August Favourites

For the majority of August I have been lucky enough to have been on holiday. I think when you are travelling you really discover favourites as you are using the same products again and again.

Just before I flew away I bought a travel size version of Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray as my large version just ran out before I went away. I previously have used the oil slick version as my skin used to be much oiler than it is now. I thought because my skin now has drier patches I would try the all round version. I am happy to report I like this just as much as the other version, if I am honest I didn't notice too much difference in the spray actually doing anything different in comparison or settling in another way. I spray a first layer of this after I have finished my base makeup, and then respray once my entire makeup has been completed. I think it does help to get everything locked in and stops patches occurring which is exactly what you want in 30 degree heat.

I just cannot get enough of Kat Von D's liquid lipsticks. If you are a frequent reader of my blog you will know how much I love these. I wore either Lolita II or Lovesick pretty much on rotation for my entire holiday. Everytime I wore these I would do the longevity test and I was always impressed. I have never ever had any of my lipstick transfer onto my drinking glass, when eating I occasionally got a little bit of wearing and slight fading if my food had contained a lot of oils, but that is life and it's always going to happen. Whilst on holiday I picked up the shade Mother which is a beautiful rosy pink shade and I have been loving it, keep your eyes peeled as a Sephora haul is on it's way. As soon as KVD hits the UK I am going to go crazy as I have my eye on lots more shades!

Whilst on holiday the previous person had left The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins in our apartment. I bought it for my dad for father's day and he really enjoyed it, but it didn't seem to be a book I would naturally gravitate to when reading the blurb. However, I had seen so many people talking about, I thought I would take the plunge and read it myself. I read this in 2 days as I was totally engrossed in it, the characters are intriguing, there are constantly unanswered questions, and twists and turns evolve with every turn of a page. It is totally gripping and I do recommend that you read it even if you are into chick flicks and girly type books as this is something which will delve you into a new genre of books.

The sunglasses which are from New Look have definitely got their wear and moneys worth this summer. I have been wearing them throughout the summer months at home and on my holidays. I really like the outer edging of the glasses being gold as it adds some colour in comparison to the black, and were a real bargain for just £7.99.

What have been your favourites this month?

Lucy
xoxo

My Favourite Bloggers

1. Just Charlotte by Charlotte Burns
Charlotte mostly focuses on beauty. What I love about her blog is that she has a great way with words which is something which I am always striving to improve personally. I find Charlotte's blog really warm hearted when I read it, and it is very relatable. She has similar interests to me and likes to blog about similar topics. She is also a very open and lovely person to interact with on Twitter.

2. 30 Plus and Beautiful by Tori
Tori is one of the very first people who I followed when I really started to get into blogging and interacting through social media. She recently took a little break from blogging, but she is definitely back and I have been loving reading all her new posts. She posts about a variety of things on her blog and I love the variation which she has as it keeps her content really fresh. Tori has also branched out into Tori's World which is exciting as her usual niche is beauty, she has now ventured also into lifestyle and her new sparkly name now covers all bases. I cannot wait to read her upcoming posts!

3. The Love Cats Inc by Helen
I love Helen's blog for fashion. She always has great posts and her photography is amazing. I like how she has simple outfits but they always look so pulled together and effortless. Somehow, her blog always looks so aesthetically pleasing and it definitely makes me want to strive to improve my blog. Her instagram is also as dreamy so if you need someone to follow for some inspiration I would definitely give her a follow.

4. Salt and Chic by Amy
Amy's blog is also fashion focused. I like how she is always a little bit out there with her outfits, but she always looks so effortlessly chic (literally!). She often buys lots of key pieces which are often off the highstreet which makes her relatable. Her blog makes me want to be a little more adventurous with my outfit choices and mix things up a little bit more. She also has fantastic photos and she always looks amazing in them as she is super pretty.

5. Kate La Vie by Kate
Kate's blog is great for everything and that is why I am such a big fan. She excels in all fields of her blog - beauty, fashion and lifestyle. Her photography is simply sensational and I know a lot of people in the blogging community look at her blog for inspiration. I think she is actually out there in a league of her own, and that is the reason why her blog has such a big following. If you want some homeware and decor inspiration her instagram is where you need to be! She also owns a stationery shop on her other site called Nouvelle Daily which has some amazing stationery pieces and I really recommend that you have a look as some of her items are beautiful.

There are so many other bloggers which I always ensure which I read and keep up to date with, and there are definitely too many to mention in this one post. I have really enjoyed writing this post and spreading some love in the blogging community.

Lucy
xoxo

Holographic Mermaid Bag

When I first saw this bag in Primark I totally fell in love with it. I love anything with a holographic finish and this instantly stood out. It reminded me of mermaids with the effect and the scale like print. I was super happy when I looked at the price tag to find out it was only £10! Primark have had some excellent summer pieces this year, and this does not disappoint. I have used this on a few nights out already and it easy to wear as there is a variety of colours running through the holographic print. With my accessories I usually wear gold or rose gold, but I have liked having a silver option and I have surprised myself at how much I have reached for this.

The only downside to this bag is that it does not fit a lot inside it. I managed to fit a small purse, my phone and lipgloss all balanced on top of each other and that is about it. It is quite thin in width so if you like to carry the kitchen sink round in your bag like I usually do, then you're going to have to try and minimise as much as possible and only take the essentials. I like that it comes with a long silver chain strap, as you have the option of using the strap or using it as a clutch also.

This is a real bargain of a bag for £10, and if you want a new bag which stands out get yourself down to Primark!

