Jimmy Choo | Flash.

Every Christmas my mum buys me a perfume. From Morgan (way back in my school days), to Marc Jacobs to YSL. She really does know what she is doing when she picks a new scent to add to my collection. Picking a fragrance can be a really personal thing, so it is lovely to know my mum knows what to get me and I have never been disappointed. I wanted to share this years pick as it is deffo up there with my favourites. Flash by Jimmy Choo is created from sparkles of pink pepper, tangerine and strawberry. The middle notes are made up of white flowers and tuberose with base notes of white wood and heliotrope. Basically it is sweet and floral, which is my favourite kind of scent. I only use about 3/4 sprays of this perfume in the day, which is nothing for me. I am the kind of gal to spray it everywhere, my clothes then my hair, my outerwear then a few sprits in the air just to walk through. But this one lasts all day and I still get whiffs of it at the end of the day. Sorry, I couldn't think of a nicer replacement for whiff, haha.

Can we just talk about the bottle for a minute too. The textured, cube shaped bottle looks so chic sat on my dressing table, especially with the mix of silver and lavender tones in the glass and metal work.

I think you can find this perfume relatively cheap, I have researched online and found prices ranging from £20-£60. That is depending on size of the bottle and where you get it from. I still love my other Jimmy Choo perfume (I think it is just called Jimmy Choo) but this is a nice floral alternative. 

What is your favourite perfume?

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December Favourites.

It's not too late for my December faves right? I feel like the month of December just revolves around Christmas so even mentioning it makes me shiver a bit. I am just going to share anyway. 

My first favourite is the Stilla stay all day liquid eyeliner. I feel like everyone knows about (and loves!)  this already but I didn't understand until I tried it for myself. This product makes wing liner easy peasy, no joke. I just use the tip of the pen to line my lid, then press the whole nib against my skin to create a perfect flick. That doesn't really make sense but just buy it and you will understand how it works. I wear liner everyday so it makes getting ready in the morning that little bit faster and it stays put until the end of the day.

My next favourite is the colour red. This is very unusual for me as I am an avid black wearer, maybe grey at a push. BUT for some reason I am just drawn to the colour at the minute. I have been loving a baggy red jumper that I picked up from H&M but I can't seem to find it online anymore. So, I am sharing my next rouge love, a beautiful rich toned scarf from Laura Ashley. It is so warm and thick I could honestly live in it. It does shed a little though, which is a bit annoying as I tend to be leaving a red fluff trail everywhere. Whilst we are on the topic of fashion I thought I'd share my favourite jumper. This isn't on the H&M site either (sorry!) but I did find one very similar here, it is only a little more than I paid too (I got mine for a steal at £12). Its great to just throw on with some leggings and loafers for a semi-stylish but comfy look.

I don't think I have ever done a favourites post this long before, but we are on to the last thing you'll be happy to know. 
I have been really into interior magazines lately. Not any one in particular, I just flick through the ones on the shelves and if I like the look of the content I'll buy it. I have been decorating my bedroom so any inspo has been massively helpful. I am loving the whole, mid century modern/Scandinavian style and looking through the mags has really helped me achieve that kinda look in my bedroom. I am hoping to finish it pretty soon so then I can give you a little look into my new space.

I could go on all day and night but I best stop there before I bore you all. What has been your most recent favourite?

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Skin Kissed Skin & Facial Serum.

Main active ingredients contain: Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid  + Collagen

I think I may have spoken about this before but I always tend to steer away from serums and oils. I just imagine them being greasy and sitting on top of the skin, but not this one. Skin Kissed promises to plump and hydrate the skin, remove acne, reduce fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes and leaves the skin feeling soft. The biggest difference I have seen though is when applying my make up. It makes blending the foundation soooo much easier and gives a flawless finish. My mum has been using it too and she loves it. She's into anything that softens the skin and reduces wrinkles & fine lines.

So I usually apply this serum in the morning as soon as I wake up. I use 4 drops and massage it into the skin, concentrating around my nose and forehead (my trouble areas). By the time I head down stairs to do my make up it is completely dry and soaked into the skin. It gives the skin a super soft and almost matte feeling finish. I haven't noticed a massive difference with my spots yet, but I did end up squeezing them the other day (stupid I know!) so I probably haven't helped. I really want to focus on getting rid of these spots, so I'll deffo update you with my progress. It has reduced the redness around my nose and forehead though, that seems to have calmed down a lot.
Oh, and can we talk about the bottle? I am loving anything gold and antique looking at the minute. It fits right in on my dressing table full of trinkets and plants.

