What I Receieved For Christmas {ft. swatches}

Hey lovelies,

I was getting quite a few messages asking about what I was gifted for Christmas so here you go. This is in no way me showing off, but I also love reading these posts and seeing what people had at the top of their wish lists. Furthermore, I mainly asked for books and perfume instead of makeup this year, so if you want to see the books I received click here.

Products featured in pictures:

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Series Contour Kit | Link | Shade: Light/Medium
2. MAC Lipstick | Link | Shade: Spirit
3. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick | Link | Shade: Very Victoria
4. Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner | Link
5. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit | Link

Products not featured in the picture:

1. Diptyque Candle | Link | Scent: Vanille
2. MAC Eyeshadow | Link | Shade: Sumptuous Olive
3. Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil | Link
4. Alpha H Liquid Gold | Link

Swatches:

L-R: CT 'Very Victoria'/MAC 'Spirit'

Thanks for reading lovelies

My All Time Favourite Skincare Products

Hey lovelies,

Today I thought I'd feature my all time favourite skincare products that as of yet I will continually repurchase as I so far find these are the best of the best. Especially, as I beauty blog I do try a wide range of skincare so it does take a lot for a product to stand out to me and get me to repurchase.

1. Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleansing Balm (My review | Link) | Link - I've adored this stuff ever since my very first purchase way, way back in 2009 and since then continuously go back to this every single time, no matter what balm I've previously tried this stuff always comes out on top. This is great for all skin types of all ages and I recommend it to anyone that wants clear, healthy skin.
2. Clarisonic Mia 2 | Link - This isn't photographed above but is a product I've now owned for about 2-3 years and can't really imagine my skin without it. It honestly made such a dramatic difference to my skin and I notice a difference straight away when I stop using it. I have a review upcoming for this in the next couple of weeks so keep an eye out, as it will also feature my review on the decongested clarisonic set. 
3. Origins Drink Up Intensive and Origins Drink Up Face Masks | Link - These two are honestly great and I continuously use these interchangeably. I prefer the intensive more during the winter months and the general Drink Up during the summer when my skin isn't as dehydrated. I also think these are fab to use on long plane flights where your skin always gets a bit dry and yucky. 
4. Caudalie Beauty Elixr (My review | Link) | Link - This skin beautifying spray is perfect all year round, but especially during the summer when your skin needs a quick refresh. I adore using this in so many different ways from using it as my toner in the morning with my skincare routine, using it as a primer for my foundation, using it to set my makeup and to give it a more natural/glowy look or to even refresh my face throughout the day. Overall, this is just a great product that smells delightful and I get along with perfectly.
5. Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate | Link - This oil is beautiful and smells absolutely amazing, I've had this for about a year now and I've still got more than 3/4 of the bottle left! Which is amazing to say I use it nearly 3-4 times a week. I've got a post upcoming of a review of this oil that will be going up soon so check that out to find out more and how to use it.
6. La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo + | Link - This has been a staple in my skincare for so long I can barely remember what it was like not to use this. The Effaclar Duo is another great product to use in many different ways, from as a light daytime moisturiser, a spot treatment or a primer. This works even for the most sensitive of skin types so if you're more on the dry side, don't hesitate!
7. Origins A Perfect World Moisturiser | Link - I love this stuff so much!! This is my first ever jar of this coca-cola smelling moisturiser and I can already confidently say that it won't be my last. I use it as a nighttime mosituriser and adore the effect it leaves on my skin for the next day. It's softer, smoother and hydrated. 
8. Pixi Glow Tonic | Link - This chemical exfoliator is perfect for absolutely any skin type. It's designed to resurface and revitalise the skin whilst also soothing this skin. Therefore, resulting in glowing, luminous, smooth skin. The likes of infamous Caroline Hiron's adores this product, which just shows how much this is a must have for anyones skincare stash.
9. Bioderma Sensibo H20 | Link - My must have product for taking off any and all eye make up, and the addition of the rest of my make up, It's perfect because it gets everything off without me having to tug my skin nor does it irritate it.

Thanks for reading!

If you want to find out more of my favourite products don't forget to subscribe or follow me on bloglovin,

Cutest Gift Set Ever

I'm a massive fan of cute, quirky gifts and especially anything to do with Bodycare. (As you've seen from my mass amount of Lush and shower gel loving posts). I was sent this adorable cute Toast and Jam Body Wash Set | Link from The Internet Gift Store. Furthermore, I'm a major believer in buying Christmas gifts early (yes, I did just mention the C word!), and I think cute, quirky gifts like this that aren't super pricey are great for friends or even stocking fillers that make Christmas Day a bit more exciting and unique.

