NYX Custom Palette

Whilst taking a weekend trip to Sheffield, I went to Meadowhall and they had a really big Boot's store. Whilst wandering the aisles of their NYX stand I stumbled across a big custom palette section which set my heart racing. I have never seen this before and I thought it was such great value. I managed to persuade the other girls that this was such a great idea, and perfect for holiday. You can choose from a 4 or a 9 palette. I thought I wouldn't go overboard so I choose the 4 palette. It took us at least half an hour to choose 4 shades. It was such a hard decision as there was so much choice. By the end the other girls were sick to death of choosing, and they were getting stressed about it which I would really funny as that's how I always get!

The 4 colours which I finally chose were Sex Kitten, Pixie, Vixen, Addiction. The eyeshadow palette was £3.50, and the inserts were £2.50 each. I thought this was great value and it was a good investment. I always think no matter what palette you buy, there is always some colours which you barely ever touch. I have certain tones of shades which I always gravitate to, as they are what I think look the best on me. This is why I love custom palettes so much as you can personally choose your favourite colours, and put together something which compliment each other and you know you will use.

I used this for the first time on the night that I bought them and I found that some of the shadows needed to be sprayed with my Urban Decay Fixing Spray in order to bring the pigments out. I actually found that these have a smooth and easy to blend consistency. I applied my eyeshadow primer before this and I found that during the night they latest well. I was really happy with the combination of what I had chosen to put in my palette as I used all 4 shades that night and they worked beautifully together.

I really love the idea of these custom palettes as you can probably tell. I think these are great value as the shadows are usually £3.50 each, so you are saving £1 just by buying the pan form. I have had my eye on the NYX Highlight and Contour Palette for a while now and it is a great price at £18. Within that Boots concession you are able to buy a custom contour palette which I was really excited about, however they were sold out in the correct shades for my skintone. I so hope that they bring these custom palettes to all of the stores soon, as I think this a brilliant idea. I for one will be being it for sure.

Have you tried any of the NYX eyeshadows?

Lucy
xoxo

Recent Drugstore Buys

So I was recently going on a night out and I needed to picks some essentials. I adore and always get if I can the Fleur and Fabulous lashes. They look super natural but definitely add volume and length. I like that they are not too thick or dark and they are easy to apply. They are also just the right size for my eye which surprises me as I usually need to chop a little bit off. These are just as good as any MAC lash and such great value at £5.95. All the lashes in Fleur's range are really lovely and I recommend them if you are looking for a budget friendly pair. With some lashes you only get one use out of them, but with these as long as you peel them off carefully you can definitely get two uses. 

The MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter has had huge hype surrounding it and whilst wandering the aisles of SuperDrug I decided to pick it up. At just £3 I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. My first impression of this is that it is a pigmented product which does add shimmer and glow. However, it definitely  takes more than one application to achieve my desired glow. My glow expectation isn't actually a disco ball in case your wondering, I like a highlighter which makes me all glowy yet looks natural. I currently find applying it with my fingers works much better than with my brush. I would very much appreciate it if you have this highlighter to tell me how you find it works best on you. 

I don't own many products from Revlon, it is just not a brand which I naturally gravitate to. I knew I wanted to put something new to the test, and wanted to stay clear of the Collection concealer as I've tried that before. One thing I did discover on my search is that the drugstore really lacks in its range of concealer choices. If I was lucky a brand had one or two concealers available, some didn't even have any in their ranges. I had never realised the huge gap for them in the beauty market before, and the drugstore needs to massively up their game. I decided to settle on the Revlon Colourstay Concealer as I much prefer a liquid concealer over anything else as I find it much more easier to blend, and it feels much less cakey and thick on your skin. I got this in the shade Light and it is a pretty good match for my skin. I like the feel and consistency of this as it quite thin and light and allows easy and quick application. It does remind me of both the collection concealer and the Nars creamy concealer. It definitely isn't a high coverage, I would put it in the light-medium coverage category as it is buildable. If you don't have blemishes and just have light areas to cover I think this is a great concealer to pick up.  

