is not cheap at $41, but is has made its way to the top of my birthday list.

This Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette is absolutely gorgeous and has such a beautiful mixture of shades. If I had not just bought the Too Faced Peach Palette and topped up my Makeup Geek palette, this would have been ordered in a flash. I have so far managed to resist, but I am not sure how much longer I will last. It contains 14 shades from neutrals to berry tones, and that is what drew me in. I have been totally loving experimenting with different berry toned shades and this palette has a great variety of both mattes and satin finishes.

I have been totally loving my Kat Von D Everlasting Lipsticks which I bought at Easter when I went to a Sephora in Spain. I have a full review and swatches here of the two shades - Lolita II and Lovesick which I picked up. Basically in a nutshell, they are the best out of any liquid lipstick which I have ever tried. This colour Noble is described as a pretty petal nude, and looks like a gorgeous coral/peach. These cost $20, but is will be the best $20 you've spent in a while - I promise!

When this was released in the UK I managed to resist the huge and temptation to buy, this only happens when I have just made another splurge on another item. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit cost $40 which I actually think is good value as you get 4 full pans of different shades of highlights. From what I have seen this have great pigmentation and looks beautiful when applied to the skin. If they were to bring these out in individuals I would definitely be wanting to pick one up. 

This has appeared on many wishlists of mine, and for some reason I have never taken the plunge to buy it. The Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer is a well known product with a high credibility as being excellent. This has a demi matte finish, but prides itself on being a high coverage but with a weightless finish. This instantly appeals to me as like I always say I hate the feeling of something being high coverage but it feeling thick, so the fact that this is a fine fluid consistency instantly appeals to me.

I haven't seen anyone talk or blog about this Hourglass Illume Sheer Color Trio. I bought the Hourglass trio blush palette last year, and it is still used on a daily basis. The pigments are finely milled and portray beautifully when applied to the skin. This new palette contains a bronzer, blush, and highlighter in the form of a lightweight, cream-to-satin formula for a radiant, natural-looking finish. Hourglass is a high end brand and at $62 it is definitely not a cheap purchase, but this is love at first sight and I need this in my collection.

I have been wanting to try out a new high end foundation for a while now and this sounds really beautiful. The Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation is full coverage, which is what I always look for as I like to be able to cover my acne without it looking cakey. I love the hydrating aspect of this as it will provide moisture and dewiness to the skin. This is going to be on the top of my wishlist when my Sephora trip happens later this year.

Urban Decay has launched a 100 new lipsticks consisting of all different shades and finishes, and some of them look sensational. Whilst browsing the Sephora page Liar instantly stood out to me. It is a cream pink nude with a satin finish. I already own many lipsticks which fall into this description, but I am a total sucker for a pinky nude and I will never have to many. There are so many lovely shades in this collection, and there will definitely be something for everyone.

Has anything from this wishlist taken your fancy?

Lucy
xoxo

A Beauty Bay Haul - Makeup Geek & Morphe

Last weekend Beauty Bay had a half price on all Makeup Geek eyeshadows meaning they were just £2.50 each. It was one of those moments like always, where the internet can't quite cope and there was a little bit of mayhem and Twitter uproar. The website wasn't quite keeping up to date with refreshing stock and it all got a bit crazy. I managed to finally add five shades to my basket and I also picked up the Morphe E10 Concealer Brush as I had been wanting to try something from Morphe for ages.

The shades which I picked up were Secret Garden, Envy, Peach Smoothie, Tiki Hut and Rebel. I am really happy with all the shades which I picked up, as they add added some variation to my existing palette. I picked up Peach Smoothie and Tiki Hut as more everyday shades which I can use to blend and as transition shades. I had been wanting to pick up Peach Smoothie for ages as I heard so many people saying that it is a must have within anyone's collection. Rebel looks sensational in real life, it is a lilac iridescent pearl shade which will look beautiful over the summer. Secret Garden is the first duo chrome eyeshadow which I have ever purchased. It is a gorgeous shimmer teal with lighter green shimmer tones running through it. These are more intense than the normal shades as they have instant shine and shimmer, the duo chrome effect and the highly packed pigment. This will look amazing on a night out and I am hoping this matches my pale blue eyes perfectly. I also bought Envy to compliment Secret Garden as it is a darker green shade. The plan is to blend them together to make a beautiful night out smokey eye. I cannot wait to try all of these out properly and put them to the test. I love my Makeup Geek eyeshadows which I already own as they have a really soft texture and have great pigmentation. They have such a wide range of shades, mattes and shimmers in their collection and they are great value for £4.95.

I may or may not have made a second order .. so be prepared for an  part 2.

Lucy
xoxo

Colourpop Lip Product Haul

(Top to bottom - Magic Wand, Cozy, Littlestitious, Poppin' and Cami)

After loving so much of my last Colourpop haul which you can read here. I decided to make another one, it just so happens that I had lots of saved products to my basket when I received an email saying it was 20% everything for the weekend. The products are very cheap anyway but this justified me placing the order. Last time I ordered from the company I got hit with a customs fee, as the order was over £15. Therefore, this time I placed £15 ($21) worth of products in my basket to save me being hit with a charge, and it worked! There was so many different products which I wanted to pick up, but what really drew me in was the new shades to their different lipstick lines.

From my last haul I really liked the Ultra Satin Liquid Lipsticks, and there was some amazing new colours which had just launched. I picked up three shades Magic Wand, Cozy and Littlestitious. I have also heard great thing about their Lippie Stix so I took the plunge and ordered two in the shades Cami and Poppin'.  These dry to a matte finish which I was excited about trying as I have steered clear of the Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks as I have heard that these are really drying and can become uncomfortable when wearing.

