Clinique at Debenhams

When I was wandering past Debenhams the other day, I happened to notice that Clinique have an offer of when you buy two full size products, one of which is skincare, you get a free goody bag! If you're from Norfolk then you might know that Jarrolds do these quite a lot, and as I've already had two similar freebie bags in the past from there I wanted to try this one too!

I went halves with my mum and she treated me to one of the full size products, so this ended up being a total bargain for me, but I think this is totally worth it if you're looking at trying out some new products! In this bag there is:

dramatically different moisturising lotion +

rinse-off foaming cleanser

all about shadow duo and blushing blush powder blush

chubby stick baby tint

happy heart perfume

high impact curling mascara

I'm really glad I spotted this, there's two or three products in here that I really wanted to try out! Plus I love the bag they came in! Do you like any of these?

n xx

Scrapbooking | what I use

I love a bit of craft, or any chance to be creative, so to remember my 21st birthday in Disneyland Paris I'm putting together a scrapbook of everything we got up to. I picked up this plain black scrapbook from Paperchase, as I'm going with a Minnie Mouse colour theme (of course) of white, black and red. I picked up everything else in the photos above from Hobbycraft, just from wandering around my local store and picking up bits that I thought would look cute!

I found this pack of Parisian chic bits that will look cute just to decorate the pages or write on, and the red glitter glue was just something that I couldn't resist. I also spent a long time looking at bows to choose just the right ones! I'll definitely be going back to Hobbycraft to pick up more things that I'll be needing for my project, they have such a good selection for paper craft!

Let me know if you'd like to see how I get on, or maybe a post about and tips on scrapbooking I have!

n xx

Health taboos | don't judge what you can't see

This morning I read a blog post that really hit on a personal note for me. It's not beauty or fashion related, but it's health related and very close to my heart, so I wanted to take a moment to spread some awareness.

the blog post...

To the woman who tutted at me using the disabled toilets

Recently I've noticed more awareness being drawn to illnesses like Chron's disease and other bowel disorders. They aren't always nice to think about, and it's hard to tell just from looking at someone whether they suffer from something internally. I don't suffer personally, but I've seen how it can affect people and can make huge impacts from such small issues.

Illnesses related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be hard to live with. What if you were told that you'll have diarrhea for the rest of your life? Or that every time you get stressed or eat food that doesn't agree with you, you'll spend the day based around how close to a toilet you can be (if you can leave it at all)? Would you really then want someone sniggering at you? Rolling their eyes because you're using a disabled toilet?

I know a lot of people are understanding and kind towards this kind of illness and so many others, but there are so many people who don't understand. You cannot always see illness, and I think it's so easy to forget that. I'm sure I've done the same without realising. If from writing this I can bring awareness to just one more person, then it's worth it.

Think before you judge.

Find out more:

irratable bowel syndrome

inflammatory bowel disease

chron's and colitis UK

Glossybox | February

Glossybox

subscribe

I was lucky enough to get a 3 month subscription to Glossybox for my birthday from my sister, so I thought I'd do a few posts on them. I've often heard a lot of bloggers debating over whether beauty boxes are always what you pay, but personally I think they're really fun and worth it if you want to explore some new brands and products. I don't think I'd ever subscribe long term, but I'm excited to see what I get the next few months! 

Firstly, I'm so in love with the actual box. I'd heard that glossy box do different designs for some boxes, but finding out I'd gotten such a pretty one was a dream! I don't know what I'm going to use this for yet, but I love (ha) it! I was excited to get a full size Wilkinson sword hydro silk razor too, as my last one has just run out so it's perfectly timed! I think my favourite products are the B. A11 mascara and the Royal Apothic tinties balm. The So Susan rose quartlet looks a little disappointing, but I can't say that it's the kind of product that I'd like even if it was amazing packaging and quality! The Marsk mineral eyeshadow is something I can see myself using a lot- though I can't say I would have paid £14.49 for it normally.

From what I've seen of the March box, I'm really excited to get my next one!

What do you think of beauty boxes? Did you get this box?

n xx

Sunday face detox

Tea tree & witch hazel pore strips £4.99

Lush BB seaweed face mask £6.50

I love a good face detox, especially recently as my skin has been having a bit of a break out. I'll normally start with a nose pore strip after a shower or bath. If you've never tried one and you suffer from blackheads, I really recommend these! They pull out so much ick from my nose and chin, it's very satisfying. I love Lush face masks to follow up, as I find they never leave my skin too tight or feeling like it's been brutally attacked with a paint stripper (it's not a feeling I can recommend, thank you sensitive skin). BB seaweed is one of my favourites, as the aloe vera leaves my skin feeling baby soft, and the millet flakes double it as an exfoliator when removing.

What are some of your sunday favourites?

n xx

Review | Benefit Roller lash

In the March copy of ELLE this month, I got my hands on the new Benefit mascara, roller lash. I've tried Benefit mascaras before, but although I haven't hated them they don't always float my boat either, so I was excited to try this out!

"Why we love it!

It’s a roller for lashes! The eye-opening Hook ‘n’ Roll brush grabs, separates, lifts and curls…while the instant curve-setting formula holds for 12 hours."

