Manicure Favourites

I'm no stranger to a good pamper. But one of my favourite things to do is to treat my nails, especially because they've been in such shocking condition. Cue intensive pampering and prayers.

 I must admit I'm a bit of a Burt's Bees newbie (I consider it a talent how well I remain oblivious of trends), but if everything's as good as this lemon cuticle butter then I'm sold. It's quite thick but doesn't stay around for hours. I tend to put it on, leave it for a few minutes then get rid of any cuticle mess. I try to not push them back fully, but just keep them even and tidy.

This Body Shop hand cream is something I've been obsessed with since about February (review here), and the love is still strong. It makes my hands feel amazing and soft, and it soaks in super fast. I like to give myself mini hand massages in the hope that it might improve circulation and therefore nail growth!

These two Avon goodies are ones that are long term staples in my nail care routine. The hydrate and grow potion is, I think, made of fairy dust, because it makes my super slow nails grow like nothing else. I've been through so many of these, and I have about 3 right now because I can't bear the idea of being without one.

The peeling and brittleness solver is something I've grown to love; at first, I didn't really feel like it was doing much to my nails, then I stopped using it for a few months and my nails went to absolute pot (reference: the reason why this post was born). My mum bought it for me a while back after my experience with acrylic nails that was like rehab for the peeling and splitting of my nails, which they are incredibly prone to anyway.

If you'd like to see full reviews of any of these, let me know!

Are any of these your favourites? Want to give any a go?

n xx

Review | Stila One Step Corrector

You might have noticed this popping up a few times on my blog recently. I've noticed it a few times floating around in the blogging world but when I saw it on Kate's blog I was sold and needed it then and there.

I really believe in a good primer- I'm not a huge foundation lover, I prefer a correcting primer and heavy duty concealer. BB and CC creams, which I've never really talked about on here, don't really cut it for me. They're always just a little too orange for my never-seen-sunlight skin.

 This primer aims to correct the flaws of your skin, as you might have guessed from the title. The three colours all have separate targets..

"The revolutionary new product contains 3 color-correcting brighteners:

Green tone instantly neutralizes redness and conceals blemishes

Lavender tone counteracts sallow undertones for a vibrant, energized look

Peach tone brightens, illuminates and helps diminish the appearance of sun spots"

One of my biggest skin concerns in redness, having it tackled in this is exactly what I've been looking for. It's quite a creamy formula, and it sinks into my skin really quickly, though I do normally wait a few seconds just to be sure. I don't know if my skin has the other complaints that this primer is designed to tackle, but it makes my skin look noticeably healthier, and it feels a lot smoother to apply make up to.

I apply it by putting a pump on my hand, blending the colours together then dotting it over my face and blending it in with my fingers. The finish is quite dewey, and leaves my skin with a healthy glow. If that's not your cup of tea it goes away with minimal powder, and still does the job of all that colour balancing.

The packaging itself is also something to rave about; it's clear so you can see how much you've used, there's a pump applicator (one pump is enough to cover my face well), but also it's made to look like DNA. If you're not impressed by that... well, I love it. Simple minds and all that?!

I picked this up from Boots for £24 (find it here) for 30ml. It might seem a bit pricey for a primer, but having tried almost every high street one there is I felt like a treat. I've been using it almost daily since I bought it just over a month ago, and I would say that I've barely made a dent in it- maybe a fifth is gone at most.

I would definitely recommend this if you're looking to invest in a new primer, I can't see it leaving my make up bag any time soon!

Do you think you'll be trying this out?

n xx

The Holiday Post | Sorrento, Italy

Big, fat, boring disclaimer. I'm not showing off. I personally love these posts and having a nosey around other peoples lives. So if you don't like these posts, please don't be mean! This is only a one-post-wonder kind of deal.

So! I just went to Sorrento in Italy with my friend Laura for a week, so I thought I'd share some of the photos and things with you guys! I was absolutely terrified, as it was the first holiday that I had not only paid for entirely myself, but it was also my first out of the country without parents experience. It's one of the best experiences of my life and I wouldn't have changed a second of it!

I've also put in any information of the things I'm wearing, just in case you're interested!