 Littlestitious is a light dusty pink pastel, I bought this for everyday wear as I hadn't bought any from the line which was an everyday pink shade. I thought this would be great for me to wear during the day to add a little colour to my lips. This is actually the only one which I am not sure on first impressions whether I like it or not. This is definitely going to take a little bit of playing around with, as I feel like it as it is such a light nude it washes me out. I will have to work my magic and see what I can do. I bought Magic Wand which is a true nude for the same reason. I was torn between this and Echo Park in my first order and instantly regretted not picking it up so this was a must have when placing this order. It is a darker nude, which I like as it doesn't blend into your lips and makes them non-existent. It adds some definition and volume to my lips. I recently wore this on a night out and I wasn't sure whether it suited me or not but I actually loved it at the end of night, and I don't own anything like this. I don't actually remember ordering Cozy! I had to double check my email when it arrived to check it wasn't mistake. I have quite a few bright liquid lipstick shades but I do not have anything liked this, so this was a pleasant surprise. It is a cool orange toned red, which will definitely get lots of use this summer just like my Sephora Lip Cream in Mandarin Muse did last year. When I first put it on I instantly thought that it suited my colourings really well, as I think that some bright reds can be too overwhelming on me.

Since shipping American brands to the UK has got so much easier, I have seen so many beauty bloggers doing Colourpop hauls which is great as I get to have a nosy at what they have been buying, and most importantly their favourites formulas and shades. I use the service Shipto as it is super easy and you can find all the details out here. I had seen Kathleen Lights wearing this Matte Lippie Stix in Cami and instantly thought it was a beautiful shade. It is neutral toned mauve pink, but it definitely falls into those lovely purple toned shades which are on trend at the moment. The other shade which I picked up was Poppin'. This is a florescent bright rosy pink which will look beautiful during the summer. I imagine wearing this was a simple rose golden eye, and a dusting of pink blush.

I was really intrigued to test out the formula of these and see what they are like. I tested out Cami first on an evening when I was meeting some friends for dinner. I was surprised at just how creamy the formula was, they are super soft and glide on like a dream. I instantly thought the creamy formula is similar to MAC lipsticks, and for that reason is why I love them. Cami looks a lot more purple toned on me than it initially looked. I instantly really liked it though, whilst out I was putting it to the test and these are transfer proof on to glasses but all colourpop lip products are. Poppin' is a lot brighter and darker than I thought it would be and it is definitely a rose pink. It is going to perfect for summer, and can't wait to wear it out. The formulas seem to be consistent throughout the line as this is just as creamy as Cami. I found these super easy to apply and the nib is the ideal shape for my lips. They do transfer and I found that I had a tiny bit of smudging but it was nothing major and was easy to reapply.

Lucy
xoxo

3 Favourite Foundations

If you've been a reader of my blog for a while you will know that I love foundation, but when I find one I love I stick with it. Therefore I currently have three that I use. I don't actually have any other at all in my collection that I occasionally reach for as these are just far too reliable to feel the need to ever reach for anything else. 

First up Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation I use this on days when I need a good coverage with one layer it sets to a medium demi-matte finish. This is not the finest of foundation consistencies but it does not feel thick or cakey on the skin. This is a great daytime weekend foundation I find. It lasts great for a good few hours, stays looking fresh and in place. This would not be my go to foundation at night though, as I always wants to look fresh and dewy and prefer a lighter foundation with more glow and radiance. 

Nars Sheer Glow is my favourite of all time. I have never tried another foundation with as much glow and dewiness as this without looking shiny or oily. On a night out I always grab this as I like to highlight more than usual, and it makes a perfect combination. I also use this on hotter summer days when I don't want anything too thick or too feel like I have a second layer on my skin. The only downside to this is the longevity I find it does not quite last as long as the other two foundations as like it says it is a sheerer coverage. My suggestion is if your going out for the afternoon or a night then this will last much longer with a spritz of Urban Decay's All Nighter Fixing Spray.

As I write this posts it's 3am and I am on a night shift, I have been putting this Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 hour Foundation to the test the last few days both day and night to test its longevity. Somedays I can have my foundation on from 6am - 9pm, meaning I definitely can put it to the longevity test. I like the fluidity to this as it applies super easy with a beauty blender. It has a medium - full foundation, and drys to a nice hydrating and very comfortable finish. I can always tell how good a foundation is to how it lasts over the acne on my chin. This lasts pretty decently I have to say but when I get home my foundation has 100% come off in places, but what foundation isn't after 15 hours. It has never gone patchy or clumpy which is a massive bonus. I found that this actually lasted better on my night shifts than day shifts. I'm putting this down to the heat and warmth during the day. I think the 25 hour claim is definitely ambiguous unless as I always use primer and fixing spray with all my foundations. This is a great for a budget option though, and I definitely does not feel drying on the skin which is what I am always looking for in a foundation.

What is your current favourite foundation?

Lucy 

xoxo

ASOS Espradilles

I saw Lily Melrose who is one my favourite bloggers post about the comfort of these Jazzlyn Espradilles on Twitter over bank holiday and how much she loved them. Unfortunately, the  natural colour has sold out but they come in lots of different style sand colours. ASOS had 20% off them for one day only so I had to pick them up. They are only £12 full price, but getting them at £9.60 was an even better deal. I instantly thought these would be great for my holidays, but then I also thought they would great to wear over here when we have those warmer days but it is not quite sandal weather.

These are comfortable to wear and instantly put them to test as soon as they arrived on my doorstep. These are going to be great for the summer, and are going to be my go to shoes for my holidays as they will perfect for day trips. They are a light weight fabric  meaning they are breathable and I am hoping will they keep my feet from getting too hot. If you are looking for some summer shoes to take you through the season, these may just be your perfect pair.