The wand (applicator? brush? I'm never sure) is plastic and has the slightest curve to it to help follow the curve of your lashes. The bristles are slightly varied in length, being slightly longer on top and shorter on the underside of the curve. It applies really evenly at first, but I find on my longer lashes it gets clumpy pretty quickly.

I do really like the formula however, it's not too wet (I think it's the design of the wand that makes the clumps happen) and it removes really easily. It has good staying power too, without any fallout. My lashes don't really lose their curl so I can't say as to whether it holds curl particularly well. I do also really like the simple packaging, the colours are nice and I'm a fan of just the basic tube shape!

Overall, I don't really like or dislike it... I like it but the plastic wand really puts me off, so I probably won't be buying it!

Have you tried this out yet?

n xx

ASOS wishlist

l-r

stripe jumper with high neck in chenille £35

swing dress with lace inserts £35 £10.50

90's skater dress with high neck £15

l-r

pastel rainbow knit jumper £32

tulle mini prom skirt £20

shirt dress in floral print £35

petite printed shorts £14.99

stay classy sweatshirt £25

swing dress with lace hem £25

Recently I had a massive wardrobe cleanse (we're talking a good 30% of my wardrobe), which will soon be going onto the likes of depop, which I'll link when it's set up! But since then, even though a majority of what I've sold is old things that I never wear, I've been lusting over filling up the empty hanger space! ASOS has really been floating my boat recently, so I think a few (read: probably all) of these pieces might end up in the post coming my way!

What have you been lusting over recently?

n xx

Disneyland Paris

I mentioned last week (how was it a over whole week ago?! Time please slow down) that I went away for my birthday. I'm not trying to be brag, as I'm extremely grateful to my parents and everything they've given me, but I also really want to share a few of my photos from Disneyland! It was a dream, and the most magical birthday. I couldn't have asked for better!

n xx

Beauty wishlist

Tanya Burr individual lashes

Benefit gimme brow

MAC Lady Bug

Rimmel lasting finish nude foundation

Boujoirs rouge edition velvet lipstick

Naked Basics palette

I've not had a serious beauty haul in quite a while, so recently I've been lusting after quite a lot.. 

I'm not a big false lash girl, but the Tanya Burr individual lashes look like something even I could get on with so I  might have to pick some up soon! I've been perusing the MAC Red Red Red collection, and Lady Bug is definitely my favourite product of the bunch. Plus, how cute is the name?! The Boujoirs velvet lipsticks have been on my to get list for quite a while, but I feel like I might actually take the plunge next time I'm in Boots because of all the reviews I'm reading.

I'm also thinking of adding the first Naked Basics palette to my Urban Decay family (which so far is only the third normal palette), just because I love a good matte eye shadow and these look gorgeous. I'm already a gimme brow fan, but I think my current one needs to be binned and replaced... maybe soon! Finally I've been looking at the Rimmel lasting finish nude foundation for a while, even though I'm not a massive foundation fan. Rimmel is the only high street brand that really matches my skin tone (though L'Oreal has been making recent break throughs), and it's currently on offer for £3 off in Boots!

What's on your beauty wishlist at the moment?!

n xx

Just say yes.

Who remembers Zoella's just say yes post? Well, here it is anyway.

I'm getting to be a very anxious person. I've always been shy, and I actively chose my university modules around what ones didn't include presentations. I've never been someone to put myself forward, and frankly I'm a bit of a wallflower. I don't really mind. Not everyone is made to be the social hub of the party, and frankly I don't have the patience to be attached to my phone to keep in touch with everyone.

Anxiety is really scary, and I know I don't even have it that bad. There are so many people out there who have it so much worse, and it's so hard to get out of things once you're into a routine. So I'm taking it onto myself to push myself out of my comfort zone.

• do something new. Go shopping by yourself. Order something new in a cafe. It can be the smallest thing you can possibly imagine, it still counts
• remember it's okay to have bad days. One bad days doesn't discount everything else
• work out. Go to the gym, or even just half an hour of yoga. Go swimming. It'll take your mind off things and stop you over thinking
• check your diet. If I'm eating too much junk, I get stressed ten times easier. Healthy food isn't half as bad as you think sometimes, and it gives more of an energy boost

If you have anxiety, it's okay. It doesn't make you a failure or weak, it doesn't make you a bad friend or any of those things. And sometimes, even the most confident people are suffering too. Everyone is different.

♥

Hey, I'm 21

Today is pretty scary but exciting. I'm turning 21 (at 9:50am if you're wondering). 18 was scary, and 21 is terrifying. I can still remember my 18th birthday like it was a week ago, and I can't believe how fast the last three years have gone.

Today isn't all scary because I'm currently in Disneyland Paris with my wonderful family, meeting princesses and probably (read: definitely) wearing Minnie Mouse ears. My sisters terror of potentially having to have an 18th birthday party meant that we spent her birthday in New York, and the tradition stuck for our following three birthdays (my 18th, her 21st and now my 21st). Our parents are very understanding of our hate for birthday parties, we're very lucky.

Sorry for the lack of a proper post today, but I hope you're all having a beautiful day wherever you are ♥

n xx