A year in the blog

Over the last few days I've been procrastinating getting back to my dissertation with endless cups of tea and blogging research, and one particular session led me to researching my own archives. So here's a few blasts from the past from yours truly. If there's anything you'd like to see appearing more often on my blog in the new year, please let me know!

Beauty

MAC melba blush

Lush Ambrosio shaving cream

Clinique dramatically different moisturiser

Bobbi Brown bronzer

Stila one step correct

Benefit gimme brow

The Body Shop camomile cleanser

L'Oreal true match foundation

Life

Outfit: Sunday rambles

Student room 3.0

The holiday post: Sorrento, Italy

Harry Potter studio tour

Happy new year my little hedgehogs!

n xx

❅❅Happy Christmas❅❅

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! 

Even if you don't celebrate christmas I hope you have a fabulous day all the same!

I'll be taking a few days off from blogging to spend time with my family but I'll be back soon ♥

n xx

My favourite Christmas lipstick

Catch up here:

My favourite Christmas scent

My favourite Christmas bath bomb
My favourite Christmas wrapping

I only picked this up recently, but oh. my. I've barely had a day where I've not worn it. This is MAC ruby woo matte lipstick, and I consider it one of the best things I've ever bought. If you follow me on instagram you might have seen this photo where I declared my love. It's everything I could ever want in a lipstick; the perfect shade of red for my pale skin, matte, long lasting and it applies like a dream. I went out for dinner wearing it, and it had barely shifted after eating. It still came off with the rest of my make up fine, and since I've been using it my lips aren't any drier than their normal winter-like state. I definitely have a new favourite, I can see me wearing this non-stop for a long time now!

What's your favourite winter lipstick?

n xx

My favourite Christmas wrapping

This year, the Christmas presents I'm giving are all getting the most uniformed wrapping you've ever seen. I've always wanted to make a real effort with making presents look amazing, but this is the first year I've remembered in time. I know some people see it as a bit of a waste, but after seeing them all packed and matching under the tree, I really don't care. Pass the ribbons and bow.

This year I've bought all of my wrapping and accessories from Paperchase (my personal favourite being this sprout roll) that all have red in them, and then I've decorated them with this red ribbon and bows set. I finished things up with these sparkly red tags, and I couldn't be happier with how they all look!

Do you go all out for wrapping at christmas? 

n xx

My favourite Christmas bath bomb

In case you missed the first post, I'm doing a mini series of 'my favourite christmas...' beauty products. Enjoy part 2!

I love Lush. But when it gets to christmas, I go into overdrive slightly and try to buy the entire shops. Mostly what I buy is presents for my mum and sister, but the Christmas Penguin has to be one of my all time favourites for this time of year. You can't really go wrong with a cute little penguin. It's a very citrus-y scent, with two of the main ingredients being orange and lemon, but I think it's a very subtle citrus.It's also a bubble bar, which is my favourite kind of bath in the winter. The water turns a greeny-blue colour, and if you've never tried this bath bomb I really recommend it. I might even have to buy another one when I'm out christmas shopping next! If you can find one with a. a nose and b. an un-wonky face, it's like finding fold dust. But I think that's just an endearing quality.

What's your favourite bath bomb?! 

n xx

The Graduate Plan

Hopefully come next April, I'll be submitting my last ever essays and will be done with 17 long years of education. Do I have any idea what I want to do next? Of course not. I went to university to study English in the hope that while I was there I would discover my reason for being in a career, but that's just not happened. I'm holding onto hope for my last 6 months but just in case here's my back up plan...

1. save money like your life depends on it, aka find a job that also doesn't mean working ridiculous hours.
2. travel. Mainly to family in Australia, and looking at getting a working visa to just spend quality time with my aunt. 
3. find graduate jobs, aka graduate programmes within big firms that might lead to a job that I'm interested in long term.
4. remember that moving home does not make you a failure. The landlords might be hard to adjust to after independent life, but at least the rent isn't thousands.
5. keep on blogging. It's possibly the only thing keeping you sane.
6. if it isn't right for you, don't do it. Unless there's some magical end product you're aiming for, you only have one life. Might as well make it a happy one.