Lucy
xoxo

Eyeshadow Palette Collection

This MAC Warm Neutrals palette contains so many great shades. This has the greatest range of golden toned shades which I have ever come across. That may sound a bit vague, however for a girl like me who is all about that gold eye this palette is perfect. It has a mixture of light golden with cool tones, medium toned shimmers and darker more rosy tones. I would say that a bit of variety of colours is lacking, but as the name suggests it is suppose to be a neutrals palette.

I had been wanting to pick up some Makeup Geek shades for ages, and after a few months I took the plunge and finally put my own palette together. I put them all in a Small Z Palette, so that they were all in one place and they are easy to swap and move around if I want to. I really like the formulation of these, they have great pigmentation, are easy to blend and last a good number of hours on my eyelids which definitely are more oily than dry. I love that I was able to create my own palette as sometimes in palettes you get a few shades which you love, but you also get a few which get barely touched. This way I have handpicked shades which I have chosen as they have appealed to me and I definitely use all the shades which I have in this palette.

The Too Faced Sweet Palette is the newest addition to my array of palettes. I picked this up on the launch day at the beginning of April, and I have been using this nearly on an everyday basis. It contains such a diverse range of shades including vanilla, peaches and caramels. This also had a great range of matte shades which is not what I usually reach for, and its added some variety into my makeup looks. Unfortunately, this palette has currently sold out, but if you are quick you can get it from their makeup counters in stores.

What is your favourite eyeshadow palette?

Lucy
xoxo

Summer ASOS Wishlist

We have being having some fabulous weather in the UK at the moment, and ASOS has some fabulous summer pieces. I have put together in this post everything which is currently sitting in my saved basket, and which will hopefully be making its way to my wardrobe throughout the next few months. I have been saving things for my holiday but also some new summery pieces to add some colour.

I love these Lace High Waisted Shorts, they are a loose jersey material which makes them great for my holiday when it is boiling hot and you want something more loose fitting and comfortable, yet still looking stylish. The lace detail is beautiful and you could definitely dress these up for nighttime.

These are the must have sandals which I need in my wardrobe this summer. I have fallen in love with them, the Tickle Clog Sandal have such a lovely grey snake print which is definitely not my usual go to print. But, I think these will look great on and add some detailing to any outfit. They look like they will be super comfy with the thick sole and the heel is not too high, so I will be able to wear them day and night.

I have been needing some new Converse and my sister said she would buy me some for my birthday. I have been hunting the internet high and low and I really love the style of these Perforated Leather Ox Trainers. I wanted a pair which I can wear on a daily basis, and white is the perfect colour for summer. These have a thinner sole which is great for summer, and I really like the gold detailing on the lace hoops.

I have been wanting this Girl Power Tee for ages. However, it is forever out of stock. I am not a huge slogan tee girl, but I just love this as it is simple and quirky. The light pink striped top with the black detailing will be super easy to style with some light coloured jeans or shorts and some sandals.

I hate, hate, hate swimwear shopping. It is the bane of my life. Trying to get something to fit everywhere in which it should, not make you look bigger than you are, flatter your figure and feel comfortable in is not an easy task. This Gathered Deep Plunge Swimsuit is simple but something different to any average black swimsuit. I love the plunge detailing, but I am hoping that having the extra black strip underneath will help give support, and also make the plunge less deep which would make me feel less conscious. I am not sure how this will fit but I am definitely going to order it at some point and see how it looks on me.

The Floral Occasion Shorts and the Cami Top with Scalloped Trim is the outfit which I am planning on buying to wear out on my 22nd birthday depending on the weather. I love the detailing on the shorts and they look like they should be so much more expensive than £35. I sometimes find that with a birthday outfit you will buy something brand new just for the one night out and you then will never wear it again. However, with these shorts I can definitely wear them on my holidays. This was styled on the site with the cami top and I thought they made a great combination. The top is simple but the scallop trim makes it more detailed and pulls the whole outfit together.

I have been wanting some Quay Sunglasses for ages now but I have never quite found the perfect shape or style for me, and they are also quite expensive. I found these Jeepers Peepers with Blue Mirror Lens for £18 and I instantly thought they would look great on holiday. The light blue shade is perfect for summer, and I love the mirrored lens.

I have been looking for some new trousers to wear more for the nighttime as I find them super easy to wear, style and I feel very comfortable in them. I really like these Ankle Graze Trousers as they are a light linen material which is great for the hotter seasons. The light pink shade would bring some vibrancy to my wardrobe and any outfit, and I could wear these with the scalloped cami top and some white sandals or heels.

Have you got your eyes on anything in my wishlist?

Lucy
xoxo

Kylie Cosmetics Lip Glosses & Why I Won't Be Ordering Again

Love or hate the Kardashian/Jenner clan, their makeup is always on point and I was excited for the launch of the Kylie Jenner Cosmetics lip kits when they were first launched. I ordered my first lip kit in Posie K and I stand by that it is a good product and you can see the full review here, where I praised it. I still wear it regularly and do not regret buying it. However, since the first launch the company seems to have some serious customer service problems.

I am no way writing this post as I personal target, but I like to be honest with my readers. So after receiving the lip kit, I wanted more and then she announced she had a line of glosses. There's are a range of 3 glosses and I liked the look of them. I ordered 2 in the shades Literally and So Cute as I thought they were well priced at $15 and I couldn't wait to receive them. I bought these on the first product launch. When I receive them they looked like this ...