The Basics

Brand: Mad Beauty
Name of Product: Toast and Jam Body Wash SetPurpose of product: Body wash to clean, awaken and revive the skin by leaving it smelling fruity and freshPrice: £6.99 | Link
Who it's aimed for: Anybody and everybody really! Especially someone that likes to try new and different things

Product Description

A strawberry scented body wash that comes with toast-shaped sponge, designed to be fruity and fresh. Great gift idea.

Where to buy: Internet Gift Store | Link 

How To UseObviously, everyone knows how to use a body wash but as this is more of a jelly and has a more thicker, liquid consistency (much alike real jelly) myself and Internet Gift Store recommend using it by lathering yourself and the product with warm water (or however you like your shower/bath to be!) and then gently massaging into the skin before washing away.

Pro's
I adore this product for so many reasons! The packaging is easy and simple to use and get the product out and clearly highlights when you're running low - and need to repurchase! It has a lovely fresh strawberry scent and is so exciting and fun to use due to it's jelly shaped texture and appearance. The toast shaped sponge is also a really cool idea and completely unique. I personally, fell in love with the product before I even opened the packaging purely because of the toast sponge. It's also a great dupe for any of Lush's shower jellys or The Body Shops raspberry shower gel.

Cons
Sadly, I don't have any massive cons. My only main issue was that it smelt so nice it was difficult to not want to try and eat it! I also wished it had a few skincare benefits besides just making me smell nice. 

Should I Buy It?/Do I Recommend?I would say definitely! It's a super cute gift that any young girl or older woman or of any gender really would appreciate.

Rating
8/10
I also highly recommend checking out the online Internet Gift Store because they have a great variety of products to buy for just about everybody, from Christmas to Mothers Day to Graduation Day!

What do you get: A strawberry scented body wash and a toast-shaped sponge

Thank you for reading,

End Of September Update

Today it's time for another end of the month update and this month I've been super busy! I've moved back to university and started my second year which is scary stuff! Apart from that I've been relaxing in-between work and classes and have quite a few favourites.

TV Shows

Both of these series are finished and are fully available to binge watch its' entirety on Netflix (which I can personally recommend).

1. The Killing

Now this was a random show that I found out of the blue and suddenly became obsessed with! It follows two detectives and crimes/murders they have to figure out. It's got super dark, gritty, mystery/thriller feel to it that I loved. I'd describe it as a darker, more in-depth version of CSI or NCIS and is a lot more realistic. Surprisingly I also cried a lot!

2. Gossip Girl

My final favourite show of the month is one of my all time favourites. I ended up re-watching it this month and I forgot how much I adore this! It's a similar show to 90201, featured in a previous monthly update | link, but set in New York and definitely has a more serious vibe to it. Now, if that doesn't persuade you, I just have one person to sway you - Chuck Bass.

Books

Sadly, due to moving back to university I didn't have a lot of time to read but I managed to find two books that have stood out to me.

1. Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout

The first series of books was a re-read for me and that was the LUX series and honestly it is one of my all time favourites by one of my top authors! It features aliens but in a completely different light! I find it's best going into it not knowing a lot. But what I will say is, if you like paranormal, romance and something that will hook you and end up flying by this is it for you.

Rated 5 stars.

Favourite Quote: "“Why are you such an ass?" The words came out before I could think twice.

"Everyone has to excel at something, right?" "

2. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

The second, is a book I was really unsure whether I would like or not, but ended up loving. It centres around a brother and sister who live in a town where there's a boy asleep in a glass coffin in the centre of the woods - sounds exciting right? It is! It's got the vibe of a fairytale retelling but still feels completely new and unique. It's a fantasy fey containing book with a small amount of romance that doesn't take away from the main plot of the book.

Rated 5 stars.

Favourite Quote: "Once, there was a girl who vowed she would save everyone in the world, but forgot herself."

Music

I've only been listening to one album and single on repeat this month which is;

1. Beauty Behind the Madness by The Weeknd

Overall, I adore the whole album but one song that specifically stood out to me was 'Dark Times' featuring Ed Sheeran. This album is a must listen.

2. Infinity by One Direction

I must admit One Direction is my guilty pleasure, and since Zayn left I was unsure how their music was going to play out. But this new single is amazing and has a brand new sound to them that I'm loving and is getting me excited for their upcoming album.

Film

I have only seen one movie this month but luckily I loved it and that's Sinister 2! It wasn't as scary as the first one, but it definitely made me jump out of my seat a bunch in the cinema!