I hope this was useful for you if you're a future graduate who's struggling too!

n xx

My favourite Christmas scent

So here's the deal. I'm a big Christmas fan. I love the decorations, the films, the snow (fingers crossed) and the absolute best bit is family time. Me and my sister don't live at home anymore, so time where all of us get to be together is so important to me.

I've decided to do a mini series of posts about some of my favourite Christmas beauty things, and I'm starting with perfume. I picked up The Body Shop's glazed apple eau de toilette just because I love the whole glazed apple range (looking from how quickly it's selling out, I'm guessing the Glazed Apple is a best seller). I'm not very up on my scent descriptions, but this smells really apple-y; it's quite a sweet scent, but the base notes are so like a real life apple and stay on my skin all day. If you like fruity scents, this is definitely worth a sniff. It just smells like Christmas, but not in the standard mulled-wine gingerbread-man kind of way, which I am a big fan of.

What's your Christmas scent this year?

n xx

Life lately #14

So I went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London with my boyfriend this week, and it was absolutely amazing. My parents bought us tickets to go for his 21st birthday, and I decided to wait to book tickets to see Hogwarts in the Snow (which is around until February if you're interested). I honestly can't put into words how amazing it was to see everything and how much work went into the films. I'd show you millions of photos (I definitely took over 200), but photos really just don't do it all justice.

If you've ever considered going, just do it! It's breathtaking.

n xx

Dry hair saviors

As I mentioned in yesterdays post, dry skin is a real problem for me, but so is dry hair as soon as it becomes the season for heating. Something about radiators just brings out a passionate frizz in my hair, so here's how I deal with it...

Hair

I reviewed the Dove Oxygen moisture spray back here, and I'm still loving it. I use it 90% of the time when I get out of the shower on wet hair, and if there's days in between I also spray it onto dry hair to help with frizz (like the day after I got a bit spray happy with the sea salt spray). The other thing I love to put in my hair post-wash is this Aussie Dual Personality serum, which I now use instead of using any heat on my hair. It definitely leaves my hair feeling a lot softer, and the no-heat is doing it wonders too.

Check out yesterdays post if dry skin is a problem for you too!

What do you use on problem hair?!

n xx

Dry skin saviors

Any one else's skin and hair hating winter? Mine seems to have a mind of its own recently, and lets not mention the dry patches. These are my go to products for when things are getting a little ropey in the skin department...

Skin

I mentioned both of these in my current morning cleanse post but I really can't get enough of the Clinique dramatically different moisturiser. It leaves my skin looking so hydrated and instantly gets rid of dry patches, not to mention it sinks in to my skin like a dream. The Balance Me wonder eye cream is another old favourite, and it instantly evens out any dry patches I get under my eyes.

Tomorrows post is my hair saviors if you're interested 

What are your dry skin favourites?

Loving lately #9

Or, perhaps more aptly, what I'm going to be loving over the next few weeks. If you're a bit of a scrooge, please look away now...

December is all about marathoning Christmas films, right? My mum normally spends the whole month recording films for us to watch once we all get home, and even when we're sitting through the trashy ones (there's so many) it's one of my favourite things about Christmas. So here's some that I'd really recommend, even if you've seen them before. Yes, some are awful and tacky, but sometimes it's okay to just embrace it.

White Christmas

Elf

The Santa Clause

Arthur Christmas

Nightmare before Christmas

Santa Claus

Jingle all the Way

What's your favourite Christmas film?

n xx

Clinique take the day off makeup remover

I'm the kind of girl who 90% of the time just cannot be bothered to take my make up off, but I always do so I'm forever looking for easy ways to get everything off.

My mum actually picked this up for me, and one thing I like is that it's for 'lids, lashes and lips', which I find perfect for traveling. It's a split consistency so you have to shake it to combine it. I love the packaging, as being able to see how much product is left is a real winner. 

Although I wasn't originally a fan, I'm actually on to my second bottle now. It's a really good cleanser, although I wasn't a fan because of how oily it leaves my skin feeling, so if you're not a fan of that feeling then this isn't for you. I find it's fine as long as I follow it up with a toner, especially because of how easily and quickly it takes my make up off. Waterproof mascara? No problem for this gem.

Have you ever tried this?

n xx

Life lately #13

For me, there is nothing better than going home. Weekends with my parents (and my big sister if I'm lucky enough) and having nothing to worry about are exactly what I look forward to, especially in the winter. This weekend I'm home, and today probably consists of freezing my extremities off at a nature reserve lusting over the promise of mince pies. But let me tell you, there is no place I would rather be.