Not only had I had to pay a £13 customers charge, but also look at the state of the products. This was brought to my attention by Jeffree Star who had a little rant on snapchat regarding how bad the brushes to the glosses were. Unfortunately, mine were just as bad if not worse and you are literally unable to apply the product as they are so messy and product ends up everywhere. I was really angry as with shipping and customs these had cost me £45. She announced a week or two later that she had recognised the problem with the brushes on the glosses and was resending everyone new glosses / brushes. But this was literally down to Jeffree being a big name in the beauty community and she had to respond. I am not sure if she would have done anything if it had not been for him.

3 weeks later after I received my new glosses and I was so happy to see that the brushes were normal. However, on arrival to the post office I got another £13 custom charge. This annoyed me beyond anything as the products were faulty and they shouldn't have been sent out before they were probably tried and tested the first time. The brushes were thankfully better as they were shorter and resembled a brush when it came out of its tube.

So to the actual lipglosses, they are like nothing which I have ever tried or owned in my life. They have a super thick formula and you need precision when applying it otherwise it ends up everywhere. I was convinced to buy these due them looking great on Kylie, but if you have a fair skin tone and blonde hair like me these do not complement you very well. So Cute (top) literally just blended into my skin colouring, and is very much a true nude colour. This is the best out of the two as I think I could just about pull this off, but it is definitely not going to be a go to or must have. Literally (bottom) is much darker than I expected as looks like mud on my lips when I first applied it. As the formula is so thick it is hard apply without it being streaky. If you apply a little and smudge it into your lips with your finger these work much better. The main reason I don't like this is due to the colours, but would definitely not jump to buy anymore as the formulas is way too thick as a gloss. I would really struggle to wear this over a lipstick as the pigmentation and thickness would completely wash the lipstick colour out.

The business has literally taken off with a boom - good on her girl! No one can take that any from her, and she differently knows her market. But I can't help but think that the products that are now being released have been somehow rushed with little thought to the detailing of the products. Unlike the lip kits which were in the process of making for months. Like I say I am a huge Kylie fan but I think I am going to save my ordering from the company for a while now. This saddens me as I wanted to pick up the candy K lip kit and one for my best friend for her birthday. After reading Salt and Chic's recent post where her box came empty, I don't think it is a risk worth taking. 

Lucy

xoxo

The Monthly Roundup for May: Deadlines, Placement, Nights Out and Summer Plans

Deadlines, Placement and Qualifying
May saw me hand in my ever last piece of coursework at uni and my god was it a relief. I still have the result to get back from it which is nerve wracking but I am hoping I never have to write an essay again ever in my life (or at least until I possibly do a masters in a few years!). It is such a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and the end is finally in sight. Alongside this in terms of all things uni, at the end of April I started my last ever placement before I qualify. Just writing this scares me terrifically. I have 12 weeks of placement, and at week 10 I qualify. I am about the embark on week 6 and I cannot believe how fast time is whizzing past. I didn't really have a settling in phase as the ward has been so busy, but I want this placement to be as busy as possible so I am fully prepared for when I qualify. I am not going to lie I am super excited to finish my degree though.

Nights Out
I'm not sure what happened to me in May but I seemed to have gone a little bit crazy with going out. I went on a night out to the Northern Quarter which was an unexpectable night. We went for food first in a restaurant called Dough which does a-m-a-z-i-n-g pizzas. I recommend it if you are looking for somewhere new to eat in the Northern Quarter, or you are just simply a pizza lover like me.  We then went to a few cocktail bars such as Tiki Hula and Apotheca which were lovely. I was a little bit disappointed as we wanted to try out Turtle Bay but it was way too busy and the queues for the bar were crazily long.

The following weekend I went out again to the Northern Quarter for my best friends 22nd birthday. She lives in London where she is studying so I don't get to see her that much, so I was super excited to be reunited as she's such a babe. I had an amazing night drinking a variety of different cocktails at places such as Trof, Neighbourhood and Hula. We got in at about 3 so we clearly had a great night, and obviously a picked up a pizza on the way home!

I also went out for a little night out in Carlisle as they have some really nice cocktails bars at the moment, and it's cheaper than back home which is always a positive. At this moment in time whilst writing this I am debating on going out with my girls this weekend as it is bank holiday. I am currently fighting the urge as my funds are thin, but I don't know just how strong I will be able to be.

Getting excited for summer
I have been getting super excited for summer, July in particularly. It is all starts with Beyonce at the start of the month, which I am super excited for as it is going to be amazing! Then two days later it is my birthday and I am turning 22, and I just love having a summer birthday and planning a special night out. Then I finish placement and uni for good, meaning I will qualify as a nurse. This also means I will be leaving my student house and Carlisle for good, which I currently have mixed emotions about but I am super excited to be back home. Then the week after it is my friend from unis hen do, so we are going to a fancy spa hotel, going to the theatre and then having a big night out in Newcastle. To finish July, the day after the hen do I am going to Tenerife for a week with my girl friends from home, which is super exciting and I just cannot wait. All in all I have lots planned for summer, as in August I am going to Majorca with my mum and dad for 2 and a half weeks. So you can probably understand that the thought of all this is getting me through my last term at uni.

Lifestyle
I also joined Slimming World this month as I am determined to lose a stone which was my weight was before I started uni. I also found out some news from the doctors this month which came as a shock and I am undecided as to whether I am going to share it on my blog yet. I have started on some medication which I am hoping will help, but also explains my years of acne and also my weight gain (I ain't preggers!). I started Slimming World at the start of the month, and the first week I didn't take it seriously at all. However, week 2 I followed the plan to a certain degree and I lost 2lbs so this was the kickstart which I needed. I have also been doing Charlotte Crosby's 3 Minute Bum Blitz, and I actually really like it. There are some easy routines building up to much more intense routines which definitely make you sweat. As the sessions are only 3 minutes I usually choose my favourites and and do about 5/6 as well as the warm up and cool down.