Favourite Outfit

Favourite Quote

Thank you for reading,

My Basic Skincare Must Haves

Hey lovelies,

Today I thought I'd do a feature today where I showcase all my basic must have skincare products and my recommendations for each one. As understandably skincare can get quite confusing and when there are so many products to choose from you can easily get overwhelmed and unsure as to what you need to buy and what you don't. Skincare, I personally feel, is the most important part of your regime - more so than makeup. As, if your skin looks good a) you'll need less makeup and b) your makeup will apply a hell of a lot easier. After a quick description of each product there will be a few of my recommendations at the end, with a high end and a drugstore choice.

1. Makeup Remover

A decent makeup remover that works well on both the eyes and skin is key. As you want something gentle around the eyes, so that you don't have to tug, but also something that can remove your foundation. I'd recommend either a micellar water as they're light and super gentle and work, or a cleansing oil as they're a bit heavier but take everything off with major skin benefits. Both work well for either skin types. I own both a micellar water and a cleansing oil, purely because I find the micellar water is easier to travel with. (As seen in my photo, I've decanted it into a smaller, travel-size bottle)

Recommendations: BioDerma Sensibo | Link, Garnier Cleansing Micellar Water | Link,  Superfacialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil (Review) | Link, The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (Review) | Link

2. Cleanser

Cleansing your skin is super important and shouldn't get mixed up with removing your makeup. Makeup remover takes off your makeup, whereas a cleanser actually cleans your skin and gets inside all your dirty pores (lovely image!). You always go in with a cleanser after you've removed your makeup. Out of every skincare product, cleansers are very subjective to skincare types but personally I recommend ones that actually leave my skin feeling clean and soft, but not dry or tight. I also have quite sensitive skin so something suited to sensitive skin is perfect for me! My favourite types of cleansers are either gel or balm cleansers - gel are normally better suited to combination to oily skin types whereas balms are universal. 

Recommendations: Lancome Gel Eclat (Suitable for all types) | Link, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (All skin types - especially sensitive) | Link, Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm (All types) (Review) | Link, LUSH Ultraband (All types) | Link

3. Exfoliators

Exfoliation is really important for removing dead skin cells and maintaining a glow to your skin. I'd recommend doing once to twice depending on how dry your skin is. Personally, I find exfoliators can be quite difficult to buy as many I've tried have been super harsh and have made my skin worse! I recommend either using a gentle exfoliator/scrub or using a chemical toner as they can be used everyday and are a lot more gentle.

Recommendations: Pixi Glow Tonic | Link,  Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub | Link, St Ives Apricot Scrub | Link

4. Toners

Now, some people believe toners are a pointless task and don't really do anything, but I adore a good toner. They're super refreshing and really calm my skin down. I've already done a post on my all time current favourite two toners, but toners are an all round great product. I recommend buying ones without alcohol in as then they can become super harsh on the skin.

Recommendations: LUSH Eau Roma Water (Review) | Link, LUSH Tea Tree Toner | Link, Kiehls Oil Eliminator Toner (Review) | Link, Caudalie Beauty Elixr (Review) | Link

5. SPF

SPF is super important no matter if the weather is rainy or cloudy, you should still protect your skin with a minimum of 25 SPF. I normally apply my SPF over my moisturiser but under my makeup, so I prefer a SPF that isn't greasy or slimy.

Recommendations: Clarins UV+ SPF 50 | Link, Kiehls Ultra Light Daily Defense SPF 50 | Link, Olay Complete Daily Defense SPF 30 | Link

6. Eye Cream

Looking after your under eye is a necessity, especially because it's so delicate. I have pretty bad dark circles, so I sometimes like to have a brightening eye cream for daytime and a more heavier, moisturising one to go to bed with.

Recommendations: The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream (Review) | Link, Simple Kind To Eyes Roll On (Mornings only) | Link, Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado | Link, Botanics Radiant Youth Hydrating Eye Cream | Link,  Origins GinZing Eye Cream (Mornings only) | Link

7. Moisturiser

Besides cleansing and SPF, this is one of the most important steps in a skincare routine. No matter whether you're super dry or extremely oily moisturising your face is extremely important. Especially in the morning before you apply your makeup as it essentially lays a base for your foundation and other products to stick to. Now I have oily skin so I mainly shop for moisturisers suited to my skin type, but I will recommend a few for others.

Recommendations: LUSH Enzymion (Oily/Combo) | Link, Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser (All types) (Review) | Link, Origins GinZing (All types) | Link, Origins A Perfect World (Normal/Dry) | Link

Thank you for reading,

The Worst Hair Oil - Ever.