Lucy
xoxo

Holiday Makeup Bag: Majorca

I have really enjoyed doing these what's in my makeup bag posts for different occasions recently, and I also enjoy reading other bloggers posts which are similar. When you read this I am Majorca, hopefully with the sun shining and with a cocktail in my hand. I always find packing makeup for holiday difficult, but I have definitely managed to streamline my Ted Baker makeup bag.

For eyeshadows I decided to take my Makeup Geek Eyeshadows as I have built the palette myself it contains lots of my favourite shades. These eyeshadows come in pan form so I keep them in a Z Palette as it has a magnetic base meaning they are easy to move and swap around from my larger to my smaller palette for when I am travelling. I have also decided to pack my Colourpop Eyeshadow in Storm, which is a beautiful golden shade. The texture of these is similar to a cream and are really easy to apply and blend. The Kat Von D Tattoo Liner is the only eyeliner which I have used since buying it from Sephora earlier in the year. It has the perfect pointed nib, the liquid comes out even and it is a jet black colour. I finish off my eye look with a few coatings of the Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara. I really like this mascara as it adds volume and length and does not clump your lashes.

I have included this NYX Angel Veil Primer in a lot of posts recently but it is the only primer which I currently own, and I really like the texture and longevity which it provides. I have recently rediscovered my MAC Studio Fix Foundation after my Nars Sheer Glow ran out and I decided to see what else I had in my collection. I used to use and buy this religiously for years and then I decided to branch out and it became a product which was collecting dust in my muji drawers. I love the liquid texture of this as it blends well and I use my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to apply it. It is medium coverage and I find it sits comfortable on my skin. However, with the MAC foundation I always need to apply a moisturiser and primer to my skin before using this as it can cling to dry patches on my skin. I enjoy using the Nars Creamy Concealer with this foundation as they have similar creamy textures and blend together well. I think this works well for spot concealing blemishes and lasts well throughout the day.

I wanted to have some choice when it came to blushes, so I decided to pack my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes Palette. These are by far my favourite blushes which I own, but they are mega expensive. This palette is one of the best makeup purchases which I have ever made, as these blushes are really finely milled they add luminosity and life to my cheekbones in an instance. I have packed the NYX Liquid Illuminator as who doesn't want to have shimming cheekbones on holiday?! I decided to pack a travel size version of the Ted Baker XO Perfume, as it fitted into my makeup bag and is a perfect size for travelling with. This perfume is a floral scent, but it also contains orange which makes it more me as I tend to venture towards fruity scents. This is a fresh summery perfume which I have really been enjoying using this season. You may have realised that I have left my lipsticks out of this post, this is because it is always a last minute decision and I didn't want to just throw anything in the photo. I usually take 3-4 lipsticks usually two nude toned lipsticks, one coral shade, and one which is a brighter pink shade.

What are your holiday makeup essentials?

Lucy
xoxo

MUA highlighter

The MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter in Iridescent Gold is my first ever individual highlighter which I have ever bought. This may be shocking to any fellow beauty blogger, but I have just never been certain where to invest my money as there are so many to choose from. I have seen quite a few bloggers mentioning this little gem which sits on the shelves of Superdrug, but was unsure whether to try for myself. I have never really been impressed with anything from MUA's line before this, so I was surprised to see how many people were excited about this product. I have had my eye on Jaclyn Hill's x Becca collaboration which contains her champagne pop highlighter collection for a while now, but I have not had the money to spend so much on one product.

On a spontaneous visit to Superdrug I stumbled across the MUA stand and decided I would take the plunge and by this highlighter, and boy am I glad I finally did! This costs just £3 and I think it might just be the best £3 I have spent in the whole of 2016. I wore this for the first time on a night out with my uni friends and as soon as I opened the door one of my friends first response was "what is on your cheekbones?". There and then I went around dusting this like crazy on all my friends so we were all gleaming like little discoballs on our cheekbones, which caught beautifully in the light. Since that night I have been using this on a daily basis. The design of this product is aesthetically pleasing  with the fancy whirl design, which is surprising to me considering the price. Although, I think the uneven texture of the product can sometimes leave a slight uneven amount of product on your brush. I therefore do a forward and backward motion to ensure that I get an even coverage on my brush. I am also impressed with the size of the pan as you don't need a lot of product therefore, I am sure this is going to last for a while before it needs replacing.

This highlighter is not too white, as it has a golden pearlised shimmer running through it. It has a fine consistency which is not chalky, and when applied it looks even and not too chunky in terms of the glitter in it. This highlighter also comes in three other shades Pink Shimmer, Opalescent Amber and Radiant Cashmere. The range definitely has something for everyone depending on what colour you prefer and suits you best. I have really been enjoying using this as you can tell and I think for the price it is a must have for me. As I have said I haven't tried any other highlighters so I have nothing to compare it to. This has definitely reached my expectations, and it has taught me to try something which you are unsure about every once in awhile.

I am absolutely loving using a highlighter now and I would love it for people to leave any recommendations for me as I would like to do some comparison posts in the future.

Lucy
xoxo

Hen do in Newcastle

Two weekends ago I ventured out on my first ever hen do and I had an absolute ball. I had moved out of my university house the weekend before and was so excited to reunite with my uni friends as we had been on a 12 week placement and I hadn't seen any of them for ages. My friend Charlotte is due to get married in September. With so many people going and with everyone's summer plans this was the only weekend everyone could do. The maid of honour did a fabulous job of organising everything and everyone decided on Newcastle as the location. It seemed logical as Newcastle is the closest big city and there is a direct train to Newcastle from Carlisle.