Have you got any new drugstore recommendations?

Lucy

xoxo

The Monthly Roundup for June: Cocktails, Sale Shopping and Moving

As mentioned in my May roundup I didn't have huge plans for June as everything seems to be happening in July. It has been a month of getting my head down and concentrating on my final placement. I have also been trying to work as much as possible to make some money for summer for when I am back home, as I am not able to start my job until September.

I took an exciting trip to Sheffield to see my friend who is living and work there. I went with my two other friends and it was so fun taking a trip to another city, as I love taking spontaneous weekends away. We took the train which was lovely as the journey only took about an hour and I felt like a little girl going away on an exciting trip. We went to Meadowhall which is a big indoor shopping centre, we had some amazing food at TGI Friday's as a treat and then did some shopping. I had been ranting on to everyone about NYX in Boot's, so I dragged all of my friends in. I was determined not to buy anything but in that store as it was a large one, they have there own build you own custom palette (post coming next week!). I have not seen this in any other store and I could not resist. For tea we decided to make fajitas to save a bit of cash, and I got an overwhelming feeling of how much I would love to live with the 3 of them in a flat as we would have so much fun. We had a fab night drinking too many cocktails, and catching up on all the gossip as always! It has made me super excited for the holiday as these girls mean the world to me.

At the end of next month I am jetting off with those girls to Lanzarote, which is super exciting. This only means for thing - buying holiday clothes. All the sales started at the middle of the month, and I could have gone crazy online as there was sooo many bargains. Sometimes sales can be so hit and miss but these ones have been really good. It all started with a trip to the Zara sales in store as it is my favourite shop ever. My mum bought me a beautiful cropped bomber jacket which I have wanted for ages for my birthday and I am super excited to finally be able to wear it at the start of next month. I managed to not spend too much in the stores as I had already made a bit hefty ASOS order and bough some shoes summer sandals from Topshop.

I have been starting to pack up my things from uni and taking things back home slowly but shortly. I am definitely ready to move back home and I've started a countdown on my phone. I have enjoyed uni, but I am more than ready to start the next chapter, which is so exciting. I am a messy person so the thought of having to pack is a killer. Thankfully my parents are coming up to help me move out as as I have managed to collate quite a lot of stuff over my 3 years here.

The most exciting news to come from this month is that I got my last essay results back and after completing every calculation possible I will graduate with a 2:1. I am super happy with this as I had a really tough 2nd year and finished with a low 2:2, therefore I had to do really well this year. Unfortunately, since I don't officially finish uni until September I don't get to graduate until November. This is a shame as so many of my friends are graduating in July, but it will give me something exciting to look forward to after the summer.

I have got high expectations just for July, so I am glad it has finally arrived.

Lucy
xoxo

June Favourites

This month I have been trying out lots of new makeup which I have bought and most of it is still being put to test, and is not quite ready to make the favourites post quite yet. However, I have two brand new products from Benefit and Colourpop which I have been loving and been using on a daily basis so they have definitely been put to the test. 

The first is the Benefit Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil. I got this as a sample on this month's Elle magazine right at the start of the month. I have been using it on a daily basis as my previous eyebrow pencil the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer had literally just ran out, so it was perfect timing. The texture is waxy and a tad too dry for my liking, but it works really well and does it job. I like the nib of the pencil as it is wide, flat and angled meaning you can easy fill them in without too much fuss. Considering you could not choose the shade which you was getting I was skeptical about the shade which I would end up with. However, I ended up getting shade 2 which turned out to be a fairly good match to my eyebrow colour which is a medium brown shade. All in all, if you are wanting to try it grab this month's Elle for the sample as it's £18.50 in full size.

I recently made a Colourpop haul which contained only lip products and you can have a read of this here. Cami is the shade which I instantly loved when I first swatched it. It is a purple nude toned lipstick, which is part of their lippie stix X matte range. I really like the formulation of these as they are creamy yet still dry matte and stay matte. This has high pigmentation, is easier to apply than a liquid lipstick as it is a little smoother and I feel there is a lot less chance of it smudging. It does not drag and feels weightless once on your lips. This is such a beautiful shade and has been one which has sat in the bottom of my handbag all month.