I definitely think this serum is worth trying out and if you're not happy with your results they offer a 30 day money back guarantee. Win!

Have you ever tried the Skin Kissed serum?

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*These products were kindly sent to me by SkinKissed, read full disclaimer here*

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream.

I have heard so many good things about the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream, I thought it was about time I tested it out for myself. 
The first thing I noticed about this product is that it isn't really a cream. I'd say it is more of a gel consistency. At first I wasn't sure how to apply it as it was to thick to rub into my skin. I later found out (after layering a shit ton on my face and wondering why it was so heavy) that it should really be warmed up in your hands and patted into the skin. Since that (revolutionary) step, I have been loving this product. I mainly use it for my dry skin around my mouth and forehead but it can be used for chapping, peeling, sunburn and scrapes. It also says on the bottle that it can be used for the brows, dry hands and to smooth cuticles and nails... what ever that means?

This product isn't for you if you don't like a heavy consistency and feel to the skin. I put this cream on before I go to bed and let it soak in during the night. Otherwise it just makes my face look super shiny and greasy. Oh, and the scent? It smells slightly rosey but to be honest, it just smells like a spa if you know what I mean. I have linked the scent with relaxing now, so as soon as I pop it on I am ready to drift off to sleep.

And finally the packaging, I mean to be fair it doesn't offend me but its nothing special. It is basically just like a swanky 50g toothpaste tube, but as long as the product inside works it really doesn't bother me. And trust me, the product really does work. I have deffo noticed a difference with my skin, it isn't as dry and my make up applies to my face a lot nicer.

Have you ever tried this product?

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£3 Highlighter?!

I am a sucker for highlighters. Every time I head into Boots or Superdrug I always find myself dusting the sparkly pigments onto my hand... and guys, have I found a sparkly pigment! These highlighter are bloody blinding. They are from the brand MUA which is becoming more and more popular in the make up world. When I bought these they were 2 for £5, but now they are priced up at £3 each, which is still a barg. 
I picked up the shades pearlescent sheen (frosty white with a hint of blue) & iridescent gold (pale yellow with gold flecks). I've got to say out of the two the pearlescent sheen has to be my favourite. I love the blue undertone it has to it, and when the light hits it, it is so beautiful. I love the iridescent gold too, but it isn't as strong and pigmented as the blue toned highlighter.
The staying power of these products are pretty good. I mean they don't stay on forever but I can still see a bit of sparkle on my cheek bone at the end of the day. 
As for the packaging it could be better as it is just a white and clear plastic casing, but for the price it doesn't really bother me.

Have you ever tried anything from MUA?

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3... April Favourites.

I feel like my favourites are getting a bit repetitive now, but hey it shows how much I love these products right? Also, they are always a bit late aren't they? I mean it's the 9th of May already... where is this year going?! Anyway, lets get into my faves.

So my first fave is the YSL Black Opium perfume. I ALWAYS go on about this, I've loved it for years now (I did a full post on it here). Since Feb I have been using my Jimmy Choo perfume but I was just going through it too quickly, so I decided to go back to my YSL for a little bit. I fell in love with it all over again. In short the scent is very sophisticated but still very sweet.

My next fave is kind of what I covered in my last post. I said I was really loving gold, and that included rediscovering my gold Casio again. I have a silver one which I wear all the time but my gold one is the original, the one I got first for my 18th from my sissy. It is slightly worn now but that just adds to the look of it I guess.

And finally, my love of magazines is back! I used to buy Elle religiously, eagerly waiting each month for the new issue. I don't know what happened but I just stopped getting them, I always bloody do that don't I?!! But I love em again, I love flicking through the pages and getting new inspo. And I am really enjoying using them as props and backdrops for my blog photos, it's a win win situation!

Did you have any April favourite?

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Shade Adjusting Drops From The Body Shop.

A little while ago I did a review on the Jackie Oates Colour Supplement from Lush. I wasn't that impressed with the product and ever since, my hunt for a magical potion that lightens foundation continued. Until I came across The Body Shop's take on the shade adjusting product. Spoiler, I bloody love it!

So, as you can see it is basically just a white foundation that you mix with your foundation if it is slightly too dark for you. 1 drop is meant to lighten your foundation by 1/2 a shade. I usually add 2 drops, to my Revlon Colour Stay foundation (Ivory). It's a great product for pale peoples (like myself) to help lighten up orangey drug store foundations. Lets be honest, it is really hard to find a pale foundation which doesn't oxidate. Plus if you are not willing to splash out on a £30+ higher end foundation this is a great alternative to add to the bases you already have.