I don't think I have missed anything out, and it seems like a lot actually happened in May!

Lucy
xoxo

May Favourites

This month I bought a few new beauty products which was very exciting, and I have been totally loving having them within my collection and I have been using them alot. We have had some lovely weather this month, and I have been enjoying mixing up my makeup. I have been loving bright lips this month, so I have been experimenting with my favourite shades.

The Jeffree Star Cosmetics in Gemini is one of my purchases this month. I bought this and the shade Doll Parts and I did a full post on them which you can read here. The shade Gemini is beautiful, it is a nude which has warm terracotta tones. This is definitely not a shade which I would naturally gravitate to but something just drew me into it. I am so glad that I purchased this as I have worn it twice and I have had so many compliments. Most importantly, it is comfortable to wear and survives the cocktail drinking test. The brand is American but the British site Cocktail Cosmetics imports the stock when they do restocks which is great.

The other product which I bought this month is the Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette. I had been eyeing this up for months ever since I saw it advertised by Too Faced. I have been using it pretty much everyday since I bought it. As I explain in this post, I thought this was going to just lots of peachy/neutral shades which is what you would expect by the name. However, it has such a variety of shades, some of the best which I have seen in a long time. This would be superb for travelling because of the vast shade range. There is a mixture of mattes and shimmers, and those peachy tones within the palette are rather beautiful and perfect for Spring and Summer. This has unfortunately sold out everywhere at the moment online, I bought it on it's release day. They do have some Too Faced concession stands in some Debenhams so definitely check out your nearest store.

I bought the Imperial Leather Marshmallow Shower Gel on the whim whilst I was waiting to pay in Boot's as I remembered that was what I was actually going into buy, not the handfuls of makeup in my basket. I initially thought that this could be overly sweet, but in fact it smells delicious and just like pink marshmallows. This was such great value for just £1 and this lathers up nicely, and leaves your skin feeling smooth and soft.

I have re-fallen in love this month with the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation. When I first bought it I was not convinced by it, and considering the £29 price tag I was disappointed. After being determined not to give up with it, I started experimenting with it in a variety of different ways. I definitely think this works better with a damp beauty blender rather than a blending brush as the formula can cling to dry patches, so you definitely need a good base which has well moisturised your skin.

What have been your favourites during May?

Lucy
xoxo

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks - Lolita II and Lovesick

Kat Von D liquid lipsticks are the most sort after liquid lipstick on the beauty market. Unfortunately for us brits they are only sold in Sephora which is such a pain unless you want to mass online order. I picked this up when I was in Spain over Easter. When I was at the till I considered putting Lovesick back as they are not cheap (20 euros). But I really wanted to try more than one colour out, and I am so glad that I decided to buy it as the shade is gorgeous.

Lolita II and Lovesick are both shades which I had done my research on, as there has been huge publicity from bloggers surrounding these. There are quite a few must have shades and I quickly swatched nearly all of the shades which they had available. These two really stood out to me. I originally thought I wanted Lolita and that was the shade which I thought I would buy. But I realised that Lolita was actually so much darker than I thought, and I wanted to pick up some everyday shades. Lolita II is a rich nude with terracotta tones. It is a medium mix between red and orange, and I own nothing like it. This type of shade is so popular at the moment and lots of brands are bringing out these colours. Lovesick a medium rosy pink. I was initially thinking that I had quite a few lipstick colours already like this. Pink is a colour which I have always been naturally drawn towards, it is my favourite colour and suits my fair skin tone and blonde hair colouring. I did not own any liquid lipsticks of this shade, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to add to my collection.

The formula of these are soft and smooth when applied and then they dry down to a matte finish. A lot have said that they the length of the wand is too long on these, but I actually really like the thin, long wand as it helps with precision. The nib is slanted and allows you to create the perfect shape of your lips, meaning you can fill them in easier. I have worn these numerous times and everytime I have been really impressed. They stay comfortable on your lips, they are dry but all matte formulas have to be. However, they are not overly dry or become flakey and patchy. My bug bear with liquid lipsticks is when the inner part of my lips starts to fade and the outer edges are still perfectly in place. This stays in place pretty well, I think that you are always going to have a little bit of budging when eating especially with greasy foods with lots of oils. This is however pretty budge proof and you only need minor touch ups after eating. Reapplication is easy and doesn't require much effort, as I just usually reapply a new layer to the entire lip and it is as good as new. If I have not eaten it will easily last a good few hours and look as good as new. The application is more glossy and smooth when it is first applied. It definitely doesn't take long for it to dry into a much more matte finish which then sits nicely on the lips.

I have got my eyes on picking up some more of these, but unfortunately it won't be until July when I am in Europe next. Do you have any shade recommendations for me to add to my wishlist?

Lucy
xoxo

Ivy Park Tee

Ivy Park is the latest launch from Queen Bey. I am a huge fan of Beyonce and I was both surprised and excited at the launch of her new sports and fitness range. I was intrigued into the reasonings as to why she wanted to launch the range and if she had had much input into the brand or if it was her name being attached the brand just for the promotion. She was recently on the cover of Elle magazine and she did a full interview with them which was dedicated to the range. She talks about how she was the one who came up with the initial ideas, as she saw a gap on the highstreet market. She also states how she was the one to approach the bosses of Topshop as she thought it would be a company who would represent the brand well. The line involves lots of different clothing pieces which are made from different fabrics which she says are breathable. I can see that a lot of time and effort has gone into the line as the clothing is aimed at a wide range people doing different exercise levels. There is also a variety of styles depending on your body shape and what you finds fits you best such as the leggings coming in low rise, medium rise and high rise. 