The NYX Angel Veil Primer has been put to the test over the last few months. This has a smooth creamy consistency which easily blends into the skin. The formula is not sticky but it has a slight tackiness to it which obviously serves the purpose to make your foundation stay in place. I previously used the Laura Mercier primer which was a liquid gel consistency so this differs to that a lot. However, I feel like it works just as well. The main positive aspect of this is it doesn't feel thick, cakey or slimy when applied to the skin. This has become really popular as it is currently sold out on Boot's, ASOS and Selfridges. However, when I popped into my local Boot's last week they had a lot of stock still available.

I totally rediscovered the Urban Decay Fixing Spray this month, and boy am I glad I did. This stuff is like gold, it literally makes my makeup last and not budge off my face for hours. In the summer it definitely gets its most use, as I tend to use less makeup and I don't want it literally melting off my face. This is nearly all used up and I think next time I am going to purchase the All Nighter version as my skin is a lot less oiler than it used to be. If you have any recommendations please give me a shout. 

What have you been loving in June? 

Lucy 

xoxo

Benefit Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil

I have an Elle subscription and this month we got a free sample of Benefit's new Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil. I was given number 02 Light so was hoping for the best. I have my eyebrows dyed medium brown, so this was actually a good match as it is a light chocolate brown shade. I was intrigued to see what shade 1 is like and whether it was more of a blonde shade. There is definitely a gap of shades missing between 1 and 2. 1 looks great for light/ashy blondes but if you are more of a dark/sandy blonde I think you may struggle.

I know that the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is probably the most popular eyebrow pencil on the beauty market so I thought I would do a comparison of the two. The nib of Brow Wiz is much thinner and more like a pencil whereas the Goof Proof is thicker in width and has a slightly angled nib. The Precisely My Brow Pencil from the line seems to be more a dupe for the Brow Wiz as it is thinner and allows you to create more shape easily if you have sparse brows. The Goof Proof is actually more like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in terms of the nib type. I find that the Goof Proof is a little more drier and waxier than either of the Anastasia Brow products. Because of this, when creating eyebrow strokes it is a little bit harder because of the drier formula. However, I do actually like this product quite a lot and if someone asked me whether to buy this or not, I would recommend it. The great thing is that it is highly available to buy, unlike the Anastasia Brow products. This is £18.50 for the full size which is not cheap in the slightest, and I would say that I think this is slightly overpriced as there is a lot of good eyebrow products already out there. Also, this does not come with a spoolie with is a massive downfall considering the price. Within this range I think there is a product for everyone as the line contains a variety of different products, and I am definitely intrigued to have a more in depth look in a store.

Have you tried anything from the new Benefit brow range?

Lucy
xoxo

My Makeup Go To's

I have managed to collate all of the products which have been my 'go tos' recently and have had a firm place in my everyday makeup routine and in my makeup bag. I try a lot of makeup and to make it in to this category it means that I class it as top notch.

I always start my makeup by applying the NYX Angel Veil Primer as this is a creamy lightweight formula which is easy to blend. My favourite go to foundation is Nars Sheer Glow as it has a medium coverage and when using the Beautyblender it creates a beautiful dewy and luminous coverage which is buildable. I then use the Nars Creamy Concealer to cover any blemishes or redness. The MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Powder has been my go to powder for years. It was one of the first MAC products which I ever bought, and I will continue to rebuy it. It is a light finely milled powder which is great for setting my base products in place.

The Wet n Wild Bronzer in Ticket to Brazil has been used on a daily basis since I bought it on a whim last year on holiday. It is a beautiful mid toned bronzer with slight shimmer to add some glow and colour to my face. It has taken me a bit of time to get to grips with the NYX Liquid Illuminator. The liquid formula has some flecks of glitter in it. I find that if you lightly pop it on even very lightly you kind of create a line of highlight and it can be hard to blend in. I have started using my Beautyblender to make the highlighter less prominent and looking false.