I hope you're all having a wonderful sunday.

ps- happy december for tomorrow!

n xx

The bronzer favourites

Being a very pale person (the kind of pale that high street foundations don't stretch to, and sometimes not even high end either), I never used to bother with bronzer. You need to have a tan for those, right? It wasn't until I met these two beauties that I discovered how wrong I was...

It's been a while since I posed my Bobbi Brown bronzer review, so here's a refresher. It's matte (I've discovered I'm not a fan of bronzer shimmer), and I have it in 'golden light'. I apply it with the Real Techniques blush brush and blend it generously, but it gives my cheekbones a whole new life. On the other hand, this Body Shop Honey Bronzer, which I have in matte light, takes a little less blending to seem natural, though it doesn't give quite the same definition. In other words, in these two I have my perfect night out, statement look bronzer, and one for more subtle day wear. Sorted.

Bobbi Brown bronzing powder £28

The Body Shop honey bronzer £13

Paleness aside, I do love these enough to recommend them whatever your skin colour! 

What's your favourite bronzer?

n xx

Review | Seventeen miracle matte concealer

I found myself in a bit of a concealer rut recently, so I picked up this Seventeen (or is it 17? I have no idea) miracle matte concealer stick in the shade 'extra fair' for £3.99 from Boots (here). Though I was originally a little skeptical over it's alarmingly orange shade for something that is 'extra fair', I gave it a go and was pleasantly surprised.

It claims to be an all over face concealer, but I tend to stick to using it around my nose and blemishes rather than under eye area. It's a really creamy consistency that blends out really easily with a brush, but until I've blended it in it still looks like it won't match my skin colour. I've found that it lasts a good 8 hours when set with a powder, though it lasts longer on less oily parts of my skin. It's a good coverage, and it definitely does stop shine appearing as quickly.

I like the packaging, especially as it's so easy to get the product out and to be able to tell when you're running low.

I'd definitely recommend trying this, especially because it's so good for how little it costs!

What's you're favourite concealer at the moment?

n xx

Review | Rimmel scandaleyes jumbo eyeliner

Back in January, I posted about this products sibling; the Rimmel scandaleyes thick and thin liner. When  I reviewed it I was a fan, but then quickly found something I loved more (L'Oreal superliner blackbuster). Since that recently ran out, I decided to purchase the mix of the two in the form of this Rimmel scandaleyes jumbo liquid eyeliner, and I'm sorry to report that the relationship didn't go so well.

One of the main reasons I quickly went off the thick and thin liner was because it came out more grey than black after a few uses, which was something that I found the same in the jumbo liner. In pretty much every other way, it's a really good liner; it's easy to apply, it's long lasting, it's waterproof, I like the packaging, it comes off easily. I could go on, but I feel like the main thing I look for in the shade '001 black' is for it to actually be black, so when that doesn't happen, it's just annoying.

Though it is only £5.49, Rimmel is a brand I normally get on with really well, which I think is why I'm so disappointed!

For now I'm back with my L'Oreal romance, but if you have any eyeliner recommendations, liquid or otherwise, I'd love to hear them!

n xx

The little things♥

I hope you're all happy and having an amazing sunday! Thank you for sticking with me and my blog, you're awesome ♥

Here's a few posts I've been loving recently:

If you're a 20-something; you should read...

Top 10 blog tips

5 things: being a yes person

n xx

Winter outfit staples

coat - Topshop

dress - vintag topshop

bag - new look

shoes- schue

jumper - a present from my mum

Ignoring the fact that I clearly wasn't born to be a model (I was told "You keep blinking!" more than once, there are some stunning out takes), I do love a good outfit post. I recently bought this dress from one of the vintage brands at Topshop, Loving Youth, and I really wanted to share it with you guys. It's quite loose and such a cute pattern that it's something I can get away with wearing all year round, and fits in really well with my three winter staples:

♥ cosy jumpers

♥ fluffy coats

♥ boots

Whenever I have no idea what to wear, which is pretty much every day, I tend to turn to one of these three bits as a statement piece. Between them they're just so comfy and warm, which is my main priority because I get cold so easily!