These drops are made from a concentration of white and pink pigments which helps neutralise yellowness while lightening. They also have darkening drops, these help guys and gals who find their foundations too light or ashy. A mixture of black and red pigments helps darken while keeping the natural depth. 

The only problem I have with the product is the packaging. I really liked the idea of the little pipette but it just doesn't pick up the lightening product. No matter how many time you squeeze the top or shake it, it just doesn't really grap anything. That is the one and only fault I have with the product. 

(Update: I have just read a few reviews and a lot of people have said the same about the packaging, don't let that put you off though!)

Have you ever tried this product? Or anything similar?

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Clarins Pure & Radiant Facial Mask.

For christmas my friend got me a few Clarins goodies, including this Clarins Pure & Radiant Facial Mask. Its such a lovely (and luxury) item to have, I've really enjoyed using it. So today I thought I'd tell you my thoughts and feelings on this larvelyyyy product.

So, what does this product promise? It promises to tighten, scrub and refine pores whilst leaving a fresh, toned and matte result. It also softens, smooths and comforts irritated skin AND it is suitable for sensitive skin. I'd agree with all of that, my skin always feels fab after using this mask. My two fave things about it is one, the scent (it smells so fresh and relaxing) and two is the texture of the product. It is a non-drying mask which means it doesn't become flakey and suuuuper drying in the 5-10 minutes applied time. Instead it sits on your face, almost like a cream and to me this makes it feel like it is locking in a lot more moisture. I may be wrong but it feels that way, which I love.

"A deep-purifying mask and face exfoliator —with refreshing Pink Clay and Alpine Willow Herb—cleans, tightens, scrubs and refines pores, leaving a fresh and toned matte result in just 5 minutes. Softens, smoothes and comforts irritated skin with Linden extract. Non-drying texture rinses easily and is suitable for even the most sensitive skin."

My skin has been pretty irritated too recently and I have found this really soothes those aggravated areas. It doesn't really help with the prevention of spots but it does help to ease the pain and redness of them, its just a winner all round I'd say. 

Have you ever tried Clarins Pure & Radiant Facial Mask?

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How I Look After My Skin And Deal With Spots.

I thought I'd put together a post about my current skincare routine. I mean its probably not the best, but I am not a skincare specialists. Here are just a few things I have been doing which has improved my skin, massively!

Knowing whats in your skincare.

So knowing what is in your skincare and what works for you is a major thing you need to look into. I recently came across this article on Reviews.com about the Best Acne Treatment Reviews of 2017. It looks into 42 different treatments and narrows it down the best one. You'll have to give the article a read to see which one is the winner! Since reading this article I am thinking of changing the skincare products I use, now I know a little more about what I should be looking out for and using. Another thing I have been using are facial sponges. So, I got these sponges in my Christmas calendar (my mum makes me one every year haha). I have been using them ever since the middle of December and they have worked great on my skin. I wash my face with my ordinary cleanser then gently exfoliate my skin with the sponge. Not only is it more gentle on my skin than the micro beads in face scrubs, but it also means I don't have to use too many products on my face to scrub away the dirt. They are sooo good and I can't imagine them being too expensive, so they are deffo worth a try.

Dealing with spots.

I am sooo bad with spots. As soon as I see one appearing I have to squeeze it, even if it hasn't got a head on it. After that I will pick without even knowing I am doing so. I have been trying to just leave them recently, letting them pop on their own and disappear naturally. It is hard, it's not nice having a yellow, painful spot poking out of your face but I've learned that leaving it to run its course if miles better than irritating it even more.

Applying make up.

This is going to sound a bit horrible but when the smaller spots (white heads) start appearing on my face, it usually means my make up brushes need washing. I wash my brushes once a week, but if I leave them for an extra day or so thats when those kind of spots start to appear. A lot of people don't wash their make up brushes enough, but I've found washing them regularly does help prevent spots. 
Also when applying make up to a spot I try to leave it to air for as long as possible before hand. By this I mean I do my full face, avoiding the spot/spots. Just before I get ready to leave I will apply concealer. I know putting product on it isn't good but if I am going to work, I will add a small amount of product just to try and hide it away for a while. As soon as I get home I remove the make up on it and let it air again. I know it isn't the best solution but it works for me at the moment.