We got the train on the Friday afternoon to Newcastle. We all brought a bottle of prosecco to drink between us, and Charlotte popped a cork which hit me on the head which made the entire train erupt in laughter. Once we arrived we got straight in a taxi to the hotel to drop our suitcases and bags off as we were staying in Jesmond which was just outside the city centre. That night we had already booked to go to the theatre but Charlotte didn't know, and she was made up when she found out! We got dressed up and headed for some pub grub before going to the theatre where we watched West Side Story. It finished at about 10pm and we wanted to save ourselves for the Saturday plans so we headed back to the hotel which had an outdoor area to chat and drink more wine. 

On the Saturday we didn't have anything planned until the afternoon so we chilled and mainly deliberated outfits for that night as know one could decide what to wear. In the afternoon we headed to an amazing restaurant called As You Like It. From the outside it didn't look anything special, however as we arrived there was a wedding reception just about to take place so we thought it must be fancy inside. I was not definitely not disappointed, it was a large traditional restaurant with big wooden beams and lovely vintage decor. It was like a hidden gem and we were all majorly impressed. 

Me and my friend Kim shared a pulled pork pancake platter to start and they were amazing. The pulled pork was in a little pot and you were able to build your own pancakes with spring onions, cheese and sauces. It was the perfect starter as it wasn't too much and I love having snacky type starters. For the main I ordered the prosciutto wrapped sage infused chicken breast. When it came it was presented beautifully, it came with mash, carrots, green beans, a pesto dressing and a balsamic glaze. The restaurant was definitely high end as the prices were expensive. The chicken dish cost £13.95 so I had high expectations. Whilst writing this it is making my mouth water thinking about the dish. It was one of the best things for sure which I have eaten this year. You got a good amount of chicken, the mash was  buttery and the vegetable choice complemented the meal beautifully. With chicken dishes like this I would usually opt for a sauce of some description e.g peppercorn or mushroom. However, the pesto dressing and balsamic glaze worked perfectly together and it brought everything on the plate together. There was some salad leaves on top and they added an extra element of deliciousness to the dish. As you can tell I can only rave about the food. I will also rave about the cocktails. You can see in the pictures we got a sharing cocktail which came in a popcorn tub with popping candy it was a strawberry daiquiri and was so much fun! I also had a pornstar martini was which lovely and it was starting to get us all in the mood for what was to come later in the night. 

The restaurant was just a 10 minute walk from our hotel so carrying our food babies we headed back to to hotel to start getting ready for the night as we had to leave at 5.30. After swapping between two different outfits approximately 10 times I finally decided on my outfit and we headed back into the city centre. The maid of honour had booked for us to go for a cocktail masterclass at a cocktail bar called Madame Koos. I felt like I was on a Geordie Shore night out as we were in all the bars and clubs where they film. In Madame Koos we were greeted by two barman who explained we were going to be making a lot of cocktails, play lots of games and there goal was to get everyone hammered. The bride to be is known to get pretty drunk quite easily so I was hoping she would make it to the end. Although she is the best kind of drunk and makes everyone laugh! We were split into two teams and played lots of games. The first one was that each team was showed how to make a particular cocktail by the barman, we then chose a member of each team to make the cocktail. Then another member of the audience was blind folded and tasted both drinks and chose the nicest. Let's just say we lost the first three rounds. Every time you lost you had to drink a shot. The first one was a 64% rum shot which to this day still burns my insides. We decided we couldn't loose another round so we did some tactical coughing when it was Charlotte's turn and surprise surprise we won! They informed us that every drink which was made we could drink so we were constantly drinking. There was a few other games we played and we finished up playing a team game of who can drink the most shots and keep a straight poker face. I must of been a little bit dazed when the instructions were being given as I didn't realise the later on you went they added on another shot. These shots were the lovely rum shots from the beginning. I kept my head down and cheered everyone else on. Thankfully they only chose three people from each team. My friend Hannah won for us I don't know how she didn't throw up but she did it for the team! That wrapped up our masterclass. Charlotte ensured that we had every drink which we had made and we headed back to the club. You can imagine we were all merry but we didn't realise it was only 8pm! We played a dare card game, drank the drinks and danced away. 

We then headed to Floritas which is a bar I have been in before and really liked. The  drinks were not cheap but they never are in a city centre. I changed onto vodka lemonade which is my go to drink. I really liked Floritas as they have an outdoor heated area where we sat, relaxed and chatted. To finish the night we headed to House of Smiths which was house music mixed with some RnB. Charlotte had a fabulous time which was what the weekend was about. Everyone's feet were hurting and some people were very drunk. We decided to head to the pizza shop and head home as we had been drinking since 6pm and it was now 1am.

Sunday morning we headed to Wetherspoons for a fry up breakfast as we were feeling a little fragile and then we got the train back home midday. I had an amazing weekend and the only thing I wished we had done was to make time to do a spot of shopping as Newcastle has some amazing shops. The weekend was very organised and structured though so I'm not sure where we would have fitted it in. All in all, I had an amazing weekend and I would definitely recommend Newcastle as a great city to have a hen do in.

Lucy

xoxo

Tenerife

Two weeks ago I embarked on a week holiday with 4 of my best friends for a girls holiday in Tenerife. We have all been on previous holidays together, and have always had an amazing time. This year I felt I had so much going on in the run up to the holiday it was difficult for me to get excited. Once we we arrived and the sun was shining it finally set in that we was on holiday. I have only ever been to Tenerife with my family as a toddler so I don't have any memories. The island is really beautiful and the sun was always shining. 