Hey lovelies,

Now I try not to make a habit of posting negative reviews or talking badly about products, but every so often I buy something that I'm really disappointed in and I think to myself "If only someone had told me, I wouldn't have wasted my money". So, I'm hoping I can save you today and you can end up buying a better product! If you want to view any other reviews of Lee Stafford products click here, as I am a massive fan of some of their other products.

The Basics

Brand: Lee Stafford

Name of Product: Ubunto Oils - Repair Oil

Purpose of product: To repair damaged hair, pamper, restore and hydrate coarse hair.

Price: £9.99 | Link

How much product do you get: 50ml

Who it's aimed for: Hair thats damaged/coarse.

Where to buy: Boots 

Product Description

These oils will leave hair pampered, repaired, restored and full of juicy goodness once again. This repairing saviour, rich in Mafura Oil has the ability to penetrate and restore coarse/damaged hair. Due to its rich concentration, unlike most commercial oils, it can penetrate the cuticle to get deep down to the cortex to repair hair where it really matters. 

How To Use

Apply to wet or dry hair, by pumping a couple of drops (I use three) into your hands, rub together and then evenly distribute between the lengths of your hair, 3/4's of the way down. I recommend using the amount best suited for your hair - as if you have thicker, longer hair like myself you'll obviously need more product than someone with short hair.

Pro's

Sadly, as the title of this post suggest there are not many pro's to the product. The only few I can think of are that it's not super expensive especially as at Boots there are regular deals of which you can normally get it discounted. The product also smells nice and the packaging is simple to use. Finally, the oil is quite thin and light meaning you can get away with applying it to dry hair without it weighing it down or making it look greasy.

Con's

Now my main issue with this product was that it just didn't work! Which obviously defeats any pro to the product. I have quite thick, long and slightly damaged hair from bleaching so when I first read the description of this I was so excited to give it a try - especially as all the other Lee Stafford products I've tried have been amazing (link here to view). It did not repair or nourish my hair in any way what so ever. Especially, with other hair oil products I've dramatically noticed the difference the next day this just didn't do that sadly. My only other main negative comment is that even though the packaging is easy to use it's super difficult to tell how much product is left - which I find a necessity when you like the product and want to buy more.

Should I Buy It?/Do I Recommend?

Obviously, I don't recommend it nor would I repurchase. Although I do recommend using a hair oil and recommend trying the original moroccan oil | Link .

Rating

2/10

Thank you for reading!

Please don't hesitate to recommend me your favourite hair oils as I'm trying to find a cheaper alternative for the moroccan oil,

My Must Follow Instagram Accounts

Today I thought I'd feature my current five favourite Instagram accounts that I follow at the moment, as I'm a massive fan of beauty and Instagram. The sheer amount of incredible beauty accounts on Instagram can sometimes be a bit overwhelming so if you're looking for any new people to follow, I would definitely recommend checking these out. If you'd like to check out my page, click here.

1. Vegas_Nay - I adore her account, her recent Too Faced collab and that she features other new artists on her page. Meaning it connects you to all sorts of different styles and ideas of beauty across the world.

2. iluvsarahii - This girl is seriously great with makeup, and the fact she also features stunning fashion and upcoming products on her instagram is so helpful in staying current with new releases and trends.

3. Makeupbyan - Now if you want serious eye makeup inspo/porn this is where to look. She is great with makeup in general but every close up eye makeup pic she posts I end up fangirling over for quite a while.

4. Makeupslaves - If you're dying for an account where all your makeup looks, cute product pictures and the occasional fashion pieces, are all in one place: look no further. This is the account for you.

5. Cali_Beaute - Whereas, if you're more of a fan of the makeup products themselves and professional but attractive looking pictures of great, new beauty and skincare products this is the account you need to be checking - often. (Apologies in advance for your bank account)! 

Thank you for reading,

High End Haul ft. MAC and YSL (SWATCHES)

Today I thought I'd feature a quick high end hall I did back from when I was in Norwich, I'd not bought makeup for over 2 months which is honestly shocking for me as I used to buy a new product every few days. I have been dying to get my hands on these products for so long, and after seeing a few other products I liked the look of I decided to have a little splurge! There will definitely be a review upcoming for the YSL 'Kiss and Blush' products and also my MAC lipstick collection should be posting soon as well - so keep your eyes out.

MAC

From MAC I went a bit wild and finally conquering how to line my lips without looking like a clown, I bought a few popular products amongst the beauty community. The first two were lipsticks being the popular shade 'Stone' and from the new MAC collection 'Whirl'. I also adore MAC's lip liners and could not resist buying the matching lipliner, in the shades; 'Stone' (got to match that lipstick), 'Stripdown' and 'Beurre'. 'Stripdown' is a lip liner Kylie Jenner is famous for and something I swatched in store and instantly fell in love with, much alike 'Beurre' which is a similar shade to Nars' 'Anna' audacious lipstick. 