What are your winter staples this winter?

n xx

A pamper night in

The other day I decided I really fancied a pamper that wasn't too much effort, so I had a quick rummage and came up with these two gems. I'm a big fan of Lush face masks, and this one in particular leaves my skin feeling so soft and detoxed. I've noticed that the day after I use this, my skin looks a lot clearer and healthier. I'm not overly keen on the smell, but otherwise this one is a winner for me. Full review here, and find it on Lush here!

I've not mentioned this Estee Lauder Resilicence Lift face cream on here before, but I've been loving it quite a lot. It's a pretty thick texture, but sinks into your skin like a dream and leaves it feeling soft and glowy (in a non-sweaty way). My skin has been feeling a lot less dry since I started using it, and my make up goes on like a dream over top of it. I can't say I'll repurchase it for £64 for 100ml (this pot was a gift from my nan that she won in a raffle), but if that's more your budget then I would definitely recommend giving it a go!

Have you tried either of these?

n xx

A week in lips

l-r

Rimmel lasting finish in 016 heartbreaker | No7 Poppy King in allure | MAC cremesheen in peach blossom | Clarins lip balm crayon in 01 my pink | The Body Shop colour crush in 115

l-r

Rimmel lasting finish in 016 heartbreaker | No7 Poppy King in allure | MAC cremesheen in peach blossom | Clarins lip balm crayon in 01 my pink | The Body Shop colour crush in 115

Though I'm not a big lipstick lover, I've been getting a lot more into the spirit of bright lips recently. I decided to show you what I've been wearing for the last 5 days, though it should definitely be noted that I only wore so much for the purposes of blogging! My lips are in shock from so much attention.

The Rimmel heartbreaker lipstick is one that I was totally in love with a few years ago and used to wear daily; it's a perfect dark pink without being too dark or attention seeking, and still looks amazing even when it's a bit more faded. The No7 Poppy King lipstick is a beautiful neutral shade that works really well with my complexion, and is a perfect little summin' summin' for my lips when I can't really be bothered. The formula is quite nourishing too, which is perfect for my quite dry lips.

Next I went for my current favourite MAC lipstick in peach blossom. It's quite similar to No7's allure, but creamier and pinker. I really love this lipstick, but it doesn't always look great if my lips are too dry. I really love the Clarins lip balm crayon; it's super nourishing, and gives my lips a really healthy looking plump when I put it on. A definite staple in my handbag for winter! My favourite lipstick of the moment is this Body Shop offering. It's one of my newest lipsticks, but I adore the shade of red that makes for a perfect bold lip day.

Did you want to see full reviews of any of these?!

MAC peach blossom

Rimmel heartbreaker

What lipsticks have you been loving recently?

n xx

Review | Clinique pore refining solutions

Recently in a rummage through the depths of my skincare stash, I re-found these Clinique pore skin care beauties. I got them in a set what feels like an age ago, and it became a firm favourite to use on my nose area where I'm most aware of my pores.

The stay matte hydrator full size is £34 for 50ml, and aims to "after mattifying instantly, this oil-free formula supplies needed hydration while curbing excess oil and shine for 8 hours. Even T-Zones feel fresh, stay comfortably matte." I think this is my least favourite of the set, though it's good for days when I'm wearing less make up and I don't want to feel oily around my t-zone. It's quite long lasting, and doesn't make my skin feel at all dry, so I'd definitely recommend trying this out! I don't think I'd repurchase this one just because it wasn't my favourite.

The correcting serum is £39 for 30ml or £54 for 50ml, and though it's quite expensive I've really enjoyed using it. Clinique say that "pore Resurfacing Complex quickly, gently clears out debris and rough flakes. Pores 'snap back' into shape. In 2 weeks, pores look 58% smaller. Guaranteed. Over time, help skin create stronger supports and healthier cells to see more improvement." Since I've been using this, I have noticed a difference in my pores. Though they might not be so dramatically 58% smaller, I think that my skin where I've been using this product is looking a lot healthier. Though I can't see myself splurging on this soon, it's definitely something I can see myself investigating in this in the future!

Have you tried anything from this range?

n xx

Review | Dove Oxygen

Lately my hair has been going through a bit of a dry phase, so I've been crazily buying anything to help re-hydrate my hair. It's taken me years to grow it this length so I'm keen to get it back on track with nourishing products!