I was really impressed with the variety of things to do within the resort of Las Americas which is where we stayed. There was a large strip which is where we headed most nights after tea as there was a variety of bars and clubs, which offered the usual deals where the drinks contain trebles and the shots are beyond tolerable. This is all part of the fun and games of a girls holiday! There was so much variety on the strip and some of the clubs were open until 6am. A 10 minute walk from our hotel towards the centre of the town there was a big row of shops, restaurants and bars. This is more where families stay as it away from the strip but not too far if you want to visit the beach. In the centre there was a big Hard Rock Cafe and shops like Mango and Bershka. This bit of the town was presented lovely and you can tell it is well looked after. The area was very bright and light even at night, it has some beautiful decor as the flooring was marble flooring and there was big foundations situated within the built up areas. 

On the last night after visiting the central part of the town we had a huge Chinese meal to celebrate having a lovely holiday which was delicious. We decided to skip going to the strip and went to this little part of town where there was lots of acts and entertainers on in a variety of bars. We saw a hypnotist and whether you believe in it or not it was mind blowing. He did an introductory task to see who was susceptible to being hypnotised, and he put me in a deep trance! I was too scared to volunteer to be part of the show as I didn't want to embarrass myself. 

It was quite strange as backing on to the strip was the coastline of the sea. Here there was an array of different restaurants and higher class bars with a totally different atmosphere to the strip just behind it. We really enjoyed eating with the view of the sea as it was stunning and relaxing. One thing which we were all really impressed with was the pricing of the food. For any pizza or pasta it was between €7-8, which is great value. I also had two chicken dishes which both came with rice or chips and vegetables and they were both under €9. I did not have a bad or average meal whilst on holiday as everything was great quality and you could tell they took pride in cooking their food. There was a lot of restaurants, therefore meaning there was a lot of competition. There was great variety of cuisines available such as English, Indian, Italian, Chinese and of course Spanish. 

We took a day trip to the Siam Waterpark which was located in Costa Adeje, which was the next resort to ours. We got on a bus which took 10 minutes and we had already bought our tickets before we went in order to avoid queues and chaos. The waterpark is the biggest in Europe, and some of the girls had been previously and said it was amazing. It cost €34 and we were there for 7 hours. This shows the vast amount of things that there was to do at the park. There was some huge waterslides, also a huge tidal pool, swimming pools and a lazy river going around the entire park. If you do visit Tenerife I think this is a must visit attraction for everyone. 

All in all I has an amazing holiday and it was so nice to properly catch up with all my friends as we are located all over the UK with uni and jobs. I would definitely visit this resort again, and I came home and said to my mum and dad they I think they would enjoy the central part of Las Americas as they would like the atmosphere of the town. 

Lucy 

xoxo

Holiday Makeup Bag:Tenerife

Deciding what makeup to take on holiday can be seriously difficult and I had to think very carefully about what I wanted to take as it is super easy to end up over packing, and before you know it half of your suitcase is your entire makeup collection. 

The NYX Angel Veil Primer is the only primer which I currently own so that was one less decision to make! I like the creamy texture of this and finds it primes my face well before I apply my foundation. Nars Sheer Glow is my favourite foundation ever, and I think it looks amazing in the summer evenings on holiday. It is medium coverage and does add a glow element and luminosity to my skin. I apply this using my beautyblender slightly damp and it meshes the foundation really well to my skin like a canvas. I've decided to not pack a powder at the moment as on holiday I like to have just my foundation and I wear my makeup for a lot less hours than at home. 

I had to pack the Wet n Wild Color Icon Bronzer in Ticket to Brazil as it is my current favourite therefore it got thrown into my bag with little thought. The only downside to this is that the pan is rather large so it takes up a lot of space. However, I love the texture, colour and pigmentation to this, it contains a little golden shimmer which is essential for me in any bronzer. I decided to pack the NYX Baked Blush in Foreplay as I hadn't used this in a while and I really like it. It is a pale pink blush which adds a lovely flush of colour to my cheeks adding brightness, it also complements the bronzer well. I have only just recently got into highlighter and I only own the MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter in Iridescent Gold. I have mentioned this in quite a lot of posts recently, buts that because I genuinely have really been enjoying using and it is now a stage in my everyday makeup routine which I don't miss. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the NYX Liquid Illuminator. I like it when it is mixed in with my foundation, but I wanted to originally use it as a liquid highlighter. I find that the formula is quite thick and it is hard to blend. This means I struggle to make it look natural when applied to my cheekbones as I seem to end up with a stripe of highlighter which isn't the greatest look. I need to have a play around with this and see if I can find a way to make it work. 

The best option to cover all bases on the eyeshadow front is to take a palette. I decided on my Too Faced Sweet Peaches palette as it has such a great variety of shades which will take you from day to night super easily. It has so many lovely orange/pink/golden tones from lights to darks and mattes to shimmers. The lipstick decision making process is always the hardest for me, and up until now I have only decided on the Jeffree Star liquid lipstick in Rose Matters. I really like these liquid lipsticks from Jeffree Star and this colour is a mid toned rose pink which goes with so many makeup looks and it suits my colouring really well. I will definitely be making some last minute decisions on any other colours which I take with me, which is usually at least 5!

What are your holiday must haves?

Lucy

xoxo

August Beauty Wishlist

Later this month I am heading on holiday and there is a Sephora not too far away, therefore all that has been on my mind is what I am going to buy once I get there. I know my time in Sephora is going to be limited and there is only so long I can tame my family for so I want to go in prepared with a clear idea of what I want to buy. However, this wishlist is a mixture of things which I am considering buying from Sephora, but also some new launches over here in the UK which I have got my eyes on.