 The view of the bay of Naples, and Mount Vesuvius, from the road our hotel was on.

dress- Primark

 We went to the coast opposite of Sorrento, Amalfi, which had the most incredible views! I wasn't a fan of mountain roads though, hello extreme travel sickness.

 playsuit - Topshop

vest top - H&M

sunglasses - Boots 

bag - New Look

 Day 4 was my ultimate bucket list day.. we climbed to the top of Mount Vesuvius and went to Pompeii. The views were stunning!

 In case you were wondering what the inside of a crater looked like..

 top - H&M

skirt- Miss Selfridge

 #craterselfie

 We booked onto a group tour around Pompeii and our tour guide was so adorable! He also stopped us from us getting inevitably very very lost.

 In Sorrento, from the Marina Piccali. Everywhere has so many hills!

 Of course, we couldn't go to Italy without Pizza. And yes, I ate the whole thing even though it near killed me.

 My second favourite day was going to the island of Capri, which was amazing but oh so steep.

top - Topshop

high waisted shorts - New Look

This was a view that we found in the middle of Sorrento on our last day.

So there you have it, a mini summary of my holiday. I actually took close to 300 photos, but even the likes of facebook has been spared that agony..

ps- none of the 'you don't look very tanned' comments please. I don't tan (I don't suppose many people do in factor 50, actually), but I have many herds of freckles that I'm loving showing off.

Have you got anywhere you're going to this summer?

n xx

Beauty Trending | Benefit

Is it just me or are Benefit launching a whole tonne of products recently? I've been seeing their new launches everywhere, and I'm not normally one for needing the latest things but get me to a Benefit counter now. I've had a phase recently where I've not really been paying attention to the brand, but now I need just about everything, and I've got a pretty serious wishlist on the go.

all images from google

clockwise from top left

benebalm hydrating tinted lip balm

foamingly clean facial wash 

how to look the best at everything flawless complexion make up kit

CORALista blush

lemon aid eye primer

Not all of these are their most recent releases, but I'm all over those too; I've already lapped up the gimme brow brow-volumising fibre gel (review coming soon), and it's likely that the They're Real push up liner will fall into my make up bag soon after it's release next month! The Big Easy multi-balancing complexion perfector is also looking pretty tempting!

Have you been loving Benefit recently?

n xx

Review | Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean

"A 3-in-1, wash-off, deep purifying, milky-creamy face cleanser with super T-zone decloggers, antioxidant-rich PEACH & GOJUICE extracts, and detoxifying OXYGINSENG TECHNOLOGY."

This is something that's sat in my beauty stash forever. I've even got one in the old packaging, as I was given them as part of the Soap and Glory christmas sets. I recently ran out of my trusty Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, so I reached for this instead. It's not quite the same, as it doesn't remove eye make up, but all the same I finally moved it onto the shelf of products in use...

I didn't like this product when I first used it, but it's slowly grown on me. The smell was the main thing that I wasn't keen on; it's quite fruity and peachy (shockingly), but is quite strange to me. I find that one to two pumps are enough to cover my face well, which I then massage into my skin and remove with a warm muslin cloth. I quite often use this as a second cleanser to remove any leftovers of make up or dirt, and it leaves my skin feeling soft and above all, clean.

It cleanses my skin softly, and the creamy formula means that my skin isn't left feeling too tight or uncomfortable. I wouldn't say that I've noticed that it's a 'deep purifying cleanser', as it doesn't seem to particularly rid my skin of blackheads. 

I would recommend this if you're looking to try something new. I use it with the a Clinique make up remover for my eye make up, so it isn't for you if you're looking for an all in one. However I like using products that are specifically targeted for my skin. You can pick it up in Boots for £8, though it's currently on offer for a third off!

Have you tried this before? 

n xx

SPF-wary Skin

I know a lot of bloggers are all over SPF and using it in their daily routine, but I'm not so fussed. I know it's good for your skin, yet I can't bring myself to to actively buy products for that reason. When it came to packing my suitcase however, I was starting to wish I'd planned it a little better... till I remembered this lovely pair.