Benefit Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil is part of their new collection of eyebrow products. I have been putting this to the test since I received a sample on this month's Elle magazine. The nib of the pencil in angled and is wide in its width which makes it easy to replicate eyebrow hairs. I have been using this on a daily basis and I have been enjoying it.

I used to be a huge lover of drugstore liquid eyeliners, that was until I took the plunge and bought the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper. It is all about the thin pen nib which is pointed to precision. I use this everyday when I choose to wear eyeliner as nothing else competes with it. The formula has never been patchy or flaked off. The Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara gives a lot of volume and lift to the lashes which is exactly what I need as my lashes are naturally short. I think the drugstore does amazing mascaras and it is one area where you can definitely save and not splurge for the same quality.

My two liquid lipstick choices of the moment are Kat Von D Everlasting Lipstick in Lovesick and Jeffree Star in Gemini. The Kat Von D formula is the best of them all as it is smooth, pigmented and is super comfortable. The Jeffree Star formula is a very close runner up, I just find them a little bit more drying but they are definitely worth buying if you can get your hands on them. His shade range is incredible especially if you like a good nude or pink.

Lucy
xoxo

Ted Baker iPhone 6 Phonecase

I finally took the plunge and got my phone screen finally fixed after dropping it not one but three times meaning my entire screen was shattered into pieces. It was finally time to pay the money and get it fixed. However, I am determined for it not to happen again, as it is an expensive mishap. It was time for me to buy a case with a front flip on it in order to keep the screen protected. I saw this gorgeous one on the Selfridges website which they currently have on. The one which I picked up is called the Hanging Gardens iPhone 6/6s case. The whole case is white with a light coloured floral design draping down the front and the back. On the front the Ted Baker logo is embossed in gold. The inside of the case has a mirror on the left hand side and the right hand side is where you clip your phone into, it is golden design and looks very chic and expensive. They have put lots of their designs in the sale and this was reduced from £39 to £27 which I think is a pretty decent bargain. When I put this on my phone I instantly loved it as it so girly and perfect for the summer time.

What phone case do you have?

Lucy
xoxo

Charlotte's 3 Minute Bum Blitz

As part of my preparation for summer I decided to buy a new fitness DVD. I haven't really got the extra cash at the moment to join the gym and it's hard between in between home and uni. I bought this DVD as there had been huge hype surrounding it. There is no doubt Charlotte Crosby has lost weight and it looking amazing! I was a little sceptical over how good this was going to be.

The DVD is built around 12 body blitz sessions which are 3 minutes each long. They are split into cardio, bum blitzing and conditioning. I personally enjoy the cardio the most. The routines are simple to follow and you can do an easy or a hard option each time. I will always do the warm up before doing any of the blitz sessions which lasts about 10 minutes. This is a great way to stretch your body and prepare for the sessions ahead. I usually do between 4-5 sessions per workout. Sometimes if I am feeling very motivated I do 7-8. As they are 3 minutes each you don't get bored and you can skip to the sessions which you enjoy the most. The routines go from easy to hard so blitz 10-12 are the hardest available. I actually really enjoy doing this and I definitely build up a sweat. However, like I have said they are easy routines so you can concentrate on put your all into effort into each routine without having to think intensively  about what is coming next.

Everyone has there own opinions on celebrity endorsed fitness DVD, but I think this is actually great. I usually do it either first thing in the morning when I first get up before I have a shower and breakfast as it is my favourite time to work out. I use this on my laptop and do the workout in my room as you don't need tonnes of space. I have also done this at the end of the day if I wasn't able to do it in the morning, and haven't wanted to miss a workout. I kind of just do it if and when I can, I haven't got a strict routine as with my shifts they really wouldn't work. My aim is a minimum of 3 times, but my target is 5 times a week. Everyone goes through phases of being more motivated on some days than others. If you planned to work out on certain day but have no motivation try and push yourself to do it. I find that once you have, you will feel much more happy with yourself and you realise that it really wasn't that bad. 

What is your opinion on fitness DVDs? 

Lucy 

xoxo

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