On the day of the release I wanted a few things from the range, but as I was ordering online and the website kept crashing I just picked up the Logo Crew Neck Tee in Pink to see whether I liked the products or not. However, I got an email a few days after saying it was now out of stock and it has been since. I then went into a store and picked up the Logo Crew Neck Tee in Light Grey as I thought it was a classic tee which I would be able to wear both in the gym and casually. I picked it up in the size XXS which is technically a size 6, meaning these are definitely bigger than Topshop's own sizes as I would always get an 8 in a tee. It is a light thin super soft jersey material, which comes in a relaxed shape. It is comfortable to wear and at £16 I think it is good value. I am wanting to pick up some more pieces from the line and the bralette and leggings are at the top of my wishlist. 

Have you picked anything up from the line?

Lucy

xoxo

NYX Baked Blush in Foreplay

I had £7 worth of Boots points to spend and what better way to spend them than on a new product from NYX. Every product which I try from them is constantly wowing me and this does not disappoint. It is the Baked Blush in Foreplay, which is a gorgeous pink blush with a golden shimmer running through it. Before buying this I had been consistently wearing my Hourglass Blush Palette as I love how soft the texture is and the colour pay off from the shades. I haven't heard much about these baked blushes from NYX, but they looked really lovely and I was instantly drawn to this shimmery shade. They have good pigmentation but if you want a strong blush look you may need to give your brush a swirl around the pan a few times. I like that it is not over the top though, and for spring and summer a light dusting of this shimmery highlight over my cheeks is exactly what I want.

They cost £6.50 and there are some seriously gorgeous shades within this collection. I have a fair skintone so this looks beautiful on my complexion, but I think this could be a little too light for a lot other skintones. Like I say, there is a lot of shades in this range and I think that there would be definitely be a shade to suit everyone. NYX are popping up in Boots left, right and centre which is exciting. If there isn't a counter near you then you can get everything which NYX sells online.

Have you tried these baked blushes?

Lucy
xoxo

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipsticks - Gemini and Doll Parts

(Top - Dolls Part, Bottom - Gemini)

I do not know where I have been for the last few months or even years, as I didn't know anything about Jeffree Star - who he was, or what he was all about. I saw some of my fave beauty bloggers tweeting all about him and his cosmetics line and I decided to do a little research. I first came across his YouTube channel, and was seriously expressed with his makeup skills as he is insanely good. I subscribed and became a little bit obsessed with watching lots of his videos. I then realised that he his a line of liquid lipsticks. If you know me I love liquid lipsticks, so I was instantly intrigued, after a little more research I realised that these have been really been in demand and read some incredible reviews. When something is really difficult to get hold off, it instantly becomes a mission of mine to get hold of it. I was super happy when I discovered that they sell his products on Cocktail Cosmetics which is a British website, which instantly makes me happy as I am done with paying custom charges from America.

Around this time he was about to release some new lipstick shades - Scorpio and Gemini. Scorpio is a lilac purple shade which is stunning, but a little too out there and definitely not an everyday shade for me. Gemini on the other hand was definitely more of a me shade, it is a nude shade but has a hint of burnt orange which makes it different to anything within my collection which is differently how I justified this purchase. I also set my sights on the shade Dolls Part which is differently a Lucy shade. It is a cool toned pink shade, I definitely have lipsticks which are similar to this shade but I don't have any liquid lipsticks in any similar shade, another justification! I missed the first restock of Gemini which I was pretty devastated about, so when they announced they had some extra stock left I was my missions to get my hands on them. I was on placement that day which was so typical, but it just so happens that the trusty JasmineTalksBeauty was on hand to give me the heads up and I literally went on my break and saw her notifications so jumped online to get them for myself. Talk about perfect timing.

They arrived the day after which was super great service, and I could not wait to try them out. I quickly swatched them, and was instantly filled with happiness. They are smooth to apply, the wand is slightly arched making it easier to define the outer edges of your lips. The formula is slightly wet when first applied, but very pigmented  and on the same level as the Kat Von D liquid lipsticks. Once dried they are matte, but are comfortable on the lips and remain comfortable which is what you want in a matte formula. Last Saturday I wore Dolls Parts and it actually sets a little darker than when first applied. I spontaneously decided to add a little Gemini into the mix on the centre of my lips and the results were epic. I love experimenting and this was something which worked really well. The most impressive part was they literally did not budge at all, unlike the ColourPop ones which do transfer. I had multiple cocktails, and when I went to look in my mirror my lipstick was still perfectly in place. I was seriously sold, and it definitely passed the longevity test. These are £14 which I think is a mid range to high end price and you definitely get your money's worth. Unfortunately they are sold out on Cocktail Cosmetics but they do seem to restock whenever Jeffree restocks his own stock. I know that quite a few bloggers have ordered from his website and they cost $18 so it works out slightly cheaper at about £12.50, but then the shipping is a little bit more and like I said before Royal Mail is being very thorough with their custom charges at the moment. His website does however have Doll Parts currently in stock so if need it then you can grab it there.

Are you on board with the Jeffree Star hype?

Lucy
xoxo

Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette

I have swatched each shade:

Line 1:

Line 2:

Line 3:

I have been waiting for this Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette to be released since I first saw it appear on Twitter a few weeks ago. They day it was released on the debenhams website (currently out of stock), I went online and instantly bought it with no regrets. I am so glad that I picked it up as it is such a lovely palette. I have never tried any Too Faced products previously, but I have heard so much about their Chocolate Palette I was so excited to try a product from the brand.