I do actually use a morning moisturiser on a daily (well, ish) basis that has an SPF in it; the No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream for normal/dry skin. I've not raved about it much recently, but you can read more about it here in 'my morning face' post or a review of it here. I've been using this ever since my blog was born, and I've loved a fair few pots of it over the years. 

I'm taking this away as my beauty SPF base; on hotter days I'll still spritz my face up with sun cream, but I'll be using this every day. It's SPF15, so it's not overly high, but that's fairly common for day moisturisers! It's lightweight and refreshing, and even when my skin has been in more sensitive moods it works a dream.If you've not tried this, I highly recommend it!

Then as I was rummaging through my mass of foundations (I actually have about 4..) I suddenly remembered this, which is always in my make up bag. It honestly never leaves. The MAC Studio Sculpt foundation was my first true high end love, and the romance is still strong. My review of it is here, and a very grainy photo of it on my face is here (my face was actually a mass of red and angry-ness, yet this little beauty made me look vaguely human).

It's lightweight but so easy to build, and very rarely feels cakey on my skin -though I can't deny there have been a few occasions when my skin was dryer than the Sahara and it didn't sit so flatteringly. But that aside, if I had to choose one foundation to use for the rest of forever, it would currently be this. So the fact that it has SPF15 in it fits in very nicely indeed with my holiday plans, thank you very much. 

Just as a little after note... here's the sun cream I'm smothering myself in, if you're wondering! I didn't buy a thicker moisturiser type one because I find them too greasey, and this is one that I'll use on my face too.

I hope you liked this post!

Do you use moisturisers or foundations with SPF in them?

n xx

Review | Garnier Summer Body

I'm no fake tan kind of girl. Let's not start this on the wrong foot. I have nothing against fake tan, but I can't get away with it. If I got it to a point where it looks natural and all-over even, then firstly I'd faint from shock then cry with how much effort it would be to maintain. I've embraced my gamer-girl esque complexion, but sometimes your legs reflecting the natural sunlight from their whiteness is just a little mortifying. 

Which is where this little beauty comes in. My friend introduced it to me quite a while ago (it's in a post way back last summer here), and I'm going to confess that the same bottle is in both that post and this one. Oops. 

Lack of use aside, I do still love this product, and have enjoyed rediscovering it. It does have a fairy noticeable fake tan smell, but it's combined with the fruitiness of apricot which doesn't make it so bad. I do notice that it is sometimes a bit streaky on me, but I do like to bathe in moisturiser so it's way more likely to be user error than the product.

If you're like me and wary of fake tanning but don't want to be pale as anything, then this is really perfect. It's not overly expensive and it definitely worth what you pay. It's good to alternate with the normal Garnier moisturisers too, some of which smell ahmaaazing. With that in mind, I've made it my mission this summer to try and finish the bottle. Place your bets now on my finishing it...

Are you a fake tan kind of person? Any recommendations are more than welcome!

n xx

Sunday life | Growing Up

Somewhere in the past few years, I grew up without really realising what was happening. I've always been a slightly indecisive person- do I want a hot chocolate or frappuccino? (I don't know oh help I'm next in line.) I didn't have a morning where I suddenly sat in cold sweat, a job, debt, bills to pay and all those other things that didn't seem like such a big deal a few years ago. But all of a sudden, although I still call my parents for their advice on things, I have those scary adult moments. Did I lock the door?  When do my next direct debits come out? Do I need more milk?

I'm currently at that 'no I can't do this, can I be 17 again please' phase in my life. Everything is scary, and everything is my own choice. It really hits home when you start to realise that planning out all your own meals is just a thing you do now, and that washing just won't do itself anymore. Hello emergency underwear.

If you've been reading my blog a while, you might have noticed my blog is a lot different to how it used to be. I am no longer a people pleasing teenager. Don't get me wrong, I don't now push old ladies over in the middle of the street, but I've decided there's only so much you can care about what other people think. So instead of being scared that you'll all think I'm crazy, I'm embracing it. Yes, I do wild and wonderful things sometimes. But mostly I'm very average, and have weekly meltdowns in Costa and Starbucks over whether I want a hot or cold drink. Maybe one day I'll just start ordering both.