This Moondust Palette by Urban Decay looks absolutely beautiful. I love shimmer shades and I love how vibrant the colours in this palette are. I am hoping that these have great pigmentation and they would add a real pop of colour to the eyelid.
I have been really intrigued by The Estee Edit, I have had a good look around the different items within the collection and the Beam Team Bronzer is what has caught my eye. It is a hydrating glowing moisturiser with bronzing properties to give your skin some illumination and a subtle sunkissed glow.
I have not been able to bring myself to buy something from the Becca x Jaclyn Hill collection quite yet as it is expensive, but it always looks so pretty and I have read nothing but good things about it. The new Champagne Splits from the champagne pop collection look amazing. They contain half a highlighter either prosecco pop or champagne pop, and the other half is a new blusher. I think these are a great concept as you have your highlighter and blush all in one palette.

The Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation is the product which is at the top of my Sephora wishlist as I have such high hopes for it. I have never tried a product from Kat Von D which I have been disappointed in, I have only ever been really impressed. This foundation advertises to be full coverage, easy to blend and have great longevity powers. All of those things are everything I want in a foundation and I need to try it.
The NYX Strobe of Genius Illuminating Palette instantly caught my eyes whilst browsing the the Boots website. The palette contains 7 luminous highlighting shades. The idea of the palette is being able to achieve the 'strobing' look with ease. Essentially you are able to wear the highlighters alone or combine them to create your desired look.
Whenever there is a new liquid lipstick launch I am instantly intrigued as I just cannot get enough of them. Huda Beauty is a brand which I have been wanting to try for ages, and she has had rave reviews about her eyelashes and lip liners. Therefore I am excited about her Liquid Matte Lipstick launch. Bombshell and Venus are the two colours which caught my attention as I am always drawn to pinky nudes shades, and these two do not disappoint.

On my last Sephora trip I picked up the Elizabeth and James Nirvana White perfume and I really enjoy wearing the scent. I was intrigued to see that they have added a new scent to their collection called Nirvana Rose. I am not a huge rose scented person, however I am still going to try and see if I can smell this and see if I like it or not.
There has not been a MAC collection which has launched in a while which I have been interested in. I feel that they bring out new collections all the time and the excitement of a new launch has worn off. However, when I saw that there was a Trolls collaboration I was interested to see what kind of products were going to be within the line. I actually saw the Good Luck Trolls Glow Rida in store after putting together and researching it for this post. Unfortunately, the pigmentation was nothing special. For MAC I was not impressed as the texture felt chalky and you would need to dig your brush in hard in order to get a good colour pay off. So this is already crossed off the wishlist!
Real Techniques have launched a few new pieces to their line. I think the shape of the Miracle Eraser Sponges would be absolutely perfect for applying under eye concealer and also to use for spot concealing. These are really great value for £5.99 and once they launch in store I am definitely going to pick them up.

What is sitting at the top of your beauty wishlist this month ?

Lucy
xoxo

The Monthly Roundup for July

To say that July has been jam packed is an understatement. I had so many plans throughout the month, I've made a list so I don't miss anything out. 

First up, I went to Beyonce at the start of the month. This was held at the Emirates Cricket Ground in Old Trafford within Manchester. I went with two of my best friends and it was an event which we had all been looking forward to for months. I had previously seen Beyonce once before about 4 years ago and she was sensational, and I just could not miss out on seeing her on this tour. I am sooo happy I got to see her as she did not disappoint. She is simply breathtaking to look her at, her body is amazing, she is so toned, muscly and curves exactly in the right places and you can tell she takes pride in her looks. Her voice is angelic and there is no other female artist out there who can sing like her - hands down. As she can probably tell I am a mega fan, but I think she is such a great role model for girls, and I love everything which she stands for and represents. That ticket is the best £85 I've spent in a long time!

My 22nd birthday was on the 7th July, and unfortunately due to having Beyonce off earlier in the week I had to work on that day. My lovely mentor let me go at dinner time and I was super excited. I ended up going for a meal with my uni friends at Pizza Express and celebrated over a bottle of wine. I also went on a night out in Manchester with my friends at home, we went to The Lawn Club in Spinningfields which was a lovely, relaxed place to have a few cocktails. They have an outdoor heated area which was really peaceful and I would definitely revisit. We then went onto Albert Schloss which was also a first for me, I really enjoyed it as they had a live band on, who were really good and played a variety of different music.

The 16th July was the day I finally packed up and moved home from Carlisle for good. I finished placement earlier in the week, then worked a few final days and spent the rest of the time packing. I did not get as emotional as I thought I would when moving out, as I was just super excited to be back home. Carlisle was always a temporary home for me and I was never going to stay there, maybe that is the reason why. All my friends, family and my new job are at home so I felt like this was a new chapter when I moved back. Carlisle has treated me well, I have made some friends for life and have achieved my degree so I can't complain. 

One of my close friends at uni is getting married in September, and she had her hen do in Newcastle. This was my first ever hen do so I was a little nervous as to what to expect, but I was also super excited as I got to reunite with my closest uni friends. The weekend was fabulous, we stayed in a hotel in Jesmond which was just a hop, skip and jump away from the city centre. On the first night we went to the theatre to see West Side Story which we all really enjoyed. We was always planning the biggest night to be the Saturday, so after the show we decided to have a few drinks back at the hotel and get a good night's sleep. On the Saturday we went to an absolutely divine restaurant which did not disappoint as the food and cocktails were sensational. On the Saturday night we went to Madame Koos for a cocktail masterclass. It cost us £25 each but it was such great fun, we were split into teams and had to do competitions and the forfeits included drinking 64% rum shots. As you can imagine we were all very merry after, but the night was definitely still young. We partied the night away, and most importantly the hen had an amazing time and said it was everything which she wished for and better.