This palette smells of peaches but it is nothing too overwhelming and you have to get pretty close to be able to smell the scent. I was worried that there was going to be too many peach shades in this palette, which sounds crazy considering the name but I wanted it to have some versatility. It was every thing which I could want and more, in terms of the shade range. It has three truly peach shades - Just Peachy, Candied Peach and Bellini. These are all beautiful shades and I have enjoyed using them as I don't have any true peaches in my collection. My favourites from the palettes are Nectar, Lusicious and Cobbler. Surprisingly I love Peach Pit which is a beautiful glitter purple shade which I think is lovely. 

In terms of the the pigmentation I think there is a bit of variety within the shades. Most of them have amazing pigmentation with one swatch but shades such as Peaches n Cream take a little more work. They are all still good shades though which is what you want in a palette. This is great for everyday is there are a range of nudes and golds, but there is also some much more intense shades to create a much darker smokey eye.

This palette is perfect for the spring and summer and I really think if you are looking for a new palette with versitaltity that this is for you. It is great for travelling and I was surprised at how streamline and thin the packaging is, making it less bulky and doesn't take up a lot of room. The palette is limited edition so if you are wanting it, I suggest you try and snap it up sometime soon.

Are you going to get your hands on this beaut of a palette? 

Lucy

xoxo 

My Favourite Liquid Lipsticks

There are soo many liquid lipsticks on the market these days, as they have landed in the beauty industry with a well and truly big boom. I am a huge fan, and am always wanting to try new ones out whenever they are released. I do own quite a few so I thought I would do a little run down of my current favourites.

First up the latest addition to my liquid lipstick collection is from Kat Von D in the shade Lovesick. I have fallen head over heels for this, and is a stand out favourite. It is a rose toned nude which suits my skintone beautifully. The formula of these are one the best out there, but they are also the most expensive. They have a soft texture and apply super easy. Some people have commented that they are not fond of the long wand, but I actually really like that as I find it makes it easier to be precise. I wore this at a night time and I found it lasted really well, and the texture is the most comfortable and lightweight of them all. A firm favourite and I must pick up more next time I stumble upon a Sephora.

There was sooo much hype around the release of the Kylie Cosmetics lip kits (post). I really wanted one and one night whilst scrolling Twitter, I saw that they were doing their first ever restock so jumped on the site and managed to get one. I picked the shade Posie K which is a little darker than Lovesick, and has darker purple tones running through it. I do really like this and I like that it comes with a matching lip liner. These are a tad drying on the lips but they are the mattest of the bunch. They dry matte and stay matte, so they do what they say they are going to. These are so hard to get hold off, but I think $29 is a good price. However, with the shipping and custom fees which adds up to nearly the same amount as the product I won't be in a rush to reorder.

The NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams are more of a mousse like texture, which I like as they are comfortable to wear and are not too drying, but these are not a true matte. Prague is a lovely rosy pink shade which is a great spring colour and I think I am going to get a lot of wear out of. Istanbul is a cool pink toned nude and I am a huge fan of this. It is a great everyday shade and one which I keep in my handbag as it is a shade which will suit all makeup looks day or night. These are great value for just £5.50 and are so much easier to get hold of now they are sold on Boots online and also within many Boots stores.

Discovering the brand ColourPop has not been good for my bank account, but thankfully the prices of their products are very affordable (post). A lot of american bloggers are a huge fan of their liquid lipsticks, and I love their Ultra Satin range. I have three shades, all of which are great quality and different to any other liquid lipstick within my collection. Panda is a deep pink violet and a colour which I would never usually choose as it is much too daring for me to wear. I took the plunge and ordered it and I have been totally loving it. Lyin' King is another bold shade and one which I have been loving just as equally. I own lots of nude toned liquid lipsticks and its great to have a brighter pink shade to wear. Echo Park is the nudest lipstick of any kind which I own, and I previously always stayed away as I thought they would wash me out, but in fact this looks really lovely. It is slightly darker than a true nude so it still stands out slightly, this has become a favourite of mine and is also one which I reach for on a daily basis. I adore the formula of these as they are a satin finish. This means that they have a slight sheen and are more moisturising than any of the others. They are definitely not glossy but they have a satin finish which means they look more glossy on the lips than any other liquid lipstick.

I have just picked up two of the Jeffree Star liquid lipsticks and I cannot wait to try them out! What are your favourite liquid lipstick?

Lucy
xoxo

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

I bought this back at the start of April when I took a trip to Sephora in Spain. The Kat Von D Tattoo Liner was a must have within the blogging / beauty community when it was first released quite a while ago. I always thought 20 euros was rather expensive but I really needed to see what all the hype was about. I am so pleased that I did pick this up as I definitely do not feel as though I have wasted my money in any way. The nib is ultra thin and made into the perfect point, this is what sets this apart from the rest on the market. Before this I had been using the Rimmel Scandaleyes Liner for years, and I stand by that it is the best eyeliner available at the drugstore. However, the nib is much finer and flexible which really allows you to create the smallest line if that is the look which you are going for. I always try to take some extra time with liner, to build it up to my desired thickness. This allows you to do it as quickly and precisely as possible as it is so super easy to use. I picked up the black shade which is called Trooper, I would say that it is a true black and is true to colour. They also have a dark brown shade called Mad Max Brown, if you prefer brown to black.

 I had heard that this does not include much product for the price, which was one of the reasons which was keeping me back from purchasing it. I was surprised at how small it is as it contains 0.02oz, I am hoping that this does last me quite a while. As I say it is definitely not cheap and the most which I have ever, and will ever spend on an eyeliner. The pen nib clicks into place within the tubing and it feels like there is a spring inside it. This is a great addition as I am hoping this will keep it fresh and prevent it from drying out which is the one downfall with all liquid liners. When I bought this I did not know it was waterproof but this is such an added bonus as my eyes do get watery and I hate when it starts to peel off and looks patchy. All in all, I have been really loving using this and has fast become my go to eyeliner.