There's no real point to this post; I just felt like sharing with you how scary, but equally quite exciting, this is for me. That's what sunday posts are for, weird and wonderful little pieces of getting to know me!

I hope you're all having lovely weekends!

n xx

My Holiday Make Up Bag

It's that time of year when a lot of people are getting into the going on holiday mode. I've seen a fair few hundred posts and videos all about what you should take for what sort of holidays, SPF foundations, waterproof mascaras, the whole deal.

So here's what I'm packing to take away with me for a week away in Italy, with a few bits in-depth as to why I'm taking what I am. The weather has been looking not too much hotter than the UK recently, but I'm packing based on the idea that I've no idea if it'll suddenly get hotter!

My make up bag is from Clinique; it's the one I keep my make up thrown in on a daily basis, and it's a good size without being too bulky and taking up loads of room.

 Make up tools

I'm taking eye shadow and bronzer/blush brushes on the basis that I might wear them, and I don't want to be stuck without! A majority of my every day brushes are Real Techniques (post here), but the ones that aren't are ages old (the stripy handled brush) or the slanted eyeliner brush from ecotools. My eye lash curlers are No7.. I think!

 The base

I'm going for some of my all time or current staples, just because I know what I'll be getting myself in to. I bought this Stila primer not so long ago, but I've worn it every day since. I think it's love. MAC Studio Sculpt is my first foundation true love, and it's also SPF 15 which I thought was a bit of a bonus. I'm taking two concealers, MAC studio finish and Collection lasting perfection. Between them, they cover any and all blemishes, and combine really well for foundation-free days. Finally, I'm taking my little MAC Fix+, just for any long days or hot days, so my face doesn't slide off!

 The powders

My shiny t-zone cannot cope without a powder, so I'm packing my ever trusted Rimmel Stay Matte. For blush, I'm taking MAC melba even though I'm not likely to use it unless we go out for a posh meal or something! Finally, I can't be without my Bobbi Brown for contouring. It's gone beyond a favourite and is now an obsession.

 The brow

I considered streamlining my MAC quad palette, but then decided against it because my make up bag was still half empty. I use omega and espresso for brows, and the other two a lot for eye shadow. I' taking two brow gels, my trusted Collection clear mascara and the Benefit gimme brow gel in light. I've only just started using it, but I bought it for the holiday because it's waterproof!

 The palette

I'm not a big eyeshadow fan, but who knows if I'll want to feel a little bit more glam when I'm laying pool side?! Okay so it's not likely, but just in case, I thought that the Sleek Storm palette would cover a lot of bases.

 The eyes

These bits were so easy to choose; these two mascaras are my two current favourites, though neither of them are waterproof so I might have to make a cheeky last minute airport purchase if I have time! The Urban Decay primer potion is my go-to eye primer since forever, and so are these two pencil eye liners from Rimmel and The Body Shop. This L'Oreal liquid liner is still a strong favourite since February, and doesn't budge an inch for hours.

The lips

I'm constantly going through lipstick phases; right now I'm knee deep in a love for neutral or very, very bold. To cover all moods, I'm taking Sleek 'Barely There', Rimmel Kate Moss in 107, and Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch.

So that's the make up that I'm taking along with me! I hope you enjoyed this post, sorry if it was a bit long!

Are any of these make up staples for you?

n xx

Review | Lush Ambrosia Shaving Cream

I had to learn the hard way that I have pretty sensitive skin, but only to certain products; I tend to stick to what I know, just to be safe. When it comes to shaving my legs, I cannot go without a gel or cream and until recently I've never moved away from the Gillette Venus Satin Care range, which although I like, it's just a bit too messy for me with all that foaming going on.

Enter Lush Ambrosia, which I'll confess now is actually a Christmas present my boyfriend got off my parents. Caring is sharing, right? But in a desperate 'I look like a fur tree' situation where tights weren't an option, I had to risk this or definitely end up with angry painful skin for days.

It's here on their website, and described as...