I got back from the hen do on the Sunday night, and on Monday afternoon I flew to Tenerife with 4 of my best friends from home. We had been looking forward to our annual girls holiday for months, and I had an amazing time. We went for a week and stayed in a resort called Las Americas. This was a really lovely resort as it had a strip of bars and clubs which were for the younger generations. However, it is also an amazing beach which had some high end cocktail bars on the coastline with a view of the sea. It also had a big shopping area which would be perfect for families as this area had lots of cafes. restaurants and night time entertainment. Whilst we were there we visited the Siam Waterpark which was great as it is the biggest in Europe, if you visit Tenerife it is a great tourist attraction. The food within Tenerife was amazing, and I did not have one meal which I thought was average, the meals were also really well priced which is great as like I say they were really yummy and good quality.

As you can see I wasn't exaggerating when I said I had a busy July, and trying to keep up with my blog has been tough but I have managed to keep to my schedule. The start of August is not very busy for me, and then towards the middle of the month I am going on holiday again to Majorca for just over 2 weeks which is super exciting!

What did you get up to in July?

Lucy
xoxo

July Favourites

July has been a busy month and has consisted of lots of occasions which has allowed me to test out new makeup and looks. It took me a while to choose this months favourites as I have been loving so much. Therefore these are my creme de la creme this month and I am super excited to share them with you.

The Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Palette features in this months favourites post as it something which I have continuously reached for time and time again. It is a palette which is super reliable and even though it is only a quad it allows you to create a variety of looks. I have been particularly enjoying using the rusty red toned shade as it looks beautiful blended with other golden toned shades.

I bought this Sephora 10 hr Wear Perfection Foundation last year and I have only just got round to using it. Before discovering this I had become stuck in a rut of using the same three foundations on rotation as I knew they did the job. I have really been enjoying using this as the texture is light and does not feel heavy, it blends easily and it is a great colour match for my skin. It is a medium coverage and it has good longevity which is what I am always wanting in a foundation. To apply this I have been using a damp Beautyblender. Since buying my first beautyblender I  now definitely understand the mass hype surrounding it. It makes application super easy, makes coverage even and makes the application process quicker than using a brush.

One product which MAC always excel in is blushes and the shade Peachykeens is a perfect example. This contains a perfect mix of peachy shades with a pink undertone. It has some golden shimmer running through it which I really like as it adds some instant life to my cheeks. This is one of those holy grail items which you can have in your makeup bag at all times and you know you won't be disappointed when you pull it out.

I have mentioned the MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter in Iridescent Gold a few times now since I bought it, but I have been really enjoying using it. I had been wanting to buy a drugstore highlighter for a while now, but was not sure what brand to go for. This is the first MUA product which I have ever bought and I have to say I am majorly impressed. This is a lovely white pearlised shade with a golden shimmer running throughout it. It is not too white that it washes me out which is what I was worried about. I use the Real Techniques Setting Brush to apply this to the tops of my cheekbones and I just can't get enough. It has now become a part of my everyday makeup routine as it is a super simple step, but adds so much life and brightness to my face.

What have been your July favourites?

Lucy
xoxo

L'Oreal Pure Clay Purity Mask

There is no doubt that these new L'Oreal Paris Pure Clay Masks have been a must have since their recent release. They are currently on offer in Boots for just £5 until the start of August. I think you will be able to tell their popularity just by how many is left on the shelves which is probably very few, as all the boots which I have been into there has been very few available.

There are 3 different type of masks which are available - purity, detox and glow. The Boots which I went into only had the purity and glow masks, and it would just about happen that I wanted the detox! I already love detox masks especially The Sanctuary's 5 minute thermal detox mask. I find they give my skin a really deep cleanse into all the layers of my skin, and it leaves my face feeling refreshed and smooth. However, after reading about the purity mask, I thought that this may also work well for my skin as it a cleansing mask which mattifies oily skin. My skin over the years has gone much dried than it used to be. But I do still find that in my t zone especially my nose area it is still very oily. These masks have a really interesting marketing angle, as realistically everyone has certain areas of their skin which need a different kind of attention. Therefore L'Oreal are saying that you may need more than one mask at once in order to treat the targeted areas. I see the concept as being multi functional and using the different masks in different areas of the skin depending on the treatment needed. For example on me I would need the detoxing one on my chin as that is a congested acne area. I think the glow mask would work well on my cheeks and forehead in order to add some radiance and overall life back to those areas. Leaving the purity one to work its wonders on my oily areas which for me is mainly my nose.

When I first used this I applied the purity mask to my entire face like you would with any traditional face mask. The cream is light and easy to apply, I like the way the cream felt when on my skin as it was not overly sticky. It says to leave the mask on between 8-10 minutes. I definitely left it on for at least 10 minutes if not a little longer. One thing I did notice is the mask really hardens to a solid finish. Towards the end I was struggling to move my face at all and it was a little bit uncomfortable. Maybe I applied too much as like I said it is my first time using it so it is all about try and error to see how much you need. I have to say after washing it off my skin did feel very smooth and my areas of oiliness did seem more mattified. I really enjoyed using this face mask and I think I might have to pick up the other two and put the whole three masks at once theory to the test.

Have you tried this mask or either of the other two?