Lucy
xoxo

Zara Cross Body Bag

Whilst doing my weekly browse of the aisles of Zara within the TRF section, my eyes were instantly drawn to this pale pink Cross Body Bag. It is a great size and is perfect for everyday as well as nights out, as you are able to fit everything which you need for the day or night into it easily without it being a tight squeeze. I really like that the press stud fastens on the inside of the bag as I feel like it is a little bit safer, but also it doesn't take away the simplicity of the bag. This will be great to take on holidays as the colour is pale and will suit so many outfits. I love that the detailing is golden and the chain is chunky and adds some style to the bag. I am a fan of clutch bags especially for the night time and this is really versatile as you able to take the chain off and have it just as a clutch if you prefer. If you are not a fan of pink this also comes in a lovely mint colour, and I was torn as to which shade to choose as they were both beautiful colours. I think I am going to have to go back and buy it as already know that I would get so much use of it. If I have not yet managed to convince you to buy this for yourself, I think I will by telling you the price which is just £9.99. I think it is such great value for such an on trend bag for the Spring/Summer.

Lucy
xoxo

Refinding motivation

After I got back from my recent holiday from Spain, I found myself being so relaxed and super chilled which is just what I needed. Before I went away I found myself at the peek of my 'blogging game', I was organised, constantly posting, having pictures and posts written up in advance and having lots of new ideas to constantly feature on my blog. I was so motivated and excited about my content, which is the key reason as to why I blog.

On return from my holiday I had some motivation to start the motions again, but it was forced rather than my usual enthusiasm. I decided to kickstart myself by brainstorming lots of ideas as this always leads to me thinking of lots of new things. I then look in my diary to see when I have free time and assign when I'm going to take photos and when I'm going to write posts. This helps to feel in more control of when I'm going to blog and I instantly feel much more organised. I think I can put lots of pressure on myself to blog as I want to have constant new posts, and it's sometimes frustrating not having the time.

To find further inspiration I always have a browse online, read magazines, read others blogs to see if it can spark anything which can relate to your content and blog, and lastly read your own older blog posts. I read Elle monthly and it always inspires me to find new products and trends for the season. Following brands on Twitter and joining in #bbloggers chat always motivates me as I can get excited about beauty products with others who equally enjoy the same passion.

I also enjoy looking back over old posts and what I my viewers have most enjoyed reading. This is especially helpful for posts such as favourites, must haves and posts which feature multiple products. This really helped me plan for the entire month as I you can plan around things which you will doing within that month. Even if you just start listing products which you want to feature in a post, but are not sure what you are going to do with it yet, at least it is down on paper and you can refer back to it at any time you like.

I find using my blogging notebook and planning out posts is also an essential way to kickstart your mojo as having it out in front of you makes everything much more easy to see. I also put the dates of the days I am blogging down one side and then brainstorm on the other page so I don't miss anything which I might think of in an instance. Just having a few ideas jotted down can catapult ideas and before you know it you have your entire months worth of posts planned out.

I think something which is important to kickstart getting your mojo back is reading comments from your readers and looking at your stats. No matter how big or small your blog is seeing that someone is reading it is a huge deal and that is what keeps me going. Seeing that people are reading and enjoying your work is the biggest amount of motivation in which you can get.

I do however think that if you do need a blogging break then take one. We all get those days when we just do not want to blog and I always find on these days that my work is never as good. Never force yourself to blog, it is something which you should enjoy every moment of. Sometimes I find myself really unmotivated yet when I do start blogging I totally get into it. But I have had many of days when I just cannot get into it, and these days are definitely not suppose to be blogging days. I put my camera and laptop down and just reschedule to blog on another day.

I hope you can take away a few tips from this post! Please let me know what motivates and inspires you with your blog?

Lucy
xoxo

The Best 2016 Launches So Far

The beauty world has released so many new products since the start of 2016, and it can be overwhelming as to what we should/shouldn't be picking up. I have picked out a few of my ultimate favourites which I have been loving so far this year.

I think this Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara launched right at the start of the year, and it has been my only mascara of choice. If you a regular reader of my blog you will have seen this mentioned in many posts as a must have drugstore item. I love the formula it gives my lashes a good amount of lift and volume, it is a little bit wet so it does take a little longer to dry but that is the only downside I ever find when applying this.

I discovered the brand Colourpop at the start of the year, and the one product from them which I have become obsessed with is their Ultra Satin Lipsticks. These launched at the start of March I have three different shades but the one which I have been wearing on repeat is Echo Park. It is the perfect nude but with slightly dark and has rosy pink hint to it which is what I adore about them. These are a liquid lipstick which have a great shade range, but most importantly apply smoothing and last a good amount of time. As they are a satin finish they do not feel dry or flaky on the lips, and are super comfortable to wear all day long. I have a full post with swatches here, but seriously these are fabulous and for $6 you cannot go wrong.

This Anastasia Brow Definer launched in February and I instantly ordered it from BeautyBay. It was the perfect timing as my Brow Wiz had just finished and I was on the lookout for a new brow pencil. I was a little sceptical of the triangular shape at first, but it actually works amazing well and allows you to add both definition and detail. They have a great shade range in this collection, I wear the shade Taupe and it is a great match to my hair colour.

These only launched at the start of April but the Kiko Candy Canes Nail Polishes are just so much fun. I have the pink colour which is called Fun Guarana. This is a polish which is literally fun of glitter and little pieces of decoration. It is quite a thick formula so I only need one coat for it apply, and they have packed so many of the little speckles that you don't have to go back in and try to add more. This is just £4.90, and I am excited to pick up some of the other shades.

What have been your must have products to launch so far this year?

Lucy
xoxo