This is one of my favourite things that I picked up (boots haul!). I got it for half price, but it's now back to £6.99 which I would happily pay anyway. The oxygen moisture range is new from Dove, and they say 'introducing Oxygen and Moisture, it targets roots where hair tends to be weighed down, lifting it and adding body and fullness.'

The product comes out in a fine spray, and it's recommended that you use about 12 sprays in the roots of your hair, then massage it in. I tend to do this, but more all over than just focusing on my roots. It distributes really evenly and you can't really feel it once you've squirted it in. Since I've started using it, I've noticed that my hair is surprisingly soft and a lot easier to deal with if I put this in after washing.

My hair can get quite flat, but this gives more volume without doing much else. I'd definitely recommend getting this if you have fine or flat hair, especially as it doesn't have a strong scent and is basically undetectable once you've sprayed it in!

Have you tried this out, or thought about getting it?

n xx

Beauty sins

Like pretty much everyone, I have really lazy moments. But for some things beauty-related, I'm especially lazy. Anyone else have these problems?!

- being too lazy to have a evening skincare routine that I actually stick to every night (though I've never slept with make up on)

- definitely keeping some mascaras longer than 3 months. How am I supposed to remember when I opened it?!

- not cleaning my make up brushes nearly enough. I'm getting better, but jeez some of them take a long time to dry

- the same with my hairbrush. Who has the time?!

- never, ever using a top coat when I do my nails. I don't even own one anymore, I'm just too bored by that point

- constantly buying new lipsticks. Do I wear lipstick on a daily basis? No. Do I keep buying them? Yep

What would your biggest beauty sins be?

I hope you liked this post!

n xx

Loving again | Clinique dramatically different moisturising lotion

A few years ago, I first mentioned liking this as part of the Clinique 3-step cleanse. I'm dry combination type 2, and the final step is the 'dramatically different moisturising lotion'. Clinique say that it 'strengthens skin’s moisture barrier, deliver's all-day hydration and keeps skin looking younger, longer.'

I recently found this in my make up drawers a few weeks ago like I mentioned here, and I have to say that it's been something of a revolutionary rediscovery for my skin. I've been using it in the morning after cleansing, and it sinks into my skin really fast but leaves it feeling more like I've put on a new super soft skin.

I was dubious about using this in the morning, as I used to use it in my evening routine, but I think I prefer using it in the morning. It really helps with the dryness around my nose, and doesn't leave any greasiness on my skin later in the day. It doesn't have a very strong smell, which I prefer, and the only drawback for me is this particular packaging; there's several different types of bottle you can get, but this one is so hard to get product out of! It's not a massively runny moisturiser so it doesn't run out of the bottle.

If you haven't tried this, I'd definitely recommend it! I definitely think this is one of my new winter favourites!

Have you tried it before?

n xx

My evening skincare routine

 Garnier micellar cleansing water

Estee Lauder resilience lift

The Body Shop tea tree skin clearing toner

The Body Shop vitamin E overnight serum

Clinique take the day off make up remover

Last week I posted about my current morning skincare routine, so I thought I'd also update my evening skincare routine! I've only ever written a lazy evening routine before, so I hope you enjoy this post!

I'm normally quite lazy before bed, so I'll usually take my make up off with this cleansing water and clinique make up remover, just to make sure everything's off. I'm not keen on using the Clinique remover by itself because it leaves quite a greasy residue on the skin, but it takes off eye make up like a dream. I know some people aren't overly keen on this Garnier micellar water, but I find it gets all my make up off and leaves my skin feeling really clean so I'm a fan!

I then use this anti-blemish toner to get the remnants of anything leftover, and also because I have a few leftover marks from old spots that I'm trying to get rid of. I love this particular toner because of how fresh it leaves my skin feeling.

I'll then go in with the serum that I'm using right now, and really massage it into my skin so that it has a chance to sink in properly. I've really liked using this vitamin E one because of how much more refreshed and glowing my skin is when I wake up the next day! My nan actually gave me this eye cream, but I'm in love with it! My under eye can get quite dry, and this is quite a thick consistency so it really helps keep my skin, though I feel like the only thing it's missing is being cooling.

What's the favourite part of your routine at the moment?

  

n xx