Lucy

xoxo

Holiday Essentials

I always have a few holiday essentials which come on any trip which I take abroad. I recently bought these sandals from the Next sale for £15 which I was super happy with. I think having a staple black pair of strappy sandals on holiday is a must have. They are perfect to wear on day trips for the comfort aspect, but also on the evening as you can wear them with so many outfits. My sister bought this big woven hat from Dorothy Perkins for my birthday and I love it. I always have to wear a hat as I am so fair and my head and face burn easy. I love the tan belt detailing around the rim as it as it adds some detail but the colour of it makes is super versatile. I picked up the sunglasses from Primark as I love the tortoise print around the rim.

The Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical has the scent of coconut and exotic tropical. This is really great on holiday for when you don't want to wash your hair, or if you just need a quick freshen up if it has been a very hot and sweltering day. It is great at tackling greasy roots and giving dull hair some life again. I am not one of those people who goes on holiday and wears tanning oil as I would definitely be burnt to a crisp. I bought the Soltan Protect and Moisturise Suncare Spray in factor 30. I am a fair headed girl, who also has pale skin with lots of freckles. This means I have to keep on top of reapplying suncream as I burnt ridiculously easy, and that is really not fun at all. This is such great value for £5 from Boots as the bottle contains 200ml. This range all contains the maximum of five stars against damage caused by UVA rays. The Vaseline Derma Beauty Deodorant is brilliant as it is in a compressed can which is one of the best creations the beauty industry have brought out in a while. It makes it so much more compact when you are travelling and it is easy to carry with you at all times. Whilst I am on holiday, I become super conscious of how much I am sweating so I reapply my deodorant at every available chance!

What are you holiday essentials?

Lucy
xoxo

Feeling Inbetween

This is a personal post which I have been wanting to write for a while now. I had a discussion with my mum about this recently and it really got me thinking. 

I was super excited to move home after finishing my degree and leaving Carlisle for good. As a nurse the process of getting a job is complicated and you have to wait for your nursing pin to come through before starting within your new job role. I am able to start in mid September on a lower pay scale until my nursing pin comes through. However, that means that I have a nine week gap between finishing uni and starting my job. Throughout my three years, my degree has been very different to other degrees and we have never got the huge summers off by finishing in May like others have. We did however get 5-6 weeks off which was plenty. This may sound stupid but it has only just clicked with me that I am not heading back to uni in September, and this isn't just another summer break. Don't get me wrong, I am super excited to start my new job and obviously very apprehensive. I do however feel like I am ready to take my step into the nursing world, and start my career. This is a massive statement to process though, and for me one which scares me massively. I have days when I am so happy to be back home and I know I am super lucky to have an amazing job lined up. But on the other hand, I am stuck in some strange kind of limbo. The feeling that I am stuck in between. 

The middle of September seems so far away, and it is. I am so lucky to be going on two holidays this year, as that will never be happening again! However, they obviously cost a lot, but I have saved for them thankfully. But, now I find myself with no job (for now) as I left my job in Carlisle to move home and there's a lot of strain on my finances. I feel like a lot of graduates are going to be in the same situation of not really sure where they fit in, and it is a very uneasy feeling. It is something which I cannot overcome as I know it is just a temporary measure, but this still causes a lot of anxious feelings. I feel that even moving back home and getting back into family life and not having that freedom and independence of living on my own which I have had is strange. I am used to doing things for myself which is something which I actually really enjoyed getting used to. The only way I describe it is that everything feels like it has taken a shift in a certain direction, and I feel off centre. 

I was wondering if anyone feels or has ever felt like this? Like I have said I know it is a short-term problem, and before I know it everything should fall back into place pretty smoothly. But for now I feel like a bit off an outsider and not sure where I quiet with in with anything.

Lucy

xoxo

What's in my makeup bag: Hen Do

Last weekend I headed away on my first ever hen do and I am rather excited. I have packed and have successfully managed to streamline my makeup bag to just take all of my essentials.

The NYX Angel Veil Primer has featured in many of my posts recently as I have been really liking the cream texture of the formula. On a night out I like to use a medium-high coverage foundation and the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation works perfectly. The formula is easy to blend, and I use a dampened Beautyblender to apply it. I use the dabbing technique in order to get a full coverage and I think it works really well. I always finish by adding a dusting of MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Powder to set everything into place. The Wet n Wild Bronzer in Ticket to Brazil is such a great drugstore alternative to Nars Orgasm Bronzer. It is a great bronzer which is not overly orange or too shimmery. In the summer MAC Peachykeens Blush is my go to shade, as it has a beautiful mix of both pink and peachy tones and adds a golden glow to my face. The MUA Underdress Your Skin Highlighter in Iridescent Gold is the latest addition to my makeup bag. For £3 it is a gorgeous white pearlised shade with gold shimmer running strongly throughout it.

The Charlotte Tilbury Quad Palette in Dolce Vita is such a great size and does not take up much room in makeup bag making it perfect for a weekend away. The four shades allow you to create a variety of different looks, whether it be something light and shimmery or dark and smokey. I always like to add a thin layer of my Kat Von D Tattoo Eyeliner in Trooper to pull together my look and make it more night time appropriate. To finish off my chosen eye look I always add a good few layers of my Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara as it adds great volume and length to my lashes.

I have been really liking using the sample size of the Benefit Goof Proof Pencil. It is similar to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyebrow Definer, in terms of the shape and angle of the pencil. It has a slightly waxy formula and it is super easy to apply and does not drag. I think I have been a little dubious only packing the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita II, as I always need more than one option. However, in my handbag I always have at least four or five floating around in the bottom so that should definitely cover me throughout the weekend!