Eating better.
This is such a predictable thing to say but I do feel like my skin has gotten better from eating healthier. For example, I have cut back on chocolate. It wasn't a decision to do that I just did it without realising. I think the boat load I had at Christmas put me of it a tad haha! If I fancy something sweet now I reach for something like oranges or (my new fave) dried mango. I was never really a fruit person, I much preferred veg, but at the minute I just can't get enough of it! 

Thats how I take care of my skin. How do you take care of yours?

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Coconut Water & Shea Butter Foot Mask.

There are masks for everything nowadays... ones for under eyes, one to plump your lips, everything! For Christmas I received two different masks for feet. Yeah, your feet! I know some people have this weird thing about feet and toes, so I haven't actually taken pictures of my bare feet, haha. I just thought I'd tell you how amazing they are! The masks, not my feet, hahahah.

So yes, I do really like them. They are a lovely little treat for you feet (smooth rhyme there).
They are basically just plastic socks with a fabric inner. The inner is enriched with coconut water and shea butter to help soften and repair the skin. I just feel like coconut oil is used for everything, so it must be doing something right.

You're meant to leave the boots on for around 15-20 minutes to let the mixture soak into the skin. After that you just slip them off and pat your feet down with a towel. Well, it doesn't actually say what to do once you have removed the socks but my feet were still slippery so I had to pat them down, for my own safety!

I put some cotton socks on afterwards just to let the remaining moisturiser soak in. In the end my feet felt so cool & fresh and super soft too. I think a product like this would be great for the summer time. My feet get a tad dry, especially when I am wearing sandals so something like this would be a life saver, for me anyway.

I am not sure where these products are from as they were a gift, but I have done a bit of mooching online and found them going for around £1 which is a steal!

Have you ever tried any unique masks?

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The Irresistible Me Jade Hair Straightening Brush Review.

Today I am going to be reviewing the Irresistible Me Jade Hair Straightening Brush. These hair straightening brushes really festinate me, I mean, a brush that straightens your hair?! Amazing. I remember when my sister used to get my mum to straighten her hair with an iron, which is really bad I know but you had to do what you had to do haha. Going from that to a brush that does it all amazes me! 

So when Irresistible Me contacted me asking if I wanted to test out their dual voltage hair straightening brush, I did a little happy dance (I am not even lying)! But what is dual voltage you ask? Well, it simply means that the product will adjust your locations voltage. Clever right? This makes it great to travel with. 
To use this product I did need to purchase an adapter as the plug isn't one for a UK socket. They are pretty cheap though, I picked my adapter up from Asda for £3.

So lets start with the basics and how it works. As you open the sleek black box (which has a magnetic fastening, sooo satisfying) the matte, turquoise brush is tucked away neatly & safely. The brush has 3 buttons, an off button and two buttons to adjust the temperature (high and low obvs). Also the brush has a small LCD screen so you can see and pick a temperature that suits you. 
As well as the brush the packaging contains an information leaflet and on the lid of the box are 16 key points. A few of these include, fast heat up, ergonomic design, ceramic technology, no hair damage bristles, an 8ft cord and my favourite feature, auto shut off. 
I always get really anxious that I have left my straighteners on so this feature is great for piece of mind... Always check you have turned it off though, it's not worth the risk!

I took a picture of my hair before using the brush, just blown dry. I hadn't straightened it or anything since washing it, hence its horrendous state. My hair doesn't really have a wave to it as such, it just tends to go kinky at my roots, then flat then kinky towards the bottom. Basically it is a mess if I don't do anything to it. I'll just apologise now for the vile photo, haha!

So, want to see what it did to my hair? Drum role pleaseeeee...

What do you think? I think the results are fab! It isn't as pin straight as when I go over my hair with my ordinary straighteners, but I feel like that leaves more room for volume. My hair deffo didn't feel as flat and looked a lot thicker. It was pretty easy to use and handle too, you just basically brush your hair with it. 
I did section my hair off at first but in the end I think it worked better by just picking pieces of hair and brushing on top of it, then underneath. This is what worked on my hair anyway. 
And can we just mention the colour of this brush?! A lot of hair appliances are usually black, which there is nothing wrong with, but I do love a bit of colour from time to time.

That wraps up this (rather long) review. I hope it helped in some way and gave you a handy introduction to Irresistible Me and their Jade Hair Straightening Brush. They also sell hair extensions and hair accessories too, there is something for everyone!

Have you ever used a hair tool like this before?

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*These products were kindly sent to me but all opinions remain my own. Read full disclaimer here*

A Lush Haul! (What I Got For Christmas)!

 

In todays post I wanted to share the Lush products I got for Christmas. They are either bath bombs or bubbles bars, my two fave products from Lush. 