YSL

I then went and got two of the Kiss and Blush products, after hearing so many rave reviews and seeing these two shades in real life. They-are-b-e-a-u-tiful. I got shades 9, and 10.

Swatches

L-R YSL Kiss and Blush in 9, 10, MAC Lipstick in Stone, Whirl

L-R MAC Lipstick in Stone, Whirl. MAC Lip Liner in Stone, Stripdown, Beurre

Thank you for reading,

Apologies I've been away for a while I've been moving back in to University!

End Of August Update

Hey,

It's time for another end of the month update for you and this one is definitely going to be a packed one!

TV Shows

One of these shows is an all-time favourite of mine, whilst the other has become a new obsession. But, as you can tell both have the "rich, glamour" lifestyle vibe and both centre around hot weather and gorgeous beaches - perfect to keep my summer vibe going.

1. 90210

This is an all-time favourite of mine, that I think I've re-watched over 5 times! I just love the drama, beautiful scenery and of course extremely attractive actors in it. The character development is flawless across the seasons and doesn't feel forced. The show centres around a group of friends, living the privileged life and the problems that come with it. All but last season is on UK Netflix, so I definitely recommend a binge watch!

2. Rich Kids of Beverly Hills

Obviously, this is pretty similar to 90210, but is a reality TV show - so is a tad more realistic. This has a similar vibe to Keeping Up With The Kardashians - so I definitely recommend this if you like that. I must admit this show is more something I like to watch when I don't want to think to much, and it is honestly pretty cool getting to see the experiences they get to have.

Books

This month I ended up completing my Goodreads goal of reading 80 books which is immense! So, obviously I had to choose between a lot of book. Both ended up being the final instalments in trilogies - but I do recommend both of the trilogies!

1. We'll Always Have Summer [#3] (Summer Series) by Jenny Han

This series follows Belly (awful name I know), and her trips to their friends summer house every summer. It follows struggles she has to face, and how suddenly she starts to grow feelings for the two brothers she goes with. (Yes, I know a love triangle but honestly this is done so perfectly.) The last book was surprisingly my favourite and I actually teared up towards the end. Overall, the Summer series is a great set of contemporary books to read on holiday or just during the summer.

Rated 3.5 stars.

Favourite Quote:  “But just because you bury something, that doesn’t mean it stops existing. Those feelings, they’d been there all along. All that time. I had to face it. He was part of my DNA. I had brown hair and I had freckles and I would always have Conrad in my heart. ” 

2. Allegiant [#3] (Divergent Series) by Veronica Roth

I've adored this series from start to finish, the action, drama, concept and slight romance in the novel is perfect! For fans of The Hunger Games, I definitely recommend starting this! Also, check out the films as I love the films as well. This series centres around Tris and a society that places people into factions, of which Tris has to decide to stay with her family in Abnegation or take a risk and move somewhere else. Luckily, I loved the final book but it has started a lot of controversy so be prepared!

Rated 5 stars.

Favourite Quote: “There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater. But sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life. That is the sort of bravery I must have now.” 

Music

I've mainly just been listening to this playlist, on spotify and its great to keep up to date with the current hits and favourites! I've also been loving Slow Motion by Trey Songz. 

Film

I adored the 'Riot Club' this month, it was completely different to what I expected but was so phenomenal and had such a lesson behind it. I recommend going into this not knowing anything because then you'll be just as shocked as I was. And, honestly look at that cast who could turn down watching that?!

Favourite Picture

Favourite Outfit

Favourite Quote

Thank you for reading, 

Hope you found some inspiration,

What I've Been Up To {Update 2}

Hey lovelies,
Sorry for the lack of posts this week but I've been extremely busy and sadly haven't had the chance until now to keep you guys in the loop! So, to explain to you guys why I've been so busy I thought I'd do a quick update post!

1. Firstly my friend, Lucy, and me visited London for IMATS (you can see what I bought here), and ended up trying this amazing pancake cafe!
2. Then, during the trip we ended up going to Brighton for the day and even though the weather wasn't perfect it was still a tonne of fun!
3. Next, my family and myself went to Kalkan in Turkey for our yearly summer holiday of which I'm hoping to have a holiday photo diary up in the next few weeks.
4. This is another photo of my sister and myself on holiday.
5. Recently Lucy and me went to V Festival which was amazing and so much fun!
6. Finally, my family went away for a long weekend in Holt to end our summer which was perfect!

Thank you for reading,