Lucy
xoxo

Charlotte Tilbury Makeover

I recently turned 22, and I decided to treat myself to a makeover at Charlotte Tilbury. I have previously had makeovers done at MAC and Nars, and had been impressed. This was a bit of a last minute decision and they were both fully booked. If you have never had a makeover done at a makeup counter previously, it works by you paying a certain amount at Charlotte Tilbury it costs £35. At the end of your makeover you then get to choose £35 worth of makeup of your choice to take home. 

I arrived at 5.55pm ready for my 6pm appointment, there was a little confusion with my booking but it was quickly resolved. I was then appointed a makeup artist who was going to complete my makeup. At Charlotte Tilbury it works by you choosing a makeup look which they have created, there is 8 to choose from and then you can adapt it to how you want to look. I choose the Golden Goddess, for the eyes and lips. I then explained that for my skin I wanted it to be glowy and dewy with a contour and highlight. Once we had decided on products she started to work her magic.

I was shocked to discover that she did not prep, prime or cleanse my skin. She went straight in with the Magic Foundation using the Foundation Brush to apply it. She applied a medium coverage, but she didn't ask me how I wanted it but it is clear to see I have blemishes and redness. She then said to add the glow aspect that I wanted she would apply the Light Wonder over the top. I had been wanting to try this for ages, and it is a very thin fluid which did add some life and luminosity to my face. She then added The Retoucher over my blemishes and also under my eyes. This felt light and was easy to apply to the skin. Next she moved on to my eyes and used the The Golden Goddess Palette. She asked me if I wanted it smokey and I said yes. I was surprised that she also did not prime my eyelids. The look in which she applied I myself would not describe as 'smokey'. It was a nice, light golden shimmer but I would have definitely applied more of the darkest shade to make the blend and smoke. She applied the shimmer pigment shade with her fingers, but I would have applied two layers. I know it's all down to personal preference, and I am sounding picky but my eyes definitely did not represent the look which I had chosen. She asked me if I wanted any eyeliner and I said I do use apply a thin layer on the top lash and I do usually do a flick. She used the Rock n Kohl Brown Barbella eyeliner pencil which was a soft pencil. When it can to the flicks she had trouble getting them equal and had to get another girl to come and assist. I am being critical but I felt that my eyeliner was not perfect. She applied the Full Fat Lashes mascara which I did like and my lashes looked full and it added lots of volume. My favourite part of the entire look was my contour, blush and highlight. I was really impressed with the Filmstar Bronze & Glow as it was the perfect shade of bronze for my complexion. The blush she used was the Cheek to Chic in Ecstasy which is a shimmery pink with a darker circle of pink in the centre, I really liked this once it was applied to my face. She then went back to the Bronze and Glow palette to use the highlighter and applied it generously, which is just how I like it. The look was completed by applying the K.I.S.S.I.N.G. lipstick in Stoned Rose and the Lip Lustre in Ibiza Nights. I really liked this combinations, and the lip lustre is super glossy and shimmery which looked really lovely.

I don't mean to be negative as she was lovely and the makeup was nice, but it is not my go to look and I felt as though my eyes for one definitely did not follow 'The Golden Goddess' look. My friends were being friendly but honest and they felt the same as me. My eyes did not look like they have been done by a professional makeup artist. I think I am really picky with my makeup and this is the reason why I don't think I will be having a makeover here again. The experience was lovely but I much prefered my makeup and look from Nars last year. I know that Charlotte Tilbury is known for being natural which is what sets it apart with it's flawless makeup range. but I think the looks which they have created should stay be able to be created whilst maintaining the brand's roots. At the end of the makeover I decided to choose the lipstick and lip lustre with the value of my money. I was in such a rush due to my own fault that I didn't even take a photo of my makeup. I think if I had loved I would have ensured that I had managed to get a selfie or two!

What is your opinion on beauty counter makeovers?

Lucy

xoxo

Bem Brasil

This was my third trip to Bem Brasil and I thought it was finally time to write a review. My dad calls this restaurant "a carnivores delight". The concept is very modern and it adds some excitement and variation to your visit. The basic idea is that you get a disc which on one side is red, and on the other is green. The waiters and waitresses bring round different types of meat on huge skewers. If you want the meat of choice you turn your disc green, if you don't fancy it you turn it red. If you do want the meat, you are provided with tongs on your table and the staff will cut the meat off the skewer and you use the tongs to collect it. It is very easy to understand once you have done it a few times. The meat selection is huge - chicken, beef, gammon, lamb, sausages, steak and more. The thing in which we love the most is that you do not just get beef, you have options of garlic or chilli beef adding variety to your plate. If you are a vegetarian they have two big bars of buffet style food. One containing additionals to your plate such as rice, chips, potatoes and hot vegetables. They also have a fish option on the cart. On the other bar they have a wide variety of salad options including cold pasta and potato salads. There is also a variety of breads, cold meats and cheeses available.

We usually go here on a special occasion as it isn't cheap. However, it is a great place to go and socialise with friends and family as you can eat and browse the bars at your ease and pace, and take the meat that you want as and when you want it. The staff are very polite and accommodating as me and my mum like our steak to be well done. They brought round some steak which was rare and we asked if there would be any well done on it's way. The waiter explained if you request they will cook the meat to your personal taste which is really exceptional service.

We went to the restaurant which is situated on Deansgate in Manchester as it is bigger and has more selection than the one in the Northern Quarter. They also have restaurants in Altrincham, Liverpool and Leeds. If you are looking for a hearty meal where you are guaranteed to leave feeling rather full and wanting to return again, this is your place!

Lucy

xoxo