So, lets start with the Happy Daze gift set. This gift contains:

From left to right (Image & descriptions from Lush)

 The Experimenter bath bomb, an enigmatic and comforting romance of... deep, complex vetivers notes that enthral your senses before creamy vanilla and tonka provide a sweet antidote. It has popping candy in it too, yaaas!

Fizbanger bath bomb, releasing first a citrussy apple and then a cinnamon, apple pie like scent with a hint of ylang ylang. Petitgrain is used in aromatherapy to calm the breathing, slow the heartbeat and reduce feelings of anxiety. Yang ylang produces a feeling of joy, and cinnamon leaf oil helps you let go.

Bright side bubble bar, an uplifting bubble bar containing Sicilian mandarin, bergamot and tangerine essential oils to help you look on the bright side of life!

The Comforter bubble bar, which is my favourite bubble bar (I've mentioned it here & here). This contains cassis absolute which gives a distinctive blackcurrant fragrance, while bergamot adds an uplifting note.

I've had all of these product before, apart from The Experimenter. I always look at it in store but for some reason I just never pick it up! I am glad to have it now though and I can't wait to give it a try!

I also received a Santa printed scarf filled with smelly treats from my sister. She picked them all her self (with a little help from the Lush staff, haha)! I think its a lovely idea, it really makes the gift feel personal. This contained:

Stardust bath bomb which contains vanilla, rosewood and bergamot expertly blended to give it an intoxicating scent even before it hits the water.

Butter Bear bath bomb which is moulded into a friendly bear which has a generous helping of cocoa butter to give you the softest bear hug imaginable.

Pumpkin bath bomb, which is Halloween product (well done sissy, you obviously didn't leave your Christmas shopping till last minute haha). I've had this before and all you need to know is that it is amazing! It smells super warming and wintery.

Northern Lights, which again is a seasonal product I think. In the product description its says, cheery slang ylang bobs and weaves with sensual jasmine in the air to light up your spirits, it soundslovely!

And finally to finish off this Lush haul, Candy Mountain bubble bar! Lush's description of the product says this lustrous pink bubbler will send your mood into the stratosphere with its sweet vanilla perfume. 

I have got a lot of products to get through, I think I'll either start with The Experimenter or Northern Lights. I haven't used either of these before so I am excited to see what they are like!

I couldn't find all of the products online so some are linked to the UK website, and others are linked to the US website. I thought I'd still link them, just so you can see what they look if you wanted to go and purchase them in store.

I hope you liked this slightly longer post, sorry if it was toooo long!

Anyway, what is your favourite Lush bath bomb?




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Jeffree Star's (Holiday Collection) Velour Liquid Lipsticks In Designer Blood & Pumpkin Pie.

Today I am blabbing on about a holiday edition product so it is classed as a Chrsitmassy post, right? Haha! It was actually a total accident that I picked up two of the Jeffree Star holiday products. I just chose the two shades I liked the most! I did want Unicorn Blood but I think that is pretty hard to get hold of, well I feel like its hard to get hold of on Beauty Bay anyway. I have heard Designer Blood is very similar so I had to add it to my basket.  

Before we get onto the post I feel like I have to apologise for how badly I have applied these products haha! I am learning!!

So lets start with Pumpkin Pie. I am a sucker for orange lipsticks, but I only tend to wear them in the summer. I thought this dark/brick orange shade was perfect for the colder months. I also don't mind the gold sparkle that has been added to this formula, it's not too much. 
I can't really review these lips yet as I have only had them for a day or so but I can tell you how this one felt from testing it out. 
It is very light weight and feels comfortable on the lips. It isn't streaky either which is a win! I thought Designer Blood was going to be my favourite but surprisingly, I think this one is!

Speaking of Designer Blood, I'd say its kind of a love/hate relationship. I mean I don't hate it, I love the deep, rich colour of the product and the coverage is amazing, but (as with all dark lip products) it has to be applied perfectly... Otherwise it just looks like, well a mess. When I first tried this I got it everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE! It was on my hands, teeth, clothes even the light switches haha! 

I did wear this one out today and I loved it, apart from it going a tad cakey towards the end of the day. To be honest I think this was just down to me though. I feel like I applied way too much! I just need to learn to work with the product first I think.

My first impressions are good so far! I love the colours that I picked up and the colour selection is amazinggggg. Like I said I think I just need to learn how to work with the product and not pile it all on at once, oops!

Have you ever tried Jeffree Star Cosmetics?



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