"Ambrosia makes shaving sheer heaven. It has got honey, oils and cocoa butter in it to help your razor blade glide while protecting your skin underneath. It also helps calm any reaction to being dragged: you tell us this is seriously soothing stuff for razor rash. We've packed this with with ingredients to cool, soothe and moisturise: chamomile blue and jojoba oils and honey hydrate and calm skin, while cocoa butter and linseed mucilage provide a barrier against your razor."

I expected this to be quite a thick cream, but it's actually thin (without being too runny) and spreads a mile. I'd say I use maybe a heaped tea spoon amount per leg, which I think is quite good in terms of meaning that the bottle is going to last forever. It's not an overly strong smell, and is mostly quite honey and oat-y to me, but is really nice. 

It does blend in with your skin so if you use your gel as a guide for where you have or haven't shaved, this might not be for you. I used to, but now I just finish up with a very close inspection of as much leg as possible and I've not been patchy so far!

As to how it leaves my skin feeling afterwards, I literally cannot say enough about how much I love this. My legs are so soft, the kind of silky smooth that I've always dreamed about. I have been moisturising more, but this is half the reason for my new found silkyness. My skin doesn't only feel better, but it looks better too, and hasn't been becoming as dry as usual. I can 100% recommend this, sensitive skin or not.

It costs £4.95 for 100ml or £9.75 for 250ml.

Lush do have several other shaving creams, have you ever tried any? I'm thinking of asking about a few of the others when I next go in, so I'll keep you guys updated with any exciting finds!

Have you tried this, or would you like to?

n xx

April Favourites

If memory serves, I've never done a monthly favourites post before... I guess it seems like so many people do them that I don't want to fall in with the crowd too much! However, my love for reading these posts has finally made me cave and write one, so here goes nothing. These are a few of the lovely things I've been covering myself in a lot recently.

The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream

Ever since I bought this back in February, I've been obsessed with it. The smell has grown on me, and it's so light and not at all 'out there', so what's not to love? It leaves my paws feeling silky smooth, to the extent that sometimes I catch myself stroking my hands together like some sort of master criminal. In the middle of shops. And people are looking at me. I console myself with the knowledge that there's no way their hands are as soft as mine are.

Review here!

Clinique Moisture Surge

I've had this lurking in the back of my skincare for a while, but it wasn't until recently that I've started using it on an almost nightly basis. I wouldn't say my skin is bad at the moment, but the stress I've been under is showing slightly in dry patchy splotches. Tasty. This little beauty clears up dryness a treat, especially when mixed with The Body Shop Vitamin E Night Oil. Review soon? I think so.

Tanya Burr Nails in Midnight Sparkles

I cannot deny that I'm a teeny tiny bit fan girl-y when it comes to Tanya Burr. She. Is. Amazing. Plus she's flying the flag for my home town Norwich (my current claim to fame). So when she bought out her lipglosses and nail varnishes, I leapt at them. I have a fair few of the nails now, but this is by far my favourite at the moment! It's got a beautiful subtle shimmer and the lasting power is great even on my broken nails. I have my eye on  Little Duck now, I have a feeling it's going to be even more perfect...

Seventeen Falsifeye Mascara

Ever since I started playing around with make up, I've never really had a set favourite, even in a particular brand. Having said that, I do love a bit of Seventeen. I don't think I've ever used one of their mascaras and been disappointed, and this was absolutely no exception. It lengthens, it volumises, it's long lasting, and I might actually be tempted to repurchase this once this one's finished. I'll let you know!

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

I have no idea who, what, when, where or how this came into my possession. But it has and boy am I grateful. My nails have been in pretty poor condition all of a sudden recently, heaven knows why, but I've been slathering this on and giving my cuticles so much love and care that they have no choice but to be healthy. I'm also a total sucker for anything that's lemon scented. I'll be doing a full review soon!

Lush R&B Hair Moisturiser

 I'm about 90% that this is what my sample is... it's been lurking on my self for a good few months now. This here is what I think it is from what I was told by the handy little Lush worker. But whatever it is, it's been doing wonders for my hair. I've had more split ends than I'd like to talk about recently, and using this has helped keep them from getting too bad between hair cuts. It's also helped a lot with dry/ frizzy ends, so I expect that a full size of this will soon be replacing this teeny sample size.

What have you been loving this month?!

n xx